Numbers 3:38

3:38 But those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle on the east, in front of the tent of meeting, were Moses, Aaron, 1  and his sons. They were responsible for the needs 2  of the sanctuary and for the needs of the Israelites, but the unauthorized person who approached was to be put to death.

Numbers 8:26

8:26 They may assist 3  their colleagues 4  in the tent of meeting, to attend to needs, but they must do no work. This is the way you must establish 5  the Levites regarding their duties.”

1 tc In some Hebrew mss and Smr “and Aaron” is not in the verse. The omission arose probably by scribal error with such repetitious material that could easily give rise to variant traditions.

2 tn Here again the verb and its cognate noun are used: keeping the keep, or keeping charge over, or taking responsibility for the care of, or the like.

3 tn The verb is the Piel perfect of שָׁרַת (sharat, “to serve, minister”). Here the form has the vav (ו) consecutive, and so is equal to the imperfect tense stressing permission. After the Levites reached the age of retirement, they were permitted to assist the others, but were not permitted to do the work themselves.

4 tn Heb “brothers,” but the meaning in this context is “fellow Levites.”

5 tn Heb “you shall do, make.”