¹⁴ The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,^{(A) 15} “Count^(B) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”^{(C) 16} So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

²¹ To Gershon^(L) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;^(M) 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.^{(N) 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^(O) and tent, its coverings,^(P) the curtain at the entrance^(Q) to the tent of meeting,^{(R) 26} the curtains of the courtyard^(S), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(T) and the ropes^(U)—and everything^(V) related to their use.

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

³³ To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;^(AO) these were the Merarite clans.^{(AP) 34} The number of all the males a month old or more^(AQ) 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.^{(AR) 36} The Merarites were appointed^(AS) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,^(AT) its crossbars,^(AU) posts,^(AV) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,^{(AW) 37} as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard^(AX) with their bases, tent pegs^(AY) and ropes.

³⁸ Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east^(AZ) of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting.^(BA) They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary^(BB) on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.^(BC)

³⁹ The total number of Levites counted^(BD) at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.^(BE)

⁴⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more^(BF) and make a list of their names.^{(BG) 41} Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,^(BH) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”^(BI)

⁴² So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. ⁴³ The total number of firstborn males a month old or more,^(BJ) listed by name, was 22,273.^(BK)

⁴⁴ The Lord also said to Moses, ⁴⁵ “Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine.^(BL) I am the Lord.^{(BM) 46} To redeem^(BN) the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, ⁴⁷ collect five shekels^[b](BO) for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,^(BP) which weighs twenty gerahs.^{(BQ) 48} Give the money for the redemption^(BR) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”^(BS)

⁴⁹ So Moses collected the redemption money^(BT) from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. ⁵⁰ From the firstborn of the Israelites^(BU) he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,^[c](BV) according to the sanctuary shekel. ⁵¹ Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

The Kohathites

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

⁴ “This is the work^(BZ) of the Kohathites^(CA) at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.^{(CB) 5} When the camp is to move,^(CC) Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain^(CD) and put it over the ark of the covenant law.^{(CE) 6} Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,^[d](CF) spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles^(CG) in place.

⁷ “Over the table of the Presence^(CH) they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings;^(CI) the bread that is continually there^(CJ) 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^(CK) 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,^(CL) 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.^(CM)

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

¹² “They are to take all the articles^(CP) 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.^(CQ)

¹³ “They are to remove the ashes^(CR) from the bronze altar^(CS) and spread a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴ Then they are to place on it all the utensils^(CT) used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,^(CU) meat forks,^(CV) shovels^(CW) and sprinkling bowls.^(CX) Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles^(CY) 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,^(CZ) only then are the Kohathites^(DA) to come and do the carrying.^(DB) But they must not touch the holy things^(DC) or they will die.^(DD) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

¹⁶ “Eleazar^(DE) son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,^(DF) the fragrant incense,^(DG) the regular grain offering^(DH) and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”

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,^(DI) do this for them: Aaron and his sons^(DJ) are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.^{(DK) 20} But the Kohathites must not go in to look^(DL) at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”