Moses

17Moses sent them to look at the land of Canaan. He told them, "Go through the dry land in the south. Then go up into the hills.

And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:

NoteThe dry land in the south got very little rain. The hills farther north had more water and better soil.

18Look at the land and see what it is like. See if the people who live there are strong or weak. See if there are many of them or only a few.

And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;

19Find out if the land they live in is good or bad. Find out if they live in open camps or in cities with strong walls.

And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;

NoteCities then had thick walls built all around them. The walls kept enemies from getting in. A camp with no walls was much easier to attack.

20See if the soil is rich or poor. See if there are trees growing there. Be brave, and bring back some fruit from the land." It was the time of year when the first grapes get ripe.

And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.

NoteGrapes get ripe near the end of summer. So there was fruit ready for the men to carry home.

21So the men went up and looked at the land. They went from the desert of Zin all the way to Rehob, near the road to Hamath.

So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.

NoteThese places were very far apart. The men walked from one end of the land to the other.

22They went up through the dry land in the south and came to Hebron. Three men named Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai lived there. They came from the family of Anak. Hebron had been built seven years before the town of Zoan in Egypt.

And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

NoteThe family of Anak was known for being very tall and strong. Zoan was a city in Egypt. Saying Hebron came first tells us Hebron was a very old town.

23They came to a valley called Eshcol. There they cut off one branch with a bunch of grapes on it. It took two men to carry it on a pole. They also took some pomegranates and figs.

And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.

NoteA pomegranate is a round red fruit. Inside it is full of small juicy seeds.

24The place was named Eshcol, which means "bunch." It got that name because of the bunch of grapes the men cut there.

The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.

25After forty days the men came back from looking at the land.

And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.

NoteForty days is a little more than a month of walking and looking.

26They came to Moses and Aaron and all the people of Israel. This was at Kadesh, in the desert of Paran. The men told everyone what they had seen. They showed them the fruit from the land.

And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

NoteAaron was the brother of Moses. He was the priest, the man who led the people in worshiping God. Kadesh was the place where the people were camped.

27They said to Moses, "We went to the land you sent us to see. It really is a land flowing with milk and honey. Look at the fruit we brought!

And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

Note"Flowing with milk and honey" was a way of saying the land was rich. There was grass for cows and goats, and flowers for bees. It meant there would be plenty to eat.

28But the people who live there are strong. Their cities are very big and have high walls around them. We even saw the family of Anak there.

Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

29The Amalekites live in the dry land in the south. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites live in the hills. The Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan River."

The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

NoteThese were names of people groups who already lived in the land. Each group had its own towns and its own ways. The Jordan is the main river in that land.

30Then Caleb told the people to be quiet and listen. He said to them in front of Moses, "Let's go up right now and take the land. We can do it!"

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

31But the other men who had gone with him said, "We cannot fight those people. They are stronger than we are."

But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

32So they gave the people of Israel a bad report about the land they had seen. They said, "That land eats up the people who live in it. Every person we saw there was very big.

And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

NoteA report is what you tell people after you go and look at something. Saying the land "eats up" people was a picture. It was their way of saying the land was dangerous to live in.

33"We saw giants there, the sons of Anak, who came from the giants. Next to them we felt as small as grasshoppers. And that is how we looked to them too."

And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

NoteThe old word here means very large, strong people from long ago. A grasshopper is a small bug that jumps in the grass. The men felt that tiny standing next to the tall people.

1All the people cried out loud together. They wept all that night.

And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

NoteThe King James word "congregation" means all the people gathered together in one big group.

2The people of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron. The whole group said to them, "We wish we had died back in Egypt! Or we wish we had died here in this empty desert!"

And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

NoteThe King James says the people "murmured." That means they grumbled and complained. Egypt is the country where these people had lived as slaves. God had just brought them out. The "wilderness" is a wide, empty land. Very few people live there. Food and water are hard to find.

3"Why is the LORD bringing us to this land? We will be killed by swords. Our wives and children will be carried off. Wouldn't it be better to go back to Egypt?"

And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

Note"To fall by the sword" means to be killed in a battle. The King James says the children would be "a prey." It means enemies would carry them off and keep them.

4They said to each other, "Let's choose a leader. Let's go back to Egypt."

And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

NoteA "captain" here means a leader, someone to walk in front and tell everyone where to go.

5Then Moses and Aaron bowed down with their faces to the ground. All the people of Israel were watching.

Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.

NoteLying down with your face to the ground was how people showed they were begging or praying. Moses and Aaron were asking the people to stop.

6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh tore their own clothes. They were two of the men who had explored the land.

And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

NoteThe King James says they "rent their clothes." People tore their own clothes on purpose. It was how they showed everyone that they were very upset. The men had gone ahead to look at the land quietly. We would call them spies.

7They said to the whole group of Israel, "The land we walked through is a very good land."

And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.

8"If the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us there. It is a rich land, full of milk and honey. He will give it to us."

If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

Note"A land which floweth with milk and honey" is an old way of saying the land is rich. Grass grows for the cows and goats, so there is plenty of milk. Flowers grow for the bees, so there is honey.

9"Only do not turn against the LORD. Do not be afraid of the people who live there. We will beat them as easily as eating bread. Nothing is left to keep them safe. The LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them!"

Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

NoteThe King James says the people of the land "are bread for us." Eating bread is easy. Joshua means the fight will not be too hard. "Their defence is departed from them" means nothing is left to keep them safe.

10But the whole group wanted to throw stones at Joshua and Caleb. Then the bright glory of the LORD appeared at the tent where God met his people. All Israel saw it.

But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.

NoteThrowing big stones at someone was how people long ago put a person to death. The crowd was very angry at Joshua and Caleb. The "tabernacle of the congregation" was a large tent. It was the tent where God met his people. The "glory of the LORD" was a bright shining light that showed God was there.

11The LORD said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with no respect? How long until they trust me? They have seen all the wonders I did."

And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?

Note"Signs" here means wonders, the amazing things God had done that people could see.

12"I will strike them with a sickness and destroy them. Then I will make you into a nation bigger and stronger than they are."

I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.

Note"Pestilence" means a bad sickness that spreads fast from person to person. "Disinherit them" means they would no longer be his own special people.

13Moses said to the LORD, "The Egyptians will hear about it. You brought these people out from Egypt with your great power."

And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;)

14"And they will tell the people who live in this land. Those people have heard that you, LORD, are here with Israel. They heard that you are seen face to face. Your cloud stands over them. You go ahead of them in a tall cloud by day. You go ahead in a tall fire by night."

And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.

NoteA pillar is a tall column, like a post that holds up a roof. God went in front of the people as a tall cloud in the daytime. At night it was a tall fire that gave light.

15"If you kill all these people at once, the nations who have heard of you will talk. They will say,"

Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,

16"'The LORD was not able to bring these people to the land he promised them. So he killed them out in the desert.'"

Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.

Note"Sware" is the old spelling of swore. It means God made a strong promise.

17"So now, please show how great your power is. This is what you said about yourself:"

And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my LORD be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,

18"'The LORD does not get angry quickly. He loves very much. He forgives wrong and sinful acts. But he does not let guilty people go free. He punishes children for their parents' sins, even the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.'"

The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

Note"Longsuffering" means slow to get angry, willing to wait a long time. "Iniquity" and "transgression" both mean wrong things people do. Families long ago often lived together, grandparents and parents and children. When one person did wrong, the whole family felt it.

19"Please forgive these people for the wrong they have done. Your love is very great. You have forgiven them again and again since Egypt."

Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.

Note"Pardon" means forgive. "I beseech thee" means "I am begging you, please."

20The LORD said, "I have forgiven them, just as you asked."

And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:

21"But I am the living God, and this is sure. The whole earth will be filled with my glory."

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Note"As truly as I live" was a way of making a promise as strong as possible. It means "this is certain."

22"All these men saw my glory. They saw the wonders I did in Egypt and in the desert. Still they have tested me ten times. They have not listened to me."

Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

Note"Tempted me" here means tested me, to see what God would do. "Ten times" is a way of saying many times over, again and again. "Hearkened" means listened and obeyed.

23"So none of them will see the land I promised to their fathers. Not one who treated me with no respect will see it."

Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

24"But my servant Caleb thinks in a different way. He has followed me with his whole heart. I will bring him into the land he visited. His family after him will own it."

But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

Note"His seed" means his children, and their children after them.

25(The Amalekites and the Canaanites were living in the valley.) "Tomorrow turn around. Go back into the desert on the road to the Red Sea."

(Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) Tomorrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.

NoteThe Amalekites and the Canaanites were groups of people already living in that land. They had their own towns and their own armies. The Red Sea is the big sea the people had crossed when they left Egypt. Going back that way meant turning around.

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?

12Then Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. They said, "We will not come."

And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:

13"You brought us out of a land full of milk and honey. You brought us here to die in this dry, empty land. Is that not bad enough? Must you rule over us too?"

Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?

NoteThey are talking about Egypt, where they used to live. A land full of milk and honey means a rich land with plenty of food.

14"You have not brought us to a land full of milk and honey. You have not given us fields or vineyards of our own. Do you think you can poke out these men's eyes? We will not come."

Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.

NoteA vineyard is a field where grapes are grown. Poking out someone's eyes was a way of saying, do you think we cannot see what you are doing?

15Moses became very angry. He said to the LORD, "Do not accept their gift. I never took even one donkey from them. I never hurt any of them."

And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

NoteThe gift means an offering, something brought to God to show love for him. Taking someone's donkey would be stealing, because a donkey carried heavy loads for a family.

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.

1In the first month, all the people of Israel came to the desert of Zin. They stayed at a place called Kadesh. Miriam died there, and they buried her there.

Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

NoteMiriam was the big sister of Moses and Aaron. A desert is a dry, sandy place where almost nothing grows. Kadesh was a stopping place with a spring of water.

2There was no water for the people. So they came together to complain to Moses and Aaron.

And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

NoteMoses was the leader who brought the people out of Egypt. Aaron was his brother. Aaron was the priest, the man who did God's special work at the tent.

3The people argued with Moses. They said, "We wish we had died when our brothers died in front of the LORD!"

And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

NoteLORD in big letters is God's own name. It was the special name God told his people to use. The people were talking about others who had died earlier on the trip.

4"Why did you bring God's people out here into this empty land? Was it so that we and our animals would die here?"

And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?

NoteThis land was wild and empty. There were no towns, no farms, and hardly any water.

5"Why did you make us leave Egypt and come to this bad place? Nothing grows here. There are no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates. There is no water to drink."

And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

NoteLong before this, the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt. God brought them out. A pomegranate is a round red fruit. It is full of little juicy seeds.

6Moses and Aaron left the crowd. They went to the door of the tent where people met with God. They lay down with their faces to the ground. Then the bright glory of the LORD appeared to them.

And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.

NoteThe tent was a special tent where God met with his people. Lying face down on the ground was how people showed respect to God. The glory of the LORD was a bright shining light. It showed that God was right there.

7The LORD said to Moses,

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

8"Take the walking stick. Call all the people together, you and your brother Aaron. Speak to the rock while they watch. Water will pour out of it. You will bring water out of the rock for them. Then the people and their animals can drink."

Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

NoteThe walking stick was Moses's shepherd staff. God had used that same stick before to do wonderful things.

9So Moses took the walking stick from in front of the LORD, just as God told him.

And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.

10Moses and Aaron called the people together in front of the rock. Moses said to them, "Listen now, you who keep saying no to God. Must we bring you water out of this rock?"

And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

11Then Moses raised his hand. He hit the rock twice with his stick. Lots of water came pouring out. The people drank, and their animals drank too.

And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

12But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "You did not trust me. You did not show the people that I am holy. So you will not bring these people into the land I am giving them."

And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

NoteHoly means God is special, and not like anyone else. Moses was supposed to show the people how great God is.

13This water was called Meribah. It got that name because the people of Israel argued with the LORD there. And there he showed that he is holy.

This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

NoteMeribah means "arguing" in the language they spoke. The place was named after what happened there.

4The people left Mount Hor and took the road toward the Red Sea. They went that way to go around the land of Edom. But on the way, the people got upset and fed up.

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

NoteEdom was the country next door. Its king would not let Israel walk through his land. So Israel had to walk the long way around it.

5The people spoke against God and against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die out here? There is no bread and no water. And we hate this awful food!"

And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

NoteThe food they hated was manna. It was thin white flakes that God sent on the ground each morning. The King James calls it "light bread," meaning thin, poor food.

6So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people. The snakes bit them, and many Israelites died.

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

NoteThe King James says "fiery serpents." That does not mean the snakes were on fire. Their bite burned and stung badly.

7The people came to Moses and said, "We did wrong. We spoke against the LORD and against you. Please ask the LORD to take the snakes away." So Moses prayed for the people.

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

8The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a tall pole. Anyone who is bitten can look at it and live."

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

NoteA pole is a long stick stood straight up. Anything on top can be seen from far away.

9So Moses made a snake out of bronze and put it on a pole. When a bitten person looked at the bronze snake, that person lived.

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

NoteBronze is a hard metal. It is shiny and brownish gold, like a penny.

12Then the LORD said to Moses, "Climb up this mountain called Abarim. Look out at the land I am giving to the people of Israel.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.

NoteAbarim was a row of mountains. From the top you could see a long way. Moses could look across at the new land.

13After you have seen it, you will die and join your family, the way your brother Aaron did.

And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.

Note"Gathered unto thy people" was an old way of saying someone died. Aaron was Moses' older brother and the first priest. He had died not long before this.

14This is because you and Aaron did not obey me in the desert of Zin. The people were angry and arguing about water. I told you what to do, to show the people how holy I am. But you did not do it. That water is called the water of Meribah, at Kadesh, in the desert of Zin."

For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

NoteThis is about something that happened earlier. The people had no water and were angry. God told Moses what to do, but Moses did something else. Meribah means "arguing." Holy means God is special, not like anyone else.

15Then Moses said to the LORD:

And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,

16"LORD, you are the God of the spirits of all living things. Please choose a man to lead these people.

Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

NoteThe words here are "the spirits of all flesh," which means the life inside every living thing, people and animals.

17Let him go out in front of them and come back in front of them. Let him lead them out and bring them home. Then your people will not be like sheep with no shepherd."

Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

Note"Go out and come in" was an old way of talking. It meant leading people every day, even into battle. A shepherd is someone who takes care of sheep. Sheep get lost without one.

18The LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua, the son of Nun. God's Spirit is in him. Put your hand on him.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

NoteJoshua had helped Moses for many years. He was one of two men who trusted God when the others were afraid. "God's Spirit is in him" means God was with Joshua in a special way.

19Have him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the people. There, where everyone can see, give him his new job.

And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

NoteThis was done where everyone could watch. Then all the people knew who their new leader was.

20Give him some of your own power to lead. Then all the people of Israel will obey him.

And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.

NoteMoses was still the leader until he died. But now some of his power to lead was given to Joshua.

21Joshua will stand before Eleazar the priest. Eleazar will ask the LORD what Joshua should do. He will use the Urim to find out God's answer. When Eleazar gives the word, Joshua and all Israel will go out. When he gives the word, they will come back."

And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

NoteThe Urim was kept in the priest's special vest. The priest used it to ask God questions. It gave answers like yes or no. Nobody today knows just how it worked.

22Moses did what the LORD told him. He took Joshua and had him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the people.

And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:

23Moses put his hands on Joshua and gave him his new job. He did just what the LORD had said through him.

And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

NotePutting your hands on someone was like handing over a job. Everyone watching could see who was chosen.

1Moses went and spoke these words to all the people of Israel.

And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.

NoteIsrael was a big family of people. God had chosen them long ago. Moses was their leader. He had led them out of Egypt, where they were slaves.

2He said, "I am 120 years old today. I cannot lead you back and forth anymore. The LORD also told me I will not cross the Jordan River."

And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

NoteThe King James says Moses could no more "go out and come in." That was a way of saying he could not lead them anymore. The Jordan is a river. The people had to cross it to reach the new land God promised them.

3"The LORD your God will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy the nations there, and you will take their land. Joshua will lead you across, just as the LORD said."

The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.

NoteThe "nations" were the groups of people already living in that land. Joshua was Moses' helper. He would be the new leader.

4"The LORD will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og. They were kings of the Amorites. He destroyed them, and he did the same to their land."

And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.

NoteSihon and Og were kings the people had already fought and beaten. The Amorites were one of the groups living near the Jordan River. The people listening remembered those battles well.

5"The LORD will hand those nations over to you. Then you must do to them just what I commanded you."

And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.

6"Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God goes with you. He will never let you down. He will never leave you."

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

7Then Moses called Joshua. He spoke to him while all Israel watched. "Be strong and brave. You will go with these people into the land. Long ago the LORD promised this land to their fathers. You will help them take it as their own."

And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.

Note"Their fathers" means the grandfathers and great grandfathers from long ago. God made his promise to them many years before.

8"The LORD himself goes ahead of you. He will be with you. He will never let you down. He will never leave you. Do not be afraid. Do not give up hope."

And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

9So Moses wrote down this law. He gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi. They were the ones who carried the ark, the holy box that held God's agreement. He also gave it to all the leaders of Israel.

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.

Note"This law" means all of God's rules and teaching for his people. Priests were men whose job was helping people worship God. Levi was one of Israel's twelve family groups. Priests came from that group. The ark was a special box, covered in gold. It held the stone tablets with God's rules on them. "Covenant" means a promise between God and his people. Elders were the older men who led the people.

10Moses gave them this command. "Every seventh year is a special year. In that year people forgive what others owe them. During the Feast of Shelters that year, do this."

And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,

NoteEvery seventh year was special. If you owed money, you did not have to pay it back that year. The Feast of Shelters was a happy week each fall. Families slept in little huts made of leafy branches. It helped them remember camping in the desert long ago.

11"All Israel will come to meet with the LORD your God at the place he chooses. There you must read this law out loud so everyone hears it."

When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

NoteGod would pick one town as the special place to worship him. Everyone came there for the big feasts.

12"Gather all the people together. Bring the men, the women, and the children. Bring the visitors from other lands who live in your towns. Then they can listen and learn. They will honor the LORD your God and carefully obey every word of this law."

Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:

NoteMost people could not read. So the law was read out loud for everyone to hear.

13"Their children do not know this law yet. They will hear it and learn to honor the LORD your God. Do this as long as you live in the land across the Jordan."

And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

14The LORD said to Moses, "You will die soon. Call Joshua. Both of you come to the meeting tent. There I will give Joshua his new job." So Moses and Joshua went and stood at the tent.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.

NoteThe meeting tent was a special tent where people came to meet God. The King James calls it the "tabernacle." "Give him a charge" means to officially hand someone a job.

15The LORD appeared at the tent inside a tall cloud. The cloud stood over the doorway of the tent.

And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle.

NoteIn the desert, God led the people with a tall cloud in the daytime. Seeing that cloud meant God himself was there.

16The LORD said to Moses, "Soon you will die and rest with your family. Then these people will turn away from me. They will worship the gods of the land they are entering. They will leave me and break the agreement I made with them."

And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.

Note"Sleep with thy fathers" is a gentle way of saying Moses would die. He would be buried near his family. The King James also says the people would "go a whoring" after other gods. That is a picture of breaking a marriage promise. Worshiping other gods meant breaking their promise to God.

17"On that day I will be angry with them. I will leave them and turn my face away. They will be destroyed. Many troubles and hard times will come. Then they will say, 'These troubles came because our God is not with us.'"

Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?

NoteWhen a person turns their face away, they stop helping you. "Hide my face" means God would stop protecting them.

18"On that day I will surely turn my face away. I will do it because of all the wrong they have done. They have turned to other gods."

And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.

19"So write down this song for yourselves. Teach it to the people of Israel. Have them sing it out loud. Then the song will speak for me against them."

Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

NoteA witness is someone who tells what really happened. Most people could not read back then. But a song is easy to remember. So the song would remind them of God's words for years and years.

20"I will bring them into the land I promised their fathers. It is a rich land, full of milk and honey. They will eat all they want and grow rich. Then they will turn to other gods and serve them. They will turn against me and break our agreement."

For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

Note"Milk and honey" was a way of saying the land was rich. There was good grass for the cows and goats. There were flowers for the bees. The King James says the people would grow "fat." That meant they would have plenty and live in comfort.

21"Many troubles and hard times will come to them. Then this song will speak against them. Their children and grandchildren will still remember it. I already know what they are planning. I know it even now, before I bring them into the land I promised."

And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

NoteThe King James says the song would stay in the mouths of their "seed." "Seed" means their children and their children's children.

22So that same day Moses wrote this song down. He taught it to the people of Israel.

Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.

23Then the LORD gave Joshua son of Nun his job. He said, "Be strong and brave. You will bring the people of Israel into the land I promised them. And I will be with you."

And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.

NoteNun was Joshua's father. Back then people often told whose son you were. It helped everyone know which Joshua you meant.

24Moses kept writing the words of this law in a book. At last he finished all of it.

And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,

25Then Moses gave a command to the Levites. They were the ones who carried the ark of the LORD's agreement.

That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

NoteThe Levites were the family group who took care of holy things. Only they were allowed to carry the ark.

26"Take this book of the law. Put it beside the ark of the agreement of the LORD your God. It will stay there and speak against you."

Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

NoteBooks then were long rolls of paper called scrolls. Keeping the law next to the ark meant nobody could change it. If the people said, "We never heard this rule," the book was right there.

27"I know how stubborn you are. I know you refuse to obey. You have already turned against the LORD while I am alive. It will be even worse after I die."

For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?

NoteThe King James says the people had a "stiff neck." It is a picture of an ox that will not turn when the farmer guides it. It means being stubborn and refusing to listen.

28"Bring me all the leaders of your tribes and all your officers. I will speak these words so they can hear them. I will ask heaven and earth to be witnesses against them."

Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.

NoteOfficers were men who helped the leaders keep order. When people made an important promise, they brought witnesses to hear it. Moses asks the sky and the earth to be his witnesses. They would still be there long after everyone had died.

29"I know that after I die you will do very wrong things. You will leave the path I commanded you to follow. In the days ahead trouble will come to you, because you will do evil. The things you make will make the LORD angry."

For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

Note"The latter days" means a time far in the future. "The work of your hands" means statues people carved and then worshiped as gods.

30Then Moses said the words of this whole song out loud. All the people of Israel listened until he finished.

And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.

NoteThe King James word "congregation" means the whole crowd gathered together. Everyone was there to listen.