17 The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying:
18 Do not cut the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites.
19 But do this to them, that they may live and not die, when they approach the most holy things. Aaron and his sons will go in, and appoint each one to his service and to his burden.
20 But they will not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.
21 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
22 Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families.
23 From thirty years old and older to fifty years old you will number them, all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting.