The Wilderness Years

Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.

The total number of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted by their clans at the LORD’s command, including all the males a month old or more, was 22,000.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites a month old or more, and list their names.

You are to take the Levites for Me—I am the LORD—in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.”

So Moses numbered all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the LORD had commanded him.

The total number of the firstborn males a month old or more, listed by name, was 22,273.

Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

“Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites belong to Me; I am the LORD.

To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites,

you are to collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel of twenty gerahs.

Give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the excess among the Israelites.”

So Moses collected the redemption money from those in excess of the number redeemed by the Levites.

He collected the money from the firstborn of the Israelites: 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.

And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons in obedience to the word of the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.

Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

“Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families,

men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things.

Whenever 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.

They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles.

Over 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.

And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles.

They 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.

Then they shall wrap it and all its utensils inside a covering of fine leather and put it on the carrying frame.

Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles.