Numbers 1:50

50 Rather, assign the Levites to the covenant dwelling, to all its equipment, and to everything that belongs to it. They will carry the dwelling and all its equipment, perform its religious ceremonies, and camp around the dwelling.

Numbers 1:50 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 1:50

But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of
testimony
So called from the ark in it, in which was the law of God, which was a testimony of the will of God to his people:

and over all the vessels thereof;
the candlestick, table: and altars, as Aben Ezra notes:

and over all things that [belong] to it;
the vessels of vessels, as the same writer calls them; for the candlestick, shewbread table, and the two altars of incense and burnt offering had vessels appertaining to them:

they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof;
carry them from place to place when needful:

and they shall minister unto it;
by taking care of the instruments of it and the vessels in it, but not by doing any part of the priestly office in it, as offering sacrifice, burning incense, and the like:

and shall encamp round about the tabernacle;
they were a sort of camp or army of themselves, and their station was around the tabernacle, which was a kind of royal palace to God the King of kings; so that as they were the king's legion, and to be numbered alone, as Jarchi observes, in ( Numbers 1:49 ) , so they were a guard about his palace, and were placed between that and the camp of Israel.

Numbers 1:50 In-Context

48 The LORD spoke to Moses:

49 You must not enlist the tribe of Levi, nor should you take their census along with the Israelites.

50 Rather, assign the Levites to the covenant dwelling, to all its equipment, and to everything that belongs to it. They will carry the dwelling and all its equipment, perform its religious ceremonies, and camp around the dwelling.

51 When it's time to break camp, the Levites will take down the dwelling; and when it's time to make camp, the Levites will set up the dwelling. Any other person who approaches will be put to death.

52 The Israelites will camp each in their own place under the banner of their own military unit.