Numbers 8:16-18

The Voice

^16-17 Indeed, they are uniquely designated for Me among the Israelites. Those Levites substitute for the Israelites’ firstborn children and animals, which I am within My rights to demand since I killed all the Egyptian firstborn on My peoples’ behalf and so consecrated all Israelite firstborn as My own. ¹⁸ But see, I am willing to accept this representative group—that the Levites, from among the Israelites, will be Mine,