Numbers 1:47-14:42

Christian Standard Bible Anglicised

Duties of the Levites

⁴⁷ But the Levites^(A) were not registered with them by their ancestral tribe. ⁴⁸ For the Lord had told Moses, ⁴⁹ ‘Do not register or take a census of the tribe of Levi with the other Israelites. ⁵⁰ Appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, all its furnishings, and everything in it. They are to transport the tabernacle and all its articles, take care of it, and camp round it. ⁵¹ Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever it is to stop at a campsite, the Levites are to set it up. Any unauthorised^(B) person who comes near it is to be put to death.^(C)

⁵² ‘The Israelites are to camp by their military divisions, each man with his encampment and under his banner. ⁵³ The Levites are to camp round the tabernacle of the testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the Israelite community.’^{(D) 54} The Israelites did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.^(E)

Organisation of the Camps

2 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: ² ‘The Israelites are to camp under their respective banners beside the flags of their ancestral families.^[a] They are to camp round the tent of meeting at a distance from it:

³ Judah’s military divisions^(F) will camp on the east side towards the sunrise under their banner. The leader of the descendants of Judah is Nahshon^(G) son of Amminadab. ⁴ His military division numbers 74,600. ⁵ The tribe of Issachar will camp next to it. The leader of the Issacharites is Nethanel son of Zuar. ⁶ His military division numbers 54,400. ⁷ The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the Zebulunites is Eliab son of Helon. ⁸ His military division numbers 57,400. ⁹ The total number in their military divisions who belong to Judah’s encampment is 186,400; they will move out first.

¹⁰ Reuben’s military divisions will camp on the south side under their banner. The leader of the Reubenites is Elizur son of Shedeur. ¹¹ His military division numbers 46,500. ¹² The tribe of Simeon will camp next to it. The leader of the Simeonites is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. ¹³ His military division numbers 59,300. ¹⁴ The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the Gadites is Eliasaph son of Deuel.^{[b] 15} His military division numbers 45,650. ¹⁶ The total number in their military divisions who belong to Reuben’s encampment is 151,450; they will move out second.

¹⁷ The tent of meeting is to move out with the Levites’ camp, which is in the middle of the camps. They are to move out just as they camp, each in his place,^[c] with their banners.

¹⁸ Ephraim’s military divisions will camp on the west side under their banner. The leader of the Ephraimites is Elishama son of Ammihud. ¹⁹ His military division numbers 40,500. ²⁰ The tribe of Manasseh will be next to it. The leader of the Manassites is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. ²¹ His military division numbers 32,200. ²² The tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the Benjaminites is Abidan son of Gideoni. ²³ His military division numbers 35,400. ²⁴ The total in their military divisions who belong to Ephraim’s encampment number 108,100; they will move out third.

²⁵ Dan’s military divisions will camp on the north side under their banner. The leader of the Danites is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. ²⁶ His military division numbers 62,700. ²⁷ The tribe of Asher will camp next to it. The leader of the Asherites is Pagiel son of Ochran. ²⁸ His military division numbers 41,500. ²⁹ The tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the Naphtalites is Ahira son of Enan. ³⁰ His military division numbers 53,400. ³¹ The total number who belong to Dan’s encampment is 157,600; they are to move out last, with their banners.’

³² These are the Israelites registered by their ancestral families. The total number in the camps by their military divisions is 603,550. ³³ But the Levites were not registered among the Israelites, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.^(H)

³⁴ The Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; they camped by their banners in this way and moved out the same way, each man by his clan and by his ancestral family.^[d](I)

Aaron’s Sons and the Levites

3 These are the family records of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.^{(J) 2} These are the names of Aaron’s sons: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ³ These are the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. ⁴ But Nadab and Abihu died in the Lord’s presence when they presented unauthorised fire^(K) before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests under the direction of Aaron their father.^(L)

⁵ The Lord spoke to Moses: ⁶ ‘Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to the priest Aaron to assist him. ⁷ They are to perform duties for^[e] him and the entire community before the tent of meeting by attending to the service of the tabernacle. ⁸ They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting^(M) and perform duties for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle. ⁹ Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been assigned exclusively to him^[f] from the Israelites.^{(N) 10} You are to appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out their priestly responsibilities, but any unauthorised person who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.’^(O)

¹¹ The Lord spoke to Moses: ¹² ‘See, I have taken the Levites from the Israelites in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb.^(P) The Levites belong to me, ¹³ because every firstborn belongs to me. At the time I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt,^(Q) I consecrated every firstborn in Israel to myself, both man and animal. They are mine; I am the Lord.’^(R)

The Levitical Census

¹⁴ The Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai: ¹⁵ ‘Register the Levites by their ancestral families^[g] and their clans. You are to register every male one month old or more.’ ¹⁶ So Moses registered them in obedience to the Lord as he had been commanded:

¹⁷ These were Levi’s sons by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. ¹⁸ These were the names of Gershon’s sons by their clans: Libni and Shimei. ¹⁹ Kohath’s sons by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. ²⁰ Merari’s sons by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the Levite clans by their ancestral families.^(S)

²¹ The Libnite clan and the Shimeite clan came from Gershon; these were the Gershonite clans. ²² Those registered, counting every male one month old or more, numbered 7,500. ²³ The Gershonite clans camped behind the tabernacle on the west side,^{(T) 24} and the leader of the Gershonite families^[h] was Eliasaph son of Lael. ²⁵ The Gershonites’ duties^(U) at the tent of meeting involved the tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting,^{(V) 26} the hangings of the courtyard, the screen for the entrance^(W) to the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and the altar, and the tent ropes – all the work relating to these.

²⁷ The Amramite clan, the Izharite clan, the Hebronite clan, and the Uzzielite clan came from Kohath; these were the Kohathites. ²⁸ Counting every male one month old or more, there were 8,600^[i] responsible for the duties of^[j] the sanctuary. ²⁹ The clans of the Kohathites camped on the south side of the tabernacle,^{(X) 30} and the leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. ³¹ Their duties involved the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the sanctuary utensils that were used with these, and the screen^[k](Y) – and all the work relating to them.^{(Z) 32} The chief of the Levite leaders was Eleazar^(AA) son of Aaron the priest; he had oversight of those responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.

³³ The Mahlite clan and the Mushite clan came from Merari; these were the Merarite clans. ³⁴ Those registered, counting every male one month old or more, numbered 6,200. ³⁵ The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they camped on the north side of the tabernacle.^{(AB) 36} The assigned duties of Merari’s descendants involved the tabernacle’s supports, crossbars, pillars, bases, all its equipment, and all the work related to these,^{(AC) 37} in addition to the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes.

³⁸ Moses, Aaron, and his sons, who performed the duties of^[l] the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites, camped in front of the tabernacle on the east,^(AD) in front of the tent of meeting towards the sunrise. Any unauthorised person who came near it was to be put to death.^(AE)

³⁹ The total number of all the Levite males one month old or more that Moses and Aaron^[m] registered by their clans at the Lord’s command was 22,000.

Redemption of the Firstborn

⁴⁰ The Lord told Moses, ‘Register every firstborn male of the Israelites^(AF) one month old or more, and list their names. ⁴¹ You are to take the Levites for me – I am the Lord – in place of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the Levites’ cattle in place of every firstborn among the Israelites’ cattle.’ ⁴² So Moses registered every firstborn among the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. ⁴³ The total number of the firstborn males one month old or more listed by name was 22,273.

⁴⁴ The Lord spoke to Moses again: ⁴⁵ ‘Take the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the Levites’ cattle in place of their cattle. The Levites belong to me; I am the Lord.^{(AG) 46} As the redemption price for the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites, ⁴⁷ collect five shekels for each person, according to the standard sanctuary shekel – twenty gerahs to the shekel.^{[n](AH) 48} Give the silver to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are in excess among the Israelites.’

⁴⁹ So Moses collected the redemption amount from those in excess of the ones redeemed by the Levites. ⁵⁰ He collected the silver from the firstborn Israelites: 1,365 shekels^[o] measured by the standard sanctuary shekel. ⁵¹ He gave the redemption silver to Aaron and his sons in obedience to the Lord, just as the Lord commanded Moses.

Duties of the Kohathites

4 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: ² ‘Among the Levites, take a census of the Kohathites^(AI) by their clans and their ancestral families,^{[p] 3} men from thirty years old to fifty years old – everyone who is qualified^[q] to do work at the tent of meeting.

⁴ ‘The service of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting concerns the most holy objects.^{(AJ) 5} Whenever the camp is about to move on, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the screening curtain, and cover the ark of the testimony with it.^{(AK) 6} They are to place over this a covering made of fine leather,^[r](AL) spread a solid blue cloth on top, and insert its poles.^(AM)

⁷ ‘They are to spread a blue cloth over the table of the Presence and place the plates and cups on it, as well as the bowls and jugs for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to be on it.^{(AN) 8} They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with a covering made of fine leather, and insert the poles in the table.^(AO)

⁹ ‘They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand^(AP) used for light, with its lamps, snuffers, and firepans,^(AQ) as well as its jars of oil by which they service it. ¹⁰ Then they are to place it with all its utensils inside a covering made of fine leather and put them on the carrying frame.

¹¹ ‘They are to spread a blue cloth over the gold altar,^(AR) cover it with a covering made of fine leather, and insert its poles.^{(AS) 12} They are to take all the serving utensils they use in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering made of fine leather, and put them on a carrying frame.

¹³ ‘They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it, ¹⁴ and place all the equipment on it that they use in serving: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and basins – all the equipment of the altar.^(AT) They are to spread a covering made of fine leather over it and insert its poles.^[s](AU)

¹⁵ ‘Aaron and his sons are to finish covering the holy objects and all their equipment whenever the camp is to move on. The Kohathites will come and carry them, but they are not to touch the holy objects or they will die.^(AV) These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the tent of meeting.

¹⁶ ‘Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has oversight of the lamp oil,^(AW) the fragrant incense,^(AX) the daily grain offering,^(AY) and the anointing oil.^(AZ) He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, the holy objects and their utensils.’^[t]

¹⁷ Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: ¹⁸ ‘Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be wiped out from the Levites. ¹⁹ Do this for them so that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy objects:^(BA) Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and transportation duty. ²⁰ The Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects as they are covered^[u] or they will die.’

Duties of the Gershonites

²¹ The Lord spoke to Moses: ²² ‘Take a census of the Gershonites^(BB) also, by their ancestral families and their clans. ²³ Register men from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who is qualified to perform service, to do work at the tent of meeting. ²⁴ This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transportation duties: ²⁵ they are to transport the tabernacle curtains,^(BC) the tent of meeting with its covering and the covering made of fine leather on top of it, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, ²⁶ the hangings of the courtyard, the screen for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and the altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. They will carry out everything that needs to be done with these items.

²⁷ ‘All the service of the Gershonites, all their transportation duties and all their other work, is to be done at the command of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry. ²⁸ This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the tent of meeting, and their duties will be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.^(BD)

Duties of the Merarites

²⁹ ‘As for the Merarites, you are to register them by their clans^(BE) and their ancestral families. ³⁰ Register men from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who is qualified to do the work of the tent of meeting. ³¹ This is what they are responsible to carry as the whole of their service at the tent of meeting: the supports of the tabernacle, with its crossbars, pillars, and bases, ³² the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and all the work related to them. You are to assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry. ³³ This is the service of the Merarite clans regarding all their work at the tent of meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.’

Census of the Levites

³⁴ So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the community registered the Kohathites by their clans and their ancestral families, ³⁵ men from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who was qualified for work at the tent of meeting. ³⁶ The men registered by their clans numbered 2,750. ³⁷ These were the registered men of the Kohathite clans, everyone who could serve at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron registered them at the Lord’s command through Moses.

³⁸ The Gershonites were registered by their clans and their ancestral families, ³⁹ men from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who was qualified for work at the tent of meeting. ⁴⁰ The men registered by their clans and their ancestral families numbered 2,630. ⁴¹ These were the registered men of the Gershonite clans. At the Lord’s command Moses and Aaron registered everyone who could serve at the tent of meeting.

⁴² The men of the Merarite clans were registered by their clans and their ancestral families, ⁴³ those from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who was qualified for work at the tent of meeting. ⁴⁴ The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200. ⁴⁵ These were the registered men of the Merarite clans; Moses and Aaron registered them at the Lord’s command through Moses.

⁴⁶ Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel registered all the Levites by their clans and their ancestral families, ⁴⁷ from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who was qualified to do the work of serving at the tent of meeting and transporting it. ⁴⁸ Their registered men numbered 8,580. ⁴⁹ At the Lord’s command they were registered under the direction of Moses, each one according to his work and transportation duty, and his assignment was as the Lord commanded Moses.

Isolation of the Unclean

5 The Lord instructed Moses, ² ‘Command the Israelites to send away anyone from the camp who is afflicted with a skin disease,^(BF) anyone who has a discharge,^(BG) or anyone who is defiled because of a corpse.^{(BH) 3} Send away both male or female; send them outside the camp, so that they will not defile their camps where I dwell among them.’ ⁴ The Israelites did this, sending them outside the camp. The Israelites did as the Lord instructed Moses.

Compensation for Wrongdoing

⁵ The Lord spoke to Moses: ⁶ ‘Tell the Israelites: When a man or woman commits any sin against another, that person acts unfaithfully towards the Lord^(BI) and is guilty.^{(BJ) 7} The person is to confess^(BK) the sin he has committed. He is to pay full compensation, add a fifth of its value to it, and give it to the individual he has wronged.^{(BL) 8} But if that individual has no relative^(BM) to receive compensation, the compensation goes to the Lord for the priest, along with the atonement ram by which the priest will make atonement for the guilty person.^{(BN) 9} Every holy contribution the Israelites present to the priest will be his.^{(BO) 10} Each one’s holy contribution is his to give; what each one gives to the priest will be his.’

The Jealousy Ritual

¹¹ The Lord spoke to Moses: ¹² ‘Speak to the Israelites and tell them: If any man’s wife goes astray, is unfaithful to him, ¹³ and sleeps with another,^[v] but it is concealed from her husband, and she is undetected, even though she has defiled herself, since there is no witness against her, and she wasn’t caught in the act; ¹⁴ and if a feeling of jealousy^(BP) comes over the husband and he becomes jealous because of his wife who has defiled herself – or if a feeling of jealousy comes over him and he becomes jealous of her though she has not defiled herself –  ¹⁵ then the man is to bring his wife to the priest. He is also to bring an offering for her of two litres^[w] of barley flour. He is not to pour oil over it or put frankincense on it because it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering for remembrance to draw attention to guilt.

¹⁶ ‘The priest is to bring her forward and make her stand before the Lord. ¹⁷ Then the priest is to take holy water in a clay bowl, take some of the dust from the tabernacle floor, and put it in the water. ¹⁸ After the priest has the woman stand before the Lord, he is to let down her hair^[x] and place in her hands the grain offering for remembrance, which is the grain offering of jealousy. The priest is to hold the bitter water that brings a curse. ¹⁹ The priest will require the woman to take an oath and will say to her, “If no man has slept with you, if you have not gone astray and become defiled while under your husband’s authority, be unaffected by this bitter water that brings a curse. ²⁰ But if you have gone astray while under your husband’s authority, if you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has slept with you” –  ²¹ at this point the priest will make the woman take the oath with the sworn curse, and he is to say to her – “May the Lord make you into an object of your people’s cursing and swearing when he makes your womb^[y] shrivel and your belly swell. ²² May this water that brings a curse enter your stomach, causing your belly to swell and your womb to shrivel.”

‘And the woman will reply, “Amen, Amen.”

²³ ‘Then the priest is to write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water. ²⁴ He will require the woman to drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and it will enter her to cause bitter suffering. ²⁵ The priest is to take the grain offering of jealousy from the woman, present the offering before the Lord, and bring it to the altar. ²⁶ The priest is to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial portion^(BQ) and burn it on the altar. Afterwards, he will require the woman to drink the water.

²⁷ ‘When he makes her drink the water, if she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, the water that brings a curse will enter her to cause bitter suffering; her belly will swell, and her womb will shrivel. She will become a curse among her people. ²⁸ But if the woman has not defiled herself and is pure, she will be unaffected and will be able to conceive children.

²⁹ ‘This is the law regarding jealousy when a wife goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband’s authority, ³⁰ or when a feeling of jealousy comes over a husband and he becomes jealous of his wife. He is to make the woman stand before the Lord, and the priest will carry out all these instructions for her. ³¹ The husband will be free of guilt, but that woman will bear her iniquity.’

The Nazirite Vow

6 The Lord instructed Moses, ² ‘Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When a man or woman makes a special vow, a Nazirite vow,^(BR) to consecrate himself to the Lord, ³ he is to abstain from wine and beer.^(BS) He must not drink vinegar made from wine or from beer. He must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins. ⁴ He is not to eat anything produced by the grapevine, from seeds to skin, during the period of his consecration.

⁵ ‘You must not cut his hair^[z] throughout the time of his vow of consecration. He may be holy until the time is completed during which he consecrates himself to the Lord; he is to let the hair of his head grow long. ⁶ He must not go near a dead body during the time he consecrates himself to the Lord.^{(BT) 7} He is not to defile himself for his father or mother, or his brother or sister, when they die, while the mark of consecration to his God is on his head. ⁸ He is holy to the Lord^(BU) during the time of consecration.

⁹ ‘If someone suddenly dies near him, defiling his consecrated head, he must shave his head on the day of his purification; he is to shave it on the seventh day.^{(BV) 10} On the eighth day he is to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting.^{(BW) 11} The priest is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering^(BX) to make atonement on behalf of the Nazirite, since he incurred guilt because of the corpse. On that day he is to consecrate his head again.^{(BY) 12} He is to rededicate his time of consecration to the Lord and to bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering.^(BZ) But do not count the initial period of consecration because it became defiled.

¹³ ‘This is the law of the Nazirite: on the day his time of consecration is completed, he is to be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting.^{(CA) 14} He is to present an offering to the Lord^(CB) of one unblemished year-old male lamb as a burnt offering, one unblemished year-old female lamb as a sin offering, one unblemished ram as a fellowship offering,^{(CC) 15} along with their grain offerings and drink offerings,^(CD) and a basket of unleavened cakes made from fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers coated with oil.^(CE)

¹⁶ ‘The priest is to present these before the Lord and sacrifice the Nazirite’s sin offering and burnt offering. ¹⁷ He will also offer the ram as a fellowship sacrifice to the Lord, together with the basket of unleavened bread. Then the priest 11will offer the accompanying grain offering and drink offering.

¹⁸ ‘The Nazirite is to shave his consecrated head at the entrance to the tent of meeting, take the hair from his head, and put it on the fire under the fellowship sacrifice. ¹⁹ The priest is to take the boiled shoulder from the ram, one unleavened cake from the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and put them into the hands^(CF) of the Nazirite after he has shaved his consecrated head. ²⁰ The priest is to present them as a presentation offering before the Lord.^(CG) It is a holy portion for the priest, in addition to the breast of the presentation offering and the thigh of the contribution.^(CH) After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.

²¹ ‘These are the instructions about the Nazirite who vows his offering to the Lord for his consecration,^(CI) in addition to whatever else he can afford; he must fulfil whatever vow he makes in keeping with the instructions for his consecration.’

The Priestly Blessing

²² The Lord spoke to Moses: ²³ ‘Tell Aaron and his sons, “This is how you are to bless the Israelites. You should say to them,

²⁷ In this way they will pronounce my name over^[ab] the Israelites, and I will bless them.’

Offerings from the Leaders

7 On the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle,^(CM) he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings, along with the altar and all its utensils. After he anointed and consecrated these things, ² the leaders of Israel, the heads of their ancestral families,^[ac] presented an offering. They were the tribal leaders who supervised the registration.^{(CN) 3} They brought as their offering before the Lord six covered carts and twelve oxen, a cart from every two leaders and an ox from each one, and presented them in front of the tabernacle.

⁴ The Lord said to Moses, ⁵ ‘Accept these from them to be used in the work of the tent of meeting, and give this offering to the Levites, to each division according to their service.’

⁶ So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. ⁷ He gave the Gershonites two carts and four oxen corresponding to their service,^{(CO) 8} and gave the Merarites four carts and eight oxen corresponding to their service,^(CP) under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. ⁹ But he did not give any to the Kohathites, since their responsibility was service related to the holy objects^(CQ) carried on their shoulders.^(CR)

¹⁰ The leaders also presented the dedication gift for the altar when it was anointed.^(CS) The leaders presented their offerings in front of the altar. ¹¹ The Lord told Moses, ‘Each day have one leader present his offering for the dedication of the altar.’^(CT)

¹² The one who presented his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab^(CU) from the tribe of Judah. ¹³ His offering was one silver dish weighing 1.5 kilograms^[ad] and one silver basin weighing 800 grams,^[ae] measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;^{(CV) 14} one gold bowl weighing 115 grams,^[af] full of incense; ¹⁵ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;^{(CW) 16} one male goat for a sin offering;^{(CX) 17} and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice.^(CY) This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

¹⁸ On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar,^(CZ) leader of Issachar, presented an offering. ¹⁹ As his offering, he presented one silver dish weighing 1.5 kilograms and one silver basin weighing 800 grams, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ²⁰ one gold bowl weighing 115 grams, full of incense; ²¹ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ²² one male goat for a sin offering; ²³ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

²⁴ On the third day Eliab son of Helon,^(DA) leader of the Zebulunites, presented an offering. ²⁵ His offering was one silver dish weighing 1.5 kilograms and one silver basin weighing 800 grams, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ²⁶ one gold bowl weighing 115 grams, full of incense; ²⁷ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ²⁸ one male goat for a sin offering; ²⁹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

³⁰ On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur,^(DB) leader of the Reubenites, presented an offering. ³¹ His offering was one silver dish weighing 1.5 kilograms and one silver basin weighing 800 grams, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ³² one gold bowl weighing 115 grams, full of incense; ³³ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ³⁴ one male goat for a sin offering; ³⁵ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

³⁶ On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,^(DC) leader of the Simeonites, presented an offering. ³⁷ His offering was one silver dish weighing 1.5 kilograms and one silver basin weighing 800 grams, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ³⁸ one gold bowl weighing 115 grams, full of incense; ³⁹ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁴⁰ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁴¹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

⁴² On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel,^[ag](DD) leader of the Gadites, presented an offering. ⁴³ His offering was one silver dish weighing 1.5 kilograms and one silver basin weighing 800 grams, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁴⁴ one gold bowl weighing 115 grams full of incense; ⁴⁵ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁴⁶ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁴⁷ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.^[ah]

⁴⁸ On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud,^(DE) leader of the Ephraimites, presented an offering. ⁴⁹ His offering was one silver dish weighing 1.5 kilograms and one silver basin weighing 800 grams, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁵⁰ one gold bowl weighing 115 grams, full of incense; ⁵¹ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁵² one male goat for a sin offering; ⁵³ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.

⁵⁴ On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,^(DF) leader of the Manassites, presented an offering. ⁵⁵ His offering was one silver dish weighing 1.5 kilograms and one silver basin weighing 800 grams, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁵⁶ one gold bowl weighing 115 grams, full of incense; ⁵⁷ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁵⁸ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁵⁹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

⁶⁰ On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni,^(DG) leader of the Benjaminites, presented an offering. ⁶¹ His offering was one silver dish weighing 1.5 kilograms and one silver basin weighing 800 grams, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁶² one gold bowl weighing 115 grams, full of incense; ⁶³ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁶⁴ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁶⁵ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

⁶⁶ On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai,^(DH) leader of the Danites, presented an offering. ⁶⁷ His offering was one silver dish weighing 1.5 kilograms and one silver basin weighing 800 grams, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁶⁸ one gold bowl weighing 115 grams, full of incense; ⁶⁹ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁷⁰ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁷¹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

⁷² On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ochran,^(DI) leader of the Asherites, presented an offering. ⁷³ His offering was one silver dish weighing 1.5 kilograms and one silver basin weighing 800 grams, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁷⁴ one gold bowl weighing 115 grams, full of incense; ⁷⁵ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁷⁶ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁷⁷ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ochran.

⁷⁸ On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan,^(DJ) leader of the Naphtalites, presented an offering. ⁷⁹ His offering was one silver dish weighing 1.5 kilograms and one silver basin weighing 800 grams, measured by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁸⁰ one gold bowl weighing 115 grams, full of incense; ⁸¹ one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; ⁸² one male goat for a sin offering; ⁸³ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

⁸⁴ This was the dedication gift from the leaders of Israel for the altar when it was anointed:^(DK) twelve silver dishes, twelve silver basins, and twelve gold bowls. ⁸⁵ Each silver dish weighed 1.5 kilograms,^[ai] and each basin 800 grams.^[aj] The total weight of the silver articles was 28 kilograms^[ak] measured by the standard sanctuary shekel. ⁸⁶ The twelve gold bowls full of incense each weighed 115 grams measured by the standard sanctuary shekel. The total weight of the gold bowls was 1.4 kilograms.^{[al] 87} All the livestock for the burnt offering^(DL) totalled twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve male lambs a year old, with their grain offerings, and twelve male goats for the sin offering.^{(DM) 88} All the livestock for the fellowship sacrifice^(DN) totalled twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty male lambs a year old. This was the dedication gift for the altar after it was anointed.

⁸⁹ When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him^(DO) from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim.^(DP) He spoke to him that way.

The Lighting in the Tabernacle

8 The Lord spoke to Moses: ² ‘Speak to Aaron and tell him: When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps are to give light in front of the lampstand.’ ³ So Aaron did this; he set up its lamps to give light in front of the lampstand just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ⁴ This is the way the lampstand was made: it was a hammered work of gold, hammered from its base to its flower petals. The lampstand was made according to the pattern the Lord had shown Moses.^(DQ)

Consecration of the Levites

⁵ The Lord spoke to Moses: ⁶ ‘Take the Levites from among the Israelites and ceremonially cleanse them. ⁷ Do this to them for their purification: sprinkle them with the purification water.^(DR) Make them shave their entire bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves.^(DS)

⁸ ‘They are to take a young bull and its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering. ⁹ Bring the Levites before the tent of meeting and assemble the entire Israelite community.^{(DT) 10} Then present the Levites before the Lord, and have the Israelites lay their hands on them. ¹¹ Aaron is to present the Levites before the Lord as a presentation offering from the Israelites, so that they may perform the Lord’s work.^{(DU) 12} Next the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls. Sacrifice one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the Lord, to make atonement for the Levites.^(DV)

¹³ ‘You are to make the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons, and you are to present them before the Lord as a presentation offering. ¹⁴ In this way you are to separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites so that the Levites will belong to me.^{(DW) 15} After that the Levites may come to serve at the tent of meeting, once you have ceremonially cleansed them and presented them as a presentation offering.^{(DX) 16} For they have been exclusively assigned to me from the Israelites.^(DY) I have taken them for myself in place of all who come first from the womb, every Israelite firstborn.^{(DZ) 17} For every firstborn among the Israelites is mine, both man and animal. I consecrated them to myself^(EA) on the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt. ¹⁸ But I have taken the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Israelites. ¹⁹ From the Israelites, I have given the Levites exclusively to Aaron and his sons to perform the work for the Israelites at the tent of meeting and to make atonement on their behalf, so that no plague will come against the Israelites when they approach the sanctuary.’^(EB)

²⁰ Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community did this to the Levites. The Israelites did everything to them the Lord commanded Moses regarding the Levites. ²¹ The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes; then Aaron presented^[am] them before the Lord as a presentation offering. Aaron also made atonement for them to cleanse them ceremonially. ²² After that, the Levites came to do their work at the tent of meeting in the presence of Aaron and his sons. So they did to them as the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites.

²³ The Lord spoke to Moses: ²⁴ ‘In regard to the Levites: from twenty-five years old or more, a man enters the service in the work at the tent of meeting.^{(EC) 25} But at fifty years old he is to retire from his service in the work and no longer serve. ²⁶ He may assist his brothers to fulfil responsibilities^[an] at the tent of meeting,^(ED) but he must not do the work. This is how you are to deal with the Levites regarding their duties.’

The Second Passover

9 In the first month of the second year after their departure from the land of Egypt, the Lord told Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai,^{(EE) 2} ‘The Israelites are to observe the Passover at its appointed time.^{(EF) 3} You must observe it at its appointed time on the fourteenth day of this month at twilight; you are to observe it according to all its statutes and ordinances.’^{(EG) 4} So Moses told the Israelites to observe the Passover, ⁵ and they observed it in the first month on the fourteenth day at twilight in the Wilderness of Sinai. The Israelites did everything as the Lord had commanded Moses.

⁶ But there were some men who were unclean because of a human corpse, so they could not observe the Passover on that day.^(EH) These men came before Moses and Aaron the same day ⁷ and said to him, ‘We are unclean because of a human corpse. Why should we be excluded from presenting the Lord’s offering at its appointed time with the other Israelites? ’

⁸ Moses replied to them, ‘Wait here until I hear what the Lord commands for you.’

⁹ Then the Lord spoke to Moses: ¹⁰ ‘Tell the Israelites: When any one of you or your descendants is unclean because of a corpse^(EI) or is on a distant journey, he may still observe the Passover to the Lord. ¹¹ Such people are to observe it in the second month, on the fourteenth day at twilight. They are to eat the animal with unleavened bread and bitter herbs;^{(EJ) 12} they may not leave any of it until morning or break any of its bones.^(EK) They must observe the Passover according to all its statutes.

¹³ ‘But the man who is ceremonially clean, is not on a journey, and yet fails to observe the Passover is to be cut off from his people, because he did not present the Lord’s offering at its appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.

¹⁴ ‘If a foreigner resides with you and wants to observe the Passover to the Lord,^(EL) he is to do it according to the Passover statute and its ordinances. You are to apply the same statute to both the resident foreigner and the native of the land.’^(EM)

Guidance by the Cloud

¹⁵ On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony,^(EN) and it appeared like fire above the tabernacle from evening until morning. ¹⁶ It remained that way continuously: the cloud would cover it,^[ao] appearing like fire at night.^{(EO) 17} Whenever the cloud was lifted up above the tent, the Israelites would set out; at the place where the cloud stopped, there the Israelites camped.^{(EP) 18} At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at the Lord’s command they camped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they camped.

¹⁹ Even when the cloud stayed over the tabernacle many days, the Israelites carried out the Lord’s requirement and did not set out. ²⁰ Sometimes the cloud remained over the tabernacle for only a few days. They would camp at the Lord’s command and set out at the Lord’s command. ²¹ Sometimes the cloud remained only from evening until morning; when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out. Or if it remained a day and a night, they moved out when the cloud lifted. ²² Whether it was two days, a month, or longer,^[ap] the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle. But when it was lifted, they set out. ²³ They camped at the Lord’s command, and they set out at the Lord’s command. They carried out the Lord’s requirement according to his command through Moses.

Two Silver Trumpets

10 The Lord spoke to Moses: ² ‘Make two trumpets of hammered silver to summon the community^(EQ) and have the camps set out. ³ When both are sounded in long blasts, the entire community is to gather before you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ⁴ However, if one is sounded, only the leaders, the heads of Israel’s clans,^(ER) are to gather before you.

⁵ ‘When you sound short blasts, the camps pitched on the east^(ES) are to set out. ⁶ When you sound short blasts a second time, the camps pitched on the south^(ET) are to set out. Short blasts are to be sounded for them to set out. ⁷ When calling the assembly together, you are to sound long blasts, not short ones. ⁸ The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to sound the trumpets. Your use of these is a permanent statute throughout your generations.

⁹ ‘When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who is attacking you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God and be saved from your enemies.^{(EU) 10} You are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and your fellowship sacrifices and on your joyous occasions, your appointed festivals, and the beginning of each of your months. They will serve as a reminder for you before your God: I am the Lord your God.’^(EV)

From Sinai to Paran

¹¹ During the second year, in the second month on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was lifted up above the tabernacle of the testimony. ¹² The Israelites travelled on from the Wilderness of Sinai, moving from one place to the next^(EW) until the cloud stopped in the Wilderness of Paran.^{(EX) 13} They set out for the first time according to the Lord’s command through Moses.^(EY)

¹⁴ The military divisions of the camp of Judah’s descendants with their banner set out first, and Nahshon son of Amminadab^(EZ) was over their divisions. ¹⁵ Nethanel son of Zuar^(FA) was over the division of the tribe of Issachar’s descendants, ¹⁶ and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun’s descendants. ¹⁷ The tabernacle was then taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, transporting the tabernacle.

¹⁸ The military divisions of the camp of Reuben with their banner set out, and Elizur son of Shedeur was over their divisions. ¹⁹ Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai^(FB) was over the division of the tribe of Simeon’s descendants, ²⁰ and Eliasaph son of Deuel^[aq] was over the division of the tribe of Gad’s descendants. ²¹ The Kohathites then set out, transporting the holy objects;^(FC) the tabernacle was to be set up before their arrival.

²² Next the military divisions of the camp of Ephraim’s descendants with their banner set out, and Elishama son of Ammihud^(FD) was over their divisions. ²³ Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh’s descendants, ²⁴ and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin’s descendants.

²⁵ The military divisions of the camp of Dan’s descendants with their banner set out, serving as rear guard for all the camps, and Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai^(FE) was over their divisions. ²⁶ Pagiel son of Ochran was over the division of the tribe of Asher’s descendants, ²⁷ and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali’s descendants. ²⁸ This was the order of march for the Israelites by their military divisions as they set out.

²⁹ Moses said to Hobab, descendant of Reuel^(FF) the Midianite and Moses’s relative by marriage, ‘We’re setting out for the place the Lord promised, “I will give it to you.”^(FG) Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.’^(FH)

³⁰ But he replied to him, ‘I don’t want to go. Instead, I will go to my own land and my relatives.’

³¹ ‘Please don’t leave us,’ Moses said, ‘since you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can serve as our eyes. ³² If you come with us, whatever good the Lord does for us we will do for you.’^(FI)

³³ They set out from the mountain of the Lord on a three-day journey with the ark of the Lord’s covenant travelling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them.^{(FJ) 34} Meanwhile, the cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

³⁵ Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say:

³⁶ When it came to rest, he would say:

Complaints about Hardship

11 Now the people began complaining openly before^[ar] the Lord about hardship. When the Lord heard, his anger burned,^(FM) and fire^(FN) from the Lord blazed among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp. ² Then the people cried out to Moses, and he prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down. ³ So that place was named Taberah,^[as](FO) because the Lord’s fire had blazed among them.

Complaints about Food

⁴ The rabble^[at] among them^(FP) had a strong craving^(FQ) for other food. The Israelites wept again and said, ‘Who will feed us meat? ⁵ We remember the free fish we ate in Egypt,^(FR) along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. ⁶ But now our appetite is gone;^[au] there’s nothing to look at but this manna! ’

⁷ The manna^(FS) resembled coriander seed, and its appearance was like that of bdellium.^{[av] 8} The people walked around and gathered it. They ground it on a pair of grinding stones or crushed it in a mortar, then boiled it in a cooking pot and shaped it into cakes. It tasted like a pastry cooked with the finest oil. ⁹ When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it.^(FT)

¹⁰ Moses heard the people, family after family, weeping at the entrance of their tents. The Lord was very angry;^(FU) Moses was also provoked.^{[aw] 11} So Moses asked the Lord, ‘Why have you brought such trouble on your servant? Why are you angry with me,^[ax] and why do you burden me with all these people?^{(FV) 12} Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth so you should tell me, “Carry them at your breast, as a nursing mother carries a baby,”^(FW) to the land that you swore to give their ancestors?^{(FX) 13} Where can I get meat to give all these people? For they are weeping to me, “Give us meat to eat! ” ¹⁴ I can’t carry all these people by myself. They are too much for me. ¹⁵ If you are going to treat me like this, please kill me here and now,^(FY) if I have found favour with you, and^(FZ) don’t let me see my misery^[ay] any more.’

Seventy Elders Anointed

¹⁶ The Lord answered Moses, ‘Bring me seventy men from Israel known to you as elders and officers of the people. Take them to the tent of meeting and make them stand there with you. ¹⁷ Then I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the Spirit who is on you and put the Spirit on them.^(GA) They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself.^(GB)

¹⁸ ‘Tell the people: Consecrate yourselves in readiness for tomorrow, and you will eat meat because you wept in the Lord’s hearing, “Who will feed us meat? We were better off in Egypt.” The Lord will give you meat and you will eat. ¹⁹ You will eat, not for one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, ²⁰ but for a whole month – until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes nauseating to you – because you have rejected the Lord who is among you, and wept before him, “Why did we ever leave Egypt? ” ’^(GC)

²¹ But Moses replied, ‘I’m in the middle of a people with six hundred thousand foot soldiers,^(GD) yet you say, “I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.” ²² If flocks and herds were slaughtered for them, would they have enough? Or if all the fish in the sea were caught for them, would they have enough? ’^(GE)

²³ The Lord answered Moses, ‘Is the Lord’s arm weak?^[az](GF) Now you will see whether or not what I have promised will happen to you.’

²⁴ Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord. He brought seventy men from the elders of the people and had them stand round the tent. ²⁵ Then the Lord descended in the cloud and spoke to him.^(GG) He took some of the Spirit who was on Moses and placed the Spirit on the seventy elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied,^(GH) but they never did it again. ²⁶ Two men had remained in the camp, one named Eldad and the other Medad; the Spirit rested on them – they were among those listed, but had not gone out to the tent – and they prophesied in the camp. ²⁷ A young man ran and reported to Moses, ‘Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.’

²⁸ Joshua son of Nun, assistant to Moses since his youth,^[ba] responded, ‘Moses, my lord, stop them! ’

²⁹ But Moses asked him, ‘Are you jealous on my account?^(GI) If only all the Lord’s people were prophets and the Lord would place his Spirit on them! ’ ³⁰ Then Moses returned to the camp along with the elders of Israel.

Quail in the Camp

³¹ A wind sent by the Lord^(GJ) came up and blew quail in from the sea; it dropped them all around the camp. They were flying a metre^[bb] off^[bc] the ground for about a day’s journey in every direction.^{(GK) 32} The people were up all that day and night and all the next day gathering the quail – the one who took the least gathered two thousand two hundred litres^[bd] – and they spread them out all around the camp.^[be](GL)

³³ While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the Lord’s anger burned^(GM) against the people, and the Lord struck them with a very severe plague.^{(GN) 34} So they named that place Kibroth-hattaavah,^[bf] because there they buried the people who had craved the meat.

³⁵ From Kibroth-hattaavah the people moved on to Hazeroth^[bg](GO) and remained there.

Miriam and Aaron Rebel

12 Miriam^(GP) and Aaron criticised Moses because of the Cushite woman he married (for he had married a Cushite woman). ² They said, ‘Does the Lord speak only through Moses? Does he not also speak through us? ’ And the Lord heard it. ³ Moses was a very humble man, more so than anyone on the face of the earth.

⁴ Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, ‘You three come out to the tent of meeting.’ So the three of them went out. ⁵ Then the Lord descended in a pillar of cloud,^(GQ) stood at the entrance to the tent, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them came forward, ⁶ he said:

So why were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? ’ ⁹ The Lord’s anger burned against them,^(GV) and he left.

¹⁰ As the cloud moved away from the tent, Miriam’s skin suddenly became diseased, resembling snow.^[bj] When Aaron turned towards her, he saw that she was diseased ¹¹ and said to Moses, ‘My lord, please don’t hold against us this sin we have so foolishly committed. ¹² Please don’t let her be like a dead baby^[bk] whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother’s womb.’

¹³ Then Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘God, please heal her! ’^(GW)

¹⁴ The Lord answered Moses, ‘If her father had merely spat in her face, wouldn’t she remain in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp^(GX) for seven days;^(GY) after that she may be brought back in.’ ¹⁵ So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was brought back in.^{(GZ) 16} After that, the people set out from Hazeroth and camped in the Wilderness of Paran.

Scouting Out Canaan

13 The Lord spoke to Moses: ² ‘Send men to scout out the land of Canaan^(HA) I am giving to the Israelites. Send one man who is a leader among them from each of their ancestral tribes.’ ³ Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran at the Lord’s command. All the men were leaders in Israel.^{(HB) 4} These were their names:

¹⁶ These were the names of the men Moses sent to scout out the land, and Moses renamed Hoshea son of Nun, Joshua.

¹⁷ When Moses sent them to scout out the land of Canaan, he told them, ‘Go up this way to the Negev, then go up into the hill country. ¹⁸ See what the land is like, and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. ¹⁹ Is the land they live in good^(HE) or bad? Are the cities they live in encampments or fortifications?^{(HF) 20} Is the land fertile or unproductive?^(HG) Are there trees in it or not? Be courageous. Bring back some fruit from the land.’ It was the season for the first ripe grapes.^(HH)

²¹ So they went up and scouted out the land from the Wilderness of Zin^[bl] as far as Rehob near the entrance to Hamath.^{[bm] 22} They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak,^(HI) were living. Hebron was built seven years before Zoan^(HJ) in Egypt. ²³ When they came to Eshcol^(HK) Valley, they cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes, which was carried on a pole by two men. They also took some pomegranates and figs.^{(HL) 24} That place was called Eshcol^[bn] Valley because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut there. ²⁵ At the end of forty days^(HM) they returned from scouting out the land.

Report about Canaan

²⁶ The men went back to Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite community in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for them and the whole community, and they showed them the fruit of the land.^{(HN) 27} They reported to Moses, ‘We went into the land where you sent us. Indeed it is flowing with milk and honey,^(HO) and here is some of its fruit. ²⁸ However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified.^(HP) We also saw the descendants of Anak^(HQ) there. ²⁹ The Amalekites^(HR) are living in the land of the Negev; the Hethites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan.’

³⁰ Then Caleb^(HS) quietened the people in the presence of Moses and said, ‘Let’s go up now and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it! ’

³¹ But the men who had gone up with him responded, ‘We can’t attack the people because they are stronger than we are! ’ ³² So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: ‘The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size. ³³ We even saw the Nephilim^(HT) there – the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim!^(HU) To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them.’

Israel’s Refusal to Enter Canaan

14 Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night. ² All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron,^(HV) and the whole community told them, ‘If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! ³ Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder.^(HW) Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt? ’^{(HX) 4} So they said to one another, ‘Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.’

⁵ Then Moses and Aaron fell face down in front of the whole assembly of the Israelite community. ⁶ Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who scouted out the land, tore their clothes ⁷ and said to the entire Israelite community, ‘The land we passed through and explored is an extremely good land.^{(HY) 8} If the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey,^(HZ) and give it to us. ⁹ Only don’t rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land, for we will devour them.^(IA) Their protection^(IB) has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Don’t be afraid of them! ’

¹⁰ While the whole community threatened to stone them,^(IC) the glory of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting.

God’s Judgement of Israel’s Rebellion

¹¹ The Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will these people despise me? How long will they not trust in me despite all the signs I have performed among them?^{(ID) 12} I will strike them with a plague and destroy them. Then I will make you into a greater and mightier nation than they are.’^(IE)

¹³ But Moses replied to the Lord, ‘The Egyptians will hear about it, for by your strength you brought up this people from them. ¹⁴ They will tell it to the inhabitants of this land.^(IF) They have heard that you, Lord, are among these people, how you, Lord, are seen face to face, how your cloud stands over them, and how you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night.^{(IG) 15} If you kill this people with a single blow,^[bo](IH) the nations that have heard of your fame^(II) will declare, ¹⁶ “Since the Lord wasn’t able to bring this people into the land he swore to give them,^(IJ) he has slaughtered them in the wilderness.”^(IK)

¹⁷ ‘So now, may my Lord’s power be magnified just as you have spoken: ¹⁸ The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in faithful love,^(IL) forgiving iniquity and rebellion.^(IM) But he will not leave the guilty unpunished,^(IN) bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generation.^{(IO) 19} Please pardon the iniquity of this people, in keeping with the greatness of your faithful love,^(IP) just as you have forgiven them from Egypt until now.’

²⁰ The Lord responded, ‘I have pardoned them as you requested. ²¹ Yet as I live and as the whole earth is filled with the Lord’s glory,^{(IQ) 22} none of the men who have seen my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tested me these ten times and did not obey me, ²³ will ever see the land I swore to give their ancestors.^(IR) None of those who have despised me^(IS) will see it. ²⁴ But since my servant Caleb has a different spirit and has remained loyal to me, I will bring him into the land where he has gone, and his descendants will inherit it.^{(IT) 25} Since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the lowlands,^[bp] turn back tomorrow and head for the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.’^(IU)

²⁶ Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: ²⁷ ‘How long must I endure this evil community that keeps complaining about me? I have heard the Israelites’ complaints that they make against me.^{(IV) 28} Tell them: As I live – this is the Lord’s declaration – I will do to you exactly as I heard you say. ²⁹ Your corpses will fall in this wilderness – all of you who were registered in the census, the entire number of you twenty years old or more^(IW) – because you have complained about me. ³⁰ I swear that none of you will enter the land I promised^[bq] to settle you in, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. ³¹ I will bring your children whom you said would become plunder^(IX) into the land you rejected, and they will enjoy it.^{(IY) 32} But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. ³³ Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years and bear the penalty for your acts of unfaithfulness until all your corpses lie scattered in the wilderness. ³⁴ You will bear the consequences of your iniquities for forty years based on the number of the forty days that you scouted the land, a year for each day.^[br](IZ) You will know my displeasure.^{[bs] 35} I, the Lord, have spoken. I swear that I will do this to the entire evil community that has conspired against me.^(JA) They will come to an end in the wilderness, and there they will die.’^(JB)

³⁶ So the men Moses sent to scout out the land, and who returned and incited the entire community to complain about him by spreading a negative report about the land –  ³⁷ those men who spread the negative report about the land were struck down by the Lord. ³⁸ Only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh remained alive of those men who went to scout out the land.

Israel Routed

³⁹ When Moses reported these words to all the Israelites, the people were overcome with grief. ⁴⁰ They got up early the next morning and went up the ridge of the hill country, saying, ‘Let’s go to the place the Lord promised, for we were wrong.’^(JC)

⁴¹ But Moses responded, ‘Why are you going against the Lord’s command? It won’t succeed. ⁴² Don’t go, because the Lord is not among you and you will be defeated by your enemies.