DUTIES OF THE KOHATHITES

4 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: 2 “Among the Levites, take a census of the Kohathitesb by their clans and their ancestral families,* 3 men from thirty years old to fifty years old—everyone who is qualifiedD to do work at the tent of meeting.

4 “The service of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting concerns the most holy objects.c 5 Whenever the camp is about to move on, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the screening curtain, and cover the ark of the testimony with it.d 6 They are to place over this a covering made of fine leather,* e spread a solid blue cloth on top, and insert its poles.f

7 “They are to spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence and place the plates and cups on it, as well as the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to be on it.g 8 They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with a covering made of fine leather, and insert the poles in the table.h

9 “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstandi used for light, with its lamps, snuffers, and firepans,j as well as its jars of oil by which they service it. 10 Then they are to place it with all its utensils inside a covering made of fine leather and put them on the carrying frame.

11 “They are to spread a blue cloth over the gold altar,k cover it with a covering made of fine leather, and insert its poles.l 12 They are to take all the serving utensils they use in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering made of fine leather, and put them on a carrying frame.

13 “They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it, 14 and place all the equipment on it that they use in serving: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and basins—all the equipment of the altar.m They are to spread a covering made of fine leather over it and insert its poles.F,n

15 “Aaron and his sons are to finish covering the holy objects and all their equipment whenever the camp is to move on. The Kohathites will come and carry them, but they are not to touch the holy objects or they will die.o These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the tent of meeting.