The Names Of God Bible - The Names of God Bible Part 27
Library

The Names of God Bible Part 27

13 But Moses said to Yahweh, "What if the Egyptians hear about it? (You used your power to take these people away from them.) 14 What if the Egyptians tell the people who live in this land? Yahweh, they have already heard that you are with these people, that they have seen you with their own eyes, that your column of smoke stays over them, and that you go ahead of them in a column of smoke by day and in a column of fire by night. 15 But if you kill all these people at the same time, then the nations who have heard these reports about you will say, 16 'Yahweh wasn't able to bring these people into the land he promised them, so he slaughtered them in the desert.'

17 "Adonay , let your power be as great as when you said, 18 'Yahweh . . . patient, forever loving. . . He forgives wrongdoing and disobedience. . . He never lets the guilty go unpunished, punishing children. . . for their parents' sins to the third and fourth generation. . .' 19 By your great love, please forgive these people's sins, as you have been forgiving them from the time they left Egypt until now."

20 Yahweh said, "I forgive them, as you have asked. 21 But as I live and as the glory of Yahweh fills the whole earth, I solemnly swear that 22 none of the people who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I did in Egypt and in the desert will see the land which I promised their ancestors. They have tested me now ten times and refused to obey me.a 23 None of those who treat me with contempt will see it! 24 But because my servant Caleb has a different attitude and has wholeheartedly followed me, I'll bring him to the land he already explored. His descendants will possess it. 25 (The Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys.) Tomorrow you must turn around, go back into the desert, and follow the road that goes to the Red Sea."

26 Then Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, 27 "How long must I put up with this wicked community that keeps complaining about me? I've heard the complaints the Israelites are making about me. 28 So tell them, 'As I live, declares Yahweh, I solemnly swear I will do everything to you that you said I would do. 29 Your bodies will drop dead in this desert. All of you who are at least 20 years old, who were registered and listed, and who complained about me will die. 30 I raised my hand and swore an oath to give you this land to live in. But none of you will enter it except Caleb (son of Jephunneh) and Joshua (son of Nun). 31 You said your children would be taken as prisoners of war. Instead, I will bring them into the land you rejected, and they will enjoy it. 32 However, your bodies will drop dead in this desert. 33 Your children will be shepherds in the desert for 40 years. They will suffer for your unfaithfulness until the last of your bodies lies dead in the desert. 34 For 40 days you explored the land. So for 40 years-one year for each day-you will suffer for your sins and know what it means for me to be against you.' 35 I, Yahweh, have spoken. I swear I will do these things to all the people in this whole wicked community who have joined forces against me. They will meet their end in this desert. Here they will die!"

36 So the men Moses sent to explore the land died in front of Yahweh from a plague. 37 They died because they had returned and made the whole community complain about Moses by spreading lies about the land.b 38 Of all the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua (son of Nun) and Caleb (son of Jephunneh) survived.

The Amalekites and Canaanites Defeat Israel 39 When Moses told these things to all the Israelites, the people mourned bitterly, as if someone had died. 40 Early the next morning they headed into the mountain region. They said, "We have sinned. Now we'll go to the place Yahweh promised."

41 But Moses asked, "Why are you disobeying Yahweh's command? Your plan won't work! 42 Don't go! You will be defeated by your enemies because Yahweh is not with you. 43 The Amalekites and Canaanites are there, and you will die in battle. Now that you have turned away from Yahweh, Yahweh will not be with you."

44 But they headed into the mountain region anyway, even though the ark of Yahweh's promise and Moses stayed in the camp. 45 The Amalekites and Canaanites who lived there came down from those mountains, attacked the Israelites, and defeated them at Hormah.a Grain and Wine Made Part of the Sacrifices to the LORD 15 1 Yahweh said to Moses, 2 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: Once you're settled in the land I'm giving you, 3 you may bring offerings by fire to Yahweh. They may be burnt offerings or any other kind of sacrifice. They may be offered to fulfill a vow, as a freewill offering, or as one of your festival offerings. They may be cattle, sheep, or goats-offerings that are a soothing aroma to Yahweh. 4 Whoever brings the offering must also give Yahweh a grain offering of eight cups of flour mixed with one quart of olive oil. 5 With each sheep or goat for the burnt offering or any other sacrifice, also give an offering of one quart of wine.

6 "With a ram, give a grain offering of 16 cups of flour mixed with 1 quarts of oil 7 and an offering of 1 quarts of wine. Offer them as a soothing aroma to Yahweh.

8 "Suppose you sacrifice a young bull as a burnt offering to Yahweh or make any other kind of sacrifice-to keep a vow or as a fellowship offering. 9 Offer with the young bull a grain offering of 24 cups of flour mixed with two quarts of olive oil. 10 Also give an offering of two quarts of wine. It is an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to Yahweh. 11 Do this for each bull, each ram, and each sheep or goat. 12 Do it for each animal, however many you sacrifice. 13 All native-born Israelites must do it this way when they bring an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to Yahweh.

14 "Suppose foreigners are visiting you or living among you in future generations. If they bring an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to Yahweh, they must do as you do. 15 There is one law for the whole assembly: for you and foreigners who are living with you. It is a permanent law for future generations. As far as Yahweh is concerned, you and foreigners are the same. 16 The instructions and rules are the same for you as well as foreigners who are living with you."

Offering the First Bread Dough to the LORD 17 Yahweh said to Moses, 18 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you enter the land where I'm taking you 19 and eat any of the food from the land, give some of it as a contribution to Yahweh. 20 Shape one part of your dough into a ring the same way you do with the contribution you make from the threshing floor.b 21 For generations to come, you must give one part of your dough as a contribution to Yahweh.

What Is to Be Done about Unintentional and Intentional Wrongdoings 22 "Suppose you unintentionally do something wrong by not obeying all these commands Yahweh gave Moses. 23 (Everything Yahweh commanded you through Moses holds as true for generations to come as it did the day Yahweh gave the commands.) 24 If it was unintentional and no one else knows about it, the whole community must sacrifice a young bull as a burnt offering, a soothing aroma to Yahweh, along with the proper grain and wine offerings, and a male goat as an offering for sin. 25 The priest will make peace with the LORD for the whole community of Israel. Then they will be forgiven because the wrongdoing was unintentional and they brought these two offerings to Yahweh for their sin: an offering by fire and an offering for sin. 26 So the whole community of Israel will be forgiven, including foreigners who are living among them, since all the people were involved in the unintentional wrongdoing.

27 "If one person unintentionally does something wrong, a one-year-old female goat must be sacrificed as an offering for sin. 28 The priest will offer the sacrifice to make peace with Yahweh for that person, and that person will be forgiven. 29 You must give the same instructions to everyone who does something wrong unintentionally, whether they are native-born Israelites or not.

30 "But any native-born Israelite or foreigner who deliberately does something wrong insults Yahweh and must be excluded from the people. 31 That person has despised the word of Yahweh and broken Yahweh's command. He must be excluded completely. He remains guilty."

A Man Breaks the Rules for the Day of Worship 32 While the Israelites were in the desert, they found a man gathering wood on the day of worship. 33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole community. 34 They kept him in custody until they decided what to do with him.

35 Then Yahweh said to Moses, "This man must be put to death. The whole community must take him outside the camp and stone him." 36 So the whole community took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

The Israelites Are Commanded to Wear Tassels 37 Yahweh said to Moses, 38 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: For generations to come they must wear tassels on the corners of their clothes with violet threads in each tassel. 39 Whenever you look at the threads in the tassel, you will remember all Yahweh's commands and obey them. Then you won't do whatever you want and go after whatever you see, as if you were chasing after prostitutes. 40 You will remember to obey all my commands, and you will be holy to your Elohim. 41 I am Yahweh your Elohim, who brought you out of Egypt to be your Elohim. I am Yahweh your Elohim ."

Korah's Rebellion 16 1 Korah (son of Izhar), Dathan and Abiram (sons of Eliab), and On (son of Peleth) dared to challenge Moses.a (Korah was a descendant of Kohath and Levi. Dathan, Abiram, and On were descendants of Reuben.) 2 These four men were joined by 250 Israelite men, well-known leaders of the community, chosen by the assembly. 3 They came together to confront Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You've gone far enough! Everyone in the whole community is holy, and Yahweh is among them. Why do you set yourselves above Yahweh's assembly?"

4 As soon as Moses heard this, he bowed with his face touching the ground. 5 Then he said to Korah and all his followers, "In the morning Yahweh will show who belongs to him, who is holy, and who it is that he will allow to come near him. Only the person Yahweh chooses will be allowed to come near him. 6 Korah, you and all your followers must do this tomorrow: Take incense burners, 7 and put burning coals and incense in them in Yahweh's presence. Then Yahweh will choose the man who is holy. You've gone far enough!"

8 Moses also said to Korah, "Listen, you Levites! 9 Isn't it enough for you that the Elohim of Israel has separated you from the rest of the community of Israel? Yahweh has brought you near himself to do the work for his tent and stand in front of the community to serve them. 10 He has brought you and all the other Levites near himself, but now you demand to be priests. 11 So you and all your followers have joined forces against Yahweh! Who is Aaron that you should complain about him?"

12 Then Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab. But they said, "We won't come! 13 Isn't it enough that you brought us out of a land flowing with milk and honey only to kill us in the desert? Do you also have to order us around? 14 Certainly you haven't brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us any fields and vineyards to own. Do you think you can still pull the wool over our eyes? We won't come."

15 Moses became angry and said to Yahweh, "Don't accept their offering. I haven't taken anything from them, not even a donkey. And I haven't mistreated any of them."

16 Moses said to Korah, "Tomorrow you and all your followers must come into Yahweh's presence. Aaron will also be there with you. 17 Each man will take his incense burner and put incense in it. They will offer all 250 incense burners to Yahweh. Then you and Aaron offer your incense burners."

18 So each man took his incense burner, put burning coals and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 When Korah had gathered all his followers-those who opposed Moses and Aaron-at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of Yahweh appeared to the whole group.

20 Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, 21 "Move away from these men, and I'll destroy them in an instant." 22 Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground and said, "O El , you are the Elohim who gives the breath of life to everyone! If one man sins, will you be angry with the whole community?"

23 Then Yahweh said to Moses, 24 "Tell the community: Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram."

25 Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the leaders of Israel followed him. 26 He said to the community, "Move away from the tents of these wicked men. Don't touch anything that belongs to them, or you'll be swept away because of all their sins." 27 So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing at the entrances to their tents with their wives and children.

28 Moses said, "This is how you will know that Yahweh sent me to do all these things and that it wasn't my idea: 29 If these men die like all other people-if they die a natural death-then Yahweh hasn't sent me. 30 But if Yahweh does something totally new-if the ground opens up, swallows them and everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive to their graves-then you'll know that these men have treated Yahweh with contempt."

31 As soon as he had finished saying all this, the ground under them split, 32 and the earth opened up to swallow them, their families, the followers of Korah, and all their property. 33 They went down alive to their graves with everything that belonged to them. The ground covered them, and so they disappeared from the assembly. 34 All the Israelites around them ran away when they heard their screams. They thought the ground would swallow them, too.

35 Fire came from Yahweh and consumed the 250 men who were offering incense.a 36 Then Yahweh said to Moses, 37 "Tell Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron, to take the incense burners out of the fire and scatter the coals and incense somewhere else, because the incense burners have become holy. 38 The incense burners of these men who sinned and lost their lives are holy, because they were offered to Yahweh. Hammer them into thin metal sheets to cover the altar. This will be a sign to the Israelites."

39 So the priest Eleazar took the bronze incense burners which had been brought by those who had been burned to death. The incense burners were then hammered into thin metal sheets to cover the altar, 40 following the command that Yahweh had given through Moses. The bronze-covered altar will remind Israel that no one but a descendant of Aaron can come near to burn incense to Yahweh. Everyone else will die like Korah and his followers.

41 The next day the whole community of Israel complained to Moses and Aaron. They said, "You have killed Yahweh's people." 42 The community came together to confront Moses and Aaron. When they turned toward the tent of meeting, they saw the smoke covering it, and the glory of Yahweh appeared.

43 Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting. 44 Yahweh said to Moses, 45 "Get away from these people, and let me destroy them in an instant!" Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground.

46 Moses said to Aaron, "Take your incense burner, put burning coals from the altar and incense in it, and go quickly into the community to make peace with the LORD for the people. Yahweh is showing his anger; a plague has started."

47 Aaron took his incense burner, as Moses told him, and ran into the middle of the assembly, because the plague had already begun among the people. He put incense on the incense burner to make peace with the LORD for the people. 48 He stood between those who had died and those who were still alive, and the plague stopped. 49 Still, 14,700 died from the plague in addition to those who had died because of Korah. 50 By the time Aaron came back to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the plague had stopped.

Aaron's Staff Grows 17 b1 Yahweh said to Moses, 2 "Speak to the Israelites, and get 12 staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their tribes.c Write each man's name on his staff. 3 Write Aaron's name on the staff for Levi because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe. 4 Put them in the tent of meeting where I meet with you, in front of the words of my promise. 5 The staff from the man I choose will begin to grow. In this way I will silence the frequent complaints the Israelites make against you and Aaron."

6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites. Their leaders gave him 12 staffs, one from the leader of each of their tribes. Aaron's staff was among them. 7 Moses put the staffs in Yahweh's presence in the tent of the words of God's promise.

8 The next day Moses went into the tent. He found that Aaron's staff for the tribe of Levi had not only begun to grow, but it had also blossomed and produced ripe almonds. 9 Moses brought out the staffs from Yahweh's presence and showed them to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each man took his staff.

10 Yahweh said to Moses, "Put Aaron's staff back in front of the words of my promise, and keep it there as a sign to warn any other rebels. Then you will stop their complaints about me, and they won't die."

11 Moses did exactly what Yahweh commanded him to do.

12 The Israelites said to Moses, "Now we're going to die! We're lost! We're all lost! 13 Anyone who comes near Yahweh's tent will die! Are we all going to die?"

The Duties of the Levites and Priests 18 1 Yahweh said to Aaron, "You, your sons, and your family will be responsible for any sins against the holy place. You and your sons will also be responsible for any sins you commit when you work as priests. 2 Bring the other Levites from your ancestor's tribe to join you and help you and your sons serve in front of the tent of the words of my promise. 3 They will work for you, doing whatever work is necessary for the whole tent. But they must not come near the altar or the furnishings in the holy place, or they will die, and you will die, too. 4 They will join you and do whatever work is necessary for the tent of meeting, including all the maintenance work for the tent. But no one else may come near you.

5 "You must be in charge of the work done at the holy place and at the altar. Then I won't show my anger against the Israelites again. 6 I have chosen the other Levites from among the Israelites to help you. They are a gift given to Yahweh to do whatever work is necessary at the tent of meeting. 7 Only you and your sons may do the work of priests-everything done at the altar and under the canopy. This is my gift to you: You may serve me as priests. Anyone else who comes near the holy place to do this work must die."

Contributions for the Levites and Priests 8 Yahweh said to Aaron, "I am putting you in charge of all the contributions given to me. I am giving you and your descendants all the holy gifts from the Israelites as your share. These contributions will always be yours. 9 That part of the most holy offerings which is not burned belongs to you. It may come from a grain offering, an offering for sin, or a guilt offering. Whatever is brought to me as a most holy offering will belong to you and your sons. 10 Eat it in a most holy place. Any male may eat it. You must consider it holy.

11 "The contributions that come as gifts taken from the offerings presented by the Israelites are also yours. I am giving these to you, your sons, and your daughters. They will always be yours. Anyone in your household who is cleana may eat them.

12 "I am also giving you the first of the produce they give Yahweh: the best of all the olive oil and the best of the new wine and fresh grain. 13 The first of all produce harvested in their land that they bring to Yahweh is yours. Anyone in your household who is clean may eat it.

14 "Anything in Israel that is claimed by the LORD is yours. 15 Every firstborn male, human or animal, that is brought to Yahweh is yours. But you must buy back every firstborn son and the firstborn male of any unclean animal. 16 When they are one month old, you must buy them back at the fixed price of two ounces of silver, using the standard weight of the holy place.

17 "But you must never buy back a firstborn ox, sheep, or goat. They are holy. Throw the blood from these animals against the altar, and burn the fat as an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to Yahweh. 18 But the meat is yours, like the breast and the right thigh that are presented. 19 I am giving you, your sons, and your daughters all the holy contributions the Israelites bring to Yahweh. These contributions will always be yours. It is an everlasting promise of salt in Yahweh's presence for you and your descendants."

20 Yahweh said to Aaron, "You will have no land or property of your own as the other Israelites will have. I am your possession and your property among the Israelites.

21 "I am giving the Levites one-tenth of every Israelite's income. This is in return for the work they do at the tent of meeting. 22 The other Israelites must never again come near the tent of meeting. Otherwise, they'll suffer the consequences of their sin and die. 23 Only the Levites will do the work at the tent of meeting. They will be responsible for their own sins. This is a permanent law for future generations. They will own no property as the other Israelites will. 24 Instead, I will give the Levites what the Israelites contribute to Yahweh-one-tenth of the Israelites' income. This is why I said about them, 'They will own no property as the other Israelites do.'"

25 Yahweh said to Moses, 26 "Speak to the Levites and say to them: You will take one-tenth of the Israelites' income which I'm giving you as your property. When you do, you must contribute one-tenth of that income as your contribution to Yahweh. 27 Your contribution will be considered to be grain from the threshing floora or juice from the winepress. 28 So you, too, will contribute one-tenth of your income to Yahweh out of all that you receive from the Israelites' income. You will give Yahweh's contribution to the priest Aaron. 29 Out of all the gifts you receive, you must contribute the best and holiest parts to Yahweh .

30 "Also tell them: When you contribute the best part, your contribution will be considered to be produce from the threshing floor or winepress. 31 So you and your households may eat it anywhere, because it's the wages you receive for your work at the tent of meeting. 32 When you contribute the best part, you won't suffer the consequences of any sin. You won't be dishonoring the holy offerings given by the Israelites, and you won't die."

Water That Makes Israel Clean After Someone Dies 19 1 Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, 2 "This is what Yahweh's teachings have commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red cow that is perfect, with no defects. Also, it must never have worn a yoke.b 3 Give it to the priest Eleazar. It must be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. 4 The priest Eleazar will take some of the blood with his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting. 5 Then the entire cow (the skin, meat, blood, and excrement) will be burned while he watches. 6 The priest will take some cedar wood, a hyssop sprig, and some red yarn and throw them onto the burning cow. 7 The priest must then wash his clothes and his body. After that, he may go into the camp. But he will be uncleanc until evening. 8 The person who burned the calf must also wash his clothes and his body. He, too, will be unclean until evening.

9 "A man who is cleand will collect the ashes from the cow and put them in a clean place outside the camp. They will be kept by the community of Israel and used in the water that takes away uncleanness. The cow is an offering for sin. 10 The person who collected the ashes from the cow must also wash his clothes. He will be unclean until evening. This will be a permanent law for the Israelites and for the foreigners who live with them.

11 "Whoever touches the dead body of any human being will be unclean for seven days. 12 The unclean person must use this water on the third day and the seventh day to take away his sin. Then he will be clean. But if he doesn't use this water on the third day and the seventh day, he will not be clean. 13 Whoever touches the dead body of a human being and doesn't use this water to take away his sin makes Yahweh's tent unclean. That person must be excluded from Israel, because the water that takes away uncleanness wasn't sprinkled on him. He is unclean; his uncleanness stays with him.

14 "These are your instructions for when a person dies in a tent: Everyone who goes into the tent and everyone who is in the tent will be unclean for seven days. 15 Every container without a lid fastened on it is unclean.

16 "Whoever is outdoors and touches someone who was killed or has died naturally or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave will be unclean for seven days.

17 "This is what you must do for people who become unclean from touching a dead body. Put some of the ashes from the red cow that was burned as an offering for sin into a container. Then pour fresh water on them. 18 A person who is clean will take a sprig of hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle the tent, all the furnishings, and all the people who were in the tent with the dead body. He must also sprinkle any person who has touched a human bone or a grave and any person who has touched someone who has been killed or who has died naturally. 19 A person who is clean will sprinkle these types of unclean people on the third day and the seventh day. On the seventh day the clean person will finish taking away their sins. Then they must wash their clothes and bodies, and in the evening they will be clean. 20 But if the person who becomes unclean doesn't have his sin taken away, that person must be excluded from the assembly. He has made the holy place of Yahweh unclean. The water to take away uncleanness wasn't sprinkled on him. He is unclean. 21 This will be a permanent law for them.

"Whoever sprinkles the water to take away uncleanness must wash his clothes. And whoever touches this water will be unclean until evening. 22 Anything that an unclean person touches becomes unclean, and the person who touches it will be unclean until evening."

Water from the Rock 20 1 In the first month the whole community of Israel came into the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.

2 Since the community was without water, they came together to confront Moses and Aaron. 3 The people complained to Moses and said, "If only we had died when the other Israelites died in Yahweh's presence! 4 Did you bring Yahweh's assembly into this desert just to have us and our animals die here? 5 Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us into this terrible place? This is no place to plant crops. Even figs, grapes, and pomegranates won't grow here. And there's no water to drink!"

6 Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting. Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground, and the glory of Yahweh appeared to them.

7 Yahweh said to Moses, 8 "Take your staff, then you and your brother Aaron gather the community. Right before their eyes, tell the rock to give up its water. In this way you will give the community water from the rock for them and their animals to drink."

9 Moses took his staff out of the tent in Yahweh's presence as he had been commanded. 10 Then Moses and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock and said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?" 11 Moses raised his hand and hit the rock twice with the staff. Water came pouring out, and all the people and their animals drank.

12 But Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, "You didn't trust me! You didn't show the Israelites how holy I am! So you will not bring this congregation into the land I'm giving them."

13 This was the oasis of Meribah [Complaining], where the Israelites complained about Yahweh and where he showed them he was holy.

Edom Refuses to Allow Israel to Pass through Its Territory 14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. He said, "This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardships we've had. 15 Our ancestors went to Egypt, and we lived there for many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors. 16 When we cried out to Yahweh, he heard us, sent a messenger, and brought us out of Egypt.

"Now we're here in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17 Please let us go through your country. We won't go through any of your fields or vineyards, or drink any of the water from your wells. We'll stay on the king's highway and never leave it until we've passed through your territory."

18 But the Edomites answered, "You may not pass through our country. If you try, we'll come out and attack you."

19 The Israelites replied, "We'll stay on the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we'll pay for it. We want to pass through on foot. That's all."

20 But the Edomites said, "You may not pass through." Then they came out and attacked with many well-armed troops. 21 Since the Edomites refused to let Israel go through their territory, the Israelites turned around and went a different way.

Aaron's Death 22 The whole community of Israel left Kadesh and came to Mount Hor. 23 At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, 24 "Aaron must now join his ancestors in death, since he cannot enter the land I'm giving the Israelites. This is because you both rebelled against my command at the oasis of Meribah. 25 Bring Aaron and his son Eleazar up on Mount Hor. 26 Take off Aaron's priestly clothes, and put them on his son Eleazar. Then Aaron will die there and join his ancestors."

27 Moses did as Yahweh commanded. The whole community saw them go up on Mount Hor. 28 Moses took off Aaron's priestly clothes and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 The whole community saw that Aaron had died, and all the Israelites mourned for Aaron 30 days.

The King of Arad Is Defeated 21 1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that the Israelites were coming on the road to Atharim, he fought them and took some of them as prisoners. 2 Then the Israelites made this vow to Yahweh: "If you will hand these people over to us, we'll destroy their cities because you've claimed them." 3 Yahweh listened to the Israelites and handed the Canaanites over to them. They destroyed the Canaanites and their cities. So they called the place Hormah [Claimed for Destruction].

The Bronze Snake 4 Then they moved from Mount Hor, following the road that goes to the Red Sea, in order to get around Edom. The people became impatient on the trip 5 and criticized Elohim and Moses. They said, "Why did you make us leave Egypt-just to let us die in the desert? There's no bread or water, and we can't stand this awful food!"

6 So Yahweh sent poisonous snakes among the people. They bit the people, and many of the Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we criticized Yahweh and you. Pray to Yahweh so that he will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.

8 Yahweh said to Moses, "Make a snake, and put it on a pole. Anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. People looked at the bronze snake after they were bitten, and they lived.a Israel Travels Past Edom to Moab 10 The Israelites moved and set up camp at Oboth. 11 Next they moved from Oboth and set up camp at Iye Abarim in the desert west of Moab. 12 From there they moved and set up camp at the Zered River. 13 They moved from there and set up camp on the other side of the Arnon Valley in the desert that extends into Amorite territory. (The Arnon Valley is the border between Moab and the Amorites.) 14 This is how it's described in the Book of the Wars of Yahweh: ". . . Waheb in Suphah and the valleys, 15 Arnon and the slopes of the valleys that go down to the site of Ar and lie along the border of Moab. . ."

16 From there they went to Beer [Well]. This is the well where Yahweh said to Moses, "Gather the people, and I will give them water." 17 Then Israel sang this song about the well: "Make your water spring up!

Sing to the well, 18 the well dug by princes, dug out by the nobles of the people with their scepters and staffs."

From the desert they went to Mattanah, 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where Mount Pisgah overlooks Jeshimon.

Sihon and Og Defeated 21 Then Israel sent messengers to say to King Sihon of the Amorites, 22 "Let us go through your country. We won't go through any of your fields or vineyards or drink any of the water from your wells. We'll stay on the king's highway until we've passed through your territory."

23 Sihon wouldn't let Israel pass through his territory. Sihon gathered all his troops and came out into the desert to attack Israel. When Sihon's troops came to Jahaz, they fought against Israel. 24 But Israel defeated them in battle and took possession of their land from the Arnon Valley to the Jabbok River. They stopped at the border of the Ammon because it was fortified. 25 Israel took all those Amorite cities, including Heshbon and all its villages, and lived in them. 26 Heshbon was the city of King Sihon of the Amorites. He had fought the former king of Moab and had taken all his land up to the Arnon Valley.

27 This is why the poets say: "Come to Heshbon! Rebuild it!

Restore Sihon's city!

28 Fire came out of Heshbon, flames from Sihon's city.

They destroyed Ar of Moab, the rulers of Arnon's worship sites.a 29 How horrible it is for you, Moab!

You are destroyed, you people of the god Chemosh.

Chemosh let his sons become refugees and he let his daughters become prisoners of King Sihon of the Amorites.

30 But we shot the Amorites full of arrows.

From Heshbon to Dibon they all died.

We destroyed everyone and everything between Nophah and Medeba."

31 So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites. 32 After Moses sent spies to Jazer, the Israelites captured its cities and villages and forced out the Amorites who were there. 33 Then they turned and followed the road that goes to Bashan. King Og of Bashan and all his troops came out to fight the Israelites at Edrei.

34 Yahweh said to Moses, "Don't be afraid of him. I'll hand him, all his troops, and his land over to you. Do to him what you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon." 35 The Israelites defeated him, his sons, and all his troops, leaving no survivors. And they took possession of his land.

Balaam Is Hired to Curse Israel 22 1 Then the Israelites moved and setup camp across from Jericho, on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan River.

2 Balak, son of Zippor, saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 The Moabites were very afraid because there were so many Israelites. Besides, the Moabites couldn't stand these people.

4 So the Moabites said to the leaders of Midian, "All those people will eventually eat up everything around us the same way an ox eats up the grass in a field."

At that time Balak, son of Zippor, was king of Moab. 5 He sent messengers to summon Balaam, son of Beor, who was at Pethor, on the Euphrates River, in the land where his people lived. Balak's message was, "A nation has just come here from Egypt. They've spread out all over the countryside and are setting up their camp here in front of me. 6 Please come and curse these people for me, because they are too strong for me. Maybe then I'll be able to defeat them and force them out of the country. I know that whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed."

7 The leaders of Moab and Midian left, taking money with them to pay for Balaam's services. They came to Balaam and told him what Balak had said.

8 "Spend the night here," Balaam said to them, "and I'll report to you what Yahweh tells me." So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.