Numbers 4

1 The Lord told Moses and Aaron,

And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

2 “Register the descendants of Kohath from the tribe of Levi, according to their family and father's line.

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

3 Count men aged thirty to fifty—all who are entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.

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.

4 This work that they are to do in the Tent of Meetings involves the things that are most holy.

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

5 Whenever you move camp, Aaron and his sons will go in, take down the veil, and place it over the Ark of the Testimony.

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,

6 On top of this they are to put a fine leather covering, spread a cloth of solid blue over it, and then insert its carrying poles.

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.

7 Have them spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence as well, and put the plates and cups on it, as well as the bowls and jugs for the drink offering. The current bread offering is to stay on it.

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.

8 Over everything they are to spread a crimson cloth, next a fine leather covering, and then insert its carrying poles.

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.

9 Using a blue cloth, they are to cover the lampstand of light, together with its lamps, wick tongs, and trays, as well as the jars of olive oil used to fill them.

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.

10 Then have them wrap it together with all its utensils inside a fine leather covering and place it on the carrying frame.

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

11 They are to spread a blue cloth over the gold altar, cover it with fine leather, and then insert its carrying poles.

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.

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

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.

13 Have them clean the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it,

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

14 and put on it all the equipment used in the services on the altar: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. Spread over it a fine leather covering and then insert its carrying poles.

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.

15 Once Aaron and his sons have finished covering these holy things and all the equipment connected with them, when the camp is ready to move, the priests of the Kohath family are to come and carry them. But they are forbidden to touch anything holy, otherwise they'll die. These are their responsibilities for moving the Tent of Meeting.

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.

16 Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, is to supervise obtaining olive oil for the lamps, the aromatic incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He is in charge of the whole Tabernacle and everything in it—all the holy things and equipment.”

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.”

17 The Lord told Moses and Aaron,

And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

18 “Make sure the families of Kohath are not wiped out from the Levites.

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

19 This is what you have to do so that they'll live and won't die by getting too close to something holy. Aaron and his sons must go in and tell each of them what they have to do and what they have to carry.

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.

20 But they must not to go in and look at the things that are most holy, even for just a moment, otherwise they'll die.”

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

21 The Lord told Moses,

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

22 “Register the descendants of Gershon, according to their family and father's line

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

23 Count men aged thirty to fifty—all who are entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.

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

24 This is how the families of Gershon will serve in terms of working and carrying:

This is the duty of the family of the Gershonites:

25 Have them carry the Tabernacle curtains, the Tent of Meeting with its fine leather covering, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,

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,

26 the courtyard curtains, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the Tabernacle and altar, the ropes, and everything connected with their use. The families of Gershon are responsible for everything required involving these items.

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

27 All that they do is to be under the supervision of Aaron and his sons—all their work and carrying assignments. You are to tell them all they are required to carry.

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.

28 These are their responsibilities for moving the Tent of Meeting, carried out under the direction of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest.

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.

29 Register the descendants of Merari, according to their family and father's line.

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

30 Count men aged thirty to fifty—all who are entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.

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.

31 This is how they will serve in handling the Tent of Meeting: they are to carry the frames of the Tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and stands,

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

32 the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their stands, tent pegs, and ropes, all their equipment and everything connected with their use. You are to tell them by name what they are responsible for carrying.

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.

33 These are their responsibilities for all their work in moving the Tent of Meeting, carried out under the direction of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest.”

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.”

34 Moses, Aaron, and the Israelite leaders registered the families of Kohath according to their family and father's line.

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,

35 They counted men aged thirty to fifty—all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.

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

36 The total by families was 2,750.

And there were found two thousand seven hundred fifty.

37 This was the total of the families of Kohath—all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron registered them in accordance with the Lord's instructions to Moses.

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.

38 The families of Gershon were counted, according to their family and father's line,

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

39 men aged thirty to fifty—all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.

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

40 The total by families and father's line was 2,630.

And there were found two thousand six hundred thirty.

41 This was the total of the families of Gershon —all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting. They were registered by Moses and Aaron in accordance with the Lord's instructions.

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

42 The families of Merari were counted, according to their family and father's line,

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

43 men aged thirty to fifty—all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.

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

44 The total by families was 3,200.

And there were found three thousand two hundred.

45 This was the total of the families of Merari registered by Moses and Aaron in accordance with the Lord's instructions.

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.

46 This is how Moses, Aaron, and the Israelite leaders registered all the Levites according to their family and father's line.

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,

47 They counted men aged thirty to fifty—all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting and carrying it.

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

48 The sum total was 8,580.

were together eight thousand five hundred eighty.

49 It was in response to the Lord's instructions that they were registered by Moses. Each of those registered were told what to do and what to carry, as the Lord had ordered Moses.

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.