And it happened after the plague, Yahweh said to Moses and to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, saying, "Take a census of the community of the Israelites from those twenty years old and above, according to their families, all who are able to go out to war in Israel." So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them on the desert-plateau of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, saying, "Take a census of the community from those twenty years old and above, just as Yahweh commanded Moses."

The Israelites who went out from the land of Egypt were:

Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, the descendants of Reuben: of Hanoch, the clan of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the clan of the Palluites; of Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the clan of the Carmites. These are the clans of the Reubenites, and the ones counted of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty. The children of Pallu: Eliab. The children of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the same Dathan and Abiram who were appointed of the community, who rebelled against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they rebelled against Yahweh, and the land opened its mouth and swallowed them with Korah, when that company died, when the fire consumed two hundred and fifty men, and they were a sign. The children of Korah, however, did not die.

The descendants of Simeon, according to their clans: of Nemuel, the clan of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the clan of the Jaminites; of Jakin, the clan of the Jakinites; of Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites; of Shaul, the clan of the Shaulites. These were the clans of the Simeonites, twenty-two thousand two hundred.

The descendants of Gad according to their clans: of Zephon, the clan of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the clan of the Haggites; of Shuni, the clan of the Shunites; of Ozni, the clan of the Oznites; of Eri, the clan of the Erites; of Arod, the clan of the Arodites; of Areli, the clan of the Arelites; These were the clans of the descendants of Gad according to the ones counted of them, forty thousand five hundred.

The sons of Judah: Er and Onan; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The descendants of Judah according to their clans were: of Shelah, the clan of the Shelanites; of Perez, the clan of the Perezites; of Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites. The children of Perez were: of Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the clan of the Hamulites. These were the clans of Judah according to the ones counted of them, seventy-six thousand five hundred.

The descendants of Issachar according to their clans: of Tola, the clan of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the clan of the Punites; of Jashub, the clans of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the clan of the Shimronites. These were the clans of Issachar according to the ones counted of them, sixty-four thousand three hundred.

The descendants of Zebulun according to their clans: of Sered, the clan of the Seredites; of Elon, the clan of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the clan of the Jahleelites. These were the clans of the Zebulunites according to the ones counted of them, sixty thousand five hundred.

The descendants of Joseph according to their clans: Manasseh and Ephraim. The descendants of Manasseh: of Makir, the clan of the Makirites. And Makir fathered Gilead; of Gilead, the clan of the Gileadites. These were the descendants of Gilead: of Iezer, the clan of the Iezerites; of Helek, the clan of the Helekites; and of Asriel, the clan of the Asrielites; and of Shechem, the clan of the Shechemites; and of Shemida, the clan of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the clan of the Hepherites. Zelophehad son of Hepher did not have sons, but only daughters; and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. These were the clans of Manasseh, and the ones counted of them were fifty-two thousand seven hundred.

These were the descendants of Ephraim according to their clans: of Shuthelah, the clan of the Shuthelahites; of Beker, the clan of the Bekerites; of Tahan, the clan of the Tahanites. And these were the descendants of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites. These were the clans of the descendants of Ephraim according to the ones counted of them, thirty-two thousand five hundred. These were the descendants of Joseph according to their clans.

The descendants of Benjamin according to their clans: of Bela, the clan of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the clan of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the clan of the Ahiramites; of Shephupham, the clan of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the clan of the Huphamites. The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the clan of the Ardites; of Naaman, the clan of the Naamites. These were the descendants of Benjamin according to their clans. And the ones counted of them were forty-five thousand six hundred.

These were the descendants of Dan according to their clans: of Shuham, the clan of the Shuhamites. These were the clans of Dan according to their clans. All the clans of the Shuhamites, according to the ones counted of them, were sixty-four thousand four hundred.

The descendants of Asher according to their clans: of Imnah, the clan of the Imnahites; of Ishvi, the clan of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the clan of the Beriahites. The descendants of Beriah: of Heber, the clan of the Heberites; of Malkiel, the clan of the Malkielites. The name of the daughter of Asher was Serah. These were the clans of the descendants of Asher according to the ones counted of them, fifty-three thousand four hundred.

The descendants of Naphtali according to their clans: of Jahzeel, the clan of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the clan of the Gunites; of Jezer, the clan of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the clan of the Shillemites. These were the clans of Naphtali according to their clans, the ones counted of them, forty-five thousand four hundred.

These were the ones counted of the Israelites, six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty.

Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, "For these the land must be divided as an inheritance according to the number of names. For the larger group you must increase their inheritance, and for the smaller group you must make smaller their inheritance; each must be given their inheritance according to the number of the ones counted of them. Surely the land will be divided by lot. They will inherit according to the names of the tribes of their ancestors. Their inheritance must be divided according to the lot between the larger and smaller groups."

These are the ones counted of the Levites according to their clans: of Gershon, the clan of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the clan of the Kohathites; of Merari, the clan of the Merarites. These are the clans of Levi: the clan of the Libnites, the clan of the Hebronites, the clan of the Mahlites, the clan of the Mushites, the clan of the Korahites. Kohath fathered Amram. The name of the wife of Amram was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whose mother bore her for Levi in Egypt; she bore to Amram: Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam. To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died when they presented strange fire before Yahweh. The ones counted were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and above, because they were not counted in the midst of the Israelites since no inheritance was given to them in the midst of the Israelites.

These were the ones counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who counted the Israelites on the desert-plateau of Moab on the Jordan across Jericho. And among these there was not a man of those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest, who counted the Israelites in the desert of Sinai. For Yahweh said to them, "They will surely die in the desert." And not a man was left over from them, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, of the clan of Manasseh the son of Joseph, came near; and these were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, and Tirzah. They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the leaders of the entire community at the doorway of the tent of assembly, saying, "Our father died in the desert; he was not in the midst of the company of those who banded together against Yahweh in the company of Korah, but he died in his own sin, and he had no sons. Why should the name of our father disappear from the midst of his clan because he does not have a son? Give us property in the midst of the brothers of our father." So Moses brought their case before Yahweh. And Yahweh said to Moses, saying, "The statements of the daughters of Zelophehad are right. You must surely give them the property of an inheritance in the midst of their father’s brothers, and you must transfer the inheritance of their father to them. And you must speak to the Israelites, saying, ‘If a man dies and has no son, you must transfer his inheritance to his daughter. And if he has no daughter, you must give his inheritance to his brothers. If he has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. If his father has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his nearest relative from his own clan, and he will take possession of it. It will be as a decree of stipulation for the Israelites, just as Yahweh commanded Moses.’"

Yahweh said to Moses, "Go up to this mountain of Abarim, and see the land that I have given to the Israelites. When you see it, you will be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother was gathered, because you rebelled against my word in the desert of Zin when the community quarreled regarding my holiness at the waters." (These are the waters of Meribah-Kadesh in the desert of Zin.)

Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, "Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the community who will go out before them and will come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so the community of Yahweh will not be like a flock that does not have a shepherd." Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and place your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before the entire community, and commission him in their sight. You will give to him from your authority so that the entire community of Israel will obey him. He will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will ask for him by the decision of the Urim before Yahweh. On his command they will go out, and at his command they will come in, both he and all of the Israelites with him, the entire community." Moses did just as Yahweh commanded him, and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before the entire community. And he placed his hands on him and commissioned him just as Yahweh spoke by the hand of Moses.

Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, "Command the Israelites and say to them, ‘You will be careful to present my offering, my food of my offerings made by fire, of a fragrance of appeasement to me, at its appointed time.’ You will say to them, ‘This is the offering made by fire that you will offer to Yahweh: two male lambs without defect in their first year as a continual burnt offering each day. You will offer one male lamb in the morning, and the second male lamb you will offer at twilight, and a tenth of an ephah of finely milled flour as a grain offering, mixed with a fourth of a measure of beaten oil. It is a continual burnt offering that was ordained on Mount Sinai as a fragrance of appeasement, an offering made by fire for Yahweh. The libation with it will be a fourth of a liquid measure for each male lamb; in the sanctuary you will pour out the libation of fermented drink for Yahweh. And the second male lamb you will offer at twilight; as the grain offering of the morning and as its libation you will offer it, an offering made by fire, a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh.

"‘On the day of the Sabbath, two male lambs without defect in their first year, and two-tenths of finely milled flour mixed with oil for a grain offering and its libation. This is the burnt offering every Sabbath in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation.

"‘And at the beginning of each of your months, you will present a burnt offering for Yahweh: two bulls and one ram, seven male lambs without defect in their first year; and three-tenths of finely milled flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, for each bull; and two-tenths of finely milled flour mixed with oil for a grain offering for the one ram; and a tenth of finely milled flour mixed with oil as a grain offering for each male lamb, for a burnt offering of a fragrance of appeasement, an offering of fire for Yahweh. Their libations will be half a liquid measure of wine for the bull and a third of a liquid measure of wine for the ram and a fourth of a liquid measure of wine for the male lamb; this is the burnt offering for every month for the months of the year. And one male goat as a sin offering for Yahweh; it will be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation.

"‘On the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover for Yahweh. On the fifteenth day of this month is a religious feast, unleavened bread must be eaten for seven days. On the first day there will be a holy convocation; you will not do any regular work. You will present an offering by fire, a burnt offering for Yahweh: two bulls and one ram and seven male lambs in their first year; they will be for you without defect. For their grain offering, you will offer finely milled flour mixed with oil: three-tenths for the bull and two-tenths for the ram. You will offer a tenth for each of the seven male lambs; and a goat for one sin offering to make atonement for you. You will offer these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for the continual burnt offering. Like this you will offer daily, for seven days, the food of the offering made by fire, a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh; it will be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation. On the seventh day you will have a holy convocation; you will not do any regular work.

"‘And on the day of firstfruits, when you are presenting a new offering for Yahweh during your Festival of Weeks, you will have a holy convocation; you will not do any regular work. You will present a burnt offering for a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh: two bulls, one ram, seven male lambs in their first year; and their grain offering will be finely milled flour mixed with oil: three-tenths for each bull, two-tenths for one ram, a tenth for each of the male lambs; and one male goat to make atonement for you. In addition to the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, you will offer them without defect with their libation.

"‘On the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you will have a holy convocation; you will not do any regular work. It will be a day for you of blowing trumpets. You will offer a burnt offering as a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh: one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs in their first year; they will be without defect. Their grain offering will be finely milled flour mixed with oil: three-tenths for the bull, two-tenths for the ram; and one-tenth for each of the seven male lambs; with one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you, in addition to the burnt offering of the new moon and its grain offering, the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their libations, according to their stipulations, as a fragrance of appeasement by fire for Yahweh.

"‘And on the tenth of this seventh month you will have a holy convocation, and you will afflict yourselves; you will not do any work. You will present a burnt offering for Yahweh, a fragrance of appeasement: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs in their first year; they will be without defect. And their grain offering will be of finely milled flour mixed with oil: three-tenths for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram, one-tenth for each of the seven male lambs; one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering of atonement and the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their libations.

"‘Then on the fifteenth day of the seventh month you will have a holy convocation; you will not do any regular work, and you will hold a religious feast for Yahweh for seven days. You will present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh: thirteen bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year; they will be without defect. And their grain offering will be of finely milled flour mixed with oil: three-tenths for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram, one-tenth for each of the seven male lambs; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.

"‘On the second day: twelve bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year; they will be without defect; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs, by their number according to the stipulation; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their libations.

"‘On the third day: eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect in their first year; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs, by their number according to the stipulation; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.

"‘On the fourth day: ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect in their first year; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.

"‘On the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect in their first year; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.

"‘On the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect in their first year; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.

"‘On the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs without defect in their first year; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.

"‘On the eighth day you will have an assembly; you will not do any regular work. You will present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs without defect in their first year; and their grain offering and their libations for the bulls, for the rams, and for the male lambs by their number according to the stipulation; and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its grain offering, and its libation.

"‘You will present these to Yahweh at your appointed time, in addition to your vows and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings and for you grain offerings and for your libations and for your fellowship offerings.’"

So Moses said to the Israelites in accordance with all that Yahweh commanded Moses.

Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire. (This first registration took place when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to be registered, each one to his own town. So Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered together with Mary, who was legally promised in marriage to him and was pregnant. And it happened that while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds in the same region, living out of doors and keeping watch, guarding over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring good news to you of great joy which will be for all the people: that today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. And this will be the sign for you: you will find the baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying,

And it happened that when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began to say to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has revealed to us!" And they went hurrying and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made known the statement that had been told to them about this child. And all who heard it were astonished concerning what had been said to them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

And when eight days were completed so that he could be circumcised, he was named Jesus, his name that he was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

And when the days of their purification were completed according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what was stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he would see the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus so that they could do for him according to what was customary under the law, he took him in his arms and praised God and said,

And his father and mother were astonished at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed— and a sword will pierce your own soul also, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed!"

And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher (she was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and herself as a widow up to eighty-four years) who did not depart from the temple with fastings and prayers, serving night and day. And at that same hour she approached and began to give thanks to God, and to speak about him to all those who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

And when they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child was growing and becoming strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.

And his parents went every year to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the feast. And after the days were completed, while they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. And his parents did not know it, but believing him to be in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. And they began searching for him among their relatives and their acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. And it happened that after three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting in the midst of the teachers and listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his insight and his answers. And when they saw him, they were astounded and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you done this to us? Look, your father and I have been searching for you anxiously!" And he said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that it was necessary for me to be in the house of my Father?" And they did not understand the statement that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was submitting to them. And his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with people.