THE LEVITES BECOME PRIESTS

Midrash Rabbah - Numbers 4:8

TAKE THE LEVITES, etc. (Numbers 3:45).

Said R. Judah the Levite: Who suggested to you that God dismissed the firstborn from the sacrificial duties and enrolled the sons of Levi? Because it says: TAKE THE LEVITES. Instead of whom?

Numbers 3:45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.

Numbers 8:18 And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.