Then the Holy Tent [151] was taken down. And the men from the Gershon and the Merari families carried the Holy Tent. So the people from these families were next in line.
In the Meeting Tent, [34] the Gershonite people had the job of taking care of the Holy Tent, the outer tent, and the covering. They also took care of the curtain at the entrance of the Meeting Tent.
They cared for the curtain in the courtyard. And they cared for the curtain at the entrance of the courtyard. This courtyard was around the Holy Tent and the altar. [35] And they cared for the ropes and for everything that was used with the curtains.
“Aaron and his sons must finish covering all the holy things in the Holy Place. [62] Then the men from the Kohath family can go in and begin carrying those things. In this way, they will not touch the Holy Place and die.
You must do these things so that the Kohathite men can go near the Most Holy Place [68] and not die. Aaron and his sons must go in and show each Kohathite man what to do. They must give each man the things he needs to carry.
They must carry the curtains of the Holy Tent, [70] the Meeting Tent, its covering, and the covering made from fine leather. [71] They must also carry the curtain at the entrance of the Meeting Tent.
Aaron and his sons will watch all the work that is done. Everything the Gershonite people carry and the other work they do will be watched by Aaron and his sons. You must tell them all the things that they are responsible for carrying.
All the men between the ages of 30 and 50 that served in the army were counted. These men were given a special work to do for the Meeting Tent. [77] They did the work of carrying the Meeting Tent when they traveled.
So, each man was counted like the Lord commanded Moses. Each man was given his own work and told what he must carry. This was done just like the Lord commanded.