The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday March 17, 2017 (NIV)

The People Are Counted

26 After the ·great sickness [plague], the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, ² “·Count [Take a census of; ^LLift the head of] all the ·people of Israel [^Lcommunity/congregation of the sons/^Tchildren of Israel] by ·families [clans], all the men who are twenty years old or older who will serve in the army of Israel [^Clike a military registration; chapter 1 counts the generation that came out of Egypt; this counts the one that would enter the land].” ³ Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke to the people on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River, across from Jericho. They said, ⁴ “Count the men [^Csupplied from v. 2] twenty years old or older, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

Here are the ·Israelites [^Lsons/^Tchildren of Israel] who came out of Egypt:

⁵ The ·tribe [^Lsons; descendants] of Reuben, the first son born to Israel, was counted. From Hanoch came the Hanochite ·family group [clan]; from Pallu came the Palluite ·family group [clan]; ⁶ from Hezron came the Hezronite ·family group [clan]; from Carmi came the Carmite ·family group [clan]. ⁷ These were the ·family groups [clans] of Reuben, and the total number of men was 43,730.

⁸ The son of Pallu was Eliab, ⁹ and Eliab’s sons were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram were the ·leaders [conveners of the community/congregation/assembly] who turned against Moses and Aaron and ·followed [^Lwere in the assembly of] Korah when he ·turned [rebelled] against the Lord. ¹⁰ The earth opened up and swallowed them and Korah; they died at the same time the fire burned up the 250 men [16:1–40]. This was a warning, ¹¹ but the children of Korah did not die.

¹² These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [^Lsons; descendants] of Simeon: From Nemuel came the Nemuelite ·family group [clan]; from Jamin came the Jaminite ·family group [clan]; from Jakin came the Jakinite ·family group [clan]; ¹³ from Zerah came the Zerahite ·family group [clan]; from Shaul came the Shaulite ·family group [clan]. ¹⁴ These were the ·family groups [clans] of Simeon, and the total number of men was 22,200.

¹⁵ These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [^Lsons; descendants] of Gad: From Zephon came the Zephonite ·family group [clan]; from Haggi came the Haggite ·family group [clan]; from Shuni came the Shunite ·family group [clan]; ¹⁶ from Ozni came the Oznite ·family group [clan]; from Eri came the Erite ·family group [clan]; ¹⁷ from Arodi came the Arodite ·family group [clan]; from Areli came the Arelite ·family group [clan]. ¹⁸ These were the ·family groups [clans] of Gad, and the total number of men was 40,500.

¹⁹ Two of Judah’s sons, Er and Onan, died in Canaan [Gen. 38:6–11].

²⁰ These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [^Lsons; descendants] of Judah: From Shelah came the Shelanite ·family group [clan]; from Perez came the Perezite ·family group [clan]; from Zerah came the Zerahite ·family group [clan]. ²¹ These were the ·family groups [clans] from Perez: From Hezron came the Hezronite ·family group [clan]; from Hamul came the Hamulite ·family group [clan]. ²² These were the ·family groups [clans] of Judah, and the total number of men was 76,500.

²³ These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [^Lsons; descendants] of Issachar: From Tola came the Tolaite ·family group [clan]; from Puah came the Puite ·family group [clan]; ²⁴ from Jashub came the Jashubite ·family group [clan]; from Shimron came the Shimronite ·family group [clan]. ²⁵ These were the ·family groups [clan] of Issachar, and the total number of men was 64,300.

²⁶ These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [^Lsons; descendants] of Zebulun: From Sered came the Seredite ·family group [clan]; from Elon came the Elonite ·family group [clan]; from Jahleel came the Jahleelite ·family group [clan]. ²⁷ These were the ·family groups [clans] of Zebulun, and the total number of men was 60,500.

²⁸ These were the ·family groups [clans] of Joseph through Manasseh and Ephraim.

²⁹ These were the ·family groups [clans] of [^Lthe sons/descendants of] Manasseh: From Makir came the Makirite ·family group [clan] (Makir was the father of Gilead); from Gilead came the Gileadite ·family group [clan]. ³⁰ These were the ·family groups [clans] that came from Gilead: From Iezer came the Iezerite ·family group [clan]; from Helek came the Helekite ·family group [clan]; ³¹ from Asriel came the Asrielite ·family group [clan]; from Shechem came the Shechemite ·family group [clan]; ³² from Shemida came the Shemidaite ·family group [clan]; from Hepher came the Hepherite ·family group [clan]. ³³ (Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons; he had only daughters, and their names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah [27:1–11; 36:1–13; Josh. 17:3–6].) ³⁴ These were the ·family groups [clans] of Manasseh, and the total number of men was 52,700.

³⁵ These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [^Lsons; descendants] of Ephraim: From Shuthelah came the Shuthelahite ·family group [clan]; from Beker came the Bekerite ·family group [clan]; from Tahan came the Tahanite ·family group [clan]. ³⁶ This was the ·family group [clan] from Shuthelah: From Eran came the Eranite ·family group [clan]. ³⁷ These were the ·family groups [clans] of [^Lthe sons/descendants of] Ephraim, and the total number of men was 32,500. These are the ·family groups [clans] that came from Joseph.

³⁸ These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [^Lsons; descendants] of Benjamin: From Bela came the Belaite ·family group [clan]; from Ashbel came the Ashbelite ·family group [clan]; from Ahiram came the Ahiramite ·family group [clan]; ³⁹ from Shupham came the Shuphamite ·family group [clan]; from Hupham came the Huphamite ·family group [clan]. ⁴⁰ These were the ·family groups [clans] from Bela through Ard and Naaman: From Ard came the Ardite ·family group [clan]; from Naaman came the Naamite ·family group [clan]. ⁴¹ These were the ·family groups [clans] of Benjamin, and the total number of men was 45,600.

⁴² This was the ·family group [clan] in the ·tribe [^Lsons; descendants] of Dan: From Shuham came the Shuhamite ·family group [clan]. That was the ·family group [clan] of Dan, ⁴³ and the total number of men in the Shuhamite ·family group [clan] of Dan was 64,400.

⁴⁴ These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [^Lsons; descendants] of Asher: From Imnah came the Imnite ·family group [clan]; from Ishvi came the Ishvite ·family group [clan]; from Beriah came the Beriite ·family group [clan]. ⁴⁵ These were the ·family groups [clans] that came from Beriah: From Heber came the Heberite ·family group [clan]; from Malkiel came the Malkielite ·family group [clan]. ⁴⁶ (Asher also had a daughter named Serah.) ⁴⁷ These were the ·family groups [clans] of Asher, and the total number of men was 53,400.

⁴⁸ These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [^Lsons; descendants] of Naphtali: From Jahzeel came the Jahzeelite ·family group [clan]; from Guni came the Gunite ·family group [clan]; ⁴⁹ from Jezer came the Jezerite ·family group [clan]; from Shillem came the Shillemite ·family group [clan]. ⁵⁰ These were the ·family groups [clans] of Naphtali, and the total number of men was 45,400.

⁵¹ So the total number of the ·men [^Lsons; ^Tchildren] of Israel was 601,730.

Anna Sees Jesus

³⁶ There was a prophetess, ·Anna, [^LHannah] ·from the family [^Lthe daughter] of Phanuel ·in [who was from] the tribe of Asher. She was very old and had once been married for seven years. ³⁷ Then her husband died, and she was a widow ·for [or to the age of] eighty-four years. She never left the Temple but worshiped God, ·going without food [fasting] and praying day and night. ³⁸ ·Standing there [or Coming up to them] at that time, she ·thanked [praised; blessed] God and spoke about ·Jesus [^Lhim] to all who were waiting for ·God to free [^Lthe redemption/deliverance of] Jerusalem.

Joseph and Mary Return Home

³⁹ When Joseph and Mary had done everything the law of the Lord commanded, they went home to Nazareth, their own town in Galilee [Matt. 2:22–23]. ⁴⁰ The little child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s ·goodness [favor; grace] was upon him.

Jesus as a Boy

⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover ·Feast [festival; ^Cannual festival that celebrates God’s rescue of Israel from Egypt; Ex. 12]. ⁴² When he was twelve years old, they went to the ·feast [festival] ·as they always did [or according to Jewish custom]. ⁴³ After the feast days were over, they started home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. ⁴⁴ Thinking that Jesus was with them in the group, they traveled for a whole day. Then they began to look for him among their family and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him there. ⁴⁶ After three days [^Cprobably three days since they left Jerusalem—one out, one back, and one searching] they found Jesus sitting in the Temple ·with [among; in the middle of] the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and answers. ⁴⁸ When Jesus’ parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “·Son [Child], why ·did you do this to us [have you treated us this way]? [^LLook; ^TBehold] Your father and I were ·very worried [distressed; in pain] about you and have been looking for you.”

⁴⁹ Jesus said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be ·in my Father’s house [or about my Father’s business]?” ⁵⁰ But they did not understand the meaning of what he said.

⁵¹ Jesus went with them to Nazareth and ·was obedient to them [lived under their authority]. But his mother ·kept in her mind all that had happened [^Lkept/treasured all these things/words in her heart]. ⁵² Jesus ·became wiser and grew physically [grew in wisdom and stature/height]. ·People liked him, and he pleased God […and in favor with God and people; 1 Sam. 2:26].

A Prayer After a Defeat

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lily of the ·Agreement [Testimony].” A miktam [^Cperhaps “inscription”] of David. For teaching. When David fought the Arameans of ·northwest Mesopotamia [Naharaim; ^Lthe Two Rivers] and Zobah, and when Joab returned and ·defeated [^Lstruck] twelve thousand ·Edomites at the Valley of Salt [2 Sam. 8; 1 Chr. 18].