So Moses led them out of Egypt. He did wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for 40 years in the desert.

这人领百姓出来，在埃及，在红海，在旷野，四十年间行了奇事神迹。

这人领以色列人出来，在埃及地，在红海，在旷野的四十年间行了奇事神迹。

这人领以色列人出来，在埃及地，在红海，在旷野的四十年间行了奇事神迹。

摩西带领以色列人出埃及，过红海，越旷野，四十年间行了许多神迹奇事。

这人领他们出来，并且在埃及地、红海和旷野，行奇事神迹四十年。

这个人带领以色列子民出来，在埃及地、在红海，并且在旷野的四十年间，行了奇事和神迹。

這人領百姓出來，在埃及，在紅海，在曠野，四十年間行了奇事神蹟。

這人領以色列人出來，在埃及地，在紅海，在曠野的四十年間行了奇事神蹟。

這人領以色列人出來，在埃及地，在紅海，在曠野的四十年間行了奇事神蹟。

摩西帶領以色列人出埃及，過紅海，越曠野，四十年間行了許多神蹟奇事。

這人領他們出來，並且在埃及地、紅海和曠野，行奇事神蹟四十年。

是這個人領族民出來，在埃及、在紅海、在野地、行了奇事神迹四十年。

這個人帶領以色列子民出來，在埃及地、在紅海，並且在曠野的四十年間，行了奇事和神蹟。

彼率民出、行奇事異蹟於埃及紅海、曠野、四十年、

率民出其地、行奇事異跡於埃及、紅海、曠野、四十年、○

彼率民出、行異跡奇事、在伊及、在紅海、在曠野、歷四十年、

率眾而出於埃及、紅海與曠野之中、廣行靈異凡四十年者、即此摩西也。

He led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the wilderness.

This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.

And by means of many wonders and miraculous signs, he led them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and through the wilderness for forty years.

This man led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.

This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.

He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

This man led them forth, having wrought wonders and signs in Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

This man led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness 40 years.

He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

This man led them out, performing wonders and miraculous signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.

This man led them out, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.

Then all the Lord’ s people marched out of Egypt like an army. That happened at the end of the 430 years, to the exact day.

Then Moses reached out his hand over the Red Sea. All that night the Lord pushed the sea back with a strong east wind. He turned the sea into dry land. The waters were divided.

Then the Lord said to Moses,“ Leave this place. You and the people you brought up out of Egypt must leave it. Go up to the land I promised to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I said to them,‘ I will give it to your children after you.’

Then the Lord said to Moses,“ I have made you like God to Pharaoh. And your brother Aaron will be like a prophet to you.You must say everything I command you to say. Then your brother Aaron must tell Pharaoh to let the people of Israel leave his country.But I will make Pharaoh stubborn. I will multiply the signs and amazing things I will do in Egypt.In spite of that, he will not listen to you. So I will use my powerful hand against Egypt. When I judge them with mighty acts, I will bring my people Israel out like an army on the march.Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord. I will reach out my powerful hand against them. I will bring the people of Israel out of Egypt.”Moses and Aaron did exactly as the Lord had commanded them.Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83 when they spoke to Pharaoh.The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron.He said,“ Pharaoh will say to you,‘ Do a miracle.’ When he does, speak to Aaron. Tell him,‘ Take your walking stick and throw it down in front of Pharaoh.’ It will turn into a snake.”So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They did exactly as the Lord had commanded them. Aaron threw the stick down in front of Pharaoh and his officials. It turned into a snake.Then Pharaoh sent for wise men and people who do evil magic. By doing their magic tricks, the Egyptian magicians did the same things Aaron had done.Each one threw down his walking stick. Each stick turned into a snake. But Aaron’s walking stick swallowed theirs up.In spite of that, Pharaoh became stubborn. He wouldn’t listen to them, just as the Lord had said.Then the Lord said to Moses,“ Pharaoh is very stubborn. He refuses to let the people go.

So Moses reached out his hand over the sea. At sunrise the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians tried to run away from the sea. But the Lord swept them into it.The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen. It covered the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the people of Israel into the sea. Not one of the Egyptians was left.But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground. There was a wall of water on their right side and on their left.

The Lord gave them the power to do signs among the Egyptians. They did his wonders in the land of Ham.The Lord sent darkness over the land. He did it because the Egyptians had refused to obey his words.He turned their rivers and streams into blood. He caused the fish in them to die.Their land was covered with frogs. Frogs even went into the bedrooms of the rulers.The Lord spoke, and large numbers of flies came. Gnats filled the whole country.He turned their rain into hail. Lightning flashed all through their land.He destroyed their vines and fig trees. He broke down the trees in Egypt.He spoke, and the locusts came. There were so many of them they couldn’t be counted.They ate up every green thing in the land. They ate up what the land produced.Then he killed the oldest son of every family in Egypt. He struck down the oldest of all their sons.

The Israelites ate manna for 40 years. They ate it until they came to a land where people were living. They ate it until they reached the border of Canaan.

They made for themselves a metal statue of a god that looked like a calf. They said to one another,‘ Here is your god. He brought you up out of Egypt.’ And they did evil things that dishonored you. But you still didn’t desert them.“ Because you loved them so much, you didn’t leave them in the desert. During the day the pillar of cloud didn’t stop guiding them on their path. At night the pillar of fire didn’t stop shining on the way you wanted them to go.You gave them your good Spirit to teach them. You didn’t hold back your manna from their mouths. And you gave them water when they were thirsty.For 40 years you took good care of them in the desert. They had everything they needed. Their clothes didn’t wear out. And their feet didn’t swell up.“ You gave them kingdoms and nations. You even gave them lands far away. They took over the country of Sihon. He was the king of Heshbon. They also took over the country of Og. He was the king of Bashan.

He did miracles right in front of their people who lived long ago. At that time they were living in Egypt, in the area of Zoan.God parted the Red Sea and led them through it. He made the water stand up like a wall.He guided them with the cloud during the day. He led them with the light of a fire all night long.He broke the rocks open in the desert. He gave them as much water as there is in the oceans.He brought streams out of a rocky cliff. He made water flow down like rivers.But they continued to sin against him. In the desert they refused to obey the Most High God.They were stubborn and tested God. They ordered him to give them the food they wanted.They spoke against God. They said,“ Can God really put food on a table in the desert?It is true that he struck the rock, and streams of water poured out. Huge amounts of water flowed down. But can he also give us bread? Can he supply meat for his people?”When the Lord heard what they said, he was very angry. His anger broke out like fire against the people of Jacob. He became very angry with Israel.That was because they didn’t believe in God. They didn’t trust in his power to save them.But he gave a command to the skies above. He opened the doors of the heavens.He rained down manna for the people to eat. He gave them the grain of heaven.Mere human beings ate the bread of angels. He sent them all the food they could eat.He made the east wind blow from the heavens. By his power he caused the south wind to blow.He rained down meat on them like dust. He sent them birds like sand on the seashore.He made the birds come down inside their camp. The birds fell all around their tents.People ate until they couldn’t eat any more. He gave them what they had wanted.But even before they had finished eating, God acted. He did it while the food was still in their mouths.His anger rose up against them. He put to death the strongest among them. He struck down Israel’s young men.But even after all that, they kept on sinning. Even after the wonderful things he had done, they still didn’t believe.So he brought their days to an end like a puff of smoke. He ended their years with terror.

It will not be like the covenant I made with their people of long ago. That was when I took them by the hand. I led them out of Egypt. My new covenant will be different because they didn’t remain faithful to my old covenant. So I turned away from them, announces the Lord.

Your clothes didn’t wear out during these 40 years. Your feet didn’t swell.

They didn’t remember his power. They forgot the day he set them free from those who had treated them so badly.They forgot how he had shown them his signs in Egypt. They forgot his miracles in the area of Zoan.He turned the river of Egypt into blood. The people of Egypt couldn’t drink water from their streams.He sent large numbers of flies that bit them. He sent frogs that destroyed their land.He gave their crops to the grasshoppers. He gave their food to the locusts.He destroyed their vines with hail. He destroyed their fig trees with sleet.He killed their cattle with hail. Their livestock were struck by lightning.Because he was so angry with Egypt, he caused them to have great trouble. In his great anger he sent destroying angels against them.God prepared a path for his anger. He didn’t spare their lives. He gave them over to the plague.He killed the oldest son of each family in Egypt. He struck down the oldest son in every house in the land of Ham.

The ground opened up and swallowed Dathan. It buried Abiram and his followers.Fire blazed among all of them. Flames destroyed those evil people.

The whole community of Israel started out from Elim. They came to the Desert of Sin. It was between Elim and Sinai. They arrived there on the 15th day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.In the desert the whole community told Moses and Aaron they weren’t happy with them.The Israelites said to them,“ We wish the Lord had put us to death in Egypt. There we sat around pots of meat. We ate all the food we wanted. But you have brought us out into this desert. You must want this entire community to die of hunger.”Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said,“ I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people must go out each day. Have them gather enough bread for that day. Here is how I will test them. I will see if they will follow my directions.On the sixth day they must prepare what they bring in. On that day they must gather twice as much as on the other days.”So Moses and Aaron spoke to all the people of Israel. They said,“ In the evening you will know that the Lord brought you out of Egypt.And in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord. He has heard you say you aren’t happy with him. Who are we? Why are you telling us you aren’t happy with us?”Moses also said,“ You will know that the Lord has heard you speak against him. He will give you meat to eat in the evening. He’ll give you all the bread you want in the morning. But who are we? You aren’t speaking against us. You are speaking against the Lord.”Then Moses told Aaron,“ Talk to the whole community of Israel. Say to them,‘ Come to the Lord. He has heard you speak against him.’ ”While Aaron was talking to the whole community of Israel, they looked toward the desert. There was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud!The Lord said to Moses,“ I have heard the people of Israel talking about how unhappy they are. Tell them,‘ When the sun goes down, you will eat meat. In the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’ ”That evening quail came and covered the camp. In the morning the ground around the camp was covered with dew.When the dew was gone, thin flakes appeared on the desert floor. They looked like frost on the ground.The people of Israel saw the flakes. They asked each other,“ What’s that?” They didn’t know what it was. Moses said to them,“ It’s the bread the Lord has given you to eat.Here is what the Lord has commanded. He has said,‘ Everyone should gather as much as they need. Take three pounds for each person who lives in your tent.’ ”The people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, and some gathered a little.

That night all the members of the community raised their voices. They wept out loud.The Israelites spoke against Moses and Aaron. The whole community said to them,“ We wish we had died in Egypt or even in this desert.Why is the Lord bringing us to this land? We’re going to be killed by swords. Our enemies will capture our wives and children. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?”They said to one another,“ We should choose another leader. We should go back to Egypt.”Then Moses and Aaron fell with their faces to the ground. They did it in front of the whole community of Israel gathered there.Joshua, the son of Nun, tore his clothes. So did Caleb, the son of Jephunneh. Joshua and Caleb were two of the men who had checked out the land.They spoke to the whole community of Israel. They said,“ We passed through the land and checked it out. It’s very good.If the Lord is pleased with us, he’ll lead us into that land. It’s a land that has plenty of milk and honey. He’ll give it to us.But don’t refuse to obey him. And don’t be afraid of the people of the land. We will swallow them up. The Lord is with us. So nothing can save them. Don’t be afraid of them.”But all the people talked about killing Joshua and Caleb by throwing stones at them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting. All the Israelites saw it.The Lord said to Moses,“ How long will these people not respect me? How long will they refuse to believe in me? They refuse even though I have done many signs among them.So I will strike them down with a plague. I will destroy them. But I will make you into a greater and stronger nation than they are.”Moses said to the Lord,“ Then the Egyptians will hear about it. You used your power to bring these people up from among them.And the Egyptians will tell the people who live in Canaan about it. Lord, they have already heard a lot about you. They’ve heard that you are with these people. They’ve heard that you have been seen face to face. They’ve been told that your cloud stays over them. They’ve heard that you go in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day. They’ve been told that you go in front of them in a pillar of fire at night.Suppose you put all these people to death and leave none alive. Then the nations who have heard these things about you will talk. They’ll say,‘ The Lord promised to give these people the land of Canaan. But he wasn’t able to bring them into it. So he killed them in the desert.’“ Now, Lord, show your strength. You have said,‘ I am the Lord. I am slow to get angry. I am full of love. I forgive those who sin. I forgive those who refuse to obey. But I do not let guilty people go without punishing them. I cause the sin of the parents to affect their children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren.’Lord, your love is great. So forgive the sin of these people. Forgive them just as you have done from the time they left Egypt until now.”The Lord replied,“ I have forgiven them, just as you asked.You can be sure that I live. You can be just as sure that my glory fills the whole earth.And here is what you can be just as sure of. Not one of these people will see the land I promised to give them. They have seen my glory. They have seen the signs I did in Egypt. And they have seen what I did in the desert. But they did not obey me. And they have tested me ten times.So not even one of them will ever see the land I promised to give to their people of long ago. The person who has not respected me will never see it.But my servant Caleb has a different spirit. He follows me with his whole heart. So I will bring him into the land he went to. And his children after him will receive land there.The Amalekites and the Canaanites are living in the valleys. So turn back tomorrow. Start out toward the desert. Go along the way that leads to the Red Sea.”The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,“ How long will this evil community speak against me? I have heard these Israelites talk about how unhappy they are.So tell them,‘ Here is what I am announcing. I am the Lord. You can be sure that I live. And here is what you can be just as sure of. I will do to you the very thing that I heard you say.You will die in this desert. Every one of you 20 years old or more will die. Every one of you who was counted in the list of the people will die. Every one of you who has spoken out against me will be wiped out.I lifted up my hand and promised to make this land your home. But now not all of you will enter the land. Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, will enter it. So will Joshua, the son of Nun. They are the only ones who will enter the land.You have said that your enemies would capture your children. But I will bring your children in to enjoy the land you have turned your backs on.As for you, you will die in the desert.Your children will be shepherds here for 40 years. They will suffer because you were not faithful. They will suffer until the last of your bodies lies here in the desert.For 40 years you will suffer for your sins. That is one year for each of the 40 days you checked out the land. You will know what it is like to have me against you.’I, the Lord, have spoken. I will surely do these things to this entire evil community of Israel. They have joined together against me. They will meet their end in this desert. They will die here.”So the Lord struck down the men Moses had sent to check out the land. They had returned and had spread a bad report about the land. And that had made the whole community speak out against Moses.Those men were to blame for spreading the bad report. So the Lord struck them down. They died of a plague.Only two of the men who went to check out the land remained alive. One of them was Joshua, the son of Nun. The other was Caleb, the son of Jephunneh.Moses reported to all the Israelites what the Lord had said. And they became very sad.Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country.“ We have sinned,” they said.“ Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised to give us.”But Moses said,“ Why aren’t you obeying the Lord’ s command? You won’t succeed.So don’t go up. The Lord isn’t with you. Your enemies will win the battle over you.The Amalekites and the Canaanites will meet you on the field of battle. You have turned away from the Lord. So he won’t be with you. And you will be killed by swords.”But they wouldn’t listen. They still went up toward the highest point in the hill country. They went up even though Moses didn’t move from the camp. They went even though the ark of the Lord’ s covenant didn’t move from the camp.Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down. They attacked the Israelites. They won the battle over them. They chased the Israelites all the way to Hormah.

Korah was the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath. Kohath was the son of Levi. Korah and certain men from the tribe of Reuben turned against Moses. The men from Reuben were Dathan, Abiram and On. Dathan and Abiram were the sons of Eliab. On was the son of Peleth.All those men rose up against Moses. And 250 men of Israel joined them. All of them were known as leaders in the community. They had been appointed as members of the ruling body.They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron. They said to Moses and Aaron,“ You have gone too far! The whole community is holy. Every one in it is holy. And the Lord is with them. So why do you put yourselves above the Lord’ s people?”When Moses heard what they said, he fell with his face to the ground.Then he spoke to Korah and all his followers. He said,“ In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him. He will show who is holy. He’ll bring that person near him. He’ll bring the man he chooses near him.Korah, here’s what you and all your followers must do. Get some shallow cups for burning incense.Tomorrow put burning coals and incense in them. Offer it to the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!”Moses also said to Korah,“ Listen, you Levites!The God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the community of Israel. He has brought you near him to work at the Lord’ s holy tent. He has given you to the people so that you can serve them. Isn’t all that enough for you?He has already brought you and all the other Levites near him. But now you want to be priests too.You and all your followers have joined together against the Lord. Why are you telling Aaron you aren’t happy with him?”Then Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said,“ We won’t come!You have brought us up out of a land that has plenty of milk and honey. You have brought us here to kill us in this desert. Isn’t that enough? Now do you also want to act as if you were ruling over us?Besides, you haven’t brought us into a land that has plenty of milk and honey. You haven’t given us fields and vineyards of our own. Do you want to treat these men like slaves? No! We won’t come!”Then Moses became very angry. He said to the Lord,“ Don’t accept their offering. I haven’t taken even a donkey from them. In fact, I haven’t done anything wrong to any of them.”Moses said to Korah,“ You and all your followers must stand in front of the Lord tomorrow. You must appear there along with Aaron.Each man must get his shallow cup. He must put incense in it. There will be a total of 250 incense cups. Each man must bring his cup to the Lord. You and Aaron must also bring your cups.”

But he saved them for the honor of his name. He did it to make his mighty power known.He ordered the Red Sea to dry up, and it did. He led his people through it as if it were a desert.He saved them from the power of their enemies. He set them free from their control.The waters covered their enemies. Not one of them escaped alive.

In the first month the whole community of Israel arrived at the Desert of Zin. They stayed at Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.The people didn’t have any water. So they gathered together to oppose Moses and Aaron.They argued with Moses. They said,“ We wish we had died when our people fell dead in front of the Lord.Why did you bring the Lord’ s people into this desert? We and our livestock will die here.Why did you bring us up out of Egypt? Why did you bring us to this terrible place? It doesn’t have any grain or figs. It doesn’t have any grapes or pomegranates. There isn’t even any water for us to drink!”Moses and Aaron left the people. They went to the entrance to the tent of meeting. There they fell with their faces to the ground. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to them.The Lord said to Moses,“ Get your walking stick. You and your brother Aaron gather the people together. Then speak to that rock while everyone is watching. It will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community. Then they and their livestock can drink it.”So Moses took the walking stick from the tent. He did just as the Lord had commanded him.He and Aaron gathered the people together in front of the rock. Moses said to them,“ Listen, you who refuse to obey! Do we have to bring water out of this rock for you?”Then Moses raised his arm. He hit the rock twice with his walking stick. Water poured out. And the people and their livestock drank it.But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said,“ You did not trust in me enough to honor me. You did not honor me as the holy God in front of the Israelites. So you will not bring this community into the land I am giving them.”Those were the waters of Meribah. That’s where the Israelites argued with the Lord. And that’s where he was proven to be holy among them.Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. The messengers said,“ The nation of Israel is your brother. They say,‘ You know about all the hard times we’ve had.Long ago our people went down into Egypt. We lived there for many years. The Egyptians treated us and our people badly.But we cried out to the Lord. He heard our cry. He sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt.“‘ Now here we are at the town of Kadesh. It’s on the edge of your territory.Please let us pass through your country. We won’t go through any field or vineyard. We won’t drink water from any well. We’ll travel along the King’s Highway. We won’t turn to the right or the left. We’ll just go straight through your territory.’ ”But the people of Edom answered,“ We won’t let you pass through here. If you try to, we’ll march out against you. We’ll attack you with our swords.”The Israelites replied,“ We’ll go along the main road. We and our livestock won’t drink any of your water. If we do, we’ll pay for it. We only want to walk through your country. That’s all we ask.”Again the people of Edom answered,“ We won’t let you pass through here.” Then the people of Edom marched out against them. They came with a large and powerful army.Edom refused to let Israel go through their territory. So Israel turned away from them.

The Lord spread out a cloud to cover his people. He gave them a fire to light up the night.They asked for meat, and he brought them quail. He fed them well with manna, the bread of heaven.He broke open a rock, and streams of water poured out. They flowed like a river in the desert.He remembered the holy promise he had made to his servant Abraham.His chosen people shouted for joy as he brought them out of Egypt.He gave them the lands of other nations. He let them take over what others had worked for.He did it so they might obey his rules and follow his laws. Praise the Lord.

You heard the voice of God speaking out of fire. And you lived! Has that happened to any other people?Has any god ever tried to take one nation out of another to be his own? Has any god done it by testing his people? Has any god done it with signs and amazing deeds or with war? Has any god reached out his mighty hand and powerful arm? Or has any god shown his people his great and wonderful acts? The Lord your God did all those things for you in Egypt. With your very own eyes you saw him do them.The Lord showed you those things so that you might know he is God. There is no other God except him.From heaven he made you hear his voice. He wanted to teach you. On earth he showed you his great fire. You heard his words coming out of the fire.He loved your people of long ago. He chose their children after them. So he brought you out of Egypt. He used his great strength to do it.

For 40 years I was angry with them. I said,‘ Their hearts are always going astray. They do not know how I want them to live.’

He put up with their behavior for about 40 years in the desert.

But God turned away from them. He let them go on worshiping the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets. There it says,“‘ People of Israel, did you bring me sacrifices and offerings for 40 years in the desert?

By day you led the Israelites with a pillar of cloud. At night you led them with a pillar of fire. It gave them light to show them the way you wanted them to go.“ You came down on Mount Sinai. From heaven you spoke to our people. You gave them rules and laws. Those laws are right and fair. You gave them orders and commands that are good.You taught them about your holy Sabbath day. You gave them commands, orders and laws. You did it through your servant Moses.When the people were hungry, you gave them bread from heaven. When they were thirsty, you brought them water out of a rock. You told them to go into the land of Canaan. You told them to take it as their own. It was the land you had promised to give them.

This very day I will bring fear and terror on all the nations because of you. They will hear about you. They will tremble with fear. Pain and suffering will grip them because of you.”I sent messengers from the Desert of Kedemoth. I told them to go to Sihon, the king of Heshbon. They offered him peace. They said,“ Let us pass through your country. We’ll stay on the main road. We won’t turn off it to one side or the other.We’ll pay you the right amount of silver for food to eat and water to drink. Just let us walk through your country.The people of Esau, who live in Seir, allowed us to do that. The people of Moab, who live in Ar, also allowed us to do it. So let us walk through until we go across the Jordan River. Then we’ll be able to go into the land the Lord our God is giving us.”But Sihon, the king of Heshbon, refused to let us walk through. The Lord your God had made him stubborn in his heart and spirit. The Lord wanted to hand him over to you. And that’s exactly what he has done.The Lord said to me,“ I have begun to hand Sihon and his country over to you. So begin the battle to take his land as your own.”Sihon and his whole army came out to fight against us at Jahaz.But the Lord our God handed him over to us. We struck him down together with his sons and his whole army.At that time we took all his towns. We completely destroyed them. We killed all the men, women and children. We didn’t leave any of them alive.But we took for ourselves the livestock and everything else from the towns we had captured.Not a single town was too strong for us. That includes all the towns from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon River valley all the way to Gilead. It also includes the town in the valley. The Lord our God gave us all of them.And you obeyed the Lord’ s command. You didn’t go near any part of the land of the Ammonites. That includes the land along the Jabbok River. It also includes the land around the towns in the hills.

The people weren’t happy about the hard times they were having. The Lord heard what they were saying. It made him very angry. Then the Lord sent fire on them. It blazed out among the people. It burned up some of the outer edges of the camp.The people cried out to Moses. Then he prayed to the Lord. And the fire died down.So that place was named Taberah. That’s because fire from the Lord had blazed out among them there.Some people with them began to wish for other food. Again the Israelites began to cry out. They said,“ We wish we had meat to eat.We remember the fish we ate in Egypt. It didn’t cost us anything. We also remember the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.But now we’ve lost all interest in eating. We never see anything but this manna!”The manna was like coriander seeds. It looked like sap from a tree.The people went around gathering it. Then they ground it up in a small mill they held in their hands. Or they crushed it in a stone bowl. They cooked it in a pot. Or they made loaves out of it. It tasted like something made with olive oil.When the dew came down on the camp at night, the manna also came down.Moses heard people from every family crying at the entrances to their tents. The Lord became very angry. So Moses became upset.He asked the Lord,“ Why have you brought this trouble on me? Why aren’t you pleased with me? Why have you loaded me down with the troubles of all these people?Am I like a mother to them? Are they my children? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms? Do I have to carry them the way a nurse carries a baby? Do I have to carry them to the land you promised? You promised the land to their people of long ago.Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep crying out to me. They say,‘ Give us meat to eat!’I can’t carry all these people by myself. The load is too heavy for me.Is this how you are going to treat me? If you are pleased with me, just put me to death right now. Don’t let me live if I have to see myself destroyed anyway.”The Lord said to Moses,“ Bring me 70 of Israel’s elders. Bring men that you know are leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting. I want them to stand there with you.I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you. And I will put it on them. They will share the responsibility of these people with you. Then you will not have to carry it alone.“ Tell the people,‘ Set yourselves apart for tomorrow. At that time you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you cried out. You said,“ We wish we had meat to eat. We were better off in Egypt.” Now the Lord will give you meat. And you will eat it.You will not eat it for just one or two days. You will not eat it for just five, ten or 20 days.Instead, you will eat it for a whole month. You will eat it until it comes out of your noses. You will eat it until you hate it. The Lord is among you. But you have turned your back on him. You have cried out while he was listening. You have said,“ Why did we ever leave Egypt?” ’ ”But Moses said to the Lord,“ Here I am among 600,000 men on the march. And you say,‘ I will give them meat to eat for a whole month’!Would they have enough if flocks and herds were killed for them? Would they have enough even if all the fish in the ocean were caught for them?”The Lord answered Moses,“ Am I not strong enough? Now you will see whether what I say will come true for you.”So Moses went out. He told the people what the Lord had said. He gathered 70 of their elders together. He had them stand around the tent of meeting.Then the Lord came down in the cloud. He spoke with Moses. He took some of the power of the Spirit that was on Moses. And he put it on the 70 elders. When the Spirit came on them, they prophesied. But they didn’t do it again.Two men had remained in the camp. Their names were Eldad and Medad. They were listed among the elders. But they didn’t go out to the tent of meeting. In spite of that, the Spirit came on them too. So they prophesied in the camp.A young man ran up to Moses. He said,“ Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”Joshua spoke up. He was the son of Nun. Joshua had been Moses’ helper from the time he was young. He said,“ Moses! Please stop them!”But Moses replied,“ Are you jealous for me? I wish that all the Lord’ s people were prophets. And I wish that the Lord would put his Spirit on them.”Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.The Lord sent out a wind. It drove quail in from the Red Sea. It scattered them all around the camp. They were about three feet above the ground. They could be seen in every direction as far as a person could walk in a day.The people went out all day and gathered quail. They gathered them all night and all the next day. No one gathered less than 60 bushels. Then they spread the quail out all around the camp.But while the meat was still in their mouths, the Lord acted. Before the people could swallow it, he became very angry with them. He struck them with a terrible plague.So the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah. That’s where the bodies of the people who had wished for other food were buried.From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth. And they stayed there.

You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh. You sent plagues on all his officials. In fact, you sent them on all the people of Egypt. You knew how they treated our people. They looked down on them. But you made a name for yourself. That name remains to this very day.

He killed the oldest son of each family in Egypt. He struck down the oldest males that were born to people and animals.He did miraculous signs in Egypt. He did wonders against Pharaoh and everyone who served him.He destroyed many nations. He killed mighty kings.He killed Sihon, the king of the Amorites, and Og, the king of Bashan. He killed all the kings of Canaan.He gave their land as a gift to his people Israel.

Exactly three months after the people of Israel left Egypt, they came to the Desert of Sinai.After they started out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai. They camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.Then Moses went up to God. The Lord called out to him from the mountain. He said,“ Here is what I want you to say to my people, who belong to Jacob’s family. Tell the Israelites,‘ You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt. You saw how I carried you on the wings of eagles and brought you to myself.Now obey me completely. Keep my covenant. If you do, then out of all the nations you will be my special treasure. The whole earth is mine.But you will be a kingdom of priests to serve me. You will be my holy nation.’ That is what you must tell the Israelites.”So Moses went back. He sent for the elders of the people. He explained to them everything the Lord had commanded him to say.All the people answered together. They said,“ We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.The Lord spoke to Moses. He said,“ I am going to come to you in a thick cloud. The people will hear me speaking with you. They will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.The Lord said to Moses,“ Go to the people. Today and tomorrow set them apart for me. Have them wash their clothes.Have the people ready by the third day. On that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai. Everyone will see it.Put limits for the people around the mountain. Tell them,‘ Be careful that you do not go near the mountain. Do not even touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain must be put to death.Do not lay a hand on any of them. Kill them with stones or shoot them with arrows. Whether they are people or animals, do not let them live.’ They may go near the mountain only when the ram’s horn gives out a long blast.”Moses went down the mountain to the people. After he set them apart for the Lord, they washed their clothes.Then he spoke to the people. He said,“ Get ready for the third day. Don’t have sex.”On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud covered the mountain. A trumpet gave out a very loud blast. Everyone in the camp trembled with fear.Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God. They stood at the foot of the mountain.Smoke covered Mount Sinai, because the Lord came down on it in fire. The smoke rose up from it like smoke from a furnace. The whole mountain trembled and shook.The sound of the trumpet got louder and louder. Then Moses spoke. And the voice of God answered him.The Lord came down to the top of Mount Sinai. He told Moses to come to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up.

He made the moon and stars to rule over the night. His faithful love continues forever.Give thanks to the God who killed the oldest son of each family in Egypt. His faithful love continues forever.He brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. His faithful love continues forever.He did it by reaching out his mighty hand and powerful arm. His faithful love continues forever.Give thanks to the God who parted the waters of the Red Sea. His faithful love continues forever.He brought Israel through the middle of it. His faithful love continues forever.But he swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His faithful love continues forever.Give thanks to the God who led his people through the desert. His faithful love continues forever.He killed great kings. His faithful love continues forever.He struck down mighty kings. His faithful love continues forever.He killed Sihon, the king of the Amorites. His faithful love continues forever.He killed Og, the king of Bashan. His faithful love continues forever.He gave their land as a gift. His faithful love continues forever.

When they came to Marah, they couldn’t drink its water. It was bitter. That’s why the place is named Marah.The people told Moses they weren’t happy with him. They said,“ What are we supposed to drink?”Then Moses cried out to the Lord. The Lord showed him a stick. Moses threw it into the water. The water became fit to drink. There the Lord gave a ruling and instruction for the people. And there he tested them.

The holy tent was set up. It was the tent where the tablets of the covenant law were kept. On the day it was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening until morning the cloud above the tent looked like fire.That’s what continued to happen. The cloud covered the tent. At night the cloud looked like fire.When the cloud lifted from its place above the tent, the Israelites started out. Where the cloud settled, the Israelites camped.When the Lord gave the command, the Israelites started out. And when he gave the command, they camped. As long as the cloud stayed above the holy tent, they remained in camp.Sometimes the cloud remained above the tent for a long time. Then the Israelites obeyed the Lord’ s order. They didn’t start out.Sometimes the cloud was above the tent for only a few days. When the Lord would give the command, they would camp. And when he would give the command, they would start out.Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening until morning. When it lifted in the morning, they started out. It didn’t matter whether it was day or night. When the cloud lifted, the people started out.It didn’t matter whether the cloud stayed above the holy tent for two days or a month or a year. The Israelites would remain in camp. They wouldn’t start out. But when the cloud lifted, they would start out.When the Lord gave the command, they camped. And when he gave the command, they started out. They obeyed the Lord’ s order. They obeyed him, just as he had commanded them through Moses.

If they do ask you, tell them,“ We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. But the Lord used his mighty hand to bring us out of Egypt.With our own eyes we saw the Lord send amazing signs. They were great and terrible. He sent them on Egypt and Pharaoh and everyone in his house.