Genesis

From the Greek Septuagint text as was used by First Century Christians

Chapter 1

¹ In the beginning The God created the heavens and the earth. ² But the earth was unsightly and unfinished, darkness covered its depths, and God’s Breath moved over its waters. ³ Then God spoke, saying, ‘May there be light,’ and light came to be. ⁴ And God saw that the light was good. Then God created a division between the light and the darkness. ⁵ He called the light day and the darkness night. So came the evening and morning of day one.

⁶ And God spoke, saying, ‘May there be space between all the water, and a dividing of the waters and the waters,’ and that’s what happened. ⁷ God made the space and [He] divided the waters that were under the space from the waters that were over the space. ⁸ And God called that space the sky. And God saw that this was good. So came the evening and morning of day two.

⁹ Then God said, ‘May the waters under the sky be brought together in one place so the land can be seen,’ and that’s what happened. ¹⁰ God called the dry land earth and the collected waters the seas, and God saw that this was good.

¹¹ Then God spoke, saying, ‘May the land sprout with pastures of grasses that bear seeds [each] of its own kind and appearance. And may there be fruit trees that bear fruit with its seeds, [each] of its own kind.’ And that’s what happened. ¹² The ground sprouted with pastures of grass that [each] bore seeds of its own kind and appearance, and the fruit trees bore fruit with their seeds, [each] of its own kind, upon the earth. And God saw that this was good. ¹³ So came the evening and morning of day three.

¹⁴ Then God spoke, saying, ‘May there be lights in the heavenly space to illuminate the earth and to make the division between day and night. And may they serve as signs for the seasons, days, and years. ¹⁵ May they also serve as lights for the space in heaven and on the earth, and that’s what happened. ¹⁶ God made the two huge lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light and stars to rule the night. ¹⁷ And God assigned them space in the heavens to shine upon the earth, ¹⁸ to dominate over the day and night, and to make the division between light and darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ So came the evening and morning of day four.

²⁰ And God spoke, saying, ‘Let the water give birth to living, slithering animals, as well as to winged creatures to fly above the earth in the space of the skies.’ And that’s what happened. ²¹ So God created the great sea creatures and the lives of all the slithering animals that come from the water, according to their types, and all feathered flying creatures, according to their types, and God saw that it was good. ²² Then God blest them, saying, ‘Reproduce and multiply in the water until you fill the seas. And let the winged creatures multiply on the earth.’ ²³ So came the evening and morning of day five.

²⁴ And God spoke, saying, ‘Let the land give birth to living animals, each of its own kind… four-footed animals, slithering animals, and wild animals of the earth, each of its own kind.’ And that’s what happened. ²⁵ Then God made the wild animals of the earth, each of its own kind… the herding animals, each of its own kind; and all the earth’s slithering animals, each of its own kind. And God saw that they were good.

²⁶ Then God spoke, saying, ‘Let’s make man like us and in our image. Then [we will] appoint him to be over the sea creatures, the winged creatures of the skies, the herding animals of the ground, and all the slithering animals that crawl on the ground.’

²⁷ So, God made man. He made him in the image of God. He made them both – the male and the female – ²⁸ and God blest them, saying, ‘Reproduce and multiply… fill the earth and control it. Rule over the sea creatures, the winged creatures of the skies, all the herding animals of the ground, all the slithering animals that crawl on the ground, and the whole earth.’

²⁹ Then God said, ‘Look, I’ve given you all the seed-bearing plants upon the entire earth for [you to] plant, as well as all the seed-bearing trees for [you to] plant as your food. ³⁰ And [I’ve given] greenish-yellow plants as food to all the earth’s wild animals… all the winged creatures of the sky, and all the slithering animals that crawl on the ground and have the breath of life.’ And that’s what happened.

³¹ Then God viewed everything He made, and {Look!} it was very good. So came the evening and morning of day six.

Chapter 2

¹ So God finished heaven and earth, and all the arranging of them. ² God completed his work of making these things on the sixth day. And on the seventh day, He stopped making them. ³ Then God blest the seventh day and made it holy, because He had finished all the work that He started out to do.

⁴ This was the book of the origins of the earth and the sky – when they became – in the day that God made the heavens and earth; ⁵ when all the greenish-yellow plants on it began on the earth, and all the grasses of the fields sprung up.

[Until that time] it had never rained on the earth and there were no men to cultivate it, ⁶ for springs poured from the ground and watered the entire surface of the earth.

⁷ Then God formed man from the dust of the ground, breathed the breath of life against his face, and He became a living creature.

⁸ And thereafter, God planted a Paradise on the east side of Edem, where He put the man who He had formed. ⁹ And it was there that God caused every tree that was attractive to look at and good for food to spring from the ground. [He also] put the Tree of Life in the middle of the Paradise, as well as the tree of the Knowledge Good and Evil.

¹⁰ A river flowed from Edem to water the Paradise, and from there [came the] head [waters] of four [rivers]. ¹¹ The name of the [first river] is Phison. It circles the entire land of Evilat, where there is gold ¹² (and the gold from that land is good). There is also coal and ornamental stone. ¹³ The name of the second river is Geon. It runs around the land of the Blacks. ¹⁴ The third river is the Tigris, which flows over toward the Assyrians; and the fourth river is the Euphrates.

¹⁵ Then Jehovah God took the man that He had formed and put him in the Paradise of Delights, so He could cultivate and care for it. ¹⁶ And Jehovah God gave these instructions to Adam: ‘You are free to eat from all the trees of Paradise, ¹⁷ but you must not eat from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Bad. Because, on whatever day you eat from it, your life will end and you will die.’

¹⁸ And Jehovah God said: ‘It isn’t good for the man to be alone. Let’s make a helper for him.’

¹⁹ Well, after God made all the wild animals of the plains and all the winged creatures of the skies (from the earth), He brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living animal was what its name became. ²⁰ So, Adam named all the cattle, all the winged creatures of the sky, and all the wild animals of the plains. Yet, a suitable helper that was like Adam couldn’t be found.

²¹ God then put Adam into a trance, and while he was sleeping, took one of his ribs and filled the place where it was with flesh. ²² So, God built the rib that He took from Adam into a woman and brought her to Adam. ²³ And Adam said, ‘This is now bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. She will be called woman, because she was taken from man. ²⁴ And because of this, a man will leave his father and mother and bond with his wife; and the two will become one flesh.’

Chapter 3

¹ Now, both of them (the man and the woman) were naked and unashamed.

² And the snake was the wiliest animal that Jehovah had made on the earth. Then the snake asked the woman, ‘Why did God tell you that you shouldn’t eat from all the trees of Paradise?’

³ And the woman replied to the snake, ‘We can eat the fruit from the trees of Paradise, but God said that we shouldn’t eat the fruit from the tree in the middle of Paradise – that we shouldn’t even touch it – or we will die.’

⁴ Then the snake told the woman, ‘You won’t stop living and die, ⁵ for God knows that on whatever day you eat from it your eyes will be opened wide and you will be like gods knowing good and evil.’

⁶ Well, the woman saw that the tree was good for food, it was a pleasant sight to her eyes, and it was a beautiful thing to think about. So, after picking its fruit, she ate it. Then she gave some to her husband (who was with her), and they ate it [together]. ⁷ And thereafter, the eyes of both of them were opened wide and they realized that they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made skirts to go around themselves.

⁸ Then they heard the voice of Jehovah God, as He walked around in Paradise that afternoon; so Adam and his wife hid from the face of Jehovah God, among the trees of Paradise.

⁹ And Jehovah God called to Adam, saying, ‘Where are you Adam?’

¹⁰ And [Adam] replied to God: ‘I heard Your voice as You were walking through Paradise, but I was afraid because of my nakedness, so I hid myself.’

¹¹ Then God asked him: ‘If you haven’t eaten from the only tree that I commanded you not to eat from, then, who told you that you were naked?’

¹² And Adam replied: ‘That woman You gave me as a companion… she gave me some [fruit] from the tree, and I ate it.’

¹³ Then Jehovah God asked the woman: ‘Why did you do this?’

And the woman replied: ‘The snake deceived me, so I ate it.’

¹⁴ Then Jehovah God said to the snake: ‘Because you did this, you [alone] are doomed to punishment among all the cattle and wild animals of the earth. You will travel on your chest and belly, and you will eat from the ground all the days of your life. ¹⁵ I will create hatred between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will watch for your head and you will watch for his heel.’

¹⁶ Then He said to the woman: ‘I will make your sorrow and groaning [much] worse. For, you will give birth to children and groan, and your husband will turn away from you and he will become your master.’

¹⁷ Then He said to Adam: ‘Because you listened to your wife’s voice and ate from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from (and from which you went ahead and ate), the work that you will do on the earth is cursed. You will groan as you eat from it all the days of your life. ¹⁸ Briars and thistles will grow for you, and your food will be plants in the fields. ¹⁹ You will eat your bread through the sweat on your face until you return to the ground from which you were taken… you were taken from the ground and that’s where you will return!’

²⁰ And thereafter, Adam called his wife’s name Life, because she was the mother of all [human] life.

²¹ Then Jehovah God made leather clothing for Adam and his wife, and dressed them. ²² And God said, ‘Look, Adam has become one of us now in knowing good and evil! So, to prevent him from reaching his hand out to take and eat from the Tree of Life and seeking life for the ages…’ ²³ Then Jehovah God put Adam outside the Paradise of Delights to work the ground that he was taken from. ²⁴ He threw Adam out and made him live next to the Paradise of Delights. Then He stationed the [heavenly] cherubs with their flaming, spinning swords to keep watch over the Tree of Life.

Chapter 4

¹ Adam had [sexual relations] with his wife, so she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. And she said, ‘I have gained a man through God.’ ² Then she again gave birth to his brother, Abel. Well, Abel [grew up to be] a herder of sheep, while Cain worked the ground.

³ After many days, Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground as a sacrifice to Jehovah, ⁴ while Abel brought the first-born of his sheep and of his belongings. And God looked favorably upon Abel and his gifts, ⁵ but He didn’t pay attention to Cain and to his sacrifices, so Cain was very sad and his face [reflected] this. ⁶ Then Jehovah God asked Cain: ‘Why are you so sad and why is your face so long? ⁷ Stop being so offended and take your stand for an end to sins, because, [Abel] will submit to you and you will [rule] over him!’

⁸ But thereafter, Cain said to his brother Abel: ‘Let’s go into the fields.’ Then, while they were in their fields, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

⁹ And when Jehovah God asked Cain, ‘Where is your brother?’ he replied, ‘I don’t know… am I my brother’s bodyguard?’

¹⁰ Then Jehovah asked, ‘What have you done? I hear the blood of your brother calling to me from the ground! ¹¹ Now you are cursed by the earth, which has opened her mouth to [drink] the blood of your brother from your hand. ¹² So, when you work the ground it will [no longer] give you its strength and you will groan and shake on the earth.’

¹³ Then Cain told Jehovah God, ‘My crime is too great for me to [ever] be forgiven. ¹⁴ And Cain said to Jehovah God, ‘If you [drive me away] into the land today – away from Your face today where I will be hidden from You and where I must groan and tremble on the land – then anyone who finds me will kill me!’

¹⁵ And Jehovah God replied, ‘That isn’t so, for whoever kills Cain will pay seven penalties.’ Then Jehovah God put a mark on Cain, so that nobody who found him would kill him. ¹⁶ Thereafter, Cain left the presence of God and lived in Nod, which borders Edem.

¹⁷ Next, Cain [had sex] with his wife and she became pregnant, giving birth to Enoch. [Then Cain] built a city, which he named after his son, Enoch. ¹⁸ Enoch fathered GaiDad; GaiDad fathered MalaleEl; MalaleEl fathered MethuSelah; MethuSelah fathered Lamech. ¹⁹ Lamech married two wives; the first was Ada and the second was Sella. ²⁰ Then Ada gave birth to Jobel, who was the ancestor of those who lived in tents and herded cattle. ²¹ And he had a brother named Jubal who invented the lute and the harp. ²² Sella also gave birth to Thobel, who worked iron and brass. And he had a sister, NoEma.

²³ Then Lamech told his wives (Ada and Sella), ‘Listen to me [my] wives! Remember this: I have killed a man, and that has wounded me. [It was] a young person, and that hurts me; ²⁴ because, if the vengeance [for killing] Cain was seven punishments, mine will be seven times that.’

²⁵ Adam [again had sex with] his wife Eue and she became pregnant, giving birth to a son who she named Seth. For she said: ‘God has [provided me with] another son to replace Abel, who was killed by Cain.’

²⁶ Then Seth had a son who he named Enosh. He’s the one who hoped to [start] calling on the Name of The Lord God.

Chapter 5

¹ This was the book of the early [days] of man, when God made Adam, forming him in [His] image. ² He made both the male and the female and blest them. And in the day that He made them, He called his name Adam.

³ Adam was two hundred and thirty years old when he fathered a son – who was just like him and looked like him – that he named Seth. ⁴ Then after fathering Seth, Adam lived on for seven hundred years, as he fathered other sons and daughters. ⁵ So, Adam was nine hundred and thirty years old when he died.

⁶ Now, Seth was two hundred and five years old when he fathered Enos. ⁷ And after fathering Enos, he lived on for seven hundred and seven years, as he fathered other sons and daughters. ⁸ So, Seth was nine hundred and twelve years old when he died.

⁹ Enos was a hundred and ninety years old when he fathered Cainen. ¹⁰ Then after fathering Cainen, he lived on for another seven hundred and fifteen years, as he fathered other sons and daughters. ¹¹ So, Enos was nine hundred and five years old when he died.

¹² Cainen was a hundred and seventy years old when he fathered MaleLeal. ¹³ Then after fathering MaleLeal, he lived on for some seven hundred and forty years, as he fathered other sons and daughters. ¹⁴ So, Cainen was nine hundred and ten years old when he died.

¹⁵ Now, MaleLeal was a hundred and sixty five years old when he fathered Jared. ¹⁶ And after fathering Jared, he lived on for seven hundred and thirty years, as he fathered other sons and daughters. ¹⁷ So, MaleLeal was eight hundred and ninety-five years old when he died.

¹⁸ Jared was a hundred and sixty-two years old when he fathered Enoch. ¹⁹ Then after fathering Enoch, he lived on for another eight hundred years, as he fathered other sons and daughters. ²⁰ So, Jared was nine hundred and sixty-two years old when he died.

²¹ Enoch was a hundred and sixty-five years old when he fathered MethuSelah. ²² After fathering MethuSelah, God found Enoch righteous; and he lived on for some two hundred years, as he fathered other sons and daughters. ²³ Then (when Enoch was three hundred and sixty-five years old), ²⁴ because he pleased God, God transported him and he disappeared.

²⁵ MethuSelah was a hundred and eighty-seven years old when he fathered Lamech. ²⁶ Then, after fathering Lamech, he lived on for another seven hundred and eighty-two years, as he fathered other sons and daughters. ²⁷ So MethuSelah was nine hundred and sixty-nine years old when he died.

²⁸ Lamech was a hundred and eighty-eight years old when he fathered a son ²⁹ who he named Noah. And he said: ‘He will stop us from doing the things we do, from working with our hands, and from [living on] the ground (which Jehovah has cursed). ³⁰ Then, after fathering Noah, he lived on for some five hundred and sixty-five years, as he fathered other sons and daughters. ³¹ So, Lamech was seven hundred and fifty-three years old when he died.

³² Then, when Noah was five hundred years old, he had fathered three sons; Shem, Ham, and JaPheth.

Chapter 6

¹ Now, as the population of men grew on the earth and they fathered daughters, ² the sons of God noticed that the daughters of men were beautiful; so they took all whom they chose to be their wives.

³ Then Jehovah God said: ‘I won’t allow My Breath to stay with these men through the the age, for they are fleshly. So their [lives] will only last one hundred and twenty [more] years.’

⁴ Well, there were giants on the earth in those days; for the sons of God were [having sex] with the daughters of mankind, fathering for themselves [children] who were giants and the famous men of that age.

⁵ Now, Jehovah God saw that all the badness men were doing on the earth was increasing, and that the entire motivation of their hearts was always twisted toward evil. ⁶ So God became angry over the fact that He had created man on the earth, and He started thinking it over. ⁷ And God said: ‘I will wipe these men that I made off the face of the earth – from men, to cattle, and winged creatures of the sky – for I have reconsidered the fact that I made them.’

⁸ However, Noah found mercy in the eyes of God Jehovah.

⁹ This is the account of Noah’s generation:

Noah was a righteous man… perfect [when compared to] that generation. Noah pleased God well, ¹⁰ and he fathered three sons; Shem, Ham, and JaPheth.

¹¹ As God saw it, the land had become unclean and the earth was filled with unrighteousness. ¹² So when Jehovah God looked at the earth, all He saw was corruption, because all flesh had become dirty in the things they were doing. ¹³ Then Jehovah God told Noah: ‘A season is now before me [that will lead to the end of] all men, because the earth is filled with their unrighteousness. Look! I’m going to destroy both them and the ground! ¹⁴ So, make a chest of square timbers for yourself and [divide the] chest into stalls. Then cover both the inside and outside of it with tar.

¹⁵ ‘This is how you should build the chest: [Make it] five hundred feet long, eighty feet wide, and fifty feet tall. ¹⁶ Then cover it and leave about twenty-inches of headroom. Also, put a door in the side of the chest and make a bottom floor, a second floor, and a third floor inside. ¹⁷ And thereafter, {Look!} I’m going to bring a downpour of water onto the ground to destroy all flesh under the sky that has the breath of life; and whatever is on the ground will end. ¹⁸ Then I will initiate a Sacred Agreement between you and Me.’

¹⁹ ‘[I want you to] bring all [types of] cattle, slithering animals, and wild animals – all [types of] flesh – into the chest, by pairs of males and females. Then bring in food for them and yourselves. ²⁰ They should all eat with you, both the males and females… all types of winged creatures, all types of cattle, and all types of slithering animals that crawl along the ground. ²¹ Gather all types of food for yourselves, so you all will have something eat.’

²² And Noah did everything that Jehovah God told him to do.

Chapter 7

¹ Then Jehovah God said to Noah: ‘Now, you and your family must go into the chest, because I have found [just] you to be righteous among this generation. ² Take the clean cattle in with you by sevens (males and females), and bring in pairs of unclean cattle (males and females). ³ And [do the same with] the winged creatures of the sky… bring in the clean by sevens (males and females), and [just] pairs of all the unclean winged creatures (males and females), so their seed will remain on the earth. ⁴ For, in just seven days I will bring rain on the earth [that will last for] forty days and forty nights, and I will blot out every creature that I’ve made from the face of the entire earth!’

⁵ So Noah did everything that Jehovah God commanded him.

⁶ Noah was six hundred years old when the Downpour of water started on the earth. ⁷ Then Noah, his wife, his sons, and their wives, went into the chest with him (because of the Downpour of water). ⁸ And the clean winged creatures, the unclean winged creatures, the clean cattle, the unclean cattle, as well as all the things that crawl on the earth, ⁹ came to Noah and entered the chest in pairs of males and females, just as God had commanded Noah. ¹⁰ Then after seven days, the water from the Downpour came to the earth.

¹¹ It was in the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the twenty-seventh day of the second month, that all the springs under the ground broke open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened. ¹² Then it rained on the earth for forty days and forty nights. ¹³ And it started on the very day that Noah, his wife, Shem, Ham, JaPheth (the sons of Noah and his wife), and their three wives went into the chest with him.

¹⁴ Also, all the wild animals (each of its kind), all the cattle (each of its kind), all the slithering animals that move on the earth (each of its kind), ¹⁵ and all the winged creatures (each of its kind) went inside the chest to Noah, in pairs of males and females… everything that had the breath of life. ¹⁶ Males and females of all flesh went inside, just as God commanded Noah; then Jehovah God closed the chest from the outside.

¹⁷ Thereafter, the Downpour continued on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and the water got so deep that it lifted the chest high above the ground. ¹⁸ The water dominated and totally covered the earth, and the chest was carried along on top of the water. ¹⁹ Why, the water dominated and covered even the tallest mountains that were under the whole sky… ²⁰ it covered the highest mountains by at least twenty-five feet.

²¹ So, every moving thing on the earth died… all the men, winged creatures, cattle, wild animals, and all the slithering animals that moved across the ground. ²² Everything that lived on land and had the breath of life, died. ²³ God blotted out all His creatures on the face of the earth… men, animals, winged creatures, and slithering animals. He blotted them off the earth. And the only ones left were Noah and those who were with him in the chest. ²⁴ Altogether, the water covered the earth for a hundred and fifty days.

Chapter 8

¹ But God didn’t forget Noah, or any of the wild animals, cattle, winged creatures, or crawling, slithering animals that were inside the chest. So God sent a wind to the earth that stopped the water… ² the springs that were under the ground closed and the floodgates of the sky and the rain from the skies were held back. ³ Then the water level started to drop, flowing off the ground. And after a hundred and fifty days, the flood was pretty well over, and the chest came to rest on Mount Ararat on the twenty-seventh day of the seventh month. ⁴ Well, the water levels kept dropping through the tenth month, ⁵ and on the first day of the tenth month, they could see the mountaintops.

⁶ Then after forty days, Noah opened the window that he had made in the chest, ⁷ and he sent out a raven, which left and didn’t return until the water had dried off the ground. ⁸ And after that, he sent out a dove, to see if the earth was still flooded. ⁹ But the dove couldn’t find a place to rest its feet, because the water was still covering all the ground, and it returned to the chest. So [Noah] stuck out his hand and took [the dove], and brought it to him, back into the chest.

¹⁰ So he waited another week, and then he sent the dove out from the chest again. ¹¹ Then that evening, the dove returned to him with a stem and leaf from an olive tree in its beak. That’s when Noah knew [for sure] that the water had left the ground. ¹² But he waited another week, and then he released the dove once more. However, this time it didn’t return at all.

¹³ In the six hundred and first year of Noah’s life, on the first day of the first month, the water had poured off the earth. So Noah opened the roof that he had made for the chest, and he could see that the water had left the ground. ¹⁴ And by the twenty-second day of the second month, the ground was dry.

¹⁵ Then Jehovah God spoke to Noah and said, ¹⁶ ‘Come out of the chest… you, your wife, your sons, their wives who are with you, ¹⁷ and all the wild animals that are with you. Bring out all flesh that is with you – the winged creatures, the cattle, and the slithering animals that move on the ground – then reproduce and multiply on the earth.’

¹⁸ So Noah, his wife, his sons, and his son’s wives who were with him, came out. ¹⁹ And all the wild animals, all the cattle, all the winged creatures, and all the slithering animals that crawl on the ground (according to their kinds) came out of the chest.

²⁰ Then Noah built an altar to Jehovah, and he took some of the clean animals as well as some from among all the clean winged creatures, and offered them whole… burning them on the altar. ²¹ And as Jehovah noticed the sweet smell, He thought about it and said, ‘I will never curse the ground again for the bad things that men do. Because, the imagination of men is totally bent toward doing bad things from the time they are young. So, I will never again [destroy] all living flesh as I have just done. ²² And for all the days of the earth, planting and harvesting, heat and cold, spring and summer, day and night, will never be brought to an end.’

Chapter 9

¹ Thereafter, God blest Noah and his sons, and told them, ‘Reproduce and multiply… fill the earth and rule over it. ² All the wild animals of the earth, the winged creatures in the sky, and everything that moves on the earth – including the creatures in the sea – will dread and fear you. And I have put you in charge over all of them.

³ ‘All living and slithering animals can serve as meat for you. I have given them all to you as though they were green vegetation. ⁴ But you must not eat flesh with its blood of life. ⁵ Otherwise, I will require your blood at the hand of all the wild animals. I will also require a man’s life at the hands of his brothers. ⁶ For, whoever spills the blood of men will also have their blood spilled, because I made man in the image of God. ⁷ So, reproduce and multiply… fill the earth and rule over it!’

⁸ Then God spoke to Noah and his sons (who were with him) and said, ⁹ ‘Look; I am establishing an Agreement between you and Me, [as well as] with your seed [that comes] after you, ¹⁰ and with everything that lives (the winged creatures, the [domesticated] animals, and all the wild animals of the earth)… with all that are with you and came out of the chest. ¹¹ This is the Agreement that I’m making with you and with all flesh: Never again will a downpour of water kill all flesh, and never again will a water downpour destroy the whole earth.’

¹² Then Jehovah God told Noah: ‘This is the sign that I have set [as a reminder] of the Agreement of the Ages of Generations, between you and Me, and every living creature that is with you: ¹³ I have put My bow in the clouds. This will serve as the sign of the Agreement between the earth and Me. ¹⁴ So, whenever I gather clouds over the earth, My bow will be seen in the clouds. ¹⁵ And this will remind Me of My Agreement between you and Me, and with every living creature and all flesh; that never again will there be a downpour of water which will blot out all flesh. ¹⁶ My bow will be in the clouds, and when I see it I will remember the Agreement of the Ages between the earth and Me, and with every living creature among all flesh that is on the earth.’

¹⁷ Then God told Noah: ‘This is the sign of the Agreement that I have made between all flesh that is on the earth and Myself.’

¹⁸ Now, the sons of Noah (who came out of the chest) were [named] Shem, Ham, and JaPheth (Ham was the father of CanaAn). ¹⁹ And it was from these three sons of Noah that men came to be scattered over all the earth.

²⁰ Well, Noah took up farming and he planted grapes. ²¹ [Then, one day], Noah was drinking some wine, while he was naked in his house, and he got drunk. ²² Meanwhile, Ham (CanaAn’s father) saw his father’s nakedness, and he went outside and told his brothers about it. ²³ So, Shem and JaPheth grabbed a robe, put it over their backs, and walked backward to cover their father’s naked body. And because they were looking away, they didn’t see their father’s nakedness.

²⁴ Well, after Noah recovered from the wine, he realized what his [grand]son had done to him. ²⁵ So he said: ‘The servant CanaAn is cursed, and he will be a slave to his brothers.’ ²⁶ Then he added, ‘May Jehovah, the God of Ham and JaPheth, be praised. But CanaAn will be a servant in their homes. ²⁷ May God make room for JaPheth and allow him to live in the houses of Shem, and may CanaAn become his houseboy.’

²⁸ Well after the Downpour, Noah lived on for another three hundred and fifty years. ²⁹ So he lived for nine hundred and fifty years, and then he died.

Chapter 10

¹ Now, these are the generations of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and JaPheth. And these are the sons that were born to them after the Downpour:

² JaPheth’s sons were Gamer, Magog [the Scythians], Madoi [the Medes], Jovan, EliSa, Thobel [of Tubal], Mosoch [of Meshech], and Thiras [Islands of the Aegean Sea].

³ Gamer’s sons were AsChanaz [Germans], Riphath [of Northwestern Asia Minor], and Thorgama [the Armenians].

⁴ Jovan’s sons were EliShah [of Tyre], Tarshish [of Spain], Cetian [Of Cypress], and Rhodes [of Rhodes]… ⁵ [they settled the] islands, which lands were divided by tribe and nation among the ethnics, each according to his own language.

⁶ Ham’s sons were Cush [blacks], Mesrain [Egyptian tribes], Phud [Libyans], and CanaAn [Palestine].

⁷ The sons of Cush were Saba [Ethiopians], Evila [of the Arabian Peninsula], Sabatha [of Southern Arabia], Rhegma, and Sabathaca [East Africans].

The sons of Rhegma were Saba [of thirteen Arabian Tribes], and Dadan [part of Arabia].

⁸ Cush fathered Nimrod, who became a giant on the earth. ⁹ He was a gigantic hunter before Jehovah God, and that’s why people speak of Nimrod as ‘the gigantic hunter before Jehovah.’ ¹⁰ His kingdom started with Babylon, and then to Orech, Archad, and ChalanNe, which were all in the land of Shinar. ¹¹ Then outside that land [he went to] Assyria and built Nineveh, the cities of RehobOth, Chalach, ¹² and Dase (between Nineveh, and Chalach), which is the great city.

¹³ Mesrain fathered the Lydim [Lydians], the MaphTuhim [Egyptians], the AnaMim [Libyans], the Lehabim [people of Lower Egypt], ¹⁴ the Pathrusim [people of Upper Egypt], the Casluhim [Cretans] (from whom the Philistines descended), and the GaphThoriim [also from the area of Crete].

¹⁵ CanaAn’s first-born son was Sidon. Then there were the Hittites, ¹⁶ the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, ¹⁷ the Evites, the Arukites, the Sinites, the Asenites, ¹⁸ the Aradians, the Samarians, and the Amathites. But the CanaAnites were scattered, ¹⁹ so their territory ran from Sidon to Gerar (near Gaza), to Sodom and GomorRah, to Adama, and Seboim, as far as Dasa.

²⁰ These were the descendents of Ham by tribe, country, language, and nation.

²¹ Shem (who was the ancestor of all the sons of Heber and the brother of [Noah’s] eldest son JaPheth) also had children born to him. ²² Shem’s sons were Elam, Assur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram, and Cainan.

²³ Aram’s sons were Uz, Ul, Gater, and Mosoch.

²⁴ Arphaxad fathered Cainan, and he fathered Sala, who fathered Heber. ²⁵ Heber had two sons, the first was named Phaled (because the earth became divided in his day), and his brother’s name was Jektan.

²⁶ Jektan fathered ElModad, Saleth, SarMoth, Jarach, ²⁷ OdorRha, AiBel, Decla, ²⁸ Eval, AbimaEl, Saba, ²⁹ Uphir, Evila, and Jobab. These were all the sons of Jektan. ³⁰ Their territory ran from Masse all the way to Saphera, which is a mountain in the east.

³¹ So, those were the sons of Shem by tribe, language, country, and nation. ³² And these were the tribes of the sons of Noah by generations and nations. From them came the people of the islands and nations that were scattered around the earth after the Downpour.

Chapter 11

¹ [At the time], the whole earth shared the same lips, because they all spoke the same language. ² And as they migrated from the east, they found a flat area of land in Shinar, and they started living there. ³ Then one man said to his neighbor, ‘Come on, let’s make some bricks and bake them in an oven.’ So, bricks became their stone, and tar served as their mortar.

⁴ Then they said, ‘Come on; let’s build ourselves a city with a tower that reaches into the sky. And let’s create a name for ourselves, before we end up being scattered all over the face of the earth.’

⁵ Then the Lord came down to see this city and its tower, which the sons of men had built. ⁶ And Jehovah said, ‘Look; they are all the same race and they share the same lips, and now they’ve started doing this. [Before long], they will be able to accomplish anything they set out to do. ⁷ So, let’s go down there and change their language so none of them will be able to understand the voice of his neighbor.’

⁸ And Jehovah scattered them from there over the entire face of the earth, so they stopped building the city and its tower. ⁹ That is why [the city] is named Confusion (Babylon), because, that’s where Jehovah confused all the languages of the earth and scattered them from there over all the face of the earth.

¹⁰ These are the generations of Shem:
Shem was a hundred years old when he became father to Arphaxad, which was in the second year after the Downpour. ¹¹ And after Shem became father to Arphaxad, he lived five hundred more years (fathering other sons and daughters), and then he died. ¹² Arphaxad was a hundred and thirty-five years old when became father to Cainan. ¹³ And after Arphaxad became the father to Cainan, he lived four hundred years more (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died. Cainan was a hundred and thirty years old when he became father to Sala. And after he became father to Sala, he lived three hundred and thirty years (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died.

¹⁴ Sala was a hundred and thirty years old when he became father to Heber. ¹⁵ And after he became father to Heber, he lived three hundred and thirty years more (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died. ¹⁶ Heber was a hundred and thirty-four years old when he became father to Phaleg. ¹⁷ And after he became father to Phaleg, he lived two hundred and seventy years (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died. ¹⁸ Phaleg was a hundred and thirty years old when he became father to Ragau. ¹⁹ After he became father to Ragau, he lived two hundred and nine years (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died. ²⁰ Ragau was a hundred and thirty-two years old when he became father to Seruch. ²¹ After he became father to Seruch, he lived two hundred and seven years (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died.

²² Seruch was a hundred and thirty years old when he became father to Nahor. ²³ And after he became father to Nahor, he lived two hundred years (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died. ²⁴ Nahor was a hundred and seventy-nine years old when he became father to Terah. ²⁵ And after he became father to Terah, he lived a hundred and twenty-five years (as he fathered other sons and daughters), and then he died. ²⁶ Terah was seventy years old when he became father to Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

²⁷ These are the generations of Terah:
Terah became father to Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran became father to Lot. ²⁸ Haran died in the presence of Terah his father, in the land where he was born, the country of the Chaldeans.

²⁹ Both Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram’s wife was named SarAh, and Nahor’s wife was named Malcha. She was the daughter of Haran (the father of Malcha and Jescha).

³⁰ Now, Sara was sterile, so she didn’t have any children.

³¹ Then Terah took Abram (his son), along with Abram’s wife SarAh (his daughter-in-law), his grandson Lot (the son of Haran), and carried them from the land of the Chaldeans toward the land of CanaAn. But when they got to Haran, they took up living there. ³² So, Terah lived there in the land of Haran for two hundred and five years, and then he died.

Chapter 12

¹ Then Jehovah said to Abram, ‘Leave this land, your family, and your father’s home, and go to a land that I’m going to show you, ² because I’m going to make a great nation of you. I will praise you, make your name famous, and you will be blest. ³ I will bless those who praise you and curse those who curse you. All nations will be blest because of you.’

⁴ So, Abram did just as Jehovah told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran, ⁵ taking along his wife SarAh, his nephew Lot, all the many things that they owned, and all the souls that they had accumulated in Haran, as they traveled to the land of CanaAn. ⁶ Abram traveled down through the land as far as a place called Shechem, where there was a tall tree. And at the time, the CanaAnites were living in the land.

⁷ Then Jehovah appeared to Abram and said, ‘I will give this land to your seed.’

So Abram built an altar there to Jehovah, who had appeared to him.

⁸ Then he moved on from there to a mountain that was east of BethEl, and he pitched his tent there in BethEl, which was close to the sea and east of AgGai. There he built an altar to Jehovah and started calling on the Name of the Lord. ⁹ Then Abram left from there and camped in the desert.

¹⁰ Well, there came a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to stay, because the famine had virtually devastated the land. ¹¹ And as Abram was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sara, ‘You’re a beautiful woman, ¹² [and I’m afraid] that; when the Egyptians see you they will say, [Look at] his wife, and they will kill me; but they will allow you to live. ¹³ So, tell people that you’re my sister. That way, things will go well for me because of you, and my life will be safe because of you.’

¹⁴ And so it happened that; When Abram entered Egypt and the Egyptians saw how beautiful his wife was, ¹⁵ one of Pharaoh’s princes praised her to Pharaoh and brought her into Pharaoh’s [Palace]. ¹⁶ And because of her, Pharaoh treated Abram very well. So, he accumulated sheep, calves, burros, as well as male and female servants, mules, and camels.

¹⁷ However, God cursed Pharaoh and his house with some very serious and difficult problems, because of Sara (Abram’s wife). ¹⁸ So, Pharaoh called Abram and asked, ‘What have you done to me? You didn’t tell me that she’s your wife. ¹⁹ Why did you tell us that she was your sister? Look, I’ve already taken her as my wife. Now, there’s your wife standing before you… she’s yours, so take her and leave quickly!’

²⁰ Then Pharaoh gave his men instructions about Abram, to accompany him and his wife on their way, along with all the things that they had.

Chapter 13

¹ So, Abram left Egypt along with his wife, Lot, and everything that he had, and they traveled into the desert. ² And by now, Abram was very rich in cattle, silver, and gold. ³ So he returned to the place where he had come from (in the desert near BethEl, between BethEl and AgGai, where he had pitched his tent previously), ⁴ to the place where he had earlier built the altar, ⁵ when Abram had called on the Name of the Lord.

⁶ Lot (who left with Abram) also had sheep, oxen, and tents, ⁷ and the land just wasn’t big enough for both of them to live together, because of all their many possessions. ⁸ And since there wasn’t enough land to share, there were problems between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle, the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle, and with the CanaAnites and Pherezites who lived in that land. So, Abram said to Lot: ‘There shouldn’t be problems between you and me, or between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, because we are brothers. ⁹ Look; the whole land lies before you, so leave me and choose your own way. And if you go to the left, I will go to the right; or if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.’

¹⁰ So, Lot surveyed all the country around the Jordan and noticed that it had plenty of water (this was before God overthrew Sodom and GomorRah). It looked like the Paradise of Jehovah and like the land of Egypt up to Zogora. ¹¹ So, Lot chose all the country around the Jordan for himself and he traveled to the east, as the brothers parted ways.

Now, as Abram lived in the land of CanaAn, ¹² Lot [chose] to live in a city among neighbors, and he took up living in Sodom. ¹³ However, the men of Sodom were evil and they were sinning before God.

¹⁴ So, God said to Abram (after Lot had separated from him), ‘Look around from this place where you’re standing… look to the north, to the south, to the east, and to the sea. ¹⁵ I will give all this land that you see before you, to you and your seed through the ages. ¹⁶ And I will make your seed like the dust of the ground. Why, if anyone is able to count all the dust of the earth, he should be able to count your seed. ¹⁷ Get up and walk across the land… across its length and its width. I’m giving all it to you and your seed through the ages!’

¹⁸ Then Abram packed up his tent and took up living by the big tree of MamRe (in Hebron), and he built an altar there to Jehovah.

Chapter 14

¹ It was during the reign of AmarPhal (the king of ShinaAr) and AriOch (the king of ElLasar), that ChodolLogomor ² (the king of Elam) and Thargal (the king of the Gentiles) went to war against BalLa (the king of Sodom), Barsa (the king of GomorRah), Shinar (the king of Adama), Symobor (the king of Seboim), and Segor (the king of Balac). ³ So, they all agreed to meet together at the Salt Valley (which is now the Dead Sea). ⁴ They had been vassals to ChodolLogomor for some twelve years, but in the thirteenth year, they revolted.

⁵ So in the fourteenth year, ChodolLogomor and his allies attacked, cutting the giants in AstarOth and Carnain to pieces, along with the strong nations that were their allies, the Ommeans in the city Saue, ⁶ the ChorRheans in the mountains of Seir, all the way to the turpentine trees of Pharan (in the desert). ⁷ And on their return, they stopped at the Well of Judgment (Cades), where they cut all the princes of Amalec and the Amorites to pieces who were living in AsasonThamar.

⁸ And then the kings of Sodom, GomorRah, Adama, Seboim, and Balac (Segor) went out and set up battle lines against them in the Salt Valley ⁹ – against ChodolLogomor (king of Elam), Thargal (king of the Gentiles), AmarPhal (king of ShinaAr), and AriOch (the king of ElLasar) – the four against five.

¹⁰ Now, there were slime pits in the Salt Valley, and the kings of Sodom and GomorRah fled and fell into them. And all the rest retreated into the mountains. ¹¹ So they took all the horses and food in Sodom and GomorRah, then left. ¹² However, they also took Abram’s nephew Lot (who lived in Sodom), along with all his possessions.

¹³ Then one of those who had been rescued came and told Abram (the Hebrew) [what had happened], while he was living by the large tree of MamRe. ([MamRe] was an Amorite, the brother of Eschol and Aunan, who were allies of Abram). ¹⁴ And when Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he gathered three hundred and eighteen of his personal home-born servants, and pursued them all the way to Dan. ¹⁵ Then he and his servants caught up with them at night and attacked them, and they pursued them all the way to Choba, which is to the left of Damascus. ¹⁶ Finally, he recovered all the horses of Sodom, his nephew Lot, all of his possessions, the women, and all the rest of the people.

¹⁷ And after he returned from the slaughter of ChodolLogomor and the kings that were with him, the king of Sodom went out to the valley of Saby (the Plain of the King) to meet him.

¹⁸ Then MelchiZedek (the king of Salem) brought him loaves [of bread] and wine. He was the Priest of the Most High God, ¹⁹ and he praised Abram, saying, ‘May Abram of the Most High God who made the heavens and the earth be blest. ²⁰ And may the Most High God who delivered your enemies into your hands be praised.’

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

²¹ And the king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Let me take all the men… you can keep the horses for yourself.’

²² And Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I swear by Jehovah the Most High God who made the heavens and the earth, ²³ that I won’t take anything from you – from a piece of string to a shoe lace – so you can’t say,I was I who made Abram wealthy. ²⁴ [I will take] nothing other that what the young men have eaten, and the share that belongs to the men that went with me… Eschol, Aunan, and MamRe… they will each take a portion.’

Chapter 15

¹ After that, Jehovah sent word to Abram in a vision, saying: ‘Don’t be afraid, Abram, for I am your shield, and You will have a huge reward.’ ² Then, Abram said, ‘Almighty Jehovah; What can You give me, since I’m about to die without a son? EliEzer of Damascus, the son of my home-born female slave Masek, is my heir.’ ³ And Abram continued, ‘I’m so very sad, because You haven’t given me a seed. So, my home-born servant will be my heir.’

⁴ And immediately Jehovah said to him: ‘He won’t be your heir… the one who comes from you will be your heir.’

⁵ Then He took him outside and said, ‘Look up into the sky and count the stars… that is, if you can come up with an accurate count.’ And He said, ‘This is how your seed will be.’

⁶ So Abram believed God, and that was counted to him as righteousness.

⁷ Then [God] said to him: ‘I am the God that brought you out of the land of the Chaldeans to give you this land as an inheritance.’

⁸ And [Abram] said: ‘My Lord and Master; How can I know [for sure] that I will inherit it?’

⁹ And He replied: ‘Collect for Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old nanny goat, a three-year-old billy goat, a dove, and a pigeon.’

¹⁰ So, he brought all three of [the animals] to Him, cut them in half, and set them opposite each other. However, he didn’t cut the winged creatures in half. ¹¹ Then birds started landing on the bodies, even upon the cut-up parts. And Abram sat down next to them.

¹² It was about sunset that Abram fell into a trance and {Look!} he had an ominous premonition. ¹³ Then Abram was told, ‘You must know this for a fact; Your seed will have to live as aliens in a foreign land where they will be slaves who are treated badly and humbled for four hundred years. ¹⁴ Then I will judge the nation that they are to serve, and following that, [your seed] will return here with many possessions. ¹⁵ However, you will return to your fathers in peace, well fed, at a ripe old age. ¹⁶ Then they will return here after four generations; because, even to this point, the sins of the Amorites haven’t reached their climax.’

¹⁷ And as the sun was setting, {look!} there was a flame that looked like a smoking furnace and like lamp fires that moved between the divided pieces [of the animals]. ¹⁸ This was the day when Jehovah made a Sacred Agreement with Abram. He said, ‘I will give this land – from the [Nile] River of Egypt to the great Euphrates River – to your seed, ¹⁹ as well as the Kenites, the Kenezites, the Kedmoneans, the Hittites, the Pherezites, the Raphaim, ²⁰ the Amorites, the CanaAnites, the Evites, the Gergesites and the Jebusites.’

Chapter 16

¹ Sara, Abram’s wife, hadn’t given him any children. However, she had an Egyptian handmaid whose name was Hagar. ² And Sara said to Abram: ‘Look; Jehovah has kept me from getting pregnant, so [sleep with] my maid so I can have my children through her.’

Well, Abram accepted Sara’s advice. ³ So Sara (Abram’s wife) took Hagar her Egyptian handmaid (after Abram had lived in the land of CanaAn for ten years) and gave her to her husband Abram, to be his woman. ⁴ Then [Abram] went in to [sleep with] Hagar, and she became pregnant. And when she realized that she was going to have a child, she started being disrespectful to her mistress.

⁵ So Sara said to Abram: ‘I’ve really been hurt by you, for I gave you my handmaid [to sleep with], and when I saw that she was pregnant, she treated me disrespectfully. May Jehovah judge between me and you!’

⁶ Then Abram told SarAh, ‘Look, your handmaid is yours! Treat her any way that seems right to you!’

So, Sara started treating [Hagar] badly, and she ran away.

⁷ Then a messenger from Jehovah found [Hagar] by a spring of water in the desert (the spring on the way to Sur). ⁸ And Jehovah’s messenger said to her, ‘Hagar, SarAh’s maid; Where are you coming from and where are you going?’

And she replied, ‘I’m running away from my mistress, Sara.’

⁹ Then Jehovah’s messenger said: ‘Return to your mistress and obey her.’ ¹⁰ And the messenger of Jehovah told her: ‘I will make your seed grow, and there will be so many that they can’t be counted.’

¹¹ And the messenger of Jehovah said to her: ‘Look; You are pregnant with a child. You will give birth to a son, and you should name him IshMaEl, because Jehovah has noticed how you have been humiliated. ¹² He will be a wild man, for his fists [will be lifted] against everyone, and everyone [will lift] their fists against him. However, he will live in the midst of all his brothers.

¹³ Then she called upon the Name of the Lord God who was speaking to her, saying, ‘You are the God who watches over me,’ adding, ‘because I openly saw the One who appeared to me.’ ¹⁴ [And from that point on], she called the well, ‘the Well of He Who I Openly Saw.’ Look; it [still can be found] between Cades and Barad!

¹⁵ So, Hagar bore a son to Abram; and Abram named the son that Hagar bore to him IshMaEl. ¹⁶ Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore IshMaEl to [hum].

Chapter 17

¹ Then, when Abram was ninety-nine years old, Jehovah appeared to him [again] and said: ‘I am your God. So be pleasing to Me and don’t do anything that you can be blamed for, ² and I will establish a Sacred Agreement between you and Me; and I will also give you great prosperity!’

³ At that, Abram fell with his face [to the ground]. Then God spoke to him [again], saying, ⁴ ‘Look; I am making My Sacred Agreement with you. You will become the father of many nations. And your name will no longer be called Abram… it will be AbraHam, ⁵ for I have made you the father of many nations. ⁶ I will make you grow tremendously; I will make nations come from you, and kings will descend from you.

⁷ ‘I will also extend my Sacred Agreement between you and Me to the seed that comes from you, through [all] its generations. It is a Sacred Agreement through the ages that [I] will be your God and the God of the seed that comes from you. ⁸ Also, I will give the land where you are [now] living as an alien, to you and to your seed. This includes the entire land of CanaAn. It will become yours through the ages, and I will be a God to them.’

⁹ Then God told AbraHam: ‘You must fully keep my Sacred Agreement… both you and your seed that descends from you, through all their generations.

¹⁰ ‘This is the Sacred Agreement between you and your seed through all its generations, and Me: All of your males must be circumcised… ¹¹ the foreskin of your flesh must be circumcised. This will be the sign of the Sacred Agreement between you and Me. ¹² All of your male children must be circumcised by you when they are eight-days old, throughout all your generations. [This includes all the] servants who are born in your house, those who are bought with money, and it includes the sons of aliens who are not your seed.

¹³ ‘Those who are born in your house and those who are bought with money must surely be circumcised. And My Sacred Agreement will be there in their flesh as [a sign of the] Sacred Agreement through the ages. ¹⁴ As for the uncircumcised males who aren’t circumcised in the flesh of their foreskin on the eighth day; such individuals must be totally destroyed from among their families for breaking My Sacred Agreement!’

¹⁵ Then God told AbraHam: ‘Your wife Sara will no longer be called Sara… SarAh will be her name. ¹⁶ For I will bless her and give you a son from her. I will also bless him… nations and kings of nations will come from him.’

¹⁷ Well with that, AbraHam fell to his face and laughed, asking in his heart, ‘Will a hundred-year-old [man] father a child? And will SarAh (who is ninety years old) give birth to it?’

¹⁸ Then AbraHam said to God, ‘Accept IshMaEl to [stand] before You.’

¹⁹ But God told AbraHam: ‘Look; Your wife SarAh will give birth to your son, and you should name him IsaAc. I will make my Sacred Agreement [with you] firm through him… a Sacred Agreement through the ages, that I will be his God and [the God] of his seed that descends from him.

²⁰ ‘As for IshMaEl; {Look!} I have heard you and I have blest him. I will make him grow and multiply tremendously, so he will become the father of twelve nations, and I will make them a great people. ²¹ However, My Sacred Agreement will be established with IsaAc, who SarAh will bear to you at this time next year.’

²² Well at that, God stopped talking to him, and He left AbraHam.

²³ Then AbraHam took his son IshMaEl, all of his home-born servants, all those who he had bought with money, and all the males in AbraHam’s house, and circumcised their foreskins on that very day, just as God told him. ²⁴ So, AbraHam was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. ²⁵ And his son IshMaEl was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

²⁶ Both AbraHam and his son IshMaEl were circumcised that very day, ²⁷ along with all the men of his house… those who were born there and the foreigners who were bought with money.

Chapter 18

¹ God [next] appeared to [AbraHam] by the big tree at MamRe, as he was sitting at the entrance to his tent, around noon. ² He looked up and saw three men before him. And when he noticed them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed all the way to the ground.

³ Then he said, ‘Lord, if I have indeed found favor in your sight, don’t pass your servant by. ⁴ ‘[I will have] water brought and [my servants] will wash your feet; so rest here under the tree. ⁵ I will bring some bread for you to eat, and then you can continue your journey. But, [please stop] so your servant can refresh you.’

⁶ And the Lord replied, ‘Do just as you have said.’

So, AbraHam ran back to SarAh (who was in the tent) and said to her, ‘Hurry… knead three scoops of fine flour and make [some bread].’

⁷ Then AbraHam ran to the pens, where he took a young calf (a nice, tender one) and gave it to his servant, who quickly prepared it. ⁸ Next, he got some butter, some milk, and the calf that he had prepared, and set it all out before them. And they ate as he stood near them under the tree.

⁹ Then the Lord asked, ‘Where is your wife SarAh?’

And [AbraHam] answered, ‘Look, she’s there in the tent!’

¹⁰ So the Lord said, ‘I will return this way and come to see you during this season [next year], and your wife SarAh will have a son.’

Well, SarAh overheard this as she stood behind him at the entrance of the tent. ¹¹ Of course, AbraHam and SarAh were old, and since SarAh was [well beyond the age of child bearing], she laughed inside herself, saying, ¹² ‘This hasn’t happened to me [before], and now my lord is [too] old.’

¹³ And at that, the Lord asked AbraHam, ‘Why is SarAh laughing inside herself and asking, Will I give birth? I’m already old. ¹⁴ Is there anything that is impossible for Jehovah? I will return to you [next year] in this season and SarAh will have a son!’

¹⁵ However, SarAh denied it, saying, ‘I didn’t laugh.’ But she said this because she was afraid.

And the Lord replied, ‘Oh, but you did laugh.’

¹⁶ Then the men got up and headed toward Sodom and GomorRah, and AbraHam traveled along with them to assist in their journey.

¹⁷ And, the Lord asked, ‘Shall I hide the things that I’m about to do from my servant AbraHam? ¹⁸ For, AbraHam will become a great and highly populated nation, and all the nations of the earth be blest through him. ¹⁹ Because, I know that he will order his sons and the house that is to come from him to keep the ways of Jehovah – to be righteous and just – so that Jehovah can bring all the things to AbraHam that He has promised him.’

²⁰ Then the Lord said, ‘The cries that I’m hearing about Sodom and GomorRah keep growing, and their sins are very bad. ²¹ So, I’m going down to see if they are as bad as the cries that I’m hearing say. And if not, at least I will know [for sure].’

²² Then the men departed for Sodom, but AbraHam was still there in the Lord’s presence. ²³ So AbraHam went up to him and asked, ‘Are you going to destroy the righteous along with the wicked, treating the righteous as though they were wicked? ²⁴ Why, if there are fifty righteous [people] in the city, will you destroy them? Wouldn’t you spare the whole place if there were fifty righteous [people] there? ²⁵ You would never do such a thing as to destroy the righteous with the wicked, and treat the righteous as though they were wicked… no way! Won’t you – the judge of the whole earth – do what’s right?’

²⁶ And the Lord said, ‘If there are fifty righteous [people] in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole city – and the whole place – for their sakes.’

²⁷ Then AbraHam continued, ‘My Lord; Here I am speaking to you, and all I am is dirt and ashes. ²⁸ However, what if there weren’t fifty righteous [people] and there were only forty-five. Would you destroy the whole city because of the lack of five?’

And the Lord said, ‘I won’t destroy it if I can find forty-five there.’

²⁹ However, [AbraHam] just kept talking to him and said, ‘What if there were only forty? ³⁰ Would you not destroy it for the sake of the forty?’ And he went on, ‘Lord, please don’t hold it against me if I continue to speak, but, what if there were thirty?’

And the Lord replied, ‘I won’t destroy it for the sake of thirty.’

³¹ So he said, ‘Since I am allowed to speak to [my] Lord; What if you can only find twenty?’

And he said, ‘I won’t destroy it if I can only find twenty.’

³² Finally, he said, ‘Lord; Would you hold it against me if I just say one more thing? What if you were to find just ten [righteous people]?’

And he replied, ‘I won’t destroy it for the sake of ten.’

³³ Then the Lord stopped speaking to AbraHam and left, and AbraHam returned to his [home].

Chapter 19

¹ That evening, the two messengers [of God] arrived at Sodom and they found Lot sitting by the [city] gate. And when Lot saw them, he got up [and went] to meet them, bowing low with his face to the ground. And he said, ² ‘Look here, my lords; come to the house of your servant and rest from your journey. [Then you can] wash your feet and get up early in the morning to continue on your way.’

However, they said, ‘No, we will just sleep in the street.’

³ But [Lot] kept insisting, so they went with him to his house. Then he baked yeast-free bread and made a feast for them, which they ate.

⁴ [Well, that evening], before they went to bed, the men of the city of Sodom encircled the house… all of them, both the young and the old. ⁵ Then they shouted for Lot and asked him, ‘Where are the men that came to your home this evening? Send them out to us so we can [have sex] with them!’

⁶ So, Lot went out on his porch, shut the door behind him, ⁷ and said: ‘Absolutely not, brothers! Don’t do this wicked thing! ⁸ I have two daughters who have never [had sex] with a man. I will bring them out to you and you can do whatever you want with them. However, don’t do these men any harm! Why, it was to avoid such a thing that they came under the shelter of my roof!’

⁹ But they replied, ‘Get out of the way! You came to live among us, and are you now our judge? Why, we’re going to harm you more than we will them!’

¹⁰ Then they pushed up against Lot and were ready to break down the door. But the [messengers] reached out and grabbed Lot, dragged him back inside the house, and shut the door. ¹¹ And thereafter, they struck the men who were at the door of the house with blindness, both the great and the small. And they finally got tired of trying to find the door.

¹² Then the [messengers] said to Lot: ‘If you have any sons, daughters, sons in law, or any friends in the city, take them out of this place, ¹³ because we’re going to destroy it! A great cry has been raised against [this city] to Jehovah, and [He] has sent us to destroy it.’

¹⁴ So Lot went [back] outside and spoke to his [future] sons-in-law who [were engaged to] his daughters, and said: ‘Get up and leave this place, because Jehovah is about to destroy the city!’

However, to his [future] sons-in-law it seemed as though he was joking.

¹⁵ Then the next morning, the messengers started to hurry Lot along, saying: ‘Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters and go, so you won’t be destroyed with the sins of this city!’

¹⁶ However, they were unsure. So the messengers grabbed his hand, the hand of his wife, and the hands of his two daughters… and that’s how Jehovah saved them.

¹⁷ Then, once they were outside [the city], the [messengers] told them: ‘Now, do whatever you must to save your own lives. Don’t turn around and look back at the things that are behind you… and don’t stay anywhere in the countryside around here. Run to the mountains, so you won’t be [destroyed] with them!’

¹⁸ But Lot said: ‘I beg you, Lord; Your servant has been shown such mercy and you have shown such righteousness in the things you’ve done for me to save my life. ¹⁹ However, I won’t be able to make it to the mountains, because the [destruction] will likely catch up with me and kill me. ²⁰ Look, there’s a nearby city… a small one that I can escape to, where I can be spared. Isn’t this just a little thing? If you [allow] this, you will save my life.’

²¹ And [the messenger] told him: ‘Look; I will respect your wishes about this matter. I won’t destroy the city that you are talking about. ²² But hurry and escape to that [city], because I won’t be able to do anything until you get there.’

And from then on, he called that city Segor (small).

²³ Well, the sun was already up when Lot reached Segor. ²⁴ Then Jehovah poured fire and sulfur from the sky upon Sodom and GomorRah. ²⁵ He destroyed those cities and all the countryside around them… all those who lived in the cities and [even] the plants that grew from the ground. ²⁶ However, [Lot’s] wife looked back and she became an upright block of salt.

²⁷ That morning, AbraHam got up early to go to the place where he had stood before Jehovah. ²⁸ But when he looked toward Sodom, GomorRah, and the surrounding country, he saw flames and smoke (like a furnace) coming from the land.

²⁹ So, this is how it all happened. For when God destroyed all the cities around there, He remembered AbraHam and brought Lot out of the midst of the destruction, when the Lord overthrew those cities where Lot was living.

³⁰ [Then later], Lot and his daughters left Segor and went to live in the mountains, because he was afraid to live in Segor. So, he and his daughters lived in a cave. ³¹ [It was there that] the eldest [daughter] said to the younger: ‘Our father is old, and no one in the land will come to us here where we’re living. ³² So, let’s get our father drunk with wine and sleep with him, so we can have the seed of our father.’

³³ Then that night, they brought their father some wine to drink, and the eldest went in and laid down with him. However, he didn’t know when he went to sleep or when he got up.

³⁴ The next day, the eldest said to the younger, ‘Look; I slept with our father last night. So, let’s get him to drink some wine tonight, then you go in and sleep with him, so we can raise a seed from our father.’

³⁵ So [once again], they got their father to drink wine at night; then the younger went in and slept with her father, and he didn’t know when he went to sleep or when he got up.

³⁶ As the result, the two daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. ³⁷ And the eldest bore a son she called Moab, saying, ‘He’s of my father.’ ([Moab] is the father of the Moabites to this day).

³⁸ And the younger bore a son who she named AmMon, saying, ‘The son of my family.’ ([AmMon] is the father of the AmMonites to this day).

Chapter 20

¹ Thereafter, AbraHam moved to the southern part of the country and took up living between Cades and Sur, staying for a while in GeraRa. ² And [there], AbraHam said concerning SarAh his wife, ‘She’s my sister.’ He didn’t want to tell them ‘She’s my wife,’ for fear that the time would come when men of that city would kill him because of her.

So AbiMelech (the king of GeraRa) sent for SarAh and took her [to be his wife]. ³ But God came to AbiMelech at night in a dream and told him: ‘Look; You’re going to die because of this woman you’ve taken, because she [already has] a husband!’

⁴ Well, AbiMelech hadn’t touched her [yet], so he replied: ‘Lord, would you destroy a righteous nation that has sinned in ignorance? ⁵ Didn’t he tell me, She’s my sister? And didn’t she tell me, He’s my brother? I’ve done this with righteous hands and with a pure heart.’

⁶ Then God replied to him in his [dream]: ‘Yes, I know that you did this with a pure heart. That’s why I’ve spared you and [kept you from] sinning against Me. And that’s why I kept you from touching her. ⁷ So, return the man’s wife now, because he’s a Prophet. Then he will pray for you and you will keep on living. However, if you don’t return her, you and all that are yours will die.’

⁸ So early the next morning, AbiMelech got up and called all his servants in, then he told them everything that was said, and they were frightened. ⁹ And thereafter, AbiMelech called AbraHam in and asked: ‘What have you done to us? [What type of bad] have you seen in me that you should do such a thing? Have we sinned against you in some way so that you would draw my whole kingdom and me into such a great sin? Why, you’ve done something to me that no one should ever do! ¹⁰ And AbiMelech added, ‘What [bad] have you seen in me that you would do such a thing?’

¹¹ Then AbraHam replied: ‘[My thinking was] that; This surely couldn’t be a place where they worship God, so they will kill me for my wife. ¹² [And in fact], she really is my sister by my father (but not by my mother), who I took as my wife. ¹³ And when God took me from my father’s house, I told her, I have a righteous thing that I want you to do for me; Wherever we go, tell [people] that I’m your brother.’

¹⁴ Thereafter, AbiMelech returned his wife SarAh, along with a thousand silver coins, as well as sheep, cattle, and male and female servants. ¹⁵ Then AbiMelech said to AbraHam, ‘Look, my whole land lies before you, so go wherever you wish.’

¹⁶ Then he told SarAh, ‘Look, I’ve given your brother a thousand silver coins. These are yours as the price of your face, and for all the women who are with you. Always tell the whole truth.’

¹⁷ Then AbraHam prayed to God, and God healed AbiMelech. [He also healed AbiMelech’s] wife and concubines, and they gave birth to children ¹⁸ (because Jehovah had closed all the wombs in AbiMelech’s house due to AbraHam’s wife SarAh).

Chapter 21

¹ Then Jehovah visited SarAh and did as [He had promised] her. ² She became pregnant and bore a son to AbraHam in his old age, at the exact time that Jehovah specified. ³ And AbraHam named the son that was born to him (through SarAh), IsaAc. ⁴ Then on the eighth day, AbraHam circumcised IsaAc, just as God had instructed him.

⁵ AbraHam was a hundred years old when his son IsaAc was born. ⁶ And SarAh said, ‘Jehovah has created laughter for me, because, everyone who hears [about this] will rejoice with me.’ ⁷ Then she added: ‘Who could tell AbraHam that I’m nursing a child, because I’ve given birth in my old age?’

⁸ Thereafter, the child grew, and on the day that he was weaned, AbraHam prepared a great feast. ⁹ However, SarAh noticed Hagar’s son (the one who was born to AbraHam through the Egyptian [woman]) playfully making fun of their son IsaAc. ¹⁰ So she told AbraHam: ‘Throw this slave woman and her son out, because I won’t have the son of this slave receive an inheritance with my son, IsaAc.’

¹¹ Those words about his son were very difficult for AbraHam, ¹² but God said to AbraHam, ‘Don’t allow this thing about your son and the slave woman to become too difficult for you. Listen to whatever SarAh tells you, because IsaAc will be the one who is called your seed. ¹³ What’s more, I will make a great nation of this slave woman’s son, because he’s also your seed.’

¹⁴ So the next morning, AbraHam got up, gave Hagar some loaves [of bread] and a skin of water, put her son on her shoulders, and sent her away. Then she left there and wandered in the desert near the Well of the Oath. ¹⁵ However, [before long] the skin of water was empty. So she threw her child under a fir tree, ¹⁶ then left him and sat some distance across from him (a bow-shot away), and said, ‘I can’t just watch my child die.’ So she sat there across from him as her child bawled and cried.

¹⁷ Well, God heard the voice of the child from the place where He was, and a messenger from God called from the sky to Hagar, and asked, ‘Why are you concerned, Hagar? Don’t worry, for God has heard the child’s voice from where He is. ¹⁸ Get up and take the child by his hand, because I’m going to make a great nation of him. ¹⁹ Then God opened her eyes and she saw a life [sustaining] well of water, so she went and filled the skin with water and gave the child a drink.

²⁰ God was with that child, so he grew up living in the desert and he became an archer. ²¹ And as he was living there in the desert, his mother found a wife for him in Pharan, Egypt.

²² The time came when AbiMelech, OchoZath (his trusted friend), and Pichol (the head of his army) [came to] AbraHam and said, ‘God is with you [and has blest] everything you do. ²³ So, swear to me by God that you won’t harm me, my seed, or my name; because you should deal with me in the same righteous way that I’ve dealt with you in this land that you’re living in.’

²⁴ And AbraHam said, ‘I swear.’

²⁵ Then AbraHam complained to AbiMelech about some water wells that his servants had taken from him. ²⁶ And AbiMelech replied, ‘I don’t know who did this thing to you, nor did you tell me about it. Today is the first time I’ve heard about it.’

²⁷ And thereafter, AbraHam took some cattle and sheep and gave them to AbiMelech, and they made a treaty. ²⁸ Then AbraHam set aside seven female lambs. ²⁹ And AbiMelech asked him, ‘Why have you set those seven female lambs aside?’

³⁰ And AbraHam replied: ‘I’m giving my seven female lambs to you as testimony to the fact that I dug this well.’ ³¹ And he named that place ‘The Well of the Oath,’ because that’s where they swore their oath ³² and it’s where they made their treaty. So AbiMelech, his trusted friend OchoZath, and Pichol (the head of his army) got up and returned [home] to the land of the Philistines.

³³ Then AbraHam planted a field at The Well of the Oath, and started calling on the Name of the God of the ages, Jehovah. ³⁴ And he stayed there in the land of the Philistines for many days.

Chapter 22

¹ After that, it so happened that God tested AbraHam. He called to him, saying; ‘AbraHam… AbraHam!’

And [AbraHam] replied, ‘Look! It’s me!’

² Then [God] said, ‘Take your beloved son – this one you love, IsaAc – then go to the highlands and offer him there on one of the mountains that I’ll tell you about, as a burnt offering. ³ So AbraHam got up in the morning, saddled his burro, and [prepared to] take two servants and his son IsaAc with him. Then, after splitting some wood for the offering, he got up and traveled toward the place that God had told him about.

⁴ It was on the third day that AbraHam looked up and saw the place in the distance. ⁵ Then AbraHam told his servants, ‘Stay here with the burro. For my son and I will go over there, and after we bow low [before God], we will return to you.’

⁶ So, AbraHam took the wood for the offering and laid it on his son IsaAc’s [shoulders]; and the two went off together, as he carried both the fire and the knife in his own hands. ⁷

Then IsaAc called to his father AbraHam: ‘Father.’

And he replied, ‘What is it, son?’

And [IsaAc] continued: ‘Look; [we have the] the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep for the offering?’

⁸ Then AbraHam said, ‘God will provide His own sheep for the offering, son.’

So they both traveled on, and they ⁹ finally arrived at the place that God had told [AbraHam] about. Then AbraHam built the altar there and laid the wood on it, tied his son IsaAc’s feet together, and laid him on the wood on top of the altar. ¹⁰ And it was when AbraHam reached over to take the knife to kill his son ¹¹ that a messenger of Jehovah called to him from the sky, and said, ‘AbraHam… AbraHam!’

And he said, ‘Look, it’s me!’

¹² Then [the messenger] said: ‘Don’t lay a hand on the child and don’t do anything to him, because now I know that you fear God. Why, you haven’t even spared your loved son for My sake.’

¹³ And when AbraHam looked up, he saw {Look!} a male goat that was caught by its horns in a Sabec bush. So AbraHam went over and grabbed the male goat, [then he] offered it as a whole burnt offering instead of his son IsaAc.

¹⁴ AbraHam thereafter named that place, ‘Jehovah Was Seen.’ [He did that] so people today would say, ‘This is the mountain where Jehovah was seen.’

¹⁵ Then a messenger of Jehovah called AbraHam a second time from the sky, and he said, ¹⁶ ‘This is what Jehovah said: I have sworn [an oath] by Myself, that; because you’ve done this thing – because you haven’t spared your loved son for Me – ¹⁷ when it comes to blessings, I will bless you, and when it comes to multiplying, I will multiply your seed as the stars in the sky and as the sands on the sea shore. Your seed will inherit the cities of their enemies, ¹⁸ and all the nations of the earth will be blest by your seed, because you’ve listened to My voice.’

¹⁹ And thereafter, AbraHam returned to his servants, and they got up and traveled together to the Well of the Oath. Then AbraHam lived there at the Well of the Oath.

²⁰ Later on, AbraHam received the report: ‘Look! Melcha has given birth to sons by your brother Nahor! ²¹ Uz is the first-born, [then there is] Baux his brother, CamuEl (the father of the Syrians), Chazad, ²² Azav, Phaldes, JelDaph, and BathuEl (BathuEl was RebecCa’s father). ²³ MecCha bore these eight sons to AbraHam’s brother Nahor. ²⁴ In addition, his concubine (named RheUma) also gave birth to TaBec, TaAm, Tochos, and Mocha.’

Chapter 23

¹ Well, SarAh lived a hundred and twenty-seven years, ² and then SarAh died in the city of Arboc (Hebron in the land of CanaAn), which is located in a valley. So, AbraHam went to SarAh to mourn for her. ³ And as AbraHam stood before his dead [wife], he spoke to the sons of Chet, saying, ⁴ ‘I’m just a visitor and a stranger among you, so, [please] allow me to buy a burying-place among [your people], and then I will bury my dead away from [my place].’

⁵ And the sons of Chet replied to AbraHam, saying, ‘No Sir! ⁶ Listen; You may live among us, but you’re [really] a king from God; so bury your dead in our best tombs! None of us will ever withhold our tombs to keep you from burying your dead here!’

⁷ Then AbraHam arose and bowed low before the people of the land (the sons of Chet). ⁸ And AbraHam said to them, ‘If you approve of me burying my dead out of my sight, then listen to what I have to say and [please] speak on my behalf to Ephron, the son SaAr. ⁹ [I want] him to give me the double cave that he owns, which is located in his field. I will [be happy to pay] whatever it’s worth [to buy] a burial-place among you.’

¹⁰ Now, Ephron happened to be sitting there in the midst of the children of Chet, and [he] answered AbraHam (speaking where he could be heard by all the sons of Chet and all who were entering the city), saying, ¹¹ ‘Pay attention to me, my lord; Here before all my countrymen [I say], Bury your dead!’

¹² And at that, AbraHam bowed low before the people of the land, ¹³ and he told Ephron (before the people of the land): ‘Since you’re on my side, listen to me; Accept the price of the field from me and I’ll bury my dead there.’

¹⁴ However, Ephron answered AbraHam, saying, ¹⁵ ‘No, my lord! I’ve heard that the land [is worth] four hundred silver coins, but what value is that between you and me? No, just bury your dead.’

¹⁶ And although AbraHam listened to Ephron, he still paid [him] the money, just as he had said before the sons of Chet – four hundred silver coins that had been approved by merchants.

¹⁷ And the double cave that was in the field of Ephron opposite MamRe (both the field and the cave that was in it, as well as every tree in the field and everything that was within its borders) was sold ¹⁸ to AbraHam as his possession, there in front of the sons of Chet and everyone [who was] entering the city.

¹⁹ So, AbraHam buried his wife SarAh inside the field’s double cave, which is opposite MamRe (Hebron in the land of CanaAn). ²⁰ For the field and its cave were sold to AbraHam as his burying place by the sons of Chet.

Chapter 24

¹ By then AbraHam was very old, and Jehovah had blest AbraHam in everything. ² So AbraHam said to his servant (the elder of his house, who was in charge of all his possessions), ‘Put your hand under my thigh, ³ because I want you to swear by Jehovah the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you won’t take a wife for my son IsaAc from the daughters of the CanaAnites, these [people] among whom I am living. ⁴ Rather, I want you to go to my country – to the place where I was born and to my people – to find a wife for my son IsaAc.’

⁵ And his servant replied, ‘But if the woman isn’t happy and willing to return with me to this land, then should I carry your son back to the land that you came from?’

⁶ And AbraHam said to him, ‘Make sure that you don’t carry my son back there. ⁷ Jehovah, the God of heaven and the God of earth, who took me out of my father’s house and out of the land where I was born, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, I will give this land to you and to your seed, will send His messenger ahead of you, and you must take a wife for my son from there. ⁸ And if the woman isn’t willing to come with you into this land, you will be free from this oath. Just don’t carry my son there again.’

⁹ So, the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master AbraHam, and swore this to him. ¹⁰ Then the servant took ten camels from his master’s herd, and [some of] his master’s valuables, and traveled through MesoPotamia to the city of Nahor.

¹¹ And toward evening, he rested his camels outside the city, by the well where the young women went to draw water. ¹² And he [prayed], ‘O Jehovah, the God of my master AbraHam; Bless what I’m doing today, and be merciful with my master AbraHam. ¹³ {Look!} Here I am standing by the well where the daughters of those who live in this city come to draw water. ¹⁴ And may it be that, whichever virgin to whom I say, Bring down the water jar so that I can have a drink, and she replies, Take a drink, and I will also [pour water] for your camels to drink until they are satisfied, [I will believe that] this is the one whom You’ve prepared for Your servant IsaAc. And it [will be by this sign] that I’ll know whether You’ve been merciful to my master AbraHam.’

¹⁵ And before he was even done speaking in his mind, {Look!} RebecCa, the daughter of BathuEl (who was the son of Melcha, the wife of Nahor, AbraHam’s brother) came there carrying a water jug on her shoulders. ¹⁶ This virgin was very beautiful, and she was in fact a virgin… no man ever had sexual relations with her. She went down to the well, filled her water jug, and [walked back] up.

¹⁷ Then [AbraHam’s] servant ran to meet her, and said, ‘Give me a little water to drink from your pitcher.’

¹⁸ And she said, ‘Have a drink, Sir.’ So she quickly removed the pitcher [from her head] and allowed him to drink until he was finished. ¹⁹ Then she said, ‘I’ll also draw water for your camels, until they all have enough to drink.’ ²⁰ And she quickly emptied the water jug into the trough, and then ran to the well to draw, until she had drawn enough water for all the camels.

²¹ And the man really paid attention to her, but he didn’t say anything, because he wanted to know whether Jehovah was blessing this or not. ²² And after all the camels were finished drinking, he gave her [two] gold earrings (each weighing about an eighth of an ounce), and he [put] two bracelets on her hands (they weighed about the same as ten gold coins), ²³ and he asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you… tell me! And is there room for us to lodge with your father?’

²⁴ And she replied, ‘I’m the daughter of BathuEl, who is the son of Melcha and whose father was Nahor.’ ²⁵ And she added, ‘We have straw, a lot of fodder, and a place for [you to] rest.’

²⁶ Then the man (who was very happy) bowed low to Jehovah ²⁷ and said, ‘May Jehovah the God of my master AbraHam be praised, [because He] hasn’t allowed His righteousness or His truth to fail my master. Jehovah has led me right to the house of my lord’s brother!’

²⁸ Well, the young maiden ran and reported what he said to the household of her mother.

²⁹ Now, RebecCa had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran out to meet the man, all the way to the well. ³⁰ And when he saw the earrings, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard what his sister RebecCa said about what the man had told her, he went to the man, as he was standing at the well with his camels, ³¹ and said to him, ‘Come on in, you who are blest by Jehovah; Why are you standing outside? I’ve prepared the house and I also made a place for your camels!’

³² So the man went into the house, and [Laban] unloaded the camels, gave them straw and fodder, got water to wash the feet [of AbraHam’s servant], as well as the feet of the men who were with him; ³³ then he set loaves of bread before them to eat. However, [AbraHam’s servant] said, ‘I’m not going to eat until I’ve told you why I’ve come.’

And [Laban] said, ‘Go ahead and speak.’

³⁴ And he said, ‘I’m a servant of AbraHam; ³⁵ and Jehovah has greatly blest my master. He is highly respected and has been given sheep, cattle, silver, gold, male and female servants, camels, and burros. ³⁶ And SarAh, my master’s wife, bore one son to my master after he had grown old; and he gave [this son] everything he has.

³⁷ ‘Now, my master made me swear [an oath], saying, You must not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the CanaAnites… these [people] among whom I am living. ³⁸ But you should go to the house of my father and to my tribe, and take a wife for my son from there.

³⁹ ‘Then I asked my master, What if the woman is unhappy about coming along?

⁴⁰ ‘And he replied, Jehovah God, who has found me to be acceptable in His presence, will send His messenger along with you, and your journey will be blest. You should take a wife for my son from my tribe and from the house of my father. ⁴¹ Then you will be free from the curse [of your oath]. Because, when you get to my tribe, and if they won’t give her to you, then you will be freed from your oath.

⁴² ‘So, today I came to this well, and I [prayed]: Jehovah, the God of my master AbraHam; If you would bless this journey that I’m now on, ⁴³ {Look!} I will stand by this well where the daughters of the people of this city come to draw water. And whichever young woman to whom I will say, Give me a little water to drink out of your pitcher, ⁴⁴ and she replies, Take a drink, and I will also [pour water] for your camels to drink until they are satisfied; this is the wife that Jehovah has prepared for His servant IsaAc. And that’s how I will know that You have been merciful to my master AbraHam.

⁴⁵ ‘And before I had even finished speaking in my mind, RebecCa arrived with her pitcher on her shoulders. And [after] she went down to the well and drew water, I said to her, Give me a drink; ⁴⁶ then she quickly took the pitcher from her head, and said, Take a drink, and I will also give your camels [something to] drink. So I drank, and she watered the camels.

⁴⁷ ‘Then I asked her, Whose daughter are you… tell me! And she replied, I’m the daughter of BathuEl, who is the son of Melcha and whose father was Nahor. So I put the earrings on her, and the bracelets on her hands.

⁴⁸ ‘All of this made me so happy that I bowed low and praised Jehovah, the God of my master AbraHam, who has truly blest me in such a way that I might take the daughter of my master’s own brother for his son. ⁴⁹ Tell me whether you will be merciful and just with my lord, so I will know which way to turn.’

⁵⁰ And at this, Laban and BathuEl answered, saying, ‘This thing has come from Jehovah, so we won’t be able to answer you either in a bad or a good way. ⁵¹ Look! There’s RebecCa standing before you. Take her and go. Let her be the wife of your master’s son, just as Jehovah has said.’

⁵² And when AbraHam’s servant heard these words, he bowed to the ground to Jehovah. ⁵³ Then he brought out jewelry of silver and gold, as well as clothing, and gave it to RebecCa. He also gave gifts to her brother and to her mother. ⁵⁴ And afterward, both he and the men who were with him ate and drank; then they went to sleep.

Well, when he got up in the morning, he said to them, ‘Now allow me to leave, so I can return to my master.’

⁵⁵ And her brothers and mother said, ‘Let the virgin stay here with us for about ten more days, and then she can go.’

⁵⁶ But he replied to them, ‘Don’t hold me back, because Jehovah has blest my journey. Send me away, so I can return to my master!’

⁵⁷ And they said, ‘Let’s call the girl and ask [what she wants to do]. ⁵⁸ So they called RebecCa and asked, ‘Will you go with this man?’

And she replied, ‘I’ll go.’

⁵⁹ So they [agreed to] send their sister RebecCa and all her possessions along with AbraHam’s servant and his attendants. ⁶⁰ Then they [gave] RebecCa a blessing, saying to her, ‘You are our sister; now become ten thousands of thousands, and may your seed own the cities of their enemies.’

⁶¹ Thereafter, RebecCa and her female attendants mounted the camels and went along with the man. And the servant, on having received RebecCa, departed.

⁶² Now, IsaAc had traveled through the desert toward the Well of the Vision, and he lived in the southern portion of that land. ⁶³ And toward evening, IsaAc went out into the plains to meditate. And when he looked up, he saw camels coming.

⁶⁴ Also, RebecCa looked up and saw IsaAc. So she quickly dismounted the camel ⁶⁵ and asked the servant, ‘Who is that man who is walking across the plains to meet us?’

And the servant said, ‘This is my master.’ So she took her veil and covered herself.

⁶⁶ Thereafter, the servant told IsaAc everything that he had done. ⁶⁷ And IsaAc went to the house of his mother and took RebecCa, so she became his wife… and he loved her… and IsaAc was given comfort for [the death of] SarAh his mother.

Chapter 25

¹ Then AbraHam married again, and his wife’s name was ChetTura. ² She bore to him Zombran, Jezan, Madal, Midian, Jesboc, and SoYe.

³ Jezan fathered Saba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were the Assyrians, the Latusians, and the Laomim.

⁴ The sons of Midian were Gephar, Aphir, Enoch, AbeIda, and ElDaga.

These were all the sons of ChetTura. ⁵ However, AbraHam gave all of his possessions to his son IsaAc ⁶ (he [just] gave gifts to the sons of his concubines). Then (while he was still living) he sent them away from his son IsaAc, eastward, to an eastern country.

⁷ AbraHam lived to be a hundred and seventy-five years old. ⁸ But AbraHam [eventually found himself in] failing health and he died at a ripe old age… an old man whose days were full. Then he was [buried] with his family.

⁹ IsaAc and IshMaEl, his sons, buried him in the double cave that was in the field of Ephron (the son of SaAr the Chettite), which is across from MamRe. ¹⁰ [So they buried] AbraHam and his wife SarAh in the field, inside the cave that AbraHam bought from the sons of Chet.

¹¹ And after AbraHam died, God blest his son IsaAc. Then IsaAc lived by the Well of the Vision.

¹² These are the generations of IshMaEl the son of AbraHam, who Hagar the Egyptian handmaid of SarAh bore to AbraHam, ¹³ and these are the names of IshMaEl’s sons by each of their generations: The firstborn of IshMaEl was NabaiOth, then Kedar, NabDeEl, MasSam, ¹⁴ MasMa, Duma, MasSe, ¹⁵ ChodDan, ThaEman, Jetur, Naphes, and Kedma. ¹⁶ Those are IshMaEl’s sons, whose names are on their tents and dwellings… twelve princes of their nations.

¹⁷ And this is how long IshMaEl lived: a hundred and thirty-seven years. Then [his health started to] fail and he died and was [buried with] his family.

¹⁸ [IshMaEl] lived [in the area] between Evilat and Sur, [which runs from the land] opposite Egypt, all the way to Assyria. He lived there among all of his family.

¹⁹ And these are the generations of IsaAc, the son of AbraHam: ²⁰ AbraHam fathered IsaAc. And when IsaAc was forty years old, he took RebecCa (the daughter of BathuEl, the Syrian of Syrian MesoPotamia, the sister of Laban the Syrian) as his wife.

²¹ Then IsaAc prayed to Jehovah about his wife RebecCa, because she was sterile, and Jehovah heard him; so his wife (RebecCa) got pregnant. ²² And [one day], the babies that were inside her jumped. And she asked, ‘If this happened to me, then why did it happen?’

So, she went to ask Jehovah, ²³ and Jehovah told her: ‘There are two nations in your womb, and two races will be separated from your belly. One race will become greater than the other, and the older one will serve the younger.’

²⁴ Finally, when it came time for her to deliver, she [found that] she had twins in her womb. ²⁵ The first came out red and covered with hair all over his skin; and she named him Esau. ²⁶ And after this, his brother was born while holding onto the heel of Esau with his hand. She named him Jacob. (IsaAc was sixty years old when RebecCa bore them).

²⁷ These boys grew up, and Esau became a skilled hunter who lived in the country, while Jacob was a simple man who lived in a house. ²⁸ And although IsaAc loved Esau (because he enjoyed venison), RebecCa loved Jacob.

²⁹ Then [one day], Jacob had cooked up some stew. And when Esau came in from the plains tired and weak, ³⁰ he said to Jacob, ‘Let me have a taste of that red stew, because I’m weak.’ (That’s when he started to be called Edom [or Red]).

³¹ And Jacob replied to Esau, ‘Then sell me your right [to be the firstborn]… right now!’

³² And Esau said, ‘Look, I’m about to die! What good does this right [of the firstborn] mean to me?’

³³ And Jacob said to him, ‘Swear to me right now!’ And he swore to him.

So, Esau sold his birthright to Jacob, ³⁴ then Jacob gave Esau bread and some lentil stew. He ate it and drank, and then he got up and left. And that’s how Esau [showed little regard for] his birthright.

Chapter 26

¹ There came a famine in the land, which was greater than past famines in the time of AbraHam. So IsaAc went to GeraRa to [see] AbiMelech, the king of the Philistines. ² And there the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Don’t go to Egypt, but live in the land that I’m going to tell you about. ³ Stay in this land and I will be with you and bless you, because I’m going to give all this land to you and to your seed. And I will fulfill the oath that I swore to your father AbraHam, ⁴ for I will increase your seed as the stars in the sky; I will give all of this land to your seed; and all the nations of the earth will be blest by your seed, ⁵ because AbraHam your father listened to My voice and did what I said… He obeyed My Commandments, rules, and Laws.’

⁶ So IsaAc started living in GeraRa. ⁷ And when the men there asked him about RebecCa his wife, he told them, ‘She’s my sister;’ because he was afraid to say, ‘She’s my wife,’ so the men there wouldn’t kill him for RebecCa (because she was very pretty).

⁸ Well, he had lived there a long time, when AbiMelech (the king of GeraRa) leaned over to look out his window, and saw IsaAc playing with RebecCa his wife. ⁹ So, AbiMelech called IsaAc and asked him, ‘Is she your wife? [And if so, then] why did you say she’s your sister?’

And IsaAc replied, ‘Well, I said this so that I wouldn’t be killed on account of her.’

¹⁰ And AbiMelech said, ‘Why would you do such a thing to us? Before long, one of my relatives would have had [sex] with your wife, and you would have brought a sin upon us in our ignorance!’

¹¹ So, AbiMelech gave a command to all his people, saying, ‘Any man who touches this man or his wife will die!’

¹² Then IsaAc planted grain in the land, and that year the barley produced a hundred times [more than what he had planted]. So, Jehovah had blest him.

¹³ This man was highly regarded and he continued to prosper, so he became very wealthy. ¹⁴ He owned many sheep, cattle, and many tillable lands, and the Philistines [started to] envy him. ¹⁵ So the Philistines stopped up all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in his father’s time, and filled them with dirt.

¹⁶ Then AbiMelech told IsaAc: ‘[I want you to] leave us, because you’ve become much greater than us.’

¹⁷ So IsaAc left there, stopping to rest in the valley of GeraRa, where [he decided to] live.

¹⁸ And once more, IsaAc dug the [same type of] wells that his father AbraHam’s servants had dug, which the Philistines stopped up after his father AbraHam’s death. And he gave them each names, using the names that his father had used.

¹⁹ And when IsaAc’s servants dug in the valley of GeraRa, they found a live well of water. ²⁰ However, the shepherds of GeraRa argued with IsaAc’s shepherds, claiming that the water was theirs. So they named the well Injury, because [they claimed] injury over this matter.

²¹ As the result, he left that place and dug another well, and they started claiming [that it was theirs too]. So he named it Hatred. ²² And he left that place and dug another well, which no one else claimed to be theirs; so he named it Space, saying, ‘Because Jehovah has made space for us, and He has made us prosper on the earth.’

²³ Then he traveled to the Well of the Oath. ²⁴ And Jehovah appeared to him [there] that night and said, ‘I am the God of your father AbraHam. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! And because of your father AbraHam, I will bless you, and your seed will increase.’

²⁵ So he built an altar there, and named it Jehovah. Then he pitched his tent, and IsaAc’s servants dug a well there in the valley of GeraRa.

²⁶ Later, AbiMelech came to him from [the City of] GeraRa, with his trusted friend OchoZath, and with Phichol, the commander of his army. ²⁷ And IsaAc asked them, ‘Why have you come to me here; since you hated me and sent me away from you?’

²⁸ And they replied, ‘We have surely seen that Jehovah is with you. So we said, May there be an oath between us and you… and we [wish to] make a treaty with you; ²⁹ that you won’t do any wrong to us, and we won’t hate you. And because we have treated you well by sending you away peacefully, you are now blest by Jehovah.’

³⁰ So [IsaAc] prepared a feast for them, and they ate and drank. ³¹ And when they got up the next morning, they each swore [an oath] to his neighbor. Then IsaAc sent them away, and they left him in safety.

³² However, that very same day, IsaAc’s servants came and [gave him news about] the well that they had dug. They said, ‘We’ve found water!’ ³³ So, he named it and the city, Oath. This is why that city is called the Well of Oath to this day.

³⁴ Then, when Esau was forty years old, he married Judith, the daughter of BeOch the Chettite, and BasEmath (the daughter of Helon the Chettite). ³⁵ And they made life very difficult for IsaAc and RebecCa.

Chapter 27

¹ Well, when IsaAc got old, his eyes became so dim that he couldn’t see. Then he called Esau, his eldest son, and said to him, ‘Son!’

And [Esau] replied, ‘Look, here I am!’

² And [IsaAc] said, ‘{Look!} I’m old and I don’t know when I will die. ³ So, go get your weapons, both your bow and your quiver, and go into the plains and get me some venison. ⁴ Then prepare the meat for me, just the way I like it, and bring it to me so I can eat it. Then I’ll bless you with my [whole] soul before I die.’

⁵ However, RebecCa overheard IsaAc speaking to his son Esau. And after Esau went out to the plains to get some venison for his father, ⁶ RebecCa told her younger son Jacob: ‘{Look!} I overheard your father speaking to your brother Esau. And he told him, ⁷ Bring me venison and prepare the meat so I can eat it and bless you in front of Jehovah before I die.

⁸ ‘Now, listen my son and do what I tell you! ⁹ Go out to the animals and bring two young goats to me ([make sure they’re] tender and good), and I’ll prepare the meat for your father the way he likes it. ¹⁰ Then you must take it to your father so he can eat it, and he will bless you [instead], before he dies.’

¹¹ But Jacob said to his mother RebecCa: ‘My brother Esau is covered with hair, while [my body] is smooth. ¹² So if my father should [reach out] and feel me, it will look to him as though I’m doing a bad thing, and that would bring a curse on me, not a blessing!’

¹³ However, his mother said to him: ‘May I receive your curse, son. Just listen to what I’ve told you to do, and bring [the young goats] to me.’

¹⁴ So he went out and brought them to his mother; and his mother prepared the meat just the way his father liked it. ¹⁵ Then RebecCa took some of her eldest son Esau’s finest clothes that she had there in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. ¹⁶ And she covered his arms and the bare parts of his neck with the skins of the young goats. ¹⁷ Then she put the meat and the bread that she had prepared into the hands of her son Jacob, ¹⁸ and he brought it to his father.

Then he said, ‘Father.’

And [Jacob] replied, ‘Look, it’s me! Who are you, son?’

¹⁹ And Jacob said to his father, ‘It’s me, Esau your first-born! I’ve done what you told me, so get up and sit [here] to eat my venison… then you can bless me with your [whole] soul.’

²⁰ But IsaAc asked his son, ‘What did you find so quickly?’

And he replied, ‘It’s what Jehovah your God set before me.’

²¹ Then IsaAc told Jacob, ‘Come close to me so I can feel you son, [too see] whether you are my son Esau!’

²² And Jacob drew close to his father, and IsaAc felt him and said, ‘Your voice is that of Jacob, but your hands are the hands of Esau.’

²³ So he didn’t recognize him, because his hands were hairy like the hands of his brother Esau. Thus [IsaAc] blest [Jacob]. ²⁴ Then [IsaAc] asked, ‘Are you my son Esau?’

And [Jacob] replied, ‘It’s me.’

²⁵ And he said, ‘Bring your venison over here and I’ll eat it son, so I can bless you with my [whole] soul.’

Then he brought [the food] to him and he ate it, along with some wine, which he drank. ²⁶ And IsaAc (his father) said to him, ‘Come close and kiss me, son.’

²⁷ So [Jacob] went over and kissed him; and [IsaAc] then sniffed the odor of his clothes, and blest him, saying, ‘{Look!} This is the odor of my son. It has the smell of a wonderful field that has been blest by Jehovah. ²⁸ So, may God give you the dew of the skies, the fatness of the land, and plenty of grain and wine. ²⁹ May the nations serve you and may princes bow before you. May you be the lord over your brother, and your father’s sons will show you respect. May anyone who curses you be cursed, and may all who bless you be blest.’

³⁰ Well, after IsaAc had blest his son Jacob – immediately after Jacob had left the presence of IsaAc his father – his brother Esau returned from his hunt. ³¹ He had also prepared some meat and brought it to his father, and he said, ‘Get up father. Sit up and eat some of your son’s venison, so you can bless me with your [whole] soul.’

³² But his father IsaAc asked, ‘Who are you?’

And he said, ‘I’m your first-born son, Esau.’

³³ Well, IsaAc was shocked, and asked, ‘Then who was it that [just] got the venison and brought it to me? Why, I ate it all before you got here, and I blest him… so he will be blest!’

³⁴ And when Esau heard what his father IsaAc said, he shouted loudly and bitterly, ‘I beg you; Bless me too, father!’

³⁵ And [IsaAc] told him, ‘Your brother slyly took your blessing.’

³⁶ Then [Esau] said, ‘He is well named Jacob, because {Look!} this is the second time has he taken what was mine. He took my right as the firstborn, and now he has taken my blessing!’

And again, Esau asked his father, ‘Don’t you have a blessing left for me father?’

³⁷ And IsaAc replied to Esau, ‘If I’ve already made him your lord, and all of your brothers his servants, and I empowered him with wine and grain; what can I give you, son?’

³⁸ But Esau asked his father, ‘Don’t you have just one blessing father? I beg you father, bless me too!’

Well, this really bothered IsaAc, because Esau was shouting and crying. ³⁹ So (his father) IsaAc answered and said, ‘Look; Your home will be in the fatness of the ground and in the dew of the skies above. ⁴⁰ You will indeed live by your sword and you will serve your brother. However, the time will come when you will loosen and break his yoke from your neck.’

⁴¹ Well, Esau was very angry with Jacob over the blessing that his father had given him. So Esau thought and said: ‘May the days of mourning my father come quickly, so I can kill my brother Jacob!’

⁴² Then these words of Esau (her eldest son) were reported to RebecCa; so she sent for her younger son Jacob, and said to him, ‘{Look!} Your brother Esau has threatened to kill you! ⁴³ So now listen to me, my son; Get up and quickly leave for MesoPotamia… go to my brother Laban in Haran ⁴⁴ and live with him until all of your brother’s anger ⁴⁵ and rage against you is over and he forgets what you’ve done to him. Then I will send for you and bring you back. For, I don’t want to be saddened over both of you in the same day.’

⁴⁶ Then RebecCa said [to IsaAc], ‘I’m so tired of my life because of the daughters of the sons of Chet. And if Jacob were [also] to take a wife from the daughters of this land, then where would I live?’

Chapter 28

¹ So then IsaAc called for Jacob… he blest him and told him: ‘You must not take a wife from among the daughters of the CanaAnites. ² Get up and go quickly to MesoPotamia, to the house of my father-in-law BathuEl, and find yourself a wife among the daughters of your mother’s brother Laban. ³ May my God bless you, prosper you, and make you increase; for you will become a gathering of nations. ⁴ And may He give the blessing of my father AbraHam to you and to your seed that comes after you, to inherit the land that you are staying in, which God gave to AbraHam.’

⁵ So then, IsaAc sent Jacob away. And he went to [stay with] Laban, the son of BethuEl the Syrian, who was the brother of RebecCa (the mother of Jacob and Esau), in MesoPotamia.

⁶ Now, Esau knew that IsaAc had blest Jacob, and that after he blest him, he sent him away to MesoPotamia of Syria, to find a wife there. [And he also knew that Jacob] was told not to take a wife from the daughters of the CanaAnites… ⁷ and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and went to MesoPotamia of Syria. ⁸ So Esau also recognized that his father IsaAc viewed the daughters of CanaAn as evil, ⁹ thus he went to see IshMaEl (the son of AbraHam) and took MaEleth (IshMaEl’s daughter and NabeOth’s sister) to be a wife (in addition to his other wives).

¹⁰ So Jacob left the Well of the Oath, and traveled to Haran. ¹¹ Then, when he reached a certain place, he decided to sleep there, since the sun had gone down. So he chose a stone and placed it under his head, then he layed down to sleep in that place, ¹² and [he started to] dream.

Well, {Look!} [in the dream] there was a stairway fastened to the ground, and its top reached into heaven. And the messengers of God were ascending and descending it. ¹³ Then Jehovah stood on it and said, ‘I am the God of your father AbraHam and the God of IsaAc. Don’t be afraid, for I will give the ground that you’re lying on to you and to your seed. ¹⁴ And your seed will be like the sand on the ground… it will spread from the sea to the north, to the south, and to the east. And through you and your seed all the tribes of the earth be blest. ¹⁵ And look; I am with you! [I will] always keep you safe wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I’ve done everything that I said I will do for you.’

¹⁶ And when Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, ‘Jehovah is here and I didn’t realize it.’ ¹⁷ That frightened him, and he said, ‘What a fearful place! This is nothing other than the house of God and the gate to heaven!’

¹⁸ And after Jacob got up in the morning, he took the stone on which he had laid his head and he set it up as a pillar, then he poured oil over it. ¹⁹ And he named that place the House of God (BethEl). But before that, the city had been called UlamLuz.

²⁰ Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If Jehovah God will be with me and guard me throughout this journey, and give me bread to eat and clothes to wear, ²¹ and bring me back safely to the house of my father, then Jehovah will be my God. ²² And this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be a House of God to me. And [I agree that] I will give a tenth of everything You give me as a tithe to You.’

Chapter 29

¹ So Jacob [resumed his journey] eastward toward the land of Laban, the son of BathuEl the Syrian, and the brother of RebecCa (the mother of Jacob and Esau).

² [Finally], [Jacob] saw {Look!} a well in the plain; and there were three flocks of sheep resting there. [This was] the well where they watered the flocks; and there was a large stone covering it. ³ For, when all the flocks had gathered there, they had to roll the stone away from the mouth of the well to water the flocks, then push the stone back over the mouth of the well again.

⁴ So Jacob asked, ‘Brothers, where are you from?’

And they replied, ‘We’re from Haran.’

⁵ Then he asked, ‘Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?’

And they answered, ‘We do!’

⁶ And he asked, ‘Is he well?’

Then they replied, ‘He is well. Look, his daughter RachEl [is coming] with his sheep!’

⁷ And Jacob said, ‘It’s still mid-day… it isn’t time for the flocks to be gathered yet. So, water the flocks, then take them out to graze.’

⁸ But they said, ‘We can’t, until all the shepherds get here. They will roll away the stone from the mouth of the well and then we will water the flocks.’

⁹ Then, while he was still speaking to them, {Look!} Laban’s daughter RachEl arrived with her father’s sheep, because she was in charge of feeding them. ¹⁰ And when Jacob saw RachEl (the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother), and the sheep of his mother’s brother Laban, Jacob went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered Laban’s sheep.

¹¹ Then Jacob kissed RachEl and shouted loudly, as he [started to] cry… ¹² for he explained to RachEl that he was a close relative of her father, and that he was the son of RebecCa. So she ran and told her father what he said. ¹³ And when Laban heard the name of Jacob (his sister’s son), he ran to meet him and hugged and kissed him, then brought him into his house.

So then, [Jacob] told Laban everything [that had happened]. ¹⁴ And Laban said, ‘You are my own flesh and bones!’ So [Jacob] stayed with [Laban] for a full month.

¹⁵ Then Laban said to Jacob: ‘Surely you aren’t going to serve me for nothing; why, you’re my brother! Tell me how I can reward you.’

¹⁶ Now, Laban had two daughters. The name of the eldest was Leah, and the younger was called RachEl. ¹⁷ Leah had weak eyes, but RachEl was beautiful and had a very pretty face. ¹⁸ And because Jacob loved RachEl, he replied: ‘I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter RachEl.’

¹⁹ And Laban said to him: ‘It’s better for me to give her to you than to some other man. So, come and live with me.’

²⁰ Well, Jacob served [Laban] seven years for RachEl. But to him it was like just a few days, because he loved her so much. ²¹ Then Jacob told Laban: ‘Give me my wife so I can [have her], because I’ve served my time.’

²² And Laban brought all the men together and prepared a wedding banquet. ²³ Then that evening, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob went inside with her. ²⁴ Laban also gave his servant Zelpha to his daughter Leah, to be her handmaid.

²⁵ Well, it was [the next] morning before [Jacob realized] that it was Leah. So Jacob [went to] Laban and asked, ‘What have you done to me? Didn’t I serve you for RachEl? Why have you deceived me?’

²⁶ And Laban answered: ‘In our country, it isn’t proper to give the younger before the eldest. ²⁷ Serve me for seven [more years] and I’ll give her to you also, in return for your labor of seven more years.’

²⁸ So, that’s what Jacob did… he served for seven [more years]. Then Laban also gave his daughter RachEl to be his wife. ²⁹ And Laban gave his servant BalLa to be his daughter’s handmaid.

³⁰ Thereafter, [Jacob] went inside to RachEl, and he loved RachEl more than Leah… that’s why [he was willing] to serve him for seven more years.

³¹ And when Jehovah God saw that Leah wasn’t attractive [to Jacob], he opened her womb. However, RachEl was sterile. ³² So Leah got pregnant and bore a son to Jacob, whom she named Reuben. She said, ‘[This is] because Jehovah has seen my humiliation and given me a son. Now my husband will love me.’

³³ Then she got pregnant again and bore a second son to Jacob. [This time] she said, ‘Because Jehovah has heard that I’m hated, He has also given me this one.’ So she named him SimeOn.

³⁴ Then she got pregnant a third time and bore a son, and said, ‘Now my husband will stay with me, because I’ve born three sons to him.’ So she named him Levi.

³⁵ Thereafter she got pregnant again and bore a son. And she said, ‘I give thanks to Jehovah once more.’ So she named him Judah. And after that, she didn’t have any more children.

Chapter 30

¹ Well, when RachEl realized that she wasn’t bearing children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister; and she said to Jacob, ‘Give me children, for if you don’t, I’ll die!’

² This made Jacob very angry with RachEl, so he asked: ‘Am I in the position of God who has deprived you of the fruit of your womb?’

³ Then RachEl told Jacob, ‘Look; Here’s my handmaid BalLa. [Sleep] with her, and she will give birth [to children] on my knees… I will have children by her.’

⁴ So she gave him BalLa her maid to be his wife, and Jacob went in [and slept with] her. ⁵ As the result; BalLa, RachEl’s maid, got pregnant and bore a son to Jacob. ⁶ Then RachEl said, ‘God has given me justice and listened to my voice, for He has given me a son.’ So she named him Dan.

⁷ Then BalLa, RachEl’s maid, got pregnant again and bore a second son to Jacob. ⁸ And RachEl said, ‘God has helped me… I fought with my sister and won.’ So she named him NaphTali.

⁹ Well, when Leah saw that she was no longer bearing children, she took Zelpha her maid and gave her to Jacob as a wife, and he went in to [sleep with] her. ¹⁰ So Zelpha, Leah’s maid, got pregnant and bore Jacob a son. ¹¹ And Leah said, ‘[I’m] happy.’ So she named him Gad.

¹² Then Zelpha, Leah’s maid, got pregnant again and bore Jacob a second son. ¹³ This time Leah said, ‘I am blest, because the women will call me blest.’ So she named him Asher.

¹⁴ Well, when it came time to harvest the barley, Reuben went out to the field and found some mandrake apples [growing] there, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then RachEl said to her sister, ‘Give me some of your son’s mandrakes!’

¹⁵ And Leah replied, ‘Isn’t it enough that you’ve taken my husband… would you also take my son’s mandrakes?’

And RachEl said, ‘No; [I’ll] allow you to [sleep] with [Jacob] tonight for your son’s mandrakes.’

¹⁶ Then that evening, when Jacob came in from the field, Leah went out to meet him, and said: ‘You will [sleep] with me tonight, because I’ve hired you for my son’s mandrakes.’

So he slept with her that night, ¹⁷ and God listened to Leah, and she got pregnant and bore a fifth son to Jacob. ¹⁸ And Leah said, ‘God has rewarded me for giving my maid to my husband.’ So she named him IsSachar (which means, Reward).

¹⁹ Then Leah got pregnant again, and bore a sixth son to Jacob. ²⁰ And Leah said, ‘God has given me a fine gift this time. My husband will choose me, because I’ve given him six sons.’ So she named him ZebuLon.

²¹ And after that, she gave birth to a daughter who she named Dinah.

²² Then God remembered RachEl… He heard her and opened her womb. ²³ So she got pregnant and bore Jacob a son. And RachEl said, ‘Jehovah has removed my disgrace.’ ²⁴ So she named him Joseph, saying, ‘May God give me another son.’

²⁵ Well after RachEl had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, ‘[Allow] me to leave so I can return to my country and my home. ²⁶ Free my wives and children that I served you for, so I can leave. Because, you are aware of the service that I’ve given you.’

²⁷ And Laban replied: ‘If I’ve found favor in your eyes, it’s a good sign for me, because Jehovah has blest me by your coming here. ²⁸ Now, tell me how much I owe you, and I’ll pay it.’

²⁹ And Jacob said, ‘You know how many ways I’ve served you and how many of your cattle I’ve [taken care of]. ³⁰ You didn’t have many before I got here, and now there are many! So Jehovah God has blest you since I came. Now, when can I set up my own house?’

³¹ Then Laban asked, ‘What should I give you?’

And Jacob replied: ‘Don’t give me anything, just do this one thing for me: I will watch over your flocks and tend to them, ³² and as your sheep pass by each day, set aside the grey sheep and the speckled and spotted goats… let them be my reward! ³³ So, tomorrow my righteousness will answer for me, because this will be my reward from you. But you can steal any goats that aren’t spotted or speckled, and any sheep that aren’t grey.’

³⁴ And Laban agreed, saying, ‘May it be as you’ve said.’

³⁵ However, that same day [Laban craftily] separated the spotted and speckled billy goats and nanny goats, and all the grey sheep from those that were white, and he gave them to his sons. ³⁶ Then he sent [them away] on a three-day journey from Jacob, while he was tending the cattle that were left behind.

³⁷ So then; Jacob gathered green rods from storax, walnut, and sycamore trees, and alternately peeled them [to create the look of] white and green stripes, which gave a [spotted] appearance to the rods. ³⁸ Then he laid the rods he had peeled at the bottom of the watering troughs, so that when the cattle came to drink, they would see the rods and become pregnant there in front of the rods. ³⁹ And the cattle did get pregnant at the rods, and they gave birth to [young with] speckles, streaks, and ash-colored spots.

⁴⁰ And thereafter, Jacob would separate the lambs and set aside the speckled goats and the [spotted, streaked, and striped] lambs for himself. And he wouldn’t allow them to mingle with Laban’s sheep.

⁴¹ So, when the cattle became pregnant and gave birth, Jacob [continued] to put the rods in the troughs before the cattle, so they would get pregnant in front of the rods. ⁴² And whenever the cattle gave birth, [he gave] the unmarked ones to Laban, but the marked ones were his. ⁴³ And [before long], he became very rich with many cattle, oxen, [male] and female servants, camels, and burros.

Chapter 31

¹ Then Jacob overheard Laban’s sons saying, ‘Jacob has taken everything that belongs to our father and all our father’s property… all his glory!’ ² And {Look!} Jacob realized that Laban [wasn’t happy to see him anymore].

³ Then Jehovah said to Jacob: ‘Return to your family and to your father’s land, and I will be with you.’

⁴ So, Jacob sent for Leah and RachEl, [who were] out in the plains with the flocks, ⁵ and said to them: ‘I see that your father isn’t [happy when he sees me], but the God of my father is with me. ⁶ You know that I’ve served your father with all my might, ⁷ but your father deceived me and changed what he owed me to [just] ten lambs… yet God didn’t allow him to [do me wrong]. ⁸ For if he said, The speckled will be your reward, then all the cattle would give birth to speckled. And if he would have said, The white will be your reward, then all the cattle would have born white. ⁹ So God has taken all these cattle from your father and given them to me.

¹⁰ ‘It was while the cattle were pregnant with their young that, while I was sleeping, {Look!} I saw billy goats and rams jumping on the nanny goats and sheep. And they were all speckled, striped, and spotted with ash-colored spots. ¹¹ Then a messenger from God called me in the dream, saying, Jacob! And I said, What is it? ¹² And he said, Look up and see the billy goats and rams jumping on the nanny goats and sheep, and they are all speckled, striped, and spotted with ash-colored spots.

‘Now, I have seen all things that Laban did to you, ¹³ for I am the God that appeared to you at BethEl where you poured oil on a pillar to Me, and [where you] vowed an oath to Me. So now, get up and leave this land. Return to the land of your birth, and I will be with you.’

¹⁴ Then RachEl and Leah asked, ‘What about our inheritance in the house of our father? ¹⁵ Does he now consider us strangers? Why, he sold us and then used our money! ¹⁶ So, all the wealth and glory that God has taken from our father belongs to our children and to us. Therefore, do whatever God told you to do!’

¹⁷ Then Jacob got up and mounted his wives and children upon camels, ¹⁸ along with all the possessions and provisions he had obtained in MesoPotamia, and all [the servants and animals] that belonged to him, to return to his father IsaAc in the land of CanaAn. ¹⁹ And while Laban had gone to shear his sheep, RachEl stole her father’s idols. ²⁰ So Jacob didn’t let Laban the Syrian know that he was running away; ²¹ and he and all that belonged to him left and crossed the river, traveling to Mount Gilead.

²² It wasn’t until three days later that Laban the Syrian was told that Jacob had gone. ²³ But then he gathered his brothers and chased after them, catching up with them after seven days at Mount Gilead. ²⁴ However, God came to Laban the Syrian in his sleep that night and said to him, ‘Be very careful not to say anything bad about Jacob.’

²⁵ So when Laban caught up with Jacob (for Jacob had pitched his tent on the mountain), Laban stationed his brothers on the mountain, ²⁶ and he asked Jacob: ‘What have you done… why did you run away secretly, steal from me, and use swords to take my daughters as captives? ²⁷ If you had told me first, I would have happily sent you away with singing, tambourines, and harps. ²⁸ Didn’t you think that I was worthy to hug my children and my daughters before you did such a foolish thing?

²⁹ ‘And now; although I have enough power in my hands to harm you, the God of your father spoke to me yesterday and said, Be very careful that you never say anything bad about Jacob. ³⁰ So go your way, because you really wanted to return to the house of your father. However, why have you stolen my gods?’

³¹ And Jacob replied to Laban, ‘[I did this] because I was afraid that you would take your daughters and all my possessions from me!’ ³² Then Jacob added, ‘And whoever you find that has [stolen] your gods won’t [be allowed to] live in the presence of our family. Look around for anything I might have that’s yours and take it!’

[Well, Laban did this], but he couldn’t find anything. Yet, Jacob didn’t realize that his wife RachEl had stolen [the idols].

³³ Laban went in and searched Leah’s room, then Jacob’s room, then the room of the two female servants, and he found nothing. And finally he entered Rachael’s room, ³⁴ but RachEl had taken the idols and hidden them among the camel’s packs, and she was sitting on them. ³⁵ Then she told her father, ‘Don’t be impudent, sir! I can’t get up and stand before you, because it isn’t my way and it isn’t customary for women!’

Well, Laban searched throughout the [camp] and he couldn’t find the idols. ³⁶ And all [of this] made Jacob very angry, so he argued with Laban, asking him: ‘What wrong have I done to you and what is my sin that caused you to chase after me ³⁷ and then search all the furniture in my home? What have you found [that is part of] the furniture of your house? Lay it out here between your relatives and mine, and let them decide!

³⁸ ‘Why, I’ve been with you for twenty years, and your sheep and nanny goats haven’t failed to give birth, nor did I eat any of the rams of your cattle; ³⁹ all that I took was the wild animals that I didn’t bring to you. Why, I myself [paid] for anything that was stolen during the day or during the night, ⁴⁰ yet I was dried out with heat of the day, and [chilled] by frost in the night, so I seldom ever slept.

⁴¹ ‘During these twenty years that I stayed in your house, I served you for fourteen years for your two daughters, and [then I spent the next] six years among your sheep… just to have you falsely set my wages as ten lambs! ⁴² Why, if it weren’t for the God of my father AbraHam and for [your] fear of IsaAc’s [God], you would have sent me away empty-handed! Yet, God saw how I was humiliated and how hard I’ve worked, and He [was scolding you for that] last night!’

⁴³ Then Laban replied: ‘These are my daughters and my sons; the cattle are mine; and everything you see belongs to me and my daughters! However, what should I do to them today, or to their children? ⁴⁴ Come; let’s conclude a treaty between you and me that will serve as a witness between us. Look, nobody else is here, so {Look!} God is the witness between you and me.’

⁴⁵ Then Jacob found a [large] stone and set it up as a pillar. ⁴⁶ And Jacob told his family, ‘Gather some stones.’ So they brought stones and made a pile, then they [shared bread] on top of the pile.

And thereafter, Laban said: ‘This [pile of stones] is the witnesses between you and me today.’ ⁴⁷ And Laban called it The [Stone] Pile of Testimony, while Jacob referred to it as The Witness [Stone] Pile.

⁴⁸ And Laban said to Jacob: ‘Look at this pile and pillar that I’ve erected between you and me… this Witness [Stone] Pile and this [Stone] Pile of Testimony. We will call them the [Stone] Pile Witnesses.’

⁴⁹ And [Laban] spoke this vision: ‘May God keep an eye on you and me, because we are about to leave each other. ⁵⁰ If you humble my daughters by taking wives in addition to them, you will see that someone is with us who is watching. For, God is the witness between you and me.’

⁵¹ Then Laban continued, ‘Look! This pile of stones and this pillar are witnesses ⁵² that I won’t come to you, and you won’t come to me, beyond this pillar to do anything bad. ⁵³ May the God of AbraHam and the God of Nahor judge between us!’

Then Jacob swore by the fear of his father IsaAc, ⁵⁴ and he offered a sacrifice on the mountain. He called his family together and they ate and drank, then they went to sleep on the mountain. ⁵⁵ And when Laban got up in the morning, he kissed his daughters and [their] sons and blest them, and then Laban turned around and went back home.

Chapter 32

¹ Jacob also left on his journey. Then he looked up and saw the camp of the army of God, and a messenger of God [coming to] meet him. ² And when Jacob saw them, he said: ‘Why, this [place] is the campground of God!’ So he named that place The Campgrounds.

³ Then Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir in the country of Edom. ⁴ And he told them to say this to Esau (his lord): ‘This is what your servant Jacob has said: I have visited with Laban and stayed there until now. ⁵ And [during this time], oxen, burros, sheep, and male and female servants were born to me. Now, I’ve sent [messengers] to tell you, my lord Esau, to help your servant find kindness in your eyes.’

⁶ Then the messengers returned to Jacob and said: ‘We reached your brother Esau, and {Look!} he’s coming to meet you with four hundred men!’

⁷ Well, Jacob was terrified and very upset by this. So he divided the people that were with him, as well as the cattle, camels, and sheep, into two camps. ⁸ And Jacob said, ‘If Esau comes to one camp and attacks it, the other camp will survive.’

⁹ And Jacob [prayed], ‘God of my father AbraHam, and God of my father IsaAc, O Lord; You’re the One who told me, Return quickly to the land where you were born, and I will treat you well. ¹⁰ So, may there be enough of all the justice and truth that You have brought about through Your servant. Because, with this walking stick of mine, I crossed the Jordan [River], and now I [have been divided into] two camps. ¹¹ Save me from the hands of my brother – from the hands of Esau – because I’m afraid of him, since [he may be] happy to come and strike me down [along with] the mothers and the children. ¹² But you said: I will treat you well and make your seed as the sands of the sea… so many that they can’t be counted.’

¹³ Well, he slept there that night, [then he selected] the gifts to be carried to his brother Esau. ¹⁴ [There were] two hundred nanny goats, twenty billy goats, two hundred sheep, twenty rams, ¹⁵ thirty milk camels and their foals, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty burros, and ten colts. ¹⁶ Then he gave them to his servants and told them: ‘Go ahead of me and put a space between each of the animal herds.’

¹⁷ Then he told the first group: ‘If you meet my brother Esau, and he asks, Who do you [work for], where are you going, and whose animals are [being herded] in front of you? ¹⁸ you should say, [We work for] your servant Jacob. He has sent these as gifts to my lord Esau… and {Look!} he’s [traveling] behind us.’

¹⁹ And the same instructions that he gave to the first [group], he gave to the second and the third… to everyone who traveled ahead of him (following the herds), he said, ‘This what you should tell Esau when you find him, ²⁰ say, Look! Your servant Jacob is following us.’

[For, Jacob said]: ‘I want to [sooth Esau’s feelings] with the gifts that [are being carried] ahead of me; then I can look him in the face and hope that he will accept me.’

²¹ So the presents went out ahead of him, as he spent the night in the camp.

²² Then during the night, he got up and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and [crossed the river] at the ford of Jaboch… ²³ he took them and all his possessions, and crossed through the raging river.

²⁴ It was there that, while Jacob was all by himself, a man came and wrestled with him until the next morning. ²⁵ [And when the man] saw that he wasn’t going to win, he touched the upper part of Jacob’s thigh, and his thigh became numb during the wrestling match. ²⁶ And [the man] told [Jacob]: ‘Let me go, because the sun is coming up!’

But [Jacob] said: ‘I’m not going to let you go until you give me a blessing!’

²⁷ So [the man] asked: ‘What’s your name?’

And he answered: ‘Jacob.’

²⁸ And [the man] told him: ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob. Rather, IsraEl will be your name, and you’ll be mighty among men, because you’ve won with God.’

²⁹ Then Jacob said: ‘Tell me your name.’

And he said: ‘Why do you [have to] ask my name?’

Then he blest him there. ³⁰ And Jacob named that place, the Face of God, because he said: ‘I’ve seen God face to face and survived.’

³¹ Well, the sun had risen on him when he passed the face of God, and [God] stopped him by his thigh. ³² And this is why the children of IsraEl, even to this day, will never eat that part of meat that was numbed (the upper part of the thigh), because [God’s messenger] touched that part of the thigh on Jacob.

Chapter 33

¹ Well, when Jacob looked up, he saw {Look!} his brother Esau coming with four hundred men. So Jacob divided the children between Leah, RachEl, and the two female servants. ² Then he put the two female servants and their children out in front, followed by Leah and her children, then RachEl, and [finally, himself] at the rear. ³ But then he walked ahead of them all and bowed to the ground seven times, as he got closer to his brother.

⁴ However, Esau ran up to meet him, hugged him, fell around his neck, and kissed him. Then they both cried.

⁵ And when Esau noticed the women and children, he asked, ‘What [relation] are they to you?’

And Jacob replied: ‘These are the children that God has so mercifully blest your servant with.’

⁶ Then the female servants and their children came up and bowed low, ⁷ followed by Leah and her children, who also came up and bowed low. And then RachEl [arrived] and bowed low with Joseph.

⁸ So [Esau] asked: ‘Then, what did all those groups that I met have to do with you?’

And [Jacob] replied: ‘This was done so that your servant might find favor in your eyes, my lord.’

⁹ Then Esau said: ‘But I [already own] a lot, my brother. Keep what is yours!’

¹⁰ And Jacob said: ‘If I’ve found favor in your eyes, take the gifts from my hands, for seeing your face is like seeing the face of God… if you are happy with me, ¹¹ take the blessings that I’ve brought to you, because God has been merciful to me, and I have everything.’

And he kept insisting, so [Esau] took them, ¹² then he said, ‘Now, let’s head back.’

¹³ But [Jacob] said: ‘My lord; You know that the children are frail, and the flocks and herds that I’ve brought also have [many] young ones; so if I drive them hard today, all the cattle will die. ¹⁴ Therefore, my lord; go on ahead of your servant. I will take it easy along the way, so [I will have] enough strength [to make the long journey] ahead of me, and so the children will have enough strength. Then I will travel until I come to my lord at Seir.’

¹⁵ And Esau said: ‘Then I’ll leave some of the people that I brought with me.’

And [Jacob] asked: ‘Why? It’s enough that I’ve found your favor, my lord!’

¹⁶ So, Esau returned to Seir that day, ¹⁷ and Jacob returned to the tents that he had set up to live in, and he built stalls for his cattle. So he named that place, The Stalls.

¹⁸ Finally, Jacob got to Salem, a city of Shechem in the land of CanaAn, after traveling from MesoPotamia of Syria. He went to [the city gate] there ¹⁹ and bought the field where he had pitched his tent, from Hamor (the father of Shechem) for a hundred lambs. ²⁰ And there he set up an altar, where he called upon IsraEl’s God.

Chapter 34

¹ Well, Dinah, the daughter that Leah bore to Jacob, went to see the daughters of the local people. ² And Shechem, the son of EmMor the Evite and the ruler of the land, noticed her. Then he humiliated her by taking her and [having sex] with her.

³ Yet, he was bound to the life of Dinah, Jacob’s daughter… he loved the girl and spoke kindly to her. ⁴ So Shechem told his father EmMor: ‘Get this young woman for me, to be my wife.’

⁵ Well, when Jacob heard that EmMor’s son had violated his daughter Dinah, he sent for his sons who were with his cattle in the fields. And Jacob didn’t say a word until they got there.

⁶ Then EmMor, Shechem’s father, went over to talk to Jacob, ⁷ just as Jacob’s sons were returning from the fields. And when they heard [what had happened], they were very upset. It really hurt them, because he had made a joke of IsraEl by [having sex] with Jacob’s daughter… it just shouldn’t have happened.

⁸ But EmMor spoke to them and said, ‘My son Shechem has decided in his heart to marry your daughter; so give her to him to be his wife, ⁹ and marry among us. Give us your daughters, and take our daughters for your sons, ¹⁰ and live among us! Look, there’s plenty of room for you, so live here in this land… trade [with us] and prosper here.’

¹¹ Then Shechem said to [Dinah’s] father and brothers: ‘I will do whatever is necessary to find your favor, and we will give whatever you ask. ¹² Raise the bride price several times, and I will pay whatever you say. Just give me this young woman to be my wife.’

¹³ However, Jacob’s sons answered Shechem and his father EmMor cunningly, because he had violated their sister Dinah. ¹⁴ So Dinah’s brothers (SimeOn and Levi) said to them, ‘We won’t be able to give our sister to someone who isn’t circumcised, because that would dishonor us. ¹⁵ The only way we can do what you say and live among you, is if you will become as we are… all your males have to be circumcised. ¹⁶ Then we will give our daughters to you and take your daughters as our wives, and live with you as one race. ¹⁷ But if you refuse to listen and won’t get circumcised, we will take our [sister] and leave.’

¹⁸ Well, what they said was agreeable to EmMor and his son Shechem. ¹⁹ And the young man didn’t delay when it came to doing this thing, because he was really attached to Jacob’s daughter. Why, he was the most honorable person in his father’s house.

²⁰ So EmMor and his son Shechem walked to the city gate and told the men there, ²¹ ‘These are peaceable people, so let them live with us in our land and trade in it. Look, there’s a lot of land before them, so we will take their daughters to be our wives, and we will give them our daughters. ²² The only thing that they require to live among us as one people, is that all our males have to be circumcised as they are circumcised. ²³ And then, won’t their cattle, their herds, and their possessions be ours? So, let’s do what they say and they will live among us!’

²⁴ Well, everyone who was there at the city gate listened to EmMor and his son Shechem, and the foreskins of all the males were circumcised. ²⁵ But on the third day, while they were all aching in pain, Jacob’s two sons (Dinah’s brothers) SimeOn and Levi each took his sword, crept into the city, and killed every male. ²⁶ They killed EmMor and his son Shechem with their swords, and then they took Dinah from Shechem’s house and left.

²⁷ And when Jacob’s [other] sons came upon those who were wounded, they ravaged the city where Dinah (their sister) had been violated… ²⁸ they took all the sheep, oxen, burros, and everything in the city, as well as everything that was in their fields. ²⁹ Then they took all the people as captives, as well as all their provisions and their wives, and they looted whatever was left in their city and in their homes.

³⁰ Well afterward, Jacob said to SimeOn and Levi: ‘You have made me an evil and hated [person] among the people who live in this land… both among the CanaAnites and the Pherezites. Why, there are only a few of us, so they will band against me and cut me to pieces… destroying both me and my house!’

³¹ And they replied, ‘Not so! Would [you rather] they treated our sister as a whore?’

Chapter 35

¹ Then God told Jacob: ‘Get up and go up to the place [you named] BethEl, and live there. Then build an altar to the God that appeared to you there, when you were running from your brother Esau.’

² So Jacob told his family and everyone that lived with him: ‘Get rid of the strange gods that you have, then wash yourselves, change your clothes, ³ and get ready; because, we’re going up to BethEl, where [we’re] going to build an altar to the God who listened to me, was with me, and preserved me throughout my journey during the difficult time [that I had to endure].’

⁴ Then they gave Jacob all the strange gods that they owned, as well as the earrings in their ears; and Jacob buried [these things] under a turpentine tree at SeciMa, where they’ve remained destroyed down to this day. ⁵ Then IsraEl left SeciMa, and the cities around them had the fear of God in them, so they didn’t chase after the children of IsraEl.

⁶ Finally, Jacob and all the people that were with him arrived at Luza in the land of CanaAn, which [he had earlier named] BethEl. ⁷ It was there that he had built an altar and named the place BethEl, because that’s where God appeared to him when he was running from his brother Esau.

⁸ Well thereafter, RebecCa’s nurse DeborAh died, and she was buried under an oak tree in BethEl that Jacob named The Oak of Mourning.

⁹ God had appeared again to Jacob at Luza, while he was on his way back from MesoPotamia of Syria. And that’s when God blest him, ¹⁰ for God said to him: ‘You will no longer be called Jacob, but IsraEl will be your name.’ So He called him IsraEl.

¹¹ Then God said to him: ‘I am your God. So now, prosper and grow, because nations and groups of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your loins. ¹² I have given this land to you that I gave to AbraHam and IsaAc; and eventually I will give this land to the seed that will descend from you.’

¹³ Then God left him, there in the place where He spoke to him. ¹⁴ And Jacob set up a [stone] pillar in that place where God spoke to him, and he offered a drink upon it and poured oil over it. ¹⁵ That’s when Jacob named this place where God had spoken to him, BethEl.

¹⁶ [Well, after DeborAh died], Jacob left BethEl and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Gader. And as they were getting close to ChabRatha, on their way to EphRatha, RachEl had birth pains and then went into hard labor. ¹⁷ And it was while she was in hard labor that the midwife told her, ‘Don’t worry, you’re going to have this son!’

¹⁸ Then, as she was giving up her life (she was dying), she named him Son of My Pain, but his father named him BenJamin ([Son of the Right Hand]).

¹⁹ So RachEl died and was buried along the road to EphRatha (BethLehem). ²⁰ And Jacob set up a pillar on her tomb, [which is called] The Pillar of RachEl’s Tomb to this day.

²¹ It was while IsraEl was living in this land that Reuben went and [had sex] with BalLa, his father Jacob’s concubine. And when IsraEl heard about this, it really upset him.

²² Now, there were twelve sons of Jacob. ²³ The sons of Leah were Jacob’s first-born Reuben, then SimeOn, Levi, Judah, IsSachar, and ZebuLon. ²⁴ The sons of RachEl were Joseph and BenJamin. ²⁵ The sons of BalLa (RachEl’s handmaid) were Dan and NaphTali. ²⁶ And the sons of Zelpha (Leah’s handmaid) were Gad and Asher. [Most of] these sons were born to Jacob in MesoPotamia of Syria.

²⁷ Then Jacob returned to his father IsaAc in MamRe, to a city of the plains [called] Hebron (in the land of CanaAn), where AbraHam and IsaAc had stayed. ²⁸ Altogether, IsaAc lived a hundred and eighty years. ²⁹ Then IsaAc stopped breathing and he died, and he was placed beside his family [after living] a long and full life. And his sons, Esau and Jacob, buried him.

Chapter 36

¹ And these are the generations of Esau (or Edom). ² Esau took these [women] as wives from the daughters of the CanaAnites: There was Ada, the daughter of AiLom the Chettite, OliBema, the daughter of Ana [who was] the son of Sebegon the Evite, ³ and BasEmath, the daughter of IshMaEl and the sister of NabaiOth.

⁴ Ada bore EliPhas to him, BasEmath bore RaguEl, ⁵ And OliBema bore Jeus, Jeglom, and Core. These were Esau’s sons that were born to him in the land of CanaAn.

⁶ Then Esau took his wives, sons, and daughters; everyone in his house, as well as all his possessions, all his cattle; everything that he had and absolutely everything that he had acquired in the land of CanaAn; and he left the land of CanaAn [to get away from] his brother Jacob. ⁷ This is because they had both acquired so much that they could no longer live close to each other, and the land where they were staying couldn’t hold them, because they owned so much. ⁸ So Esau [went to live] at Mount Seir (Esau is Edom).

⁹ These are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites, when [he lived at] Mount Seir. ¹⁰ And these are the names of Esau’s [grand]sons through EliPhas (Ada’s son), and RaguEl (BasEmath’s son).

¹¹ The [grand]sons of Ada through EliPhas were ThaEman, Omar, Sophar, Gothom, and Kenez. ¹² Also, Thamna (EliPhas’ concubine) bore Amalec to him.

¹³ The [grand]sons of BasEmath through RaguEl were NachOth, Zare, Some, and Moze.

¹⁴ These are the sons of Esau’s wife OliBema (the daughter of Ana, who was the son of Sebegon): She bore Jeus, Jeglom, and Core to Esau.

¹⁵ These are the chiefs of EliPhas, the first-born of Esau: Chief ThaEman, Chief Omar, Chief Sophar, Chief Kenez, ¹⁶ Chief Core, Chief Gothom, and Chief Amalec. They are the chiefs of [the family of] EliPhas (the sons of Ada), in the land of Edom.

¹⁷ And these are the chiefs of RaguEl, the son of Esau: Chief NachOth, Chief Zare, Chief Some, and Chief Moze. They are the chiefs of [the family of] RaguEl (the sons of BasEmath) in the land of Edom.

¹⁸ And these are the chiefs of OliBema (the daughter of Ana), Esau’s wife: Chief Jeus, Chief Jeglom, and Chief Core.

¹⁹ These were the sons of Esau. They are [all] chiefs, and they are [all] the sons of Edom.

²⁰ These are the sons of Seir the Chorrhite who lived in the land: Lotan, Sobal, Sebegon, Ana, ²¹ Deson, Asar, and Rison. And these are the chiefs of the son of Seir the Chorrhite, in the land of Edom: ²² The sons of Lotan (and Lotan’s sister, Thamna) were Chorrhi and Haeman. ²³ The sons of Sobal were Golam, ManaChath, Gaebel, Sophar, and Omar. ²⁴ The sons of Sebegon were Aie, and Ana (this is the same Ana who found Jamin in the wilderness when he was tending his father Sebegon’s animals).

²⁵ Ana’s children were Deson (his son) and OliBem (his daughter).

²⁶ Deson’s sons were Amada, Asban, Ithran, and Charrhan. ²⁷ Asar’s sons were BalaAm, Zucam, and Jucam. ²⁸ Rison’s sons were Hos, and Aran.

²⁹ These are the chiefs of the Chorrites: Chief Lotan, Chief Sobal, Chief Sebegon, Chief Ana, ³⁰ Chief Deson, Chief Asar, and Chief Rison. They are the chiefs of the Chorrites in their own principalities in the land of Edom.

³¹ These are the kings that reigned in Edom before [the time of] the kings of IsraEl: ³² Balac (the son of Beor) reigned in Edom, and his [capital] city was DenNaba. ³³ After Balac died, Jobab (the son of Zara from BosorRha) reigned in his stead. ³⁴ After Jobab died, Asom (from the land of the ThaEmanites) reigned in his stead. ³⁵ After Asom died, Adad (the son of Barad, who cut off Midian in the plain of Moab) reigned in his stead. And his [capital] city was GetThaim.

³⁶ After Adad died, Samada of MasSecca reigned in his stead. ³⁷ After Samada died, Saul of RhoObOth by the River reigned in his stead. ³⁸ After Saul died, BalLenon (the son of Achobor) reigned in his stead. ³⁹ After BalLenon died, Arad (the son of Barad) reigned in his stead. The name of his [capital] city was Phogor; and the name of his wife was MeteBeel (the daughter of MatraIth, who was the son of MaiZoOb).

⁴⁰ These are the names of the tribal chiefs of Esau in their areas, countries, and nations: Chief Thamna, Chief Gola, Chief Jether, ⁴¹ Chief OliBema, Chief Helas, Chief Phinon, ⁴² Chief Kenez, Chief ThaEman, Chief Mazar, ⁴³ Chief MagediEl, and Chief Zaphoin. They are the chiefs of Edom in the areas where they live and in the land that they own. And this is Esau, the father of [all] Edom.

⁴⁴ However, Jacob lived in the land where his father stayed, the land of CanaAn.

Chapter 37

¹ And these are the generations of Jacob.

² Joseph was seventeen years old, and [he was out] feeding his father’s sheep with his brothers (because he was so young), who were the sons of his father’s wives BalLa and Zelpha. And it was because of Joseph that they were speaking of their father IsraEl in an evil way, ³ since Jacob loved Joseph more than the rest of his sons (he was the son of his old age), and he had made him a multi-colored coat.

⁴ Now, his brothers could see that his father loved him more than them, so they hated him and never spoke to him in a peaceful way. ⁵ Then Joseph had a dream, and he told his brothers about it. ⁶ He said, ‘Listen to what I dreamed: ⁷ I saw you bundling stalks of grain in the middle of the field, when my bundle stood straight up and your bundles turned around and bowed low to mine.’

⁸ Then his brothers asked, ‘So, are you going to rule over us, and are you going to be our master?’ And they hated him even more because of his dreams and the things he said.

⁹ Then [Joseph] dreamed another dream, and he told his father and brothers about it, saying, ‘{Look!} I had another dream in which the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me.’

¹⁰ But his father scolded him and asked, ‘What kind of a dream is that? Do you think that your mother, brothers, and I will come and bow to the ground before you?’

¹¹ Anyhow, although his brothers were jealous of him, his father paid attention to what he said.

¹² Then his brothers went to Shechem to feed their father’s sheep. ¹³ And IsraEl asked Joseph, ‘Are your brothers feeding the flocks at Shechem? I want to send you to them.’

And he replied, ‘Look, here I am.’

¹⁴ And IsraEl said, ‘Go see if your brothers and the sheep are doing well, then come back and report to me.’ So, he sent him out of the valley of Hebron, to Shechem.

¹⁵ Then a man found him wandering in the field there and asked him, ‘What are you looking for?’

¹⁶ And he said, ‘I’m looking for my brothers. Tell me; where are they feeding [their flocks]?’

¹⁷ And the man said, ‘They’ve left here. I heard them say, Let’s go to Dothaim.’

So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them in Dothaim.

¹⁸ However, they spotted him in the distance before he got there, and they met together and wickedly started talking about killing him. ¹⁹ They were saying to each other, ‘Look, here comes the dreamer! ²⁰ Come on, let’s kill him and then throw his [body] into a deep crevice. And we can say, An evil wild animal ate him. Then we will see what his dreams amount to.’

²¹ But when Reuben heard this, he saved [Joseph] from them by saying, ‘Let’s not kill him.’ ²² Then [he suggested], ‘Don’t shed [his] blood; let’s throw him into one of these deep crevices in the desert… but don’t lay a hand on him.’ ([Rubin] said this, so that he could save [Joseph] from them, and then return him to his father).

²³ And so, when Joseph reached his brothers, they took off the multi-colored coat that Joseph was wearing, ²⁴ then they took him and threw him into a deep crevice… [fortunately], the crevice was empty and didn’t have any water. ²⁵ Then they sat down to eat some bread. And when they looked up, they noticed {Look!} an IshMaElite caravan that was coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded down with spices, resin, and myrrh that they were carrying to Egypt.

²⁶ So Judah said to his brothers: ‘What profit would it bring us if we kill our brother and cover up [the murder]? ²⁷ Let’s sell him to these IshMaElites. We don’t want to lay a hand on him, because he’s our brother and our own flesh.’ And his brothers listened.

²⁸ Then, as the merchants of Midian were traveling through, [his brothers] pulled Joseph out of the crevice and sold him to the IshMaElites for twenty gold coins, and [the IshMaElites] took Joseph down to Egypt.

²⁹ Well, when Reuben returned to the crevice and saw that Joseph wasn’t there, he started ripping his clothes. ³⁰ Then he went to his brothers and said, ‘The boy isn’t [there]. So, where do I have to go?’

³¹ Then they took Joseph’s coat, killed a young goat, and dipped the coat in its blood. ³² And they took the multi-colored coat and brought it to their father, saying, ‘We found this… do you recognize it as your son’s coat or not?’

Well, he recognized it and said, ‘It is my son’s coat! An evil wild animal has eaten him… a wild animal has carried off Joseph!’

³³ Then Jacob tore his clothes and covered the lower part of his body with sackcloth, and he mourned for his son a long time. ³⁴ All of his sons and daughters went there to comfort him, but he didn’t want to be comforted. He said, ‘I will go to my grave mourning my son.’ And his father kept crying over him.

³⁵ Well, when they got to Egypt, the Midianites sold Joseph to Petephres, Pharaoh’s eunuch and the captain of his guard.

Chapter 38

¹ After Judah left his brothers, [he had traveled] some distance when he [ran into] a man from OdolLam, whose name was Iras. ² And it was there that Judah found the daughter of a CanaAnite man named Sava. He [married] her, [slept] with her, ³ and she got pregnant. Then she gave birth to a son whom she named Er. ⁴ Then she got pregnant and gave birth to another son, whom she named Aunan. ⁵ And she gave birth to a [third] son and named him Selom. She was living in Chasbi when she gave birth to them.

⁶ Then Judah took a woman named Tamar to be the wife of his first-born, Er. ⁷ But, Er was wicked before Jehovah, so God killed him. ⁸ Then Judah told Aunan, ‘Go and [have sex] with your brother’s wife; and since you’re her brother-in-law, marry her so [she can] raise a seed for your brother.’

⁹ However, Aunan knew that the seed wouldn’t be [counted as] his. So, when he [had sex with] his brother’s wife, he spilled [his semen] on the ground, so his brother’s wife wouldn’t [get pregnant]. ¹⁰ And his doing this appeared evil to God, so He also killed him.

¹¹ Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, ‘Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Selom grows up… for fear that he will die like his brothers.’ So, Tamar left and stayed in her father’s home.

¹² And after several years, Judah’s wife Sava died. So, while Judah was looking for comfort, he went to see his sheep shearers at Thamna, along with his Shepherd, Iras the OdolLamite.

¹³ And when his daughter-in-law Tamar was told, ‘{Look!} Your father-in-law is going up to Thamna to shear his sheep,’ ¹⁴ she took off her widow’s clothes, put on a veil and made up her face. Then she sat at the gate of [the town of] AiNan, by the road that leads to Thamna. She did this because [Judah’s son] Selom had already grown up, and [Judah] hadn’t given [Tamar] to be his son’s wife.

¹⁵ Well when Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, because she had her face covered (and he didn’t recognize her). ¹⁶ So he stopped and said to her (not knowing that she was his daughter-in-law), ‘Let me [have sex with] you.’

And she asked, ‘What will you give me to [have sex] with me?’

¹⁷ And he said, ‘I’ll send you a young goat from my flock.’

And she told him, ‘Then you have to provide some assurance that you’ll send it.’

¹⁸ Then he asked, ‘What kind of assurance can I give you?’

And she said, ‘Give me your ring, your bracelet, and the walking stick you’re holding.’

So he gave them to her, [had sex with] her, and she got pregnant by him. ¹⁹ Then she got up and left; and she took off her veil and put her widow’s clothes back on.

²⁰ Well, Judah sent the young goat with his shepherd the OdolLamite, to get back the things that he had left with the woman, but he couldn’t find her. ²¹ So he asked the local men, ‘Where’s that prostitute who used to sit by the road [here at] AiNan?’

And they replied, ‘There was no prostitute here.’

²² So he returned to Judah and said, ‘I couldn’t find her, and the local men say there wasn’t any prostitute there.’

²³ And Judah told him, ‘Then let her have [those things]. I sent the young goat and you couldn’t find her, so, let’s not leave ourselves open to ridicule.’

²⁴ Well after three months, Judah was told, ‘Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the whore… and now look; she’s pregnant by her whoring!’

So Judah said, ‘Then drag her out and have her burned!’

²⁵ And as they were dragging her out, she called for her father-in-law, and said: ‘I’m pregnant by the man who owns these things… just whose ring, bracelet, and walking stick are these?’

²⁶ Well, Judah recognized them and said, ‘Tamar is innocent… but not me, because I didn’t give her to my son Selom.’ And that was the last time [Judah had sex] with her.

²⁷ While she was in labor, she had twins in her womb. ²⁸ And as they were being born, one pushed his hand out. So, the midwife took hold of the hand and tied some scarlet [thread around it], and said, ‘This is the firstborn.’

²⁹ But then he drew his hand back and his brother came out immediately thereafter. And she asked, ‘Why have you broken the barrier between you?’ So she named him Phares.

³⁰ It was then that his brother (around whose hand the scarlet thread was tied) was born. And she named him Zara.

Chapter 39

¹ Well, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And there he was purchased from the IshMaElites who carried him there, by an Egyptian named Petephres, [who was] Pharaoh’s eunuch and captain of the guard.

² However, Jehovah was with Joseph and He blest him. So [Joseph] lived in the house of his Egyptian master, ³ who recognized that Jehovah was with him and that Jehovah blest everything he did. ⁴ So Joseph was treated kindly by him, and [Joseph did everything he could to] please his master well. And soon Joseph was put in charge of his [master’s] house… he was appointed to be in charge of everything that [his master] owned. ⁵ And because he put Joseph in charge of his house and over everything that he owned, Jehovah blest the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. Jehovah blest everything that he had in his house and in his field, ⁶ because he had entrusted everything he had into Joseph’s hands. So he didn’t even know what belonged to him, other than the bread he ate.

Well, Joseph was extremely attractive… he had an excellent body and a very handsome face. ⁷ And so, after he had been [put in charge of the house], his master’s wife eyed Joseph, and said, ‘[Have sex] me.’

⁸ But he wouldn’t. He told his master’s wife, ‘Why, it’s because of me that my master doesn’t even know what’s going on in his own house! He has put everything that he owns into my hands, ⁹ and nobody in this house is over me, nor has anything been withheld from me, except you. Why, you’re his wife! So, how could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?’

¹⁰ Still, she pleaded with Joseph every day. But he wouldn’t listen to her requests to sleep [and have sex] with her.

¹¹ Then one day, Joseph entered the house to do his work, and found that none of the household staff was there. ¹² That’s when she grabbed him by his clothes, and said, ‘[Have sex] with me.’ But he left his clothes there in her hands and ran out of the house.

¹³ Then, when she saw that he left his clothes in her hands and ran away, ¹⁴ she called [the family] and said: ‘You see; He has brought in a Hebrew slave to make fun of us! Why, he came in and said, [Have sex] me, but I screamed. ¹⁵ And when he heard me scream, he left his clothes here and ran out, leaving the house.’

¹⁶ So she kept the clothes beside her until [her husband] returned home. ¹⁷ And she said to him, ‘This Hebrew servant that you brought to us came here to make fun of me, and said to me, I’m going to [have sex] you. ¹⁸ But after he heard me scream, he left his clothes with me and ran away, leaving the house.’

¹⁹ Well, after his master heard everything his wife said, he told her, ‘Then he did it to me!’

²⁰ He was very angry, so his master took Joseph and had him thrown in prison… into the place where the king’s prisoners were kept.

²¹ Well, Jehovah was with Joseph and He was very merciful to him. So He helped him find favor in the eyes of the prison’s warden. ²² And the warden put Joseph in charge of the prison and all the prisoners who were there. He was put in charge of everything they did, ²³ so the warden was unaware of what was going on there, because everything was in Joseph’s hands. And Jehovah continued to bless everything he was doing.

Chapter 40

¹ It was some time after this, that the king’s chief cupbearer and his chief baker had wronged their lord, the king of Egypt. ² Well, Pharaoh was furious with his two eunuchs (his chief cupbearer and his chief baker), ³ so he had them locked up in prison… in the same place where Joseph was kept. ⁴ Then the prison warden left them with Joseph, who stood guard over them.

And after they had spent some time in the prison, ⁵ they both had a dream one night. Each man had his own dream and each dream had its own interpretation.

⁶ Well, the next morning, Joseph went in and saw them, and they were quite disturbed. ⁷ So he asked Pharaoh’s eunuchs who were there in the prison with him, ‘Why are you so sad today?’

⁸ And they replied, ‘We have [both] seen [visions] in our dreams, and nobody knows what they mean.’

Then Joseph said, ‘Doesn’t the interpretation of [dreams come] through God? Tell [me what you saw].’

⁹ And the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said: ‘In my dream [I saw] a vine ¹⁰ that had three stems which budded and put out blossoms; then [it formed] clusters of grapes that ripened. ¹¹ And after that, [I found] Pharaoh’s cup in my hands. So I took the grapes and squeezed them into the cup, and gave the cup to Pharaoh.’

¹² And Joseph said to him, ‘This is what [the dream] means: The three stems are three days. ¹³ So in three days, Pharaoh will remember what you did and he will give you back your position as chief cupbearer. Then you will [once again] put Pharaoh’s cup in his hands, in the same high position that you once had as his cupbearer.’

¹⁴ [Then he continued], ‘Now, remember me when things are going well for you… be merciful to me and mention me to Pharaoh, so I can be released from this dungeon. ¹⁵ You see; I was stolen from the land of the Hebrews. And although I’ve done nothing wrong here, I was thrown into this hole.’

¹⁶ Well, when the chief baker saw that he had given the right interpretation, he said to Joseph, ‘I also had a dream. I remember looking up, and I found three baskets of bakery on my head. ¹⁷ In the top basket there were all the kinds of things that Pharaoh enjoys. But birds in the sky came and ate them out of the basket that was on my head.’

¹⁸ Then Joseph told him, ‘This is what it means: The three baskets are three days. ¹⁹ So in three days, Pharaoh will cut your head off and hang you on a tree. There the birds of the sky will eat your flesh.’

²⁰ Well, three days later it was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he held a banquet for all his servants. It was then that he remembered the offices that the cupbearer and the baker held among his servants. ²¹ So he restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he again put Pharaoh’s cup in his hands. ²² But he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph foretold. ²³ However, the chief cupbearer soon forgot about Joseph.

Chapter 41

¹ It was a full two years later that Pharaoh also had a dream. He dreamed that he was standing next to a river. ² Then {Look!} he saw seven fat and good-looking cows come up out of the water to feed at the river’s edge. ³ And seven more cows, which were skinny and ugly, came up out of the river to feed along its banks. ⁴ Then the seven skinny, ugly cows ate the seven fat and good-looking cows… and that’s when Pharaoh woke up.

⁵ Then he had another dream. {Look!} There were seven large and good-looking [heads] of grain that grew on a single stalk. ⁶ And {Look!} they were followed by [a stalk] with seven thin and windblown [heads] that grew up alongside them. ⁷ Then the [stalk] with the seven thin and windblown [heads] ate the ones with the seven large, good-looking [heads]… and that’s when Pharaoh woke up… and it was just a dream.

⁸ It was now morning, and his soul was bothered [by the dreams]. So he sent for all the [dream] interpreters of Egypt and all the wise men. Then Pharaoh told them of his dreams, but no one could tell Pharaoh what they meant. ⁹ And that’s when Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer told him: ‘I just remembered something that I’m to blame for. ¹⁰ [You were once] quite angry with your servants and you had us imprisoned in the house of the captain of the guard… both me and the chief baker. ¹¹ Then we had a dream in the same night, both him and me, but we each had our own dream. ¹² And there was a young man with us there, a Hebrew servant of the captain of the guard. And we each told him [our dreams], and he interpreted [them] to us. ¹³ And everything that he said would happen, happened… I was restored to my office and [the baker] was hanged.’

¹⁴ So Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they took him from the prison, shaved him, and changed his clothes; then he went in to Pharaoh. ¹⁵ And Pharaoh told Joseph, ‘I’ve had a vision that no one can interpret; and I’ve heard it said that you have listened to dreams and could interpret them.’

¹⁶ But Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, ‘Without God, [I couldn’t] give a safe answer to Pharaoh.’

¹⁷ Then Pharaoh told Joseph: ‘In my dream I was standing by the bank of the river. ¹⁸ And out of the river came seven fat and good-looking cows that fed along the river’s edge. ¹⁹ Then {Look!} seven more cows came up out of the river that were evil, skinny, and ugly… the likes of which I’ve never seen worse in the entire land of Egypt. ²⁰ And the seven skinny, ugly cows ate the seven fat and good-looking cows. ²¹ They swallowed them down, but I couldn’t see that they had gone into their stomachs, because they still looked as ugly as they did before.

‘And after I woke up, I went to sleep again. ²² Then I saw what looked like seven large and good-looking [heads] of grain growing from a single stalk. ²³ Then [I saw] seven more [heads] that were thin and windblown, coming up next to them. ²⁴ And the seven thin and wind-blown [heads] ate the seven large, good-looking [heads]… I told all this to the [dream] interpreters, but none of them could explain it to me.’

²⁵ Then Joseph told Pharaoh: ‘Both of your dreams are the same, for God has shown Pharaoh what He’s going to do.

²⁶ ‘The seven good-looking cows mean seven years, and the seven good-looking [grain heads] mean seven years. So Pharaoh’s dreams are both the same. ²⁷ Also, the seven skinny cattle that came up after them mean seven years, and the seven thin and windblown [heads] mean seven years… that is, there will be seven years of famine.

²⁸ ‘Now [remember]; I told Pharaoh that God intends to show you what He is going to do. ²⁹ So, {Look!} seven years are coming when there will be a great abundance throughout the land of Egypt. ³⁰ But they will then be followed by seven years of famine, which will be so bad that the abundance Egypt once had will be forgotten, and famine will consume the land. ³¹ The abundance in the land will be gone because of the famine that will follow, since it’s going to be a very bad one. ³² And the fact that Pharaoh saw the dream twice, proves that the things I’m telling you (which will come from God) are true, for God will cause it to happen quickly.

³³ ‘So, search for a wise and discerning man, and put him in charge over the land of Egypt. ³⁴ Also, Pharaoh should appoint local governors over the land who must collect a fifth of all the produce in the land of Egypt during the seven abundant years. ³⁵ Gather all the food that will come during these seven good years, and have all the grain gathered into the hands of Pharaoh, but store the food in each city. ³⁶ This stored food will [protect] the land during the seven years of famine that are coming upon the land of Egypt, so [the country] won’t be totally destroyed by the famine.’

³⁷ Well, what [Joseph] said appeared good to Pharaoh and all his servants. ³⁸ So [he] asked his servants, ‘Where will we find such a man as this… someone who has the Breath of God in him?’

³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has shown all these things to you; is there a man who is wiser or more discerning than you? ⁴⁰ I’ll appoint you to be over my house, and all my people must do whatever you say. Just I will be greater than you on the throne.’

⁴¹ Then Pharaoh told Joseph: ‘{Look!} Today I’m putting you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.’ ⁴² So Pharaoh took the ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, put a robe of fine linen on him, and a gold necklace around his neck.

⁴³ Next, he put [Joseph] on his second-best chariot, and a herald walked in front of him to proclaim that he had been appointed over all the land of Egypt.’

⁴⁴ And Pharaoh said to Joseph: ‘I am Pharaoh; but nobody will lift his hand anywhere in the land of Egypt without [your instructions].’

⁴⁵ Then Pharaoh renamed Joseph, Psonthom Phanech, and he gave him Aseneth (the daughter of Petephres, the priest of the City of the Sun) to be his wife.

⁴⁶ Well, Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.

Then Joseph left the presence of Pharaoh and traveled throughout the entire the land of Egypt. ⁴⁷ And the land did produce well during the seven years of abundance… by the handfuls. ⁴⁸ So during those seven years, he gathered the food (because there was so much of it in the land of Egypt) and he stored the food in the cities. He took the food that grew in the fields around each city and stored it there. ⁴⁹ Why, the grain that Joseph put in storage was like the sands of the sea, because there was so much that it couldn’t be calculated.

⁵⁰ Now, Joseph had two sons born to him before the seven years of famine came, whom Aseneth (the daughter of Petephres, the priest of The City of the Sun) had given birth to. ⁵¹ And Joseph named his firstborn ManasSeh, for he said, ‘God has made me forget all my hard work, and even the house of my father.’

⁵² Then he named his second son EphraIm, for he said, ‘God has caused me to grow in the land where I was humiliated.’

⁵³ Well, the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt passed, ⁵⁴ and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. And although there was a famine in the entire earth, there was plenty [in Egypt]. ⁵⁵ So, as the people of Egypt got hungry, they called to Pharaoh for bread, and Pharaoh said to [them]: ‘Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.’

⁵⁶ The famine soon covered the entire land, so Joseph opened all the granaries and sold it to the Egyptians. ⁵⁷ And all the countries came to Egypt to buy [food] from Joseph, because the famine was [everywhere].

Chapter 42

¹ Now, Jacob had noticed that they were selling [grain] in Egypt. So he said to his sons, ‘Why aren’t you doing something? ² Look; I’ve heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go there and buy us a little food, so we don’t starve to death.’

³ Then Joseph’s ten brothers went down to Egypt to purchase grain. ⁴ But Joseph’s brother BenJamin wasn’t sent along with his brothers, for [the reason Jacob gave] was: ‘So he doesn’t get sick.’

⁵ Thus, the Sons of IsraEl went there to buy [grain] along with many others who traveled there, because the famine had affected the entire land of CanaAn.

⁶ Now, Joseph was the ruler of the land, and it was he who sold [food] to all the people in the land. So, Joseph’s brothers then came and bowed to the ground before him. ⁷ And when Joseph saw his brothers, though he recognized them, he hid himself in front of them and spoke harshly to them, asking: ‘Where did you come from?

And they replied: ‘[We came from] the land of CanaAn, to buy food.’

⁸ Well, although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him. ⁹ Then Joseph remembered his dreams and the things that he saw. And he said to them: ‘You are spies! You’ve come here to spy in our land!’

¹⁰ But they said: ‘No Sir; we’re just your servants who have come to buy food! ¹¹ We’re all the sons of one man. We are peace loving… your servants aren’t spies!’

¹² And he said to them: ‘No, you’ve come to spy [in our] land!’

¹³ And they replied: ‘Your servants are twelve brothers from the land of CanaAn. Why, the youngest [of us] is with our father right now, but the other one is no more.’

¹⁴ Then Joseph argued, ‘It’s just as I said; you’re spies! ¹⁵ Here is how it will be proven: By the health of Pharaoh, you aren’t going to leave until your younger brother comes here. ¹⁶ One of you can go get your brother, but the rest of you will stay in prison until what you said can be [proven]… whether you’re telling the truth or not. And if not, then by the health of Pharaoh, you really are spies!’

¹⁷ So he had them all locked in prison for three days. ¹⁸ And on the third day, he said: ‘Do this and you will live, because I fear God: ¹⁹ If you really are peace loving, I’ll allow just one of your brothers to be held in prison. So now, go and carry the grain you’ve bought [to your home]. ²⁰ Then, bring your younger brother to me, and I will believe what you said. But if you don’t, you will die.’

And that’s what they did.

²¹ Well, each one was saying to his brother: ‘Yes, we are to blame when it comes to our brother. We didn’t pay attention to the anguish that he was going through. And when he looked to us, we didn’t listen to him. That’s why this bad thing is happening to us!’

²² Then Reuben said: ‘Didn’t I tell you not to harm the boy? But you wouldn’t listen to me! Now look, his blood is [being avenged]!’

²³ However they didn’t realize that Joseph was standing there before them, because an interpreter stood between them.

²⁴ Well at that, Joseph left them and started crying. Then he returned and spoke to them, and took SimeOn and had him bound before their eyes.

²⁵ And thereafter, Joseph gave orders to fill their [sacks] with grain, and to return the money to each one’s sack, before giving them permission to leave. And that’s what happened… ²⁶ the grain was loaded on their burros, and then they left.

²⁷ Well, when they stopped somewhere to rest, one of them opened his sack to feed the burros, and he saw his bundle of money lying in the top of his sack. ²⁸ So he said to his brothers: ‘They’ve returned my money. Look, its here in my sack!’

Well, they were all dumbfounded and felt sick at heart. And they asked each other: ‘What has God has done to us?’

²⁹ And when they got back to their father Jacob (in the land of CanaAn), they told him everything that had happened to them, saying: ³⁰ ‘This man who is the lord of the land spoke harshly to us and had us put in prison as spies. ³¹ But we told him, We are peaceful men… we aren’t spies. ³² We are twelve brothers, the sons of our father. One [of us] is no more, and the youngest is with our father today in the land of CanaAn.

³³ ‘However, this man (the lord of the land) said to us, Here’s how I will know that you are peaceful: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take the grain you bought and return to your family. ³⁴ Then bring your younger brother to me, and I will know that you aren’t spies, but men of peace. Thereafter I will return your brother and you can trade in this land.

³⁵ ‘But as we were emptying our sacks, each man found his bundle of money in his sack.’ Then they [showed] their father their bundles of money, and they were all frightened.

³⁶ So their father Jacob said to them: ‘You have made me very sad, for Joseph is no more, and neither is SimeOn. So, are you now going to take BenJamin? All these [bad] things have come upon me.’

³⁷ Then Reuben said to his father, ‘You can kill my two sons if I don’t bring him back to you. Give him to me, and I’ll bring him back!’

³⁸ But [Jacob] said: ‘I won’t allow my son to go with you, because his brother is already dead, and he’s the only one left. What if something happens to him on the way? Then you will bring sorrow upon me in my old age that will take me to my grave.’

Chapter 43

¹ However, the famine continued in the land. ² And so, when they had finished eating the grain that they’d brought from Egypt, their father told them: ‘Go there to buy us a little food again.’

³ But Judah said to him, ‘That man who’s the lord of the country absolutely warned us, You won’t see my face again unless you have your younger brother with you. ⁴ So, if you’ll send our brother with us, we’ll go and buy you food. ⁵ But if you won’t send our brother with us, we won’t go.’

⁶ And IsraEl asked, ‘Why did you do so much harm to me by telling the man that you had a brother?’

⁷ And they replied, ‘The man asked a lot of questions about our family. He asked, Is your father still alive? and, Do you have you a brother? And all we did was answer his questions! How could we know that he would tell us to bring our brother?’

⁸ Then Judah said to his father IsraEl, ‘Send the boy with me and we’ll go, so we don’t all [starve] to death! ⁹ I’ll be responsible for him, and you can hold me to blame if anything happens to him. If I don’t return him and stand him before you, I will be guilty before you through the age. ¹⁰ Why, if we hadn’t waited, we would already have returned there a second time!’

¹¹ And their father IsraEl said to them: ‘If that’s the case, do this; Take along the fruit of the earth in your sacks. Carry gifts of gum, honey, frankincense, oil of myrrh, turpentine, and walnuts to the man. ¹² Also, carry twice as much money – in addition to the money that was put back in your sacks – just in case that was a mistake. ¹³ Then take your brother along and go down to the man. ¹⁴ May my God allow you to find favor in the eyes of that man, so he sends you home with your other brother and BenJamin. For I have been saddened, and I’m sad now.’

¹⁵ So the men loaded up their gifts and took twice as much money, as well as BenJamin, and headed down to Egypt. And there they stood before Joseph.

¹⁶ Well, when Joseph saw them and his brother BenJamin (who was born to the same mother), he told his house manager: ‘Bring the men into [my] house, then butcher some animals and prepare them, because these men are to eat bread with me at noon.’

¹⁷ So the man did as Joseph said, and brought them into Joseph’s house.

¹⁸ Well, when they realized that they had been taken to the house of Joseph, they said: ‘We’ve been brought here because of the money that was returned to our sacks the first time. [This is being done] so witnesses can be called and we can be charged [with a crime]. Then they will confiscate our burros and take us as slaves!’

¹⁹ So they went up to the man who was in charge of Joseph’s house and talked to him out on the porch. ²⁰ They said, ‘We are begging you, sir… we just came the first time to buy food. ²¹ But when we were unloading and opened our sacks, [we found] this money in each sack. We have the full amount of money in our hands [and we wish] to return it. ²² And we’ve brought more money along to buy food with… we don’t know who put the money in our sacks!’

²³ And he replied: ‘May God be merciful with you. Don’t be afraid; your God and the God of your ancestors put the treasures in your sacks. Why, I have enough of your good money!’

Then he brought SimeOn out to them; ²⁴ he brought water to wash their feet; and he provided fodder for their burros.

²⁵ And after that, they started preparing their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon, because they heard that he was going to eat there. ²⁶ So when Joseph came home, they brought him the gifts that they had carried into the house. And then they bowed with their faces to the ground. ²⁷ And he asked them: ‘How are you? Is your father, the old man that you spoke of, well? Is he still living?’

²⁸ And they replied, ‘Our father, your servant, is well. And yes, he’s still alive.’

And he said: ‘May that man of God be blest!’

Then they bowed and showed him respect.

²⁹ Thereafter, Joseph looked up and saw his brother BenJamin (who was born to the same mother) and asked: ‘Is this the younger brother that you said you would bring to me?’ And he said, ‘May God have mercy on you, my son.’

³⁰ Well, Joseph’s emotions overcame him, because he missed his brother so much, and he wanted to cry. So he went into his inner room and cried there. ³¹ But he washed his face and regained his composure, then he came out and said: ‘Bring on the bread!’

³² So they set out bread for Joseph, for his servants, and for the Egyptians who were eating with him, but not for [his brothers], because the Egyptians considered it dishonorable to eat bread with Hebrews. ³³ So they sat there in front of him (in the order of their ages, from the first-born to the youngest), as the brothers looked at each other in amazement.

³⁴ Then Joseph gave them their portions to eat by themselves. However, BenJamin received five times as much as the rest. They also drank with him until each one was full.

Chapter 44

¹ Thereafter, Joseph gave instructions to his house manager, saying: ‘Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put the money of each one in the top of his sack. ² Also, put my silver cup in the sack that belongs to the youngest, as well as the price of his grain.’ And he did exactly as Joseph said. ³ Then the next morning, the men and their burros were sent away.

⁴ Well, after they left the city (but they hadn’t traveled too far), Joseph told his house manager: ‘Get up and chase after those men; and when you catch up with them, ask, Why have you returned evil for good? ⁵ Why have you stolen my silver cup? Isn’t this the [cup] that our lord drinks from? It’s also the one that he uses to foretell the future; so you’ve done an evil thing!’

⁶ Well, he caught up with them and said what [Joseph] told him to say. ⁷ And they replied, ‘Why is our lord saying such things? Your servants wouldn’t do anything like that. ⁸ If we returned the money to you that we found in our sacks all the way from the land of CanaAn, why would we steal silver or gold from the house of your lord? ⁹ With whichever of your servants that you find with the cup, let him die, and then we will be our lord’s slaves!’

¹⁰ And [Joseph’s house manager] said, ‘May it be just as you’ve said. However, just the one who is found with the cup will be my slave, but the rest of you can go free.’

¹¹ And each man quickly took down his sack and put in on the ground. Then they each opened their sacks, ¹² and he began his search, starting with the eldest to the youngest, when he found the cup in BenJamin’s sack. ¹³ Well, they all started ripping their clothes. Then each man put his sack back on his burro, and they returned to the city.

¹⁴ So Judah and his brothers went to see Joseph while he was [still at home]. Then they fell to the ground before him, ¹⁵ and Joseph asked, ‘What have you done? Didn’t you realize that a man like me can see the future?’

¹⁶ And Judah replied, ‘What can we say to you, our lord? What can we say that will justify us? God has uncovered the unrighteousness of your servants. Look; We are now our lord’s slaves… both us and the one who was found with your cup!’

¹⁷ So Joseph said: ‘I wouldn’t do a thing like that… just the man who was found with my cup will be my slave. [The rest of you] may return home safely to your father.’

¹⁸ Then Judah came up to him and said: ‘I beg you, sir; Allow your servant to say something to you, and don’t get angry, because you are next to Pharaoh. ¹⁹ Sir, you once asked your servants whether we have a father or a brother. ²⁰ And we replied, Yes, Lord, we have a father who is an old man, and he has a young son in his old age. [The boy’s] brother is dead, so he’s the only one left who came from his mother, and his father loves him.

²¹ ‘Then you said to your servants: Bring him down to me, and I will take care of him. ²² And we said to our lord: The child can’t leave his father; because, if he leaves his father, [his father] will die. ²³ But you told your servants: Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you won’t see my face again. ²⁴ And so, when we went up to your servant our father, we told him what our lord said.

²⁵ ‘And when our father said, Return and buy a little food for us, ²⁶ we said, We can’t return, unless our younger brother goes with us. We can go there, but we won’t be able to see the man unless we bring our younger brother along! ²⁷ And your servant (our father) said to us: You know that my wife gave birth to two [sons] for me. ²⁸ Now, one [of the two] is gone from me. You told me that wild animals ate him, and I haven’t seen him since. ²⁹ So, if you take this one away from me also and something should happen to him along the road, the sorrow will bring me to the grave in my old age.

³⁰ ‘So, if I should return to your servant (our father) and the boy doesn’t return with us (remember that his life depends on this [boy’s] life), ³¹ well, when he sees that the boy isn’t with us, he will die. And then your servants [will be responsible for] bringing your servant (our elderly father) to his grave in his sorrow. ³² For I (your servant) took the boy from his father, and said: If I don’t return him to you and stand him before you, I will be guilty to my father through the age.

³³ ‘Now, may I stay here as your slave instead of the boy. I will work in my lord’s house, but let the boy [return home] with his brothers. ³⁴ For, how could I return to my father without the boy and cause evil things to happen to him?’

Chapter 45

¹ However, Joseph couldn’t restrain himself when they were all standing there with him, so he said, ‘Everyone is dismissed.’ So nobody [was there guarding] Joseph when he told his brothers who he was. ² And as he spoke, he was crying.

Well, all the Egyptians heard about this, and it was reported to the house of Pharaoh. ³ For Joseph said to his brothers: ‘I’m Joseph! Is my father still alive?’

However, his brothers couldn’t answer him, because they were in shock!

⁴ Then Joseph told his brothers, ‘Come closer to me,’ and they all came up to him. And he said, ‘I’m your brother Joseph whom you sold into Egypt! ⁵ But don’t be upset, and don’t feel guilty that you sold me here, because [it was] God who sent me ahead of you so you could live. ⁶ For this [is just] the second year of the famine on the earth, and there are still five years to come when there will be no plowing or mowing. ⁷ It was God that sent me ahead you, so there to be some of you left on the earth, and in order to feed the remaining ones of your crowd.

⁸ ‘You didn’t send me here, God did! And He has made me like a father to Pharaoh… the master of his whole house and the ruler of the entire land of Egypt. ⁹ So, hurry and return to my father, and tell him that this is what your son Joseph has said: God has made me the lord of the entire land of Egypt. So, come here to me, and don’t delay! ¹⁰ You will live in the land of Gesem in Arabia, where you will be close me… you, your sons, your grandsons, your sheep, your cattle, and everything that’s yours. ¹¹ And I will feed you there; because the famine is going to last for five more years. Then nothing you own will be lost… not your sons or any of your possessions!

¹² ‘Look at me and see! And [you], my brother BenJamin; Use your eyes [and recognize] that it’s my mouth that’s speaking to you! ¹³ So, report to my father about all the glory that I have in Egypt, and about everything that you’ve seen. Then hurry and bring my father down here.’

¹⁴ [Well, after that], he fell on his brother BenJamin’s neck and cried, and BenJamin cried on his neck. ¹⁵ Then he kissed all his brothers and cried over them, and his brothers [were finally able to] speak to him.

¹⁶ Well, the report of this was carried to the house of Pharaoh, for he was told: ‘Joseph’s brothers have come.’ And this made Pharaoh and his household very happy.

¹⁷ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: ‘Tell your brothers to [get] wagons and return to the land of CanaAn ¹⁸ to get their father and all their possessions, and come to me. I will give them all the good things of Egypt, and they will eat from the [best] of our land.

¹⁹ ‘Now, you give them these instructions: They are to take wagons from the land of Egypt to get their wives, their children, and your father, and come here. ²⁰ [Tell them] not to worry about their property, because all the good things of Egypt will be theirs.’

²¹ Well, that’s what the children of IsraEl did. Joseph gave them wagons, just as Pharaoh the king said, and he gave them the things they would need for the journey. ²² He also gave each of them two suits of clothes, but he gave BenJamin five suits of clothes, plus three hundred gold coins. ²³ And he sent the same gifts to his father, plus ten burros that carried a sampling of all the good things of Egypt, and ten mules that carried [provisions] for their journey.

²⁴ So he dismissed his brothers and they left. But before they left, he told them: ‘Don’t leave angry.’

²⁵ Then they left Egypt and returned to the land of CanaAn and to their father Jacob. ²⁶ There they reported everything to him, saying, ‘Your son Joseph is ALIVE, and he’s now the ruler of the entire land of Egypt!’

Well, this was so amazing to Jacob that he didn’t believe them. ²⁷ But they told him everything that Joseph said, no matter what it was that he said to them. Then he noticed the chariots that Joseph had sent to pick him up, and that’s when the spirit of their father Jacob was restored. ²⁸ And IsraEl said, ‘If my son Joseph is still alive, that’s wonderful! I want to go see him before I die!’

Chapter 46

¹ So IsraEl left with everything he had. And when he got to the Well of the Oath, he offered a sacrifice to the God of his father IsaAc. ² And God spoke to IsraEl in a vision that night. He said: ‘Jacob! Jacob!’

And he asked, ‘What is it?’

³ And [God] said to him, ‘I am the God of your ancestors. Don’t be afraid to go down to Egypt, because I will make a great nation of you there. ⁴ I will also go down to Egypt with you, and I will bring you back. For Joseph will lay his hands over your eyes.’

⁵ Then Jacob left the Well of the Oath, and IsraEl’s sons carried their father, their baggage, and their wives on the wagons that Joseph sent to them. ⁶ They also brought along the goods and property that they had obtained in the land of CanaAn, and they went to the land of Egypt – Jacob and all his descendants; ⁷ his sons, his grandsons, his daughters, and his granddaughters – he brought all of his seed to Egypt.

⁸ These are the names of the grandsons of IsraEl that went to Egypt with their father Jacob: The sons of Jacob’s first-born, Reuben, were: ⁹ Enoch, PhalLus, Asron, and Charmi. ¹⁰ The sons of SimeOn were: JemuEl, Jamin, Aod, Achin, SaAr, and Saul (the son of a CanaAnite woman). ¹¹ The sons of Levi were: Gerson, Cath, and MeraRi. ¹² The sons of Judah were: Er, Aunan, Selom, Phares, Zara, and Er, but Aunan died in the land of CanaAn. ¹³ Phares’ sons were: Esron and JemuEl. The sons of IsSachar were: Thola, Phua, Asum, and Sambran. ¹⁴ The sons of ZebuLun were: Sered, AlLon, and AchoEl.

¹⁵ These were the sons that Leah gave birth to (for Jacob) in MesoPotamia of Syria, and those of Dina his daughter. All together, the sons and daughters numbered thirty-three.

¹⁶ The sons of Gad were Saphon, Angis, Sannis, ThasoBan, Aedis, AroEdis, and AreElis. ¹⁷ The sons of Asher were Jemna, JesSua, Jeul, BariJa, and their sister, SarAh. BariJa’s sons were Chobor, and MelchiEl.

¹⁸ These were the sons that Zelpha (who Laban gave to his daughter Leah) had given birth to for Jacob – sixteen people.

¹⁹ The sons of Jacob’s wife RachEl were Joseph and BenJamin. ²⁰ And the sons that were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt through Aseneth (the daughter of Petephres, the priest of The City of the Sun) were ManasSeh, and EphraIm. And the son that was born to ManasSeh by his Syrian concubine was MachIr. Then MachIr fathered GalaAd.

EphraIm’s sons were SutalaAm and TaAm. SutalaAm’s son was Edom.

²¹ The sons of BenJamin were Bala, Bochor, and Asbel. Bala’s sons were Gera, Noeman, Anchis, Ros, and Mamphim. Then Gera fathered Arad.

²² These were the sons that RachEl gave birth to for Jacob. All together, there were eighteen people.

NaphTali’s sons were AsiEl, Goni, IsSaar, and SolLem. ²³ These were the sons that BalLa (who Laban gave to his daughter RachEl) gave birth to for Jacob. All [together], there were seven people.

²⁴ So, all the descendants of Jacob that came with him to Egypt (other than his wives and his sons) totaled sixty-six. ²⁵ And the sons of Joseph who were born in the land of Egypt totaled nine. So all the people of the house of Jacob who were with Joseph in Egypt totaled seventy-five.

²⁶ Now, [Jacob] had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph, to [tell him to] meet him at the City of Heroes in the land of Ramses. ²⁷ So Joseph got his chariots ready and went to meet his father IsraEl at the City of Heroes. And when he got there, [Joseph] fell on [Jacob’s] neck and cried profusely.

²⁸ Then IsraEl said to Joseph: ‘Now that I’ve seen your face I can die happily, because you’re still alive!’

²⁹ And Joseph told his brothers: ‘I will go to Pharaoh and tell him, My brothers and my father’s household, who came from the land of CanaAn, have arrived. ³⁰ These men are shepherds and cattlemen, and they’ve brought along their cattle, herds, and all their property. ³¹ So if Pharaoh calls you and asks, What is you occupation? ³² you must answer, Your servants have been shepherds since our youth… both we and our fathers. [You must say this] so you can live in the land of Gesem in Arabia, because, the Egyptians dislike shepherds.’

Chapter 47

¹ So Joseph went and told Pharaoh: ‘My father and brothers have arrived from the land of CanaAn with their cattle, oxen, and all their possessions. And {Look!} they are now in the land of Gesem.’

² Then he took five of his brothers and brought them before Pharaoh. ³ And when Pharaoh asked them, ‘What is your occupation?’ they replied, ‘Your servants (both we and our father) are shepherds.’

⁴ Then they said to Pharaoh: ‘We have come to stay in [your] land, because there is no pasture for your servant’s flocks, due to the famine in the land of CanaAn. So, now we are living in the land of Gesem.’

And Pharaoh told Joseph: ‘Let them live in the land of Gesem. And if you know any among them who are capable, put them in charge of my cattle also.’

So that’s how Jacob and his sons came to Egypt (to Joseph). And when Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) heard about that, ⁵ he told Joseph: ‘[Now that] your father and brothers have come to you, ⁶ {Look!} the whole land of Egypt is before you. Choose the best land for your father and brothers to settle in!’

⁷ Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blest Pharaoh. ⁸ Then Pharaoh asked Jacob, ‘How old are you?’

⁹ And Jacob replied to Pharaoh: ‘The years of my life that I’ve lived are a hundred and thirty. But these years have been too few and too troubled. I haven’t reached the age that my ancestors [achieved], back in the days when they lived.’

¹⁰ And Jacob [again] blest Pharaoh, and left.

¹¹ So, just as Pharaoh commanded, Joseph gave his father and brothers a tract of land as their possession, and settled them there in the land of Egypt. It was prime ground in the land of Ramses. ¹² Then Joseph provided grain for his father, brothers, and his father’s entire household.

¹³ However, there was no grain [growing on] the land, because the famine was terrible. So in the land of Egypt and in the land of CanaAn, people were weak from the famine. ¹⁴ As the result, Joseph collected all the money that there was in the land of Egypt and the land of CanaAn for the grain that they were buying. And Joseph took all the money to the house of Pharaoh. ¹⁵ And soon there was no more money in the land of Egypt or in the land of CanaAn. So all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, ‘Give us bread! Do you want us to die here before you? Why, all our money is gone!’

¹⁶ And Joseph replied to them: ‘If all your money is gone, then bring me your cattle, and I’ll give you bread in exchange for them.’

¹⁷ So they brought their cattle to Joseph, and he gave them bread in exchange for their horses, sheep, oxen, and burros. And Joseph kept them alive with bread that year, in exchange for their cattle.

¹⁸ Well, that year passed, and they came to him the second year and said: ‘Must we be consumed before you, our lord? For our money has failed, and we’ve brought all our possessions and our cattle to you, our lord; now we don’t have anything left, other than our bodies and our land. ¹⁹ And so that we won’t die before you, and so that our land isn’t devastated; buy our land and us for bread. Then we and our land will be Pharaoh’s servants. Give us seeds to grow, so we can live and not die, and so our land won’t be devastated!’

²⁰ As the result, Joseph bought all the land of the Egyptians for Pharaoh… they sold it all to Pharaoh, because the famine was so bad. So, the entire land became Pharaoh’s, ²¹ and the people became his servants from one end of Egypt to the other… ²² that is, except the land of the priests. Joseph didn’t buy [their land], because Pharaoh gave [grain] as gifts to the priests. So they ate what Pharaoh gave them, and they didn’t have to sell their land.

²³ Then Joseph told all the Egyptians: ‘{Look!} I have purchased both you and your land today for Pharaoh. So take the seeds and plant the land. ²⁴ And when it produces, you must give a fifth of its produce to Pharaoh. You can keep the rest for yourselves, as seeds for planting and as food for you and for all that are in your homes.’

²⁵ And they said: ‘You have saved us! We have found favor before you, our lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants!’

²⁶ So, Joseph passed a law that we still have today; a fifth part [of the produce of the land of Egypt] was to be [given to] Pharaoh. The only exception was the land of the priests… that wasn’t Pharaoh’s.

²⁷ Well, IsraEl lived in the land of Gesem in Egypt, and they owned an allotment there, so the [family] grew rapidly and profusely.

²⁸ Thereafter, Jacob survived seventeen more years in the land of Egypt, until he reached a hundred and forty-seven years old. ²⁹ And as the time for IsraEl to die neared, he called his son Joseph, and said to him: ‘If I’ve found favor before you, put your hand under my thigh and [swear] to me mercifully and truthfully that you won’t bury me in Egypt, ³⁰ but that I will sleep with my ancestors. [Swear that] you will carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their tomb.’

And he said, ‘I will do what you’ve asked.’

³¹ But [Jacob] said, ‘Swear to me!’ And he swore to him. Then IsraEl bowed, as he leaned on his cane.

Chapter 48

¹ Well, sometime after that, the report came to Joseph: ‘{Look!} Your father is ill!’ So he took his two sons, ManasSeh and EphraIm, and went to [see] Jacob.

² And when Jacob was told, ‘{Look!} Your son Joseph has come to see you,’ IsraEl straightened himself up and sat on his bed. ³ And [he] said to Joseph: ‘My God appeared to me in Luza in the land of CanaAn and blest me. ⁴ And he said to me, {Look!} I will make you grow and increase, and I will make many nations come from you. I will also give this land to you and to your seed that comes after you, as an inheritance through the ages.

⁵ ‘Now, your two sons, EphraIm and ManasSeh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came here, are my [sons], the same as Reuben and SimeOn are my [sons]. ⁶ And any children that you have from this point on will share in the names of their brothers. Because, [the lands that they will] inherit will be named after them.

⁷ ‘And as for me; After I left MesoPotamia of Syria, your mother RachEl died in the land of CanaAn during the evening, near the ChabRatha racetrack, as we were coming to EphRatha (or BethLehem). So I buried her along the road at the racetrack of BethLehem.’

⁸ And when IsraEl noticed Joseph’s sons, he asked: ‘Who are they?’

⁹ And Joseph replied to his father, ‘They’re the sons that God has given me here.’

And Jacob said, ‘Bring them here so I can bless them.’

¹⁰ Now, IsraEl’s eyes were weak due to his age, so he couldn’t see. But he drew them close, and hugged and kissed them. ¹¹ Then IsraEl said to Joseph: ‘{Look!} I haven’t been deprived of seeing your face, and now {Look!} God has also shown me your seed.’

¹² Then Joseph brought them out from [between] his [father’s] knees, and they bowed to [IsraEl] with their faces to the ground.

¹³ And Joseph took his two sons, EphraIm at his right hand (but on the left of IsraEl), and ManasSeh at his left hand (but on the right of IsraEl), and brought them near to him again. ¹⁴ However, IsraEl stuck out his right hand and laid it on EphraIm’s head (he was younger), and put his left hand on ManasSeh’s head, with his arms crossed. ¹⁵ Then he blest them and said: ‘The God who found my fathers AbraHam and IsaAc pleasing; the God who fed me from my youth until now; ¹⁶ the messenger who protects me from all that is evil; bless these boys, and may they be called by my name and the name of my fathers, AbraHam and IsaAc. Let them grow to a vast number on the earth.’

¹⁷ Well, when Joseph noticed that his father had put his right hand on EphraIm’s head, that seemed wrong to him. So Joseph took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from EphraIm’s head to ManasSeh’s head. ¹⁸ And Joseph said: ‘[Wait], father! This is the first-born; lay your right-hand on his head!’

¹⁹ But he wouldn’t. He said, ‘I know, son, I know. [Your eldest son] will be a [tribe of] people, and he will be important. However, his younger brother will be greater, and his seed will become many nations.’

²⁰ So he blest them that day, saying, ‘IsraEl will be blest by you.’ Then he added, ‘May God make you like EphraIm and ManasSeh… and he put EphraIm before ManasSeh.’

²¹ And IsraEl said to Joseph: ‘Look, I’m dying! God will be with you and He will return you to the land of your fathers. ²² I leave you Sicima, a better portion than your brothers, which I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow.’

Chapter 49

¹ Then Jacob called his sons and said to them, ² ‘Gather here so I can tell you what will happen to you in later years. Gather and listen to me, sons of Jacob. Listen to IsraEl! Listen to your father!

³ ‘Reuben; You’re my firstborn and my strength. You’re the first of my children, but you’re hard to endure, [pig headed], ⁴ and as unruly as water; so bring an end to your violence! Why, you climbed up on your father’s bed and dirtied the couch that you climbed on.

⁵ ‘SimeOn and Levi; You are brothers who are good at the injustices that separated you. ⁶ May my soul not pay attention to the things you say, and may my feelings never have any part in your conspiracies. For you have killed men in anger, and in your passion you’ve cut off the feet of bulls. ⁷ May your anger be cursed, because it was willful and cruel. So I will separate you in [the land of] Jacob and scatter you in IsraEl.

⁸ ‘Judah; Your brothers have spoken well you, so your hands will stay on the backs of your enemies, and your father’s sons will bow to you, ⁹ for Judah is a lion’s cub. My son; you’ve grown from the tender plant [that you once were], and now you’re a young lion. So, who will upset you? ¹⁰ There will be a ruler from Judah and a prince from his loins until the thing that is awaiting him arrives… because nations are expecting him. ¹¹ [He will] tie his foal to a vine and his burro’s foal to a branch. He will wash his robe in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes. ¹² His eyes will bring more cheer than wine, and his teeth [will be] whiter than milk.

¹³ ‘ZebuLun will live on the coast, near a shipping port that reaches to Sidon.

¹⁴ ‘IsSachar has desired the best thing; to rest among the [other] inheritances. ¹⁵ And [when he finds] the resting place good and the land fertile, he will put his shoulders to work and became a farmer.

¹⁶ ‘Dan will judge his people as a single tribe in IsraEl. ¹⁷ So, let Dan be a snake on the road that blocks the path and bites at the hooves of horses, causing riders to fall, ¹⁸ while he awaits the salvation of Jehovah.

¹⁹ ‘A group of plunderers will plunder Gad. However, he will also follow and plunder them.

²⁰ ‘Asher will have plenty of bread, and he will provide delicious things to princes.

²¹ ‘NaphTali is a spreading vine [that will bear] beautiful fruit.

²² ‘Joseph is a son that has grown… [yes], my dearly-loved son has grown. Turn to me, my youngest son… ²³ the one that evil men have spoken against, plotted against, and who archers [have tried to shoot]. ²⁴ But their bows and arrows were quickly destroyed, and the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob weakened the muscles in their arms, for he’s the one that brought the strength of God to his father IsraEl.

²⁵ ‘My God has helped you and blest you with the blessings that come from skies above. They are the blessings of the earth that owns everything, because they are the blessings of the breasts and the womb. ²⁶ They are the blessings of your father and mother, which last longer than the blessings of the eternal mountains and hills. These [blessings] will be on the head of Joseph and upon the heads of the brothers over whom he took the lead.

²⁷ ‘BenJamin is a hungry wolf that eats throughout the morning and provides food in the evening.’

²⁸ All these are the twelve sons of Jacob, and that’s what their father said to them. He blest them… he blest each of them by the blessings they would receive. ²⁹ Then he said to them, ‘I’m going to my people, so bury me with my ancestors in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Chettite. ³⁰ It’s the double cave across from MamRe in the land of CanaAn. AbraHam bought the cave as a tomb from Ephron the Chettite. ³¹ Then they buried AbraHam and his wife SarAh there, as well as IsaAc, and his wives RebecCa and Leah, ³² there in that part of the field where the cave of the sons of Chet is located.’

³³ Then Jacob stopped giving instructions to his sons, and he lifted his feet on the bed and died, and was buried with his people.

Chapter 50

¹ Well at that, Joseph fell over his father’s face, cried over him, and kissed him. ² Then Joseph told his servants (the embalmers) to [handle] his father’s body, and the embalmers mummified IsraEl. ³ The process took forty days, because that’s how long it takes to mummify someone. And Egypt mourned over him for seventy days.

⁴ Then, when the days of mourning were finished, Joseph spoke to the Pharaoh’s princes and asked, ‘If I’ve found favor in your eyes, talk to Pharaoh for me, and say, ⁵ My father made me swear, saying, I want you to bury me in the tomb that I dug for myself in the land of CanaAn. So I wish to go there and bury my father, and then I’ll be back.’

⁶ And Pharaoh said to Joseph: ‘Go and bury your father, just as he made you to swear.’

⁷ So Joseph went up [to the land of CanaAn] to bury his father, and all of Pharaoh’s servants, all the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt traveled with him, ⁸ as well as the households of Joseph and his brothers, and the household of his father and his relatives. However, they left the sheep and oxen behind in the land of Gesem. ⁹ The entourage also included chariots and horsemen, and a large crowd of others.

¹⁰ And after they arrived at the threshing-floor of Atad (which is beyond the Jordan), they wailed for him with a very deep grief, and they mourned for his father there for seven days.

¹¹ Well, when the people of the land of CanaAn saw the mourning at the floor of Atad, they said: ‘This is a huge mourning to the Egyptians.’ So after that, they named the place The Mourning of Egypt Beyond the Jordan.

¹² Yes, that’s what his sons did for him. ¹³ His sons carried him up into the land of CanaAn and buried him in the double cave that AbraHam bought as his own burying place from Ephron the Chettite, opposite MamRe. ¹⁴ Then Joseph and his brothers returned to Egypt, along with all those who had come with him to bury his father.

¹⁵ It was after Joseph’s brothers realized their father was dead that they said: ‘Let’s be aware [of the fact] that Joseph may decide to get even with us and pay us back at any time for all the evil things that we did to him.’

¹⁶ So they went to Joseph and said: ‘Before his death, your father made us swear. He instructed us ¹⁷ to tell Joseph this: Forgive us for the bad things we’ve done and for our sins, because we’ve really done an evil thing to you. Now, forgive the injustice of the servants of the God of your father.’

Well, Joseph started to weep while they were talking to him. ¹⁸ Then they came up to him and said, ‘We are your servants.’

¹⁹ And Joseph said, ‘Don’t be afraid, for I [belong to] God. ²⁰ You met and talked about doing evil things to me, but God made what you said about me [turn out] for the good. And that’s why things happened as they have today; so that many people might be fed.’

²¹ Then he said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid; I’ll take care of you and your families.’ And he consoled them and spoke kindly to them.

²² Well, Joseph continued to live in Egypt, along with his brothers and his father’s family, and he lived a hundred and ten years. ²³ Joseph [lived to] see EphraIm’s children through the third generation, and the sons of MachIr (ManasSeh’s son) were born at his side.

²⁴ Then Joseph told his [family]: ‘I’m dying. But God will surely come to you and take you from this land into the land that God swore to our ancestors, AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob. ²⁵ Then Joseph made the Sons of IsraEl swear, saying: ‘When God comes to you, you must carry my bones back with you.’

²⁶ So Joseph died at a hundred and ten years old, and they prepared his body and put him in a [sarcophagus] in Egypt.

Exodus

From the Greek Septuagint text as was used by First Century Christians

Chapter 1

¹ These are the names of the Sons of IsraEl that came to Egypt with their father Jacob and their families: ² Reuben, SimeOn, Levi, Judah, ³ IsSachar, ZebuLun, BenJamin, ⁴ Dan, NaphTali, Gad, and Asher. ⁵ Then [there was] Joseph [who lived] in Egypt, so, altogether there were seventy-five of these people who [descended] from Jacob.

⁶ [In time], Joseph, his brothers, and that entire generation died. ⁷ But the children of IsraEl grew and multiplied into a large and strong [nation], and the land helped them to grow.

⁸ Then a new king became the ruler over Egypt who didn’t know Joseph. ⁹ And he said to his nation: ‘{Look!} The children of IsraEl have [grown tremendously] and they’re now more powerful than we are. ¹⁰ So, let’s be smooth in the way we deal with them, because, if they continue to grow and then we find ourselves at war, they could side with our enemies. And after they beat us in war, they will leave our land!’

¹¹ So he appointed [governors] over them, whose [job] was to make them do hard labor; and they built fortified cities for Pharaoh, including Pithom, Ramses, and On (the City of the Sun). ¹² But the more they held [the IsraElites] down, the faster they grew.

Well, they multiplied so much and grew so strong that the Egyptians hated the children of IsraEl. ¹³ So the Egyptians became tyrants over IsraEl ¹⁴ and made their lives unbearable by forcing them to work hard making bricks from clay and working in the fields… whatever needed to be done. And they were dealt with violently.

¹⁵ Then the king of Egypt told the midwives who [served] the Hebrews (one was ZipPorah and the other was Phua), ¹⁶ ‘When you serve as midwives to the Hebrew women and they’re about to give birth, kill [the baby] if it’s a boy, but leave it alone if it’s a girl.’

¹⁷ However, the midwives feared God and wouldn’t do what the king of Egypt told them… they allowed the male [babies] to live. ¹⁸ So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and asked them, ‘Why haven’t you [killed] the male [babies]?’

¹⁹ And the midwives answered Pharaoh, saying, ‘Hebrew women aren’t like the women of Egypt, because they give birth before the midwives arrive, so they [already] have their children!’

²⁰ And [as the result], God dealt kindly with the midwives, while the [IsraElites] continued to multiply and grow very strong. ²¹ And these midwives who feared God were able to start families.

²² Then Pharaoh told all his people: ‘Whenever a male is born to the Hebrews, you must throw it into the river, but let the females live.’

Chapter 2

¹ Now, there was a certain man of the tribe of Levi who married one of the daughters of [his tribe]. ² Then she got pregnant and gave birth to a male child. And when she saw how beautiful the child was, they hid him for three months. ³ But when they could no longer hide him, his mother got a box for him and coated it with tar, put the child inside, and set it in the mud by the river, ⁴ while his sister watched in the distance to see what would happen to him.

⁵ Then Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the river to bathe. And as her handmaids were walking along by the river, they saw the box lying in the mud, so she sent a handmaid out to pick it up. ⁶ And when she opened it, she found the baby inside the box, crying. Well Pharaoh’s daughter felt sorry for it and said, ‘This is a Hebrew child.’

⁷ Then [the baby’s] sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter: ‘Would you like me to call a Hebrew [woman] to nurse the child for you?’

⁸ And Pharaoh’s daughter replied, ‘Go!’

So the young woman went and called [her] mother.

⁹ Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to [the mother]: ‘Take care of this child and nurse it for me, and I’ll pay you.’

So, the woman took the child and nursed it. ¹⁰ And after the boy had grown, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. [Pharaoh’s daughter] named him Moses, because she said, ‘I took him from the water.’

¹¹ In time, after Moses had grown, he went to see his brothers, the sons of IsraEl. And as he was observing how bad things were, he noticed an Egyptian beating one of his Hebrew brothers of the children of IsraEl. ¹² So he looked around and didn’t see anyone, then he bludgeoned the Egyptian and hid [his body] in the sand.

¹³ And on the next day, he noticed two Hebrew men fighting, and he asked the bully, ‘Why are you beating your neighbor?’

¹⁴ And he replied, ‘Who appointed you our ruler and judge? Are you going to kill me like you killed that Egyptian yesterday?’

Well, Moses was stunned, and he thought, ‘If [he knows], then others will know.’ ¹⁵ And when Pharaoh found out about it, he tried to have Moses put to death. So Moses left [the house of] Pharaoh and went to live in the land of Midian. And upon arriving in the land of Midian, he sat down next to a well.

¹⁶ Now, the Priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they were feeding their father Jethro’s sheep nearby. And when they came [to the well] to fill their jugs to water the flock, ¹⁷ some shepherds arrived and [started to] chase them away. So, Moses stood up and protected them, and then he drew water for them and watered their sheep.

¹⁸ And after that, they returned to their home in RaguEl. And their father asked them, ‘Why have you returned so quickly today?’

¹⁹ And they replied, ‘An Egyptian protected us from the shepherds, then he drew water for us and watered our sheep.’

²⁰ So [Jethro] asked his daughters: ‘Where is he… why did you leave the man? Call him here and we’ll [provide a meal for him].’

²¹ Well [after that], Moses developed a good relationship with the man, and [Jethro] gave his daughter ZipPorah to be Moses’ wife. ²² Then she got pregnant and gave birth to a son whom Moses named Gersam, for he said, ‘I’m a visitor in a strange land.’

²³ After some time, the king of Egypt died. But the children of IsraEl kept groaning and crying because of their hard work. And the cries over their labor ascended to God. ²⁴ [He] heard their groaning and God remembered the Sacred Agreement He had made with AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob. ²⁵ So, then He [started paying attention] to the children of IsraEl, and He made Himself known to them.

Chapter 3

¹ Well, Moses had been tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro (the Priest of Midian), and he led the sheep into the desert to the dry mountain (Horeb). ² And there, Jehovah’s messenger appeared to him in a flame that was burning in a bush. He saw the flames in the bush, but [the bush] wasn’t really burning. ³ And Moses said, ‘I’m going to get closer, so I can see this great sight, and see why the bush isn’t being burned!’

⁴ And when the Lord saw him coming closer to look, Jehovah called him from the bush. He said, ‘Moses! Moses!’

And [Moses] asked, ‘What is it?’

⁵ And He said, ‘Don’t come any closer. Take your sandals off, because you’re standing on holy ground.’

⁶ Then He said, ‘I am the God of your ancestors; the God of AbraHam, the God of IsaAc, and the God of Jacob.’

Well at that, Moses turned his face away, because he was afraid to look at God.

⁷ Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘I’ve seen the hardships that My people are enduring in Egypt, and I’ve heard their cries about their task-masters, so I know what they’re going through. ⁸ Now, I’ve come down here to free them from the Egyptians and to take them out of that land, to a land that is good and has plenty of room… a land that flows with milk and honey. It’s the place where the CanaAnites, Chettites, Amorites, Pherezites, Gergesites, Evites, and Jebusites [live]. ⁹ For, {Look!} the shouting of the children of IsraEl has now reached Me, and I’ve seen the suffering that the Egyptians are causing them. ¹⁰ So now, come; because I’m going to send you to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and you’re going to bring My people (the children of IsraEl) out of the land of Egypt.’

¹¹ But Moses asked God: ‘Just who am I that I should go to Pharaoh the king of Egypt and bring the children of IsraEl out the land?’

¹² And God replied, ‘I will be with you! This [place] is the sign that I’m sending you. So when you bring My people out of Egypt, you must serve God on this mountain.’

¹³ Then Moses said to God: ‘Look, I’ll go to the children of IsraEl and tell them, The God of our ancestors has sent me to you, but they’re going to ask, What is His name? So, what should I tell them?’

¹⁴ And God told Moses, ‘I am He Who [Proves] to Be! Just tell the children of IsraEl that He Who [Proves] to Be has sent you.’

¹⁵ Then God said to Moses, ‘Say to the Sons of IsraEl: Jehovah the God of our ancestors – the God of AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob – has sent me to you. That’s My Name through the ages and it’s how I should be remembered from generation to generation.

¹⁶ ‘So, go and gather the elders of the children of IsraEl, then tell them that Jehovah, the God of your ancestors, has appeared to you. He’s the God of AbraHam, the God of IsaAc, and the God of Jacob. [And tell them that] He said, I have looked [down] and [seen] all the bad things that are happening to you in Egypt. ¹⁷ And say, I will take you away from this Egyptian oppression into the land of the CanaAnites, Chettites, Amorites, Pherezites, Gergesites, Evites, and Jebusites… a land that is flowing with milk and honey. ¹⁸ Then they will listen to what you have to say.

‘And then you and the elders of IsraEl must go to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and tell him: The God of the Hebrews has called us, so we’re going on a three-day journey into the desert to offer a sacrifice to our God.

¹⁹ ‘However I know that Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) won’t let you go [unless he sees] a mighty hand [of power], ²⁰ so I will raise My hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I [wish to show] them… and then he will allow you to leave.

²¹ ‘I will also make [My] people look good in the eyes of the Egyptians, so that when you escape, you won’t leave empty handed. ²² Women will ask their neighbors and landlords for clothing, and for gold and silver [jewelry], then you will put them on your sons and your daughters, and you will plunder the Egyptians.’

Chapter 4

¹ And Moses asked: ‘But, what if they don’t listen to me and do what I tell them to do? Or, what if they say, God hasn’t appeared to you… what should I say then?’

² And Jehovah asked him: ‘What do you have in your hand?’

He replied: ‘My walking stick.’

³ Then [God] said: ‘Throw it on the ground.’

Well, when he threw it on the ground it became a snake, and Moses ran from it.

⁴ And Jehovah told Moses: ‘Now, reach out and grab it by the tail.’

So [Moses] reached out and grabbed it by the tail, ⁵ and it became a walking stick in his hand again. [And God continued]: ‘That’s why they will believe you when you say that the God of your ancestors has appeared to you… the God of AbraHam, and of IsaAc, and of Jacob.’

⁶ Then Jehovah told him: ‘Now, put your hand inside [your robe and touch] your chest.’ So he reached inside and touched his chest; and when he brought his hand out it was [as white] as snow. ⁷ And [God] said, ‘Now, put your hand back in and touch your chest once more.’ So he reached in and touched his chest, and when he brought it out, its color returned to the regular color of his flesh.

⁸ [And God said], ‘So, if the first sign doesn’t make them listen and believe you, the second sign will. ⁹ And if they still won’t listen to you or believe you after these two signs, then draw some water from the river and pour it on the dry ground, and the river water will turn into blood.’

¹⁰ Then Moses said to Jehovah: ‘I beg you Lord; I’ve never been good at this in the past, and I’m still no good at it since You started talking to your servant… I’m a poor speaker and I talk slowly!’

¹¹ And Jehovah asked Moses: ‘Who gave man his mouth, and who made both those who can hear and the deaf, and those who can see and the blind? Isn’t it I… God? ¹² Now, go on and I will open your mouth and tell you what to say!’

¹³ But Moses said: ‘I beg you Lord, send someone who is more capable!’

¹⁴ Well, this made Jehovah very angry with Moses, so He said: ‘Look; isn’t Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he will speak for you. Look! He’s coming to meet you, and when he sees you, he will jump for joy. ¹⁵ Then you must talk to him and put My words in his mouth, and I will open both of your mouths and tell you what to do. ¹⁶ Then he can speak to the people for you. He will be your mouth and you will be the things of God to him. ¹⁷ So, take this walking stick that turned into a snake in your hands and work miracles with it!’

¹⁸ And thereafter, Moses returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said: ‘I‘m going to return to my brothers in Egypt, to see if any are still living.’

And Jethro said to Moses, ‘Go in health.’

Well after some time, the king of Egypt died. ¹⁹ And Jehovah said to Moses (while he was still) in Midian: ‘Go! Leave for Egypt, because those who wanted to kill you are now dead.’

²⁰ So Moses took his wife and children, mounted them on his animals, and returned to Egypt. Moses also carried along his walking stick [with which he had received power] from God.

²¹ And Jehovah said to Moses: ‘When you return to Egypt, look at all the miracles that I’ve given you [the power to perform]. You must do these before Pharaoh. However, I will make him hard hearted and he will refuse to send the people away. ²² Then you must tell Pharaoh, This is what Jehovah has said: IsraEl is My firstborn; ²³ and I’ve told you to send My people away so they can serve Me. So if you won’t send them away, {Look!} I will kill your firstborn!’

²⁴ Well, [during their journey], a messenger of Jehovah met them along the way at an inn and wanted to kill [his son]. ²⁵ But ZipPorah grabbed a [sharp] stone and cut off her son’s foreskin, and she fell at his feet and said, ‘The blood of my son’s circumcision is flowing!’ ²⁶ So he left, because she said, ‘The blood of my son’s circumcision is flowing.’

²⁷ Then Jehovah told Aaron: ‘Go into the desert to meet Moses.’ So he went and met him at the Mountain of God, and they kissed each other. ²⁸ Then Moses told Aaron everything that Jehovah had said, why he was being sent, and of all the things that he was told to do.

²⁹ So Moses and Aaron went and gathered the elders of the children of IsraEl. ³⁰ And Aaron told them everything that God had told Moses, and he performed the miracles before the people. ³¹ And the people believed and were happy, because God was visiting the children of IsraEl and He had seen how they were being oppressed. Then the people bowed to their faces before [God].

Chapter 5

¹ After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, ‘This is what Jehovah, the God of IsraEl, said: Send My people away, so they can hold a feast to Me in the desert.’

² And Pharaoh asked, ‘Just who is this Jehovah so that I should have to pay any attention to what He has to say, and that I should send the children of IsraEl away? I don’t know Jehovah, and I’m not letting IsraEl go!’

³ Then [Moses and Aaron] said, ‘The God of the Hebrews has called us to Him. So we’re going on a three-day journey into the desert to [offer] sacrifices to our God Jehovah, for we’re afraid that [something might happen to us] and we might die or be murdered.’

⁴ But the king of Egypt told them: ‘Why are you, Moses and Aaron, trying to keep people from doing their work? Now, go back and do your jobs!’

⁵ For Pharaoh said, ‘{Look!} There are a huge number of these people, so we can’t allow them to slack off from doing their work!’

⁶ As the result, Pharaoh gave orders to those who were in charge, to tell their supervisors: ⁷ ‘Don’t give the people any straw for brick-making as you did yesterday and three days ago. Let them gather and carry the straw for themselves, ⁸ but maintain the quota for the daily brick making that they are required to perform… don’t let up on them, because they’re lazy! Why, they came demanding that we allow them to [go out and] make a sacrifice to their God. ⁹ So, make the men’s work much harder, and then they will pay attention to that, instead of to idle chatter!’

¹⁰ Well, the taskmasters and the supervisors acted quickly, and they told the people, ‘This is what Pharaoh says: I’m not going to give you straw anymore. ¹¹ Go get it yourselves! Take it from wherever you can find it… but you must still make the same number of [bricks]!’

¹² So the people were scattered all over the land of Egypt as they gathered stubble for straw. ¹³ And the taskmasters kept pushing them, saying, ‘You aren’t meeting the quotas that you had when [we provided] the straw.’

¹⁴ But then, the supervisors who were assigned over the children of IsraEl by Pharaoh’s governors were whipped, and they were asked: ‘Why aren’t you meeting your brick-making quotas as you did yesterday and three days ago?’

¹⁵ And the children of IsraEl’s supervisors went to see Pharaoh, and asked: ‘Why are you treating your servants this way? ¹⁶ You don’t give us any straw, but you tell us to make bricks anyhow. Look, your servants have been whipped! Are you going to allow your people to be injured?’

¹⁷ And he said to them: ‘You’re lazy and you’re slackers, for you said: Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God. ¹⁸ So, go and work instead, because you won’t be given any straw. However, you must meet the same quota of bricks!’

¹⁹ Well, the children of IsraEl’s supervisors realized that they were in a tight situation (since they were told that they couldn’t fail to deliver the daily quota of bricks). ²⁰ And when they saw Moses and Aaron coming to meet them (as they were leaving Pharaoh), ²¹ they said, ‘May God look on you and judge you, because you’ve made us so hated by Pharaoh and his servants that you’ve put the sword into their hands with which they can kill us!’

²² Then Moses turned to Jehovah, and said, ‘I beg You, O Lord; Why have You caused trouble for these people, and why did You send me? ²³ For, from the time that I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he has oppressed these people; yet You haven’t taken Your people away.’

Chapter 6

¹ And Jehovah replied to Moses: ‘Now you’re going to see what I will do to Pharaoh, for he will indeed send them away… with a strong hand and a hard pitch he’ll THROW them out of his land!’

² And God said to Moses: ‘I am Jehovah… ³ I appeared to AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob, and I was their God. However, I didn’t show them My Name, Jehovah, ⁴ when I established My Sacred Agreement with them [and promised] to give them the land of the CanaAnites… the land where they were visitors and living as strangers.

⁵ ‘Now, I’ve heard the groans of the children of IsraEl over the oppressive ways that the Egyptians are keeping them in slavery. And I’ve remembered the Sacred Agreement [that I made] with you. ⁶ So, go and tell the children of IsraEl that I am Jehovah, and I will lead them out of the tyranny of the Egyptians and free them from slavery. I will pay their ransom with a hard pitch and a great judgment! ⁷ I will take them to be My people, and I will be their God. And then they will know that I am Jehovah their God who freed them from the tyranny of the Egyptians. ⁸ And I will bring them into the land that I reached out to give to AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob… I will give it to them as their inheritance, for I am Jehovah.’

⁹ And that’s what Moses thereafter told the Sons of IsraEl. However, they wouldn’t listen to Moses, because of their fear and their difficult work. ¹⁰ So Jehovah told Moses, ¹¹ ‘Go and tell Pharaoh the king of Egypt to send the children of IsraEl out of his land.’

¹² And Moses replied to Jehovah, saying, ‘Look, the children of IsraEl didn’t listen to me, so how will I get Pharaoh to listen to me? Besides, I’m not a good speaker.’ ¹³ So Jehovah spoke to [both] Moses and Aaron, and told them to order Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) to send the children of IsraEl out of the land of Egypt.

¹⁴ These were the family heads of each of the houses of [IsraEl]: The sons of Reuben (IsraEl’s firstborn) were Enoch, Phallus, Asron, and Charmi. They were Reuben’s children.

¹⁵ The sons of SimeOn were JemuEl, Jamin, Aod, JaChin, Saar, and Saul (the son of a Phoenician woman). These were SimeOn’s children.

¹⁶ The sons of Levi (and the family heads) were Gedson, CaAth, and MeraRi. And Levi lived to be a hundred and thirty-seven years old.

¹⁷ Now, Gedson’s sons (and the family heads) were Lobeni and Semei.

CaAth’s sons were ¹⁸ Ambram, IsSaar, Chebron, and Ozie. And CaAth lived to be a hundred and thirty-three years old.

¹⁹ The sons of MeraRi (and the family heads) were MoOli, and Omusi.

²⁰ Now, Ambram married his cousin JochaBed (the daughter of his father’s brother), and she gave birth to Aaron, Moses, and Miriam (their sister). Ambram [died] when he was a hundred and thirty-two years old.

²¹ The sons of IsSaar were KorAh, Naphec, and Zechri. ²² And the sons of OziEl were MisaEl, EliSaphan, and Segri.

²³ Then Aaron married ElisaBeth, the daughter of AminAdab and the sister of NaAsson, and she gave birth to Nadab, AbiUd, EliEzer, and IthaMar.

²⁴ KorAh’s sons were Asir, ElKana, and AbiAsar. These were KorAh’s children.

²⁵ Aaron’s son EliEzer married one of the daughters of PhutiEl, and she gave birth to Phineas. These are the heads of the family of the Levites, by their generations.

²⁶ And this is Aaron and Moses, who were told by God to use their powers to bring the children of IsraEl out of the land of Egypt.

²⁷ So this is what they said to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, before Aaron and Moses brought the children of IsraEl out of the land of Egypt, ²⁸ in the day that Jehovah spoke to Moses.

²⁹ Jehovah told Moses: ‘I am Jehovah! Speak to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and tell him whatever I say to you.’

³⁰ And Moses replied to Jehovah: ‘Look, I’m not a good speaker, so how will Pharaoh listen to me?’

Chapter 7

¹ Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘Look! I’ve made you a god to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron is your Prophet. ² So tell Pharaoh everything that I’ve told you to say through your brother Aaron… tell him that he must send the children of IsraEl out of his land! ³ However, I will make Pharaoh hardhearted. Then I will bring many signs and wonders to the land of Egypt, ⁴ but Pharaoh will still refuse to listen to you. So I will lay My hand upon Egypt and bring My people, the children of IsraEl, out of their land by My power and with a great vengeance. ⁵ Then all the Egyptians will know that I am Jehovah, and that I reached out My hand toward Egypt and brought the children of IsraEl out of their midst.’

⁶ So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them.

⁷ Moses was eighty years old, and his brother Aaron was eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.

⁸ Then Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron, ⁹ ‘If Pharaoh says you must give him a sign or a miracle, then tell your brother Aaron to throw his walking stick on the ground in front of Pharaoh and his servants, and it will become a snake.’

¹⁰ So when Moses and Aaron went in [and stood] before Pharaoh and his servants, they did just as the Lord had instructed them. Aaron threw his walking stick before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a snake. ¹¹ However, Pharaoh brought in all the Egyptian wise men, witches, and soothsayers, and they used their magic to do the same thing… ¹² they each threw down their walking sticks and they became snakes. But then, Aaron’s walking stick swallowed down their walking sticks.

¹³ Well, Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he refused to listen to what Jehovah had instructed them to say. ¹⁴ Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘Now Pharaoh’s heart has become hard and he won’t let the people go. ¹⁵ So approach Pharaoh when he goes down to the river tomorrow morning and meet him there on its bank. Then take [Aaron’s] walking stick that turned into a snake ¹⁶ and tell [Pharaoh] that Jehovah the God of the Hebrews has sent you to him, and that He says: Send My people away so they can serve Me in the desert! Look, you haven’t listened to Me so far, ¹⁷ but this is how I’m going to let you know that I am Jehovah!’

‘[Then tell him]: Look; I’m going to slap the water with this walking stick in my hand, and the river water will change into blood. ¹⁸ Then all the fish in the river will die and it will stink, and the Egyptians won’t be able to drink water from the river.’

¹⁹ And Jehovah continued, ‘Then tell your brother Aaron to take his walking stick and hold his arms out over all the water in Egypt (over their rivers, canals, ponds, and any standing water) and they will turn into blood. This blood will be throughout the entire land of Egypt… even in their pottery and wooden jars!’

²⁰ So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. [Aaron] held out the walking stick and slapped the river right there in front of Pharaoh and his servants, and changed all the river water into blood. ²¹ Then all the fish in the river died and the river had a foul odor, so the Egyptians couldn’t drink water from it. And there was blood throughout the entire land of Egypt.

²² However, the Egyptian soothsayers used their magic to do the same thing, so the heart of Pharaoh became hard and he wouldn’t listen to them… which is just what Jehovah said [would happen]. ²³ Then Pharaoh turned around and went back into his palace without looking at anything.

²⁴ Well, the Egyptians had to dig [pits] around the river to find drinking water, because they couldn’t drink the river water. ²⁵ And Jehovah’s conquest of the river lasted for seven days.

Chapter 8

¹ Then the Lord told Moses: ‘Now go to Pharaoh [again] and tell him that this is what Jehovah has said: Send My people away so they can serve Me. ² And if you don’t send them away, {Look!} I will fill your land with frogs… ³ the river will teem with frogs, and they’ll get into your houses, into your bedrooms, and onto your beds. [They will be] in the homes of your citizens, in the homes of your servants, on your dough, and on your ovens. ⁴ They will also climb on you, your servants, and your people.’

⁵ And Jehovah said to Moses, ‘Tell your brother Aaron to hold his arms out with his walking stick in his hand over the rivers, canals, and pools, to bring up the frogs.’

⁶ So Aaron held his arms out over the waters of Egypt and brought up the frogs; and the frogs that he brought up covered the land of Egypt.

⁷ Well, the Egyptian soothsayers used their magic and they too brought frogs upon the land of Egypt.

⁸ Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, ‘Pray to Jehovah for me and ask Him take the frogs away from my people and me. Then I will send [the children of IsraEl] away to offer sacrifices to Jehovah.’

⁹ And Moses said to Pharaoh, ‘Tell me; When I should pray for the frogs to disappear from you, your servants, and your people; [for, that’s when they will be gone] from you, your people, and your houses. However, they will remain in the river.’

¹⁰ And [Pharaoh] replied: ‘Tomorrow morning.’

Then [Moses] said, ‘It will be just as you’ve said… and then you will know that there is no [God] other than Jehovah. ¹¹ The frogs will be removed from you, your houses, your villages, your servants, and your people. However, they will remain in the river.’ ¹² And at that, Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh.

Then Moses called to Jehovah and asked Him to remove the frogs, as Pharaoh had asked. ¹³ And Jehovah did what Moses asked, and the frogs died in the houses, villages, and fields. ¹⁴ So, they gathered them in piles, which caused the whole land to stink.

¹⁵ Well, when Pharaoh saw that there was some relief, his heart became hard again, and he didn’t listen to the things they told him that Jehovah had said. ¹⁶ So Jehovah told Moses: ‘Now tell Aaron to take his walking stick in his hand and to hit the dirt on the ground, then fleas will cover the men and animals throughout the entire land of Egypt.’

¹⁷ So Aaron stuck out the walking stick and hit the dirt on the ground, and fleas covered the men and animals… there were fleas on the ground everywhere!

¹⁸ Well, the soothsayers tried to use their magic to do the same thing and bring out the fleas, but they were unable to do so. However, the fleas covered both men and animals, ¹⁹ so the soothsayers said to Pharaoh: ‘This is the finger of God!’

But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he wouldn’t listen to them and do as Jehovah said. ²⁰ So Jehovah said to Moses, ‘Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he’s going to go down to the water. Then you must tell him that this is what Jehovah has said: Send My people away, so they can serve Me in the desert. ²¹ And if you won’t let My people go, {Look!} I’m going to send stable flies to you, your servants, your citizens, and into your homes. The houses of the Egyptians will be filled with stable flies, wherever they live in the land. ²² [But this time], I will create a marvelous difference in the land of Gesem, where My people are living… there’ll be no stable flies there. Then you will know that I am Jehovah, the God of all the earth, ²³ when I create a difference between My people and yours! This is going to happen in your land tomorrow!’

²⁴ Well, the stable flies came in huge numbers and they got into the houses of Pharaoh, his servants, and everyone in the land of Egypt… the land was virtually destroyed by stable flies! ²⁵ So Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron [again] and said, ‘Now, go and offer a sacrifice to Jehovah your God here in this land.’

²⁶ But Moses said: ‘We can’t do that, because the things we will sacrifice to Jehovah our God are considered disgusting to the Egyptians. So if we sacrifice such things in front of the Egyptians, they will stone us. ²⁷ Rather, let us travel three-days into the desert, and we will offer our sacrifices to Jehovah our God there, as our Lord has told us.’

²⁸ Then Pharaoh said, ‘Go and sacrifice to your God in the desert; but don’t go too far; and pray to Jehovah for me!’

²⁹ And Moses said, ‘Now I will leave you and pray to God, so that the stable flies will leave your servants and your citizens tomorrow. But Pharaoh; Don’t deceive me again and refuse to send the people away to sacrifice to Jehovah.’

³⁰ Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to God. ³¹ And Jehovah did just as Moses said… He removed all the stable flies from Pharaoh, his servants, and his citizens. ³² However, Pharaoh’s heart became hard once again and he wouldn’t send the people away.

Chapter 9

¹ So Jehovah told Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh and say to him that this is what Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews says: Send My people away so they can serve Me. ² And if you don’t send My people away and if you prevent them from going, ³ {Look!} the Lord will touch the cattle in the fields – the horses, burros, camels, bulls, and sheep – and many will die! ⁴ I will also show a marvelous difference between [the way I will treat] the cattle of the Egyptians and the cattle of the children of IsraEl. None of those that belong to the children of IsraEl will die.’

⁵ Then God told him when this would happen. He said, ‘I will bring it on the land tomorrow.’

⁶ And the next day, cattle belonging to all the Egyptians died, but none of the children of IsraEl’s cattle died. ⁷ And when Pharaoh saw that none of the cattle that belonged to the children of IsraEl died (not one), Pharaoh’s heart became even harder, so he refused to let the people go.

⁸ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ‘Moses should take handfuls of furnace ashes and throw them into the sky before Pharaoh and his servants, ⁹ and let it blow like dust over the entire land of Egypt. Then the men and animals throughout Egypt will break out with blisters.’

¹⁰ So Moses carried furnace ashes before Pharaoh and threw them into the sky, and they caused blisters to break out on both the men and their animals.

¹¹ Well, the soothsayers were no longer able to stand before Moses, because they were also covered with blisters, just like everyone else in the land of Egypt. ¹² But Jehovah just made Pharaoh’s heart harder, so he wouldn’t listen to them and do what Jehovah told him to do.

¹³ And Jehovah said to Moses, ‘Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, then tell him that this is what Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, has said: Send My people away so they can serve Me. ¹⁴ For, I’ve been sending all My plagues into your heart and into the hearts of your servants and your people, so you will know that there isn’t anyone else like Me in the entire earth. ¹⁵ And now I’m going to raise My hand to strike you and kill your people, wiping them off of the earth. ¹⁶ Why, the very reason that you’ve been allowed to live is so that I might display My strength through you, and so that My Name might be advertised throughout the whole earth!

¹⁷ ‘You’ve taken great pains to keep My people and to not let them go… haven't you? ¹⁸ Look! At this same time tomorrow, I will cause a hailstorm that will be the worst that Egypt has ever seen since the time it was created. ¹⁹ So, hurry and gather your cattle, as well as everything else that you have in the fields… all the men and cattle that you can find in the fields. For if they don’t go inside a house, the hail will hit them and they will die!’

²⁰ So those servants of Pharaoh who were afraid of what Jehovah said, brought their cattle into their homes. ²¹ And those who didn’t pay any attention to what Jehovah said, left their cattle in the fields.

²² Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘Raise your hands to the sky, and there will be a hailstorm throughout the entire land of Egypt… on the men, the cattle, and on all the plants that are growing on the ground.’

²³ So Moses raised his hands to the sky, and Jehovah sent hail, thunder, and lightning that rolled around on the ground. And this hail from Jehovah rained throughout the entire land of Egypt. ²⁴ There was hail and there was lightning mixed with hail… it was the greatest hailstorm to hit Egypt in the [history of] the nation! ²⁵ The hail landed all over the land of Egypt – on the men, the animals, and the grass in the fields – and it broke all the trees in the fields. ²⁶ But in the land of Gesem where the children of IsraEl were, there was no hail.

²⁷ So Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said: ‘I’ve sinned this time. Jehovah is righteous, and my people and I are wicked. ²⁸ Pray to Jehovah for me and have Him stop the thunder, lightning, and the hail, then I will send you away and you won’t have to [live here] anymore.’

²⁹ And Moses said to him: ‘After I leave the city, I will raise my hands to Jehovah, and the thunder, lightning, hail, and rain will stop… and then you will know that the earth belongs to Jehovah. ³⁰ However, I know that you and your servants don’t fear Jehovah yet.’

³¹ Well, [Egypt’s] flax and barley was all destroyed, because the barley was fully-grown and the flax had seeds. ³² However, the wheat and rye hadn’t been damaged, because they came up later.

³³ So then, Moses left Pharaoh and [walked] out of the city. And when he raised his hands to Jehovah, the thundering stopped, and the rain and hail stopped falling.

³⁴ But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thundering had stopped, he continued to sin. He hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants. ³⁵ And it was because of this hard heart that Pharaoh refused to send the children of IsraEl away, as Jehovah had instructed Moses.

Chapter 10

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ‘Go to Pharaoh [again], because I’ve hardened the hearts of him and his servants, so I could bring these signs upon them. ² [I did this] so you could tell your children and your children’s children of the many ways that I’ve mocked the Egyptians, and of the wonders that I’ve brought upon them, so they will know that I am Jehovah.’

³ Then Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh and said to him, ‘This is what Jehovah the God of the Hebrews says: How much longer will you refuse to respect Me? Send My people away, so they can serve Me. ⁴ But if you won’t send My people away, {Look!} at this same time tomorrow I will bring a huge amount of locusts to all your borders. ⁵ They will cover the entire land, and you won’t be able to see the ground. They will eat everything that the hail has left you, and chew up every tree that you have growing in the land. ⁶ Your houses, the houses of your servants, and all the houses in all the land of Egypt will be filled with them. It will be something that neither your fathers nor their ancestors have ever seen from their time until today.’

Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh. ⁷ And Pharaoh’s servants said to him, ‘How much longer are you going to allow them to be a snare to us? Send those people away so they can serve their God! Don’t you realize that Egypt is [being] destroyed?’

⁸ So they went and brought Moses and Aaron back to Pharaoh, and he said to them: ‘You may go and serve Jehovah your God… but, just who will be going with you?’

⁹ And Moses replied, ‘We will be taking the young and the old, along with our sons, daughters, sheep, and bulls, because this is a feast of Jehovah.’

¹⁰ Then [Pharaoh] said to them, ‘May Jehovah be with you. But if I send you away, must I also [send away] all that you own? You have an evil [plan], ¹¹ so [I’m] not going to [allow that]! I’ll just allow the men to go and serve God, because that’s all you really wanted… now throw them out from before the presence of Pharaoh!’

¹² Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘Now raise your hands over the land of Egypt and let the locusts come to the land. They will eat every plant on the ground and all the fruit that wasn’t damaged by the hail on the trees!’

¹³ So Moses lifted his walking stick to the sky, and Jehovah sent a south wind [that blew] all day and all night long. Then the next morning, the south wind brought the locusts ¹⁴ and sent them throughout the land of Egypt. And there they sat in huge numbers throughout all the borders of Egypt. Never had such locusts been seen before or since! ¹⁵ They covered the entire ground and destroyed the land. They ate all the plants off the ground and any fruit in the trees that hadn’t been damaged by the hail… nothing green was left on the trees or in the fields anywhere in the land of Egypt.

¹⁶ Then Pharaoh hastily called Moses and Aaron, and said: ‘I have sinned before Jehovah your God and against you. ¹⁷ [Please] pardon my sin one more time and pray to Jehovah your God, for Him take away this death!’

¹⁸ So Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to God, ¹⁹ then Jehovah sent a strong wind from the sea that blew in the opposite direction, which picked up the locusts and threw them into the Red Sea, so there wasn’t a single locust left anywhere in the land of Egypt. ²⁰ But Jehovah continued to harden Pharaoh’s heart, so he didn’t send the children of IsraEl away.

²¹ Then Jehovah told Moses, ‘Lift your hands toward the sky and bring darkness to the land of Egypt… a darkness that can be felt.’

²² So Moses raised his hands to the sky, and it stormed throughout the land of Egypt for three days and the sky became totally black. ²³ And for three days, nobody could see anyone else, so no one got out of bed. However, all the children of IsraEl had light where they were.

²⁴ Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, and said: ‘Go serve your God Jehovah, but leave your sheep, your bulls, and your belongings.’

²⁵ However, Moses said: ‘No; You must allow us the burnt offerings and sacrifices that we’re going to offer to Jehovah our God… ²⁶ so our cattle will be going with us! We won’t leave a hoof behind, because we’re going to take them to serve Jehovah our God, and we won’t know how we’re going to serve Him until we get there.’

²⁷ But Jehovah kept hardening Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let them go. ²⁸ So Pharaoh said, ‘Get away from me, and be careful not to see my face again! Because, the next time you appear before me, you’re going to die!’

²⁹ And Moses replied: ‘That’s what you’ve said, so I won’t appear in your presence again!’

Chapter 11

¹ Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘I’m going to bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt, and then he will send you away with everything… in fact, he’ll drive you out! ² Now, go to the people secretly and tell them to ask their neighbors for clothing, as well as for silver and gold jewelry.’

³ So Jehovah caused his people to be looked on favorably by the Egyptians, and they were willing to lend things to them, because the Egyptians considered Moses a great man… even greater than Pharaoh and his servants.

⁴ Then Moses told [the children of IsraEl], ‘This is what Jehovah said: About midnight I will be going throughout Egypt, ⁵ and all the firstborn in the land will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on the throne to the firstborn of the female slave who sits by the mill, as well as the firstborn of all the cattle. ⁶ Then a cry will [be heard] throughout the land of Egypt such as has never been heard before and will never be repeated. ⁷ However, among the children of IsraEl, not even a dog will snarl at a man or an animal. That’s when you will see how great the difference is, that Jehovah will make between the Egyptians and IsraEl. ⁸ [The Egyptians] will then be your servants. They will come to [you] and bow, saying, Leave… you and all the people that you’re in charge of. And that’s when [you will] leave.’

⁹ Now, Moses had left Pharaoh [feeling very] angry. And as Jehovah told Moses, ‘Pharaoh isn’t going to listen to you, so I can show great signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.’ ¹⁰ And Moses and Aaron brought about all these signs and wonders in the land of Egypt and before Pharaoh. But Jehovah kept hardening Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t listen and send the children of IsraEl out of the land of Egypt.

Chapter 12

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron there in the land of Egypt, and said, ² ‘This will be your first month. It is to be the first one [in your] year. ³ So, tell the whole gathering of the children of IsraEl that on the tenth day of this month, each man should select a lamb for his household (depending on the size of his family). ⁴ And if there are just a few in his house – too few [to eat a whole] lamb – they may go to [the home of] a nearby neighbor. And to figure out how many people that will be, they should each calculate how much lamb they will eat.

⁵ ‘So, choose a perfect male yearling lamb from [your herd] of lambs and kids, ⁶ and keep it nearby until the fourteenth day of this month. Then the whole gathering of the children of IsraEl must slaughter [their lambs] toward the evening. ⁷ And they must gather the blood and put it on the top and both sides of the doorframes of the houses where they will be eating [the lamb]. ⁸ Then that night, they must roast the flesh over a fire and eat it with fermentation-free bread and bitter herbs.

⁹ ‘Now, you must not eat it raw or boiled in water, just roasted over a fire with the head, feet, and extremities. ¹⁰ Nothing should be left over until morning, and you shouldn’t break any of its bones. Any leftovers must be burned in the fire.

¹¹ ‘And this is how you must eat it: With your thighs covered for work, your sandals on your feet, and your walking sticks in your hands. Then you must eat it quickly, for it is Jehovah’s Passover. ¹² Because, I will go throughout the land of Egypt that night and strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt (both men and animals), and I will bring My vengeance upon all the gods of Egypt, for I am Jehovah.

¹³ ‘Now, this blood will be the sign that you’re in the house, so I will see the blood and protect you. That way, you won’t be a part of the plague of destruction when I strike the land of Egypt.

¹⁴ ‘You must always remember this day and keep it as a feast to Jehovah through all your generations. [Observance of] this feast will be the law through the ages.

¹⁵ ‘Now, you will eat fermentation-free bread for seven days. And starting on the first day, you must remove all fermentation from your homes. And if someone eats fermentation between the first and seventh days, that person must be destroyed in IsraEl.

¹⁶ ‘The first day will be called holy, and the seventh day will be your holy day. You aren’t to do any hired work then. The only work that you may do will be for the things that you require.

¹⁷ ‘And you must keep this commandment, because this is the day that I will use My great power to bring you out of the land of Egypt, and you will make this day a law through the ages for every generation.

¹⁸ ‘You must eat fermentation-free bread from the evening of the fourteenth-day of the first month, until the evening of the twenty-first day. ¹⁹ Fermentation must not be found in your homes during those seven days, and whoever eats anything with fermentation [in it] will have his life cut off from the gathering of IsraEl, and he will be self-condemned in the land. This applies to the native residents of the land, as well as to their neighbors (converts). ²⁰ Nobody should eat anything that has fermentation; only fermentation-free bread may be eaten in any of your homes.’

²¹ Then Moses called all the elders of the children of IsraEl and told them, ‘Go find yourselves a lamb (according to your family needs) and slaughter the Passover. ²² Then [cut] a bunch of hyssop branches and dip them into some of the blood next to the door, and touch it to the upper part and both sides of the door frame… this blood, which is by the door. Then no one should go outside the door of his house until morning, ²³ for Jehovah will pass over you [as He] strikes the Egyptians… He will see the blood on the doorframes and Jehovah will pass over that door. He won’t allow the destroyer to enter your homes to strike you.

²⁴ ‘Now, keep this as a Law for yourselves and for your descendants through the age. ²⁵ And if you should enter the land that Jehovah promises to give you, you must keep on doing this. ²⁶ Then, if your sons should ever ask, Why are we doing this? ²⁷ You should tell them, The Passover is a sacrifice to Jehovah, for when He protected the homes of the children of IsraEl in Egypt and He struck the Egyptians, but [passed over] our homes.’

²⁸ Well, the people bowed to their faces, then the children of IsraEl went and did exactly as Jehovah had instructed Moses and Aaron.

²⁹ It was midnight when Jehovah struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt… from the firstborn of Pharaoh who was sitting on the throne, to the firstborn of the female slave who was sitting in a dungeon, to the firstborn of all the cattle. ³⁰ So Pharaoh woke up that night (as did his servants and all the Egyptians) and there was a lot of screaming throughout the entire land of Egypt, for someone had died in every home.

³¹ As the result, Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron that night and told them: ‘Get up and leave us, both you and the children of IsraEl! Go and serve your God Jehovah as you’ve asked, ³² and take your sheep and bulls along with you. But please bless me… I beg you!’

³³ Then the Egyptians urged them to leave their land quickly, because they were saying, ‘We’re all going to die!’

³⁴ So the children of IsraEl took the dough that had no fermentation and wrapped it in cloth, then put it on their shoulders. ³⁵ And following Moses’ instructions, they asked the Egyptians for clothing and for items of silver and gold. ³⁶ And Jehovah caused the Egyptians to view them favorably, so they [gave these things] to them… they plundered the Egyptians.

³⁷ Then the children of IsraEl left [the city of] Ramses [and traveled] to SocChoth… six hundred thousand men on foot with everything they owned, ³⁸ along with a huge number of others who left with them, along with their sheep, bulls, and many cattle.

³⁹ Then they baked the dough that they had brought from Egypt into fermentation-free loaves (there was still no fermentation in the dough), because the Egyptians wouldn’t allow them to stay, and they had [virtually] thrown them out; so they didn’t have time to make provisions for their journey.

⁴⁰ Now, although it had been four hundred and thirty years that the children of IsraEl had stayed in the land of Egypt and in the land of CanaAn, ⁴¹ the whole army of Jehovah left the land of Egypt that night. ⁴² It was [the night] when they kept watching for Jehovah to bring them out of the land of Egypt, so all the children of IsraEl throughout all their generations must keep this same night as a night of watch to Jehovah.

⁴³ Then Jehovah told Moses and Aaron: ‘This is the Law regarding the Passover: No stranger may eat it, ⁴⁴ and any slave or servant that you buy must be circumcised before he can eat it. ⁴⁵ Visitors and people you hire can’t eat it. ⁴⁶ It must be eaten in one house, because you can’t carry the flesh outside the house… and no bones should be broken. ⁴⁷ The entire gathering of the children of IsraEl must do this.

⁴⁸ And if a convert comes and wants to keep the Passover to Jehovah, you must circumcise all their males before they can come and offer the sacrifice; and then they will be treated as residents in the land. However, no one who is uncircumcised may eat it. ⁴⁹ So there will be just one Law, and it will apply to both the native residents and to those who come to be converts among you.’

⁵⁰ Then the children of IsraEl did exactly as Jehovah had instructed Moses and Aaron. ⁵¹ And so, that was the day when Jehovah brought the children of IsraEl out of the land of Egypt with all their forces.

Chapter 13

¹ Then Jehovah told Moses: ² ‘All the first-fathered and firstborn that open any womb among the children of IsraEl, whether of men or animals, are to be set aside as holy to Me, for they are Mine.’

³ And Moses said to the people, ‘Remember this day! [It’s the one] when you were brought out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery; for Jehovah brought you out of there with His strong hand. So, fermentation must not be eaten [now]!

⁴ ‘And it was on this day of new grain that you left, ⁵ so when Jehovah your God brings you into the land of the CanaAnites, Chettites, Amorites, Evites, Jebusites, Gergesites, and Pherezites, which He swore to your ancestors that He would give you – a land that flows with milk and honey – you must perform this same service during this month. ⁶ Six days you will eat fermentation-free bread, and the seventh day will be a feast day to Jehovah. ⁷ So for seven days you will eat fermentation-free bread. Nothing with fermentation may be seen among you, nor may you have fermentation inside all your borders. ⁸ And you will tell your sons on this day: This is how Jehovah dealt with me as I was leaving Egypt.

⁹ ‘So, let it remain as a sign on your hand and as something to remember before your eyes, that Jehovah’s Law may always stay on your [lips], because Jehovah God brought you out of Egypt with His strong hand. ¹⁰ So, each year at this time and season, you must observe this Law.

¹¹ ‘And when Jehovah your God brings you into the land of the CanaAnites, which He swore to your ancestors that he would give you, ¹² you must set aside every male that opens a womb to Jehovah. This includes those among your flocks and herds of cattle… as many as you have. [All the] males must be [set aside as] holy to Jehovah.

¹³ ‘However, when it comes to burros, you must offer a sheep instead… you can’t exchange it, you must buy it back [from Jehovah], and you must buy back every firstborn son.

¹⁴ ‘And if your son should ever ask you, Why are you doing this? You must tell him, Jehovah brought us out of Egypt and out of the house of slavery with His strong hand. ¹⁵ And when Pharaoh’s heart became hard and [he refused] to send us away, [God] slaughtered all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the men and the animals. That’s why we offer every male that opens a womb to Jehovah, and that’s why we buy back all of our firstborn sons.

¹⁶ ‘So, may this be a sign on your hand and something that is always fixed in front of your eyes, because Jehovah brought you out of Egypt with His strong hand.’

¹⁷ Well, after Pharaoh sent the people away, God didn’t lead them toward the land of the Philistines (although it wasn’t far away), because God said, ‘[This is to keep] the people from having a change of heart when they see war, and from returning to Egypt.’ ¹⁸ So God led them around the desert toward the Red Sea

It was the fifth generation of the children of IsraEl that left the land of Egypt. ¹⁹ And Moses took Joseph’s bones along, because [Joseph] had made the children of IsraEl swear, saying, ‘God will surely visit you, so you must carry my bones back with you.’

²⁰ So the children of IsraEl left SocChoth and went to camp at Othom, which is near the desert. ²¹ God led them there using a tall column of clouds during the day (to show them the way) and a tall column of fire during the night. ²² The column of clouds was there all day, every day, and the column of fire was always there in front of the people at night.

Chapter 14

¹ Then Jehovah said to Moses, ² ‘Tell the children of IsraEl to turn around and set up camp in front of the village of Magdol… between it and the sea, across from Beel-SepPhon. Camp there in front of them, next to the sea. ³ For Pharaoh will say to his people, The children of IsraEl are just wandering in the land, and now they are boxed in!

⁴ ‘Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. And Pharaoh and his whole army will bring glory to Me, and all the Egyptians will know that I am Jehovah.’

And that’s what happened. ⁵ A report was carried to the king of the Egyptians that the people had run away. And this changed the hearts of Pharaoh and his servants against the [children of IsraEl], and they started asking, ‘What have we have done by allowing the children of IsraEl to go, rather than to have them serving us?’

⁶ So Pharaoh prepared his chariots and took all his people with him. ⁷ They took along six hundred of their best chariots, the entire Egyptian cavalry, and all his generals.

⁸ But it was because Jehovah had hardened the hearts of Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) and his servants that he chased after the children of IsraEl. And the children of IsraEl allowed them the upper hand. ⁹ Because, when the Egyptians chased them, they found them camped there by the sea.

Well, there was all of Pharaoh’s cavalry, his chariots, his horsemen, and his army at the village near Beel-SepPhon. ¹⁰ And as Pharaoh approached, the children of IsraEl could see the Egyptians [marching] behind them, and they were terrified and started calling out to Jehovah.

¹¹ Then they asked Moses, ‘Aren’t there enough graves in the land of Egypt so that you had to bring us out here to kill us in the desert? What have you done to us by taking us out of Egypt? ¹² Wasn’t it enough that we told you in Egypt to leave us alone, so we could serve the Egyptians? Why, it’s better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die here in this desert!’

¹³ But Moses said to the people, ‘Don’t be afraid; Stand here and watch the salvation that comes from Jehovah and the things He will do for us on this day. Why, you see all those Egyptians today, but you won’t see them again in this age, ¹⁴ because Jehovah is going to fight for you, so you will be at peace!’

¹⁵ Then Jehovah asked Moses, ‘Why are they shouting to Me? Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them to go on! ¹⁶ Raise your walking stick and lift your hands over the sea, and split it. Then [lead] the children of IsraEl across on dry land through the midst of the sea.

¹⁷ ‘Then {Look!}, I will harden the hearts of Pharaoh and all the Egyptians, and they will follow you, so Pharaoh, his army, his chariots, and his horses will glorify Me; ¹⁸ and all the Egyptians will know that I am Jehovah when I’m glorified by Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horses.’

¹⁹ It was then that the messenger of God who traveled in front of the camp of the children of IsraEl left and went to its rear. So the column of clouds moved and stayed behind them, ²⁰ between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of IsraEl. And as it was standing there, it started to get dark, and the night became very black, so they couldn’t come any closer all night long.

²¹ Then Moses lifted his arms over the sea, and Jehovah pushed the sea back with a strong south wind [that blew] all night long. This dried the seabed and divided the water. ²² So the children of IsraEl walked into the middle of the sea on dry land, and a wall of water stood there on their right and on their left.

²³ But then the Egyptians went in after them and chased them… all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and horsemen went through the middle of the sea. ²⁴ And it was during the morning watch that Jehovah looked at the Egyptians through the columns of fire and clouds, and [He created] trouble in their camp. ²⁵ The wheels on their chariots sank to their axels, so they were hard to pull. And the Egyptians said, ‘Let’s run from the face of IsraEl, because Jehovah is fighting for them against the Egyptians!’

²⁶ Then Jehovah told Moses; ‘Now, stretch your arms out over the sea and let the water fall back in its place… let it cover the Egyptian chariots and their riders.’

²⁷ So Moses stretched his arms out over the sea, and the water returned to its place around daybreak. The Egyptians tried to run from the water, but Jehovah just kept shaking them back into the middle of the sea. ²⁸ So the water returned and covered the chariots and their riders, along with the whole army of Pharaoh that followed them into the sea; and there were no survivors.

²⁹ Yet, the children of IsraEl had crossed through the middle of the sea on dry land, while the water stood like walls on their right and on their left. ³⁰ So Jehovah saved IsraEl that day from the hands of the Egyptians, and IsraEl saw the Egyptians lying dead by the seashore. ³¹ And IsraEl saw Jehovah’s mighty hand in the things He did to the Egyptians, and they started to fear Jehovah and trust in God and in His servant Moses.

Chapter 15

¹ Then Moses and the children of IsraEl sang this song to God:

‘Let’s sing to Jehovah, for He has been glorified.
He’s thrown the horses and riders into the sea.
² He’s been our helper and protector,
And He has brought us salvation.

This is my God and I’ll praise Him.
He’s the God of my fathers and I’ll hold Him high.
³ The Lord brings a crushing with war,
[Yes], Jehovah is His [Great] Name.

⁴ Into the sea He has thrown
The chariots of Pharaoh and his army;
The Red Sea swallowed the best mounted generals,
⁵ Then He covered them up with the sea,
And they sank to its bottom like stones.

⁶ The strength of Your right hand, O God,
Has been made [ever so] glorious.
And Your right hand, O God,
Has broken [all of] Your enemies.

⁷ In Your glory You have broken our enemies to pieces.
You sent [upon them] Your rage,
And it ate them up just like stubble.

⁸ By the spirit of Your rage the waters had parted…
The water became solid like a wall.
And the waves became solid in the midst of the sea.

⁹ The enemy said, ‘I’ll chase and overtake them…
I’ll divide the plunder and make myself happy.
I will destroy with my sword,
And I’ll dominate with my hand.

¹⁰ But then You sent out Your wind,
And the sea covered them over…
They sank like lead amid mighty waters.

¹¹ Who among the gods is like You, O Lord?
Yes, who else is there like You?
For, in holiness You are glorified,
And we marvel at all of Your glories.

¹² You raised Your right hand and brought wonders,
For the earth swallowed them down.
¹³ But You righteously guided the people You purchased,
By Your strength You called them to Your holy place of rest.

¹⁴ The nations heard this and were angry…
Pangs of birth grabbed hold of Philistines.
¹⁵ The princes of Edom and Moab,
And all their chiefs have now fled.

They all had started to tremble,
And all in CanaAn have melted away.
¹⁶ May they tremble in fear of the strength of Your arm,
And may they become just like stones, O Lord,
Until Your people pass them by… Until the people You’ve purchased pass them by.

¹⁷ Take us and plant us in the mountains we’ll inherit…
In the home You’ve prepared [for us], O Lord…
In the place of safety You’ve prepared with Your hands,
¹⁸ For, Jehovah reigns through the age,
And on through the ages of the ages.

¹⁹ Pharaoh’s horse sank in the sea,
Along with his chariots and horsemen.
Then Jehovah covered them over with water,
But the children of IsraEl walked on dry land,
Through the midst of the sea.’

²⁰ Then the Prophetess Miriam (Aaron’s sister) picked up her tambourine, and all the other women went to get their tambourines, and they all started dancing. ²¹ Miriam led them, saying, ‘Let’s sing to Jehovah, for He has been glorified. The horses and riders have been thrown in the sea…’

²² And thereafter, Moses led the children of IsraEl away from the Red Sea and brought them into the desert of Sur. And after three days in the desert, they couldn’t find any water to drink; ²³ and when they got to MerRha, they couldn’t drink the water there, because it was bitter. So [Moses] named that place Bitterness.

²⁴ Well, then the people started complaining about Moses. They were asking, ‘What are we going to drink?’

²⁵ So Moses called to Jehovah, and Jehovah showed him a tree, which [Moses] threw into the water and the water became sweet… and this is the place where [God] gave him His Laws and decisions, and where He showed His approval. ²⁶ For [God] said: ‘If you will listen to the voice of Jehovah your God, do things that please Him, obey His Commandments, and keep all His Laws, I won’t bring any of the [plagues] upon you that I brought on the Egyptians. For I am Jehovah; the God who makes you well.’

²⁷ And when they arrived at AiLim, they found twelve springs of water and seventy branching palm trees, so they camped there by the water.

Chapter 16

¹ Then they left AiLim, and the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl traveled to the Sin Desert, which is between AiLim and Sinai. And on the fifteenth day of the second month from their leaving the land of Egypt, ² the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl started complaining about Moses and Aaron. ³ They told them, ‘We would rather have died [with those who were] struck by Jehovah in the land of Egypt, back when we could sit by the stew pots and eat all the bread we wanted! Now you’ve brought us out into this desert to starve us all to death!’

⁴ And Jehovah said to Moses, ‘Look! I will rain bread on you from the sky. Then the people will go out and gather their allotment for each day, so I can test them to see whether they will follow My Law or not. ⁵ For on the sixth day, they will gather whatever they can, and it will be double what they gathered on the previous days.’

⁶ So Moses and Aaron spoke to the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl, saying, ‘This evening you will know that it was Jehovah who brought you out of the land of Egypt; ⁷ for in the morning you will see the glory of Jehovah. Because, He has heard you complaining against Him… and what are we that you keep complaining about us?’

⁸ Then Moses said, ‘This evening Jehovah will give you meat to eat, and in the morning He will provide enough bread to satisfy you, because Jehovah has heard all the complaints that you have against us… and what are we? You aren’t complaining against us, but against God!’

⁹ And Moses said to Aaron, ‘Tell the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl: Go up close to God, because He has heard you complaining.’

¹⁰ Then, after Aaron spoke to them, they turned toward the desert, and the glory of Jehovah appeared in a cloud. ¹¹ And at that, Jehovah spoke to Moses, and said, ¹² ‘I’ve heard the children of IsraEl’s complaints. So, tell them: This evening you will eat meat, and in the morning you will have enough bread to satisfy you… and then you will know that I am Jehovah your God.’

¹³ Well, that evening a [huge flock] of quail flew in and covered the camp. ¹⁴ And the next morning, after the dew around about the camp had dried, {Look!} there on the surface of the desert (lying there like frost), were small things that looked like white coriander seeds. ¹⁵ And when the children of IsraEl saw it, they asked each other, ‘What is this? ([Man nah?])’ because they didn’t know what it was.

And Moses told them, ¹⁶ ‘This is the bread that Jehovah has given you to eat… it’s what Jehovah has approved. Each man should gather a third of a bushel for each person in his family. Go gather it along with those who are living with you.’

¹⁷ And that’s what the children of IsraEl did. Some gathered more and others gathered less, ¹⁸ yet those who gathered the full third of a bushel didn’t have any leftovers, and those who gathered less never went hungry. So they all gathered just what their households needed.

¹⁹ However, Moses told them: ‘Nobody should save any for the next morning.’

²⁰ But many wouldn’t listen to Moses, and they kept it until the next morning. However, by then it had worms and it smelled… and this irritated Moses. ²¹ So each morning, every man would collect all he needed, and everything melted after the sun went down. ²² Then on the sixth day, they gathered twice as much as they needed... two-thirds of a bushel per person. So all the chiefs of their gathering went and reported it to Moses. ²³ And Moses asked, ‘Didn’t Jehovah tell us that tomorrow is the Sabbath… a holy [day of] rest to Jehovah? So, bake all that you can bake, and boil all that you can boil, so that the leftovers can be stored for tomorrow!’

²⁴ As the result, they stored the leftovers until the next morning, just as Moses told them, and it didn’t stink and there weren’t any worms in it. ²⁵ Then Moses said, ‘That’s what you must eat today, because today is a Sabbath to Jehovah… so you won’t find any in the fields. ²⁶ You must collect it for six days, but the seventh day is a Sabbath, so there won’t be any then.’

²⁷ Yet, on the seventh day, some of the people still went out to collect it, but they couldn’t find any. ²⁸ So Jehovah asked Moses, ‘How long are you going to fail to listen to My commands and [obey] My laws? ²⁹ Look; I’ve given you this day as the Sabbath, and I gave you enough bread to last for two days on the sixth day. So sit there in your homes and don’t allow anyone to leave his place on the seventh day!’

³⁰ And thereafter, the people kept the Sabbath on the seventh day.

³¹ Well, the children of IsraEl called this [food] manna. It looked like white coriander seeds and tasted like crackers and honey.

³² Then Moses said, ‘This is what Jehovah commanded: We are to collect a third of a bushel of manna and set it aside, so future generations can see the bread that you ate in the desert after Jehovah led you from the land of Egypt.’ ³³ And he told Aaron: ‘Take a gold pot and fill it with a full third-of-a-bushel of manna, then store it away for God and keep it for future generations.’

³⁴ And just as Jehovah told Moses, Aaron stored it away as a testimony.

³⁵ So the children of IsraEl ate manna for forty years. They ate manna until they got to the land of Phoenicia. ³⁶ Now, a homer (a third of a bushel) was a tenth of three bath measures.

Chapter 17

¹ Then the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl left the desert of Sin, following the order of their camps, and Jehovah told them to camp in RaphiDin. However, there was no water for the people to drink, ² so they started shouting at Moses and saying, ‘Give us water to drink!’

And Moses asked them, ‘Why are you shouting at me, and why are you asking Jehovah to prove Himself?

³ Well, the people were very thirsty there, and they complained again to Moses, saying, ‘What’s the point? Did you bring us up out of Egypt to kill our children, our cattle, and us with thirst?’

⁴ Then Moses called to Jehovah, and said, ‘What should I do with these people? Why, before long they’ll stone me!’

⁵ And Jehovah replied to Moses, ‘Go before the people and bring along some of their elders. Then take the walking stick that you slapped the [Nile] river with into your hand, and go ⁶ to the rock in the dry place (Horeb). And look! I’ll be standing there before you! [Then you must] hit the rock, and water will pour from it, and the people will [have something to] drink.’

So, Moses went before the Sons of IsraEl. ⁷ And he named that place Proof and Shouting, because of all the shouting of the children of IsraEl, and because they wanted Jehovah to prove Himself when they asked, ‘Is Jehovah among us or not?’

⁸ Then the Amalechites came to fight against IsraEl in RaphiDin. ⁹ And Moses said to JoShua, ‘Choose your best men and form battle lines against the Amalechites tomorrow, and {Look!} I will be standing on top of the hill with the walking stick of God in my hands.’

¹⁰ So, JoShua did just as Moses told him. He went out and formed his army in battle lines against the Amalechites; then Moses, Aaron, and Or went up to the top of the hill. ¹¹ And whenever Moses raised his arms, IsraEl would be superior, but when he let them down, the Amalechites were more successful. ¹² However, Moses’ arms soon got tired, so they found a rock and had him sit on top of it, then Aaron and Or supported his arms on either side, and they held them there until the sun set.

¹³ So, JoShua drove the Amalechites and all their people away by slaughtering them with swords. ¹⁴ Then Jehovah told Moses, ‘Write this in a scroll so it will be remembered: Tell JoShua that I’m going to totally blot out all memory of the Amalechites from under the heavens.’

¹⁵ Then Moses then built an altar to Jehovah there and named it My Refuge, ¹⁶ because Jehovah was secretly waging war against all generations of the Amalechites.

Chapter 18

¹ Well, Jethro (the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law) heard of all that Jehovah had done for his people IsraEl by bringing them out of Egypt. ² So Jethro [went to him], along with Moses’ wife ZipPorah (since [Moses] had sent her ³ and her two sons away). [One of his sons] was named Gersam, because, as [Moses] said: ‘I was a visitor in a strange land,’ ⁴ and [the other was named] EliEzer, because, as [Moses] said: ‘The God of my fathers is my helper and He rescued me from the hand of Pharaoh.’

⁵ Jethro took them to Moses in the desert… to his camp on the Mountain of God. ⁶ And when Moses was told, ‘Look! Your father-in-law Jethro is coming and he’s bringing your wife and two sons with him,’ ⁷ Moses went out to meet them. Then [Moses] bowed before his father-in-law and kissed him, and they hugged each other; then he led them into his tent, ⁸ where Moses told his father-in-law everything that Jehovah had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for IsraEl’s sake, of all the things that had happened to them along the way, and of how Jehovah had rescued them from the hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

⁹ Well, Jethro was amazed at all the good things that Jehovah had done for them by rescuing them. ¹⁰ And Jethro said, ‘Praise Jehovah, because He rescued them from the hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. ¹¹ Now I now know that Jehovah is higher than all [other] gods, and that’s why [the children of IsraEl] were attacked.’

¹² Then Jethro presented whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of IsraEl came to eat bread before God along with Moses’ father-in-law.

¹³ Well, the next morning, Moses sat down to [serve as] judge for the people, and they [kept coming to] Moses all day long. ¹⁴ And when Jethro noticed all that [Moses was doing], he asked, ‘Why are you sitting there all by yourself as the people come to you from morning until night?’

¹⁵ And Moses said to his father-in-law, ‘Well, the people are coming to me to receive God’s decisions. ¹⁶ Because, whenever they have a disagreement, they come to me and I judge each [case]. I teach them the Laws of God and [I judge by] His Laws.’

¹⁷ However, Moses’ father-in-law told him, ‘You aren’t handling this thing right, ¹⁸ for this will just wear you down, and your people will get tired of it too. You won’t be able to keep doing this all by yourself. ¹⁹ So, listen to me; I’m going to tell you what to do, and God will be with you.

‘You can be [the one] who [leads] the people in matters that pertain to God, and you can take their problems before God. ²⁰ You should also [teach] them God’s [ways] and His Laws, and show them how to act and the things that they should be doing. ²¹ But, keep an eye out among the people for capable, righteous men who fear God… righteous men who hate pride. Then appoint them as chiefs over thousands, chiefs over hundreds, chiefs over fifties, and chiefs over tens… ²² let them spend all their time judging. And whenever a problem is too great, then they should bring it to you. Let them help you free up your [time] by judging the smaller cases. ²³ And if you do that, God will strengthen you, you will [have time to take care of more important matters], and these people will [return to their tents] more peacefully.’

²⁴ Well, Moses paid attention to his father-in-law’s suggestion and did everything he said. ²⁵ He chose capable men throughout all of IsraEl and made them chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties, and chiefs of tens. ²⁶ Then they judged the people, and whenever a matter was too weighty, they brought it to Moses, while they judged the lighter matters.

²⁷ Then Moses [said goodbye] to his father-in-law, and [Jethro] returned to his own land.

Chapter 19

¹ It was on the same day (in the third month after the children of IsraEl left the land of Egypt) that they arrived in the Sinai desert. ² They had left RaphiDin and traveled through the desert to Sinai; and IsraEl camped there in front of the mountain.

³ Then Moses climbed the Mountain of God, and God called to him on the mountain, saying, ‘You must tell this to the house of Jacob, and report [My words] to the children of IsraEl: ⁴ You have seen all that I’ve done to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you as on the wings of eagles and brought you close to Me. ⁵ Now, if you will listen to what I tell you and keep My Sacred Agreement, you will be a special people to Me that will be higher than all other nations. And because the whole earth is Mine, ⁶ you will become a holy nation and My Royal Priesthood.

‘Now, [go] and tell this to the children of IsraEl!’

⁷ So Moses went back and called the people’s elders, and laid out what God said and how He said it. ⁸ And all the people answered unanimously, saying, ‘We will listen to and obey everything that God has said!’ And Moses reported their words to God.

⁹ Then Jehovah told Moses, ‘{Look!} I’m going to come to you in a column of clouds, so the people can hear Me speaking to you. Then they will believe you through the age.’ And Moses reported what Jehovah said back to the people.

¹⁰ Then Jehovah said to Moses, ‘Go down and give solemn instructions to the people. They must be cleansed both today and tomorrow, and they must wash their clothes. ¹¹ Make sure they are ready by the third day, because on the third day the Lord will descend to Mount Sinai before all the people. ¹² And make sure that they keep themselves some distance from the mountain. Tell them: Be careful not to step on any part of the mountain, or to touch any part of it. For, anyone who touches the mountain will surely die. ¹³ No hand should touch it, and anyone who does must be pelted with rocks or shot through with arrows… whether it’s a man or animal, [he or she] will not live… they can only climb the mountain after the voices, trumpeting, and clouds are gone.’

¹⁴ So Moses went down the mountain to the people. He then cleansed them and [had them] wash their clothes. ¹⁵ And he told them, ‘Get ready… and for the next three days, no [man] should even get close to a woman!’

¹⁶ So, as the morning of the third day dawned, there were voices; there was lightning; there was a dark cloud on Sinai; and there was trumpeting that was so loud the people in the camp trembled. ¹⁷ Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood there close to the camp.

¹⁸ Then the whole mountain started to smoke, because God had descended upon it in fire. And the smoke kept rising as though it was a furnace, and the people were all in awe.

¹⁹ Well, the trumpeting got even louder as Moses spoke. Then God answered him with a voice… ²⁰ Jehovah came down to the top of Mount Sinai and He called Moses, [telling him to come] to the top of the mountain! So, Moses went up, ²¹ then God told Moses: ‘Go down and warn the people [again], for fear that that they might come closer to see God, which will cause many of them to [die]. ²² And make sure that any Priests who come close to Jehovah God have cleansed themselves, so He doesn’t [have to] destroy some of them!’

²³ Then Moses said to God, ‘The people won’t be able to approach Mount Sinai, because You warned us, saying, Set boundaries around the mountain and make it holy.’

²⁴ Then the Lord told him: ‘Now, go down [the mountain] and bring Aaron back with you. But don’t allow the Priests or the people to force their way up to God, for fear that Jehovah will destroy them.’

²⁵ So Moses went [back] down to the people and reminded them [again].

Chapter 20

¹ Then Jehovah said all of this:

² ‘I am Jehovah your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery. ³ So you must have no gods other than Me.

⁴ ‘You must not make images for yourselves of anything in the skies above, on the earth below, or of things that live in the water under the earth. ⁵ You must not bow before them or serve them, for I Jehovah your God am a zealous God, and I bring the sins of the ancestors upon the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of those who hate Me. ⁶ But I am merciful to the thousands who love Me and keep My Commandments.

⁷ ‘You must not misuse the Name of your God Jehovah, for Jehovah your God will not forgive those who misuse His Name.

⁸ ‘Keep the Sabbath day and make it holy. ⁹ You may work and get everything done in six days, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is the Sabbath of your God Jehovah, and you must do no work… not you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, your ox, your burro, any of your cattle, or any strangers that are visiting among you. ¹¹ Because, Jehovah made the sky, the ground, the seas and everything in them, then He rested on the seventh day. So Jehovah blest the seventh day and made it holy.

¹² ‘Honor your father and mother, as Jehovah your God commanded you, so that things may go well for you and that you may live a long time in the land, which Jehovah your God is giving you.

¹³ ‘You must not commit adultery.

¹⁴ ‘You must not steal.

¹⁵ ‘You must not commit murder.

¹⁶ ‘You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.

¹⁷ ‘You must not desire your neighbor’s wife, his house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his burro, any other animal, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.’

¹⁸ Well, [during this time], the people were paying attention to all the thunder and lightning, the sounds of the trumpets, and the smoke on the mountain, and everyone was afraid and backed far away. ¹⁹ So they told Moses, ‘You talk to us… don’t let God talk to us, because we’re afraid that we might die!’

²⁰ And Moses said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, because God didn’t come here to test you or to make you afraid of Him so you won’t sin.’ ²¹ However, the people just backed away.

Then Moses went into the darkness where God was. ²² And Jehovah said to Moses, ‘This is what you must say to the house of Jacob, and what you will report to the children of IsraEl: You have seen Me speak to you from the sky, ²³ so, don’t make gods of silver or gold for yourselves. ²⁴ You must make an Altar to Me from the dirt wherever I record My name. And you must sacrifice your whole burnt offerings upon it, as well as your peace offerings and your sheep and calves. Then I will come to you and bless you.

²⁵ ‘Now, if you build a stone Altar to Me, don’t use cut stones; because, if you use tools on them, they will become unclean. ²⁶ Nor should you build any steps to My Altar, so the naked [parts of your bodies] can be seen from there.’

Chapter 21

¹ ‘Now, these are the Laws that you are to show to them:

² ‘If you buy a Hebrew slave, he may only serve you for six years, and in the seventh year he must be set free without cost. ³ If he comes alone, he must leave alone; but if his wife comes with him, then his wife must also leave with him. ⁴ However, if his master gives him a wife and she gives birth to sons or daughters; she and her children belong to the master, so [the slave] will leave alone. ⁵ But if the slave should say, I love my master, my wife, and my children, so I don’t want to leave free, ⁶ his master should bring him to the judgment-seat of God and take him up to the door, where he will use an awl to punch [a hole through] his [slave’s] ear against the doorframe. [This signifies] that he will serve [his master] through the age.

⁷ ‘And if anyone sells his daughter as a house slave, she isn’t to leave [her master] as other female slaves leave. ⁸ If she hasn’t been pleasing to her master after she has been involved with him, he may only set her free… he can’t sell her to some foreigner after he has messed with her. ⁹ But if he has engaged her to his son, he must treat her as a daughter. ¹⁰ However, if he takes someone for himself, he must never deprive her of her clothing, her needs, or her companionship with him. ¹¹ If he refuses to do these three things for her, she must be set free at no cost.

¹² ‘If any man hits another and kills him, he must absolutely be put to death. ¹³ But if it happens by accident, or if God [allows the situation that causes the death], I will provide a place where the killer can run to. ¹⁴ However, if someone who lies in wait and plans to murder his neighbor runs to the refuge, you must take him [far] from My Altar and put him to death.

¹⁵ ‘Whoever beats his father or mother must be put to death, ¹⁶ and whoever calls his father or mother bad names must die.

¹⁷ ‘If someone overpowers and kidnaps one of the children of IsraEl and sells him, or if he’s caught with him, [the kidnapper] must die.

¹⁸ ‘If two men are shouting at each other and one hits the other with a rock or his fist, and he doesn’t die but is laid up in bed, ¹⁹ the man who hit him will be cleared if the other can get up and walk (even with the aid of a cane), as long as he pays for the lost time and the cost of his healing.

²⁰ ‘If a man hits his male or female slave with a cane and the person dies as the result, he must be punished. ²¹ However, if the slave continues to live a few days after that, the master shouldn’t be punished, because it’s his own loss.

²² ‘If two men are fighting and [one] hits a pregnant woman, and her child is born deformed as the result, he must be forced to pay whatever amount the woman’s husband demands of him. ²³ But if the child is born perfectly formed [but injured], he must pay: life for life, ²⁴ eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, ²⁵ burning for burning, wound for wound, whipping for whipping.

²⁶ ‘If someone should hit his male or female slave in the eye and put it out, that slave should be set free because of the eye injury. ²⁷ And if he [breaks or knocks out] the tooth of his male or female slave, that slave should be set free because of the tooth.

²⁸ ‘If a bull gores a man or woman and he or she dies, the bull must be stoned to death and its flesh can’t be eaten… however, the bull’s owner will be [free of guilt]. ²⁹ But if the bull has been known to gore before and the owner was told and hasn’t done anything about it, and then it kills a man or woman, the bull must be stoned and its owner must also die. ³⁰ However, if a ransom is demanded instead, he must pay whatever they ask for his life.

³¹ ‘If a bull gores someone’s son or daughter, it must be handled according to the law that was given. ³² But if the bull gores a male or female slave, their master must be paid thirty double-silver coins, and the bull must be stoned.

³³ ‘If anyone digs an open pit or a hole in rock and then fails to cover it, and an ox or a burro falls into it, ³⁴ the owner of the pit must pay a compensation to [the animal’s] owner, but the dead [animal] will be his.

³⁵ ‘And if a man’s bull should gore his neighbor’s bull and kill it, they must sell the living bull and divide the money, then divide up the dead bull. ³⁶ However, if the bull has been known to gore in the past and his owner knew of this and didn’t do anything about it, he must pay for the bull, and the dead one won’t be his.’

Chapter 22

¹ ‘If someone steals an ox or a sheep and kills it or sells it, he must pay back five calves for a calf, and four sheep for a sheep. ² And if a thief should be caught inside a fence and is beaten and dies as the result, no one will be found guilty [of killing him]. ³ However, if someone [kills a thief] the next day, he is guilty and should be [put to death].

‘If a thief has nothing left [of what he stole], he can be sold [as a slave] to repay what he has stolen. ⁴ But if the thing he stole is still around and can be found alive in his possession (as with an ox or a sheep), he must pay back twice as much.

⁵ ‘And if anyone [has allowed his cattle] to strip his field or vineyard, and then he sends his animals to graze in someone else’s field; he must [pay his neighbor back] from the produce of his own field. But if the animals strip [his neighbor’s] entire field, he must pay with the best of his field and the best of his vineyard.

⁶ ‘Now, if [someone sets a] fire (even if he thinks it has gone out) and it burns a threshing floor or a field of grain, the one who sets the fire must pay a compensation.

⁷ ‘And if anyone gives his neighbor money or other [valuables] to keep, and they are stolen from the man’s house; the thief must repay double if he’s caught. ⁸ But if the thief isn’t caught, the owner of the house must stand before God and swear that he hasn’t done anything wrong to whatever his neighbor left with him. ⁹ Then every accusation, whether it involves a calf, a burro, a sheep, some clothing (or whatever)… every claim of loss must be taken before God. And anyone that is found guilty by God must repay his neighbor with twice as much.

¹⁰ ‘And if anyone leaves a calf, a sheep, or any other animal with his neighbor and it is wounded or it dies – and no one knows for sure how it happened – ¹¹ each must swear an oath to God that he isn’t guilty in any way. Then his master should find him innocent and he won’t have to pay any compensation. ¹² However, if it was stolen from him, he must repay the owner. ¹³ And if someone stole any other type of animal, [he must] return the animal to its owner, and he won’t have to pay a compensation.

¹⁴ ‘If anyone borrows [an animal] from his neighbor and it is then wounded, or dies, or is stolen while its owner is away, he must be compensated for it. ¹⁵ But if the owner is there, he doesn’t have to pay compensation. And if it is something that he rented, [the owner] must be paid back in lieu of his rent.

¹⁶ ‘If anyone deceives a virgin that he isn’t engaged to and [has sex] with her, he must take her as his wife. ¹⁷ But if her father refuses and won’t consent to giving her as his wife, he must pay her father the amount of dowry that is required for a virgin.

¹⁸ ‘You shouldn’t spare the lives of witches.

¹⁹ ‘Anyone who [has sex] with an animal must be put to death.

²⁰ ‘Anyone who offers sacrifices to a god other than Jehovah must be put to death.

²¹ ‘You must not harm strangers or oppress them, because you were once strangers in the land of Egypt.

²² ‘You must not do anything to harm widows or orphans. ²³ For, if you do treat them badly, they should call out to Me and I will hear them… ²⁴ and that will make Me very angry. Then you will be killed with a sword, so your wife will become a widow and your children will become orphans.

²⁵ If you lend money to one of your poor brothers who lives nearby, you shouldn’t be hard on him and you shouldn’t charge him interest. ²⁶ And if you take your neighbor’s clothes as security, you must make sure that he gets them back before sunset, ²⁷ because they are all that cover his nakedness; so, where can he sleep? And if he calls out to Me, I will listen, because I am merciful.

²⁸ ‘You should never speak badly of God, or say bad things about the rulers of your people.

²⁹ ‘You must never hold back the first fruitage of your threshing floor [or of your wine] press.

‘You must give your first-born sons to Me, ³⁰ as well as those of your calves, sheep, and burros. They may stay under their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day, you must offer them to Me.

³¹ ‘You must be a holy [people] to Me; therefore, you may not eat the flesh of wild animals… you should throw it to the dogs.’

Chapter 23

¹ ‘You should not accept false testimony, nor should you allow someone who is crooked to provide false testimony.

² ‘You must not join a mob to do bad things, nor should you agree with the majority when they are wrong.

³ ‘If a man is found guilty, you must not [free him from his responsibilities] just because he’s poor, ⁴ nor should you [find any man guilty] because he’s poor.

⁵ ‘If you find your enemy’s ox or burro wandering loose, you must catch it and return it to him. ⁶ And if you see your enemy’s burro collapsed under its load, you shouldn’t just pass it by. You should help him to get it back on its feet.

⁷ ‘Never do anything that’s unfair. You shouldn’t kill the innocent along with the guilty, or accept a bribe to find a guilty person innocent. ⁸ You shouldn’t accept gifts [when judging], because gifts blind the eyes of those who can see and twist the words of justice.

⁹ ‘You should never mistreat a stranger, because you know how they feel, since you were once strangers in the land of Egypt.

¹⁰ ‘You can plant your field and harvest it for six years. ¹¹ However, every seven years you must leave it alone and allow it to rest, so the poor of your nation can [find] food there, and the wild animals can eat whatever is left. And that’s what you must do to your vineyard and to your olive grove as well.

¹² ‘You should work for six days, but the seventh day is a day of rest, so your burro, ox, and the sons of your female slaves and strangers can be refreshed.

¹³ ‘Obey everything that I have commanded you, and don’t even mention the names of other gods or speak of them in any way.

¹⁴ ‘You must hold a feast to Me three times a year. ¹⁵ Make sure to observe the Feast of Fermentation-Free Bread. You must eat fermentation-free bread for seven days (as I told you before) during the time of the month of new grain, because that’s when you came out of Egypt… and don’t come to Me empty-handed!

¹⁶ ‘You must observe a feast when you harvest the first-fruits of your work, no matter what you have planted in your field. And [you must observe] a feast at the end of the year when you harvest the crops in your field. ¹⁷ So, all your males must appear before Jehovah your God three times each year.

¹⁸ ‘And when I drive the other nations out of your midst and widen your borders, you must never offer fermented bread with the blood sacrifices that you offer to Me, nor should the fat of My feast be allowed to stay until the next morning.

¹⁹ ‘You must bring all the first fruitage of your fields to the House of your God Jehovah.

‘You must never boil a lamb in its mother’s milk.

²⁰ ‘{Look!} I’m going to send My messenger to you, to keep you headed in the right direction, and he will lead you into the land that I have prepared for you. ²¹ Be sure to listen to him… obey him! He won’t give in to you, because he carries My Name.

²² ‘If you listen to what I tell you, do everything that I tell you to do, and keep My Sacred Agreement, you will be a special people to Me above all other nations; for the whole earth is Mine. Then you will become a holy nation of Royal Priests.

‘Tell the children of IsraEl that if they will listen to what I say and do everything that I tell them, I will be an enemy to their enemies, and I will oppose anyone who is against them. ²³ Then I will send My messenger to be their leader, and [he will] will bring them to [the land of] the Amorites, Chettites, Pherezites, CanaAnites, Gergesites, Evites, and Jebusites, and then I will destroy them. ²⁴ But they must not worship or serve the gods [of those people], nor should they do any of the things that they are doing. Rather, they must all be destroyed and their [sacred] columns must be pulled down.

²⁵ ‘If you serve Jehovah your God, I will bless your bread, your wine, and your water; and I will keep you from getting sick. ²⁶ There won’t be anyone in your land who is impotent or infertile, and you will live a full life. ²⁷ I will send terror ahead you, all the nations in the land you’re entering will be amazed by you, and I will make all your enemies run from you. ²⁸ I will send hornets ahead of you, and you will drive the Amorites, Evites, CanaAnites, and the Chettites away from you. ²⁹ I won’t throw them out the first year, so the fields don’t grow wild and allow wild animals to multiply there. ³⁰ But before long, I will start throwing them out ahead of you, until you grow and inherit the land. ³¹ Then I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the [Mediterranean], and from the desert to the great Euphrates River.

‘I will hand over those who are living in the land and drive them away from you, ³² so you are to make no treaties with them or their gods. ³³ And they won’t be allowed to live in your land, for fear that they might cause you to sin against Me. Because, if you serve their gods, that [would be a serious] offense for you.’

Chapter 24

¹ Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘I want you, Aaron, Nadab, AbiUd, and seventy of IsraEl’s elders to come to Me and bow before [Me] from a distance. ² And thereafter, I want you to come close to Me by yourself… none of the others should come any closer!’

³ So, Moses went and told the people about everything God had said and about His Laws. And the people unanimously answered all together, ‘We will do and obey everything that Jehovah has said!’

⁴ Then Moses [sat down] and wrote everything that Jehovah said. And early the next morning, he built an Altar at the base of the mountain using twelve stones [to represent] the twelve tribes of IsraEl. ⁵ And he sent young men from the children of IsraEl to offer up whole burnt offerings and to sacrifice young calves as a peace offering to God. ⁶ Then Moses took half of the blood and poured it into bowls, and he poured the other half on the Altar.

⁷ Thereafter, [Moses] took the scroll of the Sacred Agreement [that he wrote] and read it to the people. And they [again] said, ‘We will do and pay attention to everything that Jehovah has said.’

⁸ Then Moses took the blood [from the bowls] and sprinkled it on the people, and he said: ‘{Look!} This is the blood of the Sacred Agreement that Jehovah has made with you over the things that you’ve [agreed to].’

⁹ And thereafter, Moses, Aaron, Nadab, AbiUd, and seventy of the elders of IsraEl went up [the mountain], ¹⁰ where they saw the place where the God of IsraEl was standing; and under His feet [they saw] what looked like slabs of cut sapphires that were as pure as the sky. ¹¹ So all the chosen ones of IsraEl stood there in the presence of God… none were missing, and none of them ate or drank anything.

¹² Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘[I want you to] come [back] up the mountain to Me and stay here, for I will give you the tablets of stone containing the Law and Commandments that I have written.’

¹³ So [the next day], Moses got up and took his assistant JoShua to climb the mountain of God with him. ¹⁴ And they told the elders, ‘Rest here until we return. Look! Aaron and Or will be here with you; so if there are any [cases] that have to be tried, let them handle it.’

¹⁵ Then Moses and JoShua climbed the mountain, which was shrouded in a cloud. ¹⁶ And the glory of God came down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. Then Jehovah called Moses from the midst of the cloud on the seventh day.

¹⁷ Well, to the Children of IsraEl, the glory of Jehovah looked like a fire that was burning on top of the mountain.

¹⁸ Then Moses entered the cloud and climbed the mountain, where he stayed for forty days and forty nights.

Chapter 25

¹ And there Jehovah told Moses: ² ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and [ask for] the first fruits of everything that their hearts are willing to give… then you must [collect] it. ³ These are the offerings that you are to ask for: gold, silver, and brass; ⁴ as well as blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], fine-spun linen, goats’ hair, ⁵ rams’ skins that are dyed red and blue, and durable wood. ⁶ [You will also ask for] lamp oil, fragrances for anointing oil, ingredients for incense, ⁷ as well as rubies and other [precious] stones that will fit into a breastplate, and a full-length robe.

⁸ ‘You must also make a Sacred Place for Me, where I can appear among you. ⁹ Everything you make for Me must follow the patterns that I will show you on the Mountain. There will be a pattern for the Sacred Place and patterns for all of its furnishings. And that’s how you are to make them.

¹⁰ ‘You must also build the Chest of Proofs. [Build it] from durable wood fifty inches wide, thirty inches deep, and thirty inches tall. ¹¹ Cover it with pure gold both inside and out, and put twisted gold wreaths around it. ¹² You must create four gold rings for it, and mount two rings on each side. ¹³ Then make [two] staves of durable wood, cover them with gold, ¹⁴ and put the staves into the rings on the sides of the Chest, to carry it. ¹⁵ These staves should always be left in the rings on the Chest.

¹⁶ ‘Then you must put the Proofs that I will give you inside the Chest.

¹⁷ ‘You must also make the Propitiatory. It is to be a lid of pure gold, fifty inches long and thirty inches wide. ¹⁸ And you will carve two cherubs from gold and mount them on the Propitiatory. ¹⁹ A cherub will be mounted on this side of the Propitiatory, and a cherub will be mounted on its other side, so there will be cherubs on either end. ²⁰ The cherubs will face each other with their heads bowed toward the Propitiatory. And they must have wings that are outstretched over them [extending forward] over the Propitiatory. ²¹ Then the Propitiatory must be put on top of the Chest, which will contain the Proofs that I will give you.

²² ‘This is where I will make My presence known to you. I will speak to you from above the Propitiatory, between the two cherubs on the Chest of Proofs, and talk to you and instruct you concerning everything that has to do with the children of IsraEl.

²³ ‘You are also to make a table of pure gold that is forty inches long, twenty inches wide, and thirty inches tall. ²⁴ It must have gold wreaths going around it and a six-inch crown under it ²⁵ that has a twisted wreath circling it.

²⁶ ‘You must also make four gold rings and fasten them to the four feet under the crown. ²⁷ These rings will be the supports for staves that will be used to carry the table. ²⁸ The staves should be made of durable wood and covered with pure gold, for carrying the table.

²⁹ ‘You should also make dishes, incense burners, bowls, and cups (for drink offerings) of pure gold. ³⁰ They will always be set before Me on the table of Show Bread.

³¹ ‘You must also shape a lampstand from pure gold. The whole thing – it’s stem, branches, sockets, knobs, and lilies – will be a single piece. ³² It is to have six branches that come from its sides… three branches for lamps on one side and three branches for lamps on the other side. ³³ [Each branch] that comes from the lampstand should be topped with an almond-shaped socket [to hold the lamps], which is to be mounted above a knob and a lily. ³⁴ Each will have four sockets that are shaped like almonds, and the knobs and flowers on each branch should be the same. ³⁵ There will be a knob under two branches and a knob under four branches that come from it, so that six branches come from the lampstand, and each will have four bowls shaped like almonds. ³⁶ The knobs and the branches must be a single piece that is carved from a block of pure gold. ³⁷ So, there must be seven lamps that all shine from the same side.

³⁸ ‘And you will make funnels and serving plates of pure gold. ³⁹ They should each be made with a measurement of pure gold, ⁴⁰ using the pattern that I will show you on the mountain.’

Chapter 26

¹ ‘Then you must make the Tent with ten curtains of fine-spun linen, blue [thread], purple [yarn], and scarlet [cloth], with a pattern of cherubs woven into them. ² The curtains on [each side must run] forty-seven feet, and each curtain must be six and three-quarters feet tall. All the curtains should be the same size. ³ Five of the curtains must be joined to each other, and the other five must be closely connected to each other.

⁴ ‘You must put blue loops on one side of each curtain and [loops] on the other side to [tie them] together. ⁵ There should be fifty loops [on one side] and fifty loops at the same locations on the other side to connect them. ⁶ Then you must make fifty gold rings to hold the curtains together and make it a single Tent.

⁷ ‘You must make a roof for the Tent using eleven sections of [goat hair cloth]. ⁸ Each should be fifty feet long, six and three-quarters feet wide, and all eleven [cloths] should be the same size. ⁹ Then connect [the cloths in strips of] fives, and attach the sixth [cloth] and fold it over the front of the Tent. ¹⁰ Then make fifty loops on the side of the [cloth] and fifty loops on the edge of the second one, where they will be joined.

¹¹ ‘Then make fifty brass rings and use them to connect the loops, and tie the [cloths] together to form a single piece.

¹² ‘Next, connect the [eleventh cloth] to the roof of the Tent at its centerfold, and allow half of it to hang down. And any extra [cloth] should hang over the sides of the Tent. ¹³ Twenty inches of [cloth] should hang over each side of the Tent to cover it. ¹⁴ Then make another covering from rams’ skins that have been dyed red and blue, and put it over the [Tent] roof.

¹⁵ ‘Then you must make tent posts from durable wood. ¹⁶ Each post should be seven and three-quarters feet long and two and a half feet thick. ¹⁷ All the posts should have two joints for connections. ¹⁸ You should make twenty posts for the north side, ¹⁹ and forty silver sockets should be made to connect them, with a [base] socket for each of the posts. ²⁰ Then make twenty posts for the south side of the Tent, ²¹ and forty silver sockets to connect each end of the posts. ²² And for the side of the Tent that faces west, ²³ you must make six posts plus two corner posts for its backside. ²⁴ They must all be the same and join at the same spots on each end, so all the corners are equal. ²⁵ So, [for the backside] there are eight posts, which need sixteen silver sockets, one for each end of each post.

²⁶ ‘And you must make rafters of durable wood. Make five for the posts on one side of the Tent, ²⁷ five for the posts on the other side of the Tent, five for the posts in the rear, and one for the side of the Tent that faces the sea. ²⁸ This center rafter should run between the posts lengthwise from end to end. ²⁹ The posts should be covered with gold and fitted with gold rings to hold the rafters, and all the rafters must be covered with gold. ³⁰ Then you must assemble the Tent according to the pattern that I will show you on the mountain.

³¹ ‘Thereafter, you must make a veil of spun blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen that will have cherubs woven into it. ³² And you must mount it on four posts of durable wood that are overlaid with gold, with gold covering each of their caps and silver sockets for the base of each. ³³ Then mount the veil on the posts and carry it inside, as a veil for the Chest of Proofs. This veil will form the separation between the Holy Place and the Holiest of Holies. ³⁴ Use the veil as a screen for the Chest of Proofs in the Holiest of Holies.

³⁵ ‘Next, put a table outside the veil and put the lampstand opposite the table, on the south side of the Tent. Then put the table on the north side of the Tent.

³⁶ ‘Then make a veil as a door for the Tent out of blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and embroidered fine-spun linen. ³⁷ You must make five posts for the veil that are capped at the top and covered with gold, with brass sockets for the base of each.

Chapter 27

¹ ‘Then you must make an Altar of durable wood that will be square, eight and a quarter feet long, eight and a quarter feet wide, and five feet high. ² You must create horns for each of the four corners. They will be made of a single piece and overlaid with brass. ³ You must make a rim for the Altar, and a covering, and cups, and meat hooks, a fire pan, and all its utensils from brass. ⁴ You must also make a brass meshed grating with four brass rings, one for each of its four sides. ⁵ Mount the rings under the grating and center it in the middle of the Altar.

⁶ ‘You must also make Altar staves from durable wood that are to be overlaid with brass. ⁷ Then put the staves into the rings on each side of the Altar, to carry it. ⁸ [The Altar] will be hollow and made from wood in a way that will be shown [to you] on the mountain.

⁹ ‘You must also make a courtyard for the Tent. On the south side, its curtains should be made of fine-spun linen and they will will run a hundred and sixty-seven feet long. ¹⁰ They will require twenty posts and twenty brass sockets, as well as silver rings and clasps. ¹¹ The curtains on the north side will also run a hundred and sixty-seven feet long, with twenty posts, twenty brass sockets, as well as the rings and the clasps for the posts. However, their sockets must be overlaid with silver. ¹² The curtains on the western side of the [courtyard] must run eighty-four feet with ten posts and ten sockets. ¹³ And the width of the [courtyard] on the south side should have curtains that run eighty-four feet, with ten posts and ten sockets.

¹⁴ ‘There must be a twenty-five foot [awning] on one side of the [courtyard entrance], which is to be [supported by] three posts and three sockets. ¹⁵ And on the other side, there must be an [awning] that runs twenty-five feet, with three posts and three sockets.

¹⁶ ‘The courtyard entrance must be a thirty-three-foot-high veil of blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun embroidered linen. It should have four posts and four sockets. ¹⁷ All the courtyard posts are to be overlaid with silver, with silver caps and brass sockets.

¹⁸ ‘So, the length of the courtyard will be a hundred and sixty-three feet, its width should be eighty-two feet, and its height must be eight feet… all of fine spun linen mounted on sockets of brass. ¹⁹ And all the furnishings, instruments, and pins for the courtyard are [to be made of] brass.

²⁰ ‘Now, give instructions to the children of IsraEl, and have them bring you pure, refined olive oil that has been beaten for burning in a lamp, so the lamps may be kept burning continually ²¹ inside the Tent of Proofs and outside the veil that hides the Chest of the Sacred Agreement. Aaron and his sons must keep them burning all night long before Jehovah. This is the rule that must be followed throughout all generations of the children of IsraEl.’

Chapter 28

¹ ‘Now, I want you to choose your brother Aaron and his sons Nadab, AbiUd, EliEzer, and IthaMar, who are all children of IsraEl, to be My servants. ² You must make holy clothing for your brother Aaron, to honor and glorify [him]. ³ So, talk to all the wise and understanding [people] that I have filled with the spirit of wisdom and comprehension, and have them make holy clothing for Aaron to wear in the Holy Place, where he will serve as a Priest to Me. ⁴ These are the clothes that they must make: a breastplate, a shoulder piece, a full-length robe, a fringed tunic, a turban, and a waistband. These are to be holy garments for Aaron and his sons to serve Me as Priests.

⁵ ‘They must take gold and fine-spun linen with blue [thread], purple [yarn], and scarlet [cloth], and ⁶ embroider the shoulder pieces. ⁷ Both shoulder pieces must be joined together and fastened on each side. ⁸ They should be woven as a single piece of pure gold with blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-twisted linen.

⁹ ‘Then you must take two large emeralds and engrave the names of IsraEl’s sons on them, ¹⁰ with six names on the first stone and the other six names on the second stone, in the order their births. ¹¹ It must be done artistically by a stone engraver, in raised letters like a seal, for each of the names of the children of IsraEl. ¹² Then mount these two stones on the shoulder pieces. They are to be memorial stones of the children of IsraEl, and Aaron will wear the names of the children of IsraEl before Jehovah on his shoulders in memory of them.

¹³ ‘Then you must make [two] small circles of pure gold, ¹⁴ and two fringes of variegated flowers and wreaths of pure gold, then mount the wreathed fringes on the small circles and fasten them to the front of the shoulder pieces.

¹⁵ ‘Then you must make the Expression of Judgment. It is to be embroidered; and to keep the theme of the rest of the sacred clothing, you should make it of gold, blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen. ¹⁶ Make it square, nine inches long and nine inches wide, and doubled. ¹⁷ Then four columns of stones should be woven into it. The first column will have a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald. ¹⁸ The second column will have a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper. ¹⁹ The third column will have a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst. ²⁰ And the fourth column will have a peridot, a beryl, and an onyx. All should be mounted in gold settings with gold clasps. Make sure they’re assembled in that order. ²¹ Then each stone must be engraved like a seal with the names of the twelve children of IsraEl in their order. ²² The Expression of Judgment must also have woven fringed chains of pure gold.

²³ ‘Aaron will wear the Expression of Judgment with the names of the children of IsraEl on his chest as a memorial before God whenever he enters the Holy Place. ²⁴ The Expression of Judgment must be fringed and have wreaths on either side.

²⁵ ‘You must place a small circle on the upper-front shoulders on each side of the sacred vest. ²⁶ You are to put the Revelation and the Truth on the Expression of Judgment, and Aaron will wear it on his chest whenever he enters the Holy Place before Jehovah. So, he will always carry the judgments of the children of IsraEl on his chest before Jehovah.

²⁷ And you are to make a full-length blue tunic. ²⁸ It will have a fringed front opening and it will be woven as a single piece, so it can’t be torn. ²⁹ And under the fringes below the robe, there are to be pomegranate flowers made of blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-spun linen, with gold pomegranates of the same shape, and bells between them. ³⁰ There should be a bell beside each gold pomegranate, and a pattern of flowers in the fringes of the robe that encircle it.

³¹ ‘And whenever Aaron is serving and entering or leaving the Holy Place of Jehovah, he must speak loudly so he doesn’t die.

³² ‘You are also to make a plate of pure gold that is engraved with the sign, Jehovah is Holy, ³³ and put this on the spun blue cloth on the front of the turban, ³⁴ so it will always be on Aaron’s forehead to carry away sins. Then all the children of IsraEl will have their gifts made holy and acceptable to Jehovah on their behalf. ³⁵ All the fringes on his clothes must be made of fine linen, and you will make a head covering and a waist sash of fine embroidered linen.

³⁶ ‘You must also make tunics and sashes for Aaron’s sons, as well as turbans so they may be honored and glorified. ³⁷ Then you must dress your brother Aaron and his sons, and anoint them… empower them and make them holy, so they can serve Me as Priests.

³⁸ ‘And make linen shorts (to cover the naked parts of their bodies) that run from their waists to their thighs. ³⁹ Then Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Holy Place of Proofs and when they serve at the Altar of the Holy Place, so they won’t bring sin upon themselves and die. This is the rule for him and his seed through the ages.’

Chapter 29

¹ ‘These are the things that you must do to them to make [Aaron and his sons] holy, so they can serve Me as Priests: Take one young calf from the herd and two perfect rams. ² Then make some fermentation-free bread with the finest wheat flour that has been kneaded with oil, and some fermentation-free round cakes with oil poured over them. ³ Then put them into a basket to be offered along with the young calf and the two rams.

⁴ ‘Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs and wash them with water. ⁵ Get the [sacred] garments and dress your brother Aaron with the full-length robe, the chest covering, and the Expression (of Judgment), and tie the Expression to the chest covering. ⁶ Then put the turban on his head and mount the plate of Holiness on the turban, ⁷ and take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it over his head. ⁸ After that, bring his sons and dress them… ⁹ wrap them with sashes and put on their turbans to create a Priesthood for Me through the ages.

‘Then you must empower Aaron and his sons. ¹⁰ Bring the calf to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs and have Aaron and his sons lay their hands upon the calf’s head before Jehovah. ¹¹ And then you must slaughter the calf before Jehovah, there at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. ¹² Then take the calf’s blood and wipe it on the horns of the Altar with your finger, and pour the rest of the blood out at the base of the Altar. ¹³ Then take all its belly fat, its liver, and its kidneys, along with any fat that’s on them, and [burn] them on the Altar. ¹⁴ However, the calf’s flesh, skin, and manure must be burned outside the camp as an [offering] for sins.

¹⁵ ‘Then, take one of the rams, and have Aaron and his sons lay their hands on its head ¹⁶ and slaughter it. Collect the blood and pour it on and around the Altar, ¹⁷ then cut the ram into several pieces and wash the insides and the feet with water, and set the pieces and the head aside. ¹⁸ Then you must put the whole ram on the Altar as a burnt offering and a sweet-smelling delight to Jehovah. It will be like incense to Jehovah.

¹⁹ ‘Then take the second ram, and have Aaron and his sons lay their hands on its head; ²⁰ you must slaughter it and collect the blood, and touch a little of the blood to the tip of Aaron’s right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and the big toe on his right foot. [Then touch some of it to] the tips of his sons’ right ears, the thumbs of their right hands, and the big toes of their right feet. ²¹ Then take some of the blood from the Altar and [mix it with] anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and on his clothes, and on his sons and on his sons’ clothing. This will purify him and his clothing, and his sons and their clothing. Then pour the rest of the blood out around the Altar.

²² ‘Then [set aside] all of the ram’s fat, including the belly fat, the liver, the kidneys and any fat on them, and the right shoulder, to complete [the ceremony]. ²³ And take one of the round cakes [that had been covered] with oil and one loaf from the basket of fermentation-free bread, and set them before Jehovah; ²⁴ then give the rest to Aaron and his sons. But the [loaf and the round cake] must be offered separately to Jehovah; ²⁵ take them from the hands of the Priests and put them on the Altar, then burn them as offerings of sweet-smelling delights to Jehovah.

²⁶ ‘Then you must remove the ram’s breast at the end of ceremony for Aaron, to be offered before Jehovah. And [the rest] must be shared with you. ²⁷ You must cut up the breast and the shoulder that was removed from the last lamb and give it to Aaron and his sons. ²⁸ This will be a requirement for the children of IsraEl and for Aaron and his sons through the ages. This is to be a separate and special offering to Jehovah from the children of IsraEl, as one of their peace offerings.

²⁹ ‘The clothing that Aaron wears inside the Sacred Place must be passed on to his [future generations, after he dies]. Then his sons will be anointed in them and empowered when they wear them. ³⁰ The Priests among his descendants that succeed him and enter the Tent of Proofs to serve in the Most Holy will wear them for seven days.

³¹ ‘You must boil the flesh of the last lamb in the Holy Place. ³² Then Aaron and his sons will eat the ram’s flesh with the loaves [of bread] in the basket, next to the Tent of Proofs. ³³ They will eat the offerings that were used to make them holy and to empower them. They can’t be eaten by anyone else, because they are holy. ³⁴ And if the sacrificed flesh of the final sacrificial lamb and the bread should be left until the next morning, it must all be burned, not eaten, because it is something holy.

³⁵ ‘You must always do this for Aaron and his sons, just as I’ve told you. The empowerment will take seven days. ³⁶ You must sacrifice the calf for the sin offering on the cleaning day, and then you will clean the Altar where you will sacrifice the last lamb, and anoint it to make it holy. ³⁷ The Altar must be cleaned and made holy for all seven days, because the Altar is very holy, and anyone who touches it must also be holy.

³⁸ ‘These are the sacrifices that you must offer on the Altar: Two perfect yearling lambs must be offered each day, ³⁹ one in the morning and the other in the evening. ⁴⁰ And each lamb should be offered up with three quarts of fine flour that have been mixed with a quart of [olive] oil, along with a quart of wine as a drink offering. ⁴¹ You must offer the same things with the second lamb [that is sacrificed] in the evening (which includes the drink offering), as a sweet-smelling delight to Jehovah. ⁴² This sacrifice is to be offered before Jehovah by all your generations through the ages at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. That’s where I will be made known to you and where I will speak to you from now on. ⁴³ This is where I will instruct the children of IsraEl, and where I will be treated as holy in My glory.

⁴⁴ ‘I will make the Tent of Proofs and its Altar holy, and I will make Aaron and his sons holy, so they can serve Me as Priests. ⁴⁵ And here the children of IsraEl will call to Me, and I will be their God. ⁴⁶ Then they will know that I am Jehovah, the God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, so they can call on Me and I can be their God.’

Chapter 30

¹ ‘You must also make an incense Altar from durable wood. ² It should be square, twenty inches long, twenty inches wide, and forty inches tall; and it should have horns that are made from a single piece [of wood]. ³ Its grating, all its sides, and its horns should be covered with pure gold. It should have wreathed edges of gold all around, ⁴ and under the wreathes you must put two rings of pure gold on each side, to serve as supports for the staves that you will use to carry it. ⁵ The staves should be made from durable wood and covered with gold.

⁶ ‘Then place [the incense Altar] in front of the veil that [hides] the Chest of Proofs, where I will make My presence known to you. ⁷ Aaron must burn a fine compound of incense on [this Altar] each morning after he puts out the lamps. ⁸ And when Aaron lights the lamps in the evening, he must burn incense on it again. So, incense will be offered continuously before Jehovah throughout your generations. ⁹ You must not offer a different type of incense on it, set any fires on it, offer any sacrifices on it, or pour drink offerings on it. ¹⁰ And at the same time each year, Aaron must offer the reconciliation for their generations on its horns with the blood of purification, because it is very holy to Jehovah.’

¹¹ Then The Lord told Moses: ¹² ‘I want you to take a census of the children of IsraEl, and each [person] must pay Jehovah a ransom for his life, so no one will be destroyed when they are visited. ¹³ This is what everyone who is surveyed must give: half a double-silver coin (or twenty copper coins), which is to be used for the Holy Place as an offering to Jehovah. ¹⁴ Everyone twenty years old and up who answers to the census must pay this offering to Jehovah. ¹⁵ The rich won’t pay any more, and the poor won’t pay any less than the half double-silver coin that they must offer to reconcile their lives with Jehovah. ¹⁶ Then you must take the money that the children of IsraEl donate and use it for the services at the Tent of Proofs. The children of IsraEl must always remember to do this, in order to reconcile their lives [with Jehovah].’

¹⁷ And Jehovah spoke to Moses, and said: ¹⁸ ‘You must make a brass bowl with a brass base, for washing. It must be put between the Tent of Proofs and the Altar, and you must fill it with water. ¹⁹ Then Aaron and his sons must use the water to wash their hands and feet. ²⁰ Whenever they enter the Tent of Proofs, they must wash themselves with the water, so they won’t die. And they must do [the same] whenever they go to the Altar for services or to burn sacrifices to Jehovah. ²¹ In addition, they must wash their hands and feet in the water whenever they enter the Tent of Proofs, so they won’t die. This is the rule for him and his descendants through the ages.’

²² Then Jehovah told Moses: ²³ ‘You must also gather these sweet-smelling items for the Holy Place: sixteen pounds of choice myrrh flowers, eight pounds of sweet-smelling cinnamon, eight pounds of sweet-smelling calamus, ²⁴ sixteen pounds of cassia, and a gallon of olive oil.²⁵ This must then be professionally formulated to make a perfumed holy-anointing oil that is to be used for sacred purposes. ²⁶ Then you must use it to anoint the Tent of Proofs; the Chest inside the Tent of Proofs ²⁷ and all of its furnishings; the lampstand and its furnishings; the Altar of incense; ²⁸ the Altar of whole burnt-offerings and all its furnishings; the table and all its furnishings; and the wash basin. ²⁹ You must cleanse them and make them extremely holy, and then everyone who touches them will become holy. ³⁰ Thereafter, you must anoint Aaron and his sons and cleanse them, so they can serve Me as Priests.

³¹ ‘Then say to the children of IsraEl: This will be your holy anointing oil throughout your generations. ³² It should never be poured on a man’s skin, and no one should make any of this for themselves using the same formula, because it is holy, and it should be holy to you. ³³ And if anyone makes anything like it and gives it to a stranger, he must be destroyed from among his people.’

³⁴ And Jehovah said to Moses, ‘Also, gather these sweet smelling substances: sweet myrrh oil, snail shells, sweet galbanum, and transparent frankincense. They are to be combined in equal measures ³⁵ in a professional way to make perfumed incense that will be pure and holy. ³⁶ It must be beaten into a fine powder and put in front of the Proofs inside the Tent of Proofs, where I will make My presence known to you. It will be most-holy incense to you, ³⁷ so you shouldn’t make any for yourselves by this formula, because it is something holy to Jehovah. ³⁸ Whoever makes anything like it (so they can smell it) must be destroyed from His people.

Chapter 31

¹ Then Jehovah told Moses: ² ‘{Look!} I have called on BeSeleEl (the son of Urias and the grandson of Or of the tribe of Judah) ³ and I have filled him with the Breath of God, and of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, to be creative in all fields of expertise. ⁴ [He understands] carpentry, how to work with gold, silver, and brass; [how to work with] blue thread, purple yarn, and spun scarlet material; ⁵ stone working; wood crafting… how to do everything. ⁶ So, I have chosen him, as well as EliAb (the son of AchiSamach of the tribe of Dan) and anyone else into whose heart I have put talent, to make everything that I’ve talked to you about. ⁷ [This includes] the Tent of Proofs; the Chest of the Sacred Agreement and the Propitiatory that sits on it; all the furnishings of the Tent; ⁸ the Altars; the table and its furnishings; ⁹ the pure lampstand and its furnishings; the wash bowl and its base; ¹⁰ Aaron’s official garments and the garments of his sons to serve Me as Priests; ¹¹ the anointing oil; and the incense for the Holy Place. They will make these things just the way I’ve told you.’

¹² And Jehovah said to Moses, ¹³ ‘Also, tell the children of IsraEl to pay attention and keep My Sabbaths, because they are the sign between us through the generations that they know I am Jehovah who makes them holy. ¹⁴ So they must keep the Sabbaths, because this is a holy thing to Jehovah for them, and anyone who dishonors them must be put to death… anyone who works on [that day] must have his life destroyed in the midst of his people. ¹⁵ They may work for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath… a holy [day of] rest to Jehovah, and anyone who works on the seventh day must be put to death. ¹⁶ The children of IsraEl must keep the Sabbaths and obey them throughout their generations. ¹⁷ This is to be an Agreement through the ages between the children of IsraEl and Me. It is their sign to Me through the ages. Because, Jehovah made the heavens and the earth in six days; then on the seventh day He stopped and rested.’

¹⁸ And after He finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two Tablets of Proof, which were made of stone and written by the finger of God.

Chapter 32

¹ [After a long time had passed] and the people saw that Moses hadn’t returned from the Mountain, they went to Aaron and demanded: ‘[We want you to] make gods for us to lead us. Because, we don’t know what has become of this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt.’

² So Aaron told them, ‘I want you to take all the gold earrings that your wives and daughters wear in their ears, and bring them to me.’

³ Then everyone took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. ⁴ He took them from their hands, [had] them melted, and then had the gold carved into a calf, and he said: ‘O IsraEl, this is your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’

⁵ And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar in front of it and he proclaimed, ‘Tomorrow [we will hold] a feast to Jehovah.’

⁶ So, early the next morning, he got up and offered whole burnt sacrifices and a peace offering. Then the people sat down to eat and drink, and [afterward] they got up to play.

⁷ Well, Jehovah told Moses, ‘Hurry and descend [the mountain], because the people you brought out of the land of Egypt have sinned! ⁸ How quickly they have left the ways that you’ve shown them. Now they’ve made themselves a calf to worship, and they’ve even offered sacrifices to it, saying, ⁹ O IsraEl, this is your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

¹⁰ ‘Now leave Me! I’m very angry with them, so I will reject them and make a great nation of you!’

¹¹ But Moses started begging Jehovah. He said: ‘O Jehovah, why are you so angry with the people who You brought out of the land of Egypt with Your mighty arm and with so much power? ¹² Don’t allow the Egyptians to say, He wickedly took them away to kill them in the Mountains and wipe them off the earth. Hold back Your rage and have mercy on the sins of Your people. ¹³ Remember Your servants, AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob, and the [oath] You made to them when You swore by Your Name, saying, I will cause your seed to increase so much that [they will be] like the stars in the sky. And [remember Your promise] to give all of this land to them, and that it will be theirs through the age.’

¹⁴ And that’s how Jehovah was moved to [keep them] as His people.

¹⁵ Then Moses turned and went down the Mountain, carrying the two Tablets of Proof in his hands. They were tablets of stone that were written on both sides ¹⁶ and were the work and writing of God.

¹⁷ And when JoShua heard the voices of people shouting, he said to Moses, ‘That’s the sound of a war in the camp!’

¹⁸ But [Moses] replied, ‘It isn’t the sound of people going to battle or the sound of defeat. What I hear is the sound of a lot of [partying].’

¹⁹ And when he got close to the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing, and Moses became so angry that he threw the two tablets from his hands and broke them to pieces at the base of the Mountain. ²⁰ Then he took the calf they made, had it melted and ground into dust, and then he put it in the water and made the children of IsraEl drink it. ²¹ And he asked Aaron, ‘What have these people done to you? Why have you made them [guilty of] such a great sin?’

²² And Aaron replied, ‘Don’t be angry, lord. For you know how troublesome these people are. ²³ Why, they told me: [We want you to] make gods for us to lead us. Because, we don’t know what has become of this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt. ²⁴ So I said: If anyone has gold ornaments, take them off. Then they gave them to me and I threw them into the fire, and out came this calf!’

²⁵ Well, Moses realized that the people were divided, and Aaron was responsible. [And he knew that] this would make their enemies very happy. ²⁶ So Moses went to the entrance of the camp and shouted, ‘Who is on Jehovah’s side? [May those who are], come here to me!’

Well, all the sons of Levi came to him, ²⁷ and he told them, ‘This is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl said: Everyone must [tie on] his sword and go through the camp from gate to gate, and each of you should kill [his rebellious] brothers and neighbors, starting with those that are the closest to you.’

²⁸ So, the sons of Levi did just as Moses told them, and three thousand men fell that day. ²⁹ Then Moses told them, ‘You are to be praised, because you’ve all lifted your hands to Jehovah [and struck down] your own sons and brothers1’

³⁰ Then the next morning, Moses spoke to the people and said, ‘You have committed a great sin! So now I must go up to God and pay for your sins!’

³¹ Then Moses returned to Jehovah and said, ‘I’ve [come to] beg You, O Jehovah, because these people are guilty of a great sin by making a god of gold. ³² So now, [please] forgive their sins. But if You choose not to, then also erase my name from the scroll You’ve written.’

³³ But Jehovah told Moses, ‘I’m going to erase [the names] of all those who have sinned against Me from My book. ³⁴ Now go! [Go] and lead these people to the place that I told you about when I said, {Look!} My messenger will travel before you. However, I’m going to visit them and [punish] them for their sins.’

³⁵ Then Jehovah struck the people for having Aaron make the calf.

Chapter 33

¹ Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘Go on! You and the people that you brought out of the land of Egypt should leave and go to the land that I promised to AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob, when I said, I will give it to your seed. ² I will send My messenger before you, and he will throw out the Amorites, Chettites, Pherezites, Gergesites, Evites, Jebusites, and CanaAnites. ³ And I will bring you into a land that flows with milk and honey. However, I won’t be going with you, for fear that I will destroy you along the way, because you’re such a stubborn people!’

⁴ Well, when the people heard this bad news, they went into mourning and wore mourning clothes. ⁵ But Jehovah told the children of IsraEl, ‘You’re stubborn people! Now, pay attention so I don’t send another plague and destroy you. Take off your [mourning] clothes and its trappings, and let Me show you what I will do to you.’

⁶ So the Sons of IsraEl took off all their [mourning] gear there at the dry mountain (Horeb). ⁷ Then Moses carried the Tent outside the camp (they called it the Tent of Proofs) and [had it] assembled some distance away. And everyone who [wanted an answer from Jehovah] would go to the Tent outside the camp. ⁸ Then, whenever Moses would enter or leave the Tent, everyone would stand and watch at its entrance, to see what would happen. ⁹ For when Moses entered the Tent, a column of clouds descended and stayed at the Tent’s entrance while [God] was talking to Moses. ¹⁰ And as they all saw the column of clouds standing there by the entrance to the Tent, everyone stood there praying. ¹¹ Meanwhile, Jehovah would speak to Moses face to face, as though they were two friends. Then [Moses] would return to the camp, but his servant JoShua (the son of NaWeh), who was a young man, didn’t leave the Tent.

¹² Thereafter, Moses said to Jehovah: ‘{Look!} You told me to lead these people on, but You haven’t shown me where You want me to go! Now, You’ve told me that You know me better than all the rest, and that You like me. ¹³ So, if I’ve found favor in Your eyes, show Yourself to me so I can see You. Then I will know that I’ve found favor in Your eyes, and I can be sure that this great nation is Your people.’

¹⁴ And [God] replied, ‘I will pass before you to satisfy you.’

¹⁵ Then [Moses] said, ‘But if You aren’t going to [travel] with us, don’t make me go either! ¹⁶ For, how would anyone know for sure that these people and I have found favor with You, unless You go with us? Then both Your people and I will be glorified above all the nations of the earth.’

¹⁷ And Jehovah told Moses, ‘I will do this thing that you’ve asked, because you’ve found My favor and I’ve put you above all the others.’

¹⁸ Then [Moses] said, ‘Then show Yourself to me!’

¹⁹ And [God] said, ‘I will pass before you with My glory, and I will call out My Name Jehovah in front of you. I will be merciful to those for whom I feel mercy, and I will have pity on those for whom I feel pity.’

²⁰ Then [God] told [Moses], ‘You won’t be able to see My face, because no man can see My face and live.’ ²¹ And Jehovah said, ‘{Look!} Stand on the rock by Me, ²² and as My glory is passing by, I will put you into a hole in that rock and cover you with My hand as I pass. ²³ Then I will remove My hand so you can see My back… but you won’t see My face.’

Chapter 34

¹ And Jehovah said to Moses: ‘You need to cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and climb the mountain to Me, then I will write the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. ² So, be ready to climb Mount Sinai in the morning, and then stand there [and wait] for Me on top of the Mountain. ³ Don’t let anyone go up with you, or even to be seen on the Mountain. And don’t allow any sheep or bulls to graze near the Mountain.’

⁴ So [Moses] cut two stone tablets just like the first, and he got up early and climbed Mount Sinai, just as the Lord told him, carrying the two stone tablets. ⁵ Then the Lord descended in a cloud and stood close to him as He called the Name Jehovah. ⁶ And the Lord passed before his face while He was saying, ‘Jehovah, the God of mercy, pity, patience, concern, and truth; ⁷ who brings justice and mercy to thousands, and removes wrong-doing, unrighteousness, and sins, but won’t acquit the guilty; who [punishes] the sins of ancestors on their children, and on their children’s children to the third and fourth generations.’

⁸ Then Moses quickly bowed to the earth and prayed, ⁹ ‘If You care for me, may my Lord go with us, because these people are stubborn. Then You will remove our sins and our failings, and we will be Yours.’

¹⁰ Thereafter, Jehovah said to Moses: ‘{Look!} I am establishing a Sacred Agreement with you in the presence of all your people. I will do wonderful things that have never been done before anywhere on earth or in any nation. Everyone among you will see the deeds that I will do for you; because they are wonderful. ¹¹ But make sure that you do everything that I’ve told you. Then {Look!} I will throw the Amorites, CanaAnites, Pherezites, Chettites, Evites, Gergesites, and Jebusites out from before you.

¹² ‘Be careful not to make any agreements with people who live in the land that you are entering, for fear that they will become stones to stumble you. ¹³ You must destroy their altars and smash their [sacred] columns, cut off their water, and burn the images of their gods. ¹⁴ You must not worship other gods, because Jehovah (which is a zealous Name) is a zealous God.

¹⁵ ‘Never make pacts with people who live in this land and then commit adultery their gods, or sacrifice to their gods, or have them call you to eat at their feasts. ¹⁶ You shouldn’t take their daughters [as wives] for your sons, nor should you give your daughters to their sons, so your sons and daughters don’t become adulterers with their gods.

¹⁷ ‘You aren’t to mold [images of] gods for yourselves.

¹⁸ ‘You must keep the Feast of Fermentation-Free Bread and eat fermentation-free bread for seven days, just as I‘ve told you, in the month and season of new grain, because that’s when you came out of Egypt.

¹⁹ ‘All the males are Mine… everything that opens the womb, including every first-born ox and sheep. ²⁰ And you must pay a ransom for the first-born of a burro with a sheep or with money. You must also pay a ransom for your first-born sons… don’t come to Me empty-handed!

²¹ ‘You can work for six days, but you must rest on the seventh day, whether during seed-time or harvest.

²² ‘And you must observe the Feast of Weeks for Me at the beginning of the wheat harvest and at the harvest in the middle of the year. ²³ Every male must appear before Jehovah the God of IsraEl three times each year. ²⁴ For, after I’ve driven the nations away from before you and enlarged your borders, no one will want your land, as long as you go up to appear before Jehovah your God three times each year.

²⁵ ‘You must not offer the blood of My sacrifices with fermentation, nor should the Passover sacrifices remain until the next morning.

²⁶ ‘The first fruits of your land must be taken to the House of your God Jehovah.

‘You must not boil a lamb in its mother’s milk.’

²⁷ Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘Write all of these words down, because they are the words of My Sacred Agreement with you and with IsraEl.’

²⁸ Well, Moses was there with Jehovah for forty days and forty nights, and during that time, he didn’t eat any bread or drink any water. Then he wrote the words of the Sacred Agreement (the Ten Commandments) on the tablets.

²⁹ So, when Moses came down the Mountain, he had the two tablets in his hands. But as he was coming down, he didn’t realize that his face was radiating, due to his conversation with God. ³⁰ And when Aaron and all the elders of IsraEl saw Moses’ face radiating, they were afraid to come any closer. ³¹ Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the heads of the gathering turned toward him, and he started speaking to them.

³² And later, all the children of IsraEl came to him, and he told them all the Commandments that Jehovah had given him on Mount Sinai (Horeb). ³³ And when he finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. ³⁴ Then, whenever Moses went in to speak to Jehovah, he would take off the veil until he [came back outside] to tell the children of IsraEl what Jehovah told him. ³⁵ [Of course], it was because the children of IsraEl could see Moses’ face radiating that he wore the veil over it when he went in to speak to Jehovah.

Chapter 35

¹ Then Moses assembled the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl and said: ‘These are the commandments that Jehovah has told you to obey: ² You can work for six days, but the seventh day is for resting. It is a holy Sabbath and a rest for Jehovah. Anyone who does work on [that day] must die. ³ You must not light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath day, for I am Jehovah.’

⁴ Then Moses told the gathering of the children of IsraEl, ‘This is what Jehovah has instructed you to do: ⁵ Take up [a collection] as an offering to Jehovah. Everyone whose heart moves him to do so, must bring these as first-fruits to Jehovah: gold, silver, brass, ⁶ blue [thread], purple [yarn], double-spun scarlet [cloth], fine-spun linen, goats’ hair, ⁷ rams’ skins that have been dyed red or blue, durable wood, ⁸ and rubies and gemstones that can be engraved for the [Priest’s] shoulder-piece and full-length robes.

⁹ ‘Then, any man among you who is wise at heart may come and create the things that Jehovah has commanded, such as: ¹⁰ the Tent, the cords, the coverings, the rings, the rafters, the posts, ¹¹ the Chest of Proofs and its staves, the Propitiatory, the veil, ¹² the curtains for the courtyard and their posts, ¹³ the [gemstone engraving], ¹⁴ the incense, the anointing oil, ¹⁵ the table and all its furnishings, ¹⁶ the lampstand (for lighting) and all its furnishings, ¹⁷ the Altar and all its furnishings, ¹⁸ and the holy garments of Priesthood for Aaron and the clothing that he must use in his services, ¹⁹ as well as the Priestly garments for Aaron’s sons.

²⁰ And after the gathering of the children of IsraEl [had finished listening to] Moses, all who felt moved to do so brought whatever they thought would be appropriate as an offering. ²¹ And they donated as offerings to Jehovah everything that was needed for the Tent of Proofs and all its services, as well as all the clothing for the Holy Place. ²² Then any man who felt moved to do so, brought items from their wives, such as [gold] clasps, earrings, finger rings, necklaces, bracelets, and all sorts of gold items. ²³ So, many of them brought their gold jewelry to Jehovah, as well as fine linen and ram’s skins that were dyed blue or red.

²⁴ And everyone who brought offerings also brought items of silver and brass to Jehovah. Also, anyone who had durable wood or the tools to work it, brought that. ²⁵ And all the women who were skilled at spinning brought blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine linen. ²⁶ Also, all the women who were moved to do so and were wise, spun the goats’ hair.

²⁷ Then the [tribal] rulers brought emeralds and gemstones for the settings in the shoulder pieces and the Expression [of Judgment]. ²⁸ They also brought the materials for the anointing oil and things to make the incense.

²⁹ So, every man and woman that was moved to do so, came to do all the work that Jehovah assigned to them through Moses, which the children of IsraEl donated as offerings to Jehovah. ³⁰ And Moses told them, ‘{Look!} God has specifically called BeSeleEl (of Urias and Or) of the tribe of Judah, ³¹ and filled him with a godly spirit of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, to be creative in all fields of expertise. ³² He is skilled in all sorts of crafts, such as working gold, silver, and brass, ³³ setting gemstones, and woodcarving… he does everything [well]. ³⁴ Both he and EliAb (of AchiSamach of the tribe of Dan) have been granted such understanding. ³⁵ They have been filled with wisdom, understanding, and the needed comprehension to know how to do all the work that must be done for the Tent, as well as how to weave and embroider using scarlet [cloth] and fine linen, and how to fashion all the unique embroidered items.’

Chapter 36

¹ So, BeSeleEl, EliAb, and all those who were wise and knowledgeable, were given the wisdom, knowledge, and necessary [skills] to do everything that had to be done for the holy offices, in the way that Jehovah had instructed. ² Then Moses called BeSeleEl, EliAb, and all the wise who had received the needed skills from God, as well as everyone who was willing to come and donate their work, to get the job done. ³ And Moses gave them everything that the children of IsraEl brought to build the Holy Place. So they continued to receive the gifts each morning, ⁴ and wise people with many different skills kept showing up to work at the Holy Place.

⁵ Then one of them said to Moses, ‘The people are bringing in too many of the things that Jehovah told them to bring!’ ⁶ So, Moses sent a proclamation throughout the camp, saying, ‘No more men or women should come to work or to bring offerings to the Holy Place.’ So, they had to prevent the people from bringing any more. ⁷ Why, they had enough material to make all the furnishings, with more left over.

⁸ Skilled craftsmen made the robes for the Holy Place that would belong to Aaron the Priest, just as the Lord had instructed Moses. ⁹ They made the vests of gold, blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun scarlet [cloth], and fine-twisted linen. ¹⁰ Then each of the sections was connected with gold thread that was interwoven with blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun scarlet [cloth], and fine-twisted linen, so they were all woven together.

¹¹ Then, both sides of the shoulder pieces were connected by weaving each of the parts together. ¹² They were made of the same material as the rest (gold, blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun scarlet [cloth], and fine-twisted linen), just as the Lord had told Moses.

¹³ Then they mounted two emeralds that had the names of the children of IsraEl engraved on them into carved gold clasps, ¹⁴ and connected them to the shoulder pieces of the vest. This was done in memory of the children of IsraEl, as Jehovah had instructed Moses.

¹⁵ Then they embroidered the Expression of Judgment the same way as they did the vest (of gold, blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun scarlet [cloth], and fine-twisted linen). ¹⁶ They made the Expression of Judgment square and doubled, seven inches long and seven inches wide, doubled [over]. ¹⁷ And woven into it were four columns of gemstones in rows. In the first column there was a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald. ¹⁸ In the second column there was a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper. ¹⁹ In the third column there was a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst. ²⁰ And in the fourth column there was a peridot, a beryl, and an onyx. They were all mounted in gold settings and fastened with gold. ²¹ And each of the twelve stones was engraved like a seal with the names of the children of IsraEl, in the order of each of the twelve tribes.

²² Thereafter, they mounted twisted wreaths of pure gold on the Expression of Judgment. ²³ Then they made two small circles of gold and two gold rings. ²⁴ They put the two gold rings on the [top] corners of the Expression, ²⁵ and then they mounted the gold wreaths over the rings. There were also gold fasteners for each ring, and a wreath was mounted to each fastener. ²⁶ They were mounted on the two small circles at the front of each side of the vest, near the shoulders.

²⁷ Then they made two gold rings and mounted them on the two projections along the top of the Expression, on the backside facing the vest. ²⁸ And they made two more gold rings and mounted them on both shoulders of the vest, in front of and above the vest’s connectors. ²⁹ And the Expression was then fastened to the vest by its rings and the rings on the vest, and it was sewed to the woven material on the vest with blue [thread], so the Expression couldn’t come loose, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.

³⁰ Then they made the tunic of spun blue [thread], which was to be worn under the vest. ³¹ It was tightly woven, so it wouldn’t tear, and it opened in the front, with fringes around the opening. ³² At the bottom of the tunic [they put a decorative fringe] of pomegranate flowers that were made from blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun scarlet [cloth], and fine-twisted linen. ³³ It also had gold bells. They put the bells all the way around the tunic, between the pomegranates ³⁴ (a gold bell then a pomegranate), all along the border, to be part of the service, just as the Lord commanded Moses.

³⁵ Then they made the [rest of the] outfits of fine woven linen for Aaron and his sons. ³⁶ The head coverings and the turbans were made of fine linen, the shorts were made of fine-twisted linen, ³⁷ and their sashes were made of fine linen with blue [thread], purple [yarn], and spun-scarlet [cloth] embroidered into them, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.

³⁸ Then they made the gold plate (for forgiveness in the Holy Place) of pure gold. ³⁹ It was engraved in raised lettering, with the words ‘Jehovah is Holy.’ ⁴⁰ They mounted it on top of the turban with a blue background, just as the Lord had instructed Moses.

Chapter 37

¹ Then they made ten curtains for the Tent. ² [The curtains] ran forty-seven feet [per side] and were six and three-quarters feet high. ³ They also made the veil of blue [thread], purple [yarn], scarlet [cloth], and fine-twisted linen with cherubs woven into it. ⁴ Then they assembled four posts of durable wood that were overlaid with gold and had gold caps and a silver socket for each one. ⁵ Then they made the veil for the entry to the Tent of Proofs of blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-twisted linen, with cherubs woven into it, ⁶ as well as its five posts, the rings, the gilded caps, the gold clasps, and the five brass sockets.

⁷ Then they made the courtyard. The curtains on the south side were made of fine-twisted linen, and it was a hundred and sixty-seven feet long, ⁸ with twenty posts and twenty sockets. ⁹ The north side also ran a hundred and sixty-seven feet, the same as the south side, and it had twenty posts and twenty sockets. ¹⁰ The curtains on the west side ran eighty-four feet, and they had ten sockets and posts. ¹¹ And on the east side, the curtains ran eighty-four feet, with [awnings] that were twenty-five feet long on one side, ¹² with three posts and three sockets, ¹³ and twenty-five feet long, with three posts and three sockets, on the other side of the courtyard entrance. ¹⁴ All the curtains were made of fine-twisted linen. ¹⁵ The sockets for the posts were made of brass, all the posts were overlaid with silver, their hooks were made of silver, and their caps were overlaid with silver.

¹⁶ The veil at the entrance to the courtyard was embroidered with blue [thread], purple [yarn], spun-scarlet [cloth], and fine-twisted linen. It was thirty-three feet long and stood eight feet high, like the other curtains in the courtyard. ¹⁷ It had four posts with silver overlaid caps, four brass sockets, and silver hooks. ¹⁸ All the courtyard pins were made of brass overlaid with silver.

¹⁹ Thus, the Tent of Proofs was assembled exactly as Moses was told, so that public services could be conducted by the Levites, through Aaron’s (the High Priest’s) son IthaMar.

²⁰ And BeSeleEl (the son of Urias of the tribe of Judah) did just as the Lord commanded Moses, with EliAb (the son of AchiSamach of the tribe of Dan) who was in charge of the weaving, needlework, and embroidering with the scarlet material and fine linen.

Chapter 38

¹ Then BeSeleEl made the Chest. ² He overlaid it with pure gold both inside and out, ³ and he made four gold rings, mounting two on one side and two on the other ⁴ for the staves (so the Chest could be carried with them). ⁵ Then he made the Propitiatory of pure gold, to cover the Chest, ⁶ and the two gold cherubs – ⁷ one cherub on each end of the Propitiatory – ⁸ which covered the Propitiatory with their wings. ⁹ Then he made the table of pure gold, ¹⁰ which had four rings, two of which were mounted on either side, so it could be lifted and carried on staves. ¹¹ He also made the staves for the Chest and the table, and covered them with gold. ¹² Then he made the furnishings for the table – the dishes, censers, cups, and bowls (for drink-offerings) – of gold.

¹³ Then he made the lampstand of solid gold. ¹⁴ It had three branches on each side ¹⁵ and blossoms coming from its branches – three on each side – which were the same. ¹⁶ The sockets where the lamps were mounted were at the ends [of each branch] above the knobs. Then there was the seventh socket that rose straight from the middle of the lampstand, and the whole thing was made of solid gold. ¹⁷ [He also made] seven gold lamps, plus gold snuffers and gold funnels.

¹⁸ He overlaid the [Tent’s] posts and made gold rings for them. [Then he] gilded the rafters and the posts for the veil with gold, and he made the hooks ¹⁹ and the Tent rings of gold. [He also made] the rings for the courtyard and for drawing the veil, out of brass.

²⁰ He poured silver caps for the Tent posts, and [he made] brass caps for the entryways to the Tent and the courtyard. Then he made silver hooks for the posts, and he overlaid [the posts] with silver. ²¹ He made pins for the Tent and the courtyard of brass.

²² He made the brass Altar from the brass censers that had once belonged to the group of men who joined in the rebellion under KorAh. ²³ He made the Altar, its grate, its base, its bowls, and the brass flesh-hooks. ²⁴ He made an appendage for the Altar under the middle of the grate, to which he fastened four brass rings at each corner, so the Altar could be carried with them.

²⁵ He also made the holy anointing oil and mixed the incense like a [professional] perfumer. ²⁶ He made the brass basin and base from the mirrors of the women who were fasting at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs on the day it was assembled. ²⁷ He made the basin so that Moses, and Aaron and his sons, could wash their hands and feet whenever they entered the Tent of Proofs, or whenever they went to serve at the Altar, as Jehovah had instructed Moses.

Chapter 39

¹ All the gold that was offered and used to make the holy things weighed more than twenty-six hundred pounds. ² And the silver that was collected from the men among the gathering who were counted [in the census] weighed more than nine thousand five hundred pounds, plus a thousand, seven hundred and seventy-five silver coins. ³ Six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty men who were twenty years and older replied to the census. ⁴ And their thousand, five-hundred pounds of silver was used to cast one hundred [post] caps for the Tent and for the veil, ⁵ and a hundred caps at ninety-five pounds each. ⁶ Then he took the thousand, seven hundred and seventy-five silver coins and made hooks, caps, and silver coverings for the posts.

⁷ More than three tons of brass was offered, from which ⁸ they made the bases for the entry to the Tent of Proofs ⁹ and the surrounding courtyard, as well as pins for the Tent and the courtyard, ¹⁰ the brass appendage on the Altar and all its furnishings, and all the instruments that were used in the Tent of Proofs.

¹¹ So, the children of IsraEl did everything as Jehovah had instructed Moses. ¹² And the rest of the contributed gold was used to make furnishings that would be used in service to Jehovah. ¹³ The blue [thread], the purple [yarn], and the scarlet [material] that was left over, was used to make [more] garments for Aaron to wear in his service at the Holy Place. ¹⁴ They also brought garments to Moses for use in the Tent, as well as [things] for its furnishings, bases, rafters, and posts, ¹⁵ and for the Chest of the Sacred Agreement and its carriers, and for the Altar and its furnishings.

¹⁶ They made the anointing oil, the incense, the holy lampstand ¹⁷ and its lamps (that held oil for the light), ¹⁸ the table for showbread and all its furnishings, ¹⁹ Aaron’s garments for use in the Holy Place, the garments for his sons in their Priestly duties, ²⁰ the curtains for the courtyard, all the posts, the veils for the entry to the Tent and the courtyard, ²¹ all the furnishings and tools for the Tent, the ram skins that were dyed red and blue, coverings for other things, the pins, and everything that was needed to work in the Tent of Proofs. ²² Whatever Jehovah told Moses, the children of IsraEl did to complete the furnishings. ²³ And when Moses looked at all the work and saw that they had done everything and made everything the way that Jehovah had told him, he blest them.

Chapter 40

¹ Then Jehovah told Moses: ² ‘On the first day of the first month (the New Moon), you must assemble the Tent of Proofs ³ and put the Chest of Proofs inside it, behind the veil. ⁴ Then carry in the table and lay [the bread] on it. Then bring in the lampstand and mount the lamps on it. ⁵ Then carry in the gold incense Altar and burn incense in front of the Chest. Then hang the veil in the entryway of the Tent of Proofs. ⁶ Then put the Altar of burnt offerings next to the entry to the Tent of Proofs, and set up the rest of the Tent. Make everything in and around it holy. ⁷ – – – ⁸ – – – ⁹ Take the anointing oil and anoint the Tent and everything in it, to cleanse it, so that it and all its furnishings will be holy. ¹⁰ Also, anoint the Altar of burnt offerings and all of its furnishings. Make it clean and the Altar will be most holy. ¹¹ – – –

¹² ‘Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs and wash them with water. ¹³ Then dress Aaron in the holy garments and anoint him and make him holy, so he can serve as a Priest to Me. ¹⁴ Then bring in his sons, dress them in their garb, ¹⁵ and anoint them as you did their father, so they can serve Me as Priests. ¹⁶ This anointing of the Priesthood [must be done] through the ages.’ And Moses did everything that Jehovah told him.

¹⁷ So it was, that during the first month, a year after they left Egypt (during the New Moon), that the Tent was set up. ¹⁸ Moses set up the Tent, put on the caps, set the rafters in place, and set up the posts. ¹⁹ Then he stretched the curtains over the Tent and installed the veil from the top of the Tent, as Jehovah had commanded. ²⁰ Then he took the Proofs and put them inside the Chest; he mounted the Chest on the staves ²¹ and carried it into the Tent; then he put up the veil to conceal the Chest of Proofs, just as the Lord had commanded.

²² Then he carried the table into the Tent of Proofs and placed in on the north side, just outside the veil. ²³ And he brought in the showbread [and set it] before Jehovah, just as the Lord had instructed him. ²⁴ Next, he brought the lampstand into the Tent of Proofs and placed it on the south side of the Tent, ²⁵ and he mounted its lamps in front of Jehovah, just as the Lord had commanded. ²⁶ Then he brought the gold incense Altar into the Tent of Proofs and put it in front of the veil, ²⁷ and he burned the [sacred] incense on it, just as the Lord had commanded. ²⁸ – – – ²⁹ Then he put the Altar for the burnt offerings next to the entry to the Tent. ³⁰ – – – ³¹ – – – ³² – – – ³³ And he set up the courtyard all around the Tent and the Altar. Yes, Moses did all these things.

³⁴ Then a cloud covered the Tent of Proofs and it was filled with the glory of Jehovah. ³⁵ Not even Moses could enter the Tent of Proofs, because of the cloud that covered it and the glory of Jehovah that was inside the Tent.

³⁶ And whenever the cloud would rise above the Tent, the children of IsraEl would pack their bags and [get ready to leave]. ³⁷ But if the cloud stayed in place, they didn’t get ready to leave until the day that the cloud arose again. ³⁸ For the cloud covered the Tent during the day, and fire covered it at night, and all IsraEl could [see this] as they traveled.

Leviticus

From the Greek Septuagint text as was used by First Century Christians

Chapter 1

¹ And Jehovah called Moses again and spoke to him in the Tent of Proofs. He said, ² ‘Talk to the children of IsraEl and tell them this: Any of you that bring an ox as a gift to the Lord; bring one that will be acceptable to Jehovah. ⁴ Then put your hand on the head of the offering [to show that] it’s something you wish to do in order to be forgiven by [God]. ⁵ Then they must slaughter the calf before Jehovah, and Aaron’s sons (the Priests) must collect the blood and pour it around the Altar at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.

⁶ ‘The meat of the offering should be butchered and divided into quarters. ⁷ And the sons of Aaron (the Priests) must light a fire on the Altar and pile wood on the fire. ⁸ Then the Priests must put the head and the fat over the fire in the Altar; ⁹ they must wash the [animal’s] entrails and feet in water, and the Priests must put the rest of it on the Altar as a burnt-offering sacrifice and as a sweet odor to Jehovah.

¹⁰ ‘However, if [the person] is offering a sheep as a gift to Jehovah (or a lamb or a kid) for a whole-burnt offering, it must be a perfect male. ¹¹ He must put his hand on its head and they must slaughter it next to the Altar toward the north, before Jehovah. Then the sons of Aaron (the Priests) must pour its blood on and around the Altar. ¹² They must quarter it, and put its head and its fat over the burning wood on the Altar. ¹³ Then they must wash its entrails and feet with water and the Priest must put the rest on the Altar as a burnt-offering sacrifice… as a sweet odor to Jehovah.

¹⁴ ‘But if [the person] is offering a bird as a gift to Jehovah, it must be a dove or a pigeon. ¹⁵ The Priest must bring it to the Altar, wring off its head, and sprinkle its blood at the base of the Altar. ¹⁶ And before placing it on the Altar, he must remove the crop and the feathers, and throw them by the ashes, to the east of the Altar. ¹⁷ He should then break off its wings, but not cut it up. And the Priest must put the burnt-offering sacrifice on the Altar over the burning wood as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah.

Chapter 2

¹ ‘And if a person brings fine flour as a gift to sacrifice to Jehovah, he must pour oil on it and put frankincense on it before offering it as a sacrifice. ² He must carry it to the Priests (the sons of Aaron) and take a handful of the fine flour with the oil and the frankincense, and then a Priest must put it on the Altar as a sacrifice and as a sweet odor to Jehovah. ³ The rest of the sacrifice must be [given to] Aaron and his sons as their holy portion from the sacrifices to Jehovah.

⁴ ‘And if he brings [bread] that has been baked in an oven as a gift to sacrifice to Jehovah, it should be fermentation free and kneaded with oil into fermentation-free cakes. ⁵ And if the gift of fermentation-free fine flour is brought in a pan, ⁶ it must be broken into pieces and then oil must be poured over it as a sacrifice to Jehovah.

⁷ ‘However, if the gift of fine flour with oil that is to be offered as a sacrifice to Jehovah [consists of whole loaves] which were baked in an oven, ⁸ they must be brought to the Priest, ⁹ and the Priest must take it to the Altar and offer a portion of it as a burnt offering and as a sweet odor to Jehovah. ¹⁰ The rest of the sacrifice must be [given to] Aaron and his sons as their holy portion from the burnt offerings of Jehovah.

¹¹ ‘You must not have fermentation in any sacrifices that are brought to Jehovah, and no honey will be brought as a gift to Jehovah. ¹² Such things may be brought to Jehovah as though they were fruit, but they must not be offered on the Altar as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah.

¹³ ‘All gifts of sacrifices must be seasoned with salt. Don’t leave the salt of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement out of your sacrifices. No matter what type of gift it is, it must be offered to Jehovah your God with salt.

¹⁴ ‘And when you offer the first fruit as a sacrifice to Jehovah (the new grain), it should be ground and roasted, then brought as a sacrifice. ¹⁵ Pour oil and frankincense on it, because it is a sacrifice. ¹⁶ Then the Priest must offer a portion of the grain with oil and all the frankincense as a burnt offering to Jehovah.

Chapter 3

¹ ‘If the gift to Jehovah is to be a peace offering and it is selected from among the cattle, it can be a male or a female, but it must be perfect to bring it before Jehovah. ² The [the person] must put his hands on the head of the gift and slaughter it before Jehovah next to the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. Then the Priests (the sons of Aaron) must pour the blood on and around the Altar of burnt offerings.

³ For peace offerings, [these portions] should be offered as a burnt-sacrifice to Jehovah: the belly and all the fat in and around it, ⁴ the kidneys and the fat on them, [the fat] on the thighs, and the membrane around the liver and kidneys. ⁵ The Priests (the sons of Aaron) must offer them on the Altar of burnt offerings over the burning wood on the Altar as a sweet odor to Jehovah.

⁶ ‘And if the peace-offering gift to Jehovah is a sheep, it may be either a male or a female, but it must be perfect. ⁷ If the gift is a lamb, he must bring it before Jehovah, ⁸ put his hands on the head of his offering, and slaughter it by the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. Then the Priests (the sons of Aaron) must pour its blood on and around the Altar. ⁹ The peace offering is then to be burned to Jehovah. He can take the healthy, fat hind parts and loins with him, but all the fat that is in and around the belly, ¹⁰ the kidneys and the fat around them, the fat around the thighs, and the membrane around the liver and kidneys ¹¹ must be offered on the Altar by the Priest as a sweet odor and burnt offering to Jehovah.

¹² ‘And if his offering is a goat, he must bring it before Jehovah, ¹³ put his hands on its head, and slaughter it before Jehovah next to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs. Then the Priests (the sons of Aaron) must pour the blood on and around the Altar. ¹⁴ And the parts of the burnt offering [that will be offered] to Jehovah must be the fat in and around the belly, ¹⁵ both kidneys and all the fat on them, [the fat] on the thighs, and the membrane around the liver and kidneys. ¹⁶ Then the Priest must offer it on the Altar as a burnt offering and as a sweet odor to Jehovah.

‘All the fat is Jehovah’s. ¹⁷ This is the rule through the ages of your generations wherever you may live: You must eat no fat and no blood.’

Chapter 4

¹ Then Jehovah told Moses, ² ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them this: If a person sins against Jehovah in any of the Commandments that Jehovah says you must not do… but he does them unintentionally, ³ or if the anointed Priest sins and that causes the people to sin, then he must bring [an offering] for his sin. [He must bring] a perfect calf from his herd to Jehovah, for his sin. ⁴ He must bring the calf before Jehovah at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, put his hand on its head, and they must slaughter it in Jehovah’s presence.

⁵ ‘And when the anointed Priest who has been made perfect receives the calf’s blood, he must carry it into the Tent of Proofs. ⁶ Then the Priest must dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it at the base of the Holy Veil before Jehovah seven times. ⁷ And he must put some of the calf’s blood on the horns of the incense Altar that is before Jehovah (inside the Tent of Proofs) and pour the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar, by the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.

⁸ ‘[Then he must take] all the fat from the calf of the sin offering – the inner fat, the outer fat, ⁹ the kidneys and the fat on them, [the fat on] the thighs, and the membrane around the liver and kidneys – and remove them. ¹⁰ Then the Priest must offer it on the Altar of burnt offerings. ¹¹ As for the calf’s skin, flesh, head, extremities, belly, and dung; ¹² it must all be carried outside the camp into the clean place where they pour the ashes, and it must be totally burned among the wood ashes that are poured out there.

¹³ ‘Now, if the whole gathering of IsraEl unknowingly commits a sin and it goes unnoticed by them (if they should do something that is forbidden, shouldn’t be done, and is a sin against any of the commandments of Jehovah), ¹⁴ but they later realize what they have done; the gathering should bring a perfect calf from the herd as a sin offering to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs. ¹⁵ Then [all] the elders of the gathering must lay their hands on the calf’s head and slaughter it before Jehovah. ¹⁶ And the anointed Priest must bring the calf’s blood into the Tent of Proofs. ¹⁷ He must then dip his finger in some of the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the veil of the Holy Place, there before Jehovah.

¹⁸ ‘The Priest must also put some of the blood on the horns of the incense Altar, which is standing before Jehovah, inside the Tent of Proofs. Then he must pour the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar of whole-burnt offerings, which is by the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. ¹⁹ He must cut off all its fat, and offer it on the Altar, ²⁰ dealing with it in the same way as he does the calf of the sin offering. That’s how the Priests will pay for their sins, and then their mistakes will be forgiven. ²¹ Thereafter, they must take the rest of the calf outside the camp and burn it in the same way as the other calf. This is the sin offering for the [entire] gathering.

²² ‘And if one of the leaders should unknowingly break one of the commandments of Jehovah his God (something he shouldn’t have done in sin and error), ²³ and then he realizes that he has sinned, the gift he must offer is a perfect male kid goat. ²⁴ He must put his hand on the head of the kid, and they must slaughter it where they slaughter the whole-burnt offerings before Jehovah, as a sin offering. ²⁵ Then the Priest must put some of the blood of the sin offering on the horns of the Altar of whole-burnt offerings with his finger, and pour the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar. ²⁶ Then he must offer all of its fat on the Altar as the sacrifice of the peace offering. [This is how] the Priest must pay for his sin, so it can be forgiven.

²⁷ ‘And if a person among the people of the land should sin unknowingly against any of the Commandments of Jehovah by doing something that shouldn’t be done, ²⁸ and then he realizes that he has sinned, he must bring a perfect female kid goat for the sin that he has committed. ²⁹ Then he must put his hand on the head of his sin offering and they should slaughter the kid of the sin offering where they slaughter the whole-burnt offerings. ³⁰ And the Priest must take some its blood on his finger and wipe it on the horns of the Altar of whole-burnt offerings. Then he must pour the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar. ³¹ Thereafter, he must remove all the fat and offer it as a sacrifice of a peace offering. The Priest must offer it on the Altar as a sweet odor to Jehovah. [This is how] the Priest must pay for his sin, so it can be forgiven.

³² ‘But if he offers a lamb for his sin offering, it should be a perfect female. ³³ He must put his hand on the head of the sin offering, and they must kill it where they kill the whole-burnt offerings. ³⁴ Then the Priest must take some of the blood of the sin offering on his finger and wipe it on the horns of the Altar of whole-burnt offerings, and he must pour the rest of the blood around the base of the Altar. ³⁵ Then he must cut off all its fat, the same as he would for the lamb of the peace-offering sacrifice, and the Priest must put it on the Altar as a whole-burnt offering to Jehovah. [This is how] the Priest must atone for the person’s sin, so it can be forgiven.

Chapter 5

¹ ‘And if a person sins by witnessing, seeing, or knowing of someone who has sworn an oath [of vengeance] against another and doesn’t report it, he is guilty of sin. ² And whoever touches anything that is dirty, such as the filth of animals, or dead things [such as] a dead unclean animal, or [the rotting] body of cattle, ³ or whoever touches any kind of filth from a man that would make him unclean – even if he doesn’t realize it, but comes to know about it later – he has sinned. ⁴ Or if some unrighteous person has decided to use his lips to swear an oath to do evil or good – even if he doesn’t realize it, but comes to know of it [later] – he has sinned by doing this. ⁵ He must admit that he has sinned ⁶ and [pay for] his sin against [Jehovah, by offering] a female lamb from his flock or a goat kid as a sin offering, which the Priest must [offer] in payment for his sin. Then he will be forgiven.

⁷ ‘And if he can’t afford a sheep, he must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to Jehovah. One [must serve] as a sin offering, and the other as a burnt offering. ⁸ He must carry them to the Priest, and the Priest must [sacrifice] the sin offering first. He must pinch off the head at the neck, but not cut up the body. ⁹ Then he must sprinkle the blood of the sin offering on the side of the Altar, and pour the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar, because this is a sin offering. ¹⁰ Then the second [bird] must be a whole burnt offering for the Priest, to atone for the sins that the person has committed.

¹¹ ‘And if he can’t afford a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, then the gift that he should bring for his sin offering must be a quart of fine flour. He shouldn’t put frankincense or oil on it, because it is a sin offering. ¹² He must carry it to the Priest and he must take a handful of it and lay a portion of it on the Altar as a whole-burnt offering to Jehovah, and as a sin offering. ¹³ So, the Priest must offer payment for the way that the person has sinned in these matters, and he will be forgiven. And whatever is left of the flour offering must belong to the Priest.’

¹⁴ And Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ¹⁵ ‘The person who is truly unaware and unknowingly sins against any of the holy things of Jehovah must carry something to Jehovah for his error. [It must be] a perfect ram from his flock (or its value in the type of silver coins that are accepted in the Holy Place) [to pay] for his mistake. ¹⁶ He must pay for his sin against any of the holy things, and add a fifth more to it. He must give it to the Priest and the Priest must cover his sin with the ram of his error, and he will be forgiven.

¹⁷ ‘And if any person sins and does something that isn’t right and which is against any of Jehovah’s Commandments – even if he doesn’t realize it – is guilty of a sin. ¹⁸ So he must bring a perfect ram from his flock (or its value in silver) to the Priest for his mistake, and the Priest will [use it] to pay for the sin that he committed in ignorance, and he will be forgiven. ¹⁹ However, he has truly been found guilty of sinning before Jehovah.’

Chapter 6

¹ – ⁶

⁷ And Jehovah told Moses, ⁸ ‘Give Aaron and his sons these instructions… ⁹ This is the law concerning whole-burnt offerings: Whole-burnt offerings are to be left burning on the Altar all night long. The fire of the Altar must be kept burning and not be put out. ¹⁰ Then the Priest must put on the linen tunic and the linen underwear, and carry everything that has been thoroughly burned and consumed by the fire – the whole-burnt offering – from the Altar, and throw [the ashes] nearby. ¹¹ Thereafter, he must take off that robe, put on another robe, and carry the burned [ashes] to a clean place outside the camp.

¹² ‘The fire on the Altar must be kept burning all the time, and never be put out. The Priests must stoke it with wood each morning, so whole-burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings can be piled on it. ¹³ The fire must always be kept burning on the Altar and it must never be extinguished.

¹⁴ ‘This is the law concerning the sacrifices that the sons of Aaron must bring to the Altar before Jehovah: ¹⁵ [The Priest] must scoop a handful of the fine flour of the sacrifice that was offered, along with its oil and all the frankincense, and put it on the Altar as a burnt offering and a sweet-smelling odor for Jehovah to remember. ¹⁶ Then Aaron and his sons can eat all that remains. However, it must be eaten without in the courtyard of the Tent of Proofs… ¹⁷ it must not be baked with fermentation. I am giving a portion of Jehovah’s burnt offering to them. It is very holy, as are the offerings for sin and the offerings for errors. ¹⁸ All the male Priests must eat it. This is to be the rule for burnt offerings to Jehovah throughout your generations and through the ages. For, whoever touches them will be made holy.’

¹⁹ And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, ²⁰ ‘This is the gift that Aaron and his sons must offer to Jehovah on the day that you anoint him: A quart of fine flour must be sacrificed, half of it in the morning and the other half in the evening. ²¹ It must be kneaded with oil into rolls [and cooked] in a pan, and then offered [on the Altar] in pieces as a sweet odor to Jehovah. ²² The anointed Priest (one of [Aaron’s] sons who is serving in his place) will offer it, and it must all be burned. This is to be a rule through the ages… ²³ all the sacrifices for the Priests must be totally burned and never be eaten.’

²⁴ Then Jehovah told Moses, ²⁵ ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them, This is the law of the sin offerings: The sin offerings must be slaughtered before Jehovah in the same place as the whole burnt offerings, for they are very holy. ²⁶ The Priest that offers it must also eat it in a holy place in the courtyard of the Tent of Proofs. ²⁷ Everyone who touches its flesh will be holy, and everyone whose clothes have been sprinkled with its blood must be washed in the Holy Place. ²⁸ Then, any of the clay pots that held [the sacrifice] must be broken. And if it was put in a brass pot, it must be scoured and washed in water. ²⁹ Thereafter, all the male Priests must eat it as something that is very holy to Jehovah. ³⁰ However, none of the sin offerings whose blood is carried into the Tent of Proofs to pay for sins in the Holy Place must be eaten. They must be burned with fire.

³¹ – ⁴⁰

Chapter 7

¹ ‘This is the law of the peace-offering sacrifice that [the Priests] are to bring to Jehovah: ² If it is being offered as a sacrifice of praise, they must bring loaves of fine flour that are made with oil, or as fermentation-free cakes that have had oil poured over them, or fine flour that has been kneaded with oil. ³ Then they must offer their gifts with fermentation-free bread as the peace offering of praise. ⁴ And [each person] must bring one gift as a separate offering to Jehovah for the Priest who pours the blood of the peace offering. ⁵ The flesh of the peace-offering sacrifice of praise must be his, and it must be eaten on the day that it is offered… it can’t be left over until the next morning.

⁶ ‘However, if it is brought as a vow that is offered willingly, it can be eaten both on the day that the sacrifice is offered and on the next day. ⁷ But the flesh of the sacrifice can’t be left over until the third day… it must be consumed in a fire. ⁸ And if someone does eat the flesh on the third day, his offering won’t be accepted or taken into account, because it is polluted; and whoever eats it will be found guilty of sin.

⁹ ‘Any flesh that has touched something unclean must not be eaten. It must be consumed in a fire.

‘Only [people] who are clean can eat the flesh [of an offering]. ¹⁰ Any person who eats the flesh of the peace-offering sacrifice to Jehovah and is unclean, must not be allowed to live among His people.

¹¹ ‘And whoever touches anything unclean, whether it is the unclean things of a man, of a four-footed animal, or anything that is disgustingly unclean, then eats the flesh of a peace-offering sacrifice that has been offered to Jehovah, must not be allowed to live among His people.’

¹² Then Jehovah told Moses, ¹³ ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl, and say: You must not eat the fat of bulls, sheep, or goats. ¹⁴ However, you can use the fat of these animals if they have died of natural causes, or if they have been killed by [wild] animals… just don’t eat it. ¹⁵ Whoever eats the fat of animals that they have brought as burnt offerings to Jehovah must not be allowed to live among His people.

¹⁶ ‘You may not eat any blood of birds or animals wherever you may live. ¹⁷ Any person who eats blood must not be allowed to live among His people.’

¹⁸ Then Jehovah told Moses, ¹⁹ ‘You must also tell the children of IsraEl this: Whoever brings a peace-offering sacrifice as a gift to Jehovah ²⁰ must carry the fat that is on the breast and the liver in his hands. He must bring them and offer them as a gift before Jehovah. ²¹ Then the Priest must offer the fat on the Altar, and the [animal’s] breast must be [given to] Aaron and his sons, ²² as well as a choice piece from the right shoulder of the peace-offering sacrifice.

²³ ‘Whichever son of Aaron that offers the blood and fat of the peace offering must be given the right shoulder as his portion. ²⁴ For I have taken the breast which is waved and the shoulder portion from the children of IsraEl’s peace-offering sacrifices and given them to Aaron (the Priest) and to his sons. This is the rule through the ages for the children of IsraEl.’

²⁵ These were [the instructions that were given] about how Aaron and his sons were to be anointed, and [regarding their responsibilities toward] the burnt offerings to Jehovah, back when He brought them up to serve as Priests to Jehovah. ²⁶ It’s what Jehovah commanded on the day He chose them from among the sons of IsraEl, as a law through all their generations and through the ages.

²⁷ These were the laws of the whole-burnt offerings, of the sacrifices, of the sin offerings, of the offering for mistakes, of the sacrifice of the last lamb, and of the sacrifices as peace offerings. ²⁸ [Jehovah gave these] commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai, back when He gave the commandments to the children of IsraEl on how to offer their gifts to Jehovah, while they were [camping] in the Sinai Desert.

Chapter 8

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses, and said, ² ‘Take Aaron and his sons, along with their robes, the anointing oil, a calf for a sin offering, two rams, and a basket of fermentation-free bread, ³ then assemble the whole gathering at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs.

⁴ So Moses did just as Jehovah told him. He assembled the gathering at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, ⁵ and Moses told them, ‘This is what Jehovah has commanded us to do.’ ⁶ Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. ⁷ Next, he put the robe on him, wrapped him with the sash, put on the tunic, and then the Expression of Judgment. ⁸ He wrapped [his tunic] so the Expression of Judgment would fit, then he clasped it tight and put on the Expression of Judgment; and he put the Revelation and the Truth on top of that.

⁹ Next, he put the turban on [Aaron’s] head and mounted the gold plate (this most holy thing) on the front of the turban, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

¹⁰ Then Moses took the anointing oil ¹¹ and sprinkled it on the Altar seven times, to anoint the Altar and make it holy, along with everything on it, including its base and the basin. He made them holy, and he anointed the Tent and all its furniture, and made them holy.

¹² Then Moses poured anointing oil on Aaron’s head to anoint him and make him holy. ¹³ And Moses brought up Aaron’s sons, put on their robes and wrapped on their sashes, then he put on their turbans, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

¹⁴ Next, Moses brought over the calf for the sin offering. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the sin-offering calf, ¹⁵ and Moses slaughtered it. Then he took some of the blood and put it around the horns of the Altar with his finger, to purify it. Then he poured the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar, to make it holy, so that it could be used to pay for sins. ¹⁶ And Moses took all the inner fat, plus the liver and kidneys and the fat around them, and he offered it on the Altar. ¹⁷ Then he burned the rest of the calf (its skin, flesh, and dung) in a fire outside the camp, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

¹⁸ Next, Moses brought over the ram for the whole-burnt offering. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head, and Moses slaughtered the ram, and he poured the blood around the Altar. ¹⁹ Then he divided the ram by each of its limbs, and Moses offered up the head, the limbs, and the fat, after washing the feet and belly with water. ²⁰ So Moses offered the whole ram on the Altar as a burnt offering, and it was burned as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

²¹ Then Moses brought over the second ram, the last ram, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head, and he slaughtered it. ²² And Moses took its blood and put some on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. ²³ Then Moses brought in Aaron’s sons and put the blood on the tips of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet; and Moses poured the rest of the blood around the Altar.

²⁴ Then he took the fat, the rump, the belly fat, the liver and kidneys and the fat that’s on them, as well as its right shoulder; ²⁵ and from the basket of consecration that was before Jehovah, he took one fermentation-free loaf, one loaf made with oil, and one cake (along with the fat and the right shoulder), ²⁶ and put them all in the hands of Aaron and his sons, who waved them before Jehovah. ²⁷ Then Moses took it from their hands and put it on the Altar as the whole-burnt offering of the last lamb, and it was burned as an offering to Jehovah, providing a sweet-smelling odor to Him. ²⁸ Then Moses took the last lamb’s breast and set it aside before Jehovah, and this was given to Moses as his portion, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

²⁹ Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the Altar, and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments. ³⁰ So he made Aaron and his garments, and his sons and their garments, holy.

³¹ Then Moses told Aaron and his sons, ‘Now, boil the flesh in the Holy Place inside the Tent of Proofs, and eat it there along with the loaves in the last basket, just as Jehovah told me when He said, Aaron and his sons must eat this. ³² Then you must burn whatever is left of the flesh and loaves in a fire. ³³ Thereafter, you must stay inside the entrance to the Tent of Proofs until the end of seven days. For in seven days He will perfect you, ³⁴ in the same way as He did on the day that Jehovah commanded me to do this to pay for your sins. ³⁵ So, you must remain inside the entrance to the Tent of Proofs for seven days and nights. You must obey this rule of Jehovah so you won’t die… for that is what Jehovah God commanded me.’

³⁶ So, Aaron and his sons followed the instructions that Jehovah gave as commandments to Moses.

Chapter 9

¹ It was on the eighth day that Moses called Aaron and his sons out before IsraEl’s elders. ² And Moses said to Aaron, ‘Now, select a perfect young calf from the herd as a sin offering, and a ram to be a whole-burnt offering, then offer them before Jehovah. ³ And tell the elders of IsraEl: Take one goat kid to be a sin offering, and take a young calf and a perfect yearling lamb as whole-burnt offerings, ⁴ and a calf and a ram as peace offerings to Jehovah, along with fine flour that is mixed with oil, because Jehovah is going to appear among you today.’

⁵ So, just as Moses commanded, they brought [the animals] to the Tent of Proofs, and the entire gathering came and stood before Jehovah. ⁶ Then Moses said, ‘This is what Jehovah told us to do… and then the glory of Jehovah will appear among you.’

⁷ And Moses told Aaron, ‘Come to the Altar. Offer your sin offering and your whole-burnt offering to pay for the sins of you and your family… then offer gifts for the people, to pay for their sins, just as Jehovah commanded.’

⁸ So Aaron went to the Altar and slaughtered the calf as his sin offering. ⁹ Then Aaron’s sons brought the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in it and put some on the horns of the Altar; and thereafter, he poured the rest of the blood at the base of the Altar. ¹⁰ Next, he offered the fat, the kidneys, and the liver on the Altar as a sin offering, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses. ¹¹ Then the flesh and hide were burned in a fire outside the camp.

¹² Next, he slaughtered the whole-burnt offering, and Aaron’s sons brought the blood to him, which he poured all around the Altar. ¹³ Then they brought the whole-burnt offering (which they had cut in pieces), and he laid the head on the Altar. ¹⁴ Then he washed the belly and feet with water, and put them on the Altar.

¹⁵ After that, he brought up the gifts for the people. He took the goat, which was the people’s sin offering, and then he slaughtered it and washed it as before. ¹⁶ Next, he brought the whole-burnt offering, and offered it in the proper way; ¹⁷ he carried the sacrifice in his hands and laid it on the Altar, next to the whole-burnt offering that had been offered up in the morning.

¹⁸ Then he slaughtered the calf and the ram as peace-offering sacrifices for the people, and Aaron’s sons brought the blood to him, which he poured all around the Altar. ¹⁹ Then he put the calf’s fat, as well as the hindquarters of the ram, the fat on its belly, its kidneys and the fat on them, the membrane around the liver, ²⁰ as well as the fat on the breasts, and offered it on the Altar. ²¹ Then Aaron set aside the breast and right shoulder as a choicest offering before Jehovah, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

²² Then, after he offered the sin offering, the whole-burnt offerings, and the peace offerings, Aaron raised his arms over the people and blest them; and he came back down. ²³ Then both Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Proofs. And when they came out, they blest all the people.

It was then that Jehovah’s glory appeared to all the people… ²⁴ fire came from Jehovah that consumed the offerings on the Altar (both the whole-burnt offerings and their fat); and when all the people saw this, they were stunned and fell to their faces.

Chapter 10

¹ Then two of Aaron’s sons (Nadab and AbiUd) took their censers, put incense and fire in them, and offered it before Jehovah in a way that is quite different from what they had been commanded. ² And at that, fire came from Jehovah and consumed them, so they died there before Jehovah.

³ At that, Moses told Aaron: ‘Jehovah told us, I must be made holy by those approach Me, and I must be glorified before the whole congregation!’

Well, Aaron was badly shaken by this.

⁴ Then Moses called MisaDae and EliSaphan ([two of] the sons of Aaron’s uncle OziEl) and said to them, ‘Come here and take your brothers away from [their position] before the Holy Place [and carry their bodies] outside the camp!’

⁵ So they came and took them (while they were still wearing their [Priestly] outfits) outside the camp, just as Moses said. ⁶ Then Moses said to Aaron, EliEzer, IthaMar, and his remaining sons: ‘Don’t uncover your heads or tear your clothes, unless you want to die and bring [God’s] anger down on the entire congregation! For then your brothers and the entire house of IsraEl would mourn this burning, which came from Jehovah. ⁷ Nor should you leave the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, or you will die; because Jehovah’s anointing oil is upon you.’ And they did just as Moses told them.

⁸ Then Jehovah spoke to Aaron, and said, ⁹ ‘You and your sons must not drink any wine or liquor before you enter the Tent of Proofs or before you approach the Altar, so you don’t die. This is [to be] a law through the ages [for all your] generations. ¹⁰ Because, [you must be able to] recognize the difference between what is sacred and what is profane, and between what is clean and what is unclean! ¹¹ And [you must] teach the children of IsraEl all the laws that [Jehovah gave] them through Moses.’

¹² Then Moses told Aaron, EliEzer, IthaMar, and Aaron’s surviving sons: ‘Now, take the remaining sacrifices among the burnt offerings for Jehovah and eat [them with] fermentation-free bread close to the Altar, because that is a very holy [place]. ¹³ Eating the burnt offerings to Jehovah in the Holy Place will be the law for you and your sons, because this is what I have commanded… ¹⁴ that you, your sons, and your families must eat the breast that has been set aside [for you] and the choicest shoulder in the Holy Place. This is the rule for you and your sons concerning the peace-offering sacrifices [that are offered by] the children of IsraEl. ¹⁵ They must bring the choicest shoulder and [they must] separate the breast from the burnt offerings of fat, as a separate division before Jehovah. This is to be the rule for you, your sons, and your daughters through the ages, just as Jehovah commanded Moses.’

¹⁶ Well, when Moses started looking for the goat of the sin offering, [he found that] it had already been burned in the fire. So Moses became very angry with EliEzer, IthaMar, and Aaron’s remaining sons, and said, ¹⁷ ‘Why didn’t you eat the sin offering here in the Holy Place? It is a very holy [thing that Jehovah] has given you to eat before Him, so you can remove and pay for the sins of the entire gathering. ¹⁸ Why, its blood wasn’t even brought into the Holy Place… and Jehovah commanded you to eat [the sacrifice] here before Him!’

¹⁹ So Aaron asked Moses: ‘If they bring their sin offerings and whole-burnt offerings to Jehovah today, and we eat the sin offerings that are brought today (despite what we have done), would that be pleasing to Jehovah?’

²⁰ And when Moses heard this, he was pleased.

Chapter 11

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron and told them, ² ‘Speak to the sons of IsraEl and say, These are the animals that you may eat among all the animals on the earth: ³ You may eat any animal with a split hoof or that has a split between its two claws and chews the cud. ⁴ However, you may not eat those that just chew the cud or those that just have split hoofs or a split between the claws, [such as] the camel, because it chews the cud, but it doesn’t have a split hoof. So, this is something that is unclean to you. ⁵ [This includes] the rabbit, because it chews the cud, but it doesn’t have a split foot, so it is unclean to you; ⁶ as is the hare, because it neither chews the cud nor has it a split foot, so it is unclean to you. ⁷ [This is also true of] pigs, because they have split hoofs and claws on each hoof, but they don’t chew the cud, so they are unclean to you. ⁸ You must not eat their flesh or touch their dead bodies, because they are unclean to you.

⁹ ‘These are the things that you can eat [which live] in the water: You may eat anything that has fins and scales [that lives in] the water, whether in the seas or in the streams. ¹⁰ However, anything that lives in the water but doesn’t have fins or scales, whether in the seas or in the streams – anything that lives in the water or comes out of the water – is disgusting, and you are to consider it disgusting. ¹¹ You must not eat their flesh and you must hate their dead bodies. ¹² So, you should consider anything that lives in the water and doesn’t have fins or scales disgusting.

¹³ ‘These are the things that you should hate among the flying creatures… they must not be eaten, but are to be considered disgusting: eagles, ospreys, sea eagles, ¹⁴ vultures, kites, and the like; ¹⁵ also, ostriches, owls, seagulls, and the like; ¹⁶ also, ravens and the like; hawks and the like; ¹⁷ also, night ravens, cormorants, storks, ¹⁸ ibis, pelicans, swans, ¹⁹ herons, sandpipers, and the like; hoopoes, and bats.

²⁰ ‘Also, all [flying] four-footed creatures that crawl are [to be considered] disgusting by you. ²¹ However, you can eat crawling winged creatures that move on four feet but have legs above their feet and jump around on the ground. ²² These include migratory locusts and the like, tree locusts and the like, crickets and the like, and grasshoppers and the like. ²³ However, any [other thing] that crawls and flies is to be considered disgusting by you; ²⁴ and if you touch their dead bodies you are dirty and will remain unclean until the evening. ²⁵ Anyone who touches their dead bodies must wash his clothes and then be [considered] unclean until the evening.

²⁶ ‘Any dead bodies of animals that have split hooves and claws but don’t chew the cud will be unclean to you, and everyone who touches them will be unclean until evening. ²⁷ Also, any wild animals that walk on four paws are unclean to you, and anyone that touches their dead bodies will be unclean until evening. ²⁸ If they touch the dead bodies, they must wash their clothes and be [considered] unclean until the evening. All of these are unclean to you.

²⁹ ‘These crawling [animals are also] unclean to you among the slithering creatures: weasels, mice, crocodiles, ³⁰ ferrets, chameleons, geckos, newts, and sand lizards. ³¹ Among all the crawling animals on the earth, these are unclean to you, and anyone who touches their dead bodies will be unclean until evening.

³² ‘And if one of the dead bodies of these unclean [things] should fall on a wooden container, or on clothing, or on leather, or on a sack, or on anything that is used for work, [the item] should be dipped in water and be unclean until evening… then it will be clean. ³³ Also, if one of these [animals] should fall into a clay pot or bowl, whatever is inside it will be unclean, and it must be broken. ³⁴ Any edible food that the water was poured on, or any beverage that was in such a vessel, will be unclean. ³⁵ Everything that their dead bodies fall on will be unclean. Ovens and tables must be broken down, because they are unclean, and they are unclean for you. ³⁶ Springs, pools, and moving water will be clean, but anyone who touches dead bodies will be unclean.

³⁷ ‘If one of these dead bodies should fall on seeds that have been planted, the [seeds] are clean. ³⁸ However, if water has been poured on the seeds and then one of their dead bodies fall on it, it is unclean to you.

³⁹ ‘If one of the cattle that the Law allows you to eat should die; whoever touches the body will be unclean until evening. ⁴⁰ Whoever eats such a body must wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. And whoever carries their bodies must wash their clothes, take a bath, and be unclean until evening.

⁴¹ ‘All slithering animals that crawl on the ground should be [considered] disgusting by you and never be eaten. ⁴² Any slithering creature that crawls along the ground on its belly must not be eaten; you should consider it disgusting. ⁴³ You shouldn’t dirty your lives with any slithering creature that crawls on the earth. If you don’t allow them to pollute you, they won’t make you unclean. ⁴⁴ For I am Jehovah your God, and you will be made holy and you will stay holy, because I, Jehovah your God, am holy. So, you must not dirty your lives with any of the slithering, crawling things of the earth. ⁴⁵ For I am Jehovah who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. So you must be holy, because I Jehovah am holy.’

⁴⁶ These are the laws concerning animals, birds, all creatures that live and move in the water, and all creatures that crawl on the ground, ⁴⁷ [so you might understand] the difference between what is clean and unclean, and between those that give birth alive that can be eaten, and those that shouldn’t be eaten.

Chapter 12

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘You must speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them: Whenever a woman gets pregnant and gives birth to a male child, she must be [considered] unclean for seven days, just as she is [considered] unclean during her monthly [menstrual] periods. ³ Then on the eighth day, she will circumcise [her son’s] foreskin flesh. ⁴ And for [the following] thirty-three days she must continue as in [a state] of an unclean blood [flow], so she should touch nothing holy and [she] must not enter the Holy Place until the full period of her purification is fulfilled. ⁵ But if she gives birth to a female child, she must be considered unclean for fourteen days, then for the following sixty-six days she will remain [as in a state] of an unclean blood flow.

⁶ ‘When her period of purification for [giving birth to] a son or daughter is completed, she must bring a perfect yearling lamb to the Priest at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs as a whole-burnt offering, and bring a young pigeon or a turtledove as a sin offering. ⁷ Then he must present it before Jehovah and offer it to pay for her sins and her flow of blood. This law applies to her, whether she gives birth to a male or a female. ⁸ However, if she can’t afford a lamb, then she must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons; one [to be sacrificed] as a whole-burnt offering, and the other as a sin offering. The Priest will use these to pay for her sins and to purify her.’

Chapter 13

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron, and said, ² ‘If anyone should [develop] a bright clear spot on his skin which looks like the plague of leprosy, he must be brought to Aaron (the Priest) or to one of his sons (the Priests), ³ and the Priest should examine the spot. If the hair in the spot has turned white and the spot is under the skin, it is leprosy, so the Priest who looked at it must pronounce him unclean. ⁴ But if the spot on the skin is clear and white, and it doesn’t appear to be deep below the skin, and the hair hasn’t turned white (but is dark), then the Priest must quarantine him for seven days.

⁵ ‘On the seventh day, the Priest should then look to see if the spot is still there. [If it is] and if the spot hasn’t spread, the Priest should quarantine him for seven more days. ⁶ Then on the seventh day, the Priest should examine him a second time to see if the spot has started to darken. If it has, and if it isn’t spreading on his skin, the Priest will pronounce him clean, for it is just a mark. Then the person must wash his clothes and [he will] be [considered] clean.

⁷ ‘However, if the bright spot changes and spreads in the skin after the Priest has looked at him and called him clean, then he must return to the Priest again, ⁸ and the Priest must reexamine him. And if he finds that the mark has spread inside the skin, the Priest must pronounce him unclean, for it is leprosy.

⁹ ‘If a man [thinks he] has the plague of leprosy, he must go to the Priest ¹⁰ and the Priest should examine him. And if [he finds] a white spot under the skin where all the hair has turned white, and there are signs of good flesh in the sore, ¹¹ this is leprosy that has matured in the skin. Then the Priest must pronounce him unclean and quarantine him, because he is unclean.

¹² ‘But if the leprosy becomes very visible and it covers all the person’s skin wherever the Priest looks, from his head to his feet, ¹³ and this is what the Priest finds, {Look!} the Priest must pronounce him clean of the plague, because, once everything has turned white, he is clean. ¹⁴ But if new flesh starts to appear again, he must be pronounced unclean. ¹⁵ For if the Priest finds sound flesh, this sound flesh proves that he is unclean and that he has [active] leprosy. ¹⁶ Then if the sound flesh changes back to white again, he must return to the Priest ¹⁷ and the Priest must examine him. If he sees that the plague has all turned white, then the Priest will pronounce him clean, for he is clean.

¹⁸ ‘And if [someone] should develop a sore in his skin that heals, ¹⁹ then it turns white, or lighter, or very red, it should be examined by the Priest. ²⁰ And if, when the Priest looks at it, he finds that it is growing under the skin and that the hair has turned white, the Priest must pronounce him unclean, because leprosy has broken out in the sore. ²¹ But if the Priest finds that there is no white hair, and that it isn’t growing under the skin, but that it has a dark color, then the Priest must quarantine him for seven days. ²² Then if he finds that it is spreading over the skin, the Priest must pronounce him unclean, for a plague of leprosy has broken out in the sore. ²³ However, if the bright spot stays the same and doesn’t spread, it is just a scar, and the Priest must pronounce him clean.

²⁴ ‘But if the skin becomes inflamed and bright red, then appears to heal, but develops splotches that are bright, clear, and white, mixed with red or very white, ²⁵ the Priest should examine him. If he finds the hair turning white and that the bright color is under the skin, leprosy has broken out. ²⁶ But if he sees that there isn’t any white hair in the inflammation and it isn’t growing under the skin, but is dark, then the Priest must quarantine him for seven days.

²⁷ ‘Then on the seventh day, the Priest should examine him to see if the spot has spread in the skin. [If it has], the Priest will pronounce him unclea because of the plague of leprosy that has broken out in the sore. ²⁸ But if the bright spot doesn’t move and doesn’t spread in the skin, but gets darker, it’s [just] the inflammation of a scar and the Priest will pronounce him clean.

²⁹ ‘And if a man or woman [thinks they have] developed the plague of leprosy on the head or in the beard, ³⁰ the Priest must examine it. If he finds that it is growing under the skin and that the hair has turned thin and yellow, then the Priest will pronounce the person unclean, for the skin is dead and it is leprosy of the head or of the beard. ³¹ However, if the Priest finds dead skin, but he sees nothing growing under the skin and there is no yellowish hair, the Priest must quarantine the person for seven days. ³² Then on the seventh day, the Priest must examine the person again. And if the dead skin hasn’t spread, and there is no yellowish hair on it, and there doesn’t appear to be a hollow spot under the skin, ³³ the skin must be shaved everywhere except where the dead skin is, and the person should be quarantined a second time, for seven more days. ³⁴ Then on the seventh day, the Priest must look to see if the dead skin has spread to the area that was shaved. [If it hasn’t], and if there doesn’t appear to be a hollow spot under the skin, the Priest will pronounce him clean, and he must wash his clothes and be clean.

³⁵ ‘However, if the dead skin does spread after he has been purified, ³⁶ then the Priest must examine it and affirm that the dead skin has spread, and even if he finds no yellow hair, the person is unclean. ³⁷ But if the dead skin doesn’t spread and dark hair grows from it, the dead skin has healed and he is clean, so the Priest must pronounce him clean.

³⁸ ‘Now, if a man or woman develops bright white spots on his/her skin, ³⁹ the Priest should look at it. And, if he just finds bright white spots on the skin, it is psoriasis and he/she is clean. ⁴⁰ And [the same is true] when someone starts losing his hair; he is just balding and he is clean. ⁴¹ If he loses hair in the front, he has forehead baldness and is clean. ⁴² But if there should develop white or red blotches in the baldness on [the top of] his head or on his forehead, it is leprosy. ⁴³ The Priest must examine him, and if he finds white spots or an inflammation in the bald places on top or in the front that look like leprosy, ⁴⁴ he is [to be considered] a leper. The Priest must absolutely pronounce him unclean, because of the plague on his head.

⁴⁵ ‘Those who are lepers must wear unbelted clothing; they must cover their heads and their mouths, and they are to call out, Unclean! ⁴⁶ They are always to be unclean, as long as they have the plague on them. They are to separate themselves and travel outside the camp.

⁴⁷ ‘And if leprosy is found in any wool or linen clothing, ⁴⁸ or in anything that has been woven with wool or linen thread, or in any leather or things that have been made with skin; ⁴⁹ or if you find a greenish or reddish coloring in the skin or in the clothing, or in the weaving, or in anything made of skin, it is a plague of leprosy, and you must show it to the Priest. ⁵⁰ Then the Priest must examine it and quarantine it for seven days.

⁵¹ ‘Then on the seventh day, the Priest must examine it again, and if he finds that the plague has spread in the clothing, weaving, leather, or in whatever may be made from skin, it is confirmed as leprosy and it is unclean. ⁵² Then the clothing, or the wool or linen weaving, or the thing made of skin in which there is the confirmed plague of leprosy must be burned in a fire.

⁵³ ‘However, if the Priest sees that the plague hasn’t spread in the clothing, weaving, or things made of skin, ⁵⁴ he must instruct someone to wash the thing that held the plague, and the Priest will quarantine it a second time for seven days. ⁵⁵ Then, if the Priest sees that the plague hasn’t changed its appearance in the clothing or woven things after it has been washed, even if it hasn’t spread, it is unclean and it must be burned in a fire. ⁵⁶ But if the Priest sees that the spot has turned dark after it was washed, he must cut it out of the clothing, weaving, or skin. ⁵⁷ However, if it still looks the same in the clothing, weaving, or skin, it is an active plague of leprosy and it must be burned in a fire. ⁵⁸ But if the clothing, weaving, or thing made from skin washes clean, the plague has been removed. It must then be rewashed, and will be clean.’

⁵⁹ These are the laws concerning the plague of leprosy on wool or linen clothing, weaving, and leather goods, to [show whether to] pronounce them clean or unclean.

Chapter 14

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘This is the law about lepers: On the day that [a leper] has been cured, a Priest must be brought to him, ³ and the Priest must go outside the camp to look and see if the plague of leprosy has been removed from the leper. ⁴ Then the Priest will give directions to the cleansed person to obtain two live, clean birds, some cedar wood, some spun scarlet and some hyssop; ⁵ and following the Priest’s directions, he must slaughter one of the birds in a clay pot over some running water. ⁶ Then [the Priest] must take the living bird, the cedar wood, the spun scarlet and the hyssop, and he must dip them and the living bird into the blood of the bird that was killed, over the running water. ⁷ Then he must [use them to] sprinkle [some of the blood on] the person who was cured of leprosy seven times, and he will be clean. Then he must set the living bird [free], to go into the fields.

⁸ ‘Then the man who was cured must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water; and he will be clean and can return to the camp… but he can’t enter his house for seven days.

⁹ ‘On the seventh day, he must shave off all the hair from his head, beard, eyebrows, and everything else, then wash his clothes and his body in water, in order to be clean.

¹⁰ ‘Then on the eighth day, he must take two perfect yearling lambs and one perfect yearling ewe, plus a [small amount] of fine flour that has been kneaded with oil as a sacrifice, and one small cup of oil. ¹¹ And the Priest who did the cleansing must present the man who is being purified, along with these [offerings], before Jehovah at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. ¹² Then the Priest must take the lamb and present it as a compensation offering, along with the cup of oil, and set them aside as a special offering before Jehovah. ¹³ Then they must slaughter the lamb in the Holy Place where they slaughter the whole-burnt offerings and sin offerings, because a compensation offering (like a sin offering) is very holy, and it belongs to the Priest.

¹⁴ ‘Then the Priest must take the blood of the compensation offering and put some of it on the tip of the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe on the right foot of the person being cleansed.

¹⁵ ‘Then the Priest must take the cup of oil and pour it over his own left hand, ¹⁶ then dip the finger of his right hand in some of the oil in his left hand, and sprinkle it before Jehovah with his finger seven times. ¹⁷ And the Priest must put the remaining oil (which is on his hand) on the tip of the right ear, on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot of the person who is being cleansed, where the [blood of the] compensation offering [was put]. ¹⁸ Any oil that is left over on the hand of the Priest should then be put on the head of the cleansed person, and the Priest must [use it to] pay for his sins before Jehovah.

¹⁹ ‘Next, the Priest must sacrifice the sin offering as a payment to Jehovah for the sins of the person who is being purified, and then the Priest must slaughter the whole-burnt offering. ²⁰ The Priest must offer the whole-burnt offering sacrifice on the Altar before Jehovah to pay for [the person’s] sins, so he can be cleansed.

²¹ ‘However, if [the person] is poor and can’t afford much; then he must bring a lamb as a separate offering to pay for his sins and to soothe his [relationship with God], plus a [small amount] of fine flour mixed with oil for a sacrifice, a cup of oil, ²² and two turtledoves or two young pigeons… whichever he can afford. One will serve as the sin offering, and the other as the whole-burnt offering. ²³ These must be brought to the Priest at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs before Jehovah on the eighth day, so he can be purified. ²⁴ Then the Priest must take the lamb of the compensation offering and the cup of oil, and set them before Jehovah. ²⁵ Then he must slaughter the lamb, and the Priest must take its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear, on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot of the person who is being purified.

²⁶ ‘Next, the Priest must pour the oil over his own left hand, ²⁷ and sprinkle some of the oil that is on his left hand with the finger of his right hand before Jehovah, seven times. ²⁸ Then the Priest must put some of the oil that is on his hand on the tip of the right ear, on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot of the person who is being cleansed, and over the blood of the compensation offering. ²⁹ Any oil that is left on the hand of the Priest must then be put on the head of the one who is being purified, and the Priest must pay for his sins before Jehovah.

³⁰ ‘Next, he must offer the turtledoves or young pigeons (whichever he can afford); ³¹ one for a sin offering, and the other for a whole-burnt offering. The Priest must use these to smooth the relationship of the person being purified with Jehovah.’

³² This is the law for the person who has the plague of leprosy and who can’t afford the offerings for his purification.

³³ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron, and said: ³⁴ ‘When you enter the land of the CanaAnites, which I am giving you to own, I will [allow] the plague of leprosy to [exist] in the houses of the land that you will own. ³⁵ [When it is found], the owner of the house must report it to the Priest and say, I have seen what looks like a plague in [my] house. ³⁶ Then the Priest must have the furniture removed from the house before he enters it to look at [what was described as] the plague, so none of the furniture in the house will become unclean. Thereafter, the Priest can go in and examine the house.

³⁷ ‘When he looks at [what is called] the plague on the walls of the house, and if he sees green or red pits that run beneath the surface of the walls, ³⁸ the Priest must walk outside the house, [close] its door, and quarantine it for seven days. ³⁹ And if the Priest returns to look at the house on the seventh day and finds that the plague has spread in the walls, ⁴⁰ then the Priest must order the [infected] stones to be taken away and thrown into an unclean place. ⁴¹ Then the entire house must be scraped down and the dust must be poured into an unclean place outside the city, ⁴² and scraped stones must be used [to replace the removed] stones, and the [whole house] must be re-plastered.

⁴³ ‘However, if the plague returns and breaks out in the house after they have taken away the stones and scraped and re-plastered the walls, ⁴⁴ then the Priest must go in and see if the plague has [truly re-grown] in the house. [If so], it is a confirmed leprosy in the house, [and the house] is unclean. ⁴⁵ So they must tear down the house – all its timbers and its stones – and carry everything outside the city to an unclean place. ⁴⁶ And anyone who enters that house at any time during its demolition must be [considered] unclean until the evening. ⁴⁷ And anyone who sleeps in the house or eats there must wash his clothes and be [considered] unclean until the evening.

⁴⁸ ‘But if the Priest goes in and sees that the plague hasn’t spread in the house at all after it has been re-plastered, the Priest must declare the house clean, because the plague has been cured. ⁴⁹ Then to purify the house, he must take two clean, living birds, some cedar wood, some spun scarlet, and some hyssop, ⁵⁰ and he must slaughter one of the birds in a clay pot over running water. ⁵¹ Then he must take the cedar wood, the spun scarlet, the hyssop, and the living bird, and dip them into the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over running water, and use them to sprinkle the house [with the blood] seven times. ⁵² The house will then be purified with the blood of the bird, the running water, the living bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop, and with the spun scarlet. ⁵³ Then he must let the living bird go to leave the city for the fields, in order to create a good relationship with [God] for the house, and to make it clean.’

⁵⁴ This is the law about all plagues of leprosy and dead skin, ⁵⁵ as well as the leprosy of clothing, houses, ⁵⁶ sores, clear spots, and shiny ones, ⁵⁷ to show what is unclean and what to do when it is cured. This is the law on leprosy.

Chapter 15

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron, and said, ² ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them: Whenever a man has gonorrhea in the male [member] of his body, his discharge is unclean. ³ This is the law concerning the uncleanness caused by gonorrhea in a body, and this describes the uncleanness that is caused by the discharge that is affecting his body, as long as it keeps coming from his body, and how his body is unclean due to the discharge.

⁴ ‘Any bed or seat that the person (with the discharge) sits on, is unclean. ⁵ So, anyone who touches the bed must wash his clothes and take a bath, and be unclean until the evening. ⁶ Also, anyone who sits on the seat where the person with the discharge sat, must wash his clothes and take a bath, and be unclean until the evening.

⁷ ‘Anyone who touches the skin of the man with the discharge must wash his clothes and take a bath, and be unclean until the evening. ⁸ And if the man who has the discharge should spit on someone that is clean, [the clean person] must wash his clothes and take a bath, and be unclean until the evening.

⁹ ‘Any saddle that the man with the discharge has mounted must be unclean until evening, ¹⁰ and anyone who touches anything that has been under him will be unclean until evening, and anyone who picks him up with his hands must wash his clothes and take a bath, and be unclean until the evening. ¹¹ And whoever the man with the discharge touches – if he hasn’t washed his hands in water – must wash his clothes and take a bath, and be unclean until the evening.

¹² ‘Any clay pot that the person with the discharge happens to touch must be broken, but any wooden bowl can be washed in water, and it will be clean.

¹³ ‘However, if [the man] should be cured of the discharge, he must wait for seven days before he can be called clean; then he must wash his clothes and take a bath, and he will be clean. ¹⁴ Then on the eighth day, he must obtain two turtledoves or two young pigeons and bring them before Jehovah at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, and give them to the Priest. ¹⁵ And the Priest must offer one as a sin offering and the other as a whole-burnt offering. Thereby, the Priest will pay for his sins before Jehovah for the discharge.

¹⁶ ‘Any man who ejaculates semen must wash his whole body and be unclean until evening. ¹⁷ And every piece of clothing, or any skin on which there is semen must be washed with water and be unclean until evening. ¹⁸ And when any woman goes to bed with a man and receives his semen, they must both bathe in water and be unclean until evening.

¹⁹ ‘And during the week that a woman is experiencing menstruation, she must separate herself; and anyone who touches her will be unclean until evening. ²⁰ Also, everything that she lies on or sits on during [her period of] separation will be unclean. ²¹ And whoever touches her bed must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and he will be unclean until evening. ²² And anyone who touches any pot that she sits on must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. ²³ And when someone touches her while she’s lying in bed or sitting on a chair; he will be unclean until evening.

²⁴ ‘And if anyone lies with her and gets her uncleanness on him, he will be unclean for seven days; and any bed that he lies on will be unclean.

²⁵ ‘And if a woman has a blood flow for a long time – not just during her period of separation, but if her blood continues to flow after that – as long as it continues the unclean flow, she must separate herself and be unclean. ²⁶ And any bed that she lies on during the outpour must be treated like the bed of her separation, and any chair that she sits on will be unclean, just as it is during her period of separation. ²⁷ Anyone who touches it will be unclean, and he must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.

²⁸ ‘However, after the [unusual] blood flow stops, she must wait seven days, and thereafter she will be considered clean. ²⁹ Then on the eighth day, she must take two turtledoves or two young pigeons and bring them to the Priest at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, ³⁰ and the Priest must offer one as a sin offering and the other as a whole-burnt offering. Thus the Priest must pay for her sins before Jehovah for her unclean flow.

³¹ ‘So, you must make the children of IsraEl aware of what makes them unclean, so they don’t die for polluting My Tent while they are unclean. ³² These are the laws concerning men who have gonorrhea, and concerning ejaculation (so no one is polluted by it), ³³ and for women to be separated during their menstruation; and how males and females are to deal with ejaculated sperm, and what to do with a man who lies with a woman during [her period of] separation.’

Chapter 16

¹ And Jehovah spoke to Moses (after Aaron’s two sons had died for bringing unauthorized fire before Jehovah) ² and said, ‘Tell your brother Aaron not to come before the Propitiatory on the Chest of the Proofs behind the veil in the Holy Place at just any time, so he doesn’t die; for I will appear in a mist over the Propitiatory.

³ This is how Aaron may enter the Holy Place: [He must do so] with a calf of the herd as a sin offering, and with a ram as a whole-burnt offering. ⁴ He must wear the perfect linen tunic and the linen underwear to cover his flesh; he must wrap himself with the linen sash, put on the linen turban (for these are holy garments), and he must wash his entire body in water before he puts them on.

⁵ ‘Then he must take two kids goats for a sin offering, and one lamb for a whole-burnt offering on behalf of the gathering of the children of IsraEl. ⁶ Aaron must also bring a calf for his own sin offering, to cover his sins and [the sins] of his house. ⁷ Then he must take the two goats and stand them before Jehovah at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. ⁸ Then Aaron must cast lots over the two goats… one [will be] for Jehovah, and the other [will be] the scapegoat.

⁹ ‘Then Aaron must bring up the goat which the lot [showed was Jehovah’s], and offer it as a sin offering. ¹⁰ And the goat that was chosen by lot as the scapegoat must be presented alive before Jehovah, as a cleansing for him, then sent away as a scapegoat and released into the desert.

¹¹ ‘Then Aaron must bring up the calf for his own sins and slaughter it as a sin offering, to cleanse himself and his house.

¹² ‘Then he must take his censer and fill it with coals from the fire on the Altar before Jehovah, fill his hands with fine mixed incense, and bring it inside the veil. ¹³ Then he must put the incense on the [coals] there before Jehovah, and the incense smoke must cover the Propitiatory over the tablets inside the [Chest of] Proofs, so he doesn’t die. ¹⁴ Then he must take the calf’s blood and sprinkle it eastward toward the Propitiatory with his finger. He must sprinkle the blood toward the Propitiatory with his finger seven times.

¹⁵ ‘Then he must slaughter the goat before Jehovah as the people’s sin offering, and he must bring its blood inside the veil, and do the same thing that he did with the blood of the calf, sprinkling its blood on and before the Propitiatory. ¹⁶ So, he must [cleanse] the Holy Place for the uncleanness of the children of IsraEl, and for their errors and all their sins. He must do these things in the Tent of Proofs that was established there among them, amidst all their uncleanness.

¹⁷ ‘No one else may be inside the Tent of Proofs when he enters the Holy Place to cover sins – from the time that he enters until the time he leaves – as he pays for his own sins, those of his house, and those of the whole gathering of the children of IsraEl.

¹⁸ ‘Afterward, he must go outside to the Altar that is before Jehovah, and put the blood of the calf and the goat all around the horns of the Altar, to pay for sins. ¹⁹ Then he must sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and he must cleanse it and make it holy from the uncleanness of the children of IsraEl.

²⁰ ‘After Aaron finishes cleansing the Holy Place, the Tent of Proofs, and the Altar, he must hold a cleansing for the Priests. He must bring up the living goat, ²¹ lay his hands on its head, and he must speak of all the errors of the children of IsraEl, all their unrighteousness, and all their sins. He must lay them on the head of the living goat, then a man must lead it away into the desert. ²² [By doing this], Aaron will be sending all their unrighteousness away into the desert on the head of the goat.

²³ ‘Thereafter, Aaron must enter the Tent of Proofs and remove the linen garments that he put on as he entered the Most Holy, and leave them there. ²⁴ Then he must wash with water inside the Holy Place, put on his [regular] clothes, and then go outside and offer one whole-burnt offering for himself and one for the people. Thereby, he will pay for his own sins, as well as for those of his house, those of the Priests, and those of the people. ²⁵ Then he must offer the fat on the Altar as a sin offering.

²⁶ ‘After the goat is led out of the camp and released [into the desert], the person [who led it out] must wash his clothes and bathe in water before he can enter the camp.

²⁷ ‘As for the calf and goat for the sin offering whose blood was carried in to pay for sins in the Holy Place; they must be carried outside the camp and burned in a fire… everything, including their skin, flesh, and dung. ²⁸ Then the person that burns them must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and thereafter he can enter the camp.

²⁹ ‘This is a rule for you through the ages: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must humble yourselves; and you, as well as the aliens and strangers that live among you, must do no work. ³⁰ For on that day [the High Priest] must [offer the sacrifices to] pay for your sins and cleanse you from all your errors before Jehovah, and then they will be purged from you. ³¹ This must be a most holy Sabbath for you – a time of rest – and you must humble yourselves… this is to be a rule through the ages.

³² ‘The Priest that they [choose to] anoint must [offer the sacrifices] to pay for the sins. Then this one that they have chosen to make perfect and to serve in the Priestly office after his father, must wear the linen robe and the holy garments. ³³ He’s the [only] one who may [enter] the Most Holy inside the Tent of Proofs to pay for sins. He must cleanse the Altar and the Priests, and [offer sacrifices to] pay for the sins of the entire gathering. ³⁴ This must be your rule through the ages… that [he must offer sacrifices] for the children of IsraEl to pay for all their sins. It must be done once each year, just as Jehovah commanded Moses.’

Chapter 17

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘Speak to Aaron, his sons, and to all the children of IsraEl, and tell them, This is what Jehovah has commanded ³ of all men among the children of IsraEl, including the aliens that live among you: If you slaughter a calf, sheep, or goat [as a sacrifice] – whether inside or outside the camp – ⁴ [you must] bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs as a sweet smelling whole-burnt offering or as a peace-offering sacrifice to Jehovah, for it to be to be acceptable. If you slaughter it outside and don’t bring it to the entry at the front of the Tent of Proofs as a gift to Jehovah, you will be held guilty of shedding the blood, and you must be cut off from your people.

⁵ ‘All [cattle] that the children of IsraEl might slaughter in the fields as a sacrifice to Jehovah must be brought to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs and to the Priest, who must sacrifice it as a peace offering to Jehovah. ⁶ Then the Priest must pour its blood on and around the Altar before Jehovah and offer the fat as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah.

⁷ ‘Do not waste [your time] by offering sacrifices in [spiritual] adultery. This is the rule for you through the ages and for all your generations.

⁸ ‘And you must tell them: Should any man of the children of IsraEl or of the sons of the converts that are living among you offer a whole-burnt offering as a sacrifice ⁹ and fail to bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs and sacrifice it to Jehovah, he must be destroyed from among his people.

¹⁰ ‘And if any man of the children of IsraEl or alien that is living among you eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats the blood and make him an enemy among his people. ¹¹ For blood is the life of its flesh, and I have given it to you [for use] on the Altar to pay for your sins… its blood will pay for the sins of your life. ¹² That is why I have told the children of IsraEl that none of you should eat blood, nor should aliens that live among you eat blood.

¹³ ‘And if any man of the children of IsraEl, or any alien that is living among you, catch an edible animal while hunting, whether it’s a wild animal or a bird, you must pour out its blood and cover it with dirt, ¹⁴ because the blood of all flesh is its life. So I have told the children of IsraEl: You must not eat the blood of any flesh, because the blood is the life of all flesh, and every person who eats it must be destroyed.

¹⁵ ‘And a person who eats anything that has died on its own or has been [killed] by animals – whether [that person] is a native or an alien – must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and he must be unclean until the evening… then he will be clean. ¹⁶ But if he doesn’t wash his clothes or bathe his body in water, then he must continue to carry his sin.’

Chapter 18

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl, and tell them [this]: I am Jehovah your God. ³ So, you must not do things that were done in Egypt where you [used to] live, or follow the ways of the [people in] the land of CanaAn where I am taking you… don’t do these [things] and don’t follow their rules! ⁴ You must obey and follow My decisions and keep My rules, for I am Jehovah your God. ⁵ So, follow all My rules and all My decisions! Follow them in such a way [that you learn to] live by them; for I am Jehovah your God!

⁶ ‘No man may approach a close relative and uncover his/her nakedness, for I am Jehovah. ⁷ Don’t uncover your father’s naked [body], or your mother’s naked [body]… she’s your mother, so don’t [undress] her! ⁸ Nor should you uncover the naked [body] of your stepmother, because [that is the same as uncovering] your father’s naked [body].

⁹ ‘You must not uncover the naked [body] of your sister, whether by your father or by your mother, or whether [she is] born at home or somewhere else. ¹⁰ Nor should you uncover the naked [body] of your grandchildren, because that is your own nakedness. ¹¹ You must not uncover the naked [body] of the daughter of your father’s wife, for she is your stepsister by your father, so don’t uncover her nakedness.

¹² ‘You must not uncover the naked body of your father’s sister, because she’s your father’s closest relative. ¹³ Nor may you uncover the naked [body] of your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s closest relative. ¹⁴ You must not uncover the naked [body] of your father’s brother, nor may you [have sex] with his wife, because she’s also related to you.

¹⁵ ‘You must not uncover the naked [body] of your daughter-in-law, because she’s your son’s wife, so don’t undress her. ¹⁶ Nor should you uncover the naked [body] of your brother’s wife, because that is also your brother’s nakedness.

¹⁷ ‘You must not [uncover] the naked body of a woman and her daughter, and you may not take and uncover the naked [bodies] of her grandchildren. That would be disrespectful, because they are also related to you. ¹⁸ Nor should you marry your wife’s sister while she’s still alive, because uncovering her sister’s nakedness would be offensive to her.

¹⁹ ‘You must not [have sex] with a woman and uncover her naked body while she’s [sleeping elsewhere] during her [menstrual period]. ²⁰ And you must not [have sex] with your neighbor’s wife and dirty yourself with her.

²¹ ‘You must not give of your sperm in service to a ruler, and you must not profane My Holy Name, for I am Jehovah.

²² ‘You must not go to bed with a man as [you would] with a woman, because that’s disgusting. ²³ Nor may you lie down and have sex with any animal, for that would pollute you. Nor should any woman offer herself before any animal to have sex with it, because that would be disgusting.

²⁴ ‘Don’t dirty yourselves with any of these things, because these are the things that dirty the nations that I’m driving out from before you… ²⁵ it’s what is polluting their land, and it’s the reason why I am paying them back for their sins! Why, the land is offended by the people who live there!

²⁶ ‘You must keep all My Laws and all My rules. And neither the native peoples nor the aliens who come to live among you may do any of these disgusting things. ²⁷ Because, these are the disgusting things that the people who lived there before you did, and it polluted the land. ²⁸ So, don’t offend the land by polluting it, as did the people who I am driving away. ²⁹ Any person who does any of these disgusting things must be destroyed from among your people.

³⁰ ‘So, you must keep My rules! You may not do any of the disgusting things that have been done [in the land] before you get there, and you must not pollute yourselves by doing [any of these things], for I am Jehovah your God.’

Chapter 19

¹ And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, ² ‘Speak to the gathering of the children of IsraEl and tell them: You must be holy, for I Jehovah your God am holy!

³ ‘Everyone must fear his father and his mother, and you must keep My Sabbaths, for I am Jehovah your God.

⁴ ‘You must not become an idol worshiper, nor may you mold [statues] as gods for yourselves, for I am Jehovah your God.

⁵ ‘If you bring a peace-offering sacrifice to Jehovah, it must be offered willingly. ⁶ It may be eaten on the day after you sacrifice it, but if any of it should be left over until the third day, it must be totally burned in a fire. ⁷ If any of it is eaten on the third day, the sacrifice will be considered unfit and it will not be accepted. ⁸ Also, the person who eats it will be [guilty] of sin, because he has misused the holy things of Jehovah, so he must be destroyed from among his people.

⁹ ‘When you harvest your land, you must not completely harvest everything, nor may you pick up anything that falls on [the ground]. ¹⁰ And when you pick the grapes in your vineyard, you must not gather them all, but you must leave some for the poor and for strangers, for I am Jehovah your God.

¹¹ ‘You must not steal, you must not lie, and you must not provide false testimony as an informer against your neighbor.

¹² ‘You must not swear a false oath in My Name, nor may you misuse the Holy Name of your God, for I am Jehovah your God.

¹³ ‘You must not do any harm to your neighbor… you must not rob him; and the wages of a hired hand must not be withheld until the [next] morning.

¹⁴ ‘You must not make fun of the deaf, nor should you set a trap for the blind, for you must fear Jehovah your God. I am Jehovah your God.

¹⁵ ‘You must never judge unrighteously. You must not mistreat poor people, nor may you show [special] respect to those who are powerful… you must be just when you judge your neighbors.

¹⁶ ‘You must not march in treachery against your nation, and you must not [go to battle to shed] the blood of your neighbors, for I am Jehovah your God.

¹⁷ ‘You must not hate your brothers in your hearts, and you must correct your neighbors [when they are wrong], so you aren’t found guilty of sin because of them. ¹⁸ You must not raise your hands in vengeance, and you must not be angry with the sons of your people… you must love your neighbors as you [love] yourselves, for I am Jehovah, ¹⁹ and you must obey My Laws!

‘You must not allow your cattle to breed with other types [of cattle]; you must not plant a vineyard with different types of seeds; and you must not wear woven pieces of clothing that are made from different [materials].

²⁰ ‘If anyone goes to bed and has sex with a woman who is the household servant of another man, and she hasn’t been bought or set free by the man’s overseer, they must [both] be punished, but not killed, because she wasn’t free. ²¹ Then, for his sin, he must bring a ram as an offering for his error to Jehovah at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. ²² There the Priest must use the ram he is offering to pay Jehovah for the sin that he committed, and his sin must be forgiven.

²³ ‘And when you enter the land that Jehovah your God is giving you and plant any fruit trees, you must first purge away the filth [of the land], so its fruit must be unclean to you, and it must not be eaten for three years. ²⁴ But in the fourth year, all the fruit will be holy and worthy of praise to Jehovah. ²⁵ Then in the fifth year, you must eat the fruit, for that’s when it will produce a great abundance. I am Jehovah your God.

²⁶ ‘Don’t hold feasts in the mountains, and you must not have anyone search for omens in the flight of birds.

²⁷ ‘You must not have the hair on your head cut short, and you must not [cut] your beard. ²⁸ Nor may you make cuts on your bodies over [someone who dies], and you must not tattoo your bodies, for I am Jehovah your God.

²⁹ ‘You must not allow your daughters to become dirty by making them prostitutes, so the land doesn’t become filled with prostitution and sin.

³⁰ ‘You must keep My Sabbaths and fear My Holy Place, for I am Jehovah.

³¹ ‘You must not associate with or pollute yourselves with those who speak by [the demons], nor have anything to do with witches, for I am Jehovah your God.

³² ‘You must rise before a grey-headed person; [you must] value the faces of elderly men; and you must fear your God, for I am Jehovah your God.

³³ ‘And if a stranger should come to [live among] you in your land, you must not make his life difficult. ³⁴ You must treat strangers as natives, and you must love them as yourselves, for you were once strangers in the land of Egypt. I am Jehovah your God.

³⁵ ‘You must not be unrighteous in judgments, in measurements, or in [your] weights and scales. ³⁶ You must all have honest weights, scales, and liquid measures, for I am Jehovah your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. ³⁷ You must obey and follow all My Laws and rules, for I am Jehovah your God.’

Chapter 20

¹ And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, ² ‘You must also tell the children of IsraEl: If any of the children of IsraEl or any of IsraEl’s converts offer their [children] to Moloch, they must be put to death… the [people] in the land must stone him with rocks. ³ I will set My face against that man and cut him off from his people, because he has given his [child] to Moloch and defiled My Holy Place, and he has dirtied the name of My holy people.

⁴ ‘And if anyone in the land should in any way choose to overlook what that person did by giving his [child] to Moloch, and fail to put him to death, ⁵ then I will turn My face against that man and his family, and destroy them and everyone who agrees with him, so he doesn’t go to the rulers and lead the people into [spiritual] adultery.

⁶ ‘And I will turn My face against any person who commits [spiritual] adultery by becoming a follower of someone who predicts the future by means of [demon possession], or [a follower] of witches. I will destroy [such a person] from among his people. ⁷ For, you must be holy as I Jehovah your God am holy. ⁸ You must obey My rules and follow them, for I am Jehovah who makes you holy.

⁹ ‘Any man who is found guilty of saying bad things about his father or mother must absolutely be put to death for the bad things that he says about them.

¹⁰ ‘When any man commits adultery with the wife of another, or when anyone commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both (the adulterer and the adulteress) must absolutely be put to death.

¹¹ ‘And if anyone is found guilty of lying down with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness, so both must absolutely die.

¹² ‘And if anyone is found guilty of lying down with his daughter-in-law, both must absolutely be put to death for their lack of respect.

¹³ ‘And when anyone is found guilty of lying with a male as though he were a woman, they have both done something disgusting, so they must absolutely die.

¹⁴ ‘It is also a sin when someone takes both a woman and her mother. They must all be burned in a fire for their badness, so there won’t be any sin among you.

¹⁵ ‘Any man that [has sex with] an animal must absolutely be put to death… along with the animal. ¹⁶ And if any woman is found guilty of [having sex with] an animal, you must absolutely kill both the woman and the animal.

¹⁷ ‘If anyone undresses his sister (by his father or his mother) so they can look at each other’s nakedness, it is disgusting. They must both be destroyed before the other children in their family, for they have sinned by [looking at] each other’s naked bodies.

¹⁸ ‘And whenever a man lies down with a woman who is sleeping apart during [her menstrual period] and uncovers her naked body, he has uncovered the source of her blood flow and seen her blood, so they must both be destroyed from among their generation.

¹⁹ ‘You must not undress your father’s sister or your mother’s sister and look at the naked body of a close relative, for both will be guilty of sin. ²⁰ Whoever [has sex] with a close relative has also uncovered the naked body of his [other] close relative, and they must [both] die childless. ²¹ And whoever [has sex] with his brother’s wife has done something that is unclean, for he has uncovered his brother’s naked body, so they must [both] die childless.

²² ‘If you obey and follow all My rules and decisions, you won’t offend the land where I am taking you to live. ²³ You must not [adopt] the customs of the nations that I am driving out before you, because I have hated them for the things they are doing. ²⁴ I have told you that you will inherit their land, and I am giving you this land that flows with milk and honey to be your own. For, I am Jehovah your God who is separating you from all those nations.

²⁵ ‘You must pay attention to the differences between the clean and unclean cattle, and the clean and unclean birds. You must not dirty yourselves with [unclean] cattle or birds, or with any of the things that slither on the earth, for I have separated you from such uncleanness. ²⁶ You must be holy to Me, because I Jehovah your God am holy, and I have set you apart from all other nations as Mine.

²⁷ ‘And if a man or woman is found guilty of telling the future by means of a [demon], or is a witch, he or she must absolutely be put to death. You must stone him or her with rocks.’

Chapter 21

¹ And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the Priests among the sons of Aaron and tell them that they must not [show themselves to be mourning] over the dead before the nation. ² They may [mourn] for a close relative, such as a father, mother, son, daughter, brother, ³ or for a loved virgin sister that isn’t married… they may [show that they mourn] over them, ⁴ but they may not show that they are mourning before their people by appearing unclean. ⁵ They must not shave their heads bald on top, nor may they shave their beards or cut gashes in their flesh over the dead. ⁶ They must be holy to their God, and they may not profane the Name of their God, because they offer the sacrifices to Jehovah as gifts to their God, so they must be holy.

⁷ ‘They must not marry a woman who is a whore, one who has been violated, or a divorced woman, because these [men] are holy to their God Jehovah. ⁸ They must remain holy, because they offer the gifts to their God Jehovah. They must be holy, for I Jehovah (who makes them holy) am holy.

⁹ ‘And if the daughter of a man who is a Priest dirties herself by having immoral sex, she dirties the name of her father, so she must be burned in a fire.

¹⁰ ‘And the Priest who is the chief one among his brothers – the one who has been anointed by having oil poured over his head and who has been made perfect to wear the [Priestly] garments – must not take the turban off his head, and he must never tear his clothes, ¹¹ nor may he go close to any dead body. He may not profane himself even [on behalf of] his own father or mother. ¹² He may not leave the Holy Place and he must not make the Holy Place of his God unclean, because he wears God’s holy anointing oil. I am Jehovah.

¹³ ‘He may only take a wife who is a virgin and from his own tribe… ¹⁴ not a widow, a divorcee, someone who has been violated, or a whore. He may only take a virgin from his own people as a wife. ¹⁵ For, he must not profane his seed among his people. I am Jehovah who makes him holy.’

¹⁶ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ¹⁷ ‘Tell Aaron this: Through the generations, no man of your tribe who is physically imperfect may be used to offer the gifts to his God. ¹⁸ No one may be used that is blind, lame, has a disfigured nose, deformed ears, ¹⁹ a crippled hand or foot, ²⁰ is a hunchback, has cataracts, has lost his eyelashes, has open sores, has a birthmark, or has lost a testicle.

²¹ ‘None of Aaron the Priest’s seed that are physically imperfect may be used to offer sacrifices to your God… because of his imperfection, he must not go in to offer the gifts of God, ²² for these gifts to God are very holy. He may eat the holy things, ²³ but he must not approach the veil or get close to the Altar, because of his handicap. He must not dishonor the Holy Place of his God, for I am Jehovah who makes them holy.’

²⁴ This is what Moses told Aaron and his sons, and all the children of IsraEl.

Chapter 22

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, and warn them to be careful with the holy things of the children of IsraEl, so they don’t profane My Holy Name in anything that they offer to Me in a holy way, for I am Jehovah. ³ Tell them that throughout their generations, any of their seed that comes to Me to offer the holy things – whatever the children of IsraEl may offer to Jehovah – and do so while they are unclean… that person will be cut off from Me, for I am Jehovah your God.

⁴ ‘And if any man who is the seed of Aaron the Priest should have leprosy or a running sexual discharge, he may not eat the holy things until he becomes clean. And any of them that touch something unclean from a dead body, or who has ejaculated sperm, ⁵ or who has touched an unclean slithering thing which has defiled him, or who touches an unclean man… ⁶ that soul will be unclean until evening; so he must not eat of the holy things until he bathes his body in water ⁷ after the sun goes down… then he will be clean and can eat all the holy things, for they are his food.

⁸ ‘They must not eat anything that dies on its own or that has been killed by wild animals, so they aren’t polluted by them, for I am Jehovah. ⁹ They must keep My rules so they don’t fall into sin in these matters and die due to their making themselves dirty, for I am Jehovah God who makes them holy.

¹⁰ ‘And no stranger may eat the holy things, including those who travel with the Priests or those who are hired by them. ¹¹ But if a Priest purchases a [slave] with money, or if [a person] is born in his house, they may eat the [holy] bread.

¹² ‘However, if the daughter of a Priest should marry a stranger, she may not eat the offerings from the Holy Place. ¹³ But if the Priest’s daughter is widowed or divorced and has no children, and she returns to her father’s house as when she was young, she may eat her father’s bread; but no stranger may do so.

¹⁴ ‘If a man [who isn’t worthy] should eat holy things in ignorance, he must return as much with a fifth more added, and give the holy things to the Priest.

¹⁵ ‘They must not profane the holy things of the children of IsraEl that are offered to Jehovah ¹⁶ and thereby bring the sin of error upon themselves when they eat their holy things, for I am Jehovah who makes them holy.’

¹⁷ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ¹⁸ ‘Speak to Aaron, his sons, and to the entire gathering of IsraEl, and tell them; Any man among the children of IsraEl, and any alien that lives among them in IsraEl, who wishes to offer gifts as a confession, as they may choose – whatever they may bring to Jehovah as a whole-burnt offering – ¹⁹ must be offered willingly… and it must be a perfect male from the herd, or a sheep, or a goat. ²⁰ They must not bring anything to Jehovah that isn’t perfect, for it won’t be accepted.

²¹ ‘Whenever a man brings something to Jehovah from the herd, or a sheep, as a peace offering, or to fulfill a promise, or as a free-will offering; it must be perfect to be accepted… it shouldn’t have any flaws. ²² They may not offer anything to Jehovah that is blind, lame, has its tongue cut out, has warts, or a running sore, or a scar… nor may you offer any of these as burnt offerings on the Altar.

²³ ‘If a calf or a sheep is missing an ear or has lost its tail, you can slaughter it for yourself, but it is unacceptable [as an offering] for your vows. ²⁴ This is [also true] of one that has been castrated or has had its testicles crushed… you must not offer it to Jehovah, nor may you sacrifice it on your land.

²⁵ ‘And you may not offer any of these gifts to your God at the hand of a stranger, because that would corrupt [the gift] and make it imperfect, so [such things] are not acceptable for you.’

²⁶ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ²⁷ ‘Calves, sheep, and goats must suckle their mothers for seven days from the time they are born, and after the eighth day, they can be accepted as burnt-offering sacrifices to Jehovah… ²⁸ and you must not sacrifice a cow or an ewe and its young on the same day.

²⁹ ‘If you vow to offer a sacrifice to Jehovah out of sheer joy, you must offer it willingly. ³⁰ It must be eaten on that same day and not left over until the next morning, for I am Jehovah.

³¹ ‘You must keep My Commandments and obey them. ³² And you must not profane the Name of the Holy One, for I must be made holy in the midst of the children of IsraEl. I am Jehovah who makes you holy and ³³ who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God… I am Jehovah!’

Chapter 23

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them: The feasts of Jehovah that you are going to call Holy Assemblies are My feasts. ³ You may work for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath, a [day of] rest and a Holy Assembly to Jehovah. You must not work on that day, for it is a Sabbath to [Jehovah… this covers] everything that you do.

⁴ ‘Here are the feasts to Jehovah… the Holy Assemblies that you are to [observe] in each of their seasons:

⁵ ‘On the fourteenth day of the first month, between the evenings, is Jehovah’s Passover. ⁶ Then the fifteenth day of that month is the Feast of Fermentation-free bread to [Jehovah]. So, you must eat fermentation-free bread for seven days. ⁷ The first [of these] days must be a Holy Assembly for you, and you must not work for anyone on that day. ⁸ And you must offer whole-burnt offerings to [Jehovah during those] seven days. Then the seventh day will be [another] Holy Assembly for you, [during which] you must not work for anyone.’

⁹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ¹⁰ ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them: When you enter the land that I will give you and you start reaping its harvests, you must bring a bundle of [cut stalks] from the first fruitage of your harvest to the Priest, ¹¹ and he must hold them up and wave the bundle before [Jehovah, for Him to] accept it from you. This must be done on the morning of the first day.

¹² ‘And on that same day, you must offer a perfect yearling lamb as a whole-burnt offering to Jehovah. ¹³ Then, along with this offering of meat, you [must offer] two measurements of fine flour mixed with oil as a sweet-smelling sacrifice, and a quart of wine as a drink offering to Jehovah. ¹⁴ You may not eat any new bread or roasted grain until this day when you offer the sacrifices to your God. This is a Law through the ages and throughout your generations for as long as you live.

¹⁵ ‘Then you must count the days, starting from the day after the Sabbath when you offered the bundle of grain that was waved before Jehovah. And after seven full weeks, ¹⁶ on the morning following the last week (or after fifty days), you must bring a food offering to Jehovah. ¹⁷ You must also bring two loaves [of bread] from your homes that are made from two measurements of fine flour baked with fermentation as an offering of your first fruitage to Jehovah.

¹⁸ ‘And with the bread, you must bring seven healthy yearling lambs, a calf from your herd, and two perfect male kid goats as whole-burnt offerings to Jehovah. These food and drink offerings are to be sacrificed as a sweet odor to Jehovah.

¹⁹ ‘One of the kid goats must be sacrificed as a sin offering, and the two yearling lambs are to be offered with the first-fruit bread as a peace offering. ²⁰ The Priest must set them aside with the first-fruitage loaves as an offering before Jehovah. They will be holy to Jehovah, but they will belong to the Priest who brings them.

²¹ ‘You must designate this as an assembly day, and it must be holy to you, so you may not work for anyone on that day. This is a rule through all your generations, wherever you may live.

²² ‘And when you harvest your land, you must not reap everything in your field, nor may you gather anything that falls during the harvest. You must leave it for the poor and for strangers, for I am Jehovah your God.’

²³ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ²⁴ ‘Also, the tenth day of the seventh month is to be the Day of Atonement ([when you pay for your sins]). It [is also] to be a holy [day of] assembly for you. You must be very humble [on that day] and present a whole-burnt offering to Jehovah. ²⁵ You must not do any work on that day, for it is a day when you pay for your sins before Jehovah your God. ²⁶ – ²⁷ – ²⁸ –

²⁹ ‘Any person who doesn’t show humility on that day must be cut off from among his people. ³⁰ And any person who works on that day should have his life destroyed from among his people. ³¹ You must not do any sort of work. This is a law through the ages, throughout all your generations, wherever you may live.

³² ‘The ninth day of that month, from evening to evening, is [also] to be a holy Sabbath for you, and you must humble yourselves and keep your Sabbaths.’

³³ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ³⁴ ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them; On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, and the next seven days, is to be the Feast of Tents to Jehovah. ³⁵ The first day must be a Holy Assembly [during which] you may not work for anyone. ³⁶ You must offer whole-burnt offerings to Jehovah for seven days, and the eighth day will [also] be a Holy Assembly to you, [during which] you must offer whole-burnt offerings to Jehovah. This is [to be] a free day, so you must not work for anyone.

³⁷ ‘These are the feasts to Jehovah, which you are to call Holy Assemblies, [and during which] you are to offer burnt offerings to Jehovah… whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings, each on its day. ³⁸ This is in addition to the Sabbaths to Jehovah, and to your gifts, and to all your vows, and to all the free offerings that you will give to Jehovah.

³⁹ ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have completely harvested all the fruit of the ground, you must hold a feast to Jehovah for seven days… and both the first day and the eighth day will be rest days. ⁴⁰ On the first day you must bring a large amount of fruit from your trees, some palm-tree branches, some thick tree branches, willow branches, and branches from water willows, as a rejoicing to Jehovah your God… [do this] for seven days each year.

⁴¹ ‘This is to be the law through the ages for all your generations… you must observe this in the seventh month. ⁴² You must live in tents for seven days… all the native people of IsraEl must live in tents, ⁴³ so your descendants can see that I made the children of IsraEl live in tents when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. For I am Jehovah your God.’

⁴⁴ So, this is how Moses explained Jehovah’s feasts to the children of IsraEl.

Chapter 24

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘Talk to the children of IsraEl and tell them to bring pure, beaten olive oil [for use in] the lamp, so it may always be kept burning ³ outside the veil of the Tent of Proofs. Aaron and his sons must keep it burning before Jehovah continuously from evening until morning. This is a law through the ages for all your generations. ⁴ The lamps on the pure lampstand must be kept burning before Jehovah until morning.

⁵ ‘Then you must take fine flour and make twelve loaves [of bread] from it, and each loaf should be [made with] two measurements. ⁶ Then place them in two rows, six loaves in each row, on the pure table before Jehovah, ⁷ and pour frankincense and salt over each row. Remember to set these things and the loaves before Jehovah ⁸ on each Sabbath. They must continue to be set before Jehovah by the children of IsraEl as a sacred agreement through the ages. ⁹ This will be for Aaron and his sons, and they must eat it there in the Holy Place, for this is their own very holy portion of the offerings that are made to Jehovah, as [part of] the Law of the ages.’

¹⁰ Well, it so happened that there was this son of an IsraElite woman (whose father was an Egyptian) [that lived] among the children of IsraEl, and he got into a fight in the camp [with a man] whose mother and father were both IsraElites. ¹¹ Then [during the fight], the son of the IsraElite woman used God’s Name while cursing… so they brought him to Moses (his mother’s name was SalomIth, and she was the daughter of Dabri of the tribe of Dan). ¹² Thereafter, they locked him up and held him for judgment by Jehovah.

¹³ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ¹⁴ ‘Take the man that did the cursing outside the camp, and everyone who heard it must lay their hands on his head, and then the whole gathering must stone him. ¹⁵ Speak to the sons of IsraEl and tell them, Whoever curses God is guilty of sin, ¹⁶ and whoever [curses] using the Name Jehovah must absolutely be put to death, whether he is a native or an alien. The entire gathering of IsraEl must stone him with rocks, and he must die for [swearing vengeance in] the Name of the Lord.

¹⁷ ‘Also, whenever a man strikes another man and kills him, he must absolutely be put to death. ¹⁸ And whenever a man strikes [someone’s] animal and it dies, he must give a life for the life. ¹⁹ And whoever harms his neighbor must have the same thing done to him… ²⁰ bruise for bruise, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Whatever damage he does to a man must be done to him. ²¹ And if a man strikes a man and kills him, he must be put to death. ²² This one judgment must be the same for both natives and aliens, for I am Jehovah your God.’

²³ Well, after Moses told this to the children of IsraEl, they took the man that had done the cursing outside the camp and stoned him with rocks… the children of IsraEl did just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

Chapter 25

¹ Jehovah spoke to Moses [while he was] on Mount Sinai and told him, ² ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving to you, the ground must [be allowed] to rest during its Sabbaths to Jehovah. ³ You may plant your fields, prune your vines, and gather their fruitage for six years, ⁴ but the seventh year will be a Sabbath during which the land should rest. During this Sabbath to Jehovah, you may not plant your fields, prune your vines, ⁵ or gather anything that starts to grow of its own in your fields. Nor may you completely gather the sacred grapes, for it is to be a year of rest for the ground. ⁶ For, during the Sabbaths on the land, [there will be enough] food for you, your male and female servants, those who work for you, and for any aliens that live among you. ⁷ And as for your cattle and the wild animals that live on your land; they may eat anything that they wish.

⁸ ‘Then you must keep track and [count off] seven Sabbaths of years (seven times seven years) to make seven weeks of years, or forty-nine years. ⁹ Then in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month (on the Day of Atonement), you must sound a trumpet and send out a proclamation throughout the entire land with trumpeting. ¹⁰ For, that year (the fiftieth year) is holy, and you must proclaim a Release on the land and upon all that live on it… it is to be a year of setting free. It’s a Signal to you that each person may return to his home and family.

¹¹ ‘The fiftieth year must be a Signal of Release among you. You may not plant, nor may you harvest any of the produce that grows from the ground on its own, or gather any of its sacred fruit. ¹² For, it is to be the Signal of Release, and it must be holy to you, so you must eat the [stored] crops that you have taken from the fields.

¹³ ‘In the year of the Release Signal, everyone must [be allowed] to return home. ¹⁴ And if you sell [your land] to a neighbor, or if you should buy your neighbor’s [land], it should not be [held permanently]. ¹⁵ So, count the number of years after each Release [Year] when you purchase [land] from your neighbor, then [figure out] how many years [you may own it] and how much you will likely harvest from it… ¹⁶ the more years, the higher the [land’s] value. And when there are few years, there is less value, for there will be fewer crops, so [the price] should be [set lower]. ¹⁷ No man should oppress his neighbor, for you must fear your God Jehovah. I am Jehovah your God.

¹⁸ ‘You must keep all My Laws and all My decisions and obey them. For if you follow and obey them, you will live in the land in safety, ¹⁹ the ground will provide abundant yields, you will have plenty to eat, and you will live there in security.

²⁰ ‘Now, if you should ask, What will we eat during the seventh year, if we don’t plant anything or pick our fruit? ²¹ I will send My blessings in the sixth year, and the land will [have] produced abundant crops during [the previous] three years. ²² Then you will start planting again in the eighth year, and eat from your stored crops until the ninth year… until its crop comes in, you will eat from the stored crops.

²³ ‘No land can be sold permanently, for all the land is Mine, and you are just aliens and travelers before Me. ²⁴ So, any land that you [buy] must also be allowed to be repurchased. ²⁵ Therefore, if your brother who lives near you is poor and has to sell [you] some of his land, and his relative should come to assist him, he must be allowed to buy back the land that his brother has sold. ²⁶ Or if he has no such relative, and he starts to prosper and finds enough money to buy back [the land] himself, ²⁷ he must calculate how many years the land has been sold, and pay the person who he sold it to a fair amount, and then it should be returned. ²⁸ But if he hasn’t prospered enough to buy back the property, the one who bought it will own the land through the sixth year before the year of Release; then it should be returned, and its owner may go back to his land. ²⁹ – ³⁰ – ³¹ – ³² – ³³ – ³⁴ –

³⁵ ‘And if your brother who lives among you becomes poor and needs to [borrow money] from you; you must help him as you would an alien or a traveler, and allow your brother to keep living among you. ³⁶ You must not charge him interest or [tell him] to pay you more, for you must fear your God. I am Jehovah… and you must [help] your brother to keep living among you. ³⁷ You must not lend your money to him with interest, and you must not lend him any food and expect him to pay you back with more. ³⁸ For I am Jehovah your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of CanaAn… and to be your God.

³⁹ ‘And if your brother should become so bad off that he sells himself to you, he must not serve you and work as your slave. ⁴⁰ You must treat him like a hired person or as a traveler, and he will only work for you until the Year of Release. ⁴¹ Then during the Release, he and his children will leave as a family, and they will hurry back to their family possession, ⁴² because they are My servants who I brought out of the land of Egypt. So they can’t be sold as slaves, ⁴³ nor may you force them into hard labor, for you must fear Jehovah your God.

⁴⁴ ‘If you choose to purchase male and female slaves, buy them from the nations that that live around you. ⁴⁵ You may also buy the sons of the travelers that live among you. You may buy them and their relatives… all that live in your land may become your possession ⁴⁶ and may be left as an inheritance to your children after you, and be your [family] possession through the ages. However, you must never oppress your brothers of the children of IsraEl by forcing them to do hard labor.

⁴⁷ ‘And if an alien or a traveler who lives among you should become rich, and your brother who is in need is sold to the alien or traveler that lives among you, or to an [IsraElite] convert; ⁴⁸ after he has been sold, one of his brothers should buy him back. ⁴⁹ An uncle, a cousin, or another close relative from his tribe must be allowed to buy him… or if he gets wealthy, he may buy himself back.

⁵⁰ ‘The person who buys him must calculate how many years there are from the time he sold himself until the Year of Release, and pay the amount that would be paid to a hired person during that number of years. ⁵¹ And if anyone has [enough money] to pay [the wages] for all those years, he must pay the ransom. ⁵² And if there is just a short time until the Year of Release, then he will pay the ransom [for that short period]. ⁵³ [And the person who buys him] must treat him as hired help through the years… you must not force him into hard labor!

⁵⁴ ‘And if he can’t pay his own fair ransom, he and his children must be set free in the Year of Release. ⁵⁵ For the children of IsraEl are My servants… they are My attendants who I brought out of the land of Egypt.

Chapter 26

¹ ‘You must not mold [gods] for yourselves or carve them with your hands. Nor may you set up stone pillars in your land to worship, for I am Jehovah your God. ² You must keep My Sabbaths and respect My Holy Places, for I am Jehovah.

³ ‘If you follow My rules and keep My Commandments and obey them, ⁴ I will give you rain in its season, the ground will produce its fruitage, and the trees of your fields will bear fruit. ⁵ Then your threshing time will run through your fruit-picking time, and your fruit-picking time will run into your [planting] time. You will eat all the bread you want, and you will live on your land in safety, for there will be no wars in your land… ⁶ I will bring peace to your land, so you can go to sleep and not fear anyone. I will also destroy all the bad animals in your land, ⁷ and you will chase your enemies and they will be slaughtered before you. ⁸ Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase tens of thousands. Then your enemies will be cut down before you with swords.

⁹ ‘I will watch over you, make you grow and multiply, and keep My Sacred Agreement with you. ¹⁰ Then you may eat that which is old and very old, or throw out the old to make way for the new.

¹¹ ‘I will pitch My Tent among you, and in My heart there will be no hatred of you. ¹² So I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people. ¹³ I am Jehovah your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt where you were slaves. It was I who broke the shackles of your [slavery] and paraded you away before [everyone]!

¹⁴ ‘However, if you choose not to listen to Me and obey My rules… ¹⁵ if you disobey them and your lives come to hate My decisions… if you don’t keep all My Commandments and if you break My Sacred Agreement, ¹⁶ these are the things that I must do to you:

‘I will bring uprisings among you and make you uncomfortable. You will develop rashes, skin discoloring, fever, loss of eyesight, and your lives will be shortened. When you plant seeds, it won’t do any good, because your enemies will eat them. ¹⁷ For, if I set My face against you, you will fall before your enemies. Those who hate you will chase you, and you will run… even when no one is behind you!

¹⁸ ‘And if you still refuse to listen to Me, then I must discipline you seven times more for your sins, ¹⁹ because I must break down your haughtiness and pride. I will turn your sky into iron and your ground into brass. ²⁰ All your hard work will be wasted, for the seeds in your ground won’t produce, and the trees in your fields won’t bear fruit.

²¹ ‘And after that, if you continue to walk a crooked path and you aren’t willing to obey Me, I will bring seven plagues upon you for your sins. ²² I will send wild animals into the land, and they will eat you and kill your cattle. You will decrease in numbers, and your [land] will become empty.

²³ ‘And if that doesn’t straighten you out and you continue to walk a crooked path with Me, ²⁴ then My Breath will become crooked and I will walk a crooked path among you, causing Me to strike you seven times for your sins. ²⁵ For, I will bring swords against you to avenge the Sacred Agreement. You will run to your cities for safety, but I will send death to you, and you will be handed over to your enemies. ²⁶ I will bring a famine of bread among you, so it will take ten women to bake your loaves in just one oven. Then they will weigh out portions of bread for you to eat, but you will still be hungry.

²⁷ ‘And if you still don’t obey Me, but continue to walk a crooked path with Me, ²⁸ then I will walk among you with an angry mind, and I must discipline you seven times as much for your sins, ²⁹ so you will have to eat the flesh of your sons and daughters. ³⁰ I will wipe away your stone columns, and totally destroy the wooden [images] that you’ll make with your hands. Then I will lay your dead bodies on the remains of your idols, and My soul will hate you.

³¹ ‘I will destroy your cities, empty your holy places, and [never again] smell the odor of your sacrifices. ³² Then I will empty your land, and your enemies who live there will be amazed; ³³ and I will scatter you among the nations… you will be attacked with swords and destroyed, and your land and your cities will be emptied!

³⁴ ‘But the ground will enjoy its Sabbaths during all the time that it is empty… ³⁵ while you are living in the land of your enemies! Yes, that’s when the land will enjoy its Sabbaths… during all the time that it’s empty! For, it will keep the Sabbaths that weren’t kept when you lived there.

³⁶ ‘And in your hearts, I will put all that you have left into bondage, there in the land of your enemies, so that even the sound of shaking leaves will chase you, and you will run as though you’re running from a war, and fall when no one is chasing you. ³⁷ Brothers won’t have any regard for their brothers, as in war. And although no one will be chasing you, you won’t be able [to be saved from] your enemies. ³⁸ You will die among the ethnics, and the country of your enemies will swallow you up. ³⁹ Then those who remain will perish because of their sins and the sins of their fathers… they will just waste away in the land of their enemies.

⁴⁰ ‘However, if they confess their sins and the sins of their fathers, and [admit] that they have sinned and neglected Me, and that they have walked a crooked path before Me, ⁴¹ and [admit that] this is the reason why I walked among them with a crooked mind and destroyed them, [and sent them] into the land of their enemies… yes, when their uncircumcised hearts become ashamed, and they repent of their sins, ⁴² then I will remember the Sacred Agreement that I made with AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob. ⁴³ I will also remember their land, and that land will still be waiting for them. For by then, the land will have enjoyed her Sabbaths, during the time they had deserted it.

‘However, they must acknowledge their sins, because they neglected My decisions and they hated My Laws in their [hearts]. ⁴⁴ But despite this, I didn’t fail to [keep an eye] on them while they were in the land of their enemies, nor did I hate them and void the Sacred Agreement that I made with them, for I am Jehovah their God.

⁴⁵ ‘Then I will remember the Sacred Agreement [that I made with them] when I brought them out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery before that nation, to be their God. For I am Jehovah.

⁴⁶ ‘These are My decisions, My rules, and the Law that Jehovah Himself gave to the children of IsraEl from Mount Sinai, by the hand of Moses.’

Chapter 27

¹ Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them; Whenever someone wishes to make a vow to offer the value of a life to Jehovah, ³ the value of a male between twenty and sixty years old must be fifty double-silver coins by the standards of the Holy Place. ⁴ The value of a female must be thirty double-silver coins; ⁵ the value for a male child between five and twenty years old must be twenty double-silver coins, and ten double-silver coins for a female.

⁶ ‘As for a child between one month and five years old; the value for a male must be five double-silver coins, and for a female, three double-silver coins. ⁷ And for those who are over sixty, the value must be fifteen double-silver coins for a male and ten double-silver coins for a female. ⁸ And if a person is too poor to pay these values, he must go before the Priest, and the Priest will value him at whatever the man says he can afford in his vow; and this is [the price] that the Priest must set for him.

⁹ ‘And when cattle are offered as gifts to Jehovah by anyone, they become holy. ¹⁰ So, the [person] may not trade a good one for a bad one, or a bad one for a good one. And if someone does decide to make a trade, it must be with an equal… and both will be holy.

¹¹ ‘And if [someone brings] an unclean animal (which must never be offered as a gift to Jehovah), he must bring the animal to the Priest, ¹² and the Priest must determine whether it is valuable or not, and whatever value the Priest sets is what must be paid for it. ¹³ And if he wishes to buy it back, he must pay a fifth more than that amount.

¹⁴ ‘And if a man chooses to set aside his house as holy to Jehovah, the Priest must determine whether it is valuable or not, and whatever value the Priest sets is what must be paid. ¹⁵ And if he wishes to buy it back, he must pay a fifth more for it than the valuation.

¹⁶ ‘And if a man should choose to designate a portion of a field that he owns as holy to Jehovah, then it must be valued by whatever is planted there. It will be worth fifty double-silver coins per two hundred and fifty quarts of barley. ¹⁷ And if he [sets aside] his field as holy on the Year of Release, that’s how much it should be valued. ¹⁸ But if he donates his field sometime after the Release, the Priest must figure its value to the next Year of Release, and deduct the appropriate amount from the full valuation. ¹⁹ But if the one who made the field holy wishes to buy it back [before the Year of Release], he must add a fifth more to its value and it will be his.

²⁰ ‘And if he doesn’t buy back the field, it may be sold to someone else, and he can’t buy it back later. ²¹ However, after the Release, the field will be holy to Jehovah and subdivided, for the Priest will then own it.

²² ‘And if a man should set aside a field to Jehovah that he has bought and which isn’t a family possession, ²³ the Priest must calculate its value to the Year of Release, and that’s how much he must pay that day as holy to Jehovah. ²⁴ Then in the Year of Release, the land must be restored to the man who sold it and [really] owned the land.

²⁵ ‘All the values must be determined by using the holy weights. A double-silver coin is worth twenty copper coins.

²⁶ ‘All the firstborn cattle are Jehovah’s, so no man can [set them aside] as holy… whether it’s a calf or a sheep, it is Jehovah’s.

²⁷ ‘If [a man] chooses to buy back an unclean animal, he must add a fifth more to its valuation. But if he doesn’t buy it back, it may be sold at its stated value.

²⁸ ‘Anything a man has that he chooses to curse before Jehovah, whether it’s a man, an animal, or a field that he owns; it may never be sold or taken back. Everything that is cursed for destruction becomes very holy to Jehovah. ²⁹ And whoever is cursed among men must not be ransomed, but must surely be put to death.

³⁰ ‘Anything in the land that is to be offered, whether it is seeds or the fruit of trees, is Jehovah’s… it is holy to Jehovah. ³¹ And if any man should ever wish to buy back his offering, he must add a fifth more to its [value], and it will be his.

³² ‘And a tenth of everything, including bulls, sheep, and anything else that is taxable, will be holy to Jehovah. ³³ So, you may not exchange anything good for anything bad, or anything bad for something good. If you should make an exchange, it must be an equivalent, and since it is holy, it cannot be repurchased.’

³⁴ These are the commandments that Jehovah gave to Moses for the sons of IsraEl on Mount Sinai.

Numbers

From the Greek Septuagint text as was used by First Century Christians

Chapter 1

¹ On the first day of the second month, two years after their departure from the land of Egypt, Jehovah spoke to Moses inside the Tent of Proofs [while they were still] in the desert at Sinai, and He said, ² ‘Take a census of the entire gathering of IsraEl by families and lines of descent. [Record] the names of all the males ³ who are twenty years old and older… all that serve as the army of IsraEl. You and Aaron should count them and calculate their strength. ⁴ And the rulers of each tribe (the paternal heads of the families) should go with you.

⁵ ‘These are the names of the men who should help you: For the tribe of Reuben, EliSur the son of SediUr. ⁶ For the [tribe of] Symeon, SalamiEl the son of SuriSadai. ⁷ [For the tribe] of Judah, NaAsson the son of AminAdab. ⁸ [For the tribe] of IsSachar, NathaniEl the son of Sogar. ⁹ [For the tribe] of ZebuLon, EliAb the son of ChaElon. ¹⁰ [For the tribes] of Joseph, EliSama the son of EmiUd for EphraIm, and GamaliEl the son of PhadaSur for ManasSeh.¹¹ [For the tribe] of BenJamin, AbiDan the son of GadeOni. ¹² [For the tribe] of Dan, AchiEzer the son of AmiSadai. ¹³ [For the tribe] of Asher, PhagaiEl the son of Echran. ¹⁴ [For the tribe] of Gad, EliSaph the son of RaguEl. ¹⁵ [For the tribe] of NaphTali, AchiRe the son of AiNan.’

¹⁶ These were the most famous men among the gathering. They were the heads of the tribes by their families, and the leaders of the thousands in IsraEl. ¹⁷ So Moses and Aaron gathered these men who were called by name. ¹⁸ Then they assembled the entire gathering that day, and registered the [men] by tribes and family lines, recording the names and numbers of all who were twenty [years old] and older, ¹⁹ as Jehovah had commanded Moses there in the desert of Sinai.

²⁰ Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of Reuben (the first-born of IsraEl), the number of males twenty years old and up who were counted as the strength of IsraEl, ²¹ was forty-six thousand, four hundred.

²² Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of Symeon, the number of males twenty years old and up who were counted as the strength of IsraEl, ²³ was fifty-nine thousand, three hundred.

²⁴ Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of Judah, the number of males twenty years old and up who were counted as the strength of IsraEl, ²⁵ was seventy-four thousand, six hundred.

²⁶ Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of IsSachar, the number of males twenty years old and up who were counted as the strength of IsraEl, ²⁷ was fifty-four thousand, four hundred.

²⁸ Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of ZebuLon, the number of males twenty years old and up who were counted as the strength of IsraEl, ²⁹ was fifty-seven thousand, four hundred.

³⁰ Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of Joseph, the number of males twenty years old and up who were counted as the strength of IsraEl, ³¹ was forty thousand, five hundred from the tribe of EphraIm, ³² and for ManasSeh, ³³ it was thirty-two thousand, two hundred.

³⁴ Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of BenJamin, the number of males twenty years old and up who were counted as the strength of IsraEl, ³⁵ was thirty-five thousand, four hundred.

³⁶ Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of Gad, the number of males twenty years old and up who were counted as the strength of IsraEl, ³⁷ was forty-five thousand, six hundred and fifty.

³⁸ Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of Dan, the number of males twenty years old and up who were counted as the strength of IsraEl, ³⁹ was sixty-two thousand, seven hundred.

⁴⁰ Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of Asher, the number of males twenty years old and up who were counted as the strength of IsraEl, ⁴¹ was forty-one thousand, five hundred.

⁴² Among the families, divisions, and households of the sons of NaphTali, the number of males twenty years old and up who were counted as the strength of IsraEl, ⁴³ was fifty-three thousand, four hundred.

⁴⁴ This was the census that Moses, Aaron, and the twelve rulers of IsraEl conducted… a man from each tribe. ⁴⁵ They counted all the males twenty years old and up among the children of IsraEl who could [serve in battle], ⁴⁶ [and there was a total of] six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty. ⁴⁷ However, those of the Tribe of Levi weren’t counted, ⁴⁸ for Jehovah had told Moses, ⁴⁹ ‘You must not gather the tribe of Levi and count them among the children of IsraEl. ⁵⁰ Rather, put the Levites in charge of the Tent of Proofs, its furnishings, and everything in it. They must serve there and camp around the Tent. ⁵¹ And whenever the Tent is moved, the Levites must take it down and [be in charge of] setting it up again. Anyone else who goes near it must die.

⁵² ‘The [rest of] the children of IsraEl must camp in the order and grouping of their own armies. ⁵³ But the Levites must camp around and in front of the Tent of Proofs, so there may be no sins among the children of IsraEl. For, the Levites must protect the Tent of Proofs.’

⁵⁴ And the children of IsraEl did everything that Jehovah commanded Moses and Aaron.

Chapter 2

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron and said, ² ‘Have the children of IsraEl camp [facing each other] in a circle around the Tent of Proofs. Everyone must stay together under the emblems for their paternal houses.

³ ‘The first in the camp, starting on the east side, shall be the [Tribe] of Judah with their armies. Their leader is NaShon the son of AmmiNadab, ⁴ and there are seventy-four thousand, six hundred in his army.

⁵ ‘The Tribe of IsSachar, whose leader is NathanEl the son of Zuar, should camp next to them. ⁶ There are fifty-four thousand, four hundred in his army.

⁷ ‘The tribe of ZebuLon, whose leader is EliAb the son of Helon, should camp next to them. ⁸ There are fifty-seven thousand, four hundred in his army.

⁹ ‘All together, there are one hundred and eighty-six thousand, four hundred under the army of Judah. They and their armies must be the first to move.

¹⁰ ‘This is the order for the camp of Reuben, whose army [will camp] toward the south: The leader of the children of Reuben is EliZur the son of ShedeUr, ¹¹ and there are forty-six thousand, five hundred in his army.

¹² ‘The Tribe of SimeOn, whose leader is ShelumiEl the son of ZuriShadDai, should camp next to them. ¹³ There are fifty-nine thousand, three hundred in his army.

¹⁴ ‘The tribe of Gad, whose leader is EliAsaph the son of DeuEl, will camp next to them, ¹⁵ and there are forty-five thousand, six hundred and fifty in his army.

¹⁶ ‘All together, there are a hundred and fifty-one thousand, four hundred and fifty under the army of Reuben. They and their armies will follow second.

¹⁷ ‘Then following them should be the Tent of Proofs, surrounded by the Levites who will travel between the armies. In whatever order they camp, that’s the order that they should follow in their march, each group following in the order of their divisions.

¹⁸ ‘The Tribe of EphraIm and their armies must camp on the west side. Their leader is EliShama the son of AmmiHud, ¹⁹ and there are forty thousand, five hundred in his army.

²⁰ ‘The tribe of ManasSeh should camp next to them. Their leader is GamaliEl the son of PedahZur, ²¹ and there are thirty-two thousand, two hundred in his army.

²² ‘The tribe of BenJamin should camp next to them. Their leader is AbiDan the son of Gideoni, ²³ and there are thirty-five thousand, four hundred in his army.

²⁴ ‘All together, there are one hundred eight thousand, one hundred in the army of EphraIm. They and their armies should follow third.

²⁵ ‘The Tribe of Dan and their armies should camp on the north side. Their leader is AhiEzer the son of AmmiShadDai, ²⁶ and there are sixty-two thousand, seven hundred in his army.

²⁷ ‘The tribe of Asher should camp next to them. Their leader is PagiEl the son of Ocran, ²⁸ and there are forty-one thousand, five hundred in his army.

²⁹ ‘The tribe of NaphTali should camp next to them. Their leader is AhiRa the son of Enan, ³⁰ and there are fifty-three thousand four hundred in his army.

³¹ ‘All together, there are a hundred and fifty-seven thousand, six hundred in the armies of Dan, and they must be last in the marching order.’

³² This is how the children of IsraEl were counted (by family lines), and altogether there were six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty in their army. ³³ However, the Levites weren’t counted among them, just as Jehovah instructed Moses.

³⁴ And the children of IsraEl did everything that Jehovah told Moses. They each camped in their [specified] locations, and they marched in order by family lines.

Chapter 3

¹ These are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day in that Jehovah spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai.

² These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab was the firstborn, and then there were AbiUd, EliEzer, and IthaMar. ³ They were the anointed Priests who were made perfect for the Priesthood. ⁴ However, Nadab and AbiUd died before Jehovah when they offered [incense] to Him in an unauthorized way, while they were in the Sinai Desert. And because they had no children, just EliEzer and IthaMar served as Priests with their father Aaron.

⁵ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and told him, ⁶ ‘Bring the tribe of Levi up in front of Aaron the Priest, for they are all going to serve him. ⁷ They must follow his instructions and then give the instructions to of the children of IsraEl, there in front of the Tent of Proofs… and they must work at the Tent. ⁸ They are to take care of all the furnishings at the Tent of Proofs, and to instruct the children of IsraEl about things having to do with the Tent. ⁹ Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons the Priests, for they have been given to Me as a gift from among the children of IsraEl.

¹⁰ ‘Appoint Aaron and his sons to be in charge of the Tent of Proofs. Then they must give instructions concerning the Priesthood, everything that belongs to the Altar, and everything inside the veil. And anyone else who touches these things must die.’

¹¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ¹² ‘Look, I have chosen the Levites from among the children of IsraEl [to take the place] of [the rest of] the [firstborn] males that are among the children of IsraEl. [The Levites] are their ransom, and they are Mine. ¹³ For, all the firstborn have been Mine since the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. I chose all the firstborn in IsraEl as holy to Myself – both the men and the animals – and they are Mine, for I am Jehovah.’

¹⁴ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses in the Sinai Desert and said, ¹⁵ ‘Take a census of the sons of Levi by family lines and divisions… count every male from a month old and up.’

¹⁶ So, Moses and Aaron counted them following Jehovah’s instructions.

¹⁷ The sons of Levi were Gedson, CaAth, and MeraRi. ¹⁸ Gedson’s sons (and family lines) were Lobeni and Semei. ¹⁹ CaAth’s sons (and family lines) were AmRam, IsSaAr, Hebron, and OziEl. ²⁰ MeraRi’s sons (and family lines) were MoOli and Musi. These were the families of the Levites by family lines.

²¹ The Gedson family lines were those of Lobeni and Semei. ²² And the number of males [in that line], which were a month old and older, was seven thousand, five hundred. ²³ The sons of Gedson were to camp behind the Tent on its west side. ²⁴ The ruler of the family of Gedson was EliSaph, the son of DaEl. ²⁵ The instructions that were given to the sons of Gedson concerning the Tent of Proofs, was to care for the tent itself, the veil that covers the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, ²⁶ the curtains for the courtyard, the veil to the courtyard (which is around the Tent), and the like.

²⁷ There were [four] divisions that were counted [in the family line] of CaAth. They were AmRam, IsSaAr, Hebron, and OziEl. ²⁸ There were eight thousand, six hundred males a month old and older, and they were given these instructions regarding the holy things: ²⁹ The families of the sons of CaAth were to camp next to the Tent, along its south side. ³⁰ The ruler of the family line and divisions of CaAth was EliSaphan, the son of OziEl. ³¹ They were told that they were to be in charge of the Chest, the Table, the Sacred Lamp, the Altars, and all the furnishings in the Holy Place that were used in holy service inside the veil, and all their parts.

³² The head over the chiefs of the Levites was EliEzer, the son of Aaron the Priest. He was appointed to give all the instructions regarding the holy things.

³³ The family lines of MeraRi were those of MoOli and Musi. ³⁴ All the males a month old and older among this line, were counted at six thousand and fifty. ³⁵ The head of the family line and divisions of MeraRi was SuriEl, the son of AbiChail. They were to camp next to the Tent, along its north side. ³⁶ The sons of MeraRi were told that they were to be in charge of the Tent’s caps, rafters, posts, sockets, all their fittings and pieces, ³⁷ the posts for the courtyard, and their bases, pins, and ropes.

³⁸ Moses, Aaron, and his sons were to camp in front of the Tent of Proofs on its east side. They were to take care of the Holy Place and give instructions about it to the children of IsraEl. And anyone who touched it was to die.

³⁹ All the Levites who Moses and Aaron counted, which were a month old and older (by family lines), following Jehovah’s instructions, were twenty-two thousand.

⁴⁰ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ‘Now count all the firstborn males among the children of IsraEl who are a month old and older, and take their names. ⁴¹ Then take the Levites for Me in place of all the firstborn of the sons of IsraEl. Also, take all the Levites’ cattle in place of the first-born of the cattle of the children of IsraEl, for I am Jehovah.’

⁴² So Moses counted all the firstborn of the children of IsraEl, just as Jehovah commanded him. ⁴³ And all the male firstborn a month old and older that were counted by name were twenty-two thousand, two hundred and seventy-three.

⁴⁴ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ⁴⁵ ‘Now take the Levites in place of all the first-born of the sons of IsraEl, and the Levite’s cattle in place of their cattle, and they must be Mine, for I am Jehovah. ⁴⁶ And the ransom [that must be paid] for all the firstborn of the sons of IsraEl that exceed the number of Levites (the two hundred and seventy-three) ⁴⁷ [must be paid for], with five silver-coins per person. They must be paid for, using the holy double-silver coins at twenty copper coins per silver coin. ⁴⁸ Then give the money to Aaron and his sons as the ransom for those who exceed their number.’

⁴⁹ So, Moses took the silver as the ransom for those that exceeded the number who were bought by the Levites. ⁵⁰ The amount of holy silver coins that he took from the firstborn of the sons of IsraEl was one thousand, three hundred and sixty-five. ⁵¹ Then Moses gave the ransom for these extra ones to Aaron and his sons, according to the instructions that Jehovah gave to Moses.

Chapter 4

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron and said, ² ‘Take a census of the children of CaAth (separate from the sons of Levi) by family lines. ³ Count those from twenty-five to fifty years old who work and serve in the Tent of Proofs. ⁴ For these are the very holy things that the sons of CaAth must do at the Tent of Proofs: ⁵ Whenever the camp is about to move, Aaron and his sons must enter and take down the [inner] veil, and use it to cover the Chest of Proofs. ⁶ Then they must cover it with a blue skin and put a blue [cloth] over that. Then they must put the staves through [the rings on the Chest].

⁷ ‘They must also put a purple cloth over the table that holds the showbread, along with its dishes, censers, cups, pitchers for drink offerings, and the loaves (which must always be left on the table). ⁸ Then they must cover it with a scarlet cloth, and cover that with a blue skin, and mount [the table] on staves.

⁹ ‘Then they must cover the Sacred Lamp that provides the light, along with its lanterns, snuffers, funnels, and all the oil jars, with a blue cloth, ¹⁰ and put it and all its utensils inside a blue skin bag, and mount it on staves. ¹¹ Also, the golden [incense] altar must be wrapped in blue cloth, then covered with blue skins and mounted on staves.

¹² ‘Then they must take all the rest of the things that are used in the services in the Holy Place, and put them in a blue cloth [bag], then cover them with blue skins, and mount them on staves.

¹³ ‘Then they must cover the Altar with purple cloth, ¹⁴ along with all the utensils that are used with it (the fire pans, flesh-hooks, cups, covering, and all its utensils), then wrap it in all a blue covering of skins, and mount it on the staves.

‘They must also cover the basin and its base with blue cloth, wrap it in blue skins, and mount it on staves.

¹⁵ ‘Aaron and his sons must finish covering the holy things and all the holy utensils before the camp can move. Thereafter, the sons of CaAth must bear all [the Tent’s] furnishings, but they must not [actually] touch the holy things, or else they will die. These [are the things] that just the sons of CaAth are to carry from the Tent of Proofs.

¹⁶ ‘EliEzer, the son of Aaron (the Priest) is to be the overseer. He is to give instructions concerning the oil for the lamp, the incense, the daily food offerings, and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the whole Tent, everything that’s in it, and everything that’s done there.’

¹⁷ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron and said, ¹⁸ ‘You must prevent the family of CaAth (the tribe among the Levites) from being destroyed. ¹⁹ This is what you must do for them so they can live and not die: Whenever they approach the Holy of Holies, Aaron and his sons must take the lead. Then they are the ones who must mount the [sacred items] to be carried on the staves. ²⁰ That way, [the family of CaAth] won’t [be tempted to] rush in to look at the holy things and die.

²¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ²² ‘Now take a census of the children of Gedson by family lines. ²³ Count all those between the ages of twenty-five and fifty years old who go in to serve and work in the Tent of Proofs; ²⁴ because the public service of the family of Gedson is to serve and to carry. ²⁵ They must carry and attend to the skins of the Tent, the Tent of Proofs itself, its veil, the blue covering that goes over its top, the cover for the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, ²⁶ all the curtains for the courtyard, the mountings, and all the other utensils of service.

²⁷ The sons of Gedson must take their direction from Aaron and his sons in everything that they do in their assignments and jobs. You must count them by names and [show them] all the things they must carry. ²⁸ This is the job of the sons of Gedson in the Tent of Proofs, and IthaMar, the son of Aaron the Priest, is to give them their instructions.

²⁹ ‘Also, take a census of the sons of MeraRi by family lines. ³⁰ Count all those between the ages of twenty-five and fifty years old who go in to serve and work in the Tent of Proofs. ³¹ These are the things you are to tell them, and that they must carry as their job at the Tent of Proofs: They must carry the Tent’s caps, rafters, poles, and sockets, as well as the sockets and poles for the veil and the curtain at the entrance to the Tent. ³² They must also carry the poles for the surrounding courtyard and for the veil at the entrance to the courtyard, along with their sockets, pins, ropes, furnishings, and things for service.

‘Count them by name, and show what each of them is to carry. ³³ This is the assignment for the family of the sons of MeraRi. It is their job at the Tent of Proofs, under the direction of IthaMar, the son of Aaron the Priest.’

³⁴ So Moses, Aaron, and the rulers of IsraEl took a census of the sons of CaAth by family lines, ³⁵ [and counted] all those between the ages of twenty-five and fifty years old who go in to serve and work in the Tent of Proofs. ³⁶ And their number by family lines came to two thousand, seven hundred and fifty. ³⁷ This is how many there were of the family of CaAth that served in the Tent of Proofs, as Moses and Aaron counted them, following Jehovah’s instructions to Moses.

³⁸ Then they counted the sons of Gedson by family lines who were ³⁹ between twenty-five and fifty years old that go in to serve at the Tent of Proofs. ⁴⁰ And their number by family lines came to two thousand, six hundred and thirty. ⁴¹ This is how many there were of the family of Gedson that served in the Tent of Proofs, as Moses and Aaron counted them, following Jehovah’s instructions to Moses.

⁴² Then they counted the sons of MeraRi by family lines who were ⁴³ between twenty-five and fifty years old that go in to serve at the Tent of Proofs. ⁴⁴ And their number by family lines came to three thousand, two hundred. ⁴⁵ This is how many there were of the family of MeraRi, as Moses and Aaron counted them, following Jehovah’s instructions to Moses.

⁴⁶ So, Moses, Aaron, and the rulers of IsraEl counted all these Levites by family lines ⁴⁷ who were between twenty-five and fifty years old, and who serve, work at, and carry the things for the Tent of Proofs. ⁴⁸ All together, there were eight thousand, five hundred and eighty who were counted. ⁴⁹ Then after they were counted (following the words of Jehovah through Moses), they appointed each man his job, and they reviewed his duties and discussed what he was to carry.

Chapter 5

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘Give these instructions to the children of IsraEl: Tell them to drive everyone out of the camp that has leprosy, those with gonorrhea, and anyone who has made himself unclean [with a dead] person, ³ whether they are males or females. Drive them out of the camp, so they can’t dirty the place where I live among them.’

⁴ And that’s what the children of IsraEl did; they drove them out of the camp, just as Jehovah told Moses.

⁵ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ⁶ ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them that any man or woman who has committed any of the sins that are common to man, or has in any way overstepped [My] Commandments and erred, ⁷ must confess the sin he committed and make restitution for his sin. He [must pay] the price and add a fifth more to it, and restore [everything] to the person he has sinned against.

⁸ ‘Now, if a man doesn’t owe anything to anyone for his sin, the sin-offering must be paid to Jehovah. A ram must be [be given to] the Priest as payment for his sins, and as the price to cover his sins.

⁹ ‘And when it comes to the first fruitage of all the holy things among the children of IsraEl; everything that they offer to Jehovah must be [given to] the Priest for himself. ¹⁰ All the holy things that men [offer] or choose to donate must be given to the Priest, and it will be his as a gift.’

¹¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ¹² ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them: Whenever a wife rebels against [her husband] and tries to dominate and rule over him, ¹³ and then someone goes to bed with her and has sex with her behind her husband’s back; if she hides her filth and there is no proof of it (and [the other man] doesn’t take her), ¹⁴ and [her husband] thereafter develops a jealous spirit and suspects that she has dirtied herself – or if he has developed a jealous spirit and she hasn’t dirtied herself – ¹⁵ then he must bring his wife to the Priest, along with the gift of a quart of barley meal. He must not pour any oil or frankincense on the barley meal, because it is a sacrifice of jealousy… it is a sacrifice to be remembered and to recall sins to mind.

¹⁶ ‘Then the Priest must take [the woman] to stand before Jehovah. ¹⁷ The Priest must pour clean running water into a clay pot, then take some of the dirt that is on the floor of the Tent of Proofs and throw it into the water. ¹⁸ Then the Priest must stand the woman before Jehovah, uncover her head, and place the sacrifice that is to be remembered (the sacrifice of jealousy) into her hands.

‘Next, the Priest must take the water that brings a curse into his hands. ¹⁹ And the Priest must make the woman swear [in reply to the words], If you aren’t guilty and no one has laid down with you, and if you haven’t sinned and dirtied yourself, and you have [been respectful] to your husband; [then say that you are] free from this water that brings the curse. ²⁰ But if you have sinned and dirtied your marriage, and [allowed] someone to lie with you other than your husband… ²¹ then the Priest must make the woman swear [to accept] the oaths of this curse.

‘The Priest must say to her: May Jehovah bring a curse upon you by the oath [you have sworn] in the midst of your people. May Jehovah cause your [sexual parts] to rot away and your belly to swell. ²² May this water that brings the curse enter your womb to cause your belly to swell and your [sexual parts] to rot away.

‘And the woman must say, May it happen; may it happen.

²³ ‘Thereafter, the Priest must write these curses on a scroll, then rinse them away with the water that brings the curse; ²⁴ for he must make the woman drink the water that brings the curse.

²⁵ ‘Next, the Priest must take the sacrifice of jealousy from the woman’s hands and carry it to the Altar to present it before Jehovah. ²⁶ Then the Priest must take a handful of the sacrificial [grain] and offer it on the Altar as a reminder, and he must make the woman drink the water.

²⁷ ‘And this is what will happen: If she has dirtied herself and her husband hasn’t been able to [prove] it, the water that brings the curse will enter her and cause her belly to swell and her [sexual parts] to rot away; and thereafter, the woman must be cursed among her people. ²⁸ But if the woman hasn’t dirtied herself and has remained chaste, she must be declared free of guilt and thereafter give birth to a [child].

²⁹ ‘This is the law of jealousy [that covers the cases of where] a married woman sins and dirties herself, ³⁰ or where a man develops a jealous spirit and becomes jealous of his wife. He should take his wife before Jehovah, and the Priest must make her follow this law. ³¹ And whereas the man will be cleared from his sin, the woman must be responsible for hers.

Chapter 6

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them that whenever a man or woman wishes to make a great vow to set himself aside as holy to Jehovah, ³ he may not eat or drink anything made from grapes, such as wine, brandy, fresh grapes, raisins, or vinegar that is made from wine or other alcoholic products ⁴ during the period of his vow. Nor may he eat anything that comes from the vine, such as wine made from grape seeds or skins ⁵ during the whole period that he is set aside. Nor may a razor be used to cut the person’s hair until the period of the vow to Jehovah is completed. For the person must be holy and cherish the long hair of his head ⁶ for as long as his vow to Jehovah lasts, and he must not go near any dead bodies… ⁷ not even to [the corpse] of his father, mother, brother, or sister. They must not dirty themselves with dead bodies, because the vow of God is on them and on their heads, ⁸ and they must remain holy to Jehovah during the entire period of their vow.

⁹ ‘And if anyone should suddenly die near him, the head of that person will immediately be considered dirty and it must be cleansed. The person must shave his head on the seventh day, ¹⁰ then bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the Priest at the entrance to the Tent of meeting on the eighth day. ¹¹ The Priest must offer one as a sin offering and the other as a whole-burnt offering, to pay for the sin [of being close to] a dead body. Then the person’s head will [once again] become holy on that day, ¹² and he will [again] be made perfect to Jehovah during the rest of [the period of] the vow. Then he must bring a yearling lamb as an offering for the error; and because the vow on his head was polluted, the full period of [the vow] must be [restarted].

¹³ ‘It is also the law for the person who has made such a vow, that on the day that his vow is finished, the person must bring gifts to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs. ¹⁴ The gifts that he must bring to Jehovah are: one perfect yearling male lamb as a whole-burnt offering; one perfect yearling female lamb as a sin offering; one perfect male sheep as a peace offering; ¹⁵ a basket of fermentation-free bread made with fine flour kneaded with oil; fermentation-free cakes that have been anointed with oil; a food offering and a drink offering.

¹⁶ ‘The Priest must bring them before Jehovah and [sacrifice] the sin offering and the whole-burnt offering. ¹⁷ Then he must sacrifice the male sheep as a peace offering to Jehovah, along with the basket of fermentation-free bread, followed by the food offering and the drink offering. ¹⁸ Then the one who made the vow must shave his head that was made holy, there at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, and put the hair on the fire while it is burning the peace-offering sacrifice.

¹⁹ ‘Then, after the person has shaved off his holy hair, the Priest must take the larger of the ram’s shoulders, along with one fermentation-free loaf and one fermentation-free cake from the basket, and lay them in the person’s hands. ²⁰ Then the Priest must present them as an offering before Jehovah, and this holy portion will then belong to the Priest, along with the breast and shoulder of the wave offering. Then the person who made the oath must drink some wine.

²¹ ‘This is the law for any person who makes a vow to Jehovah: [He must give all] his gifts that were promised to Jehovah, along with anything else that he may be able to afford, which is [in addition] to the things that are [required by] the strong vow of setting oneself aside as holy [to Jehovah].’

²² Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ²³ ‘Speak to Aaron and to his sons and tell them to bless the sons of IsraEl who have My Name with these words: ²⁴ May Jehovah bless you and watch over you. ²⁵ May Jehovah’s face shine upon you, and may He have mercy on you. ²⁶ May [Jehovah keep His eyes] on you and bring you peace.’

Chapter 7

¹ So the day came when Moses finished setting up the Tent. Then he anointed it and made it and all its furnishings, as well as the Altar and all its furnishings, holy… he made them perfect by anointing them.

² Then the leaders of IsraEl (the twelve heads of their family lines and leaders of their tribes… those who took the lead in the census) ³ brought gifts before Jehovah. There were six covered wagons pulled by twelve bulls (two per [wagon]) that were contributed by the leaders, which were brought to the Tent.

⁴ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ⁵ ‘Take [these things] and use them for service at the two cherubs that are above the Propitiatory, which cover the Chest of Proofs. And give the [wagons] to the Levites… [distribute] them among the groups by their assigned jobs.’

⁶ So Moses took the wagons and bulls, and gave them to the Levites. ⁷ He gave two wagons and four bulls to the sons of Gedson for their jobs, ⁸ and four wagons and eight bulls to the sons of MeraRi for their assignments under IthaMar, the son of Aaron the Priest. ⁹ However, he didn’t give any to the sons of CaAth, because the sacred things that they had to carry were to be borne on their shoulders. ¹⁰ [IsraEl’s] leaders brought these things to the Altar for the dedication of the Altar on the day that it was to be anointed.

¹¹ Then Jehovah told Moses, ‘One leader must also bring a gift each day for the dedication of the Altar.’

¹² So on the first day, NaAsson (the son of AminAdab), the leader of the tribe of Judah, ¹³ brought his gift. [It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as a hundred and thirty holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as seventy holy silver coins. Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering. ¹⁴ [There was also] a golden censer filled with ten silver coins worth of incense, ¹⁵ as well as one calf from the herd, one ram, and one yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering), ¹⁶ one goat kid (for a sin offering), ¹⁷ and two heifers, five rams, five billy goats, and five yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice. These were the gifts of NaAsson, the son of AminAdab.

¹⁸ On the second day, NathaniEl (the son of Sogar), the leader of the tribe of IsSachar, brought ¹⁹ his gift. [It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as a hundred and thirty holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as seventy holy silver coins. Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering. ²⁰ [There was also] a golden censer filled with ten silver coins worth of incense, ²¹ as well as one calf from the herd, one ram, and one yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering), ²² one goat kid (for a sin offering), ²³ and two heifers, five rams, five billy goats, and five yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice. These were the gifts of NathaniEl, the son of Sogar.

²⁴ On the third day, EliAb the son of ChaElon), the leader of the tribe of ZebuLon, brought ²⁵ his gift. [It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as a hundred and thirty holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as seventy holy silver coins. Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering. ²⁶ [There was also] a golden censer filled with ten silver coins worth of incense, ²⁷ as well as one calf from the herd, one ram, and one yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering), ²⁸ one goat kid (for a sin offering) ²⁹ and two heifers, five rams, five billy goats, and five yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice. These were the gifts of EliAb, the son of ChaElon.

³⁰ On the fourth day, EliSur (the son of SediUr), the leader of the tribe of Reuben, brought ³¹ his gift. [It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as a hundred and thirty holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as seventy holy silver coins. Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering. ³² [There was also] a golden censer filled with ten silver coins worth of incense, ³³ as well as one calf from the herd, one ram, and one yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering), ³⁴ one goat kid (for a sin offering), ³⁵ and two heifers, five rams, five billy goats, and five yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice. These were the gifts of EliSur, the son of SediUr.

³⁶ On the fifth day, SalamiEl (the son of SuriSadai) the leader of the tribe of Symeon, brought ³⁷ his gift. [It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as a hundred and thirty holy silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as seventy holy silver coins. Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering. ³⁸ [There was also] a golden censer filled with ten silver coins worth of incense, ³⁹ as well as one calf from the herd, one ram, and one yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering), ⁴⁰ one goat kid (for a sin offering), ⁴¹ and two heifers, five rams, five billy goats, and five yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice. These were the gifts of SalamiEl, the son of SuriSadai.

⁴² On the sixth day, EliSaph (the son of RaguEl), the leader of the tribe of Gad, brought ⁴³ his gift. [It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as a hundred and thirty silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as seventy holy silver coins. Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering. ⁴⁴ [There was also] a golden censer filled with ten silver coins worth of incense, ⁴⁵ as well as one calf from the herd, one ram, and one yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering), ⁴⁶ one goat kid (for a sin offering), ⁴⁷ and two heifers, five rams, five billy goats, and five yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice. These were the gifts of EliSaph, the son of RaguEl.

⁴⁸ On the seventh day, EliSama (the son of EmiUd), the leader of the tribe of EphraIm, ⁴⁹ brought his gift. [It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as a hundred and thirty silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as seventy holy silver coins. Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering. ⁵⁰ [There was also] a golden censer filled with ten silver coins worth of incense, ⁵¹ as well as one calf from the herd, one ram, and one yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering), ⁵² one goat kid (for a sin offering), ⁵³ and two heifers, five rams, five billy goats, and five yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice. These were the gifts of EliSama, the son of EmiUd.

⁵⁴ On the eighth day, GamaliEl (the son of PhadasSur), the leader of the tribe of ManasSeh, ⁵⁵ brought his gift. [It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as a hundred and thirty silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as seventy holy silver coins. Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering. ⁵⁶ [There was also] a golden censer filled with ten silver coins worth of incense, ⁵⁷ as well as one calf from the herd, one ram, and one yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering), ⁵⁸ one goat kid (for a sin offering), ⁵⁹ and two heifers, five rams, five billy goats, and five yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice. These were the gifts of GamaliEl, the son of PhadasSur.

⁶⁰ On the ninth day, AbiDan (the son of GadeOni), the leader of the tribe of BenJamin, ⁶¹ brought his gift. [It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as a hundred and thirty silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as seventy holy silver coins. Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering. ⁶² [There was also] a golden censer filled with ten silver coins worth of incense, ⁶³ as well as one calf from the herd, one ram, and one yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering), ⁶⁴ one goat kid (for a sin offering), ⁶⁵ and two heifers, five rams, five billy goats, and five yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice. These were the gifts of AbiDan, the son of GadeOni.

⁶⁶ On the tenth day, AchiEzer (the son of AmiSadai), the leader of the tribe of Dan, ⁶⁷ brought his gift. [It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as a hundred and thirty silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as seventy holy silver coins. Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering. ⁶⁸ [There was also] a golden censer filled with ten silver coins worth of incense, ⁶⁹ as well as one calf from the herd, one ram, and one yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering), ⁷⁰ one goat kid (for a sin offering), ⁷¹ and two heifers, five rams, five billy goats, and five yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice. These were the gifts of AchiEzer, the son of AmiSadai.

⁷² On the eleventh day, PhageEl (the son of Echran), the leader of the tribe of Asher, ⁷³ brought his gift. [It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as a hundred and thirty silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as seventy holy silver coins. Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering. ⁷⁴ [There was also] a golden censer filled with ten silver coins worth of incense, ⁷⁵ as well as one calf from the herd, one ram, and one yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering), ⁷⁶ one goat kid (for a sin offering), ⁷⁷ and two heifers, five rams, five billy goats, and five yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice. These were the gifts of PhageEl, the son of Echran.

⁷⁸ On the twelfth day, AchiRe (the son of AiNan), the leader of the tribe of NaphTali, ⁷⁹ brought his gift. [It included] one silver platter that weighed the same as a hundred and thirty silver coins, and a silver bowl that weighed the same as seventy holy silver coins. Both were filled with fine flour that was kneaded with oil for a food offering. ⁸⁰ [There was also] a golden censer filled with ten silver coins worth of incense, ⁸¹ as well as one calf from the herd, one ram, and one yearling male lamb (for a whole-burnt offering), ⁸² one goat kid (for a sin offering), ⁸³ and two heifers, five rams, five billy goats, and five yearling female lambs for a peace-offering sacrifice. These were the gifts of AchiRe, the son of AiNan.

⁸⁴ These [were the gifts] from the leaders of the tribes of IsraEl during the period when the Altar was being anointed. There were twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, and twelve golden censers. ⁸⁵ Each platter weighed the same as a hundred and thirty silver coins, and each bowl weighed the same as seventy holy silver coins. So all together, their combined weight was two thousand, four hundred holy silver coins. ⁸⁶ The twelve golden censers were each filled with incense, and the gold weighed the same as a hundred and twenty silver coins.

⁸⁷ The number of cattle for the whole burnt offerings amounted to twelve calves, twelve rams, and twelve yearling male lambs (plus food offerings and drink offerings); there were twelve kid goats for the sin offerings; ⁸⁸ and the number of cattle that were sacrificed for the peace offering included twenty-four heifers, sixty rams, sixty yearling billy goats, and sixty perfect yearling female lambs, which were all offered for the dedication of the Altar.

Then, after that, [Moses] made [Aaron] perfect by anointing him. ⁸⁹ And from that point on, whenever Moses went into the Tent of Proofs to speak to God, he would hear the voice of Jehovah speaking to him from between the two cherubs that were above the Propitiatory, which covers the Chest of Proofs.

Chapter 8

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘Speak to Aaron and tell him that when he assembles the [sacred] lamp, the seven lanterns must be arranged to illuminate the area across from the lamp.’

³ And that’s what Aaron did. He [assembled and] lit the lamps to illuminate the area directly across from the lamp, just as Jehovah had instructed Moses.

⁴ The Sacred Lamp’s base and stem were of solid gold, as were its lilies. They were made following the pattern that Jehovah had shown to Moses.

⁵ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ⁶ ‘Take the Levites out from among the children of IsraEl and purify them. ⁷ This is how should you perform their purification: Have them rinse themselves in clean water, shave all the hair from their bodies, then wash their clothes… and make sure that they are clean.

⁸ ‘Then they must bring two yearling calves from the herd, along with a food offering and some fine flour mixed with oil. ⁹ Then assemble the entire gathering of the sons of IsraEl and bring the Levites up before them at the Tent of Proofs. ¹⁰ Stand them there in front of Jehovah, and have the sons of IsraEl lay their hands on the Levites.

¹¹ ‘Next, Aaron must set the Levites aside as a gift to Jehovah from the children of IsraEl, and they must be made ready to perform Jehovah’s work. ¹² Then have the Levites lay their hands on the heads of the calves, and you should sacrifice one as a sin offering, and the other as a whole-burnt offering to Jehovah, to pay for their sins.

¹³ ‘Then stand the Levites in front of Jehovah (and before Aaron and his sons), and give them to Jehovah as a gift… ¹⁴ separate the Levites from among the sons of IsraEl as Mine!

¹⁵ ‘Thereafter, the Levites must go to the Tent where they are to work, and you must purify them and present them there before Jehovah, ¹⁶ for they will have been given to Me as a gift from the children of IsraEl. I have taken them as Mine in place of all the firstborn sons of IsraEl that open a womb. ¹⁷ For, all the firstborn among the children of IsraEl (both the men and the animals) became Mine on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt… that’s when I made them holy to Myself. ¹⁸ But now I am taking the Levites instead of the first-born of the children of IsraEl, ¹⁹ and I am presenting them as a gift to Aaron and his sons, to serve the children of IsraEl at the Tent of Proofs. And there they must make the payments for the sins of the children of IsraEl, so none of the sons of IsraEl will have to go near the holy things.’

²⁰ Then Moses, Aaron, and the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl did everything that Jehovah commanded Moses concerning the Levites. ²¹ The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes. Then Aaron presented them as a gift before Jehovah, and [sacrificed] the payments for their sins to purify them. ²² Thereafter, the Levites entered the Tent to serve before Aaron and his sons, just as Jehovah had instructed Moses.

²³ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ²⁴ ‘This is the rule for the Levites: Those who are twenty-five years old and older must enter to serve at the Tent of Proofs. ²⁵ But when they reach fifty years old, they may no longer serve or work there. ²⁶ They may supervise their brothers who serve in the Tent of Proofs, but they may not work there anymore. Give the Levites these instructions.’

Chapter 9

¹ It was in the first month of the second year after they had left the land of Egypt, that Jehovah spoke to Moses there in the Sinai Desert and said, ² ‘Tell the children of IsraEl to keep the Passover at the proper time. ³ On the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month, you must keep it and obey its laws and instructions.’

⁴ So Moses ordered the children of IsraEl to sacrifice the Passover ⁵ on the fourteenth day of the first month, there in the Sinai Desert. And the children of IsraEl did just as Jehovah told Moses.

⁶ However, there were some men who were unclean due to [touching] a dead body, and they were unable to keep the Passover on that day. So, they went before Moses and Aaron ⁷ and said, ‘We are unclean because we touched the dead body of a man. So, will we not to be allowed to offer our gifts to Jehovah at this time, along with the rest of the children of IsraEl?’

⁸ Then Moses said, ‘Stay here and I will listen to whatever instructions Jehovah gives us about this.’

⁹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ¹⁰ ‘Tell the sons of IsraEl that whenever a man among you or your descendants has become unclean because of touching a dead body, or is far away on a journey, he must still keep the Passover to Jehovah, ¹¹ but he must do it on the evening of the fourteenth day of the second month. [The Passover sacrifice] must be offered then, and eaten with fermentation-free bread and bitter herbs. ¹² They must not leave any of it over until the next day, nor may they break any of its bones. They must offer the sacrifice just as they would on the Passover. ¹³ But if anyone is clean and is not away on a trip, he must be sure to keep the Passover. Any person who doesn’t offer the gift to Jehovah at the proper time is guilty, and must be cut off from his people!

¹⁴ ‘And if an alien should come into your land and wish to observe the Passover to Jehovah, he must do so according to the laws and instructions concerning the Passover. So there is just one law [concerning this], and it applies to both natives and aliens.’

¹⁵ Well, from the time that the Tent was [first] pitched, a cloud covered the Tent of Proofs all day long, and what looked like fire covered the Tent from evening until morning. ¹⁶ And that’s how it always was… a cloud cover by day, and the appearance of fire by night. ¹⁷ And whenever the cloud left the Tent, the children of IsraEl were to leave that place; and whenever the cloud just stayed there, the children of IsraEl camped. ¹⁸ So, the children of IsraEl camped by the commands of Jehovah, and they moved by the commands of Jehovah… as long as the cloud covered the Tent, the children of IsraEl were to camp. ¹⁹ And even if the cloud stayed over the Tent for a long time, the children of IsraEl were to follow God’s instructions and not move. ²⁰ For, whenever the cloud covered the Tent for a number of days, they were to camp, following the words of Jehovah, and they were to stay camped there by the commands of Jehovah. ²¹ But whenever the cloud moved up from over the Tent, they were to move, whether it was day or night. ²² If the cloud covered the Tent for a full month, the children of IsraEl had to camp and were not to leave, ²³ for they were only to move by the commands of Jehovah. And this is what they did. They followed the instructions and commands that Jehovah gave through Moses.

Chapter 10

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘Make two silver trumpets for yourselves to call assemblies and to move the camp. Make them of hammered [silver]. ³ With one [type of] sound, the whole gathering must come to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs, ⁴ and with another, just the rulers and leaders must come to you.

⁵ ‘You must sound an alarm for the camp to move, starting with those in the east; ⁶ when you sound a second alarm, the camps to the south must move; with the sound of the third alarm, those camps pitched in the west must move; and with the fourth alarm, those that are camping in the north must move… and they must sound an alarm as they leave.

⁷ ‘Blow the horn to sound assembly, but not as an alarm. ⁸ The Priests (the sons of Aaron) must blow the trumpets. This is to be the rule for you through all your generations and through the ages.

⁹ ‘And if you must go to war against your enemies that will oppose to you in your land, you must also blow the trumpets as a reminder to Jehovah, and then you will be saved from your enemies.

¹⁰ ‘And on days when you are joyful, or during your feasts, or during your New Moons, and when you sacrifice whole burnt offerings and peace offerings, you must blow the trumpets. ¹¹ This must be done as a reminder to you before your God, for I am Jehovah your God.’

¹² And thereafter, the children of IsraEl packed their bags in the Sinai Desert, and the cloud came to rest in the Pharan Desert. ¹³ And following the instructions of Jehovah through Moses, the first group started their march.

¹⁴ The first to leave were the children of Judah with their army, headed by NaAsson, the son of AminAdab. ¹⁵ They [were followed by] the sons of IsSachar under NathaniEl, the son of Sogar. ¹⁶ Then came the army of the tribe of the sons of ZebuLon, under EliAb, the son of ChaElon.

¹⁷ Then the Tent was taken down, and the sons of Gedson started out, followed by the sons of MeraRi, who carried the Tent.

¹⁸ Then came the camp of Reuben and their army that was led by EliSur, the son of SediUr. ¹⁹ They were followed by the army of the tribe of the sons of Symeon, under SalamiEl, the son of SuriSadai. ²⁰ Next came the army of the children from the tribe of Gad, under EliSaph, the son of RaguEl.

²¹ Then the sons of CaAth came forward bearing the holy things, because the Tent was to be set up before they arrived.

²² Next, the camp of EphraIm set out with their army under EliSama, the son of SemiUd. ²³ They were followed by the armies of the tribe of the sons of ManasSeh, under GamaliEl, the son of PhadasSur. ²⁴ Then came the army of the tribe of the children of BenJamin, under AbiDan, the son of GadeOni. ²⁵ Next in the order of the camp came the sons of Dan and their army, under AchiEzer, the son of AmiSadai. ²⁶ Then came the army of the tribe of the sons of Asher, under PhageEl, the son of Echran. ²⁷ They were followed by the army of the tribe of the sons of NaphTali, under AchiRe, the son of AiNan.

²⁸ These are the armies of the children of IsraEl, and it’s the way that they started their march.

²⁹ And Moses said to his father-in-law Jethro (the son of RaguEl the Midianite), ‘We are traveling to the place about which Jehovah said, I’m going to give this to you. So, come with us and we will treat you well, because Jehovah has promised good things for IsraEl.’

³⁰ But [Jethro] replied, ‘No, I won’t go. I’m going to return to my family and my land.’

³¹ However, [Moses insisted] saying, ‘Don’t leave us! Why, you’ve been with us all through the desert, and you should be considered an elder among us. ³² For if you go with us; when Jehovah does good things for us, we will do good things for you.’

³³ Then they left the Mountain of Jehovah and traveled for three days. And the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement was carried ahead of them for all three days as a comfort to them. ³⁴ And the cloud hung over them by day, starting from when they left the camp.

³⁵ Then, when the Chest was brought forward, Moses said, ‘Arise, O Jehovah! Let Your enemies be scattered and may all who hate You run in terror!’

³⁶ And when they reached its resting place, he said, ‘Turn [Your face] again, O Jehovah, to the thousands and tens of thousands in IsraEl!’

Chapter 11

¹ Then the people started murmuring sinful things against Jehovah, and He heard them. This made Him very angry, and a fire that came from Jehovah started burning among them, which consumed part of the camp, ² so the people called for Moses. And after he prayed to Jehovah, the fire went out. ³ Thereafter, they called that place ‘The Burning,’ because that was where a fire from Jehovah had burned among them.

⁴ It was the [ethnics] who were mixed among them that started [complaining]. They (and some of the children of IsraEl) sat down and started crying and saying, ‘Who is going to give us meat to eat? ⁵ We remember all the fish that we used to eat in Egypt, as well as the cucumbers, melons, leeks, garlic, and onions. ⁶ But now our lives have become [empty], because all we can see is manna!’

⁷ The manna looked like coriander seeds, and it appeared [on the ground] like frost. ⁸ The people went into the fields and collected it, then they ground it in a mill or pounded it in a mortar. Thereafter, they baked it in a pan and made cakes from it. It tasted like sweet crackers that had been mixed with oil. ⁹ And during the night, when the dew was settling on the camp, the manna came down upon it.

¹⁰ Well, Moses heard them sitting in front of their [tents] in family groups, crying. This made Jehovah very angry, and Moses viewed these actions as evil. ¹¹ So Moses asked Jehovah, ‘Why have You done this to your servant, and why haven’t I found favor in Your eyes, so that You should lay the burden of these people on me? ¹² Am I the one who carried and gave birth to all these people, so that You should tell me, Take them into your arms as a nursing mother would take her new-born baby, and carry them into the land that You promised to their fathers? ¹³ Where can I find meat to feed all these people? For, here they are crying before me and saying, Give us meat to eat. ¹⁴ I can’t carry all these people by myself; they’re just too heavy for me. ¹⁵ If You’re going to do this to me, then just kill me (if I’ve found Your favor), so I don’t have to [endure] this pain!’

¹⁶ Then Jehovah told Moses, ‘Gather seventy men from among the elders of IsraEl to Me. [Make sure that] you know they are the elders and scribes among the people, then bring them to the Tent of Proofs and have them stand there with you. ¹⁷ Then I will come down and speak with you there; for I will take [some] of [My] Breath that is on you and put it on them, and they will have to share the burden of the people with you… you won’t have to handle it by yourself.

¹⁸ ‘Then go to the people and tell them, ‘Now purify yourselves, because tomorrow you’re going to eat meat. Yes, you who have bawled before Jehovah and asked, Who will give us meat to eat? and said, Things were good for us [back in Egypt]!

‘So, Jehovah will provide meat, and you must eat the meat. ¹⁹ You aren’t going to eat it for one day, or two, or five, or ten, or twenty days. ²⁰ You’re going to eat it for a full month… until it comes out your noses! You’re going to be sick of it, because you disobeyed Jehovah who is here among you. You bawled before Him and asked, Why did we ever leave Egypt?’

²¹ Then Moses asked, ‘Why, there are six-hundred-thousand soldiers among us, and are You telling me to give them enough meat to eat for a whole month? ²² Must we slaughter all the sheep and cattle for them… and will even that be enough? Or must we catch all the fish in the sea for them, and would that be enough?’

²³ Then Jehovah said to Moses: ‘Isn’t the hand of Jehovah big enough? By now you should know whether My words will come true!’

²⁴ So Moses went out and told the people what Jehovah said. Then he gathered seventy men from among the people’s elders and stood them around the Tent. ²⁵ Then Jehovah came down in a cloud to speak to [Moses], and He took some of the Breath that was in him and put it into the seventy elders. And when [God’s] Breath came to rest upon them, they started prophesying… and then they stopped.

²⁶ However, two of these men were still back in the camp at the time; one was ElDad, and the other was MoDad. They were part of the group that [Moses] had chosen, but they hadn’t made it to the Tent. Yet, [God’s] Breath also came to rest upon them, and they started prophesying in the camp. ²⁷ So a young man ran and told Moses. He said: ‘ElDad and MoDad are prophesying in the camp!’

²⁸ Well, JoShua (the son of NaWeh) who was Moses’ assistant and chosen successor, said, ‘Lord Moses; Make them stop!’

²⁹ But Moses replied, ‘Are you jealous for me? I wish that all of Jehovah’s people were Prophets when He puts His Breath on them.’

³⁰ And with that, Moses and the elders of IsraEl returned to the camp.

³¹ Then Jehovah blew His Breath, and [flocks of] quail blew over the sea and into the camp. They covered the ground several feet deep for a day’s journey all around the camp. ³² So the people went out all that day, all night, and all the next day to gather quail. Why, even those who gathered the least gathered hundreds. And then, all around the camp they [sat down to feast].

³³ Well, they were still picking the meat that was stuck between their teeth when Jehovah showed how angry He was with the people, for He then struck them with a great plague. ³⁴ And thereafter, that place was called the Graves of Greed, because there is where they buried all the greedy people.

³⁵ Then the people moved away from the Graves of Greed [and went to] to AsherOth, where they [set up camp].

Chapter 12

¹ Then Miriam and Aaron started condemning Moses because of the Ethiopian woman who he had taken as his wife. ² They asked, ‘Is Moses the only one that Jehovah has spoken to? Hasn’t He also spoken to us?’ And Jehovah heard them say this.

³ Now, Moses was the humblest man on the earth, ⁴ so Jehovah immediately spoke to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, and said. ‘All three of you, come to the Tent of Proofs!’

⁵ So the three of them went to the Tent of Proofs, and Jehovah descended in a column of clouds. He stood there at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs and called Aaron and Miriam, and they stepped forward. ⁶ Then He said to them, ‘Listen to Me; If either of you are Prophets of Jehovah, I will make things known to you in a vision and speak to you as you sleep. ⁷ However, that isn’t the way [that I speak] to My servant Moses who has faithfully [served] in My House. ⁸ I’m not hidden to him, but I appear and speak to him mouth to mouth. Why, he has seen the glory of Jehovah, so why aren’t you afraid to speak against My servant Moses?’

⁹ Well, Jehovah was very angry with them; and then as He left, ¹⁰ the cloud disappeared from the Tent, and {Look!} Miriam had leprosy that was [as white] as snow!

Well, when Aaron saw that Miriam had leprosy, ¹¹ he said to Moses, ‘I beg you my lord; don’t hold this sin against us, because we did this in ignorance! ¹² Don’t allow her to be one of the [walking] dead – like a miscarriage from her mother’s womb – and half of her flesh to be eaten away.’

¹³ Then Moses called to Jehovah and said, ‘Oh God, I beg You; Heal her!’

¹⁴ And Jehovah replied to Moses, ‘If her father had just spit in her face, wouldn’t she have been shamed for seven days? Therefore, she may not enter the camp for seven days; but then she may return.’

¹⁵ So, Miriam was driven away from the camp for seven days, and the people didn’t beak camp until Miriam was cleansed.

Chapter 13

¹ After that, the people left AsherOth and camped in the Pharan Desert. ² There Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ³ ‘Send some men as spies into the land of the CanaAnites that I am giving to the sons of IsraEl. Choose men who are leaders from each of the tribes and family lines.’

⁴ So, following Jehovah’s instructions, Moses chose leaders from the sons of IsraEl and sent them out from the Desert of Pharan. ⁵ From the tribe of Reuben [he sent] SamuEl, the son of ZachUr. ⁶ From the tribe of Symeon [he sent] Saphat, the son of Suri. ⁷ From the tribe of Judah [he sent] Caleb, the son of JePhonNe. ⁸ From the tribe of IsSachar [he sent] IlaAl, the son of Joseph. ⁹ From the tribe of EphraIm [he sent] Ause, the son of NaWeh. ¹⁰ From the tribe of BenJamin [he sent] Phalti, the son of Raphu. ¹¹ From the tribe of ZebuLon [he sent] GudiEl, the son of Sudi. ¹² From the tribe of Joseph’s son ManasSeh [he sent] GadDi, the son of Susi. ¹³ From the tribe of Dan [he sent] AmiEl, the son of Gamali. ¹⁴ From the tribe of Asher [he sent] Sathur, the son of MichaEl. ¹⁵ From the tribe of NaphTali [he sent] Nabi, the son of Sabi. ¹⁶ And from the tribe of Gad [he sent] GudiEl, the son of MacChi. ¹⁷ These are the men who Moses sent as spies into the land. However, Moses called Ause (the son of NaWeh) JoShua.

¹⁸ As Moses sent them to spy in the land of CanaAn, he told them, ‘Travel through this desert, then climb the mountain and ¹⁹ peer into the land to see what it looks like, and watch the people who live there to [determine] whether they are strong or weak, many or few. ²⁰ Then notice whether the land they live on is good or bad, what cities there are, and whether they have walls or not. ²¹ Also, pay attention to the land and see whether it is rich or poor, and if there are trees. Then venture in and take some of the fruitage of the land.’

Well, it was springtime, and the grapes were ready to be harvested, ²² as they went and surveyed the land from the Sin Desert [all the way] to RhoOb (on the way to AiMath). ²³ They traveled through the desert and got as far as Hebron, where they found AchiMan, SesSi, and ThelAmi, the descendants of Enach. (Hebron had been built seven years before Tanin of Egypt.)

²⁴ Well, when they got to the valley where the grapes were grown; after surveying it, they cut down a cluster of grapes and carried it on staves. They also picked some pomegranates and figs. ²⁵ Then they called that place The Valley of the Cluster, because of the cluster of [grapes] that the children of IsraEl cut down there.

²⁶ Then after forty days, they returned from their survey of the land ²⁷ and they went before Moses, Aaron, and the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl [who were] in the desert at Pharan Cades. Then they spoke to the whole gathering and showed them the fruit from the land, ²⁸ and they gave this report: ‘We went into the land where you sent us, and found a land that is flowing with milk and honey. Here is some of the fruit from there. ²⁹ However, the nation that lives there is aggressive, and they have large, strong, walled cities.

‘We also saw the children of Enach there, ³⁰ and the Amalechites live in the land toward the south, while the Hittites, Evites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country, and the CanaAnites live between the Sea and the Jordan River.’

³¹ Then Caleb stopped them from speaking before Moses, and said, ‘No, we must surely go there and inherit [that land], because we can beat them.’

³² But the [the other] men disagreed and said, ‘We must not go there, because there’s no way we can beat a nation like that; for they’re much stronger than we are!’

³³ Then they really terrified the children of IsraEl when they said, ‘The land that we walked through and surveyed swallows up the people who live there. And all the people that we saw there were huge! ³⁴ We saw giants who [were so large] that we looked like grasshoppers in comparison.’

Chapter 14

¹ Well at that, the whole gathering started wailing and crying, which went on throughout the night. ² Then all the children of IsraEl started grumbling about Moses and Aaron, and they came to them and said, ³ ‘We would rather have died in the land of Egypt than in this desert! Why is Jehovah bringing us to this land just to be killed in war, and our wives and children to serve as prey? It would be better for us to return to Egypt!’

⁴ Then they started saying to each other, ‘Let’s appoint [someone else] as our ruler, and return to Egypt!’

⁵ At this, Moses and Aaron just fell to their faces before the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl. ⁶ But JoShua (the son of NaWeh) and Caleb (the son of JePhonNe), who were among those that spied in the land, started ripping their clothes. ⁷ Then they addressed the gathering of the children of IsraEl and said, ‘The land that we surveyed is really very good! ⁸ And if Jehovah has chosen us, He will bring us into this land and give it to us – a land that flows with milk and honey. ⁹ So, don’t leave Jehovah, and don’t be afraid of the people in that land, because they are just meat for us. Their time has ended, for Jehovah is with us. So don’t be afraid!’

¹⁰ Then all the people started throwing rocks at them. [And suddenly] the glory of Jehovah appeared in the cloud over the Tent of Proofs before all the children of IsraEl. ¹¹ And Jehovah said to Moses, ‘How much longer will these people continue to anger Me, and how much longer will they refuse to believe Me after all the signs I’ve given them? ¹² I will strike them and put them to death… I will destroy them and make a great nation of you and of your father’s house; one that will be much greater than this!’

¹³ But Moses replied, ‘Then Egypt would hear of it! Why, You used Your power to bring these people out from among them. ¹⁴ Also, the people who live in this land have heard that You are their Lord, that You are with these people, and that You, O Jehovah, have been seen face to face! Why, Your cloud rests upon them, and You lead them each day in a column of clouds and by a column of fire all night long. ¹⁵ So, if You were to destroy this whole nation, then all the nations that have heard of Your Name will say, ¹⁶ Because Jehovah couldn’t bring His people into the land that He swore to give them, He has [killed] them in the desert!

¹⁷ ‘So, O Lord, show Your power; and may the things You said prove to be true: ¹⁸ Jehovah is patient, merciful, and true. He removes mistakes, errors, and sins. He will never acquit the guilty, but will bring the sins of fathers on their children for three or four generations. ¹⁹ Forgive these people for their sins by Your great mercy, and show them the same favor [that You’ve shown] them [since You led them out of] Egypt!’

²⁰ Then Jehovah replied to Moses: ‘I will be [patient] with them as you’ve asked. ²¹ For as I live, and as My Name is living, the glory of Jehovah must fill the whole earth. ²² Because, all men have seen My glory through all the signs that I gave in Egypt and in the desert. But this is the tenth time that [IsraEl] has tested Me and refused to listen to My voice. ²³ So, they will not see the land that I promised to their fathers. Rather, I will give it to their children who are with Me here… those who are inexperienced and don’t yet know good from bad. I’m going to give the land to them, but those who angered Me will never see it. ²⁴ However, My servant Caleb [will see it], because he had a different spirit and he followed Me. I will bring him into the land that he traveled through, and his seed will inherit it. ²⁵ But the Amalechites and CanaAnites will [continue to] live in the valley. So tomorrow [you must] turn around and return to the desert by way of the Red Sea.’

²⁶ Then Jehovah spoke to both Moses and Aaron and said, ²⁷ ‘How much longer will this gathering remain wicked? I’ve heard the grumbling against Me coming from [all] the children of IsraEl… and all their complaints about you. ²⁸ So, tell them that Jehovah says, As I live; Whatever I’ve heard you say is exactly what I’m going to do to you. ²⁹ Your bodies will fall in this desert, and all those who were reviewed and counted from twenty years old and up – all who grumbled against Me – ³⁰ will never enter the land that I stretched out My hand to give you, except for Caleb (the son of JePhonNe), and JoShua (the son of NaWeh).

³¹ ‘Then I will bring your little ones (who you said would serve as prey) into the land, and they will inherit the land that you rejected, ³² while your bodies will fall in this desert. ³³ So your sons must be fed in this desert for forty years, and they must carry the weight of your infidelity, while your bodies rot in the desert. ³⁴ For each day that was spent spying in that land – forty days – you must bear your sins a day for a year – for forty years – and you will get to know My rage. ³⁵ For I Jehovah have spoken, and that’s what I will do to this evil gathering that has stood together against Me. You will be totally destroyed and die here in this desert!’

³⁶ Then all the men who Moses sent to spy in the land and who then returned and grumbled before the group and said evil things about the land ³⁷ were struck with a plague from Jehovah and died. ³⁸ So, among the men who served as spies in the land, only JoShua (the son of NaWeh) and Caleb (the son of JePhonNe) survived.

³⁹ So then, Moses explained all these things to the children of IsraEl, and the people became very depressed.

⁴⁰ Then early the next morning, [Moses] stepped up to the top of a hill and said, ‘{Look!} Now those of us who are left are going to travel to the place where Jehovah told us to go, because we have sinned.’

⁴¹ And Moses asked, ‘Why didn’t you obey the words of Jehovah and prosper? ⁴² Now you can’t [enter the land], because Jehovah isn’t with you; otherwise you will [be cut down] before your enemies. ⁴³ For the Amalechites and the CanaAnites stand there before you, and you will be cut down with swords, because you disobeyed Jehovah and turned aside. So, Jehovah will not be among you.’

⁴⁴ Well, they went up to the top of the mountain and tried to force their way [into the land] anyhow, but the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement and Moses never left the camp. ⁴⁵ So the Amalechites and the CanaAnites that lived on the mountain attacked them, drove them away, and destroyed them all the way to [Mount] Herman; and they [had to] return to the camp.

Chapter 15

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them: When you enter the land that I will give you (and the place where you will live) ³ and offer whole burnt offerings to Jehovah, or offerings to fulfill a vow, or free-will offerings, or feast sacrifices from the herd or flock as a sweet odor to Jehovah, ⁴ the person who offers the gift must also bring a food offering of a quart of flour mixed with oil, ⁵ and a quart [of wine] as a drink offering with each lamb that you sacrifice as a sweet odor to Jehovah.

⁶ ‘And when you offer a ram as a whole-burnt offering or sacrifice, you should prepare a food offering of two quarts of fine flour mixed with oil, ⁷ and two quarts of wine as a drink offering, as a sweet odor to Jehovah.

⁸ ‘And if you offer a sacrifice from the herd as a whole-burnt offering, or a sacrifice to fulfill a vow, or as a peace offering to Jehovah, ⁹ then along with the calf, add a food offering of three quarts of fine flour mixed with oil, ¹⁰ and three quarts of wine as a drink offering, as a sweet odor to Jehovah.

¹¹ ‘You must do this for each calf, ram, lamb, sheep, or goat kid that you offer. ¹² And you must do the same thing for each one, no matter how many you may offer. ¹³ All the natives in the country must do this whenever they offer sacrifices as a sweet odor to Jehovah… ¹⁴ whether the person is an alien in your land or someone who was born among you, they must offer [the same] sacrifices as a sweet odor to [Jehovah… everyone among the gathering must offer sacrifices to Jehovah! ¹⁵ There must be just one law for you and for the aliens who live among you. It is a law through the ages and throughout your generations, that the aliens must act as you do before Jehovah. ¹⁶ Both you and the aliens who live among you must follow the same laws and regulations!’

¹⁷ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ¹⁸ ‘Speak to the sons of IsraEl and tell them: When you enter the land where I am taking you ¹⁹ and you start eating bread from the land, you must set aside a special wave-offering to Jehovah from the first fruitage of your dough. ²⁰ You must set aside and offer your bread as a wave offering in the same way that you offer grain – ²¹ as the first fruitage of your dough – and give it to Jehovah as a wave offering throughout your generations.

²² ‘Now, if you should fail to follow all these commandments that Jehovah gave to Moses, ²³ and which Moses has been telling you since the day that Jehovah selected you, and on through your generations, ²⁴ and if an error is committed by mistake and without the knowledge of the gathering, then the whole gathering must offer a perfect calf from the herd as a whole-burnt offering and as a sweet odor to Jehovah, along with food and drink offerings (according to the rules), and one goat kid as a sin offering. ²⁵ Then the Priest must make payment for the sins of the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl, and they will be forgiven, because it was a mistake, and they have brought their gift as a burnt-offering to Jehovah for their error and involuntary sin. ²⁶ If it is a mistake, all must be forgiven, whether they are from the children of IsraEl or from the aliens that are living among you.

²⁷ ‘And if a person sins by mistake, he must bring a yearling nanny goat as a sin offering. ²⁸ Then the Priest must [sacrifice it] to pay for the sin that was committed in error. ²⁹ This same law applies to the natives of the children of IsraEl and to the aliens who live among them… whoever commits an error unwittingly.

³⁰ ‘And whenever any person – a native or an alien – does anything so presumptuous as to anger God, he must be cut off from among his people. ³¹ For, when he disregards the Word of Jehovah and breaks His Laws, that person must be found guilty of sin and destroyed.’

³² Well, it was while the children of IsraEl were in the desert that they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath. ³³ And those who found him doing this brought him before Moses, Aaron, and the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl. ³⁴ Then he was placed in custody, because they didn’t know what to do with him. ³⁵ But thereafter, Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ‘The man must absolutely be put to death by the entire gathering. Stone him with rocks!’

³⁶ So the entire gathering dragged him outside the camp and stoned him with rocks, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

³⁷ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ³⁸ ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them that they must wear fringes on the bottoms of their clothing throughout all their generations. These fringes are to be made of blue lace. ³⁹ Then, whenever they look at these fringes, they must think of all the Commandments of Jehovah and remember to obey them, instead of turning back and following the immoral things of their imaginations. ⁴⁰ They must remember and obey all My Commandments, and be holy before Me, ⁴¹ for I am Jehovah, the God who brought them out of the land of Egypt to be their God… I am Jehovah your God!’

Chapter 16

¹ And KorAh (the son of IsaAr, of CaAth, of Levi), Dathan, AbiRam (the sons of EliAb), and Aun (the son of Phaleth of Reuben) started talking ² in rebellion against Moses, along with two hundred and fifty men from the sons of IsraEl who were chiefs of the assembly, chosen advisors, and men of fame. ³ They came up against Moses and Aaron, and said, ‘That’s enough of you! Why, the whole gathering of IsraEl is holy, and Jehovah is among them; so why have you set yourselves up over the gathering of Jehovah?’

⁴ Well when Moses heard this, he fell to his face. ⁵ Then he spoke to KorAh and his group and said, ‘God has visited us, and He knows who are His, who are holy, who are set aside to Him, who He has chosen, and who He has purchased for Himself. ⁶ So do this: KorAh and his entire group should take their censors ⁷ and put fire and incense in them to stand before Jehovah tomorrow. Then we will let Jehovah choose who will be holy. And may this settle the matter, you sons of Levi.’

⁸ Then Moses addressed KorAh, saying, ‘Listen to me, you sons of Levi. ⁹ Is it unimportant to you that the God of IsraEl has separated you from the rest of the gathering of IsraEl and brought you close to Him to serve His people in His Tent, ¹⁰ so that you and all your brothers (the sons of Levi) also want to become the Priests? ¹¹ Why, you and your group have gathered against God! Just who is Aaron that you should be complaining against him?’

¹² Then Moses sent for Dathan and AbiRam (the sons of EliAb), and they replied; ‘We aren’t coming. ¹³ Doesn’t it matter to you that you brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, [then you decided] to kill us here in the desert? And now do you want to rule over us too? ¹⁴ Why, if you’re our leader, then why didn’t you bring us into the land that’s flowing with milk and honey, and give us our inheritance of land and vineyards? Couldn’t you have just blinded the eyes of the men [in that land]? No! We aren’t coming!’

¹⁵ Well, this upset Moses, and he said to Jehovah, ‘Don’t accept their sacrifices, because I haven’t taken anything that they want away from them, nor have I harmed any of them.’

¹⁶ Then Moses told KorAh, ‘Be sure that your whole group is holy, then get them ready to stand before Jehovah with Aaron tomorrow. ¹⁷ Each man must bring his censer, then you must each put incense in them and carry the censers before Jehovah… two hundred and fifty censers in all. Then you and Aaron must also bring your censers.’

¹⁸ So, each man brought his censer, put fire and incense in them, then they stood beside Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. ¹⁹ There KorAh and his group stood defiantly as the glory of Jehovah appeared to the whole gathering.

²⁰ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron and said, ²¹ ‘Stand away from the entire gathering [of IsraEl], for I am getting ready to consume them all!’

²² Well, they fell to their faces, and begged, ‘Oh God; the God of all the spirits and flesh; If just one man has sinned, must You bring Your rage against the whole gathering?’

²³ And Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ²⁴ ‘Then tell the gathering to get away from KorAh and his group!’

²⁵ So Moses got up and walked over to Dathan and AbiRam, and all the elders of IsraEl went with him. ²⁶ Then he spoke to the gathering and said, ‘Get away from the tents of these stubborn men and don’t touch anything that belongs to them. Otherwise, you’ll be consumed along with them for their sins!’

²⁷ So, everyone got away from their tents, as KorAh, Dathan, and AbiRam went over and stood at the entrances to their tents, along with their wives, their children, and all their belongings.

²⁸ Then Moses said, ‘Now you will know that; when Jehovah sent me to do these things, it wasn’t on my own. ²⁹ If these men just die a natural death, and if what happens to them is the same as what happens to all men, then Jehovah hasn’t sent me. ³⁰ But if Jehovah brings a miracle and the earth opens her mouth and swallows them, their homes, their tents, and everything that belongs to them, and they go down into their graves alive, then you must know that these men have angered Jehovah!’

³¹ And just as he finished saying those words, the ground rumbled beneath them. ³² Then the ground opened and swallowed them, their homes, all the men that were with KorAh, and all their cattle… ³³ they and all that they had went down into their graves alive. Then the ground covered them, and they perished there in the midst of the gathering.

³⁴ Well at that, all the IsraElites who were standing nearby fled from the noise, shouting: ‘[Run], so the earth doesn’t swallow us too!’

³⁵ Then fire came from Jehovah and it consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense.

³⁶ Thereafter, Jehovah spoke to ³⁷ EliEzer (the son of Aaron the Priest) through Moses, and said, ‘Now, pick up the bronze censers from where the men were burned, then melt them down, because they are holy, ³⁸ [and use them as a sign against] those sinners and against their lives. Beat [the metal] into plates to cover the Altar, for these [censors] were brought before Jehovah as holy, so they must be used as a sign to the children of IsraEl!’

³⁹ Therefore, EliEzer (the son of Aaron the Priest) took the bronze censers that the men who had been burned had carried, and he formed them into a covering for the Altar. ⁴⁰ This was to serve as a reminder to the children of IsraEl that no one other than the seed of Aaron might come close to offer incense before Jehovah, so what happened to KorAh and those who conspired with him doesn’t happen to them. [And he did just] as Jehovah told him through Moses.

⁴¹ Well, the next day, the people started grumbling against Moses and Aaron again, and they shouted, ‘You’ve killed the people of Jehovah!’ ⁴² Then a mob gathered against Moses and Aaron, and they foolishly ran into the Tent of Proofs. And at that, the cloud covered it and the glory of Jehovah appeared!

⁴³ Then Moses and Aaron entered through the front of the Tent of Proofs, ⁴⁴ and Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron and said, ⁴⁵ ‘Get away from the whole gathering [of the children of IsraEl], because I am consuming them!’

And immediately they fell to their faces, ⁴⁶ and Moses said to Aaron, ‘Take a censer, put some fire from the Altar and some incense into it, and quickly carry it into the camp to pay for their sins. Because, Jehovah’s rage has come upon us and He is already destroying the people!’

⁴⁷ So Aaron took it (just as Moses told him), and ran around throughout the gathering, because a plague had already started among them, and he used the incense to pay for the sins of the people. ⁴⁸ Then he stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.

⁴⁹ All together, fourteen thousand, seven hundred died from the plague… in addition to those who died because of KorAh. ⁵⁰ And when Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs, the plague ended.

Chapter 17

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘Tell the children of IsraEl to have their leaders each bring a walking stick with them, one for each of the family lines – twelve walking sticks – and have them each write his name on his walking stick. ³ Then write Aaron’s name on the walking stick of Levi. Each tribe should provide these sticks for [the heads] of their family lines. ⁴ Then you must put all of them inside the Tent of Proofs, before the Chest of Proofs, where I [meet with] you. ⁵ And whoever owns the walking stick that blossoms is the man that I have chosen. This will bring an end to all the children of IsraEl’s grumbling to Me about you.’

⁶ So Moses spoke to the children of IsraEl, and each of their leaders gave him a walking stick, one for each of the heads of their family lines – twelve walking sticks – and Aaron’s walking stick was placed among them. ⁷ Then Moses laid the walking sticks before Jehovah inside the Tent of Proofs.

⁸ Well, the next morning, when Moses and Aaron entered the Tent of Proofs, they saw that the walking stick of Aaron (from the tribe of Levi) had blossomed, putting out buds, blooms, and almonds! ⁹ Then Moses carried all the walking sticks that were before Jehovah out before the sons of IsraEl for them to see, and each [of the leaders] took his walking stick.

¹⁰ And Jehovah told Moses, ‘Now, place Aaron’s walking stick among the Proofs and keep it as a sign for these disobedient children. Then tell them to stop grumbling to Me, so they don’t die!’

¹¹ And that’s what Moses and Aaron did… they did just as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

¹² Then [the leaders] of the children of IsraEl spoke to Moses and asked, ‘Now, are we going to be cut off, destroyed, and consumed? ¹³ Why, everyone who touches the Tent of Jehovah dies, so are we now going to be totally destroyed?’

Chapter 18

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Aaron and told him, ‘You, your sons, and your [tribe] will be guilty of any sins against the holy things, and you and your sons [are responsible for] your Priesthood. ² So now, take your brothers from the tribe of Levi (the family line of your father), accept them as yours, and have them serve you and your sons before the Tent of Proofs. ³ They must obey you and follow your instructions regarding everything having to do with the Tent. However, they must not go near the holy furnishings or the Altar, so that they – and you – don’t die.

⁴ ‘They must be joined to you and follow your instructions regarding the Tent of Proofs and all the services at the Tent. But no one else may even approach you. ⁵ You alone are to give instructions when it comes to the holy things and the Altar, and there must be no more anger [about this] among the children of IsraEl. ⁶ For I have taken your brothers the Levites out from among the children of IsraEl as a gift to Me, to serve at the Tent of Proofs.

⁷ ‘Now, you and your descendants must maintain your assigned positions as Priests, serving at the Altar and inside the veil, doing the things that are required. You must serve in the position of your Priesthood, and any [non-authorized] person who comes close to it must die!’

⁸ Then Jehovah told Aaron: ‘Look, I have given you all the instructions regarding the first fruitage of everything that is to be made perfect for Me by the children of IsraEl. This is an honor for you and your descendants, and it is a law through the ages ⁹ that all the perfected holy things from among the burnt offerings, gifts, sacrifices, all the error and sin offerings – whatever holy things that they bring to Me – will belong to you and to your sons. ¹⁰ And these things must be considered holy to you, so all the males (you and your sons) must eat them in this very holy place.

¹¹ ‘And I am giving all the first fruitage among the gifts – the wave-offerings of the children of IsraEl – to you and to your sons and daughters. It is a law through the ages that all those in your homes who are clean may eat them. ¹² All the first offerings of oil, wine, grain, and whatever else they may offer to Jehovah, is yours. ¹³ All the first fruitage of the land – whatever is offered to Jehovah – must belong to you, and anyone in your home who is clean may eat them.

¹⁴ ‘Anything that the children of IsraEl choose to dedicate must also be yours. ¹⁵ Whatever they bring to Jehovah, whether man or animal – everything that opens a womb – must be yours. However, the first-born of men and the first-born of unclean animals must be paid for. ¹⁶ The value of anything a month old and upwards is five silver coins (twenty copper coins per holy silver coin). ¹⁷ However, you must not pay for the first-born calves, sheep, and goats, because they are holy. You must pour their blood on the Altar, and offer the fat as a burnt offering and a sweet odor to Jehovah. ¹⁸ But their flesh is yours, as is the breast and the right shoulder of the wave-offerings. ¹⁹ All the special offerings of holy things – whatever the children of IsraEl offer as special to Jehovah – I have given to you, your sons, and your daughters who live with you. This is a rule through the ages. It is a Sacred Agreement of salt through the ages between Me, you, and your seed that descends from you.’

²⁰ Then Jehovah told Aaron: ‘You aren’t going to receive an inheritance in that land, nor may you own any part of it, for I am your portion and your inheritance in the midst of the children of IsraEl. ²¹ Look! I have given the sons of Levi all the tithes in IsraEl as their inheritance for the services they perform at the Tent of Proofs.

²² ‘Now, the children of IsraEl must not go close to the Tent of Proofs, or they will [be found] guilty and die. ²³ Just the Levites may work and serve at the Tent of Proofs, and they must be responsible for their mistakes. This is to be a law through the ages and throughout all your generations. They must not receive an inheritance among the children of IsraEl, ²⁴ because I have given the Levites the tithes of the children of IsraEl as their inheritance… everything that is offered to Jehovah. That is why I am telling them that they are to receive no inheritance among the children of IsraEl.’

²⁵ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ²⁶ ‘Speak to the Levites and tell them that when they receive the tithes from the children of IsraEl that I am giving them as their inheritance, they must set aside a tenth of the tithe as a wave offering to Jehovah. ²⁷ These wave offerings must be treated as grain offerings from the [threshing] floor and as offerings from a wine press. ²⁸ They must set this portion aside from all tithe offerings to Jehovah and everything else that they receive from the children of IsraEl, and give My offerings to Aaron the Priest. ²⁹ This includes a portion of all gifts that are given as offerings to Jehovah and all the first fruitage.

³⁰ ‘Tell them that whenever they offer the first fruitage, the Levites must think of it as produce from a threshing floor or from a wine press. ³¹ They and their families may eat it anywhere, because this is their reward for serving at the Tent of Proofs. ³² They won’t sin by doing this, as long as they [set aside] a portion of the first-fruitage and they don’t dirty the holy things of the children of IsraEl. Otherwise, they will be put to death.’

Chapter 19

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron and said, ² ‘This is a commandment of the Law that Jehovah has given you: Speak to the sons of IsraEl and tell them to bring you a perfect unspotted red heifer that has never worn a yoke, ³ then give her to EliEzer the Priest. Have them take her to a clean place outside the camp and slaughter it there before him.

⁴ ‘Then EliEzer must take some of her blood and sprinkle it in front of the Tent of Proofs seven times. ⁵ And thereafter, they must burn it to ashes before him, making sure that her skin, flesh, blood, and dung are totally consumed. ⁶ And the Priest must take some cedar wood, some hyssop, and some scarlet-colored wool, and throw it into the [fire] that is burning the heifer. ⁷ Then the Priest must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and go into the camp and remain unclean until the evening. ⁸ Also, whoever burns [the heifer] must wash his clothes, take a bath, and be unclean until evening.

⁹ ‘Then a clean man must gather up the heifer’s ashes and lay them aside in a clean place outside the camp, to be kept for the gathering of the children of IsraEl to make a water to sprinkle for purification. ¹⁰ And the man that gathers up the heifer’s ashes must wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. This is a law for the children of IsraEl and for the aliens that join with them throughout the ages.

¹¹ ‘Whoever touches a human corpse must be unclean for seven days. ¹² He must then be purified both on the third day and on the seventh day, and then he will be clean. But if he isn’t purged on the third and seventh days, he won’t be clean. ¹³ Also, anyone who touches the carcass of a man who has died and doesn’t get purified, will dirty the Tent of Jehovah, so that person must be cut off from IsraEl, because; if the cleansing water isn’t sprinkled on him, he is unclean and will remain unclean.

¹⁴ ‘This is also the law: Whenever a man dies inside a house, anyone who enters that house and everything in the house must be unclean for seven days. ¹⁵ All jars that are open and don’t have lids that are tightly sealed must be unclean. ¹⁶ Also, anyone who touches a man that was murdered, or a cadaver, or a human bone, or a tomb, must be unclean for seven days.

¹⁷ ‘They must take the burnt ashes of purification and pour them into a jar with running water to make the [water of] purification. ¹⁸ Then a clean man must take [a branch] of hyssop and dip it into the water, and sprinkle the house, the furniture, and all the people who are there that may have touched the human bone, or the murdered man, or the cadaver, or the tomb. ¹⁹ The clean man must sprinkle it on the unclean people on the third and seventh days. Then on the seventh day, he must purify himself, wash his clothes, take a bath, and be unclean until evening.

²⁰ ‘Any man who has become unclean and chooses not to purify himself must be cut off from among the gathering, because he has dirtied the holy things of Jehovah… if the cleansing water hasn’t been sprinkled on him, he remains unclean.

²¹ ‘And it is the law through the ages that whoever sprinkles the water of purification must wash his clothes; and whoever even touches the water must be unclean until evening. ²² Also, everything that an unclean man touches must be unclean, and anyone who touches [that thing] must be unclean until evening.’

Chapter 20

¹ It was during the first month that the people (the whole gathering of the children of IsraEl) traveled to the Sin Desert, and they stayed in Cades… and it was there that Miriam died and was buried.

² However, there was no water in that place, so all the people came to Moses and Aaron, ³ and they started shouting at Moses, saying, ‘We would rather have died when our brothers were destroyed before Jehovah! ⁴ Why have you brought the gathering of Jehovah into this desert… to kill us along with our cattle? ⁵ Just what kind of a place is this? You brought us out of Egypt to bring us into this evil place where we can’t plant crops, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates, and there’s no water here to drink!’

⁶ Then Moses and Aaron went to the entrance of the Tent of Proofs and stood before the people, and [they both] fell to their faces. Then the glory of Jehovah appeared to them, ⁷ and [God] spoke to Moses, saying, ⁸ ‘Call an assembly, then take your walking stick, and you and your brother Aaron must call out to the rock that stands before them, and it will give you its water. You must bring the water out of the rock for them and give it to the gathering and their cattle to drink.’

⁹ So Moses took his walking stick that was there before Jehovah, just as Jehovah had commanded him, ¹⁰ and Moses and Aaron assembled the gathering in front of the rock. Then he said to them, ‘Listen to me, you rebels; Must we bring water for you out of this rock?’

¹¹ Then Moses raised his hand and hit the rock with his rod twice, and water came gushing out; so the gathering and their cattle drank.

¹² Then Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you didn’t believe Me enough to mention Me before the children of IsraEl, you won’t be allowed to lead this gathering into the land that I have given them. ¹³ This is the Water of Rebellion, because it’s where the children of IsraEl spoke rebelliously before Jehovah; yet I remained holy among them.’

¹⁴ Then Moses sent messengers from Cades to the king of Edom, and said, ‘Thus is what your brother IsraEl is saying: You know all the hard times we’ve seen, ¹⁵ and how our fathers went down to Egypt and of the many [years] that we spent there, and how the Egyptians oppressed us and our fathers. ¹⁶ Well, when we called out to Jehovah, He heard our voice and sent His messenger who brought us out of Egypt.

‘And now we are in the city of Cades, at the edge of your land, ¹⁷ and we wish to pass through your land. We won’t walk through your fields or through your vineyards, nor will we drink water from your cisterns. We will travel along the King’s Highway, and we won’t turn right or left until we have past your borders.’

¹⁸ But the Edomites replied, ‘You may not pass through [our land], for if you do, we will go to war against you!’

¹⁹ Then the children of IsraEl said, ‘Then we will go around the mountain, and if our cattle and we drink any of your water, we will pay you for it. It shouldn’t bother you if we travel around the mountain.’

²⁰ But [the Edomites] replied, ‘You may not pass through [our land]!’

Then the Edomites came out to meet them with a huge, well-armed army, ²¹ and they refused to allow IsraEl to cross their borders; so IsraEl turned and went another way… ²² the whole gathering left Cades and traveled to Mount Or.

²³ It was while they were at Mount Or (on the border of the land of Edom) that Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron, and said: ²⁴ ‘Aaron is now going to be laid [to rest] with his people… and you may not enter the land that I have given to the children of IsraEl, because you angered Me at the Water of Rebellion! ²⁵ So, take Aaron and his son EliEzer up Mount Or before the whole gathering, ²⁶ then remove Aaron’s [official] garments and put them on EliEzer. And thereafter, Aaron will die and be added to [his people].’

²⁷ So Moses did just as Jehovah commanded him. He took them up Mont Or before the whole gathering, ²⁸ he removed Aaron’s clothes and put them on his son EliEzer, and then Aaron died on top of the mountain.

Well, when Moses and EliEzer walked down the mountain, ²⁹ the gathering realized that Aaron was dead. Then the whole house of IsraEl wept for Aaron for thirty days.

Chapter 21

¹ And Arad, the CanaAnite king who lived near the desert, heard that IsraEl had traveled through Atharin, so he went to war against IsraEl and carried some of their [people] off as captives. ² Then IsraEl swore a vow to Jehovah, saying, ‘If You will hand them over to us, we will dedicate them and their cities to You.’

³ So Jehovah heard what [the people of] IsraEl said, and gave the CanaAnites into their hands. They [destroyed] them and their cities, and they started calling that place the Cursed.

⁴ Thereafter, they left Mount Or and traveled toward the Red Sea, circling the land of Edom. And somewhere along the way, the people lost their courage. ⁵ Then they started speaking against God and Moses, saying, ‘Why have you brought us out of Egypt… to kill us here in the desert? [We have] no bread or water, and we have come to hate the worthless bread.’

⁶ So, Jehovah sent poisonous snakes among them that bit [many] people, and quite a few of the children of IsraEl died. ⁷ And then the people went to Moses and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have spoken against Jehovah and against you. Please pray to Jehovah and [ask] Him to take these snakes away from us!’

⁸ So Moses prayed to Jehovah for the people, and Jehovah told Moses, ‘Make a snake and raise it as a sign. Then, whenever a snake bites someone, they can look at [this sign] and they will live.’

⁹ As the result, Moses made a brass snake and put it on a sign, so whenever a snake bit a person, he could look at the bronze snake and survive.

¹⁰ Then the children of IsraEl left that place and started camping in ObOth. ¹¹ And from ObOth they moved to AchalGai, which is on the eastern edge of the desert across from Moab. ¹² From there they traveled on and camped in the Valley of Zared. ¹³ Then they left [Zared] and camped on the other side of Arnon, in the desert that runs along the border of the Amorites (Arnon is the border between Moab and the Amorites). ¹⁴ And that’s why it was written about ZoOb (in the scroll of the Wars of Jehovah) that, ‘The dry river beds of Arnon were set on fire, ¹⁵ and Moab’s [Capital] Er [was built] along the river beds at their border.’

¹⁶ It was there that they came to a well, and Jehovah said, ‘I have given this well to Moses; so gather the people and I will give them water to drink.’

¹⁷ Then IsraEl started singing this song at the well:

¹⁸ ‘Their leaders dug it;
The kings of their nation and their kingdom;
They in their kingship sank it in rock;
It was the well to ManthaNain.

¹⁹ And from ManthaNain to NaAliEl,
And from NaAliEl to BamOth,
Then from BamOth to Janen;
And from the plains of Moab,
And the quarry that faces the desert.’

²⁰ Then Moses sent ambassadors to Seon (the king of the Amorites) with words of peace. They [said to him], ²¹ ‘We [wish to] pass through your land. We will travel along the road; we won’t step into your fields or vineyards; ²² and we won’t drink water from your wells. We will just travel along the King’s Highway until we pass your borders.’

²³ But Seon wouldn’t allow IsraEl to cross his borders. Rather, he gathered all his people and set up battle lines against IsraEl from the desert [all the way] to JasSa. ²⁴ However, IsraEl beat them and slaughtered [many of their people with] swords; then they owned all the land from Arnon to JaBoc, as far as the children of AmMan (for JaZer borders the [land of] the children of AmMan).

²⁵ IsraEl captured all the Amorite cities in the [district of] Hesh-Eboneh and they started living in them. ²⁶ For Hesh-Eboneh was the city of Seon (the king of the Amorites), and he had previously fought against the king of Moab and captured all the land from AroEr to Arnon. ²⁷ That’s why there was a saying among those who speak of such dark things:
‘Come to Hesh-Eboneh to build,
And prepare the city for Seon.
²⁸ For a fire came out of Hesh-Eboneh;
A flame from the City of Seon,
And it has burned and consumed,
As far as the pillars of Arnon in Moab.

²⁹ Woe to you O Moab;
You people of Chamosh, for you’ve lost.
Your sons that survived have been sold;
Your daughters are captives of Seon,
Who is the Amorite king.
³⁰ Their seed has perished from Hesh-Eboneh to DaEbon,
And their women caused a fire that’s burning in Moab.’

³¹ It was while IsraEl was living in the cities of the Amorites ³² that Moses sent spies to JaZer. Then he captured it and its [surrounding] villages, and drove out the Amorites who lived there. ³³ And after their return, they [marched] up the road that leads to Bashan and Og (Bashan’s king), and his army came from EdraIn to meet them.

³⁴ Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘Don’t be afraid of him, for I am putting him, his people, and his land into your hands. Now, do to him as you did to Seon the king of the Amorites who lived in Hesh-Eboneh.’

³⁵ So, they attacked and destroyed [Og], his sons, and all his people. None of them were taken alive, so [IsraEl] inherited their land.

Chapter 22

¹ Then the children of IsraEl left that place and camped on the west side of Moab, by the Jordan River near Jericho. ² And when Balak (SepPhor’s son) saw what the IsraElites did to the Amorites, ³ [he] and the people of Moab became very concerned and upset, because there were many IsraElites. ⁴ So, the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, ‘This gathering is going lick up everything around us like a calf would swallow down the greens in a field!’

Well, Balak (the son of SepPhor) was the king of Moab at the time. ⁵ So he sent ambassadors to call BalaAm the son of Beor, who was at Phathura (which is alongside a river in the land of his people). [And he told them] to say, ‘Look, these people who have come from Egypt are covering the land… and now they are camping close to me! ⁶ So, come and curse these people for me, because they are stronger than we are. Then we will be able to attack them and drive them out of the land. Because, I know that whoever you bless will be blest, and whoever you curse will be cursed.’

⁷ So the elders of Moab and Midian left, carrying their charms in their hands, and they went to BalaAm and told him everything that Balak had said. ⁸ Then he told them: ‘Spend the night here and I will tell you whatever the Lord says to me.’

So the leaders of Moab then spent the night with BalaAm. ⁹ And God came to BalaAm [during the night] and asked him, ‘Who are these men that are with you?’

¹⁰ And BalaAm replied, ‘Balak (the son of SepPhor and the king of Moab) sent them to Me. For he said, ¹¹ Look; These people have come from Egypt, and they [literally] cover the land. And now they are camping close to me. So, come and curse them for me, then I can cut them down and drive them out of the land.’

¹² And God told BalaAm: ‘You must not go with them, nor should you curse these people, because they are blest.’

¹³ So, when BalaAm got up the next morning, he told Balak’s [ambassadors]: ‘Hurry and return to your lord, because God won’t allow me to go with you.’

¹⁴ Then the Moabites got up and returned to Balak, and said, ‘BalaAm won’t come with us.’

¹⁵ Well, Balak then sent some [of his] rulers who were even more respected than the last ones. ¹⁶ They went to BalaAm and said, ‘This is what Balak the son of SepPhor says: I beg you; Please hurry and come to me, ¹⁷ for I will honor you with great [gifts], and I will do anything you ask. So, come and curse these people for me!’

¹⁸ But BalaAm answered Balak’s leaders in these words: ‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I still wouldn’t be able to violate the words of God Jehovah and do anything good or anything bad, for I know [this is wrong]. ¹⁹ But spend [another] night here, and I will see what the Lord says.’

²⁰ Then God came to BalaAm during the night and told him, ‘When these men who came to call you [awaken], go with them. But just do the things that I tell you to do.’

²¹ Well, when BalaAm got up in the morning, he saddled his burro and went with the leaders of Moab. ²² But God became very angry and sent His messenger to stop him. So, as he was riding along on his burro, accompanied by two of his servants; ²³ when the burro saw the messenger of God standing in her way with a sword in his hand, she turned aside and went into the field. Well, BalaAm started hitting the [animal] with a stick to make her [behave].

²⁴ Then Jehovah’s messenger went and stood in the Avenue of Vines, which had a fence on both sides. ²⁵ And when the burro saw God’s messenger, she pushed up against the wall, squeezing BalaAm’s foot, and he started hitting her again.

²⁶ Then Jehovah’s messenger went ahead and stood in a narrow place where it was impossible to turn either right or left. ²⁷ And when the burro saw the messenger of God, she just sat down under BalaAm.

Well, BalaAm was furious, and he again started beating the burro with his stick. ²⁸ But God opened the burro’s mouth, and she asked BalaAm, ‘Just what have I done to you that you’ve started beating me a third time?’

²⁹ And BalaAm told the burro, ‘You’re making a fool of me. Why, if I had had a sword in my hand I would have killed you!’

³⁰ Then the burro told BalaAm: ‘I’m the burro that you’ve ridden since you were young; have I ever disobeyed you?’

And [BalaAm] replied, ‘No.’

³¹ And at that, God opened BalaAm’s eyes so he could see the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way with his sword in his hand. So he prostrated himself and bowed to his face.

³² Then God’s messenger asked him, ‘Why did you beat your burro this third time? Look; I came and stood in front of you three times, because the way that you’re heading is wrong! And when this burro saw me, she turned away from me three times. ³³ Why, if she hadn’t turned away, I would have killed you and left her alive!’

³⁴ Well at that, BalaAm said to Jehovah’s messenger, ‘I have sinned! I didn’t realize that you were standing in our way. So, if it displeases you for me to go on, I will turn back.’

³⁵ Then Jehovah’s messenger told BalaAm: ‘Go on with these men! However, make sure that whatever I tell you is what you will tell them!’

So, BalaAm traveled on with Balak’s rulers.

³⁶ Well, when Balak heard that BalaAm had arrived [in his land], he traveled to a city at the border of Arnon (which is on the edge of Moab) to meet him. ³⁷ Then Balak asked BalaAm: ‘Didn’t I send for you? So, why didn’t you come to me? May I not be allowed to honor you?’

³⁸ And BalaAm replied, ‘Look, I’m here now. But let me [warn] you; whatever God tells me is what I must say.’

³⁹ So, BalaAm traveled with Balak until they reached the Cities of Streets. ⁴⁰ There Balak offered sheep and calves [to God], then he called for BalaAm and the leaders who were with him. ⁴¹ And since it was morning, Balak took BalaAm to the sacred column of Baal, and introduced him to some of the people there.

Chapter 23

¹ Then BalaAm said to Balak, ‘Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven calves and seven rams for me.’

² So Balak just did as BalaAm told him, and he offered up a calf and a ram on each altar. ³ Then he said to Balak: ‘Stand here by your sacrifices, and I will go to see if God will appear and meet with me. Then I will tell you whatever He says.’

And Balak stood by his sacrifices ⁴ while BalaAm went to enquire of God… he went straight ahead and God appeared to him. Then BalaAm said, ‘I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered a calf and a ram on each altar.’

⁵ Then God said, ‘Return to Balak and tell him this… ’ then He put the words into BalaAm’s mouth.

⁶ So, BalaAm returned to [Balak], who was standing next to his whole-burnt offerings with all the leaders of Moab. Then the Breath of God came over BalaAm ⁷ and he spoke this prophecy:

‘Balak the king of Moab sent for Me…
In Mesopotamia… the mountains in the east.
He said, Come, curse Jacob for me…
Come call a curse on IsraEl for me.

⁸ But, how can I curse someone who the Lord will not curse,
Or dedicate those who God won’t destroy?
⁹ For I see them on the tops of the Mountains;
I see and observe them in the hills.

And {Look!} these people must live alone;
They must not be considered as one of the nations.

¹⁰ For, who’s counted the seed of Jacob exactly,
And who may number the families of IsraEl?
May my life die among the lives of the righteous,
And my seed be as their seed.’

¹¹ Then Balak said to BalaAm, ‘What have you done to me? I called you to curse my enemies; but look… you have greatly blessed them!’

¹² And BalaAm replied to Balak, ‘Shouldn’t I say whatever the Lord puts into my mouth?’

¹³ And Balak said, ‘Then come with me to another place where you won’t see these people… you’ll only see part of them. Then curse them for me there.’

¹⁴ So, he took him to a high place in a field, to the top of some quarried blocks, where he built seven altars and offered a calf and a ram on each altar. ¹⁵ Then BalaAm said to Balak, ‘Now stand next to your sacrifices, while I will go [and speak to] God.’

¹⁶ And God met with BalaAm and said, ‘Return to Balak and tell him this… ’ Then He put the words into his mouth.

¹⁷ So he returned to Balak, who was standing next to his whole-burnt sacrifice, along with all the leaders of Moab. And Balak asked, ‘What did Jehovah say?’

¹⁸ And [BalaAm] spoke this prophecy:

‘Stand up and listen, O Balak,
Listen to the proofs, O son of SepPhor.
¹⁹ God doesn’t waver like men,
Nor may He be threatened as sons of men.

Must he say something and then not do it;
Must he speak and not keep His word?
²⁰ Look, I’ve been instructed to bless them,
So I’ll bless and not turn back.

²¹ There must be no trouble in Jacob,
Nor may sorrow be seen within IsraEl;
For Jehovah their God is with them,
And the glory of kings is among them.

²² It was God who brought them from Egypt
And His glory is as a rhinoceros.
²³ For there’s no sooth-saying in Jacob,
And there are no enchanters in IsraEl.

So in time, Jacob and IsraEl will be told
The things that God will then do.

²⁴ {Look!} These people will become like cubs of a lion,
And they will grow into lions.
They won’t lie down ‘til they’ve eaten their prey,
And drunk the blood of those whom they’ve killed.’

²⁵ Then Balak said to BalaAm, ‘If you can’t curse the people for me, then don’t bless them!’

²⁶ And BalaAm replied, ‘Didn’t I tell you that I must say whatever God tells me?’

²⁷ And Balak said, ‘Then come, and I will take you to another place that is more pleasing to God, and you can curse them for me there.’

²⁸ So Balak took BalaAm to the top of Phogor, which runs into the desert. ²⁹ And BalaAm said to Balak, ‘Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven calves and seven rams for me.’

³⁰ And Balak did just as BalaAm told him. Then he offered a calf and a ram on each altar.

Chapter 24

¹ It was then that BalaAm finally realized that it pleased God to bless IsraEl, so he didn’t follow his usual custom of looking for omens. Rather, he just turned his face toward the desert. ² Then as BalaAm looked and saw IsraEl camped by their tribes, God’s Breath came over him, ³ and he spoke this prophecy:

‘BalaAm, son of Beor; this man who truly does see…
⁴ Who hears the prophecies of the [great] Mighty One…
His eyes were opened and he saw a vision of God…
While he slept, his eyes were then opened.

⁵ How good are the places where you live, O Jacob,
And your tents, O IsraEl.
⁶ Like shady groves and gardens by a river;
Like tents pitched by God and cedars by water.

⁷ ‘For a man will come from your seed,
Who will rule many nations.
His kingdom must be raised high and then grow.
⁸ For out of Egypt God brought him.

He has the glory of the rhinoceros.
He will consume the nations who hate him,
He must drain them of all their marrow,
And shoot his enemies through with his arrows.

⁹ He will lie down and rest like a lion,
And as a young lion, who will wake him?
So those who bless him are blest,
And those who curse him are cursed.’

¹⁰ Well, this made Balak very angry with BalaAm; so he clapped his hands and said to him, ‘I called you to curse my enemy, but look; You’ve blessed him for the third time! ¹¹ Now, hurry and go back home. For though I said that I would honor you, now the Lord has deprived you of your glory!’

¹² And BalaAm replied to Balak, ‘Didn’t I tell the messengers who you sent to Me ¹³ that if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I wouldn’t oppose the Lord and do either good or bad by myself, but that I would say whatever God tells me to say? ¹⁴ So now, {Look!} I will go back to my home. But [first], come here and I’ll tell you what these people will do to your people in the last days.’ ¹⁵ Then he spoke this prophecy:

‘BalaAm the son of Beor says this…
The man who truly sees tells you this:
¹⁶ I heard the prophecies of God,
Knowledge from the Most High I received.

I saw a vision of God in my sleep,
And it opened my eyes.
¹⁷ I’ll point to him, but not now;
I’ll bless him, though he’s not near.

A star must arise from Jacob,
And from IsraEl a man must then spring.
He will crush the leaders of Moab,
And all sons of Seth he will plunder.

¹⁸ For his courage he’ll receive Edom,
And inherit his enemy Esau.
¹⁹ [This man] will come out of Jacob,
And destroy all escaping from the cities.’

²⁰ Then he noticed the Amalechites and spoke this prophecy:

‘Amalech is the first among nations,
But their seed will [also soon] die.’

²¹ Then he noticed the Kenites, and he spoke this prophecy:

‘Though the place where you live is very strong,
You should build your nest on a rock.
²² And even if Beor provides you good hiding,
The Assyrians will take you as captives.’

²³ Then he noticed Og, and he spoke this prophecy:

’Oh, oh; Who will survive when God does such things?
²⁴ For ships will come from Cypriot shores,
Who’ll defeat Assyria and Eber;
They’ll be destroyed all together.’

²⁵ Then BalaAm got up and left for his [land], and Balak went back home.

Chapter 25

¹ Well, it was while IsraEl was camped at SatTin that [many of] the people made themselves dirty by engaging in immoral sex with the daughters of Moab. ² Then they started worshiping their idols, offering sacrifices to them, and eating their sacrifices. ³ So, IsraEl had become totally devoted to Beel Phegor, which made Jehovah very angry with them.

⁴ And as the result, Jehovah told Moses: ‘Take all the leaders, then lay them out in the sunlight before Jehovah to make examples of them, so His anger will turn away from IsraEl!’

⁵ And Moses told the tribes of IsraEl: ‘You must each kill any of your friends who have devoted themselves to Beel Phegor.’

⁶ And just then, an IsraElite man came and led his brother over to [have sex with] a Midianite woman… and he did this right in front of Moses and the whole gathering of the children of IsraEl, who had been weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs! ⁷ And when Phineas (the son of EliEzer and grandson of Aaron the Priest) saw it, he stood up in the midst of the gathering, took a spear in his hand, ⁸ and followed the IsraElite man right into his bedroom. Then he ran the spear through the IsraElite man, and through the woman’s womb. And with that, the plague [that had come] on the children of IsraEl stopped. ⁹ However, by then, twenty-four thousand had died.

¹⁰ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ¹¹ ‘Phineas (the son of EliEzer and grandson of Aaron the Priest) has brought an end to My rage against the children of IsraEl. And although I was very zealous, I didn’t consume them all in My zeal. ¹² So, tell him that I am making a sacred agreement of peace ¹³ with him and with the seed that descends from him. They will be Priests through the ages due to his zeal for his God, and because he paid for the sins of the children of IsraEl.’

¹⁴ Now, the name of the IsraElite man who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zambri. He was the son of Salmon and a leader of one of the lines of the tribe of Symeon. ¹⁵ The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Chasbi. She was the daughter of Sur, who was a leader of the nation of OmMoth and a chief among the people of Midian.

¹⁶ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ‘Tell the children of IsraEl ¹⁷ that the Midianites are to be considered their enemies, so they must be treated as a plague and killed! ¹⁸ For, the treachery that they used to trap you (as in the case of Phogor and Chasbi, a daughter of a leader of Midian, who was killed on the day of the plague) has proven that they are your enemies!’

Chapter 26

¹ Well, after the plague, Jehovah spoke to Moses and EliEzer (the Priest) and said, ² ‘Take a census of the gathering of the children of IsraEl. Count all those who are twenty years old and upwards that serve as soldiers for IsraEl, by family lines.’

³ So, it was there at ArabOth of Moab, near the Jordan and Jericho, that Moses and EliEzer the Priest [took the census] ⁴ and counted all [the soldiers] who were twenty years old and older, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses. And these are the [family lines] of IsraEl that came out of Egypt:

⁵ Reuben was the firstborn of IsraEl. His descendants were Enoch and his family, PhalLu and his family of PhalLuites, ⁶ Asron and his family of Asronites, and Charmi and his family. ⁷ So, the [army of] the descendants of Reuben was numbered at forty-three thousand, seven hundred and thirty.

⁸ The descendants of PhalLu were EliAb ⁹ and his sons, NamuEl, Dathan, and AbiRam. [Dathan and AbiRam] were the famous men among the gathering who joined KorAh in opposing Moses and Aaron, and rebelling against Jehovah. ¹⁰ Then the ground opened its mouth and swallowed them along with KorAh; and their followers perished when fire destroyed all two hundred and fifty as a sign [from God]. ¹¹ However, KorAh’s sons weren’t killed.

¹² The descendants of Symeon were NamuEl and his family of NamuElites, JaMin and his family of JaMinites, JaChin and his family of JaChinites, ¹³ Zara and his family of Zaraites, and Saul and his family of Saulites. ¹⁴ So, the [army of] the descendants of Symeon was numbered at twenty-two thousand, two hundred.

¹⁵ The descendants of Judah were Er and AuNan (who both died in the land of CanaAn), ¹⁶ Selom and his family of Selomites, Phares and his family of Pharesites, and Zara and his family of Zaraites. ¹⁷ Phares’ sons were Asron and his family of Asronites, and JaMun and his family of JaMunites. ¹⁸ So, the [army of] the descendants of Judah was numbered at seventy-six thousand, five hundred.

¹⁹ The descendants of IsSachar and their family lines were Thola and his family of Tholaites, Phua and his family of Phuaites, ²⁰ JaSub and his family of JaSubites, and SamRam and his family of SamRamites. ²¹ So, the [army of] the descendants of IsSachar was numbered at sixty-four thousand, four hundred.

²² The descendants of ZebuLon and their family lines were Sared and his family of Saredites, AlLon and his family of AlLonites, and AlLel and his family of AlLelites. ²³ So, the [army of] the descendants of ZebuLon was numbered at sixty thousand, five hundred.

²⁴ The descendants of Gad and their family lines were Saphon and his family of Saphonites, Angi and his family of Angites, Suni and his family of Sunites, ²⁵ Azeni and his families of Azenites and Addites, ²⁶ AroAdi and his family of AroAdites, and AriEl and his family of AriElites. ²⁷ So, the [army of] the descendants of Gad was numbered at forty-four thousand, five hundred.

²⁸ The descendants of Asher and their family lines were JaMin and his family of JaMinites, JoShua and his family of JoShuites, BarJa and his family of BarJaites, ²⁹ Chober and his family of Choberites, and MelchiEl and his family of MelchiElites. ³⁰ (Asher’s daughter’s name was Sara). ³¹ So, the [army of] the descendants of Asher was numbered at forty-three thousand, four hundred.

³² Joseph had two sons, ManasSeh and EphraIm, and each had his own family line.

³³ The descendants of ManasSeh and their family lines were Machir and his family of Machirites. Machir’s son was GalaAd, and he was the father of the GalaAdites. ³⁴ The descendants of GalaAd were AchiEzer and his family of AchiEzerites, Cheleg and his family of Chelegites, ³⁵ EsriEl and his family of EsriElites, Sychem and his family of Sychemites, ³⁶ SymaEr and his family of SymaErites, Opher and his family of Opherites. ³⁷ Opher’s son SalpaAd had no sons, just daughters. His daughter’s names were SalpaAd, Mala, Nua, Egla, Melcha, and Thersa. ³⁸ So, the [army of] the descendants of ManasSeh was numbered at fifty-two thousand, seven hundred.

³⁹ The descendants of EphraIm were SuthaLa and his family of SuthaLanites and Tanach and his family of Tanachites. ⁴⁰ SuthaLa was the father of Eden and his family of Edenites. ⁴¹ So, the [army of] the descendants of EphraIm was numbered at thirty-two thousand, five hundred.

These were the families of the children of Joseph and their family lines.

⁴² The descendants of BenJamin and their family lines were Bale and his family of Balites, Asuber and his family of Asuberites, JaChiran and his family of JaChiranites, ⁴³ and Sophan and his family of Sophanites. ⁴⁴ Bale’s sons were Adar and NoEman. Adar started his family of Adarites and NoEman started his family of NoEmanites. ⁴⁵ So, the [army of] the descendants of BenJamin and their family lines was numbered at thirty-five thousand, five hundred.

⁴⁶ The descendants of Dan were SaMei and his family of SaMeites. So, the [army of] the descendants of Dan ⁴⁷ through SaMei and his family line was numbered at sixty-four thousand, four hundred.

⁴⁸ The descendants of NaphTali and their family lines were AsiEl and his family of AsiElites, Gaun and his family of Gaunites, ⁴⁹ Jeser and his family of Jeserites, and SelLem and his family of SelLemites. ⁵⁰ So, the [army of] the descendants of NaphTali was numbered at forty thousand, three hundred.

⁵¹ So all together, there were six hundred-and-one thousand, seven hundred and thirty, who were counted among [the army] of the children of IsraEl,

⁵² Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ⁵³ ‘This is how the land must be divided: The inheritances should be allotted by [family] names, ⁵⁴ and the larger groups should be given larger inheritances, while the smaller groups should be given smaller inheritances. So, use this census to divide the inheritances. ⁵⁵ The land must be divided by these names and assigned by lottery, and each of the family lines and tribes must be given an assignment [of land]. ⁵⁶ Then divide [the land] into smaller and larger portions.

⁵⁷ Now, the descendants of Levi and their family lines were Gedson and his family of Gedsonites, CaAth and his family of CaAthites, MeraRi and his family of MeraRites, ⁵⁸ and Lobi and his families of Lobenites, Hebronites, Coreites, and Musites.

CaAth’s son was AmRam. ⁵⁹ His wife’s name was JoChabed, and she was the daughter of Levi. She gave birth to these [grandsons] of Levi while she was in Egypt: AmRam, Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.

⁶⁰ Aaron’s sons were Nadab, AbiUd, EliEzer, and IthaMar, ⁶¹ but Nadab and AbiUd died when they offered unauthorized fire to Jehovah while they were in the Sinai Desert. ⁶² There were twenty-three thousand males among [Aaron’s family line] who were a month old and older. However, they weren’t counted among the children of IsraEl, because they were to receive no inheritance among them.

⁶³ This was the census that was conducted by Moses and EliEzer (the Priest) in ArabOth of Moab, near the Jordan River and Jericho. ⁶⁴ However, none among them had been counted in the [earlier] census of the children of IsraEl that was taken by Moses and Aaron in the Sinai Desert, ⁶⁵ for Jehovah told them that they were going to die in the desert, and none were left except Caleb (the son of JePhonNe) and JoShua (the son of NaWeh).

Chapter 27

¹ The daughters of SalpaAd (who was the son of Opher, grandson of GalaAd, and great-grandson of Machir – and whose daughter’s names were MaAla, Nua, Egla, Melcha, and Thersa) of the tribe of ManasSeh (which is one of the sons of Joseph) came ² and stood before Moses, EliEzer the Priest, all the leaders, and the whole gathering at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. Then they said: ³ ‘Our father died in the desert, but he wasn’t among those in the gathering who rebelled against Jehovah by joining with KorAh. Rather, he died for his own sin… and he had no sons. [Please] don’t allow the name of our father to be blotted out from among his people just because he had no sons. Give us an inheritance among our father’s brothers!’

⁴ So, Moses brought their case before Jehovah.

⁵ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ⁶ ‘The daughters of SalpaAd are right. You should assign them an inheritance among their father’s brothers as their father’s inheritance. ⁷ So, speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them: ⁸ If a man dies without any sons, you must give his inheritance to his daughters. ⁹ If he has no daughters, you must give his inheritance to his brother. ¹⁰ However, if he has no brothers, you must give his inheritance to his father’s brother. ¹¹ And if his father has no brothers, you must give the inheritance to the nearest relative in his tribe.’

These were the laws concerning the inheritance of possessions among the children of IsraEl that Jehovah gave to Moses.

¹² Then Jehovah told Moses: ‘Go to the Mountain in the country beyond the Jordan (Mount Nabau) and gaze upon the land CanaAn, which I am giving to the sons of IsraEl. ¹³ Then you will be added to your people, just as your brother Aaron was added to them on Mount Or. ¹⁴ This is because you failed in My commandments while [you were] in the desert of Sin, when the whole gathering opposed Me and refused to consider Me holy, and you failed to [speak of] Me as holy when you brought the water out [of the rock] before them… the Water of Complaint at Cades in the Sin Desert.’

¹⁵ Then Moses said to Jehovah: ¹⁶ ‘May Jehovah, the God of all that is breath and all that is flesh, provide a man who will watch over this gathering. ¹⁷ Don’t leave the gathering of Jehovah as sheep without a shepherd, but [assign someone] to travel before them as their leader, who will lead them in and lead them out.’

¹⁸ And Jehovah said to Moses, ‘Choose and lay your hands on JoShua, the son of NaWeh, for he’s a man who has [God’s] Breath upon him. ¹⁹ Then take him before EliEzer the Priest and give him all his instructions before the entire gathering, ²⁰ and put all of your glory on him so that the children of IsraEl will listen to him. ²¹ Then he must stand alongside EliEzer the Priest, and whenever they come before Jehovah to ask for the judgments of the Revelation, they must do whatever he says… they must follow his instructions and the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl must unite behind him!’

²² So Moses did just as Jehovah commanded him… he took JoShua and stood him before EliEzer the Priest and the entire gathering. ²³ Then he laid his hands on him and gave him his appointment, just as Jehovah ordered Moses.

Chapter 28

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them to be sure to offer their gifts and presents to Me… the burnt offerings that provide a sweet-smelling odor during My feasts. ³ Tell them that two perfect yearling lambs must be brought each day through the ages as whole-burnt offerings. ⁴ They must offer one lamb in the morning and the second in the evening.

⁵ ‘They must also offer three quarts of fine flour mixed with a quart of oil as a food offering. ⁶ This whole-burnt offering is to be sacrificed through the ages as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah, just as it was offered on Mount Sinai. ⁷ [They must also bring] a drink offering – a quart for each lamb – and pour it out in the holy place as an offering to Jehovah.

⁸ ‘As for the second lamb, the one that is to be [sacrificed] in the evening; it should also be presented along with a food offering and a drink offering, as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah.

⁹ ‘And on each Sabbath day, they must offer two perfect yearling lambs with two quarts of fine flour mixed with oil as a food offering, plus a drink offering. ¹⁰ So, a whole-burnt offering [must be sacrificed] on each Sabbath day, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings and drink offerings.

¹¹ ‘And on each New Moon they must bring a whole-burnt offering to Jehovah, consisting of two calves from the herd, one ram, seven perfect yearling lambs, ¹² plus three quarts of fine flour mixed with oil per calf, two quarts of fine flour mixed with oil per ram, ¹³ and a quart of fine flour mixed with oil for each lamb, as food offerings and as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah. ¹⁴ Their drink offerings must be a half gallon for each calf, a third of a gallon for each ram, and a quart of wine for each lamb. These whole-burnt offerings must be brought each month of the year. ¹⁵ Also, one goat kid must be brought to Jehovah as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings and drink offerings.

¹⁶ ‘Then on the fourteenth day of the first month [they must celebrate] the Passover to Jehovah. ¹⁷ And on the fifteenth day of the month, there is to be a feast during which they must eat fermentation-free bread for seven days. ¹⁸ That first day will be a holy day of rest, so they must not do any physical labor. ¹⁹ Thereafter, these whole-burnt offerings must be sacrificed to Jehovah: two calves from the herd, one ram, seven yearling lambs (which must all be perfect), ²⁰ a food offering of fine flour mixed with oil (three quarts per calf, two quarts per ram, ²¹ and a pint for each of the seven lambs), ²² plus a goat kid as a sin offering (to pay for their sins). ²³ This is in addition to the whole-burnt offering that must be brought each morning as a continuous whole-burnt sacrifice ²⁴ seven days a week, as a gift and a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah, along with a drink offering. ²⁵ Then the following seventh day must be a holy day of rest, during which they must do no hard labor.

²⁶ ‘Also, the day when the new grain is offered to Jehovah must be a holy day of rest, during which they may do no hard labor. ²⁷ And these whole-burnt offerings must be brought as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah: two calves from the herd, one ram, and seven perfect lambs, ²⁸ along with food offerings of fine flour mixed with oil, three quarts per calf, two quarts per ram, ²⁹ and a pint for each lamb (which is to be offered separately for each of the seven lambs). A goat kid must also be brought ³⁰ as a sin offering, to pay for your sins, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings and ³¹ the food offerings that you bring to Me. They must all be perfect and each must have its drink offering.’

Chapter 29

¹ ‘And first day of the seventh month must be a holy day of rest for you, during which you may do no manual labor, for that’s when the trumpets are to be blown. ² Then you must offer these whole burnt offerings as a sweet odor to Jehovah: one calf from the herd, one ram, and seven perfect yearling lambs. ³ As food offerings, you must bring fine flour mixed with oil, three quarts per calf, two quarts per ram, ⁴ and a quart for each of the seven lambs. ⁵ You must also bring a goat kid as a sin offering, to pay for your sins. ⁶ This is in addition to the whole-burnt offerings for the New Moon Festival and their food and drink offerings, and the regular whole-burnt offerings, with their food and drink offerings (according to their laws), which must be offered as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah.

⁷ ‘And the tenth of that month must also be a holy day of rest for you… you may do no work, for you must examine your lives. ⁸ Then you must bring these whole-burnt offerings as a sweet-smelling odor to Jehovah: one calf from the herd, one ram, and seven yearling lambs, each of which must be to perfect. ⁹ Their food offerings must be fine flour mixed with oil, three quarts for the calf, two quarts per ram, ¹⁰ and a quart for each of the seven lambs. ¹¹ You must also bring a goat kid as a sin offering, to pay for your sins. All of this is in addition to the other sin offerings, and the regular whole-burnt offerings, along with their food and drink offerings (according to their laws), which must be offered as a sweet odor and as a burnt sacrifice to Jehovah.

¹² ‘And the fifteenth day of the seventh month must also be a holy day of rest during which you must do no hard labor, for you are to hold a feast to Jehovah for the next seven days. ¹³ And you must bring these whole-burnt offerings as a sacrifice and as a sweet odor to Jehovah: On the first day you must bring thirteen calves from the herd, two rams, and fourteen yearling lambs, which must all be perfect. ¹⁴ The food offerings must be fine flour mixed with oil, three quarts for each of the thirteen calves, two quarts for each of the two rams, ¹⁵ and a quart for each of the fourteen lambs. ¹⁶ Also, one goat kid must be offered as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.

¹⁷ ‘Then on the second day, bring twelve calves, two rams, and fourteen perfect yearling lambs. ¹⁸ The amount of food and drink offerings for the calves, rams, and lambs must be according to the Law. ¹⁹ And one goat kid must be brought as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.

²⁰ ‘On the third day, bring eleven calves, two rams, and fourteen perfect yearling lambs. ²¹ The amount of food and drink offerings for the calves, rams, and lambs must be according to the Law. ²² And one goat kid must be brought as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.

²³ ‘On the fourth day, bring ten calves, two rams, and fourteen perfect yearling lambs. ²⁴ The amount of food and drink offerings for the calves, rams, and lambs must be according to the Law. ²⁵ And one goat kid must be brought as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.

²⁶ ‘On the fifth day, bring nine calves, two rams, and fourteen perfect yearling lambs. ²⁷ The amount of food and drink offerings for the calves, rams, and lambs must be according to the Law. ²⁸ And one goat kid must be brought as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.

²⁹ ‘On the sixth day, bring eight calves, two rams, and fourteen perfect yearling lambs. ³⁰ The amount of food and drink offerings for the calves, rams, and lambs must be according to the Law. ³¹ And one goat kid must be brought as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.

³² ‘On the seventh day, bring seven calves, two rams, and fourteen perfect, yearling lambs. ³³ The amount of food and drink offerings for the calves, rams, and lambs must be according to the Law. ³⁴ And one goat kid must be brought as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.

³⁵ ‘Then the eighth day is the one when [slaves] are to be set free, so no manual labor may be done then. ³⁶ And you must bring one calf, one ram, and seven perfect yearling lambs as whole-burnt-offering sacrifices to Jehovah. ³⁷ The amount of food and drink offerings for the calves, rams, and lambs must be according to the Law. ³⁸ And one goat kid must be brought as a sin offering, in addition to the regular whole-burnt offerings, food offerings, and drink offerings.

³⁹ ‘These are the things that you must offer to Jehovah during your feasts, in addition to those that you offer in your vows as free-will offerings, and as your whole burnt offerings, food offerings, drink offerings, and your peace offerings.’

Chapter 30

¹ So Moses spoke to the children of IsraEl and told them everything that Jehovah had commanded.

² Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of IsraEl and said, ‘This is what Jehovah has commanded: ³ Whenever a man makes a vow to Jehovah, or swears an oath, or accepts a responsibility, he must not break his word… he must do whatever he says!

⁴ ‘And the same is true of a woman. She must do whatever she vows to Jehovah. If she says that she will do something while she is young and still living in her father’s house, and her father hears her say it – as long as he doesn’t disagree with her making [such a vow] – then all her vows must be fulfilled, ⁵ and she is bound to any obligations that she has taken upon her life. ⁶ However, if her father forbids [her vow] (or any other obligation that she agrees to) on the same day that he hears it, then she isn’t bound to it, and Jehovah won’t hold her accountable, because it was forbidden by her father.

⁷ ‘And if she is married and speaks a vow to accept an obligation on her life, ⁸ and her husband hears it – as long as he doesn’t disagree with her making it – then all her vows must be fulfilled and she is bound to any obligations that she has taken upon her life. ⁹ However, if her husband forbids [her vow] (or any other obligation that she agrees to) on the same day that he hears it, then she isn’t bound to it and Jehovah won’t hold her accountable, because it was forbidden by her husband.

¹⁰ ‘Also, whatever a widow or divorced woman vows to do with her life must be done. ¹¹ And if she made the vow when she was still [living] with her husband, ¹² and her husband heard it and didn’t object, then all her vows must be fulfilled and she is bound to any obligations that she has taken upon her life. ¹³ However, if her husband cancelled [her vow] (or any other obligation that she agreed to) on the same day that he hears it, then she isn’t bound to it and Jehovah won’t hold her accountable, because her husband forbade it.

¹⁴ ‘So, any vow [that a married woman] makes that will affect her life must be heard by her husband, and he must either agree to it or disallow it. ¹⁵ And if he chooses to say nothing, then she is bound to it, and he must agree to any obligations that she has accepted, because he didn’t disagree on the day that he heard it. ¹⁶ But if her husband should – for any reason – choose to cancel a vow after that, he is guilty of a sin.’

¹⁷ These were the laws that Jehovah gave to Moses regarding a man and his wife, and regarding a father and his young daughter who is still living in his home.

Chapter 31

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘I want you to avenge the wrongs that the Midianites have committed against the children of IsraEl. And after that, you will be added to your people.’

³ So, Moses spoke to the people and said, ‘Arm yourselves, then stand before Jehovah in battle lines and [prepare yourselves] to bring Jehovah’s vengeance upon Midian… ⁴ select a thousand from each of the tribes of the children of IsraEl to go to war.’

⁵ So they counted off the thousand from each tribe of IsraEl – twelve thousand – and armed them for war. ⁶ Then Moses sent them off, along with Phineas (the son of EliEzer the Priest and the grandson of Aaron), carrying the holy instruments and the signal trumpets.

⁷ Then they arranged themselves in battle lines against Midian just as Jehovah had commanded Moses, and they destroyed them. ⁸ Thereafter, they killed the five kings of Midian (Evi, Rocon, Sur, Ur, and Roboc)… and they even killed BalaAm (the son of Beor) along with the rest, with a sword. ⁹ Then they took the women of Midian as captives, along with their food, cattle, and all their possessions, and they destroyed their army. ¹⁰ Next, they burned all their cities, villages, and homes with fire… ¹¹ they plundered everything, including the people and their animals, ¹² and carried off all the captives, spoils, and plunder for Moses, EliEzer the Priest, and the children of IsraEl, to their camp at ArabOth in Moab, which is near the Jordan River and Jericho.

¹³ Then Moses, EliEzer (the Priest), and all the leaders of the gathering went to the camp to meet them. ¹⁴ Well, Moses was furious with the captains of the army (the leaders of thousands and of hundreds) who had returned from the battle, ¹⁵ and he asked them, ‘Why have you kept these women alive? ¹⁶ They were the ones [who listened to] BalaAm and misled the children of IsraEl by inciting their revolt and by teaching them to despise the word of Jehovah at Phogor; and that’s why Jehovah sent a plague on the gathering!

¹⁷ ‘Now, kill all the men, destroy all their food, and kill all the women who you know aren’t virgins. ¹⁸ You may spare any women who you suspect are virgins. ¹⁹ Then all who have killed or touched dead bodies must stay out of our camp for seven days, and thereafter, you and those who you have captured must be purified on the third day and on the seventh day. ²⁰ Then you must purify all your clothes, all you leather utensils, all your goatskin items, and all your wooden bowls.’

²¹ Then EliEzer (the Priest) told the men from the army who had just returned from battle, ‘This is what the Law that Jehovah gave to Moses says: ²² The items of gold, silver, brass, iron, lead, and tin ²³ must be passed through fire to be cleansed. And whatever can’t be passed through a fire must be sprinkled with the purifying water to be made clean. ²⁴ And on the seventh day, you must be cleansed and wash your clothes. Only then may you enter our camp.’

²⁵ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ²⁶ ‘I want you and EliEzer the Priest to take an inventory of the captured people and animals, ²⁷ then divide them among the soldiers who went out to battle, and with the rest of gathering. ²⁸ And as a tribute to Jehovah from the warriors that went out to battle, take one out of every five hundred of the people, oxen, sheep, and burros, and ²⁹ give them to EliEzer the Priest as the first fruits of Jehovah. ³⁰ Then from among those things that are given to the children of IsraEl, you should take one out of fifty of the people, oxen, sheep, and burros, and give them to the Levites who teach at the Tent of Jehovah.’

³¹ So, Moses and EliEzer (the Priest) did as Jehovah commanded Moses. ³² And the plunder that the soldiers took included six hundred and seventy-five thousand sheep, ³³ seventy-two thousand oxen, ³⁴ and sixty-one thousand burros. ³⁵ There were also thirty-two thousand women who were virgins. ³⁶ Half of all this was given to the soldiers who went to war. And of the three hundred-thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep, they gave ³⁷ six hundred and seventy-five sheep as a tribute to Jehovah. ³⁸ And of their thirty-six thousand oxen, they gave seventy-two as a tribute to Jehovah; ³⁹ of their thirty thousand five hundred burros, they gave sixty-one as a tribute to Jehovah; ⁴⁰ and of the sixteen thousand people, they gave thirty-two of them as a tribute to Jehovah.

⁴¹ Then Moses presented all the tributes as a wave offering to Jehovah God, [and it was given] to EliEzer the Priest (just as Jehovah had commanded Moses) ⁴² from the half that belonged to the children of IsraEl who Moses had separated as the men of war. ⁴³ So, three hundred-thirty-seven thousand, five hundred sheep were given to the gathering as their half, ⁴⁴ plus thirty-six thousand oxen, ⁴⁵ thirty thousand, five hundred burros, ⁴⁶ and sixteen thousand people. ⁴⁷ And from their half, Moses took a fiftieth of the people and cattle, and gave them to the Levites who teach at the Tent of Jehovah, as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

⁴⁸ Then all those who had been appointed as officers over the army (the captains of thousands and of hundreds) approached Moses and said, ⁴⁹ ‘Your servants have counted the men of war among us, and none have been lost. ⁵⁰ And those of us who found things that were made of gold, such as armlets, chains, rings, bracelets, and hair clasps, have brought them as our gift to Jehovah, to pay for our sins.’

⁵¹ So, Moses and EliEzer (the Priest) took all the gold items from them, ⁵² and [they found that] the gold the captains of thousands and of hundreds offered to Jehovah was worth sixteen thousand, seven hundred and fifty silver coins. ⁵³ But the soldiers kept their plunder for themselves. ⁵⁴ Then Moses and EliEzer (the Priest) took all the gold items that the captains of thousands and hundreds contributed, and placed them in the Tent of Proofs, as a reminder to the children of IsraEl, there in front of Jehovah.

Chapter 32

¹ Now, the [tribes] of Reuben and Gad both had huge herds of cattle, and when they saw that the area of JaZer and GalaAd had good grazing land, ² they went to Moses, EliEzer the Priest, and to the leaders of the gathering, and said to them, ³ ‘The area of AtarOth, DaEbon, JaZer, Namra, Hesh-Eboneh, ElAle, Sebama, Nabau, and BaeAn, ⁴ which Jehovah has delivered into the hands of the children of IsraEl, is pasture land, and we (your servants) have many cattle. ⁵ So if it pleases you, may your servants be given this land as our inheritance. Don’t make us cross the Jordan River.’

⁶ But Moses asked, ‘Then, when your brothers go to war, are you just going to sit here? ⁷ Why are you twisting the minds of the children of IsraEl by encouraging them not to cross into the land that Jehovah is giving them? ⁸ Isn’t this the same thing that your fathers did when I sent them from Cades Barne to spy in the land? ⁹ For, after they went into the Valley of Grape Clusters as spies, they twisted the hearts of the children of IsraEl, so that they didn’t want to enter the land that Jehovah gave them. ¹⁰ And this made Jehovah very angry, so He swore and said, ¹¹ All these men who were twenty years old and older when they left Egypt, and who knew the difference between good and evil, will not see the land that I swore to give to AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob, because they have chosen not to follow Me. ¹² The only exceptions are Caleb (the son of JePhonNe) and JoShua (the son of NaWeh), for they followed Me closely.

¹³ ‘And because Jehovah was so angry with IsraEl, He made them wander in the desert for forty years, until the whole generation that did this evil thing before Him was gone. ¹⁴ Now {Look!} you’re following in the footsteps of your fathers and you have allied yourselves as sinful people to make Jehovah even angrier against IsraEl, ¹⁵ because you want to turn away from Him and stay in the desert again. And in doing this, you are sinning against this whole gathering!’

¹⁶ But they came to him and said, ‘If we can build pens for our cattle here and have these cities as our possession, ¹⁷ we will arm ourselves and march ahead of the children of IsraEl to lead them to their land. However, we will leave our possessions inside walled cities (because of the people who live in this land), ¹⁸ and we won’t return to our homes until the children of IsraEl have each been given their own inheritance and are settled in the land. ¹⁹ We won’t take any of the land on the other side of the Jordan as our inheritance, because we will take our full inheritance on its east side.’

²⁰ So Moses said to them, ‘If you do everything you’re saying… if you arm yourselves and march in battle before Jehovah, ²¹ and you cross the Jordan and stay there until our enemies are destroyed ²² and the land is settled before you return home, you will be free of guilt before Jehovah, and this land can be yours. ²³ But if you don’t do that, you will sin against Jehovah and you will see the results of your sin when bad things happen to you. ²⁴ Now, build the cities to store your things and the pens for your cattle, and do as you’ve proposed.’

²⁵ Then the [tribes] of Reuben and Gad replied, ‘Your servants will do as our lord commands. ²⁶ We will leave all our possessions, our wives, and our cattle in the cities of GalaAd. ²⁷ And after that, we will march ahead [of IsraEl], all armed and ready for battle before Jehovah, as you said.’

²⁸ Then Moses gave these instructions to EliEzer the Priest, JoShua (the son of NaWeh), and all the heads of the families and tribes of IsraEl. ²⁹ He said, ‘If the sons of Reuben and Gad cross the Jordan armed and ready for war before Jehovah and help conquer the land before you, then you must give them the land of GalaAd as theirs. ³⁰ But if they don’t cross [the Jordan] all armed and ready for war, then must you make them bring their possessions, wives, and cattle into the land of CanaAn, where they will receive their inheritance among you.’

³¹ And the sons of Reuben and Gad answered, ‘We will do whatever Jehovah tells his servants. ³² We will arm ourselves and march into the land of CanaAn before Jehovah, and you must give us our inheritance on this side of the Jordan.’

³³ So Moses gave the sons of Gad, the sons of Reuben, and half of the tribe of ManasSeh (one of the sons of Joseph) the land of the Amorite king (Seon), the land of the king of Bashan (Og), and all its cities and borders, and the cities and land around them.

³⁴ Then the sons of Gad built and fortified DaEbon, AtarOth, AroEr, ³⁵ Sophar, and JaZer, and they ³⁶ built and fortified NamRam, and BaethAran, where they made pens for their sheep.

³⁷ The sons of Reuben built Hesh-Eboneh, ElAle, KariathAm, ³⁸ and BeelMeon, which they surrounded with walls, and [the town of] Sebama. Then they named each of the cities after themselves.

³⁹ Also, the family of Machir (of the tribe of ManasSeh) went to GalaAd and captured it, destroying all the Amorites who lived there. ⁴⁰ So Moses gave GalaAd to Machir, and they started living there.

⁴¹ And JaIr (of the tribe of ManasSeh) captured many villages, which he called the villages of JaIr.

⁴² Then NabOth went and captured the villages of CaAth, and renamed them after himself (NabOth).

Chapter 33

¹ And these are the places where the children of IsraEl and their army stayed (under the direction of Moses and Aaron) after they left the land of Egypt. ² For, following the instructions of Jehovah, Moses wrote down the places that they moved to and where they stayed. So, here are the stages of their journey:

³ They left Ramses on the fifteenth day of the first month. Then after the Passover, the children of IsraEl proudly walked away from the Egyptians, ⁴ since the Egyptians were burying all the dead that Jehovah had struck down – all the firstborn in the land of Egypt – and He also brought vengeance on their gods.

⁵ The children of IsraEl left Ramses and camped in SocChoth, ⁶ then they left SocChoth and camped in BuThan, near the desert. ⁷ They left BuThan and camped at the mouth of the IrOth, which is across from Beel SepPhon and opposite MagDol. ⁸ Then, it was when they left IrOth that they crossed through the middle of the sea and into the desert. Thereafter, they traveled through the desert for three days and camped in PicriAe. ⁹ When they left PicriAe they went to AiLim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped next to the water. ¹⁰ When they left AiLim, they camped next to the Red Sea. ¹¹ And when they left the Red Sea, they camped in the Sin Desert.

¹² After they left the Sin Desert, they camped in Raphaca. ¹³ And when they left Raphaca, they camped in AiLus. ¹⁴ When they left AiLus, they camped in RaphiDin (where there was no water for the people to drink). ¹⁵ Then they left RaphiDin and camped in the Sinai Desert.

¹⁶ When they left the Sinai Desert, they camped at the Graves of Greed. ¹⁷ Then they left the Graves of Greed and camped in AsherOth, ¹⁸ and after AsherOth, they camped in RathAma.

¹⁹ When they left RathAma, they camped in Remmon Phares. ²⁰ And when they left Remmon Phares, they camped in Lebona. ²¹ After leaving Lebona, they camped in Ressan. ²² Then they left Ressan and camped in MakelLath. ²³ After MakelLath, they camped in Saphar. ²⁴ When they left Saphar, they camped in CharaDath. ²⁵ Then they left CharaDath and camped in MakelOth. ²⁶ And they left MakelOth, and camped in KataAth. ²⁷ Then they left KataAth and camped in TarAth. ²⁸ After leaving TarAth, they camped in MathecCa. ²⁹ Then they left MathecCa and camped in Selmona. ³⁰ After Selmona, they camped in MasurUth. ³¹ And from MasurUth they went to BanaYa. ³² And after leaving BanaYa, they camped at Mount GadGad.

³³ After leaving Mount GadGad, they camped in EteBatha. ³⁴ When they left EteBatha, they camped in Ebrona. ³⁵ After Ebrona, they camped in Gesion Gaber. ³⁶ Then they left Gesion Gaber and camped in the Sin Desert. Thereafter, they left the Sin Desert and camped in the Pharan Desert at Cades. ³⁷ And when they left Cades, they camped at Mount Or, near the land of Edom.

³⁸ It was there at Mount Or that Aaron the Priest climbed the mountain, following Jehovah’s instructions, and died there on the first day of the fifth month, forty years after they left the land of Egypt. ³⁹ Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Or.

⁴⁰ And after Arad (who was the CanaAnite king) heard that the children of IsraEl were in the land, ⁴¹ they left Mount Or and camped in Selmona. ⁴² From Selmona they went to Phino, ⁴³ and after leaving Phino, they camped in ObOth.

⁴⁴ When they left ObOth, they camped in Gai at the border of Moab. ⁴⁵ Then they left Gai and camped in DaEbon Gad. ⁴⁶ When they left DaEbon Gad, they camped in Gelmon Deblathaim. ⁴⁷ After leaving Gelmon Deblathaim, they camped on the Mountains of Abarim, which border Nabau. ⁴⁸ Then, when they left the Mountains of Abarim, they camped on the west side [of the land] of Moab, by the Jordan River near Jericho. ⁴⁹ So they stayed camped there by the Jordan from AiSimOth to Belsa, west of Moab.

⁵⁰ And it was there that Jehovah spoke to Moses (west of Moab by the Jordan River, close to Jericho) and said, ⁵¹ ‘Now tell the children of IsraEl that they are to cross the Jordan into the land of CanaAn, ⁵² and they must destroy everyone who lives in that land. They must tear down their altars, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their [sacred] columns. ⁵³ All the inhabitants of the land must be destroyed so they can live there; for I have given this land as their inheritance.

⁵⁴ ‘The land that each tribe inherits must be divided in a lottery. And the more people there are in each tribe, the larger their inheritance must be; and the smaller the tribe, the smaller its inheritance… the inheritance must be divided by their tribes and families.

⁵⁵ ‘Now, if you don’t destroy the people who live in that land; those who are left will eventually become thorns in your eyes and darts in your sides. They will always be your enemies in this land, ⁵⁶ and the things that I had planned to do to them I’ll do to you.’

Chapter 34

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ² ‘Tell the children of IsraEl that when they enter the land of CanaAn, which they are going to inherit, ³ their southern border will run southward from the Sin Desert along the borders of Edom, then east to the [Dead] Sea. ⁴ Then the border will run from the south to the base of AcraBin and on to EnNac, then south to Cades Barne. It will run to the village of Arad and on past Asemona. ⁵ Then it will run from Asemona to the [Nile] River, and end at the sea.

⁶ ‘The western border will run along the [Mediterranean] Sea.

⁷ ‘They will have to measure their northern border themselves, but it will run from the [Mediterranean] Sea along the edge of the mountains. ⁸ They will have to measure from the mountains at the entrance to Emath, to where they end along the border of Saradac. ⁹ Then the border must go on to Dephrona and end at ArseNain. So, that is their border to the north.

¹⁰ ‘The eastern border will run from ArseNain to SepPhamar, ¹¹ then over to the springs east of Bela, and down along the east side of the Sea [of Galilee]. ¹² From there, it will run down the Jordan River and end at the [Dead] Sea. This will be their land and their borders.’

¹³ Then Moses gave the children of IsraEl these instructions. He said: ‘This is the land that you’re going to inherit by lottery, as Jehovah commanded it to be given to the nine tribes and the half tribe of ManasSeh, ¹⁴ because the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh have received their inheritances. ¹⁵ The inheritance that these two-and-a-half tribes have received is on the other side of the Jordan, southeast of Jericho.’

¹⁶ And Jehovah told Moses, ¹⁷ ‘These are the men who will divide the inheritances of land: EliEzer the Priest, JoShua (the son of NaWeh), ¹⁸ and one ruler from each of the tribes. ¹⁹ From the tribe of Judah, Caleb (the son of JePhonNe). ²⁰ From the tribe of Symeon, SalamiEl (the son of SemiUd). ²¹ From the tribe of BenJamin, ElDad (the son of Chaslon). ²² From the tribe of Dan, BacChir (the son of Egli). ²³ From the sons of Joseph, the leader of the tribe of ManasSeh should be AniEl (the son of Suphi). ²⁴ And from the tribe of EphraIm, the leader must be CamuEl (the son of SabaThan). ²⁵ From the tribe of ZebuLon, EliSaphan (the son of Pharnac). ²⁶ From the tribe of IsSachar, PhaltiEl (the son of Oza). ²⁷ From the tribe of Asher, AchiOr (the son of Selemi). ²⁸ And from the tribe of NaphTali, PhadaEl (the son of JamiUd).’

²⁹ These were the ones that Jehovah command to do the distributing to the children of IsraEl in the land of CanaAn.

Chapter 35

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses by the Jordan River near Jericho (west of Moab) and said, ² ‘Now, give orders to the children of IsraEl and tell them that they must allot cities for the Levites to live in and own. They must provide them suburbs around their cities ³ to live in, which have pens for their cattle and all their animals. ⁴ These suburbs that they are to give to the Levites must run out and around their city walls for three thousand feet. ⁵ So, they must measure out three thousand feet on the east side, three thousand feet on the on the south side, three thousand feet on the on the west side, and three thousand feet on the north side, and their cities must be in the center.

⁶ ‘They must also give the Levites six refuge cities, which will become havens for those who kill someone [accidentally]. And in addition, they must provide them forty-two more cities. ⁷ So all together, they must give the Levites forty-eight cities, in addition to the suburbs. ⁸ [As to the size and location] of these cities that the children of IsraEl are to give them; those who have much must give much, and those who have less may give less. But all must give some of the cities that they are going to inherit to the Levites.’

⁹ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ¹⁰ ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them that when they cross the Jordan into the land of CanaAn, ¹¹ they must assign refuge cities where those who kill someone accidentally may run to. ¹² These cities must be havens of refuge from those who would avenge the blood [of the one who was killed]. And the killer may not be executed before he stands trial in a court.

¹³ ‘There must be six of these cities that you set aside as places of refuge; ¹⁴ three on the east side of the Jordan, and three in the land of CanaAn. ¹⁵ They must serve as places of refuge for the children of IsraEl, for aliens, and for those who are just visiting in your land. These cities must be places of refuge for everyone to run to who has killed a man unintentionally.

¹⁶ ‘However, if [such a man] hits [and kills a person] with something that is made of iron, the man should die… for he is a murderer, and all murderers must be put to death. ¹⁷ And if he throws a rock in an attempt to kill him and he dies, he’s a murderer, and the murderer must be put to death. ¹⁸ And if he hits him with a wooden instrument that he’s holding in his hands and kills him, he’s a murderer… all murderers must be put to death. ¹⁹ Those who would avenge the blood [of the one who was killed] must execute the murderer… when they catch him, they must kill him!

²⁰ ‘If someone is angry and stabs another, or throws something at him from ambush, ²¹ or if he beats him in anger and the man dies, the one who struck him must be put to death, for he is a murderer. The blood avenger must absolutely kill the murderer when he finds him.

²² ‘However, if someone is accidentally stabbed (where no anger is involved), or something hits him (other than from ambush), ²³ or he is accidentally hit with a rock and he dies when no enemy was looking to harm him; ²⁴ then the court must use these rules to judge between the one who did the striking and the blood avenger. ²⁵ And [if he is found innocent], the gathering must save the slayer from the blood avenger and allow him to stay in the refuge city that he ran to, and he must live there until the High Priest (who was anointed with the holy oil) dies.

²⁶ ‘But if the person who did the killing should ever leave the city that he ran to for refuge, ²⁷ and the blood avenger should find him outside the refuge-city limits, and the blood-avenger kills him, he has done no wrong. ²⁸ Because, the man should have stayed in the refuge city until the High Priest died. For, only after the death of the High Priest may the slayer return to his homeland.

²⁹ ‘These are the rules of judgment that are to be used throughout all your generations and wherever you live. ³⁰ You must execute [a man] as a murderer whenever there is enough evidence. But one piece of evidence against a person isn’t enough to have him put to death.

³¹ ‘Also, you may not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who has been condemned to death… he must absolutely be put to death. ³² And you may not accept a ransom to keep a man from having to stay in a refuge city and live there until the death of the High Priest.

³³ ‘So, you must not pollute the land you live in with murder, because blood pollutes the land, and the only way that the land may be purged of shed blood is with the blood of the one who shed it. ³⁴ You must not dirty the land where you are living and where I am living among you, for I am Jehovah, and I live in the midst of the children of IsraEl.’

Chapter 36

¹ Then the heads of the tribe of the sons of GalaAd (the son of Machir and the grandson of ManasSeh of the tribe of the sons of Joseph) spoke before Moses, EliEzer the Priest, and the heads of the houses and families of the children of IsraEl. ² They said, ‘Jehovah commanded our lord to assign the land that the children of IsraEl will inherit by lottery. Then Jehovah told our lord to give our brother SalpaAd’s inheritance to his daughters. ³ But if they marry into one of the other tribes of IsraEl, their inheritance must be taken away from that which belongs to our fathers, and they must inherit from the tribe that they marry into… so we won’t lose part of our inheritance. ⁴ For, during [the year of] Releasing of the children of IsraEl, their inheritance would be considered as among the tribe into which the women marry, and not returned from our family’s tribe.’

⁵ So, following Jehovah’s instructions, Moses told the children of IsraEl, ‘In accordance with [the request of] the tribe of the children of Joseph, ⁶ this is what Jehovah has said concerning the daughters of SalpaAd: They may marry wherever they please, but they may only marry among their father’s tribe, ⁷ so the inherited [lands] of the children of IsraEl aren’t moved from tribe to tribe. For, the inherited lands of the children of IsraEl must remain in each family’s tribe. ⁸ And whenever a daughter is heir to a property among the tribes of the children IsraEl, she must marry someone in her father’s tribe, so that the sons of IsraEl may each inherit property in his father’s tribe. ⁹ For, the inheritance must not be passed from one tribe to another. Rather, the children of IsraEl must each hold onto their own inheritances.’

¹⁰ So, the daughters of SalpaAd did just as Jehovah commanded Moses. ¹¹ Thersa, Egla, Melcha, Nua, and MalaA (SalpaAd’s daughters) married their cousins, ¹² who were from the tribe of ManasSeh (of the sons of Joseph), and their inheritance remained part their father’s family tribe.

¹³ These are the commandments, laws, and decisions that Jehovah gave to Moses west of Moab, by the Jordan River, near Jericho.

Deuteronomy

From the Greek Septuagint text as was used by First Century Christians

Chapter 1

¹ These are the things that Moses said to all the IsraElites when they were on the west side of the desert at the Jordan, near the Red Sea (between Pharan-Tophol, Lobon, Aulon, and the gold works), ² eleven day’s journey from Horeb and Mount Seir, near Kadesh Barne.

³ It was the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year that Moses spoke to the children of IsraEl, and [he recounted] all the instructions that Jehovah had given Him concerning them. ⁴ This was after he had cut down Seon, the king of the Amorites (who lived in Hesh-Eboneh), as well as Og and the king of Bashan (who lived in AstarOth and Edrain) ⁵ in the land of Moab. Moses said this about [God’s] Law:

⁶ ‘It was while we were at Mount Horeb that Jehovah your God spoke to us and said, You have lived on this mountain long enough. ⁷ Now, turn away… leave and go to the mountains of the Amorites and to those who live near the Araba; to the mountains and valleys south of the land of the CanaAnites, from the [Mediterranean] Sea to Lebanon, and as far as the great Euphrates River. ⁸ {Look!} God has given you all the land that’s before you; so go there and inherit the land that I swore to your ancestors (AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob) that I would give to them and their seed.

⁹ ‘As I told you before, I was unable to lead you all by myself, ¹⁰ for Jehovah your God has made you grow. Look! There are now so many of you… like the stars in the sky in numbers! ¹¹ For, Jehovah the God of your ancestors has made you grow a thousand-times more, and He blest you and He spoke to you. ¹² So, how could I handle all the work, burdens, and complaints by myself? ¹³ Therefore, [I told you to] select some wise, understanding, and sensible men from your tribes who I would make your leaders. ¹⁴ Then you answered me and said, What you have told us to do is a good thing.

¹⁵ ‘So I took your wise, understanding, and sensible men and assigned them to be the rulers of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, to serve as your officers and judges. ¹⁶ And at the time, I told your judges to hear cases between you brothers, and to judge honestly, whether it is [a dispute] between a man and His brother, or with converts who are living among you. ¹⁷ And they were not to favor one over the other when it comes to judgment. Rather, they were to judge both the rich and the poor in the same way. Nor were they to fear anyone, because the judgment is God’s. ¹⁸ And whenever a case was too hard for them, they were to bring it to me and I would hear it.

¹⁹ ‘Then we left the Dry Place (Horeb) and traveled through that great and terrible desert; and (as Jehovah our God instructed us) you saw all the land from the mountains of the Amorites to Kadesh Barne. ²⁰ Then, when we reached the mountains of the Amorites, I told you: ²¹ {Look!} Jehovah your God has given you all the land that lies before you. So, go there and inherit it. And as Jehovah the God of your ancestors said to you, don’t be afraid!

²² ‘But you all came to me and said, Let’s send men ahead of us into the land and have them bring back a report about which way we should travel and which of the cities we should enter.

²³ ‘Well, that sounded good to me, so I chose twelve men, one man from each tribe, ²⁴ and they went to the mountain and traveled as far as the valley of the [grape] clusters and surveyed it. ²⁵ Then they took some of the fruit of the land and brought it back to you, and they said, The land that Jehovah our God is giving us is good!

²⁶ ‘However, you refused to enter it and you rebelled against the words of our God Jehovah. ²⁷ Then you went back to your tents and started complaining, saying, Jehovah hates us, because he has brought us out of the land of Egypt just to put us into the hands of the Amorites who will destroy us! ²⁸ Why would we want to go there?

‘Then your brothers grabbed at your heart strings when they said, It’s a big country and they have many more people who are stronger than we are. And their cities are huge, with walls that are as high as the sky. And we saw the sons of the giants there!

²⁹ ‘But I told you, Don’t be afraid and don’t fear them, ³⁰ because Jehovah your God is traveling before you and He will fight them with you… and He will win, just as He did for you in the land of Egypt! ³¹ Why, you’ve seen this happen [many times] while you were in this desert on the way to the mountains of the Amorites… Jehovah your God has carried you as dearly as any man could nurse his child during all your travels coming to this place.

³² ‘But you didn’t believe Jehovah your God, ³³ who travels before you and chooses where you will stay… who guides you with a fire each night and shows you the way to go with a cloud each day.

³⁴ ‘And when Jehovah heard the things you were saying, He became very angry. So He swore and said, ³⁵ None of these men will see the good land that I swore to give to their ancestors, ³⁶ except Caleb (the son of JephonNe)… he will see it and I will give this land that he traveled to, to him and his sons, because he did what Jehovah said.

³⁷ ‘Then Jehovah became angry with me because of you. For he told me, You won’t enter the land either. ³⁸ Rather, JoShua (the son of NaWeh) who stands at your side will enter [the land]. So you must give him [your] strength, because he will help IsraEl to inherit it. ³⁹ But only the young children who haven’t yet come to know good from evil will enter [the land with him]. I’m going to give it to them and they will inherit it!

⁴⁰ ‘Then you turned and marched back into the desert, along the banks of the Red Sea.

⁴¹ ’But later you said, We have sinned against Jehovah our God. And now we will go there and fight, just as Jehovah our God commanded us. So everyone grabbed his weapons of war and assembled to go back to the mountain.

⁴² ‘But Jehovah said to me, Tell them not to go and fight, because I’m not with them. Their enemies will destroy them!

⁴³ ‘So I told you, but you wouldn’t listen to me! You disobeyed Jehovah’s Commandments and you forced your way up the mountain. ⁴⁴ Then the Amorites who lived there came out to meet you and chased you like bees all the way from [Mount] Seir to [Mount] Herman. ⁴⁵ And then you sat down and bawled before our God Jehovah, but He wouldn’t listen to you or pay any attention to you. ⁴⁶ So, you spent a long time living in Kadesh.’

Chapter 2

¹ ‘Then we turned left and [traveled] through the desert, following the Red Sea, just as Jehovah told me, and we circled Mount Seir for many days. ² And finally, Jehovah said to me: ³ You have circled this Mountain long enough; now turn and head north. ⁴ Tell the people that you’re going to cross the borders of your brothers, the children of Esau who live in Seir, and that will really make them fear you. ⁵ But don’t fight against [the children of Esau], because I won’t give you enough of their land to stand on. For, I have given Mount Seir to the children of Esau as their inheritance. ⁶ You may buy food from them with money and eat it, and you will have to pay for any water that you drink.

⁷ ‘Yet, Jehovah our God has blest you in everything that you’ve done. Just think of how you went through that great and terrible desert. {Look!} During those forty years under Jehovah your God, you haven’t lacked anything!

⁸ ‘Then we passed by our brothers, the children of Esau who lived in Seir, walking through the Araba, from AiLon to Gesion Gaber, and we turned and walked through the desert of Moab. ⁹ It was then that Jehovah said to me, Don’t argue with the Moabites and don’t war against them, for I won’t give you their land as an inheritance, since I have given AroEr to the children of Lot as their inheritance. ¹⁰ The Ommin, a nation that was as large and powerful as the Enakim, used to live there. ¹¹ They are also called the Raphain, as were the Enakim, but the Moabites call them the Ommin. ¹² The ChorRhites also lived in Seir before the sons of Esau destroyed them and wiped them out; and then they took possession of the land, as IsraEl will take possession of the land that Jehovah is giving them as an inheritance.

¹³ ‘Then I told them to leave and cross the Valley of Zaret. ¹⁴ And we spent the next thirty-eight years traveling between Kadesh Barne and the Zaret Valley, until the whole generation of the men of war had died (as Jehovah God swore to them). ¹⁵ For, it was the hand of Jehovah that destroyed them from among the camp, until they were all gone.

¹⁶ ‘It was after all the men of war had died ¹⁷ that Jehovah spoke to me and said, ¹⁸ Now cross the borders of Moab and go on to AroEr today. ¹⁹ But don’t go near the children of Amman… don’t argue with them or war with them, for I won’t give you the children of Amman’s land as an inheritance, because I’ve given it to the children of Lot as their inheritance. ²⁰ It is also called the land of Raphain, because the Raphain (who the AmMonites call the Zochommin) also used to live there. ²¹ They were once a great nation. They had more people and they were mightier than you are (as were the Enakim). But Jehovah destroyed them and [the AmMonites] inherited the land, where they live to this day, ²² [in the same way that] the children of Esau who live in Seir destroyed the ChorRhites and inherited their land, where they live to this day, ²³ and the Evites (who lived between AsedOth and Gaza) were conquered by the Cappadocians, they came from Cappadocia to destroy them and live in their property.

²⁴ ‘Now, get up and cross the Arnon Valley, for {Look!} I have given Seon (the Amorite king of Hesh-Eboneh) and his land into your hands. War with him and inherit his land today. ²⁵ Start putting fear and terror into the faces of all the nations under heaven, for they will be disturbed whenever they hear your name, and they will become very sad when you’re heading toward them.

²⁶ ‘Then I sent ambassadors (from the KedamOth Desert) to Seon the king of Hesh-Eboneh, with words of peace, saying, ²⁷ I wish to pass through your land. I will just travel along the road and I won’t turn to the right or to the left. ²⁸ We will pay for any food that we eat with money, and we will pay for any water that we drink. We will pass through on foot, ²⁹ as we did with the sons of Esau who lived in Seir, and with the Moabites who lived in AroEr, until we reach the Jordan and the land that Jehovah our God is giving us.

³⁰ ‘But Seon (the king of Hesh-Eboneh) wouldn’t allow us to pass through his land, because Jehovah our God hardened his spirit and gave him a stubborn heart, so he would be delivered into our hands that day.

³¹ ‘Jehovah said to me, Look! I’m putting Seon (the Amorite king of Hesh-Eboneh) and his land into your hands. Now inherit his land!

³² ‘Then Seon (the king of Hesh-Eboneh) came out with all his people to fight against us at JasSa. ³³ But our God Jehovah handed him over to us and we cut them all down (him, his sons, and all of his people). ³⁴ Then we took over all of his cities, and we destroyed each city in succession, along with their wives and children… we left no one alive. ³⁵ However, we took their cattle and looted the cities. ³⁶ And all the way from AroEr (which lies at the edge of the brook of Arnon, and its city in the valley) to Mount Gilead, there was not a town that escaped us. Jehovah our God gave them all into our hands. ³⁷ However, following Jehovah’s instructions, we didn’t go near the children of Amman or even close to its border at the Jaboc Brook and their cities in the mountains.’

Chapter 3

¹ ‘Then we turned and traveled toward Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out to fight us with all his people at Edraim. ² And Jehovah said to me, Don’t be afraid of him, because I’m giving him, all his people, and all of his land into your hands. So, do to him as you did to Seon, the king of the Amorites who lived in Hesh-Eboneh.

³ ‘And Jehovah our God did give him into our hands, as well as all of his people. We cut them down until none of his seed was left, ⁴ and then we captured all of his cities. For at that time, there were sixty cities all around the country of Argob that belonged to King Og. ⁵ They were all strong cities with high walls, high gates, and strong locks. [We also captured] many Pherezite cities, ⁶ and we destroyed everything, as we had done to Seon the king of Hesh-Eboneh. We destroyed each city in its order, as well as all the women and children. ⁷ However, we took all the cattle and looted the cities.

⁸ ‘At that time, we also captured land that belonged to two Amorite kings who [lived on] the other side of the Jordan, which land ran from the brook of Arnon to Hermon. ⁹ (The Phoenicians call Hermon, SaniOr, but the Amorites called it SanIr.) ¹⁰ We captured all the cities of Misor, all of Gilead, all of Bashan as far as Elcha and Edraim, which were cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.

¹¹ ‘Og, the king of Bashan was the last of the Raphain. {Look!} His bed (which was found in the capital city of the children of Ammon) was made of iron, and {Look!} it was thirteen feet long and six feet wide!

¹² ‘So at that time, we inherited all the land from AroEr (along the border of the Arnon), plus half of Mount Gilead, which cities I gave to Reuben and Gad. ¹³ Then I gave the rest of Gilead and all of Og’s kingdom of Bashan to the half-tribe of ManasSeh, which includes all the country around Argob (which [used to be] the land of the Raphain).

¹⁴ ‘Then JaIr (the son of ManasSeh) took all the country around Argob, as far as the borders of GarGasi and MachAthi, and he named them after himself – Bashan, ThavOth, and JaIr – which is what they are still called today. ¹⁵ Then I gave Gilead to MachIr, ¹⁶ and I gave the land below Gilead – from the middle of the brook of Arnon, which borders the children of Amman, all the way to Jaboc – to Reuben and Gad. ¹⁷ So, the Araba and the Jordan are the boundaries of MachanAreth, running east from the Sea of [Galilee] to the [Dead] Sea below AsedOth Phasga.

¹⁸ ‘And at that time, I told [the men of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of ManasSeh] that Jehovah their God had given them this land by lottery, and that all the mighty [men] should then arm themselves and march ahead of their brothers, the children of IsraEl. ¹⁹ However, they are to leave their wives, children, and cattle (I know that they have many cattle) in the cities that I have given them, ²⁰ until Jehovah our God provides their brothers a haven (as He has given them) and they inherit the land that Jehovah is giving them on the other side of Jordan… when each one has his own inheritance.

²¹ ‘That’s when I told JoShua: You have seen everything that Jehovah our God did to these two kings, and that’s what He’s going to do to all the kingdoms that you are crossing over to there. ²² So, you must not be afraid of them, because Jehovah our God will fight for you.

²³ ‘Then I went to Jehovah and asked, ²⁴ Lord God; You have just begun to show Your strength, Your power, Your mighty hand and mighty arm to Your servants. For, what God is there in heaven or on earth that can do as You have done by Your might? ²⁵ So, [please] allow me to cross into this good land and see what’s beyond the Jordan… its wonderful mountains and the borders of Lebanon.

²⁶ ‘But Jehovah replied, Because you didn’t show respect or listen to Me, don’t ask Me about this anymore. ²⁷ Now, climb to the top of the rocks and look west, north, south, and east… look with your eyes, because you may not cross the Jordan! ²⁸ Then speak to JoShua… give him strength and encourage him, because he’s going to lead these people, and it is he who will give them their inheritance in the land that you’ve seen.

²⁹ ‘Well thereafter, we camped in the valley near the house of Phogor.’

Chapter 4

¹ ‘And now, O IsraEl; Listen to the rules and decisions – everything that I’m going to teach you today – so that you can live, grow, and inherit the land that Jehovah the God of your ancestors is giving you. ² And don’t add anything to or take anything away from these Commandments that I’m giving you… obey the Commandments of Jehovah our God and do everything that I’m commanding you today!

³ ‘Why, you’ve seen everything that Jehovah our God did to the men [who started worshiping] Beel Phegor. Jehovah destroyed them all from among you… ⁴ and it’s only because you stayed close to your God that you’re all still alive today!

⁵ ‘{Look} I’ve shown you the rules and decisions, just as Jehovah gave them to me, so you may follow them in the land that you’re traveling to and which you will inherit. ⁶ Obey them and do them, because this is what will brand you as a wise and understanding people to the nations. For when they hear all these rules they will say, Look; They’re a great nation of wise and understanding people!

⁷ ‘Why, what other nation is so great that they have a God as close to them as Jehovah our God is [to us], so that we may call to Him about everything? ⁸ And what other nation has rules and decisions that are as righteous as all these laws that I’m setting before you today?

⁹ ‘Keep an eye on yourselves and carefully guard your hearts. Don’t forget any of the things that you’ve seen, and keep them in your hearts throughout your lives! You must teach your sons and your grandsons ¹⁰ the things that happened when you gathered before Jehovah our God at Horeb… when Jehovah said to me, Gather the people to Me and have them listen to My words, so they can learn to fear Me for as long as they live in the land, and then teach this to their sons.

¹¹ ‘Why, you went and stood at the base of the mountain as it burned with fire all the way to heaven… and there was darkness, blackness, and wind. ¹² Then Jehovah spoke to you from the midst of the fire with a voice and words that you heard… and although you saw no shape, you heard the voice. ¹³ Then He proclaimed His Sacred Agreement with you, and He commanded you to keep the Ten Commandments that He wrote on the two tablets of stone.

¹⁴ ‘And then Jehovah commanded me to teach you His rules and decisions, so you should obey them in the land that you’re going to inherit. ¹⁵ Now, keep them in your hearts, for you’ve never seen another day like the one when Jehovah spoke to you on Mount Horeb from the midst of the fire!

¹⁶ ‘So, don’t sin by carving images of any kind – not in the shape of males or females, ¹⁷ of any animals on the ground, of any winged creatures that fly in the sky, ¹⁸ of any slithering animals that crawl on the ground, of any creatures that live in the waters under the ground, ¹⁹ or look up in the sky and see the sun, moon, stars, or any of the other heavenly bodies that Jehovah your God provided to all the nations under heaven – and then go off and worship and serve them. ²⁰ For God took you and led you out of the land of Egypt – out of its iron furnace – to be His people and His inheritance today.

²¹ ‘Then Jehovah God became angry with me over things that you said, and He swore that I wouldn’t cross the Jordan and enter the land that He’s giving to you as an inheritance. ²² So I will die in this land and I won’t [be allowed to] cross the Jordan; but you will cross it and inherit that good land.

²³ ‘Now, pay attention to yourselves and don’t forget the Sacred Agreement that Jehovah our God made with you. Don’t sin and carve images of any of the things that Jehovah your God told you not to do. ²⁴ For Jehovah your God is zealous, and He can be a consuming fire.

²⁵ ‘Then, after you have fathered sons then grown old and had grandchildren; if you sin and carve images of things and start acting wickedly toward Jehovah your God and anger Him; ²⁶ I swear before heaven and earth that you will be destroyed from the land that you’re going to inherit across the Jordan… you won’t live to get any older and you’ll be cut off! ²⁷ Then Jehovah will scatter you among all the nations and you will become the minority among all the [people] wherever Jehovah sends you. ²⁸ And there you will serve other gods that men make with their hands from wood and stones… gods that can’t see, hear, eat, or smell.

²⁹ ‘But if you search for Jehovah your God there, you’ll find Him. For, whenever you are oppressed and you search for Him with all your hearts and souls, [you will find Him]… ³⁰ and that’s what will happen to you in the last days. Then you must turn to Jehovah your God and listen to His voice, ³¹ because Jehovah your God is also a God of pity, so He won’t forget the Sacred Agreement that He promised to your ancestors, and He won’t leave you or destroy you.

³² ‘Ask from one end of the sky to the other; Since the time when God created man on the earth, has anyone has ever heard of such a great thing happening… ³³ has any nation has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst fire, as you’ve heard it and experienced it? ³⁴ What [other] nation has God elevated and taken as His own with trials, signs, wonders, and war (with His mighty hand and mighty arm)… with all these great things that we saw Jehovah our God do in Egypt? ³⁵ So, you should know that Jehovah your God is The God, and that there is none other than Him! ³⁶ For, it was His voice that you heard from heaven that was teaching you when He showed you His great fire and when you heard His words from the midst of the fire!

³⁷ ‘It was only because He loved your ancestors that He chose you (because you’re their seed) and drew you to Him; and with His great strength He brought you out of Egypt. ³⁸ Then He destroyed nations that were much greater and stronger than you are – right in front of you – to bring you here today and give you their land as your inheritance.

³⁹ ‘So, recognize all of this and consider it in your hearts. For, Jehovah your God is the God of heaven above and the earth below, and there are no others! ⁴⁰ And if you keep His Commandments and rules – all that I’m giving you today – it will go well for you and your descendants, and you may live on the land that Jehovah your God is giving you for a long time… for ages.’

⁴¹ Then Moses set aside three towns on the east side of the Jordan ⁴² as refuge cities where men who have unintentionally killed a neighbor (someone who they never hated) can run to and live. ⁴³ [They were] Bosor in the plains of Reuben, RamOth in Gilead (Gad’s land), and GauLon in Bashan (ManasSeh’s land).

⁴⁴ These were the laws that Moses laid out before the children of IsraEl… ⁴⁵ they are the testimonies, rules, and decisions that Moses told the sons of IsraEl after they left Egypt, ⁴⁶ while they were on the other side of Jordan in the valley near the house of Phogor in the land of Seon (the king of the Amorites who lived in Hesh-Eboneh), who Moses and the sons of IsraEl destroyed.

⁴⁷ So they inherited this land… the land of Og (the king of Bashan) and of the two Amorite kings, east of the Jordan ⁴⁸ from AroEr (which borders on the Arnon Brook) to Mount Seon (or Hermon)… ⁴⁹ the entire Araba from the Jordan east, down to [Mount Pisgah].

Chapter 5

¹ Then Moses called all of IsraEl and said to them, ‘Listen to the rules and decisions… all that I’m going to tell you today! Learn them and obey them, O IsraEl. ² For, Jehovah your God made a Sacred Agreement with you at the Dry Place (Horeb). ³ He didn’t make it with your ancestors, but with you… you who are all here and living today! ⁴ Jehovah spoke to you face to face at the mountain from the midst of the fire. ⁵ And I stood between Jehovah and you at that time, and reported the words of Jehovah to you, because you were afraid of the fire and you didn’t want to get close to the mountain. And [there He] said:

⁶ ‘I am Jehovah your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery. ⁷ So, you must have no gods other than Me.

⁸ ‘You must not make images for yourselves of anything in the skies above, on the earth below, or of things that live in the water beneath the ground. ⁹ You must not bow before them or serve them, for I, Jehovah your God, am a zealous God, and I bring the sins of the ancestors upon the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of those who hate Me. ¹⁰ But I am merciful to the thousands who love Me and keep My Commandments.

¹¹ ‘You must not misuse the Name of your God Jehovah, for your God Jehovah will not forgive those who misuse His Name.

¹² ‘Keep the Sabbath day and make it holy, as Jehovah your God commanded you. ¹³ You may work and get everything done in six days, ¹⁴ but the seventh day is the Sabbath of your God Jehovah, and you must do no work… not you, your sons or daughters, your male or female servants, your oxen, your burros, any of your cattle, or any converts that are visiting among you. Both you and your servants must rest. ¹⁵ For, remember that you were once slaves in the land of Egypt, then Jehovah your God brought you out of there with His strong hand and mighty arm. So, Jehovah has instructed you to keep the Sabbath and to make it holy.

¹⁶ ‘Honor your father and mother, as Jehovah your God commanded you, so that things may go well for you and that you may live a long time in the land that Jehovah your God is giving you.

¹⁷ ‘You must not commit murder.

¹⁸ ‘You must not commit adultery.

¹⁹ ‘You must not steal.

²⁰ ‘You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.

²¹ ‘You must not desire your neighbor’s wife, his house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his burro, any other animal, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.

²² ‘These are the words that Jehovah spoke to the gathering with a loud voice at the mountain, from the midst of the fire, darkness, blackness, and storms… and He didn’t add any more. He wrote them on two tablets of stone, and then He gave them to me.

²³ ‘And when you heard the voice from the midst of the fire (for the mountain was burning with fire when all of you came there, including all the heads of your tribes and your elders), ²⁴ you said, {Look!} Jehovah our God has shown us His glory and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire today. We have seen that when God speaks to men we can still live. ²⁵ And now we’re [afraid] that we will die, because this great fire will burn us up and kill us if we listen to the voice of Jehovah our God anymore. ²⁶ For, what flesh has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking from a fire as we have, and still lived? ²⁷ So, we want you to go closer and listen to everything that Jehovah our God wishes say, then tell us whatever Jehovah our God says to you and we will all do it!

²⁸ ‘And when Jehovah heard what you said to me, He replied: I have heard all the things that these people have said to you, and everything that they’ve said is good. ²⁹ O how I wish that they had the type of heart in them that would cause them to fear Me and keep My commands, so things would always go well for them and their descendants through the ages!

³⁰ ‘Now, go and tell them to return to their homes. ³¹ Then you can stand here with Me and I will give you all the Commandments, rules, and decisions… and then you must teach it to them, and they must obey them all when they reach the land that I’m giving them as their inheritance. ³² They must pay attention and do as Jehovah their God commands them. They must not turn to the right or to the left, ³³ but they must follow the path that Jehovah their God will tell them to walk, so He may provide them rest and things may go well with them; and so that they may live even longer upon the land that they’re going to inherit.’

Chapter 6

¹ ‘These are all the Commandments, rules, and decisions that Jehovah our God gave us and taught you to obey in the land that you will inherit. ² So, fear Jehovah your God and follow all the rules and Commandments that I’m giving to you, to your sons, and to your grandsons, for as long as you all may live!

³ ‘Now listen, O IsraEl, and obey them, so that things may go well for you, and your [families] will grow, just as Jehovah the God of your ancestors promised that He would do for you when He gives you a land flowing with milk and honey. Yes, these were the rules and decisions that Jehovah gave as Commandments to the children of IsraEl while they were in the desert, after they left the land of Egypt. ⁴ [He said], Listen, O IsraEl; Jehovah our God is [the only] Lord, ⁵ and you must love Him with your whole mind, with your whole life force, and with all your strength. ⁶ These words that I am commanding you today must stay in your hearts and in your lives. ⁷ Then you must teach them to your children… speak of them while you’re sitting [with them] at home, while you’re walking along, before you go to bed, and when you get up. ⁸ You must tie them to your hands as a sign and keep them before your eyes. ⁹ Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates!

¹⁰ ‘And when Jehovah your God brings you into the land that He promised to your ancestors AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob – that He would give you great and beautiful cities that you won’t build, ¹¹ houses that are full of all sorts of good things that you won’t put there, wells dug in rock that you won’t dig, vineyards and olive groves that you won’t plant, and where you will eat and be filled – ¹² you must be careful not to forget Jehovah your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery. ¹³ So, you must fear Jehovah your God and serve only Him! You must stick to Him and swear by His Name.

¹⁴ ‘Don’t follow other gods, such as the gods of the nations around you, ¹⁵ for Jehovah your God (who is among you) is a zealous God. Otherwise, Jehovah your God will be very angry with you and destroy you from the face of the earth.

¹⁶ ‘You must not test Jehovah your God as you tested Him in the [desert]. ¹⁷ You must absolutely keep all the Commandments, decisions, and rules that He gave you. ¹⁸ And you must do everything that is pleasing and good before Jehovah, so that things may go well for you, and so that you may enter and inherit the good land that Jehovah promised to your ancestors, ¹⁹ where He promised to chase away all your enemies before you.

²⁰ ‘Then if your son should ever ask you, What are the words, rules, and decisions that Jehovah our God has given us? ²¹ You must tell him, We were once slaves to Pharaoh in the land of Egypt; then Jehovah brought us out of there with His strong hand and mighty arm. ²² For, Jehovah performed signs and great miracles for us there in Egypt, before Pharaoh and His house. ²³ Then He brought us out of there to give us this land, which He promised our ancestors that He would give us. ²⁴ Then Jehovah taught us to obey all His rules and to fear our God, so things will go well for us through the ages of our lives, down to today. ²⁵ For, Jehovah our God will be merciful to us if we pay attention and obey all these Commandments that He has given us.’

Chapter 7

¹ ‘And when Jehovah your God brings you in and gives you the land where you are going, [He] will remove great nations before you – the Hittites, Gergesites, Amorites, CanaAnites, Pherezites, Evites, and Jebusites – seven nations that are larger and stronger than you are. ² Jehovah your God will give them into your hands and you must cut them down… destroy them! You must not make any treaties with them or feel pity for them, ³ nor may you marry among them. You may not give your daughters to their sons, nor may you take their daughters for your sons. ⁴ For they will draw your sons away to serve other gods, and Jehovah will be very angry with you and will soon destroy you.

⁵ ‘This is what you should do to them: Destroy their altars and break down their [sacred] columns, then cut down their sacred poles and burn the carved images of their gods with fire; ⁶ for you are a holy people to Jehovah your God, and He chose you to be His people over all the other nations on the face of the earth!

⁷ ‘But Jehovah didn’t prefer and choose you because there are more of you than there are in other nations, for you are smaller than the rest. ⁸ Rather, He chose you because He loves you, and because He wants to keep the promise that He made to your ancestors. So, He brought you out of the house of slavery – out of the hand of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt – with His strong hand. ⁹ Therefore, you should know that Jehovah your God is a faithful God who keeps His Sacred Agreements, and that He is merciful to those who love Him and keep His Commandments through thousands of generations. ¹⁰ Yet, He pays back those who hate Him to their faces by destroying them… He doesn’t cut any slack for those who hate Him.

¹¹ ‘So you must keep His Commandments, rules, and these decisions that I am giving you today. ¹² And after you hear them (if you decide to do them), Jehovah your God will keep His Sacred Agreement with you and show the mercy to you that He promised to your ancestors. ¹³ He will love you, bless you, and make you grow; and He will bless the children who come from you, as well as the fruitage of your [fields] – your grain, wine, oil, herds of oxen, and flocks of sheep – in the land that Jehovah swore to your ancestors that He would give to you. ¹⁴ You will be blest beyond all other nations, and neither you nor your cattle will be impotent or sterile. ¹⁵ Jehovah your God will also take away all illnesses… He won’t bring any of the terrible diseases that you saw in Egypt upon you, but He will bring them upon all those who hate you.

¹⁶ ‘Also, you may eat all that you loot from the nations that Jehovah your God is giving you. For you must not spare them, nor may you serve their gods, because that would be a sin!

¹⁷ Now, if you start thinking that some nation is stronger than you are, and you wonder how you can destroy them, ¹⁸ just remember all that Jehovah your God did to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians. ¹⁹ For you have seen the great signs, wonders, and the strong hand and mighty arm that Jehovah your God used to bring you out of there, and that’s what He will do to all the nations… they will [shake in] fear when they see you! ²⁰ Jehovah your God will send hornets against them until any who are left and hiding from you are destroyed. ²¹ Yet, none of you will even be wounded, because Jehovah your God who is among you, is a great and powerful God.

²² ‘However, Jehovah your God will destroy these nations a little at a time… you won’t be able to destroy them quickly, otherwise the land would become desert again and there would be too many wild animals in your fields. ²³ Yet, Jehovah your God will give them all into your hands, so you must [keep on] destroying them until they are all gone. ²⁴ For, He will deliver their kings into your hands and you will wipe away their names… no one will be able to stand before you until you’ve destroyed them all!

²⁵ ‘Then you must burn the carved images of their gods in fires. You must not loot their [images] of silver or gold, for that would offend Jehovah your God… because these things are disgusting to Him! ²⁶ So, don’t bring their disgusting things into your homes… hate them and consider them as cursed, because they really are cursed!’

Chapter 8

¹ ‘You must be careful to obey all the Commandments that I’m giving you today, so you can live and grow, then enter and inherit the land that Jehovah your God promised to your ancestors. ² Don’t forget how Jehovah your God led you through the desert where He tested and tried you in order to show what’s in your hearts… whether you would keep His Commandments or not. ³ For, He tested you and corrected you with hunger, and then He fed you with manna (which was something that your ancestors had never heard of) to show you that men don’t just need bread to live, they also require all the words that come from the mouth of God. ⁴ Also, your clothes didn’t wear out, nor did your shoes; and yet your feet never grew hard during these past forty years.

⁵ ‘So, in your hearts you must know that Jehovah your God is disciplining you in the same way that any man should discipline his son. ⁶ Therefore, you must keep His Commandments, follow His paths, and fear Him. ⁷ For Jehovah your God will bring you into a large and good land where there are flowing rivers and deep springs that run through the plains and through the mountains. ⁸ It’s a land where there is wheat, barley, vines, figs, and pomegranates – a land of olive oil and honey – ⁹ where no one will go hungry. Nobody will be [poor] there, because it’s a land where stones are made of iron, and copper is mined in the mountains.

¹⁰ ‘Then, when you have eaten and are filled, you must praise Jehovah your God in the good land that He’s giving you. ¹¹ Pay attention to yourselves and don’t forget Jehovah your God or forget His Commandments, decisions, and rules, which I’m giving you today. ¹² So, after you’ve eaten and are full, and have built good houses and are living in them, ¹³ and your herds of oxen and sheep have increased, and you’ve become wealthy and have many possessions; ¹⁴ don’t become proud in your in hearts and forget Jehovah your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery, ¹⁵ then through that great and terrible desert where there are scorpions, biting snakes, and drought. For, when there was no water, He brought you a fountain of water out of flinty rock. ¹⁶ Then He fed you with manna in the desert, which was something that you and your ancestors had never heard of. He did all of this to [discipline] you, so He could do good things for you in the future.

¹⁷ ‘So you must never say in your hearts; I’ve gained all this wealth with my own hands and by my own power. ¹⁸ But you must remember that Jehovah your God is the One who gives you the power to gain your wealth… and this is due to the Sacred Agreement that He swore to your ancestors.

¹⁹ ‘And if you ever forget Jehovah your God and choose to follow, worship, and serve other gods, then I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that you will be destroyed! ²⁰ For, just as Jehovah is destroying the nations before you, that’s how you will be destroyed if you fail to listen to the voice of your God!’

Chapter 9

¹ ‘Listen [to me], O IsraEl; Today you’re going to cross the Jordan and you will inherit nations that are greater and stronger than you are, and large cities with walls that reach into the sky. ² The people are great, numerous, and tall… such as the sons of Enac, who you are familiar with and of whom you’ve heard it said, Who can stand before the children of Enac? ³ But I want you to know today, that your God Jehovah will go ahead of you. For He is a consuming fire and He will destroy them… He will move them back before you and destroy them quickly, just as He promised.

⁴ ‘Now, after Jehovah your God has destroyed all these nations before you, don’t say in your hearts, Jehovah brought me here to inherit this good land because I’m so righteous. ⁵ For, it isn’t because of your righteousness or due to the holiness in your hearts that you’re inheriting their land. Rather, it’s because these nation are so wicked that Jehovah will destroy them; and [He’s doing it] so that He may fulfill the Sacred Agreement that He swore to our ancestors, AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob.

⁶ ‘No, it isn’t because of your righteousness that Jehovah your God is giving you this good land as an inheritance, for you are a [rebellious] people. ⁷ Don’t forget how much you angered Jehovah your God in the desert, starting from the day that you left Egypt until you arrived here, because you have continued to disobey Him!

⁸ ‘[Remember how] you made Jehovah so angry in the dry place (Horeb) that He wanted to destroy you? ⁹ Why, when I went up the mountain to receive the stone tablets of the Sacred Agreement that Jehovah made with you, I was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights, during which I had nothing to eat or drink. ¹⁰ Then Jehovah gave me the two stone tablets that had been written on by the finger of God… all the words that Jehovah said to you on the day that you gathered at the mountain were written on them!

¹¹ ‘It was at the end of those forty days and nights that Jehovah gave me the two stone tablets that contained the Sacred Agreement. ¹² Then He said to me, Now get up and hurry down the mountain, because the people you brought out of the land of Egypt have sinned! They’ve already left the Commandments that I told them and they’ve made an image for themselves against Me!

¹³ ‘Then Jehovah said to me, As I told you before, I have seen these people and {Look!} they are rebellious. ¹⁴ Now, may I destroy them – blot out their names from under the sky – and make a great and strong nation out of you… [a nation] that is even greater than [they are].

¹⁵ ‘So, as the mountain burned with fire into the skies, I turned and went down the mountain carrying the two tablets of Proofs, one in each hand. ¹⁶ And when I saw that you had sinned against Jehovah your God and made yourselves an idol – something that Jehovah had commanded you not to do – ¹⁷ I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands and broke them there before you. ¹⁸ Then I prayed, begging Jehovah, for forty more days and nights. I didn’t eat or drink anything then either, because of all your sins and the evil things that you did before Jehovah God to anger Him. ¹⁹ And I was really frightened, because He was so angry with you that He wanted to destroy you! However, Jehovah listened to me one more time.

²⁰ ‘He was also so angry with Aaron that He wanted to destroy him, but I also prayed for Aaron. ²¹ Then, because of your sin, I took the calf and burned it in a fire… I beat it down and ground it into dust and threw the dust into the brook that runs down the mountain!

²² ‘You also angered Jehovah at the Burning, at the Temptation, and at the Graves of Greed. ²³ And when Jehovah sent you from Kadesh Barne and said, Now go and inherit the land that I am Giving you, you disobeyed Jehovah your God… you didn’t believe Him and your wouldn’t do what He said. ²⁴ Why, you’ve been disobedient to everything that Jehovah has said since the day that you came to know Him!

²⁵ ‘So, I prayed to Jehovah for forty days and forty nights… that’s how long I prayed to Jehovah, begging Him not to destroy you! ²⁶ I prayed this to God: O Lord, King of gods; Don’t destroy Your people… Your inheritance who You purchased and brought out of the land of Egypt with Your great power, strong hand, and mighty arm. ²⁷ Remember Your servants, AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob, to whom You swore by Your [Name]. Don’t look at the hard hearts of these people and at their lack of respect and their sins. ²⁸ Otherwise, those who live in the land that You took us from will say, It’s just because Jehovah couldn’t bring them into the land He promised to them that He didn’t care for them and carried them away from here to kill them in the desert. ²⁹ Why, these are Your people! They belong to You! For You brought them out of the land of Egypt with Your great strength, Your mighty hand, and Your mighty arm!’

Chapter 10

¹ ‘Then Jehovah said to me, Cut two stone tablets for yourself, like the first ones, then come up to Me on the mountain. Also, make a wooden chest for yourself. ² Then you must write the same words as were on the first tablets upon these tablets, and then put them into the chest.

³ ‘So I made a chest from boards of durable wood, and I cut stone tablets that were like the first ones, then I climbed the mountain with the two tablets in my hands. ⁴ And there He wrote the Ten Commandments on the tablets, the same as He did on the first ones (which Jehovah spoke to you about from the midst of the fire on the mountain), and He gave them to me. ⁵ Then I turned and came down the mountain, and I put the tablets into the chest that I had made, just as Jehovah had commanded me.

⁶ ‘Well, the children of IsraEl left BeerOth (of the sons of JakIm) and traveled to MisadAi, where Aaron died and was buried. Then his son EliEzer replaced him as the Priest.

⁷ ‘From there we left for GadGad, and from GadGad [we went] to EteBatha, which is a land where there is a lot of running water. ⁸ It was there that Jehovah assigned the tribe of Levi to carry the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement and to stand before Jehovah to serve and praise His Name to this day. ⁹ And from that point on, the Levites were to have no part in the inheritance of their brothers, because (as He told them), Jehovah is their inheritance.

¹⁰ ‘Well, I stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights. And Jehovah listened to me and decided not to destroy you. ¹¹ And He told me, Now lead these people… let them enter and inherit the land that I promised their ancestors that I would give to them.

¹² ‘And now, O IsraEl, what does Jehovah your God require of you other than that you fear Him, walk in His paths, love Him, and serve Him with all your hearts and souls? ¹³ So, obey the Commandments of your God Jehovah and follow all His rules that I’m telling you today, so things may go well for you. ¹⁴ Look into the sky and into the heaven of heavens, for they, the earth, and all things that are in them belong to Jehovah your God.

¹⁵ ‘It is Jehovah who chose your ancestors and their seed (which includes you) over all the other nations, to be loved by Him. ¹⁶ So, circumcise the hardness from your hearts and don’t be [rebellious], ¹⁷ for Jehovah your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He’s the great, strong, and terrifying God who doesn’t [show special] favor to anyone or accept bribes. ¹⁸ He brings justice to converts, orphans, and widows, for He loves converts and provides them with food and clothing. ¹⁹ So you must love the converts also, for you were once [aliens] in the land of Egypt.

²⁰ ‘You must fear Jehovah your God… serve Him, stick to Him, and swear by His Name! ²¹ He’s the One who you have to brag about, because He’s your God, and it’s He who did all these great and glorious things that you’ve seen while He’s been among you. ²² Why, there were only seventy people (your ancestors) who went down to Egypt, but Jehovah your God has now made you like the stars in the sky in numbers!’

Chapter 11

¹ ‘So you must love your God Jehovah and follow His assignments, rules, Commandments, and decisions throughout your lives.

² ‘Now, recognize that I’m not [addressing] your children here today… those who don’t know and haven’t seen the discipline of your God Jehovah, or His wonderful works, strong hand, mighty arm, ³ miracles, and the wonders that He performed before Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) and on his whole land, ⁴ or what He did to the Egyptian army and their chariots and cavalry when He made the waters of the Red Sea cover them and destroy them as they were chasing after us, ⁵ or all the things that He did for us in the desert as we were coming here, ⁶ or the things that he did to Dathan and AbiRam (the sons of EliAb and grandsons of Reuben) when the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them, their families, their tents, and all their belongings there in the midst of all IsraEl. ⁷ Rather, [I’m addressing you]; for it was your eyes that have seen all these mighty deeds that Jehovah performed among us.

⁸ ‘So, as I’ve told you before, you must keep all His Commandments so you can live, grow, and inherit the land across the Jordan ⁹ that’s flowing with milk and honey, and then live a long time on the land that Jehovah promised your ancestors that He would give to them and to their seed. ¹⁰ For the land that you’re going to inherit isn’t like the land of Egypt that you left, where you plant the seeds and then water them under your feet as in an herb garden. ¹¹ Rather, the land that you’re going to inherit is a land of mountains and plains, so it will drink its water from the skies. ¹² It’s a land that Jehovah your God will keep an eye on and watch over throughout the whole year.

¹³ Now, if you will listen to all the Commandments that I’m telling you today and love and serve Jehovah your God with your whole heart and soul, ¹⁴ He will bring the rains to your land (early rains and late rains in their seasons); you will have a full harvest of grain, wine, and oil; ¹⁵ and He will put food in the fields for your cattle. But after you’re full and satisfied, ¹⁶ be careful not to allow your hearts to become proud and cause you to sin by worshiping and serving other gods. ¹⁷ For, if Jehovah becomes angry with you, He will bind up the skies and there won’t be any rain, the earth won’t produce its fruit, and you will soon be destroyed from the good land that Jehovah is giving you.

¹⁸ ‘Keep these words in your hearts and souls… tie them on your hands as a sign, and keep them in front of your eyes, ¹⁹ then teach them to your children… talk to your children about them while you’re sitting at home, while you’re walking along, before you go to sleep, and when you get up. ²⁰ Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates, ²¹ so that your days and the days of your children will last a long time in the land that Jehovah swore to your ancestors that He would give to them for as long as the skies cover the earth.

²² ‘Now, if you listen to all these Commandments that I’m telling you today, and you love Jehovah your God, walk in all His ways, and stick close to Him, ²³ He will drive out all these nations that are before you and you will inherit nations that are greater and stronger than you are. ²⁴ And everywhere that the soles of your feet touch the ground will become yours, from the desert to the borders of Lebanon, and from the great River Euphrates to the [Mediterranean] Sea… these will all be your borders. ²⁵ Then no one will be able to stand against you, and your God Jehovah will put the fear and dread of you over all the land that you walk on, just as He promised.

²⁶ ‘Look, I’m putting a blessing and a curse on you today. ²⁷ The blessing will come if you listen to all the Commandments of your God Jehovah that I’m giving you today. ²⁸ And the curse will come if you don’t listen to the Commandments of your God Jehovah that I’m giving you today and you stray from the path that I’m setting out, and then start serving other gods who you don’t know.

²⁹ ‘Now, after our God Jehovah has brought you into the land that you’re going to inherit, you must put the blessings on Mount GiriZim and the curses on Mount Ebal. ³⁰ {Look!} These [mountains] are on the other side of the Jordan, to the west in the land of CanaAn, near GolGol and the big oak tree.

³¹ ‘So, as you cross the Jordan to enter the land that Jehovah our God is giving you to live in and inherit throughout your lives, ³² pay attention and obey all His rules and decisions… all that I’m setting before you today.’

Chapter 12

¹ ‘Now, these are the rules and decisions that you must be sure to follow in the land that Jehovah the God of your ancestors is giving you as your inheritance, and during the entire time that you will live in the land: ² You must destroy all the places where they serve their gods, whether they’re on high mountains, on hills, or under the trees. ³ You must destroy their altars, break their [sacred] columns into pieces, then cut down their sacred poles and burn the carved images of their gods with fire… you must wipe their names out of that land!

⁴ ‘However, you must never do that to [the Name of] your God, ⁵ for your God Jehovah will choose one of your cities to have His Name put there, and that’s where He’ll call for you; then you must go there to search for Him. ⁶ And that’s where you’ll carry your whole burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your first fruitage, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, your thanksgiving offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. ⁷ Then you must eat [the sacrifices] there before Jehovah your God, as you rejoice over all the things that Jehovah your God has touched and blest you and your families with.

⁸ ‘At that time, you won’t be doing the same things that we are doing here today, where every man does whatever he wishes. ⁹ For until now, you haven’t arrived at the resting place and the inheritance that Jehovah our God is giving you. ¹⁰ But you will soon cross the Jordan to live in the land that Jehovah our God is taking as an inheritance for you. And soon He will provide you rest from all your enemies round about you, and you will live in security.

¹¹ ‘So there will be a place which Jehovah your God will choose to be called by His Name. And it’s there that you must bring all the things that I’m telling you to bring today… your whole burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the first fruitage of your hands, and any gifts that you choose to offer as a freewill vow to Jehovah your God. ¹² And it’s there that you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites who live outside your [city] gates (because they won’t have their own inheritance among you) must rejoice before Jehovah your God. ¹³ So, pay attention to yourselves and make sure that you don’t offer your whole burnt offerings in just any place that you may see fit to choose… ¹⁴ just in the place that Jehovah your God will choose from among one of your tribes. That’s [the only place] where you may offer your whole burnt offerings, and that’s where you must do all the things that I’m telling you today.

¹⁵ ‘Now, you may kill and eat all the flesh you desire that has the blessings of your God Jehovah (such as male and female deer) in any city. And both the clean and the unclean may eat it there. ¹⁶ But you may not eat its blood… you must pour it out on the ground like water. ¹⁷ And in your own cities, you may not eat any tithes of grain, wine, oil, the firstborn of your herd or flock, anything that you’ve offered as a vow, or offerings of thanks, or the first fruitage of your hands. ¹⁸ You, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the strangers who are staying inside your [city] gates must eat such things before Jehovah your God in the place that He will choose for Himself; and it’s there that you must rejoice before Jehovah your God with whatever you’re bringing to Him. ¹⁹ Also, be sure that you never abandon the Levites for as long as you live on the earth!

²⁰ ‘Now, when Jehovah your God enlarges your borders, as He told you He would do, and you desire to eat flesh; you may eat all the flesh that your soul desires. ²¹ And if the place that Jehovah your God chooses for Himself (where His Name will be called) is far away from you; you may kill any [animals] from your herd or flock that God has given you (just as I’ve told you), and you may eat as much of it as you want in your own cities. ²² And those among you may eat male and female deer, whether you are clean or unclean. ²³ Just make sure that you don’t eat any of its blood, because its blood is its life, and the life can’t be eaten with the flesh. ²⁴ You must not eat it; you must pour it out out on the ground like water. ²⁵ You mustn’t eat it if you want things to go well for you and your descendants. Always do what is good and pleasing before Jehovah your God!

²⁶ ‘But whenever you have holy things, you must take them and your vow offerings to the place where Jehovah your God will choose to put His Name. ²⁷ It is there that you must sacrifice the flesh of your whole burnt offerings… on the Altar of your God Jehovah. The blood of your sacrifices must be poured out at the foot of the Altar of your God Jehovah, and then you may eat the flesh.

²⁸ ‘Be careful! Listen to and obey all the Commandments that I’m telling you, and then things will go well for you and your descendants through the ages… that is, if you do whatever is pleasing and good before Jehovah your God.

²⁹ ‘Now, after Jehovah your God destroys the nations where you are going and you inherit their land and start living there, ³⁰ be careful not to become like them (after they’ve been destroyed) and start asking, How did those nations worship their gods? I think I’ll start doing the same thing! ³¹ No, don’t do this to your God, because the things they sacrifice to their gods are disgusting to Jehovah, and He hates those who offer their sons and daughters to their gods in fires.

³² ‘So, obey every word that I’m commanding you today, and don’t add anything to it or take anything away from it!’

Chapter 13

¹ ‘And if a prophet or someone who [has visions] in dreams should arise among you and foretell a sign or miracle, ² and the sign or miracle that he foretells comes true… and then he comes to you and says, Let’s go and serve other gods, ³ don’t listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer, because Jehovah your God may be testing you to find out whether you love your God with your whole heart and soul.

⁴ ‘You must follow Jehovah your God and fear Him! You must listen to His voice and trust in just Him! ⁵ Then that prophet or dreamer of dreams must be put to death for what he said in trying to make you turn from your God Jehovah (He who brought you out of the land of Egypt and who purchased you from slavery), and for trying to lead you away from the direction that Jehovah your God has commanded you to walk. So, you must remove any evil that is among you.

⁶ ‘Why, even if your own brother (by your father or mother), your son or daughter, your loved wife, or a friend who you love as your own life should come to you and say, Let’s go and serve gods that our ancestors didn’t know… ⁷ or the gods of the nations that live around us… or even those at the ends of the earth, ⁸ you must not agree with them or listen to them.

‘Then your eyes shouldn’t spare them and you mustn’t feel sorry for them or try to protect them in any way. ⁹ You must report them and you must be among the first to kill them… before all the other people become involved. ¹⁰ Then they must stone him/her with rocks until the person dies, because he/she has tried to draw you away from Jehovah your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of slavery. ¹¹ Then all IsraEl will hear of it and become afraid to do such evil things among you.

¹² ‘And if you should hear people in one of the cities (which Jehovah God is giving you to live in) ¹³ say that evil men have caused all the inhabitants of a land to fall away, by saying, Let’s go and worship other gods, ¹⁴ you must ask about it and see if this is true. And {Look!} if it is true and this disgusting thing has really happened among you, ¹⁵ you must destroy all those who live in that land with swords; then you must pronounce the land and everything in it as cursed. ¹⁶ You most take all its valuable things into the streets and burn the city and its loot with fire before Jehovah your God, and it must remain uninhabited through the ages, never to be rebuilt. ¹⁷ Don’t allow any of their cursed things to stick to your hands, so that Jehovah’s rage may turn away and He may show you mercy.

‘He will care for you and cause you to grow, just as He swore to your ancestors, ¹⁸ if you will listen to the voice of your God Jehovah, keep His Commandments that I’m telling you today, and do everything that’s good and pleasing before Jehovah your God.’

¹ ‘You are the children of your God Jehovah, so you must not shave your heads whenever someone dies.

² ‘You are a holy people to Jehovah your God, and He has chosen you as His alone from among all the nations on the face of the earth. ³ So, you must not eat anything that is disgusting. ⁴ These are the animals that you may eat:

· From the herd, calves;

· From the flocks, lambs;

· From the goats, kids;

· ⁵ Male and female deer;

· Antelope;

· Wild goats;

· Wild sheep.

⁶ You may eat all animals that have split hooves and chew the cud.

⁷ ‘You may not eat these animals: Those that chew the cud but don’t have split hoofs, such as camels, hares, and rabbits, because they chew the cud but they don’t have split hooves, so they are unclean.

⁸ And the same is true of pigs. They have split hooves, but they don’t chew the cud. So you must consider them unclean, and you may not eat their flesh or touch their dead bodies.

⁹ ‘You may eat anything that lives in the water and has fins and scales. ¹⁰ Anything that doesn’t have fins and scales must be considered unclean and may not be eaten.

¹¹ ‘You may eat all clean flying creatures. ¹² However, these are the ones that you may not eat:

· Eagles

· Vultures

· Ospreys

· ¹³ Falcons

· Kites and the like, ¹⁴ –––

· ¹⁵ Terns

· Owls

· Seagulls

· ¹⁶ Herons

· Swans

· Storks

· ¹⁷ Cormorants

· Hawks and the like

· Hoopoes

· Ravens

· ¹⁸ Pelicans

· Diving birds

· Red bills

· Bats.

¹⁹ ‘You may not eat winged creatures that slither (insects), for they are unclean.

²⁰ You may eat any sort of clean winged creature, ²¹ but you may not eat anything that dies on its own. You may give it to people who are visiting in your cities and they can eat it, or you may sell it to strangers, but you are a holy people to Jehovah your God.

‘You must not boil a lamb in its mother’s milk.

²² ‘You must bring a tenth of all the grain and fruit of your fields as a tithe each year, ²³ and you must eat it in that place where Jehovah your God will choose to have His Name called. That’s where you must bring your tithes of grain, wine, oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.

‘So, learn to always fear Jehovah your God!

²⁴ ‘Now, if the journey to that place where Jehovah your God will choose to have His Name called is too far for you, and you are unable to take [your offerings] there because of the distance, Jehovah will bless you ²⁵ if you sell them for money and take the money to the place that Jehovah will choose. ²⁶ And there you may use the money to buy whatever your soul desires (oxen, sheep, wine, liquor… anything that your soul desires). Then you must eat it there before Jehovah your God, and you and your family must rejoice ²⁷ along with the Levites who live in your cities, because they will not have shared in your inheritance and will have nothing to bring.

²⁸ ‘You may store the tithes in your cities, but every three years you must bring them all. ²⁹ Then you must invite all the Levites, and all the strangers, orphans, and widows in your cities (those who don’t have anything to bring) to come with you, and they may eat until they are full. Then Jehovah your God will bless you in everything that you do.’

Chapter 15

¹ ‘Every seven years you must cancel debts, ² and these are the rules: You must cancel any debts that your neighbors owe you personally, and you must not ask to have them paid back, because this is a cancellation [of debts] to Jehovah your God. ³ You may ask strangers to pay whatever they owe you, but not your brothers… you must cancel their debts. ⁴ That way, there won’t be any poor people among you and Jehovah your God will surely bless you in the land that He’s giving you as your inheritance.

⁵ ‘Now, if you listen to the voice of your God Jehovah and obey all these Commandments that I’m giving you today, ⁶ Jehovah your God will bless you (as He told you), and then you will lend [money] to many nations. However, you must never borrow from them, nor may you rule over them… but they won’t rule over you either.

⁷ ‘If you find a poor man among your brothers in your city in that land which Jehovah your God is giving you, you must not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted with your brother who is in need… ⁸ you must reach out to him and lend him as much as he needs!

⁹ ‘Now, be careful not to secretly say in your hearts, The seventh year (the year of cancellation) is getting close, then allow your eyes to look wickedly at your brother who is in need and not lend him anything. For, he will call out to Jehovah about you, and you will be guilty of a serious sin. ¹⁰ So you must be sure to lend Him as much as he needs and not hold a grudge in your hearts. For, because of your good deeds, Jehovah your God will bless everything you do and everything you touch.

¹¹ ‘There will always be poor people in your land, and that’s why I’m telling you to do this. You must reach out to your poor brothers, and to anyone who is having a hard time in your land.

¹² ‘And if your brother (a Hebrew man or woman) should be sold to you, he may serve you for six years, but in the seventh year you must set him free. ¹³ And when you set him free, don’t send him away empty-handed! ¹⁴ You must give him provisions from your flock, your grain, and your wine… as Jehovah your God has blest you, that’s how you must treat him.

¹⁵ ‘Don’t forget that you were once slaves in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah your God bought you out of there; that’s why I’m telling you to do this!

¹⁶ ‘However, if [the slave] should tell you that he doesn’t want to leave you, because he loves you and your family; and if you approve of this, ¹⁷ you must take an awl and punch a hole through his ear against the door. Then he will be your servant for ages… and female servants should be dealt with in the same way.

¹⁸ ‘[None of] this will create a hardship on you, because the people will serve you for six years as hired hands, and Jehovah your God will bless you in everything you do.

¹⁹ ‘Now, when it comes to the firstborn among your oxen and sheep; you must offer the males as holy to Jehovah your God. You may not work a firstborn calf, and you may not shear a firstborn sheep. ²⁰ You and your household must eat them before Jehovah each year in the place that Jehovah your God will choose. ²¹ However; if it’s lame, blind, or deformed, you must not sacrifice it to Jehovah your God. ²² Both the clean and unclean among you may eat it in your cities, as you would a male or female deer. ²³ But you must not eat its blood… you must pour it out on the ground like water!’

Chapter 16

¹ ‘You must celebrate the month of New Grain and sacrifice the Passover to Jehovah your God, because that’s the month when you left Egypt during the night. ² You must sacrifice your Passover sheep and oxen in that place where Jehovah your God will select to have His Name called. ³ And you may not eat bread made with fermentation for seven days. You may only eat fermentation-free bread, which is the bread of persecution, because you left Egypt in a hurry. So, remember the day when you left the land of Egypt for as long as you may live.

⁴ ‘Fermentation must not be seen anywhere inside your borders for seven days, and none of the flesh that you sacrifice in the evening may be left over until the next morning. ⁵ Nor are you allowed to sacrifice the Passover in any of the cities that Jehovah your God is giving you. ⁶ The Passover may not be sacrificed anywhere other than in the place that Jehovah your God will choose to have His Name called, in the evening just after sunset… which is the time that you left Egypt. ⁷ Then you must boil or roast it, and then eat it in the place that Jehovah your God will choose; and don’t return home until the next morning! ⁸ You must eat fermentation-free bread for six days, and then the seventh day is to be a holiday and a feast to Jehovah your God, during which you may not do any work other that which is common to everyone.

⁹ ‘Then start counting off seven weeks from the time that you first start cutting the grain with a sickle, ¹⁰ and you must celebrate the Festival of Weeks to Jehovah your God with as much strength and with as many things as Jehovah your God has given you. ¹¹ You must rejoice before Jehovah your God with your sons and daughters, male and female servants, the Levites, strangers, orphans, and the widows who live among you in that place where Jehovah your God will choose to have His Name called. ¹² For, you must remember the [time] when you were slaves in the land of Egypt, then you must do all these things and obey these Commandments.

¹³ ‘You must also celebrate the Festival of Temporary Dwellings for seven days, after you’ve stored your grain and made your wine. ¹⁴ Then you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites, the strangers, the orphans, and the widows in your cities should rejoice. ¹⁵ You must hold a feast to Jehovah your God for seven days in the place that Jehovah your God will choose for Himself. And you must rejoice over all the harvest that Jehovah your God has blest you with and for all the things that you’ve accomplished.

¹⁶ ‘All your males must appear before Jehovah your God three times each year in the place that Jehovah will choose, for:

· The Festival of Fermentation-free Bread

· The Festival of Weeks

· The Festival of Temporary Dwellings.

And don’t appear before Jehovah your God empty handed! ¹⁷ Each one must bring whatever he can, as Jehovah your God has blest him.

¹⁸ ‘You must appoint judges and officials in the cities that Jehovah your God is giving to each of your tribes, and they must judge the people righteously. ¹⁹ They must not be unfair, show anyone special favor, or accept gifts; because gifts blind the eyes of the wise and twist the words of the righteous. ²⁰ You must always work at being just, so you may live and inherit the land that Jehovah your God is giving you.

²¹ ‘You must never erect poles or plant any trees for yourselves near the Altar of your God, ²² nor may you erect sacred columns for yourselves, for Jehovah your God hates such things!’

Chapter 17

¹ ‘You must not sacrifice a calf or a sheep to Jehovah your God that is scarred or deformed in any way, for that would be disgusting to Jehovah your God.

² ‘And if a man or a woman should ever be found among you (in any of the cities that Jehovah your God is giving you) who chooses to do what is evil before Jehovah and sins against His Sacred Agreement ³ by going and serving other gods, or by worshiping the sun, moon, or any of the stars in the sky (something that He has commanded you not to do), ⁴ and someone tells you about it; you must ask about it and investigate to see if this disgusting thing has really happened in IsraEl. ⁵ [And if so], you must bring that man or woman outside [the city] and stone him/her to death with rocks.

⁶ ‘The person must be put to death if there are two or three witnesses to testify against him. But no one should be put to death on the testimony of just one witness. ⁷ And then, those who testified against him must be the first to put him/her to death… before the rest of the people [throw their rocks]. So, you must remove the evil person from among yourselves.

⁸ ‘Now, whenever a matter is too difficult for you to judge in your cities (as between blood and blood, cause and cause, stroke and stroke, and contradiction and contradiction), ⁹ you must take the matter to the Levite Priests who will then be at the place which Jehovah your God will choose, and have them try the case. They must perform their own investigation and report their findings to you. ¹⁰ Then you must do whatever they have decided in the place that Jehovah your God will choose. You must be sure to do whatever the Law tells you to do.

¹¹ ‘You must always follow the Law and abide by any judgments that they hand down! Don’t vary to the right or left from any decisions that they reach. ¹² For, any man who acts so haughtily that he won’t listen to the Priests who stand and serve in the Name of your God Jehovah, or to a presiding judge, must be put to death. You must remove that evil person from IsraEl; ¹³ then everyone will hear about it and be afraid to show so little respect in the future!

¹⁴ ‘And when you enter the land that Jehovah your God is giving you (after you’ve inherited it and lived there), and you decide that you want a king to rule over you (like the other nations around you), ¹⁵ he must be chosen by Jehovah God. Kings may only be selected from among your brothers, so don’t empower yourselves to select a king who isn’t a brother.

¹⁶ ‘[And no king should] accumulate horses for himself, nor may he send [My] people back to Egypt. He may [decide to] do this if he starts collecting horses for himself, but Jehovah has told you not to go back there again! ¹⁷ Nor may he start accumulating many wives for himself, for they will change his heart… and he shouldn’t collect a lot of silver and gold for himself.

¹⁸ ‘And when [these kingships] are established and they start to rule, they must each write their own copy of these Laws in a scroll, with the help of the Levite Priests. ¹⁹ Then they must keep it and read from it all the days of their lives, so they will learn to fear Jehovah their God and keep and observe all these Commandments and rules. ²⁰ Then they won’t consider themselves more important than their brothers in their hearts, nor will they swerve to the right or to the left of the Commandments. And then they and their sons will reign a long time in their land among the children of IsraEl.’

Chapter 18

¹ ‘None of the Priests, including the whole tribe of Levi, will have any inheritance in IsraEl, because the burnt offerings of Jehovah are their inheritance and what they will eat. ² They will have no inheritance among their brothers, because Jehovah is their portion, just as He told them.

³ ‘The Priests will get the things that the people offer as sacrifices, such as [a portion of] the calves and sheep (the shoulder, cheeks, and belly), ⁴ and the first-fruitage of your grain, your wine, your oil, and the fleece from your sheep. ⁵ This is because Jehovah has chosen them from among all your tribes to stand before Jehovah your God, to serve and praise His Name, and [to serve] His sons, the children of IsraEl.

⁶ ‘Now, if a Levite is living in one of the cities of the children of IsraEl (and he can live wherever he chooses), ⁷ he must serve the Name of His God Jehovah. And all His brothers (the Levites who stand and offer [the sacrifices] to Jehovah your God) ⁸ must be given their share… in addition to any property they inherit and choose to sell.

⁹ ‘And once you’ve entered the land that Jehovah your God is giving you, you must not learn [any of] the disgusting things that those nations are doing, such as:

· ¹⁰ Offering your sons or daughters in fire

· Using occult powers to tell the future

· Looking for omens

· ¹¹ Serving as witches

· Speaking incantations

· Consulting spirits to tell the future

· Looking for signs

· Asking [questions of] the dead.

¹² For through the ages, those who have done such things have been disgusting to Jehovah your God. And if you do such disgusting things, Jehovah will destroy you from before His face… ¹³ you must be perfect before Jehovah your God!

¹⁴ ‘Now, all those nations whose land you will inherit have listened to these omens and [followed these] occult practices, but Jehovah your God doesn’t allow you to do that.

¹⁵ ‘Then Jehovah your God will raise a Prophet like me from among your brothers, and you must listen to him, ¹⁶ as when you received all that you desired from Jehovah your God in the dry place (Horeb) after the whole gathering said, We don’t want to listen to the voice of your God Jehovah again or see His great fire, so we won’t die. ¹⁷ For, Jehovah said to me, What they have said is good, ¹⁸ so I will raise a Prophet like you from among their brothers, and I will put My words in his mouth and he will tell them whatever I command him. ¹⁹ Then I will bring vengeance upon anyone who doesn’t listen to what that Prophet says in My name. ²⁰ But, any prophet who uses My Name in an irreverent way by saying things that I didn’t tell him to say, or who speaks in the name of other gods, must die!

²¹ ‘And if you ever wonder in your hearts which words Jehovah didn’t say; ²² [remember that] anything a prophet says in the Name of the Lord that doesn’t come true, is something that Jehovah didn’t say. So, that prophet has spoken wickedly and he must die!’

Chapter 19

¹ ‘And when Jehovah your God has destroyed the nations that He’s giving you, along with their lands, cities, and houses that you will inherit and live in, ² you must set aside three cities in the midst of the land that Jehovah your God is giving you. ³ Perform a survey and divide the borders of your land into three parts, [then assign central cities as] refuges for those who have [unintentionally] killed someone.

⁴ ‘And this is the rule: Those who are guilty of manslaughter (anyone who has accidentally struck his neighbor – someone who he has never disliked) may run to [these cities] and stay. ⁵ For example; Say, someone goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and his ax head flies off its handle and hits his neighbor, killing him. He must flee to one of these cities and live there, ⁶ so that the angry blood avenger doesn’t chase him down and kill him (although he hasn’t been sentenced to death, because he hasn’t hated his [neighbor] in the past). And that’s what will happen if [the refuge cities] are too far away… ⁷ and that’s why I’m telling you to set aside these three cities.

⁸ ‘And if Jehovah enlarges your borders (as He promised your ancestors), and if He gives you all the land that He said He would give you, ⁹ you must obey all these Commandments that I’m giving you today. [You must] love Jehovah your God and always walk in His ways. And you must choose three cities within these borders, ¹⁰ so that the blood of those who are innocent won’t be spilled in the land that Jehovah your God is giving you as your inheritance, and so that none of you will have bloodguilt.

¹¹ ‘However, if someone truly hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him, then sneaks up and kills him, and he thereafter flees to one of these cities, ¹² the local elders must hand him over to the blood avengers, who must kill him. ¹³ Don’t feel sorry for him, because you must purge the innocent blood from IsraEl, so that things may go well for you.

¹⁴ ‘Don’t move your neighbor’s property markers that were set by your ancestors as their inheritance… those which will been assigned to you in the land that Jehovah your God is giving you as your inheritance.

¹⁵ ‘The testimony of a single witness may not be used to blame a man for any sins that he may commit. It requires two or three witnesses to prove anything.

¹⁶ ‘Now, if someone brings a charge against a person [that can’t be proven], ¹⁷ both people in the controversy must stand before Jehovah and before the Priests or judges in those days. ¹⁸ Then the judges must seriously investigate the matter to see if he has brought a false charge against his brother. ¹⁹ And if he has, you must do the same wicked thing that he wanted to do to his brother, to him. You must remove the evil from among yourselves, ²⁰ so the rest will hear about it and be afraid to do such an evil thing among you. ²¹ Don’t forgive him; It must be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot!’

Chapter 20

¹ ‘And when you go to war against your enemies and find that they have a larger army and more horsemen than you do; don’t be afraid of them, for Jehovah your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt is with you! ² And before you go to fight, the Priests must come and speak to the people, and tell them: ³ Listen, O IsraEl! Today you’re going to fight against your enemies. So be courageous! Don’t be afraid, don’t get confused, and don’t retreat, ⁴ because Jehovah your God is with you and He will fight against your enemies and save you!

⁵ ‘Then the scribes must speak to the people and say, If any man has built a new house and hasn’t dedicated it yet, let him go home; otherwise he might die in the war and someone else would then dedicate it. ⁶ And any man who has planted a vineyard and not yet [enjoyed its wine] may go home; otherwise he might die in the battle and then someone else would get to enjoy it. ⁷ And if any man is engaged [to marry] and has not yet taken [the woman] as his wife, he should go home; otherwise he might die in the battle and then someone else would have her.

⁸ ‘And the scribes should also speak to the people and tell them, If there is any man who isn’t [brave] and is afraid, he should go home, so his fear doesn’t discourage his brothers.

⁹ ‘And after the scribes have finished speaking to the people, they must appoint generals over the army to lead them.

¹⁰ ‘Now, whenever you approach a city, before you go to battle against them, you must call out to them peacefully. ¹¹ And if they answer you peacefully and open [their gates] to you, all the people who are found there must become your subjects and serve you. ¹² But if they don’t listen to you and they choose to fight a war against you, then you must [lay siege on the city] ¹³ until Jehovah your God gives it into your hands. Then you must kill all the men there with swords. ¹⁴ You may spare the women, their possessions, all the cattle, and anything else that is in the city… you may loot it and take whatever you wish, and you may also eat whatever your enemies have, because Jehovah your God has given it to you.

¹⁵ ‘Now, that’s what you must do to the distant cities, not to the cities of these nations that Jehovah your God is giving you and where you will inherit their land. ¹⁶ You must not leave anything alive there! ¹⁷ You must curse the Hittites, Amorites, CanaAnites, Pherezites, Evites, Jebusites, and Gergesites, just as Jehovah your God commanded you, ¹⁸ so they don’t teach you to do all the disgusting things that they are doing before their gods and cause you to sin before Jehovah your God.

¹⁹ ‘And whenever you lay siege to a city and you don’t succeed in capturing it right away; don’t cut down and destroy its [fruit] trees. Rather, [pick the fruit] and eat it… for the trees in the fields aren’t men that must be cut down to capture [the city]. ²⁰ However, you must cut down and destroy any trees that you know aren’t fruit bearing. Then you must build a mound against the [walls] of the city that has chosen a war with you, until it is captured.’

Chapter 21

¹ ‘And if anyone is found murdered with a knife, and [his body is] left in a field in the land that Jehovah your God is giving you to inherit, and no one knows who did it, ² your elders and judges must go there and measure the distances from the slain man to the cities round about. ³ And from whichever city is nearest to him, the elders of that city must choose a heifer from the herd that has never worn a yoke or been worked, ⁴ then lead it into a valley that has never been tilled or planted, and slaughter the heifer there. ⁵ Then the Levite Priests must go there (because they’re the ones who Jehovah has chosen to represent Him and to praise His Name), and whatever they decide must stand.

⁶ ‘Then all the elders of that city who went out to the murdered man must wash their hands over the head of the heifer that was slaughtered in the valley ⁷ and say, Our hands didn’t shed this blood and our eyes didn’t witness it. ⁸ Be merciful to Your people IsraEl whom You have redeemed, O Lord, so that Your people IsraEl aren’t held responsible for this innocent blood. And by doing this, the blood will have been paid for by them. ⁹ For, you must remove all innocent blood from among yourselves if you wish to do what is good and pleasing before Jehovah your God.

¹⁰ ‘And when you’re going to war against your enemies and Jehovah your God allows you to conquer them and carry away loot, ¹¹ and if you then notice a woman with a pretty face among the captives who you want to take as your wife; ¹² when you bring her home you must shave her head, cut her nails, ¹³ and remove the clothes she was wearing when she was captured. Thereafter, she must be allowed to mourn for her father and mother in your home for a month. Only after that may you may have sex with her, live with her, and take her as your wife. ¹⁴ Then if you aren’t happy with her, you must send her away free. She can’t be sold, nor may you mistreat her, because you’ve dishonored her.

¹⁵ And if a man has two wives and he loves one and doesn’t care as much for the other, and both have given birth, and the son of the one he cares for less is the firstborn; ¹⁶ when he divides his property among his sons as their inheritance, he may not give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the wife he loves more. ¹⁷ He must recognize the rights of the firstborn and give him twice as much of the things he owns, because he’s the first of his children, and he owns that birthright.

¹⁸ ‘Now, if any man has a son who is disobedient, likes to argue, and refuses to obey his father and mother or listen when they correct him, ¹⁹ they must take him before the elders at their city gate ²⁰ and tell them, This is our disobedient son. He won’t listen to us and he has become a drunk and a partier. ²¹ Then the men of the city must stone him to death with rocks; for you must remove those who are evil from among yourselves, and then the rest will hear about it and fear.

²² And if someone sins and is sentenced to death, and you choose to execute him by hanging him on a tree, ²³ don’t allow his body to remain on the tree overnight. You must bury it on that same day, because through the ages, anyone who is hanged on a tree is cursed before God, and you must not [allow it to] dirty the land that Jehovah your God is giving you as your inheritance.’

Chapter 22

¹ ‘Whenever you see your brother’s calf or sheep wandering loose in the road, don’t ignore it; you must lead it back to your brother and give it to him. ² However, if your brother doesn’t live near you and you don’t know [who owns the animal], you must take it home with you and keep it until your brother comes searching for it, then give it back to him. ³ That’s what you must do for his burro, his clothing, or anything else that your brother has lost… don’t overlook anything. ⁴ And if you see your brother’s burro or ox fallen on the road, don’t pass it by; be sure to help him to get it back on its feet.

⁵ ‘A woman should never wear men’s clothing, nor should a man wear women’s clothing. For through the ages, such a thing has been considered disgusting by Jehovah your God.

⁶ ‘And if you should find a bird’s nest in the road, or in a tree, or on the ground, where the bird is brooding eggs or chicks, you must not take the nest with its young. ⁷ You may take the [eggs], but you must let the mother go, so things may go well for you and so you may live a long time.

⁸ ‘When you build a new house, you must erect a parapet around [the roof] to keep anyone from falling from it, so you don’t bring the guilt of someone’s blood upon your house.

⁹ ‘You must not plant different types of seeds in your vineyard, for the [plants] could [cross-pollinate] and make your vineyard unholy.

¹⁰ ‘You must not hitch an ox and a burro together to [pull] the same plow.

¹¹ ‘You must not wear clothing made of both linen and wool.

¹² ‘You must put fringes on all four sides of your clothing, no matter how you may be dressed.

¹³ ‘If any man should take a wife who he comes to dislike after he has lived with her, ¹⁴ and then he starts saying bad things about her and calling her bad names, saying, When I took this woman and had sex with her, she didn’t prove to be a virgin; ¹⁵ then her father and mother must bring the girl’s proof of virginity to the elders at the city gate, ¹⁶ and the girl’s father should tell the elders, I gave my daughter to be this man’s wife, ¹⁷ and now he no longer cares for her and he’s saying that he found no indication of my daughter’s virginity. But here’s the proof… and he must unfold the sheet with her [blood] before the city’s elders. ¹⁸ And [if that happens], the elders of that city must take the man and discipline him, ¹⁹ then fine him a hundred small silver coins and give it to the girl’s father for slandering the name of a virgin of IsraEl. Then she must continue to be his wife and he may never divorce her.

²⁰ ‘However, if what he says proves to be true and no proof of the girl’s virginity can be found, ²¹ they must take her in front of her father’s house and stone her to death with rocks, because she dishonored the children of IsraEl and the house of her father by her immorality. So, you must remove the evil person from among yourselves.

²² ‘Also, if [you find] a man having sex with another man’s wife, you must kill both the man and the woman. You must remove those who are wicked from IsraEl.

²³ ‘And if a young woman is already engaged to a man, and another man in the city has sex with her, ²⁴ you must bring them both outside the city gate and stone them to death with rocks; her because she didn’t scream, and him because he dishonored the wife of his neighbor. So, you must remove the evil ones from among yourselves.

²⁵ ‘However, if a man catches an engaged woman out in a field and rapes her, you must put just the man who did this to death, ²⁶ for the woman hasn’t committed a sin that she should be killed for. Something like this is just as serious as when one man murders another, ²⁷ because he found and [raped] an engaged woman who screamed, but no one was around to help her.

²⁸ ‘And if any man should assault a young virgin who isn’t engaged, and this can be proven, ²⁹ the man who assaulted her must pay her father fifty silver coins, then he must marry her and never be allowed to divorce her, because he dishonored her.

³⁰ ‘And no man may lay his father bare by having sex with his father’s wife.’

Chapter 23

¹ ‘No man who has been castrated or whose sexual parts have been damaged, ² or any son of a whore may enter the gathering of Jehovah.

³ ‘Ammonites and Moabites may not enter the gathering of Jehovah… not through the tenth generation or through the ages, ⁴ because they didn’t meet you and bring you bread and water as you were coming from Egypt, and because they hired BalaAm the son of Beor of MesoPotamia to curse you. ⁵ For, Jehovah your God didn’t listen to BalaAm and He changed the curses into blessings, because He loved you. ⁶ So, you must not speak to them in peace or for profit for as long as you live, and through the ages.

⁷ ‘You must not hate Edomites, because they’re your brothers; and you must not hate Egyptians, because you were once strangers in their land. ⁸ So, their third-generation sons may enter the gathering of Jehovah.

⁹ ‘Now, when you go out to fight with your enemies, you must refrain from doing anything wicked.

¹⁰ ‘And if any man is unclean because of a release [of semen] during the night, he must leave the camp (or not return to it); ¹¹ then in the evening he must wash his body in water and return to the camp after sundown. ¹² So, you must set aside a place outside the camp where he may go.

¹³ ‘And [each of] you must carry a spade in your belts, so that when you need to relieve yourselves somewhere [outside the camp], you may use it to dig [a hole] in the ground and then cover your excrement. ¹⁴ [You must do this] because Jehovah your God walks in your camp to save you and to give your enemies [into your hands], so your camp must be holy and nothing disgusting may be seen, so He doesn’t turn away from you.

¹⁵ ‘You must not return a slave to his master after he has run away and come to serve you. ¹⁶ He must live with you and among you, and you must not mistreat him, as long as he pleases you.

¹⁷ ‘There may be no whores among the daughters of IsraEl; nor may there be any [men] among the sons of IsraEl who are sexually immoral.

‘There may be no idol worshipers among the daughters of IsraEl; nor may there be any who [worship idols] among the sons of IsraEl.

¹⁸ ‘You may not bring the wages of a prostitute or the price of a dog into the House of your God Jehovah to pay for any vow, because both of them are disgusting to Jehovah.

¹⁹ ‘You must not charge your brother interest for borrowing silver, meat, or anything else that you may lend him. ²⁰ You may charge interest on loans to strangers, but not to your brothers, so Jehovah your God will bless what you do in the entire land that you are entering and will inherit.

²¹ ‘Whenever you swear an oath to Jehovah your God, you must be quick about paying it, for Jehovah your God requires that you do so. Otherwise, this would be a sin against you. ²² Now, if you are unwilling to offer anything, that isn’t a sin. ²³ But whatever you vow to offer as a gift to Jehovah God must be [paid] as promised.’

Chapter 24

¹ ‘If you’re walking through a neighbor’s wheat field, you may pick the heads with your hands… but you may not use a sickle in his field. ² Also, if you enter a neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat all the grapes you want, but you may not carry any away in a container.

³ ‘If you take a wife, and after living with her, you find that you no longer love her because of some disgusting thing that she may have done, you may write out a divorce certificate and put it into her hands, then send her away from your home. ⁴ And if she chooses to remarry after she leaves her first husband ⁵ (due to the fact that her first husband didn’t care for here and divorced her and sent her away), and this [second] husband should die, ⁶ the former husband may not remarry her after she has had sex with the other man, because that is a disgusting thing before Jehovah your God. You must not dirty the land that Jehovah your God is giving you to inherit.

⁷ ‘And whenever a man has recently married, he must not go to war, nor may anyone require him to do so. He must live free in his house for one year, as a joy to the wife that he has taken.

⁸ ‘You may not take anyone’s millstone as collateral for a loan, because anyone who does that is requiring a life as a promise.

⁹ ‘Any man who is caught kidnapping and selling one of his brothers of the children of IsraEl, must die. You must remove that evil one from among yourselves.

¹⁰ ‘Pay special attention when it comes to the plague of leprosy… you must be very careful to obey all the laws that the Levite Priests give you, and to do as I have instructed you. ¹¹ For, remember all that Jehovah your God did to Miriam while you were traveling from Egypt.

¹² ‘If your neighbor owes you a debt (no matter what kind), you may not enter his house to collect it. ¹³ You must stand outside, and the man who owes you the debt should bring it out to you. ¹⁴ However, if the man is too poor [to pay it], you may not go to sleep while you’re holding the thing he pledged [as collateral]. ¹⁵ You must return it before sunset, so he can sleep in his clothes… then he will praise you, and Jehovah your God will be merciful to you.

¹⁶ ‘You must not be unfair and withhold the wages of those who are poor and needy among your brothers, or of strangers who are living in your cities. ¹⁷ You must pay them their wages on the same day. Don’t allow the sun to set before [paying them], because they are poor and they need it. For if you do, they will call out to Jehovah about you, and it will be a sin for you.

¹⁸ ‘Fathers shouldn’t be put to death for their children, nor may sons be put to death for their fathers. Each person must be put to death for his own sins.

¹⁹ ‘You must not be unjust to strangers, orphans, or widows; and you must never take a widow’s clothing as collateral. ²⁰ For, remember that you were once slaves in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah your God bought you from there. So, do what I’m telling you!

²¹ ‘And when you’re harvesting the grain in your field and you realize that you’ve missed some, you must not return to get it. For these must be left for the strangers, orphans, and widows, so Jehovah your God will bless you in everything that you do.

²² ‘And when you pick your olives, you must not go back and pick them all; some must be left for the strangers, orphans, and widows. Don’t forget that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, so I’m commanding you to do this.

²³ And whenever you pick the grapes in your vineyard, you must not glean everything… you must leave some for the strangers, orphans, and widows. ²⁴ Don’t forget that you were slaves in the land of Egypt, so I’m commanding you to do this.’

Chapter 25

¹ ‘Whenever there’s a dispute between two men, they should carry it to the judges and allow them to decide who’s right and who’s guilty. ² And if the guilty one is sentenced to be beaten with a whip, he must be held down in front of the judges and they must have him whipped there before them for his sin. ³ They must have him lashed forty times, and no more; for if you whip your brother more than that, he will be disgraced.

⁴ ‘You must not muzzle the ox that [is used to] thresh the grain.

⁵ ‘If brothers should live together and one of them dies without producing a seed, his wife may not marry someone who isn’t related to her husband. Her husband’s brother must go and take her as his wife and live with her. ⁶ Then any children that she gives birth to will carry her deceased husband’s name, so his name won’t be blotted out of IsraEl.

⁷ ‘Now, if the man isn’t willing to take his brother’s wife, she should go to the elders at the [city] gate and say, My husband’s brother has refused to keep my husband’s name alive in IsraEl. ⁸ Then the city elders should call him and make him stand before them and tell them why he refuses to take her. ⁹ Then his brother’s wife must come up before the elders and remove one shoe from his foot, then spit in his face and say, This is how they treat the man who won’t build his brother’s house in IsraEl. ¹⁰ And from then on, everyone in IsraEl must call him, The house of the man who had his shoe removed.

¹¹ And if a man gets into a fight with a brother, and then one of their wives should come and try to stop the other man from beating her husband by grabbing him by the testicles, ¹² you must cut her hand off. Don’t allow your eyes [to feel sorry for] her.

¹³ ‘You must not carry oversized and undersized weights in your bag, ¹⁴ nor may you keep oversized and undersized units of measure in your house. ¹⁵ You must have accurate weights and units of measure, so you may live a long time in the land that Jehovah your God is giving you as your inheritance. ¹⁶ For through the ages, everyone who has done such unrighteous things has been disgusting to Jehovah your God.

¹⁷ ‘Don’t forget what the Amalechites did to you as you were traveling from the land of Egypt. ¹⁸ For, they got in your way and harassed those who were worn out at your rear, leaving you hungry and tired, and they didn’t fear God. ¹⁹ And so, when Jehovah your God finally provides you rest from your enemies in the land that He’s giving you to inherit, you must wipe the name of the Amalechites out from under the sky… don’t forget!

Chapter 26

¹ ‘Once you’ve entered the land that Jehovah your God is giving you as your inheritance, and you each have received your own inheritance and started living there, ² you must collect the first fruitage [from the harvest] in the land He’s giving you, and put it into a basket. Then carry it to the place where Jehovah your God will choose to have His Name called. ³ And when you get to the Priest (whoever it may be then), you must say to him, I’m testifying today before Jehovah My God that I’ve come to this land, which Jehovah swore to our ancestors that He would give to us.

⁴ ‘Then the Priest must take the basket from your hands and set it before the Altar of your God Jehovah, ⁵ and he must answer you and say before Jehovah, A small group of my ancestors (who came from Syria) went down to Egypt and stayed there, where they grew into a large number and a mighty nation. ⁶ But the Egyptians made life difficult for us, humiliated us, and put us to work at hard labor. ⁷ Then we called out to Jehovah our God and He heard us. And when He saw our humiliation, our hardships, and how hard we were working, ⁸ He brought us out of Egypt with His great strength, strong hand, and mighty arm, with great miracles, signs, and wonders. ⁹ Then He brought us into this place and gave us this land… a land flowing with milk and honey! ¹⁰ And now {Look!} I’m bringing the first fruits of the land that You gave us, O Lord, from the land that flows with milk and honey.

‘Then leave [the basket there] before Jehovah your God and bow low before Him, ¹¹ as you rejoice over all the good things that Jehovah your God has given to you, your family, and the Levites and strangers that live among you.

¹² ‘And in the third year, after you’ve brought all the tithes of your harvest, you must bring a second tithe for the Levites, strangers, orphans, and widows, and they may eat it and enjoy themselves in your cities.

¹³ ‘Then you must come before Jehovah your God and say, I’ve collected a full measure of the holy things from my home and given them to the Levites, strangers, orphans, and widows, just as You commanded. I didn’t sin against Your Commandments and I didn’t forget them, ¹⁴ nor did I eat any of it during a difficult time, or use it for an unclean purpose, or offer it to the dead. I’ve listened to the voice of our God Jehovah, and I’ve done just as You commanded me. ¹⁵ Now, look down from your Holy House in heaven and bless Your people IsraEl and the land flowing with milk and honey that You swore to our ancestors that You would give us.

¹⁶ ‘On this day, Jehovah your God is instructing you to keep all of His rules and decisions… and you must obey them and follow them with your whole heart and soul! ¹⁷ For, today you’ve chosen Him to be your God, and [you’ve agreed] to walk in all His ways, follow His rules and decisions, and listen to His voice. ¹⁸ And today, Jehovah has chosen you to be His people exclusively – as He promised in His Commandments – ¹⁹ to be above all other nations. He has made you famous, glorious, and something to brag about… a holy people to Jehovah your God, just as He promised.’

Chapter 27

¹ Then Moses addressed the elders of IsraEl and said, ‘Keep all these Commandments that I’m giving you today. ² And after you’ve crossed the Jordan and entered the land that Jehovah your God is giving you, you must erect [two] huge stone [monuments] and cover them with plaster. ³ Then write all the words of this Law on them as soon as you’ve crossed the Jordan into the land that Jehovah the God of your ancestors is giving you… the land that’s flowing with milk and honey, which Jehovah the God of your ancestors promised to you.

⁴ ‘After you’ve crossed the Jordan, erect these stones with the Commandments that I’m giving you today upon Mount Ebal, then coat them with plaster. ⁵ Also, build an altar there to Jehovah your God from rocks that haven’t been cut with an iron tool. ⁶ Use whole stones and build an altar to Jehovah your God, then place whole burnt offerings to Jehovah your God upon it… ⁷ you must sacrifice peace offerings, which you must eat until you’re full, and rejoice before Jehovah your God.

⁸ ‘Make sure that the Law is clearly inscribed on the [monuments].’

⁹ Then Moses addressed the Levite Priests of IsraEl and said, ‘Be quiet and listen, O IsraEl, because today you’re becoming the people of your God Jehovah. ¹⁰ So, listen to His voice and obey all His Commandments and rules… all those that I’m [giving] you today.’

¹¹ And on that same day, Moses addressed the people and said, ¹² ‘After you’ve crossed the Jordan, these [tribes] must assemble on Mount GiriZim [to pronounce the blessings]: Levi, Judah, IsSachar, and those of Joseph and BenJamin. ¹³ And these [tribes] must assemble on Mount Ebal to pronounce the curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, ZebuLon, Dan, and NaphTali. ¹⁴ And from there the Levites must shout to all IsraEl:

¹⁵ Any man who carves an idol or any other disgusting thing, or has one that has been manufactured, and puts it in a secret place, is cursed! And all the people must answer and say, May it be.

¹⁶ Any man who shows disrespect to his father or mother is cursed! And all the people must answer and say, May it be.

¹⁷ Any man who removes his neighbor’s property markers is cursed! And all the people must answer and say, May it be.

¹⁸ Any man who misleads a blind person is cursed! And all the people must answer and say, May it be.

¹⁹ Any man who is unfair to a stranger, orphan, or widow is cursed! And all the people must answer and say, May it be.

²⁰ Any man who uncovers his father’s [naked body] by having sex with his father’s wife is cursed! And all the people must answer and say, May it be.

²¹ Any man who has sex with an animal is cursed! And all the people must answer and say, May it be.

²² Any man who has sex with [his sister] is cursed! And all the people must answer and say, May it be.

²³ Any man who has sex with his daughter-in-law is cursed! And all the people must answer and say, May it be.

Any man who has sex with his wife’s sister is cursed! And all the people must answer and say, May it be.

²⁴ Any man who secretly [murders] his neighbor is cursed! And all the people must answer and say, May it be.

²⁵ Any man who is paid to kill an innocent man is cursed! And all the people must answer and say, May it be.

²⁶ Any man who doesn’t observe and obey all the words of this Law is cursed! And all the people must answer and say, May it be.’

Chapter 28

¹ ‘Now, if you listen to the voice of your God Jehovah and follow and obey all these Commandments that I’m giving you today, Jehovah your God will lift you higher than all the other nations of the earth, ² and these blessings will search for you and find you. For if you listen to the voice of your God Jehovah:

· ³ Your fields and your cities will be blest.

· ⁴ The offspring that comes from your body, the fruit of your land, your herds of oxen, and your flocks of sheep will be blest.

· ⁵ Your barns and your storage bins will be blest.

· ⁶ You will be blest when you leave and blest when you return.

· ⁷ Jehovah will give your enemies [into your hands], and those who oppose you will fall before you. And if they come against you from one direction, they’ll run from you in seven directions.

· ⁸ Jehovah will put His blessings on your barns and on everything that you do in the land that He’s giving you.

· ⁹ Jehovah will raise you as a holy people to Himself, just as He promised your ancestors that He would do if you would listen to His voice and walk in all of His ways. ¹⁰ Then all the nations of the earth will see that you are called by the Name Jehovah, and they will stand in awe of you.

· ¹¹ Jehovah your God will bring [many children] from your bodies, many young from your cattle, and much fruit from your land… the land that Jehovah swore to your ancestors that He would give to you.

· ¹² Jehovah will open His treasures in the skies and bring rain to your land in [the proper] seasons, and He’ll bless everything that you do.

· You will lend to many nations and not borrow, and you’ll rule over many nations and not be ruled. ¹³ For Jehovah your God will make you the head not the tail, and He’ll put you on top. You’ll never be on the bottom if you listen to the voice of your God Jehovah, and if you obey all the things that I’m telling you today.

· ¹⁴ You must not swerve to the right or to the left from any of the Commandments that I’m giving you today, or follow and serve other gods.

¹⁵ ‘However, if you don’t listen to the voice of your God Jehovah and obey all His Commandments that I’m giving you today, these curses will come and catch up with you:

· ¹⁶ You will be cursed in your cities and in your fields.

· ¹⁷ Your barns and your storage sheds will be cursed.

· ¹⁸ [The children] who come from your bodies, the fruit from your land, your herds of oxen, and your flocks of sheep will be cursed.

· ¹⁹ You will be cursed when you leave and when you return.

· ²⁰ Jehovah will send shortages and famines [among you], and everything you do will be consumed until He has totally destroyed you. If you leave Him and start doing evil things, you will be quickly exterminated.

· ²¹ Jehovah will bring plagues among you until you’ve all been wiped from the land that you’re going to inherit.

· ²² Jehovah will strike you with dysentery, fever, chills, inflammations, sores, and paleness… they will chase you down and destroy you.

· ²³ He will turn the sky above you into brass and the ground beneath you into iron.

· ²⁴ Jehovah your God will turn the rain that falls from the skies into dust, until it destroys you and quickly consumes you.

· ²⁵ Jehovah will hand you over to your enemies and they will slaughter you. You will attack them from one direction, but you’ll run from them in seven other directions; then you’ll be scattered throughout all the kingdoms of the earth.

· ²⁶ Your dead will become food for the flying creatures in the sky and the animals on the ground, and nothing will scare them away.

· ²⁷ Jehovah will strike your bottoms with the sores of Egypt, and the scabs will itch and never heal.

· ²⁸ Jehovah will strike you with mental illnesses, blindness, and anxiety, ²⁹ so you’ll grope around in the daytime like the blind grope around in their darkness.

· Nothing you do will prosper; you’ll be treated unfairly and you’ll be looted continuously, then no one will come to your aid.

· ³⁰ You’ll take wives for yourselves, but other men will have them.

· You’ll build houses and not live in them.

· You’ll plant vineyards and not gather their grapes.

· ³¹ Your calves will be butchered before you, but you won’t eat any of the [meat].

· Your burros will be taken from you and never be returned.

· Your sheep will be given to your enemies, and no one will get them back for you.

· ³² Your sons and daughters will be given to other nations; then you’ll search for them as your eyes are wasting away and your hands are growing feeble.

· ³³ A nation that you’re unfamiliar with will eat the produce of your land, and all your hard work will be crushed and done away with… ³⁴ you will be amazed by the things that you’ll see!

· ³⁵ Jehovah will strike you with bad sores on you knees and legs that won’t heal… from the soles of your feet to the tops of your heads.

· ³⁶ Jehovah will drive you and the leaders who you’ll set over yourselves away, and you’ll be sent to a nation that neither you nor your ancestors have ever known. And there you’ll serve gods made of wood and stone; ³⁷ and there [the all things that happened to you] will be used as amazing examples and illustrations among all the nations where Jehovah your God will send you.

· ³⁸ You’ll plant many seeds in your fields but harvest little, because the locust will eat it.

· ³⁹ You’ll plant vineyards and cultivate them, but you won’t drink the wine or enjoy any of it for yourselves, because worms will eat them.

· ⁴⁰ You’ll plant olive trees all around your land, but you won’t have any oil to anoint yourselves, because your trees will drop their fruit.

· ⁴¹ Sons and daughters will be born to you but they’ll never be yours, because they’ll be carried away as captives.

· ⁴² All the trees and produce of your land will be consumed by blight.

· ⁴³ The strangers who live among you will be lifted high, while you will be dragged down; ⁴⁴ then they will lend to you and you won’t be able to lend to them, for they’ll be the heads and you’ll be the tails.

⁴⁵ ‘All of these curses will come upon you and chase you down until they’ve consumed and destroyed you if you don’t listen to the voice of your God Jehovah and keep the Commandments and rules that He has given you. ⁴⁶ They will serve as signs and wonders among you and among your seed through the ages, ⁴⁷ if you fail to serve Jehovah your God happily and with a [cheerful] heart, because of all the many [good] things that you will have received.

⁴⁸ ‘Then you must serve the enemies that Jehovah will send against you. You’ll be hungry, thirsty, naked, in need of everything, and you’ll have to wear an iron yoke on your necks until they’ve destroyed you.

⁴⁹ ‘Jehovah will bring a nation against you from the ends of the earth; they will come like a fast-flying eagle, and you won’t understand their language. ⁵⁰ They’ll be a fearsome people who won’t respect old people or pity the young. ⁵¹ They’ll eat the young of your cattle and the fruit of your land, and they won’t leave any grain, wine, oil, herds of oxen, or flocks of sheep for you, until they’ve destroyed you ⁵² and totally crushed your cities. For, even your highest and strongest walls will be destroyed, and all your land and all the cities that He has given to you [will be theirs].

⁵³ ‘Then you will eat the fruit of your bodies… the flesh of all the sons and daughters that He has given you. For your enemy will bring a great time of stress and difficulty upon you. ⁵⁴ Then, even those who are kind and gentle among you will look at their brothers, their loved wives, and any children that may be left, in an evil way, ⁵⁵ and they won’t offer them any of the flesh of their children to eat, for they would have nothing left for themselves. That’s how your enemies will pressure you and make life difficult for you in all of your cities.

⁵⁶ ‘And even the tender, gentle women among you – those who have never searched the ground for delicacies – will look at their loved husbands, sons, and daughters in an evil way. ⁵⁷ For, they will eat the newborn that come from between their legs secretly because of their [hunger]. That’s how your enemies will make life difficult for you in your cities.

⁵⁸ ‘So, if you won’t listen to and obey all the words of the Law that have been written in this scroll and fear the glorious and wonderful Name of your God Jehovah, ⁵⁹ He will bring these horrible plagues and unending illnesses upon you and your seed. ⁶⁰ He will bring all the pain of Egypt that you were so afraid of, and make it stick to you. ⁶¹ And Jehovah will even bring sicknesses and plagues that haven’t been written about in the scroll of this Law, until He has destroyed you. ⁶² Then, although you were once as many as the stars of the sky, there won’t be many left, because you didn’t listen to the voice of your God Jehovah.

⁶³ ‘And as Jehovah once rejoiced over you, did good things for you, and made you grow, He will then rejoice over destroying you and in quickly removing you from the land you’re going to inherit. ⁶⁴ Then Jehovah your God will scatter you among all the nations – from one end of the earth to the other – and you must serve other gods there, which are made of wood and stone, and that neither you nor your ancestors have ever heard of.

⁶⁵ ‘In addition, [in the places where you will be] among those nations, He won’t give you a quiet [place to live], nor will the soles of your feet have any rest. For there Jehovah will give you weak hearts, failing eyes, and wasted lives. ⁶⁶ You won’t know [what each day will bring], and you’ll be afraid both night and day, for nothing in your lives will be sure. ⁶⁷ In the morning you’ll say, I wish it were evening! And in the evening you’ll say, I wish it were morning! Because, you’ll have fear in your hearts and you’ll be afraid of the things you can see. ⁶⁸ Then Jehovah will take you back to Egypt in ships – back to the place that He said you should never see again – where you’ll be offered for sale to your enemies as slaves… but nobody will [want to] buy you!’

Chapter 29

¹ These are the words of the Sacred Agreement that Jehovah commanded Moses to make with the children of IsraEl in the land of Moab, which were added to the Sacred Agreement that He made with them at the dry place (Horeb).

² Moses called all the sons of IsraEl and said to them: ‘You have seen all the things that Jehovah did to Pharaoh, his servants, and to his entire land of Egypt. ³ Yes, you’ve seen the great signs and wonders with your eyes. ⁴ Yet down to this day, Jehovah God hasn’t given you the heart to understand, the eyes to see, or the ears to hear. ⁵ Still, He led you through the desert for forty years and your clothes didn’t wear out, nor did your sandals wear off your feet. ⁶ And you didn’t eat bread, or drink wine or liquor, so you would know that He is Jehovah your God.

⁷ ‘Then, when we got to this place, Seon (the king of Hesh-Eboneh) and Og (the king of Bashan) came to meet us in war, ⁸ and we cut them down and took their lands, which I gave to Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of ManasSeh, as their inheritance. ⁹ So now, pay attention to all the words of this Sacred Agreement and understand all the things that you must do.

¹⁰ ‘Here you stand before Jehovah your God today… the heads of your tribes, your elders, your judges, your officers – every man of IsraEl – ¹¹ as well as your wives, children, and the converts who live in your camp (from the wood cutters to those who draw the water). ¹² And now you’re going to enter the Sacred Agreement of your God Jehovah and swear as many oaths as Jehovah your God asks of you today, ¹³ so He may appoint you to be His people and He will be your God, as He told you, and as He swore to your ancestors, AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob.

¹⁴ ‘Now, this Sacred Agreement and these oaths aren’t just for you. ¹⁵ They apply to everyone who is here before Jehovah your God today, and to anyone who isn’t here with you today. ¹⁶ For, you know how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we came through the midst of [several] nations, ¹⁷ and you saw their disgusting things and their idols of wood, stone, silver, and gold there. ¹⁸ So, if the heart of any man, woman, family, or tribe isn’t with Jehovah your God, then go and serve the gods of these nations, so there may be no root that is filled with gall and bitterness among you.

¹⁹ ‘And if there’s anyone who listens to these words and their curses, and who then chooses to flatter himself by saying in his heart, Good things will happen to me even if I keep on walking in the error of my heart, [he should leave]; or else those who are free from guilt may be destroyed along with the sinners; ²⁰ for God won’t pardon him. Rather, Jehovah’s rage and zeal will blaze against that man and all the curses of this Sacred Agreement that are written in this scroll will come upon him, and Jehovah will blot his name out from under the sky.

²¹ ‘Jehovah will also hold the children of IsraEl responsible for all their evil [and bring] all the curses of the Sacred Agreement that are written in this scroll of Law upon them. ²² Then future generations – your descendants who come after you and strangers who come from far away lands – will see the plagues on your land and the diseases that Jehovah has sent here. ²³ For, there will be brimstone and burning salt, and the entire land won’t be able to be cultivated, nor will anything green grow there. It will become like [the cities of] Sodom, GomorRah, Adama, and SeboIm, which Jehovah destroyed in His rage and anger.

²⁴ ‘Then all the nations will ask, Why has Jehovah done this to His land? What made Him so fierce and angry? ²⁵ And others will answer, It’s because they broke the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah, the God of their ancestors. For, this is what He warned their ancestors He would do to them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt. ²⁶ But they went and served other gods, and He didn’t approve. ²⁷ So, Jehovah became very angry at that land and brought all the curses that are written in the scroll of this Law upon it. ²⁸ Then in His rage, anger, and indignation, He removed them from their land and threw them into other lands, as is now true.

²⁹ ‘The things that are done in secret [are known by Jehovah] our God, and He reveals them. So, the responsibility of we and our children is to obey all the words of this Law through the ages.’

Chapter 30

¹ ‘And when all these things happen to you, you must recall to mind the blessings and the curses that I’ve set before you today, wherever [you may be] among all the nations where Jehovah will have scattered you. ² Then you must return to Jehovah your God and listen to His voice, and [obey] everything that I’m telling you today with all your hearts and souls, ³ and Jehovah will heal you from your sins, have pity on you, and gather you back from all the nations where He scattered you.

⁴ ‘It won’t matter whether you’re dispersed from one end of the sky to the other; Jehovah will gather you from there and take you ⁵ back to the land that your ancestors inherited, and you will inherit it again. Then He will do good things for you and cause you to grow greater than your ancestors. ⁶ And Jehovah will purge your hearts and the hearts of your seed, and you must all love Jehovah your God with your whole hearts and souls, so you may live.

⁷ ‘Then Jehovah your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hated and persecuted you, ⁸ if you’ll return and listen to the voice of your God Jehovah and keep all His Commands that I’m telling you today. ⁹ Then Jehovah your God will bless everything you do, the offspring of your bodies and of your cattle, and the crops in your fields. And Jehovah your God will be happy over you once again… but [this time] in a good way, as He was happy with your ancestors. ¹⁰ [This will all happen] if you’ll just listen to the voice of your God Jehovah and keep His Commandments, rules, and decisions that are written in the scroll of this Law, and if you’ll return to Jehovah your God with all your hearts and souls.

¹¹ ‘For, these Commandments that I’m giving you today aren’t a burden, nor are they far away from you. ¹² They aren’t in the sky above, so you’d have to say, Who will go up into the sky and take them for us, so we can hear them and obey them? ¹³ Nor are they beyond the Sea, so you’d have to say, Who will cross the Sea and take them for us so we can hear them and obey them? ¹⁴ These words are near to you… in your mouths, in your hearts, and in your hands!

¹⁵ ‘Look, I’m setting life and death, good and evil, before you today. ¹⁶ If you’ll listen to the Commandments of your God Jehovah that I’m giving you today – to love Jehovah your God, to walk in His ways, and to follow all His rules and decisions – then you’ll live and grow in numbers, and Jehovah your God will bless you throughout the land where you’re going and which you’ll inherit. ¹⁷ But if you have a change of heart and choose not to listen, and then go to worship and serve other gods… ¹⁸ I’m warning you today that you’ll be destroyed and you won’t live long on the land that you’re crossing the Jordan to inherit!

¹⁹ ‘I call the land and the sky as witnesses against you today, that I’ve set life and death, the blessings and the curses, before you. So, choose life so that you and your seed may live! ²⁰ Love Jehovah your God! Listen to His voice and stick to Him, for He’s your life, and [He’s] the length of the number of days that you will live in the land which Jehovah promised to your ancestors (AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob) that He would give to you.’

Chapter 31

¹ Well, after Moses finished telling the children of IsraEl all these things, ² he said, ‘I’m a hundred and twenty years old today, and I won’t be able to [represent] you anymore, for Jehovah has told me that I may not cross the Jordan. ³ So, Jehovah your God will walk before you. He will destroy the nations before you and you will inherit them. And Jehovah has said that JoShua will now lead you.

⁴ ‘Then Jehovah your God will do the same things to them that He did to Seon and Og, the two Amorite kings, and to their land on [this side] of the Jordan, when He destroyed them. ⁵ For, Jehovah has given them to you, and you must do what I’ve told you to do, to them. ⁶ So, be courageous and strong! Don’t be afraid or act like cowards, and don’t let them scare you, for Jehovah your God is marching with you and among you, and He won’t forsake you or leave you.’

⁷ Then Moses called JoShua and said to Him before all IsraEl, ‘Be courageous and strong, for you must walk ahead of these people into the land that Jehovah swore to your ancestors that He would give them, and then you must give it to them as their inheritance. ⁸ Jehovah will be going with you, and He won’t forsake you or abandon you; so don’t be afraid or have any fear.’

⁹ Then Moses wrote the words of this Law in a scroll and gave it to the Priests (those sons of Levi who bear the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement), and to the elders of the sons of IsraEl. ¹⁰ And then Moses told them this: ‘After seven years, during the Year of Release and on the Feast of Temporary Structures, ¹¹ when all IsraEl assembles before Jehovah your God in the place that Jehovah will choose, you must read this Law where all IsraEl can hear it. ¹² The whole assembly – the men, the women, the children, and any converts who are living in your cities – must all hear it, so that they may learn to fear Jehovah your God, and to obey all the words of this Law. ¹³ Even the sons who haven’t [been born yet] must hear it and learn to fear Jehovah your God for as long as they live in the land that you’re crossing the Jordan to inherit.’

¹⁴ Then Jehovah said to Moses: ‘Look; The day of your death has arrived! Call JoShua and go stand at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs and I will speak to him.’

So, Moses and JoShua went to the Tent of Proofs and stood at the entrance. ¹⁵ Then Jehovah descended in a cloud and stood next to the entrance in a column of clouds. ¹⁶ And Jehovah said to Moses, ‘{Look!} [It’s time] for you to sleep with your ancestors. But, from among these people [some] will arise who will commit adultery with the strange gods of the land they’re entering. They will leave Me and break the Sacred Agreement that I made with them. ¹⁷ And when that happens, I will be very angry with them and I’ll leave them… I’ll turn My face away from them and they will be devoured. But after many bad things and plagues have come upon them, they will [finally] say, These bad things have happened to us because Jehovah our God isn’t with us. ¹⁸ But I’ll just look away, because of all the wicked and evil things they’ve done, and because they’ve turned to other gods.

¹⁹ ‘Now, write the words of this song and teach it to the children of IsraEl… have them learn to sing it, so this song may testify about Me to the faces of the children of IsraEl. ²⁰ For, I’m bringing them into the good land that I swore to their ancestors that I’d give them… a land flowing with milk and honey. But after they’ve eaten and are full and satisfied, they will turn and follow other gods and serve them… they will break My Sacred Agreement and anger Me. ²¹ And it’s this song that will stand up to witness against them, because they won’t forget it, nor will their seed ever forget it. For, I’ve known how wicked they are and of the wicked things they’ll do long before I brought them to this good land that I promised to their ancestors.’

²² So, Moses wrote the song that day to teach it to the children of IsraEl. ²³ Then he spoke to JoShua and said, ‘Be courageous and strong, because you’re now going to lead the sons of IsraEl into the land that Jehovah promised them, and He’ll be with you.’

²⁴ It was then that Moses finished writing all the words of this Law… all the way to the end. ²⁵ Then he gave these instructions to the Levites who bear the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah, saying ²⁶ ‘Take this scroll of the Law and put it inside the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of your God Jehovah, so it will [always] be there among you as proof.

²⁷ ‘Oh, I know how irritating and rebellious you can be, for throughout my life with you – down to this day – you’ve been provoking God by the way you act. So, how do you expect to be any different after my death?

²⁸ ‘Now, gather all the heads of your tribes, as well as your elders, judges, and officers, so I may speak all these words in their ears, as I call the land and the sky as witnesses against them. ²⁹ For, I know that after my death you’ll become very sinful and turn from the ways that I’ve commanded you. Then bad things will eventually happen to you because of making Jehovah God angry by all the evil things that you’ll do.’

Then Moses spoke the words of this song, [and taught it] to the whole gathering:

Chapter 32

¹ ‘Listen O heaven and I’ll speak:
May the land hear the words from my mouth.
² May the things that I say be looked for like rain;
May my words fall like the dew…
Like a shower on the plants and snow on the grass.

³ ‘For, I’ve called on the Name of the Lord,
And I’ve told of the greatness of our God.
⁴ His works are true and all His ways just.
Yes God is faithful… He isn’t unrighteous,
For Jehovah is holy and just.

⁵ ‘Against Him they have all sinned,
For they are children with spots;
A pushy and perverted generation.
⁶ Is this how you pay back Jehovah?

‘Are these people all foolish and stupid?
Didn’t He become your own Father,
Didn’t He purchase you back?
Didn’t He form you and make you?

⁷ ‘Remember the days of long ago;
Think of the years of past ages;
Ask your fathers and they will remind you,
And your elders and they’ll tell you.

⁸ ‘When the Most High divided the nations;
When the sons of Adam He moved apart,
He set the borders of the nations,
By the numbers of the messengers of God.

⁹ ‘His people (Jacob) was the portion of Jehovah;
IsraEl was His own inheritance.
¹⁰ He kept them alive on dry land;
And in the desert [He sated] their thirst.

‘He led them around and He taught them,
And kept them as the apple of His eye.

¹¹ ‘He takes them to Himself as an eagle,
Who keeps watch on his brood and yearns for his young.
He spreads his wings and carries them on his back.

¹² ‘It was Jehovah alone who led them,
When no other gods did they have.
¹³ He raised them on the strength of the land;
He fed them with the fruitage of the fields.
So, out of rocks they sucked honey,
And [they sucked] oil out of boulders.

¹⁴ ‘With the butter of cows and the milk of the sheep;
With the fat of lambs, and rams, calves, and kids;
With the fat of kidneys and wheat,
They drank their wine…the blood of the grape.
¹⁵ So, Jacob ate and was filled.

‘Then this loved one kicked and grew fat;
He became both thick and broad.
Then he turned from the God who had made him,
And he left the God who had saved him.

¹⁶ ‘They made Me enraged with strange gods;
And with disgusting things made Me mad.
¹⁷ They sacrificed to demons that they didn’t know,
And not to the God [of all] gods.

‘They turned to things fresh and new;
[Things] their ancestors never knew.
¹⁸ You’ve left the God who gave you birth;
You’ve forgotten the God who feeds you.

¹⁹ ‘When Jehovah saw this He was zealous;
He was enraged by His sons and His daughters.
²⁰ And said, From them I’ll turn My face;
I’ll show what will happen in the last days.
For they’re a perverted generation;
They are sons with no faith.

²¹ ‘They’ve angered Me and made Me jealous,
With gods that simply are not.
They’ve irritated Me with their idols.
So I’ll make them angry and jealous,
Over those who are not [yet] a nation…
I’ll enrage them with a nation that doesn’t understand.

²² ‘For a fire has been started by My rage,
Which will burn to the grave down below.
It’ll devour all the land and its fruitage,
And will burn to the bottom of the mountains.

²³ ‘I will gather evil things upon them…
With all My weapons I’ll fight against them.
²⁴ They’ll be consumed with hunger and eaten by birds…
Their destruction will never be repaired.
I’ll send against them the teeth of wild beasts…
The rage of those that crawl on the ground.

²⁵ ‘Their children will be taken without swords,
And in their bedrooms there’ll be terror.
Young men will be destroyed with the virgins,
Along with the newborn and those who’ve grown old.
²⁶ For I said: Them I will scatter;
I’ll cause their memory to be erased among men.

²⁷ ‘Were it not for their enemies’ rage,
They would have lived a long time.
But their enemies have combined to attack them.
And yet, may their enemies not say,
It was by my own mighty arm.
For, Jehovah has done all these things.

²⁸ ‘It’s a nation that has lost its direction,
And there’s no understanding among them.
²⁹ They have no sense, so they don’t understand.
Let them hold to these things, for the time will [soon] come.

³⁰ ‘O how can one man chase a thousand,
Or two men route tens of thousands,
If it weren’t God who had sold them,
And if Jehovah hadn’t handed them over?

³¹ ‘Yet, their gods aren’t like our God,
And our enemies don’t understand.
³² For, theirs is the vine of Sodom,
And the branch of their vine is GomorRah.

‘All their grapes are like gall,
And all their clusters are bitter.
³³ Their wine is the anger of snakes,
And the deadly rage of the asps.

³⁴ {‘Look!} Aren’t these the things that I stored?
Aren’t they sealed with My treasures?
³⁵ I will repay in the day of My vengeance,
When their feet stumble in that day,
And their destruction is very near,
And all My decisions have reached them.

³⁶ ‘For, Jehovah will judge all His people;
He’ll take comfort [in the fall of] His servants.
For, He saw they were weak and had failed,
So, in a hostile invasion they’ll become feeble.

³⁷ ‘Then Jehovah asked: Where are those gods that they trusted?
³⁸ Where’s the sacrificial fat that you ate,
And the wine of your offerings that you drank?
Let them arise and now help you…
Let them become your protectors!

³⁹ ‘Look! I AM… there are no gods other than Me!
I kill and I can make it alive;
I can strike it down and then heal it.
For, none can take it out of My hands!

⁴⁰ ‘I’ll lift My hand to heaven and I’ll swear;
Yes, by My right hand I will say:
I live through the ages!

⁴¹ ‘Then I will take hold of My sword,
And make it sharp as lightning in My hand.
To justice I’ll grab hold and judge My enemies…
I’ll repay all of those who hate Me.

⁴² ‘On blood I’ll make My weapons drunk,
And My sword will devour much flesh…
With the blood of the wounded and captured,
And the heads of the enemies that ruled them.

⁴³ ‘Rejoice with Him, O you heavens,
And may all God’s messengers bow low before Him.
Rejoice with His people, you nations,
And may all sons of God in Him become strong.

‘For, He will avenge the blood of His sons,
And bring vengeance and justice on His enemies.
He’ll bring their reward to all those who hate Him,
When He purges His people from the land.’

⁴⁴ This is the song that Moses wrote that day, and then he taught it to the children of IsraEl.

And thereafter, Moses and JoShua (the son of NaWeh) [stood up] and [read] all the words of this Law where the people could hear it. ⁴⁵ And when they finished, ⁴⁶ [Moses] added, ‘Pay attention with your whole hearts to these words that I [read] to you today, and command your sons to follow and obey all the words of this Law. ⁴⁷ These must not be just words to you… they’re your life! For, these words will allow you to live a long time in the land that you’re crossing the Jordan to inherit.’

⁴⁸ Then Jehovah spoke to Moses and said, ⁴⁹ ‘Now, go to the Abarim Mountains and climb Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab near Jericho, and look at the land of CanaAn that I’m giving to the sons of IsraEl. ⁵⁰ Then you will die on that mountain and be added to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Or and was added to his people. ⁵¹ This is because you disobeyed [Me before] the children of IsraEl at the Water of Rebellion, at Kadesh in the Sin desert, when you failed to [speak of] Me in a holy way among the sons of IsraEl. ⁵² However, [I want you to] see the land before you, which you won’t be able to enter.’

Chapter 33

¹ Then Moses, the man of God, gave this blessing to the children of IsraEl before he died. ² He said:

‘Jehovah came from Mount Sinai;
He appeared to us at Mount Seir;
He quickly moved to Mount Pharan,
With ten thousand Holy Ones at His right hand,
And [all] His messengers were with him.

³ ‘He has spared His people;
His holy ones are in His hands.
From below they got His words…
⁴ The Law that Moses gave as an inheritance,
To the assembly of Jacob.

⁵ ‘For, He is the [most] beloved leader,
Among the leaders of the people,
Who are gathered among IsraEl’s tribes.

⁶ ‘May Reuben live and never die out,
And may he grow into a crowd.’

⁷ And this is the blessing of Judah:
‘O Jehovah; listen to the voice of Judah,
And pay attention to [all of] his people.
Although he will fight with his hands,
With his enemies, You give him help.’

⁸ And for Levi he said:
‘Give Levi the signs and the truth,
Of a man who is holy.
For, they tested him in the Temptation,
And they spoke against him at the Water of Rebellion.

⁹ ‘It is he who must tell his father and mother,
[Sorry], I can’t [come and] see you.
He knows not his brothers, and won’t know his sons.
He has kept Your words and Your Sacred Agreement.

¹⁰ ‘[Levi] will proclaim your rules among Jacob,
And all your Laws among IsraEl.
They’ll always burn incense on Your Altar
Even in the time of Your rage.

¹¹ ‘O Jehovah; Please bless his strength,
And accept the things that he offers.
Break all the enemies that come against him,
And don’t allow those who hate him to stand.’

¹² And to BenJamin he said:
‘Jehovah’s loved one will live in safety.
For, God’s shadow will always be with him,
And between [God’s] shoulders he will rest.’

¹³ And to Joseph he said:
‘His land is the blessing of Jehovah…
Of seasons, sky, dew, and deep wells…
¹⁴ Of the fruitage of the changes in the sun and the seasons,
And the produce of [each of] the months.

¹⁵ ‘[It runs] from the tops of ancient mountains,
To the tops of the hills of the ages,
¹⁶ And [it produces] full crops in their seasons.

‘May the things that please him come on his head;
On the crown of he who was glorified
Above all of His brothers.
¹⁷ His beauty is like a first-born bull,
But his horns are like a rhinoceros.

‘He’ll use them to thrust out at nations,
To the ends of the earth.
For, his are the ten thousands of EphraIm,
And the thousands of ManasSeh.’

¹⁸ And to ZebuLon he said:
‘Rejoice ZebuLon, and you too,
Those in the tents of IsSachar.
For, you will go ¹⁹ and destroy many nations.

‘You will call and gather many men,
And offer righteous sacrifices there.
For, you’ll be provided by the wealth of the Sea,
And the stores of those who live by the sea.’

²⁰ And to Gad he said:
‘Praise Him who’s given more to Gad.
For, he will rest like a lion,
That has crushed many arms and [conquered many] rulers.

²¹ ‘He’ll see that his is the first fruitage of the land,
Where leaders will gather with the chiefs of the people.
For, [he does what Jehovah proclaims to be] righteous,
And to IsraEl he will bring justice.’

²² And to Dan he said:
‘Dan is the cub of a lion,
And he will leap out of Bashan.’

²³ And to NaphTali he said:
‘NaphTali is filled with many good things,
So may he be filled with blessings from God.
He will inherit the west and the south.’

²⁴ And to Asher he said:
‘Asher is blest with many children,
And he’ll be approved by his brothers.
With oil he’ll wash his feet,
²⁵ And his sandals will be like iron and brass.

‘He’ll be strong for as long as he lives,
²⁶ For, his helper is none other than the God that he loves;
He who rides through the heavens…
The Magnificent One of the cosmos.

²⁷ ‘[And as long as you stay under] God’s rule,
He will [be there to] protect you.
He’ll drive your enemies away,
With the strength of His arms.
He’ll drive them away through the ages,
Saying to them, Be destroyed.’

²⁸ ‘So, IsraEl will live by themselves,
In safety within Jacob’s land,
With grain, and wine, and the clouds in the sky,
And with plenty of dew.

²⁹ ‘You’re blest, O IsraEl, for who else is like you…
You who’ve been saved by Jehovah your helper.

‘He’ll hold His shield over you,
And you will boast of His sword.
Then you will walk on the necks,
Of the enemies who dared to lie before you.’

Chapter 34

¹ Finally, Moses went from ArabOth in Moab, to the Nabau Mountains, and climbed to the top of Mount Pisgah (near Jericho). And there Jehovah showed him Mount Gilead [in the land] of Dan, the land of NaphTali, ² the lands of EphraIm and ManasSeh, and the land of Judah, all the way to the Sea; ³ as well as the desert, the country around Jericho, and the land between the City of Palm Trees and Segor. ⁴ Then Jehovah said to Moses, ‘This is the land that I swore that I would give to the seed of AbraHam, IsaAc, and Jacob. And now that you’ve seen it, you may not go there.’

⁵ Then Moses, the servant of Jehovah, died there in the land of Moab, as Jehovah said. ⁶ They buried him in Gai, near the house of Phogor; but no one has seen his tomb to this day.

⁷ When he died, Moses was a hundred and twenty years old, yet his eyes were still sharp and he still had all his natural functions.

⁸ Thereafter, the children of IsraEl cried for Moses (in ArabOth of Moab, at the Jordan near Jericho) for thirty days, for that’s the [maximum traditional] period of mourning.

⁹ Then JoShua (the son of NaWeh) became filled with the spirit of knowledge, for Moses had laid his hands upon him. So, the children of IsraEl listened to him as they did when Jehovah was commanding Moses. ¹⁰ But there was never again a Prophet in IsraEl like Moses, who Jehovah knew face to face; ¹¹ who Jehovah sent to perform all the signs and wonders to Egypt – to Pharaoh, his servants, and his entire land – ¹² and who displayed before all IsraEl the other great wonders and the powers that he had.

JoShua

From the Greek Septuagint text as was used by First Century Christians

Chapter 1

¹ After the death of Moses, the Lord spoke to Moses’ servant JoShua (the son of NaWeh) and said, ² ‘My servant Moses is dead, so now I want you and all these people to get up and cross the Jordan [River] into the land that I’m giving them. ³ For I’m giving you every place that you step as yours, just as I told Moses, ⁴ from the desert and the borders of Lebanon, to the great River Euphrates, and to the Sea… your borders will run to the sunset.

⁵ ‘No man will stand against you during all the days of your life; and as I was with Moses, that’s how I’ll be with you… I won’t fail you or leave you. ⁶ So be strong and act like a man, for you must divide the land that I swore to give to your ancestors, among these people. ⁷ Be strong, behave like a man, pay attention, and obey, just as My servant Moses told you… and don’t deviate to the right or to the left, so you may prove wise in everything you do.

⁸ ‘And don’t allow the Law that is written on the scroll to leave your mouth… you must think about it day and night, so you’ll know how to do everything that’s written in it. Then you’ll be blessed, you’ll succeed, and you’ll be wise. ⁹ Look; I’m commanding you to be strong and courageous! Don’t be a coward or fearful, for Jehovah your God will be with you no matter where you may go.’

¹⁰ Then JoShua gave this commandment to the people’s scribes: ¹¹ ‘Go throughout the camp and tell the people to prepare their provisions; for in three days we will cross the Jordan to enter and take possession of the land that Jehovah the God of your ancestors is giving you.’

¹² Then to [the tribes of] Ruben, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh, JoShua said: ¹³ ‘Remember what Moses, the servant of Jehovah, told you. He said, Jehovah your God has allowed you to rest by giving you this land. ¹⁴ So now; settle your wives, children, and cattle here in the land that He has given you, then all who are strong and willing to fight must arm themselves to cross [the Jordan] before their brothers. ¹⁵ [You must do this] until Jehovah your God has allowed your brothers to rest as He has [allowed] you [to rest], when they have inherited the land that Jehovah your God is giving them. Then you may each return to the inheritance that Moses gave you east of the Jordan.

¹⁶ And they answered JoShua and said, ‘We will do everything that you’ve commanded and we’ll go wherever you may send us. ¹⁷ And just as we listened to Moses, we will listen to you… but may Jehovah our God be with you as He was with Moses. ¹⁸ And whoever chooses to disobey you, or doesn’t listen to and obey whatever you tell him to do, must die. However, you must be strong and courageous!’

Chapter 2

¹ Then JoShua (the son of NaWeh) sent two young men from SatTin as spies in the land, saying, ‘Go there and look at the land… and [specifically] at Jericho.’

So the two young men went and entered Jericho and stayed at the house of a prostitute named RaHab. ² However, [someone] reported this to the king of Jericho, saying, ‘Men of the sons of IsraEl have come here as spies!’

³ Then the king of Jericho sent for RaHab and said, ‘Bring out the men who entered your house this evening, for they have come to spy in our land.’

⁴ But the woman had hidden the two men, and she told [the king’s] messengers, ‘The men came here, ⁵ but before the [city] gate was closed this evening, they left, and I don’t know where they went; so you’d better chase after them to see if you can catch them’ ⁶ (however, she had taken them up on the [roof] and hidden them under some hay that she spread [over them] there).

⁷ So the [king’s] men left and traveled toward the fords in the Jordan, and the [city] gate was closed again.

⁸ Then, after the men who were chasing them had left, and before the spies had fallen asleep, she went up to them on the roof of her house ⁹ and said, ‘I know that Jehovah has given you this land, for we’re all afraid [of you]. ¹⁰ We’ve heard how your God Jehovah dried up the Red Sea before you when you left the land of Egypt, and of the things He did to the two Amorite kings across the Jordan… to Seon and Og whom you destroyed. ¹¹ And when we heard this, our hearts were stunned and we were barely able to breathe because of you, for Jehovah your God is truly the God of the heavens above and the earth below. ¹² So now; Swear to me by Jehovah God, that since I’ve been merciful with you, you’ll be merciful to the house of my father, ¹³ and that you’ll allow the house of my father – my mother, my brothers, everyone in my home, everything that we own, and me – to be saved from death.’

¹⁴ And the men replied, ‘[We will offer] our lives for yours, even to death.’

And she said, ‘When Jehovah gives this city to you, you must be merciful and true to me!’ ¹⁵ Then she lowered them down through her window ¹⁶ and told them to head toward the hill country and to hide there for three days before returning, for fear that they would run into the men who were chasing them.

¹⁷ And the [spies] said, ‘We promise to do what you asked. ¹⁸ Look; we’re going to [destroy] the city, so you must give us a sign. Tie this scarlet cord in the window that you let us down from, then bring everyone – your father, mother, brothers, and your father’s entire family – into your house. ¹⁹ And if anyone leaves the door of your house, they will be guilty and no part of our promise. But we will be responsible for all those who are found inside your house. ²⁰ However, if anyone harms us or betrays us, the promise is broken.’

²¹ And she said, ‘May it be as you said.’

Then she sent them away ²² and they headed toward the hill country, where they remained for three days. And although the people who were chasing them searched all the roads, they couldn’t find them.

²³ Thereafter, the two young men left the mountains and returned to JoShua (the son of NaWeh), and told him everything that had happened to them. ²⁴ And they said, ‘Jehovah has put the entire land under our power, because everyone who lives there is shaking because of us.’

Chapter 3

¹ Well, JoShua got up early the next morning and left SatTin. And when they reached the Jordan, they stayed there [until it was time to] cross. ² And [for the next] three days, the scribes went through the entire camp ³ telling the people that; when they saw the Levite Priests bearing Jehovah God’s Chest of the Sacred Agreement, they should follow along, ⁴ but at a distance of as much as three thousand feet… they weren’t to get near it. So they were to understand that things weren’t the same as they had been before.

⁵ Then JoShua told the people: ‘Make yourselves holy, because tomorrow Jehovah will perform a miracle among you.’

⁶ And JoShua said to the Priests: ‘Now, pick up Jehovah’s Chest of the Sacred Agreement and lead the people!’

So the Priests picked it up and walked ahead of the people.

⁷ Then Jehovah said to JoShua: ‘Today I’m going to start [raising your prestige] before all the children of IsraEl, so they will know that I’m with you just as I was with Moses. ⁸ So now, tell the Priests who are carrying the Chest of the Sacred Agreement that as soon as they get to the edge of the water, it will part; and they are to stand there in the middle of the Jordan.’

⁹ Then JoShua told the children of IsraEl: ‘Come here and listen to the words of our God Jehovah. ¹⁰ This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will destroy the CanaAnites, Hittites, Pherezites, Evites, Amorites, Gergesites, and the Jebusites ahead of you. ¹¹ Watch the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of the Lord of the whole earth, as it crosses into the Jordan. ¹² Then choose twelve men, one from each of the tribes, ¹³ and they will [be witnesses] that when the feet of the Priests who are carrying the Chest of the Sacred Agreement stop in the waters of the Jordan, the water will [flow away], and that which is pouring down from above will stop.’

¹⁴ So the people packed up their tents to cross over the Jordan, and the Priests carried the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement ahead of them. ¹⁵ And when the feet of the Priests who were carrying the Chest entered the Jordan, the water parted (although it was the time of the harvest, and the river was at flood stage). ¹⁶ And the waters that flowed down from above stopped in a solid wall all the way to the region of Kiriath JaIrim, while the water that flowed down to the Salt Sea dried up, and there the people stood opposite Jericho. ¹⁷ Then the Priests who were carrying the Chest stood there on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, as all the children of IsraEl passed through on dry land… as they all crossed the Jordan.

Chapter 4

¹ Well, after everyone had crossed the Jordan, Jehovah spoke to JoShua and said, ² ‘Now select one man from each tribe ³ and tell them to go to the middle of the Jordan and choose twelve appropriate rocks, then carry them back to the place where you will camp for the night.’

⁴ So JoShua selected twelve important men from among the children of IsraEl, one from each tribe, ⁵ and told them: ‘Now walk in front of me and in the presence of Jehovah to the middle of the Jordan. Then each of you pick up a rock from there and carry it on your shoulders, one [rock] for each of the twelve tribes of IsraEl, ⁶ for these will serve as a sign to future [generations]. So when your sons ask you, What do these rocks mean to us? ⁷ you can explain to them; The Jordan River dried up in front of the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of the Lord of the whole earth as it passed through, and these rocks will serve as reminders of that to the children of IsraEl through the ages.’

⁸ And that’s what the children of IsraEl did… just as Jehovah commanded JoShua, they picked up twelve rocks from the midst of the Jordan (after the children of IsraEl had finished the crossing) and carried them into their camp and laid them there. ⁹ Then JoShua placed twelve rocks [on the bottom] of the Jordan itself, at the place where the feet of the Priests who carried the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah stood, and they are still there to this day.

¹⁰ Well, the Priests who were carrying the Chest of the Sacred Agreement kept standing there in the Jordan until JoShua had finished all that Jehovah had commanded him to do, and until everyone had crossed. ¹¹ Then, after all the people had had crossed; they carried Jehovah’s Chest of the Sacred Agreement and the rocks [to the other side].

¹² Also, the sons of Ruben, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh led the way for the children of IsraEl, as Moses had commanded them… ¹³ forty thousand armed men crossed before Jehovah to war with the city of Jericho.

¹⁴ So on that day, Jehovah raised JoShua’s prestige [in the eyes of] all the people of IsraEl, and they started fearing him as they did Moses.

¹⁵ Then Jehovah spoke to JoShua and said: ¹⁶ ‘Now tell the Priests who are carrying the Chest of the Sacred Agreement to come up out of the Jordan!’

¹⁷ So JoShua told the Priests to come up out of the Jordan; ¹⁸ and as soon as the Priests who were carrying the Chest stepped out of the Jordan and set their feet on land, the water quickly returned to its place and overflowed its banks as before.

¹⁹ It was on the tenth day of the first month that the children of IsraEl crossed the Jordan, and they camped at GilGal, east of Jericho. ²⁰ It was there at GilGal that JoShua set up those twelve rocks that they took from the Jordan. ²¹ And he said, ‘When your sons ask you what these rocks are, ²² tell them that IsraEl walked on them as they crossed the Jordan on dry land, ²³ back when our God Jehovah dried up the Jordan’s waters before them until they had all crossed, the same as He did at the Red Sea when He dried up its water until we had all crossed. ²⁴ [They are here] so that all the nations of the earth might know that Jehovah is powerful and mighty, and so that you will worship Jehovah our God in everything you do.’

Chapter 5

¹ And when the kings of the Amorites (on the [west] side of the Jordan) and the kings of Phoenicia heard that Jehovah God had dried up the Jordan River in front of the children of IsraEl as they crossed it, their hearts dropped, they were terrified, and they were beside themselves because of the children of IsraEl.

² It was about this time that Jehovah said to JoShua, ‘Make some knives of sharp stones, then sit down and circumcise the children of IsraEl again.’

³ So JoShua made some sharp knives of stone and circumcised the children of IsraEl at the place [which came to] be known as ‘the Hill of Foreskins.’ ⁴ And by doing this, JoShua cleansed all the children of IsraEl who were born along the way, and all those who came out of Egypt that were uncircumcised… ⁵ he circumcised all those who had wandered in the desert of MabDaris for forty-two years. ⁶ [This didn’t include] most of the fighting men that left the land of Egypt who were uncircumcised, for they had disobeyed the commandments of God, so He decided that they wouldn’t see the land that He swore to give to their ancestors… a land flowing with milk and honey. ⁷ So in their place, He raised their sons, who JoShua circumcised, because those who had been born along the way hadn’t been circumcised. ⁸ And after they were circumcised, they stayed there in the camp and rested until they were healed.

⁹ Then Jehovah said to JoShua (the son of NaWeh), ‘On this day I have removed the shame of Egypt from you.’ So He named that place GilGal (the Wheel).

¹⁰ It was on the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, in a field to the west of Jericho on the [west] side of the Jordan, that the children of IsraEl then celebrated the Passover. ¹¹ There they ate yeast-free new grain from the land, ¹² and after they had eaten the grain, the manna stopped coming. So the children of IsraEl no longer had manna, and they ate the fruitage of the land of the Phoenicians all that year.

¹³ And when JoShua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. So he went up to him and asked, ‘Are you for us, or are you on the side of our enemies?’

¹⁴ And he replied, ‘I have come as the general of the army of Jehovah!’

¹⁵ Then JoShua fell with his face to the ground and said, ‘Lord, what would you command your servant to do?’

¹⁶ And the captain of Jehovah’s army said to JoShua: ‘Take off your shoes, because the place where you are standing is holy!’

Chapter 6

¹ Now, Jericho was all closed up and ready for a siege, so nobody could enter or leave. ² And the Lord said to JoShua: ‘{Look!} I’m giving Jericho to you, along with its king and all its mighty men. ³ So, station your army around the city, ⁴ and whenever they hear the trumpets blowing, all the people must shout. ⁵ For it is this shouting that will bring down the walls of the city; then everyone must rush straight into the city.’

⁶ So JoShua (the son of NaWeh) went to the Priests and said, ⁷ ‘Give sacred trumpets to seven Priests, and have them blow [the trumpets] loudly as they walk before Jehovah… and they must be followed by the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah.

⁸ ‘Then tell the people to walk in a circle around the city with the men all armed and ready for war before Jehovah. ⁹ The army is to walk ahead of the Priests, who must keep blowing the trumpets, and they are to be followed by the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah.’

¹⁰ And JoShua told the people, ‘Don’t shout or say a word until [God] Himself tells you it’s time… and then you must shout. ¹¹ For the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of God must first make the circle and then be immediately returned to the camp and left there.’

¹² Then the next day, JoShua got up in the morning and the Priests picked up the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah. ¹³ And the seven Priests who had the seven trumpets walked before Jehovah, followed by the men of war, the rest of the group, and then the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah, as the Priests blew the trumpets. ¹⁴ The group circled the city closely six times, then they returned to the camp, and they did this for six days.

¹⁵ Then on the seventh day, they all arose early and circled the city seven times that day. ¹⁶ And on the seventh round, the Priests blew their trumpets, and JoShua told the children of IsraEl: ‘Now shout, for Jehovah has given you the city! ¹⁷ You must dedicate it and everything that is in it to Jehovah of Armies, except for the prostitute RaHab and the things in her house. ¹⁸ Stay free from the cursed things there, for fear that you might be tempted to take some and bring a curse upon the camp of the children of IsraEl, which would cause us [all] to be destroyed! ¹⁹ For all the gold, silver, brass, and iron is holy to Jehovah, so it must be carried to the treasury of Jehovah!’

²⁰ So the Priests blew their trumpets, and when the people heard it, they all started shouting together as loudly as they could. Then all the walls around the city fell, and the people rushed into the city. ²¹ And JoShua dedicated it and everything in it (the men and women, both young and old, as well as the cattle and burros) to destruction by the edge of the sword.

²² Then JoShua said to the two young men who had served as spies, ‘Now go to the house of the woman, and bring her and all that she has out of it.’

²³ So the two young men went to her house and brought out the prostitute RaHab, along with her father, mother, brothers, all her relatives, and everything she had, and set her up outside the camp of IsraEl. ²⁴ Then the city was burned, along with everything in it, except for the gold, silver, brass, and iron, which they carried into the treasury of Jehovah.

²⁵ But JoShua allowed RaHab the prostitute and all the house of her father to live. And she still lives in IsraEl today, because she hid the spies that JoShua sent to Jericho.

²⁶ And that day, JoShua made everyone swear before Jehovah that any man who rebuilds that city will be cursed… the one who lays its foundation will lose his firstborn, and the one who rebuilds it gates will lose his youngest son. And that’s what Hozan of BethEl did; he laid the foundation [with the body of] AbiRom his firstborn, and set up its gates [with the body of] his youngest surviving son.

²⁷ Well, Jehovah was with JoShua, so His Name became [known] throughout the land.

Chapter 7

¹ However, the children of IsraEl committed a serious sin by taking some of the things that were cursed. It was Achar (the son of Charmi, the son of Zambri and grandson of Zara) of the tribe of Judah who took the cursed things, which made Jehovah very angry with the children of IsraEl.

² Thereafter, JoShua sent men as spies to Gai (which is close to BethEl). ³ And when they returned, they told him, ‘We won’t need the whole army; all we will have to send is two or three thousand men to take the city, because not many of our enemy is there.’

⁴ So they sent about three thousand men, but they had to retreat from the men of Gai, ⁵ because the [people there] killed thirty-six men as they chased them from their [city] gate… they were destroyed as they were running down the steep hill. This upset the [IsraElites] and caused their hearts to become like water.

⁶ Well, at this, JoShua started ripping his clothes; then he and the elders of IsraEl threw dust on their heads and fell with their faces to the ground before Jehovah [and lay there] until evening. ⁷ And JoShua prayed, ‘Lord; Why have You caused Your servant to bring these people across the Jordan, just to allow the Amorites to destroy us? We would have been better off staying on the other side of the Jordan and settling there. ⁸ So what should I say, now that IsraEl has [been forced to] to flee from before our enemy? ⁹ Why, when the CanaAnites and all the other inhabitants of the land hear about this, then they will surround us and destroy us from the land… and what will You do for Your great Name?’

¹⁰ And the Lord said to JoShua: ‘Why have you fallen to your face? Get up! ¹¹ The people have sinned and broken the Sacred Agreement that I made with them by stealing things that are cursed and hiding them among their possessions. ¹² And as the result, the children of IsraEl won’t be able to stand before their enemies… they’ll have to run from them, for they’ve become cursed. And I won’t be with you anymore, unless you remove the cursed things from among you!

¹³ ‘So now, get up and make the people holy. Tell them to make themselves holy, and then say, Jehovah the God of IsraEl says that you have cursed things among you, and you won’t be able to stand before your enemies until you’ve removed these cursed things. ¹⁴ So, all the tribes must gather tomorrow morning, then Jehovah will indicate to us, which tribe, which family line, which household, and which man [is guilty]. ¹⁵ And whoever He points to will be burned with fire for breaking the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah and making all IsraEl [appear] wicked.’

¹⁶ So JoShua got up early [the next morning] and assembled the people by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was indicated. ¹⁷ Then all their families [were set aside], and the family of the Zaraites was indicated. ¹⁸ Then all their men were set aside, and Achar (the son of Zambri and grandson of Zara) was indicated.

¹⁹ So JoShua said to Achar, ‘Give glory to Jehovah the God of IsraEl today and confess. Tell me what you’ve done… and don’t [try to] hide it from me!’

²⁰ Then Achar answered JoShua and said, ‘Yes, I’ve sinned against Jehovah the God of IsraEl, and this is what I did: ²¹ I noticed an embroidered shawl, two hundred silver coins, and a piece of gold among the loot that I wanted, so I took them and hid them in my tent [under the shawl].’

²² So JoShua sent messengers who ran to his tent in the camp, and they found those things hidden under the shawl. ²³ Then they brought them to JoShua and the elders of IsraEl and laid them before Jehovah.

²⁴ Then JoShua took Achar (the son of Zara), his sons, daughters, calves, burros, sheep, tent, all his belongings, and all the people who lived with him, and brought them to the valley of Achar at Emec. ²⁵ And JoShua said to Achar, ‘You’ve destroyed us, so today Jehovah is going to destroy you!’

Then all IsraEl stoned him with rocks. ²⁶ And it was after they covered him with a huge pile of rocks that Jehovah’s rage ended. This is why that place is called The Valley of Achar (the Troublemaker) to this day.

Chapter 8

¹ Then Jehovah said to JoShua, ‘Don’t be afraid or tremble, but now you must take all the men of war and return to Gai. For look; I’ve given the king of Gai and his land into your hands! ² You must do to Gai as you did to Jericho and its king; however, [this time] you may take their cattle. So, go and set up an ambush behind the city.’

³ Then JoShua got the men of war ready to go to Gai. He chose thirty-thousand mighty men and sent them there at night, ⁴ and he gave them these orders: ‘Wait in ambush behind the city. Don’t go too far from the city, and everyone must be ready. ⁵ Then I will take [a group] up to the city; and when the people of Gai come out to meet us, we will turn and run from them, ⁶ and they will chase after us and leave the city, for they will think that we are running from them as we did before. ⁷ Then those who are lying in ambush must get up and enter the city. ⁸ You must do exactly as I’ve commanded you!’

⁹ So JoShua sent them, and they waited in ambush to the west of Gai, between BethEl and Gai.

¹⁰ Well, early the next morning, JoShua got up and counted the people. Then he and the elders went up to face the people of Gai ¹¹ with all the remaining men of war coming from the east side of the city, ¹² as those who were hiding in ambush were to the west of the city. ¹³ –– ¹⁴ And when the king of Gai saw them, he and all his people rushed out to meet them head on, not realizing that an ambush had formed behind the city. ¹⁵ Then JoShua and IsraEl turned and retreated from them, ¹⁶ and they chased the children of IsraEl for some distance, ¹⁷ which left no one in Gai… they had left the city open as everyone was out chasing after IsraEl.

¹⁸ Then Jehovah said to JoShua, ‘Now, raise the spear that’s in your hand toward the city, for I’ve given it into your hands. And those who are hiding must quickly get up and enter [the city].’

¹⁹ So JoShua raised his spear toward the city. And when they saw him raise his spear, those who were hiding in ambush got up quickly, entered the city and captured it, then set it on fire.

²⁰ And when the inhabitants of Gai turned around to look behind them, they saw the smoke from the city rising high into the sky, and they [realized] that they had nowhere to run. ²¹ So, when JoShua and all IsraEl saw that the city had been taken and its smoke was rising into the sky, they turned and started cutting down the men of Gai. ²² Then the rest of the men came from the city to attack them from their rear, and they cut down everyone until there was no one left… not a survivor or an escapee. ²³ Then they captured the king of Gai and brought him to JoShua.

²⁴ Well, after the children of IsraEl had finished killing everyone in Gai in the fields and on the descent from its mountain where they had chased them, JoShua returned to Gai and cut it down with swords. ²⁵ So, twelve thousand inhabitants of Gai fell and were destroyed that day (both men and women). ²⁶ –– ²⁷ Then (other than the things that were in the city) the children of IsraEl took all the rest as loot for themselves, following the command that Jehovah gave JoShua.

²⁸ And thereafter, JoShua completely burned the city and turned it into an uninhabitable pile of rubble, which is what it has remained through the ages down to this day. ²⁹ Then he hung the king of Gai [from a tree] and left [his body] there until the evening. But after the sun went down, JoShua gave the instructions to take his body down, and they threw it into a pit and piled a heap of rocks over it, [which can still be seen] to this day.

³⁰ Then JoShua built an altar to Jehovah (the God of IsraEl) on Mount Ebal, ³¹ just as Moses (Jehovah’s servant) had commanded the children of IsraEl, and as it is written in the Law of Moses. It was an altar made of stones that hadn’t been cut or touched by iron. And there he sacrificed whole burnt offerings and a peace offering to Jehovah. ³² Then JoShua wrote a copy of the Law of Moses on those stones before the children of IsraEl.

³³ Thereafter, all IsraEl (including their elders, judges, and scribes) filed past the Chest on either side. Then the Levite Priests carried the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah, as the aliens and the natives were divided into two groups. One half was stationed near Mount GiriZim, and the other half near Mount Ebal, just as Moses (Jehovah’s servant) had commanded, to receive the first blessing of the people. ³⁴ Then afterwards, JoShua read all the words of the Law – all the blessings and curses that were written in the Law of Moses. ³⁵ There wasn’t a word which Moses told JoShua that wasn’t read within the hearing of the entire assembly of the children of IsraEl… the men, women, children, and the aliens who had joined themselves to IsraEl.

Chapter 9

¹ And when the kings of the Amorites on the [west] side of the Jordan (all those in the mountain country, in the plains, by the [Mediterranean] Sea, and near the borders of Lebanon), and the Hittites, CanaAnites, Pherezites, Evites, Amorites, Gergesites, and the Jebusites heard of it, ² they all got together to war against JoShua and IsraEl.

³ However, when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Jehovah did to Jericho and Gai, ⁴ they craftily decided [on a plan to save themselves]. They put old sacks over their shoulders, carried old torn and patched bottles of wine, ⁵ tore off the upper parts of their old shoes and sandals and put them on their feet, dressed in old clothes, and took along bread that was dry, moldy, and rotting. ⁶ Then they went to JoShua at the camp of IsraEl at GilGal, and said, ‘We’ve come from a faraway land, [and we want you to] make a treaty with us.’

⁷ But [JoShua] asked the Gibeonites, ‘How can I sign a treaty with you if you live near us?’

⁸ And they told JoShua, ‘We’re your servants.’

Then JoShua asked, ‘So, who are you and where have you come from?

⁹ And they replied, ‘Your servants have come from a far away country in the Name of Jehovah your God. For we have heard of His Name and of all that He did in Egypt, ¹⁰ as well as of what He did to the kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, and of what He did to Seon, the king of the Amorites, and to Og, the king of Bashan, who lived in AstarOth and in EdraIn. ¹¹ And when our elders and the people who live in our land heard of this, they spoke to us and said, Take along enough provisions for the trip and travel to meet with them and tell them that we’re their servants; and then make a treaty with them. ¹² Why, look at our bread! On the day that we started our journey to come here, they were hot. But now they’re dry and moldy. ¹³ And look at these wine skins! When we filled them they were new, but now they’re torn… and our clothes and shoes are worn out because of the long journey!’

¹⁴ So the leaders [of IsraEl] shared their provisions with them, and then they failed to ask Jehovah’s direction. ¹⁵ As the result, JoShua concluded a peace treaty with them and agreed to allow them to live… which the leaders of the gathering also swore to.

¹⁶ Well, it was three days after they made the treaty [with the Gibeonites] that [the IsraElites] found out they were [actually] close neighbors and that they lived among them. ¹⁷ So, the children of IsraEl traveled to the cities of Gibeon, KePhira, Berot, and the cities of JaRim, ¹⁸ but they didn’t fight against them, because all the leaders had sworn an oath before Jehovah the God of IsraEl. And this caused the whole gathering to start grumbling against their leaders. ¹⁹ However, the leaders spoke to the gathering and said, ‘We have sworn [an oath] to them by Jehovah the God of IsraEl, so now we can’t touch them! ²⁰ But we’ll do this: We will let them live and we’ll protect them, so [God] won’t be angry with us for [breaking] the oath that we swore to them. ²¹ Then they must serve as woodcutters and water bearers to the entire gathering, as our leaders told them.’

²² And thereafter, JoShua called the [Gibeonites] together and asked them, ‘Why did you deceive me? Why did you say that you live far away from us, when you are actually the fellow countrymen of the rest of the people who live here? ²³ Now you are cursed, and you will always serve as slaves, woodcutters, and water drawers for me and for my God!’

²⁴ And they replied to JoShua, ‘We were told that Jehovah your God ordered his servant Moses to [take] this land and to destroy us, and all who live here. And it was because we feared for our lives that we did this thing! ²⁵ And now look; We’re in your power! You may do to us whatever pleases you and seems good to you.’

²⁶ And that’s what they did. JoShua saved them from the hands of the children of IsraEl, for they were not allowed to kill them. ²⁷ Then JoShua made them woodcutters and water bearers to the whole gathering and for the Altar of God; so the inhabitants of Gibeon will serve as our woodcutters and water bearers for the Altar of God, even in that [future] place that will be chosen by Jehovah.

Chapter 10

¹ And when Lord Bezek (the king of JeruSalem) heard that JoShua had taken Gai and had destroyed it as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the inhabitants of Gibeon had gone over to JoShua and IsraEl, ² this frightened him, for he knew that Gibeon was a large city. In fact, it was one of [the land’s] primary cities, and [it was known] for its mighty men. ³ So Lord Bezek sent [messages] to Elam (the king of Hebron), Phidon (the king of JeriMuth), JephTha (the king of LachIsh), and Dabin (the king of OdolLam), saying, ⁴ ‘Come and help us! Let’s conquer Gibeon, because the Gibeonites have gone over to JoShua and the children of IsraEl.’

⁵ So the five kings of the Jebusites came to [the aid of] the king of JeruSalem, which included the kings of Hebron, JeriMuth, LachIsh, and OdolLam, then they and all their people camped around Gibeon and besieged it. ⁶ So the Gibeonites sent [a message] to JoShua at his camp at GilGal, which said: ‘Hurry and send your servants to help us! Save us from the Amorite kings of the hill country, for they have all united against us!’

⁷ And at that, JoShua collected the best of his army [and marched them] from GilGal. ⁸ And Jehovah said to JoShua, ‘Don’t be afraid, for I’m giving them into your hands. There won’t be any of them left to stand before you!’

⁹ And because JoShua had marched all night from GilGal, he caught them by surprise. ¹⁰ Then Jehovah struck them with terror before the children of IsraEl… he destroyed them with a great slaughter there at Gibeon, and chased them all the way to the road to Oronin, and to Azeca and Makeda. ¹¹ And as they were fleeing the children of IsraEl at the descent from Oronin, Jehovah threw hailstones from the sky at them all the way to Azeca, and more died from the hailstones than were killed in battle by the children of IsraEl.

¹² Then JoShua spoke to Jehovah that day, as He was giving the Amorites into the [hands] of IsraEl. While they were destroying [their enemies] at Gibeon, JoShua said, ‘May the sun stand still over Gibeon and may the moon [stand still] over the valley of AiLon!’

¹³ Then the sun and the moon stood still as God brought vengeance on their enemies… the sun stood still in the midst of the sky and it didn’t move for a whole day! ¹⁴ There hasn’t been a day like it before or since, for God listened to a man and He fought on the side of IsraEl. ¹⁵ ––

¹⁶ Well, the five kings ran away and hid themselves in a cave at MakEda. ¹⁷ Then JoShua was told, ‘The five kings have been found hiding in the cave at MakEda.’ ¹⁸ So JoShua said: ‘Roll stones to cover the mouth of the cave, and then appoint men to guard them. ¹⁹ But don’t just stop there; keep chasing your enemies and attacking them from the rear. Don’t allow them to enter their cities, for Jehovah our God has given them into our hands!’

²⁰ And although JoShua and IsraEl wiped most of them out, those who escaped took refuge in the fortified cities.

²¹ Thereafter, all the people returned safely to JoShua at MakEda, and none of the children of IsraEl grumbled against him after that.

²² Then JoShua said: ‘Now open the cave and bring out those five kings!’

²³ So they brought the five kings out of the cave – the king of JeruSalem, the king of Hebron, the king of JeriMuth, the king of LachIsh, and the king of OdolLam. ²⁴ And when they brought them to JoShua, he called together all IsraEl and said to the chiefs of the army that went with him: ‘Come here and put your feet on their necks.’

So they came and put their feet on the necks [of the kings], ²⁵ and JoShua said, ‘Now, don’t be afraid or act cowardly… be courageous and strong! For this is what Jehovah will do to all the enemies who you will fight against.’

²⁶ Then JoShua killed them and hung their bodies on five trees, where they stayed until the evening.

²⁷ It was about sunset when JoShua commanded them to be taken down from the trees, and their [bodies] were thrown into the cave where they had run for refuge. Then stones were rolled over the cave, and they are still there today.

²⁸ On that day, they also took MakEda and killed its inhabitants with swords… they destroyed every living thing that was there. None were left or had escaped, and then they did same thing to the king of MakEda as they had done to the king of Jericho.

²⁹ Well, after MakEda, JoShua and all IsraEl left and besieged Lebna, ³⁰ and Jehovah gave it into their hands. They captured it and its king, and they killed the inhabitants with swords… they killed everything that breathed there, and no one survived or escaped. Then they also did to its king as they had done to the king of Jericho.

³¹ Thereafter, JoShua and IsraEl left Lebna and went on to LachIsh, where they camped around the city and besieged it. ³² And Jehovah handed LachIsh over to IsraEl, capturing it on the second day, and then they put all the inhabitants to death with swords and destroyed [the city], as they had done to Lebna.

³³ Well, Elam (the king of Gazer) had gone to help LachIsh, so JoShua cut him and his people down with swords until there were none left, and none had escaped.

³⁴ And from LachIsh, JoShua and all IsraEl went to OdolLam, besieged it, and took it. ³⁵ Jehovah gave it into the hands of IsraEl on that same day, and they killed the inhabitants and every breathing thing there with swords, as they had done at LachIsh.

³⁶ Thereafter, JoShua and all IsraEl went on to Hebron and camped around it. ³⁷ Then they cut down it and all the living creatures that were in it with swords… no one was left alive. Then they destroyed the [city] and everything in it, as they had done to OdolLam.

³⁸ After that, JoShua and IsraEl returned to Dabir and camped around it. ³⁹ Then they took it, its king, and its villages, and cut them down with swords… they destroyed everything that breathed there. No one was left alive there, and as they had done to Hebron and her king, that’s what they did to Dabir and its king.

⁴⁰ Then JoShua attacked all the hill country, the Negev, the plain country, AsedOth, and all their kings… they didn’t spare any of them. They destroyed everything that had the breath of life, just as Jehovah the God of IsraEl had commanded, ⁴¹ from Cades Barne to the Gaza, and all of Goshen as far as Gibeon. ⁴² JoShua struck down all their kings once and for all and [captured] their land, because Jehovah the God of IsraEl was fighting on their side.

Chapter 11

¹ And when Jabis (the king of Asor) heard about this, he sent for Jobab (the king of Maron), the kings of SymoOn and Aziph, ² the kings around Sidon, those in the hill country, those in the Araba across from KenerOth, those in the plains, those in Phenaed-Dor, ³ the CanaAnites along the eastern border, the Amorites along the borders, the Hittites, the Pherezites, the mountain Jebusites, the Evites, and all those living near Mount Hermon in the land of MasSyma. ⁴ And when all those kings and their armies came together, they were like the sands on the seashore in numbers, with multitudes of horses and chariots. ⁵ All the kings were there in person, and they camped at the waters of Maron to prepare for war with IsraEl.

⁶ Then Jehovah said to JoShua, ‘Don’t be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this same time I will make them retreat before IsraEl. Then you must hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.’

⁷ So JoShua and all the men of war made a surprise attack on them at the waters of Maron, and they also attacked them in the hill country, ⁸ and Jehovah gave them into IsraEl’s hands. They struck them down and chased them all the way to Sidon, MasEron, and eastward to the plains of MasSoch… they kept destroying until there no one was left. ⁹ Then JoShua did as Jehovah commanded; he hamstrung the horses and burned their chariots in a fire.

¹⁰ Next, JoShua went back and took Asor and her king (back then, Asor was the capital city of those kingdoms), ¹¹ and they killed everything that breathed with swords… they destroyed them all and there was no living thing left there. Then they burned Asor with fire.

¹² Thereafter, JoShua conquered all the cities that belonged to those kings, and killed everyone with swords. He left no survivors, just as Moses (the servant of Jehovah) had commanded. ¹³ However, they didn’t burn all the walled cities, just Asor.

¹⁴ This time, the children of IsraEl looted the cities and killed all the men with swords, leaving no breathing survivors. ¹⁵ For, this is what Jehovah had commanded His servant Moses to do, and it’s what Moses commanded JoShua to do, so JoShua did everything that Moses commanded.

¹⁶ Next, JoShua took all the hill country, all the Negev, all the land of Goshen, the plain country, all the [country] to the west, the mountains of IsraEl, the low country near the mountains ¹⁷ from Mount ChelCha to Seir (all the way to BalaGad), and the plains to the borders of Lebanon near Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and destroyed everyone. ¹⁸ This war that JoShua waged with those kings went on for quite some time, ¹⁹ and there was no city that IsraEl warred against which they failed to conquer. ²⁰ For Jehovah hardened all the hearts [of the people in those cities] when they went to war against IsraEl, so that they might be destroyed without mercy, just as Jehovah told Moses.

²¹ Then JoShua went and destroyed the Enakim out of the hill country, from Hebron, to Dabir, to AnabOth, and all the races in the land of IsraEl, including those in the mountains of Judea and their cities… JoShua destroyed them all, ²² for the children of IsraEl left no one. And among the Enakim, the only survivors were in found in Gaza, Gath, and AselDo.

²³ Thereafter, JoShua took all their land, just as Jehovah had commanded Moses, and [divided] it among IsraEl by their tribes as their inheritance. And then the war ended.

Chapter 12

¹ These are the kings in that land who the children of IsraEl killed and whose land they inherited [on the east side] of the Jordan, which ran from the Arnon Valley to Mount Hermon, and all the land of the Araba in the east:

· ² Seon, the king of the Amorites. He lived in Hesh-EbonEh and ruled [over the area] from Arnon (which is on the side of the valley) and half of Gilead as far as Jaboc, to the borders of the children of AmMon, ³ and the Araba up to the Sea of [Galilee], down to the [Dead] Sea, then along the road to AsimOth, from ThaEman to AsedOth Phasga.

· ⁴ Og, the king of Bashan. He lived in AstarOth near EdraIn, which was [inhabited by] giants. ⁵ He ruled over all the land of Bashan from Mount Hermon and SecChai to the borders of GerGesi, Machi, and half of Gilead, up to the borders of Seon, the king of Hesh-EbonEh. ⁶ They were the ones who Moses (the servant of Jehovah) and the children of IsraEl struck down, and whose [land] Moses gave as an inheritance to Ruben, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh.

⁷ These are the kings of the Amorites who JoShua and the children of IsraEl killed [on the west side of] the Jordan along the [Mediterranean] Sea, from the plains of Lebanon to Mount ChelCha and along the road to Seir (which JoShua gave to the tribes of IsraEl as their inheritance), ⁸ to the mountains and plains and in the Araba and AsedOth, and to the desert and Negev… the [land] of the Hittites, Amorites, CanaAnites, Pherezites, Evites, and Jebusites:

· ⁹ The king of Jericho

· The king of Gai (near BethEl)

· ¹⁰ The king of JeruSalem

· The king of Hebron

· ¹¹ The king of JeriMuth

· The king of LachIsh

· ¹² The king of Elam

· The king of Gazer

· ¹³ The king of Dabir

· The king of Gader

· ¹⁴ The king of Hermath

· The king of Ader

· ¹⁵ The king of Lebna

· The king of OdolLam

· ¹⁶ The king of ElAth

· ¹⁷ The king of Taphu

· The king of Opher

· ¹⁸ The king of Ophec and Aroc

· ¹⁹ The king of Asom

· ²⁰ The king of SymoOn

· The king of MambRoth

· The king of Aziph

· ²¹ The king of Cades

· The king of ZachAc

· ²² The king of MaredOth

· The king of Jecom and Carmel

· ²³ The king of OdolLam (under PhenNealdor, the king of Gei of Galilee)

· ²⁴ And the king of Thersa – twenty-nine kings all together.

Chapter 13

¹ By then, JoShua had grown very old, so Jehovah said to him, ‘You’re getting very old and there’s still a lot of land to [divide as] inheritances, ² for all of this is still left:

· The borders of the Philistines, Gesirites, and CanaAnites, ³ from the desert across from Egypt to the borders of AcCaron (the CanaAnites are thought to have had five principalities among the Philistines). They are the inhabitants of Gaza, including Azotus, Ascalon, Geth and AcCaron

· The Evites ⁴ from ThaEman through the land of CanaAn to the Gaza

· The Sidonians from Aphec to the borders of the Amorites

· ⁵ The Philistine land of Galiath from the border of Lebanon east of Gilgal at Mount Hermon and the road to Emath

· ⁶ All those who inhabit the hill country from Lebanon to MaserEth-Memphomaim, and all the Sidonians.

‘I’m going to destroy them all before IsraEl, so divide them up as inheritances among IsraEl, as I told you. ⁷ Divide this land by lottery among the nine tribes and the half tribe of ManasSeh. ⁸ Its boundaries run from the Jordan westward to the [Mediterranean] Sea.’

Now, Moses (the servant of Jehovah) had already given the two tribes of Ruben, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh their inheritance in the east, across the Jordan, ⁹ from AroEr (at the brook of Arnon) and the city in the middle of the valley, and all of Misor to MaEdAban, ¹⁰ plus all the cities of Seon (the king of the Amorites) who reigned from Hesh-EbonEh to the borders of the children of AmMon, ¹¹ as well as the region of Gilead, the borders of the Gesirites and Machatites, all around Mount Hermon, the land of Bashan to Acha, ¹² and the entire kingdom of Og in the region of Bashan (he reigned in AstarOth and in EdraIn near the giants before Moses struck down him down and destroyed him). ¹³ But the children of IsraEl didn’t destroy the Gesirites, Machatites, and CanaAnites, so the king of the Gesiri and the Machatites still live among the children of IsraEl to this day.

¹⁴ However, no inheritance was given to the tribe of Levi, for Jehovah the God of IsraEl is their inheritance, as He told them.

Here is how Moses divided the land among the children of IsraEl at ArabOth Moab on the other side of the Jordan near Jericho:  ¹⁵ To the tribe of Ruben and their families he gave all of this: ¹⁶ Their borders run from AroEr across from the Brook of Arnon (which includes the city in the valley of Arnon and all of Misor) ¹⁷ to Hesh-EbonEh. So, there were all the cities in Misor, DaEbon, BaEmonBaal, BethMeElBoth, ¹⁸ Bashan, BakedMoth, MaEphaAd, ¹⁹ Kiriath JaIrim, Sebama, Serada, Sion (on Mount Enab), ²⁰ BaethPhogor, AsedOth, Phasga, BaethThasinOth, ²¹ all the cities of Misor, and all the kingdom of Seon (the king of the Amorites who Moses struck down, along with the leaders of Midian, Evi, Roboc, Sur, Ur, Robe - who was the leader of the looters in Sion), all the inhabitants of Sion, ²² and BalaAm the son of Beor (the prophet that they also killed in the battle). ²³ The [western] border of Ruben starts at the Jordan. So those are the boundaries and inheritance of the children of Ruben, which were divided among their families, as well as their cities and villages.

²⁴ He gave this inheritance to the sons of Gad and their families: ²⁵ Their borders run from Jazer (and they include all the cities of Gilead and half the land of the children of AmMon) to the Araba near Arad. ²⁶ Then from Hesh-EbonEh to ArabOth through MasSepha, Botanim, and MaAn, to the borders of DaEbon, ²⁷ EnAdom, OtharGai, BaenThanabra, SocCotha, and Saphan, and the rest of the kingdom of Sean (the king of Hesh-EbonEh) to the Jordan, then up to the Sea of Galilee on the east side of the Jordan. ²⁸ This is the inheritance of the children of Gad and their cities, which was divided among their families. They had to [stick together when facing] their enemies, because their cities and villages were distributed by families.

²⁹ He gave this inheritance to half the tribe of ManasSeh and their families: ³⁰ Their borders run from MaAn, through the kingdom of Bashan, and the entire kingdom of Og (the king of Bashan), all the villages of JaIr that are in the region of Bashan (some sixty cities), ³¹ half of Gilead, and AstarOth and EdraIn (the royal cities of Og in the land of Bashan). That is what Moses gave to the sons of Machir (the son of ManasSeh) and their families, which comprised the half tribe of ManasSeh. ³² They’re the ones who urged Moses to take all the land east of the Jordan at ArabOth Moab.

Chapter 14

¹ And these were the children of IsraEl who received their inheritance in the land of CanaAn – those to whom EliEzer the Priest, JoShua (the son of NaWeh), and the family heads of the tribes of the children of IsraEl gave an inheritance:

² The nine-and-a-half tribes received their inheritances in a lottery, just as Jehovah commanded JoShua, ³ but the Levites received no inheritance among them, ⁴ other that their (own) cities and suburbs, where their cattle were kept separate from the rest of the cattle. ⁵ So the children of IsraEl did just as Jehovah commanded Moses, and they divided up the land.

⁶ Then (one of) the sons of Judah (Caleb, the son of JePhoNe the Kenite) went to JoShua at GilGal and said to him: ‘You know what Jehovah said to Moses (the man of God) about me at Cades Barne. ⁷ For, I was forty years old when Moses (the servant of God) sent me from Cades Barne to spy in this land, and I returned to him and gave him an answer that pleased him. ⁸ However, although my brothers who went with me preferred to listen to the people, I kept following my God Jehovah. ⁹ So Moses swore on that day, saying, The land where you went will become the inheritance of you and your children through the ages, because you made sure that you followed our God Jehovah.

¹⁰ ‘So Jehovah has kept me alive until now, and this is the forty-fifth year since [the time when Jehovah] said that to Moses, and [during which] IsraEl [lived] in the desert. And today {Look!} I’m eighty-five years old, ¹¹ yet I’m still as strong as when Jehovah sent me; in fact, I’m still strong enough to fight as a soldier! ¹² And now I ask of you for this mountain [to fulfill Jehovah’s promise], which you heard that day. And although the Enakim are here in large fortified cities; if Jehovah is with me, I’ll destroy them just as Jehovah has instructed me.’

¹³ So, JoShua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb (the son of JePhoNe and the grandson of Kenez) as his inheritance. ¹⁴ And since then, Hebron has been the inheritance of Caleb, because he followed the commandments of Jehovah, the God of IsraEl. ¹⁵ The name of that city used to be Argob when it belonged to the Enakim, but after the war it was renamed Hebron.

Chapter 15

¹ The border of the tribe of Judah (which land was divided among their families) runs south from Idumea and the Sin Desert, as far as Cades ² in the south. It runs from part of the Dead Sea into the high country, ³ then it goes toward the base of Mount Acrabin, around Sena, then south to Cades Barne, over to AsOron, up to Sarada, then along the road west of Cades, ⁴ out to Selmona toward the valley of Egypt, and it ends at the Sea. These are their southern borders.

⁵ Their borders on the east run from the Dead Sea and up the Jordan. Their borders in the north run from the Sea over to part of the Jordan. ⁶ They run from BethLehem in the north to BethAraba, along the stone [wall] of BaeOn and the borders of the sons of Ruben. ⁷ The border continues through a fourth part of the Valley of Achor and goes down toward GilGal to the approach to AdamMin (on the south side of the valley), and terminates at the water [that flows from] the Spring of the Sun, and to the Spring of Rogel. ⁸ Then it runs southward to the valley of EnNom behind Jebus (which is now JeruSalem), and ends at the top of the mountain facing the seaward side of the valley of EnNom, with the land of the Raphain in the north.

⁹ Then the border runs from the top of the mountain to the spring water of NaphTho, and on to Mount Ephron along the [road] that leads to Baal (which is now the city of JaRim). ¹⁰ Then it runs from Baal to the sea across Mount AsSar, which is behind the city of JaRim to the north (Chaslon), and down to the City of the Sun, and from there it heads south. ¹¹ This border terminates behind AcCaron (to the north), then it runs on to SocChoth and southward to Lebna, then over to the Sea. The [Mediterranean] Sea is their [western] border. ¹² These are the borders of the [land that was distributed among] the families of the children of Judah.

¹³ And to Caleb (the son of JePhoNe), JoShua set aside a [special] portion in the midst of the children of Judah, as God had commanded JoShua. He gave him the city of Arboc and the metropolis of Enac, which is now called Hebron. ¹⁴ So, Caleb (the son of JePhoNe) destroyed the three sons of Enac (Susi, Tholami, and Achima) from there, ¹⁵ then he [attacked] Dabir, which used to be called The City of Letters.

¹⁶ Then Caleb swore: ‘To whoever takes, conquers, and destroys the City of Letters, I will give my daughter Ascha as his wife.’

¹⁷ And it was GothoniEl (the son of Chenez, Caleb’s brother) who took [the city], so he gave him Ascha his daughter as his wife. ¹⁸ And as she was leaving [her father], she said to [Chenez], ‘I’m going to ask my father for a field.’ Then she got off her burro and started crying.

And Caleb asked her, ‘What’s wrong?’

¹⁹ Then she said, ‘Give me a blessing, because you’re sending me into the land of Negev. Give me BotThanis.’

So he gave her both upper and lower GonaEthla.

²⁰ This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah. ²¹ And their cities within the borders of Edom by the desert are BaeSeleEl, Ara, Asor, ²² Icam, Regma, AruEl, ²³ Cades, AsoriOnain, MaEnam, ²⁴ BalmaEnan and its suburbs, ²⁵ the cities of AseRon (which are now called Asor), ²⁶ Sen, Salmaa, Molada, ²⁷ Seri, BaePhalath, ²⁸ CholaseOla, BeerSabee (and their villages and towns), ²⁹ Bala, Bacoc, Asom, ³⁰ ElBoudad, BethEl, Herma, ³¹ Sekelac, Macharim, SethenNac, ³² Labos, Sale, and EroMoth – twenty-nine cities and their villages.

³³ In the plain country [the cities are] AstaOl, Raa, AsSa, ³⁴ Ramen, Tano, IluthOth, MaeAni, ³⁵ JerMuth, OdolLam, Membra, SaoCho, Jazeca, ³⁶ SacArim, Gadera and its villages – fourteen cities and their villages. ³⁷ Also, SenNa, Adasan, MagadalGad, ³⁸ Dalad, Maspha, JachareEl, ³⁹ BasedOth, IdeaDalea, ⁴⁰ Chabra, Maches, MaAchos, ⁴¹ GedDor, BagadiEl, Noman, MacheDan – sixteen cities and their villages. ⁴² Also, Lebna, Ithac, Anoch, ⁴³ Jana, Nasib, ⁴⁴ KeIlam, AkiEzi, Kezib, BethEsar, AiLom – ten cities and their villages. ⁴⁵ Also, AcCaron and her villages and towns, ⁴⁶ AcCaron-Gemna, and all the cities near AsedOth and their villages, ⁴⁷ AsiedOth and her villages and towns, Gaza and its villages and towns, which run to the river of Egypt and along the [Mediterranean] Sea.

⁴⁸ In the hill country [the cities are] Samir, Jether, Socha, ⁴⁹ Renna, The City of Letters (Dabir), ⁵⁰ Anon, Es, Man, AiSam, ⁵¹ Goshen, Chalu, ChanNa, Gelom – eleven cities and their villages. ⁵² Also, AiRem, Remna, Soma, ⁵³ JemaIn, BaethAchu, Phacua, ⁵⁴ Euma, the city Arboc (Hebron), and SoraIth – nine cities and their villages. ⁵⁵ Also, Maor, Carmel, Ozib, Itan, ⁵⁶ JariEl, Aricam, Zacanaim, ⁵⁷ Gabaa, and ThamNatha – nine cities and their villages. ⁵⁸ Also, AiLua, BethSur, GedDon, ⁵⁹ MagarOth, BethAnam, and Thecum – six cities and their villages. ⁶⁰ Also, Theco, Ephratha (BethLehem), Phagor, AiTan, Culon, Tatam, Thobes, Carem, Galem, Thether, and ManoCho – eleven cities and their villages. ⁶¹ Also, Kariath-Baal (JaIrim) and Sotheba – two cities and their villages. ⁶² Also, BadDargeis, TharabaAm, AiNon, AiOchioza, NaphLazon, Sadon, and Ancades – seven cities and their villages.

⁶³ And the Jebusites lived in JeruSalem, because the children of Judah couldn’t destroy them – and they still live there today.

Chapter 16

¹ The borders of the children of Joseph run from the Jordan past Jericho on the east, and from Jericho to the hill country, to the desert, then up to BethEl Luza. ² And from BethEl they proceed on to the borders of AchaTarOthi, ³ then they go across toward the sea along the borders of ApTalim, and up to the borders of Lower BethOron, then on to the sea. ⁴ [And that’s where] the sons of Joseph (EphraIm and ManasSeh) claimed their inheritance.

⁵ The borders of the children of EphraIm that were divided among their families as their inheritance run eastward to AtarOth and Eroc, then on to Upper BethOron and Gazara. ⁶ It runs from the sea to IcasMon north of Therma, then east to Thenasa and Selles, and on to Janoca, ⁷ Macho, and AtarOth (which are their villages), then toward Jericho, ending at the Jordan. ⁸ From there it runs to Tapho, to ChelCana, and back to the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of EphraIm and their families.

⁹ Many of the cities and their villages that were given to the sons of EphraIm were in the midst of the inheritance of the sons of ManasSeh. ¹⁰ And EphraIm failed to destroy the CanaAnites who lived in Gazer, so the CanaAnites lived in EphraIm until Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) went there and took it, and then burned it with fire. Then Pharaoh gave the CanaAnites, Pherezites, and those who live in Gaza to his daughter as her dowry.

Chapter 17

¹ Now, these are the borders of the tribe of the children of ManasSeh (Joseph’s firstborn): Machir was the firstborn of ManasSeh and the father of Gilead, who [took] the land of Gilead and Bashan. ² And the other sons of ManasSeh were also given land, which was divided among their families… the sons of Jezi, the sons of Kelez, the sons of JeziEl, the sons of Shechem, the sons of Symarim, and the sons of Opher (the family heads).

³ And SalpaAd (the son of Opher) had no sons, just daughters, and these are their names: SalpaAd, MaAla, Nua, Egla, Melcha, and Thersa. ⁴ So they went before JoShua, EliEzer the Priest, and the rulers and said, ‘God commanded Moses to give us an inheritance in the midst of our family.’

So at the command of Jehovah, they were given an inheritance among their uncles. ⁵ And their lottery claimed for them [the land] from AnasSa to the plain of Labec in the land of Gilead [west of] the Jordan. ⁶ And because these daughters of the sons of ManasSeh inherited land inside Gilead, the rest of it was assigned to the other sons of ManasSeh. ⁷ Thus the borders of the sons of ManasSeh start at DelAnath (close to the sons of Anath) and proceed to the edge of JaMin and JasSib, to the spring of ThaphThoth. ⁸ It all belongs to ManasSeh, but ThaphEth on its border belongs to the sons of EphraIm. ⁹ Then the borders go down to the valley of CarAna, and southward past the valley of JariEl (where there’s a pine tree that belongs to EphraIm near the city of ManasSeh). Then its borders run northward to the brook and over to the sea. ¹⁰ The land to the south belongs to EphraIm, and ManasSeh runs along its border from the seacoast, then northward along the border of Aseb, and eastward up to [the land of] IsSachar. ¹¹ And in the land of IsSachar, ManasSeh will own Asher, BethSan and their villages, the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages, and a third of MaphEta and its villages.

¹² However, the sons of ManasSeh weren’t able to destroy those cities, and the CanaAnites started living there. ¹³ And when the children of IsraEl were strong enough, they made the CanaAnites their subjects, but they didn’t destroy them.

¹⁴ Then the sons of Joseph went to JoShua [and complained], ‘Why did you just give us just one inheritance and one border? For, God has blessed us and made us a large group of people.’

¹⁵ But JoShua replied, ‘If you have a lot of people and the hills of EphraIm are too small for you, then go up to the forest and clear more land for yourselves.’

¹⁶ And they said, ‘We don’t like the hills of EphraIm, and the CanaAnites are living there in BethSan and its villages, and in the JezreEl Valley, and they have many horsemen and iron [weapons].’

¹⁷ Then JoShua told the sons of Joseph, ‘If you have many people and you are very strong, you may claim more inheritance. ¹⁸ Now, if you need wood, there is [plenty of] wood there. Clear it and the land will be yours. Then destroy the CanaAnites, for even if they have good horsemen, you’re stronger than they are.’

Chapter 18

¹ Well, the entire gathering of the children of IsraEl assembled at Shiloh, and there they pitched the Tent of Proofs (since that land had been conquered by them), ² and the sons of IsraEl who hadn’t received their inheritance (seven tribes) stayed there.

³ Then JoShua said to the sons of IsraEl, ‘How much longer are you going to hold back from inheriting the land that Jehovah our God has given you? ⁴ Appoint three men from each tribe and have them travel throughout the land, and then come and describe it, so it can be properly divided.’

⁵ And thereafter, they came to him and he [arranged for them to] to divide into seven sections.

And he said: ‘Judah’s borders to the south will stand, as will [the land of] the sons of Joseph to the north. ⁶ But, now you must divide the [rest of] land into seven parts, and then bring the descriptions here to me and I will parcel them out in a lottery before Jehovah our God. ⁷ However, the sons of Levi won’t receive a share among you, for the Priesthood of Jehovah is their portion. Also, Gad, Ruben, and the half tribe of ManasSeh have already received their inheritance east of the Jordan, which was given to them by Moses, the servant of Jehovah.’

⁸ Then, as the men got up to leave, JoShua gave these orders to those who were to explore the land: ‘Go and explore the land, then come to me and I will divide it in a lottery here before Jehovah in Shiloh.’

⁹ So they went and explored the land. And after examining it, they divided it into seven parts by cities, and [drew a map] which they brought back to JoShua. ¹⁰ And JoShua threw lots for them before Jehovah there at Shiloh.

¹¹ It was the tribe of BenJamin and their families that came first, and the borders they received were between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph. ¹² Their borders to the east go up the Jordan behind Jericho, northward to the mountains in the west and to BethOn of MabDara. ¹³ It runs around the south side of Luz (BethEl), and down to MaAtarob-Orech into the hill country that is south of Lower BethOron. ¹⁴ Then it proceeds to the part that faces the sea south of the mountain in front of BethOron, and ends at Kariath-Baal (Kiriath JaIrim), a city of the children of Judah. This is their boundary on the west.

¹⁵ On the south side, it runs from the border of Kiriath-Baal across to Gasin, and to the Spring of NaphTho. ¹⁶ Then it runs in front of the forest of SonNam (which is east of Emec-RaphaIn) in the north, and comes down to the EnNa Valley behind Jebusai, then it runs south to the Spring of Rogel ¹⁷ and over to the Spring of BethSamys. ¹⁸ From there it goes in front of GalilOth by way of AiThamin, then down to the stone of BaeOn (of the sons of Ruben), where it passes behind the north side of BethAraba to the sea in the north. ¹⁹ These borders end at the creek of the Dead Sea and north along the Jordan (which is their southern border), ²⁰ and the Jordan is their boundary on the east. This is the inheritance of the children of BenJamin and their families, and these are their borders.

²¹ The cities of the children of BenJamin and their families are Jericho, BethAgaeo, the AmeCasis, ²² BethAbara, Sara, BesAna, ²³ AiEin, Phara, EphRatha, ²⁴ CarApha, Cephira, Moni, and GabaA (twelve cities and their villages), ²⁵ Gibeon, Rama, BeerOtha, ²⁶ MasSema, Miron, Amoke, ²⁷ Phira, Caphan, Nacan, Selecan, ThareEla, ²⁸ Jebus (JeruSalem), and GabaOth JaIrim (thirteen cities and their villages). This is the inheritance of the sons of BenJamin and their families.

Chapter 19

¹ The second lot fell to the children of Symeon, so their inheritance is in the midst of the land of the children of Judah. ² They were given BeerSabee, SamaA, Caladam, ³ Arsola, Bola, Jason, ⁴ ErThula, Bula, Herma, ⁵ SikElac, BethMachereb, SarSusin, ⁶ BathAroth – thirteen cities and their villages. ⁷ Also, EremMon, Thalcha, Jether, and Asan – four cities and their villages. ⁸ Their cities run from Balec and the road to Bameth southward. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Symeon and their families. ⁹ It is part of the lot of Judah, because Judah’s portion was very large, so the inheritance of the children of Symeon is in the midst of theirs.

¹⁰ The third lot fell to ZebuLon and their families. So the boundaries of their inheritance run from EsedekGola ¹¹ to the sea and Magelda, and reaches to BethAraba in the valley across from JekMan. ¹² Then it goes back to SedDuc and heads east to BethSamys along the border of ChaShilohThaith, and passes on to DabirOth, then goes up to PhangAi. ¹³ From there it goes back eastward to GeBere and the city of CataSem, and on to RemMonaA-MatharaOza. ¹⁴ Then it goes north to AmOth and ends at GaEphaEl, ¹⁵ CataNath, NabaAl, SymoOn, Jericho, and BethMan. ¹⁶ This (and these cities and their villages) is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of ZebuLon and their families.

¹⁷ The fourth lot fell to IsSachar. ¹⁸ So their borders include Jazel, ChasalOth, Sunam, ¹⁹ Agin, Siona, ReErOth, ²⁰ AnaChereth, Dabiron, Kison, Rebes, ²¹ RemMas, Jeon, TomMan, AiMarec, and BerSaphes. ²² They border on GaethBor, Salim, and BethSamys in the west, and then run to the Jordan. ²³ This (and these cities and their villages) is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of IsSachar and their families.

²⁴ The fifth lot fell to Asher and their families. ²⁵ Their borders include ExelEketh, Aleph, BethOk, KeAph, ²⁶ EliMelech, AmiEl, and MaAsa. Their border runs west from Carmel and on to Zion and LabaNath. ²⁷ Then it runs west from BethEgeneth to where it joins ZebuLon (EkGai and PhthaeEl), then northward to SaphthaeBethMe and InaEl, then it goes on to ChobaMasomEl, ²⁸ ElBon, RaHab, EmeMaon, CanThan, and Sidon. ²⁹ From there, it turns back and runs to Rama, to the Spring of MasPhasSat and the border of Tyre, then it returns to JaSiph and ends at the sea (Apoleb, EchoZob, ³⁰ ArchOb, Aphec, and RaAu). ³¹ This (and these cities and their villages) is the inheritance of the tribe of the sons of Asher and their families.

³² The sixth lot fell to NaphTali. ³³ And their borders include MoOlam, Mola, BesemiIn, Arme, Naboc, JephThamai (as far as Dodam), and end at the Jordan. ³⁴ Then it runs west at AthAbor and goes on to Jacana. It borders on ZebuLon in the south, Asher in the west, and the Jordan in the east. ³⁵ Theirs include the walled cities of the Tyrians – Tyre, OmaThadakEth, KenerEth, ³⁶ ArmaIth, AreAl, Asor, ³⁷ Cades, AsSari and the well of Asor, ³⁸ Keroe, MegalaArim, BeatThame, and BethSamus. ³⁹ This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of NaphTali.

⁴⁰ The seventh lot fell to Dan. ⁴¹ Their borders include SarAth, Asa, the cities of SamMaus, ⁴² Salamin, AmMon, SilAtha, ⁴³ Elon, ThamNatha, AcCaron, ⁴⁴ AlCatha, BegEthon, GebeElan, ⁴⁵ Azor, BanaeBacat, and GethRemmon. ⁴⁶ Then west of HierAcon, the border is near Joppa. ⁴⁷ This (and these cities and their villages) is the inheritance of the children of Dan and their families. However, the children of Dan didn’t drive out the Amorites. So they harassed them in their mountains constantly and wouldn’t allow them to come down into the valley. And they forcibly took a portion of their land.

⁴⁸ Then the sons of Dan went and fought against LachIsh and took it. They cut [the people] down with swords and started living there, and they renamed the city LasenDan. However, the Amorites continued to live in Edom and in SalamIn, but the EphraImites held them down and forced them to pay a tribute.

⁴⁹ So the children of IsraEl proceeded to take possession of the land inside their borders, and they gave an inheritance to JoShua (the son of NaWeh) among them. ⁵⁰ Following the command of God, they gave him the city that he asked for, ThamnaSarach in the hills of EphraIm. So he built the city and lived there.

⁵¹ These are the divisions that EliEzer the Priest, JoShua (the son of NaWeh), and the family heads of the tribes of IsraEl assigned in a lottery before Jehovah at Shiloh, at the entrance to the Tent of Proofs. And thereafter, they each went out to take possession of their lands.

Chapter 20

¹ Then Jehovah spoke to JoShua and said, ² ‘Speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them to assign the refuge cities that I spoke to you about through Moses. ³ They are to be havens for those who have accidentally killed another man… cities to run to, so the person who has killed another won’t be put to death by the blood avenger until he has been given a trial before the gathering.’

⁴ So JoShua set aside Cades in the hills of NaphTali in Galilee, Shechem in the hills of EphraIm, and the city of Arboc (Hebron) in the hills of Judah. ⁵ And across the Jordan, he set aside Bosor in the desert plain of the tribe of Ruben, AremOth in Gilead of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in the country of Bashan of the tribe of ManasSeh.

⁶ These were the cities that were selected for the sons of IsraEl and the aliens who lived among them, where those who unintentionally killed another could run to, so they wouldn’t be put to death by the blood avenger before they stood trial in front of the gathering.

Chapter 21

¹ Then the heads of the families of the sons of Levi came to EliEzer the Priest, JoShua (the son of NaWeh), and the heads of families of the tribes of IsraEl ² at Shiloh in the land of CanaAn, and said, ‘[Remember that Jehovah] gave the commandment through Moses that we should be given cities to live in, along with their surrounding countrysides (for our cattle).’

³ So, following the commands of Jehovah, the children of IsraEl gave the Levites cities and their surrounding countryside as their inheritance.

⁴ The first lot fell to the children of CaAth, so the sons of Aaron the Priest (the Levites) received thirteen cities from the tribes of Judah, Symeon, and BenJamin, which were divided among their families in a lottery. ⁵ And then the remaining sons of CaAth were given ten cities from the tribes of EphraIm, Dan, and the half tribe of ManasSeh.

⁶ The sons of Gedson received thirteen cities, which were divided [among their families] by lottery from the tribes of IsSachar, Asher, NaphTali, and the half tribe of ManasSeh in Bashan.

⁷ The sons of MeraRi received twelve cities, which were divided among their families by lottery, from the tribes of Ruben, Gad, and ZebuLon.

⁸ The children of IsraEl also gave the Levites the land around their cities, as Jehovah had commanded Moses, which were divided in a lottery.

⁹ These are the cities that the tribes of the children of Judah, Symeon, and part of the tribe of the children of BenJamin assigned ¹⁰ to the sons of Aaron (the family of CaAth of the sons of Levi), for whom the first lot fell:

· ¹¹ Kiriath-Arboc and the metropolis of the sons of Enac (Hebron) in the Mountain country of Judah and the surrounding suburbs. ¹² However, JoShua gave the city itself and its villages to the sons of Caleb (the son of JePhoNe) as his [family’s] possession. ¹³ He also assigned Hebron and its suburbs as a refuge city for unintentional murderers.

· Lemna and its suburbs

· ¹⁴ AiLom and its suburbs

· Tema and its suburbs

· ¹⁵ GelLa and its suburbs

· Dabir and its suburbs

· ¹⁶ Asa and its suburbs

· Tany and its suburbs

· BethSamus and its suburbs – nine cities from these two tribes.

¹⁷ And from the tribe of BenJamin, they were given:

· Gibeon and its suburbs

· GathEth and its suburbs

· ¹⁸ AnathOth and its suburbs

· Gamala and its suburbs – four cities.

¹⁹ So all together, the sons of Aaron (the Priests) were given these thirteen cities.

²⁰ And the remaining families of the sons of CaAth (the Priests and Levites) were given ²¹ these cities from the tribe of EphraIm:

· Shechem and its suburbs (which was also a refuge city)

· Gazara and its appendages and suburbs

· KibZaim and its suburbs

· ²² BethOron and its suburbs – four cities.

²³ And from the tribe of Dan [they were given]:

· Helcothaim and its suburbs

· GethEdan and its suburbs

· ²⁴ AiLon and its suburbs

· GethEremMon and its suburbs – four cities.

²⁵ And from the half tribe of ManasSeh [they were given]:

· Tanach and its suburbs

· JeBatha and its suburbs – two cities.

²⁶ So in all, ten cities and their suburbs were assigned to the remaining families of the sons of CaAth.

²⁷ And JoShua gave the sons of Gedson (the Levites) these cities from the other half-tribe of ManasSeh:

· Golan in the country of Bashan and its suburbs, which was also a refuge city

· Bosora and its suburbs – two cities.

²⁸ And from the tribe of IsSachar [they were given]:

· Kison and its suburbs

· DebBa and its suburbs

· ²⁹ RemMath and its suburbs

· The Well of Letters and its suburbs – four cities.

³⁰ And from the tribe of Asher [they were given]:

· BaselLa and its suburbs

· DabBon and its suburbs

· ³¹ Chelcat and its suburbs

· RaHab and its suburbs – four cities.

³² And from the tribe of NaphTali [they were given]:

· Cades in Galilee and its suburbs, which was a refuge city

· NemMath and its suburbs

· ThemMon and its suburbs – three cities.

³³ All together, the families of Gedson received thirteen cities.

³⁴ The remaining families of the sons of MeraRi (the Levites) received these cities from the tribe of ZebuLon:

· MaAn and its suburbs

· Cades and its suburbs

· ³⁵ SelLa and its suburbs – three cities.

³⁶ Then on the other side of the Jordan near Jericho, they received these cities from the tribe of Ruben:

· Bosor in the Miso Desert and its suburbs, which was a refuge city

· Jazer and its suburbs

· DecMon and its suburbs

· Mapha and its suburbs – four cities.

³⁷ Then from the tribe of Gad [they received]:

· RamOth in Gilead and its suburbs, which was a refuge city

· Camin and its suburbs

· Esbon and its suburbs

· Jazer and its suburbs – four cities.

³⁸ So all together, the families of the sons of MeraRi of the tribe of Levi received twelve cities and their outlying land. ³⁹ And the Levites received forty-eight cities ⁴⁰ and all their surrounding land and suburbs.

Then JoShua stopped dividing the land and setting their borders, and the children of IsraEl gave JoShua his portion, because this is what Jehovah had commanded them. They gave him the city that he asked for, ThamnaSarach in the hills of EphraIm. Then JoShua built the city and lived there.

Thereafter, JoShua took stone knives and circumcised the children of IsraEl who were born along the way in the desert, and had [them recuperate] at ThamnaSarach.

⁴¹ So Jehovah gave IsraEl all the land that He had promised to their ancestors; so they inherited it and lived there. ⁴² He also gave them a time of peace, as He had promised their ancestors; for none of their enemies could stand against them – He gave them all into their hands. ⁴³ And all the good things that Jehovah promised the children of IsraEl happened.

Chapter 22

¹ Then JoShua called the sons of Ruben, the sons of Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh together ² and said to them, ‘You’ve heard all that Moses (the servant of Jehovah) commanded you, and you’ve paid attention to everything I said to you about his instructions. ³ You haven’t deserted your brothers during all this time and you’ve followed the commandments of your God Jehovah. ⁴ So, now that our God Jehovah has given our brothers [a place] where they can rest (as He promised), you can go back to your land and your homes that Moses gave you on the other side the Jordan. ⁵ However, be careful to obey the Commandments and the Law that Moses (the servant of Jehovah) gave you… love Jehovah our God, walk in all His paths, keep His commandments, stick with Him, and serve Him with your whole mind and life.’

⁶ Then JoShua blessed them and dismissed them, and they returned to their homes.

⁷ Moses had given a portion of the land of Bashan to half of the tribe of ManasSeh, and JoShua gave the other half a portion with their brothers on the west side of the Jordan. And when JoShua sent them home, he blessed them ⁸ with much wealth, for he divided the loot they had taken from their enemies and their brothers, which included large amounts of cattle, silver, gold, iron, and clothing.

⁹ So, the sons of Ruben, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh left the children of IsraEl in Shiloh (in the land of CanaAn) and headed toward Gilead and the land they inherited at the command of Jehovah through Moses.

¹⁰ And when they got to Gilead near the Jordan (in the land of CanaAn), they built a huge altar there by the Jordan. ¹¹ But when the [other] children of IsraEl heard about it, they said, ‘Look! The sons of Ruben, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh have built an altar at the border of the land of CanaAn – at Gilead next to the Jordan – directly across from [the rest] of the children of IsraEl.’ ¹² So then, they all gathered at Shiloh to go and fight against them.

¹³ And thereafter, the children of IsraEl sent Phineas (the son of EliEzer and grandson of Aaron the Priest) to the sons of Ruben, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh into the land of Gilead, ¹⁴ along with ten of the chiefs – one chief of each household of the rest of the tribes of IsraEl, who are generals over thousands in IsraEl. ¹⁵ And when they got to the sons of Ruben, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh in the land of Gilead, they said, ¹⁶ ‘This is what the whole gathering of Jehovah wants to know: What is this sin that you’ve committed before the God of IsraEl by building yourselves an altar? Did you do this so you can turn away from Him? ¹⁷ Was the sin at Phogor – from which we have yet to be cleansed – that insignificant to you, despite the fact that it brought a plague among the entire gathering of Jehovah? ¹⁸ And now you’ve revolted against Jehovah, so tomorrow you will know the wrath of all IsraEl!

¹⁹ ‘Why, if your land is too small for you, cross over [the Jordan] into the land that Jehovah [gave us] and where the Tent of Jehovah stays and receive an inheritance among us. Don’t turn away from God by building an altar apart from the Altar of Jehovah! ²⁰ For look; didn’t Achar (the son of Zara) sin by taking things that were cursed and bring the wrath [of God] on the whole gathering of IsraEl? And [remember]; he died for his sin!’

²¹ However, the sons of Ruben, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh replied to the generals of the thousands of IsraEl: ²² ‘God – our God – is Jehovah. And God Himself knows, and IsraEl knows, that if we have broken away from Jehovah and turned aside, He won’t save us today. ²³ But we didn’t build ourselves an altar to turn away from Him or to sacrifice whole burnt offerings or peace offerings on it (those things that Jehovah requires). ²⁴ Rather, we have done this as precaution. We did it for fear that in the future, your sons might ask our sons what they have to do with Jehovah, the God of IsraEl.

²⁵ ‘Now that Jehovah has set a boundary between you and us (the Jordan), we don’t want your sons to alienate our sons and keep them from worshiping Jehovah. ²⁶ So we gave orders to build this altar not for burnt offerings or for meat offerings, ²⁷ but as a witness between you and us and between our children, that we do serve Jehovah, and that we will sacrifice our burnt offerings, meat offerings, and peace offerings to Him. Then your sons won’t be able to say to our sons that we don’t [belong to] Jehovah.

²⁸ ‘Therefore, to prevent them from ever saying such a thing to us or our descendants, [we want them to] see our representation of the altar of Jehovah. It wasn’t built for the sake of burnt offerings or meat offerings, but as a witness between you and us and between our sons. ²⁹ Far be it from us to turn away from Jehovah today or to turn away from Him and build an altar for burnt offerings or peace offerings separate from the Altar of Jehovah that stands before His Tent.’

³⁰ And when Phineas the Priest (and all the chiefs of the gathering of IsraEl who were with him) heard what the children of Ruben, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh said, they were pleased. ³¹ Then Phineas the Priest said, ‘Today we know that Jehovah is with us, because you aren’t guilty of a serious sin against Jehovah and you have saved the children of IsraEl from the hand of Jehovah.’

³² So Phineas (the Priest) and the leaders left the children of Ruben, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh at Gilead and returned to the land of CanaAn, then they reported what was said to the children of IsraEl, ³³ and they were pleased. And then they spoke to the children of IsraEl and praised them [for their zeal], and told them not to go to war against the children of Ruben, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh, or to destroy their land… and that’s what they did.

³⁴ Thereafter, JoShua named the altar of the children of Ruben, Gad, and the half tribe of ManasSeh, and said, ‘It is their testimony that Jehovah is their God.’

Chapter 23

¹ Jehovah had allowed IsraEl to rest from all their enemies [who lived] around them for a considerable time, until JoShua was old and up in years. ² Then JoShua called all the children of IsraEl together – their elders, leaders, judges, and their officers – and said to them, ‘I’m old and up in years, ³ and you’ve seen all that Jehovah our God has done to these nations around us and how your God fought for you. ⁴ Now look; I’ve given all these remaining nations to your tribes in a lottery. And although I’ve destroyed some of them, our borders run [from this side] of the Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, ⁵ and Jehovah our God will destroy them before us until they’re all gone. For, He will send wild animals against them until He has destroyed them and their kings, then you will inherit their land, just as Jehovah our God has promised.

⁶ ‘However, you must be sure to observe and do all the things that are written in the scroll of the Law of Moses… don’t stray to the right or to the left! ⁷ And don’t associate with the remaining nations, nor should the names of their gods be mentioned among you… don’t serve them or bow before them! ⁸ Rather, you must stick to Jehovah our God, just as you have been doing until now. ⁹ Then Jehovah will destroy them – even the great and strong nations – from among you, for no one has been able to stand against us so far. ¹⁰ Why, each one among you has been able to chase a thousand, for Jehovah our God fought for you as He had promised. ¹¹ So, be sure to love Jehovah our God.

¹² ‘But if you turn away from Him and start associating with these nations that are still left, then marry among them and get mixed up with them (and them with you), ¹³ realize that Jehovah won’t destroy them. Rather, they will become snares and stumbling blocks – nails in your heels, and darts in your eyes – until they’ve wiped you out of this good land that Jehovah your God has given you.

¹⁴ ‘And now, I’m getting ready to die, as does everyone else on this earth. But know in your hearts and souls that not a single word has failed of all the things that Jehovah our God has [promised] about us. ¹⁵ And after all the good things that Jehovah God will bring upon you are done, remember that He will also do bad things until He wipes you out of this good land that He has given you, ¹⁶ if you break the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah our God and go and serve other gods and bow before them.’

Chapter 24

¹ So JoShua gathered all the tribes of IsraEl at Shiloh and summoned their elders, officers, and judges, then stood them before God. ² And JoShua spoke to all the people and said, ‘This is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl said: Your ancestors (such as Tara, the father of AbraHam and Nahor) once stayed beyond the river and served other gods. ³ But I took AbraHam (your ancestor) from the other side of the river and guided him throughout this entire land. Then I made his seed grow… ⁴ I gave him IsaAc, and to IsaAc [I gave] Jacob and Esau. Then I gave Mount Seir to Esau as his inheritance, as Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt, where they became a great and mighty nation.

‘Then the Egyptians started oppressing them, ⁵ so I struck down Egypt with the miracles that I sent among them. ⁶ And afterwards, I brought your fathers out of Egypt. And as they entered the Red Sea, the Egyptians chased them into the Sea with their chariots and horses. ⁷ Then, when they called out to Jehovah, I put a cloud and darkness between [them and] the Egyptians, and brought the Sea down upon [the Egyptians] and covered them.

‘Why, your eyes have seen all that Jehovah did in the land of Egypt, and of how you spent a long time in the desert. ⁸ And now He has brought us into the land of the Amorites who lived across the Jordan, and Jehovah has given them into our hands… you have inherited their land and destroyed them!

⁹ ‘[Do you remember when] Balak, the king of Moab (the son of SepPhor) went to war against IsraEl, and how he called BalaAm to curse us? ¹⁰ Yet, Jehovah your God wouldn’t destroy you; He blessed us and saved us from their hands, then He handed them over to us.

¹¹ ‘Thereafter, you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho, where the people of Jericho fought against us – as did the Amorites, CanaAnites, Pherezites, Evites, Jebusites, Hittites, and the Gergesites – and Jehovah gave them all into our hands. ¹² You didn’t chase them with swords or bows; He sent hornets ahead of you and drove them away… the twelve kings of the Amorites!

¹³ ‘Now He has given you a land that you didn’t clear and cities that you didn’t build, where you’ve now settled and where you are eating from vineyards and olive groves that you didn’t plant. ¹⁴ So, fear Jehovah and serve Him righteously and justly… get rid of all the strange gods that our ancestors served across the river and in Egypt, and serve Jehovah!

¹⁵ ‘However, if you don’t wish to serve Jehovah, then choose who you will serve today… whether it’s the gods of your ancestors that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you’re now living. But as for me and my household, we will serve Jehovah, because He alone is holy!’

¹⁶ And the people answered, ‘We won’t leave Jehovah and serve other gods. ¹⁷ Why, our God Jehovah is God! For, it was He who brought our ancestors and us out of Egypt, and who protected us all along the way that we walked, and from all the nations that we passed. ¹⁸ And it was Jehovah who threw out the Amorites and all the other nations that lived in this land. Yes, we will serve Jehovah, for He is our God!’

¹⁹ Then JoShua said to the people, ‘You won’t really be able to serve Jehovah, because He is holy. And because He’s zealous, He won’t forgive your sins and your errors. ²⁰ So when you leave Jehovah to serve other gods, He will come against you, oppress you, and consume you, because He has done good things for you.’

²¹ Then the people replied, ‘No! We will serve Jehovah!’

²² And JoShua said, ‘Then you are witnesses against yourselves that you’ve chosen to serve Jehovah. ²³ So now, get rid of all the strange gods that you have, and set your hearts right with Jehovah, the God of IsraEl.’

²⁴ And the people replied, ‘We will serve Jehovah and listen to His voice!’

²⁵ So JoShua made a Sacred Agreement with them that day, and gave them laws and rules before the Tent of the God of IsraEl, there in Shiloh. ²⁶ And then he wrote those words in the scroll of the Laws of God.

And JoShua took a large block of stone and erected it under the oak tree before Jehovah. ²⁷ Then he told the people, ‘Look, this stone will serve as a witness among you, for it has heard all the words that you’ve said before Jehovah. And because He has spoken to you today, this stone will serve as a witness against you in the last days when you deal treacherously with my God Jehovah.’

²⁸ Then JoShua dismissed the people and they each returned to their homes.

²⁹ Thereafter, JoShua (the son of NaWeh), the servant of Jehovah, died at the age of a hundred and ten, ³⁰ and they buried him in the land that he had inherited in Thamna Sarach, in the hills of EphraIm north of Mount Gilead. They put his [body] in a tomb, along with the stone knives that he had used to circumcise the children of IsraEl at GilGal, after Jehovah brought them out of Egypt… and they are still there today.

³¹ Well, IsraEl served Jehovah for as long as JoShua and the elders of JoShua’s era (who knew all that Jehovah had done for IsraEl) were still alive. ³² And thereafter, the children of IsraEl brought the bones of Joseph ([which they had carried from] Egypt) and buried them in Sicima, in the tract of land that Jacob bought from the Amorites in Sicima for a hundred ewes, and which was given to Joseph as his property.

³³ Shortly thereafter, EliEzer (Aaron’s son) the High Priest also died and was buried in GabaA in the hills of EphraIm (which had been given to his son Phineas). And on that day, the children of IsraEl took the Chest of God and carried it among the people. Then Phineas was appointed as [High] Priest in place of his father EliEzer (after his death and burial at GabaA).

Thereafter, the children of IsraEl each left and returned to their own cities and homes, and they started worshiping Astarte, AstarOth, and the gods of the nations around them. So, Jehovah handed them over to Eglom, the king of Moab, who ruled over them for the next eighteen years.

Judges

From the Greek Septuagint text as was used by First Century Christians

Chapter 1

¹ After the death of JoShua, the children of IsraEl asked Jehovah, ‘Who will lead us in battle against the CanaAnites now?’

² And Jehovah replied, ‘The Judeans must take the lead, for I have delivered this land into their hands.’

³ Then the Judeans said to their brothers [of the tribe of] Symeon, ‘Come join us, and we will go to war with the CanaAnites… we’ll all go together.’

So the Symeonites joined with the Judeans, ⁴ and Jehovah delivered the CanaAnites and Pherezites into their hands. It was at Bezek that they cut down ten thousand men. ⁵ For they caught up with the lord of Bezek at [the city of] Bezek and fought against him, cutting down the CanaAnites and the Pherezites. ⁶ But the lord of Bezek escaped, so they chased after him, and when they caught him they cut off his thumbs and big toes.

⁷ And the lord of Bezek said, ‘Seventy kings whose thumbs and big toes were cut off gathered under my table. So, God has repaid me for the things that I did to them.’

Then they brought him to JeruSalem, where he died; ⁸ for the children of Judah had fought against JeruSalem and captured it, and then they cut down [all who lived there] with swords and burned the city with fire. ⁹ And afterward, the children of Judah went down to fight with the CanaAnites who lived in the hill country, in the south, and in the plains. ¹⁰ And then they went against the CanaAnites who lived in Hebron (formerly Kiriath Arbo-Sepher), and [the people of] Hebron came out to fight. So they cut down Sessi, Achiman, and Tholmi – the children of Enac.

¹¹ And from there they went to [war against] the inhabitants of Dabir (formerly Kiriath-Sepher, or, The City of Letters). ¹² And Caleb said, ‘I’ll give my daughter Ascha to be the wife of whoever is the first to take and destroy The City of Letters.’ ¹³ And it was GothoniEl (the youngest son of Kenez, Caleb’s brother) who captured it, so Caleb gave GothniEl his daughter Ascha, to be his wife.

¹⁴ And when he came to claim her, GothoniEl urged her to ask her father for a plot of land. So as she was sitting on her burro, she started complaining and crying, saying, ‘You’re sending me away into the land in the south!’

And Caleb asked her, ‘What do you want?’

¹⁵ And Ascha replied, ‘I beg you to give me a blessing. For, since you’re sending me into a land in the south, you must provide me watered [land] as my ransom.’

And Caleb gave her what her heart desired as a ransom… the upper and lower [springs].

¹⁶ Then the children of Jethro the Kenite (who was Moses’ father-in-law) left the City of Palm Trees with the children of Judah and traveled to the desert south of Judah, to the edge of Arad, and took up living with the people there.

¹⁷ Thereafter, the Judeans went with their brothers the Symeonites, and they cut down and killed all the CanaAnites who lived in Sepheth, then they renamed the city AnaThema. ¹⁸ However, the Judeans didn’t inherit anything in the borders of Gaza, AshCalon, AcCaron, Azotus, or any of the lands around them. ¹⁹ But Jehovah was with the Judeans, and they inherited all the hill country; yet they weren’t able to destroy the inhabitants in the valley, because the Rechabites kept them from doing so.

²⁰ Then they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses told them, and he inherited the three cities of the children of Enac.

²¹ Nor did the children of BenJamin take JeruSalem from the Jebusites as their inheritance, so the Jebusites still live among the children of BenJamin in JeruSalem to this day.

²² The sons of Joseph went up against BethEl and Jehovah was with them. ²³ They camped there and [sent spies] to the city (which was then called Luza). ²⁴ And when the spies noticed a man leaving the city, they captured him and said, ‘Show us a way into the city and we will show you mercy.’

²⁵ So he showed them how to get into the city, and they cut down everyone in the city with swords, but they set the man and his family free. ²⁶ Then he went to the land of ChetTin and built a city there, which he named Luza… and that is what it is still called today.

²⁷ However, ManasSeh failed in his drive against BethSan (in Scythia) and its towns and suburbs, Thanac and its towns, Dor and its suburbs and towns, Balak and its suburbs and towns, MegidDo and its suburbs and towns, JeblaAm and its suburbs and towns, and the CanaAnites started living in this land. ²⁸ But after IsraEl became strong enough, they made the CanaAnites pay a tribute, however they failed to drive them out.

²⁹ Nor did EphraIm drive out the CanaAnites that lived in Gazer. So the CanaAnites lived in their midst and they were forced to pay a tribute [to EphraIm].

³⁰ And ZebuLon failed to drive out the inhabitants of Kedron and Domana, so the CanaAnites lived in the midst of them and paid them a tribute.

³¹ And Asher didn’t drive out the inhabitants of AcCho (who paid them a tribute), or those of Dor, Sidon, DalAph, AsChazi, ChebDa, Nai, or Ereo. ³² So Asher lived in the midst of the CanaAnites, because they couldn’t drive them out.

³³ And NaphTali didn’t drive out the inhabitants of BethSamus or BethAnach, so NaphTali lived in the midst of the CanaAnites who inhabited the land, but the inhabitants of BethSamus and BethEneth paid them a tribute.

³⁴ Also, the Amorites drove the children of Dan into the mountains and prevented them from moving down into the valley. ³⁵ They also took up living in Shell Mountain, where there are bears and foxes (in MyrSinon and ThalaBin). Yet, the house of Joseph [made life difficult] for the Amorites and they made them pay a tribute. ³⁶ So the Amorite border ran from AcraBin into the hill country.

Chapter 2

¹ Well, a messenger of Jehovah had traveled from GilGal to The Place of Tears at BethEl, to address the house of IsraEl. And he told them, ‘This is what Jehovah has said: I brought you out of Egypt and into the land that I promised to your ancestors. And I said that I would never break the Agreement that I made with you. ² However, I told you not to make any agreements with [people] who live in this land, and you were not to worship their gods. Rather, [I told you to] destroy their carved images and to pull down their altars. However, you haven’t listened to My voice, and you’ve done [bad] things. ³ Now, as I told you, I won’t drive them out from in front of you. So, they will harass you and their gods will oppress you.’

⁴ Well, after the messenger of Jehovah said all of this to the children of IsraEl, the people started shouting and crying, ⁵ and that’s why they named it The Place of Tears. Then they offered sacrifices to Jehovah there, ⁶ and thereafter JoShua dismissed the people and they each returned to the lands that they were given as their inheritances.

⁷ So, the people served Jehovah [faithfully] for as long as JoShua and all the elders (who knew of the great things that Jehovah had done in IsraEl) were still alive. ⁸ But then JoShua (the son of NaWeh), the servant of Jehovah, died at a hundred and ten years old, ⁹ and they buried him along the border of his inheritance, in Thamna-Thares in the hills of EphraIm, on the north side of Mount GaAs. ¹⁰ And then the rest of that generation was laid to rest with their ancestors, and another generation came along that didn’t know Jehovah or of the things that He had done in IsraEl. ¹¹ So the children of IsraEl started doing evil things before Jehovah, and they started serving Baal Im. ¹² They left Jehovah (the God of their ancestors) who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and started following and worshiping other gods – the gods of the nations roundabout them – ¹³ and this made Jehovah very angry… they left Him and started serving Baal and the stars!

¹⁴ And because Jehovah was very angry at IsraEl, He handed them over to looters who plundered them… He sold them into the hands of their enemies [who lived] around them and they were no longer able to stand against their enemies, ¹⁵ for the hand of Jehovah was against them. He caused bad things to happen, as He promised, and they [underwent some very hard times].

¹⁶ Then Jehovah appointed Judges to save them from the hands of those who were looting them, but they wouldn’t even listen to the Judges. ¹⁷ They just continued in their immoral relations with other gods by worshiping them, and they quickly turned from the way that their ancestors had walked, refusing to listen to the words of Jehovah.

¹⁸ Now, because Jehovah had appointed their Judges, He blest the Judges and continued to save [IsraEl] from the hands of their enemies during the entire period of the Judges, for Jehovah was moved by all their groaning about those who were attacking and looting them. ¹⁹ Yet, whenever a Judge died, they would go right back to being corrupt – even worse than their ancestors – in worshiping and serving other gods, and they stubbornly refused to abandon their evil ways, ²⁰ which made Jehovah very angry with IsraEl. So He told them: ‘Because this nation has broken the Sacred Agreement that I made with their ancestors and refused to listen to My voice, ²¹ I will no longer drive away a single man from the nations among them, which were allowed to stay in the land by JoShua, the son of NaWeh. ²² [I will do this] to prove whether IsraEl will choose to follow and walk in My ways, as did their ancestors.’

²³ So, Jehovah just left those nations (that JoShua didn’t conquer) alone, and He didn’t drive them away.

Chapter 3

¹ These are the nations that Jehovah left [in the land] to test those in IsraEl (those who didn’t know about the wars in CanaAn, ² because that generation of IsraEl hadn’t fought in the wars): ³ the five kingdoms of the Philistines and all the CanaAnites, Sidonians, and Evites who lived south of Lebanon from Mount Hermon to LaboEmath. ⁴ He used them to test IsraEl and to find out whether they would obey the commands that He had given their ancestors through Moses.

⁵ So, the children of IsraEl lived in the midst of the CanaAnites, Hittites, Amorites, Pherezites, Evites, and Jebusites, ⁶ and they married their daughters, gave their daughters to their sons, and they started serving the gods [of these nations]. ⁷ [Of course], this was evil in the eyes of Jehovah, for they had forgotten Jehovah their God and were serving Baal Im and the sacred poles. ⁸ As the result, Jehovah was very angry at IsraEl and He sold them into the hand of Chusar Sathaim, the king of Syrian-MesoPotamia, and the children of IsraEl served him for eight years.

⁹ It was then that the children of IsraEl started calling to Jehovah; so Jehovah appointed a savior for IsraEl who delivered them… GothoniEl (the son of Kenez), the younger brother of Caleb. ¹⁰ Jehovah poured out His Breath upon him, and he served as IsraEl’s Judge. And when he went to war against Chusar Sathaim, Jehovah gave the king of Syrian-MesoPotamia into his hands, and he was conquered. ¹¹ And thereafter, the land was quiet for forty years, until GothoniEl (the son of Kenez) died.

¹² However, the children of IsraEl kept doing evil things before Jehovah, so because of their evil ways, He allowed Eglom (the king of Moab) to grow stronger, and then come against IsraEl. ¹³ First he brought together all the children of AmMon and Amalec, and then he went and cut down IsraEl, capturing The City of Palm Trees. ¹⁴ So, the children of IsraEl served Eglom (the king of Moab) for the next eighteen years.

¹⁵ And again the children of IsraEl called to Jehovah and He provided them a savior, Aod (the son of Gera and grandson of JeMeni), who was just as strong with his left hand as he was with his right. And when the children of IsraEl sent him to carry gifts to Eglom, ¹⁶ Aod made a two-edged dagger that was eight-inches long, which he hid on his right thigh under his robe. ¹⁷ Then he went and carried the presents to Eglom, who was a very fat man.

¹⁸ And after he had presented all his gifts, he sent those who had carried the gifts away ¹⁹ (after they had returned from the quarries at GilGal), for he said, ‘I have a secret message for you O king!’ Then Eglom told him not to say anything until after he’d sent all those who were waiting on him away.

²⁰ Then later, Aod went in to see Eglom as he was sitting in his upper summer chamber all by himself. And Aod said, ‘I have a message for you from God, O king.’ And as Eglom got up from his throne, ²¹ Aod reached in with his left hand and grabbed the dagger from his right thigh, then he plunged it into [Eglom’s] belly… ²² he drove it in so far that the handle went in and the fat closed over it, and he left the whole dagger inside his belly. ²³ Then Aod walked out on the porch, passing the guards on the way, closed and locked the chamber doors, ²⁴ and left.

Well, when Eglom’s servants came and saw that the doors to the upper chamber were locked, they said, ‘Doesn’t he usually [lie undressed] in the summer chamber?’ ²⁵ Then they waited so long that they became embarrassed, for they saw that no one had opened the doors to the upper chamber, so then they got the keys and opened them… and that’s when they found their lord lying dead on the ground.

²⁶ Meanwhile, Aod escaped during the confusion, and nobody paid any attention to him. So he passed the quarries and escaped to Setir Otha.

²⁷ And when Aod got back to the land of IsraEl, he blew his horn in the hills of EphraIm, and the children of IsraEl came down from the mountains to him. Then he stood before them ²⁸ and said, ‘Now follow me, for Jehovah God has given our enemies the Moabites into our hands.’

So they followed him and they captured the fords that cross the Jordan near the land of Moab, and they wouldn’t allow anyone to cross. ²⁹ Then they cut down Moab that day, killing about ten thousand virile, mighty men, and no one escaped. ³⁰ So, Moab was put into the hands of IsraEl, and the land rested for the next eighty years… and Aod judged them until he died.

³¹ After him, Jehovah appointed SamEgar (the son of Dinach). He’s the one who cut down six hundred Philistines with an ox plough. And he too delivered IsraEl.

Chapter 4

¹ And again, after Aod died, the children of IsraEl went back to doing evil things against Jehovah. ² So Jehovah sold them into the hands of JaBin (the king of CanaAn) who ruled from Asor. The leader of his army was SiSara, and he lived in ArisOth-of-the-Gentiles. ³ Then the children of IsraEl started calling to [Jehovah again], because [SiSara] had nine hundred iron chariots, which [he used to] oppress IsraEl for twenty years.

⁴ DeborAh (the wife of LapidOth) was a Prophetess, and she was the Judge of IsraEl at the time. ⁵ For she would sit under [what came to be known as] ‘The Palm Tree of DeborAh’ (which was located between Rama and BethEl in the hills of EphraIm), and the children of IsraEl would go to her for judgment.

⁶ Then DeborAh sent for BaRak (the son of AbineEm) who was in Cades of NaphTali, and she asked him, ‘Hasn’t Jehovah the God of IsraEl given you any instructions? Take ten thousand men from among the sons of NaphTali and ZebuLon, and go to Mount Tabor. ⁷ There I will send SiSara (JaBin’s general) against you with his army and chariots at the Kison wadi, and I will give them into your hands.’

⁸ And BaRak replied, ‘If you’ll go with me, I will go. But if you won’t go, I’m not going; because I’m not sure which day Jehovah will bless me [by sending] His messengers.’

⁹ And she said, ‘Then I’ll go with you, but understand this: You won’t be honored by this expedition, for Jehovah will give SiSara into the hands of a woman.’

So DeborAh left Cades and went with BaRak… ¹⁰ for he had called [for help from] ZebuLon and NaphTali there at Cades, and ten thousand men showed up, and they all left with DeborAh.

¹¹ Now, Heber (the Kenite) had moved away from the sons of Jobab (Moses’ father-in-law) at Cana, and pitched his tent beside the Oak-of-the-Envious, which is near KaDesh. ¹² And when SiSara was told that BaRak (the son of AbineEm) had left for Mount Tabor, ¹³ he called for all his iron chariots (all nine hundred of them) and for all the people [who lived between] ArisOth-of-the-Gentiles and the Kison wadi.

¹⁴ Then DeborAh told BaRak, ‘Now [get ready], for this is the day when Jehovah will give SiSara into your hands… because Jehovah will go ahead of you!’

So, BaRak descended Mount Tabor with ten thousand men, ¹⁵ and Jehovah created problems for SiSara, his chariots, and his army; and BaRak cut them down with swords. Then SiSara jumped from his chariot and ran.

¹⁶ Well, BaRak pursued the chariots and SiSara’s army [all the way] to ArisOth-of-the-Gentiles and cut them all down, leaving no survivors. ¹⁷ Meanwhile, SiSara had run toward the tent of JaEl, the wife of Heber the Kenite (because [Heber] was his friend, and there was peace between JaBin the king of Asor and Heber’s family). ¹⁸ So JaEl went out to meet SiSara, and said to him, ‘Hide here my lord… come here to me and don’t be afraid.’

So he turned to her and entered her tent, and then she covered him with a mantle. ¹⁹ And SiSara said to her, ‘I’m very thirsty… please give me a little water to drink.’

So he opened a jar of milk, gave it to him to drink, and covered him again. ²⁰ Then SiSara said to her, ‘Now stand by the entrance to the tent, and if anyone comes and asks if you’ve seen me, tell him no.’

²¹ However, JaEl (the wife of Heber) took a tent pin and a hammer, then crept up to him and drove the pin through his temple… driving it all the way into the ground. Well, he passed out, everything went dark, and he died.

²² And when JaEl saw that BaRak was pursuing SiSara, she went out to meet him and said, ‘Come here and I’ll show you the man you’re looking for.’ Then he entered [her tent] and saw SiSara dead with the pin through his temple.

²³ So God drove JaBin (the king of CanaAn) away from before the children of IsraEl that day, ²⁴ and they kept attacking JaBin until they had destroyed him.

Chapter 5

¹ And on that day, DeborAh and BaRak (the son of AbineEm) sang this song:

² ‘IsraEl was shown what to do,
And the people were made willing… HalleluJah!
³ Hear O you kings and listen you rulers,
For this I will sing… Yes, I’ll sing a song to Jehovah…
A psalm to Jehovah, IsraEl’s God.

⁴ O Jehovah; You went up to Seir…
You went to the land of Edom;
The earth quaked and the sky dripped with dew,
And from the clouds dropped the rain.

⁵ Mountains shook before the face of the Lord;
O God; Sinai [trembled] before the face of Jehovah (God of IsraEl),
⁶ In the days of SamEgar, son of Anath,
And in the days of JaEl.

For [IsraEl] had strayed from their way,
And followed paths that were crooked.
⁷ In IsraEl there were no more mighty men;
They failed ‘til DeborAh arose… a mother in IsraEl she was.

⁸ Then new gods they did choose;
And when the cities of their rulers went to fight;
There wasn’t a shield or a spear to be seen,
Among forty thousand in IsraEl.

⁹ My heart yearned for IsraEl to be ordered,
(Among those who still praised Jehovah)
¹⁰ To have someone mount a burro at noon,
And sit upon the seat of judgment,
For the sake of those who travel the roads,
To sit and be judged along the way.

Now, proclaim ¹¹ that you’ve been saved from those who disturbed us;
And may those who go to draw water,
Tell the righteous things that You’ve done, O Jehovah.
And may Your righteous deeds keep growing in IsraEl;
May the people of Jehovah return to their cities.

¹² Awaken… wake up O DeborAh!
Awaken and sing us a song.
And get up O BaRak, lead your captives,
Into captivity (you son of AbineEm).

¹³ A small group of the strong people of Jehovah went with him;
They were the mighty that came from among us.

¹⁴ EphraIm rooted them out in Amalec,
And behind them was BenJamin among your people.
The people of Machir also came with me,
In order to search out the enemy.
And from ZebuLon came those who wrote down the record,
With the pen of a scribe.

¹⁵ For, the leaders of IsSachar were with DeborAh and BaRak.
She sent BaRak on foot to the valleys of Ruben.
And although their hearts were trembling,
¹⁶ They then sat between pens of sheep,
Hearing the bleating of Ruben’s flocks,
As each man searched through his heart.

¹⁷ But Gilead stayed in their tents,
On the other side of the Jordan,
And Dan remained in their ships.
Asher sat down by their seashores,
And they tented at their ports,
¹⁸ While the people of ZebuLon [laid] their lives [on the line],
And NaphTali marched on the hills in their lands.

¹⁹ The kings of CanaAn formed for battle free of charge,
And fought in ThanaAch at the water of MegidDo,
²⁰ While the stars from heaven formed for the battle,
In their path to fight against SiSara.

²¹ Then the Kison wadi swept them away…
The ancient brook Kison (my mighty soul);
[Is what] trampled them down.
²² For, the hoofs of their horse got entangled,
And his mighty men ran away.

²³ May you be cursed, O Meroz,
For, the messenger of Jehovah has cursed all who live there,
Because they didn’t [fight] for Jehovah,
And [they didn’t come] to the aid of His mighty.

²⁴ Bless JaEl, the wife of Heber the Kenite;
May she be praised above tent-dwelling women.
²⁵ For, he asked for water and she gave him milk…
In a dish she brought butter to a leader.

²⁶ Then she leaned with a nail in her left hand,
And hit it with the hammer in her right hand.
She cut down SiSara with a nail through his head…
She cut down him with a nail through his temples.
²⁷ He fell and rolled between her feet… and just lay there;
He bowed and fell where he bowed, lying dead.

²⁸ Sisera’s mother looked down through her window;
She looked out of the peephole and asked,
Why was his chariot shamed?
Why did the wheels of his chariots stop?

²⁹ And thus replied her wise ladies;
And she answered herself when she said:
³⁰ Won’t they find him dividing the loot?
Surely he’s dividing dyed clothes with his men.

For SiSara are the spoils of many dyed clothes;
Now embroidered dyed clothes are the spoils for his neck.
³¹ May all your enemies perish thus, O Jehovah;
But may those who love You be just as strong,
As the voyages of the sun.’

³² And the land rested [for the next] forty years.

Chapter 6

¹ However, the children of IsraEl kept doing evil things in the eyes of Jehovah, so He put them under the hand of the Midianites for seven years. ² And they proved to be so strong against IsraEl that the IsraElites took up living in mountain caves, in [animal] dens, and in holes in the rocks. ³ And whenever the children of IsraEl would plant anything, the Midianites, Amalechites, and the sons of the east would get together ⁴ and [fight] against them and destroy their crops. And in Gaza they stole all the [cattle], leaving nothing to support life in the land of IsraEl. ⁵ They just moved in with their livestock, camels, and tents like locusts, as the land of IsraEl was being destroyed.

⁶ So, IsraEl was mostly impoverished because of Midian, ⁷ and the children of IsraEl started calling to Jehovah over Midian.

⁸ Then Jehovah sent a Prophet to the children of IsraEl, who told them, ‘This is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl says: I’m the One who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and it was I who brought you out of the house of slavery. ⁹ I saved you from the hands of the Egyptians and from those who are now persecuting you, and I threw them out and gave you their land. ¹⁰ I also told you that I am Jehovah your God, so you are not to be afraid of the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live; but you just wouldn’t listen to Me!’

¹¹ Then a messenger of Jehovah came and sat down under the fir tree at EphRatha (BethLehem) in the land of JoAs (the father of EsDri), as [EsDri’s] son Gideon was threshing wheat in a wine press (so the Midianites wouldn’t notice [what he was doing]). ¹² It was there that Jehovah’s messenger appeared to him and said, ‘Jehovah is with you, you mighty [man].’

¹³ And Gideon said to him, ‘Be patient with me, my lord; If Jehovah is with us, then why are all these bad things happening to us… and where are all His miracles that our ancestors have told us about, such as when He brought them out of Egypt? For, now he has rejected us and given us into the hands of the Midianites.’

¹⁴ Then the messenger of Jehovah turned to him and said, ‘Go and use your strength to save IsraEl from the hands of Midian. For look, I am sending you!’

¹⁵ But Gideon replied, ‘Be patient with me my lord; How can I save IsraEl? For look, there are thousands in [the tribe of] ManasSeh, yet they are weak… and I’m the least prominent one in my father’s house.’

¹⁶ And the messenger of Jehovah said to him, ‘Jehovah will be with you and you must cut down everyone in Midian.’

¹⁷ And Gideon said, ‘If I’ve found mercy in your eyes and you’re going to do all these things that you told me today, ¹⁸ don’t leave here until I return with an offering and lay it before you.’

And he replied, ‘I’ll stay here until you return.’

¹⁹ So, Gideon went back and prepared a kid goat and a quart of fine fermentation-free flour. He put the [cooked] meat in a basket, poured its gravy into a jar, and carried it to [the messenger, who was still sitting] under the fir tree.

²⁰ And the messenger of God said to him, ‘Now take the meat and the fermentation-free cakes and put them on that rock, then pour the gravy over it.’ And that’s what he did.

²¹ Then the messenger of Jehovah stuck out the walking stick that was in his hand and touched the meat and fermentation-free bread, and fire came out of the rock and consumed it all. Then the messenger of Jehovah vanished from his sight.

²² It was then that Gideon realized it was a messenger of Jehovah, and he said, ‘Ah… ah… Jehovah my God! I’ve seen the messenger of Jehovah face to face!’

²³ And Jehovah replied, ‘May you have peace. Now, don’t be afraid, for you’re not going to die.’

²⁴ And so Gideon built an altar to Jehovah there and called it ‘The Peace of Jehovah.’ And it’s still there today in EphRatha, [at the home of his] father, EsDri.

²⁵ Then that night, Jehovah said to him, ‘Now take the young calf that your father has, the second one that is seven-years old, and then destroy your father’s altar to Baal and his sacred poles. ²⁶ For, you must build an altar to Jehovah your God on the top of this hill and get things ready; then take the calf and sacrifice it as a whole burnt offering, using the wood from the sacred poles that you cut down.’

²⁷ So, Gideon took ten of his servants and did as Jehovah said. But, because he was afraid of the house of his father and the men of the city, he did it at night.

²⁸ Then, when the men of the city woke up early the next morning and saw that the altar of Baal and the nearby sacred poles had been demolished, and the calf that Gideon had offered on the altar (which he had built), ²⁹ they each started asking their neighbors, ‘Who did this?’

Then they asked around and found out that Gideon (the son of JoAs) had done it. ³⁰ And the men of the city went and told [the family of] JoAs to bring out this son, and let them kill him for destroying the altar of Baal and the nearby sacred poles. ³¹ But Gideon said to the men who had come for him, ‘Are you now pleading for Baal, and are you going to save him? May all those who plead for him be killed this morning! Why, if he’s a god, let him plead for himself because someone has torn down his altar!’

³² And that day [they started calling him] JeroBaal. For he said, ‘Let Baal plead, because his altar has been torn down.’

³³ Well, all the Midianites, Amalechites, and sons of the east had gathered and camped in the JezreEl Valley. ³⁴ So, the Breath of Jehovah came upon Gideon and he blew his [battle] horn, and AbiEzer came to his aid. ³⁵ Then Gideon sent messengers throughout ManasSeh, Asher, ZebuLon, and NaphTali, and he went out to meet with them.

³⁶ Then Gideon said to God, ‘If You’re going to use me to save IsraEl, as You said; ³⁷ look, I’ve put some wool fleece on the threshing floor. And if only the fleece is covered with dew and the ground all around it is dry [in the morning], I will know that You’re going to use me to save IsraEl, as You said.’

³⁸ Well, when he got up early the next morning, he wrung out the fleece, and a full bowl of water poured from it.

³⁹ But Gideon said to God, ‘Please don’t be angry, but please allow me to ask for just one more thing. To make sure, now let the fleece be dry, while dew is all over the ground.’

⁴⁰ And that’s what God did that night. There was dew all over the ground, but the fleece was dry.

Chapter 7

¹ So JeroBaal (Gideon) rose early and his army camped at the Spring of Arad, with the camp of Midian to the north… it ran from BabaAh ThamorAi into the valley. ² And the Lord said to Gideon, ‘There are too many people with you, so I won’t deliver Midian into their hands. For then IsraEl would boast before Me and claim that they had saved themselves! ³ So now, say this to the people: All who are nervous or afraid may now leave Mount Gilead.’

And of the twenty-two thousand who came with him, ten thousand remained.

⁴ Then Jehovah said to Gideon, ‘There are still too many people, so lead them all down to the water, and I will reduce their numbers for you. Then, whichever ones I select and say, This one must go with you, you must take. And those that I tell you not to take must not go with you… make sure that they don’t come along!’

⁵ So, Gideon led the people down to the water, and Jehovah said to Gideon, ‘Now, I want you to set all those who lap the water like a dog aside from those who get down on their knees to drink.’

⁶ And three hundred men lapped water with their hands to their mouths, while all the rest got down on their knees to drink. ⁷ And Jehovah said to Gideon, ‘Now I’m going to save you and give Midian into your hands with these three hundred men who lapped the water. All the rest may return home.’

⁸ So, they gathered provisions from the rest of the people and took their trumpets, and he sent them back to their tents. Then he armed the three hundred and got them ready, for the army of Midian was just below them in the valley.

⁹ And that night, Jehovah said to him, ‘Now get up and go down into the camp, for I have given it into your hands. ¹⁰ But if you’re afraid, I want you and your servant Phara to go down into their camp ¹¹ and listen to what they’re saying, then you won’t be afraid anymore.’

So, he went down to the edge of where the companies of fifty men were camped, along with his servant Phara, ¹² for Midian, Amalec, and all the children of the east were scattered throughout the valley like locusts. And they had so many camels that they were like the sands on the seashore.

¹³ Then Gideon overheard a man telling his comrade of a dream he had, saying, ‘{Look} I had a dream, and in it I saw a cake of barley bread roll into [our] camp, and when it reached a tent, it knocked it down. And when it fell, [the tent] turned upside down.’

¹⁴ And his comrade replied, ‘This was none other than the sword of Gideon, the son of JoAs, an IsraElite man; for God has given Midian and our entire army into his hands.’

¹⁵ So, when Gideon heard the story of the dream and its interpretation, he thanked Jehovah. Then he returned to the camp of IsraEl and said, ‘Now get up, for Jehovah has given the camp of Midian into our hands.’

¹⁶ Then he divided his three hundred men into three companies, and gave them all trumpets, torches, and empty pitchers. Thereafter, he had them put the torches inside the pitchers, ¹⁷ and said, ‘Now watch me, and do what I do! For, I’m going down to the edge of their army; ¹⁸ then I’ll blow my horn, and at the same time you must start blowing your trumpets all around their camp and shouting, For Jehovah and Gideon!’

¹⁹ Then Gideon and his company [crept] down to the edge of their army (toward the start of the middle watch), and he aroused the guards by blowing his horn and breaking the pitcher that was in his hands. ²⁰ Then all three companies blew their trumpets and broke their pitchers, and they held the torches in their left hands as they blew their trumpets with their right hands and shouted, ‘A sword for Jehovah and Gideon!’

²¹ Well, they each just stood there around the camp as the army sounded an alarm and everyone started running about. ²² And when the three hundred blew their trumpets, Jehovah caused the entire army to start attacking each other with swords. ²³ Then [the remaining] army retreated as far as BethSeEd, TagaraGatha, and from AbelMeula to TaBath, and the men of IsraEl (from NaphTali, Asher, and everyone in ManasSeh) came to help, and chased after Midian.

²⁴ Then Gideon sent messengers throughout the mountains of EphraIm, saying, ‘Come down to meet Midian, and take (control of) all the water and the Jordan as far as BethEra.’

So, all the men of EphraIm started shouting, and they captured all the water along the Jordan up to BethEra. ²⁵ And they also captured the leaders of Midian (Oreb and Zeb). Then they killed Oreb in Sur-Oreb, and they killed Zeb in JakephZeph. Then they chased Midian, and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeb to Gideon from across the Jordan.

Chapter 8

¹ Then the men of EphraIm asked Gideon, ‘What are you doing? Why didn’t you didn’t call us when you went to fight against Midian?’ And they were very angry with him.

² But he replied, ‘What have I done in comparison to you? For, aren’t the leftovers of EphraIm better than the full harvest of AbiEzer? ³ Why, Jehovah delivered the leaders of Midian (Oreb and Zeb) into your hands, and what did I do to compare with that?’

Well when he said that, they calmed down.

⁴ Then Gideon went to the Jordan and crossed it by himself, for his three hundred men (who were very hungry) lagged behind. ⁵ And he went to SocChoth and asked the men there, ‘Please give me some bread to feed these people who are following me, because they’re starting to get weak. For look, we’re in pursuit of Zebee and Salmana, the kings of Midian.’

⁶ But the leaders of SocChoth said, ‘Have you already captured Zebee and Salmana so that we should now feed your army?’

⁷ And Gideon said, ‘Okay then, but when Jehovah gives Zebee and Salmana into my hands, [I’m going to return] and tear your flesh with thorns in the BarKenim Desert.’

From there he went up to Peniel and made the same request of them, but they answered as the men of Succoth had. ⁹ So Gideon told them, ‘When I return with peace, I’m going to tear down this fortification.’

¹⁰ Well, Zebee and Salmana were in CarCar with their army, but there were only about fifteen thousand left of their army of mercenaries remaining, for a hundred and twenty thousand of their soldiers had already been killed. ¹¹ Then Gideon traveled past the people who lived in tents east of NabAi and JegEbal, and he cut down and captured their army. ¹² But Zebee and Salmana fled, so he chased after them and caught the two kings of Midian, and he routed [the rest] of their army.

¹³ Then, after Gideon (the son of JoAs) returned from the battle, ¹⁴ he took a young man prisoner who lived in SocChoth and questioned him, and he had him write down the names of the leaders and elders of SocChoth… all seventy-seven men. ¹⁵ Then Gideon went to the leaders of SocChoth and said, ‘See; here are Zebee and Salmana about whom you so rudely asked, Are Zebee and Salmana now in your hands, so that we should give your hungry men bread?’

¹⁶ Then he took the elders of that city [and dragged them through] the thorns of the BarKenim Desert, tearing them to pieces.. ¹⁷ And from there he went and tore down the fortification of PhanuEl and killed all the men in that city.

¹⁸ Then he asked Zebee and Salmana, ‘Who were those men that you killed in Tabor?’

And they replied, ‘Why, they looked like you… like the sons of a king.’

¹⁹ And Gideon said, ‘They were my brothers… the sons of my mother. So, as Jehovah lives, if you had left them alive I wouldn’t have to kill you.’ ²⁰ And he said to Jether (his firstborn), ‘Take them out and kill them,’

But the young man wouldn’t draw his sword, because he was young and afraid. ²¹ Then Zebee and Salmana said, ‘If you’re a man, then why don’t you kill us?’ So, Gideon got up and killed Zebee and Salmana, and he took the round ornaments that were hung around the necks of their camels.

²² Then the men of IsraEl [came to him] and said to Gideon, ‘My lord; become our ruler… you, your sons, and your son’s sons, for you’ve saved us from the hands of Midian.’

²³ But Gideon replied, ‘I’m not going to rule over you, nor will my sons, for Jehovah must be your ruler.’ ²⁴ And Gideon added, ‘All I ask from you is one thing: I want each man to give me an earring from his loot.’ For, because they were IshMaElites, he knew they would have golden earrings.

²⁵ And they said, ‘Sure, we’ll give them to you.’

³³ However, after Gideon died, the children of IsraEl turned back and had immoral relations with Baal Im, and they agreed that Baal would be their god. ³⁴ So, the children of IsraEl forgot Jehovah their God who had saved them from the hands of all those around them that were oppressing them. ³⁵ And they did not deal mercifully with the house of JeroBaal (Gideon), despite all the good things that he had done for IsraEl.

Chapter 9

¹ Thereafter, AbiMelech (the son of JeroBaal [or Gideon]) went to see his mother’s brothers in Sychem and he spoke to them and all his relatives in his grandfather’s house. He said, ² ‘Please speak to all the men of Sychem and ask, Which is better for you; to have seventy men (all the sons of JeroBaal) rule over you, or just one man? And remember that I’m your flesh and [blood].’

³ So, his uncles spoke about him to all the men of Sychem and told them about all the things he said. And this moved their hearts [to follow] AbiMelech, for they said that he was their brother. ⁴ Then they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the [temple] of Baal Berith, which AbiMelech used to hire some vain and cowardly men to be his followers. ⁵ So, he went to the house of his father in EphRatha and killed all of his brothers (JeroBaal’s legitimate sons) on a rock, except JoAtham the youngest (because he ran away and hid).

⁶ And then all the men of Sicima and the house of BethMaAlo got together, and they appointed AbiMelech to be their king (at the Oak of Sedition in Sicima).

⁷ But when JoAtham heard about this, he went and stood on top of Mount Girizim and shouted to them: ‘Listen to me, you men of Sicima, for God is listening too. ⁸ The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they asked the olive tree to reign over them. ⁹ But the olive replied, Must I now give up my oil that men use to glorify God to be promoted over the [the rest of the] trees?

¹⁰ ‘Then they said to the fig tree, Come rule over us. ¹¹ But the fig tree replied, Must I leave all my sweetness and good fruit to be promoted over the [the rest of the] trees?

¹² ‘Then they said to the [grape] vine, Come rule over us. ¹³ And the vine replied, Must I leave my wine that brings happiness to God and men just to be promoted over the [the rest of the] trees?

¹⁴ ‘And finally, all the trees said to the brier bush, Come rule over us. ¹⁵ And the brier bush replied, If you will really anoint me to be your king, then [all of you] must come and stand under my shadow. And if you refuse to do this, I will send out fire to burn down the cedars of Lebanon.

¹⁶ ‘Now, [judge for yourselves whether] what you’ve done is the right thing when you made AbiMelech your king. Have you been fair with JeroBaal and his house, and have you given him the reward he deserves? ¹⁷ Why, my father fought for you and put his life in jeopardy when he saved you from the hands of Midian. ¹⁸ But today you’ve risen against the house of my father and murdered his sons – seventy men – on a stone. And you’ve made AbiMelech, the son of his slave [woman] the king over the men of Sicima, just because he’s your brother.

¹⁹ ‘Now, if you think that you’ve dealt faithfully and righteously with JeroBaal and his house, then rejoice with AbiMelech, and may he rejoice over you. ²⁰ But if not, may fire come from AbiMelech to devour the men of Sicima and the house of BethMaAlo… and may fire come from the men of Sicima and the house of BethMaAlo to devour AbiMelech.’

²¹ Then JoAtham ran away and lived at BaeEr, to get way from his brother AbiMelech.

²² Well, AbiMelech reigned over IsraEl for three years. ²³ But God created a bad relationship between AbiMelech and the men of Sicima. So, the men of Sicima started dealing treacherously with the house of AbiMelech – ²⁴ [which is what he was due], because of the bad things he did to the seventy sons of JeroBaal. [For God] laid the blood of his brothers upon AbiMelech who had murdered them, and on the men of Sicima, because they had empowered him to kill his brothers.

²⁵ So, the men of Sicima made trouble for [AbiMelech] by sending robbers to the mountaintops, where they robbed everyone that passed that way, and it was reported to King AbiMelech.

²⁶ Well, GaAl (a son of JoBel) and his brothers moved to Sicima. And because the men of Sicima trusted him, ²⁷ they all went into the field and gathered grapes, had a good time squashing them, and they brought the grapes into the house of their god, where they ate, drank, and cursed AbiMelech.

²⁸ Then GaAl (the son of JoBel) said, ‘Just who is AbiMelech… just who is this son of Sychem that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of JeroBaal, and isn’t Zebul his steward the son of EmMor? So, why should we serve him? ²⁹ I wish that these people would [start serving] me, then I would remove AbiMelech… I would say to him, Gather your army and come here.’

³⁰ However, Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard what GaAl (the son of JoBel) said, and it made him very angry. ³¹ So, he sent messengers to AbiMelech secretly, who said, ‘Look! GaAl (the son of JoBel) and his brothers have come to Sychem and they [are stirring up] the city against you. ³² So, come here tonight with your army and wait in the fields. ³³ And at sunrise, advance toward the city; then he and his people will come out to confront you, and you can do whatever you wish to him… if you’re strong enough.’

³⁴ Well, AbiMelech and his army marched by night and formed an ambush against Sychem with four companies. ³⁵ And when GaAl (the son of JoBel) went out and stood by the city gate, AbiMelech and his army attacked. ³⁶ And when GaAl saw the people, he said to Zebul, ‘Look, there are people coming down from the tops of the mountains.’

And Zebul replied, ‘You’re just seeing the shadows on the mountains as men.’

³⁷ But GaAl kept talking. He said, ‘Look, there are people coming from the west, near the middle of the land, and another group is coming down the road from Helon-MaOnenim.’

³⁸ And Zebul said to him, ‘Just what were you thinking when you said, Who is AbiMelech that we should serve him? Why, aren’t these the same people that you don’t care for? So now, get ready and form your battle lines.’

³⁹ Then GaAl gathered the men of Sychem and set up battle lines to fight AbiMelech. ⁴⁰ So AbiMelech attacked and killed many people… all the way up to the city gate, and GaAl ran away. ⁴¹ Then AbiMelech returned to Arema, and Zebul drove GaAl and his brothers out of Sychem.

⁴² Well the next day, the people [of Sychem unlocked the gates] and went out into their fields, and someone told AbiMelech. ⁴³ So, he gathered his army and divided them into three companies, then he formed an ambush in the fields. And when he saw the people leaving the city, he attacked and cut them down. ⁴⁴ Then AbiMelech and his generals rushed up and attacked the city gate, as the other two companies were attacking the people in the fields. ⁴⁵ And AbiMelech fought against the city all that day and captured it. Then he killed the people, [burned] the city, and poured salt over its land.

⁴⁶ Well, when all the men in Sychem’s citadel heard what happened, they all gathered in the Temple of God Berith. ⁴⁷ And when AbiMelech heard that all the men in the citadel had gathered in one place, ⁴⁸ he took his army up Mount Selmon, took an axe, cut off a tree branch, and laid it on his shoulders, then he said to his troops, ‘Now, do what I’m doing as quickly as you can.’

⁴⁹ So, they each cut a branch off a tree and they followed AbiMelech, then they laid them against the temple and set them on fire, burning it and killing all the people in the citadel of Sicima (about a thousand men and women).

⁵⁰ Then AbiMelech left the temple of God Berith and attacked Thebes, and captured it. ⁵¹ It also had a citadel in the middle of the city, and all the people ran there and locked the door, then they climbed to the top of the citadel.

⁵² Well, AbiMelech attacked the citadel and laid siege to it, and when he got near the door, he set it on fire. ⁵³ But as he was doing this, a woman dropped a piece of a millstone on his head, fracturing his skull. ⁵⁴ So, he quickly called to the young man who was his armor bearer and said, ‘Draw your sword and kill me, because I don’t want anyone to say that I was killed by a woman.’ And the young man ran him through with a sword, and he died.

⁵⁵ Then, when the men of IsraEl saw that AbiMelech was dead, they just went back home.

⁵⁶ And that’s how God paid AbiMelech back for all the bad things he did against his father, and for murdering his seventy brothers. ⁵⁷ And that’s also how he paid back the men of Sychem. God brought their guilt on their heads, and the curse of JoAtham (the son of JeroBaal) came true.

Chapter 10

¹ After AbiMelech [died], Thola (the son of Phua) arose to save IsraEl. He was from the family of IsSachar and he lived in SamIr in the mountains of EphraIm. ² He judged IsraEl for twenty-three years, and then he died and was buried in SamIr.

³ And after him, there was JaIr of Gilead, and he judged IsraEl for twenty-two years. ⁴ He had thirty-two sons, they had thirty-two burros, and they ruled over thirty-two cities in the area of Gilead. So they still call those cities JaIr’s Towns today. ⁵ And when JaIr died, he was buried in RhamNon.

⁶ Then the children of IsraEl once again started doing evil things in the eyes of Jehovah, ¹¹ but Jehovah said to the children of IsraEl: ‘Haven’t I delivered you from the oppression of Egypt, the Amorites, the children of AmMon, the Philistines, ¹² the Sidonians, the Amalechites, and the Midianites… when you called to Me, didn’t I save you from them? ¹³ But you still left Me and served other gods, so I won’t be saving you anymore. ¹⁴ Go and call to the gods that you’ve chosen for yourselves, and let them save you whenever you’re in trouble.’

¹⁵ And the children of IsraEl said, ‘We have sinned, so do to us whatever You find good in Your eyes, but just save us today!’ ¹⁶ Then they removed all their other gods and started serving just Jehovah again. However, He was hurt by all the trouble that IsraEl was causing.

¹⁷ Well, the children of AmMon had gone and camped in Gilead, and then the children of IsraEl got together and camped on the hill above it. ¹⁸ And the leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, ‘Who will lead the battle against the children of AmMon? That person will be the head over everyone who lives in Gilead.’

Chapter 11

¹ JephThah, the Gileadite, was a mighty man, who was the son of Gilead by a whore. ² However, Gilead’s wife had also given birth to sons, and when they grew up, they drove JephThah out of the house, saying, ‘You aren’t going to receive an inheritance in the house of our father, because you’re the son of [his] mistress.’ ³ So JephThah left his brothers and went to live in the land of Tob. And there a lot of worthless men started following JephThah and traveling with him.

⁴ Well, when the children of AmMon prepared to fight against IsraEl, ⁵ the elders at Gilead sent [messengers] to call JephThah from the land of Tob, ⁶ saying, ‘Come and lead us in our fight against the sons of AmMon.’

⁷ But JephThah replied, ‘Aren’t you the ones who disliked me, drove me out of my father’s house, and banished me? So, how have you [the nerve] to call for me now?’

⁸ And the elders of Gilead said, ‘Well, we’ve now turned to you, and we’re asking you to lead us in battle against the sons of AmMon. Then you can be the head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.’

⁹ So JephThah told the elders of Gilead. ‘Okay, if you bring me back to fight against the children of AmMon and Jehovah hands them over to me; then I must be your leader.’

¹⁰ And the elders of Gilead replied, ‘Jehovah is our witness that we will do just as you said.’

¹¹ So JephThah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him the head [of their army and their] ruler. Then JephThah prayed to Jehovah about this at MasSepha. ¹² And thereafter, he sent messengers to the king of the children of AmMon to ask, ‘What have I done to you, that you’ve come to fight against me and my land?

¹³ And the king of the AmMonites told JephThah’s messengers, ‘Because IsraEl took away all our land from Arnon, to Jaboc, to the Jordan, when they came from Egypt. Now, return it peacefully and we’ll leave.’

¹⁴ Then JephThah sent messengers to the king of AmMon again, ¹⁵ to tell him: ‘JephThah says that IsraEl didn’t just take the land of Moab or the land of the children of AmMon. ¹⁶ For when we left Egypt, IsraEl traveled through the desert along the Red Sea until we got to Cades. ¹⁷ And there IsraEl sent messengers to the king of Edom and asked if we could pass through their land, but the king of Edom wouldn’t allow us to do that… and IsraEl asked the same thing of the king of Moab, and he wouldn’t allow us [to cross his land]; so we stayed in Cades. ¹⁸ And thereafter, we traveled through the desert and went around the lands of Edom and Moab. And when we got to the east side of Moab, we camped in the country on the other side of Arnon, and never crossed the borders of Moab (for Arnon is their border).

¹⁹ ‘Then IsraEl sent messengers to Seon (the king of the Amorites and the king of Esbon) to say: Please allow us cross your land to get to our land. ²⁰ But Seon didn’t trust IsraEl to pass through his land, so he gathered all his people to the camp at Jasa and set up battle lines against IsraEl. ²¹ However, Jehovah the God of IsraEl gave Seon and all his people into the hands of IsraEl, and they them cut him down and inherited all the land of the Amorites who lived there, ²² from Arnon to Jaboc, and from the desert to the Jordan.’

²³ ‘So, now that Jehovah the God of IsraEl has removed the Amorites [and given their land to] His people IsraEl, are you going to take it back? ²⁴ Why not accept the land that your god Chamosh has given you as your inheritance, and allow us to inherit all the land that our God Jehovah has taken from you?

²⁵ ‘Are you any better than Balac (the son of SepPhor), the king of Moab? For, didn’t he fight with IsraEl and make war ²⁶ when IsraEl lived in and around EshEbone, and in the land of AroEr, and in all the cities around the Jordan for three hundred years? And just what [land] did you recover then? ²⁷ So now, I haven’t sinned against you, but you’re doing me wrong by preparing to war against me. May Jehovah our Judge serve as the judge between the children of IsraEl and the children of AmMon today!’

²⁸ However, the king of the children of AmMon refused to listen to the words that JephThah sent to him. ²⁹ And Jehovah’s Breath settled upon JephThah, so he went up to Gilead (in ManasSeh), passed by its watchtower (as well as the children of AmMon), and went to the other side of the city. ³⁰ Then JephThah made a vow to Jehovah. He said, ‘If you’ll give the children of AmMon into my hands, ³¹ then whoever is the first to come out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in peace after [conquering] the children of AmMon, must be Jehovah’s… I will offer him as a whole burnt offering.’

³² Then JephThah advanced to meet the sons of AmMon in battle, and Jehovah gave them into his hands. ³³ He cut them down all the way from AroEr to Arnon… twenty of their cities as far as Ebel Charmim. It was a huge destruction and the children of AmMon were conquered before the children of IsraEl.

³⁴ Then, when JephThah returned to his home in MasSepha, he saw his daughter coming out to meet him, dancing and shaking a tambourine. Well, she was his only child… for he didn’t have any other sons or daughters. ³⁵ And when he saw her, he ripped his clothes and shouted, ‘Oh no, my daughter! You’ve ruined me! Oh, I’m so sad, because I made a promise about you to Jehovah, and now I can’t change it.’

³⁶ And she said: ‘Father, do to me whatever you’ve promised to Jehovah, for He has given you vengeance on our enemies, the children of AmMon.’ ³⁷ Then she said, ‘Father, I know that you must do this thing, but let me have two months as my friends and I travel through the mountains to wail over my virginity.’

³⁸ And he said, ‘Then go.’ So he allowed her to leave for two months as she and her friends went into the mountains and cried over the fact that she was to remain a virgin.

³⁹ Well after two months, she returned to her father and he kept his vow concerning her, and she never [had sex with] a man. ⁴⁰ And it became a rule that the daughters of IsraEl were to go and cry over the daughter of JephThah (the Gileadite) for four days each year.

Chapter 12

¹ Then the men of EphraIm got together and traveled north to JephThah, and they said, ‘Why did you go over to fight with the children of AmMon and not call for us to go with you? Why, we’re going to burn your house down with you in it!’

² And JephThah told them, ‘My people and I were too busy fighting the children of AmMon. And when I called for you, you didn’t come to save me from their hands. ³ So, when I saw that you weren’t any help, I put my life in my own hands and attacked the sons of AmMon, and Jehovah gave them to me. So now, just why are you coming against me today?’

⁴ Then JephThah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against EphraIm, and the men of Gilead cut them down. Then those who escaped said, ‘[Don’t forget that your town] of Gilead is in the midst of EphraIm and ManasSeh!’ ⁵ So Gilead took the fords of the Jordan before the EphraImites could get there, and when they tried to cross [to get back home], the men of Gilead would ask, ‘Are you an EphraImite?’ And when they said ‘No,’ ⁶ they told them to say ‘Stachys’ (for the EphraImites couldn’t pronounce it properly). Then they killed them there at the fords of the Jordan, and forty thousand men of EphraIm died that day.

⁷ Well, JephThah (the Gileadite) judged IsraEl for six years, and then he died and was buried in his city of Gilead. ⁸ Thereafter, Aba IsSan of BethLehem judged IsraEl. ⁹ He had thirty sons and thirty daughters (who he sent away), and he brought in thirty [wives] for his sons from [outside the land]. He judged IsraEl for seven years, ¹⁰ then Aba IsSan died and was buried in BethLehem.

¹¹ And after him, AiLom of ZebuLon judged IsraEl for ten years. ¹² Then AiLom died and was buried in [the town of] AiLom in the land of ZebuLon.

¹³ After him, AbDon (the son of ElLel the Pharathonite) judged IsraEl. ¹⁴ He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode upon seventy young burros, and he judged IsraEl for eight years. ¹⁵ Then AbDon (the son of ElLel the Pharathonite) died, and he was buried in Pharathon, in the land of EphraIm on Mount Amalec.

Chapter 13

¹ Then the children of IsraEl started sinning against Jehovah again, so He handed them over to the Philistines for forty years.

² And there was a man [from the town of] SaraAh named ManoEh, who was of the family of Dan, and he had a wife who hadn’t given birth to any children. ³ Then a messenger of Jehovah appeared to her and said, ‘I see that you have never given birth to a son. ⁴ Now, be very careful and don’t drink any wine or liquor, or eat anything that’s unclean, ⁵ for {Look!} you are pregnant and will give birth to a son [upon whom] an iron [razor] may not [be used] on his head. This child will be dedicated to God (a Nazarite) from the time he’s born and he will start to save IsraEl from the hand of the Philistines.’

⁶ Then the woman went inside and told her husband, saying, ‘A man of God came to me who looked very impressive… like one of God’s messengers. So I didn’t ask him where he came from and he didn’t tell me his name. ⁷ But he said to me, {Look!} You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son [upon whom] an iron [razor] may not [be used] on his head. This child will be dedicated to God (a Nazarite) from the day he’s born until the day that he dies.’

⁸ So ManoEh prayed to Jehovah and said: ‘I beg You, O Jehovah my Lord, concerning the man of God that you sent. Let him come to us once again and teach us what to do to this child that’s about to be born.’

⁹ And Jehovah heard the voice of ManoEh and sent His messenger to the woman again as she was sitting in a field… but ManoEh (her husband) wasn’t with her. ¹⁰ Then she ran home and told her husband, saying, ‘Look! The man who came the other day has appeared to me again!’

¹¹ So ManoEh got up and followed his wife; and when they got to the man, ManoEh asked, ‘Are you the man who spoke to my wife?’

And the messenger replied, ‘I am.’

¹² And ManoEh said, ‘Now may [your] words come to pass. But tell us how we must raise the child and how we must deal with him.’

¹³ And the messenger of Jehovah said to ManoEh: ‘The woman will be aware of all the things that I spoke to her about; ¹⁴ she must eat nothing that comes from the vine that produces wine, nor drink wine or strong drink, and she may not eat anything that is unclean… she must follow all of these [instructions] that I gave her.’

¹⁵ And ManoEh said to the messenger of Jehovah, ‘Please stay for a while and let us prepare a meal of young goat for you.’

¹⁶ And the messenger of Jehovah said to ManoEh, ‘If you want me to stay, I won’t eat your bread. But if you wish to sacrifice a whole burnt offering to Jehovah, you should do it.’

Now, ManoEh didn’t realize that he was a messenger of Jehovah, ¹⁷ so he said, ‘Tell us your name, so that when your words come true, we may praise you.’

¹⁸ And the messenger of Jehovah replied, ‘Why do you ask my name? It’s just too wonderful.’

¹⁹ So then, ManoEh took a kid goat and its meat offering, and offered it to Jehovah on a rock. And the messenger did something unusual as ManoEh and his wife looked on. ²⁰ For the flames of the altar flew up into the sky, and the messenger of Jehovah went up in the flames. And when ManoEh and his wife saw this, they fell with their faces to the ground.

²¹ Well, the messenger never appeared to ManoEh and his wife again.

But MonoEh then realized that it was a messenger of Jehovah. ²² So ManoEh said to his wife, ‘Now we’re going to die, because we’ve seen God!’

²³ But his wife said to him, ‘If Jehovah wanted to kill us, He wouldn’t have accepted our whole burnt offering and food offering, nor would He have shown us or caused us to hear all these things.’

²⁴ Thereafter, the woman gave birth to a son who she named Sampson, and Jehovah blest him as he grew. ²⁵ For, the Breath of Jehovah went with him into the camp of Dan and between SaraAh and EsthaOl.

Chapter 14

¹ Then Sampson went down to ThamNatha and noticed a woman in ThamNatha who was a daughter of the Philistines. ² So he went and told his father and mother, ‘I have seen a woman in ThamNatha (a daughter of the Philistines); take her for me to be my wife!’

³ And his parents asked, ‘Aren’t there any daughters among our brothers, or any women among all our people? Why do you want to take a wife from among the uncircumcised Philistines?’

And Sampson replied, ‘Take her, because she really appeals to me.’

⁴ Well, what his father and mother didn’t realize, is that this [action] came from Jehovah, for He wanted to bring His vengeance upon the Philistines, who were ruling over IsraEl at the time.

⁵ So Sampson took his father and mother down to ThamNatha, and when he got to the vineyard there, a young lion roared and ran out to meet him. ⁶ Well, the Breath of Jehovah came over him in a powerful way, and he crushed the lion as though it were a kid goat, leaving nothing in his hands. But he didn’t tell his father and mother what he had done. ⁷ Then they went and spoke to the woman who Sampson found so attractive.

⁸ And sometime later, when he returned to take her [as his wife], he went to look at the carcass of the lion and noticed that a swarm of bees had taken up living in its mouth; ⁹ so he took the honey and went on. He ate some of it, and then went and offered it to his father and mother, and they ate it, because he didn’t tell them that he had gotten the honey out of the mouth of a lion.

¹⁰ Well, his father then went [to take] the woman; and Sampson held a wedding banquet there for seven days, which was customary for young men to do at the time, ¹¹ and they invited thirty guests who stayed there with him. ¹² Then Sampson said to them, ‘Let me tell you a riddle, and if you can answer it correctly during the next seven days of the banquet, I will give [each of you] a wrap and a new set of clothes. ¹³ But if you can’t answer it, you must each give me a wrap and a new set of clothes.’

‘And they replied, ‘Okay; tell us your riddle.’

¹⁴ Then he told it to them, saying, ‘The eater came for the meat, but sweetness came out of the strong one.’

Well, they tried to solve the riddle for three days, but were unable to figure it out. ¹⁵ Then on the fourth day, they went to Sampson’s wife and said, ‘We want you to fool your husband. Have him tell you the riddle, or we will burn your father’s house down with you in it. For, surely you didn’t invite us here just to [rob] us.’

¹⁶ So, Sampson’s wife went to him crying, and said ‘You don’t care for me… you don’t love me, because you haven’t told me the answer to the riddle that you posed to the sons of my people!’

And Sampson asked her, ‘Why, if I haven’t given the answer to my own father and mother, so why should I tell it to you?’

¹⁷ Well, she just kept on crying in front of him throughout their banquet; so on the seventh day he gave her the answer, because she kept bothering him, and then she told it to the [guests]. ¹⁸ And before sunrise on the seventh day, the [guests] (who were from the city) came to him and answered, ‘What is sweeter than honey, and what is stronger than a lion?’

Then Sampson said to them, ‘If you hadn’t been plowing with my heifer, you would never have figured out my riddle!’

¹⁹ Then the Breath of Jehovah came over him and he went down into the city and destroyed thirty men, took their clothes, and gave them to those who answered the riddle. And Sampson was so angry that he just went back to the house of his father, ²⁰ so Sampson’s wife lived with his best man, who was one of his friends.

Chapter 15

¹ Well, it was after some time (during the wheat harvest) that Sampson visited his wife, bringing along a kid goat. And he said, ‘I want to go in to my wife… into her bedroom.’

² But her father spoke to him and said, ‘I said that you must surely hate her, so I gave her to one of your friends. And isn’t her sister better than her? Let her become yours instead!’

³ And Sampson said, ‘Well, I finally I have a good reason to harm the Philistines, and no one can blame me now.’ ⁴ So Sampson trapped three hundred foxes; then he paired the foxes and tied each pair’s tails together, then he tied torches to their tails, ⁵ lit them, and released the foxes into the Philistine’s grain fields; so everything was burned, from the threshing floors to the fields of grain, and even the vineyards and olive groves.

⁶ And when the Philistines asked, ‘Who did this?’ They were told, ‘It was Sampson, the son-in-law of the ThamNite, because we gave [Sampson’s] wife to one of his friends.’

So, the Philistines went and burned the house of Sampson’s father-in-law with his wife inside it.

⁷ Then Sampson went to them and said, ‘Because you did this to her, I’m going to get even… and only then will I be satisfied!’

⁸ So he cut off all their legs to their thighs, and then he went down and lived in a cave in the Rock of Etam.

⁹ Well then the Philistines went into Judah and set up camps all around Lechi. ¹⁰ And when the men of Judah asked why they were getting ready to attack, the Philistines answered, ‘We’ve come here to capture Sampson and to deal with him in the same way that he dealt with us!’

¹¹ So, three thousand men of Judah went down to the hole in the Rock of Etam and said to Sampson, ‘Don’t you know that the Philistines rule this country? What have you done to us?’

And Sampson replied, ‘I’ve just treated them the way they treated me.’

¹² And they said, ‘Well, we’ve come here to take you and give you into the hands of the Philistines.’

Then Sampson told them, ‘Swear to me that you won’t do anything bad to me yourselves.’

¹³ And they promised, ‘No, we’ll just tie you up and hand you over to them… we won’t kill you.’

Then they tied him up with two new ropes and led him from the [cave].

¹⁶ Then Sampson sang:
‘With the jaw of a burro I destroyed them;
A thousand men I cut down,
With the jaw of a burro.’

¹⁸ Well, he was extremely thirsty, so he called to Jehovah and said, ‘Since it has pleased You to use Your servant’s hands to bring about this great deliverance, must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?’

¹⁹ Then God broke open a hole in the ground [near] the jaw, and water poured out. So he drank it, his spirit was renewed, and he regained his strength. Then he named that spring ‘The Well of the Calling,’ which is still in Lechi today.

²⁰ So [Sampson] Judged IsraEl for twenty years during the period of Philistine [domination].

Chapter 16

¹ Well, Sampson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute and went inside with her. ² And when this was reported to the Gazites (when they were told that Sampson was there), they surrounded [the house] and quietly waited for him all night long inside the city gate. [Their plan] was to wait until he left at dawn, then [catch him] and kill him.

³ Well, Sampson slept until midnight, then he got up and went to the city gate, [but it was locked]. So he pulled its two posts [out of the ground], lifted them and the locked gate, and laid them on his shoulders, then he climbed to the top of the mountain in front of Hebron and laid them there.

⁴ Well after that, he fell in love with a woman from AlsOrech named DeliLa (gr. DeliDa). ⁶ And the leaders of the Philistines came up to her and said: ‘Beguile him and find out where he gets all his great strength… what the source of his strength is, so we can take him, bind him up, and humble him. Then we will give you eleven hundred silver coins.’

⁶ So DeliLah said to Sampson: ‘Please tell me where you get all your strength… is there any way that you could be tied up, captured, and imprisoned?’

⁷ And Sampson replied, ‘Yes; if I were tied up with seven ropes that have been soaked in water, then I would be as weak as any ordinary man.’

⁸ So the leaders of the Philistines brought her seven wet ropes and she used them to tie him up ⁹ (as their men hid in her bedroom). Then she shouted, ‘The Philistines are here, Sampson!’ And he broke the ropes as though they were burnt threads, for no one knew how strong he was.

¹⁰ And then DeliLah said to Sampson, ‘Why, you’ve misled me and lied to me! Now, tell me how you can really be held.’

¹¹ And he said to her, ‘I would have to tied up with new ropes, not with ropes that have been used for work. And then I would be as weak as any other man.’

¹² So, DeliLah took new ropes and tied him up. Then the men who were waiting in her bedroom ran out as she shouted, ‘The Philistines are here Sampson!’ But he broke them off his arms like thread.

¹³ And again, DeliLah said to Sampson: ‘Look, you’ve deceived me and lied to me. Now, please tell me how you can be held.’

And he said to her, ‘If the seven locks on my head were woven together into a net and fastened to the wall with a nail, then I would be as weak as any other man.’

¹⁴ So after he fell asleep, DeliLah took the seven locks on his head and wove them with a net, and nailed them to the wall. Then she shouted, ‘The Philistines are here, Sampson!’ And when he woke up, he just jerked the nail that held the net out of the wall.

¹⁵ And DeliLah asked Sampson, ‘How can you say that you love me when your heart doesn’t belong to me? Why, this is the third time you’ve deceived me, for you haven’t told me where you get all your strength.’

¹⁶ Well, she kept nagging him and complaining all night long, until he was exasperated to the point of dying ¹⁷ So he told her all the things that were in his heart, saying, ‘A razor must never touch my head, for I have been a person dedicated to God since [I came from] my mother’s belly. So, if [my hair] should be shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any man.’

¹⁸ And DeliLah realized that what he said came from his heart, so she sent for the Philistine rulers, saying, ‘Come here one more time, for he has told me what’s in his heart.’ And all the Philistine rulers came there and put the silver into her hands.

¹⁹ Then DeliLah allowed Sampson to fall asleep on her knees, and she [motioned to] a man who cut the seven locks off his head, and his strength left him. ²⁰ So when DeliLah shouted ‘The Philistines are here, Sampson!’ he woke up thinking, ‘I’ll just shake myself free and leave, as before.’ But he didn’t know that Jehovah had left him. ²¹ So the Philistines captured him, put his eyes out, bound him in brass fetters, and took him down to Gaza and threw him in prison. ²² But while he was there, his hair started to grow again, and soon it became as long as it was before.

²³ Well, the leaders of the Philistines got together to offer a big sacrifice to their god Dagon… and to celebrate what they claimed their god had done by giving their enemy Sampson into their hands. ²⁴ And when the people saw him, they started singing praises to their god, saying, ‘You’ve given our enemy who destroyed our land and who killed many of our people into our hands!’ ²⁵ And after everyone had been worked into a joyful frenzy, they said, ‘Now, bring Sampson from the prison and let him [act the fool] before us.’

So they sent for Sampson, and he was brought from the prison to stand as a fool before them. Then they led him by the hand and stood him between the [temple] columns. ²⁶ And Sampson said to the young man who held his hand, ‘Please let me feel the columns that support the building, so I can steady myself on them.’

²⁷ Well, the building was filled with men and women, including all the leaders of the Philistines, and almost three thousand people were on the roof (they had come to watch as they made fun of Sampson).

²⁸ Then Sampson called to Jehovah and said, ‘O Jehovah my Lord; please remember me and give me strength just one last time, O God, so I can make the Philistines pay for the loss of my eyes.’

²⁹ Then he braced his hands against the two columns that supported the building and pushed – one with his right hand and the other with his left. ³⁰ And Sampson said, ‘And let my wife die with the Philistines!’ Then he bent over and shoved, and the temple collapsed, killing the leaders and all the people in it. And in his death, Sampson killed more than all he had killed during the rest of his lifetime.

³¹ Well thereafter, his brothers and the rest of his father’s house went there and recovered his body, and they buried it between SaraAh and EsthaOl, in the tomb of his father ManoEh. So, he Judged IsraEl for twenty years.

Chapter 17

¹ Then there was a man from the mountains of EphraIm named MichaYas. ² And he said to his mother, ‘Do you remember those eleven hundred silver coins that you once had, and which you cursed me for taking? Well, here they are, for I did in fact take them.’

And his mother said, ‘May Jehovah bless you, my son.’

³ So he returned her eleven hundred silver coins, and his mother said, ‘I had dedicated this money to the Lord and set it aside for [you] my son, to make a molded and carved image… so it’s yours.’

⁴ However, he gave the money back to his mother. Then his mother took two hundred of the silver coins and gave them to a silversmith, who used them to mold a carved image for the house of MichaYas. ⁵ So the house of MicaYas became the temple to this god. Then [MicaYas] made a sacred vest and a sign of worship, and he anointed one of his sons to be his priest. ⁶ For back in those days, there was no king in IsraEl and everyone did whatever was right in his own eyes.

⁷ Well, there was a young man from BethLehem (in Judea) who was a Levite, and he happened to be passing by ⁸ (he had left BethLehem in Judea to move to whatever place he might find). And when he got to the hills of EphraIm and the house of MicaYas, his journey ended. ⁹ For MicaYas asked him, ‘Where have you come from?’

And he replied, ‘I’m a Levite from BethLehem Judea, and I’m traveling to any place that I may find.’

¹⁰ And MicaYas said to him, ‘Then live with me and be a father and a priest to me, and I will give you ten silver coins per year, a change of clothing, and provide your room-and-board.’

¹¹ So the Levite lived there with MicaYas and became like one of his sons. ¹² For, he anointed the Levite as his priest and he lived inside MicaYas’ home. ¹³ And MicaYas said, ‘Now I know that Jehovah will treat me well, because a Levite has become my priest.’

Chapter 18

¹ Well, there was no king over IsraEl back then, and the tribe of Dan was looking for its own land to inherit, because they hadn’t received an inheritance among the tribes of the children of IsraEl. ² So, the sons of Dan selected five mighty men from among their families, and sent them to spy in the land around SaraAh and EsthaOl, and to search for a land [that they could inherit].

Well, when they reached the hills of EphraIm and the house of MicaYas, they spent the night there, ³ for they had recognized the voice of the young Levite man. So they stopped and asked him questions such as, ‘Who brought you here… what do you do here… and, do you like it here?’

⁴ And he replied, ‘MicaYas took me in and hired me to be his priest.’

⁵ And they told him, ‘Then, please use your powers to ask God whether the direction we are headed will be blest.’

⁶ And the priest said to them, ‘Go your way in peace, for the direction you’re heading is the direction of Jehovah.’

⁷ So the men traveled on, and when they got to LaIsa, they saw that the people there lived peacefully and leisurely (like the Sidonians). For there was no crime or violence in the land or any robbery, because they were a long way from the Sidonians, and they were quite isolated. ⁸ So the five men returned to their brothers at SaraAh and EsthaOl and they said, ‘Why are you just sitting here?’ ⁹ And they said, ‘Get up and let’s attack them, for we’ve seen their land and found it to be very good! Don’t be so silent… don’t restrain yourselves from going there and inheriting their land! ¹⁰ For we have found a land where people are living in security and where the land is large enough… and God has given it into your hand… it’s a place where the ground produces everything we need!’

¹¹ And thereafter, the families of Dan sent six hundred armed troops to SaraAh and EsthaOl, ¹² and they went and camped in Kiriath JaIrim in Judah. So, that’s why that place is still called the Camp of Dan to this day. Look, it’s behind Kiriath JaIrim. ¹³ So they marched to the mountains of EphraIm, and when they reached the house of MicaYas, ¹⁴ the five men (who had come as spies in the land of LaIsa) told their brothers: ‘You know this: There’s a sacred breast piece, a sign of worship, and a molded and carved image in this place. Now, let’s think about what we should do.’

¹⁵ So they stopped there and entered the house of the young Levite man (the house of MicaYas), and they asked him how things were going, ¹⁶ as the six hundred armed men of the sons of Dan were standing outside, near the gate.

¹⁷ Well, the five men who had come as spies in the land went inside the house of MicaYas where the priest was standing, ¹⁸ and took the image, the breast piece, and the sign of worship. And when the priest asked them what they were doing, ¹⁹ they said, ‘Put your hand over your mouth and be quiet! We want you to come with us and to be a father and a priest to us. For, which is better… for you to be the priest of the house of one man, or to be the priest of a whole tribe and house of a family of IsraEl?’

²⁰ Well, this sounded good to the heart of the priest, so he took the sacred breast piece, the sign of worship, and the molded and carved image, and he went along with the men.

²¹ Now, [the army] had brought all their children, property, and baggage with them. ²² And when they were some distance from MicaYas’ house, MicaYas and his neighbors (who saw them in his house) caught up with them and started shouting at them. ²³ Then the children of Dan turned and faced MicaYas, and asked, ‘What’s the matter with you? Why are you shouting at us?’

²⁴ And MicaYas replied, ‘Because you’ve taken the image that I made and my priest. So, what have you left me… why do you think I’m shouting at you?’

²⁵ And the children of Dan said, ‘Stop shouting or you’ll make us angry and our men will kill you and your entire household.’

²⁶ Then the children of Dan traveled on, for MicaYas realized that they were more powerful that he was, so he just went back home; ²⁷ and they carried off the things that MicaYas had made and his priest (who was with them).

Then they went to LaIsh, where people had been living peacefully and securely, and they attacked them with their broadswords, and they burned the city in a fire. ²⁸ No one came to their aid, because the city was far from Sidon and there was no communication, for it was located in a valley near the house of ReHob. Then [the children of Dan] rebuilt the city and lived there, ²⁹ and they renamed it ‘the City of Dan’ (after their ancestor, the son of IsraEl), although it used to be called LaIsh. ³⁰ And there the children of Dan set up the carved image for themselves.

Then JoNathan (the son of Gerson and grandson of ManasSeh) and his sons became the priests of the tribe of Dan until the time when the nation was captured and carried away [into captivity]. ³¹ And the carved image that MicaYas made was there for as long as the house of God was in Shiloh, since back then there was no king in IsraEl.

Chapter 19

¹ Now, there was a Levite who was staying in the hills of EphraIm, and he took a concubine for himself who was from BethLehem of Judea. ² However, his concubine got angry and left him, and went back home to her father in BethLehem. Then after four months, ³ her man went there to plead with her to come back to him, bringing along his servant and a pair of burros. Well, she let him into her father’s house, and she and her father met with him, for she was very happy to see him.

⁴ Then his father-in-law (the father of the young woman), urged him to stay there for three days; so they ate, drank, and stayed together there. ⁵ Then on the fourth day, when they got up early in the morning to leave, the girl’s father said to his son-in-law, ‘Have a bite to eat before you go.’ ⁶ So the two of them sat down together and ate and drank.

Then the girl’s father said to her husband, ‘Stick around; spend another night, and enjoy yourself!’ ⁷ And when the man got up to leave, his father-in-law wouldn’t allow him to go, so he stayed and spent another night there.

⁸ Then, when he got up early the next morning (the fifth day) and got ready to leave, the girl’s father said, ‘Stop acting like a soldier… stay here and build your strength until later in the day.’ So, the two [sat down to] eat.

⁹ And when the man, his concubine, and his servant got ready to go, his father-in-law said to him, ‘Look, it’s almost evening… spend the night and lets enjoy ourselves, then you can leave early in the morning and start your trip back home.’ ¹⁰ But he wouldn’t spend another night there, so he got up and left. Then he saddled his burros and set off with his concubine.

¹¹ Well, they got as far as Jebus (JeruSalem) and it was getting late, so the servant said to his master, ‘Please, let’s stop here in this Jebusite city and spend the night.’

¹² But his master replied, ‘We don’t want to stay in a city of foreigners, for there are no children of IsraEl there. ¹³ We’ll just continue on and spend the night in BabaAh or in Rama.’ ¹⁴ So they traveled on and arrived at BabaAh (in the tribe of BenJamin) later that night.

¹⁵ Well when they got to BabaAh, they had to stay in the street, because no one invited them in to spend the night in their home. ¹⁶ But then, an old man came in from working in the fields, who was from the mountains of EphraIm, but he was staying in BabaAh among the sons of BenJamin. ¹⁷ And when he saw the travelers sitting in the street, the old man asked them, ‘Where are you going and where did you come from?’

¹⁸ And [the Levite] replied, ‘We’re coming from BethLehem of Judea, and we’re heading toward the side of Mount EphraIm. I live there, and I’ve gotten this far from BethLehem in my journey home, but no one has invited us into his house. ¹⁹ We have enough straw and food for our burros, and enough bread and wine for me, my mistress, and my servant, and we really don’t need anything.’ ²⁰ So he brought them into his house, provided a place for their burros, washed their feet, ²¹ then fed them and gave them something to drink.

²² Well, as they were sitting there enjoying themselves, some men from the city (sons of criminals) surrounded the house and banged on the door. Then they told the old man who owned the house, ‘Send out the man who came into your house so we can [have sex] with him.’

²³ But [the old man] went outside and said to them, ‘No brothers; please don’t do him any harm, for he’s a guest in my home! Don’t do such a terrible thing! ²⁴ Look, here’s my daughter, who’s a virgin, and here’s the man’s concubine. I’ll bring them out to you and you can treat them however you wish… but don’t mistreat this man!’

²⁵ However, the men wouldn’t listen to him, so he grabbed the concubine and brought her outside to them, and they raped and abused her all night long, releasing her in the morning. ²⁶ Then the woman came and fell at the door of the house where her man [had hidden] himself. ²⁷ And when her man got up and opened the door to continue his journey, he found her lying by the door with her hands on the threshold. ²⁸ And he said to her, ‘Get up, let’s go!’ But she didn’t answer, because she was dead.

So he lifted [her body] on his burro and returned home. ²⁹ And [when he got home], he took his sword and cut his concubine’s body into twelve parts, then he sent them to [all the tribes] of IsraEl. ³⁰ And everyone who saw it said, ‘We’ve never seen such a day, nor has anyone seen such a day since the children of IsraEl left the land of Egypt. So, let’s get together and discuss this matter.’

Chapter 20

¹ Then the whole gathering of the children of IsraEl (from Dan to BerSabeEh) came to a meeting before Jehovah at MasSepha in the land of Gilead. ² They all stood there before Jehovah as an assembly of the people of God, along with four hundred thousand sword carrying soldiers, ³ and the children of BenJamin had heard that everyone had gone there. Then, when everyone was there, they asked, ‘Tell us; Where did this terrible thing happen?’

⁴ And the Levite (the husband of the woman who was killed) said, ‘My concubine and I had gone into BabaAh of BenJamin to spend the night. ⁵ Then the men there came against me and surrounded the house at night, and they wanted to kill me. But they abused and raped my concubine instead, until she was dead. ⁶ So, I picked her up and cut her into pieces, then I sent them to all the inheritances of the children of IsraEl; for these men have done a lewd and disgusting thing in IsraEl! ⁷ And look, all you children of IsraEl; Think about what happened and then discuss it among yourselves.’

⁸ Well, all the people agreed and said, ‘None of us will return to our tents or houses ⁹ until this thing that was done in BabaAh [is settled]. Let’s have a lottery to choose who will go to fight against that city… ¹⁰ we’ll choose ten men from among every hundred of all the tribes of IsraEl (a hundred out of every thousand and a thousand out of every ten thousand), then we will gather enough provisions and send them to BabaAh of BenJamin to pay them back for the disgusting things they’ve done in IsraEl.’

¹¹ So, all the men of IsraEl agreed, and they prepared to march on the city. ¹² Then they sent messengers throughout the whole tribe of BenJamin to say: ‘What is this wicked thing that has been done among you? ¹³ Now, surrender the sons of criminals that are in BabaAh, and we will execute them to purge their wickedness from IsraEl.’

But the children of BenJamin refused to listen to the voices of their brothers, the children of IsraEl, ¹⁴ and [men from] all their cities gathered at BabaAh to fight against the rest of IsraEl. ¹⁵ The children of BenJamin sent twenty-three thousand soldiers, along with seven hundred of the best men from BabaAh, all of whom were capable of fighting with both hands… ¹⁶ they could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

¹⁷ Now, the army of IsraEl (other than those of BenJamin) numbered four hundred thousand men of war. ¹⁸ But [before they went to battle], they went to BethEl to ask God, ‘Who must lead us in the fight against the children of BenJamin?’

And Jehovah replied, ‘Judah must go first and serve as your leader.’

¹⁹ Then the next morning, the children of IsraEl went and camped around BabaAh, ²⁰ and the battle began. ²¹ Well, the sons of BenJamin came out from BabaAh in an attack and cut down twenty-two thousand men of IsraEl. ²² So the men of IsraEl sent for reinforcements and got ready to fight in the same place where they had fought on the previous day. ²³ [But first], they went and spent the day crying before Jehovah, and in the evening they asked Him, ‘Should we go to fight against our brothers the children of BenJamin again?’

And Jehovah said, ‘Go and fight them.’

²⁴ So the children of IsraEl advanced against the children of BenJamin on the second day. ²⁵ And the children of BenJamin came out of BabaAh to meet them and killed eighteen thousand more of their soldiers. ²⁶ Then all the children of IsraEl (the people and their troops) went to BethEl and sat there crying before Jehovah, and they fasted all that day until the evening. Then they offered whole burnt offerings and perfect sacrifices to Jehovah.

²⁷ Well, back then, the [Sacred Chest] of Jehovah God was there [in BethEl]. ²⁸ And Phineas (the son of EliEzer and grandson of Aaron) would go and stand before it whenever the children of IsraEl wanted to ask Jehovah for anything. So, again they asked: ‘Must we go again to fight with our brothers, the sons of BenJamin?’

And Jehovah replied, ‘If you go there in the morning, I will give them into your hands.’

²⁹ Then the children of IsraEl [went back] and encircled BabaAh, [but this time] they set up an ambush. ³⁰ So when the children of IsraEl went to fight the children of BenJamin on the third day, they prepared for an attack against BabaAh as they had done before. ³¹ And after the children of BenJamin came out to meet them and started cutting them down between the roads that lead to BethEl and BabaAh (after they had killed about thirty men), everyone had been drawn outside the city. ³² For the children of BenJamin said, ‘They’re falling before us as they did before.’

But then the children of IsraEl said; ‘Now let’s retreat and we’ll draw them out of the city and into the roads.’ And that’s what they did. And that’s when all the men who were hiding ³³ got up out and engaged them at Baal Thamar, and IsraEl’s reinforcements also came from MaraAgabe. ³⁴ So, ten thousand of IsraEl’s best men attacked BabaAh. And although [BenJamin’s] troops fought back fiercely, they didn’t know that they were doomed.

³⁵ So, Jehovah allowed the children of IsraEl to cut down BenJamin that day. And all together, the children of IsraEl destroyed twenty-five thousand of BenJamin’s soldiers. ³⁶ For, when they realized that the children of BenJamin were losing, the men of IsraEl turned back and attacked, because they trusted in the ambush that they had prepared against BabaAh. ³⁷ [The plan was that] when they pulled back, those who were hiding were to get up and attack BabaAh and cut [everyone in] the city down with swords.

³⁸ Well, the children of IsraEl had arranged for a battle signal from those who had been hiding. For when they captured the city, they were to send up a smoke signal. ³⁹ And when the children of IsraEl saw that they had taken BabaAh, that’s when they turned and attacked. For by then, the children of BenJamin had started killing the wounded among the men of IsraEl (about thirty of them), and they were saying, ‘Surely they’re going to fall again as they did in the first [two] battles.’

⁴⁰ But then the [smoke] signal started to arise, and it kept growing into a huge column of smoke rising into the sky. And when the men of BenJamin looked behind them, they saw that the city was being destroyed. ⁴¹ So when the men of IsraEl turned back and attacked, the men of BenJamin started running, because they saw that something bad had happened. ⁴² Then they retreated all the way into the desert before of the children of IsraEl, but they were soon overtaken, and even people from the [surrounding] cities came to fight them… ⁴³ they chased the men of BenJamin from Nua almost to BabaAh in the east. ⁴⁴ And eighteen thousand mighty men of BenJamin fell there.

⁴⁵ Well, the rest [of BenJamin’s army] then turned and ran through the desert to the rock of RemMon, where the children of IsraEl picked off five thousand of them; and then they chased the remaining ones as far as GeDan, where they cut down two thousand men. ⁴⁶ So, BenJamin lost twenty-five thousand of their finest soldiers, ⁴⁷ and the rest (six hundred of them) turned and ran through the desert to the rock of RemMon, where they hid out for four months.

⁴⁸ Meanwhile, the children of IsraEl returned to the territory of BenJamin and cut down [everyone] in their cities (around MethLa), including their cattle, and they burned all the cities and everything they found there in a fire.

Chapter 21

¹ Now, the children of IsraEl all swore there in MasSephath, not to give their daughters as wives to the BenJaminites. ² And they had all gone to BethEl and sat there before God until the evening, calling to Him and crying. ³ For they asked, ‘Why, O Jehovah the God of IsraEl, should one tribe of IsraEl now be missing?’

⁴ Then the next morning, the people got up early and built an altar there, and sacrificed whole burnt offerings and peace offerings. ⁵ Then the children of IsraEl started asking, ‘Who among the tribes of IsraEl hasn’t come here to meet with the gathering of Jehovah?’ (For they had all sworn an oath that those who didn’t come to Jehovah at MasSephath would be put to death). ⁶ However, the children of IsraEl grieved for their brothers of [the tribe of] BenJamin, for they said, ‘Today, one tribe has been cut off from IsraEl. ⁷ But, what must we do to provide wives for those [among BenJamin] who are still alive, since we’ve all sworn by Jehovah not to give them our daughters as wives?’

⁸ Then they asked, ‘Are there any among the tribes of IsraEl who failed to come to Jehovah at MasSephath?’ And they found that no one had come there from JabIsh in Gilead ⁹ (for they had counted all the people and found that there wasn’t a single man from [JabIsh]). ¹⁰ So, the gathering sent twelve thousand of their mightiest men there, and told them, ‘Take your swords and kill everyone who lives in JabIsh Gilead. ¹¹ Kill every man and every woman who has [had sex] with a man, but don’t kill the virgins.’ And that’s what they did. ¹² And among the inhabitants of JabIsh Gilead they found four hundred young virgins who had never [had sex] with a man, and they brought them to Shiloh in the land of CanaAn.

¹³ Then the entire gathering agreed to send [ambassadors] to speak to the remaining children of BenJamin at the Rock of RemMon, and they invited them to make peace. ¹⁴ So, [the tribe of] BenJamin returned to the children of IsraEl that day, and they gave them the women who they hadn’t killed among the daughters of JabIsh Gilead, and they were satisfied. ¹⁵ The reason why the people made this concession to Benjamin, was because Jehovah had allowed this breakup among the tribes of IsraEl.

¹⁶ Then the elders of the gathering asked, ‘What must we do to provide other wives for those of BenJamin who are still alive, since all their women have been destroyed?’ ¹⁷ And they said, ‘The BenJaminites who escaped must be allowed an inheritance, so a tribe won’t be destroyed from IsraEl. ¹⁸ Yet, we can’t give them our daughters as wives, because we swore among the gathering that anyone who gives a wife to BenJamin will be cursed.’

¹⁹ Then they said, ‘Look, there’s a feast of Jehovah that’s held each year in Shiloh’ (which is north of BethEl and east of the road between BethEl and Sychem, south of Lebona). ²⁰ And they told the children of BenJamin this: ‘You may go and hide in the vineyards there, ²¹ and then watch. And when you see any of the daughters of the people in Shiloh come out to dance, you should each run from the vineyards and grab a wife and take her into the land of BenJamin. ²² Then, when their fathers or brothers come to argue the matter with you, you can reply, You must give them to us freely, for we haven’t taken them from you in battle. Rather, we’ve taken them to keep you from sinning against the oath that you made.’

²³ And that’s what the children of BenJamin did. They went and took wives from among the dancers and brought them back to their inherited land, where they rebuilt the cities and lived in them.

²⁴ Thereafter, all the children of IsraEl went back home to their own tribes, families, and inheritances. ²⁵ For in those days (since there was no king in IsraEl), every man did whatever he thought was right.

1 Samuel

From the Greek Septuagint text as was used by First Century Christians

Chapter 1

¹ There was man from RamAh of Zophim in the Hills of EphraIm, whose name was ElKanah. He was the son of JerHam, grandson of EliHu, great-grandson of ToHu, and the great-great grandson of Zuph, who were also from the hills of EphraIm. ^² He had two wives, the first was named HanNah, and the second was PeninNah. Now, PeninNah had [given birth to] children, but HanNah had no children.

^³ Well, each day [ElKanah] would leave his city and go up to Shiloh to bow and offer sacrifices to Jehovah of armies, along with Eli and two of his sons, Hophni and Phineas, who were Priests of Jehovah. ⁴ And one day, when ElKanah was offering sacrifices, he gave his wife PeninNah and her sons and daughters their inheritances, ⁵ but he only gave HanNah a single portion, because she didn’t have any children. However, ElKanah loved HanNah more than he loved PeninNah, yet Jehovah had kept her womb locked, ⁶ for He hadn’t given her a child to love and to remove her sorrow, so she became depressed, and she believed that Jehovah wouldn’t allow her to have a baby.

^⁷ And each year she would go up to the House of Jehovah, and cry and fast there. ⁸ Then her husband ElKanah asked her, ‘HanNah, why are you always crying; why won’t you eat; and why is your heart [so sad]? Why, I [love you more] than ten children.’

^⁹ And after she had gone without anything to eat or drink at Shiloh, HanNah stood up before Eli (who was the High Priest at the time), ¹⁰ and because her life was in such pain, she prayed and cried there before Jehovah. ^¹¹ Then she made a vow, saying, ‘O Jehovah of armies; if You will look at me, You will see how Your slave woman has been disgraced. Please remember me and don’t forget that I’m your servant. Remember me and don’t forget me; and if You’ll give me a son, I will stand him before You and dedicate him to You throughout his entire life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.’

^¹² As she was praying there before Jehovah, the Priest Eli was watching her mouth, ^¹³ and he recognized that she was speaking from her heart. However, he could see her lips moving, but he couldn’t hear her saying anything, so he figured that she was probably drunk. ^¹⁴ And he said to her, ‘How long have you been drinking? Why don’t you get rid of your wine!’

^¹⁵ But HanNah said, ‘No my lord, I’m just a woman who has had hard times. I haven’t had any wine or liquor to drink, and I’m not drunk. Rather, I’m pouring out my soul before Jehovah. ^¹⁶ Please don’t consider your servant a delinquent daughter, for my worries and depression have grown into a mountain.’

^¹⁷ And Eli answered, ‘Then go in peace, for the God of IsraEl will give you all that you’ve asked from Him!’

^¹⁸ And she said, ‘Then your servant has found favor in your eyes.’ So, she went back to her husband and started eating and drinking again, and her face wasn’t sad anymore.

^¹⁹ Then, when they got up early the next morning, they bowed before Jehovah and went back home. And after ElKanah returned home to RamAh, he [had sex] with his wife HanNah, and Jehovah remembered her and she got pregnant.

^²⁰ Well, when the time came, HanNah gave birth to a son who she named SamuEl, for as she said, ‘I asked the Almighty God for him.’

^²¹ And when ElKanah left his house to go up and offer the required sacrifices at Shiloh and to pay his vows, ^²² HanNah didn’t go there with him, for she said, ‘I will wait until the boy is weaned before I bring him before Jehovah, then he can spend the rest of the age there.’

^²³ And ElKanah said, ‘You do whatever you see is best. But after he’s weaned, may [Jehovah hold you responsible] for the things you’ve said.’

So, the woman nursed her son until the time he was weaned, ^²⁴ then they took him up to Shiloh along with a three-year-old calf, a quart of fine flour, and a skin flask of wine. There they entered the house of Jehovah in Shiloh, and took the boy inside with them ^²⁵ and stood him before Jehovah. Then, after they slaughtered the calf, HanNah brought the child to Eli ^²⁶ and said, ‘My Lord, may you live a long life. I’m the woman who stood before you while praying to Jehovah, and here’s my son. ²⁷ This is the boy that I prayed for, and Jehovah gave me what I asked of Him, so may he now serve Jehovah all the days of his life. [We are presenting him to you here] to be used by the Lord.’

Chapter 2

^¹ And HanNah prayed and sang:

‘Now my [faith] is firm, O God;
For my heart [belongs to Jehovah];
My horn has been raised by my God;
And against my enemies my mouth’s opened wide.

‘I thank You for my salvation,
For, Your salvation has made me so happy.
² There’s no one as holy as Jehovah;
There’s no one who is as righteous as our God… none are holier than You.

^³ ‘We should never boast
Or allow haughty words to come from our mouths,
For, Jehovah is a God of [great] knowledge,
And a God who plans all that He does.

^⁴ ‘He has weakened the bows of the mighty;
He’s given power to those who are weak.

^⁵ ‘Those full of bread now have less,
And those who are hungry have neglected the land.
Yet the sterile have given birth to seven,
While the one with many children has grown weak.

^⁶ ‘For, Jehovah kills and gives birth to the living;
He takes them to the grave and leads them back out.
⁷ It’s Jehovah who makes the poor and the rich; Yes, He humbles and raises.

^⁸ ‘He resurrects the needy from the ground,
And He raises the poor from the dirt,
To seat them with the mighty of the people,
Where a throne of glory they’ll inherit.

^⁹ ‘He repaid the little vow of the one that was vowing;
And He’s blest the years of the righteous.
For man can do nothing in his own strength,
¹⁰ And it’s Jehovah who weakens our enemies… yes Jehovah is holy.

‘May the intelligent not boast of their smartness,
And may the mighty not brag of their strength,
Nor the rich of their wealth.
But let them boast now in this:

Let he who is bragging now see,
And know that it comes from Jehovah;
May they observe the ways that He judges,
And see His justice in the midst of the land.

‘For, Jehovah has ascended into heaven,
And there in the sky He has thundered.
He will [find] and judge all the wicked,
And to the ends of the earth [He’ll search] for the righteous.

‘It is He who gives strength to kings,
And it’s He who’ll raise the horn of His anointed.’

^¹¹ She then left him there before Jehovah and went back home to their house in RamAh. And there the boy served Jehovah before Eli the Priest.

Now, Eli’s Sons were very wicked, ¹² because they didn’t [really believe in Jehovah]. ^¹³ And these Priests felt that all the sacrifices the people brought belonged to them, so whenever there was boiled meat in the kettle, they would reach in with the three-pronged hook and take it. ^¹⁴ They would drop the meat hook down into the large kettle and grab whatever they could. So, rather than allowing [the people to eat their portion of the sacrifice], the Priests took whatever they wanted. And that’s how they treated the people of IsraEl who came to Shiloh to offer sacrifices to Jehovah.

^¹⁵ And when the servants of the Priests were burning the [sacrificial] fat on the Altar, one of them would say to the one who was doing the sacrificing, ‘Give me the roasted meat for the Priests, because we don’t want any of that boiled meat in the kettle.’

^¹⁶ ‘But if the one who was doing the sacrificing said, ‘Allow me to burn the fat first, because that’s what’s required,’ they would say, ‘No! If you don’t give it to me, I’ll take it myself.’

^¹⁷ And that’s how the young men were sinning before Jehovah in such a great way, and how they made the His sacrifices worthless.’

^¹⁸ So, SamuEl served there in the presence of Jehovah as a boy, wearing a sacred chest piece of linen. ^¹⁹ He wore little doubled robes that his mother had made for him, for she carried them to him when she returned with her husband to offer the sacrifices that were required back then.

^²⁰ And Eli praised ElKanah and his wife, saying, ‘Jehovah has taken the seed of this woman as a loan, for the way that she has acted toward the Lord.’ And then they went back home.

^²¹ Well, Jehovah visited HanNah once more, and she got pregnant again. So, she gave birth to three more sons and two daughters. But the boy SamuEl was given the responsibility of serving in the presence of Jehovah.

^²² Now, Eli was very old, and he knew all that his sons were doing to the people of IsraEl, for they were even sleeping with the women who stood around near the Tent of Proofs. ²³ And he asked them, ‘Why are you doing all these bad things that the people of Jehovah are talking about? ²⁴ No, my sons, no! The things I’m hearing aren’t good! I don’t want to listen to the things that I’m hearing, for you’re here to serve the people of God. ^²⁵ Why, if you’re sinning against the people, they will go and pray to Jehovah about it. And if you’re the one who is sinning against Jehovah, who will pray for you?’

But they wouldn’t listen to their father, because Jehovah preferred to destroy them.

^²⁶ However, the boy SamuEl went on to become great, for he was in good standing with both Jehovah and with men.

^²⁷ Then a man from God came to Eli and said, ‘This is what Jehovah has said: I revealed Myself to the house of your fathers in the land of Egypt who were servants in the house of Pharaoh. ²⁸ And I chose the house of your father from all the tribes of IsraEl to serve Me as Priests to come up to My Altar, burn incense, and wear My sacred chest piece. I also gave the house of your father all the sacrifices that were burned on the fire as their food. ²⁹ So, why have you looked at My incense and My sacrifices in disgust? And why have you treated your sons better than Me by allowing them to bless themselves with the first fruitage of all the sacrifices that IsraEl brings before Me?

^³⁰ ‘Now, because of this, says Jehovah, the God of IsraEl, Your house and the house of your father will fall before Me through the age. Then those who glorify Me will be glorified, and those who treat Me with contempt will be disgraced.

^³¹ ‘Look! The days are coming when I will destroy your seed… the sons of the house of your father. ³² Then you will see how well things will be done in IsraEl. But never again will there be a man who will grow old in your house. ³³ For, I will destroy every man among you that serves at My Altar. I will make their eyes fail and cause their lives to flow out of them, and then men will cut your family down with swords.

^³⁴ ‘This is the sign that I will give to your two sons, Hophni and Phineas, in the day that they’re both going to die: ^³⁵ I will appoint Myself a [High] Priest who is trustworthy, and I will do for him whatever things are in My heart and soul. Then I’ll build his house into one that I can trust, and he will be My anointed for the rest of his life. ³⁶ And then anyone who is left in your house will have to come and bow before him bearing a silver coin and a loaf of bread and say, Allow me to be one of your Priests, so I may eat some of the food.’

Chapter 3

^¹ Well, the boy SamuEl served as an official of Jehovah under Eli the [High] Priest. And back then, the word of Jehovah was highly esteemed, because the [Priests] weren’t being given visions of what to do. ^² Then one day, Eli went to sleep inside [the Tent of God], and because his eyes had grown weak and he was [almost] blind, ³ the [sacred] lampstand of God had been left burning.

Well, SamuEl also lied down in the Holy Place of Jehovah near the Chest of Proofs. ⁴ Then the Lord called SamuEl… He said, ‘SamuEl!’

And SamuEl replied, ‘Here I am.’ ⁵ Then he ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am… you called me.’

And Eli replied, ‘I didn’t call you, go back to sleep!’ So he went back to his bed.

^⁶ And then the Lord called him again, saying, ‘SamuEl.’

And he went over to Eli again and said, ‘Look, here I am, for you called me.’

And Eli said, ‘I didn’t call you child, go back to sleep!’

^⁷ Well, SamuEl didn’t realize that it was God speaking, and that the words of Jehovah were about to be revealed to him. ^⁸ So when the Lord called SamuEl a third time, he got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Look, here I am. For, you did call me!’

Then Eli realized that it was the Lord who was calling the boy, ^⁹ and he told SamuEl, ‘Go back to sleep child, but if you hear Him calling again, you should say, Speak to me O Lord, because Your servant is listening.’

Then SamuEl went back to his bed, ¹⁰ and Jehovah came and called as He had done before. He said, ‘SamuEl… SamuEl.’

And SamuEl replied, ‘Speak, because Your servant is listening!’

^¹¹ And the Lord said to SamuEl, ‘Look! People think that My words have been extinguished in IsraEl, but now everyone will hear the sound [of My voice] in both ears. ^¹² For, the day has come when I will bring all the things that I said against the house of Eli, and I will finish them off. ^¹³ Because, I told him that I would punish him and his house through the ages for the unrighteousness of his sons; because he knows the evil things they are doing against God and he hasn’t punished them. ^¹⁴ So, I swore an oath to the house of Eli that they would pay through the ages for the sins that they committed while offering up the incense and the sacrifices.’

^¹⁵ Then SamuEl went back to bed [and lay there] until morning. And when he got up early in the morning and opened the entrance to the House of Jehovah, he was afraid to tell Eli what he saw.

^¹⁶ But Eli called, ‘SamuEl… SamuEl… child!’

And he replied, ‘Here I am!’

^¹⁷ Then [Eli] said, ‘Tell me every word that you were told… don’t try to hide it from me! May God [punish you] if you don’t tell me every word that was spoken into your ears!’

^¹⁸ So, SamuEl reported everything that was said to him… he didn’t try to hide a single word. And Eli said, ‘Jehovah is good, and He will do everything that He says He will do.’

^¹⁹ Well SamuEl became great, because Jehovah was with him, and there wasn’t a word he was told that failed to come true in the land. ²⁰ And all IsraEl from Dan to BeerSheba came to know that SamuEl was a faithful Prophet of Jehovah.

^²¹ So, Jehovah started to show Himself at Shiloh again, for He was revealing Himself to SamuEl, and Jehovah was speaking to him there. Then SamuEl became the trusted Prophet of Jehovah throughout IsraEl, from one end of the land to the other.

But Eli was very old, and his sons kept doing things that were wicked before Jehovah.

Chapter 4

^¹ Thereafter, the things that SamuEl said [were spread] throughout IsraEl.

Then the Philistines got together to go to war against IsraEl, and IsraEl went out to meet them in battle. They were camped at EbenEzer, and the Philistines had camped in Aphek. ^² Then the Philistines attacked, and the battle went badly for IsraEl, for they lost four thousand men. ³ And when they returned to camp, the people asked, ‘Why has Jehovah allowed us to lose against the Philistines today? Perhaps we should take Jehovah’s Chest of Proofs from Shiloh and carry it in our midst [in battle], for it will protect us from the hands of our enemies!’

^⁴ So they sent people to Shiloh to get the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement [to summon the power] of the cherubs [on its cover], and both sons of Eli (Hophni and Phineas) traveled with the [sacred] Chest of God. ⁵ Then, when the Chest was brought into the camp, the IsraElites let out a shout that resounded throughout the land. ⁶ And when the Philistines heard it, they started asking each other, ‘Why are they shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?’

Well, they concluded that the Chest of Jehovah had been brought into the camp, ^⁷ and this frightened them, so they said, ‘They’ve brought their gods into their camp. ⁸ Woe to us! Please save us, O Lord Shmeron, as you’ve done for the past three days. Oh, woe to us, for who will rescue us from the hand of their mighty gods? Why, they’re the gods that brought the calamity on Egypt and [to those] in the desert. ^⁹ May we be strong and act as men, O Philistines, so we won’t have to serve the Hebrews, but they will have to serve us. Let’s act like men when we go to battle against them!’

¹⁰ So, the Philistines attacked, and the men of IsraEl started falling before them… they chased them all the way back to their tents. It was a huge defeat and thirty thousand of their soldiers were lost. ¹¹ Also, the Chest of God was captured, and both sons of Eli (Hophni and Phineas) were killed.

^¹² Now, there was a man of the tribe of BenJamin who came from the battle; and when he got back to Shiloh that day, his clothes were torn, and it looked as though the earth had fallen on his head. ^¹³ And when he got there, he saw Eli sitting on his chair [atop] the gate facing the road.

Now, his heart was broken over the loss of the Chest of God, and when he got there, he yelled out his report to the whole city. ¹⁴ And when Eli heard him yelling, he asked, ‘Who’s doing all that shouting?’ Then the man went in and reported to Eli.

^¹⁵ Now, Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were dim and he couldn’t [hear well]. ^¹⁶ So he asked the Priests around him, ‘What is he saying?’

And when the man came inside, ¹⁶ he said, ‘I just came from the camp, and we all had to run from the battle today.’

Then Eli asked, ‘And then what happened, my [son]?’

^¹⁷ And [the man] replied, ‘All the men of IsraEl turned and ran from the Philistines. It was a huge loss for our people… then both your sons were killed and the Chest of God was captured!’

^¹⁸ And when he heard [the news] about the Chest of God, Eli fell backward out of his chair [from the top of] the gate and landed on the ground. This broke his back and he died, because he was old and fat. But he had judged IsraEl for forty years.

^¹⁹ Then, when his daughter-in-law (Phineas’ wife – who was pregnant) heard the message that the Chest of God had been captured and that both her husband and her father-in-law had died, she started crying and went into labor… ²⁰ and then she started to die. But the women around her said, ‘Don’t be afraid, for you’ve given birth to a son.’ However, she didn’t answer, because she didn’t understand them.

^²¹ Then she named the boy IchaBod (Where’s the Glory?) after the [Sacred] Chest of God, her father-in-law, and her husband. ²² For she said, ‘The glory of IsraEl is gone, because they’ve taken the Chest of God.’

Chapter 5

^¹ Then the Philistines took the Chest of God from EbenEzer and carried it to AshDod, ² where they put it in the Temple of Dagon, next to his [image]. ^³ But when the people of AshDod got up early the next morning and entered the Temple, {Look!} they found Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground before the Chest of God. So, they lifted Dagon up and set him back in place.

Well, Jehovah’s hand continued to be heavy against the people of AshDod and the surrounding country, for He tormented them and struck them [with boils] on their backsides.

^⁴ Then, when they got up the next morning, {Look!} they found that Dagon had once again fallen on his face before the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement, but this time his head had fallen off and both hands had broken off at their wrists, and were lying by the [front] door. So, all that was left of him was his torso. ⁵ And this is the reason why the Priests of Dagon will no longer cross the threshold of Dagon’s Temple in AshDod.

^⁶ Well, Jehovah continued to oppress and torment the people of AshDod, and He struck them [with boils] on their backsides throughout all its borders. ⁷ And when the men of AshDod realized what was happening, they said, ‘Don’t leave the Chest of the God of IsraEl with us, because that’s [what is making Him angry] with us and our God Dagon.’

^⁸ So, the Philistines sent officials throughout the land asking, ‘What should we do with the Chest of the God of IsraEl?’

And the people of Gath said, ‘Send it to us!’

So, they sent the Chest of the God of IsraEl to Gath. ^⁹ And as they were moving it there, Jehovah created a tremendous problem for them, for He struck all the men of the city (both the small and the great) [with boils] on their backsides.

^¹⁰ Then they sent the Chest of God on to Ekron, but when it got there, the people started shouting, ‘Why are you bringing the Chest of the God of IsraEl to us? Are you trying to kill us all?’

^¹¹ Well, they called all the Philistine governors together and they decided, ‘Let’s send the Chest of the God of IsraEl back to where it belongs, so it doesn’t kill us and all our people.’

^¹² But then confusion set in, and throughout the city people started dying just as the Chest of the God of IsraEl was being brought there. And both the living and the dying were struck [with boils] on their backsides, and cries from the city reached into the heavens.

Chapter 6

^¹ Well, the Chest of Jehovah just laid there in a Philistine field for seven months, and soon their land became overrun with mice. ^² So the Philistines called a meeting of their priests, clairvoyants, and witches, and they asked, ‘What should we do with the Chest of Jehovah? Tell us how we can go about returning it to where it belongs!’

^³ And they replied, ‘If you return the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah the God of IsraEl, return it empty. For, by doing this you will really upset them, but the thing will be settled. [Their God] will no longer [oppress you] and everyone will be healed [from the plague].’

^⁴ But [the leaders] asked, ‘Then, what should we do in return for all the torment that it caused?’

And they replied, ⁵ ‘Each of the five Philistine governors should send along a gold [model of their] buttocks, because the fault was theirs… both the rulers and the people. Also, send along a representation of five gold mice, the type that are overrunning the land; and [don’t forget to] give glory to Jehovah if you wish Him to [stop being angry] with you, your gods, and your land.

^⁶ ‘Why do you keep allowing Him to oppress your hearts the way that He oppressed the hearts of Egypt and its Pharaoh? For, it was only after He mocked them that [His people] were finally set free. ^⁷ So now, take a new wagon and two first-born oxen that have given birth to their first calves, and hook them to a yoke. Then hitch the oxen to the wagon and lock their calves inside the Temple. ⁸ Next, take the Chest of Jehovah and put it on the wagon, then replace the things in the Chest with the gold representations of your torment and send it on. ^⁹ Then, as you travel along the road to their border and get to BethShemesh, watch to see if He does the same evil things to them. And if not, we’ll know that it wasn’t His hand that touched us, but it was just a coincidence.’

^¹⁰ And that’s what the Philistines did. They took two first-born oxen and hitched them to the wagon, and locked their calves inside the Temple. ¹¹ Then they put the Chest of Jehovah on the wagon and placed the gold mice and the images of their buttocks inside the chest, ^¹² and they removed the [sacred] things that were in there and sent it along the road to BethShemesh… they [didn’t stop] and they didn’t turn right or left. And the Philistine governors followed behind, until they reached the borders of BethShemesh.

^¹³ Well at the time, the people of BethShemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley. And when they saw the Chest of Jehovah, they started cheering and ran to meet it.

¹⁴ Then they took the wagon into the field of JoShua (which was near BethShemesh), up to a huge rock, where they split the wood of the wagon and sacrificed the oxen as whole burnt offerings to Jehovah. ¹⁵ The Levites then took the Chest of Jehovah and removed the items of gold that were in it, and placed them on the large rock. Then the men of BethShemesh sacrificed the whole burnt offerings (along with other sacrifices) to Jehovah.

^¹⁶ And when the five Philistine governors saw this, they returned to Ekron that same day.

^¹⁷ Now, these are the gold buttocks that the Philistines sent to remove the torment of Jehovah: There was one from AshDod, one from Gaza, one from AshKelon, one from Gath, and one from Ekron. ^¹⁸ And each of the well-fortified Philistine cities sent gold mice, one from each of the five governors… they were also removed from the Chest of Jehovah and placed on the large rock. [You can still find that rock] in the field of JoShua near BethShemesh today.

¹⁹ But then Jehovah struck the men of BethShemesh, because they had [been examining] the Chest of Jehovah. He struck down seventy of their [leaders] and fifty thousand of their people, and they went into mourning, because Jehovah had struck so many people with such a great calamity. ²⁰ And the men of BethShemesh asked, ‘Who can stand in the presence of this holy God Jehovah, and who can we send to carry this Chest? ^²¹ So they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath JaIrim saying, The Philistines have returned the Chest of Jehovah, so come here and take it.’

Chapter 7

^¹ Then the men of Kiriath JaIrim went and took the Chest of Jehovah’s Sacred Agreement and carried it to the House of AminAdab on the hill, and EliEzer and his son were [purified] there, so they could serve as guardians of the Chest. ² But the ‘day’ that the Chest was to be kept in Kiriath JaIrim became many days… in fact, it stayed there for twenty years!

Meanwhile, the whole house of IsraEl started [turning to Jehovah]. ^³ So, SamuEl spoke to the house of IsraEl and said, ‘If you wish to return to Jehovah with your whole hearts, you must remove the gods of the foreigners that live among you and their sacred poles, and prepare your hearts for Jehovah and serve Him alone. Then He will rescue you from the hands of the Philistines!’

^⁴ So, the sons of IsraEl [got rid of their images of] Baal Im and their sacred poles of AstarOth, and they started serving just Jehovah.

^⁵ Then SamuEl said, ‘All of IsraEl must gather at Mizpah, and I will pray to Jehovah for you there.’

^⁶ So, all the people went to Mizpah, where they drew water and poured it out on the ground before Jehovah, and they fasted throughout the whole day. For, they said, ‘We have sinned against Jehovah.’ Then SamuEl prayed in behalf of the sons of IsraEl there at Mizpah.

^⁷ Now, when the Philistines heard that all the sons of IsraEl had gone to Mizpah, the Philistine governors gathered their armies to attack IsraEl. And when the IsraElites heard of this, they were frightened, [because they were scared] of the Philistines. ^⁸ So they went to SamuEl and said, ‘Don’t remain silent! Call out to Jehovah your God so He will save us from the hands of the Philistines!’

⁹ Then SamuEl took a newborn lamb and sacrificed it as a whole burnt offering to Jehovah before all the people, and he called to Jehovah on behalf of IsraEl, and Jehovah listened.

^¹⁰ Well, just as SamuEl was offering up the sacrifice, the Philistines attacked. And then the voice of Jehovah spoke like thunder to the Philistines, which confused them, so they retreated. ^¹¹ So the men of IsraEl came out of Mizpah and they pursued the Philistines, cutting them down to just outside of BethCar.

^¹² And thereafter, SamuEl took a [block of] stone and erected it between Mizpah and the old city, which he named EbenEzer, which means, ‘The Rock of the Helper.’ For, he said, ‘This is where Jehovah helped us.’

^¹³ So, Jehovah humbled the Philistines that day, and they didn’t enter the borders of IsraEl again, for the hand of Jehovah was against the Philistines during the entire lifetime of SamuEl. ^¹⁴ And the Philistines had to give back all the cities that they had taken from the sons of IsraEl, from Ekron to Gath. So, the borders of IsraEl were free of the Philistines, and there was also peace between IsraEl and the Amorites.

^¹⁵ Well, SamuEl served as the mediator between IsraEl [and God] for the rest of his life. ^¹⁶ And each year he would make the circuit between BethEl, GilGal, and MizPah, where he would speak to God on behalf of IsraEl. ^¹⁷ Then he would return to his home in RamAh, where he served as the mediator for IsraEl and where he built an Altar to Jehovah.

Chapter 8

^¹ And when SamuEl grew old, he appointed his sons as judges in IsraEl. ² The firstborn was JoEl, and the second was AbiJah. They each served as judges in BeerSheba, ³ but they weren’t like [SamuEl], because they accepted contributions and took bribes, so they didn’t [always] make righteous decisions.

^⁴ Well, the men of IsraEl got together and went to SamuEl at RamAh ⁵ and said, ‘Look, you’re getting old and your sons aren’t doing things the way you do. So, appoint a king to settle matters between us, as the rest of the nations have.’

^⁶ But SamuEl viewed this as something wicked when they said, ‘Appoint a king to settle matters between us,’ so he prayed to Jehovah. ⁷ And Jehovah replied, ‘Listen to the voice of the people and do whatever they’re asking. For, they aren’t treating you with contempt, ⁸ they’re just doing the same things they’ve been doing to Me from the day that I led them out of Egypt until now. And as they’ve abandoned Me to serve other gods, that’s how they’re treating you now. ⁹ So, do whatever they ask. However, explain what will happen when you appoint a king to rule over them.’

^¹⁰ So, SamuEl told them everything that Jehovah said about kings. ¹¹ He told them, ‘These are the things that you can expect from the kings who will rule over you: They will take your sons and mount them on chariots, or appoint them as cavalry to ride in front of their chariots. ^¹² Then they will appoint commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and [your sons] will have to plow and harvest their fields and pick their grapes, before they’re sent to war on chariots.

^¹³ ‘They will also take your daughters to serve as perfume makers, cooks, and bakers, ¹⁴ and they will take the best food from your fields, vineyards, and olive groves to feed their servants. ¹⁵ Then they will claim a tenth of your grain and grapes for their eunuchs and servants, ¹⁶ and they will take the best of your male and female slaves, and your burros… they will take a tenth of everything you own! ¹⁷ They will take a tenth of your flocks, and you will be their servants. ^¹⁸ And the day will come when you’ll call out to the king that you chose for yourselves, and he won’t pay any attention to Jehovah.’

^¹⁹ Well, the people didn’t want to listen to what SamuEl was saying, so they told him, ‘We want you to appoint a king over us ²⁰ just like all the other nations have… someone who can settle matters between us, lead us, and wage our wars.’

^²¹ And after SamuEl heard what the people said, he spoke to them before Jehovah and said, ²² ‘Jehovah told me to listen to whatever you have to say and to appoint a king over you. Now, each of you should return to your cities.’

Chapter 9

^¹ Well, there was a man from the sons of BenJamin named Kish (the son of ZerOr, the grandson of BechOrath, and the great-grandson of AphiAh, of BenJamin), and he was very strong. ² He had a son named Saul who was very tall and handsome… none among the sons of IsraEl were taller, for he stood head and shoulders above everyone else in the land.

^³ Well, Saul’s father Kish had lost two burros, so he said to Saul: ‘Take one of the servants with you and go look for my burros.’ ⁴ So he traveled through the hills of EphraIm and through the land of ShaliSha [searching for them], but he couldn’t find them.

⁵ And when they got to Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was traveling with him, ‘Come on, let’s just go back to my father [and tell him that we couldn’t find] the burros, because he’s probably worried about us.’

^⁶ But his servant said, ‘Look, there’s a man of God in this city. He’s an honorable man, and whatever he says will happen. So, let’s go to him and ask which way we should travel.’

^⁷ And Saul replied, ‘Okay, let’s go there; but what do we have with us that we can offer to the man of God, since even the loaves of bread that we were carrying are gone?’

^⁸ And the servant said, ‘Look, I’ve been carrying a coin in my hand. We can give it to the man of God, and then he’ll show us the way.’

^⁹ Well in IsraEl back then, whenever someone wanted to ask something of God, they would say, ‘Let’s go ask the Seer,’ because the people used to call the Prophets Seers. ^¹⁰ So Saul said to his servant: ‘What you’ve suggested is a good idea. Come on, let’s go there.’ And they went to the city where the man of God lived.

^¹¹ Well, as they were going up to the city, they noticed some young women who were coming out to draw water, and they asked them: ‘Is the Seer here?’

^¹² And they answered, ‘Yes, he is. Look, he’s just ahead of you. But hurry, because he’s going to the house of worship to offer sacrifices for the people. ¹³ As you enter the city, you’ll find him getting ready to go there for a meal, for the people won’t start their meal before he blesses the sacrifice. But after he does that, the people will [sit down to] eat. So go on, because this may be the only day you can find him!’

^¹⁴ Well, they entered the city, and as they were traveling toward its center, they saw SamuEl coming to meet them, since he was on his way to the place of worship. ^¹⁵ However, Jehovah had opened the ears of SamuEl [the previous day] and told him, ^¹⁶ ‘At this time tomorrow, I will send a man from the land of BenJamin to you. You must anoint him to be the ruler over My people IsraEl, and he will save My people from the hands of the Philistines, for I’ve watched their humiliation [long enough], and I’ve heard them calling to Me.’

^¹⁷ So when SamuEl noticed Saul, Jehovah said to him, ‘Look, this is the man that I was talking to you about. He will rule My people.’

^¹⁸ Well, as Saul walked up to SamuEl there in the center of the city, he asked, ‘Tell me; where does the Seer live?’

^¹⁹ And SamuEl replied, ‘I am he. Come with me to the place of worship and eat with me today. Then in the morning, I’ll show you everything that’s in your heart, ²⁰ and I’ll also tell you where the burros are that you’ve been looking for over the past three days. Don’t let your heart be concerned about them, because they’ve been found. For, what is more beautiful among the things of IsraEl than you and the house of your father?’

^²¹ Then Saul answered, ‘I’m just a man of the sons of BenJamin, one of the smallest of the tribes of IsraEl, and my family is the least of all the families of BenJamin. So, why have you spoken to me like that?’

^²² Then SamuEl took Saul and his servant along with him to the place where they would eat, and he called for them to sit at the head of the table before the thirty men who were there. ^²³ And he told the cook, ‘Give him the portion [of the meat] that I gave you and asked you to set aside.’

^²⁴ Well, the cook brought out a whole hindquarter and placed it before Saul. And SamuEl said, ‘Look, we have placed what is left before you. Eat it, for this is proof that you’ve been placed over the people… pull off a piece!’

So, Saul ate with SamuEl that day, ²⁵ and when he returned to the city from the place of worship, the [people] spread some carpets on the roof for Saul, and he went to bed.

^²⁶ Then at dawn, SamuEl called up to the roof for Saul, and said, ‘Get up, for I’m going to send you on!’

So, Saul got up and went outside to meet SamuEl. ²⁷ And as they were walking from the city into the fields, SamuEl said to Saul, ‘Tell the young man to walk in front of us. Then you stop here, and you’ll hear the Word of God!’

Chapter 10

^¹ Then SamuEl took a flask of oil and poured it over [Saul’s] head, and kissed him and said: ‘Jehovah is anointing you to be the ruler over His inheritance. ² Then, just as soon as I leave you today, you will find two men near the tomb of RachEl on Mount BenJamin, who will be jumping up and down; for they will tell you that they’ve found the burros you are searching for. However, your father has already stopped worrying about the burros and now he’s worried about you and asking, What should I do about my son?

^³ ‘But when you get there, you must travel on until you reach the oak tree at Tabor, where you’ll find three men going up to [worship] God at BethEl. One will be carrying three goat kids, the second will be carrying three containers of bread, and the third will have a skin of wine. ⁴ They will all wish you peace and offer you two loaves of their first-fruit bread… go ahead and accept them, ⁵ then travel on to the hill of God where there’s a Philistine fort. And when you enter the city, you’ll meet a group of Prophets who will be dancing as they leave the place of worship to the music of a harp, a tambourine, pipes, and a harp, and they will be prophesying. ⁶ Then the Breath of Jehovah will come over you and you should prophesy with them, for you will become another man. ⁷ And when you see these signs happening to you, do everything that you’re moved to do, because God is with you.’

⁸ ‘Thereafter, I want you to come and meet me at GilGal, where I’ll give you [animals] to sacrifice as whole burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then you must stay with me for seven days as I teach you what to do.’

^⁹ Well, just as he turned his shoulder to leave SamuEl, God changed [SamuEl’s] heart, and then all the signs started coming true that day. ¹⁰ And when he finally reached the hill and saw the group of Prophets dancing directly opposite him, God’s Breath came over him and he started prophesying in their midst.

^¹¹ So, all the things that he was told would happen to him came true during those three days, and there he was in the midst of the Prophets prophesying, as the people were asking each other, ‘What has happened to the son of Kish? Has Saul become one of the Prophets?’

^¹² And then one of them asked, ‘So, who is his father?’

Well, because of this, a saying was created, ‘Might Saul be one of the Prophets?’

^¹³ And after he had finished prophesying, he went back down the hill. ¹⁴ Then his uncle asked [Saul’s] servant, ‘Where have you been?’

And he replied, ‘We’ve been looking for the burros, and when we couldn’t find them we went to see SamuEl.’

^¹⁵ Then the uncle went to Saul and asked, ‘Tell me, what did SamuEl say to you?’

^¹⁶ And Saul replied, ‘He told me where to find the burros.’ (However, he didn’t say anything about what SamuEl told him about becoming the king.)

^¹⁷ Then SamuEl summoned all the people of Jehovah and told them to assemble at MizPah. ¹⁸ And there he told the sons of IsraEl, ‘This is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl has said: I led IsraEl out of Egypt and I rescued them from the hand of its Pharaoh and from the hands of all the kingdoms that oppressed them. ^¹⁹ Yet, today you’re treating the God who saved you from all of this badness and oppression with contempt!

‘Now, you’ve all said that you want me to appoint a king over you. So, that’s why you’re all standing here before Jehovah today by tribes, states, and families.’

^²⁰ Then SamuEl led each of the tribes of IsraEl [past Jehovah], and the tribe of BenJamin was chosen. Then he led the tribe of BenJamin [past Jehovah] and the family of Matri was chosen. ^²¹ Then they drew lots, and Saul (the son of Kish) was chosen. But when they went to look for him, he couldn’t be found.

^²² So SamuEl asked Jehovah: ‘Is the man still here?’

And Jehovah replied: ‘Look, he’s hiding in the tool shed.’

^²³ Then [SamuEl] ran there and ^²⁴ brought him back, and stood him in the midst of the people.

Well, [he was easy to see] because he stood head and shoulders above everyone else. ^²⁴ Then SamuEl said to the people, ‘Do you see who Jehovah Himself has chosen? There isn’t another man like him among you!’

Well, all the people recognized this and they shouted, ‘Long live the king!’

^²⁵ Thereafter, SamuEl explained all the rules of kingship to the people, and then he wrote everything in a scroll and set it before Jehovah.

So, he sent the people away and they each returned home. ^²⁶ And when Saul got home to GibeAh, many powerful men whose hearts had been touched by Jehovah were there to meet with him. ²⁷ But the worst of them asked, ‘Just who is he that he should be appointed our savior?’

Well, they said a lot of bad things about him and they didn’t bring him any gifts. However, Saul just kept silent.

Chapter 11

^¹ Thereafter, NaHash the Ammonite [went to attack] JabIsh Gilead, and the people of the city said, ‘Make peace with us and we’ll become your servants.’

^² But NaHash replied, ‘I’ll make an agreement with you if I can gouge out all your right eyes, for I detest IsraEl!’

^³ And the men of JabIsh said, ‘Give us seven days and we’ll send messengers throughout IsraEl. Then if no one comes to save us, we’ll just surrender to you.’

^⁴ So, they sent messengers to Saul at GibeAh who told the people there what NaHash had said. Then the people there started wailing and crying. ⁵ And when Saul returned from the fields behind the town with his oxen, he asked, ‘Why are all the people crying?’ And they gave him the message that came from the people of JabIsh.

^⁶ Well, the Breath of Jehovah came over Saul when he heard what they said, and he was outraged. ^⁷ So he took his two oxen and cut them up, then he sent [the pieces] throughout all IsraEl via messengers who said, ‘Whoever refuses to follow Saul and SamuEl will be treated like my oxen.’

Then Jehovah caused a change of heart to come over the people [of IsraEl], and they started shouting together as one person. ^⁸ And when [Saul] counted his forces in the house of worship at AbEzek, he found that there were three hundred thousand in the army of IsraEl, and thirty thousand more from the tribe of Judah. ^⁹ So he said to the messengers who came there, ‘Tell the men of JabIsh Gilead this: Tomorrow, by the time the sun warms [the ground], you will be saved.’

So, the messengers returned to their city and reported what he said to the people of JabIsh, and they were jubilant. ¹⁰ Then the men of JabIsh told NaHash the Ammonite, ‘We will come out of the city tomorrow, and then you may treat us any way you wish.’

^¹¹ Well, very early the next morning, Saul divided his army into three companies and they attacked the Ammonite camp… and they kept slaughtering them until the day got hot. By then [the Ammonites] were all scattered and not even two men were still together.

^¹² Then the people went to SamuEl and said, ‘Who was it that said Saul shouldn’t be our king? Hand them over and we’ll kill them.’

^¹³ But Saul said, ‘No; none of them are going to die today, because this is the day that Jehovah has brought salvation to IsraEl.’

^¹⁴ Then SamuEl spoke to the people and said, ‘Come on! Let’s go to GilGal and we’ll establish the kingdom there.’

^¹⁵ So, everyone went to GilGal, and SamuEl anointed Saul as king there before Jehovah. Then he offered sacrifices before Jehovah, and Saul and all the people of IsraEl were very happy.

Chapter 12

^¹ Then SamuEl spoke to all the men of IsraEl and said, ‘Look, I’ve listened to everything you’ve asked for and I’ve given you a king to rule over you. ^² So, now you can see that you have a king who is leading you. And as for me, I’ve grown old and I’m ready to retire (although my sons are still among you). For, I’ve been your leader since I was very young. ³ And look, here I am! So, answer before Jehovah and His anointed one: Whose calf or burro have I taken? Whom have I tyrannized or pressured? And from whose hand have I taken a bribe or even a sandal? Tell me what I’ve taken and I’ll return it to you!’

^⁴ And they replied to SamuEl, ‘You haven’t wronged us or tyrannized us, nor have you taken anything from us… not a single thing.’

^⁵ Then SamuEl said to the people, ‘So Jehovah is my witness among you today, as is His anointed one, that you haven’t found anything in my hands that I’ve taken from you.’

And they replied, ‘It’s a fact.’

^⁶ And SamuEl said, ‘Then Jehovah, the One who prepared Moses and Aaron and who led our ancestors out of Egypt, is my witness. ⁷ So now, come here and I will judge you before Jehovah, and I’ll tell you of the righteous things that Jehovah has done for you and your ancestors.

^⁸ ‘After Jacob and his sons moved to Egypt, the Egyptians made them slaves. So, our ancestors called to Jehovah and He sent Moses and Aaron. They led our ancestors out of Egypt and settled them here. ⁹ But [our ancestors soon] forgot Jehovah their God, so He gave them into the hands of Sisera (the commander-in-chief of JabIsh, the king of Hazor), then into the hands of the Philistines, then into the hands of Moab, and they had to go to war with [each of] them. ^¹⁰ But when they called to Jehovah and admitted that they had sinned by abandoning Him to serve Baal Im and the sacred poles and they asked Him to rescue them, ^¹¹ Jehovah sent JeruBaal, then Barak, then JephThah, and finally SamuEl. So, He has continued to save you from the hands of the enemies that live all around you, and you’ve started to feel safe.

^¹² ‘Then, when you saw NaHash (the king of the sons of Ammon) coming against you, you said, We want a king to rule over us… yet our God Jehovah is your king.

^¹³ ‘So now, look… here’s the king that I got for you and whom you chose. Yet, Jehovah was the One who appointed him as your king, ¹⁴ so you must serve Him and listen to His voice. Don’t argue with Jehovah… ^⁷ both you and the king who rules over you must follow Jehovah your God! ¹⁵ But if you ever stop listening to the voice of Jehovah and you start arguing with Him, His hand will come against you and against your king.

^¹⁶ ‘Now, stand and behold the great thing that Jehovah is going to do before your eyes today! ^¹⁷ Since this is the time of the wheat harvest, I will call upon Jehovah and He will send thunder and rain. And then you will see and know the bad thing that you did before Jehovah when you asked for a king.’

^¹⁸ So SamuEl called to Jehovah and He sent thunder and rain that day. Well, this made the people afraid of SamuEl and Jehovah. ¹⁹ And the people begged SamuEl, ‘Pray to Jehovah your God on behalf of your servants, so we don’t die for this great sin of asking for a king!’

^²⁰ But SamuEl told them, ‘Don’t be afraid of any of the bad things you’ve done. Rather, be in fear of ever turning away from Jehovah! You must keep serving Jehovah with your whole hearts! ^²¹ Never turn aside to the things which amount to nothing, which can get you nothing, and which can rescue you from nothing, because they are nothing! ²² Never allow Jehovah to be pushed away from His people, because His Name is great, and He chose you to be His people.

^²³ ‘Now as for me; may I not sin against Jehovah by ceasing to pray that you will live good and straight lives. ^²⁴ Fear Jehovah and truly serve Him with your whole hearts, for you see what He has done among you! ^²⁵ But if you ever start doing bad things and become evil and start sinning, your king will be numbered among your dead.’

Chapter 13

¹ This all happened during the first year of Saul’s reign. And after the second year, ^² he selected three thousand men from IsraEl, two thousand of whom stayed with him in MichMash (in the hills of BethEl), and the other thousand were with his son JoNathan in GibeAh of BenJamin. He sent everyone else back home.

³ Well, JoNathan had attacked the Philistine [leader] Nasib (who lived in the hills), and the rest of the Philistines came to hear of it. So, Saul sent trumpeters throughout the land ⁴ who told all IsraEl about how they had killed Nasib the Philistine, and how [the Philistines] were planning to get even with IsraEl. As the result, the people of IsraEl gathered to Saul at GilGal, ⁵ as the Philistines prepared for war against them. Then they came with thirty thousand chariots, six thousand mounted horsemen, and foot soldiers that were numbered as the sands of the sea; and they camped at BethAven just south of MichMash.

⁶ Well, when the IsraElites saw what they were facing, they were afraid to fight, so they went and hid in caves, in animal dens, behind rocks, in quarries, and in sink holes. ⁷ Many ran away and crossed the Jordan into the lands of Gad and Gilead, abandoning Saul at GilGal. ^⁸ Then (after Saul’s people had deserted him) Saul called for SamuEl, but SamuEl didn’t come to GilGal immediately. ^⁹ And after seven days, Saul said, ‘Bring us some [animals] and I’ll sacrifice a whole burnt offering and a peace offering myself.’ So he [personally] offered the sacrifices.

^¹⁰ Well, it was shortly after he did this that SamuEl finally arrived. And when Saul came to meet him and to give him his blessing, ¹¹ SamuEl asked, ‘What have you done?’

And Saul replied, ‘I did this because I saw that my men had left me, and you didn’t come when you said you would. After all, the Philistines are camped [just outside] of MichMash. ^¹² So I [thought to myself], Now the Philistines are going to attack me at GilGal, and I haven’t been able to beg Jehovah for help. So, I just took charge and sacrificed the whole burnt offerings myself.’

^¹³ But SamuEl told Saul, ‘You’ve done a foolish thing by not obeying the instructions that I gave you from Jehovah, for He had meant for your kingdom to last through the ages. ¹⁴ But now the kingdom [of your family line] will not stand, and Jehovah will search for another man – one who [pleases] His heart – and He will appoint him to be the ruler over His people, because you didn’t do as Jehovah said.’

^¹⁵ Then SamuEl got up and left GilGal, and traveled into the hills of BenJamin.

So, Saul counted to see how many people he still had left, and he only found about six hundred men. ¹⁶ And as the result, he, his son JoNathan, and his remaining army stayed inside [the walls of] GibeAh of BenJamin, while the Philistines were camped in MichMash.

^¹⁷ Then the Philistines planned their attack and they stationed one division along the road that leads from Ophrah to the land of ShuAl, ¹⁸ a second along the road to BethHoron, and a third along the road from GibeAh to The City of ZeboIm in the desert.

^¹⁹ Now, back then there were no ironworks anywhere in the land of IsraEl, for the Philistines had kept them from [learning this trade], because they didn’t want the IsraElites to make broadswords or spear [tips]. ²⁰ So the IsraElites had to go to the land of the Philistines to forge their own pruning hooks, tools, axes, and sickles. ²¹ And whenever such things were needed for the harvesting, the [Philistines] charged the same price (three small silver coins) for a pruning hook, an axe, or a sickle. ^²² As the result, none of Saul’s soldiers had any spears or broadswords. The only ones among them belonged to Saul and his son JoNathan.

^²³ The Philistines had also placed a contingent of guards just outside MichMash.

Chapter 14

^¹ And that day, JoNathan (Saul’s son) said to the servant who was carrying his weapons, ‘Come with me! Let’s go around to the other side of the Philistine garrison’ (but he didn’t tell his father what he was doing).

² Meanwhile, Saul had moved to the peak of a hill in MagAdon, and he was camping there under a pomegranate tree. Then, some of his [remaining] six hundred (or so) men came there to meet with him, ³ and AhiJah (the son AhiTub, the brother of Ichabod, who was the son of Phinehas and the grandson of Eli) the Priest of Jehovah in Shiloh, came carrying the sacred chest piece of the Priest. However, no one knew that JoNathan had left.

^⁴ Now, JoNathan had crossed through the middle of the river on his way to the Philistine camp, at a ford where there were jagged rocks on both sides (on one side it was called Bozez, and on the other side it was called Seneh), ⁵ along the road that leads from MichMash in the north, to Geba in the south. ^⁶ Then JoNathan said to the servant who was carrying his weapons, ‘Come on, let’s go to the town of MesSab [and attack] the uncircumcised who are camped there, for, perhaps Jehovah will give them [into our hands]. After all, doesn’t [Jehovah give victory] over many to just a few?’

^⁷ And the man who was carrying his weapons replied, ‘You do whatever your heart moves you to do. Look, I’m with you. For, whatever is in your heart is in my heart also.’

^⁸ And JoNathan said, ‘Then we’ll go up there [and stand in front of them]. ⁹ And if they say to us, Wait there, we’ll just stay away and we won’t go any closer. ^¹⁰ But if they tell us to come forward, that will be our sign… we’ll know that Jehovah has given them into our hands, so we’ll attack.’

^¹¹ Then they walked up to the Philistine camp at MesSab, and a Philistine guard shouted, ‘Look! Here come some Hebrews who have crawled out of the burrows they’ve been hiding in.’

^¹² So the men of MesSab called to JoNathan and the man who was carrying his weapons, and said: ‘Come on up here to us and we’ll show you a few things.’

Then JoNathan said to the man who was carrying his weapons, ‘Now follow me, for Jehovah has given them into the hands of IsraEl!’

^¹³ And JoNathan crawled up the hill on his hands and feet, with the man carrying his weapons close behind. ^¹⁴ Then JoNathan and [his attendant] attacked, killing twenty men using arrows, slings, and rocks that they’d found in the field. ¹⁵ And this caused quite a change in attitude among the [Philistines] in and around MesSab, for they had caught the men they destroyed off guard. And everyone was very disturbed over what [Jehovah had done among them].

^¹⁶ Well, Saul’s watchmen in GibeAh of BenJamin noticed that there was a lot of confusion on both sides of the enemy camp. ¹⁷ And Saul said to the people who were meeting with him: ‘Take a head count and see who has left us.’

So, they took a head count and found that JoNathan and the man carrying his weapons were missing. ¹⁸ Then Saul said to AhiJah, ‘Bring the sacred chest piece!’ (It was inside the Chest of God that day, before IsraEl).

^¹⁹ And as Saul was speaking to the Priest, he noticed that the sound in the Philistine camp kept getting louder and louder. So he said to the Priest, ‘Put your hands together [and pray].’ ^²⁰ Then Saul went and gathered his troops and they joined the battle.

Well, confusion reigned in the Philistine camp and the men started attacking each other with swords. ²¹ Then [Saul’s] men (who had [been hiding] for the previous two days) got up and joined the battle with Saul and JoNathan. ²² And when the IsraElites who had run to the hills of EphraIm heard that the Philistines were retreating, they all came and joined in the battle, and Jehovah gave victory to IsraEl that day.

Well, the battle raged through BethAven, and by then, about ten thousand men had joined Saul. ²³ And from there the war continued to be fought in many cities and into the hills of EphraIm.

^²⁴ Then Saul did something very foolish; he placed a curse on the people when he said, ‘Any man who eats before the evening is cursed, because I want my enemies punished!’ As the result, none of his men had anything to eat.

Well, his people had gathered in a grove of trees, ²⁵ and nearby (at the edge of a field), there were some beehives. ^²⁶ And when some of his people went up to them, they found that they were full of honey; but no one would taste any, because of the oath that [Saul] had made before Jehovah.

^²⁷ However, JoNathan didn’t know about the oath his father had spoken in front of people, so he stuck his walking stick into a hive, snagged some honeycomb, and ate it. Then, when he looked up, ^²⁸ one of the men said, ‘Your father swore an oath before the people that anyone who eats anything today is cursed.’

Well, the people were famished, ²⁹ and JoNathan realized this, so he said, ‘My father is still cleaning out the land; and look, I’ve already eaten a little of this honey. ^³⁰ Why, if our people [could have eaten] what they took from their enemies today, they would have killed more Philistines!’

^³¹ Well, they had destroyed many Philistines at MichMash, and the people were extremely tired. ^³² So in [the evening], they went and divided up [the Philistine’s] flocks and herds. Then they slaughtered many calves and started eating the [raw] meat with its blood. ^³³ And when the report was brought to Saul that the people were sinning against Jehovah by eating the blood, Saul said, ‘You have sinned! Now roll a large rock over here.’

^³⁴ Then Saul sent orders for his men to each bring a calf and a sheep, and they were to slaughter them there on the rock and eat them. For he said: ‘You must not sin against Jehovah by eating blood!’

So, everyone brought [the animals] that night and slaughtered them there. ^³⁵ Then Saul built an altar to Jehovah ^³⁶ and he said, ‘Now, let’s go after the Philistines tonight and keep cutting them to pieces until the morning dawns… don’t leave a single man!’

And they replied, ‘We’ll do whatever you say!’

Then [Saul] called the Priest and said, ‘Bring [the Chest] of our God here.’ ^³⁷ And Saul asked God, ‘Shall I attack the Philistines, and will you give them into the hands of IsraEl?’ But [God] wouldn’t answer him, ³⁸ so Saul said, ‘Then bring [all the men of] IsraEl here and stand them in front of me, because I want everyone to know if someone has been [guilty of sin] today! ^³⁹ Why, as Jehovah (the One who saves IsraEl) lives; if someone were to even tell me that it was my son JoNathan, he would die.’

But nobody said anything.

^⁴⁰ Then he spoke before all the men of IsraEl, and said, ‘You are part of this, and my son JoNathan and I [are part] of it.

And the people replied to Saul, ‘Then do whatever you must!’

^⁴¹ And Saul said, ‘O Jehovah, God of IsraEl, give us a sign.’

Then lots were thrown, and Saul and JoNathan were chosen, so the people were excused. ⁴² And Saul said, ‘Now throw the lots between me and my son JoNathan, and whoever Jehovah chooses must die!’

So, they threw the lots between him and JoNathan, and JoNathan was chosen. ^⁴³ And Saul asked JoNathan, ‘Tell me, what did you do?’

And JoNathan replied ‘I took a little honey on the tip of my walking stick and tasted it. So look, I must die!’

^⁴⁴ Then Saul said, ‘May God [kill] me again and again rather than to allow JoNathan to die today.’

^⁴⁵ Then Saul spoke to the people and said, ‘Shall I now kill the one who brought deliverance to IsraEl? As Jehovah lives, not a hair of his head should fall to the ground over the mercy that God has performed for IsraEl today.’

Then the people prayed on behalf of JoNathan, and he wasn’t put to death.

^⁴⁶ So, Saul didn’t chase after the Philistines that day… everyone just went back home.

^⁴⁷ Now, after Saul was chosen by lottery to rule over IsraEl, he waged war with his enemies all around the land… the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the king of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he went, he was saved. ⁴⁸ He acted decisively and struck down the Amalechites and anyone else who tried to walk on IsraEl.

^⁴⁹ Saul’s sons were JoNathan, IshVi, and MelchiShua. He also had two daughters, Merob and Michal. ^⁵⁰ Saul’s wife’s name was AhinoAm, and she was the daughter of AhimaAz.

The commander-in-chief of Saul’s army was AbNer (the son of Ner), who was related to Saul. ⁵¹ Kish was Saul’s father, and AbNer’s father Ner was the son of AbiEl. ^⁵² He was a strong fighter against the Philistines throughout the life of Saul.

And whenever Saul found a valiant or a very strong man, he was recruited to serve Saul.

Chapter 15

¹ Thereafter, SamuEl said to Saul: ‘It was Jehovah who sent me to anoint you as king over His people IsraEl, so now, listen to what He has to say! ^² This is what Jehovah of armies says to you: Now I shall punish Amalech for what they did to IsraEl when they were coming from Egypt. ^³ So, go and cut down the Amalechites… destroy them… burn them and everything that belongs to them. Kill the men, the women, the children, the babies, the cows, the sheep, the camels, and the burros!’

⁴ So, Saul gave these instructions to his people, and then he counted his troops at GilGal (there were two hundred thousand, plus ten thousand from Judah). ^⁵ And thereafter, Saul marched toward the cities of the Amalechites and he camped along a creek. ^⁶ Then he gave this warning to the Kenites: ‘Get away from the Amalechites, or I’ll destroy you along with them. For, you showed mercy to the sons of IsraEl when they were coming out of Egypt.’

So the Kenites got away from Amalech, ⁷ and then Saul attacked Amalech all the way from HaviLah to Shur (which is across from Egypt), ⁸ and he captured the Amalechite king AgAg, and he had all the people killed with swords. ⁹ However, Saul and his men [didn’t destroy] their flocks, their herds, their food, their vineyards, or any of their good things; they only destroyed the things that were worthless.

^¹⁰ So Jehovah said to SamuEl, ‘I have changed My mind about having Saul rule as king, because he has turned away from Me and he doesn’t listen to what I say.’

^¹¹ Well, this saddened SamuEl, and he kept calling to Jehovah all night long. ¹² Then, when he got up the next morning and went to meet with IsraEl, he was told that Saul had left for Carmel. So he raised his arm and turned his chariot, then he headed for GilGal.

^¹³ And when SamuEl reached Saul, he said to him, ‘Saul, you were blest by Jehovah and I’ve told you everything that He said to me. ¹⁴ So, why is it that I can hear the sound of herds of sheep and cows?’

^¹⁵ And Saul replied, ‘My men took them from the Amalechites. We only took the best of the herds, and we’re going to use them as sacrifices to your God Jehovah… we destroyed all the rest.’

^¹⁶ And SamuEl said to Saul, ‘Listen and I’ll tell you what Jehovah said to me last night!’

And [Saul] said, ‘Speak!’

^¹⁷ Then SamuEl said, ‘Weren’t you just a nobody before you became the chief of IsraEl? And wasn’t it Jehovah who anointed you to be the king of IsraEl? ¹⁸ Then Jehovah sent you here and He told you to go and destroy the Amalechites for sinning against Him… He told you to war against them until you destroyed them all! ¹⁹ Yet, you didn’t pay attention to what He said, for you took a lot of loot and you acted wickedly before Jehovah.’

^²⁰ And Saul replied, ‘Well, I did this because I was listening to the people. I [personally] followed Jehovah’s instructions; and although I took the Amalechite king captive, I killed all his people. ²¹ It was my men who took their flocks, herds, good things, and food… but they took it in order to sacrifice it before Jehovah our God in GilGal.’

²² And SamuEl asked, ‘Does Jehovah prefer whole burnt offerings and sacrifices, or does He want you to listen to what He says? Look! Obeying is better than sacrificing, and paying attention is better than the fat of rams! ^²³ Now, this sin is an omen of the grief and misery that’s going to come upon you. Because of the contempt you’ve shown for the words of Jehovah, Jehovah is going to treat you with contempt, and you’ll no longer be the king of IsraEl.’

^²⁴ Then Saul said to SamuEl, ‘I have sinned by violating the instructions that you gave me from Jehovah. But I was afraid of the people, so I did whatever they asked. ^²⁵ Now, please take away my sin and reinstate me [as king], and I’ll prostrate myself before your God Jehovah!’

^²⁶ But SamuEl replied, ‘I won’t reinstate you, because you’ve treated the words of Jehovah with contempt. And now Jehovah is going to treat you with contempt by removing you as king over IsraEl.’

^²⁷ Then, as SamuEl turned to go, Saul grabbed [the fringe] on his robe and ripped it. ^²⁸ And SamuEl said to him, ‘That’s how Jehovah has torn your kingship over IsraEl from your hands today, and He’s going to give it to your neighbor; someone who’s better than you. ²⁹ Then IsraEl is going to be divided in two! The Holy One of IsraEl isn’t going to change His mind or be dissuaded, because He isn’t like a man who changes his mind.’

^³⁰ And again, Saul said, ‘I have sinned! Please glorify me before the elders of my people and before IsraEl. Come back to me and I’ll prostrate myself before your God Jehovah!’

^³¹ But SamuEl just walked around Saul, and then he bowed before Jehovah. ³² And he said, ‘Bring the king of Amalech to me.’

Well, when they brought him in, he was trembling. And AgAg asked, ‘Is this how I will meet my bitter end?’

^³³ And SamuEl replied, ‘As you have used your sword to make orphans and widows, your mother is going to be childless.’ Then SamuEl killed AgAg there in the presence of Jehovah in GilGal.

^³⁴ Well, from there, SamuEl went to RamAh, and the saying was started, ‘Whatever is captured will be split.’

So, Saul returned home to his house in GibeAh, ³⁵ and SamuEl never went to see Saul again until the day he died. Yet, he mourned over Saul, for Jehovah was unhappy that He had appointed Saul as king over IsraEl.

Chapter 16

^¹ Then Jehovah asked SamuEl, ‘How long are you going to mourn for Saul? Don’t I treat him with contempt, and am I not removing his rulership from IsraEl? Now, fill your horn with oil and come, because I’m sending you to Jesse in BethLehem… for I have found My king among his sons.’

^² And SamuEl asked, ‘How can I go there… won’t Saul hear about it and kill me?’

And Jehovah replied, ‘Take along a brown heifer cow and say, I’m going to offer a sacrifice to Jehovah. ³ Then call Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice. I’ll tell you what to do then… anoint whoever I make known to you.’

^⁴ So, SamuEl did everything that Jehovah said… he went to BethLehem. But the city elders were startled when they saw him, and they asked, ‘Is your mission here peaceful?’

^⁵ And he replied, ‘Peace! I’ve come to sacrifice to Jehovah. So make yourselves holy, then come and recline with me [and share in] the sacrifice!’

Then he went [to the house of] Jesse and made him and his sons holy, and invited them to the sacrifice. ⁶ And when they got there, he said to [Jesse’s eldest son] EliAb, ‘What stands before [me] is Jehovah’s anointed.’

^⁷ Then Jehovah said to SamuEl, ‘Don’t pay any attention to what [a man] looks like, nor treat his size with contempt, for God doesn’t look at what a man appears to be on the surface… He sees what’s in the heart.’

^⁸ So Jesse called AminAdab to stand before SamuEl. And [SamuEl] said, ‘This isn’t the one that Jehovah has chosen.’

^⁹ Then Jesse brought ShamMah forward. But [SamuEl] said, ‘Nor has Jehovah chosen this one.’

^¹⁰ Well, Jesse sent seven of his sons to stand before SamuEl, and he said to Jesse, ‘Jehovah hasn’t chosen any of these.’ ¹¹ Then SamuEl asked, ‘Are these all the boys you have?’

And Jesse said, ‘Well, there’s still the youngest, but {Look!} he’s out tending my flock.’

And SamuEl said to Jesse, ‘Then send someone to get him, for we aren’t going to rest [tonight] until he gets here!’ ¹² So they sent for [David] and brought him there.

[Now, David] had a ruddy complexion, beautiful eyes, and he was very handsome. Then Jehovah said to SamuEl, ‘Get up and anoint him, for he’s the one!’

^¹³ So, SamuEl took his horn full of oil and anointed him there in the midst of his brothers, and the Breath of Jehovah came to be upon David from that day forward. Then SamuEl got up and returned to RamAh.

^¹⁴ Well, the Breath of Jehovah then left Saul, and Jehovah brought a ferocious smothering spirit over him. ^¹⁵ So, even Saul’s servants were saying, ‘Look! For, a fact, there’s a ferocious spirit from Jehovah that’s smothering you! ¹⁶ Please, O lord, allow your servants to speak before you, and allow us to search for a man who will play his harp for you. Then, whenever the ferocious Breath of God comes over you, he can play his harp and make you feel better.’

^¹⁷ So Saul said to his servants: ‘Then go search for a man who’s a skilled musician and bring him to me!’

^¹⁸ And one of his servants said: ‘Look, I’ve seen the son of the BethLehemite Jesse, who knows how to play. He’s very alert, he’s a warrior, he’s good with words, he’s handsome, and Jehovah is with him.’

^¹⁹ So Saul sent messengers to Jesse, who said: ‘Send your son David to me, the one who shepherds your sheep.’

^²⁰ Then Jesse loaded his burro to carry a bushel of bread, a skin of wine, and a kid goat, and he gave it to David to carry to Saul. ²¹ And when David reached Saul and stood before him, Saul came to love him, and then he appointed David to be in charge of his weapons. ²² So he sent a message to Jesse asking, ‘Please allow David to stay with me, because he has found my favor.’

^²³ Then, whenever the ferocious Breath of God would come over Saul, David would take his harp and play it, which made Saul feel better, for then the ferocious Breath of God would leave him.

Chapter 17

^¹ Thereafter, the Philistines again gathered for war with their forces, and they set up camp near Socoh in Judea (between Socoh and AzeKah in EphesDamMin). ² So, Saul summoned the men of IsraEl and they set up their camp in the Valley of Pines, across from the Philistines. ³ For, the Philistines took up positions on one mountain, and IsraEl took up positions on the other, with the valley between them.

⁴ Then a mighty man came out from the Philistine camp who was known as GoliAth from Gath. He was more than seven feet tall, ⁵ he wore a bronze helmet, an iron and brass chain-link chest covering that weighed more than a hundred-and-fifty pounds, ⁶ brass leg coverings, and he carried a shield between his shoulders. ^⁷ The shaft of the spear that he carried looked like a weaving support, and its iron tip weighed eighteen pounds.

So, out he came in all his armor and weapons, ⁸ and he stood and yelled to the battle lines of IsraEl: ‘Why have you come to fight against us? Am I not a Philistine, and aren’t you the Hebrews of Saul? Choose [your best] man and have him come down to fight me. ^⁹ And if he can beat me and kill me, then we’ll be your servants. But if I beat and kill him, you’ll be our servants and you’ll serve us.’

^¹⁰ Then the Philistine shouted, ‘Look! Here I am mocking the battle lines of IsraEl today… send out a man and we’ll fight for both sides!’

^¹¹ Well, Saul and all IsraEl heard what the Philistine said, which startled and frightened them.

^¹² Then Jesse (an Ephrathite from BethLehem, who was very old) sent David to Saul, ^¹³ for three of Jesse’s oldest sons (EliAb, AminAdab, and ShamMah) had gone to fight along with Saul in the war. ^¹⁴ And because David was the youngest, these three older ones were sent.

^¹⁵ Now, David had left Saul and returned to tend his father’s sheep in BethLehem. ¹⁶ And by the time he was ready to leave for the battle, the Philistine lines had been facing IsraEl for some forty days.

^¹⁷ Jesse had told his son David, ‘Take a bushel of toasted grain and ten loaves of bread to your brothers who are in the camp [of Saul]. ¹⁸ Also, carry along ten rounds of cheese for your brothers and their generals. Check to see if they’re all well and how they’re getting along.’

^¹⁹ Well, it was early in the morning, and Saul and all the men of IsraEl were already down in the Valley of Pines ready to fight the Philistines ²⁰ by the time that David got up [to go]. He left his sheep [in a safe place], and following Jesse’s instructions, he set out with the things he was carrying. But when he got to the battle lines, the war had already begun… ^²¹ the war cries had gone up and both IsraEl and the Philistines were confronting each other.

²² So, David handed over the things he brought to the provisions officer, and then he ran down toward the battle to see how his brothers were doing. ^²³ And as he was speaking to them, {Look!} a man walked out [between the lines]… it was GoliAth the Philistine from Gath. Then he stood in front of the Philistine lines and shouted the words that David heard.

^²⁴ Well, all the men of IsraEl retreated before him, because they were afraid of him. ^²⁵ Then one of the IsraElite soldiers said [to David], ‘Did you see that man who just stepped forward? He stepped out to make fun of IsraEl. And if any man can beat him, the king promises to make him very rich, he will give him his daughter, and the house of his father [will never be taxed] in IsraEl.’

^²⁶ So David said to the men who were standing near him, ‘Then, who will cut down that Philistine and remove his scorn from IsraEl? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine who berates the battle lines of the living God?’

^²⁷ And the men replied to him, ‘Why don’t you go and strike him down?’

^²⁸ Well, his older brother EliAb overheard him talking to the men, and he was furious with David. He shouted: ‘Why did you come down here, and why did you leave the sheep alone in the desert? I know that it’s your pride and the evil in your heart that made you come down here to the battle!’

^²⁹ And David asked, ‘What have I done now? Did I say something wrong?’ ³⁰ Then he turned to the soldiers he had been speaking to and said the same thing, and they repeated their words. ³¹ And when they heard David’s reply, they went and told Saul.

^³² So, David went to Saul and said, ‘My lord; don’t allow that man to upset you, for your servant will go out to fight this Philistine.’

^³³ And Saul said to David, ‘There’s no way that you can go to fight against the Philistine, because you’re just a boy, and he has been a mighty warrior since he was young.’

^³⁴ But David told Saul: ‘Why, your servant was tending his father’s flock when both a lion and a bear came to grab sheep from the herd. ³⁵ Yet I ran after each one and pulled the sheep from their mouths. Then, when they turned against me, I grabbed each of them by the throat and beat them to death! ^³⁶ So now, if a lion and a bear can’t beat your servant, how can this uncircumcised Philistine who berates the battle lines of the living God do so?’

^³⁷ And David said, ‘It is Jehovah who rescued me from [the mouth] of the lion and the bear, so He will rescue me from the hands of this uncircumcised Philistine.’

Then Saul said to David, ‘Well then, go… and may Jehovah be with you!’

^³⁸ So, Saul clothed David in his armor… he put the brass helmet on his head, and put on his chest covering, ^³⁹ then David tied on his sword, but he could barely walk in the [armor], because he had never done this before. So David said to Saul, ‘There’s no way that I can wear this, because I’ve never used [such things] before.’ And they took everything off.

^⁴⁰ Then he picked up his walking stick and went out and found five smooth rocks in the stream bed, and put them into his shepherd’s pouch. And with just his sling in his hand, he went out to meet the Philistine man.

⁴¹ Then the Philistine walked out to meet David carrying his shield in front of him and his spear in his hand. ⁴² And when the Philistine (GoliAth) saw David, he was disgusted, because he was just a boy with a ruddy complexion and pretty eyes. ⁴³ So he shouted at David, ‘Am I a dog that you’re coming to me with sticks and stones?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

^⁴⁴ Then the Philistine said to David, ‘Come here so I can feed your flesh to the flying creatures in the sky and the wild animals of the ground!’

^⁴⁵ And David said to the Philistine, ‘You’re coming to me with a broadsword, a spear, and a shield; but I’m coming to you in the Name of Jehovah the God of armies… the God of the army of IsraEl who you’re making fun of today. ⁴⁶ May Jehovah give you into my hands, for I will kill you, then cut off your head and leave your body in the Philistine camp [where it will be eaten by] the flying creatures in the sky and the wild animals of the ground. Then they will know that the whole earth belongs to the God of IsraEl, ^⁴⁷ and these called ones will know that Jehovah doesn’t need their swords or spears to save them, for He’s the God of war, and He will save them from you!’

⁴⁸ Then the Philistine approached to meet David, and David ran right up to the Philistine battle lines, ⁴⁹ reached into his pouch and grabbed a rock and slung it, hitting the Philistine in his forehead, penetrating his head, and he fell with his face to the ground. ^⁵⁰ Then David stood over the Philistine with a sword, struck him with it and killed him… and it wasn’t David’s sword. ^⁵¹ David just ran up and stood over him, then he grabbed [GoliAth’s] broadsword out of its sheath, and killed him, cutting off his head.

Well, when the Philistines saw that their mighty one had been killed, they all ran away. ⁵² Then the men of IsraEl and Judah shouted and chased the Philistines all the way to Gath and the city gate of Ekron, and they kept on killing the Philistines there on the roads to the gates of Gath and Ekron. ⁵³ Then, after the men of IsraEl finally stopped chasing the Philistines, they went back and looted their camps.

^⁵⁴ So, David took the head of the Philistine and his weapons, and brought them to JeruSalem, where he put them in his tent.

^⁵⁵ Now, when Saul first saw David going out to meet the Philistine, he had asked AbNer (his general), ‘Whose son is this young man, AbNer?’

And AbNer replied, ‘May you live a long life, my lord the king, but I don’t know.’

^⁵⁶ Then the king told him, ‘Then find out who he is.’

^⁵⁷ Well, after David returned from killing the Philistine, AbNer invited him in and took him before Saul (as he was still carrying the head of the Philistine in his hand). ^⁵⁸ Then Saul asked him, ‘Whose son are you, young man?’

And David replied, ‘I’m the son of your servant Jesse from BethLehem.’

Chapter 18

^¹ Well, as Saul was speaking, [the heart of his son] JoNathan became bound to David… he loved him as much as his own life. ² So, Saul took him back that day, and he wouldn’t allow him to return to the house of his father. ^³ And JoNathan made an agreement with David, because he loved him as much as his own life. ^⁴ So, JoNathan took off the [royal] robes he wore and put them on David, as well as his uniform, his broadsword, his bow, and his belt.

^⁵ Thereafter, David went wherever Saul would send him, and Saul put him in charge of his entire army.

Well, all the people were very pleased with David, as were Saul’s servants. ^⁶ Then one day, when David was returning to the city from a war with the Philistines, the people came from all the cities of IsraEl to meet Saul, joyfully singing and dancing with tambourines and cymbals. ⁷ And the women were out in front singing and playing: ‘Saul has cut down thousands, And David his ten thousands.’

^⁸ Well this made Saul very angry, for he considered this [treasonous]. He said, ‘They gave David ten thousands and they only gave me thousands! So, what’s left for him now other than my kingdom?’ ^⁹ As the result, Saul was suspicious of David from that day on.

^¹⁰ Then the next day, the ferocious Breath of God came over Saul, and he started prophesying there in his house. So, David picked up [his har[] and played it throughout the whole day.

Well, Saul’s wooden spear was [nearby], ¹¹ and he picked it up and shouted, ‘I’m going to pin David to the wall!’ And David had to run from him twice.

^¹² Well, Saul came to fear David, for he realized that Jehovah was with him, so he finally had to leave Saul’s [house]. ^¹³ And after he left, Saul demoted him to the commander over a thousand men. But he still [marched in victories] before the people, ¹⁴ for David was capable in everything he did, and Jehovah was with him. ^¹⁵ And Saul recognized this, so he was always cautious when dealing with [David].

^¹⁶ Well, all of IsraEl and Judah came to love David, because he was always [marching in victory] before them. ^¹⁷ Then Saul said to David, ‘Look, I’ll give you my older daughter Merab as your wife, so you can be a powerful son to me. And then you can [lead] the battles of Jehovah!’

Well, what Saul [was thinking] was: ‘That way I won’t have to kill him, I’ll let the Philistines do it for me.’

^¹⁸ But David replied to Saul, ‘Who am I, and how important is the life of my father in IsraEl, that I should be an in-law of the king?’

^¹⁹ Then Saul eventually gave his daughter Merab (who he had promised to David) to AdriEl the Meholathite as his wife. ^²⁰ However, Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David, and when this was reported to Saul, he was very pleased, ^²¹ for he [thought]: ‘Then I’ll give her to him, because she’ll always be a trap to him, and she’ll drive him into the hands of the Philistines.’

So, Saul said to David, ‘I want you to form a marriage alliance with me today.’ ^²² And Saul gave orders to his servants, saying, ‘Talk to David in private and say to him, Look, the king wants you, and all his servants love you, so form a marriage alliance with the king!’

^²³ Well, as Saul’s servants were speaking to David about these things, David asked, ‘Do you really think it’s right for me to form a marriage alliance with the king? Why, I’m just a commoner and I’m unworthy of such honor.’

^²⁴ So Saul’s servants went back and reported everything that David said. ²⁵ And Saul told them, ‘Say this to David: Well, the king is asking a dowry for her, and all he wants is the foreskins of a hundred Philistines as vengeance against his enemies.’ However, Saul had come up with a plan to put David into the hands of the Philistines, ²⁶ and that’s why he told his servants to say these things to him.

But what they told him sounded good to David, so he decided to form a marriage alliance with the king. And when the time came, ^²⁷ David gathered his men and went out to fight the Philistines… and he brought back the foreskins of two hundred of their men and carried them to the king.

^²⁸ Well, when Saul saw this, he knew for sure that Jehovah was with David, and his daughter Michal and all IsraEl loved him. ²⁹ So, Saul came to fear David throughout the rest of his life.

^³⁰ Now, the rulers of the Philistines also came to realize that David was the most important of Saul’s servants, and that he was highly regarded by the people.

Chapter 19

^¹ Then Saul spoke to his son JoNathan and his servants about murdering David. ² But JoNathan was very fond of David, so he reported it to him. He said, ‘Saul is looking to kill you, so be on guard tomorrow morning, and find someplace to hide! ³ Then I’ll go into the field with my father when he goes looking for you, and I’ll stand there and talk to him about you, and I’ll report back to you whatever he says.’

^⁴ So, JoNathan did speak to his father about David, pointing out his good qualities. He said: ‘The king shouldn’t sin against his servant David, because he hasn’t sinned against you, and he has always done the right thing. ⁵ Why, he put his life on the line when he struck down the Philistine, and Jehovah brought a great salvation that day… then all IsraEl saw it and rejoiced. So, why do you want to sin against the blood of an innocent man and kill David when he hasn’t really been charged with anything?’

^⁶ Well, Saul [was moved by] what JoNathan had to say, and he swore an oath, saying, ‘As Jehovah lives, he shall [live]!’

^⁷ Then JoNathan called for David and told him everything. And he brought David back to Saul, and everything was as it used to be.

^⁸ Well, there was another war, and David was put in charge of the battle against the Philistines. Then he soundly defeated them and they ran from him. ⁹ But then the ferocious Breath of Jehovah came upon Saul as he was sitting his house (with a spear in his hand), and David was there playing his [harp]. ^¹⁰ Well, Saul again threw the spear at David, and this time it stuck into the wall. So he left Saul, because he had barely escaped with his life that night.

^¹¹ Thereafter, Saul sent guards to David’s house to keep an eye on him, for he planned to execute him the next morning. But [David’s] wife Michal warned him, ‘You’d better do something tonight if you value your life, for they’re planning to execute you in the morning.’

^¹² Then Michal let David down through a window, and he escaped and ran away. ¹³ So she took a statue and put it in his bed, put some goat hair over its head, and covered it with a nightgown. ¹⁴ Then, when Saul’s guards came to take David, she told them he was sick.

^¹⁵ But the guards said, ‘Well, he’ll have to get out of bed, because we’re taking him to be executed.’ ^¹⁶ Then the guards went to his [bedroom] and found the statue with the goat hair on its head.

^¹⁷ So, Saul then asked Michal, ‘Why did you try to deceive me? Why did you protect my enemy and help him get away?’

And Michal replied, ‘He told me to protect him or else he’d kill me.’

^¹⁸ Well, David got away safely and he went to SamuEl at RamAh, and there he reported everything that Saul tried to do to him. Then SamuEl and David went and stayed at NaiOth. ^¹⁹ And it was reported to Saul, ‘Look, David is in NaiOth of RamAh.’

^²⁰ So, Saul sent [guards] to take David, but when they saw a troop of Prophets who were prophesying with SamuEl taking the lead, God’s Breath came over the [troops] and they started prophesying.

^²¹ Well, when Saul heard about this, he sent more troops, and they started prophesying too. Then Saul sent troops a third time, and they started prophesying. ²² So, Saul was furious, and he went to RamAh himself. And when he got to the threshing floor there, he asked the Prophets, ‘Where are SamuEl and David?’

And they replied, ‘Look, they’re in NaiOth.’

^²³ So [Saul] traveled on to NaiOth, but then the Breath of God came over him and he started prophesying just as he was entering the city… ²⁴ he took off all his clothes and started prophesying in front of SamuEl, and he went around naked all that day and night. And [once again], the people were asking, ‘Is Saul also one of the Prophets?’

Chapter 20

^¹ Then David fled the city of NaiOth and he went to see JoNathan. And he asked, ‘What have I done? What’s my offence? How have I sinned against your father so that he’s searching for my life so vigorously?’

^² And JoNathan replied, ‘That isn’t what’s happening; he isn’t going to kill you. Look, there’s no way that my father would do anything, whether it’s great or small, without telling me. And why would my father hide such a thing from me? It just isn’t so.

^³ But David told JoNathan, ‘Your father knows that I’ve found favor in your eyes, so he told the others, Don’t tell JoNathan, because he cares for him. But as Jehovah lives and as you live, I tell you that the only thing certain between your father and me is death.’

^⁴ Then JoNathan said to David, ‘So, what do you want… what can I do for you?’

^⁵ And David told him, ‘Look, tomorrow is the New Moon [Festival] and I’m supposed to come here to eat with the king. But I want you to send me away. I’ll go out into the fields and hide there sometime after noon. ⁶ And when your father notices that I’m missing, I want you to say to him, David asked me to excuse him, because he had to return to his city of BethLehem to offer a sacrifice for the Festival on behalf of his whole tribe. ⁷ And if he says, Fine, then your servant is at peace with him. But if he gives you a harsh reply, that will indicate he has evil plans for me.

^⁸ ‘Now, you’ve shown great mercy to your servant, for you’ve made an agreement between you and me before Jehovah. And if you think your servant has done anything wrong, then condemn me to death and take me to your father.’

^⁹ But JoNathan replied, ‘That won’t happen. Do you think that if I find that my father has evil plans for you, I won’t tell you?

^¹⁰ And David said to JoNathan, ‘Then who will you send to tell me if your father answers harshly?’

^¹¹ And JoNathan replied, ‘Come, let’s walk out into the fields.’ And they both walked outside [the city].

^¹² Then JoNathan said to David, ‘Jehovah the God of IsraEl knows that I’ll question my father at least two or three times. And if things look good for you, I’m not going to send you to [live in] the fields. ¹³ For, may God [curse] me and add to it if I’ll allow anything bad to happen to you. [However, if the message is bad], I’ll tell you and send you away in peace. Then Jehovah will have to watch over you as He once did my father.

^¹⁴ ‘Now, you’ve met with me while I’m alive, and after I die (by the mercy of Jehovah), ^¹⁵ [please] be merciful to my house through the age. And when Jehovah destroys the enemies of David from the face of the earth, ^¹⁶ may the name of JoNathan always remain in the house of David, even if Jehovah should allow me to die at the hands of your enemies.’

^¹⁷ Then JoNathan swore an oath to David because of his love for him… for he loved him as much as his own life. ^¹⁸ He said, ‘Tomorrow is the New Moon, and everyone will look for you [to come and sit] in your chair, [but you must go and hide in the fields]. ¹⁹ Then after three days, look around, then come to this place and sit behind that boulder. ²⁰ And then I’ll come here and shoot three arrows at a target. ²¹ And when I send my servant to look for them, if I say to him, Here they are in front of you, come pick them up,’ you may come back, because everything is peaceful. As Jehovah lives, let’s do it this way, so there’s no miscommunication. ²² But if I tell the young man, The arrows are way beyond you, I’ll be sending you away to Jehovah!

^²³ ‘Now concerning these things that you and I have agreed to; may Jehovah serve as the witness between you and me through the age.’

^²⁴ Then David went and hid in the fields. And when the New Moon [Festival] started, the king arrived to eat at his table. And as always, he sat in his chair by the wall. ^²⁵ Now, JoNathan and AbNer were already seated there next to Saul, and everyone looked over to where David usually sat. ^²⁶ However, Saul didn’t say anything that day, for he thought is was just a coincidence. He thought that David had likely become unclean and he had gone to cleanse himself that day. ^²⁷ But on the next day (the second day of the month), Saul looked at the place where David sat, and he asked his son JoNathan, ‘Why isn’t the son of Jesse here? This is the second day that he hasn’t been at the table!’

^²⁸ And JoNathan replied, ‘He asked to be excused so he could go to his city of BethLehem. ^²⁹ He asked me to send him there so he could offer a sacrifice for his whole tribe. Now, since you’ve put me in charge of my brothers, and if it pleases you, let me go to check on my brother and find out why he hasn’t come to the table of the king.’

^³⁰ Well, Saul was furious with JoNathan and said to him, ‘You son of a divorced woman; don’t you know that when you call the son of Jesse [your brother] it shames you, and it shames the nakedness of your mother? ³¹ For, as long as the son of Jesse is alive on this earth, my kingdom will never be yours. Now, go and catch that young man, for he’s the son of death!’

^³² But JoNathan asked his father Saul, ‘Why must he die? What did he do?’

^³³ Then Saul grabbed his spear and shoved it toward JoNathan in an attempt to kill him, so JoNathan knew that his father planned to put David to death. ³⁴ As the result, he jumped up from the table in a rage, and he wouldn’t eat anything for the rest of that day, for he was devastated by the fact that his father wanted to finish off David.

^³⁵ Well, the next morning, JoNathan went out into the field with his servant to meet with David as he said he would, ^³⁶ and he told his servant to run and search for the arrows after he shot them. ³⁷ Well, he shot way over [the target], and when his servant got to the place where he shot them, JoNathan yelled, ‘They’re way out beyond that.’ ^³⁸ And he added, ‘Hurry, don’t just stand there!’

Well, JoNathan’s servant finally retrieved all the arrows that his master had shot, ^³⁹ and he wasn’t aware of what was actually happening. But JoNathan and David both understood the meaning of this. ⁴⁰ Then JoNathan handed his weapons to his servant and told him to take them back to the city. ^⁴¹ And as he was leaving, David stood up from [inside] a box and fell with his face to the ground, bowing before him three times. Then he kissed his friend and they both cried over this end to David’s greatness.

^⁴² Then JoNathan said to David, ‘Go in peace! And as we both swore an oath in the Name of the Lord; Jehovah is the witness between you and me, and between my seed and your seed through the ages.’

Then David got up and left, and JoNathan returned to the city.

Chapter 21

^¹ From there, David went to AhiMelech the Priest at Nob, and he was surprised to see David. So he asked him, ‘Why did you come alone… why didn’t anyone come with you?’

^² And David replied, ‘The king sent me today, and he told me not to tell anyone why I came. For, I’ve been instructed to tell you and your servants to go to the place called PhalanNi AlomNi.

^³ ‘Now, if you can find five loaves of bread, please give them to me.’

^⁴ And the Priest said, ‘I don’t have any regular bread, just the holy loaves that the servants have set aside for their women to eat.

^⁵ And David said, ‘Yes, those that have been set aside for the women will do, for we’ve been traveling for three days, and my servants and I are clean. And although the reason for my journey is secular, it will be made made pure by my weapons.’

^⁶ So, the Priest removed the loaves from the presence of Jehovah and gave it to them, because there was no other bread nearby, and [David] took them.

^⁷ Now on that day, there was a certain servant of Saul [who had come to worship] before Jehovah. He was called Doyo the Edomite. And at the time, he was out feeding Saul’s mules.

^⁸ Then David said to AhiMelech: ‘See if you can find a spear or a broadsword, because I don’t have my weapons. Hurry, because this is a matter of the king.’

⁹ And the Priest said, ‘Look, here’s the broadsword of the Philistine GoliAth who you cut down in the Ela Valley. I have it wrapped in a cape behind his chest covering. Take it, because there isn’t anything else like it here.’

And David said, ‘No, there’s nothing else like it. [Please] give it to me!’

^¹⁰ So he went and got it, then he gave it to David, and David continued running from Saul.

Then when he reached AchIsh the king of Gath, AkIsh’s servants asked, ‘Isn’t this David, the king of the land? ¹¹ Isn’t he the one about whom the dancing women sang, Saul cut down his thousands and David his ten thousands?

^¹² Well, David took those words to heart, and he was afraid to appear before AchIsh. ¹³ So, he started [putting on an act] in front of them. He crawled around on his hands [and knees], laid on the floor at the [city] gate, and allowed spit to run down his beard.

^¹⁴ So, AchIsh said to his servants, ‘Look, you can see that the man is having convulsions! Why have you brought him to me? ¹⁵ Do you want to bring someone who is possessed to me? Should I invite him into my house?’

Chapter 22

^¹ Therefore, David got away safely and he went to the cave of OdolLam. And when his brothers and the rest of his family heard about it, they went to him there.

^² Well thereafter, men who were poor, the debtors, and those with a lot of problems starting coming to him, and he became their leader. ⁷ Altogether, there were about four hundred men.

^³ Then David moved from there to MizPah in Moab, and he asked the king of Moab: ‘Please allow my mother and father to stay with you until I know what my God has planned for me.’

^⁴ Well, he had appealed to the king of Moab personally, and the king allowed them to live with him in his citadel.

^⁵ Then the Prophet Gad told David, ^⁶ ‘Don’t settle there in the citadel; go back to the land of Judah.’ So, David went and settled in the city of Hareth.

^⁶ Well, Saul heard where David and his men were. So, he stood on the hill (the one by the plowed fields at RamAh) with his spear in his hand and all his servants around him, ⁷ and he said to his servants, ‘Listen, you sons of BenJamin! Should I really give fields and vineyards to the son of Jesse? Why, then he would appoint all of you to be his lieutenants and generals, ⁸ because you’re all against me. For, which of you bothered to tell me that my own son had made an agreement with the son of Jesse? And which of you told me that my son has turned my servants into my enemies today?’

⁹ Well, Doyo the Edomite (the one who was in charge of Saul’s mules) said, ‘I saw the son of Jesse going to Nob to visit the Priest AhiMelech (the son of AhiTub). ^¹⁰ He went there to inquire of God, and the Priest gave him food and the broadsword of the Philistine GoliAth.’

^¹¹ So, the king sent for the Priest AhiMelech (the son of AhiTub) and his brothers, who were also Priests (they lived in Nob). And they all came to the king. ^¹² Then Saul said, ‘Listen up, O son of AhiTub, for it’s me your lord speaking!’

^¹³ Then Saul asked him, ‘Why did you go against me and agree to give the son of Jesse bread and a broadsword, and speak to God on his account… this man who has been my enemy to this day?’

^¹⁴ And AhiMelech replied, ‘Why, who of all your servants is as trustworthy as David? He’s the son-in-law of the king, he’s in charge of your army, and he’s a man of honor in your house. ^¹⁵ So, why are you asking me why I went to God for him? Now, please don’t accuse your servant and the entire house of my father of the things you’re saying, for your servant just didn’t know of any of these matters, whether small or great.’

^¹⁶ And King Saul said, ‘You’re going to die AhiMelech; you and the entire house of your father!’ ^¹⁷ Then he told his guards who were standing there, ‘Take them out and kill the Priests of Jehovah, because they’ve sided with David. They knew where he had run and they didn’t tell me!’

However, the [guards] weren’t willing to lift a hand against the Priests of Jehovah. ^¹⁸ So, he said to Doyo, ‘Then you [kill] the Priests.’

And Doyo the Edomite slaughtered the Priests of Jehovah that day… eighty-five men who wore the sacred vests. ¹⁹ Then [Saul] attacked the city of the Priests (Nob) and killed all the men, women, children, babies, oxen, sheep, and burros with broadswords. ^²⁰ However, one of AhiMelech’s sons survived (his name was AbiAthar), and he ran to find David.

^²¹ Now, when AbiAthar told David that Saul had executed all the Priests of Jehovah, David said, ‘I knew that this would happen when I saw Doyo the Edomite… ²² I knew that he would report [seeing me] to Saul, so I’m to blame for the deaths of the house and family of your father. ²³ Now, you stay here with me! Don’t be afraid, because when I’m watching out for my life, I’ll also be watching out for yours… I’m going to be your protector.’

Chapter 23

^¹ Then this report came to David: ‘{Look!} The Philistines have attacked KeiLah and they’re destroying all the barns.’

^² So David asked Jehovah: ‘Shall I go and fight these Philistines?’

And Jehovah replied: ‘Go fight the Philistines, and you’ll save KeiLah!’

^³ Then the men who were there with David said, ‘Look, we’re already afraid and we’re still here in Judea, so how can we go [to help] KeiLah? Do we want to add ourselves to the Philistine’s spoils of war?’

^⁴ So, David went and asked Jehovah again, and Jehovah replied, ‘Go go down to KeiLah, for I’m giving the Philistines into your hands!’

^⁵ Then David went to KeiLah with his men, and they fought the Philistines and routed them. It was a great victory, and they took the Philistine’s cattle and saved the people in KeiLah. ^⁶ Then after the [Philistine] retreated, AbiAthar (the son of AhiMelech) went to David at KeiLah, carrying his sacred vest in his hands.

^⁷ Now, when Saul heard that David had gone to KeiLah, he said, ‘Now God has sold him into my hands, for he’s locked into a city of doors and bars.’ ⁸ So, Saul told his people to go and attack David and his band of men there at KeiLah.

^⁹ Well, David realized that Saul would soon hear [that he was there in KeiLah], and that he would plan to do something evil. So David said to AbiAthar the Priest: ‘Bring the sacred vest!’ ^¹⁰ Then David prayed, ‘O Jehovah, God of IsraEl; please hear Your servant, for Saul is planning to attack me in KeiLah. Why, he’ll destroy the whole city because of me. ^¹¹ So, should we lock it up? For Saul will surely come here, now that he has heard that your servant is here, O Lord, the God of IsraEl. Please tell your servant what to do.’

And Jehovah replied, ‘Lock it up!’

^¹² And David asked: ‘Then, will the people of KeiLah hand me and my men over to Saul?’

And Jehovah replied, ‘Yes they will, to save themselves.’

^¹³ So David took his men (about eight hundred of them) and left KeiLah, and went someplace else. And when Saul heard that David had left KeiLah, he spared that city.

^¹⁴ Then from there, David traveled to the desert, where he lived in narrow passes, and he settled in the Ziph Desert.

Well, Saul kept searching for him for quite a long time, but Jehovah kept him out of Saul’s hands.

^¹⁵ Now, David knew that Saul would keep on looking for him, so he stayed in New City in the Ziph Desert. ^¹⁶ And then Saul’s son JoNathan came to David in New City, which strengthened his faith in Jehovah. ^¹⁷ For, [JoNathan] told him, ‘Don’t be afraid, because my father Saul will never find you. Then you will become the ruler over IsraEl and I’ll be your second in command… and my father knows that.’

^¹⁸ And they [once again] made an agreement there in the presence of Jehovah.

Well, David stayed in New City, but JoNathan returned home. ^¹⁹ Then people from the Ziph Desert went to Saul [in GibeAh] and said, ‘Look, David is hiding among us in New City, down in the narrows next to the hill of HachiLah, just to the right of JeshiMon. ^²⁰ So now, every desire of the life of the king is here among us. Come down to us, for everything has now been revealed before the king.’

^²¹ And Saul replied, ‘May Jehovah bless you for coming to me. ²² Now, quickly go back and see if he’s still there and that he hasn’t tricked you. ^²³ Search all the places where he can hide and then come back and tell me, and I’ll be ready to go there with you. For, if he’s somewhere in that land, I’ll send thousands of soldiers from Judah to search for him!’

^²⁴ Then the Ziphites left the presence of Saul.

Well, David and his men were in the MaOn Desert at the time, which is to the west and right of JeshiMon. ²⁵ And when Saul took his men to search for David, this was reported to David, and he retreated to the [mountain called] ‘The Rock,’ in the MaOn Desert. But Saul heard about it and followed David into the desert.

^²⁶ Well, Saul had camped his men on one side of the mountain, and David had camped his men on the other side. But, although David was trying to hide from Saul, Saul had camped his men close to David so he could catch him.

^²⁷ Then a messenger came to Saul saying, ‘Hurry and come, because the Philistines are attacking our land.’

^²⁸ So Saul had to break off his chase of David, and go back to fight the Philistines. And that’s why that mountain is now called ‘Slippery Rock.’

^²⁹ Well, from there David went and settled in the EnGedi Narrows.

Chapter 24

^¹ Then, after Saul returned from driving away the Philistines, he heard that David was in the EnGedi Desert. ² So he selected three thousand of the best soldiers in all IsraEl and went to look for David along the edge of the Trap of the Hinds. ³ And when their march was blocked by herds and flocks along the road, Saul stopped and entered a cave to review his plans… and it so happened that this was the same cave where David and his men were hiding.

^⁴ So David’s men said to him: ‘Look! This is the day that Jehovah spoke to you about when He said, I will give your enemy into your hands and you may deal with him in any way you wish.’

Well, David crept up to Saul [while he was sleeping] and quietly cut the fringe off his robe. ⁵ But afterward, David’s heart was bothered by the fact that he had done this. ^⁶ And he said to his men, ‘Jehovah certainly didn’t mean for me to do such a thing to my lord. I should never have raised a hand against him, because he truly is the anointed of Jehovah.’ ⁷ And after David said this, he persuaded his men not to kill Saul.

Then, when Saul woke up and left the cave, ⁸ David got up and followed him outside. And David shouted after Saul, ‘O my Lord! O king!’

^⁸ And when Saul looked back, David bowed to him with his face to the ground, ⁹ and he said to Saul, ‘Why do you believe people when they say that David wants to kill you? ¹⁰ For look! Today you’ve seen with your own eyes how Jehovah gave you into my hands, and I didn’t want to kill you… I spared you. I said, I won’t lift a hand against my lord, because he’s the anointed of Jehovah.

^¹¹ ‘Why look, my father; I’m holding the fringe of your robe in my hand. [I got so close] that I could remove it, and yet I didn’t kill you. So you should know that I don’t wish you any evil, nor am I disrespectful or rebellious. I haven’t sinned against you, but you’re still determined to take my life! ¹² So, may Jehovah judge between you and me, and may He find me righteous when it comes to you, because He knows that I wouldn’t lift a hand against you. ^¹³ For as the [song] goes: Sin comes from the elder’s lawless ways, But I’ve not raised a hand against you.

^¹⁴ ‘So who are you chasing O king of IsraEl? And who are you pursuing… after someone who has died, or after a flea? ^¹⁵ May Jehovah be the judge! And may He serve as judge between me and you. Yes, may Jehovah look down and judge my case, and may He save me from your hands.’

^¹⁶ Well, after David said this to Saul, Saul asked, ‘Is that the voice of my child David?’

Then he broke into tears, ¹⁷ and he said to David, ‘You’re a better man than I, because you repaid the bad things I’ve done to you with good things. ¹⁸ Then you [took the time to] tell me about these good things, and of how Jehovah gave me into your hands, but you didn’t kill me. ^¹⁹ For, what other man, if he were to find his enemy vulnerable, would be good enough to send him away? So, may Jehovah repay the goodness that you’ve shown today.

^²⁰ ‘And now I know that you’re going to become the king and that you’ll rule over the kingdom of IsraEl. ^²¹ So, [please] swear an oath to me by Jehovah, that you won’t destroy me or my seed, and that you’ll never remove my name from the house of my father.’

^²² So, David swore by an oath to Saul, and then Saul went back home.

Thereafter, David and his men went up into the narrows of MesSara.

Chapter 25

^¹ Well shortly thereafter, SamuEl died, and all IsraEl came to mourn him, and they entombed him inside his house in RamAh.

Then David traveled to the MaOn Desert. ^² And a great man was there who had helped to build Carmel. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats; and at the time he was shearing his flock at Carmel. ³ This man’s name was NaBal, and his wife’s name was AbiGail. Now, the wife was not only smart, she was also very pretty; however, her husband [had the reputation for being] hardheaded and dishonest.

^⁴ Well, while David was there in the desert, he heard that NaBal the Carmelite was out shearing his flock. ^⁵ So David sent ten of his servants to NaBal at Carmel, and he told them to say: ‘May you have peace, ^⁶ and may you and yours live a long and healthy life. Look, I’ve heard that your shepherds are shearing your sheep. ^⁷ And when we saw them out in the desert, we didn’t bother them or take [any of your sheep] as you were leading them to Carmel. ⁸ Just ask your servants and they’ll tell you. Now, if we (your servants) have found favor in your eyes (and we hope that we’ve come on a good day), we’re asking you to give whatever you can to your servants and to your son David.’

^⁹ So David’s servants went to NaBal and said all of that in the name of David. ¹⁰ But NaBal jumped to his feet and asked, ‘And just who is David? Who does this son of Jesse think he is? Why, today he has many servants, and they’ve all run away from their masters. ¹¹ So, shall I take my bread, my wine, and my sacrifices with which I must pay those who are shearing my sheep and give them to others, when I don’t know who they are or where they’ve come from?’

^¹² And with that, he sent the servants of David on their way. And when they got back, they told David what he said.

¹³ Then David told his men to tie on their swords, and David tied on his sword. And four hundred of them followed David, while the other two hundred stayed behind to watch their things.

^¹⁴ Then one of NaBal’s servants brought a message to his wife AbiGail, saying, ‘Look, David sent messengers from [his camp] in the desert to bless our master, but he sent them away. ^¹⁵ Now, [David’s] men were very good to us, for they didn’t get in our way, and they didn’t mistreat us when we were out in the fields. ¹⁶ In fact, they protected us both day and night while we were watching over the flocks. ^¹⁷ So, think about what you should do, because our master has brought evil down upon his house… he’s being unreasonable, and there’s no way we can talk him out of it!’

¹⁸ Then AbiGail ran and took two hundred loaves of bread, two large jugs of wine, five roasted sheep, five bushels of toasted grain, ten bushels of raisins, and two hundred clusters of dried figs, and put them on burros. ¹⁹ And she said to her servants, ‘Take these on ahead and I’ll follow behind.’ (But she didn’t say anything to her husband).

^²⁰ Then she mounted her burro and traveled alongside the mountain until she reached David and his men, and they came to greet her. ²¹ Well at the time, David was saying, ‘Perhaps I was foolish when I guarded all of NaBal’s things in the desert and I didn’t try to take anything. For, now he has repaid my good deeds with evil. ²² So, may God [curse] David and add to it if I leave anyone who belongs to NaBal [alive] that can urinate against a wall by [tomorrow] morning.’

^²³ Well, when AbiGail saw David, she got down off her burro and fell to her face before him, bowing low. And she said, ^²⁴ ‘O my lord, hold me to blame. Please allow your female servant to speak to you, and hear what I have to say. ^²⁵ Please, my master, don’t set your heart against this despicable man NaBal, for his name means foolishness, and he truly is foolish!

‘I didn’t see the servants that you sent to my master. ^²⁶ But, O my lord; as Jehovah lives and as you live, may Jehovah keep you from shedding the blood of the innocent, for in so doing you may save your own life. And may your enemies who are trying to do bad things become as NaBal.

^²⁷ ‘Now, please accept these blessings that I’ve brought to my lord, and distribute them among your servants. ^²⁸ Then forgive your female servant, and may Jehovah make the house of my master one that can be trusted. May Jehovah fight your wars and may He never find you guilty of anything evil. ^²⁹ And if any man chases you and tries to kill you, may Jehovah God save the life of my master, and may the lives of your enemies be thrown down as with a sling. ³⁰ And may Jehovah do all the good things for you that He said He would do and make you the leader over IsraEl.

^³¹ ‘So, please don’t offend your heart by doing this terrible thing to my master, and don’t shed innocent blood without a reason. Please save my master from himself, and then Jehovah will do good things for you… and don’t overlook your female servant or fail to treat her kindly.’

^³² Then David said to AbiGail, ‘Praise Jehovah the God of IsraEl who sent you to me today. ^³³ And may the way that you’ve handled this matter today be praised, for you’ve kept me from shedding blood and you’ve saved me from myself. ³⁴ As Jehovah the God of IsraEl lives, you’ve kept me from doing something bad to you. And if you hadn’t hurried and come to meet me here, none in the house of NaBal who can urinate against a wall would have lived to see the light of dawn.’

^³⁵ Then David accepted all the things that she brought, and he said her, ‘Now return to your house in peace, for I’ve listened to what you’ve said and I respect the person that you are.’

^³⁶ Well, when AbiGail got back home to NaBal, he was holding a banquet in his house that was fit for a king; and he was quite happy, because he’d had too much to drink. So AbiGail didn’t tell him what she’d done until the next morning.

^³⁷ Then in the morning (after NaBal had sobered up from the wine), she told him everything that had happened. And his heart just died inside him and it became [as heavy as] a rock. ^³⁸ And after ten days, Jehovah struck NaBal and he died.

^³⁹ Well, when David heard that NaBal had died, he said, ‘May Jehovah be praised, for He judged the case of my being scorned by NaBal, and He brought NaBal’s evil down upon his own head. Yet, He kept His servant from doing anything bad.’

Then David sent for AbiGail, because he was talking about taking her as his wife. ^⁴⁰ So his servants went to AbiGail at Carmel and spoke to her, saying, ‘David sent us, because he wishes to take you as his wife.’

^⁴¹ Well, she bowed with her face to the ground and said, ‘Look, your female servant… a girl to wash the feet of my master’s servants.’

^⁴² Then AbiGail quickly mounted her burro, and she brought along five of her young women (who followed behind). And she went with David’s servants and became his wife.

^⁴³ Now, David was also married to AhinoAm of JezreEl, ⁴⁴ and [he had been married to] Michal (Saul’s daughter); however Saul then gave her to Phalti (the son of LaIsh) from GalLim.

Chapter 26

^¹ Well, the Ziphites went up to see Saul again, and told him, ‘Look, David is hiding among us on HachiLah Hill, in front of JesSemon.’

² So, Saul again went into the Ziph Desert with three thousand of IsraEl’s best men to look for David. ³ And Saul set up camp along the road to HachiLah Hill, in front of JesSemon, as David was camped in the desert. And when he saw that Saul had come to the desert again looking for him, ⁴ he sent spies who found out where and how prepared he was. ^⁵ And then David personally went to the place where Saul was and found him sleeping near his commander-in-chief AbNer (the son of Ner)… Saul was asleep in his royal chariot, and his men were camped around him.

^⁶ Then David asked AhiMelech the Hittite and AbiShai (the son of ZeruiAh and the brother of JoAb), ‘Who will come with me into the camp of Saul?’

And AbiShai said, ‘I’ll go with you.’

^⁷ So, David and AbiShai went down into the camp that night and walked among [Saul’s] Men. Well, {Look!} there was Saul sound asleep in his royal chariot and his was spear stuck into the ground next to his head… as AbNer and his men were asleep all around him. ^⁸ So, AbiShai said to David, ‘Jehovah has given your enemy into your hands today, so I’m going to run him through with his spear… I’ll only do it once, because I won’t have to do it a second time.’

^⁹ But David said, ‘No, don’t kill him; for who can lift a hand against the anointed of Jehovah and not be guilty?’ ¹⁰ And he added, ‘As Jehovah lives, it is up to the Lord to strike him and kill him, or for him to die in battle and to be [buried] with his ancestors. ^¹¹ For, Jehovah hasn’t instructed me to raise a hand against His anointed. So, we’ll just take the spear that’s next to his head, and his canteen of water, and leave.’

^¹² Then David picked up [Saul’s] spear and canteen, and they left… and no one saw them or knew that they had been there, for no one woke up. All were sleeping tightly, because Jehovah had put them to sleep.

^¹³ Then David walked through the camp and up the mountain, leaving some distance between them. ^¹⁴ And David called to [Saul’s] men and to AbNer (the son of Ner) saying, ‘AbNer… will you answer?’

And AbNer answered ‘Who’s calling me?’

^¹⁵ And David said, ‘Aren’t you a man? For, who else is like you in IsraEl? So, why weren’t you guarding your lord the king? Why, a man came there to destroy your lord the king tonight, ^¹⁶ so what you’ve done is not a good thing! As Jehovah lives, you are sons of death for not guarding your lord the king… the anointed of Jehovah. Now look! Where is the king’s spear… and where’s his canteen of water… these things that he kept by his head?’

^¹⁷ Well, Saul recognized the voice of David and said, ‘Is that the voice of my child David?’

And David replied, ‘It’s my voice O lord… your servant, O king!’ ^¹⁸ And he asked, ‘So, why is my lord chasing his servant? How have I sinned and what is the charge against me?

^¹⁹ ‘And now listen, O my lord the king, to the words of his servant: If it’s God that’s sending you against me, then may you smell your sacrifice. But if it’s the sons of men, may they be cursed before Jehovah. Because, they’ve driven me away from the inheritance I received from Jehovah, saying, Go and serve other gods! ²⁰ Now, may my blood not be spilled on the ground away from the face of Jehovah, for the king of IsraEl is searching for a flea the way he hunts for long-eared owls in the mountains.’

^²¹ And Saul said, ‘I have sinned. Come back to me, my child David, for I won’t do anything bad to you anymore, now that you’ve shown me how much you value my life. I’ve acted foolishly and ignorantly.’

^²² And David replied, ‘Look! Here’s the king’s spear; send one of your servants to take it. ^²³ For, Jehovah will repay each one for his righteousness and faithfulness, as Jehovah saved you from my hands today, since I didn’t wish to raise a hand against the anointed of Jehovah. ^²⁴ And look… as I have valued your life today, may my life be considered more valuable before my lord. May he shelter me and rescue me from all my problems.’

^²⁵ And Saul said to David, ‘You are blest, my child David; for whatever you do will succeed, and you can do whatever you wish.’

So, David went his way, and Saul returned home.

Chapter 27

^¹ And David said in his heart, ‘I’d better run to the land of the Philistines where I’ll be safe, for things don’t look too good for me here. Saul will keep searching for me in IsraEl, and by tomorrow I could be handed over to him.’

² So David got up and left, taking his six hundred men with him, and he went to see AchIsh (the son of MaOch), the king of Gath. ³ Then David, his men, and both his wives (AhinoAm the JezreElite, and AbiGail the wife of NaBal the Carmelite) sat down to meet with AchIsh in his house in Gath. ⁴ And when Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he stopped searching for him.

^⁵ So David said to AchIsh: ‘If your servant has found favor in your eyes, please give me a place in one of your rural cities, and I’ll settle there; for why should you settle your servant in a city to rule next to you?’

^⁶ Then AchIsh gave him Ziklag, which still belongs to the Judean kings to this day.

^⁷ Well, David had stayed there in the land of the Philistines for four months, ⁸ when he and his men attacked the Geshurites, the Gezrites, and the Amalechites… for they inhabited the land all the way from Shurand to the land of Egypt. ^⁹ He attacked the entire land and didn’t leave a man or woman alive, but he took their flocks, herds, burros, camels, and clothing, then he returned to AchIsh.

^¹⁰ Well, AchIsh asked David, ‘Who did you attack today?’

And David replied, ‘The [land] south of Judea, from JerahMeEl south to the [land of the] Kenezites. ¹¹ And I didn’t bring anyone back alive to Gath, so no one can say, Look at what David did!’

And that’s the way David handled matters for as long as he stayed in the land of the Philistines. ¹² And AchIsh trusted David, for he said, ‘It’s a shame that he’s being treated this way by his people in IsraEl, but he can serve me here through the age.’

Chapter 28

^¹ Well, the Philistines started gathering their troops to go to war against IsraEl, and AchIsh said to David: ‘Now, I know that you and your men who are staying with me will join us in this war.’

^² And David replied, ‘This may show you [the faithfulness] of your servant.’

And AchIsh said to David, ‘Then I’ll appoint you as the chief of my royal guards during this period.’

^³ Well, SamuEl had already died, and IsraEl had mourned him at his tomb in his city of RamAh; and Saul had [killed off] all those who search for omens and those who call to [the dead] in the land.

^⁴ Then the Philistines went and camped at Shunem, and Saul gathered the army of IsraEl and camped in Gilboa. ^⁵ Well, when Saul looked at the camp of the Philistines, it frightened him and he became weak at heart. ^⁶ Then he started asking [the direction of Jehovah], but Jehovah wouldn’t answer him in his dreams, give him signs, or answer through the Prophets. ⁷ So he said to his servants, ‘Search for a woman who can tell the future, and I’ll go ask her!’

And his servants told him, ‘Look, there’s a woman who can tell the future in EnDor.’

^⁸ So, Saul disguised himself [by wearing] different clothes, and he covered his face, then he took two men with him and they went to see the woman at night. And he said to her, ‘Use your powers for me and lead me to the one that I want to speak to!’

^⁹ And the woman replied, ‘Look! Now you know as much as Saul did… he who killed off all those in the land who ask of the [dead] and who look for omens. So, have you come here to trap and kill me?’

^¹⁰ And Saul swore an oath to her by God, saying, ‘As Jehovah lives, I won’t treat you unjustly in this matter.’

^¹¹ So the woman asked Saul, ‘Then, who should I bring up for you?’

And Saul replied, ‘Bring SamuEl to me!’

^¹² Well, when the woman saw SamuEl, she screamed. Then she said to Saul, ‘Why have you misled me? Why, you are Saul!’

^¹³ And the king said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid! Who did you see?’

And she said, ‘I see Judges rising from the ground.’

^¹⁴ Then he asked her, ‘What else do you see?’

And she replied, ‘A very old man coming up [from the ground] wearing a doubled robe.’

Well, Saul knew that it was SamuEl, so he fell with his face to the ground and bowed low before him. ¹⁵ And SamuEl said, ‘Why are you bothering me and why did you bring me up?’

And Saul said, ‘I’m in a lot of trouble, for the Philistines have come to war against me, and God has left me. He doesn’t listen to me anymore, nor does He answer the Prophets or reply to me in dreams… all I want to know is what I should do.’

^¹⁶ And SamuEl replied, ‘Then why are you asking me, if Jehovah has left you and taken up with your neighbor? ^¹⁷ For, Jehovah has just done the things to you that I told you He would do. He will rip your kingdom from your hands and give it to your neighbor David, ¹⁸ because you didn’t listen to His voice when He was showing His rage on the Amalechites. ¹⁹ So, Jehovah will give IsraEl into the hands of the Philistines, and by tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, while the camp of IsraEl will be handed over to the Philistines.’

^²⁰ Well at that, Saul dropped to the ground shaking, because he was so afraid of what SamuEl had said… he was already weak in the knees, because he hadn’t eaten all that day or night.

^²¹ Then the woman came up to Saul, and when she saw that he was shaking, she said, ‘Now look at me and listen to your female servant, for I’ve put my life in your hands. I trust what you said. ^²² So now, do what I say, because I’m going to give you a little food to eat so you can regain your strength, and you should leave now.’

^²³ But he wouldn’t listen, because he didn’t want anything to eat. However, both his assistants and the woman kept insisting, so he got up off of the ground and sat in a chair. ^²⁴ Then the woman went out and butchered a calf that was by her house, and took some flour and made some fermentation-free bread, ²⁵ and brought it before Saul and his servants, and they ate… then they returned home that night.

Chapter 29

^¹ Then the Philistines marched all their troops to Aphek, and IsraEl set up camp at EnDor in JezreEl, ² as the Philistine governors were coming by the hundreds and thousands.

Well, David and his men showed up last with AchIsh. ³ And the Philistine governors asked, ‘Who did they come with?’

And AkIsh replied, ‘That’s David, the servant of Saul, the king of IsraEl. This is the second year he’s been staying with me, and I’ve found no fault with him to this point.’

^⁴ Well, the Philistine governors were outraged, and they said to him, ‘Return this man to the people that you put him over; don’t allow him to come with us to the battle, for he could be a traitor in our camp. After all, how do we know that he won’t reconcile with his lord, and then our men will pay with their heads. ⁵ For, isn’t this the same David of whom the dancers sang Saul killed his thousands and David his ten thousands?’

^⁶ So, AchIsh called David and said to him, ‘As Jehovah lives, I know that you’re a good and honest man, and that’s why I invited you with me to the camp. For, I haven’t found anything evil in you since you came to me. But the governors don’t trust you; ^⁷ so return to [your city] in peace, and don’t allow yourself to be seen doing anything wrong in the eyes of the Philistine governors.’

^⁸ And David said, ‘But what have I done… what have you found wrong with your servant? Why won’t you let me fight against the enemies of my lord the king?’

^⁹ And AchIsh answered, ‘I know that you’re a good man… like a messenger from God. But the Philistine governors are saying He shouldn’t come with us to the battle. ¹⁰ So, you and your men should get up early in the morning and return to the city that I gave you!’

^¹¹ Well, David and his men did get up early and they went back to guard the land of the Philistines, as the Philistines started their war against IsraEl.

Chapter 30

^¹ And as David and his men were returning to Ziklag (after three days [of travel]), the Amalechites came from the south and attacked Ziklag… they captured it and burned it. ^² However, they didn’t kill any of the young men or any of the women; they just led them away as captives. ^³ Then, when David and his men got back to the city and found it burned, and that their wives, sons, and daughters had been taken away as captives, ⁴ David and his men cried and wailed until they were just too weak to cry anymore.

^⁵ Well, both of David’s wives (AhinoAm the JezreElite, and AbiGail, the wife of NaBal the Carmelite) had been captured, ⁶ which hurt David so much that his men said they should stone him, because he was so grieved over the people, and for each of his sons and daughters. However, his God Jehovah then gave him strength, ⁷ and he said to the Priest AbiAthar (the son of AhiMelech), ‘Bring the sacred vest to me.’

So, AbiAthar came to David carrying the vest, ⁸ and David asked Jehovah, ‘Should I chase after them?’

And Jehovah replied, ‘Chase after them; for if you chase them, you’ll catch up with them and rescue [your people].’

⁹ So, David went after them with all of his six hundred-men, and when they reached the Bosor Wadi, two hundred of them were left behind [to guard their things], ^¹⁰ leaving him with about four hundred men. So, he went on with the four hundred, leaving the two hundred on the other side of the Bosor Wadi.

^¹¹ Then [his men] found an Egyptian man [lying] in a field, and they took him to David, then they gave him some food and water. ¹² They gave him part of a dried cluster of figs and two portions of raisins, which revived him, for he had gone without anything to eat or drink for more that three days. ^¹³ And David asked him, ‘What are you doing here, and where did you come from?’

And the Egyptian replied, ‘I’m the servant of an Amalechite man. And my master left me here because I was sick… and I’ve been here for three days. ^¹⁴ We had made an attack south of the Cherethites on parts of Judea, to the south of Caleb, and we burned the city of Ziklag.’

^¹⁵ And David asked him, ‘Can you lead me to your troops?’

And he said, ‘Yes… if you’ll swear by God that you won’t kill me or return me to my master, I’ll lead you to them.’

^¹⁶ So he led them, and by the time they caught up with them, everyone was scattered throughout the land, and they were eating, drinking, and celebrating over the great quantity of loot that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.

¹⁷ Well, David kept on slaughtering them from morning to evening, and then into the next day. He didn’t leave a man, and all that escaped was just four hundred boys who fled on camels. ¹⁸ Then David took back everything that the Amalechites had captured, and he rescued both of his wives. ¹⁹ No one had been killed, from the small to the great, and all the sons, daughters, and loot that they had taken was returned.

^²⁰ Then David took all their flocks, herds, and the loot, which was thereafter referred to as ‘the spoils of David.’

²¹ Well, when they got back to the two hundred men that David had left behind at the Bosor Wadi, they came to greet David and all the people who were returning with him. And David went up to them and wished them peace. ^²² However, all the wicked men and troublemakers among the warriors who went with David said, ‘They didn’t go with us, so why should we divide any of the loot we recovered with them? Let them just find their wives and children, and [be happy with that]!’

^²³ However, David said, ‘You must not mistreat the brothers of this confederation. For, it was Jehovah who guarded us and gave the enemy to us, and it was He who saved the troops that came with us. ²⁴ So, watch your words, because these men are in no way inferior, and they’ll receive their share of the war for staying here and watching our equipment… they will be given the same share as everyone else.’

^²⁵ And from that day on, that was the rule in IsraEl.

^²⁶ Well, when David got back to Ziklag, he sent [a portion of] the spoils to the elders of Judah, and he gave some to his neighbors, saying, ‘Look, here’s a blessing from the spoils of the enemies of Jehovah.’

^²⁷ [He also sent some of the spoils to the people in] BethEl, Southern RamOth, JatTir, ²⁸ AroEr, SiphMoth, EshTemoa, ²⁹ RachAl, and to those in the JerahMeElite cities, the Kenite cities, ^³⁰ the people in Hormah, and BeerAshan, and Athach, ³¹ and to those in Hebron… David and his men carried it to each of those places.

Chapter 31

^¹ Well, in the war between the Philistines and IsraEl, the IsraElites were routed by the Philistines, and they were slaughtered all the way to Mount Gilboa. ² Then the Philistines caught up with Saul and his sons, and they were able to cut down JoNathan, AbinAdab, and MelchiShua (Saul’s sons), ³ but the battle got bogged down when they were fighting Saul. Then the bowmen shot at Saul and wounded him in the spleen. ⁴ And Saul said to his weapons bearer, ‘Unsheathe your broadsword and run me through with it, so one of these uncircumcised men doesn’t kill me and then make fun of me!’

But the man carrying his weapons was afraid and he didn’t want to do it, so Saul took his broadsword and fell on it. ⁵ And when the man carrying his weapons saw that Saul was dead, he fell on his sword and died also.

^⁶ So, Saul, all three of his sons, his weapons bearer, and all his men died that same day. ^⁷ And when the men of IsraEl who were on the other side of the Jordan Valley saw that Saul and his sons were dead, they all ran away… they just left their cities and ran, and then the Philistines took [their cities] and lived there.

^⁸ Well, it was when the Philistines came to strip the dead that they found Saul and his three sons dead on Mount Gilboa. ⁹ Then they cut off [Saul’s] head, took his weapons, and sent them all around the land of the Philistines to announce the good news to their idols and their people. ^¹⁰ They also presented his weapons [to the goddess] Astarte, and they nailed [Saul’s] body to a wall in BethSham.

¹¹ Well, when the people in JabIsh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, ^¹² all their mighty men went that night and recovered the bodies of Saul and his son JoNathan from the wall in BethSham, and brought them back to JabIsh, where they were burned [in a funeral pyre]. ¹³ Then they took their bones and placed them in a tomb in the plowed field of JabIsh, and they fasted for seven days.

2 Samuel

From the Greek Septuagint text as was used by First Century Christians

Chapter 1

¹ After Saul died and after David had returned from his battle with the Amalechites, David spent a couple of days in ZikLag. ² And on the third day, a man arrived from the camp of the army of Saul. His clothes were all torn and his face was covered with dirt. And when he reached David, he fell to the ground and bowed before him, ³ then David asked, ‘Where have you come from?’

And he said, ‘I’ve struggled to make it here from the camp of IsraEl.’

⁴ Then David asked, ‘What message are you bringing? Tell me!’

And he said, ‘Our army has fled the field of battle, and many have been injured and many more have been killed. Why, Saul and his son JoNathan have both been killed.’

⁵ Then David asked, ‘How do you know that both Saul and JoNathan are dead?’

⁶ And the young man said, ‘I happened to be on Mount Gilboa when I saw Saul leaning on his spear. Then the chariots and cavalry started coming toward him, so I went over to his side. ⁷ Well, when he looked behind him and saw me, he to called to me, and I replied, Look, here I am. ⁸And he asked, Who are you? And I said, I’m an Amalechite. ⁹ And he said to me, Stand over me and kill me, because an awful darkness is coming over me! ¹⁰ So, I stood over him and put him to death, because I knew that he couldn’t survive his wound. Then I took the [turban] from his head and the armlet from his biceps, and I’ve brought them here to you, my lord.’

¹¹ Well, David started grabbing his clothes and ripping them; and all of his men started ripping their clothes, ¹² beating on their chests, and crying. Well, they fasted for the rest that day over Saul, his son JoNathan, the people of Judah, and the people of IsraEl who were cut down with broadswords.

¹³ Then David asked the man who brought him the message, ‘Where are you from?’

And he replied, ‘I’m the son of an Amalechite man who is living in your land.’

¹⁴ And David asked him, ‘So, why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand and kill the anointed one of Jehovah?’ ¹⁵ Then David called one of his servants and said, ‘Come here and kill him!’ So, he struck the man and he died. ¹⁶ For David said to him, ‘Your blood is on your own head, because your own mouth spoke against you when you said I have killed the anointed one of Jehovah.’

¹⁷ Then David went into mourning over Saul and his son JoNathan. ¹⁸ And to teach the sons of Judah he sang:

‘It’s written in the scroll of the righteous:
¹⁹ ‘Erect a stele, O IsraEl,
For those who have died in your hills;
For the mighty who’ve fallen.

²⁰ Don’t announce it in Gath;
Or announce it as good news in AshKelon’s streets,
So the daughters of Philistia aren’t happy;
So the daughters of uncircumcised do not rejoice.

²¹ May dew not fall on Gilboa;
May it not rain upon you,
There in the fields of the first fruits;
For the shield of the mighty was treated with contempt,
Saul’s shield was not anointed with oil.

²² From the blood of the slain;
From the fat of the mighty;
But JoNathan’s bow did not return empty;
The broadsword of Saul did not return baren.

²³ For Saul and JoNathan, those who were loved…
The beautiful ones were not parted;
They were handsome in life…
And they’re together in death.

They were swifter than eagles;
They conquered more than do lions.
²⁴ So, Daughters of IsraEl, cry over Saul,
For he dressed you in scarlet and jewels… he dressed you in clothing and jewelry of gold.

²⁵ Now the mighty have fallen in battle;
O JoNathan; You were killed in the mountains.
²⁶ I ache for you, O my brother
For, to me you were a beautiful man.

Your wonderous affection for me,
Was greater than the love of a woman.
²⁷ But now the mighty have fallen,
And their weapons of war are destroyed.’

Chapter 2

¹ After that, David asked Jehovah, ‘Should I return to one of the cities of Judah now?’

And Jehovah answered, ‘Go!’

Then David asked where he should go, and Jehovah answered, ‘To Hebron.’

² So, David moved to Hebron with his wives (AhinoAm the JezreElite, and AbiGail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite) ³ and his men; and each man [obtained] his own house. Then they all started living there in and around Hebron.

⁴ Thereafter, the men of Judea came and anointed David to rule over the house of Judah.

Then they reported to David that the men of JabIsh Gilead had put Saul’s [body] in a tomb. ⁵ So, David sent messengers to the leaders of JabIsh of Gilead, who said to them, ‘You are blest by Jehovah for showing such mercy to your lord Saul, the anointed of God, by building a tomb for him and his son JoNathan. ⁶ Now, may Jehovah give you mercy and truth, and I will treat you in the same [kind] way that you’ve treated [Saul and JoNathan]. ⁷ So, prepare yourselves and make yourselves strong, for now that your lord Saul has died, I’ve been anointed to rule over the house of Judah and to become your king!’

⁸ However, AbNer (the son of Ner), Saul’s commander-in-chief, took Saul’s son IshBosheth from his camp to ManaEm, ⁹ and set him up as the ruler over Gilead, Thasiri, JezreEl, EphraIm, BenJamin, and all the rest of IsraEl.

¹⁰ Well, when IshBosheth became the king over IsraEl, he was forty-years old; and he reigned there for two years. However, the house of Judah followed David as their ruler. ¹¹ And David reigned in Hebron for seven years and six months.

¹² Then AbNer (the son of Ner) and the servants of IshBosheth came from ManaEm to Gibeon, ¹³ and JoAb (the son of ZeruJah) and David’s servants came from Hebron and met with them at the spring of Gibeon. Then they all sat down together at the spring, with each group sitting on opposite sides of the spring. ¹⁴ And AbNer said to JoAb, ‘Have your servants get up and play in front of us.’

And JoAb said, ‘Get up!’

¹⁵ So, twelve of IshBosheth’s servants (BenJaminites) stood up, and then twelve of David’s men stood up, ¹⁶ and they all grabbed each other by the head and jabbed each other in the side with their swords, and they all fell together. So from then on, that place was known in Gibeon as ‘The Place of the Plotters.’

¹⁷ As the result, a battle started that day, which was hard fought; and AbNer and the men of IsraEl lost to the servants of David.

¹⁸ Now, ZeruJah had three sons who were there; JoAb, AbiShai, and AshaEl… and AshaEl was very light on his feet… like a deer in the field. ¹⁹ Well, he chased AbNer without slowing or swerving. ²⁰ And when AbNer looked back and saw him, he shouted, ‘Is that AshaEl in person?’

And he replied, ‘It’s me!’

²¹ And AbNer shouted, ‘Then turn aside and take the armor from one of your servants [and put it on].’ However, AshaEl didn’t want to slow down, because he was hot on the heels of AbNer. ²² Then AbNer said to AsaheEl, ‘You’d better turn back or I’ll have to kill you, and then; how will I ever show my face to JoAb again? ²³ What are you doing? Go back to your brother JoAb!’

However, he wasn’t willing to leave. Then AbNer threw his spear and hit him in the stomach, going completely through him, and he fell and died there under [AbNer]. Well, everyone went to the place where he fell and stood there looking [at the body].

²⁴ Now, JoAb and AbiShai also kept chasing AbNer until sunset, and they had gotten as far as the hill of AmManin in front of Gai, on the road between Gibeon and the desert. ²⁵ Then the sons of BenJamin got together to catch up with AbNer, and they had reached the top of one of the hills. ²⁶ So, AbNer called to JoAb saying, ‘Do you really think that you’ll win with your broadsword, or don’t you know that it will lead to a bitter end? Tell your people to stop chasing their brothers!’

²⁷ And JoAb said, ‘As Jehovah lives; it’s a good thing that you said this, otherwise our people would have been chasing each other all night long!’

²⁸ So, JoAb blew his trumpet, and all his people withdrew and stopped chasing after IsraEl, and the war ended.

²⁹ Then AbNer and his men left at sunset and marched through the night. They crossed the Jordan and returned all the way to their camp, ³⁰ and JoAb stopped chasing AbNer. Then he gathered all his men to find out how many of David’s servants had been lost, and found that he had only lost nineteen, plus AshaEl. ³¹ However David’s men had killed three hundred and sixty of the sons of BenJamin under AbNer.

³² Then they picked up AshaEl’s [body] and put it in the tomb in BethLehem where his father was buried. And JoAb and his men marched through the entire night, reaching Hebron at dawn.

Chapter 3

¹ Well, the war between the house of David and the house of Saul lasted a long time, and the house of David kept getting stronger, but the house of Saul kept getting weaker.

² In the meantime, David had sons born to him in Hebron. His first-born was AmNon through AhinoAm the JezreElite; ³ the second was DaluYa through AbiGail the Carmelite; the third was AbSalom through MaAcha the daughter of Tholmi, king of Gesir; ⁴ the fourth was Ornia through PhegGith; the fifth was Sabatia through AbiTal; ⁵ and the sixth was JetheraAm through AiGla. These were all David’s wives and all his sons who were born in Hebron.

⁶ Well, a war started between the house of Saul and the house of David when AbNer was [acting as] the king of IsraEl. ⁷ And Saul used to have a concubine named ResPha (the daughter of Jal). Then Saul’s son IshBosheth went to AbNer and asked, ‘Why are you [sleeping] with my father’s concubine?’

⁸ Now, this made AbNer furious with IshBosheth, and AbNer said, ‘Do you dare to speak to me like a dog after the mercy I’ve shown to the house of your father Saul, and to his family and friends? Why, I never went over to the side of the house of David, so why are you coming to me and complaining that I’ve been unjust in regard to some woman today? ⁹ As Jehovah swore by an oath to David, may God curse AbNer and add to it if I don’t do the same thing. ¹⁰ I will remove the kingship from the house of Saul and elevate the throne of David over all of IsraEl and Judah, from Dan to BeerSheba.’

¹¹ Well, IshBosheth didn’t say anything more, because he was so afraid.

¹² Then AbNer sent messengers to David right away (he was in ThaiLam at the time), who told him, ‘Make a treaty with me, because I’m on your side now, and I’m going to give the whole house of IsraEl to you.’

¹³ And David replied, ‘Good! I will make an agreement with you; however, there’s just one thing that I want to ask of you… I don’t want to see your face unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal with you when you come.’

¹⁴ And David sent messengers to Saul’s son IshBosheth, who said, ‘Give me back my wife Michal, who I paid for with the foreskins of a hundred Philistines.’

¹⁵ So, IshBosheth sent and had her taken from her husband PhaltiEl (the son of SelLe). ¹⁶ And her husband followed her back to BarAkim, but AbNer warned him to go back, so he returned to his home.

¹⁷ Then AbNer spoke to the elders of IsraEl and said, ‘For a long time now, you’ve been looking for David to rule over you. ¹⁸ And this is the time for you to act, for Jehovah has said concerning David, I will deliver IsraEl from the hands of the Philistines and all their other enemies at the hands of David!’

¹⁹ So, AbNer went and spoke to the people of the tribe of BenJamin (before he went to speak to David in Hebron), and everyone was pleased, both in the house of BenJamin and in all IsraEl. ²⁰ So then, AbNer came with twenty of his men to see David in Hebron, and David prepared a banquet for them. ²¹ Then AbNer said to David, ‘I will go and gather all IsraEl to my lord the king, and I will conclude an agreement with you, that you may rule over whomever you wish.’

And then David sent AbNer away in peace.

²² Shortly thereafter, JoAb returned to David with his army after a battle, and they were carrying many spoils of war. However, by this time AbNer was no longer there with David in Hebron, since he’d been sent away in peace. ²³ But when JoAb and his men heard that AbNer (the son of Ner) had come to David and that he’d been sent away in peace, ²⁴ JoAb went to the king and asked, ‘What have you done? {Look!} AbNer came here… and you sent him away in peace? ²⁵ Don’t you know that AbNer just came here to deceive you? All he came for is to find out what you’re doing!’

²⁶ Well, after JoAb left David, he sent messengers to AbNer (who was at the well of SeiRam), asking him to return… but David didn’t know about this. ²⁷ And when AbNer returned to Hebron, JoAb called to him as he reached the city gate, saying that he wanted to speak to him.

Well, it was a trap; he stabbed him in the stomach and killed him… he did this to [avenge] the blood of his brother AshaEl.

²⁸ Then, when David heard about it, he said, ‘My kingdom and I are innocent before Jehovah through the ages over the blood of AbNer, the son of Ner. ²⁹ May the guilt rest upon JoAb and upon the house of his father; may the house of JoAb always suffer from gonorrhea and leprosy; may they walk on crutches; may they starve; and may they be cut down in battle. ³⁰ For JoAb and his brother AbiShai only looked for AbNer because he killed their brother AshaEl at the battle of Gibeon.’

³¹ Then David said to JoAb and all his men, ‘Now rip your clothes, wrap yourselves in sackcloth, and mourn for AbNer.’

After that, David followed AbNer’s casket in his funeral procession, ³² and they buried him in a tomb in Hebron, where David screamed and cried, as did all the people. ³³ And the king went in mourning over AbNer, and said, ‘Should AbNer have died like Nabal? ³⁴ Oh, your hands weren’t tied, your feet weren’t in shackles, and you weren’t led away like Nabal; rather, you were cut down in the presence of an unrighteous son.’

Then all the people gathered to weep for him. ³⁵ And David invited them all to eat loaves of bread in a funeral meal that day. And David swore an oath, saying, ‘May God curse me and add more to it if I eat anything before the sun sets today.’

³⁶ So, all the people were pleased by the things that the king had done before them. ³⁷ And all IsraEl got to know that the king had nothing to do with killing AbNer (the son of Ner).

³⁸ And the king said to his servants, ‘Don’t you know that a great leader has fallen in IsraEl today? ³⁹ Why, I feel like one of his close relatives and as someone who has stood in the presence of a king. But these men, these sons of ZeruJah, are hard for me to bear. May Jehovah repay the one who did this wicked thing with the evil that he deserves.’

Chapter 4

¹ And when Saul’s son IshBosheth heard that AbNer (the son of Ner) had been killed in Hebron, he and all the men in IsraEl became weak [in the knees].

² Now, there were two men who were leaders of the confederation of IshBosheth; one was BaAna and the other was Rechab. They were both sons of RimMon the BeerOthite of the tribe of BenJamin (for BeerOth was considered part of the tribe of BenJamin). ³ And these BeerOthites fled to GetThaim, where [their families] live to this day.

⁴ Also, Saul’s son JoNathan had a five-year-old son who was lame. For, when the message came from JezreEl about [the death] of Saul and JoNathan, his nurse picked him up and ran away, but she dropped him, which damaged his legs. His name was MephiBosheth.

⁵ Well, as they were leaving, the sons of RimMon the BeerOthite (Rechab and BaAna) went to the house of IshBosheth in the heat of the day, during his noontime nap. ⁶ And at the time, the doorman was out sifting wheat, so they slipped in without being noticed. ⁷ And there was IshBosheth in his bedroom asleep in his bed, so they struck him, killed him, and cut off his head. Then they took the head and traveled west all that day and night… ⁸ they brought IshBosheth’s head to David in Hebron and said to the king, ‘Look, here’s the head of Saul’s son IshBosheth… your enemy who would have killed you. Jehovah has given him to our lord the king in punishment of the enemies of his seed. For, Saul and his seed have been your enemies to this day.’

⁹ But David told Rechab and his brother BaAna, ‘As Jehovah (the One who has protected my life) lives; ¹⁰ The man who reported to me that Saul had died thought he was bringing me good news, but I had him taken away and killed in ZikLag, despite what he thought. ¹¹ And now, you wicked people have killed a righteous man while he was in his house asleep in bed. So, I will require his blood from you, and I will wipe you off this earth!’

¹² And at that, David gave orders to his servants, and they killed them both… they cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies near the spring in Hebron. Then they took the head of IshBosheth and placed it in the tomb of AbNer (the son of Ner) in Hebron.

Chapter 5

¹ Thereafter, all the tribes of IsraEl to came to David in Hebron, and they said to him: ‘Look, we’re your own flesh and bones. ² And although Saul used to be our king, you were the one who led the people of IsraEl to and from our [battles], so you will be the leader over IsraEl.’

³ Then all the elders of IsraEl came [and met with] the king in Hebron, and King David made a treaty with them there in Hebron, in the presence of Jehovah. Then they anointed David to be the king over all IsraEl.

⁴ David was thirty years old when he started his rule, and he reigned for forty years. ⁵ He reigned over [the tribe of] Judah in Hebron for seven-and-a-half years, and he reigned over all IsraEl and Judah from JeruSalem for thirty-three years.

⁶ So, David and all his men then [marched on] JeruSalem, where the Jebusites were living at the time. And the [Jebusites] said to him, ‘You’re not going to enter here, for the blind and the lame will oppose you! For even they are saying, David will never enter [this city].’

⁷ However, David took the citadel on Zion, and he made it his own city. ⁸ Then he told his men, ‘Everyone who cuts down a Jebusite should also use his dagger on the lame, the blind, and on anyone else who hates the life of David. And because of this, people will say, The blind and the lame will never enter the house of Jehovah.’

⁹ Well, David took up living there in the citadel, and the place became known as the City of David. And thereafter, he built a city around his tower and palace. ¹⁰ And from then on, David kept getting greater, because Jehovah the Almighty was with him.

¹¹ Then Hiram (the king of Tyre) sent messengers to David, along with much wood from his cedar trees and some stoneworkers, and they built a palace for David.

¹² Now, David knew that it was Jehovah who had made him king over IsraEl, and it was He who was blessing [David’s] kingdom, because of His people IsraEl.

¹³ Well, after David moved from Hebron to JeruSalem, he took more wives and concubines, so he had even more sons and daughters. ¹⁴ These are the names of the children that were born to him in JeruSalem: SamMous, Sobab, Nathan, Solomon, ¹⁵ EbeAr, EliSoue, Naphek, JePhies, ¹⁶ EliSama, EliDae, EliPhalath, Samae, JessiBath, YalaMaAn, YeBaAr, TheaEsous, EliPhalar, Naged, Naphek, JaNathan, LeAsamus, BaalImath, and EliPhaAth.

¹⁷ Then, when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed to be the king over IsraEl, they went looking for him. And when David heard about this, he returned to his citadel, ¹⁸ as the Philistines formed for an attack in the Valley of the Titans. ¹⁹ So, David went to Jehovah and asked, ‘Should I fight the Philistines, and will You give them into my hands?’

And Jehovah replied, ‘Go, for I will save you and give the Philistines into your hands!’

²⁰ So, David attacked them from the mountain passes and breached their lines, defeating the Philistines. And David said, ‘Jehovah cut through my enemies the Philistines like He cuts through water. So, because of this, we will name this place the High Breaches.’

²¹ Well, the [Philistines] had left behind all [the images of] their gods, so David and his men took them and carried them along with them. ²² And then the Philistines came again and met to fight in the Valley of the Titans. ²³ So, David asked of Jehovah, and Jehovah replied, ‘Don’t confront them, go around them to the other side of the Forest of Tears, and I will give them into your hands. ²⁴ Then, when you hear the sound of them marching from the Forest of Tears, you must attack, and I will lead you in your battle with the Philistines.’

²⁵ So, David did just as Jehovah told him, and he cut down the Philistines from Gibeon to the land of GeZer.

Chapter 6

¹ Thereafter, David gathered all the young men of IsraEl (there were about seventy thousand of them). ² Then he and all his men (along with rulers from Judah) went on an expedition to bring back the Chest of God that was used to call on the Name of Jehovah of armies… the one that has the [covering of] cherubs on it. ³ So, they went to the house of AminiDab (the one on the hill), and picked up the Chest of Jehovah and put it on a new wagon. And the sons of AminiDab led the wagon that carried the Chest.

⁴ Now, as AminiDab’s sons were leading the wagon along, ⁵ David and his men were dancing in front of Jehovah and playing musical instruments… they were playing appropriate lively tunes on lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and pipes. ⁶ And when they arrived at the threshing-floor of NaChon, the oxen [carrying the chest] bolted and Oza stuck out his hand and grabbed the Chest of God to steady it. ⁷ Well, this enraged Jehovah, so God struck Oza and he died there next to the Chest of Jehovah… in front of God.

⁸ Well, David was very depressed over Jehovah cutting down Oza. So, he called that place ‘the Cutting Down of Oza,’ which is what it is still called today.

⁹ Now, David became afraid of Jehovah that day, for he asked, ‘Then how can I bring the Chest of God with me?’ ¹⁰ So he decided not to bring the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah into his city. Rather, he turned and carried it to the house of ObedEdom, the GitTite, ¹¹ and the Chest of Jehovah was kept there for three months. But as the result, Jehovah blest the household of ObedEdom and everything that he owned.

¹² Well, when it was reported to King David that the house of ObedEdom and all his things were being blest because of the Chest of God, David went and took the Chest of Jehovah from there, and he [had it brought] into the city of David in a joyful [parade]. ¹³ For, as the Chest of Jehovah was being transported, it was led by seven companies of dancers, along with a calf and lambs that were being brought for a sacrifice, and David [led the way] playing music that was appropriate in the presence of Jehovah.

¹⁴ Well, David wore a fine robe for the occasion. ¹⁵ And David and the whole house of IsraEl danced in front of the Chest of Jehovah, shouting, and blowing trumpets. ¹⁶ And as the Chest reached the city of David, Michal (Saul’s daughter) looked out her window and saw King David dancing and playing music before Jehovah, and in her heart she was disgusted.

¹⁷ Well, they brought the Chest of Jehovah and put it in its place, in the middle of the Tent that David had made for it, then David sacrificed whole burnt offerings and peace offerings before Jehovah. ¹⁸ And after he did this, David blest the people in the name of Jehovah of armies, ¹⁹ and he distributed bread, grilled meat, and pancakes among all the people of IsraEl from Dan to BeerSheba, both the men and the women. Then everyone went back home, ²⁰ and David returned to bless his own house.

Well, when he got there, Michal (the daughter of Saul) came out to meet David, and she started shouting at him. She asked, ‘So, how was the king of IsraEl glorified today as he danced naked in front of the daughters of his servants? For you exposed yourself while you were dancing!’

²¹ And David replied, ‘When I’m in the presence of Jehovah, I’m going to dance. May Jehovah, who chose me over your father and his house, be praised for allowing me to take the lead over His people IsraEl. So, I will play and dance in His presence, ²² and I will be uncovered again in front of the girls (who you said I dishonored myself in front of), so I can be useless in your eyes.’

²³ As the result], Michal (the daughter of Saul) remained childless until the day she died.

Chapter 7

¹ Well, after Jehovah had conquered all [of David’s] enemies around him, the king was sitting in his palace, ² and he said to the Prophet Nathan, ‘Look, here I am living in a palace of cedar, while the Chest of God is sitting in a tent.’

³ And Nathan said to the king, ‘Then do whatever your heart moves you to do, because Jehovah is with you!’

⁴ But that night, the word of Jehovah came to Nathan, which said, ⁵ ‘Go and speak to My servant David, and tell him that this is what Jehovah says: You are not to build a house for Me to live in, ⁶ because I haven’t stayed in a house from the time that I led the sons of IsraEl out of Egypt until now. Rather, I’ve been moving about in a tent ⁷ in all the places where IsraEl has traveled.

‘Now, as you speak to him, ask: Have I spoken to any tribe of IsraEl that I’ve assigned over My people and asked them why they wouldn’t build me a house of Cedars? ⁸ Then tell my servant David that Jehovah the almighty says: I took you out of the sheep pens to be the leader over My people IsraEl, ⁹ and wherever you went I’ve been with you. I’ve destroyed all your enemies and I’ve made your name famous among all the great men of the earth.

¹⁰ ‘And I will establish a place for my people IsraEl… I will plant it, they will camp there by themselves, and they won’t have to worry anymore. For the sons of unrighteousness won’t humble them as they did in ancient times, ¹¹ back when I put judges over my people IsraEl. It is then that I will allow you to rest from all your enemies, and I will instruct you to build a House for Jehovah.

¹² ‘[It will be] after your days are finished and you’ve gone to sleep with your ancestors, that I will raise up your seed after you – someone who has come from within you – and I will prepare his kingdom. ¹³ Then He will build Me a House to My Name, and I will make his throne stand through the ages… I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me. ¹⁴ Then if he acts unrighteously, I will discipline him with the type of switch that men use, and spank him the same way that the sons of men do. ¹⁵ But I will never remove My mercy from him in the same way that I’ve removed My mercy from others. ¹⁶ Rather, his house and his kingdom will stand before Me through the ages, and his throne will last through the ages.’

¹⁷ So, Nathan told David all the words that he heard in the vision. ¹⁸ Then King David went in and sat before Jehovah and asked, ‘Just who am I, O my Lord Jehovah, and what is my house that You’re showing such love for me? ¹⁹ Why, I was once very small before you, O my Lord Jehovah, yet You spoke about my house long ahead of time. So, what laws are you giving me, O my Lord, ²⁰ and what should David say before You?

‘Now, You know Your servant, O my Lord Jehovah, ²¹ and You’ve treated Your servant as Your heart has directed. ²² You have brought about all these great things to let your servant know that he should glorify You, O my Lord Jehovah, for there is no one else like You, and we’ve heard of no God other than You.

²³ ‘And what are Your people IsraEl? For no other nation on the earth is guided by God. Yet, You have purchased a people to establish Your Name and to show Your greatness and grandeur. For You drove nations out from in front of the people You purchased out of Egypt, and made them live in tents. ²⁴ And You have set aside IsraEl to be Your people through the ages… and You, O Lord, have become their God.

²⁵ ‘And now, O my Lord Jehovah; may the things that You said about Your servant and his house prove true through the ages, just as You said. ²⁶ And may Your Name ²⁷ Jehovah – the Almighty God over IsraEl – be glorified through the ages. For, You have uncovered the ears of your servant and told me that I shall build a House for You. This is why Your servant’s heart has been moved to pray this prayer to You.

²⁸ ‘And now, O my Lord; You are God! So, the words that You said about the good things that You would do for Your servant will come true! ²⁹ Therefore, start blessing the house of Your servant that will stand before You through the ages. For You, O my Lord Jehovah, have spoken, and You’ve promised to bless the house of your servant through the ages.’

Chapter 8

¹ Thereafter, David attacked the Philistines and routed them, and he took back everything that [IsraEl] had lost to them. ² Then David attacked Moab and divided their army into two lines as they lay on the ground. Half were to be killed and the rest were taken as captives. Then the Moabites became David’s servants and they were required to pay him a tribute.

³ Next, David attacked AdraAzar (the son of RaAb, the king of Souba) as he was marching toward the Euphrates River. ⁴ There David captured a thousand chariots, seven thousand of his cavalry, and twenty thousand of his foot soldiers. Then David had all the chariots destroyed, except for a hundred that he kept for himself.

⁵ And when the Syrians came from Damascus to help AdraAzar (the king of Souba), David cut down twenty-two thousand of their men. ⁶ Then David sent a detachment to Syria, where they garrisoned near Damascus, and the Syrians had to pay a tribute to David also. So, Jehovah was with David wherever he went.

⁷ David took the gold armlets that the children of AdraAzar wore and brought them to JeruSalem, but these were eventually taken by SusAkim (the king of Egypt) when he attacked JeruSalem during the reign of RehoBoam, the son of Solomon.

⁸ Then David went to AdraAzar’s principal cities and brought back huge amounts of brass, which was used by Solomon to create [the Temple’s] sacred Brass Sea, its columns, its bathing tubs, and all its utensils.

⁹ And when the king of Hamath heard that David had conquered the armies of AdraAzar, ¹⁰ he sent his son JedDuram to King David to ask for peace. He also congratulated David for beating AdraAzar, because AdraAzar was his enemy. And he brought along items of silver, gold, and brass, ¹¹ which King David dedicated to Jehovah, as he had done with all the silver and gold that he had taken from the cities that he’d conquered… ¹² from Idumea, Moab, the sons of AmMon, the Philistines, the Amalechites, and from the spoils of AdraAzar (the son of RaAb, the king of Suba).

¹³ Well, David became quite famous; and on his return, he attacked the Idumeans at GebElem, killing eighteen thousand. ¹⁴ Then he put detachments throughout all of Idumea, and the Idumeans became the king’s servants.

Well, no matter where he went, Jehovah was with David, ¹⁵ and he remained the ruler over all IsraEl, for he was fair and just with all his people. ¹⁶ [At the time], JoAb (the son of ZeruJah) was in charge of his army, JoSaphat (the son of AchiAd) was in charge of the records, ¹⁷ Zadok (the son of AhiTub) and AhiMelech (the son of AbiAthar) were the Priests, Sasa was the Scribe, ¹⁸ BenaiJah (the son of JodAi) was David’s personal advisor, and the Chelethites, Phelethites, and David’s sons were the chiefs of his palace.

Chapter 9

¹ And David asked, ‘Is there still anyone left from the house of Saul that I should be showing [kindness] to because of JoNathan?’

² Well at the time, there was still a servant from the house of Saul named Ziba, so they called him to David. And the king asked, ‘Are you Ziba?’

And he replied, ‘I am your servant.’

³ And the king asked, ‘Is there anyone left from the house of Saul upon whom I should be showing the mercy of God?’

And Ziba said: ‘There is still one of JoNathan’s sons… one whose feet have been damaged.’

⁴ And the king asked, ‘Where is he?’

And Ziba replied, ‘Look! In the house of MachIr, the son of AmiEl of LodaBar.’

⁵ So, King David sent for him and brought him from of the house of MachIr. ⁶ And when MephiBosheth (the son of JoNathan and grandson of Saul) came to King David, he fell to his face and bowed before him. Then David said, ‘MephiBosheth!’

And he replied, ‘Look… your servant!’

⁷ Then David said, ‘Don’t be afraid, because [the reason why I called you] is to show you mercy because of JoNathan your father. I’m going to give you back all the fields of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.’

⁸ And MephiBosheth bowed again and said, ‘Who am I your servant, to find your favor? For I’m no better that a dying dog.’

⁹ Then the king called for Ziba (Saul’s servant) and told him, ‘I’m giving everything that belonged to Saul and his house to the son of your master. ¹⁰ So you, your sons, and your servants will work his land for him, and you are to bring the son of your lord loaves of bread to eat. Also, MephiBosheth (the son of your lord) will always eat at my table.’

Now, Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. ¹¹ And he said to the king, ‘Whatever my lord the king asks, his servant will do.’

And from then on, MephiBosheth ate at the table of David as though he was one of the king’s sons.

¹² Now, MephiBosheth had a small son named Micha, and the whole of house of Ziba were MephiBosheth’s servants, ¹³ and they lived in JeruSalem and always ate at the table of the king. However, he was lame in both of his feet since birth.

Chapter 10

¹ Well, the king of the sons of AmMon died, and his son became the new king. ² Then David said: ‘I’ll do something nice for AnNon, the son of NaAs, because his father was so kind to me.’ So, David sent his servants to the land of the sons of AmMon to comfort him over his father.

³ However, the governors of the sons of AmMon went to their lord and asked, ‘Is David really sending you comforters to glorify your father, or has he really sent them as spies to look at [our fortifications]?’ ⁴ So then, AnNon took David’s servants, shaved their beards, cut off their uniforms to their hips, and sent them away.

⁵ Well, when this was reported to David, he sent men to meet them, because they had been so extremely dishonored. And the king told them to stay in Jericho until their beards grew back.

⁶ And when the sons of AmMon saw how David had been disgraced, they hired and sent twenty thousand Syrians from BaithRaAm, Souba, and RoOb, a thousand infantrymen from the king of Amalech, and twelve thousand men from IshTob. ⁷ And when David heard about this, he sent JoAb and all his best soldiers there.

⁸ Well, the sons of AmMon gathered for war at the city gate, leaving the Syrians from Souba, RoOb, and [the men of] IshTob and MaAcha alone in the field. ⁹ And when JoAb saw what he was facing, with armies on either side, he took the younger men of IsraEl and deployed opposite the Syrians, ¹⁰ then he put the rest of his army into the hands of his brother AbiShai, and they deployed opposite the sons of AmMon. ¹¹ And he said, ‘If Syria starts to beat me, you come to help me; but if the sons of AmMon start to beat you, I’ll come to help you. ¹² However, we must act like men, for if we are strong for our people and the cities of our God, then Jehovah will do what He sees is best!’

¹³ Then, when JoAb and his men attacked the Syrians, they fled before him. ¹⁴ And when the sons of AmMon saw the Syrians running, they turned and ran from AbiShai, back into their city. So, JoAb left the land of AmMon and returned to JeruSalem.

¹⁵ Well, after the Syrians found that they had lost before IsraEl, they gathered to the same place again. ¹⁶ Then AdraAzar sent for more Syrians from the other side of the Chalamak River, and they came to AiLam. And Sobak, the general of AdraAzar’s army, was put in charge of them. ¹⁷ Now, when this was reported to David, he gathered the whole army IsraEl, crossed the Jordan, and marched on AiLam. Then the Syrians set up battle lines against David, and the battle began, ¹⁸ but the Syrians again fled from the IsraElites. Then David destroyed seven hundred of their chariots and forty thousand of their cavalry. He also killed the general over their army, Sobak. ¹⁹ And when the servants of AdraAzar saw that they had lost to IsraEl, they surrendered and became their servants. And from that time on, the Syrians were afraid to come to the aid of the sons of AmMon.

Chapter 11

¹ Now, when the time of year came around when the kings [traditionally] went out to battle, David sent JoAb, his servants, and the entire army of IsraEl, and they destroyed the sons of AmMon. Then they laid siege against RabBah, however David stayed home in JeruSalem

² Then one evening, David got up from his bed and walked up to the roof of the king’s palace. And from there he saw a very pretty woman who was bathing on her roof. ³ Then David asked about the woman, saying, ‘Isn’t this BathSheba, the daughter of EliAb and the wife of UriJah the Hittite?’

⁴ So, David sent messengers who brought her to him. Then he went in to her and went to bed with her, and thereafter she went back home. However, she had just been cleansed from her monthly period, ⁵ so when she sent a message to David telling him that she was pregnant, David said, ‘It’s my baby.’

⁶ As the result, David sent [a message] to JoAb, saying, ‘Send UriJah the Hittite to me.’ And JoAb sent UriJah to him.

⁷ Well, when UriJah arrived, David first asked how JoAb was doing, how the army was doing, and then how the war was going. ⁸ And David said to UriJah, ‘Now you can go back home and wash your feet!’

So, UriJah left the king’s palace, and the king had a gift sent to him. ⁹ However, UriJah just bedded down next to the door to the king’s palace, along with his lord’s servants, and he didn’t go home. ¹⁰ Well, when David was told that UriJah hadn’t gone home, he went and asked UriJah, ‘Didn’t you just come a long way? Why don’t you go home?’

¹¹ And UriJah replied, ‘Why, the [sacred] Chest and the armies of Judah and IsraEl are all staying in tents. For my lord JoAb and his men are camped out in fields, so how can I go to my house to eat, drink, and go to bed with my wife? As you are living, how could I do such a thing?’

¹² Then David said, ‘Okay, then stay here for the rest of the day, and tomorrow I will send for you.’

So, UriJah stayed in JeruSalem for the rest of that day; and the next day, ¹³ David called for him. Well, he fed him and gave him so much to drink that he got him drunk. Yet, that evening, he again went to bed with the servants of his lord, and he didn’t go back to his house. ¹⁴ So the next morning, David wrote a letter to JoAb, and he had UriJah deliver it. ¹⁵ It said, ‘Send UriJah into the toughest part of the fighting – right up to the city gate – and then leave him there, so he will be cut down and killed.’

¹⁶ And when JoAb attacked the city, he put UriJah in a place where he knew that the hardest fighting would be done. ¹⁷ Then, when the men of the city came to fight with JoAb, many of David’s men died along with UriJah the Hittite. ¹⁸ And thereafter, JoAb sent a report to David with all the details of the battle… and to give the king a message. ¹⁹ He told the messenger, ‘Now, when you’re describing the battle to the king, ²⁰ if the king gets angry and asks you, Why did you go up to the city to fight them? Didn’t you know that they would shoot down on you from the walls? ²¹ For, who struck AbiMelek, the son of JeroBaal and grandson of Ner? Didn’t a woman drop a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, killing him there in ThamAsi? Why did you attack the wall? You must answer, Well, your servant UriJah the Hittite also died.’

²² So, JoAb’s messenger went to the king in JeruSalem and told David everything that JoAb said about the war. Well, David was furious with JoAb, and said to the messenger, ‘Why did he lead [the men] right up to the city to fight? Didn’t he know that they would attack you from the wall? For, who struck AbiMelek, the son of JeroBaal? Didn’t a woman toss a piece of millstone from the wall and kill him in ThamAsi? Why did you attack the wall?’

²³ And the messenger said to David, ‘Well, the men attacked us… they came out into the field to meet us, so we fought them there at the city gate. ²⁴ But they were shooting at us from the walls, and many of the king’s servants were killed… including your subject, UriJah the Hittite.’

²⁵ And David said to the messenger, ‘Tell this to JoAb: Don’t feel bad about it, because the sword cuts two ways. Now, intensify the battle against the city, tear it down, and establish a garrison there.’

²⁶ Well, when the wife of UriJah heard that her husband had been killed, she was deeply saddened. ²⁷ Then, after her period of mourning, David sent for her and had her brought to his palace. So he married her and she gave birth to his son.

Well, this whole thing appeared wicked in the eyes of Jehovah.

Chapter 12

¹ So, Jehovah sent the Prophet Nathan to David… he went in and said to him, ‘There were two men who lived in the same city, one was rich, and the other was poor. ² Now, the rich man had huge flocks and herds, ³ but the only thing that the poor man owned was a small female lamb that he had bought. But he protected it and fed it, and it grew up with his children. It ate the same bread, drank from his cup, and slept inside his robe, for it was just like a daughter to him. ⁴ Well, someone who was just traveling along stopped in to see the rich man, and he didn’t want to take anything from his own flocks or herds to prepare [a meal] for the stranger, so he took the lamb that belonged to the poor man and cooked it for the person who was coming to visit.’

⁵ Well, David was outraged about this man and said, ‘As Jehovah lives, this man deserves to die! ⁶ [But first] he should have to repay for the lamb with seven of his own, because of what he did when he [killed] it.’

⁷ And Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man who did this. And this is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl says: I’m the One who anointed you to be king over IsraEl, and I’m the One who saved you from the hands of Saul. ⁸ It was I who gave you the house of your lord and brought his wives to your chest. And I’m the One who gave you the house of IsraEl and Judah… and if you had remained faithful, I would have given you even more!⁹ So, why have you treated the word of Jehovah as worthless by doing this wicked thing in His eyes? For, you cut down UriJah the Hittite with the broadsword and took his wife as yours, because, when the sons of AmMon killed him, you really killed him. ¹⁰ So, now the broadsword will not leave your house through the ages, because you treated Me with contempt by taking the wife of UriJah the Hittite as your wife.

¹¹ ‘This is what Jehovah says: Look, I will cause evil things to awaken in your own house, and I will take your wives from before you and give them to your neighbor, and he will go to bed with them in the daylight… ¹² you did it secretly, but I will do this in the daylight and before all IsraEl.’

¹³ Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against Jehovah.’

And Nathan said to David, ‘Well, Jehovah has forgiven your sin, so you’re not going to die. ¹⁴ However, in doing such an unrighteous thing, you even made the enemies of Jehovah angry; so the son that will be born to you will die.’

¹⁵ Then Nathan left David’s palace, and Jehovah caused the child that was born to the wife of UriJah by David to be sickly and weak. ¹⁶ So, David [prayed to] God about the boy, and he fasted and slept on the ground. ¹⁷ And when the elders of his house went to lift him off the ground, he wouldn’t get up and he wouldn’t eat with them.

¹⁸ Well after seven days, the boy died. And then David’s servants were afraid to tell him, for they said, ‘Look, we spoke to him about the boy while he was still alive, but he wouldn’t listen to us. So, how can we now tell [David] that he died, because he’ll do bad things to us.’

¹⁹ However, David noticed that his servants were whispering, and he suspected that the boy had died. So he asked his servants, ‘Has the boy died?’

And they said, ‘He has.’

²⁰ Then David got up from the ground, took a bath, rubbed himself with oil, and changed his clothes. And then he went to the [Tent] of God and bowed before Him, and when he got back home, he asked for some bread to eat, which they brought to him, and he ate it. ²¹ Then his servants asked, ‘Why have you acted this way because of the boy? For while he was still alive, you fasted, cried, and wouldn’t sleep. But after he died, you got up and ate and drank something.’

²² And David replied, ‘I fasted and cried while the boy was still living, because I hoped that Jehovah would show mercy on me and allow the boy to live. ²³ But now that he has died, why should I fast? I won’t be able to go see him again or carry him to me, because I can’t bring him back.’

²⁴ Then David went to comfort his wife BathSheba.

Well, he went to bed with her again, and she got pregnant and gave birth to a son who she named Solomon… and Jehovah loved him. ²⁵ So He sent Nathan the Prophet, who renamed him JediDiJah, following Jehovah’s instructions.

²⁶ Then JoAb went to war with RabBath of the sons of AmMon, and he subdued that kingdom’s capital city. ²⁷ So, he sent messengers to David, and said, ‘I have fought against RabBath and subdued the City of Waters. ²⁸ Now, gather your men and come to our camp so you can be the first to take it. I don’t want to be the first to take the city, for I don’t wish to have it called by my name.’

²⁹ As the result, David gathered his men, went to RabBath, and conquered it. ³⁰ And he took the crown of MolChom their king from his head (which was made of gold and precious gems) and had it placed on his own head. They also looted the city and brought back a tremendous amount of goods. ³¹ Then he took the [city’s] people away and put them to work as carpenters, farm laborers, iron smelters, blacksmiths, and brick makers. And that’s what he did in all the cities of the sons of AmMon.

Then David and his men returned to JeruSalem.

Chapter 13

¹ Now, AbSalom (one of David’s sons) had a very pretty sister named Tamar, and AmNon (another son of David) was in love with her. ² In fact, he was so smitten with her that he was sick. Tamar (his sister) was a virgin, and AmNon would have done anything to have her.

³ Well, AmNon had a friend named JoNadab (the son of SamaA, David’s brother). And JoNadab was a very wise man. ⁴ Then JoNadab asked AmNon, ‘Why are you so puny every morning, O son of the king… tell me what’s wrong.’

And AmNon, told him, ‘It’s Tamar, my brother AbSalom’s sister… I love her.’

⁵ And JoNadab said to him, ‘Go to bed and act like you’re sick. And when your father comes to see you, tell him, ‘Send my sister Tamar to prepare my food before me and feed me, so I can see her, and eat from her hands.’

⁶ So, AmNon went to bed and pretended to be sick. And when the king came to see him, AmNon said, ‘Send my sister Tamar to me, and have her bake a couple of biscuits, and I’ll eat them from her hands’

⁷ Then David sent for Tamar at her house, saying, ‘Go to the house of your brother AmNon and prepare some food for him.’

⁸ So, Tamar went to the house of her brother AmNon and found him in bed. Then she took some dough and mixed it, made biscuits there in front of him, and fried them, ⁹ and then she took the frying pan and laid them before him, but he wouldn’t eat them.

And AmNon said, ‘Send all the men away from me.’ So they sent all the men away.

¹⁰ Then AmNon said to Tamar, ‘Carry the food into my bedroom and I’ll eat it from your hands there.’

Well, Tamar took the biscuits she had made and carried them in to her brother AmNon’s bedroom. ¹¹ And when she brought them to him, he grabbed her and said, ‘Now come to bed with me, my sister!’

¹² And she said to him, ‘No, my brother, don’t rape me, for such things aren’t done in IsraEl. Don’t be so foolish! ¹³ For, how could I ever handle the scandal? And you’ll be considered one of the fools in IsraEl. So, speak to the king, because he’ll let you [marry me]!’

¹⁴ But AmNon wouldn’t listen to her. So he overpowered her, went to bed with her, and raped her.

¹⁵ Well, [after he was finished], AmNon started to hate her. In fact, his hatred was greater than the love he once had for her. And he told her, ‘Now, get up and go!’

¹⁶ And she said, ‘No, O brother! For sending me away like this is even worse than the terrible thing that you just did to me.’

However, AmNon wouldn’t listen. ¹⁷ So he called his head servant in and said to him: ‘Take her away from me, then throw her outside and lock the door!’

¹⁸ Well, all she was wearing at the time was a long-sleeved slip, for that’s what the virgin daughters of the king wore under their clothes. But the servant led her outside, and then he locked the door behind her.

¹⁹ So, Tamar took ashes and put them on her head, and she ripped the slip she was wearing, then she put her hands on her head and ran away screaming.

²⁰ Later, her brother AbSalom asked her, ‘Has your brother AmNon been with you? If so, my sister, don’t say anything, because he’s your brother! Don’t put it into your heart to say anything about this.’

So thereafter, Tamar lived as a widow in the house of her brother AbSalom.

²¹ Now, when King David heard what happened, he was furious. But he wasn’t angry with his son AmNon, because he was his firstborn. ²² Nor did he say anything bad or good to AbSalom about AmNon. However, AbSalom detested AmNon, because he raped his sister Tamar.

²³ Well, exactly two years later, they were all shearing sheep for AbSalom in BelAsor (near the land of EphraIm), because AbSalom had called for all the sons of the king. ²⁴ He went to the king and said, ‘Look, your servant has to go and do some shearing, so may the king bring along his servants [to help].’

²⁵ But the king said to AbSalom, ‘No my son, we shouldn’t all go, for we’d just be a burden on you.’ So he refused, because he really didn’t want to go, but he blest him.

²⁶ Then AbSalom asked, ‘Then, why not just send my brother AmNon with us?’

And the king asked, ‘Why should he go with you?’

²⁷ But AbSalom kept insisting, so he sent AmNon and all his other sons along.

Well, AbSalom prepared a banquet that was fit for a king. ²⁸ Then he told his servants, ‘When AmNon starts feeling the wine, I’m going to tell you to strike AmNon and kill him. Don’t be afraid, because I’m the one who’s ²⁹ telling you to do this. So, be strong and act like men!’

²⁹ As the result, AbSalom’s servants did just as they were told, and then all the sons of the king got up on their mules and fled.

³⁰ Well, as they were on their way back, a report was sent to David that AbSalom had killed all the king’s sons, not sparing even one. ³¹ So, the king ripped his clothes and fell to the ground, and all his servants who were standing with him ripped their clothes.

³² But then JoNadab (the son of ShimeAh, David’s brother) said, ‘Don’t tell our lord that all his sons were killed, for it was just AmNon. He died alone at the instructions of AbSalom, for this is the same day that he raped his sister Tamar. ³³ And now, may my lord the king not think in his heart that all his sons have died, for it was just AmNon.’

³⁴ Then [David’s] watchman looked and saw many people coming along the road, down the side of the mountain. So he went and reported to the king, saying, ‘I see men coming down the mountain along the road to OrOnen.’

³⁵ And JoNadab said to the king, ‘Look, it’s your sons! They’re coming back, just as your servant said they would.’

³⁶ And just as he finished speaking, {Look!} the king’s sons came in shouting and crying. And the king and all his servants cried and bawled with them.

³⁷ Well, AbSalom had run away and he went to Tholmi (the son of EmiUd, the king of GedSur) in the land of HamAchad. And King David mourned over his son for a long time. ³⁸ But AbSalom spent three years in GedSur, ³⁹ and by then the [wrath] of the king had abated and he was no longer chasing AbSalom, for he was no longer grieving over the death of AmNon.

Chapter 14

¹ Now, JoAb (the son of ZeruJah) knew that the king [still loved] AbSalom. ² So he sent for a woman in Thecoe who was very wise, and he said to her, ‘I want you to dress in mourning clothes [and pretend] to be in mourning. Don’t rub yourself with oil, for I want you to appear to be a woman who has been mourning over her dead for many days,’

³ So, she went to the king and said the words that JoAb told her to say. ⁴ This ThecoEthite woman went in to the king, fell with her face to the ground, bowed before him, and said, ‘Save me, oh king! Save me!’

⁵ And the king asked her, ‘What’s wrong?’

And she said, ‘I’m now a widow, because my husband just died, ⁶ and your servant has two sons. Well, they started arguing while they were out in the fields, and there was no one to break it up. Then the one hit the other and killed him. ⁷ Now, {Look} the whole family is against your servant, because they’re telling me to hand over my son so they can kill him for murdering his brother. But if they do that, they’ll be taking away my only heir and extinguish the little spark [of hope] that I have left of leaving my husband a name and property on the face of the earth.’

⁸ And the king said to the woman, ‘Don’t worry; just go back home and I’ll handle this matter for you.’

⁹ And the ThecoEthite woman said to the king, ‘O my lord the king, may this lawlessness be on me and on the house of my father, not on the king and his throne.’

¹⁰ And the king said, ‘Who was the one that spoke to you? Bring [your son] to me, and don’t let anyone touch him!’

¹¹ And the woman said, ‘May Jehovah your God remind the king not to allow them to take away my son, so our family line [may continue].’

And he said, ‘As Jehovah lives, not a hair of your son’s head will fall on the ground.’

¹² And woman asked, ‘May your servant say one more thing to her lord the king?’

And he said, ‘Speak!’

¹³ And the woman said, ‘Why have you made such a decision for the people of God? For when you say such things, you’re finding yourself guilty, because the king hasn’t allowed the one he banished to return to him. ¹⁴ Why, each of us is dying the death, and like water that’s being poured on the ground, we’re not brought together [again]. Why, only God [has the right to] take a life, and only He has the means to drive someone away if He wishes.

¹⁵ ‘Now, as to the thing that I came to speak to my lord the king about; the people told your servant to speak to you, to see what you will do for your servant. ¹⁶ They said that you would rescue your servant from the hands of the man who is trying to take away my son and my inheritance from God. ¹⁷ And they told me that the words of my lord the king would be as good as a sacrifice. For my lord the king is like a messenger from God, in that you listen to both the good and the bad. So, may Jehovah your God be with you.’

¹⁸ Then the king said to the woman: ‘I want to ask you something… and I want you to tell me the truth!’

And the woman said, ‘Please speak, my lord the king!’

¹⁹ And the king said, ‘Did JoAb put you up to this?’

And the woman replied, ‘As you are living, O my lord the king; doesn’t the king ever change his mind after he has made a decision? Yes, JoAb is the one who put me up to this, and he put the words in my mouth. ²⁰ But your servant JoAb just did this to bring the matter to a head. For my lord the king is as wise as the wisdom of a messenger from God, in that he knows everything on earth.’

²¹ And the king said to JoAb: ‘Look, I’m going to do what you’re asking. So, go and bring back the young man AbSalom!’

²² Then JoAb fell with his face to the ground and bowed; and then he praised the king, saying, ‘Today your servant knows that he has found favor in your eyes, O my lord the king, for you have handled this matter for your servant.’

²³ So, JoAb got up and went to GedSur, and brought AbSalom back to JeruSalem. ²⁴ And the king said, ‘Let him go back home, but I don’t want to see his face!’

As the result, AbSalom returned to his house, but he couldn’t see the face of the king.

²⁵ Now, there wasn’t a man in all IsraEl who was more admired than AbSalom. For, from the sole of his feet to the top of his head, there wasn’t a blemish; ²⁶ and when it came to cutting his hair, it took so long that it became bothersome. Why, whenever he cut it and set it aside, it weighed as much as two royal coins!

²⁷ Now, AbSalom had three sons and one daughter, whose name was Themar. She was a pretty woman, and she married Solomon’s son RehoBoam, to whom she gave birth to AbiA.

²⁸ Well, AbSalom stayed in JeruSalem for two years, and he never saw the face of the king. ²⁹ So he sent for JoAb, because he wanted to send him to the king. However, JoAb wouldn’t come to him. Then he sent for him a second time, but he just didn’t want to come. ³⁰ So, AbSalom said to his servants, ‘You know that field of JoAb’s next to mine where he’s growing barley? Go and burn it!’

Then the servants of AbSalom went and burned JoAb’s field, and his servants went to him ripping their clothes, and said, ‘The servants of AbSalom have burned your portion of the field!’

³¹ So, JoAb got up and went to the house of AbSalom, and asked him, ‘Why did your servants burn my field?’

³² And AbSalom replied, ‘Look, I called for you and asked you to come here, because I wanted to send you to the king and ask, Why did you bring me from GedSur? Things were good for me there. And look, I haven’t seen the face of the king! Now, if I’m unrighteous, then just kill me.’

³³ So, JoAb went to the king and spoke to him, then he called for AbSalom and he went in to the king, bowed before him, and fell with his face to the ground before him. Then the king kissed AbSalom.

Chapter 15

¹ Well, thereafter, AbSalom obtained some chariots and horsemen, and he recruited fifty men to run in front of him. ² Then he would get up early each morning and station himself along the street by the city gate. And whenever he saw someone who was coming to try a case before the king, he would call to him and ask, ‘What city are you coming from?’ And if he replied, ‘Your servant is from one of the tribes of IsraEl,’ ³ he would say, ‘Look, you have a good case, but no one from the king will listen to it. ⁴ So, why doesn’t he appoint me as the judge of the land and let me handle the disputes and cases, for I will give you justice.’

⁵ And whenever some man would come and bow before him, he would reach out and grab him, then kiss him. ⁶ Well, AbSalom was doing this to everyone from IsraEl who came to the king for a judgment, and he was winning the hearts of the men of IsraEl.

⁷ Then, at the end of forty years, AbSalom went to his father and said, ‘I’m going to Hebron to pay something that I vowed to Jehovah. ⁸ For, while I was in GedSur Syria, I vowed to Jehovah that if He would return me to JeruSalem, I would be His servant.’

⁹ And the king said to him, ‘Go in peace.’

So he got up and went to Hebron.

¹⁰ Now, AbSalom had sent spies among all the tribes of IsraEl, who were told, ‘When you hear the sound of trumpets blowing, you must shout: AbSalom is now reigning as king in Hebron.’

¹¹ So, AbSalom left JeruSalem along with two hundred men, who really didn’t suspect anything. ¹² Then, while he was offering his sacrifices, AbSalom sent and called for AhiThophel the Gelamonite (David’s advisor) from his city of Gola. And there he formed a strong confederation, and many people started following AbSalom.

¹³ Well, when the report came to David that the hearts of the men of IsraEl had turned toward AbSalom, ¹⁴ David said to all his servants in JeruSalem, ‘Let’s get up and run from here, because nothing can save us from AbSalom! Hurry, let’s go, so he doesn’t overtake us and do bad things to us, then destroy the city with swords.’

¹⁵ And the king’s servants replied, ‘We’ll do whatever our lord the king says, because {Look!} we are your servants.’

¹⁶ So, the king and his whole house just walked away, but he left ten of his concubines behind to guard the house. ¹⁷ Then the king and all his servants traveled on foot to a house that was very far away.

¹⁸ Well, while the king and his servants were on the way to the desert, they [met up with some] Chelethites and Phelethites who were waiting on the Mount of Olives. So, along with all the people who came with [David], there were now six hundred great men and warriors from the Chelethites, Phelethites, and Gethites, because six hundred men had walked from Gath to join the king.

¹⁹ So, the king asked ItTai (the Gethite): ‘Why are you traveling with us? Go back and live with the [new] king! Why, you are foreigners and you’ve left your homes… ²⁰ you’ve just joined me, so are you [now planning to] travel with us… are you moving away from your homes?’

And he replied, ‘I will go wherever you are going.’

[But David said], ‘Go back, and take your brothers with you, for Jehovah will bring you kindness and truth!

²¹ But ItTai replied to the king, ‘As Jehovah lives, and as my lord the king lives, no matter what happens to my lord… whether he lives or dies, I will be your servant.’

²² And the king said, ‘Then come with me!’ And ItTai the Gethite and all his servants (a huge number of them) traveled with the king.

²³ Well, throughout the land, people were crying and wailing. Then the king and all his people crossed the Cedar (Kidron) Wadi and traveled toward the edge of the desert. ²⁴ {Look!} Then they saw Zadok and all the Levites carrying the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah from the [Tent of God]. Well, they set the Chest of God down, and AbiAthar came to him as all the people came from the city [of JeruSalem].

²⁵ Then the king said to Zadok, ‘Take the Chest of God back to the city. For, if I should find favor in the eyes of Jehovah and He returns me, then He will show it to me in all His glory. ²⁶ But if He should say that He doesn’t want me, then look… here I am! May He do to me whatever is good in His eyes.’

²⁷ And the king told Zadok the Priest, ‘Look! You, your son AhiMaAz, your other two sons, and JoNathan (the son of AbiAthar) should just return to the city in peace. ²⁸ For I’m going to live like a soldier in the desert, and I’ll wait there for you to send word to me.’

²⁹ So, Zadok and AbiAthar returned the Chest of God to JeruSalem, and it stayed there.

³⁰ Then David climbed the Mount of Olives barefoot and with his head covered, and he was crying. And all the people came with him with their heads covered and crying.

³¹ Well, when David was told that AhiThophel had joined the confederation with AbSalom, he said, ‘O Jehovah my God; Confuse the counsel of AhiThophel!’

³² Then, when David got to Ros, he bowed there before God. And {Look} coming to meet him was HushAi, David’s best friend, ripping his clothes and piling dirt on his head. ³³ And David said to him, ‘If you come with me, you’ll just be a burden to me. ³⁴ But if you return to the city, I want you to say to AbSalom, Your brothers left me to follow your father. So I’m your servant now, O king; please allow me to live. For, although I was once your father’s servant, I’m yours now.

‘And if you’ll do this for me, you will confuse the counsel of AhiThophel.

³⁵ ‘Look, there are the Priests Zadok and AbiAthar. Go with them and report everything that you hear from the [palace] of the king to them. ³⁶ And there are their two sons, AhiMaAz (Zadok’s son) and JoNathan (AbiAthar’s son). Use them to send back every word that you hear.’

³⁷ So, HushAi (David’s best friend) returned to the city, and then AbSalom entered JeruSalem.

Chapter 16

¹ Well, after David had traveled a short distance from Ros, {Look!} Ziba (MephiBosheth’s servant) came to meet him with a pair of saddled burros, two hundred loaves of bread, a bushel of raisins, a hundred clusters of dried fruit, and a skin flask of wine. ² And the king asked Ziba, ‘What’s this for?’

And Ziba said, ‘The animals are for the house of the king to ride; ³ the bread and the dried fruit are for your servants to eat; and the wine is for those who get weak [as they travel] in the desert.’

³ Then the king asked, ‘And where is your lord’s son?’

And Ziba replied, ‘{Look!} He’s sitting in JeruSalem, for he said, Today the kingdom of IsraEl will return to the house of my father.’

⁴ Then the king said, ‘{Look!} I am giving you everything that is MephiBosheth’s.’

And as he bowed, Ziba said, ‘May I find favor in your eyes, O my lord the king.’

⁵ Well, when King David got to BaUrim, {Look!} there came a man who was related to the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei (the son of Gera)… he came there cursing ⁶ and throwing stones at David and all his servants.

Well, all the people (and all the mighty ones) were walking on either side of the king. ⁷ And Shimei shouted, as he was cursing, ‘Get out of here you murderer; you criminal; ⁸ for Jehovah has brought all the blood of the house of Saul on you for taking his place as the ruler. And now He has given the kingdom into the hand of your son AbSalom. So, you’ve received some of your own badness, because you’re a murderer!’

⁹ And AbiShai (the son of ZeruJah) said to the king, ‘Why does my lord the king put up with the cursing of this dead dog? Allow me to go over and remove his head.’

¹⁰ And the king said to AbiShai, ‘What difference does it make to me and to you sons of ZeruJah? Leave him alone and let him curse, because Jehovah told him to curse David. So there’s no reason to ask him why he’s doing this.’

¹¹ And David said to AbiShai and his servants, ‘Why, my son who came from my own belly wants to kill me, so let the son of the BenJaminite curse, because Jehovah told him to do it. ¹² Now, may Jehovah look at my humiliation and provide good things for me in place of his curses today.’

¹³ So David and all his men just kept traveling along, as Shimei ran alongside them next to the mountain, cursing, and throwing stones and dirt. ¹⁴ And finally the king and all his people got tired and stopped to rest.

¹⁵ Well, AbSalom, AhiThophel, and all his men of IsraEl got back to JeruSalem. ¹⁶ Then HushAi (David’s best friend) went to see to AbSalom and said, ‘Long live the king!’

¹⁷ But AbSalom asked HushAi, ‘Is this the way you treat your friend? Why didn’t you go along with your buddy?’

¹⁸ And HushAi said, ‘First; I’ll follow whoever Jehovah and His people (the men of IsraEl) have chosen. I will stick with him and stay with him. ¹⁹ And second; who will I be serving? Won’t I be serving his son? So, just as I served your father, that’s how I will serve you.’

²⁰ Then AbSalom [turned] to AhiThophel and said; ‘Now, perhaps we should be discussing what we should do next.’

²¹ And AhiThophel said this to AbSalom, ‘Your father left some concubines behind to guard his house. So, why don’t you go to bed with them, so that all IsraEl will hear how you disgraced your father; for that will strengthen your hand with the people.’

²² So they pitched a tent on the roof, where AbSalom took his father’s concubines to bed with him before all IsraEl.

²³ Back then, AbSalom sought the counsel of AhiThophel on how he should go about asking things of God, for AhiThophel had given council to David, and then to AbSalom.

Chapter 17

¹ Well, AhiThophel said to AbSalom: ‘I’ll choose twelve thousand men and go after David tonight, ² because, when I get there he’ll be tired and weak. We’ll catch him unaware and startle him, then his people will flee, and I can kill the king when he’s alone. ³ Thereafter, I’ll bring all his people back to you the way a bride is brought to her husband. For after [we’ve taken] the life of the man you’re searching for, all the people will be at peace.’

⁴ Well, this sounded like a good idea to AbSalom and all the elders of IsraEl, ⁵ but AbSalom said: ‘Call HushAi the Arachite, for I want to hear what he has to say about this,’

⁶ So, HushAi came to AbSalom, and AbSalom told him about the plan. Then he asked, ‘Do you think we should do what he suggested? If not, speak up!’

⁷ And HushAi said to AbSalom, ‘This counsel that AhiThophel has given you isn’t a good idea this time. ⁸ For, you know your father and his men; they’re very brave and strong, and they’re as angry as a bear that has lost its cub in a field, or a wild boar that has been cornered. And your father is a warrior, so he would never sleep with his family. ⁹ Look, he’s hiding in the hills or somewhere else. So, when the attack begins, he’ll hear it and say, AbSalom’s people are attacking.

¹⁰ ‘Remember that this mighty man who has the heart of a lion will just melt away once he knows that he’s finished, for all IsraEl knows how mighty your father and his men are. ¹¹ So, this is what I advise: Gather all [the men of] IsraEl from Dan to BeerSheba, [and create an army] as large as the sands of the sea… and you should lead them. ¹² And when you catch up with him – no matter where he may be – you must camp around him. Then, [attack him] just as the dew is settling on the ground, and don’t leave him or any of his men alive. ¹³ Or if you should find him in a city, you must bring all IsraEl against that city, tear it down, and throw each of its stones into a riverbed.’

¹⁴ Well, AbSalom and all the men of IsraEl said, ‘The counsel of HushAi the Arachite is better than the counsel of AhiThophel.’ (However, it was Jehovah who caused the good counsel of AhiThophel to lose out, so He could bring bad things to AbSalom).

¹⁵ Then HushAi (the Arachite) went to Zadok and AbiAthar (the Priests), and told them of the advice that AhiThophel gave AbSalom and the elders of IsraEl. ¹⁶ And he said, ‘Now send a message to David quickly, so the king and his people aren’t caught!’

¹⁷ Well, JoNathan and AhiMaAz had stopped at Rogel Springs. And a young female servant came to them there and gave them the message, so they went to report it to King David. However, they didn’t want to be seen entering the city. ¹⁸ And then a young man noticed them and sent a report to AbSalom. So the two ran to the house of a man [they knew] in BaUrim and hid in a cistern in his courtyard. ¹⁹ But then a woman came and took the cover off the cistern to allow the desert [winds] to cool the water. However, she didn’t notice them. ²⁰ And when AbSalom’s men came to the house and saw the woman, they asked her, ‘Where are AhiMaAz and JoNathan?’ And she told them, ‘They went for a little water.’

Well, they looked around, but couldn’t find them, so they returned to JeruSalem. ²¹ Then after they left, [AhiMaAz and JoNathan] climbed out of the cistern and went to give the report to King David. They said to him, ‘Quickly… get up and cross the river, for AhiThophel has [planned a trap] for you!’

²² So, David and his people got up and crossed the Jordan before daylight, so no one was aware that they [had gone].

²³ In the meantime, when AhiThophel realized that his counsel had been rejected, he saddled his burro and went back to his home; then he discharged his staff and hung himself. And they buried him in the tomb of his father.

²⁴ Well, David had traveled all the way to ManaIm. But then AbSalom and all his men crossed the Jordan [in pursuit].

²⁵ Now, AbSalom had put Amasa in charge of his army (in place of JoAb). Amasa was the son of Jether, an IsraElite from JezreEl. ²⁶ And he went to see AbiGail, the daughter of Jesse and the sister of ZeruJah, who was the mother of JoAb. Meanwhile, AbSalom and the army of IsraEl had camped in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ Well, when David entered ManaIm, WesBi (the son of NaAs from RabBath, an AmMonite) and MachIr (the son of AmiEl from LodaBar), and BarZilLai (the Gileadite from RogelLim) ²⁸ brought ten cots and blankets, ten pots, some plates, and some wheat, barley, flour, toasted grain, beans, lentils, ²⁹ honey, butter, mutton, and cheese, and they gave it to David and his people to eat. For they said, ‘They are starving, thirsty, and weak from traveling through the desert.’

Chapter 18

¹ Then David counted his men to see how many were with him, and he assigned generals and officers over them. ² Then he sent them out [to battle]… a third under the direction of JoAb, a third under the direction of AbiShai (the son of ZeruJah, JoAb’s brother), and a third under the direction of ItTai the Gethite. And David said to the people, ‘Now, I’ll be leading you.’

³ But they said, ‘You can’t come, for if [AbSalom’s people] kill half of us, losing you would be like losing ten thousand men. So, it’s best for you stay in the city to direct us.’

⁴ And the king said, ‘I’ll do whatever you wish.’

So, the king stood at the city gate as his army passed by in companies and divisions. ⁵ And the king gave orders to JoAb, AbiShai, and ItTai, saying, ‘Spare the young man AbSalom for me!’ And all the people heard what the king said to them about AbSalom.

⁶ Well, they marched to a forest that was directly opposite [the army of] IsraEl, and the battle started there in the Woods of EphraIm. ⁷ But the army of IsraEl didn’t fare well against the followers of David, for they lost twenty thousand of their men. ⁸ However, the war raged on throughout the land. And the thick forest killed as many men as were killed with swords that day.

⁹ Then David’s men caught up with AbSalom, who was riding his mule. And as the mule took off into a dense thicket, his head got caught in the branches of an oak tree, and he hung there between the sky and the ground, because the mule took off and left him hanging there.

¹⁰ Well, a man saw what had happened and he told JoAb, ‘I’ve found AbSalom; he’s hanging in an oak tree.’

¹¹ And JoAb said, ‘You saw this and you didn’t cut him to the ground? I would have given you ten large silver coins if you had.’

¹² But the man told JoAb, ‘If you had given me a thousand large silver coins I wouldn’t have done that, for I would never raise a hand against a son of the king. Why, we all heard the king tell you (AbiShai, and ItTai) to guard the young man AbSalom for him. ¹³ So, it would be wrong to kill him! For then the king would surely hear about it, and you and I would thereafter be on opposite sides.’

¹⁴ But JoAb said, ‘Well, that’s what’s going to happen, for I’m not going to put up with this!’

So, JoAb took three arrows and shot them into the chest of AbSalom as he was still alive, hanging there in the midst of the oak tree. ¹⁵ Then, ten of his young men took JoAb’s weapons and stabbed AbSalom [to make sure] he was dead. ¹⁶ And JoAb blew his battle horn to call his people back from their pursuit of IsraEl, because he wanted to spare them.

¹⁷ Thereafter, JoAb took AbSalom’s body and threw it into a deep gulley in the forest, and he formed a huge pile of rocks over it as a monument, while the whole army of IsraEl was retreating to their tents.

¹⁸ Well, while AbSalom was still alive, he had built a monument for himself in the Valley of the Kings, for he said, ‘I have no sons to remind people of my name.’ So, he named the monument after himself, calling it ‘The Hand of AbSalom,’ which is still there today.

¹⁹ Thereafter, AhiMaAz (the son of Zadok) said, ‘Run and bring the good news to the king that Jehovah has passed judgment on his enemies.’

²⁰ But JoAb told him, ‘Don’t bring it as good news today; save that for another day, for it isn’t good news that a son of the king has died.’ ²¹ And JoAb said (to HushAi), ‘Just go to the king and tell him what you’ve seen!’

So, HushAi bowed before JoAb and left.

²² Then AhiMaAz (the son of Zadok) said to JoAb: ‘Let me run after HushAi!’

And JoAb said, ‘Why do you want to do this, my son? Come along, for there’s no good news that will be of any benefit to you if you go there.’

²³ And AhiMaAz said, ‘But what if I run?’

And JoAb said, ‘Okay, then run!’ So, AhiMaAz ran along the road to KeChar, and he passed HushAi.

²⁴ Well, David was sitting between the two city gates, as the watchman was on the roof of the gate, next to the wall. And he looked out and saw a man running toward them. ²⁵ So he yelled and reported it to the king. And the king asked, ‘Is he is alone? Is he bringing good news?’

Then, as he was approaching, ²⁶ the watchman saw another man running. And he yelled out, ‘Look, there’s another man running by himself!’

And the king said, ‘Surely he’s bringing good news!’

²⁷ And the watchman said, ‘I see that the man running ahead is AhiMaAz, the son of Zadok; so he must be coming with good news.’

²⁸ Then AhiMaAz yelled to the king, ‘Peace!’ as he bowed to the ground before the king. And he said, ‘Praise your God Jehovah, for he has closed the mouths of those who have raised their hands against my lord the king.’

²⁹ And the king asked, ‘Do we now have peace with the young man AbSalom?’

And AhiMaAz said, ‘I saw a large happy crowd standing around the king’s servant JoAb, so I came here. But I’m not sure exactly what happened there.’

³⁰ And the king said, ‘Step aside and stand over there!’ So, he stepped aside and stood nearby.

³¹ Then HushAi came and said to the king, ‘I have good news to announce to my lord the king, for today Jehovah has passed judgment upon all those who opposed you!’

³² And the king asked HushAi, ‘And how is the young man AbSalom?’

Then he replied: ‘The young man has fared the same as all the enemies of my lord the king, and as all who have done evil things against him.’

³³ Well, the king was very upset, so he went up into the room above the gate and wept. He cried, ‘O my son AbSalom! O my son! O my son AbSalom! Why couldn’t I have died instead of you, AbSalom? O my son! O my son!’

Chapter 19

¹ Then a message was sent to JoAb that the king was crying and mourning over AbSalom ² rather than celebrating a victory, and that his people had gone into mourning, because they heard that the king was [disturbed over the death of] his son. ³ And the people had just melted away into the city like men who were running from a battle.

⁴ Well, the king refused to show his face, for he kept crying and sobbing, ‘O my son AbSalom! AbSalom! O my son!’

⁵ Finally, JoAb went into the king’s house, and said, ‘You’ve disgraced all your servants who fought to save you today, as well as your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines, ⁶ because you’re indicating that you love the ones who hated you, and that you hate those who love you. Why, you’re giving the impression that your leaders and your servants are nothing, and that if AbSalom were alive today and all the rest of us were dead, it would be a better thing in your eyes.

⁷ ‘Now get up… go out and talk to your servants! Tell them how you really feel! For I swear by Jehovah, that unless you go out there today, there won’t be a man standing with you tonight. Realize that the evil you’re doing here is worse that all the evil things that have happened to you since you were young.’

⁸ So, the king then got up and sat at the gate. And all the people started shouting, ‘Look, the king is sitting at the gate.’ And all the people gathered to him there.

Now, the army of IsraEl had all run back to their tents, ⁹ and all the tribes of IsraEl were arguing with each other, saying, ‘King David rescued us from all our enemies, and he saved us from the hands of the Philistines. But he fled from the land and his kingdom, because he was running from AbSalom. ¹⁰ However, AbSalom, who we anointed to be [our king], has died in the battle. So, why don’t we just quietly return to the king?’

And then all IsraEl returned to the king.

¹¹ Thereafter, King David sent for Zadok and AbiAthar (the Priests) and said, ‘Speak to the elders of Judah and ask them why they’re the last to welcome the king back to his palace.’

Well, these words of the king were spread throughout all IsraEl. ¹² For he said, ‘My brothers; you are my own flesh and bones, so why are you the last to welcome the king back to his palace? ¹³ Are you going to say to Amasa, You are our flesh and bones? No! May God curse me and add more to it if the one in charge of my armies is anyone other than JoAb.’

¹⁴ Well, this turned the hearts of all the men of Judah, and they sent a message to the king saying, ‘You and all your servants should return!’

¹⁵ So, the king traveled toward the Jordan, and all the men of Judah came to GilGal to welcome the king and to accompany him across [the river].

¹⁶ Then Shimei (the son of Gera, the son of the BenJaminite from BaUrim) hurried with the men of Judea to meet King David, ¹⁷ and he brought along a thousand men from BenJamin, as well as Ziba (the servant of the house of Saul) and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They all went straight to the king at the Jordan ¹⁸ to officially welcome him as he crossed the ford (in order to satisfy his family, and to do the right thing in his eyes).

Then Shimei (the son of Gera) fell to his face before the king at the Jordan, ¹⁹ and he said, ‘Please, my lord; forgive the lawless way that your servant acted when the king left JeruSalem… please put it out of your heart, ²⁰ for your servant knows that he has sinned! Now look; here I’ve come before all IsraEl and the house of Joseph today, to welcome back my lord the king.’

²¹ But AbiShai (the son of ZeruJah) asked, ‘Shouldn’t Shemei be put to death for cursing the anointed of Jehovah?’

²² And David said, ‘Why are you sons of ZeruJah always coming to me with plots? Today no man of IsraEl will be put to death, because I still don’t know whether I’m the ruler.’

²³ Then the king said to Shimei, ‘You won’t die,’ and he swore an oath to him.

²⁴ And thereafter, MephiBosheth (the son of JoNathan and grandson of Saul) came to welcome the king. However, he hadn’t washed his feet, cut his nails, or trimmed his mustache, and his clothes hadn’t been washed since the day he left to ask the king for peace. ²⁵ So, when he came from JeruSalem to greet him, the king asked, ‘Why didn’t you come along with me, MephiBosheth?’

²⁶ And MephiBosheth answered, ‘O my lord, O king; it was because my servant had misled me. For, when your servant told him to saddle my burro and help me mount it (because your servant is lame) to go with the king, ²⁷ he didn’t do it. However, my lord the king is as a messenger of God; so, do whatever is good in your eyes! ²⁸ For when there was no one else left of the house of my father (other than those who deserved death from my lord the king), you allowed your servant to eat at your table. So, what reason would I have to speak out against the king?’

²⁹ And the king said to him, ‘Why are you still talking? You must now give your field to Ziba!’

³⁰ And MephiBosheth said, ‘Yes, may he take everything, now that my lord the king is returning in peace to his palace.’

³¹ Then BarZilLai (the Gileadite) came to the king at the Jordan from RogelLim, to accompany him on his way back home. ³² Now, BarZilLai was a very old man (eighty years old), but he had fed the king while he was living in ManaIm, because he was very wealthy. ³³ So the king said to BarZilLai, ‘Now come to JeruSalem with me, and I will care for you in your old age.’

³⁴ But BarZilLai said to the king: ‘How many years do you think I have left, so that I should travel with the king to JeruSalem? ³⁵ Why, I’m eighty years old today, so how can I appreciate what you’re doing? Can I still enjoy the taste of the food and drink that you will offer me? Or can I still enjoy the voices of men and women singing? So, why should I burden my lord the king? ³⁶ Your servant will just travel with the king for a short way to the Jordan. Then, what reward or payment can you give me? ³⁷ Let your servant stay here to die in my city, and be buried with my father and mother. But look, your servant’s son CamaAm will cross [the Jordan] with my lord the king… please do for him whatever you find good in your eyes.’

³⁸ And the king said, ‘Then let CamaAm cross over with me, and I will do what is good in my eyes for him… whatever you ask of me, I will do for you.’

³⁹ Well, as all the people were crossing the Jordan, the king also prepared to cross, so he kissed BarZilLai and blest him, and then he returned to his people. ⁴⁰ And as the king was crossing over toward GilGal, CamaAm crossed [the river] with him, along with all the people of Judah and half the people of IsraEl.

⁴¹ Then the men of IsraEl came to the king and asked, ‘Why did you allow our brothers of Judah to steal you and help the king, his household, and his army to cross the Jordan?’

⁴² And the men of Judah shouted, ‘because the king is our close relative. So, why are you so irritated about this? Has the king given us food, or gifts, or brought us a tribute?’

⁴³ And the men of IsraEl replied, ‘We have ten [tribes] that serve the king, and we’re the firstborn. So, how do you have [a greater claim] to David? We came here [to welcome him back] before you did, so why did you insult us by not allowing us to be the first to escort the king?’

But men of Judah shouted down the men of IsraEl.

Chapter 20

¹ Well, there was a man who was referred to as the Son of a Lawbreaker. His name was SabeE, and he was the son of BoChori, a BenJaminite. He then blew his horn and shouted, ‘David [doesn’t have any respect] for us, nor does the son of Jesse have an inheritance for us. So men of IsraEl; let’s return to our tents!’

² And then all the men of IsraEl who were following David turned and started following the son of BoChori. However, the men of Judah stuck by their king [and followed him] from the Jordan to JeruSalem.

³ Then, when David arrived at his palace in JeruSalem, he took the ten concubines who he had left to guard the house, and had them put under guard. He took care of them, but he never went to bed with them again. So, they lived in custody as widows until the day they died.

⁴ Well, the king then said to Amasa (the one who had served as the commander-in-chief of AbSalom’s army): ‘Call the army of Judah to assemble here in three days… and then come back here!’

⁵ So, Amasa went and called [the army of] Judah, but he stayed away longer than David told him to, ⁶ because David had told Amasa, ‘Now we’re going to do something worse to the son of BoChori than we did to AbSalom. Get my servants and chase after him before he finds a fortified city and gives us a black eye.’

⁷ Then JoAb’s men (the Cherethites, the Phelethites, and all the mightiest warriors) went after him… they left JeruSalem to chase down the son of BoChori. ⁸ Well, when they reached Great Stone in Gibeon, they found Amasa standing there before them. And JoAb, who was dressed in full uniform and carrying a sword in its sheath, drew his sword ⁹ and said to Amasa: ‘Are you in good health, O brother?’

Then he grabbed Amasa’s beard with his right hand as if to kiss him ¹⁰ (for Amasa didn’t notice the sword in JoAb’s other hand), and JoAb stuck the sword into his belly, pouring his guts out on the ground. Then he stabbed him a second time, killing him. And with that, JoAb and his brother AbiShai were ready to go after the son of BoChori. ¹¹ So, one of JoAb’s servants stood up next to him and shouted to Amasa’s army, ‘Who is on JoAb’s side and who is for David? Let him follow JoAb!’

¹² Well, Amasa was lying there dead in the middle of the road covered in blood, and one of his men carried his body from the road into a field and covered it with a cape, so people would stop coming by to look at it. ¹³ And after he took the body out of the road, all the men of IsraEl went with JoAb to hunt down the son of BoChori.

¹⁴ Well, [the son of BoChori] had traveled throughout all the tribes of IsraEl on his way to Abel BethMacha. ¹⁵ Then they came and attacked him at Abel BethMacha, building a ramp around the city wall, because they planned to tear the wall down. ¹⁶ But a wise woman yelled from the wall, ‘Listen! Listen! Tell JoAb to come here, because I want to speak to him!’

¹⁷ So he got up close to her, and the woman asked, ‘Are you JoAb?’

And he said, ‘I am.’

And she said, ‘Listen to what your servant has to say!’

And JoAb said, ‘I’m listening.’

¹⁸ And she said, ‘There’s a saying that goes, Ask in Abel; for if the plans of the trusted ones fail in Dan, they should ask in Abel. ¹⁹ Now, I’m one of the peaceful ones who is in support of IsraEl, but you’re planning to destroy a city… and a mother-city of IsraEl at that. So, why would you sink the inheritance of Jehovah?’

²⁰ And JoAb replied, ‘Be kind and friendly with me or I’ll not only sink it, I’ll totally destroy it! ²¹ For, isn’t this the place where a man from the hills of EphraIm called the son of BoChori is staying… he who lifted his hand against King David? Hand him over to me personally, and I’ll leave your city.’

And the woman said to JoAb, ‘Look! I’ll toss his head to you over the wall.’

²² So, the woman went to her people and told everyone in the city of her wise plan, and they cut off the head of the son of BoChori and tossed it to JoAb. Then he blew his horn and all his men returned to their tents, and JoAb returned to the king in JeruSalem

²³ Well thereafter, JoAb was put in charge over all the armies of IsraEl… BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) was over the Cherethites and the Phelethites, ²⁴ AdoniRam was in charge of the tributes, JoSaphat (the son of AchiLuth) kept the records, ²⁵ Susa was the scribe, Zadok and AbiAthar were the Priests, ²⁶ and Iras (the son of JaRin) was David’s personal Priest.

Chapter 21

¹ Well, there were three consecutive years of famine in the days of David, so he asked Jehovah, and Jehovah said: ‘This has happened because the house of Saul is guilty of shedding [innocent] blood when he killed the Gibeonites.’

² So the king called the Gibeonites, and he said: ‘Why, the Gibeonites aren’t [really] IsraElites; they’re just what is left of the Amorites. However, although the sons of IsraEl had sworn an oath to them, Saul attacked them in his zeal for the sons of IsraEl and Judah.’

³ Then David asked the Gibeonites, ‘What must I do for you… what must I do to [pay for our sins], and to get you to bless the inheritance of Jehovah?’

⁴ And the Gibeonites replied, ‘The problem can’t be paid for with silver or gold by Saul and his house; and there’s no one left for us to put to death in all IsraEl.’

⁵ And [David] said, ‘Then what can I do for you?’

And they told the king, ‘[Saul] would have finished us off, because he chased us, tried to trick us, and he attempted to wipe us out. As the result, we’ve decided to remove [any trace] of him so that his ways won’t last in the borders of IsraEl. ⁶ Therefore, give us seven of his descendants and we will hang them in the sun before Jehovah in Saul’s town of Gibeon.’

And the king said, ‘I will give them to you.’

⁷ However, the king spared MephiBosheth (the son of JoNathan and the grandson of Saul), because of the oath that Jehovah had made between them… between David and JoNathan (Saul’s son). ⁸ So, the king took the two sons of ResPha (the daughter of AiAh, Saul’s concubine) who gave birth to ErMoni and MephiBosheth, and the five sons of Michol (Saul’s daughter), who she bore to EsdriEl (the son of BarZilLai the Moulathite). ⁹ Then he handed them over to the Gibeonites, and they hung them on the mountain in the sun before Jehovah. And there they fell – all seven of them together.

Well, this happened at the beginning of the barley harvest. ¹⁰ So, ResPha (the daughter of AiAh) took sackcloth and made a bed for herself on a rock, [which she slept on] from the beginning of the barley harvest until water dripped from God in the sky. And she wouldn’t allow the flying creatures of the sky to rest there during the day, or wild animals to rest there during the night.

¹¹ Then all the things that ResPha (the daughter of AiAh) Saul’s concubine was doing were reported to David. ¹² And David sent and had the bones of Saul and his son JoNathan taken from the sons of JabIsh Gilead (which they stole from the city square of BethSan, where the Philistines put them after they killed Saul at Gilboa). ¹³ Then they gathered the bones of the men who were hung in the sun, ¹⁴ and they carried all the bones (of Saul, JoNathan, and the men who were hung in the sun) to the land of BenJamin, where they were buried on the side of a hill, in the tomb of Kish, Saul’s father. And they did exactly as the king told them, so God started paying attention to the land again.

¹⁵ Well, there was still a state of war between the Philistines and IsraEl, so David took his men and went to fight the Philistines. However, David started feeling poorly.

¹⁶ Now, Jesbi (who was a descendant of Rapha) had a brass spear that weighed as much as three hundred large silver coins, and he was wearing heavy armor; and he decided to attack David. ¹⁷ However, AbiShai (the son of ZeruJah) came to his aid and struck down the Philistine, and killed him.

Then the men of David swore an oath to him saying, ‘You will never come with us in battle again, so that the lamp of IsraEl won’t be extinguished.’

¹⁸ But the war with the Philistines still raged in Gath. Then SeboCha (the Astatothite) conquered the descendants of the giants. ¹⁹ However, there was still war with the Philistines in Gob. Then EleAnan (the son of AriOrgim the BethLehemite) killed GoliAth the GitTite, whose spear was as large as a weaving loom.

²⁰ But war still raged in Gath. And there was a man from Madon who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot (for a total of twenty-four) who was the son of Rapha. ²¹ He came and shouted insults at IsraEl, but JoNathan (the son of ShimeAh, David’s bother) cut him down. ²² All four of them were descendants of the giants in Gath from the house of Rapha, and David and his servants cut them all down.

Chapter 22

¹ Well, after Jehovah had rescued David from the hands of Saul and all his enemies, he sang this song to Jehovah:

² ‘Jehovah is my rock and my fortress;
He’s the One who comes to my rescue.
³ My God is a guard before me,
So, upon Him I will lean.

⁴ He is my defender,
And the trumpet of my salvation…
My shield and my refuge from the unrighteous.
Because You will save me, You deserve all the praise;
So I’ll call on the Lord and be saved.

⁵ For, death-dealing conflicts surrounded me,
And dry streams of lawlessness upset me.
⁶ For fear of dying was all around me,
And I awaited the harshness of death.

⁷ But in my pain I called on Jehovah,
Yes, then I yelled to my God.
And from His great Temple He Heard me…
My voice and my cries reached His ears.

⁸ Then the ground started to tremble,
And the sky was disturbed by His rage.
⁹ Because He was outraged smoke then ascended,
The fire from His mouth then consumed,
And even the coals burned away.

¹⁰ He leaned on the sky and it fell,
And darkness was under His feet.
¹¹ He mounted a cherub upon its spread wings,
And He could be seen on the wings of the winds.

¹² He put darkness around Him to be hidden,
And His tent was the darkness of waters.
Then He thickened the clouds of the air.
¹³ But the brightness before Him kindled fire.

¹⁴ He thundered from out of the sky;
Jehovah shouted from up above.
¹⁵ Then He grabbed His arrows and shot them;
He flashed with lightning and they were frightened.

¹⁶ Then the things in the sea were exposed;
The foundations of man’s habitation;
They were accusations from Jehovah…
The breath of the spirit of His rage.

¹⁷ So He sent from above and He took me;
He drew me out of deep waters.
¹⁸ He rescued me from the strength of my enemies…
From the ones above me who hated me.

¹⁹ He anticipated the problems that I’d face,
And Jehovah became my stabilization.
²⁰ Then He made room and He saved me,
And it was He who chose to do well by me.

²¹ For Jehovah has repaid my righteousness;
He pays me back for the cleanness of my hands.
²² For I paid attention to the ways of Jehovah…
I wasn’t impious to my God.

²³ For I kept all His decisions before me,
And His Laws have never left me.
²⁴ So I’ll stand before Him unblemished,
And from lawlessness I’ll stay away.

²⁵ ----
²⁶ For with the holy You will always be holy,
And with men who are perfect You’ll be perfect,
²⁷ With the elected You’ll be elected,
And with the crooked You’ll be crooked.

²⁸ For the poor You will preserve,
But the eyes of the proud You will humble.
²⁹ My lamp You will light, O Jehovah…
My Lord gives me light in the darkness.

³⁰ For in You I will run lightly armed,
And by my God I’ll pass over walls.

³¹ Yes, flawless are the ways of the Almighty…
And the sayings of Jehovah are refined.
He’s the defender of all who obey Him,
³² Yes, who is as strong as Jehovah?
And who but our God can create?
³³ For He’s the One that is mighty.

He strengthens me with all His great power;
He removes the flaws of my ways.
³⁴ He sets my feet firm like a stag,
And in the heights He then stands me.

³⁵ He teaches my hands to do battle,
And makes my arm break brass bows.
³⁶ He gives me a shield to protect me,
Because I obeyed, You made me strong.

³⁷ He enlarges my footsteps beneath me,
And my trembling knees He [makes firm].

³⁸ So, I will pursue and I will remove them,
And I won’t return ‘til they’re gone.
³⁹ I will crush them and they won’t arise,
For they’ll fall [to the ground] ‘neath my feet.

⁴⁰ You’ll strengthen me for great battles,
And bend those who rise from beneath me.
⁴¹ All my enemies You’ve given to me,
And broken the backs of those hating me.

⁴² They yelled, but no help came from Jehovah,
For to them He never would listen.
⁴³ So I ground them like dust on the ground,
And made them fine like the mud in the streets.

⁴⁴ For You will save me when men come to fight,
And You will guard me as the head over nations.
So, a people I don’t know came to serve me,
⁴⁵ Then He listened and did as I asked.

⁴⁶ The sons of lying foreigners will all reel,
And they will stumble in their confinement.
⁴⁷ As Jehovah lives, may my Guardian be praised…
May my God who guards me be raised high.

⁴⁸ For Jehovah is strong and brings vengeance,
And He corrects the people who serve me.
⁴⁹ He leads me away from my enemies,
And lifts me high above those who would fight me.

From unrighteous men You will save me,
⁵⁰ And for this I’ll praise You to the nations.

O Jehovah; I’ll strum tunes to Your Name.
⁵¹ For the salvation of His king is quite awesome,
As is the mercy He’s shown His anointed…
To David and his seed through the ages.’

Chapter 23

¹ And these were the last words of David.

David (the son of Jesse) was a trustworthy man who Jehovah elevated to the position of the anointed of the God of Jacob. He also wrote many of the beautiful psalms of IsraEl.

² ‘The Breath of Jehovah spoke by me,
And His words were there on my tongue.
³ Yes, it was IsraEl’s God (He who guards us),
Who once gave this parable to me:

‘I asked of a man: How can I teach you to fear the anointed?
⁴ For God brings light in the morning,
As the sun rises into the day,
And then its brightness passes by.

‘It is He who also brings rain,
Which causes tender shoots to sprout from the ground.
⁵ It is He who made my house strong,
And made it firm through the ages,
With a sacred agreement He concluded with me.

‘He has always guarded and saved me,
So I’ll serve Jehovah and not break His Laws.

⁶ ‘It’s as though a thorn-bush stood against all;
They weren’t taken from me [by human] hands.
⁷ And the men who worked hard among them
Turning iron and wood into spears,
Were themselves burned in fire… they were burned in their shame.’

⁸ These are the names of the three mighty ones of David:

JeBosthe the CanaAnite, who was the greatest of the three. He [was also known as] AdiNon the Asonite, for it was he who unsheathed his broadsword and killed eight hundred men in one battle.

⁹ EliYanan (AdiNin’s nephew), who was with David in SeiRa when he berated the Philistines as they gathered for war against him. It was then that this man of IsraEl went right up to them ¹⁰ and kept killing Philistines until his hand got tired, so he tied his sword to his hand [and kept fighting]. Jehovah gave him a great victory that day, and the only reason why the people had to return to [the field] was just to strip the dead.

¹¹ SamaiJa (the son of Asa the Arachite) – for when the Philistines went to Theria and people there were picking lentils in a field, they all ran from the Philistines. ¹² But he stood there like a stone monument in the middle of the field and protected it, cutting down the Philistines in a great victory.

¹³ Now, it was these three (from among the thirty of the leaders) who went to David when he was at Kason in the cave of OdolLam, as the Philistines camped [against him] in the Valley of RephaIm. ¹⁴ Also, when David was in the citadel and the Philistines were in BethLehem, ¹⁵ and David [got thirsty] and asked, ‘Who will go to the well that’s at the city gate in BethLehem to get me some water to drink?’ (although all the Philistines were assembled in BethLehem)… ¹⁶ it was these same three mighty ones who tore up the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well that was in BethLehem, and brought it to David. However, he wouldn’t drink it, but offered it to Jehovah instead. ¹⁷ For he said, ‘Please be kind to me, O Jehovah, for offering this. Yes, how could I drink it after these men risked their blood and their lives to bring it to me?’

So, he didn’t drink it. However, these three mighty ones did these things.

¹⁸ Now, AbiShai (the brother of JoAb and the son of ZeruJah) was over the three. And because he had killed three hundred men, he was also considered to be with the three. ¹⁹ He was never part of the group, but he was the most highly regarded, so he was put in charge over them.

²⁰ Then there was BenaiJah, the son of JehoiAda. He also did many marvelous things. For at KabeseEl he struck down the two sons of AriEl the Moabite. And it was he who went and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. ²¹ It was also he who cut down a remarkable Egyptian man that carried a wooden spear, which was as big as a ladder. He went right up to him with a rod, grabbed the wooden spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his spear. ²² Yes, these are things that BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) did, and that’s why he was also considered among the mighty ones. ²³ So, he was considered one of the three, but he was never part of their group, and he was given more honor, for David appointed him [leader over his guards].

And these are the names of the mighty ones of King David:

· ²⁴ AshaEl, ²⁵ the brother of JoAb (who was also one of the thirty).

· ElAnan (his uncle, the son of Dudi of BethLehem)

· ²⁵ Samai the Arudite

· EliKa the Arodite

· ²⁶ Seles the KelOthite

· Iras (the son of EkKas the Thekoite)

· ²⁷ AbiEzer the AnathOthite (from the sons of the Asothites)

· ²⁸ ElLon the Awi-ite

· MoOr the NetoPhathite

· ²⁹ Ethi (the son of Riba of GabeOth, a BenJaminite)

· ³⁰ BenaiJah the Pharathenite

· Uri from NachaLiga

· ³¹ GadabiEl (the son of the ArabOthite)

· AzMoth the BarSamite

· ³² EliAsou the Salabonite, and his sons, Jaban and JoNathan

· ³³ SamNan the Arodite

· Acian (the son of Arai the SaraUrite)

· ³⁴ AlipPhaleth (the son the Asbitite and grandson of MaAchathi)

· EliAb (the son of AhiThophel the Gelonite)

· ³⁵ AsarAi the Carmelite

· PharAi the Erchite

· ³⁶ GaAl (the son of Nathan, from the armies of the Gileadites)

· ³⁷ ElYe the Ammanite

· GelorAi the BerOthite, who was the arms bearer for JoAb (the son of ZeruJah)

· ³⁸ Iras the Jethirite

· Gareb the Ethenite

· ³⁹ UriJah the Hittite.

In all, they numbered thirty-seven [mighty men].

Chapter 24

¹ Well, the anger of Jehovah started to burn in IsraEl, for David was moved to say, ‘Go and take a census of IsraEl and Judah!’

² So, the king said to JoAb (who was in charge of the army). ‘Go throughout all the tribes of IsraEl and Judah, from Dan to BeerSheba, and count the people, so I will know how many there are.’

³ But JoAb said to the king, ‘May Jehovah your God add to your people, and may you find that they have grown to be a hundred times greater. However, my Lord the king, why would you want to do you such a thing?’

⁴ But the king refused to listen to JoAb and to those who were in charge of his army, so JoAb and his men left the presence of the king and went to take a census of the people of IsraEl. ⁵ They crossed the Jordan and camped to the right of AroEr in the ravine of Gad and EliEzer. ⁶ Then they went to Gilead and into the land of ThaBason (AdasSai). And from there they traveled to DaniDan and UDan, and they camped around Sidon. ⁷ Next, they traveled to MapSar of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites and CanaAnites, and then they went to the south of Judah, into BeerSheba. ⁸ So, they traveled throughout the entire land.

Finally, at the end of nine months and twenty days, they returned to JeruSalem, ⁹ and JoAb gave the numbers of the people to the king. There were eight-hundred-thousand men in the armies of IsraEl who were carrying the broadsword, plus five-hundred-thousand warriors from Judah.

¹⁰ Well, after he had the census performed, David [was ashamed] of what he had done, and he said to Jehovah: ‘I have really sinned by doing this thing. And now, O Lord, please overlook this lawlessness on the part of your servant, for I was very foolish.’

¹¹ But when David got up the next morning, [he found that] the word of Jehovah had come to the Prophet Gad, the Seer, who was told, ¹² ‘Go and speak to David. Tell him that this is what Jehovah has said: I am giving you your choice of three [penalties]. You must choose the one you prefer, and I will bring it against you!’

¹³ So, Gad went to David and told him: ‘Choose for yourself what is going to come upon you; three years of famine in our land, three months when your enemies will chase you and you will run from them, or three days of death in your land. Now, give me a reply for the One who sent me.’

¹⁴ And David said to Gad: ‘Those are all tough choices, but of the three, I choose to put myself into the hands of Jehovah, because He is very compassionate. He will never allow me to fall into the hands of [my enemies].’

¹⁵ So David chose the death.

Now, it was the season of the wheat harvest when Jehovah sent death throughout IsraEl, from the morning until dinnertime, and devastation started among the people, killing seventy thousand men from Dan to BeerSheba. ¹⁶ Then the messenger of God turned his hand toward JeruSalem… to destroy it. However, [Jehovah then forgave] the evil that was done, and He said to the messenger who was destroying the people, ‘That’s enough!’

Well at the time, the messenger of Jehovah was at the threshing-floor of Orna the Jebusite. ¹⁷ And David said to Jehovah (when he saw the messenger striking the people), ‘Look… it it I who did the wrong! I’m the shepherd who sinned, and these are just the sheep… what have they done? May Your hand come against me and the house of my father instead!’

¹⁸ Then Gad came to David that day and said to him, ‘Now go and erect an Altar to Jehovah at the threshing-floor of Orna the Jebusite.’

¹⁹ So, following the instructions of the Prophet Gad, he did what Jehovah told him to do. ²⁰ And when Orna saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he bowed before the king with his face to the ground. ²¹ And Orna asked, ‘Why is my lord the king coming to his servant?’

And David replied, ‘To buy your threshing-floor from you, in order to build an Altar to Jehovah, so that He will stop destroying the people.’

²² And Orna said to David, ‘Then take it and offer it to Jehovah, my lord the king, and do whatever is good in your eyes. Look, here are some oxen to sacrifice as whole burnt-offerings… and use the wooden [ox-cart] and it wheels to burn [the sacrifice]!’

²³ So, Orna offered it all to the king. And he said, ‘May Jehovah your God bless you.’

²⁴ But the king said to Orna, ‘No, I want to purchase it from you for a price, because I won’t offer a whole burnt-offering to Jehovah my God free of charge.’

So, David bought the threshing floor and the oxen, paying for it with fifty large silver coins. ²⁵ And there he built an Altar to Jehovah, where he sacrificed whole burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then [later on], Solomon added to the size of the Altar, because it was small at first. But [Jehovah’s favor] returned to the land, and He ended the devastation that He was bringing upon IsraEl.

1 Kings

From the Greek Septuagint text as was used by First Century Christians

Chapter 1

¹ Now, King David had grown very old, and even when they wrapped him in [heavy] clothes he couldn’t get warm. ² So his servants said, ‘Have them search for a young virgin girl for the king, to wait on him, treat him well, and lie with him… that will keep him warm.’

³ So they searched for a pretty young woman throughout the borders of IsraEl; and they found AbiSag the Somanite, and they brought her to the king. ⁴ Now, the young woman was extremely beautiful, and she treated the king very well and served him, but he never [had sex] with her.

⁵ Well, AdoniJah (the son of [David’s wife] AgGith) tried to elevate himself, saying, ‘I will be the king.’ And he prepared himself [by collecting] chariots and horses, and having fifty men run ahead of him. ⁶ And [David] never discouraged him or asked, ‘Why are you doing this?’

Now, AdoniJah was a very handsome man (his mother had given birth to him after AbSalom). ⁷ Then he met with JoAb (the son of ZeruJah ) and AbiAthar the Priest, and they became his supporters. ⁸ However, neither the Priest Sadoc, nor BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda), nor the Prophet Nathan, nor Semei, nor Resi, nor any of David’s mighty men, supported AdoniJah.

⁹ Then AdoniJah went to the Rock of ZoeLethi (near RogEl) to sacrifice sheep, calves, and lambs. And he called all his brothers, the king’s servants, and all the adult men of Judah; ¹⁰ but he didn’t invite the Prophet Nathan, BanaYas, any of the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.

¹¹ So, Nathan spoke to BathSheba (Solomon’s mother) and asked, ‘Have you heard that AgGith’s son AdoniJah has started ruling, but our lord David doesn’t know about it yet? ¹² So, I beg you to allow me to give you some council that will save your life and the life of your son Solomon. ¹³ Hurry and go to King David, then say to him, O my lord the king; Didn’t you swear to me (your handmaid) that my son Solomon would reign after you and sit on your throne? And if so, then why is AdoniJah reigning?

¹⁴ ‘Then, while you’re still speaking there with the king, I’ll come in after you and confirm what you’re saying.’

¹⁵ So, BathSheba went before the king in his chamber.

Now, the king was very old, and AbiSag (the Somanite) was there serving him. ¹⁶ Then BathSheba bowed low before the king; and the king asked, ‘What do you want?’

¹⁷ And she replied, ‘My lord, didn’t you swear to your handmaid by Jehovah your God, saying, Your son Solomon will reign after me and sit on my throne? ¹⁸ But look! AdoniJah has started to rule, and you, my lord the king, don’t even know about it! ¹⁹ Why, he has already sacrificed many calves, lambs, and sheep, and he has invited all of the king’s sons, AbiAthar the Priest, and JoAb the commander-in-chief of your army. However, he didn’t invite your servant Solomon. ²⁰ So now, my lord the king, all IsraEl is watching and waiting for you to tell them who will sit on your throne after you. ²¹ And as it presently stands, after my lord the king goes to sleep with his fathers, my son Solomon and I will be [in great jeopardy].’

²² And {Look!}, while she was still talking to the king, the Prophet Nathan arrived, which was reported to the king with the words, ²³ ‘Look, the Prophet Nathan is here.’

So, he came into the king’s presence and bowed to him with his face to the ground. ²⁴ And Nathan said, ‘My lord; O king; Did you say that AdoniJah will reign after you and sit on your throne? ²⁵ For, today he has gone to sacrifice many calves, lambs, and sheep, and he has invited all your sons, the chiefs of the army, and AbiAthar the priest. Why, look! They’re eating and drinking before him now, and saying, Long live King AdoniJah! ²⁶ But he didn’t invite me (your servant), or the Priest Sadoc, or BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda), or your servant Solomon. ²⁷ Has this matter been authorized by my lord the king, and have you failed to tell your servant who will succeed you on the throne?’

²⁸ Then King David said, ‘Call BathSheba back in.’

So, she came in and stood before the king. ²⁹ Then the king swore [an oath to her] saying, ‘As Jehovah lives (who saved my life from all danger), ³⁰ and as I swore to you by Jehovah the God of IsraEl, saying, Your son Solomon will reign after me and sit on my throne after me, I’m saying the same thing today.’

³¹ Then BathSheba bowed low with her face to the ground, and said, ‘May my lord King David live through the ages.’

³² Next, King David said, ‘Call Sadoc the Priest, Nathan the Prophet, and BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) to me.’

So, they came in and stood before the king, ³³ and the king said to them: ‘Take my servants with you, and mount my son Solomon on my personal mule, then take him to Gion. ³⁴ There Sadoc the Priest and Nathan the Prophet should anoint him to be the king over IsraEl. Then blow the trumpets and shout, May King Solomon live! ³⁵ For, he will sit on my throne and be the ruler in place of me… I’m giving the order that he will now be the leader over IsraEl and Judah!’

³⁶ And BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) answered the king and said, ‘May it be! May Jehovah, the God of my lord the king, make it so. ³⁷ And as Jehovah was with my lord the king, let him be with Solomon; and may He raise his throne even higher than the throne of my lord King David.’

³⁸ So, Sadoc the Priest, Nathan the Prophet, BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda), and the Cherethites and Phelethites went and mounted Solomon on King David’s mule, and led him away to Gion. ³⁹ Then Sadoc took the horn of oil from the Sacred Tent, anointed Solomon with it, and blew the trumpets, as all the people started shouting, ‘[Long] live King Solomon!’ ⁴⁰ And so many people came to him dancing and singing in their joy, that the ground shook with the sound of their voices.

⁴¹ Well, when AdoniJah and all his guests heard the commotion, they stopped eating. And when JoAb heard the trumpets blowing, he asked, ‘Why is the whole city in such an uproar?’

⁴² Then, while he was still speaking {Look!}, JoNathan (the son of AbiAthar the Priest) came in. And AdoniJah said, ‘Come on in! Since you’re such a mighty man, you must be bringing good news!’

⁴³ And JoNathan replied, ‘It’s true! For, our lord King David has made Solomon the king! ⁴⁴ He sent Sadoc the Priest, Nathan the Prophet, BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda), and the Cherethites and Phelethites, and they mounted him on the king’s mule, ⁴⁵ then they anointed him in Gion. So, the sounds that you’re hearing from the city are the sounds of rejoicing! ⁴⁶ For, Solomon is now seated on the throne of the kingdom, ⁴⁷ and the king’s servants are going in to praise our lord King David, saying, May God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and his throne greater than your throne.

‘And now the king is bowing before [God] from his bed. ⁴⁸ For the king is saying: May Jehovah the God of IsraEl be praised, because today He has appointed one of my seed to sit on my throne while my eyes can still see it!’

⁴⁹ Well, all the guests of AdoniJah were shocked, and then they just left.

⁵⁰ Now, AdoniJah was afraid because of Solomon, so he got up and went outside, and then he grabbed hold of the horns on the altar. ⁵¹ And when it was reported to Solomon that AdoniJah was afraid of him and that he was holding the horns of the altar and saying, ‘Let Solomon swear to me today that he won’t kill his servant with his sword,’ ⁵² Solomon said, ‘If he’s a valiant man, not a single hair will fall to the ground; but if he’s evil, he will die.’ ⁵³ So, King Solomon sent and had him brought back from the altar. Then [AdoniJah] bowed low before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, ‘Go back home.’

Chapter 2

¹ Well, the time for David’s death drew near, and he spoke to his son Solomon and said, ‘I’m going the way of all the earth. ² But you be strong and show that you’re a man. ³ Follow the instructions of Jehovah your God, walk in His ways, and follow the Commandments, rules, and decisions that are written about in the Law of Moses, so you’ll understand what you should do in all the things that I’ve told you. ⁴ Then Jehovah will prove the thing that He promised: If your children will pay attention to the way that they should walk before Me in truth and with all their hearts, there will never fail to be a man who sits on the throne of IsraEl.

⁵ ‘Now, you know all the things that JoAb (the son of ZeruJah) did to me and to the two generals of the army of IsraEl… to AbNer (the son of Ner), and to Amasa (the son of JeTher)… he murdered them and shed their blood as in war, although we were at peace… he wrapped his waist and the sandals on his feet in innocent blood. ⁶ So, deal with him as your wisdom directs, and don’t allow him to take his grey hair to his grave in peace.

⁷ ‘But I want you to deal kindly with the sons of BarZelli the Gileadite… they should eat at your table, because they came to my aid when I had to run from your brother AbSalom.

⁸ ‘And {Look!} there is Semei (the son of Gera – a BenJaminite of BaUrim) who is still among us. Yet, he brought a great curse on me when he came down to the Jordan to meet me as I was returning to JeruSalem. Then I swore to him by Jehovah that I wouldn’t use the sword to put him to death. ⁹ However, he isn’t free of guilt. Now, you’re a wise man, and you know what you must do to him… you must take his grey hair to the grave covered in blood.’

¹⁰ So, David went to sleep with his ancestors, and he was buried in the city of David. ¹¹ David had reigned over IsraEl for forty years… seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in JeruSalem.

¹² So, Solomon sat upon the throne of his father David, and his kingdom became very great.

¹³ Then AdoniJah (the son of AgGith) went to see BathSheba (the mother of Solomon) and bowed before her. And she asked: ‘Have you come in peace?’

And he replied, ‘Yes, in peace. ¹⁴ I have some business with you.’

And she said, ‘Then speak.’

¹⁵ And he said, ‘You know that the kingdom was mine, because all IsraEl turned to me as their king. But the kingdom was taken from me and it became my brother’s, because it was given to him by Jehovah. ¹⁶ Now, I just want to ask one thing of you… and don’t ignore me.’

Then BathSheba said, ‘Keep talking.’

¹⁷ And he said to her, ‘I beg you to speak to King Solomon, because he won’t ignore you. Ask him to give me AbiSag the Somanite as a wife.’

¹⁸ And BathSheba said, ‘Well, I’ll speak to the king for you.’

¹⁹ So, BathSheba went to King Solomon to speak to him about AdoniJah. And the king rose to meet her, kissed her, then sat down on his throne, and he had a throne placed there for the mother of the king, so she sat down at his right hand. ²⁰ And she said to him, ‘I would like to make one little request… and please don’t ignore me.’

And the king said, ‘Ask, my mother, and I won’t ignore you.’

²¹ And she said, ‘Please, give AbiSag the Somanite to your brother AdoniJah as his wife.’

²² Well, King Solomon asked: ‘Why are you asking me to give AbiSag to AdoniJah? You could ask me to give him the kingdom also, because he’s my elder brother… and his friends are the Priest AbiAthar and my commander-in-chief, JoAb (the son of ZeruJah ).’

²³ And then King Solomon swore an oath by Jehovah. He said, ‘May God curse me and add to it if AdoniJah hasn’t spoken these words against his own life. ²⁴ And now, as Jehovah lives – He who established me, set me on the throne of my father David, and made me a house, as Jehovah said – today AdoniJah will be put to death!’

²⁵ So King Solomon sent out BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) to kill him, and AdoniJah died that day.

²⁶ Then the king said to AbiAthar the Priest, ‘Now, go back to your farm in AnathOth quickly, because you also deserve death today. However, I’m not going to kill you, because you carried Jehovah’s Chest of the Sacred Agreement before my father, and because you also shared in all the sufferings of my father.’

²⁷ So, Solomon removed AbiAthar as the Priest of Jehovah, to fulfill the words that Jehovah spoke concerning the house of Heli in Salem.

²⁸ Well, the news of this reached JoAb (the son of ZeruJah), and because he had supported AdoniJah (not Solomon), he ran to the Tent of Jehovah and grabbed hold of the horns on the altar. ²⁹ And when Solomon was told, ‘JoAb has fled to the Tent of Jehovah, and look, he’s hanging onto the horns of the altar,’ he sent [a message] to JoAb, asking, ‘What’s wrong with you? Why have you fled to the altar?’

And JoAb replied, ‘Because I was afraid of you, I fled to Jehovah for refuge.’

Then Solomon sent BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda), telling him, ‘Go and kill him, and then bury him.’

³⁰ Well, when BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) reached JoAb at the Tent of Jehovah, he said to him, ‘The king commands you to come out of there!’

And JoAb said, ‘I’m not coming out, for I’d rather die here!’

And BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) returned to the king and told him what JoAb said. ³¹ So the king told him: ‘Then go and do what he told you to do… kill him, then bury him! That way, you’ll remove the blood that he shed for no reason from me and from the house of my father. ³² For, Jehovah has brought the blood of his unrighteousness upon his own head, because he attacked two men who were more righteous and better than himself, killing them with his sword. Yet, my father David was unaware that he would kill AbNer (the son of Ner), the commander-in-chief of IsraEl, and AmesSa (the son of Jether), the commander-in-chief of Judah. ³³ And now their blood is on his head and on the head of his seed through the ages. But upon David, his seed, his house, and his throne, may there be peace from Jehovah through the ages.

³⁴ So BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) went back and killed him, and then he buried him in his house in the desert.

³⁵ Thereafter, the king appointed BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) to be the commander-in-chief of his army, and his kingship became firm in JeruSalem. And as for Sadoc the Priest; the king appointed him the High Priest in place of AbiAthar.

So, Solomon (the son of David) reigned over IsraEl and Judah from JeruSalem, and Jehovah gave Solomon as much wisdom, understanding, and greatness of heart as there is sand at the seashore. For, the wisdom of Solomon was greater than that of all the ancient peoples, and it was far greater than the wise men of Egypt.

³⁶ Then the king called Semei and said to him: ‘You may build yourself a house in JeruSalem and live there… but don’t leave it, ³⁷ because I want you to know that on the day you cross the Valley of Cedars (Kidron), you’re going to die, and your blood will be on your own head.’

³⁸ And Semei said to the king: ‘What you’ve said is good, O my lord the king, and that’s what your servant will do.’ Then the king made him swear an oath to this.

So, Semei lived in JeruSalem for three years. ³⁹ But after the three years, two of Semei’s slaves ran away (to Anchus, the son of MaAcha, the king of Geth). And when Semei was told that his slaves were in Geth, ⁴⁰ he saddled his burros and went to Anchus in Geth to bring his slaves back. ⁴¹ But when Solomon was told that Semei had left JeruSalem and gone to Geth to bring back his slaves, ⁴² the king sent for Semei and said to him, ‘Didn’t you swear by Jehovah, and didn’t I warn you that if you left JeruSalem, whether to the right or the left, that you will surely die? ⁴³ So, why haven’t you kept your oath to Jehovah and followed the instructions that I gave you?’

⁴⁴ Then the king told Semei, ‘In your heart you know of all the bad things you’ve done, and of the bad things that you did to my father David. So now, Jehovah is bringing your badness down upon your own head… ⁴⁵ and King Solomon will be blest, and the throne of David will be established before Jehovah through the ages.’

⁴⁶ Then Solomon commanded BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) to take him out and kill him.

Chapter 3

¹ Well, under Solomon the kingdom was united.

Then Solomon contracted a marriage with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. He took the daughter of Pharaoh and brought her to the city of David. However, before that, he completed the building of his palace, the Temple of Jehovah, and the wall around JeruSalem.

² Now, before the Temple was built, the people were burning incense [to Jehovah] in the high places. ³ And since Solomon loved Jehovah (and following the orders of his father David), he also offered his sacrifices and burnt incense there.

⁴ Well, Solomon got up and went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, because that was the highest place. And he sacrificed a thousand whole burnt offerings upon the altar there; ⁵ and then Jehovah appeared to Solomon while he was sleeping that night. And Jehovah said, ‘Solomon; Ask for anything you might wish for yourself.’

⁶ And Solomon said, ‘You’ve shown great mercy to your servant David, my father, and he walked with You in truth, justice, and a pure heart. Then You guarded him and showed him great mercy by allowing his son to sit on his throne, which has happened today. ⁷ And now, O Jehovah my God; You have appointed Your servant in place of my father David, yet I’m just a boy who doesn’t even know when to enter and when to leave. ⁸ But, Your servant [now rules] in the midst of this mighty [nation] whom You have chosen, and which is so large it can’t be counted. ⁹ So, give your servant a heart to listen and to make [wise] decisions for Your people in justice, and to recognize the difference between what is good and what is bad. For, who can bear the weight of such judgment?

¹⁰ And this thing that Solomon asked for was pleasing to Jehovah, ¹¹ so He replied: ‘Because you have asked this thing from Me, and you didn’t ask for a long life, or for wealth, or for the lives of your enemies – and all you asked for yourself is the understanding to judge righteously – ¹² {Look!} I have done what you asked. {Look!} I’m giving you an intelligent and wise heart… there has never been anyone before you, nor will there ever be anyone who will rise up after you that will be like you. ¹³ And then, even what you didn’t ask for I’ve given you… including wealth and glory, for there has never been a king like you. ¹⁴ And if you do things My way, and obey My Commandments and instructions, as did your father David, then I will also grant you a long life.’

¹⁵ Well, when Solomon woke up, he remembered the dream. Then he got up and returned to JeruSalem, and there he went and stood before the Altar, which was in front of the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah in Zion. Then he sacrificed whole burnt offerings and peace offerings, and he held a great banquet for himself and for all his servants.

¹⁶ Thereafter, two women who were prostitutes came and stood before the king for a [judgment]. ¹⁷ And one of the women said, ‘Hear me, my lord! This woman and I both live in the same house, and we both gave birth to [babies] there. ¹⁸ For, it was three days after I gave birth that this woman also gave birth in the same place, and no one else was around… there was just the two of us in the house. ¹⁹ Well, this woman’s son died during the night when she rolled over on him, ²⁰ so she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my arms, and put him to her breast. Then she took her son that died and laid him at my breast. ²¹ And when I got up in the morning to nurse my son, I saw the one that had died; but I studied him and realized that this wasn’t my son that I had given birth to.’

²² Well, the other woman shouted, ‘That isn’t true! My son is the one that’s living, and yours is the son that’s dead.’

²³ Then the king said to them: ‘You’re saying that the living son is yours, and the dead one is hers. And she says that’s not true; hers is the living son and yours is the one that’s dead.’ ²⁴ So the king said: ‘Bring me a sword!’ And they brought him a sword. ²⁵ Then he said: ‘Cut this living, nursing child in half, and give half to this one, and the other half to that one!’

²⁶ Well, the real mother of the living son spoke to the king, because she was disturbed to the womb about what was going to happen to her son. So she said: ‘Hear me, O lord! Give the child to her… don’t kill it!’

But the other [woman] said, ‘May it be neither mine nor hers… cut it in half!’

²⁷ Then the king said, ‘I’m giving the child to the woman who said, Give it to her, don’t kill it, because she’s his mother.’

²⁸ Well, all IsraEl soon came to hear of this decision of the king, and they feared when they were in his presence, for they knew that the intelligence of God was in him, and that justice would prevail.

Chapter 4

¹ When King Solomon was reigning in IsraEl, ² these are the men who were with him and who were in charge:

· AzariJah (the son of Zadok the Priest);

· ³ EliAm and AhiJah (the sons of Saba) were his scribes;

· JehoShaphat (the son AchiLud) was the recorder;

· ⁴ BenaiJah (the son of JehoiAda) was the commander-in-chief of the army;

· Zadok and AbiAthar were the Priests;

· ⁵ AzariJah (the son of Nathan) directed his staff;

· ZaboUth (the son of Nathan) was the king’s right-hand man;

· ⁶ AciSar was his manager;

· EliAb (the son of Saph) was over the family;

· AdoniRam (the son of Aphdon) was in charge of the tributes.

⁷ So, Solomon assigned twelve men over all IsraEl to handle matters for him and his house.

⁸ Then there were others who were assigned to [bring the things that Solomon required] for just one month each year, and these are their names:

· The son of Or had the mountains of EphraIm;

· ⁹ The son of Dakar had MachEmas, Salabin, BethSamus AiLon, and BethAnan;

· ¹⁰ The son of Esdi had ArabOth, SochOth, and all the land of Opher;

· ¹¹ The son of AminAdab (who was married to Solomon’s daughter) had all of NephthaDor and TephAth;

· ¹² BaAna (the son of AchiLouth) had IthAnak, MagidDo, and the whole house of San near Sesathan and below Esrae, from BethSan to SebelMaula, to MaEber and Lucam;

· ¹³ The son of Gaber from Gilead was over a piece of measured land around EreGaba (which is in Bashan) that included sixty great walled cities that were [protected by] brass bars;

· ¹⁴ AchiNadab (the son of SadDo) had MaAnaim;

· ¹⁵ AchimaAs (who was married to Solomon’s daughter BasEmath) was over [the land of] NaphTali;

· ¹⁶ BaAnah (the son HushAi) was in charge of BaalOth and [the land of] Asher;

· ¹⁷ JehoShaphat (the son ParuAh) had [the land of] IsSachar;

· ¹⁸ Shemei (the son of ElAh) had [the land of] BenJamin;

· ¹⁹ Gaber (the son Adai) had the land of Gilead, [the land of] Seon (the king of Heshbon), [the land of] Og (the king of Bashan), and [the land of] Naseb (in the land of Judah).

²⁰ Now, Judah and IsraEl had grown so large that [their people] were as the sands of the sea in number, and they all ate, drank, and rejoiced, ²¹ for Solomon was the ruler in all their kingdoms from the river in the land of the Philistines to the borders of Egypt. They also brought Solomon many gifts, and they served him throughout all the days of his life.

²² Now, these are the things that Solomon required at his table each day:

· Two hundred bushels of fine flour,

· Four hundred bushels of beaten flour,

· ²³ Ten choice calves,

· Twenty grass-fed oxen,

· A hundred sheep,

· And well-fed male and female antelope.

²⁴ Solomon was also the ruler of all the land on the [east] side of the [Jordan], and there was peace throughout the whole country. ²⁵ [So, during all the days of Solomon, the people] in Judah and IsraEl (from Dan to BeerSheba) harvested their own grapevines and [lived] under their own fig trees.

²⁶ Now, Solomon had forty thousand breeding horses (for his chariots) and twelve thousand horsemen. ²⁷ And those who he put in charge brought the things that were required to the king’s table (each one in his own month)… they did just as they were told and didn’t change a word. ²⁸ They brought barley and straw for the horses, and they took the chariots wherever the king needed them or arranged for them to be.

²⁹ Well, Jehovah gave intelligence and great wisdom to Solomon, and it kept growing in his heart like the sands of the sea. ³⁰ So, Solomon’s intelligence grew greater than that of all the men of ancient times, and of all the intelligent ones of Egypt. ³¹ His understanding was greater than all men; he was wiser than GaitThan the Zarite, and AiNan, ChalKal, and Darda (the sons of Mal).

³² Solomon spoke three thousand parables and [wrote] five thousand songs. ³³ He spoke about the cedars of Lebanon, of the hyssop, and of [plants that grow] through walls. He spoke about cattle, flying creatures, things that crawl, and about things that live in water…³⁴ and people everywhere would come to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Kings from all over the earth, when they heard of his wisdom, would bring him gifts.

Chapter 5

¹ Then Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent his servants to anoint Solomon in place of his father David, because Hiram loved David for as long as he lived.

² And Solomon sent [a message] to Hiram, saying, ³ ‘You know that my father David was unable to build a [Temple] to the Name of Jehovah my God, because of fighting the wars that were going on around him, and until Jehovah put his enemies under the soles of his feet. ⁴ And now Jehovah my God has provided rest for me all around [my land], for there are no more plotters or wicked people near me. ⁵ So, now I’m talking about building a [Temple] to the Name of Jehovah my God, for as He told my father David, Your son who I will put on your throne after you will build the [Temple] to My Name.

⁶ ‘Now, have your men cut some timber for me from the trees in Lebanon, and I’ll pay whatever you ask for their wages. And {Look!} I’ll also send my servants to go with your servants. After all, no one understands timber cutting better than the Sidonians.’

⁷ And when Hiram received Solomon’s message, he was overjoyed and said, ‘May the God who gave David an intelligent son to rule over this great people be praised today.’

⁸ So he sent [a message] to Solomon replying: ‘I’ve heard of everything that you asked of me, and I will send all the pine and cedar lumber that you requested. ⁹ My servants will cut them in Lebanon, carry them to the sea, and haul them on barges to wherever you tell me. I’ll drop them off, and you can carry them on from there. All I ask in return is that you send some loaves of bread for my house.’

¹⁰ So, Hiram gave Solomon all the cedars and pines that he wanted. ¹¹ And Solomon sent Hiram one hundred-and-thirty thousand bushels of wheat, and a hundred-and-twenty thousand gallons of beaten olive oil for his house in return. In fact, he sent that amount to Hiram every year.

¹² Well, Jehovah gave Solomon the wisdom he had asked for, and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, for they had made a treaty between them. ¹³ And the king sent (as a tribute from all IsraEl) thirty thousand men. ¹⁴ He would send ten thousand of them to Lebanon each month in rotation, and they would spend a month in Lebanon, then two months at home. And AdoniRam was in charge of this tribute.

¹⁵ Now, Solomon had seventy thousand laborers and eighty thousand stonecutters [working] in the mountains. ¹⁶ And (in addition to those who Solomon placed in charge of his construction project) he had three thousand six hundred supervisors on the job. ¹⁷ Then the king instructed them to set in place huge valuable stone blocks as the foundations for the building. ¹⁸ And the sons of Solomon and Hiram then laid them in place, while they cut the blocks and the timbers, which took three years.

Chapter 6

¹ Well, it was in the four hundred and fortieth year after the sons IsraEl left Egypt (in the fourth year and second month of Solomon’s reign over IsraEl) that the foundation of the Temple of Jehovah was laid. ² It was seventy feet long, thirty-five feet wide, and forty-feet tall. ³ It had a columned front entryway that was as tall as the Temple, and it was seventeen-feet wide. Then he went on to complete its construction.

⁴ There was also a hidden window in the Temple that leaned inward, ⁵ and there was an eve along the top of the wall ⁶ that ran all the way around the building to the entryway. There were also [three stories] of rooms inside the Temple. The room at the top was about eight-feet wide, the one in middle was about ten-feet wide, and the one at the bottom was about eleven-feet wide.

⁷ Solomon also built a walkway around the outside of the temple that wasn’t joined to its walls. The Temple was built with rough-chiseled stone, and the sound of hammers, axes, and other metal tools wasn’t heard during its construction. ⁸ There was a vestibule that stood under a protrusion on the right side of the building, and there was a winding stairway in the middle, that led to the third story.

⁹ After the [exterior] was built, Solomon had the [interior walls] covered with cedar [panels]. ¹⁰ He also built the interior chamber in the middle of the Temple, which stood nine-feet high, and it was covered in cedar [panels].

¹¹ Then Jehovah sent word to Solomon, saying, ¹² ‘Regarding this [Temple] that you’re building; if you follow My instructions and decisions, and obey all My Commandments, what I said to your father David will prove true… ¹³ I will camp in the midst of the sons IsraEl, and I won’t abandon My people IsraEl.’

¹⁴ So then, Solomon went on to finish the Temple. ¹⁵ He paneled all its interior walls, floors, and beams with cedar. It was vaulted with timbers on the inside, and the walls were ribbed with pine. ¹⁶ So inside, the measurement from the floor to the ceiling beams was thirty-six feet. And inside the entryway, he built the Holy of Holies. ¹⁷ For, the front of the Temple rose seventy-five feet high at the entrance.

¹⁸ Now, the interior cedar panels were all carved with decorations of gourds and spread leaves, and none of the stonework could be seen from the inside. ¹⁹ Inside the entryway, in the center of the Temple, a place was made to hold the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah. ²⁰ It was thirty-five feet long, thirty-five feet wide, and thirty-five feet tall, and it was totally enclosed and covered in gold.

²¹ He also made an Altar in front of the entrance and covered it with gold. ²² In fact, by the time of its completion, the whole building was covered with gold. ²³ He also made two wooden cherubs of cypress that he placed on either side of the entrance. They each stood eighteen-feet high, ²⁴ each of their wings were nine-feet long, and the distance from wing-tip to wing-tip was eighteen feet. ²⁵ Both of the cherubs were the same size. ²⁶ He also had two eighteen-foot cherubs built that were placed in the innermost part of the Temple. ²⁷ They too had spread wings that touched each other and ran to the walls on either side of the building’s interior. ²⁸ Then the cherubs were covered in gold, ²⁹ and the walls around the Temple were engraved with cherubs and palms… both the innermost and outermost portions. ³⁰ And he even covered the floors of the whole building with gold… both the innermost portions and the outer portions.

³¹ The front entrance was made of juniper wood, and there were five doorways. ³² Two doors were made of pines that were carved with cherubs and palms. There were also some panels that could be removed to enlarge the entrance. And everything was covered with gold, including the engraved cherubs and palms.

³³ The Temple vestibule had juniper doorposts and four columns. ³⁴ Both of the doors were made of pine, and they were hinged into a bi-fold configuration. ³⁵ They also had panels that were carved with cherubs and palm leaves, and then they were entirely covered in gold.

³⁶ Next, [Solomon] built the inner courtyard. It had three rows of uncut stones, and it was surrounded by cedar posts. ³⁷ Then he had a veil made for the courtyard that separated it from the columned porch, which stood in front of the Temple.

³⁸ So, in the eleventh year, in the month of Baal (the eighth month), the Temple was finally completed per [Solomon’s] instructions and design.

Chapter 7

¹ Then during the next thirteen years, Solomon built his own palace, ² which [he called] ‘The House of the Forest of Lebanon.’ It was a hundred-and-seventy feet long, eighty-five feet wide, fifty-feet tall, and it had four rows of cedar columns that ran up to cedar rafters. ³ The whole building was decorated with latticework on the upper parts of the columns, and there were forty-five columns per row. ⁴ There were three windows on each of three sides, ⁵ and they and the three doorways were all arched.

⁶ It also had a columned front porch that was eighty-five feet long and fifty-feet wide, that was joined to a covering, which was supported by columns and thick beams on the front side. ⁷ This was where his throne was located that he judged from, and there was a columned porch over his judgment seat. ⁸ Then there was a courtyard in front of the place where he sat, which could be expanded whenever there was a need to do so.

He also built a house for the daughter of Pharaoh, whom he had taken as his wife, which looked like his columned porch. ⁹ All of this was constructed of valuable stones, which had been chiseled at intervals on the inside, and ran from the foundation to the moldings, and to the large courtyard on the outside.

¹⁰ The foundation that he laid was also made of large, valuable stones, each of which measured seventeen feet by fourteen feet, ¹¹ and the roof was made of valuable stones and cedar beams.

¹² The large courtyard was circled by three rows of uncut stones and a row of carved cedar posts.

Well, after Solomon completed his palace, ¹³ he sent and called for Hiram out of Tyre, ¹⁴ who was the son of a widow from the tribe of NaphTali, and whose father was a Tyranian man. For, he was gifted when it came to working brass (and at other crafts), and he was filled with knowledge on how to do all sorts of metalwork. He was brought to King Solomon, because he was able to do everything that needed to be done.

¹⁵ He then smelted and cast two columns for the Temple porch that were each thirty-feet tall and twenty-four feet in circumference. They were grooved to a depth of four fingers, ¹⁶ and he molded two brass capitals for the tops of the columns that were each eight-feet tall. ¹⁷ Then he made brass decorations for each capital ¹⁸ that consisted of rows of hanging pomegranates, ¹⁹ and the top of each column was shaped like a lily.

Then he finished off the columns for the porch with a ridge that ran between the capitals. It was six-and-a-half feet wide, ²⁰ and it was covered with two hundred rows of pomegranates. ²¹ He then erected these columns at the columned porch of the Temple, and he named one column JaKin, and the other Boaz. ²² Thereafter, he covered [the rest of] the columns with [copper] lilies. And with that, he finished his work on the columns.

²³ Next, he cast the [Sacred] Sea. It was round and seventeen-feet wide from rim to rim. It was eight-feet high and about fifty-feet in circumference. ²⁴ The base beneath it was seventeen-feet wide, and it was made of two rows of supports that were cast in a foundry furnace. ²⁵ The Sea itself was supported by twelve metal oxen, three of which faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east. The Sea was supported on top of them, ²⁶ and of course, all their posteriors faced inward. The middle of the Sea was shaped like a palm, but its rim was like that of a cup, with lily buds around the top. It had a capacity of about eleven hundred gallons.

²⁷ Then [Hiram] made ten brass carts. They were each eight-feet long, six-and-a-half feet wide, and twenty-inches tall. ²⁸ The carts were made of panels that were joined into frames. ²⁹ And the panels [were carved with] lions, oxen, and cherubs. In fact, lions, oxen, and cherubs covered all parts of the carts, including the bases. ³⁰ Each of the carts had four brass wheels, and all their fastenings were made of brass. Then, coming from the base were four supports that held washtubs, which were twenty-inches long. ³¹ [The tub supports] were round (two-and-a-half feet wide at the top), and they were covered with carvings. However, the four supports were rectangular, not round.

³² The brass wheels were mounted at the base of the supports, and the wheels each had spokes, standing two-and-a-half feet tall. ³³ In fact, they looked like chariot wheels. Then all the spokes were joined to cast axels.

³⁴ There were supports that stuck out at the corners of each of the cart’s bases as handles, ³⁵ which were mounted along the top of each base. They were ten-inches around and stood high for handholds. ³⁶ All the connecting parts [were carved] with cherubs, lions, and palms that were standing next to each other, on the front, on the inside, and all around. ³⁷ He made all ten carts exactly alike and to the same dimensions.

³⁸ Then he made the ten brass washtubs. They each held two hundred-and-thirty gallons [of water], and they were eight-feet long. Then each of the washtubs was mounted on the carts. ³⁹ Five were placed on the Temple’s right side, and the other five on its left side. Then the [Sacred] Sea was placed to the right of the Temple, on its southeast corner.

⁴⁰ Next, Hiram made the cooking pots, the tongs, and the bowls. ⁴¹ And soon he had completed making all the things for King Solomon at the Temple of Jehovah – the two columns; the twisted decorations that were put on the capitals of the two columns; the carvings for the tops of the columns; ⁴² and the pomegranates (four hundred of which were used as decorations). Two rows of [the pomegranates] were put on each column, and the rest were used as decorations ⁴³ for the carts, the metal washtubs that were mounted on them and their axels, rims, and spokes, as well as for ⁴⁴ the Sea and its twelve oxen that supported it, ⁴⁵ and for the cooking pots, tongs, and bowls. He [personally] made all these things for King Solomon and for the Temple of Jehovah.

All together, he [decorated] forty-eight columns for the palace of the king and for the Temple of Jehovah. And everything that Hiram made for the king was entirely of brass. ⁴⁶ He did all his casting near the Jordan River, underground, in a place that was located between SucCoth and ZarEthan. ⁴⁷ Solomon already had all the materials stored away, since he had received so much brass.

⁴⁸ Then Solomon went on to make the rest of the items for the Temple of Jehovah… the golden Altar, the gold table for the showbread, ⁴⁹ the solid-gold lamp stands that were placed at the entrance (five on the right side and five on the left side), with their gold bowls, lamps, and oil funnels; ⁵⁰ plus the gold thresholds, fasteners, bowls, saucers, and incense pans. And the doorway to the innermost part of the Temple (the Holy of Holies) and the doors to the entrance of the Temple itself were made of gold. ⁵¹ So, Solomon finally finished his ‘house’ for Jehovah. And he carried in all the holy things of David his father, as well as all his own holy things, including silver, gold, and other things for the treasury of the Temple of Jehovah.

Chapter 8

¹ Then King Solomon held a meeting with all the elders of IsraEl there on [Mount] Zion, to talk about bringing the Chest of the Sacred Agreement of Jehovah out of the city of David (which was on Mount Zion). ² This was in the month of Athanim (the seventh month), and because it was a holiday, all the elders of IsraEl were already there.

³ Then the Priests picked up the Chest ⁴ from the Tent of Proofs, along with all the holy items that were there, ⁵ and the king and all IsraEl stood before the Chest and sacrificed multitudes of oxen and sheep.

⁶ Then the Priests carried the Chest and put it into its place near the entrance of the Temple… in the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the cherubs ⁷ (for the cherubs had open, spread wings that covered the Chest and the other holy things that were on its cover). ⁸ And the only parts that stuck out of the Holy [of Holies] were the sacred staves, but even they couldn’t be seen from outside [the Temple]. ⁹ Of course, there was nothing in the Chest except the two stone tablets of the Sacred Agreement that Jehovah made with the sons of IsraEl after they left the land of Egypt, and which were put there by Moses at the Dry Place (Horeb).

¹⁰ And then, as the Priests were coming out of the Holy Place, a mist filled the whole building. ¹¹ So the Priests were unable to stand and officiate before the mist, because the glory of Jehovah filled the whole Temple.

¹² Then Solomon said: ‘Jehovah, You spoke of camping in dimness. ¹³ And now I’ve built a [Temple] to Your Name, and prepared a Holy Place for You. So, this is Your chair and a place for You to camp through the ages.’

¹⁴ Then he turned around, and all IsraEl started praising the king, for the whole gathering of IsraEl was standing there. ¹⁵ And [the king] said, ‘Praise Jehovah, the God of IsraEl, who spoke with His mouth about my father David, and who filled his hands, saying, From the day that I led My people IsraEl out of Egypt, I have never chosen a city [for Myself] in one of the chiefdoms of IsraEl, where a [Temple] would be built to My Name. ¹⁶ But now I’ve chosen JeruSalem as a place to put My Name, and I’ve chosen David to lead My people IsraEl. ¹⁷ And that’s why the heart of my father David was moved to build a [Temple] to the Name of Jehovah, the God of IsraEl.

¹⁸ ‘Then, Jehovah said to my father David: Because your heart was moved to build a [Temple] to My Name, you’ve done a good thing, because it came from your heart! ¹⁹ However, you may not personally build the [Temple]… it will be built by a son who comes from you. He will build the [Temple] to My Name.’

²⁰ ‘So, Jehovah caused these things that He said to happen. I replaced my father David and sat down on the throne of IsraEl, just as Jehovah said, and now I’ve built the [Temple] to the Name of Jehovah the God of IsraEl. ²¹ And I’ve created a place for the Chest that contains the Sacred Agreement that Jehovah made with our ancestors, when He led them out of the land of Egypt.’

²² Then Solomon stood before the Altar of Jehovah, there in front of the whole gathering of IsraEl, and he raised his arms toward heaven ²³ and said, ‘O Jehovah, God of IsraEl; there are no gods in heaven above or on the earth below that are like You. For, You have kept Your Agreement and shown mercy to Your servant… the one who has walked before You with his whole heart, Your servant David, my father. ²⁴ You spoke to him with Your mouth, and with Your hands You’ve fulfilled what [You promised to him] today. ²⁵ And now, O Jehovah, God of IsraEl; keep [the promise] that You made with my father David when You said, There will always be a man who sits before Me on the throne of IsraEl for as long as your children keep following Me, as you have followed Me.’

²⁶ ‘So now, O Jehovah, God of IsraEl; may the words that You said to my father David prove to be true. ²⁷ But will You really live on the earth with men, when the heavens of the heavens can’t contain You? How can this [Temple] that I built to Your Name expect to do so?

²⁸ ‘Please listen to my prayer, O Jehovah, God of IsraEl… hear the prayer that Your servant is praying before You today! ²⁹ May Your eyes watch over this [Temple] both day and night, for it’s the place where You said that You would put Your Name.

‘From Your home in the heavens, please listen to the prayers that Your servants will pray in this place both day and night, ³⁰ and provide the things that Your servant and all Your people IsraEl will ask for when they pray here… answer them and provide! ³¹ And if they should sin against their neighbors and take an oath to curse them, and then come and openly declare such a thing before Your Altar in this [Temple], ³² may You listen from the heavens and act… judge Your people IsraEl! Declare the lawless one lawlessness, and bring his [evil] ways upon his own head, but give justice to the righteous… treat the righteous with righteousness!

³³ ‘And when Your people IsraEl sin against You, may they fail before their enemies until they return and acknowledge Your Name, and then pray and beg before You in this [Temple]. ³⁴ Then please listen to them from the heavens and forgive the sins of Your people IsraEl, and return them to this land that You gave to their ancestors.

³⁵ ‘And when You hold back the sky and don’t allow rain to fall because of their sins against You, and then they come to pray in this place and acknowledge Your Name and turn away from their sins after You’ve humbled them; ³⁶ please listen from the heavens and forgive the sins of Your servants… Your people IsraEl. Show them a better way to act, and then provide rain for this land that You’ve given Your people as their inheritance.

³⁷ ‘And if there should be a famine, a plague, a fire, an infestation of locusts, or a blight [on the crops]; or if an enemy should come against one of our cities (no matter what the event or misery), may all the prayers and supplications of every man be heard, so that You will come to know the pain in their hearts. ³⁸ And whenever a man spreads out his arms in this ³⁹ home that has been prepared for You, may You hear him from the heavens, forgive him, and act. Give each man what he deserves by the way he acts, for only You know what’s in their hearts. You alone know what’s in the hearts of all the sons of men. ⁴⁰ So, they should fear You all the days of their lives that they spend on this land that You’ve given to our ancestors.

⁴¹ ‘And as for the aliens who are not from Your people; ⁴² when they come to this place that has been prepared as Your home to pray, ⁴³ please listen to them from heaven and do everything that they ask, so all the people on the earth will know Your Name and come to fear You… just as Your people IsraEl should know that Your Name has been called upon this [Temple] that I built.

⁴⁴ ‘And if Your people go to war against their enemies, following Your directions, and if they pray in the Name of the Lord in this city that You’ve chosen and in this [Temple] that I’ve built to Your Name, ⁴⁵ then please listen to their prayers and supplications from heaven, and bring them justice.

⁴⁶ ‘And when they sin against You (for there is no man who doesn’t sin) and You hand them over to their enemies who take them away as captives into a land that is nearby or far away; ⁴⁷ and if, in the land where they are, they turn back and start begging for Your [help], saying, We have sinned; We have done wrong; We have acted lawlessly; ⁴⁸ and they turn back to You with all their hearts and souls, there in the land of their enemies who took them there, and pray to You in the direction of the land that You gave to their ancestors, and to the city that You’ve chosen, and to the [Temple] that I built to Your Name; ⁴⁹ then please listen from heaven and from the home that has been prepared for You. ⁵⁰ Forgive the wrongs that they did when they sinned against You, and the wicked ways in which they disregarded You, and give compassion to the ones who took them as captives, so they will have pity for them. ⁵¹ For, they are Your people and Your inheritance. You led them out of the land of Egypt… from the midst of that iron-foundry furnace.

⁵² ‘May Your eyes and Your ears [always] be open to the cries of Your servants and to the pleas of Your people IsraEl. Please listen to them, no matter what they call to You for, ⁵³ because You have drawn them and set them apart for Yourself as an inheritance from among all the peoples of the earth, and You spoke to them through Your servant Moses when You led our ancestors out of the land of Egypt, O Lord Jehovah.’

Then Solomon spoke concerning the Temple, after he had completed its construction. ‘When He made the sun in the sky, Jehovah said: I will live in a dimly-lit place, so build a new [Temple] for Me to dwell in… and may it be a beautiful place for your sakes. {Look!} Isn’t that what’s written as a song in the scroll?’

⁵⁴ And after Solomon finished his prayer and his requests to Jehovah, he stood up before the Altar of Jehovah (because he had been kneeling before it), then he raised his arms toward heaven ⁵⁵ and he blest the whole assembly of IsraEl in a loud voice, saying, ⁵⁶ ‘Praise Jehovah, for He has brought rest to His people IsraEl today, just as He promised (among all the many things that He said). For, not a word of the many things He said through His servants has failed to come true.

⁵⁷ ‘May Jehovah our God be with us, as He has been with our ancestors. May He not abandon us or turn from us. ⁵⁸ May He move our hearts toward Him, so we will follow in all His ways, and keep the Commandments and orders that He gave to our ancestors. ⁵⁹ And may the things that I’ve begged for, here before Jehovah our God, come true today. May they be heard by Jehovah our God day and night, and may He always do the right thing for His servant and for His people IsraEl, day in and day out, ⁶⁰ so that all the people on the earth will come to know that Jehovah is God, and that there is no other. ⁶¹ And may our hearts become perfect to Jehovah our God, and may we follow His orders and keep His Commandments in sacredness, as we are doing today.’

⁶² Then the king and all the sons of IsraEl offered sacrifices before Jehovah. ⁶³ King Solomon offered twenty-two thousand oxen and a hundred-and-twenty thousand sheep as a peace offering to Jehovah. Then the king inaugurated the [Temple] of Jehovah before all the sons of IsraEl.

⁶⁴ And on that holy day, the king stood in the middle of the courtyard (in front of the Temple of Jehovah) and prepared whole burnt offerings as sacrifices, and he offered the fat of the peace offerings there, because the brass Altar that was before Jehovah was just too small, so it couldn’t handle all the whole burnt-offerings, gift offerings, and peace-offering sacrifices.

⁶⁵ Then Solomon held a holiday feast that day, and all IsraEl attended. It was a huge gathering, for people had come from as far as Hamath and the [Nile] River to stand before Jehovah God at the [Temple] that [Solomon] had built. They ate, drank, and rejoiced before Jehovah God for seven days. ⁶⁶ And on the eighth day, [Solomon] sent the people away, and they offered ages of blessings to the king as they left. So, they all returned to their [homes] rejoicing over all the good things that Jehovah had done for His servant David and for His people IsraEl.

Chapter 9

¹ Well, after Solomon had finished building the Temple of Jehovah, his own palace, and all the other things that he wanted to do, ² Jehovah appeared to him a second time (as He had appeared in Gibeon). ³ And [God] said to him, ‘I heard what you said in your prayer, and of the things you asked and begged Me for, and I’ve done everything that you asked for in your prayer… I’ve made this [Temple] (which you built to [honor] My Name) holy through the ages, and I will [always] watch over it and keep it in My heart. ⁴ And if you will continue to follow Me uprightly and with sacredness in your heart, as did your father David, and do everything that I told him by following My orders and Commandments, ⁵ I will elevate the throne of your kingdom over IsraEl through the ages, as I promised your father. For I told him, There will always be a man [who is descended from you] to lead IsraEl.

⁶ ‘However, if you or your descendants turn away from Me and fail to keep My Commandments and orders that Moses put before you, and then go and serve other gods and bow before them, ⁷ I will remove IsraEl from the land that I’ve given to them, and I will turn My face away from this [Temple] that I’ve made holy to My Name. Then IsraEl will become extinct and a topic of discussion among all the people. ⁸ And everyone who passes by this lofty [Temple] will be amazed and whistle, asking, Why did Jehovah do such a thing to this land and to this [Temple]? ⁹ And they will be told, Because they abandoned their God – the God of their ancestors, Jehovah – who led them out of the house of slavery in Egypt. Then they took hold of alien gods, and bowed before them and served them. This is why Jehovah brought all these bad things upon them.’

¹⁰ Well, this happened some twenty years after Solomon built the two houses – the [Temple] of Jehovah and the [palace] of the king.

¹¹ Hiram, the king of Tyre, had helped Solomon by providing the cedar and pine boards, [some of] the gold, and everything else [that Solomon asked for]. So, King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.

¹² Well, when Hiram traveled from Tyre to Galilee to look at the cities that Solomon had given him, he wasn’t pleased with them. ¹³ So, he asked, ‘What kind of cities have you given your brother?’ And from then on, he just referred to them as ‘the borders.’

¹⁴ Now, Hiram had sent Solomon four-and-a-half tons of gold ¹⁵ that he had plundered, to build the Temple of Jehovah, the king’s palace, the wall around JeruSalem (to fortify the city of David), as well as the cities of MegidDo and GeZer.

¹⁶ It was Pharaoh (the king of Egypt) who first took GeZer. He burned it and killed all the CanaAnites who lived in the city, and then he gave it to Solomon as a dowry for his daughter, when she married Solomon.

¹⁷ Then Solomon rebuilt GeZer, ¹⁸ as well as Lower BethHoron, BaalAth, and Tadmor (which is in the desert). ¹⁹ He also built many other fortified cities, as well as forts for his chariots and cavalry, and he had many other construction projects in JeruSalem, Lebanon, and throughout all the land that he ruled.

²⁰ However, the Hittites, Amorites, Pherezites, CanaAnites, Hivites, Jebusites, and Gergesites (all those who weren’t sons of IsraEl) ²¹ and their children remained in the land, because the sons of IsraEl weren’t able to wipe them out. So, Solomon has made them pay a tribute down to this day. ²² And many of these non-IsraElites served Solomon as soldiers and as lieutenants over his chariots and cavalry. ²³ Many were also put in charge over Solomon’s construction projects (some five hundred-and-fifty of them) and they were over the people who were doing the work.

²⁴ Now, the daughter of Pharaoh left the city of David and she went to live in the house that Solomon had built for her. Then he built MilLo.

²⁵ Well, three times each year, Solomon sacrificed whole burnt offerings and peace offerings on the Altar that he’d built to Jehovah. He also burned incense on it, there before Jehovah, until he finished the Temple.

²⁶ Then King Solomon built a ship in GeBer (which is next to the seaport of ElAth on the border of Edom). ²⁷ And Hiram sent some of his servants who were mariners and knew the sea, to do the rowing… in order to help the servants of Solomon. ²⁸ Then they [attacked] SopheRam and brought back gold to King Solomon – some sixteen tons of it.

Chapter 10

¹ Well, the Queen of Sheba had heard of Solomon’s fame and of the Name Jehovah, so she came to test him with problems.

² When she came to JeruSalem, she brought a very large contingent [of servants], as well as camels that were carrying spices, a huge amount of gold, and many valuable gems. So, she went to King Solomon and spoke to him about all the things that were in her heart. ³ Then Solomon answered all her questions… he didn’t overlook a thing, but explained everything to her. ⁴ And when the Queen of Sheba saw how knowledgeable Solomon was, the palace that he had built, ⁵ all the food that he had, the way his servants were assigned, the jobs that his officials were given, how they were dressed, as well as his wine servers, and the whole burnt offerings that he sacrificed at the Temple of Jehovah, she was beside herself.

⁶ Then she said to King Solomon, ‘Everything that I’ve heard about you in my land and about your knowledge is true. ⁷ I came here because I didn’t believe the things that I was being told; but now I find that it’s all beyond what was reported in my land. ⁸ Why, your wives and servants are blest to be able to stand before you all the time and listen to your wisdom. ⁹ And Jehovah your God, who chose you and put you on the throne of IsraEl, must love IsraEl and [plan to] watch over it through the ages, to set you as king over them and righteously hear and judge their cases.’

¹⁰ Then she gave Solomon a ton-and-a-half of gold, a huge amount of spices, and many precious gems. Never before had anyone brought so many spices as those that the Queen of Sheba brought to King Solomon.

¹¹ Then Hiram sent a ship carrying gold from Ophir, as well as cut lumber and valuable stones. ¹² The king used the timber as supports for the Temple of Jehovah and the king’s palace, as well as for stringed instruments and lutes for the musicians. Never before had such wood been seen in the land (or anywhere else, for that matter).

¹³ Then King Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba everything she asked for and desired… in addition to all the other gifts that King Solomon gave her. So, she returned to her land with all her servants.

¹⁴ And the weight of the gold that came to Solomon that year was thirty-two tons, ¹⁵ which didn’t include the tributes that the people or the merchants brought, or that which was brought by kings on the other side of the Jordan, or from the governors of the land.

¹⁶ Then King Solomon had three hundred spears made from hammered gold, each of which was made from six hundred gold coins. ¹⁷ And he had three hundred small shields made of hammered gold, each of which was made from three large gold coins. Then the king had them mounted in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.

¹⁸ Thereafter, the king had a huge throne made from ivory that was covered with pure gold, ¹⁹ and there were six stairs up to the throne. On the upper part of the throne there were calves on the backside. There were also handrails on each side, with [carved] lions standing beside them, ²⁰ twelve on both sides next to the stairs. There was never anything like it in the kingdom before.

²¹ Then all the [dishes, cups, and bowls] that were used by Solomon were completely made of gold, as were the bathtubs and vases in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. Nothing there was made of silver, because it was too common in the days of Solomon.

²² Solomon also owned a ship that sailed the sea from Tharsis, along with the ships of Hiram. And once every three years, the ship brought gold, silver, and cut gems for the king. ²³ So, Solomon became greater than all the other kings of the earth in both wealth and in intelligence; ²⁴ and all the kings of the earth came to Solomon to hear the wisdom that Jehovah had put into his heart. ²⁵ And each one brought gifts of silver, gold, clothing, balsam, spices, horses, and mules each year.

²⁶ Solomon also obtained chariots and horsemen. He had a thousand, four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he kept in forts throughout the land and with himself in JeruSalem.

²⁷ The king’s silver was as common as stones in JeruSalem, and his cedars were as common as trees in the plains.

²⁸ Solomon bought his horses from Egypt and Kue, where the king’s merchants took items to barter. ²⁹ He also bought chariots from Egypt, for which he paid six-hundred silver coins each, and a hundred-and-fifty silver coins for each horse. Then he sold them to the kings of the Hittites and Syria, but they had to come to him in order to pick them up.

Chapter 11

¹ King Solomon very fond of women, so he took several foreigners as wives, such as the daughter of Pharaoh, as well as Moabites, Ammonites, Idumeans, Sidonians, and Hittites… ² which Jehovah had forbidden the sons of IsraEl to do. He told them, ‘You must not [marry] them, and they must not come to you, for they will turn your hearts [toward serving] their idols.’

However, Solomon [was a slave] to love, ³ so before long he had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, and these foreign wives changed his heart. ⁴ Soon Solomon’s wives turned his heart to worshiping other gods, so his heart was no longer perfect toward Jehovah his God, as was the heart of his father David. ⁵ For, Solomon started serving Astarte (the god of the Sidonians), and Malcolm (the disgusting thing of the Ammonites). ⁶ So, Solomon started doing evil things before Jehovah, and he was no longer a follower of Jehovah, as was David his father.

⁷ Then Solomon built a high place to Camus, the idol of Moab, and to Malcolm, the idol of the sons of Ammon, on the mountain across from JeruSalem. ⁸ And all his foreign wives were doing the same thing… burning incense and sacrificing to their idols. ⁹ And of course, this made Jehovah very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned from Jehovah the God of IsraEl, who had appeared before him twice ¹⁰ after he had been plainly told not to serve other gods, and to be careful to do everything that Jehovah God told him.

¹¹ So, Jehovah said to Solomon: ‘Because you’ve done these things, and you haven’t followed My Commandments or instructions that I gave you, I will take your kingdom out of your hand, rip it up, and give it to your servant. ¹² However, I won’t do this during your lifetime [out of respect for] David your father. Rather, I will take it from the hands of your son. ¹³ I won’t take the whole kingdom; I’ll leave your son as chief over part of it, because of David My servant, and because of JeruSalem, the city that I’ve chosen.’

¹⁴ So Jehovah sent an enemy against Solomon, Ader the Idumean (from the kingdom of Idumea). ¹⁵ For, when David wiped out Edom, and his General JoAb went to bury the dead, he also cut down the men of Idumea. ¹⁶ Then JoAb stayed in Idumea for the next six months. And although JoAb had destroyed all the men there, ¹⁷ Ader (who was just a small boy then) got away, along with many of his father’s servants, and they went to Egypt. ¹⁸ And when the men of Midian attacked Pharan, the [people there] also joined with him when he went to Pharaoh (the king of Egypt).

¹⁹ Now, when Ader went to Pharaoh, he was given a house, food, and some land, because he was well liked by Pharaoh. He also gave him his sister-in-law as a wife (the sister of Thekemina the elder), ²⁰ and she gave birth to GaneBath, who [Queen] Thekemina raised in her house as one of the sons of Pharaoh.

²¹ Now, when Ader got word in Egypt that David had gone to sleep with his ancestors, and that JoAb (the commander of the army) had been killed, Ader said to Pharaoh: ‘Allow me to return to my country.’

²² And Pharaoh asked him, ‘What have I failed to give you, so that you now wish to return to your country?’

And Ader replied, ‘Not one thing! But now, please send me away.’

²³ Jehovah had also raised another enemy against [Solomon]; Rezon (the son of EliAdah), who had run away from his master HadadEzer, the king of Zobah. ²⁴ He then gathered an army and became the ruler of a confederation that captured Damascus, where he settled and started ruling, ²⁵ and where he remained an enemy to IsraEl during all the days of Solomon.

Now, this is the bad thing that Ader did against IsraEl: He started ruling in the land of Edom.

²⁶ Then one of Solomon’s servants, JeroBoam (the son of Nabat the Ephrathite from SariRa), whose mother was widowed, ²⁷ rebelled against King Solomon. This was after King Solomon had built the Akra and ²⁸ after he had completed the outer barrier around the city of his father David.

²⁸ Now, JeroBoam was a mighty man, and when Solomon noticed that this young man was someone who could get things done, he put him in charge of the tributes from the house of Joseph. ²⁹ But one day, as JeroBoam was coming from JeruSalem, he met the Prophet AhiJah the Selonite, who stopped him along the road to talk to him.

Well, AhiJah was wearing a new cape, and they were alone there in the plain. ³⁰ Then AhiJah took off the cape that he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces. ³¹ And he said to JeroBoam, ‘Take ten of these pieces for yourself, because this is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl has said: {Look!} I’m tearing the kingdom out of the hands of Solomon and giving you ten of its [tribes]. ³² However, two of the [tribes] will remain his, because of My servant David, and on account of JeruSalem, the city that I have chosen from among all the tribes of IsraEl.

³³ ‘[I’m doing this] because [Solomon] has abandoned Me and is now making offerings to Astarte, the disgusting thing of the Sidonians, to Camus, the idol of Moab, and to their king, the loathsome thing of the sons of Ammon. He is no longer walking in My ways or doing the right things before Me as did his father David. ³⁴ I’m not going to remove the kingdom from him entirely, but I will oppose him all the days of his life. It was only because of My servant David that I chose him. ³⁵ But now I’m going to take the kingdom from the hands of his son and give ten of the [tribes] to you. ³⁶ I will give his son two [tribes], so that a descendant of My servant David will always stand before Me in JeruSalem, the city where I’ve chosen to put My Name.

³⁷ ‘Now, you may take and rule over whatever your soul desires, and you’ll be the king over IsraEl. ³⁸ And if you’ll watch over all that I’m putting you in charge of, walk in My ways, always do the right things before Me and follow My orders and Commandments (as My servant David did), then I will build you a house that is as sure as the one that I built for David. ³⁹ I’m giving you IsraEl, and I will mistreat the seed of David because of these things… but not during the lifetime of JeroBoam.’

⁴⁰ Thereafter, Solomon looked for ways to kill JeroBoam, but he got up and ran away to Egypt, to SusAkim the king of Egypt, and he stayed there until Solomon died.

⁴¹ Now, the rest of the words of Solomon – all the many things [he said] and did, and all his wisdom – {Look!} have been written about in the scroll of the sayings of Solomon. ⁴² So, Solomon reigned over all IsraEl from JeruSalem for forty years, ⁴³ and then he went to sleep with his ancestors and they buried him in a tomb in the city of David his father. ⁴⁴ So, his son RehoBoam started reigning in his place.

Chapter 12

¹ Well, King RehoBoam went to Shechem, because all IsraEl had gone there to coronate him, ² and JeroBoam (the son of Nabat) heard about it. However he was still in Egypt, where he had settled after having to run from Solomon. ³ But the people of IsraEl called for him and JeroBoam came to them. For, the people had spoken to King RehoBoam, and said: ⁴ ‘Your father oppressed us and kept our necks in a yolk. So now, lighten the load of our service to you. For, your father was a hard taskmaster and he kept us under a heavy load… and then we will serve you!’

⁵ And he replied, ‘Give me three days [to think about it]!’ So, they left.

⁶ Then King RehoBoam went to the elders who used to stand before his father Solomon (while he was still living), and said, ‘Give me your advice. Tell me; what should I say to the people?’

⁷ And they told him, ‘If you wish to serve [as king] to these people today, do as they ask and they will always be your servants.’

⁸ However, he chose not to listen to the advice that the elders had given him, and he took the advice of some young men who he was raised with, and who he had selected as his advisors. ⁹ For when he asked them, ‘What do you advise me to say to these people who came to me and told me to lighten the neck-yolk that my father put on them,’ ¹⁰ the young men that had been brought up with him said, ‘Tell those people who said that your father had put a heavy yoke on them and that you should lighten it, My thinnest part is thicker than the hips of my father. ¹¹ And although my father saddled you to a heavy yoke, I will add more weight to it. And although my father disciplined you with whips, I will discipline you with scorpions.’

¹² So, when all IsraEl came before King RehoBoam on the third day (for the king of IsraEl told them, ‘Return to me on the third day’), ¹³ the king spoke harshly to them and chose not to follow the advice that the elders had given him. ¹⁴ Rather, he said what his young men told him to say: ‘My father oppressed you with a neck yolk, and I will add to it. And my father disciplined you with whips, so I will discipline you with scorpions.’

¹⁵ Well, the king just wouldn’t listen to the people, because Jehovah had moved his heart so that what He had said through the Prophet AhiJah the Selonite concerning JeroBoam (the son of Nabat) would come true.

¹⁶ Now, all IsraEl knew that the king wasn’t listening to them. So they replied to him: ‘What do we owe David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. O IsraEl, run to you tents… now! Let the house of David do its own grazing!’

And with that, all IsraEl returned to their tents, ¹⁷ and RehoBoam only ruled over the sons of IsraEl who lived in the cities of Judah. ¹⁸ For, when the king sent AdoniRam to collect the tribute, all IsraEl stoned him to death… and King RehoBoam had to get on his chariot and flee to JeruSalem. ¹⁹ So from that day on, IsraEl annulled its allegiance to the house of David.

²⁰ And when [the people of] IsraEl heard that JeroBoam had returned from Egypt, they called him to come to a meeting and gave him the rulership over IsraEl. And after that, they never again followed the house of David… only the tribes of Judah and BenJamin did so.

²¹ Well, after RehoBoam got back to JeruSalem, he held a meeting with the gathering of Judah and the tribe of BenJamin – a hundred-and-twenty thousand young warriors – to discuss going to war against the house of IsraEl, in order to return them to the kingdom of RehoBoam, the son of Solomon. ²² However, Jehovah sent word through His servant ShemaiJah, who was told, ²³ ‘Speak to RehoBoam (the son of Solomon) the king of Judah, and to the house of Judah, BenJamin, and the rest of the people, and tell them that ²⁴ this is what Jehovah says: You must not go to war against your brothers, the sons of IsraEl. Return to your homes, because I have caused this to happen.’

So, they paid attention to words of Jehovah, because they didn’t want to oppose what He said.

²⁵ Thereafter, JeroBoam built Shechem in the hills of EphraIm and ruled from there, and then he built PenuEl. ²⁶ Then JeroBoam said in his heart, ‘{Look!} I will [not] return the kingdom to the house of David. ²⁷ And if these people go to offer sacrifices in the [Temple] of Jehovah in JeruSalem, they will soon turn their hearts toward Jehovah and to RehoBoam, the king of Judah. Then they’ll kill me.’

²⁸ So the king held a meeting, and he had two gold heifers made. Then he said to the people: ‘I don’t want you going up to JeruSalem anymore. Look, here are your gods that led you out of the land of Egypt, O IsraEl!’

²⁹ So, he put one [of the idols] in BethEl, and the other in Dan. ³⁰ And because of this sin, the people started worshiping the one that he put in Dan, and they no longer went to the Temple of Jehovah.

³¹ Then the king had temples made on hilltops, and he appointed priests from among all the people (who weren’t of the sons of Levi). ³² JeroBoam also turned the fifteenth day of the eighth month into a holiday (the same as in the land of Judah). Then he went to BethEl… he went up to the altar that he made there to sacrifice heifers; and there in BethEl, he assigned the priests of the high places that he had made.

³³ It was on the fifteenth day of the eighth month (which was the holiday that he created in his own heart for the sons of IsraEl) that he went up to the altar that he made and offered sacrifices there.

Chapter 13

¹ And {Look!} a man of God came to BethEl from Judah, with a message from Jehovah. He got up on the sacrificial altar there ² and called out the words of Jehovah. He said: ‘O altar; O altar; this is what Jehovah has said: {Look!} A son has been born in the house of David, JosiJah is his name, and he will sacrifice the priests of the high places upon you – those who are offering sacrifices upon you – and he will burn their bones upon you.’

³ Then he performed a miracle; he said, ‘This is what Jehovah has said: {Look!} The altar has been ripped, and all the fat that was put on it is being spilled!’ ⁴ And when King JeroBoam heard what the man of God said upon the altar in BethEl, he reached toward the altar and shouted, ‘Seize him!’ But as he said that, the hand that he stuck out withered, and he wasn’t able to draw it back. ⁵ Then the altar miraculously cracked and spilled all the fat that had been placed there, just as the man of God told them that Jehovah had said.

⁶ Then King JeroBoam said to the man of God: ‘Go before the face of Jehovah your God and beg Him to return my hand to me!’

So the man of God [spoke to] the face of Jehovah, and the king’s hand returned to him and became as it was before. ⁷ Then the king said to the man of God: ‘Come with me to my palace and dine with me, and I’ll give you a gift.’

⁸ But the man of God said to the king, ‘Even if you were to give me half of everything that’s [in] your palace, I wouldn’t go with you. Nor would I eat food or drink water in this place. ⁹ For, this is what Jehovah told me: Don’t eat bread, don’t drink water, and don’t return by the same way you came.’

¹⁰ Then he left BethEl and turned toward home by another route.

¹¹ Well, there was a prophet who lived in BethEl who was an older man. And when his sons came to him and told him everything that the man of God had done that day in BethEl, and of the words that he had spoken to the king, the face of their father changed. ¹² And he asked them, ‘Which way did he go?’

So, his sons pointed out the way that the man of God was traveling toward Judah, ¹³ and he said to his sons, ‘Saddle my burro for me!’

¹⁴ So they saddled his burro and he mounted it, then he went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak tree. And he asked, ‘Are you the man of God who came from Judah?’

And he replied, ‘I am.’

¹⁵ And [the prophet] said, ‘Come with me and have something to eat.’

¹⁶ But [the man of God] replied, ‘There’s no way that I can come with you; nor may I eat bread or drink water in this place. ¹⁷ For, Jehovah told me, You must not eat any bread or drink any water there; and you must not return by the same way you came.’

¹⁸ However he replied, ‘But I’m a prophet like you, and a messenger [of God] told me these words from Jehovah… he said, Take him back to your house and give him some food and water!’ (However, he was lying).

¹⁹ So, [the man of God] went back with him and he ate bread and drank water there in [the prophet’s] house. ²⁰ But as they were sitting down at the table, the word of Jehovah came to the prophet who did the inviting, ²¹ so he said to the man of God who had come from Judah, ‘This is what Jehovah has said: Because you disobeyed the instructions of Jehovah and you didn’t do as you were commanded by Jehovah your God ²² (by returning to eat bread and drink water in this place where He told you not to eat any bread or drink any water), there’s no way that your body will be buried with your ancestors.’

²³ And that’s what happened. For, after he ate bread, drank water, and saddled his burro for the return, ²⁴ he was found along the road, killed by a lion. His body was just lying there in the road with the burro standing next to it, and there was the lion nearby. ²⁵ Well, when some men came along the road and found the body starting to decay, they pushed it off the road, and the lion returned to it.

Then they went back and reported the matter in the city where the elderly prophet lived. ²⁶ And when the prophet heard what had happened to the man of God along the road, he said, ‘This is what happens to those who rebel against the word of Jehovah. For, it was Jehovah who sent the lion… it attacked him and killed him, just as Jehovah foretold.’

²⁷ Then he spoke to his sons and said, ‘Saddle my burro for me!’

So they saddled it, ²⁸ and he went and found the body that had been tossed alongside the road… and the burro… and there was the lion standing by the body. However, the lion hadn’t eaten the body of the man of God, nor had it attacked his burro. ²⁹ So the prophet picked up the body, placed it on his burro, and carried it back to his city to bury him. ³⁰ Then he put the body in his own tomb, and [the people] beat their chests over him, saying, ‘Woe, O brother!’

³¹ And after beating their chests over him, the prophet said to his sons, ‘When I die, I want you to bury me in this tomb where we’ve put this man of God. Put me next to his bones, so that my bones will be preserved along with his bones. ³² For, Jehovah used him to speak against the altar in BethEl, and against the temples on the hilltops in Samaria.’

³³ However, what [the man of God] had said to JeroBoam didn’t turn him from his evil ways. For, he went and appointed any man who wanted the position to be a priest in the high places, and the posts were filled by anyone he chose. ³⁴ This was the sin that brought the house of JeroBoam ruin and extinction from the face of the earth.

Chapter 14

¹ Well, after some time, AbiJah (JeroBoam’s son) became ill. ² So, JeroBoam said to his wife: ‘Get up and make yourself up so people won’t recognize you as my wife, then go to Shiloh and look for AhiJah the Prophet, because he’s the one who first spoke to me about ruling over these people. ³ Carry along some bread for this man of God, and some small cakes for his children, as well as some raisins and a jar of honey. Go to him and have him tell you what will happen to our child.’

⁴ So, the wife of JeroBoam did as he said. She got up and went to Shiloh, and then she went to the house of AhiJah.

Now, the man was too old to see well, for because of his old age [he had developed cataracts]. ⁵ But Jehovah said to AhiJah, ‘Look, the wife of JeroBoam is coming to you to ask about her son, because he’s very ill, and this is what you should say to her…’

⁶ So, when she got there (although she couldn’t be recognized), AhiJah heard the sound of her feet coming up his entryway, and he said, ‘Come on in, you wife of JeroBoam. Why are coming as a stranger?’

Then he said, ‘I have a harsh message for you. ⁷ Return to JeroBoam and tell him that this is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl has said: I’m the one who elevated you from the midst of your people and appointed you over the people of IsraEl. ⁸ I tore the crown from the house of David and gave it to you. Yet, you haven’t become like My servant David, who kept My Commandments and followed after me with his whole heart, doing what was right in My eyes. ⁹ Rather, you’ve acted wickedly in everything that’s before you, and you’ve gone and made other gods and molded images to anger Me… you pushed Me aside!

¹⁰ ‘And because of this, {Look!} I’m bringing evil against the house of JeroBoam. I will destroy all those of JeroBoam who urinate against a wall… those who are now in IsraEl and those who are yet to come… they will be treated like manure! ¹¹ Those of JeroBoam who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and the flying creatures of the sky will eat those who die in the fields.

‘This is what Jehovah said. ¹² So now, get up and go back home! And as your feet are entering your city, your child will die. ¹³ Then [his body] will be put in a tomb and all IsraEl will mourn for him. For, he’s the only one of JeroBoam’s [children] who will be put in a tomb, because he’s the only one in the house of JeroBoam who [would have] said something good about Jehovah, the God of IsraEl.

¹⁴ ‘And today – in fact, NOW – Jehovah will raise a king for Himself over IsraEl who will cut down the house of JeroBoam. ¹⁵ For, Jehovah will strike IsraEl as someone stirs a reed in the water. He will pluck IsraEl from the good land that He gave their ancestors and toss them to the other side of the river, because of all the sacred poles they erected to anger Jehovah.’

¹⁶ And that’s how Jehovah showed His [dis]favor to IsraEl because of the sins of JeroBoam. For, he had not only sinned, he’d also led IsraEl into sin.

¹⁷ So, JeroBoam’s wife got up and returned to SariRa, and as she stepped onto the threshold of her house, her child died. ¹⁸ Then they buried [his body] in a tomb and all IsraEl mourned for him, just as Jehovah said they would through His servant AhiJah the Prophet.

¹⁹ Now, all the other things that JeroBoam did (the wars he fought and the things he said during his reign) are written about in the words of the scroll of the lives of the kings of IsraEl.

²⁰ JeroBoam reigned for twenty-two years, then he went to sleep with his ancestors, and his son NaDab started ruling in his place.

²¹ At the time, RehoBoam (the son of Solomon) was reigning over Judah. He was forty-one years old when he started his reign, and he ruled in JeruSalem (the city where Jehovah chose to put His Name for all the tribes of IsraEl) for seven years. His mother’s name was NaAma, and she was an Ammonite.

²² During this time, Judah was also acting wickedly before Jehovah, and they were making Him jealous by all the things they were doing, as did their ancestors when they sinned. ²³ The [people] were building high places [of worship] for themselves, and erecting monuments and sacred poles on every high hill and under every shade tree. ²⁴ They got together throughout the land and started doing all the disgusting things that the nations, which Jehovah had removed from before the sons of IsraEl, had been doing.

²⁵ So, in the fifth year of the reign of RehoBoam, the king of Egypt came against JeruSalem ²⁶ and took all the treasures of the Temple of Jehovah, and all the treasures of the king’s palace. He took the gold spears (which David took from the children of AdraZar, the king of Suba) and carried them [from] JeruSalem. He took everything! He even took the gold shields that Solomon had made, and carried them all to Egypt.

²⁷ Then King RehoBoam had some shields made of brass to replace [the gold shields], and they were set in place by the captains of his bodyguards (those who guarded the king’s palace). ²⁸ And one day, while the king was in the Temple of Jehovah, the bodyguards took them down and mounted them in their own barracks.

²⁹ All the rest of the things that RehoBoam said and did are written about in the scroll of the words and days of the kings of Judah. ³⁰ And during the entire time, there was war between RehoBoam and JeroBoam. ³¹ Then RehoBoam went to sleep with his ancestors, and they buried him in the tomb of his fathers, in the city of David. Then his son AbiJah started ruling in place of him.

Chapter 15

¹ And in the eighteenth year of the reign of JeroBoam (the son NaBat), AbiJah (the son of RehoBoam) started ruling over Judah. ² He reigned in JeruSalem for just three years. His mother’s name was MaAcha, and she was the daughter of AbSalom. ³ However, he followed in the sins that his father had committed before him, and his heart wasn’t perfect toward Jehovah his God, as was the heart of his grandfather David. ⁴ But because of David, Jehovah God gave him the right to establish his line as [the future kings] in JeruSalem. ⁵ This is because David did the right thing before Jehovah and didn’t turn away from all that he was told to do during his lifetime ⁶ (except in the matter of UriJah the Hittite). ⁷ And the rest of the things that AbiJah said and did {Look!} have been written about in the scroll of the words of the days of the kings of Judah.

Now, there was always a state of war between AbiJah and JeroBoam. ⁸ But then AbiJah went to sleep with his ancestors in the twenty-fourth year of the reign of JeroBoam, and he was buried in the tomb of his fathers in the city of David.

After him, his son Asa started ruling as king over Judah. ⁹ That was in the twenty-fourth year of the reign of JeroBoam, the king of IsraEl. ¹⁰ He then reigned in JeruSalem for forty-one years. The name of his mother Ana, and she was also a daughter of AbSalom.

¹¹ Now, Asa did what was right before Jehovah, as did his ancestor David. ¹² For he removed all the mystic rites from the land, and drove out all the bad practices that his fathers had established. ¹³ He also removed his mother Ana, after she held a meeting in her field of sacred poles, because she was trying to seize power. So, Asa cut off her retreat and burned [her followers] in a fire next to the Cedar (Kidron) Wadi. ¹⁴ And, although he failed to remove the high places of worship, the heart of Asa was perfect toward Jehovah all the days of his life. ¹⁵ For, Asa returned the huge columns of silver and gold to the Temple of Jehovah, as well as its silver and gold utensils.

¹⁶ And there was war between Asa and BaAsha (the king of IsraEl) for as long as they both lived. ¹⁷ BaAsha had attacked Judah and built Rama there to cut off Asa, the king of Judah. ¹⁸ But then Asa took all the silver and gold that he found in the treasury of the Temple of Jehovah and in the treasuries of the palace of the king, and entrusted them to his servants. Then King Asa had the treasures sent to BenHader, who was the son of TaberEma, the king of Syria, who lived in Damascus. ¹⁹ He said, ‘May there be a treaty between you and me, and between your father and my father. {Look!} I’ve sent you gifts of silver and gold. So now, come and end your treaty with BaAsha, the king of IsraEl, and drive him away from me!’

²⁰ Well, BenHader sent his officials and an army to King Asa, and they attacked Ain in Dan, AbelMa and the house of MaAcah, and all of ChenNereth into the land of NaphTali. ²¹ And when BaAsha heard of it, he stopped building Rama and returned to TirZah.

²² Then King Asa gave instructions to the army of Judah to make sure to tear down each and every stone of Rama, and all its building timbers. Then King Asa had it all taken to the hills of BenJamin, where he built a high fortification and a lookout post.

²³ All the rest of the words and deeds of Asa and his kingdom, and of the cities that he built {Look!} are written about in the scroll of the words of the days of the kings of Judah. However, in his old age he developed pain in his feet, ²⁴ and then Asa went to sleep with his ancestors and was buried in the tomb of his fathers in the city of David. Then his son JehoShaphat started ruling in place of him.

²⁵ Now, NaDab (the son of JeroBoam) had started ruling in IsraEl in the second year of Asa (the king of Judah). He only reigned in IsraEl for two years, ²⁶ for he also acted wickedly before Jehovah and he followed in the steps of his father, committing the same sins and leading IsraEl into sin. ²⁷ Then BaAsha (the son of AhiJah) laid siege against him [because of what he had done to] the house of BelaAn (the son of AhiJah), and he cut him down at the Philistine city of GabAthon… for Nabat and [the army of] IsraEl were then besieging GabAthon. ²⁸ So, BaAsha killed him in the third year of the reign of Asa (the son of AbiJah) the king of Judah, and then BaAsha became the ruler [of IsraEl].

²⁹ Well, during BaAsha’s reign, he killed the entire house of JeroBoam. He didn’t leave anyone alive, but killed them all, just as Jehovah had said through His servant AhiJah the Selonite ³⁰ (because of the sins of JeroBoam in leading IsraEl into sin, and provoking the anger of Jehovah, the God of IsraEl). ³¹ All the rest of the things that NaDab said and did {Look!} are written about in the scroll of the words of the days of the kings of IsraEl.

³² Well, there was war between Asa and BaAsha (the king of IsraEl) for as long as they both lived. ³³ It was in the third year of the reign of Asa (the king of Judah) that BaAsha (the son of AhiJah) started ruling over IsraEl from TirZah. Then he reigned for twenty-four years, and he also acted wickedly before Jehovah, for he followed in the footsteps of JeroBoam (the son Nabat) by sinning and leading IsraEl into sin.

Chapter 16

¹ Then Jehovah sent word to BaAsha by Jehu (the son of AnaNi), saying, ² ‘Because I have raised you over the land and given you the lead over My people IsraEl, but you have chosen to follow in way of JeroBoam and led My people IsraEl into sin and provoked Me to anger with their foolishness, ³ {Look!} I’m arousing enemies against BaAsha and his house. So, I’m going to do to your house as I did to the house of JeroBoam (the son of Nabat)… ⁴ for when [the family] of BaAsha die in the city, dogs will eat them; and when they die in the fields, they will be eaten by the flying creatures of the sky.’

⁵ Well, the rest of the things that BaAsha said and did, and the areas of his conquests {Look!} have been written about in the scroll of the words of the days of the kings of IsraEl. ⁶ Then BaAsha went to sleep with his ancestors, and they buried him in a tomb in TirZah, and his son ElAh started reigning after him. ⁷ For, Jehovah had sent a proclamation against BaAsha and his house through Jehu (the son AnaNi), because of all the bad things he did before Jehovah. The things he was doing made Jehovah very angry, so BaAsha’s house would become like the house of JeroBoam, who he had slaughtered.

⁸ Well, in the twenty-eighth year of the reign of Asa (the king of Judah), after ElAh (BaAsa’s son) had been ruling over IsraEl for two years in TirZah, ⁹ ElAh’s servants got together with Zimri (the captain of half his cavalry) and plotted a takeover. And it was while he was in TirZah drinking and getting drunk in the house of Osa (the Mayor of TirZah), ¹⁰ that Zimri went in and stabbed him to death, and then he became the ruler [of IsraEl].

¹¹ Then after he took over, he killed the entire house of BaAsha… he didn’t leave anyone who could urinate against a wall alive, including his friends and relatives. ¹² So, Zimri wiped out the whole house of BaAsha, just as Jehovah had foretold through the Prophet Jehu. ¹³ He did this because of all the sins of BaAsha and his son ElAh, who had made Jehovah the God of IsraEl angry by leading IsraEl into sin with all his foolishness.

¹⁴ The rest of the things that ElAh said and did {Look!} have been written about in the scroll of the words of the days of the kings of IsraEl.

¹⁵ Well, Zimri only ruled in TirZah for seven days. For at the time, the army of IsraEl was camped at the Philistine city of GabAthon. ¹⁶ And when the people in the camp heard how Zimri had rebelled and killed their king, they appointed Omri (the head of the army IsraEl) to be the king that day, there in the camp.

¹⁷ So, Omri ascended to the throne, and all IsraEl met with him at GabAthon, then they went and besieged TirZah.

¹⁸ Now, when Zimri realized that his city was lost, he went inside the king’s palace and set it on fire, burning it down around him, killing him. ¹⁹ This happened because of all the sins that Zimri had committed. For, he also acted wickedly before Jehovah, and followed in the ways of JeroBoam (the son of Nabat), committing the same sins and leading IsraEl into sin.

²⁰ The rest of the story of Zimri and of the people who supported him {Look!} has been written about in the scroll of the words of the days of the kings of IsraEl.

²¹ Thereafter, there was a split in the people of IsraEl, for half of them started following TibNi (the son of GoNath), and they wanted him to be their king, but the other half followed Omri. ²² However, the people who followed Omri won out over the followers of TibNi. Then TibNi died, leaving his brother JoRam.

So, Omri was the only remaining ruler, ²³ and this happened in the thirty-first year of the reign of king Asa. Omri reigned over IsraEl for twelve years, six of which were from TirZah. ²⁴ Then he acquired Mount SemerOn from Semer (who owned the mountain) for a hundred-and-fifty pounds of silver. And there he built [his city], which he named Semer, after the man who had owned SemerOn.

²⁵ Well, Omri also acted wickedly before Jehovah. In fact, he was worse than all those who came before him. ²⁶ He followed in the ways of JeroBoam (the son of Nabat), and committed all his sins by leading IsraEl into foolishness and sin, which made Jehovah the God of IsraEl very angry.

²⁷ The rest of the things that Omri said and did, and the areas of his rulership {Look!} have been written about in the scroll of the words of the days of the kings of IsraEl. ²⁸ Then Omri went to sleep with his ancestors, and they buried him in a tomb in Samaria. So his son Ahab started ruling after him.

Now, in the eleventh year of the reign of Omri, ²⁸ JehoShaphat (the son of Asa) started ruling when he was thirty-five years old, and he reigned in JeruSalem for twenty-five years. ²⁹ And it was during the second year of the reign of JehoShaphat (the king of Judah) that Ahab (the son of Omri) started his rule. He reigned over IsraEl from Samaria for twenty-two years. ³⁰ And he also acted wickedly before Jehovah… even wickeder than all who had gone before him. ³¹ For, the sins of JeroBoam (the son of Nabat) weren’t bad enough for him.

Then he took a wife, JezeBel (the daughter of JetheBaal, the king of the Sidonians), and he went and started serving Baal, bowing before him. ³² He also erected an altar to Baal in the disgusting temple that he had built in Samaria. ³³ And Ahab also set up fields of sacred poles, doing everything he could to anger Jehovah the God of IsraEl, and to bring his own destruction. ³³ He was worse than all the kings of IsraEl who came before him.

³⁴ And it was during his reign that AchiEl the BethElite rebuilt Jericho, with the loss of his first-born son AbiRon, for laying its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son Segub, for erecting its gates, just as Jehovah had said through JoShua (the son of NaWeh).

Chapter 17

¹ Then the Prophet EliJah (the Tishbite from Tishbon of Gilead) went to Ahab and said: ‘As Jehovah the Almighty God – the God of IsraEl before whom I stand – lives, there won’t be any dew or rain in the land for years unless I call for it.’

² And then Jehovah told EliJah: ³ ‘Leave here and head east! Hide near the HorRath Wadi, where it empties into the Jordan. ⁴ You will drink your water from the wadi, and I’ll send crows to feed you there!’

⁵ So EliJah did what Jehovah said; he settled by the HorRath Wadi near the Jordan, ⁶ and crows brought him bread loaves in the morning and meat in the afternoon. Also, he drank water from the wadi. ⁷ However, before long, the wadi dried up, because there was no rain in the land. ⁸ So then, Jehovah told EliJah: ⁹ ‘Get up and go to the Sidonian [city of] SarEpta. {Look!} I’ve instructed a widow woman there to feed you.’

¹⁰ So, he got up and went to SarEpta, and as he neared the city gate, {Look!} he saw a widow woman collecting wood. Then EliJah called out to her and said, ‘Take a little water from your jar and give me something to drink!’

¹¹ However, she just started carrying [her wood] inside. Then EliJah shouted after her, ‘Hand me a little bit of your bread to eat!”

¹² And the woman said, ‘As Jehovah your God lives; what good is a cake that is baked in hot ashes? All I have is just a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a pitcher. And look! Here I’ve collected two sticks, so I can go home and cook it for my children and myself… then we can eat it and die.’

¹³ But EliJah said, ‘Don’t get discouraged; just go on ahead and do what you said you’re going to do, but bake a small loaf and bring it to me first. Then afterward, you and your children may eat. ¹⁴ For, this is what Jehovah the God of IsraEl has said: The jar of flour will not fail, nor will the pitcher of olive oil, until the day comes which Jehovah has appointed for rain to fall upon the ground.’

¹⁵ So, the woman went and did as EliJah told her… she fed him first, and then she and her children ate. ¹⁶ And the jar of flour never became empty, nor did her pitcher of olive oil ever run low, just as Jehovah had told her through EliJah.

¹⁷ But then the son of the lady of the house became ill, and he kept getting worse until he finally stopped breathing. ¹⁸ And she asked EliJah, ‘What have I done to you, O man of God, that you should be reminded of all my sins and kill my son?’

¹⁹ And EliJah said to the woman, ‘Bring your son to me.’

So she picked him up and held him to her breast, then carried him to [EliJah’s] bed in an upstairs room and laid him there. ²⁰ Then EliJah yelled out and said, ‘O Jehovah; You’ve seen how this widow has treated me, so why have You brought evil to kill her son?’

²¹ Then he breathed into the boy’s [mouth] three times, and he called to Jehovah saying: ‘O my God; give the boy’s life back to him.’

²² And that’s what happened. Suddenly the boy shouted! ²³ Then he led him downstairs and gave him to his mother. And EliJah said, ‘See, your son is alive!’

²⁴ And the woman said to EliJah, ‘Now I know that you’re a man of God, and that the words of Jehovah that come from your mouth are true.’

Chapter 18

¹ After three years, Jehovah came to EliJah and said, ‘Go and speak to Ahab, for I’m going to allow rain to fall on the land again!’

² So, EliJah went to appear before Ahab. But by then there was a severe famine in Samaria.

³ However, Ahab called for AbDiu (his man in charge), who was extremely afraid of Jehovah. ⁴ For, when JezeBel had many of the Prophets of Jehovah killed, he gathered a hundred of them and hid them in two caves in groups of fifties; then he sent them food and water.

⁵ Anyhow, Ahab said to AbDiu, ‘Come, let’s travel throughout the land and search all the streams and springs to see if we can find a pasture with water to keep all the horses and mules alive, for they will die in their stalls!’

⁶ Then they parted company along the road, with Ahab going one way and AbDiu going the other way.

⁷ Well, AbDiu was by himself when EliJah reached him. And AbDiu ran and fell to his face and said, ‘Are you my master EliJah?

⁸ And EliJah said, ‘I am; so go tell your master that EliJah is here!’

⁹ Then AbDiu asked, ‘What has your servant done that you would hand me over to Ahab, for he would kill me! As Jehovah your God lives, there isn’t a nation or kingdom where my master hasn’t searched for you. ¹⁰ And when they said you weren’t there, he burned the kingdom and its cities when he couldn’t find you. ¹¹ So, now you just want me to go and tell my master that EliJah is here? ¹² What if, after I leave you, Jehovah sends a wind that picks you up and carries you into an unknown land? Then, if I go and tell Ahab and he doesn’t find you here, he’ll kill me!

‘Now, your servant has feared Jehovah since his youth. ¹³ And perhaps you haven’t been told, my master, what I did when JezeBel killed the Prophets of Jehovah… I took a hundred of them and hid them in caves in groups of fifties. Then I fed them with bread loaves and water. ¹⁴ But now you tell me to just go and tell my master, {Look!} EliJah is here? He’ll kill me!’

¹⁵ And EliJah said, ‘As the Almighty Jehovah who stands before me lives, I’m going to appear before him today.’

¹⁶ So, AbDiu went to find Ahab, and reported to him. Then Ahab ran to meet with EliJah. ¹⁷ And when Ahab saw EliJah, he asked, ‘Are you finally going to [stop bothering] IsraEl?’

¹⁸ And EliJah said, ‘No, I’m not going to [stop bothering] IsraEl, for you and the house of your fathers have left Jehovah your God, and started following Baal Im. ¹⁹ So now, gather all IsraEl to Mount Carmel, and bring all the Prophets of Baal – all four hundred and fifty of them – and the Prophets of the sacred poles – all four hundred of them who eat at the table of JezeBel!’

²⁰ So, Ahab sent throughout all IsraEl to call the Prophets to Mount Carmel.

²¹ Then EliJah stood up in front of everyone and said, ‘How much longer are you going to be lame on both of your hams? If Jehovah is God, then follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!’

Well, no one said a word.

²² Then EliJah said, ‘I’m the only Prophet of Jehovah who is left. But here are four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and four hundred prophets of the sacred poles. ²³ So now, have them bring two oxen to us, then let them chose which one they want and cut it up and put it on the altar. Put some wood there, but don’t light the fire. Then I’ll do the same thing to the other ox, and I won’t light the fire. ²⁴ Then you can call to the names of your gods, and I will call upon the Name of Jehovah my God. And whichever one lights the fire truly is God.’

Well, all the people said, ‘What you’ve said is very good!’

²⁵ Then EliJah said to the prophets of shame: ‘Now, choose the calf you want and get it ready, because there are many of you. Then call on the name of your god to light the fire!’

²⁶ So, they took the calf and readied it for offering, and then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, ‘Listen to us, O Baal! Hear us!’ But there was no reply, because no one heard anything. Then they started running around the altar that they’d made.

²⁷ Well, by noon EliJah (the Tishbite) had started making fun of them. He said, ‘Keep shouting! Maybe he’s thinking about it… maybe he’s off handling some business… or maybe he’s sleeping and hasn’t gotten up yet.’

²⁸ Well, they kept shouting and cutting themselves with knives and spears (which was their custom), until they were all running with blood; ²⁹ they kept [acting like] prophets until midday. But after their sacrifice had stayed there until noon without any reply, ³⁰ EliJah said to the people, ‘Now come here to me!’ And all the people came to him.

Then he rebuilt an old altar that had been knocked down. ³¹ EliJah took twelve stones (which represented the tribes of IsraEl), just as Jehovah had told him, in this place where Jehovah had once told [Jacob], ‘IsraEl will be your Name.’ ³² For, these were the stones that [Jacob had] erected in the Name of Jehovah, and it’s the altar of Jehovah (that had been destroyed), which he rebuilt.

Then he built a moat around it that was deep enough to hold two sacks of seeds, and he put wood on the altar that he made. ³³ Then he cut up the whole burnt offering and put it on the wood… he piled it all on the altar, and said: ‘Now bring four jars of water and pour them over the offering and the wood!’

³⁴ Then he told them to do it a second time, and they did it again. And he said, ‘Now do it a third time!’ And they did it a third time. ³⁵ And then he filled the moat around the altar with water. ³⁶ And he yelled into the sky and said, ‘O Jehovah, God of AbraHam, IsaAc, and IsraEl; hear me today and send fire, so all these people will know that You are Jehovah the God of IsraEl, that I’m Your servant, and that the things I’m doing are Your works! ³⁷ Hear me, O Jehovah; send fire so these people will know that You are Jehovah God, and so that the hearts of these people will turn back to You!’

³⁸ Then Jehovah sent fire that fell from the sky, and it consumed the whole burnt offering, the wood, the water in the moat, the stones… and even the dirt around [the altar] was licked up by the fire. ³⁹ Then all the people fell to their faces and said, ‘Truly, Jehovah is God… The God!’

⁴⁰ And EliJah said to the people, ‘Now, seize all the prophets of Baal… don’t let any of them escape!’ So they grabbed them, and EliJah took them down to the Kishon Wadi and killed them all there.

⁴¹ Then Ahab headed back [home] to eat and drink; and EliJah ascended Mount Carmel, where he bowed to the ground with his face between his knees. ⁴² Then he said to his servant, ‘Climb the mountain and look toward the sea!’

⁴³ So his servant climbed the mountain and looked toward the sea, and he said, ‘I don’t see anything.’

And EliJah said, ‘Then, turn around seven times!’

⁴⁴ So the servant turned around seven times, and on the seventh time he said, ‘{Look!} A cloud that’s as small as the sole of a man’s foot arose from the water in the sea. And it said, Go to Ahab and say, Get your chariot ready and hurry away, so the rain doesn’t overtake you.’

⁴⁵ Well, suddenly the sky got dark with clouds, the wind started to blow, and a tremendous rainstorm started. However, as Ahab returned to JezreEl crying, ⁴⁶ the hand of Jehovah came over EliJah, so he wrapped up his waist, then he ran to JezreEl ahead of Ahab.

Chapter 19

¹ Then Ahab told his wife JezeBel (the one who had the Prophets killed with a sword) about everything that EliJah did, ² and JezeBel sent [a message] to EliJah. She said, ‘May the gods curse me and add to it if by this time tomorrow your life won’t be the same as the lives [of those Prophets I had killed].’

³ Well, this frightened EliJah, so he got up and ran for his life. And when he got to BeerSheba, he left his servant there ⁴ and traveled along the desert road for a day’s journey, and then [he spent the night] under a broom bush. That’s when he prayed for his life to end. He said, ‘It’s now fitting for You to take my life from me, O Jehovah, for I’m no better than my ancestors!’ ⁵ And thereafter, he bedded down and slept there under the plant.

Then {Look!} someone touched him and said, ‘Now get up and eat!’ ⁶ And he looked around and saw a loaf of oat bread that had been baked in ashes lying by his head, and a jar of water. So EliJah got up and ate and drank, then he went back to sleep.

⁷ But the messenger of Jehovah returned a second time and touched him, and said, ‘Get up and eat! You’ll need this for your long journey.’

⁸ Then he got up and ate and drank again, and he gained enough strength from the food to last the whole trip of forty days and forty nights to the Dry Mountain (Horeb). ⁹ And when he got there, he went into a cave to rest. But then {Look!} Jehovah sent word to him. He asked, ‘Why are you here, EliJah?’

¹⁰ And EliJah replied, ‘Because of my zeal… because I’m zealous for Jehovah the Almighty. Yet, the sons of IsraEl have abandoned You… they’ve cut down Your Altars, and they’ve killed Your Prophets with swords… and now I’m the only one left and they’re looking [to kill] me!’

¹¹ Then he was told, ‘Go outside and stand on the mountain before Jehovah, and {Look!} Jehovah will pass by you in a strong wind that will split the mountain and break its rocks.’

[So, he went outside and stood] before Jehovah, and wind blew… but it wasn’t wind, it was Jehovah. Then after the wind blew, the ground also shook… but it wasn’t an earthquake, it was Jehovah. ¹² And after the earth shook, there was a fire… but it wasn’t fire, it was Jehovah. And after the fire, there was a sound that came from a soft breeze, which was Jehovah.

¹³ Then after EliJah heard this, he covered his face with his sheepskin and went back inside the cave. And {Look!} a voice again asked, ‘Why are you here, EliJah?’

¹⁴ And EliJah again replied, ‘Because of my zeal… because I’m zealous for Jehovah the Almighty. Yet, the sons of IsraEl have abandoned Your Sacred Agreement with them… they’ve demolished Your Altars, and they’ve killed Your Prophets with swords… and now I’m the only one left and they’re looking [to kill] me!’

¹⁵ Then Jehovah said to him, ‘Now, go on with your journey until you reach the desert road to Damascus, and then anoint HazaEl as the king of Syria. ¹⁶ Also, anoint Jehu (the son of NamesSi) as the king over IsraEl, and anoint EliSha (the son of Saphat from AbelMaoOla) to replace you as [My] Prophet. ¹⁷ Then, whoever is saved from the broadsword of HazaEl, will be killed by Jehu, and anyone who is saved from the broadsword of Jehu will be killed by EliSha.

¹⁸ ‘Now, there are still seven thousand men in IsraEl who haven’t bent their knees to Baal, and none of their mouths have spoken reverently of him.’

¹⁹ So thereafter, he went and found EliSha (the son of Saphat), who at the time was leading twelve teams of oxen that were pulling a plough. Then he went up to him and placed his sheepskin over him, ²⁰ and EliSha left his oxen and ran after EliJah. And he said: ‘Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, then I’ll follow you.’

But [EliJah] said to him, ‘Come on, for I’ve already done that for you!’

²¹ So, he went back and took the teams of oxen and sacrificed them, cooked them with the wood [of their yokes], and gave [the meat] to his people, which they ate. Then he got up and ran after EliJah, and started serving him.

Chapter 20

¹ Then BenHader (the king of Syria) gathered his whole army and went to lay siege against Samaria, and thirty-two [vassal] kings came with him with all their horses and chariots… they all came against Samaria to wage war against it. ² So he sent messengers into the city of Ahab (the king of IsraEl), who told him, ‘This is what BenHader says: ³ Your silver and your gold are all mine. Also, your wives, children, and your good things are all mine.’

⁴ And the king of IsraEl replied, ‘Just as you have said, O my master, O king; I and all that is mine are yours.’

⁵ Then BenHader sent his messengers again, and said: ‘I sent you the message telling you that you are to give your silver, gold, wives, and children to me. ⁶ So at this hour tomorrow, I will send my servants to you, and then they will search your palace and the homes of your servants and take anything that their eyes desire… whatever they put in their hands they will take.’

⁷ So the king of IsraEl called all the elders of the land and said, ‘I want you to know of all the evil that this man wants to do. For, although I’ve offered him all my silver, gold, wives, sons, and daughters, he’s now asking for [everything else].’

⁸ Well, the elders and all the people said, ‘Don’t listen to him; and don’t worry!’

⁹ So, he replied to the messengers of BenHader: ‘Tell your master that I will give him all that he asked for at first, but I won’t be able to do this thing that he’s asking.’

And his people carried that message back. ¹⁰ But BenHader said this: ‘May the gods curse me and add to it if the dirt of the foxes of Samaria and all its people is even good enough for the feet of my soldiers.’

¹¹ Then the king of IsraEl replied, ‘That’s enough! May the hunchback not boast as though he were able to stand erect!’

¹² Well, by the time this message reached [BenHader], he and all the other kings had been drinking inside his tent. And he said to his servants: ‘Then build a siege mound.’ And they erected a siege mound around the city.

¹³ Then {Look!} a Prophet came to Ahab (the king of IsraEl) and said, ‘This is what Jehovah says: Have you seen how large an army they have? Look! Today I’m giving them all into your hands, and then you will know that I am Jehovah!’

¹⁴ And Ahab asked, ‘Who will accomplish this?’

And he was told, ‘This is what Jehovah said: It will happen at the hands of the young princes of this region.’

And Ahab asked, ‘Then, who will join them in this war?’

And he was told, ‘You will!’

¹⁵ So Ahab counted the sons of the rulers of his realm and found out that there were two hundred-and-thirty of them. Then he counted his troops and found that there were seven thousand of them… all mighty men. ¹⁶ So he attacked at noon.

Well at the time, BenHader and the other kings (thirty-two of them) who were his allies, were in SucCoth, and they were all drunk. ¹⁷ Then, in the first wave, [Ahab] sent the young princes to attack.

Well, when BenHader (the king of Syria) received word that men were coming from Samaria, ¹⁸ he said: ‘Whether they’re coming in peace or for war, capture them alive…

¹⁹ But the young princes came toward the city with the army following them, ²⁰ and each one cut down the soldier who faced him. Then they did it again… each one cut down the soldier who came against him. So the Syrians turned and ran, and the IsraElites chased after them. But BenHader (the king of Syria) grabbed a cavalryman’s horse and got away.

²¹ And after [the battle], the king of IsraEl went and took all their horses and chariots, which was a great calamity for Syria.

²² Then the Prophet went to the king of IsraEl and said: ‘Now, strengthen your forces and consider what you must do, for BenHader (the king of Syria) will attack you again this year!’

²³ Well, the servants of the king of Syria went to him and said, ‘The God of IsraEl is a God of mountains, not a God of valleys, and that’s why they beat us. However, if we go to war with them in the straight plains, we can overpower them. ²⁴ So, this is what you should do: Send all the kings home and appoint governors to replace them. ²⁵ Then we will replace the men who were killed, get more horses, build more chariots, and we’ll go back and fight them in the plains and overpower them.’

So the king listened to them and went along with their proposal. ²⁶ And near the end of the year, BenHader gathered an army in Syria and marched them toward Apheka, to war against IsraEl. ²⁷ And the sons of IsraEl gathered for war and went to meet them. Then, like two flocks of goats, IsraEl stood opposite them on the right, and Syria literally filled the land on the other side.

²⁸ Then the man of God went to the king of IsraEl and said, ‘This is what Jehovah has said: Because Syria says that Jehovah the God of IsraEl is a God of the mountains, not a God of the valleys, I’m going to give this huge army into your hands. Then you will know that I am Jehovah.’

²⁹ Well, they just sat there camped against each other for seven days. And on the seventh day, the war started, and IsraEl cut down the Syrians… a hundred-thousand foot soldiers in one day. ³⁰ And all the rest retreated to the city of Apheka. Then the walls crumbled, killing twenty-seven thousand of the remaining men, and BenHader ran away and hid in a bedroom in the inner part of a house. ³¹ And he said to his servants: ‘I know that the kings of IsraEl are merciful. So, dress yourselves in sackcloth and wrap your heads with ropes, then go to the king of IsraEl and see if he will allow us to live.’

³² So, they wrapped sackcloth around their loins, and wrapped ropes around their heads, and went to the king of IsraEl and said, ‘Your servant BenHader says, Please allow me to keep my life’

And [the king] asked, ‘Is my brother still alive?’

³³ Then the men quickly got together and discussed what to say, and they replied, ‘Yes, BenHader your brother [is still alive].

And he said, ‘Well then, go get him.’

So, BenHader was brought [to the king] on a chariot. ³⁴ And he said, ‘I’m giving all the cities that my father took from your father back to you, and you may name the streets that my father built in Damascus after yourself, as my father did in Samaria.’

And [the king said], ‘If you’ll sign a treaty with me, I’ll send you home.’

So, they signed a treaty, and he was allowed to return home.

³⁵ Then a man who was one of the sons of the Prophets said to his neighbor (by [the inspiration] of Jehovah), ‘Strike me!’

But his neighbor wouldn’t knock him down, ³⁶ so he said to him: ‘Because you didn’t listen to the voice of Jehovah, {look!} after you leave me, a lion will strike you down!’ And after he left him, he found that a lion had indeed killed him.

³⁷ Then he went and found another man and said, ‘Strike me!’ But this man struck him and wounded him. ³⁸ Then the Prophet went to see the king of IsraEl, but on the way, he wrapped gauze around his eyes. ³⁹ And when he got to the king, he yelled to the king and said, ‘Your servant was in the army and went to war. Then {Look!} someone brought me a prisoner and told me to guard him. And if he got away, either my life would be required for his life, or I’d have to pay sixty-pounds of silver. ⁴⁰ Well, when I turned around the man was gone!’

And the king of IsraEl said to him: ‘{Look!} You were responsible for what you did, so you’ll have to pay.’

⁴¹ Then the man removed the gauze from over his eyes, and the king recognized him as one of the Prophets. ⁴² Then the Prophet said to him, ‘This is what Jehovah has said: Because you allowed a man who escaped from you to live, your life will be required for his life, and your people for his people.’

⁴³ Well, the king of IsraEl left dumbfounded and shaking, and he went back home to Samaria.

Chapter 21

¹ Then there came the matter of the vineyard of NabOth the JezreElite. His vineyard was located near the threshing floor of Ahab (the king of Samaria). ² And Ahab had spoken to NabOth and asked him to trade vinyards with him, because it was close to his palace, and he wanted it as a vegetable garden. He said, ‘I’ll give you another very-good vineyard for it; or if you prefer, we can discuss terms and I’ll buy if from you, because I need it for a vegetable garden.’

³ But NabOth replied: ‘No, I could never give it to you, because this is the inheritance that my God gave to my ancestors.’

⁴ Well, this matter bothered Ahab so much that he just went to bed, covered his face, and refused to eat. ⁵ So his wife JezeBel went to him and asked, ‘Why is your spirit so disturbed, and why are you refusing to eat?’

⁶ And he said, ‘I spoke to NabOth (the JezreElite) and asked him to sell me his vineyard… I offered to trade him another good one for it, but he said that he doesn’t want to give me the inheritance of his ancestors.’

⁷ Then his wife JezeBel said, ‘Aren’t you the king of IsraEl? Get up and eat, then start acting like yourself. I’ll give you the vineyard of NabOth the JezreElite!’

⁸ So, she wrote a letter and [forged] Ahab’s name to it, put his seal on it, and then sent it to the elders and free men who lived near NabOth. ⁹ In it, she wrote, ‘Declare a fast, and put NabOth in charge of the people!’

¹⁰ Then she assigned two sons of convicted criminals to work with him, who were to accuse him of blaspheming God and the king, and then take him out to be stoned to death. ¹¹ And that’s what happened. The men who lived in his city (the elders and free men to whom JezeBel sent the letter) ¹² called for a fast, and they appointed NabOth to be in charge. ¹³ Then the two men who were sons of convicts and who sat right across from him, accused him of blaspheming God and the king, and they led him out of the city to be stoned to death. ¹⁴ And thereafter, they sent a message to JezeBel that said, ‘NabOth has been stoned and now he’s dead.’

¹⁵ Then, when JezeBel got the message, she said to Ahab, ‘Now, get up and take the vineyard that NabOth (the JezreElite) refused to sell you, because NabOth is dead!’

¹⁶ So, when Ahab heard that NabOth had died, he went and claimed the field as his own inheritance.

¹⁷ Then Jehovah spoke to EliJah (the Tishbite) and said, ‘Get up and go to Samaria to meet with Ahab (the king of IsraEl). ¹⁸ {Look!} You’ll find him in the vineyard of NabOth, where he has gone to claim it as his own inheritance. ¹⁹ Speak to him and tell him that Jehovah has said: Because you had to murder someone to inherit this field, everywhere that the pigs and dogs licked the blood of NabOth, they will lick your blood. Why, prostitutes will bathe in your blood!’

²⁰ So, EliJah went to Ahab, and Ahab said to him, ‘O my enemy, I see that you’ve found me!’

²¹ And EliJah replied, ‘Yes, I’ve found you, because you’ve acted foolishly and sold yourself into wickedness before Jehovah. So, this is what He said: {Look!} I’m bringing all sorts of bad things upon you. I will destroy Ahab and burn away everything that comes after him… all those who urinate against a wall and all those who serve him that are still left in IsraEl. ²² Then I’ll make your house like that of JeroBoam, the son of Nabat, and as that of BaAsha’s son AhiJah, because of the ways that you have provoked Me to anger and led IsraEl into sin.’

²³ Then he told JezeBel, ‘Jehovah said this: Dogs will eat her [body] around the walls of JezreEl. ²⁴ Then those of [the house of] Ahab who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and those who die in the fields will be eaten by the flying creatures of the sky. ²⁵ This is because Ahab acted so foolishly when he sold himself into wicked deeds before Jehovah through the perversions of his wife JezeBel. ²⁶ Why, his actions have been disgusting! He has worshiped the disgusting thing of the Amorites who Jehovah drove away from before the sons of IsraEl.’

²⁷ Well, after all these things were said, Ahab became very repentant before Jehovah… he started crying and ripping his clothes, then he tied sackcloth around his body and fasted. And he kept wearing the sackcloth from the day that NabOth the JezreElite was killed.

²⁸ Then Jehovah spoke to EliJah the Tishbite and said, ²⁹ ‘I see that Ahab is repentant, so I’m not going to bring the evil during his lifetime. However, I will bring it upon his son and his house.’

Chapter 22

¹ Thereafter, for the next three years, there was no more war between IsraEl and Syria. ² So in the third year, JehoShaphat (the king of Judah) came to visit the king of IsraEl. ³ Well, [at the time], the king of IsraEl had mentioned to his servants that RamOth Gilead belonged to them, and that they had neglected to take it back from Syria. ⁴ Then the king of IsraEl asked JehoShaphat, ‘Will you join us in our war for RamOth Gilead?’

⁵ And JehoShaphat said, ‘You and I, and your people and mine, are the same race; so my horses are your horses. But, why don’t you ask [Jehovah about this] today? You should definitely ask Him!’

⁶ So, the king of IsraEl gathered all the prophets (about four hundred of them), and the king asked them, ‘Should I go to war against RamOth Gilead, or should I wait?’

And their reply was, ‘Go, and the Lord will give it into the hands of the king!’

⁷ Then JehoShaphat asked the king of IsraEl, ‘Don’t you have any Prophets of Jehovah? We should use them to ask Jehovah about this matter.’

⁸ And the king of IsraEl said to JehoShaphat, ‘There’s still one man of Jehovah who we can ask, but I detest him, because he never tells me good things, just bad things. His name is MicaiJah (the son of JemBlaAh).’

So, JehoShaphat the king of Judah said, ‘Let him speak.’

⁹ Then the king of IsraEl called his primary eunuch and told him: ‘Quickly, bring MicaiJah (the son of JemBlaAh).’

¹⁰ And the king of IsraEl and JehoShaphat (the king of Judah) each sat down on their thrones, then all the prophets came and prophesied before them. ¹¹ Well, ZedekiJah (the son of HanaAn) made himself some horns of iron, and he said, ‘This is what the Lord says, With these you will gore the Syrians until you finish them off!’

¹² And all the prophets agreed, saying, ‘Go to war for RamOth Gilead and you’ll be blest, for he will hand the king of Syria over to you.’

¹³ Well, the messenger (the one who went to call MicaiJah) finally found him and said, ‘{Look!} All the prophets are telling the king good things, so you do the same thing!’

¹⁴ Well, MicaiJah replied, ‘As Jehovah lives, whatever He tells me is what I’ll say.’

¹⁵ But he went to the king, and the king asked, ‘Should I go to war for RamOth Gilead, or should I wait?’ And MicaiJah told him, ‘Go, and Jehovah will bless the hands of the king!’

¹⁶ But the king asked him, ‘How often do I have to make you promise to speak the truth to me in the Name of the Lord?’

¹⁷ And MicaiJah replied, ‘Well, [what I said] isn’t true, for I saw all IsraEl scattered in the mountains like a flock with no shepherd. Then the Lord asked, Isn’t Jehovah the God of these people? Then let them return to their homes in peace!’

¹⁸ Well then, the king of IsraEl turned to JehoShaphat and said, ‘Didn’t I tell you that this one would only prophecy bad things?’

¹⁹ And MicaiJah said, ‘That isn’t so! For, all I do is listen to the words of Jehovah… and isn’t that what I’ve done? I saw Jehovah the God of IsraEl sitting on His throne, and the whole army of the heavens standing around Him… on His right and on His left. ²⁰ Then Jehovah asked, Who will fool Ahab the king of IsraEl and make him go to war for RamOth Gilead? And one said this, and the other said that, ²¹ but then a spirit came and stood before Jehovah and said, I will deceive him!

²² ‘So Jehovah asked him: How will you do that?

‘And he replied, I’ll go and become a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.

‘And God said, You will surely deceive him. Go on and do it!

²³ ‘So now, {Look!} Jehovah has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all your prophets, for Jehovah has foretold bad things for you.’

²⁴ And at that, ZedekiJah (the son HanaAn) came up to MicaiJah and hit him in the mouth, and asked, ‘So, what kind of spirit has Jehovah prophesied for you?’

²⁵ And MicaiJah said, ‘{Look!} You’ll know when you run to hide in the inner chamber of a storeroom!’

²⁶ Then the king of IsraEl said, ‘Take MicaiJah to AmMon (the mayor of the city) and to JehoAsh my son, ²⁷ and have him kept under guard. Don’t give him anything to eat but bread and water until I return in peace!’

²⁸ And MicaiJah said, ‘You won’t return in peace, for Jehovah told me: Listen all you people! ²⁹ The king of IsraEl [will go to war], and JehoShaphat (the king of Judah) will go with him.’

³⁰ Then the king of IsraEl said to JehoShaphat (the king of Judah), ‘Let me disguise myself in the battle… why don’t you put on my clothes?’

So, the king of IsraEl put on [JehoShaphat’s] clothes, and they went to battle.

³¹ Then the king of Syria told the thirty-two men that were in charge of his chariots: ‘Don’t attack the foot soldiers or the generals… catch the king of IsraEl by himself.’

³² So, when those who were in charge of the chariots saw the king of Judah [wearing the king of IsraEl’s clothes], they shouted, ‘That looks like the king of IsraEl!’

Then they circled him and prepared to attack him, but JehoShaphat shouted, ³³ and those in charge realized that it wasn’t the king of IsraEl, so they left him.

³⁴ Then a skilled bowman saw the king of IsraEl and shot him in the chest between his lungs. So he said to his chariot driver, ‘Turn around and take me away from the battle, because I’ve been hit.’

³⁵ Well, this turned the tide of the battle that day, and the king sat in his chariot across from the battle for the rest of the day, as blood poured all over the chariot. Then he died that evening.

Then, when the blood started running from the chariot toward the enemy camp, ³⁶ a messenger went throughout IsraEl’s camp after sundown shouting, ‘Everyone go back to his city and land, ³⁷ because the king is dead

Foreword

Our Own Style

Major Word Changes

A Different Reason for Reading the Bible

Different Source for the OT Text

Our Qualifications

The Ancient Scriptures of IsraEl

Genesis

From the Greek Septuagint text as was used by First Century Christians

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Exodus

From the Greek Septuagint text as was used by First Century Christians

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19