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Numbers 1-3
International Children’s Bible
Numbers 1-3
International Children’s Bible
The People of Israel Are Counted
1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the Meeting Tent. This was in the Desert of Sinai. It was on the first day of the second month. This was in the second year after the people of Israel left Egypt. The Lord said to Moses: 2 “Count all the people of Israel. List the name of each man with his family and family group. 3 You and Aaron must count all the men of Israel 20 years old or older. They will serve in the army of Israel. List them by their divisions. 4 One man from each tribe will help you. He is to be the leader of his family. 5 These are the names of the men who will help you:
from the tribe of Reuben—Elizur son of Shedeur;
6 from the tribe of Simeon—Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;
7 from the tribe of Judah—Nahshon son of Amminadab;
8 from the tribe of Issachar—Nethanel son of Zuar;
9 from the tribe of Zebulun—Eliab son of Helon;
10 from the tribe of Ephraim son of Joseph—Elishama son of Ammihud;
from the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph—Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;
11 from the tribe of Benjamin—Abidan son of Gideoni;
12 from the tribe of Dan—Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;
13 from the tribe of Asher—Pagiel son of Ocran;
14 from the tribe of Gad—Eliasaph son of Deuel;
15 from the tribe of Naphtali—Ahira son of Enan.”
16 All these men were chosen by the people to be leaders of their tribes. They were the leaders of their family groups.
17 Moses and Aaron took these men who had been picked. 18 And Moses and Aaron called all the people of Israel together. This was the first day of the second month. Then the people were listed by their families and family groups. All the men who were 20 years old or older were listed by name. 19 Moses did exactly what the Lord had commanded. Moses listed the people while they were in the Desert of Sinai.
20 The tribe of Reuben was counted. Reuben was the first son born to Israel. All the men 20 years old or older who were able to serve in the army were listed. They were each listed by name with their families and family groups. 21 The tribe of Reuben totaled 46,500 men.
22 The tribe of Simeon was counted. All the men 20 years old or older who were able to serve in the army were listed. They were each listed by name with their families and family groups. 23 The tribe of Simeon totaled 59,300 men.
24 The tribe of Gad was counted. All the men 20 years old or older who were able to serve in the army were listed. They were listed by name with their families and family groups. 25 The tribe of Gad totaled 45,650 men.
26 The tribe of Judah was counted. All the men 20 years old or older who were able to serve in the army were listed. They were listed by name with their families and family groups. 27 The tribe of Judah totaled 74,600 men.
28 The tribe of Issachar was counted. All the men 20 years old or older who were able to serve in the army were listed. They were listed by name with their families and family groups. 29 The tribe of Issachar totaled 54,400 men.
30 The tribe of Zebulun was counted. All the men 20 years old or older who were able to serve in the army were listed. They were listed by name with their families and family groups. 31 The tribe of Zebulun totaled 57,400 men.
32 The tribe of Ephraim was counted. (Ephraim was a son of Joseph.) All the men 20 years old or older who were able to serve in the army were listed. They were listed by name with their families and family groups. 33 The tribe of Ephraim totaled 40,500 men.
34 The tribe of Manasseh was counted. (Manasseh was also a son of Joseph.) All the men 20 years old or older who were able to serve in the army were listed. They were listed by name with their families and family groups. 35 The tribe of Manasseh totaled 32,200 men.
36 The tribe of Benjamin was counted. All the men 20 years old or older who were able to serve in the army were listed. They were listed by name with their families and family groups. 37 The tribe of Benjamin totaled 35,400 men.
38 The tribe of Dan was counted. All the men 20 years old or older who were able to serve in the army were listed. They were listed by name with their families and family groups. 39 The tribe of Dan totaled 62,700 men.
40 The tribe of Asher was counted. All the men 20 years old or older who were able to serve in the army were listed. They were listed by name with their families and family groups. 41 The tribe of Asher totaled 41,500 men.
42 The tribe of Naphtali was counted. All the men 20 years old or older who were able to serve in the army were listed. They were listed by name with their families and family groups. 43 The tribe of Naphtali totaled 53,400 men.
44 Moses, Aaron and the 12 leaders of Israel counted these men. There was 1 leader from each of the families. 45 Every man of Israel 20 years old or older who was able to serve in the army was counted. Each man was listed with his family. 46 The total number of men was 603,550.
47 The families from the tribe of Levi were not listed with the others. 48 The Lord had told Moses: 49 “Do not count the tribe of Levi or include them with the other Israelites. 50 But make the Levites responsible for the Holy Tent of the Agreement. They must take care of it and everything that is with it. They must carry the Holy Tent and everything in it. They must take care of it and make their camp around it. 51 Any time the Holy Tent is moved, the Levites must take it down. Any time it is set up, the Levites must do it. If anyone else goes near the Holy Tent, he will be put to death. 52 The Israelites will make their camps in separate divisions, each man near his family flag. 53 But the Levites must make their camp around the Holy Tent of the Agreement. Then I will not be angry with the Israelites. The Levites will take care of the Holy Tent of the Agreement.”
54 So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses.
The Camp Arrangement
2 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “The Israelites should make their camps around the Meeting Tent. But they should not camp too close to it. Each person should camp under the flag of his division near the banner of his family group.”
3 The camp of Judah will be on the east side, where the sun rises. They will camp by divisions there under their flag. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab. 4 There are 74,600 men in his division.
5 Next to them the tribe of Issachar will camp. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar. 6 There are 54,400 men in his division.
7 Next is the tribe of Zebulun. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon. 8 There are 57,400 men in his division.
9 There are a total of 186,400 men in the camp of Judah. They are in their divisions. They will be the first to march out of camp.
10 The divisions of the camp of Reuben will be south of the Holy Tent. They will camp under their flag. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur. 11 There are 46,500 men in his division.
12 Next to them the tribe of Simeon will camp. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. 13 There are 59,300 men in his division.
14 Next is the tribe of Gad. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel. 15 There are 45,650 men in his division.
16 There are a total of 151,450 men in the camp of Reuben. They are in their divisions. They will be the second group to march out of camp.
17 When the Levites move the Meeting Tent, they will be in between the other camps. The tribes will move in the same order as they camp. Each person will be with his family flag.
18 The divisions of the camp of Ephraim will be on the west side. They will camp under their flag. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud. 19 There are 40,500 men in his division.
20 Next to them the tribe of Manasseh will camp. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. 21 There are 32,200 men in his division.
22 Next to them the tribe of Benjamin will camp. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni. 23 There are 35,400 men in his division.
24 There are a total of 108,100 men in the camp of Ephraim. They are in their divisions. They will be the third group to march out of camp.
25 The divisions of the camp of Dan will be on the north side. They will camp under their flag. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 26 There are 62,700 men in his division.
27 Next to them the tribe of Asher will camp. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Ocran. 28 There are 41,500 men in his division.
29 Next is the tribe of Naphtali. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan. 30 There are 53,400 men in his division.
31 There are 157,600 men in the camp of Dan. They will be the last to march out of camp. They will travel under their own flag.
32 These are the Israelites who were counted by families. The total number of Israelites in the camps, counted by divisions, is 603,550. 33 Moses did not count the Levites among the other people of Israel. This is what the Lord had commanded.
34 So the Israelites obeyed everything the Lord commanded Moses. They camped under their flags. Each person traveled with his family and family group.
Aaron’s Family, the Priests
3 This is the family history of Aaron and Moses. This was at the time the Lord talked to Moses on Mount Sinai.
2 Aaron had four sons. Nadab was the oldest. Then Aaron had Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 3 Those were the names of Aaron’s sons. They were appointed to serve as priests. 4 But Nadab and Abihu died when they sinned in the presence of the Lord. They made an offering to the Lord in the Desert of Sinai. But they used the wrong kind of fire. They had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.
5 The Lord said to Moses, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi to Aaron the priest. They must help him. 7 They will help him and all the Israelites at the Meeting Tent. They will do the work of the Holy Tent. 8 The Levites must take care of everything in the Meeting Tent. They will serve the people of Israel by doing the work in the Holy Tent. 9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. Of all the Israelites, the Levites are given completely to him. 10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who comes near the holy things must be put to death.”
11 The Lord also said to Moses, 12 “I am choosing the Levites from all the Israelites. They will take the place of all the firstborn children of Israel. The Levites will be mine. 13 All the firstborn are mine. When you were in Egypt, I killed all the firstborn children of the Egyptians. I took all the firstborn of Israel to be mine. Firstborn animals and children are mine. I am the Lord.”
14 The Lord again talked to Moses in the Desert of Sinai. The Lord said, 15 “Count the Levites by families and family groups. Count every male one month old or older.” 16 So Moses obeyed the Lord and counted them all.
17 Levi had three sons. Their names were Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
18 The Gershonite family groups were Libni and Shimei.
19 The Kohathite family groups were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.
20 The Merarite family groups were Mahli and Mushi.
These were the family groups that belonged to the Levites.
21 The family groups of Libni and Shimei belonged to Gershon. They were all the Gershonite family groups. 22 They had 7,500 males one month or older. 23 The Gershonite family groups camped on the west side, behind the Holy Tent. 24 The leader of the families of Gershon was Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 In the Meeting Tent the Gershonites were responsible for taking care of these things: the Holy Tent, its covering, the curtain at the entrance to the Meeting Tent, 26 the curtains in the courtyard, the curtain at the entry to the courtyard around the Holy Tent and the altar, the ropes and all the work connected with these things.
27 The family groups of Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel belonged to Kohath. They were all the Kohathite family groups. 28 They had 8,600 males one month old or older. They were responsible for taking care of the Holy Place. 29 The Kohathite family groups camped south of the Holy Tent. 30 The leader of the Kohathite families was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. 31 They were responsible for the Ark of the Covenant, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the tools of the holy place, the curtain and all the work connected with these things. 32 The main leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest. Eleazar was in charge of all those responsible for the Holy Place.
33 The family groups of Mahli and Mushi belonged to Merari. They were all the Merarite family groups. 34 They had 6,200 males one month old or older. 35 The leader of the Merari families was Zuriel son of Abihail. They were to camp north of the Holy Tent. 36 The Merarites were responsible for the frame of the Holy Tent, the braces, the posts, the bases and all the work connected with these things. 37 They were also responsible for the posts in the courtyard around the Holy Tent and their bases, tent pegs and ropes.
38 Moses, Aaron and his sons camped east of the Holy Tent. They were in front of the Meeting Tent. They were responsible for the Holy Place. They did this for the Israelites. Anyone else who came near the Holy Place was to be put to death.
39 Moses and Aaron counted the Levite men. The Lord commanded this. There were 22,000 males one month old or older.
Levites Take the Place of the Firstborn Sons
40 The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn sons in Israel one month old or older. List their names. 41 Take the Levites for me instead of the firstborn sons of Israel. Take the animals of the Levites instead of the firstborn animals from the rest of Israel. I am the Lord.”
42 So Moses did what the Lord commanded. Moses counted all the firstborn sons of the Israelites. 43 He listed all the firstborn sons one month old or older. There were 22,273 names.
44 The Lord also said to Moses, 45 “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn sons of the Israelites. And take the animals of the Levites instead of the animals of the other people. The Levites are mine. I am the Lord. 46 There are 273 more firstborn sons than Levites. 47 So collect two ounces of silver for each of the 273 sons. Use the measure as set by the Holy Place. It weighs two-fifths of an ounce. 48 Give the silver to Aaron and his sons. It is the payment for the 273 Israelites.”
49 So Moses collected the money for the people the Levites could not replace. 50 Moses collected the silver from the firstborn of the Israelites. He collected 35 pounds of silver, using the measure set by the Holy Place. 51 So Moses obeyed the Lord. He gave the silver to Aaron and his sons.
Numbers 1-3
New International Version
Numbers 1-3
New International Version
The Census
1 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: 2 “Take a census(E) of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families,(F) listing every man by name,(G) one by one. 3 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) 4 One man from each tribe,(K) each of them the head of his family,(L) is to help you.(M) 5 These are the names(N) of the men who are to assist you:
from Reuben,(O) Elizur son of Shedeur;(P)
6 from Simeon,(Q) Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;(R)
7 from Judah,(S) Nahshon son of Amminadab;(T)
8 from Issachar,(U) Nethanel son of Zuar;(V)
9 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)
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
2 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “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.”
3 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) 4 His division numbers 74,600.
5 The tribe of Issachar(CO) will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar.(CP) 6 His division numbers 54,400.
7 The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon.(CQ) 8 His division numbers 57,400.
9 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
3 This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses(DT) at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.(DU)
2 The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn(DV) and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.(DW) 3 Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests,(DX) who were ordained to serve as priests. 4 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)
5 The Lord said to Moses, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi(EC) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.(ED) 7 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. 8 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. 9 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.
Footnotes
- Numbers 2:14 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch and Vulgate (see also 1:14); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text Reuel
- 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
- Numbers 3:28 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts 8,300
- Numbers 3:47 That is, about 2 ounces or about 58 grams
- Numbers 3:50 That is, about 35 pounds or about 16 kilograms
Numbers 13-14
International Children’s Bible
Numbers 13-14
International Children’s Bible
The Spies Explore Canaan
13 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Send men to explore the land of Canaan. I will give that land to the Israelites. Send one leader from each tribe.”
3 So Moses obeyed the Lord’s command. He sent the Israelite leaders out from the Desert of Paran. 4 These are their names: from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zaccur; 5 from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori; 6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh; 7 from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph; 8 from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun; 9 from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu; 10 from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi; 11 from the tribe of Manasseh (a tribe of Joseph), Gaddi son of Susi; 12 from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gamalli; 13 from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael; 14 from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi; 15 from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki.
16 These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the new name Joshua.)
17 Moses sent them to explore Canaan. He said, “Go through southern Canaan and then into the mountains. 18 See what the land looks like. Are the people who live there strong or weak? Are there a few or many? 19 What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What about the towns they live in—do they have walls, or are they open like camps? 20 What about the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees there? Try to bring back some of the fruit from that land.” (It was the season for the first grapes.)
21 So they went up and explored the land. They went from the Desert of Zin all the way to Rehob by Lebo Hamath. 22 They went through the southern area to Hebron. That is where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai lived. They were the descendants of Anak. (The city of Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 In the Valley of Eshcol, they cut off a branch of a grapevine. It had one bunch of grapes on it. They carried that branch on a pole between two of them. They also got some pomegranates and figs. 24 They call that place the Valley of Eshcol.[a] That is because the Israelites cut off the bunch of grapes there. 25 After 40 days of exploring the land, the men returned to the camp.
26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and all the Israelites at Kadesh. This was in the Desert of Paran. The men reported to them and showed everybody the fruit from the land. 27 They told Moses, “We went to the land where you sent us. It is a land where much food grows! Here is some of its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are strong. Their cities are walled and large. We even saw some Anakites there. 29 The Amalekites live in the southern area. The Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the mountains. The Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan River.”
30 Then Caleb told the people near Moses to be quiet. Caleb said, “We should go up and take the land for ourselves. We can do it.”
31 But the men who had gone with him said, “We can’t attack those people. They are stronger than we are.” 32 And those men gave the Israelites a bad report about the land they explored. They said, “The land would eat us up. All the people we saw are very tall. 33 We saw the Nephilim people there. (The Anakites come from the Nephilim people.) We felt like grasshoppers. And we looked like grasshoppers to them.”
The People Complain Again
14 That night all the people in the camp began crying loudly. 2 All the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron. All the people said to them, “We should have died in Egypt. Or we should have died in the desert. 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land? We will be killed with swords. Our wives and children will be taken away. We would be better off going back to Egypt.” 4 They said to each other, “Let’s get a leader and go back to Egypt.”
5 Then Moses and Aaron bowed facedown in front of all the Israelites gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh were among those who had explored the land. They tore their clothes. 7 They said to all of the Israelites, “The land we went to explore is very good. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land. He will give us that land where much food grows. 9 Don’t turn against the Lord! Don’t be afraid of the people in that land! We will chew them up. They have no protection, but we have the Lord. So don’t be afraid of them.”
10 Then all the people talked about killing them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the Meeting Tent to the Israelites. 11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people ignore me? How long will it be before they believe me? I have done miracles among them. 12 I will give them a terrible sickness. I will destroy them. But I will make you into a great nation. It will be stronger than they are.”
13 Then Moses said to the Lord, “The Egyptians will hear about it! You brought these people from there by your great power. 14 And the Egyptians will tell this to those who live in this land. They have already heard about you, Lord. They know that you are with your people. And they know you were seen face to face. They know your cloud stays over your people. They know you lead your people with that cloud during the day and with fire at night. 15 The nations have heard about your power. If you put to death your people all at once, the nations will talk. They will say, 16 ‘The Lord was not able to bring them into the land he promised them. So he killed them in the desert.’
17 “So show your strength now, my Lord. Do what you said. You said: 18 ‘The Lord doesn’t become angry quickly. The Lord has great love. The Lord forgives sin and law breaking. He has great mercy. But the Lord does not forget to punish guilty people. When parents sin, he will also punish their children. He will punish their grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.’ 19 Show your great love. Forgive these people’s sin. Forgive them as you have from the time they left Egypt until now.”
20 The Lord answered, “I have forgiven them as you asked. 21 But, as surely as I live, I make this promise. As surely as my glory fills the whole earth, I make this promise. 22 All these men saw my glory. They saw the miracles I did in Egypt and in the desert. But they disobeyed me and tested me 10 times. 23 So not one will see the land I promised to their ancestors. No one who angered me will see that land. 24 But my servant Caleb has a different spirit. He follows me completely. So I will bring him into the land he has already seen. And his children will own that land. 25 The Amalekites and the Canaanites are living in the valleys. So leave tomorrow and go back. Follow the desert road toward the Gulf of Aqaba.”
The Lord Punishes the People
26 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 27 “How long will these evil people complain about me? I have heard these Israelites’ grumbling and complaining. 28 So tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says. I heard what you said. As surely as I live, I will do those things to you. 29 You will die in this desert. Every one of you who is 20 years old or older and who was counted with the people will die. You complained against me, the Lord. 30 Not one of you will enter and live in the land I promised to you. Only Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun will go in. 31 You said that your children would be taken away. But I will bring them into the land. They will enjoy what you refused. 32 As for you, you will die in this desert. 33 Your children will be shepherds here for 40 years. They will suffer because you were not loyal. They will suffer until you lie dead in the desert. 34 For 40 years you will suffer for your sins. That is a year for each of the 40 days you explored the land. You will know me as your enemy.’ 35 I, the Lord, have spoken. I will certainly do these things to all these evil people. They have come together against me. So they will all die here in this desert.”
36 The men Moses had sent to explore the land had returned. They had spread complaints among all the Israelites. They had given a bad report about the land. 37 They were responsible for the bad report. So the Lord killed them with a terrible sickness. 38 Only two of the men did not die. They were Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh.
39 When Moses told these things to the Israelites, they were very sad. 40 Early the next morning they started to go toward the beginning of the mountains. They said, “We have sinned. We will go where the Lord told us.”
41 But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? You will not win! 42 Don’t go. The Lord is not with you. You will be beaten by your enemies. 43 You will run into the Amalekites and Canaanites. They will kill you with swords. You have turned away from the Lord. He will not be with you.”
44 But they were proud. They went toward the beginning of the mountains. But Moses and the Ark of the Covenant with the Lord did not leave the camp. 45 The Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in those mountains came down. And they attacked the Israelites. They beat them back all the way to Hormah.
Footnotes
- 13:24 Eshcol This name in Hebrew means “bunch.”
Numbers 13-14
New International Version
Numbers 13-14
New International Version
Exploring Canaan
13 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore(A) the land of Canaan,(B) which I am giving to the Israelites.(C) From each ancestral tribe(D) send one of its leaders.”
3 So at the Lord’s command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites.(E) 4 These are their names:
from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zakkur;
5 from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;
6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;(F)
7 from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph;
8 from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;(G)
9 from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu;
10 from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi;
11 from the tribe of Manasseh (a tribe of Joseph), Gaddi son of Susi;
12 from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli;
13 from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;
14 from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi;
15 from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki.
16 These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore(H) the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun(I) the name Joshua.)(J)
17 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan,(K) he said, “Go up through the Negev(L) and on into the hill country.(M) 18 See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? 20 How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.(N)” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)(O)
21 So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin(P) as far as Rehob,(Q) toward Lebo Hamath.(R) 22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron,(S) where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai,(T) the descendants of Anak,(U) lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)(V) 23 When they reached the Valley of Eshkol,[a](W) they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates(X) and figs.(Y) 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. 25 At the end of forty days(Z) they returned from exploring the land.(AA)
Report on the Exploration
26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh(AB) in the Desert of Paran.(AC) There they reported to them(AD) and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land.(AE) 27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey!(AF) Here is its fruit.(AG) 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.(AH) We even saw descendants of Anak(AI) there.(AJ) 29 The Amalekites(AK) live in the Negev; the Hittites,(AL) Jebusites(AM) and Amorites(AN) live in the hill country;(AO) and the Canaanites(AP) live near the sea and along the Jordan.(AQ)”
30 Then Caleb(AR) silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”(AS) 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report(AT) about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours(AU) those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.(AV) 33 We saw the Nephilim(AW) there (the descendants of Anak(AX) come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers(AY) in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
The People Rebel
14 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.(AZ) 2 All the Israelites grumbled(BA) against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt!(BB) Or in this wilderness!(BC) 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?(BD) Our wives and children(BE) will be taken as plunder.(BF) Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?(BG)” 4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.(BH)”
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown(BI) in front of the whole Israelite assembly(BJ) gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun(BK) and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes(BL) 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.(BM) 8 If the Lord is pleased with us,(BN) he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey,(BO) and will give it to us.(BP) 9 Only do not rebel(BQ) against the Lord. And do not be afraid(BR) of the people of the land,(BS) because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with(BT) us.(BU) Do not be afraid of them.”(BV)
10 But the whole assembly talked about stoning(BW) them. Then the glory of the Lord(BX) appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. 11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt?(BY) How long will they refuse to believe in me,(BZ) in spite of all the signs(CA) I have performed among them? 12 I will strike them down with a plague(CB) and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation(CC) greater and stronger than they.”(CD)
13 Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them.(CE) 14 And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard(CF) that you, Lord, are with these people(CG) and that you, Lord, have been seen face to face,(CH) that your cloud stays over them,(CI) and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.(CJ) 15 If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, 16 ‘The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath,(CK) so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’(CL)
17 “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: 18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.(CM) Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’(CN) 19 In accordance with your great love, forgive(CO) the sin of these people,(CP) just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”(CQ)
20 The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them,(CR) as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live(CS) and as surely as the glory of the Lord(CT) fills the whole earth,(CU) 22 not one of those who saw my glory and the signs(CV) I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times(CW)— 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath(CX) to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt(CY) will ever see it.(CZ) 24 But because my servant Caleb(DA) has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly,(DB) I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.(DC) 25 Since the Amalekites(DD) and the Canaanites(DE) are living in the valleys, turn(DF) back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.[b](DG)”
26 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 27 “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites.(DH) 28 So tell them, ‘As surely as I live,(DI) declares the Lord, I will do to you(DJ) the very thing I heard you say: 29 In this wilderness your bodies will fall(DK)—every one of you twenty years old or more(DL) who was counted in the census(DM) and who has grumbled against me. 30 Not one of you will enter the land(DN) I swore with uplifted hand(DO) to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh(DP) and Joshua son of Nun.(DQ) 31 As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected.(DR) 32 But as for you, your bodies will fall(DS) in this wilderness. 33 Your children will be shepherds here for forty years,(DT) suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. 34 For forty years(DU)—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land(DV)—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ 35 I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things(DW) to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.(DX)”
36 So the men Moses had sent(DY) to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble(DZ) against him by spreading a bad report(EA) about it— 37 these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report(EB) about the land were struck down and died of a plague(EC) before the Lord. 38 Of the men who went to explore the land,(ED) only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.(EE)
39 When Moses reported this(EF) to all the Israelites, they mourned(EG) bitterly. 40 Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country,(EH) saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!(EI)”
41 But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? This will not succeed!(EJ) 42 Do not go up, because the Lord is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies,(EK) 43 for the Amalekites(EL) and the Canaanites(EM) will face you there. Because you have turned away from the Lord, he will not be with you(EN) and you will fall by the sword.”
44 Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up(EO) toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp.(EP) 45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites(EQ) who lived in that hill country(ER) came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.(ES)
Footnotes
- Numbers 13:23 Eshkol means cluster; also in verse 24.
- Numbers 14:25 Or the Sea of Reeds
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