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

¹⁰ Appoint Aaron^(A) and his sons to serve as priests;^(B) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”^(C)

⁵³ The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle^(A) of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall^(B) on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.^(C)”

⁴⁸ Their fellow Levites^(A) were assigned to all the other duties of the tabernacle, the house of God. ⁴⁹ But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar^(B) of burnt offering and on the altar of incense^(C) in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

Duties of Priests and Levites

18 The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons and your family are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the sanctuary,^(A) and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the priesthood. ² Bring your fellow Levites from your ancestral tribe to join you and assist you when you and your sons minister^(B) before the tent of the covenant law. ³ They are to be responsible to you^(C) and are to perform all the duties of the tent,^(D) but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. Otherwise both they and you will die.^{(E) 4} They are to join you and be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting—all the work at the tent—and no one else may come near where you are.^(F)

⁵ “You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar,^(G) so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again.

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.^(A)

²⁹ The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side^(A) of the tabernacle.

²³ The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.^(A)