The Death of Moses

34 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo(A) from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah,(B) across from Jericho.(C) There the Lord showed(D) him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan,(E) all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea,(F) the Negev(G) and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms,(H) as far as Zoar.(I) Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath(J) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob(K) when I said, ‘I will give it(L) to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross(M) over into it.”

And Moses the servant of the Lord(N) died(O) there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him[a] in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor,(P) but to this day no one knows where his grave is.(Q) Moses was a hundred and twenty years old(R) when he died, yet his eyes were not weak(S) nor his strength gone.(T) The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab(U) thirty days,(V) until the time of weeping and mourning(W) was over.

Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit[b] of wisdom(X) because Moses had laid his hands on him.(Y) So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

10 Since then, no prophet(Z) has risen in Israel like Moses,(AA) whom the Lord knew face to face,(AB) 11 who did all those signs and wonders(AC) the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials(AD) and to his whole land. 12 For no one has(AE) ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds(AF) that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 34:6 Or He was buried
  2. Deuteronomy 34:9 Or Spirit

24 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel,(A) he did not resort to divination(B) as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.(C) When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him(D) and he spoke his message:

“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
    the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,(E)
the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,(F)
    who sees a vision from the Almighty,[a](G)
    who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

“How beautiful are your tents,(H) Jacob,
    your dwelling places, Israel!

“Like valleys they spread out,
    like gardens beside a river,(I)
like aloes(J) planted by the Lord,
    like cedars beside the waters.(K)
Water will flow from their buckets;
    their seed will have abundant water.

“Their king will be greater than Agag;(L)
    their kingdom will be exalted.(M)

“God brought them out of Egypt;
    they have the strength of a wild ox.
They devour hostile nations
    and break their bones in pieces;(N)
    with their arrows they pierce them.(O)
Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
    like a lioness(P)—who dares to rouse them?

“May those who bless you be blessed(Q)
    and those who curse you be cursed!”(R)

10 Then Balak’s anger burned(S) against Balaam. He struck his hands together(T) and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies,(U) but you have blessed them(V) these three times.(W) 11 Now leave at once and go home!(X) I said I would reward you handsomely,(Y) but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”

12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me,(Z) 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(AA)—and I must say only what the Lord says’?(AB) 14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”(AC)

Balaam’s Fourth Message

15 Then he spoke his message:

“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
    the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
16 the prophecy of one who hears the words(AD) of God,
    who has knowledge from the Most High,(AE)
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
    who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

17 “I see him, but not now;
    I behold him, but not near.(AF)
A star will come out of Jacob;(AG)
    a scepter will rise out of Israel.(AH)
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,(AI)
    the skulls[b](AJ) of[c] all the people of Sheth.[d]
18 Edom(AK) will be conquered;
    Seir,(AL) his enemy, will be conquered,(AM)
    but Israel(AN) will grow strong.
19 A ruler will come out of Jacob(AO)
    and destroy the survivors of the city.”

Balaam’s Fifth Message

20 Then Balaam saw Amalek(AP) and spoke his message:

“Amalek was first among the nations,
    but their end will be utter destruction.”(AQ)

Balaam’s Sixth Message

21 Then he saw the Kenites(AR) and spoke his message:

“Your dwelling place is secure,(AS)
    your nest is set in a rock;
22 yet you Kenites will be destroyed
    when Ashur(AT) takes you captive.”

Balaam’s Seventh Message

23 Then he spoke his message:

“Alas! Who can live when God does this?[e]
24     Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus;(AU)
they will subdue Ashur(AV) and Eber,(AW)
    but they too will come to ruin.(AX)

25 Then Balaam(AY) got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 24:4 Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 16
  2. Numbers 24:17 Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Jer. 48:45); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.
  3. Numbers 24:17 Or possibly Moab, / batter
  4. Numbers 24:17 Or all the noisy boasters
  5. Numbers 24:23 Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew The people from the islands will gather from the north.

The Census

The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting(A) in the Desert of Sinai(B) on the first day of the second month(C) of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt.(D) He said: “Take a census(E) of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families,(F) listing every man by name,(G) one by one. You and Aaron(H) are to count according to their divisions all the men in Israel who are twenty years old or more(I) and able to serve in the army.(J) One man from each tribe,(K) each of them the head of his family,(L) is to help you.(M) These are the names(N) of the men who are to assist you:

from Reuben,(O) Elizur son of Shedeur;(P)

from Simeon,(Q) Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;(R)

from Judah,(S) Nahshon son of Amminadab;(T)

from Issachar,(U) Nethanel son of Zuar;(V)

from Zebulun,(W) Eliab son of Helon;(X)

10 from the sons of Joseph:

from Ephraim,(Y) Elishama son of Ammihud;(Z)

from Manasseh,(AA) Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;(AB)

11 from Benjamin,(AC) Abidan son of Gideoni;(AD)

12 from Dan,(AE) Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;(AF)

13 from Asher,(AG) Pagiel son of Okran;(AH)

14 from Gad,(AI) Eliasaph son of Deuel;(AJ)

15 from Naphtali,(AK) Ahira son of Enan.(AL)

16 These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders(AM) of their ancestral tribes.(AN) They were the heads of the clans of Israel.(AO)

17 Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been specified, 18 and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month.(AP) The people registered their ancestry(AQ) by their clans and families,(AR) and the men twenty years old or more(AS) were listed by name, one by one, 19 as the Lord commanded Moses. And so he counted(AT) them in the Desert of Sinai:

20 From the descendants of Reuben(AU) the firstborn son(AV) 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. 21 The number from the tribe of Reuben(AW) was 46,500.

22 From the descendants of Simeon:(AX)

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. 23 The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.(AY)

24 From the descendants of Gad:(AZ)

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. 25 The number from the tribe of Gad(BA) was 45,650.

26 From the descendants of Judah:(BB)

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. 27 The number from the tribe of Judah(BC) was 74,600.

28 From the descendants of Issachar:(BD)

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. 29 The number from the tribe of Issachar(BE) was 54,400.(BF)

30 From the descendants of Zebulun:(BG)

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. 31 The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.(BH)

32 From the sons of Joseph:(BI)

From the descendants of Ephraim:(BJ)

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. 33 The number from the tribe of Ephraim(BK) was 40,500.

34 From the descendants of Manasseh:(BL)

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. 35 The number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.

36 From the descendants of Benjamin:(BM)

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. 37 The number from the tribe of Benjamin(BN) was 35,400.

38 From the descendants of Dan:(BO)

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. 39 The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700.(BP)

40 From the descendants of Asher:(BQ)

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. 41 The number from the tribe of Asher(BR) was 41,500.

42 From the descendants of Naphtali:(BS)

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. 43 The number from the tribe of Naphtali(BT) was 53,400.(BU)

44 These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron(BV) and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. 45 All the Israelites twenty years old or more(BW) who were able to serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families.(BX) 46 The total number was 603,550.(BY)

47 The ancestral tribe of the Levites,(BZ) however, was not counted(CA) along with the others. 48 The Lord had said to Moses: 49 “You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. 50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle(CB) of the covenant law(CC)—over all its furnishings(CD) and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. 51 Whenever the tabernacle(CE) is to move,(CF) the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it.(CG) Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death.(CH) 52 The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their standard.(CI) 53 The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle(CJ) of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall(CK) on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.(CL)

54 The Israelites did all this just as the Lord commanded Moses.

The Arrangement of the Tribal Camps

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard(CM) and holding the banners of their family.”

On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab.(CN) His division numbers 74,600.

The tribe of Issachar(CO) will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar.(CP) His division numbers 54,400.

The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon.(CQ) His division numbers 57,400.

All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first.(CR)

10 On the south(CS) will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur.(CT) 11 His division numbers 46,500.

12 The tribe of Simeon(CU) will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.(CV) 13 His division numbers 59,300.

14 The tribe of Gad(CW) will be next. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel.[a](CX) 15 His division numbers 45,650.

16 All the men assigned to the camp of Reuben,(CY) according to their divisions, number 151,450. They will set out second.

17 Then the tent of meeting and the camp of the Levites(CZ) will set out in the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as they encamp, each in their own place under their standard.

18 On the west(DA) will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim(DB) under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud.(DC) 19 His division numbers 40,500.

20 The tribe of Manasseh(DD) will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.(DE) 21 His division numbers 32,200.

22 The tribe of Benjamin(DF) will be next. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni.(DG) 23 His division numbers 35,400.

24 All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim,(DH) according to their divisions, number 108,100. They will set out third.(DI)

25 On the north(DJ) will be the divisions of the camp of Dan under their standard.(DK) The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.(DL) 26 His division numbers 62,700.

27 The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Okran.(DM) 28 His division numbers 41,500.

29 The tribe of Naphtali(DN) will be next. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan.(DO) 30 His division numbers 53,400.

31 All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last,(DP) under their standards.

32 These are the Israelites, counted according to their families.(DQ) All the men in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550.(DR) 33 The Levites, however, were not counted(DS) along with the other Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.

34 So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

The Levites

This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses(DT) at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.(DU)

The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn(DV) and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.(DW) Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests,(DX) who were ordained to serve as priests. Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord(DY) when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai.(DZ) They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar(EA) served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.(EB)

The Lord said to Moses, “Bring the tribe of Levi(EC) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.(ED) They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community(EE) at the tent of meeting by doing the work(EF) of the tabernacle. They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;(EG) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.[b] 10 Appoint Aaron(EH) and his sons to serve as priests;(EI) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”(EJ)

11 The Lord also said to Moses, 12 “I have taken the Levites(EK) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring(EL) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,(EM) 13 for all the firstborn are mine.(EN) 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.”(EO)

14 The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,(EP) 15 “Count(EQ) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”(ER) 16 So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

17 These were the names of the sons of Levi:(ES)

Gershon,(ET) Kohath(EU) and Merari.(EV)

18 These were the names of the Gershonite clans:

Libni and Shimei.(EW)

19 The Kohathite clans:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.(EX)

20 The Merarite clans:(EY)

Mahli and Mushi.(EZ)

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

21 To Gershon(FA) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;(FB) these were the Gershonite clans. 22 The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. 23 The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.(FC) 24 The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle(FD) and tent, its coverings,(FE) the curtain at the entrance(FF) to the tent of meeting,(FG) 26 the curtains of the courtyard(FH), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,(FI) and the ropes(FJ)—and everything(FK) related to their use.

27 To Kohath(FL) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;(FM) these were the Kohathite(FN) clans. 28 The number of all the males a month old or more(FO) was 8,600.[c] The Kohathites were responsible(FP) for the care of the sanctuary.(FQ) 29 The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side(FR) of the tabernacle. 30 The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan(FS) son of Uzziel. 31 They were responsible for the care of the ark,(FT) the table,(FU) the lampstand,(FV) the altars,(FW) the articles(FX) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,(FY) and everything related to their use.(FZ) 32 The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar(GA) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible(GB) for the care of the sanctuary.(GC)

33 To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;(GD) these were the Merarite clans.(GE) 34 The number of all the males a month old or more(GF) who were counted was 6,200. 35 The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.(GG) 36 The Merarites were appointed(GH) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,(GI) its crossbars,(GJ) posts,(GK) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,(GL) 37 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard(GM) with their bases, tent pegs(GN) and ropes.

38 Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east(GO) of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting.(GP) They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary(GQ) on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.(GR)

39 The total number of Levites counted(GS) at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.(GT)

40 The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more(GU) and make a list of their names.(GV) 41 Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,(GW) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”(GX)

42 So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. 43 The total number of firstborn males a month old or more,(GY) listed by name, was 22,273.(GZ)

44 The Lord also said to Moses, 45 “Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine.(HA) I am the Lord.(HB) 46 To redeem(HC) the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, 47 collect five shekels[d](HD) for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,(HE) which weighs twenty gerahs.(HF) 48 Give the money for the redemption(HG) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”(HH)

49 So Moses collected the redemption money(HI) from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn of the Israelites(HJ) he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,[e](HK) according to the sanctuary shekel. 51 Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

The Kohathites

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “Take a census(HL) of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. Count(HM) all the men from thirty to fifty years of age(HN) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

“This is the work(HO) of the Kohathites(HP) at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.(HQ) When the camp is to move,(HR) Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain(HS) and put it over the ark of the covenant law.(HT) Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,[f](HU) spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles(HV) in place.

“Over the table of the Presence(HW) they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings;(HX) the bread that is continually there(HY) is to remain on it. They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles(HZ) in place.

“They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays,(IA) and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it. 10 Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.(IB)

11 “Over the gold altar(IC) they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles(ID) in place.

12 “They are to take all the articles(IE) used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.(IF)

13 “They are to remove the ashes(IG) from the bronze altar(IH) and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 Then they are to place on it all the utensils(II) used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,(IJ) meat forks,(IK) shovels(IL) and sprinkling bowls.(IM) Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles(IN) 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,(IO) only then are the Kohathites(IP) to come and do the carrying.(IQ) But they must not touch the holy things(IR) or they will die.(IS) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

16 “Eleazar(IT) son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,(IU) the fragrant incense,(IV) the regular grain offering(IW) and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”

17 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 18 “See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites. 19 So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things,(IX) do this for them: Aaron and his sons(IY) are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.(IZ) 20 But the Kohathites must not go in to look(JA) at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”

The Gershonites

21 The Lord said to Moses, 22 “Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. 23 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age(JB) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

24 “This is the service of the Gershonite clans in their carrying and their other work: 25 They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle,(JC) that is, the tent of meeting,(JD) its covering(JE) and its outer covering of durable leather, the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,(JF) the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard,(JG) the ropes and all the equipment(JH) used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. 27 All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons.(JI) You shall assign to them as their responsibility(JJ) all they are to carry. 28 This is the service of the Gershonite clans(JK) at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar(JL) son of Aaron, the priest.

The Merarites

29 “Count(JM) the Merarites by their clans and families.(JN) 30 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting. 31 As part of all their service at the tent, they are to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,(JO) 32 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes,(JP) all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry. 33 This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the tent of meeting under the direction of Ithamar(JQ) son of Aaron, the priest.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

34 Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites(JR) by their clans and families. 35 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(JS) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 36 counted by clans, were 2,750. 37 This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans(JT) who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

38 The Gershonites(JU) were counted by their clans and families. 39 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 40 counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. 41 This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command.

42 The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. 43 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(JV) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 44 counted by their clans, were 3,200. 45 This was the total of those in the Merarite clans.(JW) Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

46 So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted(JX) all the Levites by their clans and families. 47 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(JY) who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting 48 numbered 8,580.(JZ) 49 At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.

Thus they were counted,(KA) as the Lord commanded Moses.

The Purity of the Camp

The Lord said to Moses, “Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has a defiling skin disease[g](KB) or a discharge(KC) of any kind, or who is ceremonially unclean(KD) because of a dead body.(KE) Send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.(KF) The Israelites did so; they sent them outside the camp. They did just as the Lord had instructed Moses.

Restitution for Wrongs

The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any man or woman who wrongs another in any way[h] and so is unfaithful(KG) to the Lord is guilty(KH) and must confess(KI) the sin they have committed. They must make full restitution(KJ) for the wrong they have done, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the person they have wronged. But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the Lord and must be given to the priest, along with the ram(KK) with which atonement is made for the wrongdoer.(KL) All the sacred contributions the Israelites bring to a priest will belong to him.(KM) 10 Sacred things belong to their owners, but what they give to the priest will belong to the priest.(KN)’”

The Test for an Unfaithful Wife

11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man’s wife goes astray(KO) and is unfaithful to him 13 so that another man has sexual relations with her,(KP) and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act), 14 and if feelings of jealousy(KQ) come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure— 15 then he is to take his wife to the priest. He must also take an offering of a tenth of an ephah[i](KR) of barley flour(KS) on her behalf. He must not pour olive oil on it or put incense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy,(KT) a reminder-offering(KU) to draw attention to wrongdoing.

16 “‘The priest shall bring her and have her stand before the Lord. 17 Then he shall take some holy water in a clay jar and put some dust from the tabernacle floor into the water. 18 After the priest has had the woman stand before the Lord, he shall loosen her hair(KV) and place in her hands the reminder-offering, the grain offering for jealousy,(KW) while he himself holds the bitter water that brings a curse.(KX) 19 Then the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, “If no other man has had sexual relations with you and you have not gone astray(KY) and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse(KZ) not harm you. 20 But if you have gone astray(LA) while married to your husband and you have made yourself impure by having sexual relations with a man other than your husband”— 21 here the priest is to put the woman under this curse(LB)—“may the Lord cause you to become a curse[j] among your people when he makes your womb miscarry and your abdomen swell. 22 May this water(LC) that brings a curse(LD) enter your body so that your abdomen swells or your womb miscarries.”

“‘Then the woman is to say, “Amen. So be it.(LE)

23 “‘The priest is to write these curses on a scroll(LF) and then wash them off into the bitter water. 24 He shall make the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and this water that brings a curse and causes bitter suffering will enter her. 25 The priest is to take from her hands the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the Lord(LG) and bring it to the altar.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 2:14 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch and Vulgate (see also 1:14); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text Reuel
  2. Numbers 3:9 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint (see also 8:16) to me
  3. Numbers 3:28 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts 8,300
  4. Numbers 3:47 That is, about 2 ounces or about 58 grams
  5. Numbers 3:50 That is, about 35 pounds or about 16 kilograms
  6. Numbers 4:6 Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals; also in verses 8, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 25
  7. Numbers 5:2 The Hebrew word for defiling skin disease, traditionally translated “leprosy,” was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  8. Numbers 5:6 Or woman who commits any wrong common to mankind
  9. Numbers 5:15 That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms
  10. Numbers 5:21 That is, may he cause your name to be used in cursing (see Jer. 29:22); or, may others see that you are cursed; similarly in verse 27.

Bible Gateway Recommends