¹⁶ For they have been exclusively assigned to Me from the Israelites.^(A) I have taken them for Myself in place of all who come first from the womb, every Israelite firstborn.^{(B) 17} For every firstborn among the Israelites is Mine, both man and animal. I consecrated them to Myself^(C) on the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt. ¹⁸ But I have taken the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Israelites.