The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: See 1.1. This verse introduces more of the LORD’s instructions to Moses and Aaron concerning the Kohathites. Verses 18-20 specify in more detail how the Kohathites had to carry out their assigned tasks without touching or looking at the most holy objects, so that they would not die. Contemporary English Version deletes this verse, which we do not recommend. Even though this verse seems repetitious, it serves to highlight the divine source of these instructions concerning the Kohathites.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .