Category: Numbers

The Census of Israel’s Warriors

1 The Lordspoke [by special revelation] to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) on the first day of the second month in the second year after theIsraelites came out of the land of Egypt, saying,

2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, every male,head by head

3 from twenty years old and upward, all in Israel whoare able togo out to war. You and Aaron shall number them, army by army.

4 And with you there shall be a man [to assist you] from each tribe, each being the head of his father’s household.

5 These then are the names of the men who shall stand with you: from [the tribe of] Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur;

6 from [the tribe of] Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai;

7 from [the tribe of] Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab;

8 from [the tribe of] Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar;

9 from [the tribe of] Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon;

10 from the sons (descendants) of Joseph: from [the tribe of]Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; from [the tribe of] Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;

11 from [the tribe of] Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni;

12 from [the tribe of] Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;

13 from [the tribe of] Asher, Pagiel the son of Ochran;

14 from [the tribe of] Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;

15 from [the tribe of] Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.

16 These men were the ones called from the congregation, the leaders of their fathers’ (ancestors’) tribes; they were the heads of thousands [the highest ranking officers] in Israel.”

17 So Moses and Aaron took these men who were designated by name,

18 and assembled all the congregation on the first day of the second month, and they registered by ancestry in their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head,

19 just as the Lordhad commanded Moses. So he numbered them in the Wilderness of Sinai.

20 The sons of Reuben, Israel’s (Jacob’s) firstborn, their generations, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

21 those of the tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500.

22 Of the sons of Simeon, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, their numbered men according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

23 those of the tribe of Simeon numbered 59,300.

24 Of the sons of Gad, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

25 those of the tribe of Gad numbered 45,650.

26 Of the sons of Judah, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

27 those of the tribe of Judah numbered 74,600.

28 Of the sons of Issachar, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

29 those of the tribe of Issachar numbered 54,400.

30 Of the sons of Zebulun, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

31 those of the tribe of Zebulun numbered 57,400.

32 Of the sons of Joseph: the sons (descendants) of Ephraim, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

33 those of the tribe of Ephraim numbered 40,500.

34 Of the sons of Manasseh, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

35 those of the tribe of Manasseh numbered 32,200.

36 Of the sons of Benjamin, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

37 those of the tribe of Benjamin numbered 35,400.

38 Of the sons of Dan, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

39 those of the tribe of Dan numbered 62,700.

40 Of the sons of Asher, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

41 those of the tribe of Asher numbered 41,500.

42 Of the sons of Naphtali, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war:

43 those of the tribe of Naphtali numbered 53,400.

44 These were the ones who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, with the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each representing his fathers’ household.

45 So all those numbered of the sons of Israel, by their fathers’ households, from twenty years old and upward, all whowere able togo to war in Israel,

46 all who were numbered were 603,550.

Levites Exempted

47 The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe.

48 For the Lordhad said to Moses,

49 “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor shall you take their census among the sons of Israel [since they are unavailable to go to war].

50 But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle (sanctuary) of the Testimony, and over all its furnishings and all things that belong to it. They shall carry the tabernacle [when traveling] and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it and camp around it.

51 When the tabernacle is to go forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to [be set up for] camp, the Levites shall set it up. But the layman (non-Levite) who approaches the tabernacle shall be put to death.

52 The Israelites shall camp according to their armies, every man by his own camp and every man by his own [tribal] standard (banner).

53 But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, so that there will be no wrath against the congregation of the Israelites. The Levites shall be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony.”

54 Thus the sons of Israel didthese things;according to all that the Lordhad commanded Moses, so they did.

Arrangement of the Camps

1 The Lordspoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

2 “The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with thebanners of their fathers’ households; they shall camp around the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), but at a distance.

3 Those who camp on the east side toward the sunriseshall beof thestandard of the camp of Judah, by their armies; and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall lead the sons of Judah,

4 and his army as numbered totaled 74,600.

5 Next to Judah [on the east side] the tribe of Issachar shall encamp; and Nethanel the son of Zuar shall lead the sons of Issachar,

6 and his army as numbered totaled 54,400.

7 Then [also on the east side] the tribe of Zebulun; and Eliab the son of Helon shall lead the sons of Zebulun,

8 and his army as numbered totaled 57,400.

9 The total of the numbered men [in the three tribes on the east side] in the camp of Judah was 186,400, by their armies. They shall move out first [on the march].

10 “On the south side shall be thestandard of the camp of Reuben, by their armies; and Elizur the son of Shedeur shall lead the sons of Reuben,

11 and his army as numbered totaled 46,500.

12 Those who camp next to Reuben [on the south side] shall be the tribe of Simeon; and Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai shall lead the sons of Simeon,

13 and his army as numbered totaled 59,300.

14 Then [completing the south side] the tribe of Gad; and Eliasaph the son of Reuel (Deuel) shall lead the sons of Gad,

15 and his army as numbered totaled 45,650.

16 The total of the numbered men [in the three tribes on the south side] in the camp of Reuben was 151,450, by their armies. They shall move out second [on the march].

17 “Then the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) shall move out with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the [other] camps; just as they camp so shall they move out, every man in his place by their standards.

18 “On the west side shall be thestandard of the camp of Ephraim, by their armies; and Elishama the son of Ammihud shall lead the sons of Ephraim,

19 and his army as numbered totaled 40,500.

20 Beside Ephraim [on the west side] shall be the tribe of Manasseh; and Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur shall lead the sons of Manasseh,

21 and his army as numbered totaled 32,200.

22 Then [completing the west side shall be] the tribe of Benjamin; and Abidan the son of Gideoni shall lead the sons of Benjamin,

23 and his army as numbered totaled 35,400.

24 The total of the numbered men [of the three tribes on the west side] in the camp of Ephraim was 108,100, by their armies. They shall move out in third place.

25 “On the north side shall be thestandard of the camp of Dan, by their armies; and Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai shall lead the sons of Dan,

26 and his army as numbered totaled 62,700.

27 Encamped next to Dan [on the north side] shall be the tribe of Asher; and Pagiel the son of Ochran shall lead the sons of Asher,

28 and his army as numbered totaled 41,500.

29 Then [completing the north side]comesthe tribe of Naphtali; and Ahira the son of Enan shall lead the sons of Naphtali,

30 and his army as numbered totaled 53,400.

31 The total of the numbered men [of the three tribes on the north side] in the camp of Dan was 157,600. They shall move out last,standard after standard.”

32 These are the men of the Israelites [twenty years old and upward] as numbered by their fathers’ households. The total of the numbered men of the camps by their armies, 603,550.

33 But the Levites were not numbered with the [other] Israelites, just as the Lordhad commanded Moses.

34 Thus the Israelites did [as ordered]; according to everything the Lordhad commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they moved out, everyone with his family (clan), according to his fathers’ household.

Levites to Be Priesthood

1 Now these are therecords of thegenerations of Aaron and Moses in the day when the Lordspoke [by special revelation] with Moses on Mount Sinai.

2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom Aaronconsecratedandordained to minister in the priest’s office.

4 But Nadab and Abihu died in the presence of the Lordwhen they offered strange (unholy, unacceptable, inappropriate) fire before the Lordin the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priestsin the presenceandunder the supervision of Aaron their father.

5 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

6 “Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them before Aaron the priest, so that they may serve him.

7 They shall carry out the duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, doing the service of the tabernacle.

8 They shall also take care of all the furnishingsandutensils of the Tent of Meeting, and [attend to] the duties of the Israelites, doing the service of the tabernacle.

9 You shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons [as servants and helpers]; they are to be given wholly to him from among the Israelites.

10 So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall observeandattend to their priesthood; but the layman (non-Levite) who approaches [the holy things] shall be put to death.”

11 Again the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

12 “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead ofandas a substitute for every firstborn, that is, the first that opens the womb among the Israelites. So the Levites shall be Mine,

13 for all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They shall be mine; I am the Lord.”

14 Then the Lordspoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying,

15 “Number the sons of Levi by their fathers’ households, by their families (clans). You shall number every male from a month old and upward.”

16 So Moses numbered them just as he was commanded by the word (mouth) of the Lord.

17 These are the [three] sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

18 These are the names of the [two] sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei;

19 and the [four] sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel;

20 and the [two] sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their fathers’ households.

21 Of Gershon were the families of the Libnites and of the Shimeites. These are the families of the Gershonites.

22 The males who were numbered, every male from a month old and upward totaled 7,500.

23 The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle on the west,

24 and the leader of the fathers’ households of the Gershonites was Eliasaph the son of Lael.

Duties of the Levites

25 Now the responsibilities of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meetinginvolvedthe tabernacle and the tent, its covering, and the curtain for the doorway of the Tent of Meeting,

26 and the hangings of the courtyard, the curtain for the doorway of the courtyard which is around the tabernacle and the altar, its tent ropes, and all the serviceconcerning them.

27 Of Kohath were the families of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites; these are the families of the Kohathites.

28 The males who were numbered, every male from a month old and upwardtotaled8,600, attending to the duties of the sanctuary.

29 The families of the sons of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle,

30 and the leader of the fathers’ households of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.

31 Now their responsibilitiesinvolvedthe ark, the table [on which the bread of the Presence was placed], the lampstand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, and the curtain, and all the service concerning them.

32 Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, was chief of the leaders of the Levites; he supervised those who performed the duties of the sanctuary.

33 Of Merari were the families of the Mahlites and the Mushites; these are the families of Merari.

34 The males who were numbered, every male from a month old and upwardtotaled6,200.

35 The leader of the fathers’ households of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. The Merarites were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.

36 Now the appointed responsibilities of the sons of Merariinvolvedthe frames of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its socketsorbases, and all the equipment, and all the service concerning them,

37 and the pillars around the courtyard with their bases and their pegs and their cords (tent ropes).

38 Now those to camp before the tabernacle toward the east, before the Tent of Meeting, toward the sunrise, were to be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, performing the duties of the sanctuary for whatever was required of the Israelites; and thelayman (non-Levite) who approached [the sanctuary] was to be put to death.

39 All the men of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron numbered at thecommand of the Lord, by their families, every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000.

Firstborn Redeemed

40 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites from a month old and upward, andmake a list of their names.

41 You shall take the Levites for Me instead ofandas a substitute for all the firstborn among the Israelites. I am the Lord; andyou shall takethe cattle of the Levites instead ofandas a substitute for all the firstborn among the cattle of the Israelites.”

42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the Israelites, just as the Lordhad commanded him;

43 and all the firstborn males from a month old and upward as numbered were 22,273 [273 more than the Levites].

44 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

45 “Take the Levites [for Me] instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. And the Levites shall be Mine. I am the Lord.

46 For the ransom (redemption price) of the 273 of the firstborn of the Israelites who outnumber the Levites,

47 you shall take five shekels apiece, per head, you shall take them in terms of the sanctuary shekel (the shekel is twenty gerahs),

48 and give the money, the ransom (redemption price) of those who outnumber the Levites to Aaron and to his sons.”

49 So Moses took the ransom (redemption) money from those who were in excess, beyond those ransomed by the Levites;

50 from the firstborn of the Israelites he took the money in terms of the sanctuary shekel, 1,365 shekels.

51 Then Moses gave the ransom money to Aaron and to his sons at the command of the Lord, just as the Lordhad commanded Moses.

Duties of the Kohathites

1 Then the Lordspoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

2 “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households,

3 from thirty years old and upward, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).

4 This is the workandresponsibility of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle): the most holy things.

5 “When the camp prepares to move out, Aaron and his sons shall come intothe sanctuaryand take downthe veil (curtain) screening offthe Holy of Holies, and cover the ark of the testimony with it;

6 and they shall put on it a covering ofporpoise skin (fine leather), and shall spread over that a cloth of pure blue, and shall insert the carrying poles of the ark.

7 Over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue and put on it the plates, the dishes [for incense], the sacrificial bowls, the jars for the drink offering, and the continual bread [of the Presence] shall be on it.

8 They shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet, and cover that with a covering of porpoise skin, and they shall insert its carrying poles.

9 Then they shall take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand for the light, along with its lamps, its wick cutters, its trays, and all the oil vessels, by which it is supplied;

10 and they shall put the lampstand and all its utensils in a covering of porpoise skin, and shall put it on the carrying bars.

11 Over the golden [incense] altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of porpoise skin, and shall insert its carrying poles;

12 and they shall take all the utensils of the service with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, and cover them with a covering of porpoise skin, and put them on the carrying bars.

13 Then they shall clean away the ashes from the altar [of burnt offering], and spread a purple cloth over it.

14 They shall also put on it all its utensils with which they minister in connection with it: the pans, the meat-forks, the shovels, the basins, and all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread a covering of porpoise skin over it, and insert its carrying poles.

15 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all its furniture, as the camp sets out, after all that [is done, but not before], the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them [using the poles], so that they do not touch the holy things, and die. These are the things in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) which the sons of Kohath are to carry.

16 “The responsibility of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, is the oil for the light, thefragrant incense, the continual grain offering, and the anointing oil—the responsibility of all the tabernacle and everything that is in it, with the sanctuary and its furnishings.”

17 Then the Lordspoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

18 “Do not cut off (eliminate, destroy) the tribe of the families of the Kohathites [who are only Levites and not priests], from among the Levites [by exposing them to the sin oftouching the most holy things].

19 But deal with them in this way, so that they may live and not die when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign each of them to his [specific] work and to his load [to be carried on the march].

20 But the Kohathites shall not go in to see the holy things, even for an instant, or they will die.”

Duties of the Gershonites

21 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

22 “Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ households, by their families.

23 From thirty years and upward to fifty years old, you shall number them; all who enter for service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.

24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in carrying [when on the march]:

25 they shall carry the tent curtains of the tabernacle, and the Tent of Meeting, its covering and the covering of porpoise skin (fine leather) that is on top of it, and the curtain for the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle),

26 and the hangings of the courtyard, and the curtain for the entrance of the gate of the courtyard which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their tent ropes, and all the equipment for their service; and all that is to be done, they shallperform.

27 Aaron and his sons shall direct all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, all they have to carry and all they have to do. You shall assign to them as a duty all that they are to carry [on the march].

28 This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle); and their dutiesshall beunder the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron, the [high] priest.

Duties of the Merarites

29 “As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households;

30 from thirty years and upward to fifty years old, you shall number them, everyone who enters the service to do the work of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).

31 This is what they are assigned to carry [on the march], according to all their service in the Tent of Meeting: the boards [for the framework] of the tabernacle and its bars and its pillars and its socketsorbases,

32 and the pillars around the courtyard with their socketsorbases and their pegs and their cords (tent ropes), with all their equipment and with all their [accessories for] service; and you shall assigneach manby name the itemshe is to carry [on the march].

33 This is the work of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their tasks in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle),under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron, the priest.”

34 So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families (clans) and by their fathers’ households,

35 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who enters the service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle);

36 the men who were numbered by their families were 2,750.

37 These were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all who did service in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the Lordthrough Moses.

38 The men who were numbered of the sons of Gershon, by their families (clans), and by their fathers’ households,

39 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle);

40 the men who were numbered by their families, by their fathers’ households, were 2,630.

41 These were numbered men of the families of the sons of Gershon, everyone who served in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), whom Moses and Aaron numbered just as the Lordhad commanded.

42 The men who were numbered of the sons of Merari, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households,

43 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle);

44 the men who were numbered by their families were 3,200.

45 These are the men who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered in accordance with the commandment of the Lordthrough Moses.

46 All the men who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted by their families (clans) and by their fathers’ households,

47 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who could enter to do the work of service and the work of carrying in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle);

48 the men that were numbered were 8,580.

49 According to the commandment of the Lordthrough Moses, they were numbered, eachassignedto his work of serving and carrying. Thus they were numbered by him, just as the Lordhad commanded Moses.

On Defilement

1 The Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

2 “Command the Israelites to send away from the camp every leper and everyone who has a discharge, and whoever is defiled [that is, ceremonially unclean] by [coming in contact with] the dead.

3 You shall send away both male and female; you shall send them outside the camp so that they will not defile their camp where I dwell in their midst.”

4 The Israelites did so, and sent them outside the camp; just as the Lordhad said to Moses, so the Israelites did.

5 And the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

6 “Say to the Israelites, ‘When a man or woman commits any of the sins of mankind [against other people], thus breaking faith with the Lord, and that person is guilty,

7 then he shall confess the sin which he has committed, and he shall make restitution for his wrong in full, and add a fifth to it, and give it to [the person] whom he has wronged.

8 But if the man [who was wronged] has no redeemer (relative) to whom the restitution may be made, it is to be given to the Lordfor the priest, besides the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for the offender.

9 Also every contribution pertaining to all the holy gifts of the Israelites which they offer to the priest, shall be his.

10 And every man’s holy gifts shall be the priest’s; whatever any man gives the priest, it becomes his.’ ”

The Adultery Test

11 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

12 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘If any man’s wife goes astray (deviates) and is unfaithful to him,

13 and a man is intimate with her, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband and it is kept secret, although she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act,

14 and if a spirit (sense, attitude) of jealousy comes over him and he is jealousandangry at his wife who has defiled herself—or if a spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife when she has not defiled herself—

15 then the man shall bring his wife to the priest, and he shall bring as an offering for her, a tenth of an ephah of barley meal; he shall not pour oil on it nor put frankincense on it [the symbols of favor and joy], because it is a grain offering of jealousy, a memorial grain offering, a reminder of [the consequences of] wickedness.

16 ‘Then the priest shall have her approach and have her stand before the Lord,

17 and the priest shall take holy water [from the sacred basin] in an earthenware vessel; and he shall take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it in the water.

18 The priest shall then have the woman stand before the Lord, and let the hair of the woman’s head hang loose, and put the memorial grain offering in her hands, which is the jealousy offering, and in the hand of the priest is to be the water of bitterness that brings a curse.

19 Then the priest shall have her take an oath and say to the woman, “If no man has lain with you and if you have not gone astray into uncleanness [while married], then be immune to this water of bitterness that brings a curse;

20 but if you have gone astray [while married] and you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has been intimate with you”

21 (then the priest shall have the woman swear the oath of the curse, and say to the woman), “The Lordmake you a curse and an oath among your people when the Lordmakes your thighwaste away and your abdomen swell;

22 and this water that brings a curse shall go into your stomach, and make your abdomen swell and your thigh waste away.” And the woman shall say, “Amen. Amen (so let it be).”

23 ‘The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll and shall wash them off into the water of bitterness;

24 and he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings a curse, and the water that brings the curse will go into her andcausebitterness.

25 Then the priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy out of the woman’s hand, and he shall wave the grain offering before the Lordand offer it on the altar.

26 Then the priest shall take a handful of the grain offering as the memorial portion of it and offer it up in smoke on the altar, and afterward he shall make the woman drink the water.

27 When he has made her drink the water, then it shall come about, that if she has defiled herself and has been unfaithful to her husband, the curse water will go into her andcausebitterness and cause her abdomen to swell and her thigh to waste away, and the woman will become a curse among her people.

28 But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she will be free and conceive children.

29 ‘This is the law of jealousy: when a wife goes astray [while married] and defiles herself,

30 or when a spirit (sense, attitude) of jealousyandsuspicion comes on a man and he is jealous of his wife; then he shall have the woman stand before the Lord, and the priest shall apply this law to her.

31 Further, the husband will be free from guilt, but that woman [if guilty] shall bear her guilt.’ ”

Law of the Nazirites

1 Again the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

2 “Say to the sons of Israel, ‘When a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, that is, one separatedanddedicated to the Lord,

3 he shall abstain from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar, whether made from wine or strong drink, nor shall he drink any grape juice nor eat fresh or dried grapes.

4 All the time of his separation he shall not eat anything produced from the grapevine, from the seeds even to the skins.

5 ‘All the time of the vow of his separation no razor shall be used on his head. Until the time of his separation to the Lordis completed, he shall be holy, and shall let the hair of his head grow long.

6 ‘All the time that he separates himself to the Lordhe shall not go near a dead body.

7 He shall not make himself [ceremonially] unclean for his father, mother, brother, or sister, when they die, because [the responsibility for] his separation to God is on his head.

8 All the time of his separation he is holy to the Lord.

9 ‘If a man dies very suddenly beside him, and he defiles his dedicated head, then he shall shave his head on the day that he becomes [ceremonially] clean; he shall shave it on the seventh day [the end of the purification period].

10 On the eighth day he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).

11 The priest shall offer the one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering and make atonement for him concerning his sin because of the [dead] body. He shall consecrate his head the same day,

12 and he shall dedicate himself to the Lordfor the time of his separation and shall bring a male lamb a year old as a guilt offering; but the previous days will be voidandlost, because his separation was defiled.

13 ‘Now this is the law of the Nazirite when the days of his separationanddedication are fulfilled: he shall bring the offering to the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).

14 and he shall offer his gift to the Lord: one male lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering, and one female lamb a year old without blemish as a sin offering, and one ram without blemish as a peace offering,

15 and a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread spread with oil, along with their grain offering and their drink offering.

16 Then the priest shall present them before the Lordand shall offer the person’s sin offering and his burnt offering.

17 He shall also offer the ram as a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord, together with the basket of unleavened bread; the priest shall offer also its grain offering and its drink offering.

18 The Nazirite shall shave his dedicated head at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), and take the dedicated hair of his head and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings.

19 The priest shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened [ring-shaped] loaf out of the basket, and one unleavened flat cake and shall put them on the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved his dedicatedhair.

20 Then the priest shall wave them as a wave offering before the Lord; they are a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast that is waved and the thigh that is offered by lifting up; and afterward the Nazirite may drink wine.’

21 “This is the law for theNazirite who vows his offering to the Lordfor his separation, besides what elsehe is able to afford, according to the vow which he has vowed; so shall he do according to the law for his separationandabstinence [as a Nazirite].”

Aaron’s Benediction

22 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them:

24 The Lordbless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you];

25 The Lordmake His face shine upon you [with favor],

And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness];

26 The Lordlift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval],

And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].’

27 So Aaron and his sons shall put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Offerings of the Leaders

1 On the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it and all its furniture, and the altar and all its utensils; he also anointed them and consecrated them [for holy use].

2 Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ households, made offerings. (These were the leaders of the tribes; they were the ones whowere over the men who were numbered.)

3 They brought their offering before the Lord, six covered carts and twelve oxen; a cart for each two of the leaders and an ox for each one; and they presented them before the tabernacle.

4 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

5 “Acceptthese thingsfrom them, so that they may be used in the service of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.”

6 So Moses took the carts and the oxen and gave them to the Levites.

7 He gave two carts and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, according to their service [in transporting the tabernacle];

8 and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, according to their service [in transporting the tabernacle], under the supervision of Ithamar the son of Aaron, the [high] priest.

9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave nothing, because they were assigned the care of the holy things which they carried on their shoulders [when the tabernacle was moved].

10 The leaders offered the dedicationsacrificesfor the altar on the day that it was anointed; and they offered their sacrifice before the altar.

11 Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Let them present their offerings, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.”

12 Now the one who presented his offering on the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah;

13 and his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirtyshekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;

14 one golden bowl of tenshekels, full of incense;

15 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;

16 one male goat as a sin offering;

17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab [from the tribe of Judah].

18 On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, leader [of the tribe] of Issachar, presented [his offering];

19 he presented as his offering one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirtyshekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;

20 one golden bowl of tenshekels, full of incense;

21 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;

22 one male goat as a sin offering;

23 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar [from the tribe of Issachar].

24 On the third day [it was] Eliab the son of Helon, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Zebulun [who presented his offering];

25 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirtyshekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;

26 one golden bowl of tenshekels, full of incense;

27 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;

28 one male goat as a sin offering;

29 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon [from the tribe of Zebulun].

30 On the fourth day [it was] Elizur the son of Shedeur, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Reuben [who presented his offering];

31 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirtyshekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

32 one golden bowl of tenshekels, full of incense;

33 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;

34 one male goat as a sin offering;

35 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur [from the tribe of Reuben].

36 On the fifth day [it was] Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Simeon [who presented his offering];

37 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirtyshekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;

38 one golden bowl of tenshekels, full of incense;

39 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;

40 one male goat as a sin offering;

41 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai [from the tribe of Simeon].

42 On the sixth day [it was] Eliasaph the son of Deuel, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Gad [who presented his offering];

43 his offering was one silver dish the weight of which was a hundred and thirtyshekels, and a silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;

44 one golden bowl of tenshekels, full of incense;

45 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;

46 one male goat as a sin offering;

47 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel [from the tribe of Gad].

48 On the seventh day [it was] Elishama the son of Ammihud, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Ephraim [who presented his offering];

49 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirtyshekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;

50 one golden bowl of tenshekels, full of incense;

51 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;

52 one male goat as a sin offering;

53 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud [from the tribe of Ephraim].

54 On the eighth day [it was] Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Manasseh [who presented his offering];

55 his offering was one silver dish the weight of which was a hundred and thirtyshekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;

56 one golden bowl of tenshekels, full of incense;

57 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;

58 one male goat as a sin offering;

59 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur [from the tribe of Manasseh].

60 On the ninth day [it was] Abidan the son of Gideoni, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Benjamin [who presented his offering];

61 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirtyshekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;

62 one golden bowl of tenshekels, full of incense;

63 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;

64 one male goat as a sin offering;

65 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni [from the tribe of Benjamin].

66 On the tenth day [it was] Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Dan [who presented his offering];

67 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirtyshekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;

68 one golden bowl of tenshekels, full of incense;

69 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;

70 one male goat as a sin offering;

71 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai [from the tribe of Dan].

72 On the eleventh day [it was] Pagiel the son of Ochran, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Asher [who presented his offering];

73 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirtyshekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;

74 one golden bowl of tenshekels, full of incense;

75 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;

76 one male goat as a sin offering;

77 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran [from the tribe of Asher].

78 On the twelfth day [it was] Ahira the son of Enan, leader [of the tribe] of the sons of Naphtali [who presented his offering];

79 his offering was one silver dish, the weight of which was a hundred and thirtyshekels, and one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;

80 one golden bowl of tenshekels, full of incense;

81 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering;

82 one male goat as a sin offering;

83 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan [from the tribe of Naphtali].

84 This was the dedication offering for the altar from the leaders of Israel on the day when it was anointed: twelve dishes of silver, twelve silver basins, twelve golden bowls;

85 each dish of silver weighing a hundred and thirtyshekels, each basin seventy [shekels]; all the silver vesselsweighed2,400 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary;

86 the twelve golden bowls, full of incense,weighingten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the bowls being a hundred and twentyshekels;

87 all the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs one year old twelve, together with their grain offering; and the male goats as a sin offering twelve;

88 and all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the male lambs one year old sixty. This was the dedication for the altar [of burnt offering] after it was anointed.

89 Now when Moses went into the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat (the gold cover) that was on the ark of the Testimony from between the two cherubim; and He spoke [by special revelation] to him.

The Seven Lamps

1 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

2 “Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set upandlight the lamps, the seven lamps will shine in front of the lampstand.’ ”

3 And Aaron did so; he set up the lamps at the front of the lampstand, just as the Lordhad commanded Moses.

4 Now this was the workmanship of the lampstand: hammered work of gold; from its base to its flowers it was hammered work; according to the pattern which the Lordhad shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.

Cleansing the Levites

5 Again the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

6 “Take the Levites from among the sons of Israel and cleanse them.

7 This is what you shall do to them to [ceremonially] cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification on them, and let them use a razor over their whole body and wash their clothes, and they will be clean.

8 Then let them take a young bull and its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you shall take another young bull as a sin offering.

9 You shall present the Levites before the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), and you shall also assemble the whole congregation of the children of Israel,

10 and present the Levites before the Lord, and the Israelites shall lay their hands on the Levites.

11 Aaron shallpresent the Levites before the Lordas a wave offering from the Israelites, so that they may perform the service of the Lord.

12 Then the Levites shalllay their hands on the heads of the bulls, then you are to offer the one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the Lord, to make atonement for the Levites.

13 You shall have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons and present them as a wave offering to the Lord.

14 “Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the Israelites, and the Levites shall be Mine [in a very special sense].

15 Then after that the Levites may go in to serve the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle), but you shall cleanse them [first] and present them as a wave offering;

16 for they are wholly given to Me from among the Israelites. I have taken them for Myself instead ofall who are born first, the firstborn of all the Israelites.

17 For all the firstborn among the Israelites are Mine, among the men and among the animals; on the day that I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctifiedandset the Israelites apart for Myself.

18 And I have taken the Levites instead of every firstborn among the Israelites.

19 I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the Israelites, to perform the service of the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) and to make atonement for them, so that there will be no plague among the Israelites if they should approach the sanctuary.”

20 Thus Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel did [these things] to the Levites; in accordance with all that the Lordhad commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so the Israelites did to them.

21 The Levites, too, purified themselves from sin and they washed their clothes; and Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the Lord, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.

22 Then after that the Levites went in to perform their service in the Tent of Meeting before Aaron and his sons; just as the Lordhad commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.

Retirement

23 Now the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

24 “This is whatappliesto the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall enter to perform service in the work of the Tent of Meeting,

25 but at the age of fifty years, they shallretire from the service of the [tabernacle] work and serve no longer.

26 They may assist their brothers in the Tent of Meeting to keep an obligation, but they shall do no [heavy or difficult] work. Thus you shall deal with the Levites concerning their obligations.”

The Passover

1 The Lordspoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

2 “The sons of Israel are to keep the Passover at its appointed time.

3 On the fourteenth day of this monthat twilight, you shall keep it at its appointed time; according to all its statutes and ordinances you shall keep it.”

4 So Moses told the Israelites to observe the Passover.

5 They observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight in the Wilderness of Sinai; in accordance with all that the Lordhad commanded Moses, so the Israelites did.

6 But there were certain men who were [ceremonially] unclean because of [touching] the dead body of a man, so they could not observe the Passover on that day; so they came before Moses and Aaron that same day.

7 Those men said to Moses, “We are [ceremonially] unclean because of [touching] a dead body. Why are we being restrained from presenting the Lord’soffering at its appointed time among the Israelites?”

8 Therefore, Moses said to them, “Wait, and I will listen to what the Lordwill command concerning you.”

9 Then the Lordspoke to Moses, saying,

10 “Say to the Israelites, ‘If any one of you or of your descendants becomes [ceremonially] unclean because of [touching] a dead body or is on a distant journey, he may, however, observe the Passover to the Lord.

11 On the fourteenth day of the second month [thirty days later] at twilight, they shall observe it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

12 They shall leave none of it until morning nor break any of its bones; in accordance with all the statutes of the Passover they shall observe it.

13 But the man who is [ceremonially] clean and is not on a journey, and yet does not observe the Passover, that person shall be cut off from among his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them] because he did not bring the Lord’soffering at its appointed time; that man will bear [the penalty of] his sin.

14 If a stranger lives among you as a resident alien and observes the Passover to the Lord, in accordance with its statutes and its ordinances, so shall he do; you shall have one statute, both for the resident alien and for the native of the land.’ ”

The Cloud on the Tabernacle

15 Now on the day that the tabernacle was erected, the cloud [of God’s presence] covered the tabernacle, that is, the tent of the Testimony; and in the evening it was over the tabernacle, appearing like [a pillar of] fire until the morning.

16 So it was continuously; the cloud covered itby day, and the appearance of fire by night.

17 Whenever the cloud was lifted from over the tent (tabernacle), afterward the Israelites would set out; and in the place where the cloud stopped, there the Israelites would camp.

18 At the Lord’scommand the Israelites would journey on, and at His command they would camp. As long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle they remained camped.

19 Even when the cloud lingered over the tabernacle for many days, the Israelites would keep their obligation to the Lordand not set out.

20 Sometimes the cloud remained only a few days over the tabernacle, and in accordance with the command of the Lordthey remained camped. Then at His command they set out.

21 If sometimes the cloud remained [over the tabernacle] from evening only until morning, when the cloud was lifted in the morning, they would journey on; whether in the daytime or at night, whenever the cloud was lifted, they would set out.

22 Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud [of the Lord’spresence] lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the Israelites remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they set out.

23 At the command of the Lordthey camped, and at the command of the Lordthey journeyed on; they kept their obligation to the Lord, in accordance with the command of the Lordthrough Moses.

The Silver Trumpets

1 The Lordspoke further to Moses, saying,

2 “Make two trumpets of silver; you shall make them of hammered work. You shall use them to summon the congregation and to have the camps move out.

3 When both are blown, all the congregation [that is, all adult males] shall gather before you at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).

4 However, if a single trumpet is blown, then the leaders, heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you.

5 When you blow an alarm, the camps on the east side [of the tabernacle] shall set out.

6 When you blow an alarm the second time, then the camps on the south side [of the tabernacle] shall set out. They shall blow an alarm whenever they are to move out [on their journeys].

7 When the assembly is to be gathered, you shall blow [the trumpets in short, sharp tones], but without sounding an alarm.

8 The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and the trumpets shall be for you a perpetual statute throughout your generations.

9 When you go to war in your land against the enemy that attacks you, then sound an alarm with the trumpets, so that you may be remembered before the Lordyour God, and you shall be saved from your enemies.

10 Also in the day of rejoicing, and in your appointed feasts, and at the beginnings of your months, you shall sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifice of your peace offerings; and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I am the Lordyour God.”

The Tribes Leave Sinai

11 On the twentieth day of the second month in the second year [since leaving Egypt], the cloud [of the Lord’s presence] was lifted from over the tabernacle of the Testimony,

12 and the Israelites set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud [of the Lord’sguiding presence] settled down in the Wilderness of Paran.

13 So they moved out for the first time in accordance with the command of the Lordthrough Moses.

14 Thestandard of the camp of the sons of Judah, according to their armies, moved out first, Nahshon the son of Amminadab was [commander] over its army,

15 and Nethanel the son of Zuar was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Issachar;

16 and Eliab the son of Helon was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Zebulun.

17 Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who were carrying the tabernacle, moved out.

18 Next thestandard of the camp of the sons of Reuben, according to their armies, moved out, with Elizur the son of Shedeur [commander] over its army,

19 and Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Simeon,

20 and Eliasaph the son of Deuel was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Gad.

21 Then the Kohathites moved out, carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle was set up before they arrived.

22 Next thestandard of the camp of the sons of Ephraim moved out, according to their armies, with Elishama the son of Ammihud [commander] over its army,

23 and Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Manasseh,

24 and Abidan the son of Gideoni was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Benjamin.

25 Then thestandard of the camp of the sons of Dan, according to their armies, which formed the rear guard for all the camps, moved out, with Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai [commander] over its army,

26 and Pagiel the son of Ochran was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Asher,

27 and Ahira the son of Enan was [commander] over the tribal army of the sons of Naphtali.

28 This was the order of march of the sons of Israel by their armies as they moved out.

29 Then Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are going to the place of which the Lordsaid, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will be good to you, for the Lordhas promised good [things] concerning Israel.”

30 But Hobab [Moses’ brother-in-law] said to him, “I will not go; I will return to my own land and to my family.”

31 Then Moses said, “Please do not leave us, for you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us [as we make our trek through the desert].

32 So if you will go with us, it shall be thatwhatever good the Lorddoes for us, we will dothe samefor you.”

33 So they set out from the mountain of the Lord(Sinai) three days’ journey; and the ark of the covenant of the Lordwent in front of them during the three days’ journey to seek out a resting place for them.

34 The cloud of the Lordwas over them by day when they set out from the camp.

35 Whenever the ark set out, Moses said,

“Rise up, O Lord!

Let Your enemies be scattered;

And let those who hate You flee before You.”

36 And when the ark rested, Moses said,

“Return, O Lord,

To the myriad (many) thousands of Israel.”