Numbers 1:47–53

⁴⁷But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them. ⁴⁸For Jehovah had spoken to Moses, saying, ⁴⁹Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel. ⁵⁰But thou, appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all its vessels; and they shall serve it, and round about the tabernacle shall they encamp; ⁵¹and when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle encampeth, the Levites shall set it up; and the stranger that cometh near shall be put to death. ⁵²And the children of Israel shall encamp every man in his camp, and every man by his own standard, according to their hosts; ⁵³but the Levites shall encamp round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there come not wrath upon the assembly of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.