Numbers 1 Cross References - NSB

¹⁴ »Eliasaph, son of Deuel, from the tribe of Gad; ¹⁵ »Ahira, son of Enan, from the tribe of Naphtali. ¹⁶ »These were the men chosen from the congregation. They were the leaders of their ancestors’ tribes, and heads of the divisions of Israel.« ¹⁷ Moses and Aaron took the men who had been named ¹⁸ and assembled the whole congregation on the first day of the second month. Each man at least twenty years old provided his genealogy by family and household. Then his name was listed. ¹⁹ Moses registered the men of Israel in the Desert of Sinai as Jehovah commanded him. ²⁰ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn son, listed every man by name that was at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ²¹ The total for the tribe of Reuben was forty-six thousand. ²² The roster of families and households for the descendants of Simeon registered and listed every man by name that was at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ²³ The total for the tribe of Simeon was fifty-nine thousand three hundred. ²⁴ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Gad listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ²⁵ The total for the tribe of Gad was forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty. ²⁶ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Judah listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ²⁷ The total for the tribe of Judah was seventy-four thousand six hundred. ²⁸ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Issachar listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ²⁹ The total for the tribe of Issachar was fifty-four thousand four hundred. ³⁰ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Zebulun listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ³¹ The total for the tribe of Zebulun was fifty-seven thousand four hundred. ³² The roster of families and households for the descendants of Joseph, those from Ephraim, listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ³³ The total for the tribe of Ephraim was forty thousand five hundred. ³⁴ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Manasseh listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ³⁵ The total for the tribe of Manasseh was thirty-two thousand two hundred. ³⁶ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Benjamin listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ³⁷ The total for the tribe of Benjamin was thirty-five thousand four hundred. ³⁸ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Dan listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ³⁹ The total for the tribe of Dan was sixty-two thousand seven hundred. ⁴⁰ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Asher listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ⁴¹ The total for the tribe of Asher was forty-one thousand five hundred. ⁴² The roster of families and households for the descendants of Naphtali listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ⁴³ The total for the tribe of Naphtali was fifty-three thousand four hundred. ⁴⁴ Moses, Aaron, and the twelve leaders of Israel, each representing his own family, added up these totals. ⁴⁵ The Israelites registered by households. The grand total of men who were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty ⁴⁶ was six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty. ⁴⁷ The households from the tribe of Levi were not registered along with the other Israelites. ⁴⁸ Jehovah said to Moses: ⁴⁹ »Do not register the tribe of Levi or include them in the census with the other Israelites. ⁵⁰ »Put the Levites in charge of the tent of God’s words, including the equipment for the tent and everything else having to do with the tent. The Levites will carry the tent and all its equipment. They will take care of the tent and camp around it. ⁵¹ »When the tent is to be moved, the Levites will take it down. When we camp, they will set it up. Anyone else who comes near the tent will be put to death. ⁵² »The other Israelites will camp with each family in its own area under its own flag. ⁵³ »The Levites will camp all around the tent of God’s words. In this way Jehovah will not be angry with the congregation of Israel. So the Levites will be in charge of the tent of God’s words.« ⁵⁴ The Israelites did everything as Jehovah commanded Moses. ¹ Jehovah (YHWH) spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai. It was the first day of the second month in the second year after leaving Egypt. He said: ² »Take a census of all the males of the congregation of Israel by families and households. List every man by name ³ who is at least twenty years old. You and Aaron must register everyone in Israel who is eligible for military duty. List them by divisions. ⁴ »One man from each tribe will help you. Each of these men must be the head of a household. ⁵ »Here are the names of the men who will help you: Elizur, son of Shedeur, from the tribe of Reuben, ⁶ »Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, from the tribe of Simeon; ⁷ »Nahshon, son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah; ⁸ »Nethanel, son of Zuar, from the tribe of Issachar; ⁹ »Eliab, son of Helon, from the tribe of Zebulun; ¹⁰ »Elishama, son of Ammihud, from the tribe of Ephraim; Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, from the tribe of Manasseh; Ephraim and Manasseh are Joseph’s descendants. ¹¹ »Abidan, son of Gideoni, from the tribe of Benjamin; ¹² »Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai, from the tribe of Dan; ¹³ »Pagiel, son of Ochran, from the tribe of Asher;

² »I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing.

¹⁶ »I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust, your offspring could be counted.

⁵ He brought him outside and said: »Look toward heaven and count the stars. Are you able to count them?« He continued: »So shall your descendants be.«

⁶ »I will make you very fruitful. I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.

¹⁷ ‘»I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of their enemies’ cities.

³ »You will live there as a foreigner. I will be with you and bless you. I will keep my promise to your father Abraham by giving this land to you and your descendants.

¹⁴ »Your descendants will be like the dust on the earth. You will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. Every family on earth will be blessed through you and through your descendants.

³² Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, because she said: »Certainly, Jehovah has seen my misery. Now my husband will love me!«

³² Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, because she said: »Certainly, Jehovah has seen my misery. Now my husband will love me!« ³³ She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: »Certainly, Jehovah has heard that I am unloved. He has also given me this son.« She named him Simeon.

³³ She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: »Certainly, Jehovah has heard that I am unloved. He has also given me this son.« She named him Simeon. ³⁴ She became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: »Now at last my husband will become attached to me because I have given him three sons.« She named him Levi. ³⁵ Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: »This time I will praise Jehovah.« So she named him Judah (Praise). Then she stopped having children.

³⁵ Leah became pregnant again and gave birth to another son. She said: »This time I will praise Jehovah.« So she named him Judah (Praise). Then she stopped having children.

⁵ They had a son.

⁵ They had a son. ⁶ Rachel named him Dan, because she said: »God has answered my prayers. He has vindicated me and given me a son.«

⁶ Rachel named him Dan, because she said: »God has answered my prayers. He has vindicated me and given me a son.« ⁷ Bilhah and Jacob had a second son.

⁷ Bilhah and Jacob had a second son. ⁸ Rachel said: »I have struggled hard with my sister, and I have won!« So she named the boy Naphtali.

⁸ Rachel said: »I have struggled hard with my sister, and I have won!« So she named the boy Naphtali. ⁹ When Leah realized she could not have any more children, she let Jacob marry her servant Zilpah. ¹⁰ They had a son.

¹⁰ They had a son. ¹¹ Leah said: »How fortunate. She called him Gad.«

¹¹ Leah said: »How fortunate. She called him Gad.« ¹² Leah’s slave Zilpah gave birth to her second son for Jacob.

¹² Leah’s slave Zilpah gave birth to her second son for Jacob. ¹³ Leah said: »I am happy, for women will call me blessed. So she named him Asher.«

¹³ Leah said: »I am happy, for women will call me blessed. So she named him Asher.« ¹⁴ During the wheat harvest Reuben went out into the fields. He found some mandrake plants. He brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah: »Please, give me some of your son’s mandrake plants.« ¹⁵ Leah replied: »Is it not enough that you took my husband? Are you also going to take my son’s mandrake plants?« Rachel responded: »Very well, Jacob can go to bed with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrake plants.« ¹⁶ Jacob came in from the fields that evening. Leah went out to meet him. »You are to sleep with me,« she said. »You are my reward for my son’s mandrake plants.« So he went to bed with her that night. ¹⁷ God answered Leah’s prayer. She became pregnant and gave birth to her fifth son for Jacob. ¹⁸ Leah said: »God has given me my reward, because I gave my slave to my husband.« So she named him Issachar.

¹⁸ Leah said: »God has given me my reward, because I gave my slave to my husband.« So she named him Issachar. ¹⁹ She became pregnant again and gave birth to her sixth son for Jacob. ²⁰ Leah said: »God has presented me with a wonderful gift. This time my husband will honor me, because I have given him six sons.« So she named him Zebulun.

²⁰ Leah said: »God has presented me with a wonderful gift. This time my husband will honor me, because I have given him six sons.« So she named him Zebulun.

²⁴ She named him Joseph. She said: »May Jehovah give me another son.«

²⁵ Three days later the men who had been circumcised were still weak from pain. So Simeon and Levi, two of Dinah’s brothers, attacked with their swords and killed every man in town. ²⁶ They also killed Hamor and Shechem. Then they took Dinah and left. ²⁷ The sons of Jacob came upon the slain. They plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled. ²⁸ They took their flocks and their herds, their asses and whatever was in the city and in the field. ²⁹ They captured their wives and all their little ones. They took all the wealth that was in their houses. ³⁰ Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi: »You have brought trouble on me by making me loathsome to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Per’izzites. My numbers are few. If they gather themselves against me and attack my household I will be destroyed.«

¹⁶ After that they moved from Bethel. When there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel went into labor. She had severe labor pains. ¹⁷ When one of her pains hit, the midwife said: »Do not be afraid. You have another son!«

¹⁷ When one of her pains hit, the midwife said: »Do not be afraid. You have another son!« ¹⁸ Rachel was dying! With her last breath she named her son Ben-oni (Son of My Sorrow), but his father named him Benjamin (Son of My Right Hand).

¹⁸ Rachel was dying! With her last breath she named her son Ben-oni (Son of My Sorrow), but his father named him Benjamin (Son of My Right Hand). ¹⁹ Rachel died and was buried on the way to Bethlehem (Ephrath). ²⁰ Jacob set up a stone as a marker for her grave. The same marker is at Rachel’s grave today. ²¹ Israel moved on again. He pitched his tent by the tower of Eder. ²² While Israel lived in that region, Reuben went to bed with his father’s concubine Bilhah. Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons. ²³ The sons of Leah were Jacob’s firstborn Reuben, then Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. ²⁴ The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. ²⁵ The sons of Rachel’s slave Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali. ²⁶ The sons of Leah’s slave Zilpah were Gad and Asher. These were Jacob’s sons, who were born in Paddan-aram.

¹ Jacob continued to live in the land of Canaan, where his father had lived. ² This is the story of Jacob and his descendants. Joseph was a seventeen-year-old young man. He took care of the flocks with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. Joseph told his father about the bad things his brothers were doing. ³ Jacob (Israel) loved Joseph more than all his sons because Joseph had been born in Israel’s old age. So he made Joseph a special multicolored robe with long sleeves. ⁴ Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them. They hated Joseph and could not speak to him in a friendly way. ⁵ One time Joseph had a dream. He told his brothers about it and they hated him even more. ⁶ He said: »Please listen to the dream I had. ⁷ »We were all in the field tying up sheaves of wheat. My sheaf got up and stood up straight. Yours formed a circle around mine and bowed down to it.« ⁸ »Do you think you are going to be a king and rule over us?« his brothers asked. So they hated him even more because of his dreams and because of what he said about them. ⁹ Joseph had another dream and told his brothers: »I had another dream, in which I saw the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowing down to me.« ¹⁰ He also told the dream to his father. His father scolded him. »What kind of a dream is that? Do you think that your mother, your brothers, and I are going to come and bow down to you?« ¹¹ Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him. His father kept thinking about the whole matter. ¹² His brothers went to Shechem to take care of their father’s flock. ¹³ His father Jacob said to him: »I want you to go to your brothers. They are with the sheep near Shechem.« »Yes, I will go,« Joseph answered. ¹⁴ His father said: »Go and find out how your brothers and the sheep are doing. Then come back and let me know.« So he sent him from Hebron Valley. Joseph was near Shechem, ¹⁵ and wandering through the fields, when a man asked: »What are you looking for?« ¹⁶ Joseph answered: »I am looking for my brothers who are watching the sheep. Can you tell me where they are?« ¹⁷ »They are not here anymore,« the man replied. »I heard them say they were going to Dothan.« Joseph soon found his brothers in Dothan. ¹⁸ Before he arrived, they saw him coming and made plans to kill him. ¹⁹ They said to one another: »Look, here comes the hero of those dreams! ²⁰ »Let us kill him and throw him into a water pit. We can say that some wild animal ate him. Then we will see what happens to those dreams.« ²¹ Reuben heard this and tried to protect Joseph from them. »Let us not kill him,« he said. ²² »Do not murder him or even harm him. Just throw him into a dry well out here in the desert.« Reuben planned to rescue Joseph later and take him back to his father. ²³ When Joseph came to his brothers, they pulled off his fancy coat. ²⁴ They put him into a water pit. It had no water in it. ²⁵ As they sat down to eat, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying the materials for cosmetics, medicine, and embalming. They were on their way to take them to Egypt. ²⁶ Judah asked his brothers: »What will we gain by killing our brother and covering up his death? ²⁷ »Let us sell him to the Ishmaelites. Let us not hurt him, because he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.« His brothers agreed. ²⁸ Some of the Midianite traders approached. The brothers pulled Joseph out of the well and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites. They took him to Egypt. ²⁹ Reuben came back to the pit and found that Joseph was not there. He tore his clothes in sorrow. ³⁰ He returned to his brothers and said: »The boy is not there! What am I going to do?« ³¹ Then they killed a goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood. ³² They took the robe to their father and said: »We found this. Does it belong to your son?« ³³ He recognized it and said: »Yes, it is his! Some wild animal has killed him. My son Joseph has been torn to pieces!« ³⁴ Jacob tore his clothes in sorrow and put on sackcloth. He mourned for his son a long time. ³⁵ All his sons and daughters came to comfort him. However, he refused to be comforted. He said: »I will go down to the grave still mourning for my son.« So he continued to mourn for his son Joseph. ³⁶ Meanwhile, in Egypt the Midianites sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of the king’s officers, who was the captain of the palace guard.

¹ Joseph had been taken to Egypt. Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s Egyptian officials and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. ² Jehovah was with Joseph. Joseph became a successful man. He worked in the house of his Egyptian master. ³ Joseph’s master saw that Jehovah was with him. Jehovah made him succeed in everything he did. ⁴ Potiphar was pleased with him and made him his personal servant. He put him in charge of his house and everything he owned. ⁵ Jehovah blessed the Egyptian’s household and everything he had in his house and in his fields because of Joseph. ⁶ Potiphar turned over everything he had to the care of Joseph. He did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Joseph was well built and good-looking. ⁷ Soon his master’s wife began to desire Joseph and asked him to go to bed with her. ⁸ He refused, and said to her: »My master does not have to concern himself with anything in the house, because I am here. He has put me in charge of everything he has. ⁹ »No one in this house is greater than I. He has kept nothing back from me except you. You are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?« ¹⁰ She kept asking Joseph day after day. He refused to go to bed with her or be with her. ¹¹ One day he went into the house to do his work. None of the household servants were there. ¹² She grabbed him by his coat and said: »Come to bed with me!« But he ran outside and left his coat in her hand. ¹³ When she realized that he had gone but had left his coat behind, ¹⁴ she called her household servants and said to them: »Look! My husband brought this Hebrew here to fool around with us. He came in and tried to go to bed with me. I screamed as loud as I could. ¹⁵ »When he heard me scream, he ran out of the house, leaving his coat with me.« ¹⁶ Potiphar’s wife kept Joseph’s coat until her husband came home. ¹⁷ She said: »That Hebrew slave of yours tried to rape me! ¹⁸ »When I screamed for help, he left his coat and ran out of the house.« ¹⁹ Potiphar became very angry ²⁰ and threw Joseph in the same prison where the king’s prisoners were kept. While Joseph was in prison, ²¹ Jehovah helped him and was good to him. He even made the jailer like Joseph so much that ²² he put him in charge of the other prisoners and of everything that was done in the jail. ²³ The jailer did not worry about anything, because Jehovah was with Joseph and made him successful in all that he did.

²⁴ He turned away from them and wept. When he returned to them and spoke to them, he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.

²⁰ »We answered, ‘We have a father who is old and a younger brother born to him when he was already old. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’

³ God said: »I am God! I am the same God your father worshiped. Do not be afraid to go to Egypt. I will give you so many descendants that one day they will become a nation. ⁴ »I will go to Egypt with you. I will make sure you come back again. Joseph will close your eyes when you die.«

⁸ These are the names of Israel’s descendants (Jacob and his descendants) who arrived in Egypt. Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn. ⁹ The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

⁹ The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. ¹⁰ The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.

¹⁰ The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. ¹¹ The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. ¹² The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. (Er and Onan died in Canaan.) The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

¹² The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. (Er and Onan died in Canaan.) The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. ¹³ The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron.

¹³ The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron. ¹⁴ The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.

¹⁴ The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. ¹⁵ These were the sons Leah gave to Jacob in Paddan-aram, in addition to his daughter Dinah. The total number of these sons and daughters was thirty-three. ¹⁶ The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

¹⁶ The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. ¹⁷ The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel. ¹⁸ These were the descendants of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah. She gave birth to these children for Jacob. The total was sixteen. ¹⁹ The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. ²⁰ In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest from the city of On.

²⁰ In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest from the city of On. ²¹ The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.

²¹ The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. ²² These were the sons of Rachel who were born to Jacob. The total was fourteen. ²³ The son of Dan was Hushim.

²³ The son of Dan was Hushim. ²⁴ The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

²⁴ The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

²⁷ Joseph had two sons who were born in Egypt. There were a total of seventy people in Jacob’s household who went to Egypt.

¹ Later Joseph was told that his father was ill. So he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and went to see Jacob. ² Jacob was told that his son Joseph had come to see him. He gathered his strength and sat up in bed. ³ Jacob said to Joseph: »Almighty God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. ⁴ »He promised: ‘I will give you a large family with many descendants that will grow into a nation. I am giving you this land that will belong to you and your family from generation to generation.’« (Hebrew: olam olam) (long lasting possession) ⁵ Jacob went on to say: »Joseph, your two sons Ephraim and Manasseh were born in Egypt. But I accept them as my own, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.

⁵ Jacob went on to say: »Joseph, your two sons Ephraim and Manasseh were born in Egypt. But I accept them as my own, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. ⁶ »Any children you have later will be considered yours. Their inheritance will come from Ephraim and Manasseh. ⁷ »Your mother Rachel died in Canaan after we left northern Syria and before we reached Bethlehem. I had to bury her along the way.« ⁸ Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons. He asked Joseph: »Who are these boys?« Joseph answered: ⁹ »They are my sons. God has given them to me here in Egypt.« »Bring them to me,« Jacob said. »I want to give them my blessing.« Joseph brought the boys to him. ¹⁰ Israel’s eyesight was failing because of old age. He could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to his father. Israel hugged them and kissed them. ¹¹ Israel said to Joseph: »I never expected to see you again. Now God has even let me see your sons.« ¹² Joseph took them off his father’s lap and bowed with his face touching the ground. ¹³ Then Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right, facing Israel’s left, and Manasseh on his left, facing Israel’s right, and brought them close to him. ¹⁴ But Israel crossed his hands and reached out. He put his right hand on Ephraim’s head, although Ephraim was the younger son. He put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was older. ¹⁵ Jacob blessed Joseph. He said: »May God, in whose presence my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac walked, may this God who has been my shepherd all my life to this very day, ¹⁶ »May the being who rescued me from all evil bless these boys! May they be called by my name and by the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. May they have many children on the earth.« ¹⁷ Joseph saw that his father had put his right hand on Ephraim’s head. Joseph did not like it. So he took his father’s hand in order to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s. ¹⁸ He said to his father: »That is not right, Father! This is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.« ¹⁹ His father refused and said: »I know, Son, I know! Manasseh, too, will become a nation. He, too, will be important. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be more important than he. His descendants will become many nations.«

¹⁹ His father refused and said: »I know, Son, I know! Manasseh, too, will become a nation. He, too, will be important. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be more important than he. His descendants will become many nations.« ²⁰ That day he blessed them. He said: »Because of you, Israel will speak this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’ In this way Israel put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.«

²⁰ That day he blessed them. He said: »Because of you, Israel will speak this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’ In this way Israel put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.« ²¹ Then Israel said to Joseph: »I am about to die. God will be with you. He will bring you back to the land of your fathers. ²² »I am giving you one more mountain ridge than your brothers. I took it from the Amorites with my own sword and bow.«

¹ Jacob called for his sons. He said: »Gather around, and I will tell you what will happen to you in the future.

¹ Jacob called for his sons. He said: »Gather around, and I will tell you what will happen to you in the future. ² »Come together and listen, sons of Jacob. Listen to your father Israel.

² »Come together and listen, sons of Jacob. Listen to your father Israel. ³ »Reuben, you are my firstborn; you are my strength and the first child of my manhood. You are the proudest and strongest of all my sons.

³ »Reuben, you are my firstborn; you are my strength and the first child of my manhood. You are the proudest and strongest of all my sons.

³ »Reuben, you are my firstborn; you are my strength and the first child of my manhood. You are the proudest and strongest of all my sons. ⁴ »You are like a raging flood. But you will not be the most important, for you slept with my concubine. You dishonored your father’s bed.

⁴ »You are like a raging flood. But you will not be the most important, for you slept with my concubine. You dishonored your father’s bed. ⁵ »Simeon and Levi are brothers. They use their weapons to commit violence.

⁵ »Simeon and Levi are brothers. They use their weapons to commit violence. ⁶ »I will not join in their secret talks. I will not take part in their meetings. They killed people in anger. They crippled bulls for sport.

⁶ »I will not join in their secret talks. I will not take part in their meetings. They killed people in anger. They crippled bulls for sport. ⁷ »A curse is on their anger, because it is so fierce. And a curse is on their fury, because it is so cruel. I will scatter them throughout the land of Israel. I will disperse them among its people. ⁸ »Judah, your brothers will praise you. You hold your enemies by the neck. Your brothers will bow down before you.

⁸ »Judah, your brothers will praise you. You hold your enemies by the neck. Your brothers will bow down before you. ⁹ »Judah is like a lion, killing his victim and returning to his den. He is like a lion stretching out and lying down. No one dares disturb him.

⁹ »Judah is like a lion, killing his victim and returning to his den. He is like a lion stretching out and lying down. No one dares disturb him. ¹⁰ »The royal scepter shall not depart from Judah. His descendants will always rule. Nations will bring him tribute and bow in obedience before him. This, until Shiloh comes and all will obey him.

¹⁰ »The royal scepter shall not depart from Judah. His descendants will always rule. Nations will bring him tribute and bow in obedience before him. This, until Shiloh comes and all will obey him. ¹¹ »He will tie his donkey to a grapevine, his colt to the best vine. He will wash his clothes in wine, his garments in the blood of grapes.

¹¹ »He will tie his donkey to a grapevine, his colt to the best vine. He will wash his clothes in wine, his garments in the blood of grapes. ¹² »His eyes are darker than wine. His teeth are whiter than milk.

¹² »His eyes are darker than wine. His teeth are whiter than milk. ¹³ »Zebulun will live by the coast. He will have ships by the coast. His border will go as far as Sidon.

¹³ »Zebulun will live by the coast. He will have ships by the coast. His border will go as far as Sidon. ¹⁴ »Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the saddlebags.

¹⁴ »Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the saddlebags. ¹⁵ »When he sees that his resting place is good and that the land is pleasant, he will bend his back to the burden and will become a slave laborer.

¹⁵ »When he sees that his resting place is good and that the land is pleasant, he will bend his back to the burden and will become a slave laborer. ¹⁶ »Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.

¹⁶ »Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. ¹⁷ »Dan will be a snake on a road, a viper on a path that bites a horse’s heels so that its rider falls backwards.

¹⁷ »Dan will be a snake on a road, a viper on a path that bites a horse’s heels so that its rider falls backwards. ¹⁸ »I wait with hope for your salvation, O Jehovah. ¹⁹ »Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders. He will strike back at their heels.

¹⁹ »Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders. He will strike back at their heels. ²⁰ »Asher’s food will be rich. He will provide delicacies fit for a king.

²⁰ »Asher’s food will be rich. He will provide delicacies fit for a king. ²¹ »Naphtali is a deer set free with beautiful fawns (words).

²¹ »Naphtali is a deer set free with beautiful fawns (words). ²² »Joseph is a fruitful tree, a fruitful tree by a spring, with branches climbing over a wall.

²² »Joseph is a fruitful tree, a fruitful tree by a spring, with branches climbing over a wall. ²³ »Archers provoked him, shot at him, and harassed him.

²³ »Archers provoked him, shot at him, and harassed him. ²⁴ »His bow stayed steady! His arms remained limber because of the help of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,

²⁴ »His bow stayed steady! His arms remained limber because of the help of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, ²⁵ »because of the God of your father who helps you, because of the Almighty who blesses you from the heavens above, blessings from the deep springs below the ground, blessings from breasts and womb.

²⁵ »because of the God of your father who helps you, because of the Almighty who blesses you from the heavens above, blessings from the deep springs below the ground, blessings from breasts and womb. ²⁶ »The blessings of your father are greater than the blessings of the oldest mountains and the riches of the ancient hills. May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the prince among his brothers.

²⁶ »The blessings of your father are greater than the blessings of the oldest mountains and the riches of the ancient hills. May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the prince among his brothers. ²⁷ »Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning and evening he destroys his enemies.«

²⁷ »Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning and evening he destroys his enemies.« ²⁸ These are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is how Jacob blessed each of them. ²⁹ Jacob told his sons: »Soon I will die. I want you to bury me in Machpelah Cave. ³⁰ »Abraham bought the cave from Ephron the Hittite to use as a burial place. It is near the field of Machpelah. It is also near the town of Mamre in Canaan. ³¹ »Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried there. Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried there. I also buried Leah there. ³² »The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.« ³³ Jacob finished giving these instructions to his sons. He pulled his feet into his bed. He took his last breath and joined his ancestors in death.

¹ These are the names of the sons of Israel who came with their families and with Jacob to Egypt: ² Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; ³ Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; ⁴ Dan and Naphtali and Gad and Asher. ⁵ Joseph was already in Egypt. The total number of Jacob’s descendants was seventy.

¹⁴ The following men were the heads of their father’s households: The sons of Reuben, Jacob’s oldest son, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. ¹⁵ The sons of Simeon: Jemuel and Jamin and Ohad and Jachin and Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon. ¹⁶ These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon and Kohath and Merari. Levi lived one hundred and thirty-seven years. ¹⁷ The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families. ¹⁸ The sons of Kohath: Amram and Izhar and Hebron and Uzziel. Kohath lived one hundred and thirty-three years. ¹⁹ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations.

¹⁷ »You shall also observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread. That was the day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Observe this day throughout your generations as a long lasting ordinance.

³⁷ The Israelites left Rameses to go to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, plus all the women and children.

²¹ »You should choose capable men from all the people. Find men who respect God. These must be men you can trust who hate corruption. Put them in charge of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

²⁵ and chose capable men from among all the Israelites. He appointed them as leaders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

¹ The Israelites arrived at the desert of Sinai in the third month after they left the land of Egypt.

²¹ »Be on your guard before him and obey his voice. Do not be rebellious toward him. He will not pardon your transgression, since my name is in him. (He has my honor, authority and character) ²² »If you truly obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.

²² »I will be above the throne of mercy between the angels whenever I meet with you. I will give you all my commandments for the Israelites.

¹² »When you take a census of the people of Israel, each man is to pay me a price for his life. This to insure that no disaster will come on him while the census is being taken.

¹⁴ »Every man being counted in the census who is twenty years old or older is to pay me this amount.

¹⁸ When God finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.

²⁶ Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said: »Who is on Jehovah’s side? Come to me. All the sons of Levi came to him.« ²⁷ He said to them, »Jehovah, the God of Israel says: ‘Each man put his sword by his side. Go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp. Kill each one his brother, and each one his neighbor, and each one his kindred.’« ²⁸ The sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. About three thousand men died that day. ²⁹ Moses said: »Today you are ordained as Jehovah’s. God gave you a blessing today. Each of you fought with your own sons and brothers.«

¹⁴ »Eliasaph, son of Deuel, from the tribe of Gad;

¹⁴ »Eliasaph, son of Deuel, from the tribe of Gad; ¹⁵ »Ahira, son of Enan, from the tribe of Naphtali.

¹⁵ »Ahira, son of Enan, from the tribe of Naphtali. ¹⁶ »These were the men chosen from the congregation. They were the leaders of their ancestors’ tribes, and heads of the divisions of Israel.«

¹⁶ »These were the men chosen from the congregation. They were the leaders of their ancestors’ tribes, and heads of the divisions of Israel.«

¹⁸ and assembled the whole congregation on the first day of the second month. Each man at least twenty years old provided his genealogy by family and household. Then his name was listed.

²² The roster of families and households for the descendants of Simeon registered and listed every man by name that was at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty.

²⁶ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Judah listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ²⁷ The total for the tribe of Judah was seventy-four thousand six hundred. ²⁸ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Issachar listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ²⁹ The total for the tribe of Issachar was fifty-four thousand four hundred. ³⁰ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Zebulun listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ³¹ The total for the tribe of Zebulun was fifty-seven thousand four hundred. ³² The roster of families and households for the descendants of Joseph, those from Ephraim, listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ³³ The total for the tribe of Ephraim was forty thousand five hundred. ³⁴ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Manasseh listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ³⁵ The total for the tribe of Manasseh was thirty-two thousand two hundred. ³⁶ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Benjamin listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ³⁷ The total for the tribe of Benjamin was thirty-five thousand four hundred. ³⁸ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Dan listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ³⁹ The total for the tribe of Dan was sixty-two thousand seven hundred. ⁴⁰ The roster of families and households for the descendants of Asher listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ⁴¹ The total for the tribe of Asher was forty-one thousand five hundred. ⁴² The roster of families and households for the descendants of Naphtali listed the men by name that were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty. ⁴³ The total for the tribe of Naphtali was fifty-three thousand four hundred. ⁴⁴ Moses, Aaron, and the twelve leaders of Israel, each representing his own family, added up these totals. ⁴⁵ The Israelites registered by households. The grand total of men who were at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty ⁴⁶ was six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty. ⁴⁷ The households from the tribe of Levi were not registered along with the other Israelites. ⁴⁸ Jehovah said to Moses: ⁴⁹ »Do not register the tribe of Levi or include them in the census with the other Israelites. ⁵⁰ »Put the Levites in charge of the tent of God’s words, including the equipment for the tent and everything else having to do with the tent. The Levites will carry the tent and all its equipment. They will take care of the tent and camp around it.

⁵⁰ »Put the Levites in charge of the tent of God’s words, including the equipment for the tent and everything else having to do with the tent. The Levites will carry the tent and all its equipment. They will take care of the tent and camp around it. ⁵¹ »When the tent is to be moved, the Levites will take it down. When we camp, they will set it up. Anyone else who comes near the tent will be put to death. ⁵² »The other Israelites will camp with each family in its own area under its own flag. ⁵³ »The Levites will camp all around the tent of God’s words. In this way Jehovah will not be angry with the congregation of Israel. So the Levites will be in charge of the tent of God’s words.«

⁵³ »The Levites will camp all around the tent of God’s words. In this way Jehovah will not be angry with the congregation of Israel. So the Levites will be in charge of the tent of God’s words.« ⁵⁴ The Israelites did everything as Jehovah commanded Moses.

² »The Israelites will put up their tents with each family under the flag that symbolizes its household. They will locate their tents around and facing the tent of meeting. ³ »On the east side, facing the rising sun, the armies led by Judah will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Judah is Nahshon, son of Amminadab.

³ »On the east side, facing the rising sun, the armies led by Judah will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Judah is Nahshon, son of Amminadab.

³ »On the east side, facing the rising sun, the armies led by Judah will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Judah is Nahshon, son of Amminadab. ⁴ »The total number of men in his army is seventy-four thousand six hundred.

⁴ »The total number of men in his army is seventy-four thousand six hundred. ⁵ »Next to them will be the tribe of Issachar. The leader for the people of Issachar is Nethanel, son of Zuar.

⁵ »Next to them will be the tribe of Issachar. The leader for the people of Issachar is Nethanel, son of Zuar.

⁵ »Next to them will be the tribe of Issachar. The leader for the people of Issachar is Nethanel, son of Zuar. ⁶ »The total number of men in his army is fifty-four thousand four hundred.

⁶ »The total number of men in his army is fifty-four thousand four hundred.

⁶ »The total number of men in his army is fifty-four thousand four hundred. ⁷ »Then will be the tribe of Zebulun. The leader for the people of Zebulun is Eliab, son of Helon.

⁷ »Then will be the tribe of Zebulun. The leader for the people of Zebulun is Eliab, son of Helon.

⁷ »Then will be the tribe of Zebulun. The leader for the people of Zebulun is Eliab, son of Helon. ⁸ »The total number of men in his army is fifty-seven thousand four hundred.

⁸ »The total number of men in his army is fifty-seven thousand four hundred.

⁸ »The total number of men in his army is fifty-seven thousand four hundred. ⁹ »The grand total of all the troops in Judah’s camp is one hundred and eighty-six thousand four hundred. They will be the first group to move out. ¹⁰ »On the south side the armies led by Reuben will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Reuben is Elizur, son of Shedeur

¹⁰ »On the south side the armies led by Reuben will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Reuben is Elizur, son of Shedeur

¹⁰ »On the south side the armies led by Reuben will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Reuben is Elizur, son of Shedeur ¹¹ »The total number of men in his army is forty-six thousand five hundred.

¹¹ »The total number of men in his army is forty-six thousand five hundred. ¹² »The tribe of Simeon will be next to them. Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai is the leader for the people of Simeon.

¹² »The tribe of Simeon will be next to them. Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai is the leader for the people of Simeon.

¹² »The tribe of Simeon will be next to them. Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai is the leader for the people of Simeon. ¹³ »The total number of men in his army is fifty-nine thousand three hundred.

¹³ »The total number of men in his army is fifty-nine thousand three hundred.

¹³ »The total number of men in his army is fifty-nine thousand three hundred. ¹⁴ »The tribe of Gad will be next. Eliasaph, son of Deuel is the leader for the people of Gad.

¹⁴ »The tribe of Gad will be next. Eliasaph, son of Deuel is the leader for the people of Gad.

¹⁴ »The tribe of Gad will be next. Eliasaph, son of Deuel is the leader for the people of Gad. ¹⁵ »The total number of men in his army is forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty.

¹⁵ »The total number of men in his army is forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty.

¹⁵ »The total number of men in his army is forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty. ¹⁶ »The grand total of all the troops in Reuben’s camp is one hundred and fifty-one thousand four hundred and fifty. They will be the second group to move out. ¹⁷ »When the tent of meeting is moved, the Levites will stay in the middle of the groups. The tribes will move out in the same order as they are in the camp, everyone in place under his own flag (staff) (scepter).

¹⁷ »When the tent of meeting is moved, the Levites will stay in the middle of the groups. The tribes will move out in the same order as they are in the camp, everyone in place under his own flag (staff) (scepter). ¹⁸ »On the west side the armies led by Ephraim will camp under their flag. Elishama, son of Ammihud is the leader for the people of Ephraim.

¹⁸ »On the west side the armies led by Ephraim will camp under their flag. Elishama, son of Ammihud is the leader for the people of Ephraim.

¹⁸ »On the west side the armies led by Ephraim will camp under their flag. Elishama, son of Ammihud is the leader for the people of Ephraim. ¹⁹ »The total number of men in his army is forty thousand five hundred.

¹⁹ »The total number of men in his army is forty thousand five hundred.

¹⁹ »The total number of men in his army is forty thousand five hundred. ²⁰ »Next to them will be the tribe of Manasseh. The leader for the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur.

²⁰ »Next to them will be the tribe of Manasseh. The leader for the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur. ²¹ »The total number of men in his army is thirty-two thousand two hundred.

²¹ »The total number of men in his army is thirty-two thousand two hundred. ²² »Then will be the tribe of Benjamin. The leader for the people of Benjamin is Abidan, son of Gideoni.

²² »Then will be the tribe of Benjamin. The leader for the people of Benjamin is Abidan, son of Gideoni. ²³ »The total number of men in his army is thirty-five thousand four hundred.

²³ »The total number of men in his army is thirty-five thousand four hundred. ²⁴ »The grand total of all the troops in Ephraim’s camp is one hundred and eight thousand one hundred. They will be the third group to move out. ²⁵ »On the north side the armies led by Dan will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Dan is Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai.

²⁵ »On the north side the armies led by Dan will camp under their flag. The leader for the people of Dan is Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai. ²⁶ »The total number of men in his army is sixty-two thousand seven hundred.

²⁶ »The total number of men in his army is sixty-two thousand seven hundred. ²⁷ »Next to them will be the tribe of Asher. The leader for the people of Asher is Pagiel, son of Ochran.

²⁷ »Next to them will be the tribe of Asher. The leader for the people of Asher is Pagiel, son of Ochran. ²⁸ »The total number of men in his army is forty-one thousand five hundred.

²⁸ »The total number of men in his army is forty-one thousand five hundred. ²⁹ »Then will be the tribe of Naphtali. The leader for the people of Naphtali is Ahira, son of Enan.

²⁹ »Then will be the tribe of Naphtali. The leader for the people of Naphtali is Ahira, son of Enan. ³⁰ »The total number of men in his army is fifty-three thousand four hundred.

³⁰ »The total number of men in his army is fifty-three thousand four hundred. ³¹ »The grand total of all the men in Dan’s camp is one hundred and fifty-seven thousand six hundred. They will be the last group to move out. They will travel under their own flag.« ³² This is the total number of Israelites, counted by households. The grand total of all the troops in the camps was six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty. ³³ As Jehovah had commanded Moses, the Levites were not registered along with the other Israelites. ³⁴ The Israelites did everything as Jehovah had commanded Moses. They set up camp under their flags, and each person traveled with his own family and household.

¹ This is the list of Aaron and Moses’ descendants when Jehovah spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai.

¹ This is the list of Aaron and Moses’ descendants when Jehovah spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. ² The names of Aaron’s sons are Nadab (firstborn), Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

² The names of Aaron’s sons are Nadab (firstborn), Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ³ These are the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests.

³ These are the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. ⁴ Nadab and Abihu died in Jehovah’s presence because they offered unauthorized fire in his presence in the Desert of Sinai. They had no children. So only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

⁴ Nadab and Abihu died in Jehovah’s presence because they offered unauthorized fire in his presence in the Desert of Sinai. They had no children. So only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron. ⁵ Jehovah said to Moses:

⁵ Jehovah said to Moses: ⁶ »Bring the tribe of Levi, and have them stand in front of the priest Aaron to assist him.

⁶ »Bring the tribe of Levi, and have them stand in front of the priest Aaron to assist him. ⁷ »They will work for him and the whole community in front of the tent of meeting, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent.

⁷ »They will work for him and the whole community in front of the tent of meeting, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent.

⁷ »They will work for him and the whole community in front of the tent of meeting, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent. ⁸ »They will take care of all the furnishings in the tent of meeting and work for the Israelites, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent.

⁸ »They will take care of all the furnishings in the tent of meeting and work for the Israelites, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent.

⁸ »They will take care of all the furnishings in the tent of meeting and work for the Israelites, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent. ⁹ »Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. The Levites will be the only Israelites given to them.

⁹ »Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. The Levites will be the only Israelites given to them. ¹⁰ »Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who tries to do the priests’ duties must be put to death.«

¹⁰ »Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who tries to do the priests’ duties must be put to death.«

¹⁰ »Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who tries to do the priests’ duties must be put to death.« ¹¹ Jehovah said to Moses: ¹² »Out of all the Israelites, I have taken the Levites to be substitutes for every firstborn male offspring among them. The Levites are mine, ¹³ because every firstborn is mine. The day I killed every firstborn male in Egypt, I set apart as holy every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They will be mine. I am Jehovah.« ¹⁴ Jehovah said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai: ¹⁵ »Count the Levites by households and families. Count every male who is at least one month old.« ¹⁶ Moses did what Jehovah said. He registered them as he had been commanded. ¹⁷ Gershon, Kohath, and Merari were the sons of Levi. ¹⁸ Libni and Shimei were the sons of Gershon. Their families were named after them. ¹⁹ Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel were the sons of Kohath. Their families were named after them. ²⁰ Mahli and Mushi were the sons of Merari. Their families were named after them. These were the households of Levite families. ²¹ To Gershon belonged the families descended from Libni and Shimei. These were the families descended from Gershon. ²² The total number of all the males at least one month old was seven thousand five hundred. ²³ The families descended from Gershon put up their tents on the west side behind the tent of meeting.

²³ The families descended from Gershon put up their tents on the west side behind the tent of meeting. ²⁴ The leader of the Gershonite households was Eliasaph, son of Lael.

²⁴ The leader of the Gershonite households was Eliasaph, son of Lael. ²⁵ The Gershonites were in charge of the inner tent, the outer tent and cover, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting,

²⁵ The Gershonites were in charge of the inner tent, the outer tent and cover, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, ²⁶ the curtains for the courtyard, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the inner tent and the altar, and the ropes. They took care of all these things.

²⁶ the curtains for the courtyard, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the inner tent and the altar, and the ropes. They took care of all these things. ²⁷ To Kohath belonged the families descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. These were the families descended from Kohath.

²⁷ To Kohath belonged the families descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. These were the families descended from Kohath. ²⁸ The number of all the males at least one month old was eight thousand six hundred. They were in charge of the holy place.

²⁸ The number of all the males at least one month old was eight thousand six hundred. They were in charge of the holy place. ²⁹ The families descended from Kohath put up their tents on the south side of the tent of meeting.

²⁹ The families descended from Kohath put up their tents on the south side of the tent of meeting. ³⁰ The leader of the Kohathite families and households was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel.

³⁰ The leader of the Kohathite families and households was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel. ³¹ They were in charge of the Ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the utensils used in the holy place, and the screen. They took care of all these things.

³¹ They were in charge of the Ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the utensils used in the holy place, and the screen. They took care of all these things. ³² The leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was in charge of those who carried out the duties in the Holy Place.

³² The leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was in charge of those who carried out the duties in the Holy Place. ³³ The clan of Merari was composed of the families of Mahli and Mushi.

³³ The clan of Merari was composed of the families of Mahli and Mushi. ³⁴ The total number of males one month old or older that were enrolled was six thousand two hundred.

³⁴ The total number of males one month old or older that were enrolled was six thousand two hundred. ³⁵ This clan was to camp on the north side of the Tent, with Zuriel son of Abihail as leader of the clan.

³⁵ This clan was to camp on the north side of the Tent, with Zuriel son of Abihail as leader of the clan. ³⁶ It was the duty of the Merarites to be in charge of the framework of the inner tent, the crossbars, posts, sockets, and all the equipment. They took care of these things.

³⁶ It was the duty of the Merarites to be in charge of the framework of the inner tent, the crossbars, posts, sockets, and all the equipment. They took care of these things. ³⁷ They were responsible for the posts for the surrounding courtyard, the bases, pegs, and ropes.

³⁷ They were responsible for the posts for the surrounding courtyard, the bases, pegs, and ropes. ³⁸ Moses, Aaron, and his sons put up their tents on the east side in front of the tent of meeting. They were in charge of the holy place on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who tried to do the Levites’ duties had to be put to death.

³⁸ Moses, Aaron, and his sons put up their tents on the east side in front of the tent of meeting. They were in charge of the holy place on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who tried to do the Levites’ duties had to be put to death.

³⁸ Moses, Aaron, and his sons put up their tents on the east side in front of the tent of meeting. They were in charge of the holy place on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who tried to do the Levites’ duties had to be put to death. ³⁹ The grand total of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted at Jehovah’s command, by families, every male who was at least one month old, was twenty-two thousand. ⁴⁰ Jehovah said to Moses: »Register every firstborn male of the Israelites who is at least one month old, and make a list of their names. ⁴¹ »I am Jehovah. Take the Levites for me to be substitutes for all firstborn Israelites. Also take the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for all firstborn animals of the Israelites.« ⁴² Moses registered all the firstborn Israelites as Jehovah commanded him. ⁴³ The total of all the firstborn males at least one month old was twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy three. They were listed by name. ⁴⁴ Jehovah said to Moses: ⁴⁵ »Take the Levites to be substitutes for all the firstborn Israelites and the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for their animals. The Levites will be mine. I am Jehovah. ⁴⁶ »There are two hundred and seventy-three more firstborn male Israelites than there are Levites. ⁴⁷ »It will cost you two ounces of silver per person, using the standard weight of the holy place, to buy them back. ⁴⁸ »Give the silver to Aaron and his sons. It will buy back those Israelites who outnumber the Levites.« ⁴⁹ Moses took this ransom money from the Israelites who outnumbered the Levites.

¹ Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron:

¹ Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron: ² »Take a census of the Levites who are descended from Kohath. List them by families and households.

² »Take a census of the Levites who are descended from Kohath. List them by families and households. ³ »Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to work at the tent of meeting.

³ »Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to work at the tent of meeting. ⁴ »This is the work the Kohathites will do in the tent of meeting: They will take care of the most holy things.

⁴ »This is the work the Kohathites will do in the tent of meeting: They will take care of the most holy things. ⁵ »When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons will go in and take down the canopy that hangs over the Ark containing the words of God’s Covenant. First they will cover the Ark with the canopy.

⁵ »When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons will go in and take down the canopy that hangs over the Ark containing the words of God’s Covenant. First they will cover the Ark with the canopy. ⁶ »Over this they will put a covering of fine leather. On top of that they will spread a cloth made entirely of violet material. Then they will put the poles in place.

⁶ »Over this they will put a covering of fine leather. On top of that they will spread a cloth made entirely of violet material. Then they will put the poles in place. ⁷ »They will spread a violet cloth over the table of the presence and put on it the plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers for the wine offerings. The bread that is always in Jehovah’s presence will also be on it.

⁷ »They will spread a violet cloth over the table of the presence and put on it the plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers for the wine offerings. The bread that is always in Jehovah’s presence will also be on it. ⁸ »They will spread a bright red cloth over everything on the table. They will then cover all this with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place.

⁸ »They will spread a bright red cloth over everything on the table. They will then cover all this with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place. ⁹ »They will use a violet cloth to cover the lamp stand, as well as the lamps, snuffers, trays, and all the containers for the olive oil used in the lamps.

⁹ »They will use a violet cloth to cover the lamp stand, as well as the lamps, snuffers, trays, and all the containers for the olive oil used in the lamps. ¹⁰ »Then they will put the lamp stand and all its utensils under a covering of fine leather and put them on a frame to carry them.

¹⁰ »Then they will put the lamp stand and all its utensils under a covering of fine leather and put them on a frame to carry them. ¹¹ »They will spread a violet cloth over the gold altar and cover the cloth with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place.

¹¹ »They will spread a violet cloth over the gold altar and cover the cloth with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place. ¹² »They will take all the articles that are used in the holy place and put them in a violet cloth. Then they will cover that with fine leather, and put them on a frame to carry them.

¹² »They will take all the articles that are used in the holy place and put them in a violet cloth. Then they will cover that with fine leather, and put them on a frame to carry them. ¹³ »After they take the ashes away, they will spread a purple cloth over the altar.

¹³ »After they take the ashes away, they will spread a purple cloth over the altar. ¹⁴ »They will put all the accessories used at the altar on it. These are the trays, forks, shovels, and bowls-all the altar’s accessories. They will spread a covering of fine leather (sealskin) over all this. Then they will put the poles in place.

¹⁴ »They will put all the accessories used at the altar on it. These are the trays, forks, shovels, and bowls-all the altar’s accessories. They will spread a covering of fine leather (sealskin) over all this. Then they will put the poles in place. ¹⁵ »When Aaron and his sons finished covering the holy things and the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites will come to carry all the holy articles. They must never touch the holy things, or they will die. The Kohathites will carry all the things from the tent of meeting.

¹⁵ »When Aaron and his sons finished covering the holy things and the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites will come to carry all the holy articles. They must never touch the holy things, or they will die. The Kohathites will carry all the things from the tent of meeting.

¹⁵ »When Aaron and his sons finished covering the holy things and the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites will come to carry all the holy articles. They must never touch the holy things, or they will die. The Kohathites will carry all the things from the tent of meeting. ¹⁶ »Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of the oil for the lamps, the sweet-smelling incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He is in charge of the whole tent and everything in it, the holy place and its contents.«

¹⁶ »Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of the oil for the lamps, the sweet-smelling incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He is in charge of the whole tent and everything in it, the holy place and its contents.« ¹⁷ Jehovah continued to speak to Moses and Aaron:

¹⁷ Jehovah continued to speak to Moses and Aaron: ¹⁸ »Do not let the Kohathite families from Levi’s tribe be destroyed.

¹⁸ »Do not let the Kohathite families from Levi’s tribe be destroyed. ¹⁹ »This is what you must do so that they will not die when they come near the most holy things: Aaron and his sons will go into the holy place and tell each man what he will do and what he will carry.

¹⁹ »This is what you must do so that they will not die when they come near the most holy things: Aaron and his sons will go into the holy place and tell each man what he will do and what he will carry. ²⁰ »However the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.«

²⁰ »However the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.« ²¹ Jehovah said to Moses:

²¹ Jehovah said to Moses: ²² »Take a census of the Gershonites. List them by households and families.

²² »Take a census of the Gershonites. List them by households and families. ²³ »Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to serve at the tent of meeting.

²³ »Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to serve at the tent of meeting. ²⁴ »This is what the Gershonite families will do and what they will carry:

²⁴ »This is what the Gershonite families will do and what they will carry: ²⁵ »They will carry the sheets that are part of the inner tent and the tent of meeting. They will also carry the inner cover for the tent of meeting, the outer cover of fine leather that goes over it, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting,

²⁵ »They will carry the sheets that are part of the inner tent and the tent of meeting. They will also carry the inner cover for the tent of meeting, the outer cover of fine leather that goes over it, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, ²⁶ the curtains for the courtyard around the tent and the altar, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes, and all the equipment used to set up the curtains. The Gershonites will do everything that needs to be done with these things.

²⁶ the curtains for the courtyard around the tent and the altar, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes, and all the equipment used to set up the curtains. The Gershonites will do everything that needs to be done with these things. ²⁷ »All their work, whatever they carry and all their duties, will be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You are in charge of telling them everything they are to carry.

²⁷ »All their work, whatever they carry and all their duties, will be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You are in charge of telling them everything they are to carry. ²⁸ »This is the work of the Gershonite families in the tent of meeting. Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of them.

²⁸ »This is the work of the Gershonite families in the tent of meeting. Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of them. ²⁹ »Register the Merarites by families and households.

²⁹ »Register the Merarites by families and households. ³⁰ »Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to serve at the tent of meeting.

³⁰ »Register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are qualified to serve at the tent of meeting. ³¹ »These are their duties as they work at the tent of meeting: They will carry the framework for the inner tent, the crossbars, posts, and sockets,

³¹ »These are their duties as they work at the tent of meeting: They will carry the framework for the inner tent, the crossbars, posts, and sockets, ³² the posts for the surrounding courtyard, the bases, pegs, and ropes. They must take care of all this equipment. Tell each man by name the things he will carry.

³² the posts for the surrounding courtyard, the bases, pegs, and ropes. They must take care of all this equipment. Tell each man by name the things he will carry. ³³ »This is what the Merarite families will do as they work at the tent of meeting. Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of them.«

³³ »This is what the Merarite families will do as they work at the tent of meeting. Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of them.« ³⁴ Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation registered the Kohathites by their families and households. ³⁵ They registered all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to work at the tent of meeting. ³⁶ The total of those who were registered was two thousand seven hundred and fifty. They were listed by families. ³⁷ This was the total of all those in the Kohathite families who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron did as Jehovah commanded Moses and registered the Kohathites. ³⁸ The Gershonites were registered by families and households. ³⁹ All the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to serve at the tent of meeting were registered. ⁴⁰ The total of those registered was two thousand six hundred and seventy. They were listed by families and households. ⁴¹ This was the total of all those in the Gershonite families who worked at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron did as Jehovah commanded Moses and registered the Gershonites. ⁴² The Merarites were registered by families and households. ⁴³ All the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to serve at the tent of meeting were registered. ⁴⁴ The total of all those who were registered was three thousand two hundred. They were listed by families. ⁴⁵ This was the total of those registered in the Merarite families. Moses and Aaron did as Jehovah commanded Moses and registered the Merarites. ⁴⁶ All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted, by their families and by their fathers’ households, ⁴⁷ were the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to do the work of serving and who carried the tent of meeting. ⁴⁸ They counted eight thousand five hundred and fifty. ⁴⁹ At Jehovah’s command through Moses each man was registered and told what to do and what to carry. So they were registered as Jehovah commanded Moses.

²¹ This is the inventory of the tent, the Tent of Testimony. An inventory was ordered by Moses and carried out by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron.

²⁶ This amounted to one-fifth of an ounce per person, for everyone counted who was at least twenty years old. There were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty people.

³² So all the work on the inner tent of the tent of meeting was now done. The Israelites obeyed all Jehovah’s instructions to Moses.

⁴³ Moses inspected all the work. He saw that they had followed Jehovah’s instructions. So Moses blessed them.

² »Set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting on the first day of the first month of the year.

¹⁶ Moses did everything just as Jehovah commanded. ¹⁷ The Tent of Jehovah’s presence was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year after they left Egypt.

³² They washed whenever they went into the tent of meeting or whenever they approached the altar. Moses obeyed Jehovah’s instructions.

¹ Jehovah (YHWH) called to Moses. He spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, He said:

⁶ Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar: Do not leave your hair uncombed or tear your clothes to show that you are in mourning. If you do you will die. For Jehovah will be angry with the whole community. But all other Israelites are allowed to mourn this death caused by the fire Jehovah sent.

¹⁰ »‘Only a member of a priestly family may eat any of the sacred offerings. No one else may eat them, not even someone staying with a priest or hired by him. ¹¹ »‘A priest's slaves, bought with his own money or born in his home, may eat the food the priest receives. ¹² »‘A priest's daughter who marries someone who is not a priest may not eat any of the sacred offerings. ¹³ »‘A widowed or divorced daughter who has no children and who has returned to live in her father's house as a dependent may eat the food her father receives as a priest. Only a member of a priestly family may eat any of it.

³⁴ These are the commandments Jehovah gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites.

¹ Jehovah (YHWH) spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai. It was the first day of the second month in the second year after leaving Egypt. He said: ² »Take a census of all the males of the congregation of Israel by families and households. List every man by name

² »Take a census of all the males of the congregation of Israel by families and households. List every man by name ³ who is at least twenty years old. You and Aaron must register everyone in Israel who is eligible for military duty. List them by divisions.

³ who is at least twenty years old. You and Aaron must register everyone in Israel who is eligible for military duty. List them by divisions. ⁴ »One man from each tribe will help you. Each of these men must be the head of a household.

⁴ »One man from each tribe will help you. Each of these men must be the head of a household. ⁵ »Here are the names of the men who will help you: Elizur, son of Shedeur, from the tribe of Reuben,

⁵ »Here are the names of the men who will help you: Elizur, son of Shedeur, from the tribe of Reuben, ⁶ »Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, from the tribe of Simeon;

⁶ »Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, from the tribe of Simeon; ⁷ »Nahshon, son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah;

⁷ »Nahshon, son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah; ⁸ »Nethanel, son of Zuar, from the tribe of Issachar;

⁸ »Nethanel, son of Zuar, from the tribe of Issachar; ⁹ »Eliab, son of Helon, from the tribe of Zebulun;

⁹ »Eliab, son of Helon, from the tribe of Zebulun; ¹⁰ »Elishama, son of Ammihud, from the tribe of Ephraim; Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, from the tribe of Manasseh; Ephraim and Manasseh are Joseph’s descendants.

¹⁰ »Elishama, son of Ammihud, from the tribe of Ephraim; Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, from the tribe of Manasseh; Ephraim and Manasseh are Joseph’s descendants. ¹¹ »Abidan, son of Gideoni, from the tribe of Benjamin;

¹¹ »Abidan, son of Gideoni, from the tribe of Benjamin; ¹² »Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai, from the tribe of Dan;

¹² »Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai, from the tribe of Dan; ¹³ »Pagiel, son of Ochran, from the tribe of Asher;

¹³ »Pagiel, son of Ochran, from the tribe of Asher;

² The leaders of Israel, the heads of the households, those tribal leaders who helped in the census came to give their offerings.

¹⁰ The leaders also brought offerings for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed. They presented their gifts in front of the altar. ¹¹ Jehovah said to Moses: »Each day a different leader will bring his gift for the dedication of the altar.« ¹² Nahshon, son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah brought his gifts on the first day.

¹² Nahshon, son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah brought his gifts on the first day. ¹³ He brought a silver plate that weighed three and one fourth pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ¹⁴ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense; ¹⁵ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ¹⁶ a male goat as an offering for sin; ¹⁷ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Nahshon, son of Amminadab. ¹⁸ On the second day Nethanel, son of Zuar, the leader from the tribe of Issachar, brought his gifts.

¹⁸ On the second day Nethanel, son of Zuar, the leader from the tribe of Issachar, brought his gifts. ¹⁹ He brought a silver plate that weighed three and three fourths pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ²⁰ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense; ²¹ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ²² a male goat as an offering for sin; ²³ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Nethanel, son of Zuar. ²⁴ On the third day the leader of the descendants of Zebulun, Eliab, son of Helon,

²⁴ On the third day the leader of the descendants of Zebulun, Eliab, son of Helon, ²⁵ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ²⁶ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense; ²⁷ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ²⁸ a male goat as an offering for sin; ²⁹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Eliab, son of Helon. ³⁰ On the fourth day the leader of the descendants of Reuben, Elizur, son of Shedeur,

³⁰ On the fourth day the leader of the descendants of Reuben, Elizur, son of Shedeur, ³¹ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ³² He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense; ³³ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ³⁴ a male goat as an offering for sin; ³⁵ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Elizur, son of Shedeur. ³⁶ On the fifth day the leader of the descendants of Simeon, Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai,

³⁶ On the fifth day the leader of the descendants of Simeon, Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, ³⁷ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ³⁸ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces. It was filled with incense. ³⁹ He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ⁴⁰ a male goat as an offering for sin; ⁴¹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai. ⁴² On the sixth day the leader of the descendants of Gad, Eliasaph, son of Deuel,

⁴² On the sixth day the leader of the descendants of Gad, Eliasaph, son of Deuel, ⁴³ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ⁴⁴ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense, ⁴⁵ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ⁴⁶ a male goat as an offering for sin; ⁴⁷ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Eliasaph, son of Deuel. ⁴⁸ On the seventh day the leader of the descendants of Ephraim, Elishama, son of Ammihud,

⁴⁸ On the seventh day the leader of the descendants of Ephraim, Elishama, son of Ammihud, ⁴⁹ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ⁵⁰ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense, ⁵¹ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ⁵² a male goat as an offering for sin; ⁵³ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Elishama, son of Ammihud. ⁵⁴ On the eighth day the leader of the descendants of Manasseh, Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur,

⁵⁴ On the eighth day the leader of the descendants of Manasseh, Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, ⁵⁵ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ⁵⁶ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense, ⁵⁷ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ⁵⁸ a male goat as an offering for sin; ⁵⁹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur. ⁶⁰ On the ninth day the leader of the descendants of Benjamin, Abidan, son of Gideoni,

⁶⁰ On the ninth day the leader of the descendants of Benjamin, Abidan, son of Gideoni, ⁶¹ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ⁶² He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense, ⁶³ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ⁶⁴ a male goat as an offering for sin; ⁶⁵ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Abidan, son of Gideoni. ⁶⁶ On the tenth day the leader of the descendants of Dan, Ahiezer, son of Amishaddai,

⁶⁶ On the tenth day the leader of the descendants of Dan, Ahiezer, son of Amishaddai, ⁶⁷ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ⁶⁸ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense; ⁶⁹ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ⁷⁰ a male goat as an offering for sin; ⁷¹ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Ahiezer, son of Amishaddai. ⁷² On the eleventh day the leader of the descendants of Asher, Pagiel, son of Ochran,

⁷² On the eleventh day the leader of the descendants of Asher, Pagiel, son of Ochran, ⁷³ brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed three and one quarter pounds and a silver bowl that weighed one and three quarter pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. ⁷⁴ He also brought a gold dish that weighed four ounces, filled with incense; ⁷⁵ a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering; ⁷⁶ a male goat as an offering for sin; ⁷⁷ and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Pagiel, son of Ochran. ⁷⁸ On the twelfth day the leader of the descendants of Naphtali, Ahira, son of Enan,

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

¹ Jehovah said to Moses: ² »Speak to Aaron and tell him: ‘When you set up the seven lamps on the lamp stand, they should illuminate the area in front of it.’« ³ So Aaron set up the lamps on the lamp stand to illuminate the area in front of it, as Jehovah commanded Moses. ⁴ This is how the lamp stand was made: The whole lamp stand, from top to bottom, was hammered out of gold. It was made exactly like the one Jehovah had shown Moses. ⁵ Jehovah said to Moses: ⁶ »Separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites. Make them clean. ⁷ »This is what you must do to make them clean: Sprinkle them with water to take away their sins. Make them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes. Then they will be clean. ⁸ »They must take a young bull and the grain offering of flour mixed with olive oil that is offered with it. You must take a second young bull as an offering for sin. ⁹ »Bring the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting. Assemble the whole congregation of Israel. ¹⁰ »Then bring the Levites into Jehovah’s presence, and the Israelites will place their hands on them. ¹¹ »Aaron will present the Levites to Jehovah as an offering from the Israelites. Then they will be ready to do Jehovah’s work. ¹² »The Levites will place their hands on the heads of the young bulls. Sacrifice one of them as an offering for sin and the other one as a burnt offering to Jehovah. These sacrifices will pay compensation for wrongdoing and make peace with Jehovah for the Levites. ¹³ »Make the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons, and present them as an offering to Jehovah. ¹⁴ »In this way you will separate the Levites from the other Israelites. The Levites will be mine. ¹⁵ »Once you have made them clean and presented them as an offering, the Levites may come and do their work at the tent of meeting. ¹⁶ »They will be the only Israelites given to me. I have taken them to be mine as substitutes for every firstborn male offspring of the Israelites. ¹⁷ »When I killed all the first-born in Egypt, I consecrated as my own the oldest son of each Israelite family and the first-born of every animal. ¹⁸ »I am now taking the Levites instead of all the first-born of the Israelites. ¹⁹ »I assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons, as a gift from the Israelites. They are to work in the tent for the people of Israel and to protect the Israelites from the disaster that would strike them if they came too near the Holy Place.«

¹⁹ »I assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons, as a gift from the Israelites. They are to work in the tent for the people of Israel and to protect the Israelites from the disaster that would strike them if they came too near the Holy Place.« ²⁰ Moses, Aaron, and all the people of Israel dedicated the Levites, as Jehovah commanded Moses. ²¹ So the Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes. Aaron dedicated them as a special gift to Jehovah. He also performed the ritual of purification for them. ²² The people did everything Jehovah commanded Moses concerning the Levites. Thus the Levites were qualified to work in the tent under Aaron and his sons. ²³ Jehovah said to Moses: ²⁴ »From the age of twenty-five each Levite shall perform his duties in the tent of my presence, ²⁵ »They must retire from active service when they are fifty years old. ²⁶ »They may assist the other Levites in their duties at the tent of meeting. But they may not do any regular work. This is how you will handle the Levites’ duties.«

¹ Jehovah spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month of the second year after the Israelites left Egypt. He said:

¹ Jehovah said to Moses: ² »Make two trumpets of hammered silver to use for calling the people together and for breaking camp. ³ »When long blasts are sounded on both trumpets, the whole community is to gather around you at the entrance to the tent of my presence. ⁴ »When only one trumpet is sounded, then only the leaders of the clans are to gather around you. ⁵ »When short blasts are sounded, the tribes camped on the east will move out. ⁶ »When short blasts are sounded a second time, the tribes on the south will move out. So short blasts are to be sounded to break camp, ⁷ »Long blasts are to be sounded to call the congregation together. ⁸ »Aaron’s sons the priests are to blow the trumpets. The following rule is to be observed for all time to come. ⁹ »When there is war in your land and you defend yourselves against an enemy attack, sound the signal for battle on these trumpets. I, Jehovah your God, will help you and save you from your enemies. ¹⁰ »Joyful occasions such as your New Moon Festivals and your other religious festivals, you are to blow the trumpets when you present your burnt offerings and your fellowship offerings. Then I will help you. I AM JEHOVAH YOUR GOD!« ¹¹ The cloud over the tent of Jehovah’s presence lifted the twentieth day of the second month in the second year after the people left Egypt.

¹¹ The cloud over the tent of Jehovah’s presence lifted the twentieth day of the second month in the second year after the people left Egypt.

¹¹ The cloud over the tent of Jehovah’s presence lifted the twentieth day of the second month in the second year after the people left Egypt. ¹² At last the Israelites started on their journey out of the Sinai Desert. The cloud came to rest in the wilderness of Paran.

¹² At last the Israelites started on their journey out of the Sinai Desert. The cloud came to rest in the wilderness of Paran. ¹³ Jehovah gave the command through Moses for them to march. ¹⁴ They were in the same order each time they moved. Those under the banner of the division led by the tribe of Judah started out first, company by company, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command.

¹⁴ They were in the same order each time they moved. Those under the banner of the division led by the tribe of Judah started out first, company by company, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command.

¹⁴ They were in the same order each time they moved. Those under the banner of the division led by the tribe of Judah started out first, company by company, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command. ¹⁵ Nethanel son of Zuar was in command of the tribe of Issachar.

¹⁵ Nethanel son of Zuar was in command of the tribe of Issachar.

¹⁵ Nethanel son of Zuar was in command of the tribe of Issachar. ¹⁶ Eliab son of Helon was in command of the tribe of Zebulun.

¹⁶ Eliab son of Helon was in command of the tribe of Zebulun.

¹⁶ Eliab son of Helon was in command of the tribe of Zebulun. ¹⁷ Then the tent would be taken down. The clans of Gershon and Merari carried it.

¹⁷ Then the tent would be taken down. The clans of Gershon and Merari carried it.

¹⁷ Then the tent would be taken down. The clans of Gershon and Merari carried it. ¹⁸ Next, the banner of the division led by the tribe of Reuben would start out, company by company. Elizur son of Shedeur was in command.

¹⁸ Next, the banner of the division led by the tribe of Reuben would start out, company by company. Elizur son of Shedeur was in command.

¹⁸ Next, the banner of the division led by the tribe of Reuben would start out, company by company. Elizur son of Shedeur was in command.

¹⁸ Next, the banner of the division led by the tribe of Reuben would start out, company by company. Elizur son of Shedeur was in command. ¹⁹ Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was in command of the tribe of Simeon,

¹⁹ Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was in command of the tribe of Simeon,

¹⁹ Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was in command of the tribe of Simeon, ²⁰ and Eliasaph son of Deuel was in command of the tribe of Gad.

²⁰ and Eliasaph son of Deuel was in command of the tribe of Gad.

²⁰ and Eliasaph son of Deuel was in command of the tribe of Gad.

²⁰ and Eliasaph son of Deuel was in command of the tribe of Gad. ²¹ The Levite clan of Kohath started the march. They carried the sacred objects. By the time they arrived at the next camp, the tent had been set up again.

²¹ The Levite clan of Kohath started the march. They carried the sacred objects. By the time they arrived at the next camp, the tent had been set up again.

²¹ The Levite clan of Kohath started the march. They carried the sacred objects. By the time they arrived at the next camp, the tent had been set up again.

²¹ The Levite clan of Kohath started the march. They carried the sacred objects. By the time they arrived at the next camp, the tent had been set up again. ²² Next, the banner of the division led by the tribe of Ephraim would start out, company by company, with Elishama son of Ammihud in command.

²² Next, the banner of the division led by the tribe of Ephraim would start out, company by company, with Elishama son of Ammihud in command.

²² Next, the banner of the division led by the tribe of Ephraim would start out, company by company, with Elishama son of Ammihud in command. ²³ Gamaliel son of Pedahzur commanded the tribe of Manasseh.

²³ Gamaliel son of Pedahzur commanded the tribe of Manasseh.

²³ Gamaliel son of Pedahzur commanded the tribe of Manasseh. ²⁴ Abidan son of Gideoni commanded the tribe of Benjamin.

²⁴ Abidan son of Gideoni commanded the tribe of Benjamin.

²⁴ Abidan son of Gideoni commanded the tribe of Benjamin. ²⁵ Finally, the banner of the division led by the tribe of Dan, serving as the rear guard of all the divisions, started out, company by company. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was in command.

²⁵ Finally, the banner of the division led by the tribe of Dan, serving as the rear guard of all the divisions, started out, company by company. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was in command.

²⁵ Finally, the banner of the division led by the tribe of Dan, serving as the rear guard of all the divisions, started out, company by company. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was in command. ²⁶ Pagiel son of Ochran commanded the tribe of Asher.

²⁶ Pagiel son of Ochran commanded the tribe of Asher.

²⁶ Pagiel son of Ochran commanded the tribe of Asher. ²⁷ Ahira son of Enan commanded the tribe of Naphtali.

²⁷ Ahira son of Enan commanded the tribe of Naphtali.

²⁷ Ahira son of Enan commanded the tribe of Naphtali. ²⁸ This was the order of march, company by company, when the Israelites broke camp and set out. ²⁹ Moses said to his brother-in-law Hobab son of Jethro the Midianite: We are about to start out for the place Jehovah said he would give us. He promised to make Israel prosperous, so come with us, and we will share our prosperity with you. ³⁰ Hobab answered: »No, I am going back to my native land.« ³¹ »Please do not leave us,« Moses said. »You know where we can camp in the desert. You can be our guide. ³² »If you come with us, we will share with you all the blessings that Jehovah gives us.« ³³ The people left Sinai, the holy mountain. They traveled three days. Jehovah’s Ark of the Covenant always went ahead of them to find a place for them to camp. ³⁴ They moved camp to camp with the cloud of Jehovah over them by day. ³⁵ When the Ark of the Covenant started out, Moses would say: »ARISE, JEHOVAH; scatter your enemies and put to flight those who hate you!« ³⁶ And when it stopped, he would say: »RETURN, O JEHOVAH, to the countless thousands of Israel!«

¹⁷ »I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the spirit I have given and give it to them. Then they can help you bear the responsibility for these people. You will not have to bear it alone.

² »Choose one of the leaders from each of the twelve tribes and send them as spies to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.« ³ According to Jehovah’s command, Moses sent these men from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites. ⁴ These are their names: Shammua, son of Zaccur, from the tribe of Reuben, ⁵ Shaphat, son of Hori, from the tribe of Simeon; ⁶ Caleb, son of Jephunneh, from the tribe of Judah; ⁷ Igal, son of Joseph, from the tribe of Issachar; ⁸ Hoshea, son of Nun, from the tribe of Ephraim; ⁹ Palti, son of Raphu, from the tribe of Benjamin; ¹⁰ Gaddiel, son of Sodi, from the tribe of Zebulun; ¹¹ Gaddi, son of Susi, from the tribe of Joseph, that is, the tribe of Manasseh;

² These four men were joined by two hundred and fifty Israelite men, well known leaders of the congregation. The assembly chose them.

¹¹ Moses raised his hand and hit the rock twice with the staff. Water came pouring out! All the people and their animals drank.

³⁰ »From the sons of Israel’s half, you shall take one drawn out of every fifty of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys and of the sheep, from all the animals, and give them to the Levites who keep charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah.«

⁴⁷ Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of animals from the Israelite’s half. He gave them to the Levites, who kept charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah, just as Jehovah commanded Moses.

¹¹ »None of the people twenty years old or older, who came from Egypt, will see the land I promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with an oath. This is because they did not wholeheartedly follow me.

¹ This is a list of all the places where the Israelites set up camp after they left Egypt in organized groups under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.

¹⁸ »You must also take one leader from each tribe to divide the land. ¹⁹ These are their names: Caleb son of Jephunneh, from the tribe of Judah, ²⁰ »Shemuel son of Ammihud, from the tribe of Simeon; ²¹ »Elidad son of Kislon, from the tribe of Benjamin; ²² »Bukki son of Jogli, the leader of the tribe of Dan; ²³ »Hanniel son of Ephod, the leader of the tribe of Manasseh; ²⁴ »Kemuel son of Shiphtan, the leader of the tribe of Ephraim; Manasseh and Ephraim are Joseph’s descendants. ²⁵ »Elizaphan son of Parnach, the leader of the tribe of Zebulun; ²⁶ »Paltiel son of Azzan, the leader of the tribe of Issachar; ²⁷ »Ahihud son of Shelomi, the leader of the tribe of Asher; ²⁸ »Pedahel son of Ammihud, the leader of the tribe of Naphtali.«

¹⁵ »So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men and known, and made them rulers over you. I made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.

¹² Ammiel, son of Gemalli, from the tribe of Dan; ¹³ Sethur, son of Michael, from the tribe of Asher; ¹⁴ Nahbi, son of Vophsi, from the tribe of Naphtali; ¹⁵ and Geuel, son of Machi, from the tribe of Gad.

²⁹ »‘Your bodies will drop dead in this desert. All of you who are at least twenty years old, who were registered and listed, and who complained about me will die.

⁴⁰ He followed Jehovah’s command given through Moses. The copper-covered altar will remind Israel that no one but a descendant of Aaron may come near to burn incense to Jehovah. Everyone else will die like Korah and his followers.

⁴⁶ Moses said to Aaron: »Take your incense burner, put burning coals from the altar and incense in it, and go quickly into the congregation to make peace with Jehovah for the people. Jehovah shows his anger! A plague has started.«

³ »Write Aaron’s name on the staff for Levi because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe.

² »Bring the other Levites from your ancestor’s tribe to join you and help you and your sons serve in front of the tent of the words of my promise. ³ »They are to fulfill their duties to you and their responsibilities for the tent. However they must not have any contact with sacred objects in the Holy Place or with the altar. If they do, both they and you will be put to death. ⁴ »They are to work with you and fulfill their responsibilities for all the service in the tent. No unqualified person may work with you. ⁵ »You and your sons alone must fulfill the responsibilities for the Holy Place and the altar. That way my anger will not again break out against the people of Israel.

²² »The other Israelites must never again come near the tent of meeting. Otherwise, they will suffer the consequences of their sin and die.

¹⁰ »‘The descendants of Jacob are like specks of dust. Who can count them or number even one-fourth of the people of Israel? Let me die the death of innocent people. Let my end be like theirs.’«

²³ »For there is omen (spell) against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel. At the proper time it will be said to Jacob and Israel: What God has done! ²⁴ »Behold, the nation of Israel! It is like a mighty lion: It will rise and not lie down again until it has torn and devoured it’s pray. It will drink the blood of those it has killed.« ²⁵ Balak said to Balaam: »You refuse to curse (malign) the people of Israel, but at least do not bless them!«

² There he saw the people of Israel camped tribe by tribe. The Spirit of God took control of him.

⁴ Jehovah said to Moses: »Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before Jehovah so that the fierce anger of Jehovah may turn away from Israel.«

⁸ He went into the tent after the Israelite man. He drove the spear through the man and into the woman’s body. Because of this, the plague that the Israelites were experiencing stopped. ⁹ Twenty-four thousand people died from that plague.

¹⁴ The name of the Israelite man who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri, son of Salu. Salu was the leader of a family from Simeon.

¹ After the plague Jehovah said to Moses and Eleazar son of the priest Aaron: ² »Take a census of the entire congregation of Israel by households. List those who are at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty.«

² »Take a census of the entire congregation of Israel by households. List those who are at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty.«

² »Take a census of the entire congregation of Israel by households. List those who are at least twenty years old and eligible for military duty.« ³ Moses and the priest Eleazar spoke to the Israelites on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho. They said: ⁴ »Take a census of those at least twenty years old, as Jehovah commanded Moses.« These are the Israelites who came from Egypt: ⁵ Reuben was Israel’s firstborn. The descendants of Reuben were the family of Hanoch, the family of Pallu, ⁶ the family of Hezron, and the family of Carmi. ⁷ These were the families of Reuben. The total number of men was forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty.

⁷ These were the families of Reuben. The total number of men was forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty.

⁹ and Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram were the sons of Eliab. It was Dathan and Abiram, men chosen by the community, who defied Moses and Aaron’s authority. They joined Korah’s followers when they defied Jehovah’s authority.

¹² The families descended from Simeon were the family of Nemuel, the family of Jamin, the family of Jakin, ¹³ the family of Zerah, and the family of Shaul. ¹⁴ These were the families of Simeon. The total number of men was twenty-two thousand two hundred.

¹⁴ These were the families of Simeon. The total number of men was twenty-two thousand two hundred. ¹⁵ The families descended from Gad were the family of Zephon, the family of Haggi, the family of Shuni, ¹⁶ the family of Ozni, the family of Eri, ¹⁷ the family of Arodi, and the family of Areli. ¹⁸ These were the families of Gad’s descendants. The total number of men was forty thousand five hundred.

¹⁸ These were the families of Gad’s descendants. The total number of men was forty thousand five hundred. ¹⁹ Er and Onan were sons of Judah, but they died in Canaan. ²⁰ The families descended from Judah were the family of Shelah, the family of Perez, and the family of Zerah. ²¹ The descendants of Perez were the family of Hezron and the family of Hamul. ²² These were the families of Judah. The total number of men was seventy-six thousand five hundred.

²² These were the families of Judah. The total number of men was seventy-six thousand five hundred. ²³ The families descended from Issachar were the family of Tola, the family of Puah, ²⁴ the family of Jashub, and the family of Shimron. ²⁵ These were the families of Issachar. The total number of men was sixty-four thousand three hundred.

²⁵ These were the families of Issachar. The total number of men was sixty-four thousand three hundred. ²⁶ The families descended from Zebulun were the family of Sered, the family of Elon, and the family of Jahleel. ²⁷ These were the families of Zebulun. The total number of men was sixty thousand five hundred.

²⁷ These were the families of Zebulun. The total number of men was sixty thousand five hundred. ²⁸ The families descended from Joseph through Manasseh and Ephraim were ²⁹ from Manasseh the family of Machir who was the father of Gilead and the family of Gilead. ³⁰ The descendants of Gilead were the family of Iezer, the family of Helek, ³¹ the family of Asriel, the family of Shechem, ³² the family of Shemida, and the family of Hepher. ³³ Zelophehad, son of Hepher, had no sons-only daughters. Their names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. ³⁴ These were the families of Manasseh. The total number of men was fifty-two thousand seven hundred.

³⁴ These were the families of Manasseh. The total number of men was fifty-two thousand seven hundred. ³⁵ The families descended from Ephraim were the family of Shuthelah, the family of Beker, and the family of Tahan. ³⁶ The descendants of Shuthelah were the family of Eran. ³⁷ These were the families of Ephraim’s descendants. The total number of men was thirty-two thousand five hundred. These were the families descended from Joseph.

³⁷ These were the families of Ephraim’s descendants. The total number of men was thirty-two thousand five hundred. These were the families descended from Joseph. ³⁸ The families descended from Benjamin were the family of Bela, the family of Ashbel, the family of Ahiram, ³⁹ the family of Shupham, and the family of Hupham. ⁴⁰ The descendants of Bela through Ard and Naaman were the family of Ard and the family of Naaman. ⁴¹ These were the families descended from Benjamin. The total number of men was forty-five thousand six hundred.

⁴¹ These were the families descended from Benjamin. The total number of men was forty-five thousand six hundred. ⁴² The family descended from Dan was the family of Shuham. This was the family descended from Dan. ⁴³ The total number of men in all the family of Shuham was sixty-four thousand four hundred.

⁴³ The total number of men in all the family of Shuham was sixty-four thousand four hundred. ⁴⁴ The families descended from Asher were the family of Imnah, the family of Ishvi, and the family of Beriah. ⁴⁵ The descendants of Beriah were the family of Heber and the family of Malchiel. ⁴⁶ Asher had a daughter named Serah. ⁴⁷ These were the families of Asher’s descendants. The total number of men was fifty-three thousand four hundred.

⁴⁷ These were the families of Asher’s descendants. The total number of men was fifty-three thousand four hundred. ⁴⁸ The families descended from Naphtali were the family of Jahzeel, the family of Guni, ⁴⁹ the family of Jezer, and the family of Shillem. ⁵⁰ These were the families of Naphtali. The total number of men was forty-five thousand four hundred.

⁵⁰ These were the families of Naphtali. The total number of men was forty-five thousand four hundred. ⁵¹ The total number of Israelite men was six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty.

⁵⁷ The families descended from Levi were listed as the family of Gershon, the family of Kohath, and the family of Merari. ⁵⁸ These were the families of Levi: the Libnite family, the Hebronite family, the Mahlite family, the Mushite family, and the Korahite family. Kohath was the ancestor of Amram. ⁵⁹ The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, who was born in Egypt. She gave birth to Amram’s children: Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam. ⁶⁰ Aaron was the father of Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ⁶¹ Nadab and Abihu died because they offered unauthorized fire in Jehovah’s presence. ⁶² The total number of all the Levite males at least one month old was twenty-three thousand. They were not counted along with the other Israelites, because they were given no land of their own.

⁶² The total number of all the Levite males at least one month old was twenty-three thousand. They were not counted along with the other Israelites, because they were given no land of their own. ⁶³ Moses and the priest Eleazar added up the total number of Israelites on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho. ⁶⁴ Not a single one of the Israelites Moses and the priest Aaron had counted in the Desert of Sinai were there.

⁶⁴ Not a single one of the Israelites Moses and the priest Aaron had counted in the Desert of Sinai were there.

¹⁸ »Then I gave them the following instructions: ‘Jehovah our God gave you the land east of the Jordan to occupy. Now arm your fighting men and send them across the Jordan ahead of the other tribes of Israel, to help them occupy their land.

²² »Your fathers traveled to Egypt, seventy persons in all. Now Jehovah your God has made you as numerous as the stars of the universe (physical heavens).

³² »Be careful to do what I command you. Do not add to it nor take away from it.

¹ These are the blessings that Moses, the man of God, pronounced on the people of Israel before he died: ² »Jehovah came from Mount Sinai. He rose like the sun over Edom and shone on his people from Mount Paran. Ten thousand angels were with him. A flaming fire was at his right hand. ³ »Jehovah loves his people. All Your holy ones are in your hand. They followed in your steps and everyone receives your words. ⁴ »Moses commanded us with a law (these teachings), a heritage of the assembly of Jacob. ⁵ »He was king in Jeshurun (Israel) when the leaders and all the tribes of the people of Israel were gathered. ⁶ »Do not let his men be few.« ⁷ »Hear, O Jehovah, the voice of Judah, and bring him to his people. With his hands he contended for them. May you (Jehovah) be help against his adversaries.« ⁸ »Let Your Thummim and Your Urim belong to your godly man, whom you tested at Massah and with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah. ⁹ »Who said of his father and mother: ‘I have not seen them; and he did not acknowledge his brothers, nor did he regard his own sons. They observed your word and kept your covenant.’ ¹⁰ »They will teach your ordinances to Jacob, and your Law to Israel. They will burn incense before you, and whole burnt offerings on your altar. ¹¹ »O Jehovah, bless his skills and accept the work of his hands. Shatter the loins of those who rise up against him and those who hate him, so that they will not rise again.« ¹² »May the beloved of Jehovah dwell in security by him who shields him all the day. He dwells between his shoulders.« ¹³ »Blessed of Jehovah is his land. Bless it with the dew from heaven above and with the deep waters lying below. ¹⁴ »Bless with the choice yield of the sun, and with the bounty produced each month. ¹⁵ »Bless with the best things of the ancient mountains, and with the choice things of the everlasting hills. ¹⁶ »Bless with the choice things of the earth and its fullness. Let the favor of him who dwelt in the bush come to the head of Joseph and to the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers. ¹⁷ »As the firstborn of his bulls, majesty is his. His horns are the horns of the wild bull. With them he will push the peoples, all at once, to the ends of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh.«

¹⁷ »As the firstborn of his bulls, majesty is his. His horns are the horns of the wild bull. With them he will push the peoples, all at once, to the ends of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh.« ¹⁸ »Rejoice Zebulun in your going out. And rejoice Issachar in your tents. ¹⁹ »They will call peoples to the mountain. There they will offer righteous sacrifices. They will draw out the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.« ²⁰ »Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad. He lies down as a lion and tears the arm, also the crown of the head. ²¹ »He provided the first part for himself. There the ruler's portion was reserved. He came with the leaders of the people and executed his ordinance of Israel and the justice of Jehovah.« ²² »Dan is a lion's cub. He leaps forth from Bashan.« ²³ »O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of Jehovah, take possession of the sea and the south.« ²⁴ »Asher is the most blessed with sons. May his brothers favor him. And may he dip his foot in oil. ²⁵ »Your locks will be iron and bronze. According to your days, so will your leisurely walk be. ²⁶ »There is none like the God of Jeshurun (Israel). He rides the heavens to give you help. He goes through the skies in his majesty. ²⁷ »The eternal God is a dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He drove out the enemy from before you, and said: ‘Destroy!’ ²⁸ »Israel dwells in security. The fountain of Jacob is secluded in a land of grain and new wine. His heavens also drop down dew. ²⁹ »You are blessed O Israel. Who is like you, a people saved by Jehovah? He is the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cringe before you and you will tread upon their high places.«

⁵ »A newly married man must not be drafted into the army or charged with any duty. He shall be free at home one year and shall give happiness to the wife he has married.

¹⁴ Ten leading men went with Phinehas, one from each of the western tribes and each one the head of a family among the clans.

¹⁵ Gideon replied: »But Jehovah, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh. I am the least important member of my family.«

⁴⁴ Eighteen thousand of the best Benjaminite soldiers were killed. ⁴⁵ The others turned and ran to the open country to Rimmon Rock. Five thousand of them were killed on the roads. The Israelites continued to pursue the rest to Gidom, killing two thousand. ⁴⁶ In all, twenty-five thousand brave Benjaminites were killed that day.

¹⁸ Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron.

²⁰ And Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon became the father of Salmon.

¹⁹ Some of the men of Bethshemesh looked inside the Ark. Jehovah killed seventy of them. This made the people of Bethshemesh very sad.

²² Samuel said: »What is more pleasing to Jehovah, burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obeying is better than sacrifice. To pay attention is better than the fat of rams.

⁷ At once Jehovah God became angry with Uzzah. He killed him because of his irreverence. Uzzah died there beside the Ark of the Covenant.

⁷ He said to his officials: »Listen to me men of Benjamin! Will Jesse’s son give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all officers over a regiment or a battalion of soldiers?

²³ »Find out exactly the places where he hides. Be sure to bring back a report to me right away. Then I will go with you. If he is still in the region, I will hunt him down, even if I have to search the whole land of Judah.«

¹ Jehovah became angry at Israel again. He provoked David to turn against Israel. He said: »Go count the people of Israel and Judah.«

¹ Jehovah became angry at Israel again. He provoked David to turn against Israel. He said: »Go count the people of Israel and Judah.« ² King David said to Joab the commander of the army: »Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and count the people. That way I will know how many there are.«

² King David said to Joab the commander of the army: »Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and count the people. That way I will know how many there are.« ³ Joab answered reluctantly: »Your Majesty, may Jehovah your God make the people of Israel a hundred times more numerous than they are now. May you live to see him do it. But why does Your Majesty want to do this?«

³ Joab answered reluctantly: »Your Majesty, may Jehovah your God make the people of Israel a hundred times more numerous than they are now. May you live to see him do it. But why does Your Majesty want to do this?« ⁴ The king made Joab and his officers obey his order. They left his presence and went out to count the people of Israel. ⁵ They crossed the Jordan and camped south of Aroer, the city in the middle of the valley, in the territory of Gad. Then they went north to Jazer. ⁶ They went to Gilead and to Kadesh in Syria. Then they went to Dan (Dan-jaan), Ijon, and on toward Sidon. ⁷ They came to the fortress of Tyre. They went through every town of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Finally, they went to Beersheba in the Southern Desert of Judah. ⁸ After they went through the whole land, they went back to Jerusalem. It took them nine months and twenty days. ⁹ Joab told David: In Israel there is eight hundred thousand who can serve in the army. In Judah there are five hundred thousand.

⁹ Joab told David: In Israel there is eight hundred thousand who can serve in the army. In Judah there are five hundred thousand. ¹⁰ After David had everyone counted, he felt guilty and told Jehovah: »What I did was stupid and terribly wrong. Jehovah, please forgive me.«

²⁰ The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore. They ate and drank and were very happy.

¹ Solomon began work on the Temple. It was four hundred and eighty years after the people of Israel left Egypt, during the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the second month, the month of Ziv.

¹⁰ Ram was the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, the leader of the people of Judah. ¹¹ Nahshon was the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz,

¹ The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, ² and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph

⁶⁵ From the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin they allotted the previously named towns. ⁶⁶ Some of the Kohathite clans were given as their territory towns from the tribe of Ephraim. ⁶⁷ In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge), and Gezer, ⁶⁸ Jokmeam, Beth Horon, ⁶⁹ Aijalon and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands. ⁷⁰ And from half the tribe of Manasseh the Israelites gave Aner and Bileam, together with their pasturelands, to the rest of the Kohathite clans. ⁷¹ The Gershonites received the following: From the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh they received Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth, together with their pasturelands, ⁷² from the tribe of Issachar they received Kedesh, Daberath, ⁷³ Ramoth and Anem, together with their pasturelands; ⁷⁴ from the tribe of Asher they received Mashal, Abdon, ⁷⁵ Hukok and Rehob, together with their pasturelands; ⁷⁶ and from the tribe of Naphtali they received Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon and Kiriathaim, together with their pasturelands. ⁷⁷ The Merarites (the rest of the Levites)) received the following: From the tribe of Zebulun they received Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmono and Tabor, together with their pasturelands, ⁷⁸ from the tribe of Reuben across the Jordan east of Jericho they received Bezer in the desert, Jahzah, ⁷⁹ Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands; ⁸⁰ and from the tribe of Gad they received Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, ⁸¹ Heshbon with its pastureland, and Jazer with its pastureland.

²⁶ Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, ²⁷ Nun his son and Joshua his son.

¹ The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. ² The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. ³ The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ⁴ Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, Phinehas the father of Abishua, ⁵ Abishua the father of Bukki, Bukki the father of Uzzi, ⁶ Uzzi the father of Zerahiah, Zerahiah the father of Meraioth, ⁷ Meraioth the father of Amariah, Amariah the father of Ahitub, ⁸ Ahitub the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Ahimaaz, ⁹ Ahimaaz the father of Azariah, Azariah the father of Johanan, ¹⁰ Johanan was the father of Azariah. It was he who served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem), ¹¹ Azariah the father of Amariah, Amariah the father of Ahitub, ¹² Ahitub the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Shallum, ¹³ Shallum the father of Hilkiah, Hilkiah the father of Azariah, ¹⁴ Azariah the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah the father of Jehozadak. ¹⁵ Jehozadak was deported when Jehovah sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. ¹⁶ The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. ¹⁷ These are the names of the sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei. ¹⁸ The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. ¹⁹ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers: ²⁰ Of Gershon: Libni his son, Jehath his son, Zimmah his son, ²¹ Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son and Jeatherai his son. ²² The descendants of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, ²³ Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son, ²⁴ Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son and Shaul his son. ²⁵ The descendants of Elkanah: Amasai, Ahimoth, ²⁶ Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, ²⁷ Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son and Samuel his son. ²⁸ The sons of Samuel: Joel the firstborn and Abijah the second son. ²⁹ The descendants of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son, ³⁰ Shimea his son, Haggiah his son and Asaiah his son. ³¹ These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of Jehovah after the ark came to rest there. ³² They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of Jehovah in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them. ³³ Here are the men who served, together with their sons: From the Kohathites: Heman, the musician, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, ³⁴ the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, ³⁵ the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, ³⁶ the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, ³⁷ the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, ³⁸ the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; ³⁹ and Heman’s associate Asaph, who served at his right hand: Asaph son of Berekiah, the son of Shimea, ⁴⁰ the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malkijah, ⁴¹ the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah, ⁴² the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei, ⁴³ the son of Jahath, the son of Gershon, the son of Levi; ⁴⁴ and from their associates, the Merarites, at his left hand: Ethan son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch, ⁴⁵ the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah, ⁴⁶ the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer, ⁴⁷ the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi. ⁴⁸ Their fellow Levites was assigned to all the other duties of the tabernacle, the house of God. ⁴⁹ But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded. ⁵⁰ These were the descendants of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son, ⁵¹ Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son, ⁵² Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son, ⁵³ Zadok his son and Ahimaaz his son. ⁵⁴ These were the locations of their settlements allotted as their territory (they were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clan, because the first lot was for them): ⁵⁵ They were given Hebron in Judah with its surrounding pasturelands. ⁵⁶ But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh. ⁵⁷ So the descendants of Aaron were given Hebron (a city of refuge), and Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, ⁵⁸ Hilen, Debir, ⁵⁹ Ashan, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands. ⁶⁰ And from the tribe of Benjamin they were given Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth and Anathoth, together with their pasturelands. These towns, which were distributed among the Kohathite clans, were thirteen in all. ⁶¹ The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of half the tribe of Manasseh. ⁶² The descendants of Gershon, clan by clan, were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher and Naphtali, and from the part of the tribe of Manasseh that is in Bashan. ⁶³ The descendants of Merari, clan by clan, were allotted twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun. ⁶⁴ So the Israelites gave the Levites these towns and their pasturelands.

¹ Satan wanted to bring trouble on the people of Israel. He made David decide to take a census. ² David gave orders to Joab and the other officers. He said: »Go through Israel, from one end of the country to the other, and count the people. I want to know how many there are.«

⁵ He reported to King David the total number of men capable of military service. There were one million one hundred thousand in Israel and four hundred seventy thousand in Judah. ⁶ Because Joab disapproved of the king’s command, he did not take any census of the tribes of Levi and Benjamin.

¹ When David was old and full of years, he made his son Solomon king over Israel. ² He also gathered all the leaders of Israel, as well as the priests and Levites. ³ The Levites thirty years old or older were counted, and the total number of men was thirty-eight thousand. ⁴ David said: Of these, twenty-four thousand are to supervise the work of Jehovah’s Temple and six thousand are to be officials and judges.

⁹ Now the first lot came out for Asaph to Joseph, the second for Gedaliah, he with his relatives and sons were twelve. ¹⁰ the third to Zaccur, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹¹ the fourth to Izri, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹² the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹³ the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹⁴ the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹⁵ the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹⁶ the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹⁷ the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹⁸ the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ¹⁹ the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²⁰ for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²¹ for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²² for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²³ for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²⁴ for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²⁵ for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, twelve; ²⁶ for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, twelve;

¹ This is a list of Israelite family heads, regiment and battalion commanders, and officers who were serving the king in all the army’s units. Throughout each year they came for a month at a time and then left. Each unit consisted of twenty-four thousand men. ² Jashobeam, son of Zabdiel, was in charge of the first unit, the one during the first month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand. ³ He was a descendant of Perez, and he was head of all of the army’s officers for the first month. ⁴ Dodai, Ahoh’s descendant, was in charge of the unit during the second month. It was his unit. Mikloth was one of its leaders. In Dodai’s unit there were twenty-four thousand. ⁵ The third commander of the army during the third month was Benaiah, son of the priest Jehoiada. He was the head, and in his unit there were twenty-four thousand. ⁶ This Benaiah was one of the thirty fighting men and commander of the thirty as well as his own unit. His son was Ammizabad. ⁷ Asahel, Joab’s brother, was in charge of the fourth unit during the fourth month, and after him was his son Zebadiah. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand. ⁸ Shamhuth, Izrah’s descendant, was commander of the fifth unit during the fifth month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand. ⁹ Ira, the son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, was in charge of the sixth unit during the sixth month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand. ¹⁰ Helez, a Pelonite from the descendants of Ephraim, was in charge of the seventh unit during the seventh month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand. ¹¹ Sibbecai, a descendant of Zerah from Hushah, was in charge of the eighth unit during the eighth month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand. ¹² Abiezer, a member of the tribe of Benjamin from Anathoth, was in charge of the ninth unit during the ninth month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand.

⁵ Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise Jehovah with musical instruments I have provided for that purpose. ⁶ David divided the Levites into groups corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. ⁷ Belonging to the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei. ⁸ The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the first, Zetham and Joel, three in all. ⁹ The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel and Haran, three in all. These were the heads of the families of Ladan. ¹⁰ The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Ziza, Jeush and Beriah. These were the sons of Shimei, four in all. ¹¹ Jahath was the first and Ziza the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons so they were counted as one family with one assignment. ¹² The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel, four in all. ¹³ The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart, he and his descendants from generation to generation, to consecrate the most holy things, to offer sacrifices before Jehovah, to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in his name as long as they live. ¹⁴ The sons of Moses the man of God were counted as part of the tribe of Levi. ¹⁵ The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer. ¹⁶ The descendants of Gershom: Shubael was the first. ¹⁷ The descendants of Eliezer: Rehabiah was the first. Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous. ¹⁸ The sons of Izhar: Shelomith was the first. ¹⁹ The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third and Jekameam the fourth. ²⁰ The sons of Uzziel: Micah the first and Isshiah the second. ²¹ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish. ²² Eleazar died without having sons: he had only daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them. ²³ The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder and Jerimoth, three in all. ²⁴ These were the descendants of Levi by their families, the heads of families as they were registered under their names and counted individually, that is, the workers twenty years old or more who served in the Temple of Jehovah. ²⁵ For David had said: »Since Jehovah, the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem from generation to generation, ²⁶ the Levites no longer need to carry the Tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service.« ²⁷ According to the last instructions of David, the Levites were counted from those twenty years old or more. ²⁸ The duty of the Levites was to help Aaron’s descendants in the service of the Temple of Jehovah: to be in charge of the courtyards, the side rooms, the purification of all sacred things and the performance of other duties at the House of God. ²⁹ They were in charge of the bread set out on the table, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened wafers, the baking and the mixing, and all measurements of quantity and size. ³⁰ They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise Jehovah. They were to do the same in the evening ³¹ and whenever burnt offerings were presented to Jehovah on Sabbaths and at New Moon festivals and at appointed feasts. They were to serve before Jehovah regularly in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them. ³² So the Levites carried out their responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting, for the Holy Place and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the Temple of Jehovah.

³² So the Levites carried out their responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting, for the Holy Place and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the Temple of Jehovah.

¹ David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps and cymbals; and the number of those who performed their service was: ² Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asharelah the sons of Asaph under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king. ³ Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Jehovah. ⁴ Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. ⁵ All these the sons of Heman the king’s seer to exalt him according to the words of God, for God gave fourteen sons and three daughters to Heman. ⁶ All these were under the direction of their father to sing in the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, harps and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman under the direction of the king. ⁷ Their number who were trained in singing to Jehovah, with their relatives, all who were skillful, two hundred eighty-eight. ⁸ They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil.

¹³ Mahrai, a descendant of Zerah from Netophah, was in charge of the tenth unit during the tenth month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand. ¹⁴ Benaiah, a member of the tribe of Ephraim from Pirathon, was in charge of the eleventh unit during the eleventh month. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand. ¹⁵ During the twelfth month, the twelfth unit was commanded by Heldai from Netophah. He was Othniel’s descendant. In his unit there were twenty-four thousand. ¹⁶ The following officers were in charge of the tribes of Israel: for the tribe of Reuben-Eliezer, son of Zichri for the tribe of Simeo, Shephatiah, son of Maacah ¹⁷ for the tribe of Levi, Hashabiah, son of Kemuel for the family of Aaron, Zadok ¹⁸ for the tribe of Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers for the tribe of Issachar, Omri, son of Michael ¹⁹ for the tribe of Zebulun, Ishmaiah, son of Obadiah for the tribe of Naphtali, Jerimoth, son of Azriel ²⁰ for the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea, son of Azaziah for half of the tribe of Manasseh, Joel, son of Pedaiah ²¹ for the half of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo, son of Zechariah for the tribe of Benjamin-Jaasiel, son of Abner ²² for the tribe of Dan, Azarel, son of Jeroham These were the commanders of Israel’s tribes. ²³ David did not count those less than twenty years old, because Jehovah promised that the people of Israel would be as numerous as the stars in the sky. ²⁴ Joab, son of Zeruiah, started to count them but did not finish. God was angry with Israel because of this, and the report from it was never included in the official records of King David.

³ Abijah raised an army of four hundred thousand soldiers. Jeroboam opposed him with an army of eight hundred thousand soldiers.

¹⁰ »We still serve Jehovah our God! We have not abandoned him. Priests descended from Aaron perform their duties, and Levites assist them.

¹³ He stored large supplies of food in the cities of Judah and an army of professional soldiers served him in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ The following is a breakdown of these soldiers. They are listed by families. Judah’s regimental commanders were Commander Adnah with three hundred thousand fighting men,

¹⁴ The following is a breakdown of these soldiers. They are listed by families. Judah’s regimental commanders were Commander Adnah with three hundred thousand fighting men,

¹⁴ The following is a breakdown of these soldiers. They are listed by families. Judah’s regimental commanders were Commander Adnah with three hundred thousand fighting men, ¹⁵ next to him was Commander Jehohanan with two hundred and eighty thousand men.

¹⁵ next to him was Commander Jehohanan with two hundred and eighty thousand men.

¹⁵ next to him was Commander Jehohanan with two hundred and eighty thousand men. ¹⁶ There was Amasiah, Zichri’s son, who volunteered to serve Jehovah with two hundred thousand fighting men.

¹⁶ There was Amasiah, Zichri’s son, who volunteered to serve Jehovah with two hundred thousand fighting men.

¹⁶ There was Amasiah, Zichri’s son, who volunteered to serve Jehovah with two hundred thousand fighting men. ¹⁷ From Benjamin there was the fighting man Eliada with two hundred thousand armed men with bows and shields.

¹⁷ From Benjamin there was the fighting man Eliada with two hundred thousand armed men with bows and shields.

¹⁷ From Benjamin there was the fighting man Eliada with two hundred thousand armed men with bows and shields. ¹⁸ Next to him was Jehozabad with an army of one hundred and eighty thousand armed men.

¹⁸ Next to him was Jehozabad with an army of one hundred and eighty thousand armed men. ¹⁹ These were the men who served the king in addition to those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout Judah.

¹¹ He had a large army ready for battle. Its records were kept by his secretaries Jeiel and Maaseiah under the supervision of Hananiah, a member of the king’s staff. ¹² The total number of family heads among these warriors was twenty-six hundred. ¹³ They commanded an army of three hundred seven thousand and five hundred soldiers. They were a powerful force that could support the king against the enemy.

⁵⁹ And these were the people who went up from Telmelah, Telharsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer. But having no knowledge of their fathers' families or offspring, it was not certain that they were Israelites.

²⁵ I gave to them by weight the silver and the gold and the vessels, all the offering for the house of our God that the king and his wise men and his captains and all Israel there present had given: ²⁶ Measuring into their hands six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels, a hundred talents' weight, and a hundred talents of gold, ²⁷ And twenty gold basins, of a thousand darics, and two vessels of the best bright brass, equal in value to gold. ²⁸ I said to them: »You are holy to Jehovah and the vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are an offering freely given to Jehovah, the God of your fathers. ²⁹ »Take care of them and keep them, till you put them on the scales before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites and the chiefs of the families of Israel, in Jerusalem, in the rooms of the house of Jehovah.« ³⁰ So the priests and the Levites took the weight of silver and gold and the vessels, to take them to Jerusalem into the house of our God.

³³ On the fourth day, the silver and the gold and the vessels were measured out by weight in the house of our God into the hands of Meremoth, the son of Uriah, the priest; and with him was Eleazar, the son of Phinehas; and with them were Jozabad, the son of Jeshua, and Obadiah, the son of Binnui, the Levites. ³⁴ All was handed over by number and by weight: and the weight was put on record at that time.

⁸ The Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was over the music-makers, he and his brothers.

²² The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were listed as heads of families; and the priests, when Darius the Persian was king.

⁴⁷ All Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave what the music-makers and the gatekeepers deeded day by day. They made the offerings holy for the Levites; and the Levites did the same for the sons of Aaron.

⁵ Had made a great room ready for him. This is where they once kept the meal offerings, the perfume, the vessels and the tenths of the grain and wine and oil. They were given by order to the Levites and the music-makers and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.

¹⁰ I saw that the Levites had not been given what was needed for their support. So the Levites and the music-makers, who did the work, had gone away, everyone to his field. ¹¹ Then I made protests to the chiefs, and said: »Why has the house of God been given up?« I got them together and put them in their places. ¹² All Judah came with the tenth part of the grain and wine and oil and put it into the storehouses. ¹³ I made controllers over the storehouses, Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and with them was Hanan, the son of Zaccur the son of Mattaniah. They were taken to be honest men and their business was the distribution of these things to their brothers.

²² I gave the Levites orders to make themselves clean and come and keep the gates and make the Sabbath holy. »Keep this in mind to my credit, O my God, and have mercy on me, for great is your mercy.«

⁶¹ All these were the people who went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but because they had no knowledge of their fathers' families or offspring, it was not certain if they were Israelites:

⁴ All of Jehovah’s tribes go to that city because it is a law in Israel to give thanks to the name of Jehovah.

³¹ ‘Prophets prophesy falsehoods. Priests rule under the prophets' directions, and my people love this. But what will you do when the end comes?’«

¹⁵ This is what Jehovah of Hosts says about the prophets: »I will give them wormwood to eat and poison to drink. The prophets of Jerusalem have spread godlessness throughout the land.«

² »You Bethlehem Ephrathah who are little to be among the thousands of Judah. Out of you one will come to me who is to be ruler in Israel! His origin is from of old, from everlasting (days of antiquity) (ancient times).

² Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.

² Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. ³ Judah and Tamar were the father and mother of Perez and Zerah. Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, ⁴ Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon. ⁵ Salmon and Rahab were the father and mother of Boaz. Boaz and Ruth were the father and mother of Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse,

²⁰ »Teach them to observe all the things I have commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.«

³² the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,

³ »The doorkeeper opens to him and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his sheep by name and leads them.

²⁸ »Be on guard for yourselves and the flock that the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Feed the Congregation of God that he purchased with the blood of his own [Son]. ²⁹ »I know that after my departing grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ »Such men will arise from among you speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹ »Be on guard! Remember I did not cease for three years to admonish you day and night with tears.

¹³ Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect the spiritual gift in you. It was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders. ¹⁵ Be diligent and think about these things. Give yourself wholly to them. That way your progress may be apparent to all. ¹⁶ Pay attention to yourself and to your teaching. Continue in these things. When you do this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

² preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.

³ He was without father or mother or genealogy, and neither had beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he continues as a priest forever.

⁶ But this man does not have their genealogy. He received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

¹¹ By faith Sarah received strength to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who promised. ¹² This was to come from one man and him as good as dead. There were born children, as many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as uncountable as the sand by the seashore.

⁴ I heard the number of those who were sealed. There were sealed a hundred and forty-four thousand from all the tribes of the children of Israel.

⁴ I heard the number of those who were sealed. There were sealed a hundred and forty-four thousand from all the tribes of the children of Israel.

⁴ I heard the number of those who were sealed. There were sealed a hundred and forty-four thousand from all the tribes of the children of Israel. ⁵ Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

⁵ Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

⁵ Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. ⁶ Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Naphtali were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand.

⁶ Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Naphtali were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand.

⁶ Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Naphtali were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand. ⁷ Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

⁷ Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

⁷ Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. ⁸ Of the tribe of Zebulun were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

⁸ Of the tribe of Zebulun were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

⁸ Of the tribe of Zebulun were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

⁸ Of the tribe of Zebulun were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. ⁹ After this I saw a great crowd that no man could number. It was from all nations, and tribes, and people, and tongues. It stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes. They had palm branches in their hands.

⁹ After this I saw a great crowd that no man could number. It was from all nations, and tribes, and people, and tongues. It stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes. They had palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ They cried with a loud voice, saying: »Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.« ¹¹ All the angels stood around the throne, and the elders and the four living creatures. They fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God. ¹² They said: »Amen! Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.« ¹³ One of the elders asked me: »Who are these dressed in white robes? And where are they from?« ¹⁴ I said to him: »Sir, you know.« He said to me: »These are the ones who came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ »Because of this they are before the throne of God. They serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tent over (dwell among) them. ¹⁶ »They will hunger no more, nor thirst any more; neither shall the sunlight beat down on them, nor any heat. ¹⁷ »The Lamb who is in the middle of the throne will feed them and lead them to living fountains of water. God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.«