"So when the tabernacleis to setout, the Levitesshall takeit down;and when the tabernacleencamps,the Levitesshall setit up. But the laymanwho comesnearshall be putto death.
And the angerof the LORDburnedagainst Uzzah,and Godstruckhim downtherefor his irreverence;and he diedthereby the arkof God.
Now in the secondyear,in the secondmonth,on the twentiethof the month,the cloudwas liftedfrom overthe tabernacleof the testimony;
as a reminderto the sonsof Israelthat nolaymanwhois not of the descendantsof Aaronshould comenearto burnincensebeforethe LORD;so that he will not becomelike Korahand his company--justas the LORDhad spokento him throughMoses.
"Everyonewho comesnear,who comesnearto the tabernacleof the LORD,must die.Are we to perishcompletely?"
"It will comeabout that the rodof the manwhomI choosewill sprout.Thus I will lessenfrom upon Myself the grumblingsof the sonsof Israel,whoare grumblingagainstyou."
"The sonsof Israelshall not comenearthe tentof meetingagain,or they will bearsinand die.
"And they shall thus attendto your obligationand the obligationof allthe tent,but they shall not comenearto the furnishingsof the sanctuaryand the altar,orboththey and you will die.
"They shall be joinedwith you and attendto the obligationsof the tentof meeting,for allthe serviceof the tent;but an outsidermay not comenearyou.
"But you and your sonswith you shall attendto your priesthoodfor everythingconcerningthe altarand insidethe veil,and you are to performservice.I am givingyou the priesthoodas a bestowedservice,but the outsiderwho comesnearshall be putto death."
"So you shall appointAaronand his sonsthat they may keeptheir priesthood,but the laymanwho comesnearshall be putto death."
Now those who were to campbeforethe tabernacleeastward,beforethe tentof meetingtoward the sunrise,are Mosesand Aaronand his sons,performingthe dutiesof the sanctuaryfor the obligationof the sonsof Israel;but the laymancomingnearwas to be putto death.
He struckdownsome of the menof Beth-shemeshbecausethey had lookedinto the arkof the LORD.He struckdownof all the people,50070men,and the peoplemournedbecausethe LORDhad struckthe peoplewith a greatslaughter.
