The People Rebel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supplementary Offerings

15 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you^(A) as a home ³ and you present to the Lord food offerings from the herd or the flock,^(B) as an aroma pleasing to the Lord^(C)—whether burnt offerings^(D) or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings^(E) or festival offerings^(F)— ⁴ then the person who brings an offering shall present to the Lord a grain offering^(G) of a tenth of an ephah^[a] of the finest flour^(H) mixed with a quarter of a hin^[b] of olive oil. ⁵ With each lamb^(I) for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quarter of a hin of wine^(J) as a drink offering.^(K)

⁶ “‘With a ram^(L) prepare a grain offering^(M) of two-tenths of an ephah^[c](N) of the finest flour mixed with a third of a hin^[d] of olive oil,^{(O) 7} and a third of a hin of wine^(P) as a drink offering.^(Q) Offer it as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^(R)

⁸ “‘When you prepare a young bull^(S) as a burnt offering or sacrifice, for a special vow^(T) or a fellowship offering^(U) to the Lord, ⁹ bring with the bull a grain offering^(V) of three-tenths of an ephah^[e](W) of the finest flour mixed with half a hin^[f] of olive oil, ¹⁰ and also bring half a hin of wine^(X) as a drink offering.^(Y) This will be a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(Z) 11} Each bull or ram, each lamb or young goat, is to be prepared in this manner. ¹² Do this for each one, for as many as you prepare.^(AA)

¹³ “‘Everyone who is native-born^(AB) must do these things in this way when they present a food offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(AC) 14} For the generations to come,^(AD) whenever a foreigner^(AE) or anyone else living among you presents a food^(AF) offering^(AG) as an aroma pleasing to the Lord, they must do exactly as you do. ¹⁵ The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.^(AH) You and the foreigner shall be the same before the Lord: ¹⁶ The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing among you.^(AI)’”

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

Offerings for Unintentional Sins

²² “‘Now if you as a community unintentionally fail to keep any of these commands the Lord gave Moses^(AQ)— ²³ any of the Lord’s commands to you through him, from the day the Lord gave them and continuing through the generations to come^(AR)— ²⁴ and if this is done unintentionally^(AS) without the community being aware of it,^(AT) then the whole community is to offer a young bull for a burnt offering^(AU) as an aroma pleasing to the Lord,^(AV) along with its prescribed grain offering^(AW) and drink offering,^(AX) and a male goat for a sin offering.^{[g](AY) 25} The priest is to make atonement for the whole Israelite community, and they will be forgiven,^(AZ) for it was not intentional^(BA) and they have presented to the Lord for their wrong a food offering^(BB) and a sin offering.^{(BC) 26} The whole Israelite community and the foreigners residing among them will be forgiven, because all the people were involved in the unintentional wrong.^(BD)

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

³⁰ “‘But anyone who sins defiantly,^(BJ) whether native-born or foreigner,^(BK) blasphemes the Lord^(BL) and must be cut off from the people of Israel.^{(BM) 31} Because they have despised^(BN) the Lord’s word and broken his commands,^(BO) they must surely be cut off; their guilt remains on them.^(BP)’”

The Sabbath-Breaker Put to Death

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

Tassels on Garments

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

Repent or Perish

13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate^(A) had mixed with their sacrifices. ² Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?^{(B) 3} I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam^(C) fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no! But unless you repent,^(D) you too will all perish.”

⁶ Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.^{(E) 7} So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down!^(F) Why should it use up the soil?’

⁸ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath

¹⁰ On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,^{(G) 11} and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.^(H) She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” ¹³ Then he put his hands on her,^(I) and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

¹⁴ Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath,^(J) the synagogue leader^(K) said to the people, “There are six days for work.^(L) So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

¹⁵ The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?^{(M) 16} Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham,^(N) whom Satan^(O) has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

¹⁷ When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated,^(P) but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast^(Q)(R)

¹⁸ Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God^(S) like?^(T) What shall I compare it to? ¹⁹ It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree,^(U) and the birds perched in its branches.”^(V)

²⁰ Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? ²¹ It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds^[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”^(W)

The Narrow Door

²² Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.^{(X) 23} Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”

He said to them, ²⁴ “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door,^(Y) because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. ²⁵ Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’

“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’^(Z)

²⁶ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

²⁷ “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’^(AA)

²⁸ “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth,^(AB) when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. ²⁹ People will come from east and west^(AC) and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”^(AD)

Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem^(AE)(AF)

³¹ At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod^(AG) wants to kill you.”

³² He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’^{(AH) 33} In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet^(AI) can die outside Jerusalem!

³⁴ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,^(AJ) and you were not willing. ³⁵ Look, your house is left to you desolate.^(AK) I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’^[b]”^(AL)