Study Desk

just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.

"Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man's name on his staff,

Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD's presence to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man took his own staff.

Give it to Eleazar the priest, and he will have it brought outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.

Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting.

Then the heifer must be burned in his sight. Its hide, its flesh, and its blood are to be burned, along with its dung.

Then the priest must wash his clothes and bathe his body in water; after that he may enter the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean until evening.

The one who burned the heifer must also wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and he too will be unclean until evening.

The man who has gathered up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he will be unclean until evening. This is a permanent statute for the Israelites and for the foreigner residing among them.

Anyone who touches a corpse, the body of a person who has died, and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.

The man who is clean is to sprinkle the unclean person on the third day and the seventh day. After he purifies the unclean person on the seventh day, the one being cleansed must wash his clothes and bathe in water, and he will be clean by evening.

This is a permanent statute for the people: The one who sprinkles the water of purification must wash his clothes, and whoever touches the water of purification will be unclean until evening.

Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.

These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them.

"Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land I have given the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.

Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up Mount Hor.

Remove Aaron's priestly garments and put them on his son Eleazar. Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there."

After Moses had removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar, Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and went out to confront Israel in the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz, he fought against Israel.

And Israel put him to the sword and took possession of his land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok-but only up to the border of the Ammonites, because it was fortified.