“But do this for them, and they will live, and will not die,” what did the Holy One blessed be He see that led Him to caution with respect to the Kehatite families more than the rest of the families? Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said, in the name of Rabbi Shmuel ben Rabbi Yitzḥak: There is an outstanding element in the tribe of Levi and the Kehatite families that is not in all of Israel. How so? All the tribes do not care about the Tabernacle vessels, but the tribe of Levi bears the Tabernacle vessels; some bear the boards, some bear the bars, some bear the bases.
That is what the sons of Merari bear. The families of the sons of Gershon bear all the woven items, and the families of the sons of Kehat, the Ark. Another matter, to what extent was the tribe of Levi more outstanding than Israel? It was that Israel would walk wearing sandals, but the tribe of Levi, who bore the Tabernacle vessels, would walk barefoot.
We have learned that the tribe of Levi was more outstanding than all of the tribes. The most outstanding in the tribe of Levi was the Kehatite family, as a son of Levi would place his burden; the boards, the bars, the bases, and any item, onto the wagons. But the Kehatite families would bear [their burden] on their shoulders, as they did not have permission to place the Ark on a wagon, as it is stated: “But to the sons of Kehat he did not give, [because the sacred service is upon them; they shall bear on the shoulder]” (Numbers 7:9).
Regarding one additional matter, they were more outstanding than all the Levites; as all the Levites would bear the Tabernacle vessels and they would walk in their typical manner, facing the road, but the sons of Kehat would walk backward, facing the Ark, so as not to turn their backs to the Ark. You draw the conclusion that even though they were greater than the rest of the families, and it goes without saying than Israel, they were not haughty of spirit, but rather, they were deferential to the Ark.
Why so? It is because there is no greatness before God. You draw the conclusion that even though the Kehatite family was aristocratic, when they were coming to bear the Ark, they would bear it like slaves. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘The Torah is life,’ as it is stated: “It is a tree of life for those who hold it…” (Proverbs 3:18); “For they are life for those who find them and healing for all one's flesh.” (Proverbs 4:22).
The sons of Kehat hold the Torah, which is life; this is the Ark which they carry, wherein is the Torah. By right they should live and not die. That is, “and they will live, and will not die…”