The Lord said to Moses,
And when the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, set out.
but they shall not go in to look upon the holy things even for a moment, lest they die.”
“Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their families and their fathers' houses;
According to the commandment of the Lord through Moses they were appointed, each to his task of serving or carrying; thus they were numbered by him, as the Lord commanded Moses.
