Numbers 26-32

New International Version

The Second Census

26 After the plague^(A) the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, ² “Take a census^(B) of the whole Israelite community by families—all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army^(C) of Israel.” ³ So on the plains of Moab^(D) by the Jordan across from Jericho,^(E) Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them and said, ⁴ “Take a census of the men twenty years old or more, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

These were the Israelites who came out of Egypt:^(F)

⁵ The descendants of Reuben,^(G) the firstborn son of Israel, were:

⁷ These were the clans of Reuben; those numbered were 43,730.

⁸ The son of Pallu was Eliab, ⁹ and the sons of Eliab^(L) were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. The same Dathan and Abiram were the community^(M) officials who rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were among Korah’s followers when they rebelled against the Lord.^{(N) 10} The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them^(O) along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men.^(P) And they served as a warning sign.^{(Q) 11} The line of Korah,^(R) however, did not die out.^(S)

¹² The descendants of Simeon by their clans were:

¹⁴ These were the clans of Simeon;^(W) those numbered were 22,200.^(X)

¹⁵ The descendants of Gad by their clans were:

¹⁸ These were the clans of Gad;^(Z) those numbered were 40,500.

¹⁹ Er^(AA) and Onan^(AB) were sons of Judah, but they died^(AC) in Canaan.

²⁰ The descendants of Judah by their clans were:

²² These were the clans of Judah;^(AI) those numbered were 76,500.

²³ The descendants of Issachar by their clans were:

²⁵ These were the clans of Issachar;^(AL) those numbered were 64,300.

²⁶ The descendants of Zebulun^(AM) by their clans were:

²⁷ These were the clans of Zebulun;^(AN) those numbered were 60,500.

²⁸ The descendants of Joseph^(AO) by their clans through Manasseh and Ephraim^(AP) were:

²⁹ The descendants of Manasseh:^(AQ)

³⁴ These were the clans of Manasseh; those numbered were 52,700.^(AY)

³⁵ These were the descendants of Ephraim^(AZ) by their clans:

³⁷ These were the clans of Ephraim;^(BA) those numbered were 32,500.

These were the descendants of Joseph by their clans.

³⁸ The descendants of Benjamin^(BB) by their clans were:

⁴¹ These were the clans of Benjamin;^(BD) those numbered were 45,600.

⁴² These were the descendants of Dan^(BE) by their clans:^(BF)

These were the clans of Dan: ⁴³ All of them were Shuhamite clans; and those numbered were 64,400.

⁴⁴ The descendants of Asher^(BH) by their clans were:

⁴⁷ These were the clans of Asher;^(BI) those numbered were 53,400.

⁴⁸ The descendants of Naphtali^(BJ) by their clans were:

⁵⁰ These were the clans of Naphtali;^(BK) those numbered were 45,400.^(BL)

⁵¹ The total number of the men of Israel was 601,730.^(BM)

⁵² The Lord said to Moses, ⁵³ “The land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based on the number of names.^{(BN) 54} To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number^(BO) of those listed.^{(BP) 55} Be sure that the land is distributed by lot.^(BQ) What each group inherits will be according to the names for its ancestral tribe. ⁵⁶ Each inheritance is to be distributed by lot among the larger and smaller groups.”

⁵⁷ These were the Levites^(BR) who were counted by their clans:

⁶² All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000.^(CA) They were not counted^(CB) along with the other Israelites because they received no inheritance^(CC) among them.^(CD)

⁶³ These are the ones counted^(CE) by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab^(CF) by the Jordan across from Jericho.^{(CG) 64} Not one of them was among those counted^(CH) by Moses and Aaron^(CI) the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. ⁶⁵ For the Lord had told those Israelites they would surely die in the wilderness,^(CJ) and not one of them was left except Caleb^(CK) son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.^(CL)

Zelophehad’s Daughters^(CM)

27 The daughters of Zelophehad^(CN) son of Hepher,^(CO) the son of Gilead,^(CP) the son of Makir,^(CQ) the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. They came forward ² and stood before Moses,^(CR) Eleazar the priest, the leaders^(CS) and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting^(CT) and said, ³ “Our father died in the wilderness.^(CU) He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the Lord,^(CV) but he died for his own sin and left no sons.^{(CW) 4} Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.”

⁵ So Moses brought their case^(CX) before the Lord,^{(CY) 6} and the Lord said to him, ⁷ “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance^(CZ) among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them.^(DA)

⁸ “Say to the Israelites, ‘If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. ⁹ If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. ¹⁰ If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. ¹¹ If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to have the force of law^(DB) for the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.’”

Joshua to Succeed Moses

¹² Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain^(DC) in the Abarim Range^(DD) and see the land^(DE) I have given the Israelites.^{(DF) 13} After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people,^(DG) as your brother Aaron^(DH) was, ¹⁴ for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin,^(DI) both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy^(DJ) before their eyes.” (These were the waters of Meribah^(DK) Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)

¹⁵ Moses said to the Lord, ¹⁶ “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things,^(DL) appoint someone over this community ¹⁷ to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”^(DM)

¹⁸ So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership,^[f](DN) and lay your hand on him.^{(DO) 19} Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him^(DP) in their presence.^{(DQ) 20} Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.^{(DR) 21} He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring^(DS) of the Urim^(DT) before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.”

²² Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. ²³ Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him,^(DU) as the Lord instructed through Moses.

Daily Offerings

28 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Give this command to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Make sure that you present to me at the appointed time^(DV) my food^(DW) offerings, as an aroma pleasing to me.’^{(DX) 3} Say to them: ‘This is the food offering you are to present to the Lord: two lambs a year old without defect,^(DY) as a regular burnt offering each day.^{(DZ) 4} Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight,^{(EA) 5} together with a grain offering^(EB) of a tenth of an ephah^[g] of the finest flour^(EC) mixed with a quarter of a hin^[h] of oil^(ED) from pressed olives. ⁶ This is the regular burnt offering^(EE) instituted at Mount Sinai^(EF) as a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord.^{(EG) 7} The accompanying drink offering^(EH) is to be a quarter of a hin of fermented drink^(EI) with each lamb. Pour out the drink offering to the Lord at the sanctuary.^{(EJ) 8} Offer the second lamb at twilight,^(EK) along with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering that you offer in the morning.^(EL) This is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^(EM)

Sabbath Offerings

⁹ “‘On the Sabbath^(EN) day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect,^(EO) together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah^[i](EP) of the finest flour mixed with olive oil.^{(EQ) 10} This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath,^(ER) in addition to the regular burnt offering^(ES) and its drink offering.

Monthly Offerings

¹¹ “‘On the first of every month,^(ET) present to the Lord a burnt offering of two young bulls,^(EU) one ram^(EV) and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(EW) 12} With each bull there is to be a grain offering^(EX) of three-tenths of an ephah^[j](EY) of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, a grain offering of two-tenths^(EZ) of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; ¹³ and with each lamb, a grain offering^(FA) of a tenth^(FB) of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil. This is for a burnt offering,^(FC) a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord.^{(FD) 14} With each bull there is to be a drink offering^(FE) of half a hin^[k] of wine; with the ram, a third of a hin^[l]; and with each lamb, a quarter of a hin. This is the monthly burnt offering to be made at each new moon^(FF) during the year. ¹⁵ Besides the regular burnt offering^(FG) with its drink offering, one male goat^(FH) is to be presented to the Lord as a sin offering.^[m](FI)

The Passover^(FJ)

¹⁶ “‘On the fourteenth day of the first month the Lord’s Passover^(FK) is to be held. ¹⁷ On the fifteenth day of this month there is to be a festival; for seven days^(FL) eat bread made without yeast.^{(FM) 18} On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.^{(FN) 19} Present to the Lord a food offering^(FO) consisting of a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(FP) 20} With each bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah^(FQ) of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths;^{(FR) 21} and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.^{(FS) 22} Include one male goat as a sin offering^(FT) to make atonement for you.^{(FU) 23} Offer these in addition to the regular morning burnt offering. ²⁴ In this way present the food offering every day for seven days as an aroma pleasing to the Lord;^(FV) it is to be offered in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. ²⁵ On the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.

The Festival of Weeks^(FW)

²⁶ “‘On the day of firstfruits,^(FX) when you present to the Lord an offering of new grain during the Festival of Weeks,^(FY) hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.^{(FZ) 27} Present a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(GA) 28} With each bull there is to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths;^{(GB) 29} and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.^{(GC) 30} Include one male goat^(GD) to make atonement for you. ³¹ Offer these together with their drink offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering^(GE) and its grain offering. Be sure the animals are without defect.

The Festival of Trumpets^(GF)

29 “‘On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.^(GG) It is a day for you to sound the trumpets. ² As an aroma pleasing to the Lord,^(GH) offer a burnt offering^(GI) of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old,^(GJ) all without defect.^{(GK) 3} With the bull offer a grain offering^(GL) of three-tenths of an ephah^[n] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil; with the ram, two-tenths^[o]; ⁴ and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.^{[p](GM) 5} Include one male goat^(GN) as a sin offering^[q] to make atonement for you. ⁶ These are in addition to the monthly^(GO) and daily burnt offerings^(GP) with their grain offerings^(GQ) and drink offerings^(GR) as specified. They are food offerings presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma.^(GS)

The Day of Atonement^(GT)

⁷ “‘On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves^[r](GU) and do no work.^{(GV) 8} Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(GW) 9} With the bull offer a grain offering^(GX) of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths;^{(GY) 10} and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.^{(GZ) 11} Include one male goat^(HA) as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering^(HB) with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.^(HC)

The Festival of Tabernacles^(HD)

¹² “‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh^(HE) month,^(HF) hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the Lord for seven days. ¹³ Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord^(HG) a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(HH) 14} With each of the thirteen bulls offer a grain offering^(HI) of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with each of the two rams, two-tenths; ¹⁵ and with each of the fourteen lambs, one-tenth.^{(HJ) 16} Include one male goat as a sin offering,^(HK) in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.^(HL)

¹⁷ “‘On the second day^(HM) offer twelve young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(HN) 18} With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings^(HO) and drink offerings^(HP) according to the number specified.^{(HQ) 19} Include one male goat as a sin offering,^(HR) in addition to the regular burnt offering^(HS) with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.^(HT)

²⁰ “‘On the third day offer eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.^{(HU) 21} With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified.^{(HV) 22} Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

²³ “‘On the fourth day offer ten bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. ²⁴ With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. ²⁵ Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

²⁶ “‘On the fifth day offer nine bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. ²⁷ With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. ²⁸ Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

²⁹ “‘On the sixth day offer eight bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. ³⁰ With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. ³¹ Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

³² “‘On the seventh day offer seven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. ³³ With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. ³⁴ Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

³⁵ “‘On the eighth day hold a closing special assembly^(HW) and do no regular work. ³⁶ Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord^(HX) a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old,^(HY) all without defect. ³⁷ With the bull, the ram and the lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. ³⁸ Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

³⁹ “‘In addition to what you vow^(HZ) and your freewill offerings,^(IA) offer these to the Lord at your appointed festivals:^(IB) your burnt offerings,^(IC) grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings.^(ID)’”

⁴⁰ Moses told the Israelites all that the Lord commanded him.^[s]

Vows

30 ^[t]Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel:^(IE) “This is what the Lord commands: ² When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.^(IF)

³ “When a young woman still living in her father’s household makes a vow to the Lord or obligates herself by a pledge ⁴ and her father hears about her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then all her vows and every pledge by which she obligated herself will stand.^{(IG) 5} But if her father forbids her^(IH) when he hears about it, none of her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand; the Lord will release her because her father has forbidden her.

⁶ “If she marries after she makes a vow^(II) or after her lips utter a rash promise by which she obligates herself ⁷ and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. ⁸ But if her husband^(IJ) forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the Lord will release her.^(IK)

⁹ “Any vow or obligation taken by a widow or divorced woman will be binding on her.

¹⁰ “If a woman living with her husband makes a vow or obligates herself by a pledge under oath ¹¹ and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her and does not forbid her, then all her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. ¹² But if her husband nullifies them when he hears about them, then none of the vows or pledges that came from her lips will stand.^(IL) Her husband has nullified them, and the Lord will release her. ¹³ Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself.^{[u] 14} But if her husband says nothing to her about it from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or the pledges binding on her. He confirms them by saying nothing to her when he hears about them. ¹⁵ If, however, he nullifies them^(IM) some time after he hears about them, then he must bear the consequences of her wrongdoing.”

¹⁶ These are the regulations the Lord gave Moses concerning relationships between a man and his wife, and between a father and his young daughter still living at home.

Vengeance on the Midianites

31 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Take vengeance on the Midianites^(IN) for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.^(IO)”

³ So Moses said to the people, “Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites so that they may carry out the Lord’s vengeance^(IP) on them. ⁴ Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.” ⁵ So twelve thousand men armed for battle,^(IQ) a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel. ⁶ Moses sent them into battle,^(IR) a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas^(IS) son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary^(IT) and the trumpets^(IU) for signaling.

⁷ They fought against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses,^(IV) and killed every man.^{(IW) 8} Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba^(IX)—the five kings of Midian.^(IY) They also killed Balaam son of Beor^(IZ) with the sword.^{(JA) 9} The Israelites captured the Midianite women^(JB) and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder.^{(JC) 10} They burned^(JD) all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps.^{(JE) 11} They took all the plunder and spoils, including the people and animals,^{(JF) 12} and brought the captives, spoils^(JG) and plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the Israelite assembly^(JH) at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.^(JI)

¹³ Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. ¹⁴ Moses was angry with the officers of the army^(JJ)—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle.

¹⁵ “Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. ¹⁶ “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice^(JK) and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord in the Peor incident,^(JL) so that a plague^(JM) struck the Lord’s people. ¹⁷ Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man,^{(JN) 18} but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

¹⁹ “Anyone who has killed someone or touched someone who was killed^(JO) must stay outside the camp seven days.^(JP) On the third and seventh days you must purify yourselves^(JQ) and your captives. ²⁰ Purify every garment^(JR) as well as everything made of leather, goat hair or wood.^(JS)”

²¹ Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle,^(JT) “This is what is required by the law that the Lord gave Moses: ²² Gold, silver, bronze, iron,^(JU) tin, lead ²³ and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire,^(JV) and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with the water of cleansing.^(JW) And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water. ²⁴ On the seventh day wash your clothes and you will be clean.^(JX) Then you may come into the camp.^(JY)”

Dividing the Spoils

²⁵ The Lord said to Moses, ²⁶ “You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads^(JZ) of the community are to count all the people^(KA) and animals that were captured.^{(KB) 27} Divide^(KC) the spoils equally between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community. ²⁸ From the soldiers who fought in the battle, set apart as tribute for the Lord^(KD) one out of every five hundred, whether people, cattle, donkeys or sheep. ²⁹ Take this tribute from their half share and give it to Eleazar the priest as the Lord’s part. ³⁰ From the Israelites’ half, select one out of every fifty, whether people, cattle, donkeys, sheep or other animals. Give them to the Levites, who are responsible for the care of the Lord’s tabernacle.^(KE)” ³¹ So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses.

³² The plunder remaining from the spoils^(KF) that the soldiers took was 675,000 sheep, ³³ 72,000 cattle, ³⁴ 61,000 donkeys ³⁵ and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.

³⁶ The half share of those who fought in the battle was:

⁴¹ Moses gave the tribute to Eleazar the priest as the Lord’s part,^(KH) as the Lord commanded Moses.^(KI)

⁴² The half belonging to the Israelites, which Moses set apart from that of the fighting men— ⁴³ the community’s half—was 337,500 sheep, ⁴⁴ 36,000 cattle, ⁴⁵ 30,500 donkeys ⁴⁶ and 16,000 people. ⁴⁷ From the Israelites’ half, Moses selected one out of every fifty people and animals, as the Lord commanded him, and gave them to the Levites, who were responsible for the care of the Lord’s tabernacle.

⁴⁸ Then the officers^(KJ) who were over the units of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—went to Moses ⁴⁹ and said to him, “Your servants have counted^(KK) the soldiers under our command, and not one is missing.^{(KL) 50} So we have brought as an offering to the Lord the gold articles each of us acquired—armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves^(KM) before the Lord.”

⁵¹ Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted from them the gold—all the crafted articles. ⁵² All the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds that Moses and Eleazar presented as a gift to the Lord weighed 16,750 shekels.^{[v] 53} Each soldier had taken plunder^(KN) for himself. ⁵⁴ Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds and brought it into the tent of meeting^(KO) as a memorial^(KP) for the Israelites before the Lord.

The Transjordan Tribes

32 The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks,^(KQ) saw that the lands of Jazer^(KR) and Gilead^(KS) were suitable for livestock.^{(KT) 2} So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community,^(KU) and said, ³ “Ataroth,^(KV) Dibon,^(KW) Jazer,^(KX) Nimrah,^(KY) Heshbon,^(KZ) Elealeh,^(LA) Sebam,^(LB) Nebo^(LC) and Beon^(LD)— ⁴ the land the Lord subdued^(LE) before the people of Israel—are suitable for livestock,^(LF) and your servants have livestock. ⁵ If we have found favor in your eyes,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.^(LG)”

⁶ Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, “Should your fellow Israelites go to war while you sit here? ⁷ Why do you discourage the Israelites from crossing over into the land the Lord has given them?^{(LH) 8} This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look over the land.^{(LI) 9} After they went up to the Valley of Eshkol^(LJ) and viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land the Lord had given them. ¹⁰ The Lord’s anger was aroused^(LK) that day and he swore this oath:^{(LL) 11} ‘Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of those who were twenty years old or more^(LM) when they came up out of Egypt^(LN) will see the land I promised on oath^(LO) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob^(LP)— ¹² not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.’^{(LQ) 13} The Lord’s anger burned against Israel^(LR) and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone.^(LS)

¹⁴ “And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the Lord even more angry with Israel.^{(LT) 15} If you turn away from following him, he will again leave all this people in the wilderness, and you will be the cause of their destruction.^(LU)”

¹⁶ Then they came up to him and said, “We would like to build pens^(LV) here for our livestock^(LW) and cities for our women and children. ¹⁷ But we will arm ourselves for battle^[w] and go ahead of the Israelites^(LX) until we have brought them to their place.^(LY) Meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land. ¹⁸ We will not return to our homes until each of the Israelites has received their inheritance.^{(LZ) 19} We will not receive any inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan, because our inheritance^(MA) has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.”^(MB)

²⁰ Then Moses said to them, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle^{(MC) 21} and if all of you who are armed cross over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven his enemies out before him^(MD)—