Old/New Testament
The Feast of Trumpets
29 “‘Have a ·holy meeting [sacred/solemn convocation] on the first day of the seventh month, and don’t work on that day. That is the day you blow the trumpets. 2 Bring these burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] as a smell pleasing to the Lord: one young bull, one ·male sheep [ram], and seven male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 3 With the bull give a ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [Lev. 2:1] of ·six quarts [L three-tenths of an ephah] of ·fine [choice] flour mixed with oil. With the ·male sheep [ram] offer ·four quarts [L two-tenths of an ephah], 4 and with each of the seven lambs offer ·two quarts [L one-tenth of an ephah]. 5 Offer one male goat for a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] to ·remove your sins so you will belong to God [make atonement for yourself]. 6 These offerings are in addition to the monthly [28:11–15] and daily burnt offerings [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17]. Their ·grain [L gift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings must be done as you have been told. These offerings are made by fire to the Lord, and their smell is pleasing to him.
The Day of Atonement
7 “‘Have a ·holy meeting [sacred/solemn convocation] on the tenth day of the seventh month [Lev. 16; 23:26–32]. On that day do not eat and do not work. 8 Bring these burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] as a smell pleasing to the Lord: one young bull, one ·male sheep [ram], and seven male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 9 With the bull give a ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [Lev. 2:1] of ·six quarts [L three-tenths of an ephah] of ·fine [choice] flour mixed with oil. With the ·male sheep [ram] it must be ·four quarts [L two-tenths of an ephah], 10 and with each of the seven lambs it must be ·two quarts [L one-tenth of an ephah]. 11 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3]. This will be in addition to the sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] which ·removes your sins [makes atonement for you], the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [Lev. 2:1], and the drink offerings.
The Feast of Shelters
12 “‘Have a ·holy meeting [sacred/solemn convocation] on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, and do not work on that day. Celebrate a festival to the Lord for seven days [Lev. 23:33–44]. 13 Bring these burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17], made by fire, as a smell pleasing to the Lord: thirteen young bulls, two ·male sheep [rams], and fourteen male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 14 With each of the thirteen bulls offer a ·grain [L gift; tribute] offering [Lev. 2:1] of ·six quarts [L three-tenths of an ephah] of ·fine [choice] flour mixed with oil. With each of the two ·male sheep [rams] it must be ·four quarts [L two-tenths of an ephah], 15 and with each of the fourteen lambs it must be ·two quarts [L one-tenth of an ephah]. 16 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3] in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
17 “‘On the second day of this festival give an offering of twelve bulls, two ·male sheep [rams], and fourteen male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 18 Bring the ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings for the bulls, sheep, and lambs, according to the number required. 19 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3], in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
20 “‘On the third day offer eleven bulls, two ·male sheep [rams], and fourteen male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 21 Bring the ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings for the bulls, sheep, and lambs, according to the number required. 22 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3], in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
23 “‘On the fourth day offer ten bulls, two ·male sheep [rams], and fourteen male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 24 Bring the ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings for the bulls, sheep, and lambs, according to the number required. 25 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3], in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
26 “‘On the fifth day offer nine bulls, two ·male sheep [rams], and fourteen male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 27 Bring the ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings for the bulls, sheep, and lambs, according to the number required. 28 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3], in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
29 “‘On the sixth day offer eight bulls, two ·male sheep [rams], and fourteen male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 30 Bring the ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings for the bulls, sheep, and lambs, according to the number required. 31 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3], in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
32 “‘On the seventh day offer seven bulls, two ·male sheep [rams], and fourteen male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 33 Bring the ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings for the bulls, sheep, and lambs, according to the number required. 34 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification] offering [Lev. 4:3], in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
35 “‘On the eighth day have a ·closing meeting [closing/festive assembly], and do not work on that day. 36 Bring an offering made by fire, a burnt offering [Lev. 1:1–17], as a smell pleasing to the Lord. Offer one bull, one ·male sheep [ram], and seven male lambs a year old. They must have ·nothing wrong with them [no blemish]. 37 Bring the ·grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings for the bull, the ·male sheep [ram], and the lambs, according to the number required. 38 Offer one male goat as a ·sin [or purification; Lev. 4:3] offering, in addition to the daily burnt offering [28:1–8; Lev. 1:1–17] with its grain [L gift; tribute; Lev. 2:1] and drink offerings.
39 “‘At your ·festivals [sacred/solemn convocations] you should bring these to the Lord: your burnt offerings [1:1–17], ·grain [L gift; tribute] offerings [Lev. 2:1], drink offerings and ·fellowship [or peace; well-being] offerings [Lev. 3:1]. These are in addition to other ·promised [votive] offerings and special gifts you want to give to the Lord.’”
40 Moses told the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] everything the Lord had commanded him.
Rules About Special Promises
30 Moses spoke with the leaders of the ·Israelite tribes [L tribes of the sons/T children of Israel]. He told them these commands from the Lord.
2 “If a man makes a ·promise [vow] to the Lord or ·says he will do something special [swears an oath to bind himself to an obligation], he must ·keep his promise [L not break his word]. He must do what he said [Deut. 23:21; Ps. 50:14; Eccl. 5:4–5; Matt. 5:33–37]. 3 If a young woman still living at ·home [L the house of her father] makes a ·promise [vow] to the Lord or ·pledges to do something special [binds herself to an obligation], 4 and if her father hears about the ·promise [vow] or ·pledge [obligation by which she has bound herself] and says nothing, ·she must do what she promised [L all her vows stand]. ·She must keep her pledge [L All her obligations to which she has bound herself will stand]. 5 But if her father hears about the ·promise [vow] or ·pledge [obligation by which she has bound herself] and ·does not allow it [disapproves], then the ·promise [vow] or ·pledge [obligation] does not ·have to be kept [L stand]. Her father ·would not allow it [disapproves], so the Lord will ·free her from her promise [L forgive her].
6 “If a woman ·makes a pledge [binds herself to an obligation] or speaks a ·careless [rash; thoughtless] ·promise [vow] and then gets married, 7 and if her husband hears about it and says nothing, ·she must keep her promise [L her vow stands] ·or the pledge she made [L and the obligation by which she bound herself will stand]. 8 But if her husband hears about it and ·does not allow it [disapproves], he cancels her ·pledge [vow] or the ·careless [rash; thoughtless] ·promise [vow] ·she made [by which she bound herself]. The Lord will ·free her from keeping it [forgive her].
9 “If a widow or divorced woman makes a ·promise [vow], ·she must do whatever she promised [L all by which she bound herself stands].
10 “If a woman makes a ·promise [vow] or ·pledge [L binds herself in an obligation] ·while she is married [L in the house of her husband], 11 and if her husband hears about it but says nothing and does not ·stop her [disapprove], ·she must keep her promise [all her vows stand] ·or pledge [L and all that to which she bound herself will stand]. 12 But if her husband hears about it and cancels it, ·she does not have to do what she said [L her vow and all that which she bound herself do not stand]. Her husband has canceled it, so the Lord will ·free her from it [forgive her]. 13 A woman’s husband may make her keep or cancel any ·promise [vow] or ·pledge [obligation] she has made to ·deny [mortify] herself. 14 If he says nothing to her about it for several days, ·she must keep her promises [L her vows stand]. If he hears about them and says nothing, ·she must keep her promises [L the obligations by which she bound herself will stand]. 15 But if he cancels them long after he heard about them, he ·is responsible if she breaks her promise [L will bear her guilt].”
16 These are ·commands [statutes; ordinances; requirements] that the Lord gave to Moses for husbands and wives, and for fathers with ·daughters living at home [L his daughters in her youth in the house of her father].
Israel Attacks the Midianites
31 The Lord spoke to Moses and said, 2 “·Pay back [Avenge] the Midianites for what they did to the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel; 25:6]; after that you will ·die [L be gathered to your people].”
3 So Moses said to the people, “·Get some men ready [Arm some men] for war. The Lord will use them to ·pay back [avenge himself against] the Midianites. 4 Send to war a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.” 5 So twelve thousand men ·got ready for war [were armed], out of the thousands of Israel a thousand men from each tribe. 6 Moses sent ·those men [L a thousand from each tribe] to war; Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest was with them. He took with him the ·holy things [or vessels of the Holy Place] and the trumpets for giving the alarm. 7 They fought the Midianites as the Lord had commanded Moses, and they killed every Midianite man. 8 Among those they killed were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, who were the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with a sword [Num. 22–24; Deut. 23:4–5; Josh. 13:22; 24:10; Neh. 13:2; 2 Pet. 2:15; Jude 11; Rev. 2:14].
9 The ·Israelites [L sons of Israel] captured the Midianite women and children, and they took all their flocks, herds, and goods. 10 They burned all the Midianite towns where they had settled and all their camps, 11 but they took all the ·people and animals and goods [L plunder and all the spoil, both people and animals]. 12 Then they brought the captives, the ·animals, and the goods [L spoil and the plunder] back to Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the ·Israelites [L community/assembly/congregation of the sons/T children of Israel]. Their camp was on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
13 Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the ·people [community; assembly; congregation] went outside the camp to meet them. 14 Moses was angry with the army officers, the commanders over a thousand men, and those over a hundred men, who returned from war.
15 He asked them, “Why did you let the women live? 16 They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice [Jude 11] and turned the ·Israelites [L community/assembly/congregation of Israel] from the Lord at Peor. Then a ·terrible sickness [plague] struck the Lord’s people [Num. 25]. 17 Kill all the Midianite boys, and kill all the Midianite women who have ·had sexual relations [L known a man by going to bed with him]. 18 But save for yourselves the girls who have not ·had sexual relations with a man [L known a man by going to bed with him].
19 “All you men who killed anyone or touched a dead body must stay outside the camp for seven days [19:11]. On the third and seventh days you and your captives must make yourselves clean [C in a ritual sense]. 20 You must clean all your clothes and anything made of leather, goat hair, or wood.”
21 Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone to war, “These are the ·teachings [L statutes/ordinances/requirements of the law/instruction] that the Lord gave to Moses: 22 Put any gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, or lead— 23 anything that will not burn—into the fire, and then it will be clean. But also purify those things with the cleansing water. Then they will be clean. If something cannot stand the fire, wash it with the water. 24 On the seventh day wash your clothes, and you will be clean. After that you may come into the camp.”
Dividing the Goods
25 The Lord said to Moses, 26 “You, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the ·family groups [clans of the community/assembly/congregation] should take a count of the ·goods [spoils], the men, and the animals that were taken. 27 Then divide ·those possessions [the spoil] between the soldiers who went to war and the ·rest of the people [community; assembly; congregation]. 28 From the soldiers who went to war, take a ·tax [tribute] for the Lord of one item out of every five hundred. This includes people, cattle, donkeys, or sheep. 29 Take it from the soldiers’ half, and give it to Eleazar the priest as the Lord’s ·share [offering]. 30 And from the ·people’s half [L half of the sons/T children of Israel], take one item out of every fifty. This includes people, cattle, donkeys, sheep, or other animals. Give that to the Levites, who take care of the Lord’s ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle].” 31 So Moses and Eleazar did as the Lord commanded Moses.
32 There remained from what the soldiers had taken 675,000 sheep, 33 72,000 cattle, 34 61,000 donkeys, 35 and 32,000 women who had not ·had sexual relations with a man [L known a man by going to bed with him]. 36 The soldiers who went to war got 337,500 sheep, 37 and they gave 675 of them to the Lord. 38 They got 36,000 cattle, and they gave 72 of them to the Lord. 39 They got 30,500 donkeys, and they gave 61 of them to the Lord. 40 They got 16,000 people, and they gave 32 of them to the Lord. 41 Moses gave the Lord’s ·share [tribute] to Eleazar the priest, as the Lord had commanded him.
42 Moses separated the ·people’s [L sons/T children of Israel’s] half from the soldiers’ half. 43 The people got 337,500 sheep, 44 36,000 cattle, 45 30,500 donkeys, 46 and 16,000 people. 47 From the ·people’s [L sons/T children of Israel’s] half Moses took one item out of every fifty for the Lord. This included the animals and the people. Then he gave them to the Levites, who took care of the Lord’s ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle]. This was what the Lord had commanded Moses.
48 Then the officers of the army, the commanders of a thousand men and commanders of a hundred men, came to Moses. 49 They told Moses, “We, your servants, have ·counted [taken a census of; L lifted the head of] our soldiers ·under our command [L in our hand], and not one of them is missing. 50 So we have brought the Lord a ·gift [offering] of the gold things that each of us found: arm bands, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces. These are to ·remove our sins so we will belong to [make atonement for ourselves before] the Lord.”
51 So Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, which had been made into all kinds of objects. 52 The commanders of a thousand men and the commanders of a hundred men gave the Lord the gold, and all of it together weighed about ·420 pounds [L 16,750 shekels]; 53 each soldier had taken ·something [plunder] for himself. 54 Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the commanders of a thousand men and the commanders of a hundred men. Then they put it in the Meeting Tent as a memorial before the Lord for the ·people [L sons; T children] of Israel.
9 Then Jesus said to the people, “I tell you the truth, some people standing here will not ·die [L taste death] before they see the kingdom of God ·come [arrive] with power.” [C “Seeing the kingdom of God” may refer to the Transfiguration that follows (9:1–8), Jesus’ resurrection, or the destruction of Jerusalem in ad 70.]
The Transfiguration on the Mountain(A)
2 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John [L and led them] up on a high mountain by themselves. ·While they watched [In their presence; In front of them], Jesus’ appearance was ·changed [transformed; T transfigured]. 3 His clothes became shining white, whiter than any ·person [launderer on earth] could ·make them [bleach them]. 4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared to them, talking with Jesus. [C God had given the Law through Moses, and Elijah was an important prophet (see 6:1); together they signify that Jesus fulfills the OT.]
5 Peter said to Jesus, “·Teacher [L Rabbi], it is good that we are here. Let us make three ·tents [shelters; shrines; tabernacles; Lev. 23:42]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” [C Perhaps Peter wanted to prolong their stay or to commemorate their visit.] 6 Peter did not know what to say, because he and the others were so frightened.
7 Then a cloud came and ·covered [overshadowed; Ex. 24:15] them, and a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my ·Son, whom I love [dearly loved Son; Ps. 2:7; Gen. 22:2; Mark 1:11]. Listen to him [Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:22]!”
8 Suddenly Peter, James, and John looked around, but they saw only Jesus there alone with them.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ·commanded [instructed] them not to tell anyone about what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10 So they ·obeyed Jesus [kept this statement/matter to themselves], but they discussed what he meant about rising from the dead.
11 Then they asked Jesus, “Why do the ·teachers of the law [scribes] say that Elijah must come first [Mal. 3:1; 4:5]?”
12 Jesus answered, “·They are right to say that Elijah must come first and [L Elijah is indeed coming, and he will] ·make everything the way it should be [restore/prepare everything]. But why does the Scripture say that the Son of Man will suffer much and ·that people will treat him as if he were nothing [be despised; be treated with contempt; be rejected; Is. 52:13—53:12]? 13 [L But] I tell you that Elijah has already come. And ·people [L they] did to him whatever they wanted to do, just as ·the Scriptures said it would happen [it is written about him].”
Jesus Heals a Sick Boy(B)
14 When Jesus, Peter, James, and John came back to the other ·followers [disciples], they saw a great crowd around them and the ·teachers of the law [scribes] arguing with them. 15 But as soon as the crowd saw Jesus, the people were ·surprised [amazed] and ran to welcome him.
16 Jesus asked, “What are you arguing about?”
17 A man [in the crowd] answered, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has an evil spirit in him that ·stops him from talking [makes him mute]. 18 When the spirit attacks him, it throws him on the ground. Then my son foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes ·very stiff [rigid]. I asked your ·followers [disciples] to ·force [drive; cast] the evil spirit out, but they couldn’t.”
19 Jesus answered, “You ·people have no faith [unbelieving/faithless generation]. How long must I stay with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So ·the followers [L they] brought him to Jesus. As soon as the evil spirit saw Jesus, it ·made the boy lose control of himself [threw the boy into convulsions], and he fell down and rolled on the ground, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening?”
The father answered, “Since ·he was very young [childhood]. 22 The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to ·kill [destroy] him. If you can do anything for him, please have ·pity [compassion] on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to the father, “You said, ‘If you can!’ All things are possible for the one who believes.”
24 Immediately the father cried out, “I do believe! Help ·me to believe more [me not to doubt; me overcome my unbelief; L my unbelief]!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he ·ordered [rebuked] the ·evil [defiling; L unclean] spirit, saying, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you to come out of this boy and never enter him again!”
26 The evil spirit screamed and ·caused the boy to fall on the ground again [convulsed him violently]. Then the spirit came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, and many people said, “He is dead!” 27 But Jesus took hold of the boy’s hand and helped him to stand up.
28 When Jesus went into the house, his ·followers [disciples] began asking him privately, “Why couldn’t we ·force [drive; cast] that evil spirit out?”
29 Jesus answered, “That kind of spirit can only be forced out by prayer.”[a]
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