Commentary for Numbers 4:12

את כל כלי השרת אשר ישרתו בם בקדש [AND THEY SHALL TAKE] ALL THE VESSELS OF MINISTRY, WHEREWITH THEY MINISTER IN THE HOLY PLACE — i.e. in the Tabernacle which is called holy; these were the vessels for the incense with which they performed the ministry at the inner altar.

Inside the Mishkon which is holy. Rashi is answering the question: It simply should have stated “with which they serve.” Why did it add “בקדש — in the sanctuary” (lit. in the Holy)? He answers that it is written בקדש to teach that they would not serve on the altar with these utensils, but rather in the Mishkon. For they did not need utensils for the inner altar, since they would only burn incense on it. (Gur Aryeh) One is not to explain [the verse to mean] that they served there in holiness, because if this were so, the Torah should have vowelized the beis with a shva (בְקדש). However, now that it was vowelized with a pasach (בַקדש) it is implies a known “holy” (i.e. the holy) entity and this is the Mishkon, for it was the most known [holy entity].

את כל כלי השרת, “all the vessels of ministry;” knives, bowls, and ladles.

ונתנו על המוט, “and they shall put them on the bar.” Not below the bar so that they would not get damaged by being dragged along the ground.