Numbers 1:46-53

⁴⁶Were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty men.

⁴⁷But the Levites in the tribes of their families were not numbered with them.

⁴⁸And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

⁴⁹Number not the tribe of Levi, neither shalt thou put down the sum of them with the children of Israel:

⁵⁰But appoint them over the tabernacle of the testimony, and all the vessels thereof, and whatsoever pertaineth to the ceremonies. They shall carry the tabernacle and all the furniture thereof: and they shall minister, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.

⁵¹When you are to go forward, the Levites shall take down the tabernacle: when you are to camp, they shall set it up. What stranger soever cometh to it, shall be slain.

⁵²And the children of Israel shall camp every man by his troops and bands and army.

⁵³But the Levites shall pitch their tents round about the tabernacle, lest there come indignation upon the multitude of the children of Israel, and they shall keep watch, and guard the tabernacle of the testimony.