The Duties of the Kohathites
The LORD tells Moses and Aaron to count the Kohathites from thirty to fifty for service at the Tent of Meeting. Their work is defined by responsibility for the most holy things.
T1hen the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2“Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families, 3men from thirty to fifty years old— everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 4This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things.
Aaron and his sons are to cover each holy object in a prescribed way before the camp moves, from the ark to the altars and their utensils. Only after that may the Kohathites carry them, and touching the holy things brings death.
5Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. 6They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles. 7Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and place the plates and cups on it, along with the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to remain on it. 8And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles. 9They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, together with its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays, as well as the jars of oil with which to supply it. 10Then they shall wrap it and all its utensils inside a covering of fine leather and put it on the carrying frame. 11Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles. 12They are to take all the utensils for serving in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame. 13Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it, 14and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls— all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles. 15When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.
Eleazar is given oversight of key sacred materials and of the tabernacle as a whole, including its holy objects and utensils.
16Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.”
The LORD warns Moses and Aaron to protect the Kohathites from being cut off by assigning each man his task and burden. They may come near only under priestly direction, and they must not look upon the holy things uncovered.
17Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 18“Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites. 19In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry. 20But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.”