Thematic Bible: Duties of


Thematic Bible






Someone must join us as a witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. He must be one of the men who were in our group during the time that the Lord Jesus traveled about with us. This should be from the time John preached his message of baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us to heaven. One who was with us from the baptism of John, to the day that he was received up from us must become a witness with us of his resurrection.





We are witnesses of all things that he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a stake. God raised him up the third day and made him visible. However, all the people did not see him. Witnesses who were previously chosen by God saw him. We who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead saw him.


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We heard this voice from out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. Verse ConceptsHoliness, As Set Apart For GodApostles, Duties OfHearing God's VoiceGod's VoiceGod Speaks From Heavenpeter

We have heard that which was from the beginning. We have also seen it with our own eyes. We looked at it and touched it with our hands. It is the Word of life. The life was made known and we have seen and testify about it. We declare the life to you. It is the eternal life, which was with the Father and was shown to us. We declare to you what we have seen and heard. This way you may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ!


Pay him his wages on the workday day before the sunsets. He is poor and sets his heart on it. He will not complain against you to Jehovah and it becomes your sin. Verse ConceptsEveningMastersBusiness EthicsMasters Duties Towards ServantsEmployersSunsetsDebtMoralityGiving Back


Let as many as are servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the teachings will not be blasphemed. Verse Conceptsethics, personalMonotonyYokesEmployeesProfaning God's NameSlavesHonour The HonourableGentleness As A Fruit Of The Spirit


Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle master but also to the hard to please. Verse Conceptsethics, personalMonotonyOrder In The HomeServants, GoodSubmissionEmployeesGentle WordsServants Of PeopleslaveryRespectServant LeadershipRespecting Authoritypeterreverence

Servants should to be in subjection to their masters (overseers) (employers). They should please them in all things and not talk back. Verse Conceptsethics, personalServants, GoodEmployeesSlavesPleasing MenAvoid QuarrelsBe Subject To People

Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of the oil for the lamps, the sweet-smelling incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He is in charge of the whole tent and everything in it, the holy place and its contents. Verse ConceptsIncenseOilRankSmellsShowbreadAnimal Sacrifices, Meal OfferingOil For LampsRegulations For Cereal Offerings


Let as many as are servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the teachings will not be blasphemed. Verse Conceptsethics, personalMonotonyYokesEmployeesProfaning God's NameSlavesHonour The HonourableGentleness As A Fruit Of The Spirit


Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle master but also to the hard to please. Verse Conceptsethics, personalMonotonyOrder In The HomeServants, GoodSubmissionEmployeesGentle WordsServants Of PeopleslaveryRespectServant LeadershipRespecting Authoritypeterreverence

Servants should to be in subjection to their masters (overseers) (employers). They should please them in all things and not talk back. Verse Conceptsethics, personalServants, GoodEmployeesSlavesPleasing MenAvoid QuarrelsBe Subject To People



If I have rejected the cause of my male or female slaves, when they brought a complaint against me what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?

When they had eaten Jesus said to Simon Peter: Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said: Yes Lord; you know I have affection for you. Jesus said to him: Feed my lambs. Verse ConceptsCommitment, to GodLambsLove, Nature OfShepherds, As Church LeaderNames And Titles For The ChristianBreakfastFeeding AnimalsChrist Knowing About PeopleThe Need To Love Christvulnerability





Their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to respect Jehovah your God, as long as you live on the land you will possess when you cross the Jordan River. Verse ConceptsLearningFathers, Responsibilities Ofdiscipline, in the familyInexperienceKnowing God, Nature OfCrossing Into The Promised Land

He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel. This he commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, Verse ConceptsChildren, needs ofdiscipline, in the familyJacob, The PatriarchThe Witness Of GodThe Law Given By GodOld Testament Claims InspirationTeaching ChildrenTraining Children

Who is he is trying to teach? To whom is he explaining his message? To children weaned from their milk, to those just taken from the breast? Verse ConceptsWeaningGod TeachingSchoolbreaststryingdoctrine






In the future your son will ask you: 'What is the meaning of these laws and regulations that Jehovah our God has commanded you?' Verse ConceptsAskingMeaningThe Future

His father and mother shall seize him, and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gateway of his hometown. Verse ConceptsGatesComing To Gates


The living, yes the living praise you, as I am doing today! Fathers tell their children about your faithfulness. Verse ConceptsBad ParentsBeing A TeacherEducation, At HomeChildren, needs ofParents Duty To ChildrenHeritageLiving ThingsTeaching Children

Rise up! Cry out in the night at the beginning of the night watches. Let your heart be flowing out like water before the face of Jehovah. Lift up your hands to him for the life of your young children who are falling down starving in every street. Verse ConceptsHandsNightPouringAll Night PrayersLifting HandsThings Like WaterPouring WaterFaintingTragedy On The StreetsYoung People SufferingBeginning Of PeriodsLike Water




Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. Verse ConceptsLove, In RelationshipsMonogamyAuthority Of DisciplesMarriage ControlledWifeFamily FirstMoney ManagementA Good Husband



Paul looked straight at the Council and said: Fellow Israelites! My conscience is perfectly clear about the way in which I have lived before God to this very day. The high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Paul said to him: God will strike you, white washed wall! Do you sit judging me according to the Law, and against law command me to be struck? read more.
Those who stood near him said, Do you revile the high priest of God? Then Paul said, I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest. It is written: You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.

The chief priest and the elders of the people assembled at the court of Caiaphas, the high priest. Verse ConceptsScribesChrist Would Be KilledThe Elderlypriests

Those who captured Jesus took him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. The scribes and those in authority also gathered there. But Peter kept his distance. He followed him to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the servants, to see the outcome. The chief priests and all the Sanhedrin were looking for false witness against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death. read more.
They failed, even though a number of false witnesses came. Later two witnesses came. They said: This man said, 'I am able to destroy the Temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.' The high priest stood up and said to him: Have you no answer? What is it these say against you?

When they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him. He called the council together and all the senate of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought. The officers did not find them in the prison when they came. So they returned and said, We found the prison locked with the guards standing before the doors. When we opened it we did not find a man. read more.
When the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted them. They wondered what this would come to. Someone came to them and told them: The men you put in prison are standing in the temple teaching the people. Then the captain with the officers brought them in without violence. They feared the people lest they should have been stoned. They brought them before the council and the high priest asked them: Did we command you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and are willing to bring this man's blood upon us.

David told Abiathar the priest: Please bring me the priestly ephod. So Abiathar brought David the ephod. David asked Jehovah: Should I pursue these troops? Will I catch up with them? Pursue them! Jehovah told him: You will certainly catch up with them and rescue the captives.

David learned that Saul was planning to harm him. He told the priest Abiathar: Bring the ephod! Then David said: Jehovah God of Israel, I have actually heard that Saul is going to come to Keilah and destroy the city on account of me. Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come here as I have heard? Jehovah God of Israel, please tell me. Jehovah answered: He will come. read more.
Will the citizens of Keilah hand my men and me over to Saul? David asked. Jehovah answered: They will hand you over.

Whenever there was a large amount of money in the box, the royal secretary and the High Priest would come, melt down the silver, and weigh it. Verse ConceptsScribesCounting MoneyMoney For The Temple

Go to Hilkiah the high priest. Let him count the money brought into the Temple of Jehovah that the keepers of the door gathered from the people. Verse ConceptsHigh Priest, In OtCounting MoneyDoorkeepersFinances

When Aaron goes into the holy place, he will carry the names of the sons of Israel over his heart as a continual reminder in Jehovah's presence. He must do this by wearing the breast piece for decision-making. Verse ConceptsMemorialPeople Involved In JudgementOther References To The HeartDecision Making

Then fasten them on the shoulder straps of the ephod as reminders of who the Israelites are. In this way Aaron will carry their names on his shoulders as a reminder in Jehovah's presence. Verse ConceptsShouldersShoulder Pieces


When Aaron lights the lamps at dusk he must burn incense. An incense offering must burn (smoke) constantly in Jehovah's presence for generations to come. Verse ConceptsTwilight

So Aaron set up the lamps on the lamp stand to illuminate the area in front of it, as Jehovah commanded Moses.

Aaron raised his hands toward the people and blessed them. He sacrificed the offering for sin, the burnt offering, and the fellowship offering. Then he came down from the altar. Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting. As soon as they came out, they blessed the people. Then Jehovah's glory appeared to all the people.

You will celebrate it on the fourteenth day of the second month at dusk. Eat the Passover animal along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Never leave any of the meat until morning or break any of the animal's bones. Follow all the rules for the Passover when you celebrate it. If you are clean and not on a trip and yet do not bother to celebrate the Passover, you must be excluded from the people. You did not bring your offering to Jehovah at the right time. You must suffer the consequences for your sin. read more.
Foreigners living with you may want to celebrate Jehovah's Passover. They must follow these same rules and regulations. The same rules will apply to foreigners and native-born Israelites.' That day the tent of the words of God's Covenant was set up. The column of smoke covered it. The smoke over the tent glowed like fire from evening until morning. The smoke always glowed this way. At night the smoke that covered the tent glowed like fire. When the smoke moved from the tent the Israelites would break camp. Wherever it stopped the Israelites would set up camp. The Israelites would break camp or set up camp at Jehovah's command. They stayed at the place where the column of smoke stayed over the tent. When the smoke stayed over the tent for a long time, the Israelites obeyed Jehovah's command and did not break camp. The same thing happened when the smoke stayed only a few days over the tent: At Jehovah's command they would set up camp, and at his command they would break camp. Sometimes the column of smoke stayed only from evening until morning. They broke camp when the smoke moved in the morning. Day or night, when the smoke moved, they broke camp.

Your descendants who survive will have to go to that priest and ask him for money and food, and beg to be allowed to help the priests, in order to have something to eat.' Verse ConceptsBowing

who is at least twenty years old. You and Aaron must register everyone in Israel who is eligible for military duty. List them by divisions. Verse ConceptsMilitary ServiceAaron, Life Eventsdivision

Every high priest taken from among men is appointed in behalf of men in things relating to God. He may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. Verse ConceptsAtonement, in OTLeaders, SpiritualPriesthood, In NtSacrifice, Nt Fulfilment OfAaron, As High PriestAtoning By SacrificesOffering SacrificesRivers

Put your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the Tent. The priests will throw its blood against all four sides of the altar. Verse ConceptsSprinkling BloodHands On HeadsSacrifices At The DoorwayLaying Hands On SacrificesKilling Sacrifices

The priest will dip his finger in some of the blood and sprinkle it seven times in Jehovah's presence in front of the veil. Verse ConceptsFingersSprinklingSeven TimesApplied With The Finger

Some of the priests will lay these pieces on the altar and send them up in smoke with a smell that pleases me, together with the sacrifice that is offered to Jehovah. Verse ConceptsAromasPleasing GodSmellsRefreshing God

The priest will burn them on the altar. It is food, an offering by fire to Jehovah. It is a soothing aroma. All the fat belongs to Jehovah. Verse ConceptsFatnessFat Of AnimalsRefreshing GodAll Things Belong To God

Since there were not enough priests to kill all these animals, the Levites helped them until the work was finished. By then more priests had made themselves ritually clean. The Levites were more faithful in keeping ritually clean than the priests were. Verse ConceptsdiligenceSkinningFew Priests

Every morning and every evening they offer him incense and animal sacrifices burned whole. They present the offerings of bread on a table that is ritually clean, and every evening they light the lamps on the gold lamp stand. We do what Jehovah has commanded! But you have abandoned him! Verse ConceptsAbandonmentIncenseSmellsTables

Give it to Aaron's sons the priests. The priest will take a handful of the flour and oil and all of the incense and burn it on the altar as a memorial. It is all offered by fire to Jehovah. The odor of this food offering is pleasing to Jehovah. Verse ConceptsFlourAromasGrain OfferingPriests, Function In Ot TimesSmellsOther Volume MeasuresRefreshing God

They were ordered to sacrifice burnt offerings to Jehovah. This happened on the altar of burnt offerings continually, morning and evening, as written in the Law of Jehovah that he gave Israel. Verse ConceptsCeremoniesAnimal Sacrifices, BurntAt Morning And Evening

the priests and the Levites made themselves clean together. They were all clean when they put the Passover lamb to death for all those who had come back, and for their brothers the priests and for themselves. Verse ConceptsLambsPurificationPurifying OneselfKilling Sacrifices

He should lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering. It may then be accepted for him to make atonement with Jehovah on his behalf. Slaughter the bull in Jehovah's presence. Aaron's sons, the priests, will offer the blood. They will throw it against all sides of the altar that is at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Skin the burnt offering, and cut it into pieces. read more.
The sons of the priest Aaron will start a fire on the altar and lay the wood on the fire. Aaron's sons, the priests, will also lay the pieces, the head, and the fat on top of the wood burning on the altar. Wash the internal organs and legs. The priest will then burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a soothing aroma to Jehovah. Should you are offer one of your sheep or goats; it must be a male without any defects. Slaughter it on the north side of the altar. The priests should throw its blood on all four sides of the altar. After you cut it up, the officiating priest will lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire. Wash the internal organs and the hind legs. The priest will present the sacrifice to Jehovah and burn all of it on the altar. The odor of this food offering is pleasing to Jehovah. If you are offering a bird as a burnt offering, it must be a dove or a pigeon. A priest will take the bird to the copper altar. He will wring its neck and put its head on the fire. Then he will drain out its blood on one side of the altar, Remove the bird's crop with its feathers, and throw them on the ash heap at the east side of the altar. Finally, he will take the bird by its wings, tear it partially open, and send it up in smoke with a smell that pleases Jehovah.

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The priest will burn the flour, oil, and all the incense as a reminder. It is an offering by fire to Jehovah.

The priest must burn the offering on the altar. It is food, an offering by fire to Jehovah. Verse Conceptssmoking

He will take a bowl of the blood inside the tent, dip a finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of it seven times toward the sacred chest behind the curtain. In my presence, he will smear some of the blood on each of the four corners of the incense altar, before pouring out the rest at the foot of the copper altar near the entrance to the tent. read more.
He must remove from it all the fat of the bull of the sin offering: the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat which is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, which is on the loins, and the lobe of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys It is to be removed from the bull of the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest is to offer them up in smoke on the altar of burnt offering. But the hide of the bull and all its flesh with its head and its legs and its entrails and its refuse, He is to bring the rest of the bull to a clean place outside the camp where the ashes are poured out. There he will burn it on wood with fire; where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned.

The priest will then take some of the blood of the offering for sin with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar for burnt offerings. He will burn all the fat on the altar the same way the fat of the fellowship offering is burned. The priest will pay compensation for the wrong and make peace for what the leader did wrong. The leader will be forgiven.

The priest will take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour the rest of the blood out at the bottom of the altar. He will remove all the fat the same way it is removed from the peace offering. The priest will burn it on the altar for a soothing aroma to Jehovah. So the priest will make peace with Jehovah for that person. That person will be forgiven. If someone brings a lamb as his offering for sin, he must bring a female that has no defects. read more.
He will place his hand on the animal's head and slaughter it where he slaughters animals for burnt offerings. Then the priest will take some of the blood from the offering for sin with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour the rest of the blood at the bottom of the altar. He will remove all the fat the same way the fat of the lamb is removed from the peace offerings. Then the priest will burn it on the altar with the offering by fire to Jehovah. Then the priest will pay compensation for the wrong and make peace with Jehovah for what that person did wrong. That person will be forgiven.

They slaughtered the Passover lambs. The priests sprinkled the blood with their hands while the Levites skinned the lambs. They set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the people according to their family divisions. The people could then present them to Jehovah as is written in the Book of Moses. The Levites did the same with the bulls. The Levites roasted the Passover sacrifices over the fire, according to the regulations. They boiled the sacred offerings in pots, kettles, and pans, and quickly distributed the meat to the people. read more.
After this was done, the Levites provided meat for themselves and for the priests descended from Aaron. Since the priests were kept busy until night, burning the animals that were burned whole and the fat of the sacrifices.

Every priest stands daily, serving and offering time after time the same sacrifices. Yet they can never take away sins. Verse ConceptsPriests, Tasks In Nt TimesReligionDaily DutyOnce A DayDoing RepeatedlyAtoning By SacrificesSacrificeministering

Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near. Jehovah your God has chosen them to serve him and to bless in the name of Jehovah. They will settle every dispute and every assault. Verse Conceptselection, responsibilities ofBenedictionsPriests, Function In Ot TimesPeople Involved In JudgementPeople Blessing

If any case is too difficult for you to decide, between one kind of homicide or another, between one kind of lawsuit or another, and between one kind of assault or another, being cases of dispute in your courts, then you should go to the place Jehovah your God chooses. Approach the Levitical priest or the judge who is in office in those days. Inquire of them and they will declare to you the verdict in the case. Act according to the terms of the verdict they declare to you from that place Jehovah chooses. Be careful to abide by all that they teach you. read more.
Act according to the verdict and the terms they tell you. Do not turn away from the word they declare to you. The man who acts presumptuously and does not listen to the priest or the judge will die. This way you will purge the evil from Israel. The priests and judges are there to serve Jehovah your God. Then all the people will hear and be afraid. They will not act presumptuously again.

Jehoshaphat also appointed some Levites, some priests, and some of the family leaders to serve as judges in Jerusalem. Verse ConceptsPriests, Function In Ot Times

They must teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is unholy. They must show the people how to tell the difference between what is clean and what is unclean. In all disputes the priests must act as judges and make decisions based on my Laws. They must obey my rules and my regulations at all my festivals. They must observe holy days to worship me.

A husband may have a fit of jealousy and suspect his wife, whether she was actually unfaithful or not. He must then take his wife to the priest along with eight cups of barley flour as an offering for her. He must not pour olive oil on the flour or put frankincense on it, since it is a grain offering brought because of the husband's jealousy. It is an offering used for a confession, to remind someone of a sin that was committed. The priest will have the woman come forward and stand in Jehovah's presence. read more.
The priest will then take holy water in a piece of pottery and put some dust from the floor of the tent into the water. The priest will bring the woman into Jehovah's presence and loosen her hair. In her hands he will put the offering used for a confession, that is, the grain offering brought because of the husband's jealousy. The priest will hold the bitter water that can bring a curse in his hands. The priest will say to her: 'If no other man has had sexual intercourse with you and you have not been unfaithful to your husband, you are not guilty. This bitter water that can bring a curse will not harm you. If you have indeed been unfaithful and have had sexual intercourse with another man, Jehovah will make you an example for your people to see what happens when the curse of this oath comes true: Jehovah will make your uterus drop and your stomach swell. Then the priest will administer the oath and the curse by saying: May this water that can bring a curse go into your body and make your stomach swell and your uterus drop!' Then the woman will say: Amen! Amen! The priest will write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water. He will have the woman drink the bitter water that can bring the curse. This water will go into her and become bitter. The priest will take the grain offering she was holding. He will present it to Jehovah, and bring it to the altar. The priest will take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar. Then he will have the woman drink the water. If she has become unclean by being unfaithful to her husband, the water that can bring the curse will go into her and become bitter. Her stomach will swell, her uterus will drop, and she will become cursed among her people. However if the woman is not unclean and is pure, she is not guilty and will be able to have children. These are the instructions for how to deal with jealousy. They tell you what to do when a woman is unfaithful to her husband and becomes unclean. They also tell you what to do when a husband has a fit of jealousy and is suspicious of his wife. He will make his wife stand in Jehovah's presence. The priest will do everything these instructions tell him to do. The husband is not guilty of doing anything wrong. But the woman will suffer the consequences of her sin.

The two people involved must stand in Jehovah's presence, in front of the priests and judges who are serving at that time. Verse ConceptsPriests, Function In Ot TimesStanding

The priests did not ask: 'Where is Jehovah? Those who deal with my Law did not know me. The rulers rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal and followed things that could not help (profit) them.' Verse ConceptsBaal Worship, HistoryPriests, Function In Ot TimesInadequate ShepherdingStudying The LawWhere Is God?Prophets Of Other Gods

The priests should teach the true knowledge of God. They are the messengers of Jehovah of Hosts. Therefore the people should learn (my will) the law from them. Verse ConceptsLeaders, SpiritualOccupationsPriests, Function In Ot TimesSpeech, Positive Aspects OfStumbling BlocksValuing KnowledgeLet Your Speech Be GoodTeaching The Way Of Godpreservationpriests

You must also teach the people of Israel everything that I commanded Moses to say to them. Verse ConceptsKnowledge, Of SinLeaders, SpiritualScripture Teaching

Stay away from the infection of leprosy. Diligently observe and do according to all that the Levitical priests teach you. I have commanded them, so be careful to obey. Verse ConceptsInstructionHygieneKeeping Man's Word

They will teach your ordinances to Jacob, and your Law to Israel. They will burn incense before you, and whole burnt offerings on your altar. Verse ConceptsDoctrine, CommunicatedBurnt offeringHigh Priest, In OtIncenseTeaching The Way Of God

The Levites will answer all the men of Israel with a loud voice:

Moses wrote this Law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi who carried the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah, and to all the elders of Israel. Moses commanded them: At the end of every seven years, at the time of the year of remission of debts, at the Feast of Booths, when all Israel comes to appear before Jehovah your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this Law in front of all Israel in their hearing. read more.
Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town. Assemble them that they may hear and learn and respect Jehovah your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this Law. Their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to respect Jehovah your God, as long as you live on the land you will possess when you cross the Jordan River.

Moses sent them off to war. There were one thousand men from each tribe along with Phinehas, son of the priest Eleazar. Phinehas took with him the holy articles and the trumpets for the fanfare. Verse ConceptsA Thousand PeopleTrumpets For SignallingPriests In ActionTemple Utensils In UseMemorabilia

God is with us as our leader. His priests will sound their trumpets to call the army to fight you. Men of Israel do not wage war against Jehovah the God of your ancestors. You will not succeed. Verse ConceptsImmanuelPriests, Function In Ot TimesStriving With GodTrumpet

Make two trumpets of hammered silver to use for calling the people together and for breaking camp. When long blasts are sounded on both trumpets, the whole community is to gather around you at the entrance to the tent of my presence. When only one trumpet is sounded, then only the leaders of the clans are to gather around you. read more.
When short blasts are sounded, the tribes camped on the east will move out. When short blasts are sounded a second time, the tribes on the south will move out. So short blasts are to be sounded to break camp, Long blasts are to be sounded to call the congregation together. Aaron's sons the priests are to blow the trumpets. The following rule is to be observed for all time to come. When there is war in your land and you defend yourselves against an enemy attack, sound the signal for battle on these trumpets. I, Jehovah your God, will help you and save you from your enemies. Joyful occasions such as your New Moon Festivals and your other religious festivals, you are to blow the trumpets when you present your burnt offerings and your fellowship offerings. Then I will help you. I AM JEHOVAH YOUR GOD!

Aaron must keep the lamps lit in the Tent of Meeting from evening until morning. This is outside the canopy where the words of my covenant are in Jehovah's presence. It is a long lasting law for generations to come. Aaron must keep the lamps on the pure gold lamp stand lit in Jehovah's presence.

Command the Israelites that the lighting must be provided by pure virgin olive oil so that the lamps will not go out. Keep the lamps lit in the tent of meeting outside the canopy where the words of my covenant are. Aaron and his descendants must keep the lamps lit in Jehovah's presence from evening until morning. This is a long lasting law among the Israelites for generations to come.

Every morning and every evening they offer him incense and animal sacrifices burned whole. They present the offerings of bread on a table that is ritually clean, and every evening they light the lamps on the gold lamp stand. We do what Jehovah has commanded! But you have abandoned him! Verse ConceptsAbandonmentIncenseSmellsTables

The leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was in charge of those who carried out the duties in the Holy Place.

This is the work of the Gershonite families in the tent of meeting. Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of them. Verse ConceptsMan Appointing

Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. The Levites will be the only Israelites given to them.

In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was in charge of the gatekeepers, and Jehovah was with him.

This is what the Merarite families will do as they work at the tent of meeting. Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron, will be in charge of them.

This is what you must do so that they will not die when they come near the most holy things: Aaron and his sons will go into the holy place and tell each man what he will do and what he will carry. Verse ConceptsMan Appointing

Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near. Jehovah your God has chosen them to serve him and to bless in the name of Jehovah. They will settle every dispute and every assault. Verse Conceptselection, responsibilities ofBenedictionsPriests, Function In Ot TimesPeople Involved In JudgementPeople Blessing

The Levitical priests arose and blessed the people. Their voice was heard and their prayer came to God's holy dwelling place, to heaven. Verse ConceptsAnswered PrayerBenedictionsHeaven, Glimpsed By Humans

Jehovah said to Moses: Tell Aaron and his sons: 'This is how you will bless the Israelites. Say to them: Jehovah will bless you and watch over you.' read more.
Jehovah will smile on you and be kind to you. Jehovah will look on you with favor and give you peace! Whenever they use my name to bless the Israelites, I will bless them.'

Tell the Israelites: 'When you come to the land I am going to give you and you harvest grain, bring a bundle of the first grain you harvest to the priest. He will present it to Jehovah so that you will be accepted. He will present it on the day after Passover.

Go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him: I declare this day to Jehovah my God! I have entered the land Jehovah swore to our fathers to give us. The priest will take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar of Jehovah your God.

Jehovah said to Aaron: You, your sons, and your family will be responsible for any sins against the holy place. You and your sons will also be responsible for any sins you commit when you work as priests. Verse ConceptsAaron, Priestly ResponsibilitiesOffencePriesthood, In OtFathers Responsibilitiesconnection

Only you and your sons may do the work of priests, everything done at the altar and under the canopy. This is my gift to you: You may serve me as priests. Anyone else who comes near the holy place to do this work must die. Verse ConceptsAaron, Priestly ResponsibilitiesAccess To God, In Old TestamentMediatorPriesthood, In OtServanthood, And Worship Of GodExclusionDeath Due To God's PresenceDanger When God Is Near

When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons will go in and take down the canopy that hangs over the Ark containing the words of God's Covenant. First they will cover the Ark with the canopy. Over this they will put a covering of fine leather. On top of that they will spread a cloth made entirely of violet material. Then they will put the poles in place. They will spread a violet cloth over the table of the presence and put on it the plates, dishes, bowls, and pitchers for the wine offerings. The bread that is always in Jehovah's presence will also be on it. read more.
They will spread a bright red cloth over everything on the table. They will then cover all this with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place. They will use a violet cloth to cover the lamp stand, as well as the lamps, snuffers, trays, and all the containers for the olive oil used in the lamps. Then they will put the lamp stand and all its utensils under a covering of fine leather and put them on a frame to carry them. They will spread a violet cloth over the gold altar and cover the cloth with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place. They will take all the articles that are used in the holy place and put them in a violet cloth. Then they will cover that with fine leather, and put them on a frame to carry them. After they take the ashes away, they will spread a purple cloth over the altar. They will put all the accessories used at the altar on it. These are the trays, forks, shovels, and bowls-all the altar's accessories. They will spread a covering of fine leather (sealskin) over all this. Then they will put the poles in place. When Aaron and his sons finished covering the holy things and the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites will come to carry all the holy articles. They must never touch the holy things, or they will die. The Kohathites will carry all the things from the tent of meeting.

You and your sons alone must fulfill the responsibilities for the Holy Place and the altar. That way my anger will not again break out against the people of Israel. Verse ConceptsSanctuaryAction Lest God Be AngryResponsibility

Now after these things, when Artaxerxes was king of Persia, Ezra, the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, read more.
The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest: Ezra came from Babylon. He was a scribe (copyist) and an expert in the Law of Moses which Jehovah, the God of Israel, had given. The king was moved by Jehovah his God to give him whatever he requested.

Nehemiah, who was the Tirshatha (Governor), and Ezra, the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were the teachers of the people, said to all the people: This day is holy to Jehovah your God. Let there be no sorrow or weeping. For all the people were weeping on hearing the words of the law. Verse ConceptsGovernorsScribesWeepingDo Not MournHoly Times

Jehovah spoke to Joshua, saying: Command the priests who carry the Ark of the Testimony that they come up from the Jordan. Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying: Come up from the Jordan. read more.
When the priests that carried the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah were up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up onto the dry land that the waters of Jordan returned to their place, and flowed over all its banks, as they did before.

Only you and your sons may do the work of priests, everything done at the altar and under the canopy. This is my gift to you: You may serve me as priests. Anyone else who comes near the holy place to do this work must die. Verse ConceptsAaron, Priestly ResponsibilitiesAccess To God, In Old TestamentMediatorPriesthood, In OtServanthood, And Worship Of GodExclusionDeath Due To God's PresenceDanger When God Is Near

Bring the other Levites from your ancestor's tribe to join you and help you and your sons serve in front of the tent of the words of my promise. Verse ConceptsAaron, As High PriestMinistry, Nature OfParticipation, In Christ

You and your sons alone must fulfill the responsibilities for the Holy Place and the altar. That way my anger will not again break out against the people of Israel. Verse ConceptsSanctuaryAction Lest God Be AngryResponsibility

The fire must always be burning on the altar. It must never go out. The priest will burn wood on it every morning. He will lay the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offering. The fire must always be burning on the altar. It must never go out.

The person who is too poor to pay the required amount must stand in front of the priest. The priest will determine the amount based on what the person can afford. Verse ConceptsGiving, Of PossessionsPoverty, Remedies ForPoor People

The priest will determine what its value is. The value will be whatever the priest decides. Verse ConceptsValue

A priest must come and speak to the troops before the battle begins. He should say: Listen, Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not lose your courage! Do not be afraid. Do not tremble because of them. Jehovah your God is going with you. He will fight for you against your enemies and give you victory.

The army of Israel retreated to their camp. The leaders of Israel asked: Why has Jehovah used the Philistines to defeat us today? Let us get the Ark of Jehovah's Covenant from Shiloh so that he may be with us and save us from our enemies. They sent men to Shiloh to bring back the Ark of the Covenant of Jehovah of Hosts who is enthroned over the angels. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas came along with God's ark. When Jehovah's Ark came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook.

And we, the priests and the Levites and the people, made selection, by the decision of Jehovah, of those who were to take the wood offering into the house of God, by families at the regular times, year by year, to be burned on the altar of Jehovah our God, as it is recorded in the law; Verse ConceptsCasting LotsWoodThe Altar Of The LordFirewood

The priest, the son of Aaron, is to be with the Levites, when the Levites take the tenths. The Levites are to take a tenth of the tenths into the house of our God, to the rooms, into the storehouse. Verse ConceptsPriesthood, In OtTreasuriesFractions, One TenthTithesBringing In The TitheTithes And Offering

You must separate the Israelites from anything that keeps them from being presentable to me. Otherwise they will die. This is because they defile my tent, which is among them, and make it unclean. Verse ConceptsExclusivenessHoliness,  Worldly SeparationParticipation, In SinSeparationDeath Due To God's PresencePolluting Holy Places

When these things are prepared, the priests enter the outer room often to carry on their services. Verse ConceptsMinistry, Nature OfOutside The Houseaccomplishment

He must not increase his herd of horses. He must not send the people to return to Egypt to get more horses. For Jehovah said to you: You should never again return that way. Verse ConceptsHorsesKings, Duties OfNeverPeople not returningAcquiring Horses


The king who faithfully judges the poor will have his throne established forever. Verse ConceptsBeing A LeaderCivic RighteousnessKings, Duties OfCommerceAuthorityfairness

The God of Israel has spoken. The protector of Israel said to me: 'The king who rules with justice, who rules in obedience to God. Verse ConceptsFearGod, The RockReverence, And BlessingKings, Duties OfKings, How They Should ActMagistratesCivil GovernmentReverence To GodAuthorityFearing God

He told the judges: Be careful when you make your decisions in court. Remember these are Jehovah's people. He will know the judgements you decide. Verse ConceptsKings, Duties OfMagistratesGod With Specific PeopleMaking DecisionsJudgement

Listen you kings, be wise (show discernment) and be warned you rulers of the earth. Serve Jehovah with deep respect and rejoice with trembling.


Loving-kindness and truth preserve the king and his throne is upheld by loving-kindness. Verse ConceptsSafetyKings, Duties OfAuthority