Liber Numeri 4
1 Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen et Aaron, dicens:
Then Yahweh said to Moses/me,
2 Tolle summam filiorum Caath de medio Levitarum per domos et familias suas,
“Write down the names of the men who belong to the clans descended from Levi.
3 a trigesimo anno et supra, usque ad quinquagesimum annum, omnium qui ingrediuntur ut stent et ministrent in tabernaculo fœderis.
Write the names of the men who are between 30 and 50 years old. These will be men who will work at the Sacred Tent.
4 Hic est cultus filiorum Caath: tabernaculum fœderis, et Sanctum sanctorum
“The work of these descendants of Kohath will be [to take care of] the sacred items [that are used when the people worship] at the Sacred Tent.
5 ingredientur Aaron et filii ejus, quando movenda sunt castra, et deponent velum quod pendet ante fores, involventque eo arcam testimonii,
When you Israelis move to another location, Aaron and his sons must enter the tent to take down the curtain that separates the Very Holy Place from the other part of the Sacred Tent. They must cover the sacred chest with that curtain.
6 et operient rursum velamine janthinarum pellium, extendentque desuper pallium totum hyacinthinum, et inducent vectes.
Then they must cover that with a nice covering made from the skins of goats. Over that they must spread a blue cloth. Then they must insert into the rings on the chest the poles [for carrying it].
7 Mensam quoque propositionis involvent hyacinthino pallio, et ponent cum ea thuribula et mortariola, cyathos et crateras ad liba fundenda: panes semper in ea erunt:
“Then they must put a blue cloth over the table on which the priests put the sacred bread. On top of the cloth they must put the bowls [for incense], the pans, the other dishes, the jars for [the wine that will be] offered as a sacrifice, and the sacred bread.
8 extendentque desuper pallium coccineum, quod rursum operient velamento janthinarum pellium, et inducent vectes.
Over all of this they must spread a scarlet/red cloth. Finally, they must put on top a nice covering made from the skins of goats. Then they must insert into the [rings at the corners of] the tables the poles [for carrying it].
9 Sument et pallium hyacinthinum, quo operient candelabrum cum lucernis et forcipibus suis et emunctoriis et cunctis vasis olei, quæ ad concinnandas lucernas necessaria sunt:
“Then with another blue cloth they must cover the lampstand, the lamps, the lamp snuffers, the trays, and the special jars of [olive] oil [to burn in the lamps].
10 et super omnia ponent operimentum janthinarum pellium, et inducent vectes.
They must cover the lampstand and all the other items with a nice covering made from the skins of goats. They must place all these things on a frame for carrying them.
11 Necnon et altare aureum involvent hyacinthino vestimento, et extendent desuper operimentum janthinarum pellium, inducentque vectes.
“Then they must spread another blue cloth over the gold altar [which is used for burning] incense. Over this they must spread a nice covering made from the skins of goats. Then they must insert into [the rings of] that altar the poles for carrying it.
12 Omnia vasa, quibus ministratur in sanctuario, involvent hyacinthino pallio, et extendent desuper operimentum janthinarum pellium, inducentque vectes.
“They must take all the other items that are inside the Sacred Tent and wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with a nice covering made from the skins of goats, and place all that on a frame for carrying it.
13 Sed et altare mundabunt cinere, et involvent illud purpureo vestimento,
“Then they must remove the ashes from the altar [on which they have burned sacrifices]. Then they must cover the altar with a purple cloth.
14 ponentque cum eo omnia vasa, quibus in ministerio ejus utuntur, id est, ignium receptacula, fuscinulas ac tridentes, uncinos et batilla. Cuncta vasa altaris operient simul velamine janthinarum pellium, et inducent vectes.
Then they must spread on top of the cloth all the items used at the altar—the pans [for carrying the hot coals], the meat forks, the shovels, the bowls [for containing the blood to sprinkle on the people], and all the other containers. Then they must spread over all those things a nice covering made from the skins of goats. Then they must insert into [the rings at the sides of] the altar the poles [for carrying it].
15 Cumque involverint Aaron et filii ejus sanctuarium et omnia vasa ejus in commotione castrorum, tunc intrabunt filii Caath ut portent involuta: et non tangent vasa sanctuarii, ne moriantur. Ista sunt onera filiorum Caath in tabernaculo fœderis:
“Then Aaron and his sons have finished covering all these sacred things, the Israeli people will be ready to move [to a new location]. The descendants of Kohath must come and carry all the sacred things to [the next place] where you Israelis will set up your tents. But the descendants of Kohath must not touch any of these sacred items, because they will [immediately] die [if they touch them]. They are the ones who will carry these things, [but they must not touch them].
16 super quos erit Eleazar filius Aaron sacerdotis, ad cujus curam pertinet oleum ad concinnandas lucernas, et compositionis incensum, et sacrificium, quod semper offertur, et oleum unctionis, et quidquid ad cultum tabernaculi pertinet, omniumque vasorum, quæ in sanctuario sunt.
“Aaron’s son Eleazar will have the work of taking care of the [olive] oil for the lamps, the nice-smelling incense, the grain which will be burned on the altar each day, and the [olive] oil for anointing [the priests]. Eleazar is the one who will supervise the work that is done at the Sacred Tent and the men who take care of everything that is in it.”
17 Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen et Aaron, dicens:
“Then Yahweh said to Aaron and Moses/me,
18 Nolite perdere populum Caath de medio Levitarum:
“When the descendants of Kohath approach the sacred items in the Sacred Tent [to take them to another location], Aaron and his sons must always go in with them and show each of them what work to do and what things to carry. But the descendants of Kohath must not enter the Sacred Tent [at any other time] and look at the things that are in it. If they do that, I will get rid of all the descendants of Kohath.”
19 sed hoc facite eis, ut vivant, et non moriantur, si tetigerint Sancta sanctorum. Aaron et filii ejus intrabunt, ipsique disponent opera singulorum, et divident quid portare quis debeat.
20 Alii nulla curiositate videant quæ sunt in sanctuario priusquam involvantur, alioquin morientur.
21 Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen, dicens:
Yahweh also said to Moses/me,
22 Tolle summam etiam filiorum Gerson per domos ac familias et cognationes suas,
“Write down the names of all the men who belong to the clans descended from the Gershon [division of the descendants of Levi].
23 a triginta annis et supra, usque ad annos quinquaginta. Numera omnes qui ingrediuntur et ministrant in tabernaculo fœderis.
Write the names of the men who are between 30 and 50 years old. They will be men who will also work at the Sacred Tent.
24 Hoc est officium familiæ Gersonitarum,
“This is the work that they must do and the things that they must carry [when you move to a new location]:
25 ut portent cortinas tabernaculi et tectum fœderis, operimentum aliud, et super omnia velamen janthinum tentoriumque quod pendet in introitu tabernaculi fœderis,
They must carry the curtains of the Sacred Tent; they must carry the Sacred Tent and all the things that cover it, including the nice outer covering made from skins of goats, and the curtain which is at the entrance of the Sacred Tent.
26 cortinas atrii, et velum in introitu quod est ante tabernaculum. Omnia quæ ad altare pertinent, funiculos, et vasa ministerii,
They must also carry the curtains that form the wall that surrounds the courtyard that surrounds the Sacred Tent and the altar, the curtain that is at the entrance to the courtyard, and the ropes [that fasten the curtains]. They must also do the packing and loading of these things.
27 jubente Aaron et filiis ejus, portabunt filii Gerson: et scient singuli cui debeant oneri mancipari.
Aaron and his sons will supervise the work of all the descendants of Gershom. That work includes carrying those things and doing other work that is necessary for moving them. They must tell each of the descendants of Gershom what things they must carry.
28 Hic est cultus familiæ Gersonitarum in tabernaculo fœderis, eruntque sub manu Ithamar filii Aaron sacerdotis.
Those are the tasks that you must give to the men who belong to the clans descended from Gershom. Aaron’s son Ithamar is the one who will supervise their work.
29 Filios quoque Merari per familias et domos patrum suorum recensebis,
Count also the men who belong to the clans descended from Levi’s son Merari.
30 a triginta annis et supra, usque ad annos quinquaginta, omnes qui ingrediuntur ad officium ministerii sui et cultum fœderis testimonii.
Write the names of the men who are between 30 and 50 years old. They will be men who will also work at the Sacred Tent.
31 Hæc sunt onera eorum: portabunt tabulas tabernaculi et vectes ejus, columnas ac bases earum,
Their work will be to carry the frames that hold up the tent, the crossbars, the posts [that hold up the curtains], and the bases.
32 columnas quoque atrii per circuitum cum basibus et paxillis et funibus suis. Omnia vasa et supellectilem ad numerum accipient, sicque portabunt.
They must also carry the posts for [the curtains that form the walls of] the courtyard and the bases for the posts, the tent pegs, and the ropes [to fasten the curtains]. Tell each man what things he must carry.
33 Hoc est officium familiæ Meraritarum et ministerium in tabernaculo fœderis: eruntque sub manu Ithamar filii Aaron sacerdotis.
Those are the tasks that the descendants of Merari must do at the Sacred Tent. Aaron’s son Ithamar is the one who will supervise them.”
34 Recensuerunt igitur Moyses et Aaron et principes synagogæ filios Caath per cognationes et domos patrum suorum,
So Aaron and Moses/I and the Israeli leaders counted the descendants of Kohath, writing also the names of their clans and family groups.
35 a triginta annis et supra, usque ad annum quinquagesimum, omnes qui ingrediuntur ad ministerium tabernaculi fœderis:
They/We counted all the men who were between 30 and 50 years old who were able to work at the Sacred Tent.
36 et inventi sunt duo millia septingenti quinquaginta.
The total was 2,750 men.
37 Hic est numerus populi Caath qui intrant tabernaculum fœderis: hos numeravit Moyses et Aaron juxta sermonem Domini per manum Moysi.
They were the descendants of Kohath who [were able to] work at the Sacred Tent. Aaron and Moses/I counted them just as Yahweh had commanded Moses/me.
38 Numerati sunt et filii Gerson per cognationes et domos patrum suorum,
They/We also counted the descendants of Gershon, writing also the names of their clans and family groups.
39 a triginta annos et supra, usque ad quinquagesimum annum, omnes qui ingrediuntur ut ministrent in tabernaculo fœderis:
They/We counted all the men who were between 30 and 50 years old who were able to work at the Sacred Tent.
40 et inventi sunt duo millia sexcenti triginta.
The total was 2,630 men.
41 Hic est populus Gersonitarum, quos numeraverunt Moyses et Aaron juxta verbum Domini.
They were the descendants of Gershon who [were able to] work at the Sacred Tent. Aaron and Moses/I counted them as Yahweh had commanded.
42 Numerati sunt et filii Merari per cognationes et domos patrum suorum,
They/We also counted the descendants of Merari, writing also the names of their clans and family groups.
43 a triginta annis et supra, usque ad annum quinquagesimum, omnes qui ingrediuntur ad explendos ritus tabernaculi fœderis:
They/We counted all the men who were between 30 and 50 years old who were able to work at the Sacred Tent.
44 et inventi sunt tria millia ducenti.
The total was 3,200 men.
45 Hic est numerus filiorum Merari, quos recensuerunt Moyses et Aaron juxta imperium Domini per manum Moysi.
They were the descendants of Merari who [were able to] work. Aaron and Moses/I counted them as Yahweh had commanded Moses/me.
46 Omnes qui recensiti sunt de Levitis, et quos recenseri fecit ad nomen Moyses et Aaron, et principes Israël per cognationes et domos patrum suorum,
So Aaron and Moses/I and the Israeli leaders counted all the descendants of Levi, writing also the names of their clans and family groups.
47 a triginta annis et supra, usque ad annum quinquagesimum, ingredientes ad ministerium tabernaculi, et onera portanda,
They/We counted all the men who were between 30 and 50 years old. They were ones who [were able to] work at the Sacred Tent and who carried the tent and everything that was connected with it.
48 fuerunt simul octo millia quingenti octoginta.
The total was 8,580 men.
49 Juxta verbum Domini recensuit eos Moyses, unumquemque juxta officium et onera sua, sicut præceperat ei Dominus.
They/We completed the counting [of all the descendants of Levi], as Yahweh had commanded Moses/me. And they/we told each man what work he was to do and what things he must carry [when they moved to a new location].
