Thematic Bible: Return to the plains of moab


Thematic Bible



And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, the interpreter, which dwelt upon the river of the land of the children of his folk; to call him, saying, "Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt which covereth the face of the earth and lie even hard by me. Come now a fellowship, and curse me this people. For they are too mighty for me, so peradventure I might be able to smite them and to drive them out of the land. For I know that whom thou blessest shall be blessed, and whom thou cursest shall be cursed."

And Balak sent again a greater company of lords, and more honorable than they. And they came to Balaam and told him, "Thus sayeth Balak, the son of Zippor: 'Oh, let nothing let thee to come unto me, for I will greatly promote thee unto great honour, and will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me! Come therefore I pray thee, curse me this people.'"


These are the numbers of the children of Israel which Moses and Eleazar the priest numbered in the fields of Moab, fast by Jordan nigh to Jericho. And among these there was not a man of the number of the children of Israel which Moses and Aaron told in the wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD said unto them, that they should die in the wilderness and that there should not be left a man of them: save Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.

Your carcasses shall lie in this wilderness, neither shall any of these numbers which were numbered from twenty years and above of you which have murmured against me


But I have a few things against thee: that thou hast, there, they that maintain the doctrine of Balaam, which taught in Balak to put occasion of sin before the children of Israel, that they should eat of meat dedicated unto idols, and to commit fornication.

And Israel dwelt in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab, which called the people unto the sacrifice of their gods. And the people ate, and worshipped their gods, and Israel coupled himself unto Baal-Peor. Then the LORD was angry with Israel,


And the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Heber the son of Gilead, the son of Machir the son of Manasseh, of the kindreds of Manasseh the son of Joseph - whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah - came and stood before Moses and Eleazar the priest and before the lords and all the multitude in the door of the tabernacle of witness, saying, "Our father died in the wilderness, and was not among the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the congregation of Korah: But died in his own sin, and had no sons. read more.
Wherefore should the name of our father's be taken away from among his kindred, because he had no son? Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father." And Moses brought their cause before the LORD. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt give them a possession to inherit among their father's brethren, and shalt turn the inheritance of their father unto them. And speak unto the children of Israel saying, 'If a man die and have no son, ye shall turn his inheritance unto his daughter. If he have no daughter, ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. If he have no brethren, ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren. If he have no father's brethren, ye shall give his inheritance unto him that is next to him of his kindred, and let him possess it. And this shall be unto the children of Israel an ordinance, and a law, as the LORD hath commanded Moses.'"

And the ancient heads of the children of Gilead the son of Machir the son of Manasseh of the kindred of the children of Joseph, came forth and spake before Moses and the princes which were ancient heads among the children of Israel, and said, "The LORD commanded my lord to give the land to inherit by lot to the children of Israel. And then my lord commanded in the name of the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother unto his daughters. Now when any of the sons of the tribes of Israel take them to wives, then shall their inheritance be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and shall be put unto the inheritance of the tribe in which they are and shall be taken from the lot of our inheritance. read more.
And when the free year cometh unto the children of Israel, then shall their inheritance be put unto the inheritance of the tribe where they are in, and so shall their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers." And Moses commanded the children of Israel at the mouth of the LORD, saying, "The tribe of the children of Joseph have said well. This, therefore, doeth the LORD: 'Command the daughters of Zelophehad, saying: let them be wives to whom they themself think best, but in the kindred of the tribe of their fathers shall they marry, that the inheritance of the children of Israel roll not from tribe to tribe. But that the children of Israel may abide, every man, in the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. And every daughter that possesseth any inheritance among the tribes of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the kindred of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his father, and that the inheritance go not from one tribe to another: but that the tribes of the children of Israel may abide, every man, in his own inheritance.'"


And God came unto Balaam, and said, "What men are these which are with thee?" And Balaam said unto God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 'Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt and covereth the face of the earth: come now therefore and curse me them, that so peradventure I may be able to overcome them in battle, and to drive them out.'" read more.
And God said unto Balaam, "Thou shalt not go with them, neither curse the people: for they are blessed." And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the lords of Balak, "Get you unto your land, for the LORD will not suffer me to go with you." And the lords of Moab rose up and went unto Balak and said, "Balaam would not come with us." And Balak sent again a greater company of lords, and more honorable than they. And they came to Balaam and told him, "Thus sayeth Balak, the son of Zippor: 'Oh, let nothing let thee to come unto me, for I will greatly promote thee unto great honour, and will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me! Come therefore I pray thee, curse me this people.'" And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, "If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can go no further than the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. Nevertheless tarry ye here all night: that I may know what the LORD will say unto me once more." And God came to Balaam by night and said unto him, "If the men come to fetch thee, rise up and go with them: but what I say unto thee, that only thou shalt do." And Balaam rose up early and saddled his ass and went with the lords of Moab. But God was angry because he went. And the angel of the LORD stood in the way against him. And he rode upon his ass and two servants with him. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD stand in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand, she turned aside out of the way and went out into the field. And Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. And the angel of the LORD went and stood in a path between the vineyards, where was a wall on the one side and another on the other. When the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she wrenched unto the wall and thrust Balaam's foot unto the wall, and he smote her again. And the angel of the LORD went further and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn, either to the righthand or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam was wroth and smote the ass with a staff. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, "What have I done unto thee, that thou smitest me thus three times?" And Balaam said unto the Ass, "Because thou hast mocked me! I would that I had a sword in mine hand, that I might now kill thee." And the ass said unto Balaam, "Am not I thine ass which thou hast ridden upon since thou wast born unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee?" And he said, "Nay." And the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam that he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand. And he bowed himself and fell flat on his face. And the angel of the LORD said unto him, "Wherefore smitest thou thine ass this three times? Behold, I came out to resist thee, for the way is contrary unto me, and the ass saw me and avoided me three times: or else, had she not turned from me, I had surely slain thee and saved her alive." And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned: for I wist not that thou stoodest in the way against me. Now therefore if it displease thine eyes, I will turn again." And the angel said unto Balaam, "Go with the men: but in any wise, what I say unto thee, that say." And Balaam went with the lords of Balak. And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out against him unto a city of Moab that stood in the border of Arnon, which was the utmost part of his country. And Balak said unto Balaam, "Did I not send for thee, to call thee? Wherefore camest thou not unto me? Thinkest thou that I am not able to promote thee unto honour?" And Balaam said unto Balak, "Lo, I am come unto thee. But I can say nothing at all, save what God putteth in my mouth that must I speak." And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto the city of Huzoth. And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent for Balaam and for the lords that were with him. And on the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up into the high place of Baal, and thence he saw unto the utmost part of the people.


And the children of Israel removed, and pitched in the fields of Moab, on the other side of Jordan, by Jericho.

And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the fields of Moab fast by Jordan nigh to Jericho. And they pitched upon Jordan, from Bethjeshimoth unto the plain of Shittim in the fields of Moab.


"Vex the Midianites and smite them, for they have troubled you with their wiles with thee, which they have beguiled you, through Peor and through their sister Cozbi the daughter of a lord in Midian, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake."



And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, "Go and slay those men that joined themselves unto Baal- Peor."


So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab at the commandment of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab beside Bethpeor: but no man wist of his sepulchre unto this day.


And Moses went from the fields of Moab up into mount Nebo which is the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead even unto Dan, and all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah: even unto the utmost sea, and the south and the region of the plain of Jericho the city of date trees, even unto Zoar. read more.
And the LORD said unto him, "This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it unto thy seed. I have showed it thee before thine eyes: but thou shalt not go over thither."


And Moses wrote this law and delivered it unto the priests, the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel,


And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, "Let the LORD, God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation; which may go in and out before them, and to lead them in and out, that the congregation of the LORD be not as a flock of sheep without a shepherd." read more.
And the LORD said unto Moses, "Take Joshua the son of Nun in whom there is spirit, and put thine hands upon him, and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation and give him a charge in their sight. And put of thy praise upon him that all the company of the children of Israel may hear. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest which shall ask counsel for him, after the manner of the light, before the LORD: And at the mouth of Eleazar shall both he and all the children of Israel with him, and all the congregation, go in and out." And Moses did as the LORD commanded him, and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and put his hands upon him and give him a charge, as the LORD commanded through the hand of Moses.


And it fortuned, the first day of the eleventh month in the fortieth year, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them,


And after the plague, the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar, saying, "Take the number of all the multitude of the children of Israel from twenty years and above throughout their fathers' houses, all that are able to go to war in Israel." And Moses and Eleazar the priest told them in the fields of Moab by Jordan, fast by Jericho, read more.
from twenty years and above, as the LORD commanded Moses. And the children of Israel that came of Egypt were: Reuben, the eldest son of Israel. The children of Reuben were, Hanoch, of whom cometh the kindred of the Hanochites; and of Pallu, cometh the kindred of the Palluites; And of Hezron, cometh the kindred of the Hezronites; and of Carmi, cometh the kindred of the Carmites. These are the kindreds of the Reubenites, which were in number forty three thousand seven hundred and thirty. And the sons of Pallu were Eliab. And the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, councilors in the congregation, which strove against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD. And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them and Korah also, when the multitude died, what time the fire consumed two hundred and fifty men, and they became a sign: Notwithstanding, the children of Korah died not. And the children of Simeon in their kindreds were: Nemuel, of whom cometh the kindred of the Nemuelites; Jamin, of whom cometh the kindred of the Jaminites; Jachin, of whom cometh the kindred of the Jachinites; Zerah of whom cometh the kindred of the Zerahites; Shaul of whom cometh the kindred of the Shaulites. These are the kindreds of the Simeonites, in number twenty two thousand and two hundred. And the children of Gad in their kindreds were: Zephon, of whom cometh the kindred of the Zephonites; and of Haggi, cometh the kindred of the Haggites; and of Shuni, cometh the kindred of the Shunites; and of Ozni, cometh the kindred of the Oznites; and of Eri cometh the kindred of the Erites; and of Arod cometh the kindred of the Arodites: and of Areli cometh the kindred of the Arelites. These are the kindreds of the children of Gad, in number forty thousand and five hundred. The children of Judah: Er and Onan, which died in the land of Canaan. But the children of Judah in their kindred were: Shelah of whom cometh the kindred of the Shelanites; and of Perez cometh the kindred of the Perezites; and of Zerah cometh the kindred of the Zerahites. And the children of Perez were Hezron, of whom cometh the kindred of the Hezronites: and of Hamul cometh the kindred of the Hamulites. These are the kindreds of Judah, in number seventy six thousand and five hundred. And the children of Issachar in their kindreds were: Tola, of whom cometh the kindred of the Tolaites: and Puvah, of whom cometh the kindred of the Punites; and of Jashub cometh the kindred of the Jashubites; and of Shimron cometh the kindred of the Shimronites. These are the kindreds of Issachar, in number sixty four thousand and three hundred. The children of Zebulun in their kindreds were: Sered, of whom cometh the kindred of the Seredites; and Elon, of whom cometh the kindred of the Elonites; and of Jahleel, cometh the kindred of the Jahleelites. These are the kindreds of Zebulun, in number sixty thousand and five hundred. The children of Joseph in their kindreds were: Manasseh and Ephraim. The children of Manasseh: Machir, of whom cometh the kindred of the Machirites. And Machir begat Gilead, of whom cometh the kindred of the Gileadites. And these are the children of Gilead: Iezer, of whom cometh the kindred of the Iezerites; and of Helek cometh the kindred of the Helekites; and of Asriel the kindred of the Asrielites; and of Shechem cometh the kindred of the Shechemites; and of Shemida cometh the kindred of the Shemidites; and of Hepher cometh the kindred of the Hepherites. And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons but daughters. And the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. These are the kindreds of Manasseh, in number fifty two thousand and seven hundred. These are the children of Ephraim in their kindreds: Shuthelah, of whom cometh the kindred of the Shuthelahites; and Becher, of whom cometh the kindred of the Becherites; and of Tahan cometh the kindred of the Tahanites. And these are the children of Shuthelah: Eran, of whom cometh the kindred of the Eranites. These are the kindreds of the children of Ephraim, in number thirty two thousand and five hundred. And these are the children of Joseph in their kindreds. These are the children of Benjamin in their kindreds: Bela, of whom cometh the kindred of the Belaites; and of Ashbel cometh the kindred of the Ashbelites; and of Ahiram, the kindred of the Ahiramites; and of Shephupham the kindred of the Shephuphamites; and of Hupham the kindred of the Huphamites. And the children of Bela were Ard and Naaman from whence come the kindreds of the Ardites and of the Naamites. These are the children of Benjamin in their kindreds, and in number forty five thousand and six hundred. These are the children of Dan in their kindreds: Shuham, of whom cometh the kindred of the Shuhamites. These are the kindreds of Dan in their generations. And all the kindreds of the Shuhamites were in number sixty four thousand and four hundred. The children of Asher in their kindreds were: Imnah, of whom cometh the kindred of the Imnites; and Ishvi, of whom cometh the kindred of the Ishvites; and of Beriah cometh the kindred of Beriites. And the children of Beriah were Heber, of whom cometh the kindred of the Heberites; and of Malchiel came the kindred of the Malchielites. And the daughter of Asher was called Sarah. These are the kindreds of Asher, in number fifty three thousand and four hundred. The children of Naphtali in their kindreds were: Jahzeel, of whom came the kindred of the Jahzeelites; and Guni, of whom came the kindred of the Gunites; and of Jezer, came the kindred of the Jezerites; and of Shillem the kindred of Shillemites. These are the kindreds of Naphtali in their generations, in number forty five thousand and four hundred. These are the numbers of the children of Israel: six hundred thousand, and a thousand seven hundred and thirty. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "Unto these the land shall be divided to inherit, according to the number of names: to many, thou shalt give the more inheritance; and to few, the less. To every tribe shall the inheritance be given according to the number thereof. Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot; and according to the names of the tribes of their fathers, they shall inherit: and according to their lot thou shalt divide their land, both to the many and to the few." These are the sums of the Levites in their kindreds: of Gershon, came the kindred of the Gershonites; and of Kohath came the kindred of the Kohathites; and of Merari came the kindred of the Merarites. These are the kindreds of Levi: the kindred of the Libnites, the kindred of the Hebronites, the kindred of the Mahlites, the kindred of the Mushites, the kindred of the Korahites. Kohath begat Amram, and Amram's wife was called Jochebed; a daughter of Levi, which was born him in Egypt. And she bare unto Amram, Aaron, Moses and Miriam their sister. And unto Aaron were born, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died, as they offered strange fire before the LORD. And the number of them was twenty three thousand, of all the males from a month old and above. For they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.


"Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore, up and go over Jordan, both thou and all this people, unto the land the which I give unto the children of Israel.


Then Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two spies, secretly, saying, "Go and view the land and also Jericho." And they went, and came unto a harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.