Numbers 31-33
Expanded Bible
Israel Attacks the Midianites
31 The Lord spoke to Moses and said, 2 “·Pay back [Avenge] the Midianites for what they did to the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel; 25:6]; after that you will ·die [L be gathered to your people].”
3 So Moses said to the people, “·Get some men ready [Arm some men] for war. The Lord will use them to ·pay back [avenge himself against] the Midianites. 4 Send to war a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.” 5 So twelve thousand men ·got ready for war [were armed], out of the thousands of Israel a thousand men from each tribe. 6 Moses sent ·those men [L a thousand from each tribe] to war; Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest was with them. He took with him the ·holy things [or vessels of the Holy Place] and the trumpets for giving the alarm. 7 They fought the Midianites as the Lord had commanded Moses, and they killed every Midianite man. 8 Among those they killed were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, who were the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with a sword [Num. 22–24; Deut. 23:4–5; Josh. 13:22; 24:10; Neh. 13:2; 2 Pet. 2:15; Jude 11; Rev. 2:14].
9 The ·Israelites [L sons of Israel] captured the Midianite women and children, and they took all their flocks, herds, and goods. 10 They burned all the Midianite towns where they had settled and all their camps, 11 but they took all the ·people and animals and goods [L plunder and all the spoil, both people and animals]. 12 Then they brought the captives, the ·animals, and the goods [L spoil and the plunder] back to Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the ·Israelites [L community/assembly/congregation of the sons/T children of Israel]. Their camp was on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
13 Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the ·people [community; assembly; congregation] went outside the camp to meet them. 14 Moses was angry with the army officers, the commanders over a thousand men, and those over a hundred men, who returned from war.
15 He asked them, “Why did you let the women live? 16 They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice [Jude 11] and turned the ·Israelites [L community/assembly/congregation of Israel] from the Lord at Peor. Then a ·terrible sickness [plague] struck the Lord’s people [Num. 25]. 17 Kill all the Midianite boys, and kill all the Midianite women who have ·had sexual relations [L known a man by going to bed with him]. 18 But save for yourselves the girls who have not ·had sexual relations with a man [L known a man by going to bed with him].
19 “All you men who killed anyone or touched a dead body must stay outside the camp for seven days [19:11]. On the third and seventh days you and your captives must make yourselves clean [C in a ritual sense]. 20 You must clean all your clothes and anything made of leather, goat hair, or wood.”
21 Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone to war, “These are the ·teachings [L statutes/ordinances/requirements of the law/instruction] that the Lord gave to Moses: 22 Put any gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, or lead— 23 anything that will not burn—into the fire, and then it will be clean. But also purify those things with the cleansing water. Then they will be clean. If something cannot stand the fire, wash it with the water. 24 On the seventh day wash your clothes, and you will be clean. After that you may come into the camp.”
Dividing the Goods
25 The Lord said to Moses, 26 “You, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the ·family groups [clans of the community/assembly/congregation] should take a count of the ·goods [spoils], the men, and the animals that were taken. 27 Then divide ·those possessions [the spoil] between the soldiers who went to war and the ·rest of the people [community; assembly; congregation]. 28 From the soldiers who went to war, take a ·tax [tribute] for the Lord of one item out of every five hundred. This includes people, cattle, donkeys, or sheep. 29 Take it from the soldiers’ half, and give it to Eleazar the priest as the Lord’s ·share [offering]. 30 And from the ·people’s half [L half of the sons/T children of Israel], take one item out of every fifty. This includes people, cattle, donkeys, sheep, or other animals. Give that to the Levites, who take care of the Lord’s ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle].” 31 So Moses and Eleazar did as the Lord commanded Moses.
32 There remained from what the soldiers had taken 675,000 sheep, 33 72,000 cattle, 34 61,000 donkeys, 35 and 32,000 women who had not ·had sexual relations with a man [L known a man by going to bed with him]. 36 The soldiers who went to war got 337,500 sheep, 37 and they gave 675 of them to the Lord. 38 They got 36,000 cattle, and they gave 72 of them to the Lord. 39 They got 30,500 donkeys, and they gave 61 of them to the Lord. 40 They got 16,000 people, and they gave 32 of them to the Lord. 41 Moses gave the Lord’s ·share [tribute] to Eleazar the priest, as the Lord had commanded him.
42 Moses separated the ·people’s [L sons/T children of Israel’s] half from the soldiers’ half. 43 The people got 337,500 sheep, 44 36,000 cattle, 45 30,500 donkeys, 46 and 16,000 people. 47 From the ·people’s [L sons/T children of Israel’s] half Moses took one item out of every fifty for the Lord. This included the animals and the people. Then he gave them to the Levites, who took care of the Lord’s ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle]. This was what the Lord had commanded Moses.
48 Then the officers of the army, the commanders of a thousand men and commanders of a hundred men, came to Moses. 49 They told Moses, “We, your servants, have ·counted [taken a census of; L lifted the head of] our soldiers ·under our command [L in our hand], and not one of them is missing. 50 So we have brought the Lord a ·gift [offering] of the gold things that each of us found: arm bands, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces. These are to ·remove our sins so we will belong to [make atonement for ourselves before] the Lord.”
51 So Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, which had been made into all kinds of objects. 52 The commanders of a thousand men and the commanders of a hundred men gave the Lord the gold, and all of it together weighed about ·420 pounds [L 16,750 shekels]; 53 each soldier had taken ·something [plunder] for himself. 54 Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the commanders of a thousand men and the commanders of a hundred men. Then they put it in the Meeting Tent as a memorial before the Lord for the ·people [L sons; T children] of Israel.
The Tribes East of the Jordan
32 The ·people [L sons; descendants] of Reuben and ·Gad [L the sons/descendants of Gad] had large flocks and herds. When they saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were good for the animals, 2 they came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the ·people [community; assembly; congregation].
6 Moses told the ·people of Gad [L sons/descendants of Gad] and ·Reuben [L the sons/descendants of Reuben], “Shall your brothers go to war while you stay ·behind [L here]? 7 ·You will [L Why should you…?] discourage the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] from going over to the land the Lord has given them. 8 Your ·ancestors [fathers] did the same thing. I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look at the land. 9 They went as far as the ·Valley of [Wadi] Eshcol, and when they saw the land, they discouraged the hearts of the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] from going into the land the Lord had given them. 10 The Lord became very angry that day and ·made this promise [swore]: 11 ‘None of the people who came from Egypt and who are twenty years old or older will see the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These people have not ·followed me [or been loyal to me] completely. 12 Only Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun ·followed [or were loyal to] the Lord completely [chs. 13–14].’
13 “The Lord was angry with Israel, so he made them wander in the ·desert [wilderness] for forty years. Finally all the ·people [generation] who had ·sinned against [L done evil in the eyes/sight of] the Lord died, 14 and now you ·are acting [L have risen up] just like your ·ancestors [fathers]! You sinful people are making the Lord even more angry with Israel. 15 If you quit following him, it will add to their stay in the ·desert [wilderness], and you will destroy all these people.”
16 Then ·the Reubenites and Gadites [L they] came up to Moses and said, “We will build ·pens for our animals [sheepfolds for our flocks] and cities for our children here. 17 Then our children will be in strong, walled cities, safe from the people who live in this land. Then we will prepare for war. We will help the other ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] get their land, 18 and we will not return home until every Israelite has ·received his land [inherited their inheritance]. 19 We won’t ·take [inherit] any of the land west of the Jordan River; our ·part of the land [inheritance] is east of the Jordan.”
20 So Moses told them, “You must do these things. You must go before the Lord into battle 21 and cross the Jordan River armed, until the Lord ·forces out [dispossesses] the enemy. 22 After the Lord helps us take the land, you may return home. You will ·have done your duty to [be free of your obligation; be innnocent before] the Lord and Israel, and you may have this land as ·your own [L a possession before the Lord].
23 “But if you don’t do these things, you will be sinning against the Lord; know for sure that ·you will be punished for your sin [L your sin will find you]. 24 Build cities for your children and ·pens for your animals [sheepfolds for your flocks], but then you must do what you ·promised [said].”
25 The ·Gadites [L sons/descendants of Gad] and ·Reubenites [L the sons/descendants of Reuben] said to Moses, “We are your servants, and we will do what you, our ·master [lord], command. 26 Our children, wives, and all our cattle will stay in the cities of Gilead, 27 but we, your servants, will prepare for battle. We will go over and fight for the Lord, as you, our ·master [lord], have said.”
28 So Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the leaders of the clans of the tribes of ·Israel [L sons/T children of Israel]. 29 Moses said to them, “If the ·Gadites [L sons/descendants of Gad] and ·Reubenites [L the sons/descendants of Reuben] prepare for battle and cross the Jordan River with you, to go before the Lord and help you take the land, give them the land of Gilead ·for their own [L as a possession]. 30 But if they do not go over armed, they will not receive it; their land will be in Canaan with you.”
31 The ·Gadites [L sons/descendants of Gad] and ·Reubenites [L the sons/descendants of Reuben] answered, “We are your servants, and we will do as the Lord said. 32 We will cross over into Canaan and go before the Lord ready for battle. But ·our land [L the possession of our inheritance] will be ·east of [beyond] the Jordan River.”
33 So Moses gave that land to the tribes of ·Gad [L the sons/descendants of Gad], ·Reuben [L the sons/descendants of Reuben], and ·East [L the half tribe of] Manasseh. (Manasseh was Joseph’s son.) That land had been the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan, as well as all the cities and the land around them.
34 The ·Gadites [L sons/descendants of Gad] rebuilt the cities of Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35 Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36 Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran. These were strong, walled cities. And they built sheep ·pens [folds].
37 The ·Reubenites [L sons/descendants of Reuben] rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 38 Nebo, Baal Meon, and Sibmah. They renamed Nebo and Baal Meon when they rebuilt them.
39 The ·descendants [sons] of Makir son of Manasseh went and captured Gilead and forced out the Amorites who were there. 40 So Moses gave Gilead to the family of Makir son of Manasseh, and they settled there. 41 Jair son of Manasseh went out and captured the ·small towns [villages] there, and he called them the ·Towns of Jair [or Villages of Jair; or Havvoth-jair]. 42 Nobah went and captured Kenath and the small towns around it; then he named it Nobah after himself.
Israel’s Journey from Egypt
33 These are the places the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] went as Moses and Aaron led them out of Egypt in divisions [C like an army]. 2 At the Lord’s command Moses ·recorded [wrote down] the places they went, and these are the places they went.
3 On the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover [Ex. 12:1–30], the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] left Rameses and marched out ·boldly [L with a high hand] in front of all the Egyptians [Ex. 12:31–42]. 4 The Egyptians were burying their firstborn sons, whom the Lord had ·killed [L struck]; the Lord ·showed that the gods of Egypt were false [or even executed judgment against their gods; Ex. 12:12].
5 The ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] left Rameses and camped at Succoth.
6 They left Succoth and camped at Etham, at the edge of the ·desert [wilderness; Ex. 13:20].
7 They left Etham and went back to Pi Hahiroth, to the east of Baal Zephon, and camped near Migdol [Ex. 14:2].
8 They left Pi Hahiroth and walked through the sea into the ·desert [wilderness; Ex. 14:1–31]. After going three days through the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Etham, they camped at Marah [Ex. 15:23].
9 They left Marah and went to Elim; there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees where they camped [Ex. 15:27].
10 They left Elim and camped near the ·Red [or Reed; Ex. 10:19] Sea.
11 They left the ·Red [or Reed] Sea and camped in the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Sin [Ex. 16:1].
12 They left the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Sin and camped at Dophkah.
13 They left Dophkah and camped at Alush.
14 They left Alush and camped at Rephidim, where the people had no water to drink [Ex. 17:1–7].
15 They left Rephidim and camped in the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Sinai [Ex. 19:1].
16 They left the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah [11:34–35].
17 They left Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth [11:35; 12:16].
18 They left Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.
19 They left Rithmah and camped at Rimmon Perez.
20 They left Rimmon Perez and camped at Libnah.
21 They left Libnah and camped at Rissah.
22 They left Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.
23 They left Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.
24 They left Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.
25 They left Haradah and camped at Makheloth.
26 They left Makheloth and camped at Tahath.
27 They left Tahath and camped at Terah.
28 They left Terah and camped at Mithcah.
29 They left Mithcah and camped at Hashmonah.
30 They left Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.
31 They left Moseroth and camped at Bene Jaakan.
32 They left Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Haggidgad.
33 They left Hor Haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.
34 They left Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.
35 They left Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber.
36 They left Ezion Geber and camped at Kadesh in the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Zin [20:1].
37 They left Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the border of Edom. 38 Aaron the priest obeyed the Lord and went up Mount Hor. There he died on the first day of the fifth month in the fortieth year after the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] left Egypt [20:22–29]. 39 Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.
40 The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the ·southern area of Canaan [Negev], heard that the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] were coming [21:1].
41 The people left Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.
42 They left Zalmonah and camped at Punon.
43 They left Punon and camped at Oboth [21:10].
44 They left Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim, on the border of Moab [21:11].
45 They left Iye Abarim and camped at Dibon Gad.
46 They left Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim.
47 They left Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, near Nebo [27:12].
48 They left the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho. 49 They camped along the Jordan on the plains of Moab, and their camp went from Beth Jeshimoth to Abel Acacia [22:1].
50 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan River across from Jericho, the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, 51 “Speak to the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] and tell them, ‘When you cross the Jordan River and go into Canaan, 52 force out all the people who live there. Destroy all of their carved statues and metal idols. Wreck all of their ·places of worship [L high places; C worship sites that became associated with pagan worship or inappopriate worship of Yahweh; 1 Kin. 3:2]. 53 Take over the land and settle there, because I have given this land to you to own. 54 Throw lots [C perhaps the Urim and Thummim; Ex. 28:30; Lev. 8:8] to ·divide up [apportion] the land by ·family groups [clans], giving larger portions to larger ·family groups [clans] and smaller portions to smaller ·family groups [clans]. The land will be given as the lots decide; each tribe will get its own land.
55 “‘But if you don’t force those people out of the land, they will bring you trouble. They will be like ·sharp hooks [barbs] in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will bring trouble to the land where you live. 56 Then I will punish you as I had planned to punish them.’”
Mark 9:1-29
Expanded Bible
9 Then Jesus said to the people, “I tell you the truth, some people standing here will not ·die [L taste death] before they see the kingdom of God ·come [arrive] with power.” [C “Seeing the kingdom of God” may refer to the Transfiguration that follows (9:1–8), Jesus’ resurrection, or the destruction of Jerusalem in ad 70.]
The Transfiguration on the Mountain(A)
2 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John [L and led them] up on a high mountain by themselves. ·While they watched [In their presence; In front of them], Jesus’ appearance was ·changed [transformed; T transfigured]. 3 His clothes became shining white, whiter than any ·person [launderer on earth] could ·make them [bleach them]. 4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared to them, talking with Jesus. [C God had given the Law through Moses, and Elijah was an important prophet (see 6:1); together they signify that Jesus fulfills the OT.]
5 Peter said to Jesus, “·Teacher [L Rabbi], it is good that we are here. Let us make three ·tents [shelters; shrines; tabernacles; Lev. 23:42]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” [C Perhaps Peter wanted to prolong their stay or to commemorate their visit.] 6 Peter did not know what to say, because he and the others were so frightened.
7 Then a cloud came and ·covered [overshadowed; Ex. 24:15] them, and a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my ·Son, whom I love [dearly loved Son; Ps. 2:7; Gen. 22:2; Mark 1:11]. Listen to him [Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:22]!”
8 Suddenly Peter, James, and John looked around, but they saw only Jesus there alone with them.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ·commanded [instructed] them not to tell anyone about what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10 So they ·obeyed Jesus [kept this statement/matter to themselves], but they discussed what he meant about rising from the dead.
11 Then they asked Jesus, “Why do the ·teachers of the law [scribes] say that Elijah must come first [Mal. 3:1; 4:5]?”
12 Jesus answered, “·They are right to say that Elijah must come first and [L Elijah is indeed coming, and he will] ·make everything the way it should be [restore/prepare everything]. But why does the Scripture say that the Son of Man will suffer much and ·that people will treat him as if he were nothing [be despised; be treated with contempt; be rejected; Is. 52:13—53:12]? 13 [L But] I tell you that Elijah has already come. And ·people [L they] did to him whatever they wanted to do, just as ·the Scriptures said it would happen [it is written about him].”
Jesus Heals a Sick Boy(B)
14 When Jesus, Peter, James, and John came back to the other ·followers [disciples], they saw a great crowd around them and the ·teachers of the law [scribes] arguing with them. 15 But as soon as the crowd saw Jesus, the people were ·surprised [amazed] and ran to welcome him.
16 Jesus asked, “What are you arguing about?”
17 A man [in the crowd] answered, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has an evil spirit in him that ·stops him from talking [makes him mute]. 18 When the spirit attacks him, it throws him on the ground. Then my son foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes ·very stiff [rigid]. I asked your ·followers [disciples] to ·force [drive; cast] the evil spirit out, but they couldn’t.”
19 Jesus answered, “You ·people have no faith [unbelieving/faithless generation]. How long must I stay with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So ·the followers [L they] brought him to Jesus. As soon as the evil spirit saw Jesus, it ·made the boy lose control of himself [threw the boy into convulsions], and he fell down and rolled on the ground, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening?”
The father answered, “Since ·he was very young [childhood]. 22 The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to ·kill [destroy] him. If you can do anything for him, please have ·pity [compassion] on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to the father, “You said, ‘If you can!’ All things are possible for the one who believes.”
24 Immediately the father cried out, “I do believe! Help ·me to believe more [me not to doubt; me overcome my unbelief; L my unbelief]!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he ·ordered [rebuked] the ·evil [defiling; L unclean] spirit, saying, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you to come out of this boy and never enter him again!”
26 The evil spirit screamed and ·caused the boy to fall on the ground again [convulsed him violently]. Then the spirit came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, and many people said, “He is dead!” 27 But Jesus took hold of the boy’s hand and helped him to stand up.
28 When Jesus went into the house, his ·followers [disciples] began asking him privately, “Why couldn’t we ·force [drive; cast] that evil spirit out?”
29 Jesus answered, “That kind of spirit can only be forced out by prayer.”[a]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Mark 9:29 prayer Some Greek copies continue, “and fasting.”
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