Numbers 4
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1Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,1The LORD said to Moses and Aaron:
2“Record the names of the members of the clans and families of the Kohathite division of the tribe of Levi.2"Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families.
3List all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle.3Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.
4“The duties of the Kohathites at the Tabernacle will relate to the most sacred objects.4"This is the work of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.
5When the camp moves, Aaron and his sons must enter the Tabernacle first to take down the inner curtain and cover the Ark of the Covenant with it.5When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and put it over the ark of the covenant law.
6Then they must cover the inner curtain with fine goatskin leather and spread over that a single piece of blue cloth. Finally, they must put the carrying poles of the Ark in place.6Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather, spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.
7“Next they must spread a blue cloth over the table where the Bread of the Presence is displayed, and on the cloth they will place the bowls, ladles, jars, pitchers, and the special bread.7"Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it.
8They must spread a scarlet cloth over all of this, and finally a covering of fine goatskin leather on top of the scarlet cloth. Then they must insert the carrying poles into the table.8They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles in place.
9“Next they must cover the lampstand with a blue cloth, along with its lamps, lamp snuffers, trays, and special jars of olive oil.9"They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays, and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it.
10Then they must cover the lampstand and its accessories with fine goatskin leather and place the bundle on a carrying frame.10Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.
11“Next they must spread a blue cloth over the gold incense altar and cover this cloth with fine goatskin leather. Then they must attach the carrying poles to the altar.11"Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles in place.
12They must take all the remaining furnishings of the sanctuary and wrap them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine goatskin leather, and place them on the carrying frame.12"They are to take all the articles used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.
13“They must remove the ashes from the altar for sacrifices and cover the altar with a purple cloth.13"They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it.
14All the altar utensils—the firepans, meat forks, shovels, basins, and all the containers—must be placed on the cloth, and a covering of fine goatskin leather must be spread over them. Finally, they must put the carrying poles in place.14Then they are to place on it all the utensils used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans, meat forks, shovels and sprinkling bowls. Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles in place.
15The camp will be ready to move when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the sacred articles. The Kohathites will come and carry these things to the next destination. But they must not touch the sacred objects, or they will die. So these are the things from the Tabernacle that the Kohathites must carry.15"After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, only then are the Kohathites to come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.
16“Eleazar son of Aaron the priest will be responsible for the oil of the lampstand, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. In fact, Eleazar will be responsible for the entire Tabernacle and everything in it, including the sanctuary and its furnishings.”16"Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles."
17Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,17The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
18“Do not let the Kohathite clans be destroyed from among the Levites!18"See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites.
19This is what you must do so they will live and not die when they approach the most sacred objects. Aaron and his sons must always go in with them and assign a specific duty or load to each person.19So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.
20The Kohathites must never enter the sanctuary to look at the sacred objects for even a moment, or they will die.” Duties of the Gershonite Clan20But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die."
21And the LORD said to Moses,21The LORD said to Moses,
22“Record the names of the members of the clans and families of the Gershonite division of the tribe of Levi.22"Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans.
23List all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle.23Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.
24“These Gershonite clans will be responsible for general service and carrying loads.24"This is the service of the Gershonite clans in their carrying and their other work:
25They must carry the curtains of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle itself with its coverings, the outer covering of fine goatskin leather, and the curtain for the Tabernacle entrance.25They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, that is, the tent of meeting, its covering and its outer covering of durable leather, the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting,
26They are also to carry the curtains for the courtyard walls that surround the Tabernacle and altar, the curtain across the courtyard entrance, the ropes, and all the equipment related to their use. The Gershonites are responsible for all these items.26the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes and all the equipment used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things.
27Aaron and his sons will direct the Gershonites regarding all their duties, whether it involves moving the equipment or doing other work. They must assign the Gershonites responsibility for the loads they are to carry.27All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You shall assign to them as their responsibility all they are to carry.
28So these are the duties assigned to the Gershonite clans at the Tabernacle. They will be directly responsible to Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. Duties of the Merarite Clan28This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest.
29“Now record the names of the members of the clans and families of the Merarite division of the tribe of Levi.29"Count the Merarites by their clans and families.
30List all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle.30Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.
31“Their only duty at the Tabernacle will be to carry loads. They will carry the frames of the Tabernacle, the crossbars, the posts, and the bases;31As part of all their service at the tent, they are to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,
32also the posts for the courtyard walls with their bases, pegs, and ropes; and all the accessories and everything else related to their use. Assign the various loads to each man by name.32as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes, all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry.
33So these are the duties of the Merarite clans at the Tabernacle. They are directly responsible to Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.” Summary of the Registration33This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the tent of meeting under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest."
34So Moses, Aaron, and the other leaders of the community listed the members of the Kohathite division by their clans and families.34Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites by their clans and families.
35The list included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle,35All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting,
36and the total number came to 2,750.36counted by clans, were 2,750.
37So this was the total of all those from the Kohathite clans who were eligible to serve at the Tabernacle. Moses and Aaron listed them, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses.37This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the LORD's command through Moses.
38The Gershonite division was also listed by its clans and families.38The Gershonites were counted by their clans and families.
39The list included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle,39All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting,
40and the total number came to 2,630.40counted by their clans and families, were 2,630.
41So this was the total of all those from the Gershonite clans who were eligible to serve at the Tabernacle. Moses and Aaron listed them, just as the LORD had commanded.41This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the LORD's command.
42The Merarite division was also listed by its clans and families.42The Merarites were counted by their clans and families.
43The list included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle,43All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting,
44and the total number came to 3,200.44counted by their clans, were 3,200.
45So this was the total of all those from the Merarite clans who were eligible for service. Moses and Aaron listed them, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses.45This was the total of those in the Merarite clans. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the LORD's command through Moses.
46So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel listed all the Levites by their clans and families.46So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families.
47All the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle and for its transportation47All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting
48numbered 8,580.48numbered 8,580.
49When their names were recorded, as the LORD had commanded through Moses, each man was assigned his task and told what to carry. And so the registration was completed, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.49At the LORD's command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry. Thus they were counted, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.New International Version (NIV)

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Numbers 3
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