52 The Lord said to Moses, 53 “The land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based on the number of names.(A) 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(B) of those listed.(C) 55 Be sure that the land is distributed by lot.(D) 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(E) who were counted by their clans:

through Gershon, the Gershonite clan;

through Kohath, the Kohathite clan;

through Merari, the Merarite clan.

58 These also were Levite clans:

the Libnite clan,

the Hebronite clan,

the Mahlite clan,

the Mushite clan,

the Korahite clan.

(Kohath was the forefather of Amram;(F) 59 the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed,(G) a descendant of Levi, who was born to the Levites[a] in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses(H) and their sister(I) Miriam.(J) 60 Aaron was the father of Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.(K) 61 But Nadab and Abihu(L) died when they made an offering before the Lord with unauthorized fire.)(M)

62 All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000.(N) They were not counted(O) along with the other Israelites because they received no inheritance(P) among them.(Q)

63 These are the ones counted(R) by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab(S) by the Jordan across from Jericho.(T) 64 Not one of them was among those counted(U) by Moses and Aaron(V) 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,(W) and not one of them was left except Caleb(X) son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.(Y)

Zelophehad’s Daughters(Z)

27 The daughters of Zelophehad(AA) son of Hepher,(AB) the son of Gilead,(AC) the son of Makir,(AD) the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. They came forward and stood before Moses,(AE) Eleazar the priest, the leaders(AF) and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting(AG) and said, “Our father died in the wilderness.(AH) He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the Lord,(AI) but he died for his own sin and left no sons.(AJ) Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.”

So Moses brought their case(AK) before the Lord,(AL) and the Lord said to him, “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance(AM) among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.(AN)

“Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to have the force of law(AO) for the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.’”

Joshua to Succeed Moses

12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain(AP) in the Abarim Range(AQ) and see the land(AR) I have given the Israelites.(AS) 13 After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people,(AT) as your brother Aaron(AU) was, 14 for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin,(AV) both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy(AW) before their eyes.” (These were the waters of Meribah(AX) Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)

15 Moses said to the Lord, 16 “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things,(AY) appoint someone over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”(AZ)

18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership,[b](BA) and lay your hand on him.(BB) 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him(BC) in their presence.(BD) 20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.(BE) 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring(BF) of the Urim(BG) before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”

22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him,(BH) as the Lord instructed through Moses.

Daily Offerings

28 The Lord said to Moses, “Give this command to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Make sure that you present to me at the appointed time(BI) my food(BJ) offerings, as an aroma pleasing to me.’(BK) Say to them: ‘This is the food offering you are to present to the Lord: two lambs a year old without defect,(BL) as a regular burnt offering each day.(BM) Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight,(BN) together with a grain offering(BO) of a tenth of an ephah[c] of the finest flour(BP) mixed with a quarter of a hin[d] of oil(BQ) from pressed olives. This is the regular burnt offering(BR) instituted at Mount Sinai(BS) as a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord.(BT) The accompanying drink offering(BU) is to be a quarter of a hin of fermented drink(BV) with each lamb. Pour out the drink offering to the Lord at the sanctuary.(BW) Offer the second lamb at twilight,(BX) along with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering that you offer in the morning.(BY) This is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.(BZ)

Sabbath Offerings

“‘On the Sabbath(CA) day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect,(CB) together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah[e](CC) of the finest flour mixed with olive oil.(CD) 10 This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath,(CE) in addition to the regular burnt offering(CF) and its drink offering.

Monthly Offerings

11 “‘On the first of every month,(CG) present to the Lord a burnt offering of two young bulls,(CH) one ram(CI) and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.(CJ) 12 With each bull there is to be a grain offering(CK) of three-tenths of an ephah[f](CL) of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, a grain offering of two-tenths(CM) of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; 13 and with each lamb, a grain offering(CN) of a tenth(CO) of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil. This is for a burnt offering,(CP) a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord.(CQ) 14 With each bull there is to be a drink offering(CR) of half a hin[g] of wine; with the ram, a third of a hin[h]; and with each lamb, a quarter of a hin. This is the monthly burnt offering to be made at each new moon(CS) during the year. 15 Besides the regular burnt offering(CT) with its drink offering, one male goat(CU) is to be presented to the Lord as a sin offering.[i](CV)

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 26:59 Or Jochebed, a daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi
  2. Numbers 27:18 Or the Spirit
  3. Numbers 28:5 That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms; also in verses 13, 21 and 29
  4. Numbers 28:5 That is, about 1 quart or about 1 liter; also in verses 7 and 14
  5. Numbers 28:9 That is, probably about 7 pounds or about 3.2 kilograms; also in verses 12, 20 and 28
  6. Numbers 28:12 That is, probably about 11 pounds or about 5 kilograms; also in verses 20 and 28
  7. Numbers 28:14 That is, about 2 quarts or about 1.9 liters
  8. Numbers 28:14 That is, about 1 1/3 quarts or about 1.3 liters
  9. Numbers 28:15 Or purification offering; also in verse 22

John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)(B)

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate(C) was governor of Judea, Herod(D) tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,(E) the word of God came to John(F) son of Zechariah(G) in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.(H) As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
    every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
    the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’”[a](I)

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers!(J) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?(K) Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’(L) For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”(M)

10 “What should we do then?”(N) the crowd asked.

11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”(O)

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized.(P) “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,”(Q) he told them.

14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely(R)—be content with your pay.”

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John(S) might possibly be the Messiah.(T) 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[b] water.(U) But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire.(V) 17 His winnowing fork(W) is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”(X) 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

19 But when John rebuked Herod(Y) the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.(Z)

The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus(AA)(AB)

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying,(AC) heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him(AD) in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,(AE) whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”(AF)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 3:6 Isaiah 40:3-5
  2. Luke 3:16 Or in
  3. Luke 3:16 Or in

Psalm 61[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

Hear my cry, O God;(A)
    listen to my prayer.(B)

From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;(C)
    lead me to the rock(D) that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,(E)
    a strong tower against the foe.(F)

I long to dwell(G) in your tent forever
    and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.[b](H)
For you, God, have heard my vows;(I)
    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.(J)

Increase the days of the king’s life,(K)
    his years for many generations.(L)
May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;(M)
    appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.(N)

Then I will ever sing in praise of your name(O)
    and fulfill my vows day after day.(P)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 61:1 In Hebrew texts 61:1-8 is numbered 61:2-9.
  2. Psalm 61:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.

16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,(A)
    but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
    but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

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