Numbers 1:47-54

New International Reader's Version

⁴⁷But the families of the tribe of Levi were not counted along with the others. ⁴⁸The Lord had spoken to Moses. He had said, ⁴⁹“You must not count the men from the tribe of Levi. Do not include them when you list the other men of Israel. ⁵⁰Instead, put the Levites in charge of the holy tent. That is where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. The Levites will be in charge of everything that belongs to the holy tent. They must carry the tent and everything that belongs to it. They must take care of it. They must set up camp around it. ⁵¹When the holy tent must be moved, the Levites must take it down. And when the tent must be set up, the Levites must do it. Anyone else who approaches it must be put to death. ⁵²The Israelites must set up their tents by military groups. All of them must be in their own camps under their own flags. ⁵³But the Levites must set up their tents around the holy tent. That’s where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. Then I will not be angry with the community of Israel. The Levites will be responsible for taking care of the tent.”