Category: Numbers

Rules about Vows

1 Moses gave the following instructions to the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

2 When a man makes a vow to give something to theLordor takes an oath to abstain from something, he must not break his promise, but must do everything that he said he would.

3 When a young woman still living in her father’s house makes a vow to give something to theLordor promises to abstain from something,

4 she must do everything that she vowed or promised unless her father raises an objection when he hears about it.

5 But if her father forbids her to fulfill the vow when he hears about it, she is not required to keep it. TheLordwill forgive her, because her father refused to let her keep it.

6 If an unmarried woman makes a vow, whether deliberately or carelessly, or promises to abstain from something, and then marries,

7 she must do everything that she vowed or promised unless her husband raises an objection when he hears about it.

8 But if her husband forbids her to fulfill the vow when he hears about it, she is not required to keep it. TheLordwill forgive her.

9 A widow or a divorced woman must keep every vow she makes and every promise to abstain from something.

10 If a married woman makes a vow or promises to abstain from something,

11 she must do everything that she vowed or promised unless her husband raises an objection when he hears about it.

12 But if her husband forbids her to fulfill the vow when he hears about it, she is not required to keep it. TheLordwill forgive her, because her husband prevented her from keeping her vow.

13 Her husband has the right to affirm or to annul any vow or promise that she has made.

14 But if, by the day after he hears of the vow, he has raised no objection, she must do everything that she has vowed or promised. He has affirmed the vow by not objecting on the day he heard of it.

15 But if he later annuls the vow, he must suffer the consequences for the failure to fulfill the vow.

16 These are the rules that theLordgave Moses concerning vows made by an unmarried woman living in her father’s house or by a married woman.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/NUM/30-1d0340ce8bb9402fb9cfcc3fb5111a6a.mp3?version_id=68—

The Holy War against Midian

1 TheLordsaid to Moses,

2 “Punish the Midianites for what they did to the people of Israel. After you have done that, you will die.”

3 So Moses said to the people, “Get ready for war, so that you can attack Midian and punish them for what they did to theLord.

4 From each tribe of Israel send a thousand men to war.”

5 So a thousand men were chosen from each tribe, a total of twelve thousand men ready for battle.

6 Moses sent them to war under the command of Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, who took charge of the sacred objects and the trumpets for giving signals.

7 They attacked Midian, as theLordhad commanded Moses, and killed all the men,

8 including the five kings of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba. They also killed Balaam son of Beor.

9 The people of Israel captured the Midianite women and children, took their cattle and their flocks, plundered all their wealth,

10 and burned all their cities and camps.

11 They took all the loot that they had captured, including the prisoners and the animals,

12 and brought them to Moses and Eleazar and to the community of the people of Israel, who were at the camp on the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho.

The Army Returns

13 Moses, Eleazar, and all the other leaders of the community went out of the camp to meet the army.

14 Moses became angry with the officers, the commanders of battalions and companies, who had returned from the war.

15 He asked them, “Why have you kept all the women alive?

16 Remember that it was the women who followed Balaam’s instructions and at Peor led the people to be unfaithful to theLord. That was what brought the epidemic on theLord’s people.

17 So now kill every boy and kill every woman who has had sexual intercourse,

18 but keep alive for yourselves all the girls and all the women who are virgins.

19 Now all of you who have killed anyone or have touched a corpse must stay outside the camp for seven days. On the third day and on the seventh day purify yourselves and the women you have captured.

20 You must also purify every piece of clothing and everything made of leather, goats’ hair, or wood.”

21 Eleazar the priest said to the men who had returned from battle, “These are the regulations that theLordhas given to Moses.

22-23 Everything that will not burn, such as gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, or lead, is to be purified by passing it through fire. Everything else is to be purified by the water for purification.

24 On the seventh day you must wash your clothes; then you will be ritually clean and will be permitted to enter the camp.”

Division of the Loot

25 TheLordsaid to Moses,

26 “You and Eleazar, together with the other leaders of the community, are to count everything that has been captured, including the prisoners and the animals.

27 Divide what was taken into two equal parts, one part for the soldiers and the other part for the rest of the community.

28 From the part that belongs to the soldiers, withhold as a tax for theLordone out of every five hundred prisoners and the same proportion of the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats.

29 Give them to Eleazar the priest as a special contribution to theLord.

30 From the part given to the rest of the people, take one out of every fifty prisoners and the same proportion of the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats. Give them to the Levites who are in charge of theLord’s Tent.”

31 Moses and Eleazar did what theLordcommanded.

32-35 The following is a list of what was captured by the soldiers, in addition to what they kept for themselves: 675,000 sheep and goats, 72,000 cattle, 61,000 donkeys, and 32,000 virgins.

36-40 The half share of the soldiers was 337,500 sheep and goats, of which 675 were the tax for theLord; 36,000 cattle for the soldiers, of which 72 were the tax for theLord; 30,500 donkeys for the soldiers, of which 61 were the tax for theLord; and 16,000 virgins for the soldiers, of which 32 were the tax for theLord.

41 So Moses gave Eleazar the tax as a special contribution to theLord, as theLordhad commanded.

42-46 The share of the community was the same as that for the soldiers: 337,500 sheep and goats, 36,000 cattle, 30,500 donkeys, and 16,000 virgins.

47 From this share Moses took one out of every fifty prisoners and animals, and as theLordhad commanded, gave them to the Levites who were in charge of theLord’s Tent.

48 Then the officers who had commanded the army went to Moses

49 and reported, “Sir, we have counted the soldiers under our command and not one of them is missing.

50 So we are bringing the gold ornaments, armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces that each of us has taken. We offer them to theLordas a payment for our lives, so that he will protect us.”

51 Moses and Eleazar received the gold, all of which was in the form of ornaments.

52 The total contribution of the officers weighed over four hundred pounds.

53 Those who were not officers kept the loot they had taken.

54 So Moses and Eleazar took the gold to the Tent, so that theLordwould protect the people of Israel.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/NUM/31-13df2d40b7a73908116eff43ac99dc26.mp3?version_id=68—

The Tribes East of the Jordan

1 The tribes of Reuben and Gad had a lot of livestock. When they saw how suitable the land of Jazer and Gilead was for cattle,

2 they went to Moses, Eleazar, and the other leaders of the community and said,

3-4 “This region which theLordhas helped the Israelites occupy—the towns of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sibmah, Nebo, and Beon—is good land for livestock, and we have so much livestock.

5 Please give us this land as our property, and do not make us cross the Jordan River and settle there.”

6 Moses replied, “Do you want to stay here while the other Israelites go to war?

7 How dare you try to discourage the people of Israel from crossing the Jordan into the land which theLordhas given them?

8 That is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land.

9 They went as far as Eshcol Valley and saw the land, but when they returned, they discouraged the people from entering the land which theLordhad given them.

10 TheLordbecame angry that day and made a promise:

11 ‘I swear that because they did not remain loyal to me, none of the men twenty years old or older who came out of Egypt will enter the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’

12 This included everyone, except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun; they remained loyal to theLord.

13 TheLordbecame angry with the people and made them wander in the wilderness forty years until that whole generation that had displeased him was dead.

14 And now you have taken your ancestors’ place, a new generation of sinful people ready to bring down the fierce anger of theLordon Israel again.

15 If you people of Reuben and Gad refuse to follow him now, he will once again abandon all these people in the wilderness, and you will be responsible for their destruction.”

16 They approached Moses and said, “First, allow us to build stone enclosures here for our sheep and fortified towns for our dependents.

17 Then we will be ready to go with the other Israelites into battle and lead the attack until we have settled them in the land that will be theirs. In the meantime, our dependents can live here in the fortified towns, safe from the people of this land.

18 We will not return to our homes until all the other Israelites have taken possession of the land assigned to them.

19 We will not take possession of any property among them on the other side of the Jordan, because we have received our share here east of the Jordan.”

20 Moses answered, “If you really mean what you say, then here in the presence of theLordget ready to go into battle.

21 All your fighting men are to cross the Jordan and under the command of theLordthey are to attack our enemies until theLorddefeats them

22 and takes possession of the land. After that, you may return, because you will have fulfilled your obligation to theLordand to the other Israelites. Then theLordwill acknowledge that this land east of the Jordan is yours.

23 But if you do not keep your promise, I warn you that you will be sinning against theLord. Make no mistake about it; you will be punished for your sin.

24 So build your towns and the enclosures for your sheep, but do what you have promised!”

25 The men of Gad and Reuben said, “Sir, we will do as you command.

26 Our wives and children and our cattle and sheep will remain here in the towns of Gilead.

27 But all of us are ready to go into battle under theLord’s command. We will cross the Jordan and fight, just as you have said.”

28 So Moses gave these commands to Eleazar, Joshua, and the other leaders of Israel:

29 “If the men of Gad and Reuben cross the Jordan ready for battle at theLord’s command and if with their help you are able to conquer the land, then give them the land of Gilead as their property.

30 But if they do not cross the Jordan and go into battle with you, they are to receive their share of the property in the land of Canaan, as you do.”

31 The men of Gad and Reuben answered, “Sir, we will do as theLordhas commanded.

32 Under his command we will cross into the land of Canaan and go into battle, so that we can retain our property here east of the Jordan.”

33 So Moses assigned to the tribes of Gad and Reuben and to half the tribe of Manasseh all the territory of King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan, including the towns and the country around them.

34 The tribe of Gad rebuilt the fortified towns of Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,

35 Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,

36 Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran.

37 The tribe of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,

38 Nebo, Baal Meon (this name was changed), and Sibmah. They gave new names to the towns they rebuilt.

39 The clan of Machir son of Manasseh invaded the land of Gilead, occupied it, and drove out the Amorites who were there.

40 So Moses gave Gilead to the clan of Machir, and they lived there.

41 Jair, of the tribe of Manasseh, attacked and captured some villages and named them “Villages of Jair.”

42 Nobah attacked and captured Kenath and its villages, and he renamed it Nobah, after himself.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/NUM/32-41d08a87b4e285620d619fdcd79d0d4b.mp3?version_id=68—

The Journey from Egypt to Moab

1 The following account gives the names of the places where the Israelites set up camp after they left Egypt in their tribes under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.

2 At the command of theLord, Moses wrote down the name of the place each time they set up camp.

3 The people of Israel left Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month of the year, the day after the first Passover. Under theLord’s protection they left the city of Rameses in full view of the Egyptians,

4 who were burying the first-born sons that theLordhad killed. By doing this, theLordshowed that he was more powerful than the gods of Egypt.

5 The people of Israel left Rameses and set up camp at Sukkoth.

6 Their next camp was at Etham on the edge of the desert.

7 From there they turned back to Pi Hahiroth, east of Baal Zephon, and camped near Migdol.

8 They left Pi Hahiroth and passed through the Red Seainto the desert of Shur; after a three days’ march they camped at Marah.

9 From there they went to Elim, where they camped, because there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees there.

10 They left Elim and camped near the Gulf of Suez.

11 Their next camp was in the desert of Sin.

12 Then they camped at Dophkah,

13 and after that at Alush.

14 Next was Rephidim, where there was no water for them to drink.

15-37 From Rephidim to Mount Hor they set up camp at the following places: the Sinai Desert, Kibroth Hattaavah (or “Graves of Craving”), Hazeroth, Rithmah, Rimmon Perez, Libnah, Rissah, Kehelathah, Mount Shepher, Haradah, Makheloth, Tahath, Terah, Mithkah, Hashmonah, Moseroth, Bene Jaakan, Hor Haggidgad, Jotbathah, Abronah, Eziongeber, the wilderness of Zin (that is, Kadesh), and Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom.

38-39 At the command of theLord, Aaron the priest climbed Mount Hor. At the age of 123 he died there on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year after the Israelites had left Egypt.

40 The king of Arad in southern Canaan heard that the Israelites were coming.

41-49 From Mount Hor to the plains of Moab the Israelites set up camp at the following places: Zalmonah, Punon, Oboth, the ruins of Abarim in the territory of Moab, Dibon Gad, Almon Diblathaim, the Abarim Mountains near Mount Nebo, and in the plains of Moab across the Jordan River from Jericho, between Beth Jeshimoth and Acacia Valley.

Instructions before Crossing the Jordan

50 There in the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho theLordgave Moses

51 the following instructions for Israel: “When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

52 you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land. Destroy all their stone and metal idols and all their places of worship.

53 Occupy the land and settle in it, because I am giving it to you.

54 Divide the land among the various tribes and clans by drawing lots, giving a large piece of property to a large clan and a small one to a small clan.

55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those that are left will be as troublesome as splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will fight against you.

56 If you do not drive them out, I will destroy you, as I planned to destroy them.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/NUM/33-7dac59fec27b133f723e03b8ccff0af4.mp3?version_id=68—

The Boundaries of the Land

1 TheLordgave Moses

2 the following instructions for the people of Israel: “When you enter Canaan, the land which I am giving you, the borders of your territory will be as follows.

3 The southern border will extend from the wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. It will begin on the east at the southern end of the Dead Sea.

4 Then it will turn southward toward Akrabbim Pass and continue on through Zin as far south as Kadesh Barnea. Then it will turn northwest to Hazar Addar and on to Azmon,

5 where it will turn toward the valley at the border of Egypt and end at the Mediterranean.

6 “The western border will be the Mediterranean Sea.

7 “The northern border will follow a line from the Mediterranean to Mount Hor

8 and from there to Hamath Pass. It will continue to Zedad

9 and to Ziphron, and will end at Hazar Enan.

10 “The eastern border will follow a line from Hazar Enan to Shepham.

11 It will then go south to Harbel, east of Ain, and on to the hills on the eastern shore of Lake Galilee,

12 then south along the Jordan River to the Dead Sea.

“These will be the four borders of your land.”

13 So Moses said to the Israelites, “This is the land that you will receive by drawing lots, the land that theLordhas assigned to the nine and one-half tribes.

14 The tribes of Reuben and Gad and the eastern half of Manasseh have received their property, divided according to their families,

15 on the eastern side of the Jordan, opposite Jericho.”

The Leaders Responsible for Dividing the Land

16 TheLordsaid to Moses,

17 “Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun will divide the land for the people.

18 Take also one leader from each tribe to help them divide it.”

19-28 These are the men theLordchose:

Judah Caleb son of Jephunneh
Simeon Shelumiel son of Ammihud
Benjamin Elidad son of Chislon
Dan Bukki son of Jogli
Manasseh Hanniel son of Ephod
Ephraim Kemuel son of Shiphtan
Zebulun Elizaphan son of Parnach
Issachar Paltiel son of Azzan
Asher Ahihud son of Shelomi
Naphtali Pedahel son of Ammihud

29 These are the men that theLordassigned to divide the property for the people of Israel in the land of Canaan.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/NUM/34-f51e81805ea110a504eb92e61434e7bb.mp3?version_id=68—

The Cities Assigned to the Levites

1 In the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho theLordsaid to Moses,

2 “Tell the Israelites that from the property they receive they must give the Levites some cities to live in and pasture land around the cities.

3 These cities will belong to the Levites, and they will live there. The pasture land will be for their cattle and all their other animals.

4 The pasture land is to extend outward from the city walls five hundred yards in each direction,

5 so that there is a square area measuring one thousand yards on each side, with the city in the middle.

6 You are to give the Levites six cities of refuge to which any of you can escape if you kill someone accidentally. In addition, give them forty-two other cities

7 with their pasture land, making a total of forty-eight.

8 The number of Levite cities in each tribe is to be determined according to the size of its territory.”

The Cities of Refuge

9 TheLordtold Moses

10 to say to the people of Israel: “When you cross the Jordan River and enter the land of Canaan,

11 you are to choose cities of refuge to which any of you can escape if you kill someone accidentally.

12 There you will be safe from the dead person’s relative who seeks revenge. No one accused of manslaughter is to be put to death without a public trial.

13 Choose six cities,

14 three east of the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan.

15 These will serve as cities of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners who are temporary or permanent residents. Anyone who kills someone accidentally can escape to one of them.

16-18 “If, however, any of you use a weapon of iron or stone or wood to kill someone, you are guilty of murder and are to be put to death.

19 The dead person’s nearest relative has the responsibility for putting the murderer to death. When he finds you, he is to kill you.

20 “If you hate someone and kill him by pushing him down or by throwing something at him

21 or by striking him with your fist, you are guilty of murder and are to be put to death. The dead person’s nearest relative has the responsibility for putting the murderer to death. When he finds you, he is to kill you.

22 “But suppose you accidentally kill someone you do not hate, whether by pushing him down or by throwing something at him.

23 Or suppose that, without looking, you throw a stone that kills someone whom you did not intend to hurt and who was not your enemy.

24 In such cases the community shall judge in your favor and not in favor of the dead person’s relative who is seeking revenge.

25 You are guilty only of manslaughter, and the community is to rescue you from the dead person’s relative, and they are to return you to the city of refuge to which you had escaped. You must live there until the death of the man who is then High Priest.

26 If you leave the city of refuge to which you have escaped

27 and if the dead person’s relative finds you and kills you, this act of revenge is not murder.

28 Any of you guilty of manslaughter must remain in the city of refuge until the death of the High Priest, but after that you may return home.

29 These rules apply to you and your descendants wherever you may live.

30 “Those accused of murder may be found guilty and put to death only on the evidence of two or more witnesses; the evidence of one witness is not sufficient to support an accusation of murder.

31 Murderers must be put to death. They cannot escape this penalty by the payment of money.

32 If they have fled to a city of refuge, do not allow them to make a payment in order to return home before the death of the High Priest.

33 If you did this, you would defile the land where you are living. Murder defiles the land, and except by the death of the murderer there is no way to perform the ritual of purification for the land where someone has been murdered.

34 Do not defile the land where you are living, because I am theLordand I live among the people of Israel.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/NUM/35-3bc4046957353cddd10a30d699a1b63f.mp3?version_id=68—

The Inheritance of Married Women

1 The heads of the families in the clan of Gilead, the son of Machir and grandson of Manasseh son of Joseph, went to Moses and the other leaders.

2 They said, “TheLordcommanded you to distribute the land to the people of Israel by drawing lots. He also commanded you to give the property of our relative Zelophehad to his daughters.

3 But remember, if they marry men of another tribe, their property will then belong to that tribe, and the total allotted to us will be reduced.

4 In the Year of Restoration, when all property that has been sold is restored to its original owners, the property of Zelophehad’s daughters will be permanently added to the tribe into which they marry and will be lost to our tribe.”

5 So Moses gave the people of Israel the following command from theLord. He said, “What the tribe of Manasseh says is right,

6 and so theLordsays that the daughters of Zelophehad are free to marry anyone they wish but only within their own tribe.

7 The property of every Israelite will remain attached to his tribe.

8 Every woman who inherits property in an Israelite tribe must marry a man belonging to that tribe. In this way all Israelites will inherit the property of their ancestors,

9 and the property will not pass from one tribe to another. Each tribe will continue to possess its own property.”

10-11 So Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, did as theLordhad commanded Moses, and they married their cousins.

12 They married within the clans of the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph, and their property remained in their father’s tribe.

13 These are the rules and regulations that theLordgave the Israelites through Moses in the plains of Moab across the Jordan River from Jericho.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/NUM/36-b4e549697ee0299880d6a15875f5a730.mp3?version_id=68—