Numbers 1:1-36:1
View Full Chapter2“Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.
7from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;
8from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;
9from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;
10from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;
13from Asher, Pagiel son of Okran;
14from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;
16These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.
19as the LORD commanded Moses. And so he counted them in the Desert of Sinai:
20From the descendants of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families.
21The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.
22From the descendants of Simeon: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were counted and listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families.
25The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650.
26From the descendants of Judah: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.
28From the descendants of Issachar: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.
29The number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.
32From the sons of Joseph: From the descendants of Ephraim: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.
34From the descendants of Manasseh: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.
37The number from the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.
38From the descendants of Dan: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.
39The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700.
42From the descendants of Naphtali: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 47The ancestral tribe of the Levites, however, was not counted along with the others. 49“You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. 54The Israelites did all this just as the LORD commanded Moses. 10On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur.
15His division numbers 45,650.
19His division numbers 40,500. 20The tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
21His division numbers 32,200. 25On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan under their standard. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 27The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Okran.
28His division numbers 41,500.
30His division numbers 53,400.
31All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last, under their standards.
The Levites
1This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses at the time the LORD spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.
6“Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.
7They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the tent of meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle.
9Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.
10Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.” 12“I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,
13for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the LORD .” 15“Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”
17These were the names of the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
19The Kohathite clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. 21To Gershon belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites; these were the Gershonite clans. 23The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle. 25At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle and tent, its coverings, the curtain at the entrance to the tent of meeting, 27To Kohath belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites; these were the Kohathite clans. 30The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.
32The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible for the care of the sanctuary.
37as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs and ropes. 42So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the LORD commanded him. 46To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites,
The Kohathites 1The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 5When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and put it over the ark of the covenant law. 7“Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it.
10Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.
11“Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles in place. 13“They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it.
14Then they are to place on it all the utensils used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans, meat forks, shovels and sprinkling bowls. Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles in place.
15“After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, only then are the Kohathites to come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.
20But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”
The Gershonites 21The LORD said to Moses, 22“Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. 25They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, that is, the tent of meeting, its covering and its outer covering of durable leather, the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes and all the equipment used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. 31As part of all their service at the tent, they are to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases, 32as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes, all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry.
The Numbering of the Levite Clans 34Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites by their clans and families. 35All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 40counted by their clans and families, were 2,630.
45This was the total of those in the Merarite clans. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the LORD ’s command through Moses. 47All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting 48numbered 8,580. 49At the LORD ’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry. Thus they were counted, as the LORD commanded Moses.
The Test for an Unfaithful Wife 11Then the LORD said to Moses,
15then he is to take his wife to the priest. He must also take an offering of a tenth of an ephah
28If, however, the woman has not made herself impure, but is clean, she will be cleared of guilt and will be able to have children. 29“ ‘This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray and makes herself impure while married to her husband, 30or when feelings of jealousy come over a man because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand before the LORD and is to apply this entire law to her.
The Nazirite 1The LORD said to Moses, 6“ ‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the LORD, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body. 9“ ‘If someone dies suddenly in the Nazirite’s presence, thus defiling the hair that symbolizes their dedication, they must shave their head on the seventh day—the day of their cleansing.
12They must rededicate themselves to the LORD for the same period of dedication and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because they became defiled during their period of dedication. 13“ ‘Now this is the law of the Nazirite when the period of their dedication is over. They are to be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting.
15together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made with the finest flour and without yeast—thick loaves with olive oil mixed in, and thin loaves brushed with olive oil.
18“ ‘Then at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that symbolizes their dedication. They are to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering. 19“ ‘After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair that symbolizes their dedication, the priest is to place in their hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and one thick loaf and one thin loaf from the basket, both made without yeast.
20The priest shall then wave these before the LORD as a wave offering; they are holy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.
23“Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
3They brought as their gifts before the LORD six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.
5“Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man’s work requires.” 8and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. 19The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 22one male goat for a sin offering;
23and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.
24On the third day, Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the people of Zebulun, brought his offering. 25His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 33one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 34one male goat for a sin offering; 46one male goat for a sin offering;
48On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the people of Ephraim, brought his offering.
53and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.
54On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering.
59and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
60On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the people of Benjamin, brought his offering. 63one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
65and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni. 67His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 73His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 76one male goat for a sin offering; 81one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
83and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.
84These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls and twelve gold dishes.
86The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels.
2“Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, see that all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand.’ ”
3Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the LORD commanded Moses.
8Have them take a young bull with its grain offering of the finest flour mixed with olive oil; then you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering.
7and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the LORD ’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?” 19When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the LORD ’s order and did not set out. 20Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the LORD ’s command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 23At the LORD ’s command they encamped, and at the LORD ’s command they set out. They obeyed the LORD ’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses. 3When both are sounded, the whole community is to assemble before you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 5When a trumpet blast is sounded, the tribes camping on the east are to set out. 6At the sounding of a second blast, the camps on the south are to set out. The blast will be the signal for setting out. 8“The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you and the generations to come.
The Israelites Leave Sinai 11On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the covenant law. 12Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran. 14The divisions of the camp of Judah went first, under their standard. Nahshon son of Amminadab was in command. 16and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun.
17Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and Merarites, who carried it, set out. 19Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon,
21Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived. 25Finally, as the rear guard for all the units, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was in command.
29Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place about which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel.”
30He answered, “No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people.” 31But Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. 33So they set out from the mountain of the LORD and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest. 36Whenever it came to rest, he said, “Return, LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel.”
Fire From the LORD 1Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
3So that place was called Taberah,
15If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”
17I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone. 18“Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The LORD heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat it.
20but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it—because you have rejected the LORD, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?” ’ ” 21But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’
23The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD ’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.” 24So Moses went out and told the people what the LORD had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent.
25Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but did not do so again. 29But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD ’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!”
30Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp. 33But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.
Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses 1Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.
3(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) 4At once the LORD said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.” So the three of them went out. 5Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them stepped forward,
6he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.
8With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD . Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
10When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous
12Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother’s womb with its flesh half eaten away.” 14The LORD replied to Moses, “If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.”
15So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back. 3So at the LORD ’s command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites.
4These are their names: from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zakkur;
5from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;
12from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli;
13from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;
14from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi;
15from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki.
16These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.)
20How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)
21So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath.
22They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
23When they reached the Valley of Eshkol,
Report on the Exploration 26They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 31But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 3Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 5Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 7and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 11The LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? 14And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard that you, LORD, are with these people and that you, LORD, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. 18‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ 21Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, 22not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— 23not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.
25Since the Amalekites and the Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.
35I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.” 36So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it— 37these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the LORD .
38Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived. 42Do not go up, because the LORD is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies,
43for the Amalekites and the Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the LORD, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword.”
Supplementary Offerings
1The LORD said to Moses,
2“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you as a home
3and you present to the LORD food offerings from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the LORD —whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings—
6“ ‘With a ram prepare a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah
7and a third of a hin of wine as a drink offering. Offer it as an aroma pleasing to the LORD .
9bring with the bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah
12Do this for each one, for as many as you prepare.
15The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the LORD :
18“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land to which I am taking you
19and you eat the food of the land, present a portion as an offering to the LORD .
24and if this is done unintentionally without the community being aware of it, then the whole community is to offer a young bull for a burnt offering as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, along with its prescribed grain offering and drink offering, and a male goat for a sin offering.
29One and the same law applies to everyone who sins unintentionally, whether a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.
The Sabbath-Breaker Put to Death 32While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. 40Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. 5Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the LORD will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him.
7and tomorrow put burning coals and incense in them before the LORD . The man the LORD chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!” 8Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! 9Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the LORD ’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them?
11It is against the LORD that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?” 12Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, “We will not come!
14Moreover, you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Do you want to treat these men like slaves
22But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?” 23Then the LORD said to Moses, 25Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 39So Eleazar the priest collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned to death, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, 42But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared. 43Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting,
45“Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.” And they fell facedown. 46Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the LORD ; the plague has started.” 49But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. 8The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. 10The LORD said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” 12The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! 13Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to die?” 3They are to be responsible to you and are to perform all the duties of the tent, but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. Otherwise both they and you will die.
4They are to join you and be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting—all the work at the tent—and no one else may come near where you are.
9You are to have the part of the most holy offerings that is kept from the fire. From all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain or sin
11“This also is yours: whatever is set aside from the gifts of all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I give this to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it. 17“But you must not redeem the firstborn of a cow, a sheep or a goat; they are holy. Splash their blood against the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD .
20The LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites. 21“I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting. 22From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die. 23It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. 25The LORD said to Moses, 30“Say to the Levites: ‘When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress. 2“This is a requirement of the law that the LORD has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke. 3Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. 5While he watches, the heifer is to be burned—its hide, flesh, blood and intestines. 6The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer. 7After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water. He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening. 14“This is the law that applies when a person dies in a tent: Anyone who enters the tent and anyone who is in it will be unclean for seven days,
15and every open container without a lid fastened on it will be unclean. 19The man who is clean is to sprinkle those who are unclean on the third and seventh days, and on the seventh day he is to purify them. Those who are being cleansed must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and that evening they will be clean.
Water From the Rock 1In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. 3They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD ! 6Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.
12But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
Edom Denies Israel Passage 14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: “This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come on us. 15Our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors,
19The Israelites replied: “We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through on foot—nothing else.” 24“Aaron will be gathered to his people. He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.
26Remove Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there.” 27Moses did as the LORD commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. 29and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, all the Israelites mourned for him thirty days.
Arad Destroyed
1When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them.
2Then Israel made this vow to the LORD : “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy
The Bronze Snake
4They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,
7The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
The Journey to Moab 10The Israelites moved on and camped at Oboth. 11Then they set out from Oboth and camped in Iye Abarim, in the wilderness that faces Moab toward the sunrise. 13They set out from there and camped alongside the Arnon, which is in the wilderness extending into Amorite territory. The Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
15and
17Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well! Sing about it,
18about the well that the princes dug, that the nobles of the people sank— the nobles with scepters and staffs.” Then they went from the wilderness to Mattanah, 19from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth,
20and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah overlooks the wasteland. 25Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its surrounding settlements.
26Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.
27That is why the poets say: “Come to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt; let Sihon’s city be restored.
29Woe to you, Moab! You are destroyed, people of Chemosh! He has given up his sons as fugitives and his daughters as captives to Sihon king of the Amorites. 32After Moses had sent spies to Jazer, the Israelites captured its surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there.
34The LORD said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.”
Balak Summons Balaam 1Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.
3and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
5sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said: “A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.
7The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
9God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?” 10Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:
11‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’ ”
13The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”
14So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.” 18But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.
20That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.” 26Then the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left.
28Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”
31Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
32The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.
33The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.”
34Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”
37Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”
38“Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”
Balaam’s First Message 1Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.”
2Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 6So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials.
11Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!”
12He answered, “Must I not speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?”
Balaam’s Second Message 13Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp. And from there, curse them for me.”
16The LORD met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”
17So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, “What did the LORD say?”
18Then he spoke his message: “Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor.
20I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.
23There is no divination against
25Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”
26Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the LORD says?” 30Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
1Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.
5“How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel!
6“Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters.
7Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water. “Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted.
8“God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them.
9Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse them? “May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!” 10Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. 12Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, 13‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD —and I must say only what the LORD says’?
Balaam’s Fourth Message 15Then he spoke his message: “The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
17“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls
Balaam’s Fifth Message 20Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message: “Amalek was first among the nations, but their end will be utter destruction.”
Balaam’s Sixth Message 21Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message: “Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock; 25Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.
Moab Seduces Israel 1While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, 2who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods.
5So Moses said to Israel’s judges, “Each of you must put to death those of your people who have yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor.” 7When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand 8and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear into both of them, right through the Israelite man and into the woman’s stomach. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; 11“Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal. 12Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him.
15And the name of the Midianite woman who was put to death was Kozbi daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family. 16The LORD said to Moses, 3So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them and said,
5The descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel, were: through Hanok, the Hanokite clan; through Pallu, the Palluite clan; 8The son of Pallu was Eliab, 9and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. The same Dathan and Abiram were the community officials who rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were among Korah’s followers when they rebelled against the LORD .
13through Zerah, the Zerahite clan; through Shaul, the Shaulite clan.
15The descendants of Gad by their clans were: through Zephon, the Zephonite clan; through Haggi, the Haggite clan; through Shuni, the Shunite clan;
18These were the clans of Gad; those numbered were 40,500.
25These were the clans of Issachar; those numbered were 64,300.
27These were the clans of Zebulun; those numbered were 60,500.
28The descendants of Joseph by their clans through Manasseh and Ephraim were:
29The descendants of Manasseh: through Makir, the Makirite clan (Makir was the father of Gilead); through Gilead, the Gileadite clan.
30These were the descendants of Gilead: through Iezer, the Iezerite clan; through Helek, the Helekite clan;
31through Asriel, the Asrielite clan; through Shechem, the Shechemite clan;
32through Shemida, the Shemidaite clan; through Hepher, the Hepherite clan.
46(Asher had a daughter named Serah.)
54To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those listed.
59the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, who was born to the Levites
62All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000. They were not counted along with the other Israelites because they received no inheritance among them. 65For the LORD had told those Israelites they would surely die in the wilderness, and not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 2and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting and said, 3“Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the LORD, but he died for his own sin and left no sons.
4Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.” 6and the LORD said to him,
Joshua to Succeed Moses 12Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up this mountain in the Abarim Range and see the land I have given the Israelites. 13After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, 15Moses said to the LORD, 16“May the LORD, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community
21He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD . At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”
22Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly.
4Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight,
5together with a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah
8Offer the second lamb at twilight, along with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering that you offer in the morning. This is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD .
Sabbath Offerings
9“ ‘On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah
15Besides the regular burnt offering with its drink offering, one male goat is to be presented to the LORD as a sin offering.
The Passover
16“ ‘On the fourteenth day of the first month the LORD ’s Passover is to be held.
18On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.
24In this way present the food offering every day for seven days as an aroma pleasing to the LORD ; it is to be offered in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
5Include one male goat as a sin offering
31Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. 33With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 35“ ‘On the eighth day hold a closing special assembly and do no regular work. 36Present as an aroma pleasing to the LORD a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 37With the bull, the ram and the lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified.
38Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. 4and her father hears about her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then all her vows and every pledge by which she obligated herself will stand. 6“If she marries after she makes a vow or after her lips utter a rash promise by which she obligates herself
8But if her husband forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the LORD will release her.
10“If a woman living with her husband makes a vow or obligates herself by a pledge under oath
11and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her and does not forbid her, then all her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand.
13Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself.
2“Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.” 3So Moses said to the people, “Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites so that they may carry out the LORD ’s vengeance on them. 4Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.”
6Moses sent them into battle, a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling. 13Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. 15“Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. 16“They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the LORD in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the LORD ’s people. 19“Anyone who has killed someone or touched someone who was killed must stay outside the camp seven days. On the third and seventh days you must purify yourselves and your captives.
20Purify every garment as well as everything made of leather, goat hair or wood.”
Dividing the Spoils 25The LORD said to Moses, 26“You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the community are to count all the people and animals that were captured. 27Divide the spoils equally between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community. 29Take this tribute from their half share and give it to Eleazar the priest as the LORD ’s part. 30From the Israelites’ half, select one out of every fifty, whether people, cattle, donkeys, sheep or other animals. Give them to the Levites, who are responsible for the care of the LORD ’s tabernacle.”
35and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.
37of which the tribute for the LORD was 675; 54Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds and brought it into the tent of meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD .
The Transjordan Tribes 1The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock. 2So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, and said,
5If we have found favor in your eyes,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.” 8This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look over the land. 10The LORD ’s anger was aroused that day and he swore this oath: 11‘Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of those who were twenty years old or more when they came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob— 14“And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the LORD even more angry with Israel. 25The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, “We your servants will do as our lord commands. 28Then Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and to the family heads of the Israelite tribes. 29He said to them, “If the Gadites and Reubenites, every man armed for battle, cross over the Jordan with you before the LORD, then when the land is subdued before you, you must give them the land of Gilead as their possession.
30But if they do not cross over with you armed, they must accept their possession with you in Canaan.” 31The Gadites and Reubenites answered, “Your servants will do what the LORD has said.
32We will cross over before the LORD into Canaan armed, but the property we inherit will be on this side of the Jordan.” 34The Gadites built up Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran as fortified cities, and built pens for their flocks. 40So Moses gave Gilead to the Makirites, the descendants of Manasseh, and they settled there.
Stages in Israel’s Journey 1Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 3The Israelites set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians,
4who were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them; for the LORD had brought judgment on their gods.
5The Israelites left Rameses and camped at Sukkoth.
6They left Sukkoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the desert.
11They left the Red Sea and camped in the Desert of Sin.
12They left the Desert of Sin and camped at Dophkah.
14They left Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.
15They left Rephidim and camped in the Desert of Sinai.
16They left the Desert of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah.
17They left Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.
18They left Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.
23They left Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.
25They left Haradah and camped at Makheloth.
27They left Tahath and camped at Terah. 37They left Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the border of Edom.
39Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.
40The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev of Canaan, heard that the Israelites were coming.
42They left Zalmonah and camped at Punon.
43They left Punon and camped at Oboth.
45They left Iye Abarim and camped at Dibon Gad.
46They left Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim. 52drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places.
54Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes. 55“ ‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.
5where it will turn, join the Wadi of Egypt and end at the Mediterranean Sea.
6“ ‘Your western boundary will be the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This will be your boundary on the west.
12Then the boundary will go down along the Jordan and end at the Dead Sea. “ ‘This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side.’ ”
15These two-and-a-half tribes have received their inheritance east of the Jordan across from Jericho, toward the sunrise.” 16The LORD said to Moses, 18And appoint one leader from each tribe to help assign the land.
19These are their names: Caleb son of Jephunneh, from the tribe of Judah;
27Ahihud son of Shelomi, the leader from the tribe of Asher;
4“The pasturelands around the towns that you give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits
Cities of Refuge 6“Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. In addition, give them forty-two other towns.
8The towns you give the Levites from the land the Israelites possess are to be given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: Take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few.” 9Then the LORD said to Moses: 12They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly.
15These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there. 17Or if anyone is holding a stone and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death.
21or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death; that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet. 22“ ‘But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally 34Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.’ ”
Inheritance of Zelophehad’s Daughters 1The family heads of the clan of Gilead son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, who were from the clans of the descendants of Joseph, came and spoke before Moses and the leaders, the heads of the Israelite families.