Duties of the Sons of Gershon

21 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 22 “Also take a census of the sons of (A)Gershon, by their fathers’ house, by their families. 23 (B)From thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, you shall number them, all who enter to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting. 24 This is the (C)service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and carrying: 25 (D)They shall carry the (E)curtains of the tabernacle and the tabernacle of meeting with its covering, the covering of (F)badger skins that is on it, the screen for the door of the tabernacle of meeting, 26 the screen for the door of the gate of the court, the hangings of the court which are around the tabernacle and altar, and their cords, all the furnishings for their service and all that is made for these things: so shall they serve.

27 “Aaron and his sons shall [a]assign all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, all their tasks and all their service. And you shall [b]appoint to them all their tasks as their duty. 28 This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of meeting. And their duties shall be (G)under the [c]authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

Duties of the Sons of Merari

29 As for the sons of (H)Merari, you shall number them by their families and by their fathers’ house. 30 (I)From thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, you shall number them, everyone who enters the service to do the work of the tabernacle of meeting. 31 And (J)this is (K)what they must carry as all their service for the tabernacle of meeting: (L)the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, 32 and the pillars around the court with their sockets, pegs, and cords, with all their furnishings and all their service; and you shall (M)assign to each man by name the items he must carry.

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 4:27 command
  2. Numbers 4:27 assign
  3. Numbers 4:28 Lit. hand

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(A) 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,(B) that is, the tent of meeting,(C) its covering(D) 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,(E) the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard,(F) the ropes and all the equipment(G) 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.(H) You shall assign to them as their responsibility(I) all they are to carry. 28 This is the service of the Gershonite clans(J) at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar(K) son of Aaron, the priest.

The Merarites

29 “Count(L) the Merarites by their clans and families.(M) 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,(N) 32 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes,(O) all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry.

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Two carts and four oxen (A)he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service; (B)and four carts and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the [a]authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was (C)the service of the holy things, (D)which they carried on their shoulders.

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 7:8 Lit. hand

He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites,(A) as their work required, and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites,(B) as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites,(C) because they were to carry on their shoulders(D) the holy things, for which they were responsible.

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