The Wilderness Years

Also, if one person sins unintentionally, he is to present a year-old female goat as a sin offering.

And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven.

You shall have the same law for the one who acts in error, whether he is a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.

But the person who sins defiantly, whether a native or foreigner, blasphemes the LORD. That person shall be cut off from among his people.

He shall certainly be cut off, because he has despised the word of the LORD and broken His commandment; his guilt remains on him.”

While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day.

Those who found the man gathering wood brought him to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation,

and because it had not been declared what should be done to him, they placed him in custody.

And the LORD said to Moses, “The man must surely be put to death. The whole congregation is to stone him outside the camp.”

So the whole congregation took the man outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Later, the LORD said to Moses,

“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout the generations to come they are to make for themselves tassels for the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.

These will serve as tassels for you to look at, so that you may remember all the commandments of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by following your own heart and your own eyes.

Then you will remember and obey all My commandments, and you will be holy to your God.

I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.”

Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath son of Levi, along with some Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—conducted

a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 men of Israel renowned as leaders of the congregation and representatives in the assembly.

They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have taken too much upon yourselves! For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.

Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will reveal who belongs to Him and who is holy, and He will bring that person near to Himself. The one He chooses, He will bring near to Himself.

You, Korah, and all your followers are to do as follows: Take censers,

and tomorrow you are to place fire and incense in them in the presence of the LORD. Then the man the LORD chooses will be the one who is holy. It is you sons of Levi who have taken too much upon yourselves!”

Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you sons of Levi!

Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel and brought you near to Himself to perform the work at the LORD’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?

He has brought you near, you and all your fellow Levites, but you are seeking the priesthood as well.