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.
15. Only after Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sacred objects and all their utensils on breaking camp, can the Kohathites enter to carry them. But they shall not touch the sacred objects; if they do they will die. These, then, are the objects in the tent of meeting that the Kohathites shall carry.
16. Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, shall be in charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the established grain offering, and the anointing oil. He shall be in charge of the whole tabernacle with all the sacred objects and utensils that are in it.
17. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron:
18. Do not let the group of Kohathite clans perish from among the Levites.
19. That they may live and not die when they approach the most sacred objects, this is what you shall do for them: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign to each of them his task and what he must carry;
20. but the Kohathites shall not go in to look upon the sacred objects even for an instant, or they will die.
21. The Lord said to Moses:
22. Take a census of the Gershonites also, by ancestral houses and clans,
23. enrolling all between thirty and fifty years of age who will join the personnel to do the work in the tent of meeting.
24. This is the task of the clans of the Gershonites, what they must do and what they must carry: