This chapter continues numbering the families of the Levites and assigns responsibilities for each group in transporting the tabernacle and everything involved in that process. It has to be done carefully and properly or people will die.

Numbers 4

The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

2 “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,

3 From thirty years old to fifty years old, all who are able to serve, to do the work in the tent of meeting.

4 This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting, about the most holy things:

5 When the camp sets out, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:

6 And shall put on it the covering of fine leather, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put the poles in the rings. 

7 They shall spread a cloth of blue over the table of shewbread, and place  the dishes, spoons, bowls, and covers to cover everything: and the continual bread shall be on the table. 

8 They shall spread a cloth of scarlet over them, and cover the same with a covering of fine leather, and put in the poles in the rings. .

9 They shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and its lamps, tongs, and snuffer, and all the oil vessels they use to they minister:

10 And they shall put it and all the vessels of it within a covering of fine leather, and shall put it on a bar.

11 They shall spread a cloth of blue on the gold altar, and cover it with a covering of fine leather, and shall put the poles in the rings. 

12 They shall take all the instruments of ministry with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of fine leather, and shall put them on a bar:

13 And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it:

14 they shall put on it all the vessels, with which they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, shovels, basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread over it a covering of fine leather, and put the poles in the rings. 

15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing or they will die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting.

16 Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the lamp oil, sweet incense, the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that is inside, and of the vessels.”

17 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron saying:

18 “Do not cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:

19 But do this so they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint for each one his task:

20 But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, or they will die.”

21 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

22 “Take also a census of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families;

23 From thirty years old to fifty years old you shall number them; all that enter to perform the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting.

24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, for work and for transportation:

25 And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tent of meeting, his covering, and the covering of fine leather that is on it, and the hanging for the door of the tent of meeting,

26 the hangings of the court, the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, and its cords, and all the instruments of their service: they shall carry out everything that needs to be done for them. 

27 At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their works and their duties: and you shall appoint to them all their responsibilities.

28 This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

29 As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;

30 From thirty years old to fifty years old you shall number them, every one that enters into the service, to do the work of the tent of meeting.

31 And this is what they are responsible for, according to all their service in the tent of meeting; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars of them, and the pillars, and sockets,

32 And the pillars of the court all around, and their sockets, pins, cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and you shall list by name all the items they are responsible to carry. 

33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tent of meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.”

34 And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers,

35 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one able to enter the service, for the work in the tent of meeting:

36 Those that were numbered of them by their families were 2,750.

37 These were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might work in the tent of meeting, which Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

38 Those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers,

39 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one able to serve, for the work in the tent of meeting;

40 those that were numbered throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were 2,630.

41 These were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the LORD.

42 Those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers,

43 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that was able to serve, for the work in the tent of meeting,

44 those that were numbered after their families, were 3,200.

45 These were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

46 All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers,

47 From thirty years old to fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and to bear the burdens in the tent of meeting.

48 Those that were numbered of them, were 8,580;

49 They were numbered by the hand of Moses, according to the commandment of the LORD, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered as the LORD commanded Moses.

See also: Numbers 4 in ESV, HCSB, NASB and NIV via Bible Gateway.