20. But they will not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.
21. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
22. Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families.
23. From thirty years old and older to fifty years old you will number them, all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting.
24. This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and to work.
25. And they will carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tent of meeting, its covering, and the covering of the porpoise skins that is on it, and the hanging for the door of the tent of meeting,
26. and the hangings of the courtyard, and the hanging for the opening of the gate of the courtyard, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar all around, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them. So they will serve.
27. At the appointment of Aaron and his sons will be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service. And you shall assign to them all their tasks as their duty.
28. This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting. And their charge will be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
29. As for the sons of Merari, you will number them by their families, by the house of their fathers.
30. From thirty years old and older, even to fifty years old, you will number them, everyone who enters into the service, to do the work of the tent of meeting.
31. This is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tent of meeting. The boards of the tabernacle, and its bars thereof, and its pillars, and its sockets,
32. and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service, and by name you will list the instruments of the charge of their burden.
33. This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tent of meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
34. Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by the house of their fathers,
35. from thirty years old and older to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service, for the work in the tent of meeting.
36. And those who were numbered by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.
37. These were the ones listed of the families of the Kohathites, all who might do service in the tent of meeting, which Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses.
38. Those who were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers,
39. from thirty years old and older to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service, for the work in the tent of meeting,