Psalm 21:1-7 What Is Your Heart's Desire?
21:1 “The king rejoices in Your strength, Yahweh! How greatly he rejoices in Your salvation! 2 You have given him his heart's desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah. 3 For you meet him with the blessings of goodness. You set a crown of fine gold on his head. 4 He asked life of You, You gave it to him, even length of days forever and ever. 5 His glory is great in Your salvation. You lay honor and majesty on him. 6 For You make him most blessed forever. You make him glad with joy in Your presence. 7 For the king trusts in Yahweh. Through the hesed/loyal love of the Most High, he shall not be moved."
Observations: David rejoices in God's deliverance/salvation of him from his enemies (21:8-13 elaborate), and the blessings of God, answering his requests and giving him the desires of his heart.
21:3 God intensively, intentionally and continually (Piel Imperfect verb) responds to His servants with bunches of good blessings.
21:6 The chief blessing, from David's perspective, is joy in the presence of God, which yields peace, security, and stability.
Application: If God gave you all that you ask for, would you be happy and joyful? For how long? Are you asking for the right things?
Prayer: Most High God, I praise you for being my loyal Defender and Blesser; may my highest desire be You. Amen.
Proverbs 6:1-5 It's Never Too Late to Do the Right Thing
6:1 “My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger; 2 You are trapped by the words of your mouth. You are ensnared with the words of your mouth. 3 Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, seeing you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbor. 4 Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids. 5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
Observations: We all make mistakes and do things or get ourselves in situations that aren't the wisest. When we become aware of our folly, we should take immediate action to make it right, even if we look silly in extracting ourselves from the situation.
Application: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but if you're in a fix, do whatever it takes to fix it.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me walk in the way of wisdom, and if I mess up, give me grace to make it right. Thanks. Amen.
Numbers 1- Exodus covered about a year; Leviticus a month; Numbers, about 39 years to take what should have been a dozen day journey to the Promised Land. (And it wasn't because Moses was a guy who wouldn't stop and ask for directions.) The wilderness detour was for doubt and disobedience. Don't do likewise. If you missed the blessing and cursing section of Leviticus 26 (last post) then skip this post to read and absorb that crucial chapter. (Numbers 13-14 is worth the price of this whole book).
Numbers 1 Numbering the Warriors
1:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 "Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, every male, one by one; 3 from twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go out to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their divisions. 4 With you there shall be a man of every tribe; everyone head of his fathers' house. 5 These are the names of the men who shall stand with you...16 These are those who were called of the congregation, the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they were the heads of the thousands of Israel. 17 Moses and Aaron took these men who are mentioned by name.
20 The children of Reuben, Israel`s firstborn, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war; 21 Reuben 46,500; Simeon; 59,300; Gad 45,650; Judah 64,600; Issachar 54,400; Zebulun 57,400; Joseph, the children of Ephraim 40,500; Manasseh 32,200; Benjamin 35,400; Dan 62,700; Asher 41,500; Naphtali 53,400; Total 603,550 47 But the Levites were not numbered among them. 48 For Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 49 Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number 50 but appoint the Levites over the tent of the testimony: they shall carry the tent, and all the furniture ...and shall encamp around the tent. 51 the Levites shall take it down; and shall set it up: and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death. 53 But the Levites shall encamp round about the tent of the testimony, that there be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel: 54 the children of Israel did all that Yahweh commanded Moses.
Observations: Now you know why the book is called Numbers. It starts with the numbering of the male Israelites over the age of 19 who would be used by God to punish the idolaters who currently occupied the Promised Land, and thus fulfill the promise made to Abe in Genesis 15.
1:5 God knows who the the leaders are; so did the community.
1:33-35 Ephraim was more populous than big brother Manasseh, in accord with Jacob's blessing (Gen 48:19).
1:47 The Levites weren't numbered to go to war because their job was to take care of and guard the Tabernacle.
Numbers 2 Campsite Setup
2:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 The children of Israel shall encamp every man by his own standard, with the ensigns of their fathers` houses: over against the tent of meeting shall they encamp round about. 3 Those who encamp on the east side... 34 Thus did the children of Israel; according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so they encamped by their standards, and so they set forward, everyone by their families, according to their fathers` houses.
Observations: A picture is worth 696 words. God grouped the tribes together by kinship (descenders of Leah, Rachel, etc). There is purpose in His instructions that isn't always obvious.
Numbers 3 Levite Family Job Descriptions
3:1 Now this is the history of the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Yahweh spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai. 2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest`s office. 4 Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh, when they offered strange fire before Yahweh 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. 7 They shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, to do the service of the tent.”
11 Yahweh spoke to Moses, 12 I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn 13 for all the firstborn are mine; on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal; mine they shall be: I am Yahweh. 15 “Number the children of Levi by their fathers` houses, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shall you number them." 16 Moses numbered them according to the word of Yahweh, as he was commanded. 17 These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. 21 Of Gershon 7500 23 The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tent westward. 25 The charge of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting shall be the tent...27 Of Kohath 8600 keeping the charge of the sanctuary. 29 The families of the sons of Kohath shall encamp on the side of the tent southward. 31 Their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the lamp stand, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary...32 Merari...the oversight of those who keep the charge of the sanctuary. 6200...they shall encamp on the side of the tent northward. 36 The appointed charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tent, and the bars of it, and the pillars of it...38 Those who encamp before the tent eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death. 39 All who were numbered of the Levites, were 22,000
40 Yahweh said to Moses, Number all the firstborn males of the children of Israel...43 All the firstborn males according to the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those who were numbered of them, were 22,273. 44 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am Yahweh. 46 For the redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, that are over and above [the number of] the Levites, 47 you shall take five shekels apiece 48 and you shall give the money, with which the odd number of them is redeemed, to Aaron and to his sons. 49 Moses took the redemption-money from those who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites
Observations: 3:4 Just like Jacob's first two son's forfeited their birthright blessings, so Aaron's first two sons, Nadab and Abihu, forfeited the blessing of priesthood, even though they were consecrated priests!
3:11-39 Only the sons of Aaron were priests. The other labor was divided among the tribe of Levi, and camping places are assigned, with the eastward honor going to Moses and Aaron.
3:40-47 The Levites were taken by God instead of the firstborn, which God owned in return for passing over them in the plague. The extra firstborn over the number of Levites were redeemed for cash.
Numbers 4 Packing Instructions
4:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers` houses, 3 from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all who enter on the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting. 4 This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting 5 when the camp sets forward, Aaron shall go in, and his sons, and they shall take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the testimony with it, 6 and shall put a covering of sealskin...15 When Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp is set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. 49 According to the commandment of Yahweh they were numbered by Moses, everyone according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Observations: More numberings. 4:3 The Levites only served from age 30-50. Prime time. (8:24 indicates age 25 as a mustering or apprenticeship).
Numbers 5 Purity Instructions
5:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and everyone who has an issue, and whoever is unclean by the dead: 3 both male and female shall you put out, outside of the camp shall you put them; that they not defile their camp, in the midst whereof I dwell. 4 The children of Israel did so, and put them out outside of the camp; as Yahweh spoke to Moses, so did the children of Israel. 5 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
6 Speak to the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, so as to trespass against Yahweh, and that soul shall be guilty; 7 then he shall confess his sin which he has done: and he shall make restitution for his guilt in full, and add to it the fifth part of it, and give it to him in respect of whom he has been guilty. 8 But if the man have no kinsman to whom restitution may be made for the guilt, the restitution for guilt which is made to Yahweh shall be the priest`s; besides the ram of the atonement, whereby atonement shall be made for him.
12 Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, If any man`s wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him, 13 and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she is defiled, and there be no witness against her, and she isn`t taken in the act; 14 and the spirit of jealousy come on him...15...meal-offering of jealousy...16 The priest shall bring her near, and set her before Yahweh: 17 and the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is on the floor of the tent the priest shall take, and put it into the water. 18...the water of bitterness that causes the curse. 19 (NIV-31) Then the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, “If no other man has had sexual relations with you and you have not gone astray and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse not harm you. 20 But if you have gone astray while married...21 here the priest is to put the woman under this curse—“may the LORD cause you to become a curse among your people when he makes your womb miscarry and your abdomen swell. 22...Then the woman is to say, “Amen. So be it.” 23 “‘The priest is to write these curses on a scroll and then wash them off into the bitter water. 24 He shall make the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse 27 If she has made herself impure...28 If, however, the woman has not made herself impure, but is clean, she will be cleared of guilt and will be able to have children. 30...The priest is to have her stand before the LORD and is to apply this entire law to her. 31 The husband will be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences of her sin.’”(NIV)
Observation: 5:3 Beware of being holier than God. God is concerned about purity and preventing contamination of the group, above the immediate feelings of the individual. He is also concerned about the individual and in Leviticus provided procedures for lepers et. al.
5:6-7 Crime isn't supposed to pay. Restitution, plus 20%, plus the cost of the ram, made it expensive. It is interesting that only two commandments are mentioned, prohibitions against stealing, and adultery. Confession and restitution plus 20% should restore unity In the community. The process in the next verses was designed to restore the relationship where possible.
5:12-31 The information presented makes more sense in the context of a "mysterious" pregnancy, but the text doesn't state that. The death penalty (Lev 20:10) isn't mentioned, possibly due to lack of the guy, and witnesses. The process is designed to heighten the guilt, but the curse comes from God mediated by the actions and written and spoken words of the priest. The trial by ordeal lets God execute judgment. It looks like the process is unfair to women, but it is a form of protection and proof of innocence for the faithful wife.
Application: Individual and corporate purity and holiness are always required for experiencing the blessings of the presence of God.
Prayer: Holy God, may I never resent Your commands, but embrace them as the means of blessing. Amen.
Digging Deeper:
God in a nutshell: God is about order and holiness, not random confusion. He will discipline the disobedient regardless of how privileged they are (Nadab).
Us in a nutshell: We owe God for our existence, redemption, and daily bread. If we walk in His ways life will be sweet; if not, bitter.
Where to Go for More:
Truthbase.net
Numbers 1-5 (complete text)
Numbers 1
1:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, every male, by their polls; 3 from twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go forth to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their hosts. 4 With you there shall be a man of every tribe; everyone head of his fathers` house. 5 These are the names of the men who shall stand with you. Of Reuben: Elizur the son of Shedeur. 6 Of Simeon: Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 7 Of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 8 Of Issachar: Nethanel the son of Zuar. 9 Of Zebulun: Eliab the son of Helon. 10 Of the children of Joseph: Of Ephraim: Elishama the son of Ammihud. Of Manasseh: Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 11 Of Benjamin: Abidan the son of Gideoni. 12 Of Dan: Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 13 Of Asher: Pagiel the son of Ochran. 14 Of Gad: Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 15 Of Naphtali: Ahira the son of Enan. 16 These are those who were called of the congregation, the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they were the heads of the thousands of Israel. 17 Moses and Aaron took these men who are mentioned by name: 18 They assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month; and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls. 19 As Yahweh commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai. 20 The children of Reuben, Israel`s firstborn, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war; 21 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Reuben, were fortysix thousand five hundred. 22 Of the children of Simeon, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, those who were numbered of it, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war; 23 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred. 24 Of the children of Gad, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war; 25 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Gad, were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty. 26 Of the children of Judah, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war; 27 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Judah, were sixtyfour thousand six hundred. 28 Of the children of Issachar, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war; 29 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty-four thousand four hundred. 30 Of the children of Zebulun, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war; 31 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty-seven thousand four hundred. 32 Of the children of Joseph, [namely], of the children of Ephraim, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war; 33 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand five hundred. 34 Of the children of Manasseh, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war; 35 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty-two thousand two hundred. 36 Of the children of Benjamin, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war; 37 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty-five thousand four hundred. 38 Of the children of Dan, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war; 39 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Dan, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred. 40 Of the children of Asher, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war; 41 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Asher, were forty-one thousand five hundred. 42 Of the children of Naphtali, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war; 43 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty-three thousand and four hundred. 44 These are those who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: they were each one for his fathers` house. 45 So all those who were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers` houses, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war in Israel; 46 even all those who were numbered were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty. 47 But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them. 48 For Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 49 Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, neither shall you take the sum of them among the children of Israel; 50 but appoint you the Levites over the tent of the testimony, and over all the furniture of it, and over all that belongs to it: they shall bear the tent, and all the furniture of it; and they shall minister to it, and shall encamp round about the tent. 51 When the tent sets forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tent is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death. 52 The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, according to their hosts. 53 But the Levites shall encamp round about the tent of the testimony, that there be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tent of the testimony. 54 Thus did the children of Israel; according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so did they.
Numbers 2
2:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 The children of Israel shall encamp every man by his own standard, with the ensigns of their fathers` houses: over against the tent of meeting shall they encamp round about. 3 Those who encamp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be they of the standard of the camp of Judah, according to their hosts: and the prince of the children of Judah shall be Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 4 His host, and those who were numbered of them, were seventy-four thousand six hundred. 5 Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and the prince of the children of Issachar shall be Nethanel the son of Zuar. 6 His host, and those who were numbered of it, were fifty-four thousand four hundred. 7 The tribe of Zebulun: and the prince of the children of Zebulun shall be Eliab the son of Helon. 8 His host, and those who were numbered of it, were fifty-seven thousand four hundred. 9 All who were numbered of the camp of Judah were one hundred eighty-six thousand four hundred, according to their hosts. They shall set forth first. 10 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their hosts: and the prince of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur. 11 His host, and those who were numbered of it, were forty-six thousand five hundred. 12 Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the prince of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 13 His host, and those who were numbered of them, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred. 14 The tribe of Gad: and the prince of the children of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel. 15 His host, and those who were numbered of them, were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty. 16 All who were numbered of the camp of Reuben were one hundred fifty-one thousand four hundred fifty, according to their hosts. They shall set forth second. 17 Then the tent of meeting shall set forward, with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place, by their standards. 18 On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their hosts: and the prince of the children of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud. 19 His host, and those who were numbered of them, were forty thousand five hundred. 20 Next to him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the prince of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 21 His host, and those who were numbered of them, were thirty-two thousand and two hundred. 22 The tribe of Benjamin: and the prince of the children of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. 23 His host, and those who were numbered of them, were thirty-five thousand four hundred. 24 All who were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were one hundred eight thousand one hundred, according to their hosts. They shall set forth third. 25 On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan according to their hosts: and the prince of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 His host, and those who were numbered of them, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred. 27 Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the prince of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ochran. 28 His host, and those who were numbered of them, were forty-one thousand and five hundred. 29 The tribe of Naphtali: and the prince of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan. 30 His host, and those who were numbered of them, were fifty-three thousand four hundred. 31 All who were numbered of the camp of Dan were one hundred fifty-seven thousand six hundred. They shall set forth hindmost by their standards. 32 These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers` houses: all who were numbered of the camps according to their hosts were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty. 33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as Yahweh commanded Moses. 34 Thus did the children of Israel; according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so they encamped by their standards, and so they set forward, everyone by their families, according to their fathers` houses.
Numbers 3
3:1 Now this is the history of the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Yahweh spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai. 2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest`s office. 4 Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh, when they offered strange fire before Yahweh, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children; and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest`s office in the presence of Aaron their father. 5 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 6 Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. 7 They shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, to do the service of the tent. 8 They shall keep all the furniture of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tent. 9 You shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given to him on the behalf of the children of Israel. 10 You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood: and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death. 11 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 12 I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine: 13 for all the firstborn are mine; on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal; mine they shall be: I am Yahweh. 14 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 Number the children of Levi by their fathers` houses, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shall you number them. 16 Moses numbered them according to the word of Yahweh, as he was commanded. 17 These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. 18 These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei. 19 The sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, and Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers` houses. 21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites: these are the families of the Gershonites. 22 Those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those who were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred. 23 The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tent westward. 24 The prince of the fathers` house of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael. 25 The charge of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting shall be the tent, and the Tent, the covering of it, and the screen for the door of the tent of meeting, 26 and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the court, which is by the tent, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service of it. 27 Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites. 28 According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary. 29 The families of the sons of Kohath shall encamp on the side of the tent southward. 30 The prince of the fathers` house of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 Their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the lamp stand, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the screen, and all the service of it. 32 Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, [and have] the oversight of those who keep the charge of the sanctuary. 33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari. 34 Those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred. 35 The prince of the fathers` house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: they shall encamp on the side of the tent northward. 36 The appointed charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tent, and the bars of it, and the pillars of it, and the sockets of it, and all the instruments of it, and all the service of it, 37 and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords. 38 Those who encamp before the tent eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death. 39 All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of Yahweh, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand. 40 Yahweh said to Moses, Number all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. 41 You shall take the Levites for me (I am Yahweh) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the children of Israel: 42 and Moses numbered, as Yahweh commanded him, all the first- born among the children of Israel. 43 All the firstborn males according to the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred seventy-three. 44 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am Yahweh. 46 For the redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, that are over and above [the number of] the Levites, 47 you shall take five shekels apiece by the poll; after the shekel of the sanctuary shall you take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs): 48 and you shall give the money, with which the odd number of them is redeemed, to Aaron and to his sons. 49 Moses took the redemption-money from those who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites; 50 from the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money, one thousand three hundred sixty-five [shekels], after the shekel of the sanctuary: 51 and Moses gave the redemption-money to Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Numbers 4
4:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers` houses, 3 from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all who enter on the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting. 4 This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting, [about] the most holy things: 5 when the camp sets forward, Aaron shall go in, and his sons, and they shall take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the testimony with it, 6 and shall put thereon a covering of sealskin, and shall spread over it a cloth all of blue, and shall put in the poles of it. 7 On the table of show bread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls and the cups with which to pour out; and the continual bread shall be thereon: 8 and they shall spread on them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in the poles of it. 9 They shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the lampstand of the light, and its lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, and all the oil vessels of it, with which they minister to it: 10 and they shall put it and all the vessels of it within a they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in the poles of it: 12 and they shall take all the vessels of ministry, with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of sealskin, and shall put them on the frame. 13 They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon: 14 and they shall put on it all the vessels of it, with which they minister about it, the fire pans, the flesh-hooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of sealskin, and put in the poles of it. 15 When Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp is set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting. 16 The charge of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the continual meal-offering, and the anointing oil, the charge of all the tent, and of all that therein is, the sanctuary, and the furniture of it. 17 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 18 Don`t cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites; 19 but thus do to them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach to the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them everyone to his service and to his burden; 20 but they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die. 21 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 22 Take the sum of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers` houses, by their families; 23 from thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shall you number them; all who enter in to wait on the 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 bearing burdens: 25 they shall bear the curtains of the tent, and the tent of meeting, its covering, and the covering of sealskin that is above on it, and the screen for the door of the tent of meeting, 26 and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tent and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and whatever shall be done with them: therein shall they serve. 27 At the commandment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burden, and in all their service; and you shall appoint to them in charge all their burden. 28 This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 29 As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families, by their fathers` houses; 30 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old shall you number them, everyone who enters on the service, to do the work of the tent of meeting. 31 This is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tent of meeting: the boards of the tent, and the bars of it, and the pillars of it, and the sockets of it, 32 and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name you shall appoint the instruments of the charge of their burden. 33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tent of meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 34 Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers` houses, 35 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered on the service, for work in the tent of meeting: 36 and those who were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred fifty. 37 These are those who were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all who did serve in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses. 38 Those who were numbered of the sons of Gershon, their families, and by their fathers` houses, 39 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered on the service, for work in the tent of meeting, 40 even those who were numbered of them, by their families, by their fathers` houses, were two thousand six hundred thirty. 41 These are those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, all who did serve in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Yahweh. 42 Those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers` houses, 43 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered on the service, for work in the tent of meeting, 44 even those who were numbered of them by their families, were three thousand and two hundred. 45 These are those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses. 46 All those who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel numbered, by their families, and by their fathers` houses, 47 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered in to do the work of service, and the work of bearing burdens in the tent of meeting, 48 even those who were numbered of them, were eight thousand five hundred eighty. 49 According to the commandment of Yahweh they were numbered by Moses, everyone according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Numbers 5
5:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and everyone who has an issue, and whoever is unclean by the dead: 3 both male and female shall you put out, outside of the camp shall you put them; that they not defile their camp, in the midst whereof I dwell. 4 The children of Israel did so, and put them out outside of the camp; as Yahweh spoke to Moses, so did the children of Israel. 5 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 6 Speak to the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, so as to trespass against Yahweh, and that soul shall be guilty; 7 then he shall confess his sin which he has done: and he shall make restitution for his guilt in full, and add to it the fifth part of it, and give it to him in respect of whom he has been guilty. 8 But if the man have no kinsman to whom restitution may be made for the guilt, the restitution for guilt which is made to Yahweh shall be the priest`s; besides the ram of the atonement, whereby atonement shall be made for him. 9 Every heave -offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they present to the priest, shall be his. 10 Every man`s holy things shall be his: whatever any man gives the priest, it shall be his. 11 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 12 Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, If any man`s wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him, 13 and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she is defiled, and there be no witness against her, and she isn`t taken in the act; 14 and the spirit of jealousy come on him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife, and she isn`t defiled: 15 then shall the man bring his wife to the priest, and shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil on it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is a meal-offering of jealousy, a mealoffering of memorial, bringing iniquity to memory. 16 The priest shall bring her near, and set her before Yahweh: 17 and the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is on the floor of the tent the priest shall take, and put it into the water. 18 The priest shall set the woman before Yahweh, and let the hair of the woman`s head go loose, and put the meal-offering of memorial in her hands, which is the mealoffering of jealousy: and the priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that causes the curse. 19 The priest shall cause her to swear, and shall tell the woman, If no man has lain with you, and if you haven`t gone aside to uncleanness, being under your husband, be you free from this water of bitterness that causes the curse. 20 But if you have gone aside, being under your husband, and if you be defiled, and some man have lain with you besides your husband: 21 then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall tell the woman, Yahweh make you a curse and an oath among your people, when Yahweh does make your thigh to fall away, and your body to swell; 22 and this water that causes the curse shall go into your bowels, and make your body to swell, and your thigh to fall away. The woman shall say, Amen, Amen. 23 The priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness: 24 and he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that causes the curse; and the water that causes the curse shall enter into her [and become] bitter. 25 The priest shall take the meal-offering of jealousy out of the woman`s hand, and shall wave the meal-offering before Yahweh, and bring it to the altar: 26 and the priest shall take a handful of the meal-offering, as the memorial of it, and burn it on the altar, and afterward shall make the the woman drink the water. 27 When he has made her drink the water, then it shall happen, if she is defiled, and has committed a trespass against her husband, that the water that causes the curse will enter into her and become bitter, and her body will swell, and her thigh will fall away: and the woman will be a curse among her people. 28 If the woman isn't defiled, but is clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed. 29 "'This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goes astray, and is defiled; 30 or when the spirit of jealousy comes on a man, and he is jealous of his wife; then he shall set the woman before YAHWEH, and the priest shall execute on her all this law. 31 The man shall be free from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity.'"
