People of the World where are you going? Turn back to God! Back to your faithful principles!
THE VARIOUS OFFRINGS AS COMMANDED BY GOD
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
“Command the Israelites and say to them, ‘You shall be careful to present at its appointed time [during the year] My offering, My food for My offerings by fire as a sweet and soothing aroma to Me.’
JOSHUA TO SUCCEED MOSES
Joshua to Succeed Moses. The LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;
and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before the whole congregation, and give him a commission in their sight.
CENSUS OF THE NEW GENERATION
Then it happened after the plague that the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest,
“Take a census of all the [males in the] congregation of the sons of Israel from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers’ households, all in Israel who are able to go to war.”
BALAAM’S VISION OF ISRAEL’S PROSPERITY
When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as he had done each time before [superstitiously] to seek omens and signs [in the natural world], but he set his face toward the wilderness (desert).
NO ENCHANTMENT AGAINST ISRAEL
Balaam’s Second Oracle. “God has not observed wickedness in Jacob [for he is forgiven], Nor has He seen trouble in Israel. The LORD their God is with Israel, And the shout of their King is among the people.
A BLESSING INSTEAD OF A CURSE
Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but here you have [thoroughly] blessed them instead!” Balaam answered, “Must I not be obedient and careful to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?
BALAM’S DONKEY AND THE ANGEL
When the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, so Balaam was angry and he struck the donkey [a third time] with his staff.
And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?”
BALAM SENT FOR TO CURSE ISRAEL
Balaam sent for, to curse Israel. Now please come, curse these people for me, for they are too powerful for me; perhaps I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know [your reputation] that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
EDOM REFUSES PASSAGE; AARON DIES
Edom refuses passage; Aaron dies. But the king of Edom said, “You shall not pass through [my territory].” And Edom came out against Israel with many people and a strong hand.
Thus [the king of] Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.
THE SINS OF MOSES AND AARON
So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, just as He had commanded him; and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; must we bring you water out of this rock?”Then Moses raised his hand [in anger] and with his rod he struck the rock twice [instead of speaking to the rock as the LORD had commanded]. And the water poured out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank [fresh water].