Assigning the Duties to the 3 Families of Levites & Counting Them |
Numbers 4:1-49 The Fourth Book of Moses Called Numbers |
The Lord [spoke] to Moses & Aaron, saying, Take [& record] the [total] of [Kohath’s] sons from among the sons of Levi, [by] their families, by their [father’s houses,] from 30 to 50 years old [who] enter the [ministry] to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. This shall be the [work] of [Kohath’s] sons in the tabernacle of the congregation [related to] the most holy things. When the camp sets [out,] Aaron & his sons shall come & take down the covering [veil] & cover the Ark of theTestimony with it. [Then] they shall cover [it] with badger’s skins & shall spread over it a cloth [totally] of blue & put in the [poles to carry it.] Upon the table of [showbread,] they shall spread a blue cloth & put dishes, spoons & bowls & [their covers.] The bread shall be on [the table continually.] They shall spread a scarlet cloth [over them] & cover [that] with badger’s skins & put in the [poles to carry it.] They shall take a blue cloth and cover the candlestick of light & [its:] lamps, tongs, snuffdishes & all the oil vessels & [things used] to minister [with it] & put all [related items] within a covering of badger’s skins & put it upon a [carrying] bar. They shall spread a blue cloth upon the golden altar. It shall; be put within a covering of badger’s skins & [poles to carry it] shall be put in. They shall take all the instruments [articles used] for ministering in the sanctuary & put them in a blue cloth & cover them with badger’s skins & put them on a [carrying] bar. They shall take away the ashes from the [bronze] altar & spread a purple cloth on it. They shall put on it all the vessels [utensils] used to minister [at the altar]: the censers, flesh hooks, shovels, [bowls,] basins, & all the vessels of the altar. They shall spread a covering of badger’s skins on it & to put the [poles to carry it.] When Aaron & his sons have ended [covering all the things of] the sanctuary, as the camp is set to [go] forward, [Kohath’s sons] shall come to [carry these.] But they shall not touch any holy [things,] lest they die. These things are the [responsibility] of [Kohath’s sons] in the tabernacle of the congregation. The office of Eleazar [Aaron’s] son, the priest [pertains to] the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the daily [meat/grain] offering, the anointing oil & the oversight of all the tabernacle, the sanctuary & all the vessels [that are in it.] The Lord [spoke] to Moses & to Aaron, saying, [Don’t] cut off the tribe of Kohathite families from among the Levites. Do this, [so] they may live & not die, when they approach the Most Holy Things: Aaron & his sons shall go in & appoint [to each person] his [work] & [responsibility.] But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die. |
The Lord [spoke] to Moses, saying, Take also the [total number] of [Gershon’s] sons, [by] their families, by their [father’s houses,] from 30 to 50 years old [who] enter the [ministry] to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. The service of the [Gershonites,] they shall [carry the:] curtains, the tabernacle of the congregation, [its] covering, the covering of badger’s skins that is above, upon it. And the hangings for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, the [decorative] hangings of the [courtyard] & the hangings for the door of the gate of the court, by the tabernacle & by the altar & [around it, its] cords [ropes] & all the instruments [equipment needed] for the service [of the tabernacle ] & all the things made for them, they shall serve [this way.] Aaron & his sons [are in charge of appointing] the [Gershononite’s] sons with all their service [of carrying things] & [responsibilities.] Ithamar [Aaron’s] son, the priest, is [in charge of assigning the duties] of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation. |
You shall [count Merari’s] sons [by] their families, by their [father’s houses, from 30 to 50 years old [who] enter the [ministry] to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. All the service of [Merari’s] sons, for their [responsibilities] in the tabernacle of the congregation is under the [direction] of Ithamar, [Aaron’s] son, the priest. [They are responsible for carrying:] the boards of the tabernacle & [its] bars, sockets & pillars [of it.] [Also] the pillars [around] the [courtyard, its] sockets, pins, cords [ropes,] with all their [furnishings.] Assign the things that each man is to [carry.] |
Moses, Aaron & the chief of the congregation [counted the Kohathite’s] sons [by] their families, by their [father’s houses,] from 30 to 50 years old [who] enter the [ministry] to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation which were 2,750. Moses & Aaron [counted] the Kohathites according to the [Lord’s command] at the hand of Moses. |
[Those counted of [Gershon’s] sons [by] their families, by their [father’s houses,] from 30 to 50 years old [who] enter the [ministry] to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation were 2,630. Moses & Aaron [counted] [Gershon’s] sons according to the [Lord’s command.] |
[Those counted of [Merari’s] sons [by] their families, by their [father’s houses,] from 30 to 50 years old [who] enter the [ministry] to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation were 3,200. Moses & Aaron [counted] [Merari’s] sons according to the [Lord’s command.] |
[Those counted of [Levite’s] [by] their families, by their [father’s houses,] from 30 to 50 years old [who] enter the [ministry] to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation were 8,580. Moses & Aaron [counted] the [Levite’s] according to the [Lord’s command by] the hand of Moses. |
According to the [Lord’s command,] at the hand of Moses [he assigned their duties & told what they were to carry.] Thus they were [all counted,] as the Lord commanded Moses. |