Water From the Rock

20 In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin,^(A) and they stayed at Kadesh.^(B) There Miriam^(C) died and was buried.

² Now there was no water^(D) for the community,^(E) and the people gathered in opposition^(F) to Moses and Aaron. ³ They quarreled^(G) with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead^(H) before the Lord!^{(I) 4} Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness,^(J) that we and our livestock should die here?^{(K) 5} Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates.^(L) And there is no water to drink!^(M)”

⁶ Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting^(N) and fell facedown,^(O) and the glory of the Lord^(P) appeared to them. ⁷ The Lord said to Moses, ⁸ “Take the staff,^(Q) and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.^(R) You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

⁹ So Moses took the staff^(S) from the Lord’s presence,^(T) just as he commanded him. ¹⁰ He and Aaron gathered the assembly together^(U) in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”^{(V) 11} Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water^(W) gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

¹² But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy^(X) in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”^(Y)

¹³ These were the waters of Meribah,^[a](Z) where the Israelites quarreled^(AA) with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.^(AB)

Edom Denies Israel Passage

¹⁴ Moses sent messengers from Kadesh^(AC) to the king of Edom,^(AD) saying:

¹⁸ But Edom^(AO) answered:

¹⁹ The Israelites replied:

²⁰ Again they answered:

Then Edom^(AT) came out against them with a large and powerful army. ²¹ Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory,^(AU) Israel turned away from them.^(AV)

The Death of Aaron

²² The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh^(AW) and came to Mount Hor.^{(AX) 23} At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom,^(AY) the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ²⁴ “Aaron will be gathered to his people.^(AZ) He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command^(BA) at the waters of Meribah.^{(BB) 25} Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor.^{(BC) 26} Remove Aaron’s garments^(BD) and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people;^(BE) he will die there.”

²⁷ Moses did as the Lord commanded: They went up Mount Hor^(BF) in the sight of the whole community. ²⁸ Moses removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar.^(BG) And Aaron died there^(BH) on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, ²⁹ and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died,^(BI) all the Israelites mourned for him^(BJ) thirty days.

Arad Destroyed

21 When the Canaanite king of Arad,^(BK) who lived in the Negev,^(BL) 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^(BM) to the Lord: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy^[b](BN) their cities.” ³ The Lord listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites^(BO) over to them. They completely destroyed them^(BP) and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.^[c](BQ)

The Bronze Snake

⁴ They traveled from Mount Hor^(BR) along the route to the Red Sea,^[d](BS) to go around Edom.^(BT) But the people grew impatient on the way;^{(BU) 5} they spoke against God^(BV) and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt^(BW) to die in the wilderness?^(BX) There is no bread! There is no water!^(BY) And we detest this miserable food!”^(BZ)

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

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

The Journey to Moab

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

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

¹⁷ Then Israel sang this song:^(CR)

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^(CS) overlooks the wasteland.

Defeat of Sihon and Og

²¹ Israel sent messengers^(CT) to say to Sihon^(CU) king of the Amorites:^(CV)

²³ But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory.^(CX) He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz,^(CY) he fought with Israel.^{(CZ) 24} Israel, however, put him to the sword^(DA) and took over his land^(DB) from the Arnon to the Jabbok,^(DC) but only as far as the Ammonites,^(DD) because their border was fortified. ²⁵ Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites^(DE) and occupied them,^(DF) including Heshbon^(DG) and all its surrounding settlements. ²⁶ Heshbon was the city of Sihon^(DH) king of the Amorites,^(DI) who had fought against the former king of Moab^(DJ) and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.^(DK)

²⁷ That is why the poets say:

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

³² After Moses had sent spies^(DW) to Jazer,^(DX) 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^(DY),^(DZ) and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei.^(EA)

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.^(EB)”

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

Balak Summons Balaam

22 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab^(EE) and camped along the Jordan^(EF) across from Jericho.^(EG)

² Now Balak son of Zippor^(EH) 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^(EI) because of the Israelites.

⁴ The Moabites^(EJ) said to the elders of Midian,^(EK) “This horde is going to lick up everything^(EL) around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.^(EM)”

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

⁷ The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination.^(ES) 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.^(ET)” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.

⁹ God came to Balaam^(EU) and asked,^(EV) “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.^(EW)”

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

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

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^(FD) when he went, and the angel of the Lord^(FE) 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^(FF) in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it^(FG) 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^(FH) and beat it with his staff. ²⁸ Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth,^(FI) and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?^(FJ)”

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.^(FK)”

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,^(FL) 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.^{[g] 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,^(FM) but I would have spared it.”

³⁴ Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned.^(FN) 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^(FO) heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon^(FP) 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.”^(FQ)

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

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) 2} When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him^{(D) 3} and he spoke his message:

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:

Balaam’s Fifth Message

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

Balaam’s Sixth Message

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

Balaam’s Seventh Message

²³ Then he spoke his message:

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

The Second Census

26 After the plague^(A) the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, ² “Take a census^(B) of the whole Israelite community by families—all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army^(C) of Israel.” ³ So on the plains of Moab^(D) by the Jordan across from Jericho,^(E) Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them and said, ⁴ “Take a census of the men twenty years old or more, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

These were the Israelites who came out of Egypt:^(F)

⁵ The descendants of Reuben,^(G) the firstborn son of Israel, were:

⁷ These were the clans of Reuben; those numbered were 43,730.

⁸ The son of Pallu was Eliab, ⁹ and the sons of Eliab^(L) were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. The same Dathan and Abiram were the community^(M) officials who rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were among Korah’s followers when they rebelled against the Lord.^{(N) 10} The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them^(O) along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men.^(P) And they served as a warning sign.^{(Q) 11} The line of Korah,^(R) however, did not die out.^(S)

¹² The descendants of Simeon by their clans were:

¹⁴ These were the clans of Simeon;^(W) those numbered were 22,200.^(X)

¹⁵ The descendants of Gad by their clans were:

¹⁸ These were the clans of Gad;^(Z) those numbered were 40,500.

¹⁹ Er^(AA) and Onan^(AB) were sons of Judah, but they died^(AC) in Canaan.

²⁰ The descendants of Judah by their clans were:

²² These were the clans of Judah;^(AI) those numbered were 76,500.

²³ The descendants of Issachar by their clans were:

²⁵ These were the clans of Issachar;^(AL) those numbered were 64,300.

²⁶ The descendants of Zebulun^(AM) by their clans were:

²⁷ These were the clans of Zebulun;^(AN) those numbered were 60,500.

²⁸ The descendants of Joseph^(AO) by their clans through Manasseh and Ephraim^(AP) were:

²⁹ The descendants of Manasseh:^(AQ)

³⁴ These were the clans of Manasseh; those numbered were 52,700.^(AY)

³⁵ These were the descendants of Ephraim^(AZ) by their clans:

³⁷ These were the clans of Ephraim;^(BA) those numbered were 32,500.

These were the descendants of Joseph by their clans.

³⁸ The descendants of Benjamin^(BB) by their clans were:

⁴¹ These were the clans of Benjamin;^(BD) those numbered were 45,600.

⁴² These were the descendants of Dan^(BE) by their clans:^(BF)

These were the clans of Dan: ⁴³ All of them were Shuhamite clans; and those numbered were 64,400.

⁴⁴ The descendants of Asher^(BH) by their clans were:

⁴⁷ These were the clans of Asher;^(BI) those numbered were 53,400.

⁴⁸ The descendants of Naphtali^(BJ) by their clans were:

⁵⁰ These were the clans of Naphtali;^(BK) those numbered were 45,400.^(BL)

⁵¹ The total number of the men of Israel was 601,730.^(BM)

⁵² The Lord said to Moses, ⁵³ “The land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based on the number of names.^{(BN) 54} To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number^(BO) of those listed.^{(BP) 55} Be sure that the land is distributed by lot.^(BQ) What each group inherits will be according to the names for its ancestral tribe. ⁵⁶ Each inheritance is to be distributed by lot among the larger and smaller groups.”

⁵⁷ These were the Levites^(BR) who were counted by their clans:

⁶² All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000.^(CA) They were not counted^(CB) along with the other Israelites because they received no inheritance^(CC) among them.^(CD)

⁶³ These are the ones counted^(CE) by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab^(CF) by the Jordan across from Jericho.^{(CG) 64} Not one of them was among those counted^(CH) by Moses and Aaron^(CI) the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. ⁶⁵ For the Lord had told those Israelites they would surely die in the wilderness,^(CJ) and not one of them was left except Caleb^(CK) son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.^(CL)

The Festival of Trumpets^(A)

29 “‘On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.^(B) It is a day for you to sound the trumpets. ² As an aroma pleasing to the Lord,^(C) offer a burnt offering^(D) of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old,^(E) all without defect.^{(F) 3} With the bull offer a grain offering^(G) of three-tenths of an ephah^[a] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil; with the ram, two-tenths^[b]; ⁴ and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.^{[c](H) 5} Include one male goat^(I) as a sin offering^[d] to make atonement for you. ⁶ These are in addition to the monthly^(J) and daily burnt offerings^(K) with their grain offerings^(L) and drink offerings^(M) as specified. They are food offerings presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma.^(N)

The Day of Atonement^(O)

⁷ “‘On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves^[e](P) and do no work.^{(Q) 8} Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(R) 9} With the bull offer a grain offering^(S) of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths;^{(T) 10} and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.^{(U) 11} Include one male goat^(V) as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering^(W) with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.^(X)

The Festival of Tabernacles^(Y)

¹² “‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh^(Z) month,^(AA) hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the Lord for seven days. ¹³ Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord^(AB) a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(AC) 14} With each of the thirteen bulls offer a grain offering^(AD) of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with each of the two rams, two-tenths; ¹⁵ and with each of the fourteen lambs, one-tenth.^{(AE) 16} Include one male goat as a sin offering,^(AF) in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.^(AG)

¹⁷ “‘On the second day^(AH) offer twelve young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(AI) 18} With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings^(AJ) and drink offerings^(AK) according to the number specified.^{(AL) 19} Include one male goat as a sin offering,^(AM) in addition to the regular burnt offering^(AN) with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.^(AO)

²⁰ “‘On the third day offer eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(AP) 21} With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified.^{(AQ) 22} Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

²³ “‘On the fourth day offer ten bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. ²⁴ With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. ²⁵ Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

²⁶ “‘On the fifth day offer nine bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. ²⁷ With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. ²⁸ Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

²⁹ “‘On the sixth day offer eight bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. ³⁰ With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. ³¹ Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

³² “‘On the seventh day offer seven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. ³³ With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. ³⁴ Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

³⁵ “‘On the eighth day hold a closing special assembly^(AR) and do no regular work. ³⁶ Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord^(AS) a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old,^(AT) all without defect. ³⁷ With the bull, the ram and the lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. ³⁸ Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

³⁹ “‘In addition to what you vow^(AU) and your freewill offerings,^(AV) offer these to the Lord at your appointed festivals:^(AW) your burnt offerings,^(AX) grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings.^(AY)’”

⁴⁰ Moses told the Israelites all that the Lord commanded him.^[f]

Vows

30 ^[g]Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel:^(AZ) “This is what the Lord commands: ² When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.^(BA)

³ “When a young woman still living in her father’s household makes a vow to the Lord or obligates herself by a pledge ⁴ and her father hears about her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then all her vows and every pledge by which she obligated herself will stand.^{(BB) 5} But if her father forbids her^(BC) when he hears about it, none of her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand; the Lord will release her because her father has forbidden her.

⁶ “If she marries after she makes a vow^(BD) or after her lips utter a rash promise by which she obligates herself ⁷ and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. ⁸ But if her husband^(BE) forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the Lord will release her.^(BF)

⁹ “Any vow or obligation taken by a widow or divorced woman will be binding on her.

¹⁰ “If a woman living with her husband makes a vow or obligates herself by a pledge under oath ¹¹ and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her and does not forbid her, then all her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. ¹² But if her husband nullifies them when he hears about them, then none of the vows or pledges that came from her lips will stand.^(BG) Her husband has nullified them, and the Lord will release her. ¹³ Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself.^{[h] 14} But if her husband says nothing to her about it from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or the pledges binding on her. He confirms them by saying nothing to her when he hears about them. ¹⁵ If, however, he nullifies them^(BH) some time after he hears about them, then he must bear the consequences of her wrongdoing.”