Numbers 4:4-20

4This is the work of the 1descendants of Kohath in the tent of meeting, concerning the most holy things.

5“When the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and they shall take down 2the veil of the screen and cover the 3ark of the testimony with it; 6and they shall lay a 4covering of porpoise skin on it, and shall spread over it a cloth of pure 5blue, and shall insert its poles. 7Over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall also spread a cloth of 6blue and put on it the dishes and the pans and the sacrificial bowls and the jars for the drink offering, and 7the continual bread shall be on it. 8They shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet material, and cover the same with a covering of porpoise skin, and they shall insert its poles. 9Then they shall take a 8blue cloth and cover the 9lampstand for the light, 10along with its lamps and its snuffers, and its 11trays and all its oil vessels, by which they serve it; 10and they shall put it and all its utensils in a covering of porpoise skin, and shall put it on the carrying bars. 11Over the golden altar they shall spread a 12blue cloth and cover it with a covering of porpoise skin, and shall insert its poles; 12and they shall take all the utensils of service, with which they serve in the sanctuary, and put them in a 13blue cloth and cover them with a covering of porpoise skin, and put them on the carrying bars. 13Then they shall take away the 14ashes from the 15altar, and spread a purple cloth over it. 14They shall also put on it all its utensils by which they serve in connection with it: the firepans, the forks and shovels and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread a cover of porpoise skin over it and insert its poles. 15When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them, so that they will not touch the holy objects 16and die. These are the 17things in the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry.

16“The responsibility of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest is 18the oil for the light and the 19fragrant incense and 20the continual grain offering and 21the anointing oil--the responsibility of all the 22tabernacle and of all that is in it, with the sanctuary and its furnishings.”

17Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 18“Do not let the tribe of the families of the Kohathites be cut off from among the Levites. 19But do this to them that they may live and 23not die when they approach the most holy objects: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign each of them to his work and to his load; 20but 24they shall not go in to see the holy objects even for a moment, or they will die.”