1The Lord told Moses and Aaron,

2“Register the descendants of Kohath from the tribe of Levi, according to their family and father's line.

3Count men aged thirty to fifty—all who are entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.

4This work that they are to do in the Tent of Meetings involves the things that are most holy.

5Whenever you move camp, Aaron and his sons will go in, take down the veil, and place it over the Ark of the Testimony.

6On 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.

7Have 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.

8Over everything they are to spread a crimson cloth, next a fine leather covering, and then insert its carrying poles.

9Using 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.

10Then have them wrap it together with all its utensils inside a fine leather covering and place it on the carrying frame.

11They are to spread a blue cloth over the gold altar, cover it with fine leather, and then insert its carrying poles.

12They 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.

13Have them clean the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it,

14and 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.

15Once 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.

16Eleazar, 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.”

17The Lord told Moses and Aaron,

18“Make sure the families of Kohath are not wiped out from the Levites.

19This 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.

20But they must not go in and look at the things that are most holy, even for just a moment, otherwise they'll die.”

21The Lord told Moses,

22“Register the descendants of Gershon, according to their family and father's line

23Count men aged thirty to fifty—all who are entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.

24This is how the families of Gershon will serve in terms of working and carrying:

25Have them carry the Tabernacle curtains, the Tent of Meeting with its fine leather covering, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,

26the 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.

27All 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.

28These are their responsibilities for moving the Tent of Meeting, carried out under the direction of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest.

29Register the descendants of Merari, according to their family and father's line.

30Count men aged thirty to fifty—all who are entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.

31This 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,

32the 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.

33These 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.”

34Moses, Aaron, and the Israelite leaders registered the families of Kohath according to their family and father's line.

35They counted men aged thirty to fifty—all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.

36The total by families was 2,750.

37This 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.

38The families of Gershon were counted, according to their family and father's line,

39men aged thirty to fifty—all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.

40The total by families and father's line was 2,630.

41This 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.

42The families of Merari were counted, according to their family and father's line,

43men aged thirty to fifty—all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting.

44The total by families was 3,200.

45This was the total of the families of Merari registered by Moses and Aaron in accordance with the Lord's instructions.

46This is how Moses, Aaron, and the Israelite leaders registered all the Levites according to their family and father's line.

47They counted men aged thirty to fifty—all who were entitled to do the work of serving in the Tent of Meeting and carrying it.

48The sum total was 8,580.

49It 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.