Study Desk

For I have given the Levites as their inheritance the tenth that the Israelites present to the LORD as a contribution. That is why I told them that they would not receive an inheritance among the Israelites."

And you and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere; it is the compensation for your work at the Tent of Meeting.

Then a man who is clean is to gather up the ashes of the heifer and store them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They must be kept by the congregation of Israel for preparing the water of purification; this is for purification from sin.

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.

Whoever touches any dead body will be unclean for seven days.

This is the law when a person dies in a tent: Everyone who enters the tent and everyone already in the tent will be unclean for seven days,

Anyone in the open field who touches someone who has been killed by the sword or has died of natural causes, or anyone who touches a human bone or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.

For the purification of the unclean person, take some of the ashes of the burnt purification offering, put them in a jar, and pour fresh running water over them.

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.

Now there was no water for the congregation, so they gathered against Moses and Aaron.

Why have you brought the LORD's assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?

"Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock."

"We will stay on the main road," the Israelites replied, "and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay for it. There will be no problem; only let us pass through on foot."

When all the congregation saw that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.

Then the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD to take the snakes away from us." So Moses interceded for the people.

For a fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the rulers of Arnon's heights.

But the LORD said to Moses, "Do not fear him, for I have handed him over to you, with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon."

So please come now and put a curse on these people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed."

The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak.

'Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.'"