# verses

text:
And they made 40 pieces of <i>silver</i> with a hole in each one. There were two pieces of <i>silver</i> for each board, one piece under each extra piece of wood. 


text:
At these two corners, they fixed the boards each one to the next, at both ends. They used a ring to fix them. They made both corners the same. 


text:
They also cut pieces of <i>acacia</i> wood to fix across the boards of the <i>tabernacle</i>. They cut five pieces for the boards on one side and five pieces for the boards on the other side. Then they cut five pieces for the boards on the west, at the far end of the <i>tabernacle</i>. 


text:
They cut a piece of wood for the centre to reach from end to end of the <i>tabernacle</i>. Then they fixed this at the middle of the boards. 


text:
Then they covered the boards with gold and they made gold rings. These rings held the pieces of wood that they fixed across the boards. They also covered the pieces of wood with gold.


text:
The workers made the curtain out of blue, <i>purple</i>, red and soft white material. A <i>wise</i> man put into the curtain a picture of <i>angels</i>. 


text:
They made four sticks out of <i>acacia</i> wood for the curtain and they covered them with gold. They made gold rings for the sticks and pieces of <i>silver</i> for the sticks to stand in. There was a hole in each piece of <i>silver</i>. 


text:
They made a curtain for the door of the <i>tent</i>. A person who could do <i>wise</i> work with material made the curtain. This person used blue, <i>purple</i>, red and soft white material. 


text:
They made five sticks for this curtain and they fixed gold rings to them. They covered the sticks with gold. Then they made five pieces of <i>bronze</i> to hold them.


text:
Bezalel made the <i>Ark</i> out of <i>acacia</i> wood. It was one metre long, ¾ of a metre wide and ¾ of a metre high. 


text:
He made four gold rings for it and he fastened them to its four feet. He fixed two rings on one side and two rings on the other side. 


text:
He made the special lid for the <i>Ark</i> out of gold. It was one metre long and ¾ of a metre wide. 


text:
Then he made two <i>angels</i> from gold that he had hit with a hammer. He made these at the two ends of the lid. 


text:
He made one <i>angel</i> on each end of the lid. The <i>angels</i> were part of the lid so it was one whole piece. 


text:
The <i>angels</i>’ <i>wings</i> pointed to the sky and they made a shadow over the lid. Each <i>angel</i>’s face looked toward the other <i>angel</i>, and toward the lid. <n>The table</n>


text:
They made the table out of <i>acacia</i> wood. It was one metre long, ½ metre wide and ¾ of a metre high. 


text:
Then they made four gold rings for the table. They fastened the rings to the four corners, one by each leg of the table. 


text:
They put the rings near to the extra edge of gold. These rings would hold the sticks to carry the table. 


text:
Then they made gold things to use at the table. They made plates and spoons and dishes. And they made pots and jars to pour out gifts of drink. <n>The <i>lampstand</i></n>


text:
The workers made the <i>lampstand</i> out of gold. They used a hammer to make it the right shape. They made its cups like open flowers and like flowers that are not yet open. The whole <i>lampstand</i> was one piece. 


text:
On the <i>lampstand</i> itself, they put four cups like <i>almond</i> flowers. Some of the flowers were open but some were not yet open. 


text:
They put one flower, not yet open, under the first pair of branches. They put a second flower, not yet open, under the second pair of branches. They put a third flower, not yet open, under the third pair of branches. There were six branches on the <i>lampstand</i>. 


text:
They made the flowers and the branches from the same piece of gold as the <i>lampstand</i>. And they used a hammer to make the gold into the right shape.


text:
They made the seven <i>lamps</i> out of gold. They also made small tools out of gold to clean the <i>lamps</i>. 


text:
They made the <i>lampstand</i> and all its tools from 34 kilos of gold. <n>The <i>altar</i> for <i>incense</i></n>


text:
They made the <i>altar</i> for <i>incense</i> from <i>acacia</i> wood. It was square, ½ a metre long, ½ a metre wide and one metre high. Its <i>horns</i> were part of it, one whole piece. 


text:
They made two gold rings for the <i>altar</i>, below the edge, on <i>opposite</i> sides. They would hold the sticks, to carry the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
They also made the special oil that makes things <i>holy</i> and the <i>incense</i> with a lovely smell. This was the work of a <i>wise</i> chemist.


text:
The workers built the <i>altar</i> where <i>Israelites</i> would burn animals as gifts. They made it out of <i>acacia</i> wood. It was 1¼ metres high and the top was square. The top was 2¼ metres long and 2¼ metres wide. 


text:
They made a <i>horn</i> at each corner. The four <i>horns</i> and the <i>altar</i> were all one whole piece. Then they covered the <i>altar</i> with <i>bronze</i>. 


text:
They made all its tools out of <i>bronze</i>. They made pots to remove the ashes. They made spades, dishes and forks for the meat. They made buckets out of metal, to carry the fire.


text:
They made a <i>net</i> out of <i>bronze</i> and they fixed it under the <i>altar</i>. It was between the top and the ground. 


text:
They put the sticks into the rings on each side of the <i>altar</i>, to carry it. The <i>altar</i> was empty because the workers made it with boards.


text:
Then they made a very large dish for water from <i>bronze</i>. And they made a special piece of <i>bronze</i> for the pot to stand on. They used the <i>bronze</i> from many small mirrors to make these things. The women who were servants at the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting gave these mirrors. <n>The yard</n>


text:
The next thing that they made was the yard. The south side of the yard was 46 metres long. It had curtains that they had made out of soft white material. 


text:
For these curtains, there were 20 sticks and 20 pieces of <i>bronze</i> with holes in them. They put the sticks in the holes. There were also small pieces of <i>silver</i> and rings on the sticks. These were to fasten the curtains. 


text:
The north side of the yard was also 46 metres long. It also had curtains with sticks, and things to fasten them, each one to the other.


text:
The west end of the yard was 23 metres wide. It had curtains with 10 sticks that they put into 10 pieces of <i>bronze</i>. On the sticks were <i>silver</i> pieces and rings. 


text:
The workers made curtains, 7 metres long. They hung these on one side of the open space in front of the yard. They hung the curtains on three sticks that they put on three pieces of <i>bronze</i>. 


text:
All the sticks stood on pieces of <i>bronze</i>. All the pieces of metal and the rings on the sticks were <i>silver</i>. They covered the tops of the sticks with <i>silver</i> also. So all the sticks in the yard had <i>silver</i> rings.


text:
The curtain at the open space of the yard was blue, <i>purple</i>, red and soft white material. A person who could do <i>wise</i> work with cloth made the curtain. It was 9 metres long and 2¼ metres wide. The curtains of the yard were also 2¼ metres wide. 


text:
The curtain had four sticks that the workers put on four pieces of <i>bronze</i>. On the sticks were pieces of <i>silver</i> and rings. And they covered the tops of the sticks with <i>silver</i>. 


text:
They made small, sharp pieces of <i>bronze</i> to fix the <i>tabernacle</i> and the yard to the ground. <n>The workers used these materials</n>


text:
The workers used these amounts of materials when they made the <i>tabernacle</i> of <i>witness</i>. Moses <i>commanded</i> Ithamar, son of Aaron the <i>priest</i>, to write down these amounts. And Ithamar caused the <i>Levites</i> to write them down. 


text:
Bezalel, the son of Uri and grandson of Hur, made everything that the <i>Lord commanded</i> Moses. Bezalel was from the big family of Judah and Oholiab worked with him. 


text:
Oholiab was the son of Ahisamach, from the big family of Dan. He was a very <i>wise</i> worker who could draw good plans. He also made beautiful pictures on cloth, with blue, <i>purple</i> and red materials. And he worked with soft white material.


text:
The workers used 994½ kilos of gold to do all the work of the <i>Holy Place</i>. This gold was offered as a gift by the <i>Israelites</i>.


text:
All those <i>Israelites</i> that Moses had counted had given gifts of <i>silver</i>. They had given about 3600 kilos of <i>silver</i>. 


text:
Each person who was 20 years old or more had given about 6 <i>grams</i>. Moses had counted the people and there were 603 550 men.


text:
The workers used much of the <i>silver</i> to make the <i>bases</i> for the <i>Holy Place</i> and for the curtains. They needed 34 kilos of <i>silver</i> to make each <i>base</i>. 


text:
Then they used the <i>silver</i> that they had not used before. With this, they made the pieces and the rings to fasten the curtains to the sticks. They also used this <i>silver</i> to cover the tops of the sticks.


text:
The workers used it to make the <i>bases</i> for the open space in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. They also used the <i>bronze</i> to make the <i>bronze altar</i>, the <i>net</i> and all the tools. 


text:
They made the <i>bases</i> for the yard that was round the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting and for its open space. They made the small sharp pieces of metal to fix the <i>tabernacle</i> and the yard to the ground. They made all these things out of <i>bronze</i> that the <i>Israelites</i> had given.


text:
The workers made clothes from blue, <i>purple</i> and red material. These clothes were for the <i>priests</i>. They would wear them when they worked in the <i>Holy Place</i>. The workers also made <i>holy</i> clothes for Aaron, as the <i>Lord commanded</i> Moses. <n>The <i>ephod</i></n>


text:
The workers made the <i>ephod</i> out of gold and out of blue, <i>purple</i> and red material. They also used soft white material. 


text:
They used a hammer to make gold into very thin pieces. Then they cut the thin pieces into long, thin pieces like hairs. A <i>wise</i> man took these gold hairs and he put them into the special material for the <i>ephod</i>. 


text:
The workers made pieces for the shoulders of the <i>ephod</i>. They fixed these to two of its corners, to fasten it.


text:
They made the beautiful belt for the <i>ephod</i> completely out of the same materials. The belt and the <i>ephod</i> were one whole piece, as the <i>Lord commanded</i> Moses.


text:
The workers fixed the <i>onyx</i> stones into thin circles of gold. They used a sharp tool to write on them the names of the sons of <i>Israel</i>. 


text:
Then they fastened them to the shoulder pieces of the <i>ephod</i>. They would cause all the people to remember the sons of <i>Israel</i>. The <i>Lord</i> had <i>commanded</i> Moses to do this. <n>The <i>breastpiece</i></n>


text:
A very <i>wise</i> worker made the <i>breastpiece</i>. He made it like the <i>ephod</i>, out of the same materials. 


text:
The fourth set was a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. They fixed each stone in a thin piece of gold that they had made beautiful. 


text:
They used 12 stones, one for each of <i>Israel</i>’s sons. On each stone, they used a sharp tool to write the name of one son. <n>Verses 10-13 Ruby, topaz, beryl, turquoise, sapphire, emerald, jacinth, agate, amethyst, chrysolite, onyx and jasper are all valuable stones. Each stone is a different colour. 


text:
For the <i>breastpiece</i>, they made thin lines of gold and they put them together. They made two <i>chains</i> of gold like this. 


text:
Then they made two gold rings and two thin pieces of gold that they made beautiful. They fastened the rings to two corners of the <i>breastpiece</i>. 


text:
And they fastened the two gold <i>chains</i> to the rings at the corners of the <i>breastpiece</i>. 


text:
They fastened the other ends of the <i>chains</i> to the beautiful gold pieces. They tied them to the shoulder pieces of the <i>ephod</i>, at the front.


text:
They made two more gold rings and they fixed them to the other corners of the <i>breastpiece</i>. These were on the inside edge, next to the <i>ephod</i>. 


text:
Then they made two more gold rings. They fixed these to the edge of the shoulder pieces, on the front of the <i>ephod</i>. They put the rings near to the <i>ephod</i>’s belt, a short way above it. 


text:
They tied the rings of the <i>breastpiece</i> to the rings of the <i>ephod</i> with a line of blue cotton. They fastened the <i>breastpiece</i> to the belt so that they would not become separate. The workers made all these things as the <i>Lord</i> had <i>commanded</i> Moses. <n>The other clothes for the <i>priests</i></n>


text:
The workers made the <i>robe</i> of the <i>ephod</i> completely out of blue cloth. A man who made many different materials made this cloth. 


text:
There was a hole in the centre of the <i>robe</i>, like the hole of a <i>collar</i>. The worker fixed a piece of material round the hole so that it would not tear. 


text:
They made <i>pomegranates</i> out of blue, <i>purple</i> and red materials and out of soft white material. Then they fixed them to the lower edge of the <i>robe</i>. 


text:
So there was a bell and a <i>pomegranate</i>, another bell and another <i>pomegranate</i>, round the whole lower edge of the <i>robe</i>. The <i>priest</i> must wear this <i>robe</i> when he worked for the <i>Lord</i>. This was the <i>Lord</i>’s <i>command</i> to Moses.


text:
The workers made <i>tunics</i> out of soft white material for Aaron and his sons. This cloth was the work of a man who made many different materials. 


text:
A <i>wise</i> worker made the long belt. He put blue, <i>purple</i> and red lines of cloth on soft white material to make the long belt. The <i>Lord</i> told Moses that he must do this.


text:
The workers made a thin plate, a <i>holy</i> thing, out of gold. They wrote on it with a sharp tool these words: <i>HOLY</i> TO THE <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
Then they fastened a line of blue cotton to the plate, to tie it to the <i>turban</i>. The <i>Lord</i> told Moses that he must do this. <n>Moses checks the <i>tabernacle</i></n>


text:
So the workers finished making everything for the <i>tabernacle</i>, the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. The <i>Israelites</i> made everything completely as the <i>Lord commanded</i> Moses. 


text:
Then they brought the <i>tabernacle</i> to Moses. They brought the <i>tent</i> and all the things that were in it. They brought the boards, the sticks, the <i>bases</i> and all the things that fastened it together. 


text:
They brought the table with all its tools and the special bread. This bread showed that God was with the <i>Israelites</i>.


text:
They brought the gold <i>lampstand</i> with its <i>lamps</i> and all its tools and the oil for the light. 


text:
They brought the gold <i>altar</i>, the special oil, the <i>incense</i> and the curtain for the door of the <i>tent</i>. 


text:
They brought the <i>bronze altar</i> with all its tools and its sticks. They brought the very large dish for water and its <i>base</i>. 


text:
They brought all the curtains that they had made for the yard and for its open space. They brought all the tools to fasten the yard to the ground. They brought everything that they had made for the <i>tabernacle</i>, the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting.


text:
They also brought the clothes that they had made for the <i>priests</i>. There were the <i>holy</i> clothes that Aaron the <i>priest</i> would wear and the clothes for his sons. They would wear these clothes when they worked as servants of the <i>Lord</i>.


text:
The <i>Israelites</i> had done all the work completely as the <i>Lord</i> had <i>commanded</i> Moses. 


text:
Moses was careful to check all the work. And they had done it completely as the <i>Lord</i> had <i>commanded</i>. Moses saw this and he <i>blessed</i> the <i>Israelites</i>.


text:
‘<i>Erect</i> the <i>tabernacle</i>, the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting, on the first day of the first month. 


text:
Put the <i>Ark</i> of the <i>Covenant</i> in the <i>tabernacle</i> and hide the <i>Ark</i> behind its curtain. 


text:
Bring in the table and put its own things on it. Then bring in the <i>lampstand</i> and fix its <i>lamps</i> on it. 


text:
Put the gold <i>altar</i> for <i>incense</i> in front of the <i>Ark</i> of the <i>Covenant</i>. Fix the curtain as a door to the <i>tabernacle</i>.


text:
Put the very large dish for water between the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting and the <i>altar</i> and put water in it. 


text:
Take the special oil and pour a little of it on the <i>tabernacle</i> and on everything in it. Offer the <i>tabernacle</i> to the <i>Lord</i> with all its things, and then it will be <i>holy</i>. 


text:
Then pour a little of the special oil on the <i>altar</i> where you will burn animals. Do the same thing to all its tools. Offer it all to the <i>Lord</i>, and then it will be very <i>holy</i>. 


text:
Pour a little oil on the very large dish for water and on its <i>base</i> and offer them to the <i>Lord</i>.


text:
Then dress Aaron in the <i>holy</i> clothes and pour a little oil on his head. Bring him then to me so that he can work for me as a <i>priest</i>. 


text:
Pour a little oil on their heads as you did to their father. Then they too can work for me as <i>priests</i>. This special work will be their own for their whole lives. Their sons and grandsons will also be <i>priests</i>. This is a special gift to the family of Aaron for all time.’ 


text:
So they erected the <i>tabernacle</i> on the first day of the first month. This happened in the second year of the <i>Israelites</i>’ journey through the <i>desert</i>. 


text:
When Moses <i>erected</i> the <i>tabernacle</i>, he put all the different parts in the right places. 


text:
Then he covered the <i>tabernacle</i> with the <i>tent</i>. He covered the <i>tent</i> also, as the <i>Lord commanded</i> him.


text:
Moses took the <i>Testimony</i> and he put it in the <i>Ark</i>. He fastened the sticks to the <i>Ark</i> and he put the special lid over it. 


text:
Then he brought the <i>Ark</i> into the <i>tabernacle</i> and put the curtain in front of it. So he hid the <i>Ark</i> of the <i>Covenant</i>, as the <i>Lord commanded</i> him.


text:
He put the <i>lampstand</i> in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. He put it on the south side, on the <i>opposite</i> side to the table. 


text:
He put the <i>altar</i>, where they would burn animals as gifts, by the door of the <i>tabernacle</i>. He offered on it animals and food as gifts, as the <i>Lord</i> had <i>commanded</i> him.


text:
Moses put the very large dish for water between the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting and the <i>altar</i>. He put water in it. 


text:
They washed themselves each time that they went into the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. They also washed themselves before they went to the <i>altar</i>. The <i>Lord</i> had <i>commanded</i> Moses about this.


text:
Then Moses <i>erected</i> the yard round the <i>tabernacle</i> and round the <i>altar</i>. He fixed the curtain to make a door for the yard. And so Moses finished the work. <n>The <i>glory</i> of the <i>Lord</i></n>


text:
Then the cloud covered the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. The <i>glory</i> of the <i>Lord</i> filled the <i>tabernacle</i>. 


text:
Moses could not go into the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting because the cloud covered it. And the <i>glory</i> of the <i>Lord</i> filled the <i>tabernacle</i>.


text:
The <i>Israelites</i> followed the cloud during all their journeys. Every time that the cloud rose up from the <i>tabernacle</i>, they would begin their journey again. 


text:
But if the cloud remained on the <i>tabernacle</i>, the <i>Israelites</i> did not move. They stayed where they were. They stayed there until the day when the cloud rose up. 


text:
So the cloud of the <i>Lord</i> was over the <i>tabernacle</i> during the day. During the night, there was fire in the cloud. And all the <i>Israelites</i> could see the cloud during all their journeys.


text:
The <i>Lord</i> spoke to Moses from the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. He told him the rules that Israel’s people must obey. 


text:
The <i>Lord</i> said, ‘Speak to Israel’s people. Tell them this. When a person gives an animal to the <i>Lord</i>, it must be a cow or a sheep or a goat. 


text:
A person may want to give a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. That gift must be a male animal from his group of animals. It must be <i>perfect</i>. He must burn the whole animal as a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. The person must bring it to the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. If he does, the <i>Lord</i> will accept his gift. 


text:
The person must put his hand on the animal’s head. Then he must kill it. The animal’s death will pay for the person’s <i>sins</i>. 


text:
The person must kill the young male cow in front of the <i>Lord</i>. The <i>priests</i> who are the sons of Aaron will take the blood. They will throw it on to the sides of the <i>altar</i>. That is the <i>altar</i> near to the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. 


text:
The sons of Aaron the <i>priest</i> will light a fire on the <i>altar</i>. Then they will put wood on it. 


text:
The <i>priests</i> will put the pieces of meat on the fire. They will put the head and the fat on the fire with the meat. 


text:
The person must wash the legs and the inside parts with water. Then the <i>priest</i> will burn the whole animal on the <i>altar</i>. The smell of it while it is burning will give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure.


text:
A person may want to give a sheep or a goat to the <i>Lord</i>. It must be a male animal. It must be <i>perfect</i>. 


text:
The person must kill it at the north side of the <i>altar</i>. The <i>priests</i> will throw the blood on to the sides of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
The person must cut the animal up. The <i>priests</i> will take the pieces of meat, the head and the fat. They will put them on the fire that is burning on the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
The person must wash the legs and the inside parts with water. The <i>priest</i> will burn the whole animal on the <i>altar</i>. It is a burnt <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. The smell of it while it is burning will give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure. <n>Moses tells Israel’s people what to do with gifts that are birds</n>


text:
The <i>priest</i> will bring the bird to the <i>altar</i>. He will tear off the head and he will burn it on the <i>altar</i>. The <i>priest</i> will pour the blood on to the side of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
Then the <i>priest</i> will remove the part of the bird where the food is stored. He will throw it on the east side of the <i>altar</i>, with the ashes. 


text:
He will hold the parts that the bird uses to fly. And then he will tear open the body. But he must not tear it completely. He will burn all of it on the fire that is on the <i>altar</i>. The smell of it while it is burning will give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure.


text:
A person may want to give <i>grain</i> as a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. He must make it into flour. He must put oil and <i>incense</i> on the flour. 


text:
He must take it to Aaron’s sons, the <i>priests</i>. The <i>priest</i> will take some of the flour and oil and all the <i>incense</i> in his hand. He will burn them on the <i>altar</i> as a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. The smell of them while they are burning will give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure. 


text:
The flour that he did not burn is for the <i>priests</i>. It is very <i>holy</i>. That is because it is part of an <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>.


text:
A person must not use <i>yeast</i> if he bakes his gift of <i>grain</i>. He must make cakes or biscuits with flour and oil. 


text:
He must not use <i>yeast</i> if he cooks his cake on a flat plate. He must make it with flour and oil. 


text:
He will take a piece of it and he will burn it in the fire. It is a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. The smell of it while it is burning will give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure. 


text:
The part of the cake that he did not burn is for the <i>priests</i>. That is because it is most <i>holy</i>, part of a burnt <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>.


text:
A person must not use <i>yeast</i> when he gives a gift of <i>grain</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. He must not give <i>yeast</i> or <i>honey</i> for the <i>priests</i> to burn as gifts to the Lord. 


text:
He can give them as the first part of his <i>harvest</i>. He must not burn them on the fire. He cannot use them to give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure. 


text:
A person must put salt in all his gifts of <i>grain</i>. Salt is a mark of the <i>Lord</i>’s promise to Israel’s people.


text:
A person may want to give the first part of his <i>harvest</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. He must break the <i>grains</i> into pieces and he must cook them in a fire. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will burn a part of the <i>grain</i> with all the <i>incense</i>. It is a burnt <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>.


text:
A person might want to give a <i>fellowship</i> gift to the <i>Lord</i>. He must take a <i>perfect</i> animal from his group of animals. The animal can be male or female. 


text:
The person must put his hand on the animal’s head. Then he must kill it at the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. Aaron’s sons the <i>priests</i> will throw the blood on to the sides of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
The person must burn some pieces of the animal as a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. It is a <i>fellowship offering</i>. 


text:
He must bring all the fat from inside the animal. And he must bring the <i>kidneys</i> with their fat and the best piece of the <i>liver</i>. 


text:
The <i>priests</i>, Aaron’s sons, will take the pieces. They must put them on top of the gift on the <i>altar</i>. The smell of them while they are burning will give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure.


text:
If a person wants to give a sheep to the <i>Lord</i> as a <i>fellowship</i> gift, it must be <i>perfect</i>. The person can give a male animal or a female animal to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
He must put his hand on its head. Then he must kill it at the front of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. Aaron’s sons will throw the blood on to the sides of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
The person must cut the tail off the animal. He must give the tail and all the fat from inside the body to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will burn them as food on the <i>altar</i>. They are a burnt <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>.


text:
The person must put his hand on the goat’s head. Then he must kill it at the front of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. Then Aaron’s sons will throw the blood on to the sides of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
The person must take all of the fat round the inside parts. He must give it to the <i>Lord</i> for a burnt <i>offering</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will burn them as food on the <i>altar</i>. The smell of them while they are burning will give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure.


text:
Israel’s people must not eat any fat or drink any blood. This rule is for them and for their children everywhere. They must obey this rule always.’


text:
‘Say to Israel’s people, “A man may <i>sin</i>, when he did not really want to sin. This is what that person must do.


text:
If the man is a <i>priest</i>, his <i>sins</i> will cause the people to <i>sin</i>. He must bring a young bull (male cow) as a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must bring the young <i>bull</i> to the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. He must put his hand on the animal’s head and then he must kill it. 


text:
He must put his finger in the blood. He must <i>shake</i> it in front of the <i>holy</i> curtain seven times in front of the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
He must put some of the blood on the corners of the <i>incense altar</i>. The <i>priest</i> must pour the blood that he did not use on to the floor in front of the <i>altar</i>. That <i>altar</i> is near the door inside the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. 


text:
He must also cut out the <i>kidneys</i> and the best piece of the <i>liver</i>. He must take them from inside the animal. 


text:
He must burn the fat on the <i>altar</i>. The <i>priest</i> does this when the people give a <i>fellowship offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
He must take up the skin and all the meat. He must take the head, the legs and all the inside pieces. He must include the stomach. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must take all the pieces to a clean place outside the <i>camp</i>. He must put them on the ashes and he must burn them on a wood fire.


text:
All of the people might do bad things when they did not really want to do them. They might not obey some of the <i>Lord</i>’s rules. They will have <i>sinned</i>, even if they did not know this. 


text:
When they do know about it they must bring a young bull (male cow) to the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. The animal is a <i>sin offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
The leaders of the people must put their hands on the young <i>bull</i>’s head and then they must kill it. 


text:
He will put his finger in the blood. He must <i>shake</i> it in front of the <i>holy</i> curtain seven times. 


text:
He will take some of the blood. Then he will put it on the corners of the <i>altar</i> that is in front of the <i>Lord</i>. He will pour the blood that he did not use on to the floor. He must pour it in front of the burnt <i>offering</i> altar. This altar is in front of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will cut all of the fat from the dead animal. And he will burn all the fat on the <i>altar</i> of burnt <i>offering</i>. 


text:
He will do with this <i>bull</i> what he did with the <i>bull</i> for the <i>sin offering</i>. This is how the <i>priest</i> will <i>atone</i> (pay) for the <i>sins</i> of the people. The <i>Lord</i> will <i>forgive</i> them when the <i>priest</i> does this. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will take the dead animal outside the <i>camp</i>. He will put it on the ashes from the <i>altar</i> fire. He will burn the animal as he did the first <i>bull</i>. This is the <i>sin offering</i> for all the people.


text:
A leader might do bad things when he did not really want to do them. He has <i>sinned</i> if he does not obey one of the <i>Lord</i>’s rules. 


text:
People will tell him that he has done wrong things. So then he must give a male goat to the <i>Lord</i>. The animal must be <i>perfect</i>. 


text:
He must put his hand on the goat’s head and then he must kill it. He must do this where they kill animals for the burnt <i>offering</i>. It is an <i>offering</i> for <i>sin</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will put his finger in the blood of the dead animal. He will put some of it on the <i>altar</i>’s corners. He will pour the blood that he did not use on to the ground. He will pour it in front of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
Then the <i>priest</i> will cut all of the fat from the goat. And he will burn it on the <i>altar</i>. He will do this as he did for the <i>fellowship offering</i>. This is how the <i>priest</i> will make <i>atonement</i> for the leader’s <i>sin</i>. Then the <i>Lord</i> will <i>forgive</i> the leader.


text:
One of the people might do bad things when he did not really want to do them. He did not obey one of the <i>Lord</i>’s rules. That person has <i>sinned</i>. 


text:
They will tell him that he has done bad things. Then he must give a female goat to the <i>Lord</i>. The animal must be <i>perfect</i>. 


text:
He must put his hand on the goat’s head. Then he must kill it by the <i>altar</i> of burnt <i>offering</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will put his finger in the blood of the goat. He will put some of it on the <i>altar</i>’s corners. He will pour out the blood that he did not use. He will pour it on to the ground in front of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will cut all of the fat from the goat as he did with the <i>fellowship offering</i>. And he will burn it on the <i>altar</i>. This will make <i>atonement</i> for the wrong things that the person has done. The smell of it while it is burning will give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure. Then the <i>Lord</i> will <i>forgive</i> the person.


text:
If a person wants to give a young sheep to the <i>Lord</i>, it must be a female. It must be <i>perfect</i>. 


text:
He must put his hand on the animal’s head. He will kill it at the <i>altar</i> of burnt <i>offering</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will put his finger in the blood of the sheep. He will take some of it. And he will put it on the corners of the <i>altar</i>. He will pour the blood that he did not use on the ground in front of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will cut all the fat from the sheep as he did with the <i>fellowship offering</i>. He will burn it on the <i>altar</i>. He must burn it on top of the burnt <i>offerings</i>. This is how the <i>priest</i> will make <i>atonement</i> for the person’s <i>sin</i>. Then the <i>Lord</i> will <i>forgive</i> the person.


text:
A person may know about something that is wrong. He may not speak about it at a public meeting. That person is <i>sinning</i>.


text:
The <i>Lord</i> has said that some animals and insects are not clean. A person may touch a dead animal or an insect like that. If he does, he is doing something wrong. It is a <i>sin</i> even if he did not really want to touch it.


text:
A person may touch something that another person has made bad. If he does, he is doing something wrong. He might not know that it is bad. But he is still doing a wrong thing.


text:
A person is doing a wrong thing if he says any careless promise. The promise might be good or bad. People will tell him that he has not obeyed God’s rules. Then he will know that he has <i>sinned</i>.


text:
He must give a sheep or a goat for a <i>sin offering</i>. Then the <i>Lord</i> will not be angry with him. The <i>priest</i> will kill the animal as a <i>sacrifice</i> to <i>atone</i> for that <i>sin</i>. <n>What the people should do if they do not have much money</n>


text:
A person may not have money to buy a sheep or a goat. If he does not, he must buy two <i>doves</i> or two <i>pigeons</i>. He must give them to the <i>Lord</i>. One bird will be an <i>offering</i> for wrong things that he has done. The second bird will be for a burnt <i>offering</i>. <n>Doves and pigeons are birds that God let people eat. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will bring one of the birds to the <i>altar</i>. It is the <i>offering</i> for <i>sin</i>. He will break the neck of the bird, but he will not pull the head off. 


text:
He will <i>shake</i> some of the blood on to the side of the <i>altar</i>. He will pour the blood that he did not <i>shake</i> on to the floor. He must pour it in front of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will burn the other bird. The <i>Lord</i> will not be angry with the man when the <i>priest</i> does this.


text:
A person may not have money to buy two <i>doves</i> or two <i>pigeons</i>. If he does not, he must give a tenth (1/10th) of an <i>ephah</i> (about two litres or 4 pints) of flour to the <i>Lord</i>. He must not put oil or <i>incense</i> on the flour because it is a <i>sin offering</i>. 


text:
He must take it to the <i>priest</i>. The <i>priest</i> will burn some of the flour on the <i>altar</i> as a special part of the flour. It is a <i>sin offering</i>. 


text:
The <i>Lord</i> will <i>forgive</i> the person when the <i>priest</i> does this. The flour that he did not burn is like the <i>grain offering</i>. It belongs to the <i>priests</i>.” ’ <n>The gift to the <i>Lord</i> when a person does wrong things</n>


text:
‘If a person does not obey the <i>Lord</i>’s <i>holy</i> rules he is <i>sinning</i>. He must give a male sheep to the <i>Lord</i>. He must do this even if he did not know that he had <i>sinned</i>. It is a gift to the <i>Lord</i> to pay for his <i>sins</i>. It must be a <i>perfect</i> male animal. It must be worth the correct amount of money. 


text:
He must also give money worth one fifth (1/5th) more. The person must give the sheep and the money to the <i>priest</i>. The <i>priest</i> will <i>sacrifice</i> the sheep to the <i>Lord</i>. It is an <i>atonement</i> for the wrong things that the person has done. The <i>Lord</i> will <i>forgive</i> the person.


text:
When he knows about it, he must bring a sheep to the <i>priest</i>. The animal must be a <i>perfect</i> male. The sheep must be worth the right amount of money. The <i>priest</i> will give the sheep to the <i>Lord</i>. It will be an <i>atonement</i> for the wrong things that the person has done. Then the <i>Lord</i> will <i>forgive</i> the person. 


text:
‘A person may take something that is not his. Or he may find it and keep it. He may tell his friend that he has not taken it. He might not give him the correct price for something. But then he is not obeying God. 


text:
A person may speak words that are not true. That is a <i>sin</i>. A person may keep something that belongs to another person. He does not give it back. That is a wrong thing to do. He might find something. And then he might say that it is his. If it is not his, he is not obeying God. 


text:
He has done something that is wrong. So, he must show that he is sorry. He must give back anything that is not his. He must give back anything that he has found. He must give back anything that he has kept. He must give it to the person to whom it belongs. 


text:
He must give back everything and one fifth (1/5th) more. He must also, on the same day, give a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
He must bring a sheep to the <i>priest</i>. The sheep must be a <i>perfect</i> male animal. The sheep must be worth the right amount of money. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will give the sheep to the <i>Lord</i>. It is an <i>atonement</i> for the wrong things that the person has done. Then the <i>Lord</i> will <i>forgive</i> the person.’ <n>Rules for the <i>priests</i></n>


text:
‘Tell Aaron and his sons my rules. They must burn these gifts for the <i>Lord</i> on the <i>altar</i>. The fire must burn all night. 


text:
When the morning comes, the <i>priest</i> must dress himself in his <i>linen</i> clothes. The <i>linen</i> must be next to his skin. He must take the ashes from the fire and he must put them at the side of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
Then he must dress himself in other clothes. He must carry the ashes outside the <i>camp</i> and he must put them in a special place. 


text:
The fire that is on the <i>altar</i> must never stop burning. Every morning the <i>priest</i> must put wood on it. He must also put on it the gifts and the fat of the <i>fellowship offerings</i>. 


text:
These are the rules for the gift of <i>grain</i>. Aaron’s sons must bring it in front of the <i>altar</i> to give to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
A <i>priest</i> must take some of the flour and oil. He must mix this special part with <i>incense</i> and he must burn all of it on the <i>altar</i>. The smell of them while they are burning will give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure. 


text:
The <i>priests</i> will make into bread the flour that he did not burn. They must not use <i>yeast</i> to make the bread. They must eat the bread in the <i>holy</i> place, in the yard outside the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. 


text:
The bread is for the <i>priests</i> because it is a <i>holy</i> part of a gift for the <i>Lord</i>. It is <i>holy</i>, like the <i>offerings</i> for <i>sin</i>. And it is like the gifts when somebody does anything wrong. 


text:
Any son, grandson or male of Aaron’s family can eat the bread. It is his usual part of the burnt <i>offerings</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. A person who touches the bread will become <i>holy</i>.’


text:
‘When Aaron is <i>anointed</i>, Aaron and his sons must give an <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. It must be a 10th of an <i>ephah</i> (about two litres or 4 pints) of best flour. They must bring half of it in the morning and half of it in the evening. 


text:
They must mix it with oil and they must cook it on a flat plate. Then they must break it into pieces and they must <i>offer</i> it to the <i>Lord</i>. The smell of it will give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure. 


text:
All of the gifts that the <i>priests</i> give to the <i>Lord</i> must be burnt completely. Nobody should eat them.’ <n>The <i>offering</i> for <i>sin</i></n>


text:
‘Tell Aaron and his sons this rule. When a person does wrong things he must give an animal to the <i>Lord</i>. The animal will be <i>holy</i>. The person must kill the animal at the north side of the <i>altar</i>. That is where they kill the <i>offerings</i> for <i>sin</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> who <i>offered</i> it will eat his part of the gift in a <i>holy</i> place. That is the yard outside the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. 


text:
If anyone or anything touches the meat they will become <i>holy</i>. If the blood touches the clothes of a person, he must wash them in a <i>holy</i> place. 


text:
If a person cooks the meat in a <i>clay</i> pot, he must break the pot. He must break it when he has cooked the meat. If a person cooks the meat in a metal pot, he must wash the pot. He must wash it well when he has cooked the meat. And he must wash it again with clean water. 


text:
They must take the blood of a <i>sin offering</i> into the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. It is a <i>sacrifice</i> to <i>atone</i> for <i>sin</i>. Nobody should eat any of that <i>offering</i>. The <i>priest</i> must burn it.


text:
These are the rules for a most <i>holy offering</i>. A person may be sorry for the wrong things that he has done. That person must obey these rules. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must kill an animal at the north side of the <i>altar</i>. He must throw the blood on to the sides of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will bring all of the fat from the tail and the inside parts to the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
Then he will burn the pieces on the <i>altar</i>. They are a gift to the <i>Lord</i> to make a person clean from <i>sin</i>. 


text:
Aaron’s sons can eat the meat that is not burnt. They must eat it in a <i>holy</i> place because it is most <i>holy</i>.


text:
The rules are the same for <i>sacrifices</i> for <i>sin</i> and for a person who is sorry for his <i>sins</i>. The gifts of meat are for the <i>priest</i> who brings them to the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
People may give gifts of <i>grain</i> that they cooked over a fire or in a closed flat plate. They should give them all to the <i>priest</i>. 


text:
<i>Grain</i> that is dry is also a gift. And <i>grain</i> that a man mixes with oil is also a gift. They should give them to Aaron’s sons. <n>The <i>Fellowship Offering</i></n>


text:
If a man wants to thank the <i>Lord</i>, he must give an animal and flat loaves of bread. He must mix the flour for the bread with oil. He must not mix the flour with <i>yeast</i>. 


text:
He must also give other loaves of bread to the <i>Lord</i>. He must make these with flour, oil and <i>yeast</i>. 


text:
A man must <i>offer</i> one of each kind of loaf to the <i>Lord</i>. These belong to the <i>priest</i> who throws the blood on the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
The person must not keep the meat from the animal until the next day. He must eat it on the day that he offers it.


text:
The gift to the <i>Lord</i> may be for a promise. The gift may be because the person loves the <i>Lord</i>. That person will not have to eat it all on the same day. He can eat some of it on the next day. 


text:
On the third day, there may still be some meat that he has not eaten. If there is, he must burn it. 


text:
If the person eats the meat on the third day, the <i>Lord</i> will not accept the gift. The meat is not good. The person who eats it will not give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure.


text:
Some meat may touch something that is not <i>clean</i>. Nobody should eat that meat. People must burn it. Only a <i>clean</i> person can eat the meat that is a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
A person who is not <i>clean</i> might eat the <i>fellowship offering</i>. If he does, they must send him away from Israel’s people. 


text:
A person might touch something that is not <i>clean</i>. That person must not eat the meat. He must not eat it if he has touched an <i>unclean</i> animal or an <i>unclean</i> person. If he does eat it, they must send him away. They must send him away from Israel’s people.’ <n>Israel’s people must not eat blood or fat</n>


text:
They must not eat the fat of an animal that they have burnt as a gift on the <i>Lord</i>’s <i>altar</i>. They must send away from the <i>Lord</i>’s people anyone who does eat it. 


text:
You must send away from Israel’s people any person who eats blood.’ <n>Moses tells the <i>priests</i> which parts of the animal they can eat</n>


text:
‘Say to Israel’s people, “When a person gives an animal as a <i>fellowship offering</i>, he must bring part of it to the<i>Lord</i>. 


text:
He must carry the <i>offering</i> in his own hands to the fire. He must bring the fat and the breast and he must lift the breast to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will burn the fat at the <i>altar</i>. He will lift the meat of the breast to the <i>Lord</i>. Then Aaron’s sons can eat it. 


text:
The breast and the top part of the right leg are gifts. They are from the <i>fellowship offering</i>. The <i>Lord</i> wants Aaron and his sons to have them. People must give these parts of the Lord’s gift to the <i>priests</i>. 


text:
The <i>Lord</i> gave this part of the <i>Israelites</i>’ <i>offerings</i> to Aaron’s sons. He gave it to them on the day when they became <i>priests</i>. 


text:
The <i>Lord</i> told the <i>Israelites</i> that they must do this. He told them that on the day that Aaron’s sons became <i>priests</i>. All their sons and grandsons must always give these <i>offerings</i> to the <i>priests</i>.” ’


text:
These are all the rules that a person must use. They are for when he gives a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. They are the rules for <i>offerings</i> of <i>grain</i> and the <i>fellowship offering</i>. And they are rules for the <i>offerings</i> that people give to take away their <i>sin</i>. The rules tell them how to make Aaron’s sons <i>priests</i>. And they tell people who have done bad things what to do. They must show the <i>Lord</i> that they are sorry. 


text:
Israel’s people were in the Sinai <i>desert</i>. The <i>Lord</i> gave the rules to Moses on Sinai’s mountain. That was on the day that the <i>Lord</i> spoke to the people. He told them that they should bring their <i>offerings</i> to him there.


text:
‘Fetch Aaron and his sons. Bring their special clothes. Bring the oil. Bring the basket of bread that they made without <i>yeast</i>. And bring the male cow for the <i>offering</i> for <i>sin</i> and the two male sheep. 


text:
Moses put a shirt on Aaron and he tied a belt round Aaron. He put a <i>robe</i> and an <i>ephod</i> on him. He tied the <i>ephod</i> with its special belt. 


text:
Moses put the special piece of beautiful work on Aaron’s breast. And he put the <i>Urim</i> and <i>Thummim</i> in its pocket. 


text:
Moses tied a piece of <i>linen</i> as a hat round Aaron’s head. On the front of this <i>linen</i> he put a plate of gold with valuable stones on it. The <i>Lord</i> had said that Moses must do this. <n>Urim and Thummim were valuable stones. The High <i>Priest</i> (Aaron) put them in the breast pocket of the beautiful work. God used the stones to guide the people. We do not know how he did this. The <i>ephod</i> was a special <i>robe</i> that the <i>High Priest</i> wore over his other robe. 


text:
Moses put some of the special <i>anointing</i> oil on the <i>Tent of Meeting</i> and on everything in it. He did this to make them <i>holy</i>. 


text:
Moses <i>shook</i> oil on the <i>altar</i> seven times. He put oil on the <i>altar</i> table and on all the tools to use with it. He put oil on the washing dish and on the table on which it stood. 


text:
He put a <i>robe</i> and a belt and a hat of <i>linen</i> on each of Aaron’s sons. The <i>Lord</i> had said that Moses must do this.


text:
Moses brought the male cow as a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. Aaron and his sons put their hands on the male cow’s head. 


text:
Moses killed the male cow. He put his finger in the blood. He put the blood on the corners of the <i>altar</i>. That made it <i>holy</i>. Moses poured out the blood that he had not used. He poured it on to the floor in front of the <i>altar</i>. This is how he made the <i>altar</i> ready to make <i>sacrifices</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
He burnt the fat and the <i>kidneys</i> and the best piece of the <i>liver</i> on the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
Moses burnt the meat with the inside parts and the skin of the male cow outside the <i>camp</i>. The <i>Lord</i> had said that Moses must do this.


text:
Moses brought a male sheep to burn as a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. Aaron and his sons put their hands on the sheep’s head. 


text:
Moses cut the sheep into small pieces. He burnt the fat and the head and the pieces on the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
He washed the legs and the inside parts. He burnt them on the <i>altar</i> as an <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. The smell of them while they were burning gave the <i>Lord</i> pleasure. The <i>Lord</i> had said that Moses must do this.


text:
Moses brought the other male sheep. It was a gift. It showed that the <i>Lord</i> had chosen Aaron’s family to become his <i>priests</i>. Aaron and his sons put their hands on the sheep’s head. 


text:
Moses killed the sheep. He put some of its blood on Aaron’s right ear. He also put blood on the <i>thumb</i> of Aaron’s right hand. And he put some on the big toe of his right foot. 


text:
Moses took the fat tail and the fat and the <i>kidneys</i> from inside the animal. He took the best piece of the <i>liver</i> from inside the animal. He took the top part of the right back leg. 


text:
Moses took two flat loaves of bread that they had made without <i>yeast</i> and a biscuit from the basket. One of the loaves had oil in it. He put them on top of the fat and the leg. 


text:
Moses gave them to Aaron and to his sons. They lifted them up as a special gift to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
Moses took the special gift from them and he burnt it on the <i>altar</i>. The smell of it while it was burning gave the <i>Lord</i> pleasure. 


text:
Moses took the breast, his part of the animal, and he lifted it up to the <i>Lord</i>. The <i>Lord</i> had said that Moses must do this.


text:
Moses took some of the oil and some of the blood from the <i>altar</i>. He <i>shook</i> them on Aaron and his sons. He also <i>shook</i> some of the blood and some of the oil on their clothes. He did that to make them <i>holy</i>.


text:
Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, ‘Cook the meat at the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. Eat the meat with the bread in the basket by the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. 


text:
You must stay at the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i> for 7 (seven) days. This will make you <i>holy</i>. You must stay for 7 days to become <i>holy</i>. 


text:
Remember that you must stay at the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. You must stay there for 7 (seven) days and 7 nights. The <i>Lord</i> told me that you must do this. If you do not obey him, you will die.’ 


text:
On the 8th (eighth) day, Moses told Aaron and his sons and the leaders of Israel that they must come. 


text:
He said to Aaron, ‘Bring a young male cow for your <i>sin</i><i>offering</i>. And bring a male sheep for your burnt <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. They must be <i>perfect</i> to give to the <i>Lord</i>.’ 


text:
Moses said to Aaron, ‘Tell Israel’s people that they must bring a male goat for a <i>sin offering</i>. And they must bring a young cow and a young sheep. They are a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. The young cow and the young sheep must be one year old. They must be <i>perfect</i> to burn as an <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
Tell Israel’s people that they must bring a male cow and a male sheep. They must bring them to <i>sacrifice</i> as a <i>fellowship offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. They will<i>sacrifice</i> them. They must mix <i>grain</i> and oil to <i>offer</i> with them. They must do that because the <i>Lord</i> will appear to them today.’


text:
The people brought all the animals and the <i>grain</i> to the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. Moses and all the people came. And they stood at the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i> to <i>worship</i> the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
Moses said to the people, ‘The <i>Lord</i> has told you that you must do this. Do it. And then he will show you how great he is.’


text:
Moses said to Aaron, ‘Go to the <i>altar</i>. <i>Sacrifice</i> your <i>sin offering</i> and your burnt offering to the <i>Lord</i>. You must do this so the <i>Lord</i> will <i>forgive</i> your <i>sins</i> and those of the people. Then <i>sacrifice</i> the people’s gift to the <i>Lord</i>. Their <i>offerings</i> are an <i>atonement</i> for the bad things that they have done. The Lord said that you should do this.’


text:
Aaron brought the young male cow to the <i>altar</i>. He killed it. This was his <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i> to <i>atone</i> for his <i>sin</i>. 


text:
His sons brought the blood to Aaron. He put his finger in the blood and he put it on the corners of the <i>altar</i>. He poured the blood that he did not use on to the floor in front of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
Aaron burnt the fat, the <i>kidneys</i> and the best piece of the <i>liver</i> on the <i>altar</i>. This was an <i>offering</i> for his <i>sin</i>. He did it as the <i>Lord</i> had told Moses. 


text:
Aaron brought the male sheep for the burnt <i>offering</i> to the <i>altar</i>. He killed it. His sons brought the blood to him. He threw the blood on to the sides of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
The <i>priests</i> gave the pieces of the animal, including the head, to Aaron. Aaron burnt them on the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
He washed the inside parts and the legs. He burnt them on the <i>altar</i> on top of the burnt <i>offering</i>.


text:
Aaron brought the goat. This was the people’s <i>sacrifice</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. Aaron killed it and he burnt it on the <i>altar</i>. It was an <i>offering</i> to <i>atone</i> for the people’s <i>sin</i>. He <i>offered</i> this sacrifice in the same way as the first sacrifice for sin.


text:
Aaron brought the other young cow. He killed it and he burnt it on the <i>altar</i>. He did it as Moses had told him. 


text:
He also brought the <i>grain offering</i>. He took some of it and he burnt it on the <i>altar</i>. He burnt it with the <i>Lord</i>’s morning <i>sacrifice</i>.


text:
Aaron killed the male cow and the male sheep. These were <i>fellowship offerings</i> from the people. The <i>priests</i> brought the blood to him. He threw it on to the sides of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
Aaron lifted up the meat as an <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. Moses had told him that he must do this.


text:
When Aaron had finished burning the gifts to the <i>Lord</i>, he lifted up his hands over the people. He had <i>sacrificed</i> the <i>sin offering</i>, the burnt offering and the <i>fellowship</i> offerings. Then he asked the <i>Lord</i> to do good things for the people. And he came down from the <i>altar</i>.


text:
Moses and Aaron went into the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. When they came out, they asked God to do good things for the people. The bright light from the <i>Lord</i> appeared to the people to show how great he is. 


text:
Then the <i>Lord</i> sent a fire to show that he accepted the gifts. It completely burnt all the fat and the <i>offerings</i> that were on the <i>altar</i>. The people were very happy when they saw this. They shouted and they fell down with their faces to the ground. <n>Any gift that the people gave to the <i>Lord</i> must be pure (clean and whole). This was very important. The people had to see that the <i>Lord</i> was <i>holy</i>. Nothing that was not good or pure could come near him. 


text:
Nadab and Abihu were sons of Aaron. They put hot material in the pots that they used to burn <i>incense</i>. They threw <i>incense</i> over the hot material. They <i>offered</i> the <i>incense</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. This was a wrong thing to do. The <i>Lord</i> had not told them that they should do it. So it was wrong. 


text:
The <i>Lord</i> was angry and he sent fire to burn them. They died there in front of the <i>Lord</i>’s <i>altar</i>. 


text:
Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘This is what the <i>Lord</i> said, <n>“People may come near to me. But those people must see that I am <i>holy</i>. <n>All the people must give <i>honour</i> to me.” ’ <n>Aaron did not reply.


text:
Mishael and Elzaphan were sons of Aaron’s father’s brother, Uzziel. Moses said to them, ‘Carry Nadab and Abihu away from the <i>altar</i>. Take your cousins outside the <i>camp</i>.’ 


text:
Nadab and Abihu were still wearing their <i>robes</i>. Mishael and Elzaphan carried Nadab and Abihu outside the <i>camp</i>. Moses had told them that they must do that.


text:
Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, ‘Comb your hair. Do not tear your clothes. If you do that, you will die. And the <i>Lord</i> will be angry with all of the people. But Israel’s people can show that they are sad. They are sad because the <i>Lord</i> has killed Nadab and Abihu with fire. 


text:
If you go away from the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i> you will die. You will die because the <i>Lord</i>’s <i>holy</i> oil is on you.’ So Aaron and his sons did as Moses had said.


text:
‘Do not drink <i>wine</i> before you go into the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. And do not drink anything that contains alcohol. If you do, you will die. This rule is for you and for all your sons and grandsons. 


text:
You must know what is <i>holy</i>. And you must know what is not <i>holy</i>. You must know what you can use. And you must know what you must not use to <i>worship</i> me. 


text:
Moses said to Aaron and to his two other sons Eleazar and Ithamar, ‘The <i>grain offering</i> is most <i>holy</i>. Take the part that you did not burn. And make it into bread. Do not use <i>yeast</i>. Take it to the side of the <i>altar</i> and eat it. 


text:
Eat it in a <i>holy</i> place. The <i>Lord</i> has said that it is your part of the <i>grain offering</i>. It is for you and for your sons. 


text:
You and your sons and daughters can eat the breast meat that you held up to the <i>Lord</i>. And all your family can eat the top part of the leg. Eat the meat in a place that is <i>clean</i> and ready for the <i>Lord</i>’s use. It is your part of the people’s <i>fellowship</i> gift to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
Bring the top of the leg and the breast meat. Lift them up to the <i>Lord</i>. The <i>Lord</i> has given them to you and to your children. Lift them up with the fat parts of the burnt <i>offering</i>. He told you that you should do this.’


text:
Moses looked for the goat that was to <i>atone</i> for the people’s <i>sin</i>. Moses was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, sons of Aaron. He was angry because they had burnt the goat. 


text:
Moses said to them, ‘This gift was for the <i>Lord</i>. It was a very <i>holy</i> gift. It was to <i>atone</i> for the people’s <i>sins</i>. Why did you not take it to the <i>holy</i> place and eat it? 


text:
You did not bring the blood into the <i>holy</i> place. I told you that you must eat its meat in the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>.’ 


text:
Aaron said to Moses, ‘My sons <i>sacrificed</i> their gifts to the <i>Lord</i> today. But very bad things have happened to me today. I would not have given the <i>Lord</i> any pleasure if I had eaten the <i>sin offering</i> today.’ 


text:
Each foot on the animal must have two separate parts. The animal must eat its food and then it must bring the food back into its mouth. And then it must eat the food again. Some animals eat their food twice and they have feet with two parts. You can eat those animals.


text:
Some animals have feet that have two separate parts. But they do not eat their food twice. Other animals eat their food twice. But their feet do not have two separate parts. You must not eat those animals. The <i>camel</i> eats its food twice. But its feet are not in two separate parts. The people must not eat the <i>camel</i>. 


text:
The hyrax eats its food twice. But its feet are not in two separate parts. They must not eat the hyrax. 


text:
The rabbit eats its food twice. But its feet are not in two separate parts. They must not eat the rabbit. 


text:
The pig’s feet are in two parts. But when the pig eats its food, it does not bring the food back into its mouth. It does not eat it twice. The people must not eat the pig. 


text:
They must not touch the dead bodies of those animals. They must not eat their meat. They are not <i>clean</i> for you to eat.


text:
They can eat some animals that live in the sea or in the river. Those animals must have <i>fins</i> and <i>scales</i> on their bodies. 


text:
They must not touch the dead bodies of the animals from the sea or the river. They must not eat the meat from those other animals. 


text:
Animals from the sea and the river may have <i>fins</i> and <i>scales</i> on their bodies. Those are the only ones that you can eat. Those without fins or scales are not <i>clean</i>.


text:
They must not eat some birds because they are not <i>clean</i>. They must not eat either the eagle or the vulture. 


text:
They must not eat the heron, the hoopoe or the bat. The people must not eat them nor touch their dead bodies. They are not <i>clean</i>. <n>These birds are all birds that eat meat. 


text:
A person may touch the dead body of an animal that is not <i>clean</i>. If he does, that person is not <i>clean</i> either. They must keep him separate from the other people until the evening. 


text:
An animal might not have feet that are in two separate parts. It is wrong to touch the dead body of this animal. Some animals do not bring food back into their mouths and eat it again. It is wrong to touch the dead bodies of these animals. 


text:
Some animals walk on four feet. It is wrong to touch the dead body of an animal that has paws (the kind of feet that animals like cats and dogs have). 


text:
A person who picks up the dead body of these animals must wash his clothes immediately. They must keep him separate from the people until the evening.


text:
Some animals that walk on the ground are not <i>clean</i>. You must not touch a weasel, a rat or a mouse. 


text:
A person might touch the dead body of one of those animals. If he does, he will not be <i>clean</i>. So they must keep him separate from the people until evening. 


text:
A dead animal may fall on to something that someone made from wood, cloth or skin. That thing becomes <i>unclean</i>. A person must put it into water until the evening. Then it will be <i>clean</i>. 


text:
A dead animal might fall into a pot. Then the pot and the things in it are not <i>clean</i>. The person must break the pot. 


text:
The food or water from the pot is not <i>clean</i>. A person must not drink it or eat any of that food. Water from the pot may have touched some food. If it did, that food is not <i>clean</i>. You must not eat it. 


text:
If a dead animal falls on to a cooking pot, then the pot is not <i>clean</i>. You must break the pot. 


text:
If a dead animal falls into a fresh water stream, the stream stays <i>clean</i>. The pot that a person uses to get fresh water from the stream is clean. 


text:
A person might pour water on the seeds. A dead animal might fall on the wet seeds. Then those seeds are not clean.


text:
An animal that is good for food might die. A man might touch its dead body. If he does, they must keep him separate from the people until the evening. 


text:
If a person eats meat from the body of the dead animal, he must wash his clothes. He will not be <i>clean</i> until the evening. If a person picks up the body of the dead animal, he must wash his clothes. He will not be <i>clean</i> until the evening.


text:
This means animals that pass across the ground on their stomachs. It also means animals that walk on 4 (four) legs or many legs. 


text:
The <i>Lord</i> says, “I am the <i>Lord</i> your God. I am <i>holy</i>. Make yourselves <i>holy</i>. Do not touch any small animal that moves across the ground. If you do, you will not be <i>clean</i> or <i>holy</i>. 


text:
I am the <i>Lord</i> who brought you away from Egypt. I became your God. So be <i>holy</i> because I am <i>holy</i>.” ’


text:
The people must learn to know which animals are <i>clean</i>. They must recognise which animals they can eat. And they must recognise which animals they must not eat. <n>The <i>Lord</i> gave clear rules about <i>clean</i> and <i>unclean</i> foods. Not to obey these rules made a person <i>unclean</i>. This meant that the person was not able to get near to God. His <i>sin</i> kept him away from the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
‘Say this to Israel’s people. When a boy is born, his mother is not <i>clean</i> for 7 (seven) days. When she is bleeding each month, the rule is the same. She is not <i>clean</i>. 


text:
The woman must wait for 35 (thirty-five) days after the boy is born. All this time she must not touch anything that is <i>holy</i>. She must not go into the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. After this time, she will become <i>clean</i>.


text:
After a girl is born, her mother will not be <i>clean</i> for two weeks. The rule is the same as for each month, when she is bleeding. She will not be <i>clean</i> then. She must wait 66 (sixty-six) days after a girl is born. Then she will become <i>clean</i>.


text:
When the days to wait are finished, the woman must come to the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. She must bring to the <i>priest</i> a sheep that is one year old for a burnt <i>offering</i>. And she must bring a bird for a <i>sin offering</i>. The bird must be a <i>pigeon</i> or a <i>dove</i>. These are gifts to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will <i>offer</i> the gifts to the <i>Lord</i>. Then the woman will become <i>clean</i>. These are the rules at the birth of a boy or of a girl.


text:
If the woman does not have money to buy a sheep she can give two <i>doves</i> or <i>pigeons</i> (birds) to the <i>Lord</i>. The <i>priest</i> will use one bird for a <i>sin offering</i> and he will burn the other one. That is how he will make <i>atonement</i> for her. Then she will be <i>clean</i>.’


text:
‘A person may have a kind of mark on his skin that might be an illness. He might give the illness to other people. If he has a mark like that, you must bring him to the <i>priest</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must look at the mark. If the hair on the mark is white, it might be an illness. If the mark is under the skin and on the skin it might be an illness. The <i>priest</i> must say that the person is not <i>clean</i>. 


text:
If the mark on the skin is white but not under the skin it might not be an illness. If the hair on the skin is not white, it might not be a bad illness. The <i>priest</i> must keep him separate from the people for 7 (seven) days. 


text:
On the 7th (seventh) day, the <i>priest</i> must look at the person. The mark may not be any bigger. If it is not, he must keep the person separate from the people for 7 (seven) more days. 


text:
On the 7th (seventh) day, the <i>priest</i> must look at the person. The mark may not be so dark and it may not be any bigger. The <i>priest</i> can say that the illness has left that person. The person must wash his clothes. 


text:
A person might see that the mark on his skin had grown. This might happen after the <i>priest</i> had said that the illness had left him. Then the person must go again to the <i>priest</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must look at the person. The mark might be bigger. The <i>priest</i> must say that the person has an illness. It is an illness that he could give to other people.


text:
The <i>priest</i> must look at the person. If the skin has a white mark and white hair on it, the person has an illness. If the mark has no skin on part of it, the person has an illness. But it may not be an illness that he could give to other people. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must say that the person is not <i>clean</i>. The <i>priest</i> need not keep him separate from the people. He already has an illness.


text:
The hole might close up and the skin might go white. If it does, the person must go to the <i>priest</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must look at the skin. It may be white. The priest must say that the illness has left the person. Then he will be <i>clean</i>.


text:
The <i>priest</i> must look at the person. The red mark might be under the skin and the hair on the skin might be white. The <i>priest</i> must say that the person has an illness. The person is not <i>clean</i>. 


text:
If the red mark is not under the skin, it might not be an illness. There may not be any white hair on the red mark and the mark may be less red. If that is true, it might not be an illness. The <i>priest</i> must keep the person separate from the people for 7 (seven) days. 


text:
If the red mark is not getting bigger, the illness is getting better. The <i>priest</i> must say that the illness has left the person.


text:
A person who has burnt his skin might have a red or white mark. It might be where he burnt himself. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must look at him. If the hair on the mark is white, it is an illness. If the mark is under the skin and on the skin, it is an illness. The <i>priest</i> must say that the person is not <i>clean</i>. He might give the illness to other people. 


text:
There may not be any white hair and the mark may not be under the skin. The illness is leaving the person. Then the <i>priest</i> must keep him separate from the people for 7 (seven) days. 


text:
On the 7th (seventh) day, the <i>priest</i> must look at the person. If the mark is getting bigger, it is an illness. The <i>priest</i> must say that the person is not <i>clean</i>. 


text:
If the mark is getting smaller, it is not an illness. The mark is because the person burnt himself. The <i>priest</i> must say that the person is <i>clean</i>.


text:
The <i>priest</i> must look at the mark. The mark may be under the skin and on the skin, and it may have thin yellow hair on it. That is a bad illness. He could give that illness to other people. The <i>priest</i> must say that the person is not <i>clean</i>. 


text:
If the mark is not under the skin, it might not be a bad illness. If there is not any black hair on the mark, it might not be an illness. The <i>priest</i> must keep that person separate from the people for 7 (seven) days. 


text:
On the 7th (seventh) day, the <i>priest</i> must look at the mark that is hurting. The mark might not be under the skin. There might not be any yellow hair on it. 


text:
On the 7th (seventh) day, the <i>priest</i> must look at the mark that is hurting. The mark may be no bigger and not under the skin. The <i>priest</i> can say that the person is <i>clean</i>. The person must wash his clothes. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must look at the mark. If it is bigger, he need not look for yellow hair. The person is not <i>clean</i>. 


text:
The mark may be no bigger and black hair may have grown on it. If that is true, the illness has left the person.


text:
the <i>priest</i> must look at the marks. If the colour of the marks is not bright, it is not an illness. The person is <i>clean</i>.


text:
The <i>priest</i> must say that the man has an illness. It is an illness that he might give to other people,


text:
A person with this illness must tear his clothes. He must not comb his hair. He must cover the lower part of his face. He must shout, “I am not <i>clean</i>.” 


text:
He must be alone all the time that he has an illness. He must live outside the <i>camp</i>. <n>Rules for clothes that have <i>mildew</i></n>


text:
If the mark in the clothes is green or red, the <i>mildew</i> is growing. People must show these clothes to the <i>priest</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must look at the <i>mildew</i>. And he must keep the clothes separate from other clothes for 7 (seven) days. 


text:
On the 7th (seventh) day, the <i>priest</i> must look at the clothes. If the illness is getting bigger, the person must not wear them. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must burn the <i>wool</i>, leather or <i>linen</i> clothes. They have an illness that will destroy them.


text:
He must tell the people that they must wash the clothes. The people must keep these clothes separate from their other clothes for 7 (seven) more days. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will look at the clothes after the people have washed them. If the <i>mildew</i> still seems the same, the people must not wear the clothes. The people must burn the clothes whether the mark is inside or outside them. 


text:
The colour of the mark might be less bright, after the people have washed the clothes. If it is, the <i>priest</i> must tear the marked part out of the clothes. 


text:
If there is no <i>mildew</i> in the washed clothes, the people must wash the clothes again. Then the clothes will be clean.’


text:
These are the rules for <i>mildew</i> in <i>linen</i> cloth. They are rules for <i>wool</i> or leather clothes. They tell the <i>priest</i> how to know whether they are <i>clean</i> or not <i>clean</i>.


text:
‘These rules are for a person who has had an illness on his skin. They are rules about how to make him <i>clean</i>. When the illness leaves the person, you must bring him to the <i>priest</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must go outside the <i>camp</i> and he must look at the person. If the illness has gone away, 


text:
he must speak to the person. He must tell the person that he must bring two birds. They must be birds that are good for food. The birds must be alive. They must also bring wood from the <i>cedar</i> tree, red <i>wool</i> and some <i>hyssop</i> (a plant). 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will bring a pot with water in it. He will hold one of the birds over the pot and he will kill it. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will take the other bird and the wood from the <i>cedar</i> tree. He will take the red <i>wool</i> and the <i>hyssop</i>. He will put all of them into the blood of the dead bird. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will <i>shake</i> the blood over the person who had the illness. He will do this 7 times. The <i>priest</i> will then say that the person is <i>clean</i>. The <i>priest</i> will let the live bird go. It will fly away.


text:
The person who had the illness must wash his clothes. He must wash his body with water and he must cut off all his hair. Then he will be <i>clean</i>. He can go into the <i>camp</i>. But he must stay outside the home that he has made from animal skins for seven days. 


text:
On day seven, he must cut all the hair off his head and his face. He must wash his clothes and his body with water.


text:
On the 8th day, the person must bring two young male sheep and one female sheep. The female sheep must be one year old. All the animals must be <i>perfect</i>. He must also bring 3/10th of an ephah of flour (about 6 litres or 12 pints) mixed with oil. And he must bring a log (about 0.3 litres or half a pint) of oil. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> who is making him <i>clean</i> must be there. He must bring the person to the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. The person must bring with him his <i>offerings</i> to the <i>Lord</i>.


text:
The <i>priest</i> must take one of the male sheep and the oil. He must lift them up to the <i>Lord</i> as a gift. 


text:
He must kill the sheep at the north side of the <i>altar</i>. That is where they kill the <i>sin offering</i> and the burnt <i>offering</i>. The gift is <i>holy</i>. It is food for the <i>priests</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must put some of the blood on the lowest part of the person’s right ear. He must put blood on the <i>thumb</i> of the person’s right hand. And he must put blood on the big toe of the person’s right foot. 


text:
He must put a finger from his right hand into the oil. He must <i>shake</i> the oil seven times in front of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must put oil on the lowest part of the person’s right ear. He must put some of the oil on the <i>thumb</i> of the person’s right hand. He must put some of the oil on the big toe of the person’s right foot. He will put the oil on top of the <i>offering</i>’s blood. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must put the oil that he did not use on the person’s head. This makes his <i>atonement</i> in front of the <i>Lord</i>.


text:
Then the priest must <i>offer</i> the <i>sin offering</i>. That will make <i>atonement</i> for the man who will become <i>clean</i>. Then the <i>priest</i> must kill another sheep. It is a burnt <i>offering</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must <i>sacrifice</i> the dead animal. It is a burnt <i>offering</i>. The <i>priest</i> must <i>offer</i> it on the <i>altar</i>. He must burn the flour and the oil with it on the <i>altar</i>. All this will make <i>atonement</i> for the person. This makes the person who had the illness <i>clean</i>.


text:
If the person is poor, he must bring one young male sheep. And he must bring 1/10th of an <i>ephah</i> of flour (about 2 litres or 4 pints) mixed with oil. And he must give a log (about 0.3 litres or half a pint) of oil. The <i>priest</i> must lift them to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
The person must also bring two birds. They must be doves or pigeons. These will be his gift to the <i>Lord</i>. One bird is for a <i>sin offering</i> and the other one is for a burnt <i>offering</i>.


text:
On the 8th (eighth) day, the person must bring his gifts to the <i>Lord</i>. He must bring them to the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will take the young sheep and the oil and he will lift them up to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
He will kill the sheep. He will put some of its blood on the lowest part of the person’s ear. He will put the blood on the <i>thumb</i> of the person’s right hand. He will put the blood on the big toe of the person’s right foot. 


text:
He will put a finger from his right hand into the oil. He will <i>shake</i> it seven times in front of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
He will put oil from his hand on the lowest part of the person’s ear. He will also put oil on the <i>thumb</i> of the person’s right hand. He will put oil on the big toe of the person’s right foot. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will put the oil that he did not use on the person’s head. Then the <i>Lord</i> can see that he is <i>clean</i>. 


text:
One bird is for a <i>sin offering</i>. The <i>priest</i> will burn the other bird with the <i>grain offering</i>. This is how the <i>priest</i> will make <i>atonement</i> in front of the <i>Lord</i>. He will do it for the person who was not <i>clean</i>.


text:
These are the rules for a person who had an illness in his skin. They are for an illness that he might give to other people. They are for people who are too poor to buy three sheep.’ <n>Rules for a house that has an illness called <i>mildew</i></n>


text:
‘The country called Canaan is my gift to you. I may put an illness called <i>mildew</i> in a house in that country. 


text:
If a person finds <i>mildew</i> in his house, he must tell the <i>priest</i>. He must say, “I have found something like <i>mildew</i> in my house.” 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will tell the person what he should do. The person must take everything out of the house. If he does, those things will still be <i>clean</i>. Then the <i>priest</i> will go into the house. 


text:
He will look at the walls of the house. He will look for a green or red mark. If the mark goes into the wall, 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must say, “You must remove the stones that have <i>mildew</i>.” The person must put the stones outside the town. He must put them in a special place. 


text:
The person must cut the <i>clay</i> from inside the walls of the house. The person must put the <i>clay</i> from the walls outside the town. The person must put it in a place for things that are not <i>clean</i>. 


text:
The person who lives in the house must get some more stones. He must get some more <i>clay</i>. Then he can mend the wall.


text:
The <i>priest</i> will look at the house. If the <i>mildew</i> is on more of the mended wall, the house is not <i>clean</i>. 


text:
The person must break the house into pieces. The person who lives in the house must put the stones outside the town. He must put the wood and the <i>clay</i> outside the town. He must put them in the place for things that are not <i>clean</i>.


text:
A person may go into the house while it is shut up. If he does, he will not become <i>clean</i> until evening. 


text:
Any person who sleeps in a house with <i>mildew</i> must wash his clothes. And any person who eats in a house with <i>mildew</i> must wash his clothes.


text:
If a person mends his house, the <i>priest</i> must look at it. There may not be any <i>mildew</i>. So, the <i>priest</i> will say that it is <i>clean</i>. 


text:
The person must take two birds and some wood from the <i>cedar</i> tree. He must take red <i>wool</i> and <i>hyssop</i> (a plant). 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will take the other bird and the wood from the <i>cedar</i> tree. He will take the red <i>wool</i> and the <i>hyssop</i>. He will put all of them into the blood of the dead bird. He will <i>shake</i> the blood and water over the house 7 (seven) times. This will make the house <i>clean</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will use the birds and the wood from the <i>cedar</i> tree. And he will use the <i>wool</i> and the <i>hyssop</i> to make the house clean. 


text:
Then the <i>priest</i> will take the bird that is alive outside the town. He will let the bird fly away. And the person can live in the house.’ <n>Moses tells the people what these rules are for</n>


text:
These rules decide when a person has an illness. And they decide when he is <i>clean</i>. They show when a house has an illness. They are the rules for illnesses in the skin and for <i>mildew</i>.


text:
If the man sits on a bed, it becomes <i>unclean</i>. If the man sits on anything, it becomes <i>unclean</i>. 


text:
A person who touches the bed must wash his clothes and his body. He will be <i>unclean</i> until evening. 


text:
Any person might sit on anything that he has sat on. That will make him <i>unclean</i> also. He must wash his clothes and his body. He will be <i>unclean</i> until evening.


text:
A person who touches the <i>dirty</i> man must wash his clothes. He must also wash his body. He will be <i>unclean</i> until evening.


text:
A man who is <i>dirty</i> might make another person wet with water. If the water is from his mouth, the other person must wash his clothes. He must also wash his body. He will be <i>unclean</i> until evening.


text:
A <i>dirty</i> man might ride on an animal. The cloth on the back of the animal will become <i>unclean</i>. 


text:
A person who touches that cloth will be <i>unclean</i> until evening. If a person picks up that cloth, he must wash his clothes. He must also wash his body. He will be <i>unclean</i> until evening.


text:
The <i>dirty</i> man might touch another person before the man washes his hands. The person that he touched becomes <i>unclean</i>. The person must wash his clothes and his body. He will be <i>unclean</i> until evening.


text:
If the <i>dirty</i> man touches a <i>clay</i> pot, you must break it. Or he may touch a thing that someone has made from wood. If he touches it, you must wash that thing.


text:
The <i>pus</i> may stop coming out of a person. When it does, he must count 7 (seven) days. He must wash his clothes and his body with fresh water. Then the man will be <i>clean</i>. 


text:
On the 8th day, he must take two birds to the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. They must be doves or pigeons. He must give them to the <i>priest</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will <i>sacrifice</i> them. One bird is for a <i>sin offering</i> and the other is for a burnt <i>offering</i>. They are an <i>atonement</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. Then the man will be <i>clean</i>.


text:
When <i>semen</i> comes out of a man, he must wash his body. He will be <i>unclean</i> until evening. 


text:
A man might lie with a woman. If <i>semen</i> comes out of him, they are both <i>unclean</i>. They must wash their bodies. They will be <i>unclean</i> until evening.


text:
A woman will bleed every month. She is <i>unclean</i> for seven days. A person might touch the woman when she is bleeding. That person will remain <i>unclean</i> until evening.


text:
The woman who is bleeding might lie on a bed. The bed will become <i>unclean</i>. If the woman sits on something, it becomes <i>unclean</i>. 


text:
If another person touches the bed, he must wash his clothes and his body. He will be <i>unclean</i> until evening. 


text:
Another person might sit on the thing that she sat on. That person must wash his clothes and his body. He will be <i>unclean</i> until evening. 


text:
A person might touch anything that the woman sat on. If he does, he is <i>unclean</i> until evening.


text:
A man might lie down with a woman. If her blood touches him, he is <i>unclean</i> for seven days. Any bed that the man lies on becomes <i>unclean</i>.


text:
If a woman is bleeding for more than seven days, she is <i>unclean</i>. She is <i>unclean</i> all the time that she is bleeding. 


text:
The bed that the woman lies on becomes <i>unclean</i>. Anything that the woman sits on is <i>unclean</i>. 


text:
If another person touches the chair, he becomes <i>unclean</i>. He must wash his clothes and his body. He will be <i>unclean</i> until evening. If another person touches the bed, he will also become <i>unclean</i>. He must wash his clothes and his body. He will be <i>unclean</i> until evening.


text:
On the 8th day, she must take two birds to the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. They must be <i>doves</i> or <i>pigeons</i>. She must give them to the <i>priest</i>. He will <i>sacrifice</i> one bird for her <i>sin</i> and he will burn the other. 


text:
The <i>Tent of Meeting</i> is the <i>Lord</i>’s house. It is among Israel’s people. The <i>priests</i> must keep the people away from anything that makes them <i>unclean</i>. If they are not <i>clean</i>, they will make the <i>Tent of Meeting unclean</i>. So they will die.’


text:
These are the rules for a woman when she bleeds each month. These are the rules for a man who has sex with an <i>unclean</i> woman.


text:
The <i>Lord</i> spoke to Moses after the two sons of Aaron died. The gift that they gave to the <i>Lord</i> was not <i>holy</i>. So the <i>Lord</i> killed them. 


text:
The Most <i>Holy</i> Place in the <i>Tent of Meeting</i> is behind the curtain. The <i>Lord</i> said to Moses, ‘Your brother Aaron cannot go behind the curtain at any time that he wants to. Tell him that. The <i>Lord</i> appears in a cloud over the lid of the <i>Covenant Box</i>. So Aaron will die if he does not obey the <i>Lord</i>.


text:
This is how Aaron must go into the Most <i>Holy</i> Place. He must bring a young bull (a male cow) for a <i>sin offering</i>. He must also bring a male sheep for a burnt <i>offering</i>. 


text:
He must wash his body before he puts on his special clothes. He must wear his <i>linen robe</i> and <i>linen</i> clothes next to his body. They are <i>holy</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. He must tie a <i>linen</i> belt round his body. He must put the <i>linen</i> hat on his head. These clothes are <i>holy</i>. 


text:
He must take two male goats for a <i>sin offering</i>. And he must take a male sheep as an <i>offering</i> to burn on the <i>altar</i>. They are a gift to the <i>Lord</i> from Israel’s people.


text:
Aaron must <i>offer</i> the bull (male cow) as an <i>atonement</i> to the <i>Lord</i> for himself, his family and his servants. 


text:
He must take the two goats to the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. They are a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
He must use the <i>Lord</i>’s special stones. They will help him to decide what he should do. He must decide which goat is for the <i>Lord</i>. And he must decide which goat he must send away. 


text:
Aaron must take the goat that is for the <i>Lord</i>. And he must kill it. It is a <i>sin offering</i>. 


text:
He must not kill the other goat. It is an <i>atonement</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. It will pay for the bad things that the people have done. It is to take away the people’s <i>punishment</i>. He must send it away into the <i>desert</i>.’ <n>Verse 8 The special stones were called ‘Urim’ and ‘Thummim’. See Deuteronomy 33:8. 


text:
‘Aaron must bring the bull (male cow) and he must kill it. It is his <i>atonement</i> for his family’s <i>sins</i>. 


text:
He must take a pot of the hot material that is burning on the <i>altar</i>. He must fill his two hands with <i>incense</i>. He must take the hot material and the <i>incense</i> behind the curtain. 


text:
He must put the <i>incense</i> on the burning material. The smoke will cover the lid of the <i>Covenant Box</i>. So he will not die. 


text:
He must take with him blood from the <i>bull</i>. He must use his finger to <i>shake</i> the blood. He must <i>shake</i> it on to the lid of the <i>Covenant Box</i>. He must <i>shake</i> the blood in front of the lid of the <i>Covenant Box</i>. He must <i>shake</i> it seven times with his finger.


text:
Aaron must kill the goat for the <i>sin offering</i>. It is a gift to the <i>Lord</i> from the people. He must take the blood behind the curtain. He must <i>shake</i> the blood on the lid of the <i>Covenant Box</i> as he did with the <i>bull</i>’s blood. And he must <i>shake</i> the blood in front of the lid of the <i>Covenant Box</i>. 


text:
This will make <i>atonement</i> for all the <i>sins</i> of Israel’s people. This will make the <i>Holy</i> Place <i>clean</i>. Aaron must do the same for the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. That is because the people have done bad things in the <i>camp</i>. The <i>Tent of meeting</i> is in the middle of the <i>camp</i>. 


text:
Aaron must give the <i>offerings</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. He must give them for his family and he must give them for his servants. He must give them for all the people. Nobody can go into the <i>Tent of Meeting</i> while Aaron is in the Most <i>Holy</i> Place. He must be alone when he goes in. And he must be alone until he comes out. He must be alone when he gives the <i>offerings</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. Those <i>offerings</i> are for himself, for his family and for all Israel’s people.


text:
He must go to the <i>altar</i> that is in front of the <i>Lord</i>. He must make <i>atonement</i> for it. He must take blood from the bull (male cow) and blood from the goat. He must put the blood on the corners of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
He must <i>shake</i> blood on the <i>altar</i> seven times to make it clean. <n>A goat will carry away all the bad things that the people have done</n>


text:
Aaron must first <i>atone</i> for the Most <i>Holy</i> Place, the <i>Tent of meeting</i> and the <i>altar</i>. Then he must bring the goat that is alive. 


text:
He must put his hands on the goat’s head. He must speak aloud all the bad things that Israel’s people have done. Then all the bad things will be on the goat’s head. Aaron must tell a man that he must send the goat away into the <i>desert</i>. 


text:
The goat will carry all the <i>sins</i> of the people into the <i>desert</i>. The man must send it away into the <i>desert</i>.


text:
Aaron must go into the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. He must take off the <i>holy</i> clothes. The <i>holy</i> clothes must stay in the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. 


text:
He must wash his body in a <i>holy</i> place. He must put on his own clothes. He must leave the <i>holy</i> place. Then he must <i>sacrifice</i> the burnt <i>offerings</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. They will make <i>atonement</i> for himself and for the people. 


text:
The person who sent the goat away must wash his clothes and his body. He can return to the <i>camp</i>. 


text:
Aaron had killed a bull (male cow) and a goat. He took their blood into the Most <i>Holy</i> Place to make <i>atonement</i>. Someone must carry their dead bodies outside the <i>camp</i>. He must burn them. That man must burn the skin, the meat and the inside parts. 


text:
The man who burnt the animals must wash his clothes and his body. Then he can return to the <i>camp</i>.


text:
On the 10th (tenth) day of the 7th (seventh) month, Israel’s people must not eat any food. This is a rule that you must obey for all time. The people who are travelling with them must not eat any food. None of them must do any work. 


text:
This day will make them <i>clean</i> from all their <i>sins</i>. The <i>Lord</i> will see them as <i>clean</i> people. This will be the Day of <i>Atonement</i>. 


text:
It is a day when you do not eat any food. It is a day for rest. This is a rule from the <i>Lord</i> and you must do this every year. 


text:
The <i>High Priest</i> is a chosen son of Aaron. And he must make <i>atonement</i>. He will put on the <i>holy</i> clothes. He will bring the people’s <i>offerings</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. 


text:
He will make <i>atonement</i> for the Most <i>Holy</i> Place. He will make <i>atonement</i> for the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. He will make <i>atonement</i> for the <i>altar</i>. He will make <i>atonement</i> for the <i>priests</i> and for all the people.


text:
He will make <i>atonement</i> for all the <i>Israelites</i>’ <i>sins</i> once every year. This rule is for now and for all time.’ <n>The people did everything quite as the <i>Lord</i> had told Moses.


text:
If a person <i>sacrifices</i> a male cow, a sheep or a goat in the fields, that is a <i>sin</i>. Or if a person sacrifices it in the <i>camp</i>, that is a sin. 


text:
The animal is an <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. The person should bring it to the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. He should <i>offer</i> it to the <i>Lord</i> there. The person who <i>offers</i> a <i>sacrifice</i> anywhere else has <i>sinned</i>. He has <i>sacrificed</i> an animal in the wrong way. He must leave the <i>camp</i>. 


text:
This rule will stop the people giving <i>sacrifices</i> to the <i>Lord</i> in the fields. They must bring their gifts to the <i>priest</i>. They will be <i>fellowship offerings</i>. The <i>priest</i> will be at the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. 


text:
He must <i>shake</i> the blood of the animal on the <i>Lord</i>’s <i>altar</i>. That <i>altar</i> is at the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. The <i>priest</i> must burn the fat. The smell of it while it is burning will give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure. 


text:
The people give <i>sacrifices</i> in the fields to <i>worship idols</i> that seem like goats. They must never do this again. This rule is for now and for all time.


text:
If an <i>Israelite</i> gives a <i>sacrifice</i> or a burnt <i>offering</i> he must <i>offer</i> it at the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>’s door. A <i>foreigner</i> may live among you. If he gives a <i>sacrifice</i> he must <i>offer</i> it to the <i>Lord</i> at the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>’s door. 


text:
If they did not <i>offer</i> it to the <i>Lord</i> at the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>’s door they are <i>sinning</i>. You must send them away from the <i>camp</i>.


text:
An <i>Israelite</i> or a <i>foreigner</i> who lives among you must not eat blood. And they must not drink it. If somebody does, the <i>Lord</i> will turn away from him. He will take that person away from his people. 


text:
The blood gives its life to an animal. You must put the blood on the <i>altar</i>. The <i>Lord</i> has given the blood to you. It <i>atones</i> for your <i>sins</i> and it gives life to you. 


text:
For this reason, Israel’s people must not eat blood. And the people who are travelling with them must not eat blood.


text:
A person may catch an animal or a bird that is <i>clean</i> to eat. If he does, he must pour its blood on the ground. He must cover the blood with some earth. 


text:
The animal’s life is in its blood. That is why no <i>Israelite</i> should eat any animal’s blood. You must send any person that eats blood away from your people.


text:
An <i>Israelite</i> or a foreign person may find a dead animal. If he eats it, he must wash his clothes and his body. He will be <i>unclean</i> until evening. Then he will become <i>clean</i>. A person might find an animal or a bird that a wild animal has killed. He must wash his clothes and his body. He will be <i>unclean</i> until evening. 


text:
If that person does not wash clothes and his body, it is his own mistake.’ <n>Animals that have died have the blood in them. And animals that other animals have killed have the blood in them. So they will not be <i>clean</i>. 


text:
They lived in the country called Egypt. They must not do as the people in Egypt do. I am bringing them to live in Canaan’s country. They must not do as the people in Canaan do. 


text:
If they obey my rules, they will give me pleasure. If they obey my rules, they will remain alive. I am the <i>Lord</i>.


text:
A person must not have sex with a person who belongs to his own <i>family</i>. I am the <i>Lord</i>.


text:
Do not have sex with your sister. Do not have sex with the sister who has the same mother but a different father from you. Do not have sex with the sister who has the same father but a different mother from you. Do not have sex with your sister even if she lives in the same house as you.


text:
Do not have sex with both a woman and her daughter. Do not have sex with her son’s daughter or with her daughter’s daughter. They are her family and they are near to her. If you do this you are <i>sinning</i>.


text:
Do not take your wife’s sister for a 2nd (second) wife. Do not have sex with your wife’s sister if your wife is alive.


text:
Do not give a child as a <i>sacrifice</i> to the god called Molech. This would destroy the <i>Lord</i>’s <i>honour</i>. He is the <i>Lord</i>.


text:
Do not have sex with an animal. To do this is a <i>sin</i>. It would make you <i>unclean</i>. A woman must not have sex with an animal. She would not be obeying the rules of her nature.


text:
Do not do these things. They would make you <i>unclean</i>. The people who live in Canaan do these things. It made them <i>unclean</i>. The <i>Lord</i> will send those people out of their country. 


text:
Canaan is <i>unclean</i> because the people did these things. This is why the <i>Lord</i> pushed the people out of that country. 


text:
If you do these bad things, I will push you out of Canaan’s country. I will send you away, like the people before you.


text:
All the people must obey my rules. They must not do the bad things that the people in Canaan did. If they did them, my people would become <i>unclean</i>. I am the <i>Lord</i> your God.’


text:
‘Speak to Israel’s people. They must be <i>holy</i> because I am <i>holy</i>. You must tell them that.


text:
Each person must <i>respect</i> his mother and his father. All the people must keep the <i>Sabbath</i> as a day for rest. I am the <i>Lord</i> your God.


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You must not <i>worship idols</i>. You must not use metal to make gods for yourselves. I am the <i>Lord</i> your God.


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When a person <i>sacrifices</i> a <i>fellowship offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>, he must obey the rules. If he does, the <i>Lord</i> will accept the gift. 


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The people must eat the meat on the day that the person <i>offers</i> it. Or they must eat it on the next day. The person must burn any meat that he has not eaten after the 2nd (second) day. 


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If he eats the meat on the third day he makes a <i>holy</i> gift <i>unclean</i>. You must send him away from the <i>camp</i>.


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When a person cuts the plants in his field, he must not cut to the edge of the field. He must not pick up what he drops. 


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If a person grows fruit to make <i>wine</i>, he must not pick all of the fruit. He must not pick up the fruit that drops. The fruit that drops is for the poor people. And it is for those who are foreign. I am the <i>Lord</i> your God.


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You must not take something that belongs to another person. You must not say something that is not true. You must obey my rules.


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You must not use the name of the <i>Lord</i> to say a promise. This will make my name <i>unclean</i>. I am the <i>Lord</i>.


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You must not speak bad words about a person who cannot hear. You must not put something in front of a person who cannot see. The person might fall. I am the <i>Lord</i>.


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My people must be fair to other people. They must not be more kind to a rich or important man than to a poor one. They must be fair to rich people and to poor people.


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They must not speak bad words about other people. They must not do anything that would cause a man to die. I am the <i>Lord</i>.


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You must not think bad thoughts about another person. A person may do something that is wrong. You must tell him that he is doing a wrong thing. If you do, you will not be a part of the wrong thing.


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You must not hurt another person because he hurt you. And you must not remember for a long time the bad thing that someone did to you. You must love all people as you love yourself. I am the <i>Lord</i>.


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The people must obey the <i>Lord</i>’s rules. They must not let two different kinds of animals have sex together. They must not put two different kinds of seeds in one field. They must not make clothes from two different materials.


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A slave girl belongs to a man. Another man must not have sex with her. If he does, he is doing a wrong thing. But the girl is not free. He has not bought her. You must <i>punish</i> them. But you must not kill them because the girl was not free. 


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The man must bring a male sheep to the door of the <i>Tent of Meeting</i>. It is an <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. 


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The <i>priest</i> will <i>sacrifice</i> the gift to the <i>Lord</i>. The <i>sacrifice</i> will <i>atone</i> for the man’s <i>sin</i>. Then the <i>Lord</i> will <i>forgive</i> the man.


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A person may plant a fruit tree in the country called Canaan. But he must not eat the fruit for (3) three years. 


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In the 4th (fourth) year, the fruit is <i>holy</i>. It is an <i>offering</i> to show that the <i>Lord</i> is great. 


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In the 5th year, the people can eat the fruit. If they do this, the trees will give much fruit to the people. I am the <i>Lord</i> your God.


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You must not eat any meat that has the blood in it. People must not do <i>magic</i>. They must not use <i>magic</i> to try to discover things that might happen.


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He must not cut his body to remember the dead people. He must not paint his body. I am the <i>Lord</i> your God.


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He must not sell his daughter for sex. You would make her ashamed. If he does this, all the people might do the same. The whole country would become full of <i>sin</i>.


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The <i>Lord</i> has said what the people can do on the day for rest (<i>Sabbath</i>). On the day for rest, the people must do only those things. They must <i>respect</i> the <i>Lord</i>’s house.


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They must not ask people who do <i>magic</i> to help them. That would make Israel’s people <i>unclean</i>. I am the <i>Lord</i> your God.


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The people must stand up when they are with old people. They must <i>respect</i> the old people. They must give <i>honour</i> to their God. I am the <i>Lord</i> your God.


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People must love the person from a different country as they love themselves. They must remember the time when they lived in Egypt. Egypt was not their country. I am the <i>Lord</i> your God.


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‘Talk to Israel’s people. Say, “If any <i>Israelite</i> or foreign person gives his children to the god called Molech, he must die.” The people must throw stones at him to kill him. 


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I, the <i>Lord</i>, will turn away from that person. I will make him separate from his people. That person did not <i>respect</i> the <i>Lord</i>. He did not <i>respect</i> the <i>Lord</i>’s <i>holy</i> name. 


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But the <i>Lord</i> himself will become an enemy of the man and of his family. The <i>Lord</i> will send him away with all the people who <i>worship</i> the god called Molech.


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A person must not ask someone who does <i>magic</i> for help. They are turning away from the <i>Lord</i>. He will send them away from his people.


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If a person says bad things about his mother or his father, you must kill him. He has destroyed their <i>honour</i>. His <i>sin</i> will cause his death.


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A man is <i>sinning</i> if he has sex with his father’s wife. You must kill the man and the woman. They have destroyed the father’s <i>honour</i>. Their <i>sin</i> causes their death.


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A man is <i>sinning</i> if he has sex with his son’s wife. You must kill them both. They have not obeyed the rules of nature. Their <i>sin</i> causes their death.


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A man is <i>sinning</i> if he has sex with another man. You must kill both of the men. They should be ashamed. Their <i>sin</i> causes their death.


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A man is <i>sinning</i> if he marries a woman and her mother. You must burn the man and both the women in the fire. Then their <i>sin</i> will not make my people <i>unclean</i>.


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A woman is <i>sinning</i> if she has sex with an animal. You must kill the woman and the animal. Their <i>sin</i> causes their death.


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It is a <i>sin</i> if a man marries his sister. She may be the daughter of his father or of his mother. It is a <i>sin</i> if he has sex with her. The people must send them away. He has taken away his sister’s <i>honour</i>. He must carry the <i>punishment</i> for his <i>sin</i>.


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A man must not have sex with a woman when she is bleeding. If he does, it is a <i>sin</i>. They have not obeyed the rules of the <i>Lord</i>. The people must send them away.


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A man must not have sex with his mother’s sister or with his father’s sister. They are both doing a wrong thing. They are taking away the family’s <i>honour</i>. Their <i>sin</i> causes their <i>punishment</i>.


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A man is <i>sinning</i> if he has sex with his aunt. He is taking away his father’s brother’s <i>honour</i>. They will have no children.


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It makes the people <i>unclean</i> if a man marries his brother’s wife. He has taken away his brother’s <i>honour</i>. They will not have any children.


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The people who are living in Canaan now are doing bad things. I, the <i>Lord</i>, <i>hate</i> them because they did those things. I will send them out of Canaan. 


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I, the <i>Lord</i>, will give their country to Israel’s people. I will give it to you and to your children to keep for all time. But you must obey my rules. Everything in the country is good. I am the <i>Lord</i> your God. I want you to be separate from other people.


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The people must know which animals are <i>clean</i>. And they must know which animals are <i>unclean</i>. They must know which birds are <i>clean</i>. And they must know which birds are <i>unclean</i>. They must not eat any animal or bird that is <i>unclean</i>. 


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I am <i>holy</i>. So my people must be <i>holy</i> for me. I have made them separate from other people. They belong to me.


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A man or a woman who uses <i>magic</i> is doing a wrong thing. People must throw stones at that person until they die. Their <i>sin</i> will cause their death.’ <n>Rules for the <i>priests</i></n>


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The <i>Lord</i> said to Moses, ‘Say this to the <i>priests</i>. They must not touch a dead body. That would make them <i>unclean</i>. 


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It may be the body of a person from their own <i>family</i>. The <i>priest</i> can touch the dead person if it is his mother or father. He can touch the dead person if it is his son or his daughter or his brother. 


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The <i>priest</i> must not touch a dead person who is married to a person of his <i>family</i>. That would make him <i>unclean</i>.


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A <i>priest</i> must not cut all the hair from his head. He must not cut the sides of his beard. He must not cut his body. 


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A <i>priest</i> must be <i>holy</i>. He must not speak bad words about the <i>Lord</i>. He is the person who <i>sacrifices</i> the people’s burnt <i>offerings</i> to the <i>Lord</i>.


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A <i>priest</i> must not marry a woman who has left her husband. He must not marry a woman if men have paid her to have sex with them. He must not marry a woman whose husband has sent her away. A <i>priest</i> must be <i>holy</i>. 


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A <i>priest</i> is <i>holy</i> because he <i>sacrifices</i> the people’s <i>offerings</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. A <i>priest</i> is <i>holy</i> because I, the <i>Lord</i>, am <i>holy</i>.


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A <i>priest</i>’s daughter must not have sex with men who pay her. That would make her <i>unclean</i>. She would take away her father’s <i>honour</i>. If she does not obey, you must burn her in a fire.


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They have poured special oil on the <i>High Priest</i>’s head among his brothers. He must wear special clothes. He must comb his hair. He must not tear his clothes. 


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He must not go into a room where there is a dead body. Even if it is the body of his parent, he must not go in. It will make him <i>unclean</i>. 


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He must not leave the house of the <i>Lord</i>. He has the <i>holy</i> oil on his head. He must be separate. I am the <i>Lord</i>.


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The woman must not have had a husband who died. She must not have a husband that she has left. Men must not have paid to have sex with her. She must be a woman from Israel’s people 


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‘Talk to Aaron. Say, “A <i>priest</i> who does not have a <i>perfect</i> body must not <i>sacrifice</i> the burnt <i>offerings</i> to the <i>Lord</i>.” This rule is for now and for all time. 


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A <i>priest</i> who cannot see must not <i>sacrifice</i> the food to the <i>Lord</i>. A<i>priest</i> who cannot walk must not <i>sacrifice</i> food to the <i>Lord</i>. A <i>priest</i> with a body that is the wrong shape must not <i>offer</i> food to the <i>Lord</i>. 


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A <i>priest</i> with a hand that is the wrong shape must not <i>offer</i> food to the <i>Lord</i>. A <i>priest</i> with a foot that is the wrong shape must not <i>offer</i> food to the <i>Lord</i>. 


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A <i>priest</i> with a back that is not straight must not <i>offer</i> food to the <i>Lord</i>. Neither must a <i>priest</i> who is very small <i>offer</i> a food gift. A <i>priest</i> who has an eye illness or a skin illness must not offer food to the <i>Lord</i>. Neither must a <i>priest</i> offer food if his testicles (secret parts) are not whole. 


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If a <i>priest</i>’s son has something wrong with his body, he must not come near to the <i>altar</i>. He must not give the food <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. 


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But none of Aaron’s family who is not <i>perfect</i> can go near the <i>holy</i> curtain or the <i>altar</i>. He would make the <i>holy</i> place <i>unclean</i>. I am the <i>Lord</i>. I make them <i>holy</i>.’


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‘Israel’s people give gifts to the <i>Lord</i>. Those gifts are <i>holy</i>. Tell Aaron and his sons that those things are <i>holy</i>. Tell them that they must remember that. They must give <i>honour</i> to my name. I am the <i>Lord</i>.


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One of your sons may not be <i>clean</i>. That son must not come near the <i>Lord</i>’s <i>holy offerings</i>. But perhaps he may not obey my rule. He might go near to the <i>holy</i> gifts. The <i>priests</i> who are <i>clean</i> must <i>punish</i> him. They must send him away. He must go from the <i>Lord</i>’s house. I am the <i>Lord</i>. This rule is for now and for all time. 


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If a son of Aaron has a skin illness, he must not eat the <i>holy</i> gifts. If <i>pus</i> is coming from his body, he is not <i>clean</i>. He must not eat the <i>holy offerings</i> until he is <i>clean</i>. He might touch something that has touched a dead body. Or if he touches an <i>unclean</i> man, he will become <i>unclean</i>. The man may be unclean because <i>semen</i> is coming from his body. 


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Aaron’s son might touch an animal that moves on its stomach. Or he might touch a person who is not <i>clean</i>. If he does, Aaron’s son will be <i>unclean</i>. 


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The son of Aaron who touches any of these things will be <i>unclean</i> until evening. He must not eat any of the <i>holy</i> gifts until he washes his body. 


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When the sun goes down, he will be <i>clean</i>. He can eat the <i>holy</i> gifts. They are his food. 


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He might find something that is dead. He must not eat it. He must not eat anything that an animal has torn. It will make him <i>unclean</i>. I am the <i>Lord</i>.


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Aaron’s sons must obey the <i>Lord</i>’s rules. If they do not obey them, it is a <i>sin</i>. They will die. I am the <i>Lord</i> who makes people <i>holy</i>. 


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Only a person who is from the <i>priest</i>’s <i>family</i> can eat the <i>holy</i> gifts. Another person who is living in the <i>priest</i>’s house must not eat the <i>holy</i> gifts. If a person is being paid to work for the <i>priest</i>, he must not eat the <i>holy</i> gifts. 


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A slave can eat the <i>holy</i> gifts if he was born in the <i>priest</i>’s house. Or he can eat the <i>holy</i> gifts if the <i>priest</i> bought him. 


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A <i>priest</i>’s daughter might marry a man who is not a <i>priest</i>. If she has done that, she must not eat the <i>holy</i> food. 


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A <i>priest</i>’s daughter’s husband might send her away. Or her husband might die. She might not have any children. She may go back to live in her father’s house. Then she can eat her father’s food.


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A person might make a mistake and eat a <i>holy</i> gift. He must give back to the <i>priest</i> the same food. He must also give 1/5th (one fifth) more. 


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The <i>priest</i> must not give the <i>holy</i> gifts to people who are not from Aaron’s family. The gifts would become <i>unclean</i>. 


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If the people eat them they are <i>sinning</i>. They will have to pay for their <i>sin</i>. I am the <i>Lord</i> and I make them <i>holy</i>.’ <n><i>Offerings</i> that the <i>Lord</i> will not accept</n>


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‘Say this to Aaron, to his sons and to all the people. If any person gives a gift to the <i>Lord</i>, 


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he must give a bull (male cow), a sheep or a goat. The gift may be for a promise, or to thank the <i>Lord</i> for something or for a <i>fellowship offering</i>. The animal must be <i>perfect</i>. 


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They must not give any animal that is not <i>perfect</i>. The <i>Lord</i> will not accept that animal. 


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When a person brings an animal to the <i>Lord</i> as a special gift, it must be <i>perfect</i>. If it is, the <i>Lord</i> will accept it. 


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A person must not give to the <i>Lord</i> an animal that cannot see. The animal must not have a skin illness. And <i>pus</i> must not be coming from its body. The person must not burn an animal on the <i>altar</i> that is not <i>perfect</i>. 


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A person may give a male cow or a sheep with a body that is the wrong shape. He can use it as an <i>offering</i> to eat with his friends (<i>fellowship offering</i>). But the <i>Lord</i> will not take this animal as a gift for a promise. That gift must be <i>perfect</i>. You must not put on the <i>altar</i> an animal that is not <i>perfect</i>. 


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A person must not give a gift of an animal that has something wrong with its testicles (male parts). 


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This rule is for Israel’s people. You must not take animals that are not <i>perfect</i> from <i>foreigners</i>. You must not <i>offer</i> them to the <i>Lord</i>. The <i>Lord</i> will not accept them because they are not <i>perfect</i>.’


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‘When a cow or a sheep or a goat is born, it must stay with its mother for 7 (seven) days. From the 8th (eighth) day the people can give it as a burnt <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. 


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When they <i>sacrifice</i> an animal to thank the <i>Lord</i>, they must <i>sacrifice</i> it in the proper way. This will give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure. 


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They must eat it on the day that they kill it. They must not keep any of it until the next day. I am the <i>Lord</i>.


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I am the <i>Lord</i>. They must give <i>honour</i> to my <i>holy</i> name. My people must believe that I am <i>holy</i>. I am the <i>Lord</i>. I make people <i>holy</i>. 


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‘Tell Israel’s people about the special days when they must <i>worship</i> the <i>Lord</i>. They are <i>holy</i> days. The <i>Israelites</i> must come together and have a <i>feast</i> on these days.


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There are six days when a person can work. The seventh day is Saturday (<i>Sabbath</i>). A person must not do any work on that day. It is a day when people meet together for <i>worship</i>. You must not work in any place where you live. It is the <i>Sabbath</i>, a day for rest. <n><i>Passover</i> and bread without <i>yeast</i> </n>


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There are other special days. They are <i>holy feasts</i>. On these days you must tell the people how to obey the <i>Lord</i>’s rules. 


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One special day is the 14th day of the first month. When the sun goes down, the <i>Passover</i> to the <i>Lord</i> begins. 


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The 15th day of the first month, the <i>feast</i> of Bread Without Yeast begins. For 7 (seven) days the people must eat bread that has no <i>yeast</i> in it. 


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For 7 (seven) days the people must give burnt <i>offerings</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. On the 7th (seventh) day they must stop work and they must <i>worship</i> the <i>Lord</i>.’ <n>The <i>Lord</i> caused Israel’s people to stay in their houses for their last night in Egypt. They had to put a mark on their doors with blood. The <i>Lord</i>’s servant who was a <i>spirit</i> killed the oldest son in each house of Egypt’s people. But he passed over the houses with blood round the doors. So the <i>Lord</i> saved the sons of the <i>Israelites</i>. That is why this is called the <i>Passover feast</i>. (See Exodus 12:12-20.) <n>Gifts of new <i>grain</i> </n>


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‘Tell Israel’s people this. They will go into the country that I will give to them. And then they must <i>harvest</i> the <i>grain</i>. They must take the first part of the <i>harvest</i> in their arms. They must give this to the <i>priest</i>. 


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The <i>priest</i> will lift it to the <i>Lord</i>. Then the <i>Lord</i> will accept their gift. The <i>priest</i> will do this on the day after the <i>Sabbath</i> day. 


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On the same day the <i>priest</i> will bring a young sheep that is <i>perfect</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. It must be one year old. It is a gift from the people. 


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He will also bring 2/10ths of an ephah (about 4 litres or 8 pints) of the best flour mixed with oil. He will burn the gift as a <i>sacrifice</i>. The smell of it while it is burning will give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure. The people must also give a ¼ hin (about 1 litre or 2 pints) of <i>wine</i> as a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. 


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The people must not eat any of the new <i>grain</i> until they have given their gift to the <i>Lord</i>. They and their children must do this now and always. They must do it in any place that they live.


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On the day after the <i>Sabbath</i> day the people will <i>sacrifice</i> their gifts to the <i>Lord</i>. After this, they must count 7 (seven) weeks. 


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They must count 50 days until the day after the 7th (seventh) <i>Sabbath</i>. Then they must give another gift of new <i>grain</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. 


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Each <i>family</i> must bring two loaves of bread as a special gift to the <i>Lord</i>. They must make the bread with 2/10ths ephah (about 4 litres or 8 pints) of good flour and <i>yeast</i>. This gift is from the first of their <i>harvest</i> fruits. 


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With the bread, all the people must bring seven <i>perfect</i> sheep. They must be males, each one year old. They must bring a bull (male cow). They must also bring two older male sheep. The <i>priest</i> will burn the <i>grain</i> and the animals as a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. The smell of them while they are burning will give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure. 


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The <i>priest</i> must <i>sacrifice</i> one male goat as a <i>sin offering</i>. The people must give two young sheep. They must be one year old. They are a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. 


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The <i>priest</i> will lift the animals and the bread to the <i>Lord</i>. They are a <i>holy offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. They are for the <i>priest</i>. 


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On this day, the people must not do any work. They must not work anywhere that they live. It is a special day to the <i>Lord</i> now and for all time to come.


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When the people <i>harvest</i> the <i>grain</i>, they must not cut it to the edge of the field. They must not pick up any <i>grain</i> that falls. Some <i>grain</i> must remain in the field. It is for the poor people and for foreign people. I am the <i>Lord</i> your God.’


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‘Tell Israel’s people this. On the first day of the 7th (seventh) month, they must rest. It is a special day. They must <i>worship</i> the <i>Lord</i> together with the sound of <i>trumpets</i>. 


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They must not work. They must burn an <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>.’ <n>The Day of <i>Atonement</i> </n>


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‘The 10th (tenth) day of the 7th (seventh) month is the Day of <i>Atonement</i>. On that day, the people must come together. They must not eat any food. They must burn an <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. 


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They must not do any work. It is a <i>holy</i> day. On this special day, Aaron (the <i>High Priest</i>) must come near to the <i>Lord</i>. He will make <i>atonement</i> for the <i>sins</i> of the people. 


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Nobody must work on that day. This rule is for now and for all time to come. You must obey it in any place where you are living. 


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It is a <i>Sabbath</i> rest for all the people. They must not eat any food. They must rest from the evening of the 9th (ninth) day until the evening of the 10th (tenth) day.’ <n>The <i>Feast</i> of Houses that people have made from branches </n>


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‘Tell Israel’s people that the 15th (fifteenth) day of the 7th (seventh) month is a special day. It is the Day of Houses that people have made from branches. The <i>feast</i> goes on for 7 (seven) days. 


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For 7 (seven) days each person must give a gift to the <i>Lord</i>. The 8th (eighth) day is <i>holy</i>. The people must come together and they must give a burnt <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. This is the last day of the <i>feast</i>. The people must not do any work on that day.


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These are the rules for the special days of the <i>Lord</i>. You must tell people that they must bring <i>offerings</i> to the <i>Lord</i> on these days. They will bring gifts for burnt <i>offerings</i> each day. They must bring <i>offerings</i> of <i>grain</i>, animals and <i>wine</i>. 


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These are not the usual <i>Sabbath</i> gifts. They are not gifts to give thanks or for promises. But they are extra gifts for special days.


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When the people have picked the <i>grain</i>, they can enjoy 7 (seven) <i>feast</i> days. The special days will begin on the 15th (fifteenth) day of the 7th (seventh) month. On the first day and on the 8th (eighth) day they can rest. 


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On the first day, they must take fruit and leaves from the trees. Then for 7 (seven) days they must <i>worship</i> the <i>Lord</i>. 


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They must do this for 7 (seven) days of each year. They must obey this rule in the 7th (seventh) month now, and for all the years to come. 


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The people in the future will know that the <i>Lord</i> brought Israel’s people out of Egypt. They will know that he is the <i>Lord</i>. And he caused them to live in houses that they made from branches. I am the <i>Lord</i>, your God.’


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‘Tell Israel’s people that they must bring to you the best oil. This will cause the light to burn all the time. 


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Aaron must put more oil in the <i>lamp</i> from evening to morning. The <i>lamp</i> is outside the curtain. That curtain is in the <i>Holy</i> Place. The light must never go out. This rule is for now and for all time to come. 


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The <i>lamps</i> on the gold thing that holds the lamps must burn always. <n>Rules about the bread that the people give to the <i>Lord</i></n>


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The people must bake 12 loaves of bread. They must use the best flour. They must weigh the flour for each loaf. They must use 2/10ths of an <i>ephah</i> (4 litres or 8 pints). 


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They must put the loaves on a table in two <i>rows</i>. There must be six loaves in each <i>row</i>. 


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They must put <i>incense</i> near each <i>row</i>. They must burn the <i>incense</i> as a gift to the <i>Lord</i> instead of the bread. 


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They must put the bread on the table every <i>Sabbath</i>. It is a <i>covenant</i> between Israel’s people and the <i>Lord</i>. 


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The bread is for Aaron and for his sons. They must eat it in a <i>holy</i> place. It is their <i>holy</i> part of the burnt <i>offering</i> to the <i>Lord</i>.’ <n>The story of a man who said bad things about the <i>Lord</i></n>


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There was a man. His mother was an <i>Israelite</i> and his father was a man from Egypt. The man had a quarrel with an Israelite man. 


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The <i>Israelite</i> woman’s son said bad things about the <i>Lord</i>. The people took him to Moses. (The name of the mother was Shelomith. She was the daughter of Dibri from the family of Dan.) 


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‘Take the man outside the <i>camp</i>. All the people who heard him speak must put a hand on him. All the people must throw stones at him until he is dead. 


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He must die. All the people must throw stones at him until he is dead.” You must kill anyone who says bad things about the <i>Lord</i>’s name. They may be a <i>foreigner</i> or an <i>Israelite</i>. You must kill them.


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A man might kill an animal that belongs to another man. He must give an animal that is alive to the man. You must give a living animal if you take a living animal’s life. 


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Whatever the man does to another man, the other man can do to him. If he takes an eye, you can take an eye. If he breaks a bone, you can break his bone. If he takes a tooth, you can take his tooth. 


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A man may kill an animal. That man must give back an animal that is alive. But if he kills a man, you must kill him. 


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This rule is for all the people. It is the same rule for <i>Israelites</i> and <i>foreigners</i>. I am the <i>Lord</i> your God.’


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Moses spoke to Israel’s people. A man had said bad things about the <i>Lord</i>. They took him outside the <i>camp</i>. They threw stones at him until he died. Israel’s people did as the <i>Lord</i> had told Moses.


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The <i>Lord</i> said, ‘Speak to Israel’s people. They will go into the country that I will give to them. Then the land must have a <i>Sabbath</i> rest. 


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They can plant seeds in the fields for 6 (six) years. They can cut the leaves of the plants and they can <i>harvest</i> the fruit for six years. 


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In the 7th (seventh) year, the land must have a rest. They must not plant seeds in the fields or cut the leaves. 


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All of the people can eat anything that grows by itself in the <i>Sabbath</i> year. That will be food for you and for your servants and for your animals. And other people who live among you can eat it. 


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The wild animals also can eat anything that grows by itself in the <i>Sabbath</i> year. <n>The <i>Jubilee</i> Year</n>


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In the 50th year they must make loud music. They must blow <i>trumpets</i> on the 10th (tenth) day of the 7th (seventh) month. That is the Day of <i>Atonement</i>. They must blow the <i>trumpet</i> through all the country. 


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The year will be special. It is a <i>Jubilee</i> year. It is a time for every one of my people to become free. Everyone can return to his own land and to his <i>family</i>. 


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The 50th year is a <i>Jubilee</i> year. The people must not plant any seed in the fields. They must not <i>harvest</i> anything that grows by itself on the bushes. 


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It is a <i>Jubilee</i> year for the people. And they can eat only food that they take from the fields.


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The person who is selling the land will fix a price. He must count the number of years until the next <i>Jubilee</i> year. 


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When there are many years, the price must be big. When there are few years, the price must be small. What the person is selling are the plants from the fields. 


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You will be able to grow food on the land. And the people will have plenty to eat. They will be safe. 


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The <i>Lord</i> will cause a lot of food to grow in the 6th (sixth) year. They will have food for three more years. 


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When a person plants seed in the 8th (eighth) year he will still be eating the <i>harvest</i> from the 6th (sixth) year. The next time he will <i>harvest</i> the plants from the fields will be in the 9th (ninth) year.


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The people must never sell the land for all time. The land belongs to the <i>Lord</i>. He has said that the people can live on it. 


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If a man becomes poor, he can sell some of his land. A person from his <i>family</i> must buy the land back for the man. 


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He must count how many years until the next <i>Jubilee</i> year. He must pay the right amount of money for the land. Then he can live on the land again. 


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If the man is too poor to buy the land back, it will belong to the other person. It will belong to the other person until the next <i>Jubilee</i> year. He must return it to the poor man in the <i>Jubilee</i> year.


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If the man does not buy back the house, it will belong to the other person and his sons. It will belong to them for all time. They will not have to return it in the <i>Jubilee</i> year. 


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If the house is in a village, a person can buy it back. If he does not buy it back, they will return it to him in the <i>Jubilee</i> year.


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In the <i>Jubilee</i> year, the <i>Levites</i> must get back the houses that they sold. Their towns belong to the <i>Levites</i>. 


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The <i>Levites</i> must not sell the fields that belong to their towns. The <i>Lord</i> gave to them their towns and cities to live in for all time. <n>People who have a lot of money must lend it to the poor people</n>


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An <i>Israelite</i> may become poor. He may not be able to feed his family. You must help him. You would help a visitor or a <i>foreigner</i> in the same way. You must help the man so that he can continue to live among you. 


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The person who is feeding the man might give money or food to him. He must not ask for more back than he gave. 


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I am the <i>Lord</i> your God who brought you out of Egypt. I brought you into this country to be your God.


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If an <i>Israelite</i> becomes poor, he might sell himself to another person. He must not work as a slave for that person. He must be like a paid servant. 


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In the <i>Jubilee</i> year, you will make him free. He and his children can go back to his own house and <i>family</i>. 


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And <i>Israelites</i> can buy people from other countries who live among them. They may have children who were born in your country. You can buy them. They will become slaves. 


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You can give the slaves to your children when you die. But you must rule Israel’s people in a kind way.


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A person from another country may become rich. Then he might buy an <i>Israelite</i> who became poor. But the poor man can buy himself back at any time. 


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A brother or a cousin of the poor man can buy him back. If the poor man becomes rich, he can pay to make himself free. 


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The man and the person who bought him must count the time until the <i>Jubilee</i> year. The man must pay the right amount of money to be free. 


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The <i>Jubilee</i> year may be many years away. If it is, the man must pay a lot of money to be free. 


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There may be a few years until the <i>Jubilee</i> year. If there are, he has to pay only a small amount of money to be free. 


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The person who has bought the man must pay him each year. You must cause the rich man to be kind to the man.


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Perhaps nobody will pay any money for the man. But the man who bought him must make him free in the <i>Jubilee</i> year. 


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Israel’s people belong to me. I brought them out of Egypt. They are my servants. I am the <i>Lord</i>.


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You must not make <i>idols</i> from stones and <i>worship</i> them. You must not draw things on stones and bend down in front of them. I am the <i>Lord</i> your God.


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You must rest on <i>Sabbath</i> days and you must keep them <i>holy</i>. You must <i>respect</i> the <i>Lord</i>’s house. I am the <i>Lord</i>.


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If they do, I will send rain at the proper time. Plants for food will grow in the ground. Fruit will grow on your trees. 


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The people will <i>harvest grain</i> until the <i>grapes</i> are ready to eat. They will <i>harvest</i> the <i>grapes</i> until it is the time to plant seeds. They will have all the food to eat that they need. I will keep them safe in their country.


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I will stop war in Israel. When the people sleep, they will not be afraid. I will take the wild animals away. Other people will not hurt my people. 


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Five (5) of you will run after 100 of them. And 100 of you will run after 1000 enemies. You will kill all your enemies.


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I will do good things for your people and I will give many children to them. Their number will grow. I will do everything that I have promised to do for them. 


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I am the <i>Lord</i> your God. I brought you out of Egypt. You will not be the slaves of people in Egypt. I saved you so that you need not be ashamed. <n>People who do not obey the rules will not give any pleasure to the <i>Lord</i></n>


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The <i>Lord</i> will be angry if the people do not listen to him. He will be angry if they do not obey his rules. 


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The people may not <i>respect</i> or obey the <i>Lord</i>’s rules. So they will not be doing what they promised to him. 


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So the <i>Lord</i> will send illnesses to the people. They will be afraid. The people will have illnesses in their eyes. They will get thin and they will die. They will plant their seed and their enemies will eat the fruit. 


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The <i>Lord</i> will fight against you. Your enemies will win the war. They will become your rulers. Your soldiers will run away even when nobody is running after them.


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The people may not obey the <i>Lord</i> even after this. If they do not, the <i>Lord</i> will <i>punish</i> them 7 (seven) times more strongly. 


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The people may still not listen to the <i>Lord</i>. If they do not, he will be 7 (seven) times more angry. If they do not obey him, he will cause their lives to be 7 (seven) times more difficult. 


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He will send wild animals to kill their children and their animals. The country will be almost empty.


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He will become their enemy. If they do not obey him, he will <i>punish</i> them 7 (seven) times more strongly. 


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He will send enemy soldiers to kill the people. They have not done what they promised to do. So he will <i>punish</i> them for that. If they go back to their cities, he will send them illnesses. The enemy will win the war. 


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The people will not have any food. A woman will bake one loaf for ten families. They will weigh it to give one part to each family. When a person eats his piece of bread, he will still be hungry.


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If the people still turn away from the <i>Lord</i>, he will be even more angry. They will not turn away from their <i>sin</i>. 


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The <i>Lord</i> will destroy the places where they <i>worship</i> false gods. He will destroy their very bad <i>incense altars</i>. He will put their dead bodies round their <i>idols</i>. He will <i>hate</i> them. 


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He will destroy the cities. He will destroy the places for wrong <i>worship</i>. Nobody will burn <i>incense</i> to give the <i>Lord</i> pleasure. 


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The <i>Lord</i> will destroy the land. He will cause the enemies who live in your country to <i>hate</i> it. 


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The <i>Lord</i> will push you out. He will send your people away to other countries. He will destroy your cities. And he will make your land a <i>desert</i>. 


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All the time that it is empty, the land will have rest. It will have the <i>Sabbath</i> rest that it did not have. It did not have it when you lived in it.


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Some of Israel’s people will remain in other countries. They will be frightened. A leaf that is blowing in the wind will cause them to run away. It will be like when an enemy is running after them. They will fall even if no enemy is running after them. 


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They will fall over each other when nobody is running after them. They will not be strong enough to fight their enemies. 


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Those who remain here will die because of their <i>sins</i>. They will die because their fathers and grandfathers did not obey the <i>Lord</i>.


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Your sons and your grandsons must tell me, the <i>Lord</i>, that they are sorry. They must be sorry because they did not obey my rules. They must be sorry that they turned away from me. 


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They must remember that they made me angry. They caused me to turn away from them. I am the <i>Lord</i>, and I sent them into their enemies’ country. They will be sorry until I have <i>punished</i> them enough. 


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Then I will remember my <i>covenant</i> with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I will remember that I gave their land to them. 


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Before this, the country will be empty and it will have a rest. My people will pay for the bad things that they did. 


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But I, the <i>Lord</i>, will not kill all of them. The people will be living in their enemies’ country. Then I will remember them. I will not leave them alone. I will remember my <i>covenant</i> with their fathers. I am the <i>Lord</i>, their God. 


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The <i>Lord</i> will remember his <i>covenant</i> with the people that he brought out of Egypt. The people in every country saw him do this. He is the <i>Lord</i>.’


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These are the rules that the <i>Lord</i> gave to Moses on the mountain called Sinai. They are his <i>covenant</i> with Israel’s people. <n>See Exodus chapter 20 and Deuteronomy chapter 6. 


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‘Speak to Israel’s people. Tell them this. A person might give another person to the <i>Lord</i> for a special promise. 


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They can make that person free. But they must give the right amount of money to the <i>Lord</i>. For a man between 20 years and 60 years old, they must give 50 pieces of <i>silver</i>. 


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For a male between five years and 20 years old, they must give to the <i>Lord</i> 20 pieces of <i>silver</i>. For a female, they must give 10 pieces of <i>silver</i>. 


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For a boy between one month and five years old, they must give five pieces of <i>silver</i>. For a girl of the same age, the <i>Lord</i> must have three pieces of <i>silver</i>. 


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If a man is older than 60 years, they must give 15 pieces of <i>silver</i>. For a woman, they must give 10 pieces of <i>silver</i>. 


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A person might say this special promise to the <i>Lord</i>. But he might be too poor to pay the money. He must bring the person to the <i>priest</i>. The <i>priest</i> will tell the person how much money to pay. The <i>priest</i> will know how much money the man can give.


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The person must not change a good animal for a bad animal. He must not change a bad animal for a good animal. If the person does change one animal for another, both the animals become <i>holy</i>. 


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The animal might be an animal that you must not eat. If it is, the person must bring it to the <i>priest</i>. 


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The person might want to buy the animal back. He must pay the price of the animal and 1/5 (one fifth) more.


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A person might give his house to the <i>Lord</i>. The <i>priest</i> will decide if the house is good or bad. The <i>priest</i> will decide the price of the house. 


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The person might want to buy the house back. He must pay the price of the house and 1/5th (one fifth) more. Then it will again belong to him.


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A person might give part of his land to the <i>Lord</i>. The person will decide the price by how much seed the land needs. The price will be 50 pieces of <i>silver</i> for a homer (220 litres or 6 bushels) of seed. 


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A person might give his land after the <i>Jubilee</i> year. The <i>priest</i> will count the number of years before the next <i>Jubilee</i>. The price will be less. 


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A person might want to buy the land back. He must pay the price of the land and 1/5th (one fifth) more. 


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He may not buy it back before the year of <i>Jubilee</i>. Then the field becomes <i>holy</i>. But the man may have sold the land to another person. If he has, he cannot get it back. 


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In the <i>Jubilee</i> year the land will become <i>holy</i>. Then it will belong to the <i>priests</i>.


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The <i>priest</i> will count how many years there are until the <i>Jubilee</i> year. The person must pay the money on that day. The money is <i>holy</i> to the <i>Lord</i>. 


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The first baby that an animal has is <i>holy</i>. It belongs to the <i>Lord</i>. A person cannot give it as a special gift to the <i>Lord</i>. 


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The animal might be an <i>unclean</i> animal (an animal that they must not eat). The person can pay the price of the animal and 1/5 (one fifth) more to get it back. If the person does not buy it back, the <i>priest</i> will sell it.


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A man might give to the <i>Lord</i> something that the man has. Everything that a man gives like that is <i>holy</i>. It might be a person, an animal or land. The <i>priest</i> must not sell it. A man cannot take it back. Everything that someone gives to the <i>Lord</i> is most <i>holy</i>.


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The <i>Lord</i> might decide that a person must die. If he does, nobody can buy him back. The person must die.


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One tenth (1/10th) of everything that comes from the land is <i>holy</i>. It may be <i>grain</i> or fruit. It belongs to the <i>Lord</i>. 


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If a person buys back any of his gift to the <i>Lord</i>, he must pay the price and 1/5th (one fifth) more. 


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A person must not change a good animal for a bad animal. A person must not change a bad animal for a good animal. If he does that, both animals are <i>holy</i>. They belong to the <i>Lord</i>. A person cannot buy them back.’


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These are the rules that the <i>Lord</i> gave to Moses on the mountain called Sinai. They are the rules for Israel’s people.


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The <i>Israelites</i> were in the <i>Desert</i> of Sinai. It was the first day of the second month of the second year after they left Egypt. Moses was in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. The <i>LORD</i> said to Moses, 


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‘Put the people into <i>clans</i> and <i>families</i> and count them. Make a list. Write the name of each man on the list. 


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You and Aaron must record the names of all the men in each group. But only record the names of men who are 20 years old or older. Those men can fight in the army. 


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These are the men who must help you: <n>Elizur, who is the son of Shedeur. He is from the <i>tribe</i> of Reuben.


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Elishama, who is the son of Ammihud. He is from the <i>tribe</i> of Ephraim. <n>Gamaliel, who is the son of Pedahzur. He is from the <i>tribe</i> of Manasseh. <n>(Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph’s sons.)


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The <i>LORD</i> said that Moses must choose those men from among the people. They were leaders of their <i>clans</i>. They were <i>Israel</i>’s leaders. 


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On the first day of the second month, they said that all the people must come together. The people were in <i>clans</i> and in <i>families</i>. They made a list of all the men who were 20 years old or older. 


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They obeyed the things that the <i>LORD</i> had said to Moses. So he recorded the names in the <i>Desert</i> of Sinai.


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The men in the <i>tribe</i> of Reuben came first. Reuben was the first son of Israel (Jacob). They recorded the names of all the men in each <i>clan</i> and <i>family</i>. All the men who were 20 years old or older were on the list. Those men could fight in the army. 


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Next was the <i>tribe</i> of Simeon. They recorded the names of all the men in each <i>clan</i> and <i>family</i>. All the men who were 20 years old or older were on the list. Those men could fight in the army. 


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Next was the <i>tribe</i> of Gad. They recorded the names of all the men in each <i>clan</i> and <i>family</i>. All the men who were 20 years old or older were on the list. Those men could fight in the army. 


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Next was the <i>tribe</i> of Judah. They recorded the names of all the men in each <i>clan</i> and <i>family</i>. All the men who were 20 years old or older were on the list. Those men could fight in the army. 


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Next was the <i>tribe</i> of Issachar. They recorded the names of all the men in each <i>clan</i> and <i>family</i>. All the men who were 20 years old or older were on the list. Those men could fight in the army. 


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Next was the <i>tribe</i> of Zebulun. They recorded the names of all the men in each <i>clan</i> and <i>family</i>. All the men who were 20 years old or older were on the list. Those men could fight in the army. 


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Ephraim was a son of Joseph. They recorded the names of all the men in each <i>clan</i> and <i>family</i>. All the men who were 20 years old or older were on the list. Those men could fight in the army. 


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Manasseh was a son of Joseph. They recorded the names of all the men in each <i>clan</i> and <i>family</i>. All the men who were 20 years old or older were on the list. Those men could fight in the army. 


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Next was the <i>tribe</i> of Benjamin. They recorded the names of all the men in each <i>clan</i> and <i>family</i>. All the men who were 20 years old or older were on the list. Those men could fight in the army. 


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Next was the <i>tribe</i> of Dan. They recorded the names of all the men in each <i>clan</i> and <i>family</i>. All the men who were 20 years old or older were on the list. Those men could fight in the army. 


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Next was the <i>tribe</i> of Asher. They recorded the names of all the men in each <i>clan</i> and <i>family</i>. All the men who were 20 years old or older were on the list. Those men could fight in the army. 


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Next was the <i>tribe</i> of Naphtali. They recorded the names of all the men in each <i>clan</i> and <i>family</i>. All the men who were 20 years old or older were on the list. Those men could fight in the army. 


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Moses and Aaron made a list of the men. The 12 leaders of Israel helped them to do it. That was one man from each <i>tribe</i>. 


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They recorded the names of all the men in each <i>family</i>. All the men who were 20 years old or older were on the list. Those men could fight in the army. 


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‘You must not count the <i>tribe</i> of Levi. You must not put the <i>Levites</i> on the list with the other <i>Israelites</i>. 


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The <i>Levites</i>’ work is in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. They must carry the <i>Tent</i> everywhere. They must carry everything from the <i>Tent</i> and their work is with all those things. And they must put their <i>tents</i> round it. 


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When the people move to another place, the <i>Levites</i> must pack the <i>Tent</i>. When the people make a new <i>camp</i>, the <i>Levites</i> must put the <i>Tent</i> up again. If any other person comes near to the <i>Tent</i>, he must die. 


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All the other <i>Israelites</i> must <i>camp</i> in groups. Each man must <i>camp</i> with his own group. Each group must put up its own <i>flag</i>. 


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But the <i>Levites</i> must <i>camp</i> on each side of the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. They must keep it safe. Then the <i>LORD</i> will not be angry with the people.’


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‘The <i>Israelites</i> must <i>camp</i> on each side of the <i>Tent</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. They must not be near to it but they should be looking towards it. They must <i>camp</i> in <i>tribes</i>. Each person must be with his own <i>tribe</i>. Each <i>tribe</i> must have its own <i>flag</i>.


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The people in Judah’s <i>tribe</i> must be on the east side of the <i>Tent</i>. They must have their <i>flag</i> with them and they must <i>camp</i> in groups. The leader of the <i>tribe</i> of Judah is Nahshon, the son of Amminadab. 


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The <i>tribe</i> of Issachar will <i>camp</i> next to them. The leader of the <i>tribe</i> of Issachar is Nethanel, the son of Zuar. 


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The <i>tribe</i> of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the <i>tribe</i> of Zebulun is Eliab, the son of Helon. 


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So there will be 186 400 soldiers in the three groups in Judah’s <i>camp</i>. They will march first.


text:
The <i>tribe</i> of Reuben must be on the south side of the <i>Tent</i>. They must have their <i>flag</i> with them and they must <i>camp</i> in groups. The leader of the <i>tribe</i> of Reuben is Elizur, the son of Shedeur. 


text:
The <i>tribe</i> of Simeon will <i>camp</i> next to them. The leader of the <i>tribe</i> of Simeon is Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai. 


text:
The <i>tribe</i> of Gad will be next. The leader of the <i>tribe</i> of Gad is Eliasaph, the son of Reuel. 


text:
So there will be 151 450 soldiers in the three groups in Reuben’s <i>camp</i>. They will march second.


text:
The <i>Levites</i> must march next. The <i>Levites</i> must carry the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. They must march between the first two groups of <i>tribes</i> and the last two groups of <i>tribes</i>. Each man must be in his own place. They must march with their <i>flag</i>


text:
The <i>tribe</i> of Ephraim must be on the west side of the <i>Tent</i>. They must have their <i>flag</i> with them and they must <i>camp</i> in groups. The leader of the <i>tribe</i> of Ephraim is Elishama, the son of Ammihud. 


text:
The <i>tribe</i> of Manasseh will <i>camp</i> next to them. The leader of the <i>tribe</i> of Manasseh is Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur. 


text:
The <i>tribe</i> of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the <i>tribe</i> of Benjamin is Abidan, the son of Gideoni. 


text:
So there will be 108 100 soldiers in the three groups in Ephraim’s <i>camp</i>. They will march third.


text:
The <i>tribe</i> of Dan must be on the north side of the <i>Tent</i>. They must have their <i>flag</i> with them and they must <i>camp</i> in groups. The leader of the <i>tribe</i> of Dan is Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai. 


text:
The <i>tribe</i> of Asher will <i>camp</i> next to them. The leader of the <i>tribe</i> of Asher is Pagiel, the son of Ochran. 


text:
The <i>tribe</i> of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the <i>tribe</i> of Naphtali is Ahira, the son of Enan. 


text:
So there will be 157 600 soldiers in the three groups in Dan’s <i>camp</i>. They will march last with their <i>flag</i>.’


text:
Moses and his helpers had counted all the <i>Israelite</i> men who were able to fight. They had counted them in groups. There were 603 550 soldiers. 


text:
They did not count the <i>Levites</i>. The <i>LORD</i> had told Moses that they must not count them among the other <i>Israelites</i>.


text:
The <i>Israelites</i> did everything that the <i>LORD</i> had said to Moses. They <i>camped</i> in the way that the <i>LORD</i> wanted. Each <i>tribe camped</i> under its own <i>flag</i>. When they started to travel, each man walked with his own <i>clan</i> and his own <i>family</i>.


text:
This is the list of the <i>family</i> of Aaron and Moses, when the <i>LORD</i> spoke to Moses. The <i>LORD</i> spoke to Moses on the mountain called Sinai


text:
These are the names of the sons of Aaron. Aaron <i>anointed</i> them. And he gave authority to them to work as <i>priests</i>. 


text:
But Nadab and Abihu fell down and died in front of the <i>LORD</i>. That happened when they offered <i>unholy</i> fire to the <i>LORD</i> in the Sinai <i>desert</i>. They had no children. So only Eleazar and Ithamar worked as <i>priests</i> while their father Aaron was alive. <n>The <i>Levites</i> must work for the <i>priests</i></n>


text:
They must work for him and for all the <i>Israelites</i>. They must work in front of the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. They must work at God’s <i>Tent</i>. 


text:
They must work on behalf of the <i>Israelites</i>. They must do all the necessary work with the things that are in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. Their work is at God’s <i>Tent</i>. 


text:
Give the <i>Levites</i> to Aaron and to his <i>descendants</i>. So they will be the <i>Israelites</i> who help him. And they do not have to do anything else. 


text:
But you must make a list of Aaron and his <i>descendants</i>. They will be the <i>priests</i>. If any other person comes near, he must die.’ 


text:
‘I will not take the first son of every woman of <i>Israel</i>. I will take all the <i>Levites</i> instead. 


text:
I killed all the <i>first-born</i> children of the <i>Egyptians</i>. Then the <i>first-born</i> of every person and animal of <i>Israel</i> became mine. Now, I will not have the <i>first-born</i> child. I will have all the <i>Levites</i> instead. They are mine. I am the <i>LORD</i>!’ <n>Moses and Aaron count the <i>Levites</i></n>


text:
‘Put the <i>Levites</i> into <i>clans</i> and <i>families</i> and count them. Make a list of every male who is a month old or older.’ 


text:
Merari’s sons were called Mahli and Mushi. Those were the sons and grandsons of Levi. They had become the leaders of the <i>clans</i> of Levi’s <i>tribe</i>.


text:
There were two <i>families</i> in Gershon’s <i>clan</i>. They were the <i>families</i> of Libni and Shimei. 


text:
The <i>descendants</i> of Gershon had to work with the cloth of the walls and the doors of God’s <i>Tent</i>. 


text:
There was a yard outside God’s <i>Tent</i>. This yard was round God’s <i>Tent</i> and round the <i>altar</i>. There were curtains that hung round this yard. Those men had to work with these curtains. Also, they had to work with the <i>ropes</i> and the curtain for the place where people went into the yard. And they also did all the work with those things.


text:
There were 8600 males who were one month old or older in this <i>clan</i>. They were one month old or older when Moses counted them. They had to work in God’s <i>Holy Tent</i>. 


text:
They had to work with the <i>Covenant Box</i>, the table and the <i>lampstands</i>. They had to work with the <i>altar</i> and the tools that the <i>priests</i> used in God’s <i>Holy Tent</i>. Also they had to work with the curtain in front of the Most <i>Holy</i> Place in God’s <i>Tent</i>. And they also did all the work with those things. 


text:
Eleazar the son of Aaron the <i>priest</i> was the most important leader of the <i>Levites</i>. He ruled over those people who did all the work in God’s <i>Holy Tent</i>.


text:
The leader of Merari’s <i>clan</i> was Zuriel, the son of Abihail. They had to <i>camp</i> on the north side of God’s <i>Tent</i>. 


text:
They also had to work with all the things that held up the cloth for the yard round God’s <i>Tent</i>.


text:
Moses, Aaron and the sons of Aaron had to <i>camp</i> in front of God’s <i>Tent</i>. They had to <i>camp</i> on the east side. They were the only people who could go into God’s <i>Holy</i> Tent. Any other person who went near it must die. 


text:
So Moses and Aaron obeyed the <i>LORD</i>. They counted the <i>Levites</i> by their <i>clans</i>. There were 22 000 males who were one month old or older. <n>The <i>Levites</i> take the place of the <i>first-born</i> sons of the <i>Israelites</i></n>


text:
The <i>LORD</i> said to Moses, ‘Record all the <i>first-born</i> males of the <i>Israelites</i>. Record every male who is one month old or older. And count their names. 


text:
The <i>Israelites</i>’ <i>first-born</i> sons are mine. But I will accept all the males among the <i>Levites</i> instead. Also, the <i>Israelites</i>’ <i>first-born</i> animals are mine. But I will accept the animals of the <i>Levites</i> instead.’


text:
So Moses counted all the <i>first-born</i> males among the <i>Israelites</i> as the <i>LORD</i> had said. 


text:
He counted 22 273 <i>first-born</i> males who were one month old or older. He made a list of their names.


text:
‘Do not use the <i>first-born</i> males among the people. Accept the <i>Levites</i> instead. Do not use the <i>first-born</i> animals of the people. Accept the animals of the <i>Levites</i> instead. The <i>Levites</i> will be mine. I am the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
There are 273 more <i>first-born</i> males of the people than there are <i>Levites</i>. The people must buy them back from the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
You must accept 5 <i>shekels</i> for each extra <i>first-born</i> male. The <i>shekel</i> must have the same weight as the shekel that the <i>Levites</i> use in God’s <i>Holy Tent</i>. There are 20 <i>gerahs</i> in one <i>shekel</i>. 


text:
So Moses took the money to buy back the extra 273 <i>first-born</i> sons. That was because the number of <i>first-born</i> sons was more than the number of <i>Levites</i>. 


text:
He took 1365 <i>shekels</i> from them. The <i>shekels</i> had the same weight as the shekel that the <i>Levites</i> used in God’s <i>Holy Tent</i>. 


text:
Moses gave the money to Aaron and his sons. The <i>LORD</i> had told him that he must do that. So he did it.


text:
‘Write a list of the people in Kohath’s <i>clan</i> in their <i>families</i>. That list must be separate from the list of the other <i>Levites</i>. 


text:
Record the men who can work in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. Record them if they are between 30 and 50 years old.


text:
When the people are ready to move, Aaron and his sons must go into the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. They must take down the curtain that is in front of the <i>Covenant Box</i>. They must cover the <i>Covenant Box</i> with the curtain. 


text:
Then they must cover the curtain with good leather. On the top of that, they must put a blue cloth. Then, they must put in its pieces of wood so that they can carry the <i>Covenant Box</i>.


text:
They must put a blue cloth over the table for the special bread. The bread must remain on the table. The cloth must cover the plates, bowls and dishes on the table. It must also cover the jars for the <i>wine</i> that they offer to the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
Then they must cover all that with a red cloth. On the top of the red cloth, they must put good leather. Then they must put in its pieces of wood so that they can carry the table.


text:
They must cover the <i>lampstand</i> and its tools with a blue cloth. They must also cover the jars for the oil with the blue cloth. 


text:
They must cover the gold <i>altar</i> with a blue cloth. They must cover the blue cloth with good leather. Then they must put in its pieces of wood so that they can carry the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
They must cover all the tools from God’s <i>Holy Tent</i> with a blue cloth. They must cover the blue cloth with good leather. They must carry all this on a board.


text:
They must remove the ashes from the <i>bronze altar</i>. They must cover the <i>bronze altar</i> with a <i>purple</i> cloth. 


text:
They must put all the tools on the <i>bronze altar</i>. That includes the <i>pans</i> for the fire, the forks for the meat, the spades and the bowls. They must cover all that with good leather. Then they must put in its pieces of wood so that they can carry the <i>altar</i>.


text:
When the <i>camp</i> is ready to move, the men from Kohath’s <i>clan</i> must be ready to carry all those things. But they must wait until Aaron and his sons have covered God’s <i>Holy Tent</i> and all its <i>holy</i> things. The men from Kohath’s <i>clan</i> must not touch the <i>holy</i> things. They will die if they touch the <i>holy</i> things. These are the duties of Kohath’s <i>clan</i>. They must carry the things from the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting when the <i>Israelites</i> travel.


text:
Eleazar, who is the son of Aaron the <i>priest</i>, must keep the oil for the light. He must keep the <i>incense</i> and the <i>offering</i> of flour. He must keep the special oil. The special oil marks everything that the <i>LORD</i> chooses. Eleazar must work with the whole <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. He must work with God’s <i>Holy Tent</i> and with everything in it.’


text:
Do not let the men in that <i>clan</i> die. That will happen if they come near to the most <i>holy</i> things. You must do this: Aaron and his sons must go into the <i>Tent</i> of the <i>LORD</i>. They will tell each man the work that he must do. And they must tell each man the things that he must carry. 


text:
But the men from Kohath’s <i>clan</i> must not look at anything that is <i>holy</i>, even for a moment. If they do look at those things, they will die.’


text:
The men from that <i>clan</i> must carry the curtains of God’s <i>Tent</i>. And they must carry the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting with the thing that covers it. And they must carry the good leather that covers all that. And they must carry the curtain for the place where people go into the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. 


text:
They must carry the curtains of the yard that is round God’s <i>Tent</i>. Also, they must carry the curtain and <i>ropes</i> for the place where people go into the yard. That is the yard that is round God’s <i>Tent</i> and the <i>altar</i>. The men from Gershon’s <i>clan</i> must carry all the tools that belong with those curtains. They must do everything that all those things need. 


text:
The men in Gershon’s <i>clan</i> must do everything that Aaron and his sons ask them to do. Aaron and his sons must tell them the things that they should carry. And they must tell them everything that they should do. 


text:
That is the work for the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting that the <i>descendants</i> of Gershon must do. Ithamar, the son of Aaron the <i>priest</i> will tell them the things that they must do.’


text:
Then the <i>LORD</i> said to Moses, ‘Write a list of the people in Merari’s <i>clan</i> in their <i>families</i>. 


text:
Record the men who can work in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. Record them if they are between 30 and 50 years old. 


text:
This is the work of the men in Merari’s <i>clan</i>. They must carry the <i>frames</i> of the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting and its bars. And they must carry its <i>pillars</i> and its <i>bases</i>. 


text:
And they must carry the <i>pillars</i>, <i>bases</i>, <i>nails</i> of wood and <i>ropes</i> of the yard that is round God’s <i>Tent</i>. And the men in Merari’s <i>clan</i> must keep all the tools that belong with those things safe. Each man in Merari’s <i>clan</i> must keep particular things safe. Tell each man which things he must carry. 


text:
That is the work of the <i>descendants</i> of Merari in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. Ithamar, the son of Aaron the <i>priest</i>, will tell them the things that they must do.’


text:
So Moses, Aaron and the people’s leaders recorded the names of Kohath’s <i>descendants</i> in their <i>clans</i> and in their <i>families</i>. 


text:
They recorded the men who could work in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. They recorded them if they were between 30 and 50 years old. 


text:
Moses and Aaron recorded the <i>descendants</i> of Kohath who worked at the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. The <i>LORD</i> had told Moses that they must do that.


text:
Moses and Aaron also recorded the names of Gershon’s <i>descendants</i> in their <i>clans</i> and in their <i>families</i>. 


text:
Moses and Aaron recorded the <i>descendants</i> of Gershon who worked at the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. The <i>LORD</i> had told Moses that they must do that.


text:
Moses and Aaron also recorded the names of Merari’s <i>descendants</i> in their <i>clans</i> and in their <i>families</i>. 


text:
They counted all the men who worked in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. They counted them if they were between 30 and 50 years old. 


text:
Moses and Aaron recorded the <i>descendants</i> of Merari who worked at the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. The <i>LORD</i> had told Moses that they must do that.


text:
Moses, Aaron and the people’s leaders recorded the names of the <i>Levites</i> in their <i>clans</i> and in their <i>families</i>. 


text:
They counted all the men who worked in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. And they counted all the men who carried any of its things. They counted them if they were between 30 and 50 years old. 


text:
They told each man the things that he must do. Or they told him what he must carry. Moses recorded all their names. The <i>LORD</i> had told him that he must do that.


text:
‘Speak to the <i>Israelites</i>. They must send any person with an illness of the skin away from the <i>camp</i>. Somebody may have an illness that makes water. Any person like that is not <i>clean</i>. Any person who has touched a dead person is not <i>clean</i>. Send those people out of the <i>camp</i> too. 


text:
Do those things with both males and females. Send them out of the <i>camp</i>. They must not make the <i>camp</i>, where the <i>LORD</i> lives among the people, not <i>clean</i>.’ 


text:
The <i>Israelites</i> did what the <i>LORD</i> had said to Moses. They sent those people outside the <i>camp</i>. <n>Gifts to the <i>LORD</i> and to the people when someone <i>sins</i></n>


text:
‘Tell these rules to the <i>Israelites</i>: A person might do a wrong thing against another person. If they do, then they have <i>sinned</i> against me. 


text:
That person must agree that they have <i>sinned</i>. They must pay the right amount to the other person. Also, they must pay an extra 20% of that amount. 


text:
But the other person may have died. The other person may not have a <i>relative</i> who can accept the money. If that happens, the money must go to the <i>LORD</i>. The person who did a wrong thing must give the money and a male sheep to the <i>priest</i>. The sheep is a special gift to the <i>LORD</i> to make everything right. Then I will <i>forgive</i> that person. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will keep all the special gifts.’ <n>How to find out if a wife is doing something wrong</n>


text:
‘Speak to the <i>Israelites</i>. Tell them to follow these rules. A woman may do wrong things against her husband. 


text:
She might have had sex with another man. The husband might not be sure about this. His wife might have kept it secret. Nobody came in while it was happening. So there is nobody to say that it happened. 


text:
But the man may think that it happened. He will be angry. But she may not have made herself <i>unholy</i> in that way. 


text:
The man must take his wife to the <i>priest</i>. He must bring 0.1 <i>ephahs</i> of flour from <i>barley</i> with him. This is an <i>offering</i> of flour to discover if his wife really did do those things. So he must not put oil or <i>incense</i> on the <i>offering</i> of flour. That is an <i>offering</i> of flour because the man does not <i>trust</i> his wife.


text:
He must pour some <i>holy</i> water into a bowl that someone has made out of <i>clay</i>. He must take some <i>dust</i> from the floor of God’s <i>Tent</i>. And he must put the <i>dust</i> into the water. 


text:
Then the <i>priest</i> must make the woman’s hair free. He must put into her hands the <i>offering</i> of flour. That is the <i>offering</i> of flour because the man does not <i>trust</i> his wife. The <i>priest</i> must hold the bowl that contains the <i>bitter</i> water. The <i>bitter</i> water brings a <i>curse</i>. 


text:
Then the woman must agree to the special promise that the <i>priest</i> speaks. The <i>priest</i> should tell her that she must agree. He must say, “This water brings a <i>curse</i>. If no other man has had sex with you, it will not hurt you. 


text:
the <i>bitter</i> water will cause your female parts to decrease. Your stomach will become very big. 


text:
That will happen when you drink the <i>bitter</i> water.” The woman must say, “That should happen. I agree!”


text:
Then the <i>priest</i> must write everything on special paper. Then he must wash off the words into the <i>bitter</i> water. 


text:
He must tell the woman that she must drink the <i>bitter</i> water. This water that brings a <i>curse</i> will go into her body. It may cause her to be very ill. 


text:
But first, the <i>priest</i> must take the <i>offering</i> of flour from her hands. That is the <i>offering</i> of flour because the man does not <i>trust</i> his wife. The <i>priest</i> must lift it up in front of the <i>LORD</i>. Then he must bring it to the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
He must burn a small part of it as a <i>sacrifice</i>. After that, the woman must drink the <i>bitter</i> water. 


text:
If the woman has had sex with another man, the water will cause her to have very bad pain. Her female parts will decrease. Her stomach will become very big. And people will <i>curse</i> her. 


text:
But, if she did not do those wrong things, the water will not hurt her. She will be able to have babies. <n>


text:
Perhaps a man is angry because his wife has had sex with another man. Or a man may think that his wife has had sex with another man. You must do this. This is the rule. The man must bring her in front of the <i>LORD</i>. The <i>priest</i> must obey all these rules. 


text:
If the woman did not do those wrong things, you must not <i>punish</i> her husband. But if the woman did do those wrong things, you must <i>punish</i> her.’


text:
‘Tell the <i>Israelites</i> this: “A man or a woman may want to make a special promise to the <i>LORD</i>. That will make him or her separate from other people. He or she will become a <i>Nazirite</i>. 


text:
They must not drink <i>wine</i>. They must not drink any beer or <i>vinegar</i>. They must not drink the <i>juice</i> of <i>grapes</i> or eat <i>grapes</i> or <i>raisins</i>. 


text:
They must not eat the seeds of <i>grapes</i> for all the time that they are <i>Nazirites</i>. They must not even eat what covers the fruit outside.


text:
A person must not cut his hair during the time that he is a <i>Nazirite</i>. He must be different all the time that he is separate from the people. He must let the hair on his head grow long. 


text:
His hair shows that he is separate for God. So, he must not go near a dead body. He must not go near it even if the dead person is his father mother, brother or sister. 


text:
He may be with a person when that person dies. Then his head is not still <i>clean</i>. The <i>Nazirite</i> must remove all the hair from his head 7 days after the person dies. Then he will be <i>clean</i>. 


text:
On day 8, he must bring two <i>doves</i> or two young <i>pigeons</i> to the door of the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. He must give them to the <i>priest</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> must <i>sacrifice</i> one bird as a <i>sin-offering</i> and the other bird as a <i>burnt-offering</i>. The <i>priest</i> must do that because the <i>Nazirite sinned</i>. He went too near to a dead body. That will make the <i>Nazirite</i>’s head <i>clean</i> again on that same day. 


text:
He must begin his time as a <i>Nazirite</i> again, with a new promise to the <i>LORD</i>. He cannot include the days before he became <i>unclean</i>. He must bring a male sheep that is one year old. That is a <i>guilt</i>-offering.


text:
He is a <i>Nazirite</i> for a certain time. When that time finishes, the people must bring him to the door of the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. 


text:
He must offer to the <i>LORD</i> three animals that have nothing wrong with them. He must offer a young male sheep that is one year old. That is a <i>burnt-offering</i>. He must offer a young female sheep that is one year old. That is a <i>sin-offering</i>. He must offer a male sheep. That is a <i>friendship-offering</i>. 


text:
And he must bring a basket of bread that people have made without <i>yeast</i>. He must bring cakes that people have made with the best flour and oil. Also, he must bring thin biscuits with oil on them. But someone must have made them without <i>yeast</i> too. He must bring the proper <i>offerings</i> of flour and of <i>wine</i> with them.


text:
The <i>priest</i> must offer those things to the <i>LORD</i>. And he must <i>sacrifice</i> the <i>sin-offering</i> and the <i>burnt-offering</i>. 


text:
Then the <i>priest</i> must <i>sacrifice</i> the male sheep as a <i>friendship-offering</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. He must offer the basket of bread. He must give the <i>offerings</i> of flour and of <i>wine</i> with it.


text:
Then the <i>Nazirite</i> must stand at the place where people go into the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. He must remove all the hair from his head. He must put his hair into the same fire where the <i>priest</i> has cooked the <i>friendship-offering</i>.


text:
When the male sheep is ready to eat, the <i>priest</i> must take its shoulder. Also, he must take one loaf and one thin biscuit from the basket. The loaf and the biscuit must not have <i>yeast</i> in them. The <i>priest</i> must put these things into the hands of the <i>Nazirite</i> who has removed the hair from his head. 


text:
The <i>Nazirite</i> must give those things back to the <i>priest</i>. The <i>priest</i> must lift them up to the <i>LORD</i> as a special gift. They are a special gift for the <i>priest</i>. Also, the <i>priest</i> can eat the front part of the sheep and its back leg. After that, the <i>Nazirite</i> can drink <i>wine</i>.”


text:
Those are the rules about <i>Nazirites</i>. Also, the <i>Nazirite</i> may give anything else that he can give. And he must bring any other gift that he promised to me.’ <n>The <i>priests</i> ask the <i>LORD</i> to help the people</n>


text:
‘Tell Aaron and his sons this. They must use these words when they ask the <i>LORD</i> to help the <i>Israelites</i>.


text:
They must say, “I pray that the <i>LORD</i> will <i>bless</i> you. I pray that the <i>LORD</i> will keep you safe.


text:
Aaron and his sons must say my name. They must ask me to help the <i>Israelites</i>. If they do that, I will <i>bless</i> the <i>Israelites</i>.’


text:
When Moses had raised God’s <i>Tent</i>, he marked it for the <i>LORD</i> with oil. He gave the <i>Tent</i> and everything in it to the <i>LORD</i>. He marked the <i>altar</i> and all the tools with oil. He gave the <i>altar</i> and all the tools to the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
Then the 12 leaders of <i>Israel</i>’s <i>tribes</i> came to God’s <i>Tent</i>. They brought gifts. These men were the leaders of the people that they counted. 


text:
They brought their gifts to the <i>LORD</i>. They brought 6 <i>carts</i>, one <i>cart</i> for every two leaders. They brought 12 <i>oxen</i>. That was one <i>ox</i> for each leader. They brought it all to God’s <i>Tent</i>.


text:
‘Accept these gifts from the leaders. Give them to the <i>Levites</i>. All the <i>Levites</i> can use them for their work at the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting.’


text:
He gave 4 <i>carts</i> and 8 <i>oxen</i> to the <i>descendants</i> of Merari for their work. Ithamar was the son of Aaron. He had to tell the <i>descendants</i> of Merari the work that they should do. 


text:
But the <i>descendants</i> of Kohath had to carry everything that was special on their shoulders. So Moses did not give any <i>carts</i> or <i>oxen</i> to the <i>descendants</i> of Kohath.


text:
When Moses marked the <i>altar</i> with oil, the leaders brought gifts. They put their gifts in front of the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> said to Moses: ‘One leader must bring a gift to the <i>altar</i> every day. That is how they will give the <i>altar</i> to the <i>LORD</i>.’


text:
He brought a plate and a <i>bowl</i> that someone had made from <i>silver</i>. The plate weighed 130 <i>shekels</i>. The <i>bowl</i> weighed 70 <i>shekels</i>. They had weighed the <i>silver</i> by the <i>shekel</i> of God’s <i>Holy Tent</i>. Both of those were full of best flour that he had mixed with oil. They were for an <i>offering</i> of flour. 


text:
He brought one small dish that someone had made from gold. It weighed 10 <i>shekels</i> and it was full of <i>incense</i>. 


text:
He brought one young <i>bull</i>, a male sheep and another male sheep that was less than one year old. Those animals were for a <i>burnt-offering</i>. 


text:
He also brought 2 <i>oxen</i>, 5 male sheep, 5 male goats, and another 5 male sheep that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the <i>friendship-offerings</i>. That was the gift of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab.


text:
He also brought 2 <i>oxen</i>, 5 male sheep, 5 male goats, and another 5 male sheep that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the <i>friendship-offerings</i>. That was the gift of Nethanel, the son of Zuar.


text:
He also brought 2 <i>oxen</i>, 5 male sheep, 5 male goats, and another 5 male sheep that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the <i>friendship-offerings</i>. That was the gift of Eliab, the son of Helon.


text:
He also brought 2 <i>oxen</i>, 5 male sheep, 5 male goats, and another 5 male sheep that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the <i>friendship-offerings</i>. That was the gift of Elizur, the son of Shedeur.


text:
He also brought 2 <i>oxen</i>, 5 male sheep, 5 male goats, and another 5 male sheep that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the <i>friendship-offerings</i>. That was the gift of Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai.


text:
He also brought 2 <i>oxen</i>, 5 male sheep, 5 male goats, and another 5 male sheep that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the <i>friendship-offerings</i>. That was the gift of Eliasaph, the son of Deuel.


text:
He also brought 2 <i>oxen</i>, 5 male sheep, 5 male goats, and another 5 male sheep that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the <i>friendship-offerings</i>. That was the gift of Elishama, the son of Ammihud.


text:
He also brought 2 <i>oxen</i>, 5 male sheep, 5 male goats, and another 5 male sheep that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the <i>friendship-offerings</i>. That was the gift of Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur.


text:
He also brought 2 <i>oxen</i>, 5 male sheep, 5 male goats, and another 5 male sheep that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the <i>friendship-offerings</i>. That was the gift of Abidan, the son of Gideoni.


text:
He also brought 2 <i>oxen</i>, 5 male sheep, 5 male goats, and another 5 male sheep that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the <i>friendship-offerings</i>. That was the gift of Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai.


text:
He also brought 2 <i>oxen</i>, 5 male sheep, 5 male goats, and another 5 male sheep that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the <i>friendship-offerings</i>. That was the gift of Pagiel, the son of Ochran.


text:
He also brought 2 <i>oxen</i>, 5 male sheep, 5 male goats, and another 5 male sheep that were less than one year old. Those animals were for the <i>friendship-offerings</i>. That was the gift of Ahira, the son of Enan.


text:
The leaders of Israel brought these gifts to the <i>altar</i> when Moses marked it with oil. They brought all the gifts in the list below. They brought 12 plates and 12 <i>bowls</i> that people had made from <i>silver</i>. 


text:
Each plate weighed 130 <i>shekels</i> and each <i>bowl</i> weighed 70 <i>shekels</i>. All the <i>silver</i> weighed 2400 <i>shekels</i>. That was the <i>shekel</i> of God’s <i>Holy Tent</i>. 


text:
They brought 12 small dishes that people had made from gold. Each small dish weighed 10 <i>shekels</i>. They were each full of <i>incense</i>. All the gold weighed 120 <i>shekels</i>. 


text:
All the animals for the <i>burnt-offering</i> were 12 young <i>bulls</i>, 12 male sheep and 12 male <i>lambs</i> that were one year old. They also brought the proper <i>offerings</i> of flour with those animals. And they brought 12 male goats for a <i>sin-offering</i>. 


text:
There were also another 24 <i>oxen</i>, 60 male sheep, 60 male goats and 60 male <i>lambs</i>. The male <i>lambs</i> were one year old. Those animals were for the <i>friendship-offering</i>. That was the <i>offering</i> when they gave the <i>altar</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. That was after Moses had marked it with oil.


text:
When Moses went into the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting, to speak with the <i>LORD</i>, the <i>LORD</i> did speak to him. And Moses heard the <i>LORD</i>. The sound came from above the lid which was on the top of the <i>Covenant Box</i>. On the lid, there were two <i>models</i> of <i>angels</i>. The sound came from between those <i>models</i>. That was how the <i>LORD</i> spoke to Moses.


text:
‘Speak to Aaron and say to him, “When you put the <i>lamps</i> on the <i>lampstand</i>, the 7 <i>lamps</i> must give light in front of the lampstand.” ’


text:
So Aaron did that. He put its <i>lamps</i> at the front of the <i>lampstand</i>, as the <i>LORD</i> had said to Moses. 


text:
A good worker had made the <i>lampstand</i> from one piece of gold that he had made flat with a hammer. From its <i>base</i> to the flowers at the top, he had made it in that way. It was completely like the <i>lampstand</i> that the <i>LORD</i> had shown to Moses. <n>About the <i>Levites</i></n>


text:
You will make them <i>clean</i> like this: Put the water that makes people <i>clean</i> on them. They must remove all the hair from their whole body, and they must wash their clothes. Then they will be <i>clean</i>. 


text:
Then they must take a <i>bull</i> with the proper <i>offering</i> of flour and oil. And you must take another <i>bull</i> for a <i>sin-offering</i>. 


text:
Then you must bring the <i>Levites</i> in front of the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. You must also bring all the <i>Israelites</i> there. 


text:
You must bring the <i>Levites</i> in front of the <i>LORD</i>. Then the <i>Israelites</i> must put their hands on the <i>Levites</i>’ heads. 


text:
Aaron must give the <i>Levites</i> to the <i>LORD</i> as a special <i>offering</i> from the <i>Israelites</i>. Then they will be ready to do the <i>LORD</i>’s work.


text:
Then the <i>Levites</i> must put their hands on the heads of the <i>bulls</i>. Then offer one <i>bull</i> for a <i>sin-offering</i> and the other one for a <i>burnt-offering</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. That will make <i>peace</i> with the <i>LORD</i> for the <i>Levites</i>’ <i>sin</i>. 


text:
And you must cause the <i>Levites</i> to stand in front of Aaron and his sons. So they will be a special gift to the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
That is how you will make the <i>Levites</i> separate from the other <i>Israelites</i>. And then the <i>Levites</i> will be mine.


text:
Then after that the <i>Levites</i> can go in to work in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. But you must make them <i>clean</i> and you must bring them to me as a special gift. 


text:
That is because all the <i>Levites</i> among the <i>Israelites</i> are mine. All the <i>Israelites</i>’ <i>first-born</i> sons are mine. But I have taken the <i>Levites</i> for myself instead. 


text:
Every <i>first-born</i> son among the <i>Israelites</i> is mine. And all the <i>first-born</i> male animals are mine too. On the day that I killed all the <i>first-born</i> sons in Egypt I made them special for myself. 


text:
But now I have not taken all the <i>first-born</i> sons among the <i>Israelites</i>. I have taken the <i>Levites</i> instead. 


text:
And I have given the <i>Levites</i> as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the <i>Israelites</i>. They will work at the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting on behalf of the <i>Israelites</i>. And they will make <i>peace</i> with me on behalf of the <i>Israelites</i>. So, there will not be a bad illness among the <i>Israelites</i> because they have come near to God’s <i>Holy Tent</i>.’


text:
So Moses and Aaron and all the <i>Israelites</i> did those things to the <i>Levites</i>. The <i>Israelites</i> did everything that the <i>LORD</i> had said to Moses about the <i>Levites</i>. 


text:
The <i>Levites</i>, too, made themselves <i>clean</i> and they washed their clothes. And Aaron brought them in front of <i>LORD</i> as a special gift. Aaron also burnt <i>sacrifices</i> to make them <i>clean</i>. 


text:
After that, the <i>Levites</i> went in to do their work in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. They helped Aaron and his sons. The <i>Israelites</i> did everything with the <i>Levites</i> that the <i>LORD</i> had said to Moses about them.


text:
‘These are the rules about the <i>Levites</i>: The men who are 25 years old or older must go in to work in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. 


text:
But they must stop that work when they are 50 years old. And they must not do that work after that. 


text:
But they can help the other <i>Levites</i> in the <i>Tent</i> of meeting. They can help them to do their jobs. But they themselves must not have any jobs. Those are the rules about the <i>Levites</i> and about their jobs.’


text:
The <i>LORD</i> spoke to Moses in the <i>desert</i> called Sinai. The <i>Israelites</i> had left the country called Egypt. It was the second year after the <i>Israelites</i> had left Egypt. It was the first month during that year. The <i>LORD</i> said, 


text:
‘The <i>Israelites</i> must eat the <i>Passover</i> at the proper time. They must eat it as the rules about it say. 


text:
The proper time is during the evening of the 14th day of this month. It is when it starts to become dark. That is when you must eat it. You must obey all its rules and its <i>laws</i>.’


text:
So they ate the <i>Passover</i> in the first month, on the 14th day when it started to become dark. That was in the <i>desert</i> called Sinai. The <i>Israelites</i> did everything that the <i>LORD</i> had said to Moses about it.


text:
But there were some people who were not <i>clean</i>. That was because they had touched a dead body. So they could not eat the <i>Passover</i> on that day. So they came to Moses and Aaron on that day. 


text:
And those people said to Moses, ‘We are not <i>clean</i> because of the dead body that we touched. But we would like to bring our gift to <i>LORD</i> at the proper time with the other <i>Israelites</i>.’


text:
‘Say to the <i>Israelites</i>, “Anyone among you or your <i>descendants</i> may become not <i>clean</i> because of a dead body. Or they may be away because they are travelling. They can still <i>celebrate</i> the <i>Passover</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
They must <i>celebrate</i> it during the evening of the 14th day of the second month. They must eat it when it starts to become dark. They must eat it with bread and with <i>bitter herbs</i>. The bread must not have <i>yeast</i> in it. 


text:
They must not keep any of the food until the next morning. And they must not break any of the bones of the <i>lamb</i>. And they must obey all the rules about the <i>Passover</i>. 


text:
But perhaps a <i>clean</i> person who is at home does not <i>celebrate</i> the <i>Passover</i>. You must make that person separate from his people. That is because he did not give the proper <i>sacrifices</i> to <i>LORD</i> at the proper time. So that person must have the <i>punishment</i> for that <i>sin</i>.


text:
People from foreign countries can <i>celebrate</i> the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>Passover</i> too if they are living among you. But they must obey all the rules about the <i>Passover</i>. The rules are the same for a foreign person and for an <i>Israelite</i>.” ’ <n>The cloud above the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting</n>


text:
On the day that Moses raised the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting, a cloud covered it. And in the evening it seemed like fire over God’s <i>Tent</i>, until morning. 


text:
It was like that all the time. The cloud covered it during the day. But at night, the cloud seemed to have fire in it. 


text:
When the cloud went up from the <i>tent</i>, the <i>Israelites</i> started to travel. And when the cloud came down, the <i>Israelites camped</i> in that place. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> decided when the <i>Israelites</i> should start to travel. And the <i>LORD</i> decided where they should <i>camp</i>. During all the time that the cloud was over God’s <i>Tent</i>, they stayed in their <i>camp</i>. 


text:
Even when the cloud stayed over God’s <i>Tent</i> for many days, the <i>Israelites</i> obeyed the <i>LORD</i>. They did not start to travel. 


text:
Sometimes the cloud stayed over God’s <i>Tent</i> for a few days. Then they obeyed the <i>LORD</i>. They remained in their <i>camp</i>. Then the <i>LORD</i> showed that they should travel. So they started to travel. 


text:
Sometimes the cloud stayed there from evening until morning. But, when the cloud went up in the morning, they started to travel. But sometimes it stayed for one day and one night. Then when the cloud went up, they started to travel again. 


text:
Sometimes the cloud continued to be over God’s <i>Tent</i> for two days or for a month or for a year. It stayed above it. Then, the <i>Israelites</i> stayed in their <i>camp</i>. They did not start to travel. But when it went up, they did start to travel. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> decided when they should <i>camp</i>. And the <i>LORD</i> decided when they should start to travel. So they obeyed the <i>LORD</i> about everything that the <i>LORD</i> said to Moses.


text:
‘Make two <i>trumpets</i> from one piece of <i>silver</i>. Use a hammer to make them in the right shape. Make a noise with them to tell the people that they must come together. Also, use the <i>trumpets</i> to tell the people that they must move the <i>camp</i>. 


text:
When the people hear the sound from both <i>trumpets</i>, all the people must meet you. They must meet you at the door of the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. 


text:
But you may want only the leaders of Israel’s <i>tribes</i> to meet you. If you want that, a <i>priest</i> should make the sound from only one <i>trumpet</i>. 


text:
But when the sound is one short sound, the <i>tribes</i> at the east of the <i>camp</i> must start to travel. 


text:
When they hear the next short sound, the <i>tribes</i> on the south of the <i>camp</i> must start to travel. Short sounds on the <i>trumpet</i> will tell the people that they must start to travel. 


text:
The <i>priests</i>, the sons of Aaron must use the <i>trumpets</i> to make a noise. This is a rule for you and for all your <i>descendants</i>. 


text:
Use the <i>trumpets</i> to tell everyone when an enemy is attacking you in your own country. Make a sound on the <i>trumpets</i> to tell the people that they must fight the enemy. Then the <i>LORD</i> your God will hear and he will save you from your enemies. 


text:
You must make sounds with the <i>trumpets</i> on your happy days, too. And you must make sounds with the <i>trumpets</i> at your regular <i>festivals</i> and on the first days of your months. And you must make sounds with the <i>trumpets</i> over your <i>burnt-offerings</i>, and over your <i>friendship-offerings</i>. The <i>LORD</i> your God will hear and he will remember you. I am the <i>LORD</i> your God.’ <n>The <i>Israelites</i> leave the <i>Desert</i> called Sinai</n>


text:
In the second year, in the second month, on the 20th day of the month, the cloud went up. It went up from over God’s <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. 


text:
Then the <i>Israelites</i> started to travel on their journey away from the <i>desert</i> called Sinai. Then the cloud stopped in the <i>desert</i> called Paran. 


text:
So they started to travel from Sinai at that time. That was because the <i>LORD</i> used Moses to speak to them. And he told them that they should move.


text:
The <i>flag</i> of the <i>camp</i> of the <i>descendants</i> of Judah, with all their armies, started to travel first. And Nahshon the son of Amminadab was over all their armies. 


text:
Then the <i>Levites</i> packed God’s <i>Tent</i>. And the <i>descendants</i> of Gershon and the <i>descendants</i> of Merari, who were carrying God’s <i>Tent</i>, started to travel.


text:
Next the <i>flag</i> of the <i>camp</i> of Reuben, and all their armies started to travel. And Elizur the son of Shedeur was over all their armies. 


text:
Then the <i>descendants</i> of Kohath started to travel. They were carrying the <i>holy</i> things. And the <i>Levites</i> put God’s <i>Tent</i> up before they arrived.


text:
Next the <i>flag</i> of the <i>camp</i> of the <i>tribe</i> of Ephraim, and all their armies, started to travel. Elishama the son of Ammihud was over all their armies. 


text:
Then the <i>flag</i> of the <i>camp</i> of the <i>tribe</i> of Dan and all their armies started to travel last. They could keep the <i>Israelites</i> safe if an enemy attacked them from behind them. Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai was over all their armies. 


text:
Moses spoke to Hobab. Hobab was the brother of Moses’ wife. Hobab’s father was Reuel who came from Midian. Moses said, ‘We are leaving here now. We are going to another place. And the <i>LORD</i> has said, “I will give that place to you.” The <i>LORD</i> has promised good things about Israel’s people. So come with us and we will do good things for you.’


text:
But Hobab said to him, ‘I will not come, but I will go to my own country and to my <i>relatives</i>.’


text:
Then Moses said, ‘But you know where we should <i>camp</i> in the <i>desert</i>. So please do not leave us. You can be like our eyes as we travel. 


text:
And if you go with us, we will do good things for you. We will do for you all the good things that the <i>LORD</i> does for us.’


text:
So the <i>Israelites</i> left the <i>LORD</i>’s mountain. They travelled for three days. The <i>Levites</i> carried the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>Covenant Box</i> in front of them. That was so that the <i>LORD</i> could show them where to <i>camp</i>. The <i>Covenant Box</i> arrived at the place three days before the other <i>Israelites</i> arrived there. 


text:
And the <i>LORD</i>’s cloud was over them during the day, when they started to travel from the <i>camp</i>.


text:
Each time that the <i>Covenant Box</i> started to travel Moses said, ‘Rise <i>LORD</i>! Cause your enemies to go in every direction! Cause those who <i>hate</i> you to run away!’ 


text:
And when it stopped moving, he said, ‘Return <i>LORD</i>, to the 10 000 thousands of Israel’s people.’


text:
But the people started to say bad words about their problems. The <i>LORD</i> heard them and he became very angry. He sent fire. The <i>LORD</i>’s fire burned among them and it destroyed some edges of the <i>camp</i>. 


text:
Some foreign people were travelling with the <i>Israelites</i>. Those people wanted very much to eat the wrong things. And the <i>Israelites</i> cried again too. And they said, ‘We want meat to eat! 


text:
We remember the fish that we ate in Egypt. It did not cost us anything. And we remember the vegetables called cucumbers, leeks, onions and garlic. And we remember the fruit called melons. 


text:
But now we do not want to eat anything. There is not even anything to look at except this <i>manna</i>.’ 


text:
The <i>manna</i> was like the seeds called coriander. The colours of the seeds were yellow and white, like the oil called bdellium. 


text:
The people walked about and they picked it up. They used two stones to make it into flour. Or they hit it with a tool. They boiled it in pots and they made cakes with it. They tasted it. And it was like the cakes that people bake with oil. 


text:
At night, the air became wet and water fell on the ground in the <i>camp</i>. And the <i>manna</i> fell with it.


text:
People from each family were crying at the doors of their <i>tents</i>. And Moses heard them. The <i>LORD</i> became very angry with the people. And so Moses was not happy. 


text:
So Moses said to the <i>LORD</i>, ‘I am your servant. But you have given this problem to me! It seems that I have done something to make you angry. You have given to me the hard job of leader of all these people. 


text:
They are not my children! But you have said to me, “Be like a baby’s mother to them. And carry them to the country that I have promised to their <i>ancestors</i>.” 


text:
They are crying in front of me and they are saying, “Give us meat that we may eat!” But I cannot get meat to give to all these people! 


text:
So if you want to do this to me, please kill me now. I do not want to know that I have wasted my life.’ 


text:
So the <i>LORD</i> said to Moses, ‘Choose 70 leaders of the <i>Israelites</i> and bring them to the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. They must stand there with you. 


text:
Then I will come down and I will speak with you there. And I will take some of the power that I gave to you. I will give it to them. And they will help you to lead the people. So you will not be the only man who is doing that job.


text:
And say to the people, “The <i>LORD</i> heard you when you were crying. You said, ‘We want someone to give us meat to eat! It was better when we were in Egypt.’ So the <i>LORD</i> will give you meat and you will eat it. So, make yourselves <i>clean</i> for tomorrow, and you will eat meat. 


text:
You will eat it for a whole month, until it comes out of your noses. It will start to seem <i>disgusting</i> to you. That is because you have turned away from the <i>LORD</i>. He is among you and you have wept in front of him. And you have said, ‘We do not know why we left Egypt. It was better there.’ ” ’ 


text:
But Moses said, ‘There are at least 600 000 men here. But you have said, “I will give to them meat to eat for a whole month.” 


text:
We would not have enough meat for them if we killed all our sheep and cows. If we caught every fish in the sea, we might not have enough!’


text:
Then the <i>LORD</i> said to Moses, ‘Perhaps you think that the <i>LORD</i> cannot do some things! I have promised something. Soon, you will see whether it happens!’ 


text:
So Moses went out and he told the people the words of the <i>LORD</i>. Also he chose 70 leaders of the <i>Israelites</i> and he put them round the <i>tent</i>. 


text:
Then the <i>LORD</i> came down in the cloud. And he spoke to Moses. And he took some of the power that he had given to Moses. And he gave it to the 70 leaders. And God’s Spirit stayed on them for a little time. Then they <i>prophesied</i>. But they did not do it again after that.


text:
But two men had stayed in the <i>camp</i>. Their names were Eldad and Medad. They were among those that Moses had chosen. But they had not gone out to the <i>tent</i>. <n>And God’s Spirit stayed on them for a little time. Then they <i>prophesied</i> in the <i>camp</i>. 


text:
So a young man ran to Moses and he said, ‘Eldad and Medad are <i>prophesying</i> in the <i>camp</i>.’


text:
Then Joshua the son of Nun said to Moses, ‘Moses, my master, stop them.’ Since Joshua was a boy, he had been Moses’ servant.


text:
But Moses said to him, ‘Perhaps you think that this might make me sad. And that is why you are not happy. But I wish that the <i>LORD</i> would give his Spirit to all his people. I wish that they were all <i>prophets</i>!’ 


text:
Then Moses and the leaders returned to the <i>camp</i>. <n>The <i>LORD</i> sends birds called quails to the <i>Israelites</i></n>


text:
Then the <i>LORD</i> sent a wind. It blew in birds called quails from the sea. They were everywhere round the <i>camp</i>. They fell to the ground round the <i>camp</i>. There were birds everywhere as far as a person could walk in one day in any direction. There was about a metre (3 feet) of them over the ground. 


text:
The people were picking up the birds all day and all night and all the next day. Each person got more than 220 litres (465 pints) of birds. And they put their dead bodies on the ground everywhere round the <i>camp</i>. 


text:
But the <i>LORD</i> became very angry with the people. The meat was still between their teeth, but they had not really even started to eat it. The <i>LORD</i> sent a very bad illness everywhere among the people. 


text:
They buried there the <i>greedy</i> people who had wanted meat. So the people called that place Kibroth-Hattaavah. <n>That means ‘places to bury <i>greedy</i> people’. 


text:
Moses had married a woman who was a <i>descendant</i> of Cush. And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because had married that woman. 


text:
They said, ‘We do not believe that <i>LORD</i> has really spoken only by Moses. We believe that he has spoken by us too.’ And the <i>LORD</i> heard it.


text:
And immediately the <i>LORD</i> said to Moses and Aaron and Miriam, ‘You three people come out to the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting.’ So those three people came out. 


text:
Then the <i>LORD</i> came down in a tall cloud and he stood at the door of the <i>tent</i>. And he said that Aaron and Miriam should come nearer. They both came nearer. 


text:
Then he said, ‘Listen to my words! If there is a <i>prophet</i> among you, I, the <i>LORD</i>, will help him to know me by a <i>vision</i>. Or I will speak to him in a dream. 


text:
With him I speak mouth to mouth. I speak clearly to him. I do not say things to him that are hard to understand. And he sees the shape of the <i>LORD</i>. So you should have been afraid to speak against my servant Moses!’ 


text:
But when the cloud had gone away from over the <i>tent</i>, Miriam’s skin became white. It was as white as snow. She now had the bad illness called leprosy in her skin. Aaron turned toward Miriam. And he saw that she had leprosy. 


text:
Then Aaron said to Moses, ‘Oh, my master, please do not <i>punish</i> us because we have done this very silly thing. We have <i>sinned</i>. 


text:
But do not let Miriam be like a baby that is born dead. Sometimes only half of a baby’s body seems to be there when he comes out of his mother’s body. Do not let her be like that!’ 


text:
But the <i>LORD</i> said to Moses, ‘If her father had only <i>spat</i> on her face, she would have to be ashamed for 7 days. So you must keep her outside the <i>camp</i> for 7 days. Then after that you can let her come back inside the <i>camp</i>.’ 


text:
So Moses kept Miriam outside the <i>camp</i> for 7 days. And the people did not start to travel again until they had brought Miriam into the <i>camp</i> again.


text:
But after that, the people started to travel from Hazeroth. And they <i>camped</i> in the <i>desert</i> called Paran.


text:
‘I will give the country called Canaan to the <i>Israelites</i>. Send men to explore that country. Choose one man from each <i>tribe</i>. Each man must be a leader among them.’


text:
So Moses obeyed the <i>LORD</i>. He sent the men from the <i>desert</i> called Paran into Canaan. Each man was a leader among the <i>Israelites</i>. 


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From the <i>tribe</i> of Joseph, that is from the <i>tribe</i> of Manasseh, there was Gaddi the son of Susi. 


text:
Those are the names of the men that Moses sent to explore the land. But Moses changed the name of Hoshea the son of Nun to Joshua.


text:
Moses sent them to explore the country called Canaan. And he said to them, ‘Go north from here. Go through the south of Canaan. Then continue to go north, into the part of the country where there are hills. 


text:
And have a look at the country. See whether the people there are strong or weak. And see whether few people or many people live there. 


text:
And see whether good food or not much food grows on their land. See whether there are trees in their country or not. Then try to get some fruit from the country.’ (It was the time for the first <i>grapes</i> to be ready to eat.) 


text:
So they went. And they explored the land from the <i>desert</i> called Zin to Rehob, near Lebo-Hamath. 


text:
When they had gone up into the south of the country, they came to Hebron. That was where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the <i>descendants</i> of Anak were living. Hebron was 7 years older than Zoan in Egypt. 


text:
Then the men came to the Valley called Eshcol. There, they cut a branch from a plant. The branch had only one set of <i>grapes</i> on it. But the branch was so large that two men carried it between them on a piece of wood. They also brought some fruits called pomegranates and figs. 


text:
That valley was called Eshcol. That was because of the set of <i>grapes</i> that the <i>Israelites</i> cut down there. 


text:
The men returned after they had explored the country for 40 days. <n>The men bring news to Moses</n>


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They came to Moses and Aaron and to all the <i>Israelites</i> in the <i>desert</i> called Paran, at Kadesh. They told them about the country and they showed its fruit to them. 


text:
They said to Moses, ‘We went into the country that you sent us to. And there certainly is a lot of milk and <i>honey</i> there, and this is its fruit. 


text:
But the people who live in the country are strong. Their towns are very big and strong walls keep them safe. Also, we saw the <i>descendants</i> of Anak there. 


text:
The <i>descendants</i> of Amalek are living in the south of the country. And the people called Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hills. And the <i>Canaanites</i> live by the sea and by the River Jordan.’


text:
Then Caleb made the <i>Israelites</i> quiet in front of Moses. Caleb said, ‘We should go into the country. And we should get power over it. We will certainly be able to do it!’


text:
But the men who had gone into the country with him said, ‘These people are stronger than we are. So we cannot go into the country and beat them.’ 


text:
So they gave to the <i>Israelites</i> a bad report of the country that they had explored. And they said, ‘We went through that whole country and we explored it. It seems to eat the people who live there! And all the people that we saw in it were very big. 


text:
We also saw the people called Nephilim there.’ (The <i>descendants</i> of Anak are also Nephilim.) ‘And we felt like very small insects when we looked at them. And we seemed like very small insects to them too.’


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And all the <i>Israelites</i> spoke bad words against Moses and Aaron. And all the people said to them, ‘We wish that we had died in the country called Egypt, or even in this <i>desert</i>! 


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We do not know why the <i>LORD</i> is bringing us into this country. Its people will kill us all with <i>swords</i>. They will take our wives and our little children for themselves. We think that it would be better to return to Egypt.’ 


text:
Then Moses and Aaron threw themselves on the ground in front of all the <i>Israelites</i>. Their faces were touching the ground. 


text:
But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh were among those who had explored the country. And they tore their clothes. 


text:
And they said to all the <i>Israelites</i>, ‘The country that we travelled through to explore is a very, very good country. 


text:
If the <i>LORD</i> is happy with us, he will bring us into this country. And he will give it to us. And there is a lot of milk and <i>honey</i> everywhere in that country. 


text:
But do not refuse to obey the <i>LORD</i>. And do not be afraid of the people in that country. We will beat them easily. The <i>LORD</i> is with us and he has made them not safe. Do not be afraid of them.’ 


text:
But all the people wanted to throw stones at Joshua and Caleb until they had killed them. Then the <i>glory</i> of the <i>LORD</i> appeared in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting to all the <i>Israelites</i>. 


text:
And the <i>LORD</i> said to Moses, ‘These people turn away from me all the time. I did great <i>miracles</i> and they saw them. But still they will not <i>trust</i> me. 


text:
I will send an illness that will kill all those people. And they will not get any of the good things that I wanted to give to them. And I will make you, Moses, the <i>ancestor</i> of a <i>nation</i> greater and more powerful than they are.’ 


text:
But Moses said to the <i>LORD</i>, ‘But you brought these people out of Egypt because you are a powerful God. If you do that, someone will tell the people in Egypt about it. 


text:
And they will tell the people who live in this country about it. Those people already know that you, <i>LORD</i>, are with your people. They know that you talk to your people. They know that your cloud is over the people. And they know that you lead them as a tall cloud during the day and as fire during the night. 


text:
And there are people in other <i>nations</i> who know a lot about you. So if you kill all your people together now the people in those <i>nations</i> will say, 


text:
“The <i>LORD</i> could not bring those people into the country that he had seriously promised to them. So he killed all those people in the <i>desert</i>.”


text:
But now, I am praying. And I am asking you to show how powerful you are. Please do as you promised to do. You said, 


text:
“I, the <i>LORD</i>, do not get angry easily. My people can <i>trust</i> me to love them very much always. I <i>forgive</i> people if they <i>sin</i>. And I <i>forgive</i> them if they do not obey me. But I do <i>punish</i> people for the wrong things that they do. And I do say that people’s children, their grandchildren and their grandchildren’s children are <i>guilty</i> because of their <i>sin</i>.” 


text:
I pray that you will <i>forgive</i> the very bad <i>sin</i> of these people. <i>Forgive</i> them because you have promised to love them very much always. You have <i>forgiven</i> these people like that since they left Egypt and until now.’ 


text:
And these men have seen my <i>glory</i> and the <i>miracles</i> that I did in Egypt and in the <i>desert</i>. But they have <i>tested</i> me 10 times now. And they have not obeyed me. 


text:
So certainly, none of them will see the country that I seriously promised to their <i>ancestors</i>. Those men thought that I am not important. So none of those men will see the country. 


text:
But my servant Caleb has thought differently. And he has obeyed me completely. So, I will bring him into the country that he explored. And it will be his <i>descendants</i>’ country. 


text:
The <i>Amalekites</i> and the <i>Canaanites</i> live in the valleys now. So turn tomorrow and start to travel to the <i>desert</i> past the Red Sea.’


text:
‘These bad people have said bad things about me too many times! I have heard the bad things that the <i>Israelites</i> are saying about me. 


text:
Say to them, “I live,” says the <i>LORD</i>. “And I will do to you as you have said. I heard your words. And I will certainly do as you have asked. 


text:
Your dead bodies will fall to the ground in this <i>desert</i>. All the men that Moses counted will die. All the men who were 20 years old or older will die. All those men said bad words about me and they will die in this <i>desert</i>. 


text:
None of those men will go into the country that I promised to put you in. The only men who will go in are Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. 


text:
You said that the people in Canaan would take your children for themselves. But I will bring those children into the country. And the country that you did not want will be their home. 


text:
And your sons will be <i>shepherds</i> for 40 years in the <i>desert</i>. And they will have trouble because you did not <i>trust</i> me. They will have trouble until all your dead bodies are lying in the <i>desert</i>. 


text:
You explored the country for 40 days. So you will have trouble because of your <i>sins</i> for 40 years. And you will know that I am angry with you. 


text:
I, the <i>LORD</i>, have spoken. I will certainly do all those things to these very bad people. That is because they have all come together against me. In this <i>desert</i> they will die. So that will be the end of them.” ’


text:
But the men that Moses sent to explore the country had returned. And they had given a bad report to the people about the country. So they caused all the people to say bad things against Moses. 


text:
So the <i>LORD</i> sent a bad illness. And it killed those men who gave a bad report about the country to the people. 


text:
But only two men who had gone to explore the country did not die. They were Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh.


text:
But the next morning, they got up early. And they went up to the top of the hills in the country. And they said, ‘Here we are. We certainly did <i>sin</i>. But we will go to the place that the <i>LORD</i> has promised to us.’


text:
But Moses said, ‘I do not know why you are not obeying the <i>LORD</i>. Your ideas will not happen. 


text:
The <i>Amalekites</i> and the <i>Canaanites</i> will be there in front of you. That is because you have refused to obey the <i>LORD</i>. So the <i>LORD</i> will not be with you. And so they will kill you with their <i>swords</i>.’


text:
But the people did not listen to Moses. They went up to the top of the hills in the country. But Moses and the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>Covenant Box</i> stayed in the <i>camp</i>. 


text:
Then the <i>Amalekites</i> and the <i>Canaanites</i> who lived in those hills came down. And they attacked the <i>Israelites</i>. So the people had to run away to Hormah.


text:
‘Say to the <i>Israelites</i>, “You will go into the country that I am giving to you. And you will live there. 


text:
When you are living there, you can <i>sacrifice bulls</i>, male sheep or goats to the <i>LORD</i>. You will burn them on the <i>altar</i>. That is called a <i>burnt-offering</i>. You can give other <i>sacrifices</i> to the <i>LORD</i> because you have promised to do it. Or you can give <i>sacrifices</i> because you want to do it. Also you can give<i>sacrifices</i> during your regular holidays. The smell of these <i>sacrifices</i> as they burn will make the <i>LORD</i> happy. 


text:
The person who gives the gift to the <i>LORD</i> must also give a gift of flour. He must mix the flour with oil. It should be 1 kilo (2.2 pounds) of your best flour Mix this flour with 1 litre (2 pints) of <i>olive</i> oil. 


text:
You must also give a litre (2 pints) of <i>wine</i> for each <i>lamb</i>. You must give that as a <i>drink-offering</i> with each <i>burnt-offering</i> or <i>sacrifice</i>.


text:
If the animal is a male sheep, you must also offer 2 kilos (4.4 pounds) of flour. Mix this flour with 1.5 litres (2.6 pints) of <i>olive</i> oil. 


text:
Also you must pour 1.5 litres (2.6 pints) of <i>wine</i> on the <i>altar</i> as a <i>drink-offering</i>. The smell of the smoke from this <i>sacrifice</i> will make the <i>LORD</i> happy.


text:
A person can give a <i>bull</i> as a <i>burnt-offering</i>. Or it can be a special <i>sacrifice</i>. Or he can give it because he promised to give it. Or it may be for a <i>friendship-offering</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
Also you must offer 3 kilos (6.6 pounds) of flour. Mix this flour with 2 litres (4 pints) of <i>olive</i> oil. Do that if the <i>bull</i> is a <i>burnt-offering</i>, or a <i>friendship-offering</i>. Do the same if you offer this <i>sacrifice</i> because of a promise. 


text:
Also, you must pour 2 litres (4 pints) of <i>wine</i> on the <i>altar</i> as a <i>drink-offering</i>. The smell of this smoke will make the <i>LORD</i> happy.


text:
You must do the same thing for each <i>bull</i>, or for each male sheep. And you must do the same thing for each male <i>lamb</i>, or for each young goat. 


text:
All the <i>Israelites</i> must do that when they burn a gift to the <i>LORD</i>. The smell of them as they burn will make the <i>LORD</i> happy. 


text:
A stranger who is living in your country may want to give a gift by fire to the <i>LORD</i>. He must do the same as you do now, and for all future time. 


text:
These rules will be the same for the <i>Israelites</i> and for all foreign people who live with them. These rules are for now and for all future time. Both you and the foreign person must obey the <i>LORD</i>’s rules. 


text:
There is only one <i>law</i> for you and for the foreign person who is living among you. And there is only one set of rules.” ’


text:
‘Tell the <i>Israelites</i> this. I am bringing them into the country called Canaan. After they have gone into it, they must obey my rules. 


text:
When they eat the food from that country they must give a special <i>offering</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
From the first of your <i>dough</i> you must give a cake as a special <i>offering</i>. You must do it as you give your special gift from your <i>threshing-floor</i>. 


text:
From the first of their <i>dough</i>, all your <i>descendants</i> must give to the <i>LORD</i> a special <i>offering</i>.


text:
The people might not obey a rule that the <i>LORD</i> told Moses about. But they might not know that they are not obeying a rule. 


text:
Perhaps all the people did not know that they were not obeying my rules. But they did not obey them all. When that happens, they must <i>sacrifice</i> a <i>bull</i> as a <i>burnt-offering</i>. The smell of the smoke from this <i>sacrifice</i> will make the <i>LORD</i> happy. Also, they must give an <i>offering</i> of flour, a <i>drink-offering</i> and a male goat as a <i>sin-offering</i>. 


text:
Then the <i>priest</i> will make things right with God for all the <i>Israelites</i> and God will <i>forgive</i> them. That is because it was a mistake. And they have brought their <i>offering</i>, an offering by fire to the <i>LORD</i>. And they have brought their <i>sin-offering</i> to the <i>LORD</i>, for their mistake. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> will <i>forgive</i> all the <i>Israelites</i> and the foreign people who live among you. That is because you did not want to <i>sin</i>. It was a mistake. And also you offered the proper <i>sacrifices</i> to me.


text:
Also a person may not know that something is a <i>sin</i>. If he does that thing, he must <i>sacrifice</i> a female goat. The goat must be one year old. It will be a <i>sin-offering</i>. 


text:
The <i>priest</i> will bring the gift to the <i>LORD</i>. That is to make things right. Then the <i>LORD</i> will <i>forgive</i> that person who <i>sinned</i>. The person did not know that he was <i>sinning</i>. 


text:
The same rule is for the <i>Israelites</i> and for all the foreign people who live among them. That is when it was a mistake. 


text:
But a person might do something that he knows to be wrong. He does it because he wants to do it. That person is as bad as someone who says bad words against the <i>LORD</i>. It does not matter whether he is an <i>Israelite</i> or a foreign person. You must make that person separate from all the people. 


text:
That person thought that the <i>LORD</i>’s words were not important. And he has not obeyed God’s rules. So you must make that person completely separate from the people. He is a <i>guilty</i> person.’ <n>A man does not obey the rules for the day of rest</n>


text:
When the <i>Israelites</i> were in the <i>desert</i>, a man was picking up sticks on the day of rest. 


text:
Some people found him while he was picking up the sticks. The people who found him took him to Moses and Aaron and to all the people. 


text:
They were not sure what to do with the man. So they put him in a <i>tent</i>. Men stood at the door of the <i>tent</i> so that he could not leave it. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> said to Moses, ‘This man must die. All the people must take him outside the <i>camp</i> and they must kill him. They must throw stones at him until he is dead.’ 


text:
So the people took the man outside the <i>camp</i>. They threw stones at him until he died. That was what the <i>LORD</i> had said to Moses.


text:
‘Tell the <i>Israelites</i> that they must put <i>tassels</i> on the corners of their clothes. They must put the <i>tassels</i> on soft blue <i>rope</i>. They must do this now and for all future time. 


text:
You will be able to look at the <i>tassels</i> and then you will remember all the <i>LORD</i>’s rules. Then you can do them. Then you will not only do what you want to do. And you will not still want everything that you see. 


text:
When you see the <i>tassels</i> you will remember to obey all my rules. You will be <i>holy</i> for your God. 


text:
I am the <i>LORD</i> your God. And I brought you out from the country called Egypt to be your God. I am the <i>LORD</i> your God.’


text:
Then Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi decided to speak against Moses. And Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, <i>descendants</i> of Reuben, were with him. 


text:
So they stood up in front of Moses, together with 250 leaders of the <i>Israelites</i>. Those leaders were famous men that the people had chosen. 


text:
They all came to Moses and Aaron and they said, ‘All the <i>Israelites</i> are special, and the <i>LORD</i> is with them. So, you should not say that you are better than the people.’


text:
Moses said to Korah and to all the other men, ‘Tomorrow the <i>LORD</i> will show us who is special. He will show us which person is near to him. He will make the person that he chooses come near to him. 


text:
And put fire and <i>incense</i> in them, in front of the <i>LORD</i> tomorrow. Then the <i>LORD</i> will choose the man who is <i>holy</i>. You make yourselves too important, you <i>descendants</i> of Levi!’


text:
The God of Israel has made you separate from all the other <i>Israelites</i>. And he has brought you near to himself, to work in the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>Tent</i>. And he has chosen you to stand in front of all the people and to be their servants. But it seems that that is not enough for you. 


text:
He has brought you near to himself, Korah, and all the other <i>descendants</i> of Levi. But it seems that you want to be <i>priests</i> as well. 


text:
You have brought us up out of a country where there is a lot of milk and <i>honey</i> everywhere. You have brought us here, where we will die in the <i>desert</i>. But it seems that that is not enough for you. It seems that you want to be our master as well! 


text:
You have certainly not brought us into a country where there is a lot of milk and <i>honey</i> everywhere. And you have not given to us fields and <i>vineyards</i> for us and for our <i>descendants</i>. Perhaps you do not want these men to understand what you are really doing. We will not come up!’


text:
Moses was angry. He said to the <i>LORD</i>, ‘Do not take any gifts from these men. I did not take anything from them. I did not do anything wrong to them.’ 


text:
Moses said to Korah, ‘Tomorrow, you and your men must come to the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. Aaron will be there. 


text:
Each of you must take a pot and you must put <i>incense</i> in it. You must put the pots on the <i>altar</i>.’ 


text:
So, each man took a pot. He put <i>incense</i> and fire in it. They stood with Moses and Aaron at the door of the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. 


text:
So Korah brought all the people against Moses and Aaron at the door of the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. And the <i>glory</i> of the <i>LORD</i> appeared to all the people. 


text:
But Moses and Aaron threw themselves on the ground. Their faces were touching the ground. And they said, ‘You, our God, are the God of the <i>spirits</i> of all people. When one man <i>sins</i>, will you be angry with all the people?’


text:
Moses got up from the ground. He went to Dathan and Abiram. The leaders of the <i>Israelites</i> went with him. 


text:
And Moses said to all the people, ‘Move away from the <i>tents</i> of these very bad men. And do not be touching anything that is theirs. If you do not move away, you might die. You might die when they die because of their <i>sin</i>.’ 


text:
So the people moved away from the <i>tents</i> of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram were standing with their wives and their children at the door of their <i>tents</i>.


text:
Then Moses said to the people, ‘You will know that the <i>LORD</i> chose me to lead you. This is how you will know. 


text:
But if the <i>LORD</i> causes a completely new thing to happen, you will know something. See whether the ground opens. See whether these men fall alive into <i>Sheol</i> with all their things. If that happens, you will understand something. These men thought that the <i>LORD</i> was not important. That is what you will understand.’


text:
The ground opened. The men, their families and everything that was theirs fell down into the hole. The earth covered Korah and all his men and everything that was theirs, too. 


text:
As it happened to them, they were shouting loudly. All the <i>Israelites</i> who were round them heard that. So they ran away and they were saying, ‘We might fall into the earth too!’


text:
Also fire came out from the <i>LORD</i>. And it killed the 250 men who were offering the <i>incense</i> to God.


text:
‘Tell Eleazar, the son of Aaron the <i>priest</i> that he must take the pots out of the burning fire. That is because those pots are <i>holy</i>. Then you must throw all the burning materials over all the ground round that place. 


text:
And these men died because they <i>sinned</i>. But the pots that they were holding are <i>holy</i>. That is because they were offering the <i>incense</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. So workers must use hammers to make the pots into thin pieces of metal. Then cover the <i>altar</i> with those thin pieces of metal. Then they will be like a sign for the <i>Israelites</i>.’ 


text:
So Eleazar lifted the pots up. He hit them until they were flat. He put the flat metal on the <i>altar</i>. 


text:
Then the people would know that only people of the <i>family</i> of Aaron could burn <i>incense</i> on the <i>altar</i>. <n>Aaron saves the <i>Israelites</i></n>


text:
But on the next day, all the <i>Israelites</i> together said bad things about Moses and Aaron. And they said, ‘You are the men who have caused the death of the <i>LORD</i>’s people.’ 


text:
When they turned towards the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting, a cloud was covering it. There was a bright light. 


text:
And Moses said to Aaron, ‘God is so angry with the people that he is <i>punishing</i> them. People have started to die from a very bad illness! So take your pot and put into it fire from the <i>altar</i>. And put <i>incense</i> on the fire. Then bring it quickly to all the people and make things right with God for them.’ 


text:
He stood between the people who were living and the dead people. The bad things and illnesses stopped. 


text:
‘Tell the <i>Israelites</i> that they must give to you 12 sticks, one for each <i>tribe</i>. Write the name of the leader of one <i>tribe</i> on each stick. 


text:
Then leaves will start to grow on the stick of the man that I choose. In that way I will stop the bad words that the <i>Israelites</i> are always saying against you.’


text:
The next day, Moses went to the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. He saw that the stick of the <i>tribe</i> of Levi was growing. It had the name of Aaron on it. It was growing flowers and <i>almonds</i>. 


text:
But the <i>LORD</i> said to Moses, ‘Put Aaron’s stick in front of the <i>Covenant Box</i> again. The people will see it there like a sign. And then they will remember that they must not refuse to obey me. That will stop their bad words against me so that they will not have to die.’ 


text:
So the <i>LORD</i> said to Aaron, ‘You and your sons and your <i>clan</i> will be <i>guilty</i> for any wrong thing that happens in God’s <i>Holy Tent</i>. And you and your sons will be <i>guilty</i> for any wrong thing that a <i>priest</i> does. 


text:
They must do the work in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. You must tell them what they should do. They must not go near anything in God’s <i>Holy Tent</i> or the <i>altar</i>. If they do, you will die. They will also die. 


text:
The <i>Levites</i> must work in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. No other people must come near the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting when you are working in there.


text:
You must work in God’s <i>Holy Tent</i> and at the <i>altar</i>. If you do that, I will not be angry with the <i>Israelites</i> again. 


text:
But only you and your sons will be <i>priests</i>. You will work at the <i>altar</i>. I am choosing you as my <i>priests</i>. Any other person who comes near the <i>Holy</i> Place must die.’ <n>Gifts for <i>priests</i> and for <i>Levites</i></n>


text:
The <i>LORD</i> said to Aaron, ‘I am giving to you and to your <i>family</i> parts of the gifts that the people give to me. I am giving to you the parts that the people do not burn. They are for you and for your <i>family</i>, now and for always. 


text:
Also, you will receive part of the special gifts that the <i>Israelites</i> lift up in front of me. I have given them to you and to your sons and daughters for all time. Every person who lives in your houses can eat it. But they must be <i>clean</i> at the time.


text:
I am giving to you the best parts of the oil, <i>wine</i> and <i>grain</i> gifts. Any person of your <i>family</i> who is <i>clean</i> can eat them.


text:
Every <i>first-born</i> animal and male child that the people give to me I will give to you. But you must buy them from me. 


text:
When they are one month old you must buy them from me for 5 <i>shekels</i> of <i>silver</i> each. The <i>shekel</i> must have the same weight as the shekel that the <i>Levites</i> use in God’s <i>Holy Tent</i>. There are 20 <i>gerahs</i> in one <i>shekel</i>.


text:
You must not buy the <i>first-born</i> of an <i>ox</i> or a sheep or a goat. Those animals are <i>holy</i>. <i>Splash</i> the blood from those animals on the <i>altar</i> and burn the fat from them. The smell will make the <i>LORD</i> happy. 


text:
And the meat of those animals is yours. It is like the <i>breast</i> and the right back leg of the special gifts that you lift up to me. <n>See Numbers 6:20. 


text:
I have given all the gifts that the <i>Israelites</i> offer to the <i>LORD</i> to you, your sons and your daughters. That is a rule for all time. That is the <i>LORD</i>’s special promise to you and to your <i>descendants</i> for all time.’


text:
Then the <i>LORD</i> said to Aaron, ‘You will have no land in the <i>Israelites</i>’ country. And your <i>descendants</i> will not receive any land when you die. Nothing among the <i>Israelites</i> will be yours. Among the <i>Israelites</i>, <i>Levites</i> do not have those things. They have me instead.


text:
The <i>Israelites</i> give to me 10% of everything. I will give it to the <i>Levites</i> because they do my work in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. 


text:
And the other <i>Israelites</i> must not come near the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting again. If they do come near it, they will be <i>guilty</i>. And then they will die. 


text:
Only the <i>Levites</i> must do the work in the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. And if they do anything wrong there, they will be <i>guilty</i>. That will be a rule for you and for all your <i>descendants</i>. And their children will not receive any land when they die. 


text:
That is because I have given the <i>tithe</i> of the <i>Israelites</i> to the <i>Levites</i>. The <i>Israelites</i> bring it as an <i>offering</i> to the <i>LORD</i> but I have given it to the <i>Levites</i>. I have said about them, “They will not receive any land among the <i>Israelites</i> as their own land.” But I have given the <i>tithes</i> to them instead.’


text:
‘Also you must say to the <i>Levites</i>, “You will receive from the <i>Israelites</i> the <i>tithe</i> that I have given to you from them. I have not given any land to you. I have given the <i>tithes</i> to you instead. Then you must give some from it to the <i>LORD</i>. It will be a <i>tithe</i> of the <i>tithe</i>. 


text:
This gift will be the same as when a farmer is giving <i>grain</i> or <i>wine</i> to me. It will be special. 


text:
So you will give something to the <i>LORD</i> from your <i>tithes</i>, which you receive from the <i>Israelites</i>. And from it you will give the <i>LORD</i>’s gift to Aaron the <i>priest</i>. 


text:
From all the gifts from the people to you, you must make separate every <i>offering</i> that the <i>LORD</i> should have. The best part of each gift is the part that you must make separate for the <i>LORD</i>.”


text:
And you must say to them, “After you have made separate from it the best part of it, the other part will be for the <i>Levites</i>. They do not get food because they <i>thresh</i> food plants. And they do not make <i>wine</i> from <i>grapes</i>. They receive that gift instead. 


text:
And you will not be <i>guilty</i> because you take it. That is because you have given the best part of it to God. But you must do the right things with the <i>holy</i> gifts of the <i>Israelites</i>. If you do the right things you will not die for that reason.” ’


text:
‘This is one rule in the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>law</i> that I am telling to you: Tell the <i>Israelites</i> that they must bring to you a young red cow. It must not have anything wrong with it. And nobody must have put a <i>yoke</i> on it. 


text:
They must take it outside the <i>camp</i>. They must kill it and they must give it to Eleazar the <i>priest</i>. 


text:
Eleazar must take some of the blood from the cow. He must <i>splash</i> it 7 times in front of the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. 


text:
Then the people must burn the whole cow while Eleazar is watching. They must burn its body with the skin, meat, blood and everything inside its body. 


text:
Then <i>priest</i> must wash his clothes and he must bathe his body with water. After that, he can come into the <i>camp</i> but he will not be <i>clean</i> until the evening. 


text:
And the man who burns it must wash his clothes in water. And he must bathe his body in water. And he will not be <i>clean</i> until the evening.


text:
Then a man who is <i>clean</i> must pick up all the ashes of the cow. And he must put them outside the <i>camp</i> in a clean place. And all the <i>Israelites</i> must keep them. You must mix them with water to make special water. It will be water for someone who is not <i>clean</i> to make them holy again. It is water to remove <i>sin</i>. 


text:
The man who picks up the ashes must wash himself and his clothes. He will not be <i>clean</i> until evening. This rule is for the <i>Israelites</i> and for all the people who are living with them.


text:
He must wash himself on day 3 and day on 7. Then he will be <i>clean</i>. If he does not wash himself on day 3 and on day 7, he will not be <i>clean</i>. 


text:
A person might touch the body of a person who has died. If he does not make himself <i>clean</i>, he has made God’s <i>Tent</i> of Meeting not <i>clean</i>. You must make that person separate from the <i>Israelites</i>. Because the special water did not fall on him, he will not be <i>clean</i>. He will still be like a dirty person.


text:
This is the rule when a person dies in a <i>tent</i>. Any person who is in the <i>tent</i> will not be <i>clean</i> for 7 days. 


text:
Also, someone might have killed a person with a <i>sword</i> out in the country. Or a person may have died because he was old or ill. Anyone who touches that dead body in the country or a human bone will not be <i>clean</i> for 7 days. Or someone may touch a place where people have buried a dead body. That person will not be <i>clean</i> for 7 days.


text:
Then for the person who is not <i>clean</i>, you must take some of the ashes of the young red cow. That is the cow to make people <i>clean</i>. You must put these ashes into a pot and you must mix them with water from a river. 


text:
Then a person who is <i>clean</i> must take <i>hyssop</i>. He must put it into the water. Then he must use it to throw the water on the <i>tent</i> and on everything that is in it. And he must throw the water on all the people who have been there. And he must throw it on the person who touched the bone or the dead body. Or he must throw it on the person who touched the <i>grave</i>. 


text:
And the <i>clean</i> person must throw the water on the person who is not <i>clean</i> on the 3rd day too. And he must do it on day 7 too. On day 7 he will make the person <i>clean</i>. And then the person who had not been <i>clean</i> must wash his clothes. And he must bathe himself in water. In the evening, that person will become <i>clean</i>. 


text:
The person who is not <i>clean</i> might not wash himself and his clothes. If he does not do it, you must make that person separate from the people. That is because he has made the <i>LORD</i>’s <i>Holy Tent</i> like something not <i>clean</i>. Because the <i>priest</i> did not <i>splash holy</i> water on him he will not be <i>clean</i>. 


text:
This rule is for now and for always. The man who <i>splashes</i> the <i>holy</i> water must wash his clothes. Any person who touches the <i>holy</i> water will not be <i>clean</i> until evening. 


text:
A person who is not <i>clean</i> must not touch anything. Anything that he touches will not be <i>clean</i> until evening.’


text:
In the first month, the <i>Israelites</i> came to the <i>Desert</i> of Zin. They <i>camped</i> at Kadesh. Miriam died there and the people buried her.


text:
They said to Moses, ‘When the <i>LORD</i> killed our brothers in front of the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting, he should have killed us. 


text:
We are the <i>LORD</i>’s people. You should not have brought us into this <i>desert</i>. Now both we and our animals will die here! 


text:
You should not have brought us from Egypt to this very bad place. It is not a place where we can get <i>grain</i> or <i>figs</i> or <i>vines</i> or <i>pomegranates</i>. And there is no water to drink.’


text:
Moses and Aaron went from the people to the front of the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. They threw themselves on to the ground. Their faces were on the ground. The special light from the <i>LORD</i> came to them. 


text:
‘Get the stick. Get your brother Aaron and get the <i>Israelites</i>. Speak to the rock that is in front of you. Water will come from it. It is for the people and for the animals. They can drink it.’


text:
Then Moses and Aaron brought all the people to meet in front of the rock. And Moses said to them, ‘Listen now, you people who refuse to obey God. It seems that we must bring water out of this rock for you!’ 


text:
Moses lifted up his arm. He hit the rock twice with his stick. Water poured from the rock. The people and the animals drank the water. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> said to Moses and Aaron, ‘You did not believe in me enough to show the people that I am <i>holy</i>. So you will not lead them into the country that I am giving to them.’ 


text:
That place was called ‘The Waters of Meribah’, because the <i>Israelites</i> quarrelled with the <i>LORD</i> there. But he showed to them there that he is <i>holy</i>. <n>The word Meribah means ‘to say that you are not happy about what someone is doing’. 


text:
From Kadesh, Moses sent men to the king of Edom with this message: ‘We are <i>Israelites</i> and our <i>ancestor</i> was your <i>ancestor</i>’s brother. We should be friendly to each other. We are saying to you, “You know all the bad things that have happened to us. 


text:
Our <i>ancestors</i> went to Egypt. We lived there for many years. The people in Egypt were bad to us. 


text:
But when we asked the <i>LORD</i> to help us, he heard us. And he sent an <i>angel</i> and he brought us out from Egypt. Now we are at Kadesh, which is a town at the edge of your land. 


text:
Please let us travel through your land. We will not go through any fields or through any <i>vineyards</i>. We will not even drink water from your wells. We will go along the king’s important road. We will not leave that road on either side until we have gone through all your land.” ’ 


text:
The <i>Israelites</i> said, ‘We will stay on the road. If our animals drink your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through your country.’ 


text:
The king of Edom said, ‘No you must not travel through our country.’ Then the people in Edom came out to attack the <i>Israelites</i>. 


text:
He said, ‘Aaron will not go in to the country that I am giving to the <i>Israelites</i>. Because you did not obey me, he will die. 


text:
Moses must take the <i>priest</i>’s clothes from Aaron and he must put them on Eleazar. Aaron will die there.’ 


text:
Moses took the <i>priest</i>’s clothes from Aaron. He put them on Eleazar. Then Aaron died. Moses and Eleazar walked down the mountain. 


text:
The king of Canaan was Arad. He lived in the south of the country. People told him that the <i>Israelites</i> were coming. He attacked the <i>Israelites</i>. And he caught some <i>Israelites</i>. 


text:
The <i>Israelites</i> said to the <i>LORD</i>, ‘If you give to us power over the people in Canaan, we will destroy their cities.’ 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> heard the <i>Israelites</i>. They attacked and they got power over the people in Canaan. They destroyed all their cities. The name of the place was Hormah. <n>The <i>bronze</i> snake</n>


text:
They said to the <i>LORD</i> and to Moses, ‘You should not have brought us from Egypt to die in the <i>desert</i>. There is no bread. There is no water. We do not like the food that the <i>LORD</i> gives to us.’ 


text:
So the people came to Moses and they said, ‘We have <i>sinned</i>, because we have spoken against the <i>LORD</i> and against you. Please speak to <i>LORD</i> on our behalf and ask him to remove the snakes from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people.


text:
The <i>LORD</i> said to Moses, ‘Make a snake out of <i>bronze</i>. Put the snake on a stick. If a snake bites a person, the person must look at the <i>bronze</i> snake. Then he will not die.’ 


text:
Moses did what the <i>LORD</i> said. Then when the snake bit anyone, he looked at the <i>bronze</i> snake. Then he did not die. <n>The <i>Israelites</i> travel to Moab</n>


text:
And they travelled from Oboth, and they <i>camped</i> at Iye-Abarim, in the <i>desert</i>. That place is on the east border of the country called Moab. 


text:
Then they <i>camped</i> on the north side of the River Arnon. The River Arnon is the border between the <i>Moabites</i> and the <i>Amorites</i>. 


text:
So someone wrote in the Book of the <i>LORD</i>’s Wars about Waheb in Suphah. And he wrote about the valleys of the River Arnon. 


text:
And from there they continued to travel until they arrived at Beer. That is the well where the <i>LORD</i> said to Moses, ‘Bring the people together. Then I will give water to them.’ 


text:
This was the well that our rulers dug. <n>This was the well that our leaders made. <n>They dug it with the <i>poles</i> and sticks that showed their authority.’ <n>After that the <i>Israelites</i> went from the <i>desert</i> to Mattanah. 


text:
They went from Bamoth to the valley of Moab. They <i>camped</i> below the top of the mountain called Pisgah.


text:
‘Please let us go through your country. We will travel on the road. We will not touch your food or drink your water. We will pass through your country.’ 


text:
Sihon would not let the <i>Israelites</i> travel through his country. Sihon and his army marched to Jahaz and they attacked the <i>Israelites</i>. 


text:
The <i>Israelites</i> fought against the army of Sihon. They got power over the land from the River Arnon to the River Jabbok. 


text:
They got power over all the cities of the <i>Amorites</i>. They got power over Heshbon and over all the places round it. 


text:
Heshbon was the city of Sihon, the king of the <i>Amorites</i>. This king had fought against the king of Moab. He won the land as far as the River Arnon from the king of Moab. 


text:
So the people who say clever things say, ‘Come to Heshbon and build it up again. Build the city of Sihon again. 


text:
An army that was like a fire went out from Heshbon. It was like a <i>flame</i> that went out from Sihon’s city. It destroyed Ar in Moab. And it destroyed everything on the high hills near the River Arnon. 


text:
It is sad for you, people of Moab. Sihon has killed the people of Chemosh. Your god has let the king of the <i>Amorites</i> put the people in a prison. 


text:
Now, we have killed them. We have destroyed Heshbon as far as Dibon. We have killed them from Nophah to Medeba.’ 


text:
Moses sent men to find the best way to attack Jazer. The <i>Israelites</i> attacked Jazer. They caused the <i>Amorites</i> to leave the country. 


text:
Next, they travelled towards Bashan. Og, the king of Bashan marched out to meet them. He wanted to attack them. They met at Edrei.


text:
The <i>LORD</i> said to Moses, ‘Do not be afraid of Og. I will give him, his army and his land to you. Attack him in the same way that you attacked Sihon, the king of the <i>Amorites</i>.’


text:
So they killed him and his sons and all his people. So all those people were dead and their land became the <i>Israelites</i>’ land.


text:
The <i>Israelites</i> travelled to Moab. They lived in <i>tents</i> at the side of the River Jordan. On the other side of the river was the city called Jericho. 


text:
So the people in Moab were afraid because there were very many <i>Israelites</i>. And all the people in Moab became very afraid of the <i>Israelites</i>. 


text:
So the <i>Moabites</i> said to the leaders of the <i>Midianites</i>, ‘This very large group of people will destroy everything round us. They will be like a <i>bull</i> that eats all the grass in a field!’ Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 


text:
He sent men to get Balaam who was the son of Beor. Balaam was near the river at Pethor. Pethor was his home. Balak told them that they should say to Balaam, ‘Many people have come from Egypt. And they cover the ground, everywhere. They want to take our land. 


text:
They are more powerful than I am. Put a <i>curse</i> on them. Then maybe I will be more powerful than I already am. Then I can send them away from our land. When you <i>bless</i> people, it is good for them. When you <i>curse</i> people, they fail. I know that.’


text:
The leaders of Moab and Midian went to find Balaam. They took the money for the <i>curse</i> with them. They found him. And they told him what Balak had said. 


text:
Balaam said to them, ‘Stay here tonight. I will talk to the <i>LORD</i>. Tomorrow I will tell you what he says.’ The leaders of Moab and Midian stayed with Balaam. 


text:
He said, “Many people have come from Egypt. And they cover the ground, everywhere. So come and <i>curse</i> them for me. Then perhaps I will be able to fight them. And perhaps I will be able to send them away.” ’


text:
The <i>LORD</i> said to Balaam, ‘Do not <i>curse</i> these people. They are special people. I have <i>blessed</i> them.’ 


text:
The next day, Balaam said to the men from Moab, ‘Go back to Moab. The <i>LORD</i> told me that I should not go with you.’ 


text:
Then Balak sent more leaders to Balaam. These leaders were even more important than the first group of leaders. 


text:
I will certainly make you rich and famous. And I will do for you anything that you want. So please come and <i>curse</i> these people for me.” ’ 


text:
Balaam said to them, ‘No, not even if Balak gives me his house, all his gold and all his <i>silver</i>. I will only do what the <i>LORD</i> says.’ 


text:
That night, the <i>LORD</i> spoke to Balaam. He said to him, ‘Go with these men. But only do what I say.’ <n>Balaam and his <i>donkey</i></n>


text:
The <i>LORD</i> was angry because Balaam went with the men. He put an <i>angel</i> on the road to stop Balaam. Balaam was riding on his <i>donkey</i> and two servants were with him. 


text:
The <i>angel</i> was holding a <i>sword</i>. The <i>donkey</i> saw the <i>angel</i>. So it tried to leave the road and it tried to go into a field. Balaam hit the <i>donkey</i> to make it go back to the road.


text:
When the <i>donkey</i> saw the <i>angel</i>, it pushed towards the wall. Balaam had his foot fixed between the <i>donkey</i> and the wall. Balaam hit the <i>donkey</i> again.


text:
When the <i>donkey</i> saw the <i>angel</i> it lay down on the road. Balaam was angry. He hit the <i>donkey</i> with his stick. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> made the <i>donkey</i> speak. It said, ‘What have I done? Why have you hit me 3 times?’


text:
Balaam said to the <i>donkey</i>, ‘You have made me look silly. If I had a <i>sword</i>, I would kill you.’ 


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The <i>donkey</i> said to Balaam, ‘I am your own <i>donkey</i>. Do I usually do things like this to you?’ Balaam said, ‘No.’ 


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Then the <i>LORD</i> let Balaam see the <i>angel</i> who was standing in the road. Balaam lay down with his face on the road.


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The <i>angel</i> said to him, ‘You have hit your <i>donkey</i> 3 times! I have come here to stop you. What you are doing is against me. 


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If the <i>donkey</i> had not turned from me 3 times, I would have killed you. I would not have killed the <i>donkey</i>.’


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Then Balaam said to the <i>angel</i> of the <i>LORD</i>, ‘I have <i>sinned</i>. But I did not know that you were standing in the road to stop me. So, if this is making you angry, I will return to my home.’ 


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But the <i>angel</i> of the <i>LORD</i> said to Balaam, ‘Go with the men. But you must say only the words that I will tell you.’ So Balaam went with Balak’s important men.


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People told Balak that Balaam was coming. Balak went out to meet him at the town in Moab on the river Arnon that is on the border. 


text:
So Balaam said to Balak, ‘I have come to you now! But I cannot choose to say the things that I want to say. I can only say the words that God puts into my mouth.’


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And Balak <i>sacrificed bulls</i> and sheep. And he sent some to Balaam and to the important men who were with him. 


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Balak did this. Balaam and Balak gave a gift of a <i>bull</i> and a male sheep on each <i>altar</i>.


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Then Balaam said to Balak, ‘Stand next to your <i>burnt-offering</i>, and I will go. Perhaps the <i>LORD</i> will come to meet me. And whatever he shows to me I will tell to you.’ So Balaam went to the top of a hill where there were no trees.


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Balaam said to the <i>LORD</i>, ‘I made 7 <i>altars</i>. I killed 7 <i>bulls</i> and 7 male sheep. I offered a <i>bull</i> and a male sheep on each <i>altar</i>.’


text:
So Balaam returned to Balak, and Balak was still standing by his <i>burnt-offering</i>. And all the leaders of Moab’s people were with him.


text:
So Balaam started to speak a <i>prophecy</i>. And he said, ‘Balak, the king of Moab has brought me from Aram. He brought me from the mountains in the East. He said “Come and <i>curse</i> Jacob’s <i>descendants</i> for me. And say bad things about the <i>Israelites</i>!”


text:
But I cannot <i>curse</i> these people because the <i>LORD</i> does not <i>curse</i> them. I cannot speak bad words to these people because the <i>LORD</i> does not speak bad words to them.


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I look at them when I am on the hills. I see people. They are separate from us. They know that the <i>LORD blesses</i> them.


text:
Nobody can count Jacob’s <i>descendants</i>. They are like the bits of <i>dust</i> on the ground! It would be too difficult to count even a quarter of the <i>Israelites</i>! I would like to die like those good people. And I want the end of my life to be like the end of theirs!’


text:
Balak said to Balaam, ‘You have not done what I wanted you to do! I brought you to <i>curse</i> these people and you have <i>blessed</i> them.’


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But Balaam answered, ‘I have to be careful. I have to speak only the words that the <i>LORD</i> puts into my mouth!’ <n>Balaam speaks again</n>


text:
Then Balak said to him, ‘Please come with me to another place where you can see only a small part of the <i>Israelites</i>. You will not be able to see all the <i>Israelites</i> from there. Then <i>curse</i> them for me from there.’


text:
They went to the field of Zophim on the top of the mountain called Pisgah. He built 7 <i>altars</i>. He killed 7 <i>bulls</i> and 7 male sheep. And he offered a <i>bull</i> and a male sheep on each <i>altar</i>.


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So Balaam went back to Balak. Balak and the men were standing by his gift. Balak said, ‘What did the <i>LORD</i> say?’


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The <i>LORD</i> is not a man. He does not speak words that are not true. If he promises something, it happens.


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He told me that I must <i>bless</i> the <i>Israelites</i>. He has <i>blessed</i> them, so I must do it too.


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The <i>LORD</i> is with the <i>Israelites</i>. He <i>blesses</i> them. Bad things will not happen to them in the future. 


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Nobody can <i>curse</i> the <i>Israelites</i>. Other people will say about them, “See what the <i>LORD</i> has done.” 


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The <i>Israelites</i> are like a <i>lion</i>. It eats the animals that it has killed. It does not rest until it can eat them. It also drinks their blood.’


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Balak said to Balaam, ‘Let me take you to a different place. Perhaps the <i>LORD</i> will let you <i>curse</i> the <i>Israelites</i> from this place.’ 


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Balak took Balaam to the top of the mountain called Peor. From there they could look over the <i>desert</i>. 


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Now Balaam knew that the <i>LORD</i> wanted him to <i>bless</i> the <i>Israelites</i>. So he stopped looking for ways to change this. He looked over the <i>desert</i>. 


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Balaam looked up. And he saw Israel’s people. They were <i>camping tribe</i> by <i>tribe</i>. And the Spirit of God came upon him. 


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And so he said, ‘This is the message of Balaam the son of Beor. It is the words of a man. This man understands what the <i>LORD</i> says. 


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They are like gardens on the side of a river. They are like plants that the <i>LORD</i> puts in the ground. They are like trees at the side of the water.


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They will always have plenty of water to plant their seeds. Their king will be more powerful than Agag. The <i>LORD</i> will <i>bless</i> their land.


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God brought them out of Egypt. God fights for them like a wild <i>bull</i> with its dangerous <i>horns</i>. He will destroy the <i>nations</i> who are their enemies. And he will break their enemies’ bones into pieces. And he will make holes in their bodies with his <i>arrows</i>.


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The <i>Israelites</i> are like a <i>lion</i>. When they are sleeping, no other person is brave enough to wake them. The <i>LORD blesses</i> those who <i>bless</i> them. And the <i>LORD curses</i> those who <i>curse</i> them.’


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Balak was angry with Balaam. He raised his fist to Balaam. He said, ‘I asked you to come here and to <i>curse</i> the <i>Israelites</i>. You have <i>blessed</i> them three times. 


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“I can only say the <i>LORD</i>’s words. I cannot do good things or bad things because I want to do them. I will only say what the <i>LORD</i> is saying. Even if Balak gives to me his house full of <i>silver</i> and gold, I cannot do anything different.” 


text:
And so now I will return to my people. But first I will tell you what these people will do to your people in future days’ <n>Balaam speaks again</n>


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Balaam spoke and he said, ‘This is the message of Balaam the son of Beor. It is the words of a man. This man understands what the <i>LORD</i> says. 


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This is the <i>prophecy</i> of a man who hears the words of God. This man knows some things that the Most High God knows. This man sees a <i>vision</i> from the most powerful God. I fall to the ground in front of him but my eyes are still open.


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I see that at a future time a king will come from the <i>Israelites</i>. He will be like a bright star. He will attack the leaders of Moab. He will attack the people who were born from Sheth (Seth).


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A <i>descendant</i> of Jacob will have power. And he will kill all the people who are still alive in the city.’ 


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Then, in the dream picture, Balaam saw Amalek. He said, ‘Amalek was the most powerful of all the countries. The <i>LORD</i> will destroy it now and for always.’ 


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Then he saw the <i>Kenites</i>. He said, ‘The place where you live is safe. It is as safe as the home of a bird on the side of a rock. 


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Ships will come from the north. They will bring people from Cyprus who will destroy Assyria and Eber. Then the <i>LORD</i> will destroy them.’ 


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The women from Moab took <i>Israel</i>’s men to watch them as they gave gifts to the god of Moab. <i>Israel</i>’s men ate those women’s food. And they prayed to the god of Moab. 


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The <i>LORD</i> said to Moses, ‘Kill all the leaders of these people. Do this during the day, not at night. Then I will not be angry.’


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Moses told the leaders of the <i>Israelites</i> that they must kill the men. They must kill the men who prayed to the god of Peor.


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A man brought a <i>Midianite</i> woman to his family. Moses and all the people could see them. Moses and all the people were at the door of the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. They were weeping. 


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Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the <i>priest</i>, saw it. So he stood up among all the people and he took a <i>spear</i> in his hand.


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He went into the man’s <i>tent</i>. And he pushed the <i>spear</i> through the body of the man and the <i>Midianite</i> woman. Then, the bad things and illnesses that were hurting the <i>Israelites</i> stopped. 


text:
‘I am not still angry with the <i>Israelites</i> now. That is because of what Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the <i>priest</i>, did. He thought as I thought about this matter. He did not want the people to <i>worship</i> any god except me. That is why I did not kill all the <i>Israelites</i>. 


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And that promise will be for him and for his <i>descendants</i> after him. They will always be <i>priests</i>. That is because he did not want the people to <i>worship</i> any god except me. And he made things right again after what the <i>Israelites</i> had done.” ’ 


text:
The name of the man that Phinehas killed with the <i>Midianite</i> woman was Zimri. He was the son of Salu. Salu was the leader of a <i>family</i> from the <i>tribe</i> of Simeon. 


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The name of the <i>Midianite</i> woman was Cozbi. She was the daughter of Zur. Zur was a leader of a <i>Midianite family</i>.


text:
That is because they have been against you. They <i>deceived</i> you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi. Cozbi was the daughter of a leader of the <i>Midianites</i>. Phinehas killed her on the day when there was the very bad illness among the people. That illness was the result of what happened at Peor.’


text:
When the bad things and illnesses stopped, the <i>LORD</i> said to Moses and Eleazar the son of Aaron, 


text:
‘Count all the <i>Israelites</i>. Count in their <i>clans</i> all the men who are more than 20 years old. Count only those men who can join the army.’ 


text:
So Moses and Eleazar the <i>priest</i> spoke to the <i>Israelites</i>. They were on the flat ground in Moab at the River Jordan. Jericho was on the other side of the river. They said, 


text:
‘Count all the men who are 20 years old or more. The <i>LORD</i> has told Moses that we must do that.’ So these are the names of the <i>Israelites</i> who came out of Egypt:


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There was the <i>tribe</i> of Reuben, <i>Israel</i>’s <i>first-born</i> son. Among Reuben’s <i>descendants</i> were the <i>descendants</i> of Hanoch and of Pallu. 


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Those are the <i>clans</i> of the <i>descendants</i> of Reuben. There were 43 730 men in the <i>tribe</i> of Reuben.


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The sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram were the men who did not obey Moses and Aaron. Korah was their leader. 


text:
The ground opened. Korah, Dathan, Abiram and their <i>families</i> fell into the hole and they died. And fire killed 250 other men. So they became a <i>warning</i> to the other <i>Israelites</i>. 


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There was the <i>tribe</i> of Simeon. Among Simeon’s <i>descendants</i> were the <i>descendants</i> of Nemuel and of Jamin and of Jachin. 


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Those are the <i>clans</i> of the <i>descendants</i> of Simeon. There were 22 200 men in the <i>tribe</i> of Simeon.


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There was the <i>tribe</i> of Gad. Among Gad’s <i>descendants</i> were the <i>descendants</i> of Zephon and of Haggi and of Shuni. 


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Those are the <i>clans</i> of the <i>descendants</i> of Gad. There were 40 500 men in the <i>tribe</i> of Gad.


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These are the <i>clans</i> in the <i>tribe</i> of Judah. Among Judah’s <i>descendants</i> were the <i>descendants</i> of Shelah and of Perez and of Zerah. 


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Those are the <i>clans</i> of the <i>descendants</i> of Judah. There were 76 500 men in the <i>tribe</i> of Judah.


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There was the <i>tribe</i> of Issachar. Among Issachar’s <i>descendants</i> were the <i>descendants</i> of Tola and of Puvah. 


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Those are the <i>clans</i> of the <i>descendants</i> of Issachar. There were 64 300 men in the <i>tribe</i> of Issachar.


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There was the <i>tribe</i> of Zebulun. Among Zebulun’s <i>descendants</i> were the <i>descendants</i> of Sered and of Elon and of Jahleel. 


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Those are the <i>clans</i> of the <i>descendants</i> of Zebulun. There were 60 500 men in the <i>tribe</i> of Zebulun.


text:
The <i>descendants</i> of Joseph became two <i>tribes</i>. Those <i>tribes</i> were called Manasseh and Ephraim.


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So there was the <i>tribe</i> of Manasseh. Among Manasseh’s <i>descendants</i> were the <i>descendants</i> of Machir and of Gilead. 


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Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but only daughters. And the names of Zelophehad’s daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. 


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Those are the <i>clans</i> of the <i>descendants</i> of Manasseh. There were 52 700 men in the <i>tribe</i> of Manasseh.


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There was the <i>tribe</i> of Ephraim. Among Ephraim’s <i>descendants</i> were the <i>descendants</i> of Shuthelah and of Becher and of Tahan. 


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Those are the <i>clans</i> of the <i>descendants</i> of Ephraim. There were 32 500 men in the <i>tribe</i> of Ephraim. Those last two <i>tribes</i> came from the sons of Joseph.


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There was the <i>tribe</i> of Benjamin. Among Benjamin’s <i>descendants</i> were the <i>descendants</i> of Bela and of Ashbel and of Ahiram. 


text:
Those are the <i>clans</i> of the <i>descendants</i> of Benjamin. There were 45 600 men in the <i>tribe</i> of Benjamin.


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There was the <i>tribe</i> of Dan. Among Dan’s <i>descendants</i> were the <i>descendants</i> of Shuham. Those are the <i>clans</i> of the <i>descendants</i> of Dan. 


text:
There was the <i>tribe</i> of Asher. Among Asher’s <i>descendants</i> were the <i>descendants</i> of Imnah and of Ishvi and of Beriah. 


text:
And among the <i>descendants</i> of Beriah there were the <i>descendants</i> of Heber and of Malchiel. 


text:
Those are the <i>clans</i> of the <i>descendants</i> of Asher. There were 53 400 men in the <i>tribe</i> of Asher.


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There was the <i>tribe</i> of Naphtali. Among Naphtali’s <i>descendants</i> were the <i>descendants</i> of Jahzeel and of Guni. 


text:
Those are the <i>clans</i> of the <i>descendants</i> of Naphtali. There were 45 400 men in the <i>tribe</i> of Naphtali.


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The big <i>tribes</i> will have a big piece of land. The small <i>tribes</i> will have a small piece of land. 


text:
And it included the <i>clans</i> of Libni, Hebron, Mahli, Mushi and Korah. Kohath was the father of Amram. 


text:
The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed. Amram and Jochebed were the parents of Moses, Aaron and Miriam. 


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There were 23 000 male <i>Levites</i> who were more than one month old. But Moses did not give any land to them among the <i>Israelites</i>. So he did not put them on the list of the <i>Israelites</i>.


text:
Those are the men that Moses and Eleazar the <i>priest</i> counted. They counted them on the flat ground in Moab by the Jordan. The place was near Jericho but it was on the other side of the River Jordan. 


text:
Moses did not count any of these men when he counted the people the first time. This happened in the <i>Desert</i> called Sinai. 


text:
That was because the <i>LORD</i> had said about them, ‘They will certainly die in the <i>desert</i>.’ Not one man among them was still alive, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.


text:
Then the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher came near to Moses. Hepher was the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, the son of Joseph. So Zelophehad was in the <i>tribe</i> of Manasseh. And his daughters were called Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. 


text:
They went to the front of the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. They stood in front of Moses, Eleazar and all the leaders of the people and they said, 


text:
‘Our father died in the <i>desert</i>. But he was not in the group of men who came together against the <i>LORD</i> with Korah. But he died for his own <i>sin</i>, and he did not have any sons. 


text:
‘What the daughters of Zelophehad said is right. You must give to them some of the <i>tribe</i> of Manasseh’s land. Give to them everything that was their father’s.


text:
Tell the people this. “Sometimes a man only has daughters. He may die. Then, everything that was his must be theirs. 


text:
Sometimes the man with no children may have no brothers of his father. If that happens, you must give his land to another person in his <i>family</i>. This is a rule for all the people.” ’ <n>Joshua is the new leader</n>


text:
The <i>LORD</i> said to Moses, ‘Go up the Abiram mountains. Look at the country that I am giving to the <i>Israelites</i>. 


text:
That is because of what happened in the <i>desert</i> at Zin. It was when the people were quarrelling with me there. You did not obey what I said to you. And all the people saw it. So you did not show to the people that I am <i>holy</i>. That was at the water.’ (These are the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the <i>desert</i> called Zin.)


text:
‘You are the <i>LORD</i>, the God of the <i>spirits</i> of all people. Please choose another man to be over all the people. 


text:
Then he can go out and he can come in in front of them. He can lead them out and he can bring them in. Then all the <i>LORD</i>’s people will not be like sheep without a <i>shepherd</i>.’


text:
So the <i>LORD</i> said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua the son of Nun. My Spirit is in him. Lay your hand on him. 


text:
He must stand in front of Eleazar the <i>priest</i> and in front of all the <i>Israelites</i>. Tell Joshua and all the people this. He will be the leader when you die. 


text:
Eleazar the <i>priest</i> will use everything that is <i>holy</i>. He will know what I am saying. He will tell Joshua. Then the <i>Israelites</i> must obey Joshua.’


text:
Moses did as the <i>LORD</i> told him. He took Joshua and he brought him to stand in front of Eleazar the <i>priest</i>. 


text:
He put his hands on Joshua. So Joshua became the new leader. The <i>LORD</i> had told Moses that he should do that.


text:
‘Tell the <i>Israelites</i> that they must give their gifts to the <i>LORD</i> at the proper time. The smell of the gifts when they burn will make the <i>LORD</i> happy. 


text:
And you must say to them, “This is the <i>offering</i> by fire that you must offer to the <i>LORD</i>: It must be two male <i>lambs</i> that are one year old. They must not have anything wrong with them. That is the <i>burnt-offering</i> every day. 


text:
It is a regular <i>burnt-offering</i> that God told you about. He told you about it on the mountain called Sinai. It is an <i>offering</i> by fire to the <i>LORD</i>. And the smell as it burns makes the <i>LORD</i> happy. 


text:
Then the <i>drink-offering</i> with it will be one litre (2 pints) of <i>wine</i> for each <i>lamb</i>. In God’s <i>Holy Tent</i> you must pour out a <i>drink-offering</i> of the best <i>wine</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. 


text:
And you must offer the other <i>lamb</i> when it begins to get dark. Offer it with an <i>offering</i> of flour and a <i>drink-offering</i> like the <i>offerings</i> in the morning. You must give it as an <i>offering</i> by fire. The smell of the smoke from these <i>sacrifices</i> will make the <i>LORD</i> happy.


text:
Then on the <i>Sabbath</i> day, you must offer two male <i>lambs</i> that are one year old. They must not have anything wrong with them. And you must offer 2 kilos (4.4 pounds) of best flour. Mix that with oil as an <i>offering</i> of flour. And you must give the proper <i>drink-offering</i> with it. 


text:
This is the <i>burnt-offering</i> for every <i>Sabbath</i>. But you must also give the regular <i>burnt-offering</i> with its proper <i>drink-offering</i>.


text:
Also on the first day of every month you must give a <i>burnt-offering</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. It must be two <i>bulls</i>, one male sheep and 7 male <i>lambs</i>. The <i>lambs</i> must be one year old and they must not have anything wrong with them. 


text:
With each <i>bull</i> and with the male sheep, you must give an <i>offering</i> of flour. Mix together 3 kilos (6.6 pounds) of the best flour with <i>olive</i> oil. Offer it to me with each <i>bull</i>. Mix together 2 kilos (4.4 pounds) of the best flour with <i>olive</i> oil. Offer it to me with the male sheep. 


text:
And with each <i>lamb</i> you must give an <i>offering</i> of flour. Mix together 1 kilo (2.2 pounds) of the best flour with <i>olive</i> oil. Offer it to me with each male <i>lamb</i> as a <i>burnt-offering</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. The smell of the smoke from these <i>sacrifices</i> will make the <i>LORD</i> happy. 


text:
And there must be <i>drink-offerings</i> with these <i>sacrifices</i>. The <i>offering</i> must be 2 litres (4 pints) of <i>wine</i> for a <i>bull</i>. It must be 1.5 litres (3 pints) for the male sheep and 1 litre (2 pints) for a <i>lamb</i>. That is the <i>burnt-offering</i> of each month for every month of the year. 


text:
Also, you must offer one male goat as a <i>sin-offering</i>. You must offer it with the proper <i>drink-offering</i>. But you must still offer the regular <i>burnt-offering</i>. <n>Remember the <i>Passover</i></n>


text:
Day 15 is the start of a week when you must eat the flat bread. You must not put anything in the bread to make it rise. You must do that for 7 days. 


text:
The first day will be a <i>holy</i> day and all the people must meet together. You must not work at your jobs on that day. 


text:
And you must give an <i>offering</i> by fire, a <i>burnt-offering</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. The <i>offering</i> must be 2 <i>bulls</i>, one male sheep and 7 male <i>lambs</i> that are one year old. But these animals must not have anything wrong with them. 


text:
Offer the proper <i>grain</i>-offering with each animal. Mix together 3 kilos (6.6 pounds) of the best flour and <i>olive</i> oil. Offer it to me with each <i>bull</i>. Offer 2 kilos (4.4 pounds) of flour with oil with the male sheep. 


text:
You must also give one male goat as a <i>sin-offering</i>. That is to make things right with God for you. 


text:
But you must still give the <i>burnt-offering</i> in the morning that is the regular <i>burnt-offering</i>. 


text:
You must offer those gifts every day for 7 days. They are the food of an <i>offering</i> by fire. The smell of them as they burn will make the <i>LORD</i> happy. But you must still give the regular <i>burnt-offering</i> with the proper <i>drink-offering</i>. 


text:
And the 7th day must be a <i>holy</i> day and all the people must meet together. You must not work at your jobs on that day.


text:
The day when you offer to the <i>LORD</i> the first part of the <i>harvest</i> must also be a <i>holy</i> day. That is also the day when you give to the <i>LORD</i> an <i>offering</i> of new <i>grain</i>. That is the <i>Feast</i> of Weeks. All the people must meet together. You must not work at your jobs on that day. 


text:
And you must give a <i>burnt-offering</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. The <i>offering</i> must be 2 <i>bulls</i>, one male sheep and 7 male <i>lambs</i> that are one year old. The smell of the smoke from these <i>sacrifices</i> will make the <i>LORD</i> happy. 


text:
With the <i>bull</i> and the male sheep you must give a gift of <i>grain</i> that you have mixed with oil. 


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You must still give the regular <i>burnt-offering</i> with the proper <i>offering</i> of flour. You must give them with the proper <i>drink-offerings</i>. The animals must not have anything wrong with them.


text:
On the first day of the seventh month, all the people must come together for a <i>holy</i> meeting. You must not work at your jobs. It is a day for you to make music with your <i>trumpets</i>. 


text:
And you must offer a <i>burnt-offering</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. You must give one young <i>bull</i> and one male sheep. Also offer 7 male sheep that are one year old. The animals must not have anything wrong with them. The smell of the smoke from these <i>sacrifices</i> will make the <i>LORD</i> happy. 


text:
Offer to me the proper <i>offering</i> of flour with each animal. Mix together 3 kilos (6.6 pounds) of the best flour with <i>olive</i> oil. Offer it to me with the young <i>bull</i>. Offer 2 kilos (4.4 pounds) of flour with oil with the male sheep. 


text:
Also offer one male goat as a <i>sin-offering</i>, so that I will <i>forgive</i> the people’s <i>sins</i>. 


text:
Offer these <i>sacrifices</i> with the <i>burnt-offerings</i>, <i>offerings</i> of flour and <i>drink-offerings</i> that you give each month. Offer these <i>sacrifices</i> with the <i>burnt-offerings</i>, <i>offerings</i> of flour and <i>drink-offerings</i> that you give each day. The smell of the smoke from these <i>sacrifices</i> will make the <i>LORD</i> happy.


text:
On the 10th day of the 7th month, you must come together for a <i>holy</i> meeting. During that day, you must make yourselves <i>humble</i>. And you must not do any work. 


text:
You must offer a <i>burnt-offering</i> to the <i>LORD</i>. The smell of the smoke will make the <i>LORD</i> happy. Offer one young <i>bull</i>, one male sheep and 7 male <i>lambs</i> that are one year old. The animals must not have anything wrong with them. 


text:
Also offer one male goat as a <i>sin-offering</i>. Give these gifts with the <i>burnt-offering</i>, the flour and the <i>drink-offering</i> that you give each day and each month.


text:
On the 15th day of the 7th month, you must come together for a <i>holy</i> meeting. You must not work at your jobs. You must have a <i>feast</i> to the <i>LORD</i> for 7 days. 


text:
Give an <i>offering</i> by fire as a smell to make the <i>LORD</i> happy. Give a <i>burnt-offering</i> of 13 young <i>bulls</i>, two male sheep and 14 male <i>lambs</i> that are a year old. The animals must not have anything wrong with them. 


text:
With each of the 13 <i>bulls</i> give an <i>offering</i> of flour. Mix together 3 kilos (6.6 pounds) of the best flour with <i>olive</i> oil. Offer it to me with each <i>bull</i>. Offer 2 kilos (4.4 pounds) of flour with each male sheep. 


text:
Include one male goat as a <i>sin-offering</i>. <i>Sacrifice</i> it with the regular <i>burnt-offering</i> with the proper <i>offering</i> of flour and the <i>drink-offering</i>.


text:
On the second day give 12 young <i>bulls</i>, two male sheep and 14 male <i>lambs</i> that are a year old. The animals must not have anything wrong with them. 


text:
With the <i>bulls</i>, male sheep and <i>lambs</i>, give the right <i>offerings</i> of flour and <i>drink-offerings</i> for each animal. 


text:
Include one male goat as a <i>sin-offering</i>. <i>Sacrifice</i> it with the regular <i>burnt-offering</i> with the proper <i>offering</i> of flour and their <i>drink-offerings</i>.


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On the third day give 11 <i>bulls</i>, two male sheep and 14 male <i>lambs</i> that are a year old. The animals must not have anything wrong with them. 


text:
On the 4th day give 10 <i>bulls</i>, two male sheep and 14 male <i>lambs</i> that are a year old. The animals must not have anything wrong with them. 


text:
On the 5th day give 9 <i>bulls</i>, two male sheep and 14 male <i>lambs</i> that are a year old. The animals must not have anything wrong with them. 


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On the 6th day give 8 <i>bulls</i>, two male sheep and 14 male <i>lambs</i> that are a year old. The animals must not have anything wrong with them. 


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On the 7th day give 7 <i>bulls</i>, two male sheep and 14 male <i>lambs</i> that are a year old. The animals must not have anything wrong with them. 


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On the 8th day, all the people must come together for a <i>holy</i> meeting. You must not work at your jobs. 


text:
Give an <i>offering</i> by fire as a smell to make the <i>LORD</i> happy. Give a <i>burnt-offering</i> of one <i>bull</i>, one male sheep and 7 male <i>lambs</i> that are a year old. The animals must not have anything wrong with them. 


text:
With the <i>bull</i>, the male sheep and the <i>lambs</i>, give the right <i>offerings</i> of flour and <i>drink-offerings</i> for each animal. 


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You must offer those gifts to the <i>LORD</i> at the times of the <i>feasts</i>. You must do that even if you have given your usual <i>burnt-offerings</i>, <i>offerings</i> of flour, <i>drink-offerings</i> or <i>friendship-offerings</i>. And you must do it even if you have given other <i>offerings</i>. You might have given those other <i>offerings</i> because you wanted to give them. Or you might have given them because you had promised to give them.” ’


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A young woman who lives in the house of her father might make a promise to the <i>LORD</i>. She must do everything that she has said. 


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But her father may say that she must not do it. Then she does not have to do it. The <i>LORD</i> will understand why she does not do it.


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But the young woman might marry after she promised something to the <i>LORD</i>. Or she might have promised something when she had not thought carefully about it. 


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But her husband may say that he does not agree about the promise. He must say that on the day when he first knows about it. It might be a serious promise. Or it might be a promise that the woman had not thought carefully about. The woman does not have to do the thing now because of what her husband has said. And the <i>LORD</i> will <i>forgive</i> her.


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If the husband of a woman has died, she must <i>keep her promise</i>. If the woman and her husband do not live together, they are not still married. If she makes a promise, she must do it.


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Her husband may say that she must not do it. She must obey him. The <i>LORD</i> will let her do that. 


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The husband may wait for a long time after he hears about the promise. Then, he may say that she must not do it. If that happens, the <i>LORD</i> will be angry with the man. He will not be angry with the woman.’


text:
The <i>LORD</i> gave to Moses those rules about a man and his wife. They are also about a father and a young daughter.


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Moses said to the people, ‘Give <i>swords</i> to some of the men. Go to war against the <i>Midianites</i>. This is what the <i>LORD</i> wants you to do. 


text:
Moses sent those men to the war. There were 1000 men from each <i>tribe</i>. Phinehas the son of Eleazar the <i>priest</i> went with them. Phinehas took with him the things from God’s <i>Holy Tent</i>. Also, he took in his hand the <i>trumpets</i> to make <i>warning</i> sounds.


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And they killed the kings of Midian with the other men that they killed. Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba were the 5 kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with a <i>sword</i>. 


text:
<i>Israel</i>’s men took the women and children of Midian. They took their animals and everything that was valuable. 


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And they brought the <i>prisoners</i> and the things that they took to Moses, and to Eleazar the <i>priest</i>. And they brought it to all the <i>Israelites</i>, to their <i>camp</i>. That was at the flat ground in Moab by the River Jordan. The place was near Jericho but it was on the other side of the River Jordan.


text:
These women here caused the <i>Israelites</i> not to obey the <i>LORD</i> by what they did at Peor. Balaam told them how they could do it. So there was a bad illness among all the <i>LORD</i>’s people. 


text:
Moses said, ‘Any soldier who has killed any person must stay outside the <i>camp</i> for 7 days. Any soldier who has touched a dead body must stay outside the <i>camp</i> for 7 days. On day 3 and on day 7, you must make yourselves <i>clean</i>. You must also make the people of Midian that you took <i>clean</i>. 


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You must put all the metals that will not burn in the fire. This will make them <i>clean</i>. You must also wash them. You must clean, with water, everything that will burn. 


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On day 7, you must wash your clothes. Then you will be <i>clean</i>. Then you can come into the <i>camp</i>.’


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‘You and Eleazar and the leaders of the <i>tribes</i> must count all the people and animals that you took. 


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Give anything that is valuable to the soldiers and all the people. Be sure that every person gets some of them. 


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From that which would go to the soldiers, keep one out of every 500 <i>Midianite</i> soldiers for the <i>LORD</i>. Do the same with the animals. 


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From what is for the people give one out of every 50 <i>Midianite</i> soldiers to the <i>Levites</i>. Do the same with the animals.’ 


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The gift for the soldiers also included 30 500 <i>donkeys</i>. So there were 61 <i>donkeys</i> for the <i>LORD</i>. 


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Moses gave the gift that was for the <i>LORD</i> to Eleazar, the <i>priest</i>. The <i>LORD</i> had told Moses that he must do that.


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From the gift that was for the <i>Israelites</i>, Moses took one out of every 50. And he gave them to the <i>Levites</i>.


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We have brought a gift to the <i>LORD</i>. We have brought gold rings and other gold that people wear. They are gifts for when we <i>sinned</i>.’


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And they weighed all the gold of the <i>offering</i> that they lifted up to the <i>LORD</i>. That was the <i>offering</i> from the captains over 1000 men and the captains over 100 men. The weight was 16 750 <i>shekels</i>. 


text:
Moses and Eleazar took all the gold into the <i>Tent</i> of Meeting. It was a gift. It was to remember the time when the <i>LORD</i> told the people to go to war against the <i>Midianites</i>.


text:
The people in the <i>tribes</i> of Reuben and Gad had very many animals. They saw that the land in Jazer and Gilead was good for their animals. 


text:
Moses said to the men: ‘The <i>Israelites</i> are going to war. It seems that you want to watch them. But you want to stay here! 


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You should not tell the people in your <i>tribes</i> that they should not cross over the River Jordan. The <i>LORD</i> is giving this country to them. 


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They went to the valley of Eshcol and they saw the country. But they told the <i>Israelites</i> that it was not a good idea to go into the country. So the <i>Israelites</i> did not go into the country that the <i>LORD</i> had given to them. 


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He said, “They do not obey me. None of the men who came from Egypt will go into this country. If they are more than 20 years old, they will not go into this country. It is the country that I am giving to them. I promised the country to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 


text:
Jephunneh’s son Caleb and Joshua the son of Nun are the only men who will go into the country. It is the country that I am giving to the <i>Israelites</i>. Caleb and Joshua have obeyed me. So they will go in.” 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> was angry with all the <i>Israelites</i> because of those men who would not go in. He caused them to walk about in the <i>desert</i> for 40 years. Then all the men who did not obey him were dead.


text:
You are doing the same <i>sins</i> that your fathers did. You are making the <i>LORD</i> even more angry with the <i>Israelites</i>. 


text:
If you do not obey him, he will not let the people leave the <i>desert</i>. If they die, it will be because of you.’


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The men said to Moses, ‘Let us build houses from stone for our animals, our women and our children. 


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Then we will be ready to go to war with the <i>Israelites</i>. When we are at war, our women and children will be safe. 


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We will not return to our homes until all the <i>Israelites</i> receive the land. It is the land that the <i>LORD</i> is giving to them. 


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If you really do that, you can return to this land. And the <i>LORD</i> will not be angry. The <i>LORD</i> will give this land to you.


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But if you do not do it, you will have <i>sinned</i> against the <i>LORD</i>. And be sure that your <i>sin</i> will cause your <i>punishment</i>. 


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Build towns for your families and build pens for your animals. But then do the things that you have promised to do.’


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But we are your servants. And we will cross over. Everyone among us who has <i>weapons</i> for war will cross over. And we will fight in the <i>LORD</i>’s fight, as you have said, my master.’


text:
Moses told Eleazar the <i>priest</i> what the men in Reuben’s <i>tribe</i> and in Gad’s <i>tribe</i> were doing. He also told Joshua the son of Nun and the leaders of the <i>tribes</i>. 


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He said to them, ‘The men in Reuben’s <i>tribe</i> and in Gad’s <i>tribe</i> must cross over the River Jordan to fight with you. If they do, you must give the land called Gilead to them. 


text:
So Moses gave to them all the <i>kingdom</i> of Sihon, king of the <i>Amorites</i> and Og, the king of Bashan. He gave to them the land with its towns and all the land round the towns near those towns. He gave it to the <i>descendants</i> of Gad and of Reuben and half of the <i>tribe</i> of Joseph’s son Manasseh.


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The <i>descendants</i> of Machir son of Manasseh attacked Gilead. They sent away the people who lived there. 


text:
So Moses gave Gilead to the <i>descendants</i> of Machir who was the son of Manasseh. And they lived there. 


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Jair, who was a <i>descendant</i> of Manasseh attacked some villages. He got power over them and he called them Havvoth-Jair. 


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This is the journey of the <i>Israelites</i>. Moses and Aaron led them out of Egypt. They travelled in their <i>tribes</i>. 


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They left Rameses in the first month. They started to travel from Rameses on the 15th day of the first month. That was the day after the <i>Passover</i>. The <i>Israelites</i> marched out bravely. And all Egypt’s people watched them as they went. 


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As they left, Egypt’s people were burying all their oldest sons. The <i>LORD</i> had killed their oldest sons. The <i>LORD</i> had also shown that he is more powerful than their gods.


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They travelled from Etham to Pi-Hahiroth, which is east of Baal-Zephon. They <i>camped</i> near Migdol.


text:
They travelled from Pi-Hahiroth. They went through the sea into the <i>desert</i>. They travelled for three days and then they <i>camped</i> at Marah in the <i>desert</i>.


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They travelled from Marah to Elim. At Elim, there were 12 streams and 70 trees. The trees were called palm trees. They <i>camped</i> there.


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They travelled from Alush and they <i>camped</i> at Rephidim. There was no water here for the people to drink.


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They travelled from Kadesh. And they <i>camped</i> at the mountain called Hor. It is on the edge of Edom.


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The <i>LORD</i> told Aaron that he must go up a mountain. The mountain was called Hor. So Aaron went up it. He died there. That was on the first day of the fifth month. It was in the 40th year after the <i>Israelites</i> travelled from Egypt.


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The king of Arad lived in the south, in the country called Canaan. People told him that the <i>Israelites</i> were coming.


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They travelled from the mountains of Abarim and they <i>camped</i> in Moab by the side of the River Jordan. They were on the other side of the river from Jericho.


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They <i>camped</i> by the side of the River Jordan from Beth-Jeshimoth to Abel-Shittim on the flat ground in Moab.


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Then the <i>LORD</i> spoke to Moses on the flat ground in Moab by the River Jordan. The place was near Jericho but it was on the other side of the River Jordan. He said, 


text:
Then you must send out all the people who live in that country in front of you. You must not let any of those people stay in the country. And you must destroy all their stones in the shape of people. And you must destroy all the <i>idols</i> that they have made from metal. And you must destroy all their high places for <i>worship</i>. 


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And you must get power over the country and you must live in it. Do that because I have given the country to you. I have given it to you so that you can live it. 


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And you must use <i>lots</i> to give the land to your <i>clans</i>. You must give more land to the larger <i>clans</i> and you must give less land to the smaller <i>clans</i>. Whatever land somebody gets as a result of the <i>lots</i>, that will be his land. Each of your <i>ancestors</i>’ <i>tribes</i> will get its own land.


text:
The south edge will include a part of the <i>Desert</i> of Zin. In the east, it will begin at the south end of the Dead Sea. 


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It will go south of the place called Scorpion Pass, on to Zin. And then it will go south of Kadesh-Barnea. It will go to Hazar-Addar and over to Azmon. 


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The line will go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain. It will go along the east of the lake called Chinnereth. 


text:
Then it will go along the River Jordan and it will finish at the Dead Sea.’ <n>Chinnereth is called Galilee in the <i>New Testament</i>. 


text:
Moses said to the <i>Israelites</i>, ‘Cut this country into parts in the way that the <i>LORD</i> told you. The <i>LORD</i> said that you must give it to 9 and a half <i>tribes</i>. 


text:
That is because the <i>tribes</i> of Reuben and Gad and half of Manasseh’s <i>tribe</i> have their land already. 


text:
‘Joshua, the son of Nun and Eleazar the <i>priest</i> must cut the country into parts. They must give the parts to the people. 


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These are the names of the men who will help them: Caleb the son of Jephunneh will be the leader from the <i>tribe</i> of Judah. 


text:
These will be the leaders from the <i>descendants</i> of Joseph: Hanniel the son of Ephod will be the leader from the <i>tribe</i> of Manasseh. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> spoke to Moses in Moab. Moab was by the River Jordan. Jericho was across the river. 


text:
He said, ‘Tell the people this. They must give the <i>Levites</i> towns to live in. They must also give them land round the towns. 


text:
And you must give the fields of grass round the towns to the <i>Levites</i>. That must include every field that is less than 500 metres (1500 <i>feet</i>) from the town’s walls. 


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You must also measure outside the town on the east side 1000 metres (3000 <i>feet</i>), and on the south side. And you must measure 1000 metres on the west side and on the north side. So the town will be in the centre. Those fields of grass will become theirs for their towns.


text:
Six (6) of the towns must be places in which a person can hide. He can hide there if he kills another person. They must also have another 42 towns. 


text:
When the <i>tribes</i> give the towns to the <i>Levites</i> they must take many towns from the big <i>tribes</i>. They must take few towns from the small <i>tribes</i>.’ 


text:
They must choose some towns in which a person can hide. He can hide there if he kills another person. 


text:
And those cities will be places where someone can be safe from the <i>blood-avenger</i>. So the <i>mankiller</i> will not die before all the people in the town have <i>judged</i> him. 


text:
Those towns are places to hide in for the <i>Israelites</i> and for all the people who live with them.


text:
A man might hit a person with a thing that someone made out of iron. If the person dies, the man is a <i>murderer</i>. He must die. 


text:
A man might hit a person with a stone. If the person dies, the man is a <i>murderer</i>. He must die. 


text:
A man might hit a person with a thing that someone made out of wood. If the person dies, the man is a <i>murderer</i>. He must die. 


text:
The <i>blood-avenger</i> himself must kill the <i>murderer</i>. He must kill him when he meets him. 


text:
A man might push another person and kill him. The man must die. A man might throw something at another person and kill him. The man must die. 


text:
Or a man might hit a person with his hand because he <i>hates</i> him. If the person dies as a result you must kill the man. You must kill the man who hit the other person. He is a <i>murderer</i>. The <i>blood-avenger</i> must kill the <i>murderer</i> when he meets him.


text:
If a man pushes another person, it might be a mistake. Or if he throws something at another person, it might be a mistake. 


text:
Or a man might be holding a stone that could cause death. He might drop it on a person that he did not see. The person might die as a result but the man did not <i>hate</i> the person. The man did not want to hurt the person. 


text:
If that happens all the people in the town must <i>judge</i>. They must say whether the <i>mankiller</i> or the <i>blood-avenger</i> is right. They must use these rules to <i>judge</i>. 


text:
And all the people will save the <i>mankiller</i> from the <i>blood-avenger</i>. And all the people must send him back to the safe city that he ran to. And he will live there until the death of the most important <i>priest</i> that someone put the <i>holy</i> oil on.


text:
If he does that, the <i>blood-avenger</i> might find him outside the border of his safe city. If the <i>blood-avenger</i> kills the <i>mankiller</i> in that place, the <i>blood-avenger</i> will not be <i>guilty</i> of murder. 


text:
That is because he should have stayed in his safe city until the death of the most important <i>priest</i>. But after the death of the most important <i>priest</i>, the <i>mankiller</i> can return to his own home.


text:
Other people might see a man kill another person. The man must die. But perhaps only one person saw the man kill another person. Then the man must not die.


text:
A person must not give money to a man who killed another person. He must not help the man leave a city that is safe before the death of the most important <i>priest</i>.


text:
Do not make the country bad. If you kill people, you make the country bad. The country is bad because men kill other people. You can make the country good. You must kill the man who kills another person. 


text:
You must not make the country where you live bad. It is the country where I also live. That is because I, the <i>LORD</i>, live among the <i>Israelites</i>.’


text:
Gilead was the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. And Manasseh was Joseph’s son. The leaders of the families in Gilead’s <i>clan</i> went to Moses and to the other leaders of the <i>Israelites</i>’ <i>clans</i>. 


text:
And they said, ‘The <i>LORD</i> told you, my master, that we should use <i>lots</i> to give the land to the <i>Israelites</i>. Then each man’s land would become his sons’ land when he died. And the <i>LORD</i> told you, my master, that you should give Zelophehad’s land to his daughters. Zelophehad was in our <i>clan</i>. 


text:
But if the girls marry, the land will become their husbands’ land. If they marry men from other <i>tribes</i>, the <i>tribe</i> of Manasseh will lose the land. 


text:
The <i>LORD</i> told Moses what he should say to these men. Moses said, ‘What you are saying is right. 


text:
This is what the <i>LORD</i> has said about the daughters of Zelophehad: “Let them marry men that they want to marry. But they must marry men from the <i>clans</i> of their father’s <i>tribe</i>.” 


text:
So none of the <i>Israelites</i>’ land that is one <i>tribe</i>’s land will become the land of another <i>tribe</i>. So the people in each <i>tribe</i> will keep the land that their <i>ancestors</i> had. 


text:
And that must happen to every daughter who gets some land of any <i>tribe</i> of the <i>Israelites</i>. She will be the wife of someone in a <i>clan</i> of her father’s <i>tribe</i>. So every <i>Israelite</i> will keep the land that was his <i>ancestors</i>’ land. 


text:
So none of the <i>Israelites</i>’ land that is one <i>tribe</i>’s land will become the land of another <i>tribe</i>. So the people in each <i>tribe</i> will keep the land that their <i>ancestors</i> had.’


text:
Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad married sons of their father’s brothers. 


text:
They married men from the <i>clans</i> of the <i>descendants</i> of Joseph’s son Manasseh. And their land remained with the <i>tribe</i> of their father’s <i>clan</i>.


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Those are the rules that the <i>LORD</i> gave to the <i>Israelites</i>. The <i>LORD</i> used Moses to give those rules to them when they were <i>camping</i> in Moab. They were <i>camping</i> on the flat ground in Moab by the River Jordan near Jericho.


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These are the words that Moses spoke to the <i>Israelites</i>. They were in the <i>desert</i> on the east side of the Jordan river. This is the Jordan valley from where you can see Suph. It is between the towns called Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab. 


text:
Moses spoke on the first day of the 11th month, in the 40th year. He repeated to the <i>Israelites</i> all the words that the <i>LORD</i> had spoken about them. <n>These people are the children of the <i>Israelites</i> who left Egypt. They were born in the <i>desert</i>. They have now arrived on the east side of the River Jordan. They need to hear the <i>Law</i> of God before they cross the river. It will teach them how to live in Canaan. 


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This happened after Moses had beaten Sihon, king of the <i>Amorites</i>. Sihon ruled in the town called Heshbon. Moses had also beaten Og, the king of Bashan, at the town called Edrei. Og ruled in the town called Ashtaroth. 


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Moses began to speak on the east side of the Jordan river, in the country called Moab. He explained the <i>Law</i> of God. He said, 


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‘The <i>LORD</i> our God said to us at <i>Mount</i> Horeb, “You have stayed for a long time at this mountain. 


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Pack up your <i>tents</i> and begin to travel. Go to the hills of the <i>Amorites</i> and to all the countries near to them. Go to the Jordan valley and to the hills and into the valleys. Go towards the south and to the Mediterranean coast. Go to the country called Canaan, to Lebanon and as far as the great river Euphrates. 


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Look! I have given you all this country. Go in and take it. The <i>LORD</i> promised to give this country to your fathers. He promised to give it to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their children.” <n>Moses chose leaders.</n> 


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At that time I, Moses, said these words to you. “I alone cannot lead you and help you with all your troubles. 


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I pray that the <i>LORD</i>, the God of your fathers, will make you a thousand times as many people. And I know that he will cause many good things to happen to you. He has promised to do that. 


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You must choose some <i>wise</i> men who understand you, from each of your <i>tribes</i>. Then I will give them authority over you.” 


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So I chose the leaders of your <i>tribes</i> who were <i>wise</i> and good men. I gave them authority over you and made them leaders. They were leaders of 1000’s, leaders of 100’s, leaders of 50’s and leaders of 10’s. I also chose officers for each <i>tribe</i>. 


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And I said to your leaders at that time, “Listen to the quarrels between <i>Israelites</i>. Decide what is right. Do that when the quarrel is between two <i>Israelites</i>. Do the same thing when the quarrel is between an <i>Israelite</i> and a person from a foreign country. 


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Do not make a difference between important people and poor people. Listen to both of them in a careful way. Do not be afraid of anyone. God always decides what is right. If you cannot answer a question, bring it to me. I will listen to you. Then I will decide what is right.” 


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Then the <i>LORD</i> our God told us to start our journey from <i>Mount</i> Horeb. So we went towards the hills of the <i>Amorites</i>. We walked through all that large and frightening <i>desert</i> that you have seen. And so we reached Kadesh-Barnea. 


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Then I said to you, “You have reached the hills of the <i>Amorites</i>. The <i>LORD</i> our God is giving this to us. 


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Look! The <i>LORD</i> your God has given you this country. Go in and make it your country. The <i>LORD</i> God of your fathers has told you to do this. Do not be afraid. Do not run away.” 


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Then all of you came to me. You said, “Let us send some men in front of us. They can explore the country. Then they can bring back a report to us. They can tell us the best road to travel. They can tell us about the towns that we will come to.” 


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They took some of the fruit that they found. They brought it back to us. And they reported, “The <i>LORD</i> our God is giving us a good country.” <n>The people refuse to obey the <i>LORD</i>.</n> 


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You spoke bad words in your <i>tents</i>. You said, “The <i>LORD</i> hates us. He led us out of Egypt to give us to the <i>Amorites</i>. He wanted to kill us. 


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We do not know where to go. Our friends have made us afraid. They say, ‘These people are taller and stronger than we are. The cities are large. They have walls that reach up to the sky. We even saw some <i>descendants</i> of Anak there.’ ” <n>The <i>Israelites</i> did not believe that God would fight for them. They were afraid, so they would not obey his words. That happened many times during the journey. 


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The <i>LORD</i> your God is going in front of you. He will fight for you, as he fought for you in Egypt. You watched him do it. 


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And he was with you in the <i>desert</i>. He carried you as a father carries his son. You saw how he carried you all the way. He carried you until you reached this place.” 


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But he went in front of you, on your journey. He was there in a fire by night and in a cloud by day. He found places for you to put your <i>tents</i>. He showed you the way that you should go. 


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Only Caleb, the son of Jephunneh will see it. I will give to him and to his family the land that he walks on. This is because he obeyed the <i>LORD</i> completely.” 


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The <i>LORD</i> became angry with me also, because of you. He said to me, “And you will not go into this country.” <n>Moses and his brother Aaron became angry with the people. We can read about this in Numbers 20:7-12. Moses called them <i>rebels</i> because they quarrelled with him. He hit the rock twice with his stick to bring water. But God had said, “Speak to the rock and water will come out of it.” So God said that Moses and Aaron could not go into the country. They had not obeyed him and the <i>Israelites</i> were watching. 


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“But your servant Joshua, the son of Nun, will go into the country. You must make him strong by good words. He will lead Israel’s people into the country. It will become their country. 


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Your children, too, will go into the country. These children do not yet know the difference between good and bad. You said that they would become slaves. I say that they will go into the country. I will give it to them and it will become their country. 


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But as for you, turn round. Begin your journey towards the <i>desert</i>. Travel along the road to the Red Sea.” 


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Then you answered, “We have done wrong things against the <i>LORD</i>. We will go and fight. We will obey the <i>LORD</i> our God.” So every one of you picked up his arms. You thought that you could go easily into the hills. 


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But the <i>LORD</i> said, “Do not go up the hill to fight. I will not be with you. Your enemies will beat you.” 


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So I repeated the <i>LORD</i>’s words to you, but you would not listen. You did not obey the <i>LORD</i>’s words. You were <i>proud</i> and so you marched up into the hills. 


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The <i>Amorite</i> people lived in those hills and they came out against you. They ran after you like a large group of bees. They attacked you and you ran down from Seir, all the way to Hormah. <n>Bees are insects that fly. They hurt us when they attack our bodies. 


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You came back and you wept. But the <i>LORD</i> did not change what he was saying. He would not listen to you. 


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Then we turned back. We began to walk towards the <i>desert</i>. We went along the road to the Red Sea, as the <i>LORD</i> had said. For many days, we walked round the hills in Seir. 


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These are my words to the <i>Israelites</i>, ‘You will soon go through the country that belongs to the <i>descendants</i> of Esau. They have the same <i>ancestors</i> that you have. And they live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so be very careful.’ <n>Esau was the brother of Jacob. They were the sons of Isaac and the grandsons of Abraham. The <i>Israelites</i> were the <i>descendants</i> of Jacob. So they must not fight the <i>descendants</i> of Esau. We can read about the birth of Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25:19‑27. 


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‘Do not make them angry so that they fight against you. I will not give any of their country to you, not even enough to put your foot on. I have given the hills in Seir to Esau. 


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The <i>LORD</i> your God has helped you in everything that you have done. He has travelled with you through this very large <i>desert</i>. The <i>LORD</i> your God has remained with you for 40 years. He has given you everything that you needed.’ ” <n>Moses speaks here about the love of God for his people. He speaks many times in this book God’s love. He also teaches the <i>Israelites</i> to love God. If they do this, they will obey God. 


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So we went on. We passed the <i>descendants</i> of Esau, who live in Seir. They have the same <i>ancestors</i> that we have. We left the road through Arabah. This road is from Elath and Ezion-Geber. We travelled through the <i>desert</i> along the road to Moab. 


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Then the <i>LORD</i> said to me, “Do not make the men in Moab angry. Do not make them fight against you. I will not give you any part of their country. I have given Ar city to the <i>descendants</i> of Lot.” <n>Lot was another <i>relative</i> of Abraham. So the <i>Israelites</i> must not fight against his <i>descendants</i>. We can read about Lot in Genesis 12:4, 5. 


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Some people called the Emites once lived there. There were many of them and they were as strong and tall as the <i>descendants</i> of Anak. 


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Many people called the Emites and the Anakites, ‘Rephaites’. But the people from Moab called them Emites. 


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Before this time, the people called the Horites lived in Seir, but the <i>descendants</i> of Esau sent them away. They killed the <i>Horites</i> and they lived in their country. The <i>Israelites</i> did the same thing to their enemies, when the <i>LORD</i> gave the country to them. 


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38 years had passed since we left Kadesh-Barnea. All the fighting men of that <i>generation</i> had died. The <i>LORD</i> had said that this would happen. <n>We can read the words of the <i>LORD</i> in Deuteronomy 1:35. The <i>LORD</i> was angry with the <i>Israelites</i> because they did not believe in him. They did not believe that he would beat all their enemies. They were afraid to obey him and go into Canaan. 


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You will meet the people from Ammon. Do not make them angry so that they fight against you. I will not give you any of their country. I have given it to the <i>descendants</i> of Lot.” 


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(This country also belonged to the <i>Rephaites</i>, who had lived there. But the <i>descendants</i> of Ammon called them Zamzummites. 


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There were many Zamzummites and they were as tall and strong as the <i>descendants</i> of Anak. The <i>LORD</i> killed them when the <i>descendants</i> of Ammon sent them away. Then the <i>descendants</i> of Ammon lived in their country. 


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The <i>LORD</i> had done the same thing for the <i>descendants</i> of Esau. They lived in Seir. The <i>LORD</i> killed the <i>Horites</i> when the <i>descendants</i> of Esau sent them away. The <i>descendants</i> of Esau still live in their country today. 


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Also, people from the island called Crete came. And they killed the <i>Avvites</i>. The <i>Avvites</i> had lived in villages as far as Gaza. But the people from Crete killed them and they lived in their country.) 


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And God said, “Now go! Cross the River Arnon. Look, I have given the country of Sihon the <i>Amorite</i> to you. He is the king of Heshbon and you must fight against him. You must begin to take his country. 


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Today I will begin to make all the people in the world afraid of you. They will hear reports about you and they will be very frightened. You will cause them trouble.” <n>The <i>Israelites</i> beat Sihon, king of Heshbon.</n> 


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We were in the <i>desert</i> called Kedemoth when I sent a message to Sihon, king of Heshbon. We did not want to fight him. This is what I said to him: 


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“Please let us travel through your country. We will walk along your widest road. We will not turn to the right or to the left. 


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Please sell us food to eat and water to drink. We will pay you with <i>silver</i> coins. Please let us walk through your country. 


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The <i>descendants</i> of Esau, who live in Seir, let us do this. So did the <i>descendants</i> of Moab who live in Ar. Then we will cross the River Jordan. We will go into the country that the <i>LORD</i> our God is giving to us.” 


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But Sihon, king of Heshbon, refused to let us travel through his country. He was angry with us and he would not listen. The <i>LORD</i> your God caused that to happen. He wanted to give the country of Sihon to you. And he has now done that. 


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The <i>LORD</i> said to me, “Look! I have begun to give Sihon and his country to you. Now you must begin to fight him and to take his country.” 


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The <i>LORD</i> our God gave him to us and we beat him in the fight. We killed Sihon and his sons and his whole army. 


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At that time we took all his towns and destroyed them completely. We killed men, women and children. We left no one alive. 


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The <i>LORD</i> our God gave us every town. He gave us all the towns from Aroer, on the edge of the Arnon Valley, all the way to Gilead. He gave us the town in the middle of the Arnon Valley. No town was too strong for us. 


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But you obeyed the word of the <i>LORD</i> our God. You did not go near the country called Ammon. You did not go near the land by the River Jabbok. Neither did you go near the land round any of the towns in the hills. 


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Then we turned and went up, along the road towards Bashan. Og, king of Bashan, marched out to fight against us. He brought his whole army with him to Edrei. 


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But the <i>LORD</i> said to me, “Do not be afraid of him. I have given him to you with his whole army and his country. You must do to Og as you did to Sihon. Sihon was king of the <i>Amorites</i> and he lived in Heshbon.” 


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So the <i>LORD</i> our God also gave Og, king of Bashan, and all his army to us. We killed them and we left no one alive. 


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At that time, we marched into all of his cities. He had 60 cities and we marched into all of them. This was all the land called Argob in Bashan, where King Og ruled. 


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Every city had high walls and gates, which the people locked. There were also very many villages without walls. 


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We destroyed them completely, as we had done to the cities of Sihon, king of Heshbon. We destroyed every city and killed all the men, women and children. 


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So, at that time, we marched into the countries of these two kings of the <i>Amorites</i>. This country was east of the River Jordan, from the River Arnon to <i>Mount</i> Hermon. 


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We marched into all of the towns in the high, flat land and the whole of Gilead. We marched into all of Bashan, as far as Salecah and Edrei. These are towns in the country of Og, in Bashan. 


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(Only Og, king of Bashan, from the <i>descendants</i> of the <i>Rephaites</i> was still alive. He had an iron bed. It was more than 4 metres long and 2 metres wide. This bed is still in Rabbah, a town that belongs to the people from Ammon.) <n>Moses <i>divides</i> the country.</n> 


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When we marched into the country, I gave certain parts to the <i>tribes</i> of Reuben and Gad. I gave them the land north of Aroer by the River Arnon. This included one half of the hills and the towns in Gilead. 


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The other half of Gilead I gave to one half of the tribe of Manasseh. I also gave to them Bashan, the country that Og had ruled. (All the country of Argob in Bashan had been called the country of the <i>Rephaites</i>.) 


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A man called Jair, of the <i>tribe</i> of Manasseh, marched into all the land round Argob. He reached the edges of Geshur and Maacah. Then he gave his own name to that land. To this day, Bashan is called Havvoth-Jair. 


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But to the <i>tribes</i> of Reuben and Gad, I gave land from Gilead to the middle of the River Arnon. Their land is as far as the River Jabbok, where the country of the people from Ammon begins. 


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The edge of their land on the west was the River Jordan. This is from Arabah and Chinnereth to the Salt Sea, below <i>Mount</i> Pisgah. 


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At that time I said to you, “The <i>LORD</i> your God has given this land to you, for you to live in it. But all your fighting men, with their arms, must cross the River Jordan. You must go over before the other <i>descendants</i> of Israel. 


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But your wives, your children and your animals can stay in your towns. (I know that you have many animals.) 


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You must travel with the other <i>Israelites</i> until the <i>LORD</i> gives them rest. He has already given rest to you. The other <i>Israelites</i> must march into the country which the <i>LORD</i> your God is giving to them. This is the country across the Jordan. Then you can return to the land that I have given to you.” <n>The countries of Og and Bashan were not in Canaan. But the <i>tribes</i> of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh returned to live there, many years after this. <n>God tells Moses that he cannot cross the River Jordan.</n> 


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At that time, I <i>commanded</i> Joshua, “You have seen with your own eyes everything that the <i>LORD</i> your God has done to these two kings. The <i>LORD</i> will do the same thing to the countries of all the kings where you are going. 


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“<i>LORD</i> my God! I am your servant. You are showing me how great and how strong you are. There is no other god in <i>heaven</i> or on earth as great as you are. No other god can do the great things that you do. 


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Please let me go over the River Jordan! Please let me see the good country, the hills, the mountains and Lebanon!” 


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But the <i>LORD</i> was angry with me, because of you. He would not listen to me. He said, “That is enough! Do not speak to me any more about this thing. 


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Go up to the top of <i>Mount</i> Pisgah. Look west and north and south and east. Look at the country with your own eyes, because you will not cross this River Jordan. 


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Now you must tell Joshua what to do. Give him help. Teach him to be brave. He will lead Israel’s people over the river. He will be the leader in the fight against their enemies. Together they will march into the country that you are going to look at.” 


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Listen, Israel’s people, to the rules and <i>decrees</i> that I am going to teach you. If you obey them, you will live. You will march into the country and then it will belong to you. This is the country that the <i>LORD</i>, the God of your fathers, is giving to you. 


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Do not put anything new into these rules and do not remove anything from them. But obey the rules of the <i>LORD</i> your God that I am giving to you. 


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You saw with your own eyes what the <i>LORD</i> did at Baal-Peor. The <i>LORD</i> your God killed every one of you who obeyed Baal there. <n>At Shittim in the country called Moab, the men of Israel had sex with the women from Moab. These women taught the <i>Israelites</i> to kill animals for their own gods. The <i>Israelites</i> ate meals with the people from Moab and they obeyed Baal, the god of Peor. God was very angry. He told Moses to kill all the leaders of the <i>Israelites</i>. They had taught the <i>Israelites</i> to do bad things. We can read about this in Numbers 25:1-9. 


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Look! I have taught you the <i>decrees</i> and rules as the <i>LORD</i> my God told me to. Now you must obey them when you go into your country. <n>Every time that Moses says ‘your country’, he is speaking about Canaan. God had promised to give that country to the <i>descendants</i> of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We can read about this promise in Genesis 15:18. 


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Obey them carefully. They will show people in other countries that you understand right and good ways. These people will hear about all your rules. Then they will say, “These great people really do understand right and good ways.” 


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But the <i>LORD</i> our God is always near to us when we pray to him. It is not like that for the people in other countries. 


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And people from other countries do not have the good rules that you have in this <i>Law</i>. This is the <i>Law</i> that I am putting in front of you today. 


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But be careful. Always think about what you do. Do not forget the things that your eyes have seen. Remember these things for as long as you live. Tell your children and your grandchildren about the things that God has done. 


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Remember when you stood in front of the <i>LORD</i> your God at <i>Mount</i> Horeb. He said to me, “Bring all the people to me to hear what I say. Then they will learn to think and speak well about me. They will do this as long as they live in their country. And they will teach my words to their children.” 


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You came and stood at the edge of the mountain. You saw that it was on fire. The sky was full of black clouds and there was no light. 


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Then from the fire, the <i>LORD</i> spoke to you. You heard him speak but you did not see any shape. There was only a voice. 


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He explained to you his 10 special rules and he wrote them on two flat pieces of stone. He <i>commanded</i> you to obey them. 


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At that time, the <i>LORD</i> told me to teach you all his rules. When you cross the River Jordan, you must obey his rules in your new country. <n>God says that the <i>Israelites</i> must not have false gods</n> 


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You did not see any shape at all when the <i>LORD</i> spoke to you from the fire. So you must be very careful about everything that you do. 


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Do not change to do very bad things. Do not make a false god for yourselves, because that is wrong. Do not copy the shape of a man or a woman, 


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Do not copy the shape of anything that moves along the ground. Do not copy the shape of any fish that swims in the water. 


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When you look up at the sky, you see the sun, the moon and the stars. They are all shining in the sky. But do not <i>worship</i> them. They are things that the <i>LORD</i> your God has given to everyone on the earth. 


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But you are different. The <i>LORD</i> took you out of Egypt, which was like a place of fire. He took you out, to be his own people. Now you belong to him because he has chosen you. 


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The <i>LORD</i> was angry with me, because of you. He told me again and again that I would not cross the River Jordan. I cannot go into the good country that the <i>LORD</i> your God is giving to you. 


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I will die in this country. I will not cross the River Jordan. But you will soon cross over and God will give to you that good country. 


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Be careful! Do not forget the <i>covenant</i> that the <i>LORD</i> your God made with you. Do not make for yourselves a false god in any shape. The <i>LORD</i> says that you must never do that. 


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That is because the love of the <i>LORD</i> your God is like a burning fire. He cannot let you go away from him. He cannot let you love another god. 


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Even when you have lived in the country for many years, be careful. Do not start to do wrong things. When you have children and grandchildren, do not make a false god in any shape. This would make the <i>LORD</i> your God angry. 


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I want everyone on earth and in <i>heaven</i> to hear what I am saying against you today. If you do not obey me, you will soon die. You will not live long in your country across the River Jordan. The <i>LORD</i> will let people from other countries kill you. 


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He will send you away to live in other countries. Only a few of you will stay alive in the countries where the <i>LORD</i> sends you. 


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There you will obey gods that men have made out of wood and stone. These gods cannot see or hear. They cannot use their mouths or their noses. 


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But even then, if you look for the <i>LORD</i> your God, you will find him. You must really want to find him. If you do, you will certainly find him. 


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When trouble happens to you in future days, you will return to him. When all these bad things have happened to you, you will obey him again. 


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This is because the <i>LORD</i> your God is kind and good. He will not leave you or kill you. He will not forget the promise that he made to your <i>ancestors</i> This is a serious promise and God will not forget it. <n>The <i>LORD</i> is God.</n> 


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Ask me now about the things that happened many years ago. Ask about the days before you were alive. Ask how God made men and women on the earth. Ask people from every country in the world. Nothing as great as this has ever happened. People have never heard of anything like this. 


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Only you, the <i>Israelites</i>, have heard the voice of God and have not died. You have heard him speaking to you from the fire. And you have still lived! 


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No other god has tried to take one special <i>nation</i> for himself out of another country. The <i>LORD</i> your God did this for you in Egypt. You saw how he used his powerful authority there. He brought bad troubles and war. He did great and frightening things in Egypt. 


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The <i>LORD</i> has shown you all these things. They show you that he is the only God. There is no other God. 


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God let you hear his voice. He spoke to you so that he could teach you. Here on earth he let you see his great fire. He spoke to you from that fire. 


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He brought you out of Egypt because he loved your <i>ancestors</i>. He chose you, their <i>descendants</i>, and he brought you out of Egypt. He did this by himself. He is great and powerful. 


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He sent away the people of other countries who are greater and stronger than you. He sent them away in front of you. He did this to give you their country. This country now belongs to you. 


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Remember today and never forget that the <i>LORD</i> is God. He is God in the sky above you and on the earth below it. There is no other God. 


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Obey his <i>decrees</i> and his rules that I am giving you today. If you do that, everything will be well for you and for your children after you. You will continue to live in your country. The <i>LORD</i> your God is giving it to you for all time.’ <n>Safe cities</n> 


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These were safe places for any person who killed another person. But only if he did not want to kill him. If the killer was not the enemy of the man, the killer could run into one of the cities. There he would be safe from death. 


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Moses chose Bezer, in the flat <i>desert</i>, for the <i>tribe</i> of Reuben. He chose Ramoth, in Gilead, for the <i>tribe</i> of Gad. And he chose Golan, in Bashan, for the <i>tribe</i> of Manasseh. <n>Moses teaches the <i>Law</i> to the <i>Israelites</i>.</n> 


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These are the rules, the <i>decrees</i> and the <i>commands</i>. Moses explained them to the <i>Israelites</i> when they left Egypt. 


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At that time they were in the valley, near to Beth-Peor. That is east of the River Jordan. This was the country of Sihon, king of the <i>Amorites</i>. He ruled in Heshbon. Moses and the <i>Israelites</i> beat him when they came out of Egypt. 


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They marched into his country, which then became their own country. They also marched into the country of Og, king of Bashan. These two kings of the <i>Amorites</i> lived east of the River Jordan. 


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This country was from Aroer, on the edge of the River Arnon, to <i>Mount</i> Sion (that is <i>Mount</i> Hermon). 


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This country included all the land east of the River Jordan. To the south, it was to the Dead Sea and to <i>Mount</i> Pisgah. <n>Chapters 5 6 and 7 - Moses teaches and explains again the 10 special rules that God gave him.</n> 


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Moses called all the <i>Israelites</i> together and said, ‘Listen, Israelites, to the rules that I explain to you today. You can hear what I am saying. Learn the rules and obey them. 


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He did not make this promise to our fathers. He made it to us, to all of us who are alive here today. 


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The <i>LORD</i> turned his face toward your faces and he spoke to you. He spoke out of the fire on the mountain. 


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(At that time, I stood between the <i>LORD</i> and you. I repeated the <i>LORD</i>’s words to you. You were afraid of the fire, so you did not go up the mountain.) And God said: 


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You will not make a false god for yourself. Do not make the shape of anything that is in the sky above nor on the earth beneath. Do not make the shape of anything that lives in the water. 


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You must not bend down to them or obey them. I, the <i>LORD</i> your God, love you with a powerful love. I cannot let you love any other god. I <i>punish</i> children because of the bad things that their fathers have done. I do this to the grandchildren and to their children of everyone who hates me. 


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You must not use the name of the <i>LORD</i> your God in a wrong way. The <i>LORD</i> will not excuse anyone who does this. 


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But the 7th day is a day for rest which the <i>LORD</i> your God has given to you. On that day, you must not do any work. Neither will your children work, nor your servants, nor your animals, nor people from other countries who live with you. Your servants must rest in the same way as you rest. 


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You must remember that you were slaves in Egypt. But I, the <i>LORD</i> your God, brought you out by my powerful authority. So the <i>LORD</i> your God has told you to make the <i>Sabbath</i> day a special day. 


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Always be very kind to your father and mother, as the <i>LORD</i> your God has told you. If you do that, you will have a long life. Also, your life will be good and happy in the country that God is giving to you. 


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You must not want another man’s wife. You must not want the house or the field of another person. You must not want his slaves or his animals or anything that is his.” 


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These are the rules that the <i>LORD</i> spoke in a loud voice to you. You were all there. He spoke from the mountain, from the middle of a great fire. There was a cloud, but there was no light. He spoke only these words. Then he wrote them on two flat stones and he gave them to me. 


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There was no light when you heard the voice of God. The mountain burned with fire. Then your leaders and your older men came to me. 


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And they said, “The <i>LORD</i> our God has shown us how powerful and how special he is. We have seen how great he is and we have heard his voice from the fire. This is what we have seen today: A man can live, even if God speaks to him. 


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But now, we do not want to die. This great fire will kill us. We will die if we continue to hear the voice of our God. 


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No other person has ever heard the voice of God and lived. We heard him speak out of the fire. And we are still alive! 


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Please go near to the <i>LORD</i> our God. Listen to all that he says. Then tell us what he tells you. We will listen and obey.” 


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The <i>LORD</i> heard what you said to me. He answered, “I have heard what these <i>Israelites</i> said to you. All that they said was good. 


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I really want them to obey me and to love my rules always! If they do that, everything will always be well for them and for their children. 


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But I want you to stay here with me. I will give you all the rules and <i>decrees</i> that you must teach to the people. I will give this country to them so that they can keep it. But they must obey all these rules when they are living in that country.” 


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You must live as the <i>LORD</i> your God says. If you do that, you will live for many years in your own country. You will enjoy all your good work. 


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These are all the rules. The <i>LORD</i> your God told me to teach them to you. You must obey them when you live in your own country across the River Jordan. 


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You and your children and your grandchildren must be afraid to make the <i>LORD</i> your God angry. You must obey all his rules as long as you live. If you do that, you will enjoy a long life. 


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Listen, <i>Israelites</i>! Be careful to obey God’s rules. If you do that, everything will be well for you. Your groups of families will become very large, in a country full of good food and drink. The <i>LORD</i>, the God of your fathers, promised that this will happen. 


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Love the <i>LORD</i> your God with all of your mind and your thoughts. Make him the most important person in your lives. Think about him every day. 


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Teach them and explain them every day to your children. Talk about them when you sit at home. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Repeat them when you lie down. Repeat them when you get up. 


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Write them over the doors of your houses and on your gates. <n>The parents must teach their children to love God. If they do that, the children will learn to obey him. 


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The <i>LORD</i> your God is bringing you into the country that he promised to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This country has large, busy cities that you did not build. 


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There are houses there full of good things that you did not put into them. There are wells of water that you did not dig. There are fields of <i>grapes</i> and <i>olives</i> that you did not plant. You can eat as much as you want. 


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But be careful that you do not forget the <i>LORD</i>. He brought you out of Egypt where you were slaves. 


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You must be afraid to make the <i>LORD</i> your God angry. And you must obey him only. Make all your promises by his authority. 


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The <i>LORD</i> your God lives among you. It is very important to him that you love only him. You must not love other gods. If you do love them, you will make him very angry with you. And then he will kill you. That will happen if you obey other gods. 


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Do what is right and good. And give pleasure to the <i>LORD</i>. If you do that, all will be well with you. And you will be able to go into the good country. The <i>LORD</i> promised this country to your <i>ancestors</i>. 


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Some day your son may say to you, “The <i>LORD</i> our God has given you all these rules and <i>decrees</i>. But what do they mean?” 


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Then you must tell him this: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt. But the <i>LORD</i> is very powerful and he brought us out of Egypt. 


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We watched him do great and powerful things to Egypt. And he did them to Pharaoh and to the people who lived in his house. 


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But the <i>LORD</i> brought us out of Egypt. He led us into this country and he gave it to us. He did this because he made a serious promise to our <i>ancestors</i>. 


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The <i>LORD</i> told us that we should obey all these rules. If you do that, we will always do well. And we will continue to live. This is happening to us today. 


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We must be careful to obey all the rules of the <i>LORD</i> our God. When we do this, we become good people. Everything that we do will be right.” 


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The <i>LORD</i> your God is bringing you into the country that will be your country. He will send away many people from other countries, in front of you. There are seven <i>nations</i> that are larger and stronger than you are. They are the <i>Hittites</i>, <i>Girgashites</i>, <i>Amorites</i>, <i>Canaanites</i>, <i>Perizzites</i>, <i>Hivites</i> and <i>Jebusites</i>. 


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When the <i>LORD</i> your God has given them to you, you will beat them. Then you must kill them completely. Make no promises to them and do not be kind to them. 


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You must not marry any of these people. Do not let your daughters marry their sons. Do not take their daughters to marry your sons. 


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This is because they will turn your sons away from God’s rules. Then your sons will begin to obey other gods. The <i>LORD</i> will be very angry with you and he will quickly kill you. 


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This is what you must do to the people of these countries. Break the stone tables where they offer animals to their gods. Cut down the very tall sticks there that they have used to <i>worship</i> their gods. Burn their false gods in a fire. 


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Do this because you are special people. You belong to the <i>LORD</i> your God. He has chosen you out of everyone who lives on the earth. You are his own people and he loves you very much. 


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The <i>LORD</i> loved you and chose you. This was not because you were the largest <i>nation</i> on the earth. No, you were only a few people, the smallest <i>nation</i> on the earth. 


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But it was because the <i>LORD</i> loved you. And he wanted his promise to your <i>ancestors</i> to become true. So he saved you by his powerful authority and he brought you out of Egypt. Then he made you free from the power of Pharaoh, when you were Pharaoh’s slaves. 


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Remember that the <i>LORD</i> your God is the only God. You can always believe in him. He has made a promise to all those who love him. <n>If they obey him, he will love them and all their children for thousands (1000s) of years. 


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Listen to these rules and obey them. If you do that, the <i>LORD</i> your God will continue to love you. He promised your <i>ancestors</i> that he would do this. 


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He will love you and he will stay with you always. He will give you many children and he will be with your babies. He will make good food grow in your fields. He will give you plenty of food and drink. He will be with all your animals and give you many cows and sheep. He will do this in the country that he is giving to you. He made this promise to your <i>ancestors</i>. 


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God will make you greater than anyone else on the earth. You will all have children and none of your animals will be without young animals. 


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The <i>LORD</i> will give you good health. He will not send to you any of the bad illnesses from Egypt that you knew about. He will send these illnesses to people who hate you. 


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You must kill the people in every <i>nation</i> that the <i>LORD</i> your God gives to you. Do not be kind to them and do not obey their gods. They will only make you <i>rebel</i> against your God. 


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Perhaps you will say to each other, “The people in these <i>nations</i> are stronger than we are. We cannot send them away.” 


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But do not be afraid of them. You must remember what the <i>LORD</i> your God did to Pharaoh and to all the people from Egypt. 


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You saw it all with your own eyes. You saw the great troubles, the strange and powerful things that happened there. And you saw the <i>LORD</i> your God bring you out with great authority. He will do this again to all the people that make you afraid. 


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Also, the <i>LORD</i> your God will send cruel insects among these people. Even those people who hide from you will die. 


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Do not let anyone frighten you. The <i>LORD</i> your God is among you. He is a great and powerful God. 


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The <i>LORD</i> your God will send away the people from those <i>nations</i>, one at a time. He will not let you kill them immediately. If he did that, wild animals would soon fill the country round you. 


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But the <i>LORD</i> your God will give all the people in these <i>nations</i> to you. He will confuse them completely and he will kill them. 


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He will give their kings to you and no one will remember them any more. No one will be able to beat you. You will kill them all. 


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You must burn their false gods in a fire. You must not want to keep the <i>silver</i> and gold on the gods. The <i>LORD</i> your God hates it. So do not take it for yourselves because it will cause trouble for you. 


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Do not bring anything that God hates into your house. If you do, he will put a mark on you, to destroy both you and the bad thing. God has said that he will destroy it. So you must hate it also. 


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Be careful! Obey every rule that I am giving to you today. If you do that, you will live. And you will have many children. You will be able to go into the country. It will become your country. This is the country that the <i>LORD</i> your God promised to your <i>ancestors</i>. 


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Remember how the <i>LORD</i> your God led you all the way in the <i>desert</i>. He led you for 40 years and he sent many troubles to you. He did that for three reasons. He wanted to make you <i>humble</i>. He wanted to know whether you would obey him. And he wanted to know whether you would believe all his words. 


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He caused you to be hungry and then he fed you with special food called <i>manna</i>. Neither you nor your fathers had eaten this food before. By this, he taught you that a man does not live only on bread. A man also needs every word that God speaks to him. These words will teach him how to live a good life. <n>In Exodus 16:4, 5 we can read how God sent the <i>manna</i>. This was special bread from God’s home that fell like rain on to the <i>desert</i> for 6 mornings every week. On the 6th morning, the <i>Israelites</i> picked up twice as much. This was because God sent no <i>manna</i> on the <i>Sabbath</i> day. 


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Your clothes did not become too old to wear. Your feet did not become too painful to walk on during all those 40 years. 


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So you can certainly know that the <i>LORD</i> your God is teaching you. And he is <i>punishing</i> you when you do the wrong things. He is doing that in the same way that a man teaches his son to do the right things. 


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Obey the rules of the <i>LORD</i> your God. Always do the things that will give him pleasure. Think about him all the time. 


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Do this because the <i>LORD</i> your God is bringing you into a good country. It is a country with many streams and pools of water. There is water that runs in the valleys and in the hills. 


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It is a country full of good food that grows in the fields. A lot of fruit is hanging on the trees. 


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It is a country where there is enough bread for everyone. You will have everything that you need. It is a country where the stones are full of iron. You can dig other metals out of the hills. 


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You can eat all the food that you want. Then remember to thank the <i>LORD</i> your God. He has given you this good country. 


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Be careful that you do not forget the <i>LORD</i> your God. Always remember to obey all his rules and <i>decrees</i>. I am giving them to you today. 


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In a future time, you will have all the food that you can eat. You will build beautiful houses to live in. 


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You will have many cows and sheep and a lot of gold and <i>silver</i>. You will have more and more things that are yours. 


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Then be careful! You may begin to think too well about yourselves. Then you will forget the <i>LORD</i> your God. He brought you out of Egypt, where you were slaves. 


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He led you through the large and frightening <i>desert</i>. There was no water to drink. The <i>desert</i> was full of dangerous snakes and insects. He made water rise out of a hard rock for you. 


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He gave <i>manna</i> to you to eat in the <i>desert</i>. That was something that your fathers never saw. He sent difficulties to you. He did that for two reasons. He wanted to make you <i>humble</i>. And he wanted to know whether you would obey him. He did those things because he wants to do good things for you in the end. 


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Perhaps you will say to yourself, “I have got all these good things by myself because I am strong!” 


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But you must always remember the <i>LORD</i> your God. It is he who is helping you to get many good things. He wants to do the good things that he promised to your <i>ancestors</i>. And that is what is happening today. 


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Do not ever forget the <i>LORD</i> your God. Do not look at other gods. Do not give things to them and do not <i>worship</i> them. If you do that, God will certainly kill you. That is what I am telling you today. 


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As the <i>LORD</i> killed the people in other <i>nations</i>, because of you, so he will kill you. This will happen if you do not obey the <i>LORD</i> your God.’ 


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Moses said, ‘Listen, <i>Israelites</i>! You will soon cross the River Jordan. You will march into your country. You will send away people in many <i>nations</i> who are stronger than you are. They are more powerful and they have large cities with very high walls. 


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The people there are strong and tall. They are called Anakites! You know about them. You have heard people say, “No one can beat the Anakites.” 


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But you can be sure today that the <i>LORD</i> your God goes across in front of you. He is like a burning fire. He will destroy your enemies. He will make them do what he says. And you will send them away and remove them quickly. The <i>LORD</i> has promised that this will happen. 


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After the <i>LORD</i> your God has driven them away in front of you, be careful! Do not say to yourself, “The <i>LORD</i> has brought me into this country because I am doing right things.” No, it is because these people are doing wrong things. That is why the <i>LORD</i> will send them away from you. 


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It is not because you are doing right things. It is not because you always obey God. This is not the reason that God will give their country to you. The <i>LORD</i> your God will send them away from you because they are doing wrong things. So he will do what he promised to your <i>ancestors</i>, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 


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You must understand this. The <i>LORD</i> your God is not giving you this good country because you are doing right things. No, you really think too well about yourselves. You do not like to obey God. You want to do things that give you pleasure. <n>The young cow that the people made from gold</n> 


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You must never forget how you made the <i>LORD</i> your God angry in the <i>desert</i>. You have failed to obey the <i>LORD</i>. From the day when you left Egypt, until today, you have not obeyed him. 


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When you were at <i>Mount</i> Horeb you made the <i>LORD</i> angry. He was angry enough to kill you. 


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I climbed the mountain to receive the two flat stones from the <i>LORD</i>. On these stones the <i>LORD</i> had written the promise that he had made with you. I stayed with him for 40 days and nights. During those days, I did not eat or drink anything. 


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Then the <i>LORD</i> gave the two flat stones to me. He had written all his rules on the stones with his own finger. The <i>LORD</i> told you these rules, when he spoke from the fire. This was on the day when you all came together to the mountain. 


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Then the <i>LORD</i> said to me, “Go down the mountain immediately! The people that you led out of Egypt have become very bad. They have already refused to obey my rules and they have made a false god for themselves.” 


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And the <i>LORD</i> said to me, “I know that these people do not like to obey me. They want to do things that give them pleasure. 


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Do not try to stop me. I will kill them and no one on the earth will remember them. Then I will make you into a <i>nation</i> that is stronger and larger than they are.” 


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So I turned and I went down the mountain. It was burning with fire and the two stones with the promise were in my hands. 


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I looked at you. I saw that you had <i>sinned</i>. You had made a false god for yourselves in the shape of a young cow. You had already refused to obey the <i>LORD</i>. 


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Then again I fell down on my face, in front of the <i>LORD</i>, for 40 days and nights. I did not eat or drink anything. You had <i>sinned</i>. You had refused to obey the <i>LORD</i>. You had made him very angry. 


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I was afraid because the <i>LORD</i> was so angry. He was angry enough with you to kill you. But again the <i>LORD</i> listened to me. 


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The <i>LORD</i> was also angry enough with my brother Aaron, to kill him. But at that time, I prayed for Aaron also. 


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Then I took that <i>sinful</i> thing that you had made. I took that young cow made from gold. I burned it in the fire and I broke it in pieces. Then I broke it into powder and threw the powder into a stream from the mountain. 


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Then, when the <i>LORD</i> sent you out from Kadesh-Barnea, he said, “March into the country that I have given you.” But you refused to obey the words of the <i>LORD</i> your God. You did not believe in him or obey him. 


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So I lay on my face in front of the <i>LORD</i> for those 40 days and nights. He had said that he would kill you. 


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So I prayed to the <i>LORD</i>. I said, “<i>LORD</i> our King, do not kill your people! They are really your people, because you saved them by your powerful authority. You are so strong that you brought them out of Egypt. 


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Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Please <i>forgive</i> your people who have not obeyed you. 


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For if you do not <i>forgive</i> them, the people in Egypt will say, ‘The <i>LORD</i> was not strong enough to take them into their country. He had promised to do this. But he took them into the <i>desert</i> to kill them. He did this because he hated them!’ 


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But they are your people and they belong to you. You are so strong and powerful that you brought them out.” 


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At that time, the <i>LORD</i> said to me, “Cut out two new flat stones. Also, make a box from wood and then come up to me, on the mountain. 


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I will write on these stones the words that I wrote on the first stones. You broke the first stones, but you must put the new stones into the box.” 


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So I made an <i>ark</i> from special wood and I cut two new flat stones. Then I went up the mountain. I was carrying the stones. 


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The <i>LORD</i> wrote on the stones the words that he had written before. He wrote the same 10 special rules that he gave you before. He did this on the mountain, when he spoke from the fire. This happened on the day when you came together to the mountain. And the <i>LORD</i> gave the stones to me. 


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Then I came down from the mountain. I put the stones into the special box, the <i>ark</i> that I had made. The <i>LORD</i> told me to do that. And they are still there now.’ 


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(The <i>Israelites</i> travelled to Moserah from the wells that belonged to the <i>descendants</i> of Jaakan. Aaron died there and they buried him. Then Eleazar, his son, became <i>priest</i> instead. 


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At that time, the <i>LORD</i> chose the <i>tribe</i> of Levi to carry the <i>ark</i>. He chose them to be his special servants. They had to tell the <i>Israelites</i> that God was always near to them. They still do this today. 


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That is why the <i>Levites</i> do not have any land. The <i>LORD</i> told them that they would always be nearer to him than the other <i>Israelites</i>. He would give them work to do for him. And he would give them everything that they needed. So they would not need any land.) 


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‘I stayed on the mountain for 40 days and nights, as I did the first time. The <i>LORD</i> listened to me again. He did not want to kill you. 


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And the <i>LORD</i> said to me, “Go, and lead the people on their journey. Then they can go into the country and make it their country. They can do this because I made a promise to their fathers that I would give it to them.” <n>Obey the <i>LORD</i> always.</n> 


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And now, <i>Israelites</i>, this is what the <i>LORD</i> your God asks you to do. You should always be afraid to make him angry. You should live to give pleasure to him. Be happy, as you love him! Be happy, as you work for him! 


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And you should obey his rules and <i>decrees</i> that I am giving to you today. If you do that, you will do well. 


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The whole of the sky, far beyond what you can see, belongs to the <i>LORD</i> your God. The earth and everything that is in it, also belongs to him. 


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But the <i>LORD</i> loved your <i>ancestors</i> so much that he chose you. You are their children. He chose you from the people of all other countries and you belong to him today. 


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For the <i>LORD</i> your God is greater than all other gods. He is stronger than every other authority. He is very great and very powerful. He is fair to everyone. And everything that he does is completely right. 


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He is very kind to women whose husbands have died. He is very kind to children who have no fathers. They need his help and he loves them. He loves people who are living in a foreign country. He gives them the things that they need. 


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Always be ready to obey the <i>LORD</i> your God as his servants. Stay near to him and make your promises by his authority. 


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Tell God how great and important he is. He is your God. He did great and powerful things for you, which you saw with your own eyes. 


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Only 70 of your <i>ancestors</i> went down to Egypt. Now the <i>LORD</i> your God has made you as many as the stars in the sky! <n>Jacob (Israel) was living in the country called Canaan, when God spoke to him. God told Jacob and his family to go to Egypt to live. But he promised to bring them out again. They would come back to Canaan one day. <n>We can read about this in Genesis 46:2- 4. 


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Love the <i>LORD</i> your God always. Obey all his rules and <i>decrees</i> and everything that he <i>commands</i> you. 


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Remember this today! Your children have not seen all the great things that God has done. He can <i>punish</i> people so that they learn not to do the wrong things. You saw that he can do that. You saw his great and powerful authority. You saw how special and important he is. No one can ever beat him. 


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You saw the things that God did to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and to all his people. They were not usual things, but powerful things. 


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You saw it when God removed the whole army of Egypt, with all their horses. They were marching quickly to catch you. But God caused them to drown in the Red Sea. 


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Your children did not see all the things that the <i>LORD</i> did for you in the <i>desert</i>. But he brought you to this place. 


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Your children did not see what he did to Dathan and Abiram. These men were sons of Eliab, from the <i>tribe</i> of Reuben. God caused the earth to open up, in front of everyone. These men fell into the hole with all their families, their <i>tents</i> and their animals. 


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It was you, not your children. It was you who saw God do all these great things. <n>The country called Canaan is not like Egypt.</n> 


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Now you must obey all the rules that I give to you today. If you do that, you will be strong and brave. You will cross the River Jordan and you will march into the country. Then it will become your country.


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You will live for a long time in this country. The <i>LORD</i> promised your <i>ancestors</i> that he would give it to you. It is a country where there is enough very good food and drink for everyone. 


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This country is not like Egypt, where you lived before. There, when you planted seeds, you had to give them water to make them grow. 


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But the country into which you will go has mountains and valleys. These receive rain that God gives. 


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So you must obey the rules that I am giving to you today. I tell you to love the <i>LORD</i> your God. Work for him and obey him. And you must really want to do that! 


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If you do that, he will send rain on your country at the right time, in autumn and in spring. Then you can take home the food and the fruit that will grow in your fields. 


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God will make grass grow in your fields for your cows. And you will have all the food that you want. <n>Most plants in the country called Canaan need two seasons of rain. It rained in the autumn and it rained in the spring. Other countries may need rain at a different season. <n>Remember all God’s words.</n> 


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But be careful! Do not let anything cause you to forget the <i>LORD</i>. If something does that, you will begin to think about other gods. Then you will obey them. 


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If you do that, the <i>LORD</i> will be very angry with you. He will not send the rain and nothing will grow from the ground. Then you will soon die in the good country that the <i>LORD</i> is giving to you. 


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Keep my words always in your minds. Write them on pieces of cotton and then tie them on to your hands. Tie them round your heads also. Then they will be like signs for you and you will remember them. 


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Teach my words to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house. Talk about them when you walk along the road. Talk about them when you go to your bed. Talk about them when you get up. 


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If you do that, you and your <i>descendants</i> will live in the country for a long time. You will continue to live there while there is a sky above the earth. 


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Be careful! Every day, you must obey the rules that I am giving to you. These are the rules: <n>Love the <i>LORD</i> your God. <n>Do everything that he <i>commands</i> you. <n>Stay close to him. 


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If you do that, the <i>LORD</i> will fight on your behalf. He will send away the people in all these <i>nations</i> as you go into this country. You will send away people from <i>nations</i> that are larger and stronger than you. 


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Every place on which you walk will be yours. All the country from the <i>desert</i> to Lebanon will be yours. And all the country from the River Euphrates to the Mediterranean Sea will be yours. 


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God will not let anyone stop you. The <i>LORD</i> your God has made a promise to you: He will cause everyone to be afraid of you, everywhere that you go. 


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And bad things will happen if you do not obey these rules. Then you will go away from God. You will obey gods that you do not know. 


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The <i>LORD</i> will bring you into the country that will be yours. Then you must pronounce these things with a loud, serious voice. Pronounce the good things from <i>Mount</i> Gerizim and the bad things from <i>Mount</i> Ebal. 


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You know that these mountains are west of the River Jordan. They are in the country of the <i>Canaanites</i> who live in the Jordan valley. They are not far from the great trees at Moreh, near to Gilgal. 


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Soon you will cross the River Jordan. Soon you will take for yourself the country that the <i>LORD</i> is giving to you. When this happens, you will begin to live there. 


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Then be careful and remember! You must obey all the rules and <i>decrees</i> that I am giving to you today. 


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These are the rules and <i>decrees</i> that you must obey. Be careful! You must obey them in the country that the <i>LORD</i> has given to you. You must obey them all the time that you live there. 


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You must destroy completely all the places where the people in other <i>nations</i> pray to their gods. You will find these places on high mountains. You will find them on hills and under large trees. 


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You must break the tables and the things that they have made from stones for their gods. You must burn their special tall sticks and you must cut down their false gods. And you must remove the names of those gods from these places. 


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But you must look for the special place that the <i>LORD</i> your God will choose. He will stay there and that place will be his place. You must go to that place 


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to bring your <i>burnt-offerings</i> and other gifts to God. There you must bring one thing from every 10 things that God gives to you. And you must bring the gifts that you lift up to the <i>LORD</i>. So you will bring the things that you have promised and also any extra gifts. Bring the first cows and sheep that are born, too. 


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You and your families will eat and be happy there. You will be with the <i>LORD</i> your God. You will enjoy all your work because the <i>LORD</i> your God will stay near to you. 


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When that time happens, you must live in a different way. Today, everyone is doing the things that he likes. 


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You have not yet reached the country where you can rest. This is the country that the <i>LORD</i> is giving you. 


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But you will cross the River Jordan and begin to live in that country. He will give you rest from all your enemies round you. You will be safe. 


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Then the <i>LORD</i> your God will choose one special place. You must pray to him there. Bring to him everything that I have told you. You must bring your animals to kill and burn as gifts to God. Bring your other gifts to God. You must bring one thing from every 10 things that God gives to you. And you must bring the gifts that you lift up to the <i>LORD</i>. And bring the valuable things that you have promised to the <i>LORD</i>. Bring everything to the place that God will choose. 


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And there you will all be happy, with the <i>LORD</i> your God, you, your children and your servants. Also the <i>Levites</i> from your towns will have no land, but they will still be happy. 


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You must only offer your <i>burnt-offerings</i> in the place that the <i>LORD</i> will choose. This will be in the land that belongs to one of your <i>tribes</i>. When you are there, you must obey all my words. 


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But you can kill and eat your animals in any of your towns. You can eat as much meat as you want. The <i>LORD</i> gives it to you. People who are obeying God can eat it. But people who have not yet made themselves ready for God can eat it also. 


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Do not eat any of your gifts to the <i>LORD</i> in the places where you live. Do not eat there the gifts of one thing out of every 10 things of your food and drink. Do not eat there the first cows or sheep that are born. Do not eat there the valuable things that you have promised to the <i>LORD</i> or your extra gifts to him. And do not eat there the gifts that you lift up to the <i>LORD</i>. 


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Instead, you must eat these things in front of the <i>LORD</i> your God. This will be in the place that he chooses. You and all your family, your servants and the <i>Levites</i> will be very happy. This is because the <i>LORD</i> is very near to you. You will be very happy about everything that you do. 


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Be careful never to forget the <i>Levites</i>, all the time that you live in your country. <n>The <i>Levites</i> were the special servants of God. They did not have any land. So the <i>Israelites</i> must give to the <i>Levites</i> some of the food that they had offered to God. The <i>Israelites</i> must always remember to do this. They must give to the <i>Levites</i> whatever the <i>Levites</i> needed. 


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The <i>LORD</i> your God has promised to give you more and more land. When he does this, you may be very hungry. Perhaps you will say, “I would like some meat.” If you think that, you can eat meat. You can eat as much meat as you want. 


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The place that God has chosen may be too far away from you. If it is, you can kill an animal. And you can eat meat at home. The <i>LORD</i> has given your animals to you. I have told you how to kill them. 


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You can eat them in the same way as you eat wild animals. People who are obeying God can eat them. But people who have not yet made themselves ready for God can also eat them. 


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But be careful not to eat the blood. The life of the animal is in the blood. You must not eat the life together with the meat. 


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Do not eat it! If you obey this rule, everything will be well for you and your family. You will do what is right and give pleasure to the <i>LORD</i>. 


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Take all the special gifts that you have chosen. Take also the gifts that you have promised. Bring them to the place that the <i>LORD</i> will choose. 


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Take your <i>burnt-offerings</i>. Put them on the special table of the <i>LORD</i> your God, both the meat and the blood. You must pour the blood next to the special table, but you can eat the meat. 


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Be careful to obey all these rules that I am giving to you. If you do that, you and your children will always do well. This is good and right, and you will give God pleasure. 


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When you march into the country, the <i>LORD</i> your God will remove the people from in front of you. You must kill them and live in their place. 


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But when you have killed them, be careful! Do not let their false gods become important to you. Do not say, “How did these people pray to their gods? How did they obey them? We will do the same as they did!” 


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You must not do as they do. When they pray, they do many bad things. The <i>LORD</i> your God hates these bad things. They even burn their children in the fire, as gifts to their gods. 


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Be careful to do everything that I <i>command</i> you. Do not put anything else with it. Do not take away anything from it. 


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There may appear among you a person who dreams about future events. He may promise that something special will happen. 


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This is because he wants you to stop thinking about the <i>LORD</i> your God. He wants you to obey other gods. You do not know these gods. The thing that the person spoke about may happen. 


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But you must not listen to him. The <i>LORD</i> your God is using this person to check your thoughts. He wants to know whether you really love him. He wants to know how much you love him. 


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You must follow the <i>LORD</i> your God. You must pray to him and to no one else. Obey his rules and do what he <i>commands</i> you. Work for him and give him pleasure. 


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The man who dreams false dreams about future events must die. He has taught you to say “No!” to the <i>LORD</i> your God. The <i>LORD</i> brought you out of Egypt and saved you from the country of slaves. This bad man has tried to make you do wrong things, not right things. But you must live as God has taught you. You must not let this bad thing remain among you. 


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If anyone says secretly to you, “Let us pray to some other gods”, DO NOT LISTEN! This may be your own brother or one of your children. It may be your wife whom you love. It may be a friend who is near to you. 


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(The people round you may pray to these other gods. They may be near to you or far from you. They are gods that neither you nor your fathers have known.) 


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Do not do what your family suggests. Do not listen to your friend when he talks about other gods. Do not be sorry for him or try to save him. 


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You must kill him! You must be the first person to throw stones at him. Then all the people must do the same thing. 


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You must throw stones at him until he dies. He tried to stop you from thinking about the <i>LORD</i> your God. It was the <i>LORD</i> who brought you out of Egypt. Egypt was the country where you were slaves. 


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Then all Israel’s people will hear about this. They will be afraid and no one will do such a bad thing again. 


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Very bad men from among you may have led the people in one town in a false way. They may have said, “Let us go and pray to other gods!” (These are gods that you do not know.) 


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Then you must be very careful to check this news. You must discover if it is true or false. You must know whether people really have done this bad thing among you. 


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You must bring together all the things that the people of the town have. Put the things in the square place in the middle of the town. Then burn the town and everything in it as a <i>burnt-offering</i> to the <i>LORD</i> your God. Nobody must ever build that town again. 


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You must not keep any of the things for yourselves. Burn them all, as I am telling you. If you do that, the <i>LORD</i> will stop being angry. He will be good and kind to you. He will give you many children, as he promised to your <i>ancestors</i>. 


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This will happen if you obey the <i>LORD</i> your God. You must obey all his rules that I am giving to you today. And you must do right things, that give him pleasure. 


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You belong to the <i>LORD</i> your God. You are like his own family. You weep for people who have died. But you must not cut yourselves. And you must not cut the hair from the front of your head. <n>People from other countries would cut their bodies or their hair when their friends died. This showed that they felt sad. <i>Israelites</i> must not do these things. 


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You are special people because you are the family of the <i>LORD</i> your God. The <i>LORD</i> has chosen you from all the other people on the earth. You are his special people and he loves you. 


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You can eat any animal with feet that grow in two halves. These animals must also bring their food back into their mouths and eat it again. <n>All the animals in verses 4 and 5 have feet that grow in two halves. They also bring their food back into their mouths and eat it again. God said that these were ‘clean’ animals. ‘Clean’ animals means animals that the <i>Israelites</i> could eat. 


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But you must not eat these animals: the camel, the rabbit and the rock badger. They bring back their food but they do not have feet in two halves. For this reason they are not good food for you. 


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The pig is not good food either. It has feet in two halves but it does not bring back its food. You must not eat any of these animals. You must not even touch their dead bodies. 


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But there are things in the water that do not have <i>fins</i> and pieces of hard skin on their bodies. These are not good food for you. Do not eat them. 


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But these birds you must not eat: eagles, vultures, crows, owls, hawks, falcons, buzzards, ostriches, sea-gulls, storks, herons, pelicans, cormorants, hoopoes and bats. <n>These birds all eat dirty pieces of dead animals as their food. God wanted his people to eat good, clean food. So they must not eat any of these birds. 


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Some insects <i>crawl</i> and fly too. Insects like that are not good food for you. You must not eat them. 


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You must not eat anything that you find dead already. You can give it to a foreign person in any of your towns. He can eat it. Or you can sell it to him. But you are special people. You are special to the <i>LORD</i> your God. <n>You must not cook a young goat in the milk from its mother. <n>Regular gifts to the <i>LORD</i></n> 


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You must put away in a special place, a 10th part of all the food that grows in your fields. You must be careful to do this every year. 


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Then take it to that special place that the <i>LORD</i> your God will choose for himself. Eat this 10th part of the food that you grow in your fields, there. Also, you can eat your young animals that are born first. Eat them in front of the <i>LORD</i> your God. Learn to thank him always for everything. 


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But that special place may be too far from your home. Your regular gifts of food may be too heavy to carry, if you have grown a lot of food. (And the special place may be too far away.) 


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If that is true, you can sell your regular gifts for money. Take the money with you to the place that the <i>LORD</i> your God will choose. 


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Then you can use the money to buy whatever you choose: cows, sheep, <i>wine</i> or beer. You can buy anything that you like. And you and your family should eat there in front of the <i>LORD</i> your God and be happy together. 


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Always remember the <i>Levites</i> who live in your towns. Remember them because they have no land. 


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This food is for the <i>Levites</i>, who have no land. It is also for the foreign people and the children who have no fathers. It is also for the women whose husbands have died. They can eat until they have had enough. If you do that, the <i>LORD</i> your God will be with you in all your work. 


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This is how you must do it. Every person who has lent money must forget about this amount of money. He must not demand his money from any <i>Israelite</i>, because another <i>Israelite</i> is like his brother. The <i>LORD</i> himself says that you must forget about all these debts. 


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You can demand your money from a foreign person. But you must forget about every amount of money that you have lent to another <i>Israelite</i>. 


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If you obey the <i>LORD</i> your God, he will give you plenty of everything in your country. Not one <i>Israelite</i> should be poor 


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For the <i>LORD</i> your God will make you great, as he has promised. You will lend money to the people in many countries, but they will not lend money to you. You will rule many people, but no one will rule you. 


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Perhaps you will meet a poor man among the <i>Israelites</i>, in one of your towns. If you do meet a man like that, do not refuse to help him. Do not refuse to lend him money. 


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Be careful not to think this bad thought: “The 7th year will happen soon. That is the year when I must forget about debts!” You must not be cruel to that poor <i>Israelite</i> and give him nothing. He might speak against you to the <i>LORD</i>. If he does, the <i>LORD</i> will be angry with you. He will be angry with you because you have <i>sinned</i> against him. 


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Be very happy to give to that <i>Israelite</i> what he needs. If you do that, the <i>LORD</i> your God will cause everything to be well for you. 


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There will always be poor people in the country. Give to other <i>Israelites</i> and to all poor people, whatever they need. This is my <i>command</i> to you. <n>Slaves must become free people.</n> 


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Someone may sell you another <i>Israelite</i>, who is a man or a woman. Let him work for you for 6 years. Then in the 7th year, let him go out free. 


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Give him gifts of sheep, food and drink. Give good things to him as the <i>LORD</i> has given good things to you. 


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Remember that you too were slaves in Egypt. But the <i>LORD</i> your God bought you. This is why I am giving you this rule today. 


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But perhaps your servant will say to you, “I do not want to leave you!” He may say this because he loves you and your family. He is happy with you. 


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If he says that, you must take a metal stick with a sharp point. Push it through his ear, into the door. This will make him your servant for his whole life. Do the same thing for your female servant. 


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You must not be sorry to make your servant free. Remember, that he has worked well for you for 6 years. He has been worth twice as much as a servant whom you pay. And the <i>LORD</i> your God will help you in everything that you do. <n>The first animals that are born</n> 


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You must keep separate every male animal that is the first to be born from any animal among your animals. They are for the <i>LORD</i> your God. Do not make these animals do any work. Do not cut off the hair from the sheep that are the first to be born. 


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Each year, you and your family must eat these special animals in front of the <i>LORD</i> your God. You must do this in the special place that he will choose. 


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But you must not give to the <i>LORD</i> any animal that has something wrong with it. It must not have weak legs or bad eyes. 


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You can eat these animals at home. People that are obeying God can eat them. But people that are not yet ready for God can eat them also. You can eat them as you would eat <i>deer</i>. 


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The month Abib is a special month for you. In this month, you must remember the <i>Passover</i>. Remember that the <i>LORD</i> your God brought you out of Egypt at night in that month. 


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You must go to the special place that the <i>LORD</i> will choose for himself. There you must kill one of your sheep or cows for the <i>Passover</i> party. 


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At this party, do not eat bread that you make with <i>yeast</i>. For 7 days, you must eat bread that you make without <i>yeast</i>, the bread of trouble. This is to make you remember that special night. You ate bread like that when you left Egypt in a hurry that night. You must do it again each year. So you will never forget the night that you left Egypt. 


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No one must keep any <i>yeast</i> in his house for 7 days. You must eat all the meat of your animal on the night that you kill it. You must not leave any of it until the next morning. 


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You must not kill the animal for the <i>Passover</i> in any town that the <i>LORD</i> your God gives you. 


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You must go to the place that he will choose for himself. You must kill the animal for the <i>Passover</i> party there, at sunset. That was the time of day when you left Egypt. 


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Cook the meat and eat it in the special place. The <i>LORD</i> your God will choose the place. Then return to your <i>tents</i> on the next morning. 


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For the next 6 days, you must eat bread that you make without <i>yeast</i>. Then on the 7th day you must all come together to thank the <i>LORD</i> your God. Tell him how great and good he is. You must not do any work on that day. <n>The party of Weeks </n> 


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Then enjoy the party of Weeks with the <i>LORD</i> your God. Be happy to bring him extra gifts. Do this because he has been so good to you. 


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You and your family will be happy in front of the <i>LORD</i> your God, in his special place. Be happy together with your servants and with the <i>Levites</i>. <i>Worship</i> God happily with the foreign people and with the women whose husbands have died. And <i>worship</i> God happily with the children whose parents have died. All these people live among you. 


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Remember! You were slaves in Egypt, so obey these rules carefully. <n>The party of <i>Tents</i> </n> 


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When you have brought in the food from your fields, enjoy the party of <i>Tents</i> for seven days. 


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Be happy at your party with your family, your servants and the <i>Levites</i>. <i>Worship</i> God happily with the foreign people and with the women whose husbands have died. And <i>worship</i> God happily with the children whose parents have died. All these people live in your towns. 


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Enjoy this party with the <i>LORD</i> your God for 7 days in the place that he has chosen. Do this because he will cause a lot of food to grow in your fields. He will help you in everything that you do. And you will be completely happy. 


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All your men must come to the <i>LORD</i> your God three times in every year. They must come to the place that he has chosen. They must come at the <i>Passover</i> party, the party of Weeks and the party of <i>Tents</i>. Each man must bring with him a gift to the <i>LORD</i>. 


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You must choose <i>judges</i> and officers from each <i>tribes</i>, in every town that the <i>LORD</i> gives you. They must <i>judge</i> the people in a way that is fair. 


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You must do what is right for every person. You must not accept a gift. A gift makes it difficult for a <i>wise</i> man to know what is right. And a gift can make right words seem wrong. 


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Always be good and fair when you <i>judge</i>. If you do that, you will live. And you will really enjoy your country. This is the country that the <i>LORD</i> your God is giving to you. <n>Do not obey other gods.</n> 


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Do not put any special tall sticks that you make from wood next to the <i>LORD</i> your God’s <i>altar</i>. 


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And do not put up a false god, because the <i>LORD</i> your God hates these things. <n>People who prayed to false gods used these special tall sticks. They put them up in the places where they prayed. This is why God hated all these things. 


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You must bring good gifts to the <i>LORD</i> your God. Do not bring any sheep or cow whose body is not completely right. The <i>LORD</i> hates this. 


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Perhaps a person living in one of your towns may do something bad against the <i>LORD</i> your God. He has not done what he promised to do. 


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He has not obeyed my words, because he has followed other gods. He has obeyed these gods, or he has prayed to the sun, moon or stars. 


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If you hear about this, you must check the report. If this bad thing has happened in <i>Israel</i>, 


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you must take the bad man or woman to the gate of the town. Then you must throw stones at that person until he or she dies. 


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But two or three people must agree that he has done the bad thing. You must never kill anyone because of the words of only one person. 


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These people must throw the first stones at the bad person. Then everyone else must throw stones. You must completely remove this very bad thing from among you. 


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It may be difficult for the <i>judges</i> in your towns to decide between good things and bad things. This may happen when one person has attacked another person. It may happen when people cannot agree about a house or some fields. You must bring those people to the place that the <i>LORD</i> your God will choose. 


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You must go to the <i>priests</i> from the <i>tribe</i> of Levi and to the <i>judge</i> that you have chosen. Ask them to decide for you. 


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Then you must obey them, in the place that the <i>LORD</i> will choose. Be careful to obey all their words. 


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You must do the things that they teach you. You must agree to what they decide. Obey their words completely. 


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You must kill any man who will not obey the <i>judge</i> or the <i>priest</i>. The <i>judge</i> and the <i>priest</i> stand near the <i>LORD</i> your God and do what he says. So you will completely remove bad things from <i>Israel</i>. 


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Then all the people will hear about it and they will be afraid. They will not refuse to listen to the <i>judge</i> or <i>priest</i> again. <n>The king</n> 


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You are going into the country that the <i>LORD</i> your God has given you. All the countries round you will have kings. Then you will decide that you need a king. 


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Be careful! You must accept the king that the <i>LORD</i> your God chooses. The king must be a man from <i>Israel</i>. Do not choose anyone who is not an <i>Israelite</i>. 


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The king must not get a lot of horses for himself. And he must not send his people back to Egypt to get more horses. The <i>LORD</i> has said to you, “Do not return there!” 


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The king must not marry many wives. They will stop him from thinking about the <i>LORD</i>. He must not store a lot of <i>silver</i> and gold for himself. <n>The <i>Law</i> of God</n> 


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When he becomes king, he must copy the <i>Law</i> of God on a <i>scroll</i>. This <i>scroll</i> will be a copy of the one that belongs to the <i>priests</i>. They belong to the <i>tribe</i> of Levi. 


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He must keep this <i>scroll</i> near him always and he must read it every day. If you do that, he will learn to love the <i>LORD</i> his God. And he will learn to obey him. He must be careful to read all the words of this <i>Law</i>. He must obey the words and these <i>decrees</i> also. 


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He must not think that he is better than other <i>Israelites</i>. He must not stop thinking about the <i>Law</i>. If he does that, he, his sons and his grandsons will be kings in <i>Israel</i> for many years. 


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The <i>priests</i>, who are <i>Levites</i>, and the whole <i>tribe</i> of Levi will have no land. They will take their food from the gifts of animals that you give to the <i>LORD</i>. This part of your gift will be theirs, because the <i>LORD</i> has promised it to them. 


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They will have no land. This makes them different from other <i>Israelites</i>, who will all have land. But the <i>LORD</i> himself has promised to supply everything for them. 


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When you bring to God a cow or a sheep as a gift, remember the <i>priests</i>! You must give the shoulder, the face and the stomach to them. 


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You must give to them the first food and drink that you bring from your fields. Give to them also the first hair that you cut from your sheep. 


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The <i>LORD</i> your God has chosen the <i>Levites</i>. He wants them to stand as his servants, ready to obey his words always. 


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Any <i>Levite</i> can come to the place that the <i>LORD</i> will choose. He can leave the town where he lives. 


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If he really wants to, he can work as a servant to the <i>LORD</i> his God. He can join other <i>Levites</i> who work in the special place for the <i>LORD</i>. 


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He may have received money when he sold some of his valuable things. But he must still receive the same amount of food and other good things as the other <i>Levites</i>. <n>God hates these bad practices!</n> 


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When you go into the country that the <i>LORD</i> your God is giving you, be careful! You must not do the very bad practices of the people who live there. 


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You must not burn your child in a fire, as a gift to a false god. You must not become a servant of <i>Satan</i> and obey him. His servants do very bad things. 


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God hates anyone who does these things. It is because of these very bad practices that the <i>LORD</i> will kill the people in the other <i>nations</i>. 


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You must live in a right way, and always obey the <i>LORD</i> your God. <n>The <i>prophet</i>. Moses speaks about when Jesus Christ will come.</n> 


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The people who live in your country listen to the servants of <i>Satan</i>. But the <i>LORD</i> your God has <i>commanded</i> you not to do this. 


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Do this because you spoke to the <i>LORD</i> your God. You spoke to him when you came together at <i>Mount</i> Horeb. You said, “Please do not let us hear your voice again. Do not let us see this great fire again. If we do, we will die!” 


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I will give them a <i>prophet</i> who will be like you. This special man will be an <i>Israelite</i>. I will tell him what to say. Then he will tell the people everything that I <i>command</i> him. 


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I myself will <i>judge</i> anyone who does not listen to my words. That is because the <i>prophet</i> will speak for me. 


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Perhaps a <i>prophet</i> may give you a false message. He may tell you that it comes from me. Then you must kill him. Or a <i>prophet</i> may say that he has a message from another god. You must kill him.” 


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The thing that he speaks about may not happen. If it does not happen, that message was not a true message. The <i>LORD</i> has not spoken. That <i>prophet</i> has given a false message to you. Do not be afraid of him! 


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The <i>LORD</i> your God will kill the people whose country he is giving to you. You will march into their towns and their houses and you will live in them. 


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Make the country into three separate parts and build roads to each city. So then anyone who kills a person can run there. And then that person can be safe. 


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This is the rule for anyone who has killed another person. If it was a mistake, he can run to the city. He will be safe there because the man was not an enemy. 


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For example, two men may go to the forest to cut wood. As one man cuts wood, the metal part of his axe flies off. It hits the other man and kills him. The first man can run to the nearest special city. He will be safe there. 


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If there was only one city, a policeman might catch the killer on his way. The policeman might be so angry that he kills the man. But the man had made a mistake. He killed his friend, who was not an enemy. 


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You must love him and you must obey his rules. If you do that, he will give the whole country to you. That is what he has promised. If he does that, you must choose three more cities. 


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You must do this. So then people who are not bad will not die in your country. You must not kill people for murder, when they have made a mistake. Do not do this in the country that the <i>LORD</i> your God is giving you. 


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But perhaps one man may hate another man. He may hide himself and wait for that man. He may kill him and then he may run to one of the cities. 


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If he does that, the leaders of his own town must fetch him back. They must bring him to the policeman and he must die. 


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Do not be sorry for him. You must remove completely from <i>Israel</i> the bad practice of murder. So then people who are not bad will not die in your country. If you do that, everything will be well for you. <n>God’s rule about marks on the ground</n> 


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There may be a stone at the edge of your <i>neighbour</i>’s land. Someone put this stone there as a mark before you arrived in the country. You must not move it! <n>God’s rule about reports</n> 


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The report of one man is not enough to check a wrong thing or a <i>sin</i>. Two or three people, who saw the thing happen, must agree about it. They must all have seen the person when he did the wrong thing or the <i>sin</i>. 


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Then both the men must stand in front of the <i>LORD</i>. They must stand in front of the <i>priests</i> and the <i>judges</i> who are ruling at that time. 


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Then the <i>judges</i> must be careful to discover what is true. The cruel person may be saying things that are not true against another <i>Israelite</i>. 


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If that is true, you must do this: You must do to him the things that he wanted to do to the other <i>Israelite</i>. You must remove bad things like this from among yourselves. 


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So then all the people will be afraid when they hear about this. And this very wrong thing will never happen again among you. 


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Do not be sorry for people who do what is wrong. You must demand: <n>a life for a life <n>an eye for an eye <n>a tooth for a tooth <n>a hand for a hand <n>a foot for a foot. 


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Do not be afraid when you go out to fight against your enemies. You may meet larger armies with more horses and <i>chariots</i> than you have. Do not be afraid! The <i>LORD</i> your God, who brought you out of Egypt, will be with you. 


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He must say, “<i>Israelites</i>, listen to me! Today you are going to fight your enemies. Do not be troubled or afraid. Be brave! Do not run away from your enemies because you are frightened. 


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Then the officers will say to the soldiers, “Has anyone built a new house but has not yet made it ready for God? He must go home. If he does not, he may die in the fight. And someone else may make his house ready. 


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Has anyone planted a field with <i>grapes</i> but has not yet enjoyed the fruit? He must go home. If he does not, he may die in the fight. And someone else will enjoy the fruit. 


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Has anyone promised to marry a woman? If he has not married her yet, he must go home. He may die in the fight and then another man will marry her.” 


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Then the officers must also say, “Is anyone afraid? Does anyone not feel brave? He must go home. If he does not, he will make other men afraid too.” 


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Before you attack a city, you must do this: Offer <i>peace</i> to the people who live there. Tell them what you want them to do. 


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Perhaps they will open the gates and let you come in. If they do that, you must cause all the people to work hard for you, like slaves. 


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But they may refuse to listen to you. They may even begin to fight you. If they do that, you must fight against that city. 


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But you can take for yourselves the women, the children, the animals and everything else in the city. You can use all these things that God gives you from your enemies. 


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You will take cities in the country that God is giving you. Then you must kill everything that is alive, people and animals. 


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You must kill completely all the <i>Hittites</i>, <i>Amorites</i>, <i>Canaanites</i>, <i>Perizzites</i>, <i>Hivites</i> and <i>Jebusites</i>. The <i>LORD</i> your God has told you to do this. 


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If you do that, they cannot teach you their bad practices. They cannot teach you to pray as they pray to their gods. If you did that, you would be <i>sinning</i> against the <i>LORD</i> your God. <n>Verses 16-18 God had promised to give the whole country called Canaan to the <i>Israelites</i>. They must kill all other people who were living in that country. <i>Israelites</i> must not mix with them by marriage and they must not pray to their gods. 


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Perhaps you are preparing to take a city. You must not cut down its fruit-trees, but you can eat the fruit. These trees are not your enemies; so do not cut them down. 


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But you can cut down the other trees to use. You can make things from them that will help you to attack the city. You can do this until the city’s people open its gates to you. 


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You may find the dead body of a man that is lying in a field. Someone has killed him, in the country that the <i>LORD</i> your God is giving to you. 


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You may not know who has killed him. If you do not know, you must do this: Your leaders and <i>judges</i> must measure how far the dead man is from the nearest towns. 


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They must lead her down to a valley that no one has ploughed or planted. There must be a stream full of water. There they must break her neck. 


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The <i>priests</i> from the <i>tribe</i> of Levi must go there too. The <i>LORD</i> your God has chosen them to do his work. They must also decide what is right and wrong among you. 


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All the leaders of that town must wash their hands over the cow whose neck they have broken. <n>Someone has done a bad thing. But nobody knows who has done it. When an <i>Israelite</i> washed his hands in clean water, he was showing something to everyone: He had not done the bad thing. And he had not agreed to it. 


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Please accept this animal as a gift, <i>LORD</i>, from your people <i>Israel</i>, that you saved from Egypt. This man has not done anything wrong. But do not think that we have killed him.” You could not kill the person who did the murder. So you have killed the young cow instead. And so God will not remember this bad thing against you. 


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You will show that you have made yourselves right with God. You have not done this bad thing. And God has seen that you have done the right thing. <n>When you marry a woman whom you have taken in war</n> 


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When you go to war against your enemies, the <i>LORD</i> your God will deliver them to you. You will take some of them to keep for yourselves. 


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You may see among them a beautiful woman that you like. If you do see one, you can make her your wife. 


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You must bring her into your home. Then she must cut off her hair and cut the hard material at the end of her fingers. 


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And she must change her clothes. Let her live in your house and weep for her parents for a whole month. Then you can become her husband and she can become your wife. 


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You may not like her. You must let her go where she wants. You must not sell her or make her into a slave. You must not do that because she has had sex with you, as your wife. <n>The rule about the son who is born first</n> 


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A man may have two wives but he may love only one of them. Each wife may give birth to a son. The first son may be the son of the wife that he does not love. 


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But the man must make this promise: After his own death, the first son will have twice as many of his good things as the second son. This is because that son was born first. The man must not promise twice as much to the son of the wife that he loves. Her son was not born first. 


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The man must remember the son of the wife that he does not love. This son was born first and he must have twice as many of his father’s good things. He has a special place in the family because he was born first. <n>The son who refuses to obey his parents</n> 


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Perhaps a man has a bad son who will not obey his parents. They try to teach him right things. But he refuses to listen to them. 


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They must say to the leaders, “This is our son. He wants to do bad things and he will not obey us. He is a drunk and he wastes our money.” 


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Then all the men in his town must throw stones at him until he is dead. You must remove these bad things from among you. Then all <i>Israel</i>’s people will hear about it and they will be afraid. 


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you must not leave it there during the night. Be careful to bury it on the same day. This is because God is very angry with anyone who is hanging on a tree. You must not let bad things destroy your own good country. This is the country that God is giving to you. 


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You may see the cow or sheep of another <i>Israelite</i> when that animal is running away. If you do see that, you must catch the animal. Do not look away from it. Take it back to him. 


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Perhaps the man does not live near you. Perhaps you do not know him. If you do not know him, take the animal to your home. And then keep it safe. When the man comes to look for it, give it to him. 


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You must do the same thing if you find a <i>donkey</i> or some clothes or anything else. Do not think that you do not have to help. 


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Perhaps you see another <i>Israelite</i>’s animal. It has fallen on the road. Do not think that you do not have to help. You must help the other <i>Israelite</i> to lift it up. 


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A woman must not wear the clothes of a man. A man must not wear the clothes of a woman. For the <i>LORD</i> your God hates people who do this. 


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You may find the home of a bird in a tree or on the ground. You must not take away the bird, whether she is sitting on eggs or on young birds. 


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You can take the young birds. But you must let the mother go free. If you do that, everything will be well with you. And you will have a long life. 


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When you build a new house, you must make a wall round the edge of the roof. Even if you have done that, someone may fall from the roof. But even if that person dies, you will not have done anything wrong. 


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You must not plant two different kinds of seed in your field. If you do that, nothing will grow well in that field. The fruit will not be good. 


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So he says wrong things about her and gives her a bad name. He even says, “I married this girl. Then I discovered that she had already had sex. She had sex before I married her.” 


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Then the parents of the girl must bring the blanket. It shows that she had not had sex before. They must bring it to the leaders of the town. 


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And the father of the girl will say to the leaders, “I gave my daughter to this man to be his wife. But now he does not like her. 


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He says wrong things about her. He says, ‘Your daughter had sex before I married her.’ But here is the blanket. This shows that she had never had sex before.” Then her parents must hold up the blanket in front of the leaders of the town. 


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They must make him pay 100 <i>shekels</i> of <i>silver</i> to the girl’s father. This man has given a bad name to a young girl in Israel when she has done nothing wrong. She must continue to be his wife. He must continue to be her husband as long as he lives. <n>1 kilo (2.2 pounds) of <i>silver</i> is equal to 87 <i>shekels</i>. So, 100 <i>shekels</i> was a lot of money. 


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But perhaps the husband has spoken true words. Perhaps his wife cannot show that she had not had sex before. 


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If she cannot do that, the leaders must bring her to her father’s house. There, the men of the town must throw stones at her until she dies. She has done a very bad thing in <i>Israel</i>. She has had sex before she was married. She did this while she lived in her father’s house. You must remove this kind of bad thing from among you. 


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You may find a man who is having sex with another man’s wife. If you find them, you must kill both the man and the woman. You must remove this bad thing from <i>Israel</i>. 


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Perhaps a man may meet a girl in a town. She has already promised to marry another man, but they have sex together. 


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You must take both of them to the gate of that town. There you must throw stones at both of them until they die. The girl must die because she did not scream for help in the town. The man must die because he had sex with the future wife of another man. 


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But perhaps a man may meet a girl in a country place. He has sex with her because he is too strong for her. But she has already promised to marry another man. Only the man who has done that must die. 


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Do not hurt the girl. She has not done a <i>sin</i> that should cause you to kill her. This thing is like a man who kills another person. 


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This man made the girl have sex with him in a country place. She screamed for help, but there was no one to save her. 


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Perhaps a man may make a girl have sex with him. The girl has not had sex with anyone before and someone discovers them. She has not yet promised to marry anyone. 


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If that has happened, the man must pay 50 <i>shekels</i> of <i>silver</i> to the father of the girl. He must also marry the girl because he has had sex with her. He must be her husband as long as he lives. 


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A man must not marry his father’s wife or have sex with her. This is a bad thing to do against his father. 


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Perhaps someone has destroyed the sex parts of a man. That man cannot join with the people of the <i>LORD</i> when they come together. 


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No one can join with the people of the <i>LORD</i> unless his parents are married. None of his children or grandchildren can join with the people of the <i>LORD</i> when they come together. Even the 10th <i>generation</i> of his <i>descendants</i> cannot do this. 


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These people cannot join with the people of the <i>LORD</i> when they come together: People from Moab, people from Ammon or their <i>descendants</i>. Even their 10th <i>generation</i> cannot do this. 


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They refused to give bread and water to you when you left Egypt. And they paid Balaam the son of Beor to say very bad things about you. He came from Pethor in Mesopotamia. 


