(1) The Reubenites and the Gadites owned cattle in very great numbers. Noting that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were a region suitable for cattle, (2) the Gadite and Reubenite [leaders] came to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the chieftains of the community, and said, (3) “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon— (4) the land that יהוה has conquered for the community of Israel—is cattle country, and your servants have cattle.

(5) It would be a favor to us,” they continued, “if this land were given to your servants as a holding; do not move us across the Jordan.” (6) Moses replied to the Gadites and the Reubenites, “Are your brothers to go to war while you stay here? (7) Why will you turn the minds of the Israelites from crossing into the land that יהוה has given them? (8) That is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to survey the land. (9) After going up to the wadi Eshcol and surveying the land, they turned the minds of the Israelites from invading the land that יהוה had given them. (10) Thereupon יהוה was incensed and swore, (11) ‘None of the men from twenty years up who came out of Egypt shall see the land that I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for they did not remain loyal to Me— (12) none except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they remained loyal to יהוה.’ (13) יהוה, incensed at Israel, made them wander in the wilderness for forty years, until the whole generation that had provoked יהוה’s displeasure was gone. (14) And now you, a breed of sinful fellows, have replaced your fathers, to add still further to יהוה’s wrath against Israel. (15) If you turn away from [God], who then abandons them once more in the wilderness, you will bring calamity upon all this people.” (16) Then they stepped up to him and said, “We will build here sheepfolds for our flocks and towns for our children. (17) And we will hasten as shock-troops in the van of the Israelites until we have established them in their home, while our children stay in the fortified towns because of the inhabitants of the land. (18) We will not return to our homes until the Israelites—every one of them—are in possession of their portion. (19) But we will not have a share with them in the territory beyond the Jordan, for we have received our share on the east side of the Jordan.”

(20) Moses said to them, “If you do this, if you go to battle as shock-troops, at the instance of יהוה, (21) and every shock-fighter among you crosses the Jordan, at the instance of יהוה, until [God] has personally dispossessed the enemies, (22) and the land has been subdued, at the instance of יהוה, and then you return—you shall be clear before יהוה and before Israel; and this land shall be your holding under יהוה. (23) But if you do not do so, you will have sinned against יהוה; and know that your sin will overtake you. (24) Build towns for your children and sheepfolds for your flocks, but do what you have promised.” (25) The Gadites and the Reubenites answered Moses, “Your servants will do as my lord commands. (26) Our children, our wives, our flocks, and all our other livestock will stay behind in the towns of Gilead; (27) while your servants, all those recruited for war, cross over, at the instance of יהוה, to engage in battle—as my lord orders.”

(28) Then Moses gave instructions concerning them to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the family heads of the Israelite tribes. (29) Moses said to them, “If every shock-fighter among the Gadites and the Reubenites crosses the Jordan with you to do battle, at the instance of יהוה, and the land is subdued before you, you shall give them the land of Gilead as a holding. (30) But if they do not cross over with you as shock-troops, they shall receive holdings among you in the land of Canaan.” (31) The Gadites and the Reubenites said in reply, “Whatever יהוה has spoken concerning your servants, that we will do. (32) We ourselves will cross over as shock-troops, at the instance of יהוה, into the land of Canaan; and we shall keep our hereditary holding across the Jordan.” (33) So Moses assigned to them—to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph—the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of King Og of Bashan, the land with its various cities and the territories of their surrounding towns. (34) The Gadites rebuilt Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, (35) Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, (36) Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran as fortified towns or as enclosures for flocks. (37) The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, (38) Nebo, Baal-meon—some names being changed—and Sibmah; they gave [their own] names to towns that they rebuilt. (39) The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead and captured it, dispossessing the Amorites who were there; (40) so Moses gave Gilead to Machir son of Manasseh, and he settled there. (41) Jair son of Manasseh went and captured their villages, which he renamed Havvoth-jair. (42) And Nobah went and captured Kenath and its dependencies, renaming it Nobah after himself.

(1) These were the marches of the Israelites who started out from the land of Egypt, troop by troop, in the charge of Moses and Aaron. (2) Moses recorded the starting points of their various marches as directed by יהוה. Their marches, by starting points, were as follows: (3) They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month. It was on the morrow of the passover offering that the Israelites started out defiantly, in plain view of all the Egyptians. (4) The Egyptians meanwhile were burying those among them whom יהוה had struck down, every [male] first-born—whereby יהוה executed judgment on their gods. (5) The Israelites set out from Rameses and encamped at Succoth. (6) They set out from Succoth and encamped at Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness.

(7) They set out from Etham and turned about toward Pi-hahiroth, which faces Baal-zephon, and they encamped before Migdol. (8) They set out from Pene -hahiroth and passed through the sea into the wilderness; and they made a three-days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham and encamped at Marah. (9) They set out from Marah and came to Elim. There were twelve springs in Elim and seventy palm trees, so they encamped there. (10) They set out from Elim and encamped by the Sea of Reeds. (11) They set out from the Sea of Reeds and encamped in the wilderness of Sin. (12) They set out from the wilderness of Sin and encamped at Dophkah. (13) They set out from Dophkah and encamped at Alush. (14) They set out from Alush and encamped at Rephidim; it was there that the people had no water to drink. (15) They set out from Rephidim and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai. (16) They set out from the wilderness of Sinai and encamped at Kibroth-hattaavah. (17) They set out from Kibroth-hattaavah and encamped at Hazeroth. (18) They set out from Hazeroth and encamped at Rithmah. (19) They set out from Rithmah and encamped at Rimmon-perez. (20) They set out from Rimmon-perez and encamped at Libnah. (21) They set out from Libnah and encamped at Rissah. (22) They set out from Rissah and encamped at Kehelath. (23) They set out from Kehelath and encamped at Mount Shepher. (24) They set out from Mount Shepher and encamped at Haradah. (25) They set out from Haradah and encamped at Makheloth. (26) They set out from Makheloth and encamped at Tahath. (27) They set out from Tahath and encamped at Terah. (28) They set out from Terah and encamped at Mithkah. (29) They set out from Mithkah and encamped at Hashmonah. (30) They set out from Hashmonah and encamped at Moseroth. (31) They set out from Moseroth and encamped at Bene-jaakan. (32) They set out from Bene-jaakan and encamped at Hor-haggidgad. (33) They set out from Hor-haggidgad and encamped at Jotbath. (34) They set out from Jotbath and encamped at Abronah. (35) They set out from Abronah and encamped at Ezion-geber. (36) They set out from Ezion-geber and encamped in the wilderness of Zin, that is, Kadesh.

(37) They set out from Kadesh and encamped at Mount Hor, on the edge of the land of Edom. (38) Aaron the priest ascended Mount Hor at the command of יהוה and died there, in the fortieth year after the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month. (39) Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor. (40) And the Canaanite, king of Arad, who dwelt in the Negeb, in the land of Canaan, learned of the coming of the Israelites. (41) They set out from Mount Hor and encamped at Zalmonah. (42) They set out from Zalmonah and encamped at Punon. (43) They set out from Punon and encamped at Oboth. (44) They set out from Oboth and encamped at Iye-abarim, in the territory of Moab. (45) They set out from Iyim and encamped at Dibon-gad. (46) They set out from Dibon-gad and encamped at Almon-diblathaim. (47) They set out from Almon-diblathaim and encamped in the hills of Abarim, before Nebo. (48) They set out from the hills of Abarim and encamped in the steppes of Moab, at the Jordan near Jericho; (49) they encamped by the Jordan from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim, in the steppes of Moab.

(47) They set out from Almon-diblathaim and encamped in the hills of Abarim, before Nebo. (48) They set out from the hills of Abarim and encamped in the steppes of Moab, at the Jordan near Jericho; (49) they encamped by the Jordan from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim, in the steppes of Moab.

(4) Hear the word of GOD, O House of Jacob,Every clan of the House of Israel! (5) Thus said GOD:What wrong did your ancestors find in MeThat they abandoned MeAnd went after delusion and were deluded? (6) They never asked themselves, “Where is GOD,Who brought us up from the land of Egypt,Who led us through the wilderness,A land of deserts and pits,A land of drought and darkness,A land nobody had traversed,Where no human being had dwelt?” (7) I brought you to this country of farmlandTo enjoy its fruit and its bounty;But you came and defiled My land,You made My possession abhorrent. (8) The priests never asked themselves, “Where is GOD?”The guardians of the Teaching ignored Me;The rulers rebelled against Me,And the prophets prophesied by BaalAnd followed what can do no good. (9) Oh, I will go on accusing you—declares GOD—And I will accuse your children’s children! (10) Just cross over to the isles of the Kittim and look,Send to Kedar and observe carefully;See if aught like this has ever happened: (11) Has any nation changed its godsEven though they are no-gods?But My people has exchanged its gloryFor what can do no good. (12) Be appalled, O heavens, at this;Be horrified, utterly dazed!—says GOD. (13) For My people have done a twofold wrong:They have forsaken Me, the Fount of living waters,And hewed out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns,That cannot even hold water. (14) Is Israel a bondman?Is he a home-born slave?Then why is he given over to plunder? (15) Lions have roared over him,Have raised their cries.They have made his land a waste,His cities desolate, without inhabitants. (16) Those, too, in Noph and Tahpanhes Will lay bare your head. (17) See, that is the price you have paidFor forsaking the ETERNAL your God Who led you in the way. (18) What, then, is the good of your going to EgyptTo drink the waters of the Nile?And what is the good of your going to AssyriaTo drink the waters of the Euphrates? (19) Let your misfortune reprove you,Let your afflictions rebuke you;Mark well how bad and bitter it isThat you forsake the ETERNAL your God,That awe for Me is not in you—declares my Sovereign GOD of Hosts. (20) For long ago you broke your yoke,Tore off your yoke-bands,And said, “I will not work!” On every high hill and under every verdant tree,You recline as a whore. (21) I planted you with noble vines,All with choicest seed;Alas, I find you changedInto a base, an alien vine! (22) Though you wash with natronAnd use much lye,Your guilt is ingrained before Me—declares my Sovereign GOD. (23) How can you say, “I am not defiled,I have not gone after the Baalim”?Look at your deeds in the Valley, Consider what you have done!Like a lustful she-camel,Restlessly running about, (24) Or like a wild ass used to the desert,Snuffing the wind in her eagerness,Whose passion none can restrain,None that seek her need grow weary—In her season, they’ll find her! (25) Save your foot from going bare,And your throat from thirst.But you say, “It is no use.No, I love the strangers, And after them I must go.” (26) Like a thief chagrined when caught,So is the House of Israel chagrined—They, their kings, their officers,And their priests and prophets. (27) They said to wood, “You are my father,”To stone, “You gave birth to me,”While to Me they turned their backsAnd not their faces.But in their hour of calamity they cry,“Arise and save us!” (28) And where are those godsYou made for yourself?Let them arise and save you, if they can,In your hour of calamity.For your gods have become, O Judah,As many as your towns!

(4) Just now you called to Me, “Father! You are the Companion of my youth.

(4) Hear the word of GOD, O House of Jacob,Every clan of the House of Israel! (5) Thus said GOD:What wrong did your ancestors find in MeThat they abandoned MeAnd went after delusion and were deluded? (6) They never asked themselves, “Where is GOD,Who brought us up from the land of Egypt,Who led us through the wilderness,A land of deserts and pits,A land of drought and darkness,A land nobody had traversed,Where no human being had dwelt?” (7) I brought you to this country of farmlandTo enjoy its fruit and its bounty;But you came and defiled My land,You made My possession abhorrent. (8) The priests never asked themselves, “Where is GOD?”The guardians of the Teaching ignored Me;The rulers rebelled against Me,And the prophets prophesied by BaalAnd followed what can do no good. (9) Oh, I will go on accusing you—declares GOD—And I will accuse your children’s children! (10) Just cross over to the isles of the Kittim and look,Send to Kedar and observe carefully;See if aught like this has ever happened: (11) Has any nation changed its godsEven though they are no-gods?But My people has exchanged its gloryFor what can do no good. (12) Be appalled, O heavens, at this;Be horrified, utterly dazed!—says GOD. (13) For My people have done a twofold wrong:They have forsaken Me, the Fount of living waters,And hewed out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns,That cannot even hold water. (14) Is Israel a bondman?Is he a home-born slave?Then why is he given over to plunder? (15) Lions have roared over him,Have raised their cries.They have made his land a waste,His cities desolate, without inhabitants. (16) Those, too, in Noph and Tahpanhes Will lay bare your head. (17) See, that is the price you have paidFor forsaking the ETERNAL your God Who led you in the way. (18) What, then, is the good of your going to EgyptTo drink the waters of the Nile?And what is the good of your going to AssyriaTo drink the waters of the Euphrates? (19) Let your misfortune reprove you,Let your afflictions rebuke you;Mark well how bad and bitter it isThat you forsake the ETERNAL your God,That awe for Me is not in you—declares my Sovereign GOD of Hosts. (20) For long ago you broke your yoke,Tore off your yoke-bands,And said, “I will not work!” On every high hill and under every verdant tree,You recline as a whore. (21) I planted you with noble vines,All with choicest seed;Alas, I find you changedInto a base, an alien vine! (22) Though you wash with natronAnd use much lye,Your guilt is ingrained before Me—declares my Sovereign GOD. (23) How can you say, “I am not defiled,I have not gone after the Baalim”?Look at your deeds in the Valley, Consider what you have done!Like a lustful she-camel,Restlessly running about, (24) Or like a wild ass used to the desert,Snuffing the wind in her eagerness,Whose passion none can restrain,None that seek her need grow weary—In her season, they’ll find her! (25) Save your foot from going bare,And your throat from thirst.But you say, “It is no use.No, I love the strangers, And after them I must go.” (26) Like a thief chagrined when caught,So is the House of Israel chagrined—They, their kings, their officers,And their priests and prophets. (27) They said to wood, “You are my father,”To stone, “You gave birth to me,”While to Me they turned their backsAnd not their faces.But in their hour of calamity they cry,“Arise and save us!” (28) And where are those godsYou made for yourself?Let them arise and save you, if they can,In your hour of calamity.For your gods have become, O Judah,As many as your towns!

(1) If you return, O Israel—declares GOD—If you return to Me,If you remove your abominations from My presenceAnd do not waver, (2) And swear, “As GOD lives,” In sincerity, justice, and righteousness—Nations shall bless themselves by you And praise themselves by you.

(14) Is Israel a bondman?Is he a home-born slave?Then why is he given over to plunder? (15) Lions have roared over him,Have raised their cries.They have made his land a waste,His cities desolate, without inhabitants. (16) Those, too, in Noph and Tahpanhes Will lay bare your head. (17) See, that is the price you have paidFor forsaking the ETERNAL your God Who led you in the way. (18) What, then, is the good of your going to EgyptTo drink the waters of the Nile?And what is the good of your going to AssyriaTo drink the waters of the Euphrates? (19) Let your misfortune reprove you,Let your afflictions rebuke you;Mark well how bad and bitter it isThat you forsake the ETERNAL your God,That awe for Me is not in you—declares my Sovereign GOD of Hosts. (20) For long ago you broke your yoke,Tore off your yoke-bands,And said, “I will not work!” On every high hill and under every verdant tree,You recline as a whore. (21) I planted you with noble vines,All with choicest seed;Alas, I find you changedInto a base, an alien vine! (22) Though you wash with natronAnd use much lye,Your guilt is ingrained before Me—declares my Sovereign GOD. (23) How can you say, “I am not defiled,I have not gone after the Baalim”?Look at your deeds in the Valley, Consider what you have done!Like a lustful she-camel,Restlessly running about, (24) Or like a wild ass used to the desert,Snuffing the wind in her eagerness,Whose passion none can restrain,None that seek her need grow weary—In her season, they’ll find her! (25) Save your foot from going bare,And your throat from thirst.But you say, “It is no use.No, I love the strangers, And after them I must go.” (26) Like a thief chagrined when caught,So is the House of Israel chagrined—They, their kings, their officers,And their priests and prophets. (27) They said to wood, “You are my father,”To stone, “You gave birth to me,”While to Me they turned their backsAnd not their faces.But in their hour of calamity they cry,“Arise and save us!” (28) And where are those godsYou made for yourself?Let them arise and save you, if they can,In your hour of calamity.For your gods have become, O Judah,As many as your towns!

(4) Just now you called to Me, “Father! You are the Companion of my youth.