Numbers 4:1-20

The Voice

Eternal One: ² From among the Levite clans, organize Kohathite men by their extended families ³ between the ages of 30 and 50, who serve in the congregation tent. ⁴ They are the ones who shall deal with the most sacred objects associated with the congregation tent. ⁵ When it’s time to break camp, follow these instructions: Aaron and his sons shall take down the screen curtain and cover the covenant chest. ⁶ Over that, they shall lay a sea-cow skin,^[a] and over that, a pure blue cloth. They shall then slide in the chest’s poles. ⁷ Regarding the table that displays the offerings, they shall spread it with a blue cloth and set the bowls, ladles, cups, pitchers for the drink offering, and regular bread on it. ⁸ This they shall cover with a crimson cloth, and over that a sea-cow skin. And they shall slide in its poles too. ⁹ Regarding the seven-branched lampstand, they shall cover it—the lamps, tongs, fire pans, and all the oil receptacles used with it—with a blue cloth. ¹⁰ They shall put it and all its furnishings in a sea-cow skin and set that on the frame for carrying. ¹¹ Concerning the golden altar for incense, they shall cover it first with a blue cloth, and over that with a sea-cow skin. They shall insert its poles. ¹² Likewise, all of the furnishings used in sanctuary service should go into a blue cloth, be covered with a sea-cow skin, and set on a carrying frame. ¹³ They will need to empty the fat ashes from the burnt offering altar before spreading a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴ Then load all the things used with it—the fire pans, long forks, spatulas, and basins—and cover the whole with a sea-cow skin. Then they shall slide in the poles. ¹⁵ When Aaron and his sons are done covering all the holy objects and furnishings, then and only then (so that they don’t touch the sacred things and die), the Kohathites can approach. They are the ones who shall transport these items of the congregation tent. ¹⁶ Aaron’s son, Eleazar, shall be responsible for the oil used for light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering, the oil used for anointing, the whole congregation tent, and every holy thing within it, including each and every furnishing.

¹⁷ (continuing instructions to Moses and Aaron) ^18-19 Take special care to pack everything well so that the people of the Kohathite clans are not killed on account of touching the most sacred things when they shouldn’t. Aaron and his sons can direct each person’s role and their transportation of the items. ²⁰ The Kohathites should never look on the sacred things for even a moment, or else they’ll die.