Numbers 18:2-7

²But also take thou with thee thy brethren of the lineage of Levi, and the sceptre, or power, of thy father, and be they ready, that they minister to thee. Forsooth thou and thy sons shall minister in the tabernacle of witnessing;

³and the deacons or Levites shall wake at thy commandments, and at all the works of the tabernacle; so only that they nigh not to the vessels of the saintuary, and to the altar, lest both they die, and ye, and perish together.

⁴Soothly be they with thee, and wake they in the keepings of the tabernacle, and in all the ceremonies thereof. An alien shall not be meddled or mingled with you.

⁵Wake ye or Watch in the keeping of the saintuary, and in the service of the altar, lest indignation rise upon the sons of Israel.

⁶Lo! I have given to you your brethren, the deacons or Levites, from the midst of the sons of Israel, and I have given you them a free gift of the Lord, that they serve in the services of the tabernacle.

⁷Soothly thou and thy sons, keep your priesthood; and all things that pertain to the adorning of the altar, and be within the veil, shall be ministered by the priests; if any stranger nigheth thereto, he shall be slain.