1 In April of the year after the Israeli people escaped from Egypt (Heb. Mitsrayim), Yahweh spoke to Mosheh (Moses) in the Sinai wilderness in the sacred tent, saying,[ref] 2 “Count all the men who are Yisrael’s descendants by their clans and families, being sure to list all their names. 3 Only include those who are twenty or older and able to be recruited as soldiers. You and Aharon must enrol them into military divisions. 4 The leader of each tribe will accompany you.

5 These are the names of the men who will assist you:

• Elitsur (Shedeyur’s son) from Reuven,
• 6 Shelumiel (Tsuri-Shaddai’s son) from Shim’on (Simeon),
• 7 Nahshon (Amminadav’s son) from Yehudah (Judah),
• 8 Netanel (Tsuar’s son) from Yissaskar (Issachar),
• 9 Eliav (Helon’s son) from Zevulun,
• 10 Elishama (Ammihud’s son) from Yosef’s son Efrayim,
• Gamliel (Pedahtsur’s son) from Yosef’s son Menashsheh (Manasseh),
• 11 Avidan (Gideoni’s son) from Benyamin,
• 12 Ahiezer (Ammishaddai’s son) from Dan,
• 13 Pagiel (Okran’s son) from Asher,
• 14 Elyasaf (Reuel’s son) from Gad,
• 15 Ahira (Enan’s son) from Naftali. 16 They were the leaders of their tribes—chosen out of their communities, and leaders of units of one thousand soldiers.

17 Mosheh and Aharon took those men whose names had been given 18 and they assembled the entire community that April. For each tribe, they recorded their ancestry by clan, counting the names of those men who were twenty or over, 19 just as Yahweh had commanded Mosheh. So he counted them there in the Sinai wilderness,20-21 20-21individually counting those in each tribe below by their clan, and only including males who were twenty or older and able to fight in battle:

• 46,500 men from the tribe of Rueven,
• 22-23 22-2359,300 men from the tribe of Shim’on (Simeon),
• 24-25 24-2545,560 men from the tribe of Gad,
• 26-27 26-2774,600 men from the tribe of Yehudah (Judah),
• 28-29 28-2954,400 men from the tribe of Yissaskar (Issachar),
• 30-31 30-3157,400 men from the tribe of Zevulun,
• 32-33 32-3340,500 men from the tribe of Efrayim,
• 34-35 34-3532,200 men from the tribe of Menashsheh (Manasseh),
• 36-37 36-3735,400 men from the tribe of Benyamin,
• 38-39 38-3962,700 men from the tribe of Dan,
• 40-41 40-4141,500 men from the tribe of Asher,
• 42-43 42-4353,400 men from the tribe of Naftali.

44 Those were the ones that Mosheh and Aharon and the twelve Israeli leaders (one from each tribe) listed. 45 They were all the Israelis who were counted according to their ancestry, being men who were twenty or older, and capable of going off to battle—46 603,550 of them in total. 47 However, the Levites weren’t listed along with the other tribes 48 because Yahweh had told Mosheh, 49 “Don’t list the Levites or count them with the other Israelis. 50 Instead, appoint them to manage the tent where the copy of the agreement is kept, along with all its equipment. They must serve inside it as required, and they should set their tents up around it. 51 When it’s time to leave that place, the Levites must take the tent down and when camp is set up, they must erect it again, but any stranger who approaches it must be executed. 52 When the other Israelis set up camp, each man must set up with his army division by their banner, 53 but the Levites will camp there around the sacred tent and look after it. That way, the Israeli community won’t make Yahweh angry. 54 So the Israelis did everything that Yahweh had instructed Mosheh.

2 Then Yahweh told Mosheh and Aharon:

2 “The Israelis must camp with each family joining their tribe, which will be displaying its banner. They must camp around the sacred tent but at a distance.

3 On the eastern side facing the sunrise will be Yehudah’s (Judah’s) banner and their army divisions, led by Amminadav’s son Nahshon 4 with 74,600 in his division. 5 The tribe of Yissashkar (Issachar) will set up next to them, led by Tsuar’s son Netanel, 6 with 54,400 in his division. 7 Then the tribe of Zevulun, led by Helon’s son Eliav, 8 with 57,400 in his division. 9 The total number in the divisions in the Yehudah camp is 186,400, and when travelling, they’ll all go at the front.

10 On the southern side of the sacred tent will be Reuven’s banner, led by Shedeyur’s son Elitsur 11 with 46,500 in his division. 12 The tribe of Shim’on (Simeon) will set up next to them, led by Tsuri-Shaddai’s son Shelumiel 13 with 59,300 in his division. 14 Then the tribe of Gad, led by Reuel’s son Elyasaf. 15 with 45,650 in his division. 16 The total number in the divisions in the Reuven camp is 151,450, and when travelling, they’ll all go second.

17 Then the Levites will go next with their own banners in the order that they were camped, carrying the sacred tent.

18 On the western side of the sacred tent will be Efrayim’s banner, led by Ammihud’s son Elishama 19 with 40,500 in his division. 20 The tribe of Menashsheh (Manasseh) will set up next to them, led by Pedahtsur’s son Gamliel 21 with 32,200 in his division. 22 Then the tribe of Benyamin led by Gideoni’s son Avidan 23 with 35,400 in his division. 24 The total number in the divisions in the Efrayim camp is 108,100, and when travelling, they’ll all go third.

25 On the northen side of the sacred tent will be Dan’s banner, led by Ammishaddai’s son Ahiezer 26 with 62,700 in his division. 27 The tribe of Ahser will set up next to them, led by Okran’s son Pagiel 28 with 41,500 in his division. 29 Then the tribe of Naftali led by Enan’s son Ahira 30 with 53,400 in his division. 31 The total number in the divisions in the Dan camp is 157,600, and when travelling, they’ll all go last with their banners.

32 Those are the listed Israelis by their ancestral tribes with a total of 603,500 fighting men. 33 However, following Yahweh’s instructions, the Levites weren’t listed among them.

34 So the Israelis did everything that Yahweh commanded Mosheh. They camped under their banners, and travelled grouped in their tribes and clans.

3 The following are the descendants of Aharon (Aaron) and Mosheh as on the day when Yahweh spoke with Mosheh on Mt. Sinai: 2 Aharon’s sons were: Nadav (the oldest), Avihu, Eleazar, and Itamar.[ref] 3 They were all anointed as priests and served in that role, 4 except that Nadav and Avihu died in front of Yahweh when they offered unacceptable fire to him in the Sinai wilderness, and so they had no sons. So Eleazar and Itamar served as priests alongside their father Aharon.[ref]

5 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, 6 “Summon the Levites to come and stand in front of Aharon the priest, so they can assist him. 7 They must perform duties for him and for the entire community at and around the sacred tent, 8 including looking after all of its equipment and fulfilling the obligations of the Israelis. 9 You must assign the Levites to Aharon—out of all the Israelis it’s them who are assigned to serve the priests. 10 Appoint Aharon and his sons as priests and to preserve the priesthood. Any other person who tries to act as a priest must be executed.”

11 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, 12 “Out of all the Israelis, I’ve taken the Levites instead of the oldest son from every family. The Levites will be the ransom for those sons, and so they belong to me, 13 because every firstborn male person and animal is set aside as belonging to me ever since I killed those firstborn males in Egypt. I am Yahweh.”

14 Then in the Sinai wilderness, Yahweh told Mosheh, 15 “List all the male Levites that are at least one month old. Count them by their families and clans.” 16 So Mosheh listed them exactly as Yahweh had commanded him to, 17 and these were Levi’s sons: Gershon, Kohat, and Merari. 18 Gershon’s sons were: Livni and Shimei. 19 Kohat’s sons were: Amaran, Yitshar, Hevron, and Uzziyel. 20 Merari’s sons were Mahli and Mushi.

Those were the families of the Levites by their clans.

21 Gershon’s descendants were the Livnites and the Shimites, so they made up the Gershonites. 22 They had 7,500 males that were at least a month old. 23 The Gershonite clans were to camp on the western side of the sacred tent, 24 and their leader was Lael’s son Elyasaf. 25 Gershon’s descendants were responsible for the sacred tent, including its covering and the entrance curtain, 26 the courtyard curtains, and the courtyard entrance curtain, that surrounded it. Also the ropes used to hold them.

27 Kohat’s descendants were the Amramites, the Yitsharites, the Hevronites, and the Uzziyelites, so they made up the Kohatites. 28 They had 8,600 males that were at least a month old. They were in charge of the running of the sacred tent. 29 The Kohatite clans were to camp of the southern side of the sacred tent, 30 and their leader was Uzziyel’s son Elitsafan. 31 They were in charge of the box, the table and the lampstand, the altars and all the utensils used for ministry, the inside curtain and its gear.

32 The man who organised the Levites was Aharon’s son, Eleazar the priest. He had oversight over all those who were responsible for the sacred tent.

33 Merari’s descendants were the Mahlites and the Mushites, so they made up the Merarites. 34 They had 6,200 males that were at least a month old, 35 and their leader was Avihayil’s son Tsuriel. They were to camp on the northern side of the sacred tent. 36 They were in charge of all the frames for the sacred tent, its crossbars, posts, bases, all its containers and equipment, 37 as well as the pillars used to make the courtyard with their bases, pegs, and ropes.

38 Mosheh and Aharon and his sons set up their tents in front of the entrance on the eastern side of the sacred tent. They were in charge of that tent and the needs of the Israelis. Any stranger who approached had to be executed. 39 Mosheh and Aharon listed 22,000 Levite males that were at least a month old, listing them by their clans as per Yahweh’s instructions.

40 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, “List all the other male Israeli that are at least one month old and count them. 41 The Levites are for me, Yahweh, in the place of the firstborn males from every Israeli family, and their animals are in place of the Israelis’ firstborn male animals.” 42 So Mosheh listed the firstborn Israelis exactly as Yahweh had commanded him to. 43 and the total number of firstborn males a month old or more whose names were listed came to 22,273.

44 Then Yahweh spoke to Mosheh, 45 “Take the Levites instead of every firstborn male Israeli, and the Levites’ animals instead of their animals, and the Levites will be mine—I am Yahweh. 46 To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelis who outnumber the Levites, 47 collect five silver coins for each one of them. (Use the same silver coins weighing eleven grams, that the priests use in the sacred tent.) 48 Give that money to Aharon and his sons as payment of the ransom for those excess 273 males.” 49 So Mosheh collected that ransom money to cover the ransom of the excess not covered by the number of Levites. 50 He collected 1,365 silver coins from the firstborn Israeli males (using the standard weight of silver from the sanctuary) 51 and gave it to Aharon and his sons just as Yahweh had commanded.

4 Then Yahweh told Mosheh (Moses) and Aharon (Aaron), 2 “Take a detailed census of Kohat’s male descendants by their clans and families 3 who are from twenty-five up to fifty years old and who goes into the sacred tent to minister.

4 This is what the Kohatites are responsible for concerning the sacred tent including the inner room: 5 When it’s time to break camp, Aharon and his sons must enter and take down the curtain that veils it, and then use that to cover the box containing the agreement. 6 Then they must cover it with fine leather, followed by a blue cloth, and then put its carrying poles through the rings.

7 They must spread a blue cloth over the sacred bread table, then place the dishes, pans, bowls, and jugs for the drink-offerings on top of that, along with the sacred bread. 8 Then they must spread a scarlet cloth over all that, and cover that again with fine leather, and then put its poles through the rings.

9 They must spread a blue cloth over the lampstand with its oil lamps, its tongs and trays, and the oil containers that are used for it. 10 Then they must wrap the lampstand and all its equipment in fine leather, and place it all on its carrying frame.

11 Then the must spread a blue cloth over the gold incense altar, and cover that again with fine leather, and then put its poles through the rings. 12 Then they must get all the other utensils that they use in the sacred tent, and cover that again with fine leather, and place it all on its carrying frame. 13 They need to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it, 14 and put all the utensils they use on top of it: the trays, meat forks, shovel and basins for the altar. Then they must cover it with fine leather, and then put its poles through the rings. 15 Aharon and his sons must finish covering the sacred tent and all its utensils and equipment when they’re about to move camp. Then the Kohatites can come to carry it all without touching the inner room so they won’t die. That’s the responsibility of Kohat’s descendants—carrying the sacred tent.

16 Eleazar (son of Aharon the priest) is in charge of the lamp oil and the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering, the anointing oil, and the oversight of the sacred tent and the inner room, including everything that’s used inside them.

17 Then Yahweh told Mosheh and Aharon, 18 “Don’t allow the Kohatite Levites to get wiped out by mishandling the most sacred items, 19 but take these precautions on their behalf so they won’t die when they approach the most sacred items: Get Aharon and his sons to go and show each of them personally the correct and proper way to do his duties. 20 However, they must never go early to set their eyes on the sacred objects, even briefly, or they’ll die.”

21 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, 22 “Take a detailed census of Gershon’s male descendants by their clans and families 23 who are from thirty up to fifty years old and who goes into the sacred tent to minister.

24 This is what the Gershonites are responsible for working with and carrying: 25 They must carry the inner curtains from the sacred tent, the covering, the fine leather covering, the entrance curtain, 26 the courtyard curtains, and the courtyard gate curtain, along with the ropes and other equipment for using them. That will be their ministry. 27 Aharon and his sons will direct the Gershonites in their duties and assign all the items to them. 28 That will be the ministry of Gershon’s descendants with the sacred tent, and it will all be under the supervision of Aharon’s son Itamar the priest.

29 “Take a detailed census of Merari’s descendants by their clans and families, 30 listing the men who are from thirty to fifty years old and who goes into the sacred tent to minister. 31 Their duties are carrying the frames, crossbars, posts, and sockets for the sacred tent, 32 the courtyard pillars and their bases, their pegs and ropes, and all their equipment. Every man must be assigned by name as to what equipment he must carry. 33 That will be the ministry of Merari’s descendants with the sacred tent, and it will all be under the supervision of Aharon’s son Itamar the priest.

34 So Mosheh and Aharon and the community leaders listed the Kohatites by their clans and families, 35 counting the men from thirty to fifty years old who go into the sacred tent to minister, 36 and the total for all the clans was 2,750. 37 That was from the Kohatite clans who ministered at the sacred tent and were listed by Mosheh and Aharon just as Yahweh had instructed Mosheh. 38 They counted the Gershonites by their clans and families, 39 counting the men from thirty to fifty years old who go into the sacred tent to minister, 40 and the total for all the clans was 2,630. 41 That was from the Gershonite clans who ministered at the sacred tent and were listed by Mosheh and Aharon just as Yahweh had instructed Mosheh. 42 They counted the Merarites by their clans and families, 43 counting the men from thirty to fifty years old who go into the sacred tent to minister, 44 and the total for all the clans was 3,200. 45 That was from the Merarite clans who ministered at the sacred tent and were listed by Mosheh and Aharon just as Yahweh had instructed Mosheh. 46 So Mosheh, Aharon, and the Israeli leaders counted all the Levites by their clans and families, 47 counting the men from thirty to fifty years old who go into the sacred tent to minister and also help with carrying it, 48 and the total came to 8,580. 49 Those were the ones counted by Mosheh following Yahweh’s instructions. Each man’s name was listed by Mosheh, along with his duties and what was his responsibility to carry.

5 Then Yahweh told Mosheh (Moses), 2 “Order the Israelis that anyone with a skin disease or a discharge, and anyone who’s ‘unclean’ because they touched a corpse, must be sent outside the camp. 3 Whether they’re male or female, they must be sent outside the camp so that the whole camp doesn’t become ‘unclean’ because I’m living there right amongst them.” 4 So the Israelis did what Yahweh told Mosheh, and sent those people outside the camp.

5 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, 6 “Tell the Israelis that when any man or a woman disobeys God by doing any of the things that humans do when they’re unfaithful towards Yahweh, then that person is guilty 7 and they must confess their disobedience. Then that person must make full reparation to whoever they wronged, along with an extra twenty percent of the cost. 8 However, if reparation to the victim isn’t possible for some reason, then it must be paid to Yahweh via a priest, in addition to the ram that will be offered for that person’s atonement. 9 Any sacred contributions by the Israelis that are presented to a priest will belong to him. 10 Each person’s sacred contributions will be their own, but anything given to a priest will belong to him.”

11 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, 12 “Tell the Israelis that if any man’s wife has an affair and is unfaithful towards him, 13 when another man secretly has sex with her, then she becomes ‘unclean’, even though there’s no witness against her and she wasn’t caught. 14 If the husband becomes suspicious, whether or not she’s actually become ‘unclean’, 15 then he should take her to a priest. He must also bring an offering on her behalf: two litres of barley flour. It must not have any oil or spices mixed into it because it’s a grain offering for suspicion—for determining if unfaithfulness has occurred.

16 Then the priest must lead her forward and stand her in front of Yahweh. 17 He must fill a pottery jar with sacred water, and then mix some dust from the floor of Yahweh’s residence into the water. 18 Then the priest must stand the woman in front of Yahweh and let her hair down, then he must place the suspicion grain offering on her palm. (It’s a grain offering for jealousy.) The priest must be holding the water of bitterness that brings a curse 19 and tell the woman to make this oath: “If no other man slept with you, and if you didn’t dirty yourself while you’re married, then be free from this water of bitterness that brings a curse. 20 But if you have cheated on your husband and become ‘unclean’ and slept with some other guy, there’ll be consequences. 21 Then the priest will make the woman take that curse as an oath, and he’ll tell her, “Yahweh will make your experience a curse and your people will see the results of the oath, when Yahweh gives disease to your genitals and makes your belly swell. 22 This water will invoke the curse to make your belly swell and your genitals shrivel.” Then the woman must say, “Indeed, let it be so.”

23 Then the priest must write those curses on a scroll, then wipe the ink into the water of bitterness. 24 He must make the woman drink that water of bitterness that brings the curse, and it will enter into her. 25 Then he’ll take the grain offering of suspicion from her hand, and hold it up in front of Yahweh, and then take it to the altar. 26 He’ll take some of the grain as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar. Then he’ll make the woman drink the water. 27 After she’s drunk it, if she was ‘unclean’ and unfaithful to her husband, the water will carry that curse into her, and her belly will swell and her genitals will get diseased, and the woman will become a curse among her people. 28 However, if she hadn’t defiled herself and is pure, then she’ll be free and be able to have children.

29 That’s the rule about jealousy when a wife cheats on her husband and defiles herself, 30 or when a husband becomes jealous and suspicious and he stands his wife in front of Yahweh, and the priest applies this ruling to her. 31 Then the husband will be innocent, and that women will bear the consequences of her wrongdoing.

6 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, 2 “Tell the Israelis that when any man or woman wants to make a solemn vow to separate themself to Yahweh as a Nazirite, 3 they must keep away from wine and strong drink, and even vinegar made from wine or strong drink, plus they mustn’t drink grape juice or eat either grapes or raisins.[ref] 4 For the entire time of their separation, they mustn’t eat anything coming from a grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins.

5 “For the entire time of their vow to Yahweh as a Nazirite, they mustn’t cut their hair—they must sacred and grow their hair long.

6 “For the entire time of their separation to Yahweh, they mustn’t approach any dead body, 7 even if it’s their father or mother, or brother or sister. They mustn’t defile themselves with death, because their consecration to their god is on their head. 8 They must remain holy to Yahweh for the whole time.

9 “However, if someone right next to them suddenly died, that would defile their consecrated head, and after the regular seven days of purification, they would have to shave their head. 10 Then on the eighth day, they’d have to take two doves or young pigeons to the priest at the entrance of the sacred tent, 11 and he would take one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering—making atonement for their transgression with the corpse. Then they would consecrate their head again that day 12 and restart their days of separation, as well as bringing a one-year old male lamb as a guilt offering. (Their initial days of separation won’t count because they were made ‘unclean’.)

13 “Now these are the instructions for the Nazirites: Once their days of separation are fulfilled, someone must take them to the entrance of the sacred tent 14 and they will present their offerings to Yahweh—an unblemished, one-year old, male lamb as a burnt offering, and an unblemished, one-year old, female lamb as a sin offering, plus an unblemished ram as a peace/fellowship offering, 15 along with a basket of flat breads, flour mixed with oil, and wafers spread with olive oil, and their grain and drink offerings. 16 The priest must present all that to Yahweh, and handle their sin offering and burnt offering. 17 The ram and the basket of flat breads will be offered as a peace offering to Yahweh, and the priest will offer their grain and wine offerings. 18 Then the Nazirite must shave their head of separation at the opening to the sacred tent, and taking the hair, must put it on the fire under their peace-offering sacrifice.

19 “The priest will then take the boiled shoulder from the ram, and one flat bread roll and one wafer from the basket, and place them on the palms of that Nazirite with their consecrated head that’s been shaved. 20 Then the priest will raise them as a raised offering to Yahweh. Those raised breads and the shoulder are now sacred and belong to the priest. Then the Nazirite can drink some wine.

21 Those are the instructions for the Nazirite who makes a solemn oath to Yahweh for their separation, plus what they’re able to give. They must do exactly what they promised as per these instructions.”

22 Then Yahweh told Mosheh (Moses), 23 “Tell Aharon (Aaron) and his sons that when the bless the Israelis, this is what they must say:

24 May Yahweh bless you and protect you.

25 May Yahweh give you prosperity and show grace toward you.

26 May he watch over you and give you peace.

27 “In that way, they’ll put my name on the Israelis, and I will bless them.”

7 When Mosheh (Moses) had finished setting up the sacred tent, he anointed it with oil and consecrated it and all its furniture, as well as the altar and all its equipment. 2 Then Yisrael’s leaders presented gifts. They were the leaders of the tribes who ruled over those who’d been listed for duties. 3 They brought their gifts to Yahweh’s presence in six carts pulled by twelve bulls. Each cart was from two leaders, and each of the bulls was from one leader. 4 Then Yahweh told Mosheh: 5 “Accept their gifts because they’ll be useful for the running of the sacred tent. Distribute them appropriately to the Levites, depending on each man’s duties.” 6 So Mosheh took the carts and the cattle and distributed them to the Levites, 7 giving two carts and four bulls to the Gershonites to help them with their assigned duties. 8 Then he gave four carts and eight bulls to the Merarites to help them with their assigned duties under the supervision of the priest (Aharon’s son) Itamar. 9 However, the Kohaties weren’t given any because they were responsible for carrying the very holy objects, and those had to be carried on their shoulders.

10 The day that the altar was dedicated and anointed, the leaders brought their gifts and presented them at the altar, 11 and Yahweh told Mosheh, “Each day for the next twelve days, one leader must present his offering for the altar dedication.”

12-83 12-83These were the leaders who presented their offerings:

• On the first day, Amminadav’s son Nahshon on behalf of the tribe of Yehudah,
• on the second day, Zuar’s son Netanel on behalf of the tribe of Yissaskar,
• on the third day, Helon’s son Eliav on behalf of the tribe of Zevulun,
• on the fourth day, Shedeur’s son Elizur on behalf of the tribe of Reuven,
• on the fifth day, Tsurishaddai’s son Shelumiel on behalf of the tribe of Shimeon,
• on the sixth day, Deuel’s son Elyasaf on behalf of the tribe of Gad,
• on the seventh day, Ammihud’s son Elishama on behalf of the tribe of Efrayim,
• on the eighth day, Pedahzur’s son Gamaliel on behalf of the tribe of Menashsheh,
• on the ninth day, Gideoni’s son Avidan on behalf of the tribe of Benyamin,
• on the tenth day, Ammishaddai’s son Ahiezer on behalf of the tribe of Dan,
• on the eleventh day, Okran’s son Pagiel on behalf of the tribe of Asher,
• and on the twelfth day, Enam’s son Ahira on behalf of the tribe of Naftali.

Each of the leaders presented the following offerings:

• a silver dish (1.5 kg—all weights by the standard temple measurement) and a silver bowl (800g)—both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering,
• a small gold dish (110g) filled with incense,
• a young bull, a ram and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
• a male goat for a sin offering,
• two cows, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old rams for the peace offering.

84 That was the dedication of the altar in the day it was anointed, when Yisrael’s leaders presented twelve silver dishes, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold pans. 85 Each silver dish weighed 1.5kg (all weights by the standard temple measurement) and the silver bowls were 800g. The total weight of the silver was around 27 kg. 86 The gold pans that had been filled with incense weighed 110g and their total weight came to 1.3kg. 87 For the burnt offerings there was: twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve male one-year-old lambs along with their grain offerings. There were twelve male goats for a sin offering. 88 For the peace offering, there were 24 bulls, 60 rams, 60 male goats, 60 male one-year-old lambs. All of those were part of the dedication offerings for the altar after it was anointed. 89 Then Mosheh entered the sacred tent to speak with Yahweh. He heard the voice speaking to him from between the two images of winged-creatures that were on the platform above the sacred box. That’s how Yahweh spoke to him.

8 Then Yahweh told Mosheh (Moses),[ref] 2 “Tell Aharon (Aaron) that when he places the seven lamps on the lampstand, they must light up the area in front of it.” 3 So Aharon did it just as Yahweh had instructed, setting up the lamps on the lampstand to face forwards. 4 The lampstand from the base to its blossoms had been made by hammering a single sheet of gold, just as Yahweh had shown Mosheh.

5 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, 6 “Out of all the Israelis, take the Levites and purify them. 7 This is how to make them pure: sprinkle the sin-offering water on them, then they must shave their entire bodies and wash themselves and their clothes. 8 They must take a young bull along with its grain offering of flour mixed with oil, plus a second young bull for a sin offering. 9 You must have the Levites stand at the front of the sacred tent and summon the rest of the Israelis there too. 10 Then you must present the Levites in front of Yahweh and the Israeli men must place their hands on them. 11 Out of all the Israelis, Aharon must present the Levites as a raised offering to Yahweh so they can serve Yahweh with their assigned duties. 12 Then the Levites must place their hands on the bulls’ heads, and one must be given as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to Yahweh, to make the Levites innocent in Yahweh’s eyes.

13 “The Levites must stand in front of Aharon and his sons, then they can be offered as a raised offering to Yahweh. 14 That’s how they’ll be distinguished from the other Israelis, and then they’ll belong to me. 15 Then the Levites will go to serve at the sacred tent after you’ve purified them and presented them as a raised offering, 16 because they’re given to me by all the Israeli people—I’ve taken them for myself in place of their firstborn male sons, 17 because every firstborn Israeli male person and animal belongs to me. I set them apart for myself when I killed every other firstborn in Egypt, 18 so I’ve now taken the Levites instead of the firstborn Israeli sons. 19 Then I’ve given the Levites out of all the Israelis, to Aharon and his sons to serve the whole country by serving in the sacred tent and making the Israelis innocent in Yahweh’s eyes. That way, a plague won’t strike the Israelis when they approach the sacred tent.”

20 So Mosheh and Aharon and all the Israelis did to the Levites just what Yahweh had instructed Mosheh. 21 The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes, and Aharon offered them to Yahweh as a raised offering, and Aharon offered a sacrifice to make them innocent in Yahweh’s eyes. 22 After that, the Levites went to do their assigned duties at the sacred tent working under Aharon and his sons. The Israelis did exactly what Yahweh told Mosheh to do with the Levites.

23 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, 24 “These are the instructions for the Levites: from the age of twenty-five, Levite men will begin serving the work in the sacred tent 25 until the age of fifty when they must retire from that work. 26 They may then assist their fellow Levites with guard duties, but they can no longer work directly with the sacred tent.“

9 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙ 5 ◙

6 ◙ 7 ◙

8 ◙

9 ◙ 10 ◙ 11 ◙ 12 [ref]◙ 13 ◙

14 ◙

15 ◙ 16 ◙ 17 ◙ 18 ◙ 19 ◙ 20 ◙ 21 ◙ 22 ◙ 23 ◙

10 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙ 5 ◙ 6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 ◙

9 ◙ 10 ◙

11 ◙ 12 ◙

13 ◙ 14 ◙ 15 ◙ 16 ◙

17 ◙

18 ◙ 19 ◙ 20 ◙

21 ◙

22 ◙ 23 ◙ 24 ◙

25 ◙ 26 ◙ 27 ◙ 28 ◙

29 ◙

30 ◙

31 ◙ 32 ◙

33 ◙ 34 ◙

35 [ref]◙ 36 ◙

11 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙

4 ◙ 5 ◙ 6 ◙

7 [ref]◙ 8 ◙ 9 [ref]◙

10 ◙ 11 ◙ 12 ◙ 13 ◙ 14 ◙ 15 ◙

16 ◙ 17 ◙ 18 ◙ 19 ◙ 20 ◙

21 ◙ 22 ◙

23 ◙

24 ◙ 25 ◙

26 ◙ 27 ◙

28 ◙

29 ◙ 30 ◙

31 ◙ 32 ◙ 33 ◙ 34 ◙ 35 ◙

12 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙

4 ◙ 5 ◙ 6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 ◙

9 ◙ 10 ◙ 11 ◙ 12 ◙

13 ◙

14 [ref]◙ 15 ◙ 16 ◙

13 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙ 5 ◙ 6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 ◙ 9 ◙ 10 ◙ 11 ◙ 12 ◙ 13 ◙ 14 ◙ 15 ◙

16 ◙

17 ◙ 18 ◙ 19 ◙ 20 ◙

21 ◙ 22 ◙ 23 ◙ 24 ◙

25 ◙ 26 ◙ 27 ◙ 28 ◙ 29 ◙

30 ◙

31 ◙ 32 ◙ 33 [ref]◙

14 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙

5 ◙ 6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 ◙ 9 ◙ 10 ◙

11 ◙ 12 ◙

13 ◙ 14 ◙ 15 ◙ 16 ◙ 17 ◙ 18 ◙ 19 ◙

20 ◙ 21 ◙ 22 ◙ 23 ◙ 24 [ref]◙ 25 ◙

26 ◙ 27 ◙ 28 ◙ 29 ◙ 30 ◙ 31 ◙ 32 ◙ 33 ◙ 34 ◙ 35 ◙

36 ◙ 37 ◙ 38 ◙

39 ◙ 40 ◙

41 ◙ 42 ◙ 43 ◙

44 ◙ 45 ◙

15 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙ 5 ◙ 6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 ◙ 9 ◙ 10 ◙

11 ◙ 12 ◙ 13 ◙ 14 ◙ 15 ◙ 16 ◙

17 ◙ 18 ◙ 19 ◙ 20 ◙ 21 ◙

22 ◙ 23 ◙ 24 ◙ 25 ◙ 26 ◙

27 ◙ 28 ◙ 29 ◙ 30 ◙ 31 ◙

32 ◙ 33 ◙ 34 ◙ 35 ◙ 36 ◙

37 ◙ 38 ◙ 39 ◙ 40 ◙ 41 ◙

16 [ref]◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙

4 ◙ 5 ◙ 6 ◙ 7 ◙

8 ◙ 9 ◙ 10 ◙ 11 ◙

12 ◙ 13 ◙ 14 ◙

15 ◙

16 ◙ 17 ◙ 18 ◙ 19 ◙ 20 ◙ 21 ◙

22 ◙ 23 ◙ 24 ◙

25 ◙ 26 ◙ 27 ◙

28 ◙ 29 ◙ 30 ◙

31 ◙ 32 ◙ 33 ◙ 34 ◙

35 ◙

36 ◙ 37 ◙ 38 ◙ 39 ◙ 40 ◙

41 ◙ 42 ◙ 43 ◙ 44 ◙ 45 ◙

… 46 ◙ 47 ◙ 48 ◙ 49 ◙ 50 ◙

17 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙ 5 ◙

6 ◙ 7 ◙

8 [ref]◙ 9 ◙ 10 ◙ 11 ◙

12 ◙ 13 ◙

18 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙ 5 ◙ 6 ◙ 7 ◙

8 ◙ 9 ◙ 10 ◙

11 ◙

12 ◙ 13 ◙

14 [ref]◙

15 ◙ 16 ◙ 17 ◙ 18 ◙ 19 ◙

20 ◙

21 ◙ 22 ◙ 23 ◙ 24 ◙

25 ◙ 26 ◙ 27 ◙ 28 ◙ 29 ◙ 30 ◙ 31 ◙ 32 ◙

19 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙ 5 ◙ 6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 ◙ 9 ◙ 10 ◙

11 ◙ 12 ◙ 13 ◙

14 ◙ 15 ◙ 16 ◙ 17 ◙ 18 ◙ 19 ◙

20 ◙ 21 ◙ 22 ◙

20 ◙

2 [ref]◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙ 5 ◙ 6 ◙

7 ◙ 8 ◙ 9 ◙

10 ◙ 11 ◙

12 ◙

13 ◙

14 ◙ 15 ◙ 16 ◙ 17 ◙

18 ◙

19 ◙

20 ◙

… 21 ◙

22 ◙ 23 ◙ 24 ◙ 25 ◙ 26 ◙

27 ◙ 28 [ref]◙ 29 ◙

21 [ref]◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙

4 [ref]◙ 5 [ref]◙ 6 ◙

7 ◙ 8 ◙ 9 [ref]◙

10 ◙ 11 ◙ 12 ◙ 13 ◙ 14 ◙ 15 ◙ 16 ◙ 17 ◙

…

…

18 ◙

…

…

… 19 ◙ 20 ◙

21 ◙ 22 ◙ 23 ◙ 24 ◙ 25 ◙ 26 ◙ 27 ◙

…

…

…

28 [ref]◙

…

…

…

29 ◙

…

…

…

30 ◙

…

31 ◙ 32 ◙

33 ◙ 34 ◙ 35 ◙

22 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙

… 5 [ref]◙ 6 ◙

7 ◙ 8 ◙

9 ◙

10 ◙ 11 ◙ 12 ◙

13 ◙ 14 ◙

15 ◙ 16 ◙ 17 ◙

18 ◙ 19 ◙

20 ◙ 21 ◙

22 ◙ 23 ◙ 24 ◙ 25 ◙ 26 ◙ 27 ◙ 28 ◙

29 ◙

30 ◙

…

31 ◙ 32 ◙ 33 ◙

34 ◙

35 ◙

36 ◙ 37 ◙

38 ◙ 39 ◙ 40 ◙ 41 ◙

23 ◙

2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙

5 ◙ 6 ◙

7 ◙

…

…

…

…

8 ◙

…

9 ◙

…

10 ◙

…

…

…

11 ◙

12 ◙

13 ◙ 14 ◙

15 ◙

16 Yahweh met with Bileam and gave him a message and told him, “Go back to Balak, and give him that message.” 17 So he returned to him where he was standing with the leaders from Moab beside the altar, and Balak asked him, “What did Yahweh say?”

18 Then Bileam gave his speech,

“Look here, Balak, and listen.

≈ Pay attention to me, son of Tsipor.

19 God doesn’t lie because he’s not a human being,

≈ and he’s not a mortal who might change his mind.

Whatever he’s said, he’ll do it.

≈ Anything he promised, he’ll make it happen.

20 Listen, I’ve received a command to bless.

≈ Yes, he’s decided to bless and I can’t reverse it.

21 ◙

…

…

…

22 ◙

…

23 ◙

…

…

…

24 ◙

…

…

…

25 ◙

26 ◙

27 ◙ 28 ◙ 29 ◙ 30 ◙

24 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙

…

…

4 ◙

…

…

5 ◙

6 ◙

…

…

…

7 ◙

…

…

…

8 ◙

…

…

…

…

9 [ref]◙

…

…

…

10 ◙ 11 ◙

12 ◙ 13 ◙

14 ◙

15 ◙

…

…

16 ◙

…

…

17 ◙

…

…

…

…

18 ◙

…

…

19 ◙

…

20 ◙

…

…

21 ◙

…

…

22 ◙

23 ◙

…

24 ◙

…

…

25 ◙

25 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙

5 ◙

6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 ◙ 9 ◙

10 ◙ 11 ◙ 12 ◙ 13 ◙

14 ◙ 15 ◙

16 ◙ 17 ◙ 18 ◙

26 [ref]◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙

… 5 ◙ 6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 ◙ 9 ◙ 10 ◙ 11 ◙

12 ◙ 13 ◙ 14 ◙

15 ◙ 16 ◙ 17 ◙ 18 ◙

19 ◙ 20 ◙ 21 ◙ 22 ◙

23 ◙ 24 ◙ 25 ◙

26 ◙ 27 ◙

28 ◙ 29 ◙ 30 ◙ 31 ◙ 32 ◙ 33 ◙ 34 ◙

35 ◙ 36 ◙ 37 ◙

38 ◙ 39 ◙ 40 ◙ 41 ◙

42 ◙ 43 ◙

44 ◙ 45 ◙ 46 ◙ 47 ◙

48 ◙ 49 ◙ 50 ◙

51 ◙

52 [ref]◙ 53 ◙ 54 ◙ 55 ◙ 56 ◙

57 ◙ 58 ◙ 59 ◙ 60 [ref]◙ 61 [ref]◙ 62 ◙

63 ◙ 64 ◙ 65 ◙

27 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙

5 ◙ 6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 ◙ 9 ◙ 10 ◙ 11 ◙

12 [ref]◙ 13 ◙ 14 ◙

…

15 ◙ 16 ◙ 17 [ref]◙

18 [ref]◙ 19 ◙ 20 ◙ 21 [ref]◙ 22 ◙ 23 ◙

28 ◙ 2 ◙

3 ◙ 4 ◙ 5 ◙ 6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 ◙

9 ◙ 10 ◙

11 ◙ 12 ◙ 13 ◙ 14 ◙ 15 ◙

16 [ref]◙ 17 [ref]◙ 18 ◙ 19 ◙ 20 ◙ 21 ◙ 22 ◙ 23 ◙ 24 ◙ 25 ◙

26 [ref]◙ 27 ◙ 28 ◙ 29 ◙ 30 ◙ 31 ◙

29 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙ 5 ◙ 6 ◙

7 [ref]◙ 8 ◙ 9 ◙ 10 ◙ 11 ◙

12 [ref]◙ 13 ◙ 14 ◙ 15 ◙ 16 ◙

17 ◙ 18 ◙ 19 ◙

20 ◙ 21 ◙ 22 ◙

23 ◙ 24 ◙ 25 ◙

26 ◙ 27 ◙ 28 ◙

29 ◙ 30 ◙ 31 ◙

32 ◙ 33 ◙ 34 ◙

35 ◙ 36 ◙ 37 ◙ 38 ◙

39 ◙

40 ◙

30 ◙ 2 [ref]◙

3 ◙ 4 ◙ 5 ◙

6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 ◙

9 ◙

10 ◙ 11 ◙ 12 ◙ 13 ◙ 14 ◙ 15 ◙

16 ◙

31 ◙ 2 ◙

3 ◙ 4 ◙

5 ◙ 6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 ◙

9 ◙ 10 ◙ 11 ◙ 12 ◙

13 ◙ 14 ◙ 15 ◙ 16 [ref]◙ 17 ◙ 18 ◙ 19 ◙ 20 ◙

21 ◙ 22 ◙ 23 ◙ 24 ◙

25 ◙ 26 ◙ 27 ◙ 28 ◙ 29 ◙ 30 ◙ 31 ◙

32 ◙ 33 ◙ 34 ◙ 35 ◙ 36 ◙ 37 ◙ 38 ◙ 39 ◙ 40 ◙ 41 ◙

42 ◙ 43 ◙ 44 ◙ 45 ◙ 46 ◙ 47 ◙

48 ◙ 49 ◙ 50 ◙ 51 ◙ 52 ◙ 53 ◙ 54 ◙

32 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙ 5 ◙

6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 [ref]◙ 9 ◙ 10 ◙ 11 ◙ 12 ◙ 13 ◙ 14 ◙ 15 ◙

16 ◙ 17 ◙ 18 ◙ 19 ◙

20 ◙ 21 ◙ 22 ◙ 23 ◙ 24 ◙

25 ◙ 26 ◙ 27 ◙

28 [ref]◙ 29 ◙ 30 ◙

31 ◙ 32 ◙

33 ◙ 34 ◙ 35 ◙ 36 ◙ 37 ◙ 38 ◙

39 ◙ 40 ◙ 41 ◙ 42 ◙

33 ◙ 2 ◙

3 ◙ 4 ◙

5 ◙ 6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 ◙ 9 ◙ 10 ◙ 11 ◙ 12 ◙ 13 ◙ 14 ◙ 15 ◙

16 ◙ 17 ◙ 18 ◙ 19 ◙ 20 ◙ 21 ◙ 22 ◙ 23 ◙ 24 ◙ 25 ◙ 26 ◙ 27 ◙ 28 ◙ 29 ◙ 30 ◙ 31 ◙ 32 ◙ 33 ◙ 34 ◙ 35 ◙ 36 ◙ 37 ◙

38 [ref]◙ 39 ◙

40 ◙

41 ◙ 42 ◙ 43 ◙ 44 ◙ 45 ◙ 46 ◙ 47 ◙ 48 ◙ 49 ◙

50 ◙ 51 ◙ 52 ◙ 53 ◙ 54 [ref]◙

55 ◙ 56 ◙

34 ◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙ 5 ◙

6 ◙

7 ◙ 8 ◙ 9 ◙

10 ◙ 11 ◙ 12 ◙

…

13 [ref]◙ 14 ◙ 15 ◙

16 ◙ 17 ◙ 18 ◙ 19 ◙

• …
  • …
• 20 ◙
  • …
• 21 ◙
  • …
• 22 ◙
  • …
• 23 ◙
  • …
• 24 ◙
  • …
• 25 ◙
  • …
• 26 ◙
  • …
• 27 ◙
  • …
• 28 ◙
  • …

29 ◙

35 [ref]◙ 2 ◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙ 5 ◙ 6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 ◙

9 [ref]◙ 10 ◙ 11 ◙ 12 ◙ 13 ◙ 14 ◙ 15 ◙

16 ◙ 17 ◙ 18 ◙ 19 ◙

20 ◙ 21 ◙

22 ◙ 23 ◙ 24 ◙ 25 ◙ 26 ◙ 27 ◙ 28 ◙ 29 ◙

30 ◙ 31 ◙ 32 ◙ 33 ◙ 34 ◙

36 ◙ 2 [ref]◙ 3 ◙ 4 ◙

5 ◙ 6 ◙ 7 ◙ 8 ◙ 9 ◙

10 ◙ 11 ◙ 12 ◙

13 ◙