33. And truly, from Merari are the peoples of the Mahlites and Mushites, having been counted by their names,
34. all those of the male gender, from one month and above: six thousand two hundred.
35. Their leader is Suriel the son of Abihaiel. They shall make camp on the north side.
36. Under their care shall be the panels of the tabernacle, and the bars, and the columns with their bases, and all the things which pertain to service of this kind,
37. and the columns of the surrounding atrium with their bases, and the tent pegs with their cords.
38. Moses and Aaron, with their sons, shall make camp before the tabernacle of the covenant, that is, on the east side, holding the custody of the Sanctuary in the midst of the sons of Israel. Whatever foreigner approaches it shall die.
39. All the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered by their families according to the precept of the Lord, of the male gender, from one month and above, were twenty-two thousand.
40. And the Lord said to Moses: "Number the firstborn of the male sex from the sons of Israel, from one month and above, and you shall take their total.
41. And you shall bring the Levites to me, in place of all the firstborn of the sons of Israel, and you shall bring their cattle to me, in place of all the firstborn of the cattle of the sons of Israel. I am the Lord."
42. Moses took a census, just as the Lord had instructed, of the firstborn of the sons of Israel.