Amplified Bible (AMP)

Laws for Canaan

1 Now the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When you come into the land where you are to live, which I am giving you,

3 then make an offering by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering or a sacrifice to fulfill a special vow, or as a freewill offering or in your appointed feasts, to make a sweetandsoothing aroma to the Lord, from the herd or from the flock.

4 ~‘The one who presents his offering shall present to the Lorda grain offering of a tenthof an ephahof fine flour mixed with a fourth of ahin of oil,

5 and you shall prepare wine for the drink offering, a fourth of a hin, with the burnt offering or for the sacrifice, for each lamb.

6 ~‘Or for a ram you shall prepare as a grain offering two-tenthsof an ephahof fine flour mixed with a third of a hin of oil.

7 ~‘And for the drink offering you shall offer a third of a hin of wine, as a sweetandsoothing aroma to the Lord.

8 ~‘When you prepare a bull as a burnt offering or as a sacrifice, in fulfilling a special vow or peace offering to the Lord,

9 then you shall offer with the bull a grain offering of three-tenthsof an ephahof fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil;

10 and you shall bring as the drink offering one-half a hin of wine as an offering by fire, as a sweetandsoothing aroma to the Lord.

11 ‘Thus shall it be done for each bull, or for each ram, or for each of the male lambs, or of the goats.

12 ~‘According to the number that you prepare, so shall you do to everyone according to their number.

13 ~‘All who are native-born shall do these things in this way, in presenting an offering by fire, as a sweetandsoothing aroma to the Lord.

Law of the Stranger

14 ~‘If a stranger lives as a resident alien with you, or whoever may be among you throughout your generations, and hewishes tomake an offering by fire, as a sweetandsoothing aroma to the Lord, just as you do, so shall he do.

15 ~‘As for the assembly, there shall be one [and the same] statute for you [of the congregation] and for the stranger who is a resident alien with you, a permanent statute throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord.

16 ~‘There is to be one law and one ordinance for you and for the stranger who lives with you as a resident alien.’”

17 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

18 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When you enter the land to which I am bringing you,

19 then, when you eat the food of the land, you shall lift up an offering (heave offering) to the Lord.

20 ~‘You shall lift up a cakemadeof the first of your [ground grain which has been made into] dough as an offering [to the Lord]; as an offering from the threshing floor, so shall you lift it up.

21 ~‘From the first of your dough (ground grain) you shall give to the Lordan offering throughout your generations.

22 ‘But when you unintentionally fail and do not observe all these commandments, which the Lordhas spoken to Moses,

23 evenall that the Lordhas commanded youthrough Moses, from the day that the Lordgave commandments and onward throughout your generations,

24 then it shall be, if it was done unintentionally without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bull as a burnt offering, as a sweetandsoothing aroma to the Lord, with its grain offering and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and one male goat as a sin offering.

25 ~‘Then the priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and they will be forgiven, for it was an error and they have brought their offering, an offering by fire to the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord, for their error.

26 ~‘So all the congregation of the Israelites will be forgiven as well as the stranger who lives among them as a resident alien, because all the people were involved in the error.

27 ‘Also if one person sins unintentionally, then he shall offer a female goat one year old as a sin offering.

28 ~‘The priest shall make atonement before the Lordfor the person who commits an error when he sins unintentionally, making atonement for him so that he may be forgiven.

29 ~‘You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, whether he is native-born among the Israelites or a stranger who is living among them as a resident alien.

30 ~‘But the person who does [anything wrong]willfullyanddefiantly, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one is blaspheming the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from among his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].

31 ~‘Because he has despisedandrejected the word of the Lord, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; [the responsibility for] his wickednessandguilt will be upon him.’”

Sabbath-breaking Punished

32 Now while the Israelites were in the wilderness, they found a man who was gathering wood on the Sabbath day.

33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation;

34 and they put him in custody, because it had not been explained [by God] what should be done to him.

35 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “The man shall certainly be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.”

36 So all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, just as the Lordhad commanded Moses.

37 The Lordsaid to Moses,

38 “Speak to the sons of Israel and tell them to make for themselves tassels on the hems of their garments throughout their generations, and put a cord of blue on the tassel of each hem.

39 It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, so that you do not follow after [the desires of] your own heart and eyes, [desires] after which you used to followandplay the prostitute,

40 so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy (set apart) to your God.

41 I am the Lordyour God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lordyour God.”

Korah’s Rebellion

1 Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, descendants of Reuben, tookaction,

2 and they rose up [in rebellion] before Moses, together with some of the Israelites, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation chosen in the assembly, men of distinction.

3 They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lordis among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”

4 And when Moses heard this, he fell face downward;

5 and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “In the morning the Lordwill show who belongs to Him, and who is holy, and will bring him near to Himself; the one whom He will choose He will bring near to Himself.

6 Do this: Take censers for yourselves, Korah and all your company,

7 then put fire in them and place incense on them in the presence of the Lordtomorrow; and the man whom the Lordchooses shall be the one who is holy. You have gone far enough, you sons of Levi.”

8 Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi,

9 does it seem but a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them;

10 and that He has brought you near [to Him],Korahand all your brothers, sons of Levi with you? Would you seek the priesthood also?

11 Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord; but as for Aaron, who is he that you murmur against him?”

12 Then Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said [defiantly], “We will not come up.

13 Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land [of plenty]flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness, but you would also lord it over us?

14 Indeed, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!”

15 Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord, “Pay no attention to their offering! I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I harmed any one of them.”

16 Moses said to Korah, “You and all your company are to appear before the Lordtomorrow, both you and they along with Aaron.

17 Each of you take his censer and put incense on it, and each of you bring his censer before the Lord, two hundred and fifty censers; also you and Aaronshalleachbringhis censer.”

18 So they each took his own censer and put fire on it and laid incense on it; and they stood at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), with Moses and Aaron.

19 Then Korah assembled all the congregation against Moses and Aaron at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle). And the gloryandbrilliance of the Lordappeared to all the congregation.

20 Then the Lordspoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, so that I may consume them immediately.”

22 But they fell on their faces [before the Lord], and said, “O God, God of the spirits of all flesh! When one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?”

23 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

24 “Say to the congregation, ‘Get away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’”

25 Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.

26 And he said to the congregation, “Get away from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, or you will be swept away in all their sin.”

27 So they got back from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doorway of their tents with their wives and their sons and their little children.

28 Then Moses said, “By this you shall know that the Lordhas sent me to do all these works; for I do not act of my own accord.

29 If these men die the common death of all mankind or if what happens to everyone happens to them, then [you will know for sure that] the Lordhas not sent me.

30 But if the Lordcreates an entirely new thing, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up, along with all that belongs to them, and they descend alive into Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), then you will understand that these men have spurnedandrejected the Lord!”

31 As soon as Moses finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split open;

32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all the men who supported Korah, with all their possessions.

33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.

34 All Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth may swallow usalso.”

35 Fire also came forth from the Lordand consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense.

36 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

37 “Tell Eleazar the son of Aaron, the priest, that he is to pick up the censers from the midst of the blaze for they are holy; and you scatter the burning coals abroad.

38 As for the censers of these people who have sinned at the cost of their lives, have the censers made into hammered sheets as a plating for the altar [of burnt offering], for they were presented before the Lordand they are sacred. They shall be a [warning] sign to the sons of Israel.”

39 So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers which the Levites who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out [into broad sheets] as a plating for the [bronze] altar [of burnt offering],

40 as a reminder to the sons of Israel so that no layman–that is, one who is not of the descendants of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the Lord; so that he will not become like Korah and as his company–just as the Lordhad said to him through Moses.

Murmuring and Plague

41 But on the next day the entire congregation of the Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have caused the death of the people of the Lord.”

42 When the congregation was assembled against Moses and Aaron, they turnedandlooked at the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), and behold, the cloud covered it and the gloryandbrilliance of the Lordappeared.

43 Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle),

44 and the Lordspoke to Moses saying,

45 “Get away from among this congregation, so that I may consume them immediately.” Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces [in silence before the Lord].

46 Moses said to Aaron, “Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar and lay incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the Lord; the plague has begun!”

47 So Aaron took the burning censer as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and behold, the plague had [already] begun among the people; and he put on the incense and made atonement for the people.

48 He stood between the dead and the living, so that the plague was brought to an end.

49 But those who died in the plague were 14,700, besides those who died because of Korah.

50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), for the plague had been brought to an end.

Aaron’s Rod Buds

1 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and get rods from them, a rod for each father’s household, from all their leaders according to their fathers’ households, twelve rods. Write every man’s name on his rod,

3 and write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi [his ancestor]; for there is one rod for the head of each of their fathers’ households.

4 You shall then deposit them in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) in front of [the ark of] the Testimony, where I meet with you.

5 It shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will bud, and I will no longer hear the constant grumblings of the Israelites, who are grumbling against you.”

6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a rod, one for each leader according to their fathers’ households, twelve rods, and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

7 So Moses deposited the rods before the Lordin the Tent of the Testimony (tabernacle).

8 Now on the next day Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony, andthe rod of Aaron of the tribe of Levi had sprouted and put out buds and produced blossoms and yielded [ripe] almonds.

9 Moses brought out all the rods from the presence of Lordto all the Israelites; and they looked, and each man took his rod.

10 But the Lordsaid to Moses, “Put Aaron’s rod back before the Testimony [in the ark], to be kept as a [warning] sign for the rebelliousandcontentious, so that you may put an end to their murmurings [of discontent] against Me, so that they do not die.”

11 And Moses did so; just as the Lordhad commanded him, so he did.

12 The sons of Israel said to Moses, “Look, we perish, we are doomed, all doomed!

13 Everyone who approaches, who approaches the tabernacle of the Lord, must die. Are we to perish completely?”

Duties of Levites

1 So the Lordsaid to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s household (family) with you shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary [that is, through your service as priests you will atone for the offenses which the people unknowingly commit when brought into contact with the manifestations of God’s presence]; and you and your sons with you shall bear the guilt in connection with your priesthood [that is, your own unintentional offenses].

2 But bring with you also your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father (ancestor), so that they may join with you and serve you [as assistants], while you and your sons with you are before the Tent of the Testimony [the Holy Place where only priests may go, and the Most Holy Place which only the high priest may enter].

3 And the Levites shall attend to your duty [as assistants] and to the duties of all the tent (tabernacle); only they shall not approach the articles of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die.

4 They shall join you and attend to the duties of the Tent of Meeting–all the service of the tent–and no stranger [no layman, anyone who is not a Levite] may approach you [and your sons].

5 So you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and the duties of the altar [of burnt offering and the altar of incense], so that there will no longer be wrath on the Israelites [as with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram].

6 Behold, I Myself have taken your fellow Levites from among the sons of Israel; they are a gift to you, given (dedicated) to the Lord, to do the service for the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).

7 Therefore you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar [of burnt offering and the altar of incense] and [of the Holy of Holies] within the veil, and you are to serve. I am giving you the priesthood as a bestowed service, but the stranger (outsider, layman) who approaches shall be put to death.”

The Priests’ Portion

8 Then the Lordspoke to Aaron, “Now behold, I [the Lord] have entrusted you with My heave offerings, even all the holy gifts of the Israelites, I have given them to you as a portion, and to your sons as a continual allotment.

9 This shall be yours of the most holy things, [reserved] from the fire: every offering of the people, every grain offering and sin offering and guilt offering, which they shall render (give) to Me, shall be most holy for you and for your sons.

10 You shall eat it as the most holy thing; every male [of your family] shall eat it. It shall be holy to you.

11 This also is yours: the heave offering of their gift, including all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I have given them to you and to your sons and to your daughters with you as a continual allotment; everyone in your household who is [ceremonially] clean may eat it.

12 All the best of the fresh [olive] oil, and all the best of the new wine and of the grain, the first fruits of those which they give to the Lord, I give them to you.

13 The first ripe fruits of all that is in the land, which they bring to the Lord, shall be yours; everyone in your household who is [ceremonially] clean may eat it.

14 Every devoted thing in Israel [everything that has been promised to the Lord with an oath] shall be yours.

15 Every firstborn of the womb of all flesh, whether it is man or animal, which they bring to the Lord, shall be yours; nevertheless, the firstborn of man you shall most certainly redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.

16 And their redemption price, from a month old you shall redeem, according to yourvaluation, for the [fixed] price of five shekels in silver, in accordance with the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.

17 But the firstborn of a cow or of a sheep or of a goat you shall not redeem; they are holy [and belong to the Lord]. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar and shall offer up their fat in smoke as an offering by fire, for a sweetandsoothing aroma to the Lord.

18 Their meat shall be yours, like the breast of a wave offering and like the right thigh.

19 All the offerings of the holy things, which the Israelites offer to the LordI have given to you and to your sons and your daughters with you as a continual allotment. It is an everlasting covenant ofsalt [that cannot be dissolved or violated] before the Lordto you and to your descendants with you.”

20 Then the Lordsaid to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in the land [of the Israelites], nor have any portion [of land] among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.

21 “Behold, I have given the Levites all the tithe in Israel as an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).

22 The Israelites shall never again approach the Tent of Meeting [the covered sanctuary, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies], or they [who do] will incur sin and die.

23 Only the Levites shall perform the service of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), and they shall bear their iniquity; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that the Levites shall have no inheritance [of land] among the children of Israel.

24 But the tithe of the Israelites, which they present as an offering to the Lord, I have given to the Levites as an inheritance; therefore I have said to them, ‘They shallhave no inheritance among the children of Israel.’”

25 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

26 “Moreover, you shall speak to the Levites and say to them, ‘When you take from the Israelites the tithe which I have given to you from them as your inheritance, then you shall present an offering from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe [paid by the people].

27 ~‘Your offering shall be credited to you as the grain from the threshing floor or as the full produce from the wine vat.

28 ~‘Likewise you shall also present an offering to the Lordfrom all your tithes, which you receive from the Israelites; and from it you shall give the Lord’soffering to Aaron the priest.

29 ~‘Out of all your gifts, you shall present every offering due to the Lord, from all the best of it,eventhe sacred part from them.’

30 Therefore you shall say to them, ‘When you have offered the best from it, thenthe restshall be credited to the Levites as the product of the threshing floor, and as the product of the wine vat.

31 ~‘You may eat it anywhere, you and [the members of] your households, for it is your compensation in return for your service in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).

32 ~‘You will bear no sin because of it when you have offered the best of it; but you shall not profane the sacred gifts of the children of Israel, or you will die [because of it].’”

Ordinance of the Red Heifer

1 Then the Lordspoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

2 “This is the statute of the law which the Lordhas commanded: ‘Tell the Israelites to bring you an unblemished red heifer in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never been placed.

3 ~‘You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and it shall be brought outside the camp and be slaughtered in his presence.

4 ~‘Next Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle some of it toward the front of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) seven times.

5 ~‘Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight; its skin, its flesh, its blood, and its waste, shall be burned (reduced to ash).

6 ~‘The priest shall take cedar wood andhyssop and scarlet [material] and cast them into the midst of the burning heifer.

7 ~‘Then the priest shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water; and afterward come into the camp, but he shall be [ceremonially] unclean until evening.

8 ~‘The one who burns the heifer shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and shall be unclean until evening.

9 ~‘Now a man who is [ceremonially] clean shall collect the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place, and the congregation of the Israelites shall keep it forwater to remove impurity; it is [to be used for] purification from sin.

10 ~‘The one who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening. This shall be a perpetual statute to the Israelites and to the stranger who lives as a resident alien among them.

11 ‘The one who touches the dead body of any person shall be unclean for seven days.

12 ~‘That one shall purify himself from uncleanness with the water [made with the ashes of the burned heifer] on the third day and on the seventh day, and then he will be clean; but if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean.

13 ~‘Whoever touches a corpse, the body of anyone who has died, and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from Israel [that is, excluded from the atonement made for them]. Because the water for impurity was not sprinkled on him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is still on him.

14 ‘This is the law when a man dies in a tent: everyone who comes into the tent and everyone who is in the tent shall be [ceremonially] unclean for seven days.

15 ~‘Every open container [in the tent], which has no covering tied down on it, is unclean.

16 ~‘Also, anyone in the open field who touches one who has been killed with a sword or who has died [of natural causes], or a human bone or a grave, shall be unclean for seven days.

17 ~‘Then for the unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the heifer burnt for the purification from sin, and running water shall be added to them in a container.

18 ~‘A clean person shall takehyssop and dip it in the water and sprinkle it on the tent and on all the furnishings and on the people who were there, and on the one who touched the bone or the one who was killed or the one who died [naturally] or the grave.

19 ~‘Then the clean person shall sprinkle [the water for purification] on the unclean person on the third day and on the seventh day, and on the seventh day the unclean man shall purify himself, and wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and shall be [ceremonially] clean at evening.

20 ‘But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person shall be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord. The water for purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

21 ~‘So it shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity [on another] shall wash his clothes, and he who touches the water for impurity shall be unclean until evening.

22 ~‘Furthermore, anything the unclean person touches shall be unclean, and anyone who touches it shall be [ceremonially] unclean until evening.’”

Death of Miriam

1 Then the Israelites, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month [in the fortieth year after leaving Egypt]. And the people lived in Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there.

2 Now there was no water for the congregation, and they gathered together against Moses and Aaron.

3 The people contended with Moses, and said, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished [in the plague] before the Lord!

4 Why have you brought up the assembly of the Lordinto this wilderness to die here, we and our livestock?

5 Why have you made us come up from Egypt, to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain or of figs or of vines or of pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.”

6 Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) and fell on their faces [before the Lordin prayer]. Then the gloryandbrilliance of the Lordappeared to them;

7 and the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

The Water of Meribah

8 “Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rockin front of them, so that it will pour out its water. In this way you shall bring water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their livestock drink [fresh water].”

9 So Moses took the rod from before the Lord, just as He had commanded him;

10 and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; must we bring you water out of this rock?”

11 Then Moses raised his hand [in anger] and with his rod he struck the rock twice [instead of speaking to the rock as the Lordhad commanded]. And the water poured out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank [fresh water].

12 But the Lordsaid to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed (trusted) Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, you thereforeshall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

13 These are the waters of Meribah (contention, strife), where the sons of Israel contended with the Lord, and He showed Himself holy among them.

14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king ofEdom: “Thus says your brother Israel, ‘You know all the hardship that has come upon us [as a nation];

15 that our fathers (ancestors) went down to Egypt, and we lived there for a long time, and the Egyptians treated [both] us and our fathers badly.

16 ~‘But when we cried out to the Lord[for help], He heard us and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.

17 ~‘Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through a field or through a vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along theking’s highway, not turning [off-course] to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.’”

18 But [the king of] Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through my territory, or I will come out against you with the sword.”

19 Again, the Israelites said to him, “We will go by the highway [trade route], and if I and my livestock drink any of your water, then I will pay for it. Only let me pass through on foot, nothing else.”

20 But the king of Edom said, “You shall not pass through [my territory].” And Edom came out against Israel with many people and a strong hand.

21 Thus [the king of] Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.

22 Now when they set out from Kadesh, the Israelites, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.

Death of Aaron

23 Then the Lordspoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying,

24 “Aaron will be gathered to his people [in death]; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you [both] rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.

25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up to Mount Hor;

26 and strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. So Aaron will be gatheredto his fathers, and will die there.”

27 So Moses did just as the Lordhad commanded; and they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

28 After Moses stripped Aaron of his [priestly] garments and put them on Eleazar his son, Aaron died there on the mountain top. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

29 When all the congregation saw that Aaron had died, all the house of Israel wept (mourned) for him thirty days.

Arad Conquered

1 When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev (the South country) heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim [the route traveled by the spies sent out by Moses], he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.

2 So Israel made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will indeed hand over these people to me, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”

3 The Lordheard the voice of Israel and handed over the Canaanites; then they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of the place was called Hormah (dedicate to destruction).

4 Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the [branch of the] Red Sea [called the Gulf of Aqabah], to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient, because [of the challenges] of the journey.

5 So the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, nor is there any water, and we loathe this miserable food.”

The Bronze Serpent

6 Then the Lordsent fiery (burning) serpents among the people; and they bit the people, and many Israelites died.

7 So the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lordand against you; pray to the Lord, so that He will remove the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

8 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Make a fieryserpent[of bronze] and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten will live when he looks at it.”

9 So Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on the pole, and it happened that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.

10 Now the sons of Israel moved out and camped at Oboth.

11 They journeyed on from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness facing Moab, toward the sunrise.

12 From there they set out and camped in theWadi Zered.

13 From there they journeyed on and camped on the other side of [the river] Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the boundary of the Amorites; for [the river] Arnon is the boundary of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.

14 That is why it is said in theBook of the Wars of the Lord:

“Waheb inSuphah,

And thewadis of the Arnon [River],

15 And the slope of the wadis

That stretches toward the site of Ar

And leans to the border of Moab.”

16 From therethe Israelites went onto Beer, that is the well where the Lordsaid to Moses, “Gather the people together and I will give them water.”

17 Then Israel sang this song,

“Spring up, O well! Sing to it,

18 The well which the leaders dug,

Which the nobles of the people hollowed out

With the scepter and with their staffs.”

And from the wildernessIsrael journeyedto Mattanah,

19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth,

20 and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, to the top of Pisgah which looks down on the wasteland.

Two Victories

21 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying,

22 “Let me pass through your land; we will not turn away [from the road] into field or vineyard; we will not drink the water of the wells. We will go by the king’s highway until we have crossed your border.”

23 But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border. Instead Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz, and he fought against Israel.

24 Then Israel struck the king of the Amorites with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the Ammonites, for the boundary of the Ammonites wasstrong.

25 Israel took all these cities, and settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all its towns.

26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon.

27 That is why those who use proverbs say,

“Come to Heshbon,

Let the city of Sihon be built and established.

28 “For fire has gone out of Heshbon,

A flame from the city of Sihon;

It devoured Ar of Moab

And the lords of the heights of the Arnon.

29 “Woe (judgment is coming) to you, Moab!

You are destroyed, O people of [the god] Chemosh!

Moab has given his sons as fugitives [that is, survivors of battle],

And his daughters into captivity

To Sihon king of the Amorites.

30 “We have shot them down [with arrows];

Heshbon is destroyed as far as Dibon,

And we have laid them waste as far as Nophah,

Which reaches to Medeba.”

31 Thus Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.

32 Now Moses sentmento spy out Jazer, and they overthrew its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.

33 Then they turned and went up by the way of Bashan; and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.

34 But the Lordsaid to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have handed over him and all his people and his land to you; and you shall do to him just as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.”

35 So the sons of Israel killed Og and his sons and all his people, until there was no survivor left to him; and they took possession of his land.

Balak Sends for Balaam

1 The Israelites journeyed, and camped in the plains of Moab, on the east side of the Jordan [River] across from Jericho.

2 And Balak [the king of Moab] the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

3 So Moab was terrified because of the people, for they were numerous. Moab was overcome with fear because of the sons of Israel.

4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, just as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was the king of Moab at that time.

5 So he sent messengers toBalaam [a famous prophet-diviner] the son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the [Euphrates] River, in the land of the descendants of his people, to call for him, saying, “There is a people who have come out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me.

6 Now please come, curse these people for me, for they are too powerful for me; perhaps I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know [your reputation] that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

7 So the elders of Moab and of Midian departed withfees fordivination (foretelling) in hand; and they came to Balaam and told him the words of Balak.

8 Balaam said to them, “Spend the night here and I will bring word back to you as the Lordmay speak to me.” So the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam [that night].

9 God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men with you?”

10 Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sentwordto me:

11 ‘Hear this, the people who came out of Egypt cover the surface of the land; come now, curse them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

12 God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people [of Israel], for they are blessed.”

13 Balaam got up in the morning, and said to the leaders of Balak, “Go back to your own land [of Moab], for the Lordhas refused to let me go with you.”

14 The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

15 Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and [men who were] more distinguished than the first ones.

16 They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘I beg you, let nothing hinder you from coming to me.

17 ~‘For I will give you a very great honor and I will do whatever you tell me; so please come, curse these people [of Israel] for me.’”

18 Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the Lordmy God.

19 Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the Lordwill say to me.”

20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, get up and go with them, but you shallstilldo only what I tell you.”

21 So Balaam got up in the morning andsaddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab.

The Angel and Balaam

22 But God’s anger was kindled becausehe was going, and theAngel of the Lordtook His stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23 When the donkey saw the Angel of the Lordstanding in the way and His drawn sword in His hand, the donkey turned off the path and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back toward the path.

24 But the Angel of the Lordstood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a [stone] wall on this side and a [stone] wall on that side.

25 When the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she pressed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against it, and he struck her again.

26 The Angel of the Lordwent further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left.

27 When the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam, so Balaam was angry and he struck the donkey [a third time] with his staff.

28 And the Lordopened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?”

29 Then Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by 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 ever been accustomed to do so to you?” And he said, “No.”

31 Then the Lordopened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lordstanding in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and lay himself face down.

32 The Angel of the Lordsaid to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your behavior was obstinateandcontrary to Me.

33 The donkey saw Me and turned away from Me these three times. If she had not turned away from Me, I would have certainly killed you now, and let her live.”

34 Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that You were standing in the way against me. But now, if my going displeases You, I will turn back.”

35 The Angel of the Lordsaid to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you shall speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak.

36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border at the Arnon [River], at the farthest end of the border.

37 Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not urgently sendwordto you to call you? Why did you not come to me [immediately]? Am I really unable to honor (pay) you?”

38 So Balaam said to Balak, “Indeed I have come to you now, but am I able to say anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.”

39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

40 Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sentsometo Balaam and to the leaders who were with him.

41 Then it came about in the morning that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal; from there he saw a portion of the Israelites.

The Prophecies of Balaam

1 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams here.”

2 Balak did just as Balaam had said, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

3 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stand beside your burnt offering and I will go. Perhaps the Lordwill come to meet me; and whatever He shows me I will tell you.” So he went to a desolate hill.

4 Now God met Balaam, who said to Him, “I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered a bull and a ram on each altar.”

5 Then the Lordput a speech in Balaam’s mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and you shall speak thus.”

6 Balaam returned to Balak, and behold, he was standing by his burnt sacrifice, he and all the leaders of Moab.

7 Balaam took up his [first] discourse (oracle) and said:

“Balak, the king of Moab, has brought me from Aram (Syria),

from the mountains of the east, [saying,]

‘Come, curse [the descendants of] Jacob for me;

And come, [violently] denounce Israel.’

8 “How shall I curse those whom God has not cursed?

Or how can I [violently] denounce those the Lordhas not denounced?

9 “For from the top of the rocks I see Israel,

And from the hills I look at him.

Behold, the people [of Israel] shall dwell alone

And will not be reckoned among the nations.

10 “Who can count the dust (the descendants) of Jacob

And the number ofeventhe fourth part of Israel?

Let me die the death of the righteous [those who are upright and in right standing with God],

And let my end be like his!”

11 Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but here you have [thoroughly] blessed them instead!”

12 Balaam answered, “Must I not be obedientandcareful to speak what the Lordhas put in my mouth?”

13 Balak said to him, “Come with me, I implore you, to another place from where you can see them, although you will see only the nearest and not all of them; and curse them for me from there.”

14 So he took Balaam to the field of Zophim to the top of [Mount] Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

15 Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offering while I go to meet the Lordover there.”

16 Then the Lordmet Balaam and put a speech in his mouth, and said, “Go back to Balak and you shall speak thus.”

17 When Balaam returned to Balak, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the leaders of Moab were with him. And Balak said to him, “What has the Lordspoken?”

18 Balaam took up his [second] discourse (oracle) and said:

“Rise up, O Balak, and hear;

Listen [closely] to me, son of Zippor.

19 “God is not a man, that He should lie,

Nor a son of man, that He should repent.

Has He said, and will He not do it?

Or has He spoken and will He not make it goodandfulfill it?

20 “Behold, I have receivedHis commandto bless [Israel].

He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.

21 “God has not observed wickedness in Jacob [for he is forgiven],

Nor has He seen trouble in Israel.

The Lordtheir God is with Israel,

And the shout of their King is among the people.

22 “God brought them out of Egypt;

They have the strength of a wild ox.

23 “For there is no enchantmentoromen against Jacob,

Nor is there any divination against Israel.

At the proper time it shall be said to Jacob

And to Israel, what has God done!

24 “Behold, a people rises up like a lioness

And lifts itself up like a lion;

He will not lie down until he devours the prey

And drinks the blood of the slain.”

25 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”

26 But Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not say to you, ‘All that the Lordspeaks, that I must do?’”

27 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Please come; I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.”

28 So Balak brought Balaam to the top of [Mount] Peor, that overlooks the wasteland.

29 And Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams here.”

30 Balak did just as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

The Prophecy from Peor

1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lordto bless Israel, he did not go as he had done each time before [superstitiously] to seek omensandsigns [in the natural world], but he set his face toward the wilderness (desert).

2 And Balaam raised his eyes and he saw Israel livingin their tentstribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came on him.

3 He took up his [third] discourse (oracle) and said:

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,

And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened [at last, to see clearly the purpose and will of God],

4 The oracle of one who hears the words of God,

Who sees the vision of the Almighty,

Falling down, but having his eyes openanduncovered,

5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob,

And your tabernacles, O Israel!

6 “Like valleys that stretch out,

Like gardens beside the river,

Like aloes planted by the Lord,

Like cedars beside the waters.

7 “Water [that is, great blessings] will flow from his buckets,

And his offspringwill liveby many waters,

And his king will be higher thanAgag,

And his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 “God brought Israel out of Egypt;

Israel hasstrength like the wild ox;

He will devour [Gentile] nations, his adversaries (enemies),

And will crush their bones in pieces,

And shatter them with his arrows.

9 “He bowed down [to rest], he lies down as a lion;

And as a lioness, who dares to rouse him?

Blessed [of God] is he who blesses you,

And cursed [of God] is he who curses you.”

10 Then Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have done nothing but bless them these three times.

11 Therefore now flee to your place! I had intended to honor you greatly, but behold, the Lordhas held you back from honor.”

12 Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me,

13 ‘Even if Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own accord. What the Lordspeaks, that I will speak?’

14 And now, look, I am going to my people; come, I will advise you as to what this people [Israel] will do to your people [Moab] in the days to come.”

15 He took up his [fourth] discourse (oracle) and said:

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,

The oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

16 The oracle of him who hears the words of God

And knows the knowledge of theMost High,

Who sees the vision of theAlmighty,

Falling down, but having his eyes openanduncovered:

17 “I see Him, but not now;

I behold Him, but not near.

A star shall come forth from [the descendants of] Jacob,

A scepter shall rise out of [the descendants of] Israel

And shall crush the forehead of Moab

And destroy all the sons of Sheth.

18 “Edom shall be [taken as] a possession,

[Mount] Seir, Israel’s enemies, also will be a possession,

While Israel performs valiantly.

19 “One from [the descendants of] Jacob shall have dominion

And will destroy the remnant from the city.”

20 Balaam looked at Amalek and took up his [fifth] discourse (oracle) and said:

“Amalek was the first of the [neighboring] nations [to oppose the Israelites after they left Egypt],

But his end shall bedestruction.”

21 And Balaam looked at the Kenites and took up his [sixth] discourse (oracle) and said:

“Strong is your dwelling place,

And you set your nest in the cliff.

22 “Nevertheless the Kenites will be consumed.

How long will Asshur (Assyria) keep you (Israel) captive?”

23 Then he took up his [seventh] discourse (oracle) and said:

“Alas, who can live unless God has ordained it?

24 “But shipsshall comefrom the coast ofKittim,

And shall afflict Asshur (Assyria) andEber;

So they (the victors) alsowill cometo destruction.”

25 Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to his place, and Balak also went on his way.