Numbers

The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said:

“Take a census of those Levites who are sons of Kohath, by sub-clans and families.

Count all the men between thirty and fifty years of age, those able to give military service, who will be given tasks in the Tent of Meeting.

These are the duties of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting: they are to have charge of the most holy things.

When it is time to move from the camp, Aaron and his sons are to come and take down the veil of the screen. With it, they shall cover up the Ark of the Covenant.

On top of this, they shall put a covering of fine leather and spread over the whole a cloth all of violet. Then, they are to fix the poles to the ark.

Over the offertory table, they are to spread a violet cloth and put the dishes, cups, bowls, and jars for the wine offering; the bread offered to the Lord shall be perpetually on it.

Over these, they shall spread a scarlet cloth and cover the whole with fine leather. Then, they are to fix the poles to the table.

They are then to take a violet cloth and cover the light-bearing lampstand with the lamps, tongs, trays, and all the oil jars that belong to it.

They are to put it, with all its utensils, on a covering of fine leather and place it on the carrying frame.

They must spread a violet cloth over the golden altar and cover it with fine leather. Then, they are to fix the poles to it.

They are also to take all the other objects used in the service of the Sanctuary. They must put them all on violet cloth, cover them with fine leather, and place them together on the carrying frame.

When they have removed the ashes from the altar, they must spread a scarlet cloth over it,

and place all the objects used in the service at the altar on this: the fire pans, hooks, shovels, sprinkling basins, and all the altar vessels. Over everything, they must spread a covering of fine leather. Then, they are to fix the poles to it.

When Aaron and his sons have finished covering all the sacred objects and all the equipment in preparation for moving from camp, the sons of Kohath are to come to carry the sacred things, but without touching any of them; otherwise, they would die. This is the duty given to the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting.

Eleazar, son of Aaron, the priest, is to watch over the oil for the light, the sweet-smelling incense, the grain offerings, and the anointing oil; he must watch over the whole Holy Tent and everything in it: the sacred objects and their equipment.”

The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said:

“Do not let the families of Kohath be cut off from the number of the Levites.

This is what you shall do for them, lest they die when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons must go in and assign to each of them their task.

In this way, they can go in and yet not look, even momentarily, on any of the holy things; if they do, they will die.”

The Lord spoke to Moses and said to him:

“Take a census also of the sons of Gershon, by families and sub-clans:

count the men between thirty and fifty years of age, those able to give military service, who will be given tasks in the Tent of Meeting.

These are the duties of the Gershonites:

They are to carry the curtains of the Holy Tent, the Tent of Meeting with its covering and the other delicate leather covering that goes over it,

the screen for the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, the curtains for the court, the screen for the entrance to the court that is around the Holy Tent and the altar, the ropes, and all the necessary equipment.

They are to be responsible for these things. These are the duties of the sons of Gershon. Their functions and tasks are to be carried out under the direction of Aaron and his sons: you must see that they fulfill their duties.

Such shall be the duties of the Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting. Their work will be supervised by Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest.

You are to count the sons of Merari by subclans and families.

Count all the men between thirty and fifty years of age, those able to give military service, who will be given tasks in the Tent of Meeting.

The responsibilities they are to bear and the duties assigned to them in the Tent of Meeting shall include the following: the framework of the Holy Tent, its crossbars, its posts, and bases;

the posts surrounding the court with their bases, pegs, ropes, and all the fittings used in setting them up. You are to prepare a list of their names and the duties of each person.

These are the duties of the Merarite clans. Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest, will oversee all their responsibilities in the Tent of Meeting.

Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the community took a census of the sons of Kohath by sub-clans and families,

of every man between thirty and fifty years of age, able to give military service and to be given tasks in the Tent of Meeting,

the total of their clans was 2,750 men.

This was the number of the Kohathites, of all those who were given tasks in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the Lord’s command given through Moses.

A census was taken of the sons of Gershon,

by sub-clans and families, of every man between thirty and fifty years of age, able to give military service and to be given tasks in the Tent of Meeting.

The total was 2,630 men.

This was the number of the Gershonites given tasks in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the Lord’s command.

A census was taken of the sons of Merari by sub-clans and families, and

of every man between thirty and fifty years of age could give military service and be given tasks in the Tent of Meeting.

The total was 3,200 men.

This was the number of the Merarites whom Moses and Aaron counted at the Lord’s command through Moses.

The total number of Levites counted according to clans and families—

all the men between thirty and fifty years of age, able to give military service and to be given tasks of carrying burdens in the Tent of Meeting

amounted to 8,580.

At the Lord’s command given through Moses, the census was taken to assign to every man his duty and his task; they were numbered as the Lord had commanded Moses.