Day of Atonement

7“ ‘On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves[74] † and do no work.† 8Present as an aroma pleasing to the LORD a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 9With the bull prepare a grain offering† of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; 10and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.† 11Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering† with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.




Feast of Tabernacles

12“ ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh† month,† hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the LORD for seven days. 13Present an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 14With each of the thirteen bulls prepare a grain offering† of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with each of the two rams, two-tenths; 15and with each of the fourteen lambs, one-tenth. 16Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.†

17“ ‘On the second day† prepare twelve young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.† 18With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings† and drink offerings† according to the number specified.† 19Include one male goat as a sin offering,† in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

20“ ‘On the third day prepare eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.† 21With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified.† 22Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

23“ ‘On the fourth day prepare ten bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 24With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 25Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

26“ ‘On the fifth day prepare nine bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 27With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 28Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

29“ ‘On the sixth day prepare eight bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 30With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 31Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

32“ ‘On the seventh day prepare seven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 33With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 34Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

35“ ‘On the eighth day hold an assembly† and do no regular work. 36Present an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD,† a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old,† all without defect. 37With the bull, the ram and the lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 38Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

39“ ‘In addition to what you vow† and your freewill offerings, prepare these for the LORD at your appointed feasts:† your burnt offerings,† grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings.[75]’ ”

40Moses told the Israelites all that the LORD commanded him.


Numbers 30

Vows

1Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel:† “This is what the LORD commands: 2When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.†

3“When a young woman still living in her father’s house makes a vow to the LORD or obligates herself by a pledge 4and her father hears about her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then all her vows and every pledge by which she obligated herself will stand.† 5But if her father forbids her when he hears about it, none of her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand; the LORD will release her because her father has forbidden her.

6“If she marries after she makes a vow† or after her lips utter a rash promise by which she obligates herself 7and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. 8But if her husband† forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the LORD will release her.

9“Any vow or obligation taken by a widow or divorced woman will be binding on her.

10“If a woman living with her husband makes a vow or obligates herself by a pledge under oath 11and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her and does not forbid her, then all her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. 12But if her husband nullifies them when he hears about them, then none of the vows or pledges that came from her lips will stand.† Her husband has nullified them, and the LORD will release her. 13Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself. 14But if her husband says nothing to her about it from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or the pledges binding on her. He confirms them by saying nothing to her when he hears about them. 15If, however, he nullifies them some time after he hears about them, then he is responsible for her guilt.”

16These are the regulations the LORD gave Moses concerning relationships between a man and his wife, and between a father and his young daughter still living in his house.


Numbers 31

Vengeance on the Midianites

1The LORD said to Moses, 2“Take vengeance on the Midianites† for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.†”




3So Moses said to the people, “Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites and to carry out the LORD’s vengeance† on them. 4Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.” 5So twelve thousand men armed for battle, a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel. 6Moses sent them into battle, a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary† and the trumpets† for signaling.

7They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every man.† 8Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba†—the five kings of Midian.† They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.† 9The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder. 10They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps.† 11They took all the plunder and spoils, including the people and animals,† 12and brought the captives, spoils and plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the Israelite assembly† at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.[76]

13Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. 14Moses was angry with the officers of the army†—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle.

15“Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. 16“They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice† and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor,† so that a plague struck the LORD’s people. 17Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man,† 18but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

19“All of you who have killed anyone or touched anyone who was killed† must stay outside the camp seven days. On the third and seventh days you must purify yourselves† and your captives. 20Purify every garment† as well as everything made of leather, goat hair or wood.”

21Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle, “This is the requirement of the law that the LORD gave Moses: 22Gold, silver, bronze, iron,† tin, lead 23and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire,† and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with the water of cleansing.† And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water. 24On the seventh day wash your clothes and you will be clean.† Then you may come into the camp.”

Dividing the Spoils

25The LORD said to Moses, 26“You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the community are to count all the people† and animals that were captured. 27Divide† the spoils between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community. 28From the soldiers who fought in the battle, set apart as tribute for the LORD† one out of every five hundred, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, sheep or goats. 29Take this tribute from their half share and give it to Eleazar the priest as the LORD’s part. 30From the Israelites’ half, select one out of every fifty, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats or other animals. Give them to the Levites, who are responsible for the care of the LORD’s tabernacle.†” 31So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.

32The plunder remaining from the spoils that the soldiers took was 675,000 sheep, 3372,000 cattle, 3461,000 donkeys 35and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.

36The half share of those who fought in the battle was:

337,500 sheep, 37of which the tribute for the LORD† was 675;

3836,000 cattle, of which the tribute for the LORD was 72;

3930,500 donkeys, of which the tribute for the LORD was 61;

4016,000 people, of which the tribute for the LORD was 32.

41Moses gave the tribute to Eleazar the priest as the LORD’s part,† as the LORD commanded Moses.

42The half belonging to the Israelites, which Moses set apart from that of the fighting men— 43the community’s half—was 337,500 sheep, 4436,000 cattle, 4530,500 donkeys 46and 16,000 people. 47From the Israelites’ half, Moses selected one out of every fifty persons and animals, as the LORD commanded him, and gave them to the Levites, who were responsible for the care of the LORD’s tabernacle.

48Then the officers who were over the units of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—went to Moses 49and said to him, “Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one is missing.† 50So we have brought as an offering to the LORD the gold articles each of us acquired—armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves† before the LORD.”

51Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted from them the gold—all the crafted articles. 52All the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds that Moses and Eleazar presented as a gift to the LORD weighed 16,750 shekels.[77] 53Each soldier had taken plunder† for himself. 54Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds and brought it into the Tent of Meeting as a memorial† for the Israelites before the LORD.


Numbers 32

The Transjordan Tribes

1The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer† and Gilead were suitable for livestock.† 2So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, and said, 3“Ataroth,† Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah,† Heshbon, Elealeh,† Sebam, Nebo and Beon†— 4the land the LORD subdued† before the people of Israel—are suitable for livestock,† and your servants have livestock. 5If we have found favor in your eyes,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.”




6Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, “Shall your countrymen go to war while you sit here? 7Why do you discourage the Israelites from going over into the land the LORD has given them?† 8This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look over the land.† 9After they went up to the Valley of Eshcol† and viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land the LORD had given them. 10The LORD’s anger was aroused† that day and he swore this oath: 11‘Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years old or more† who came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath† to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob†— 12not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the LORD wholeheartedly.’† 13The LORD’s anger burned against Israel† and he made them wander in the desert forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone.†

14“And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the LORD even more angry with Israel.† 15If you turn away from following him, he will again leave all this people in the desert, and you will be the cause of their destruction.†”

16Then they came up to him and said, “We would like to build pens here for our livestock† and cities for our women and children. 17But we are ready to arm ourselves and go ahead of the Israelites† until we have brought them to their place.† Meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land. 18We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has received his inheritance.† 19We will not receive any inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan, because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.”†

20Then Moses said to them, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle,† 21and if all of you will go armed over the Jordan before the LORD until he has driven his enemies out before him— 22then when the land is subdued before the LORD, you may return† and be free from your obligation to the LORD and to Israel. And this land will be your possession before the LORD.†

23“But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.† 24Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks,† but do what you have promised.†”

25The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, “We your servants will do as our lord commands. 26Our children and wives, our flocks and herds will remain here in the cities of Gilead.† 27But your servants, every man armed for battle, will cross over to fight before the LORD, just as our lord says.”




28Then Moses gave orders about them† to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and to the family heads of the Israelite tribes. 29He said to them, “If the Gadites and Reubenites, every man armed for battle, cross over the Jordan with you before the LORD, then when the land is subdued before you, give them the land of Gilead as their possession. 30But if they do not cross over with you armed, they must accept their possession with you in Canaan.”

31The Gadites and Reubenites answered, “Your servants will do what the LORD has said.† 32We will cross over before the LORD into Canaan armed, but the property we inherit will be on this side of the Jordan.”

33Then Moses gave to the Gadites,† the Reubenites and the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites† and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the whole land with its cities and the territory around them.†

34The Gadites built up Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,† 35Atroth Shophan, Jazer,† Jogbehah, 36Beth Nimrah† and Beth Haran as fortified cities, and built pens for their flocks. 37And the Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh and Kiriathaim, 38as well as Nebo† and Baal Meon (these names were changed) and Sibmah. They gave names to the cities they rebuilt.

39The descendants of Makir† son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it and drove out the Amorites who were there. 40So Moses gave Gilead to the Makirites,† the descendants of Manasseh, and they settled there. 41Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, captured their settlements and called them Havvoth Jair.[78] † 42And Nobah captured Kenath and its surrounding settlements and called it Nobah after himself.†


Numbers 33

Stages in Israel’s Journey

1Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt† by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.† 2At the LORD’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages:




3The Israelites set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover.† They marched out boldly† in full view of all the Egyptians, 4who were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them; for the LORD had brought judgment on their gods.†

5The Israelites left Rameses and camped at Succoth.†

6They left Succoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the desert.†

7They left Etham, turned back to Pi Hahiroth, to the east of Baal Zephon,† and camped near Migdol.†

8They left Pi Hahiroth[79] and passed through the sea† into the desert, and when they had traveled for three days in the Desert of Etham, they camped at Marah.†

9They left Marah and went to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped† there.

10They left Elim and camped by the Red Sea.[80]

11They left the Red Sea and camped in the Desert of Sin.†

12They left the Desert of Sin and camped at Dophkah.

13They left Dophkah and camped at Alush.

14They left Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.

15They left Rephidim† and camped in the Desert of Sinai.†

16They left the Desert of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah.†

17They left Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.†

18They left Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.

19They left Rithmah and camped at Rimmon Perez.

20They left Rimmon Perez and camped at Libnah.†

21They left Libnah and camped at Rissah.

22They left Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.

23They left Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.

24They left Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.

25They left Haradah and camped at Makheloth.

26They left Makheloth and camped at Tahath.

27They left Tahath and camped at Terah.

28They left Terah and camped at Mithcah.

29They left Mithcah and camped at Hashmonah.

30They left Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.†

31They left Moseroth and camped at Bene Jaakan.

32They left Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Haggidgad.

33They left Hor Haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.†

34They left Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.

35They left Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber.†

36They left Ezion Geber and camped at Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.†

37They left Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor,† on the border of Edom.† 38At the LORD’s command Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor, where he died† on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt.† 39Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.

40The Canaanite king of Arad,† who lived in the Negev of Canaan, heard that the Israelites were coming.

41They left Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.

42They left Zalmonah and camped at Punon.

43They left Punon and camped at Oboth.†

44They left Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim, on the border of Moab.†

45They left Iyim[81] and camped at Dibon Gad.

46They left Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim.

47They left Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim,† near Nebo.

48They left the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.[82] † 49There on the plains of Moab they camped along the Jordan from Beth Jeshimoth to Abel Shittim.†

50On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the LORD said to Moses, 51“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan,† 52drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places.† 53Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.† 54Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans.† To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes.

55“ ‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns† in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. 56And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.’ ”


Numbers 34

Boundaries of Canaan

1The LORD said to Moses, 2“Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance† will have these boundaries:†

3“ ‘Your southern side will include some of the Desert of Zin† along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern boundary will start from the end of the Salt Sea,[83] † 4cross south of Scorpion[84] Pass,† continue on to Zin and go south of Kadesh Barnea.† Then it will go to Hazar Addar and over to Azmon, 5where it will turn, join the Wadi of Egypt† and end at the Sea.[85]

6“ ‘Your western boundary will be the coast of the Great Sea. This will be your boundary on the west.

7“ ‘For your northern boundary,† run a line from the Great Sea to Mount Hor 8and from Mount Hor to Lebo[86] Hamath.† Then the boundary will go to Zedad, 9continue to Ziphron and end at Hazar Enan. This will be your boundary on the north.

10“ ‘For your eastern boundary, run a line from Hazar Enan to Shepham. 11The boundary will go down from Shepham to Riblah† on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Kinnereth.[87] † 12Then the boundary will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea.

“ ‘This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side.’ ”

13Moses commanded the Israelites: “Assign this land by lot as an inheritance.† The LORD has ordered that it be given to the nine and a half tribes, 14because the families of the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance.† 15These two and a half tribes have received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan of Jericho,[88] toward the sunrise.”

16The LORD said to Moses, 17“These are the names of the men who are to assign the land for you as an inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua† son of Nun. 18And appoint one leader from each tribe to help† assign the land. 19These are their names:

Caleb† son of Jephunneh,

from the tribe of Judah;†

20Shemuel son of Ammihud,

from the tribe of Simeon;†

21Elidad son of Kislon,

from the tribe of Benjamin;†

22Bukki son of Jogli,

the leader from the tribe of Dan;

23Hanniel son of Ephod,

the leader from the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph;

24Kemuel son of Shiphtan,

the leader from the tribe of Ephraim son of Joseph;

25Elizaphan son of Parnach,

the leader from the tribe of Zebulun;

26Paltiel son of Azzan,

the leader from the tribe of Issachar;

27Ahihud son of Shelomi,

the leader from the tribe of Asher;†

28Pedahel son of Ammihud,

the leader from the tribe of Naphtali.”

29These are the men the LORD commanded to assign the inheritance to the Israelites in the land of Canaan.


Numbers 35

Towns for the Levites

1On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho,[89] the LORD said to Moses, 2“Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in† from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands around the towns. 3Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for their cattle, flocks and all their other livestock.

4“The pasturelands around the towns that you give the Levites will extend out fifteen hundred feet[90] from the town wall. 5Outside the town, measure three thousand feet[91] on the east side, three thousand on the south side, three thousand on the west and three thousand on the north, with the town in the center. They will have this area as pastureland for the towns.

Cities of Refuge

6“Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee.† In addition, give them forty-two other towns. 7In all you must give the Levites forty-eight towns, together with their pasturelands. 8The towns you give the Levites from the land the Israelites possess are to be given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: Take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few.”†

9Then the LORD said to Moses: 10“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan,† 11select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone† accidentally† may flee. 12They will be places of refuge from the avenger,† so that a person accused of murder may not die before he stands trial before the assembly. 13These six towns you give will be your cities of refuge. 14Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge. 15These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites, aliens and any other people living among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there.

16“ ‘If a man strikes someone with an iron object so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.† 17Or if anyone has a stone in his hand that could kill, and he strikes someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. 18Or if anyone has a wooden object in his hand that could kill, and he hits someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death. 19The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death.† 20If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at him intentionally† so that he dies21or if in hostility he hits him with his fist so that he dies, that person shall be put to death; he is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.

22“ ‘But if without hostility someone suddenly shoves another or throws something at him unintentionally† 23or, without seeing him, drops a stone on him that could kill him, and he dies, then since he was not his enemy and he did not intend to harm him, 24the assembly† must judge between him and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. 25The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send him back to the city of refuge to which he fled. He must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.†

26“ ‘But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which he has fled 27and the avenger of blood finds him outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder. 28The accused must stay in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may he return to his own property.

29“ ‘These are to be legal requirements† for you throughout the generations to come, wherever you live.

30“ ‘Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.†

31“ ‘Do not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. He must surely be put to death.

32“ ‘Do not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge and so allow him to go back and live on his own land before the death of the high priest.

33“ ‘Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land,† and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. 34Do not defile the land† where you live and where I dwell,† for I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.’ ”


Numbers 36

Inheritance of Zelophehad’s Daughters

1The family heads of the clan of Gilead† son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, who were from the clans of the descendants of Joseph, came and spoke before Moses and the leaders,† the heads of the Israelite families. 2They said, “When the LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance to the Israelites by lot, he ordered you to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad† to his daughters. 3Now suppose they marry men from other Israelite tribes; then their inheritance will be taken from our ancestral inheritance and added to that of the tribe they marry into. And so part of the inheritance allotted to us will be taken away. 4When the Year of Jubilee† for the Israelites comes, their inheritance will be added to that of the tribe into which they marry, and their property will be taken from the tribal inheritance of our forefathers.”




5Then at the LORD’s command Moses gave this order to the Israelites: “What the tribe of the descendants of Joseph is saying is right. 6This is what the LORD commands for Zelophehad’s daughters: They may marry anyone they please as long as they marry within the tribal clan of their father. 7No inheritance† in Israel is to pass from tribe to tribe, for every Israelite shall keep the tribal land inherited from his forefathers. 8Every daughter who inherits land in any Israelite tribe must marry someone in her father’s tribal clan,† so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of his fathers. 9No inheritance may pass from tribe to tribe, for each Israelite tribe is to keep the land it inherits.”

10So Zelophehad’s daughters did as the LORD commanded Moses. 11Zelophehad’s daughters—Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah and Noah†—married their cousins on their father’s side. 12They married within the clans of the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in their father’s clan and tribe.

13These are the commands and regulations the LORD gave through Moses† to the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.[92] †

DEUTERONOMY

Author, Place and Date of Writing

Moses is attested to have written most of this book (see 1:1, 5; 31:24–25), as well as most of the Pentateuch. Numerous New Testament references attribute passages of Deuteronomy to him (see, e.g., Mt 19:7–8; Mk 10:3–5; Ac 3:22–23; 7:37–38; Ro 10:19). An unknown author must have filled in the narrative framework surrounding the Mosaic material (the preamble in Dt 1–5 and the conclusion in ch. 34), as well as other, smaller passages.

According to 1:5, Moses presented his speeches as the Israelites camped in Moab, at the point where the Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea, after which he wrote them down (31:24–25). This suggests that the speeches and events recorded in Deuteronomy took place just prior to the conquest—traditionally dated by many conservative evangelical scholars to approximately 1440–1400 B.C.

Audience

The original audience for Deuteronomy was the generation of Israelites who would soon enter Canaan. Since this book summarized the law for their future generations as well, those who followed after were also to understand and obey it (see, e.g., 4:9, 40). Numerous New Testament references to Moses and Deuteronomy illustrate this book’s importance.

Cultural Facts and Highlights

After 40 years of desert wandering the Israelites were poised to enter Canaan, the promised land. God had proved his faithfulness again and again, but as soon as they crossed the Jordan River they would have numerous battles to fight—physical clashes with the Canaanites and spiritual frays in order for them to remain God’s holy people. At this key time in history God gave Moses important truths to share as the former shepherd prepared to turn over his leadership to Joshua.

God and Moses knew the many challenges the Israelites would face in their new land, and this new generation needed a refresher course concerning the covenant God had made with them through their forebears. All but two members of the older generation (the faithful spies, Joshua and Caleb) that had camped by Mount Sinai when God had given Moses the law had died in the wilderness.

Timeline

As You Read

Visualize the Israelites gathered on Canaan’s border, eager to hear what their elderly, faithful leader had to say. Most of them had been born or had reached adulthood in the desert. Moses knew he could not enter Canaan because of his earlier disobedience (Nu 20:12), but filled with God’s Spirit he still delivered three lengthy speeches, which together restated God’s covenant requirements with Israel and the need for future generations to remember and live according to them. Make an attempt to enter vicariously into the anticipation of that gathered throng who had waited so long for the events about to take place. These were truly momentous speeches at a vital time in Israel’s history.

Did You Know?


Themes

Deuteronomy contains the following themes:

  1. The covenant. The major theme of Deuteronomy is the covenant relationship between God and his people. God’s unmerited love (7:6–9) is the basis not only of the covenant but also of his people’s trust in him. Covenants, a central focus in Scripture, take on a historical progression: the Noahic covenant (Ge 9:8–17), the Abrahamic covenant (Ge 15:9–21), the Sinaitic covenant (Ex 19:5–6), the Levitical covenant (Nu 25:10–13), the Davidic covenant (2Sa 7:5–16) and the new covenant (Jer 31:31–34).
  2. Choices. The covenant exhorted God’s people to teach, remember and obey (Dt 6:6–25). God promised that obedience would bring blessing (28:1–14) but warned that disobedience would result in harm (28:15–68).
  3. The poor. As a reflection of God’s love for society’s socially vulnerable (10:18–19), Deuteronomy designated special protections and commands involving the inclusion of widows, orphans, resident foreigners, the disabled and the elderly (5:14; 14:29; 15:7–11; 16:11, 14; 24:10–21; 26:12–13; 27:19).

Outline

I. Preamble (1:1–5)

II. Historical Prologue (1:6–4:43)

III. Stipulations of the Covenant (4:44–26:19)

A. Primary Demands (4:44–11:32)

B. Supplementary Requirements (12–26)

IV. Ratification; Curses and Blessings (27–30)

V. Leadership Succession Under the Covenant (31–34)


Deuteronomy 1

The Command to Leave Horeb

1These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the desert east of the Jordan—that is, in the Arabah—opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab. 2(It takes eleven days to go from Horeb† to Kadesh Barnea† by the Mount Seir road.)




3In the fortieth year,† on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed† to the Israelites all that the LORD had commanded him concerning them. 4This was after he had defeated Sihon† king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon,† and at Edrei had defeated Og† king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.

5East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab, Moses began to expound this law, saying:

6The LORD our God said to us† at Horeb,† “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. 7Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev† and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon,† as far as the great river, the Euphrates. 8See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore† he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.”

The Appointment of Leaders

9At that time I said to you, “You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone.† 10The LORD your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as many† as the stars in the sky.† 11May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised!† 12But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself? 13Choose some wise, understanding and respected men† from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.”

14You answered me, “What you propose to do is good.”

15So I took† the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials. 16And I charged your judges at that time: Hear the disputes between your brothers and judge fairly,† whether the case is between brother Israelites or between one of them and an alien.† 17Do not show partiality† in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man,† for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.† 18And at that time I told you everything you were to do.

Spies Sent Out

19Then, as the LORD our God commanded us, we set out from Horeb and went toward the hill country of the Amorites through all that vast and dreadful desert† that you have seen, and so we reached Kadesh Barnea.† 20Then I said to you, “You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us. 21See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid;† do not be discouraged.”

22Then all of you came to me and said, “Let us send men ahead to spy out the land for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take and the towns we will come to.”

23The idea seemed good to me; so I selected† twelve of you, one man from each tribe. 24They left and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol† and explored it. 25Taking with them some of the fruit of the land, they brought it down to us and reported,† “It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us.”

Rebellion Against the LORD

26But you were unwilling to go up;† you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. 27You grumbled† in your tents and said, “The LORD hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us. 28Where can we go? Our brothers have made us lose heart. They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller† than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites† there.’ ”

29Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. 30The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight† for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, 31and in the desert. There you saw how the LORD your God carried† you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”

32In spite of this, you did not trust† in the LORD your God, 33who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day,† to search† out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go.

34When the LORD heard what you said, he was angry and solemnly swore:† 35“Not a man of this evil generation shall see the good land† I swore to give your forefathers, 36except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.†”

37Because of you the LORD became angry† with me also and said, “You shall not enter† it, either. 38But your assistant, Joshua† son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage† him, because he will lead† Israel to inherit it. 39And the little ones that you said would be taken captive,† your children who do not yet know† good from bad—they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it. 40But as for you, turn around and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.[1] †”

41Then you replied, “We have sinned against the LORD. We will go up and fight, as the LORD our God commanded us.” So every one of you put on his weapons, thinking it easy to go up into the hill country.

42But the LORD said to me, “Tell them, ‘Do not go up and fight, because I will not be with you. You will be defeated by your enemies.’ ”†

43So I told you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the LORD’s command and in your arrogance you marched up into the hill country. 44The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees† and beat you down from Seir all the way to Hormah. 45You came back and wept before the LORD, but he paid no attention to your weeping and turned a deaf ear to you. 46And so you stayed in Kadesh† many days—all the time you spent there.


Deuteronomy 2

Wanderings in the Desert

1Then we turned back and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea,[2] † as the LORD had directed me. For a long time we made our way around the hill country of Seir.




2Then the LORD said to me, 3“You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north. 4Give the people these orders:† ‘You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, but be very careful. 5Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to put your foot on. I have given Esau the hill country of Seir as his own.† 6You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.’ ”

7The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched† over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.

8So we went on past our brothers the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion Geber,† and traveled along the desert road of Moab.†

9Then the LORD said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any part of their land. I have given Ar† to the descendants of Lot† as a possession.”

10(The Emites† used to live there—a people strong and numerous, and as tall as the Anakites.† 11Like the Anakites, they too were considered Rephaites, but the Moabites called them Emites. 12Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out. They destroyed the Horites from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did† in the land the LORD gave them as their possession.)

13And the LORD said, “Now get up and cross the Zered Valley.” So we crossed the valley.

14Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea† until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that entire generation† of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn to them.† 15The LORD’s hand was against them until he had completely eliminated† them from the camp.

16Now when the last of these fighting men among the people had died, 17the LORD said to me, 18“Today you are to pass by the region of Moab at Ar. 19When you come to the Ammonites,† do not harass them or provoke them to war, for I will not give you possession of any land belonging to the Ammonites. I have given it as a possession to the descendants of Lot.†”

20(That too was considered a land of the Rephaites, who used to live there; but the Ammonites called them Zamzummites. 21They were a people strong and numerous, and as tall as the Anakites.† The LORD destroyed them from before the Ammonites, who drove them out and settled in their place. 22The LORD had done the same for the descendants of Esau, who lived in Seir,† when he destroyed the Horites from before them. They drove them out and have lived in their place to this day. 23And as for the Avvites† who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorites† coming out from Caphtor[3] † destroyed them and settled in their place.)

Defeat of Sihon King of Heshbon

24“Set out now and cross the Arnon Gorge.† See, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his country. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle. 25This very day I will begin to put the terror† and fear† of you on all the nations under heaven. They will hear reports of you and will tremble† and be in anguish because of you.”

26From the desert of Kedemoth I sent messengers to Sihon king of Heshbon offering peace and saying, 27“Let us pass through your country. We will stay on the main road; we will not turn aside to the right or to the left.† 28Sell us food to eat and water to drink for their price in silver. Only let us pass through on foot†— 29as the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir, and the Moabites, who live in Ar, did for us—until we cross the Jordan into the land the LORD our God is giving us.” 30But Sihon king of Heshbon refused to let us pass through. For the LORD† your God had made his spirit stubborn† and his heart obstinate in order to give him into your hands, as he has now done.

31The LORD said to me, “See, I have begun to deliver Sihon and his country over to you. Now begin to conquer and possess his land.”†

32When Sihon and all his army came out to meet us in battle† at Jahaz, 33the LORD our God delivered him over to us and we struck him down,† together with his sons and his whole army. 34At that time we took all his towns and completely destroyed[4] † them—men, women and children. We left no survivors. 35But the livestock and the plunder from the towns we had captured we carried off for ourselves. 36From Aroer† on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from the town in the gorge, even as far as Gilead, not one town was too strong for us. The LORD our God gave† us all of them. 37But in accordance with the command of the LORD our God,† you did not encroach on any of the land of the Ammonites,† neither the land along the course of the Jabbok† nor that around the towns in the hills.


Deuteronomy 3

Defeat of Og King of Bashan

1Next we turned and went up along the road toward Bashan, and Og king of Bashan with his whole army marched out to meet us in battle at Edrei.† 2The LORD said to me, “Do not be afraid† of him, for I have handed him over to you with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.”




3So the LORD our God also gave into our hands Og king of Bashan and all his army. We struck them down, leaving no survivors.† 4At that time we took all his cities. There was not one of the sixty cities that we did not take from them—the whole region of Argob, Og’s kingdom in Bashan.† 5All these cities were fortified with high walls and with gates and bars, and there were also a great many unwalled villages. 6We completely destroyed[5] them, as we had done with Sihon king of Heshbon, destroying[6] † every city—men, women and children. 7But all the livestock and the plunder from their cities we carried off for ourselves.

8So at that time we took from these two kings of the Amorites the territory east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge as far as Mount Hermon. 9(Hermon is called Sirion† by the Sidonians; the Amorites call it Senir.)† 10We took all the towns on the plateau, and all Gilead, and all Bashan as far as Salecah† and Edrei, towns of Og’s kingdom in Bashan. 11(Only Og king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaites.† His bed[7] was made of iron and was more than thirteen feet long and six feet wide.[8] It is still in Rabbah† of the Ammonites.)

Division of the Land

12Of the land that we took over at that time, I gave the Reubenites and the Gadites the territory north of Aroer† by the Arnon Gorge, including half the hill country of Gilead, together with its towns. 13The rest of Gilead and also all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh. (The whole region of Argob in Bashan used to be known as a land of the Rephaites. 14Jair,† a descendant of Manasseh, took the whole region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites; it was named after him, so that to this day Bashan is called Havvoth Jair.[9]) 15And I gave Gilead to Makir.† 16But to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory extending from Gilead down to the Arnon Gorge (the middle of the gorge being the border) and out to the Jabbok River,† which is the border of the Ammonites. 17Its western border was the Jordan in the Arabah, from Kinnereth† to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea[10] †), below the slopes of Pisgah.

18I commanded you at that time: “The LORD your God has given you this land to take possession of it. But all your able-bodied men, armed for battle, must cross over ahead of your brother Israelites.† 19However, your wives, your children and your livestock (I know you have much livestock) may stay in the towns I have given you, 20until the LORD gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they too have taken over the land that the LORD your God is giving them, across the Jordan. After that, each of you may go back to the possession I have given you.”

Moses Forbidden to Cross the Jordan

21At that time I commanded Joshua: “You have seen with your own eyes all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. The LORD will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going. 22Do not be afraid† of them; the LORD your God himself will fight† for you.”

23At that time I pleaded with the LORD: 24“O Sovereign LORD, you have begun to show to your servant your greatness† and your strong hand. For what god† is there in heaven or on earth who can do the deeds and mighty works† you do?† 25Let me go over and see the good land† beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon.”

26But because of you the LORD was angry† with me and would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the LORD said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. 27Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan.† 28But commission† Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across† and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” 29So we stayed in the valley near Beth Peor.†


Deuteronomy 4

Obedience Commanded

1Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live† and may go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2Do not add† to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.




3You saw with your own eyes what the LORD did at Baal Peor.† The LORD your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor, 4but all of you who held fast to the LORD your God are still alive today.

5See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. 6Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom† and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”† 7What other nation is so great† as to have their gods near† them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? 8And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?

9Only be careful,† and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach† them to your children† and to their children after them. 10Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb,† when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.” 11You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while it blazed with fire† to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. 12Then the LORD spoke† to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice. 13He declared to you his covenant,† the Ten Commandments,† which he commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets. 14And the LORD directed me at that time to teach you the decrees and laws you are to follow in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.

Idolatry Forbidden

15You saw no form† of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully,† 16so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol,† an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, 17or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, 18or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. 19And when you look up to the sky and see the sun,† the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array†—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. 20But as for you, the LORD took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace,† out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance,† as you now are.

21The LORD was angry with me† because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the LORD your God is giving you as your inheritance. 22I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land.† 23Be careful not to forget the covenant† of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol† in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. 24For the LORD your God is a consuming fire,† a jealous God.

25After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil† in the eyes of the LORD your God and provoking him to anger, 26I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you† this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. 27The LORD will scatter† you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you. 28There you will worship man-made gods† of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.† 29But if from there you seek† the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart† and with all your soul.† 30When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days† you will return to the LORD your God and obey him. 31For the LORD your God is a merciful† God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.

The LORD Is God

32Ask† now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth;† ask from one end of the heavens to the other.† Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? 33Has any other people heard the voice of God[11] speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived?† 34Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation,† by testings, by miraculous signs† and wonders,† by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,† or by great and awesome deeds,† like all the things the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?

35You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other.† 36From heaven he made you hear his voice† to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire. 37Because he loved† your forefathers and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength,† 38to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance,† as it is today.

39Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.† 40Keep† his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well† with you and your children after you and that you may live long† in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time.

Cities of Refuge

41Then Moses set aside three cities east of the Jordan, 42to which anyone who had killed a person could flee if he had unintentionally killed his neighbor without malice aforethought. He could flee into one of these cities and save his life. 43The cities were these: Bezer in the desert plateau, for the Reubenites; Ramoth in Gilead, for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites.

Introduction to the Law

44This is the law Moses set before the Israelites. 45These are the stipulations, decrees and laws Moses gave them when they came out of Egypt 46and were in the valley near Beth Peor east of the Jordan, in the land of Sihon† king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon and was defeated by Moses and the Israelites as they came out of Egypt. 47They took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan. 48This land extended from Aroer† on the rim of the Arnon Gorge to Mount Siyon[12] † (that is, Hermon), 49and included all the Arabah east of the Jordan, as far as the Sea of the Arabah,[13] below the slopes of Pisgah.


Deuteronomy 5

The Ten Commandments

1Moses summoned all Israel and said:

Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. 2The LORD our God made a covenant† with us at Horeb. 3It was not with our fathers that the LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today.† 4The LORD spoke† to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. 5(At that time I stood between† the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid† of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said:

6“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

7“You shall have no other gods before[14] me.

8“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 9You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,† 10but showing love to a thousand [ generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.†

11“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.†

12“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy,† as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 14but the seventh day† is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. 15Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.† Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

16“Honor your father and your mother,† as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long† and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

17“You shall not murder.†

18“You shall not commit adultery.†

19“You shall not steal.

20“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

21“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”†

22These are the commandments the LORD proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; and he added nothing more. Then he wrote them on two stone tablets† and gave them to me.

23When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leading men of your tribes and your elders came to me. 24And you said, “The LORD our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks with him.† 25But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer.† 26For what mortal man has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived?† 27Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then tell us whatever the LORD our God tells you. We will listen and obey.”

28The LORD heard you when you spoke to me and the LORD said to me, “I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good.† 29Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me† and keep all my commands† always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!†

30“Go, tell them to return to their tents. 31But you stay here† with me so that I may give you all the commands, decrees and laws you are to teach them to follow in the land I am giving them to possess.”

32So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left.† 33Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you,† so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days† in the land that you will possess.


Deuteronomy 6

Love the LORD Your God

1These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2so that you, your children and their children after them may fear† the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly† in a land flowing with milk and honey,† just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.

4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.[15] † 5Love† the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.† 6These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.† 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.† 8Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.† 9Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.†

10When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build,† 11houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied,† 12be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

13Fear the LORD† your God, serve him only† and take your oaths in his name. 14Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15for the LORD your God†, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. 16Do not test the LORD your God† as you did at Massah. 17Be sure to keep the commands of the LORD your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you.† 18Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so that it may go well† with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers, 19thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the LORD said.

20In the future, when your son asks you,† “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?” 21tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22Before our eyes the LORD sent miraculous signs and wonders—great and terrible—upon Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers. 24The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God,† so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.† 25And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.†”