Study Desk

So the Israelites obeyed everything the Lord commanded Moses. They camped under their flags and marched out by families and family groups.

But Nadab and Abihu died in the presence of the Lord when they offered the wrong kind of fire before the Lord in the Desert of Sinai. They had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

They will help him and all the Israelites at the Meeting Tent, doing the work in the Holy Tent.

because the firstborn are mine. When you were in Egypt, I killed all the firstborn children of the Egyptians and took all the firstborn of Israel to be mine, both animals and children. They are mine. I am the Lord ."

The family groups of Libni and Shimei belonged to Gershon; they were the Gershonite family groups.

The family groups of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel belonged to Kohath; they were the Kohathite family groups.

They had 8,600 males one month old or older, and they were responsible for taking care of the Holy Place.

They were responsible for the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the tools of the Holy Place which they were to use, the curtain, and all the work connected with these items.

The family groups of Mahli and Mushi belonged to Merari; they were the Merarite family groups.

The leader of the Merari families was Zuriel son of Abihail, and they were to camp north of the Holy Tent.

They were also responsible for the posts in the courtyard around the Holy Tent and their bases, tent pegs, and ropes.

Moses, Aaron, and his sons camped east of the Holy Tent, toward the sunrise, in front of the Meeting Tent. They were responsible for the Holy Place for the Israelites. Anyone else who came near the Holy Place was to be put to death.

Over this they must put a covering made from fine leather, then spread the solid blue cloth over that, and put the poles in place.

"Then they must spread a blue cloth over the table for the bread that shows a person is in God's presence. They must put the plates, pans, bowls, and the jars for drink offerings on the table; they must leave the bread that is always there on the table.

Then they must put a red cloth over all of these things, cover everything with fine leather, and put the poles in place.

"With a blue cloth they must cover the lampstand, its lamps, its wick trimmers, its trays, and all the jars for the oil used in the lamps.

Then they must wrap everything in fine leather and put all these things on a frame for carrying them.

"They must spread a blue cloth over the gold altar, cover it with fine leather, and put the poles in place.

"They must gather all the things used for serving in the Holy Place and wrap them in a blue cloth. Then they must cover that with fine leather and put these things on a frame for carrying them.

"They must clean the ashes off the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it.