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Through My Bible Yr 01 – April 05

Mark 2:13 – 3:6

Mark 2

The Calling of Levi (Matthew)

¹³ Jesus went out again along the sea. The whole crowd went to him, and he taught them. ¹⁴ As he was passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him. And Levi got up and followed him.

¹⁵ Then when Jesus was reclining at a table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples because many of them also were following him. ¹⁶ When the experts in the law and the Pharisees saw that he was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why is he eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?”

¹⁷ When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

A Question About Fasting

¹⁸ John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. They came and asked Jesus, “Why is it that John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

¹⁹ Jesus said to them, “The friends of the bridegroom cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. ²⁰ But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then on that day they will fast. ²¹ No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the patch shrinks, the new tears away from the old, and a worse tear is made. ²² No one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will pour out, ^[1] and the skins will be ruined. Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins.”

Lord of the Sabbath

²³ Once on a Sabbath day, Jesus was passing through the grain fields, and his disciples began to pick heads of grain as they walked along. ²⁴ The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”

²⁵ He replied to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry (he and his companions)? ²⁶ He entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the Bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for anyone to eat, except for the priests. He also gave some to his companions.”

²⁷ Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is the Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Jesus Heals a Man With a Withered Hand

Mark 3

¹ Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there with a withered ^[2] hand. ² They were watching Jesus closely to see if he would heal the man on the Sabbath day, so that they could accuse him. ³ He said to the man with the withered hand, “Step forward!” ^{[3] 4} Then he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. ⁵ Then he looked around at them with anger, deeply grieved at the hardness of their hearts. He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man stretched it out, and his hand was restored. ⁶ The Pharisees left and immediately began to conspire against Jesus with the Herodians, plotting how they might kill him.

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Through My Bible Yr 01 – April 03

Mark 1:16-34

Mark 1

¹⁶ As Jesus was going along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. ¹⁷ Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ¹⁸ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ Going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat mending the nets. ²⁰ Immediately Jesus called them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. ²¹ Then they went into Capernaum.

Jesus Drives Out a Demon

On the next Sabbath day, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. ²² They were amazed at his teaching, because he was teaching them as one who has authority and not as the experts in the law. ²³ Just then there was a man with an unclean spirit in their synagogue. It cried out, ²⁴ “What do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

²⁵ Jesus rebuked the spirit, saying, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”

²⁶ The unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions, and after crying out with a loud voice, it came out of him. ²⁷ Everyone was so amazed that they began to discuss this with each other. They said, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits, and they obey him!” ²⁸ News about him spread quickly through all the region of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many

²⁹ They left the synagogue and went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed, sick with a fever. Without delay they told Jesus about her. ³¹ He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them. ³² That evening, when the sun had set, the people kept bringing to him all who were sick and demon-possessed. ³³ The whole town gathered at the door. ³⁴ He healed many people who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. But he did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who he was. ^[1]

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Through My Bible Yr 01 – April 01

Numbers 33 – 35

Forty Stages of Israel’s Journey

Numbers 33

¹ These were the stages in the Israelites’ journey when they went out from the land of Egypt, lined up according to their military units, under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. ² At the command of the Lord, Moses recorded their departure locations according to the stages in their journey. These were the stages in their journey listed by their departure locations:

³⁸ Aaron the priest went up onto Mount Hor at the Lord’s command and died there in the fortieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first day of the month. ³⁹ Aaron was one hundred twenty-three years old when he died at Mount Hor.

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

Instructions for Conquering Canaan

⁵⁰ On the Plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, the Lord spoke to Moses: ⁵¹ “Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, ⁵² you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you, destroy all their carved images and all their cast idols, and destroy all their high places. ⁵³ You shall take possession of the land and settle in it, because I have given the land to you to possess it. ⁵⁴ You shall distribute the land as a possession by lot according to your clans. For a larger clan you shall increase its inheritance. For a smaller clan you shall decrease its inheritance. Wherever the lot falls for that clan, that will be its portion. You will distribute the land as a possession according to the tribes of your fathers. ⁵⁵ But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, then those that you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will cause trouble for you in the land where you will settle. ⁵⁶ Then I will do to you what I planned to do to them.’”

The Boundaries of Canaan

Numbers 34

¹ The Lord told Moses ² to deliver these commands to the Israelites:

When you come into the land of Canaan (this is the land that will fall to you as an inheritance, the land of Canaan as defined by its boundaries), ³ your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. Your southern border on the east will start from the south end of the Dead Sea. ^{[4] 4} Your border will turn south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, pass through to Zin, and it will end south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it will go out to Hazar Adda and pass through to Azmon. ⁵ The border will turn from Azmon to the Stream of Egypt, ^[5] and it will end at the Mediterranean Sea. ^[6]

⁶ For the western border, you will have the Mediterranean Sea as your border. This will be your western border.

⁷ This will be your northern border: From the Mediterranean Sea you will draw a line for yourselves to Mount Hor. ⁸ From Mount Hor you will draw a line to Lebo Hamath. The end of the border will be at Zedad. ⁹ Then the border will go to Ziphron, and it will end at Hazar Enan. This will be your northern border.

¹⁰ You will draw a line to serve as your eastern border from Hazar Enan to Shepham. ¹¹ The border will go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain. The border will go down and meet the eastern slope of the Sea of Galilee. ^{[7] 12} The border will go down to the Jordan and end at the Dead Sea. This will be your land according to its boundaries on all sides.

Tribal Chiefs Assigned for Dividing the Land

¹³ Moses commanded the Israelites, “This is the land which you will assign as a possession by lot, which the Lord has commanded you to give to the nine and a half tribes. ¹⁴ The tribe of Reuben’s descendants according to their fathers’ houses and the tribe of Gad’s descendants according to their fathers’ houses have already received their possession. Also half of the tribe of Manasseh has received its possession. ¹⁵ The two and a half tribes have received their possession east of the Jordan across from Jericho, toward the sunrise.”

¹⁶ The Lord spoke to Moses:

¹⁷ These are the names of the men who will assign the land as a possession for you:

¹⁸ You will take one tribal chief from every tribe to assign the land as a possession. ¹⁹ These are the names of the men:

²⁹ These were the men whom the Lord commanded to assign the areas of possession for the Israelites in the land of Canaan.

Towns for the Levites

Numbers 35

¹ The Lord spoke to Moses on the Plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho:

² Command the people of Israel to give the Levites cities ^[8] to live in from the territory assigned to them as their possession. They will also give the Levites the pasturelands around those cities. ³ The Levites will then have cities to live in. Their pasturelands will be for their cattle, their flocks and herds, and all their other animals.

⁴ The pasturelands of the cities, which you will give to the Levites, will extend out from the wall of the city 500 yards ^[9] in all directions. ⁵ As the eastern boundary you will measure 1000 yards ^[10] in addition to the size of the city, 1000 yards as the southern boundary, 1000 yards as the western boundary, and 1000 yards as the northern boundary. The city is in the middle. This area will serve as the pasturelands of their cities.

⁶ The cities which you will give to the Levites will include six cities of refuge, which you will provide so that a person who has killed someone may flee there. In addition to these six cities, you will give them forty-two other cities. ⁷ All the cities which you are to give to the Levites will total forty-eight cities along with their pasturelands. ⁸ For the cities which you will transfer to the Levites from the property of the Israelites, you will take more cities from a larger tribe and fewer from a smaller tribe. Every tribe will give some of its cities to the Levites in proportion to the amount of assigned territory it has received.

Cities of Refuge

⁹ The Lord told Moses ¹⁰ to speak to the Israelites and tell them this:

When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, ¹¹ you are to designate some cities to be cities of refuge for yourselves, so that a person who has killed someone by taking someone’s life unintentionally may flee there. ¹² The cities will serve as a refuge for you from the avenger, ^[11] so that a person who has killed someone will not die until he stands trial before the community. ¹³ The cities which you will set aside will serve as the six cities of refuge for you. ¹⁴ You are to set aside three cities east of the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan. They will serve as cities of refuge. ¹⁵ These six cities will serve as a refuge for Israelites, for resident aliens, and for temporary residents living among them so that everyone who has taken someone’s life unintentionally may flee there.

¹⁶ But if a person strikes someone with an iron object so that he dies, that person is a murderer. The murderer must certainly be put to death. ¹⁷ If a person strikes someone with a stone in his hand that could kill someone, and the victim dies, that person is a murderer. The murderer must certainly be put to death. ¹⁸ Or if a person strikes someone with a wooden object in his hand that could kill someone, and the victim dies, that person is a murderer. The murderer must certainly be put to death. ¹⁹ The avenger of blood himself will put the murderer to death. When he apprehends him, he is to put him to death. ²⁰ If a person pushes someone out of hatred or throws something at him with malicious intent so that he dies, ²¹ or in hostility strikes him with his hand so that he dies, that person who struck him must certainly be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death when he apprehends him.

²² But if a person pushes someone suddenly without hostility or throws any object at him without malicious intent, ²³ or if without looking he drops a stone on someone big enough to kill him and that person dies, since that person was not his enemy, and he did not seek to harm him, ²⁴ the community will judge between the killer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances. ²⁵ The community will deliver the person who has killed someone from the hand of the avenger of blood. Then the community will take him back to his city of refuge, to which he had fled. He must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.

²⁶ But if the person who has killed someone ever goes outside of the border of the city of refuge to which he has fled, ²⁷ and the avenger of blood finds him outside of the border of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the person who has killed someone, the avenger will not be guilty of bloodshed, ²⁸ because the person who has killed someone should have stayed in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest he may return to the land that is his possession.

²⁹ These things will be a legal statute for you throughout your generations wherever you live.

³⁰ Everyone who has taken someone’s life is to be put to death as a murderer on the testimony of witnesses, but no one is to die on the testimony of only one witness.

³¹ You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, because he must certainly be put to death.

³² You are not to accept a ransom for the one who has fled to a city of refuge in order to allow him to return to live in his land before the death of the priest.

³³ So you are not to pollute the land where you are, because bloodshed pollutes the land. No atonement can be made for the land where blood has been shed except by the blood of the one who shed it. ³⁴ You are not to defile the land in which you are living, where I am dwelling in its midst, for I, the Lord, am dwelling in the midst of the people of Israel.

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Through My Bible Yr 01 – March 30

Numbers 31

Vengeance on the Midianites

¹ The Lord spoke to Moses: ² “Take vengeance against the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”

³ Moses spoke to the people, “Equip some of your men for combat. They will go against Midian to carry out the Lord’s vengeance on Midian. ⁴ Send one thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel into combat.” ⁵ So out of all the thousands of Israel, a military unit of a thousand was selected from each tribe—a total of twelve thousand men armed for battle. ⁶ Moses sent them into combat, one thousand from each tribe. Moses sent them and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, into combat. Things from the sanctuary ^[1] and the trumpets for signaling were in his hand.

⁷ They fought against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and they killed every male. ⁸ Along with the others who were slain, they killed the kings of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. ⁹ The Israelites took the women of Midian and their children captive. They plundered all their animals, property, and possessions. ¹⁰ They burned all their cities where they settled and all their camps. ¹¹ They took all the plunder and all the spoils of war, both people and animals. ¹² They brought the captives, the spoils of war, and the plunder to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the Israelite community at the camp on the Plains of Moab, which was by the Jordan across from Jericho.

¹³ Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the tribal chiefs of the community went out to meet them outside of the camp. ¹⁴ Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds—who were coming back from the military campaign.

¹⁵ Moses said to them, “Have you allowed every woman to live? ¹⁶ Look, following Balaam’s advice, these women were the ones who incited the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord in the Peor incident, and so the plague came upon the community of the Lord. ¹⁷ Now, kill every male among the children, and kill every woman who has had sexual relations with a man. ¹⁸ But you may keep alive for yourselves all the young females who have not had sexual relations with a man.

¹⁹ “All of you who have killed a person or touched a slain body shall stay outside of the camp for seven days. Purify yourselves and your captives on the third day and on the seventh day. ²⁰ Also purify every garment, every leather item, everything made of goat hair, and every item of wood.”

²¹ Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle, “These are the regulations which the Lord has commanded Moses: ²² The gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead ²³ (everything that can withstand fire) you must be sure to pass through the fire, and it will be clean. It also is to be purified with the water for removing impurity. Everything that cannot withstand fire, you are to pass through the water. ²⁴ You shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you will be clean. After that, you may come into the camp.”

Dividing the Plunder

²⁵ The Lord spoke to Moses: ²⁶ “You, Eleazar the priest, and the leading fathers ^[2] of the community are to count the spoils of war—the captives, both people and animals— ²⁷ and divide the spoils of war into two equal parts: one part for the troops who went out for combat and one for all the rest of the community. ²⁸ Raise a tribute to the Lord to be given by the fighting men who went out for battle. Take one out of every five hundred from the people, the cattle, the donkeys, and the flocks. ²⁹ Take it from the fighting men’s half, and give it to Eleazar the priest as an elevated offering ^[3] to the Lord. ³⁰ Also from the Israelites’ half, you will take one out of every fifty from the people, the cattle, the donkeys, the flocks, and all the animals, and give them to the Levites, who attend to the duties at the Lord’s Dwelling.”

³¹ Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses. ³² Now the spoils of war remaining from the plunder that the army took was 675,000 animals from the flocks, ³³ 72,000 cattle, ³⁴ 61,000 donkeys, ³⁵ and 32,000 people in all, that is, the women who had not had sexual relations with a man.

³⁶ The half share for those who went out into combat numbered 337,500 animals from the flocks, ³⁷ and the tribute for the Lord from the flocks was 675. ³⁸ The cattle numbered 36,000; the tribute for the Lord was 72. ³⁹ The donkeys numbered 30,500; the tribute for the Lord was 61. ⁴⁰ The people numbered 16,000; the tribute for the Lord was 32 people. ⁴¹ Moses gave the tribute, the elevated offering to the Lord, to Eleazar the priest as the Lord commanded Moses.

⁴² From the Israelites’ half, which Moses set aside from the share of the men who fought, ⁴³ the community’s half share was 337,500 animals from the flocks, ⁴⁴ 36,000 cattle, ⁴⁵ 30,500 donkeys, ⁴⁶ and 16,000 people. ⁴⁷ From the Israelites’ half share Moses took one out of every fifty from the people and the animals and gave them to the Levites, who attended to the duties at the Lord’s Dwelling, as the Lord commanded Moses.

⁴⁸ The officers who were over the units of a thousand in the army—the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds—approached Moses. ⁴⁹ They said to Moses, “Your servants have taken a head count of the fighting men who were under our command, and not one of them is missing. ⁵⁰ So we have brought as an offering to the Lord the gold items which every man acquired—armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord.”

⁵¹ Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gold from them, all the crafted items. ⁵² All the gold from the elevated offering that the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds lifted up to the Lord amounted to 16,750 shekels. ^{[4] 53} Each of the soldiers had taken plunder for himself. ⁵⁴ Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gold from the commanders of thousands and hundreds and brought it into the Tent of Meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before the Lord.

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Through My Bible Yr 01 – March 28

Numbers 28 – 29

The Offerings

Numbers 28

¹ The Lord told Moses ² to deliver this command to the Israelites:

The Daily Offerings

Make sure that you present my offering at its appointed time. Present it as my food, an offering made by fire, with a pleasing aroma to me. ³ Say to them, “This is the offering made by fire that you shall present to the Lord each day: two one-year-old male lambs without defect as a regular burnt offering. ⁴ You are to offer one lamb in the morning, and you are to offer the other lamb at twilight, ⁵ along with two quarts ^[1] of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with one quart ^[2] of oil from beaten ^[3] olives.” ⁶ It is the regular burnt offering put into effect at Mount Sinai for a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord. ⁷ The drink offering with it is to be one quart for one lamb. You are to pour out the drink offering of beer ^[4] to the Lord at the sanctuary. ⁸ You are to prepare the other lamb at twilight. You are to prepare it along with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering as in the morning, an offering made by fire, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

The Sabbath Offerings

⁹ On the Sabbath day, you shall present two one-year-old male lambs without defect, four quarts ^[5] of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and its drink offering. ¹⁰ This is the whole burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.

The Monthly Offering

¹¹ At the beginning of each of your months, you shall present as a whole burnt offering to the Lord: two young bulls, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs without defect, ¹² along with six quarts ^[6] of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering for each bull; four quarts of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering for the one ram; ¹³ and two quarts of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering for every lamb—as a burnt offering with a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord. ¹⁴ Their drink offerings will be two quarts ^[7] of wine for a bull, a quart and a half ^[8] for a ram, and one quart for a lamb. This is the monthly burnt offering for each month of the year. ¹⁵ One male goat is to be presented as a sin offering to the Lord in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.

The Festival Offerings
The Passover

¹⁶ In the first month, the fourteenth day of the month is the Passover for the Lord. ¹⁷ On the fifteenth day of this month there is to be a festival. Unleavened bread is to be eaten for seven days. ¹⁸ The first day is to be a holy convocation. You are not to do any regular work. ¹⁹ You are to present an offering made by fire, a burnt offering to the Lord: two young bulls, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs—all without defect— ²⁰ along with their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil: six quarts ^[9] for a bull and four quarts ^[10] for the ram. ²¹ You will prepare two quarts ^[11] for each of the seven lambs, ²² and one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for yourselves. ²³ You will prepare these things in addition to the morning burnt offering that is part of the regular burnt offering. ²⁴ In this way for seven days you will prepare food daily as an offering made by fire with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. It is to be prepared in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. ²⁵ On the seventh day there is to be a holy convocation. You shall not do any of your regular work.

The Festival of Weeks or Pentecost

²⁶ On the day of the firstfruits ^[12] when you present an offering of new grain to the Lord during the Festival of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any of your regular work. ²⁷ You are to present as a whole burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the Lord: two young bulls, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs ²⁸ along with their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: six quarts for each bull, four quarts for the one ram, ²⁹ and two quarts for each of the seven lambs; ³⁰ also present one male goat to make atonement for yourselves. ³¹ You are to offer these and their drink offerings in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering. Your animals are to be without defect.

The Festival of the Ram’s Horn

Numbers 29

¹ In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any of your regular work. For you it is to be a day of loud blasts on the ram’s horn. ^[13]

² You are to prepare a whole burnt offering as a pleasing aroma to the Lord: one young bull, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs—all without defect— ³ along with their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: six quarts for the bull, four quarts for the ram, ⁴ and two quarts for each of the seven lambs; ⁵ also prepare one male goat for a sin offering to make atonement for yourselves. ⁶ This is in addition to the monthly burnt offering and its grain offering, the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings, just as specified, for a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord.

The Day of Atonement

⁷ On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall humble yourselves. You are not to do any kind of work. ⁸ You are to present a whole burnt offering to the Lord, a pleasing aroma: one young bull, one ram, seven one-year-old male lambs—all without defect— ⁹ along with their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: six quarts for the bull, four quarts for the one ram, ¹⁰ two quarts for each of the seven lambs; ¹¹ also present one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering of atonement, the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

The Festival of Shelters ^[14]

¹² On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You are not to do any of your regular work. You shall celebrate a pilgrimage festival to the Lord for seven days. ¹³ You are to present a whole burnt offering, an offering made by fire, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord: thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen one-year-old male lambs—all without defect— ¹⁴ along with their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil: six quarts for each of the thirteen bulls, four quarts for each of the two rams, ¹⁵ and two quarts for each of the fourteen lambs; ¹⁶ also present one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.

¹⁷ On the second day you are to present twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen one-year-old male lambs—all without defect— ¹⁸ along with their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, the rams, and the lambs, according to the amount specified for each of them; ¹⁹ also present one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.

²⁰ On the third day you are to present eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen one-year-old male lambs—all without defect— ²¹ along with their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, the rams, and the lambs, according to the amount specified for each of them; ²² also present one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.

²³ On the fourth day you are to present ten bulls, two rams, fourteen one-year-old male lambs—all without defect— ²⁴ along with their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, the rams, and the lambs, according to the amount specified for each of them; ²⁵ also present one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.

²⁶ On the fifth day you are to present nine bulls, two rams, fourteen one-year-old male lambs—all without defect— ²⁷ along with their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, the rams, and the lambs, according to the amount specified for each of them; ²⁸ also present one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.

²⁹ On the sixth day you are to present eight bulls, two rams, fourteen one-year-old male lambs—all without defect— ³⁰ along with their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, the rams, and the lambs, according to the amount specified for each of them; ³¹ also present one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.

³² On the seventh day you are to present seven bulls, two rams, fourteen one-year-old male lambs—all without defect— ³³ along with their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, the rams, and the lambs, according to the amount specified for each of them; ³⁴ also present one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.

³⁵ On the eighth day you shall hold a closing ceremony. You shall not do any of your regular work. ³⁶ You are to present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord: one bull, one ram, seven one-year-old male lambs—all without defect— ³⁷ along with their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bull, the ram, and the lambs, according to the amount specified for each of them; ³⁸ also present one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.

³⁹ In addition to your offerings to fulfill a vow and freewill offerings, you shall prepare these for the Lord at your appointed times as your burnt offerings, your grain offerings, your drink offerings, and your fellowship offerings.

⁴⁰ Moses told the Israelites everything that the Lord commanded Moses.

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Through My Bible Yr 01 – March 26

Numbers 25 – 26

Israel Worships Baal

Numbers 25

¹ While Israel stayed in Shittim, ^[1] the people started to commit sexual immorality with the women of Moab. ² The women invited the people to the sacrifices for their gods. The people ate and bowed down to their gods. ³ The Israelites attached themselves to ^[2] the Baal of Peor. The Lord’s anger burned against Israel. ⁴ The Lord said to Moses, “Take all the heads of the people and impale them before the Lord in broad daylight so that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.”

⁵ Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you must kill any of his men who have attached themselves to the Baal of Peor.”

The Result of the Baal Worship

⁶ Just then, an Israelite man came and brought a Midianite woman to his brothers in the sight of Moses and the entire Israelite community, while the people were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. ⁷ When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw this, he rose up from the middle of the assembly and took a spear in his hand. ⁸ He followed the Israelite man into the large tent and ran both of them through, the Israelite man and the woman, right through her belly. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped. ⁹ Those who died by the plague were 24,000.

¹⁰ The Lord spoke to Moses: ¹¹ “Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the Israelites, because he was very zealous for me among you. So I did not put an end to the Israelites in my zeal. ¹² Therefore say, ‘Look, I myself will give to him my covenant of peace. ¹³ He and his descendants after him will have the covenant of a permanent priesthood, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.’”

¹⁴ The name of the Israelite man who was struck dead, who was struck dead with the Midianite woman, was Zimri son of Salu, a tribal chief of the father’s house for the Simeonites. ¹⁵ The name of the Midianite woman who was struck dead was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, who was a tribal head of a father’s house in Midian.

¹⁶ The Lord spoke to Moses and said, ⎣“Speak to the Israelites, saying,⎦ ^{[3] 17} ‘Treat the Midianites as enemies and strike them dead. ¹⁸ For they treated you as enemies when they deceived you with their treachery in the incident involving Peor and Cozbi, the daughter of the Midianite tribal chief, their sister, who was struck dead on the day of the plague in the Peor incident.’”

The Second Census

Numbers 26

¹ After the plague, the Lord spoke to Moses and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest. ^[4] He said, ² “Take a census of the entire Israelite community, twenty years old and up, according to their fathers’ houses, all who are of age to serve in Israel’s army.”

³ Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them on the Plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho. They said, ⁴ “Take a census of the men twenty years old and up, just as the Lord commanded Moses.”

These are the Israelites who came out from the land of Egypt:

⁵² The Lord spoke to Moses: ⁵³ “The land is to be divided among these tribes, with the size of the possession for each tribe based on the number of names. ⁵⁴ For a larger tribe, increase its possession. For a smaller tribe, decrease its possession. Each tribe is to be given its inheritance based on the total of those registered. ⁵⁵ The land must be divided by lot. They will receive their possession according to the names of their father’s tribes. ⁵⁶ Their possession is to be divided between the larger and the smaller tribes as the lots determine.”

⁵⁷ Those who were registered from the Levites according to their clans were: from Gershon, the Gershonite clan; from Kohath, the Kohathite clan; from Merari, the Merarite clan. ⁵⁸ These were the Levite clans: the Libnite clan, the Hebronite clan, the Mahlite clan, the Mushite clan, the Korahite clan.

⁶² Those who were registered totaled 23,000, every male a month old and up. But they were not registered with the other Israelites, because they were not given a possession ^[11] among the Israelites.

⁶³ These were the men who were registered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, when they registered the Israelites on the Plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho. ⁶⁴ But among them there was not even one man left from those who had been registered by Moses and Aaron the priest, when they registered the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai. ⁶⁵ For the Lord had said about them, “They will surely die in the wilderness.” There was not even one man left from them except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Through My Bible Yr 01 – March 24

Numbers 22

Balak Hires Balaam

¹ The Israelites set out and camped on the Plains of Moab along the Jordan across from Jericho. ² Balak son of Zippor saw everything that Israel had done to the Amorites. ³ So Moab was afraid of the people, because they were so numerous. Moab was terrified because of the Israelites. ⁴ Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this assembly will eat up everything around us, just as cattle eat up the grass in the field.”

Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. ⁵ He sent messengers to summon Balaam, the son of Beor, from Pethor by the Euphrates River, in the land of his own people. ^[1]

He said, “Look, a people came out of Egypt. They cover the surface of the land, and they are settling right across from me. ⁶ Please come now. Curse this people for me, for they are more powerful than I am. Perhaps I will succeed and strike them down, driving them out of the land, for I know that whomever you bless is blessed, and whomever you curse is cursed.”

⁷ The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went with payments for his occult practices ^[2] in their hand. They came to Balaam and told him what Balak said.

⁸ Balaam said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will report to you what the Lord says to me.” So the Moabite officials stayed with Balaam.

⁹ God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”

¹⁰ Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent messengers to me, who said, ¹¹ ‘Look, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the land. Now, come, curse them for me. Perhaps I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

¹² God said to Balaam, “You are not to go with them. You are not to curse the people, for they are blessed.”

¹³ Balaam got up in the morning and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your land, because the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”

¹⁴ The officials of Moab got up and went back to Balak. They said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

¹⁵ So Balak again sent other officials, more numerous and more prestigious than the others. ¹⁶ They went to Balaam and said to him, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says, ‘Do not let anything prevent you from coming to me, ¹⁷ for I will reward you very richly. Also I will do whatever you tell me. Just come and curse this people for me.’”

¹⁸ Balaam responded to Balak’s servants, “Even if Balak would give to me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go against the command of the Lord my God to do anything small or great. ¹⁹ But please, stay and spend the night here, and I will find out what else the Lord might say to me.”

²⁰ God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to summon you, get up and go with them. However, do only what I tell you.” ²¹ Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the officials of Moab.

Balaam’s Donkey

²² But God’s anger burned because Balaam was going with them. So the Angel ^[3] of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. ²³ The donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the road, with his drawn sword in his hand. So the donkey turned off the road and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey to make it turn back to the road. ²⁴ Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards with walls on both sides. ²⁵ The donkey saw the Angel of the Lord and pressed against the wall and squeezed Balaam’s foot against the wall. Balaam struck the donkey again. ²⁶ Then the Angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or to the left. ²⁷ The donkey saw the Angel of the Lord and lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

²⁸ The Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, which said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?”

²⁹ Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me! If only there was a sword in my hand, I would kill you now!”

³⁰ The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, the one you have always ridden to this day? Is this what I usually do to you?”

He said, “No.”

³¹ Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the road, with his drawn sword in his hand. Balaam knelt and bowed with his face to the ground. ³² The Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I myself have come out to oppose you, because your way is reckless ^[4] before me. ³³ The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away from me, I would have surely killed you by now and let the donkey live.”

³⁴ Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I didn’t know that you stood in the road to confront me. Now if this is displeasing to you, I will go back.”

³⁵ The Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you will speak only the words that I speak to you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.

Balak Meets Balaam

³⁶ When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border at the edge of his territory. ³⁷ Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I send for you urgently when I summoned you? Why didn’t you come to me? Don’t you know that I can really reward you?”

³⁸ Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you now. But am I really able to say anything? I will speak only the words that God puts in my mouth.”

³⁹ Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth. ⁴⁰ Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep and sent for Balaam and the officials who were with him. ⁴¹ In the morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth Baal. From there, he saw the outskirts of the people.

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Through My Bible Yr 01 – March 22

Numbers 20

The Death of Miriam

¹ The people of Israel, the entire community, came to the Wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there.

Water From the Rock

² There was no water for the community, so they assembled together against Moses and Aaron. ³ The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! ⁴ Why have you brought the Lord’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? ⁵ Why have you taken us up out of Egypt to bring us into this horrible place? This place does not have grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates. There is no water to drink!”

⁶ Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They fell facedown. The Glory of the Lord appeared to them. ⁷ The Lord spoke to Moses: ⁸ “Take the staff and assemble the community. You and Aaron, your brother, speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will pour out its water. You will bring water for them from the rock and provide water for the community and their livestock.”

⁹ Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence just as the Lord commanded him. ¹⁰ Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels! Must we bring water out of this rock for you?” ¹¹ Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff two times, and a great amount of water gushed out. The congregation and their livestock drank.

¹² Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to honor me as holy in the eyes of the Israelites, therefore you will not bring this assembly into this land which I have given to them.”

¹³ These are the waters of Meribah, ^[1] because there the Israelites quarreled with the Lord, and through them he showed himself to be holy.

Edom Denies Israel Passage

¹⁴ Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom to say, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has come upon us. ¹⁵ Our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt for a long time. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors. ¹⁶ When we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. So look, here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. ¹⁷ Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through any field or vineyard. We will not drink water from any well. We will go on the King’s Highway. We will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”

¹⁸ Edom said to him, “You must not pass through our territory, or we will go out to meet you with the sword.”

¹⁹ The Israelites said to them, “We will go up on the main road. If we drink your water, we and our herds of livestock, then we will pay for it. Just let us pass through on foot, nothing else.”

²⁰ Edom said, “You will not pass through.” Edom went out to meet them with a large force of many people. ²¹ Edom refused to give Israel passage through their territory, so Israel turned away from them.

The Death of Aaron

²² The entire community of the Israelites set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor. ²³ The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor along the border of Edom’s territory. He said, ²⁴ “Aaron will be gathered to his people, because he cannot enter into the land which I have given to the Israelites, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. ²⁵ Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up to the top of Mount Hor. ²⁶ Remove Aaron’s garments and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron will be gathered to his fathers and die there.”

²⁷ Moses did just as the Lord commanded. They went up to the top of Mount Hor in the sight of the entire community. ²⁸ Moses removed Aaron’s garments and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron died there on the top of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. ²⁹ When the entire community saw that Aaron had passed away, the entire house of Israel wept for Aaron for thirty days.

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Through My Bible Yr 01 – March 20

Numbers 16:36 – 18:7

Numbers 16

³⁶ The Lord spoke to Moses: ^{[1] 37} “Tell Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest to remove the censers from the burning debris and scatter the fire far away, for the censers are holy. ³⁸ Make the censers belonging to those who sinned at the cost of their own lives into hammered sheets for plating the altar, because they presented them before the Lord, and the censers are holy. They will serve as a sign to the Israelites.”

³⁹ Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which had been presented by those who had been burned up by fire. They hammered them into plating for the altar ⁴⁰ as a reminder to the Israelites that no unauthorized person, who is not from the descendants of Aaron, should come near to burn incense before the Lord and become like Korah and his followers. Eleazar the priest did just as the Lord said to him through Moses.

⁴¹ But on the next day the entire Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. They said, “You have killed the people of the Lord!”

⁴² When the community assembled together against Moses and Aaron and turned toward the Tent of Meeting, the cloud covered it, and the Glory of the Lord appeared. ⁴³ Moses and Aaron went in front of the Tent of Meeting. ⁴⁴ The Lord spoke to Moses: ⁴⁵ “Get away from this community so that I may put an end to them instantly!” Moses and Aaron fell facedown to the ground.

⁴⁶ Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, put fire from the altar in it, place incense on it, go quickly to the community, and make atonement for them, because wrath has gone out from the Lord! The plague has begun.”

⁴⁷ Aaron did as Moses said and ran into the middle of the assembly. The plague had already begun among the people. He put the incense on his censer and made atonement for the people. ⁴⁸ He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped. ⁴⁹ Now those who died by the plague totaled 14,700, besides those who died because of the offense of Korah. ⁵⁰ Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and the plague was stopped.

Aaron’s Staff Is Chosen

Numbers 17

¹ The Lord spoke to Moses: ² “Speak to the Israelites, and collect staffs from them, one from each father’s house, from all their tribal chiefs according to their fathers’ houses, twelve staffs in all. Write each man’s name on his staff. ³ Write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there will be one staff for each head of their fathers’ houses. ⁴ You are to place them in the Tent of Meeting before the Testimony, where I meet with you. ⁵ The staff of the man whom I will choose will sprout. I will rid myself of the Israelites’ constant grumbling against you.”

⁶ So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each one of their tribal chiefs gave him a staff, one staff for each tribal chief according to their fathers’ houses, twelve staffs in all. Aaron’s staff was among their staffs. ⁷ Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the Tent of the Testimony.

⁸ On the next day Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony and discovered that Aaron’s staff representing the house of Levi had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced almonds. ⁹ Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked, and each man took his staff.

¹⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony to be kept as a sign against the rebellious. ^[2] In this way you will put an end to their grumblings against me, so that they do not die.” ¹¹ That is what Moses did. He did just as the Lord commanded him.

¹² The Israelites said to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost! We are all lost! ¹³ Everyone who approaches the Lord’s Dwelling dies! Must we all perish?”

Duties of the Priests and Levites

Numbers 18

¹ The Lord gave these directions to Aaron:

You, your sons, and your father’s house with you will bear the guilt for any sins in connection with the sanctuary. You and your sons with you will bear the guilt for any sins in connection with your priesthood. ² Also have your brothers from the tribe of Levi, your father’s tribe, come forward with you so that they may join you and assist you when you and your sons along with you are on duty in front of the Tent of the Testimony. ³ They will perform the duties for you and for the entire tent. However, they are not to go close to the furnishings in the sanctuary or to the altar, so that they and you will not die. ⁴ They are to join you and perform the duties for the Tent of Meeting, to do all the work at the tent. No unauthorized person is to go near you.

⁵ You are to perform the duties for the sanctuary and for the altar so that there will not be any more wrath on the Israelites. ⁶ See, I myself have taken your brothers, the Levites, from among the Israelites. They are a gift to you, given by the Lord, to do the work at the Tent of Meeting. ⁷ But you and your sons with you will keep watch over your priesthood in connection with everything at the altar and inside the veil. You are to do this work. I am giving you your priesthood as a gift. Any unauthorized person who comes near must be put to death.

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Through My Bible Yr 01 – March 18

Numbers 15

Supplementary Offerings

¹ The Lord told Moses ² to speak to the Israelites and tell them this:

When you come into the land where you will live, the land which I am giving to you, ³ and you make an offering by fire ^[1] to the Lord from the herd or the flock, to make a pleasing aroma to the Lord (whether it is a burnt offering or a sacrifice, whether it is to fulfill a vow or as a voluntary offering or at your appointed festivals), ⁴ the person who presents his offering is to present to the Lord two quarts ^[2] of fine flour mixed with a quart ^[3] of oil as a grain offering. ⁵ For each lamb, for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, you are to supply a quart of wine as the drink offering.

⁶ With a ram you are to supply four quarts ^[4] of fine flour mixed with a quart and a half ^[5] of oil as a grain offering, ⁷ and you will also present a quart of wine as the drink offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

⁸ If you are offering a young bull as a burnt offering or a sacrifice, which is to fulfill a vow or to be a fellowship offering to the Lord, ⁹ you are to present along with the young bull six quarts ^[6] of fine flour mixed with two quarts ^[7] of oil as a grain offering, ¹⁰ and you will present two quarts of wine as the drink offering, as a gift of food ^[8] with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. ¹¹ This is to be provided for each offering from the cattle, rams, lambs, or goats. ¹² You are to supply these offerings for each sacrifice you prepare.

¹³ Everyone who is native-born is to do these things in this way when presenting a gift of food with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. ¹⁴ For your generations to come, if an alien resides with you or someone else settles among you, and he wants to present a gift offered by fire, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord, he is to do just as you do. ¹⁵ In the assembly there will be a single regulation for you and for the resident alien, a permanent regulation for your generations to come. You and the alien will be the same before the Lord. ¹⁶ There will be a single law and a single ordinance for you and the alien residing with you.

¹⁷ The Lord told Moses ¹⁸ to speak to the Israelites and tell them this:

When you come to the land to which I am bringing you ¹⁹ and when you eat from the food of the land, you are to present an elevated offering to the Lord. ²⁰ From the first of your dough you are to present a round ^[9] loaf as an elevated offering. You are to lift it up just like an elevated offering from the threshing floor. ²¹ For your generations to come, you will give to the Lord an elevated offering from the first of your dough.

Offerings for Unintentional Sins

²² When you err unintentionally and do not carry out all these commands, which the Lord has spoken to Moses— ²³ everything that the Lord has commanded you through Moses, from the day that the Lord first gave these commands and onward, for your generations to come— ²⁴ if it was done unintentionally, and the community was not aware of it, the entire community shall offer one young bull as a whole burnt offering, as a pleasing aroma to the Lord, with its grain offering and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and one male goat as a sin offering. ²⁵ The priest will make atonement for the entire Israelite community, and they will be forgiven, because it was an unintentional error. They are to bring their offering, a gift made by fire to the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord for their unintentional error. ²⁶ The entire Israelite community and the aliens who reside among them will be forgiven, for all the people were involved in this error unintentionally.

²⁷ If one person errs unintentionally, he must present a year-old female goat for a sin offering. ²⁸ The priest will make atonement for the person who erred unintentionally, since by that unintentional error he sinned against the Lord. When the priest makes atonement for him, he will be forgiven. ²⁹ You shall have a single law for anyone who commits an error unintentionally, whether a native-born Israelite or an alien who resides among you.

³⁰ But a person who does anything defiantly, ^[10] whether he is native-born or an alien, is blaspheming the Lord. That person must be cut off from among his people. ³¹ Because he has despised the Lord’s word and has broken his commands, that person will be completely cut off. His guilt shall remain on him.

The Sabbath-Breaker Put to Death

³² While the Israelites were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day. ³³ The people who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses, Aaron, and the entire community. ³⁴ They put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done with him.

³⁵ The Lord said to Moses, “The man must certainly be put to death. The entire community is to stone him outside of the camp.” ³⁶ The entire community brought him outside of the camp and stoned him to death, just as the Lord commanded Moses.

Tassels on Garments

³⁷ The Lord told Moses ³⁸ to speak to the Israelites and tell them this:

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Through My Bible Yr 01 – March 16

Numbers 13:1 – 14:10

Scouting Canaan

Numbers 13

¹ The Lord spoke to Moses: ² “Send men to scout the land of Canaan, which I myself am giving to the Israelites. You are to send one man from each ancestral tribe, each one a tribal chief among the people of Israel.”

³ Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran according to the Lord’s command. All of these men were heads of the Israelites. ⁴ These were their names:

¹⁶ These were the names of the men whom Moses sent to scout the land. Moses renamed Hoshea son of Nun “Joshua.” ^[1]

¹⁷ Moses sent them to scout the land of Canaan and said to them, “Go up this way through the Negev ^[2] and go up into the hill country. ^{[3] 18} See what the land is like. See if the people who live in the land are strong or weak. See if they are few or many. ¹⁹ See if the land that they live in is good or bad. See what kind of cities they live in. See if the cities are camps or fortified places. ²⁰ See what the land is like. See if the land is fertile or poor. See if there are trees in the land or not. Be courageous and bring back some of the fruit of the land.” This happened at the season of the first ripe grapes.

²¹ So they went up and scouted the land from the Wilderness of Zin to Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. ²² They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) ²³ The scouts came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there they cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes. They carried it on a pole between two men, along with some pomegranates and figs. ²⁴ They named that place the Valley of Eshcol, ^[4] because of the cluster which the Israelites had cut down from there. ²⁵ At the end of forty days, they returned from scouting the land.

The Report About Canaan

²⁶ They came back to Moses, Aaron, and the entire community of the Israelites at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Paran. They brought back a report to them and to the entire community. They showed them some of the fruit of the land. ²⁷ They reported to him and said, “We went to the land where you sent us. It really does flow with milk and honey, and here is its fruit. ²⁸ However, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. We also saw the descendants of Anak there. ²⁹ The Amalekites are living in the land of the Negev. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites are living in the hill country. The Canaanites are living by the sea and along the Jordan.”

³⁰ Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should go up now and take possession of it, because we can certainly conquer it!”

³¹ But the men who had gone up with Caleb said, “We are not able to go up against the people, because they are stronger than we are.” ³² So they spread a negative report to the Israelites about the land that they had scouted. They said, “The land that we explored and scouted is a land that eats up its inhabitants. All the people we saw in the land were huge. ³³ We saw there the Nephilim ^[5] (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). In our own eyes we seemed like grasshoppers. We seemed like grasshoppers in their eyes too.”

The People Rebel

Numbers 14

¹ The entire community raised a loud cry. The people wept that night. ² All of the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The entire community said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! If only we had died in this wilderness! ³ Why is the Lord bringing us to this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our children will be taken as captives! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” ⁴ So they said to one another, “Let’s put someone in charge and return to Egypt.”

⁵ Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown before the entire assembly of the Israelite community.

⁶ Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, two of those who had scouted the land, tore their clothes. ⁷ They spoke to the entire Israelite community, “The land that we explored and scouted is a very good land. ⁸ If the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that is flowing with milk and honey. ⁹ Only do not revolt against the Lord. Do not fear the people of the land, for we will eat them up. ^[6] Their protection is taken away from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”

¹⁰ Still the entire community threatened to stone them to death. 

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Through My Bible Yr 01 – March 14

Numbers 9:15 – 10:36

Numbers 9

The Cloud and the Dwelling

¹⁵ On the day that the Dwelling was set up, the cloud covered the Dwelling, that is, the Tent of the Testimony. The cloud over the Dwelling looked like fire from evening until morning. ¹⁶ It was always like this: The cloud would cover the Dwelling, and at night it looked like fire. ¹⁷ Whenever the cloud above the tent lifted up, the Israelites would set out. Wherever the cloud settled down, the Israelites would camp at that spot. ¹⁸ At the command of the Lord, the Israelites set out, and at the command of the Lord they set up camp. For the entire time that the cloud settled over the Dwelling, they would keep their camp at that place. ¹⁹ When the cloud stayed over the Dwelling for many days, the Israelites would keep the Lord’s order and would not set out. ²⁰ Sometimes the cloud would be over the Dwelling for only a few days. Then according to the command of the Lord the Israelites would remain camped at that place. Then at the command of the Lord they would set out again. ²¹ Sometimes the cloud was over the Dwelling only from evening until morning. So when the cloud lifted up in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, when the cloud lifted up, they set out. ²² Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud stayed settled over the Dwelling, the Israelites remained camped at that place and did not set out. But when it lifted up, they set out. ²³ At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out. They kept the Lord’s order, following the command of the Lord given through Moses.

The Silver Trumpets

Numbers 10

¹ The Lord told Moses ² to make two trumpets of hammered silver and to use them in this way:

You will use them to summon the community and to have the camp set out.

³ When they blow both trumpets, the entire community will gather to you at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. ⁴ If they blow just one trumpet, then the tribal chiefs, the heads of the Israelite clans, will gather to you.

⁵ When you blow the signal on the trumpets, the camps that are on the east side will set out. ⁶ When you blow the signal a second time, the camps that are on the south side will set out. This will be the signal to set out.

⁷ When the community is to gather, you will blow the trumpets, but you will not sound the signal for setting out.

⁸ Aaron’s sons, the priests, will blow the trumpets. This will be a permanent regulation for you and for your descendants. ⁹ When you go out into battle in your own land against an adversary who attacks you, you will sound the signal with the trumpets. Then you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.

¹⁰ Also at the times when you rejoice, at your appointed festivals and at the New Moon, you will blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your fellowship offerings. They will serve as a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.

The Israelites Leave Sinai

¹¹ On the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, the cloud lifted up above the Dwelling of the Testimony. ¹² The Israelites set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sinai. The cloud settled in the Wilderness of Paran. ¹³ For the first time, they set out according to the command of the Lord through Moses.

¹⁴ First, the standard for the camp of Judah’s descendants set out according to their military units. Nahshon son of Amminadab was over Judah’s unit. ¹⁵ Nethanel son of Zuar was over the unit for the tribe of Issachar’s descendants. ¹⁶ Eliab son of Helon was over the unit for the tribe of Zebulun’s descendants.

¹⁷ The Dwelling was then taken down. The sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set out, carrying the Dwelling.

¹⁸ The standard for the camp of Reuben set out according to their military units. Elizur son of Shedeur was over Reuben’s unit. ¹⁹ Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the unit for the tribe of Simeon’s descendants. ²⁰ Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the unit for the tribe of Gad’s descendants.

²¹ The Kohathites then set out, carrying the holy things. The others would set up the Dwelling before they arrived.

²² The standard for the camp of Ephraim’s descendants set out according to their military units. Elishama son of Ammihud was over Ephraim’s unit. ²³ Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the unit for the tribe of Manasseh’s descendants. ²⁴ Abidan son of Gideoni was over the unit for the tribe of Benjamin’s descendants.

²⁵ The standard for the camp of Dan’s descendants, serving as the rear guard for the entire camp, set out according to their military units. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was over Dan’s unit. ²⁶ Pagiel son of Ochran was over the unit for the tribe of Asher’s descendants. ²⁷ Ahira son of Enan was over the unit for the tribe of Naphtali’s descendants.

²⁸ This was the marching order for the Israelites, according to their military units. This is how they set out.

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

³⁰ Hobab said to him, “I will not go, but I will go to my own land and to my own relatives.”

³¹ Moses said, “Please do not leave us, because you know where we should camp in the wilderness. You can be our eyes. ³² If you will go with us, whatever good the Lord does for us, we will do for you.”

³³ They set out from the mountain of the Lord on a three-day journey. The Ark of the Lord’s Covenant set out before them for that three-day journey to find a resting place for them. ³⁴ 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, “Rise up, O Lord, and may your enemies be scattered! May those who hate you flee before you!” ³⁶ When it came to rest, he would say, “Return, O Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel!”

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Through My Bible Yr 01 – March 12

Numbers 6:22 – 7:89

Numbers 6

The Benediction

²² The Lord told Moses ²³ to speak to Aaron and to his sons and to tell them to bless the Israelites with these words:

²⁷ In this way they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.

Offerings at the Dwelling’s Dedication

Numbers 7

¹ On the day that Moses finished setting up the Dwelling, he anointed and consecrated it with all of its furnishings and the altar with all of its utensils. He anointed and consecrated them.

² The tribal chiefs of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ houses, brought offerings. These were the chiefs of the tribes, who were in charge of the registration. ³ They brought as their offering before the Lord six covered carts ^[2] and twelve oxen—a cart for every two tribal chiefs and an ox for every tribal chief. They presented them in front of the Dwelling.

⁴ The Lord spoke to Moses: ⁵ “Accept these gifts from them so that they may be used for doing the work at the Tent of Meeting. You are to give them to the Levites as each one’s work requires.”

⁶ Moses took the carts and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. ⁷ He gave two carts and four oxen to the descendants of Gershon as their work required. ⁸ He gave four carts and eight oxen to the descendants of Merari, as required for their work under the direction of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest. ⁹ But to the descendants of Kohath he did not give any, because their work was to carry the holy things on their own shoulders.

¹⁰ The tribal chiefs also brought offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day that it was anointed. The tribal chiefs brought their offerings before the altar. ¹¹ The Lord said to Moses, “Each day one tribal chief will bring his offering for the dedication of the altar.”

¹² On the first day, the one who brought his offering was Nahshon son of Amminadab from the tribe of Judah. ¹³ His offering was one silver dish ^[3] weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver sprinkling basin weighing seventy shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, ^[4] both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ¹⁴ one small gold bowl ^[5] weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ¹⁵ one young bull, one ram, one year-old male lamb for a whole burnt offering; ¹⁶ one male goat for a sin offering; ¹⁷ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering: two head of cattle, five rams, five male breeding goats, ^[6] and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

¹⁸ On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, the tribal chief of Issachar, brought his offering. ¹⁹ He brought for his offering: one silver dish weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver sprinkling basin weighing seventy shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ²⁰ one small gold bowl weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ²¹ one young bull, one ram, one year-old male lamb for a whole burnt offering; ²² one male goat for a sin offering; ²³ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering: two head of cattle, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

²⁴ On the third day it was the tribal chief of Zebulun’s descendants, Eliab son of Helon. ²⁵ His offering was one silver dish weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver sprinkling basin weighing seventy shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ²⁶ one small gold bowl weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ²⁷ one young bull, one ram, one year-old male lamb for a whole burnt offering; ²⁸ one male goat for a sin offering; ²⁹ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering: two head of cattle, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

³⁰ On the fourth day it was the tribal chief of Reuben’s descendants, Elizur son of Shedeur. ³¹ His offering was one silver dish weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver sprinkling basin weighing seventy shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ³² one small gold bowl weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ³³ one young bull, one ram, one year-old male lamb for a whole burnt offering; ³⁴ one male goat for a sin offering; ³⁵ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering: two head of cattle, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

³⁶ On the fifth day it was the tribal chief of Simeon’s descendants, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. ³⁷ His offering was one silver dish weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver sprinkling basin weighing seventy shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ³⁸ one small gold bowl weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ³⁹ one young bull, one ram, one year-old male lamb for a whole burnt offering; ⁴⁰ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁴¹ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering: two head of cattle, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

⁴² On the sixth day it was the tribal chief of Gad’s descendants, Eliasaph son of Deuel. ⁴³ His offering was one silver dish weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver sprinkling basin weighing seventy shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁴⁴ one small gold bowl weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁴⁵ one young bull, one ram, one year-old male lamb for a whole burnt offering; ⁴⁶ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁴⁷ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering: two head of cattle, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

⁴⁸ On the seventh day it was the tribal chief of Ephraim’s descendants, Elishama son of Ammihud. ⁴⁹ His offering was one silver dish weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver sprinkling basin weighing seventy shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁵⁰ one small gold bowl weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁵¹ one young bull, one ram, one year-old male lamb for a whole burnt offering; ⁵² one male goat for a sin offering; ⁵³ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering: two head of cattle, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.

⁵⁴ On the eighth day it was the tribal chief of Manasseh’s descendants, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. ⁵⁵ His offering was one silver dish weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver sprinkling basin weighing seventy shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁵⁶ one small gold bowl weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁵⁷ one young bull, one ram, one year-old male lamb for a whole burnt offering; ⁵⁸ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁵⁹ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering: two head of cattle, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

⁶⁰ On the ninth day it was the tribal chief of Benjamin’s descendants, Abidan son of Gideoni. ⁶¹ His offering was one silver dish weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver sprinkling basin weighing seventy shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁶² one small gold bowl weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁶³ one young bull, one ram, one year-old male lamb for a whole burnt offering; ⁶⁴ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁶⁵ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering: two head of cattle, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

⁶⁶ On the tenth day it was the tribal chief of Dan’s descendants, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. ⁶⁷ His offering was one silver dish weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver sprinkling basin weighing seventy shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁶⁸ one small gold bowl weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁶⁹ one young bull, one ram, one year-old male lamb for a whole burnt offering; ⁷⁰ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁷¹ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering: two head of cattle, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

⁷² On the eleventh day it was the tribal chief of Asher’s descendants, Pagiel son of Ochran. ⁷³ His offering was one silver dish weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver sprinkling basin weighing seventy shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁷⁴ one small gold bowl weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁷⁵ one young bull, one ram, one year-old male lamb for a whole burnt offering; ⁷⁶ one male goat for a sin offering; ⁷⁷ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering: two head of cattle, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ochran.

⁷⁸ On the twelfth day it was the tribal chief of Naphtali’s descendants, Ahira son of Enan. ⁷⁹ His offering was one silver dish weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver sprinkling basin weighing seventy shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; ⁸⁰ one small gold bowl weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; ⁸¹ one young bull, one ram, one year-old male lamb for a whole burnt offering; ⁸² one male goat for a sin offering; ⁸³ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering: two head of cattle, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

⁸⁴ These were the offerings from the tribal chiefs of Israel for the dedication of the altar on the day that it was anointed: twelve silver dishes, twelve silver sprinkling basins, twelve small gold bowls. ⁸⁵ Each silver dish weighed one hundred thirty shekels, and each sprinkling basin weighed seventy shekels. All the silver vessels weighed two thousand four hundred shekels according to the sanctuary shekel. ⁸⁶ The twelve gold bowls, filled with incense, weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. All the gold bowls weighed one hundred twenty shekels. ⁸⁷ All the cattle for the whole burnt offering were twelve young bulls, twelve rams, twelve one-year-old male lambs, along with their grain offerings. Also there were twelve male breeding goats for a sin offering. ⁸⁸ All the cattle for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering were twenty-four young bulls, sixty rams, sixty male breeding goats, and sixty one-year-old male lambs. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.

⁸⁹ When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the Lord’s voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement seat ^[7] that was on the Ark of the Covenant. In this way the Lord spoke to him.

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Through My Bible Yr 01 – March 10

Numbers 3 – 4

Aaron’s Sons and the Duties of the Levites

Numbers 3

¹ This is the family history of Aaron and Moses at the time when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.

² These are the names of Aaron’s sons: Nadab the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ³ These are the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, whom he ordained to serve as priests.

⁴ Nadab and Abihu died in the presence of the Lord when they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the presence of Aaron their father.

⁵ The Lord spoke to Moses: ⁶ “Bring the tribe of Levi near and have them stand before Aaron the priest so that they may assist him. ⁷ They will perform the duties for him and for the entire congregation in front of the Tent of Meeting by doing the work for the Dwelling. ⁸ They will take care of all the furnishings for the Tent of Meeting and perform the duties of the Israelites by doing the work for the Dwelling. ⁹ You will give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons. They are completely given to him from among the Israelites. ¹⁰ But you will appoint Aaron and his sons, and they will serve in the priesthood. Any unauthorized person who goes near must be put to death.”

The Census of the Levites

¹¹ The Lord spoke to Moses, ¹² “See, I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites instead of every firstborn that opens the womb among the Israelites. The Levites are mine, ¹³ for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, both human and animal. They are mine. I am the Lord.”

¹⁴ The Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, ¹⁵ “Register the Levites according to their fathers’ houses, by their clans. You are to register every male a month old and up.”

¹⁶ So Moses registered them as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

¹⁷ These were the names of the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

The following were the clans of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses.

²¹ From Gershon came the Libnite clan and the Shimeite clan. These were the Gershonite clans. ²² Those who were registered, counting all the males who were a month old and up, were 7,500. ²³ The Gershonite clans camped behind the Dwelling on the west side. ²⁴ The tribal chief of the father’s house for the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. ²⁵ The duties of the descendants of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting involved the dwelling and the tent, ^[1] its coverings, and the screen for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, ²⁶ also the hangings of the courtyard, and the screen for the entrance to the courtyard which surrounds the Dwelling and the altar, and its ropes—everything related to this work.

²⁷ From Kohath came the Amramite clan, the Izharite clan, the Hebronite clan, and the Uzzielite clan. These were the Kohathite clans. ²⁸ Counting all the males who were a month old and up, there were 8,600 to perform the duties of the sanctuary. ²⁹ The clans of the descendants of Kohath camped on the south side of the Dwelling. ³⁰ The tribal chief of the father’s house for the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. ³¹ Their duties involved the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the sanctuary utensils with which they serve, and the screen—everything related to this work. ³² The tribal chief over the Levite tribal chiefs was Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest. He was in charge of those performing the duties of the sanctuary.

³³ From Merari came the Mahlite clan and the Mushite clan. These were the Merarite clans. ³⁴ Those who were registered, counting all the males who were a month old and up, were 6,200. ³⁵ The tribal chief of the father’s house for the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail. They camped on the north side of the Dwelling. ³⁶ The appointed duties for the sons of Merari involved the Dwelling’s boards, its crossbars, its posts, its bases, all its equipment—everything related to this work, ³⁷ also the posts for the surrounding courtyard, their bases, their tent pegs, and their ropes.

³⁸ Those who camped in front of the Dwelling on the east side, in front of the Tent of Meeting, toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and Aaron’s sons, who were performing the duties of the sanctuary on behalf of the Israelites. Any unauthorized person who goes near shall be put to death. ³⁹ All of the Levities who were registered when the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron to register them according to their clans, every male a month old and up, were 22,000.

Redemption of the Firstborn

⁴⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Register all the firstborn males of the Israelites one month old and up, and make a list of their names. ⁴¹ You are to take the Levites for me—I am the Lord—instead of every firstborn among the Israelites, and take the livestock of the Levites instead of every firstborn among the livestock of the Israelites.” ⁴² So Moses registered all the firstborn among the Israelites as the Lord commanded. ⁴³ All the firstborn males listed by name, one month old and up, when registered, totaled 22,273.

⁴⁴ The Lord spoke to Moses: ⁴⁵ “Take the Levites instead of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. The Levites will be mine. I am the Lord. ⁴⁶ For the redemption of the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites, ⁴⁷ you are to collect five shekels apiece for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel (this shekel is twenty gerahs ^[2]). ⁴⁸ You are to give the money, the redemption price for the additional Israelites, to Aaron and his sons.”

⁴⁹ Moses collected the redemption money from those who outnumbered the ones redeemed by the Levites who took their place. ⁵⁰ He collected the money from the firstborn of the Israelites, 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. ⁵¹ Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and to his sons, in obedience to the word of the Lord, just as the Lord commanded Moses.

The Duties of the Kohathites

Numbers 4

¹ The Lord told Moses and Aaron ² to take a census of the descendants of Kohath among the Levites, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, ³ from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone eligible for the service of performing the tasks at the Tent of Meeting.

⁴ This is the work for the descendants of Kohath at the Tent of Meeting: to take care of the most holy things. ⁵ When the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go into the Dwelling. They are to take down the veil that screens the ark, cover the Ark of the Testimony with it, ⁶ put a covering made from the hides of sea cows ^[3] over it, spread a solid blue cloth over that, and insert its poles.

⁷ Over the table for the Bread of the Presence ^[4] they are to spread a blue cloth and put the dishes, the small bowls, the larger bowls, and the pitchers for the drink offering on it. ^[5] The bread that is continually there is to remain on it. ⁸ Then they are to spread a scarlet cloth over these things, cover them with a covering made from the hides of sea cows, and insert its poles.

⁹ They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, its lamps, its snuffers, its fire pans, and all the jars of oil used to supply it. ¹⁰ They are to put the lampstand and all its accessories under a cover made from the hides of sea cows and put it on a carrying frame.

¹¹ Over the golden altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with a covering made from the hides of sea cows, and insert its poles. ¹² They are to take all the utensils which they use in the sanctuary and put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering made from the hides of sea cows, and put them on a carrying frame.

¹³ They are to remove the fat-soaked ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴ They are to put on it all the utensils which they use around the altar: the fire pans, the meat hooks, ^[6] the shovels, and the basins—the utensils of the altar. They will spread a covering made of the hides of sea cows over the altar and insert its poles.

¹⁵ After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the items of the sanctuary, when the camp sets out, the descendants of Kohath will come to carry them. But they are not to touch the sanctuary or they will die. The descendants of Kohath are to carry these things associated with the Tent of Meeting.

¹⁶ Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, shall be in charge of the lamp oil, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He shall be in charge of the entire Dwelling, everything in it, the holy objects, and its furnishings.

¹⁷ The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, ¹⁸ “Do not allow the tribe of the Kohathite clans to be cut off from among the Levites. ¹⁹ Do this for them so that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign to each one of them what he is to do and what he is to carry. ²⁰ But the Kohathites must not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment or they will die.”

The Duties of the Gershonites

²¹ The Lord also told Moses ²² to take a census of the descendants of Gershon, according to their fathers’ houses, by their clans, ²³ and to register those from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone eligible for the service of doing the work at the Tent of Meeting.

²⁴ This is the work for the Gershonite clans: the work of moving the Dwelling. ²⁵ They are to carry the curtains of the Dwelling, the Tent of Meeting, its covering, and the covering made of sea cow hides that is on top of that, ^[7] the screen for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, ²⁶ the hangings for the courtyard, the screen for the entrance through the gate into the courtyard which surrounds the Dwelling and the altar, the ropes, and all the items related to this work. They are responsible for everything that is to be done with these things. ²⁷ All the work of the descendants of the Gershonites, everything they are to carry and all the work they are to do, is to be done at the command of Aaron and his sons. You are to assign to each of them everything they are to carry. ²⁸ This is the work for the clans of the descendants of the Gershonites in regard to the Tent of Meeting. They are to serve under the direction of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.

The Duties of the Merarites

²⁹ As for the descendants of Merari, register them according to their clans, according to their fathers’ houses. ³⁰ Register all of them who are between thirty years old and fifty years old, everyone eligible for service, to do the work for the Tent of Meeting. ³¹ This is what they are responsible for as their entire work at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the Dwelling’s boards, its crossbars, its posts, its bases, ³² the posts of the surrounding courtyard and their bases, their tent pegs, their ropes with all their equipment, and everything related to this work. You are to specify by name the items that they are responsible to carry. ³³ This is the work for the clans of the descendants of Merari, regarding all their work in regard to the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.

The Census of the Levites

³⁴ Moses, Aaron, and the tribal chiefs of the community registered the descendants of the Kohathites according to their clans and their fathers’ houses, ³⁵ from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone eligible for service, for work at the Tent of Meeting. ³⁶ The ones registered according to their clans were 2,750. ³⁷ These were the ones registered from the clans of the Kohathites, all those who worked at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron registered them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

³⁸ The descendants of Gershon were registered according to their clans and according to their fathers’ houses, ³⁹ from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone eligible for service, for work at the Tent of Meeting. ⁴⁰ The ones registered according to their clans, according to their fathers’ houses, were 2,630. ⁴¹ These were the ones registered from the clans of the descendants of Gershon, all those who worked at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron registered them according to the Lord’s command.

⁴² The clans of the descendants of Merari were registered according to their clans, according to their fathers’ houses, ⁴³ from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone eligible for service, for work at the Tent of Meeting. ⁴⁴ Those registered by their clans were 3,200. ⁴⁵ These were the ones registered from the clans of the descendants of Merari. Moses and Aaron registered them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

⁴⁶ Every one of the Levites was registered. Moses and Aaron and the tribal chiefs of Israel registered them according to their clans and their fathers’ houses, ⁴⁷ from thirty years old to fifty years old, everyone who was eligible to perform the work of serving at or carrying the Tent of Meeting. ⁴⁸ Those registered totaled 8,580. ⁴⁹ According to the Lord’s command, they were registered by Moses, along with what each man was assigned to do and to carry. They were registered just as the Lord commanded Moses.

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.