15. “When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the Sanctuary and all its holy implements, and when the camp is ready to move out, after this the sons of Kohath may come to do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy items or they will die. These are the task of the sons of Kohath with regard to the Tent of Meeting.
16. “Eleazar son of Aaron the kohen will have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He is to have charge of the Tabernacle and all that is in it, including its holy items and all its implements.”
17. Adonai spoke to Moses and Aaron saying,
18. “You are not to let the families of the tribe of the Kohathites be cut off from among the Levites.
19. Do this for them so that they may live and not die whenever they approach the most holy items–-Aaron and his sons are to go into the Sanctuary and assign each man his job and his responsibility.
20. But the Kohathites are not to go in to look at what is holy, not even momentarily, or they will die.”
21. Again Adonai spoke to Moses saying,
22. “Take a census also of the sons of Gershon, by their ancestral households and by their families.
23. Count all the males from 30 to 50 years of age, everyone coming to work in the service of the Tent of Meeting.
24. This is the task of the Gershonite families in working and carrying burdens.
25. They are to carry the curtains of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, its covering, the outer covering of porpoise hide, the curtains for the entrance for the Tent of Meeting,
26. the curtains surrounding the courtyard and the altar, the curtain for the entrance, the ropes and all the equipment used in its operations. They are to do all that needs to be done with these things.
27. The sons of the Gershonites are to do all their tasks, whether carrying or doing other work, according to the word of Aaron and his sons. You are to assign to them all that is their responsibility to carry.
28. This is the duty of the families of the sons of the Gershonites regarding the Tent of Meeting. Their duty will be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the kohen.
29. Next, count the sons of Merari, according to their families and their ancestral houses,
30. sons 30 years old and upward to 50, everyone coming to work in the service of the Tent of Meeting.