Numbers 4:4-20

⁴ And this is to be the work of the sons of Kohath in connection with the most holy things. ⁵ When all the people go forward, Aaron is to go in with his sons, and take down the veil of the curtain, covering the ark of witness with it; ⁶ And putting over it the leather cover and over that a blue cloth; and putting its rods in place. ⁷ And on the table of the holy bread they are to put a blue cloth, and on it all the vessels, the spoons and the basins and the cups; and the holy bread with them; ⁸ And over them they are to put a red cloth, covering it with a leather cover, and putting its rods in their places. ⁹ And they are to take a blue cloth, covering with it the light-support with its lights and its instruments and its trays and all the oil vessels which are used for it: ¹⁰ All these they are to put in a leather cover, and put it on the frame. ¹¹ On the gold altar they are to put a blue cloth, covering it with a leather cover; and they are to put its rods in their places. ¹² All the vessels which are used in the holy place they are to put in a blue cloth, covering them with a leather cover, and put them on the frame. ¹³ And they are to take away the burned waste from the altar, and put a purple cloth on it; ¹⁴ Placing on the cloth all its vessels, the fire-baskets, the meat-hooks, the spades, and the basins; all the vessels of the altar; they are to put a leather cover over all these, and put its rods in their places. ¹⁵ And after the holy place and all its vessels have been covered up by Aaron and his sons, when the tents of the people go forward, the sons of Kohath are to come and take it up; but the holy things may not be touched by them for fear of death. ¹⁶ And Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, is to be responsible for the oil for the light, and the sweet perfumes for burning, and the regular meal offering, and the holy oil; the House and the holy place and everything in it will be in his care. ¹⁷ And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ¹⁸ Do not let the family of the Kohathites be cut off from among the Levites; ¹⁹ But do this to them, so that life and not death may be theirs when they come near the most holy things; let Aaron and his sons go in and give to every one his work and that which he is to take up; ²⁰ But they themselves are not to go in to see the holy place, even for a minute, for fear of death.