Numbers

Organizing the Census of the Israelites

1:11 Now the LORD2 spoke3 to Moses in the tent of meeting4 in the Sinai5 Wilderness6 on the first day of the second month of the second year after7 they came out of Egypt.8 He said:9 1:2 "Take a census10 of the entire Israelite community11 by their clans and families,12 counting the name of every individual male.13 1:3 You and Aaron are to number14 all in Israel who can serve in the army,15 those who are16 twenty years old or older,17 by their divisions.18 1:4 And to help you19 there is to be a man from each20 tribe, each man21 the head22 of his family. 1:5 Now these are the names of the men who are to help23 you:

The Census of the Tribes

1:16 These were the ones chosen28 from the community, leaders29 of their ancestral tribes.30 They were the heads of the thousands31 of Israel.

1:17 So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been mentioned by name, 1:18 and they assembled32 the entire community together on the first day of the second month. Then the people recorded their ancestry33 by their clans and families; and the men who were twenty years old or older were listed34 by name individually, 1:19 just as the LORD had commanded Moses. And so he numbered them in the Sinai Wilderness--

1:20 And they were: The descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel: according to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army, were listed by name individually. 1:21 Those numbered of them35 from the tribe of Reuben were 46,500.36

1:22 From the descendants of Simeon: according to the records of their clans and families, all the males numbered of them37 twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name individually. 1:23 Those numbered of them from the tribe of Simeon were 59,300.

1:24 From the descendants of Gad: according to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name. 1:25 Those numbered of them from the tribe of Gad were 45,650.

1:26 From the descendants of Judah: according to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name. 1:27 Those numbered of them from the tribe of Judah were 74,600.

1:28 From the descendants of Issachar: according to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name. 1:29 Those numbered of them from the tribe of Issachar were 54,400.

1:30 From the descendants of Zebulun: according to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name. 1:31 Those numbered of them from the tribe of Zebulun were 57,400.

1:32 From the sons of Joseph: from the descendants of Ephraim: according to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name. 1:33 Those numbered of them from the tribe of Ephraim were 40,500.

1:34 From the descendants of Manasseh: according to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name. 1:35 Those numbered of them from the tribe of Manasseh were 32,200.

1:36 From the descendants of Benjamin: according to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name. 1:37 Those numbered of them from the tribe of Benjamin were 35,400.

1:38 From the descendants of Dan: according to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name. 1:39 Those numbered of them from the tribe of Dan were 62,700.

1:40 From the descendants of Asher: according to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name. 1:41 Those numbered of them from the tribe of Asher were 41,500.

1:42 From38 the descendants of Naphtali: according to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name. 1:43 Those numbered of them from the tribe of Naphtali were 53,400.

1:44 These were the men whom Moses and Aaron numbered39 along with the twelve leaders of Israel, each of whom40 was from his own family. 1:45 All the Israelites who were twenty years old or older, who could serve in Israel's army, were numbered41 according to their families. 1:46 And all those numbered were 603,550.

The Exemption of the Levites

1:47 But42 the Levites, according to the tribe of their fathers,43 were not numbered44 among them. 1:48 The LORD had spoken to Moses,45 1:49 "Only the tribe of Levi46--you must not number47 or count them48 with49 the other Israelites. 1:50 But appoint50 the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony,51 over all its furnishings and over everything in it. They must carry52 the tabernacle and all its furnishings; and they53 must attend to it and camp around it. 1:51 Whenever the tabernacle is to move,54 the Levites must take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be reassembled,55 the Levites must put it up.56 Any unauthorized person57 who approaches it must be killed.

1:52 And the Israelites will camp according to their divisions, each man in his camp, and each man by his standard. 1:53 But the Levites must camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that divine anger58 will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are responsible for the care59 of the tabernacle of the testimony."

1:54 The Israelites did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses--that is what they did.

The Arrangement of the Tribes

2:11 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron: 2:2 "Every one2 of the Israelites must camp3 under his standard with the emblems of his family;4 they must camp at some distance5 around the tent of meeting."6

The Tribes on the East

2:3 Now those who will be camping7 on the east, toward the sunrise,8 will be the divisions9 of the camp of Judah under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is10 Nahshon son of Amminadab. 2:4 And those numbered in his division11 are 74,600.

2:5 And those who will be camping next to them12 will be the tribe of Issachar. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar. 2:6 And those numbered in his division are 54,400.

2:7 Next will be13 the tribe of Zebulun. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon. 2:8 And those numbered in his division are 57,400.

2:9 All those numbered of the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, are 186,400. They will travel14 at the front.

The Tribes on the South

2:10 On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard.15 The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur. 2:11 And those numbered in his division are 46,500.

2:12 And those who will be camping next to them will be the tribe of Simeon. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. 2:13 And those numbered in his division are 59,300.

2:14 And next will be16 the tribe of Gad. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel. 2:15 And those numbered in his division are 45,650.

2:16 All those numbered of the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, are 151,450. They will travel second.

The Tribe in the Center

2:17 Then the tent of meeting with the camp of the Levites will travel in the middle of the camps. They will travel in the same order as they camped, each in his own place17 under his standard.

The Tribes on the West

2:18 On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Amihud. 2:19 And those numbered in his division are 40,500.

2:20 And by them will be the tribe of Manasseh. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. 2:21 And those numbered in his division are 32,200.

2:22 And next will be18 the tribe of Benjamin. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni. 2:23 And those numbered in his division are 35,400.

2:24 All those numbered of the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions, are 108,100. They will travel third.

The Tribes on the North

2:25 On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan, under their standards. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 2:26 And those numbered in his division are 62,700.

2:27 And those who will be camping next to them will be the tribe of Asher. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Ocran. 2:28 And those numbered in his division are 41,500.

2:29 And next will be19 tribe of Naphtali. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan. 2:30 And those numbered in his division are 53,400.

2:31 All those numbered of the camp of Dan are 157,600. They will travel last, under their standards.

Summary

2:32 These are the Israelites, numbered according to their families. All those numbered in the camps, by their divisions, are 603,550. 2:33 But the Levites were not numbered among the other Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.

2:34 So the Israelites did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way20 they camped under their standards, and that is the way they traveled, each with his clan and family.

The Sons of Aaron

3:11 Now these are the records2 of Aaron and Moses when3 the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. 3:2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3:3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed4 priests, whom he consecrated5 to minister as priests.6

3:4 Nadab and Abihu died7 before the LORD8 when they offered9 strange10 fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children.11 So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests12 in the presence of13 Aaron their father.

The Assignment of the Levites

3:5 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 3:6 "Bring the tribe of Levi near,14 and present15 them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.16 3:7 They are responsible for his needs17 and the needs of the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, by attending18 to the service of the tabernacle. 3:8 And they are responsible for all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and for the needs of the Israelites, as they serve19 in the tabernacle. 3:9 And you are to assign20 the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they will be assigned exclusively21 to him out of all22 the Israelites. 3:10 So you are to appoint Aaron and his sons, and they will be responsible for their priesthood; but the unauthorized person23 who comes near must be put to death."

3:11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 3:12 "Look,24 I myself have taken the Levites from among the Israelites instead of25 every firstborn who opens the womb among the Israelites. So the Levites belong to me, 3:13 because all the firstborn are mine. When I destroyed26 all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They belong to me. I am the LORD."27

The Numbering of the Levites

3:14 Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai: 3:15 "Number the Levites by their clans and their families; every male from a month old and upward you are to number."28

3:16 So Moses numbered them according to the word29 of the LORD, just as he had been commanded.30

The Summary of Families

3:17 These were the sons31 of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

3:18 And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei. 3:19 And the sons of Kohath by their families were: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 3:20 And the sons of Merari by their families were: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their clans.

The Numbering of the Gershonites

3:21 From Gershon came the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimnites; these were the families of the Gershonites. 3:22 Those numbered of them, by the number of every male from a month old and upward--those numbered of them were 7,500. 3:23 The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle toward the west. 3:24 Now the leader32 of the clan of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael.

3:25 And33 the responsibility of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting included the tabernacle, the tent with its covering, the curtain at the entrance of the tent of meeting, 3:26 the hangings of the courtyard,34 the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard that surrounded the tabernacle and the altar, and their ropes for all their service.35

The Numbering of the Kohathites

3:27 From Kohath came the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these were the families of the Kohathites.36 3:28 By the number of every male, from a month old and upward, there were 8,600. They were responsible for the care37 of the sanctuary. 3:29 The families of the Kohathites were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. 3:30 Now the leader of the clan of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.

3:31 And their responsibility included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, and the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered,38 the curtain, and all their service.39 3:32 Now the head of all the levitical leaders40 was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible41 for the sanctuary.

The Numbering of Merari

3:33 From Merari came the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these were42 the families of Merari. 3:34 And those numbered of them, by the number of every male from a month old and upward, were 6,200. 3:35 Now the leader of the clan of the families of Merari was Zuriel son of Abihail. These were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.

3:36 The appointed responsibility of the Merarites included the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, its posts, its sockets, its utensils, and all their service,43 3:37 and the pillars of the court all around, with their sockets, their pegs, and their ropes.

3:38 But those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle on the east, in front of the tent of meeting, were Moses, Aaron44 and his sons. They were responsible for the needs45 of the sanctuary, and for the needs of the Israelites; but the unauthorized person who approached was to be put to death. 3:39 All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered by the word46 of the LORD, by their families, every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000.47

The Substitution for the Firstborn

3:40 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Number all the firstborn males of the Israelites from a month old and upward, and take48 the number of their names. 3:41 And take49 the Levites for me--I am the LORD--instead of all the firstborn among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites." 3:42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the Israelites, as the LORD had commanded him. 3:43 And every firstborn male, by the number of the names, from a month old and upward, according to those numbered of them, were 22,273.

3:44 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 3:45 "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. And the Levites will be mine. I am the LORD. 3:46 And for the redemption of the 273 of the firstborn of the Israelites who are more than the number of the Levites, 3:47 collect50 five shekels for each51 one individually; you are to collect52 them in the currency of the sanctuary shekel, which is the shekel of twenty gerahs.53 3:48 And give the money for the redemption of the excess number of them to Aaron and his sons."

3:49 So Moses took the redemption money54 from those who were in excess of those redeemed by the Levites. 3:50 From the firstborn of the Israelites he collected the money, 1,365 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 3:51 And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

The Service of the Kohathites

4:11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron: 4:2 "Take a census2 of the Kohathites from among the Levites, by their families and by their clans, 4:3 from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company3 to do the work in the tent of meeting. 4:4 This is the service of the Kohathites in the tent of meeting, relating to the most holy things.4 4:5 When it is time for the camp to journey,5 Aaron and his sons must come and take down the screening curtain and cover the ark of the testimony with it. 4:6 Then they must put over it a covering of fine leather,6 and spread over that a cloth entirely of blue; and then they must insert its poles.

4:7 "On the table of the presence7 they must spread a blue8 cloth, and put on it the dishes, the pans, the bowls, and the pitchers for pouring.; and the bread of presence must be on it continually. 4:8 They must spread over them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of badger skins; and they must insert its poles.

4:9 "And they must take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand of the light, with its lamps, its wick-trimmers, its trays, and all its oil vessels, with which they service it. 4:10 Then they must put it with all its utensils in a covering of fine leather, and put it on a carrying beam.9

4:11 "And they must spread a blue cloth on the gold altar, and cover it with a covering of fine leather;10 and they must insert its poles. 4:12 Then they must take all the utensils of the service, with which they serve in the sanctuary, put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering of badger skins, and put them on a carrying beam. 4:13 Also, they must take away the ashes of the altar,11 and spread a purple cloth over it. 4:14 Then they must place on it all its implements with which they serve there--the trays, the meat forks, the shovels, the basins, and all the utensils of the altar--and they must spread on it a covering of fine leather,12 and then insert its poles.13

4:15 "And when Aaron and his sons have finished14 covering15 the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is set to journey, then16 the Kohathites will come to carry them;17 but they must not touch18 any19 holy thing, or they will die.20 These are the responsibility21 of the Kohathites with the tent of meeting.

4:16 "And the appointed responsibility of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest is for the oil for the light, and the spiced incense, and the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil; he also has22 the appointed responsibility over all the tabernacle with23 all that is in it, over the sanctuary and over all its furnishings."24

4:17 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron: 4:18 "Do not allow the tribe of the families of the Kohathites to be cut off25 from among the Levites; 4:19 but in order that they might live26 and not die when they approach the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons will go in and appoint27 each man28 to his service and his responsibility. 4:20 But the Kohathites29 are not to go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, or they will die."

The Service of the Gershonites

4:21 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 4:22 "Also take a census of the Gershonites, by their clans and by their families. 4:23 You must number them from thirty years old and upward, to fifty years old, all who enter the company, to do the work of the tent of meeting. 4:24 This is the service of the families of Gershonites, as they serve30 and carry it. 4:25 And they must carry the curtains for the tabernacle and the tent of meeting, with its covering, and the covering of fine leather31 that is over it, and the curtains for the entrance of the tent of meeting; 4:26 and the hangings for the courtyard, and the curtain for the entrance of the gate of the court,32 which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their ropes, along with all the furnishings for their service, and everything that is made for them. So they are to serve.33

4:27 "All the service of the Gershonites, whether34 for any of their carrying35 or for any of their service, will be at the direction of36 Aaron and his sons. And you will assign them all their tasks37 as their responsibility. 4:28 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting. And their responsibility will be under the authority38 of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.39

The Service of the Merarites

4:29 "As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their families and by their clans. 4:30 From thirty years old and upward, to fifty years old, you are to number them, all who enter the company to do the work of the tent of meeting. 4:31 And this is what they are responsible to carry as all their service in the tent of meeting: the frames40 of the tabernacle, and its crossbars, and its posts, and its sockets, 4:32 and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their sockets, tent pegs, and ropes, along with all their furnishings and everything for their service; and you are to assign by names the items that each man is responsible to carry.41 4:33 This is the service of the families of the Merarites, according to all their service in the tent of meeting, under the authority of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest."

Summary

4:34 So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the community numbered the Kohathites by their families and by clans, 4:35 from thirty years old and upward, to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting; 4:36 and those numbered of them by their families were 2,750. 4:37 These were those numbered of the families of the Kohathites, everyone who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the authority42 of Moses.

4:38 And those numbered of the Gershonites, by their families and by their clans, 4:39 from thirty years old and upward, to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting--4:40 those numbered of them by their families, by their clans, were 2,630. 4:41 These were those numbered of the families the Gershonites, everyone who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD.

4:42 And those numbered of the families of the Merarites, by their families, by their clans, 4:43 from thirty years old and upward, to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting--4:44 those numbered of them by their families were 3,200. 4:45 These are those numbered of the families of the Merarites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the authority of Moses.

4:46 All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel numbered by their families and by their clans, 4:47 from thirty years old and upward, to fifty years old, everyone who entered to do the work of service and the work of carrying43 in the tent of meeting--4:48 those numbered of them were 8,580. 4:49 According to the word of the LORD they were numbered,44 by the authority of Moses, each according to his service and according to what he was to carry.45 Thus were they numbered by him,46 as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Separation of the Unclean

5:11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 5:2 "Command the Israelites to put out2 of the camp every leper,3 everyone who has a discharge,4 and whoever becomes defiled by a corpse.5 5:3 You must put out both male and female; you must put them outside the camp, so that6 they may not defile their camps, in the midst of which I live." 5:4 So the Israelites did so, and put them outside the camp. As the LORD had spoken7 to Moses, so the Israelites did.

Restitution for Sin

5:5 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 5:6 "Tell the Israelites, `When8 a man or a woman commits any sin that people commit,9 thereby breaking faith10 with the LORD, and that person is found guilty,11 5:7 then he must confess12 his sin that he has committed; and he must make full reparation,13 add one fifth to it, and give it to whomever he wronged.14 5:8 But if the individual has no close relative15 to whom reparation may be made for the wrong, the reparation for the wrong must be paid to the LORD16 for the priest, in addition to the ram of the atonement with which atonement is made for him. 5:9 And every offering17 of all the holy things of the Israelites which they bring to the priest, will be his. 5:10 And every man's holy things18 will be his; whatever any man gives the priest will be his.'"

The Jealousy Ordeal

5:1119 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 5:12 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them, `If any man's wife goes astray and behaves unfaithfully toward him, 5:13 and a man has sexual relations20 with her,21 and it is concealed from the eyes of her husband, and it is hidden that she has defiled herself, since22 there was no witness against her, nor was she caught--5:14 and if jealous feelings23 come over him and he becomes jealous24 of his wife, when she is defiled;25 or if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife, when she is not defiled--5:15 then26 the man must bring his wife to the priest, and he must bring the offering required for her, one tenth of an ephah of barley meal; he must not pour olive oil on it or put frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering of suspicion,27 a grain offering for remembering,28 for bringing29 iniquity to remembrance.

5:16 "Then the priest will bring her near, and have her stand30 before the LORD. 5:17 The priest will then take holy water31 in a pottery jar, and take some of the dust32 that will be on the floor of the tabernacle, and put it into the water. 5:18 Then the priest will have the woman stand before the LORD, uncover the woman's head, and put the grain offering for remembering in her hands, which is the grain offering of suspicion. And in the hand of the priest will be the bitter water that brings a curse.33 5:19 Then the priest will put her under oath, and say to the woman, `If no other34 man has had sexual relations with you, and if you have not gone astray and become defiled while under your husband's authority, may you be free from this bitter water that brings a curse.35 5:20 But if you36 have gone astray while under your husband's authority, and if you have defiled yourself and some man other than your husband has had sexual relations with you...'37 5:21 Then the priest will put the woman under the oath of the curse38 and will say to the woman, `The LORD make you an attested curse39 among your people,40 if the LORD makes41 your thigh fall away and your belly swell;42 5:22 and this water that causes the curse will go43 into your stomach, and make your belly swell and your thigh rot.' Then the woman must say, `Amen, amen.'44

5:23 "And then the priest will write these curses on the scroll, and then scrape them off into the bitter water.45 5:24 Then he will make the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and the water that brings a curse will enter her to produce bitterness. 5:25 And the priest will take the grain offering of suspicion from the woman's hand, wave the grain offering before the LORD, and bring it to the altar; 5:26 then the priest will take a handful of the grain offering, as its memorial portion, burn it on the altar, and afterward make the woman drink the water. 5:27 And when he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and behaved unfaithfully toward her husband, the water that brings a curse will enter her to produce bitterness, and her belly will swell, her thigh will fall away, and the woman will become a curse among her people. 5:28 But if the woman has not defiled herself, and is clean, then she will be free and will be able to bear children.

5:29 "This is the law for cases of jealousy,46 when a wife, while under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself, 5:30 or when jealous feelings come over a man and he becomes suspicious of his wife; then he must have the woman stand before the LORD, and the priest will perform all this law upon her. 5:31 Then the man will be free from iniquity, but that woman will bear the consequences47 of her iniquity."48

The Nazirite Vow

6:11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 6:2 "Speak to the Israelites, and tell them, `When either a man or a woman2 takes a special vow,3 to take a vow4 as a Nazirite,5 to separate6 himself to the LORD, 6:3 he must separate7 himself from wine and strong drink, he must drink neither vinegar8 made from wine nor vinegar made from strong drink, nor may he drink any juice9 of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried.10 6:4 All the days of his separation he must not eat anything that is produced by the grapevine, from seed11 to skin.12

6:5 "All the days of the vow of his separation no razor may be used on his head;13 until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the LORD. He will be holy,14 and he must let15 the locks of the hair of his head grow.

6:6 "All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he must not contact16 a dead body.17 6:7 He must not defile himself even18 for his father or his mother or his brother or his sister when they die,19 because the separation20 for21 his God is on his head. 6:8 All the days of his separation he must be holy to the LORD.

Contingencies for Defilement

6:9 "And if anyone dies very suddenly22 beside him, and he defiles23 his consecrated head,24 then he must shave his head on the day of his purification--on the seventh day he must shave it. 6:10 And on the eighth day he is to bring25 two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, to the entrance to the tent of meeting; 6:11 then the priest will offer one for a purification offering26 and the other27 as a burnt offering,28 and make atonement29 for him, because of his transgression30 in regard to the corpse. So he must reconsecrate31 his head on that day. 6:12 He must rededicate32 to the LORD the days of his separation and bring a male lamb in its first year as a reparation offering;33 but the former days will be lost, because his separation was defiled.

Fulfilling the Vows

6:13 "Now this is the law of the Nazirite: when the days of his separation are fulfilled , he must be brought34 to the entrance of the tent of meeting, 6:14 and he must present his offering35 to the LORD: one male lamb in its first year without blemish for a burnt offering, one ewe lamb in its first year without blemish for a purification offering, one ram without blemish for a peace offering,36 6:15 and a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with olive oil, unleavened wafers smeared with olive oil, and their37 grain offering and their drink offerings.38

6:16 "Then the priest must present all these39 before the LORD, and offer40 his purification offering and his burnt offering. 6:17 Then he must offer the ram as a peace offering41 to the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread; the priest must also offer his grain offering and his drink offering.

6:18 "Then the Nazirite must shave his consecrated head42 at the entrance to the tent of meeting, and must take the hair from his consecrated head and put it on the fire43 where the peace offering is burning.44 6:19 And the priest must take the boiled shoulder of the ram, one unleavened cake from the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and put them on the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved his consecrated head;45 6:20 then the priest must wave them as a waved offering46 before the LORD; it is a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering.47 After this the Nazirite may drink48 wine.'

6:21 "This is the law49 of the Nazirite who vows to the LORD his offering of his separation, as well as whatever else he can provide.50 Thus he must fulfill51 his vow that he vows, according to the law of his separation."

The Priestly Benediction

6:2252 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 6:23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, `This is the way you are to bless53 the Israelites. Say54 to them:

6:27 So they will put my name59 on the Israelites, and I will bless them."

The Leader's Offerings

7:11 When Moses had completed setting up the tabernacle,2 he anointed it and consecrated it and all its furnishings, and the altar and all its utensils; so he anointed them and consecrated them. 7:2 Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of their clans, made an offering. They were the leaders of the tribes; they were the ones who had been supervising3 the numbering. 7:3 They brought4 their offering before the LORD, six covered carts5 and twelve oxen--one cart for every two of the leaders, and for each one an ox; and they presented them in front of the tabernacle.

The Distribution of the Gifts

7:4 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 7:5 "Receive these6 from them, that they may be7 used in doing the work8 of the tent of meeting; and you must give them to the Levites, to every man9 as his service required."10

7:6 So Moses accepted the carts and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7:7 Two carts and four oxen he gave to the Gershonites, as their service required; 7:8 and four carts and eight oxen he gave to the Merarites, as their service required, under the authority of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 7:9 But to the Kohathites he gave none, because the service of the holy things, which they carried11 on their shoulders, was their responsibility.12

The Time of Presentation

7:10 The leaders offered13 gifts14 for15 the dedication16 of the altar when it was anointed.17 And the leaders offered their offering before the altar. 7:11 For the LORD said to Moses, "They must offer their offering, one leader for each day,18 for the dedication of the altar."

The Tribal Offerings

7:12 And the one who offered his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah.19 7:13 And his offering was one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 7:14 one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 7:15 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering; 7:16 one male goat for a purification offering; 7:17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

7:18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, presented an offering. 7:19 He offered for his offering one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 7:20 one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 7:21 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering; 7:22 one male goat for a purification offering; 7:23 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

7:24 On the third day Eliab son of Helon, leader of the Zebulunites: 7:25 His offering was one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 7:26 one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 7:27 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering; 7:28 one male goat for a purification offering; 7:29 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

7:30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, leader of the Reubenites: 7:31 His offering was one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 7:32 one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 7:33 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering; 7:34 one male goat for a purification offering; 7:35 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

7:36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, leader of the Simeonites: 7:37 His offering was one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 7:38 one gold pan weighing ten shekels; 7:39 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering; 7:40 one male goat for a purification offering; 7:41 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Sheloumiel son of Zurishaddai.

7:42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, leader of the Gadites: 7:43 His offering was one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 7:44 one gold pan weighing ten shekels; 7:45 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering; 7:46 one male goat for a purification offering; 7:47 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

7:48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of the Ephraimites: 7:49 His offering was one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 7:50 one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 7:51 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering; 7:52 one male goat for a purification offering; 7:53 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.

7:54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, leader of the Manassehites: 7:55 His offering was one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 7:56 one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 7:57 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering; 7:58 one male goat for a purification offering; 7:59 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

7:60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, leader of the Benjaminites: 7:61 His offering was one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 7:62 one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 7:63 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering; 7:64 one male goat for a purification offering; 7:65 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

7:66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Amishaddai, leader of the Danites: 7:67 His offering was one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 7:68 one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 7:69 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering; 7:70 one male goat for a purification offering; 7:71 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Amishaddai.

7:72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, leader of the Asherites: 7:73 His offering was one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 7:74 one gold pan weighing ten shekels, full of incense; 7:75 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering; 7:76 one male goat for a purification offering; 7:77 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran.

7:78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, leader of the Naphtalites: 7:79 His offering was one silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 7:80 one gold pan weighing ten shekels; 7:81 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering; 7:82 one male goat for a purification offering; 7:83 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

Summary

7:84 This was the dedication for the altar from the leaders of Israel, when it was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver sprinkling bowls, and twelve gold pans. 7:85 Each silver platter weighed one hundred thirty shekels, and each silver sprinkling bowl weighed seventy shekels. All the silver of the vessels weighed twenty-four hundred shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. 7:86 The twelve gold pans full of incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel; all the gold of the pans weighed one hundred twenty shekels. 7:87 All the animals for the burnt offering were twelve young bulls, twelve rams, twelve male lambs in their first year, with their grain offering, and twelve male goats for a purification offering twelve. 7:88 And all the animals for the sacrifice for the peace offering were twenty-four young bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty lambs in their first year. This was the dedication for the altar after it was anointed.20

7:89 Now when Moses went into21 the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD,22 he heard the voice speaking to him from above the cover23 that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim;24 thus he spoke to him.

Lighting the Lamps

8:11 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 8:2 "Speak to Aaron and tell him, `When you set up2 the lamps, the seven lamps are to give light3 in front of the lampstand.'"

8:3 And Aaron did so; he set up the lamps to face toward the front of the lampstand, as the LORD commanded Moses. 8:4 And this is how the lampstand was made:4 it was beaten work in gold;5 from its shaft to its flowers it was beaten work. According to the pattern which the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.

The Separation of the Levites

8:5 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 8:6 "Take the Levites from among the Israelites and purify6 them. 8:7 And do this7 to them to purify them: sprinkle water of purification8 on them; then have them shave9 all their body and wash10 their clothes, and so purify themselves.11 8:8 Then they are to take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with olive oil; and you are to take a second young bull for a purification offering.12 8:9 And you are to bring the Levites before the tent of meeting, and assemble the entire community of the Israelites. 8:10 Then you are to bring the Levites before the LORD, and the Israelites are to lay their hands on the Levites;13 8:11 and Aaron is to offer14 the Levites before the LORD as a waved offering from the Israelites, that they may do the work15 of the LORD. 8:12 When16 the Levites lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, offer17 the one for a purification offering and the other for a whole burnt offering to the LORD,18 to make atonement for the Levites. 8:13 And you are to have the Levites stand before Aaron19 and his sons, and then offer them as a waved offering to the LORD. 8:14 And so20 you are to separate the Levites from among the Israelites, and the Levites will be mine.

8:15 "And after this, the Levites will go in21 to do the work22 of the tent of meeting. So you must cleanse them23 and offer them like a wave offering.24 8:16 For they are entirely given25 to me from among the Israelites. I have taken them for myself instead of26 all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the Israelites. 8:17 For all the firstborn among the Israelites are mine, both human being and animal; when I destroyed27 all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I set them apart for myself. 8:18 So I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the Israelites. 8:19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites, to do the work for the Israelites in the tent of meeting, and to make atonement for the Israelites, so there will be no plague among the Israelites when the Israelites come near the sanctuary."28

8:20 So Moses and Aaron and the entire community of the Israelites did this with the Levites: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, this is what the Israelites did with them. 8:21 And the Levites purified themselves29 and washed their clothing; then Aaron presented them like a wave offering before the LORD, and Aaron made atonement for them to purify them. 8:22 And after this, the Levites went in to do their work in the tent of meeting before Aaron and before his sons. As the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did.

The Work of the Levites

8:23 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 8:24 "This is what pertains to the Levites:30 At the age of twenty-five years old31 and upward one may enter to join the company32 in the work of the tent of meeting; 8:25 and at the age of fifty years they must retire from performing the work, and may no longer work. 8:26 They may assist33 their colleagues34 in the tent of meeting, to attend to needs, but they must do no work. This is the way you must establish35 the Levites regarding their duties."

Passover Regulations

9:11 And the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out2 of the land of Egypt:

9:2 "The Israelites are to observe3 the Passover4 at its appointed time.5 9:3 In the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight,6 you are to observe it at its appointed time; you must keep7 it in accordance with all its statutes and all its customs.8 9:4 So Moses instructed9 the Israelites to observe10 the Passover. 9:5 And they observed the Passover11 on the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight in the Wilderness of Sinai; in accordance with all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so the Israelites did.

9:6 It happened that some men12 who were defiled13 by the dead body of a man, could not keep14 the Passover on that day, and so they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day. 9:7 And those men said to him, "We are defiled by the dead body of a man; why are kept back from offering the LORD's offering at its appointed time among the Israelites?" 9:8 So Moses said to them, "Remain15 here and I will hear16 what the LORD will command concerning you."

9:9 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 9:10 "Tell the Israelites, `If any17 of you or of your posterity become defiled by reason of a dead body, or be on a journey far away, then he may18 observe the Passover to the LORD. 9:11 They may observe it on the fourteenth day of the second month19 at twilight, they are to eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9:12 They must not leave any of it until morning, nor break any of its bones; they must observe it in accordance with every statute of the Passover.

9:13 But20 the man who is clean, and was not on a journey, and fails21 to keep the Passover, then that person must be cut off from his people;22 because he did not bring the LORD's offering at its appointed time, that man must bear his sin.23 9:14 And if a resident foreigner lives24 among you and wants to keep25 the Passover to the LORD, he must do so according to the statute of the Passover, and according to its custom. You must have26 the same27 statute for the resident foreigner28 and for the one who was born in the land.'"

The Leading of the LORD

9:1529 On30 the day that the tabernacle was set up31 the cloud32 covered the tabernacle--the tent of the testimony33--and from evening until morning there was34 a fiery appearance35 over the tabernacle. 9:16 This is the way it used to be continually: the cloud would cover it by day, and a fiery appearance by night. 9:17 And whenever the cloud was taken up36 from the tabernacle, then after that the Israelites would journey; and in whatever place37 the cloud settled, there the Israelites would camp. 9:18 At the commandment38 of the LORD the Israelites would journey, and at the commandment of the LORD they would camp; as long as39 the cloud would settle over the tabernacle they would camp. 9:19 And when the cloud prolonged its stay many days, then the Israelites kept the instructions40 of the LORD and did not journey.

9:20 And when41 the cloud remained over the tabernacle a number of days,42 they remained camped according to the commandment43 of the LORD, and according to the commandment of the LORD they would journey. 9:21 And when44 the cloud remained only45 from evening until morning, when the cloud was taken up46 in the morning, then they journeyed. Whether by day or by night, when the cloud was taken up they journeyed. 9:22 Whether the cloud stayed longer47 over it, two days, or a month, or a year,48 the Israelites remained camped without journeying;49 but when it was taken up, they journeyed. 9:23 At the commandment of the LORD they camped, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed; they kept the instructions of the LORD according to the commandment of the LORD, by the authority of Moses.

The Blowing of Trumpets

10:11 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 10:2 "Make2 two trumpets of silver; you are to make3 them from a single hammered piece.4 And you will use them5 for assembling the community, and for directing the traveling of the camps. 10:3 And when6 they blow7 them both, all the community must come8 to you to the entrance of the tent of meeting.

10:4 "And if they blow with one trumpet, then the leaders, the heads of the thousands of Israel, must come to you.9 10:5 And when you blow an alarm,10 then the camps that are located11 on the east parts must begin to travel.12 10:6 And when you blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that are located on the south side must begin to travel.13 An alarm must be sounded14 for their journeys. 10:7 But when you assemble the community,15 you must blow, but you must not sound an alarm.16 10:8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, must blow the trumpets; and they will be to you for an eternal ordinance throughout your generations. 10:9 And if you go to war in your land against the adversary who opposes17 you, then you must sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved18 from your enemies.

10:10 "Also in the time of your rejoicing, such as19 in your appointed festivals or20 at the beginnings of your months, you must blow with your trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifice of your peace offerings, that they may21 become22 a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God."

The Journey From Sinai to Kadesh

10:1123 And on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle of the testimony.24 10:12 So the Israelites set out25 on their journeys from the Wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud settled in the Wilderness of Paran.

Judah Begins the Journey

10:13 And in the beginning they took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD, by the authority of Moses.

10:14 The standard26 of the camp of the Judahites journeyed first according to their companies, and over his company was Nahshon son of Amminadab.

10:15 Over the company of the tribe of Issacarites was Nathaneel son of Zuar, 10:16 and over the company of the tribe of the Zebulonites was Elion son of Helon. 10:17 And the tabernacle was taken down; the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari journeyed, carrying the tabernacle.

Journey Arrangements for the Tribes

10:18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben journeyed according to their companies; over his company was Elizur son of Shedeur. 10:19 Over the company of the tribe of the Simeonites was Shelumiel son of Zurishadday, 10:20 and over the company of the tribe of the Gadites was Eliasaph son of Deuel. 10:21 And the Kohathites journeyed, carrying the sanctuary; the tabernacle was to be set up27 before they arrived. 10:22 And the standard of the camp of the Ephraimites journeyed according to their companies; over his company was Elishama son of Ammihud. 10:23 Over the company of the tribe of the Manassites was Gamliel son of Pedahzur, 10:24 and over the company of the tribe of Benjaminites was Abidan son of Gideoni.

10:25 And the standard of the camp of the Danites journeyed, which was the rear guard28 of all the camps by their companies; over his company was Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 10:26 Over the company of the tribe of the Asherites was Pagiel son of Ocran, 10:27 and over the company of the tribe of the Naphtalites was Ahira son of Enan. 10:28 These were the traveling arrangements29 of the Israelites according to their companies when they journeyed.30

The Appeal to Hobab

10:2931 And Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel, the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law,32 "We are journeying to the place about which the LORD said, `I will give it to you.' Come with us and we will treat you well,33 for the LORD has promised good things34 for Israel." 10:30 But he said to him, "I will not go; but I will go to my own land, and to my kindred." 10:31 And he said, "Do no leave us,35 because you know places for us to camp in the wilderness, and you could be our guide.36 10:32 And if you come with us, it is certain37 that with whatever good things the LORD will favor us, we will treat you well."

10:33 So they traveled from the mountain of the LORD three days' journey;38 and the ark of the covenant of the LORD was traveling before them in the three days' journey, to find a resting place for them. 10:3439 And the cloud of the LORD was on them by day, when they journeyed40 from the camp. 10:35 And when the ark journeyed, Moses would say, "Rise up, LORD, and may your enemies be scattered and those who hate you flee before you." 10:36 And when it came to rest he would say, "Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel."41

The Israelites Complain

11:11 When the people complained2 it displeased3 the LORD. When the LORD heard4 it, his anger burned,5 and so6 the fire of the LORD7 burned among them, and consumed some of the outer parts of the camp. 11:2 Then the people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire died out.8 11:3 And he called the name of that place Taberah,9 because the fire of the LORD burned among them.

Complaints about Food

11:410 Now the mixed multitude11 who were among them craved more desirable foods,12 and so the Israelites wept again,13 and said, "If only we had meat to eat!14 11:5 We remember15 the fish we used to eat16 freely17 in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 11:6 But now we are dried up,18 and there is nothing at all before us19 except the manna." 11:7 Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium. 11:8 And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it with mills, or pounded it in mortars; they baked it in pans, and made cakes of it. Its taste20 was like the taste of fresh olive oil. 11:9 And when the dew came down21 on the camp in the night, the manna fell with it.

Moses' Complaint to the LORD

11:1022 And Moses heard the people weeping23 throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and when the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly, Moses was also displeased.24 11:11 And Moses said to the LORD, "Why have you afflicted25 your servant? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that26 you lay the burden of all this people on me? 11:12 Did I conceive all this people?27 Did I produce28 them, that you should say to me, `Carry them in your bosom, as a foster father29 bears a nursing child,' to the land which you swore to their fathers? 11:13 From where shall I get30 meat to give to all this people, for they cry to me, `Give us meat, that we may eat!'31 11:14 I am not able to bear all this people alone,32 because it33 is too heavy for me! 11:15 But if you are going to deal34 with me like this, then kill me immediately.35 If I have found favor in your sight then do not let me see my trouble."36

The Response of God

11:1637 And the LORD said to Moses, "Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know are elders of the people, and officials38 over them; and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their position there with you. 11:17 Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take part of the Spirit that is on you, and will put it on them, and they will bear some of the burden of the people with you, so that you do not bear it39 by yourself.

11:18 "And say to the people, `Sanctify yourselves40 for tomorrow, and you will eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing41 of the LORD, saying, "Who will give us meat to eat,42 for life43 was good for us in Egypt?" Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat. 11:19 You will eat, not just one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 11:20 but a whole month, until it comes out your nostrils and makes you sick,44 because you have despised45 the LORD who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, "Why46 did we ever come out of Egypt?"'"

11:21 And Moses said, "The people around me47 are six hundred thousand on foot;48 but you say, `I will give them meat,49 that they may eat50 for a whole month.' 11:22 Would they have enough if the flocks and the herds were slain for them? If all the fish of the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?" 11:23 And the LORD said to Moses, "Is the LORD's hand shortened?51 Now you will see whether my word to you will happen52 or not."

11:24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD. He then gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and had them stand around the tabernacle. 11:25 And the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to them, and he took some of the Spirit that was on Moses,53 and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them,54 they prophesied,55 but did not do so again.56

Eldad and Medad

11:26 But two men remained in the camp; the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested on them. Now they were among those in the registration,57 but had not gone to the tabernacle. So they prophesied in the camp. 11:27 And a58 young man ran and told Moses, and he said, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." 11:28 And Joshua son of Nun, the servant59 of Moses, one of his choice young men,60 answered and said, "My lord Moses, stop them!"61 11:29 And Moses said to him, "Are you envious for me?62 Oh that63 all the LORD's people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!" 11:30 And Moses returned to the camp along with the elders of Israel.

Provision of Quail

11:31 Now a wind 64went forth65 from the LORD, and brought quail66 from the sea, and let them fall67 near the camp, about a day's journey on this side, and about a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and about three feet68 high on the surface of the ground. 11:32 And the people stayed up69 all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail. The one who gathered the least gathered ten homers,70 and they spread them out71 for themselves round about the camp. 11:33 But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed,72 the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very great plague.

11:34 So the name of that place was called Kibroth Hattaavah,73 because there they buried the people that craved different food.74 11:35 And the people journeyed from Kibroth Hattaavah to Hazeroth, and they stayed at Hazeroth.

Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses

12:11 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against2 Moses because of the Cushite3 woman he had married4 (for he had married an Ethiopian woman.) 12:2 And they5 said, "Has the LORD only6 spoken by Moses? Has he not also spoken by us?"7 And the LORD heard it.8

12:3 Now the man Moses was very humble,9 more so than any man on the face of the earth.

The Response of the LORD

12:4 And the LORD spoke immediately to Moses, and to Aaron, and to Miriam, "The three of you come out to the tent of meeting." And the three of them came out. 12:5 And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tent; he then called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.

12:6 And the LORD said, "Hear now my words: If there is a prophet among you,10 I the LORD will make myself known to him in a vision, I will speak with him in a dream. 12:7 My servant11 Moses is not so; he is faithful12 in all my house. 12:8 With him I will speak face to face,13 openly,14 and not in riddles; and he will see the form15 of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" 12:9 And the anger of the LORD burned against them, and he departed. 12:10 When16 the cloud departed from over the tent, Miriam became17 leprous18 as snow. And Aaron looked at19 Miriam, and she was leprous!

The Intercession of Moses

12:11 So Aaron said to Moses, "Oh my lord,20 please do not lay this sin upon us, in which we have acted foolishly and have sinned. 12:12 Do not let her be like a dead person, whose flesh is half-consumed when he comes out of the mother's womb."

12:13 Then Moses cried to the LORD, "Heal her now, O God." 12:14 And the LORD said to Moses, "If her father had even spit21 in her face, would she not have been disgraced for seven days? Let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and afterward let her be received back in again.

12:15 So Miriam was shut outside of the camp for seven days; and the people did not journey on until Miriam was brought back in.22 12:16 Then after that the people moved from Hazeroth and camped in the Wilderness of Paran.

Spies Sent Out

13:11 The LORD spoke2 to Moses: 13:2 "Send out men that they may investigate3 the land of Canaan, which I am giving4 to the Israelites. You are to send one man from each ancestral tribe,5 each one a leader among them." 13:3 So Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran at the command of the LORD. All of them were leaders6 of the Israelites.

13:4 Now these were their names: from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zaccur; 13:5 from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori; 13:6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh; 13:7 from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph; 13:8 from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun; 13:9 from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu; 13:10 from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi; 13:11 from the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi son of Susi; 13:12 from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli; 13:13 from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael; 13:14 from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vopshi; 13:15 from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki. 13:16 These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to investigate the land. And Moses named Hoshea son of Nun "Joshua."7

The Spies' Instructions

13:17 When Moses sent8 them to investigate the land of Canaan, he told them, "Go up through the Negev,9 and then go up into the hill country 13:18 and see10 what the land is like,11 and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, few or many, 13:19 and whether the land they live in is good or bad, and whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or fortified cities, 13:20 and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether or not there are forests in it. And be brave,12 and bring back some of the fruit of the land." Now it was the time of the year13 for the first ripe grapes.14

The Spies' Activities

13:21 So they went up and investigated the land from the Wilderness of Zin to Rehob,15 at the entrance of Hamath.16 13:22 When they went up through the Negev they17 came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmal,18 descendants of Anak, were living. Now Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan19 in Egypt. 13:23 When they came to the valley of Eshcol, they cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a staff20 between two men, as well as some of the pomegranates and the figs. 13:24 That place was called21 the Eshcol Valley,22 because of the cluster23 of grapes that the Israelites cut from there. 13:25 And they returned from investigating the land after forty days.

The Spies' Reports

13:26 And they came back24 to Moses and Aaron, and to all the community of the Israelites, in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh.25 They reported26 to all the congregation, and showed the fruit of the land. 13:27 And they told Moses,27 "We went to the land where you sent us.28 It is indeed flowing with milk and honey,29 and this is its fruit. 13:28 But30 the inhabitants are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. Moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. 13:29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the banks31 of the Jordan."32

13:30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses, saying, "Let us go up33 and occupy it,34 for we are well able to conquer it."35 13:31 But the men36 who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against these people, because they are stronger than we are." 13:32 Then they presented the Israelites with a discouraging37 report of the land they had investigated, saying, "The land that we passed through38 to investigate is a land that devours39 its inhabitants.40 All the people we saw there are of great stature. 13:33 We even saw the Nephilim41 (the descendants of the Anak came from the Nephilim), and we seemed liked grasshoppers both to ourselves and to them."

The Israelites Respond in Unbelief

14:11 Then all the community raised a loud cry,2 and the people wept3 that night. 14:2 And all the Israelites murmured4 against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died5 in the land of Egypt, or if only we had perished in this wilderness! 14:3 Why has the LORD brought us into this land only to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should become plunder? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?" 14:4 So they said to one another,6 "Let's appoint7 a leader8 and return9 to Egypt."

14:5 Then Moses and Aaron fell down with their faces to the ground10 before all the assembly of the community of the Israelites. 14:6 And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, part of those who investigated the land, tore their garments. 14:7 They said to all the community of the Israelites, "The land we passed through to investigate is an exceedingly11 good land. 14:8 If the LORD delights in us, then he will bring us into this land and give it to us--a land that is flowing with milk and honey.12 14:9 Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not fear the people of the land; for they are bread for us.13 Their protection14 has turned aside from them; but the LORD is with us. Do not fear them!"

14:10 However, all the community threatened to stone them.15 But16 the glory17 of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of the meeting.

The Punishment from God

14:11 And the LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people despise18 me, and how long will they not believe19 in me, in spite of the signs that I have done among them? 14:12 I will strike them with the pestilence,20 and I will disinherit them; I will make you into a nation that is greater and mightier than they!"

14:13 And Moses said to the LORD, "When the Egyptians hear21 it--for you brought up this people in your might from among them-- 14:14 then they will tell it to the inhabitants22 of this land. They have heard that you, LORD, are among this people, that you, LORD, are seen face to face,23 that your cloud stands over them, and that you go before them by day in a pillar of a cloud and in a pillar of fire by night. 14:15 If you kill24 all this people at once,25 then the nations that have heard of your fame will say, 14:16 `Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to them, he killed them in the wilderness.' 14:17 So now, let the power of my Lord26 be great, just as you have said, 14:18 `The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loyal love,27 forgiving iniquity and transgression,28 and by no means clearing29 the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children until the third and fourth generations.'30 14:19 Please forgive31 the iniquity of this people according to your great loyal love,32 just as you have forgiven this people from Egypt even until now."

14:20 Then the LORD said, "I have forgiven them as you asked.33 14:21 But truly, as I live,34 all the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD. 14:22 Because all the men have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted35 me now these ten times,36 and have not obeyed me, 14:23 they will by no means37 see the land that I swore to their fathers, nor will any of them who despised me see it. 14:24 Only my servant Caleb, because he had a different spirit and has followed me fully--I will bring him into the land where he had gone, and his descendants38 will possess it. 14:25 (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites were living in the valleys.)39 Tomorrow, turn and journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea."

14:26 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron: 14:27 "How long must I bear40 with this evil congregation41 that murmurs against me? I have heard the murmurings of the Israelites that they murmured against me. 14:28 Say to them, `As I live,42 says43 the LORD, `I will surely do to you as you have spoken in my hearing.44 14:29 Your dead bodies45 will fall in this wilderness--all those numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against me. 14:30 You will by no means enter into the land where46 I swore47 to settle48 you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 14:31 But I will bring in your little ones, whom you said would become victims of war, and they will know the LORD whom you have despised. 14:32 But as for you, your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness, 14:33 and your children will wander49 in the wilderness forty years and suffer for your unfaithfulness,50 until your dead bodies lie finished51 in the wilderness. 14:34 After the number of the days you have investigated this land, forty days, one day for a year, you will suffer for52 your iniquities, forty years, and you will know what it means to thwart me.53 14:35 I the LORD have said, `I will surely do so to all this evil community that has gathered together against me. In this wilderness they will be finished, and there they will die!'"

14:36 And the men whom Moses sent to investigate the land, who returned and made all the community murmur against him by producing54 an evil report about the land, 14:37 those men who produced the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the LORD. 14:38 But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephuneh, who were among55 the men who went to investigate the land, lived. 14:39 When Moses told56 these things to the Israelites, the people mourned57 greatly.

14:40 And early58 in the morning they went up to the crest of the hill country,59 saying, "Here we are, and we will go up to the place that the LORD commanded,60 for we have sinned."61 14:41 But Moses said, "Why62 are you now transgressing the commandment of the LORD? But it will not prosper. 14:42 Do not go up, for the LORD is not among you, and you will be63 defeated before your enemies. 14:43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you will fall by the sword. Because you have turned away from the LORD, the LORD will not be with you."

14:44 But they presumed64 to go up to the crest of the hill, although65 neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed out of the camp. 14:45 So the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country swooped66 down and attacked them67 as far as Hormah.68

Sacrificial Rulings

15:11 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 15:2 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them, `When you enter the land where you are to live,2 which I am giving to you,3 15:3 and make an offering by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice for discharging a vow or as a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to create a pleasing aroma to the LORD, from the herd or from the flock, 15:4 then the one who presents his offering to the LORD must bring4 a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with one fourth of a hin of olive oil.5 15:5 And you must prepare one-fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering6 with the burnt offering or the sacrifice for each lamb.7 15:6 Or for a ram, you must prepare as a grain offering two-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with one-third of a hin of olive oil. 15:7 And for a drink offering you must offer one-third of a hin of wine as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 15:8 And when you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering or a sacrifice for discharging a vow or as a peace offering to the LORD, 15:9 then a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with half a hin of olive oil must be presented8 with the young bull. 15:10 And you must present as the drink offering half a hin of wine with the fire offering as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 15:11 This is what is to be done9 for each ox, or for each ram, or for each of the male lambs or the goats. 15:12 You must do so for each one according to the number that you prepare.

15:13 "`Every native born person must do these things in this way, to present an offering made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 15:14 And if an resident foreigner is living10 with you, or whoever is among you in coming generations,11 and prepares an offering made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the LORD, just as you are to do it, so he must do it.12 15:15 One statute must apply13 to you of the congregation, and also to the resident foreigner who is living among you, as a permanent14 statute for your future generations; you and the resident foreigner will be alike15 before the LORD. 15:16 One law and one custom must apply to you and to the resident foreigner that lives alongside you.'"

Rules for First Fruits

15:17 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 15:18 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them, `When you enter the land to which I am bringing you16 15:19 and eat17 some of the food of the land, you must offer up a raised offering18 to the LORD. 15:20 You must offer up a cake of the first of your finely ground flour19 as a raised offering; as you offer the raised offering of the threshing floor, so you must offer it up. 15:21 You must give to the LORD some of the first of your finely ground flour as a raised offering in your future generations.

Rules for Inadvertent Offenses

15:2220 "`And if you people21 sin unintentionally, and do not observe all these commandments that the LORD has spoken to Moses-- 15:23 all that the LORD has commanded you by the authority of Moses, from the day that the LORD commanded Moses and continuing through your future generations-- 15:24 then if anything is done inadvertently22 without the knowledge of23 the community, all the community must prepare one young bull for a burnt offering, for a pleasing aroma to the LORD, along with its grain offering and its customary drink offering, and one male goat for a purification offering. 15:25 And the priest is to make atonement24 for all the community of the Israelites, and they will be forgiven25 because it was inadvertent. And they are to bring their offering, an offering made by fire to the LORD, and their purification offering before the LORD, for their inadvertent offense. 15:26 And all the community26 of the Israelites, and the resident foreigner who lives among them, will be forgiven, since all the people were involved in the inadvertent offense.

15:27 "`And if any person27 sins inadvertently, then he must bring a yearling female goat for a purification offering. 15:28 And the priest must make atonement for the person who sins inadvertently, when he sins inadvertently before the LORD, to make atonement for him; and he will be forgiven. 15:29 You must have one law for the person who sins inadvertently, both for the native born among the Israelites and for the resident foreigner who lives among them.

Deliberate Sin

15:30 "`But the person who acts presumptuously,28 whether native born or a resident foreigner, insults29 the LORD.30 That person must be cut off31 from among his people. 15:31 Because he has despised32 the word of the LORD and has broken33 his commandment, that person must be completely cut off.34 His iniquity will be on him.'"35

15:32 When the Israelites were36 in the wilderness they found a man gathering wood on the sabbath day.37 15:33 And those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the community. 15:34 They put him in custody, because there was no clear instruction about what should be done to him. 15:35 Then the LORD said to Moses, "The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation must stone38 him with stones outside the camp. 15:36 So the whole community took him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Rules for Tassels

15:37 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 15:38 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them to make39 tassels40 for themselves, fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and put a blue thread41 on the tassel of the corners. 15:39 And you must have this tassel so that you may look at it and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and obey them; and so that you do not follow42 after your own heart and your own eyes that lead you to unfaithfulness.43 15:40 Thus44 you will remember, and obey all my commandments, and be holy to your God. 15:41 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God."

The Rebellion of Korah

16:11 Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, Reubenites, took men2 16:2 and rose up against Moses, with some of the Israelites, two hundred fifty princes of the community, chosen from the assembly,3 famous men.4 16:3 And they assembled against Moses and Aaron, saying to them, "You take too much upon yourselves,5 seeing all the community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you lift yourselves above the community of the LORD?"

16:4 When Moses heard it he fell down with his face to the ground. 16:5 Then he said to Korah and to all his company, "In the morning the LORD will make known who are his, and who is holy. He will cause that person6 to approach him; the person he has chosen he will cause to approach him. 16:6 Do this, Korah, you and all your7 company: Take censers, 16:7 put fire in them, and set incense on them before the LORD tomorrow and the man whom the LORD chooses will be holy. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi." 16:8 And Moses said to Korah, "Listen now, you sons of Levi! Does it seem too small a thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the community of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the community to minister to them? 16:10 And he has brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you. Do you now seek8 the priesthood also? 16:11 Therefore you and all your company have assembled together against the LORD; and Aaron--what is he, that you murmur against him?"9

16:12 And Moses sent to summon10 Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said, "We will not come up.11 16:13 Is it a small thing12 that you have brought us up out of the land that flows with milk and honey,13 to kill us in the wilderness? Now do you want to make yourself a prince14 over us? 16:14 Moreover,15 you have not brought us into a land that flows with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Do you think you can blind16 these men? We will not come up."

16:15 And Moses was very angry; and he said to the LORD, "Have no respect17 for their offering. I have not taken so much as one donkey from them, nor have I harmed any one of them."

16:16 Then Moses said to Korah, "You and all your company be present before the LORD, you and they, and Aaron, tomorrow. 16:17 And each of you18 take his censer, put19 incense in it, and then each of you present his censer before the LORD--two hundred fifty censers; along with you, and Aaron--each of you with his censer. 16:18 So everyone took his censer, put fire in it, and set incense on it, and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting, with Moses and Aaron. 16:19 When20 Korah assembled the whole community against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting, then the glory of the LORD appeared to the whole community.

The Judgment on the Rebels

16:20 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron: 16:21 Separate yourselves21 from among this community,22 that I may consume them in an instant. 16:22 Then they fell down with their faces to the ground,23 and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all people,24 will you be angry with the whole community when only one man sins?"25

16:23 So the LORD spoke to Moses: 16:24 "Tell the community: `Get away26 from around the homes of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.'" 16:25 Then Moses got up27 and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel went after him. 16:26 And he said to the community, "Move away from the tents of these wicked28 men, and do not touch anything they have, lest you be destroyed because29 of all their sins."30 16:27 So they got away from the homes of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stationed themselves31 in the entrances of their tents, with their wives and their children, and their toddlers. 16:28 Then Moses said, "This is how32 you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will.33 16:29 If these men die a natural death,34 or if they share the fate35 of all men, then the LORD has not sent me. 16:30 But if the LORD does something entirely new,36 and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up37 with all that they have, and they38 go down alive to the grave,39 then you will know that these men have despised the LORD!"

16:31 And when he had finished40 speaking41 all these words, the ground that was under them split open, 16:32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, along with their houses, and all Korah's men, and all their goods. 16:33 They and all that they had went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed over them. So they perished from the midst of the community. 16:34 And all the Israelites42 that were around them fled at their cry, for they said, "What if43 the earth swallows us too?" 16:35 Then a fire44 went out from the LORD and devoured the two hundred fifty men that offered incense.

The Atonement for the Rebellion

16:36 (17:1)45 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 16:37 "Tell46 Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to pick up47 the censers out of the flame, for they are holy, and then scatter the coals of fire48 at a distance. 16:38 As for the censers of these who sinned at the cost of their lives,49 they must be made into50 into hammered sheets for covering the altar, for they presented them before the LORD and sanctified them; and they will become a sign to the Israelites." 16:39 So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers presented by those who had been burned, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar. 16:40 It was a memorial for the Israelites, that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron come near to burn incense before the LORD, that he might not become like Korah and his company, just as the LORD had spoken by the authority of Moses.

16:41 But on the next day the whole community of Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, "You have killed the people of the LORD."51 16:42 When the community assembled52 against Moses and against Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting--and53 the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. 16:43 And Moses and Aaron stood before the tent of meeting.

16:44 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 16:45 "Get away from this community, that I may consume them in an instant." 16:46 And Moses said to Aaron, "Take the censer and put fire in it from the altar, and lay incense on it, and go quickly into the community and make an atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the LORD--the plague has begun." 16:47 So Aaron did54 as Moses had commanded, and ran into the middle of the assembly--now the plague was just beginning among the people. And he placed incense, and made atonement for the people. 16:48 And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped. 16:49 Now those who died in the plague were 14,700, besides those who died over the matter of Korah. 16:50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and the plague was stopped.

The Budding of Aaron's Rod

17:11 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 17:2 "Speak to the Israelites, and receive from them a rod from each tribe,2 one from every tribal leader,3 twelve rods; you must write each man's name on his rod. 17:3 And you must write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi; for one rod is for the head of every tribe.4 17:4 And you must lay them5 in the tent of meeting before the ark of the covenant6 where I meet with you. 17:5 And the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; so I will rid myself of the murmurings of the Israelites, which they murmur against you."

17:6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a rod, one for each leader,7 according to their tribes--twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. 17:7 Then Moses placed the rods before the LORD in the tent of the testimony.8

17:8 On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony--and9 the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds!10 17:9 So Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD to all the Israelites. They looked. And each man took his rod.

The Memorial

17:10 And the LORD said to Moses, "Bring Aaron's rod back before the testimony, to be preserved for a sign to the rebels, so that you may bring their murmurings to an end11 before me, that they may not die.12 17:11 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him--this is what he did.

17:12 And the Israelites said to Moses, "We are bound to die!13 We perish, we all perish! 17:13 (17:28)14 Anyone who even comes close to the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all to die?"15

Responsibilities of the Priests

18:11 And the LORD said to Aaron, "You and your sons and your tribe2 with you must bear the iniquity of the sanctuary;3 and you and your sons with you must bear the iniquity of your priesthood.

18:2 Bring with you your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, so that they may be joined4 to you and minister to you while5 you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony. 18:3 And they must be responsible to care for you, and to care for the tabernacle. Only they must not come near the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, so that they, and you, should not die. 18:4 And they must be joined6 to you, and they will be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the tent; but no unauthorized person7 may approach you. 18:5 And you will be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the care of the altar, so that there will be8 no more wrath on the Israelites. 18:6 And I, even I, have chosen9 your brothers the Levites from among the Israelites. They are given to you as a gift from the LORD, to perform the duties10 of the tent of meeting. 18:7 But you and your sons with you are responsible for your priestly duties, for everything at the altar and within the veil. And you must serve. I give you your priest's office for service as a gift; but the unauthorized person that approaches must be put to death."

The Portion of the Priests

18:8 And the LORD spoke to Aaron, "See, I have given you the responsibility for my raised offerings; I have given all the holy things of the Israelites to you by reason of your anointing,11 and to your sons as a perpetual ordinance. 18:9 Of all the most holy offerings reserved12 from the fire this will be yours: every offering of theirs, whether from every grain offering of theirs, or from every purification offering of theirs, or from every reparation offering of theirs which they bring to me, will be most holy for you and for your sons. 18:10 You are to eat it in the most holy place; every male may eat it. It will be holy to you.

18:11 And this is yours: the raised offering of their gift, along with all the waved offerings of the Israelites. I have given them to you and to your sons and daughters with you as a perpetual ordinance. Everyone who is clean in your household may eat of it.

18:12 All the best of the olive oil, and all the best of the wine and of the wheat, the first fruits of these things that they give to the LORD, I have given to you.13 18:13 And whatever first ripe fruit in the land they bring to the LORD will be yours; everyone who is clean in your household may eat of it.

18:14 Everything devoted14 in Israel will be yours. 18:15 The firstborn of every womb which they present to the LORD, whether human beings or animals, will be yours. Nevertheless, the firstborn of people you must redeem,15 and the firstborn male of unclean animals you must redeem. 18:16 And those that are to be redeemed, you are to redeem when they are a month old, according to your estimation, for five shekels of silver according to the sanctuary shekel, which is twenty gerahs. 18:17 But you must not redeem the firstborn of a cow or a sheep or a goat; they are holy. You must sprinkle16 their blood on the altar and burn their fat for an offering made by fire for a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 18:18 And their meat will be yours, just as the raised breast and the right hip is yours. 18:19 All the raised offerings of the holy things that the Israelites offer to the LORD, I have given to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual ordinance. It is a covenant of salt17 forever before the LORD for you and for your descendants with you.

Duties of the Levites

18:20 And the LORD spoke to Aaron, "You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them--I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites. 18:21 And see, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they perform--the service of the tent of meeting. 18:22 No longer may the Israelites approach the tent of meeting, lest they bear their sin18 and die. 18:23 But the Levites must perform the service19 of the tent of meeting, and they must bear their iniquity.20 It will be a perpetual ordinance throughout your generations that among the Israelites they have no inheritance.21 18:24 But I have given22 to the Levites for an inheritance the tithes of the Israelites that are offered23 to the LORD as a raised offering. That is why I said to them that among the Israelites they are to have no inheritance."

Instructions for the Levites

18:25 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 18:26 "You are to speak to the Levites, and you must tell them, `When you receive from the Israelites the tithe which I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you are to offer up24 from it as a raised offering to the LORD a tenth of the tithe. 18:27 And your raised offering will be credited25 to you as though it were grain from the threshing floor or as juice26 from the winepress. 18:28 Thus you are to offer up a raised offering to the LORD of all your tithes which you receive from the Israelites; and you must give the LORD's raised offering from it to Aaron the priest. 18:29 From all your gifts you must offer up every raised offering due27 to the LORD, from all the best of it, and the holiest part of it.'28

18:30 "Therefore you will say to them,29 `When you offer up30 the best of it, then it will be credited to the Levites as the product of the threshing floor and as the product of the winepress. 18:31 And you may31 eat it in any place, you and your household, because it is your wages for your service in the tent of meeting. 18:32 And you will bear no sin concerning it when you offer up the best of it. And you must not profane the holy things of the Israelites, lest you die.'"32

The Red Heifer Ritual

19:11 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron: 19:2 "This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded: `Instruct the Israelites to bring2 you a red3 heifer4 without blemish, which has no defect5 and has never borne a yoke. 19:3 And you must give it to Eleazar the priest so that he may take it outside the camp, and it must be slaughtered before him.6 19:4 Eleazar the priest is to take7 some of its blood with his finger, and sprinkle some of the blood seven times8 directly in front of the tent of meeting. 19:5 And the heifer must be burnt9 in his sight--its skin, its flesh, its blood, and its offal is to be burnt.10 19:6 And the priest must take cedar wood, hyssop,11 and scarlet wool, and throw them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer.12 19:7 Then the priest must wash13 his clothes and bathe himself14 in water, and afterward he may come15 into the camp, but the priest will be ritually unclean until evening. 19:8 And the one who burns it16 must wash his clothes in water and bathe himself in water, and will be ritually unclean until evening.

19:9 "`Then a man who is ritually clean must gather up the ashes of the red heifer, and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They must be kept17 for the community of the Israelites for water for impurity18--it is a purification for sin.19 19:10 And the one who gathers the ashes of the heifer must wash his clothes and be ritually unclean until evening. This will be a permanent ordinance both for the Israelites and the resident foreigner who lives among them.

Purification from Uncleanness

19:11 "`Whoever touches20 the corpse21 of any person22 will be unclean23 seven days. 19:12 He must purify himself24 with water on the third day and on the seventh day, and so will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third day and the seventh day, then he will not be clean. 19:13 Anyone who touches the corpse of any dead person and does not purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. And that person must be cut off from Israel,25 because the water for impurity was not sprinkled upon him. He will be unclean; his uncleanness remains on him.

19:14 "`This is the law: when a man dies26 in a tent, anyone who comes into the tent and all who are in the tent will be unclean seven days. 19:15 And every open container that has no covering bound on it is unclean. 19:16 And whoever touches the body of someone killed with a sword in the open fields,27 or a dead body, or a human bone, or a grave, will be unclean seven days.28

19:17 "`For a ritually impure person you must take29 some of the ashes of the burnt heifer30 of purification for sin and pour31 fresh running32 water over it in a vessel. 19:18 Then a ritually clean person must take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, and on all its furnishings, and on the people who were there, or on the one who touched a bone, or one killed, or one who died, or a grave. 19:19 And the clean person must sprinkle the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day; and on the seventh day he must purify him,33 and then he must wash his clothes, and bathe in water, and will be clean in the evening. 19:20 But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person must be cut off from among the community, because he has polluted the sanctuary of the LORD; the water for impurity was not sprinkled on him, so he is unclean.

19:21 "`So this will be a perpetual ordinance for them: the one who sprinkles34 the water for impurity must wash his clothes, and the one who touches the water for impurity will be unclean until evening.35 19:22 And whatever the unclean person touches will be unclean, and the person who touches it will be unclean until evening.'"

The Israelites Complain Again

20:11 Then the entire community of Israel2 entered the Wilderness of Zin in the first month;3 and the people stayed in Kadesh,4 and Miriam died there and was buried there.5

20:2 And there was no water for the community; and so they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron. 20:3 And the people strove6 with Moses and said,7 "If only8 we had died when our brothers died before the LORD! Why9 have you brought up the community of the LORD into this wilderness, that10 we and our cattle should die there? 20:5 Why11 have you brought us up from Egypt to bring us into12 this evil place; it is no place for seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink!"

Moses Responds

20:6 So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting, and they fell down with their faces to the ground; and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. 20:7 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 20:8 "Take the rod and assemble the community, you and Aaron your brother, and then speak13 to the rock before their eyes. It will pour forth14 its water, and you will bring forth to them water from the rock, and so you will give the community and their beasts water to drink."

20:9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, just as he commanded him. 20:10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the community together in front of the rock, and he said to them, "Listen, you rebels,15 must we bring16 water out of this rock for you?" 20:11 Then Moses raised his hand, and struck the rock twice with his rod. And water came out abundantly. So the community drank, and their beasts drank too.

The LORD's Judgment

20:12 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me enough17 to sanctify18 me in the eyes of the Israelites, therefore you will not bring this community into the land I have given them."19

20:13 This is the water of Meribah, because the Israelites strove with the LORD, and his holiness was maintained20 among them.

Rejection by the Edomites

20:1421 Moses22 sent messengers from Kadesh to the King of Edom,23 "Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardships we have experienced,24 20:15 how our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time,25 and the Egyptians treated us and our ancestors badly.26 20:16 So when we cried to LORD, he heard our voice and sent a messenger,27 and has brought us up out of Egypt. Now28 we are here in Kadesh, a town on the edge of your country.29 20:17 Please let us pass through30 your country. We will not pass through the fields or through the vineyards, nor will we drink water from any well. We will go by the King's Way;31 we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your region."32

20:18 But Edom said to him, "You will not pass through me,33 or I will come out against you with the sword." 20:19 Then the Israelites said to him, "We will go along the highway, and if we34 or our cattle drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We will only pass through on our feet, without doing anything else."

20:20 But he said, "You will not pass through." Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful force.35 20:21 So Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; therefore Israel turned away from him.

Aaron's Death

20:22 So the entire company of Israelites36 journeyed from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor.37 20:23 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom. He said: 20:24 "Aaron will be gathered to his ancestors,38 for he will not enter into the land I have given to the Israelites because you39 rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah. 20:25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up on Mount Hor. 20:26 Remove Aaron's priestly garments40 and put them on Eleazar his son, and Aaron will be gathered to his ancestors41 and will die there."

20:27 So Moses did as the LORD commanded; and they went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. 20:28 And Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. So Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. And Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 20:29 When all the community saw that Aaron was dead, the whole house of Israel mourned for Aaron for thirty days.

Victory at Hormah

21:11 And when the Canaanite king of Arad2 who dwelt in the Negev3 heard that Israel was coming along the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners.

21:2 So Israel made a vow4 to the LORD and said, "If you will indeed deliver5 this people into our hand, then we will utterly destroy6 their cities." 21:3 Then the LORD listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of the place was called7 Hormah.

Fiery Serpents

21:4 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea,8 to go around the land of Edom, but the people9 became impatient along the way. 21:5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, for there is no bread or water, and we detest this worthless10 bread."

21:6 So the LORD sent poisonous11 snakes12 among the people, and they bit the people; many people of Israel died. 21:7 Then the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD that he take away13 the snakes from us." So Moses prayed for the people.

21:8 And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a poisonous snake, and set it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks14 on it he will live." 21:9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole, so that if a snake had bitten someone, when he looked to the bronze snake he lived.15

The Approach to Moab

21:1016 And the Israelites journeyed on and camped in Oboth. 21:11 Then they journeyed on from Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim,17 in the wilderness that is before Moab, on the eastern side.18 21:12 From there they moved on and camped in the valley of Zered. 21:13 From there they moved on and camped on the other side of the Arnon, that is in the wilderness that extends from the regions19 of the Amorites, for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 21:14 This is why it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD,

21:16 And from there to Beer;23 that is the where the LORD spoke to Moses, "Gather the people and I will give them water." 21:17 Then Israel sang24 this song:

And from the wilderness to Mattanah; 21:19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel; and from Nahaliel to Bamoth; 21:20 and from Bamoth in the valley that is in the country of Moab, by the top of Pisgah, which overlooks the wilderness.26

The Victory over Sihon and Og

21:2127 Then Israel sent messengers to King Sihon of the Amorites, saying,

21:22 "Let us28 pass through your land; we will not turn aside into the fields or into the vineyards, nor will we drink water from any well, but we will go along the King's Way until we pass your borders." 21:23 But Sihon did not permit Israel to pass through his border; he29 gathered all his forces30 together and went out against Israel into the wilderness. When31 he came to Jahaz, he fought against Israel. 21:24 But the Israelites32 defeated him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strong. 21:25 So Israel took all these cities; and Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages.33 21:26 For Heshbon was the city of King Sihon of the Amorites. Now he had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all of his land out of his control,34 as far as the Arnon. 21:27 That is why those who speak in proverbs35 say,

21:31 So the Israelites40 lived in the land of the Amorites. 21:32 And Moses sent spies to reconnoiter41 Jaazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.

21:33 Then they turned and went up by the road to Bashan. And King Og of Bashan and all his forces42 went out against them to the battle at Edrei. 21:34 And the LORD said to Moses, "Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand. You will do to him what you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. 21:35 So they defeated Og,43 his sons, and all his people, until there were no survivors,44 and they possessed his land.

Balaam Refuses to Curse Israel

22:11 The Israelites journeyed on2 and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan River3 across from Jericho. 22:2 Balak son of Zippor saw all that the Israelites had done to the Amorites. 22:3 And the Moabites were greatly afraid of the people, because they were so numerous. The Moabites4 were sick with fear because of the Israelites.

22:4 So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "Now this mass of people5 will lick up everything around us, as the bull devours the grass of the field. Now Balak son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at this time. 22:5 And he sent messengers to Balaam6 son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the river in his native land,7 to summon him, saying, "Look, a nation has come out of Egypt. They cover the face8 of the earth, and they are settling next to me. 22:6 So9 now, please come and curse this nation for me, for they are too powerful for me. Perhaps I will prevail so that we may conquer them,10 and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed,11 and whoever you curse is cursed."

22:7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fee for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and reported to him the words of Balak. 22:8 He replied to them, "Stay12 here tonight, and I will bring back to you whatever word the LORD may speak to me." So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 22:9 And God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?" 22:10 Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent a message to me saying, 22:11 "Look, a nation has come out13 of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Come now and put a curse on them for me; perhaps I will be able to defeat them14 and drive them out."15 22:12 But God said to Balaam, "You must not go with them; you must not curse the people,16 for they are blessed."17

22:13 So Balaam got up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your land, for the LORD has refused to permit me to go18 with you." 22:14 And the princes of Moab left19 and went to Balak, and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."

Balaam Accompanies the Moabite Princes

22:15 And Balak again sent princes,20 more numerous and more honorable than the first.21 22:16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak son of Zippor: `Please do not let anything hinder you from coming22 to me. 22:17 For I will honor you greatly,23 and whatever you tell me I will do. So come, put a curse on this nation for me.'"

22:18 Balaam replied24 to the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not transgress the commandment of the LORD my God25 to do less or more. 22:19 Now therefore, please stay26 the night here also, that I may know what more the LORD might say to me."27 22:20 And God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, "If the men come to call you, get up and go with them; but the word that I will say to you, that you must do." 22:21 So Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

God Opposes Balaam

22:22 Then God's anger was kindled28 because he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose29 him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. 22:23 And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with30 his sword drawn in his hand, so the donkey turned aside from the road and went into the field. And Balaam beat the donkey, to make her turn back to the road.

22:24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a path31 among the vineyards, where there was a wall on either side.32 22:25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed herself into the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall, and so he beat her again.33

22:26 Then the angel of the LORD went farther, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. 22:27 So when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she crouched down under Balaam. Then Balaam's anger was kindled, and he beat his donkey with a staff.

22:28 Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?" 22:29 And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made me look stupid; I wish34 there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you." 22:30 And the donkey said to Balaam, "Am not I your donkey that you have ridden ever since I was yours until this day? Have I ever attempted35 to treat you this way?"36 And he said, "No." 22:31 Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand; so he bowed his head, and fell down with his face to the ground.37 22:32 And the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because what you are doing38 is perverse before me.39 22:33 The donkey saw me, and turned from me these three times. If40 she had not turned from me, I would have killed you, but saved her alive." 22:34 And Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood against me in the road.41 So now, if it is evil in your sight,42 I will go back home."43 22:35 But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but you may only speak44 the word that I will speak to you."45 So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

Balaam Meets Balak

22:36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at a city of Moab which was on the border of the Arnon at the boundary of his territory. 22:37 And Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send again and again46 to you to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?"47 22:38 And Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I have come to you. Now, am I able48 to speak49 anything at all? I must speak50 the word that God puts in my mouth." 22:39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 22:40 And Balak sacrificed bulls and sheep, and sent some51 to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him. 22:41 Then on the next day Balak took Balaam, and brought him up to Bamoth Baal.52 And from there he saw the extent of the nation.

Balaam Blesses Israel

23:11 Balaam said2 to Balak, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams." 23:2 So Balak did just as Balaam had said. Balak and Balaam then offered on each3 altar a bull and a ram. 23:3 And Balaam said to Balak, "Station yourself4 by your burnt offering, and I will go off; perhaps the LORD will come to meet me, and whatever he reveals to me5 me I will tell you."6 Then he went to a deserted height.7

23:4 And God met Balaam., who8 he said to him, "I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram." 23:5 Then the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, and speak what I tell you."9

23:6 So he returned to him, and he was still10 standing by his burnt offering, he and all the princes of Moab. 23:7 Then Balaam11 took up his oracle, and said,

Balaam Relocates

23:11 And Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but on the contrary26 you have only blessed them!"27 23:12 And he replied, "Must I not take heed28 to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?"29 23:13 And Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place from which you may observe them. You will see only a part of them, but you will not see all of them. And curse them for me from there."

23:14 So Balak brought Balaam30 to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah,31 where32 he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 23:15 And Balaam33 said to Balak, "Station yourself here34 by your burnt offering, while I meet the LORD there. 23:16 And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and speak what I tell you." 23:17 When he came to him, he was still standing by his burnt offering, along with the princes of Moab. And Balak said to him, "What has the LORD spoken?"

Balaam Prophesies Again

23:18 And he took up his oracle, and said,

Balaam Relocates Yet Again

23:25 And Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all52 nor bless them at all!"53 23:26 But Balaam answered and said to Balak, "Did I not tell you, `All that the LORD speaks,54 I must do'?"

23:27 And Balak said to Balaam, "Come, please; I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God55 that you curse them for me from there."56 23:28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks toward Jeshimon. 23:29 Then Balaam said to Balak, "Build seven altars here for me, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams." 23:30 So Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Balaam Prophesies Yet Again

24:11 When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel,2 he did not go as at the other times3 to seek for omens,4 but he set his face5 toward the wilderness. 24:2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe;6 and the Spirit of God came upon him. 24:3 Then he took up this oracle, and said,

24:10 Then Balak became very angry at Balaam, and he struck his hands together.18 And Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless19 them these three times! 24:11 So now, flee to your place. I said that I would greatly honor you; but now, the LORD has stood in the way of your honor."

24:12 And Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not also tell your messengers that you sent to me, 24:13 `If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond20 the commandment of the LORD to do either good or evil of my own will, but whatever the LORD tells me I must speak'? 24:14 And now, I am about to go21 to my people. Come now, and I will advise you as to what this people will do to your people in the future."22

Balaam Prophesies a Fourth Time

24:15 And he took up his oracle, and said:

Balaam's Final Prophecies

24:20 Then he looked on Amalek, and took up his oracle, and said,

24:21 Then he looked on the Kenites, and took up his oracle, and said,

24:23 And he took up his oracle, and said,

24:25 And Balaam got up and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

Israel's Sin With the Moabite Women

25:11 When2 Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to commit sexual immorality3 with the daughters of Moab. 25:2 And these women invited4 the people to the sacrifices of their gods; and then the people ate and bowed down to their gods.5 25:3 So Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor.6 And the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel.

God's Punishment

25:4 And the LORD said to Moses, "Arrest all the leaders7 of the people, and hang them up8 before the LORD in broad daylight,9 so that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel." 25:5 So Moses said to the judges of Israelites, "Each of you must execute those of his men10 who were joined to Baal-peor.

25:6 Just then11 one of the Israelites came and brought to his brothers12 a Midianite woman, before the eyes of Moses and in the plain view13 of the whole community of the Israelites, while they14 were weeping at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 25:7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it,15 he got up from among the assembly, took a javelin in his hand, 25:8 and went after the Israelite man into the tent16 and thrust through the Israelite man and into the woman's abdomen.17 So the plague was stopped from the Israelites.18 25:9 And those that died in the plague were 24,000.

The Aftermath

25:10 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 25:11 "Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites, when he was zealous with my zeal19 for my sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in my zeal.20 25:12 Therefore, announce:21 `I am going to give22 to him my covenant of peace;23 25:13 and so it will be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of a permanent priesthood, because he has been zealous for his God,24 and has made atonement25 for the Israelites.'"

25:14 Now the name of the Israelite who was stabbed--the one who was stabbed with the Midianite woman--was Zimri son of Salu, a leader of a clan of the Simeonites. 25:15 And the name of the Midianite woman that was killed was Cozbi daughter of Zur. He was a leader26 over the people of a clan of Midian.27

25:16 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 25:17 "Bring trouble28 to the Midianites, and destroy them, 25:18 because they bring trouble to you by their treachery with which they have deceived29 you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian,30 their sister, who was killed in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.

A Second Census Required

26:11 After the plague the LORD said to Moses and to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,2 "Take a census of the whole community of Israelites, from twenty years old and upward, by their clans, everyone who can serve in the army of Israel.3 26:3 So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan River4 across from Jericho. They said, 26:4 "Number the people5 from twenty years old and upward, just as the LORD commanded Moses and the Israelites who went out from the land of Egypt."

Reuben

26:5 Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. The Reubenites: from Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; from Pallu, the family of the Palluites; 26:6 from Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; from Carmi, the family of the Carmites. 26:7 These were the families of the Reubenites; and those numbered of them were 43,730.6 26:8 Pallu's descendant7 was Eliab. 26:9 Eliab's descendants were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. It was Dathan and Abiram who as leaders of the community rebelled against Moses and Aaron with the assembly of Korah when they rebelled against the LORD. 26:10 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and Korah at the time that assembly died when the fire consumed two hundred fifty men. So they became a warning. 26:11 But the descendants of Korah did not die.

Simeon

26:12 The Simeonites by their families: from Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; from Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; from Jakin, the family of the Jakinites; 26:13 from Zerah,8 the family of the Zerahites; and from Shaul, the family of the Shaulites. 26:14 These were the families of the Simeonites, 22,200.9

Gad

26:15 The Gadites by their families: from Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; from Haggi, the family of the Haggites; from Shuni, the family of the Shunites; 26:16 from Ozni,10 the family of the Oznites; from Eri,11 the family of the Erites; 26:17 from Arod,12 the family of the Arodites, and from Areli, the family of the Arelites. 26:18 These were the families of the Gadites according to those numbered of them, 40,500.13

Judah

26:19 The descendants of Judah were Er and Onan, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 26:20 And the Judahites by their families were: from Shelah, the family of the Shelahites; from Perez, the family of the Perezites; and from Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. 26:21 And the Perezites were: from Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; from Hamul,14 the family of the Hamulites. 26:22 These were the families of Judah according to those numbered of them, 76,500.15

Issachar

26:23 The Issacharites by their families: Tola, the family of the Tolaites; from Puah, the family of the Punites; 26:24 from Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; and from Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. 26:25 These were the families of Issachar, according to those numbered of them, 64,300.16

Zebulun

26:26 The Zebulunites by their families: from Sered, the family of the Sardites; from Elon, the family of the Elonites; from Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites. 26:27 These were the families of the Zebulunites, according to those numbered of them, 60,500.17

Manasseh

26:28 The descendants of Joseph by their families: Manasseh and Ephraim. 26:29 The Manassehites: from Machir, the family of the Machirites. Now Machir became the father of Gilead. From Gilead, the family of the Gileadites. 26:30 These were the Gileadites: from Iezer, the family of the Iezerites; from Helek, the family of the Helekites; 26:31 from Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; from Shechem, the family of the Shechemites; 26:32 and from Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. 26:33 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons, but only daughters; and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 26:34 These were the families of Manasseh; and those numbered of them were 52,700.18

Ephraim

26:35 These are the Ephraimites by their families: from Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; from Beker, the family of the Bakrites; from Tahan, the family of the Tahanites. 26:36 Now these were the Shuthelahites: from Eran, the family of the Eranites. 26:37 These were the families of the Ephraimites, according to those numbered of them, 32,500.19

Benjamin

26:38 The Benjaminites by their families: from Bela, the family of the Belaites; from Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; from Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites; 26:39 from Shuphan, the family of the Shuphanites; from Hupham, the family of the Huphamites. 26:40 And the descendants of Bela were Ard and Naaman. From Ard, 20 the family of the Ardites; from Naaman, the family of the Naamanites. 26:41 These are the Benjaminites, according to their families, and according to those numbered of them, 45,600.21

Dan

26:42 These are the Danites by their families: from Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These were the families of Dan, according to their families. 26:43 All the families of the Shuhahites according to those numbered of them were 64,400.22

Asher

26:44 The Asherites by their families: from Imnah, the family of the Imnahites; from Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; from Beriah, the family of the Beriahites. 26:45 From the Beriahites: from Heber, the family of the Heberites; from Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites. 26:46 Now the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah. 26:47 These are the families of the Asherites, according to those numbered of them, 53,400.23

Naphtali

26:48 The Naphtalites by their families: from Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; from Guni, the family of the Gunites; 26:49 from Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; from Shillem, the family of the Shillemites. 26:50 These were the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those numbered of them were 45,400.24

Total Number and Division of the Land

26:51 These were those numbered of the Israelites, 601,730.25

26:52 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 26:53 "To these the land must be divided as an inheritance according to the number of the names. 26:54 To a larger group you will gave a larger inheritance,26 and to a smaller group you will give a smaller inheritance.27 To each one his inheritance must be given according to his enumeration.28 26:55 The land must be divided by lot; and they will inherit in accordance with the names of their ancestral tribes. 26:56 Their inheritance must be apportioned29 by lot among the larger and smaller groups.

26:57 And these are those of the Levites who were numbered, after their families: from Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; from Merari, the family of the Merarites. 26:58 These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korahites. Kohath became the father of Amram. 26:59 Now the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, daughter of Levi, who was born30 to Levi in Egypt. 26:60 And she bore to Amram Aaron, Moses, and Miriam their sister. 26:61 And to Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

26:62 And those numbered of them were 23,000, all males from twenty years old and upward; for they were not numbered among the Israelites; no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.

26:63 These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the Israelites in the plains of Moab along the Jordan River opposite Jericho. 26:64 But there was not a man among these who had been31 among those numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they numbered the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai. 26:65 For the LORD had said of them, "They will surely die in the wilderness." And there was not left a single man of them, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

Special Inheritance Laws

27:11 Then the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, the son Joseph came forward. Now these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 27:2 And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the leaders of the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of the meeting and said, 27:3 "Our father died in the wilderness, although2 he was not part of3 the company of those that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but he died in his own sin,4 and he had no sons. 27:4 Why should the name of our father be lost from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession5 among the relatives6 of our father."

27:5 So Moses brought their case before the LORD. 27:6 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 27:7 "The daughters of Zelophehad have a valid claim.7 You must indeed8 give them possession of an inheritance among their father's relatives, and you must transfer9 the inheritance of their father to them. 27:8 And you must tell the Israelites, `If a man dies10 and has no son, then you must transfer his inheritance to his daughter; 27:9 and if he has no daughter, then you are to give his inheritance to his brothers; 27:10 and if he has no brothers, then you are to give his inheritance to his father's brothers; 27:11 and if his father has no brothers, then you are to give his inheritance to his relative nearest to him from his family, and he will possess it. And it will be for the Israelites a legal requirement,11 as the LORD commanded Moses.'"

Leadership Change

27:1212 And the LORD said to Moses, "Go up this mountain of the Abarim range,13 and see14 the land I have given15 to the Israelites. 27:13 And when you have seen it, you will be gathered16 to your ancestors, as Aaron your brother was gathered to his ancestors.17 27:14 For18 in the Wilderness of Zin when the community rebelled against me, you19 rebelled against my command to sanctify me before their eyes over the water--the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin."

27:15 Then Moses spoke to the LORD: 27:16 "Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind,20 appoint21 a man over the community, 27:17 who will go out before them, and who will come in before them,22 and who will lead them out, and who will bring them in; so that23 the community of the LORD may not be like sheep that have no shepherd."

27:18 And the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is such a spirit,24 and lay your hand on him;25 27:19 and set him26 before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community, and commission27 him in their sight. 27:20 Then you must delegate28 some of your authority29 to him, so that the whole community of the Israelites will be obedient. 27:21 And he will stand before Eleazar the priest, who30 will seek counsel31 for him before the LORD by the decision of the Urim.32 At his command33 they will go out, and at his word they will come in, he and all the Israelites with him, the whole community."

27:22 So Moses did as the LORD commanded him; he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community. 27:23 And he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the LORD commanded, by the authority of Moses.

Daily Offerings

28:11 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 28:2 "Command the Israelites:2 `With regard to my offering,3 be sure to offer4 my food made for my offering made by fire, as a pleasing aroma to me in their appointed time.'5 28:3 And you will say to them, `This is the offering made by fire which you must offer to the LORD: two unblemished lambs one year old each day for a continual6 burnt offering. 28:4 The first lamb you must offer in the morning, and the second lamb you must offer in the late afternoon,7 28:5 with one-tenth of an ephah8 of finely ground flour as a grain offering mixed with one quarter of a hin9 of pressed olive oil. 28:6 It is a continual burnt offering that was instituted on Mount Sinai as a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

28:7 "`And its drink offering must be one quarter of a hin for each lamb.10 You must pour out the strong drink11 as a drink offering to the LORD in the holy place. 28:8 And the second lamb you must offer in the late afternoon; just as you offered the grain offering and drink offering with the first lamb, you must offer it as an offering made by fire, as a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Weekly Offerings

28:9 And on the sabbath day, you must offer12 two unblemished lambs a year old, and two-tenths of an ephah13 of finely ground flour as a grain offering, mixed with olive oil, with its drink offering. 28:10 This is the burnt offering for every sabbath,14besides the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.

Monthly Offerings

28:11 And on the first day of each month15 you must offer as burnt offering to the LORD two young bulls, one ram, and seven unblemished lambs a year old, 28:12 with three-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for each bull, and two-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for the one ram, 28:13 and one-tenth of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for each lamb, as a burnt offering of a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD. 28:14 And for their drink offerings, include16 half a hin of wine with each bull, and one-third of a hin for the ram, and one-fourth of a hin for each lamb. This is the burnt offering for each month throughout the months of the year. 28:15 And one male goat17 must be offered to the LORD as a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.

Passover and Unleavened Bread

28:16 On the fourteenth day of the first month is the LORD's Passover. 28:17 And on the fifteenth day of this month is the festival. For seven days unleavened bread must be eaten. 28:18 And on the first day there is to be a holy convocation; you must do no ordinary work18 on it.

28:19 But you must offer to the LORD an offering made by fire, a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs one year old; they must all be unblemished. 28:20 And their grain offering is to be of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil. For each bull you must offer three-tenths of an ephah, and two-tenths for the ram; 28:21 For each of the seven lambs you are to offer one-tenth of an ephah, 28:22 as well as one goat for a purification offering, to make atonement for you. 28:23 You must offer these in addition to the burnt offering in the morning which is for a continual burnt offering. 28:24 In this manner you must offer daily throughout the seven days the food of the sacrifice made by fire as a sweet aroma to the LORD. It is be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering and its drink offering. 28:25 And on the seventh day you are to have a holy convocation, you must do no regular work.

Firstfruits

28:26 Also, on the day of the first fruits, when you bring a new grain offering to the LORD during your Feast of Weeks, you are to have a holy convocation. You must do no ordinary work. 28:27 But you must offer as the burnt offering as a sweet aroma to the LORD two young bulls, one ram, seven lambs one year old, 28:28 with their grain offering of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each bull, two-tenths for the one ram, 28:29 with one-tenth for each of the seven lambs, 28:30 as well as one male goat to make an atonement for you. 28:31 You are to offer them with their drink offerings in addition to the continual burnt offering and its grain offering--they must be unblemished.

Blowing Trumpets

29:1 And on the first day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly. You must not do your ordinary work; for it is a day of blowing trumpets for you. 29:2 And you must offer a burnt offering as a sweet aroma to the LORD: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs one year old without blemish.

29:3 And their grain offering is to be of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil, three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths of an ephah for the ram, 29:4 and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs, 29:5 with one male goat for a purification offering to make an atonement for you; 29:6 this is in addition to the monthly burnt offering and its grain offering, and the daily burnt offering with its grain offering and their drink offerings as prescribed, as a sweet aroma, a sacrifice made by fire to the LORD

The Day of Atonement

29:7 And on the tenth day of this seventh month you are to have a sacred assembly. And you must afflict yourselves;1 you must not do any work on it. 29:8 But you must offer a burnt offering as a pleasing aroma to the LORD, one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs one year old, all of them without blemish.2 29:9 And their grain offering must be of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil, three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram, 29:10 and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs, 29:11 along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the purification offering for atonement and the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and their drink offerings.

The Feast of Temporary Shelters

29:12 And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you are to have a sacred assembly; you must do no ordinary work, and you must keep a festival to the LORD for seven days. 29:13 You must offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the LORD: thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs each one year old, all of them without blemish. 29:14 And their grain offering must be of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil, three-tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths of an ephah for each of the two rams, 29:15 and one-tenth for each of the fourteen lambs, 29:16 along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.

29:17 And on the second day you must offer twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish, 29:18 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed, 29:19 along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and their drink offerings.

29:20 And on the third day you must offer3 eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish, 29:21 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed, 29:22 along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.

29:23 And on the fourth day you must offer ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish, 29:24 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed, 29:25 along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.

29:26 And on the fifth day you must offer nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish, 29:27 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed, 29:28 along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering ith its grain offering and its drink offering.

29:29 And on the sixth day you must offer eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish, 29:30 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed, 29:31 along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.

29:32 And on the seventh day you must offer seven bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish, 29:33 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed, 29:34 along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.

29:35 And on the eighth day you are to have a sacred assembly, you must do no ordinary work on it. 29:36 But you must offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, as a pleasing aroma to the LORD, one bull, one ram, seven lambs one year old, all of them without blemish, 29:37 and with their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed, 29:38 along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.

29:39 These things you must present to the LORD at your appointed times, in addition to your vows and your freewill offerings, as your burnt offerings, your grain offerings, your drink offerings, and your peace offerings.'" 29:40 (30:1)4 And Moses told the Israelites everything, just as the LORD had commanded him.5

Vows Made by Men

30:11 And Moses told the leaders2 of the tribes concerning the Israelites, "This is what3 the LORD has commanded: 30:2 If a man4 makes a vow5 to the LORD or takes an oath6 of binding obligation on himself,7 he must not break his word, but must do whatever he has promised.8

Vows Made by Single Women

30:3 If a young9 woman who is still living10 in her father's house makes a vow to the LORD, or places herself under an obligation, 30:4 and her father hears of her vow, and the obligation to which she has pledged herself, and her father remains silent about her,11 then all her vows will stand,12 and every obligation to which she has pledged herself will stand. 30:5 But if her father overrules her when he hears13 about it, then none14 of her vows, or her obligations which she has pledged for herself will stand. And the LORD will absolve15 her, because her father overruled her.

Vows Made by Married Women

30:6 And if she has a husband, while under a vow,16 or she uttered17 anything impetuously by which she has pledged herself, 30:7 and her husband hears about it, but remains silent about her when he hears about it, then her vows will stand and her obligations which she has pledged for herself will stand. 30:8 But if when her husband hears it he overrules her, then he will nullify18 her vow she has taken,19 and whatever she uttered impetuously which she has pledged for herself. And the LORD will absolve her.

Vows Made by Widows

30:9 But every vow of a widow or of a divorced woman which she has pledged for herself will remain intact.20 30:10 And if she made the vow in her husband's house, or put herself under obligation with an oath, 30:11 and her husband heard about it, but remained silent about her, and did not overrule her, then all her vows will stand, and every obligation which she pledged for herself will stand. 30:12 But if her husband clearly nullifies21 them when he hears them, then whatever she says22 in the way of vows or obligations will not stand. Her husband has made them void, and the LORD will absolve her.

30:13 Any vow or sworn obligation that would bring affliction to her,23 her husband can confirm or nullify. 30:14 But if her husband remains completely silent24 about her from day to day, he thus confirms all her vows, or all her obligations which she is under; he confirms them because he remained silent about when he heard them. 30:15 But if he should nullify them after he has heard them, then he will bear her iniquity.25

30:16 These are the statutes that the LORD commanded Moses, relating to26 a man and his wife, and a father and his young daughter who is still living in her father's house.

The Midianite War

31:11 And the LORD spoke to Moses: 31:2 "Exact vengeance2 for the Israelites on the Midianites3--after that you will be gathered to your people."4

31:3 So Moses spoke to the people: "Arm5 men from among you for the war, to go against the Midianites and to execute6 the vengeance of the LORD on Midian. 31:4 You must send to the battle a thousand men from every tribe throughout all the tribes of Israel.7 31:5 So a thousand from every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war in all, were provided out of the thousands of Israel.

Campaign Against the Midianites

31:6 So Moses sent them to the war, one thousand from every tribe, with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, who was in charge8 of the holy articles9 and the signal trumpets in his hand. 31:7 And they fought against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses, and they killed every male.10 31:8 And they killed the kings of Midian in addition to those slain--Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba--five Midianite kings.11 And they killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.12

31:9 And the Israelites took the women of Midian captives along with their little ones, and took all their herds, all their flocks, and all their goods as plunder. 31:10 And they burned13 all their towns14 that they had inhabited and all their encampments. 31:11 And they took all the plunder and all the spoils, both people and animals. 31:12 And they brought the captives and the spoils and the plunder to Moses and to Eleazar the priest, and to the Israelite community, to the camp on the steppes of Moab, along the Jordan River15 across from Jericho.16 31:13 And Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went out to meet them outside the camp.

The Death of the Midianite Women

31:14 But Moses was furious with the officers of the army, the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, who had come from service in the war. 31:15 And Moses said to them, "Have you allowed all the women to live?17 31:16 Look, these people, through the counsel of Balaam, caused the Israelites to act treacherously against the LORD in the matter of Peor--and there was the plague among the community of the LORD. 31:17 Now therefore kill every boy,18 and kill every woman who has had sexual intercourse with a man.19 31:18 But all the young women20 who have not had sexual intercourse with a man21 will be yours.22

Purification After Battle

31:19 "And any of you who has killed anyone, or touched any of the dead, remain outside the camp for seven days; purify yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day. 31:20 And you must purify each garment and everything that is made of skin, everything made of goat's hair, and everything made of wood."23

31:21 Then Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who had gone into the battle, "This is the ordinance of the law that the LORD commanded Moses: 31:22 `Only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead, 31:23 everything that may stand the fire, you are to pass through the fire,24 and it will be clean; but then it must be purified with the waters of impurity. Anything that cannot withstand the fire you must pass through the water. 31:24 And you must wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you will be clean, and afterward you may come into the camp."

The Distribution of Spoils

31:25 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 31:26 "You and Eleazar the priest, and all the family heads of the community, take the sum25 of the plunder that was captured, both people and animals. 31:27 Divide the plunder into two parts, one for those who took part in the war, who went out to battle, and the other for all the community.

31:28 "And you must exact26 a tribute for the LORD from the men of war who went out to battle: one life out of five hundred, from the people, the cattle, and from the donkeys and the sheep. 31:29 You are to take it from their half-share, and give it to Eleazar the priest for a raised offering to the LORD. 31:30 And from the Israelites' half-share you are to take one portion out of fifty of the people, the cattle, the donkeys, and the sheep--from every kind of animal, and you are to give them to the Levites, who are responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the LORD."

31:31 So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses. 31:32 And the spoil that remained of the plunder which the men of war had gathered27 was 675,000 sheep, 31:33 72,000 cattle, 31:34 61,000 donkeys, 31:35 and 32,000 women who had never had sexual intercourse with a man.28

31:36 And the half-portion of those who went to war numbered 337,500 sheep; 31:37 the LORD's tribute from the sheep was 675. 31:38 And the cattle numbered29 36,000; the LORD's tribute was 72. 31:39 And the donkeys were 30,500, of which the LORD's tribute was 61. 31:40 And the people were 16,000, of which the LORD's tribute was 32 people.

31:41 So Moses gave the tribute, which was the LORD's raised offering, to Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses.

31:42 And from the Israelites' half-share that Moses had separated from the warriors, 31:43 there were 337,500 sheep from the portion belonging to the community, 31:44 and 36,000 cattle, 31:45 and 30,500 donkeys, 31:46 and 16,000 people.

31:47 From the Israelites' share Moses took one of every fifty people and animals and gave them to the Levites who were responsible for the care of the tabernacle, as the LORD commanded Moses.

31:48 Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, approached Moses 31:49 and said to him,30 "Your servants have taken a count31 of the men who were in the battle, who were under our authority,32 and not one is missing. 31:50 So we have brought for an offering for the LORD what each man found--gold ornaments, armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."33 31:51 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all of it fashioned into ornaments. 31:52 And all the gold of the offering they had offered up to the LORD from the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds weighed 16,750 shekels.34 31:53 Each soldier had taken plunder for himself. 31:54 So Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, and brought it into the tent of meeting as a memorial35 for the Israelites before the LORD.

The Petition of the Reubenites and Gadites

32:11 Now the Reubenites and the Gadites possessed a very large amount of cattle, and when they saw that the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead was ideal for cattle,2 32:2 the Gadites and the Reubenites came and addressed Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the community. They said, 32:3 "Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, 32:4 the land that the LORD subdued3 before the community of Israel, is ideal for cattle, and your servants have cattle." 32:5 So they said, "If we have found favor in your sight, let this territory be given to your servants for our inheritance. Do not have us cross4 the Jordan River."5

Moses' Response

32:6 And Moses said to the Gadites and the Reubenites, "Must your brothers go to war while you6 remain here? 32:7 And why do you frustrate the intent7 of the Israelites to cross over into the land which the LORD has given them? 32:8 Your fathers did the same thing when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to see the land. 32:9 When8 they went up to the Eshcol Valley and saw the land, they frustrated the intent of the Israelites so that they did not enter9 the land that the LORD had given10 them. 32:10 And so the anger of the LORD was kindled that day, and he swore, 32:11 `Not11 one of the men twenty years old and upward who came from Egypt will see the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because they have not followed me wholeheartedly,12 32:12 except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the LORD wholeheartedly.' 32:13 So the LORD's anger was kindled against the Israelites, and he made them wander in the wilderness for forty years, until all that generation that had done wickedly before the LORD was finished.13 32:14 Now look, you are standing in your fathers' place, a brood of sinners, to increase still further the fierce wrath of the LORD against the Israelites. 32:15 For if you turn away from following him, he will once again abandon14 them in the wilderness, and you will be the reason for the destruction."

The Offer of the Reubenites and Gadites

32:16 Then they came very close to him and said, "We will build sheep folds here for our flocks, and cities for our families,15 32:17 but we will maintain ourselves in armed readiness16 and go before the Israelites until whenever we have brought them to their place. And our descendants will be living in fortified towns as a protection against17 the inhabitants of the land. 32:18 We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has his inheritance. 32:19 For we will not accept any inheritance on the other side of the Jordan River18 and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this eastern side of the Jordan."

32:20 Then Moses replied, "If you will do this thing, and if you will arm yourselves for battle before the LORD, 32:21 and if all your armed men cross the Jordan before the LORD until he drives out his enemies from his presence 32:22 and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you may return and be free of your obligation to the LORD and to Israel. This land will then be your possession in the LORD's sight.

32:23 "But if you do not do all this, then look, you will have sinned19 against the LORD. And know that your sin will find you. So build cities for your descendants and pens for your sheep, but do what you have said20 you would."

32:25 So the Gadites and the Reubenites replied to Moses, "Your servants will do as my lord commands. 32:26 Our children, our wives, our flocks, and our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead, 32:27 but your servants will cross over, every man armed for war, to do battle in the LORD's presence, just as my lord says."

32:28 So Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the heads of the families of the Israelite tribes. 32:29 Moses said to them: "If the Gadites and the Reubenites cross the Jordan with you, each one equipped for battle in the LORD's presence, and you conquer the land, then you must allot them the territory of Gilead as their possession. 32:30 But if they do not cross over with you armed, they must receive possessions among you in Canaan." 32:31 Then the Gadites and the Reubenites answered, "Your servants will do what the LORD has spoken. 32:32 We will cross armed in the LORD's presence into Canaan, and then the possession of our inheritance that we inherit will be ours on this side of the Jordan River."21

Land Assignment

32:33 So Moses gave to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, son of Joseph, the realm of King Sihon of the Amorites, and the realm of King Og of Bashan, the entire land with its cities and the territory surrounding them. 32:34 And the Gadites rebuilt Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 32:35 Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 32:36 Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran as fortified cities, and constructed pens for their flocks. 32:37 And the Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 32:38 Nebo, Baal-meon (with a change of name) and Sibmah. And they renamed22 the cities they built.

32:39 And the descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were in it. 32:40 So Moses gave Gilead to Machir, son of Manasseh, and he lived there. 32:41 Now Jair son of Manasseh went and captured their small towns and named them Havvoth Jair. 32:42 Then Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages and called it Nobah after his own name.

Wanderings From Egypt to Sinai

33:11 These are the journeys of the Israelites, who went out of the land of Egypt by their divisions under the authority of Moses and Aaron. 33:2 And Moses recorded their departures2 by their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD; now these are their journeys according to their departures. 33:3 And they departed from Ramses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day3 after the Passover the Israelites went out defiantly4 in the sight of all the Egyptians. 33:4 Now the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, which the LORD had killed among them; the LORD also executed judgments on their gods.

33:5 And the Israelites journeyed from Ramses and camped in Succoth.

33:6 And they journeyed from Succoth, and camped in Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness. 33:7 And they journeyed from Etham, and turned again to Pa-hi-hiroth, which is before Baal-zephon; and they camped before Migdal. 33:8 And they journeyed from Pa-ha-hiroth, and passed through the middle of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the Wilderness of Etham, and camped in Marah. 33:9 And they journeyed from Marah and came to Elim; in Elim there are twelve fountains of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.

33:10 And they journeyed from Elim, and camped by the Red Sea; 33:11 they journeyed from the Red Sea and camped in the Wilderness of Sin. 33:12 And they journeyed from the Wilderness of Zin, and camped in Dophka. 33:13 And they journeyed from Dophka, and camped in Alush.

33:14 And they journeyed from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. 33:15 And they journeyed from Rephidim and camped in the Wilderness of Sinai.

Wanderings in the Wilderness

33:16 And they journeyed from the desert of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah. 33:17 And they journeyed from Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth. 33:18 And they journeyed from Hazeroth and camped in Rithmah. 33:19 And they journeyed from Rithmah, and camped at Rimmon-parez. 33:20 And they journeyed from Rimmon-parez, and camped in Libnah. 33:21 And they journeyed from Libnah, and camped at Rissah; 33:22 And they journeyed from Rissah, and camped in Kehelathah. 33:23 And they journeyed from Kehelathah, and camped at Mount Shapher. 33:24 And they journeyed from Mount Shapher, and camped in Haradah. 33:25 And they journeyed from Haradah, and camped in Makheloth. 33:26 And they journeyed from Makheloth, and camped at Tahath. 33:27 And they journeyed from Tahath, and camped at Tarah. 33:28 An they journeyed from Tarah, and camped in Mithcah. 33:29 And they journeyed from Mithcah, and camped in Hashmoneh. 33:30 And they journeyed from Hashmoneh, and camped in Moseroth. 33:31 And they journeyed from Moseroth and camped in Bene-jaakan. 33:32 And they journeyed from Bene-jaakan, and camped at Hor-haghidgad. 33:33 And they journeyed from Hor-haghidgad, and camped in Jotbathah; 33:34 And they journeyed from Jotbathah, and camped in Ebronah; 33:35 And they journeyed from Ebronah, and camped at Ezion-geber; 33:36 And they journeyed from Ezion-geber, and camped in the Wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh.

Wanderings from Kadesh to Moab

33:37 And they journeyed from Kadesh, and camped in Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom. 33:38 And Aaron the priest ascended Mount Hor at the command of the LORD, and he died there, in the fortieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the month. 33:39 Now Aaron was a hundred and twenty three years old when he died in Mount Hor. 33:40 And the king of Arad, the Canaanite king who lived in the south of the land of Canaan, heard of the approach of the Israelites.

33:41 And they journeyed from Mount Hor, and camped in Zalmonah. 33:42 And they journeyed from Zalmonah, and camped in Punan. 33:43 And they journeyed from Punan, and camped in Oboth. 33:44 And they journeyed from Oboth, and camped in Iye-abarim, on the border of Moab. 33:45 And they journeyed from Iim, and camped in Dibon-gad. 33:46 And they journeyed from Dibon-gad, and camped in Almon-diblathaim. 33:47 And they journeyed from Almon-diblathaim, and camped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo; 33:48 And they journeyed from the mountains of Abarim, and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River,5 across from Jericho. 33:49 And they camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.

At the Border of Canaan

33:50 And the LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. He said: 33:51 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them, `When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 33:52 you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images, all their molten images, and demolish their high places. 33:53 You must dispossess the inhabitants of the land and live in it, for I have given you the land to possess it. 33:54 And you must divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families. To a larger group you must give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group you must give a smaller inheritance. Everyone's inheritance must be in the place where his lot falls. And you must inherit according to your ancestral tribes. 33:55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, then those whom you let remain will be irritants in your eyes, and thorns in your side, and will trouble you in the land where you will be living. 33:56 And what I intended to do to them I will do to you."

The Southern Border of the Land

34:11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 34:2 "Give these instructions2 to the Israelites, and say to them: `When you enter Canaan, the land that has been assigned to you as an inheritance,3 the land of Canaan with its borders, 34:3 your southern border4 will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the Edomite border, and your southern border will run eastward to the extremity of the Salt Sea, 34:4 and then the border will turn from the south to the Ascent of Arrabim, continue to Zin, and then its direction5 will be from the south to Kadesh Barnea. Then it will go to Hazar Addar and pass over to Azmon. 34:5 There the border will turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, and then its direction is to the sea.

The Western Border of the Land

34:6 "`And for a western border6 you will have the great Sea.7 This will be your western border.

The Northern Border of the Land

34:7 "`And this will be your northern border: from the great Sea you will draw a line to Mount Hor; 34:8 from Mount Hor you will draw a line to the entrance to Hamath, and the direction of the border will be to Zedad. 34:9 And the border will continue to Ziphron, and its direction will be to Hazar Enan. This will be your northern border.

The Eastern Border of the Land

34:10 "`For your eastern border you will draw a line from Hazar Enan to Shepham. 34:11 And the border will run down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain, and the border will descend and reach the eastern side of the Sea of Chinnereth.8 34:12 Then the border will continue down the Jordan River9 and its direction will be to the Salt Sea. This will be your land by its borders that surround it.'"

34:13 Then Moses commanded the Israelites: "This is the land which you will inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to be given10 to the nine and a half tribes, 34:14 because the tribe of the Reubenites by their families and the tribe of the Gadites by their families have received their inheritance,11 and half of the tribe of Manasseh has received their inheritance. 34:15 The two and a half tribes have received their inheritance on this side of the Jordan, east of Jericho, toward the sunrise."

Appointed Officials

34:16 And the LORD said to Moses: 34:17 "These are the names of the men who are to allocate the land to you as an inheritance:12 Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun. 34:18 And you must take one leader from every13 tribe to assist in allocating the land as an inheritance.14 34:19 And these are the names of the men: from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh; 34:20 from the tribe of the Simeonites, Shemuel son of Ammihud; 34:21 f rom the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad son of Chislon, 34:22 and from the tribe of the Danites, a leader, Bukki son of Jogli. 34:23 From the Josephites, Hanniel son of Ephod, a leader from the tribe of Manasseh; 34:24 from the tribe of the Ephraimites, a leader, Kemuel son of Shiphtan; 34:25 from the tribe of the Zebulunites, a leader, Elizaphan son of Parnach; 34:26 from the tribe of the Issacharites, a leader, Paltiel son of Azzan; 34:27 from the tribe of the Asherites, a leader, Ahihud son of Shelomi, 34:28 and from the tribe of the Naphtalites, a leader, Pedahel son of Ammihud." 34:29. These are the ones whom the LORD commanded to divide up the inheritance among the Israelites in the land of Canaan.

The Levitical Cities

35:11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the Moabite plains by the Jordan near Jericho. He said: 35:2 "Instruct the Israelites to give2 the Levites towns to live in, from the inheritance that they will possess. You must also give the Levites grazing land around the towns. 35:3 Thus they will have towns in which to live, and their grazing lands will be for their cattle, for their possessions, and for all their animals. 35:4 And the grazing lands around the towns that you will give to the Levites must extend to a distance of five hundred yards3 from the town wall.

35:5 "And you must measure4 from outside the wall of the town on the east one thousand yards,5 and on the south side one thousand yards, and on the west side one thousand yards, and on the north side one thousand yards, with the town in the middle. This territory must belong to them as grazing land for the towns. 35:6 Now out of these towns that you will give to the Levites you must select six towns of refuge to which a person who has killed someone may flee.6 And you must give them forty-two other towns.

35:7 "So the total of the towns you will give the Levites is forty-eight. You must give these together with their grazing lands. 35:8 And the towns you will give must be from the possession of the Israelites. From the larger tribes you must give more; and from the smaller tribes fewer. Each must contribute some of its own towns to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance allocated to each.

The Cities of Refuge

35:9 Then the LORD spoke to Moses: 35:10 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them, `When you cross over the Jordan River7 into the land of Canaan, 35:11 you must then designate some towns as towns of refuge for you, to which a person who has killed someone unintentionally may flee. 35:12 And they must stand as your towns of refuge from the avenger in order that the killer may not die until he has stood trial before the community. 35:13 These six towns that you must give you will have for refuge.

35:14 "You must give three towns on this side of the Jordan and you must give three towns in the land of Canaan; they must be towns of refuge 35:15 These six towns will be places of refuge for the Israelites, and for the foreigner, and for the settler among them, that anyone one who kills any person accidentally may flee there.

35:16 "But if he hits someone with an iron tool so that he dies,8 he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death. 35:17 And if he strikes him by throwing a stone large enough that he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death. Or if he strikes him with a hand weapon of wood so that he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death. 35:19 The avenger9 of blood himself must kill the murderer; when he meets him he must kill him.

35:20 "But if he strikes him out of hatred, or throws something at him intentionally,10 so that he dies-- 35:21 or in strife he strikes him with his hand, and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death; for he is a murderer. The avenger of blood must kill the murderer when he meets him.

35:22 "But if he strikes him suddenly, without strife, or throws anything at him unintentionally, 35:23 or with any stone large enough that a man could die, without seeing him, and throws it at him, and he dies, even though he was not his enemy nor sought his harm, 35:24 then the community must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these decisions. 35:25 And the community must deliver the slayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the community must restore him to the town of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the consecrated oil. 35:26 But if the slayer at any time goes outside the boundary of the town to which he had fled, 35:27 and the avenger of blood find him outside the borders of the town of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the slayer, he will not be guilty of blood, 35:28 because the slayer should have stayed in his town of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest, the slayer may return to the land of his possessions. 35:29 So these things must be a statute of judgment for you throughout your generations, in all the places where you live.

35:30 "Whoever kills any person, the murderer must be put to death by the word11 of witnesses; but one witness cannot12 testify against any person to cause him to be put to death. 35:31 Moreover, you must not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; he must surely be put to death. 35:32 And you must not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a town of refuge, to allow him to return home and live on his own land before the death of the high priest.

35:33 "You must not pollute the land where you live, for blood defiles the land, and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed there, except by the blood of the person who shed it. 35:34 Therefore do not defile the land that you will inhabit, in which I live, for I the LORD live among the Israelites.

Women and Land Inheritance

36:1 Then the heads of the family groups1 of the Gileadites, the descendant of Machir, the descendant of Manasseh, who were from the Josephite families, approached and spoke before Moses and before the leaders who were the heads of the Israelite families.2 36:2 And they said, "The LORD commanded my lord to give3 the land as an inheritance by lot to the Israelites; and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. 36:3 Now if they should be married to one of the men4 from another Israelite tribe, their inheritance would be taken from the inheritance of our fathers and added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry.5 As a result, it will be taken from the lot of our inheritance. 36:4 And when the Jubilee of the Israelites is to take place,6 their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry. So their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of our ancestral tribe."7

Moses' Decision

36:5 Then Moses gave a ruling8 to the Israelites by the word of the LORD: "What the tribe of the Josephites is saying is right. 36:6 This is what the LORD has commanded for Zelophehad's daughters: `Let them marry9 whomever they think best,10 only they must marry within the family of the tribe of their father. 36:7 In this way the inheritance of the Israelites will not be transferred11 from tribe to tribe. But every one of the Israelites must retain the ancestral heritage. 36:8 And every daughter who possesses an inheritance from any of the tribes of the Israelites must become the wife of a man from any family in her father's tribe, so that every Israelite12 may retain the inheritance of his fathers. 36:9 And no inheritance may pass from tribe to tribe. But every one of the tribes of the Israelites must retain its inheritance."

36:10 As the LORD had commanded Moses, so the daughters of Zelophehad did. 36:11 For the daughters of Zelophehad--Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah--were married to the sons of their uncles.13 36:12 They were married into the families of the Manassehites, the descendants of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of their father's family.

36:13 These are the commandments and the decisions that the LORD commanded the Israelites through the authority of Moses, on the plains of Moab by the Jordan River,14 opposite Jericho.