אור החיים — וזאת עשו להם וחיו ולא יבאו לראות כבלע

Q — The sons of Kehat required a special protective measure — 'do this for them so they live and not die... they shall not come to see the dismantling of the holy things' — distinct from the oversight Aharon and his sons gave the Gershonites and Merarites. What is the unique action that the Kohanim must perform specifically for the Kehatites so that they may live?

A — Or HaChaim addresses why mere supervision (which the other Levite families also received) is insufficient here. Because the Kehatites carried the most sacred vessels — the Aron and its like — their exposure to holiness was uniquely dangerous, requiring not just management of their assignments but the kohanim's active wrapping and concealing of the holy objects before the Kehatites approached, so that they would not 'see the holy as it is swallowed up' and die.