Bible in 90 Days
8 And Yahweh said to Moses, “Make for yourself a snake and place it on a pole. When[a] anyone is bitten and looks at it, that person will live.” 9 So Moses made a snake of bronze, and he placed it on the pole; whenever[b] a snake bit someone, and that person looked at the snake of bronze, he lived.
10 The Israelites[c] set out and encamped at Oboth. 11 They set out from Oboth and encamped at Iye Abarim in the desert, which was in front of Moab toward the sunrise.[d] 12 From there they set out and encamped at the valley of Zered. 13 From there they set out and encamped beyond Arnon, which is in the desert that goes out from the boundary of the Amorites,[e] because Arnon is the boundary of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.[f] 14 Therefore thus it is said in the scroll of the Wars of Yahweh,
“Waheb in Suphah,
and the wadis of Arnon,
15 and the slope of the wadis
that spreads out to the dwelling of Ar
and lies at the boundary of Moab.”
16 From there they went to Beer, which is the water well where Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Gather the people, that I may give them water.” 17 Then Israel sang this song, “Arise, well water! Sing to it! 18 Well water that the princes dug, that the leaders of the people dug, with a staff and with their rods.” And from the desert they continued to Mattanah, 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth; 20 and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the territory of Moab, by the top of Pisgah, which overlooks the surface of the wasteland.
Sihon and Og Defeated
21 Israel sent messengers to Sihon, the king of the Amorites,[g] saying, 22 “Let us go through your land; we will not turn aside into a field or vineyard; we will not drink well water along the way of the king until we have gone through your territory.” 23 But Sihon did not allow Israel to go through his territory. Sihon gathered all his people and went out to meet Israel; he came to the desert, to Jahaz, and he fought against Israel. 24 But Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and they took possession of his land from Arnon to Jabbok, until the Ammonites,[h] because the boundary of the Ammonites[i] was strong. 25 Israel took all these cities, and Israel inhabited all the cities of the Amorites,[j] in Heshbon, and in all its environs.[k] 26 Because Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites,[l] who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land from his hand until Arnon. 27 Thus the ones who quote proverbs say,
“Come to Heshbon! Let it be built!
And let the city of Sihon be established.
28 Because fire went out from Heshbon,
a flame from the city of Sihon;
it consumed Ar of Moab,
the lords of the[m] high places of Arnon.
29 Woe to you, Moab!
You have perished, people of Chemosh.
He has given his sons as fugitives,
and his daughters into captivity,
to the king of the Amorites,[n] Sihon.
30 We destroyed them;
Heshbon has perished up to Dibon;
we laid waste up to Nophah,
which reaches[o] Medeba.”
31 Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites.[p] 32 Moses sent to explore Jaazer; they captured its environs[q] and dispossessed the Amorites[r] who were there.
33 Then they turned and went up by the way of the Bashan, and Og king of the Bashan and all his people went out to meet them for battle at Edrei. 34 And Yahweh said to Moses, “Do not fear him because I will give him and all his people and all his land into your hand. You will do to him just as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites,[s] who was living in Heshbon.” 35 And so they destroyed him and his sons, and all his people until they had not spared a survivor; and they took possession of his land.
Balak and Balaam
22 The Israelites[t] set out, and they encamped on the desert-plateau of Moab, across from Jericho beyond the Jordan. 2 Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel did to the Amorites,[u] 3 and Moab was very terrified in the presence of the people because they[v] were numerous; and Moab dreaded the presence of the Israelites.[w] 4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now the crowd will lick up all around us, like a bull devours the grass of the field.” And Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5 He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the river,[x] in the land of the children of his people, to summon him, saying, “Look! A people went out from Egypt. Look! They cover the surface of the land;[y] they are about to dwell opposite me. 6 Now, please go, curse this people for me because they[z] are stronger than me; perhaps I will be able to strike them[aa] and drive them[ab] out from the land because I know whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you cursed is cursed.”
7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went with a fee for divination in their hand; they came to Balaam and spoke the words of Balak to him. 8 He said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will return, and I will return word to you, just as Yahweh speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent word to me, 11 ‘Look! A people went out from Egypt. Look! They cover the surface of the land.[ac] Now, go, curse them[ad] for me. Perhaps I will be able to attack them[ae] and drive them[af] out.” 12 God said to Balaam, “You will not go with them; you will not curse the people, because they[ag] are blessed.” 13 Balaam got up in the morning, and he said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land, because Yahweh refused to allow me to go with you.” 14 The princes of Moab got up and went to Balak, and they said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 Balak again sent many princes, who were more honored than the former.[ah] 16 They came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor, ‘Please, let nothing keep you from coming to me 17 because I will surely honor you greatly, and all that you say to me I will do. Please, come; curse this people for me.’” 18 Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Even though Balak gives to me his house full of silver and gold, I am not able to go beyond the command of Yahweh[ai] my God to do a little or a lot. 19 And now please, you also stay here[aj] the night, and let me find out[ak] again what Yahweh will say with me.” 20 And God came to Balaam at night, and he said to him, “If the men have come to call you, get up and go with them; but only the word that I will speak to you, you will do.” 21 So Balaam got up in the morning and saddled his donkey, and he went with the princes of Moab.
Balaam and the Angel
22 But God became angry[al] because he was going, and the angel of Yahweh stood in the road as an adversary to him; he was riding on his donkey, and two servants were with him. 23 The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand, and the donkey turned aside from the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back to the road. 24 The angel of Yahweh stood in the narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on either side.[am] 25 When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, she pressed herself into the wall, and she pressed the foot of Balaam into the wall, so he struck her again. 26 Then the angel of Yahweh went further ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was not a way to turn aside to the right or left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, she lay down under Balaam, so Balaam became angry,[an] and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What did I do to you that you struck me these three times?” 29 Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you made a mockery of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!” 30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life until this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” He said, “No.”
31 Then Yahweh exposed the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand, and he bowed down and worshiped to his face. 32 The angel of Yahweh said to him, “Why have you struck this donkey three times? Look, I have come out as an adversary because your conduct is perverse before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from my face, then I would have killed you and kept her alive.” 34 Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, “I have sinned because I did not know that you were standing to meet me in the road. Now, if it is displeasing to you,[ao] I will turn back.” 35 The angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I will speak to you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him by the city of Moab, which was on the boundary of Aaron at the end of the territory. 37 And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not urgently send to meet with you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to honor you?” 38 Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I came to you now. Am I really able to speak anything at all? I speak the word that God puts in my mouth.” 39 Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-Huzoth. 40 And Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he sent them to Balaam and to the princes who were with him. 41 And it happened, in the morning Balak took Balaam and took him up to Bamoth-Baal, and he saw from there the end of the nation.
Balaam’s Oracles
23 Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me this: seven altars. And prepare for me this: seven bulls and seven rams.” 2 And Balak did just as Balaam spoke, and Balak offered Balaam a bull and a ram on the altar. 3 And Balaam said to Balak, “Station yourself at your burnt offering, and I will go; perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell to you.” So he went to a barren height.
4 And God met with Balaam, and he said to him, “I have arranged seven altars, and I have offered a bull and a ram on the altar.” 5 Yahweh put a word in the mouth of Balaam and said, “Return to Balak, and you must speak thus.” 6 So he returned to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, he and all the leaders of Moab. 7 And he lifted up his oracle and said,
“From Aram Balak lead me,
from the mountains of the east the king of Moab,
‘Go for me, curse Jacob,
and go, denounce Israel.’
8 How can I curse whom God has not cursed,
and how can I denounce whom Yahweh has not denounced?
9 Because from the top of the rocks I see him,
from hilltops I watch him.
Behold, a people who dwell alone,
they do not consider themselves among the nations.
10 Who can count the dust of Jacob,
or as a number the fourth part of Israel?
Let my life die the death of an upright person,
and let my end be like his!”
11 And Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and look, you have surely blessed them!” 12 He answered and said, “Should I not speak[ap] what Yahweh puts in my mouth?”
13 Then Balak said, “Please walk with me to another place where you will see them, but you will only see part of them and will not see all of them; and curse them for me from there.” 14 So he took him to the field of Zophim to the top of Pisgah, and he built seven altars, and he offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 15 Balaam[aq] said to Balak, “Station yourself here at the burnt offering while I myself meet with Yahweh there.” 16 Then Yahweh met with Balaam, and he put a word in his mouth, and he said, “Return to Balak, and you must speak thus.” 17 He came to him, and behold, he was standing at his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, “What has Yahweh spoken?” 18 Then he uttered[ar] his oracle, and said,
“Stand up, Balak, and hear;
listen to me, son of Zippor!
19 God is not a man, that he should lie,
nor a son of humankind,
that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
And has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
20 Behold, I have received a command to bless;
when he has blessed, I cannot cause it to return.
21 He has no regard for evil in Jacob,
and he does not see trouble in Israel;
Yahweh his God is with him,
and a shout[as] of a king is among them.[at]
22 God, who brings them out from Egypt,
is like the strength[au] of a wild ox for them.[av]
23 Because there is no sorcery against Jacob,
and there is no divination against Israel.
Now[aw] it will be said to Jacob and Israel,
what God has done!
24 Look! the people will rise like the lion;
he raises himself and will not lie down
until he eats the prey
and drinks the blood of the slain.”
25 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Do not curse them[ax] at all, nor bless them[ay] at all!” 26 But Balaam answered and said to Balak, “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Whatever Yahweh speaks I will do’?”
27 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Please, come, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will be acceptable to[az] God, and you will curse for me from there.” 28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which looks down on the face of the Jeshimon.[ba] 29 And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me these seven altars, and prepare for me these seven bulls and seven rams.” 30 Balak did just as Balaam said, and he offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Balaam Continues to Utter Oracles
24 And Balaam saw that it pleased[bb] Yahweh to bless Israel, and he did not go as other times[bc] to seek out[bd] sorcery; instead, he set his face toward the desert. 2 Balaam lift up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes, and the spirit of God was upon it.[be] 3 He uttered[bf] his oracle and said,
“The declaration of Balaam son Beor,
the declaration of the man whose eyes are closed,
4 the declaration of the hearer of God’s words,[bg]
who sees the revelation of Shaddai,[bh]
falling down but whose eyes are uncovered.
5 How good are your tents, O Jacob,
your dwellings, O Israel!
6 They are spread out like valleys,
like gardens on a river,
like aloes planted by Yahweh,
like cedars at the waters.
7 He will pour water from his buckets,
and his offspring will be like many waters;
his king will be higher than Agag,
and his kingdom will be exalted.
8 God, who brings him out from Egypt,
is like the strength[bi] of a wild ox for him.
He will devour the nations who are his enemies;
he will break their bones;
he will pierce them with his arrows.
9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion,
and like a lioness, who will rouse him?
They who bless you will be blessed,
and they who curse you will be cursed.”
10 Then Balak became angry with[bj] Balaam, and he clapped his hands and said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but look, you have surely blessed them these three times. 11 Flee[bk] to your place now. I said I would richly honor you, but look, Yahweh has withheld honor from you.” 12 Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, 13 ‘If Balak gave to me the fullness of his house full of silver and gold, I am not able to go beyond the command of Yahweh[bl] to do good or evil, from my heart; what Yahweh speaks, I will speak’?[bm] 14 And now, look, I am about to go to my people; I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the following days.”[bn]
15 And he uttered[bo] his oracle and said,
“The declaration of Balaam son of Beor,
and the declaration of the man whose eye is closed,
16 the declaration of the hearer of God’s words,[bp]
and the knower of the knowledge of the Most High,
who sees the vision of Shaddai,[bq]
who is falling, and his eyes are revealed.
17 I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near;
a star will go out from Jacob,
and a scepter will rise from Israel;
it will crush the foreheads of Moab
and destroy all the children of Seth.
18 Edom will be a captive;
Seir, its enemies, will be a captive,
and Israel will be acting courageously.[br]
19 Someone[bs] from Jacob will rule
and will destroy a remnant[bt] from the city.”
20 And he looked at Amalek, uttered[bu] his oracle, and said,
“Amalek is first[bv] of the nations,
but his future will be forever ruin.”
21 And he looked at the Kenites,[bw] uttered[bx] his oracle, and said,
“Steady is your dwelling place;
in the rock is your nest.
22 Nevertheless, the Kenite will be burned;
how long will Asshur keep[by] you captive?”
23 Again he uttered[bz] his oracle and said,
“Woe, who will live when God establishes this?[ca]
24 The ships will come from the hand of the Kittim,
and they will afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber;
also he will be forever ruin.”
25 Then Balaam got up and went and returned to his place, and Balak also went on his way.
The Plague of Israel
25 When Israel dwelled in Shittim, the people began to prostitute[cb] themselves with the daughters of Moab. 2 And they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and worshiped their gods. 3 So Israel was joined together to Baal Peor, and Yahweh became angry[cc] with Israel. 4 Yahweh said to Moses, “Take all the leaders[cd] of the people and kill them before the sun, so the fierce anger of Yahweh will turn from Israel.” 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill his men who are joined together with Baal Peor.”
6 And behold, a man from the Israelites[ce] came and brought to his brothers a Midianite woman before the eyes of Moses and before the eyes of all of the community of the Israelites,[cf] and they were weeping at the doorway of the tent of assembly. 7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest saw, he got up from the midst of the community and took a spear in his hand. 8 He went after the man of Israel into the woman’s section of the tent, and he drove the two of them, the man of Israel and the woman, into her belly. And the plague among the Israelites[cg] stopped. 9 The ones who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.
10 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 11 “Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, turned away my anger from among the Israelites[ch] when he was jealous with my jealousy in their midst, and I did not destroy the Israelites[ci] with my jealousy. 12 Therefore say, ‘Behold, I am giving to him my covenant of peace, 13 and it will be for him and his offspring[cj] after him a covenant of an eternal priesthood because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.’”[ck]
14 The name of the man of Israel who was struck with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, a leader of the family[cl] of the Simeonites.[cm] 15 The name of the Midianite woman who was struck was Cozbi daughter of Zur, a leader[cn] of a tribe of the family[co] in Midian.
16 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 17 “Attack the Midianites and strike them 18 because they were attacking you with their deception, with which they have deceived you on the matter of Peor and on the matter of Cozbi the daughter of the leader of Midian, their sister who was struck on the day of the plague because of the matter of Peor.”
A New Census
26 [cp] And it happened after the plague, [cq]Yahweh said to Moses and to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, saying, 2 “Take a census[cr] of the community of the Israelites[cs] from those twenty years old[ct] and above, according to their families,[cu] all who are able to go out to war in Israel.” 3 So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them on the desert-plateau of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, saying, 4 “Take a census of the community from those twenty years old[cv] and above, just as Yahweh commanded Moses.”
The Israelites who went out from the land of Egypt were:
5 Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, the descendants[cw] of Reuben: of Hanoch, the clan of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the clan of the Palluites;[cx] 6 of Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites;[cy] of Carmi, the clan of the Carmites.[cz] 7 These are the clans of the Reubenites,[da] and the ones counted of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty. 8 The children of Pallu: Eliab. 9 The children of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the same Dathan and Abiram who were appointed of the community, who rebelled against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they rebelled against Yahweh, 10 and the land opened its mouth and swallowed them with Korah, when that company died, when the fire consumed two hundred and fifty men, and they were a sign.[db] 11 The children[dc] of Korah, however, did not die.
12 The descendants[dd] of Simeon, according to their clans: of Nemuel, the clan of the Nemuelites;[de] of Jamin, the clan of the Jaminites;[df] of Jakin, the clan of the Jakinites;[dg] 13 of Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites;[dh] of Shaul, the clan of the Shaulites.[di] 14 These were the clans of the Simeonites,[dj] twenty-two thousand two hundred.
15 The descendants[dk] of Gad according to their clans: of Zephon, the clan of the Zephonites;[dl] of Haggi, the clan of the Haggites;[dm] of Shuni, the clan of the Shunites;[dn] 16 of Ozni, the clan of the Oznites;[do] of Eri, the clan of the Erites;[dp] 17 of Arod, the clan of the Arodites;[dq] of Areli, the clan of the Arelites;[dr] 18 These were the clans of the descendants[ds] of Gad according to the ones counted of them, forty thousand five hundred.
19 The sons of Judah: Er and Onan; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 20 The descendants[dt] of Judah according to their clans were: of Shelah, the clan of the Shelanites;[du] of Perez, the clan of the Perezites;[dv] of Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites.[dw] 21 The children of Perez were: of Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites;[dx] of Hamul, the clan of the Hamulites.[dy] 22 These were the clans of Judah according to the ones counted of them, seventy-six thousand five hundred.
23 The descendants[dz] of Issachar according to their clans: of Tola, the clan of the Tolaites;[ea] of Puvah, the clan of the Punites;[eb] 24 of Jashub, the clans of the Jashubites;[ec] of Shimron, the clan of the Shimronites.[ed] 25 These were the clans of Issachar according to the ones counted of them, sixty-four thousand three hundred.
26 The descendants[ee] of Zebulun according to their clans: of Sered, the clan of the Seredites;[ef] of Elon, the clan of the Elonites;[eg] of Jahleel, the clan of the Jahleelites.[eh] 27 These were the clans of the Zebulunites[ei] according to the ones counted of them, sixty thousand five hundred.
28 The descendants[ej] of Joseph according to their clans: Manasseh and Ephraim. 29 The descendants[ek] of Manasseh: of Makir, the clan of the Makirites.[el] And Makir fathered Gilead; of Gilead, the clan of the Gileadites.[em] 30 These were the descendants[en] of Gilead: of Iezer, the clan of the Iezerites;[eo] of Helek, the clan of the Helekites;[ep] 31 and of Asriel, the clan of the Asrielites;[eq] and of Shechem, the clan of the Shechemites;[er] 32 and of Shemida, the clan of the Shemidaites;[es] and of Hepher, the clan of the Hepherites.[et] 33 Zelophehad son of Hepher did not have sons, but only daughters; and the names[eu] of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 34 These were the clans of Manasseh, and the ones counted of them were fifty-two thousand seven hundred.
35 These were the descendants[ev] of Ephraim according to their clans: of Shuthelah, the clan of the Shuthelahites;[ew] of Beker, the clan of the Bekerites;[ex] of Tahan, the clan of the Tahanites.[ey] 36 And these were the descendants[ez] of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.[fa] 37 These were the clans of the descendants[fb] of Ephraim according to the ones counted of them, thirty-two thousand five hundred. These were the descendants[fc] of Joseph according to their clans.
38 The descendants[fd] of Benjamin according to their clans: of Bela, the clan of the Belaites;[fe] of Ashbel, the clan of the Ashbelites;[ff] of Ahiram, the clan of the Ahiramites;[fg] 39 of Shephupham, the clan of the Shuphamites;[fh] of Hupham, the clan of the Huphamites.[fi] 40 The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the clan of the Ardites;[fj] of Naaman, the clan of the Naamites.[fk] 41 These were the descendants[fl] of Benjamin according to their clans. And the ones counted of them were forty-five thousand six hundred.
42 These were the descendants[fm] of Dan according to their clans: of Shuham, the clan of the Shuhamites.[fn] These were the clans of Dan according to their clans. 43 All the clans of the Shuhamites,[fo] according to the ones counted of them, were sixty-four thousand four hundred.
44 The descendants[fp] of Asher according to their clans: of Imnah, the clan of the Imnahites;[fq] of Ishvi, the clan of the Ishvites;[fr] of Beriah, the clan of the Beriahites.[fs] 45 The descendants[ft] of Beriah: of Heber, the clan of the Heberites;[fu] of Malkiel, the clan of the Malkielites.[fv] 46 The name of the daughter of Asher was Serah. 47 These were the clans of the descendants[fw] of Asher according to the ones counted of them, fifty-three thousand four hundred.
48 The descendants[fx] of Naphtali according to their clans: of Jahzeel, the clan of the Jahzeelites;[fy] of Guni, the clan of the Gunites;[fz] 49 of Jezer, the clan of the Jezerites;[ga] of Shillem, the clan of the Shillemites.[gb] 50 These were the clans of Naphtali according to their clans, the ones counted of them, forty-five thousand four hundred.
51 These were the ones counted of the Israelites,[gc] six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty.
52 Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 53 “For these the land must be divided as an inheritance according to the number of names. 54 For the larger group you must increase their inheritance, and for the smaller group you must make smaller their inheritance; each must be given their[gd] inheritance according to the number of the ones counted of them. 55 Surely the land will be divided by lot. They will inherit according to the names of the tribes of their ancestors.[ge] 56 Their[gf] inheritance must be divided according to the lot between the larger and smaller groups.”
57 These are the ones counted of the Levites according to their clans: of Gershon, the clan of the Gershonites;[gg] of Kohath, the clan of the Kohathites;[gh] of Merari, the clan of the Merarites.[gi] 58 These are the clans of Levi: the clan of the Libnites,[gj] the clan of the Hebronites,[gk] the clan of the Mahlites,[gl] the clan of the Mushites,[gm] the clan of the Korahites.[gn] Kohath fathered Amram. 59 The name of the wife of Amram was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whose mother bore her for Levi in Egypt; she bore to Amram: Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam. 60 To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 61 But Nadab and Abihu died when they presented strange fire before[go] Yahweh. 62 The ones counted were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old[gp] and above, because they were not counted in the midst of the Israelites[gq] since no inheritance was given to them in the midst of the Israelites.[gr]
63 These were the ones counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who counted the Israelites[gs] on the desert-plateau of Moab on the Jordan across Jericho. 64 And among these there was not a man of those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest, who counted the Israelites[gt] in the desert of Sinai. 65 For Yahweh said to them, “They will surely die in the desert.” And not a man was left over from them, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
Laws of Inheritance
27 Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, of the clan of Manasseh the son of Joseph, came near; and these were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, and Tirzah. 2 They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the leaders of the entire community at the doorway of the tent of assembly,[gu] saying, 3 “Our father died in the desert; he was not in the midst of the company of those who banded together against Yahweh in the company of Korah, but he died in his own sin, and he had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father disappear from the midst of his clan because he does not have a son? Give us property in the midst of the brothers of our father.” 5 So Moses brought their case before Yahweh. 6 And Yahweh said to Moses, saying, 7 “The statements of the daughters of Zelophehad are right.[gv] You must surely give them the property of an inheritance in the midst of their father’s brothers, and you must transfer the inheritance of their father to them. 8 And you must speak to the Israelites,[gw] saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, you must transfer his inheritance to his daughter. 9 And if he has no daughter, you must give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. 11 If his father has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his nearest relative from his own clan, and he will take possession of it. It will be as a decree of stipulation for the Israelites,[gx] just as Yahweh commanded Moses.’”
12 Yahweh said to Moses, “Go up to this mountain of Abarim, and see the land that I have given to the Israelites.[gy] 13 When you see it, you will be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother was gathered, 14 because you rebelled against my word in the desert of Zin when the community quarreled regarding my holiness at the waters.” (These are the waters of Meribah-Kadesh in the desert of Zin.)
Joshua Succeeds Moses
15 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 16 “Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the community 17 who will go out before them and will come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so the community of Yahweh will not be like a flock that does not have a shepherd.” 18 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and place your hand on him. 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before the entire community, and commission him[gz] in their sight.[ha] 20 You will give to him from your authority so that the entire community of Israel will obey him.[hb] 21 He will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will ask for him by the decision[hc] of the Urim before Yahweh. On his command[hd] they will go out, and at his command[he] they will come in, both he and all of the Israelites[hf] with him, the entire community.” 22 Moses did just as Yahweh commanded him, and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before the entire community. 23 And he placed his hands on him and commissioned him[hg] just as Yahweh spoke by the hand of Moses.[hh]
Daily Sacrifice
28 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the Israelites[hi] and say to them, ‘You will be careful to present[hj] my offering, my food of my offerings made by fire, of a fragrance of appeasement to me, at its appointed time.’ 3 You will say to them, ‘This is the offering made by fire that you will offer to Yahweh: two male lambs without defect in their first year[hk] as a continual burnt offering each day. 4 You will offer one male lamb in the morning, and the second male lamb you will offer at twilight,[hl] 5 and a tenth of an ephah of finely milled flour as a grain offering, mixed with a fourth of a measure of beaten oil. 6 It is a continual burnt offering that was ordained[hm] on Mount Sinai as a fragrance of appeasement, an offering made by fire for Yahweh. 7 The libation with it will be a fourth of a liquid measure for each male lamb; in the sanctuary you will pour out the libation of fermented drink for Yahweh. 8 And the second male lamb you will offer at twilight;[hn] as the grain offering of the morning and as its libation you will offer it, an offering made by fire, a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh.
9 “‘On the day of the Sabbath, two male lambs without defect in their first year,[ho] and two-tenths of finely milled flour mixed with oil for a grain offering and its libation. 10 This is the burnt offering every Sabbath in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation.
11 “‘And at the beginning of each of your months, you will present a burnt offering for Yahweh: two bulls and one ram, seven male lambs without defect in their first year;[hp] 12 and three-tenths of finely milled flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for each bull; and two-tenths of finely milled flour mixed with oil for a grain offering for the one ram; 13 and a tenth of finely milled flour mixed with oil as a grain offering for each male lamb, for a burnt offering of a fragrance of appeasement, an offering of fire for Yahweh. 14 Their libations will be half a liquid measure of wine for the bull and a third of a liquid measure of wine for the ram and a fourth of a liquid measure of wine for the male lamb; this is the burnt offering for every month for the months of the year. 15 And one male goat as a sin offering for Yahweh; it will be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation.
16 “‘On the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover for Yahweh. 17 On the fifteenth day of this month is a religious feast, unleavened bread must be eaten for seven days. 18 On the first day there will be a holy convocation; you will not do any regular work.[hq] 19 You will present an offering by fire, a burnt offering for Yahweh: two bulls and one ram and seven male lambs in their first year;[hr] they will be for you without defect. 20 For their grain offering, you will offer finely milled flour mixed with oil: three-tenths for the bull and two-tenths for the ram. 21 You will offer a tenth for each of the seven male lambs; 22 and a goat for one sin offering to make atonement for you. 23 You will offer these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for the continual burnt offering. 24 Like this you will offer daily, for seven days, the food of the offering made by fire, a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh; it will be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation. 25 On the seventh day you will have a holy convocation; you will not do any regular work.[hs]
Offerings for the Festival of Weeks
26 “‘And on the day of firstfruits, when you are presenting a new offering for Yahweh during your Festival of Weeks, you will have a holy convocation; you will not do any regular work.[ht] 27 You will present a burnt offering for a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh: two bulls, one ram, seven male lambs in their first year;[hu] 28 and their grain offering will be finely milled flour mixed with oil: three-tenths for each bull, two-tenths for one ram, 29 a tenth for each of the male lambs; 30 and one male goat to make atonement for you. 31 In addition to the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, you will offer them without defect with their libation.
Offers for the Seventh Month
29 “‘On the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you will have a holy convocation; you will not do any regular work.[hv] It will be a day for you of blowing trumpets. 2 You will offer a burnt offering as a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh: one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs in their first year;[hw] they will be without defect. 3 Their grain offering will be finely milled flour mixed with oil: three-tenths for the bull, two-tenths for the ram; 4 and one-tenth for each of the seven male lambs; 5 with one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you, 6 in addition to the burnt offering of the new moon and its grain offering, the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their libations, according to their stipulations, as a fragrance of appeasement by fire for Yahweh.
Offerings for the Day of Atonement
7 “‘And on the tenth of this seventh month you will have a holy convocation, and you will afflict yourselves;[hx] you will not do any work. 8 You will present a burnt offering for Yahweh, a fragrance of appeasement: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs in their first year;[hy] they will be without defect. 9 And their grain offering will be of finely milled flour mixed with oil: three-tenths for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram, 10 one-tenth for each of the seven male lambs; 11 one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering of atonement and the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their libations.
12 “‘Then on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you will have a holy convocation; you will not do any regular work,[hz] and you will hold a religious feast for Yahweh for seven days. 13 You will present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh: thirteen bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year;[ia] they will be without defect. 14 And their grain offering will be of finely milled flour mixed with oil: three-tenths for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram, 15 one-tenth for each of the seven male lambs; 16 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
17 “‘On the second day: twelve bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year;[ib] they will be without defect; 18 and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs, by their number according to the stipulation; 19 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their libations.
20 “‘On the third day: eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect in their first year;[ic] 21 and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs, by their number according to the stipulation; 22 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
23 “‘On the fourth day: ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect in their first year;[id] 24 and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; 25 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
26 “‘On the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect in their first year;[ie] 27 and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; 28 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
29 “‘On the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect in their first year;[if] and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; 30 and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; 31 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
32 “‘On the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect in their first year;[ig] 33 and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; 34 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
35 “‘On the eighth day you will have an assembly; you will not do any regular work.[ih] 36 You will present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs without defect in their first year;[ii] 37 and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; 38 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.
39 “‘You will present these to Yahweh at your appointed time, in addition to your vows and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings and for you grain offerings and for your libations and for your fellowship offerings.’”
40 [ij] So Moses said to the Israelites[ik] in accordance with all that Yahweh commanded Moses.
Laws for Vows
30 Then Moses spoke to the leaders[il] of the tribes concerning the Israelites,[im] saying, “This is the word that Yahweh commanded: 2 if a man makes a vow for Yahweh or swears an oath with a binding pledge on himself, he must not render his word invalid; he must do all that went out from his mouth.
3 “If a woman makes a vow to Yahweh, and she binds a pledge on herself in her father’s house in your childhood, 4 but if her father hears her vow or her pledge that she bound on herself and says nothing to her, then all her vows will stand, and every pledge that she binds on her life will stand. 5 If her father forbids her on the day he hears of it, all her vows or her pledges that she bound on herself will not stand, and Yahweh will forgive her because her father has forgiven her.
6 “If she has a husband[in] while bound by her vows or a rash promise of her lips, 7 and her husband hears of it and is silent on the day he hears it, her vows will stand, and her pledge that she bound upon herself will stand. 8 But if on the day her husband hears of it, he forbids her, then he will nullify her vow that she is under, and the rash promise of her lips that she bound on herself; and Yahweh will forgive her.
9 “But the vow of a widow or a woman who is divorced, all that she binds on herself will stand on her. 10 But if she made a vow in her husband’s house, or bound herself on a pledge with a sworn oath, 11 and her husband heard it but was silent to her, and he did not forbid her, all her vows will stand and every pledge that she bound on herself will stand. 12 But if her husband nullified them on the day he hears them, all her vows going out of her lips concerning her vows or the pledge on herself will not stand; her husband has nullified them, and Yahweh will forgive her.
13 “Any vow and any sworn oath of a pledge to inflict on herself, her husband can confirm it or her husband can nullify it. 14 But if her husband is completely silent from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or all her pledges that are on her; he confirms them because he was silent to her on the day he heard them. 15 But if he indeed nullifies them after he hears them, then he will bear her guilt.”
16 These are the decrees that Yahweh commanded Moses, as between a husband and his wife, and between a father and his daughter, while her childhood is in her father’s house.
War Against the Midianites
31 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Seek vengeance for the Israelites[io] on the Midianites; afterward you will be gathered to your people.” 3 Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm yourself from among your men for the battle, so that they will go[ip] against Midian to mete out the vengeance of Yahweh on Midian. 4 A thousand from each tribe of every tribe of Israel you will send to battle.” 5 So theywere assigned from the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand equipped for battle. 6 Moses sent them, a thousand from each tribe, to the battle, and Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest to the battle with them, and the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets of the blast were in his hand. 7 And they fought against Midian just as Yahweh commanded Moses, and they killed every male. 8 They killed the kings of Midian in addition to the ones they had slain: Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the five kings of Midian; they also killed Balaam son of Beor by the sword. 9 The Israelites[iq] took captive the women of Midian and their children, and they plundered all their domestic animals and all their livestock and all their wealth. 10 They burned all their cities where they dwelled and all their camps with fire. 11 They took all the plunder and all the war-booty with the humans[ir] and domestic animals.[is] 12 They brought the captives, the war-booty, and the plunder to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the community of the Israelites,[it] to the camp to the desert-plateau of Moab, which was on the Jordan across Jericho.
13 And Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went out to meet them outside the camp. 14 But Moses was angry toward the leaders of the troops, the commanders of the thousands and the commanders of the hundreds, who came from the battle of the war. 15 And Moses said to them, “You have kept alive every female? 16 Behold, these women caused[iu] the Israelites,[iv] by the word of Balaam, to be in apostasy against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, so that the plague was among the community of Yahweh. 17 Now kill every male among the little children, and kill every woman who has had sexual intercourse with a man.[iw] 18 But all the females who have not had sexual intercourse with a man,[ix] keep alive for yourselves. 19 And you, camp outside the camp seven days; all who killed a person and all who touched the slain purify yourselves on the third day and on the seventh day, you and your captives. 20 You will purify yourselves and every garment and every object of hide and all the work of goats’ hair, and every object of wood.”
21 Then Eleazar the priest said to the men of the battle who came from the war, “This is the decree of the law that Yahweh commanded Moses. 22 Only the gold and the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead— 23 everything that will go through the fire—you will pass through the fire, and it will be clean, and only in waters of impurity will it be purified. Whatever does not go into the fire you will pass through the waters. 24 And you will wash your garments on the seventh day and be clean, and afterward you will come into the camp.”
Division of the War-Booty
25 Yahweh said to Moses, saying, 26 “You and Eleazar the priest and the leaders of the families[iy] of the community, take count[iz] of the war-booty that was captured, both humans[ja] and the domestic animals;[jb] 27 divide the war-booty between those who engaged in the war, who went out to the battle, and all the community. 28 Exact a tribute for Yahweh from the men of the war, those who went out to the battle, one from five hundred persons, and from the cattle and from the male donkeys and from the flock; 29 take from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest as a contribution to Yahweh. 30 From half of the Israelites,[jc] take one share drawn by lot from the fifty from the humans,[jd] from the cattle, from the male donkeys, from the flock, from all the domestic animals,[je] and give them to the Levities who keep the responsibilities of the tabernacle of Yahweh.” 31 Moses and Eleazar the priest did just as Yahweh commanded Moses.
32 Thus the war-booty that remained of the plunder that the people of the battle plundered was six hundred and seventy-five thousand flocks of sheep, 33 seventy-two thousand cattle, 34 sixty-one thousand male donkeys, 35 and the life of humankind, from the women who did not have sexual intercourse with a man,[jf] all the persons[jg] were thirty-two thousand.
36 The half of the share that was going out to the battle: the number of the flock of sheep was thee hundred and thirty-seven thousand five hundred; 37 the tribute to Yahweh from the flock was six hundred and seventy-five; 38 and the cattle were thirty-six thousand; and the tribute to Yahweh was seventy-two. 39 Of the male donkeys there were thirty thousand five hundred, and the tribute to Yahweh was sixty-one; 40 the humans[jh] were sixteen thousand, and the tribute to Yahweh was thirty-two persons. 41 And Moses gave away the tribute of the contribution of Yahweh to Eleazar the priest, just as Yahweh commanded Moses.
42 From the half of the Israelites,[ji] which Moses divided from the men who were fighting, 43 the half that belonged to the community was three hundred and thirty-seven thousand five hundred from the flock, 44 and thirty-six thousand cattle, 45 and thirty thousand five hundred male donkeys, 46 and sixteen thousand humans.[jj] 47 From the half that belonged to the Israelites,[jk] Moses took one share drawn by lot out of every fifty humans[jl] and domestic animals, and he gave them to the Levites, who keep the responsibility of the tabernacle of Yahweh, just as Yahweh commanded Moses.
48 Then the leaders of the thousands of the army, the commanders of the thousands and the commanders of the hundreds, approached Moses, 49 and they said to Moses, “Your servants have taken count[jm] of the men of war who were in our charge,[jn] and no man is missing from us. 50 So we brought the offering of Yahweh, what each man found, objects of gold, bangles,[jo] bracelets,[jp] rings,[jq] earrings,[jr] and female ornaments,[js] to make atonement for ourselves before[jt] Yahweh.” 51 Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all objects of work. 52 All the gold of the contribution that they raised up to Yahweh, from the commanders of the thousands and the commanders of the hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels. 53 The men of battle plundered each for himself. 54 So Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the commanders of the thousands and hundreds, and they brought it to the tent of the assembly as a memorial for the Israelites[ju] before Yahweh.
Gad and Reuben Inherit Gilead
32 The descendants[jv] of Reuben and the descendants[jw] of Gad had a very large number of livestock. And they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold it was a place for livestock. 2 The descendants[jx] of Gad and the descendants[jy] of Reuben came, and they said to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, saying, 3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, 4 the land that Yahweh struck before the community of Israel, is a land of livestock, and your servants have livestock.” 5 They said, “If we have found favor in your sight,[jz] let this land be given to your servants as property; do not lead us across the Jordan.”
6 But Moses said to the descendants[ka] of Gad and to the descendants[kb] of Reuben, “Will your brothers go to war while you yourselves live here? 7 Why are you discouraging the hearts of the Israelites[kc] from crossing into the land that Yahweh gave to them? 8 This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to see the land. 9 When they went up to the valley[kd] of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the Israelites[ke] so that they did not come to the land that Yahweh gave to them. 10 So Yahweh’s anger burned[kf] on that day, and he swore an oath, saying, 11 ‘The men who went up from Egypt, from those twenty years old[kg] and above, will not see the land that I swore with an oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because they have not wholly followed me, 12 except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, because they followed Yahweh wholly.’ 13 And Yahweh became angry,[kh] and he made them wander in the desert forty years until the entire generation who did evil in the sight of Yahweh[ki] had died.[kj] 14 Behold, you stand in the place of your fathers, a brood of sinful men, to increase still more Yahweh’s fierce anger[kk] against Israel. 15 If you turn from following him, he will again abandon them[kl] in the wilderness, and you would have destroyed all these people.”
16 They came near to him and said, “We will build sheep pens here for the flock of our livestock and cities for our little children; 17 but we ourselves will become armed and ready before the Israelites[km] until we have brought them to their place, and our little children will live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return to our houses until the Israelites[kn] each obtain their[ko] inheritance for themselves. 19 For we will not take possession with them from across the Jordan and beyond because our inheritance has come to us from across the Jordan to the east.”
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