Arad Destroyed

21 When the Canaanite king of Arad,^(A) who lived in the Negev,^(B) heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. ² Then Israel made this vow^(C) to the Lord: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy^[a](D) their cities.” ³ The Lord listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites^(E) over to them. They completely destroyed them^(F) and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.^[b](G)

The Bronze Snake

⁴ They traveled from Mount Hor^(H) along the route to the Red Sea,^[c](I) to go around Edom.^(J) But the people grew impatient on the way;^{(K) 5} they spoke against God^(L) and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt^(M) to die in the wilderness?^(N) There is no bread! There is no water!^(O) And we detest this miserable food!”^(P)

⁶ Then the Lord sent venomous snakes^(Q) among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.^{(R) 7} The people came to Moses^(S) and said, “We sinned^(T) when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord^(U) will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed^(V) for the people.

⁸ The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole;^(W) anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze snake^(X) and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.^(Y)

The Journey to Moab

¹⁰ The Israelites moved on and camped at Oboth.^{(Z) 11} Then they set out from Oboth and camped in Iye Abarim, in the wilderness that faces Moab^(AA) toward the sunrise. ¹² From there they moved on and camped in the Zered Valley.^{(AB) 13} They set out from there and camped alongside the Arnon^(AC), which is in the wilderness extending into Amorite territory. The Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.^{(AD) 14} That is why the Book of the Wars^(AE) of the Lord says:

¹⁶ From there they continued on to Beer,^(AG) the well where the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together and I will give them water.”

¹⁷ Then Israel sang this song:^(AH)

Then they went from the wilderness to Mattanah, ¹⁹ from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, ²⁰ and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah^(AI) overlooks the wasteland.

Defeat of Sihon and Og

²¹ Israel sent messengers^(AJ) to say to Sihon^(AK) king of the Amorites:^(AL)

²³ But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory.^(AN) He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz,^(AO) he fought with Israel.^{(AP) 24} Israel, however, put him to the sword^(AQ) and took over his land^(AR) from the Arnon to the Jabbok,^(AS) but only as far as the Ammonites,^(AT) because their border was fortified. ²⁵ Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites^(AU) and occupied them,^(AV) including Heshbon^(AW) and all its surrounding settlements. ²⁶ Heshbon was the city of Sihon^(AX) king of the Amorites,^(AY) who had fought against the former king of Moab^(AZ) and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.^(BA)

²⁷ That is why the poets say:

³¹ So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.^(BL)

³² After Moses had sent spies^(BM) to Jazer,^(BN) the Israelites captured its surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there. ³³ Then they turned and went up along the road toward Bashan^(BO),^(BP) and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei.^(BQ)

³⁴ The 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.^(BR)”

³⁵ So they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors.^(BS) And they took possession of his land.^(BT)

Balak Summons Balaam

22 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab^(BU) and camped along the Jordan^(BV) across from Jericho.^(BW)

² Now Balak son of Zippor^(BX) saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, ³ and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread^(BY) because of the Israelites.

⁴ The Moabites^(BZ) said to the elders of Midian,^(CA) “This horde is going to lick up everything^(CB) around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.^(CC)”

So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, ⁵ sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor,^(CD) who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River,^(CE) in his native land. Balak said:

⁷ The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination.^(CI) When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.

⁸ “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.^(CJ)” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.

⁹ God came to Balaam^(CK) and asked,^(CL) “Who are these men with you?”

¹⁰ Balaam 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.’”

¹² But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.^(CM)”

¹³ The 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.”

¹⁴ So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

¹⁵ Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. ¹⁶ They came to Balaam and said:

¹⁸ But 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.^{(CP) 19} Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.^(CQ)”

²⁰ That night God came to Balaam^(CR) and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”^(CS)

Balaam’s Donkey

²¹ Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. ²² But God was very angry^(CT) when he went, and the angel of the Lord^(CU) stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. ²³ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword^(CV) in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it^(CW) to get it back on the road.

²⁴ Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. ²⁵ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.

²⁶ Then 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. ²⁷ When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry^(CX) and beat it with his staff. ²⁸ Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth,^(CY) and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?^(CZ)”

²⁹ Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.^(DA)”

³⁰ The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”

“No,” he said.

³¹ Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes,^(DB) and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

³² The 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.^{[f] 33} The 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,^(DC) but I would have spared it.”

³⁴ Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned.^(DD) I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”

³⁵ The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.

³⁶ When Balak^(DE) heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon^(DF) border, at the edge of his territory. ³⁷ Balak 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.”^(DG)

³⁹ Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. ⁴⁰ Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep,^(DH) and gave some to Balaam and the officials who were with him. ⁴¹ The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal,^(DI) and from there he could see the outskirts of the Israelite camp.^(DJ)

Balaam’s First Message

23 Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams^(DK) for me.” ² Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.^(DL)

³ Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet with me.^(DM) Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.” Then he went off to a barren height.

⁴ God met with him,^(DN) and Balaam said, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”

⁵ The Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth^(DO) and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”^(DP)

⁶ So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials.^{(DQ) 7} Then Balaam^(DR) spoke his message:^(DS)

¹¹ Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies,^(ED) but you have done nothing but bless them!”^(EE)

¹² He answered, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”^(EF)

Balaam’s Second Message

¹³ Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place^(EG) where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp.^(EH) And from there, curse them for me.^(EI)” ¹⁴ So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah,^(EJ) and there he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.^(EK)

¹⁵ Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over there.”

¹⁶ The Lord met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth^(EL) and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”

¹⁷ So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials.^(EM) Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?”

¹⁸ Then he spoke his message:^(EN)

²⁵ Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”

²⁶ Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?”^(FG)

Balaam’s Third Message

²⁷ Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place.^(FH) Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me^(FI) from there.” ²⁸ And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor,^(FJ) overlooking the wasteland.

²⁹ Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” ³⁰ Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.^(FK)

John the Baptist Prepares the Way^(A)(B)

3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate^(C) was governor of Judea, Herod^(D) tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— ² during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,^(E) the word of God came to John^(F) son of Zechariah^(G) in the wilderness. ³ He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.^{(H) 4} As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

⁷ John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers!^(J) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?^{(K) 8} Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’^(L) For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”^(M)

¹⁰ “What should we do then?”^(N) the crowd asked.

¹¹ John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”^(O)

¹² Even tax collectors came to be baptized.^(P) “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

¹³ “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,”^(Q) he told them.

¹⁴ Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely^(R)—be content with your pay.”

¹⁵ The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John^(S) might possibly be the Messiah.^{(T) 16} John answered them all, “I baptize you with^[b] water.^(U) But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with^[c] the Holy Spirit and fire.^{(V) 17} His winnowing fork^(W) is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”^{(X) 18} And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

¹⁹ But when John rebuked Herod^(Y) the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, ²⁰ Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.^(Z)

The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus^(AA)(AB)

²¹ When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying,^(AC) heaven was opened ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him^(AD) in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,^(AE) whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”^(AF)

²³ Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.^(AG) He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,^(AH)