The Word

In today’s reading, the LORD gives commandments regarding military service and waging war, making sacrifice for unknown murderer, marrying captive wives, matters concerning sons, and executing a death penalty by hanging. He gives further commandments on the welfare of others, and on marital and sexual behaviors. The LORD gives commandments concerning wholeness of body, and of purity, and permanent...

In today’s reading, the LORD declares the sabbath years of release, releasing debts and setting Hebrews bondservants free at the appointed time, yet still commanding that the Israelites be always willing to lend to the poor among their brethren, regardless of the approach of a sabbath year. He again commands the observance of the passover and the appointed feasts, and commands the appointment of j...

In today’s reading, Moses recounts to Israel the preparing of the second tables of stone with the Ten Commandments inscribed in them, and reinforces the requirements of the LORD to obey and love Him wholeheartedly, and to teach the commandments to their children, keeping the words of the LORD close to their hearts. The LORD commands the complete destruction of the places and paraphernalia of pagan...

In today’s reading, Moses recites the Ten Commandments, and recounts the time he spent in the mountain with God, reviewing Israel’s history of recalcitrance toward the LORD. He declares the purpose of the Law, and declares the law of love: “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” He commands them to teach the law to their children, and...

The book of Deuteronomy begins with Moses relating the LORD’s guidance to the people, and commanding them to depart from Horeb and begin to cross over and take the promised land. Moses recounts the choosing of leaders and the unbelief of the Israelites when they first came to the border of the land, and the consequent years spent wandering in the wilderness. He recounts the victories the LORD gave...

The book of Numbers concludes with a recounting of the journey of Israel out of Egypt, encampment by encampment, from their departure from Egypt at Rameses to their arrival by Jordan in the plains of Moab. The LORD declares the borders appointed to the children of Israel to be divided among the tribes, and confirms the lands claimed by the tribes of Rueben, Gad, and Manasseh on the near side of Jo...

In today’s reading, the LORD commands the feast of trumpets be observed, and describes the protocol for its offerings and the offerings for the day of atonement, as well as the feast of tabernacles. He gives commandments concerning vows made to the LORD by men, and by women both single and married. The LORD then commands raising an army among the Israelites to destroy the Midianites, and the capti...

In today’s reading, Israel commits whoredom and idolatry while dwelling in the region of Shittim, and again the anger of the LORD is kindled. Phinehas in his zeal averts a plague from the LORD by executing two of the offenders, one an Israelite, and the other a Midianite, and the LORD blesses him for it. The LORD then orders a second census of the people, numbering the tribes and establishes the d...

In today’s reading, the people complain again concerning a lack of water, and the LORD instructs Moses to bring forth water from the rock at Meribah. Moses incurs the judgment of God for botching the job; he strikes the rock and takes the credit, and the LORD bars him from entering the promised land. As Israel travels in the wilderness, the nations of Edom and the Amorites refuse Israel passage th...

In today’s reading, the LORD gives commandments concerning required offerings, and offerings for sins committed in ignorance. This new chapter of Israel in the wilderness is quickly darkened, first by execution of a sabbath-breaker, and then by the much more serious insurrection led by Korah, whom the LORD swiftly judged with his followers, and put down rebellion among the people through a plague...

In today’s reading, Israel departs from the Sinai wilderness toward the promised land, and the people ungratefully complain about their diet. The LORD in His wrath sends quails and a plague, causing many to die. Miriam and Aaron later speak against Moses, and the LORD answers them with a severe rebuke. Twelve spies are dispatched to gather intelligence about the promised land and its inhabitants,...

In today’s reading, the LORD gives the law of the Nazarite vow, and a blessing upon His people, Israel. The altar of the tabernacle is dedicated, with abundant offerings and sacrifices given by the heads of each of the tribes: Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Dan, Asher, and Naphtali. Aaron lights the gold candlestick of the tabernacle, and Moses purifies...

As we begin the book of Numbers, the LORD orders a census of the people, and accounts the tribes of Israel and their populations. He gives orders as to their encampment positions, and further sets the Levites apart by exempting them from the census as His own servants. The descendants of Aaron are assigned Service responsibilities according to their families, and the LORD gives commandments concer...

Today’s reading concludes the book of Leviticus; the LORD declares jubilee years and gives commandments concerning them; also of the redeeming of possessions, the lending of money, and the redeeming of servants. He declares blessings for obedience, punishments for disobedience, and advises that even should they depart into great wickedness, and fall into the punishments the He warns them of, that...

In today’s reading, the LORD declares a litany of sins pertaining to idolatry, sexual pollution, sorcery, cursing one’s parents and blasphemy, to be capital offenses punishable by death or exile; following these declarations is the reiterated command to be holy, and a reminder that for all those sins were the indigenous nations of the promised land destroyed. After, the LORD gives further commandm...

In today’s reading, the LORD gives the laws concerning uncleanness in both men and women, and describes in great detail the annual ceremony of atonement to be performed by the High Priest, including the use of the scapegoat. The LORD then gives laws about special sacrifices, and forbids unlawful sexual relations, including, but not limited to, incest, homosexuality, and bestiality, and describes s...

In today’s reading, the LORD gives the laws of clean and unclean animals, purification after childbirth, and detailed laws about skin plagues, plagues in garments and dwellings, and their cleansing. Into/Outro music: "Unexpectedly" (c) 1995 Alex Grant Used by permissionEpisode Notes

In today’s reading, the LORD continues instruction in the sacrifices: the burnt offerings, the sin and trespass offerings, and the peace offerings, and appoints the portions for the priests who offer them. Moses anoints the priests to begin their work as such, and the consecration of the priests is accomplished. But after all has begun so well, tragedy strikes in an act of disobedience as the sons...

Today we begin in the book of Leviticus, or “That which pertains to the Levites”, the priests of Israel. In the first five chapters the LORD gives instructions for burnt offerings, meat offerings, peace offerings, trespass offerings, and the various sin offerings for priests, the congregation, rulers,  common men and women, and the poor.  Into/Outro music: "Unexpectedly" (c) 1995 Alex Gr...

Bezaleel and his appointed craftsmen make the ark of the covenant, all the furnishings of the tabernacle, the court of the tabernacle, the garments of the priests, and the priest’s breastplate and robe. They present the finished work to Moses, who validates its faithfulness to the LORD’s design, and blesses them.  Exodus concludes with the complete assembly of the tabernacle, after which the...

In today’s reading, the LORD renews His covenant with Moses and Israel, and promises to show Moses His glory. After, the second tables of the testimony - the Ten Commandments - are carved and inscribed, and the LORD warns against the idolatry of the Promised Land’s indigenous nations, and gives commandments concerning the appointed feasts. The people give their offerings of materials and labor for...

In today’s reading, the LORD gives instructions for consecrating the priests, and the consecration’s related sacrifices and offerings. He further instructs for the making of the altar of incense and the laver for washing, and personally appoints the workmen to the task of fashioning all that must be made according the LORD’s design. After reiterating the sanctity of the sabbath, He gives to Moses...

Today’s reading is heavy with technical writing, as the LORD gives instructions for the offering for the tabernacle, and for the building of the tabernacle and its furnishings, including the Ark of the Testimony, known also as the Ark of the Covenant. Detailed descriptions of designs, measurements and materials - gold, silver, brass, linen, and animals skins of specific kinds - are prescribed for...

In today’s reading, God gives more of the Law to Moses and to the people: Laws concerning servants, murder, fighting, livestock and other property, particularly concerning theft, and other matters of personal behavior, and of the sabbath, and the appointed feasts. God promises protection from many evils if they will keep His covenant, His commandments, and assembled Israel openly accepts this “con...

In today’s reading, the children of Israel continue their journey through the wilderness of Sin  toward the promised land, and begin to demonstrate a propensity for complaints, accusations, and stubbornness. The LORD, patient with the newly liberated Hebrews, miraculously provides food and water to sustain their enormous numbers and livestock, and grants them victory in battle against Amalek....