There was a priest in Midian who had seven daughters. Those girls came to that well to get water for their father’s sheep. They were trying to fill the water trough with water.
Because of all these things, the Master, the Lord All-Powerful, the Mighty One of Israel, says, “I will punish you, my enemies. You will not cause me any more trouble.
The Lord is a jealous God.\par The Lord punishes guilty people.\par The Lord punishes guilty people,\par and the Lord is very angry!\par The Lord punishes his enemies.\par He stays angry at his enemies.\par
“{It is time for Aaron to die and} go to be with his ancestors. [272] Aaron will not enter the land that I promised to the people of Israel. Moses, I say this to you because both you and Aaron did not fully obey the command I gave you at the waters of Meribah.
Take Aaron’s special clothes from him and put those clothes on his son Eleazar. Aaron will die there on the mountain. And he will go to be with his ancestors. [273] ”
At the time, Moses and all the elders (leaders) of Israel were gathered together at the entrance to the Meeting Tent. [312] An Israelite man brought a Midianite woman home to his brothers. [313] He did this where Moses and all the leaders could see. Moses and the leaders were very sad.
The prophets {\cf2\super [334]} wrote many things about the time when God will punish his people. The time I am telling you about is the time when all these things must happen.
My friends, don’t try to punish people when they do wrong to you. Wait for God to punish them with his anger. It is written: “I am the One who punishes; I will pay people back,” {\cf2\super [132]} says the Lord.
A ruler is God’s servant to help you. But if you do wrong, then be afraid. The ruler has the power to punish, and he will use that power. He is God’s servant to punish people that do wrong.
I will punish them
for the bad things they did.
But I am saving that punishment
for when they slip and do bad things.
Their time of trouble is near.
Their punishment will come quickly.’
None of you should do wrong to your brother \{in Christ\} or cheat him in this way. The Lord will punish people that do those things. We have already told you and warned you about that.
We know that God said, “I will punish people \{for the wrong things they do\}; I will repay them.” {\cf2\super [139]} And God also said, “The Lord will judge his people.” {\cf2\super [140]}
Be happy because of this, O heaven!\par Be happy, God’s holy people {\cf2\super [134]} and apostles {\cf2\super [135]} and prophets {\cf2\super [136]} !\par God has punished her because of the things she did to you.’”\par
His judgments are true and right.\par Our God has punished the prostitute. {\cf2\super [144]} \par She is the one who made the earth evil\par with her sexual sin.\par God has punished the prostitute\par to pay her for the blood (death)\par of his servants.”\par
After that whole generation died, the next generation grew up. This new generation did not know about the Lord and what the Lord had done for the people of Israel.