Bible in 90 Days
The Offer is Accepted
20 “If you do this,” Moses replied to them, “that is, if you equip yourselves for war in the Lord’s presence 21 and every one of your armed soldiers crosses over the Jordan River in the presence of the Lord until he has dispossessed his enemies ahead of him 22 and subjugated the land before him,[a] then afterwards when you return, you’ll be able to stand blameless before the Lord and before Israel. This land will then be your possession before the Lord. 23 “But if you won’t do so, look out! You will be sinning against the Lord. Be certain of this, that your sin will catch up to you! 24 So after you’ve built cities for your families and corrals for your cattle, be sure to keep your promises.”
Moses Assigns the Territory
25 Then the descendants of Gad and descendants of Reuben spoke up. “Your servants will do exactly what our master has commanded.” They said. 26 “Our children, wives, flocks, and all our cattle will be settled in the cities of Gilead, 27 but every soldier that we’ve equipped for battle will cross the Jordan River[b] in the presence of the Lord, as our master has spoken.”
28 So Moses instructed Eleazar the priest and Nun’s son Joshua, and the officers of the ancestral tribes of the Israelis, 29 telling them, “If the descendants of Gad and descendants of Reuben cross over the Jordan River with you, that is, all of their soldiers who’ve been equipped for battle in the Lord’s presence, so that the land is subjugated right before your eyes, then you are to give them the land of Gilead as their possession. 30 But if the armed men don’t cross over with you, then they won’t have any possession in the land of Canaan.”
31 “We’ll do just what the Lord told your servants,” the descendants of Gad and the descendants of Reuben responded. 32 “We are to cross over in battle array[c] in the Lord’s presence into the land of Canaan, and afterwards the possession of our inheritance will be on this side of the Jordan River.”
33 So Moses gave to the descendants of Gad, to the descendants of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Joseph’s son Manasseh the kingdom of Sihon, the king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og, the king of Bashan, the whole land with its cities, and even the territories surrounding it.
Gad and Reuben Rebuild Their Cities
34 The descendants of Gad rebuilt Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35 Atrothshophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36 Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran as fortified cities with corrals for sheep. 37 The descendants of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 38 Nebo, Baal-meon (after having changed their names), and Sibmah. The cities that they rebuilt were renamed. 39 The descendants of Manasseh’s son Machir attacked Gilead and then captured and dispossessed the Amorites who were there. 40 That’s why Moses gave Gilead to Manasseh’s son Machir, who lived there at the time. 41 Manasseh’s son Jair captured[d] their towns and renamed them Havvoth-jair. 42 Nobah captured Kenath and its towns and renamed it Nobah after himself.
Stages of Israel’s Journey from Egypt
33 Here’s the travel itinerary[e] for the Israelis after they left the land of Egypt in groups under the authority of Moses and Aaron. 2 Moses recorded their departures in their travels after being commanded[f] to do so by the Lord. Here’s a list of their travels based on[g] their departures:
3 They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of that first month. The day[h] after the Passover, the Israelis came out confidently,[i] and all the Egyptians watched them leave, 4 while they were burying their firstborn, whom the Lord had killed among them. The Lord also executed justice against their gods.
5 Then the Israelis traveled from Rameses and rested[j] in Succoth.
6 They traveled from Succoth, then rested in Etham, which is at the outskirts of the wilderness.
7 They traveled from Etham but turned back to Pi-hahiroth, which is outside of[k] Baal-zephon.
They rested outside of Migdol. 8 They traveled from Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea to the wilderness. They were on the road three days in the wilderness of Etham, then rested in Marah.
9 They traveled from Marah and arrived at Elim. In Elim there were twelve wells[l] of water and 70 palm trees, so they rested there.
10 They traveled from Elim, then rested by the Reed[m] Sea.
11 They traveled from the Reed[n] Sea, then rested in the Wilderness of Zin.
12 They traveled from the Wilderness of Zin, then rested in Dophkah.
13 They traveled from Dophkah, then rested in Alush.
14 They traveled from Alush, then rested in Rephidim, but there was no water there for the people to drink.
15 They traveled from Rephidim, then rested in the Wilderness of Sinai.
16 They traveled from the Wilderness of Sinai, then rested in Kibroth-hattaavah.
17 They traveled from Kibroth-hattaavah, then rested in Hazeroth.
18 They traveled from Hazeroth, then rested in Rithmah.
19 They traveled from Rithmah, then rested in Rimmon-perez.
20 They traveled from Rimmon-perez, then rested in Libnah.
21 They traveled from Libnah, then rested in Rissah.
22 They traveled from Rissah, then rested in Kehelathah.
23 They traveled from Kehelathah, then rested at Mount Shepher.
24 They traveled from Mount Shepher, then rested in Haradah.
25 They traveled from Haradah, then rested in Makheloth.
26 They traveled from Makheloth, then rested in Tahath.
27 They traveled from Tahath, then rested in Terah.
28 They traveled from Terah, then rested in Mithkah.
29 They traveled from Mithkah, then rested in Hashmonah.
30 They traveled from Hashmonah, then rested in Moseroth.
31 They traveled from Moseroth, then rested in Bene-jaakan.
32 They traveled from Bene-jaakan, then rested in Hor-haggidgad.
33 They traveled from Hor-haggidgad, then rested in Jotbathah.
34 They traveled from Jotbathah, then rested in Abronah.
35 They traveled from Abronah, then rested in Ezion-geber.
36 They traveled from Ezion-geber, then rested in the Wilderness of Zin, which is also known as Kadesh.
37 They traveled from Kadesh, then rested in Mount Hor at the outskirts of the land of Edom.
38 Then Aaron the priest ascended Mount Hor in obedience to the Lord’s command and died there, in the fortieth year after the Israelis had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month. 39 Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.
40 Meanwhile, the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev[o] in the land of Canaan, heard of the approach of the Israelis, 41 who had traveled from Mount Hor and then rested in Zalmonah.
42 They traveled from Zalmonah, then rested in Punon.
43 They traveled from Punon, then rested in Oboth.
44 They traveled from Oboth, then rested in Iye-abarim at the outskirts of Moab.
45 They traveled from Iyim, then rested in Dibon-gad.
46 They traveled from Dibon-gad, then rested in Almon-diblathaim.
47 They traveled from Almon-diblathaim, then rested in the mountains of Abarim, facing Nebo.
48 They traveled from the mountains of Abarim, then rested in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
49 They rested by the Jordan River in the area from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.
50 Then the Lord told Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River, across from Jericho, 51 “Tell the Israelis that when they have crossed the Jordan River to the land of Canaan, 52 they are to drive out all the inhabitants of the land and destroy all their idols and their molten images. You are to demolish all their high places, 53 take possession of the land, and live in it, because I’ve given you the land to inherit. 54 You are to divide the land among yourselves by lot according to your families. The larger the families are in number,[p] the larger their inheritance is to be. The fewer the families are in number,[q] the lesser their inheritance is to be. To whomever the lot falls, that inheritance goes to him. Divide it according to your ancestral tribes. 55 But if you fail to drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, their survivors will become irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, to prick your sides and afflict you in the very land in which you’ll be living. 56 Then, what I had planned to do to them, I’ll start to do to you.”
Boundaries of the Land
34 The Lord told Moses, 2 “Issue these orders to the Israelis: ‘You’re about to enter the land of Canaan. This territory has been apportioned to you as your inheritance: the entire land of Canaan, all the way to its borders.’”
The Southern Border of Israel
3 “‘To your south is the Wilderness of Zin, bordering Edom. Your southern border is to extend east toward the far end of the Dead[r] Sea, 4 then it is to turn southward to the ascent of Akrabbim, cross Zin, and then run south of Kadesh-barnea and proceed from there to Hazar-addar and across to Azmon. 5 Then the border is to turn from Azmon toward the wadi[s] of Egypt and from there to the Mediterranean[t] Sea.’”
The Western Border of Israel
6 “‘The western[u] border is to be the Mediterranean[v] Sea. This is to be the western border.’”
The Northern Border of Israel
7 “‘Your northern border is to extend from the Mediterranean Sea to Mount Hor. 8 From Mount Hor, you are to mark out the entrance to Hammath, with the border running through Zedad, 9 then through Ziphron, and then to Hazar-enan. This is to be the northern border.’”
The Eastern Border of Israel
10 “‘You are to mark the border on the east from Hazar-enan to Shepham. 11 The border is then to extend from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain, then to the Sea of Chinnereth[w] on the east. 12 The border is to continue along the Jordan River all the way to the Dead Sea. This is to be your land, as measured by its boundaries.’”
Assigning Tribal Responsibilities
13 Moses commanded the Israelis, “You are to inherit this land by lot, just as the Lord commanded to give it to the remaining[x] nine and a half tribes. 14 The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, as defined by their ancestral houses, have received their inheritance. 15 These two and a half tribes received their inheritance this side of the Jordan River, east of Jericho, facing the rising sun.”
16 Then the Lord told Moses, 17 “These are the names of the men who are to divide the land for your inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Nun’s son Joshua. 18 You are to appoint a leader from each tribe to divide the land for inheritance. 19 These are the names of the men: Appoint Jephunneh’s son Caleb from the tribe of Judah, 20 Ammihud’s son Shemuel from the tribe of Simeon, 21 Chislon’s son Elidad from the tribe of Benjamin, 22 and Jogli’s son Bukki is to be leader of the tribe of Dan. 23 From the tribe of Joseph, you are to appoint Ephod’s son Hanniel to be leader of the half tribe of Manasseh, 24 Shiphtan’s son Kemuel to be leader of the half tribe of Ephraim, 25 Parnach’s son Elizaphan to be leader of the tribe of Zebulun, 26 Azzan’s son Paltiel to be leader of the tribe of Issachar, 27 Shelomi’s son Ahihud to be leader of the tribe of Asher, 28 and Ammihud’s son Pedahel to be leader of the tribe of Naphtali.”
29 These are the ones whom the Lord commanded to divide the inheritance of the Israelis in the land of Canaan.
Levitical Cities
35 The Lord told Moses in the wilderness of Moab, beside the Jordan River near[y] Jericho, 2 “Instruct the Israelis to set aside a portion of their inheritance for the descendants of Levi to live in, along with grazing land surrounding their towns. 3 The towns are to be reserved for their dwelling places and the grazing lands[z] are to be reserved for their cattle, livestock, and all their animals. 4 The grazing lands that you are to reserve for use by the descendants of Levi are to extend 1,000 cubits[aa] from the walls of the town. 5 You are to measure from outside the wall of the town on the east side 2,000 cubits,[ab] on the south side 2,000 cubits,[ac] on the west side 2,000 cubits,[ad] and on the north side 2,000 cubits,[ae] with the town placed at the center. This reserved area is to serve as grazing[af] land for their towns. 6 You are to set aside six towns of refuge from the towns that you will be giving to the descendants of Levi, where someone who kills a human being may run for shelter. In addition, give them 42 other towns. 7 The total number of towns that you are to give to the descendants of Levi is to be 48 towns, including grazing lands surrounding these towns. 8 You are to apportion the towns that you will be giving the Israelis according to the relative size of the tribe. Take a larger portion from those larger in number and a lesser portion from those fewer in number. Each is to set aside towns for the descendants of Levi proportional to the size of their inheritance that they receive.”
Appointment of Cities of Refuge
9 Then the Lord told Moses, 10 “Tell the Israelis that when they have crossed the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, 11 they are to designate some towns of refuge so that anyone who kills someone inadvertently may flee there. 12 They are to serve as cities of refuge from a blood avenger[ag] in order to keep the inadvertent killer from dying until he has stood trial in the presence of the community. 13 You are to set aside six towns of refuge. 14 Appoint three towns this side of the Jordan River and three towns in the land of Canaan to serve as the towns of refuge, 15 that is, places[ah] of refuge for the Israelis, the resident alien,[ai] and any travelers among them. Anyone who kills a person inadvertently may flee there.”
Exceptions to Eligibility
16 “Whoever uses an iron implement to kill someone is to be adjudged[aj] a murderer, and that murderer is certainly to be put to death. 17 Furthermore, whoever uses a stone implement to kill someone is to be adjudged[ak] a murderer, and that murderer is certainly to be put to death. 18 Also, whoever uses a wooden implement to kill someone with it is to be adjudged[al] a murderer, and that murderer is certainly to be put to death. 19 The blood avenger himself is to execute the murderer. When he meets him, the blood avenger[am] is to put him to death. 20 If the killer[an] shoved his victim[ao] out of hatred, or hurled something[ap] at him while waiting in ambush so that he died, 21 or if he struck him with his hand out of hatred so that he died, then the killer is certainly to be put to death for murder. The avenger of blood is to put him to death when he meets him.”
Case Examples for Eligibility
22 “But if he pushed him suddenly without hatred, or if he hurled something[aq] in his direction without waiting in ambush, 23 or if he hit him[ar] with a stone carelessly[as] so that he was fatally injured, though he isn’t his enemy and he wasn’t seeking to commit evil against him, 24 then the community is to judge between the inadvertent killer and the blood avenger, following these ordinances. 25 The community is to release[at] the inadvertent killer from the blood avenger and return him to the town of refuge where he had fled. He is to live there until the High Priest dies, who will have anointed him with holy oil. 26 But if the inadvertent killer leaves the town of refuge where he had fled 27 and the blood avenger finds him outside the town of refuge where he had fled and kills him, the blood avenger is not to be found guilty of murder. 28 The inadvertent killer[au] is to live in the town of refuge until the High Priest dies. After the death of the High Priest, the inadvertent killer is to return to the land of his inheritance. 29 These are to be the statutes and ordinances for you throughout all your generations, regardless of where you live.”[av]
Capital Cases Require Multiple Witnesses
30 “Every murderer of a human being[aw] is to be executed only according to testimony[ax] given by multiple witnesses. A single witness is not to result in a death sentence.[ay] 31 You are to receive no ransom for the life[az] of a killer who is guilty of murder; instead, he is to die. 32 You are not to receive payment of a[ba] ransom for someone who had fled to a town of refuge but then left to live in his homeland before the death of the high priest. 33 You are not to pollute the land where you live, because blood defiles the land, and the land cannot atone for blood that has been spilled on it, except through the blood of the one who spilled it. 34 You are not to defile the land where you will be living, because I’m living among you. I am the Lord, who lives in Israel.”
The Daughters of Zelophehad(A)
36 The leaders of the ancestral families of the descendants of Gilead, who were descendants of Machir, and descendants of Manasseh, from Joseph’s tribe, approached and spoke to Moses and the leaders of the ancestral houses[bb] of the Israelis. 2 “The Lord commanded my master[bc] to apportion the land as an inheritance by lot to the Israelis,” they said. “Now my master was ordered by the Lord to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. 3 But when they get married to one of the descendants of the tribes of Israel, their inheritances are to be withdrawn from our father’s inheritance and added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they are to belong. Consequently, it is to be withdrawn from the portion of our inheritance. 4 Then, when the Jubilee Year of the Israelis comes, their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they have come to belong. Their inheritance will thus be taken away from the inheritance of our father’s tribe!”
5 So Moses issued the Israelis these orders based on what the Lord said: “The tribe of the descendants of Joseph has spoken. 6 This is what the Lord is commanding the daughters of Zelophehad: If they decide it’s a good idea in their opinion[bd] to get married only within the family of their father’s tribe, then let them get married 7 so that the inheritance of the Israelis won’t be turned over[be] from one tribe to another. Each one has an inheritance from his own father’s tribe that the Israelis are to maintain. 8 Every daughter who is in possession of an inheritance from the Israelis is to marry someone from the families within her father’s tribe so the Israelis can retain possession of their ancestral inheritance. 9 That way, their inheritance won’t be turned over from one tribe to another, because the Israelis are each to maintain their ancestral inheritances.”
10 Zelophehad’s daughters did just what the Lord had commanded Moses 11 for Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah: Zelophehad’s daughters married their uncle’s sons. 12 They married[bf] into families of the descendants of Manasseh, that is, Joseph’s descendants, so that their inheritance remained within the tribe of their ancestor’s family.
13 These were the commands and the ordinances that the Lord issued to the Israelis through Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River in Jericho.
The Setting of the Covenant
1 These are the words that Moses spoke to the assembly of[bg] Israel east[bh] of the Jordan River,[bi] in the Arabah desert, opposite Suph between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Di-zahab. 2 It takes eleven days to travel[bj] from Horeb to Kadesh-barnea via Mount Seir.[bk] 3 On the first day of the eleventh month,[bl] in the fortieth year, Moses spoke to the Israelis about everything that the Lord had commanded him concerning them. 4 This took place[bm] after he defeated Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon and Og, king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth at Edrei.
Moses Reviews God’s Instructions
5 East of the Jordan River, in the land of Moab, Moses began to expound this Law: 6 “The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb. He said, ‘You have been at this mountain long enough. 7 Break camp,[bn] get going, and proceed to the hill country of the Amorites and all the nearby places in the Arabah desert, the highlands, the foothills, the Negev,[bo] the coastal plains, all of the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon as far as the great river, the Euphrates. 8 Look! I’ve given you the land that lies ahead. Go in and possess the land that I, the Lord, promised to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as to their descendants.’”
Moses Reviews the Selected Officials
9 “I also told you at that time that I won’t be able to sustain you on my own. 10 The Lord your God greatly multiplied your numbers, and today you are like the stars in the sky. 11 May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase your numbers a thousand times more, and may he bless you, as he promised you. 12 How can I bear the burden of you and your bickering all by myself? 13 Choose for yourselves wise and discerning men, known to your tribes, and appoint them as your leaders. 14 You answered by saying that this plan is a good thing. 15 So I chose leaders from your tribes, wise and respected men, and I appointed them over you—commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 16 I charged your judges at that time, ‘When you hold a hearing between brothers, judge fairly between a man and his brother or between foreigners. 17 When you hold a hearing, don’t be partial[bp] in judgment toward the least important or toward the great. Never fear men, because judgment belongs to God. If the matter is difficult for you, bring it to me for a hearing.’ 18 I charged you at that time that you must do all of these things.”
Moses Reviews the Sending of the Scouts(B)
19 “Then we set out from Horeb and walked through that vast and dreadful desert, where you observed the road to the Amorite hill country. Just as the Lord our God ordained for us, we finally arrived at Kadesh-barnea. 20 I told you at that time, ‘You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is about to give us. 21 Look! The Lord your God has given the land that lies[bq] before you. Go and possess it, just as the Lord God of your ancestors commanded you. Don’t be afraid or discouraged.’
22 “Then all of you approached me and said: ‘Let’s send out men in advance of us so they can survey the land and bring back a report to us on how we’ll go up to their cities.’ 23 Because this suggestion[br] seemed good to me, I chose twelve men from among you, one from each tribe. 24 Then these men set out,[bs] went up to the hill county, reached the Eshcol Valley, and surveyed it. 25 They hand-picked some of the fruit of the land, brought it down to us, and gave a report that said, ‘The land which the Lord is about to give us is good.’”
Israel Rebels
26 “However, your ancestors didn’t go up. Instead, they rebelled against the command[bt] of the Lord your God. 27 You murmured in your tents, ‘The Lord hates us. He brought us out of the land of Egypt in order to deliver us to[bu] the Amorites so he could destroy us. 28 Where can we go? Our brothers discouraged us when they said that the people are bigger and taller than we are. Their cities are tall and fortified to the sky, and we also saw the Anakim[bv] there.’
29 “Then I told you, ‘Don’t be terrified or afraid of them. 30 The Lord your God is the One who will be going ahead of you. He’ll fight for you just as he did in Egypt before your eyes. 31 In the desert you saw that the Lord carried you like a man carries his son, on every road you traveled until you reached this place.’ 32 But despite this, you didn’t trust in the Lord your God, 33 who walked ahead of you along the way to scout a place for you to pitch camp—by fire at night and cloud by day—to lead you on the way you should go.”
Entrance is Denied
34 “When the Lord heard your complaints, he became angry and declared, 35 ‘I swear that not one man of this evil generation will see the good land that I promised to give to your ancestors, 36 except Jephunneh’s son Caleb. He will see it and I will give to him and to his descendants the land on which he has walked because he wholeheartedly followed the Lord.’
37 “The Lord was also furious with me because of you. He said: ‘You will not enter the land.[bw] 38 However, Nun’s son Joshua, your assistant, will go there. Encourage him, for he will cause Israel to take possession of it. 39 Your little ones—whom you said would be taken captive—and your children who do not yet[bx] know right from wrong will enter the land.[by] I will give it to them and they themselves will possess it. 40 But as for you, prepare to set out for the desert on the way to the Reed[bz] Sea.’
41 “You responded to me and said, ‘We have sinned against the Lord. We will now go up and fight according to what the Lord our God commanded.’ So each man put on his weapon for battle and recklessly started out for the hill country.”
The Amorites Defeat Israel
42 “Then the Lord told me: ‘Tell them not to go up and fight because I will not be in their midst, or else you will be defeated before your enemies.’
43 “I spoke to you but you didn’t listen. Instead you rebelled against the command[ca] of the Lord and went up to the hill country. 44 The Amorites who lived in the hill country came out to engage you in battle. They pursued you like bees do and crushed you from Seir to Hormah. 45 You returned and cried out in the Lord’s presence, but the Lord didn’t hear your voice or listen to you. 46 You remained in Kadesh for many days. It was a long time, indeed.”
Israel Passes through Edomite Territory
2 “We turned and set out for the desert on the road to the Reed[cb] Sea, just as the Lord had directed me. We traveled around Mount Seir for many days. 2 Then the Lord told me, 3 ‘You’ve walked around this mountain long enough. Turn northward 4 and command this people, “You are about to pass through the territory of your relatives, the descendants of Esau who live around Seir. They will be afraid of you so be very careful. 5 Don’t fight them, because I won’t give you any part of their land, not even the size of a footprint.[cc] I have given Mount Seir to Esau as their property. 6 You may buy food to eat and water to drink from them, paying[cd] with cash.”’ 7 Indeed, the Lord your God blessed all the works of your hands. He knows about your travels through this vast desert. The Lord your God was with you these past 40 years, so that you didn’t lack anything. 8 So we bypassed our relatives, the descendants of Esau who live in Seir. We turned through the Arabah desert from Elath, and from Ezion-geber we traveled the desert road to Moab.”
Israel Passes through Moabite Territory
9 “Then the Lord told me, ‘Don’t harass Moab or provoke them to war, because I won’t give you any part of their land. I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their property. 10 (The Emites, a people as powerful, numerous, and tall as the Anakim,[ce] lived there before. 11 Like the Anakim,[cf] they were thought of as Rephaim,[cg] but the Moabites called them Emites. 12 The Horites used to live in Seir before the descendants of Esau dispossessed them, exterminated them, and settled there instead, just as Israel will do in the land of its possession, which the Lord gave them.) 13 Now get going and cross the Wadi[ch] Zered.’ And so we crossed the Wadi[ci] Zered. 14 Now from the time we left Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the Wadi[cj] Zered was 38 years. All of that generation, the soldiers in the camp, were destroyed just as the Lord swore they would be. 15 Indeed, the hand of the Lord was against them to root them out from the camp until they were utterly destroyed.”
Israel Passes through Ammonite Territory
16 “And so all the soldiers among the people died. 17 Then the Lord spoke to me, 18 ‘Today, you are about to cross the border of Moab at Ar. 19 When you come to the Ammonites, don’t harass or provoke them to war, for I won’t give any part of Ammonite land to you, since I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their property.
20 “‘(Indeed, it was considered Rephaim[ck] territory, since the Rephaim[cl] used to lived there. The Ammonites called them Zamzummites, 21 a great people, numerous, and tall as the Anakim.[cm] But the Lord destroyed the Rephaim,[cn] so that the Ammonites dispossessed them and settled there instead. 22 This is what he did for the descendants of Esau who live in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites before them. So they dispossessed them and settled there in their place, where they live[co] to this day. 23 It was the same for the Avvites who lived in villages as far as Gaza. The Caphtorites, who came from Crete,[cp] destroyed them and settled there in their place.) 24 Get ready and set out for the Wadi[cq] Arnon. Look! I’ve given into your control Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, along with his land. Prepare to take possession by provoking him to war. 25 Starting today I will begin to instill fear and terror of you on the part of every nation under heaven who hears reports about you. They’ll tremble in anguish before you.’”
Israel Defeats Sihon, King of Heshbon
26 “I sent messengers from the desert of Kedemoth to King Sihon of Heshbon with this message of peace: 27 ‘Let me pass through your territory. I’ll stay on the main road. I won’t turn to the right or left. 28 Sell me food for cash,[cr] so I can eat and give me water for cash,[cs] so I can drink. Just let me pass through on foot, 29 as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir did for me, as did the Moabites who live in Ar. I’ll pass through,[ct] until I will have crossed the Jordan into the land that the Lord our God is about to give us.’ 30 But King Sihon of Heshbon did not allow us to pass through, because the Lord your God had hardened his spirit and made him arrogant,[cu] in order to deliver him into your control today.
31 “Then the Lord told me, ‘See, I’ve begun to deliver Sihon and his territory over to you. Prepare to take possession of his land.’
32 “Sihon came out to meet us, including his entire army, at the battle of Jahaz. 33 The Lord our God delivered him to us, so we attacked him, his son, and his whole army. 34 We captured all his towns at that time. We utterly destroyed every town—the men, the women, and the children—leaving no survivors. 35 We only appropriated the livestock for our use, along with plunder from the cities that we captured. 36 From Aroer on the edge of Arnon Valley and from the town all the way to Gilead, there was no city that was too strong for us—the Lord our God delivered them all to us. 37 You did not encroach onto Ammonite land, the banks of the Wadi[cv] Jabbok, the towns in the hill country, and all the other places that were forbidden[cw] by the Lord our God.”
Israel Defeats the King of Bashan
3 “We set out and went up along the road to Bashan. Then King Og of Bashan came out to meet us—he and his whole army—for a battle at Edrei. 2 Then the Lord told me, ‘Don’t fear him, because I’ve delivered him, his army, and his territory into your control. Do to him just as you have done to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.’
3 “So the Lord our God also delivered into our control King Og of Bashan, along with his whole army. We attacked him until there were no survivors.[cx] 4 Then we captured all his cities at that time. There was not a city left that we didn’t capture from them—60 cities in all from the region of Argob, which is part of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 5 All of these cities were fortified with high walls, gates, and bars. Furthermore, there were very many unwalled regions. 6 We utterly destroyed them, just as we did King Sihon of Heshbon, attacking them in every city—the men, women, and children. 7 But we kept for ourselves all of the livestock and plunder from the towns.
8 “So at that time, we took control from the two Amorite kings the territory east of the Jordan from Wadi[cy] Arnon to Mount Hermon. 9 (The Sidonians called Hermon Sirion, but the Amorites called it Senir.) 10 We took control of[cz] all the cities of the plain, all of Gilead and Bashan as far as Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 11 Only King Og of Bashan remained from the remnants of the Rephaim.[da] In fact, his bed was made of iron. It’s in Rabbah of the Ammonites, isn’t it? It was nine cubits[db] long and four cubits[dc] wide.”
Moses Allots Land East of the Jordan(C)
12 “Of the land that we captured at that time, I’ve given its towns to the descendants of Reuben and the descendants of Gad from Aroer near the Wadi[dd] Arnon to half of the hill country of Gilead. 13 The remainder of Gilead and Bashan of the kingdom of Og, I’ve given to the half-tribe of Manasseh. (The whole region of Argob—that is, all of Bashan—is called the land of the Rephaim.) 14 Manasseh’s son Jair captured all the Argob region as far as the territory of the descendants of Geshur and the descendants of Maacath. Bashan was named after him; that’s why it is called Havvoth-jair to this day. 15 Furthermore, I’ve given Gilead to Machir. 16 And I’ve given Gilead to the descendants of Reuben and the descendants of Gad as far as the Arnon Valley, designating the middle of the valley as its boundary, including up to the Jabbok River as a boundary with the Ammonites. 17 The Arabah and the Jordan River are also a boundary from Chinnereth[de] to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Salt Sea),[df] below the slopes of Pisgah on the east.”
Moses Instructs the Men of War
18 “Then I commanded you at that time, ‘The Lord your God gave you this land as a possession. Those equipped for battle—every man a warrior—will cross before your fellow Israelis. 19 However, your women, children, and livestock—and I know you have many—may reside in your towns that I gave you 20 until the Lord grants rest to your fellow Israelis like you. When they take possession of the territory that the Lord your God is about to give them on the other side of the Jordan River, then each of you may return to the territory that I’ve allotted for you.’
21 “I also charged Joshua at that time, ‘You witnessed everything that the Lord your God did to the two kings. Indeed, the Lord will do this to all the kingdoms which you are about to enter. 22 You are not to fear them, because the Lord your God will fight for you.’”
Moses Pleads with God
23 “I pleaded with the Lord at that time, 24 ‘Lord God, you’ve begun to show your greatness and your strong power to your servant. For what god in heaven or on earth can equal your works and mighty deeds? 25 Let me cross over that I may see the good land on the other side of the Jordan River—the good hill country—as well as Lebanon.’
26 “However, the Lord was furious with me because of you. He did not listen to me. Instead, the Lord said, ‘You are not to speak to me about this matter again! 27 Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift your eyes toward the west, north, south, and east. Look with your own eyes, since you won’t be able to cross this Jordan River. 28 Therefore charge Joshua to be doubly strong, because he will lead this people[dg] and cause them to inherit the land that you’ll see.’ 29 We then encamped in the valley opposite Beth-peor.”
Moses Presents the Privileges of the Covenant
4 “Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and the ordinances that I’m teaching you to observe so you may live and go in to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is about to give you. 2 Do not add or subtract a thing to what I’m commanding you. Observe the commands of the Lord your God.[dh] 3 You saw with your own eyes what he did in Baal Peor. The Lord your God exterminated from among you every man who followed Baal of Peor. 4 But all of you who are clinging to the Lord your God are alive today. 5 See! I taught you the statutes and the ordinances, just as the Lord God commanded. Therefore, observe them[di] when you enter the land you are about to possess. 6 Observe them carefully, because this will show your wisdom and discernment in the eyes of people who’ll listen to all these decrees. Then they’ll say: ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people.’ 7 For what great nation has a god so near like the Lord our God whenever we call on him? 8 And what great nation has all the decrees and righteous ordinances like all this teaching that I’m giving you today? 9 Only guard yourselves carefully so you won’t forget the things that you saw and let them slip from your mind for the rest of your life. Tell them to your children and to your grandchildren. 10 The day you stood in the presence of the Lord your God in Horeb, the Lord told me, ‘Gather the people before me so they may hear my words, learn to revere me the whole time that they live in the land, and teach them[dj] to their children.’”
Moses Warns against Idolatry
11 “When you approached and stood at the foot of the mountain—a mountain that was blazing with fire at its core[dk] while the sky was covered with thick, dark clouds— 12 the Lord your God spoke from the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but you saw no form; there was only a voice. 13 He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to observe—the Ten Commandments that he wrote on two stone tablets. 14 The Lord commanded me at that time to teach you to observe the statutes and ordinances in the land after you cross over to take possession of it.
15 “Therefore, for your own sake, be very careful, since you did not see any form on the day that the Lord your God spoke to you in Horeb from the midst of the fire. 16 Be careful![dl] Otherwise, you will be destroyed when you make carved images for yourself—all sorts of images in the form of man, woman, 17 any animal on earth, any winged bird that flies in the sky, 18 any creeping thing on the ground, or any fish in the sea.[dm] 19 Do not gaze toward the heavens and observe the sun, the moon, the stars—the entire array of the sky—with the intent[dn] to worship and serve what the Lord your God gave every nation.[do] 20 For the Lord took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace—out of Egypt—to be the people of his inheritance, as you are today.
21 “But the Lord was angry with me because of you. So he swore that I’ll never cross the Jordan River to enter the good land that the Lord your God is about to give you as an inheritance. 22 I’m going to die in this land and I won’t cross the Jordan River, but you’re about to cross over to possess that good land. 23 Be careful! Otherwise, you will forget the covenant of the Lord your God, who established that covenant with you. Don’t make carved images of any likeness in violation of everything that you were commanded by the Lord your God. 24 Indeed, the Lord your God is a consuming[dp] fire. He is a jealous God.”
Warnings against Angering God
25 “After you’ve borne children and grandchildren, have been there for a long time in the land, have become so corrupted that you make images of any form, and have done evil in the eyes of the Lord your God, you will provoke him to anger. 26 Heaven and earth will testify against what has occurred[dq] today: you’ll surely and swiftly be destroyed from the land that you are about to possess by crossing the Jordan River. You won’t live long in it, because you’ll certainly be exterminated. 27 Moreover, the Lord will scatter you among the nations, and you’ll be fewer in number in the nations where the Lord your God will drive you. 28 There you’ll serve gods made by human hands, serving[dr] trees and stones that cannot see, hear, eat, nor smell. 29 If from there you will seek the Lord your God, then you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and soul. 30 In your distress, when all these things happen to you in days to come and you return to the Lord your God, then you will hear his voice. 31 For God is compassionate. The Lord your God won’t fail you. He won’t destroy you or forget the covenant that he confirmed with your ancestors.”
Who is Like the Lord?
32 “Indeed, ask from one end of the heavens to the other about days of old, before your time, when God created mankind on the earth. Did we ever have anything as great as this, or ever hear of anything like it? 33 Has any people heard the voice of God speaking from the middle of a fire just as you did,[ds] and survived it? 34 Or has any god ever taken for himself one nation out from another nation with testings, signs, wonders, wars, awesome power,[dt] and magnificent, terrifying deeds[du] as the Lord your God did in Egypt before your eyes?
35 “You have been shown this in order to know that ‘the Lord is God’ and there is no one like him. 36 You have been made to hear his voice from heaven so you may be instructed.[dv] And he showed you his great fire here on earth, and you heard his voice from the middle of that fire. 37 Moreover, he loved your ancestors, chose their descendants after them, and brought you out of Egypt, accompanied by his presence and great power, 38 in order to drive out nations that are stronger and more powerful than you, to bring you into this land,[dw] and to give you their land as an inheritance, as it is today.
39 “May you acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in the heavens above and over the earth below—there is no other God.[dx] 40 May you observe his statutes and keep his commands that I’m giving you today, so that life may go well for you and for your descendants after you. That way, you’ll live a long life in the land that the Lord your God is about to give you permanently.”[dy]
Cities of Refuge
41 Then Moses designated three cities on the east side of the Jordan, 42 where a person who accidentally killed someone could flee, if he killed his neighbor without having enmity toward him in the past. He may flee to one of these cities and live: 43 Bezer in the desert plain for the descendants of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead for the descendants of Gad, and Golan in Bashan for the descendants of Manasseh.
Moses Reviews the Law
44 This is the Law that Moses reviewed in the presence of the Israelis. 45 These are the instructions, decrees, and ordinances that Moses declared to the Israelis when they came out of Egypt. 46 He did this[dz] east of the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and whom Moses and the Israelis defeated after leaving Egypt. 47 So they took possession of his land, as well as the land of King Og of Bashan. Both Amorite kings lived east of the Jordan— 48 from Aroer on the edge of the Wadi[ea] Arnon as far as Mount Sirion,[eb] which is also called Hermon, 49 and all the Arabah east of the Jordan as far as the Dead Sea[ec] below the slopes of Pisgah.
The Ten Commandments(D)
5 Moses called all of Israel together and told them: “Listen, Israel! Today I’m going to announce God’s laws and regulations so that you will learn them and take care to obey them. 2 When the Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb, 3 it was not with our ancestors that the Lord made this covenant, but with us—we who are here today—all of us who are now living. 4 The Lord spoke to you face to face on the mountain from the fire. 5 I stood at that time as mediator[ed] between the Lord and you to declare his[ee] message to you, because you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain. He said:
| א[ef] | 6 “‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt—from the house of slavery. 7 You are to have no other gods as a substitute for me.[eg] |
| ב | 8 “‘You are not to craft for yourselves an idol resembling what is in the skies above, or on earth beneath, or in the water sources under the earth. 9 You are not to bow down to them in worship or serve them, because I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the guilt of parents[eh] on children, to the third and fourth generation[ei] of those who hate me, 10 but showing gracious love to the thousands of those who love me and keep my[ej] commandments. |
| ג | 11 “‘You are not to misuse the name of the Lord your God,[ek] because the Lord will not leave unpunished the one who misuses his name.[el] |
| ד | 12 “‘Observe the Sabbath day, maintaining its holiness,[em] just as the Lord your God commanded. 13 Six days you are to labor and do all your work, 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. You are not to do any work—neither you, your son, nor your daughter,[en] your male and female servants, your oxen and donkeys, nor any of your livestock, nor any foreigner who lives among you—[eo] so that your male and female servants may rest as you do. 15 You are to remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out from there with great power and a show of force.[ep] Therefore, the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. |
| ה | 16 “‘Honor your father and your mother, just as the Lord your God commanded you, so that you will live long and things will go well for you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. |
| ו | 17 “‘You are not to commit murder. |
| ז | 18 “‘You are not to commit adultery. |
| ח | 19 “‘You are not to steal. |
| ט | 20 “‘You are not to give false testimony against your neighbor. |
| י | 21 “‘You are not to desire[eq] your neighbor’s wife nor crave your neighbor’s house,[er] his fields, his male and female servants, his ox, his donkey, nor anything else that pertains to your neighbor.’” |
Moses Recalls God’s Warnings
22 “The Lord declared these commands in a loud voice to your entire assembly on the mountain from out of the fire[es] and dark clouds,[et] and nothing more was added. He inscribed them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. 23 When you heard the voice from the darkness while the mountain was blazing, all the leaders and elders of your tribes came to me and said: 24 ‘The Lord our God truly has displayed his glory and power, for we heard him[eu] from out of the fire today. We have witnessed how God spoke to human beings, yet they lived. 25 Now therefore, why should we die? This great fire will consume us. If we continue to listen to the voice of the Lord our God any longer, we’ll die. 26 For what mortal man[ev] has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the fire like we did, and lived? 27 As for you, go near and listen to everything that the Lord our God will say to you, then repeat it[ew] to us, and we’ll listen and obey.’
28 “The Lord heard what you said. He told me: ‘I’ve heard what this people said. Everything they said was good. 29 If only they would commit[ex] to fear me and keep all my commands, then it will go well with them and their children forever. 30 Go and tell them to return to their tents, 31 but you stand here with me and I’ll speak to you all the commands, decrees, and laws that you must teach them to observe in the land that I’m giving you to possess. 32 You must be careful to do what the Lord your God commanded you, turning neither to the left nor to the right. 33 You are to walk in every pathway that the Lord your God commanded you, so that life[ey] may go well for you, and so that you will prolong your days in the land that you will possess.’”
The Covenant of Love
6 “Now these are the commands, decrees, and ordinances that the Lord commanded me[ez] to teach you. Obey them in the land you are entering to possess, 2 so that you, your children, and your grandchildren may fear the Lord your God. Keep all his decrees and commandments that I’m giving you every day of your life, so you may live a long time. 3 Listen, Israel! Be careful to obey, so that life[fa] may go well for you and that you may increase greatly. Just as the Lord God of your ancestors told you, you’ll have a land flowing with milk and honey.
4 “Listen, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.[fb] 5 You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 Let these words that I’m commanding you today be always[fc] on your heart. 7 Teach them repeatedly to your children. Talk about them while sitting in your house or walking on the road, and as you lie down or get up. 8 Tie them as reminders[fd] on your forearm, bind them on your forehead,[fe] 9 and write them on the door frames of your house and on your gates.”
Serve the Lord Only
10 “When the Lord your God brings you to the land that he promised to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he will give you large and beautiful cities that you didn’t build, 11 houses filled with every good thing that you didn’t supply, wells that you didn’t dig, and vineyards and olive groves that you didn’t plant. When you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful not to forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and slavery.[ff] 13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him, and make your oaths in his name. 14 Do not follow other gods from the gods of the nations[fg] around you, 15 because the Lord your God who is among you is a jealous God. He will turn his anger against you and destroy you from the surface of the land.”
Do What is Right
16 “Don’t test the Lord your God like you did in Massah. 17 Be sure to observe the commands of the Lord your God, his testimonies, and his decrees that he gave you. 18 Do what is good and right in the Lord’s sight so it may go well with you. Then you’ll enter and possess the good land that the Lord your God promised to your ancestors, 19 expelling all your enemies before you, as the Lord said.”
Remember What the Lord has Done
20 “When your son asks you in the future, ‘What is the meaning of the instructions, decrees, and ordinances that the Lord our God commanded you?’ 21 tell him, ‘We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with great power. 22 Before our very eyes, the Lord did great and terrible signs and wonders in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to his entire household. 23 But as for us, he brought us out from there to bring us into the land and give it to us, as he promised our ancestors. 24 Then the Lord commanded us to observe all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God for our own good, so that he may keep us alive as we are today. 25 It will be credited as[fh] righteousness for us if we’re careful to obey the entire Law in the presence of the Lord our God, as he commanded.’”
Instructions Regarding the Tribal Nations
7 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, he will drive out many nations before you: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites— seven nations who are more numerous and stronger than you. 2 So when the Lord your God delivers them to you and you have defeated them, then utterly destroy them. You are not to make any covenant with them nor be gracious to them. 3 You are not to intermarry with them. You are not to give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters for your sons, 4 because they will turn your children from me to serve other gods so that the Lord’s anger blazes against you and swiftly destroys you by fire. 5 This is what you are to do to them: tear down their altars, break their pillars, cut down their ritual pillars, and burn their carved idols in fire, 6 because you are a holy people to the Lord your God. The Lord your God chose you to be his people, his treasured possession from all the nations[fi] on the face of the earth.”
The Lord Keeps His Covenant
7 “It wasn’t because you were more numerous than other nations[fj] of the earth that the Lord committed himself to you and chose you. In fact, you were the least numerous of all the nations.[fk] 8 But the Lord loved you and kept his oath that he made to your ancestors. The Lord brought you out with great power from slavery,[fl] from the control of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 9 Know that the Lord your God is God, the trusted God who faithfully keeps his covenant to the thousandth generation of those who love him and obey his commands. 10 But for the one who hates him, he will repay him by destroying him. He will not delay dealing with someone who hates him. 11 Therefore, keep the commands, decrees, and ordinances that I am instructing you to obey today.”
The Lord Blesses Obedience
12 “If you pay attention to these laws and obey them, then the Lord your God will continue his covenant of gracious love with you that he promised with an oath to your ancestors. 13 He’ll love you and increase your numbers. He’ll bless the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your land (the grain, new wine, and oil), the offspring of your herds, and the lambs of your flock in the land that the Lord promised your ancestors he would give you. 14 You’ll be blessed among all the nations. There’ll be no infertility among you, not even[fm] among your herds. 15 The Lord will turn aside every disease from you. He won’t inflict on you the terrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but will inflict them instead on all who hate you. 16 You are to utterly destroy everyone whom the Lord your God will deliver to you. Don’t have pity on them nor serve their gods. Otherwise, they will become a snare for you.”
The Lord will Fight for You
17 “You may say to yourselves, ‘These nations are more numerous than we are. How can we dispossess them?’ 18 But you mustn’t fear them. Be sure to remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and all of Egypt. 19 Your eyes saw the great trials, the signs and wonders, and the awesome power with which[fn] the Lord your God brought you out. The Lord your God will do the same to all the people whom you fear. 20 He’ll[fo] send plagues against them until the survivors who hide from you have perished. 21 Don’t tremble before them, because the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God. 22 He[fp] slowly will dislodge these nations before you, but he won’t destroy them quickly, so the wild animals[fq] won’t multiply around you. 23 But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion, until they are destroyed. 24 He will deliver kings into your control and you are to wipe out the memory of them[fr] from under heaven. No one will be able to stand before you. You are utterly to destroy them. 25 Burn the images of their gods in the fire. Desire neither the silver nor the gold that adorns them, nor take them for yourselves, so you won’t be ensnared by them, because the gold and silver[fs] are detestable to the Lord your God. 26 Don’t bring any detestable thing to your house, because you yourself will be utterly destroyed along with these detestable things. You must absolutely abhor and detest all of[ft] it, because it has been devoted to destruction.”
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