Study Desk

For there is no special thing that has been shown against Jacob. Nothing has told of a bad future for Israel. Now it will be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘Look what God has done!'

Then Balak said to Balaam, "I beg you, come. I will take you to another place. It might be that God will be pleased to have you curse them for me from there."

Balaam said to Balak, "Build seven altars for me here. And make ready seven bulls and seven rams for me here."

Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to speak good of Israel. So he did not go, as at other times, and look for special things to see. Instead he looked toward the desert.

God brings him out of Egypt. He is for him like the horns of the wild bull. He will destroy the nations who fight against him. He will crush their bones in pieces and cut through them with his arrows.

He bows down. He lies down like a lion. And as a lion, who will wake him? Good will come to everyone who prays for you. And cursed is everyone who curses you."

It will be an agreement for him and his children after him that they will always be religious leaders, because he was jealous for his God, and did what he was to do to pay for the sin of the people of Israel."

For they have brought trouble to you with their false ways. They have fooled you and turned you to the wrong way. They have brought you trouble at Peor with Cozbi, the daughter of the leader of Midian, their sister. She was killed on the day the very bad disease came because of Peor."

The number of all of their males a month old and older was 23,000. For they were not numbered among the people of Israel, because no land was given to them among the people of Israel.

For the Lord had said of them, "For sure they will die in the desert." There was not a man left of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

"Our father died in the desert. He was not one of those who gathered together with Korah against the Lord. But he died for his own sin, and he had no sons.

For you went against My Word when the people complained in the Desert of Zin. You should have honored Me as holy at the waters in front of their eyes." (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the Desert of Zin.)

He will stand in front of Eleazar the religious leader, who will learn My will for him by using the Urim. At his word, both he and all the people of Israel will go out and at his word, they will come in."

"Tell the people of Israel, ‘Be careful to bring My gift, My food for My gifts by fire, as a pleasing smell to me, at the right time.'

And give a tenth part of a basket of fine flour for a grain gift, mixed with a fourth part of a jar of beaten oil.

Its drink gift will be a fourth part of a jar for each lamb. Pour out a drink gift of strong drink to the Lord in the holy place.

‘On the Day of Rest give a gift of two perfect male lambs one year old. With it give two-tenths part of a basket of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain gift, and its drink gift.

Give three-tenths part of a basket of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain gift for each bull. Give two-tenths part of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain gift for the one ram.

And give a tenth part of a basket of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain gift for each lamb. They are to be given for a burnt gift of a pleasing smell, a gift by fire to the Lord.

Their drink gifts will be half a jar of wine for a bull, a third of a jar for the ram, and a fourth part of a jar for a lamb. This is the burnt gift of each month for all the months of the year.