Numbers 3:38

36 And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto,

37 And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.

But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

39 All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

40 And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.
KJV
But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
WEB
Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moses, with Aaron and his sons, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary for the duty of the children of Israel. The outsider who comes near shall be put to death.
ASV
And those that encamp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
DARBY
And those who encamped before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, were Moses, and Aaron and his sons, who kept the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh near shall be put to death.
BLB
And those who were to camp before the face of the tabernacle on the east, before the face of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, [were] Moses and Aaron and his sons, keeping charge of the sanctuary to meet the needs of the sons of Israel; and the outsider who came near was to be put to death.
ÅB
Men foran tabernaklet, mot øst, foran sammenkomstens telt, mot solens oppgang, hadde Moses og Aron og hans sønner sin leir, og de tok vare på det som var å vareta ved helligdommen, det som Israels barn skulle varetatt; men kom en fremmed nær til, skulle han late livet.
OTB
De som skulle slå leir foran tabernaklet østover, foran telthelligdommen mot soloppgangen, var Moses og Aron og hans sønner, som utførte pliktene i helligdommen for forpliktelsen til Israels sønner; men den legmann som kom nær skulle dø.
B1930
Men foran tabernaklet, mot øst, foran sammenkomstens telt, mot solens opgang, hadde Moses og Aron og hans sønner sin leir, og de tok vare på det som var å vareta ved helligdommen, det som Israels barn skulde varetatt; men kom en fremmed nær til, skulde han late livet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 1:53

    But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 3:10

    And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 2:3

    And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 3:23

    The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 18:1–5

    And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father’s house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 1:51

    And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 3:29

    The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 3:7–8

    And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.

    Read in context