Jo’s Place

Israel’s Victory over Sihon and Og The Israelites sent ambassadors to King Sihon, of the Amorites, with this message:  “Let us travel through your land.  We will be careful not to go through your fields and vineyards.  We won’t even drink water from your wells.  We will stay on the king’s road until we have passed through your territory.”  But King Sihon refused, to let them cross his territory.  Instead, he mobilized his entire army and attacked Israel, in the wilderness, engaging them in battle, at Jahaz.  But the Israelites slaughtered them, with their swords …and occupied their land, from the Arnon River, to the Jabbok River.  They went only, as far as the Ammonite border, because the boundary, of the Ammonites, was fortified.  So, Israel captured all the towns, of the Amorites, and settled in them, including the city of Heshbon and its surrounding villages.  Heshbon had been the capital, of King Sihon, of the Amorites.  He had defeated a former Moabite king …and seized all his lan

Israel’s Journey to Moab The Israelites traveled next, to Oboth and camped there.  Then, they went on to Iye-abarim, in the wilderness, on the eastern border of Moab.  From there, they traveled to the valley of Zered Brook and set up camp.  Then, they moved out and camped on the far side of the Arnon River, in the wilderness, adjacent to the territory of the Amorites.  The Arnon is the boundary line, between the Moabites and the Amorites.  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, …and the ravines that extend as far as the settlement of Ar, on the border of Moab.”  From there, the Israelites traveled to Beer, which is the well, where the Lord said to Moses,  “Assemble the people, and I will give them water.”  There the Israelites sang this song:  “Spring up, O well!  Yes, sing its praises! Sing, of this well,  …which princes dug,  …which great leaders hollowed out, with their scepters and

​ Victory over the Canaanites and the Bronze Snake The Canaanite king, of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that the Israelites were approaching, on the road through Atharim.  So, he attacked the Israelites, and took, some of them …as prisoners.  Then, the people of Israel …made this vow, to the Lord:  “If You (Adonai) will hand these people over to us, we will completely destroy all their towns.”  The Lord heard the Israelites’ request …and gave them victory, over the Canaanites.  The Israelites completely destroyed them …and their towns, …and the place has been called    - Hormah …ever since.  Then, the people of Israel set out, from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom.  But, the people grew impatient, with the long journey, and they began to speak, against God and Moses.  “Why have you brought us out of Egypt, to die here in the wilderness?” they complained.  “There is nothing to eat here …and nothing to drink.  And we hate this horrible manna!

​ The Death of Aaron The whole community of Israel left Kadesh and arrived at Mount Hor.  There, on the border of the land of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron,  “The time has come for Aaron to join his ancestors, in death.  He will not enter the land, which I am giving the people of Israel, because the two of you rebelled against My instructions, concerning the water at Meribah.  Now, take Aaron and his son Eleazar …up Mount Hor.  There, you will remove Aaron’s priestly garments …and put them on Eleazar, his son.  Aaron will die there and join his ancestors.”  So, Moses did as the Lord commanded.  The three of them …went up Mount Hor, together, as the whole community watched.  At the summit, Moses removed the priestly garments from Aaron …and put them on Eleazar, Aaron’s son.  Then, Aaron died, there, on top of the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar …went back down.  When the people realized that Aaron had died, all Israel mourned for him …thirty days.  A reading from the Christian

Edom Refuses Israel Passage While Moses was at Kadesh, he sent ambassadors to the king of Edom, with this message:  “This is what your relatives, the people of Israel, say:  (For the Edomites were the descendants of Essau, the brother of Israel)  “You know all the hardships, that we have been through.  Our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived there, for a long time, …and we and our ancestors were brutally mistreated, by the Egyptians.  But, when we cried out to the Lord, He heard us …and sent an angel, who brought us out of Egypt.  Now, we are camped at Kadesh, a town on the border of your land.  Please, let us travel through your land.  We will be careful …not to go through your fields and vineyards.  We won’t even drink water, from your wells.  We will stay on the king’s road… and never leave it, until we have passed through your territory.”  But the king of Edom said, “Stay out of my land, or I will meet you with an army!”  The Israelites answered, “We will stay on the main ro

​ Moses Strikes the Rock In the first month of the year, the whole community of Israel… arrived, in the wilderness of Zin, and camped at Kadesh.  While they were there, Miriam died and was buried.  There was no water, for the people to drink, at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron  (again) .  The people blamed Moses and said,… “If only we had died, in the Lord’s presence, with our brothers!  Why have you brought the congregation, of the Lord’s people, into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock?  Why did you make us leave Egypt …and bring us here, to this terrible place?  This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!”  Moses and Aaron turned away, from the people …and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground.  Then, the glorious presence, of the Lord, appeared to them and the Lord said to Moses,  “You and Aaron must take the staff, and assemble the entire community.  As the peopl

More Ceremonial Purification  “All those, who touch a dead human body, will be ceremonially unclean, for seven days.  They must purify themselves, on the third and seventh days, with the water of purification; then they will be purified.  But, if they do not do this, on the third and seventh days, they will continue to be unclean, even after the seventh day.  All those, who touch a dead body …and do not purify themselves, in the proper way, defile the Lord’s Tabernacle, and they will be cut off, from the community of Israel.  Since the water, of purification, was not sprinkled on them, their defilement continues.  “This is the ritual law, that applies, when someone dies, inside a tent:  All those, who enter that tent… and those, who were inside, when the death occurred, will be ceremonially unclean, for seven days.  Any open container, in the tent, that was not covered, with a lid is also defiled.  And if someone, in an open field, touches the corpse, of someone, who was killed, with a

The Water of Purification The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,  “Here is another legal requirement, commanded by the Lord:  Tell the people of Israel, to bring you a red heifer, a perfect animal, that has no defects …and has never been yoked to a plow.  Give it to Eleazar, the priest, and it will be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.  Eleazar will take some of its blood, on his finger …and sprinkle it, seven times, toward the front of the Tabernacle.  As Eleazar watches, the heifer must be burned—its hide, meat, blood, and dung.  Eleazar, the priest, must then take a stick of cedar, a hyssop branch, and some scarlet yarn …and throw them into the fire, where the heifer is burning.  “Then the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself, in water.  Afterward, he may return to the camp, though he will remain ceremonially unclean, until evening.  The man, who burns the animal, must also wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and he, too, will remain unclean until

​ Portions for Priests and Levites   The Lord said to Aaron,  “You, priests, will receive no allotment of land or share of property, among the people of Israel.  I Am your share and your allotment.  As for the tribe of Levi, your relatives, I will compensate them, for their service in the Tabernacle.  Instead of an allotment of land, I will give them the tithes, from the entire land of Israel.  “From now on, no Israelites, except priests or Levites, may approach the Tabernacle.  If they come too near, they will be judged guilty and will die.  Only the Levites may serve at the Tabernacle, and they will be held responsible for any offenses against it.  This is a permanent law for you, to be observed, from generation to generation.  The Levites will receive no allotment of land, among the Israelites, because I have given them the Israelites’ tithes, which have been presented, as sacred offerings to the Lord.  This will be the Levites’ share.  That is why, I said, they would receive no all

​ Support for the Priests and Levites The Lord gave these further instructions to Aaron:  “I, Myself, have put you in charge, of all the holy offerings, that are brought to Me, by the people of Israel.  I have given all these consecrated offerings, to you and your sons, as your permanent share.  You are allotted the portion, of the most holy offerings, that is not burned on the fire.  This portion, of all the most holy offerings—including the grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings—will be most holy, and it belongs to you and your sins.  You must eat it, as a most holy offering.  All the males may eat of it, and you must treat it, as most holy.  “All the sacred offerings and special offerings, which are presented to Me, when the Israelites lift them up, before the altar, also belong to you.  I have given them to you and to your sons and daughters, as your permanent share.  Any member of your family, who is ceremonially clean, may eat of these offerings.  “I also give you th

​ Duties of Priests and Levites The Lord said to Aaron:  “You, your sons, and your relatives, from the tribe of Levi, will be held responsible, for any offenses, related to the sanctuary.  But you and your sons, alone, will be held responsible, for violations connected with the priesthood.  “Bring your relatives, of the tribe of Levi—your ancestral tribe—to assist you and your sons, as you perform the sacred duties, in front of the Tabernacle of the Covenant.  But, as the Levites, go about all their assigned duties, at the Tabernacle, they must be careful, not to go near, any of the sacred objects or the altar.  If they do, both you and they will die.  The Levites must join you, in fulfilling their responsibilities, for the care and maintenance of the Tabernacle, but no unauthorized person may assist you.  “You, yourselves, must perform the sacred duties, inside the sanctuary and at the altar.  If you follow these instructions, the Lord’s anger will never again blaze against the people

The Budding of Aaron’s Staff The Lord said to Moses,  “Tell the people of Israel to bring you twelve wooden staffs, one from each leader of Israel’s ancestral tribes, and inscribe each leader’s name on his staff.  Inscribe Aaron’s name, on the staff of the tribe of Levi, for there must be one staff, for the leader of each ancestral tribe.  Place these staffs in the Tabernacle, in front of the Ark containing the tablets of the Covenant, where I meet with you.  Buds will sprout on the staff, belonging to the man I choose.  Then, I will finally put an end to the people’s murmuring and complaining against you.”  So, Moses gave the instructions to the people of Israel …and each of the twelve tribal leaders, including Aaron, brought Moses a staff.  Moses placed the staffs, in the Lord’s presence, in the Tabernacle of the Covenant.  When he went into the Tabernacle, of the Covenant, the next day, he found that Aaron’s staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and