1
The tribes of Reuben and Gad had a lot of livestock. When they saw how suitable the land of Jazer and Gilead was for cattle,
2
they went to Moses, Eleazar, and the other leaders of the community and said,
3
"This region which the LORD has helped the Israelites occupy---the towns of Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sibmah, Nebo, and Beon---is good land for livestock, and we have so much livestock.
5
Please give us this land as our property, and do not make us cross the Jordan River and settle there."
6
Moses replied, "Do you want to stay here while the other Israelites go to war?
7
How dare you try to discourage the people of Israel from crossing the Jordan into the land which the LORD has given them?
8
That is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land.
9
They went as far as Eshcol Valley and saw the land, but when they returned, they discouraged the people from entering the land which the LORD had given them.
10
The LORD became angry that day and made a promise:
11
'I swear that because they did not remain loyal to me, none of the men twenty years old or older who came out of Egypt will enter the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.'
12
This included everyone, except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun; they remained loyal to the LORD.
13
The LORD became angry with the people and made them wander in the wilderness forty years until that whole generation that had displeased him was dead.
14
And now you have taken your ancestors' place, a new generation of sinful people ready to bring down the fierce anger of the LORD on Israel again.
15
If you people of Reuben and Gad refuse to follow him now, he will once again abandon all these people in the wilderness, and you will be responsible for their destruction."
16
They approached Moses and said, "First, allow us to build stone enclosures here for our sheep and fortified towns for our dependents.
17
Then we will be ready to go with the other Israelites into battle and lead the attack until we have settled them in the land that will be theirs. In the meantime, our dependents can live here in the fortified towns, safe from the people of this land.
18
We will not return to our homes until all the other Israelites have taken possession of the land assigned to them.
19
We will not take possession of any property among them on the other side of the Jordan, because we have received our share here east of the Jordan."
20
Moses answered, "If you really mean what you say, then here in the presence of the LORD get ready to go into battle.
21
All your fighting men are to cross the Jordan and under the command of the LORD they are to attack our enemies until the LORD defeats them
22
and takes possession of the land. After that, you may return, because you will have fulfilled your obligation to the LORD and to the other Israelites. Then the LORD will acknowledge that this land east of the Jordan is yours.
23
But if you do not keep your promise, I warn you that you will be sinning against the LORD. Make no mistake about it; you will be punished for your sin.
24
So build your towns and the enclosures for your sheep, but do what you have promised!"
25
The men of Gad and Reuben said, "Sir, we will do as you command.
26
Our wives and children and our cattle and sheep will remain here in the towns of Gilead.
27
But all of us are ready to go into battle under the LORD's command. We will cross the Jordan and fight, just as you have said."
28
So Moses gave these commands to Eleazar, Joshua, and the other leaders of Israel:
29
"If the men of Gad and Reuben cross the Jordan ready for battle at the LORD's command and if with their help you are able to conquer the land, then give them the land of Gilead as their property.
30
But if they do not cross the Jordan and go into battle with you, they are to receive their share of the property in the land of Canaan, as you do."
31
The men of Gad and Reuben answered, "Sir, we will do as the LORD has commanded.
32
Under his command we will cross into the land of Canaan and go into battle, so that we can retain our property here east of the Jordan."
33
So Moses assigned to the tribes of Gad and Reuben and to half the tribe of Manasseh all the territory of King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan, including the towns and the country around them.
34
The tribe of Gad rebuilt the fortified towns of Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,
35
Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,
36
Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran.
37
The tribe of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,
38
Nebo, Baal Meon (this name was changed), and Sibmah. They gave new names to the towns they rebuilt.
39
The clan of Machir son of Manasseh invaded the land of Gilead, occupied it, and drove out the Amorites who were there.
40
So Moses gave Gilead to the clan of Machir, and they lived there.
41
Jair, of the tribe of Manasseh, attacked and captured some villages and named them "Villages of Jair."
42
Nobah attacked and captured Kenath and its villages, and he renamed it Nobah, after himself.
1
The following account gives the names of the places where the Israelites set up camp after they left Egypt in their tribes under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
2
At the command of t for what they did to the peopleme of the place each time they set up camp.
3
The people of Israel left Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month of the year, the day after the first Passover. Under the LORD's protection they left the city of Rameses in full view of the Egyptians,
4
who were burying the first-born sons that the LORD had killed. By doing this, the LORD showed that he was more powerful than the gods of Egypt.
5
The people of Israel left Rameses and set up camp at Sukkoth.
6
Their next camp was at Etham on the edge of the desert.
7
From there they turned back to Pi Hahiroth, east of Baal Zephon, and camped near Migdol.
8
They left Pi Hahiroth and passed through the Red Sea into the desert of Shur; after a three days' march they camped at Marah.
9
From there they went to Elim, where they camped, because there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees there.
10
They left Elim and camped near the Gulf of Suez.
11
Their next camp was in the desert of Sin.
12
Then they camped at Dophkah,
13
and after that at Alush.
14
Next was Rephidim, where there was no water for them to drink.
15
From Rephidim to Mount Hor they set up camp at the following places: the Sinai Desert, Kibroth Hattaavah (or "Graves of Craving"), Hazeroth, Rithmah, Rimmon Perez, Libnah, Rissah, Kehelathah, Mount Shepher, Haradah, Makheloth, Tahath, Terah, Mithkah, Hashmonah, Moseroth, Bene Jaakan, Hor Haggidgad, Jotbathah, Abronah, Eziongeber, the wilderness of Zin (that is, Kadesh), and Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom.
38
At the command of the LORD, Aaron the priest climbed Mount Hor. At the age of 123 he died there on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year after the Israelites had left Egypt.
40
The king of Arad in southern Canaan heard that the Israelites were coming.
41
From Mount Hor to the plains of Moab the Israelites set up camp at the following places: Zalmonah, Punon, Oboth, the ruins of Abarim in the territory of Moab, Dibon Gad, Almon Diblathaim, the Abarim Mountains near Mount Nebo, and in the plains of Moab across the Jordan River from Jericho, between Beth Jeshimoth and Acacia Valley.
50
There in the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho the LORD gave Moses
51
the following instructions for Israel: "When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,
52
you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land. Destroy all their stone and metal idols and all their places of worship.
53
Occupy the land and settle in it, because I am giving it to you.
54
Divide the land among the various tribes and clans by drawing lots, giving a large piece of property to a large clan and a small one to a small clan.
55
But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those that are left will be as troublesome as splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will fight against you.
56
If you do not drive them out, I will destroy you, as I planned to destroy them."
1
Then Jesus left that place, went to the province of Judea, and crossed the Jordan River. Crowds came flocking to him again, and he taught them, as he always did.
2
Some Pharisees came to him and tried to trap him. "Tell us," they asked, "does our Law allow a man to divorce his wife?"
3
Jesus answered with a question, "What law did Moses give you?"
4
Their answer was, "Moses gave permission for a man to write a divorce notice and send his wife away."
5
Jesus said to them, "Moses wrote this law for you because you are so hard to teach.
6
But in the beginning, at the time of creation, 'God made them male and female,' as the scripture says.
7
'And for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife,
8
and the two will become one.' So they are no longer two, but one.
9
No human being must separate, then, what God has joined together."
10
When they went back into the house, the disciples asked Jesus about this matter.
11
He said to them, "A man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against his wife.
12
In the same way, a woman who divorces her husband and marries another man commits adultery."
13
Some people brought children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples scolded the people.
14
When Jesus noticed this, he was angry and said to his disciples, "Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
15
I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."
16
Then he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on each of them, and blessed them.
17
As Jesus was starting on his way again, a man ran up, knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?"
18
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good except God alone.
19
You know the commandments: 'Do not commit murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not accuse anyone falsely; do not cheat; respect your father and your mother.' "
20
"Teacher," the man said, "ever since I was young, I have obeyed all these commandments."
21
Jesus looked straight at him with love and said, "You need only one thing. Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me."
22
When the man heard this, gloom spread over his face, and he went away sad, because he was very rich.
23
Jesus looked around at his disciples and said to them, "How hard it will be for rich people to enter the Kingdom of God!"
24
The disciples were shocked at these words, but Jesus went on to say, "My children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God!
25
It is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle."
26
At this the disciples were completely amazed and asked one another, "Who, then, can be saved?"
27
Jesus looked straight at them and answered, "This is impossible for human beings but not for God; everything is possible for God."
28
Then Peter spoke up, "Look, we have left everything and followed you."
29
"Yes," Jesus said to them, "and I tell you that those who leave home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and for the gospel,
30
will receive much more in this present age. They will receive a hundred times more houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields---and persecutions as well; and in the age to come they will receive eternal life.
31
But many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first."
32
Jesus and his disciples were now on the road going up to Jerusalem. Jesus was going ahead of the disciples, who were filled with alarm; the people who followed behind were afraid. Once again Jesus took the twelve disciples aside and spoke of the things that were going to happen to him.
33
"Listen," he told them, "we are going up to Jerusalem where the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law. They will condemn him to death and then hand him over to the Gentiles,
34
who will make fun of him, spit on him, whip him, and kill him; but three days later he will rise to life."
35
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus. "Teacher," they said, "there is something we want you to do for us."
36
"What is it?" Jesus asked them.
37
They answered, "When you sit on your throne in your glorious Kingdom, we want you to let us sit with you, one at your right and one at your left."
38
Jesus said to them, "You don't know what you are asking for. Can you drink the cup of suffering that I must drink? Can you be baptized in the way I must be baptized?"
39
"We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup I must drink and be baptized in the way I must be baptized.
40
But I do not have the right to choose who will sit at my right and my left. It is God who will give these places to those for whom he has prepared them."
41
When the other ten disciples heard about it, they became angry with James and John.
42
So Jesus called them all together to him and said, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the heathen have power over them, and the leaders have complete authority.
43
This, however, is not the way it is among you. If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of the rest;
44
and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of all.
45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people."
46
They came to Jericho, and as Jesus was leaving with his disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus son of Timaeus was sitting by the road.
47
When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!"
48
Many of the people scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
49
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man. "Cheer up!" they said. "Get up, he is calling you."
50
So he threw off his cloak, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51
"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. "Teacher," the blind man answered, "I want to see again."
52
"Go," Jesus told him, "your faith has made you well." At once he was able to see and followed Jesus on the road.
