Numbers 31
Vengeance on the Midianites 31 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Take vengeance on
the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”
3 So Moses said to the people, “Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites so
that they may carry out the LORD’s vengeance on them. 4 Send into battle a thousand men from each
of the tribes of Israel.” 5 So twelve thousand men armed for battle, a thousand from each tribe,
were supplied from the clans of Israe
l. 6 Moses sent them into battle, a thousand from each
tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from
the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling. 7 They fought against Midian, as the
LORD commanded Moses, and killed every man. 8 Among their victims were Evi, Rekem,
Zur, Hur and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the
sword. 9 The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite
herd
s, flocks and goods as plunder. 10 They burned all the towns where the Midianites had
settled, as well as all their camps. 11 They took all the plunder and spoils, including the
people and animals, 12 and brought the captives, spoils and plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest
and the Israelite assembly at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.
13 Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the
camp. 14 Moses was angr
y with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders
of hundreds—who returned from the battle. 15 “Have you allowed all the women to live?” he
asked them. 16 “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to
be unfaithful to the LORD in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the LORD’s people. 17 Now
kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, 18 but save for yourselves
every girl who has never slept with a man. 19
“Anyone who has killed someone or touched
someone who was killed must stay outside the camp seven days. On the third and seventh
days you must purify yourselves and your captives. 20 Purify every garment as well as
everything made of leather, goat hair or wood.” 21 Then Eleazar the priest said to
the soldiers who had gone into battle, “This is what is required by the law that the LORD
gave Moses: 22 Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead 23 and anything else that can withstand fire
must be
put through the fire, and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with the water
of cleansing. And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water. 24 On the seventh
day wash your clothes and you will be clean. Then you may come into the camp.”
Dividing the Spoils 25 The LORD said to Moses, 26 “You and Eleazar
the priest and the family heads of the community are to count all the people and animals that were
captured. 27 Divide the spoils equally between the soldier
s who took part in the battle and the rest
of the community. 28 From the soldiers who fought in the battle, set apart as tribute for the LORD
one out of every five hundred, whether people, cattle, donkeys or sheep. 29 Take this tribute
from their half share and give it to Eleazar the priest as the LORD’s part. 30 From the
Israelites’ half, select one out of every fifty, whether people, cattle, donkeys, sheep or
other animals. Give them to the Levites, who are responsible for the care of the
LORD’s tabernacle.” 31 So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.
32 The plunder remaining from the spoils that the soldiers took was 675,000 sheep, 33 72,000
cattle, 34 61,000 donkeys 35 and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.
36 The half share of those who fought in the battle was:
337,500 sheep, 37 of which the tribute for the LORD was 675;
38 36,000 cattle, of which the tribute for the LORD was 72;
39 30,500 donkeys, of which the tribute for the LORD was 61;
40 16,000 people, of whom the tribute for the LORD was 32.
41 Moses gave the tribute to Eleazar the priest as the LORD’s part, as the LORD commanded Moses.
42 The half belonging to the Israelites, which Moses set apart from that of the fighting
men— 43 the community’s half—was 337,500 sheep, 44 36,000 cattle, 45 30,500 donkeys 46
and 16,000 people. 47 From the Israelites’ half, Moses selected one out of every fifty people and
animals, as the LORD commanded him, and gave them to the Levites,
who were responsible
for the care of the LORD’s tabernacle. 48 Then the officers who were over the units
of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—went to Moses 49 and said
to him, “Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one is missing. 50
So we have brought as an offering to the LORD the gold articles each of us acquired—armlets,
bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.”
51 Moses an
d Eleazar the priest accepted from them the gold—all the crafted articles. 52 All
the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds that Moses and Eleazar
presented as a gift to the LORD weighed 16,750 shekels.[a] 53 Each soldier had taken plunder
for himself. 54 Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gold from the commanders
of thousands and commanders of hundreds and brought it into the tent of meeting as a
memorial for the Israelites before the LORD. Mark 14
Jesus A
nointed at Bethany 14 Now the Passover and the Festival of
Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers
of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not
during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon
the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She
broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 4 So
me of those present were saying
indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for
more than a year’s wages[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to
me. 7 The poor you will always have with you,[b] and you can help them any time you want. But
you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand
to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached
throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus
to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he
watched for an opportunity to hand him over. The Last Supper
12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to
sacrifice the Passover lamb,
Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and
make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling
them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him.
14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where
I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished
and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 The disciples left, w
ent into the
city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the
table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”
19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, “Surely you don’t mean me?”
20 “It is one of the Twelve,” he replied, “one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son
of Man will go just as it is written
about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It
would be better for him if he had not been born.” 22 While they were eating, Jesus took
bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples,
saying, “Take it; this is my body.” 23 Then he took a cup, and
when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 “This is my blood of the[c] covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.
25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink a
gain from the fruit of the vine until that day
when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung a hymn, they
went out to the Mount of Olives. Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’[d]
28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, toni
ght—before
the rooster crows twice[e] you yourself will disown me three times.”
31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never
disown you.” And all the others said the same. Gethsemane
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples,
“Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to
be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,”
he said to
them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground
and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba,[f] Father,” he said,
“everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter,
“are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that
you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing,
but the flesh is weak.”
39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again
found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough!
The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42
Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” Jesus Arrested
43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. Wit
h him was a crowd
armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him
and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and
kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing
near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said
Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to
capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me.
But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.
51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized
him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind. Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the
teacher
s of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the
courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.
55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus
so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely
against him, but their statements did not agree. 57 Then some stood up and gave this false
testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destro
y this temple made with human
hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even
then their testimony did not agree. 60 Then the high priest stood up before
them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these
men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitti
ng at the right hand of the Mighty
One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do
we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him,
struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.
Peter Disowns Jesus 66 While Peter was below in the courtyard,
one of the servant girls of th
e high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming
himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that
Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. 68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or
understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.[g]
69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This
fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near
said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are
a Galilean.”
71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.[h] Then Peter remembered
the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice[i] you will disown
me three times.” And he broke down and wept. Psalm 59[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of
David. A miktam.[b] When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.
1 Deliver me f
rom my enemies, O God; be my fortress against those who are attacking me.
2 Deliver me from evildoers and save me from those who are after my blood.
3 See how they lie in wait for me! Fierce men conspire against me
for no offense or sin of mine, LORD. 4 I have done no wrong, yet
they are ready to attack me. Arise to help me; look on my plight!
5 You, LORD God Almighty, you who are the God of Israel,
rouse yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to wicked traitors.[c]
6 They return at
evening, snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city. 7 See what they spew from their mouths—
the words from their lips are sharp as swords, and they think, “Who can hear us?”
8 But you laugh at them, LORD; you scoff at all those nations.
9 You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress,
10 my God on whom I can rely. God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
11 But do not kill them, Lord our shield,[d] or my people will forget.
In your might uproot
them and bring them down.
12 For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips,
let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter,
13 consume them in your wrath, consume them till they are no more.
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob.
14 They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city.
15 They wander about for food and howl if not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of you
r love;
for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
17 You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress,
my God on whom I can rely.
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