³² And so, under the supervision of the priests, the Levites watched over the Tabernacle and the Temple^[a] and faithfully carried out their duties of service at the house of the Lord.

⁵³ But the Levites will camp around the Tabernacle of the Covenant to protect the community of Israel from the Lord’s anger. The Levites are responsible to stand guard around the Tabernacle.”

³⁸ The area in front of the Tabernacle, in the east toward the sunrise,^[a] was reserved for the tents of Moses and of Aaron and his sons, who had the final responsibility for the sanctuary on behalf of the people of Israel. Anyone other than a priest or Levite who went too near the sanctuary was to be put to death.

⁶ “Call forward the tribe of Levi, and present them to Aaron the priest to serve as his assistants. ⁷ They will serve Aaron and the whole community, performing their sacred duties in and around the Tabernacle.^{[a] 8} They will also maintain all the furnishings of the sacred tent,^[b] serving in the Tabernacle on behalf of all the Israelites. ⁹ Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They have been given from among all the people of Israel to serve as their assistants.

²⁷ They would spend the night around the house of God, since it was their duty to guard it and to open the gates every morning.

⁴ The priests and Levites brought up the Ark of the Lord along with the special tent^[a] and all the sacred items that had been in it.