Numbers 3:40-4:20

New International Version

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

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,^(E) listed by name, was 22,273.^(F)

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.^(G) I am the Lord.^{(H) 46} To redeem^(I) the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, ⁴⁷ collect five shekels^[a](J) for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,^(K) which weighs twenty gerahs.^{(L) 48} Give the money for the redemption^(M) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”^(N)

⁴⁹ So Moses collected the redemption money^(O) from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. ⁵⁰ From the firstborn of the Israelites^(P) he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,^[b](Q) 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^(R) of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. ³ Count^(S) all the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(T) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

⁴ “This is the work^(U) of the Kohathites^(V) at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.^{(W) 5} When the camp is to move,^(X) Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain^(Y) and put it over the ark of the covenant law.^{(Z) 6} Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,^[c](AA) spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles^(AB) in place.

⁷ “Over the table of the Presence^(AC) they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings;^(AD) the bread that is continually there^(AE) 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^(AF) 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,^(AG) 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.^(AH)

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

¹² “They are to take all the articles^(AK) 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.^(AL)

¹³ “They are to remove the ashes^(AM) from the bronze altar^(AN) and spread a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴ Then they are to place on it all the utensils^(AO) used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,^(AP) meat forks,^(AQ) shovels^(AR) and sprinkling bowls.^(AS) Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles^(AT) 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,^(AU) only then are the Kohathites^(AV) to come and do the carrying.^(AW) But they must not touch the holy things^(AX) or they will die.^(AY) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

¹⁶ “Eleazar^(AZ) son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,^(BA) the fragrant incense,^(BB) the regular grain offering^(BC) 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,^(BD) do this for them: Aaron and his sons^(BE) are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.^{(BF) 20} But the Kohathites must not go in to look^(BG) at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”