Study Desk

those registered for the tribe of Benjamin numbered 35,400.

those registered for the tribe of Dan numbered 62,700.

those registered for the tribe of Asher numbered 41,500.

those registered for the tribe of Naphtali numbered 53,400.

For the Lord had told Moses:

They are to perform duties for him and the entire community before the tent of meeting by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and perform duties for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

The Gershonites’ duties at the tent of meeting involved the tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting,

the hangings of the courtyard, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and the altar, and the tent ropes—all the work relating to these.

Counting every male one month old or more, there were 8,600 responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.

The chief of the Levite leaders was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest; he had oversight of those responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.

You are to take the Levites for me—I am the Lord—in place of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the Levites’ cattle in place of every firstborn among the Israelites’ cattle.”

As the redemption price for the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites,

collect five shekels for each person, according to the standard sanctuary shekel—twenty gerahs to the shekel.

Give the silver to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are in excess among the Israelites.”

“They are to spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence and place the plates and cups on it, as well as the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to be on it.

“They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, with its lamps, snuffers, and firepans, as well as its jars of oil by which they service it.

Do this for them so that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy objects: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and transportation duty.

They are to transport the tabernacle curtains, the tent of meeting with its covering and the covering made of fine leather on top of it, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting,

the hangings of the courtyard, the screen for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and the altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. They will carry out everything that needs to be done with these items.