16. “Eleazar son of Aaron the priest will be responsible for the Holy Tent. He will be responsible for everything in it, including the holy things. He will be responsible for the oil for the lamp, the sweet-smelling incense, the daily offering, and the anointing oil.”
17. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,
18. “Be careful! Don’t let these Kohathite men be destroyed.
19. You must do these things so that the Kohathite men can go near the most holy things and not die. Aaron and his sons must go in and show each Kohathite man what to do and what to carry.
20. If you don’t do this, the Kohathite men might go in and look at the holy things. If they look at these things, even for a moment, they must die.”
21. The Lord said to Moses,
22. “Count all the people of the Gershon family. List them by family and family group.
23. Count all the men who are from 30 to 50 years old who come to serve. These men will have the job of caring for the Meeting Tent.
24. “This is what the Gershonite family must do and the things they must carry:
25. They must carry the curtains of the Holy Tent, the Meeting Tent, its covering, and the covering made from fine leather. They must also carry the curtain at the entrance of the Meeting Tent.
26. They must carry the curtains of the courtyard that are around the Holy Tent and the altar. And they must carry the curtain for the entrance of the courtyard. They must also carry all the ropes and all the things that are used with the curtains. The Gershonite men will be responsible for anything that needs to be done with these things.
27. Aaron and his sons will watch all the work that is done. Everything the Gershonites carry and the other work they do will be watched by Aaron and his sons. You must tell them what they are responsible for carrying.
28. This is the work that the men of the Gershonite family group must do for the Meeting Tent. Ithamar son of Aaron the priest will be responsible for their work.”
29. “Count all the men in the families and family groups in the Merari family group.
30. Count all the men who are from 30 to 50 years old and come to serve. These men will do a special work for the Meeting Tent.
31. When you travel, it is their job to carry the frames of the Meeting Tent. They must carry the braces, the posts, and the bases.
32. They must also carry the posts that are around the courtyard. They must carry the bases, the tent pegs, the ropes, and everything that is used for the poles around the courtyard. List the names and tell each man exactly what he must carry.
33. This is what the people from the Merari family will do to serve in the work for the Meeting Tent. Ithamar son of Aaron the priest will be responsible for their work.”