DEUTERONOMY 29

The Covenant in Moab

1 These are the words of the covenant which the Lordcommanded Moses to make with the sons of Israel in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant which He made with them at Horeb (Sinai).

2 Moses summoned all Israel and said to them, “You have seen all that the Lorddid before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to all his land;

3 the great trials [of Pharaoh] which your eyes have seen, the signs and those great wonders.

4 Yet to this day the Lordhas not given you a heartandmind to understand, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear.

5 I have led you in the wilderness forty years; your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.

6 You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or strong drink, so that you might know that I am the Lordyour God [on whom you must depend].

7 When you reached this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out to meet us in battle, but we defeated them;

8 and we took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

9 So keep the words of this covenant and obey them, so that you may prosperandbe successful in everything that you do.

10 “All of you stand today before the Lordyour God–your chiefs, your tribes, your elders and your officers,evenall the men of Israel,

11 your little ones, your wives, and the stranger (resident alien, foreigner) who is in your camps, fromthe one who chopsandgathers your firewood to the one who draws your water–

12 so that you may enter into the covenant of the Lordyour God, and into His oathandagreement which the Lordyour God is making with you today,

13 so that He may establish you today as His people and that He may be your God, just as He spoke to you and as He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

14 “It is not with you alone that I am making this covenant and this oath,

15 but with those [future Israelites] who are not here with us today, as well as with those who stand here with us today in the presence of the Lordour God

16 (for you know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we passed through the nations along the way;

17 and you have seen their detestable acts and their [repulsive] idols of wood and stone, [lifeless images] of silver and gold, whichthey hadwith them),

18 so that there will not be among you a man or woman, or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lordour God, to go and serve the [false] gods of these nations; so that there will not be among you a root [of idolatry] bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood (bitterness).

19 It will happen that when he (a renegade) hears the words of this oath, and heimagines himself as blessed, saying, ‘I will have peaceandsafety even though I walk within the stubbornness of my heart [rejecting God and His law], in order that the wateredlanddwindles away along with the dry [destroying everything],’

20 the Lordwill not be willing to forgive him, but then the anger of the Lordand Hisjealousy will burn against that man, and every curse which is written in this book will rest on him; the Lordwill blot out his name from under heaven.

21 Then the Lordwill single him out for disaster from all the tribes of Israel [making an example of him], according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this Book of the Law.

22 Now the next generation, your children who come after you and the foreigner who comes from a distant land, when they see the plagues of this land and the diseases with which the Lordhas afflicted it, will say,

23 ‘The whole land is brimstone and salt, a burning waste, unsown and unproductive, and no grass grows in it; it is like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lordoverthrew in His anger and wrath.’

24 All the nations will say, ‘Why has the Lorddone this thing to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?’

25 Thenpeoplewill say, ‘It is because they abandoned (broke) the covenant of the Lord, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.

26 ~‘For they went and served other gods and worshiped them, [false] gods whom they have not known and whom He had not allotted (given) to them.

27 ~‘So the anger of the Lordburned against this land, bringing on it every curse that is written in this book;

28 and the Lorduprooted them from their land in anger and in wrath and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.’

29 “The secret things belong to the Lordour God, but the things which are revealedanddisclosed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may do all of the words of this law.

DEUTERONOMY 30

Restoration Promised

1 “So it shall be when all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and youcall them to mind in all the nations where the Lordyour God has driven you,

2 and you have returned to the Lordyour God and have listened toandobeyed His voice with all your heart and with all your soul, in accordance with everything that I am commanding you today, you and your children,

3 then the Lordyour God will restore your fortunes [in your return from exile], and have compassion on you, and will gather you together again from all the peoples (nations) where He has scattered you.

4 Even if any of your dispersed are at the ends of the earth, the Lordyour God will gather you together from there, and from there He will bring you back.

5 The Lordyour God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you will take possession of it; and He shall make you prosper and multiply–even more than your fathers.

6 “And the Lordyour God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants [that is, He will remove the desire to sin from your heart], so that you will love the Lordyour God with all your heart and all your soul, so that you may live [as a recipient of His blessing].

7 The Lordyour God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who have persecuted you.

8 And you shall again listen toandobey the voice of the Lord, and do all His commandments which I command you today.

9 Then the Lordyour God shall make you abundantly prosperous ineverything that you do, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your land; for the Lordwill again delight over you for good, just as He delighted over your fathers,

10 if you listen toandobey the voice of the Lordyour God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the Lordyour God with all your heart and with all your soul (your entire being).

11 “For this commandment which I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is itout of reach.

12 It is not [a secret hidden] in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and obey it?’

13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and obey it?’

14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may obey it.

Choose Life

15 “Listen closely, I have set before you today life and prosperity (good), and death and adversity (evil);

16 in that I command you today to love the Lordyour God, to walk [that is, to live each and every day] in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments (precepts), so that you will live and multiply, and that the Lordyour God will bless you in the land which you are entering to possess.

17 But if your heart turns away and you will not hearandobey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them,

18 I declare to you today that you will certainly perish. You will not live long in the land which you cross the Jordan to enter and possess.

19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore, you shall choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,

20 by loving the Lordyour God, by obeying His voice, and by holding closely to Him; for He is your life [your good life, your abundant life, your fulfillment] and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lordpromised (swore) to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

DEUTERONOMY 31

Moses’ Last Counsel

1 So Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.

2 And he said to them, “I ama hundred and twenty years old today; I am no longer able to come in and go out [as your spiritual and military leader], and the Lordhas said to me, ‘You shall not cross this Jordan.’

3 It is the Lordyour God who will cross ahead of you; He will destroy these nations before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua is the one who will go across before you [to lead you], just as the Lordhas said.

4 The Lordwill do to them just as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when He destroyed them.

5 The Lordwill hand them over to you, and you shall do to them in accordance with all the commandments which I have commanded you.

6 Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble in dread before them, for it is the Lordyour God who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.”

7 Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all [the people of] Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land which the Lordhas sworn to their fathers to give them, and you will give it to them as an inheritance.

8 It is the Lordwho goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

9 So Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.

10 Then Moses commanded them, saying, “At the end ofeveryseven years, at the time of year when debts are forgiven, at the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles),

11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lordyour God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all [the people of] Israelso that they may hear.

12 Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the stranger (resident alien, foreigner) within your cities, so that they may hear and learn and fear the Lordyour God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], and be careful to obey all the words of this law.

13 Their children, who have not known [the law], will hear and learn to fear [and worship] the Lordyour God, as long as you live in the land which you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

Israel Will Fall Away

14 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Behold, the time for you to die is near; call Joshua, and present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, so that I may commission him.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting.

15 Then the Lordappeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood beside the doorway of the tent.

16 The Lordsaid to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down [in death] with your fathers; and this people will arise andplay the prostitute (commit apostasy) with the foreign gods [of the people] of the land, where they go to be among them. They will abandon (turn away from) Me and break My covenant which I have made with them.

17 Then My anger will be kindledandburn against them in that day, and I will abandon (turn away from) them and hide My face from them. They will be devoured, and many evils and troubles will come on them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Is it not because our God is not among us that these evils have come on us?’

18 But I will certainly hide My face [from them] in that day because of all the evil which they will do, for they will turn to other gods [to worship lifeless idols, to honor handmade relics].

19 “Now then, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it in their mouth, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel.

20 For when I bring them into the land which I have sworn to their fathers, a land [of plenty]flowing with milk and honey, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despiseandreject Me and break My covenant.

21 Then it shall come about, when many evils and troubles have come on them, that this [sacred] song will confront them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten from the mouth of their descendants. For I know their inclination which is developing even now, before I bring them into the land which I have swornto give them.”

22 So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel.

Joshua Is Commissioned

23 Then He commandedandcommissioned Joshua, the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the sons of Israel into the land which I have sworn to give them, and I will be with you.”

24 And when Moses completely finished writing the words of this law in a book,

25 he commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying,

26 “Take this Book of the Law and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lordyour God, so that it may remain there as a witness against you.

27 For I know your rebellionandcontention and your stubbornness; behold, while I am still alive with you today, you have been rebellious against the Lord; how much more, then, after my death?

28 Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, so that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth as witnesses against them.

29 For I know that after my death you will behave corruptly and turn from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will come upon you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking Him to anger with the work of your hands.”

30 Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended:

DEUTERONOMY 32

The Song of Moses

1 “Listen, O heavens, and I will speak;

And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.

2 “Let my teaching drop as the rain,

My speech distill as the dew,

As the light rain upon the tender grass,

And as the spring showers upon the herb.

3 “For I proclaim the name [and presence] of the Lord;

Ascribe greatnessandhonor to our God!

4 “The Rock! His work is perfect,

For all His ways are just;

A God of faithfulness without iniquity (injustice),

Just and upright is He.

5 “They (Israel) have acted corruptly toward Him.

They are not His children, because of their [moral] defect;

But area perverse and crooked generation.

6 “Do you thus repay the Lord,

O foolish and unwise people?

Is not He your Father who has acquired you [as His own]?

He has made you and established you [as a nation].

7 “Remember the days of old,

Consider the years of many generations.

Ask your father, and he will inform you,

Your elders, and they will tell you.

8 “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance,

When He separated the sons of man,

He set the boundaries of the peoples

According to the number of the sons of Israel.

9 “For the Lord’sportionandchosen share is His people;

Jacob (Israel) is the allotment of His inheritance.

10 “He found him in a desert land,

In the howling wasteland of a wilderness;

He kept circling him, He took care of him,

He protected him as theapple of His eye.

11 “As an eagle that protects its nest,

That flutters over its young,

He spread out His wings and took them,

He carried them on His pinions.

12 “So the Lordalone led him;

There was no foreign god with him.

13 “He made him (Israel) ride on the high places of the earth,

And he ate the produce of the field;

And He made him suck honey from the rock,

And [olive] oil from the flinty rock,

14 Butterandcurds of cows, and milk of the flock,

With fat of lambs,

And rams, the breed of Bashan, and goats,

With the finest of the wheat;

And you drank wine, the blood of grapes.

15 “But Jeshurun (Israel) became fat and kicked [at God].

You became fat, thick, sleek,andobstinate!

Then he abandoned God who had made him,

And scorned the Rock of his salvation.

16 “They provoked Him to jealousy with strangegods[by denying Him the honor and loyalty that is rightfully and uniquely His];

And with repulsive acts they provoked Him to anger.

17 “They sacrificed to demons, not to God,

To gods whom they have not known,

Newgodswho came lately,

Whom your fathers never feared.

18 “You were unmindful of the Rock who bore you,

And you forgot the God who gave you birth.

19 “The Lordsaw it, and rejected them,

Out of indignation with His sons and His daughters.

20 “Then He said, ‘I will hide My face from them,

I will see what their endshall be;

For they are a perverse generation,

Sons in whom there is no faithfulness.

21 ‘They have made Mejealous with what is not God;

They have provoked Me to anger with their idols.

So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people;

I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

22 ‘For a fire is kindled by My anger,

And it burns to the depths of Sheol (the place of the dead, the nether world),

It devours the earth with its yield,

And sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.

23 ‘I will heap misfortunes on them;

I will use My arrows on them.

24 ‘They will be wasted by hunger, and consumed by plague

And a bitter destruction;

And I will send the teeth of beasts against them,

With the venom of crawling things of the dust.

25 ‘Outside the sword will bereave,

And inside [the chambers] terror–

For both young man and virgin,

For the nursing child and the man of gray hair.

26 ‘I would have said, “I will cut them to pieces [scattering them far away],

I will remove the memory of them from men,”

27 Had I not feared the provocation of the enemy,

That their adversaries would misjudge,

That they would say, “Our [own] hand has prevailed,

And the Lordhas not done all this.”’

28 “For they are a nation devoid of counsel,

And there is no understanding in them.

29 “O that they were wise, that they understood this,

That they could discern their futureandultimate fate!

30 “How could one chase a thousand,

And two put ten thousand to flight,

Unless their Rock had sold them,

And the Lordhad given them up?

31 “For their rock is not like our Rock,

Even our enemies themselves judge this.

32 “For their vine is from the vine of Sodom,

And from the fields of Gomorrah;

Their grapes are grapes of poison,

Their clusters, bitter.

33 “Their wine is the venom of serpents,

And the deadly poison of vipers.

34 ‘Is it not laid up in store with Me,

Sealed up in My treasuries?

35 ‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution,

In due time their foot will slip;

For the day of their disaster is at hand,

And their doom hurries to meet them.’

36 “For the Lordwill vindicate His people,

And will have compassion on His servants,

When He sees that their strength (hand) is gone,

And none remains, whether bond or free.

37 “And He will say, ‘Where are their gods,

The rock in which they took refuge?

38 ‘Who ate the fat of their sacrifices,

And drank the wine of their drink offering?

Let them rise up and help you,

Let them be your hiding place!

39 ‘See now that I, I am He,

And there is no god besides Me;

It is I who put to death and I who give life.

I have wounded and it is I who heal,

And there is no one who can deliver from [the power of] My hand.

40 ‘Indeed, I lift up My hand to heaven,

And say (swear an oath), as I live forever,

41 If I sharpen the lightning of My sword,

And My hand takes hold of judgment,

I will render vengeance on My adversaries,

And I will repay those who hate Me.

42 ‘I will make My arrows drunk with blood,

And My sword will devour flesh,

With the blood of the slain and the captives,

From the heads of the leaders of the enemy.’

43 “Rejoice, O nations, with His people;

For He will avenge the blood of His servants,

And will render vengeance on His adversaries,

And will atone for His landandHis people.”

44 Then Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he andJoshua the son of Nun.

45 When Moses had finished speaking all these words to all [the people of] Israel,

46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words of warning which I am speaking to you today; and you shall command your children to observe them carefully–to do all the words of this law.

47 For it is not an emptyortrivial matter for you; indeed it is your [very] life. By [honoring and obeying] this word you will live long in the land, which you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

48 And the Lordsaid to Moses that very same day,

49 “Go up to this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel as a possession.

50 Then die on the mountain which you climb, and be gathered to your people [in death], just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people,

51 because you broke faith with Me among of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, and because you did not treat Me as holy among of the sons of Israel.

52 For you shall see the land opposite you from a distance, but you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving to the children of Israel.”

DEUTERONOMY 33

The Blessing of Moses

1 This is the blessing with which Moses the man of Godblessed the sons of Israel before his death.

2 He said,

“The Lordcame from Sinai,

And dawned on them from Seir;

He shone forth from Mount Paran,

And He came from among ten thousand holy ones;

At His right hand was aflaming fire, a law, for them.

3 “Indeed, He loves His people;

AllYour holy ones are in Your hand.

They followed in Your steps;

They acceptandreceive direction from You.

4 “Moses commanded us with a law,

As a possession for the assembly of Jacob.

5 “The Lordwas King in Jeshurun (Israel),

When the heads of the people were gathered,

The tribes of Israel together.

6 “May [the tribe of] Reuben live and not die out,

But let his men be few.”

7 And [Moses said] this ofJudah:

“Hear, O Lord, the voice of Judah,

And bring him to his people.

With his hands he contended for them,

And may You be a help against his enemies.”

8 Of Levi he said,

“YourThummim and Your Urim belong to Your godly man [Aaron],

Whom You testedandproved at Massah,

With whom You contended at the waters of Meribah;

9 Whosaid of his father and mother,

‘I did not consider them’;

Nor did he acknowledge his brothers,

Nor did he regard his own sons,

For the priests observed Your word,

And kept Your covenant.

10 “The priests shall teach Your ordinances (judgments) to Jacob,

And Your law to Israel.

They shall put incensebefore You,

And whole burnt offerings on Your altar.

11 “O Lord, bless Levi’s substance (ability),

And acceptandtake pleasure in the work of his hands;

Crushandshatter the loins of those who rise up against him,

And of those who hate him, so that they do not riseagain.”

12 Of Benjamin he said,

“May the beloved of the Lorddwell in safety by Him;

He shieldsandcovers him all the day long,

And he dwells between His shoulders.”

13 And ofJoseph he said,

“Blessed by the Lordbe his land,

With the precious things of heaven, with the dew,

And from the deepwaterthat lies beneath,

14 With the precious fruits of the sun,

And with the precious produce of the months.

15 “With the best things of the ancient mountains,

And with the precious things of the everlasting hills,

16 With the precious things of the earth and its fullness,

And the favorandgoodwill of Him who dwelt in the bush.

Letthese blessingscome upon the head of Joseph,

And upon the crown of the head of him who was distinguished [as a prince] among his brothers.

17 “His majesty is like a firstborn young bull,

And his horns like the horns of the wild ox;

With them he will gore the peoples,

All of them together, to the ends of the earth.

And those are the ten thousands of Ephraim,

And those are the thousands of Manasseh.”

18 Of Zebulun he said,

“Rejoice, Zebulun, in your interests abroad,

And, Issachar, in your tents [at home].

19 “They will call the peoples to the mountain (Mount Carmel);

There they will offer sacrifices of righteousness;

For they will draw out the abundance of the seas,

And the hidden treasures of the sand.”

20 Of Gad he said,

“Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad;

He lurks like a lioness,

And tears the arm and the crown of the head.

21 “He selected the best [land] for himself,

For there the leader’s portion was reserved;

Yet he came with the leaders of the people;

He carried out the justice (righteous will) of the Lord,

And His ordinances (judgments) with Israel.”

22 Of Dan he said,

“Dan is a lion’s cub,

That leaps forth from Bashan.”

23 Of Naphtali he said,

“O Naphtali, satisfied with favor,

And full of the blessing of the Lord,

Take possession of the sea [of Galilee] and the south.”

24 Of Asher he said,

“More blessed than sons is Asher;

May he be favored by his brothers,

And may he dip his foot in oil.

25 “Your strongholds will be iron and bronze,

And as your days are, so will your strength, your restandsecurity be.

26 “There is none like the God of Jeshurun (Israel),

Who rides the heavens to your help,

And through the skies in His majestic glory.

27 “The eternal God is your refugeanddwelling place,

And underneath are the everlasting arms;

He drove out the enemy from before you,

And said, ‘Destroy!’

28 “So Israel dwells in safetyandsecurity,

The fountain of Jacob aloneandsecluded,

In a land of grain and new wine;

His heavens also drop down dew.

29 “Happyandblessed are you, O Israel;

Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord,

The Shield of your help,

And the Sword of your majesty!

Your enemies will cringe before you,

And you will tread on their high places [tramping down their idolatrous altars].”

DEUTERONOMY 34

The Death of Moses

1 Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is opposite Jericho. And the Lordshowed him all the land, from Gilead to Dan,

2 and all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah to the western sea (Mediterranean Sea),

3 and the Negev (South country) and the plain in the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar.

4 Then the Lordsaid to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.”

5 So Moses the servant of the Lorddied there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.

6 And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no man knows where his burial place is to this day.

7 Although Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eyesight was not dim, nor his natural strength abated.

8 So the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the Lordcommanded Moses.

10 Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lordknew face to face,

11 [none equal to him] in all the signs and wonders which the Lordsent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land,

12 and in all the mighty power and all the greatandterrible deeds which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.

NUMBERS 1

The Census of Israel’s Warriors

1 The Lordspoke [by special revelation] to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) on the first day of the second month in the second year after theIsraelites came out of the land of Egypt, saying,

2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, every male,head by head

3 from twenty years old and upward, all in Israel whoare able togo out to war. You and Aaron shall number them, army by army.

4 And with you there shall be a man [to assist you] from each tribe, each being the head of his father’s household.

5 These then are the names of the men who shall stand with you: from [the tribe of] Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur;

6 from [the tribe of] Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai;

7 from [the tribe of] Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab;

8 from [the tribe of] Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar;

9 from [the tribe of] Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon;

10 from the sons (descendants) of Joseph: from [the tribe of]Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; from [the tribe of] Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;

11 from [the tribe of] Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni;

12 from [the tribe of] Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;

13 from [the tribe of] Asher, Pagiel the son of Ochran;

14 from [the tribe of] Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;

15 from [the tribe of] Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.

16 These men were the ones called from the congregation, the leaders of their fathers’ (ancestors’) tribes; they were the heads of thousands [the highest ranking officers] in Israel.”

17 So Moses and Aaron took these men who were designated by name,

18 and assembled all the congregation on the first day of the second month, and they registered by ancestry in their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head,

19 just as the Lordhad commanded Moses. So he numbered them in the Wilderness of Sinai.

20 The sons of Reuben, Israel’s (Jacob’s) firstborn, their generations, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

21 those of the tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500.

22 Of the sons of Simeon, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, their numbered men according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

23 those of the tribe of Simeon numbered 59,300.

24 Of the sons of Gad, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

25 those of the tribe of Gad numbered 45,650.

26 Of the sons of Judah, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

27 those of the tribe of Judah numbered 74,600.

28 Of the sons of Issachar, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

29 those of the tribe of Issachar numbered 54,400.

30 Of the sons of Zebulun, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

31 those of the tribe of Zebulun numbered 57,400.

32 Of the sons of Joseph: the sons (descendants) of Ephraim, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

33 those of the tribe of Ephraim numbered 40,500.

34 Of the sons of Manasseh, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

35 those of the tribe of Manasseh numbered 32,200.

36 Of the sons of Benjamin, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

37 those of the tribe of Benjamin numbered 35,400.

38 Of the sons of Dan, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

39 those of the tribe of Dan numbered 62,700.

40 Of the sons of Asher, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

41 those of the tribe of Asher numbered 41,500.

42 Of the sons of Naphtali, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

43 those of the tribe of Naphtali numbered 53,400.

44 These were the ones who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, with the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each representing his fathers’ household.

45 So all those numbered of the sons of Israel, by their fathers’ households, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war in Israel,

46 all who were numbered were 603,550.

Levites Exempted

47 The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe.

48 For the Lordhad said to Moses,

49 “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor shall you take their census among the sons of Israel [since they are unavailable to go to war].

50 But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle (sanctuary) of the Testimony, and over all its furnishings and all things that belong to it. They shall carry the tabernacle [when traveling] and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it and camp around it.

51 When the tabernacle is to go forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to [be set up for] camp, the Levites shall set it up. But the layman (non-Levite) who approaches the tabernacle shall be put to death.

52 The Israelites shall camp according to their armies, every man by his own camp and every man by his own [tribal] standard (banner).

53 But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, so that there will be no wrath against the congregation of the Israelites. The Levites shall be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony.”

54 Thus the sons of Israel didthese things;according to all that the Lordhad commanded Moses, so they did.

NUMBERS 2

Arrangement of the Camps

1 The Lordspoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

2 “The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with thebanners of their fathers’ households; they shall camp around the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), but at a distance.

3 Those who camp on the east side toward the sunriseshall beof thestandard of the camp of Judah, by their armies; and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall lead the sons of Judah,

4 and his army as numbered totaled 74,600.

5 Next to Judah [on the east side] the tribe of Issachar shall encamp; and Nethanel the son of Zuar shall lead the sons of Issachar,

6 and his army as numbered totaled 54,400.

7 Then [also on the east side] the tribe of Zebulun; and Eliab the son of Helon shall lead the sons of Zebulun,

8 and his army as numbered totaled 57,400.

9 The total of the numbered men [in the three tribes on the east side] in the camp of Judah was 186,400, by their armies. They shall move out first [on the march].

10 “On the south side shall be thestandard of the camp of Reuben, by their armies; and Elizur the son of Shedeur shall lead the sons of Reuben,

11 and his army as numbered totaled 46,500.

12 Those who camp next to Reuben [on the south side] shall be the tribe of Simeon; and Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai shall lead the sons of Simeon,

13 and his army as numbered totaled 59,300.

14 Then [completing the south side] the tribe of Gad; and Eliasaph the son of Reuel (Deuel) shall lead the sons of Gad,

15 and his army as numbered totaled 45,650.

16 The total of the numbered men [in the three tribes on the south side] in the camp of Reuben was 151,450, by their armies. They shall move out second [on the march].

17 “Then the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) shall move out with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the [other] camps; just as they camp so shall they move out, every man in his place by their standards.

18 “On the west side shall be thestandard of the camp of Ephraim, by their armies; and Elishama the son of Ammihud shall lead the sons of Ephraim,

19 and his army as numbered totaled 40,500.

20 Beside Ephraim [on the west side] shall be the tribe of Manasseh; and Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur shall lead the sons of Manasseh,

21 and his army as numbered totaled 32,200.

22 Then [completing the west side shall be] the tribe of Benjamin; and Abidan the son of Gideoni shall lead the sons of Benjamin,

23 and his army as numbered totaled 35,400.

24 The total of the numbered men [of the three tribes on the west side] in the camp of Ephraim was 108,100, by their armies. They shall move out in third place.

25 “On the north side shall be thestandard of the camp of Dan, by their armies; and Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai shall lead the sons of Dan,

26 and his army as numbered totaled 62,700.

27 Encamped next to Dan [on the north side] shall be the tribe of Asher; and Pagiel the son of Ochran shall lead the sons of Asher,

28 and his army as numbered totaled 41,500.

29 Then [completing the north side]comesthe tribe of Naphtali; and Ahira the son of Enan shall lead the sons of Naphtali,

30 and his army as numbered totaled 53,400.

31 The total of the numbered men [of the three tribes on the north side] in the camp of Dan was 157,600. They shall move out last,standard after standard.”

32 These are the men of the Israelites [twenty years old and upward] as numbered by their fathers’ households. The total of the numbered men of the camps by their armies, 603,550.

33 But the Levites were not numbered with the [other] Israelites, just as the Lordhad commanded Moses.

34 Thus the Israelites did [as ordered]; according to everything the Lordhad commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they moved out, everyone with his family (clan), according to his fathers’ household.

NUMBERS 3

Levites to Be Priesthood

1 Now these are therecords of thegenerations of Aaron and Moses in the day when the Lordspoke [by special revelation] with Moses on Mount Sinai.

2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom Aaronconsecratedandordained to minister in the priest’s office.

4 But Nadab and Abihu died in the presence of the Lordwhen they offered strange (unholy, unacceptable, inappropriate) fire before the Lordin the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priestsin the presenceandunder the supervision of Aaron their father.

5 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

6 “Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them before Aaron the priest, so that they may serve him.

7 They shall carry out the duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, doing the service of the tabernacle.

8 They shall also take care of all the furnishingsandutensils of the Tent of Meeting, and [attend to] the duties of the Israelites, doing the service of the tabernacle.

9 You shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons [as servants and helpers]; they are to be given wholly to him from among the Israelites.

10 So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall observeandattend to their priesthood; but the layman (non-Levite) who approaches [the holy things] shall be put to death.”

11 Again the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

12 “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead ofandas a substitute for every firstborn, that is, the first that opens the womb among the Israelites. So the Levites shall be Mine,

13 for all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They shall be mine; I am the Lord.”

14 Then the Lordspoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying,

15 “Number the sons of Levi by their fathers’ households, by their families (clans). You shall number every male from a month old and upward.”

16 So Moses numbered them just as he was commanded by the word (mouth) of the Lord.

17 These are the [three] sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

18 These are the names of the [two] sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei;

19 and the [four] sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel;

20 and the [two] sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their fathers’ households.

21 Of Gershon were the families of the Libnites and of the Shimeites. These are the families of the Gershonites.

22 The males who were numbered, every male from a month old and upward totaled 7,500.

23 The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle on the west,

24 and the leader of the fathers’ households of the Gershonites was Eliasaph the son of Lael.

Duties of the Priests

25 Now the responsibilities of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meetinginvolvedthe tabernacle and the tent, its covering, and the curtain for the doorway of the Tent of Meeting,

26 and the hangings of the courtyard, the curtain for the doorway of the courtyard which is around the tabernacle and the altar, its tent ropes, and all the serviceconcerning them.

27 Of Kohath were the families of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites; these are the families of the Kohathites.

28 The males who were numbered, every male from a month old and upwardtotaled8,600, attending to the duties of the sanctuary.

29 The families of the sons of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle,

30 and the leader of the fathers’ households of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.

31 Now their responsibilitiesinvolvedthe ark, the table [on which the bread of the Presence was placed], the lampstand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, and the curtain, and all the service concerning them.

32 Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, was chief of the leaders of the Levites; he supervised those who performed the duties of the sanctuary.

33 Of Merari were the families of the Mahlites and the Mushites; these are the families of Merari.

34 The males who were numbered, every male from a month old and upwardtotaled6,200.

35 The leader of the fathers’ households of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. The Merarites were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.

36 Now the appointed responsibilities of the sons of Merariinvolvedthe frames of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its socketsorbases, and all the equipment, and all the service concerning them,

37 and the pillars around the courtyard with their bases and their pegs and their cords (tent ropes).

38 Now those to camp before the tabernacle toward the east, before the Tent of Meeting, toward the sunrise, were to be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, performing the duties of the sanctuary for whatever was required of the Israelites; and thelayman (non-Levite) who approached [the sanctuary] was to be put to death.

39 All the men of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron numbered at thecommand of the Lord, by their families, every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000.

Firstborn Redeemed

40 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites from a month old and upward, andmake a list of their names.

41 You shall take the Levites for Me instead ofandas a substitute for all the firstborn among the Israelites. I am the Lord; andyou shall takethe cattle of the Levites instead ofandas a substitute for all the firstborn among the cattle of the Israelites.”

42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the Israelites, just as the Lordhad commanded him;

43 and all the firstborn males from a month old and upward as numbered were 22,273 [273 more than the Levites].

44 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

45 “Take the Levites [for Me] instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. And the Levites shall be Mine. I am the Lord.

46 For the ransom (redemption price) of the 273 of the firstborn of the Israelites who outnumber the Levites,

47 you shall take five shekels apiece, per head, you shall take them in terms of the sanctuary shekel (the shekel is twenty gerahs),

48 and give the money, the ransom (redemption price) of those who outnumber the Levites to Aaron and to his sons.”

49 So Moses took the ransom (redemption) money from those who were in excess, beyond those ransomed by the Levites;

50 from the firstborn of the Israelites he took the money in terms of the sanctuary shekel, 1,365 shekels.

51 Then Moses gave the ransom money to Aaron and to his sons at the command of the Lord, just as the Lordhad commanded Moses.

NUMBERS 4

Duties of the Kohathites

1 Then the Lordspoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

2 “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households,

3 from thirty years old and upward, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).

4 This is the workandresponsibility of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle): the most holy things.

5 “When the camp prepares to move out, Aaron and his sons shall come intothe sanctuaryand take downthe veil (curtain) screening offthe Holy of Holies, and cover the ark of the testimony with it;

6 and they shall put on it a covering ofporpoise skin (fine leather), and shall spread over that a cloth of pure blue, and shall insert the carrying poles of the ark.

7 Over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue and put on it the plates, the dishes [for incense], the sacrificial bowls, the jars for the drink offering, and the continual bread [of the Presence] shall be on it.

8 They shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet, and cover that with a covering of porpoise skin, and they shall insert its carrying poles.

9 Then they shall take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand for the light, along with its lamps, its wick cutters, its trays, and all the oil vessels, by which it is supplied;

10 and they shall put the lampstand and all its utensils in a covering of porpoise skin, and shall put it on the carrying bars.

11 Over the golden [incense] altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of porpoise skin, and shall insert its carrying poles;

12 and they shall take all the utensils of the service with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, and cover them with a covering of porpoise skin, and put them on the carrying bars.

13 Then they shall clean away the ashes from the altar [of burnt offering], and spread a purple cloth over it.

14 They shall also put on it all its utensils with which they minister in connection with it: the pans, the meat-forks, the shovels, the basins, and all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread a covering of porpoise skin over it, and insert its carrying poles.

15 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all its furniture, as the camp sets out, after all that [is done, but not before], the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them [using the poles], so that they do not touch the holy things, and die. These are the things in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) which the sons of Kohath are to carry.

16 “The responsibility of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, is the oil for the light, thefragrant incense, the continual grain offering, and the anointing oil–the responsibility of all the tabernacle and everything that is in it, with the sanctuary and its furnishings.”

17 Then the Lordspoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

18 “Do not cut off (eliminate, destroy) the tribe of the families of the Kohathites [who are only Levites and not priests], from among the Levites [by exposing them to the sin oftouching the most holy things].

19 But deal with them in this way, so that they may live and not die when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign each of them to his [specific] work and to his load [to be carried on the march].

20 But the Kohathites shall not go in to see the holy things, even for an instant, or they will die.”

Duties of the Gershonites

21 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

22 “Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ households, by their families.

23 From thirty years and upward to fifty years old, you shall number them; all who enter for service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.

24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in carrying [when on the march]:

25 they shall carry the tent curtains of the tabernacle, and the Tent of Meeting, its covering and the covering of porpoise skin (fine leather) that is on top of it, and the curtain for the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle),

26 and the hangings of the courtyard, and the curtain for the entrance of the gate of the courtyard which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their tent ropes, and all the equipment for their service; and all that is to be done, they shallperform.

27 Aaron and his sons shall direct all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, all they have to carry and all they have to do. You shall assign to them as a duty all that they are to carry [on the march].

28 This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle); and their dutiesshall beunder the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron, the [high] priest.

Duties of the Merarites

29 “As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households;

30 from thirty years and upward to fifty years old, you shall number them, everyone who enters the service to do the work of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).

31 This is what they are assigned to carry [on the march], according to all their service in the Tent of Meeting: the boards [for the framework] of the tabernacle and its bars and its pillars and its socketsorbases,

32 and the pillars around the courtyard with their socketsorbases and their pegs and their cords (tent ropes), with all their equipment and with all their [accessories for] service; and you shall assigneach manby name the itemshe is to carry [on the march].

33 This is the work of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their tasks in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle),under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron, the priest.”

34 So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families (clans) and by their fathers’ households,

35 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who enters the service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle);

36 the men who were numbered by their families were 2,750.

37 These were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all who did service in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the Lordthrough Moses.

38 The men who were numbered of the sons of Gershon, by their families (clans), and by their fathers’ households,

39 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle);

40 the men who were numbered by their families, by their fathers’ households, were 2,630.

41 These were numbered men of the families of the sons of Gershon, everyone who served in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), whom Moses and Aaron numbered just as the Lordhad commanded.

42 The men who were numbered of the sons of Merari, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households,

43 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle);

44 the men who were numbered by their families were 3,200.

45 These are the men who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered in accordance with the commandment of the Lordthrough Moses.

46 All the men who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted by their families (clans) and by their fathers’ households,

47 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who could enter to do the work of service and the work of carrying in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle);

48 the men that were numbered were 8,580.

49 According to the commandment of the Lordthrough Moses, they were numbered, eachassignedto his work of serving and carrying. Thus they were numbered by him, just as the Lordhad commanded Moses.