# verses

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The earth didn't have any shape. And it was empty. Darkness was over the surface of the ocean. At that time, the ocean covered the earth. The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.


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God called the light "day." He called the darkness "night." There was evening, and there was morning. It was day one.


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And that's exactly what happened. God made the huge space between the waters. He separated the water that was under the space from the water that was above it.


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God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place. Let dry ground appear." And that's exactly what happened.


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God called the dry ground "land." He called the waters that were gathered together "oceans." And God saw that it was good.


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Then God said, "Let the land produce plants. Let them bear their own seeds. And let there be trees on the land that bear fruit with seeds in it. Let each kind of plant or tree have its own kind of seeds." And that's exactly what happened.


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The land produced plants. Each kind of plant had its own kind of seeds. The land produced trees that bore fruit with seeds in it. Each kind of tree had its own kind of seeds. God saw that it was good.


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God said, "Let there be lights in the huge space of the sky. Let them separate the day from the night. Let them serve as signs to mark off the seasons and the days and the years.


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Let them serve as lights in the huge space of the sky to give light on the earth." And that's exactly what happened.


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God made two great lights. He made the larger light to rule over the day. He made the smaller light to rule over the night. He also made the stars.


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He put them there to rule over the day and the night. He put them there to separate light from darkness. God saw that it was good.


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God said, "Let the waters be filled with living things. Let birds fly above the earth across the huge space of the sky."


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So God created the great creatures of the ocean. He created every living and moving thing that fills the waters. He created all kinds of them. He created every kind of bird that flies. And God saw that it was good.


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God blessed them. He said, "Have little ones and increase your numbers. Fill the water in the oceans. Let there be more and more birds on the earth."


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God said, "Let the land produce all kinds of living creatures. Let there be livestock, and creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals. Let there be all kinds of them." And that's exactly what happened.


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God made all kinds of wild animals. He made all kinds of livestock. He made all kinds of creatures that move along the ground. And God saw that it was good.


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Then God said, "Let us make man in our likeness. Let them rule over the fish in the waters and the birds of the air. Let them rule over the livestock and over the whole earth. Let them rule over all of the creatures that move along the ground."


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So God created man in his own likeness. He created him in the likeness of God. He created them as male and female.


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God blessed them. He said to them, "Have children and increase your numbers. Fill the earth and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the waters and the birds of the air. Rule over every living creature that moves on the ground."


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Then God said, "I am giving you every plant on the face of the whole earth that bears its own seeds. I am giving you every tree that has fruit with seeds in it. All of them will be given to you for food.


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"I am giving every green plant to all of the land animals and the birds of the air for food. I am also giving the plants to all of the creatures that move on the ground. I am giving them to every living thing that breathes." And that's exactly what happened.


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God saw everything he had made. And it was very good. There was evening, and there was morning. It was day six.


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By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing. So on the seventh day he rested from all of his work.


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God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. He rested on it. After he had created everything, he rested from all of the work he had done.


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Here is the story of the heavens and the earth when they were created. The Lord God made the earth and the heavens.


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At that time, bushes had not appeared on the earth. Plants had not come up in the fields. The Lord God had not sent rain on the earth. And there wasn't any man to work the ground.


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Then the Lord God formed a man. He made him out of the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into him. And the man became a living person.


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The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground. Their fruit was pleasing to look at and good to eat. The tree that gives life forever was in the middle of the garden. The tree that gives the ability to tell the difference between good and evil was also there.


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The name of the first river is the Pishon. It winds through the whole land of Havilah. Gold is found there.


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The name of the third river is the Tigris. It runs along the east side of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.


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The Lord God put the man in the Garden of Eden. He put him there to work its ground and to take care of it.


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The Lord God gave the man a command. He said, "You can eat the fruit of any tree that is in the garden.


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But you must not eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you do, you can be sure that you will die."


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The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him."


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The Lord God had formed all of the wild animals. He had also formed all of the birds of the air. He had made all of them out of the ground. He brought them to the man to see what names he would give them. And the name the man gave each living creature became its name.


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So the man gave names to all of the livestock. He gave names to all of the birds of the air. And he gave names to all of the wild animals. But Adam didn't find a helper that was right for him.


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So the Lord God caused him to fall into a deep sleep. While the man was sleeping, the Lord God took out one of his ribs. He closed up the opening that was in his side.


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Then the Lord God made a woman. He made her from the rib he had taken out of the man. And he brought her to him.


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The man said, "Her bones have come from my bones. Her body has come from my body. She will be named 'woman,' because she was taken out of a man."


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That's why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The two of them will become one.


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The serpent was more clever than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. The serpent said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat the fruit of any tree that is in the garden'?"


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But God did say, 'You must not eat the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden. Do not even touch it. If you do, you will die.' "


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"God knows that when you eat the fruit of that tree, you will know things you have never known before. You will be able to tell the difference between good and evil. You will be like God."


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The woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good to eat. It was also pleasing to look at. And it would make a person wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. And he ate it.


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Then both of them knew things they had never known before. They realized they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made clothes for themselves.


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Then the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking in the garden. It was the coolest time of the day. They hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.


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The Lord God said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten the fruit of the tree I commanded you not to eat?"


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The man said, "It was the woman you put here with me. She gave me some fruit from the tree. And I ate it."


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Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What have you done?" The woman said, "The serpent tricked me. That's why I ate the fruit."


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So the Lord God spoke to the serpent. He said, "Because you have done this, "I am putting a curse on you. You are cursed more than all of the livestock and all of the wild animals. You will crawl on the ground. You will eat dust all of the days of your life.


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I will put hatred between you and the woman. Your children and her children will be enemies. Her son will crush your head. And you will crush his heel."


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The Lord God said to the woman, "I will greatly increase your pain when you give birth. You will be in pain when you have children. You will long for your husband. And he will rule over you."


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The Lord God said to Adam, "You listened to your wife. You ate the fruit of the tree that I commanded you about. I said, 'You must not eat its fruit.' "So I am putting a curse on the ground because of what you did. All the days of your life you will have to work hard to get food from the ground.


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You will have to work hard and sweat a lot to produce the food you eat. You were made out of the ground. And you will return to it. You are dust. So you will return to it."


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The Lord God said, "The man has become like one of us. He can now tell the difference between good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and pick fruit from the tree of life and eat it. If he does, he will live forever."


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The Lord God drove him out and then placed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden. He also placed a flaming sword there. It flashed back and forth. The cherubim and the sword guarded the way to the tree of life.


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Adam made love to his wife Eve. She became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the Lord's help I have had a baby boy."


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After some time, Cain gathered some of the things he had grown. He brought them as an offering to the Lord.


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But Abel brought the fattest parts of some of the lambs from his flock. They were the male animals that were born first to their mothers. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering.


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Do what is right. Then you will be accepted. If you don't do what is right, sin is waiting at your door to grab you. It longs to have you. But you must rule over it."


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Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." So they went out. There Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.


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Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I supposed to look after my brother?"


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The Lord said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground.


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"So I am putting a curse on you. I am driving you away from the ground. It has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.


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When you work the ground, it will not produce its crops for you anymore. You will be a restless person who wanders around on the earth."


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Today you are driving me away from the land. I will be hidden from you. I'll be a restless person who wanders around on the earth. Anyone who finds me will kill me."


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But the Lord said to him, "No. Anyone who kills you will be paid back seven times." The Lord put a mark on Cain. Then anyone who found him wouldn't kill him.


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Cain made love to his wife. She became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. At that time Cain was building a city. He named it after his son Enoch.


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Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad was the father of Mehujael. Mehujael was the father of Methushael. And Methushael was the father of Lamech.


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Zillah also had a son. His name was Tubal-Cain. He made all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain's sister was Naamah.


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Lamech said to his wives, "Adah and Zillah, listen to me. You wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man because he wounded me. I have killed a young man because he hurt me.


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Anyone who would have killed Cain would have been paid back seven times. But anyone who hurts me will be paid back 77 times."


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Adam made love to his wife again. She gave birth to a son and named him Seth. She said, "God has given me another child. The child will take the place of Abel, because Cain killed him."


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Here is the written story of Adam's family line. When God created man, he made him in his own likeness.


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He created them as male and female. He blessed them. And he called them "man" when they were created.


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He named him Noah. Lamech said, "He will comfort us when we are working. He'll comfort us when our hands work so hard they hurt. We have to work hard. That's because the Lord has put a curse on the ground."


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The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful. So they married any of them they chose.


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Then the Lord said, "My Spirit will not struggle with man forever. He will die. He will have only 120 years to live until I judge him."


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The Nephilim were on the earth in those days. That was when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. The Nephilim were the heroes of long ago. They were famous men. Nephilim were also on the earth later on.


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The Lord saw how bad the sins of man had become on the earth. All of the thoughts in his heart were always directed only toward what was evil.


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So the Lord said, "I created man on the earth. But I will wipe them out. I will destroy people and animals alike. I will also destroy the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air. I am very sad that I have made man."


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Here is the story of Noah. Noah was a godly man. He was without blame among the people of his time. He walked with God.


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So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people. They have filled the earth with their harmful acts. You can be sure that I am going to destroy both them and the earth.


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Here is how I want you to build it. The ark has to be 450 feet long. It has to be 75 feet wide and 45 feet high.


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Make a roof for it. Leave the sides of the ark open a foot and a half from the top. Put a door in one side of the ark. Make lower, middle and upper decks.


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"I am going to bring a flood on the earth. It will destroy all life under the sky. It will destroy every living creature that breathes. Everything on earth will die.


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"But I will make my covenant with you. You will enter the ark. Your sons and your wife and your sons' wives will enter it with you.


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"Bring two of every living thing into the ark. Bring male and female of them into it. They will be kept alive with you.


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Two of every kind of bird will come to you. Two of every kind of animal will come to you. And two of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you. All of them will be kept alive with you.


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Then the Lord said to Noah, "Go into the ark with your whole family. I know that you are a godly man among the people of today.


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"Take seven of every kind of 'clean' animal with you. Take male and female of them. Take two of every kind of animal that is not 'clean.' Take male and female of them.


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Also take seven of every kind of bird. Take male and female of them. That will keep every kind alive. Then they can spread out again over the whole earth.


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"Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth. It will rain for 40 days and 40 nights. I will destroy from the face of the earth every living thing I have made."


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He and his sons entered the ark. His wife and his sons' wives went with them. They entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood.


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Pairs of "clean" animals and pairs of animals that were not "clean" came to Noah. So did pairs of birds and pairs of all of the creatures that move along the ground.


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Male and female of all of them came to Noah and entered the ark. Everything happened exactly as God had commanded Noah.


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Noah was 600 years old. It was the 17th day of the second month of the year. On that day all of the springs at the bottom of the oceans burst open. God opened the windows of the skies.


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On that same day Noah entered the ark together with Shem, Ham and Japheth. Noah's wife and the wives of his three sons also entered it.


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They had every kind of wild animal with them. They had every kind of livestock. They had every kind of creature that moves along the ground. And they had every kind of bird that flies.


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The animals going in were male and female of every living thing. Everything happened exactly as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord shut him in.


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For 40 days the flood kept coming on the earth. As the waters rose higher, they lifted the ark high above the earth.


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Every living thing that moved on the earth died. The birds, the livestock and the wild animals died. All of the creatures that fill the earth also died. And so did every human being.


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Every living thing on the earth was wiped out. People and animals were destroyed. The creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped out. Everything was destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark were left.


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But God showed concern for Noah. He also showed concern for all of the wild animals and livestock that were with Noah in the ark. So God sent a wind over the earth. And the waters began to go down.


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The springs at the bottom of the oceans had been closed. The windows of the skies had been closed. And the rain had stopped falling from the sky.


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The waters continued to go down until the tenth month. On the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains could be seen.


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Then Noah sent a dove out. He wanted to see if the water had gone down from the surface of the ground.


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But the dove couldn't find any place to put its feet down. There was still water over the whole surface of the earth. So the dove returned to Noah in the ark. Noah reached out his hand and took the dove in. He brought it back to himself in the ark.


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In the evening the dove returned to him. There in its beak was a freshly picked olive leaf! So Noah knew that the water on the earth had gone down.


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It was the first day of the first month of Noah's 601st year. The water had dried up from the earth. Then Noah removed the covering from the ark. He saw that the surface of the ground was dry.


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"Bring out every kind of living thing that is with you. Bring the birds, the animals, and all of the creatures that move along the ground. Then they can multiply on the earth. They can have little ones and increase their numbers."


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All of the animals came out of the ark. The creatures that move along the ground also came out. So did all of the birds. Everything that moves on the earth came out of the ark. One kind after another came out.


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Then Noah built an altar to honor the Lord. He took some of all of the "clean" animals and birds. He sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar.


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Their smell was pleasant to the Lord. He said to himself, "I will never put a curse on the ground again because of man. I will not do it even though his heart is always directed toward what is evil. His thoughts are evil from the time he is young. I will never destroy all living things again, as I have just done.


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"As long as the earth lasts, there will always be a time to plant and a time to gather the crops. As long as the earth lasts, there will always be cold and heat. There will always be summer and winter, day and night."


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Then God gave his blessing to Noah and his sons. He said to them, "Have children and increase your numbers. Fill the earth.


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"All of the land animals will be afraid of you. All of the birds of the air will fear you. Every creature that moves along the ground will fear you. Every fish in the oceans will also be afraid of you. Every living thing is put under your control.


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"Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. I have already given you the green plants for food. Now I am giving you everything.


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You can be sure that I will hold someone accountable if you are murdered. I will even hold animals accountable if they kill you. I will also hold anyone accountable who murders another person.


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I am making it also with every living thing that was with you in the ark. I am making my covenant with the birds, the livestock and all of the wild animals. I am making it with all of the creatures that came out of the ark with you. I am making it with every living thing on earth.


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"Here is my covenant that I am making with you. The waters of a flood will never destroy all life again. A flood will never destroy the earth again."


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God continued, "My covenant is between me and you and every living thing with you. It is a covenant for all time to come. "Here is the sign of the covenant I am making.


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Then I will remember my covenant between me and you and every kind of living thing. The waters will never become a flood to destroy all life again.


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"When the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it. I will remember that my covenant will last forever. It is a covenant between me and every kind of living thing on earth."


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So God said to Noah, "The rainbow is the sign of my covenant. I have made my covenant between me and all life on earth."


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He drank some of its wine. It made him drunk. Then he lay down inside his tent without any clothes on.


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Ham saw his father's naked body. Ham was the father of Canaan. Ham went outside and told his two brothers.


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But Shem and Japheth took a piece of clothing. They laid it across their shoulders. Then they walked backward into the tent. They covered their father's body. They turned their faces away. They didn't want to see their father's naked body.


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Then Noah woke up from his sleep that was caused by the wine. He found out what his youngest son had done to him.


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May God add land to Japheth's territory. May Japheth live in the tents of Shem. And may Canaan be their slave."


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Here is the story of Shem, Ham and Japheth. They were Noah's sons. After the flood, they too had sons.


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The people who lived by the sea came from all of them. Their tribes and nations spread out into their own territories. Each tribe and nation had its own language.


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The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.


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He was a mighty hunter in the Lord's eyes. That's why people sometimes compare others with Nimrod. They say, "They are like Nimrod, who is a mighty hunter in the Lord's eyes."


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At first Nimrod's kingdom was made up of Babylon, Erech, Akkad and Calneh. Those cities were in the land of Babylonia.


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He was also the father of the Pathrusites, Casluhites and Caphtorites. The Philistines came from the Casluhites.


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Canaan was the father of Sidon. Sidon was his oldest son. Canaan was also the father of the Hittites,


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The borders of Canaan went from Sidon toward Gerar all the way to Gaza. Then they went toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim all the way to Lasha.


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Those are the sons of Ham. They are listed by their tribes and languages in their territories and nations.


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Sons were also born to Shem. Shem was Japheth's younger brother. All of the sons of Eber came from Shem.


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Eber was the father of two sons. One was named Peleg. That's because the earth was divided up in his time. His brother was named Joktan.


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Those are the sons of Shem. They are listed by their tribes and languages in their territories and nations.


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Those are the tribes of Noah's sons. They are listed by their family lines within their nations. From them the nations spread out over the earth after the flood.


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They said to each other, "Come. Let's make bricks and bake them well." They used bricks instead of stones. They used tar to hold the bricks together.


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Then they said, "Come. Let's build a city for ourselves. Let's build a tower that reaches to the sky. We'll make a name for ourselves. Then we won't be scattered over the face of the whole earth."


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The Lord said, "They are one people. And all of them speak the same language. That is why they can do this. Now they will be able to do anything they plan to.


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The Lord mixed up the language of the whole world there. That's why the city was named Babel. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.


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Here is the story of Shem. It was two years after the flood. When Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad.


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Here is the story of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot.


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Haran died in Ur in Babylonia. That was the land where he had been born. Haran died while his father Terah was still alive.


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Abram and Nahor both got married. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai. The name of Nahor's wife was Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran. Haran was the father of Milcah and Iscah.


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Terah started out from Ur in Babylonia. He took his son Abram with him. He also took his grandson Lot. Lot was the son of Haran. And Terah took his daughter-in-law Sarai. She was the wife of his son Abram. All of them left together to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled down.


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The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country and your people. Leave your father's family. Go to the land I will show you.


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"I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing to others.


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I will bless those who bless you. I will put a curse on anyone who calls down a curse on you. All nations on earth will be blessed because of you."


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So Abram left, just as the Lord had told him. Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran.


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He took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot. They took all of the things they had gotten in Haran. They also took the workers they had gotten there. They set out for the land of Canaan. And they arrived there.


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Abram traveled through the land. He went as far as the large tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the people of Canaan were living in the land.


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The Lord appeared to Abram at Shechem. He said, "I will give this land to your children after you." So Abram built an altar there to honor the Lord, who had appeared to him.


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From there, Abram went on toward the hills east of Bethel. He set up his tent there. Bethel was to the west, and Ai was to the east. Abram built an altar there and worshiped the Lord.


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At that time there wasn't enough food in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while.


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As he was about to enter Egypt, he spoke to his wife Sarai. He said, "I know what a beautiful woman you are.


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The people of Egypt will see you. They will say, 'This is his wife.' And they will kill me. But they will let you live.


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Say you are my sister. Then I'll be treated well because of you. My life will be spared because of you."


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When Pharaoh's officials saw her, they bragged to Pharaoh about her. Sarai was taken into his palace.


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Pharaoh treated Abram well because of her. So Abram gained more sheep and cattle. He also got more male and female donkeys. And he gained more male and female servants and some camels.


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But the Lord sent terrible sicknesses on Pharaoh and everyone in his palace. He did it because of Abram's wife Sarai.


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So Pharaoh sent for Abram. "What have you done to me?" he said. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife?


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Why did you say, 'She's my sister'? That's why I took her to be my wife. Now then, here's your wife. Take her and go!"


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Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men. They sent him on his way. He left with his wife and everything he had.


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Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev Desert. He took his wife and everything he had. Lot went with him.


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From the Negev Desert, he went from place to place until he came to Bethel. He came to a place between Bethel and Ai. That's where his tent had been earlier.


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But the land didn't have enough food for both of them. They had large herds and many servants. So they weren't able to stay together.


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The people who took care of Abram's herds and those who took care of Lot's herds began to argue. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.


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So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not argue with each other. The people who take care of your herds and those who take care of mine shouldn't argue with one another. After all, we're part of the same family.


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"Isn't the whole land in front of you? Let's separate. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right. If you go to the right, I'll go to the left."


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Lot looked up. He saw that the whole Jordan River valley had plenty of water. It was like the garden of the Lord. It was like the land of Egypt near Zoar. That was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.


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So Lot chose the whole Jordan River valley for himself. Then he started out toward the east. The two men separated.


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Abram lived in the land of Canaan. Lot lived among the cities of the Jordan River valley. He set up his tents near Sodom.


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The Lord spoke to Abram after Lot had left him. He said, "Look up from where you are. Look north and south. Look east and west.


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I will give you all of the land that you see. I will give it to you and your children after you forever.


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"I will make your children like the dust of the earth. Can dust be counted? If it can, then your children can be counted.


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So Abram moved his tents. He went to live near the large trees of Mamre at Hebron. There he built an altar to honor the Lord.


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At that time Amraphel was the king of Babylonia. Arioch was the king of Ellasar. Kedorlaomer was the king of Elam. And Tidal was the king of Goiim.


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They went to war against five kings. The kings were Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela. Bela was also called Zoar.


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Those five kings all gathered their armies together in the Valley of Siddim. It was the valley of the Dead Sea.


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In the 14th year, Kedorlaomer and the kings who helped him went to war. They won the battle against the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim. They also won the battle against the Zuzites in Ham and the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim.


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They did the same thing to the Horites in the hill country of Seir. They marched all the way to El Paran near the desert.


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Then they turned back. They went to En Mishpat. En Mishpat was also called Kadesh. They took over the whole territory of the Amalekites. They also won the battle against the Amorites who were living in Hazazon Tamar.


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Then the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah marched out. The kings of Admah, Zeboiim and Bela went with them. Bela was also called Zoar. They lined up their armies for battle in the Valley of Siddim.


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They got ready to fight against Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Babylonia, and Arioch king of Ellasar. There were four kings against five.


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The Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah ran away from the battle. Some of their men fell into the pits. The rest escaped to the hills.


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The four kings took all of the things that belonged to Sodom and Gomorrah. They also took all of their food. Then they went away.


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They carried away Lot, Abram's nephew, and the things he owned. Lot was living in Sodom at that time.


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One man escaped. He came and reported everything to Abram. Abram was a Hebrew. He was living near the large trees of Mamre the Amorite. Mamre was a brother of Eshcol and Aner. All of them helped Abram.


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Abram heard that Lot had been captured. So he called out his 318 trained men. All of them were sons of his servants. They chased the enemy as far as Dan.


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During the night Abram separated his men into groups. They attacked the enemy and drove them away. They chased them north of Damascus as far as Hobah.


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Abram took back all of the things the kings had taken. He brought back his nephew Lot and the things Lot owned. He also brought back the women and the other people.


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After Abram won the battle over Kedorlaomer and the kings who helped him, he returned. The king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh. The Valley of Shaveh was also called the King's Valley.


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Melchizedek was the king of Jerusalem. He brought out bread and wine. He was the priest of God Most High.


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He gave a blessing to Abram. He said, "May God Most High bless Abram. May the Creator of heaven and earth bless him.


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Give praise to God Most High. He gave your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.


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But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the Lord. He is God Most High. He is the Creator of heaven and earth. I have taken an oath.


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I have said that I won't accept anything that belongs to you. I won't take even a thread or the strap of a sandal. You will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.'


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"I'll accept only what my men have eaten and what belongs to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Those three men went with me. Let them have their share."


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Some time later, Abram had a vision. The Lord said to him, "Abram, do not be afraid. I am like a shield to you. I am your very great reward."


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But Abram said, "Lord and King, what can you give me? I still don't have any children. My servant Eliezer comes from Damascus. When I die, he will get everything I own."


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Abram continued, "You haven't given me any children. So a servant in my house will get everything I own."


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Then a message came to Abram from the Lord. He said, "This man will not get what belongs to you. A son will come from your own body. He will get everything you own."


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The Lord took Abram outside and said, "Look up at the sky. Count the stars, if you can." Then he said to him, "That is how many children you will have."


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Abram believed the Lord. The Lord accepted Abram because he believed. So his faith made him right with the Lord.


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He also said to Abram, "I am the Lord. I brought you out of Ur in Babylonia. I wanted to give you this land to take as your very own."


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So the Lord said to him, "Bring me a young cow. Also bring a goat and a ram. All of them must be three years old. Bring a dove and a young pigeon along with them."


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Abram brought all of them to the Lord. Abram cut them in two. He placed the halves opposite each other. But he didn't cut the birds in half.


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Then large birds came down to eat the dead bodies of the animals and birds. But Abram chased the large birds away.


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Then the Lord said to him, "You can be sure of what I am about to tell you. Your children who live after you will be strangers in a country that does not belong to them. They will become slaves. They will be treated badly for 400 years.


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But I will punish the nation that makes them slaves. After that, they will leave with all kinds of valuable things.


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"But you will die in peace. You will join the members of your family who have already died. You will be buried when you are very old.


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"Your children's grandchildren will come back here. That is because the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached the point where I must judge them."


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The sun set and darkness fell. Then a burning torch and a fire pot filled with smoke appeared. They passed between the pieces of the animals.


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On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram. He said, "I am giving this land to your children after you. It reaches from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates.


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Abram's wife Sarai had never had any children by him. But she had a female servant from Egypt named Hagar.


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So she said to Abram, "The Lord has kept me from having children. Go and make love to my servant. Maybe I can have a family through her." Abram agreed to what Sarai had said.


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After he had been living in Canaan for ten years, his wife Sarai gave him her servant Hagar to be his wife.


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He made love to Hagar. And she became pregnant. When Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to look down on the woman who owned her.


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Then Sarai said to Abram, "It's your fault that I'm suffering like this. I put my servant in your arms. Now that she knows she's pregnant, she looks down on me. May the Lord judge between you and me. May he decide which of us is right."


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"Your servant belongs to you," Abram said. "Do with her what you think is best." Then Sarai treated Hagar badly. So Hagar ran away from her.


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The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring of water in the desert. The spring was beside the road to Shur.


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He said, "Hagar, you are the servant of Sarai. Where have you come from? Where are you going?" "I'm running away from my owner Sarai," she answered.


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The angel continued, "I will greatly increase the number of your children after you. You will have more of them than anyone can count."


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The angel of the Lord also said to her, "You are now pregnant. You will have a son. You will name him Ishmael. That is because the Lord has heard about your suffering.


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He will be like a wild donkey. He will use his power against everyone. And everyone will be against him. He will not be friendly toward any of his relatives."


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She gave a name to the Lord who spoke to her. She called him "You are the God who sees me." That's because she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me."


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When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him. He said, "I am the Mighty God. Walk with me and live without any blame.


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"You will not be called Abram anymore. Your name will be Abraham, because I have made you a father of many nations.


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"I will make my covenant with you. It will last forever. It will be between me and you and your children after you for all time to come. I will be your God. And I will be the God of all of your family after you.


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"You are now living in Canaan as an outsider. But I will give you the whole land of Canaan. You will own it forever. So will your children after you. And I will be their God."


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Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant. You and your children after you for all time to come must keep it.


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"Here is my covenant that you and your children after you must keep. Every male among you must be circumcised.


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It must be done for all time to come. "Every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised. That includes those who are born in your house. It also includes those who are bought with money from a stranger. Even those who are not your own children must be included.


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Any male who is born in your house or bought with your money must be circumcised. "My covenant will last forever. Your body will have the mark of my covenant on it.


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God also said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai anymore. Her name will be Sarah.


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I will give her my blessing. You can be sure that I will give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations. Kings of nations will come from her."


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Abraham fell with his face to the ground. He laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man who is 100 years old? Will Sarah have a child at the age of 90?"


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Then God said, "I will bless Ishmael. But your wife Sarah will have a son by you. And you will name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him. It will be a covenant that lasts forever. It will be for Isaac and for his family after him.


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"As for Ishmael, I have heard you. You can be sure that I will bless him. I will give him children. I will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of 12 rulers. And I will make him into a great nation.


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"But I will establish my covenant with Isaac. By this time next year, Sarah will have a son by you."


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On that very day Abraham circumcised his son Ishmael. He also circumcised every male who was born in his house or bought with his money. He did exactly as God had told him.


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And every male in Abraham's house was circumcised along with him. That included those who were born in his house or bought from a stranger.


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The Lord appeared to Abraham near the large trees of Mamre. Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent. It was the hottest time of the day.


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Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. He quickly left the entrance to his tent to meet them. He bowed low to the ground.


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"Let me get you something to eat to give you strength. Then you can go on your way. I want to do this for you now that you have come to me." "All right," they answered. "Go ahead and do it."


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So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick!" he said. "Get about half a bushel of fine flour. Mix it and bake some bread."


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Then he ran to the herd. He picked out a choice, tender calf. He gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.


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Then he brought some butter and milk and the calf that had been prepared. He served them to the three men. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.


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Then the Lord said, "You can be sure that I will return to you about this time next year. Your wife Sarah will have a son." Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent behind him.


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So she laughed to herself. She thought, "I'm worn out, and my husband is old. Can I really know the joy of having a baby?"


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Then the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, 'Will I really have a baby, now that I am old?'


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Is anything too hard for me? I will return to you at the appointed time next year. Sarah will have a son."


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The men got up to leave. They looked down toward Sodom. Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way.


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He will certainly become a great and powerful nation. All nations on earth will be blessed because of him.


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"I have chosen him. He must direct his children. He must see that the members of his family after him live the way I want them to. So he must direct them to do what is right and fair. Then I, the Lord, will do for Abraham what I have promised him."


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that I will go down and see for myself. I want to see if what they have done is as bad as the cries that have reached me. If it is not, then I will know."


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Then Abraham came up to him. He said, "Will you sweep away godly people along with those who are evil?


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What if there are 50 godly people in the city? Will you really sweep it away? Won't you spare the place because of the 50 godly people in it?


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"You would never kill godly people along with those who are evil, would you? You wouldn't treat godly and evil people alike. You would never do anything like that! Won't the Judge of the whole earth do what is right?"


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The Lord said, "If I find 50 godly people in the city of Sodom, I will save it. I will spare the whole place because of them."


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Then Abraham spoke up again. He said, "I have been very bold to speak to the Lord. After all, I'm only dust and ashes.


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What if the number of godly people is five less than 50? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?" "If I find 45 there," he said, "I will not destroy it."


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Once again Abraham spoke to him. He asked, "What if only 40 are found there?" He said, "If there are 40, I will not do it."


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Then Abraham said, "Lord, don't let your anger burn against me. Let me speak. What if only 30 can be found there?" He answered, "If there are 30, I will not do it."


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Abraham said, "I have been very bold to speak to the Lord. What if only 20 are found there?" He said, "If there are 20, I will not destroy it."


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Then he said, "Lord, don't let your anger burn against me. Let me speak just one more time. What if only ten are found there?" He answered, "If there are ten, I will not destroy it."


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The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening. Lot was sitting near the gate of the city. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them. He bowed down with his face to the ground.


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"My lords," he said, "please come to my house. You can wash your feet and spend the night here. Then you can go on your way early in the morning." "No," they answered. "We'll spend the night in the street."


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But Lot wouldn't give up. So they went with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them. He baked bread without using yeast. And they ate.


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Before Lot and his guests had gone to bed, all of the men came from every part of the city of Sodom. Young and old men alike surrounded the house.


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They called out to Lot. They said, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us. We want to have sex with them."


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Look, I have two daughters. No man has ever made love to them. I'll bring them out to you now. Then do to them what you want to. But don't do anything to these men. I've brought them inside so they can be safe."


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"Get out of our way!" the men of Sodom replied. They said, "This fellow came here as an outsider. Now he wants to act like a judge! We'll treat you worse than them." They kept trying to force Lot to open the door. Then they moved forward to break it down.


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Then they made the men who were at the door of the house blind. They blinded young and old men alike. So the men couldn't find the door.


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The two men said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else here? Do you have sons-in-law, sons or daughters? Does anyone else in the city belong to you? Get them out of here.


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We are going to destroy this place. There has been a great cry to the Lord against the people of this city. So he has sent us to destroy it."


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Then Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law. They had promised to get married to his daughters. He said, "Hurry up! Get out of this place! The Lord is about to destroy the city!" But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.


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The sun was coming up. So the angels tried to get Lot to leave. They said, "Hurry up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out! If you don't, you will be swept away when the city is punished."


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Lot didn't move right away. So the men grabbed him by the hand. They also took hold of the hands of his wife and two daughters. They led all of them safely out of the city. The Lord had mercy on them.


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As soon as the angels had brought them out, one of them spoke. He said, "Run for your lives! Don't look back! Don't stop anywhere in the valley! Run to the mountains! If you don't, you will be swept away!"


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You have done me a big favor. You have been very kind to me by sparing my life. But I can't run to the mountains. This horrible thing that's going to happen will catch up with me. And then I'll die.


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"Look, here's a town near enough to run to. It's small. Let me run to it. It's very small, isn't it? Then my life will be spared."


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The Lord said to Lot, "All right. I will also give you what you are asking for. I will not destroy the town you are talking about.


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But run there quickly. I can't do anything until you reach it." The town was named Zoar. Zoar means "small."


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Then the Lord sent down burning sulfur. It came down like rain on Sodom and Gomorrah. It came from the Lord out of the sky.


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He destroyed those cities and the whole valley. All of the people who were living in the cities were wiped out. So were the plants in the land.


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Early the next morning Abraham got up. He returned to the place where he had stood in front of the Lord.


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He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and the whole valley. He saw thick smoke rising from the land. It looked like smoke from a furnace.


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So when God destroyed the cities of the valley, he showed concern for Abraham. He brought Lot out safely when he destroyed the cities where Lot had lived.


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Lot and his two daughters left Zoar. They went to settle down in the mountains. Lot was afraid to stay in Zoar. So he and his daughters lived in a cave.


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One day the older daughter spoke to the younger one. She said, "Our father is old. There aren't any other men around here to make love to, as people all over the earth do.


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So let's get our father to drink wine. Then we can make love to him. We can use our father to continue our family line."


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That night they got their father to drink wine. Then the older daughter went in and made love to him. He didn't know when she lay down or when she got up.


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The next day the older daughter spoke to the younger one again. She said, "Last night I made love to my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight. Then you go in and make love to him. In that way, we can use our father to continue our family line."


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So they got their father to drink wine that night also. Then the younger daughter went and made love to him. Again he didn't know when she lay down or when she got up.


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The younger daughter also had a son. She named him Ben-Ammi. He's the father of the Ammonites of today.


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Abraham moved away from there into the Negev Desert. He lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar.


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There Abraham said about his wife Sarah, "She's my sister." Then Abimelech sent for Sarah and took her. He was the king of Gerar.


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God came to Abimelech in a dream one night. He said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken. She is already married."


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But Abimelech hadn't gone near her. So he said, "Lord, will you destroy a nation that hasn't done anything wrong?


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Didn't Abraham say to me, 'She's my sister'? And didn't she also say, 'He's my brother'? I had no idea I was doing anything wrong. I'm not guilty."


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Then God spoke to him in the dream. He said, "Yes, I know you had no idea you were doing anything wrong. So I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.


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"Now return the man's wife to him. He is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But what if you do not return her? Then you can be sure that you and all of your people will die."


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Early the next morning Abimelech sent for all of his officials. He told them everything that had happened. They were really afraid.


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Then Abimelech called Abraham in. He said, "What have you done to us? Have I done something wrong to you? Why have you brought so much guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that shouldn't be done."


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Abraham replied, "I thought, 'There isn't any respect for God in this place at all. They will kill me because of my wife.'


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Besides, she really is my sister. She's the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother. And she became my wife.


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"God had me wander away from my father's house. So I said to her, 'Here is how you can show your love to me. Everywhere we go, say about me, "He's my brother." ' "


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Then Abimelech gave Abraham sheep and cattle and male and female slaves. He also returned his wife Sarah to him.


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He said to Sarah, "I'm giving your brother 25 pounds of silver. It will take care of the problem we caused you. And all those who are with you will know that you aren't guilty of doing anything wrong."


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Then Abraham prayed to God. And God healed Abimelech. He also healed his wife and his female slaves so they could have children again.


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The Lord had kept the women in Abimelech's house from having children. He had done it because of Abraham's wife Sarah.


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The Lord was gracious to Sarah, just as he had said he would be. He did for Sarah what he had promised to do.


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Sarah became pregnant. She had a son by Abraham when he was old. He was born at the exact time God had promised him.


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When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him. He did it exactly as God had commanded him.


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She continued, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? But I've had a son by him when he is old."


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Isaac grew. The time came for his mother to stop nursing him. On that day Abraham had a big dinner prepared.


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But Sarah saw Ishmael making fun of Isaac. Ishmael was the son Hagar had by Abraham. Hagar was Sarah's servant from Egypt.


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Sarah said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman. Get rid of her son. The slave woman's son will never have a share of the family's property with my son Isaac."


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But God said to him, "Do not be so upset about the boy and your servant Hagar. Listen to what Sarah tells you, because your family line will continue through Isaac.


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Early the next morning Abraham got some food and a bottle of water. The bottle was made out of animal skin. He gave the food and water to Hagar. He placed them on her shoulders. Then he sent her away with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beersheba.


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Then she went off and sat down nearby. She was about as far away as a person can shoot an arrow. She thought, "I can't stand to watch the boy die." As she sat nearby, she began to sob.


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God heard the boy crying. Then the angel of God called out to Hagar from heaven. He said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid. God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.


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Then God opened Hagar's eyes. She saw a well of water. So she went and filled the bottle with water. And she gave the boy a drink.


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At that time Abimelech and Phicol spoke to Abraham. Phicol was the commander of Abimelech's army. They said, "God is with you in everything you do.


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Now make a promise to me here while God is watching. Take an oath that you will treat me fairly. Promise that you will treat my children and their children the same way. "I've been kind to you. Now you be kind to me. And be kind to the country where you are living as an outsider."


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Then Abraham objected to Abimelech about what Abimelech's servants had done. They had taken over a well of water.


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But Abimelech said, "I don't know who has done this. You didn't tell me. Today is the first time I heard about it."


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Abimelech asked Abraham, "What's the meaning of these seven female lambs? Why have you taken them out and put them by themselves?"


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After the peace treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelech went back to the land of the Philistines. His army commander Phicol went with him.


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Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba. There he worshiped the Lord, the God who lives forever.


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Some time later God put Abraham to the test. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," Abraham replied.


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Then God said, "Take your son, your only son. He is the one you love. Take Isaac. Go to Moriah. Give him to me there as a burnt offering. Sacrifice him on one of the mountains I will tell you about."


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Early the next morning Abraham got up. He put a saddle on his donkey. He took two of his servants and his son Isaac with him. He cut enough wood for the burnt offering. Then he started out for the place God had told him about.


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He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there and worship. Then we'll come back to you."


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Abraham put the wood for the burnt offering on his son Isaac. He himself carried the fire and the knife. The two of them walked on together.


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Then Isaac spoke up. He said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said. "But where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"


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Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." The two of them walked on together.


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They reached the place God had told Abraham about. There Abraham built an altar. He arranged the wood on it. He tied up his son Isaac. He placed him on the altar, on top of the wood.


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But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven. He said, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," Abraham replied.


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"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you have respect for God. You have not held back from me your son, your only son."


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Abraham looked up. There in a bush he saw a ram. It was caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram. He sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.


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So Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide. To this day people say, "It will be provided on the mountain of the Lord."


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He said, "I am taking an oath in my own name. I will bless you because of what you have done," announces the Lord. "You have not held back your son, your only son.


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"So I will certainly bless you. I will make your children after you as many as the stars in the sky. I will make them as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. Your children will take over the cities of their enemies.


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All nations on earth will be blessed because of your children. All of that will happen because you have obeyed me."


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Then Abraham returned to his servants. They started out together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.


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Some time later Abraham was told, "Milcah has become a mother. She has had sons by your brother Nahor.


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She died at Kiriath Arba. Kiriath Arba is also called Hebron. It's in the land of Canaan. Sarah's death filled Abraham with sorrow. He went to the place where her body was lying. There he sobbed over her.


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"I'm an outsider. I'm a stranger among you. Sell me some property here as a place for a family tomb. Then I can bury my wife's body."


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"Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead wife in the best of our tombs. None of us will refuse to sell you his tomb for burying her."


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He said to them, "If you are willing to let me bury my dead wife, then listen to me. Speak to Zohar's son Ephron for me.


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Ask him to sell me the cave of Machpelah. It belongs to him and is at the end of his field. Ask him to sell it to me for the full price. I want it as a place to bury my dead wife among you."


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Ephron the Hittite was sitting there among his people. He replied to Abraham. All of the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city heard him.


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"No, sir," Ephron said. "Listen to me. I will sell you the field. I'll also sell you the cave that's in the field. I will sell it to you in front of my people. Bury your wife."


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He spoke to Ephron so they could hear him. He said, "Please listen to me. I'll pay the price of the field. Accept it from me. Then I can bury my dead wife there."


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"Sir, listen to me. The land is worth ten pounds of silver. But what is that between you and me? Bury your wife."


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Abraham agreed to Ephron's offer. He weighed out for him the price he had named. The Hittites there had heard it. The price was ten pounds of silver. Abraham measured it by the weights that were used by those who bought and sold.


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So Ephron sold his field in Machpelah near Mamre to Abraham. He bought the field and the cave that was in it. He also bought all of the trees that were inside the borders of the field. Everything was sold


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to Abraham as his property. He bought it in front of all of the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city.


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Then Abraham buried the body of his wife Sarah. He buried her in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre in the land of Canaan. Mamre is at Hebron.


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So the field and the cave that was in it were sold to Abraham by the Hittites. The property became a place for his family tomb.


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The best servant in his house was in charge of everything he had. Abraham said to him, "Put your hand under my thigh.


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The Lord is the God of heaven and the God of earth. I want you to make a promise with an oath in his name. "I'm living among the people of Canaan. But I want you to promise me that you won't get a wife for my son from their daughters.


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Instead, promise me that you will go to my country and to my own relatives. Get a wife for my son Isaac from there."


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The servant asked him, "What if the woman doesn't want to come back with me to this land? Then should I take your son back to the country you came from?"


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"The Lord, the God of heaven, took me away from my father's family. He brought me out of my own land. And he made me a promise with an oath. He said, 'I will give this land to your family after you.' The Lord will send his angel ahead of you. So you will be able to get a wife for my son from there.


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"The woman may not want to come back with you. If she doesn't, you will be free from your oath. But don't take my son back there."


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So the servant put his hand under Abraham's thigh. He promised with an oath to do what his master wanted.


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The servant took ten of his master's camels and left. He took with him all kinds of good things from his master. He started out for Aram Naharaim. He made his way to the town of Nahor.


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He stopped near the well outside the town. There he made the camels get down on their knees. It was almost evening. It was the time when women go out to get water.


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Then he prayed, "Lord, you are the God of my master Abraham. Give me success today. Be kind to my master Abraham.


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I'm standing beside this spring. The daughters of the people who live in the town are coming out here to get water.


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"I will speak to a young woman. I'll say, 'Please lower your jar so I can have a drink.' Suppose she says, 'Have a drink of water. And I'll get some for your camels too.' Then let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. That's how I'll know you have been kind to my master."


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Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out. She had a jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah. Milcah was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor.


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The young woman was very beautiful. She was a virgin. No man had made love to her. She went down to the spring. She filled her jar and came up again.


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After she had given him a drink, she said, "I'll get water for your camels too. I'll keep doing it until they finish drinking."


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So she quickly emptied her jar into the stone tub. Then she ran back to the well to get more water. She got enough for all of his camels.


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The man didn't say a word. He watched her closely. He wanted to learn whether the Lord had given him success on the journey he had made.


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The camels finished drinking. Then the man took out a gold nose ring. It weighed a fifth of an ounce. He also took out two gold bracelets. They weighed four ounces.


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Then he asked, "Whose daughter are you? And please tell me something else. Is there room in your father's house for us? Can we spend the night there?"


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She continued, "We have plenty of straw and feed for your camels. We also have room for you to spend the night."


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He said, "I praise the Lord, the God of my master Abraham. He hasn't stopped being kind and faithful to my master. The Lord has led me on this journey. He has brought me to the house of my master's relatives."


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Laban had seen the nose ring. He had seen the bracelets on his sister's arms. And he had heard Rebekah tell what the man had said to her. So he went out to the man. He found him standing by the camels near the spring.


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"The Lord has given you his blessing," he said. "So come. Why are you standing out here? I've prepared my house for you. I also have a place for the camels."


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So the man went to the house. The camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought for the camels. And water was brought for him and his men to wash their feet.


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Then food was placed in front of him. But he said, "I won't eat until I've told you what I have to say." "Then tell us," Laban said.


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The Lord has blessed my master greatly. He has become wealthy. The Lord has given him sheep and cattle. He has given him silver and gold. He has also given him male and female servants, and camels and donkeys.


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"My master's wife Sarah had a son by him when she was old. He has given that son everything he owns.


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My master made me take an oath. He said, 'I'm living in the land of the people of Canaan. But promise me that you won't get a wife for my son from their daughters.


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"He replied, 'I have walked with the Lord. He will send his angel with you. He will give you success on your journey. So you will be able to get a wife for my son. You will get her from my own relatives and from my father's family.


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" 'When you go to my relatives, suppose they refuse to give her to you. Then you will be free from your oath.'


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"Today I came to the spring. I said, 'Lord, you are the God of my master Abraham. Please give me success on this journey I've made.


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" 'I'm standing beside this spring. A young woman will come out to get water. I will speak to her. I'll say, "Please let me drink a little water from your jar."


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Suppose she says, "Have a drink of water. And I'll get some for your camels too." Then let her be the one the Lord has chosen for my master's son.'


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"Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out. She had a jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and got water. I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.'


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"She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder. She said, 'Have a drink. And I'll get water for your camels too.' So I drank. She also got water for the camels.


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"I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' "She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel. He's the son Milcah had by Nahor.' "Then I put the ring in her nose. I put the bracelets on her arms.


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And I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham. He had led me on the right road. He had led me to get for my master's son the granddaughter of my master's brother.


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"Now will you be kind and faithful to my master? If you will, tell me. And if you won't, tell me. Then I'll know which way to turn."


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Laban and Bethuel answered, "The Lord has done all of this. We can't say anything to you one way or the other.


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Here is Rebekah. Take her and go. Let her become the wife of your master's son, just as the Lord has said."


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He brought out gold and silver jewelry. He brought out articles of clothing. He gave all of it to Rebekah. He also gave expensive gifts to her brother and her mother.


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Then Abraham's servant and the men who were with him ate and drank. They spent the night there. They got up the next morning. Abraham's servant said, "Send me back to my master."


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But her brother and her mother replied, "Let the young woman stay with us ten days or so. Then you can go."


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But he said to them, "Don't make me wait. The Lord has given me success on my journey. Send me on my way so I can go to my master."


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So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way with Abraham's servant and his men. They also sent Rebekah's attendant with her.


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And they gave Rebekah their blessing. They said to her, "Dear sister, may your family grow by thousands and thousands. May your children after you take over the cities of their enemies."


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Then Rebekah and her female servants got ready. They got on their camels to go with the man. So the servant took Rebekah and left.


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One evening he went out to the field. He wanted to spend some time thinking. When he looked up, he saw camels approaching.


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She asked the servant, "Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?" "He's my master," the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered her face.


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Isaac brought Rebekah into the tent that had belonged to his mother Sarah. And he married Rebekah. She became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother died.


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Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The children of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites and the Leummites.


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But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines. Then he sent them away from his son Isaac. He sent them to the land of the east.


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He took his last breath and died when he was very old. He had lived a very long time. Then he joined the members of his family who had already died.


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Abraham's sons Isaac and Ishmael buried his body. They put it in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre. It was in the field of Ephron, the son of Zohar the Hittite.


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Here is the story of Abraham's son Ishmael. Hagar had Ishmael by Abraham. She was Sarah's servant from Egypt.


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Here are the names of the sons of Ishmael. They are listed in the order they were born. Nebaioth was Ishmael's oldest son. Then came Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,


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All of them were Ishmael's sons. They were rulers of 12 tribes. They all lived in their own settlements and camps.


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Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. Then he took his last breath and died. He joined the members of his family who had already died.


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His children settled in the area between Havilah and Shur. It was near the eastern border of Egypt, as you go toward Asshur. Ishmael's children weren't friendly toward any of the tribes that were related to them.


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Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. She was the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram. She was also the sister of Laban the Aramean.


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Rebekah couldn't have children. So Isaac prayed to the Lord for her. And the Lord answered his prayer. His wife Rebekah became pregnant.


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The babies struggled with each other inside her. She said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to ask the Lord what she should do.


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The Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your body. Two tribes that are now inside you will be separated. One nation will be stronger than the other. The older son will serve the younger one."


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Then his brother came out. His hand was holding onto Esau's heel. So he was named Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when Rebekah had them.


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The boys grew up. Esau became a skillful hunter. He was a man who liked the open country. But Jacob was a quiet man. He stayed at home among the tents.


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Isaac liked the meat of wild animals. So Esau was his favorite son. But Rebekah's favorite was Jacob.


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He said to Jacob, "Quick! Let me have some of that red stew! I'm very hungry!" That's why he was also named Edom.


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But Jacob said, "First promise me with an oath that you are selling me your rights." So Esau promised to do it. He sold Jacob all of the rights that belonged to him as the oldest son.


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Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. Esau ate and drank. Then he got up and left. So Esau didn't care anything at all about the rights that belonged to him as the oldest son.


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There was very little food in the land. The same thing had been true earlier, in Abraham's time. Isaac went to Abimelech in Gerar. Abimelech was the king of the Philistines.


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The Lord appeared to Isaac. He said, "Do not go down to Egypt. Live in the land where I tell you to live.


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Stay here for a while. I will be with you and give you my blessing. I will give all of these lands to you and your children after you. And I will keep the promise I made with an oath to your father Abraham.


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I will make your children after you as many as the stars in the sky. And I will give them all these lands. All nations on earth will be blessed because of your children.


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"I will do all of those things because Abraham obeyed me. He did what I required. He kept my commands, my rules and my laws."


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The men of that place asked him about his wife. He said, "She's my sister." He was afraid to say, "She's my wife." He thought, "The men of this place might kill me because of Rebekah. She's a beautiful woman."


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Isaac had been there a long time. One day Abimelech, the king of the Philistines, looked down from a window. He saw Isaac hugging and kissing his wife Rebekah.


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So Abimelech sent for Isaac. He said, "She's really your wife, isn't she? Why did you say, 'She's my sister'?" Isaac answered him, "I thought I might lose my life because of her."


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Then Abimelech said, "What have you done to us? What if one of the men had sex with your wife? Then you would have made us guilty."


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So Abimelech gave orders to all of the people. He said, "You can be sure that anyone who harms this man or his wife will be put to death."


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Isaac planted crops in that land. That same year he gathered 100 times more than he planted. That was because the Lord blessed him.


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He had many flocks and herds and servants. Isaac had so much that the Philistines became jealous of him.


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So they stopped up all of the wells the servants of his father Abraham had dug. They filled them with dirt.


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Isaac opened up the wells again. They had been dug in the time of his father Abraham. The Philistines had stopped them up after Abraham died. Isaac gave the wells the same names his father had given them.


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But the people of Gerar who took care of their herds argued with the people who took care of Isaac's herds. "The water is ours!" the people of Gerar said. So Isaac named the well Esek. That's because they argued with him.


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He moved on from there and dug another well. But no one argued about that one. So he named it Rehoboth. He said, "Now the Lord has given us room. Now we will do well in the land."


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That night the Lord appeared to him. He said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid. I am with you. I will bless you. I will increase the number of your children because of my servant Abraham."


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Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the Lord. There he set up his tent. And there his servants dug a well.


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During that time, Abimelech had come to him from Gerar. Ahuzzath had come with him. So had Phicol, Abimelech's army commander. Ahuzzath was Abimelech's personal adviser.


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They answered, "We saw clearly that the Lord was with you. So we said, 'We should make an agreement by taking an oath.' The agreement should be between us and you. We want to make a peace treaty with you.


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Promise that you won't harm us. We didn't harm you. We always treated you well. We sent you away in peace. Now the Lord has blessed you."


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Early the next morning the men made an agreement with an oath. Then Isaac sent the men of Gerar on their way. And they left in peace.


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That day Isaac's servants came to him. They told him about the well they had dug. They said, "We've found water!"


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When Esau was 40 years old, he got married to Judith. She was the daughter of Beeri the Hittite. He also married Basemath. She was the daughter of Elon the Hittite.


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Isaac had become old. His eyes were so weak he couldn't see anymore. One day he called for his older son Esau. He said to him, "My son." "Here I am," he answered.


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Now then, get your weapons. Get your bow and arrows. Go out to the open country. Hunt some wild animals for me.


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Prepare for me the kind of tasty food I like. Bring it to me to eat. Then I'll give you my blessing before I die."


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Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. Esau left for the open country. He went to hunt for a wild animal and bring it back.


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He said, 'Bring me a wild animal. Prepare some tasty food for me to eat. Then I'll give you my blessing before I die. The Lord will be my witness.' "


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Go out to the flock. Bring me two of the finest young goats. I will prepare tasty food for your father. I'll make it just the way he likes it.


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Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, "My brother Esau's body is covered with hair. But my skin is smooth.


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What if my father touches me? He would know I was trying to trick him. That would bring a curse down on me instead of a blessing."


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His mother said to him, "My son, let the curse fall on me. Just do what I say. Go and get the goats for me."


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So he went and got the goats. He brought them to his mother. And she prepared some tasty food. She made it just the way his father liked it.


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The clothes of her older son Esau were in her house. She took the best of them and put them on her younger son Jacob.


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She covered his hands with the skins of the goats. She also covered the smooth part of his neck with them.


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Jacob said to his father, "I'm your oldest son Esau. I've done as you told me. Please sit up. Eat some of my wild meat. Then give me your blessing."


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Isaac asked his son, "How did you find it so quickly, my son?" "The Lord your God gave me success," he replied.


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Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near so I can touch you, my son. I want to know whether you really are my son Esau."


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Jacob went close to his father. Isaac touched him and said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob. But the hands are the hands of Esau."


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Isaac didn't recognize him. His hands were covered with hair like those of his brother Esau. So Isaac blessed him.


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Isaac said, "My son, bring me some of your wild meat to eat. Then I'll give you my blessing." Jacob brought it to him. So Isaac ate. Jacob also brought some wine. And Isaac drank.


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So Jacob went to him and kissed him. When Isaac smelled the clothes, he gave Jacob his blessing. He said, "It really is the smell of my son. It's like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed.


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May God give you dew from heaven. May he give you the richness of the earth. May he give you plenty of grain and fresh wine.


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May nations serve you. May they bow down to you. Rule over your brothers. May the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who call down curses on you be cursed. And may those who bless you be blessed."


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When Isaac finished blessing him, Jacob left his father. Just then his brother Esau came in from hunting.


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He too prepared some tasty food. He brought it to his father. Then Esau said to him, "My father, sit up. Eat some of my wild meat. Then give me your blessing."


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His father Isaac asked him, "Who are you?" "I'm your son," he answered. "I'm your oldest son. I'm Esau."


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Isaac was shaking all over. He said, "Then who was it that hunted a wild animal and brought it to me? I ate it just before you came. I gave him my blessing. And he will certainly be blessed!"


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Esau heard his father's words. Then he began crying loudly and bitterly. He said to his father, "Bless me! Bless me too, my father!"


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Esau said, "Isn't Jacob just the right name for him? He has cheated me two times. First, he took my rights as the oldest son. And now he's taken my blessing!" Then Esau asked, "Haven't you saved any blessing for me?"


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Isaac answered Esau, "I've made him ruler over you. I've made all of his relatives serve him. And I've provided him with grain and fresh wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?"


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Esau said to his father, "Do you have only one blessing, my father? Bless me too, my father!" Then Esau sobbed loudly.


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His father Isaac answered him, "You will live far away from the richness of the earth. You will live far away from the dew of heaven above.


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You will live by the sword. And you will serve your brother. But you will grow restless. Then you will throw off the heavy load he put on your shoulders."


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Esau was angry with Jacob. He was angry because of the blessing his father had given to Jacob. He said to himself, "My father will soon die. The days of sorrow over him are near. Then I'll kill my brother Jacob."


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Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said. So she sent for her younger son Jacob. She said to him, "Your brother Esau is comforting himself with the thought of killing you.


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Stay until your brother isn't angry with you anymore. When he forgets what you did to him, I'll let you know. Then you can come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?"


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Then Rebekah spoke to Isaac. She said, "I'm sick of living because of Esau's Hittite wives. Suppose Jacob also marries a Hittite woman. If he does, my life won't be worth living."


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So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. He commanded him, "Don't get married to a woman from Canaan.


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Go at once to Paddan Aram. Go to the house of your mother's father Bethuel. Find a wife for yourself there. Take her from among the daughters of your mother's brother Laban.


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"May the Mighty God bless you. May he give you children. May he increase your numbers until you become a community of nations.


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May he give you and your children after you the blessing he gave to Abraham. Then you can take over the land where you now live as an outsider. It's the land God gave to Abraham."


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Isaac sent Jacob on his way. Jacob went to Paddan Aram. He went to Laban, the son of Bethuel the Aramean. Laban was the brother of Rebekah. And Rebekah was the mother of Jacob and Esau.


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Esau found out that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him to Paddan Aram. Isaac wanted him to get a wife from there. Esau heard that when Isaac blessed Jacob, he commanded him, "Don't get married to a woman from Canaan."


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So he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath. She was the sister of Nebaioth and the daughter of Abraham's son Ishmael. Esau added her to the wives he already had.


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He reached a certain place and stopped for the night. The sun had already set. He took one of the stones there and placed it under his head. Then he lay down to sleep.


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In a dream he saw a stairway standing on the earth. Its top reached to heaven. The angels of God were going up and coming down on it.


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The Lord stood above the stairway. He said, "I am the Lord. I am the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your children after you the land on which you are lying.


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They will be like the dust of the earth that can't be counted. They will spread out to the west and to the east. They will spread out to the north and to the south. All nations on earth will be blessed because of you and your children after you.


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"I am with you. I will watch over you everywhere you go. And I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."


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Jacob woke up from his sleep. Then he thought, "The Lord is certainly in this place. And I didn't even know it."


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Jacob was afraid. He said, "How holy this place is! This must be the house of God. This is the gate of heaven."


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Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head. He set it up as a pillar. And he poured oil on top of it.


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Then Jacob made a promise. He said, "May God be with me. May he watch over me on this journey I'm taking. May he give me food to eat and clothes to wear.


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May he do as he has promised so that I can return safely to my father's home. Then you, Lord, will be my God.


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This stone I've set up as a pillar will be God's house. And I'll give you a tenth of everything you give me."


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There he saw a well in the field. Three flocks of sheep were lying near it. The flocks were given water from the well. The stone over the opening of the well was large.


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All of the flocks would gather there. The shepherds would roll the stone away from the well's opening. They would give water to the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place over the opening of the well.


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Then Jacob asked them, "How is he?" "He's fine," they said. "Here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep now."


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"Look," he said, "the sun is still high in the sky. It's not time for the flocks to be brought together. Give water to the sheep and take them back to the grasslands."


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"We can't," they replied. "We have to wait until all of the flocks are brought together. The stone has to be rolled away from the opening of the well. Then we'll give water to the sheep."


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He was still talking with them when Rachel came with her father's sheep. It was her job to take care of the flock.


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Rachel was the daughter of Laban. He was the brother of Jacob's mother. When Jacob saw Rachel with Laban's sheep, he went over to the well. He rolled the stone away from the opening. He gave water to his uncle's sheep.


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He had told Rachel he was a relative of her father. He had also said he was Rebekah's son. Rachel ran and told her father what Jacob had said.


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As soon as Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he hurried to meet him. Laban hugged Jacob and kissed him. Then he brought him to his home. There Jacob told him everything.


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Then Laban said to him, "You are my own flesh and blood." Jacob stayed with Laban for a whole month.


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Then Laban said to him, "You are one of my relatives. But is that any reason for you to work for me for nothing? Tell me what your pay should be."


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Laban had two daughters. The name of the older one was Leah. And the name of the younger one was Rachel.


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Jacob was in love with Rachel. He said to Laban, "I'll work for you for seven years to get your younger daughter Rachel."


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So Jacob worked for seven years to get Rachel. But they seemed like only a few days to him because he loved her so much.


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When Jacob woke up the next morning, there was Leah next to him! So he said to Laban, "What have you done to me? I worked for you to get Rachel, didn't I? Why did you trick me?"


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Laban replied, "It isn't our practice here to give the younger daughter to be married before the older one.


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Complete this daughter's wedding week. Then we'll give you the younger one also. But you will have to work for another seven years."


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So Jacob did it. He completed the week with Leah. Then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.


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Jacob made love to Rachel also. He loved Rachel more than he loved Leah. And he worked for Laban for another seven years.


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The Lord saw that Jacob didn't love Leah as much as he loved Rachel. So he let Leah have children. But Rachel wasn't able to have children.


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Leah became pregnant. She had a son. She named him Reuben. She said, "The Lord has seen me suffer. Certainly my husband will love me now."


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She became pregnant again. She had a son. Then she said, "The Lord heard that Jacob doesn't love me very much. That's why the Lord gave me this one too." So she named him Simeon.


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She became pregnant again. She had a son. Then she said, "Now at last my husband will want me. I have had three sons by him." So the boy was named Levi.


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She became pregnant again. She had a son. Then she said, "This time I'll praise the Lord." So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.


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Rachel saw that she couldn't have any children by Jacob. So she became jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I'll die!"


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Jacob became angry with her. He said, "Do you think I'm God? He's the one who has kept you from having children."


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Then she said, "Here's my servant Bilhah. Make love to her so that she can have children for me. Then I too can have a family through her."


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Then Rachel said, "God has stood up for my rights. He has listened to my prayer and given me a son." So she named him Dan.


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Then Rachel said, "I've had a great struggle with my sister. Now I've won." So she named him Naphtali.


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While the wheat harvest was being gathered, Reuben went out into the fields. He found some mandrake plants. He brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."


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But Leah said to her, "Isn't it enough that you took my husband away? Are you going to take my son's mandrakes too?" Rachel said, "All right. Jacob can make love to you tonight if you give me your son's mandrakes."


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Jacob came in from the fields that evening. Leah went out to meet him. "You have to sleep with me tonight," she said. "I've bought you with my son's mandrakes." So he made love to her that night.


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Then Leah said, "God has rewarded me because I gave my female servant to my husband." So she named the boy Issachar.


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Then Leah said, "God has given me a priceless gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor. I've had six sons by him." So she named the boy Zebulun.


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Then God listened to Rachel. He showed concern for her. He made it possible for her to have children.


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After Rachel had Joseph, Jacob spoke to Laban. He said, "Send me on my way. I want to go back to my own home and country.


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Give me my wives and children. I worked for you to get them. So I'll be on my way. You know how much work I've done for you."


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But Laban said to him, "If you are pleased with me, stay here. I've discovered that the Lord has blessed me because of you."


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Jacob said to him, "You know how hard I've worked for you. You know that your livestock has done better under my care.


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You had only a little before I came. But that little has become a lot. The Lord has blessed you everywhere I've been. But when can I do something for my own family?"


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"What should I give you?" Laban asked. "Don't give me anything," Jacob replied. "Just do one thing for me. Then I'll go on taking care of your flocks and watching over them.


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"Let me go through all of your flocks today. Let me remove every sheep that has speckles or spots on it. Let me remove every dark-colored lamb. Let me remove every goat that has spots or speckles on it. They will be my pay.


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"My honesty will give witness about me in days to come. It will give witness every time you check on what you have paid me. Suppose I have a goat that doesn't have speckles or spots. Or suppose I have a lamb that isn't dark-colored. Then it will be considered stolen."


text:
That same day Laban removed all of the male goats that had stripes or spots. He removed all of the female goats that had speckles or spots. They were the ones that had white on them. He also removed all of the dark-colored lambs. He had his sons take care of them.


text:
Then he put a journey of three days between himself and Jacob. But Jacob continued to take care of the rest of Laban's flocks.


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Jacob took branches that were freshly cut from poplar, almond and plane trees. He made white stripes on them by peeling off the bark. He uncovered the white wood inside the branches.


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Then he placed the peeled branches in all of the stone tubs where the animals drank water. He placed them so they would be right in front of the flocks when they came to drink. The flocks were ready to mate when they came to drink.


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So they mated in front of the branches. And they had little ones that were striped or speckled or spotted.


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Jacob put the little ones of the flock to one side by themselves. But he made the older ones face the striped and dark-colored animals that belonged to Laban. In that way, he made separate flocks for himself. He didn't put them with Laban's animals.


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Every time the stronger females were ready to mate, Jacob would place the branches in the stone tubs. He would place them in front of the animals so they would mate near the branches.


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But if the animals were weak, he wouldn't place the branches there. So the weak animals went to Laban. And the strong ones went to Jacob.


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In this way, Jacob became very rich. He became the owner of large flocks. He also had many male and female servants. And he had many camels and donkeys.


text:
Jacob heard what Laban's sons were saying. "Jacob has taken everything our father owned," they said. "He has gained all of this wealth from what belonged to our father."


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Then the Lord spoke to Jacob. He said, "Go back to your father's land and to your relatives. I will be with you."


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So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah. He told them to come out to the fields where his flocks were.


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He said to them, "I see that your father's feelings toward me have changed. But the God of my father has been with me.


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"But your father has cheated me. He has changed my pay ten times. In spite of everything that's happened, God hasn't let him harm me.


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Sometimes Laban would say, 'The speckled ones will be your pay.' Then all the flocks had little ones with speckles. At other times he would say, 'The striped ones will be your pay.' Then all the flocks had little ones with stripes.


text:
"Once during the mating season I had a dream. In my dream I looked up and saw male goats mating with the flock. The goats had stripes, speckles or spots.


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He said, 'Look up. See the male goats mating with the flock. All of them have stripes, speckles or spots. That is because I have seen everything that Laban has been doing to you.


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" 'I am the God of Bethel. That is where you poured oil on a pillar. There you made a promise to me. Now leave this land. Go back to your own land.' "


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Doesn't our father think of us as strangers? First he sold us. Now he has used up what he was paid for us.


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All of the wealth God took away from our father really belongs to us and our children. So do what God has told you to do."


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He drove all of his livestock ahead of him. He also took with him everything he had gotten in Paddan Aram. He left to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.


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Laban had gone to clip the wool from his sheep. While he was gone, Rachel stole the statues of family gods that belonged to her father.


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So Jacob ran off with everything he had. He crossed the Euphrates River. And he headed for the hill country of Gilead.


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He took his relatives with him and went after Jacob. Seven days later he caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.


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Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night. He said to him, "Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, whether it is good or bad."


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Jacob had set up his tent in the hill country of Gilead. That's where Laban caught up with him. Laban and his relatives camped there too.


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Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done? You have tricked me. You have taken my daughters away like prisoners of war.


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Why did you run away in secret and trick me? Why didn't you tell me? Then I could have sent you away happily. We could have sung to the music of tambourines and harps.


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You didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters good-by. You have done a foolish thing.


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"I have the power to harm you. But last night the God of your father spoke to me. He said, 'Be careful. Do not say anything to Jacob, whether it is good or bad.'


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"Now you have run away. You longed to go back to your father's home. But why did you have to steal my gods?"


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"But if you find anyone who has your gods, he will not remain alive. While our relatives are watching, look for yourself. See if there's anything of yours here with me. If you find anything belonging to you, take it." But Jacob didn't know that Rachel had stolen the gods.


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So Laban went into Jacob's tent and Leah's tent. He went into the tent of their two female servants. But he didn't find anything. After he came out of Leah's tent, he entered Rachel's tent.


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Rachel was the one who had taken his family gods. She had put them inside her camel's saddle. She was sitting on them. Laban searched the whole tent. But he didn't find anything.


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Rachel said to her father, "I'm sorry, sir. I can't get up for you right now. But don't be angry with me. I'm having my monthly period." So he searched everywhere but couldn't find his family gods.


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Jacob was very angry with Laban. "What have I done wrong?" he asked. "What sin have I committed to make you hunt me down like this?


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You have searched through all of my things. What have you found that belongs to your family? Put it here in front of your relatives and mine. Let them decide between the two of us.


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"I've been with you for 20 years now. The little ones of your sheep and goats were not dead when they were born. I haven't eaten rams from your flocks.


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I didn't bring you animals that were torn apart by wild beasts. I made up for the loss myself. Also, you made me pay for anything that was stolen by day or night.


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"And what was my life like? The heat burned me in the daytime. And it was so cold at night that I froze. I couldn't sleep.


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That's what it was like for the 20 years I was living with you. "I worked for 14 years to get your two daughters. I worked for six years to get my share of your flocks. You changed my pay ten times.


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"But the God of my father was with me. He is the God of Abraham and the God Isaac worshiped. If he hadn't been with me, you would certainly have sent me away without anything to show for all of my work. But God has seen my hard times. He has seen all of the work my hands have done. So last night he warned you."


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Laban answered Jacob, "The women are my daughters. The children are my children. The flocks are my flocks. Everything you see is mine. But what can I do today about these daughters of mine? What can I do about the children they've had?


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He said to his relatives, "Get some stones." So they took stones and put them in a pile. And they ate there by it.


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Laban said, "This pile of stones is a witness between you and me today." That's why it was named Galeed.


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It was also called Mizpah. That's because Laban said, "May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.


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Don't treat my daughters badly. Don't get married to any women besides my daughters. There isn't anyone here to see what we're doing. But remember that God is a witness between you and me."


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Laban also said to Jacob, "Here is this pile of stones. And here is this pillar. I've set them up between you and me.


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This pile is a witness. And this pillar is a witness. They give witness that I won't go past this pile to harm you. And they give witness that you won't go past this pile and pillar to harm me.


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"The God of Abraham and Nahor is also the God of their father. May their God decide which of us is right." So Jacob took an oath in the name of the God his father Isaac worshiped.


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He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country. And he invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there.


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Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters. He gave them his blessing. Then he left and returned home.


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Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau. Esau lived in the land of Seir. It was also called the country of Edom.


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Jacob told the messengers what to do. He said, "Here's what you must tell my master Esau. 'Your servant Jacob says, "I've been staying with Laban. I've remained there until now.


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I have cattle and donkeys and sheep and goats. I also have male and female servants. Now I'm sending this message to you. I hope I can please you." ' "


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The messengers came back to Jacob. They said, "We went to your brother Esau. He's coming now to meet you. He has 400 men with him."


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Jacob was very worried and afraid. So he separated the people who were with him into two groups. He also separated the flocks and herds and camels.


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Then Jacob prayed, "You are the God of my grandfather Abraham. You are the God of my father Isaac. "Lord, you are the one who said to me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives. Then I will give you success.'


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You have been very kind and faithful to me. But I'm not worthy of any of this. When I crossed this Jordan River, all I had was my walking stick. But now I've become two groups.


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"Please save me from the hand of my brother Esau. I'm afraid he'll come and attack me and the mothers with their children.


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But you have said, 'I will certainly give you success. I will make your children as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. People will not be able to count them.' "


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He chose 30 female camels with their little ones. He chose 40 cows and ten bulls. And he chose 20 female donkeys and ten male donkeys.


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He put each herd by itself. Then he put his servants in charge of them. He said to his servants, "Go on ahead of me. Keep some space between the herds."


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Jacob spoke to his servant who was leading the way. He said, "My brother Esau will meet you. He'll ask, 'Who is your master? Where are you going? And who owns all of these animals in front of you?'


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"Then say to Esau, 'They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift to you from him. And he is coming behind us.' "


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He also spoke to the second and third servants. He told them and all of the others who followed the herds what to do. He said, "Say the same thing to Esau when you meet him.


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Make sure you say, 'Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.' " Jacob was thinking, "I'll make peace with him with these gifts I'm sending on ahead. When I see him later, maybe he'll welcome me."


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That night Jacob got up. He took his two wives, his two female servants and his 11 sons and sent them across the Jabbok River.


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The man saw that he couldn't win. So he touched the inside of Jacob's hip. As Jacob struggled with the man, Jacob's hip was twisted.


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Then the man said, "Let me go. It is morning." But Jacob replied, "I won't let you go unless you bless me."


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Then the man said, "Your name will not be Jacob anymore. Instead, it will be Israel. You have struggled with God and with men. And you have won."


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Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you want to know my name?" Then he blessed Jacob there.


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That's why the people of Israel don't eat the meat attached to the inside of the hip. They don't eat it to this very day. It's because the inside of Jacob's hip was touched.


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Jacob looked up. And there was Esau, coming with his 400 men! So Jacob separated the children. He put them with Leah, Rachel and the two female servants.


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He put the servants and their children in front. He put Leah and her children next. And he put Rachel and Joseph last.


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But Esau ran to meet Jacob. He hugged him and threw his arms around his neck. He kissed him, and they cried.


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Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. "Who are these people with you?" he asked. Jacob answered, "They are the children God has so kindly given to me."


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Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel. They bowed down too.


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Esau asked, "Why did you send all of those herds I saw?" "I hoped I could do something to please you," Jacob replied.


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"No, please!" said Jacob. "If I've pleased you, accept this gift from me. Seeing your face is like seeing the face of God. You have welcomed me so kindly.


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Please accept the present that was brought to you. God has been gracious to me. I have everything I need." Jacob wouldn't give in. So Esau accepted it.


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But Jacob said to him, "You know that the children are young. You also know that I have to take care of the cows and female sheep that are nursing their little ones. If the animals are driven hard for just one day, all of them will die.


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"So you go on ahead of me. I'll move along only as fast as the herds and the children can go. I'll go slowly until I come to you in Seir."


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Esau said, "Then let me leave some of my men with you." "Why do that?" Jacob asked. "I just hope I've pleased you."


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But Jacob went to Succoth. There he built a place for himself. He also made shelters for his livestock. That's why the place is named Succoth.


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After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan. He camped where he could see the city.


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For 100 pieces of silver he bought a piece of land. He got it from the sons of Hamor. Hamor was the father of Shechem. Jacob set up his tent on that piece of land.


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Hamor the Hivite was the ruler of that area. When his son Shechem saw Dinah, he took her and raped her.


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Then his heart longed for Jacob's daughter Dinah. He fell in love with her and spoke tenderly to her.


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Jacob heard that his daughter Dinah had been made "unclean." His sons were in the fields with his livestock. So he kept quiet about it until they came home.


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Jacob's sons had come in from the fields. They came as soon as they heard what had happened. They were filled with sadness and anger. Shechem had done a very terrible thing. He had forced Jacob's daughter to have sex with him. He had done something that should never be done in Israel.


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"Let your people and ours get married to each other. Give us your daughters as our wives. You can have our daughters as your wives.


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Then Shechem spoke to Dinah's father and brothers. He said, "I want to please you. I'll give you anything you ask.


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Make the price for the bride as high as you want to. I'll pay anything you ask me. Just give me the woman. I want to get married to her."


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They said to them, "We can't do it. We can't give our sister to a man who isn't circumcised. That would bring shame on us.


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We'll agree, but only on one condition. You will have to become like us. You will have to circumcise all of your males.


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"Then we'll give you our daughters as your wives. And we'll take your daughters as our wives. We'll settle among you and become one people with you.


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The young man was the most honored of all of the men in his father's family. He didn't lose any time in doing what they said, because he was delighted with Jacob's daughter.


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"These men are friendly toward us," they said. "Let them live in our land. Let them trade in it. The land has plenty of room for them. We can get married to their daughters. And they can marry ours.


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"But they will agree to live with us as one people only on one condition. All of our males must be circumcised, just as they are.


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"Won't their livestock and their property belong to us? Won't all of their animals become ours? So let's say yes to them. Then they'll settle among us."


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All of the men who went out through the city gate agreed with Hamor and his son Shechem. So every male in the city was circumcised.


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Three days later, all of them were still in pain. Then Simeon and Levi took their swords. They were Jacob's sons and Dinah's brothers. They attacked the city when the people didn't expect it. They killed every male.


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They also killed Hamor and his son Shechem with their swords. Then they took Dinah from Shechem's house and left.


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Jacob's other sons found the dead bodies. They robbed the city where their sister had been made "unclean."


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They took the flocks and herds and donkeys. They took everything that was in the city and out in the fields.


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They carried everything away. And they took all of the women and children. They took away everything that was in the houses.


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Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me. Now I'm like a very bad smell to the Canaanites and Perizzites who live in this land. There aren't many of us. They may join together against me and attack me. Then I and my family will be destroyed."


text:
Then God said to Jacob, "Go up to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to honor me. That's where I appeared to you when you were running away from your brother Esau."


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So Jacob spoke to his family and to everyone who was with him. He said, "Get rid of the strange gods you have with you. Make yourselves pure, and change your clothes.


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Come, let's go up to Bethel. There I'll build an altar to honor God. He answered me when I was in trouble. He's been with me everywhere I've gone."


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So they gave Jacob all of the strange gods they had. They also gave him their earrings. Jacob buried them under the oak tree at Shechem.


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Then Jacob and everyone who was with him started out. The terror of God fell on the towns all around them. So no one chased them.


text:
Jacob and all of the people who were with him came to Luz. Luz is also called Bethel. It's in the land of Canaan.


text:
Jacob built an altar at Luz. He named the place El Bethel. There God made himself known to Jacob when he was running away from his brother.


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Rebekah's attendant Deborah died. They buried her body under the oak tree below Bethel. So it was called Allon Bacuth.


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God said to him, "Your name is Jacob. But you will not be called Jacob anymore. Your name will be Israel." So he named him Israel.


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God said to him, "I am the Mighty God. Have children and increase your numbers. A nation and a community of nations will come from you. Kings will come from your body.


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I am giving you the land I gave to Abraham and Isaac. I will also give it to your children after you."


text:
Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him. He poured out a drink offering on it. He also poured oil on it.


text:
They moved on from Bethel. Ephrath wasn't very far away when Rachel began to have a baby. She was having a very hard time of it.


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The woman who helped her saw that she was having problems. So she said to her, "Don't be afraid. You have another son."


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But Rachel was dying. As she took her last breath, she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin.


text:
While Israel was living in that area, Reuben went in and made love to Bilhah. She was the concubine of Reuben's father. And Israel heard about it. Here are the 12 sons Jacob had.


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Leah was the mother of Reuben, Jacob's oldest son. Her other sons were Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun.


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The sons of Leah's female servant Zilpah were Gad and Asher. Those were Jacob's sons. They were born in Paddan Aram.


text:
Jacob came home to his father Isaac in Mamre. Mamre is near Kiriath Arba, where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. The place is also called Hebron.


text:
Then he took his last breath and died. He was very old when he joined the members of his family who had already died. His sons Esau and Jacob buried his body.


text:
Esau got his wives from among the women of Canaan. He married Adah, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. He also married Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite.


text:
Esau moved to a land far away from his brother Jacob. He took with him his wives, his sons and daughters, and all of the people who lived with him. He also took his livestock and all of his other animals. He took everything he had gotten in Canaan.


text:
Jacob and Esau owned so much that they couldn't remain together. There wasn't enough land for both of them. They had too much livestock.


text:
Here is the story of Esau. He's the father of the people of Edom. They live in the hill country of Seir.


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Here are the names of Esau's sons. They are Eliphaz, the son of Esau's wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau's wife Basemath.


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Esau's son Eliphaz also had a concubine named Timna. She had Amalek by Eliphaz. They were grandsons of Esau's wife Adah.


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The sons of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. They were grandsons of Esau's wife Basemath.


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Esau's wife Oholibamah was the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon. She had Jeush, Jalam and Korah by Esau.


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Here are the chiefs who were among Esau's sons. Eliphaz was Esau's oldest son. The sons of Eliphaz were Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,


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Korah, Gatam and Amalek. They were the chiefs in Edom who were sons of Eliphaz. They were Adah's grandsons.


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The sons of Esau's son Reuel were Chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah. They were the chiefs in Edom who were sons of Reuel. They were grandsons of Esau's wife Basemath.


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The sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah were Chiefs Jeush, Jalam and Korah. They were the chiefs who were sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah. She was Anah's daughter.


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The sons of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah. He was the Anah who discovered the hot springs of water in the desert. He found them while he was taking care of the donkeys that belonged to his father Zibeon.


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Dishon, Ezer and Dishan. They were the Horite chiefs in the land of Seir. They are listed tribe by tribe.


text:
When Husham died, Hadad became the next king. Hadad was the son of Bedad. Hadad had won the battle over Midian in the country of Moab. Hadad's city was called Avith.


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When Baal-Hanan died, Hadad became the next king. Hadad's city was called Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabel. She was the daughter of Matred. Matred was the daughter of Me-Zahab.


text:
Here are the chiefs who were in the family line of Esau. They are listed by name as chiefs in charge of their tribes and territories. They are Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,


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Magdiel and Iram. They were the chiefs of Edom. They ruled over their settlements in the land where they lived. That's the end of the story of Esau. He was the father of the people of Edom.


text:
Here is the story of Jacob. Joseph was a young man. He was 17 years old. He was taking care of the flocks with some of his brothers. They were the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives. Joseph brought their father a bad report about them.


text:
Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons. Joseph had been born to him when he was old. Israel made him a beautiful robe.


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Joseph's brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them. So they hated Joseph. They couldn't even speak one kind word to him.


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We were tying up bundles of grain out in the field. Suddenly my bundle rose and stood up straight. Your bundles gathered around my bundle and bowed down to it."


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His brothers said to him, "Do you plan to be king over us? Will you really rule over us?" So they hated him even more because of his dream. They didn't like what he had said.


text:
Then Joseph had another dream. He told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said. "I had another dream. This time the sun and moon and 11 stars were bowing down to me."


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He told his father as well as his brothers. Then his father objected. He said, "What about this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers really do that? Will we really come and bow down to the ground in front of you?"


text:
Israel said to Joseph, "As you know, your brothers are taking care of the flocks near Shechem. Come. I'm going to send you to them." "All right," Joseph replied.


text:
So Israel said to him, "Go to your brothers. See how they are doing. Also see how the flocks are doing. Then come back and tell me." So he sent him away from the Hebron Valley. Joseph arrived at Shechem.


text:
He replied, "I'm looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are taking care of their flocks?"


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"They've moved on from here," the man answered. "I heard them say, 'Let's go to Dothan.' " So Joseph went to look for his brothers. He found them near Dothan.


text:
"Come. Let's kill him. Let's throw him into one of these empty wells. Let's say that a wild animal ate him up. Then we'll see whether his dreams will come true."


text:
"Let's not spill any blood. Throw him into this empty well here in the desert. But don't harm him yourselves." Reuben said that to save Joseph from them. He was hoping he could take him back to his father.


text:
Then they sat down to eat their meal. As they did, they saw some Ishmaelite traders coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, lotion and myrrh. They were on their way to take them down to Egypt.


text:
Judah said to his brothers, "What will we gain if we kill our brother and try to cover up what we've done?


text:
Come. Let's sell him to these traders. Let's not harm him ourselves. After all, he's our brother. He's our own flesh and blood." Judah's brothers agreed with him.


text:
The traders from Midian came by. Joseph's brothers pulled him up out of the well. They sold him to the Ishmaelite traders for eight ounces of silver. Then the traders took him to Egypt.


text:
Later, Reuben came back to the empty well. He saw that Joseph wasn't there. He was so upset that he tore his clothes.


text:
They took it back to their father. They said, "We found this. Take a look at it. See if it's your son's robe."


text:
Jacob recognized it. He said, "It's my son's robe! A wild animal has eaten him up. Joseph must have been torn to pieces."


text:
All of Jacob's other sons and daughters came to comfort him. But they weren't able to. He said, "I'll be full of sorrow when I go down into the grave to be with my son." So Joseph's father sobbed over him.


text:
But the traders from Midian sold Joseph to Potiphar in Egypt. Potiphar was one of Pharaoh's officials. He was the captain of the palace guard.


text:
At that time, Judah left his brothers. He went down to stay with a man named Hirah. Hirah was from the town of Adullam.


text:
There Judah met the daughter of a man from Canaan. His name was Shua. Judah married her and made love to her.


text:
Then Judah said to Onan, "Make love to your brother's wife. After all, you are her brother-in-law. So carry out your duty to her. Produce children for your brother."


text:
But Onan knew that the children wouldn't belong to him. So every time he made love to his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground. He did it so he wouldn't produce children for his brother.


text:
Then Judah spoke to his daughter-in-law Tamar. He said, "Live as a widow in your father's home. Wait there until my son Shelah grows up." Judah was thinking, "Shelah might die too, just like his brothers." So Tamar went to live in her father's home.


text:
After a long time Judah's wife died. She was the daughter of Shua. When Judah got over his sadness, he went up to Timnah. His friend Hirah from Adullam went with him. Men were clipping the wool from Judah's sheep at Timnah.


text:
So she took off her widow's clothes. She covered her face with a veil so people wouldn't know who she was. Then she sat down at the entrance to Enaim. Enaim is on the road to Timnah. Tamar knew that Shelah had grown up. But she hadn't been given to him as his wife.


text:
He didn't realize that she was his daughter-in-law. He went over to her by the side of the road. He said, "Come. Let me make love to you." "What will you give me to make love to you?" she asked.


text:
"I'll send you a young goat from my flock," he said. "Will you give me something that belongs to you?" she asked. "I'll keep it until you send the goat."


text:
He said, "What should I give you?" "Give me your seal and its string," she answered. "And give me your walking stick." So he gave them to her. Then he had sex with her. And she became pregnant by him.


text:
Judah sent his friend Hirah with the young goat he had promised. He wanted to get back what he had given to the woman. But his friend Hirah couldn't find her.


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He asked the men who lived at Enaim, "Where's the temple prostitute? She used to sit beside the road here." "There hasn't been any temple prostitute here," they said.


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So Hirah went back to Judah. He said, "I couldn't find her. Besides, the men who lived there didn't know anything about her. They said, 'There hasn't been any temple prostitute here.' "


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Then Judah said, "Let her keep what she has. I don't want people making fun of us. After all, I did send her this young goat. We can't help it if you couldn't find her."


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About three months later people brought word to Judah. They said, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of being a prostitute. Now she's pregnant." Judah said, "Bring her out! Have her burned to death!"


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As Tamar was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. She said, "I am pregnant by the man who owns these." She continued, "Do you recognize this seal and string and walking stick? Do you know who they belong to?"


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Judah recognized them. He said, "She's a better person than I am. I should have given her to my son Shelah, but I didn't." Judah never had sex with Tamar again.


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As the babies were being born, one of them stuck out his hand. So the woman who was helping Tamar took a bright red thread. The woman tied it on the baby's wrist. She said, "This one came out first."


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But he pulled his hand back, and his brother came out first instead. She said, "Just look at how you have broken out!" So he was called Perez.


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Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. An Egyptian named Potiphar had bought him from the Ishmaelite traders who had taken him there. Potiphar was one of Pharaoh's officials. He was the captain of the palace guard.


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Joseph's master saw that the Lord was with him. He saw that the Lord gave Joseph success in everything he did.


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So Potiphar was pleased with Joseph. He made him his attendant. He put Joseph in charge of his house. He told Joseph to take good care of everything he owned.


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From that time on, the Lord blessed Potiphar's family and servants because of Joseph. He blessed everything Potiphar had in his house and field.


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So Potiphar told Joseph to take good care of everything he owned. With Joseph in charge, he didn't have to worry about anything except the food he ate. Joseph was strong and handsome.


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But he said no. "My master has put me in charge," he told her. "Now he doesn't have to worry about anything in the house. He trusts me to take care of everything he owns.


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"No one in this house is in a higher position than I am. My master hasn't held anything back from me, except you. You are his wife. So how could I do an evil thing like that? How could I sin against God?"


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She spoke to Joseph day after day. But he told her he wouldn't make love to her. He didn't even want to be with her.


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One day Joseph went into the house to take care of his duties. None of the family servants was inside.


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Potiphar's wife grabbed hold of him by his coat. "Make love to me!" she said. But he left his coat in her hand. And he ran out of the house.


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So she called her servants. "Look," she said to them, "this Hebrew slave has been brought here to make fun of us! He came in here to force me to have sex with him. But I screamed for help.


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Potiphar's wife told him, "That's how your slave treated me." When Joseph's master heard her story, he became very angry.


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So he put Joseph in prison. It was the place where the king's prisoners were kept. While Joseph was there in the prison,


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the Lord was with him. He was kind to him. So the man who was running the prison was pleased with Joseph.


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He put Joseph in charge of all of the prisoners. He made him accountable for everything that was done there.


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The man who ran the prison didn't pay attention to anything that was in Joseph's care. The Lord was with Joseph. He gave Joseph success in everything he did.


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He put them in prison in the house of the captain of the palace guard. It was the same prison where Joseph was kept.


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The captain put Joseph in charge of those men. So Joseph took care of them. Some time passed while they were in prison.


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Then each of the two men had a dream. The men were the Egyptian king's baker and wine taster. They were being held in prison. Both of them had dreams the same night. Each of their dreams had its own meaning.


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They were Pharaoh's officials, and they were in prison with Joseph in his master's house. So he asked them, "Why do you look so sad today?"


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"We both had dreams," they answered. "But no one can tell us what they mean." Then Joseph said to them, "Only God knows what dreams mean. Tell me your dreams."


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So the chief wine taster told Joseph his dream. He said to him, "In my dream I saw a vine in front of me.


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There were three branches on the vine. As soon as it budded, it flowered. And bunches of ripe grapes grew on it.


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"Pharaoh's cup was in my hand. I took the grapes. I squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup. Then I put the cup in his hand."


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In three days Pharaoh will let you out of prison. He'll give your position back to you. And you will put Pharaoh's cup in his hand. That's what you used to do when you were his wine taster.


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"But when everything is going well with you, remember me. Do me a favor. Speak to Pharaoh about me. Get me out of this prison.


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I was taken away from the land of the Hebrews by force. Even here I haven't done anything to be put in prison for."


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The chief baker saw that Joseph had given a positive meaning to the wine taster's dream. So he said to Joseph, "I had a dream too. There were three baskets of bread on my head.


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All kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh were in the top basket. But the birds were eating them out of the basket that was on my head."


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In three days Pharaoh will cut your head off. Then he will stick a pole through your body and set the pole up. The birds will eat up your body."


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The third day was Pharaoh's birthday. He had a big dinner prepared for all of his officials. He brought the chief wine taster and the chief baker out of prison. He did it in front of his officials.


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He gave the chief wine taster's position back to him. Once again the wine taster put the cup into Pharaoh's hand.


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But Pharaoh had a pole stuck through the chief baker's body. Then he had the pole set up. Everything happened exactly as Joseph had told them when he explained their dreams.


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When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream. In his dream, he was standing by the Nile River.


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Seven cows came up out of the river. They looked healthy and fat. They were eating some of the tall grass that was growing along the river.


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After them, seven other cows came up out of the Nile. They looked ugly and skinny. They were standing beside the other cows on the riverbank.


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He fell asleep again and had a second dream. In that dream, seven heads of grain were growing on one stem. They were healthy and good.


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The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up. It had been a dream.


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In the morning he was worried. So he sent for all of the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams. But no one could tell him what they meant.


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Then the chief wine taster spoke up. He said to Pharaoh, "Now I remember that I've done something wrong.


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Pharaoh was once angry with his servants. He put me and the chief baker in prison. We were in the house of the captain of the palace guard.


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"A young Hebrew servant was there with us. He was a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams. And he explained them to us. He told each of us the meaning of our dreams.


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Things turned out exactly as he said they would. I was given back my position. The other man had a pole stuck through his body."


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So Pharaoh sent for Joseph. He was quickly brought out of the prison. Joseph shaved himself and changed his clothes. Then he came to Pharaoh.


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Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream. No one can tell me what it means. But I've heard that when you hear a dream you can explain it."


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Then Pharaoh told Joseph what he had dreamed. He said, "I was standing on the bank of the Nile River.


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Seven cows came up out of the river. They were fat and good-looking. They were eating the tall grass that was growing along the river.


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"After them, seven other cows came up. They were bony and very ugly and thin. I had never seen such ugly cows in the whole land of Egypt.


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But even after the thin cows ate up the fat ones, no one could tell that they had eaten them. They looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.


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"In my dreams I also saw seven heads of grain. They were full and good. They were all growing on one stem.


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"After them, seven other heads of grain came up. They were weak and thin and dried up by the east wind.


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"The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told my dreams to the magicians. But none of them could explain them to me."


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Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Both of Pharaoh's dreams have the same meaning. God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.


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The seven good cows are seven years. And the seven good heads of grain are seven years. Both dreams mean the same thing.


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"The seven thin, ugly cows that came up later are seven years. So are the seven worthless heads of grain that were dried up by the east wind. They are seven years when there won't be enough food.


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"But seven years when there won't be enough food will follow them. Then everyone will forget about all of the food Egypt had. Terrible hunger will destroy the land.


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There won't be anything left to remind people of the years when there was plenty of food in the land. That's how bad the hunger that follows will be.


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"God gave the dream to Pharaoh in two forms. That's because the matter has been firmly decided by God. And it's because God will do it soon.


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"So Pharaoh should look for a wise and understanding man. He should put him in charge of the land of Egypt.


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"Pharaoh should appoint officials to be in charge of the land. They should take a fifth of the harvest in Egypt during the seven years when there's plenty of food.


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They should collect all of the extra food of the good years that are coming. Pharaoh should give them authority to store up the grain. They should keep it in the cities for food.


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"The grain should be stored up for the country to use later. It will be needed during the seven years when there isn't enough food in Egypt. Then the country won't be destroyed just because it doesn't have enough food."


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So Pharaoh said to them, "The spirit of God is in this man. We can't find anyone else like him, can we?"


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Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "God has made all of this known to you. No one is as wise and understanding as you are.


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You will be in charge of my palace. All of my people must obey your orders. I will be greater than you only because I'm the one who sits on the throne."


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Then Pharaoh took his ring off his finger. It was the ring he used to stamp all of the official papers. He put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes that were made out of fine linen. He put a gold chain around his neck.


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He also had him ride in a chariot. Joseph was now next in command after Pharaoh. People went in front of him and shouted, "Get down on your knees!" By doing all of those things, Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of the whole land of Egypt.


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Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh. But without your word, no one will do anything in the whole land of Egypt."


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Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah. He gave him a wife. She was Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera. Potiphera was the priest of On. Joseph traveled all over the land of Egypt.


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Joseph was 30 years old when he began serving Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. He left Pharaoh's palace and traveled all over Egypt.


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During the seven years when there was plenty of food, the land produced more than the people needed.


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Joseph collected all of the extra food produced in those seven years in Egypt. He stored it in the cities. In each city he stored up the food that was grown in the fields around it.


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Joseph stored up huge amounts of grain. It was like the sand of the sea. There was so much grain it couldn't be measured. So Joseph stopped keeping records of it.


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Before the years when there wasn't enough food, two sons were born to Joseph. He had them by Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera. Potiphera was the priest of On.


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Joseph named his first son Manasseh. That's because he said, "God has made me forget all of my trouble and my father's whole family."


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He named the second son Ephraim. That's because he said, "God has given me children in the land where I've suffered so much."


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Then the seven years when there wasn't enough food began. It happened exactly as Joseph had said it would. There wasn't enough food in any of the other lands. But in the whole land of Egypt there was food.


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When all of the people of Egypt began to get hungry, they cried out to Pharaoh for food. He told all of the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph. Do what he tells you."


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There wasn't enough food anywhere in the country. So Joseph opened the storerooms. He sold grain to the Egyptians because people were very hungry all over Egypt.


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People from all of the other countries came to Egypt. They came to buy grain from Joseph. That's because people were very hungry all over the world.


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Jacob found out that there was grain in Egypt. So he said to his sons, "Why do you just keep looking at each other?"


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He continued, "I've heard there's grain in Egypt. Go down there. Buy some for us. Then we'll live and not die."


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Israel's sons were among the people who went to buy grain. There wasn't enough food in the land of Canaan.


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Joseph was the governor of the land. He was the one who sold grain to all of its people. When Joseph's brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.


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As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them. But he pretended to be a stranger. He spoke to them in a mean way. "Where do you come from?" he asked. "From the land of Canaan," they replied. "We've come to buy food."


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Then Joseph remembered his dreams about them. So he said to them, "You are spies! You have come to see the places where our land isn't guarded very well."


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But they replied, "We were 12 brothers. All of us were the sons of one man. He lives in the land of Canaan. Our youngest brother is now with our father. And one brother is gone."


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So I'm going to put you to the test. You can be sure that Pharaoh lives. And you can be just as sure that you won't leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. I promise with an oath that you won't leave here.


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Send one of you back to get your brother. The rest of you will be kept in prison. "I'll put your words to the test. Then we'll find out whether you are telling the truth. You can be sure that Pharaoh lives. And you can be just as sure that if you aren't telling the truth, we'll know that you are spies!"


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On the third day, Joseph spoke to them again. He said, "Do what I say. Then you will live, because I have respect for God.


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If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison. The rest of you may go and take grain back to your hungry families.


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"But you must bring your youngest brother to me. That will prove that your words are true. Then you won't die." So they did what he said.


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They said to one another, "God is certainly punishing us because of our brother. We saw how troubled he was when he begged us to let him live. But we wouldn't listen. That's why all of this trouble has come to us."


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Reuben replied, "Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn't listen! Now we're being held accountable for killing him."


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They didn't realize that Joseph could understand what they were saying. He was using someone else to explain their words to him in the Egyptian language.


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Joseph turned away from them and began to sob. Then he turned around and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken and tied up right there in front of them.


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Joseph gave orders to have their bags filled with grain. He had each man's money put back into his sack. He also made sure they were given food for their journey.


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When night came, they stopped. One of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey. He saw his money in the top of his sack.


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"My money has been given back," he said to his brothers. "Here it is in my sack." They had a sinking feeling in their hearts. They began to tremble. They turned to each other and said, "What has God done to us?"


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They came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. They told him everything that had happened to them. They said,


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"The man who is the governor of the land spoke to us in a mean way. He treated us as if we were spying on the land.


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We were 12 brothers. All of us were the sons of one father. But now one brother is gone. And our youngest brother is with our father in Canaan.'


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"Then the man who is the governor of the land spoke to us. He said, 'Here's how I will know whether you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers here with me. Take food for your hungry families and go.


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" 'But bring your youngest brother to me. Then I'll know that you are honest men and not spies. I'll give your brother back to you. And you will be free to trade in the land.' "


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They began emptying their sacks. There in each man's sack was his bag of money! When they and their father saw the money bags, they were afraid.


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Their father Jacob said to them, "You have taken my children away from me. Joseph is gone. Simeon is gone. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is going against me!"


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Then Reuben spoke to his father. He said, "You can put both of my sons to death if I don't bring Benjamin back to you. Place him in my care. I'll bring him back."


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But Jacob said, "My son will not go down there with you. His brother is dead. He's the only one left here with me. Suppose he's harmed on the journey you are taking. Then I would die as a sad old man. I would go down into the grave full of sorrow."


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After a while Jacob's family had eaten all of the grain the brothers had brought from Egypt. So their father said to them, "Go back. Buy us a little more food."


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But Judah said to him, "The man gave us a strong warning. He said, 'You won't see my face again unless your brother comes with you.'


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"If you won't send him, we won't go down. The man said to us, 'You won't see my face again unless your brother comes with you.' "


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Israel asked, "Why did you bring this trouble to me? Why did you tell the man you had another brother?"


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They replied, "The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. 'Is your father still living?' he asked us. 'Do you have another brother?' "We just answered his questions. How could we possibly know he would say, 'Bring your brother down here'?"


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Judah spoke to Israel his father. "Send the boy along with me," he said. "We'll go at once. Then we and you and our children will live and not die.


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"I myself promise to keep him safe. You can hold me accountable for him. I'll bring him back to you. I'll set him right here in front of you. If I don't, you can put the blame on me for the rest of my life.


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Then their father Israel spoke to them. He said, "If that's the way it has to be, then do what I tell you. Put some of the best things from our land in your bags. Take them down to the man as a gift. Take some lotion and a little honey. Take some spices and myrrh. Take some pistachio nuts and almonds.


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Take twice the amount of money with you. You have to give back the money that was put in your sacks. Maybe it was a mistake.


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May the Mighty God cause him to show you mercy. May the man let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. And if I lose my sons, I lose them."


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So the men took the gifts. They took twice the amount of money. They also took Benjamin. They hurried down to Egypt and went to Joseph.


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When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he spoke to the manager of his house. "Take these men to my house," he said. "Kill an animal and prepare dinner. I want them to eat with me at noon."


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They were afraid when they were taken to Joseph's house. They thought, "We were brought here because of the money that was put back in our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us. Then he can hold us as slaves and take our donkeys."


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We opened our sacks at the place where we stopped for the night. Each of us found in our sacks the money we had paid. So we've brought it back with us.


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"It's all right," the manager said. "Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you riches in your sacks. I received your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them.


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The manager took the men into Joseph's house. He gave them water to wash their feet. He provided feed for their donkeys.


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They prepared their gifts for Joseph. He was planning to arrive at noon. They had heard that they were going to eat there.


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When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought into the house. They bowed down to the ground in front of him.


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He asked them how they were. Then he said, "How is your old father you told me about? Is he still living?"


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They replied, "Your servant our father is still alive and well." And they bowed low to show him honor.


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Joseph looked around. Then he saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son. He asked, "Is this your youngest brother? Is he the one you told me about?" He continued, "May God be gracious to you, my son."


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It moved him deeply to see his brother. So Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to cry. He went into his own room and cried there.


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They served Joseph by himself. They served the brothers by themselves. They also served the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves. Because of their beliefs, Egyptians couldn't eat with Hebrews.


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The brothers had been given places in front of Joseph. They had been seated in the order of their ages, from the oldest to the youngest. That made them look at each other in great surprise.


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While they were eating, some food was brought to them from Joseph's table. Benjamin was given five times as much as anyone else. So all of Joseph's brothers ate and drank a lot with him.


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Joseph told the manager of his house what to do. "Fill the men's sacks with as much food as they can carry," he said. "Put each man's money in his sack.


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"Then put my silver cup in the youngest one's sack. Put it there along with the money he paid for his grain." So the manager did what Joseph told him to do.


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They hadn't gone very far from the city when Joseph spoke to his manager. "Go after those men at once," he said. "Catch up with them. Say to them, 'My master was good to you. Why have you paid him back by doing evil?


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Isn't this the cup my master drinks from? Doesn't he also use it to figure things out? You have done an evil thing.' "


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We even brought back to you from Canaan the money we found in our sacks. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master's house?


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"If you find out that any of us has the cup, he will die. And the rest of us will become your slaves."


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"All right, then," he said. "As you wish. The one who is found to have the cup will become my slave. But the rest of you will be free from blame."


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Then the manager started to search. He began with the oldest and ended with the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin's sack.


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When that happened, they were so upset they tore their clothes. Then all of them loaded their donkeys and went back to the city.


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Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in. They threw themselves down on the ground in front of him.


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Joseph said to them, "What have you done? Don't you know that a man like me has ways to figure things out?"


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"What can we say to you?" Judah replied. "What can we say? How can we prove we haven't done anything wrong? God has shown you that we are guilty. We are now your slaves. All of us are, including the one who was found to have the cup."


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But Joseph said, "I would never do anything like that! Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you may go back to your father in peace."


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Then Judah went up to him. He said, "Please, sir. Let me speak a word to you. Don't be angry with me, even though you are equal to Pharaoh himself.


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We answered, 'We have an old father. A young son was born to him when he was old. His brother is dead. He's the only one of his mother's sons left. And his father loves him.'


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"But you told us, 'Your youngest brother must come down here with you. If he doesn't, you won't see my face again.'


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"But we said, 'We can't go down. We'll only go if our youngest brother goes there with us. We can't even see the man's face unless our youngest brother goes with us.'


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One of them went away from me. And I said, "He must have been torn to pieces." I haven't seen him since.


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What if you take this one from me too and he is harmed? Then you would cause me to die as a sad old man. I would go down into the grave full of pain and suffering.'


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"So now, what will happen if the boy isn't with us when I go back to my father? His life is closely tied up with the boy's life.


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When he sees that the boy isn't with us, he'll die as a sad old man. Because of us, he'll go down into the grave full of sorrow.


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"I promised my father I would keep the boy safe. I said, 'Father, I'll bring him back to you. If I don't, you can put the blame on me for the rest of my life.'


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"Now then, please let me stay here. Let me be your slave in place of the boy. Let the boy return with his brothers.


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How can I go back to my father if the boy isn't with me? Don't let me see the pain and suffering that would come to my father."


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Joseph couldn't control himself anymore in front of all of his attendants. He cried out, "Have everyone leave me!" So there wasn't anyone with Joseph when he told his brothers who he was.


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Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But his brothers weren't able to answer him. They were too afraid of him.


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Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." So they did. Then he said, "I am your brother Joseph. I'm the one you sold into Egypt.


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But don't be upset. And don't be angry with yourselves because you sold me here. God sent me ahead of you to save many lives.


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"For two years now, there hasn't been enough food in the land. And for the next five years, people won't be plowing or gathering crops.


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But God sent me ahead of you to keep some of you alive on earth. He sent me here to save your lives by an act of mighty power.


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"So then, it wasn't you who sent me here. It was God. He made me like a father to Pharaoh. He made me master of Pharaoh's whole house. He made me ruler of the whole land of Egypt.


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"Now hurry back to my father. Say to him, 'Your son Joseph says, "God has made me master of the whole land of Egypt. Come down to me. Don't waste any time.


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You will live in the area of Goshen. You, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you have will be near me.


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There I will provide everything you need. " ' "Five years without enough food are still coming. If you don't come down here, you and your family and everyone who belongs to you will lose everything." '


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"Brothers, you can see for yourselves that it's really I, Joseph, speaking to you. My brother Benjamin can see it too.


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"Tell my father about all of the honor that has been given to me in Egypt. Tell him about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly."


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Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and sobbed. Benjamin also hugged him and sobbed.


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The news reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come. Pharaoh and all of his officials were pleased.


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Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Here's what I want you to tell your brothers. Say to them, 'Load your animals. Return to the land of Canaan.


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Bring your father and your families back to me. I'll give you the best land in Egypt. You can enjoy all of the good things in the land.'


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"And here's something else I want you to tell them. Say to them, 'Take some carts from Egypt. Your children and your wives can use them. Get your father and come back.


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Don't worry about the things you have back there. The best of everything in Egypt will belong to you.' "


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So the sons of Israel did it. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded. He also gave them supplies for their journey.


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He gave new clothes to each of them. But he gave more than seven pounds of silver to Benjamin. He also gave him five sets of clothes.


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He sent his father ten donkeys loaded with the best things from Egypt. He also sent ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other supplies for his journey.


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They told him, "Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of the whole land of Egypt." Jacob was shocked. He didn't believe them.


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So they told him everything Joseph had said to them. Jacob saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back. That gave new life to their father Jacob.


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So Israel started out with everything that belonged to him. When he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.


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"I am God. I am the God of your father," he said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt. There I will make you into a great nation.


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I will go down to Egypt with you. You can be sure that I will bring you back again. And when you die, Joseph will close your eyes with his own hand."


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Then Jacob left Beersheba. Israel's sons put their father Jacob and their families in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to carry them.


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So Jacob and his whole family went to Egypt. They took their livestock with them. And they took everything they had gotten in Canaan.


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Jacob took his sons and grandsons with him to Egypt. He also took his daughters and granddaughters. He took all of his children and grandchildren with him.


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Here are the names of Israel's children and grandchildren who went to Egypt. Jacob and all of his children and grandchildren are included. Reuben was Jacob's oldest son.


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The sons of Simeon were 'QF'Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul. Shaul was the son of a woman from Canaan.


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The sons of Judah were 'QF'Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez and Zerah. But Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.


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Those were the sons and grandsons who were born to Jacob and Leah in Paddan Aram. Leah also had a daughter by Jacob. Her name was Dinah. The total number of people in the family line of Jacob and Leah was 33.


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The sons of Asher were 'QF'Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malkiel.


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Those were the children and grandchildren who were born to Jacob and Zilpah. Laban had given Zilpah to his daughter Leah. The total number of people in the family line of Jacob and Zilpah was 16.


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In Egypt, Asenath had Manasseh and Ephraim by Joseph. Asenath was the daughter of Potiphera. Potiphera was the priest of On.


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Those were the sons and grandsons who were born to Jacob and Rachel. The total number of people in the family line of Jacob and Rachel was 14.


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Those were the sons and grandsons who were born to Jacob and Bilhah. Laban had given Bilhah to his daughter Rachel. The total number of people in the family line of Jacob and Bilhah was seven.


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The total number of those who went to Egypt with Jacob was 66. That number includes only his own children and grandchildren. It doesn't include his sons' wives or his grandsons' wives.


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The total number of the members of Jacob's family who went to Egypt was 70. That includes the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt.


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Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph. He sent him to get directions to Goshen. And so they arrived in the area of Goshen.


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Then Joseph had his servants get his chariot ready. He went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as he came to his father, Joseph threw his arms around him. Then Joseph sobbed for a long time.


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Then Joseph spoke to his brothers and to the rest of his father's family. He said, "I will go up and speak to Pharaoh. I'll say to him, 'My brothers and the rest of my father's family have come to me. They were living in the land of Canaan.


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The men are shepherds. They take care of livestock. They've brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.'


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You should answer, 'We've taken care of livestock from the time we were boys. We've done just as our fathers did.' It's the practice of the people of Egypt not to mix with shepherds. "So Pharaoh will let you settle in the area of Goshen."


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Joseph went to Pharaoh. He told him, "My father and brothers have come from the land of Canaan. They've brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own. They are now in Goshen."


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Pharaoh asked the brothers, "What do you do for a living?" "We're shepherds," they replied to Pharaoh. "And that's what our fathers were."


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They also said to him, "We've come to live in Egypt for a while. There isn't enough food anywhere in Canaan. There isn't any grass for our flocks. So please let us settle in Goshen."


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The land of Egypt is open to you. Settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen. Do any of them have special skills? If they do, put them in charge of my own livestock."


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Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in. He brought him in to meet Pharaoh. Jacob gave Pharaoh his blessing.


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Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The years of my journey through life are 130. My years have been few and hard. They aren't as many as the years of my fathers before me."


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So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt. He gave them property in the best part of the land, just as Pharaoh had directed him to do. That part was known as the territory of Rameses.


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Joseph also provided food for his father and brothers. He provided for them and the rest of his father's family. He gave them enough for all of their children.


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But there wasn't any food in the whole area. In fact, there wasn't enough food anywhere. Both Egypt and Canaan lost their strength because there wasn't enough food to go around.


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Joseph collected all of the money that was in Egypt and Canaan. People paid it to him for the grain they were buying. And Joseph brought it to Pharaoh's palace.


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When the money of the people of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all of the Egyptians came to Joseph. They said, "Give us food. Why should we die right in front of your eyes? Our money is all gone."


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"Then bring your livestock," said Joseph. "You say your money is gone. So I'll trade you food for your livestock."


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They brought their livestock to Joseph. He traded them food for their animals. They gave him their horses, sheep, goats, cattle and donkeys. He brought the people through that year by trading them food for all of their livestock.


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When that year was over, they came to him the next year. They said, "We can't hide the truth from you. Our money is gone. Our livestock belongs to you. We don't have anything left to give you except our bodies and our land.


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"Why should we die right in front of your eyes? Why should our land be destroyed as well? Trade us food for ourselves and our land. Then we and our land will belong to Pharaoh. Give us some seeds so we can live and not die. We don't want the land to become a desert."


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So Joseph bought all of the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. All of the people of Egypt sold their fields. They did that because there wasn't enough food anywhere. In that way, the land became Pharaoh's.


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But he didn't buy the land that belonged to the priests. They received a regular share of food from Pharaoh. They had enough food from what Pharaoh gave them. That's why they didn't have to sell their land.


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Joseph said to the people, "I've bought you and your land today for Pharaoh. So here are some seeds for you to plant in the ground.


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But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. Keep the other four-fifths for yourselves. They will be seeds for the fields. And they will be food for yourselves, your children, and the other people who live with you."


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So Joseph made a law about land in Egypt. It's still the law today. A fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. Only the land belonging to the priests didn't become Pharaoh's.


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The people of Israel settled in Egypt in the area of Goshen. They received property there. They had children and greatly increased their numbers.


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The time came near for Israel to die. So he sent for his son Joseph. He said to him, "If you are pleased with me, put your hand under my thigh. Promise me that you will be kind and faithful to me. Don't bury me in Egypt.


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When I join the members of my family who have already died, carry me out of Egypt. Bury me where they are buried." "I'll do exactly as you say," Joseph said.


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"Promise me with an oath that you will do it," Jacob said. So Joseph promised him. And Israel worshiped God as he leaned on the top of his wooden staff.


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Some time later Joseph was told, "Your father is sick." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him.


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Jacob said to Joseph, "The Mighty God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan. He blessed me there.


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He said to me, 'I am going to give you children. I will increase your numbers. I will make you a community of nations. And I will give this land to your children after you. It will belong to them forever.'


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"Now then, two sons were born to you in Egypt. It happened before I came to you here. They will be counted as my own sons. Ephraim and Manasseh will belong to me, in the same way that Reuben and Simeon belong to me.


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"Any children who are born to you after them will belong to you. Any territory they receive will come from the land that is given to Ephraim and Manasseh.


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"As I was returning from Paddan, Rachel died. It made me very sad. She died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way. We weren't very far away from Ephrath. So I buried her body there beside the road to Ephrath." Ephrath was also called Bethlehem.


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"They are the sons God has given me here," Joseph said to his father. Then Israel said, "Bring them to me. I want to give them my blessing."


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Israel's eyes were weak because he was old. He couldn't see very well. So Joseph brought his sons close to him. His father kissed them and hugged them.


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Israel said to Joseph, "I never thought I'd see your face again. But now God has let me see your children too."


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Joseph placed Ephraim on his right, toward Israel's left hand. He placed Manasseh on his left, toward Israel's right hand. Then he brought them close to Jacob.


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But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head. He did it even though Ephraim was the younger son. He crossed his arms and put his left hand on Manasseh's head. He did it even though Manasseh was the older son.


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Then Israel gave Joseph his blessing. He said, "May God bless these boys. He is the God of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. They walked with him. He is the God who has been my shepherd all of my life to this very day.


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He is the Angel who has saved me from all harm. May he bless these boys. May they be called by my name. May they also be called by the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. And may they greatly increase their numbers on the earth."


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Joseph saw his father putting his right hand on Ephraim's head. And Joseph didn't like it. So he took hold of his father's hand to move it over to Manasseh's head.


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But his father wouldn't do it. He said, "I know, my son. I know. He too will become a nation. He too will become great. But his younger brother will be greater than he is. His children after him will become a group of nations."


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On that day, Jacob gave them his blessing. He said, "In the land of Israel, people will bless others in your names. They will say, 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.' "So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.


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Then Israel said to Joseph, "I'm about to die. But God will be with all of you. He'll take you back to the land of your fathers.


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But you, Joseph, are over your brothers. So I'm giving you the range of hills I took from the Amorites. I took it with my sword and bow."


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Then Jacob sent for his sons. He said, "Gather around me so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.


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"Reuben, you are my oldest son. You were my first child. You were the first sign of my strength. You were first in honor. You were first in power.


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But you are as unsteady as water. So you won't be first anymore. You had sex with your father's concubine in his bed. You lay on his couch and made it 'unclean.'


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I won't share in their plans. I won't have anything to do with them. They became angry and killed people. They cut the legs of oxen just for the fun of it.


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May the Lord put a curse on them because of their terrible anger. I will scatter them in Jacob's land. I will spread them around in Israel.


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"Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your enemies will be brought under your control. Your father's sons will bow down to you.


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Judah, you are like a lion's cub. You return from hunting, my son. Like a lion, you lie down and sleep. You are like a mother lion. Who dares to wake you up?


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The right to rule will not leave Judah. The ruler's rod will not be taken from between his feet. It will be his until the king it belongs to comes. It will be his until the nations obey him.


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He will tie his donkey to a vine. He will tie his colt to the very best branch. He will wash his clothes in wine. He will wash his robes in the red juice of grapes.


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"Zebulun will live by the seashore. He will become a safe harbor for ships. His border will go out toward Sidon.


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He sees how good his resting place is. He sees that his land is pleasant. So he'll carry a heavy load on his back. He will obey when he's forced to work.


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Dan will be a serpent by the side of the road. He will be a poisonous snake along the path. It bites the horse's heels so that the rider falls off backward.


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"Joseph is a vine that grows a lot of fruit. It grows close by a spring. Its branches climb over a wall.


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But his bow remained steady. His strong arms moved freely. The hand of the Mighty One of Jacob was with him. The Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, stood by him.


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Your father's God helps you. The Mighty One blesses you. He gives you blessings from the highest heavens. He gives you blessings from the deepest oceans. He blesses you with children and with a mother's milk.


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Your father's blessings are great. They are greater than the blessings from the age-old mountains. They are greater than the gifts from the ancient hills. Let all of those blessings rest on the head of Joseph. Let them rest on the head of the one who is prince among his brothers.


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"Benjamin is a hungry wolf. In the morning he eats what he has killed. In the evening he shares what he has stolen."


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All of those are the 12 tribes of Israel. That's what their father said to them when he blessed them. He gave each one the blessing that was just right for him.


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Then Jacob gave directions to his sons. He said, "I'm about to join the members of my family who have already died. Bury me with them in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite.


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"The cave is in the field of Machpelah near Mamre in Canaan. Abraham had bought it as a place where he could bury his wife's body. He had bought the cave from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field.


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"The bodies of Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried there. So were the bodies of Isaac and his wife Rebekah. I also buried Leah's body there.


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When Jacob had finished telling his sons what to do, he pulled his feet up into his bed. Then he took his last breath and joined the members of his family who had already died.


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Then Joseph talked to the doctors who served him. He told them to prepare the body of his father Israel to be buried. So the doctors prepared it.


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They took 40 days to do it. They needed that much time to prepare a body in the right way. The Egyptians sobbed over Jacob for 70 days.


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After the days of sorrow had passed, Joseph went to Pharaoh's officials. He said to them, "If you are pleased with me, speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him,


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'My father made me take an oath and make a promise to him. He said, "I'm about to die. Bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan." So let me go up and bury my father. Then I'll come back.' "


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So Joseph went up to bury his father. All of Pharaoh's officials went with him. They were the important people of his court and all of the leaders of Egypt.


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All of Joseph's family also went. His brothers and all of the rest of his father's family went too. Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen.


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They came to the threshing floor of Atad. It was near the Jordan River. There they sobbed loudly and bitterly. Joseph set apart seven days of sadness to honor his father's memory.


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The people of Canaan who were living there saw how sad all of them were at the threshing floor of Atad. They said, "The Egyptians are having a very special service for the dead." That's why that place near the Jordan River is called Abel of the Egyptians.


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They carried his body to the land of Canaan. They buried it in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre. Abraham had bought the cave as a place where he could bury his wife's body. He had bought it from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field.


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After Joseph buried his father, he went back to Egypt. His brothers and all of the others who had gone to help him bury his father went back with him.


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Now that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers were worried. They said, "Remember all of the bad things we did to Joseph? What if he decides to hold those things against us? What if he pays us back for them?"


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He said, 'Here's what you must say to Joseph. Tell him, "I'm asking you to forgive your brothers. Forgive the terrible things they did to you. Forgive them for treating you so badly." ' Now then, please forgive our sins. We serve the God of your father." When their message came to Joseph, he sobbed.


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You planned to harm me. But God planned it for good. He planned to do what is now being done. He wanted to save many lives.


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"So then, don't be afraid. I'll provide for you and your children." He set them free from their fears. And he spoke in a kind way to them.


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He lived long enough to see Ephraim's children and grandchildren. When the children of Makir were born, they were placed on Joseph's knees and counted as his own children. Makir was the son of Manasseh.


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Joseph said to his brothers, "I'm about to die. But I'm sure that God will come to help you. He'll take you up out of this land. He'll bring you to the land he promised with an oath to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."


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Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and make a promise to him. He said, "I'm sure that God will come to help you. Then you must carry my bones up from this place."


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So Joseph died at the age of 110. They prepared his body to be buried. Then he was placed in a casket in Egypt.


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Here are the names of Israel's children who went to Egypt with Jacob. Each one went with his family.


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The people of Israel had many children. They greatly increased their numbers. There were so many of them that they filled the land.


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Come. We must deal with them carefully. If we don't, they will increase their numbers even more. Then if war breaks out, they'll join our enemies. They'll fight against us and leave the country."


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So the Egyptians put slave drivers over the people of Israel. The slave drivers beat them down and made them work hard. The Israelites built the cities of Pithom and Rameses so Pharaoh could store things there.


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But the more the slave drivers beat them down, the more the Israelites increased their numbers and spread out. So the Egyptians became afraid of them.


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They made them suffer with hard labor. They forced them to work with bricks and mud. And they made them do all kinds of work in the fields. The Egyptians didn't show them any pity at all. They made them work very hard.


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There were two Hebrew women named Shiphrah and Puah. They helped other women who were having babies. The king of Egypt spoke to them. He said,


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"You are the ones who help the other Hebrew women. Watch them when they get into a sitting position to have their babies. Kill the boys. Let the girls live."


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But Shiphrah and Puah had respect for God. They didn't do what the king of Egypt had told them to do. They let the boys live.


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Then the king of Egypt sent for the women. He asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?"


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The women answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like the women of Egypt. They are strong. They have their babies before we get there."


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So God was kind to Shiphrah and Puah. And the people of Israel increased their numbers more and more.


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Then Pharaoh gave an order to all of his people. He said, "You must throw every baby boy into the Nile River. But let every baby girl live."


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She became pregnant and had a son by him. She saw that her baby was a fine child. So she hid him for three months.


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After that, she couldn't hide him any longer. So she got a basket that was made out of the stems of tall grass. She coated it with tar. Then she placed the child in it. She put the basket in the tall grass that grew along the bank of the Nile River.


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Pharaoh's daughter went down to the Nile River to take a bath. Her attendants were walking along the bank of the river. She saw the basket in the tall grass. So she sent her female slave to get it.


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When she opened it, she saw the baby. He was crying. She felt sorry for him. "This is one of the Hebrew babies," she said.


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Then his sister spoke to Pharaoh's daughter. She asked, "Do you want me to go and get one of the Hebrew women? She could nurse the baby for you."


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Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this baby. Nurse him for me. I'll pay you." So the woman took the baby and nursed him.


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When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter. And he became her son. She named him Moses. She said, "I pulled him out of the water."


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Moses grew up. One day, he went out to where his own people were. He watched them while they were hard at work. He saw an Egyptian hitting a Hebrew man. The man was one of Moses' own people.


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Moses looked around and didn't see anyone. So he killed the Egyptian. Then he hid his body in the sand.


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The next day Moses went out again. He saw two Hebrew men fighting. He asked the one who had started the fight a question. He said, "Why are you hitting another Hebrew man?"


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The man said, "Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking about killing me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses became afraid. He thought, "People must have heard about what I did."


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When Pharaoh heard about what had happened, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses escaped from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian. There he sat down by a well.


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A priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came to fill the stone tubs with water. They wanted to give water to their father's flock.


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Some shepherds came along and drove the women away. But Moses got up and helped them. Then he gave water to their flock.


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The young women returned to their father Reuel. He asked them, "Why have you returned so early today?"


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They answered, "An Egyptian saved us from the shepherds. He even got water for us and gave it to the flock."


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"Where is he?" he asked his daughters. "Why did you leave him? Invite him to have something to eat."


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Zipporah had a son by him. Moses named him Gershom. Moses said, "I'm an outsider in a strange land."


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After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The people of Israel groaned because they were slaves. They also cried out to God. Their cry for help went up to him.


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Moses was taking care of the flock of his father-in-law Jethro. Jethro was the priest of Midian. Moses led the flock to the western side of the desert. He came to Horeb. It was the mountain of God.


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There the angel of the Lord appeared to him from inside a burning bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire. But it didn't burn up.


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The Lord saw that Moses had gone over to look. So God spoke to him from inside the bush. He called out, "Moses! Moses!" "Here I am," Moses said.


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"Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals. The place you are standing on is holy ground."


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He continued, "I am the God of your father. I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. And I am the God of Jacob." When Moses heard that, he turned his face away. He was afraid to look at God.


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The Lord said, "I have seen my people suffer in Egypt. I have heard them cry out because of their slave drivers. I am concerned about their suffering.


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"So I have come down to save them from the Egyptians. I will bring them up out of that land. I will bring them into a good land. It has a lot of room. It is a land that has plenty of milk and honey. It is the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.


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"And now Israel's cry for help has reached me. I have seen the way the Egyptians are beating them down.


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So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh. I want you to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. They are my people."


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But Moses spoke to God. "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?" he said. "Who am I that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"


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God said, "I will be with you. I will give you a miraculous sign. It will prove that I have sent you. When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship me on this mountain."


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Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the people of Israel. Suppose I say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Suppose they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?"


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God said to Moses, "I am who I am. Here is what you must say to the Israelites. Tell them, 'I am has sent me to you.' "


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God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The Lord is the God of your fathers. He has sent me to you. He is the God of Abraham. He is the God of Isaac. And he is the God of Jacob.' My name will always be The Lord. Remember me by that name for all time to come.


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"Go. Gather the elders of Israel together. Say to them, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers, appeared to me. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. " 'He said, "I have watched over you. I have seen what the Egyptians have done to you.


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I have promised to bring you up out of Egypt where you are suffering. I will bring you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. It is a land that has plenty of milk and honey." '


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"The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders must go to the king of Egypt. You must say to him, 'The Lord has met with us. He is the God of the Hebrews. Let us take a journey that lasts about three days. We want to go into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God.'


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"But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you and your people go. Only a mighty hand could make him do that.


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So I will reach my hand out. I will strike the Egyptians with all kinds of miracles. After that, he will let you go.


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"I will cause the Egyptians to treat you in a kind way. Then when you leave, you will not go out with your hands empty.


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Every woman should ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles made out of silver and gold. Ask them for clothes too. Put them on your children. In that way, you will take the wealth of Egypt along with you."


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Moses answered, "What if the elders of Israel won't believe me? What if they won't listen to me? Suppose they say, 'The Lord didn't appear to you.' Then what should I do?"


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The Lord said, "Throw it on the ground." So Moses threw it on the ground. It turned into a snake. He ran away from it.


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Then the Lord said to Moses, "Reach your hand out. Take the snake by the tail." So he reached out and grabbed hold of the snake. It turned back into a staff in his hand.


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The Lord said, "When they see this miraculous sign, they will believe that I appeared to you. I am the God of their fathers. I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. And I am the God of Jacob."


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Then the Lord said, "Put your hand inside your coat." So Moses put his hand inside his coat. When he took it out, it was as white as snow. It was covered with a skin disease.


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"Now put it back into your coat," the Lord said. So Moses put his hand back into his coat. When he took it out, the skin was healthy again. His hand was like the rest of his skin.


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Then the Lord said, "Suppose they do not believe you or pay attention to the first miracle. Then maybe they will believe the second one.


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"But suppose they do not believe either miracle. Suppose they will not listen to you. Then get some water from the Nile River. Pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will turn to blood on the ground."


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Moses spoke to the Lord. He said, "Lord, I've never been a good speaker. And I haven't gotten any better since you spoke to me. I don't speak very well at all."


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The Lord said to him, "Who makes a man able to talk? Who makes him unable to hear or speak? Who makes him able to see? Who makes him blind? It is I, the Lord.


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Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses. He said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you. He will be glad to see you.


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Speak to him. Put your words in his mouth. Tell him what to say. I will help both of you speak. I will teach you what to do.


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Then Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro. He said to him, "Let me go back to my own people in Egypt. I want to see if any of them are still alive." Jethro said, "Go. I hope everything goes well with you."


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The Lord had said to Moses in Midian, "Go back to Egypt. All of the men who wanted to kill you are dead."


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So Moses got his wife and sons. He put them on a donkey. Together they started back to Egypt. And he took the wooden staff in his hand. It was the staff God would use in a powerful way.


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The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "When you return to Egypt, do all of the miracles I have given you the power to do. Do them in the sight of Pharaoh. But I will make his heart stubborn. He will not let the people go.


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I told you, 'Let my son go. Then he will be able to worship me.' But you refused to let him go. So I will kill your oldest son." ' "


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But Zipporah got a knife that was made out of hard stone. She circumcised her son with it. Then she touched Moses' feet with the skin she had cut off. "You are a husband who has forced me to spill my son's blood," she said.


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So the Lord didn't kill Moses. When she said "husband who has forced me to spill my son's blood," she was talking about circumcision.


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The Lord said to Aaron, "Go into the desert to see Moses." So he greeted Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him.


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Then Moses told Aaron everything the Lord had sent him to say. He also told him about all of the miraculous signs he had commanded him to do.


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Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also did the miracles in the sight of the people.


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And they believed. They heard that the Lord was concerned about them. He had seen their suffering. So they bowed down and worshiped him.


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Later on, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They said, "The Lord is the God of Israel. He says, 'Let my people go. Then they will be able to hold a feast in my honor in the desert.' "


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Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord? Why should I obey him? Why should I let Israel go? I don't even know the Lord. And I won't let Israel go."


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Then Moses and Aaron said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a journey that lasts about three days. We want to go into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God. If we don't, he might strike us with plagues. Or he might let us be killed with swords."


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But the king of Egypt said, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get back to work!"


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Pharaoh continued, "There are large numbers of your people in the land. But you are stopping them from working."


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That same day Pharaoh gave orders to the slave drivers and the others who were in charge of the people.


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But require them to make the same number of bricks as before. Don't lower the number they have to make. They don't want to work. That's why they are crying out, 'Let us go. We want to offer sacrifices to our God.'


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The slave drivers and the others who were in charge left. They said to the people, "Pharaoh says, 'I won't give you any more straw.


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Go and get your own straw anywhere you can find it. But you still have to make the same number of bricks.' "


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So the people scattered all over Egypt. They went to gather any pieces of straw that were left in the fields.


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The slave drivers kept making the people work hard. They said, "Finish the work you are required to do each day. Make the same number of bricks you made when you had straw."


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They whipped the Israelites who were in charge of the people. Those Israelites had been appointed by Pharaoh's slave drivers. The slave drivers asked, "Why didn't you make the same number of bricks yesterday or today, just as before?"


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Then the Israelites who were in charge of the people made their appeal to Pharaoh. They asked, "Why have you treated us like this?


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You didn't give us any straw. But you told us, 'Make bricks!' We are being whipped. But it's the fault of your own people."


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Pharaoh said, "You just don't want to work! That's why you keep saying, 'Let us go. We want to offer sacrifices to the Lord.'


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Now get to work. We won't give you any straw. But you still have to make the same number of bricks."


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The Israelites who were in charge of the people realized they were in trouble. They knew it when they were told, "Don't lower the number of bricks you are required to make each day."


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They said to Moses and Aaron, "We want the Lord to look at what you have done! We want him to judge you for it! We are like a very bad smell to Pharaoh and his officials. You have given them an excuse to kill us with their swords."


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Moses returned to the Lord. He said to him, "Lord, why have you brought trouble on these people? Is this why you sent me?


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I went to Pharaoh to speak to him in your name. Ever since then, he has brought nothing but trouble on these people. And you haven't saved your people at all."


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Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. Because of my powerful hand, he will let the people of Israel go. Because of my mighty hand, he will drive them out of his country."


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I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the Mighty God. But I did not show them the full meaning of my name, The Lord.


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"I also made my covenant with them. I promised to give them the land of Canaan. That is where they lived as outsiders.


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Also, I have heard the groans of the Israelites. The Egyptians are keeping them as slaves. But I have remembered my covenant.


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"So tell the people of Israel, 'I am the Lord. I will throw off the heavy load the Egyptians have put on your shoulders. I will set you free from being slaves to them. I will reach out my arm and save you with mighty acts when I judge Egypt.


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" 'I will take you to be my own people. I will be your God. You will know that I am the Lord your God when I throw off the load the Egyptians have put on your shoulders.


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" 'I will bring you to the land I promised with an oath to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I lifted up my hand and promised it to them. The land will belong to you. I am the Lord.' "


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Moses reported those things to the Israelites. But they didn't listen to him. That's because they had lost all hope and had to work very hard.


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But Moses spoke to the Lord. "The people won't listen to me," he said. "So why would Pharaoh listen to me? After all, I don't speak very well."


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The Lord had spoken to Moses and Aaron. He had talked with them about the Israelites and about Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. He had commanded Moses and Aaron to bring the people of Israel out of Egypt.


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Here were the leaders of the family groups of Reuben, Simeon and Levi. Reuben was the oldest son of Israel. His sons were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. Those were the family groups of Reuben.


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The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul. Shaul was the son of a woman from Canaan. Those were the family groups of Simeon.


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Here were the names of the sons of Levi that were recorded in their family history. They were Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Levi lived for 137 years.


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The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. Those were the family groups of Levi that were recorded in their family history.


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Amram got married to his father's sister Jochebed. Aaron and Moses were born in Amram's family line. Amram lived for 137 years.


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Aaron married Elisheba. She was the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon. She had Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar by Aaron.


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Eleazar, the son of Aaron, married one of the daughters of Putiel. She had Phinehas by Eleazar. Those were the leaders of the families of Levi that were recorded by their groups.


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The Lord had spoken to that same Aaron and Moses. He had told them, "Bring the Israelites out of Egypt like an army on the march."


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They spoke to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, about bringing the people of Israel out of Egypt. They were that same Moses and Aaron.


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Then the Lord said to Moses, "I have made you like God to Pharaoh. And your brother Aaron will be like a prophet to you.


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You must say everything I command you to say. Then your brother Aaron must tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country.


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"But I will make Pharaoh's heart stubborn. I will multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt.


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In spite of that, he will not listen to you. So I will use my powerful hand against Egypt. When I judge them with mighty acts, I will bring my people Israel out like an army on the march.


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"Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord. I will reach out my powerful hand against Egypt. I will bring the people of Israel out of it."


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He said, "Pharaoh will say to you, 'Do a miracle.' When he does, speak to Aaron. Tell him, 'Take your wooden staff and throw it down in front of Pharaoh.' It will turn into a snake."


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So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They did exactly as the Lord had commanded them. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials. It turned into a snake.


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Then Pharaoh sent for wise men and those who do evil magic. By doing their magic tricks, the Egyptian magicians did the same things Aaron had done.


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Each one threw his staff down. Each staff turned into a snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed theirs up.


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In spite of that, Pharaoh's heart became stubborn. He wouldn't listen to them, just as the Lord had said.


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In the morning Pharaoh will go down to the water. Go and wait on the bank of the Nile River to meet him. Take in your hand the wooden staff that turned into a snake.


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"Say to Pharaoh, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you. He says, "Let my people go. Then they will be able to worship me in the desert. But up to now you have not listened."


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" 'The Lord says, "Here is how you will know that I am the Lord. I will strike the water of the Nile River with the staff that is in my hand. The river will turn into blood.


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The fish in the river will die. The river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink its water." ' "


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The Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Get your staff. Reach your hand out over the waters of Egypt. The streams, waterways, ponds and all of the lakes will turn into blood. There will be blood everywhere in Egypt. It will even be in the wooden buckets and stone jars.' "


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Moses and Aaron did exactly as the Lord had commanded them. Aaron held out his staff in front of Pharaoh and his officials. He struck the water of the Nile River. And all of the water turned into blood.


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The fish in the Nile died. The river smelled so bad the Egyptians couldn't drink its water. There was blood everywhere in Egypt.


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But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by doing their magic tricks. So Pharaoh's heart became stubborn. He wouldn't listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said.


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All of the Egyptians dug holes near the Nile River to get drinking water. They couldn't drink water from the river.


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Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh. Tell him, 'The Lord says, "Let my people go. Then they will be able to worship me.


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The Nile River will be full of frogs. They will come up into your palace. You will have frogs in your bedroom and on your bed. They will be in the homes of your officials and your people. They will be in your ovens and in your bread pans.


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Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "Tell Aaron, 'Reach your hand out. Hold your staff over the streams, waterways and ponds. Make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.' "


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But the magicians did the same things by doing their magic tricks. They also made frogs come up on the land of Egypt.


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Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. He said to them, "Pray to the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people. Then I'll let your people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord."


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Moses said to Pharaoh, "You can have the honor of setting the time for me to pray. I will pray for you, your officials and your people. I'll pray that the frogs will leave you and your homes. The only frogs left will be the ones in the Nile River."


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"Tomorrow," Pharaoh said. Moses replied, "It will happen just as you say. Then you will know that there is no one like the Lord our God.


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The frogs will leave you and your houses. They will leave your officials and your people. They will remain only in the Nile River."


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Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh. Then Moses cried out to the Lord about the frogs he had brought on Pharaoh.


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But when Pharaoh saw that the frogs were dead, his heart became stubborn. He wouldn't listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said.


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Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "Tell Aaron, 'Reach your wooden staff out. Strike the dust on the ground with it.' Then all over the land of Egypt the dust will turn into gnats."


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So they did it. Aaron reached out the staff that was in his hand. He struck the dust on the ground with it. The dust all over the land of Egypt turned into gnats. They landed on people and animals alike.


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The magicians tried to produce gnats by doing their magic tricks. But they couldn't. The gnats stayed on people and animals alike.


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The magicians said to Pharaoh, "God's powerful finger has done this." But Pharaoh's heart was stubborn. He wouldn't listen, just as the Lord had said.


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Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "Get up early in the morning. Talk to Pharaoh as he goes down to the river. Say to him, 'The Lord says, "Let my people go. Then they will be able to worship me.


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If you do not let my people go, I will send large numbers of flies. I will send them on you and your officials. I will send them on your people and into your homes. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies. Even the area where they live will be full of flies.


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" ' "But on that day I will treat the area of Goshen differently from yours. That is where my people live. There will not be large numbers of flies in Goshen. Then you will know that I, the Lord, am in this land.


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So the Lord did it. Huge numbers of flies poured into Pharaoh's palace. They came into the homes of his officials. All over Egypt the flies destroyed the land.


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Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. He said to them, "Go. Offer sacrifices to your God here in the land."


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But Moses said, "That wouldn't be right. The sacrifices we offer to the Lord our God wouldn't be accepted by the Egyptians because of their beliefs. Suppose we offered sacrifices they couldn't accept. Then they would throw stones at us and try to kill us.


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We have to take a journey that lasts about three days. We want to go into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, exactly as he commands us."


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Pharaoh said, "I will let you and your people go to offer sacrifices. You can offer them to the Lord your God in the desert. But you must not go very far. And pray for me."


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Moses replied, "As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the Lord. Tomorrow the flies will leave you. They will also leave your officials and your people. Just be sure you don't try to trick us again. Let the people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord."


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And the Lord did what Moses asked. The flies left Pharaoh, his officials and his people. Not one fly remained.


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Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "Go to Pharaoh. Tell him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says, "Let my people go. Then they will be able to worship me.


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" ' "If you refuse, my powerful hand will bring a terrible plague on you. I will strike your livestock in the fields. I will strike your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep and goats.


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But I will treat Israel's livestock differently from yours. No animal that belongs to the people of Israel will die." ' "


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So the next day the Lord sent it. All of the livestock of the Egyptians died. But not one animal that belonged to the Israelites died.


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Pharaoh sent people to find out what had happened. They discovered that not even one animal that belonged to the Israelites had died. But his heart was still very stubborn. He wouldn't let the people go.


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Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said, "Take handfuls of ashes from a furnace. Have Moses toss them into the air in front of Pharaoh.


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The ashes will turn into fine dust all over the whole land of Egypt. Then boils will break out on people and animals all over the land. Their bodies will be covered with them."


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So Moses and Aaron took ashes from a furnace and stood in front of Pharaoh. Moses tossed them into the air. Then boils broke out on people and animals alike.


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The bodies of all of the Egyptians were covered with boils. The magicians couldn't stand in front of Moses because of the boils that were all over them.


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But the Lord made Pharaoh's heart stubborn. Pharaoh wouldn't listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.


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Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "Get up early in the morning. Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says, "Let my people go. Then they will be able to worship me.


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" ' "If you do not let them go, I will send the full force of my plagues against you this time. They will strike your officials and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like me in the whole earth.


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" ' "By now I could have reached out my hand. I could have struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth.


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But I had a special reason for making you king. I decided to show you my power. I wanted my name to become known everywhere on earth.


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So at this time tomorrow I will send the worst hailstorm ever to fall on Egypt in its entire history.


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" ' "Give an order now to bring your livestock inside to a safe place. Bring in everything that is outside. The hail will fall on all of the people and animals that are left outside. They will die." ' "


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The officials of Pharaoh who had respect for what the Lord had said obeyed him. They hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside.


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But others didn't pay attention to what the Lord had said. They left their slaves and livestock outside.


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Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "Reach your hand out toward the sky. Then hail will fall all over Egypt. It will beat down on people and animals alike. It will strike everything that is growing in the fields of Egypt."


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Moses reached his wooden staff out toward the sky. Then the Lord sent thunder and hail. Lightning flashed down to the ground. The Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt.


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All over Egypt hail struck everything in the fields. It fell on people and animals alike. It beat down everything that was growing in the fields. It tore all of the leaves off the trees.


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Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. "This time I've sinned," he said to them. "The Lord has done what is right. I and my people have done what is wrong.


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Pray to the Lord, because we've had enough thunder and hail. I'll let you and your people go. You don't have to stay here any longer."


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Moses replied, "When I've left the city, I'll lift up my hands and pray to the Lord. The thunder will stop. There won't be any more hail. Then you will know that the earth belongs to the Lord.


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Then Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city. He lifted up his hands and prayed to the Lord. The thunder and hail stopped. The rain didn't pour down on the land any longer.


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Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail and thunder had stopped. So he sinned again. He and his officials made their hearts stubborn.


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So Pharaoh's heart was stubborn. He wouldn't let the people of Israel go, just as the Lord had said through Moses.


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Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh. I have made his heart stubborn. I have also made the hearts of his officials stubborn so I can do my miraculous signs among them.


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Then you will be able to tell your children and grandchildren how hard I was on the Egyptians. You can tell them I did great miracles among the people of Egypt. And all of you will know that I am the Lord."


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So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They said to him, "The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says, 'How long will you refuse to obey me? Let my people go. Then they will be able to worship me.


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They will cover the ground so that it can't be seen. They will eat what little you have left after the hail. That includes every tree that is growing in your fields.


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They will fill your houses. They will be in the homes of all of your officials and your people. Your parents and your people before them have never seen anything like it as long as they have lived here.' " Then Moses turned around and left Pharaoh.


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Pharaoh's officials said to him, "How long will this man be a trap for us? Let the people go. Then they'll be able to worship the Lord their God. After everything that's happened, don't you realize that Egypt is destroyed?"


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Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. "Go. Worship the Lord your God," he said. "But just who will be going?"


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Moses answered, "We'll go with our young people and old people. We'll go with our sons and daughters. We'll take our flocks and herds. We are supposed to hold a feast in the Lord's honor."


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Pharaoh said, "The Lord will really be with all of you if I ever let you go, along with your women and children! Clearly you are planning to do something bad.


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No! I'll only allow the men to go. Then all of you can worship the Lord. After all, that's what you have been asking for." Then Pharaoh drove Moses and Aaron out of his sight.


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The Lord said to Moses, "Reach out your hand over Egypt. Locusts will cover the land. They will eat up everything that is growing in the fields. They will eat up everything that was left by the hail."


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So Moses reached his wooden staff out over Egypt. Then the Lord made an east wind blow across the land. It blew all that day and all that night. By morning the wind had brought the locusts.


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They came into every part of Egypt. They settled down in every area of the country in large numbers. There had never been a plague of locusts like it before. And there will never be one like it again.


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The locusts covered the ground until it was black. They ate up everything that was left after the hail. They ate up everything that was growing in the fields. They ate up the fruit on the trees. There was nothing green left on any tree or plant in the whole land of Egypt.


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Pharaoh quickly sent for Moses and Aaron. He said, "I have sinned against the Lord your God. I've also sinned against you.


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Now forgive my sin one more time. Pray to the Lord your God to take this deadly plague away from me."


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The Lord changed the wind to a very strong west wind. The wind picked up the locusts. It blew them into the Red Sea. Not even one locust was left anywhere in Egypt.


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The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "Reach out your hand toward the sky. Darkness will spread over Egypt. It will be so dark that people can feel it."


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No one could see anyone else or go anywhere for three days. But all of the people of Israel had light where they lived.


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Then Pharaoh sent for Moses. He said to him, "Go. Worship the Lord. Even your women and children can go with you. Just leave your flocks and herds behind."


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But Moses said, "You must allow us to take animals to offer as sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord our God.


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Our livestock must also go with us. We have to use some of them to worship the Lord our God. We can't leave even one animal behind. Until we get there, we won't know what we are supposed to use to worship the Lord."


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Pharaoh said to Moses, "Get out of my sight! Make sure you don't come to see me again! If you do, you will die."


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The Lord had spoken to Moses. He had said, "I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you and your people go. When he does, he will drive you completely away.


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The Lord caused the Egyptians to treat the Israelites in a kind way. Pharaoh's officials and the people had great respect for Moses.


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Every oldest son in Egypt will die. The oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, will die. The oldest son of the female slave, who works at her hand mill, will die. All of the male animals that were born first to their mothers among the cattle will also die.


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There will be loud crying all over Egypt. It will be worse than it's ever been before. And nothing like it will ever be heard again.


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" 'But among the people of Israel not even one dog will bark at any man or animal.' Then you will know that the Lord treats Egypt differently from us.


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"All of your officials will come and bow down to me. They will say, 'Go, you and all of the people who follow you!' After that, I will leave." Moses burned with anger when he left Pharaoh.


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The Lord had spoken to Moses. He had said, "Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will multiply my miracles in Egypt."


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Moses and Aaron did all of those miracles in the sight of Pharaoh. But the Lord made Pharaoh's heart stubborn. He wouldn't let the people of Israel go out of his country.


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"Speak to the whole community of Israel. Tell them that on the tenth day of this month each man must get a lamb from his flock. A lamb should be chosen for each family and home.


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"Suppose there are not enough people in your family to eat a whole lamb. Then you must share some of it with your nearest neighbor. You must add up the total number of people there are. You must decide how much lamb is needed for each person.


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"The animals you choose must be males that are a year old. They must not have any flaws. You may choose either sheep or goats.


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Take care of them until the 14th day of the month. Then the whole community of Israel must kill them when the sun goes down.


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Take some of the blood. Put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where you eat the lambs.


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"That same night eat the meat cooked over the fire. Also eat bitter plants. And eat bread that is made without yeast.


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Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water. Instead, cook it over the fire. Cook the head, legs and inside parts.


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"Eat the meat while your coat is tucked into your belt. Put your sandals on your feet. Take your walking stick in your hand. Eat the food quickly. It is the Lord's Passover.


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"That same night I will pass through Egypt. I will strike down every oldest son. I will also kill all of the male animals that were born first to their mothers. And I will judge all of the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord.


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"The blood on your houses will be a sign for you. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. No deadly plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.


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"Always remember this day. For all time to come, you and your children after you must celebrate this day as a feast in honor of the Lord. It is a law that will last forever.


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"Eat bread made without yeast for seven days. On the first day remove the yeast from your homes. For the next seven days, anyone who eats anything that has yeast in it must be cut off from Israel.


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"On the first and seventh days, come together for a special service. Do not work at all on those days. All you are allowed to do is prepare food for everyone to eat.


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"Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. I brought you out of Egypt on this very day like an army on the march. It is a law that will last for all time to come.


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In the first month eat bread that is made without yeast. Eat it from the evening of the 14th day until the evening of the 21st day.


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"For seven days do not let any yeast be found in your homes. Anyone who eats anything that has yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel. That applies to outsiders and Israelites alike.


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Do not eat anything that is made with yeast. No matter where you live, eat bread that is made without yeast."


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Then Moses sent for all of the elders of Israel. He said to them, "Go at once. Choose the animals for your families. Each family must kill a Passover lamb.


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Get a branch of a hyssop plant. Dip it into the blood in the bowl. Put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you can go out the door of your house until morning.


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"The Lord will go through the land to strike the Egyptians down. He'll see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe. He will pass over that house. He won't let the destroying angel enter your homes to kill you.


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Tell them, 'It's the Passover sacrifice in honor of the Lord. He passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt. He spared our homes when he struck the Egyptians down.' " Then the people of Israel bowed down and worshiped.


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At midnight the Lord struck down every oldest son in Egypt. He killed the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne. He killed all of the oldest sons of prisoners, who were in prison. He also killed all of the male animals that were born first to their mothers among the livestock.


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Pharaoh and all of his officials got up during the night. So did all of the Egyptians. There was loud crying in Egypt because someone had died in every home.


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During the night, Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. He said to them, "Get out of here! You and the Israelites, leave my people! Go. Worship the Lord, just as you have asked.


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The Egyptians begged the people of Israel to hurry up and leave the country. "If you don't," they said, "we'll all die!"


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So the people took their dough before the yeast was added to it. They carried it on their shoulders in bread pans that were wrapped in clothes.


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They did just as Moses had directed them. They asked the Egyptians for articles that were made out of silver and gold. They also asked them for clothes.


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The Lord had caused the Egyptians to treat the people of Israel in a kind way. So they gave them what they asked for. The people of Israel took many expensive things that belonged to the Egyptians.


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The Israelites traveled from Rameses to Succoth. There were about 600,000 men who were old enough to go into battle. The women and children went with them.


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They brought dough from Egypt. With it they baked bread without yeast. The dough didn't have any yeast in it. That's because the people had been driven out of Egypt before they had time to prepare their food.


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At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all of the Lord's people marched out of Egypt like an army.


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The Lord kept watch that night to bring them out of Egypt. So on that same night every year all of the Israelites must keep watch. They must do it to honor the Lord for all time to come.


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The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said, "Here are the rules for the Passover. "No one from another country is allowed to eat the Passover meal.


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"It must be eaten inside a house. Do not take any of the meat outside. Do not break any of the bones.


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"Suppose an outsider who is living among you wants to celebrate the Lord's Passover. Then all of the males in that home must be circumcised. After that, the person can take part, just like an Israelite. Only males who are circumcised can eat it.


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"Set apart for me the first boy born in every family. The oldest son of every Israelite mother belongs to me. Every male animal that is born first to its mother also belongs to me."


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Then Moses said to the people, "Remember this day. It's the day you came out of Egypt. That's the land where you were slaves. The Lord used his mighty hand to bring you out of Egypt. Don't eat anything that has yeast in it.


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"The Lord will bring you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites. He took an oath and promised your people of long ago that he would give that land to you. It's a land that has plenty of milk and honey. When you get there, keep this holy day in this month.


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"For seven days eat bread that is made without yeast. On the seventh day hold a feast in the Lord's honor.


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Eat bread that is made without yeast during those seven days. Nothing that has yeast in it should be found among you. No yeast should be seen anywhere inside your borders.


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"On that day talk to your son. Tell him, 'I'm doing this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.'


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"When you celebrate this day, it will be like a mark on your hand. It will be like a reminder on your forehead. The law of the Lord must be on your lips. The Lord used his mighty hand to bring you out of Egypt.


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"The Lord will bring you into the land of Canaan. He will give it to you, just as he promised he would. He even took an oath when he made the promise to you and your people of long ago.


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"After you arrive there, give to the Lord the oldest son of every mother. Every male animal that is born first to its mother among your livestock belongs to the Lord.


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By sacrificing a lamb, buy back every male donkey that is born first to its mother. But if you don't buy the donkey back, break its neck. Buy back every oldest son.


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"In days to come, your son will ask you, 'What does this mean?' "When he does, say to him, 'The Lord used his mighty hand to bring us out of Egypt. That's the land where we were slaves.


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Pharaoh was stubborn. He refused to let us go. So the Lord killed every oldest son in Egypt. He also killed every male animal that was born first to its mother. That's why I sacrifice to the Lord every male animal that was born first. And that's why I buy back each oldest son for him.'


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"This day will be like a mark on your hand. It will be like a sign on your forehead. It will remind you that the Lord used his mighty hand to bring us out of Egypt."


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Pharaoh let the people go. The shortest road from Goshen to Canaan went through the Philistine country. But God didn't lead them that way. God said, "If they have to go into battle, they might change their minds. They might return to Egypt."


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So God led the people toward the Red Sea by taking them on a road through the desert. The Israelites were prepared for battle when they went up out of Egypt.


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Moses took the bones of Joseph along with him. Joseph had made the sons of Israel take an oath and make a promise. He had said, "I'm sure that God will come to help you. When he does, you must carry my bones up from this place with you."--(Genesis 50:25)


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By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud. It guided them on their way. At night he led them with a pillar of fire. It gave them light. So they could travel by day or at night.


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The pillar of cloud didn't leave its place in front of the people during the day. And the pillar of fire didn't leave its place at night.


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He said, "Tell the people of Israel to turn back. Have them camp near Pi Hahiroth between Migdol and the Red Sea. They must camp by the sea, right across from Baal Zephon.


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Pharaoh will think, 'The people of Israel are wandering around the land. They don't know which way to go. The desert is all around them.'


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"I will make Pharaoh's heart stubborn. He will chase them. But I will gain glory for myself because of what will happen to Pharaoh and his whole army. And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." So the Israelites camped by the Red Sea.


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The king of Egypt was told that the people had gotten away. Then Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them. They said, "What have we done? We've let the people of Israel go! We've lost our slaves and all of the work they used to do for us!"


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He took 600 of the best chariots in Egypt. He also took along all of the other chariots. Officers were in charge of all of them.


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The Lord made the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, stubborn. So he chased the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.


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The Egyptians went after the Israelites. All of Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen and troops went after them. They caught up with them as they camped by the sea. The Israelites were near Pi Hahiroth, across from Baal Zephon.


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As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up. There were the Egyptians marching after them! The Israelites were terrified. They cried out to the Lord.


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They said to Moses, "Why did you bring us to the desert to die? Weren't there any graves in Egypt? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?


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We told you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone. Let us serve the Egyptians.' It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die here in the desert!"


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Moses answered the people. He said, "Don't be afraid. Stand firm. You will see how the Lord will save you today. Do you see those Egyptians? You will never see them again.


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Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people of Israel to move on.


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Hold your wooden staff out. Reach your hand out over the Red Sea to part the water. Then the people can go through the sea on dry ground.


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"I will make the hearts of the Egyptians stubborn. They will go in after the Israelites. I will gain glory for myself because of what will happen to Pharaoh, his whole army, his chariots and his horsemen.


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"The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord. I will gain glory because of what will happen to all of them."


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The angel of God had been traveling in front of Israel's army. Now he moved back and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved away from in front of them. Now it stood behind them.


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It came between the armies of Egypt and Israel. All through the night the cloud brought darkness to one side and light to the other. Neither army went near the other all night long.


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Then Moses reached his hand out over the Red Sea. All that night the Lord pushed the sea back with a strong east wind. He turned the sea into dry land. The waters were parted.


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The people of Israel went through the sea on dry ground. There was a wall of water on their right side and on their left.


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The Egyptians chased them. All of Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea.


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Near the end of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud. He saw the Egyptian army and threw it into a panic.


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He kept their chariot wheels from turning freely. That made the chariots hard to drive. The Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for Israel against Egypt."


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Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "Reach your hand out over the sea. The waters will flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen."


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So Moses reached his hand out over the sea. At sunrise the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians tried to run away from the sea. But the Lord swept them into it.


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The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen. It covered the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the people of Israel into the sea. Not one of the Egyptians was left.


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But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground. There was a wall of water on their right side and on their left.


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That day the Lord saved Israel from the power of Egypt. Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore.


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The Israelites saw the great power the Lord showed against the Egyptians. So they had respect for the Lord. They put their trust in him and in his servant Moses.


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Here is the song that Moses and the people of Israel sang to the Lord. They said, "I will sing to the Lord. He is greatly honored. He has thrown Pharaoh's horses and their riders into the Red Sea.


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The Lord gives me strength. I sing about him. He has saved me. He is my God. I will praise him. He is my father's God. I will honor him.


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He has thrown Pharaoh's chariots and army into the Red Sea. Pharaoh's best officers drowned in the sea.


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Because of your great majesty, you threw down those who opposed you. Your burning anger blazed out. It burned them up like straw.


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The powerful blast from your nose piled up the waters. The rushing waters stood firm like a wall. The deep waters stood up in the middle of the sea.


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"Your enemies bragged, 'We will chase Israel. We will catch them. We'll divide up what we take from them. We'll eat them alive. We'll pull our swords out. Our powerful hands will destroy them.'


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But you blew with your breath. The Red Sea covered your enemies. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.


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"Lord, who among the gods is like you? Who is like you? You are majestic and holy. Your glory fills me with wonder. You do wonderful miracles.


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"Because your love is faithful, you will lead the people you have set free. Because you are so strong, you will guide them to the holy place where you live.


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The chiefs of Edom will be terrified. The leaders of Moab will tremble with fear. The people of Canaan will melt away.


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Fear and terror will fall on them. Your powerful arm will make them as still as a stone. Then your people will pass by, Lord. Then the people you created will pass by.


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You will bring them in. You will plant them on the mountain you gave them. Lord, you have made that place your home. Lord, your hands have made your holy place secure.


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Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the Red Sea. The Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them. But the people of Israel walked through the sea on dry ground.


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Aaron's sister Miriam was a prophet. She took a tambourine in her hand. All the women followed her. They played tambourines and danced.


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Miriam sang to them, "Sing to the Lord. He is greatly honored. He has thrown Pharaoh's horses and their riders into the Red Sea."


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Then Moses led Israel away from the Red Sea. They went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert. They didn't find any water there.


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When they came to Marah, they couldn't drink its water. It was bitter. That's why the place is named Marah.


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Then Moses cried out to the Lord. The Lord showed him a stick. Moses threw it into the water. The water became sweet. There the Lord made a rule and a law for the people. And there he put them to the test.


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He said, "I am the Lord your God. Listen carefully to my voice. Do what is right in my eyes. Pay attention to my commands. Obey all of my rules. If you do, I will not send on you any of the sicknesses I sent on the Egyptians. I am the Lord who heals you."


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The whole community of Israel started out from Elim. They came to the Desert of Sin. It was between Elim and Sinai. They arrived there on the 15th day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.


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The Israelites said to them, "We wish the Lord had put us to death in Egypt. There we sat around pots of meat. We ate all of the food we wanted. But you have brought us out into this desert. You must want this entire community to die of hunger."


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Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people must go out each day. Have them gather enough bread for that day. Here is how I will put them to the test. I will see if they will follow my directions.


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"On the sixth day they must prepare what they bring in. On that day they must gather twice as much as on the other days."


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So Moses and Aaron spoke to all of the people of Israel. They said, "In the evening you will know that the Lord brought you out of Egypt.


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And in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord. He has heard you say you aren't happy with him. Who are we? Why are you telling us you aren't happy with us?"


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Moses also said, "You will know that the Lord has heard you speak against him. He will give you meat to eat in the evening. He'll give you all of the bread you want in the morning. But who are we? You aren't speaking against us. You are speaking against the Lord."


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Then Moses told Aaron, "Talk to the whole community of Israel. Say to them, 'Come to the Lord. He has heard you speak against him.' "


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While Aaron was talking to the whole community of Israel, they looked toward the desert. There was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud!


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"I have heard the people of Israel talking about how unhappy they are. Tell them, 'When the sun goes down, you will eat meat. In the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.' "


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That evening quail came and covered the camp. In the morning the ground around the camp was covered with dew.


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When the dew was gone, thin flakes appeared on the desert floor. They looked like frost on the ground.


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The people of Israel saw the flakes. They asked each other, "What's that?" They didn't know what it was. Moses said to them, "It's the bread the Lord has given you to eat.


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Here is what the Lord has commanded. He has said, 'Each one of you should gather as much as you need. Take two quarts for each person who lives in your tent.' "


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When they measured it out, those who gathered a lot didn't have too much. And those who gathered a little had enough. All of them gathered only what they needed.


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Some of them didn't pay any attention to Moses. They kept part of it until morning. But it was full of maggots and began to stink. So Moses became angry with them.


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Each morning all of them gathered as much as they needed. But by the hottest time of the day, the thin flakes had melted away.


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On the sixth day, the people gathered twice as much. It amounted to four quarts for each person. The leaders of the community came and reported that to Moses.


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He said to them, "Here is what the Lord commanded. He said, 'Tomorrow will be a day of rest. It will be a holy Sabbath day. It will be set apart for the Lord. So bake what you want to bake. Boil what you want to boil. Save what is left. Keep it until morning.' "


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"Eat it today," Moses said. "Today is a Sabbath day in the Lord's honor. You won't find any flakes on the ground today.


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In spite of what Moses said, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather the flakes. But they didn't find any.


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Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "How long will all of you refuse to obey my commands and my teachings?


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Keep in mind that I have given you the Sabbath day. That is why on the sixth day I give you bread for two days. All of you must stay where you are on the seventh day. No one can go out."


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The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seeds. It tasted like wafers that were made with honey.


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Moses said, "Here is what the Lord has commanded. He has said, 'Get two quarts of manna. Keep it for all time to come. Then those who live after you will see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert. I gave it to you when I brought you out of Egypt.' "


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So Moses said to Aaron, "Get a jar. Put two quarts of manna in it. Then place it in front of the Lord. Keep it there for all time to come."


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Aaron did exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses. He put the manna in front of the tablets of the covenant. He put it there so it would be kept for all time to come.


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The people of Israel ate manna for 40 years. They ate it until they came to a land that was settled. They ate it until they reached the border of Canaan.


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The whole community of Israel started out from the Desert of Sin. They traveled from place to place, just as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim. But there wasn't any water for the people to drink.


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So they argued with Moses. They said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why are you arguing with me? Why are you putting the Lord to the test?"


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But the people were thirsty for water there. So they told Moses they weren't happy with him. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt? Did you want us, our children and our livestock to die of thirst?"


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Then Moses cried out to the Lord. He said, "What am I going to do with these people? They are almost ready to kill me by throwing stones at me."


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The Lord answered Moses. He said, "Walk on ahead of the people. Take some of the elders of Israel along with you. Take in your hand the wooden staff you used when you struck the Nile River. Go.


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I will stand there in front of you by the rock at Mount Horeb. Hit the rock. Then water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses hit the rock in the sight of the elders of Israel.


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Moses called the place Massah and Meribah. That's because the people of Israel argued with him there. They also put the Lord to the test. They asked, "Is the Lord among us or not?"


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Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men. Then go out and fight against the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill. I'll stand there with the staff of God in my hands."


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So Joshua fought against the Amalekites, just as Moses had ordered. Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.


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As long as Moses held his hands up, the Israelites were winning. But every time he lowered his hands, the Amalekites began to win.


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When Moses' arms got tired, Aaron and Hur got a stone and put it under him. Then he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up. Aaron was on one side, and Hur was on the other. Moses' hands remained steady until sunset.


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Then the Lord said to Moses, "That is something to be remembered. So write it on a scroll. Make sure Joshua knows you have done it. I will completely erase the memory of the Amalekites from the earth."


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He said, "I raised my hands toward the throne of the Lord. The Lord will fight against the Amalekites for all time to come."


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Moses' father-in-law Jethro was the priest of Midian. He heard about everything God had done for Moses and for his people Israel. He heard how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.


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and her two sons. One son was named Gershom. That's because Moses had said, "I'm an outsider in a strange land."


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The other was named Eliezer. That's because Moses had said, "My father's God helped me. He saved me from Pharaoh's sword."


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Moses' father-in-law Jethro came to Moses in the desert. Moses' sons and wife came with Jethro. Moses was camped near the mountain of God.


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Jethro had sent a message to him. It said, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you. I'm bringing your wife and her two sons."


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So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law. Moses bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other. Then they went into the tent.


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Moses told his father-in-law about everything the Lord had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians because of how much he loved Israel. He told him about all of their hard times along the way. He told him about how the Lord had saved them.


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Jethro was delighted to hear about all of the good things the Lord had done for Israel. He heard about how God had saved them from the power of Egypt.


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Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods. See what he did to those who looked down on Israel."


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Then Moses' father-in-law Jethro brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God. Aaron came with all of the elders of Israel. They ate with Moses' father-in-law in the sight of God.


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The next day Moses took his seat to serve the people as their judge. They stood around him from morning until evening.


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His father-in-law saw everything Moses was doing for the people. So he said, "Aren't you trying to do too much for the people? You are the only judge. And all of these people are standing around you from morning until evening."


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Anytime they don't agree, they come to me. I decide between them. I tell them about God's rules and laws."


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You will just get worn out. And so will these people who come to you. There's too much work for you. You can't possibly handle it by yourself.


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"Listen to me. I'll give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must speak to God for the people. Take their problems to him.


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"But choose men of ability from all of the people. They must have respect for God. You must be able to trust them. They must not try to get money by cheating others. Appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.


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Let them serve the people as judges. But have them bring every hard case to you. They can decide the easy ones themselves. That will make your load lighter. They will share it with you.


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"If this is what God wants and if you do it, then you will be able to carry the load. And all of these people will go home satisfied."


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He chose men of ability from the whole community of Israel. He made them leaders of the people. They became officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.


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They judged the people at all times. They brought the hard cases to Moses. But they decided the easy ones themselves.


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After they started out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai. They camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.


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Then Moses went up to God. The Lord called out to him from the mountain. He said, "Here is what I want you to say to my people, who came from Jacob's family. Tell the Israelites,


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"You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt. You saw how I carried you on the wings of eagles and brought you to myself.


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" 'Now obey me completely. Keep my covenant. If you do, then out of all of the nations you will be my special treasure. The whole earth is mine.


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But you will be a kingdom of priests to serve me. You will be my holy nation.' That is what you must tell the Israelites."


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So Moses went back. He sent for the elders of the people. He explained to them everything the Lord had commanded him to say.


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All of the people answered together. They said, "We will do everything the Lord has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.


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The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "I am going to come to you in a thick cloud. The people will hear me speaking with you. They will always put their trust in you." Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.


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The Lord said to Moses, "Go to the people. Today and tomorrow set them apart for me. Have them wash their clothes.


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Have the people ready by the third day. On that day I will come down on Mount Sinai. Everyone will see it.


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"Put limits for the people around the mountain. Tell them, 'Be careful that you do not go up the mountain. Do not even touch the foot of it. You can be sure that all who touch the mountain will be put to death.


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Do not lay a hand on any of them. Kill them with stones or shoot them with arrows. Whether they are people or animals, do not let them live.' They may go up to the mountain only when the ram's horn gives out a long blast."


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Moses went down the mountain to the people. After he set them apart for the Lord, they washed their clothes.


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On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud covered the mountain. A trumpet gave out a very loud blast. Everyone in the camp trembled with fear.


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Smoke covered Mount Sinai, because the Lord came down on it in fire. The smoke rose up from it like smoke from a furnace. The whole mountain trembled and shook.


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The sound of the trumpet got louder and louder. Then Moses spoke. And the voice of God answered him.


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The Lord came down to the top of Mount Sinai. He told Moses to come to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up.


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The Lord said to him, "Go down and warn the people. They must not force their way through to see me. If they do, many of them will die.


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The priests approach me when they serve me. But even they must set themselves apart for me. If they do not, my anger will break out against them."


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Moses said to the Lord, "The people can't come up Mount Sinai. You yourself warned us. You said, 'Put limits around the mountain. Set it apart as holy.' "


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The Lord replied, "Go down. Bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through. They must not come up to me. If they do, my anger will break out against them."


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Do not bow down to them or worship them. I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. I punish the children for the sin of their parents. I punish the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who hate me.


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"Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will find guilty anyone who misuses his name.


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But the seventh day is a Sabbath in honor of the Lord your God. Do not do any work on that day. The same command applies to your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and your animals. It also applies to any outsiders who live in your cities.


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In six days I made the heavens and the earth. I made the oceans and everything in them. But I rested on the seventh day. So I blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.


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"Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving you.


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"Do not long for anything that belongs to your neighbor. Do not long for your neighbor's house, wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey."


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The people saw the thunder and lightning. They heard the trumpet. They saw the mountain covered with smoke. They trembled with fear and stayed a long way off.


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They said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself. Then we'll listen. But don't let God speak to us. If he does, we'll die."


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Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid. God has come to put you to the test. He wants you to have respect for him. That will keep you from sinning."


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Then the Lord said to Moses, "Here is what you must tell the people of Israel. Say to them, 'You have seen for yourselves what I said to you from heaven.


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Do not put any other gods in place of me. Do not make silver or gold statues of them for yourselves.


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" 'Make an altar out of dirt for me. Sacrifice your burnt offerings and friendship offerings on it. Sacrifice your sheep, goats and cattle on it. I will come to you and bless you everywhere I cause my name to be honored.


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" 'If you make an altar out of stones in honor of me, do not build it with blocks of stone. You will make it "unclean" if you use a tool on it.


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" 'Do not walk up steps to my altar. If you do, someone might see your naked body under your robes.'


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"Suppose you buy a Hebrew servant. He must serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, you must set him free. He does not have to pay anything.


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"If he does not have a wife when he comes, he must go free alone. But if he has a wife when he comes, she must go with him.


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Suppose his master gives him a wife. And suppose she has sons or daughters by him. Then only the man will go free. The woman and her children will belong to her master.


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"But suppose the servant says, 'I love my master and my wife and children. I don't want to go free.'


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Then his master must take him to the judges. He must be taken to the door or doorpost of his master's house. His master must poke a hole through his ear lobe into the doorpost. Then he will become his servant for life.


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"But what if the master who has chosen her does not like her? Then he must let the man buy her back. He has no right to sell her to strangers. He has broken his promise to her.


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"What if he marries another woman? He must still give the first one her food and clothes and make love to her.


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If he does not provide her with those three things, she can go free. She does not have to pay anything.


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Suppose he did not do it on purpose. Suppose I let it happen. Then he can escape to a place I will choose.


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"If anyone kidnaps and sells another person, he will be put to death. If he still has the person with him when he is caught, he will be put to death.


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"Suppose two men get into a fight and argue with each other. One hits the other with a stone or his fist. He does not die but has to stay in bed.


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And later he gets up and walks around outside with his walking stick. Then the man who hit him will not be held accountable. But he must pay the one who was hurt for the time he spent in bed. He must be sure that the person is completely healed.


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But he will not be punished if the slave gets up after a day or two. After all, the slave is his property.


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"Suppose some men are fighting and one of them hits a pregnant woman. And suppose she has her baby early but is not badly hurt. Then the man who hurt her must pay a fine. He must pay what the woman's husband asks for and the court allows.


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An eye must be put out for an eye. A tooth must be knocked out for a tooth. A hand must be cut off for a hand and a foot for a foot.


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"Suppose a man hits his male or female servant in the eye and destroys it. Then he must let the servant go free to pay for the eye.


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"Suppose he knocks out the tooth of a male or female servant. Then he must let the servant go free to pay for the tooth.


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"Suppose a bull kills a man or woman with its horns. Then you must kill the bull by throwing stones at it. Its meat must not be eaten. The owner of the bull will not be held accountable.


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"But suppose the bull has had the habit of attacking people. And suppose the owner has been warned but has not kept it fenced in. Then if it kills a man or woman, you must kill it with stones. The owner must also be put to death.


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"But suppose payment is required of him instead. Then he can save his life by paying what is required.


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"Suppose the bull wounds a male or female slave. Then the owner must pay the slave's master 12 ounces of silver. You must kill the bull with stones.


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"Suppose a man uncovers a pit or digs one and does not cover it. And suppose an ox or donkey falls into it.


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Then the owner of the pit must pay the animal's owner for the loss. The dead animal will belong to the owner of the pit.


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"Suppose a man's bull wounds a neighbor's bull and it dies. Then they must sell the live one. And they must share the money and the dead animal equally.


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"But suppose people knew that the bull had the habit of attacking. And suppose the owner did not keep it fenced in. Then he must give another animal to pay for the dead animal. The dead animal will belong to him.


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"Suppose a man steals an ox or a sheep. And suppose he kills it or sells it. Then he must pay back five head of cattle for the ox. Or he must pay back four sheep or goats for the sheep.


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"Suppose you catch a thief breaking into your house. And suppose you hit the thief and kill him. Then you are not guilty of murder.


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But suppose it happens after the sun has come up. Then you are guilty of murder. "A thief must pay for what he has stolen. But suppose he does not have anything. Then he must be sold to pay for what he has stolen.


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"What if the stolen ox, donkey or sheep is found alive with him? Then the thief must pay back twice as much as he stole.


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"Suppose a man lets his livestock eat grass in someone else's field or vineyard. Then he must pay that person back from the best crops of his own field or vineyard.


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"Suppose a fire breaks out and spreads into bushes. It burns grain that has been cut and stacked. Or it burns grain that is still growing. Or it burns the whole field. Then the one who started the fire must pay for the loss.


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"Suppose a man gives his neighbor silver or other things to keep safe. And suppose they are stolen from the neighbor's house. If the thief is caught, he must pay back twice as much as he stole.


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"But suppose the thief is not found. Then the neighbor must go to the judges. They will decide whether the neighbor has stolen the other person's property.


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"Suppose you have an ox, donkey, sheep or clothing that does not belong to you. Or you have other property that was lost by someone else. And suppose someone says, 'That belongs to me.' Then both people must bring their case to the judges. The one the judges decide is guilty must pay back twice as much to the other person.


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"Suppose a man asks his neighbor to take care of a donkey, ox, sheep or any other animal. And suppose the animal dies or gets hurt. Or suppose it is stolen while no one is looking.


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Then the problem will be settled by taking an oath and promising the Lord to tell the truth. "Suppose the neighbor takes an oath and says, 'I didn't steal your property.' Then the owner must accept what the neighbor says. No payment is required.


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"Or suppose it was torn to pieces by a wild animal. Then the neighbor must bring in what is left as proof. No payment is required.


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"Suppose a man borrows an animal from his neighbor. And it gets hurt or dies while the owner is not there. Then the man must pay for it.


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"But suppose the owner is with the animal. Then the man will not have to pay. If he hired the animal, the money he paid to hire it covers the loss.


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"Suppose a man meets a virgin who is not engaged. And he talks her into having sex with him. Then he must pay her father the price for a bride. And he must get married to her.


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"But suppose her father absolutely refuses to give her to him. Then he must still pay the price for getting married to a virgin.


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And I will get angry. I will kill you with a sword. Your wives will become widows. Your children's fathers will die.


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"Suppose you lend money to one of my people among you who is in need. Then do not be like those who lend money and charge interest. Do not charge any interest.


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"Suppose your neighbor owes you money and gives you a coat as a promise to pay it back. Then return it to him by sunset.


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That coat is the only thing he owns to wear or sleep in. When he cries out to me, I will listen, because I am loving and kind.


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"Do not hold back your grain offerings or wine offerings. "You must give me the oldest of your sons.


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Do the same with your cattle and sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days. But give them to me on the eighth day.


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"I want you to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of any animal that has been torn by wild animals. Throw it to the dogs.


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"Do not follow the crowd when they do what is wrong. When you are a witness in court, do not turn what is right into wrong. Do not go along with the crowd.


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"Suppose you come across your enemy's ox or donkey wandering away. Then be sure to take it back to him.


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"Suppose you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has fallen down under its load. Then do not leave it there. Be sure you help him with it.


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Do not have anything to do with a charge that is false. Do not put to death those who are not guilty of doing anything wrong. I will not let those who are guilty go free.


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"Do not take money from people who want special favors. It makes you blind to the truth. It twists the words of godly people.


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"Do not beat an outsider down. You yourselves know how it feels to be outsiders. Remember, you were outsiders in Egypt.


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But during the seventh year do not plow your land or use it. Then the poor people who are among you can get food from it. The wild animals can eat what is left over. Do the same thing with your vineyards and your groves of olive trees.


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"Do all of your work in six days. But do not do any work on the seventh day. Then your oxen and donkeys can rest. The slaves who are born in your house can be renewed. And so can the outsiders.


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"Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not use the names of other gods. Do not even let them be heard on your lips.


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"Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Eat bread that is made without yeast for seven days, just as I commanded you. Do it at the appointed time in the month of Abib. You came out of Egypt in that month. "You must not come to worship me with your hands empty.


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"Celebrate the Feast of Weeks. Bring the first share of your crops from your field. "Celebrate the Feast of Booths. Hold it in the fall when you gather in your crops from the field.


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"Do not include anything that is made with yeast when you offer me the blood of a sacrifice. "Suppose the fat from sacrifices is left over from my feasts. Then do not keep it until morning.


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"Bring the best of the first share of your crops to my house. I am the Lord your God. "Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk.


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"I am sending an angel ahead of you. He will guard you along the way. He will bring you to the place I have prepared.


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Pay attention to him. Listen to what he says. Do not refuse to obey him. He will not forgive you if you turn against him. My very Name is in him.


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Listen carefully to what he says. Do everything I say. Then I will be an enemy to your enemies. I will fight against those who fight against you.


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"My angel will go ahead of you. He will bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites. I will wipe them out.


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"Do not do what they do. Do not bow down to their gods or worship them. You must destroy the statues of their gods. You must break their sacred stones to pieces.


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"I am the Lord your God. Worship me. Then I will bless your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.


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In your land no woman will give birth to a dead baby. Every woman will be able to have children. I will give you a long life.


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"I will send my terror ahead of you. I will throw every nation you meet into a panic. I will make all of your enemies turn their backs and run away.


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I will send hornets ahead of you. They will drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way.


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"But I will not drive them out in just one year. If I did, the land would be deserted. There would be too many wild animals for you.


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I will drive them out ahead of you little by little. I will do it until your numbers have increased enough for you to take control of the land.


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"I will make your borders secure from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. They will go from the desert to the Euphrates River. "I will hand over to you the people who live in the land. You will drive them out to make room for you.


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Do not let them live in your land. If you do, they will cause you to sin against me. If you worship their gods, that will certainly be a trap for you."


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The Lord said to Moses, "You and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and 70 of the elders of Israel must come up to me. Do not come close when you worship.


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Only Moses can come close to me. The others must not come near. And the people may not go up with him."


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Moses went and told the people all of the Lord's words and laws. They answered with one voice. They said, "We will do everything the Lord has told us to do."


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Then Moses wrote down everything the Lord had said. Moses got up early the next morning. He built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He set up 12 stone pillars. They stood for the 12 tribes of Israel.


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Then he sent young Israelite men to offer burnt offerings. They also sacrificed young bulls as friendship offerings to the Lord.


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Then he took the Scroll of the Covenant and read it to the people. They answered, "We will do everything the Lord has told us to do. We will obey him."


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Then Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people. He said, "This is the blood that puts the covenant into effect. The Lord has made this covenant with you in keeping with all of these words."


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They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a street made out of sapphire. It was as clear as the sky itself.


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But God didn't raise his hand against those leaders of the people of Israel. They saw God. And they ate and drank.


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The Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain. Stay here. I will give you the stone tablets. They contain the law and commands I have written to teach the people."


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He said to the elders, "Wait for us here until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you. Anyone who has a problem can go to them."


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The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. The cloud covered the mountain for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called out to Moses from inside the cloud.


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The people of Israel saw the glory of the Lord. It looked like a fire burning on top of the mountain.


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Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. He stayed on the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights.


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"Tell the people of Israel to bring me an offering. You must receive the offering for me from all whose hearts move them to give.


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Make the holy tent and everything that belongs to it. Make them exactly like the pattern I will show you.


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"Have them make a chest out of acacia wood. Make it three feet nine inches long and two feet three inches wide and high.


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"Make four gold rings for it. Join them to its four bottom corners. Put two rings on one side and two rings on the other.


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"Make its cover out of pure gold. The cover is the place where sin will be paid for. Make it three feet nine inches long and two feet three inches wide.


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The cherubim must have their wings spread up over the cover. The cherubim must face each other and look toward the cover.


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"Place the cover on top of the chest. I will give you the tablets of the covenant. Put them into the chest.


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"The chest is the ark where the tablets of the covenant are kept. I will meet with you above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark. There I will give you all of my commands for the people of Israel.


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"Make a table out of acacia wood. Make it three feet long, one foot six inches wide and two feet three inches high.


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"Make its plates and dishes out of pure gold. Also make its pitchers and bowls out of pure gold. Use the pitchers and bowls to pour out drink offerings.


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"Put the holy bread on the table. It must be near my holy throne on the ark of the covenant at all times.


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"Make a lampstand out of pure gold. Hammer out its base and stem. Its buds, blooms and cups must branch out from it.


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"Six branches must come out from the sides of the lampstand. Make three on one side and three on the other.


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On one branch make three cups that are shaped like almond flowers with buds and blooms. Then put three on the next branch. Do the same with all six branches that come out from the lampstand.


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One bud must be under the first pair of branches that come out from the lampstand. Put a second bud under the second pair. And put a third bud under the third pair. Make a total of six branches.


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The buds and branches must come out from the lampstand. "The whole lampstand must be one piece that is hammered out of pure gold.


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"Make ten curtains out of finely twisted linen for the holy tent. Make them with blue, purple and bright red yarn. Have a skilled worker sew cherubim into the pattern.


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Make loops out of blue strips of cloth along the edge of the end curtain in one set. Do the same thing with the end curtain in the other set.


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Make 50 loops on the end curtain of the one set. Do the same thing on the end curtain of the other set. Put the loops across from each other.


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"Join five of the curtains together into one set. Do the same thing with the other six. Fold the sixth curtain in half at the front of the tent.


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Make 50 loops along the edge of the end curtain in the one set. Do the same thing with the other set.


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The tent curtains will be one foot six inches longer on both sides. What is left over will hang over the sides of the holy tent and cover it.


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"Make a covering for the tent. Make it out of ram skins that are dyed red. Put a covering of the hides of sea cows over that.


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Add two small wooden pins to each frame. Make the pins stick out so that they are even with each other. Make all of the frames for the holy tent in the same way.


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And make 40 silver bases to go under them. Make two bases for each frame. Put one under each pin that sticks out.


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At those two corners the frames must be double from top to bottom. They must be fitted into a single ring. Make both of them the same.


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Make five for the frames on the other side. And make five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the holy tent.


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"Cover the frames with gold. Make gold rings to hold the crossbars. Also cover the crossbars with gold.


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"Make a curtain out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. Have a skilled worker sew cherubim into the pattern.


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Hang the curtain with gold hooks on four posts that are made out of acacia wood. Cover the posts with gold. Stand them on four silver bases.


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Hang the curtain from the hooks. "Place the ark of the covenant behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Room from the Most Holy Room.


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Put the cover on the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Room. The cover will be the place where sin is paid for.


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"Place the table outside the curtain on the north side of the holy tent. And put the lampstand across from it on the south side.


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"For the entrance to the tent make a curtain out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. Have a person who sews skillfully make it.


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Make gold hooks for the curtain. Make five posts out of acacia wood. Cover them with gold. And make five bronze bases for them.


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"Build an altar out of acacia wood. It must be four feet six inches high and seven feet six inches square.


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"Make all of its tools out of bronze. Make its pots to remove the ashes. Make its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and pans for carrying ashes.


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"Make the altar out of boards. Make it hollow. You must make it just as I showed you on the mountain.


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"Make a courtyard for the holy tent. The south side must be 150 feet long. It must have curtains that are made out of finely twisted linen.


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The curtains must be hung on 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The posts must have silver hooks and bands on them.


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"The north side must also be 150 feet long. It must have curtains with 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The posts must have silver hooks and bands on them.


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"The west end of the courtyard must be 75 feet wide. It must have curtains with ten posts and ten bases.


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On one side of the entrance you must put curtains that are 22 feet six inches long. Hang them on three posts. Each post must have a base.


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On the other side you must also put curtains that are 22 feet six inches long. Hang them on three posts. Each post must have a base.


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"For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain that is 30 feet long. Make it out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. Have someone who sews skillfully make it. Hang it on four posts. Each post must have a base.


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"All of the posts that are around the courtyard must have silver bands and hooks. They must also have bronze bases.


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The courtyard must be 150 feet long and 75 feet wide. It must have curtains that are made out of finely twisted linen. They must be seven feet six inches high. The posts must have bronze bases.


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"Make all of the other articles used for any purpose in the holy tent out of bronze. That includes all of the tent stakes for the tent and the courtyard.


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"Command the people of Israel to bring you clear oil that is made from pressed olives. Use it to keep the lamps burning and giving light.


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"Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the Tent of Meeting. The lamps will be outside the curtain that is in front of the tablets of the covenant. The lamps must be kept burning in my sight from evening until morning. That is a law for the people of Israel that will last for all time to come.


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"Have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the people of Israel. His sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar must also be brought. They will serve me as priests.


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"Make sacred clothes for your brother Aaron. When he is wearing them, people will honor him. They will have respect for him.


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"Speak to all of the skilled workers. I have given them the skill to do this kind of work. Tell them to make clothes for Aaron. He will wear them when he is set apart to serve me as priest.


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They must make a chest cloth, a linen apron, an outer robe, an inner robe, a turban and a belt. They must make sacred clothes for your brother Aaron and his sons. Then they will serve me as priests.


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"Make the linen apron out of fine gold wire, and out of blue, purple and bright red yarn, and out of finely twisted linen. Have a skilled worker make it.


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"Its skillfully made waistband must be like it. The waistband must be part of the apron itself. Make the waistband out of fine gold wire, and out of blue, purple and bright red yarn, and out of finely twisted linen.


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Carve the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a jewel cutter carves a seal. "Then put the stones in fancy gold settings.


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Connect them to the shoulder straps of the linen apron. The stones will stand for the sons of Israel. Aaron must carry the names on his shoulders as a reminder while he is serving me.


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"Make a chest cloth that will be used for making decisions. Have a skilled worker make it. Make it like the linen apron. Use fine gold wire, and blue, purple and bright red yarn, and finely twisted linen.


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"Use a total of 12 stones. Use one for each of the names of the sons of Israel. Each stone must be carved like a seal with the name of one of the 12 tribes.


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Join the other ends of the chains to the two settings. Join them to the shoulder straps on the front of the linen apron.


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"Make two gold rings. Connect them to the other two corners of the chest cloth. Put them on the inside edge next to the apron.


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Make two more gold rings. Connect them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the apron. Put them close to the seam. Put them right above the waistband of the apron.


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The rings of the chest cloth must be tied to the rings of the apron. Tie them to the waistband with blue cord. Then the chest cloth will not swing out from the linen apron.


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"When Aaron enters the Holy Room, he will carry the names of the sons of Israel over his heart. Their names will be on the chest cloth of decision. They will be a continuing reminder while he is serving me.


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"Also put the Urim and Thummim into the chest cloth. Then they will be over Aaron's heart when he comes to serve me. In that way, Aaron will always have what he needs to make decisions for the people of Israel. He will carry the Urim and Thummim over his heart while he is serving me.


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In the center of the robe, make an opening for the head of the priest. Make an edge like a collar around the opening. Then it will not tear.


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"Make pomegranates out of blue, purple and bright red yarn. Sew them around the hem of the robe. Sew gold bells between them.


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"Aaron must wear the robe when he serves. The bells will jingle when he enters the Holy Room while he is serving me. And they will jingle when he goes out. Then he will not die.


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"Make a plate out of pure gold. Carve words on it as if it were a seal. Carve the words set apart for the Lord.


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"Aaron must wear it on his forehead all the time. He will be held accountable for all of the sacred gifts the Israelites set apart. Then I will accept the gifts.


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"Make the inner robe out of fine linen. And make the turban out of fine linen. Have the belt made by a person who sews skillfully.


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"Make inner robes, belts and headbands for Aaron's sons. When they are wearing them, people will honor them. They will also have respect for them.


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"Put all of the clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons. Then pour olive oil on them and prepare them to serve me. Set them apart to serve me as priests.


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Aaron and the priests who are in his family line must wear it when they enter the Tent of Meeting. They must wear it when they approach the altar to serve in the Holy Room. Then they will not be found guilty and die. "For all time to come, that will be a law for Aaron and the priests who are in his family line.


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"Here is what you must do to set Aaron and his sons apart to serve me as priests. "Get a young bull and two rams. They must not have any flaws.


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Get fine wheat flour that does not have yeast in it. Use the flour to make bread, flat cakes that are mixed with olive oil, and wafers that are spread with oil.


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"Take the inner robe, the outer robe of the linen apron, the apron itself and the chest cloth. Dress Aaron in them. Take the skillfully made waistband and tie the apron on him with it.


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Put headbands on them. Tie belts on Aaron and his sons. The work of the priests belongs to them. This is my law that will last for all time to come. "And that is how you must prepare Aaron and his sons to serve me.


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"Bring the bull to the front of the Tent of Meeting. Have Aaron and his sons place their hands on its head.


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"Dip your finger into some of the bull's blood. Put it on the horns that stick out from the upper four corners of the altar. Pour the rest of it out at the base of the altar.


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"Then take all of the fat around the inside parts. Take the covering of the liver. Take both kidneys with the fat on them. And burn all of it on the altar.


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"Cut the ram into pieces. Wash the inside parts and the legs. Put them with the head and the other pieces.


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Then burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to me. It has a pleasant smell. It is an offering that is made to me with fire.


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Kill it. Put some of its blood on the right ear lobes of Aaron and his sons. Put some on the thumbs of their right hands. Also put some on the big toes of their right feet. Then sprinkle blood against every side of the altar.


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"Get some of the blood from the altar. Also get some of the anointing oil. Sprinkle both of them on Aaron and his clothes and his sons and their clothes. Then he and his sons and their clothes will be set apart to serve me.


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"Here is what you must take from the second ram. Take the fat, the fat tail, the fat around the inside parts, the covering of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh. It is the ram you must use when you prepare the priests to serve me.


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Get a loaf, a flat cake that is made with oil, and a wafer. Take them from the basket of bread that was made without yeast. It is the one that is in front of me.


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"Put everything in the hands of Aaron and his sons. Tell them to lift it up and wave it in front of me as a wave offering.


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Then take it from their hands. Burn it on the altar along with the burnt offering. It gives a smell that is pleasant to me. It is an offering that is made to me with fire.


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"Get the breast of the ram that is used when you prepare Aaron to serve me. Wave it in front of me as a wave offering. It will be your share of the meat.


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"Here are the parts of the second ram that belong to Aaron and his sons. You must set apart the breast that was waved and the thigh that was offered.


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It will always be the regular share from the people of Israel for Aaron and his sons. The people must give it to me from their friendship offerings.


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"Aaron's sacred clothes will belong to his sons who will come after him. Then they can wear them when you anoint them and prepare them to serve me.


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The son who comes after him as priest must wear them seven days. He will come and serve in the Holy Room in the Tent of Meeting.


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"Get the ram that is sacrificed when you prepare Aaron and his sons to serve me. Cook the meat in a sacred place.


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"Aaron and his sons must eat the ram's meat. And they must eat the bread that is in the basket. They must eat all of it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.


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Those are the offerings to pay for their sins. They must eat them. The offerings must be made when Aaron and his sons are set apart and prepared to serve me. No one else can eat them. They are sacred.


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"And if any parts of the ram or bread that are sacrificed when you prepare Aaron and his sons to serve me are left until morning, burn them up. They must not be eaten. They are sacred.


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"Do everything I have commanded you to do for Aaron and his sons. Take seven days when you prepare them to serve me.


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Sacrifice a bull each day. It is a sin offering to pay for their sins. "Make the altar pure. Pour olive oil on it to set it apart.


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Take seven days to make the altar pure. Set it apart. Then the altar will be a very holy place. Anything that touches it will be holy.


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Along with the first lamb, offer eight cups of fine flour. Mix it with a quart of oil that is made from pressed olives. Along with that, offer a quart of wine as a drink offering.


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"Sacrifice the other lamb when the sun goes down. Sacrifice it along with the same grain offering and its drink offering as you do in the morning. It has a pleasant smell. It is an offering that is made to me with fire.


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"For all time to come, the burnt offering must be sacrificed regularly. Sacrifice it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting in my sight. There I will meet you and speak to you.


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"So I will set the Tent of Meeting and the altar apart. And I will set Aaron and his sons apart to serve me as priests.


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They will know that I am the Lord their God. They will know that I brought them out of Egypt so I could live among them. I am the Lord their God.


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It must be one foot six inches square and three feet high. Make a horn stick out from each of its upper four corners.


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"Make two gold rings for the altar below the strip. Put the rings across from each other. They will hold the poles that are used to carry it.


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"Put the altar in front of the curtain that hangs in front of the ark where the tablets of the covenant are kept. The ark will have a cover. It will be the place where sin is paid for. There I will meet with you.


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"Aaron must burn sweet-smelling incense on the altar. He must do it every morning when he takes care of the lamps.


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He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at sunset. Incense must be burned regularly to me. Do it for all time to come.


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"Do not burn any other incense on the altar. Do not use the altar for burnt offerings or grain offerings. Do not pour drink offerings on it.


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"Once a year Aaron must put the blood of a sin offering on its horns to make it pure. He must do it on the day Israel's sin is paid for. Do it for all time to come. The altar is a very holy place to me."


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"When you make a list of the people of Israel and count them, they must pay me for their lives at the time they are counted. Then a plague will not come on them when you count them.


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"Each one who is counted must pay a fifth of an ounce of silver. It must be weighed out in keeping with the standard weights that are used in the sacred tent. The payment is an offering to me.


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"When you make the offering, rich people must not give more than a fifth of an ounce of silver. And poor people must not give less. The offering you give to me will pay for your lives.


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"Receive the money from the people of Israel. Use it for any purpose in the Tent of Meeting. It will remind the people that they are paying me for their lives."


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"Make a large bronze bowl for washing. Make a bronze stand to put it on. Place the bowl between the Tent of Meeting and the altar. Put water in it.


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When they enter the Tent of Meeting, they must wash with water so that they will not die. They will come to the altar to serve me. They will bring an offering that is made to me with fire.


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When they do, they must wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. For all time to come, that will be a law for Aaron and the priests who are in his family line."


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He said, "Get some fine spices. Get 12 pounds eight ounces of liquid myrrh. Get six pounds four ounces of sweet-smelling cinnamon and the same amount of sweet-smelling cane.


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Also get 12 pounds eight ounces of cassia. All of the spices must be weighed out in keeping with the standard weights that are used in the sacred tent. Get four quarts of olive oil.


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Anoint the table for the holy bread and all of its articles. Anoint the lampstand and the things that are used with it. Anoint the altar for burning incense.


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Anoint the altar for burnt offerings and all of its tools. And anoint the large bowl together with its stand.


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Do not pour it on the bodies of any other men. Do not make any other oil in the same way. It is sacred. So you must think of it as sacred.


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Anyone who makes perfume in the same way and puts it on someone who is not a priest must be cut off from his people.' "


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Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "Get some sweet-smelling spices. Get some gum resin, onycha and galbanum. Also get some pure frankincense. Make sure everything is in equal amounts.


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"Have a person who makes perfume mix it all up into a sweet-smelling incense. It must have salt in it. It will be pure and sacred.


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Grind some of it into powder. Place it in front of the tablets of the covenant in the Tent of Meeting. There I will meet with you. The incense will be very holy to you.


text:
He said, "I have chosen Bezalel, the son of Uri. Uri is the son of Hur. Bezalel is from the tribe of Judah.


text:
I have filled him with the Spirit of God. I have filled him with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.


text:
"I have also appointed Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, to help him. Oholiab is from the tribe of Dan. "I have given ability to all of the skilled workers. They can make everything I have commanded you to make. Here is the complete list.


text:
the table for the holy bread and its articles the pure gold lampstand and everything that is used with it the altar for burning incense


text:
the anointing oil the sweet-smelling incense for the Holy Room "The skilled workers must make them just as I commanded you."


text:
He said, "Tell the people of Israel, 'You must always keep my Sabbath days. That will be the sign of the covenant I have made between me and you for all time to come. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I make you holy.


text:
" 'Keep the Sabbath day. It is holy to you. Those who misuse it must be put to death. Those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people.


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Do your work in six days. But the seventh day is a Sabbath. You must rest on it. It is set apart for me. Those who work on the Sabbath day must be put to death.


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" 'The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath. They must celebrate it for all time to come. It will be a covenant that lasts forever.


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It will be the sign of the covenant I have made between me and the people of Israel forever. " 'I made the heavens and the earth in six days. But on the seventh day I did not work. I rested.' "


text:
The Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai. Then he gave him the two tablets of the covenant. They were made out of stone. The words on them were written by the finger of God.


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The people saw that Moses took a long time to come down from the mountain. So they gathered around Aaron. They said to him, "Come. Make us a god that will lead us. This fellow Moses brought us up out of Egypt. But we don't know what has happened to him."


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Aaron answered them, "Take the gold earrings off your wives, your sons and your daughters. Bring the earrings to me."


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He took what they gave him and made it into a metal statue of a god. It looked like a calf. He shaped it with a tool. Then the people said, "Israel, here is your god who brought you up out of Egypt."


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When Aaron saw it, he built an altar in front of the calf. He said, "Tomorrow will be a feast day in the Lord's honor."


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So the next day the people got up early. They sacrificed burnt offerings and brought friendship offerings. They sat down to eat and drink. Then they got up to dance wildly in front of their god.


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The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "Go down. Your people you brought up out of Egypt have become very sinful.


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They have quickly turned away from what I commanded them. They have made themselves a statue of a god that looks like a calf. They have bowed down and sacrificed to it. And they have said, 'Israel, here is your god who brought you up out of Egypt.'


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Now leave me alone. My anger will burn against them. I will destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."


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But Moses asked the Lord his God to show favor to the people. "Lord," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people? You used your great power and mighty hand to bring them out of Egypt.


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Why should the Egyptians say, 'He brought them out to hurt them. He wanted to kill them in the mountains. He wanted to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn away from your burning anger. Please take pity on your people. Don't destroy them!


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"Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel. You made a promise. You took an oath in your name. You said, 'I will make your children after you as many as the stars in the sky. I will give them all of this land I promised them. It will belong to them forever.' "


text:
Moses turned and went down the mountain. He had the two tablets of the covenant in his hands. Words were written on both sides of the tablets, front and back.


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The tablets were the work of God. The words had been written by God. They had been carved on the tablets.


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Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting. So he said to Moses, "It sounds like war in the camp."


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Moses replied, "It's not the sound of winning. It's not the sound of losing. It's the sound of singing that I hear."


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As Moses approached the camp, he saw the calf. He also saw the people dancing. So he burned with anger. He threw the tablets out of his hands. They broke into pieces at the foot of the mountain.


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He took the calf the people had made. He burned it in the fire. Then he ground it into powder. He scattered it on the water. And he made the people of Israel drink it.


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He said to Aaron, "What did these people do to you? How did they make you lead them into such terrible sin?"


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They said to me, 'Make us a god that will lead us. This fellow Moses brought us up out of Egypt. But we don't know what has happened to him.'


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"So I told them, 'Anyone who has any gold jewelry, take it off.' They gave me the gold. I threw it into the fire. And out came this calf!"


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Moses saw that the people were running wild. Aaron had let them get out of control. The people had become a joke to their enemies.


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Moses stood at the entrance to the camp. He said, "Anyone who is on the Lord's side, come to me." All of the Levites joined him.


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Then he spoke to them. He said, "The Lord, the God of Israel, says, 'Each man must put on his sword. Then he must go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other. Each man must kill his brother, friend and neighbor.' "


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Then Moses said to the Levites, "You have been set apart for the Lord today. You stood against your own sons and brothers. And he has blessed you this day."


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The next day Moses said to the people, "You have committed a terrible sin. But now I will go up to the Lord. Maybe if I pray to him, he will forgive your sin."


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So Moses went back to the Lord. He said, "These people have committed a terrible sin. They have made a god out of gold for themselves.


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Now please forgive their sin. But if you won't, then erase my name from the scroll you have written."


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The Lord replied to Moses, "I will erase from my scroll only the names of those who have sinned against me.


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Now go. Lead the people to the place I spoke about. My angel will go ahead of you. But when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin."


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The Lord struck the people with a plague. That's because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made.


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Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "Leave this place. You and the people you brought up out of Egypt must leave it. Go up to the land I promised with an oath to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I said to them, 'I will give it to your children after you.'


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I will send an angel ahead of you. I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.


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"Go up to the land that has plenty of milk and honey. But I will not go with you. You are stubborn. I might destroy you on the way."


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When the people heard those painful words, they became sad and began to sob. No one put on any jewelry.


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The Lord had said to Moses, "Tell the people of Israel, 'You are stubborn. If I went with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your jewelry. Then I will decide what to do with you.' "


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Moses used to take a tent and set it up far outside the camp. He called it the "tent of meeting." Anyone who wanted to ask the Lord a question would go to the tent of meeting that was outside the camp.


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When Moses would go out to the tent, all of the people would get up and stand at the entrances to their tents. They would watch Moses until he entered the tent.


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As Moses would go into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down. It would stay at the entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses.


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The people would see the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent. Then all of them would stand and worship at the entrances to their tents.


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The Lord would speak to Moses face to face. It was like a man speaking to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp. But Joshua, his young helper, didn't leave the tent. Joshua was the son of Nun.


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Moses said to the Lord, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people.' But you haven't let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know your name. I know all about you. And I am pleased with you.'


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If you are pleased with me, teach me more about yourself. Then I can know you. And I can continue to please you. Remember that this nation is your people."


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How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and your people? You must go with us. How else will we be different from all of the other people on the face of the earth?"


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The Lord said to Moses, "I will do exactly what you have asked. I am pleased with you. And I know your name. I know all about you."


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The Lord said, "I will make all of my goodness pass in front of you. And I will announce my name, The Lord, in front of you. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy. And I will show love to those I love.


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When my glory passes by, I will put you in an opening in the rock. I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.


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The Lord said to Moses, "Cut out two stone tablets that are just like the first ones. I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.


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No one must come with you. No one must be seen anywhere on the mountain. Not even the flocks and herds must be allowed to eat grass in front of the mountain."


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So Moses carved out two stone tablets that were just like the first ones. Early in the morning he went up Mount Sinai. He carried the two tablets in his hands. He did as the Lord had commanded him to do.


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As he passed in front of Moses, he called out. He said, "I am the Lord, the Lord. I am a God who is tender and kind. I am gracious. I am slow to get angry. I am faithful and full of love.


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I continue to show my love to thousands of people. I forgive those who do evil. I forgive those who refuse to obey. And I forgive those who sin. But I do not let guilty people go without punishing them. I punish the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren for the sin of their parents."


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"Lord," he said, "if you are pleased with me, then go with us. Even though these people are stubborn, forgive the evil things we have done. Forgive our sin. And accept us as your people."


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Then the Lord said, "I am making a covenant with you. I will do wonderful things in front of all of your people. I will do miracles that have never been done before in any nation in the whole world. The people you live among will see the things that I, the Lord, will do for you. And they will see how wonderful those things really are.


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"Obey what I command you today. I will drive out the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites to make room for you.


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"Be careful. Do not make a peace treaty with those who live in the land where you are going. They will be a trap to you.


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Tear down their altars. Smash their sacred stones. Cut down the poles they use to worship the goddess Asherah.


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"Be careful not to make a peace treaty with those who live in the land. They commit sin by offering sacrifices to their gods. They will invite you to eat their sacrifices.


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You will choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons. And those daughters will commit sin by worshiping their gods. Then they will lead your sons to do the same thing.


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"Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days eat bread that is made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Do it at the appointed time in the month of Abib. You came out of Egypt in that month.


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"Every male animal that is born first to its mother belongs to me. That includes your livestock. It includes herds and flocks alike.


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Sacrifice a lamb to buy back every male donkey that is born first to its mother. But if you do not buy the donkey back, break its neck. Buy back every oldest son. "You must not come to worship me with your hands empty.


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"Do your work in six days. But you must rest on the seventh day. Even when you are plowing your land or gathering your crops, you must rest on the seventh day.


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"Celebrate the Feast of Weeks. Bring the first share of your wheat crop. "Celebrate the Feast of Booths. Hold it in the fall.


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"Three times a year all of your men must come to worship me. I am your Lord and King, the God of Israel.


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I will drive out nations ahead of you. I will increase your territory. Go up three times a year to worship me. While you are doing that, I will keep others from wanting to take any of your land for themselves. I am the Lord your God.


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"Do not include anything that is made with yeast when you offer me the blood of a sacrifice. You must not keep any of the meat from the sacrifice of the Passover Feast until morning.


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"Bring the best of the first share of your crops to my house. I am the Lord your God. "Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk."


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Then the Lord said to Moses, "Write down the words I have spoken. I have made a covenant with you and with Israel in keeping with those words."


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Moses was there with the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights. He didn't eat any food or drink any water. The Lord wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant. Those words are the Ten Commandments.


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Moses came down from Mount Sinai. He had the two tablets of the covenant in his hands. His face was shining because he had spoken with the Lord. But he didn't realize it.


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Aaron and all of the people of Israel saw Moses. His face was shining. So they were afraid to come near him.


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But Moses called out to them. So Aaron and all of the leaders of the community came to him. And Moses spoke to them.


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After that, all of the people came near him. And he gave them all of the commands the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.


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But when he would go to speak with the Lord, he would remove the veil. He would keep it off until he came out. Then he would tell the people what the Lord had commanded.


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They would see that his face was shining. So Moses would put the veil back over his face. He would keep it on until he went in again to speak with the Lord.


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Moses gathered the whole community of Israel together. He said to them, "Here are the things the Lord has commanded you to do.


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You must do your work in six days. But the seventh day will be your holy day. It will be a Sabbath in the Lord's honor. You must rest on it. Anyone who does any work on it must be put to death.


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Take an offering for the Lord from what you have. Those who want to can bring an offering to the Lord. Here is what they can bring. "gold, silver and bronze


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for the holy tent and its covering. Here is what they must make. "hooks frames crossbars posts bases


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the lampstand for light and everything that is used with it the lamps and the olive oil that gives light


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the altar for burning incense the poles for the altar the anointing oil the sweet-smelling incense the curtain for the entrance to the holy tent


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the altar for burnt offerings with its bronze grate its poles and all of its tools the large bronze bowl with its stand


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the curtains of the courtyard with their posts and bases the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard


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Everyone who wanted to give offerings to the Lord brought them to him. The offerings were for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for the sacred clothes, and for any other purpose there.


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Every man and woman who wanted to give came. They brought gold jewelry of all kinds. They brought pins, earrings, rings and other jewelry. All of them gave their gold as a wave offering to the Lord.


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People brought what they had. They brought blue, purple or bright red yarn or fine linen. They brought goat hair, ram skins that were dyed red, or the hides of sea cows.


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Some brought silver or bronze as an offering to the Lord. Others brought acacia wood for any part of the work.


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All of the skilled women spun yarn with their hands. They brought blue, purple or bright red yarn or fine linen.


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They also brought spices and olive oil. They brought them for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet-smelling incense.


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All of the men and women of Israel who wanted to bring offerings to the Lord brought them to him. The offerings were for all of the work the Lord had commanded Moses to tell them to do.


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Then Moses spoke to the people of Israel. He said, "The Lord has chosen Bezalel, the son of Uri. Uri is the son of Hur. Bezalel is from the tribe of Judah.


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The Lord has filled him with the Spirit of God. He has filled him with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.


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He can cut and set stones. He can work with wood. In fact, he can work in all kinds of arts and crafts.


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"And the Lord has given both him and Oholiab the ability to teach others. Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, is from the tribe of Dan.


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"The Lord has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work. They carve things and make patterns. They sew skillfully with blue, purple and bright red yarn and on fine linen. They use thread to make beautiful cloth. They have the skill to work in all kinds of crafts.


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Bezalel and Oholiab must do the work just as the Lord has commanded. So must every skilled worker to whom the Lord has given skill and ability. They must know how to do all of the work for every purpose connected with the sacred tent. And that includes setting it up."


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Then Moses sent for Bezalel and Oholiab. He sent for every skilled worker to whom the Lord had given ability and who wanted to come and do the work.


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They received from Moses all of the offerings the people of Israel had brought. They had brought the offerings for all of the work for every purpose connected with the holy tent. That included setting it up. The people kept bringing the offerings they chose to give. They brought them morning after morning.


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They said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded us to do."


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Then Moses gave an order. A message was sent through the whole camp. It said, "No man or woman should make anything else and offer it for the holy tent." And so the people were kept from bringing more offerings.


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All of the skilled workers made the holy tent. They made ten curtains out of finely twisted linen. They made them with blue, purple and bright red yarn. A skilled worker sewed cherubim into the pattern.


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Then they made loops out of blue strips of cloth along the edge of the end curtain in one set. They did the same thing with the end curtain in the other set.


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They also made 50 loops on the end curtain of the one set. They did the same thing on the end curtain of the other set. They put the loops across from each other.


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Then they made 50 gold hooks. They used them to join curtains together so that the holy tent was all one piece.


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The workers joined five of the curtains together into one set. They did the same thing with the other six.


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Then they made 50 loops along the edge of the end curtain in the one set. They did the same thing with the other set.


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They made a covering for the tent. They made it out of ram skins that were dyed red. They put a covering of the hides of sea cows over that.


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The workers added two small wooden pins to each frame. The pins stuck out so that they were even with each other. The workers made all of the frames of the holy tent in the same way.


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And they made 40 silver bases to go under them. They made two bases for each frame. They put one under each pin that stuck out.


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At those two corners the frames were double from top to bottom. They were fitted into a single ring. The workers made both of them the same.


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The workers also made crossbars out of acacia wood. They made five for the frames on one side of the holy tent.


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They made five for the frames on the other side. And they made five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the holy tent.


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They covered the frames with gold. They made gold rings to hold the crossbars. They also covered the crossbars with gold.


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They made the curtain out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. A skilled worker sewed cherubim into the pattern.


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The workers made four posts out of acacia wood for the curtain. They covered the posts with gold. They made gold hooks and four silver bases for the posts.


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For the entrance to the tent the workers made a curtain out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. A person who sewed skillfully made it.


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The workers made five posts with hooks for the curtains. They covered the tops of the posts and their bands with gold. And they made five bronze bases for them.


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Bezalel made the ark of the covenant out of acacia wood. It was three feet nine inches long and two feet three inches wide and high.


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He made four gold rings for it. He joined them to its four bottom corners. He put two rings on one side and two rings on the other.


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He made its cover out of pure gold. It was three feet nine inches long and two feet three inches wide. The cover is the place where sin is paid for.


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He made the cherubim as part of the cover itself. The cherubim's wings spread up over the cover. The cherubim faced each other and looked toward the cover.


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The workers made the table out of acacia wood. It was three feet long, one foot six inches wide and two feet three inches high.


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They made four gold rings for the table. They joined them to the four corners, where the four legs were.


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They made plates, dishes and bowls out of pure gold for the table. They also made pure gold pitchers to pour out drink offerings.


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The workers made the lampstand out of pure gold. They hammered out its base and stem. Its buds, blooms and cups branched out from it.


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Six branches came out from the sides of the lampstand. There were three on one side and three on the other.


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On one branch there were three cups that were shaped like almond flowers with buds and blooms. There were three on the next branch. There were three on all six branches that came out from the lampstand.


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One bud was under the first pair of branches that came out from the lampstand. A second bud was under the second pair. And a third bud was under the third pair. There was a total of six branches.


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The buds and branches came out from the lampstand. The whole lampstand was one piece that was hammered out of pure gold.


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The workers made its seven lamps out of pure gold. They also made its trays and wick cutters out of pure gold.


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The workers made an altar for burning incense. They made it out of acacia wood. It was one foot six inches square and three feet high. A horn stuck out from each of its upper four corners.


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They made two gold rings below the strip. They put the rings across from each other. The rings held the poles that were used to carry it.


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They also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, sweet-smelling incense. A person who makes perfume made them.


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The workers made the altar for burnt offerings out of acacia wood. It was four feet six inches high and seven feet six inches square.


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They made all of its tools out of bronze. They made its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and pans for carrying ashes.


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They put the poles through the rings. The poles were on two sides of the altar for carrying it. The workers made the altar out of boards. They made it hollow.


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The workers made the large bronze bowl and its bronze stand. They made them out of the bronze mirrors that belonged to the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.


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Next, the workers made the courtyard. The south side was 150 feet long. It had curtains that were made out of finely twisted linen.


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The north side was also 150 feet long. Its curtains had 20 posts and 20 bronze bases. The posts had silver hooks and bands on them.


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The west end was 75 feet wide. It had curtains with ten posts and ten bases. The posts had silver hooks and bands on them.


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Curtains that were 22 feet six inches long were on one side of the entrance. They were hung on three posts. Each post had a base.


text:
Curtains that were 22 feet six inches long were also on the other side of the entrance to the courtyard. They were hung on three posts. Each post had a base.


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The bases for the posts were made out of bronze. The hooks and bands that were on the posts were made out of silver. Their tops were covered with silver. So all of the posts of the courtyard had silver bands.


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The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was made out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. A person who sewed skillfully made it. It was 30 feet long. Like the curtains of the courtyard, it was seven feet six inches high.


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It had four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks and bands were made out of silver. Their tops were covered with silver.


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All of the tent stakes of the holy tent were made out of bronze. So were all of the stakes of the courtyard that was around it.


text:
Here are the amounts of the metals that were used for the holy tent, where the tablets of the covenant were kept. Moses commanded the Levites to record the amounts. The Levites did the work under the direction of Ithamar. Ithamar was the son of the priest Aaron.


text:
Bezalel, the son of Uri, made everything the Lord had commanded Moses. Uri was the son of Hur. Bezalel was from the tribe of Judah.


text:
Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, helped Bezalel. Oholiab was from the tribe of Dan. He could carve things and make patterns. And he could sew skillfully with blue, purple and bright red yarn and on fine linen.


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The total weight of the gold from the wave offering was more than a ton. It was weighed out in keeping with the standard weights that are used in the sacred tent. The gold was used for all of the work that was done in connection with the sacred tent.


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The silver that was received from the men in the community who were listed and counted weighed four tons. It was weighed out in keeping with the weights used in the sacred tent.


text:
It amounted to a fifth of an ounce for each person. It was weighed out in keeping with the weights used in the sacred tent. The silver was received from the men who had been listed and counted. All of them were 20 years old or more. Their total number was 603,550.


text:
The four tons of silver were used to make the bases for the holy tent and for the curtain. The 100 bases were made from the four tons. Each base used more than 75 pounds of silver.


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The workers used 45 pounds to make the hooks for the posts, to cover the tops of the posts, and to make their bands.


text:
The workers used some of it to make the bases for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They used some for the bronze altar for burnt offerings and its bronze grate and all of its tools.


text:
They used some for the bases for the courtyard that was around the holy tent. They used some for the bases for the courtyard entrance. And they used the rest to make all of the tent stakes for the holy tent and the courtyard that was around it.


text:
The workers made clothes from the blue, purple and bright red yarn. The clothes were worn by those who served in the holy tent. The workers also made sacred clothes for Aaron. They made them just as the Lord had commanded Moses.


text:
The workers made the linen apron out of fine gold wire, and out of blue, purple and bright red yarn, and out of finely twisted linen.


text:
They hammered out thin sheets of gold. They cut it into fine wire. They sewed it into the blue, purple and bright red yarn and fine linen. A skilled worker made it.


text:
Its skillfully made waistband was made like it. The waistband was part of the apron itself. It was made out of fine gold wire, and out of blue, purple and bright red yarn, and out of finely twisted linen. The workers made it just as the Lord had commanded Moses.


text:
They put the onyx stones in fancy gold settings. They carved the names of the sons of Israel on them. They did it the way a person carves a seal.


text:
Then they connected them to the shoulder straps of the linen apron. The stones stood for the sons of Israel and were a reminder for them. The workers did those things just as the Lord had commanded Moses.


text:
Skilled workers made the chest cloth. They made it like the linen apron. They used fine gold wire, and blue, purple and bright red yarn, and finely twisted linen.


text:
And a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper were in the fourth row. The workers put them in fancy gold settings.


text:
They used a total of 12 stones. There was one stone for each of the names of the sons of Israel. Each stone was carved like a seal with the name of one of the 12 tribes.


text:
They made two fancy gold settings and two gold rings. They connected them to two corners of the chest cloth.


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They joined the other ends of the chains to the two settings. They joined them to the shoulder straps on the front of the linen apron.


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The workers made two gold rings. They connected them to the other two corners of the chest cloth. They put them on the inside edge next to the apron.


text:
They made two more gold rings. They connected them to the bottom of the shoulder straps on the front of the apron. They put them close to the seam right above the waistband of the apron.


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They tied the rings of the chest cloth to the rings of the apron with blue cord. That connected it to the waistband. Then the chest cloth would not swing out from the linen apron. The workers did those things just as the Lord had commanded Moses.


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The workers made the outer robe of the linen apron completely from blue cloth. The cloth was made by a skillful person.


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The workers made an opening like a collar in the center of the robe. They made an edge around the opening. Then it couldn't tear.


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They made pomegranates out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. They sewed them around the hem of the robe.


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They sewed a bell between every two pomegranates all around the hem of the robe. Aaron had to wear the robe when he served as priest. That's what the Lord commanded Moses.


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The workers made inner robes out of fine linen for Aaron and his sons. The linen cloth was made by a skillful person.


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The workers also made the turban out of fine linen. And they made the headbands and the underwear out of finely twisted linen.


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The belt was made out of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and bright red yarn. A person who sewed skillfully made it. The workers did those things just as the Lord had commanded Moses.


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They made the plate out of pure gold. It was a sacred crown. They carved words on it as if it were a seal. They carved the words set apart for the Lord.


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Then they tied the plate to the turban with a blue cord. They did those things just as the Lord had commanded Moses.


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So all of the work on the holy tent, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The people of Israel did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.


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Then they brought the holy tent to Moses along with everything that belonged to it. Here are the things they brought. hooks frames crossbars posts bases


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the covering of ram skins that were dyed red the covering of the hides of sea cows the curtain that screens the ark


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the pure gold lampstand with its row of lamps and everything that is used with it the olive oil that gives light


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the gold altar for burning incense the anointing oil the sweet-smelling incense the curtain for the entrance to the tent


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the bronze altar for burnt offerings with its bronze grate its poles and all of its tools the large bowl with its stand


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the curtains of the courtyard with their posts and bases the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard the ropes and tent stakes for the courtyard


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Moses looked over the work carefully. He saw that the workers had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses gave them his blessing.


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Bring in the table for the holy bread. Arrange the loaves of bread on it. Then bring in the lampstand. Set up its lamps.


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Place the gold altar for burning incense in front of the ark where the tablets of the covenant are kept. Put up the curtain at the entrance to the holy tent.


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"Place the altar for burnt offerings in front of the entrance to the holy tent, the Tent of Meeting.


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"Get the anointing oil. Anoint the holy tent and everything that is in it. Set apart the holy tent and everything that belongs to it. Then it will be holy.


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Anoint the altar for burnt offerings and all of its tools. Set the altar apart. Then it will be a very holy place.


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Dress Aaron in the sacred clothes. Anoint him and set him apart. Then he will be able to serve me as priest.


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Anoint them just as you anointed their father. Then they will be able to serve me as priests. They will be anointed to do the work of priests. That work will last for all time to come."


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Moses set up the holy tent. He put the bases in place. He put the frames in them. He put in the crossbars. He set up the posts.


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He spread the holy tent over the frames. Then he put the coverings over the tent. Moses did it as the Lord had commanded him.


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He got the tablets of the covenant. He placed them in the ark. He put the poles through its rings. And he put the cover on it. The cover was the place where sin is paid for.


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Moses brought the ark into the holy tent. He hung the curtain to screen the ark where the tablets of the covenant are kept. Moses did it as the Lord had commanded him.


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He placed the table for the holy bread in the Tent of Meeting. It was on the north side of the holy tent outside the curtain.


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He arranged the loaves of bread on it in the sight of the Lord. Moses did it as the Lord had commanded him.


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He placed the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting. It stood across from the table on the south side of the holy tent.


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He placed the gold altar for burning incense in the Tent of Meeting. He placed it in front of the curtain.


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He set the altar for burnt offerings near the entrance to the holy tent, the Tent of Meeting. He sacrificed burnt offerings and grain offerings on it. Moses did it as the Lord had commanded him.


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He placed the large bowl between the Tent of Meeting and the altar. He put water in the bowl for washing.


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They washed when they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar. They did it as the Lord had commanded Moses.


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Then Moses set up the courtyard around the holy tent and altar. He put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses completed the work.


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Moses couldn't enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it. The glory of the Lord filled the holy tent.


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The people of Israel continued their travels. When the cloud lifted from above the holy tent, they started out.


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So the cloud of the Lord was above the holy tent during the day. Fire was in the cloud at night. The whole community of Israel could see the cloud during all of their travels.


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"Speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, 'Suppose any one of you brings an offering to the Lord. You must bring an animal from your herd or flock.


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" 'If a man brings a burnt offering from the herd, he must offer a male animal. It must not have any flaws. He must bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then the Lord will accept it.


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" 'The man must place his hand on the head of the burnt offering. Then the Lord will accept it in place of him. It will pay for his sin.


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The young bull must be killed there in the sight of the Lord. " 'Then the priests who are in Aaron's family line must bring its blood to the altar. They must sprinkle it against every side of the altar. The altar stands at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.


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" 'The skin must be removed from the animal that is brought for the burnt offering. Then the animal must be cut into pieces.


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" 'The priests who are in Aaron's family line must build a fire on the altar. They must place wood on the fire.


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Then they must place the pieces of the animal on the burning wood on the altar. The pieces include the head and the fat.


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" 'The inside parts of the animal must be washed with water. The legs must also be washed. The priest must burn all of it on the altar. " 'It is a burnt offering. It is an offering that is made with fire. It gives a smell that is pleasant to the Lord.


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" 'If the offering is a burnt offering from the flock, it must be a male animal. It can be a sheep or a goat. It must not have any flaws.


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" 'It must be killed at the north side of the altar in the sight of the Lord. The priests who are in Aaron's family line must sprinkle its blood against every side of the altar.


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" 'The animal must be cut into pieces. The priest must place them on the burning wood on the altar. The pieces include the head and the fat.


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" 'The inside parts must be washed with water. The legs must also be washed. The priest must bring all of it to the altar. He must burn it there. " 'It is a burnt offering. It is an offering that is made with fire. It gives a smell that is pleasant to the Lord.


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" 'The priest must bring it to the altar. He must twist its head off. Then he must burn the rest of the bird on the altar. Its blood must be emptied out on the side of the altar.


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" 'The priest must remove the small bag inside the bird's throat. He must also remove what is in the bag. Then he must throw all of it to the east side of the altar. That is where the ashes are.


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He must take hold of the wings of the bird and tear it open. But he must not tear it in two. Then the priest will burn it on the wood that is on the fire on the altar. " 'It is a burnt offering. It is an offering that is made with fire. It gives a smell that is pleasant to the Lord.


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" 'Suppose someone brings a grain offering to the Lord. Then his offering must be made out of fine flour. He must pour olive oil on it. He must also put incense on it.


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" 'He must take it to the priests who are in Aaron's family line. A priest must take a handful of the fine flour and oil. He must mix it with all of the incense. Then he must burn that part on the altar. It will be a reminder that all good things come from the Lord. It is an offering that is made with fire. It gives a smell that is pleasant to the Lord.


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" 'The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and to the priests who are in his family line. It is a very holy part of the offerings that are made to the Lord with fire.


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" 'If you bring a grain offering that is baked in an oven, make it out of fine flour. It can be flat cakes that are made without yeast. Mix them with olive oil. Or it can be wafers that are made without yeast. Spread oil on them.


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If your grain offering is grilled on a metal plate, make it out of fine flour. Mix it with oil. Make it without yeast.


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" 'Bring to the Lord your grain offering that is made out of all of those things. Give it to the priest. He must take it to the altar.


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He must take out the part of the grain offering that reminds you that all good things come from the Lord. He must burn it on the altar. It is an offering that is made with fire. It gives a smell that is pleasant to the Lord.


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" 'The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and the priests who are in his family line. It is a very holy part of the offerings that are made to the Lord with fire.


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" 'Every grain offering you bring to the Lord must be made without yeast. You must not burn any yeast or honey in an offering that is made to the Lord with fire.


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" 'You can bring them to the Lord as an offering of the first share of the food you gather or produce. But they must not be offered on the altar as a pleasant smell.


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" 'Put salt on all of your grain offerings. Salt stands for the lasting covenant between you and your God. So do not leave it out of your grain offerings. Add it to all of your offerings.


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" 'Suppose you bring to the Lord a grain offering of the first share of your food. Then offer crushed heads of your first grain that have been cooked in fire.


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" 'The priest must burn part of the crushed grain and the oil. It will remind you that all good things come from the Lord. The priest must burn it together with all of the incense. It is an offering that is made to the Lord with fire.


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" 'Suppose someone brings a friendship offering. If he offers an animal from the herd, it can be either male or female. It must not have any flaws. He must offer it in the sight of the Lord.


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" 'The man must place his hand on the animal's head. It must be killed at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then the priests who are in Aaron's family line must sprinkle the blood against every side of the altar.


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" 'Part of the friendship offering must be given to the Lord as an offering that is made with fire. It must include all of the fat that covers the inside parts or is connected to them.


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It must include both kidneys with the fat on them next to the lower back muscles. It must also include the covering of the liver. All of it must be removed together with the kidneys.


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" 'Then the priests who are in Aaron's family line must burn it on the altar. They must burn it on top of the burnt offering on the burning wood. " 'It is an offering that is made with fire. It gives a smell that is pleasant to the Lord.


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" 'If a man brings an animal from the flock as a friendship offering to the Lord, it can be either male or female. It must not have any flaws.


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The man must place his hand on the lamb's head. It must be killed there in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then the priests who are in Aaron's family line must sprinkle its blood against every side of the altar.


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Part of the offering must be brought as a sacrifice that is made to the Lord with fire. It must include the lamb's fat and the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone. It must include all of the fat that covers the inside parts or is connected to them.


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" 'Then the priest must burn it on the altar as food. It is an offering that is made to the Lord with fire.


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The man must place his hand on its head. It must be killed there in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then the priests who are in Aaron's family line must sprinkle its blood against every side of the altar.


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" 'Part of the offering must be brought as an offering that is made to the Lord with fire. It must include all of the fat that covers the inside parts or is connected to them.


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" 'Then the priest must burn it on the altar as food. It is an offering that is made with fire. It has a pleasant smell. All of the fat belongs to the Lord.


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" 'You must not eat any fat or any blood. That is a law that will last for all time to come. It applies no matter where you live.' "


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"Speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, 'Suppose someone sins without meaning to. And that person does something the Lord commands us not to do.


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" 'Suppose it is the anointed priest who sins. And suppose he brings guilt on the people. Then he must bring a young bull to the Lord. It must not have any flaws. He must bring it as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.


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He must bring the bull to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting in the sight of the Lord. He must place his hand on its head. He must kill it there in the sight of the Lord.


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He must dip his finger into the blood. He must sprinkle some of it seven times in the sight of the Lord. He must do it in front of the curtain of the Most Holy Room.


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" 'Then the priest must put some of the blood on the horns that stick out from the upper four corners of the altar for burning incense. The incense has a sweet smell. The altar stands in front of the Lord in the Tent of Meeting. The priest must pour out the rest of the bull's blood at the bottom of the altar for burnt offerings. That altar stands at the entrance to the tent.


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" 'He must remove all of the fat from the bull for the sin offering. It includes the fat that covers the inside parts or is connected to them.


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It includes both kidneys with the fat on them next to the lower back muscles. It also includes the covering of the liver. He must remove all of it together with the kidneys.


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He must remove it in the same way the fat is removed from an ox that is sacrificed as a friendship offering. Then the priest must burn all of it on the altar for burnt offerings.


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" 'But the bull's hide must be taken away. So must all of its meat. So must its head and legs. And so must its inside parts and guts.


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In other words, all of the rest of the bull must be taken away. The priest must take it outside the camp. He must take it to a place that is "clean." He must take it to the place where the ashes are thrown. There he must burn it in a wood fire on a pile of ashes.


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" 'Or suppose the whole community of Israel sins without meaning to. They do something the Lord commands us not to do. Even if they are not aware of what they have done, they are guilty.


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" 'But suppose they become aware of the sin they have committed. Then they must bring a young bull as a sin offering. They must offer it in front of the Tent of Meeting.


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The elders of the community must place their hands on the bull's head in the sight of the Lord. The bull must be killed in the sight of the Lord.


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He must dip his finger into the blood. He must sprinkle it seven times in the sight of the Lord. He must do it in front of the curtain.


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He must put some of the blood on the horns that stick out from the upper four corners of the altar. The altar stands in front of the Lord in the Tent of Meeting. The priest must pour out the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar for burnt offerings. That altar stands at the entrance to the tent.


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He must do the same thing with that bull as he did with the bull for the sin offering. When he does, he will pay for the sin of the people. And they will be forgiven.


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" 'Then he must take the bull outside the camp. He must burn it just as he burned the first bull. It is the sin offering for the whole community.


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" 'Or suppose a leader sins without meaning to. If he disobeys any of the commands of the Lord his God, he is guilty.


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" 'But suppose he is made aware of the sin he has committed. Then he must bring an offering. It must be a male goat. It must not have any flaws.


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He must place his hand on the goat's head. He must kill it. He must do it at the place where the animals for burnt offerings are killed in the sight of the Lord. His offering is a sin offering.


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" 'Then the priest must dip his finger into some of the blood of the sin offering. He must put it on the horns that stick out from the upper four corners of the altar for burnt offerings. He must pour out the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar.


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" 'He must burn all of the fat on the altar. He must burn it in the same way he burned the fat of the friendship offering. When he does, he will pay for the sin of the leader. And the leader will be forgiven.


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" 'Or suppose someone in the community sins without meaning to. If he disobeys any of the Lord's commands, he is guilty.


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" 'But suppose he is made aware of the sin he has committed. Then he must bring an offering for the sin he has committed. It must be a female goat. It must not have any flaws.


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He must place his hand on the head of the animal for the sin offering. It must be killed at the place where the animals for burnt offerings are killed.


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" 'Then the priest must dip his finger into some of the blood. He must put it on the horns that stick out from the upper four corners of the altar for burnt offerings. He must pour out the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar.


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" 'He must remove all of the fat in the same way the fat is removed from the friendship offering. He must burn it on the altar. It gives a smell that is pleasant to the Lord. When the priest burns the offering, he will pay for the sin of that person. And he will be forgiven.


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" 'Suppose he brings a lamb as his sin offering. Then he must bring a female animal. It must not have any flaws.


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He must place his hand on its head. He must kill it as a sin offering. He must do it at the place where the animals for burnt offerings are killed.


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" 'He must remove all of the fat in the same way the fat is removed from the lamb for the friendship offering. He must burn it on the altar on top of the offerings that are made to the Lord with fire. When he does, he will pay for the sin that person has committed. And he will be forgiven.


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" 'Suppose a person has been called as a witness to something he has seen or learned about. Then if he does not tell what he knows, he has sinned. And he will be held accountable for it.


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" 'Or suppose a person touches something that is not "clean." It could be the dead bodies of wild animals or of livestock. Or it could be the dead bodies of creatures that move along the ground. Even though he is not aware that he touched them, he has become "unclean." And he is guilty.


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" 'Or suppose he touches something "unclean" that comes from a human being. It could be anything that would make him "unclean." Suppose he is not aware that he touched it. When he finds out about it, he will be guilty.


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" 'Or suppose a person takes an oath and makes a promise to do something without thinking it through. It does not matter what he promised. It does not matter whether he took the oath without thinking about it carefully. And suppose he is not aware that he did not think it through. When he finds out about it, he will be guilty.


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He must bring a sin offering to pay for the sin he has committed. He must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock. The priest will sacrifice the animal. That will pay for the person's sin.


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" 'Suppose he can't afford a lamb. Then he must get two doves or two young pigeons. He must bring them to the Lord to pay for his sin. One of them is for a sin offering. The other is for a burnt offering.


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" 'He must bring them to the priest. The priest will offer the one for the sin offering first. He must twist its head. But he must not twist it off completely.


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" 'Then he must sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar. He must empty out the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar. It is a sin offering.


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" 'Then the priest will offer the other bird as a burnt offering. He must do it in the way the law requires. That will pay for the sin the person has committed. And he will be forgiven.


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" 'But suppose he can't afford two doves or two young pigeons. Then he must bring eight cups of fine flour as an offering for his sin. It is a sin offering. He must not put olive oil or incense on it. That is because it is a sin offering.


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" 'He must bring it to the priest. The priest must take a handful of it. He must burn that part on the altar. It will be a reminder that all good things come from the Lord. The priest must burn it on top of the offerings that are made to the Lord with fire. It is a sin offering.


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" 'In that way the priest will pay for any of the sins the person has committed. And he will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest. It is the same as in the case of the grain offering.' "


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"Suppose a person sins by breaking the law. And he does it without meaning to. He sins against me or my priests by refusing to give them one of the holy things that are set apart for them. "Then he must bring me a ram from the flock. It must not have any flaws. It must be worth the required amount of silver. It must be weighed out in keeping with the standard weights that are used in the sacred tent. It is a guilt offering. It will pay for his sin.


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"He must also pay for the holy thing he refused to give. He must add a fifth of its value to it. He must give all of it to the priest. The priest will pay for the person's sin with the ram. It is a guilt offering. And he will be forgiven.


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"Suppose a person sins by doing something I command him not to do. Even though he does not know it, he is guilty. He will be held accountable for it.


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"He must bring to the priest a ram from the flock as a guilt offering. It must not have any flaws. And it must be worth the required amount of money. "The priest will sacrifice the animal. That will pay for what the person has done wrong without meaning to. And he will be forgiven.


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"Suppose a person sins by not being faithful to me. He does it by tricking his neighbors. He tricks them in connection with something they have placed in his care. He steals from them. Or he cheats them.


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Or he finds something they have lost and then tells a lie about it. Or he goes to court. He takes an oath and tells a lie when he witnesses about it. Or he commits any other sin like those sins.


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"When he sins in any of those ways, he becomes guilty. He must return what he stole. He must give back what he took by cheating his neighbors. He must return what they placed in his care. He must return the lost property he found.


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He must return anything he told a lie about when he witnessed in court. He must pay back everything in full. He must add a fifth of its value to it. He must give all of it to the owner on the day he brings his guilt offering.


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"He must bring his guilt offering to the priest to pay for his sin. It is an offering to me. He must bring a ram from the flock. It must not have any flaws. It must be worth the required amount of money.


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"The priest will sacrifice the ram to pay for the person's sin. He will do it in my sight. And the person will be forgiven for any of the things he did that made him guilty."


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"Give Aaron and the priests who are in his family line a command. Tell them, 'Here are some more rules for burnt offerings. The burnt offering must remain on the altar through the whole night. The fire on the altar must be kept burning until morning.


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" 'The priest must put on his linen clothes. He must put on linen underwear next to his body. He must remove the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has burned up on the altar. He must place them beside the altar.


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Then he must take his clothes off and put others on. He must carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is "clean."


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" 'The fire on the altar must be kept burning. It must not go out. Every morning the priest must add more wood to the fire. He must place the burnt offering on the fire. He must burn the fat of the friendship offerings on it.


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" 'Here are some more rules for grain offerings. The priests who are in Aaron's family line must bring the grain offering to the Lord in front of the altar.


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" 'The priest must take a handful of fine flour and olive oil. He must add to it all of the incense that is on the grain offering. He must burn that part on the altar. It will remind him that all good things come from the Lord. It gives a smell that is pleasant to the Lord.


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" 'Aaron and the priests who are in his family line will eat the rest of it. But they must eat it without yeast in a holy place. They must eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.


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It must not be baked with yeast. The Lord has given it to the priests as their share of the offerings that are made to him with fire. It is very holy, just like the sin offering and the guilt offering.


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" 'Any priests who are in Aaron's family line can eat it. It is their regular share of the offerings that are made to the Lord with fire. It is their share for all time to come. Anyone who touches those offerings will become holy.' "


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"On the day each high priest who is in Aaron's family line is anointed, he must bring an offering to me. He must bring eight cups of fine flour as a regular grain offering. He must bring half of it in the morning. He must bring the other half in the evening.


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Mix it with olive oil. Grill it on a metal plate. Break it in pieces. Bring it as a grain offering. It gives a smell that is pleasant to me.


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"The son of Aaron who will become the next high priest after him will prepare the grain offering. It is my regular share. It must be completely burned up.


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"Speak to Aaron and the priests who are in his family line. Tell them, 'Here are some more rules for sin offerings. You must kill the animal for the sin offering in the sight of the Lord. Kill it in the place where the burnt offering is killed. It is very holy.


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The priest who offers it will eat it. He must eat it in a holy place. He must eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.


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" 'Anyone who touches any of its meat will become holy. Suppose some of the blood is spilled on someone's clothes. Then you must wash them in a holy place.


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Break the clay pot the meat is cooked in. But suppose you cook it in a bronze pot. Then you must scrub the pot and rinse it with water.


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" 'But suppose some of the blood of a sin offering is brought into the Tent of Meeting. And that blood is brought into the Holy Room to pay for sin. Then that sin offering must not be eaten. It must be burned.


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You must kill the animal for the guilt offering in the same place where you kill the animal for the burnt offering. Sprinkle its blood against every side of the altar.


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It must include both kidneys with the fat on them next to the lower back muscles. It must also include the covering of the liver. Remove all of it together with the kidneys.


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The priest must burn all of it on the altar. It is an offering that is made to the Lord with fire. It is a guilt offering.


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" 'The same law applies to the sin offering and the guilt offering. Both of them belong to the priest who offers them to pay for sin.


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" 'Every grain offering that is baked in an oven belongs to the priest who offers it. So does every grain offering that is cooked in a pan or grilled on a metal plate.


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Every grain offering belongs equally to all of the priests who are in Aaron's family line. That is true whether it is mixed with olive oil or it is dry.


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" 'Suppose he offers a friendship offering to show he is thankful. Then together with the thank offering he must offer flat cakes of bread. He must make them without yeast. He must mix them with olive oil. Or he must offer wafers that are made without yeast. He must spread oil on them. Or he must offer flat cakes that are made out of fine flour. He must add oil to it. He must work the flour and mix it well.


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" 'He must bring another friendship offering along with his thank offering. It should be flat cakes of bread that are made with yeast.


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He must bring one of each kind of bread as an offering. One kind is made with yeast. The other is not. Both of them are a gift to the Lord. They belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the friendship offerings.


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" 'The person must eat the meat from his thank offering on the day he offers it. He must not leave any of it until morning.


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" 'But suppose he brings a friendship offering to keep a promise he has made. Or suppose he brings an offering he chooses to give. Then he must eat the sacrifice on the day he offers it. But if anything is left over, he may eat it the next day.


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Suppose he eats any meat from the friendship offering on the third day. Then the Lord will not accept the offering. He will not accept it as a gift from that person. It is not pure. If the person eats any of it, he will be held accountable for it.


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" 'He must not eat meat that touches anything that is "unclean." He must burn it up. Anyone who is "clean" may eat any other meat.


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" 'But suppose a person is not "clean" and eats any meat from the friendship offering that belongs to the Lord. Then that person will be cut off from his people.


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" 'Suppose a person touches something that is not "clean." It does not matter whether it comes from a human being who is not "clean." It does not matter whether it comes from an animal that is not "clean." It does not matter whether it comes from something that is hated and is not "clean." And suppose the person eats any of the meat from the friendship offering that belongs to the Lord. Then that person will be cut off from his people.' "


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Do not eat the fat of any animal that is found dead. Do not eat the fat of an animal that wild animals have torn apart. But you can use the fat for any other purpose.


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" 'Suppose an animal has been sacrificed as an offering that is made to the Lord with fire. No one may eat its fat. If he does, he will be cut off from his people.


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"Speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, 'Suppose a person brings a friendship offering to the Lord. Then he must bring part of it as his special gift to the Lord.


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He must bring it with his own hands. It is an offering that is made to the Lord with fire. He must bring the fat together with the breast. He must lift the breast up and wave it in front of the Lord as a wave offering.


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The priest will burn the fat on the altar. " 'But the breast belongs to Aaron and the priests who are in his family line.


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The priest who offers the blood and fat from the friendship offering must be given the right thigh. It is his share.


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" 'I, the Lord, have taken the breast that is waved and the thigh that is given. I have taken them from the friendship offerings of the people of Israel. And I have given them to the priest Aaron and the priests who are in his family line. The offerings are their regular share from the people of Israel.' "


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That is the part of the offerings that are made to the Lord with fire and given to Aaron and the priests who are in his family line. It was given to Aaron and his sons on the day they were set apart to serve the Lord as priests.


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On the day they were anointed, the Lord commanded the people of Israel to give that part to them. For all time to come, it will be the regular share of Aaron and the priests who are in his family line.


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Those are the rules for burnt offerings, grain offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings and friendship offerings. They are also the rules for the offerings that are given when priests are being prepared to serve the Lord.


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They are the rules the Lord gave Moses on Mount Sinai. He gave them on the day he commanded the people of Israel to bring their offerings to the Lord. That took place in the Sinai Desert.


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"Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Bring their clothes and the anointing oil. Bring the bull for the sin offering. Also bring two rams. And bring the basket with the bread that is made without yeast.


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Moses did just as the Lord had commanded him. All of the people gathered together at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.


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He put the inner robe on Aaron. He tied the belt around him. He dressed him in the outer robe. He put the linen apron on him. He took the skillfully made waistband and tied the apron on him with it. He wanted to make sure it was securely tied to him.


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Then he placed the turban on Aaron's head. On the front of the turban he put the gold plate. It was a sacred crown. Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him.


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Then Moses took the anointing oil and poured it on the holy tent. He also poured it on everything that was in it. That's how he set those things apart for the Lord.


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He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times. He poured oil on the altar and all of its tools. He poured it on the large bowl and its stand. He did it to set them apart.


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He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head. He anointed him to set him apart to serve the Lord.


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Then Moses brought Aaron's sons to the people. He put the inner robes on them. He tied belts around them. He put headbands on them. He did everything just as the Lord had commanded him.


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Moses killed the bull. He dipped his finger into some of the blood. He put it on all of the horns that stick out from the upper four corners of the altar. He did it to make the altar pure. He poured out the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar. So he set it apart to make it pure.


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Moses also removed all of the fat that was around the inside parts of the bull. He removed the covering of the liver. He took both kidneys and their fat. Then he burned all of it on the altar.


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But he burned the rest of the bull outside the camp. He burned up its hide, its meat and its guts. He did it just as the Lord had commanded him.


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Then Moses brought the ram for the burnt offering. Aaron and his sons placed their hands on its head.


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He washed the inside parts and the legs with water. He burned the whole ram on the altar as a burnt offering. It had a pleasant smell. It was an offering that was made to the Lord with fire. Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him.


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Then he brought the other ram. It was sacrificed to prepare the priests for serving the Lord. Aaron and his sons placed their hands on its head.


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Moses killed the ram. He put some of its blood on Aaron's right ear lobe. He put some on the thumb of Aaron's right hand. He also put some on the big toe of Aaron's right foot.


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Then Moses brought Aaron's sons to the people. He put some of the blood on their right ear lobes. He put some on the thumbs of their right hands. He also put some on the big toes of their right feet. Then he sprinkled the rest of the blood against every side of the altar.


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He removed the fat, the fat tail and all of the fat around the inside parts. He removed the covering of the liver. He removed both kidneys and their fat. And he removed the right thigh.


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Then he took a flat cake of bread from the basket of bread that was made without yeast. The basket was in front of the Lord. Moses took a cake of bread that was made with olive oil. He also took a wafer. He put all of it on the fat parts of the ram and on its right thigh.


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He put everything in the hands of Aaron and his sons. He told them to lift it up and wave it in front of the Lord as a wave offering.


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Then Moses took it from their hands. He burned it on the altar on top of the burnt offering. It was the offering that was sacrificed to prepare the priests for serving the Lord. It had a pleasant smell. It was an offering that was made to the Lord with fire.


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Moses also lifted the ram's breast up and waved it in front of the Lord as a wave offering. The breast was Moses' share of the ram that was sacrificed to prepare the priests for serving the Lord. Moses did everything just as the Lord had commanded him.


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Then Moses took some of the anointing oil. He also took some of the blood from the altar. He sprinkled some of the oil and blood on Aaron and his clothes. He also sprinkled some on Aaron's sons and their clothes. That's how he set apart Aaron and his clothes. And that's how he set apart Aaron's sons and their clothes.


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Then Moses spoke to Aaron and his sons. He said, "Cook the meat at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Eat it there along with the bread from the basket of the offerings that are brought to prepare the priests for serving the Lord. Do it just as I commanded you. I said, 'Aaron and his sons must eat it.'


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"Don't leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for seven days. Don't leave until the days that are required to prepare you for serving the Lord have been completed. Stay here for the full seven days.


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Stay at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for seven days. Stay here day and night. Do what the Lord requires. Then you won't die. That's the command the Lord gave me."


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He said to Aaron, "Bring a bull calf for your sin offering. Bring a ram for your burnt offering. They must not have any flaws. Offer them to the Lord.


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"Then speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, 'Bring a male goat for a sin offering. Bring a calf and a lamb for a burnt offering. Both of them must be a year old. They must not have any flaws.


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Bring an ox and a ram for a friendship offering. Sacrifice all of them to the Lord. Also bring a grain offering. Mix it with olive oil. Today the Lord will appear to you.' "


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The people got the things Moses commanded them to get. They took them to the front of the Tent of Meeting. The whole community came up close to the tent. They stood there in front of the Lord.


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Then Moses said, "You have done what the Lord has commanded. So the glory of the Lord will appear to you."


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Moses said to Aaron, "Come to the altar. Sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering. Pay for your sin and the sin of the people. Sacrifice the people's offering. Pay for their sin. Do just as the Lord has commanded."


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His sons brought its blood to him. He dipped his finger into the blood. He put some on the horns that stick out from the upper four corners of the altar. He poured out the rest at the bottom of the altar.


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He burned the fat and the kidneys on the altar. He also burned the covering of the liver. All of those parts were from the sin offering. Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded Moses.


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Then he killed the animal for the burnt offering. His sons handed him its blood. He sprinkled it against every side of the altar.


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They handed him the burnt offering piece by piece. It included the animal's head. Aaron burned everything on the altar.


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Then Aaron brought the people's offering. He took the goat for their sin offering and killed it. He offered it for a sin offering. He did just as he had done with his own sin offering.


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He also brought the grain offering. He took a handful of it and burned it on the altar. It was in addition to that morning's burnt offering.


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Aaron killed the ox and the ram as the friendship offering for the people. His sons handed him the blood. He sprinkled it against every side of the altar.


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His sons also brought the fat parts of the ox and the ram. They included the fat tail and the layer of fat. They also included the kidneys and the covering of the liver.


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He lifted up the breasts and the right thigh and waved them in front of the Lord as a wave offering. He did it just as Moses had commanded.


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Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people. He gave them a blessing. He had already sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the friendship offering. So he stepped down from the altar.


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Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they gave the people a blessing. The glory of the Lord appeared to all of the people.


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The Lord sent fire on the altar. It burned up the burnt offering and the fat parts that were on it. All of the people saw it. Then they shouted for joy. They fell with their faces to the ground.


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Nadab and Abihu were two of Aaron's sons. They got their shallow cups for burning incense. They put fire in them. They added incense to it. They made an offering to the Lord by using fire that wasn't allowed. They did it against his command.


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Then Moses spoke to Aaron. He said, "That's what the Lord was talking about when he said, " 'Among those who approach me I will show that I am holy. In the sight of all of the people I will be honored.' "So Aaron remained silent.


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Moses sent for Mishael and Elzaphan. They were sons of Aaron's uncle Uzziel. Moses said to them, "Come here. Carry the bodies of your cousins outside the camp. Take them away from in front of the Holy Room."


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So they came and carried them outside the camp. It was just as Moses had ordered. The bodies of Nadab and Abihu still had their inner robes on them.


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Moses spoke to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar. They were Aaron's sons. Moses said, "Don't let your hair hang loose. Don't tear your clothes. If you do, you will die. And the Lord will be angry with the whole community. "But all of the people of Israel are allowed to show they are sad. They are your relatives. They can sob over those the Lord has destroyed with fire.


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"Don't leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. If you do, you will die. That's because the Lord's anointing oil has made you holy." So they did what Moses told them to do.


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"You and your sons must not drink any kind of wine when you go into the Tent of Meeting. If you do, you will die. That is a law that will last for all time to come.


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"You must be able to tell the difference between what is holy and what is not. You must be able to tell the difference between what is 'clean' and what is not.


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Moses spoke to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar. They were Aaron's two remaining sons. Moses said, "Take the grain offering that is left over from the offerings that are made to the Lord with fire. It is very holy. Make bread without yeast from it. Eat it beside the altar.


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Eat it in a holy place. It's your share and your sons' share of the offerings that are made to the Lord with fire. Those rules are in keeping with the command the Lord gave me.


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"But you and your sons and your daughters can eat the breast that was waved. You can also eat the thigh that was offered. Eat them in a place that is 'clean.' They have been given to you and your children. They are your share of the friendship offerings the people of Israel bring.


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"The thigh that was offered must be brought together with the fat parts of the offerings that are made with fire. The breast that was waved must be brought in the same way. All of it must be lifted up and waved in front of the Lord as a wave offering. It will be the regular share for you and your children. That's what the Lord has commanded."


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Moses asked about the goat that was brought as the sin offering. He found out that it had been burned up. So he became angry with Eleazar and Ithamar. They were Aaron's two remaining sons. Moses asked them,


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"Why didn't you eat the sin offering in a place that is near the Holy Room? The offering is very holy. It was given to you to take the people's guilt away. It paid for their sin in the sight of the Lord.


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The blood of the offering wasn't taken into the Holy Room. So you should have eaten the goat in a place that is near the Holy Room. That's what I commanded."


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Aaron replied to Moses, "Today the people sacrificed their sin offering to the Lord. They also sacrificed their burnt offerings to him. But a terrible thing has happened to me. Two of my sons have died. Would the Lord have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?"


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"Speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, 'Many animals live on land. Here are the only ones you can eat.


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You can eat any animal that has hoofs that are separated completely in two. But it must also chew the cud.


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" 'Some animals only chew the cud. Some only have hoofs that are separated in two. You must not eat those animals. " 'Camels chew the cud. But their hoofs are not separated in two. So they are not "clean" for you.


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" 'Rock badgers chew the cud. But their hoofs are not separated in two. So they are not "clean" for you.


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" 'Pigs have hoofs that are separated completely in two. But they do not chew the cud. So they are not "clean" for you.


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" 'You must not eat the meat of those animals. You must not even touch their dead bodies. They are not "clean" for you.


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" 'Many creatures live in the water of the oceans and streams. You can eat all of those that have fins and scales.


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" 'But be sure to avoid all of the creatures in the oceans or streams that do not have fins and scales. That includes all of those that move together in groups and all of those that do not.


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" 'Here are the birds you must be sure to avoid. Do not eat them. Be sure to avoid them. " 'They include eagles, vultures and black vultures.


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But you can eat some creatures that have wings and walk on all fours. Their legs have joints so they can hop on the ground.


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" 'Here are the insects you can eat. You can eat all kinds of locusts, katydids, crickets and grasshoppers.


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" 'You will make yourselves "unclean" if you eat those things. If you touch their dead bodies, you will be "unclean" until evening.


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If a person picks up one of their dead bodies, he must wash his clothes. He will be "unclean" until evening.


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" 'Suppose an animal has hoofs that are not separated completely in two. Or suppose an animal does not chew the cud. Then those animals are not "clean" for you. If you touch the dead body of any of them, you will not be "clean."


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" 'Many animals walk on all fours. But those that walk on their paws are not "clean" for you. Anyone who touches their dead bodies will be "unclean" until evening.


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If he picks up their dead bodies, he must wash his clothes. He will be "unclean" until evening. They are not "clean" for him.


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" 'Many animals move around on the ground. Here are the ones that are not "clean" for you. They include weasels, rats and all kinds of large lizards.


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Those are the animals that move around on the ground that are not "clean" for you. If you touch their dead bodies, you will be "unclean" until evening.


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" 'Suppose one of them dies and falls on something. Then that article will not be "clean." It does not matter what it is used for. It does not matter whether it is made out of wood, cloth, hide or black cloth. Put it in water. It will be "unclean" until evening. After that, it will be "clean."


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" 'Suppose one of those animals falls into a clay pot. Then everything that is in the pot will be "unclean." You must break the pot.


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Any food that could be eaten but has water on it that came from that pot is not "clean." And any liquid that could be drunk from it is not "clean."


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"Anything that the dead body of one of those animals falls on becomes "unclean." If it is an oven or cooking pot, break it. It is "unclean." And you must consider it "unclean.


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"But a spring or a well for collecting water remains "clean." That is true even if the dead body of one of those animals falls into it. But anyone who touches the dead body is not "clean."


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But suppose water has already been put on the seeds. And suppose the dead body falls on them. Then they are not "clean" for you.


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"Suppose an animal you are allowed to eat dies. If anyone touches its dead body, he will be "unclean" until evening.


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If he eats part of the dead body, he must wash his clothes. He will be "unclean" until evening. If he picks up the dead body, he must wash his clothes. He will be "unclean" until evening.


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Do not eat any of those creatures. It does not matter whether they move on their bellies. It does not matter whether they walk on all fours or on many feet. Be sure to avoid them.


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Do not make yourselves "unclean" by eating any of those animals. Do not make yourselves "unclean" because of them. Do not let them make you "unclean."


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" 'I am the Lord your God. Set yourselves apart. Be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves "unclean" by eating any creatures that move around on the ground.


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" 'Those are the rules about animals and birds. Those are the rules about every living thing that moves in the water. And those are the rules about every creature that moves around on the ground.


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You must be able to tell the difference between what is "clean" and what is not. You must also be able to tell the difference between the living creatures that can be eaten and those that can't.' "


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"Speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, 'Suppose a woman becomes pregnant and has a baby boy. Then she will be "unclean" for seven days. It is the same as when she is "unclean" during her monthly period.


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" 'After that, the woman must wait for 33 days to be made pure from her bleeding. She must not touch anything that is sacred until the 33 days are over. During that time she must not go to the sacred tent.


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" 'But suppose she has a baby girl. Then she will be "unclean" for two weeks. It is the same as during her period. After the two weeks, she must wait for 66 days to be made pure from her bleeding.


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" 'After she has waited the required number of days to be made pure, she must bring two offerings. She must take them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. She must bring a lamb that is a year old for a burnt offering. She must also bring a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering.


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The priest must offer them to the Lord. They will pay for her sin. Then she will be "clean" from her bleeding. " 'Those are the rules for a woman who has a baby boy or girl.


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" 'But suppose she can't afford a lamb. Then she must bring two doves or two young pigeons. One is for a burnt offering. The other is for a sin offering. The priest will sacrifice those offerings. That will pay for her sin. And she will be "clean." ' "


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"Suppose someone's skin has a swelling or a rash or a bright spot. And suppose it could become a skin disease. Then he must be brought to the priest Aaron. Or he must be brought to a priest who is in Aaron's family line.


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"The priest must look carefully at the sore on the person's skin. He must see whether the hair in the sore has turned white. He must also see whether the sore seems to be under the skin. If the sore is white and is under the skin, it is a skin disease. When the priest looks that person over carefully, he must announce that the person is 'unclean.'


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"Suppose the spot on the skin is white but does not seem to be under the skin. And suppose the hair in the spot has not turned white. Then the priest must make the person stay away from everyone else for seven days.


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On the seventh day the priest must look carefully at the sore again. Suppose it has not changed and has not spread in the skin. Then the priest must make the person stay away from everyone else for another seven days.


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On the seventh day the priest must look carefully at the sore again. If it has faded and has not spread, he must announce that the person is 'clean.' It is only a rash. He must wash his clothes. He will be 'clean.'


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"But suppose the rash spreads in the skin after he has shown himself to the priest a second time. Then he must appear in front of the priest again.


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The priest must look carefully at the sore. If the rash has spread, he must announce that the person is 'unclean.' He has a skin disease.


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The priest must look him over carefully. Suppose there is a white swelling in the skin. Suppose it has turned the hair white. And suppose there are open sores in the swelling.


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Then the person has a skin disease that will never go away. The priest must announce that he is 'unclean.' The priest must not make the person stay away from everyone else. He is already 'unclean.'


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"Suppose the disease breaks out all over his skin. And suppose it covers him from head to foot, as far as the priest can tell.


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Then the priest must look him over carefully. If the disease has covered his whole body, the priest must announce that he is 'clean.' All of his skin has turned white. So he is 'clean.'


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When the priest sees the open sores, he must announce that he is 'unclean.' The open sores are not 'clean.' He has a skin disease.


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The priest must look him over carefully. If the sores have turned white, the priest must announce that the person is 'clean.' Then he will be 'clean.'


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And suppose a white swelling or shiny pink spot appears where the boil was. Then he must show himself to the priest.


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"The priest must look at the boil carefully. Suppose it seems to be under the skin. And suppose the hair in it has turned white. Then the priest must announce that the person is 'unclean.' A skin disease has broken out where the boil was.


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"But suppose that when the priest looks at the boil carefully, there is no white hair in it. The boil is not under the skin. And it has faded. Then the priest must make the person stay away from everyone else for seven days.


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If the boil is spreading in the skin, the priest must announce that the person is 'unclean.' He has a skin disease.


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"But suppose the spot has not changed. And suppose it has not spread. Then it is only a scar from the boil. And the priest must announce that the person is 'clean.'


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"Suppose someone has a burn on his skin. And suppose a white or shiny pink spot shows up in the open sores of the burn.


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Then the priest must look at the spot carefully. Suppose the hair in it has turned white. And suppose the spot seems to be under the skin. Then the person has a skin disease. It has broken out where he was burned. The priest must announce that the person is 'unclean.' He has a skin disease.


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"But suppose the priest looks at the spot carefully. Suppose there is no white hair in it. Suppose the spot is not under the skin. And suppose it has faded. Then the priest must make the person stay away from everyone else for seven days.


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On the seventh day the priest must look him over carefully. If the spot is spreading in the skin, the priest must announce that the person is 'unclean.' He has a skin disease.


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"But suppose the spot has not changed. It has not spread in the skin. And it has faded. Then the burn has caused it to swell. The priest must announce that the person is 'clean.' It is only a scar from the burn.


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Then the priest must look at the sore carefully. Suppose it seems to be under the skin. And suppose the hair in the sore is yellow and thin. Then the priest must announce that the person is 'unclean.' The sore is an itch. It is a skin disease on the head or chin.


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"But suppose the priest looks carefully at that kind of sore. It does not seem to be under the skin. And there is no black hair in it. Then the priest must make the person stay away from everyone else for seven days.


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"On the seventh day the priest must look at the sore carefully. Suppose the itch has not spread in the skin. It does not have any yellow hair in it. And it does not seem to be under the skin.


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Then the person must shave his head. But he must not shave the area where the disease is. And the priest must make him stay away from everyone else for another seven days.


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"On the seventh day the priest must look at the itch carefully. Suppose it has not spread in the skin. And suppose it does not seem to be under the skin. Then the priest must announce that the person is 'clean.' He must wash his clothes. He will be 'clean.'


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Then the priest must look him over carefully. Suppose the itch has spread. Then the priest does not have to look for yellow hair. The person is not 'clean.'


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"But suppose the itch has been stopped and black hair has grown in it, as far as the priest can tell. Then the itch is healed. The person is 'clean.' The priest must announce that he is 'clean.'


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Then the priest must look at them carefully. Suppose he sees that the spots are dull white. Then a harmless rash has broken out on the skin. That person is 'clean.'


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"But suppose he has a shiny pink sore on his head where his hair was. Then he has a skin disease. It is breaking out on his whole head or on the front of his head.


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"The priest must look him over carefully. Suppose the swollen sore on his head or on the front of it is pink and shiny. And suppose it looks like a skin disease.


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Then he has a skin disease. He is not 'clean.' The priest must announce that the man is 'unclean.' That is because he has a sore on his head.


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"Suppose someone has a skin disease that makes him 'unclean.' Then he must wear torn clothes. He must let his hair hang loose. He must cover the lower part of his face. He must cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!'


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As long as he has the disease, he remains 'unclean.' He must live alone. He must live outside the camp.


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Or there could be cloth that is woven or knitted out of linen or wool. There could be pieces of leather. Or there could be articles that are made out of leather.


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And suppose the mold that is on the clothes or on the woven or knitted cloth looks green or red. Or suppose the green or red mold is on the pieces of leather or the leather articles. Then it is mold that spreads. It must be shown to the priest.


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"The priest must look at it carefully. He must keep the article with the mold on it away from everything else for seven days.


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On the seventh day he must look at it carefully. Suppose the mold has spread in the clothes or in the woven or knitted cloth. Or suppose it has spread on the pieces of leather or on the leather articles. Then it is mold that destroys. The article is not 'clean.'


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"The priest must burn up everything that has the mold in it. He must burn up the clothes or the woven or knitted cloth that is made out of wool or linen. He must burn up the leather articles. The mold destroys. So everything must be burned up.


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"But suppose the priest looks at the article carefully. The mold has not spread in the clothes. And it has not spread in the woven or knitted cloth or in the leather articles.


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Then he will order someone to wash the article that has the mold on it. After that, the priest must keep the articles away from everything else for another seven days.


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"After the article that has the mold on it has been washed, the priest must look at it carefully. Suppose the way the mold looks has not changed. Then even though the mold has not spread, it is not 'clean.' Burn it up. It does not matter which side of the article the mold is on.


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"But suppose the priest looks at it carefully. And suppose the mold has faded after the article has been washed. Then the priest must tear out the part that has mold on it. He must tear it out of the clothes or leather. He must tear it out of the woven or knitted cloth.


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"But suppose it shows up again in the clothes. Or suppose it shows up again in the woven or knitted cloth or in the leather articles. Then it is spreading. Everything that has the mold on it must be burned up.


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"The clothes that have been washed and do not have any more mold on them must be washed again. So must the woven or knitted cloth or the leather articles. Then they will be 'clean.' "


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Those are the rules about what to do with anything that has mold on it. They apply to clothes that are made out of wool or linen. They apply to woven and knitted cloth and to leather articles. They give a priest directions about when to announce whether something is "clean" or not.


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"Here are the rules for making someone 'clean' if he has had a skin disease. They apply when he is brought to the priest.


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"The priest must go outside the camp. He must look the person over carefully. Suppose he has been healed of his skin disease.


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Then the priest will order someone to bring him two live 'clean' birds. He will also order someone to bring him some cedar wood, bright red yarn and branches of a hyssop plant. All of those things will be used to make the person 'clean.'


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"The priest will order someone to kill one of the birds. It must be killed over fresh water in a clay pot.


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Then the priest must take the live bird. He must dip it into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. He must dip it into the blood together with the cedar wood, the bright red yarn and the hyssop plant.


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"The priest will sprinkle the blood on the person who had the skin disease. That will make him 'clean.' The priest must sprinkle him seven times. Then the priest must announce that he is 'clean.' After that, the priest must let the live bird go free in the open fields.


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"The person must also wash his clothes to be made 'clean.' He must shave off all of his hair. He must take a bath. Then he will be 'clean.' After that, he may come into the camp. But he must stay outside his tent for seven days.


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"On the seventh day he must shave off all of his hair. He must shave his head. He must shave off his beard. He must also shave off his eyebrows and the rest of his hair. He must wash his clothes. He must take a bath. Then he will be 'clean.'


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"On the eighth day he must bring two male lambs and one female lamb as an offering. The female must be a year old. The lambs must not have any flaws. He must also bring 24 cups of fine flour as a grain offering. He must mix it with olive oil. He must also bring five ounces of oil.


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The priest who announces that the person is 'clean' must bring him and his offerings to me. He must do it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.


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"Then the priest must take one of the male lambs. He must offer it as a guilt offering. He must offer it along with five ounces of oil. He must lift all of it up and wave it in front of me as a wave offering.


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"He must kill the lamb in the holy place where sin offerings and burnt offerings are killed. The guilt offering belongs to the priest, just as the sin offering does. The guilt offering is very holy.


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"The priest must take some of the blood from the guilt offering and put it on the person's right ear lobe. He must put some on the thumb of his right hand. He must also put some on the big toe of his right foot.


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He must dip his right forefinger into the oil that is in his hand. He must use his finger to sprinkle some of the oil in front of me seven times.


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"The priest must put some of the oil that is in his hand on the same places he put the blood of the guilt offering. He must put some on the person's right ear lobe. He must put some on the thumb of his right hand. He must put some on the big toe of his right foot.


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He must put on his head the rest of the oil that is in his hand. It will pay for the person's sin in my sight.


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"Then the priest must sacrifice the sin offering. It will pay for the person's sin. He will be made 'clean' after being 'unclean.' After that, the priest will kill the burnt offering.


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He will offer it on the altar. He will offer it together with the grain offering. It will pay for the person's sin. Then he will be 'clean.'


text:
"But suppose he is poor. Suppose he can't afford all of those offerings. Then he must bring one male lamb as a guilt offering. It must be lifted up and waved in front of me to pay for his sin. He must also bring eight cups of fine flour along with the lamb. He must mix the flour with olive oil. It is a grain offering. He must offer it along with five ounces of oil.


text:
He must also bring two doves or two young pigeons that he can afford. One is for a sin offering. The other is for a burnt offering.


text:
"On the eighth day he must bring them to the priest so he can be made 'clean.' He must bring them to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He must do it in my sight.


text:
"The priest must take the lamb for the guilt offering. He must take it together with the five ounces of oil. He must lift all of it up and wave it in front of me as a wave offering.


text:
He must kill the lamb for the guilt offering. He must take some of its blood and put it on the person's right ear lobe. He must put some on the thumb of his right hand. He must also put some on the big toe of his right foot.


text:
He must dip his right forefinger into the oil that is in his hand. He must use his finger to sprinkle some of it seven times in front of me.


text:
"He must put some of the oil that is in his hand on the same places he put the blood of the guilt offering. He must put some on the person's right ear lobe. He must put some on the thumb of his right hand. He must also put some on the big toe of his right foot.


text:
One is for a sin offering. The other is for a burnt offering. The priest must offer them together with the grain offering. In that way he will pay for the person's sin in my sight. He will do it to make him 'clean.' "


text:
Those are the rules for anyone who has a skin disease. They are for people who can't afford the regular offerings that are required to make them "clean."


text:
"You will enter the land of Canaan. I am giving it to you as your own. When you enter it, suppose I put mold in one of your houses. And suppose the mold spreads.


text:
Then the owner of that house must go and speak to the priest. He must say, 'I've seen something that looks like mold in my house.'


text:
"The priest must order everything to be taken out of the house. It must be done before he goes in to look carefully at the mold. If it is not done, the priest must announce that everything in the house is 'unclean.' "After the house is empty the priest must go in and check it.


text:
He must look carefully at the mold that is on the walls. Suppose it looks as if it has green or red dents in it. And suppose the dents look as if they are behind the surface of the wall.


text:
"On the seventh day the priest will return to check the house. Suppose the mold that is on the walls has spread.


text:
Then he must order someone to tear out the stones that have mold on them. He must have them thrown into an 'unclean' place outside the town.


text:
He must have all of the inside walls of the house scraped. Everything that is scraped off must be dumped into an 'unclean' place outside the town.


text:
"Then other stones must be put in the place of the stones that had mold on them. The inside walls of the house must be coated with new clay.


text:
"Suppose the stones have been torn out. The house has been scraped. And the walls have been coated with new clay. But the mold appears again.


text:
"Then the priest must go and look things over carefully. Suppose the mold has spread in the house. Then it is the kind of mold that destroys things. The house is not 'clean.'


text:
"It must be torn down. The stones, the wood and all of the clay coating must be torn out. All of it must be taken out of the town to an 'unclean' place.


text:
"Suppose someone goes into the house while it is closed up. Then he will be 'unclean' until evening.


text:
"But suppose the priest comes to look things over carefully. And suppose the mold has not spread after the walls had been coated with new clay. Then he will announce that the house is 'clean.' The mold is gone.


text:
"To make the house pure, the priest must get two birds. He must also get some cedar wood, bright red yarn and branches of a hyssop plant.


text:
"Then he must take the cedar wood, the hyssop plant, the bright red yarn and the live bird. He must dip all of them into the blood of the dead bird. He must also dip them into the fresh water. He must sprinkle the house seven times.


text:
"The priest will use the blood and the water to make the house pure. He will use the live bird to make it pure. He will also use the cedar wood, the hyssop plant and the bright red yarn to make it pure.


text:
"Then he must let the live bird go free in the open fields outside the town. In that way he will make the house pure. It will be 'clean.' "


text:
Use those rules to decide whether something is "clean" or not. Those are the rules for skin diseases and for mold.


text:
"Speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, 'Suppose liquid waste is flowing out of a man's body. That liquid is not "clean."


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It does not matter whether it continues to flow out of his body or is blocked. It will make him "unclean." Here is how his liquid body waste will make him "unclean."


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" 'Any bed the man who has the flow of liquid body waste lies on will not be "clean." Anything he sits on will not be "clean."


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" 'If any of you touches the man's bed, you must wash your clothes. You must take a bath. You will be "unclean" until evening.


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Suppose you sit on anything the man sat on. Then you must wash your clothes. You must take a bath. You will be "unclean" until evening.


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" 'Suppose you touch the man who has the flow of liquid body waste. Then you must wash your clothes. You must take a bath. You will be "unclean" until evening.


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" 'Suppose you are "clean." And suppose the man who has the flow of liquid waste spits on you. Then you must wash your clothes. You must take a bath. You will be "unclean" until evening.


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Suppose you touch any of the things that were under him. Then you will be "unclean" until evening. Even if you pick up those things, you must wash your clothes. You must take a bath. You will be "unclean" until evening.


text:
" 'Suppose the man who has the liquid flow touches you. And suppose he does it without rinsing his hands with water. Then you must wash your clothes. You must take a bath. You will be "unclean" until evening.


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" 'Suppose the man touches a clay pot. Then that pot must be broken. Any wooden article he touches must be rinsed with water.


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" 'Suppose the man has been healed from his liquid flow. Then he must wait seven days. He must wash his clothes. He must take a bath in fresh water. After that, he will be "clean."


text:
" 'On the eighth day he must get two doves or two young pigeons. He must come to the Lord at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. There he must give the birds to the priest.


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The priest must sacrifice them. One is for a sin offering. The other is for a burnt offering. In that way the priest will pay for the man's sin in the sight of the Lord. He will do it because the man had a liquid flow.


text:
" 'Suppose semen flows from a man's body. Then he must wash his whole body with water. He will be "unclean" until evening.


text:
" 'Suppose clothes or leather have semen on them. Then they must be washed with water. They will be "unclean" until evening.


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" 'Suppose a man makes love to a woman. And suppose semen flows from his body and touches both of them. Then they must take a bath. They will be "unclean" until evening.


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" 'Suppose a woman is having her regular period. Then for seven days she will not be pure. Anyone who touches her will be "unclean" until evening.


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" 'Anything she lies on during her period will be "unclean." Anything she sits on will be "unclean."


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" 'If anyone touches her bed, he must wash his clothes. He must take a bath. He will be "unclean" until evening.


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If anyone touches anything she sits on, he must wash his clothes. He must take a bath. He will be "unclean" until evening.


text:
" 'It does not matter whether it was her bed or anything she was sitting on. If anyone touches it, he will be "unclean" until evening.


text:
" 'Suppose a man makes love to that woman. And suppose blood from her monthly period touches him. Then he will be "unclean" for seven days. Any bed he lies on will be "unclean."


text:
" 'Suppose blood flows from a woman's body for many days. And it happens at a time other than her monthly period. Or blood keeps flowing after her period is over. Then she will be "unclean" as long as the blood continues to flow. She will be "unclean," just as she is during the days of her period.


text:
" 'Any bed she lies on while her blood continues to flow will be "unclean." It is the same as it is when she is having her period. Anything she sits on will be "unclean." It is the same as it is when she is having her period.


text:
" 'If anyone touches those things, he will not be "clean." He must wash his clothes. He must take a bath. He will be "unclean" until evening.


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" 'Suppose the woman has been healed from her flow of blood. Then she must wait seven days. After that, she will be "clean."


text:
On the eighth day she must get two doves or two young pigeons. She must bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.


text:
" 'The priest must sacrifice them. One is for a sin offering. The other is for a burnt offering. In that way he will pay for her sin in the sight of the Lord. He will do it because her flow of blood made her "unclean."


text:
" 'You must keep the people of Israel away from things that make them "unclean." Then they will not die for being "unclean." And they will not die for making the place where the Lord lives "unclean." It is in the middle of the camp.' "


text:
Those are the rules for a man who has liquid waste flowing out of his body. They apply to a man who is made "unclean" by semen that flows from his body.


text:
They apply to a woman who is having her monthly period. They apply to a man or woman who has a liquid flow. And they apply to a man who makes love to a woman who is not "clean."


text:
The Lord spoke to Moses after two of Aaron's sons had died. They were the sons who died when they came near the Lord.


text:
The Lord said to Moses, "Speak to your brother Aaron. Tell him not to come into the Most Holy Room just anytime he wants to. Tell him not to come behind the curtain that is in front of the cover of the ark. The cover is the place where sin is paid for. If he comes behind the curtain, he will die. That is because I appear in the cloud over the cover.


text:
"Aaron must not enter the area of the sacred tent without bringing a sacrifice. He must bring a young bull for a sin offering. He must also bring a ram for a burnt offering.


text:
"He must put on the sacred inner robe that is made out of linen. He must wear linen underwear next to his body. He must tie the linen belt around him. And he must put on the linen turban. Those are sacred clothes. So he must take a bath before he puts them on.


text:
"The community of Israel must give him two male goats and a ram. The goats are for a sin offering. The ram is for a burnt offering.


text:
"Aaron must offer the bull for his own sin offering. It will pay for his own sin and the sin of his whole family.


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He must cast lots for the two goats. One lot is for me. The other is for the goat that carries the people's sins away.


text:
"But the goat that is chosen by the other lot must remain alive. First it must be brought in to me to pay for the people's sin. Then it must be sent into the desert as a goat that carries the people's sins away.


text:
"Aaron must bring the bull for his own sin offering. It will pay for his own sin and the sin of his whole family. He must kill the bull for his own sin offering.


text:
"He must take a shallow cup full of burning coals from the altar in my sight. He must get two handfuls of incense that is completely ground up. The incense must smell sweet. He must take the cup and the incense behind the curtain.


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He must put the incense on the fire in my sight. The smoke from the incense will hide the cover of the ark where the tablets of the covenant are kept. The cover is the place where sin is paid for. Aaron must burn the incense so that he will not die.


text:
"He must dip his finger in the bull's blood. He must sprinkle it on the front of the cover of the ark. He must sprinkle some in front of the cover. He must do it seven times.


text:
"Then Aaron must kill the goat for the sin offering for the people. He must take its blood behind the curtain. There he must do the same thing with it as he did with the bull's blood. He must sprinkle it on the cover of the ark. He must also sprinkle some in front of it.


text:
"That is how he will make the Most Holy Room pure. He must do it because the people of Israel are not 'clean.' They have not obeyed me. They have also committed other sins. Aaron must do the same for the Tent of Meeting because it stands in the middle of the camp. And the camp is not 'clean.'


text:
"No one can be in the Tent of Meeting when Aaron goes into the Most Holy Room to pay for the people's sin. No one can enter the tent until Aaron comes out. He will not come out until he has paid for his own sin and the sin of his whole family. He will not come out until he has also paid for the sin of the whole community of Israel.


text:
"Then he will come out to the altar for burnt offerings. It is in front of the tent where the ark of the Lord is. He will make the altar pure and clean. He will take some of the bull's blood and some of the goat's blood. Then he will put the blood on all of the horns that stick out from the upper four corners of the altar.


text:
He will sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times. He will do it to make the altar pure. He will do it to set it apart from the people of Israel. They are not 'clean.'


text:
"Aaron will finish making the Most Holy Room pure and clean. He will finish making the Tent of Meeting and the altar pure. "Then he will bring the live goat out.


text:
He must place both of his hands on its head. While he does that, he must tell me about all of the sins the people of Israel have committed. He must tell me about all of their evil acts and the times they did not obey me. In that way he puts their sins on the goat's head. "Then he will send the goat away into the desert. The goat will be led away by a man who was appointed to do it.


text:
The goat will carry all of their sins on itself to a place where there are no people. And the man will set the goat free in the desert.


text:
"Then Aaron must go into the Tent of Meeting. He must take off the linen clothes he put on before he entered the Most Holy Room. He must leave them there.


text:
He must take a bath in a holy place. And he must put on his regular clothes. "Then he will come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself. He will also sacrifice the burnt offering for the people. That will pay for his own sin and the people's sin.


text:
"The man who sets free the goat that carries the people's sins away must wash his clothes. He must take a bath. After that, he can come back into the camp.


text:
"The bull and the goat for the sin offerings must be taken outside the camp. Their blood was brought into the Most Holy Room. It paid for sin. The hides, meat and guts must be burned up.


text:
"The man who burns them must wash his clothes. He must take a bath. After that, he can come back into the camp.


text:
"Here is a law for you that will last for all time to come. On the tenth day of the seventh month you must not eat anything. You must not do any work. It does not matter whether you are Israelites or outsiders.


text:
"On that day your sin will be paid for. You will be made pure and clean. You will be clean from all of your sins in my sight.


text:
That day is a sabbath for you. You must rest on it. You must not eat anything on that day. That is a law that will last for all time to come.


text:
"The high priest must pay for sin. He must make everything pure and clean. He has been anointed and prepared to become the next high priest after his father. He must put on the sacred clothes that are made out of linen.


text:
He must make the Most Holy Room, the Tent of Meeting and the altar pure. And he must pay for the sin of the priests and all of the people in the whole community.


text:
"Here is a law for you that will last for all time to come. Once a year you must pay for all of the sin of the people of Israel." So it was done, just as the Lord commanded Moses.


text:
"Speak to Aaron and his sons. Speak to all of the people of Israel. Tell them, 'Here is what the Lord has commanded. He has said,


text:
He does it instead of bringing the animal to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He sacrifices it instead of giving it as an offering to me in front of my holy tent. Then he will be thought of as guilty of spilling blood. Because he has done that, he must be cut off from his people.


text:
" ' "The people of Israel are now making sacrifices in the open fields. But they must bring their sacrifices to the priest. They must bring them to me at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. There they must sacrifice them as friendship offerings.


text:
The priest must sprinkle the blood against my altar. It is the altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He must burn the fat. It will give a pleasant smell to me.


text:
" ' "Israel must stop offering any of their sacrifices to statues of gods that look like goats. When they offer sacrifices to those statues, they are not faithful to me. That is a law for them that will last for all time to come." '


text:
"Tell them, 'Suppose someone offers a burnt offering or sacrifice. It does not matter whether he is an Israelite or an outsider.


text:
And suppose he does not bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to sacrifice it to me. Then he must be cut off from his people.


text:
" 'Suppose someone eats meat that still has blood in it. It does not matter whether he is an Israelite or an outsider. I will turn against him if he eats it. I will cut him off from his people.


text:
" 'The life of each creature is in its blood. So I have given you the blood of animals to pay for your sin on the altar. Blood is life. That is why blood pays for your sin.


text:
" 'So I say to the people of Israel, "You must not eat meat that still has blood in it. And an outsider who lives among you must not eat it either."


text:
" 'Suppose any of you hunts any animal or bird that can be eaten. It does not matter whether you are an Israelite or an outsider. You must let the blood flow out of the animal or bird. You must cover the blood with dirt.


text:
" 'That is because every creature's life is its blood. And that is why I have said to the people of Israel, "You must not eat any creature's meat that still has blood in it. Every creature's life is its blood. Anyone who eats that kind of meat must be cut off."


text:
" 'Suppose someone eats anything that is found dead or is torn apart by wild animals. It does not matter whether he is an Israelite or an outsider. He must wash his clothes. He must take a bath. He will be "unclean" until evening. After that, he will be "clean."


text:
" 'But suppose he does not wash his clothes. And suppose he does not take a bath. Then he will be held accountable for what he has done.' "


text:
You must not do what the people of Egypt do. You used to live there. And you must not do what the people of Canaan do. I am bringing you into their land. Do not follow their practices.


text:
" 'Do not bring shame on your father by having sex with your mother. Do not have sex with her. She is your mother.


text:
" 'Do not have sex with your sister. It does not matter whether she is your father's daughter or your mother's daughter. It does not matter whether she was born in the same home as you were or somewhere else.


text:
" 'Do not have sex with your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter. That would bring shame on you.


text:
" 'Do not have sex with the daughter of your father's wife. She was born to your father. She is your sister.


text:
" 'Do not have sex with both a woman and her daughter. Do not have sex with either her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter. They are close relatives on her side. Having sex with them is an evil thing.


text:
" 'Do not take your wife's sister as another wife and have sex with her. Do not do it while your wife is still living.


text:
" 'Do not hand over any of your children to be sacrificed to the god Molech. That would be treating my name as if it were not holy. I am the Lord your God.


text:
" 'Do not have sex with an animal. Do not make yourself "unclean" by doing that. A woman must not offer herself to an animal to have sex with it. That is a twisted use of sex.


text:
" 'Do not make yourselves "unclean" in any of those ways. That is how other nations became "unclean." So I am going to drive those nations out of the land to make room for you.


text:
Even their land was not "clean." So I punished it because of its sin. The land itself threw out the people who lived there.


text:
" 'But you must keep my rules and my laws. You must not do any of the things I hate. It does not matter whether you are Israelites or outsiders.


text:
" 'All of those things were done by the people who lived in the land before you. That is how the land became "unclean."


text:
If you make the land "unclean," it will throw you out. It will get rid of you just as it got rid of the nations that were there before you.


text:
" 'Do exactly what I require. When you arrive in Canaan, do not follow any of the practices of its people. I hate the things they do. Do not make yourselves "unclean" by doing them. I am the Lord your God.' "


text:
"Speak to the whole community of Israel. Tell them, 'Be holy, because I am holy. I am the Lord your God.


text:
" 'All of you must have respect for your mother and father. You must always keep my Sabbath days. I am the Lord your God.


text:
" 'Do not turn away from me to worship statues of gods. Do not make gods out of metal for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.


text:
" 'Suppose you sacrifice a friendship offering to me. Then do it in the right way. And I will accept it from you.


text:
You must eat it on the same day you sacrifice it or on the next day. Anything that is left over until the third day must be burned up.


text:
If you eat it, you will be held accountable. You have misused what is holy to me. You will be cut off from your people.


text:
" 'Suppose you are harvesting your crops. Then do not harvest all the way to the edges of your field. And do not pick up the grain you missed.


text:
Do not go over your vineyard a second time. Do not pick up the grapes that have fallen to the ground. Leave them for poor people and outsiders. I am the Lord your God.


text:
" 'Do not take an oath and give false witness in my name. That would be treating it as if it were not holy. I am the Lord your God.


text:
" 'Do not cheat your neighbor. Do not rob him. " 'Do not hold back the pay of a hired worker until morning.


text:
" 'Do not call a curse down on deaf people. Do not put anything in front of blind people that will make them trip. Instead, have respect for me. I am the Lord your God.


text:
" 'Do not make something that is wrong appear to be right. Treat poor people and rich people in the same way. Do not favor one person over another. Instead, judge everyone fairly.


text:
" 'Do not go around spreading lies among your people. " 'Do not do anything that puts your neighbor's life in danger. I am the Lord.


text:
" 'Do not hate your brother in your heart. Correct your neighbor boldly when he does something wrong. Then you will not share his guilt.


text:
" 'Do not try to get even. Do not hold anything against one of your people. Instead, love your neighbor as you love yourself. I am the Lord.


text:
" 'Obey my rules. " 'Do not let different kinds of animals mate with each other. " 'Do not mix two kinds of seeds and then plant them in your field. " 'Do not wear clothes that are made out of two kinds of cloth.


text:
" 'Suppose a man has sex with a female slave. But she and another man have promised to get married to each other. And her freedom has not yet been paid for or given to her. Then she and the man who had sex with her must be punished. But they must not be put to death, because she had not been set free.


text:
" 'The man must bring a ram to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. It is for a guilt offering to me.


text:
The priest must take the ram for the guilt offering. He must sacrifice it to pay for the man's sin in my sight. Then his sin will be forgiven.


text:
" 'When you enter the land, suppose you plant a fruit tree. Then do not eat its fruit for the first three years. The fruit is not "clean."


text:
But in the fifth year you can eat the fruit. Then you will gather more and more fruit. I am the Lord your God.


text:
" 'Do not eat any meat that still has blood in it. " 'Do not practice any kind of evil magic at all.


text:
" 'Do not dishonor your daughter's body by making a prostitute out of her. If you do, the people of Israel will start using prostitutes. The land will be filled with evil.


text:
" 'Do not look for advice from people who get messages from those who have died. Do not go to people who talk to the spirits of the dead. If you do, they will make you "unclean." I am the Lord your God.


text:
" 'Stand up in order to show your respect for old people. Also have respect for me. I am the Lord your God.


text:
Treat him as if he were one of your own people. Love him as you love yourself. Remember that all of you were outsiders in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.


text:
Use honest scales and honest weights. Use honest dry measures. And use honest liquid measures. I am the Lord your God. I brought you out of Egypt.


text:
"Say to the people of Israel, 'Suppose a person sacrifices one of his children to the god Molech. It does not matter whether that person is an Israelite or an outsider who lives in Israel. He must be put to death. The people of the community must kill him by throwing stones at him.


text:
I will turn against that man. I will cut him off from his people. That is because he sacrificed his child to Molech. He has made my sacred tent "unclean." He has treated my name as if it were not holy.


text:
" 'Suppose the people of the community close their eyes to the fact that the man sacrificed his child to Molech. And suppose they fail to put him to death.


text:
Then I will turn against that man and his family. I will cut him off from his people. I will also cut off all those who follow him by joining themselves to Molech. They are not faithful to me.


text:
" 'Suppose someone looks for advice from people who get messages from those who have died. Or he goes to people who talk to the spirits of the dead. And he follows their advice. Then he has not been faithful to me. So I will turn against him. I will cut him off from his people.


text:
" 'If anyone calls down a curse on his father or mother, he will be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother. Anything that happens to him will be his own fault.


text:
" 'Suppose a man commits adultery with his neighbor's wife. Then the man and the woman must be put to death.


text:
" 'Suppose a man has sex with his father's wife. Then he has brought shame on his father. The man and the woman must be put to death. Anything that happens to them will be their own fault.


text:
" 'Suppose a man has sex with his daughter-in-law. Then they must be put to death. They have used sex in a twisted way. Anything that happens to them will be their own fault.


text:
" 'Suppose a man has sex with another man as he would have sex with a woman. I hate what they have done. They must be put to death. Anything that happens to them will be their own fault.


text:
" 'Suppose a man gets married to both a woman and her mother. That is evil. All of them must be burned to death. Then there will not be any evil among you.


text:
" 'Suppose a man has sex with an animal. Then he must be put to death. You must also kill the animal.


text:
" 'Suppose a woman has sex with an animal. Then kill the woman and the animal. They must be put to death. Anything that happens to them will be their own fault.


text:
" 'Suppose a man gets married to his sister and has sex with her. That is a shameful thing to do. It does not matter whether she is the daughter of his father or of his mother. They must be cut off right in front of their own people. That man has brought shame on his sister. He will be held accountable for what he has done.


