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 permanently bars both Ammonites and Moabites from their congregations for their hard-heartedness and violence toward Israel in the wilderness. He gives commandments on camp sanitation, and on lending both to Israelites and to strangers, and gives laws about divorce and remarriage, and on protecting the poor.

Into/Outro music: "Unexpectedly" (c) 1995 Alex Grant Used by permission

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 judges to handle civil matters between Israelites. The LORD reinforces capital punishment for idolatry, and establishes expectations for any future king the Israelites may one day desire to appoint. The portion for the priests is expounded upon, pagan practices forbidden, including dark arts of any kind such as sorcery, and establishes a litmus test for any who would claim to be a prophet. He concludes with the law of the cities of refuge, and establishes a minimum number of witnesses required for a guilty conviction by a judge. 

Into/Outro music: "Unexpectedly" (c) 1995 Alex Grant Used by permission

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 worship, and commands sacrifice be done only at the places the LORD appoints, warning against idolatry, and condemning false prophets and idolators to death. He commands that idolatrous cities be destroyed with their spoil and burnt, never to be rebuilt, and defines clean and unclean animals - what may be eaten and what may not. He gives commandments concerning the paying of tithes, and ordains they should “not forsake” the Levite that is within their gates, making clear the responsibility of the Tribes to take care of the Levites.

Into/Outro music: "Unexpectedly" (c) 1995 Alex Grant Used by permission

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 again warns of idolatry and its evils, declaring Israel to be a chosen people inheriting the land because of the promise, and driving out its inhabitants because of their wickedness, rather than for Israel’s righteousness. He warns them against pride, reminding them of the tables of the testimony broken for their rebellion, and the golden calf he destroyed, and his own intercession for the salvation of Israel.

Into/Outro music: "Unexpectedly" (c) 1995 Alex Grant Used by permission

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 them over the kings of Heshbon and Og, and of the distribution of the land among the tribes of Israel, but that Moses himself was forbidden to cross over Jordan into the good land. He commands obedience to the LORD their God, forbids idolatry, declares Israel to be a chosen nation, and sets apart the first three cities of refuge.

Into/Outro music: "Unexpectedly" (c) 1995 Alex Grant Used by permission

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 Jordan. He appoints cities for the Levites to possess, and cities of refuge and the laws governing their use. The matter of the inheritance of the daughters of Zelophehad arises again, and the LORD establishes the law of the marriage of heiresses to protect inheritances within each tribe. 

Into/Outro music: "Unexpectedly" (c) 1995 Alex Grant Used by permission

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 captives and the spoil are divided among the victors. The tribes of the Reuben and Gad elect to settle on the east side of Jordan in the land of Gilead, agreeing to Moses’s terms that their men continue on over Jordan to help their brethren conquer the land promised to them by God.

Into/Outro music: "Unexpectedly" (c) 1995 Alex Grant Used by permission

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 division of the land by tribes. A matter of inheritance is decided when a family has no sons, and the LORD gives Moses a view of the promised land, though he would not pass in to inherit it because of the breach he made at Meribah. Moses beseeches the LORD for a successor to replace him so the Israelites would not become “as sheep which have no shepherd”, and the LORD appoints Joshua.

Into/Outro music: "Unexpectedly" (c) 1995 Alex Grant Used by permission

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 through their lands, and Amorites go to war against Israel and are defeated. Likewise the king of Bashan is defeated in battle against the Israelites, and Israel dwells in the lands taken from the Amorites. Another gentile king seeks the aid of Balaam, a seer who worships the LORD, to curse the children of Israel, but he instead blesses them four times before going his way.

Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses, wherein he calls upon God for mercy and wisdom, and blessing.

Into/Outro music: "Unexpectedly" (c) 1995 Alex Grant Used by permission

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 and the miracle of Aaron’s rod. He later describes the duties of the Levites, establishes the priests’ portions and the system of tithes, and appoints the sacrifice of a red heifer for purifying.

Into/Outro music: "Unexpectedly" (c) 1995 Alex Grant Used by permission