Jo’s Place

​ Boundaries of the Land of Israel   The Lord said to Moses,  “Give these instructions to the Israelites:  When you come into the land of Canaan, which I am giving you, as your special possession, these will be the boundaries.  The southern portion, of your country, will extend from the wilderness of Zin, along the edge of Edom.  The southern boundary will begin, on the east, at the Dead Sea.  It will then run south past Scorpion Pass. in the direction of Zin.  Its southernmost point will be Kadesh-barnea, from which it will go to Hazar-addar, and on to Azmon.  From Azmon, the boundary will turn toward the Brook of Egypt …and end at the Mediterranean Sea.  “Your western boundary will be the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.  “Your northern boundary will begin at the Mediterranean Sea and run east to  (Northern)  Mount Hor  (also known as Mt Manus in modern day southern Lebanon) , then to Lebo-hamath, and on through Zedad...

​ Israel’s Journey Part-3 The Israelites continued to follow the route, which was set by the Lord, as they marched out of Egypt, under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.  They left Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, at the border of Edom.  While they were at the foot of Mount Hor, Aaron the priest was directed, by the Lord, to go up the mountain, and there he died.  This happened in midsummer, on the first day of the fifth month, of the fortieth year, after Israel’s departure from Egypt.  Aaron was 123 years old, when he died, there on Mount Hor.  At that time, the Canaanite king, of Arad, who lived in the Negev, in the land of Canaan, heard that the people of Israel were approaching his land.  Meanwhile, the Israelites left Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.  Then, they left Zalmonah and camped at Punon.  They left Punon and camped at Oboth.  They left Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, on the border of Moab.  They left Iye-abarim and camped a...

Israel’s Journey Part-2 The Israelites continued to follow the route, which was set by the Lord, as they marched out of Egypt, under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.  They left Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez.  They left Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah.  They left Libnah and camped at Rissah.  They left Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.  They left Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.  They left Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.  They left Haradah and camped at Makheloth.  They left Makheloth and camped at Tahath.  They left Tahath and camped at Terah.  They left Terah and camped at Mithcah.  They left Mithcah and camped at Hashmonah.  They left Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.  They left Moseroth and camped at Bene-jaakan.  They left Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad.  They left Hor-haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.  They left Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.  They left Abronah and c...

​ Israel’s Journey This is the route, that the Israelites followed, as they marched out of Egypt, under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.  At the Lord’s direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress.  These are the stages of their march, identified by the different places, where they stopped along the way.  They set out, from the city of Rameses, in early spring—on the fifteenth day of the first month—on the morning after the first Passover celebration.  The people of Israel left …defiantly, ..in full view of all the Egyptians.  Meanwhile, the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn sons, whom the Lord had killed …the night before.  The Lord had defeated the gods of Egypt … on that night, with great acts of judgment!  After leaving Rameses, the Israelites set up camp, at Succoth.  Then, they left Succoth …and camped at Etham, on the edge, of the wilderness.  They left Etham …and turned back toward Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zep...

Land to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, son of Joseph Moses said  (to the tribes east of the Jordan river) ,  “If you keep your word …and arm yourselves, for the Lord’s battles, …and if your troops cross the Jordan …and keep fighting, until the Lord has driven out His enemies, …then you may return, when the Lord has conquered the land.  You will have fulfilled your duty, to the Lord …and to the rest, of the people of Israel.  And the land, on the east side, of the Jordan, will be your property, from the Lord.  But, if you fail to keep your word, then, you will have sinned, against the Lord, and you may be sure, that your sin will find you out.  Go ahead and build towns, for your families …and pens for your flocks, but do everything, which you have promised.”  Then, the men of Gad and Reuben replied, “We, your servants, will follow your instructions …exactly.  Our children, wives, flocks, and cattle will stay here, in the...

​ The Tribes East of the Jordan The tribes of Reuben and Gad owned vast numbers of livestock.  So, when they saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were ideally suited for their flocks and herds, they came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the other leaders of the community… …and said, “Notice the towns of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sibmah, Nebo, and Beon.  The Lord has conquered this whole area, for the community of Israel, and it is ideally suited for all our livestock.  If we have found favor with you, please let us have this land, as our property instead of giving us land across the Jordan River.”  “Do you intend to stay here, while your brothers go across and do all the fighting?” Moses asked the men of Gad and Reuben.  “Why do you want to discourage the rest of the people of Israel, from going across to the land, which the Lord has given them?  Your ancestors did the same thing, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea, to explore the...

​ Israel Divides the Plunder The Lord said to Moses,  “You and Eleazar, the priest, and the family leaders of each tribe… are to make a list of all the plunder, taken in the battle, including the people and animals.  Then, divide the plunder into two parts, and give half to the men who fought the battle …and half to the rest of the people.  From the army’s portion, first give the Lord His share of the plunder—one of every 500, of the prisoners …and of the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats.  Give this share, of the army’s half, to Eleazar the priest, as an offering to the Lord.  From the half that belongs to the people of Israel, take one of every fifty, of the prisoners …and of the cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, and other animals.  Give this share to the Levites, who are in charge of maintaining the Lord’s Tabernacle.”  So Moses and Eleazar, the priest, did as the Lord commanded Moses.  The plunder remaining, from everything the fighting men had t...

​ Israel’s Disobedience with the Midianites Moses was furious, with all the generals and captains, who had returned from the battle.  “Why have you let all the women live?” he demanded.  “These are the very ones, who followed Balaam’s advice …and caused, the people of Israel, to rebel, against the Lord, at Mount Peor.  They are the ones, who caused the plague, to strike the Lord’s people.  So, kill all the boys …and all the women, who have had intercourse, with a man.  Only the young girls, who are virgins, may live; …you may keep them for yourselves.  And all of you, who have killed anyone …or touched a dead body, must stay outside the camp, for seven days.  You must purify yourselves …and your captives …on the third …and seventh days.  Purify all your clothing, too, and everything made of leather, goat hair, or wood.”  Then, Eleazar, the priest, said to the men, who were in the battle,  “The Lord has given Moses this legal requirement:...

​ Conquest of the Midianites The Lord said to Moses,  “On behalf of the people of Israel, take revenge on the Midianites, for leading them into idolatry.  After that, you will die …and join your ancestors.”  So, Moses said to the people,  “Choose some men, and arm them, to fight the Lord’s war of revenge, against Midian.  From each tribe of Israel, send 1,000 men into battle.”  So, they chose 1,000 men from each tribe of Israel, a total of 12,000 men …armed for battle.  Then, Moses sent them out, 1,000 men from each tribe, and Phinehas, son of Eleazar the priest, led them into battle.  They carried along the holy objects of the sanctuary …and the trumpets, for sounding the charge.  They attacked Midian, as the Lord had commanded Moses, …and they killed all the men.  All five of the Midianite kings—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—died in the battle.  They also killed Balaam, son of Beor, with the sword.  Then, the Israelite army ...

​ Laws Concerning Vows Moses summoned the leaders of the tribes of Israel and told them… “This is what the Lord has commanded:  A man, who makes a vow, to the Lord …or makes a pledge, under oath, must never break it.  He must do exactly what he said he would do.  “If a young woman makes a vow, to the Lord …or a pledge, under oath, while she is still living at her father’s home …and her father hears of the vow or pledge …and does not object to it, then all her vows and pledges will stand.  But if her father refuses to let her fulfill the vow or pledge, on the day he hears of it, then all her vows and pledges will become invalid.  The Lord will forgive her, because her father would not let her fulfill them.  “Now, suppose a young woman makes a vow …or binds herself, with an impulsive pledge …and later marries.  If her husband learns, of her vow or pledge …and does not object, on the day he hears of it, her vows and pledges will stand.  But, if her h...

Offerings for the Fifth through the Eighth Days of the Festival of Shelters “On the fifth day of the festival, sacrifice nine young bulls, two rams, and fourteen, one-year-old male lambs, all with no defects.  Each of these offerings, of bulls, rams, and lambs, must be accompanied by its prescribed grain offering and liquid offering.  You must also sacrifice a male goat, as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its accompanying grain offering …and liquid offering.  “On the sixth day of the festival, sacrifice eight young bulls, two rams, and fourteen, one-year-old male lambs, all with no defects.  Each of these offerings, of bulls, rams, and lambs, must be accompanied by its prescribed grain offering and liquid offering.  You must also sacrifice a male goat, as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its accompanying grain offering … and liquid offering.  “On the seventh day of the festival, sacrifice seven ...

Offerings for the First through the Fourth Days of the Festival of Shelters “Five days  (after the Day of Atonement) , on the fifteenth day of the same month  (as the Festival of Trumpets) , you must call another holy assembly, of all the people, and you may do no ordinary work on that day.  It is the beginning of the Festival of Shelters, a seven-day festival to the Lord.  On the first day of the festival, you must present a burnt offering, as a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.  It will consist of thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen, one-year-old male lambs, all with no defects.  Each, of these offerings, must be accompanied by a grain offering, of choice flour, moistened with olive oil—six quarts for each of the thirteen bulls, four quarts for each of the two rams, and two quarts for each of the fourteen lambs.  You must also sacrifice a male goat, as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, with its accompanying...