The Death of Aaron

22 ^pAnd they journeyed from Kadesh, and the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor. 23 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, 24 “Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and ^qbring them up to Mount Hor. 26 And strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there.” 27 Moses did as the Lord commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 ^rAnd Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And ^sAaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. 29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron had perished, all the house of Israel ^twept for Aaron thirty days.

Arad Destroyed

1 When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb, ^uheard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. 2 And Israel ^vvowed a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.”¹ 3 And the Lord heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. ^wSo the name of the place was called ^xHormah.²

The Bronze Serpent

4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, ^yto go around the land of Edom. ^zAnd the people became impatient on the way. 5 And ^athe people spoke against God and against Moses, ^b“Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and ^cwe loathe this worthless food.” 6 Then the Lord sent ^dfiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. ^ePray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 ^fAnd the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a ^gbronze³ serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

Beware of the Scribes

45 ^oAnd in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love ^pgreetings in the marketplaces and the ^qbest seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 47 who ^rdevour widows’ houses and for a ^spretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow’s Offering

1 ^tJesus¹ looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the ^uoffering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.² 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

5 ^vAnd while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will ^wnot be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 ^xAnd they asked him, “Teacher, ^ywhen will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but ^zthe end will not be at once.”

Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution

10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 ^aBut before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the ^bsynagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before ^ckings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your ^dopportunity to bear witness. 14 ^eSettle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will ^fgive you a mouth and wisdom, which ^gnone of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by ^hparents and brothers³ and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to ⁱdeath. 17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 ^jBy your endurance you will gain your lives.