NIV Archaeological Study Bible

The Census

¹The LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting^† in the Desert of Sinai^† on the first day of the second month^† of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: ²“Take a census^† of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. ³You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more ^† who are able to serve in the army. ⁴One man from each tribe, each the head of his family,^† is to help you.^† ⁵These are the names of the men who are to assist you:

Numbers and Their Meaning

Numbers 1 According to Numbers 1 there were in the exodus¹ generation 603,550 combat-ready men aged twenty years and older. This figure suggests an enormous overall population, perhaps as large as two million. The obvious question is how this many people could have survived in the desert.

What other indications does the Bible offer concerning the Israelite population at the time of the exodus?

• When all the census figures of Numbers 1 are added up, the total is indeed 603,550, suggesting that the tally be taken at face value.

• Exodus1:7–9 states that the Israelites had multiplied so steadily that the pharaoh complained that “the Israelites have become much too numerous for us.” But the pharaoh may have been describing how he perceived the Israelites, based on his fear and hatred of foreigners.

• In contrast, Deuteronomy 7:7 states that Israel was “the fewest of all peoples” (cf. Ex 23:29–30).

• It is difficult to visualize an army of over 600,000 being panic-stricken at the prospect of being pursued by only 600 chariots (Ex 14:5–12).

• It is curious that all Israel is purported to have used only two midwives (Ex 1:15). Some theorize that they were actually representative leaders of a large midwifery guild.

• Numbers 3:43 reports 22,273 firstborn males in Israel. This would suggest that only 22,273 mothers had borne sons. Taking into account the many sons under age twenty, there would have to have been at least one million males in total. The implication, absurd as it may be, is that each mother had at least 44 sons!

• Looking at the data another way, if there were 22,273 firstborn sons, each of whom had an average of five brothers, the total number of men would have been around 133,638, a figure still far too low to reconcile with the census results in Numbers 1.

• If there were 603,550 men-at-arms, the majority of whom would likely have been married, how is it that there were only 22,273 firstborn sons?

We could attempt to adjust the estimated total number of births per mother by assuming that many households were polygamous, resulting in more mothers than firstborn sons. But polygamy was not widely practiced among commoners, and few slaves could afford more than one wife.

Scholars have argued that the word translated “thousand” (eleph) can also mean something like “squad” and that the data represent both the number of squads and the number of men in them. The figure for Reuben, using this hypothesis, would be reduced from 46,500 to “46 squads: 500 men.” If we add up all the numbers in this way, the final tally for men-at-arms in Numbers 1 is 5,550 (i.e., 5 eleph [here meaning “thousands”] plus 550). This could explain the 603,550 in Numbers 1:46: The final figure (“603 eleph 550”) could equate to “598 eleph [squads]: 5 eleph [thousands] plus 550 men.” If so, the total population would have been about 20,000.

But this theory, too, has difficulties:

• The numbers for the Levites (ch. 3) seem to have been computed differently. For example, Gershon is numbered at 7,500 (3:22), which would mean “7 squads: 500 men.” But why would the number of men per “squad” (over 71) be so much higher here than in Numbers 1 (approximately 10)? It may be that the priestly groups had more men per “squad” because the organizational structure for priests and Levites was different from that used for soldiers.

• If the total population of Israel was only about 20,000, what are we to make of the 22,273 firstborn males alleged in 3:43? We cannot take the total number of firstborn males to be only 273, since the text says that there were 273 more firstborn than there were Levites.

Whatever we make of all the difficulties described above, it is clear that the ancient Israelites had ways of dealing with numbers that are perplexing to us. The Bible is an ancient book from an ancient culture, and we cannot assume that it handles data in the same way a modern census-taker would. It is important to realize that the Biblical account is neither erroneous nor deliberately misleading. We simply do not understand how the Israelites conducted and reported either a military or a Levitical census.

1. See Glossary for definitions of bolded words.

from Reuben,^† Elizur son of Shedeur;

⁶from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;

⁷from Judah,^† Nahshon son of Amminadab;^†

⁸from Issachar,^† Nethanel son of Zuar;

⁹from Zebulun,^† Eliab son of Helon;

¹⁰from the sons of Joseph:

from Ephraim,^† Elishama son of Ammihud;

from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;

¹¹from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;

¹²from Dan,^† Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;

¹³from Asher,^† Pagiel son of Ocran;

¹⁴from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;^†

¹⁵from Naphtali,^† Ahira son of Enan.”

¹⁶These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders^† of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.^†

¹⁷Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been given, ¹⁸and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month.^† The people indicated their ancestry^† by their clans and families, and the men twenty years old or more were listed by name, one by one, ¹⁹as the LORD commanded Moses. And so he counted them in the Desert of Sinai:

²⁰From the descendants of Reuben ^† the firstborn son of Israel:

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. ²¹The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.

²²From the descendants of Simeon:^†

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were counted and listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. ²³The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.

²⁴From the descendants of Gad:^†

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. ²⁵The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650.

²⁶From the descendants of Judah:^†

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. ²⁷The number from the tribe of Judah was 74,600.

²⁸From the descendants of Issachar:^†

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. ²⁹The number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.

³⁰From the descendants of Zebulun:^†

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. ³¹The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.

³²From the sons of Joseph:

From the descendants of Ephraim:^†

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. ³³The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.

³⁴From the descendants of Manasseh:^†

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. ³⁵The number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.

³⁶From the descendants of Benjamin:^†

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. ³⁷The number from the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.

³⁸From the descendants of Dan:^†

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. ³⁹The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700.

⁴⁰From the descendants of Asher:^†

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. ⁴¹The number from the tribe of Asher was 41,500.

⁴²From the descendants of Naphtali:^†

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. ⁴³The number from the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.

⁴⁴These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron ^† and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. ⁴⁵All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families. ⁴⁶The total number was 603,550.^†

⁴⁷The families of the tribe of Levi,^† however, were not counted^† along with the others. ⁴⁸The LORD had said to Moses: ⁴⁹“You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. ⁵⁰ Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony ^†—over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. ⁵¹Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it.^† Anyone else who goes near it shall be put to death. ⁵²The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each man in his own camp under his own standard.^† ⁵³The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the Testimony so that wrath will not fall ^† on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the Testimony.^†”

⁵⁴The Israelites did all this just as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 2

The Arrangement of the Tribal Camps

¹The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: ²“The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard ^† with the banners of his family.”

³On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab.^† ⁴His division numbers 74,600.

⁵The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar.^† ⁶His division numbers 54,400.

⁷The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon.^† ⁸His division numbers 57,400.

⁹All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first.^†

¹⁰On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur.^† ¹¹His division numbers 46,500.

¹²The tribe of Simeon will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.^† ¹³His division numbers 59,300.

¹⁴The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel.^[1] ^† ¹⁵His division numbers 45,650.

¹⁶All the men assigned to the camp of Reuben,^† according to their divisions, number 151,450. They will set out second.

¹⁷Then the Tent of Meeting and the camp of the Levites^† will set out in the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as they encamp, each in his own place under his standard.

¹⁸On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim^† under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud.^† ¹⁹His division numbers 40,500.

²⁰The tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.^† ²¹His division numbers 32,200.

²²The tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni.^† ²³His division numbers 35,400.

²⁴All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim,^† according to their divisions, number 108,100. They will set out third.^†

²⁵On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan, under their standard. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.^† ²⁶His division numbers 62,700.

²⁷The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Ocran.^† ²⁸His division numbers 41,500.

²⁹The tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan.^† ³⁰His division numbers 53,400.

³¹All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last,^† under their standards.

³²These are the Israelites, counted according to their families. All those in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550.^† ³³The Levites, however, were not counted ^† along with the other Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.

³⁴So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each with his clan and family.

Numbers 3

The Levites

¹This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses^† at the time the LORD talked with Moses on Mount Sinai.

²The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.^† ³Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests,^† who were ordained to serve as priests. ⁴Nadab and Abihu, however, fell dead before the LORD ^† when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai.^† They had no sons; so only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.^†

⁵The LORD said to Moses, ⁶“Bring the tribe of Levi ^† and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.^† ⁷They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the Tent of Meeting by doing the work ^† of the tabernacle. ⁸They are to take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. ⁹Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;^† they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.^[2] ¹⁰Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests;^† anyone else who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death.”^†

¹¹The LORD also said to Moses, ¹²“I have taken the Levites ^† from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring^† of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,^† ¹³for all the firstborn are mine.^† When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether man or animal. They are to be mine. I am the LORD.”

¹⁴The LORD said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai, ¹⁵“Count ^† the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”^† ¹⁶So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the LORD.

¹⁷These were the names of the sons of Levi:^†

Gershon, Kohath and Merari.^†

¹⁸These were the names of the Gershonite clans:

Libni and Shimei.^†

¹⁹The Kohathite clans:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.^†

²⁰The Merarite clans:^†

Mahli and Mushi.^†

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

²¹To Gershon belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;^† these were the Gershonite clans. ²²The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. ²³The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle. ²⁴The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. ²⁵At the Tent of Meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle ^† and tent, its coverings,^† the curtain at the entrance^† to the Tent of Meeting, ²⁶the curtains of the courtyard ^†, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, and the ropes^†—and everything related to their use.

²⁷To Kohath belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;^† these were the Kohathite clans. ²⁸The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600.^[3] The Kohathites were responsible for the care of the sanctuary. ²⁹The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side ^† of the tabernacle. ³⁰The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. ³¹They were responsible for the care of the ark,^† the table,^† the lampstand,^† the altars,^† the articles of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,^† and everything related to their use.^† ³²The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible for the care of the sanctuary.

³³To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;^† these were the Merarite clans. ³⁴The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 6,200. ³⁵The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.^† ³⁶The Merarites were appointed ^† to take care of the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts, bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use, ³⁷as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs and ropes.

³⁸Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east ^† of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the Tent of Meeting.^† They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary^† on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.^†

³⁹The total number of Levites counted at the LORD’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.^†

⁴⁰The LORD said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more^† and make a list of their names. ⁴¹Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,^† and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the LORD.”

⁴²So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the LORD commanded him. ⁴³The total number of firstborn males a month old or more, listed by name, was 22,273.^†

⁴⁴The LORD also said to Moses, ⁴⁵“Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine. I am the LORD. ⁴⁶To redeem ^† the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, ⁴⁷collect five shekels^[4] ^† for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,^† which weighs twenty gerahs.^† ⁴⁸Give the money for the redemption of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”

⁴⁹So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. ⁵⁰From the firstborn of the Israelites he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,^[5] ^† according to the sanctuary shekel. ⁵¹Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the LORD.

Numbers 4

The Kohathites

¹The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: ²“Take a census ^† of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. ³Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age ^† who come to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting.

Ancient Voices

Further: Let those who make the daily bread be clean. Let them be washed and trimmed. Let (their)^* hair(?) and finger[nails] be trimmed. Let them be clothed in clean garments. I[f] (they are) [not], let them not prepare (them). Let those who normally [propit]iate the spirit and body of the gods prepare them. The baker’s house in which they bake them must be swept and sprinkled down.

* Words or syllables in brackets or parentheses added by translator for clarity or where text has gaps. Uncertainty in text indicated by question mark in parentheses.

—Instructions to Priests and Temple Officials

See “Hittite Instructions for Priests” article.

⁴“This is the work of the Kohathites in the Tent of Meeting: the care of the most holy things.^† ⁵When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain ^† and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.^† ⁶Then they are to cover this with hides of sea cows,^[6] spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles^† in place.

⁷“Over the table of the Presence^† they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there^† is to remain on it. ⁸Over these they are to spread a scarlet cloth, cover that with hides of sea cows and put its poles in place.

⁹“They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays,^† and all its jars for the oil used to supply it. ¹⁰Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of hides of sea cows and put it on a carrying frame.

¹¹“Over the gold altar ^† they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with hides of sea cows and put its poles in place.

¹²“They are to take all the articles used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with hides of sea cows and put them on a carrying frame.

¹³“They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar^† and spread a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴Then they are to place on it all the utensils used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans, meat forks,^† shovels and sprinkling bowls.^† Over it they are to spread a covering of hides of sea cows and put its poles^† in place.

¹⁵“After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites are to come to do the carrying.^† But they must not touch the holy things or they will die.^† The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the Tent of Meeting.

¹⁶“Eleazar^† son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,^† the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering^† and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”

¹⁷The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ¹⁸“See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not cut off from the Levites. ¹⁹So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things,^† do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry. ²⁰But the Kohathites must not go in to look ^† at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”

The Gershonites

²¹The LORD said to Moses, ²²“Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. ²³Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age ^† who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

²⁴“This is the service of the Gershonite clans as they work and carry burdens: ²⁵They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle,^† the Tent of Meeting,^† its covering^† and the outer covering of hides of sea cows, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, ²⁶the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, the curtain for the entrance, the ropes and all the equipment used in its service. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. ²⁷All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You shall assign to them as their responsibility all they are to carry. ²⁸This is the service of the Gershonite clans ^† at the Tent of Meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest.

The Merarites

²⁹“Count the Merarites by their clans and families.^† ³⁰Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. ³¹This is their duty as they perform service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,^† ³²as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes, all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry. ³³This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the Tent of Meeting under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

³⁴Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites ^† by their clans and families. ³⁵All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting, ³⁶counted by clans, were 2,750. ³⁷This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans ^† who served in the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the LORD’s command through Moses.

³⁸The Gershonites^† were counted by their clans and families. ³⁹All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting, ⁴⁰counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. ⁴¹This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the LORD’s command.

⁴²The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. ⁴³All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting, ⁴⁴counted by their clans, were 3,200. ⁴⁵This was the total of those in the Merarite clans.^† Moses and Aaron counted them according to the LORD’s command through Moses.

⁴⁶So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families. ⁴⁷All the men from thirty to fifty years of age ^† who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting ⁴⁸numbered 8,580.^† ⁴⁹At the LORD’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.

Thus they were counted,^† as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 5

The Purity of the Camp

¹The LORD said to Moses, ²“Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has an infectious skin disease ^[7] ^† or a discharge^† of any kind, or who is ceremonially unclean^† because of a dead body. ³Send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.^†” ⁴The Israelites did this; they sent them outside the camp. They did just as the LORD had instructed Moses.

Restitution for Wrongs

⁵The LORD said to Moses, ⁶“Say to the Israelites: ‘When a man or woman wrongs another in any way ^[8] and so is unfaithful^† to the LORD, that person is guilty^† ⁷and must confess ^† the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution^† for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged. ⁸But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for him.^† ⁹All the sacred contributions the Israelites bring to a priest will belong to him.^† ¹⁰Each man’s sacred gifts are his own, but what he gives to the priest will belong to the priest.^†’ ”

The Test for an Unfaithful Wife

¹¹Then the LORD said to Moses, ¹²“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man’s wife goes astray ^† and is unfaithful to him ¹³by sleeping with another man,^† and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act), ¹⁴and if feelings of jealousy ^† come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure— ¹⁵then he is to take his wife to the priest. He must also take an offering of a tenth of an ephah ^[9] ^† of barley flour^† on her behalf. He must not pour oil on it or put incense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, a reminder^† offering to draw attention to guilt.

¹⁶“ ‘The priest shall bring her and have her stand before the LORD. ¹⁷Then he shall take some holy water in a clay jar and put some dust from the tabernacle floor into the water. ¹⁸After the priest has had the woman stand before the LORD, he shall loosen her hair ^† and place in her hands the reminder offering, the grain offering for jealousy, while he himself holds the bitter water that brings a curse. ¹⁹Then the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, “If no other man has slept with you and you have not gone astray ^† and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse not harm you. ²⁰But if you have gone astray ^† while married to your husband and you have defiled yourself by sleeping with a man other than your husband”— ²¹here the priest is to put the woman under this curse of the oath^†—“may the LORD cause your people to curse and denounce you when he causes your thigh to waste away and your abdomen to swell.^[10] ²²May this water ^† that brings a curse^† enter your body so that your abdomen swells and your thigh wastes away.^[11] ”

“ ‘Then the woman is to say, “Amen. So be it.^†”

²³“ ‘The priest is to write these curses on a scroll^† and then wash them off into the bitter water. ²⁴He shall have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and this water will enter her and cause bitter suffering. ²⁵The priest is to take from her hands the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the LORD ^† and bring it to the altar. ²⁶The priest is then to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial offering and burn it on the altar; after that, he is to have the woman drink the water. ²⁷If she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, then when she is made to drink the water that brings a curse, it will go into her and cause bitter suffering; her abdomen will swell and her thigh waste away,^[12] and she will become accursed^† among her people. ²⁸If, however, the woman has not defiled herself and is free from impurity, she will be cleared of guilt and will be able to have children.

²⁹“ ‘This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray ^† and defiles herself while married to her husband, ³⁰or when feelings of jealousy come over a man because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand before the LORD and is to apply this entire law to her. ³¹The husband will be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences ^† of her sin.’ ”

Numbers 6

The Nazirite

¹The LORD said to Moses, ²“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow ^†, a vow of separation to the LORD as a Nazirite,^† ³he must abstain from wine ^† and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar^† made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. ⁴As long as he is a Nazirite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.

The Ketef Hinnom Amulets

Numbers 6 In 1979 archaeologists unearthed a burial site at Ketef Hinnom, just south of Jerusalem, on the southwestern side of Gehenna, near the Biblical boundary between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (Jos 18:16). Excavated from within a burial repository were two small, rolled plaques of thin, pliable silver, each about the size of a credit card. When unrolled, they revealed delicately etched inscriptions that included a shortened version of the priestly benediction recorded in Numbers 6:24–26. One section has been translated as follows:

The LORD bless and keep you;

The LORD make his face shine upon you

and give you peace.

Archaeological and paleographic evidence dates these plaques to the late seventh century B.C., thereby making them the earliest written citations of Scripture. They may relate to rituals of worship, during which priests would have recited this priestly benediction (cf. Lev 9:22). Perhaps worn as amulets (charms inscribed with incantations or symbols to aid the wearer or to protect him or her against evil), the plaques do reveal that this benediction was used in popular religious practice, perhaps to secure blessing for the owner. Since later Jewish traditions also quoted Numbers 6:24–26 in the context of funeral rites, the discovery of the plaques in the burial repository suggests that they served to bless the deceased person’s journey to Sheol, the netherworld or abode of the dead.¹

1. For more on burial rites, see “Jewish Burial Practices.”

⁵“ ‘During the entire period of his vow of separation no razor^† may be used on his head.^† He must be holy until the period of his separation to the LORD is over; he must let the hair of his head grow long. ⁶Throughout the period of his separation to the LORD he must not go near a dead body.^† ⁷Even if his own father or mother or brother or sister dies, he must not make himself ceremonially unclean ^† on account of them, because the symbol of his separation to God is on his head. ⁸Throughout the period of his separation he is consecrated to the LORD.

⁹“ ‘If someone dies suddenly in his presence, thus defiling the hair he has dedicated,^† he must shave his head on the day of his cleansing^†—the seventh day. ¹⁰Then on the eighth day he must bring two doves or two young pigeons ^† to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. ¹¹The priest is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering ^† to make atonement^† for him because he sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day he is to consecrate his head. ¹²He must dedicate himself to the LORD for the period of his separation and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because he became defiled during his separation.

¹³“ ‘Now this is the law for the Nazirite when the period of his separation is over.^† He is to be brought to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. ¹⁴There he is to present his offerings to the LORD: a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering,^† a ram without defect for a fellowship offering,^[13] ¹⁵together with their grain offerings and drink offerings,^† and a basket of bread made without yeast—cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil.^†

¹⁶“ ‘The priest is to present them before the LORD and make the sin offering and the burnt offering. ¹⁷He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to the LORD, together with its grain offering and drink offering.

¹⁸“ ‘Then at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that he dedicated.^† He is to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.

¹⁹“ ‘After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair of his dedication, the priest is to place in his hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and a cake and a wafer from the basket, both made without yeast. ²⁰The priest shall then wave them before the LORD as a wave offering; they are holy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.^†

²¹“ ‘This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD in accordance with his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford. He must fulfill the vow he has made, according to the law of the Nazirite.’ ”

The Priestly Blessing

²²The LORD said to Moses, ²³“Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless ^† the Israelites. Say to them:

²⁴“ ‘ “The LORD bless you^†

and keep you;^†

²⁵the LORD make his face shine upon you^†

and be gracious to you;^†

²⁶the LORD turn his face^† toward you

and give you peace.^†” ’

²⁷“So they will put my name^† on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Numbers 7

Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle

¹When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle,^† he anointed it and consecrated it and all its furnishings.^† He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils.^† ²Then the leaders of Israel,^† the heads of families who were the tribal leaders in charge of those who were counted, made offerings. ³They brought as their gifts before the LORD six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.

⁴The LORD said to Moses, ⁵“Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the Tent of Meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man’s work requires.”

⁶So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. ⁷He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites,^† as their work required, ⁸and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites,^† as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. ⁹But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders ^† the holy things, for which they were responsible.

¹⁰When the altar was anointed,^† the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication^† and presented them before the altar. ¹¹For the LORD had said to Moses, “Each day one leader is to bring his offering for the dedication of the altar.”

¹²The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah.

¹³His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels,^[14] and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels,^[15] both according to the sanctuary shekel,^† each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;^† ¹⁴one gold dish weighing ten shekels,^[16] filled with incense;^† ¹⁵one young bull,^† one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;^† ¹⁶one male goat for a sin offering;^† ¹⁷and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering.^[17] ^† This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.^†

¹⁸On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar,^† the leader of Issachar, brought his offering.

¹⁹The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ²⁰one gold dish ^† weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ²¹one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ²²one male goat for a sin offering; ²³and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

²⁴On the third day, Eliab son of Helon,^† the leader of the people of Zebulun, brought his offering.

²⁵His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ²⁶one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ²⁷one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ²⁸one male goat for a sin offering; ²⁹and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

³⁰On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur,^† the leader of the people of Reuben, brought his offering.

³¹His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ³²one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ³³one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ³⁴one male goat for a sin offering; ³⁵and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

³⁶On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,^† the leader of the people of Simeon, brought his offering.

³⁷His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ³⁸one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ³⁹one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁴⁰one male goat for a sin offering; ⁴¹and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

⁴²On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel,^† the leader of the people of Gad, brought his offering.

⁴³His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ⁴⁴one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁴⁵one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁴⁶one male goat for a sin offering; ⁴⁷and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

⁴⁸On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud,^† the leader of the people of Ephraim, brought his offering.

⁴⁹His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ⁵⁰one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁵¹one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁵²one male goat for a sin offering; ⁵³and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.^†

⁵⁴On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,^† the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering.

⁵⁵His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ⁵⁶one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁵⁷one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁵⁸one male goat for a sin offering; ⁵⁹and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

⁶⁰On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni,^† the leader of the people of Benjamin, brought his offering.

⁶¹His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ⁶²one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁶³one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁶⁴one male goat for a sin offering; ⁶⁵and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

⁶⁶On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai,^† the leader of the people of Dan, brought his offering.

⁶⁷His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ⁶⁸one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁶⁹one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁷⁰one male goat for a sin offering; ⁷¹and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

⁷²On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran,^† the leader of the people of Asher, brought his offering.

⁷³His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ⁷⁴one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁷⁵one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁷⁶one male goat for a sin offering; ⁷⁷and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran.

⁷⁸On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan,^† the leader of the people of Naphtali, brought his offering.

⁷⁹His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ⁸⁰one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁸¹one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁸²one male goat for a sin offering; ⁸³and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old, to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

⁸⁴These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed:^† twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls^† and twelve gold dishes.^† ⁸⁵Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels,^[18] according to the sanctuary shekel. ⁸⁶The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels.^[19] ⁸⁷The total number of animals for the burnt offering came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering. Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering. ⁸⁸The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.^†

⁸⁹When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD,^† he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover^† on the ark of the Testimony. And he spoke with him.

Numbers 8

Setting Up the Lamps

¹The LORD said to Moses, ²“Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand.^†’ ”

Hittite Instructions for Priests

Numbers 8 Several copies of a Hittite text outlining the instructions for priests and temple personnel are currently housed in Turkish collections. Dating prior to the time of the Hittite King Suppiluliumas I¹ (c. 1350–1325 B.C.), the text details these temple officials’ proper appearance and conduct during the performance of their duties. A few instructions nearly parallel the Biblical rules for priests and Levites:

• Hittite temple kitchen attendants were to trim their hair and fingernails and dress in clean garments. The house in which the sacred bread was baked was to be swept clean, and no pigs or dogs (animals considered filthy in antiquity) were allowed in that house. Similarly, the Biblical consecration ritual for the Levites required them to shave their entire bodies and wash their clothes to symbolize their absolute ritual purity before God (Nu 8:7).² Further, the Israelite high priest was to maintain clean and well-coiffed hair and to refrain from tearing his clothes in mourning because he had been dedicated with the anointing oil of the Lord (Lev 21:10–12).

• Although Hittite temple servants received a daily allowance of foodstuffs for themselves and their families, if a servant were to siphon extra wine or steal a portion of any item intended for sacrifice, he was to be put to death. Likewise, if such a servant were to pilfer a temple treasure or any other article designated for the gods’ use, he and his entire family were to be killed.

In Israel, Levites too received daily allowances from their congregations’ sacrifices (Lev 28–36; Nu 18:8–19; Dt 18:1–5).³ Yet Eli’s wicked sons selected the choicest portions of meat before the sacrifice was properly divided, thereby incurring God’s wrath (1Sa 2:12–17, 27–34). And, just as the Hittites were warned (under punishment of death) not to steal from the gods, Achan and his family were stoned to death because he retained some plunder that was to have been devoted to the Lord (Jos 7:1, 16–26).

• Hittite priests were to conduct designated feasts at their appointed times, using the requisite number of animals and/or other food supplies. Similarly, God instructed Moses regarding the observance of specific feasts at particular times throughout the year (Lev 23; Nu 9:1–14; Dt 16:1–17).⁴

• Hittite farmers and herdsmen were to bring the firstfruits of their crops and herds to the temple. If they attempted to cheat the gods by withholding the best produce or highest-quality fatted animals for themselves, they were severely punished, often by their own deaths and those of their entire families. Likewise, the Israelites were to donate the firstfruits of their harvests to the Lord: The firstborn of man and beast were to be redeemed—in a sense “purchased back” through sacrifices—in recognition that God had provided for and sustained them (Lev 23:9–14; Nu 18:13; Dt 18:4; Ne 10:35–36).

The fact that the priestly stipulations in effect during the times of Moses, Eli and Samuel had contemporary parallels among the Hittites is important because such commonality undermines the widely accepted theory that the Biblical priestly code is a very late work that could not have originated during the time of Moses.

Hittite goblet

Preserving Bible Times; © Dr. James C. Martin; permission of Turkish Antiquities

1. See “Anatolia and the Hittites.”

2. See “Ritual Purity in Israel and the Ancient Near East.”

3. See “Sacrifices and Offerings in the Bible and the Ancient Near East.”

4. See “The Festivals of Israel.”

³Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the LORD commanded Moses. ⁴This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold ^†—from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern^† the LORD had shown Moses.

The Setting Apart of the Levites

⁵The LORD said to Moses: ⁶“Take the Levites from among the other Israelites and make them ceremonially clean.^† ⁷To purify them, do this: Sprinkle the water of cleansing ^† on them; then have them shave their whole bodies^† and wash their clothes,^† and so purify themselves. ⁸Have them take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil;^† then you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering. ⁹Bring the Levites to the front of the Tent of Meeting ^† and assemble the whole Israelite community.^† ¹⁰You are to bring the Levites before the LORD, and the Israelites are to lay their hands on them.^† ¹¹Aaron is to present the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering ^† from the Israelites, so that they may be ready to do the work of the LORD.

¹²“After the Levites lay their hands on the heads of the bulls,^† use the one for a sin offering to the LORD and the other for a burnt offering, to make atonement^† for the Levites. ¹³Have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons and then present them as a wave offering to the LORD. ¹⁴In this way you are to set the Levites apart from the other Israelites, and the Levites will be mine.^†

¹⁵“After you have purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering,^† they are to come to do their work at the Tent of Meeting. ¹⁶They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn, the first male offspring^† from every Israelite woman. ¹⁷Every firstborn male in Israel, whether man or animal,^† is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set them apart for myself.^† ¹⁸And I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel.^† ¹⁹Of all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons ^† to do the work at the Tent of Meeting on behalf of the Israelites^† and to make atonement for them^† so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary.”

²⁰Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites just as the LORD commanded Moses. ²¹The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes.^† Then Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the LORD and made atonement for them to purify them.^† ²²After that, the Levites came to do their work at the Tent of Meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons. They did with the Levites just as the LORD commanded Moses.

²³The LORD said to Moses, ²⁴“This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more ^† shall come to take part in the work at the Tent of Meeting,^† ²⁵but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. ²⁶They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites.”

Numbers 9

The Passover

¹The LORD spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month^† of the second year after they came out of Egypt.^† He said, ²“Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover at the appointed time. ³Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with all its rules and regulations.^†”

⁴So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, ⁵and they did so in the Desert of Sinai at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.^† The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses.

⁶But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean^† on account of a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron^† that same day ⁷and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the LORD’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?”

⁸Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you.”^†

⁹Then the LORD said to Moses, ¹⁰“Tell the Israelites: ‘When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a journey, they may still celebrate ^† the LORD’s Passover. ¹¹They are to celebrate it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.^† ¹²They must not leave any of it till morning ^† or break any of its bones.^† When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations. ¹³But if a man who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, that person must be cut off from his people ^† because he did not present the LORD’s offering at the appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.

¹⁴“ ‘An alien^† living among you who wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover must do so in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for the alien and the native-born.’ ”

The Cloud Above the Tabernacle

¹⁵On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud^† covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire.^† ¹⁶That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. ¹⁷Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.^† ¹⁸At the LORD’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. ¹⁹When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the LORD’s order and did not set out. ²⁰Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the LORD’s command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. ²¹Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. ²²Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. ²³At the LORD’s command they encamped, and at the LORD’s command they set out. They obeyed the LORD’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.

Numbers 10

The Silver Trumpets

¹The LORD said to Moses: ²“Make two trumpets ^† of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community^† together and for having the camps set out. ³When both are sounded, the whole community is to assemble before you at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. ⁴If only one is sounded, the leaders ^†—the heads of the clans of Israel—are to assemble before you. ⁵When a trumpet blast is sounded, the tribes camping on the east are to set out.^† ⁶At the sounding of a second blast, the camps on the south are to set out.^† The blast will be the signal for setting out. ⁷To gather the assembly, blow the trumpets,^† but not with the same signal.^†

⁸“The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you and the generations to come.^† ⁹When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you,^† sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered^† by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies.^† ¹⁰Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed feasts and New Moon festivals ^†—you are to sound the trumpets^† over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings,^[20] and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the LORD your God.”

The Israelites Leave Sinai

¹¹On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year,^† the cloud lifted^† from above the tabernacle of the Testimony. ¹²Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran. ¹³They set out, this first time, at the LORD’s command through Moses.^†

¹⁴The divisions of the camp of Judah went first, under their standard.^† Nahshon son of Amminadab^† was in command. ¹⁵Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe of Issachar, ¹⁶and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun. ¹⁷Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and Merarites, who carried it, set out.^†

¹⁸The divisions of the camp of Reuben went next, under their standard.^† Elizur son of Shedeur was in command. ¹⁹Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon, ²⁰and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad. ²¹Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things.^† The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.^†

²²The divisions of the camp of Ephraim^† went next, under their standard. Elishama son of Ammihud was in command. ²³Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh, ²⁴and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin.

²⁵Finally, as the rear guard ^† for all the units, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out, under their standard. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was in command. ²⁶Pagiel son of Ocran was over the division of the tribe of Asher, ²⁷and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali. ²⁸This was the order of march for the Israelite divisions as they set out.

²⁹Now Moses said to Hobab ^† son of Reuel^† the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law,^† “We are setting out for the place about which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you.’^† Come with us and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel.”

³⁰He answered, “No, I will not go;^† I am going back to my own land and my own people.”

³¹But Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the desert, and you can be our eyes.^† ³²If you come with us, we will share with you ^† whatever good things the LORD gives us.^†”

³³So they set out^† from the mountain of the LORD and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the LORD^† went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest. ³⁴The cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp.^†

³⁵Whenever the ark set out, Moses said,

“Rise up, O LORD!

May your enemies be scattered;^†

may your foes flee before you.^†”

³⁶Whenever it came to rest, he said,

“Return,^† O LORD,

to the countless thousands of Israel.^†”

Numbers 11

Fire From the LORD

¹Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them^† and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. ²When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the LORD ^† and the fire died down. ³So that place was called Taberah,^[21] ^† because fire from the LORD had burned among them.

Quail From the LORD

⁴The rabble with them began to crave other food,^† and again the Israelites started wailing^† and said, “If only we had meat to eat! ⁵We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.^† ⁶But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”

⁷The manna was like coriander seed ^† and looked like resin.^† ⁸The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a handmill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into cakes. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. ⁹When the dew ^† settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.

¹⁰Moses heard the people of every family wailing, each at the entrance to his tent. The LORD became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. ¹¹He asked the LORD, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?^† ¹²Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant,^† to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers?^† ¹³Where can I get meat for all these people?^† They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ ¹⁴I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.^† ¹⁵If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death ^† right now^†—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

¹⁶The LORD said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. ¹⁷I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them.^† They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.^†

¹⁸“Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves^† in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The LORD heard you when you wailed,^† “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!”^† Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat it. ¹⁹You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, ²⁰but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it ^†—because you have rejected the LORD,^† who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?” ’ ”

²¹But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men^† on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ ²²Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?”^†

²³The LORD answered Moses, “Is the LORD’s arm too short?^† You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you.^†”

²⁴So Moses went out and told the people what the LORD had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the Tent. ²⁵Then the LORD came down in the cloud ^† and spoke with him,^† and he took of the Spirit^† that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders.^† When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied,^† but they did not do so again.^[22]

²⁶However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the Tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. ²⁷A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”

²⁸Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide ^† since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”^†

²⁹But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets^† and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” ³⁰Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

³¹Now a wind went out from the LORD and drove quail^† in from the sea. It brought them^[23] down all around the camp to about three feet^[24] above the ground, as far as a day’s walk in any direction. ³²All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers.^[25] Then they spread them out all around the camp. ³³But while the meat was still between their teeth ^† and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.^† ³⁴Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah,^[26] ^† because there they buried the people who had craved other food.

³⁵From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth^† and stayed there.

Numbers 12

Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses

¹Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife,^† for he had married a Cushite. ²“Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?”^† And the LORD heard this.^†

³(Now Moses was a very humble man,^† more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)

⁴At once the LORD said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the Tent of Meeting, all three of you.” So the three of them came out. ⁵Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud;^† he stood at the entrance to the Tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them stepped forward, ⁶he said, “Listen to my words:

“When a prophet of the LORD is among you,

I reveal myself to him in visions,^†

I speak to him in dreams.^†

⁷But this is not true of my servant Moses;^†

he is faithful in all my house.^†

⁸With him I speak face to face,

clearly and not in riddles;^†

he sees the form of the LORD.^†

Why then were you not afraid

to speak against my servant Moses?”

⁹The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he left them.^†

¹⁰When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam—leprous,^[27] like snow.^† Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy;^† ¹¹and he said to Moses, “Please, my lord, do not hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed.^† ¹²Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother’s womb with its flesh half eaten away.”

¹³So Moses cried out to the LORD, “O God, please heal her!^†”

¹⁴The LORD replied to Moses, “If her father had spit in her face,^† would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp^† for seven days; after that she can be brought back.” ¹⁵So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back.

¹⁶After that, the people left Hazeroth ^† and encamped in the Desert of Paran.

Numbers 13

Exploring Canaan

¹The LORD said to Moses, ²“Send some men to explore^† the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”

Kadesh Barnea

Numbers 13 Sometimes referred to as Kadesh (Nu 13:26; 20:1) or Kedesh (Jos 15:23), the Biblical site of Kadesh Barnea is an important location in Israelite history. Miriam, Moses’ sister, died there (Nu 20:1), and Moses, overcome by anger, disobediently struck the rock that brought forth water at this location (20:11). The 12 spies also returned there after their foray into the promised land (13:26). Although the name Kadesh is probably related to the Hebrew word qadesh, meaning “holiness,” the origin of “Barnea” is unknown.

Since 1905 modern Ain el-Qudeirat in the Wadi el-Ain of the northern Sinai has been widely accepted to be the location of the Biblical Kadesh Barnea (“Map 1”). Several Iron Age¹ fortresses have been excavated there. The oldest, a small, elliptical structure, dates to the tenth century B.C. but was evidently abandoned for some time after the first fort’s destruction. A second fort constructed during the eighth century B.C. (probably during the reign of Uzziah)² was destroyed during the seventh century B.C., most likely during Manasseh’s² reign. This fort was somewhat larger and rectangular in shape, and a good amount of pottery associated with this structure has been found. Most significantly, two ostraca (pottery fragments containing writing) engraved in Hebrew have been recovered there, suggesting that Israelites did indeed occupy this site.

In 586 B.C. the Babylonians may have destroyed a final fortress, which appears to have been built during Josiah’s³ rule. Some ostraca containing inventories of goods have also been unearthed; their texts are in Hebrew, but the numerals are hieratic (a cursive form of Egyptian hieroglyphics that became common during the late Judahite monarchy).

At Ain el-Qudeirat, not a single pottery sherd has been discovered dating to the Late Bronze or Iron I periods. This archaeological gap has troubled historians who have sought evidence for an Israelite presence there, as indicated in Numbers. Skeptics have suggested that this interruption gives reason to question the veracity of the Biblical accounts of the exodus and the subsequent conquest of Canaan.⁴

Others have interpreted this pause differently, challenging the identification of Ain el-Qudeirat with the Biblical Kadesh Barnea and suggesting alternative sites at Ain Qedeis and Ain Qeseimeh. But problems exist with these sites, too. The Kadesh Barnea mentioned in Numbers (chs. 20 and 33) was probably a region rather than a specific site (see 33:36), and the Bible does not imply that a significant settlement existed there when the Israelites passed through.

Since the archaeological work at Ain el-Qudeirat has not been completed, the possibility remains that Late Bronze or Iron Age I evidence will in fact surface. Future excavations there and elsewhere may help to answer lingering questions concerning this Biblical location.

Kadesh Barnea ruins

1. See “Archaeological Periods Chart” in the front of this Bible.

2. To learn more about these kings, see “Uzziah, King of Judah, and Jeroboam II, King of Israel”, as well as “The Seal of Manasseh.”

3. See “The Tragic Reign of King Josiah.”

4. See “The Conquest of Canaan.”

Who Were the Nephilim?

Numbers 13 There are only two Biblical references to the Nephilim (Ge 6:4; Nu 13:33), people of “great size” (v. 32) from whom the Anakites were said to have descended. Upon glimpsing these imposing inhabitants of Canaan,¹ ten of the twelve spies became demoralized and terrified. The Nephilim may have been similar in appearance to the Rephaites, a race of strong, tall men with whom the Anakites are compared in Deuteronomy 2:21.

The Nephilim are described in Genesis 6:4 as having been mighty men who lived before the great flood. The author of Genesis linked them to “the sons of God” (other translations render this “sons of the gods”), either in terms of being identical to this group or of being their offspring. Three theories have been proposed regarding the parentage of these Nephilim (these hypotheses do not address the problem of how they might have survived the flood to appear in Canaan at the time of the spy expedition):

• Some Biblical historians argue that the “sons of God” were righteous men (descendants of Seth) who married worldly, female descendants of Cain and thus became defiled. Their progeny increased in sinfulness until God rectified the worsening situation with the flood. However, this theory does not explain why the word translated “men” in Genesis 6:1 describes all of humanity, while the same word in verse 2 designates only Cain’s line.

• Other scholars argue that “the sons of God” (Ge 6:2) were kings who took multiple wives in order to build dynasties from their numerous descendants. In several instances ancient Near Eastern documents refer to kings as being the sons of particular gods. Also, Akkadian texts indicate that the Hebrew word translated “men” in Genesis 6:4 could alternatively mean “commoners” in some contexts. This would suggest that the Nephilim were kings who acquired harems, using the daughters of commoners, and sired large families through them. But no other Biblical passages refer to kings in general as “sons of God,” and later kings (such as Solomon) who had many wives are not identified as being among the Nephilim.

• Still other scholars believe that the “sons of God” were angels who impregnated human women and sired demigods (beings with more power than humans but less than gods) who were able to do whatever they pleased on Earth (much like the mythical Greek Titans), prompting God’s determination to destroy humankind to root out the growing evil.

Jesus specified, however, that angels do not marry (Mt 22:30), and from this it can be argued that they do not procreate. Yet procreation by these particular angels could be regarded as aberrant behavior (see Jude 6). It may be helpful to note that the phrase “sons of God” as used elsewhere in the Old Testament and in other ancient Semitic languages always refers to divine beings (e.g., Job 1:6, where the same Hebrew word is translated “angels”).

Ancient Jewish interpreters unanimously believed the “sons of God” to have been angelic beings, a view possibly reflected in 1 Peter 3:20 and 2 Peter 2:4–5. But if the “sons of God” mentioned in Genesis 6 were indeed angels, and the Nephilim were their offspring, how do these facts relate to the Nephilim mentioned in Numbers 13? Most likely the word “Nephilim” in this later context means something like “giants” or “Titans” (i.e., the term was used literally in Ge 6 but metaphorically in Nu 13).

1. See “Canaan.”

³So at the LORD’s command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites. ⁴These are their names:

from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zaccur;

⁵from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;

⁶from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;^†

⁷from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph;

⁸from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;

⁹from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu;

¹⁰from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi;

¹¹from the tribe of Manasseh (a tribe of Joseph), Gaddi son of Susi;

¹²from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli;

¹³from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;

¹⁴from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi;

¹⁵from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki.

¹⁶These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun^† the name Joshua.)^†

¹⁷When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev^† and on into the hill country.^† ¹⁸See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. ¹⁹What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? ²⁰How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.^†” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

²¹So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin^† as far as Rehob,^† toward Lebo^[28] Hamath.^† ²²They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai,^† the descendants of Anak,^† lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)^† ²³When they reached the Valley of Eshcol,^[29] they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. ²⁴That place was called the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. ²⁵At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.

Report on the Exploration

²⁶They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them ^† and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. ²⁷They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey!^† Here is its fruit.^† ²⁸But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.^† We even saw descendants of Anak there. ²⁹The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”

³⁰Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

³¹But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”^† ³²And they spread among the Israelites a bad report ^† about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours^† those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.^† ³³We saw the Nephilim ^† there (the descendants of Anak^† come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

Numbers 14

The People Rebel

¹That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. ²All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert!^† ³Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” ⁴And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.^†”

⁵Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown^† in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. ⁶Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes ⁷and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.^† ⁸If the LORD is pleased with us,^† he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey,^† and will give it to us. ⁹Only do not rebel ^† against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land,^† because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

¹⁰But the whole assembly talked about stoning^† them. Then the glory of the LORD^† appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites. ¹¹The LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me,^† in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them? ¹²I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation ^† greater and stronger than they.”

¹³Moses said to the LORD, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them.^† ¹⁴And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard ^† that you, O LORD, are with these people and that you, O LORD, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.^† ¹⁵If you put these people to death all at one time, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, ¹⁶‘The LORD was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath; so he slaughtered them in the desert.’^†

¹⁷“Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: ¹⁸‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.^† Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.’^† ¹⁹In accordance with your great love, forgive ^† the sin of these people,^† just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”^†