18. "Do not be willing to lose the people of Kohath from the midst of the Levites.
19. But do this for them, so that they may live, and so that they may not die by touching the Holies of holies. Aaron and his sons shall enter, and they shall assign the work of each one, and they shall determine what each one ought to carry.
20. Let no others, out of curiosity, see the things that are in the Sanctuary before they are wrapped, otherwise they shall die."
21. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
22. "Now also take a total of the sons of Gershon, by their houses and families and kinships,
23. from thirty years and above, even to fifty years. Number all those who enter and minister in the tabernacle of the covenant.
24. This is the duty of the family of the Gershonites:
25. to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the roof of the covenant, the other covering, and the veil over everything, and the violet tent, which hangs at the entrance of the tabernacle of the covenant,
26. the curtains of the atrium, and the veil at the entrance, which is before tabernacle. Everything that pertains to the altar, the cords, and the vessels of the ministry
27. the sons of Gershon shall carry, under the orders of Aaron and his sons. And so shall each one know to which burden he ought to surrender.
28. This is the service of the family of the Gershonites, in the tabernacle of the covenant, and they shall be under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.
29. Likewise, you shall take a census of the sons of Merari, by the families and houses of their fathers,
30. from thirty years and above, even to fifty years, of all who enter to the office of their ministry and to the service of the covenant of the testimony.
31. These are their burdens: They shall carry the panels of the tabernacle and its bars, the columns and their bases,
32. also the columns surrounding the atrium, with their bases and tent pegs and cords. They shall accept by number all the vessels and articles, and so shall they carry them.