To the Levites was committed the charge of the tabernacle and all that pertained thereto, both in the camp and on the journey. When the camp set forward they were to strike the sacred tent; when a halting place was reached they were to set it up. No person of another tribe was allowed to come near, on pain of death. The Levites were separated into three divisions, the descendants of the three sons of Levi, and each was assigned its special position and work. In front of the tabernacle, and nearest to it, were the tents of Moses and Aaron. On the south were the Kohathites, whose duty it was to care for the ark and the other furniture; on the north Merarites, who were placed in charge of the pillars, sockets, boards, etc.; in the rear the Gershonites, to whom the care of the curtains and hangings was committed.

Levitterne fik overdraget omsorgen for tabernaklet og alt dets tilbehør både i lejren og på rejsen. Ved opbruddet fra en lejr skulle de tage det hellige telt ned, og ved ankomsten til en lejrplads skulle de rejse det igen. Det var under dødsstraf forbudt nogen fra de andre stammer at nærme sig tabernaklet. Levitterne var delt i tre grupper, efterkommerne efter Levis tre sønner, og hver gruppe fik tildelt sin særlige plads og opgave. Foran og nærmest tabernaklet lå Moses og Arons telte. På sydsiden var kehatitternes lejrplads. Det var deres opgave at sørge for arken og de andre ting i helligdommen. På nordsiden var meraritterne lejret. De skulle sørge for pillerne, fodstykkerne, brædderne o.s.v. Bagved var gersonitternes lejr. De havde ansvaret for tæpperne og forhængene.