1. יהוה spoke to Moses , saying,

2. “Speak to Aaron , and tell him, ‘When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.’”

3. Aaron did so. He lit its lamps to light the area in front of the lampstand, as יהוה commanded Moses .

4. This was the workmanship of the lampstand, beaten work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was beaten work: according to the pattern which יהוה had showed  Moses , so he made the lampstand.

5. יהוה spoke to Moses , saying,

6. “Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.

7. Thus shall you do to them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of cleansing on them, let them shave their whole bodies with a razor, and let them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves.

8. Then let them take a young bull, and its meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil; and another young bull you shall take for a sin offering.

9. You shall present the Levites before the Tent of Meeting. You shall assemble the whole congregation of the children of Israel.

10. You shall present the Levites before יהוה. The children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites,

11. And Aaron shall offer the Levites before יהוה for a wave offering, on the behalf of the children of Israel, that it may be theirs to do the service of יהוה.

12. The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering to יהוה, to make atonement for the Levites.

13. You shall set the Levites before Aaron , and before his sons, and offer them as a wave offering to יהוה.

14. Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine.

15. “After that, the Levites shall go in to do the service of the Tent of Meeting: and you shall cleanse them, and offer them as a wave offering.

16. For they are wholly given to me from among the children of Israel; instead of all who open the womb, even the firstborn of all the children of Israel, I have taken them to me.

17. For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are mine, both man and animal. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified them for myself.

18. I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel.

19. I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the Tent of Meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel; that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come near to the sanctuary.”

20. Thus did Moses , and Aaron , and all the congregation of the children of Israel, do to the Levites. According to all that יהוה commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so the children of Israel did to them.

21. The Levites purified themselves from sin, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them for a wave offering before יהוה; and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.

22. After that, the Levites went in to do their service in the Tent of Meeting before Aaron , and before his sons: as יהוה had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.

23. יהוה spoke to Moses , saying,

24. “This is that which belongs to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall go in to wait on the service in the work of the Tent of Meeting;

25. And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting on the work, and shall serve no more,

26. But shall minister with their brothers in the Tent of Meeting, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites concerning their duties.”

Chapter 9

1. יהוה spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

2. “Moreover let the children of Israel keep the Passover in its appointed season.

3. On the fourteenth day of this month, at evening, you shall keep it in its appointed season, according to all its statutes, and according to all its ordinances, you shall keep it.”

4. Moses spoke to the children of Israel, that they should keep the Passover.

5. They kept the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at evening, in the wilderness of Sinai. According to all that יהוה commanded Moses , so the children of Israel did.

6. There were certain men, who were unclean because of the dead body of a man, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day, and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day.

7. Those men said to him, “We are unclean because of the dead body of a man. Why are we kept back, that we may not offer the offering of יהוה in its appointed season among the children of Israel?”

8. Moses answered them, “Wait, that I may hear what יהוה will command concerning you.”

9. יהוה spoke to Moses , saying,

10. “Say to the children of Israel, ‘If any man of you or of your generations is unclean by reason of a dead body, or is on a journey far away, he shall still keep the Passover to יהוה.

11. In the second month, on the fourteenth day at evening they shall keep it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

12. They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break a bone of it. According to all the statute of the Passover they shall keep it.

13. But the man who is clean, and is not on a journey, and fails to keep the Passover, that soul shall be cut off from his people. Because he didn’t offer the offering of יהוה in its appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.

14. If a foreigner lives among you, and desires to keep the Passover to יהוה; according to the statute of the Passover, and according to its ordinance, so shall he do. You shall have one statute, both for the foreigner, and for him who is born in the land.’”

15. On the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the Tent of the Testimony: and at evening it was over the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until morning.

16. So it was continually. The cloud covered it, and the appearance of fire by night.

17. Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel traveled; and in the place where the cloud remained, there the children of Israel encamped.

18. At the commandment of יהוה, the children of Israel traveled, and at the commandment of יהוה they encamped. As long as the cloud remained on the tabernacle they remained encamped.

19. When the cloud stayed on the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of יהוה, and didn’t travel.

20. Sometimes the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; then according to the commandment of יהוה they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of יהוה they traveled.

21. Sometimes the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they traveled: or by day and by night, when the cloud was taken up, they traveled.

22. Whether it was two days, or a month, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the children of Israel remained encamped, and didn’t travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled.

23. At the commandment of יהוה they encamped, and at the commandment of יהוה they traveled. They kept the charge of יהוה, at the commandment of יהוה by Moses .

Chapter 10

1. יהוה spoke to Moses , saying,

2. Make two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shall you make them: and you shall use them for the calling of the congregation, and for the journeying of the camps.

3. When they shall blow them, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the door of the tent of meeting.

4. If they blow but one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves to you.

5. When you blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall take their journey.

6. When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.

7. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm.

8. The sons of Aaron , the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and they shall be to you for a statute forever throughout your generations.

9. When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets; and you shall be remembered before יהוה your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies.

10. Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your God: I am יהוה your God.

11. It happened in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, that the cloud was taken up from over the tent of the testimony.

12. The children of Israel set forward according to their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud abode in the wilderness of Paran.

13. They first took their journey according to the commandment of יהוה by Moses .

14. In the first place the standard of the camp of the children of Judah set forward according to their armies: and over his army was Nahshon, the son of Amminadab.

15. Over the army of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel, the son of Zuar.

16. Over the army of the tribe of the children of  Zebulun was Eliab, the son of Helon.

17. The tent was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who bore the tent, set forward.

18. The standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his army was Elizur, the son of Shedeur.

19. Over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel. the son of Zurishaddai.

20. Over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph. the son of Deuel.

21. The Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the others did set up the tent against their coming.

22. The standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Elishama , the son of Ammihud.

23. Over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur.

24. Over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan, the son of Gideoni.

25. The standard of the camp of the children of Dan, which was the rearward of all the camps, set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai.

26. Over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel, the son of Ochran.

27. Over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira, the son of Enan.

28. Thus were the travels of the children of Israel according to their hosts; and they set forward.

29. Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses ’ father-in-law, We are journeying to the place of which יהוה said, I will give it you: come you with us, and we will do you good; for יהוה has spoken good concerning Israel.

30. He said to him, I will not go; but I will depart to my own land, and to my relatives.

31. He said, Don’t leave us, please; because you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you shall be to us instead of eyes.

32. It shall be, if you go with us, yes, it shall be, that whatever good יהוה shall do to us, the same will we do to you.

33. They set forward from the Mount of יהוה three days’ journey; and the ark of the covenant of יהוה went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them.

34. The cloud of יהוה was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp.

35. It happened, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, יהוה, and let your enemies be scattered; and let those who hate you flee before you.

36. When it rested, he said, Return, יהוה, to the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.

Chapter 11

1. The people were as murmurers, speaking evil in the ears of יהוה: and when יהוה heard it, his anger was kindled; and the fire of יהוה burnt among them, and devoured in the uttermost part of the camp.

2. The people cried to Moses ; and Moses prayed to יהוה, and the fire abated.

3. The name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of יהוה burnt among them.

4. The mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

5. We remember the fish, which we ate in Egypt for nothing; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:

6. But now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all save this manna to look on.

7. The manna was like coriander seed, and the appearance of it as the appearance of bdellium.

8. The people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.

9. When the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.

10. Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent: and the anger of יהוה was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased.

11. Moses said to יהוה, Why have you dealt ill with your servant? and why haven’t I found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?

12. Have I conceived all this people? Have I brought them forth, that you should tell me, Carry them in your bosom, as a nursing father carries the sucking child, to the land which you swore to their fathers?

13. Where should I have flesh to give all this people? For they weep to me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.

14. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

15. If you deal thus with me, please kill me out of hand, if I have found favor in your sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

16. יהוה said to Moses , Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you.

17. I will come down and talk with you there: and I will take of the Spirit which is on you, and will put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you not bear it yourself alone.

18. Say you to the people, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow, and you shall eat flesh; for you have wept in the ears of יהוה, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore יהוה will give you flesh, and you shall eat.

19. You shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days,

20. But a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome to you; because that you have rejected יהוה who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why did we come forth out of Egypt?

21. Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and you have said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.

22. Shall flocks and herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?

23. יהוה said to Moses , Has יהוה’s hand grown short? now shall you see whether my word shall happen to you or not.

24. Moses went out, and told the people the words of יהוה: and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the Tent.

25. יהוה came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and put it on the seventy elders: and it happened that when the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did so no more.

26. But there remained two men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the Spirit rested on them; and they were of those who were written, but had not gone out to the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp.

27. A young man ran, and told Moses , and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.

28. Joshua the son of Nun , the minister of Moses , one of his chosen men, answered, My lord Moses , forbid them.

29. Moses said to him, Are you jealous for my sake? would that all יהוה’s people were prophets, that יהוה would put his Spirit on them!

30. Moses got him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.

31. There went forth a wind from יהוה, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, about a day’s journey on this side, and a day’s journey on the other side, round about the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the earth.

32. The people rose up all that day, and all the night, and all the next day, and gathered the quails: he who gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.

33. While the flesh was yet between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of יהוה was kindled against the people, and יהוה struck the people with a very great plague.

34. The name of that place was called Kibrothhattaavah, because there they buried the people who lusted.

35. From Kibrothhattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth; and they abode at Hazeroth.

Chapter 12

1. Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman.

2. They said, Has יהוה indeed spoken only with Moses ? Hasn’t he spoken also with us? יהוה heard it.

3. Now the man Moses was very humble, above all the men who were on the surface of the earth.

4. יהוה spoke suddenly to Moses , and to Aaron , and to Miriam , Come out you three to the tent of meeting. They three came out.

5. יהוה came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam ; and they both came forth.

6. He said, Hear now my words: if there be a prophet among you, I יהוה will make myself known to him in a vision, I will speak with him in a dream.

7. My servant Moses is not so; he is faithful in all my house:

8. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even manifestly, and not in dark speeches; and the form of יהוה shall he see: why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses ?

9. The anger of יהוה was kindled against them; and he departed.

10. The cloud removed from over the Tent; and behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow: and Aaron looked at Miriam , and behold, she was leprous.

11. Aaron said to Moses , Oh, my lord, please don’t lay sin on us, for that we have done foolishly, and for that we have sinned.

12. Let her not, I pray, be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb.

13. Moses cried to יהוה, saying, Heal her, Lord, I beseech you.

14. יהוה said to Moses , If her father had but spit in her face, shouldn’t she be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut up outside of the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in again.

15. Miriam was shut up outside of the camp seven days: and the people didn’t travel until Miriam was brought in again.

16. Afterward the people traveled from Hazeroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Paran.

Haftarah - Zechariah 3:1-4:7 

1. He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of יהוה , and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary.

2. יהוה said to Satan, “ יהוה rebuke you, Satan! Yes, יהוה who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn’t this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?”

3. Now. Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel.

4. He answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, “Take the filthy garments off of him.” To him he said, “Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich clothing.”

5. I said, “Let them set a clean turban on his head.”  So they set a clean turban on his head, and clothed him; and the angel of יהוה  was standing by.

6. יהוה ’s angel protested to. Joshua , saying,

7. “ Thus says יהוה of Hosts: ‘If you will walk in my ways, and if you will keep my charge, then you also shall judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you a place of access among these who stand by.

8. Hear now,. Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you; for they are men who are a sign: for, behold, I will forth my servant, the Branch.

9. For, behold, the stone that I have set before. Joshua ; on one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the  engraving of it,’ says יהוה of Hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

10. In that day,’ says יהוה of Hosts, ‘you will invite every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.’”

Chapter 4 

1. The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep.

2. He said to me, “What do you see?”  I said, “I have seen, and behold, a lamp stand all of gold, with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are on the top of it;

3. And two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side of it.”

4. I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?”

5. Then the angel who talked with me answered me, “Don’t you know what these are?”  I said, “No, my lord.”

6. Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is the word of יהוה  to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says יהוה of Hosts.

7. Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain; and he will bring out the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace, to it!’”

ETZ CHAIM

It is a tree of life for those who cling to it, and those who uphold it are happy.  Its ways are pleasant, and all of its paths peaceful.

Return us to you, Lord, so that we shall return, renew our days as of old.