Numbers 8:5-12

New International Version

The Setting Apart of the Levites

⁵ The Lord said to Moses: ⁶ “Take the Levites from among all the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean.^{(A) 7} To purify them, do this: Sprinkle the water of cleansing^(B) on them; then have them shave their whole bodies^(C) and wash their clothes.^(D) And so they will purify themselves.^{(E) 8} Have them take a young bull with its grain offering of the finest flour mixed with olive oil;^(F) then you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering.^{[a](G) 9} Bring the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting^(H) and assemble the whole Israelite community.^{(I) 10} You are to bring the Levites before the Lord, and the Israelites are to lay their hands on them.^{(J) 11} Aaron is to present the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering^(K) from the Israelites, so that they may be ready to do the work of the Lord.

¹² “Then the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls,^(L) using one for a sin offering^(M) to the Lord and the other for a burnt offering,^(N) to make atonement^(O) for the Levites.