Numbers 3:17-4:20

New International Version

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

²¹ To Gershon^(I) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;^(J) 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.^{(K) 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^(L) and tent, its coverings,^(M) the curtain at the entrance^(N) to the tent of meeting,^{(O) 26} the curtains of the courtyard^(P), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(Q) and the ropes^(R)—and everything^(S) related to their use.

²⁷ To Kohath^(T) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;^(U) these were the Kohathite^(V) clans. ²⁸ The number of all the males a month old or more^(W) was 8,600.^[a] The Kohathites were responsible^(X) for the care of the sanctuary.^{(Y) 29} The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side^(Z) of the tabernacle. ³⁰ The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan^(AA) son of Uzziel. ³¹ They were responsible for the care of the ark,^(AB) the table,^(AC) the lampstand,^(AD) the altars,^(AE) the articles^(AF) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,^(AG) and everything related to their use.^{(AH) 32} The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar^(AI) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible^(AJ) for the care of the sanctuary.^(AK)

³³ To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;^(AL) these were the Merarite clans.^{(AM) 34} The number of all the males a month old or more^(AN) 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.^{(AO) 36} The Merarites were appointed^(AP) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,^(AQ) its crossbars,^(AR) posts,^(AS) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,^{(AT) 37} as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard^(AU) with their bases, tent pegs^(AV) and ropes.

³⁸ Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east^(AW) of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting.^(AX) They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary^(AY) on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.^(AZ)

³⁹ The total number of Levites counted^(BA) at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.^(BB)

⁴⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more^(BC) and make a list of their names.^{(BD) 41} Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,^(BE) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”^(BF)

⁴² So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. ⁴³ The total number of firstborn males a month old or more,^(BG) listed by name, was 22,273.^(BH)

⁴⁴ The Lord also said to Moses, ⁴⁵ “Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine.^(BI) I am the Lord.^{(BJ) 46} To redeem^(BK) the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, ⁴⁷ collect five shekels^[b](BL) for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,^(BM) which weighs twenty gerahs.^{(BN) 48} Give the money for the redemption^(BO) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”^(BP)

⁴⁹ So Moses collected the redemption money^(BQ) from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. ⁵⁰ From the firstborn of the Israelites^(BR) he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,^[c](BS) according to the sanctuary shekel. ⁵¹ Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

The Kohathites

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

⁴ “This is the work^(BW) of the Kohathites^(BX) at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.^{(BY) 5} When the camp is to move,^(BZ) Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain^(CA) and put it over the ark of the covenant law.^{(CB) 6} Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,^[d](CC) spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles^(CD) in place.

⁷ “Over the table of the Presence^(CE) they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings;^(CF) the bread that is continually there^(CG) 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^(CH) 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,^(CI) 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.^(CJ)

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

¹² “They are to take all the articles^(CM) 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.^(CN)

¹³ “They are to remove the ashes^(CO) from the bronze altar^(CP) and spread a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴ Then they are to place on it all the utensils^(CQ) used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,^(CR) meat forks,^(CS) shovels^(CT) and sprinkling bowls.^(CU) Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles^(CV) 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,^(CW) only then are the Kohathites^(CX) to come and do the carrying.^(CY) But they must not touch the holy things^(CZ) or they will die.^(DA) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

¹⁶ “Eleazar^(DB) son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,^(DC) the fragrant incense,^(DD) the regular grain offering^(DE) 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,^(DF) do this for them: Aaron and his sons^(DG) are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.^{(DH) 20} But the Kohathites must not go in to look^(DI) at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”