⁵⁰ Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle^(A) of the covenant law^(B)—over all its furnishings^(C) and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. ⁵¹ Whenever the tabernacle^(D) is to move,^(E) the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it.^(F) Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death.^{(G) 52} The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their standard.^{(H) 53} The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle^(I) of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall^(J) on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.^(K)”

⁶ “Bring the tribe of Levi^(A) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.^{(B) 7} They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community^(C) at the tent of meeting by doing the work^(D) of the tabernacle. ⁸ They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. ⁹ Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;^(E) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.^[a]

²¹ To Gershon^(A) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;^(B) these were the Gershonite clans. ²² The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. ²³ The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.^{(C) 24} The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. ²⁵ At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle^(D) and tent, its coverings,^(E) the curtain at the entrance^(F) to the tent of meeting,^{(G) 26} the curtains of the courtyard^(H), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(I) and the ropes^(J)—and everything^(K) related to their use.

²⁷ To Kohath^(L) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;^(M) these were the Kohathite^(N) clans. ²⁸ The number of all the males a month old or more^(O) was 8,600.^[a] The Kohathites were responsible^(P) for the care of the sanctuary.^{(Q) 29} The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side^(R) of the tabernacle. ³⁰ The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan^(S) son of Uzziel. ³¹ They were responsible for the care of the ark,^(T) the table,^(U) the lampstand,^(V) the altars,^(W) the articles^(X) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,^(Y) and everything related to their use.^{(Z) 32} The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar^(AA) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible^(AB) for the care of the sanctuary.^(AC)

³³ To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;^(AD) these were the Merarite clans.^{(AE) 34} The number of all the males a month old or more^(AF) who were counted was 6,200. ³⁵ The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.^{(AG) 36} The Merarites were appointed^(AH) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,^(AI) its crossbars,^(AJ) posts,^(AK) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,^{(AL) 37} as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard^(AM) with their bases, tent pegs^(AN) and ropes.

The Kohathites

4 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ² “Take a census^(A) of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. ³ Count^(B) all the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(C) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

⁴ “This is the work^(D) of the Kohathites^(E) at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.^{(F) 5} When the camp is to move,^(G) Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain^(H) and put it over the ark of the covenant law.^{(I) 6} Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,^[a](J) spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles^(K) in place.

⁷ “Over the table of the Presence^(L) they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings;^(M) the bread that is continually there^(N) is to remain on it. ⁸ They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles^(O) in place.

⁹ “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays,^(P) and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it. ¹⁰ Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.^(Q)

¹¹ “Over the gold altar^(R) they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles^(S) in place.

¹² “They are to take all the articles^(T) used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.^(U)

¹³ “They are to remove the ashes^(V) from the bronze altar^(W) and spread a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴ Then they are to place on it all the utensils^(X) used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,^(Y) meat forks,^(Z) shovels^(AA) and sprinkling bowls.^(AB) Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles^(AC) in place.

¹⁵ “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move,^(AD) only then are the Kohathites^(AE) to come and do the carrying.^(AF) But they must not touch the holy things^(AG) or they will die.^(AH) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

¹⁷ The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ¹⁸ “See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites. ¹⁹ So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things,^(A) do this for them: Aaron and his sons^(B) are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.^{(C) 20} But the Kohathites must not go in to look^(D) at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”

The Gershonites

²¹ The Lord said to Moses, ²² “Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. ²³ Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(E) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

²⁴ “This is the service of the Gershonite clans in their carrying and their other work: ²⁵ They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle,^(F) that is, the tent of meeting,^(G) its covering^(H) and its outer covering of durable leather, the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting, ²⁶ the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(I) the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard,^(J) the ropes and all the equipment^(K) used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. ²⁷ All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons.^(L) You shall assign to them as their responsibility^(M) all they are to carry. ²⁸ This is the service of the Gershonite clans^(N) at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar^(O) son of Aaron, the priest.

The Merarites

²⁹ “Count^(P) the Merarites by their clans and families.^{(Q) 30} Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting. ³¹ As part of all their service at the tent, they are to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,^{(R) 32} as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes,^(S) all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry. ³³ This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the tent of meeting under the direction of Ithamar^(T) son of Aaron, the priest.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

³⁴ Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites^(U) by their clans and families. ³⁵ All the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(V) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, ³⁶ counted by clans, were 2,750. ³⁷ This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans^(W) who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

³⁸ The Gershonites^(X) were counted by their clans and families. ³⁹ All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, ⁴⁰ counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. ⁴¹ This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command.

⁴² The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. ⁴³ All the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(Y) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, ⁴⁴ counted by their clans, were 3,200. ⁴⁵ This was the total of those in the Merarite clans.^(Z) Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

⁴⁶ So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted^(AA) all the Levites by their clans and families. ⁴⁷ All the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(AB) who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting ⁴⁸ numbered 8,580.^{(AC) 49} At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.

Thus they were counted,^(AD) as the Lord commanded Moses.

¹⁹ From among all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons^(A) to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites^(B) and to make atonement for them^(C) so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary.”

³ They are to be responsible to you^(A) and are to perform all the duties of the tent,^(B) but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. Otherwise both they and you will die.^(C)