The clans of the sons of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle,
But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony."
The clans of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle on the west,
"On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben by their companies, the chief of the people of Reuben being Elizur the son of Shedeur,
According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were 8,600, keeping guard over the sanctuary.
with Elizaphan the son of Uzziel as chief of the fathers' house of the clans of the Kohathites.