Numbers 18:20-24 - Duties Of The Levites

²⁰ Jehovah said to Aaron: You will have no land or property of your own as the other Israelites will have. I am your possession and your property among the Israelites.

²¹ I have given the Levites one-tenth of every Israelite's income. This is in return for the work they do at the tent of meeting. ²² The other Israelites must never again come near the tent of meeting. Otherwise, they will suffer the consequences of their sin and die. ²³ Only the Levites will do the work at the tent of meeting. They are responsible for their own sins. This is a long lasting law for future generations. They will own no property, as the other Israelites will. ²⁴ Instead, I will give the Levites what the Israelites contribute to Jehovah, one-tenth of the Israelites' income. This is why I said about them: They will own no property as the other Israelites do.

⁴⁷ The households from the tribe of Levi were not registered along with the other Israelites. ⁴⁸ Jehovah said to Moses: ⁴⁹ Do not register the tribe of Levi or include them in the census with the other Israelites. ⁵⁰ Put the Levites in charge of the tent of God's words, including the equipment for the tent and everything else having to do with the tent. The Levites will carry the tent and all its equipment. They will take care of the tent and camp around it. ⁵¹ When the tent is to be moved, the Levites will take it down. When we camp, they will set it up. Anyone else who comes near the tent will be put to death.

⁵² The other Israelites will camp with each family in its own area under its own flag. ⁵³ The Levites will camp all around the tent of God's words. In this way Jehovah will not be angry with the congregation of Israel. So the Levites will be in charge of the tent of God's words. ⁵⁴ The Israelites did everything as Jehovah commanded Moses.