Numbers 4:4-20

NSB^{(i) 4} »This is the work the Kohathites will do in the tent of meeting: They will take care of the most holy things. ⁵ »When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons will go in and take down the canopy that hangs over the Ark containing the words of God’s Covenant. First they will cover the Ark with the canopy. ⁶ »Over this they will put a covering of fine leather. On top of that they will spread a cloth made entirely of violet material. Then they will put the poles in place. ⁷ »They will spread a violet cloth over the table of the presence and put on it the plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers for the wine offerings. The bread that is always in Jehovah’s presence will also be on it. ⁸ »They will spread a bright red cloth over everything on the table. They will then cover all this with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place. ⁹ »They will use a violet cloth to cover the lamp stand, as well as the lamps, snuffers, trays, and all the containers for the olive oil used in the lamps. ¹⁰ »Then they will put the lamp stand and all its utensils under a covering of fine leather and put them on a frame to carry them. ¹¹ »They will spread a violet cloth over the gold altar and cover the cloth with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place. ¹² »They will take all the articles that are used in the holy place and put them in a violet cloth. Then they will cover that with fine leather, and put them on a frame to carry them. ¹³ »After they take the ashes away, they will spread a purple cloth over the altar. ¹⁴ »They will put all the accessories used at the altar on it. These are the trays, forks, shovels, and bowls-all the altar’s accessories. They will spread a covering of fine leather (sealskin) over all this. Then they will put the poles in place. ¹⁵ »When Aaron and his sons finished covering the holy things and the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites will come to carry all the holy articles. They must never touch the holy things, or they will die. The Kohathites will carry all the things from the tent of meeting. ¹⁶ »Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of the oil for the lamps, the sweet-smelling incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He is in charge of the whole tent and everything in it, the holy place and its contents.« ¹⁷ Jehovah continued to speak to Moses and Aaron: ¹⁸ »Do not let the Kohathite families from Levi’s tribe be destroyed. ¹⁹ »This is what you must do so that they will not die when they come near the most holy things: Aaron and his sons will go into the holy place and tell each man what he will do and what he will carry. ²⁰ »However the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.«