Study Desk

The priest will fill his hands with some of the grain and put it on the altar and let it burn there. After that he will tell the woman to drink the water.

Or if the man becomes jealous and thinks his wife has sinned against him, this is what the man should do. The priest must tell her to stand before the Lord . Then the priest will do all these things. This is the law.

"Tell Aaron and his sons that when they bless the Israelites, this is what they should say:

May the Lord smile down on you and show you his kindness.

In this way Aaron and his sons will use my name to give a blessing to the Israelites, and I will bless them."

The Lord told Moses, "Each day one leader must bring his gift for the dedication of the altar."

Each of the twelve leaders brought these gifts: Each leader brought one silver plate that weighed about 3 1/4 pounds. Each leader brought one silver bowl that weighed about 1 3/4 pounds. Both of these gifts were weighed by the official measure. The bowl and the plate were each filled with fine flour mixed with oil. This was to be used as a grain offering. Each leader also brought a large gold spoon that weighed about 4 ounces. The spoon was filled with incense. Each leader also brought 1 young bull, 1 ram, and 1 male lamb a year old. These animals were for a burnt offering. Each leader also brought 1 male goat to be used as a sin offering. Each leader brought 2 cattle, 5 rams, 5 male goats, and 5 male lambs a year old. All of them were sacrificed for a fellowship offering. On the first day, the leader of the tribe of Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab brought his gifts. On the second day, the leader of the tribe of Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar brought his gifts. On the third day, the leader of the tribe of Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon brought his gifts. On the fourth day, the leader of the tribe of Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur brought his gifts. On the fifth day, the leader of the tribe of Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai brought his gifts. On the sixth day, the leader of the tribe of Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel brought his gifts. On the seventh day, the leader of the tribe of Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud brought his gifts. On the eighth day, the leader of the tribe of Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur brought his gifts. On the ninth day, the leader of the tribe of Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni brought his gifts. On the tenth day, the leader of the tribe of Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai brought his gifts. On the eleventh day, the leader of the tribe of Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran brought his gifts. On the twelfth day, the leader of the tribe of Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan brought his gifts.

Tell the Levites to stand in front of Aaron and his sons. Then give the Levites to the Lord . They will be like an offering.

I chose the Levites from among all the Israelites. And I give them as gifts to Aaron and his sons. I want them to do the work at the Meeting Tent. They will serve for all the Israelites. They will help make the sacrifices that make the Israelites pure. Then no great sickness or trouble will come to the Israelites when they come near the holy place."

After that the Levites came to the Meeting Tent to do their work. Aaron and his sons watched them. They were responsible for the work of the Levites. Aaron and his sons did what the Lord commanded Moses.

But anyone who is able must celebrate Passover at the right time. If they are clean and they are not away on a trip, there is no excuse for them not to do it. If they don't celebrate Passover at the right time, they must be separated from their people. They are guilty and must be punished, because they did not give the Lord his gift at the right time.

But Moses answered, "Are you afraid the people will think that I am not the leader now? I wish that all the Lord 's people were able to prophesy. I wish that the Lord would put his Spirit on all of them!"

But my servant Caleb was different. He follows me completely. So I will bring him into the land that he has already seen, and his people will get that land.

They thought the Lord 's word was not important, so they broke his commands. That is why they must be separated from their people—they must bear the responsibility for their guilt."

When Moses heard this, he bowed his face to the ground to show he was not being proud.

Then Moses said to Korah and all his followers, "Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who belongs to him. He will show who is holy, and he will bring that man near to him. He will choose him and bring that man near to him.

He did this the way the Lord commanded him through Moses. This was a sign to help the Israelites remember that only someone from the family of Aaron should burn incense before the Lord . Any other person who burns incense before the Lord will die like Korah and his followers.

"Speak to the Israelites. Get twelve wooden walking sticks from them. Get one from the leader of each of the twelve tribes. Write the name of each man on his walking stick.

I will choose one man to be the true priest. You will know which man I choose because his walking stick will begin to grow new leaves. In this way I will stop the people from always complaining against you and me."

So Moses brought out all the sticks from the Lord 's place. He showed the walking sticks to the Israelites. They all looked at the sticks, and each man took his own stick back.