The Kohathites
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The LORD said to Moses and Aaron:
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"Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families.
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Count all the men from thrity to fifty years of age who come to serve
in the work in the Tent of Meeting.
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"This is the work of the Kohathites in the Tent of Meeting:
the care of the most holy things.
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When the campis to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in
and take down the shielding curtain and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.
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Then they are to cover this with hides of sea cows,
spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.
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"Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth
and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, an the jars for drink offerings;
the bread that is continually there is to remain on it.
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Over these they are to spread a scarlet cloth, cover that
with hides of sea cows and put its poles in place.
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"They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light,
together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays,
and all its jars for the oil used to supply it.
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Then they are to wrap to it and all its accessories in a covering of
hides of sea cows and put it on a carrying frame.
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"Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth and that
with hides of sea cows and put its poles in place.
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"They are to take all the articles used for ministering in the sanctuary,
wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with hides of sea cows
and put them on a carrying frame.
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"They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple
cloth over it.
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Then they are to place on it all the utensils used for ministering at the altar,
including the firespans, meat forks, shovels and sprinkling bowls.
Over it they are to spread a covering of hides of sea cows and put its poles
in place.
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"After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings
and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move,
the Kohathites are to come to do the carrying. But they must not touch
the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things
that are in the Tent of Meeting.
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"Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,
the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil.
He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it,
including its holy furnishings and articles."
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The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
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"See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not cut off from the Levites.
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So that they may live and not die when they came near the most holy things,
do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go into the sanctuary
and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.
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But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things,
even for a moment, or they will die."
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The LORD said to Moses,
The Gershonites
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"Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans.
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Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age
who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
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"This is the service of the Gershonite clans as they work and carry burdens:
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They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting,
its covering and the outer covering of hides of sea cows,
the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,
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the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and the altar,
the curtain for the entrance, the ropes and all the equipment used
in the service. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done
with these things.
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All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done
under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You shall assign to them
as their responsibility all they are to carry.
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This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting.
Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest.
The Merarites
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"Count the Merarites by their clans and families.
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Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age
who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
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This is their duty as they perform service at the Tent of Meeting:
to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,
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as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases,
ten pegs, ropes, all their equipment and everything related to their use.
Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry.
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This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the Tent of Meeting
under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest."
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Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites
by their clans and families.
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All the men from thirty to fifty years of age
who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
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counted by clans, were 2,750.
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This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans who served
in the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them
according to the LORD's command through Moses.
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The Gershonites were counted by their clans and families.
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All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve
in the work at the Tent of Meeting,
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counted by their clans and families, were 2,630.
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This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served
at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to
the LORD's command.
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The Merarites were counted by their clans and families.
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All the men from thirty to fifty years of age
who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
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counted by their clans were 3,200.
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This was the total of those in the Merarite clans. Moses and Aaron counted
them according to the LORD's command through Moses.
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So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites
by their clans and families.
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All the men from thirty to fifty years of age
who come to serve in the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting.
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numbered 8,580.
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At the LORD's command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told
what to carry. Thus they were counted, as the LORD commanded Moses.
