Numbers 4

1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

2 “Take a total of the sons of Kohath from the midst of the Levites, by their houses and families,

“Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families,

3 from thirty years and above, even to the fiftieth year, of all who enter so as to stand and minister in the tabernacle of the covenant.

men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

4 This is the service of the sons of Kohath: the tabernacle of the covenant and the Holy of holies.

This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things.

5 Aaron and his sons shall enter, when the camp is going to move, and they shall take down the veil, which hangs before the entrance, and they shall wrap the ark of the testimony in it,

Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.

6 and they shall cover it further with a veil of violet skins, and they shall extend over it a cloth made entirely of hyacinth, and they shall draw in the bars.

They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles.

7 Likewise, they shall wrap the table of the presence in a cloth of hyacinth, and they shall place with it the censers and little mortars, the cups and bowls for pouring out libations; the bread shall be always on it.

Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and place the plates and cups on it, along with the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to remain on it.

8 And they shall extend over it a cloth of scarlet, which they shall further cover with a veil of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.

And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles.

9 They shall take also a cloth of hyacinth, with which they shall cover the lampstand with the lamps, and its tongs, and the candle snuffers, and all the vessels of oil, which are necessary for the preparation of the lamps.

They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, together with its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays, as well as the jars of oil with which to supply it.

10 And over all this they shall place a covering of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.

Then they shall wrap it and all its utensils inside a covering of fine leather and put it on the carrying frame.

11 And certainly they shall wrap the golden altar in a hyacinth garment, and they shall extend over it a covering of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.

Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles.

12 All the vessels with which they minister in the Sanctuary they shall wrap in a cloth of hyacinth, and they shall extend over it a covering of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.

They are to take all the utensils for serving in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame.

13 Moreover, they shall cleanse the altar of ashes, and they shall wrap it in a purple garment,

Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it,

14 and they shall place it with all the vessels which they use in its ministry, that is, receptacles for fire, small hooks as well as forks, larger hooks and shovels. They shall cover all the vessels of the altar together with a veil of violet skins, and they shall draw in the bars.

and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles.

15 And when Aaron and his sons have wrapped the Sanctuary and its vessels at the dismantling of the camp, then the sons of Kohath shall enter, so as to carry what has been wrapped. And they shall not touch the vessels of the Sanctuary, lest they die. These are the burdens of the sons of Kohath concerning the tabernacle of the covenant.

When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.

16 Over them shall be Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, to whom belongs the care of the oil to prepare the lamps, and the incense compound, and the sacrifice, which is offered continually, and the oil of unction, and whatever pertains to the service of the tabernacle, and all the vessels that are in the Sanctuary.”

Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.”

17 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

18 “Do not be willing to lose the people of Kohath from the midst of the Levites.

“Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites.

19 But do this for them, so that they may live, and so that they may not die by touching the Holies of holies. Aaron and his sons shall enter, and they shall assign the work of each one, and they shall determine what each one ought to carry.

In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry.

20 Let no others, out of curiosity, see the things that are in the Sanctuary before they are wrapped, otherwise they shall die.”

But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.”

21 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

And the LORD said to Moses,

22 “Now also take a total of the sons of Gershon, by their houses and families and kinships,

“Take a census of the Gershonites as well, by their families and clans,

23 from thirty years and above, even to fifty years. Number all those who enter and minister in the tabernacle of the covenant.

from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

24 This is the duty of the family of the Gershonites:

This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport:

25 to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the roof of the covenant, the other covering, and the veil over everything, and the violet tent, which hangs at the entrance of the tabernacle of the covenant,

They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting with the covering of fine leather over it, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,

26 the curtains of the atrium, and the veil at the entrance, which is before tabernacle. Everything that pertains to the altar, the cords, and the vessels of the ministry

the curtains of the courtyard, and the curtains for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. The Gershonites will do all that needs to be done with these items.

27 the sons of Gershon shall carry, under the orders of Aaron and his sons. And so shall each one know to which burden he ought to surrender.

All the service of the Gershonites—all their transport duties and other work—is to be done at the direction of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry.

28 This is the service of the family of the Gershonites, in the tabernacle of the covenant, and they shall be under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.

This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

29 Likewise, you shall take a census of the sons of Merari, by the families and houses of their fathers,

As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their clans and families,

30 from thirty years and above, even to fifty years, of all who enter to the office of their ministry and to the service of the covenant of the testimony.

from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work of the Tent of Meeting.

31 These are their burdens: They shall carry the panels of the tabernacle and its bars, the columns and their bases,

This is the duty for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases,

32 also the columns surrounding the atrium, with their bases and tent pegs and cords. They shall accept by number all the vessels and articles, and so shall they carry them.

and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and everything related to their use. You shall assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry.

33 This is the office of the family of the Merarites, and their ministry for the tabernacle of the covenant. And they shall be under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.”

This is the service of the Merarite clans according to all their work at the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”

34 Therefore, Moses and Aaron, and the leaders of the assembly, took a census of the sons of Kohath, by the kinships and houses of their fathers,

So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation numbered the Kohathites by their clans and families,

35 from thirty years and above, even to the fiftieth year, of all who enter to the ministry of the tabernacle of the covenant.

everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

36 And there were found two thousand seven hundred fifty.

And those numbered by their clans totaled 2,750.

37 This is the number of the people of Kohath, who enter the tabernacle of the covenant. These Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

These were counted from the Kohathite clans, everyone who could serve at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron numbered them according to the command of the LORD through Moses.

38 The sons of Gershon also were numbered by the kinships and houses of their fathers,

Then the Gershonites were numbered by their clans and families,

39 from thirty years and above, even to the fiftieth year, all who enter so as to minister in the tabernacle of the covenant.

everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

40 And there were found two thousand six hundred thirty.

And those numbered by their clans and families totaled 2,630.

41 This is the people of the Gershonites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord.

These were counted from the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the LORD’s command.

42 The sons of Merari also were numbered by the kinships and houses of their fathers,

And the Merarites were numbered by their clans and families,

43 from thirty years and above, even to the fiftieth year, all who enter to fulfill the rituals of the tabernacle of the covenant.

everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

44 And there were found three thousand two hundred.

The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200.

45 This is the number of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

These were counted from the Merarite clans, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the LORD’s command through Moses.

46 All who were counted from the Levites, and whom, by name, Moses and Aaron, and the leaders of Israel, counted by the kinships and houses of their fathers,

So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel numbered by their clans and families all the Levites

47 from thirty years and above, until the fiftieth year, entering for the ministry of the tabernacle and carrying the burdens,

from thirty to fifty years old who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting.

48 were together eight thousand five hundred eighty.

And the number of men was 8,580.

49 Moses took a census of them, according to the word of the Lord, each one according to their office and their burdens, just as the Lord had instructed him.

At the LORD’s command they were numbered through Moses and each one was assigned his work and burden, as the LORD had commanded Moses.