Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud. He stood at the entrance to the tent. And he told Aaron and Miriam to come to him. The two of them stepped forward.
The Lord spoke to Moses. He said,“ I am going to come to you in a thick cloud. The people will hear me speaking with you. They will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
Then Moses became very angry. He said to the Lord,“ Don’t accept their offering. I haven’t taken even a donkey from them. In fact, I haven’t done anything wrong to any of them.”
Levi didn’t show special favor to anyone. He did not spare his father and mother. He didn’t excuse his relatives or his children. But he watched over your word. He guarded your covenant.
Here I stand. Bring charges against me if you can. The Lord is a witness. And so is his anointed king. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Have I cheated anyone? Have I treated anyone badly? Have I accepted money from anyone who wanted special favors? If I’ve done any of these things, I’ll make it right.”“ You haven’t cheated us,” they replied.“ You haven’t treated us badly. You haven’t taken anything from anyone.”Samuel said to them,“ The Lord is a witness against you this day. And so is his anointed king. They are witnesses that I haven’t taken anything from any of you.”“ The Lord is a witness,” they said.