The Fourth Book of Moses Called
NUMBERS
Author
Authorship is traditionally ascribed to Moses, the central personality of the book. Numbers 33:2 makes specific reference to Moses writing down points about the wilderness journey.
The English title Numbers is taken from its title (arithmoi) in the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint), followed by the Latin Vulgate (numeri). In the Hebrew text the name of the book is In the Wilderness, taken from the opening line, “The LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai.”
Date
Assuming Mosaic authorship, it was likely written about 1400 B.C., shortly before his death. Events in the book span about 40 years, beginning shortly after the Exodus in 1440 B.C.
Content
The division of the opening books of the Old Testament into five books or scrolls, (called “The Pentateuch,” meaning “Five Scrolls”), should not obscure the point that each of the five books is a continuation of the preceding. Moses, whose birth is recounted in Exodus 2 and whose death is narrated in Deuteronomy 34, is the figure who unites the story from Exodus through Deuteronomy.
The Book of Numbers continues the account of the Mosaic period, which begins in Exodus. It begins with Israel still at Sinai. The Israelites’ entry into the Wilderness of Sinai is recorded in Exodus 19:1. Israel leaves Sinai at Numbers 10:11.
Numbers has two major divisions: 1) the section containing instructions while still at Sinai (1:1—10:10); 2) the wilderness journey, which covers the itinerary from Sinai to the plains of Moab across the Jordan from the Promised Land (10:11—36:13). The instructions at Sinai deal with the preparation for the journey, and the rest of the book tells of the journey itself.
The instructions at Sinai (1:1—10:10) cover a variety of topics, but those dealing with the preparation for the journey dominate. Chapters 1—4 deal with a series of instructions to number (take a census of) various groups followed by a report of the compliance with the command. Chapters 5 and 6 deal with ritual uncleanness, marital unfaithfulness, and Nazirites. In chapter 7 the leaders of the people bring offerings for the tabernacle. Chapter 8 deals with the consecration of the Levites. Chapter 9 deals with Passover and the cloud and fire; the preparation motif is reconsidered in 10:1–10, where the instructions are given for signal trumpets to be made.
The section of Numbers that deals with the journey (10:11—36:13) has two major parts. First, 10:11—25:18 describes the perishing of the generation that experienced Yahweh’s deliverance from Egypt. The key points in this part are the accounts of the complaints, rebellions, and disobedience of the first generation, which led to their deaths.
The second subsection (26—36) narrates the preparation of the second generation for entry into the Promised Land. It begins with a new census (compare ch. 1), noting that the entire first generation, except Joshua, Caleb, and Moses, had died in the wilderness. This section ends with the apportionment of the land among the tribes after they have entered the Promised Land.
Personal Application
One of the most familiar events in Numbers is the negative report of the ten spies, as opposed to the positive one of Joshua and Caleb (13:25–33). This resulted in severe chastisement (14:20–38). From this we learn the profound consequences that can sometimes develop from being faithless and negative. When God speaks a promise, we need to respond with optimism, not pessimism.
The repeated grumblings of the Israelites, even in light of God’s continuous provision, show us the need to maintain an attitude of thankfulness to God, even when we have great needs (Phil. 4:6).
Numbers also shows us the side of God that He is slow to reveal—His anger (14:20–38). Though He is loving and merciful, He is also just. When mankind repeatedly rejects Him, He must issue judgment (Heb. 9:27); when His children repeatedly disobey, He must chastise, sometimes severely (Heb. 12:3–11).
Christ Revealed
Jesus Christ is pictured in Numbers as the Provider. The apostle Paul writes concerning Christ that He was the spiritual Rock that followed the Israelites through the wilderness and gave them spiritual drink (1 Cor. 10:4). The rock that gave water occurs twice in the story of the wilderness (ch. 20; Ex. 17). Paul emphasizes the provision of Christ for the needs of His people whom He has delivered from bondage.
The messianic figure of Israel’s King is prophesied by Balaam in 24:17: “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel.” Jewish tradition interpreted this verse messianically, as attested by the Qumran texts. Jesus Christ is the Messiah, according to the uniform witness of the New Testament, and the true King about whom Balaam speaks.
The Holy Spirit at Work
The Holy Spirit is spoken of directly in chapter 11. There the Spirit is depicted as performing two functions: anointing for leadership and inspiring prophecy. In verse 16 Moses is asking the Lord for help in his leadership duties. The response is that Yahweh will take the Spirit that is upon Moses (identified in v. 29 as the Lord’s Spirit) and pass it to his leaders. Even a leader like Moses was unable to do everything and needed Spirit-gifted leadership in the performance of his task.
When the Spirit is given to the elders, He causes prophesying (v. 25). Only the appointed seventy elders prophesy. When Joshua complains that two of the elders in the camp are also prophesying, Moses expresses the longing that all God’s people would also receive His Spirit and prophesy. This hope of Moses is picked up in Joel 2:28–32 and is ultimately fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16–21) when the Spirit was poured out and made available to all.
Outline of Numbers
I. Instructions for the journey from Sinai 1:1—10:10
A. Account of census taking 1:1—4:49
1. Military census 1:1—2:34
2. Nonmilitary census: Levites 3:1—4:49
B. Further instructions and accounts 5:1—10:10
1. Five instructions 5:1—6:27
2. Leaders’ offerings 7:1–89
3. Dedicating Levites 8:1–26
4. Second Passover 9:1–14
5. Guidance by cloud and fire 9:15–23
6. The silver trumpets 10:1–10
II. Account of the journey from Sinai 10:11—36:13
A. Rebellion and punishment of first generation 10:11—25:18
1. Account of first march from Sinai 10:11–36
2. Complaining of the people 11:1–3
3. Craving for meat 11:4–35
4. Challenge to Moses 12:1–16
5. Refusal to enter the Promised Land 13:1—14:45
6. Instruction concerning offerings 15:1–41
7. Challenges to Aaron’s authority 16:1—18:32
8. Laws of purification 19:1–22
9. Death of Miriam and Aaron 20:1–29
10. From Mount Hor to the plains of Moab 21:1–35
11. Balak and Balaam 22:1—25:18
B. Preparation of the newgeneration 26:1—36:13
1. A new census 26:1–65
2. Instructions concerning inheritance, offerings, and vows 27:1—30:16
3. Vengeance on the Midianites 31:1–54
4. The Transjordanian tribes 32:1–42
5. Itinerary from Egypt to Moab 33:1–49
6. Instructions for the occupation of Canaan 33:50—36:13
The First Census of Israel
1
1 NOW the LORD spoke to Moses ain the Wilderness of Sinai, bin the tabernacle of meeting, on the cfirst day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying:
2 a“Take a census of all the *congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male bindividually,
3 “from atwenty years old and above—all who are able to go to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
4 “And with you there shall be a man from every *tribe, each one the head of his father’s house.
5 “These are the names of the men who shall stand with you: from Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur;
6 “from Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai;
7 “from Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab;
8 “from Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar;
9 “from Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon;
10 “from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;
11 “from Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni;
12 “from Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;
13 “from Asher, Pagiel the son of Ocran;
14 “from Gad, Eliasaph the son of aDeuel;1
15 “from Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.”
16 aThese were bchosen1 from the congregation, leaders of their fathers’ tribes, cheads of the divisions in Israel.
17 Then Moses and Aaron took these men who had been 1mentioned aby name,
18 and they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month; and they recited their aancestry by families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, each one individually.
19 As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the Wilderness of Sinai.
20 Now the achildren of Reuben, Israel’s oldest son, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, every male individually, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
21 those who were numbered of the tribe of Reuben were forty-six thousand five hundred.
22 From the achildren of Simeon, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, of those who were numbered, according to the number of names, every male individually, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
23 those who were numbered of the tribe of Simeon were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.
24 From the achildren of Gad, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
25 those who were numbered of the tribe of Gad were forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty.
26 From the achildren of Judah, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
27 those who were numbered of the tribe of Judah were aseventy-four thousand six hundred.
28 From the achildren of Issachar, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
29 those who were numbered of the tribe of Issachar were fifty-four thousand four hundred.
30 From the achildren of Zebulun, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
31 those who were numbered of the tribe of Zebulun were fifty-seven thousand four hundred.
32 From the sons of Joseph, the achildren of Ephraim, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
33 those who were numbered of the tribe of Ephraim were forty thousand five hundred.
34 From the achildren of Manasseh, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
35 those who were numbered of the tribe of Manasseh were thirty-two thousand two hundred.
36 From the achildren of Benjamin, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
37 those who were numbered of the tribe of Benjamin were thirty-five thousand four hundred.
38 From the achildren of Dan, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
39 those who were numbered of the tribe of Dan were sixty-two thousand seven hundred.
40 From the achildren of Asher, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
41 those who were numbered of the tribe of Asher were forty-one thousand five hundred.
42 From the children of Naphtali, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
43 those who were numbered of the tribe of Naphtali were fifty-three thousand four hundred.
44 aThese are the ones who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, with the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each one representing his father’s house.
45 So all who were numbered of the children of Israel, by their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war in Israel—
46 all who were numbered were asix hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.
47 But athe Levites were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe;
48 for the LORD had spoken to Moses, saying:
49 a“Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor take a census of them among the children of Israel;
50 a“but you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, over all its furnishings, and over all things that belong to it; they shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they shall attend to it band camp around the tabernacle.
51 a“And when the tabernacle is to go forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall set it bup. cThe outsider who comes near shall be put to death.
52 “The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, aeveryone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies;
53 a“but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no bwrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall ckeep1 charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony.”
54 Thus the children of Israel did; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so they did.
The Tribes and Leaders by Armies
2
1 And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
2 a“Everyone of the children of Israel shall camp by his own 1standard, beside the emblems of his father’s house; they shall camp bsome distance from the tabernacle of meeting.
3 “On the aeast side, toward the rising of the sun, those of the standard of the forces with Judah shall camp according to their armies; and bNahshon the son of Amminadab shall be the leader of the children of Judah.”
4 And his *army was numbered at seventy-four thousand six hundred.
5 “Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar, and Nethanel the son of Zuar shall be the leader of the children of Issachar.”
6 And his army was numbered at fifty-four thousand four hundred.
7 “Then comes the tribe of Zebulun, and Eliab the son of Helon shall be the leader of the children of Zebulun.”
8 And his army was numbered at fifty-seven thousand four hundred.
9 “All who were numbered according to their armies of the forces with Judah, one hundred and eighty-six thousand four hundred—athese shall 1break camp first.
10 “On the asouth side shall be the standard of the forces with Reuben according to their armies, and the leader of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.”
11 And his army was numbered at forty-six thousand five hundred.
12 “Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon, and the leader of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.”
13 And his army was numbered at fifty-nine thousand three hundred.
14 “Then comes the tribe of Gad, and the leader of the children of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of 1Reuel.”
15 And his army was numbered at forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty.
16 “All who were numbered according to their armies of the forces with Reuben, one hundred and fifty-one thousand four hundred and fifty—athey shall 1be the second to break camp.
17 a“And the tabernacle of meeting shall move out with the 1camp of the Levites bin the middle of the 2camps; as they camp, so they shall move out, everyone in his place, by their 3standards.
18 “On the west side shall be the standard of the forces with Ephraim according to their armies, and the leader of the children of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.”
19 And his army was numbered at forty thousand five hundred.
20 “Next to him comes the tribe of Manasseh, and the leader of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.”
21 And his army was numbered at thirty-two thousand two hundred.
22 “Then comes the tribe of Benjamin, and the leader of the children of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.”
23 And his army was numbered at thirty-five thousand four hundred.
24 “All who were numbered according to their armies of the forces with Ephraim, one hundred and eight thousand one hundred—athey shall 1be the third to break camp.
25 “The 1standard of the forces with Dan shall be on the north side according to their armies, and the leader of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.”
26 And his army was numbered at sixty-two thousand seven hundred.
27 “Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher, and the leader of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.”
28 And his army was numbered at forty-one thousand five hundred.
29 “Then comes the tribe of Naphtali, and the leader of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.”
30 And his army was numbered at fifty-three thousand four hundred.
31 “All who were numbered of the forces with Dan, one hundred and fifty-seven thousand six hundred—athey shall 1break camp last, with their 2standards.”
32 These are the ones who were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers’ houses. aAll who were numbered according to their armies of the forces were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.
33 But athe Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel, just as the LORD commanded Moses.
34 Thus the children of Israel adid according to all that the LORD commanded Moses; bso they camped by their 1standards and so they broke camp, each one by his family, according to their fathers’ houses.
The Sons of Aaron
3
1 Now these are the arecords1 of Aaron and Moses *when the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.
2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab, the afirstborn, and bAbihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, athe anointed priests, 1whom he consecrated to minister as priests.
4 aNadab and Abihu had died before the LORD when they offered profane fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the presence of Aaron their father.
The Levites Serve in the Tabernacle
5 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
6 a“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and pre-sent them before Aaron the *priest, that they may serve him.
7 “And they shall attend to his needs and the needs of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of meeting, to do athe work of the tabernacle.
8 “Also they shall attend to all the furnishings of the tabernacle of meeting, and to the needs of the children of Israel, to do the work of the tabernacle.
9 “And ayou shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are given entirely to 1him from among the children of Israel.
10 “So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, aand they shall attend to their priesthood; bbut the outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”
11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
12 “Now behold, aI Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be bMine,
13 “because aall the firstborn are Mine. bOn the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both *man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the LORD.”
Census of the Levites Commanded
14 Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying:
15 “Number the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families; you shall number aevery male from a month old and above.”
16 So Moses numbered them according to the 1word of the LORD, as he was commanded.
17 aThese were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
18 And these are the names of the sons of aGershon by their families: bLibni and Shimei.
19 And the sons of aKohath by their families: bAmram, Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20 aAnd the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their fathers’ houses.
21 From Gershon came the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimites; these were the families of the Gershonites.
22 Those who were numbered, according to the number of all the males from a month old and above—of those who were numbered there were seven thousand five hundred.
23 aThe families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle westward.
24 And the leader of the father’s house of the Gershonites was Eliasaph the son of Lael.
25 aThe duties of the children of Gershon in the tabernacle of meeting included bthe tabernacle, cthe tent with dits covering, ethe screen for the door of the tabernacle of meeting,
26 athe screen for the door of the court, bthe hangings of the court which are around the tabernacle and the altar, and ctheir cords, according to all the work relating to them.
27 aFrom Kohath came the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these were the families of the Kohathites.
28 According to the number of all the males, from a month old and above, there were eight thousand 1six hundred 2keeping charge of the sanctuary.
29 aThe families of the children of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle.
30 And the leader of the fathers’ house of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan the son of aUzziel.
31 aTheir duty included bthe ark, cthe table, dthe lampstand, ethe altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, fthe screen, and all the work relating to them.
32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the leaders of the Levites, with oversight of those who kept charge of the sanctuary.
33 From Merari came the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these were the families of Merari.
34 And those who were numbered, according to the number of all the males from a month old and above, were six thousand two hundred.
35 The leader of the fathers’ house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. aThese were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.
36 And athe appointed duty of the children of Merari included the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, its utensils, all the work relating to them,
37 and the pillars of the court all around, with their sockets, their pegs, and their cords.
38 aMoreover those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tabernacle of meeting, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons, bkeeping charge of the sanctuary, cto meet the needs of the children of Israel; but dthe outsider who came near was to be put to death.
39 aAll who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, by their families, all the males from a month old and above, were twenty-two thousand.
Levites Dedicated Instead of the Firstborn
40 Then the LORD said to Moses: a“Number1 all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and above, and take the number of their names.
41 a“And you shall take the Levites for Me—I am the LORD—instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel.”
42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded him.
43 And all the firstborn males, according to the number of names from a month old and above, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three.
44 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
45 a“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. The Levites shall be Mine: I am the LORD.
46 “And for athe redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, bwho are more than the number of the Levites,
47 “you shall take afive shekels for each one bindividually; you shall take them in the currency of the shekel of the sanctuary, cthe shekel of twenty gerahs.
48 “And you shall give the money, with which the excess number of them is redeemed, to Aaron and his sons.”
49 So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites.
50 From the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, aone thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
51 And Moses agave their redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Duties of the Sons of Kohath
4
1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
2 “Take a census of the sons of aKohath from among the children of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ house,
3 a“from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting.
4 a“This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of meeting, relating to bthe most holy things:
5 “When the camp prepares to journey, Aaron and his sons shall come, and they shall take down athe covering veil and cover the bark of the Testimony with it.
6 “Then they shall put on it a covering of badger skins, and spread over that a cloth entirely of ablue; and they shall insert bits poles.
7 “On the atable of showbread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the pans, the bowls, and the 1pitchers for pouring; and the bshowbread2 shall be on it.
8 “They shall spread over them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of badger skins; and they shall insert its poles.
9 “And they shall take a blue cloth and cover the alampstand of the light, bwith its lamps, its wick-trimmers, its trays, and all its oil vessels, with which they service it.
10 “Then they shall put it with all its utensils in a covering of badger skins, and put it on a carrying beam.
11 “Over athe golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of badger skins; and they shall insert its poles.
12 “Then they shall take all the autensils of service with which they minister in the sanctuary, put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering of badger skins, and put them on a carrying beam.
13 “Also they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it.
14 “They shall put on it all its implements with which they minister there—the firepans, the forks, the shovels, the 1basins, and all the utensils of the altar—and they shall spread on it a covering of badger skins, and insert its poles.
15 “And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is set to go, then athe sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; bbut they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. cThese are the things in the tabernacle of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry.
16 “The appointed duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest is athe oil for the light, the bsweet incense, cthe daily grain offering, the danointing oil, the oversight of all the tabernacle, of all that is in it, with the sanctuary and its furnishings.”
17 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
18 “Do not cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites;
19 “but do this in regard to them, that they may live and not die when they approach athe most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and 1appoint each of them to his service and his task.
20 a“But they shall not go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, lest they die.”
Duties of the Sons of Gershon
21 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
22 “Also take a census of the sons of aGershon, by their fathers’ house, by their families.
23 a“From thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, you shall number them, all who enter to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting.
24 “This is the aservice of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and carrying:
25 a“They shall carry the bcurtains of the tabernacle and the tabernacle of meeting with its covering, the covering of cbadger skins that is on it, the screen for the door of the tabernacle of meeting,
26 “the screen for the door of the gate of the court, the hangings of the court which are around the tabernacle and altar, and their cords, all the furnishings for their ser-vice and all that is made for these things: so shall they serve.
27 “Aaron and his sons shall 1assign all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, all their tasks and all their service. And you shall 2appoint to them all their tasks as their duty.
28 “This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of meeting. And their duties shall be aunder the 1authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
Duties of the Sons of Merari
29 “As for the sons of aMerari, you shall number them by their families and by their fathers’ house.
30 a“From thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, you shall number them, everyone who enters the service to do the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
31 “And athis is bwhat they must carry as all their service for the tabernacle of meeting: cthe boards of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets,
32 “and the pillars around the court with their sockets, pegs, and cords, with all their furnishings and all their service; and you shall aassign to each man by name the items he must carry.
33 “This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, as all their service for the tabernacle of meeting, under the 1authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.”
Census of the Levites
34 aAnd Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families and by their fathers’ house,
35 from thirty ayears old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting;
36 and those who were numbered by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.
37 These were the ones who were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all who might serve in the tabernacle of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
38 And those who were numbered of the sons of Gershon, by their families and by their fathers’ house,
39 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting—
40 those who were numbered by their families, by their fathers’ house, were two thousand six hundred and thirty.
41 aThese are the ones who were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all who might serve in the tabernacle of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the LORD.
42 Those of the families of the sons of Merari who were numbered, by their families, by their fathers’ 1house,
43 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting—
44 those who were numbered by their families were three thousand two hundred.
45 These are the ones who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered aaccording to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
46 All who were anumbered of the Levites, whom Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel numbered, by their families and by their fathers’ houses,
47 afrom thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who came to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens in the tabernacle of meeting—
48 those who were numbered were eight thousand five hundred and eighty.
49 According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, aeach according to his service and according to his task; thus were they numbered by him, bas the LORD commanded Moses.
Ceremonially Unclean Persons Isolated
5
1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, say-ing:
2 “Command the children of Israel that they put out of the camp every aleper, everyone who has a bdischarge, and whoever becomes cdefiled 1by a corpse.
3 “You shall put out both male and female; you shall put them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camps ain the midst of which I dwell.”
4 And the children of Israel did so, and put them outside the camp; as the LORD spoke to Moses, so the children of Israel did.
Confession and Restitution
5 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
6 “Speak to the children of Israel: a‘When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit in unfaithfulness against the LORD, and that person is *guilty,
7 a‘then he shall confess the sin which he has committed. He shall make restitution for his trespass bin full, plus one-fifth of it, and give it to the one he has wronged.
8 ‘But if the man has no 1relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for the wrong must go to the LORD for the priest, in addition to athe ram of the atonement with which *atonement is made for him.
9 ‘Every aoffering1 of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring to the priest, shall be bhis.
10 ‘And every man’s 1holy things shall be his; whatever any man gives the priest shall be ahis.’ ”
Concerning Unfaithful Wives
11 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
12 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘If any man’s wife goes astray and behaves unfaithfully toward him,
13 ‘and a man alies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and it is concealed that she has defiled herself, and there was no witness against her, nor was she bcaught—
14 ‘if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes ajealous of his wife, who has defiled herself; or if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife, although she has not defiled herself—
15 ‘then the man shall bring his wife to the priest. He shall abring the offering required for her, one-tenth of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil on it and put no frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering of jealousy, an offering for remembering, for bbringing iniquity to *remembrance.
16 ‘And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD.
17 ‘The priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel, and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water.
18 ‘Then the priest shall stand the woman before the aLORD, uncover the woman’s head, and put the offering for remembering in her hands, which is the grain offering of jealousy. And the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that brings a curse.
19 ‘And the priest shall put her under oath, and say to the woman, “If no man has lain with you, and if you have not gone astray to uncleanness while under your husband’s authority, *be free from this bitter water that brings a curse.
20 “But if you have gone astray while under your husband’s authority, and if you have defiled yourself and some man other than your husband has lain with you”—
21 ‘then the priest shall aput the woman under the oath of the curse, and he shall say to the woman—b“the LORD make you a curse and an oath among your people, when the LORD makes your thigh 1rot and your belly swell;
22 “and may this water that causes the curse ago into your stomach, and make your belly swell and your thigh rot.” bThen the woman shall say, “Amen, so be it.”
23 ‘Then the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall scrape them off into the bitter water.
24 ‘And he shall make the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter her to become bitter.
25 a‘Then the priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy from the woman’s hand, shall bwave the offering before the LORD, and bring it to the altar;
26 ‘and the priest shall take a handful of the offering, aas its memorial portion, burn it on the altar, and afterward make the woman drink the water.
27 ‘When he has made her drink the water, then it shall be, if she has defiled herself and behaved unfaithfully toward her husband, that the water that brings a acurse will enter her and become bitter, and her belly will swell, her thigh will rot, and the woman bwill become a curse among her people.
28 ‘But if the woman has not defiled herself, and is clean, then she shall be free and may conceive children.
29 ‘This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, while under her husband’s authority, agoes astray and defiles herself,
30 ‘or when the spirit of jealousy comes upon a man, and he becomes jealous of his wife; then he shall stand the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall execute all this law upon her.
31 ‘Then the man shall be free from 1iniquity, but that woman ashall bear her 2guilt.’ ”
The Law of the Nazirite
6
1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When either a man or woman 1consecrates an offering to take the vow of a Nazirite, ato separate himself to the LORD,
3 a‘he shall separate himself from wine and similar drink; he shall drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from similar drink; neither shall he drink any grape juice, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins.
4 ‘All the days of his 1separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, from seed to skin.
5 ‘All the days of the vow of his separation no arazor shall come upon his head; until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the LORD, he shall be holy. Then he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.
6 ‘All the days that he separates himself to the LORD ahe shall not go near a dead body.
7 a‘He shall not 1make himself unclean even for his father or his mother, for his brother or his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head.
8 a‘All the days of his separation he shall be holy to the LORD.
9 ‘And if anyone dies very suddenly beside him, and he defiles his consecrated head, then he shall ashave his head on the day of his cleansing; on the seventh day he shall shave it.
10 ‘Then aon the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting;
11 ‘and the priest shall offer one as a *sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, and make atonement for him, because he sinned in regard to the corpse; and he shall sanctify his head that same day.
12 ‘He shall consecrate to the LORD the days of his separation, and bring a male lamb in its first year aas a trespass offering; but the former days shall be 1lost, because his separation was defiled.
13 ‘Now this is the law of the Nazirite: aWhen the days of his separation are fulfilled, he shall be brought to the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
14 ‘And he shall present his offering to the LORD: one male lamb in its first year without blemish as a burnt offering, one ewe lamb in its first year without blemish aas a sin offering, one ram without blemish bas a peace offering,
15 ‘a basket of unleavened bread, acakes of fine flour mixed with oil, unleavened wafers banointed with oil, and their grain offering with their cdrink offerings.
16 ‘Then the priest shall bring them before the LORD and offer his sin offering and his burnt offering;
17 ‘and he shall offer the ram as a sacrifice of a peace offering to the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread; the priest shall also offer its grain offering and its drink offering.
18 a‘Then the Nazirite shall shave his consecrated head at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and shall take the hair from his consecrated head and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offering.
19 ‘And the priest shall take the aboiled shoulder of the ram, one bunleavened cake from the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and cput them upon the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved his consecrated hair,
20 ‘and the priest shall wave them as a wave offering before the LORD; athey are holy for the priest, together with the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering. After that the Nazirite may drink wine.’
21 “This is the law of the Nazirite who vows to the LORD the offering for his separation, and besides that, whatever else his hand is able to provide; according to the vow which he takes, so he must do according to the law of his separation.”
The Priestly Blessing
22 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall *bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
24 “The LORD abless you and bkeep you;
25 The LORD amake His face shine upon you,
And bbe* gracious to you;
26 aThe LORD 1lift up His countenance upon you,
And bgive you *peace.” ’
27 a“So they shall 1put My name on the children of Israel, and bI will bless them.”
Offerings of the Leaders
7
1 Now it came to pass, when Moses had finished asetting up the tabernacle, that he banointed it and consecrated it and all its furnishings, and the altar and all its utensils; so he anointed them and consecrated them.
2 Then athe leaders of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ houses, who were the leaders of the tribes 1and over those who were numbered, made an offering.
3 And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered carts and twelve oxen, a cart for every two of the leaders, and for each one an ox; and they presented them before the tabernacle.
4 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the work of the tabernacle of meeting; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service.”
6 So Moses took the carts and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites.
7 Two carts and four oxen ahe gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service;
8 aand four carts and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their ser-vice, under the 1authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was athe service of the holy things, bwhich they carried on their shoulders.
10 Now the leaders offered athe dedication offering for the altar when it was anointed; so the leaders offered their offering before the altar.
11 For the LORD said to Moses, “They shall offer their offering, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.”
12 And the one who offered his offering on the first day was aNahshon the son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah.
13 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to athe shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a bgrain offering;
14 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of aincense;
15 aone young bull, one ram, and one male lamb bin its first year, as a burnt offering;
16 one kid of the goats as a asin offering;
17 and for athe sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
18 On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, presented an offering.
19 For his offering he offered one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
20 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
21 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
22 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
23 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.
24 On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, leader of the children of Zebulun, presented an offering.
25 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
26 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
27 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
28 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
29 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.
30 On the fourth day aElizur the son of Shedeur, leader of the children of Reuben, presented an offering.
31 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
32 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
33 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
34 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
35 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.
36 On the fifth day aShelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, leader of the children of Simeon, presented an offering.
37 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
38 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
39 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
40 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
41 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
42 On the sixth day aEliasaph the son of 1Deuel, leader of the children of Gad, presented an offering.
43 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
44 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
45 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as aa burnt offering;
46 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
47 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
48 On the seventh day aElishama the son of Ammihud, leader of the children of Ephraim, presented an offering.
49 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
50 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
51 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
52 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
53 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.
54 On the eighth day aGamaliel the son of Pedahzur, leader of the children of Manasseh, presented an offering.
55 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
56 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
57 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
58 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
59 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
60 On the ninth day aAbidan the son of Gideoni, leader of the children of Benjamin, presented an offering.
61 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
62 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
63 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
64 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
65 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.
66 On the tenth day aAhiezer the son of Ammishaddai, leader of the children of Dan, presented an offering.
67 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
68 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
69 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
70 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
71 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
72 On the eleventh day aPagiel the son of Ocran, leader of the children of Asher, presented an offering.
73 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
74 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
75 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
76 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
77 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.
78 On the twelfth day aAhira the son of Enan, leader of the children of Naphtali, presented an offering.
79 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
80 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
81 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
82 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
83 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.
84 This was athe dedication offering for the altar from the leaders of Israel, when it was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold pans.
85 Each silver platter weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and each bowl seventy shekels. All the silver of the vessels weighed two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
86 The twelve gold pans full of incense weighed ten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the pans weighed one hundred and twenty shekels.
87 All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve young bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs in their first year twelve, with their grain offering, and the kids of the goats as a sin offering twelve.
88 And all the oxen for the sacrifice of peace offerings were twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, and the lambs in their first year sixty. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was aanointed.
89 Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting ato speak with Him, he heard bthe voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from cbetween the two *cherubim; thus He spoke to him.
Arrangement of the Lamps
8
1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, say-ing:
2 “Speak to Aaron, and say to him, ‘When you aarrange the lamps, the seven blamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.’ ”
3 And Aaron did so; he arranged the lamps to face toward the front of the lampstand, as the LORD commanded Moses.
4 aNow this workmanship of the lampstand was hammered gold; from its shaft to its flowers it was bhammered work. cAccording to the pattern which the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.
Cleansing and Dedication of the Levites
5 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
6 “Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them ceremonially.
7 “Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: Sprinkle awater of purification on them, and blet1 them shave all their *body, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.
8 “Then let them take a young bull with aits grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you shall take another young bull as a sin offering.
9 a“And you shall bring the Levites before the tabernacle of meeting, band you shall gather together the whole congregation of the children of Israel.
10 “So you shall bring the Levites before the LORD, and the children of Israel ashall lay their hands on the Levites;
11 “and Aaron shall 1offer the Levites before the LORD, like a awave offering from the children of Israel, that they may perform the work of the LORD.
12 a“Then the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls, and you shall offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites.
13 “And you shall stand the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and then offer them like a wave offering to the LORD.
14 “Thus you shall aseparate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be bMine.
15 “After that the Levites shall go in to service the tabernacle of meeting. So you shall cleanse them and aoffer them, like a wave offering.
16 “For they are awholly given to Me from among the children of Israel; I have taken them for Myself binstead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the children of Israel.
17 a“For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are Mine, both man and beast; on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I 1sanctified them to Myself.
18 “I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the children of Israel.
19 “And aI have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the work for the children of Israel in the tabernacle of meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel, bthat there be no plague among the children of Israel when the children of Israel come near the sanctuary.”
20 Thus Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel did to the Levites; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so the children of Israel did to them.
21 aAnd the Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes; then Aaron presented them, like a wave offering before the LORD, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.
22 aAfter that the Levites went in to do their work in the tabernacle of meeting before Aaron and his sons; bas the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.
23 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
24 “This is what pertains to the Levites: aFrom twenty-five years old and above one may enter to perform service in the work of the tabernacle of meeting;
25 “and at the age of fifty years they must cease performing this work, and shall work no more.
26 “They may minister with their *brethren in the tabernacle of meeting, ato attend to needs, but they themselves shall do no work. Thus you shall do to the Levites regarding their duties.”
The Second Passover
9
1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying:
2 “Let the children of Israel keep athe Passover at its appointed btime.
3 “On the fourteenth day of this month, 1at twilight, you shall 2keep it at its appointed time. According to all its 3rites and ceremonies you shall keep it.”
4 So Moses told the children of Israel that they should keep the Passover.
5 And athey kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, at twilight, in the Wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did.
6 Now there were certain men who were adefiled by a human corpse, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day; band they came before Moses and Aaron that day.
7 And those men said to him, “We became defiled by a human corpse. Why are we kept from presenting the offering of the LORD at its appointed time among the children of Israel?”
8 And Moses said to them, “Stand still, that aI may *hear what the LORD will command concerning you.”
9 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
10 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If anyone of you or your 1posterity is *unclean because of a corpse, or is far away on a journey, he may still keep the LORD’s Passover.
11 ‘On athe fourteenth day of the second month, at twilight, they may keep it. They shall beat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
12 a‘They shall leave none of it until morning, bnor break one of its bones. cAccording to all the 1ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it.
13 ‘But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, and ceases to keep the Passover, that same person ashall be cut off from among his people, because he bdid not bring the offering of the LORD at its appointed time; that man shall cbear his sin.
14 ‘And if a stranger 1dwells among you, and would keep the LORD’s Passover, he must do so according to the rite of the Passover and according to its ceremony; ayou shall have one 2ordinance, both for the stranger and the native of the land.’ ”
The Cloud and the Fire
15 Now aon the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud bcovered the tabernacle, the tent of the Testimony; cfrom evening until morning it was above the tabernacle like the appearance of fire.
16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
17 Whenever the cloud awas 1taken up from above the tabernacle, after that the children of Israel would journey; and in the place where the cloud settled, there the children of Israel would pitch their tents.
18 At the 1command of the LORD the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the LORD they would camp; aas long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped.
19 Even when the cloud continued long, many days above the tabernacle, the children of Israel akept the charge of the LORD and did not journey.
20 So it was, when the cloud was above the tabernacle a few days: according to the command of the LORD they would remain encamped, and according to the command of the LORD they would journey.
21 So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey; whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey.
22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel awould remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey.
23 At the command of the LORD they remained encamped, and at the command of the LORD they journeyed; they akept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
Two Silver Trumpets
10
1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
2 “Make two silver trumpets for yourself; you shall make them of hammered work; you shall use them for acalling the congregation and for directing the movement of the camps.
3 “When athey *blow both of them, all the congregation shall gather before you at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
4 “But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the aheads of the divisions of Israel, shall gather to you.
5 “When you sound the aadvance, bthe camps that lie on the east side shall then begin their journey.
6 “When you sound the advance the second time, then the camps that lie aon the south side shall begin their journey; they shall sound the call for them to begin their journeys.
7 “And when the assembly is to be gathered together, ayou shall blow, but not bsound the advance.
8 a“The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an 1ordinance *forever throughout your generations.
9 a“When you go to war in your land against the enemy who boppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be cremembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.
10 “Also ain the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be ba *memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God.”
Departure from Sinai
11 Now it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud awas taken up from above the tabernacle of the Testimony.
12 And the children of Israel set out from the aWilderness of Sinai on btheir journeys; then the cloud settled down in the cWilderness of Paran.
13 So they started out for the first time aaccording to the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
14 The 1standard of the camp of the children of Judah aset out first according to their armies; over their army was bNahshon the son of Amminadab.
15 Over the *army of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar.
16 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.
17 Then athe tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set out, bcarrying the tabernacle.
18 And athe standard of the camp of Reuben set out according to their armies; over their army was Elizur the son of Shedeur.
19 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
20 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
21 Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the aholy things. (The tabernacle would be 1prepared for their arrival.)
22 And athe standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set out according to their armies; over their army was Elishama the son of Ammihud.
23 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
24 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.
25 Then athe standard of the camp of the children of Dan (the rear guard of all the camps) set out according to their armies; over their army was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
26 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran.
27 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.
28 aThus was the order of march of the children of Israel, according to their armies, when they began their journey.
29 Now Moses said to aHobab the son of bReuel1 the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said, c‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and dwe will treat you well; for ethe LORD has promised good things to Israel.”
30 And he said to him, “I will not go, but I will depart to my own land and to my relatives.”
31 So Moses said, “Please do not leave, inasmuch as you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you can 1be our aeyes.
32 “And it shall be, if you go with us—indeed it shall be—that awhatever good the LORD will do to us, the same we will do to you.”
33 So they departed from athe mountain of the LORD on a journey of three days; and the ark of the *covenant of the LORD bwent before them for the three days’ journey, to search out a *resting place for them.
34 And athe cloud of the LORD was above them by day when they went out from the camp.
35 So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said:
a“Rise up, O LORD!
Let Your enemies be scattered,
And let those who hate You flee before You.”
36 And when it rested, he said:
“Return, O LORD,
To the many thousands of Israel.”
The People Complain
11
1 Now awhen the people complained, it displeased the LORD; bfor the LORD heard it, and His *anger was aroused. So the cfire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.
2 Then the people acried out to Moses, and when Moses bprayed to the LORD, the fire was 1quenched.
3 So he called the name of the place 1Taberah, because the fire of the LORD had burned among them.
4 Now the amixed multitude who were among them 1yielded to bintense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: c“Who will give us meat to eat?
5 a“We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;
6 “but now aour whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!”
7 Now athe manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium.
8 The people went about and gathered it, ground it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, cooked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and aits taste was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil.
9 And awhen the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.
10 Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and athe anger of the LORD was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased.
11 aSo Moses said to the LORD, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the 1burden of all these people on me?
12 “Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, a‘Carry them in your bosom, as a bguardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You cswore1 to their fathers?
13 a“Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’
14 a“I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me.
15 “If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now—if I have found favor in Your sight—and ado not let me see my wretchedness!”
The Seventy Elders
16 So the LORD said to Moses: “Gather to Me aseventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and bofficers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you.
17 “Then I will come down and talk with you there. aI will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.
18 “Then you shall say to the people, 1‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept ain the hearing of the LORD, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat.
19 ‘You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days,
20 a‘but for a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have bdespised the LORD who is among you, and have wept before Him, saying, c“Why did we ever come up out of Egypt?” ’ ”
21 And Moses said, a“The people whom I am among are six hundred thousand men on foot; yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.’
22 a“Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to provide enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to provide enough for them?”
23 And the LORD said to Moses, a“Has1 the LORD’s arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether bwhat* I say will happen to you or not.”
24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD, and he agathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tabernacle.
25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, awhen the Spirit rested upon them, that bthey prophesied, 1although they never did so again.
26 But two men had remained in the camp: the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those listed, but who ahad not gone out to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp.
27 And a young man ran and told Moses, and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”
28 So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, “Moses my lord, aforbid them!”
29 Then Moses said to him, “Are you 1zealous for my sake? aOh, that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!”
30 And Moses returned to the camp, both he and the elders of Israel.
The LORD Sends Quail
31 Now a awind went out from the LORD, and it brought quail from the sea and left them fluttering near the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and about a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the ground.
32 And the people stayed up all that day, all night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten ahomers); and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp.
33 But while the ameat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was aroused against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very great plague.
34 So he called the name of that place 1Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had yielded to craving.
35 aFrom Kibroth Hattaavah the people moved to Hazeroth, and camped at Hazeroth.
Dissension of Aaron and Miriam
12
1 Then aMiriam and Aaron 1spoke bagainst Moses because of the 2Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for che had married an Ethiopian woman.
2 So they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through aMoses? bHas He not spoken through us also?” And the LORD cheard it.
3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
4 aSuddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” So the three came out.
5 aThen the LORD came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward.
6 Then He said,
“Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, make Myself known to him ain a vision;
I speak to him bin a *dream.
7 Not so with aMy servant Moses;
bHe is faithful in all cMy house.
8 I speak with him aface to face,
Even bplainly,1 and not in 2dark sayings;
And he sees cthe form of the LORD.
