Study Desk

You were afraid and complained that your enemies in that new land would take your children away from you. But I tell you that I will bring them into the land. They will enjoy what you refused to accept.

"‘Your children will wander around like shepherds here in the desert for 40 years. They will suffer because you were not faithful to me. They must suffer until all of you lie dead in the desert.

So the men moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram went to their tents. They stood outside of their tents with their wives, children, and little babies.

The Israelites took the Midianite women and children as prisoners. They also took all their sheep, cattle, and other things.

But the people from the tribes of Reuben and Gad went to Moses. They said, "We will build cities for our children and barns for our animals here.

Then our children can be safe from the other people who live in this land. But we will gladly come and help the other Israelites. We will bring them to their land.

Build cities for your children and barns for your animals. But then, you must do what you promised."

Our wives, children, and all our animals will stay in the cities of Gilead.

You thought your little children would be taken by your enemies. But those children, who are still too young to know right from wrong, will go into the land. I will give it to them. Your children will take the land for their own.

We captured all the cities that belonged to King Sihon at that time. We completely destroyed the people in every city—the men, women, and children. We did not leave anyone alive!

Your wives, your little children, and your cattle (I know you have many cattle) will stay here in the cities I have given you.

But you must be careful! Be sure that as long as you live you never forget what you have seen. You must teach these things to your children and grandchildren.

Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Mount Horeb. The Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people together to listen to what I have to say. Then they will learn to respect me as long as they live on earth. And they will teach these things to their children.'

"You will live in the country a long time. You will have children and grandchildren there. After all that time, be sure that you do not then ruin your lives by making any kind of idol! That is something the Lord your God considers evil, and it would make him very angry!

And you must obey his laws and commands that I give you today. Then everything will go well with you and your children who live after you. And you will live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving you—it will be yours forever."

Don't worship or serve idols of any kind, because I am the Lord your God. I hate for my people to worship other gods. People who sin against me become my enemies. And I will punish them, and their children, their grandchildren, and even their great-grandchildren.

Israelites, listen carefully and obey these laws. Then everything will be fine with you. You will have many children, and you will get the land filled with many good things—just as the Lord , the God of your ancestors, promised.

Be sure to teach them to your children. Talk about these commands when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road. Talk about them when you lie down and when you get up.

"In the future, your children might ask you, ‘The Lord our God gave you teachings, laws, and rules. What do they mean?'

If you do, they will turn your children away from following me. Then your children will serve other gods, and the Lord will be very angry with you. He will quickly destroy you!