Miracles On the Plains of Moab

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Numbers 22:1 - Numbers 36:13

Numbers 22

Balak Sends for Balaam; Balaam and the Angel

The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field."Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.

He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, "Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me.

Please come now therefore curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."

The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.

He said to them, "Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak to me." The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

God came to Balaam, and said, "Who are these men with you?"

Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me,

'Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse me them. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.'"

God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people; for they are blessed."

Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your land; for the LORD refuses to permit me to go with you."

The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us."

Balak again sent princes, more, and more honorable than they.

They came to Balaam, and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

for I will promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and curse this people for me.'"

Balaam answered the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.

Now therefore, please wait also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will speak to me more."

God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do."

Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

God's anger burned because he went; and The LORD's angel placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

The donkey saw The LORD's angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the way, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the way.

Then The LORD's angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.

The donkey saw The LORD's angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. He struck her again.

The LORD's angel went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.

The donkey saw The LORD's angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam's anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

The LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"

Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you."

The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?"He said, "No."

Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw The LORD's angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.

The LORD's angel said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me.

The donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three times. Unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive."

Balaam said to The LORD's angel, "I have sinned; for I didn't know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again."

The LORD's angel said to Balaam, "Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak."So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.

Balak said to Balaam, "Didn't I earnestly send to you to call you? Why didn't you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?"

Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak."

Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.

Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him.

In the morning, Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there part of the people.

Numbers 23

The Prophecies of Balaam

Balaam said to Balak, "Build here seven altars for me, and prepare here seven bulls and seven rams for me."

Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bull and a ram.

Balaam said to Balak, "Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me. Whatever he shows me I will tell you."He went to a bare height.

God met Balaam, and he said to him, "I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on every altar."

The LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak."

He returned to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, he, and all the princes of Moab.

He took up his parable, and said,"From Aram has Balak brought me,the king of Moab from the mountains of the East.Come, curse Jacob for me.Come, defy Israel.

How shall I curse whom God has not cursed?How shall I defy whom the LORD has not defied?

For from the top of the rocks I see him.From the hills I see him.Behold, it is a people that dwells alone,and shall not be listed among the nations.

Who can count the dust of Jacob,or count the fourth part of Israel?Let me die the death of the righteous!Let my last end be like his!"

Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether."

He answered and said, "Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD puts in my mouth?"

Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place, where you may see them. You shall see just part of them, and shall not see them all. Curse them from there for me."

He took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.

He said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet over there."

The LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, "Return to Balak, and say this."

He came to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. Balak said to him, "What has the LORD spoken?"

He took up his parable, and said,"Rise up, Balak, and hear!Listen to me, you son of Zippor.

God is not a man, that he should lie,nor the son of man, that he should repent.Has he said, and will he not do it?Or has he spoken, and will he not make it good?

Behold, I have received a command to bless.He has blessed, and I can't reverse it.

He has not seen iniquity in Jacob.Neither has he seen perverseness in Israel.The LORD his God is with him.The shout of a king is among them.

God brings them out of Egypt.He has as it were the strength of the wild ox.

Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob;Neither is there any divination with Israel.Now it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel,'What has God done!'

Behold, the people rises up as a lioness.As a lion he lifts himself up.He shall not lie down until he eats of the prey,and drinks the blood of the slain."

Balak said to Balaam, "Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all."

But Balaam answered Balak, "Didn't I tell you, saying, 'All that the LORD speaks, that I must do?'"

Balak said to Balaam, "Come now, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there."

Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks down on the desert.

Balaam said to Balak, "Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here."

Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.

Numbers 24

The Prophecy from Peor

When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he didn't go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came on him.

He took up his parable, and said,"Balaam the son of Beor says,the man whose eyes are open says;

he says, who hears the words of God,who sees the vision of the Almighty,falling down, and having his eyes open:

How goodly are your tents, Jacob,and your tents, Israel!

As valleys they are spread out,as gardens by the riverside,as aloes which the LORD has planted,as cedar trees beside the waters.

Water shall flow from his buckets.His seed shall be in many waters.His king shall be higher than Agag.His kingdom shall be exalted.

God brings him out of Egypt.He has as it were the strength of the wild ox.He shall eat up the nations his adversaries,shall break their bones in pieces,and pierce them with his arrows.

He couched, he lay down as a lion,as a lioness; who shall rouse him up?Everyone who blesses you is blessed.Everyone who curses you is cursed."

Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.

Therefore now flee you to your place! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, the LORD has kept you back from honor."

Balaam said to Balak, "Didn't I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,

'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond The LORD's word, to do either good or bad of my own mind. I will say what the LORD says'?

Now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days."

He took up his parable, and said,"Balaam the son of Beor says,the man whose eyes are open says;

he says, who hears the words of God,knows the knowledge of the Most High,and who sees the vision of the Almighty,Falling down, and having his eyes open:

I see him, but not now.I see him, but not near.A star will come out of Jacob.A scepter will rise out of Israel,and shall strike through the corners of Moab,and break down all the sons of Sheth.

Edom shall be a possession.Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession,while Israel does valiantly.

Out of Jacob shall one have dominion,and shall destroy the remnant from the city."

He looked at Amalek, and took up his parable, and said,"Amalek was the first of the nations,But his latter end shall come to destruction."

He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said,"Your dwelling place is strong.Your nest is set in the rock.

Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted,until Asshur carries you away captive."

He took up his parable, and said,"Alas, who shall live when God does this?

But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim.They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber.He also shall come to destruction."

Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.

Numbers 25

Israelites Sin in Moab; Phinehas Intervenes

Israel stayed in Shittim; and the people began to play the prostitute with the daughters of Moab;

for they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods. The people ate and bowed down to their gods.

Israel joined himself to Baal Peor. The LORD's anger burned against Israel.

The LORD said to Moses, "Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up to the LORD before the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel."

Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Everyone kill his men who have joined themselves to Baal Peor."

Behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought to his brothers a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, while they were weeping at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the middle of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand.

He went after the man of Israel into the pavilion, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.

Those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

"Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I didn't consume the children of Israel in my jealousy.

Therefore say, 'Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace.

It shall be to him, and to his offspring after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.'"

Now the name of the man of Israel that was slain, who was slain with the Midianite woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a fathers' house among the Simeonites.

The name of the Midianite woman who was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur. He was head of the people of a fathers' house in Midian.

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

"Harass the Midianites, and strike them,

for they harassed you with their wiles, with which they have deceived you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the prince of Midian, their sister, who was slain on the day of the plague in the matter of Peor."

Numbers 26

The Second Census Totals 601,730

After the plague, the LORD spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,

"Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers' houses, all who are able to go out to war in Israel."

Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,

"Take a census, from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel."These are those that came out of the land of Egypt.

Reuben, the firstborn of Israel; the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites;

of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.

These are the families of the Reubenites; and those who were counted of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred thirty.

The sons of Pallu: Eliab.

The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. These are that Dathan and Abiram, who were called by the congregation, who rebelled against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they rebelled against The LORD,

and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died; at the time the fire devoured two hundred fifty men, and they became a sign.

Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah didn't die.

The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites;

of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.

These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty-two thousand two hundred.

The sons of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites; of Shuni, the family of the Shunites;

of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites;

of Arod, the family of the Arodites; of Areli, the family of the Arelites.

These are the families of the sons of Gad according to those who were counted of them, forty thousand and five hundred.

The sons of Judah: Er and Onan. Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

The sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites.

The sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.

These are the families of Judah according to those who were counted of them, seventy-six thousand five hundred.

The sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites;

of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.

These are the families of Issachar according to those who were counted of them, sixty-four thousand three hundred.

The sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Seredites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.

These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those who were counted of them, sixty thousand five hundred.

The sons of Joseph after their families: Manasseh and Ephraim.

The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir became the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites.

These are the sons of Gilead: of Iezer, the family of the Iezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites;

and Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; and Shechem, the family of the Shechemites;

and Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.

Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

These are the families of Manasseh. Those who were counted of them were fifty-two thousand seven hundred.

These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; of Becher, the family of the Becherites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.

These are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.

These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those who were counted of them, thirty-two thousand five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families.

The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites;

of Shephupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.

The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.

These are the sons of Benjamin after their families; and those who were counted of them were forty-five thousand six hundred.

These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families.

All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those who were counted of them, were sixty-four thousand four hundred.

The sons of Asher after their families: of Imnah, the family of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the family of the Berites.

Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.

The name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.

These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those who were counted of them, fifty-three thousand and four hundred.

The sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites;

of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.

These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were counted of them were forty-five thousand four hundred.

These are those who were counted of the children of Israel, six hundred one thousand seven hundred thirty.

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

"To these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.

To the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less inheritance. To everyone according to those who were counted of him shall his inheritance be given.

Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot. According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.

According to the lot shall their inheritance be divided between the more and the fewer."

These are those who were counted of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites.

These are the families of Levi: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korahites. Kohath became the father of Amram.

The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. She bore to Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.

To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before The LORD.

Those who were counted of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and upward; for they were not counted among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.

These are those who were counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who counted the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

But among these there was not a man of them who were counted by Moses and Aaron the priest, who counted the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.

For the LORD had said of them, "They shall surely die in the wilderness." There was not a man left of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

Numbers 27

The Daughters of Zelophehad; Joshua to Succeed Moses

Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph came near. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.

They stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, at the door of the Tent of Meeting, saying,

"Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah, but he died in his own sin. He had no sons.

Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give to us a possession among the brothers of our father."

Moses brought their cause before The LORD.

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

"The daughters of Zelophehad speak right. You shall surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brothers. You shall cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.

You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'If a man dies, and has no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.

If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.

If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father's brothers.

If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his kinsman who is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it. This shall be a statute and ordinance for the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.'"

The LORD said to Moses, "Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel.

When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered;

because in the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, to honor me as holy at the waters before their eyes." (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

Moses spoke to The LORD, saying,

"Let The LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,

who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD not be as sheep which have no shepherd."

The LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.

Set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and commission him in their sight.

You shall give authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may obey.

He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before The LORD. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation."

Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation.

He laid his hands on him, and commissioned him, as the LORD spoke by Moses.

Numbers 28

Daily, Sabbath and Monthly Offerings; Passover and Feast of Weeks

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

"Command the children of Israel, and tell them, 'See that you present my offering, my food for my offerings made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to me, in their due season.'

You shall tell them, 'This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to The LORD: male lambs a year old without defect, two day by day, for a continual burnt offering.

You shall offer the one lamb in the morning, and you shall offer the other lamb at evening;

with one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil.

It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in Mount Sinai for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to The LORD.

Its drink offering shall be the fourth part of a hin for the one lamb. You shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the LORD in the holy place.

The other lamb you shall offer at evening. As the meal offering of the morning, and as its drink offering, you shall offer it, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to The LORD.

"'On the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year old without defect, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering:

this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, besides the continual burnt offering, and its drink offering.

"'In the beginnings of your months, you shall offer a burnt offering to The LORD: two young bulls, and one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defect;

and three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with oil, for each bull; and two tenth parts of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with oil, for the one ram;

and one tenth part of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering to every lamb; for a burnt offering of a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to The LORD.

Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, and the third part of a hin for the ram, and the fourth part of a hin for a lamb. This is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year.

One male goat for a sin offering to The LORD; it shall be offered besides the continual burnt offering, and its drink offering.

"'In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, is The LORD's Passover.

On the fifteenth day of this month shall be a feast. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days.

In the first day shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work;

but you shall offer an offering made by fire, a burnt offering to The LORD: two young bulls, and one ram, and seven male lambs a year old; they shall be to you without defect;

and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil. You shall offer three tenths for a bull, and two tenths for the ram.

You shall offer one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs;

and one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you.

You shall offer these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.

In this way you shall offer daily, for seven days, the food of the offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to The LORD. It shall be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its drink offering.

On the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work.

"'Also in the day of the first fruits, when you offer a new meal offering to the LORD in your feast of weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work;

but you shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to The LORD: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old;

and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for each bull, two tenths for the one ram,

one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs;

one male goat, to make atonement for you.

Besides the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, you shall offer them and their drink offerings. See that they are without defect.

Numbers 29

Offerings of the Seventh Month

"'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no regular work: it is a day of blowing of trumpets to you.

You shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to The LORD: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defect;

and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for the bull, two tenths for the ram,

and one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs;

and one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you;

besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and its meal offering, and the continual burnt offering and its meal offering, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to The LORD.

"'On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall afflict your souls. You shall do no kind of work;

but you shall offer a burnt offering to the LORD for a pleasant aroma: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old; all without defect;

and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for the bull, two tenths for the one ram,

one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs:

one male goat for a sin offering; besides the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and their drink offerings.

"'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. You shall keep a feast to the LORD seven days.

You shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to The LORD: thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; all without defect;

and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each ram of the two rams,

and one tenth for every lamb of the fourteen lambs;

and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.

"'On the second day you shall offer twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;

and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, with its meal offering and their drink offerings.

"'On the third day eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;

and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and its drink offering.

"'On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;

their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.

"'On the fifth day nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;

and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and its drink offering.

"'On the sixth day eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;

and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and the drink offerings of it.

"'On the seventh day seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;

and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.

"'On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly: you shall do no regular work;

but you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to The LORD: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defect;

their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the ordinance:

and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, with its meal offering, and its drink offering.

"'You shall offer these to the LORD in your set feasts, besides your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meal offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.'"

Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 30

The Law of Vows

Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, "This is the thing which the LORD has commanded.

When a man vows a vow to The LORD, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

"Also when a woman vows a vow to The LORD, and binds herself by a bond, being in her father's house, in her youth,

and her father hears her vow, and her bond with which she has bound her soul, and her father holds his peace at her; then all her vows shall stand, and every bond with which she has bound her soul shall stand.

But if her father forbids her in the day that he hears, none of her vows, or of her bonds with which she has bound her soul, shall stand. the LORD will forgive her, because her father has forbidden her.

"If she has a husband, while her vows are on her, or the rash utterance of her lips, with which she has bound her soul,

and her husband hears it, and hold his peace at her in the day that he hears it; then her vows shall stand, and her bonds with which she has bound her soul shall stand.

But if her husband forbids her in the day that he hears it, then he shall make void her vow which is on her, and the rash utterance of her lips, with which she has bound her soul. the LORD will forgive her.

"But the vow of a widow, or of her who is divorced, everything with which she has bound her soul, shall stand against her.

"If she vowed in her husband's house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath,

and her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and didn't disallow her; then all her vows shall stand, and every bond with which she bound her soul shall stand.

But if her husband made them null and void in the day that he heard them, then whatever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand. Her husband has made them void. the LORD will forgive her.

Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.

But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows, or all her bonds, which are on her. He has established them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them.

But if he shall make them null and void after that he has heard them, then he shall bear her iniquity."

These are the statutes which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between a father and his daughter, being in her youth, in her father's house.

Numbers 31

The Slaughter of the Midianites and Division of the Spoils

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

"Avenge the children of Israel for the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people."

Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian, to execute The LORD's vengeance on Midian.

Of every tribe one thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, you shall send to the war."

So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.

Moses sent them, one thousand of every tribe, to the war, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.

They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses. They killed every male.

They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.

The children of Israel took the women of Midian captive with their little ones; and all their livestock, all their flocks, and all their goods, they took as plunder.

All their cities in the places in which they lived, and all their encampments, they burned with fire.

They took all the captives, and all the plunder, both of man and of animal.

They brought the captives, and the prey, and the plunder, to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the children of Israel, to the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by the Jordan at Jericho.

Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went out to meet them outside of the camp.

Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.

Moses said to them, "Have you saved all the women alive?

Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of The LORD.

Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him.

But all the girls, who have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

"Encamp outside of the camp seven days. Whoever has killed any person, and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves on the third day and on the seventh day, you and your captives.

As to every garment, and all that is made of skin, and all work of goats' hair, and all things made of wood, you shall purify yourselves."

Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who went to the battle, "This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded Moses:

however the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,

everything that may withstand the fire, you shall make to go through the fire, and it shall be clean; nevertheless it shall be purified with the water for impurity. All that doesn't withstand the fire you shall make to go through the water.

You shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you shall be clean. Afterward you shall come into the camp."

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

"Count the plunder that was taken, both of man and of animal, you, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers' households of the congregation;

and divide the plunder into two parts: between the men skilled in war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.

Levy a tribute to the LORD of the men of war who went out to battle: one soul of five hundred; of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the flocks.

Take it from their half, and give it to Eleazar the priest, for The LORD's wave offering.

Of the children of Israel's half, you shall take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the flocks, of all the livestock, and give them to the Levites, who perform the duty of The LORD's tabernacle."

Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Now the plunder, over and above the booty which the men of war took, was six hundred seventy-five thousand sheep,

and seventy-two thousand head of cattle,

and sixty-one thousand donkeys,

and thirty-two thousand persons in all, of the women who had not known man by lying with him.

The half, which was the portion of those who went out to war, was in number three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep:

and The LORD's tribute of the sheep was six hundred seventy-five.

The cattle were thirty-six thousand; of which The LORD's tribute was seventy-two.

The donkeys were thirty thousand five hundred; of which The LORD's tribute was sixty-one.

The persons were sixteen thousand; of whom The LORD's tribute was thirty-two persons.

Moses gave the tribute, which was The LORD's wave offering, to Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided off from the men who fought

(now the congregation's half was three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep,

and thirty-six thousand head of cattle,

and thirty thousand five hundred donkeys,

and sixteen thousand persons),

even of the children of Israel's half, Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of animal, and gave them to the Levites, who performed the duty of The LORD's tabernacle; as the LORD commanded Moses.

The officers who were over the thousands of the army, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near to Moses.

They said to Moses, "Your servants have taken the sum of the men of war who are under our command, and there lacks not one man of us.

We have brought The LORD's offering, what every man has gotten, of jewels of gold, armlets, and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for our souls before The LORD."

Moses and Eleazar the priest took their gold, even all worked jewels.

All the gold of the wave offering that they offered up to The LORD, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred fifty shekels.

The men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.

Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tent of Meeting, for a memorial for the children of Israel before The LORD.

Numbers 32

Reubenites and Gadites Settle in Gilead

Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock. When they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that behold, the place was a place for livestock;

the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the princes of the congregation, saying,

"Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,

the land which the LORD struck before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock; and your servants have livestock."

They said, "If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Don't bring us over the Jordan."

Moses said to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, "Shall your brothers go to the war, and shall you sit here?

Why do you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD has given them?

Your fathers did so when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to see the land.

For when they went up to the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them.

The LORD's anger burned in that day, and he swore, saying,

'Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me,

except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun; because they have followed the LORD completely.'

The LORD's anger burned against Israel, and he made them wander back and forth in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, who had done evil in The LORD's sight, was consumed.

"Behold, you have risen up in your fathers' place, an increase of sinful men, to increase the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel.

For if you turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and you will destroy all these people."

They came near to him, and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones;

but we ourselves will be ready armed to go before the children of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. Our little ones shall dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

We will not return to our houses, until the children of Israel have each inherited their inheritance.

For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan, and forward; because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan eastward."

Moses said to them, "If you will do this thing, if you will arm yourselves to go before the LORD to the war,

and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before The LORD, until he has driven out his enemies from before him,

and the land is subdued before The LORD; then afterward you shall return, and be guiltless towards The LORD, and towards Israel; and this land shall be to you for a possession before The LORD.

"But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against The LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.

Build cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which has proceeded out of your mouth."

The children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, "Your servants will do as my lord commands.

Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock, shall be there in the cities of Gilead;

but your servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord says."

So Moses commanded concerning them to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers' households of the tribes of the children of Israel.

Moses said to them, "If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over the Jordan, every man who is armed to battle, before The LORD, and the land is subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession;

but if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan."

The children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, "As the LORD has said to your servants, so will we do.

We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us beyond the Jordan."

Moses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, according to its cities and borders, even the cities of the surrounding land.

The children of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,

Atrothshophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,

Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran: fortified cities, and folds for sheep.

The children of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

Nebo, and Baal Meon, (their names being changed), and Sibmah. They gave other names to the cities which they built.

The children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, took it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were therein.

Moses gave Gilead to Machir the son of Manasseh; and he lived therein.

Jair the son of Manasseh went and took its villages, and called them Havvoth Jair.

Nobah went and took Kenath, and its villages, and called it Nobah, after his own name.

Numbers 33

Summary of Israel's Journey

These are the journeys of the children of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of The LORD. These are their journeys according to their goings out.

They traveled from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the next day after the Passover, the children of Israel went out with a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians,

while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck among them. the LORD also executed judgments on their gods.

The children of Israel traveled from Rameses, and encamped in Succoth.

They traveled from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness.

They traveled from Etham, and turned back to Pihahiroth, which is before Baal Zephon: and they encamped before Migdol.

They traveled from before Hahiroth, and crossed through the middle of the sea into the wilderness. They went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and encamped in Marah.

They traveled from Marah, and came to Elim. In Elim, there were twelve springs of water, and seventy palm trees; and they encamped there.

They traveled from Elim, and encamped by the Red Sea.

They traveled from the Red Sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.

They traveled from the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah.

They traveled from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush.

They traveled from Alush, and encamped in Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.

They traveled from Rephidim, and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai.

They traveled from the wilderness of Sinai, and encamped in Kibroth Hattaavah.

They traveled from Kibroth Hattaavah, and encamped in Hazeroth.

They traveled from Hazeroth, and encamped in Rithmah.

They traveled from Rithmah, and encamped in Rimmon Perez.

They traveled from Rimmon Perez, and encamped in Libnah.

They traveled from Libnah, and encamped in Rissah.

They traveled from Rissah, and encamped in Kehelathah.

They traveled from Kehelathah, and encamped in Mount Shepher.

They traveled from Mount Shepher, and encamped in Haradah.

They traveled from Haradah, and encamped in Makheloth.

They traveled from Makheloth, and encamped in Tahath.

They traveled from Tahath, and encamped in Terah.

They traveled from Terah, and encamped in Mithkah.

They traveled from Mithkah, and encamped in Hashmonah.

They traveled from Hashmonah, and encamped in Moseroth.

They traveled from Moseroth, and encamped in Bene Jaakan.

They traveled from Bene Jaakan, and encamped in Hor Haggidgad.

They traveled from Hor Haggidgad, and encamped in Jotbathah.

They traveled from Jotbathah, and encamped in Abronah.

They traveled from Abronah, and encamped in Ezion Geber.

They traveled from Ezion Geber, and encamped at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

They traveled from Kadesh, and encamped in Mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.

Aaron the priest went up into Mount Hor at the commandment of The LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first day of the month.

Aaron was one hundred twenty-three years old when he died in Mount Hor.

The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the South in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.

They traveled from Mount Hor, and encamped in Zalmonah.

They traveled from Zalmonah, and encamped in Punon.

They traveled from Punon, and encamped in Oboth.

They traveled from Oboth, and encamped in Iye Abarim, in the border of Moab.

They traveled from Iyim, and encamped in Dibon Gad.

They traveled from Dibon Gad, and encamped in Almon Diblathaim.

They traveled from Almon Diblathaim, and encamped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.

They traveled from the mountains of Abarim, and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

They encamped by the Jordan, from Beth Jeshimoth even to Abel Shittim in the plains of Moab.

The LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,

Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, "When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their stone idols, destroy all their molten images, and demolish all their high places.

You shall take possession of the land, and dwell therein; for I have given the land to you to possess it.

You shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less inheritance. Wherever the lot falls to any man, that shall be his. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers.

"But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those you let remain of them will be as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they will harass you in the land in which you dwell.

It shall happen that as I thought to do to them, so will I do to you."

Numbers 34

Borders of Canaan

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

"Command the children of Israel, and tell them, 'When you come into the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan according to its borders),

then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the side of Edom, and your south border shall be from the end of the Salt Sea eastward.

Your border shall turn about southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass along to Zin; and it shall pass southward of Kadesh Barnea; and it shall go from there to Hazar Addar, and pass along to Azmon.

The border shall turn about from Azmon to the brook of Egypt, and it shall end at the sea.

"'For the western border, you shall have the great sea and its border. This shall be your west border.

"'This shall be your north border: from the great sea you shall mark out for yourselves Mount Hor.

From Mount Hor you shall mark out to the entrance of Hamath; and the border shall pass by Zedad.

Then the border shall go to Ziphron, and it shall end at Hazar Enan. This shall be your north border.

"'You shall mark out your east border from Hazar Enan to Shepham.

The border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain. The border shall go down, and shall reach to the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward.

The border shall go down to the Jordan, and end at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land according to its borders around it.'"

Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, "This is the land which you shall inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to give to the nine tribes, and to the half-tribe;

for the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their fathers' houses, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to their fathers' houses, have received, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received, their inheritance.

The two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise."

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

"These are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you for inheritance: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.

You shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land for inheritance.

These are the names of the men: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.

Of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.

Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.

Of the tribe of the children of Dan a prince, Bukki the son of Jogli.

Of the children of Joseph: of the tribe of the children of Manasseh a prince, Hanniel the son of Ephod.

Of the tribe of the children of Ephraim a prince, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.

Of the tribe of the children of Zebulun a prince, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.

Of the tribe of the children of Issachar a prince, Paltiel the son of Azzan.

Of the tribe of the children of Asher a prince, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.

Of the tribe of the children of Naphtali a prince, Pedahel the son of Ammihud."

These are they whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance to the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.

Numbers 35

Designation of Cities for the Levites and Refuge

The LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,

"Command the children of Israel to give to the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in. You shall give suburbs for the cities around them to the Levites.

They shall have the cities to dwell in. Their suburbs shall be for their livestock, and for their possessions, and for all their animals.

"The suburbs of the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, shall be from the wall of the city and outward one thousand cubits around it.

You shall measure outside of the city for the east side two thousand cubits, and for the south side two thousand cubits, and for the west side two thousand cubits, and for the north side two thousand cubits, the city being in the middle. This shall be the suburbs of their cities.

"The cities which you shall give to the Levites, they shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the man slayer to flee to. Besides them you shall give forty-two cities.

All the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be forty-eight cities together with their suburbs.

Concerning the cities which you shall give of the possession of the children of Israel, from the many you shall take many; and from the few you shall take few. Everyone according to his inheritance which he inherits shall give some of his cities to the Levites."

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

"Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, 'When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

then you shall appoint for yourselves cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the man slayer who kills any person unwittingly may flee there.

The cities shall be to you for refuge from the avenger, that the man slayer not die, until he stands before the congregation for judgment.

The cities which you shall give shall be for you six cities of refuge.

You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and you shall give three cities in the land of Canaan. They shall be cities of refuge.

For the children of Israel, and for the stranger and for the foreigner living among them, shall these six cities be for refuge; that everyone who kills any person unwittingly may flee there.

"'But if he struck him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death.

If he struck him with a stone in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death.

Or if he struck him with a weapon of wood in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall surely be put to death.

The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death. When he meets him, he shall put him to death.

If he shoved him out of hatred, or hurled at him, lying in wait, so that he died,

or in hostility struck him with his hand, so that he died, he who struck him shall surely be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death, when he meets him.

"'But if he shoved him suddenly without hostility, or hurled on him anything without lying in wait,

or with any stone, by which a man may die, not seeing him, and cast it on him, so that he died, and he was not his enemy, neither sought his harm;

then the congregation shall judge between the striker and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances.

The congregation shall deliver the man slayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, where he had fled. He shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.

"'But if the man slayer shall at any time go beyond the border of his city of refuge, where he flees,

and the avenger of blood finds him outside of the border of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the man slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood,

because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest, the man slayer shall return into the land of his possession.

"'These things shall be for a statute and ordinance to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

"'Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses; but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die.

"'Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death.

"'You shall take no ransom for him who is fled to his city of refuge, that he may come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.

"'So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land. No atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, but by the blood of him who shed it.

You shall not defile the land which you inhabit, in the middle of which I dwell; for I, The LORD, dwell in the middle of the children of Israel.'"

Numbers 36

Zelophehad's Daughters Marry

The heads of the fathers' households of the family of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and spoke before Moses, and before the princes, the heads of the fathers' households of the children of Israel.

They said, "The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for inheritance by lot to the children of Israel. My lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters.

If they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then will their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of our fathers, and will be added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they shall belong. So will it be taken away from the lot of our inheritance.

When the jubilee of the children of Israel shall be, then will their inheritance be added to the inheritance of the tribe to which they shall belong. So their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers."

Moses commanded the children of Israel according to The LORD's word, saying, "The tribe of the sons of Joseph speaks right.

This is the thing which the LORD does command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, 'Let them be married to whom they think best; only they shall marry into the family of the tribe of their father.

So shall no inheritance of the children of Israel move from tribe to tribe; for the children of Israel shall all keep the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.

Every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel shall be wife to one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may each possess the inheritance of his fathers.

So shall no inheritance move from one tribe to another tribe; for the tribes of the children of Israel shall each keep his own inheritance.'"

The daughters of Zelophehad did as the LORD commanded Moses:

for Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married to their father's brothers' sons.

They were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph. Their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father.

These are the commandments and the ordinances which the LORD commanded by Moses to the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.