Study Desk

For the Lord your God chose the tribe of Levi out of all your tribes to minister in the Lord 's name forever.

He may minister there in the name of the Lord his God, just like all his fellow Levites who are serving the Lord there.

"When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there.

Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord . It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you.

But you must be blameless before the Lord your God.

The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things."

Moses continued, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.

For this is what you yourselves requested of the Lord your God when you were assembled at Mount Sinai. You said, ‘Don't let us hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore or see this blazing fire, for we will die.'

But any prophet who falsely claims to speak in my name or who speaks in the name of another god must die.'

"When the Lord your God destroys the nations whose land he is giving you, you will take over their land and settle in their towns and homes.

Then you must set apart three cities of refuge in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Survey the territory, and divide the land the Lord your God is giving you into three districts, with one of these cities in each district. Then anyone who has killed someone can flee to one of the cities of refuge for safety.

"And if the Lord your God enlarges your territory, as he swore to your ancestors, and gives you all the land he promised them,

you must designate three additional cities of refuge. (He will give you this land if you are careful to obey all the commands I have given you—if you always love the Lord your God and walk in his ways.)

That way you will prevent the death of innocent people in the land the Lord your God is giving you as your special possession. You will not be held responsible for the death of innocent people.

"When you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you as your special possession, you must never steal anyone's land by moving the boundary markers your ancestors set up to mark their property.

"When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you!

For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!'

When the Lord your God hands the town over to you, use your swords to kill every man in the town.

But you may keep for yourselves all the women, children, livestock, and other plunder. You may enjoy the plunder from your enemies that the Lord your God has given you.