Numbers 1:51

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Numbers 1:49–53 · Berean Standard Bible

49 “Do not number the tribe of Levi in the census with the other Israelites.

50 Instead, you are to appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, all its furnishings, and everything in it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its articles, care for it, and camp around it.

51 Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever it is to be pitched, the Levites are to set it up. Any outsider who goes near it must be put to death.

52 The Israelites are to camp by their divisions, each man in his own camp and under his own standard.

53 But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the congregation of Israel. So the Levites are responsible for the tabernacle of the Testimony.”

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Numbers 4:5

Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.

Numbers 4:6

They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles.

Numbers 4:7

Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and place the plates and cups on it, along with the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to remain on it.

Numbers 4:8

And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles.

Numbers 4:9

They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, together with its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays, as well as the jars of oil with which to supply it.

Numbers 4:10

Then they shall wrap it and all its utensils inside a covering of fine leather and put it on the carrying frame.

Numbers 4:11

Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles.

Numbers 4:12

They are to take all the utensils for serving in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame.

Numbers 4:13

Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it,

Numbers 4:14

and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles.

Numbers 4:15

When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.

Numbers 4:16

Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.”

Numbers 4:17

Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

Numbers 4:18

“Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites.

Numbers 4:19

In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry.

Numbers 4:20

But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.”

Numbers 4:21

And the LORD said to Moses,

Numbers 4:22

“Take a census of the Gershonites as well, by their families and clans,

Numbers 4:23

from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

Numbers 4:24

This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport:

Numbers 4:25

They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting with the covering of fine leather over it, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,

Numbers 4:26

the curtains of the courtyard, and the curtains for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. The Gershonites will do all that needs to be done with these items.

Numbers 4:27

All the service of the Gershonites—all their transport duties and other work—is to be done at the direction of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry.

Numbers 4:28

This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

Numbers 4:29

As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their clans and families,

Numbers 4:30

from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work of the Tent of Meeting.

Numbers 4:31

This is the duty for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases,

Numbers 4:32

and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and everything related to their use. You shall assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry.

Numbers 4:33

This is the service of the Merarite clans according to all their work at the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”

Numbers 10:11

On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony,

Numbers 10:17

Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, transporting it.

Numbers 10:18

Then the divisions of the camp of Reuben set out under their standard, with Elizur son of Shedeur in command.

Numbers 10:19

Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon,

Numbers 10:20

and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad.

Numbers 10:21

Then the Kohathites set out, transporting the holy objects; the tabernacle was to be set up before their arrival.

Numbers 3:10

So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”

Numbers 3:38

Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.

Numbers 16:40

just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.

Numbers 18:22

No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die.

Leviticus 22:10

No one outside a priest’s family may eat the sacred offering, nor may the guest of a priest or his hired hand eat it.

Leviticus 22:11

But if a priest buys a slave with his own money, or if a slave is born in his household, that slave may eat his food.

Leviticus 22:12

If the priest’s daughter is married to a man other than a priest, she is not to eat of the sacred contributions.

Leviticus 22:13

But if a priest’s daughter with no children becomes widowed or divorced and returns to her father’s house, she may share her father’s food as in her youth. But no outsider may share it.

1 Samuel 6:19

But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the LORD. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck them with a great slaughter.

2 Samuel 6:7

And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.