Be careful not to make<n id="1" /> a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it become a snare<n id="2" /> among you.

Let the priests also, who approach the <sc>Lordsc>, sanctify themselves, lest the <sc>Lordsc> break through<n id="1" /> against them.&#8221;p>

The <sc>Lordsc> said to Moses, &#8220;Go down and solemnly warn<n id="1" /> the people, lest they force their way through to the <sc>Lordsc> to look, and many of them perish.<n id="2" />

They said to Moses, &#8220;You speak<n id="1" /> to us and we will listen, but do not let God speak with us, lest we die.&#8221;

I will not drive them out before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild animals<n id="1" /> multiply against you.

They must not live in your land, lest they make you sin against me, for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare<n id="1" /> to you.&#8221;p>

Go up<n id="1" /> to a land flowing with milk and honey. But<n id="2" /> I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, and I might destroy you<n id="3" /> on the way.&#8221;p>

Be careful<n id="1" /> not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when<n id="2" /> they prostitute themselves<n id="3" /> to their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone invites you,<n id="4" /> you will eat from his sacrifice;

Come, let&#8217;s deal wisely<n id="1" /> with them. Otherwise<n id="2" /> they will continue to multiply,<n id="3" /> and if<n id="4" /> a war breaks out, they will ally themselves with<n id="5" /> our enemies and fight against us and leave<n id="6" /> the country.&#8221;p>

And they said, &#8220;The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us go a three-day journey<n id="1" /> into the desert so that we may sacrifice<n id="2" /> to the <sc>Lordsc> our God, so that he does not strike us with plague or the sword.&#8221;<n id="3" />

<t /><n id="1" /><p class="bodytext">When Pharaoh released<n id="2" /> the people, God did not lead them<n id="3" /> by the way to the land<n id="4" /> of the Philistines,<n id="5" /> although<n id="6" /> that was nearby, for God said,<n id="7" /> &#8220;Lest<n id="8" /> the people change their minds<n id="9" /> and return to Egypt when they experience<n id="10" /> war.&#8221;

The <sc>Lordsc> said to him, &#8220;Go, get down, and come up, and Aaron with you, but do not let the priests and the people force their way through to come up to the <sc>Lordsc>, lest he break through against them.&#8221;