The People Rebel

14 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.^{(A) 2} All the Israelites grumbled^(B) against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt!^(C) Or in this wilderness!^{(D) 3} Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?^(E) Our wives and children^(F) will be taken as plunder.^(G) Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?^(H)” ⁴ And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.^(I)”

⁵ Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown^(J) in front of the whole Israelite assembly^(K) gathered there. ⁶ Joshua son of Nun^(L) and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes^{(M) 7} and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.^{(N) 8} If the Lord is pleased with us,^(O) he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey,^(P) and will give it to us.^{(Q) 9} Only do not rebel^(R) against the Lord. And do not be afraid^(S) of the people of the land,^(T) because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with^(U) us.^(V) Do not be afraid of them.”^(W)

¹⁰ But the whole assembly talked about stoning^(X) them. Then the glory of the Lord^(Y) appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. ¹¹ The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt?^(Z) How long will they refuse to believe in me,^(AA) in spite of all the signs^(AB) I have performed among them? ¹² I will strike them down with a plague^(AC) and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation^(AD) greater and stronger than they.”^(AE)

¹³ Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them.^{(AF) 14} And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard^(AG) that you, Lord, are with these people^(AH) and that you, Lord, have been seen face to face,^(AI) that your cloud stays over them,^(AJ) and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.^{(AK) 15} If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, ¹⁶ ‘The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath,^(AL) so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’^(AM)

¹⁷ “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: ¹⁸ ‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.^(AN) Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’^{(AO) 19} In accordance with your great love, forgive^(AP) the sin of these people,^(AQ) just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”^(AR)

²⁰ The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them,^(AS) as you asked. ²¹ Nevertheless, as surely as I live^(AT) and as surely as the glory of the Lord^(AU) fills the whole earth,^{(AV) 22} not one of those who saw my glory and the signs^(AW) I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times^(AX)— ²³ not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath^(AY) to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt^(AZ) will ever see it.^{(BA) 24} But because my servant Caleb^(BB) has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly,^(BC) I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.^{(BD) 25} Since the Amalekites^(BE) and the Canaanites^(BF) are living in the valleys, turn^(BG) back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.^[a](BH)”

²⁶ The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ²⁷ “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites.^{(BI) 28} So tell them, ‘As surely as I live,^(BJ) declares the Lord, I will do to you^(BK) the very thing I heard you say: ²⁹ In this wilderness your bodies will fall^(BL)—every one of you twenty years old or more^(BM) who was counted in the census^(BN) and who has grumbled against me. ³⁰ Not one of you will enter the land^(BO) I swore with uplifted hand^(BP) to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh^(BQ) and Joshua son of Nun.^{(BR) 31} As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected.^{(BS) 32} But as for you, your bodies will fall^(BT) in this wilderness. ³³ Your children will be shepherds here for forty years,^(BU) suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. ³⁴ For forty years^(BV)—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land^(BW)—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ ³⁵ I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things^(BX) to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.^(BY)”

³⁶ So the men Moses had sent^(BZ) to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble^(CA) against him by spreading a bad report^(CB) about it— ³⁷ these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report^(CC) about the land were struck down and died of a plague^(CD) before the Lord. ³⁸ Of the men who went to explore the land,^(CE) only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.^(CF)

³⁹ When Moses reported this^(CG) to all the Israelites, they mourned^(CH) bitterly. ⁴⁰ Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country,^(CI) saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!^(CJ)”

⁴¹ But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? This will not succeed!^{(CK) 42} Do not go up, because the Lord is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies,^{(CL) 43} for the Amalekites^(CM) and the Canaanites^(CN) will face you there. Because you have turned away from the Lord, he will not be with you^(CO) and you will fall by the sword.”

⁴⁴ Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up^(CP) toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp.^{(CQ) 45} Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites^(CR) who lived in that hill country^(CS) came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.^(CT)

Supplementary Offerings

15 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you^(CU) as a home ³ and you present to the Lord food offerings from the herd or the flock,^(CV) as an aroma pleasing to the Lord^(CW)—whether burnt offerings^(CX) or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings^(CY) or festival offerings^(CZ)— ⁴ then the person who brings an offering shall present to the Lord a grain offering^(DA) of a tenth of an ephah^[b] of the finest flour^(DB) mixed with a quarter of a hin^[c] of olive oil. ⁵ With each lamb^(DC) for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quarter of a hin of wine^(DD) as a drink offering.^(DE)

⁶ “‘With a ram^(DF) prepare a grain offering^(DG) of two-tenths of an ephah^[d](DH) of the finest flour mixed with a third of a hin^[e] of olive oil,^{(DI) 7} and a third of a hin of wine^(DJ) as a drink offering.^(DK) Offer it as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^(DL)

⁸ “‘When you prepare a young bull^(DM) as a burnt offering or sacrifice, for a special vow^(DN) or a fellowship offering^(DO) to the Lord, ⁹ bring with the bull a grain offering^(DP) of three-tenths of an ephah^[f](DQ) of the finest flour mixed with half a hin^[g] of olive oil, ¹⁰ and also bring half a hin of wine^(DR) as a drink offering.^(DS) This will be a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(DT) 11} Each bull or ram, each lamb or young goat, is to be prepared in this manner. ¹² Do this for each one, for as many as you prepare.^(DU)

¹³ “‘Everyone who is native-born^(DV) must do these things in this way when they present a food offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(DW) 14} For the generations to come,^(DX) whenever a foreigner^(DY) or anyone else living among you presents a food^(DZ) offering^(EA) as an aroma pleasing to the Lord, they must do exactly as you do. ¹⁵ The 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.^(EB) You and the foreigner shall be the same before the Lord: ¹⁶ The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing among you.^(EC)’”

¹⁷ The Lord said to Moses, ¹⁸ “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land to which I am taking you^{(ED) 19} and you eat the food of the land,^(EE) present a portion as an offering to the Lord.^{(EF) 20} Present a loaf from the first of your ground meal^(EG) and present it as an offering from the threshing floor.^{(EH) 21} Throughout the generations to come^(EI) you are to give this offering to the Lord from the first of your ground meal.^(EJ)

Offerings for Unintentional Sins

²² “‘Now if you as a community unintentionally fail to keep any of these commands the Lord gave Moses^(EK)— ²³ any of the Lord’s commands to you through him, from the day the Lord gave them and continuing through the generations to come^(EL)— ²⁴ and if this is done unintentionally^(EM) without the community being aware of it,^(EN) then the whole community is to offer a young bull for a burnt offering^(EO) as an aroma pleasing to the Lord,^(EP) along with its prescribed grain offering^(EQ) and drink offering,^(ER) and a male goat for a sin offering.^{[h](ES) 25} The priest is to make atonement for the whole Israelite community, and they will be forgiven,^(ET) for it was not intentional^(EU) and they have presented to the Lord for their wrong a food offering^(EV) and a sin offering.^{(EW) 26} The whole Israelite community and the foreigners residing among them will be forgiven, because all the people were involved in the unintentional wrong.^(EX)

²⁷ “‘But if just one person sins unintentionally,^(EY) that person must bring a year-old female goat for a sin offering.^{(EZ) 28} The priest is to make atonement^(FA) before the Lord for the one who erred by sinning unintentionally, and when atonement has been made, that person will be forgiven.^{(FB) 29} One and the same law applies to everyone who sins unintentionally, whether a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.^(FC)

³⁰ “‘But anyone who sins defiantly,^(FD) whether native-born or foreigner,^(FE) blasphemes the Lord^(FF) and must be cut off from the people of Israel.^{(FG) 31} Because they have despised^(FH) the Lord’s word and broken his commands,^(FI) they must surely be cut off; their guilt remains on them.^(FJ)’”

The Sabbath-Breaker Put to Death

³² While the Israelites were in the wilderness,^(FK) a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day.^{(FL) 33} Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, ³⁴ and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him.^{(FM) 35} Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must die.^(FN) The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.^(FO)” ³⁶ So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him^(FP) to death,^(FQ) as the Lord commanded Moses.^(FR)

Tassels on Garments

³⁷ The Lord said to Moses, ³⁸ “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come^(FS) you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments,^(FT) with a blue cord on each tassel. ³⁹ You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember^(FU) all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves^(FV) by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts^(FW) and eyes. ⁴⁰ Then you will remember to obey all my commands^(FX) and will be consecrated to your God.^{(FY) 41} I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God.^(FZ) I am the Lord your God.^(GA)’”

Paul’s Anguish Over Israel

9 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying,^(A) my conscience confirms^(B) it through the Holy Spirit— ² I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself^(C) were cursed^(D) and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people,^(E) those of my own race,^{(F) 4} the people of Israel.^(G) Theirs is the adoption to sonship;^(H) theirs the divine glory,^(I) the covenants,^(J) the receiving of the law,^(K) the temple worship^(L) and the promises.^{(M) 5} Theirs are the patriarchs,^(N) and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah,^(O) who is God over all,^(P) forever praised!^[a](Q) Amen.

God’s Sovereign Choice

⁶ It is not as though God’s word^(R) had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.^{(S) 7} Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”^{[b](T) 8} In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children,^(U) but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.^{(V) 9} For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”^[c](W)

¹⁰ Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac.^{(X) 11} Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad^(Y)—in order that God’s purpose^(Z) in election might stand: ¹² not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”^{[d](AA) 13} Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”^[e](AB)

¹⁴ What then shall we say?^(AC) Is God unjust? Not at all!^{(AD) 15} For he says to Moses,

¹⁶ It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.^{(AF) 17} For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”^{[g](AG) 18} Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.^(AH)

¹⁹ One of you will say to me:^(AI) “Then why does God still blame us?^(AJ) For who is able to resist his will?”^{(AK) 20} But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?^(AL) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,^(AM) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”^{[h](AN) 21} Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?^(AO)

²² What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience^(AP) the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?^{(AQ) 23} What if he did this to make the riches of his glory^(AR) known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory^(AS)— ²⁴ even us, whom he also called,^(AT) not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?^{(AU) 25} As he says in Hosea:

²⁶ and,

²⁷ Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:

²⁹ It is just as Isaiah said previously:

Israel’s Unbelief

³⁰ What then shall we say?^(BC) That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;^{(BD) 31} but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness,^(BE) have not attained their goal.^{(BF) 32} Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.^{(BG) 33} As it is written: