Numbers 4:4–20

⁴“This is the work^o of the Kohathites^p at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.^{q 5}When the camp is to move,^r Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain^s and put it over the ark of the covenant law.^{t 6}Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,^au spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles^v in place.

⁷“Over the table of the Presence^w they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings;^x the bread that is continually there^y is to remain on it. ⁸They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles^z in place.

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,^a and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it. ¹⁰Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.^b

¹¹“Over the gold altar^c they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles^d in place.

¹²“They are to take all the articles^e 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.^f

¹³“They are to remove the ashes^g from the bronze altar^h and spread a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴Then they are to place on it all the utensilsⁱ used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,^j meat forks,^k shovels^l and sprinkling bowls.^m Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the polesⁿ in place.

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,^o only then are the Kohathites^p to come and do the carrying.^q But they must not touch the holy things^r or they will die.^s The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

¹⁶“Eleazar^t son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,^u the fragrant incense,^v the regular grain offering^w and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”

¹⁷The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ¹⁸“See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites. ¹⁹So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things,^x do this for them: Aaron and his sons^y are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.^{z 20}But the Kohathites must not go in to look^a at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”