²⁷ The Amramite clan, the Izharite clan, the Hebronite clan, and the Uzzielite clan came from Kohath; these were the Kohathites. ²⁸ Counting every male one month old or more, there were 8,600^[a] responsible for the duties of^[b] the sanctuary. ²⁹ The clans of the Kohathites camped on the south side of the tabernacle,^{(A) 30} and the leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. ³¹ Their duties involved the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the sanctuary utensils that were used with these, and the screen^[c](B)—and all the work relating to them.^(C)

² “Among the Levites, take a census of the Kohathites^(A) by their clans and their ancestral families,^{[a] 3} men from thirty years old to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified^[b] to do work at the tent of meeting.

⁴ “The service of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting concerns the most holy objects.^(B)

¹⁵ “Aaron and his sons are to finish covering the holy objects and all their equipment whenever the camp is to move on. The Kohathites will come and carry them, but they are not to touch the holy objects or they will die.^(A) These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the tent of meeting.

¹⁸ “Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be wiped out from the Levites. ¹⁹ Do this for them so that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy objects:^(A) Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and transportation duty. ²⁰ The Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects as they are covered^[a] or they will die.”