1. Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said:

2. "Take a census of those Levites who are sons of Kohath, by sub-clans and families

3. count all the men between thirty and fifty years of age, those able to give military service who will be given tasks in the Tent of Meeting.

4. These are the duties of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting: they are to have charge of the most holy things.

5. When it is time to move from the camp, Aaron and his sons are to come and take down the veil of the screen. With it they shall cover up the ark of the Statement.

6. On top of this they shall put a covering of fine leather, and spread over the whole a cloth all of violet. Then they are to fix the poles to the ark.

7. Over the offertory table they are to spread a violet cloth and put on it the dishes, cups, bowls and jars for the wine offering; the bread offered to the Lord shall be perpetually on it.

8. Over these they shall spread a cloth of scarlet and cover the whole with a covering of fine leather. Then they are to fix the poles to the table.

9. They are then to take a cloth of violet and cover the light-bearing lampstand together with the lamps, tongs, trays and all the oil jars that belong to it.

10. They are to put it, with all its utensils, on a covering of fine leather and place it on the carrying frame.

11. Over the golden altar they must spread a violet cloth, and cover that with a covering of fine leather. Then they are to fix the poles to it.

12. They are also to take all the other objects used in the service of the sanctuary. They must put them all on a violet cloth, cover them with a covering of fine leather and place them together on the carrying frame.

13. When they have removed the ashes from the altar, they must spread a scarlet cloth over it,

14. and place on this all the objects used in the service at the altar: the fire pans, hooks, shovels, sprinkling basins and all the altar vessels. Over the whole they must spread a covering of fine leather. Then they are to fix the poles to it.

15. When Aaron and his sons have finished covering all the sacred objects and all the equipment in preparation for moving from camp, the sons of Kohath are to come to carry the sacred things, but without touching any of them; otherwise they would die. This is the duty given to the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting.

16. Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, is to watch over the oil for the light, the sweet-smelling incense, the grain offerings and the anointing oil; he must watch over the whole Holy Tent and everything in it: the sacred objects and their equipment."

17. Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said:

18. "Do not let the families of Kohath be cut off from the number of the Levites.

19. This is what you shall do for them, lest they die when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons must go in and assign to each of them his task.

20. In this way they can go in and yet not look, even for a moment, on any of the holy things; if they do, they will die."

21. Yahweh spoke to Moses and said to him:

22. "Take a census also of the sons of Gershon, by families and sub-clans:

23. count the men between thirty and fifty years of age, those able to give military service, who will be given tasks in the Tent of Meeting.

24. These are the duties of the Gershonites:

25. They are to carry the curtains of the Holy Tent, the Tent of Meeting with its covering and the other covering of fine leather that goes over it,

26. the screen for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the curtains for the court, the screen for the entrance to the court that is around the Holy Tent and the altar, the ropes and all the necessary equipment.

27. They are to be responsible for these things. These are the duties of the sons of Gershon. Their functions and their tasks are to be carried out under the direction of Aaron and his sons: you must see that they fulfill their duties.

28. Such shall be the duties of the Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting. Their work will be supervised by Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest.

29. You are to count the sons of Merari, by sub-clans and families.

30. Count all the men between thirty and fifty years of age, those able to give military service, who will be given tasks in the Tent of Meeting.

31. The burden they are to carry and the duties that are to fall to them in the Tent of Meeting shall be as follows: the framework of the Holy Tent, its crossbars, its posts and bases,

32. the posts around the court with their bases, pegs, ropes and all the fittings used in setting them up. You are to draw up a list of their names with the duty that each man must fulfill.

33. These are the duties of the Merarite clans. All their duties in the Tent of Meeting will be supervised by Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest."

34. Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community took a census of the sons of Kohath, by sub-clans and families,

35. of every man between thirty and fifty years of age, able to give military service and to be given tasks in the Tent of Meeting,

36. the total of their clans was 2,750 men.

37. This was the number of the Kohathites, of all those who were given tasks in the Tent of Meeting whom Moses and Aaron counted at the Lord's command given through Moses.

38. A census was taken of the sons of Gershon,

39. by sub-clans and families, of every man between thirty and fifty years of age able to give military service and to be given tasks in the Tent of Meeting.

40. The total was 2,630 men.

41. This was the number of the Gershonites, of all those who were given tasks in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the Lord's command.

42. A census was taken of the sons of Merari, by sub-clans and families,

43. of every man between thirty and fifty years of age, able to give military service and to be given tasks in the Tent of Meeting.

44. The total was 3,200 men.

45. This was the number of the Merarites whom Moses and Aaron counted at the Lord's command through Moses.

46. The total number of Levites, counted according to clans and families -

47. all the men between thirty and fifty years of age, able to give military service and to be given tasks of carrying burdens in the Tent of Meeting

48. amounted to 8,580.

49. At Yahweh's command given through Moses, the census was taken to assign to every man his duty and his task; they were numbered as Yahweh had commanded Moses.





“Nas tentações, combata com coragem! Nas quedas, humilhe-se mas não desanime!” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina