【Holy Bible】Message Numbers

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Numbers

Introduction

Becoming a truly human community is a long, complex, messy business. Simply growing up as a man or woman demands all the wisdom and patience and courage that we can muster. But growing up with others, parents and siblings and neighbors, to say nothing of odd strangers and mean enemies, immensely complicates the growing up.

The book of Numbers plunges us into the mess of growing up. The pages in this section of the biblical story give us a realistic feel for what is involved in being included in the people of God, which is to say, a human community that honors God, lives out love and justice in daily affairs, learns how to deal with sin in oneself and others, and follows God's commands into a future of blessing. And all this without illusions.

Many of us fondle a romanticized spirituality in our imaginations. The "God's in his heaven/all's right with the world" sort of thing. When things don't go "right" we blame others or ourselves, muddle through as best we can, often with considerable crankiness, and wish that we had been born at a different time—"Bible times" maybe!—when living a holy life was so much easier. That's odd because the Bible, our primary text for showing us what it means to be a human being created by God and called to a life of obedient faith and sacrificial love, nowhere suggests that life is simple or even "natural." We need a lot of help.

We need organizational help. When people live together in community, jobs have to be assigned, leaders appointed, inventories kept. Counting and list-making and rosters are as much a part of being a community of God as prayer and instruction and justice. Accurate arithmetic is an aspect of becoming a people of God.

And we need relational help. The people who find themselves called and led and commanded by God find themselves in the company of men and women who sin a lot—quarrel, bicker, grumble, rebel, fornicate, steal—you name it, we do it. We need help in getting along with each other. Wise discipline is required in becoming a people of God.

It follows that counting and quarreling take up considerable space in the book of Numbers. Because they also continue to be unavoidable aspects of our becoming the people of God, this book is essential in training our imaginations to take in some of these less-than-romantic details by which we are formed into the people of God.

(MSG)

[此贴子已经被作者于2010-4-19 2:47:20编辑过]

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 Chapter 1
Census in the Wilderness of Sinai
1 God spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai at the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the second month in the second year after they had left Egypt. He said, 2 "Number the congregation of the People of Israel by clans and families, writing down the names of every male. 3 You and Aaron are to register, company by company, every man who is twenty years and older who is able to fight in the army. 4 Pick one man from each tribe who is head of his family to help you. 5 These are the names of the men who will help you:
from Reuben: Elizur son of Shedeur 6 from Simeon: Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai 7 from Judah: Nahshon son of Amminadab 8 from Issachar: Nethanel son of Zuar 9 from Zebulun: Eliab son of Helon 10 from the sons of Joseph, from Ephraim: Elishama son of Ammihud from Manasseh: Gamaliel son of Pedahzur 11 from Benjamin: Abidan son of Gideoni 12 from Dan: Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai 13 from Asher: Pagiel son of Ocran 14 from Gad: Eliasaph son of Deuel 15 from Naphtali: Ahira son of Enan."
16 These were the men chosen from the congregation, leaders of their ancestral tribes, heads of Israel's military divisions. 17 Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named to help 18 and gathered the whole congregation together on the first day of the second month. The people registered themselves in their tribes according to their ancestral families, putting down the names of those who were twenty years old and older, 19 just as God commanded Moses. He numbered them in the Wilderness of Sinai. 20 The line of Reuben, Israel's firstborn: The men were counted off head by head, every male twenty years and older who was able to fight in the army, registered by tribes according to their ancestral families. 21 The tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500. 22 The line of Simeon: The men were counted off head by head, every male twenty years and older who was able to fight in the army, registered by clans and families. 23 The tribe of Simeon numbered 59,300. 24 The line of Gad: The men were counted off head by head, every male twenty years and older who was able to fight in the army, registered by clans and families. 25 The tribe of Gad numbered 45,650. 26 The line of Judah: The men were counted off head by head, every male twenty years and older who was able to fight in the army, registered by clans and families. 27 The tribe of Judah numbered 74,600. 28 The line of Issachar: The men were counted off head by head, every male twenty years and older who was able to fight in the army, registered by clans and families. 29 The tribe of Issachar numbered 54,400. 30 The line of Zebulun: The men were counted off head by head, every male twenty years and older who was able to fight in the army, registered by clans and families. 31 The tribe of Zebulun numbered 57,400. 32 The line of Joseph: From son Ephraim the men were counted off head by head, every male twenty years and older who was able to fight in the army, registered by clans and families. 33 The tribe of Ephraim numbered 40,500. 34 And from son Manasseh the men were counted off head by head, every male twenty years and older who was able to fight in the army, registered by clans and families. 35 The tribe of Manasseh numbered 32,200. 36 The line of Benjamin: The men were counted off head by head, every male twenty years and older who was able to fight in the army, registered by clans and families. 37 The tribe of Benjamin numbered 35,400. 38 The line of Dan: The men were counted off head by head, every male twenty years and older who was able to fight in the army, registered by clans and families. 39 The tribe of Dan numbered 62,700. 40 The line of Asher: The men were counted off head by head, every male twenty years and older who was able to fight in the army, registered by clans and families. 41 The tribe of Asher numbered 41,500. 42 The line of Naphtali: The men were counted off head by head, every male twenty years and older who was able to fight in the army, registered by clans and families. 43 The tribe of Naphtali numbered 53,400. 44 These are the numbers of those registered by Moses and Aaron, registered with the help of the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each representing his ancestral family. 45  The sum total of the People of Israel twenty years old and over who were able to fight in the army, counted by ancestral family, was 603,550. 46  47 The Levites, however, were not counted by their ancestral family along with the others. 48 God had told Moses, 49 "The tribe of Levi is an exception: Don't register them. Don't count the tribe of Levi; don't include them in the general census of the People of Israel. 50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of The Dwelling of The Testimony—over all its furnishings and everything connected with it. Their job is to carry The Dwelling and all its furnishings, maintain it, and camp around it. 51 When it's time to move The Dwelling, the Levites will take it down, and when it's time to set it up, the Levites will do it. Anyone else who even goes near it will be put to death. 52 "The rest of the People of Israel will set up their tents in companies, every man in his own camp under its own flag. 53 But the Levites will set up camp around The Dwelling of The Testimony so that wrath will not fall on the community of Israel. The Levites are responsible for the security of The Dwelling of The Testimony." 54 The People of Israel did everything that God commanded Moses. They did it all. Num 1:1-54 (MSG)

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Chapter 2

Marching Orders

1 God spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said, 2 "The People of Israel are to set up camp circling the Tent of Meeting and facing it. Each company is to camp under its distinctive tribal flag." 3 To the east toward the sunrise are the companies of the camp of Judah under its flag, led by Nahshon son of Amminadab. 4 His troops number 74,600. 5 The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them, led by Nethanel son of Zuar. 6 His troops number 54,400. 7 And the tribe of Zebulun is next to them, led by Eliab son of Helon. 8 His troops number 57,400. 9 The total number of men assigned to Judah, troop by troop, is 186,400. They will lead the march. 10 To the south are the companies of the camp of Reuben under its flag, led by Elizur son of Shedeur. 11 His troops number 46,500. 12 The tribe of Simeon will camp next to them, led by Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. 13 His troops number 59,300. 14 And the tribe of Gad is next to them, led by Eliasaph son of Deuel. 15 His troops number 45,650. 16 The total number of men assigned to Reuben, troop by troop, is 151,450. They are second in the order of the march. 17 The Tent of Meeting with the camp of the Levites takes its place in the middle of the march. Each tribe will march in the same order in which they camped, each under its own flag. 18 To the west are the companies of the camp of Ephraim under its flag, led by Elishama son of Ammihud. 19 His troops number 40,500. 20 The tribe of Manasseh will set up camp next to them, led by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. 21 His troops number 32,200. 22 And next to him is the camp of Benjamin, led by Abidan son of Gideoni. 23 His troops number 35,400. 24 The total number of men assigned to the camp of Ephraim, troop by troop, is 108,100. They are third in the order of the march. 25 To the north are the companies of the camp of Dan under its flag, led by Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 26 His troops number 62,700. 27 The tribe of Asher will camp next to them, led by Pagiel son of Ocran. 28 His troops number 41,500. 29 And next to them is the tribe of Naphtali, led by Ahira son of Enan. 30 His troops number 53,400. 31 The total number of men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out, under their flags, last in the line of the march. 32 These are the People of Israel, counted according to their ancestral families. The total number in the camps, counted troop by troop, comes to 603,550. 33 Following God's command to Moses, the Levites were not counted in with the rest of Israel. 34 The People of Israel did everything the way God commanded Moses: They camped under their respective flags; they marched by tribe with their ancestral families.

Num 2:1-34 (MSG)

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Chapter 3

The Levites

1 This is the family tree of Aaron and Moses at the time God spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. 2 The names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar— 3 anointed priests ordained to serve as priests. 4 But Nadab and Abihu fell dead in the presence of God when they offered unauthorized sacrifice to him in the Wilderness of Sinai. They left no sons, and so only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father, Aaron. 5 God spoke to Moses. He said, 6 "Bring forward the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron so they can help him. 7 They shall work for him and the whole congregation at the Tent of Meeting by doing the work of The Dwelling. 8 Their job is to be responsible for all the furnishings of The Dwelling, ministering to the affairs of The Dwelling as the People of Israel come to perform their duties. 9 Turn the Levites over to Aaron and his sons; they are the ones assigned to work full time for him. 10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to minister as priests; anyone else who tries to elbow his way in will be put to death." 11 God spoke to Moses: 12 "I have taken the Levites from among the People of Israel as a stand-in for every Israelite mother's firstborn son. The Levites belong to me. 13 All the firstborn are mine—when I killed all the firstborn in Egypt, I consecrated for my own use every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They belong to me. I am God." 14 God spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai: 15 "Count the Levites by their ancestral families and clans. Count every male a month old and older." 16 Moses counted them just as he was instructed by the mouth of God. 17 These are the names of the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 18 These are the names of the Gershonite clans: Libni and Shimei. 19 The sons of Kohath by clan: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 The sons of Merari by clan: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of Levi, family by family. 21 Gershon was ancestor to the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites, known as the Gershonite clans. 22 All the males who were one month and older numbered 7,500. 23 The Gershonite clans camped on the west, behind The Dwelling, 24 led by Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 At the Tent of Meeting the Gershonites were in charge of maintaining The Dwelling and its tent, its coverings, the screen at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, 26 the hangings of the Courtyard, the screen at the entrance to the Courtyard that surrounded The Dwelling and Altar, and the cords—in short, everything having to do with these things. 27 Kohath was ancestor to the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites. These were known as the Kohathite clans. 28 All the males who were one month and older numbered 8,600. The Kohathites were in charge of the Sanctuary. 29 The Kohathite clans camped on the south side of The Dwelling, 30 led by Elizaphan son of Uzziel. 31 They were in charge of caring for the Chest, the Table, the Lampstand, the Altars, the articles of the Sanctuary used in worship, and the screen—everything having to do with these things. 32 Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, supervised the leaders of the Levites and those in charge of the Sanctuary. 33 Merari was ancestor to the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites, known as the Merarite clans. 34 The males who were one month and older numbered 6,200. 35 They were led by Zuriel son of Abihail and camped on the north side of The Dwelling. 36 The Merarites were in charge of the frames of The Dwelling, its crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment—everything having to do with these things, 37 as well as the posts of the surrounding Courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and cords. 38 Moses and Aaron and his sons camped to the east of The Dwelling, toward the rising sun, in front of the Tent of Meeting. They were in charge of maintaining the Sanctuary for the People of Israel and the rituals of worship. Anyone else who tried to perform these duties was to be put to death. 39 The sum total of Levites counted at God's command by Moses and Aaron, clan by clan, all the males one month and older, numbered 22,000. 40 God spoke to Moses: "Count all the firstborn males of the People of Israel who are one month and older. List their names. 41 Then set apart for me the Levites—remember, I am God—in place of all the firstborn among the People of Israel, also the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. I am God." 42 So, just as God commanded him, Moses counted all the firstborn of the People of Israel. 43 The total of firstborn males one month and older, listed by name, numbered 22,273. 44 Again God spoke to Moses. He said, 45 "Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are mine, I am God. 46 Redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of Levites 47 by collecting five shekels for each one, using the Sanctuary shekel (the shekel weighing twenty gerahs). 48 Give that money to Aaron and his sons for the redemption of the excess number of Israelites." 49 So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the 273 firstborn Israelites he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels according to the Sanctuary shekel. 51 Moses turned over the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of God.

Num 3:1-51 (MSG)

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Chapter 4

Duties of the Kohathites

1 God spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said, 2 "Number the Kohathite line of Levites by clan and family. 3 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age, all who enter the ministry to work in the Tent of Meeting. 4 "This is the assigned work of the Kohathites in the Tent of Meeting: care of the most holy things. 5 "When the camp is ready to set out, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the covering curtain and cover the Chest of The Testimony with it. 6 Then they are to cover this with a dolphin skin, spread a solid blue cloth on top, and insert the poles. 7 "Then they are to spread a blue cloth on the Table of the Presence and set the Table with plates, incense dishes, bowls, and jugs for drink offerings. The bread that is always there stays on the Table. 8 They are to cover these with a scarlet cloth, and on top of that spread the dolphin skin, and insert the poles. 9 "They are to use a blue cloth to cover the light-giving Lampstand and the lamps, snuffers, trays, and the oil jars that go with it. 10 Then they are to wrap it all in a covering of dolphin skin and place it on a carrying frame. 11 "They are to spread a blue cloth over the Gold Altar and cover it with dolphin skins and place it on a carrying frame. 12 "They are to take all the articles used in ministering in the Sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover them with dolphin skins, and place them on a carrying frame. 13 "They are to remove the ashes from the Altar and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 They are to place on it all the articles used in ministering at the Altar—firepans, forks, shovels, bowls; everything used at the Altar—place them on the Altar, cover it with the dolphin skins, and insert the poles. 15 "When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and the camp is ready to set out, the Kohathites are to come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are in charge of carrying all the things that are in the Tent of Meeting. 16 "Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, is to be in charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular Grain-Offering, and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire Dwelling and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles." 17 God spoke to Moses and Aaron, 18 "Don't let the tribal families of the Kohathites be destroyed from among the Levites. 19 Protect them so they will live and not die when they come near the most holy things. To protect them, Aaron and his sons are to precede them into the Sanctuary and assign each man his task and what he is to carry. 20 But the Kohathites themselves must not go in to look at the holy things, not even a glance at them, or they will die."

Duties of the Gershonites

21 God spoke to Moses: 22 "Number the Gershonites by tribes according to their ancestral families. 23 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who enter the ministry of work in the Tent of Meeting. 24 "The Gershonites by family and clan will serve by carrying heavy loads: 25 the curtains of the Sanctuary and the Tent of Meeting; the covering of the Tent and the outer covering of dolphin skins; the screens for the entrance to the Tent; 26 the cords; and all the equipment used in its ministries. The Gershonites have the job of doing the work connected with these things. 27 All their work of lifting and carrying and moving is to be done under the supervision of Aaron and his sons. Assign them specifically what they are to carry. 28 This is the work of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting. Ithamar son of Aaron the priest is to supervise their work.

Duties of the Merarites

29 "Number the Merarites by their ancestral families. 30 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who enter the ministry of work at the Tent of Meeting. 31 "This is their assigned duty as they go to work at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of The Dwelling, its crossbars, posts, and bases, 32 as well as the posts of the surrounding Courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, cords, and all the equipment related to their use. Assign to each man exactly what he is to carry. 33 This is the ministry of the Merarite clans as they work at the Tent of Meeting under the supervision of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest."
34 Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation counted the Kohathites by clan and family. 35 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting, 36 counted by clans, were 2,750. 37 This was the total from the Kohathite clans who served in the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them just as God had commanded through Moses. 38 The Gershonites were counted by clan and family. 39 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting, 40 counted by clan and family, were 2,630. 41 This was the total from the Gershonite clans who served in the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them just as God had commanded. 42 The Merarites were counted by clan and family. 43 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting, 44 counted by clan, were 3,200. 45 This was the total from the Merarite clans. Moses and Aaron counted them just as God had commanded through Moses. 46 So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by clan and family. 47 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting 48 numbered 8,580. 49 At God's command through Moses, each man was assigned his work and told what to carry. And that's the story of their numbering, as God commanded Moses.

Num 4:1-49 (MSG)

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Chapter 5

Some Camp Rules

1 God spoke to Moses: 2 "Command the People of Israel to ban from the camp anyone who has an infectious skin disease, anyone who has a discharge, and anyone who is ritually unclean from contact with a dead body. 3 Ban male and female alike; send them outside the camp so that they won't defile their camp, the place I live among them." 4 The People of Israel did this, banning them from the camp. They did exactly what God had commanded through Moses.
5 God spoke to Moses: 6 "Tell the People of Israel, When a man or woman commits any sin, the person has broken trust with God, is guilty, 7 and must confess the sin. Full compensation plus twenty percent must be made to whoever was wronged. 8 If the wronged person has no close relative who can receive the compensation, the compensation belongs to God and must be given to the priest, along with the ram by which atonement is made. 9 All the sacred offerings that the People of Israel bring to a priest belong to the priest. 10 Each person's sacred offerings are his own, but what one gives to the priest stays with the priest."
11 God spoke to Moses: 12 "Tell the People of Israel, Say a man's wife goes off and has an affair, is unfaithful to him 13 by sleeping with another man, but her husband knows nothing about it even though she has defiled herself. And then, even though there was no witness and she wasn't caught in the act, 14 feelings of jealousy come over the husband and he suspects that his wife is impure. Even if she is innocent and his jealousy and suspicions are groundless, 15 he is to take his wife to the priest. He must also take an offering of two quarts of barley flour for her. He is to pour no oil on it or mix incense with it because it is a Grain-Offering for jealousy, a Grain-Offering for bringing the guilt out into the open. 16 "The priest then is to take her and have her stand in the presence of God. 17 He is to take some holy water in a pottery jar and put some dust from the floor of The Dwelling in the water. 18 After the priest has her stand in the presence of God he is to uncover her hair and place the exposure-offering in her hands, the Grain-Offering for jealousy, while he holds the bitter water that delivers a curse. 19 Then the priest will put the woman under oath and say, 'If no man has slept with you and you have not had an adulterous affair and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that delivers a curse not harm you. 20 But if you have had an affair while married to your husband and have defiled yourself by sleeping with a man other than your husband'— 21 here the priest puts the woman under this curse—'may God cause your people to curse and revile you when he makes your womb shrivel and your belly swell. 22 Let this water that delivers a curse enter your body so that your belly swells and your womb shrivels.' "Then the woman shall say, 'Amen. Amen.' 23 "The priest is to write these curses on a scroll and then wash the words off into the bitter water. 24 He then is to give the woman the bitter water that delivers a curse. This water will enter her body and cause acute pain. 25 The priest then is to take from her hands a handful of the Grain-Offering for jealousy, wave it before God, and bring it to the Altar. 26 The priest then is to take a handful of the Grain-Offering, using it as an exposure-offering, and burn it on the Altar; after this he is to make her drink the water. 27 If she has defiled herself in being unfaithful to her husband, when she drinks the water that delivers a curse, it will enter her body and cause acute pain; her belly will swell and her womb shrivel. She will be cursed among her people. 28 But if she has not defiled herself and is innocent of impurity, her name will be cleared and she will be able to have children. 29 "This is the law of jealousy in a case where a woman goes off and has an affair and defiles herself while married to her husband, 30 or a husband is tormented with feelings of jealousy because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand in the presence of God and go through this entire procedure with her. 31 The husband will be cleared of wrong, but the woman will pay for her wrong."

Num 5:1-31 (MSG)

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Chapter 6

Nazirite Vows

1 God spoke to Moses: 2 "Speak to the People of Israel; tell them, If any of you, man or woman, wants to make a special Nazirite vow, consecrating yourself totally to God, 3 you must not drink any wine or beer, no intoxicating drink of any kind, not even the juice of grapes—in fact, you must not even eat grapes or raisins. 4 For the duration of the consecration, nothing from the grapevine—not even the seeds, not even the skin—may be eaten. 5 "Also, for the duration of the consecration you must not have your hair cut. Your long hair will be a continuing sign of holy separation to God. 6 "Also, for the duration of the consecration to God, you must not go near a corpse. 7 Even if it's the body of your father or mother, brother or sister, you must not ritually defile yourself because the sign of consecration to God is on your head. 8 "For the entire duration of your consecration you are holy to God. 9 "If someone should die suddenly in your presence, so that your consecrated head is ritually defiled, you must shave your head on the day of your purifying, that is, the seventh day. 10 Then on the eighth day bring two doves or two pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 11 The priest will offer one for the Absolution-Offering and one for the Whole-Burnt-Offering, purifying you from the ritual contamination of the corpse. You resanctify your hair on that day 12 and reconsecrate your Nazirite consecration to God by bringing a yearling lamb for a Compensation-Offering. You start over; the previous days don't count because your consecration was ritually defiled. 13 "These are the instructions for the time set when your special consecration to God is up. First, you are to be brought to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 14 Then you will present your offerings to God: a healthy yearling lamb for the Whole-Burnt-Offering, a healthy yearling ewe for an Absolution-Offering, a healthy ram for a Peace-Offering, 15 a basket of unraised bread made of fine flour, loaves mixed with oil, and crackers spread with oil, along with your Grain-Offerings and Drink-Offerings. 16 The priest will approach God and offer up your Absolution-Offering and Whole-Burnt-Offering. 17 He will sacrifice the ram as a Peace-Offering to God with the basket of unraised bread, and, last of all, the Grain-Offering and Drink-Offering. 18 "At the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, shave off the hair you consecrated and put it in the fire that is burning under the Peace-Offering. 19 "After you have shaved the hair of your consecration, the priest will take a shoulder from the ram, boiled, and a piece of unraised bread and a cracker from the basket and place them in your hands. 20 The priest will then wave them before God, a Wave-Offering. They are holy and belong to the priest, along with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was offered. "Now you are free to drink wine. 21 "These are the instructions for Nazirites as they bring offerings to God in their vow of consecration, beyond their other offerings. They must carry out the vow they have vowed following the instructions for the Nazirite."

The Aaronic Blessing

22 God spoke to Moses: 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, This is how you are to bless the People of Israel. Say to them,
24 God bless you and keep you, 25 God smile on you and gift you, 26 God look you full in the face and make you prosper.

27 In so doing, they will place my name on the People of Israel—
I will confirm it by blessing them."

Num 6:1-27 (MSG)

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Chapter 7
Offerings for the Dedication
1 When Moses finished setting up The Dwelling, he anointed it and consecrated it along with all that went with it. At the same time he anointed and consecrated the Altar and its accessories. 2 The leaders of Israel, the heads of the ancestral tribes who had carried out the census, brought offerings. 3 They presented before God six covered wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon from each pair of leaders and an ox from each leader. 4 God spoke to Moses: 5 "Receive these so that they can be used to transport the Tent of Meeting. Give them to the Levites according to what they need for their work." 6 Moses took the wagons and oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonites for their work 8 and four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarites for their work. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 9 Moses didn't give any to the Kohathites because they had to carry the holy things for which they were responsible on their shoulders. 10 When the Altar was anointed, the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the Altar 11 because God had instructed Moses, "Each day one leader is to present his offering for the dedication of the Altar." 12 On the first day, Nahshon son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah, brought his offering. 13 His offering was: a silver plate weighing three and a quarter pounds and a silver bowl weighing one and three-quarter pounds (according to the standard Sanctuary weights), each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a Grain-Offering; 14 a gold vessel weighing four ounces, filled with incense; 15 a young bull, a ram, and a yearling lamb for a Whole-Burnt-Offering; 16 a he-goat for an Absolution-Offering; 17 two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs to be sacrificed as a Peace-Offering. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab. 18 On the second day, Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, brought his offering. 19 His offering was: a silver plate weighing three and a quarter pounds and a silver bowl weighing one and three-quarter pounds (according to the standard Sanctuary weights), each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a Grain-Offering; 20 a gold vessel weighing four ounces, filled with incense; 21 a young bull, a ram, and a yearling lamb for a Whole-Burnt-Offering; 22 a he-goat for an Absolution-Offering; 23 two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs to be sacrificed as a Peace-Offering. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar. 24 On the third day, Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the people of Zebulun, brought his offering. 25 His offering was: a silver plate weighing three and a quarter pounds and a silver bowl weighing one and three-quarter pounds (according to the standard Sanctuary weights), each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a Grain-Offering; 26 a gold vessel weighing four ounces, filled with incense; 27 a young bull, a ram, and a yearling lamb for a Whole-Burnt-Offering; 28 a he-goat for an Absolution-Offering; 29 two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs to be sacrificed as a Peace-Offering. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon. 30 On the fourth day, Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the people of Reuben, brought his offering. 31 His offering was: a silver plate weighing three and a quarter pounds and a silver bowl weighing one and three-quarter pounds (according to the standard Sanctuary weights), each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a Grain-Offering; 32 a gold vessel weighing four ounces, filled with incense; 33 a young bull, a ram, and a yearling lamb for a Whole-Burnt-Offering; 34 a he-goat for an Absolution-Offering; 35 two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs to be sacrificed as a Peace-Offering. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur. 36 On the fifth day, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the people of Simeon, brought his offering. 37 His offering was: a silver plate weighing three and a quarter pounds and a silver bowl weighing one and three-quarter pounds (according to the standard Sanctuary weights), each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a Grain-Offering; 38 a gold vessel weighing four ounces, filled with incense; 39 a young bull, a ram, and a yearling lamb for a Whole-Burnt-Offering; 40 a he-goat for an Absolution-Offering; 41 two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs to be sacrificed as a Peace-Offering. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. 42 On the sixth day, Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the people of Gad, brought his offering. 43 His offering was: a silver plate weighing three and a quarter pounds and a silver bowl weighing one and three-quarter pounds (according to the standard Sanctuary weights), each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a Grain-Offering; 44 a gold vessel weighing four ounces, filled with incense; 45 a young bull, a ram, and a yearling lamb for a Whole-Burnt-Offering; 46 a he-goat for an Absolution-Offering; 47 two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs to be sacrificed as a Peace-Offering. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel. 48 On the seventh day, Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the people of Ephraim, brought his offering. 49 His offering was: a silver plate weighing three and a quarter pounds and a silver bowl weighing one and three-quarter pounds (according to the standard Sanctuary weights), each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a Grain-Offering; 50 a gold vessel weighing four ounces, filled with incense; 51 a young bull, a ram, and a yearling lamb for a Whole-Burnt-Offering; 52 a he-goat for an Absolution-Offering; 53 two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs to be sacrificed as a Peace-Offering. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud. 54 On the eighth day, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering. 55 His offering was: a silver plate weighing three and a quarter pounds and a silver bowl weighing one and three-quarter pounds (according to the standard Sanctuary weights), each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a Grain-Offering; 56 a gold vessel weighing four ounces, filled with incense; 57 a young bull, a ram, and a yearling lamb for a Whole-Burnt-Offering; 58 a he-goat for an Absolution-Offering; 59 two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs to be sacrificed as a Peace-Offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. 60 On the ninth day, Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the people of Benjamin, brought his offering. 61 His offering was: a silver plate weighing three and a quarter pounds and a silver bowl weighing one and three-quarter pounds (according to the standard Sanctuary weights), each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a Grain-Offering; 62 a gold vessel weighing four ounces, filled with incense; 63 a young bull, a ram, and a yearling lamb for a Whole-Burnt-Offering; 64 a he-goat for an Absolution-Offering; 65 two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs to be sacrificed as a Peace-Offering. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni. 66 On the tenth day, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the people of Dan, brought his offering. 67 His offering was: a silver plate weighing three and a quarter pounds and a silver bowl weighing one and three-quarter pounds (according to the standard Sanctuary weights), each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a Grain-Offering; 68 a gold vessel weighing four ounces, filled with incense; 69 a young bull, a ram, and a yearling lamb for a Whole-Burnt-Offering; 70 a he-goat for an Absolution-Offering; 71 two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs to be sacrificed as a Peace-Offering. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 72 On the eleventh day, Pagiel son of Ocran, the leader of the people of Asher, brought his offering. 73 His offering was: a silver plate weighing three and a quarter pounds and a silver bowl weighing one and three-quarter pounds (according to the standard Sanctuary weights), each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a Grain-Offering; 74 a gold vessel weighing four ounces, filled with incense; 75 a young bull, a ram, and a yearling lamb for a Whole-Burnt-Offering; 76 a he-goat for an Absolution-Offering; 77 two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs to be sacrificed as a Peace-Offering. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran. 78 On the twelfth day, Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the people of Naphtali, brought his offering. 79 His offering was: a silver plate weighing three and a quarter pounds and a silver bowl weighing one and three-quarter pounds (according to the standard Sanctuary weights), each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a Grain-Offering; 80 a gold vessel weighing four ounces, filled with incense; 81 a young bull, a ram, and a yearling lamb for a Whole-Burnt-Offering; 82 a he-goat for an Absolution-Offering; 83 two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs to be sacrificed as a Peace-Offering. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan. 84 These were the dedication offerings of the leaders of Israel for the anointing of the Altar:
twelve silver plates, twelve silver bowls, twelve gold vessels.
85 Each plate weighed three and a quarter pounds and each bowl one and three-quarter pounds. All the plates and bowls together weighed about sixty pounds (using the official Sanctuary weight). 86 The twelve gold vessels filled with incense weighed four ounces each (using the official Sanctuary weight). Altogether the gold vessels weighed about three pounds. 87 The sum total of animals used for the Whole-Burnt-Offering together with the Grain-Offering:
twelve bulls, twelve rams, twelve yearling lambs.
For the Absolution-Offering:
twelve he-goats.
88 The sum total of animals used for the sacrifice of the Peace-Offering:
twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty he-goats, sixty yearling lambs.
These were the offerings for the dedication of the Altar after it was anointed. 89 When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with God, he heard the Voice speaking to him from between the two angel-cherubim above the Atonement-Cover on the Chest of The Testimony. He spoke with him. Num 7:1-89 (MSG)

latebird

Chapter 8

The Lights

1 God spoke to Moses: 2 "Tell Aaron, Install the seven lamps so they will throw light in front of the Lampstand." 3 Aaron did just that. He installed the lamps so they threw light in front of the Lampstand, as God had instructed Moses. 4 The Lampstand was made of hammered gold from its stem to its petals. It was made precisely to the design God had shown Moses.

Purifying the Levites

5 God spoke to Moses: 6 "Take the Levites from the midst of the People of Israel and purify them for doing God's work. 7 This is the way you will do it: Sprinkle water of absolution on them; have them shave their entire bodies; have them scrub their clothes. Then they will have purified themselves. 8 "Have them take a young bull with its accompanying Grain-Offering of fine flour mixed with oil, plus a second young bull for an Absolution-Offering. 9 Bring the Levites to the front of the Tent of Meeting and gather the entire community of Israel. 10 Present the Levites before God as the People of Israel lay their hands on them. 11 Aaron will present the Levites before God as a Wave-Offering from the People of Israel so that they will be ready to do God's work. 12 "Have the Levites place their hands on the heads of the bulls, selecting one for the Absolution-Offering and another for the Whole-Burnt-Offering to God to make atonement for the Levites. 13 Then have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons and present them as a Wave-Offering to God. 14 This is the procedure for setting apart the Levites from the rest of the People of Israel; the Levites are exclusively for my use. 15 "After you have purified the Levites and presented them as a Wave-Offering to God, they can go to work in the Tent of Meeting. 16 The Levites have been selected out of the People of Israel for my exclusive use; they function in place of every firstborn male born to an Israelite woman. 17 Every firstborn male in Israel, animal or human, is set apart for my use. When I struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, I consecrated them for my holy uses. 18 But now I take the Levites as stand-ins in place of every firstborn son in Israel, 19 selected out of the People of Israel, and I have given the Levites to Aaron and his sons to do all the work involved in the Tent of Meeting on behalf of all the People of Israel and to make atonement for them so that nothing bad will happen to them when they approach the Sanctuary." 20 Moses, Aaron, and the entire community of the People of Israel carried out these procedures with the Levites, just as God had commanded Moses. 21 The Levites purified themselves and scrubbed their clothes. Then Aaron presented them as a Wave-Offering before God and made atonement for them to purify them. 22 Only then did the Levites go to work at the Tent of Meeting. Aaron and his sons supervised them following the directions God had given. 23 God spoke to Moses: 24 "These are your instructions regarding the Levites: At the age of twenty-five they will join the work force in the Tent of Meeting; 25 at the age of fifty they must retire from the work. 26 They can assist their brothers in the tasks in the Tent of Meeting, but they are not permitted to do the actual work themselves. These are the ground rules for the work of the Levites."

Num 8:1-26 (MSG)

latebird

Chapter 9

Passover

1 God spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai in the first month of the second year after leaving Egypt: 2 "Have the People of Israel celebrate Passover at the set time. 3 Celebrate it on schedule, on the evening of the fourteenth day of this month, following all the rules and procedures." 4 Moses told the People of Israel to celebrate the Passover 5 and they did—in the Wilderness of Sinai at evening of the fourteenth day of the first month. The People of Israel did it all just as God had commanded Moses. 6 But some of them couldn't celebrate the Passover on the assigned day because they were ritually unclean on account of a corpse. So they presented themselves before Moses and Aaron on Passover 7 and told Moses, "We have become ritually unclean because of a corpse, but why should we be barred from bringing God's offering along with other Israelites on the day set for Passover?" 8 Moses said, "Give me some time; I'll find out what God says in your circumstances." 9 God spoke to Moses: 10 "Tell the People of Israel, If one or another of you is ritually unclean because of a corpse, or you happen to be off on a long trip, you may still celebrate God's Passover. 11 But celebrate it on the fourteenth day of the second month at evening. Eat the lamb together with unraised bread and bitter herbs. 12 Don't leave any of it until morning. Don't break any of its bones. Follow all the procedures. 13 "But a man who is ritually clean and is not off on a trip and still fails to celebrate the Passover must be cut off from his people because he did not present God's offering at the set time. That man will pay for his sin. 14 "Any foreigner living among you who wants to celebrate God's Passover is welcome to do it, but he must follow all the rules and procedures. The same procedures go for both foreigner and native-born."

The Cloud

15 The day The Dwelling was set up, the Cloud covered The Dwelling of the Tent of Testimony. From sunset until daybreak it was over The Dwelling. It looked like fire. 16 It was like that all the time, the Cloud over The Dwelling and at night looking like fire. 17 When the Cloud lifted above the Tent, the People of Israel marched out; and when the Cloud descended the people camped. 18 The People of Israel marched at God's command and they camped at his command. As long as the Cloud was over The Dwelling, they camped. 19 Even when the Cloud hovered over The Dwelling for many days, they honored God's command and wouldn't march. 20 They stayed in camp, obedient to God's command, as long as the Cloud was over The Dwelling, but the moment God issued orders they marched. 21 If the Cloud stayed only from sunset to daybreak and then lifted at daybreak, they marched. Night or day, it made no difference—when the Cloud lifted, they marched. 22 It made no difference whether the Cloud hovered over The Dwelling for two days or a month or a year, as long as the Cloud was there, they were there. And when the Cloud went up, they got up and marched. 23 They camped at God's command and they marched at God's command. They lived obediently by God's orders as delivered by Moses.

Num 9:1-23 (MSG)