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The Census of the Kohathites

Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, Take a census[a] of the descendants[b] of Kohath from the midst of the descendants[c] of Levi, according to their clans and their families,[d] from thirty years old[e] and above, up to fifty years old,[f] everyone who comes to the service to do the work in the tent of assembly. This is the work of the descendants[g] of Kohath in the tent of assembly, concerning the holiness of the sanctuary: When setting out the camp, Aaron and his sons will go and lower the curtain of the covering and cover with it the ark of the testimony.[h] They will put on it a covering of fine leather,[i] and they will spread a cloth of perfect blue over it, and they will place its poles. And over the table of the presence they will spread out a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes, and libation bowls, and the pitchers of the libation; and the bread of continuity will be on it. They will spread over it a scarlet cloth, and they will cover it with a covering of fine leather,[j] and they will place its poles. They will take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand for the light source, its lamps, a pair of its tongs, its small pans, and all the vessels of its oil with which they attend to it. 10 They will put it and all its vessels inside a covering of fine leather[k] and put it on the carrying frame. 11 Over the altar of gold they will spread a blue cloth, and they will cover it with a covering of fine leather[l] and place its poles. 12 They will take all the vessels of the cultic service with which they serve in the sanctuary and put them on a blue cloth, and they will cover them with a covering of fine leather;[m] and they will put them on the carrying frame. 13 They will remove the fat-soaked ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it; 14 they will put on it all the vessels with which they serve, the fire pans, forks, shovels, and bowls—all the vessels of the altar. They will spread on it a covering of fine leather;[n] and they will place its poles. 15 And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the vessels of the sanctuary when the camp sets out, the descendants[o] of Kohath will come after to carry these, but they must not touch the sanctuary, or they will die. These are the load of the descendants[p] of Kohath in the tent of assembly.

16 “Eleazar son of Aaron the priest is to supervise the oil of the light source, the incense, the regular grain offering,[q] the oil of anointment, the supervision of all the tabernacle and all that is in it, in the sanctuary and in its vessels.”

17 Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 18 “You must not cut off the tribe of the clan of the Kohathites[r] from the midst of the Levites. 19 Do this to them and they will live and not die when they come near the most holy things. Aaron and his sons will go and appoint them, each one to his task and burden. 20 But they must not go and look for a moment[s] at the holy objects.”

21 Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 22 Take a census[t] of the descendants[u] of Gershon also, according to their families[v] and clans, 23 from those twenty years old[w] and above until fifty years old;[x] you will muster[y] them, all who come to help to do the work of the tent of assembly. 24 This is the work of the clans of the Gershonites:[z] to serve and to carry. 25 They will carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the tent of assembly and its covering and the covering of fine leather,[aa] which is on top of it,[ab] and the curtain of the doorway of the tent of assembly, 26 and the curtains of the courtyard, and the covering for the doorway of the gate of the courtyard, which is all around on the tabernacle and altar, and their cords and all the vessels of their work; and all that is done to them they will do. 27 And all the work of the descendants[ac] of the Gershonites[ad] will be at the command[ae] of Aaron and his sons, for all they are to carry and for all their work, and you will appoint to them responsibility for all they are to carry. 28 This is the work of the clan of the descendants[af] of the Gershonites[ag] in the tent of assembly, and their responsibility lies under the direction[ah] of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

29 For the descendants[ai] of Merari according to their clans, according to their families,[aj] you will muster[ak] them; 30 from those thirty years old[al] and above until fifty years old;[am] you will muster[an] them, all who come to do the work of the tent of assembly. 31 And this is the responsibility of those who are to carry,[ao] all their work in the tent of assembly: the frames of the tabernacle and its bars, pillars, and bases, 32 and the pillars of the courtyard all around, and their bases, pegs, and cords, with all their vessels and for all their work. You will appoint by name the vessels that they are responsible to carry. 33 This is the work of the clan of the descendants[ap] of Merari, for all their work in the tent of assembly under the direction[aq] of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”

34 And Moses and Aaron mustered the leaders of the community according to the house of their families,[ar] 35 from those thirty years old[as] and above until fifty years old;[at] everyone who comes to the service to work in the tent of assembly, 36 the ones counted[au] were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. 37 These were those counted of the clans of the Kohathites,[av] everyone who served in the tent of assembly whom Moses and Aaron mustered[aw] according to the command[ax] of Yahweh by the hand of Moses.[ay]

38 And the descendants[az] of Gershon counted according to their clans and according to their families,[ba] 39 from those thirty years old[bb] and above until fifty years old,[bc] everyone who comes to the service to work in the tent of assembly; 40 the ones counted,[bd] according to their clans, according to their families,[be] were two thousand six hundred and thirty. 41 These were those counted of the clans of the descendants[bf] of Gershon, everyone who serves in the tent of assembly whom Moses and Aaron mustered[bg] according to the command[bh] of Yahweh.

42 Those counted of the clans of the descendants[bi] of Merari according to their clans, according to their families,[bj] 43 from those thirty years old[bk] and above until fifty years old,[bl] everyone who comes to the service to work in the tent of assembly, 44 the ones counted,[bm] according to their clans, were three thousand two hundred. 45 These were those counted of the clans of the descendants[bn] of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron mustered[bo] according to the command[bp] of Yahweh by the hand of Moses.[bq]

46 All those counted of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron and all the leaders of Israel mustered[br] according to their clans, according to their families,[bs] 47 from those thirty years old[bt] and above until fifty years old,[bu] everyone who comes to the service to do the work of the service carrying in the tent of assembly, 48 the ones counted[bv] were eighty thousand five hundred and eighty. 49 According to the command[bw] of Yahweh by the hand of Moses[bx] they were mustered,[by] each man according to his service and according to their[bz] service and according to their[ca] burden; and so they were counted by him just as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 4:2 Literally “and lift up the number of”
  2. Numbers 4:2 Or “sons”
  3. Numbers 4:2 Or “sons”
  4. Numbers 4:2 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  5. Numbers 4:3 Literally “a son of thirty years”
  6. Numbers 4:3 Literally “a son of fifty years”
  7. Numbers 4:4 Or “sons”
  8. Numbers 4:5 Or “the ark of the covenant”
  9. Numbers 4:6 Literally “the hide of a sea cow”
  10. Numbers 4:8 Literally “the hide of a sea cow”
  11. Numbers 4:10 Literally “the hide of a sea cow”
  12. Numbers 4:11 Literally “the hide of a sea cow”
  13. Numbers 4:12 Literally “the hide of a sea cow”
  14. Numbers 4:14 Literally “the hide of a sea cow”
  15. Numbers 4:15 Or “sons”
  16. Numbers 4:15 Or “sons”
  17. Numbers 4:16 Literally “the grain offering of continuity”
  18. Numbers 4:18 Hebrew “Kohathite”
  19. Numbers 4:20 Literally “as devouring”
  20. Numbers 4:22 Literally “And lift up the number of”
  21. Numbers 4:22 Or “sons”
  22. Numbers 4:22 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  23. Numbers 4:23 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  24. Numbers 4:23 Literally “a son of fifty years”
  25. Numbers 4:23 Or “count,” or “summon,” or “enroll”
  26. Numbers 4:24 Hebrew “Gershonite”
  27. Numbers 4:25 Literally “the hide of a sea cow”
  28. Numbers 4:25 Literally “is above upon it”
  29. Numbers 4:27 Or “sons”
  30. Numbers 4:27 Hebrew “Gershonite”
  31. Numbers 4:27 Literally “the mouth”
  32. Numbers 4:28 Or “sons”
  33. Numbers 4:28 Hebrew “Gershonite”
  34. Numbers 4:28 Literally “in the hand”
  35. Numbers 4:29 Or “sons”
  36. Numbers 4:29 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  37. Numbers 4:29 Or “count,” or “summon,” or “enroll”
  38. Numbers 4:30 Literally “a son of thirty years”
  39. Numbers 4:30 Literally “a son of fifty years”
  40. Numbers 4:30 Or “count,” or “summon,” or “enroll”
  41. Numbers 4:31 Literally “them carrying”
  42. Numbers 4:33 Or “sons”
  43. Numbers 4:33 Literally “in the hand”
  44. Numbers 4:34 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  45. Numbers 4:35 Literally “a son of thirty years”
  46. Numbers 4:35 Literally “a son of fifty years”
  47. Numbers 4:36 Literally “the ones counted of them,” or “the ones mustered of them”
  48. Numbers 4:37 Hebrew “Kohathite”
  49. Numbers 4:37 Or “counted,” or “summoned,” or “enrolled”
  50. Numbers 4:37 Literally “the mouth”
  51. Numbers 4:37 Or “through Moses”
  52. Numbers 4:38 Or “sons”
  53. Numbers 4:38 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  54. Numbers 4:39 Literally “a son of thirty years”
  55. Numbers 4:39 Literally “a son of fifty years”
  56. Numbers 4:40 Literally “the ones counted of them,” or “the ones mustered of them”
  57. Numbers 4:40 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  58. Numbers 4:41 Or “sons”
  59. Numbers 4:41 Or “counted,” or “summoned,” or “enrolled”
  60. Numbers 4:41 Literally “the mouth”
  61. Numbers 4:42 Or “sons”
  62. Numbers 4:42 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  63. Numbers 4:43 Literally “thirty years and above”
  64. Numbers 4:43 Literally “a son of fifty years”
  65. Numbers 4:44 Literally “the ones counted of them,” or “the ones mustered of them”
  66. Numbers 4:45 Or “sons”
  67. Numbers 4:45 Or “counted,” or “summoned,” or “enrolled”
  68. Numbers 4:45 Literally “the mouth”
  69. Numbers 4:45 Or “through Moses”
  70. Numbers 4:46 Or “counted,” or “summoned,” or “enrolled”
  71. Numbers 4:46 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  72. Numbers 4:47 Literally “a son of thirty years”
  73. Numbers 4:47 Literally “a son of fifty years”
  74. Numbers 4:48 Literally “the ones counted of them,” or “the ones mustered of them”
  75. Numbers 4:49 Literally “the mouth”
  76. Numbers 4:49 Or “through Moses”
  77. Numbers 4:49 Hebrew “he mustered”
  78. Numbers 4:49 Hebrew “his”
  79. Numbers 4:49 Hebrew “his”

哥辖子孙的职责

耶和华对摩西和亚伦说: “你要按宗族和家系统计利未人中哥辖子孙的人数, 登记三十岁到五十岁、可在会幕司职的男子。 他们在会幕里管理至圣之物。

“拔营出发的时候,亚伦父子们要进会幕解下圣所和至圣所之间的幔子,用它遮盖约柜, 再在上面依次盖上海狗皮和纯蓝色的布,然后穿上抬约柜的横杠。

“要在摆放供饼的桌子上铺一块蓝布,把盘、碟、杯和献酒用的瓶子摆在上面。桌上要有供饼。 这些东西上面要盖朱红色的布,再盖上海狗皮,然后穿上抬桌子的横杠。

“要用蓝布把灯台、灯盏、蜡剪、蜡盘和盛油的器皿全遮盖起来, 10 再在上面盖上海狗皮,然后放在抬架上。

11 “金香坛上面要盖蓝色布,再盖上海狗皮,穿上抬金香坛的横杠。

12 “圣所里面一切器皿都要用蓝色布包好,盖上海狗皮,放在抬架上。

13 “要清除祭坛上的灰烬,铺上紫色布, 14 然后把火鼎、肉叉、铲、碗等祭坛的器具放在上面,再盖上海狗皮,穿上抬祭坛的横杠。

15 “拔营出发时,哥辖的子孙要等到亚伦父子们把圣所和圣所的器具都盖好后,才可以来抬。他们负责抬这些会幕的器具,但不可触摸这些圣物,免得死亡。 16 亚伦祭司的儿子以利亚撒负责管理整个圣幕及里面的灯油、香料、素祭、膏油等一切物品。”

17 耶和华对摩西和亚伦说: 18 “不要让哥辖宗族在利未人中灭绝。 19 他们走近至圣之物以前,亚伦父子们要先进去指派他们做什么、抬什么,以免他们死亡。 20 他们不可进去看圣物,一刻都不可,免得死亡。”

革顺子孙的职责

21 耶和华对摩西说: 22 “你要按宗族和家系统计革顺子孙的人数, 23 登记三十岁到五十岁、可在会幕司职的男子。 24 以下是他们负责的事务。

25 “他们要抬圣幕的幔子、会幕、会幕顶盖、顶盖上的海狗皮、会幕门帘、 26 围绕圣幕和祭坛的院子的帷幔、院门门帘、绳索等器具,还负责其他相关事务。 27 你们要把任务分配给革顺的子孙,他们要遵照亚伦父子们的吩咐司职。 28 这是革顺宗族的人在会幕里的职责,他们要按祭司亚伦的儿子以他玛的吩咐司职。

米拉利子孙的职责

29 “你要按宗族和家系统计米拉利子孙的人数, 30 登记三十岁到五十岁、可在会幕司职的男子。 31 他们在会幕里负责抬圣幕的木板、横闩、柱子、带凹槽的底座, 32 院子四周的柱子及其带凹槽的底座、橛子、绳索和其他相关器具。你们要把当抬的物件一一指派给他们。 33 这是米拉利宗族的人在会幕的职责,由祭司亚伦的儿子以他玛监督。”

34 于是,摩西、亚伦和会众的首领按宗族和家系统计哥辖的子孙, 35 登记了三十岁到五十岁、可在会幕司职的男子, 36 共两千七百五十人。 37 这是哥辖宗族在会幕司职的人数,是摩西和亚伦照耶和华的吩咐统计的。

38-40 按宗族和家系统计,革顺的子孙中三十岁到五十岁、可在会幕司职的共两千六百三十人。 41 这是革顺宗族在会幕司职的人数,是摩西和亚伦照耶和华的吩咐统计的。

42-44 按宗族和家系统计,米拉利的子孙中三十岁到五十岁、可在会幕司职的共三千二百人。 45 这是米拉利宗族的人数,是摩西和亚伦照耶和华的吩咐统计的。

46 摩西、亚伦和以色列人的首领按宗族和家系统计了利未人的人数, 47-48 三十岁到五十岁可司职、搬运会幕器具的利未人共八千五百八十人。 49 照耶和华对摩西的吩咐,每个人都被统计在内,都有指定的职责和当抬的器具。这样,照耶和华对摩西的吩咐,人口统计完毕。