Numbers

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron:

"Take a census of the Kohathite subdivision of the Levites by their clans and families.

Count all the men between thirty and fifty years old who are fit to serve in the Tent of Meeting.

The duties of the Kohathites in the Tent of Meeting involve the most holy things.

When the camp is ready to move, Aaron and his sons must go in, take down the inner curtain, and cover the Ark of the Covenant with it.

Then they must cover that with fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and put the carrying poles in place.

Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, small bowls, ladles, and the pitchers for drink offerings; the bread of the Presence is to remain on the table.

They must spread a scarlet cloth over these, cover that with fine leather, and put the poles in place.

Then they are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand, its lamps, its snuffers, its trays, and all the jars of oil used to supply it.

They must wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of fine leather and place it on a carrying frame.

Over the gold altar they must spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and put the poles in place.

They must take all the items used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and place them on a carrying frame.

They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it.

Then they must place on it all the utensils used in the altar service, the firepans, meat hooks, shovels, and basins, cover them with fine leather, and put the poles in place.

After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy items and all the sacred equipment, the Kohathites are to come and carry them as the camp moves. But they must not touch the holy things, or they will die. These are the items the Kohathites must carry from the Tent of Meeting.

Eleazar son of Aaron the priest is responsible for 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 sanctuary and its furnishings."

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron:

"Do not let the Kohathite clans be destroyed from among the Levites.

To ensure they live and do not die when they approach the most holy things, Aaron and his sons must go in and assign each man his specific task and what he is to carry.

But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die."

The LORD said to Moses:

"Take a census of the Gershonites also by their families and clans.

Count all the men between thirty and fifty years old who are fit to serve in the Tent of Meeting.

These are the duties of the Gershonite clans as they serve and carry loads:

They are to carry the curtains of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, its inner and outer coverings, and the screen for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

They will also carry the curtains of the courtyard, the screen for the courtyard entrance, the ropes, and all the equipment used in their service. They are responsible for everything related to these items.

All the service of the Gershonites, everything they carry and all their work, must be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. Assign to them everything they are responsible for carrying.

This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting. Their duties are under the supervision of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

Count the Merarites by their clans and families.

Count all the men between thirty and fifty years old who are fit to serve in the Tent of Meeting.

Their duty, as part of their service at the Tent of Meeting, is to carry the frames of the Tabernacle, its crossbars, posts, and bases,

as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, and all the equipment used in their service. Assign each man by name the specific items he is responsible for carrying.

This is the service of the Merarite clans at the Tent of Meeting. All their work is under the supervision of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest."

So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites by their clans and families.

They counted all the men between thirty and fifty years old who were fit for service at the Tent of Meeting.

The number counted by their clans was 2,750.

This was the total of the Kohathite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting, counted by Moses and Aaron as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

The Gershonites were also counted by their clans and families.

They counted all the men between thirty and fifty years old who were fit for service at the Tent of Meeting.

The number counted by their clans and families was 2,630.

This was the total of the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting, counted by Moses and Aaron as the LORD had commanded.

The Merarites were also counted by their clans and families.

They counted all the men between thirty and fifty years old who were fit for service at the Tent of Meeting.

The number counted by their clans was 3,200.

This was the total of the Merarite clans, counted by Moses and Aaron as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

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

All the men between thirty and fifty years old who were fit to do the work of service and the work of carrying the Tent of Meeting were counted.

The total number was 8,580.

According to the LORD's command through Moses, each man was assigned his specific task and told what to carry. So they were counted, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.