Aaron

22Then he brought the other ram. It was the ram for setting the priests apart for God. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the ram's head.

And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.

NoteThis ram was for making Aaron and his sons priests. It was their special starting day.

23Moses killed it. He took some of its blood. He put it on the tip of Aaron's right ear. He put it on his right thumb and on his right big toe.

And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron’s right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.

NoteBlood on the ear, the thumb, and the toe touched him from top to bottom. It showed that all of him now belonged to God.

24Moses brought Aaron's sons forward too. He put some blood on the tip of each one's right ear. He put it on their right thumbs and their right big toes. Then he sprinkled the blood on all sides of the altar.

And he brought Aaron’s sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.

25He took the fat and the fat tail. He took all the fat on the insides, the covering over the liver, and the two kidneys with their fat. He also took the right thigh.

And he took the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right shoulder:

NoteSheep there had big fat tails. People thought fat was the very best part, so it was given to God.

26A basket of bread without yeast sat before the LORD. From it he took one flat cake, one cake made with oil, and one thin wafer. He laid them on the fat and on the right thigh.

And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder:

NoteA wafer is a very thin, flat piece of bread, like a cracker.

27He put all of it into the hands of Aaron and his sons. Then he waved it before the LORD as a wave offering.

And he put all upon Aaron’s hands, and upon his sons’ hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the LORD.

NoteIn a wave offering, the food was lifted and moved back and forth. This showed the gift was being handed over to God.

28Then Moses took it all from their hands. He burned it on the altar, on top of the burnt offering. It was the offering for setting the priests apart, and its smell pleased the LORD. It was an offering burned in fire for the LORD.

And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt offering: they were consecrations for a sweet savour: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

29Moses took the breast and waved it before the LORD as a wave offering. The breast of that ram was Moses' own share. He did what the LORD told him to do.

And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before the LORD: for of the ram of consecration it was Moses’ part; as the LORD commanded Moses.

NoteThe man who led the offering got a piece to eat. That was his share.

30Then Moses took some of the holy oil and some of the blood from the altar. He sprinkled them on Aaron and on his clothes. He sprinkled them on Aaron's sons and on their clothes too. In this way he set them all apart for God.

And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons’ garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.

31Moses said to Aaron and his sons, "Boil the meat at the door of the tent of meeting. Eat it there with the bread from the basket. That is what I commanded: Aaron and his sons shall eat it.

And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and there eat it with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it.

NoteThe priests ate part of the gift. It was a holy meal shared with God.

32Whatever meat and bread is left over, you must burn it up in the fire.

And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire.

33Do not go out the door of the tent of meeting for seven days. Stay until your days of being set apart are over. It takes seven days to set you apart.

And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you.

NoteThe seven days were like a long, quiet start to their new work.

34What was done today, the LORD commanded to be done. It was done to make you right with God.

As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you.

Note"Make you right with God" means to fix what has gone wrong between people and God.

35So stay at the door of the tent of meeting day and night for seven days. Do what the LORD says to do, so you will not die. This is what I was told."

Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded.

NoteThe tent was God's own place, so the rules had to be followed with great care.

36So Aaron and his sons did everything the LORD commanded through Moses.

So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

1On the eighth day, Moses called Aaron and his sons. He also called the elders of Israel, the leaders of the people.

And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;

NoteThe eighth day means the day after a special week. For seven days Aaron and his sons were made ready. They were becoming priests, the men who did God's work at the tent. Aaron was Moses' older brother.

2He said to Aaron, "Take a young calf for a sin offering, a gift given to take away sin. Take a ram for a burnt offering, a gift burned up on the altar. Both animals must have nothing wrong with them. Bring them to the LORD."

And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.

NoteA calf is a young cow. A ram is a grown male sheep. An altar was like a big stone table. Gifts to God were burned on top of it.

3"Then speak to the people of Israel. Tell them to take a young goat for a sin offering. Tell them to take a calf and a lamb for a burnt offering. Both must be one year old, with nothing wrong with them."

And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;

4"Also take a bull and a ram for peace offerings, another kind of gift to God. Offer them to the LORD. Bring a grain offering mixed with olive oil too. For today the LORD will appear to you."

Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you.

NoteThe King James Bible says "a meat offering." Long ago, the word "meat" meant any kind of food. This gift was flour and oil, not meat at all. A peace offering was shared. Some was burned for God, and some was eaten together like a happy meal.

5So they brought what Moses had commanded to the front of the tent of meeting. All the people came near and stood before the LORD.

And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD.

NoteThe tent of meeting was the special tent where God met with his people.

6Moses said, "This is what the LORD commanded you to do. And the glory of the LORD will appear to you."

And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you.

NoteThe glory of the LORD was a bright, shining light. It showed the people that God was really there with them.

7Moses said to Aaron, "Go to the altar. Offer your sin offering and your burnt offering. This makes things right with God for you and for the people. Then offer the people's offering, and make things right for them. Do it just as the LORD commanded."

And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.

8So Aaron went to the altar. He killed the calf of the sin offering, the one that was for himself.

Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.

9Aaron's sons brought him the blood. He dipped his finger in the blood. He put it on the horns of the altar, the corner points sticking up. Then he poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar.

And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him: and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar:

NoteBlood was used because it stood for the animal's life. Putting it on the altar was part of asking God to forgive.

10He burned the fat, the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver on the altar. These came from the sin offering. He did it just as the LORD had told Moses.

But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the LORD commanded Moses.

NoteThe kidneys and the liver are parts inside an animal's body. The fat was thought to be the best part of the animal. So the best part was given to God. The lobe of the liver is a part of the liver itself, a piece that sticks out from it.

11He burned the meat and the skin in a fire outside the camp.

And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp.

NoteThe people lived in tents all together in the desert. That group of tents was called the camp. Outside the camp meant away from where everyone lived.

12Then he killed the burnt offering. Aaron's sons handed him the blood. He sprinkled it on all sides of the altar.

And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron’s sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.

13They handed him the burnt offering piece by piece, and the head too. He burned them on the altar.

And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.

NoteThe animal was cut into pieces first. Then the pieces were carried to the altar one at a time.

14He washed the insides and the legs. He burned them on top of the burnt offering on the altar.

And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.

15Then he brought the people's offering. He took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people. He killed it and offered it for sin, just like the first one.

And he brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.

16He brought the burnt offering. He offered it in the way the rules said.

And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.

17He brought the grain offering. He took a handful of it and burned it on the altar. He did this along with the burnt offering of the morning.

And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.

NoteEvery single morning the priests burned an offering to God. This gift was added on top of that morning one.

18He also killed the bull and the ram as peace offerings for the people. Aaron's sons handed him the blood. He sprinkled it on all sides of the altar.

He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron’s sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,

19There were also the fat parts of the bull and the ram. These were the fat tail, the fat that covers the insides, the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver.

And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver:

NoteSome sheep there had big, heavy tails made mostly of fat. People thought the fat tail was a very good part. The lobe of the liver is a part of the liver itself, a piece that sticks out from it.

20They put the fat on the breasts of the animals. Aaron burned the fat on the altar.

And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:

21Aaron lifted the breasts and the right thigh and waved them before the LORD. This was a wave offering, just as Moses had commanded.

And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.

NoteFor a wave offering, the meat was lifted and moved back and forth. This showed it was being given to God. Afterward the priests were allowed to eat it.

22Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people and blessed them. Then he came down from making the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings.

And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.

NoteTo bless people means to ask God to be good to them. Aaron said kind words over the whole crowd.

23Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people. And the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people.

And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.

24Fire came out from the LORD. It burned up the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted. They fell down with their faces to the ground.

And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

NoteFalling down with your face to the ground showed deep respect. People did this when they knew God was near.

1Nadab and Abihu were sons of Aaron. Each one took his censer, a small pan for burning incense. They put fire in the pans. They put incense on top of the fire. Then they offered strange fire to the LORD. God had not told them to do this.

And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

NoteIncense is a sweet powder that smells nice when it burns. A censer was a small metal pan for holding the hot coals. Aaron was the priest, the man who did God's special work at the tent. "Strange fire" means fire God had not asked for. The two young men did it their own way instead.

2Fire came out from the LORD. The fire burned them up. They died right there in front of the LORD.

And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

3Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD said. He said, 'I will show that I am holy through those who come near me. And all the people will see my glory.'" Aaron said nothing.

Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

Note"Holy" means set apart and different from everything else. "Glory" means how great and shining God is. Aaron was quiet. He did not say a word.

4Moses called for Mishael and Elzaphan. They were sons of Uzziel, who was Aaron's uncle. Moses said to them, "Come here. Carry your relatives away from the front of the holy tent. Take them outside the camp."

And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.

NoteThe people of Israel lived in tents in the desert. All their tents together were called the camp. The holy tent stood in the middle of it.

5So they came near. They carried the men out of the camp, still in their coats. They did just what Moses had said.

So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.

NoteThe coats were long shirts that the priests wore for their work.

6Then Moses spoke to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar. He said, "Do not let your hair hang loose. Do not tear your clothes. If you do, you will die, and anger will come on all the people. But the rest of Israel, your whole family, may cry about the fire the LORD started.

And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled.

NoteLong ago, sad people let their hair hang messy and loose. They also ripped their own clothes on purpose. It showed everyone that someone had died. Moses told Aaron and his sons not to do these things now.

7Do not go out from the door of the tent of meeting, the tent where people meet with God. If you go out, you will die. The LORD's special oil has been poured on you." So they did what Moses said.

And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.

NoteThe special oil was olive oil poured on a priest's head. It showed that God had picked him for this work.

8Then the LORD spoke to Aaron. He said,

And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying,

9"You and your sons must not drink wine or strong drink when you go into the tent of meeting. If you do, you will die. This rule will last forever, for your children and their children.

Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

NoteStrong drink was made from grain or fruit. It could make a person drunk.

10You must be able to tell the difference between what is holy and what is not. Holy things are set apart for God. You must also tell the difference between what is clean and what is unclean.

And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

Note"Clean" and "unclean" here are not about dirt. They were rules about who could come near the holy tent. Someone unclean had to wait a while first.

11And you must teach the people of Israel all the rules. The LORD gave those rules to them through Moses."

And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

12Then Moses spoke to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons who were still alive. He said, "Take the grain offering that is left over from the food burned for the LORD. Eat it beside the altar, made without yeast. It is most holy.

And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy:

NoteA grain offering was a gift of flour and oil given to God. Yeast is what makes bread puff up and rise. The altar was like a big stone table. Gifts to God were burned on top of it.

13You must eat it in a holy place. It is the share for you and your sons. It comes from the offerings burned for the LORD. This is what I was commanded.

And ye shall eat it in the holy place, because it is thy due, and thy sons’ due, of the sacrifices of the LORD made by fire: for so I am commanded.

NotePriests had no farms of their own. Food from the offerings was how they ate.

14You and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast that was waved. You may also eat the thigh that was lifted up. Eat them in a clean place. These parts belong to you and your sons. They come from the peace offerings of the people of Israel.

And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons’ due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.

NoteThe priests lifted the meat up and swung it back and forth. This showed that the gift was God's first. A peace offering was an animal brought to say thank you to God. The family and the priests ate part of it together.

15The thigh that is lifted up and the breast that is waved must be brought. They bring them along with the fat that is burned for the LORD. These parts are waved before the LORD as a gift. Then they belong to you and your sons forever. The LORD has commanded this."

The heave shoulder and the wave breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the LORD; and it shall be thine, and thy sons’ with thee, by a statute for ever; as the LORD hath commanded.

NoteThe fat was burned up for God. People thought of it as the best part.

16Moses looked carefully for the goat of the sin offering. He found that it had been burned up. He was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons who were still alive. He said to them,

And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron which were left alive, saying,

NoteA sin offering was an animal brought when someone did something wrong. Part of it was meant to be eaten by the priests.

17"Why did you not eat the sin offering in the holy place? It is most holy. God gave it to you to carry away the people's wrong. It makes things right for them before the LORD.

Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?

NoteTo "make things right" means the wrong is covered over and forgiven. Eating the offering was part of the priest's job in that.

18Look, its blood was not brought inside the holy place. You should have eaten the goat there in the holy place, just as I told you."

Behold, the blood of it was not brought in within the holy place: ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy place, as I commanded.

19Aaron said to Moses, "Look. Today they brought their sin offering and their burnt offering to the LORD. And then these things happened to me. If I had eaten the sin offering today, would that have pleased the LORD?"

And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and such things have befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the LORD?

NoteA burnt offering was an animal burned up completely as a gift to God.

20When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.

And when Moses heard that, he was content.

1The LORD spoke to Moses. This was after two of Aaron's sons died. They died when they made an offering before the LORD.

And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;

NoteLORD in small capital letters stands for God's own special name. Moses was the leader God spoke through. An offering is a gift brought to God, often an animal. Aaron's sons died because they brought fire God had not asked for.

2The LORD said to Moses, "Tell your brother Aaron this. He must not come just any time into the holy place behind the curtain. That place is in front of the mercy seat, the lid on the ark. If he does, he will die. I appear in a cloud above the mercy seat.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

NoteAaron was the chief priest, the man who served God for everyone. The holy place behind the curtain was the small back room of God's tent. The ark was a gold-covered box that held God's rules on stone. The mercy seat was its gold lid, where God met his people.

3This is how Aaron must come into the holy place. He must bring a young bull for a sin offering, an animal given to God for sin. He must bring a ram for a burnt offering, an animal burned up as a gift to God.

Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.

NoteA bullock is a young male cow. A ram is a grown male sheep. These were valuable animals, so giving one cost a lot.

4He must put on the holy linen coat. He must wear linen underclothes on his body. He must tie a linen belt around him. He must wear the linen turban on his head. These clothes are holy. So he must wash his body in water before he puts them on.

He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.

NoteLinen is a smooth cloth made from a plant. It was plain and white, not fancy. A mitre, or turban, is a long cloth wrapped around the head. Washing first showed he was getting ready to meet God.

5He must take two young goats from the people of Israel for a sin offering. He must also take one ram for a burnt offering.

And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

NoteThe goats and the ram came from the whole nation. Everyone shared in the gift, not just Aaron.

6Aaron must bring his own bull for the sin offering. With it he makes things right for himself and for his family.

And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.

Note"Make an atonement" means to make things right again. It covers over wrong so people can be close to God. "His house" means everyone in his family.

7Then he must take the two goats. He must set them before the LORD at the door of the meeting tent, where the people came to meet God.

And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

NoteThe tabernacle was a large tent that could be packed up and moved. God met with his people there. Israel carried it with them wherever they traveled.

8Aaron must cast lots for the two goats. Casting lots is like drawing straws to choose. One lot is for the LORD. The other lot is for the scapegoat, the goat that is sent away.

And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.

NoteCasting lots meant using small stones or sticks to pick. People believed God guided which one came out. A scapegoat is a goat that carries blame away for others. We still use that word today for someone blamed for others.

9Aaron must bring the goat that the LORD's lot picked. He must offer it as a sin offering.

And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.

10But the goat that the lot picked to be the scapegoat is kept alive. It must be set before the LORD, and with it things are made right. Then it is let go into the wilderness, the dry empty land, as the scapegoat.

But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

NoteThe wilderness was dry, empty land far outside the camp. Almost nothing grew there and nobody lived there.

11Aaron must bring the bull for the sin offering, which is for himself. With it he makes things right for himself and for his family. Then he must kill that bull.

And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:

12He must take a fire pan full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD. He must take his hands full of sweet incense, ground very fine. He must bring these inside the curtain.

And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:

NoteA censer is a metal pan for carrying hot coals. Incense is dried tree sap and spices that smell sweet when burned. The altar was a stone table where gifts to God were burned. Incense is a powder that smells good when it burns.

13He must put the incense on the fire before the LORD. Then the cloud of sweet smoke will cover the mercy seat. That lid lies over the Testimony inside the ark. This is so he will not die.

And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:

NoteThe Testimony was the two flat stones inside the ark. God's ten rules were written on them.

14He must take some of the bull's blood. With his finger he must sprinkle it on the east side of the mercy seat. Then he must sprinkle blood with his finger seven times in front of the mercy seat.

And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.

NoteBlood stood for a life that was given up. Sprinkling it made a place clean and ready for God. Seven was their number for something done completely.

15Then he must kill the goat of the sin offering, the one for the people. He must bring its blood inside the curtain. He must do with that blood what he did with the bull's blood. He must sprinkle it on the mercy seat and in front of it.

Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:

16In this way he makes things right for the holy place. He does this because the people of Israel are unclean. He does it because of all their wrongs and all their sins. He must do the same for the meeting tent. That tent stays with them, right in the middle of their uncleanness.

And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.

NoteUnclean here does not mean dirty like mud. It means not ready to come near God. "Transgressions" means times people broke God's rules on purpose.

17No one else may be in the meeting tent while he goes in. He goes in to make things right in the holy place. No one may be there until he comes out. By then he has made things right for himself, his family, and all the people of Israel.

And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.

18Then he must go out to the altar that is before the LORD. He must make things right for it. He must take some of the bull's blood and some of the goat's blood. He must put it on the horns, the corner points, all around the altar.

And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.

NoteThe corners of the altar stuck up like little horns. Blood was put on each of the four.

19He must sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times. This makes the altar clean from the uncleanness of the people of Israel. It makes the altar holy again.

And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

NoteTo "hallow" something is to make it holy. Holy means set apart for God alone.

20He finishes making things right for the holy place, the meeting tent, and the altar. Then he must bring the live goat.

And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:

21Aaron must lay both his hands on the head of the live goat. He must say out loud all the wrongs of the people of Israel. He must name all the ways they turned away, and all their sins. He puts them on the goat's head. Then he sends the goat away into the wilderness with a man chosen for the job.

And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

NoteTo "confess" is to say out loud the wrong things people did. "Iniquities" is an old word for wrongs. Laying hands on the goat's head showed the wrongs moving to the goat.

22The goat will carry all their wrongs away on itself. It goes to a land where no one lives. The man lets the goat go in the wilderness.

And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

NoteA land "not inhabited" is a place where nobody lives at all. The goat could never wander back to the people.

1Miriam and Aaron said unkind things about Moses. It was because of the woman Moses had married. She came from Cush, a land far to the south.

And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

NoteMiriam and Aaron were Moses' big sister and big brother.

2They said, "Has the LORD only spoken through Moses? Has he not spoken through us too?" And the LORD heard them say it.

And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.

NoteLORD in big letters is God's own special name.

3Now Moses was a very humble man. He was more humble than anyone else on earth.

(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

NoteHumble means he did not think he was better than others.

4Right away the LORD spoke to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. He said, "You three come out to the tent where I meet my people." So all three came out.

And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.

NoteThe tent was a special tent where God met his people. The people carried it with them when they moved.

5The LORD came down in a tall cloud. He stood at the door of the tent. He called Aaron and Miriam, and they both stepped forward.

And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.

NoteGod showed he was there by a tall cloud, like a pillar. The people could see it above the tent.

6He said, "Listen to my words. When there is a prophet among you, someone who tells people what I say, I show myself to him in a picture he sees. I speak to him in a dream.

And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

NoteA vision is a picture God shows someone while they are awake.

7But it is not that way with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house.

My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

NoteFaithful means you can always trust him to do right. "My house" here means God's people, like one big family.

8With him I speak face to face. I speak clearly, not in puzzles. He sees what the LORD looks like. So why were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"

With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

NoteFace to face means talking closely, the way good friends talk.

9The LORD was very angry with them. Then he went away.

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.

10The cloud lifted up off the tent. Miriam's skin turned white as snow with a bad skin disease. Aaron looked at her and saw she was sick.

And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

NoteThis skin disease made the skin turn white and flaky. People who had it had to stay away from everyone else.

11Aaron said to Moses, "Please, my lord, do not hold this sin against us. We were foolish, and we did wrong.

And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.

Note"My lord" was a polite way to speak to someone you looked up to.

12Please do not let her be like a baby born dead, with half its body wasted away."

Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb.

NoteAaron meant that the sickness was eating away her body. It was his way of saying how very sick she looked.

13So Moses called out to the LORD. He said, "O God, please heal her now!"

And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.

14The LORD said to Moses, "If her father had spit in her face, she would feel shame for seven days. So keep her outside the camp for seven days. After that she may come back in."

And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.

NoteSpitting in someone's face was a big insult back then. The person would stay away from others for a while.

15Miriam stayed outside the camp for seven days. The people did not travel until she came back.

And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

NoteThe camp was where all the people lived in their tents.

1Korah came from the family of Levi. His father was Izhar, and Izhar's father was Kohath, son of Levi. Dathan and Abiram were sons of Eliab. On was the son of Peleth. These three came from the family of Reuben. Together they got other men to join them.

Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

NoteIsrael was made up of twelve big families. Levi's family did the work at God's special tent. Reuben's family was another one. People were known by the family they came from.

2They stood up against Moses. With them stood 250 leaders of Israel. These were well-known men whom the people looked up to.

And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

3They all came against Moses and Aaron. They said, "You take too much power for yourselves. Every one of us belongs to God, and the LORD is with us all. So why do you lift yourselves above the rest of us?"

And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

NoteWhen you see LORD in capital letters, it stands for God's own name. Aaron was the priest who led the people's worship of God.

4When Moses heard this, he bowed down with his face to the ground.

And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:

5Then he said to Korah and all his men, "Tomorrow the LORD will show who belongs to him. He will show who is set apart for him. He will let that man come near to him. The man the LORD picks is the one he brings close."

And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.

NoteSet apart means picked out and kept special for God alone.

6"Here is what to do. You, Korah, and all your men must each take a censer."

This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;

NoteA censer was a small metal pan with a handle. Hot coals went in it, and sweet spices were burned on top.

7"Tomorrow put fire in them and burn incense before the LORD. The man the LORD picks is the one set apart for him. You sons of Levi are the ones taking too much."

And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.

NoteIncense is spices that smell sweet when they burn. Burning it was a way of giving a gift to God.

8Moses also said to Korah, "Please listen, you sons of Levi."

And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:

9"God set your family apart from the rest of Israel. He brought you close to himself to work at his holy tent. You also stand before the people and help them. Is that such a small thing to you?"

Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

NoteThe holy tent was a big tent the people carried with them. It was the place where they came to worship God.

10"God brought you near to him, and all your Levite brothers too. And now you want to be priests as well?"

And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?

NotePriests did the special jobs at God's tent. Only men from Aaron's family could be priests. The rest of Levi's family helped, but they were not priests.

11"So really, you and your men have joined together against the LORD. Aaron is only a man. Why do you grumble against him?"

For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

16Moses said to Korah, "Tomorrow you and all your men must stand before the LORD. Aaron will be there too."

And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:

17"Each man must take his censer and put incense in it. Bring all 250 censers before the LORD. You and Aaron must bring your censers too."

And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.

18So each man took his censer, put fire in it, and added incense. They stood at the door of the meeting tent with Moses and Aaron.

And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.

NoteThe meeting tent is the same holy tent. It was called that because God met with his people there.

19Korah gathered all the people against them at the door of the tent. Then the bright glory of the LORD appeared to everyone.

And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.

NoteThe glory of the LORD was a bright shining light. It showed the people that God himself was there.

20The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said,

And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

21"Move away from these people. I will destroy them in a moment."

Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

22Moses and Aaron bowed with their faces to the ground. They said, "O God, you give life to every person. One man sinned. Will you be angry with all the people?"

And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

23Then the LORD said to Moses,

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

24"Tell the people to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram."

Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

25So Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram. The leaders of Israel went with him.

And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

NoteThe leaders were older men. People asked them for advice and let them settle arguments.

26He said to the people, "Please move away from the tents of these bad men. Do not touch anything they own. If you do, you will be swept away with them for their sins."

And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

27So the people moved back from those tents on every side. Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doors of their tents. Their wives, their sons, and their little children stood with them.

So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.

28Moses said, "Now you will know the LORD sent me to do all this. I did not think it up myself."

And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.

29"Maybe these men will die the way all people die. If nothing new or strange happens, then the LORD did not send me."

If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.

30"But the LORD may do something never done before. The ground may open its mouth and swallow them and all they own. They will go down alive into the pit. Then you will know these men have shown no respect for the LORD."

But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

NoteThe pit was what people called the place deep under the ground where the dead go.

31As soon as Moses finished speaking, the ground under those men split open.

And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

32The earth opened its mouth. It swallowed the men, their homes, everyone with Korah, and all they owned.

And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

33They went down alive into the pit with everything they had. The earth closed over them. They were gone from among the people.

They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

34The Israelites nearby heard their cries and ran away. They said, "The earth might swallow us too!"

And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

35Then fire came out from the LORD. It burned up the 250 men who had offered incense.

And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.