Behaalotecha, בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ

Passages

Torah: Numbers 9:1 - 9:14
Gospel: Luke 9:18-45

Torah — Numbers 9:1 - 9:14

9:1 The Passover Yahweh spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai, in the second year after they came out from the land of Egypt, in the first month, saying,

9:2 “Let the Israelites observe the Passover at its appointed time.

9:3 On the fourteenth day of this month at twilight you will perform it at its appointed time according to all its decrees; and according to all its stipulations you will observe it.”

9:4 So Moses spoke to the Israelites to observe the Passover.

9:5 And they observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight in the desert of Sinai. According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, thus the Israelites did.

9:6 And it happened, men who were unclean by a dead person were not able to perform the Passover on that day. And they came before Moses and Aaron on that day.

9:7 And those men said to him, “Although we are unclean by a dead person, why are we hindered from presenting the offering of Yahweh at its appointed time in the midst of the Israelites?”

9:8 Moses said to them, “Stay. I will hear what Yahweh commands to you.”

9:9 And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

9:10 “Speak to the Israelites, saying, ‘Each man that is unclean by a dead person or is on a far journey, you or your descendants, he will observe the Passover of Yahweh.

9:11 On the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight they will observe it; they will eat it with unleavened bread and bitter plants.

9:12 They will leave none of it until morning, and they will not break a bone in it; they will observe it according to every decree of the Passover.

9:13 But the man who is clean and not on a journey, and he fails to observe the Passover, that person will be cut off from the people because he did not present the offering of Yahweh on its appointed time. That man will bear his guilt.

9:14 If an alien dwells with you he will observe the Passover of Yahweh according to the decree of the Passover and according to its stipulation; thus you will have one decree for you, for the alien and for the native of the land.’”

9:1 Israel Celebrates the Passover Feast The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai. It was the first month of the second year after the people came out of Egypt. He said,

9:2 “Tell the people of Israel to celebrate the Passover Feast. Have them do it at the appointed time.

9:3 Celebrate it when the sun goes down on the 14th day of this month. Obey all of its rules and laws.”

9:4 So Moses told the people of Israel to celebrate the Passover Feast.

9:5 They did it in the Desert of Sinai. They celebrated it when the sun went down on the 14th day of the first month. The people of Israel did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

9:6 But some of them couldn’t celebrate the Passover Feast on that day. That’s because they weren’t “clean.” They had gone near a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day.

9:7 They said to Moses, “We went near a dead body. So we aren’t ‘clean.’ But why should we be kept from bringing the Lord’s offering at the appointed time? Why shouldn’t we bring it along with the other people of Israel?”

9:8 Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord wants you to do.”

9:9 Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said,

9:10 “Tell the people of Israel, ‘Suppose any of you or your children are not “clean” because you have gone near a dead body. Or suppose you are away on a journey. You can still celebrate the Lord’s Passover.

9:11 “‘I want you to celebrate it on the 14th day of the second month. You have to do it when the sun goes down. You have to eat the lamb together with bread that is made without yeast. Eat it with bitter plants.

9:12 Do not leave any of it until morning. Do not break any of its bones. When you celebrate the Passover Feast, follow all of the rules.

9:13 “‘But suppose a man is “clean.” He is not on a journey. And he fails to celebrate the Passover Feast. Then he must be cut off from the community of Israel. He did not bring the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. He will be punished for his sin.

9:14 “‘What if there is an outsider living among you? And what if he wants to celebrate the Lord’s Passover? Then he must obey its rules and laws. You must have the same laws for outsiders as you do for the people of Israel.’”

Gospel — Luke 9:18-45

9:18 Peter’s Confession And it happened that while he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

9:19 And they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but others, Elijah, and others, that one of the ancient prophets has risen.”

9:20 And he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

9:21 Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection But he warned and commanded them to tell this to no one,

9:22 saying, “It is necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised on the third day.

9:23 Taking Up One’s Cross to Follow Jesus And he said to them all, “If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.

9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of me, this person will save it.

9:25 For what is a person benefited if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself?

9:26 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of this person when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

9:27 But I tell you truly, there are some of those standing here who will never experience death until they see the kingdom of God.”

9:28 The Transfiguration Now it happened that about eight days after these words, he took along Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

9:29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face became different, and his clothing became white, gleaming like lightning.

9:30 And behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah,

9:31 who appeared in glory and were speaking about his departure which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem.

9:32 Now Peter and those with him were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him.

9:33 And it happened that as they were going away from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. And let us make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he was saying.

9:34 And while he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.

9:35 And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him!”

9:36 And after the voice had occurred, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

9:37 A Demon-possessed Boy Healed Now it happened that on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.

9:38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, saying, “Teacher, I beg you to look with concern on my son, because he is my only son!

9:39 And behold, a spirit seizes him and suddenly he screams, and it convulses him with foam and rarely withdraws from him, battering him severely.

9:40 And I begged your disciples that they would expel it, and they were not able to do so.”

9:41 So Jesus answered and said, “O unbelieving and perverted generation! How long will I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here!”

9:42 And while he was still approaching, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

9:43 And they were all astounded at the impressiveness of God. Jesus Predicts His Suffering But while they were all marveling at all the things that he was doing, he said to his disciples,

9:44 “You take these words to heart, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

9:45 But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they could not understand it. And they were afraid to ask him about this statement.

9:18 Peter Says That Jesus Is the Christ One day Jesus was praying alone. Only his disciples were with him. He asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

9:19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. Still others say that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

9:20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

9:21 Jesus strongly warned them not to tell this to anyone.

9:22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things. The elders will not accept him. The chief priests and teachers of the law will not accept him either. He must be killed and on the third day rise from the dead.”

9:23 Then he said to all of them, “If anyone wants to follow me, he must say no to himself. He must pick up his cross every day and follow me.

9:24 If he wants to save his life, he will lose it. But if he loses his life for me, he will save it.

9:25 What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses or gives up his very self?

9:26 “Suppose you are ashamed of me and my words. The Son of Man will come in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. Then he will be ashamed of you.

9:27 “What I’m about to tell you is true. Some who are standing here will not die before they see God’s kingdom.”

9:28 Jesus’ Appearance Is Changed About eight days after Jesus said this, he went up on a mountain to pray. He took Peter, John and James with him.

9:29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed. His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.

9:30 Two men, Moses and Elijah,

9:31 appeared in shining glory. Jesus and the two of them talked together. They spoke about his coming death. He was going to die soon in Jerusalem.

9:32 Peter and his companions had been very sleepy. But then they became completely awake. They saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with him.

9:33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter spoke up. “Master,” he said to him, “it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters. One will be for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He didn’t really know what he was saying.

9:34 While Jesus was speaking, a cloud appeared. It surrounded them. The disciples were afraid as they entered the cloud.

9:35 A voice came from the cloud. It said, “This is my Son, and I have chosen him. Listen to him.”

9:36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept quiet about this. They didn’t tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

9:37 Jesus Heals a Boy Who Had an Evil Spirit The next day Jesus and those who were with him came down from the mountain. A large crowd met Jesus.

9:38 A man in the crowd called out. “Teacher,” he said, “I beg you to look at my son. He is my only child.

9:39 A spirit takes hold of him, and he suddenly screams. It throws him into fits so that he foams at the mouth. It hardly ever leaves him. It is destroying him.

9:40 I begged your disciples to drive it out. But they couldn’t do it.”

9:41 “You unbelieving and evil people!” Jesus replied. “How long do I have to stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you?” Then he said to the man, “Bring your son here.”

9:42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him into a fit. The boy fell to the ground. But Jesus ordered the evil spirit to leave the boy. Then Jesus healed him and gave him back to his father.

9:43 They were all amazed at God’s greatness. Everyone was wondering about all that Jesus did. Then Jesus said to his disciples,

9:44 “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you. The Son of Man is going to be handed over to men.”

9:45 But they didn’t understand what this meant. That was because it was hidden from them. And they were afraid to ask Jesus about it.

Passages

Torah — Numbers 9:1 - 9:14

LEB translation

NIRV translation

Gospel — Luke 9:18-45

LEB translation

NIRV translation