10. Then they must put it with all its utensils in a covering of fine leather, and put it on a carrying beam.
11. “They must spread a blue cloth on the gold altar, and cover it with a covering of fine leather; and they must insert its poles.
12. Then they must take all the utensils of the service, with which they serve in the sanctuary, put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering of fine leather, and put them on a carrying beam.
13. Also, they must take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it.
14. Then they must place on it all its implements with which they serve there – the trays, the meat forks, the shovels, the basins, and all the utensils of the altar – and they must spread on it a covering of fine leather, and then insert its poles.
15. “When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is ready to journey, then the Kohathites will come to carry them; but they must not touch any holy thing, or they will die. These are the responsibilities of the Kohathites with the tent of meeting.
16. “The appointed responsibility of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest is for the oil for the light, and the spiced incense, and the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil; he also has the appointed responsibility over all the tabernacle with all that is in it, over the sanctuary and over all its furnishings.”
17. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron:
18. “Do not allow the tribe of the families of the Kohathites to be cut off from among the Levites;
19. but in order that they will live and not die when they approach the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons will go in and appoint each man to his service and his responsibility.
20. But the Kohathites are not to go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, or they will die.”
21. Then the Lord spoke to Moses:
22. “Also take a census of the Gershonites, by their clans and by their families.
23. You must number them from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work of the tent of meeting.