¹³ “They are to remove the ashes^(A) from the bronze altar^(B) and spread a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴ Then they are to place on it all the utensils^(C) used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,^(D) meat forks,^(E) shovels^(F) and sprinkling bowls.^(G) Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles^(H) 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,^(I) only then are the Kohathites^(J) to come and do the carrying.^(K) But they must not touch the holy things^(L) or they will die.^(M) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

¹⁶ “Eleazar^(N) son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,^(O) the fragrant incense,^(P) the regular grain offering^(Q) 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,^(R) do this for them: Aaron and his sons^(S) are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.^{(T) 20} But the Kohathites must not go in to look^(U) 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^(V) 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,^(W) that is, the tent of meeting,^(X) its covering^(Y) 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,^(Z) the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard,^(AA) the ropes and all the equipment^(AB) 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.^(AC) You shall assign to them as their responsibility^(AD) all they are to carry. ²⁸ This is the service of the Gershonite clans^(AE) at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar^(AF) son of Aaron, the priest.

The Merarites

²⁹ “Count^(AG) the Merarites by their clans and families.^{(AH) 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,^{(AI) 32} as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes,^(AJ) 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^(AK) son of Aaron, the priest.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

³⁴ Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites^(AL) by their clans and families. ³⁵ All the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(AM) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, ³⁶ counted by clans, were 2,750. ³⁷ This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans^(AN) who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

³⁸ The Gershonites^(AO) were counted by their clans and families. ³⁹ All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, ⁴⁰ counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. ⁴¹ This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command.

⁴² The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. ⁴³ All the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(AP) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, ⁴⁴ counted by their clans, were 3,200. ⁴⁵ This was the total of those in the Merarite clans.^(AQ) Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

⁴⁶ So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted^(AR) all the Levites by their clans and families. ⁴⁷ All the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(AS) who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting ⁴⁸ numbered 8,580.^{(AT) 49} At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.

Thus they were counted,^(AU) as the Lord commanded Moses.