The Appointed Festivals

23 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals,^(A) the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.^(B)

The Sabbath

³ “‘There are six days when you may work,^(C) but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest,^(D) a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work;^(E) wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.

The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread^(F)

⁴ “‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times:^{(G) 5} The Lord’s Passover^(H) begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.^{(I) 6} On the fifteenth day of that month the Lord’s Festival of Unleavened Bread^(J) begins; for seven days^(K) you must eat bread made without yeast. ⁷ On the first day hold a sacred assembly^(L) and do no regular work. ⁸ For seven days present a food offering to the Lord.^(M) And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.’”

Offering the Firstfruits

⁹ The Lord said to Moses, ¹⁰ “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you^(N) and you reap its harvest,^(O) bring to the priest a sheaf^(P) of the first grain you harvest.^{(Q) 11} He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord^(R) so it will be accepted^(S) on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. ¹² On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old^(T) without defect,^{(U) 13} together with its grain offering^(V) of two-tenths of an ephah^[a](W) of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering^(X) of a quarter of a hin^[b] of wine.^{(Y) 14} You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain,^(Z) until the very day you bring this offering to your God.^(AA) This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come,^(AB) wherever you live.^(AC)

The Festival of Weeks^(AD)

¹⁵ “‘From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. ¹⁶ Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath,^(AE) and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. ¹⁷ From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah^(AF) of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits^(AG) to the Lord. ¹⁸ Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the Lord, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings^(AH)—a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. ¹⁹ Then sacrifice one male goat for a sin offering^[c] and two lambs, each a year old, for a fellowship offering. ²⁰ The priest is to wave the two lambs before the Lord as a wave offering,^(AI) together with the bread of the firstfruits. They are a sacred offering to the Lord for the priest. ²¹ On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly^(AJ) and do no regular work.^(AK) This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.

²² “‘When you reap the harvest^(AL) of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.^(AM) Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you.^(AN) I am the Lord your God.’”

The Festival of Trumpets^(AO)

²³ The Lord said to Moses, ²⁴ “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly^(AP) commemorated with trumpet blasts.^{(AQ) 25} Do no regular work,^(AR) but present a food offering to the Lord.^(AS)’”

The Day of Atonement^(AT)

²⁶ The Lord said to Moses, ²⁷ “The tenth day of this seventh month^(AU) is the Day of Atonement.^(AV) Hold a sacred assembly^(AW) and deny yourselves,^[d] and present a food offering to the Lord. ²⁸ Do not do any work^(AX) on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. ²⁹ Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people.^{(AY) 30} I will destroy from among their people^(AZ) anyone who does any work on that day. ³¹ You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance^(BA) for the generations to come, wherever you live. ³² It is a day of sabbath rest^(BB) for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.”^(BC)

The Festival of Tabernacles^(BD)

³³ The Lord said to Moses, ³⁴ “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh^(BE) month the Lord’s Festival of Tabernacles^(BF) begins, and it lasts for seven days. ³⁵ The first day is a sacred assembly;^(BG) do no regular work.^{(BH) 36} For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly^(BI) and present a food offering to the Lord.^(BJ) It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work.

³⁷ (“‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the Lord—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings^(BK) required for each day. ³⁸ These offerings^(BL) are in addition to those for the Lord’s Sabbaths^(BM) and^[e] in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings^(BN) you give to the Lord.)

³⁹ “‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival^(BO) to the Lord for seven days;^(BP) the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. ⁴⁰ On the first day you are to take branches^(BQ) from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees^(BR)—and rejoice^(BS) before the Lord your God for seven days. ⁴¹ Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. ⁴² Live in temporary shelters^(BT) for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters ⁴³ so your descendants will know^(BU) that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’”

⁴⁴ So Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed festivals of the Lord.

Olive Oil and Bread Set Before the Lord^(BV)

24 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually. ³ Outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, Aaron is to tend the lamps before the Lord from evening till morning, continually. This is to be a lasting ordinance^(BW) for the generations to come. ⁴ The lamps on the pure gold lampstand^(BX) before the Lord must be tended continually.

⁵ “Take the finest flour and bake twelve loaves of bread,^(BY) using two-tenths of an ephah^[f](BZ) for each loaf. ⁶ Arrange them in two stacks, six in each stack, on the table of pure gold^(CA) before the Lord. ⁷ By each stack put some pure incense^(CB) as a memorial^[g] portion^(CC) to represent the bread and to be a food offering presented to the Lord. ⁸ This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly,^(CD) Sabbath after Sabbath,^(CE) on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. ⁹ It belongs to Aaron and his sons,^(CF) who are to eat it in the sanctuary area,^(CG) because it is a most holy^(CH) part of their perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord.”

A Blasphemer Put to Death

¹⁰ Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite. ¹¹ The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name^(CI) with a curse;^(CJ) so they brought him to Moses.^(CK) (His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri the Danite.)^{(CL) 12} They put him in custody until the will of the Lord should be made clear to them.^(CM)

¹³ Then the Lord said to Moses: ¹⁴ “Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him.^{(CN) 15} Say to the Israelites: ‘Anyone who curses their God^(CO) will be held responsible;^{(CP) 16} anyone who blasphemes^(CQ) the name of the Lord is to be put to death.^(CR) The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.

¹⁷ “‘Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death.^{(CS) 18} Anyone who takes the life of someone’s animal must make restitution^(CT)—life for life. ¹⁹ Anyone who injures their neighbor is to be injured in the same manner: ²⁰ fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.^(CU) The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury. ²¹ Whoever kills an animal must make restitution,^(CV) but whoever kills a human being is to be put to death.^{(CW) 22} You are to have the same law for the foreigner^(CX) and the native-born.^(CY) I am the Lord your God.’”

²³ Then Moses spoke to the Israelites, and they took the blasphemer outside the camp and stoned him.^(CZ) The Israelites did as the Lord commanded Moses.

The Sabbath Year

25 The Lord said to Moses at Mount Sinai,^{(DA) 2} “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord. ³ For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops.^{(DB) 4} But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest,^(DC) a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.^{(DD) 5} Do not reap what grows of itself^(DE) or harvest the grapes^(DF) of your untended vines.^(DG) The land is to have a year of rest. ⁶ Whatever the land yields during the sabbath year^(DH) will be food for you—for yourself, your male and female servants, and the hired worker and temporary resident who live among you, ⁷ as well as for your livestock and the wild animals^(DI) in your land. Whatever the land produces may be eaten.

The Year of Jubilee^(DJ)(DK)

⁸ “‘Count off seven sabbath years—seven times seven years—so that the seven sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years. ⁹ Then have the trumpet^(DL) sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month;^(DM) on the Day of Atonement^(DN) sound the trumpet throughout your land. ¹⁰ Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty^(DO) throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee^(DP) for you; each of you is to return to your family property^(DQ) and to your own clan. ¹¹ The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee^(DR) for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines.^{(DS) 12} For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields.

¹³ “‘In this Year of Jubilee^(DT) everyone is to return to their own property.

¹⁴ “‘If you sell land to any of your own people or buy land from them, do not take advantage of each other.^{(DU) 15} You are to buy from your own people on the basis of the number of years^(DV) since the Jubilee. And they are to sell to you on the basis of the number of years left for harvesting crops. ¹⁶ When the years are many, you are to increase the price, and when the years are few, you are to decrease the price,^(DW) because what is really being sold to you is the number of crops. ¹⁷ Do not take advantage of each other,^(DX) but fear your God.^(DY) I am the Lord your God.^(DZ)

¹⁸ “‘Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws,^(EA) and you will live safely in the land.^{(EB) 19} Then the land will yield its fruit,^(EC) and you will eat your fill and live there in safety.^{(ED) 20} You may ask, “What will we eat in the seventh year^(EE) if we do not plant or harvest our crops?” ²¹ I will send you such a blessing^(EF) in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years.^{(EG) 22} While you plant during the eighth year, you will eat from the old crop and will continue to eat from it until the harvest of the ninth year comes in.^(EH)

²³ “‘The land^(EI) must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine^(EJ) and you reside in my land as foreigners^(EK) and strangers. ²⁴ Throughout the land that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption^(EL) of the land.

²⁵ “‘If one of your fellow Israelites becomes poor and sells some of their property, their nearest relative^(EM) is to come and redeem^(EN) what they have sold. ²⁶ If, however, there is no one to redeem it for them but later on they prosper^(EO) and acquire sufficient means to redeem it themselves, ²⁷ they are to determine the value for the years^(EP) since they sold it and refund the balance to the one to whom they sold it; they can then go back to their own property.^{(EQ) 28} But if they do not acquire the means to repay, what was sold will remain in the possession of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. It will be returned^(ER) in the Jubilee, and they can then go back to their property.^(ES)

²⁹ “‘Anyone who sells a house in a walled city retains the right of redemption a full year after its sale. During that time the seller may redeem it. ³⁰ If it is not redeemed before a full year has passed, the house in the walled city shall belong permanently to the buyer and the buyer’s descendants. It is not to be returned in the Jubilee. ³¹ But houses in villages without walls around them are to be considered as belonging to the open country. They can be redeemed, and they are to be returned in the Jubilee.

³² “‘The Levites always have the right to redeem their houses in the Levitical towns,^(ET) which they possess. ³³ So the property of the Levites is redeemable—that is, a house sold in any town they hold—and is to be returned in the Jubilee, because the houses in the towns of the Levites are their property among the Israelites. ³⁴ But the pastureland belonging to their towns must not be sold; it is their permanent possession.^(EU)

³⁵ “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor^(EV) and are unable to support themselves among you, help them^(EW) as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. ³⁶ Do not take interest^(EX) or any profit from them, but fear your God,^(EY) so that they may continue to live among you. ³⁷ You must not lend them money at interest^(EZ) or sell them food at a profit. ³⁸ I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan^(FA) and to be your God.^(FB)

³⁹ “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves.^{(FC) 40} They are to be treated as hired workers^(FD) or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. ⁴¹ Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property^(FE) of their ancestors.^{(FF) 42} Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt,^(FG) they must not be sold as slaves. ⁴³ Do not rule over them ruthlessly,^(FH) but fear your God.^(FI)

⁴⁴ “‘Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. ⁴⁵ You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. ⁴⁶ You can bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.

⁴⁷ “‘If a foreigner residing among you becomes rich and any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves^(FJ) to the foreigner or to a member of the foreigner’s clan, ⁴⁸ they retain the right of redemption^(FK) after they have sold themselves. One of their relatives^(FL) may redeem them: ⁴⁹ An uncle or a cousin or any blood relative in their clan may redeem them. Or if they prosper,^(FM) they may redeem themselves. ⁵⁰ They and their buyer are to count the time from the year they sold themselves up to the Year of Jubilee.^(FN) The price for their release is to be based on the rate paid to a hired worker^(FO) for that number of years. ⁵¹ If many years remain, they must pay for their redemption a larger share of the price paid for them. ⁵² If only a few years remain until the Year of Jubilee, they are to compute that and pay for their redemption accordingly.^{(FP) 53} They are to be treated as workers hired from year to year; you must see to it that those to whom they owe service do not rule over them ruthlessly.^(FQ)

⁵⁴ “‘Even if someone is not redeemed in any of these ways, they and their children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee, ⁵⁵ for the Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt.^(FR) I am the Lord your God.^(FS)

Reward for Obedience

26 “‘Do not make idols^(FT) or set up an image^(FU) or a sacred stone^(FV) for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone^(FW) in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God.

² “‘Observe my Sabbaths^(FX) and have reverence for my sanctuary.^(FY) I am the Lord.

³ “‘If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey^(FZ) my commands, ⁴ I will send you rain^(GA) in its season,^(GB) and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.^{(GC) 5} Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want^(GD) and live in safety in your land.^(GE)

⁶ “‘I will grant peace in the land,^(GF) and you will lie down^(GG) and no one will make you afraid.^(GH) I will remove wild beasts^(GI) from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. ⁷ You will pursue your enemies,^(GJ) and they will fall by the sword before you. ⁸ Five^(GK) of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.^(GL)

⁹ “‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers,^(GM) and I will keep my covenant^(GN) with you. ¹⁰ You will still be eating last year’s harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new.^{(GO) 11} I will put my dwelling place^[h](GP) among you, and I will not abhor you.^{(GQ) 12} I will walk^(GR) among you and be your God,^(GS) and you will be my people.^{(GT) 13} I am the Lord your God,^(GU) who brought you out of Egypt^(GV) so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke^(GW) and enabled you to walk with heads held high.

Punishment for Disobedience

¹⁴ “‘But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands,^{(GX) 15} and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws^(GY) and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant,^{(GZ) 16} then I will do this to you: I will bring on you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever^(HA) that will destroy your sight and sap your strength.^(HB) You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.^{(HC) 17} I will set my face^(HD) against you so that you will be defeated^(HE) by your enemies;^(HF) those who hate you will rule over you,^(HG) and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.^(HH)

¹⁸ “‘If after all this you will not listen to me,^(HI) I will punish^(HJ) you for your sins seven times over.^{(HK) 19} I will break down your stubborn pride^(HL) and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze.^{(HM) 20} Your strength will be spent in vain,^(HN) because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of your land yield their fruit.^(HO)

²¹ “‘If you remain hostile^(HP) toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over,^(HQ) as your sins deserve. ²² I will send wild animals^(HR) against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and make you so few^(HS) in number that your roads will be deserted.^(HT)

²³ “‘If in spite of these things you do not accept my correction^(HU) but continue to be hostile toward me, ²⁴ I myself will be hostile^(HV) toward you and will afflict you for your sins seven times over. ²⁵ And I will bring the sword^(HW) on you to avenge^(HX) the breaking of the covenant. When you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague^(HY) among you, and you will be given into enemy hands. ²⁶ When I cut off your supply of bread,^(HZ) ten women will be able to bake your bread in one oven, and they will dole out the bread by weight. You will eat, but you will not be satisfied.

²⁷ “‘If in spite of this you still do not listen to me^(IA) but continue to be hostile toward me, ²⁸ then in my anger^(IB) I will be hostile^(IC) toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over.^{(ID) 29} You will eat^(IE) the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters.^{(IF) 30} I will destroy your high places,^(IG) cut down your incense altars^(IH) and pile your dead bodies^[i] on the lifeless forms of your idols,^(II) and I will abhor^(IJ) you. ³¹ I will turn your cities into ruins^(IK) and lay waste^(IL) your sanctuaries,^(IM) and I will take no delight in the pleasing aroma of your offerings.^{(IN) 32} I myself will lay waste the land,^(IO) so that your enemies who live there will be appalled.^{(IP) 33} I will scatter^(IQ) you among the nations^(IR) and will draw out my sword^(IS) and pursue you. Your land will be laid waste,^(IT) and your cities will lie in ruins.^{(IU) 34} Then the land will enjoy its sabbath years all the time that it lies desolate^(IV) and you are in the country of your enemies;^(IW) then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. ³⁵ All the time that it lies desolate, the land will have the rest^(IX) it did not have during the sabbaths you lived in it.

³⁶ “‘As for those of you who are left, I will make their hearts so fearful in the lands of their enemies that the sound of a windblown leaf^(IY) will put them to flight.^(IZ) They will run as though fleeing from the sword, and they will fall, even though no one is pursuing them.^{(JA) 37} They will stumble over one another^(JB) as though fleeing from the sword, even though no one is pursuing them. So you will not be able to stand before your enemies.^{(JC) 38} You will perish^(JD) among the nations; the land of your enemies will devour you.^{(JE) 39} Those of you who are left will waste away in the lands of their enemies because of their sins; also because of their ancestors’^(JF) sins they will waste away.^(JG)

⁴⁰ “‘But if they will confess^(JH) their sins^(JI) and the sins of their ancestors^(JJ)—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, ⁴¹ which made me hostile^(JK) toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts^(JL) are humbled^(JM) and they pay^(JN) for their sin, ⁴² I will remember my covenant with Jacob^(JO) and my covenant with Isaac^(JP) and my covenant with Abraham,^(JQ) and I will remember the land. ⁴³ For the land will be deserted^(JR) by them and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them. They will pay for their sins because they rejected^(JS) my laws and abhorred my decrees.^{(JT) 44} Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies,^(JU) I will not reject them or abhor^(JV) them so as to destroy them completely,^(JW) breaking my covenant^(JX) with them. I am the Lord their God. ⁴⁵ But for their sake I will remember^(JY) the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt^(JZ) in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord.’”

⁴⁶ These are the decrees, the laws and the regulations that the Lord established at Mount Sinai^(KA) between himself and the Israelites through Moses.^(KB)

The Nazirite

6 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow^(A), a vow of dedication^(B) to the Lord as a Nazirite,^{(C) 3} they must abstain from wine^(D) and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar^(E) made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes^(F) or raisins. ⁴ As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.

⁵ “‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor^(G) may be used on their head.^(H) They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long.

⁶ “‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the Lord, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body.^{(I) 7} Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially unclean^(J) on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head. ⁸ Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to the Lord.

⁹ “‘If someone dies suddenly in the Nazirite’s presence, thus defiling the hair that symbolizes their dedication,^(K) they must shave their head on the seventh day—the day of their cleansing.^{(L) 10} Then on the eighth day^(M) they must bring two doves or two young pigeons^(N) to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting.^{(O) 11} The priest is to offer one as a sin offering^[a](P) and the other as a burnt offering^(Q) to make atonement^(R) for the Nazirite because they sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day they are to consecrate their head again. ¹² They must rededicate themselves to the Lord for the same period of dedication and must bring a year-old male lamb^(S) as a guilt offering.^(T) 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.^(U) They are to be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting.^{(V) 14} There they are to present their offerings to the Lord: a year-old male lamb without defect^(W) for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering,^(X) a ram^(Y) without defect for a fellowship offering,^{(Z) 15} together with their grain offerings^(AA) and drink offerings,^(AB) 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.^(AC)

¹⁶ “‘The priest is to present all these^(AD) before the Lord^(AE) and make the sin offering and the burnt offering.^{(AF) 17} He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering^(AG) to the Lord, together with its grain offering^(AH) and drink offering.^(AI)

¹⁸ “‘Then at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that symbolizes their dedication.^(AJ) 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.^{(AK) 20} The priest shall then wave these before the Lord as a wave offering;^(AL) they are holy^(AM) and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented.^(AN) After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.^(AO)

²¹ “‘This is the law of the Nazirite^(AP) who vows offerings to the Lord in accordance with their dedication, in addition to whatever else they can afford. They must fulfill the vows^(AQ) they have made, according to the law of the Nazirite.’”

The Priestly Blessing

²² The Lord said to Moses, ²³ “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless^(AR) the Israelites. Say to them:

²⁷ “So they will put my name^(AY) on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

The Passover

9 The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month^(A) of the second year after they came out of Egypt.^(B) He said, ² “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover^(C) at the appointed time.^{(D) 3} Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month,^(E) in accordance with all its rules and regulations.^(F)”

⁴ So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover,^{(G) 5} and they did so in the Desert of Sinai^(H) at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.^(I) The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.^(J)

⁶ But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean^(K) on account of a dead body.^(L) So they came to Moses and Aaron^(M) that same day ⁷ and 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?^(N)”

⁸ Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”^(O)

⁹ Then the Lord said to Moses, ¹⁰ “Tell the Israelites: ‘When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body^(P) or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate^(Q) the Lord’s Passover, ¹¹ but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month^(R) at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.^{(S) 12} They must not leave any of it till morning^(T) or break any of its bones.^(U) When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations.^{(V) 13} But if anyone who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, they must be cut off from their people^(W) for not presenting the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. They will bear the consequences of their sin.

¹⁴ “‘A foreigner^(X) residing among you is also to celebrate the Lord’s Passover in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for both the foreigner and the native-born.’”

The Cloud Above the Tabernacle

¹⁵ On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law,^(Y) was set up,^(Z) the cloud^(AA) covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire.^{(AB) 16} That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire.^{(AC) 17} Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out;^(AD) wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.^{(AE) 18} At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained^(AF) in camp. ¹⁹ When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order^(AG) and did not set out.^{(AH) 20} Sometimes 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. ²¹ Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. ²² Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. ²³ At 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.

The Silver Trumpets

10 The Lord said to Moses: ² “Make two trumpets^(AI) of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community^(AJ) together and for having the camps set out.^{(AK) 3} When both are sounded, the whole community is to assemble before you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ⁴ If only one is sounded, the leaders^(AL)—the heads of the clans of Israel—are to assemble before you. ⁵ When a trumpet blast is sounded, the tribes camping on the east are to set out.^{(AM) 6} At the sounding of a second blast, the camps on the south are to set out.^(AN) The blast will be the signal for setting out. ⁷ To gather the assembly, blow the trumpets,^(AO) but not with the signal for setting out.^(AP)

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.^{(AQ) 9} When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you,^(AR) sound a blast on the trumpets.^(AS) Then you will be remembered^(AT) by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies.^{(AU) 10} Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts^(AV)—you are to sound the trumpets^(AW) over your burnt offerings^(AX) and fellowship offerings,^(AY) and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.^(AZ)”

The Israelites Leave Sinai

¹¹ On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year,^(BA) the cloud lifted^(BB) from above the tabernacle of the covenant law.^{(BC) 12} Then 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.^{(BD) 13} They set out, this first time, at the Lord’s command through Moses.^(BE)

¹⁴ The divisions of the camp of Judah went first, under their standard.^(BF) Nahshon son of Amminadab^(BG) was in command. ¹⁵ Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe^(BH) of Issachar,^{(BI) 16} and Eliab son of Helon^(BJ) was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun.^{(BK) 17} Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and Merarites, who carried it, set out.^(BL)

¹⁸ The divisions of the camp of Reuben^(BM) went next, under their standard.^(BN) Elizur son of Shedeur^(BO) was in command. ¹⁹ Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon,^{(BP) 20} and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad.^{(BQ) 21} Then the Kohathites^(BR) set out, carrying the holy things.^(BS) The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.^(BT)

²² The divisions of the camp of Ephraim^(BU) went next, under their standard. Elishama son of Ammihud^(BV) was in command. ²³ Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh,^{(BW) 24} and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin.^(BX)

²⁵ Finally, as the rear guard^(BY) for all the units, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai^(BZ) was in command. ²⁶ Pagiel son of Okran was over the division of the tribe of Asher,^{(CA) 27} and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali.^{(CB) 28} This was the order of march for the Israelite divisions as they set out.

²⁹ Now Moses said to Hobab^(CC) son of Reuel^(CD) the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law,^(CE) “We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’^(CF) Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”

³⁰ He answered, “No, I will not go;^(CG) I am going back to my own land and my own people.^(CH)”

³¹ But Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes.^{(CI) 32} If you come with us, we will share with you^(CJ) whatever good things the Lord gives us.^(CK)”