Numbers 8:26

²⁴ “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years of age or older shall enter to perform the service in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

²⁵ But at the age of fifty, they must retire from performing the work and no longer serve.

After that, they may assist their brothers in fulfilling their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves are not to do the work. This is how you are to assign responsibilities to the Levites.”

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: After that, they may assist their brothers in fulfilling their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves are not to do the work. This is how you are to assign responsibilities to the Levites.”
KJV: But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.
WEB: but shall assist their brothers in the Tent of Meeting, to perform the duty, and shall perform no service. This is how you shall have the Levites do their duties.”
ASV: but shall minister with their brethren in the tent of meeting, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charges.
DARBY: but he shall minister with his brethren in the tent of meeting, and keep the charge, but he shall not serve [in] the service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites with regard to their charges.
BLB: And they may minister with their brothers in the Tent of Meeting to keep the charge, and they shall not do work. Thus you shall do for the Levites in their duties.”

ÅB: Dog skal han gå sine brødre til hånde i sammenkomstens telt og ta vare på det som er å vareta; men noen arbeidstjeneste skal han ikke utføre. Slik skal du lage det for levittene med det de har å vareta.
OTB: De kan hjelpe sine brødre med å utføre deres plikter ved møteteltet, men de skal ikke utføre arbeidet selv. Slik skal du tildele levittenes ansvar."
B1930: Dog skal han gå sine brødre til hånde i sammenkomstens telt og ta vare på det som er å vareta; men nogen arbeidstjeneste skal han ikke utføre. Således skal du lage det for levittene med det de har å vareta.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Numbers 1:53
But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the congregation of Israel. So the Levites are responsible for the tabernacle of the Testimony.”
Read in context
1 Timothy 4:15
Be diligent in these matters and absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
Read in context
Ezekiel 44:11
Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and ministering there. They shall slaughter the burnt offerings and other sacrifices for the people and stand before them to minister to them.
Read in context
Numbers 31:30
From the Israelites’ half, take one out of every fifty, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, sheep, or other animals, and give them to the Levites who keep charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.”
Read in context
1 Chronicles 23:32
So the Levites were to carry out the responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting and the Holy Place, and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, the service of the house of the LORD.
Read in context
Ezekiel 44:8
And you have not kept charge of My holy things, but have appointed others to keep charge of My sanctuary for you.’
Read in context
1 Chronicles 26:20–29
Now their fellow Levites were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated things.
Read in context
Numbers 18:4
They are to join you and attend to the duties of the Tent of Meeting, doing all the work at the Tent; but no outsider may come near you.
Read in context