Parashas Bamidbar · Side page (no TT primary unit)
וַאֲנִ֞י הִנֵּ֧ה לָקַ֣חְתִּי אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֗ם מִתּוֹךְ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל תַּ֧חַת כׇּל־בְּכ֛וֹר פֶּ֥טֶר רֶ֖חֶם מִבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהָ֥יוּ לִ֖י הַלְוִיִּֽם׃
I hereby take the Levites from among the Israelites in place of all the male first-born, the first issue of the womb among the Israelites: the Levites shall be Mine.
Bamidbar Rabbah / Bechoros parallels — EXTRA.
ואני הנה לקחתי את הלוים —\ldots תחת כל בכור.
English: “And I have taken the Levites” — \ldots in place of every firstborn.
Custom
Chazal frame the Levites as the permanent replacement for the firstborn who were consecrated at the Exodus.