M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Levite Families and Duties
3 These are the generations of Aaron and Moses current at the time Adonai spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai. 2 These are the names of Aaron’s sons: Nadab the first-born, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed kohanim whom he consecrated to be priests. 4 But Nadab and Abihu died before Adonai for offering unauthorized fire[a] before Adonai in the Sinai wilderness—they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as kohanim under Aaron their father.
5 Then Adonai spoke to Moses saying, 6 “Gather the tribe of Levi near, and appoint them to attend to Aaron the kohen. 7 They are to keep watch over duties for him and the entire community before the Tent of Meeting while performing the service of the Tabernacle. 8 They are to tend to all the implements of the Tent of Meeting and the service of Bnei-Yisrael while performing the service of the Tabernacle. 9 You are to give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. Out of Bnei-Yisrael they are dedicated entirely to him. 10 You are to appoint Aaron and his sons to maintain the priesthood; any commoner who approaches must be executed.”
11 Then Adonai said to Moses saying, 12 “See, I have taken the Levites from among Bnei-Yisrael in place of the firstborn who open the womb among Bnei-Yisrael. The Levites will be Mine, 13 because all the firstborn are Mine. In the day when I was striking down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated to Myself every firstborn in Israel—whether man or animal—as Mine. I am Adonai.”
14 Adonai spoke in the Sinai wilderness to Moses saying, 15 “Count the sons of Levi. According to their ancestral house, by their families, every male a month old and upward you are to number them.” 16 So Moses numbered them in accordance with the word of Adonai, just as he was commanded.
17 These were the sons of Levi, by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 18 These then were the names of the sons of Gershon—Libni and Shimei. 19 The sons of Kohath by their families were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 The sons of Merari, by their families, are Mahli and Mushi. These then were the families of the Levites by their ancestral households.
21 To Gershon belonged the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimeites. These were the families of the Gershonites. 22 The number of every male one month old and upward who were counted was 7,500. 23 The Gershonites were to camp behind the Tabernacle on the west. 24 The prince of the ancestral house of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 The duties of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting were the Tabernacle, the tent, its coverings, the curtain of the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, 26 the curtains of the courtyard, the screen of the entrance of the courtyard around the Tabernacle and altar, its ropes and all related to its use.
27 To Kohath belonged the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites. These were the Kohathite families. 28 The number of every male one month old and upward was 8,600. Their duties were caring for the Sanctuary. 29 The Kohathite families were to camp along the side of the Tabernacle on the south. 30 The prince of the ancestral household of the Kohathites was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. 31 They were responsible for the Ark, the table, the menorah, the altars, and the implements of the Sanctuary used in service with them, the curtain and all involved with its use.
32 The chief prince of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the kohen appointed over those whose responsibility was the care of the Sanctuary.
33 To Merari belonged the families of the Mahlites and the Mushites. These were the families of Merari. 34 Their number by count of every male one month old and upward was 6,200. 35 The prince of the household of the father of the Merarites was Zuriel son of Abihail. They were to camp on the north side of the Tabernacle. 36 The sons of Merari were appointed over the care of the frames of the Tabernacle, its crossbars, posts, bases, and all equipment for its use, 37 the posts of the surrounding courtyard, their bases, pegs and ropes.
38 Those camping in front of the Tent of Meeting, on the east, toward the sunrise, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons. They were to care for the Sanctuary on behalf of Bnei-Yisrael. But anyone unauthorized who approached had to be executed.
39 All the Levites counted by Moses and Aaron at the word of Adonai, by their families, inclusive of every male one month old and upward, were 22,000.
Redemption of the Firstborn
40 Adonai said to Moses, “Count every firstborn male of Bnei-Yisrael from one month old and upward and make a list of their names. 41 Set the Levites apart for me in place of all the firstborn of Bnei-Yisrael, and, all the livestock of the Levites in place of the firstborn of the livestock of Bnei-Yisrael. I am Adonai.” 42 So Moses counted all the firstborn of Bnei-Yisrael as Adonai commanded him. 43 The sum total of the firstborn males of Bnei-Yisrael, one month old and upward, listed by name, was 22,273.
44 Again Adonai spoke to Moses saying, 45 “Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Bnei-Yisrael, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites will be Mine. I am Adonai. 46 To redeem the 273 firstborn of Bnei-Yisrael exceeding the number of the Levites, 47 you are to collect five shekels for each, based on the shekel of the Sanctuary, which is 20 gerahs. [b] 48 Give the money for the redemption of the extra ones of the firstborn of them to Aaron and his sons.”
49 Hence Moses collected the redemption money for those exceeding the number redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn of Bnei-Yisrael he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels, according to the Sanctuary shekel. 51 Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, just as Adonai commanded him, in accordance with the mouth of Adonai.
Inheritance of the Kedoshim
Psalm 37
1 Of David.
Do not fret because of evildoers,
nor be envious of them who do wrong.
2 For like the grass they soon wither
and fade like a green herb.
3 Trust in Adonai and do good.
Dwell in the land, feed on faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in Adonai,
and He will give you the requests of your heart.
5 Commit your way to Adonai.
Trust in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring out your vindication as light,
and your cause will shine as noonday.
7 Be still before Adonai and wait patiently for Him.
Do not fret over one prospering in his way,
over one carrying out wicked schemes.
8 Put away anger and turn from wrath.
Do not fret—it only leads to doing evil.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
but those who wait for Adonai—
they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while,
and the wicked will be no more.
Yes, you will look at his place,
but he will not be there.
11 But the meek will inherit the land,
and delight in abundant shalom.
12 The wicked plots against the righteous
and gnashes at him with his teeth.
13 The Lord laughs at him—
for He sees his day is coming.
14 The wicked have unsheathed their sword and have bent their bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose conduct is upright.
15 Their sword will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
16 Better a little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
while Adonai upholds the righteous.
18 Adonai knows the days of the blameless—
their inheritance endures forever.
19 They will not be ashamed in an evil time
and in days of famine they will be satisfied.
20 For the wicked will perish,
and the enemies of Adonai will be like the beauty of the fields—
they will vanish—vanish like smoke.
21 The wicked borrows and does not repay,
but the righteous is a gracious giver.
22 For His blessed ones inherit the land.
But those He curses will be cut off.
23 From Adonai a man’s steps are made firm,
when He delights in his way.
24 Though he stumble,
he will not fall headlong,
for Adonai is holding his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous one forsaken,
nor his children begging for bread.
26 All day long he is gracious and lends.
So his offspring will be a blessing.
27 Turn from evil and do good,
so you may live forever.
28 For Adonai loves justice
and does not abandon His godly ones.
They will be preserved forever,
but the seed of the wicked will be cut off.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom
and his tongue speaks justice.
31 The Torah of his God is in his heart.
His steps do not slip.
32 The wicked lies in wait for the righteous,
seeking to slay him.
33 But Adonai will not leave him in his hand,
or let him be condemned when judged.
34 Wait for Adonai and keep His way,
and He will exalt you to inherit the land.
When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
35 I have seen a wicked, ruthless man
flourishing like a leafy tree in native soil.
36 But once he passed by, he was no more.
Though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37 Notice the man of integrity and watch the upright—
for the man of shalom has a future.
38 But transgressors will be destroyed altogether.
The future of the wicked will be cut off.
39 Yet the salvation of the righteous is from Adonai.
He is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 Adonai helps them and delivers them.
He rescues them from the wicked and saves them—
because they take refuge in Him.
1 The song of songs[a] of Solomon
A Bride Sings of Her Lover
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is better than wine.
3 Your ointments have a pleasing fragrance.
Your name is poured out like perfume.
No wonder maidens love you!
4 Draw me after you, let us run!
The king has brought me into his chambers.
Chorus: Daughters of Zion
Let us rejoice and be glad in you;
let us extol your love more than wine.
Rightly do they love you!
The Bride
5 I am black, but beautiful,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
like the tents of Kedar,
like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Do not gaze at me because I am dark,
because the sun has looked on me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me
and made me keeper of the vineyards;
my very own vineyard I have not kept.
7 Tell me, the one my soul loves,
where you graze your flock,
where you make it lie down at noon?
Why should I be as one veiled
beside the flocks of your companions?
The Lover and Bride Express Affection
8 If you yourself do not know,
O most beautiful among women,
go out yourself in the footsteps of the flock
and graze your kids by the shepherds’ tents.
9 I compare you, my darling,
to my mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.
10 Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,
your neck with strings of beads.
11 Ornaments of gold we will make for you
with spangles of silver.
12 While the king is on his couch,
my nard spreads its fragrance.[b]
13 My lover is my pouch of myrrh,
passing the night between my breasts.
14 My love is to me a spray of henna blooms
in the vineyards of En-gedi.
15 How lovely you are, my darling, how lovely!
Your eyes are doves.
16 How handsome you are, my lover!
Oh, so delightful!
Yes, our couch is luxuriant.
17 The beams of our houses are cedar trees,
our panels are cypress trees.
Superiority of the Son
1 At many times and in many ways, God spoke long ago to the fathers through the prophets. 2 In these last days He has spoken to us through a Son,[a] whom He appointed heir of all things and through whom He created the universe. 3 This Son is the radiance of His glory and the imprint of His being, upholding all things by His powerful word.[b] When He had made purification for our sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. [c] 4 Thus He became as far above the angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are My Son.
Today I have become Your Father”?[d]
And again,
“I will be to Him a Father,
and He will be to Me a Son”?[e]
6 And again, when He brings the firstborn into the world, He says,
“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”[f]
7 And regarding the angels He says,
“He makes His angels winds,
and His servants a flame of fire.”[g]
8 But regarding the Son He says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
and a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.”[h]
10 And,
“In the beginning, Adonai,
You laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the works of Your hands.
11 They shall pass away, but You remain.
And they will all wear out like clothing.[i]
12 And like a robe You will roll them up,
and like clothing they will be changed;
but You are the same,
and Your years shall never end.”[j]
13 But to which of the angels has He ever said,
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out for service to those about to inherit salvation?
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.