Numbers 4:18

18 "Make sure that the Kohath families are not cut off from the Levites.

Numbers 4:18 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 4:18

Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites
from among the Levites.
] Or give no occasion, as the Targum of Jonathan; or be not the cause of their cutting off, as Jarchi, through negligence or inadvertency of theirs, in packing up the above things, and delivering them to them.

Numbers 4:18 In-Context

16 "The priest Eleazar will be in charge of the olive oil for the light. He is the son of Aaron. Eleazar will be in charge of the sweet-smelling incense. He will be in charge of the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He will be in charge of the entire holy tent. He will also be in charge of everything that is in it. That includes all of the articles that belong to the tent."

17 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said,

18 "Make sure that the Kohath families are not cut off from the Levites.

19 I want them to live and not die when they come near the very holy things. So here is what you must do for them. Aaron and his sons must go into the sacred tent and tell each man what to do. They must tell each man what to carry.

20 But the men of Kohath must not go in and look at the holy things. They must not look at them even for a moment. If they do, they will die."