14 "A husband may have a fit of jealousy and suspect his wife, whether she was actually unfaithful or not. 15 He must then take his wife to the priest along with eight cups of barley flour as an offering for her. He must not pour olive oil on the flour or put frankincense on it, since it is a grain offering brought because of the husband's jealousy, an offering used for a confession-to remind someone of a sin that was committed.

16 "The priest will have the woman come forward and stand in Yahweh's presence. 17 Then the priest will take holy water in a piece of pottery and put some dust from the floor of the tent into the water. 18 The priest will bring the woman into Yahweh's presence and loosen her hair. In her hands he will put the offering used for a confession (that is, the grain offering brought because of the husband's jealousy). The priest will hold in his hands the bitter water that can bring a curse.c 19 "Then the priest will say to her, 'If no other man has had sexual intercourse with you and you haven't been unfaithful to your husband, you're not guilty. This bitter water that can bring a curse will not harm you. 20 If, in fact, you have been unfaithful and have had sexual intercourse with another man, 21 may Yahweh make you an example for your people to see what happens when the curse of this oath comes true: Yahweh will make your uterus drop and your stomach swell.'a "Then the priest will administer the oath and the curse by saying: 22 'May this water that can bring a curse go into your body and make your stomach swell and your uterus drop!'

"Then the woman will say, 'Amen, amen!'

23 "The priest will write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water. 24 Then he will have the woman drink the bitter water that can bring the curse. This water will go into her and become bitter. 25 The priest will take the grain offering she was holding, present it to Yahweh, and bring it to the altar. 26 The priest will take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar. Then he will have the woman drink the water. 27 If she has become unclean by being unfaithful to her husband, the water that can bring the curse will go into her and become bitter. Her stomach will swell, her uterus will drop, and she will become cursed among her people. 28 But if the woman is not unclean and is pure, she is not guilty and will be able to have children.

29 "These are the instructions for how to deal with jealousy. They tell you what to do when a woman is unfaithful to her husband and becomes unclean. 30 They also tell you what to do when a husband has a fit of jealousy and is suspicious of his wife. He will make his wife stand in Yahweh's presence, and the priest will do everything these instructions tell him to do. 31 The husband isn't guilty of doing anything wrong, but the woman will suffer the consequences of her sin."

Taking a Special Vow 6 1 Yahweh said to Moses, 2 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: A man or a woman may make a special vow to live as a Nazirite dedicated to Yahweh. 3 Nazirites must never drink wine, liquor, vinegar made from wine or liquor, or any kind of grape juice, and they must never eat fresh grapes or raisins. 4 As long as they are Nazirites, they must never eat anything that comes from a grapevine, not even grape seeds or skins.

5 "As long as they are under the Nazirite vow, no razor may touch their heads. During the entire time that they are dedicated to Yahweh as Nazirites, they will be holy. They must let their hair grow long. 6 While they are dedicated to Yahweh as Nazirites, they must never go near a dead body. 7 Even if their own father, mother, brother, or sister dies, they must not make themselves uncleanb by going near them. Nazarites show their vow to Elohim with their long hair. 8 As long as they are Nazirites, they will be holy to Yahweh.

9 "Someone might suddenly drop dead next to a Nazirite and make the Nazirite's hair unclean. Seven days later he must shave his head in order to be declared clean.c 10 On the eighth day he must bring two mourning doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 11 The priest will sacrifice one as an offering for sin and the other one as a burnt offering. The priest will make peace with the LORD for the person who touched the dead body. That same day the person must dedicate his head again. 12 Once again he will dedicate himself to Yahweh as a Nazirite for the same length of time as before. He must bring a one-year-old male lamb as an offering for guilt. The first time period won't count. He has to start over from when he became unclean.

13 "These are the instructions for Nazirites who complete their vows: They must come to the entrance of the tent of meeting. 14 They must bring these offerings to Yahweh: a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering, a one-year-old female lamb as an offering for sin, and a ram as a fellowship offering. All of these animals must have no defects. 15 They must also bring a basket of unleavened bread containing some rings of bread made with olive oil and wafers of unleavened bread brushed with olive oil, along with other grain offerings and wine offerings.

16 "The priest will bring these offerings to Yahweh and make the offering for sin and the burnt offering. 17 He will sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to Yahweh, offer the basket of unleavened bread along with it, and make the grain offerings and wine offerings.

18 "Then the Nazirites will shave their heads at the entrance to the tent of meeting, take the hair as proof that they had made this vow, and put it on the fire under the fellowship offering.

19 "Then the priest will take one of the shoulders from a boiled ram, one ring of unleavened bread from the basket, and one wafer of unleavened bread and hand them to the Nazirites after they have shaved off their hair. 20 The priest will present them as an offering to Yahweh. They are holy and belong to the priest, along with the ram's breast that is presented and the thigh that is given. After that, the Nazirites may drink wine.

21 "These are the instructions for those who have vowed to bring their offerings to Yahweh because they were Nazirites. They must bring these offerings in addition to anything else they can afford. They must fulfill the requirements of these instructions for Nazirites and finish whatever they vowed to do."

How Aaron and His Sons Will Bless the Israelites 22 Yahweh said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you will bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 Yahweh will bless you and watch over you.

25 Yahweh will smile on you and be kind to you.

26 Yahweh will look on you with favor and give you peace.'

27 "So whenever they use my name to bless the Israelites, I will bless them."

Offerings for the Dedication of the Altar 7 1 When Moses finished setting up the tent, he anointed it and dedicated it and all the furnishings. He also anointed and dedicated the altar and all the utensils. 2 Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of the households-those tribal leaders who helped in the census-came to give their offerings. 3 They brought these gifts to Yahweh: six freight wagons and twelve oxen, one wagon from every two leaders and one ox from each leader. They brought them in front of the tent.

4 Yahweh said to Moses, 5 "Accept these gifts from them to use in the work done for the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites to use wherever they need these gifts for their work." 6 Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonites for the work they had to do. 8 He gave four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarites for the work they had to do under the direction of Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron. 9 But Moses gave none of these gifts to the Kohathites, because they took care of the holy things. They had to carry the holy things on their own shoulders.

10 The leaders also brought offerings for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed. They presented their gifts in front of the altar. 11 Yahweh said to Moses, "Each day a different leader will bring his gift for the dedication of the altar."

12 The one who brought his gifts on the first day was Nahshon, son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah. 13 He brought a silver plate that weighed 3 pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1 pounds, using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 14 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 15 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 16 a male goat as an offering for sin; 17 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Nahshon, son of Amminadab.

18 On the second day Nethanel, son of Zuar, the leader from the tribe of Issachar, brought his gifts. 19 He brought a silver plate that weighed 3 pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 20 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 21 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 22 a male goat as an offering for sin; 23 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Nethanel, son of Zuar.

24 On the third day the leader of the descendants of Zebulun, Eliab, son of Helon, 25 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3 pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 26 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 27 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 28 a male goat as an offering for sin; 29 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Eliab, son of Helon.

30 On the fourth day the leader of the descendants of Reuben, Elizur, son of Shedeur, 31 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3 pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 32 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 33 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 34 a male goat as an offering for sin; 35 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Elizur, son of Shedeur.

36 On the fifth day the leader of the descendants of Simeon, Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, 37 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3 pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 38 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 39 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 40 a male goat as an offering for sin; 41 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai.

42 On the sixth day the leader of the descendants of Gad, Eliasaph, son of Deuel, 43 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3 pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 44 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 45 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 46 a male goat as an offering for sin; 47 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Eliasaph, son of Deuel.

48 On the seventh day the leader of the descendants of Ephraim, Elishama, son of Ammihud, 49 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3 pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 50 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 51 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 52 a male goat as an offering for sin; 53 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Elishama, son of Ammihud.

54 On the eighth day the leader of the descendants of Manasseh, Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, 55 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3 pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 56 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 57 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 58 a male goat as an offering for sin; 59 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur.

60 On the ninth day the leader of the descendants of Benjamin, Abidan, son of Gideoni, 61 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3 pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 62 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 63 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 64 a male goat as an offering for sin; 65 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Abidan, son of Gideoni.

66 On the tenth day the leader of the descendants of Dan, Ahiezer, son of Amishaddai, 67 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3 pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 68 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 69 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 70 a male goat as an offering for sin; 71 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Ahiezer, son of Amishaddai.

72 On the eleventh day the leader of the descendants of Asher, Pagiel, son of Ochran, 73 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3 pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 74 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 75 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 76 a male goat as an offering for sin; 77 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Pagiel, son of Ochran.

78 On the twelfth day the leader of the descendants of Naphtali, Ahira, son of Enan, 79 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3 pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. 80 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense; 81 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; 82 a male goat as an offering for sin; 83 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Ahira, son of Enan.

84 These were the gifts from the leaders of Israel for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: 12 silver plates, 12 silver bowls, and 12 gold dishes. 85 Each silver plate weighed 3 pounds, and each bowl weighed 1 pounds. Together all the silver dishes weighed 60 pounds, using the standard weight of the holy place. 86 The 12 gold dishes filled with incense weighed 4 ounces each, using the standard weight of the holy place. Together all the gold dishes weighed about 3 pounds. 87 The total number of animals for the burnt offerings was 12 young bulls, 12 rams, 12 one-year-old male lambs, along with their grain offerings. Twelve male goats were used as offerings for sin. 88 The total number of animals for fellowship offerings was 24 bulls, 60 rams, 60 male goats, and 60 one-year-old male lambs. These were the gifts for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.

89 Whenever Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Yahweh, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the throne of mercy on the ark containing the words of God's promise, from between the two angels.a This is how Yahweh spoke with Moses.

The Lamp Stand in the Tent 8 1 Yahweh said to Moses, 2 "Speak to Aaron and tell him: When you set up the seven lamps on the lamp stand, they should light up the area in front of it."

3 So Aaron set up the lamps on the lamp stand to light up the area in front of it, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

4 This is how the lamp stand was made: The whole lamp stand, from top to bottom, was hammered out of gold. It was made exactly like the one Yahweh had shown Moses.

The Levites Are Made Ready to Do the LORD'S Work 5 Yahweh said to Moses, 6 "Separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites, and make them clean.b 7 This is what you must do to make them clean: Sprinkle them with water to take away their sins. Make them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes. Then they will be clean. 8 Next, they must take a young bull and the grain offering of flour mixed with olive oil that is offered with it. You must take a second young bull as an offering for sin. 9 Bring the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting, and assemble the whole community of Israel. 10 Then bring the Levites into Yahweh's presence, and the Israelites will place their hands on them. 11 Aaron will present the Levites to Yahweh as an offering from the Israelites. Then they will be ready to do Yahweh's work.

12 "The Levites will place their hands on the heads of the young bulls. Sacrifice one of them as an offering for sin and the other one as a burnt offering to Yahweh. These sacrifices will make peace with the LORD for the Levites. 13 Make the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons, and present them as an offering to Yahweh. 14 In this way you will separate the Levites from the other Israelites, and the Levites will be mine.

15 "Once you have made them clean and presented them as an offering, the Levites may come and do their work at the tent of meeting. 16 They will be the only Israelites given to me. I have taken them to be mine as substitutes for every firstborn male offspring of the Israelites. 17 Every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal, is mine. The day I killed every firstborn male in Egypt, I set them apart as holy to me. 18 So I have taken the Levites as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the Israelites. 19 The Levites will be the only Israelites I give to Aaron and his sons. They will work for the Israelites at the tent of meeting. They will make peace with the LORD for the Israelites. Then no plague will strike the Israelites when they come near the holy place."

20 Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel did what Yahweh commanded Moses to do to the Levites. 21 The Levites performed the ceremonies to take away their sins and washed their clothes. Aaron presented them as an offering to Yahweh and made peace with the LORD for them in order to make them clean. 22 After that, the Levites came and did their work at the tent of meeting in the presence of Aaron and his sons. They did as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

23 Yahweh said to Moses, 24 "These are the instructions for the Levites: Men 25 years old or older are eligible to serve at the tent of meeting. 25 But when they're 50 years old, they must retire from active service and not work anymore. 26 They may assist the other Levites in their duties at the tent of meeting, but they may not do any regular work. This is how you will handle the Levites' duties."

The Second Passover 9 1 In the first month of the second year after the Israelites left Egypt, Yahweh spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai. He said, 2 "The Israelites must celebrate the Passover at the same time every year. 3 You must celebrate it on the fourteenth day of this month at dusk. Follow all the rules and regulations for the celebration of the Passover."

4 So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, 5 and they celebrated it on the fourteenth day of the first month at dusk while they were in the Desert of Sinai. The Israelites did everything as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

6 But there were some men who had become uncleana from touching a dead body, and they couldn't celebrate the Passover that day. They came to Moses and Aaron 7 and said, "We are unclean because we touched a dead body. Why won't you let us bring our offerings to Yahweh at the same time the rest of the Israelites bring their offerings?"

8 Moses answered them, "Wait here until I find out what Yahweh commands you to do."

9 Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites: 10 Suppose you or any of your descendants is unclean from touching a dead body or is away on a long trip. You may still celebrate the Passover. 11 You will celebrate it on the fourteenth day of the second month at dusk. You must eat the Passover animal along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 You must never leave any of the meat until morning or break any of the animal's bones. You must follow all the rules for the Passover when you celebrate it. 13 But if you are cleanb and not on a trip and yet don't bother to celebrate the Passover, you must be excluded from the people. You didn't bring your offering to Yahweh at the right time. You must suffer the consequences for your sin.

14 "Foreigners living with you may want to celebrate Yahweh's Passover. They must follow these same rules and regulations. The same rules will apply to foreigners and native-born Israelites."

The Column of Smoke Leads Israel through the Desert 15 On the day the tent of the words of God's promise was set up, the column of smoke covered it. From evening until morning, the smoke over the tent glowed like fire. 16 The smoke always glowed this way. At night the smoke covering the tent glowed like fire. 17 Whenever the smoke moved from the tent, the Israelites would break camp, and wherever it stopped, the Israelites would set up camp. 18 At Yahweh's command the Israelites would break camp, and at his command they would set up camp. As long as the column of smoke stayed over the tent, they would stay in the same place. 19 When the smoke stayed over the tent for a long time, the Israelites obeyed Yahweh's command and wouldn't break camp. 20 The same thing happened when the smoke stayed only a few days over the tent: At Yahweh's command they would set up camp, and at Yahweh's command they would break camp. 21 Sometimes the column of smoke stayed only from evening until morning. When the smoke moved in the morning, they broke camp. Day or night, when the smoke moved, they broke camp. 22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year, as long as the column of smoke stayed over the tent, the Israelites would stay in the same place and not break camp. But when the smoke moved, they would break camp. 23 At Yahweh's command they set up camp, and at his command they broke camp. They obeyed the command that Yahweh had given through Moses.

Two Silver Signal Trumpets 10 1 Yahweh said to Moses, 2 "Make two trumpets out of hammered silver. Use them to call the community together and as a signal to break camp. 3 When you blow both trumpets, the whole community will meet with you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 4 If only one trumpet blows, the leaders, the heads of the divisions of Israel, will meet with you. 5 When they hear the trumpet fanfare, the tribes that are camped on the east side will break camp first. 6 When the trumpets sound a second fanfare, the tribes that are camped on the south will break camp. The fanfare is the signal to break camp. 7 But when you gather the assembly, the trumpets will blow without sounding a fanfare. 8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, will blow the trumpets. This will be a permanent law for you and your descendants.

9 "When you go to war in your own country against an enemy who is oppressing you, the trumpets will sound a fanfare. Then Yahweh your Elohim will remember you and rescue you from your enemies. 10 Also, on your festival days and on the first day of the month, blow the trumpets when you sacrifice your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. The trumpets will be a reminder for you in Elohim's presence. I am Yahweh your Elohim."

Israel Leaves Mount Sinai 11 On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the column of smoke left the tent of the words of God's promise. 12 So the Israelites moved from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the column of smoke stopped in the Desert of Paran.

13 This was the first time they moved, following the command that Yahweh had given through Moses. 14 With their flag in front, the armies led by Judah's descendants broke camp first. Nahshon, son of Amminadab, was in command. 15 Nethanel, son of Zuar, commanded the army of Issachar. 16 Eliab, son of Helon, commanded the army of Zebulun. 17 Then the tent of meeting was taken down, and the Gershonites and Merarites, who carried it, broke camp.

18 With their flag in front, the armies led by Reuben's descendants broke camp next. Elizur, son of Shedeur, was in command. 19 Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, commanded the army of Simeon. 20 Eliasaph, son of Deuel, commanded the army of Gad. 21 Then the Kohathites, who carried the holy things, broke camp. By the time they arrived, the tent of meeting would already be set up.

22 With their flag in front, the armies led by Ephraim's descendants broke camp next. Elisha, son of Ammihud, was in command. 23 Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, commanded the army of Manasseh. 24 Abidan, son of Gideoni, commanded the army of Benjamin.

25 As a rear guard for the whole camp, the armies led by Dan's descendants broke camp last with their flag in front. Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai, was in command. 26 Pagiel, son of Ochran, commanded the army of Asher. 27 Ahira, son of Enan, commanded the army of Naphtali.

28 This was the order in which the Israelite armies broke camp when they went from place to place.

29 Moses said to his brother-in-law Hobab, son of Reuel the Midianite, "We are going to the place Yahweh promised to give us. Come with us. We will be good to you, because Yahweh has promised good things to Israel."

30 Hobab answered, "No, I won't go. I want to go back to my own country where my relatives are."

31 But Moses said, "Please don't leave us. You know where we can set up camp in the desert, and you could be our guide. 32 If you come with us, we will share with you all the good things Yahweh gives us."

33 So they left the mountain of Yahweh and traveled for three days. The ark of Yahweh's promise went ahead of them a distance of three days' journey to find them a place to rest. 34 Yahweh's column of smoke was over them by day when they moved the camp.

35 Whenever the ark started to move, Moses would say, "Arise, O Yahweh!

Scatter your enemies!

Make those who hate you run away from you!"

36 And whenever it stopped, he would say, "Return, O Yahweh , to the countless thousands of Israel!"

The People of Israel Demand Meat to Eat 11 1 The people began complaining out loud to Yahweh about their troubles. When Yahweh heard them, he became angry, and fire from Yahweh began to burn among them. It destroyed some people on the outskirts of the camp. 2 The people cried out to Moses, Moses prayed to Yahweh, and the fire died down. 3 That place was called Taberah [Fire] because fire from Yahweh burned among them there.

4 Some foreigners among the Israelites had a strong craving for other kinds of food. Even the Israelites started crying again and said, "If only we had meat to eat! 5 Remember all the free fish we ate in Egypt and the cucumbers, watermelons, leeks, onions, and garlic we had? 6 But now we've lost our appetite! Everywhere we look there's nothing but manna!"

7 (Manna was small like coriander seeds and looked like resin. 8 The people would go around and gather it, then grind it in a handmill or crush it in a mortar. They would cook it in a pot or make round loaves of bread out of it. It tasted like rich pastry made with olive oil. 9 When dew fell on the camp at night, manna fell with it.) 10 Moses heard people from every family crying at the entrance to their tents. Yahweh became very angry, and Moses didn't like it either. 11 So he asked, "Yahweh, why have you brought me this trouble? How have I displeased you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12 Am I their mother? Did I give birth to them? Are you really asking me to carry them in my arms-as a nurse carries a baby-all the way to the land you promised their ancestors with an oath? 13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep crying for me to give them meat to eat. 14 I can't take care of all these people by myself. This is too much work for me! 15 If this is how you're going to treat me, why don't you just kill me? I can't face this trouble anymore."

16 Yahweh answered Moses, "Bring me 70 Israelite men who you know are leaders and officers of the people. Take them to the tent of meeting, and have them stand with you. 17 I'll come down and speak with you there. I'll take some of the Ruach that is on you and put it on them. They will help you take care of the people. You won't have to take care of the people alone. 18 Tell the people to get ready for tomorrow. They must be set apart as holy. Then they will eat meat. I, Yahweh, heard them crying and saying, 'If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!' So Yahweh will give them meat. 19 They won't eat it just for one or two days, or five, or ten, or twenty days, 20 but for a whole month, until it comes out of their ears and they're sick of it. This is because they rejected Yahweh who is here among them and cried in front of him, asking, 'Why did we ever leave Egypt?'"

21 But Moses said, "Here I am with 600,000 foot soldiers around me. Yet, you say, 'I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!' 22 Would they have enough if all the flocks and herds were butchered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?"

23 Yahweh asked Moses, "Is there a limit to Yahweh's power? Now you will see whether or not my words come true."

24 Moses went out and told the people what Yahweh said. He gathered 70 of the leaders of the people and had them stand around the tent. 25 Then Yahweh came down in the column of smoke and spoke with him. He took some of the Ruach that was on Moses and put it on the 70 leaders. When the Ruach came to rest on them, they prophesied, but they never prophesied again.

26 Two men, named Eldad and Medad, had stayed in the camp. They were on the list with the other leaders but hadn't gone with them to the tent. The Ruach came to rest on them, too, and they prophesied in the camp.

27 Then a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." 28 So Joshua, son of Nun, who had been Moses' assistant ever since he was a young man, spoke up and said, "Stop them, sir!"

29 But Moses asked him, "Do you think you need to stand up for me? I wish all Yahweh's people were prophets and that Yahweh would put his Ruach on them."

30 Then Moses and the leaders went back to the camp.

31 Yahweh sent a wind from the sea that brought quails and dropped them all around the camp. There were quails on the ground about three feet deep as far as you could walk in a day in any direction.

32 All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered the quails. No one gathered less than 60 bushels. Then they spread the quails out all around the camp.

33 While the meat was still in their mouths-before they had even had a chance to chew it-Yahweh became angry with the people and struck them with a severe plague. 34 That place was called Kibroth Hattaavah [Graves of Those Who Craved Meat] because there they buried the people who had a strong craving for meat.

35 From Kibroth Hattaavah the people moved to Hazeroth, and they stayed there.

Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses 12 1 Miriam and Aaron began to criticize Moses because he was married to a woman from Sudan. 2 They asked, "Did Yahweh speak only through Moses? Didn't he also speak through us?" Yahweh heard their complaint.

3 (Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on earth.) 4 Suddenly, Yahweh said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, "All three of you come to the tent of meeting." So all three of them came. 5 Then Yahweh came down in the column of smoke and stood at the entrance to the tent. He called to Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.

6 He said, "Listen to my words: When there are prophets of Yahweh among you, I make myself known to them in visions or speak to them in dreams. 7 But this is not the way I treat my servant Moses. He is the most faithful person in my household.a 8 I speak with him face to face, plainly and not in riddles. He even sees the form of Yahweh. Why weren't you afraid to criticize my servant Moses?"

9 Yahweh was angry with them, so he left.

10 When the smoke left the tent, Miriam was covered with an infectious skin disease. She was as white as snow. Aaron turned to her and saw she was covered with the disease. 11 So he said to Moses, "Please, sir, don't punish us for this foolish sin we committed. 12 Don't let her be like a stillborn baby that's not completely developed."

13 So Moses cried to Yahweh, "Please, El , heal her!"

14 Yahweh replied to Moses, "If her own father had spit in her face, wouldn't she be excluded from the community for seven days? She must be put in isolation outside the camp for seven days. Then she can be brought back." 15 So Miriam was put in isolation outside the camp for seven days. The people didn't break camp until she was brought back.

16 After that, the people moved from Hazeroth and set up camp in the Desert of Paran.

Moses Sends Out 12 Spies 13 1 Yahweh said to Moses, 2 "Send men to explore Canaan, which I'm giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of their ancestors' tribes."

3 So at Yahweh's command, Moses sent these men from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites.

4 These are their names: Shammua, son of Zaccur, from the tribe of Reuben; 5 Shaphat, son of Hori, from the tribe of Simeon; 6 Caleb, son of Jephunneh, from the tribe of Judah; 7 Igal, son of Joseph, from the tribe of Issachar; 8 Hoshea, son of Nun, from the tribe of Ephraim; 9 Palti, son of Raphu, from the tribe of Benjamin; 10 Gaddiel, son of Sodi, from the tribe of Zebulun; 11 Gaddi, son of Susi, from the tribe of Joseph (that is, the tribe of Manasseh); 12 Ammiel, son of Gemalli, from the tribe of Dan; 13 Sethur, son of Michael, from the tribe of Asher; 14 Nahbi, son of Vophsi, from the tribe of Naphtali; 15 Geuel, son of Machi, from the tribe of Gad.

16 These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. But Moses gave Hoshea, son of Nun, the name Joshua.

17 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he told them, "Go through the Negev and then into the mountain region. 18 See what the land is like and whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 Is the land they live in good or bad? Do their cities have walls around them or not? 20 Is the soil rich or poor? Does the land have trees or not? Do your best to bring back some fruit from the land." (It was the season when grapes were beginning to ripen.) 21 So the men explored the land from the Desert of Zin to the border of Hamath. 22 They went through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai lived. They are descendants of Anak. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 When they came to the Eshcol Valley, they cut off a branch with only one bunch of grapes on it. They carried it on a pole between two of them. They also brought some pomegranates and figs. 24 So they called that valley Eshcol [Bunch of Grapes] because of the bunch of grapes the Israelites cut off there.

25 Forty days later, they came back from exploring the land. 26 They came back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. They gave their report and showed them the fruit from the land.

27 This is what they reported to Moses: "We went to the land where you sent us. It really is a land flowing with milk and honey. Here's some of its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are strong, and the cities have walls and are very large. We even saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev. The Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the mountain region. And the Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and all along the Jordan River."

30 Caleb told the people to be quiet and listen to Moses. Caleb said, "Let's go now and take possession of the land. We should be more than able to conquer it."

31 But the men who had gone with him said, "We can't attack those people! They're too strong for us!" 32 So they began to spread lies among the Israelites about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored is one that devours those who live there. All the people we saw there are very tall. 33 We saw Nephilim there. (The descendants of Anak are Nephilim.) We felt as small as grasshoppers, and that's how we must have looked to them."

The People Rebel against the LORD 14 1 Then all the people in the Israelite community raised their voices and cried out loud all that night. 2 They complained to Moses and Aaron, "If only we had died in Egypt or this desert! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land-just to have us die in battle? Our wives and children will be taken as prisoners of war! Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" 4 They said to each other, "Let's choose a leader and go back to Egypt."

5 Immediately, Moses and Aaron bowed with their faces touching the ground in front of the whole community of Israel assembled there. 6 At the same time, two of those who had explored the land, Joshua (son of Nun) and Caleb (son of Jephunneh), tore their clothes in despair. 7 They said to the whole community of Israel, "The land we explored is very good. 8 If Yahweh is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us. This is a land flowing with milk and honey! 9 Don't rebel against Yahweh, and don't be afraid of the people of the land. We will devour them like bread. They have no protection, and Yahweh is with us. So don't be afraid of them."

10 But when the whole community of Israel talked about stoning Moses and Aaron to death, they all saw the glory of Yahweh shining at the tent of meeting. 11 Yahweh said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to trust me in spite of all the miraculous signs I have done among them? 12 I'll strike them with a plague, I'll destroy them,a and I'll make you into a nation larger and stronger than they are."