When the tabernacle sets out, the Levites will take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites will set it up, and the foreigner that approaches will be put to death.
But the Levites will camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so there will be no wrath on the congregation of the Israelites. And the Levites will keep the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.
They will perform duties for you and for the whole tent, but they will not come near the vessels of the sanctuary or the altar, so that neither they nor you die.
Of the half of the Israelites, you will take one portion of fifty, of the people, of the oxen, of the donkeys, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and give them to the Levites, who keep the guard of the tabernacle of the Lord.”
But they will minister with their brothers in the tent of meeting, to attend to their needs, but will not do the work. Thus you will do to the Levites concerning their duties.
Then He struck the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men. And the people lamented, because the Lord had struck the people with a great slaughter.