When Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor, the anger of the Lord flared up against Israel.

I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites, to do the work for the Israelites in the tent of meeting, and to make atonement for the Israelites, so there will be no plague among the Israelites when the Israelites come near the sanctuary.”

So Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; therefore Israel turned away from him.

“The Israelites are to observe the Passover at its appointed time.

These were the traveling arrangements of the Israelites according to their companies when they traveled.

“Everything devoted in Israel will be yours.

The Israelites traveled on and camped in Oboth.

So the Israelites lived in the land of the Amorites.

‘How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, and your dwelling places, O Israel!

The Israelites traveled from Rameses and camped in Succoth.

All the Israelites who were twenty years old or older, who could serve in Israel’s army, were numbered according to their families.

“Look, I myself have taken the Levites from among the Israelites instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the Israelites. So the Levites belong to me,

So the Israelites did so, and expelled them outside the camp. As the Lord had spoken to Moses, so the Israelites did.

When the Canaanite king of Arad who lived in the Negev heard that Israel was approaching along the road to Atharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoner.

So Israel took all these cities; and Israel settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages.

For there is no spell against Jacob, nor is there any divination against Israel. At this time it must be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘Look at what God has done!’

“Take a census of the whole community of Israelites, from twenty years old and upward, by their clans, everyone who can serve in the army of Israel.”

In this way the inheritance of the Israelites will not be transferred from tribe to tribe. But every one of the Israelites must retain the ancestral heritage.

So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

“Take the Levites from among the Israelites and purify them.