1. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron:
2. Take a census among the Levites of the Kohathites, by clans and ancestral houses,
3. all between thirty and fifty years of age, who will join the personnel for doing tasks in the tent of meeting.
4. This is the task of the Kohathites in the tent of meeting: the most sacred objects.
5. In breaking camp, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the screening curtain and cover the ark of the covenant with it.
6. Over these they shall put a cover of yellow-orange skin, and on top of this spread an all-violet cloth and put the poles in place.
7. On the table of the Presence they shall spread a violet cloth and put on it the plates and cups, as well as the bowls and pitchers for libations; the established bread offering shall remain on the table.
8. Over these they shall spread a scarlet cloth and cover it with a covering of yellow-orange skin, and put the poles in place.
9. They shall use a violet cloth to cover the menorah of the light with its lamps, tongs, and trays, as well as the various containers of oil from which it is supplied.
10. The menorah with all its utensils they shall then put in a covering of yellow-orange skin, and place on a litter.
11. Over the golden altar they shall spread a violet cloth, and cover this also with a covering of yellow-orange skin, and put the poles in place.
12. Taking the utensils of the sanctuary service, they shall put them all in violet cloth and cover them with a covering of yellow-orange skin. They shall then place them on a litter.
13. After cleansing the altar of its ashes, they shall spread a purple cloth over it.
14. On this they shall put all the utensils with which it is served: the fire pans, forks, shovels, basins, and all the utensils of the altar. They shall then spread a covering of yellow-orange skin over this, and put the poles in place.