The New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition Bible in One
Year - Day 69
Numbers 3: The Sons of Aaron
3: This is the lineage of Aaron and Moses at the time when the
Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. 2 These are the names of the sons of
Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar; 3 these are the
names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he ordained to minister
as priests. 4 Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered unholy
fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children.
Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of their father Aaron.
The Duties of the Levites
5 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 6 Bring the tribe of
Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, so that they may assist him. 7
They shall perform duties for him and for the whole congregation in front of
the tent of meeting, doing service at the tabernacle; 8 they shall be in charge
of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and attend to the duties for the
Israelites as they do service at the tabernacle. 9 You shall give the Levites
to Aaron and his descendants; they are unreservedly given to him from among the
Israelites. 10 But you shall make a register of Aaron and his descendants; it
is they who shall attend to the priesthood, and any outsider who comes near
shall be put to death.
11 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 12 I hereby accept the
Levites from among the Israelites as substitutes for all the firstborn that
open the womb among the Israelites. The Levites shall be mine, 13 for all the
firstborn are mine; when I killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I
consecrated for my own all the firstborn in Israel, both human and animal; they
shall be mine. I am the Lord.
A Census of the Levites
14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai,
saying: 15 Enroll the Levites by ancestral houses and by clans. You shall enroll
every male from a month old and upward. 16 So Moses enrolled them according to
the word of the Lord, as he was commanded. 17 The following were the sons of
Levi, by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 18 These are the names of
the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei. 19 The sons of Kohath by
their clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 The sons of Merari by their
clans: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites, by their ancestral
houses.
21 To Gershon belonged the clan of the Libnites and the clan of
the Shimeites; these were the clans of the Gershonites. 22 Their enrollment,
counting all the males from a month old and upward, was seven thousand five
hundred. 23 The clans of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle on
the west, 24 with Eliasaph son of Lael as head of the ancestral house of the
Gershonites. 25 The responsibility of the sons of Gershon in the tent of
meeting was to be the tabernacle, the tent with its covering, the screen for
the entrance of the tent of meeting, 26 the hangings of the court, the screen
for the entrance of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and
its cords—all the service pertaining to these.
27 To Kohath belonged the clan of the Amramites, the clan of the
Izharites, the clan of the Hebronites, and the clan of the Uzzielites; these
are the clans of the Kohathites. 28 Counting all the males, from a month old
and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred, attending to the duties of
the sanctuary. 29 The clans of the Kohathites were to camp on the south side of
the tabernacle, 30 with Elizaphan son of Uzziel as head of the ancestral house
of the clans of the Kohathites. 31 Their responsibility was to be the ark, the
table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which the
priests minister, and the screen—all the service pertaining to these. 32
Eleazar son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the leaders of the
Levites, and to have oversight of those who had charge of the sanctuary.
33 To Merari belonged the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of
the Mushites: these are the clans of Merari. 34 Their enrollment, counting all
the males from a month old and upward, was six thousand two hundred. 35 The
head of the ancestral house of the clans of Merari was Zuriel son of Abihail;
they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. 36 The responsibility
assigned to the sons of Merari was to be the frames of the tabernacle, the
bars, the pillars, the bases, and all their accessories—all the service
pertaining to these; 37 also the pillars of the court all around, with their
bases and pegs and cords.
38 Those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle on the
east—in front of the tent of meeting toward the east—were Moses and Aaron and
Aaron’s sons, having charge of the rites within the sanctuary, whatever had to
be done for the Israelites; and any outsider who came near was to be put to
death. 39 The total enrollment of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron enrolled at
the commandment of the Lord, by their clans, all the males from a month old and
upward, was twenty-two thousand.
The Redemption of the Firstborn
40 Then the Lord said to Moses: Enroll all the firstborn males
of the Israelites, from a month old and upward, and count their names. 41 But you
shall accept the Levites for me—I am the Lord—as substitutes for all the
firstborn among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites as substitutes
for all the firstborn among the livestock of the Israelites. 42 So Moses
enrolled all the firstborn among the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. 43
The total enrollment, all the firstborn males from a month old and upward,
counting the number of names, was twenty-two thousand two hundred
seventy-three.
44 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 45 Accept the Levites
as substitutes for all the firstborn among the Israelites, and the livestock of
the Levites as substitutes for their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine.
I am the Lord. 46 As the price of redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of
the firstborn of the Israelites, over and above the number of the Levites, 47
you shall accept five shekels apiece, reckoning by the shekel of the sanctuary,
a shekel of twenty gerahs. 48 Give to Aaron and his sons the money by which the
excess number of them is redeemed. 49 So Moses took the redemption money from
those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites; 50 from the
firstborn of the Israelites he took the money, one thousand three hundred
sixty-five shekels, reckoned by the shekel of the sanctuary; 51 and Moses gave
the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the Lord,
as the Lord had commanded Moses.
The Kohathites
4: The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: 2 Take a census of
the Kohathites separate from the other Levites, by their clans and their
ancestral houses, 3 from thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who
qualify to do work relating to the tent of meeting. 4 The service of the
Kohathites relating to the tent of meeting concerns the most holy things.
5 When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in
and take down the screening curtain, and cover the ark of the covenant[a] with
it; 6 then they shall put on it a covering of fine leather,[b] and spread over
that a cloth all of blue, and shall put its poles in place. 7 Over the table of
the bread of the Presence they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the
plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink
offering; the regular bread also shall be on it; 8 then they shall spread over
them a crimson cloth, and cover it with a covering of fine leather,[c] and
shall put its poles in place. 9 They shall take a blue cloth, and cover the
lampstand for the light, with its lamps, its snuffers, its trays, and all the
vessels for oil with which it is supplied; 10 and they shall put it with all
its utensils in a covering of fine leather,[d] and put it on the carrying
frame. 11 Over the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it
with a covering of fine leather,[e] and shall put its poles in place; 12 and
they shall take all the utensils of the service that are used in the sanctuary,
and put them in a blue cloth, and cover them with a covering of fine
leather,[f] and put them on the carrying frame. 13 They shall take away the
ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it; 14 and they shall put
on it all the utensils of the altar, which are used for the service there, the
firepans, the forks, the shovels, and the basins, all the utensils of the
altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of fine leather,[g] and shall put
its poles in place. 15 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the
sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after
that the Kohathites shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy
things, or they will die. These are the things of the tent of meeting that the
Kohathites are to carry.
16 Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall have charge of the oil
for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering, and the
anointing oil, the oversight of all the tabernacle and all that is in it, in
the sanctuary and in its utensils.
17 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: 18 You must
not let the tribe of the clans of the Kohathites be destroyed from among the
Levites. 19 This is how you must deal with them in order that they may live and
not die when they come near to the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall
go in and assign each to a particular task or burden. 20 But the Kohathites[h]
must not go in to look on the holy things even for a moment; otherwise they
will die.
The Gershonites and Merarites
21 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 22 Take a census of the
Gershonites also, by their ancestral houses and by their clans; 23 from thirty
years old up to fifty years old you shall enroll them, all who qualify to do
work in the tent of meeting. 24 This is the service of the clans of the
Gershonites, in serving and bearing burdens: 25 They shall carry the curtains
of the tabernacle, and the tent of meeting with its covering, and the outer
covering of fine leather[i] that is on top of it, and the screen for the
entrance of the tent of meeting, 26 and the hangings of the court, and the
screen for the entrance of the gate of the court that is around the tabernacle
and the altar, and their cords, and all the equipment for their service; and
they shall do all that needs to be done with regard to them. 27 All the service
of the Gershonites shall be at the command of Aaron and his sons, in all that
they are to carry, and in all that they have to do; and you shall assign to
their charge all that they are to carry. 28 This is the service of the clans of
the Gershonites relating to the tent of meeting, and their responsibilities are
to be under the oversight of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
29 As for the Merarites, you shall enroll them by their clans
and their ancestral houses; 30 from thirty years old up to fifty years old you
shall enroll them, everyone who qualifies to do the work of the tent of
meeting. 31 This is what they are charged to carry, as the whole of their
service in the tent of meeting: the frames of the tabernacle, with its bars,
pillars, and bases, 32 and the pillars of the court all around with their
bases, pegs, and cords, with all their equipment and all their related service;
and you shall assign by name the objects that they are required to carry. 33
This is the service of the clans of the Merarites, the whole of their service
relating to the tent of meeting, under the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the
priest.
Census of the Levites
34 So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the congregation
enrolled the Kohathites, by their clans and their ancestral houses, 35 from
thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who qualified for work
relating to the tent of meeting; 36 and their enrollment by clans was two
thousand seven hundred fifty. 37 This was the enrollment of the clans of the
Kohathites, all who served at the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron
enrolled according to the commandment of the Lord by Moses.
38 The enrollment of the Gershonites, by their clans and their
ancestral houses, 39 from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who
qualified for work relating to the tent of meeting— 40 their enrollment by
their clans and their ancestral houses was two thousand six hundred thirty. 41
This was the enrollment of the clans of the Gershonites, all who served at the
tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron enrolled according to the commandment of
the Lord.
42 The enrollment of the clans of the Merarites, by their clans
and their ancestral houses, 43 from thirty years old up to fifty years old,
everyone who qualified for work relating to the tent of meeting— 44 their
enrollment by their clans was three thousand two hundred. 45 This is the
enrollment of the clans of the Merarites, whom Moses and Aaron enrolled
according to the commandment of the Lord by Moses.
46 All those who were enrolled of the Levites, whom Moses and
Aaron and the leaders of Israel enrolled, by their clans and their ancestral
houses, 47 from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who qualified
to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens relating to the tent
of meeting, 48 their enrollment was eight thousand five hundred eighty. 49
According to the commandment of the Lord through Moses they were appointed to
their several tasks of serving or carrying; thus they were enrolled by him, as
the Lord commanded Moses.
Footnotes:
a. Numbers 4:5 Or treaty, or testimony; Heb eduth
b. Numbers 4:6 Meaning of Heb uncertain
c. Numbers 4:8 Meaning of Heb uncertain
d. Numbers 4:10 Meaning of Heb uncertain
e. Numbers 4:11 Meaning of Heb uncertain
f. Numbers 4:12 Meaning of Heb uncertain
g. Numbers 4:14 Meaning of Heb uncertain
h. Numbers 4:20 Heb they
i. Numbers 4:25 Meaning of Heb uncertain
Psalm 71: Prayer for Lifelong Protection and Help
1 In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
let me never be put to
shame.
2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me
and save me.
3 Be to me a rock of refuge,
a strong fortress,[a]
to save me,
for you are my rock
and my fortress.
4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the
unjust and cruel.
5 For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from
my youth.
6 Upon you I have leaned from my birth;
it was you who took me
from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you.
7 I have been like a portent to many,
but you are my strong
refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
and with your glory
all day long.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
do not forsake me when
my strength is spent.
10 For my enemies speak concerning me,
and those who watch
for my life consult together.
11 They say, “Pursue and seize that person
whom God has forsaken,
for there is no one to
deliver.”
12 O God, do not be far from me;
O my God, make haste
to help me!
13 Let my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
let those who seek to
hurt me
be covered with scorn
and disgrace.
14 But I will hope continually,
and will praise you
yet more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of
salvation all day long,
though their number is
past my knowledge.
16 I will come praising the mighty deeds of the Lord God,
I will praise your
righteousness, yours alone.
17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim
your wondrous deeds.
18 So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake
me,
until I proclaim your might
to all the generations
to come.[b]
Your power 19 and your righteousness, O God,
reach the high
heavens.
You who have done great things,
O God, who is like
you?
20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
you will bring me up
again.
21 You will increase my honor,
and comfort me once
again.
22 I will also praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness,
O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praises to
you;
my soul also, which
you have rescued.
24 All day long my tongue will talk of your righteous help,
for those who tried to do me harm
have been put to
shame, and disgraced.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 71:3 Gk Compare 31.3: Heb to come continually you have
commanded
b. Psalm 71:18 Gk Compare Syr: Heb to a generation, to all that
come
Acts 9: The Conversion of Saul
1 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the
disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to
the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way,
men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he was going
along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around
him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why
do you persecute me?” 5 He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am
Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will
be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood
speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8 Saul got up from the
ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by
the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he was without sight,
and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord
said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 The Lord
said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of
Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12 and
he has seen in a vision[a] a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him
so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have
heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in
Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who
invoke your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument
whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the
people of Israel; 16 I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the
sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands
on Saul[b] and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your
way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the
Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and
his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking
some food, he regained his strength.
Saul Preaches in Damascus
For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and
immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the
Son of God.” 21 All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man
who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not
come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” 22
Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in
Damascus by proving that Jesus[c] was the Messiah.[d]
Footnotes:
a. Acts 9:12 Other ancient authorities lack in a vision
b. Acts 9:17 Gk him
c. Acts 9:22 Gk that this
d. Acts 9:22 Or the Christ
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