Numbers 18 | Biblion Bible Reader

WEB·Numbers 19

¹Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

KJVAnd the LORD^H3068 spake^H1696^(H8762) unto Moses^H4872 and unto Aaron^H175, saying^H559^(H8800),

² “This is the statute of the law which Yahweh has commanded. Tell the children of Israel to bring you a red heifer without spot, in which is no defect, and which was never yoked.

KJVThis is the ordinance^H2708 of the law^H8451 which the LORD^H3068 hath commanded^H6680^(H8765), saying^H559^(H8800), Speak^H1696^(H8761) unto the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478, that they bring^H3947^(H8799) thee a red^H122 heifer^H6510 without spot^H8549, wherein is no blemish^H3971, and upon which never^H3808 came^H5927^(H8804) yoke^H5923:

³ You shall give her to Eleazar the priest, and he shall bring her outside of the camp, and one shall kill her before his face.

KJVAnd ye shall give^H5414^(H8804) her unto Eleazar^H499 the priest^H3548, that he may bring her forth^H3318^(H8689) without^H2351 the camp^H4264, and one shall slay^H7819^(H8804) her before^H6440 his face:

⁴ Eleazar the priest shall take some of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle her blood toward the front of the Tent of Meeting seven times.

KJVAnd Eleazar^H499 the priest^H3548 shall take^H3947^(H8804) of her blood^H1818 with his finger^H676, and sprinkle^H5137^(H8689) of her blood^H1818 directly^H5227 before^H6440 the tabernacle^H168 of the congregation^H4150 seven^H7651 times^H6471:

⁵ One shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her meat, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn.

KJVAnd one shall burn^H8313^(H8804) the heifer^H6510 in his sight^H5869; her skin^H5785, and her flesh^H1320, and her blood^H1818, with her dung^H6569, shall he burn^H8313^(H8799):

⁶ The priest shall take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the middle of the burning of the heifer.

KJVAnd the priest^H3548 shall take^H3947^(H8804) cedar^H730 wood^H6086, and hyssop^H231, and scarlet^H8438^H8144, and cast^H7993^(H8689) it into the midst^H8432 of the burning^H8316 of the heifer^H6510.

⁷ Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the evening.

KJVThen the priest^H3548 shall wash^H3526^(H8765) his clothes^H899, and he shall bathe^H7364^(H8804) his flesh^H1320 in water^H4325, and afterward^H310 he shall come^H935^(H8799) into the camp^H4264, and the priest^H3548 shall be unclean^H2930^(H8804) until the even^H6153.

⁸ He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the evening.

KJVAnd he that burneth^H8313^(H8802) her shall wash^H3526^(H8762) his clothes^H899 in water^H4325, and bathe^H7364^(H8804) his flesh^H1320 in water^H4325, and shall be unclean^H2930^(H8804) until the even^H6153.

⁹ “A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up outside of the camp in a clean place; and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for use in water for cleansing impurity. It is a sin offering.

KJVAnd a man^H376 that is clean^H2889 shall gather^H622^(H8804) up the ashes^H665 of the heifer^H6510, and lay them up^H3240^(H8689) without^H2351 the camp^H4264 in a clean^H2889 place^H4725, and it shall be kept^H4931 for the congregation^H5712 of the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478 for a water^H4325 of separation^H5079: it is a purification for sin^H2403.

¹⁰ He who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. It shall be to the children of Israel, and to the stranger who lives as a foreigner among them, for a statute forever.

KJVAnd he that gathereth^H622^(H8802) the ashes^H665 of the heifer^H6510 shall wash^H3526^(H8765) his clothes^H899, and be unclean^H2930^(H8804) until the even^H6153: and it shall be unto the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478, and unto the stranger^H1616 that sojourneth^H1481^(H8802) among^H8432 them, for a statute^H2708 for ever^H5769.

¹¹ “He who touches the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.

KJVHe that toucheth^H5060^(H8802) the dead^H4191^(H8801) body^H5315 of any man^H120 shall be unclean^H2930^(H8804) seven^H7651 days^H3117.

¹² He shall purify himself with water on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean; but if he doesn’t purify himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.

KJVHe shall purify^H2398^(H8691) himself with it on the third^H7992 day^H3117, and on the seventh^H7637 day^H3117 he shall be clean^H2891^(H8799): but if he purify^H2398^(H8691) not himself the third^H7992 day^H3117, then the seventh^H7637 day^H3117 he shall not be clean^H2891^(H8799).

¹³ Whoever touches a dead person, the body of a man who has died, and doesn’t purify himself, defiles Yahweh’s tabernacle; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel; because the water for impurity was not sprinkled on him, he shall be unclean. His uncleanness is yet on him.

KJVWhosoever toucheth^H5060^(H8802) the dead^H4191^(H8801) body^H5315 of any man^H120 that is dead^H4191^(H8799), and purifieth^H2398^(H8691) not himself, defileth^H2930^(H8765) the tabernacle^H4908 of the LORD^H3068; and that soul^H5315 shall be cut off^H3772^(H8738) from Israel^H3478: because the water^H4325 of separation^H5079 was not sprinkled^H2236^(H8795) upon him, he shall be unclean^H2931; his uncleanness^H2932 is yet upon him.

¹⁴ “This is the law when a man dies in a tent: everyone who comes into the tent, and everyone who is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.

KJVThis is the law^H8451, when a man^H120 dieth^H4191^(H8799) in a tent^H168: all that come^H935^(H8802) into the tent^H168, and all that is in the tent^H168, shall be unclean^H2930^(H8799) seven^H7651 days^H3117.

¹⁵ Every open vessel, which has no covering bound on it, is unclean.

KJVAnd every open^H6605^(H8803) vessel^H3627, which hath no covering^H6781 bound^H6616 upon it, is unclean^H2931.

¹⁶ “Whoever in the open field touches one who is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

KJVAnd whosoever toucheth^H5060^(H8799) one that is slain^H2491 with a sword^H2719 in the open^H6440 fields^H7704, or a dead body^H4191^(H8801), or a bone^H6106 of a man^H120, or a grave^H6913, shall be unclean^H2930^(H8799) seven^H7651 days^H3117.

¹⁷ “For the unclean, they shall take of the ashes of the burning of the sin offering; and running water shall be poured on them in a vessel.

KJVAnd for an unclean^H2931 person they shall take^H3947^(H8804) of the ashes^H6083 of the burnt heifer^H8316 of purification for sin^H2403, and running^H2416 water^H4325 shall be put^H5414^(H8804) thereto in a vessel^H3627:

¹⁸ A clean person shall take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, on all the vessels, on the persons who were there, and on him who touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave.

KJVAnd a clean^H2889 person^H376 shall take^H3947^(H8804) hyssop^H231, and dip^H2881^(H8804) it in the water^H4325, and sprinkle^H5137^(H8689) it upon the tent^H168, and upon all the vessels^H3627, and upon the persons^H5315 that were there, and upon him that touched^H5060^(H8802) a bone^H6106, or one slain^H2491, or one dead^H4191^(H8801), or a grave^H6913:

¹⁹ The clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day. On the seventh day, he shall purify him. He shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at evening.

KJVAnd the clean^H2889 person shall sprinkle^H5137^(H8689) upon the unclean^H2931 on the third^H7992 day^H3117, and on the seventh^H7637 day^H3117: and on the seventh^H7637 day^H3117 he shall purify^H2398^(H8765) himself, and wash^H3526^(H8765) his clothes^H899, and bathe^H7364^(H8804) himself in water^H4325, and shall be clean^H2891^(H8804) at even^H6153.

²⁰ But the man who shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of Yahweh. The water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him. He is unclean.

KJVBut the man^H376 that shall be unclean^H2930^(H8799), and shall not purify^H2398^(H8691) himself, that soul^H5315 shall be cut off^H3772^(H8738) from among^H8432 the congregation^H6951, because he hath defiled^H2930^(H8765) the sanctuary^H4720 of the LORD^H3068: the water^H4325 of separation^H5079 hath not been sprinkled^H2236^(H8795) upon him; he is unclean^H2931.

²¹ It shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touches the water for impurity shall be unclean until evening.

KJVAnd it shall be a perpetual^H5769 statute^H2708 unto them, that he that sprinkleth^H5137^(H8688) the water^H4325 of separation^H5079 shall wash^H3526^(H8762) his clothes^H899; and he that toucheth^H5060^(H8802) the water^H4325 of separation^H5079 shall be unclean^H2930^(H8799) until even^H6153.

²² “Whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean; and the soul that touches it shall be unclean until evening.”

KJVAnd whatsoever the unclean^H2931 person toucheth^H5060^(H8799) shall be unclean^H2930^(H8799); and the soul^H5315 that toucheth^H5060^(H8802) it shall be unclean^H2930^(H8799) until even^H6153.

WEB·Numbers 18

¹Yahweh said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your fathers’ house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.

KJVAnd the LORD^H3068 said^H559^(H8799) unto Aaron^H175, Thou and thy sons^H1121 and thy father's^H1 house^H1004 with thee shall bear^H5375^(H8799) the iniquity^H5771 of the sanctuary^H4720: and thou and thy sons^H1121 with thee shall bear^H5375^(H8799) the iniquity^H5771 of your priesthood^H3550.

² Bring your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, near with you, that they may be joined to you, and minister to you; but you and your sons with you shall be before the Tent of the Testimony.

KJVAnd thy brethren^H251 also of the tribe^H4294 of Levi^H3878, the tribe^H7626 of thy father^H1, bring^H7126^(H8685) thou with thee, that they may be joined^H3867^(H8735) unto thee, and minister^H8334^(H8762) unto thee: but thou and thy sons^H1121 with thee shall minister before^H6440 the tabernacle^H168 of witness^H5715.

³ They shall keep your commands and the duty of the whole Tent; only they shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary and to the altar, that they not die, neither they nor you.

KJVAnd they shall keep^H8104^(H8804) thy charge^H4931, and the charge^H4931 of all the tabernacle^H168: only they shall not come nigh^H7126^(H8799) the vessels^H3627 of the sanctuary^H6944 and the altar^H4196, that neither they, nor ye also, die^H4191^(H8799).

⁴ They shall be joined to you and keep the responsibility of the Tent of Meeting, for all the service of the Tent. A stranger shall not come near to you.

KJVAnd they shall be joined^H3867^(H8738) unto thee, and keep^H8104^(H8804) the charge^H4931 of the tabernacle^H168 of the congregation^H4150, for all the service^H5656 of the tabernacle^H168: and a stranger^H2114^(H8801) shall not come nigh^H7126^(H8799) unto you.

⁵ “You shall perform the duty of the sanctuary and the duty of the altar, that there be no more wrath on the children of Israel.

KJVAnd ye shall keep^H8104^(H8804) the charge^H4931 of the sanctuary^H6944, and the charge^H4931 of the altar^H4196: that there be no wrath^H7110 any more upon the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478.

⁶ Behold, I myself have taken your brothers the Levites from among the children of Israel. They are a gift to you, dedicated to Yahweh, to do the service of the Tent of Meeting.

KJVAnd I, behold, I have taken^H3947^(H8804) your brethren^H251 the Levites^H3881 from among^H8432 the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478: to you they are given^H5414^(H8803) as a gift^H4979 for the LORD^H3068, to do^H5647^(H8800) the service^H5656 of the tabernacle^H168 of the congregation^H4150.

⁷ You and your sons with you shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil. You shall serve. I give you the service of the priesthood as a gift. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.”

KJVTherefore thou and thy sons^H1121 with thee shall keep^H8104^(H8799) your priest's office^H3550 for every thing^H1697 of the altar^H4196, and within^H1004 the vail^H6532; and ye shall serve^H5647^(H8804): I have given^H5414^(H8799) your priest's office^H3550 unto you as a service^H5656 of gift^H4979: and the stranger^H2114^(H8801) that cometh nigh^H7131 shall be put to death^H4191^(H8714).

⁸ Yahweh spoke to Aaron, “Behold, I myself have given you the command of my wave offerings, even all the holy things of the children of Israel. I have given them to you by reason of the anointing, and to your sons, as a portion forever.

KJVAnd the LORD^H3068 spake^H1696^(H8762) unto Aaron^H175, Behold, I also have given^H5414^(H8804) thee the charge^H4931 of mine heave offerings^H8641 of all the hallowed things^H6944 of the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478; unto thee have I given^H5414^(H8804) them by reason of the anointing^H4888, and to thy sons^H1121, by an ordinance^H2706 for ever^H5769.

⁹ This shall be yours of the most holy things from the fire: every offering of theirs, even every meal offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall give to me, shall be most holy for you and for your sons.

KJVThis shall be thine of the most^H6944 holy things^H6944, reserved from the fire^H784: every oblation^H7133 of theirs, every meat offering^H4503 of theirs, and every sin offering^H2403 of theirs, and every trespass offering^H817 of theirs, which they shall render^H7725^(H8686) unto me, shall be most^H6944 holy^H6944 for thee and for thy sons^H1121.

¹⁰ You shall eat of it like the most holy things. Every male shall eat of it. It shall be holy to you.

KJVIn the most^H6944 holy^H6944 place shalt thou eat^H398^(H8799) it; every male^H2145 shall eat^H398^(H8799) it: it shall be holy^H6944 unto thee.

¹¹ “This is yours, too: the wave offering of their gift, even all the wave offerings of the children of Israel. I have given them to you, and to your sons and to your daughters with you, as a portion forever. Everyone who is clean in your house shall eat of it.

KJVAnd this is thine; the heave offering^H8641 of their gift^H4976, with all the wave offerings^H8573 of the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478: I have given^H5414^(H8804) them unto thee, and to thy sons^H1121 and to thy daughters^H1323 with thee, by a statute^H2706 for ever^H5769: every one that is clean^H2889 in thy house^H1004 shall eat^H398^(H8799) of it.

¹² “I have given to you all the best of the oil, all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first fruits of them which they give to Yahweh.

KJVAll the best^H2459 of the oil^H3323, and all the best^H2459 of the wine^H8492, and of the wheat^H1715, the firstfruits^H7225 of them which they shall offer^H5414^(H8799) unto the LORD^H3068, them have I given^H5414^(H8804) thee.

¹³ The first-ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to Yahweh, shall be yours. Everyone who is clean in your house shall eat of it.

KJVAnd whatsoever is first ripe^H1061 in the land^H776, which they shall bring^H935^(H8686) unto the LORD^H3068, shall be thine; every one that is clean^H2889 in thine house^H1004 shall eat^H398^(H8799) of it.

¹⁴ “Everything devoted in Israel shall be yours.

KJVEvery thing devoted^H2764 in Israel^H3478 shall be thine.

¹⁵ Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they offer to Yahweh, both of man and animal, shall be yours. Nevertheless, you shall surely redeem the firstborn of man, and you shall redeem the firstborn of unclean animals.

KJVEvery thing that openeth^H6363 the matrix^H7358 in all flesh^H1320, which they bring^H7126^(H8686) unto the LORD^H3068, whether it be of men^H120 or beasts^H929, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn^H1060 of man^H120 shalt thou surely^H6299^(H8800) redeem^H6299^(H8799), and the firstling^H1060 of unclean^H2931 beasts^H929 shalt thou redeem^H6299^(H8799).

¹⁶ You shall redeem those who are to be redeemed of them from a month old, according to your estimation, for five shekels of money, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which weighs twenty gerahs.

KJVAnd those that are to be redeemed^H6299^(H8803) from a month^H2320 old^H1121 shalt thou redeem^H6299^(H8799), according to thine estimation^H6187, for the money^H3701 of five^H2568 shekels^H8255, after the shekel^H8255 of the sanctuary^H6944, which is twenty^H6242 gerahs^H1626.

¹⁷ “But you shall not redeem the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat. They are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar, and shall burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.

KJVBut the firstling^H1060 of a cow^H7794, or the firstling^H1060 of a sheep^H3775, or the firstling^H1060 of a goat^H5795, thou shalt not redeem^H6299^(H8799); they are holy^H6944: thou shalt sprinkle^H2236^(H8799) their blood^H1818 upon the altar^H4196, and shalt burn^H6999^(H8686) their fat^H2459 for an offering made by fire^H801, for a sweet^H5207 savour^H7381 unto the LORD^H3068.

¹⁸ Their meat shall be yours, as the wave offering breast and as the right thigh, it shall be yours.

KJVAnd the flesh^H1320 of them shall be thine, as the wave^H8573 breast^H2373 and as the right^H3225 shoulder^H7785 are thine.

¹⁹ All the wave offerings of the holy things which the children of Israel offer to Yahweh, I have given you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a portion forever. It is a covenant of salt forever before Yahweh to you and to your offspring with you.”

KJVAll the heave offerings^H8641 of the holy things^H6944, which the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478 offer^H7311^(H8686) unto the LORD^H3068, have I given^H5414^(H8804) thee, and thy sons^H1121 and thy daughters^H1323 with thee, by a statute^H2706 for ever^H5769: it is a covenant^H1285 of salt^H4417 for ever^H5769 before^H6440 the LORD^H3068 unto thee and to thy seed^H2233 with thee.

²⁰ Yahweh said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.

KJVAnd the LORD^H3068 spake^H559^(H8799) unto Aaron^H175, Thou shalt have no inheritance^H5157^(H8799) in their land^H776, neither shalt thou have any part^H2506 among^H8432 them: I am thy part^H2506 and thine inheritance^H5159 among^H8432 the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478.

²¹ “To the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the Tent of Meeting.

KJVAnd, behold, I have given^H5414^(H8804) the children^H1121 of Levi^H3878 all the tenth^H4643 in Israel^H3478 for an inheritance^H5159, for^H2500 their service^H5656 which they serve^H5647^(H8802), even the service^H5656 of the tabernacle^H168 of the congregation^H4150.

²² Henceforth the children of Israel shall not come near the Tent of Meeting, lest they bear sin, and die.

KJVNeither must the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478 henceforth^H5750 come nigh^H7126^(H8799) the tabernacle^H168 of the congregation^H4150, lest they bear^H5375^(H8800) sin^H2399, and die^H4191^(H8800).

²³ But the Levites shall do the service of the Tent of Meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. Among the children of Israel, they shall have no inheritance.

KJVBut the Levites^H3881 shall do^H5647^(H8804) the service^H5656 of the tabernacle^H168 of the congregation^H4150, and they shall bear^H5375^(H8799) their iniquity^H5771: it shall be a statute^H2708 for ever^H5769 throughout your generations^H1755, that among^H8432 the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478 they have^H5157^(H8799) no inheritance^H5159.

²⁴ For the tithe of the children of Israel, which they offer as a wave offering to Yahweh, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said to them, ‘Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.’”

KJVBut the tithes^H4643 of the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478, which they offer^H7311^(H8686) as an heave offering^H8641 unto the LORD^H3068, I have given^H5414^(H8804) to the Levites^H3881 to inherit^H5159: therefore I have said^H559^(H8804) unto them, Among^H8432 the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478 they shall have^H5157^(H8799) no inheritance^H5159.

²⁵ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

KJVAnd the LORD^H3068 spake^H1696^(H8762) unto Moses^H4872, saying^H559^(H8800),

²⁶ “Moreover you shall speak to the Levites, and tell them, ‘When you take of the children of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall offer up a wave offering of it for Yahweh, a tithe of the tithe.

KJVThus speak^H1696^(H8762) unto the Levites^H3881, and say^H559^(H8804) unto them, When ye take^H3947^(H8799) of the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478 the tithes^H4643 which I have given^H5414^(H8804) you from them for your inheritance^H5159, then ye shall offer^H7311^(H8689) up an heave offering^H8641 of it for the LORD^H3068, even a tenth^H4643 part of the tithe^H4643.

²⁷ Your wave offering shall be credited to you, as though it were the grain of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the wine press.

KJVAnd this your heave offering^H8641 shall be reckoned^H2803^(H8738) unto you, as though it were the corn^H1715 of the threshingfloor^H1637, and as the fulness^H4395 of the winepress^H3342.

²⁸ Thus you also shall offer a wave offering to Yahweh of all your tithes, which you receive of the children of Israel; and of it you shall give Yahweh’s wave offering to Aaron the priest.

KJVThus ye also shall offer^H7311^(H8686) an heave offering^H8641 unto the LORD^H3068 of all your tithes^H4643, which ye receive^H3947^(H8799) of the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478; and ye shall give^H5414^(H8804) thereof the LORD'S^H3068 heave offering^H8641 to Aaron^H175 the priest^H3548.

²⁹ Out of all your gifts, you shall offer every wave offering to Yahweh, of all its best parts, even the holy part of it.’

KJVOut of all your gifts^H4979 ye shall offer^H7311^(H8686) every heave offering^H8641 of the LORD^H3068, of all the best^H2459 thereof, even the hallowed part^H4720 thereof out of it.

³⁰ “Therefore you shall tell them, ‘When you heave its best from it, then it shall be credited to the Levites as the increase of the threshing floor, and as the increase of the wine press.

KJVTherefore thou shalt say^H559^(H8804) unto them, When ye have heaved^H7311^(H8687) the best^H2459 thereof from it, then it shall be counted^H2803^(H8738) unto the Levites^H3881 as the increase^H8393 of the threshingfloor^H1637, and as the increase^H8393 of the winepress^H3342.

³¹ You may eat it anywhere, you and your households, for it is your reward in return for your service in the Tent of Meeting.

KJVAnd ye shall eat^H398^(H8804) it in every place^H4725, ye and your households^H1004: for it is your reward^H7939 for^H2500 your service^H5656 in the tabernacle^H168 of the congregation^H4150.

³² You shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have heaved from it its best. You shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, that you not die.’”

KJVAnd ye shall bear^H5375^(H8799) no sin^H2399 by reason of it, when ye have heaved^H7311^(H8687) from it the best^H2459 of it: neither shall ye pollute^H2490^(H8762) the holy things^H6944 of the children^H1121 of Israel^H3478, lest ye die^H4191^(H8799).

Section titles come from the Biblion commentary, not from Scripture.

You can also read or listen to the Introduction to the book of Numbers.