How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)
Quote #1
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Command the Israelites to put out of the camp everyone who is leprous, or has a discharge, and everyone who is unclean through contact with a corpse; you shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp; they must not defile their camp, where I dwell among them. (Numbers 5:1-3, NRSV)
The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead: Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell. (Numbers 5:1-3, KJV)
How's that for community organizing? God doesn't want anyone with skin diseases or who's touched a dead body hanging around the rest of the population. In a way, this makes sense, since these folks could pass their germs onto the rest of the population. It is important to note that this doesn't say these folks are shut out forever. They can rejoin the fold once they're declared clean again. So start scrubbing now!
Quote #2
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them. (Numbers 6:22-27, NRSV)
The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them. (Numbers 6:22-27, KJV)
God promises to shower his blessings down on the whole community. Of course, he also reserves the right to send some plagues their way, too.
Quote #3
The one who presented his offering the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah; his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab. (Numbers 7:12-17, NRSV)
He that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah: And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab. (Numbers 7:12-17, KJV)
If you remember, this is the first in a long list of twelve days of offerings (one day for each tribe of Israel). Oddly enough, every single tribe gives the exact same gift. If Shmoop showed up at a party with the same gift as the other 11 guests, we would be pretty darned embarrassed. But the author of Numbers clearly sees this as a way to show alignment between the tribes. This is one close-knit community.