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.
24. This is the service of the families of Gershonites, as they serve and carry it.