1And the LORD said to Aaron, "You and your sons and your father's house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood."2Also bring near your brothers of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, to be with you, that they may join themselves to you and serve you—you and your sons with you—before the tent of the testimony.3They shall keep your charge and the charge of the whole tent; however, they shall not approach the articles of the holiness or the altar, lest they die—both they and you.4They shall join themselves to you and keep the charge of the tent of meeting for all the service of the tent, and no outsider shall approach you.5You shall keep the charge of the holiness and the charge of the altar, so that wrath may no longer come upon the sons of Israel.6Behold, I myself have taken your brothers, the Levites, from among the sons of Israel and given them to you as a gift to the LORD, to perform the service of the tent of meeting.7You and your sons with you shall keep your priesthood for every matter concerning the altar and inside the curtain; you shall perform the service as a gift. I give you your priesthood, and any outsider who approaches shall be put to death.