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Ezra 9 – Nehemiah 2 Leading and Rebuilding People and Walls

Ezra 9 – Nehemiah 2 Leading and Rebuilding People and Walls

Psalm 66:13-20 The Basis of Praise

Psalm 66:13 “(12 You allowed men to ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water, but You brought us to the place of abundance.) 13 I will come into Your temple with burnt offerings. I will pay my vows to You, 14 which my lips promised, and my mouth spoke, when I was in distress. 15 I will offer to You burnt offerings of fat animals, with the offering of rams, I will offer bulls with goats. Selah. 16 Come, and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what He has done for my soul. 17 I cried to Him with my mouth. He was extolled with my tongue. 18 If I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord wouldn’t have listened. 19 But most certainly, God has listened. He has heard the voice of my prayer. 20 Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor His hesed/loyal covenantal love from me."

Observations: 66:1-12 See the post on Judges 9 for vv 1-12, which teaches us how to glorify God by telling others about His greatness and power, as well as being refined by His discipline.

66:13-20 This is a great psalm for understanding praise and glorifying God in both the OT and modern times. The psalmist had been tested and refined, but God delivered. During that time of difficulty the psalmist had prayed and vowed to praise God for His help; God heard and delivered. Now the psalmist makes good on his vow. He sacrifices the offerings he had vowed, and calls all those who fear God (are careful to do what's right in His sight) to listen to what God had done for him. He notes that if he had cherished and held onto sin in his heart, God wouldn't have responded. But, since God saved him, because of His hesed, the psalmist blesses God (speaks well of Him), so that His character and power are seen. Thus He is glorified.

Application: Don't cherish sin; call to God when in trouble, and tell others how He was loyal to His promises in answering and delivering you.

Prayer: God, thanks for hearing and answering my prayers, coming to my rescue, and prospering me; may my responses glorify You. Amen.

Proverbs 17:13-15 Responding Appropriately

Pr 17:13 “Whoever rewards/repays evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. 14 The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out. 15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.“

Observations: 17:13-15 God is all about loyalty, justice and righteousness, so those who repay evil to others who are doing good (like reproving, rebuking, warning them of the negative consequences of their behavior, etc) are asking for destruction. To keep peace, don't let irritations build to contentions, which release the floodgates of quarreling/fighting, which in turn, will destroy one's house. Resolve conflicts quickly and seek or grant forgiveness readily (or suffer the consequences). Those who justify the wicked (including themselves) and condemn the righteous (particularly the person seeking to do them good) are equally abominable in God's sight (which sets up their own judgment).

Application: Don't be quick to contend with or condemn those with whom we differ, or we might find ourselves being an abomination in God's sight.

Prayer: Lord, may my dealings with others always be in righteousness and justice, responding to them as You would want me to. Amen.

Ezra 9 – Nehemiah 2 This post considers the last and climactic chapters of Ezra, the repentance of the people, and the opening of Nehemiah beginning the rebuilding of the wall. They were considered one book in the Masoretic text because of the parallel subject matter. The people of God return after exile and are rebuilt, spiritually and militarily. Although Ezra was no slouch, Nehemiah is a great study in leadership. As you read, see if you can identify key traits of leaders whom God blesses.

Ezra 9 Sorrow for Sin

9:1 Now when these things were done, the princes drew near to me, saying, "The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, following their abominations, even those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands. Yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass." 3 When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded. 4 Then were assembled to me everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of their trespass of the captivity; and I sat confounded until the evening offering.

5 At the evening offering I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God; 6 and I said, "My God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God; for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens. 7 Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty to this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. 8 Now for a little moment grace has been shown from Yahweh our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. 9 For we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended hesed/loyal covenantal love to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. 10 "Now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, 11 which you have commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land, to which you go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness. 12 Now therefore don’t give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever; that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’ 13 "After all that has come on us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, since you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant, 14 shall we again break your commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations? Wouldn’t you be angry with us until you had consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? 15 Yahweh, the God of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is this day. Behold, we are before you in our guiltiness; for none can stand before you because of this."

Observations: 9:1-4 The people were up to their old tricks again, intermarrying with pagans, who would turn their hearts to be unfaithful to Yahweh. This unholiness would reap the same judgment as the pagans. God had expressly forbidden this (Ex 34:15-16; Dt 7:3-4), and sent them into exile for it, but some people are just really slow learners. Ezra not only ripped his robes, but tore out his own hair as an expression of extreme grief over sin (Nehemiah tore out the hair of the sinners. Neh 13:25).

9:5-15 Ezra acknowledges and confesses the guilt of the nation in what is one of the greatest penitential prayers in the Scriptures (cf. Daniel 9; Nehemiah 9). He focuses mainly on God's graciousness and their sin, including himself among the sinners, as their representative, and as one who shares in their fate. He doesn't ask for pardon or forgiveness, but does hint at the mercy and fearsome justice of God.

Application: We should be sensitive to the causes and consequences of sin, and grieved by them.

Prayer: God, You are gracious in not punishing as our sins deserve, but You are patient with us, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance, before it's too late. Amen.

Ezra 10 Separation from Sin

10:1 Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered together to him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very bitterly. 2 Shecaniah...answered Ezra, "We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land. Yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing. 3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. Let it be done according to the law. 4 Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you. Be courageous, and do it." 5 Then Ezra arose, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they swore.

6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God...he ate no bread, nor drank water; for he mourned because of their trespass of the captivity. 7 They made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem; 8 and that whoever didn’t come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the assembly of the captivity. 9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within the three days...trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. 10 Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, "You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Israel. 11 Now therefore make confession to Yahweh, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women." 12 Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, "As you have said concerning us, so must we do. 14 Let now our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and its judges, until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, until this matter is resolved." 18 Among the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women... 44 All these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

Observations: 10:1-5 Ezra's grief over their sin spurs the nation to repent make a covenant to put away/divorce the defiling wives and their offspring, beginning with the leadership. Apparently God, who hates divorce, did not view the people as married in His sight. (See notes on Malachi.)

10:6-44 The people come up with a plan to obey God, and do His pleasure rather than their own (remember the basic appeal of foreign gods and sensual pagan worship). Anyone who didn't fear God and repent would forfeit their possessions and place among Yahweh's people. Rain was a blessing of fertility which God promised to send to those who wholeheartedly obeyed Him (Dt 11:13-17).

Application: Being sorry for sin is not the same things as separating from it. God wants sorrow to lead to repentance.

Prayer: God, I want to view the enticement to sin as pain, and obedience to Your will as my highest pleasure. Show me where I am not pleasing to You so I can repent in both my values and deeds. Amen.

Nehemiah 1 The Cup Bearer Confesses

1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, "The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire." 4 It happened, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,

5 and said, "I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and hesed/loyal love with those who love him and keep his commandments: 6 Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moses. 8 "Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples; 9 but if you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.’ 10 "Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand. 11 Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cup bearer to the king.

Observations: 1:1-7 Nehemiah was cup bearer to the king of the world, the best job in the world. He had all the privileges, and none of the responsibility. (Well he did have to sample the king's wine every day for poison.) He choose to leave that for the glory of God. Nehemiah the leader has concern and compassion for God's people, asks questions to get facts, and then goes to God for guidance and direction. Like Ezra, he fasts and prays, identifying with the sins and needs of his people.

1:8-11 But Nehemiah also reminds God of His promises, demonstrating a solid understanding of the Scriptures and their bearing on the situation, and asks God for favor in the sight of the king.

Dt 30:1 “When all these things have come on you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations, where Yahweh your God has driven you, 2 and shall return to Yahweh your God, and shall obey his voice according to all that I command you this day, you and your children, with all your heart, and with all your soul; 3 then Yahweh your God will turn your captivity, and have compassion on you, and will return and gather you from all the peoples, where Yahweh your God has scattered you. 4 If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of the heavens, from there will Yahweh your God gather you, and from there he will bring you back: 5 and Yahweh your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and he will do you good, and multiply you above your fathers.”

Application: Understand the situation and the Scriptures, then ask God for guidance and wisdom for the things that concern you.

Prayer: God, thanks that You are clear about what You want, and always keep Your promises. May I always keep Your commandments. Amen

Nehemiah 2 Nehemiah the Leader

2:1 It happened in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad before in his presence. 2 The king said to me, "Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart." Then I was very much afraid. 3 I said to the king, "Let the king live forever! Why shouldn’t my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates have been consumed with fire?" 4 Then the king said to me, "For what do you make request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may build it." 6 The king said to me (the queen was also sitting by him), "For how long shall your journey be? And when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 7 Moreover I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah; 8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple, for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into." The king granted my requests, because of the good hand of my God on me.

18 I told them of the hand of my God which was good on me, as also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. They said, "Let’s rise up and build." So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they ridiculed us, and despised us, and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?" 20 Then answered I them, and said to them, "The God of heaven will prosper us. Therefore we, his servants, will arise and build; but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem."

Observations: 2:1-8 Being sad in the presence of the king was a reason to be put to death, but a risk Nehemiah was willing to take for the glory of God. Nehemiah understood and appealed to the authority of the king for permission to go and rebuild the city of his father's tombs, an honorable task. Knowing how to appeal to authority is an important leadership task, as is the planning Nehemiah demonstrates in his request. The most important though, is being in a position for God to bless. Nehemiah was sensitive to the purpose and plan of God (2:12), and thus in the center of God's will.

2:9-18 Nehemiah the leader again gathers first-hand, accurate information, and uses discretion in communicating. He presents the problem, then the solution, soliciting help. He then shows that God is already working, so all people have to do is join in with what God is doing.

2:19-20 God's work, done God's way will never lack Satan's opposition and God's provision.

Nehemiah responds to the opposition with confidence in God's promises to cause His name and people to dwell in Jerusalem.

Application: Being sensitive to God's will is the surest way to be successful in doing it.

Prayer: God, please put Your desires in my heart, as well as strength to carry them out. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God has sovereignly attached certain consequences to certain behaviors. Blessings for seeking and doing His will, and cursings for forsaking Him and doing what pleases us. He requires holiness, being separate and distinct from the values and practices of those around us who don't obey Him. He forgives those who wholeheartedly repent and turn from their sin. He moves both individuals and kings in the direction of His desire, and gives them encouragement as they obey.

Us in a nutshell: We need to develop a sensitivity to sin and to God's will if we are going to bring Him glory. Our value system should be grieved over sin, and motivated by glorifying God. When we confess and repent of our sin, God relents of the consequences He attaches to it. When we engage in God glorifying behavior, He prospers us. We must maintain holiness in our associations, refusing to join ourselves with those who are not in a position to be blessed by God, and separating from those who won't separate from their sin. Leaders need to be especially sensitive to what God wants, and courageous in carrying it out, in the midst of inevitable opposition.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Ezra - Nehemiah complete text

Ezra 9

5 At the evening offering I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God; 6 and I said, "My God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God; for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens. 7 Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty to this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. 8 Now for a little moment grace has been shown from Yahweh our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. 9 For we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. 10 "Now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, 11 which you have commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land, to which you go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness. 12 Now therefore don’t give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever; that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’ 13 "After all that has come on us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, since you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant, 14 shall we again break your commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations? Wouldn’t you be angry with us until you had consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? 15 Yahweh, the God of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is this day. Behold, we are before you in our guiltiness; for none can stand before you because of this."

Ezra 10

10:1 Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered together to him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very bitterly. 2 Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered Ezra, "We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land. Yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing. 3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. Let it be done according to the law. 4 Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you. Be courageous, and do it." 5 Then Ezra arose, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they swore.

6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the room of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came there, he ate no bread, nor drank water; for he mourned because of their trespass of the captivity. 7 They made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Jerusalem; 8 and that whoever didn’t come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the assembly of the captivity. 9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month: and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. 10 Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, "You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Israel. 11 Now therefore make confession to Yahweh, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women." 12 Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, "As you have said concerning us, so must we do. 13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside; neither is this a work of one day or two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. 14 Let now our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and its judges, until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, until this matter is resolved."

15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this; and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. 16 The children of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads of fathers’ households, after their fathers’ houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. 17 They made an end with all the men who had married foreign women by the first day of the first month. 18 Among the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women: of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19 They gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt. 20 Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. 21 Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah. 22 Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah. 23 Of the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. 24 Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the porters: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri. 25 Of Israel: Of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, and Izziah, and Malchijah, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah. 26 Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah. 27 Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza. 28 Of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai. 29 Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, Jeremoth. 30 Of the sons of Pahathmoab: Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh. 31 Of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah. 33 Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei. 34 Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu, 38 and Bani, and Binnui, Shimei, 39 and Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, Joseph. 43 Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo, and Joel, Benaiah. 44 All these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children.

Nehemiah 1

5 and said, "I beg you, Yahweh, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments: 6 Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moses. 8 "Remember, I beg you, the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples; 9 but if you return to me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.’ 10 "Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand. 11 Lord, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to fear your name; and please prosper your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cup bearer to the king.

Nehemiah 2

2:1 It happened in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad before in his presence. 2 The king said to me, "Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart." Then I was very much afraid. 3 I said to the king, "Let the king live forever! Why shouldn’t my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates have been consumed with fire?" 4 Then the king said to me, "For what do you make request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favour in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may build it." 6 The king said to me (the queen was also sitting by him), "For how long shall your journey be? And when will you return?" So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 7 Moreover I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah; 8 and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple, for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into." The king granted my requests, because of the good hand of my God on me.

9 Then I came to the governors beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me captains of the army and horsemen. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. 11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. 12 I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem; neither was there any animal with me, except the animal that I rode on. 13 I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the jackal’s well, and to the dung gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates were consumed with fire. 14 Then I went on to the spring gate and to the king’s pool: but there was no place for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall; and I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned. 16 The rulers didn’t know where I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work. 17 Then I said to them, "You see the evil case that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come, let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we won’t be disgraced." 18 I told them of the hand of my God which was good on me, as also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. They said, "Let’s rise up and build." So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they ridiculed us, and despised us, and said, "What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?" 20 Then answered I them, and said to them, "The God of heaven will prosper us. Therefore we, his servants, will arise and build; but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem."

Nehemiah 3

3:1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up its doors; even to the tower of Hammeah they sanctified it, to the tower of Hananel. 2 Next to him built the men of Jericho. Next to them built Zaccur the son of Imri. 3 The sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 4 Next to them, Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz made repairs. Next to them, Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them, Zadok the son of Baana made repairs. 5 Next to them, the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles didn’t put their necks to the work of their lord. 6 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the old gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, and its bolts, and its bars. 7 Next to them, Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, repaired the residence of the governor beyond the River. 8 Next to him, Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him, Hananiah one of the perfumers made repairs, and they fortified Jerusalem even to the broad wall. 9 Next to them, Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs. 10 Next to them, Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house. Next to him, Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs. 11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hasshub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired another portion, and the tower of the furnaces. 12 Next to him, Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his daughters, made repairs. 13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and one thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate. 14 Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth Haccherem repaired the dung gate. He built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 15 Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah repaired the spring gate. He built it, and covered it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king’s garden, even to the stairs that go down from the city of David. 16 After him, Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth Zur, made repairs to the place opposite the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men. 17 After him, the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani made repairs. Next to him, Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district. 18 After him, their brothers, Bavvai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half the district of Keilah made repairs. 19 Next to him, Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired another portion, across from the ascent to the armoury at the turning of the wall. 20 After him, Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 After him, Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired another portion, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib. 22 After him, the priests, the men of the Plain made repairs. 23 After them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs across from their house. After them, Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah made repairs beside his own house. 24 After him, Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another portion, from the house of Azariah to the turning of the wall, and to the corner. 25 Palal the son of Uzai made repairs opposite the turning of the wall, and the tower that stands out from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh made repairs. 26 (Now the Nethinim lived in Ophel, to the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out.) 27 After him the Tekoites repaired another portion, over against the great tower that stands out, and to the wall of Ophel. 28 Above the horse gate, the priests made repairs, everyone across from his own house. 29 After them, Zadok the son of Immer made repairs across from his own house. After him, Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate made repairs. 30 After him, Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another portion. After him, Meshullam the son of Berechiah made repairs across from his room. 31 After him, Malchijah one of the goldsmiths to the house of the Nethinim, and of the merchants, made repairs over against the gate of Hammiphkad, and to the ascent of the corner. 32 Between the ascent of the corner and the sheep gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs.

Joshua 22-24 Ultimate Choice: Whom Will You Serve

Joshua 22-24 Ultimate Choice: Whom Will You Serve

Psalm 35:1-10 Let God Fight Your Battles

Ps 35:1 “Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me. 3 Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, "I am your salvation." 4 Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor....7 For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul. 8...Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction. 9 My soul shall be joyful in Yahweh. It shall rejoice in His salvation. 10 All my bones shall say, "Yahweh, who is like You, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; 27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yes, let them say continually, "Yahweh be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant!" 28 My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long."

Observations: Blameless believer beseeches God to fight his unjust enemies, turning the tables on them. And He saves His servant and prospers him/her.

Application: When facing overwhelming odds, remember that you and God are a majority.

Prayer: Mighty Warrior, I praise You for fighting my battles when I am righteous in Your sight. Amen.

Proverbs 10:8-11 Can People Live on What Comes Out of Your Mouth?

Pr 10:8 “The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall. 9 He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. 10 One winking with the eye causes sorrow, but a chattering fool will fall. 11 The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

Observations: I found verse 11 doing my first study on speech, and asked myself the title question. I cut my sarcasm by 82.7%.

Application: If God's word is in my heart, words that give life will come out of my mouth.

See: Lk 6:45...for out of the overflow of the heart, his mouth speaks.

Prayer: Lord, help me walk and talk and do that others may live. Amen.

Joshua 22-24 The final chapters of the book. Make sure you get to 24:15 and make the right choice.

Joshua 22 Mission Accomplished and Misunderstanding

10 the children of Reuben Gad and Manasseh built an altar by the Jordan 12 When the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war. 13 The children of Israel sent Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, 14 and with him ten princes...16 "Thus says the whole congregation of Yahweh, ‘What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following Yahweh, in that you have built yourselves an altar, to rebel this day against Yahweh?

21 Then the children of Reuben,Gad and Manasseh answered 22 "The Mighty one, God, Yahweh, the Mighty one, God, Yahweh, he knows; and Israel shall know...25...your children might make our children cease from fearing Yahweh. 26 Therefore we said, ‘Let’s now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice; 27 but it will be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may perform the service of Yahweh before him with our burnt offerings, with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings’; that your children may not tell our children ‘You have no portion in Yahweh.’ 29 "Far be it from us that we should rebel against Yahweh, and turn away this day from following Yahweh, to build an altar for burnt offering, or for sacrifice, besides the altar of Yahweh our God that is before his tabernacle!"

30 When Phinehas the priest, and the princes heard the word, it pleased them well. 31 Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, "Today we know that Yahweh is in the midst of us, because you have not committed this trespass against Yahweh. Now you have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of Yahweh." 33 The thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God...34 The children of Reuben and the children of Gad named the altar "A Witness Between us that Yahweh is God."

Observations: 22:1-8 The trans-Jordan tribes (the ones who settled east of the Jordan River because of the pasture land) totally fulfilled their obligations to help the other tribes conquer the land west of the Jordan in accord with their agreement with Moses (Numbers 32).

22:5 A far cry from “let go and let God”. Note all that goes into an intimate, blessable relationship with God.

22:10-20 The trans-Jordan tribes build a memorial altar, but it looks like they are worshiping contrary to God's revelation, so all the other tribes read them the riot act.

22:21-31 Because God was at work (v31) unity is restored. The trans-Jordan tribes didn't take offense over the accusation that they had rebelled, but explained the altar was not for sacrifices but a witness/testimony that the trans-Jordan tribes had sacrifice privileges west of the Jordan.

Application: Peaceably finding out the facts before making rash decisions preserved God glorifying unity.

Prayer: Mighty God, may I be diligent to walk in harmony with You and with others who have the same purpose. Amen.

Joshua 23 Unwavering Courage Needed to Obey Correctly

23:1 When Yahweh had given rest to Israel from their enemies all around, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, 2 Joshua called for all Israel...3 You have seen all that Yahweh your God has done to all these nations because of you; for it is Yahweh your God who has fought for you. 4 Behold, I have allotted to you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes...5 Yahweh your God will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight. You shall possess their land, as Yahweh your God spoke to you. 6 Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left; 7 that you not come among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them; 8 but hold fast to Yahweh your God, as you have done to this day. 9 For Yahweh has driven great and strong nations out from before you. But as for you, no man has stood before you to this day. 10 One man of you shall chase a thousand; for it is Yahweh your God who fights for you, as he spoke to you.

11 Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love Yahweh your God. 12 But if you do at all go back, and hold fast to the remnant of these nations, even these who remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you; 13 know for a certainty that Yahweh your God will no longer drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap to you, a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which Yahweh your God has given you. 14 Behold, today I am going the way of all the earth. You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which Yahweh your God spoke concerning you. All have happened to you. Not one thing has failed of it. 15 It shall happen that as all the good things have come on you of which Yahweh your God spoke to you, so Yahweh will bring on you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land which Yahweh your God has given you, 16 when you disobey the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them. Then the anger of Yahweh will be kindled against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which he has given to you.

Observations: 23:6 Obedience isn't always easy. Great strength and courage are often needed to go against the tide.

23:11-16 It should be really obvious by now that God changes His posture toward His people based upon their obedience or disobedience. Just like all the good stuff happened when they obeyed, so all the evil stuff will happen if they disobey.

Application: Don't give your allegiance to anyone or anything other than the Creator God, who always keeps His promises to bless or curse.

Prayer: God may I be courageous in following You, so You will fight my battles and bless rather than destroy me. Amen.

Joshua 24 Ultimate Choice: Whom Will You Serve

24:1 Joshua gathered all the tribes 2 Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Your fathers lived of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor: and they served other gods. 3 I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. 4 I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave to Esau Mount Seir, to possess it. Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. 5 I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did in its midst: and afterward I brought you out. 6 I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and you came to the sea. The Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and with horsemen to the Red Sea. 7 When they cried out to Yahweh, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea on them, and covered them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt: and you lived in the wilderness many days. 8 I brought you into the land of the Amorites, that lived beyond the Jordan: and they fought with you; and I gave them into your hand. You possessed their land; and I destroyed them from before you. 9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. He sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you; 10 but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you still. So I delivered you out of his hand. 11 You went over the Jordan, and came to Jericho. The men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I delivered them into your hand. 12 I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; not with your sword, nor with your bow. 13 I gave you a land whereon you had not labored, and cities which you didn’t build, and you live in them. You eat of vineyards and olive groves which you didn’t plant.’

14 Now therefore fear Yahweh, and serve him completely and faithfully. Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, in Egypt; and serve Yahweh. 15 "If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, CHOOSE this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh." 16 The people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh, to serve other gods"; 17 for it is Yahweh our God who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way in which we went, and among all the peoples through the midst of whom we passed. 18 Yahweh drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve Yahweh; for he is our God. 19 Joshua said to the people, "You can’t serve Yahweh; for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your disobedience nor your sins." 20 If you forsake Yahweh, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after he has done you good. 21 The people said to Joshua, "No; but we will serve Yahweh." 22 Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen Yahweh yourselves, to serve him." They said, "We are witnesses." 23 "Now therefore put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to Yahweh, the God of Israel." 24 The people said to Joshua, "We will serve Yahweh our God, and we will listen to his voice." 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26 Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of Yahweh. 27 Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard all the words of Yahweh which he spoke to us. It shall be therefore a witness against you, lest you deny your God." 28 So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.

29 It happened after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, died, being one hundred and ten years old. 30 They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash. 31 Israel served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, and had known all the work of Yahweh, that he had worked for Israel. 32 They buried the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money. They became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. 33 Eleazar the son of Aaron died. They buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill country of Ephraim.

Observations: 24:1-13 God could have eliminated a lot of pages with this concise history lesson. However, He emphasized certain things repeatedly because some folks are slow to learn.

24:14-16 God gives people the choice to serve Him or not. We're not robots, or rocks, but volitional beings. See last Sunday's post on Predestination and Free Will for a Biblical perspective on the issue.

24:17-22 The people make a reasoned decision to serve Yahweh, based upon what He had done for them. Their free choice (24:22).

24:23-27 After one commits their will to God, one follows through with obedience (put away), and value change (incline heart). Stones can't choose, but apparently they can hear :) Joshua makes a covenant with the people to commemorate their choice. (This covenant doesn't get much press.)

24:29 Joshua dies, and the first of three, seventy year “period of miracles” (where supernatural events are the order of the day) comes to a close. That doesn't mean God stops working in the lives of His people, nor that He no longer does miracles to aid His people; things will be different in future books.

24:31 See “Us in a Nutshell,”

Question: Have you decided to serve the Creator God fully and completely? If not, who or what are you serving?

Application: Choose to serve God exclusively and completely, then reap the benefits.

Prayer: My God, You are the one and only, there is no other; You redeem and protect and bless Your children. May I be conscious of Your ongoing work in my life, so I never swerve from serving You all of my days. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: “24:19...He is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your disobedience nor your sins." 20 If you forsake Yahweh, and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after He has done you good.” He gives us a choice to serve Him, and incentives to do so. He always keeps His promises, for good or bad. The God who makes the rules (sovereign) gives people free will and sovereignly attaches consequences to our choices.

“Dt 30:19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your seed; 20 to love Yahweh your God, to obey his voice, and to cling to him; for he is your life”

Us in a nutshell: We have a choice in serving and obeying God. As long we are obeying, God acts in our lives. As long as we are conscious of what God has done, we serve the true God. If we drift, we forget, then disobey, and forfeit the blessings, reaping judgment instead.

24:14 Now therefore fear Yahweh, and serve him completely and faithfully. Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, in Egypt; and serve Yahweh. 15 "If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, CHOOSE this day whom you will serve; 18 Yahweh drove out from before us all the peoples...Therefore we also will serve Yahweh; for he is our God. 22 "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen Yahweh yourselves, to serve him." They said, "We are witnesses." 23 "Now therefore put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to Yahweh, the God of Israel." 24 The people said to Joshua, "We will serve Yahweh our God, and we will listen to his voice."

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Predestination and Free Will

Joshua complete text

Joshua 22

22:1 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 2 and said to them, "You have kept all that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, and have listened to my voice in all that I commanded you." 3 You have not left your brothers these many days to this day, but have performed the duty of the commandment of Yahweh your God. 4 Now Yahweh your God has given rest to your brothers, as he spoke to them. Therefore now return and go to your tents, to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan. 5 Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, to love Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. 6 So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went to their tents. 7 Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given inheritance in Bashan; but to the other half gave Joshua among their brothers beyond the Jordan westward. Moreover when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them, 8 and spoke to them, saying, "Return with much wealth to your tents, with very much livestock, with silver, with gold, with brass, with iron, and with very much clothing. Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers." 9 The children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, which they owned, according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses.

10 When they came to the region about the Jordan, that is in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, a great altar to look at. 11 The children of Israel heard this, "Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar in the forefront of the land of Canaan, in the region about the Jordan, on the side that pertains to the children of Israel." 12 When the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war. 13 The children of Israel sent to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, 14 and with him ten princes, one prince of a fathers’ house for each of the tribes of Israel; and they were everyone of them head of their fathers’ houses among the thousands of Israel. 15 They came to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying, 16 "Thus says the whole congregation of Yahweh, ‘What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following Yahweh, in that you have built yourselves an altar, to rebel this day against Yahweh? 17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day, although there came a plague on the congregation of Yahweh, 18 that you must turn away this day from following Yahweh? It will be, since you rebel today against Yahweh, that tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel. 19 However, if the land of your possession is unclean, then pass over to the land of the possession of Yahweh, in which Yahweh’s tabernacle dwells, and take possession among us; but don’t rebel against Yahweh, nor rebel against us, in building an altar other than the altar of Yahweh our God. 20 Didn’t Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the devoted thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? That man didn’t perish alone in his iniquity.’"

21 Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spoke to the heads of the thousands of Israel, 22 "The Mighty one, God, Yahweh, the Mighty one, God, Yahweh, he knows; and Israel shall know: if it was in rebellion, or if in trespass against Yahweh (don’t save us this day), 23 that we have built us an altar to turn away from following Yahweh; or if to offer burnt offering or meal offering, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offerings, let Yahweh himself require it. 24 If we have not out of concern done this, and for a reason, saying, ‘In time to come your children might speak to our children, saying, "What have you to do with Yahweh, the God of Israel? 25 For Yahweh has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad. You have no portion in Yahweh. So your children might make our children cease from fearing Yahweh. 26 Therefore we said, ‘Let’s now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice; 27 but it will be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may perform the service of Yahweh before him with our burnt offerings, with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings’; that your children may not tell our children in time to come, ‘You have no portion in Yahweh.’ 28 "Therefore we said, ‘It shall be, when they tell us or our generations this in time to come, that we shall say, "Behold the pattern of the altar of Yahweh, which our fathers made, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice; but it is a witness between us and you. 29 "Far be it from us that we should rebel against Yahweh, and turn away this day from following Yahweh, to build an altar for burnt offering, for meal offering, or for sacrifice, besides the altar of Yahweh our God that is before his tabernacle!"

30 When Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation, even the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them well. 31 Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, "Today we know that Yahweh is in the midst of us, because you have not committed this trespass against Yahweh. Now you have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of Yahweh." 32 Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, to the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again. 33 The thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and spoke no more of going up against them to war, to destroy the land in which the children of Reuben and the children of Gad lived. 34 The children of Reuben and the children of Gad named the altar "A Witness Between us that Yahweh is God."

Joshua 23

23:1 It happened after many days, when Yahweh had given rest to Israel from their enemies all around, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, 2 that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads, and for their judges and for their officers, and said to them, I am old and well advanced in years. 3 You have seen all that Yahweh your God has done to all these nations because of you; for it is Yahweh your God who has fought for you. 4 Behold, I have allotted to you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even to the great sea toward the going down of the sun. 5 Yahweh your God will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight. You shall possess their land, as Yahweh your God spoke to you. 6 Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left; 7 that you not come among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them; 8 but hold fast to Yahweh your God, as you have done to this day. 9 For Yahweh has driven great and strong nations out from before you. But as for you, no man has stood before you to this day. 10 One man of you shall chase a thousand; for it is Yahweh your God who fights for you, as he spoke to you.

Joshua 24

24:1 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. 2 Joshua said to all the people, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Your fathers lived of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor: and they served other gods. 3 I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. 4 I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave to Esau Mount Seir, to possess it. Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. 5 I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did in its midst: and afterward I brought you out. 6 I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and you came to the sea. The Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and with horsemen to the Red Sea. 7 When they cried out to Yahweh, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea on them, and covered them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt: and you lived in the wilderness many days. 8 I brought you into the land of the Amorites, that lived beyond the Jordan: and they fought with you; and I gave them into your hand. You possessed their land; and I destroyed them from before you. 9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. He sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you; 10 but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you still. So I delivered you out of his hand. 11 You went over the Jordan, and came to Jericho. The men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I delivered them into your hand. 12 I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; not with your sword, nor with your bow. 13 I gave you a land whereon you had not laboured, and cities which you didn’t build, and you live in them. You eat of vineyards and olive groves which you didn’t plant.’ 14 Now therefore fear Yahweh, and serve him in sincerity and in truth. Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, in Egypt; and serve Yahweh.

15 "If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh." 16 The people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh, to serve other gods"; 17 for it is Yahweh our God who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way in which we went, and among all the peoples through the midst of whom we passed. 18 Yahweh drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve Yahweh; for he is our God. 19 Joshua said to the people, "You can’t serve Yahweh; for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your disobedience nor your sins." 20 If you forsake Yahweh, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after he has done you good. 21 The people said to Joshua, "No; but we will serve Yahweh." 22 Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen Yahweh yourselves, to serve him." They said, "We are witnesses." 23 "Now therefore put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to Yahweh, the God of Israel." 24 The people said to Joshua, "We will serve Yahweh our God, and we will listen to his voice." 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26 Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of Yahweh. 27 Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard all the words of Yahweh which he spoke to us. It shall be therefore a witness against you, lest you deny your God." 28 So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.

Numbers 18-20 Mighty Moses Strikes Out

Numbers 18-20 Mighty Moses Strikes Out

Psalm 24:1-6 Who Gets Blessed and Intimate with God?

Ps 24:1 “The earth is Yahweh's, with its fullness; the world, and those who dwell therein. 2 For he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the floods. 3 Who may ascend to Yahweh's hill? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive a blessing from Yahweh, righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek your face --- even Jacob. Selah.

Observations: 24:4 We sacrifice integrity in taking short-cuts to temporal blessings.

24:5 The blessing mentioned is conditional.

24:6 Seeking His face goes beyond seeking His blessing.

Application: Integrity is necessary for intimacy with God and blessing.

Prayer: Holy God of my salvation, may I live righteously as I seek you. Amen.

Proverbs 6:23-29 Getting Burned

Pr 6:23 “For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, 24 to keep you from the immoral woman, from the flattery of the wayward wife’s tongue. 25 Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids. 26 For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for your precious life. 27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap, and his clothes not be burned? 28 Or can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched? 29 So is he who sleeps with his neighbor’s wife. Whoever touches her will not be free from punishment.“

Observations: 6:23-29 God's word guides us in the paths that are pleasant, and which avoid pain. When the word reproves us, bringing to light our wrong values and actions, we can be instructed in the way to life and happily ever after. Proverbs warns against the illegitimate pleasures of the immoral woman who hunts her prey with flattery and cunning. Painful consequences, which will totally wipe out any memory of pleasure await those who allow themselves to be captivated. It's not worth it. See last post on Proverbs 5 for a little preventative maintenance for married guys. See Deadly Desires on Truthbase.net for both married and single guys.

Application: Those who live for the passing illegitimate pleasures of this world, will not only not be satisfied, but will suffer pain.

Prayer: Lord, help me keep Your perspective on life, and what's worth doing and worth not doing; protect me from deadly desires, and let me find my greatest pleasure in following You. Amen.

Numbers 18-20

Numbers 18 Levite Reward and Inheritance for Service Rendered

18:1 Yahweh said to Aaron...6 I, behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are a gift, given to Yahweh, to do the service of the tent of meeting. 7 You and your sons with you shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil; and you shall serve: I give you the service of the priesthood as a gift: and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death. 12 All the best of the oil, and all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first-fruits of them which they give to Yahweh, to you have I given them. 20 Yahweh said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them: I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel. 21 To the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting. 22 Henceforth the children of Israel shall not come near the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin, and die. 29 Out of all your gifts you shall offer every heave-offering of Yahweh, of all the best of it, even the holy part of it out of it. 30 Therefore you shall tell them, When you heave the best of it from it, then it shall be reckoned to the Levites as the increase of the threshing floor, and as the increase of the wine-press. 31 You shall eat it in every place, you and your households: for it is your reward in return for your service in the tent of meeting. 32 You shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have heaved from it the best of it: and you shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, that you not die.

Observations: God rewards His servants with an inheritance. Since the Levites did not get a portion of land, they got the best portion of the tithes and offerings. Aaron himself got God. Despite the consecrated privileged position, profaning (treating as common or unholy) the holy things resulted in death.

Numbers 19 Red Heifer Remedy

Observations: The red heifer, burned with cedar, hyssop and scarlet was a means of cleansing from defilement resulting from contact with a dead body. It was not an atoning sacrifice. Failure to avail oneself of God's remedy resulted in being cut off. See Digging Deeper for more.

Numbers 20 Miriam and Aaron Die, Moses Gets DQ'd

20:1 The children of Israel, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month: and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2 There was no water for the congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3 The people strove with Moses, and spoke, saying, Would that we had died when our brothers died before Yahweh! 4 Why have you brought the assembly of Yahweh into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our animals? 5 Why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in to this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

6 Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tent of meeting, and fell on their faces: and the glory of Yahweh appeared to them. 7 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 8 Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their cattle drink. 9 Moses took the rod from before Yahweh, as he commanded him. 10 Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock? 11 Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle. 12 Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, Because you didn`t believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them. 13 These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Yahweh, and he was sanctified in them.

14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, Thus says your brother Israel, You know all the travail that has befallen us: 15 how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers: 16 and when we cried to Yahweh, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your border. 17 Please let us pass through your land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king`s highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: Israel turned away from him.

23 Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying, 24 Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you (both NIV) rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; 26 and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered [to his people], and shall die there. 27 Moses did as Yahweh commanded: and they went up into Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 When all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days.

Observations: All three "heroes" fail to make it into the Promised Land.
20:3 No water, and the people blame Moses, using the same satanic lies of previous murmurings. This goes beyond “slow to learn” to “extreme stupidity”. No trust, no value change. They don't incur additional penalty, but Moses does.

20:8-12 Moses was told to speak to the rock. He strikes the rock, twice. Striking is not speaking, and is disobedience. It wasn't out of anger nor frustration, but rather doubt or trusting in past experience. God said Moses didn't believe. Previously Moses was told to strike the rock at Horeb (Ex 17:5). Surprisingly the water gushes out and God is seen as sanctified or holy. Three quick lessons: God expects us to listen carefully and obey precisely; there are always consequences for failing to obey what He said; God holds leaders to a higher standard (James 3:1). While Moses lost out on the Promised Land, he will enjoy the Promised Kingdom (Mt 17:4; Mk 9:4).
20:14-21 Edom refuses passage, and will get paid back.
20:24 Aaron also gets disqualified, possibly for failing to stop Moses from striking the rock (???), and the High Priest job gets passed to his son.

Application: God requires exact and specific obedience to enjoy His blessings. Listen carefully.

Prayer: Holy God, help me listen accurately and loyally obey all that You want me to do. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

Numbers 19 The Red Heifer Cleansing

Most ancient (and even modern) cultures have taboos against touching dead bodies, to prevent physical and spiritual contamination. Since death was the result of sin, demonic (sinning) spirits might be connected with the dead.

The ashes and added ingredients (which were used in cleansing lepers Lev 14:4) would provide ritual/symbolic cleansing, through obedience. The red heifer, a young female cow, was a symbol of life (not only by virtue of fertility, but also thru the blood red color); cedar wood has a reddish tint (and is an enduring preservative); some varieties of hyssop (which was first used to apply the Passover blood, and later in the sanctuary for sprinkling blood on cleansed lepers) have purplish red berries; and the scarlet/red cloth or wool was also a symbol of blood. Moses also used hyssop to sprinkle blood upon the redeemed people (Heb 9:19) when they accepted the terms of the covenant (Ex 24:8).

So it seems that the the Red Heifer is not related to atonement for sin, but cleansing from sin, and is ritual, deriving its power from obedience.

Ps 51:6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

God in a nutshell: God requires precise faithful obedience, cleansed lives, and rewards to those who serve Him as He's specified. He deprives the disobedient doubters of blessings and rewards. God holds greater servants to greater accountability, because they should know better (Lk 12:48). However, He doesn't totally reject His doubting people, nor undo their forgiveness, but instead calls them to holiness. Those who proudly sin are cut off. God will glorify Himself regardless of our doubt and disobedience.

Us in a nutshell: We can begin our relationship with God having good intentions, but lose focus on God's will, then doubt, disobey, and be disinherited. If we avail ourselves of God's provisions for getting back in fellowship, we can minimize the damage; but still damage is done.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Numbers Complete Text

Chapter 18

18:1 Yahweh said to Aaron, You and your sons and your fathers` house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. 2 Your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, bring you near with you, that they may be joined to you, and minister to you: but you and your sons with you shall be before the tent of the testimony. 3 They shall keep your charge, and the charge of all the Tent: only they shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary and to the altar, that they not die, neither they, nor you. 4 They shall be joined to you, and keep the charge of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the Tent: and a stranger shall not come near to you. 5 You shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar; that there be wrath no more on the children of Israel. 6 I, behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are a gift, given to Yahweh, to do the service of the tent of meeting. 7 You and your sons with you shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil; and you shall serve: I give you the priesthood as a service of gift: and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death. 8 Yahweh spoke to Aaron, I, behold, I have given you the charge of my heave-offerings, even all the holy things of the children of Israel; to you have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to your sons, as a portion forever. 9 This shall be your of the most holy things, [reserved] from the fire: every offering of theirs, even every meal-offering of theirs, and every sin-offering of theirs, and every trespass-offering of theirs, which they shall render to me, shall be most holy for you and for your sons. 10 As the most holy things shall you eat of it; every male shall eat of it: it shall be holy to you. 11 This is your: the heave-offering of their gift, even all the wave-offerings of the children of Israel; I have given them to you, and to your sons and to your daughters with you, as a portion forever; everyone who is clean in your house shall eat of it. 12 All the best of the oil, and all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first-fruits of them which they give to Yahweh, to you have I given them. 13 The first-ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to Yahweh, shall be yours; everyone who is clean in your house shall eat of it. 14 Everything devoted in Israel shall be yours. 15 Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they offer to Yahweh, both of man and animal shall be yours: nevertheless the firstborn of man shall you surely redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals shall you redeem. 16 Those who are to be redeemed of them from a month old shall you redeem, according to your estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary (the same is twenty gerahs). 17 But the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy: you shall sprinkle their blood on the altar, and shall burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savor to Yahweh. 18 The flesh of them shall be your, as the wave-breast and as the right thigh, it shall be your. 19 All the heave-offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to Yahweh, have I given you, and your sons and your daughters with you, as a portion forever: it is a covenant of salt forever before Yahweh to you and to your seed with you. 20 Yahweh said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them: I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel. 21 To the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting. 22 Henceforth the children of Israel shall not come near the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin, and die. 23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations; and among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance. 24 For the tithe of the children of Israel, which they offer as a heave-offering to Yahweh, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance: therefore I have said to them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance. 25 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 26 Moreover you shall speak to the Levites, and tell them, When you take of the children of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall offer up a heave-offering of it for Yahweh, a tithe of the tithe. 27 Your heave-offering shall be reckoned to you, as though it were the grain of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the winepress. 28 Thus you also shall offer a heaveoffering to Yahweh of all your tithes, which you receive of the children of Israel; and of it you shall give Yahweh`s heave-offering to Aaron the priest. 29 Out of all your gifts you shall offer every heave-offering of Yahweh, of all the best of it, even the holy part of it out of it. 30 Therefore you shall tell them, When you heave the best of it from it, then it shall be reckoned to the Levites as the increase of the threshing floor, and as the increase of the wine-press. 31 You shall eat it in every place, you and your households: for it is your reward in return for your service in the tent of meeting. 32 You shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have heaved from it the best of it: and you shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, that you not die.

Chapter 19

19:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 This is the statute of the law which Yahweh has commanded, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without spot, in which is no blemish, [and] on which never came yoke. 3 You shall give her to Eleazar the priest, and he shall bring her forth outside of the camp, and one shall kill her before his face: 4 and Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle her blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times. 5 One shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn: 6 and the priest shall take cedar-wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. 7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even. 8 He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even. 9 A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up outside of the camp in a clean place; and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water for impurity: it is a sin-offering. 10 He who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be to the children of Israel, and to the stranger who sojourns among them, for a statute forever. 11 He who touches the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days: 12 the same shall purify himself therewith on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he doesn`t purify himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. 13 Whoever touches a dead person, the body of a man who has died, and doesn`t purifies himself, defiles the tent of Yahweh; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water for impurity was not sprinkled on him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet on him. 14 This is the law when a man dies in a tent: everyone who comes into the tent, and everyone who is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days. 15 Every open vessel, which has no covering bound on it, is unclean. 16 Whoever in the open field touches one who is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. 17 For the unclean they shall take of the ashes of the burning of the sinoffering; and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel: 18 and a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, and on all the vessels, and on the persons who were there, and on him who touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave: 19 and the clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify him; and he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even. 20 But the man who shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of Yahweh: the water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean. 21 It shall be a perpetual statute to them: and he who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touches the water for impurity shall be unclean until even. 22 Whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean; and the soul that touches it shall be unclean until even.

Chapter 20

1 The children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. 2 There was no water for the congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. 3 The people strove with Moses, and spoke, saying, Would that we had died when our brothers died before Yahweh! 4 Why have you brought the assembly of Yahweh into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our animals? 5 Why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in to this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink. 6 Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tent of meeting, and fell on their faces: and the glory of Yahweh appeared to them. 7 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 8 Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak you to the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their cattle drink. 9 Moses took the rod from before Yahweh, as he commanded him. 10 Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock? 11 Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle. 12 Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, Because you didn`t believe in Me, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them. 13 These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Yahweh, and he was sanctified in them. 14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, Thus says your brother Israel, You know all the travail that has befallen us: 15 how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers: 16 and when we cried to Yahweh, He heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your border. 17 Please let us pass through your land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king`s highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border. 18 Edom said to him, You shall not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against you. 19 The children of Israel said to him, We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of your water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price of it: let me only, without [doing] anything [else], pass through on my feet. 20 He said, You shall not pass through. Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: why Israel turned away from him. 22 They journeyed from Kadesh: and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor. 23 Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying, 24 Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against My word at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; 26 and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered [to his people], and shall die there. 27 Moses did as Yahweh commanded: and they went up into Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 When all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.

Ezra 9 – Nehemiah 2 Leading and Rebuilding People and Walls

Joshua 22-24 Ultimate Choice: Whom Will You Serve

Numbers 18-20 Mighty Moses Strikes Out

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