⁵ The Lord said to Moses, ⁶ “Bring the tribe of Levi^(A) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.^{(B) 7} They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community^(C) at the tent of meeting by doing the work^(D) of the tabernacle. ⁸ They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. ⁹ Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;^(E) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.^{[a] 10} Appoint Aaron^(F) and his sons to serve as priests;^(G) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”^(H)

¹¹ The Lord also said to Moses, ¹² “I have taken the Levites^(I) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring^(J) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,^{(K) 13} for all the firstborn are mine.^(L) When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.”^(M)

¹⁴ The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,^{(N) 15} “Count^(O) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”^{(P) 16} So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

²¹ To Gershon^(Y) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;^(Z) these were the Gershonite clans. ²² The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. ²³ The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.^{(AA) 24} The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. ²⁵ At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle^(AB) and tent, its coverings,^(AC) the curtain at the entrance^(AD) to the tent of meeting,^{(AE) 26} the curtains of the courtyard^(AF), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(AG) and the ropes^(AH)—and everything^(AI) related to their use.

²⁷ To Kohath^(AJ) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;^(AK) these were the Kohathite^(AL) clans. ²⁸ The number of all the males a month old or more^(AM) was 8,600.^[b] The Kohathites were responsible^(AN) for the care of the sanctuary.^{(AO) 29} The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side^(AP) of the tabernacle. ³⁰ The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan^(AQ) son of Uzziel. ³¹ They were responsible for the care of the ark,^(AR) the table,^(AS) the lampstand,^(AT) the altars,^(AU) the articles^(AV) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,^(AW) and everything related to their use.^{(AX) 32} The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar^(AY) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible^(AZ) for the care of the sanctuary.^(BA)

³³ To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;^(BB) these were the Merarite clans.^{(BC) 34} The number of all the males a month old or more^(BD) who were counted was 6,200. ³⁵ The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.^{(BE) 36} The Merarites were appointed^(BF) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,^(BG) its crossbars,^(BH) posts,^(BI) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,^{(BJ) 37} as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard^(BK) with their bases, tent pegs^(BL) and ropes.

The Kohathites

4 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ² “Take a census^(A) of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. ³ Count^(B) all the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(C) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

⁴ “This is the work^(D) of the Kohathites^(E) at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.^{(F) 5} When the camp is to move,^(G) Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain^(H) and put it over the ark of the covenant law.^{(I) 6} Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,^[a](J) spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles^(K) in place.

⁷ “Over the table of the Presence^(L) they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings;^(M) the bread that is continually there^(N) is to remain on it. ⁸ They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles^(O) in place.

⁹ “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays,^(P) and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it. ¹⁰ Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.^(Q)

¹¹ “Over the gold altar^(R) they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles^(S) in place.

¹² “They are to take all the articles^(T) used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.^(U)

¹³ “They are to remove the ashes^(V) from the bronze altar^(W) and spread a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴ Then they are to place on it all the utensils^(X) used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,^(Y) meat forks,^(Z) shovels^(AA) and sprinkling bowls.^(AB) Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles^(AC) in place.

¹⁵ “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move,^(AD) only then are the Kohathites^(AE) to come and do the carrying.^(AF) But they must not touch the holy things^(AG) or they will die.^(AH) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

¹⁶ “Eleazar^(AI) son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,^(AJ) the fragrant incense,^(AK) the regular grain offering^(AL) and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”

¹⁷ The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ¹⁸ “See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites. ¹⁹ So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things,^(AM) do this for them: Aaron and his sons^(AN) are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.^{(AO) 20} But the Kohathites must not go in to look^(AP) at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”

The Gershonites

²¹ The Lord said to Moses, ²² “Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. ²³ Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(AQ) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

²⁴ “This is the service of the Gershonite clans in their carrying and their other work: ²⁵ They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle,^(AR) that is, the tent of meeting,^(AS) its covering^(AT) and its outer covering of durable leather, the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting, ²⁶ the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(AU) the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard,^(AV) the ropes and all the equipment^(AW) used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. ²⁷ All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons.^(AX) You shall assign to them as their responsibility^(AY) all they are to carry. ²⁸ This is the service of the Gershonite clans^(AZ) at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar^(BA) son of Aaron, the priest.

The Merarites

²⁹ “Count^(BB) the Merarites by their clans and families.^{(BC) 30} Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting. ³¹ As part of all their service at the tent, they are to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,^{(BD) 32} as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes,^(BE) all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry. ³³ This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the tent of meeting under the direction of Ithamar^(BF) son of Aaron, the priest.”

² Bring your fellow Levites from your ancestral tribe to join you and assist you when you and your sons minister^(A) before the tent of the covenant law. ³ They are to be responsible to you^(B) and are to perform all the duties of the tent,^(C) but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. Otherwise both they and you will die.^{(D) 4} They are to join you and be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting—all the work at the tent—and no one else may come near where you are.^(E)

⁵ “You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar,^(F) so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again. ⁶ I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you,^(G) dedicated to the Lord to do the work at the tent of meeting.^{(H) 7} But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain.^(I) I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift.^(J) Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.^(K)”