Study Desk

"But those who become defiled and do not purify themselves will be cut off from the community, for they have defiled the sanctuary of the Lord . Since the water of purification has not been sprinkled on them, they remain defiled.

This is a permanent law for the people. Those who sprinkle the water of purification must afterward wash their clothes, and anyone who then touches the water used for purification will remain defiled until evening.

There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron.

The Israelites answered, "We will stay on the main road. If our livestock drink your water, we will pay for it. Just let us pass through your country. That's all we ask."

"The time has come for Aaron to join his ancestors in death. He will not enter the land I am giving the people of Israel, because the two of you rebelled against my instructions concerning the water at Meribah.

When the people realized that Aaron had died, all Israel mourned for him thirty days.

Then the people came to Moses and cried out, "We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes." So Moses prayed for the people.

For this reason The Book of the Wars of the Lord speaks of "the town of Waheb in the area of Suphah, and the ravines of the Arnon River,

The Lord said to Moses, "Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you, along with all his people and his land. Do the same to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon."

Please come and curse these people for me because they are too powerful for me. Then perhaps I will be able to conquer them and drive them from the land. I know that blessings fall on any people you bless, and curses fall on people you curse."

‘Look, a vast horde of people has arrived from Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come and curse these people for me. Then perhaps I will be able to stand up to them and drive them from the land.'"

But God told Balaam, "Do not go with them. You are not to curse these people, for they have been blessed!"

I will pay you very well and do whatever you tell me. Just come and curse these people for me!"

That night God came to Balaam and told him, "Since these men have come for you, get up and go with them. But do only what I tell you to do."

Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all.

Then Balaam said to King Balak, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven young bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice."

The Lord gave Balaam a message for King Balak. Then he said, "Go back to Balak and give him my message."

This was the message Balaam delivered: "Balak summoned me to come from Aram; the king of Moab brought me from the eastern hills. ‘Come,' he said, ‘curse Jacob for me! Come and announce Israel's doom.'

No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the Lord their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king.

God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox.