The Levites Exempted

⁴⁷ But the Levites were not registered along with the others on the basis of their fathers’ tribe, ⁴⁸ for the Lord had said to Moses, ⁴⁹ “You are not to register the tribe of Levi, neither will you take a census of them along with the other Israelites. ⁵⁰ Instead, appoint the Levites over the Dwelling of the Testimony^[a] and over all its furnishings and over everything that belongs to it. They are to carry the Dwelling and all its furnishings. They are to take care of it, and they are to camp around it. ⁵¹ Whenever the Dwelling is to move, the Levites will take it down, and whenever the Dwelling is to stop for a new camp, the Levites will set it up. Any unauthorized person who comes near it must be put to death. ⁵² The Israelites will set up camp, everyone in his own camp and under his own standard, according to their military divisions. ⁵³ But the Levites will camp around the Dwelling of the Testimony so that wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. In this way the Levites will perform the duties for the Dwelling of the Testimony.”

⁵⁴ So the Israelites did everything that the Lord commanded Moses, exactly as he commanded.