Numbers 4 — FBV

4Verse 1The Lord told Moses and Aaron,^{Verse 2}“Register the descendants of Kohath from the tribe of Levi, according to their family and father's line.^{Verse 3}Count men aged thirty to fifty—all who are entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.^{Verse 4}This work that they are to do in the Tent of Meetings involves the things that are most holy.^{Verse 5}Whenever you move camp, Aaron and his sons will go in, take down the veil, and place it over the Ark of the Testimony.^{Verse 6}On top of this they are to put a fine leather covering, spread a cloth of solid blue over it, and then insert its carrying poles.^{Verse 7}Have them spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence as well, and put the plates and cups on it, as well as the bowls and jugs for the drink offering. The current bread offering is to stay on it.^{Verse 8}Over everything they are to spread a crimson cloth, next a fine leather covering, and then insert its carrying poles.^{Verse 9}Using a blue cloth, they are to cover the lampstand of light, together with its lamps, wick tongs, and trays, as well as the jars of olive oil used to fill them.^{Verse 10}Then have them wrap it together with all its utensils inside a fine leather covering and place it on the carrying frame.^{Verse 11}They are to spread a blue cloth over the gold altar, cover it with fine leather, and then insert its carrying poles.^{Verse 12}They are to place all the utensils used for the service in the sanctuary in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and place them on the carrying frame.^{Verse 13}Have them clean the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it,^{Verse 14}and put on it all the equipment used in the services on the altar: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls. Spread over it a fine leather covering and then insert its carrying poles.^{Verse 15}Once Aaron and his sons have finished covering these holy things and all the equipment connected with them, when the camp is ready to move, the priests of the Kohath family are to come and carry them. But they are forbidden to touch anything holy, otherwise they'll die. These are their responsibilities for moving the Tent of Meeting.^{Verse 16}Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, is to supervise obtaining olive oil for the lamps, the aromatic incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He is in charge of the whole Tabernacle and everything in it—all the holy things and equipment.”^{Verse 17}The Lord told Moses and Aaron,^{Verse 18}“Make sure the families of Kohath are not wiped out from the Levites.^{Verse 19}This is what you have to do so that they'll live and won't die by getting too close to something holy. Aaron and his sons must go in and tell each of them what they have to do and what they have to carry.^{Verse 20}But they must not go in and look at the things that are most holy, even for just a moment, otherwise they'll die.”^{Verse 21}The Lord told Moses,^{Verse 22}“Register the descendants of Gershon, according to their family and father's line^{Verse 23}Count men aged thirty to fifty—all who are entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.^{Verse 24}This is how the families of Gershon will serve in terms of working and carrying:^{Verse 25}Have them carry the Tabernacle curtains, the Tent of Meeting with its fine leather covering, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,^{Verse 26}the courtyard curtains, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the Tabernacle and altar, the ropes, and everything connected with their use. The families of Gershon are responsible for everything required involving these items.^{Verse 27}All that they do is to be under the supervision of Aaron and his sons—all their work and carrying assignments. You are to tell them all they are required to carry.^{Verse 28}These are their responsibilities for moving the Tent of Meeting, carried out under the direction of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest.^{Verse 29}Register the descendants of Merari, according to their family and father's line.^{Verse 30}Count men aged thirty to fifty—all who are entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.^{Verse 31}This is how they will serve in handling the Tent of Meeting: they are to carry the frames of the Tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and stands,^{Verse 32}the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their stands, tent pegs, and ropes, all their equipment and everything connected with their use. You are to tell them by name what they are responsible for carrying.^{Verse 33}These are their responsibilities for all their work in moving the Tent of Meeting, carried out under the direction of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest.”^{Verse 34}Moses, Aaron, and the Israelite leaders registered the families of Kohath according to their family and father's line.^{Verse 35}They counted men aged thirty to fifty—all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.^{Verse 36}The total by families was 2,750.^{Verse 37}This was the total of the families of Kohath—all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron registered them in accordance with the Lord's instructions to Moses.^{Verse 38}The families of Gershon were counted, according to their family and father's line,^{Verse 39}men aged thirty to fifty—all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.^{Verse 40}The total by families and father's line was 2,630.^{Verse 41}This was the total of the families of Gershon —all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting. They were registered by Moses and Aaron in accordance with the Lord's instructions.^{Verse 42}The families of Merari were counted, according to their family and father's line,^{Verse 43}men aged thirty to fifty—all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.^{Verse 44}The total by families was 3,200.^{Verse 45}This was the total of the families of Merari registered by Moses and Aaron in accordance with the Lord's instructions.^{Verse 46}This is how Moses, Aaron, and the Israelite leaders registered all the Levites according to their family and father's line.^{Verse 47}They counted men aged thirty to fifty—all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting and carrying it.^{Verse 48}The sum total was 8,580.^{Verse 49}It was in response to the Lord's instructions that they were registered by Moses. Each of those registered were told what to do and what to carry, as the Lord had ordered Moses.