1. The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron:
2. “Among the Levites, take a census of the Kohathites by their clans and their ancestral houses,
3. men from 30 years old to 50 years old — everyone who is qualified to do work at the tent of meeting.
4. “The service of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting concerns the most holy objects.
5. Whenever the camp is about to move on, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the screening veil, and cover the ark of the testimony with it.
6. They are to place over this a covering made of manatee skin, spread a solid blue cloth on top, and insert its poles.
7. “They are to spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence and place the plates and cups on it, as well as the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to be on it.
8. They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with a covering made of manatee skin, and insert the poles in the table.
9. “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, with its lamps, snuffers, and firepans, as well as its jars of oil by which they service it.
10. Then they must place it with all its utensils inside a covering made of manatee skin and put them on the carrying frame.