Study Desk

Then came the Kohath family. They carried the holy things from inside the Holy Tent. These people came at this time so that the other people could set up the Holy Tent and make it ready at the new camp before these people arrived.

So that place was called Taberah. The people gave the place that name because the Lord caused a fire to burn in their camp.

"Move away from these people so that I can destroy them now." So Moses and Aaron bowed with their faces to the ground.

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Put Aaron's walking stick back in front of the Box that holds the Agreement. This will be a warning for these people who are always turning against me. This will stop their complaining against me so that I will not destroy them."

The Lord listened to the Israelites and helped them defeat the Canaanites. They completely destroyed the Canaanites and their cities. So that place was named Hormah.

The Lord said to Moses, "Get all the leaders of these people. Then kill them so that all the people can see. Lay their bodies before the Lord . Then the Lord will not show his anger against all the Israelites."

Then that border will go to Ziphron and it will end at Hazar Enan. So that will be your northern border.

And now, there are even more of you. The Lord your God has added more and more people, so that today you are as many as the stars in the sky.

"But King Sihon of Heshbon would not let us pass through his country. The Lord your God had made him very stubborn and ready to fight. The Lord did this so that he could help you defeat King Sihon. And today we know that is what happened.

The Lord showed you all this so that you would know that he is God. There is no other god like him.

He let you hear his voice from heaven so that he could teach you a lesson. On earth he let you see his great fire, and he spoke to you from it.

He brought us out of Egypt so that he could give us the land that he promised our ancestors.

In the desert he fed you manna—something your ancestors had never seen. He tested you to make you humble so that everything would go well for you in the end.

Remember, you were slaves in Egypt. And the Lord your God set you free. So that is why I am giving you this command today.

You must write all these teachings on the stones that you set up. Write clearly so that they are easy to read."

You did not have any food with you. You did not have any wine or anything else to drink. But he took care of you so that you would understand that he is the Lord your God.

This command is not in heaven so that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us and bring it to us, so that we can hear and do it?'

This command is not on the other side of the sea so that you should say, ‘Who will go across the sea for us and bring it to us, so that we can hear it and do it?'

At that time all the Israelites must come to meet with the Lord your God at the special place he will choose. Then you must read the teachings to the people so that they can hear them.

So that same day Moses wrote down the song and taught it to the Israelites.