The Duties of the Kohathites (Numbers 3:27–32; 1 Chronicles 23:12–20)
2 DRA Take the sum of the sons of Caath from the midst of the Levites, by their houses and families. BSB BSB: “Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families,
3 DRA From thirty years old and upward, to fifty years old, of all that go in to stand and to minister in the tabernacle of the covenant. BSB BSB: men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
4 DRA This is the service of the sons of Caath: BSB BSB: This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things.
5 DRA When the camp is to set forward, Aaron and his sons shall go into the tabernacle of the covenant, and the holy of holies, and shall take down the veil that hangeth before the door, and shall wrap up the ark of the testimony in it, BSB BSB: Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.
6 DRA And shall cover it again with a cover of violet skins, and shall spread over it a cloth all of violet, and shall put in the bars. BSB BSB: They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles.
7 DRA They shall wrap up also the table of proposition in a cloth of violet, and shall put with it the censers and little mortars, the cups and bowls to pour out the libations: the leaves shall be always on it: BSB BSB: Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and place the plates and cups on it, along with the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to remain on it.
8 DRA And they shall spread over it a cloth of scarlet, which again they shall cover with a covering of violet skins, and shall put in the bars. BSB BSB: And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles.
9 DRA They shall take also a cloth of violet wherewith they shall cover the candlestick with the lamps and tongs thereof and the snuffers and all the oil vessels, which are necessary for the dressing of the lamps: BSB BSB: They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, together with its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays, as well as the jars of oil with which to supply it.
10 DRA And over all they shall put a cover of violet skins and put in the bars. BSB BSB: Then they shall wrap it and all its utensils inside a covering of fine leather and put it on the carrying frame.
11 DRA And they shall wrap up the golden altar also in a cloth of violet, and shall spread over it a cover of violet skins, and put in the bars. BSB BSB: Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles.
12 DRA All the vessels wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, they shall wrap up in a cloth of violet, and shall spread over it a cover of violet skins, and put in the bars. BSB BSB: They are to take all the utensils for serving in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame.
13 DRA They shall cleanse the altar also from the ashes, and shall wrap it up in a purple cloth, BSB BSB: Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it,
14 DRA And shall put it with all the vessels that they use in the ministry thereof, that is to say, firepans, fleshhooks and forks, pothooks and shovels. They shall cover all the vessels of the altar together with a covering of violet skins, and shall put in the bars. BSB BSB: and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles.
16 DRA And over them shall be Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, to whose charge pertaineth the oil to dress the lamps, and the sweet incense, and the sacrifice, that is always offered, and the oil of unction, and whatsoever pertaineth to the service of the tabernacle, and of all the vessels that are in the sanctuary. BSB BSB: Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.”
17 DRA And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: BSB BSB: Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
18 DRA Destroy not the people of Caath from the midst of the Levites: BSB BSB: “Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites.
19 DRA But do this to them, that they may live, and not die, by touching the holies of holies. Aaron and his sons shall go in, and they shall appoint every man his work, and shall divide the burdens that every man is to carry. BSB BSB: In order 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 in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry.
20 DRA Let not others by any curiosity see the things that are in the sanctuary before they be wrapped up, otherwise they shall die. BSB BSB: But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.”
The Duties of the Gershonites (Numbers 3:21–26; 1 Chronicles 23:7–11)
21 DRA And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: BSB BSB: And the LORD said to Moses,
22 DRA Take the sum of the soils of Gerson also by their houses and families and kindreds. BSB BSB: “Take a census of the Gershonites as well, by their families and clans,
23 DRA From thirty Sears old and upward, unto fifty years old. Number them all that go in and minister in the tabernacle of the covenant. BSB BSB: from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
24 DRA This is the office of the family of the Gersonites: BSB BSB: This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport:
25 DRA To carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the roof of the covenant, the other covering, and the violet covering over all, and the hanging that hangeth in the entry of the tabernacle of the covenant, BSB BSB: They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting with the covering of fine leather over it, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,
26 DRA The curtains of the court, and the veil in the entry that is before the tabernacle. All things that pertain to the altar, the cords and the vessels of the ministry, BSB BSB: the curtains of the courtyard, and the curtains for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. The Gershonites will do all that needs to be done with these items.
27 DRA The sons of Gerson shall carry, by the commandment of Aaron and his sons: and each man shall know to what burden he must be assigned. BSB BSB: All the service of the Gershonites—all their transport duties and other work—is to be done at the direction of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry.
28 DRA This is the service of the family of the Gersonites in the tabernacle of the covenant, and they shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. BSB BSB: This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
The Duties of the Merarites (Numbers 3:33–37; 1 Chronicles 23:21–23)
29 DRA Thou shalt reckon up the sons of Merari also by the families and houses of their fathers, BSB BSB: As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their clans and families,
30 DRA From thirty years old and upward, unto fifty years old, all that go in to the office of their ministry, and to the service of the covenant of the testimony. BSB BSB: from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work of the Tent of Meeting.
31 DRA These are their burdens: They shall carry the boards of the tabernacle and the bars thereof, the pillars and their sockets, BSB BSB: This is the duty for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases,
32 DRA The pillars also of the court round about, with their sockets and pins and cords. They shall receive by account all the vessels and furniture, and so shall carry them. BSB BSB: and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and everything related to their use. You shall assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry.
33 DRA This is the office of the family of the Merarites, and their ministry in the tabernacle of the covenant: and they shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. BSB BSB: This is the service of the Merarite clans according to all their work at the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”
The Numbering of the Levite Clans 34 DRA So Moses and Aaron and the princes of the synagogue reckoned up the sons of Caath, by their kindreds and the houses of their fathers, BSB BSB: So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation numbered the Kohathites by their clans and families,
35 DRA From thirty years old and upward, unto fifty years old, all that go in to the ministry of the tabernacle of the covenant: BSB BSB: everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
36 DRA And they were found two thousand seven hundred and fifty. BSB BSB: And those numbered by their clans totaled 2,750.
37 DRA This is the number of the people of Caath that go in to the tabernacle of the covenant: these did Moses and Aaron number according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses. BSB BSB: These were counted from the Kohathite clans, everyone who could serve at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron numbered them according to the command of the LORD through Moses.
38 DRA The sons of Gerson also were numbered by the kindreds and houses of their fathers, BSB BSB: Then the Gershonites were numbered by their clans and families,
39 DRA From thirty years old and upward, unto fifty years old, all that go in to minister in the tabernacle of the covenant: BSB BSB: everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
40 DRA And they were found two thousand six hundred and thirty. BSB BSB: And those numbered by their clans and families totaled 2,630.
41 DRA This is the people of the Gersonites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord. BSB BSB: These were counted from the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the LORD’s command.
42 DRA The sons of Merari also were numbered by the kindreds and houses of their fathers, BSB BSB: And the Merarites were numbered by their clans and families,
43 DRA From thirty years old and upward, unto fifty years old, all that go in to fulfill the rites of the tabernacle of the covenant: BSB BSB: everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
44 DRA And they were found three thousand two hundred. BSB BSB: The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200.
45 DRA This is the number of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron reckoned up according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. BSB BSB: These were counted from the Merarite clans, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the LORD’s command through Moses.
46 DRA All that were reckoned up of the Levites, and whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel took by name, by the kindreds and houses of their fathers, BSB BSB: So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel numbered by their clans and families all the Levites
47 DRA From thirty years old and upward, until fifty years old, that go into the ministry of the tabernacle, and to carry the burdens, BSB BSB: from thirty to fifty years old who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting.
48 DRA Were in all eight thousand five hundred and eighty. BSB BSB: And the number of men was 8,580.
49 DRA Moses reckoned them up according to the word of the Lord, every one according to their office and burdens, as the Lord had commanded him. BSB BSB: At the LORD’s command through Moses they were numbered, and each one was assigned his work and burden, as the LORD had commanded Moses.