38 Moses, Aaron, and his sons camped east of the Holy Tent, [41] in front of the Meeting Tent. They were given the work of caring for the Holy Place. They did this for all the people of Israel. Any other person who came near the Holy Place was to be killed.
38 But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
38 But those to encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, before the Tent of Meeting, toward the sunrise, were to be Moses and Aaron and his sons, keeping the full charge of the rites of the sanctuary in whatever was required for the Israelites; and the excluded [one not a descendant of Aaron and called of God] who came near [the sanctuary] was to be put to death.
38 And those that encamp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
38 Those camping in front of the dwelling eastward (that is, before the meeting tent on the east side) were Moses, Aaron, and his sons, who performed the duties of the sanctuary as service for the Israelites. Anyone else who approached would be put to death.
38 Moses and Aaron, with their sons, shall make camp before the tabernacle of the covenant, that is, on the east side, holding the custody of the Sanctuary in the midst of the sons of Israel. Whatever foreigner approaches it shall die.
38 Before the tabernacle of the covenant, that is to say on the east side, shall Moses and Aaron camp, with their sons: having the custody of the sanctuary, in the midst of the children of Israel. What stranger soever cometh unto it shall be put to death.
So the Levites did all the things they were supposed to do. They took care of the Holy Tent. {\cf2\super [258]} They took care of the Holy Place. {\cf2\super [259]} And they helped their relatives, \{the priests,\} Aaron’s descendants. The Levites helped the priests with the services at the Lord’s temple.
Whenever the Holy Tent is moved, the men of Levi must do it. Whenever the Holy Tent is set up, the men of Levi must do it. They are the men who will take care of the Holy Tent. If any person who is not from Levi’s family group tries to take care of the tent, he must be killed.
But the men of Levi must make their camp around the Holy Tent. The men of Levi will guard the Holy Tent of the Agreement. {They will protect the Holy Tent} so that nothing bad will happen to the people of Israel.”
“The flag of the camp of Judah will be on the east side, where the sun rises. The people of Judah will camp near its flag. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab.
“Appoint Aaron and his sons to be priests. They must do their duty and serve as priests. Any other person who tries to come near the holy things [30] must be killed.”
The leader of the Merari family group was Zuriel son of Abihail. This family group was given the area to the north of the Holy Tent. [40] This is the area where they camped.