Numbers 4

(Numbers 3:27–32; 1 Chronicles 23:12–20)

1Then the LORDH3068 saidH1696 toH413 MosesH4872H413 and AaronH175H559, 2“TakeH5375 a censusH7218 of the KohathitesH1121H6955 amongH8432 the LevitesH1121H3878 by their clansH4940 and familiesH1H1004, 3men from thirtyH7970H1121H8141H4605 toH5704 fiftyH2572 years oldH1121H8141—everyoneH3605 who is qualifiedH935 to serveH6635 in the workH6213H4399 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150.

4ThisH2063 serviceH5656 of the KohathitesH1121H6955 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150 regards the mostH6944 holy thingsH6944. 5Whenever the campH4264 sets outH5265, AaronH175 and his sonsH1121 are to go inH935, take downH3381 the veilH6532 of the curtainH4539, and coverH3680 the arkH727 of the TestimonyH57151 with it. 6They are to placeH5414 overH5921 this a coveringH3681 of fine leatherH5785H8476,2 spreadH6566 a solidH3632 blueH8504 clothH899 over itH4605, and insertH7760 its polesH905.

7OverH5921 the tableH7979 of the PresenceH6440 they are to spreadH6566 a blueH8504 clothH899 and placeH5414 the platesH7086 and cupsH3709 on itH5921, along withH853 the bowlsH4518 and pitchersH7184 for the drink offeringH5262. The regularH8548 breadH3899 offering is to remainH1961 on itH5921. 8And they shall spreadH6566 a scarletH8438H8144 clothH899 over themH5921, coverH3680 themH853 withH4372 fine leatherH8476H5785, and insertH7760 the polesH905.

9They are to takeH3947 a blueH8504 clothH899 and coverH3680 the lampstandH4501 used for lightH3974, togetherH853 with its lampsH5216, wick trimmersH4457, and traysH4289, as well as the jarsH3627 of oilH8081 with whichH834 to supplyH8334 it. 10Then they shall wrapH5414 itH853 and allH3605 its utensilsH3627 insideH413 a coveringH4372 of fine leatherH8476H5785 and putH5414 it onH5921 the carrying frameH4132.

11OverH5921 the goldH2091 altarH4196 they are to spreadH6566 a blueH8504 clothH899, coverH3680 itH853 withH4372 fine leatherH8476H5785, and insertH7760 the polesH905. 12They are to takeH3947 allH3605 the utensilsH3627 for servingH8335 in the sanctuaryH6944, place themH5414 inH413 a blueH8504 clothH899, coverH3680 themH853 withH4372 fine leatherH8476H5785, and put themH5414 onH5921 the carrying frameH4132.

13Then they shall remove the ashesH1878 from the bronze altarH4196, spreadH6566 a purpleH713 clothH899 over itH5921, 14and placeH5414 on itH5921 allH3605 the vesselsH3627 used to serveH8334 thereH5921: the firepansH4289, meat forksH4207, shovelsH3257, and sprinkling bowlsH4219—allH3605 the equipmentH3627 of the altarH4196. They are to spreadH6566 over itH5921 a coveringH3681 of fine leatherH8476H5785 and insertH7760 the polesH905.

15When AaronH175 and his sonsH1121 have finishedH3615 coveringH3680 the holy objectsH6944 and allH3605 their equipmentH3627, as soon as the campH4264H310H3651 is ready to moveH5265, the KohathitesH1121H6955 shall comeH935 and do the carryingH5375. But they must notH3808 touchH5060H413 the holy objectsH6944, or they will dieH4191. TheseH428 are the transportation dutiesH4853 of the KohathitesH1121H6955 regarding the TentH168 of MeetingH4150.

16EleazarH499 sonH1121 of AaronH175 the priestH3548 shall overseeH6486 the oilH8081 for the lightH3974, the fragrantH5561 incenseH7004, the dailyH8548 grain offeringH4503, and the anointingH4888 oilH8081. He has oversightH6486 of the entireH3605 tabernacleH4908 and everythingH3605 in it, including the holy objectsH6944 and their utensilsH3627.”

17Then the LORDH3068 saidH1696 toH413 MosesH4872H413 and AaronH175H559, 18“Do notH408 allow the KohathiteH6956 tribalH7626 clansH4940 to be cut offH3772 from amongH8432 the LevitesH3881. 19In order that they may liveH2421 and notH3808 dieH4191 when they come nearH5066 the mostH6944 holy thingsH6944, doH6213 thisH2063 for them: AaronH175 and his sonsH1121 are to go inH935 and assignH7760 each manH376H5921 his taskH5656H413 and what he is to carryH4853. 20But the Kohathites are notH3808 to go inH935 and lookH7200 at the holy objectsH6944, even for a momentH1104, or they will dieH4191.”

The Duties of the Gershonites

(Numbers 3:21–26; 1 Chronicles 23:7–11)

21And the LORDH3068 saidH1696 toH413 MosesH4872H559, 22“Take a censusH5375 of the GershonitesH1121H1648 as wellH1571H1992, by their familiesH1H1004 and clansH4940, 23from thirtyH7970 toH5704 fiftyH2572 years oldH1121H8141, countingH6485 everyoneH3605 who comesH935 to serveH6633 in the workH5656 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150.

24ThisH2063 is the serviceH5656 of the GershoniteH1649 clansH4940 regarding workH5647 and transportH4853: 25They are to carryH5375 the curtainsH3407 of the tabernacleH4908, the TentH168 of MeetingH4150 with the coveringH4372 of fine leatherH8476 overH5921 itH4605, the curtainsH4539 for the entranceH6607 to the TentH168 of MeetingH4150, 26the curtainsH7050 of the courtyardH2691, andH853 the curtainsH4539 for the entranceH6607 at the gateH8179 of the courtyardH2691 thatH834 surroundsH5921 the tabernacleH4908H5921 and altarH4196H5439, along with their ropesH4340 and allH3605 the equipmentH3627 for their serviceH5656. The Gershonites will doH5647 allH3605 thatH834 needs to be doneH6213 with these items.

27AllH3605 the serviceH5656 of the GershonitesH1121H1961H1649—allH3605 their transport dutiesH4853 andH3605 other workH5656—is to be done atH5921 the directionH6310 of AaronH175 and his sonsH1121; you are to assignH6485 to themH5921 allH3605 that they are responsibleH4931 to carryH4853. 28ThisH2063 is the serviceH5656 of the GershoniteH1121H1649 clansH4940 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150, and their dutiesH4931 shall be under the directionH3027 of IthamarH385 sonH1121 of AaronH175 the priestH3548.

The Duties of the Merarites

(Numbers 3:33–37; 1 Chronicles 23:21–23)

29As for the sonsH1121 of MerariH4847, you are to numberH6485 themH853 by their clansH4940 and familiesH1H1004, 30from thirtyH7970H8141H1121H4605 toH5704 fiftyH2572 years oldH1121H8141, countingH6485 everyoneH3605 who comesH935 to serveH6635H5647 in the workH5656 of the TentH168 of MeetingH4150.

31ThisH2063 is the dutyH4931 for allH3605 their serviceH5656 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150: to carryH4853 the framesH7175 of the tabernacleH4908 with its crossbarsH1280, postsH5982, and basesH134, 32and the postsH5982 of the surroundingH5439 courtyardH2691 with their basesH134, tent pegsH3489, and ropesH4340, including allH3605 their equipmentH3627 and everythingH3605 related to their useH5656. You shall assignH6485 by nameH8034 the itemsH3627 that they are responsibleH4931 to carryH4853.

33ThisH2063 is the serviceH5656 of the MerariteH1121H4847 clansH4940 according to allH3605 their workH5656 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150, under the directionH3027 of IthamarH385 sonH1121 of AaronH175 the priestH3548.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

34So MosesH4872, AaronH175, and the leadersH5387 of the congregationH5712 numberedH6485 the KohathitesH1121H6956 by their clansH4940 and familiesH1H1004, 35everyoneH3605 from thirtyH7970 toH5704 fiftyH2572 years oldH1121H8141 who cameH935 to serveH6635 in the workH5656 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150. 36And thoseH1961 numberedH6485 by their clansH4940 totaled 2,750H505H7651H3967H2572. 37TheseH428 were countedH6485 from the KohathiteH6956 clansH4940, everyoneH3605 who could serveH5647 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150. MosesH4872 and AaronH175 numberedH6485 themH834 according toH5921 the commandH6310 of the LORDH3068 throughH3027 MosesH4872.

38Then the GershonitesH1121H1648 were numberedH6485 by their clansH4940 and familiesH1H1004, 39everyoneH3605 from thirtyH7970 toH5704 fiftyH2572 years oldH1121H8141 who cameH935 to serveH6635 in the workH5656 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150. 40And thoseH1961 numberedH6485 by their clansH4940 and familiesH1H1004 totaled 2,630H505H8337H3967H7970. 41TheseH428 were countedH6485 from the GershoniteH1121H1648 clansH4940H3605 who servedH5647 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150, whomH834 MosesH4872 and AaronH175 countedH6485 atH5921 the LORD’sH3068 commandH6310.

42And the MeraritesH1121H4847H4940 were numberedH6485 by their clansH4940 and familiesH1H1004, 43everyoneH3605 from thirtyH7970 toH5704 fiftyH2572 years oldH1121H8141 who cameH935 to serveH6635 in the workH5656 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150. 44The men registeredH6485 by their clansH4940 numbered 3,200H7969H505H3967. 45TheseH428 were countedH6485 from the MerariteH4847 clansH4940H1121, whomH834 MosesH4872 and AaronH175 numberedH6485 atH5921 the LORD’sH3068 commandH6310 throughH3027 MosesH4872.

46So MosesH4872, AaronH175, and the leadersH5387 of IsraelH3478 numberedH6485 by their clansH4940 and familiesH1H1004 allH3605 the LevitesH3881 47from thirtyH7970 toH5704 fiftyH2572 years oldH1121H8141 who cameH935 to doH5647 the workH5656 of servingH5656 and carryingH4853 the TentH168 of MeetingH4150. 48AndH1961 the number of menH6485 was 8,580H8083H505H2568H3967H8084. 49AtH5921 the LORD’sH3068 commandH6310 throughH3027 MosesH4872 they were numberedH6485, and each oneH376 was assignedH6485 his workH5656H5921 and burdenH4853, asH834 the LORDH3068 had commandedH6680 MosesH4872.