Study Desk

The people held him as a prisoner and waited for the Lord 's command to be made clear to them.

"I destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt. At that time I chose all the firstborn from every family in Israel to be mine in a special way. That included all the firstborn men and animals. But now I am choosing the Levites to take their place. Now they will be my special servants. I, the Lord , give this command!"

"I, the Lord , give this command: ‘Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn men from the other families of Israel. And I will take the animals of the Levites instead of the animals of the other people. The Levites are mine.

Moses obeyed the Lord 's command and gave the silver to Aaron and his sons. He did it just as the Lord had told him.

So the Israelites obeyed God's command. They sent those people outside the camp. They did what the Lord had told Moses.

Aaron did this. He put the lamps in the right place so that they lighted the area in front of the lampstand. He obeyed the command that the Lord gave Moses.

"This is a special command for the Levites: Every Levite man who is 25 years old or older must come and share in the work at the Meeting Tent.

Sometimes the cloud was over the Holy Tent for only a few days. So the people obeyed the Lord 's command—they followed the cloud when it moved.

Also blow these trumpets for your special meetings, New Moon celebrations, and all your happy times together. Blow the trumpets when you give your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. This will be a special way for your God to remember you. I command you to do this; I am the Lord your God."

So Moses obeyed the Lord 's command and sent out the Israelite leaders while the people were camped in the desert of Paran.

But Moses said, "Why are you not obeying the Lord 's command? You will not be successful!

"It is time for Aaron to die and go to be with his ancestors. Aaron will not enter the land that I promised to the Israelites. Moses, I say this to you because both you and Aaron did not fully obey the command I gave you at the waters of Meribah.

Moses obeyed the Lord 's command. Moses, Aaron, and Eleazar went up on Mount Hor. All the Israelites watched them go.

Balaam gave Balak's officials his answer. He said, "I must obey the Lord my God. I cannot do anything, great or small, against his command. Even if King Balak gives me his beautiful home filled with silver and gold, I will not do anything against the Lord's command.

"You must count every man who is 20 years old or older. The Lord gave Moses this command." Here is the list of the Israelites who came out of Egypt:

If his father had no brothers, everything he owns will be given to the closest relative in his family. This will be a law among the Israelites. The Lord has given this command to Moses.'"

Remember when the people became angry at the water in the desert of Zin. Both you and Aaron refused to obey my command. You did not honor me and show the people that I am holy." (This was at the water of Meribah near Kadesh in the desert of Zin.)

"Give this command to the Israelites. Tell them to be sure to give the grain offerings and sacrifices to me at the right time as sweet-smelling gifts.

Following the Lord 's command, Moses kept a record of each place they stayed before moving on to the next place. These are all the places they went:

So Moses gave this command to the Israelites, "That is the land that you will get. You will throw lots to divide the land among the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh, as the Lord commanded.