Numbers 3:21-37

21Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimeites; these were the families of the Gershonites. 22Their numbered men, in the counting of every male from a month old and upward, their numbered men were 7,500. 23The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the 1tabernacle westward, 24and the leader of the fathers’ households of the Gershonites: Eliasaph the son of Lael. 25Now 2the duties of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting included the tabernacle and 3the tent, its covering, and 4the curtain for the entrance of the tent of meeting, 26and 5the curtains of the courtyard, 6the curtain for the entrance of the courtyard which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and its ropes, according to all the service 7concerning them.

27Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these were the families of the Kohathites. 28In the counting of every male from a month old and upward, there were 8,600, performing the duties of the sanctuary. 29The families of the sons of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle, 30and the leader of the fathers’ households of the Kohathite families: 8Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31Now 9their duties included 10the ark, 11the table, 12the lampstand, 13the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they minister, the 14curtain, and all the service 15concerning them; 32and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was the head of the leaders of Levi, and he had the supervision of those who performed the duties of the sanctuary.

33Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these were the families of Merari. 34Their numbered men in the counting of every male from a month old and upward: 6,200. 35And the leader of the fathers’ households of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They were to 16camp on the northward side of the tabernacle. 36Now the appointment of duties of the sons of Merari included the framework of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its bases, all its equipment, and all the service concerning them, 37and the pillars around the courtyard with their bases, their pegs, and their ropes.