18. "Do not let the tribe of the families of the Kohathites be cut off from among the Levites.
19. But do this to them that they may live and not die when they approach the most holy objects: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign each of them to his work and to his load;
20. but they shall not go in to see the holy objects even for a moment, or they will die."
21. Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
22. "Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers' households, by their families;
23. from thirty years and upward to fifty years old, you shall number them; all who enter to perform the service to do the work in the tent of meeting.
24. This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in carrying:
25. they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the tent of meeting with its covering and the covering of porpoise skin that is on top of it, and the screen for the doorway of the tent of meeting,
26. and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the doorway of the gate of the court which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords and all the equipment for their service; and all that is to be done, they shall perform.