Restitution and Repentance
5: 5-10

Restitution and repentance DIG: How the restitution for sin(s) against ADONAI, against man as well? When is confession of sin inadequate? If your victim is no longer able to receive restitution, to whom should the restitution be paid? When should it have to be paid to the priesthood? How do the commandments regarding terumah teach us about “tithes and offerings” today? How do we know that our transgressions will always be forgiven?

REFLECT: What are the two steps required in this passage for restoring relationships with our brothers and sisters? Why do you think ADONAI required(s) someone to make restitution? Do you think this principle can be applied to other areas of life today? Explain. What is the first step toward repentance? To whom should we confess our sins? When might it be necessary to confess “one to another?”

A sinner should turn back from his sin, and should confess his misdeed before God.

It is a mitzvah of the Torah to confess our sins and repent from them. Sin is a transgression of the Torah. When we sin, we are not to remain in the sin, nor are we to passively accept the fact that we are sinners (Isaiah 64:5). We are to strive against sin. We must humble ourselves and confess the sin and then turn away from it. Therefore, it is a sin to leave a sin unconfessed! One sin leads to another.

The Chofetz Chaim explains the mitzvah of confession and repentance this way: A sinner should turn back from his sin, and should confess his misdeed before YHVH as Scripture says: When a man or woman commits any kind of sin against another person and thus breaks faith with Adonai, he incurs guilt. He must confess the sin which he has committed (5:6-7a). This means a confession in words before the blessed God. He is to say from the depths of his heart, “I beg You (LORD): I have sinned, done wrong, and acted criminally before You. This I did (and he is to describe the sin in detail); and here I have regretted my deed and become ashamed of it. Never will I go back and do this thing again.” The main element is remorse of the heart, in truth, over the past and one must take it upon himself not to do such a thing ever again (the Jews do not believe they have a sin nature). This confession is the essential part of repentance; but the more one confesses, the more praiseworthy he is (Chofez Chaim).⁸⁵

The rabbis teach that even the smallest sin should be confessed. They contend that this confession should be made privately, but audibly, directly to God. King David said: I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide, I said, “I will confess my transgressions to ADONAI; and You forgave the guilt of my sin.” Selah (Psalm 32:5). John, the beloved apostle, says: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (First John 1:9).

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise Your gracious kindness that forgives our sins when we confess (First John 1:9). Sins are like a heavy burden and You are so very merciful to take the burden of our sin from those who love You. You can’t just bury it, for sin‘s punishment, a death must be paid. Your faithful love put our sin and shame on Yeshua and then marvelously You gave Messiah’s righteousness to all who love You! He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (Second Corinthians 5:21). That is such a fantastic gift! You are so worthy of our love! Not only are our sins forgiven, but then to also receive Messiah’s righteousness is a gift greater than all the water in all the oceans of the world! There could be no greater gift than our sins forgiven and given Messiah’s Perfect righteousness!

Praise You for being so wise that You know the attitude of my heart. I know I get to heaven not by what I do, but what I believe (Ephesians 2:8-9). Real heart love for You, God, our wonderful Heavenly Father, is the key (Matthew 22:37-38). You will not open heaven’s door to just anyone. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some consider slowness. Rather, He is being patient toward you – not wanting anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance. (Second Peter 3:9). Repentance is a first step in attaining salvation. It involves turning away from wrong and turning to God in love and trust as Lord and Savior. For if you confess with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart it is believed for righteousness, and with the mouth it is confessed for salvation (Romans 10:9-10). Thank You for forgiving those who love You and repent. We love You and desire to always live to please You! In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

Remorse for sin (5:6): There are some who think that reading admission of guilt has little or nothing to do with one’s feelings, that is just a formal statement of the wrong committed. They insist that a person does not need to “feel” guilty or remorse for his sin. Such thinking is based on the idea that feelings have very little place, if any, in our spiritual life. However, we need to remember that God gave us feelings. When we are angry, we feel angry; when we are happy, we feel happy. Subsequently, did not God also give us feelings that express the sense of guilt?

Furthermore, biblical scholars have done a lot of research on the different connotations of biblical words. One such Hebrew word is asham, meaning to be guilty. It seems hardly necessary to add that the one who commits sin and trespasses against YHVH is, or becomes, guilty. It can hardly be conceived that such a person would be innocent. ADONAI said to Moshe, “Tell the people of Isra’el, ‘When a man or woman commits any kind of sin against another person, acting unfaithfully against ADONAI, that person is guilty’ (5:6).” Thus, the text seems to be saying that the first step along the way of restoration is remorse for one’s sin.⁸⁶

When we find ourselves ensnared in habitual sins or locked into destructive patterns of behavior, it is good for the heart to seek out a trusted brother or sister in whom one can confide. Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed (James 5:16). By confessing our transgression to a trusted friend and expressing our deep remorse over our behavior, a level of accountability is introduced.

The mitzvah of confessing our sins before YHVH is one we can carry out confidently in Messiah. Thanks to the sacrifice of Messiah (see the commentary on The Life of Christ, to see link click Lv – Jesus’ Second Three Hours on the Cross: The Wrath of God), we know that our confession and repentance will always be received He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions (Colossians 2:13).

When we sin against another person, causing them some loss, it is not adequate to merely confess the sin to God. We must confess the sin and repent by making restitution. In most cases our restitution should include a sincere confession and apology to the individual we have wronged. We must seek their forgiveness before we seek God’s. However, if it may happen that the person we have wronged has not suffered a loss, is unaware of the offense committed against them and would be unnecessarily hurt to hear one’s confession. In such cases, we might weigh the situation carefully. Seek counsel and prayer. It may not be best to wrong them further by revealing our malice toward them. In most cases, however, the clear and certain thing to do is to seek out the person you have wronged and apologize.

Agreeing with God (5:7a): After remorse and the admission of guilt from a repentant heart, the Bible teaches us to confess our sin. Confession and repentance work together. The Torah says: He must confess the sin which he has committed and repent (5:7a). When John called Isra’el to be baptized as a sign of repentance, they came to be baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins (Mark 1:5).

Adding twenty percent (5:7b): Along with the apology comes restitution. And he must make full restitution for his guilt; add twenty percent, and give it to the victim of his sin (5:7b). We have already learned the mitzvah of restitution in Leviticus 6:5. The same mitzvah is repeated here with two additional details. First, we learn that confession and repentance is part of a process.

Giving the Terumah (5:8-10): Second, we learn that if a victim is no longer available and he has no kinsman redeemer to whom the restitution can be paid (Leviticus 25:25-31), then it was to be given to the priesthood as if it was terumah. Terumah was the sacred portions separated out from the crops such as the tithe and the first fruits. The Torah goes on to lay down the mitzvah about the transfer of the terumah: But if the person has no relative to whom restitution can be made for the guilt, then what is given in restitution for guilt will belong to ADONAI, that is, to the priest – in addition to the ram of atonement through which atonement is made for him. Every contribution which the people of Isra’el dedicate and present to the priest will belong to him. Anything an individual dedicates will be his own [to allocate among the priesthood], but what a person gives to the priest will belong to him.

In its simplest reading, this passage teaches that the terumah portion given to the priests becomes the property of the priesthood. Another reading, based upon the use of pronouns in this passage, teaches another important rule. One might read it as if the first two possessive pronouns refer to a farmer (for example) who is giving the priest the terumah. In that case the passage means to teach us that the terumah portions of the farmer’s crop belong to him until he gives it to the priest. The priest cannot come and demand his portion or help himself to it. The terumah would not be his until the farmer had willingly given it to him.

Shepherds would do well to remember this mitzvah. People in leadership positions often look at people’s salaries tithes as if it were already their own. They begin to anticipate it, and if it does not arrive on time, or if it’s smaller than they felt it should be, they become angry. It is not uncommon to hear congregational leaders beat the sheep over such matters. In extreme cases, the leaders want people’s bank account information so they can draw out the “proper” amount. This kind of behavior presupposes that the money rightly belongs to the congregation. However, if the priests could not lay claim to the terumah until it was voluntarily given to them (even though it was mandated by the Torah), how much less should today’s leaders lay claim to people’s money (which is not mandated by the Torah). It does not belong to the leadership until the person gives it to the ministry. Thus, Simon Peter said to Ananias and Sapphira, “Before you sold it, the property was yours; and after you sold it, the money was yours to do as your pleased” (Acts 5:4a).⁸⁷

What is striking about this mitzvah is the identification of wrongdoing against another person is compared with acting unfaithfully against ADONAI (5:6). Harming or unjustly taking from another person in the community is an act of human injustice, but it is also an act that breaks the relationship with YHVH. This moral guilt, like ritual impurity (see the commentary on Leviticus Bk – Ritually Clean and Unclean Animals), also threatens the holiness of the community. But also like ritual impurity, there is a process by which the guilt can be atoned for and forgiven. The involvement of the priest in the process of restitution provides a tangible reminder that the holiness of God is intricately connected, not only with what went on in the Tabernacle, but also with the everyday business and commerce of human interactions. To wrong another human being is to threaten the health and well-being of the whole community and its relationship with Ha’Shem.⁸⁸

Purifying the Camp
5: 1-4

Purifying the camp DIG: What is the object lesson in these verses? What were the three areas of defilement that would cause a person to be put out of the camp? What should the modern reader be impressed with? What is especially important to see in the first ten chapters of Numbers?

REFLECT: What do we learn here about God’s expectation for us to walk in purity before Him? Are you walking in purity before God today? Ask ADONAI to show you if there is anything in you that offends His presence in your life? Confess your sin and ask Him to give you complete victory over it.

The focus now shifts from safeguarding holiness among the priesthood,
to safeguarding holiness among the people.

The preparations for beginning the march toward the Promised Land now move out from the Tabernacle and its Levitical and priestly personnel, to the purity and holiness among all the people of Isra’el in the twelve tribes who were gathered around the center of the camp.⁷⁹ In the Dispensation of the Torah (see the commentary on Exodus, to see link click Da – The Dispensation of the Torah), skin diseases, especially open sores, were among the three prominent factors (along with oozing discharges and contact with a dead body) that rendered a person unclean. Such persons were regarded as unfit to be in the holy community and were potential contaminants of the Tabernacle and the pure worship of ADONAI. They were to be excluded from the community during the period of their disease. These brief verses use the Hebrew verb salah, meaning to send away or expel, no fewer than four times. The emphasis on this strong verb points to the seriousness of the situation: such people must be expelled.⁸⁰

ADONAI said to Moshe, “Order the people of Isra’el to expel from the camp (until healed by God) everyone with tzara‘at” (see the commentary in Leviticus Bw – Holiness and Tsara’at). The unclean were expelled from the camp because YHVH was dwelling in the midst of it. The book of Revelation uses the same ideas to explain the New Jerusalem: God Himself will be with them; He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more . . . but nothing unclean will enter it (see the commentary on Revelation Fv – Nothing Impure Will Enter New Jerusalem). In anticipation of the heavenly consummation, the early Church exercised discipline over its members who blatantly erred in practice of belief (First Corinthians 5:1-13; Second Corinthians 6:14 to 7:13; Second Thessalonians 3:14; Titus 3:10; Second John 10).⁸¹

Everyone with a discharge was also expelled from the camp. These discharges were primarily from the sex organs and were chronic in nature (see Leviticus Cl – Personal Discharge and Defilement). Again, these matters were tangible. The people who suffered from those maladies became living object lessons to the whole camp of the necessity of all of them to be “pure” in their approach to the LORD.

And whoever is unclean because of touching a corpse (see De – The Red Heifer: The application). The ultimate, tangible sign of uncleanness was a corpse. The process of decay and disease in dead flesh were evident to all. Physical contact with a corpse was a sure mark of uncleanness. Normal contacts with others in the camp would have to be curtailed until proper cleansing had been made (6:6).

Both male and female you must expel; put them outside the camp; so that they won’t defile their camp.” The modern reader should be impressed with the fact that the various disorders that rendered one unclean – and hence expelled from the camp – affected men and women alike. The concepts of pure and impure, clean and unclean, cut across gender lines. The essential issue in all the mitzvot of purity in Isra’el was not magic or health or superstition; the great reality was the presence of YHVH in the camp. There could be no uncleanness where He dwelt. Ha’Shem’s constant dwelling in the Tabernacle needed to be matched by Isra’el’s diligence in keeping the camp pure. The last words of 5:3 are dramatic in their presentation: where I live among you.⁸² These words would give rise to the term Sh’khinah, the idea that God’s presence was “centered” in the Tabernacle, specifically in the Most Holy Place, and between the cherubim.

Numbers 5:4 reports the immediate response of the people, in line with the atmosphere of dutiful obedience throughout the first ten chapters. The people of Isra’el did this and put them outside the camp – the people of Isra’el did what ADONAI had said to Moshe.⁸³ It is with sadness, however, that the we will recall this positive obedience later in the book when we read of Isra’el’s failure to obey the LORD’s commands.

When our Lord ministered on the earth, He ignored the mitzvot of uncleanness and touched lepers (Luke 5:12-15), healed a woman with an issue with blood (Luke 8:43-48), and He even touched the dead (Luke 7:11-17; 8:49-56). The touch of the Great Physician brought healing to the victims, but didn’t defile the Son of God. It was only when He died on the cross that He bore our defilement and the awful “disease” of our sin (First Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:4-6). Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven is now open to all who repent of their sins and believe in the Gospel.⁸⁴

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You that You always are, always have been and always will be totally and perfectly pure. You never have the slightest unclean thought or action. Your home in heaven is free from all illnesses. You never catch a cold, get covid or grow tired. When Yeshua touched the leper (Mark 1:40-45), He was not made unclean, but rather the unclean leper was healed (Luke 5:12-16). Purity for You is an intrinsic part of who You are. No sin can enter heaven. Not even the slightest sin can sneak in. And nothing unholy shall ever enter it, nor anyone doing what is detestable or false, but only those written in the Book of Life (Revelation 21:27).

Thank You that when I repent and turn away from my sins, You forgive me (1 John 1:9). Praise You for Your great love that willingly went to the cross to suffer the pain and shame on my behalf because of my sins. Focusing on Yeshua, the initiator and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame; and He has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). Thank You so very much for not only taking away my punishment, but for also giving me Your righteousness so I could live forever in heaven. You are so very wonderful and Awesome! He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (Second Corinthians 5:21). I love You and want to live with purity in my attitudes, thoughts and actions. In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

Preparing for the Triumphal March
5:1 to 10:10

The preparations for beginning the march toward the Promised Land now move out from the Tabernacle and its Levitical and priestly personnel at the center to issues of purity and holiness among all the people of Isra’el and the twelve tribes who were gathered around the center of the camp. The focus shifts from safeguarding the holiness among the priesthood to safeguarding the holiness among the people.

The concern for purity is an important concept in the TaNaKh that many modern readers do not understand. Purity in ancient Isra’el meant being free from any physical, moral, or ritual contamination. Impurity came about through such things as conduct with a corpse, the involuntary flow of blood or semen, certain skin diseases (see the commentary on Leviticus, to see link click Bv – The Test of Tsara’at), or the eating of prohibited foods. Impurity was not sin and could always be removed through various ritual washings, waiting periods, and offerings. These purity mitzvot touch on matters involving food, sex and marriage, family relationships, business practices, physical abnormalities, and abhorrent worship practices of other gods and nations. No single principle or concept can explain all the aspects of these purity mitzvot, but they all relate in some way to preserving certain boundaries of holiness within the community of God’s people, which was sacred by virtue of God’s presence in its midst.

Purity mitzvot did not make distinctions strictly along the lines of class, ethnicity, gender, or race. All segments of Jewish and Gentile society were capable of being rendered pure or impure. Yeshua is certainly portrayed in the B’rit Chadashah Gospels as reaching out to heal and restore people whose condition had rendered them unclean: he cleansed lepers, healed the woman who had suffered from a flow of blood, raised the dead, and ate with sinners. But as the early Messianic community moved out of the orbit of Jewish society and became more and more a religion of Gentile converts, the specific Jewish mitzvot of purity became less and less applicable in the emerging Gentile communities (see Acts 10 and Galatians 2).

Our modern inability to appreciate or even understand how purity systems work is a barometer of how far away we are as a culture and society from having a notion of the reality of a holy God as a truly defining center in our lives and communities. We are not able, nor should we try, to reconstruct the ancient biblical purity system in our modern society. But as faithful people of God, we need to find ways by which the holy reality of a living and loving God at the center of our lives and our universe may more deeply shape and guide us as individuals and communities.⁷⁸

The Clan of Merari
4: 29-49

The clan of Merari DIG: What were the duties of the Merarites. How did they compare to the Kohathites? The Gershonites? Given the mobile nature of the Tabernacle, how important would the work of the Merarites be in the religious life of the Israelites? What order did the different clans work when going on the march? What was the order when the Levites assembled the Tabernacle?

REFLECT: What does this passage teach us about how God has given us each different responsibilities and called us to work together for His glory? What part does He want you to play? Who takes care of the physical aspects of worship in your church or Messianic congregation. How can you show your appreciation to them this week?

The Merarites were responsible for transporting the framework of the Tabernacle.

Similar phrasing to the other two-family units can be seen in this section, with instructions that the family of Merari was to have their principle ministry with the frames, crossbars, sockets, cords, and other equipment. Their ministry was important as that of any other family group; for without it the more desirable, prestigious work of the Tabernacle couldn’t have been done. Hence, the Merarites could take an interest even in the placing of a post, a peg, or a socket. Not that each of these items was a distinct, suitable “type of Messiah,” but because the worship of ADONAI could not proceed – nor could the camp move out or be set up – unless the Merarites were doing their holy work.⁷³

The clan of Merari (4:29-33): As for the descendants of Merari, take a census by clans and families of all those between thirty and fifty years old, all who will be assigned the work of serving in the Tabernacle. The Kohathites had already removed the holiest items, which they themselves were solely responsible (to see link click At – The Clan of Kohath). Then, the Gershomites removed the coverings, exposing the framework. The Merarites entered next, doing the heaviest work of dismantling, packing, and unpacking the frameworks for the Tabernacle and outer court. Although Gershon was Levi’s firstborn, Kohath received the honor of caring for the holiest things. Gershom, however, is still honored by placement at the head of this new parashah Nasso (see Au – The Clan of Gershom). When going on the march, the Kohathites would first remove the holiest things, which they themselves shouldered. Then the Gershomites would remove the coverings, exposing the framework. Only then would the Merarites, doing the heaviest work, dismantle, the framework for the Tabernacle and outer court. When they reached their destination, this process would be reversed.⁷⁴

Their service for the Tabernacle was to carry the frames, crossbars, posts and sockets of the Tabernacle; also the posts for the surrounding courtyard, with their sockets, pegs, cords and other accessories, and everything having to do with their service. The cords fastened the posts to the pegs. No pegs are mentioned in connection with the Sanctuary curtains; nor were they needed since the Sanctuary frame gave the curtains sufficient stability. You are to assign particular loads to specific persons by name. It was essential to label the numerous objects under their care, frames, sockets, pegs, crossbars, and posts.⁷⁵ Their ministry consisted in dismantling the framework, etc., packing it on the carts, guarding it on the journey, and reassembling it upon the arrival at the destination. Four wagons and eight oxen were needed to transport them all (7:8a). This is how the Merari families are to serve the Tabernacle when moving from one location to another. They were directed by Ithamar the son of Aaron the high priest. (4:31-34).

Census completed (4:34-45): The first census of the Levites was to determine the number of Levite males a month old and older (3:39) to redeem the firstborn of Isra’el (see As – The Census and Redemption of the Firstborn). The second counting of the Levites, seen here, was to determine those from age thirty to fifty who were eligible to assume their Levitical duties.

Moshe, Aaron and the community leaders took a census of the descendants of Kohath by their clans and families, all those between thirty and fifty years old who were part of the corps serving in the tent of meeting. Registered by their families, they numbered 2,750. These are the ones counted from the Kohath families of all those serving in the Tabernacle, whom Moshe and Aaron enumerated, in keeping with the order given by ADONAI through Moshe.

The census of the descendants of Gershon, by their clans and families, all those between thirty and fifty years old who were part of the corps serving in the Tabernacle, yielded 2,630, registered by their clans and families. These are the ones counted from the families of the descendants of Gershon of all those serving in the tent of meeting, whom Moshe and Aaron enumerated, in keeping with the order given by ADONAI.

The census of the families of the descendants of Merari, by their clans and families, all those between thirty and fifty years old who were part of the corps serving in the Tabernacle, yielded 3,200, registered by their families. These are the ones counted from the families of the descendants of Merari, whom Moshe and Aaron enumerated, in keeping with the order given by ADONAI through Moshe.

Summary (4:46-49): The summary gives us a sense of completion to the unit. The Hebrew style seems to allow the reader to enjoy a sense of “going full circle.” When the summary of actions of obedience is given as seen here, there is a sense in which the reader may derive some satisfaction.⁷⁶ The census of the Levites, whom Moshe, Aaron and the leaders of Isra’el enumerated by their clans and families, all those between thirty and fifty years old who were part of those working to serve and working to carry loads in the tent of meeting, yielded a total of 8,580 persons (4:46-48). The reader will discern a careful progression from the Kohathites, who deal with the most holy things inside the Sanctuary, to the Gershonites and Merarites, who care for the progressively less holy and exterior parts of the Tabernacle. This is in line with the concentric circles of holiness and danger that were a part of the Israelites camping arrangement. Just as there were concentric circles of holiness within the Tabernacle itself (moving from the Most Holy Place, to the Holy Place, to the courtyard), so there were concentric circles of relative holiness within the whole camp. The Tabernacle was at the center and was most holy, the circle of Levites and Aaronic priests which immediately surrounded it were next in the order of holiness, while the twelve tribes were all equidistant in signifying the least holy part of the camp.

But the Bible nowhere suggests that these degrees of holiness correspond to different levels of divine favor or value. These concentric circles of holiness didn’t have anything to do with divine esteem or favor; rather, it had to do so with danger. The one boundary that could not be crossed is sinful human encroachment into God’s holy space and prerogative. Every Israelite, whether priest, Levite, or common person, was subject to the danger of death which occurred when they violated sacred boundaries (see the commentary on Leviticus Bh – The Death of Nadab and Abihu). However, it was only with YHVH in their midst that Isra’el had a future. Without Him, they were lost (without Him, we are lost). That lesson would be learned more than once in the struggles of Isra’el’s wilderness wanderings.

In the meantime, Numbers 4 ends with a sweeping note of reassurance. According to ADONAI’s order they were appointed by Moshe, each one to his specific service or work. They were also enumerated, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe (4:49). The picture seemed rosy indeed as the Tabernacle and the people appear well instructed and in place.⁷⁷

Dear Heavenly Father, What an Awesome God and Father You are! How wonderful it is that You call those who love You to be Your children. But whoever did receive Him, those trusting in His name, to these He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12). How fantastic that You come to live within me. You do not leave me, but you abide with me and in me. The Spirit of truth . . . You know Him, because He abides with you and will be in you. . .  Yeshua answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him (John 14:17, 23). Just like with Isra’el, it is only Your abiding presence in me that gives me a future. I love You! In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Clan of Gershom
4: 21-28

The clan of Gershom DIG: What were the duties assigned to the Gershomites? How did they compare to the Kohathites? Given the mobile nature of the Tabernacle, how important would the work of the Gershomites be in the religious life of the Israelites? What does this passage teach us about treating the things of ADONAI with respect?

REFLECT: What are your spiritual gifts? Are you using them? How are believers like a spiritual Tabernacle? Who takes care of the physical aspects of worship in your church or Messianic congregation. Ask God to show you His particular purpose for your life. Ask God to help you know how to work more effectively with other believers for His Kingdom.

Parashah 35: Nasso (Take) 4:21 to 7:89
(See my commentary on Deuteronomy, to see link click Af – Parashah)

The Key People are Moshe, all the Levites, sons of Gershom, Merari and Kohath, the unclean, jealous husbands and their wives, Nazirites, Aaron, and the leaders of all the tribes.

The Scene is the wilderness of Sinai.

The Main Events include tasks for the Gershomites and Merarites, census totals for Levites, instructions to keep tsara’at (see the commentary on Leviticus to see link click Bv – The Test of Tsara’at) out of the camp, mitzvah of jealousy, Nazirite vows, the Aaronic benediction, altar dedication, offerings of the tribal princes, donations for the Levites, and Moshe entering the Tabernacle to hear ADONAI speak.

The Gershomites were responsible for the cloth, fabric and skins
that covered and enclosed the Tabernacle.

Nasso opens with a continuation of the numbering of the Levitical families. ADONAI said to Moshe, “Take a census of the descendants of Gershom also, by clans and families; count all those between thirty and fifty years old, all who will enter the corps doing the work of serving in the Tabernacle (4:21-22). The previous portion began this numbering process with the clan of Kohath (see At – The Clan of Kohath). The main function of the Levites was to guard the Tabernacle from the people and the people from the Tabernacle (see Ar – The Four Camps of Levites). With the living God in their midst, a step in the wrong direction might prove fatal (see the commentary on Leviticus Bh – The Death of Nadab and Abihu). The Levites camped around the Tabernacle to protect the Israelites from blundering into the Tabernacle and being struck down dead for inadvertent trespassing. Their encampment protected the Tabernacle from defilement and desecration.

Fundamental to their mission of guarding the Tabernacle was making sure that worshipers were in a state of ritual purity before entering. During the Second Temple era (called Herod’s Temple), Levitical guards checked those entering into the inner Temple area to determine if they had passed through the middle wall of separation and were in a state of ritual purity (see the commentary on Acts Cn – Paul’s Advice from Jacob and the Elders at Tziyon). In his vision of the New Jerusalem, John sees a City in which there is no Temple, for the whole City will be declared holy. The entire City is the Temple. Nothing unclean will be allowed to enter it. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. Its gates will never close, they stay open all day because night will not exist there, and the honor and splendor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure may enter it, nor anyone who does shameful things or lies; the only ones who may enter are those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:24-27).⁶⁷

One of the main themes of this portion is Isra’el’s preparation to travel through the wilderness and enter the Promised Land. Among these preparations was the delegation of the various responsibilities among the Levites. It is important to note that in every case where a particular Levite family’s duties are described, the Bible says that those responsible are called mishmeret. This term comes from the root, shomer, which means to guard or to keep. The idea behind this root is protection. As applied to the work of the Levites, we see that God considered their ministry not to be one of meaningless physical labor, but rather, that of guarding, caring for, and protecting both the precious objects and precious calling. The precious objects were the Tabernacle and everything associated with its service. Not just anyone was entrusted with its care. It was a special family who could devote their entire lives to doing the work that ADONAI called them to do. And as we take joy in serving our Lord in what He has called us to do, I am sure they took great joy in their ministry also.

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for being such a wonderful Heavenly Father! It is a joy to minister before You, serving You in various ways! Taking care of Your Church is similar to the Gershomites taking care of the cloth, fabric and skins that covered and enclosed the Tabernacle. The physical labor to care for the church building is meaningful and a joy as we seek to provide a clean and orderly place where all may worship You Your holiness and Almighty power. Thank You that all may worship You as their Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10). All who love You are welcomed into Your family, for it is the heart that You look at (First Samuel 16:7). You are an orderly God and so we keep your house in order.  But let everything be done decently and in order (First Corinthians 14:40). How amazing that you put the stars in place and the planets in orderly orbits around the sun! You are a God of order in all you do and we delight in worshiping you in an orderly way. In the holy Name of Yeshua and the power of His resurrection. Amen

The Tabernacle was the sacred “home” where YHVH, the Divine Husband, met with His bride, Isra’el. Because of the special functions of the Tabernacle, the Levites were granted a unique privilege. The precious work was, of course, to function as priests in Isra’el. The Levites helped the Israelites come close to God and properly relate to Him. In return, ADONAI used the Levites to reveal some of His heart and mind to Isra’el, as well as to teach Isra’el the Torah.⁶⁸

The Gershomites were responsible for the cloth, fabric and skins that covered and enclosed the Tabernacle (4:21-28): Although Gershom was Levi’s firstborn, Kohathite received the first job assignment. Gershom was still honored, however, by placement at the head of this new parashah. Gershom’s duties concerned the physical work of dismantling, loading onto wagons, and reassembling the cloth, fabric, and skins that covered and enclosed the Tabernacle. The Kohathites had already removed the holiest items, which they themselves were solely responsible for. Now the Gershomites removed the coverings, exposing the framework. The Merarites entered next (see Av – The Clan of Merari), doing the heaviest work of dismantling, packing, and unpacking the frameworks for the Tabernacle and outer court.⁶⁹

ADONAI said to Moshe, “Take a census of the descendants of Gershom also, by clans and families; count all those between thirty and fifty years old, all who will enter the corps doing the work of serving in the tent of meeting (4:22-23).

The Gershom families are to be responsible for serving and for carrying the curtains of the Tabernacle, its covering, the fine yellow-orange leather covering (Exodus 26:14) above it, the outer veil (see the commentary on Exodus Fj – The Outer Veil of the Sanctuary), the curtains for the courtyard, and the curtains for the gateway to the courtyard (see Exodus Ez – The Gate of the Tabernacle: Christ, The Way to God), along with the ropes and all the utensils they need for their service; and they are to do the work connected with these things. Aaron and his sons are to supervise all the work of the Gershom clan in carrying loads and serving, and to assign them who is to carry what. This is how the Gershom clans are to serve in the Tabernacle. However, they were not to do their work alone. Even as they worked, Aaron was still responsible to see that their work was done properly. Hence, he delegated some of that responsibility to his fourth son Ithamar (4:24-28).⁷⁰

Three words are used in connection with their tasks. The first is abode, which, in this case, describes the physical work of dismantling the curtains, etc., loading them on wagons, and reassembling them in due course. In the story, one month earlier the Gershomies had been given two wagons and four oxen to carry the curtains, etc. (see Bd – Carts and Oxen for the Levites). The second word, here translated carrying (Hebrew: massa), is literally “a burden.” The third word is mismeret, which means guard duty, and indicated that the Gershomites were responsible for watching over the curtains, etc., as the coverings, exposing the framework of the Tabernacle traveled on the carts.⁷¹

The Spiritual Tabernacle: One of the best examples of this organization is found in the teaching of First Corinthians (see the commentary on First Corinthians Ch – Unwrapping Your Spiritual Gifts), Romans (see the commentary on Romans Dc – Responding to the Mercies of ADONAI: Spiritual gifts), and Ephesians (see the commentary on Ephesians Bf – The Gifts of Messiah to His Church) concerning spiritual gifts. There are many parallels between spiritual gifts and the organization of the Levites. To begin with, both have been given because ADONAI’s people are called to accomplish God’s work on planet earth. In the case of the Levites, it was to administer over the Tabernacle and the sacrifices (see Leviticus An – The Offerings from the Priests Perspective). However, the Body of Messiah is also a “Tabernacle” – we are a place where the glory of God reveals itself on earth. It is also a place where sacrifices are offered daily. Unlike the ancient Tabernacle, however, the Body of Messiah does not offer animals in order to become close to God by atonement or fellowship. Instead, we are to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, set apart for God, continually presenting our bodies to Messiah in order to worship and serve Him.

As far as the maintenance of this spiritual “Tabernacle,” the Body of Messiah, is concerned, the Ruach Ha’Kodesh gave very specific abilities to every believer in Yeshua . . . their task is to equip God’s people for the work of service that builds the body of Messiah (Ephesians 4:12). He did not give all of the gifts to one person. Instead, He so crafted His body that each and every person would have an extremely vital part to play – just like He divided the work of the Tabernacle among all of the Levites, each having a very specific part to do for the whole. As a result, we are told that YHVH gave certain supernatural spiritual abilities to His Body (see above) in order for His Body to function properly. The result is that each of us does exactly what the LORD assigned to us in the way He designed it to be done. Thus, God’s work is carried on effectively – just like the ancient Levites worked to have a smooth and effective Tabernacle service for Isra’el.

In addition, just as Sh’khinah glory of God filled the Most Holy Place when the Tabernacle was functioning (see Exodus Hh – The Glory of the LORD Filled the Tabernacle), so also does a bit of that same glory fill us when we are functioning correctly for the Lord. We are meant to be a physical expression of Messiah here on earth so that instead of people physically looking at Yeshua (Ephesians 1:22-23), they would instead look upon His Body – us. The idea is that they would see the same beauty, glory, and honor, and love, and justice, and truth they would have seen if our Lord was present among us today.⁷²

The Clan of Kohath
4: 1-20

The clan of Kohath DIG: Why was the clan of Kohath given the awesome responsibility of transporting the holy things of the Tabernacle when he was not the firstborn son? Why was the ark of the covenant covered first? Who could draw near to the holy things on behalf of the people? How would this help Isra’el to understand the nature of ADONAI?

REFLECT: What does this passage teach you about treating the things of God with respect? How do we show respect to God, His servants, and His purposes? What does this passage teach us about how ADONAI has given us each different responsibilities and called us to work together for His glory? What part does He want you to play this week?

The Kohathites were responsible for transporting the most holy things in the Tabernacle.

The Kohathites are listed first, even though Kohath was not the first born (see 3:14-39). The reason for this elevation of the second son over his older brother seems to be based on the sovereign selection of the LORD and the favored work He gave this family in proximity to the sacred things. Furthermore, this reflects a recurring pattern: the surprising elevation of a lesser son over his older brother. These are examples of the grace of God that reaches out in sovereign selection, bringing blessing to whom He wishes to bring blessing, elevating whom He desires to elevate, for reasons of His own will. The pattern is found repeatedly in the TaNaKh: Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over Reuben, Moses over Aaron, and Sha’ul and David over their respective brothers.⁵⁸

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise Your great wisdom and love. How amazing that You see both into the future and into people’s hearts! It is such a comfort that Your criteria for choosing someone is the purity of their hearts – not how good looking they are or their being first in birth order. Though David was the eighth son of his father (First Samuel 16:10), he was the son with the pure heart and so he was chosen. But ADONAI said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have already refused him. For He does not see a man as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but ADONAI looks into the heart” (First Samuel 16:7).

Praise You that to enter Your holy place, You do not require a huge gift of money, nor a fantastic deed; but You instead look for purity of heart. Who may go up on the mountain of ADONAI? Who may stand in His holy place? One with clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully. He will receive a blessing from Adonai, righteousness from God his salvation (Psalms 24:3-5). Thank You that since no one can live perfectly, You sent Messiah Yeshua to cancel sin’s claim on sinners, so all who believe in You as their Lord and Savior have their sins forgiven and are given a pure heart thru Messiah’s righteousness. He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (Second Corinthians 5:21). We desire to guard our hearts that we may please and love You in all we say, and do and think. In Messiah Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The length of service in the Tabernacle (4:1-49): The sense of order and organization already observed in Numbers comes to its finest point in this chapter. Again we observe that the standard pattern in Hebrew prose is a movement from the general to the specific. Chapters 1-4 follow this concept nicely. Chapter 1 presents the leaders and the numbers of the soldiers conscripted from each tribe; Chapter 2 shows how each of the tribes is related to groupings surrounding the Tabernacle; Chapter 3 gives the census of the Levitical males from one month and older and a listing of the Levites by their clans; however, Chapter 4 presents the census of the Levites from thirty to fifty years old, and the duties of each clan. The chapters have moved from the nation as a whole to the particular families of the one tribe that has the responsibility to maintain the symbols of Isra’el’s worship of ADONAI. Each chapter gets more specific, narrowing in focus, with the central emphasis on the worship of the LORD at the Tabernacle.⁵⁹

The Kohathites were responsible for the most holy things in the Tabernacle (4:1-3): The census proceeds through the three households of Levites, headed by the three sons of Levi. The Kohathites were the first, for they were assigned to care for the most holy things in the Tabernacle (1:4). ADONAI said to Moshe and Aaron, “Take a census of the descendants of Kohath, who are among the descendants of Levi, by clans and families.” All the descendants of Aaron began their tour of duty in the priesthood and their work in the Tabernacle at the same age, from thirty to fifty years old. It is significant that John the Baptist, who was himself both a Levite and a priest, seems to have begun his ministry at the age of thirty. The Master did the same. And thirty is probably a good target age for men to enter the office of overseer in the synagogues. The Levites were to give twenty years of service to their ministry in the Tabernacle/Temple. In the days of the Temple, the tribe was divided into different courses (see the commentary on the Life of David, to see link click Er – The Levites), like the priesthood, and the Levites took rotations. When off-duty, a Levite was to be given to Torah study and teaching the community.⁶⁰ The Sanctuary objects that the Kohathites transported were to be carried on their shoulders with poles made for that purpose (Numbers 7:9; Exodus 25:26–28).

The Ark of the Covenant (4:4-6): Here is how the descendants of Kohath are to serve in the Tabernacle and care for the most sacred things: when the time comes to break camp, Aaron is to go in with his sons, take down the inner veil of the Tabernacle (see the commentary on Exodus Fq – The Inner Veil of the Sanctuary: That is Christ, His Body), and cover the Ark of the covenant with it. On that they are to place a yellow-orange covering of fine leather (Exodus 26:14), and on top of that spread an all-blue cloth. Then they are to insert the carrying-poles (see the commentary on the Life of David Et – The Kohathites). This would guard the holy ark from the gaze of human eyes (4:20) and protect it from the elements.

It should be noted that the clothes of the other holy things are not qualified by the Hebrew adjective kalil, or pure. Another distinction for the Ark was that the blue cloth was on top of the other coverings (see above), to distinguish it from the other sacred things, which were covered by a yellow-orange covering of fine leather. Since the function of the latter was to protect the holy things against dust and rain, perhaps the Ark’s blue cover was allowed to be on top only when weather permitted.

The colors of the coverings were also instrumental in the order in which they were readied for transport. The Ark of the covenant, the most sacred of the holy things, was covered first by the inner veil, which itself was composed of three colors (Exodus 26:31), followed by a yellow-orange covering of fine leather, and, last, an all-blue cloth. The Table of Showbread, next in sequence and, hence, in holiness, was covered first by a blue cloth, followed by a scarlet cloth, and then a yellow-orange covering of fine leather. The Lampstand and the Golden Altar of Incense were covered by a blue cloth and a yellow-orange covering of fine leather. The Bronze Altar and probably the Bronze Basin, the least sacred of the holy things since they stood outside in the Courtyard and not in the Sanctuary. They were provided with a purple cloth and a yellow-orange covering of fine leather.

Thus, the sacred colors of the holy things as well as their sequence indicate their holiness rank. The Ark of the covenant, covered by all three sacred colors, was the holiest. The Table of Showbread, next in holiness, claimed two of the sacred colors. The Golden Altar of Incense and the Lampstand were provided one sacred color, blue, denoting that they were equal in holiness. The Bronze Altar, and probably the Bronze Basin, were also granted one sacred color, but it was purple, not blue. In this manner the sequence of the holy things was marked by the differentiation in the colors of their coverings, both signifying a descending order of holiness. These distinctions were matched by the quality and workmanship of the sacred things themselves: The holy things in the Sanctuary were made of gold, while the courtyard were made of bronze. The order of dismantling the sacred things was the same as for reassembling them (Exodus 40:17-33).⁶¹

The Table of Showbread (4:7-8): On the table of showbread (see Exodus Fo – The Bread of the Presence in the Sanctuary: Christ, the Bread of Life) they are to spread a blue cloth and place on it the dishes, incense pans, offering bowls and pitchers. The perpetual bread is to remain on the table. They are to spread on these things a scarlet cloth, cover them with a yellow-orange covering of fine leather and insert the poles. 

The Menorah (4:9-10): They are to take a blue cloth and cover the menorah for the light (see Exodus Fn – The Menorah in the Sanctuary: Christ, the Light of the World), its lamps, its tongs, its trays and the jars used to add oil to it. They are to wrap it and all its accessories in fine leather and place them on a carrying-frame.

The Altar of Incense and utensils used in the Sanctuary (11-12): On the gold altar (see Exodus Fp – Altar of Incense in the Sanctuary: Christ, Our Advocate with the Father) they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with a yellow-orange covering of fine leather and insert its carrying-poles. They are to take all the utensils they use when serving in the sanctuary and put them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather and place them on a carrying-frame. 

The Bronze Altar and Bronze Basin (4:13-15): After removing the greasy ashes from the bronze altar (see Exodus Fa – Build Altar of Acacia Wood Overlaid with Bronze), and probably the bronze basin (see Exodus Fh – The Bronze Basin: Christ, Our Cleanser), they are to spread a purple cloth over it (slightly red, hinting the blood of the sacrifices) and place on it all the utensils required for their altar service – the fire pans, meat-hooks, shovels, basins and other utensils for the altar. Then they are to spread over it a yellow-orange covering of fine leather and insert its carrying-poles. Only when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the sacred utensils, when the camp is about to move forward, then the descendants of Kohath are to come and carry them. But they are not to touch the sacred things, so that they won’t die. The sad story of Uzzah, who attempted to keep the Ark of the covenant from tumbling to the earth when David was having it brought to Jerusalem (see the Life of David Cr – The Ark Brought to Yerushalayim), was an unwitting test of the profound significance of these words.⁶² They were only to touch the poles carrying the holy things. Again, the holiness of God’s Sanctuary (which is the holiness of God Himself) was not to be treated lightly. These things are the responsibility of the descendants of Kohath in the Tabernacle.

Eleazar (4:16): Eleazar, Aaron’s older surviving son (see the commentary on Leviticus Bi – The Mercy Shown to Eleazar and Ithamar), was given the responsibility of four holy things not previously mentioned as well as the administrative oversight of the Tabernacle and its furnishings as set out in the previous verses. He was responsible for the oil for the light (Exodus 27:20-21), the fragrant incense (Exodus 30:34-38), the continuing grain offering (see Leviticus Ap – The Minhah Offering: Assuring People of God’s Acceptance), and the anointing oil (Exodus 30:22-33). He is to be in charge of the entire Tabernacle and everything in it, including the Sanctuary and its furnishings. In God’s mercy, He provided a person who could draw near to the holy things on behalf of the people. It is possible that Eleazar himself carried the four sacred things since all of them were holy and thus had to be handled by a priest.⁶³

The Kohath clan (4:17-20): Since the danger to the Kohathites from accidental exposure to the holy things was great, these verses underline that danger and warn Moses, and especially Aaron, to take care in the packing and preparation of the sacred things for transport. These items needed to be treated properly: any improper approach toward, touch of, or glance at the sacred things would mean death. ADONAI said to Moshe and Aaron, “Do not cut off the clan of Kohath from among the Levites; rather, do this for them, so that they will live and not die: when they approach the especially holy things, Aaron and his sons are to go in – and you are to assign each one his task; but the descendants of Kohath are not to go in and look at the sacred things as they are being covered; if they do, they will die.” Even though the primary care of the sacred things was given to the Kohathites, they were forbidden to touch them (4:15), or even look at them (4:20), lest they die. These limits are stunning. Even as the holy angels who surround the throne of the Divine Presence shield their faces and feet from the Presence (see the commentary on Isaiah Bo – In the Year King Uzziah Died), so the Kohathites would shield themselves from too familiar an approach to the sacred things, for they symbolized the presence of the most holy God. All the work of the Kohathites was to be strictly supervised by Aaron and his sons; only the priests themselves were able to touch or look upon the unveiled holy things.

As in other instances of this sort, the underlying reason on God’s part may well have been mercy. It is through His mercy that YHVH made Himself known to anyone; through His continuing mercy He did not take the lives of mere persons because of their wickedness; and through His mercy He tabernacled in our midst (John 1:1-14). The revelation of the Word of God brought with it demands, some of which seem harsh and difficult. But ADONAI was, and is, near. Some of His demands seem so judgmental, yet Ha’Shem has not destroyed everyone. Some seem to be threatening, yet the LORD, by His mercy, allowed some sense of His presence to remain known in the camp of Isra’el. His manifestation was based on His mercy, and His limitations allowed His mercy to continue to be realized.⁶⁴

Haftarah B’midbar: Hosea 2:20
(see the commentary on Deuteronomy Af – Parashah)

Hosea prophecies a great day in the end (Hosea 1:10-11) though Isra’el will first bring disgrace by acting like a prostitute (Hosea 2:2-7). She suffers terrible consequences for her faithlessness (Hosea 2:8-13). But restoration follows (Hosea 2:14-20). Isra’el sings again as in her youth, when God brought her out from Egypt to the desert to speak to her heart (Hosea 2:14-16). Remember that Hosea shares in Isra’el’s history by marrying Gomer, a prostitute who gives birth to three children Yizra’el (God will sow) fathered by Hosea; and Lo’Ruchamah (No mercy) and Lo’Ammi (Not My People), both fathered by other paying customers of the prostitute. But Hosea cannot reject his children! In that moment, YHVH shows Hosea that He cannot reject Isra’el either! Thus, ADONAI renews His covenant in faithfulness and promises to change Isra’el’s very nature (Hosea 2:17). She shall be made faithful and she will know ADONAI (Hosea 2:20).⁶⁵

B’rit Chadashah: Romans 9:33

Paul quotes Hosea to say that Lo’Ammi (Not My People) becomes God’s people (Romans 9:25-26). The terrible consequences of faithlessness result in Isra’el being carved down from being countless as the grains of sand (Hosea 2:1) to little more than a remnant (Romans 9:27-29). Nevertheless, ADONAI promises to restore her faithfulness and make it a constitutional reality that’s given to the Gentiles as well (Romans 9:30). In this portion, the Levites replaced the firstborns in the inner circle surrounding the Tabernacle, as a direct result of their faithfulness to God when the rest of Isra’el rebelled Him (see the commentary on Exodus Gv – And All the Levites Rallied to Moses). Now YHVH brings others near (Lo’Ruchamah and Lo’Ammi) – not simply as a result of Isra’el’s faithlessness, but also to make known the riches of God’s glory to those who are objects of his mercy . . . that is, whom He called not only from among the Jews, but also from among the Gentiles (see the commentary on Romans Cr – The Objections to Isra’el’s Past Paradox)!⁶⁶

The Census and the Redemption of the Firstborn
3: 40-51

The census and the redemption of the firstborn DIG: What was the giving of the firstborn a tangible reminder of? How were the 273 unredeemed first males of the people redeemed? What did it mean to be the firstborn in biblical times? What does it mean for Isra’el to be the firstborn of God? What does it mean for Yeshua to be “the firstborn among many brothers” or “of all creation?” What does it mean for Yeshua to be “the firstborn of the dead?” What is the Sh’khinah, and where was it within the camp of Isra’el? How does the Sh’khinah picture the Messiah?

REFLECT: If the redemption prince were still required for your life or the lives of your spouse and children, what would it be? Since the price of a life was another life, what principle of substitution does ADONAI use today? How does that make you feel about your substitution? About the One who gave His life for your life?

God has made it clear that the price of redemption is a life for another life.

The first born: During his father’s lifetime, the firstborn took precedence over his brothers (Genesis 43:33). Upon his father’s death, he received a double portion of the inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17) and became the head of the family. The eldest could lose his right of being the firstborn for a grave offense, as Reuben did by his incest (see the commentary on Genesis, to see link click Ik – Reuben Slept with His Father’s Concubine Bilhah), or he could surrender it, as Esau did by selling his birthright to Jacob (see Genesis Gn – Then Jacob Gave Esau Some Stew and Esau Despised His Birthright). But the Torah protected the eldest son from an unfair father (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Ds – The Tale of Two Sons) because the firstborn belonged to ADONAI.⁵²

At its most basic level, the tradition of dedicating the firstborn to God or some other equivalent is a theological reminder that Isra’el owes its very life and freedom to ADONAI. The dedication of the firstborn is a tangible way of recalling Isra’el’s history as a slave people redeemed by YHVH. All that Isra’el has, including its very existence, is a gift from the LORD. To return whatever first opens the womb of God is a tangible reminder that everything belongs to ADONAI is a physical reminder that everything belongs to YHVH and is available for our use only because God has given it as a gift.⁵³

ADONAI said to Moshe, “Register all the firstborn males of the people of Isra’el a month old and over, and determine how many there are. Then you are to take the Levites for me, ADONAI, in place of all the firstborn among the people of Isra’el, and the cattle of the Levites in place of the firstborn of the cattle belonging to the people of Isra’el.” Moshe counted, as ADONAI had ordered him, all the firstborn among the people of Isra’el (3:40-42).

In taking the census of the firstborn males of Isra’el one month old or older, the total was 22,273 (3:43), leaving an excess of 273 unredeemed firstborn males beyond the census of 22,000 Levites (see Aq – The First Numbering of the Levites). The instructions in Exodus (see the commentary on Exodus Cd – Redemption of the Firstborn), and Numbers (see Ap – Redeeming the Firstborn) were to substitute Levites for the firstborn service of the LORD.⁵⁴

Some argue that the 22,273 firstborn of the twelve tribes was an unrealistically small number since the total population of Israelite men twenty-years-old or older was 603,550 (see Ak – Numbering the Tribes). This would yield a ratio of about 1 firstborn to 27 mothers. Very unrealistic. Therefore, the firstborn males of Isra’el most likely refers to only those who were born after the tribe of Levi was established as a priestly tribe. The original statement concerning the firstborn (Exodus 13:11-13) clearly indicates that the implementation of the command was not retroactive to the Exodus, but would come into effect in the future. That is, only the firstborn males who were born between the time of the Exodus and the setting of a part of the Levites, about two years later (Numbers 1:1), would be counted. So a total of 22,273 would be in line for that period of time.⁵⁵

ADONAI said to Moshe, “Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn among the people of Isra’el, and the cattle of the Levites in place of their cattle; the Levites belong to me, ADONAI. Since there were 273 more firstborn males from Isra’el than male Levites, in order to redeem them, you are to take five shekels [two ounces] for each of these (use the Sanctuary shekel, which is equal to twenty gerahs). Give the redemption money for these extra people to Aaron and his sons.” Moshe took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites; the amount of money he took from the firstborn of the people of Isra’el was 1,365 shekels, using the Sanctuary shekel. Moshe gave the redemption-money to Aaron and his sons, in keeping with what ADONAI had said, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe (3:44-51).

Redemption was always described in terms of some kind of a cost factor. God was obviously not discharging a debt to some by redeeming His elect at the time of the Exodus. But at that point, and on all subsequent occasions, when the first born were redeemed, God made it clear that the price of a life was another life. The original cost factor existed in the effort that a loving, wise God made to redeem His chosen people by “passing over” the firstborn of Isra’el when He instituted the final plague upon Egypt.⁵⁶

Isra’el, God’s firstborn: According to the TaNaKh, Isra’el is God’s firstborn (Exodus 4:22 and Jeremiah 31:9). As such, she enjoyed the privileges that the other nations did not possess, such as being the recipient and caretaker of God’s written revelation as well as being the people through whom the Messiah would come into the world. This is her double portion. One of the most wonderful things to note about Isra’el’s firstborn status is that even though Isra’el was unfaithful to the covenant (see the commentary on Jeremiah Bh – The Broken Covenant), ADONAI does not disinherit them, as is the practice of some earthy fathers. Hence, Isra’el will always be considered God’s firstborn child among all the peoples of the world, and those who believe that the Church has replaced Isra’el as His firstborn are teaching heresy (see the commentary on Acts Ag – Replacement Theology and Acts).

Yeshua, God’s Firstborn: Yeshua the Messiah is also called God’s firstborn. In fact, He is referred to as such in three different ways. First, He is called the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:29). He is also called the firstborn of all creation (Colossians 1:15). This title seems to be stressing the fact of Yeshua’s eternal existence as the divine Son of God. Furthermore, Messiah is called the firstfruits from the dead (Colossians 1:18). Here the meaning is not that our Lord was the first to rise from the dead. Others have had that blessing before Him, such as the boy whom Elijah raised from the dead, and Lazarus. Rather, when we are told that Messiah is the firstfruits from the dead, it means that He was the first to rise from the dead in glory, receiving an immortal resurrection-type body.

Finally, Yeshua is also the firstborn child of His mother Miriam. This helps us to understand why Yeshua was presented in the Temple (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Au – Jesus Presented in the Temple). His parents did this because of the teaching found in Numbers 8:15-19.

It is clear from the teaching about Yeshua that by designating Him as God’s firstborn, He was placing Messiah into a position of the highest-ranking Person in the universe. Indeed, He is high and lifted up as Isaiah states (see the commentary on Isaiah Jn – I Live in a High and Holy Place). This underscores the truth that He was not only firstborn of His mother in the world, but firstborn of His Father before the creation of the world, and that He holds the rank, as compared with everything created, as the firstborn of dignity.⁵⁷

Yeshua Messiah, our redeemer: The redemption principle of “a life for a life” is still relevant today. Yeshua Messiah is our substitute who has bought us with a price (First Corinthians 6:20), and redeemed us (see the commentary on Romans Bn – The Contrast to Adam) from the kingdom of sin and death (see the commentary on Leviticus Bv – The Test of Tsara’at) to the kingdom of life and righteousness (see Leviticus Cg – The Test of M’tsora).

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for Your loving care to redeem Your people from the terrible bondage of sin. You endured the shameful and terrible death on the cross for the joy set before You (Hebrews 12:2). Your When Isra’el sinned Your love is what motivated all Your actions. Your love for Your firstborn Isra’el, caused You to send them into exile for seventy years that they might be cured of worshipping idols and it did cure them. Love also to restore Isra’el (Jeremiah 27:22). Your love is always there. You never stop loving Your children, even when You discipline. “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of Adonai or lose heart when you are corrected by Him, because ADONAI disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He accepts (Hebrews 12: 5b-6).

In seeking to restore Israel’s love for You, Your love marked off seven years of great Tribulation for Isra’el (Daniel 9:27). At the end of the Tribulation when Isra’el finally accepts Yeshua as the Messiah, the Savior of the world, then Messiah returns to rescue and save Isra’el. Then I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication, when they will look toward Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for him as one mourns for an only son and grieve bitterly for him, as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there will be a great mourning in Jerusalem, mourning like Hadad-rimmon in the valley of Megido. . . In that day a spring will be opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and impurity. Yeshua returns in triumph to miraculously save Isra’el (Zechariah 13-14). Then Messiah will judge the nations for how they have treated Isra’el (Matthew 25:31-46) and set up His Millennial Kingdom for one thousand years as King over all the earth, with Jerusalem as His capital (Revelation 19-21, Zechariah 14:9). Praise Your magnificent power and tender love! When Your children stray, You always seek to draw them back into Your arms of deep and compassionate love. In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Four Camps of Levites
3: 21-39

The four camps of Levites DIG: Why are there three sons listed when there are four camps. Why would anyone else who approached the Sanctuary be put to death? What is the Sh’khinah and where was it within the camp of Isra’el?

REFLECT: God has given every believer a spiritual gift, and thus, a ministry. How are you using your spiritual gift? Are you bitter that someone else has a better gift than you do? What was the difference in ritual purity and holiness from one clan to another?

The three sons of Levi are mentioned in order of their birth.

As stated earlier (to see link click Am – The Camp of the Twelve Tribes of Isra’el), the Levites camped directly around the Tabernacle. As with the rest of the nation of Isra’el, their encampment was divided into four camps. The three sons of Levi are mentioned in order of their birth: Gershon (meaning exile or a sonourner there) was born first, Kohath (meaning congregation) second, and Merari (meaning bitter) was born third.

The Gershonite Camp (3:21-26): Gershon fathered the clans of Levi and Shim‘i; these were the Gershon clans. Among the 7,500 males, only 2,630 were between the ages of thirty and fifty (4:40). These were required to serve under the supervision of Ithamar, the son of Aaron (4:28). The Gershon clans were to camp behind the Tabernacle, toward the west. In other words, their tents were between the Tabernacle and the encampment of Ephriam. The chief of the Gershon clan was Eliasaph, the son of La’el. Their principal duty was to assemble, disassemble and carry the white curtains of finely twisted linen (4:25-26). In connection with the Tabernacle, the descendants of Gershon were to be in charge of the following: Its inner and outer coverings (see the commentary on Exodus Fl – The Goat Hair Curtains on the Sanctuary), the veil for the entrance of the Tabernacle (see Exodus Fj – The Outer Veil of the Sanctuary), the curtains surrounding the courtyard (see Exodus Ey – The Size of the Courtyard in the Tabernacle), the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen (see Exodus Ez – The Gate of the Tabernacle: Christ, The Way to God) and the bronze altar, all the fixtures and ropes for these items, and their maintenance.

The Kohathite Camp (3:27-32): Kohath fathered the clans of Amramirtes, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites; these were the Kohathite clans. The number of males a month old or more was 8,600 (4:34-36). The Kohathites were responsible for the Sanctuary. The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side of the Tabernacle, between the Tabernacle and the encampment of Reuben. The leader of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. They were responsible for the care and transportation of the Ark (see Exodus Fr – The Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place: Christ at the Throne of Grace), the Mercy Seat (see Exodus Fs – The Mercy Seat in the Most Holy Place: Christ at the Throne of Grace), the Menorah (see Exodus Fn – The Menorah in the Sanctuary: Christ, the Light of the World), the Altar of Incense (see Exodus Fp – Altar of Incense in the Sanctuary: Christ, Our Advocate with the Father), the Bronze Altar (see Exodus Fa – Build an Altar of Acacia Wood Overlaid with Bronze), the utensils the priests used when they serve in the Holy Place, the inner veil (see Exodus Fq – The Inner Veil of the Sanctuary: That is Christ, His Body), and everything related to their use. The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the High Priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible for the care of the Sanctuary.

The Merarite Camp (3:33-37): To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites; these were the Merarite clans. The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 6,200. The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail, and they were to serve under the supervision of Ithamaer, Aaron’s other remaining son. They were to camp on the north side of the Tabernacle, between the Sanctuary and the encampment of Dan. Their primary duty was the disassembly, carrying and reassembly of the frames of the Tabernacle, its crossbars, posts, bases, all its equipment (see Exodus Fm – The Structure of the Sanctuary), and everything related to their use, as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs and ropes.⁴⁹

The Camp of the Sh’khinah (3:38): The fourth and final camp of the Levites was the camp of the Sh’khinah (see the commentary on Isaiah Ju – The Glory of the LORD Rises Upon You), were Moses, Aaron and his sons camped. Please note that the word Sh’khinah doesn’t appear in the Bible. It is a word used by the rabbis to speak of the glory of God as it was seen in the Tabernacle (see the commentary on Exodus Hh – The Glory of the LORD Filled the Tabernacle) and the Temple (see the commentary on the Life of Solomon Bo – Fire from Heaven). To say that it is not a word found in the Bible, however, is not to say that it is a bad or wrong word to use. On the contrary, it is a convenient word which describes in short-hand what was manifested in the Most Holy Place. It is interesting that the Babylonian Talmud mentions that there were three encampments. The outer one was called the camp of the Israelites, the middle one was called the camp of the Levites, and the innermost one was called the camp of the Presence, or Sh’khinah. The image being formed by these terms is that this was not really Isra’el’s camp, but God’s camp! The other two camps that surrounded it were merely guarding His Presence. And just as the Sh’khinah was a physical manifestation of YHVH seen in the Tabernacle/Temple, so was Yeshua the physical manifestation of the unseen YHVH made visible on planet earth: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).⁵⁰

This camp of the Sh’khinah was a small encampment positioned to the east, toward the sunrise, between the Tabernacle and the camp of Judah. The tents of Moses and the priests opened directly into the entrance of the Tabernacle courtyard (see Exodus Ex – The Courtyard and Gate of the Tabernacle). They were responsible for the care of the Sanctuary on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the Sanctuary was to be put to death.⁵¹The total number of Levites whom Moshe and Aaron counted by their clans, including all the males a month old and over, was 22,000 (3:39).

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise you that You are a Holy and Loving God who does everything wisely and orderly (First Corinthians 14:40). All of creation functions in an orderly way, following your commands – from birthing of baby mountain goats (Job 39:1) to hawks and cleaning up the dying carnage, putting the earth back in order (Job 39:30). Even stars are guided by Your Word and respond in an orderly manner to your commands. Can you bind the chains of Pleiades or loosen the belt of Orion? Do you bring out the constellations in their season or guide the Bear with her cubs? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set up dominion over the earth (Job 38:31-33)?

You have wisely given order to all the different types of weather. Your mighty wisdom and power stores up hail for the day of battle and war. Have you entered the storehouses of snow or seen the storehouses of hail, which I reserved for a time of distress, for a day of battle and war (Job 38:22-23)? You created the womb that frost comes from and guided the birthing of dew. Does the rain have a father, or who has birthed the drops of dew? From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost of heaven (Job 38:28-29). You laid the foundations for the earth, determining its measurements (Job 38:4-7). Darkness and light are both under your command and follow the orders you give (Job 38:12-21). Praise You, that You never slumber, nor sleep (Psalms 121:3-4) and all that You created in order, remain exactly as You have ordered them. You are a wise, orderly and magnificent Creator Father and we love You and bow at Your feet! In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The First Numbering of the Levites
3: 14-20

The first numbering of the Levites DIG: What were the three primary families of the Levites? How were they counted for the census? Why did the Levites need to be counted? How were they different from the other tribes? Why was it important to note Isra’el’s obedience?

REFLECT: What is different about your family tree? When have you acted out of anger and regretted it later? What consequences did you face as a result of your rash actions? What was distinct about the ministry of the Levites? What is distinctive about your ministry?

They had to know how many Levites there were to redeem the firstborn of Isra’el.

The Levites were to be counted according to their three primary families: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. In the census of the army, only men twenty years old and older were counted. However, in the census for the Levites, every male over a month old was counted, no doubt necessary to procure the number of Levites necessary to match the number of first born among the Israelite families. In actual duty, the Levites did not begin to serve in the Tabernacle/Temple until they turned thirty years old and their term of service ended when they were fifty. Then why were the Levites younger than thirty and older than fifty counted in the census of the Levites? They were all counted because they were all needed in redeeming the firstborn of Isra’el (to see link click As – The Census and the Redemption of the Firstborn).⁴⁷

The numbering of the Levites corresponds to that of the other tribes (see Am – The Camp of the Twelve Tribes of Isra’el). The Levites were not being mustered for war but for special service in the Tabernacle/Temple. They were distinct from the rest of the tribes in several aspects: (1) they had their service in and about the holy things and the holy place of ADONAI; (2) they were not numbered among the tribes but were to be distributed among them; (3) they were numbered differently than the other tribes; (4) they were not the fighting men of Isra’el but her ministers, subject to the leadership of the priests; (5) they had certain restrictions of behavior and manner that marked their office as distinct from the rest of the Israelites.

ADONAI said to Moshe in the Sinai Desert, “Take a census of the tribe of Levi by clans and families. Count every male a month old or over.” The command to count the Levites came by divine decree and Moshe counted them in the manner ADONAI had said, as he had been ordered. The names of the sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari. The names of the sons of Gershon were Libni and Shim‘i; they fathered their respective clans; likewise the sons of Kohath – ‘Amram, Itzhar, Hebron and ‘Uzzi’el – and the sons of Merari – Machli and Mushi. The passage concludes with the statement that these fathered the clans of the Levites (3:14-20). The total number of Levites whom Moshe and Aaron counted by their clans, including all the males a month old and over, was 22,000 (3:39).

The obedience of Moses to the commands of Ha’Shem in these early chapters of Numbers is explicit and total. The records of Moshe’s obedience will serve to display the paradox of his terrible lapse of behavior later in the book (see Db – The Waters of Meribah). We also have here one of the many instances in Numbers that speak of the revelation of the Word of God to His servant Moshe. Those who minimize the role of Moses do so in the face of abundant, direct textual evidence to the contrary.⁴⁸

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for being so wonderful and always loving. Your deep and magnificent love inspires me to love and obey You joyfully. Loving obedience is a choice. Moses encouraged the people to choose life by loving and obeying God.  What I am commanding you today is to love ADONAI your God, to walk in His ways (Deuteronomy 30:16a). Joshua also told the people that it was important for them to choose to love and follow God. If it seems bad to you to worship ADONAI, then choose for yourselves today whom you will serve – whether the gods that your fathers worshiped that were beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will worship ADONAI (Joshua 24:15)!

Even when it may seem that evil in the world is whirling out of control, You are still Almighty Sovereign of the World and You are in control. Nothing slips by you. All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to ADONAI. All the families of the nations will bow down before You. For the kingdom belongs to ADONAI, and He rules over the nations (Psalms 22:28-28). I praise and worship You my Holy, Almighty, All-Wise, All–Powerful, Forgiving Savior and Loving Father! In Your holy name and power of Yeshua’s resurrection. Amen

Redeeming the Firstborn
3: 5-13

Redeeming the firstborn DIG: What did it mean to be the firstborn in Bible times? What did it mean for Isra’el to be the firstborn of God? What does redeem mean? What is God’s point in claiming all the firstborn? What would this teach the Israelites about Him?

REFLECT: Do you think ADONAI still requires our first and our best? In what sense do you give Him your first and best? If a redemption price were still required for your life or your children’s lives, what would it be? What price has Yeshua paid on your behalf?

Because ADONAI had spared the firstborn of Isra’el, they belonged to Him.

The third and final counting in this parshah is the counting of the firstborn males and animals in Isra’el. The regulations for the counting can be seen in 3:40 (to see link click At – The Census and the Redemption of the Firstborn). It is well known that the firstborn male in the ancient Near East enjoyed a unique status in the society. Both the TaNaKh and extra-biblical literature from the same general time period speak of a “right of the firstborn.” The Torah speaks of Isra’el being God’s firstborn (Exodus 4:22). As such, Isra’el enjoys a unique position among the nations of the earth. Among the people of Isra’el, however, the Holy One also singled out even a more specific class of firstborn, the firstborn males. These were the ones to whom Ha’Shem had granted the grace of being spared death from the last plague when they were in Egypt. God took the life of every firstborn, even among the animals, except those who believed Him by sprinkling the blood of the Passover lamb upon the doorposts. To them, YHVH granted mercy and life.

Because the LORD granted special firstborn status to Isra’el, and especially to Isra’el’s firstborn males, God, then, had a special right to them (Exodus 22:29-30). They belong to Him in a way that others do not. Here, in our parashah, ADONAI is waving that right of possession and servitude by providing the tribe of Levi as a substitute for firstborn males. Instead of individuals serving Him, a whole tribe, the Levites, was organized for the task.⁴¹

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for mercifully making those who love and trust You as their Savior, to be part of Your family. But whoever did receive Him, those trusting in His name, to these He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12). You graciously offer eternal love to all who love and fear You. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His mercy for those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so ADONAI has compassion on those who fear Him (Psalms 103:11-13).

Having You as my loving Heavenly Father is a wonderful blessing and privilege. It is not a blessing to use only when I want something, rather it is a relationship of deep love that expresses itself when I choose to obey You with a cheerful heart. What a wonderful privilege it is to be in Your family, causing me to respond joyfully to You by loving You with all my heart (Matthew 22:37). Just as You so graciously choose to put on human flesh and suffer the pain and shame as the Lamb of God (John 1:29, Hebrews 12:2, Philippians 2:6-11), may I choose to serve You with a joyful heart, seeking always to live praising and blessing You! In Your holy name and power of Yeshua’s resurrection. Amen

Duties of the Levites (3:5-10): ADONAI said to Moshe, “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and assign them to Aaron the priest, so that they can help him” (3:5-6). The family of Aaron were set apart especially to the duties of the priesthood. Each of these three families had its particular duties assigned. The Kohathites had charge of the sacred furniture of the Tabernacle (see the commentary on the Life of David Et – The Kohathites); the Gershonites took of the hangers and curtains (see the Life of David Es – The Gershonites); and the Merarites were required to look after the boards, sockets, pillars, pins and cords of the Tabernacle (see the Life of David Eu – The Merarites). The first Levites began their service at thirty years of age (Numbers 4:23, 30 and 35); but it was ordered after that the age for starting would be twenty-five (Numbers 8:24). In David’s time they began serving at twenty (First Chronicles 23:24-27). They were released from service at age fifty (Numbers 8:25). Forty-eight cities were set apart for their residence in the Land. Six of these were cities of refuge (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Dm – Six Cities of Refuge).⁴²

These commands are not followed by a report of obedience, as were those in Chapters 1 and 2, but further details are given in Chapter 8 (see Bh – The Separation of the Levites). Clear distinctions are made here between the priestly house of Aaron and the Levites. The latter were to assist the priests in their ministry. Thus, the Levites served not only Aaron, but the entire nation in the process. The Levites were to carry out their duties and the duties of the whole community while performing the service of the Tabernacle. They are to be in charge of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and to carry out all the duties of the people of Isra’el connected with the service of the Tabernacle (3:7-8).

Interestingly, Moses is addressed in verse 5. He was responsible for the nation as a whole and, hence, for the faithful obedience of the Levites in their service of the priestly house of Aaron. Moreover, the tribe of Levites was to be brought near (3:6) . . . terminology for approaching the Divine Presence. Only Moshe had an open invitation to draw near to YHVH in a direct manner. Now he is presented with the task of drawing those other ministers near to their work before the LORD. That work consisted of service to Aaron and the guarding of the ministry related to him, and the whole community (3:7). Moreover, they were responsible for the tasks of moving the furnishings of the Tabernacle when it would be on the move (3:8).⁴³

Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons (3:9a). The Levites were to assist the priests in their duties, as is made clear in this verse. Their one responsibility in regard to the people of Isra’el is to serve Him (3:9). In this anticipatory passage (see Ac – Numbers from a Messianic Jewish Perspective: Anticipatory Passages) the fact that the Levites were to serve the priesthood (see the commentary on Ezra-Nehemiah An – Priests, Levites and Temple Servants) is clearly irrelevant to their census, but it anticipates that Eleazar would be the chief of the Levitical guards (3:32) and that the Levites, in general, were made subservient to the priests (8:16 and 19; 18:3-4). Similarly, the remark that Aaron and his sons were to carry out the duties of priesthood (3:10a) remains vague until clarified in 18:7.⁴⁴

Anyone else (Hebrew: hazar, meaning the strange one, or anyone lacking authority) who involves himself is to be put to death (3:10b). The warning of the death penalty of 1:51 is repeated here. Service at the Tabernacle/Temple could only be performed at the express command of YHVH. There is a special sadness in this verse as it follows the file reminding us of the death of Aaron’s sons (3:4). They were unauthorized persons and used unauthorized means or had an unauthorized attitude. If the sons of Aaron were put to death, how dare an unauthorized person even think to trespass. It seems that the Levites were the ones authorized to carry out the death penalty, to keep the wrath of God against sinful offenders from destroying the entire camp. Chapter 25 presents a powerful example of this. But there the central figure was not a Levite, but Phinehas, son of Eleazar the High Priest (see Dx – The Zeal of Phinehas). Perhaps the Levites on that occasion were so lax that Phinehas decided he had to act quickly himself or there would not be time to quell the evil that was unashamedly before them at the entrance to the Tabernacle.⁴⁵

Redeeming the firstborn (3:11-13): In Exodus, the LORD commanded that all the firstborn males among the children of Isra’el must be redeemed (see the commentary on Exodus Cd – Redemption of the Firstborn). The commandment of redemption was directly tied to the Passover, and like the celebration of Pesach, it is meant to be a reminder of the Exodus from Egypt. Because ADONAI had spared the firstborn of Isra’el, they belonged to Him. Their salvation beneath the blood markings on the doorposts of their houses purchased them for God’s service. As of Numbers 3, however, the Israelites had not yet redeemed their firstborn sons. And they couldn’t enter the Promised Land unless they obeyed the commandment.

Now as Isra’el completed her preparations for leaving Mount Sinai and entering into the Promised Land, the LORD commanded them to carry out the redemption saying: I have taken the Levites from among the people of Isra’el in lieu of every firstborn male that is first from the womb among the people of Isra’el; the Levites are to be Mine. All the firstborn males belong to Me, because on the day that I killed all the firstborn males in the land of Egypt, I separated for Myself all the firstborn males in Isra’el, both human and animal. They are Mine; I am ADONAI.” However, rather than paying the redemption price for their sons, they were to give the Levites over to the service of YHVH instead of their firstborn sons. The exchange was to be one for one. Each Levite male became a redemption price for the firstborn male from among the tribes. In that sense, the Levites were all redeemers. Their service on Isra’el’s behalf was exchanged in place of the service of the firstborn of all the tribes. The lives of the Levites were given to God as a substitute for the lives of the firstborn of all the tribes (see As – The Census and the Redemption of the Firstborn). Again, we are amazed at the vivid Messianic implications. It is possible to purchase one life with the life of another. It is even possible to ransom a person before ADONAI.

The Levitical act of redemption on behalf of Isra’el’s firstborn applied only to the firstborn of the Exodus generation. Subsequent generations of firstborn could not be redeemed by the Levites since they and their descendants were already in the service of God. After Numbers 3, the Levites already belonged to ADONAI. Therefore, any additional firstborn sons would need to be redeemed by the more conventional ritual of exchanging five silver shekels.⁴⁶

The Levites
3: 1-4

The Levites DIG: Why is it so important to know so much about the ministry of the Levites? Where did the Levites first distinguish themselves? What does the story of Nadab and Abihu illustrate? What were some of the many ministries of the Levites?

REFLECT: What is your spiritual gift? What ministry are you involved in? How are you a Levite for your High Priest Yeshua? How do you feel about that? Joyful? Burdened? How do you feel about being the guardian of holiness? How can you uphold that standard?

Messiah is the living Temple; as His disciples, we are His Levites.

In this anticipatory passage (to see link click Ac – Numbers from a Messianic Jewish Perspective: Anticipatory Passages) the naming of Aaron’s sons and their fate is strange in its context. However, it removes the need to include them in the Levitical census that follows (see Aq – The First Numbering the Levites). But other than that, this information needed to be inserted into the second census itself (26:59-61).³⁸

It is not uncommon for people to confuse the roles of the priests and the Levites (see the commentary on Ezra-Nehemiah An – Priests, Levites and Temple Servants). Priests could only arise from among the sons of Aaron, and Aaron’s house was just one clan among the tribe of Levi. Therefore, every priest was automatically a Levite, but not every Levite was a priest. The priests had the duty of officiating over the sacrificial services and carrying out the ministry inside the Sanctuary, in the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place. The Levites were charged with serving the priests by doing the physical, practical and logistical elements of the worship service. They were also the ones who disassembled the Tabernacle, carried it through the wilderness, and reassembled it at the next encampment.

The book of Numbers is unique in its presentation of the Levites as necessary to the life and protection of Isra’el as she struggled in the wilderness to find her way back toward the land of Canaan, and the promises given to her ancestors. These are the descendants of Aaron and Moshe as of the day when ADONAI spoke with Moshe on Mount Sinai. The names of the sons of Aaron are: Nadab the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. These were the names of the sons of Aaron the High Priest, whom he anointed and ordained as priests. But Nadab and Abihu died in the presence of ADONAI when they offered unauthorized fire before God in the Sinai Desert, and they had no children (see the commentary on Leviticus Bh – The Death of Nadab and Abihu); Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the presence of Aaron their father (3:1-4).

The Levites first distinguished themselves in the incident of the golden calf. When Moshe sought those who remained faithful to ADONAI, the men of the tribe of Levi stepped forward. The Levites were the ones who executed the idolaters among the tribes (see the commentary on Exodus Gv – And All the Levites Rallied to Moses). Ever after, they were the tribe accorded the highest holiness. Therefore, the Levites served in a stand-in function in the Tabernacle. They were to minister on Isra’el’s behalf, carrying out the labor of the Tabernacle for all Isra’el. We learn later that they were invested with the identity of all Isra’el through the laying on of hands. So you shall present the Levites before the Tabernacle. You shall also assemble the whole congregation of the sons of Isra’el, and present the Levites before ADONAI; and the sons of Isra’el shall lay their hands on the Levites (see Bh – The Separation of the Levites).

Their participation in the Tabernacle was not limited to merely carrying things around. First Chronicles Chapters 23-27 show us that the Levites were involved in almost every aspect of the Tabernacle service. They were primarily responsible for facilitating worship. They made up the Levitical choir, musicians, lyricists, poets and worship leaders of the worship service. Several psalms are attributed to Levite writers, and the psalm collection (Psalm 50 and 73 through 83) is certainly Levitical in origin. Their music and poetry led Isra’el into the worship of the Almighty. The Levites were the guardians of holiness, and the keepers of the sacred. They served as gatekeepers and Temple guards and had the duty of killing trespassers. They protected the holy furniture in the Tabernacle from defilement, be it inadvertent or intentional. Levites were also given posts as officials, judges, craftsmen, and treasurers.

For all practical purposes, the Levites belonged to the priesthood. They were the official property of the Tabernacle/Temple and the priesthood. They carried out the duties and functions assigned by the priests, essentially working as servants of the Holy One. In the psalms and liturgies of traditional Judaism, Isra’el is divided into three ranks of people. There are priests, Levites and Israelites. When the Torah is read in the traditional synagogue, the first reading is given to a priest. The second reading is offered to a Levite. And any Jew may read the third through seventh readings.³⁹

Messiah’s Levites: Among the Jewish people, the descendants of Levi are still with us today. There are many families that have preserved the tradition of the Levitical status from generation to generation. These are the literal Levites. Yet, on a more metaphorical level, we are all Levites for Messiah. As His disciples, our passion and zeal for Him should set us apart from others in the same way that the Levites’ zeal set them apart for ADONAI. The Levites were the servants of the Tabernacle/Temple and of the priesthood. Messiah is the living Temple. He is our Great High Priest (see the commentary on Hebrews Bl – Yeshua the Melchizedek Priest). As His disciples, we are His Levites.

In the same sense that the Levites were the property of the priesthood and the Tabernacle, we are the property of Yeshua. Our diligence in the Kingdom falls along the same lines as much of the Levitical work. Like the Levites, we are to be facilitators for those seeking to worship God. We point the way, carry the burden, assemble the institutions and build the congregations that facilitate people encountering YHVH. Like the Levites, we are to provide people with teaching. We are entrusted with the words of the Master and the teaching of the Torah.

Like the Levites, we are the guardian of holiness. The Hebrew word for guard is shamar, the same word often translated as “observe.” We are the ones entrusted to observe (shamar) the Holy Sabbath and the appointed times (see the commentary on Leviticus Dw – God’s Appointed Times), just as the Levites were entrusted to guard (shamar) the Tabernacle. Like the Levites, disciples have no share in this world, but are called to renounce property and wealth for the sake of Yeshua. Like the Levites, we are scattered among the people of God, and our ministry is to be a light in their midst. Just as the Levites were the hands and feet of the priesthood, carrying out assigned duties on their behalf, we are to function as the hands and feet of our High Priest. As His disciples, we are His servants, His Levites.⁴⁰

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for being so wonderful! As Your priests, it brings great joy to offer up to You a sacrifice – a sacrifice of praise. Through Yeshua then, let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips giving thanks to His name (Hebrews 13:15). How wonderful to spend time meditating on how wonderful you are and to praise you. It is especially helpful before sleeping and when waking to focus your mind on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2). Then sleep is more restful and allows God’s greatness to fill our minds. Praise you for being Almighty (Genesis 17:1, Revelation 4:8), the Bread of Life (John 6:35), Caring (1 Peter 5:7), our Deliverer (Psalms 144:2) – Defender (Psalms 68:5), Everlasting King (Jeremiah 10:10), Faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9), Good Shepherd (John 10:11), Holy (Isaiah 9:6), Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14), Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14), King of Kings (Revelation 19:16), Living God (Joshua 3:10, 1 Samuel 17:26, Daniel 6:26, Hebrews 4:12) – Light of the World (John 8:12), Miracle worker (Matthew 11:5), always near (Hebrews 13:5), Omniscient/all-knowing (1 John 3:20), Omnipotent/All powerful (Revelation 19:6), the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) the Passover Lamb (First Corinthians 5:7) – Promise Keeper (Second Corinthians 1:20), Quiets you with his love (Zephaniah 3:17) – Quite wonderful (Isaiah 9:6), Redeemer (Ephesians 1:7, Isaiah 48:17) – Resurrection and Life (John 11:25), Savior (Luke 2:11), Trustworthy (Psalms 19:8),Unchanging (James 1:17) – Universe Maker (Colossians 1:16), Victor (Colossians 2:15, Deuteronomy 20:4) – Vine (John 15:1,5), Way Maker (John 14:6) Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6) – Worthy (Revelation 5:12), excellent ( Psalms 8:1) – exactly what I need (Jude 24-25), Yahweh Rapha/God who heals (Exodus 15:26), Zealous for His people (Isaiah 26:11). In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Levitical Census
3:1 to 4:49

One possible reason to count the Levites was so that they could easily be organized for their work. There was much work to be done and plenty of men to do it. But it all had to be coordinated. This is what 4:1-3 seems to be stressing. There, Moshe commanded to count the Levites, then, in 4:4-16 instruction was given for the work they had to do. Thus, according to the Bible, the counting and the delegation of responsibilities seem to go hand in hand. Jewish historical records have provided some interesting information about how the Levites were organized. The sages say that Moses divided the Levites and the priests into eight groups of families called “watches,” each to perform their Temple service for a week. The cycle of eight watches would repeat every eight weeks. Later the prophet Samuel and King David changed the arrangement, dividing the responsibility for the service into twenty-four watches (see the commentary on the Life of David, to see link click Ev – The Divisions of Priests).

The second possible reason for the Levitical census was so that there could be an accurate redemption of the firstborn (see As – The Census and the Redemption of the Firstborn). ADONAI claimed every firstborn for His own. In doing so, the firstborn males had to be counted. Then YHVH instructed that instead of families giving up all of their firstborn sons for the service of the LORD, He would accept a Levite in their place. It was to be one for one. If there was an excess of firstborn males over the number of eligible Levites, the remainder was to be ransomed by money. In that process, Ha’Shem declared: The Levites shall be mine (3:45). Hence, the Levites were the ones selected to do the sacrifices. They were to live off the service they performed for God, receiving no personal property as their inheritance. If they belonged to Him, He promised to take care of them.³⁷

The Camp of the Twelve Tribes of Isra’el
Numbers 2: 1-34

The camp of the twelve tribes of Isra’el DIG: Describe the order in which the tribes were placed in the camp. Was there any significance to that order? How does the camp of Isra’el compare to the camp of God? Why was the tribe of Judah so favored?

RELECT: The book of Numbers records 150 occurrences of ADONAI speaking to Moshe. How does God speak to you today? Do you think God is concerned about the everyday aspects of your life? Why? Why not? How much organization do you need in your life?

ADONAI said to Moses and Aaron His servants: The Israelites are to camp around the Tabernacle some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family (Numbers 2:1-2). It was important for God’s army to be orderly and disciplined. Jewish tradition suggests that the standard for the tribe of Judah was a lion; the standard for the tribe of Reuben was the face of a man; the standard for the tribe of Ephraim was an ox; and the standard for the tribe of Dan was an eagle. These were the same as the faces of the cherubim that Ezeki’el saw in his vision during the Babylonian captivity (Ezekiel 1:10), and that John saw around the throne of God (Revelation 4:6b-8). So as far as the positioning of the standards are concerned, you would see the lion on the east, an ox on the west, an eagle on the north and the face of a man on the south. Like the New Jerusalem with three gates on each side (Revelation 21:13), there will be three tribes on each side of the Tabernacle.

The choice of Judah and Ephraim for the heads of encampments is fairly obvious in that those two houses represent the powerful houses of Judah and Joseph, recipients of the “rulership” and firstborn rights, respectively. Less obvious is the choice of Reuben and Dan. Perhaps their rank is also, in some measure, derived from the firstborn privilege. Reuben was the natural firstborn of Jacob, though his status as such was revoked (see the commentary on Genesis, to see link click Ik – Reuben Slept with His Father’s Concubine Bilhah). Dan was the actual firstborn of Rachel’s house, the son of the maidservant Bilhah.³³

To enter the Tabernacle you had to go through the tribe of Judah, because the entrance was on its eastern side. On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard of a lion. And we see in the book of Revelation that Yeshua is the Lion of the tribe of Judah (see the commentary on Revelation Ce – The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David Has Triumphed). The lion represents His strength, authority, and royalty. But it is also given to us that He would come from the tribe of Judah. He would be the son of David who would reign on the throne. In Solomon’s porch there were six steps that led up to his throne. On each step were two lions, one on each side. There were twelve lions all together. This represented all twelve tribes under one king. This corresponds to the book of Matthew that pictures Jesus as the King. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab who appears in later genealogies in the messianic line (Ruth 4:20 and Matthew 1:4). His division numbers 74,600 (Numbers 2:3-4). The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar. His division is 54,400 (Numbers 2:5-6). The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon. His division numbers 57,400 (Numbers 2:7-8). All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. The tribes in this division represented the fourth, fifth and sixth sons of Leah. When they marched, the standard of a lion went out first (Numbers 2:9).

On the south were the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard of the face of a man. Ezekiel was standing on the Kebar River looking north when he saw the four living creatures and the Shechinah glory. They were coming out of the north, and that meant that the face of a man was facing south and would be Rueben’s standard (Ezekiel 1:4 and 10). This corresponds to the book of Luke that pictures Yeshua as the Son of Man. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur. His division numbers 46,500 (Numbers 2:10-11). The tribe of Simeon will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. His division numbers 59,300 (Numbers 2:12-13). The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel. His division numbers 45,650 (Numbers 2:14-15). All the men assigned to the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, number 151,450. Reuben and Simeon were the first and second sons of Leah. Levi was the third son, but that tribe could not make up part of the Reuben division because of its religious duties. So Gad, the oldest son of Leah’s handmaid, was aligned with Reuben. In the line of march, this division set out second, under the face of a man as its standard, behind Judah (Numbers 2:16).

Then the Tabernacle and the camp of the Levites will dwell in the middle of the twelve tribes of Isra’el (Numbers 2:17a). The tribe of Levi was divided into three families, under his three sons, Gershon, Lohath and Merari. Each had his own separate place of encampment around the Tabernacle, and to each was committed a specific responsibility. The Merarites, who encamped on the north, watched over, erected, and carried all the solid framework of the Tabernacle, the pillars of the surrounding courts, together with the sockets of silver and brass. The weight might have been as much as fifteen tons. The Gershonites pitched towards the west, and had under their care the curtains, hangings and coverings of the Tabernacle and court, which they also carried on their journeys. To the Kohathites, whose camp was south, were given the duty of carrying the seven pieces of the Tabernacle furniture. Thus, it was all distributed among these three families of Levites, and each family had its own responsibility.³⁴ This was the way the tribes of Isra’el camped, but in the line of march they followed Reuben’s division.

                                                                                                                  EAST

                                                                                                                 Judah

                                                                       Zebulun                                                Issachar

                                                      Asher                                                                                                                Simeon
                                                                                   

                                                                            Moshe, Aaron and the Priests

                 NORTH   Dan               Merarites    the Tabernacle    Kohathites                Reuben  SOUTH

                                                                                                Gershonites

                                                   Naphtali                                                                                                             Gad

                                                                                 Benjamin                                              Manasseh

                                                                                                                     Ephraim

                                                                                                                       WEST

On the west were the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard an ox. As the lion is the sign for the tribe of Judah, the ox is the sign for the tribe of Ephraim (Deuteronomy 33:13-17; Jeremiah 31:18; Hosea 10:11). In Solomon’s temple there were twelve oxen sitting beneath a huge water tank called the sea. These twelve oxen were facing north, south, east and west. They represented Isra’el under the leadership of the tribe of Ephraim. Isra’el would soon be divided into two nations, the northern Kingdom and the southern Kingdom. The kings from the tribe of Ephraim would rule the northern Kingdom, and the kings from the tribe of Judah would lead the southern Kingdom. But the sign of the tribe of Ephraim was an ox. This corresponds to the book of Mark that pictures Yeshua as a Servant (Mark 10:45). The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud. His division numbers 40,500 (Numbers 2:18-19). The tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. His division numbers 32,200 (Numbers 2:20-21). The tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni. His division numbers 35,400 (Numbers 2:22-23). All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions, number 108,100. These three tribes traced their ancestry to Jacob through his wife Rachael. In the line of march, they set out third and followed the Levites with the standard of an ox leading the way (Numbers 2:24).

On the north were the divisions of the camp of Dan, under their standard an eagle. Jacob had compared Dan to a serpent (Genesis 49:17), but that was changed later to an eagle. The leader of the people of Dan is Shiezer son of Ammishaddai. His division numbers 62,700 (Numbers 2:25-26). The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Ocran. His division numbers 62,700 (Numbers 2:27-28). The tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira, son of Enan. His division numbers 53,400 (Numbers 2:29-30). All the men assigned to the camp of Dan numbered 157,600. Dan and Naphtali were the sons of Rachel’s handmaid, whereas, Asher was the second son of Leah’s handmaid. In the line of march, they set out last, under their standard of an eagle (Numbers 2:31).

These are the Israelites, counted according to their families. All those in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550 (Numbers 2:32). The Levites, however, were not counted along with the women and children, as God commanded Moses (Numbers 2:32-33). A certain rationale may be seen in the arrangement of the tribes on ancestral grounds, with the exception of Asher. But with the grouping of the Rachel tribes together and the elimination of Levi, there is hardly any other place for Asher to fit, so the overall pattern does appear to reflect maternal origins (see Ak – The Numbering of the Tribes).

So the Israelites did everything ADONAI commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each with his own clan, family, and each under his own standard (Numbers 2:34; 2:17b). The order of the line of march was according to the following diagram, all parties retaining as nearly as possible the relative position of the encampment. In this anticipatory passage (see Ac – Numbers from a Messianic Jewish Perspective: Anticipatory Passages) the fact that the camp traveled in the same formation at rest, anticipates the description of the camp in motion (see Bn – Leaving Sinai: The grand procession of tribes and Levites).³

Moses
Aaron and his sons

1. Judah

2. Issachar

3. Zebulon

Levites from the family of Gershon
(with the curtains, hangings and coverings on two wagons)

Levites from the family of Merari
(with the solid framework, silver and gold sockets on four wagons)

4. Reuben

5. Simeon

6. Gad

Levites of the family of Kohath
(with the Tabernacle furniture on their shoulders)

7. Ephraim

8. Manasseh

9. Benjamin

10. Dan

11. Asher

12. Naphtali

The Camp of God: This organization of the camp teaches us about God’s priorities. Three tribes were camped to the east, three to the north, three to the south, and three to the west. At the center of the camp of Isra’el was the camp of the Levites. At the center of the camp of the Israelites was the Tabernacle. Within the Tabernacle was the Most Holy Place; within the Most Holy Place was the ark of the Covenant; within the ark of the Covenant were the Tablets of the Testimony, in other words, the Torah.

Thus, the Torah is at the center of Isra’el.

In John’s Revelation, he sees the New Jerusalem descend from heaven. The entire city is holy. It is the camp of the Sh’khinah glory. The City is accessed by twelve gates, three on each side. Upon each gate is written one of the tribal names. It had a great high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Isra’el. There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west (see the commentary on Revelation Fu – A Great High Wall with Twelve Gates). Therefore, the camp of Isra’el foreshadows the New Jerusalem, or perhaps the New Jerusalem is patterned after the camp of Isra’el in the wilderness. In either case, we see the obvious relationship between Numbers 2 and Revelation 21. The gates of the City of God are accessed only by the names of the tribes of Isra’el. They are the gates of His people.³⁶

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You that for nothing will be impossible with God (Luke 1:37). To redeem mankind and take them to heaven is a huge task, but for the Almighty Sovereign God of the universe, it is a sure victory. The gates of heaven will be open to all who love Messiah as their Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10). Thank You that I can live a life in absolute confidence that when this short earthly life is over, the gates of heaven will be open for me (John 14:23). Messiah has conquered death and it is a joy that He is now in heaven preparing a place for me. Yeshua said: Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.  In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you may also be (John 14:1-3). In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Status of the Levites
1: 47-54

The status of the Levites DIG: What importance were the Levites? What could the Levites do that was prohibited for anyone else? Why do you think God wanted the Levites separated from the people? How would this affect the way the people viewed them?

REFLECT: How much distance do we need to keep from God today? In this chapter we see the importance of not neglecting our spiritual responsibilities. What keeps us from our time with the Lord? Do you sometimes find yourself too busy? What was the result?

The Levites were not counted among the tribes,
but were set apart as holy for the priestly service of ADONAI.

But those who were Levites, according to the clan of their fathers, were not counted in this census; because ADONAI had told Moshe, “Do not include the tribe of Levi when you take the census of the people of Isra’el (1:47-49). When the prophet of the nations, the wicked Balaam, saw the people of Isra’el, he prophesied over them, “Behold, a people who dwells apart, and will not be numbered among the nations’ ‘ (23:9). So too, the Levites dwell apart from the other tribes; and therefore, not counted among census taken.²³ In this anticipatory passage (see Ac – Numbers from a Messianic Jewish Perspective: Anticipatory Passages) description of the Levites’ responsibilities is clearly irrelevant to the fact that they were not included in the census of the people of Isra’el, but summarizes and anticipates the Levitical duties delineated in Chapters 3 and 4.²⁴

Set apart (1:47-50): Based upon the zealous actions of the Levites who sided with Moses in the golden calf incident (see the commentary on Exodus, to see link click Gq – The Golden Calf Incident), the tribe of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam was set apart for special service in the Tabernacle. Thus, they were not to be counted among the potential military personnel.²⁵ In one sense, the Levites’ relationship to the other tribes is analogous to Isra’el’s relationship to the nations. The Levites were not counted among the tribes, and Isra’el is not counted among the nations. The Levites were set apart as holy for the priestly service of ADONAI, and Isra’el is set apart to be a light to the nations (Isaiah 49:6).

Instead, give the Levites charge over the Tabernacle of the testimony, its equipment and everything else connected with it. In Exodus 38:21, the Sanctuary is called the Tabernacle of the testimony. The testimony refers to the Ten Words (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Bk – The Ten Words). These tablets were placed in the ark, leading to the phrase the ark of the Testimony (Exodus 25:22, 26:33-34, 40:3 and 20).²⁶ The Ten Words served as the foundation from which all the mitzvot of Judaism were derived; hence, later the term testimony alluded to the Torah in general. They are to carry the Tabernacle and all its equipment, serve in it and set up their camp around it (1:50).

Their separation provides for us a glimpse of the Messianic Age when all the nations will be under the commonwealth of Isra’el (see the commentary on Revelation Fk – Gentiles in the Messianic Kingdom). Even then, the descendants of Isra’el will be set apart, a holy nation in the midst of a holy people. And from within their midst, the Levites will be set apart, a holy tribe with a holy nation, within a holy people.²⁷And from with the Levites there will be holy, set apart order of priests who are descendants of Zodok. They will be honored with a special ministry in the Millennial Temple. They were the ones who guarded God’s Sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from Him. In First Samuel 2:31-36 we read how YHVH through Samuel prophesied that the house of Eli was to be deposed and replaced by a faithful priest. That was finally fulfilled in First Kings 2:26-27. Then in Second Samuel 8:17 we read that Zadok became the high priest under King David and remained loyal to David after Absalom revolted (2 Samuel 15:24-29). Furthermore, Zadok was also loyal to Solomon (First Kings 1:8, 32-39, 2:26-27, 35) and the descendants of Zadok remained faithful during the days of Isra’el’s apostasy. As a result of their past faithfulness, they will be given a superior role in the ministry of the Temple during the Kingdom. The Zadokites are to come near to minister before Me; they are to stand before Me to offer sacrifices of fat and blood, declares Adonai ELOHIM (Ezeki’el 44:15-31).²⁸

Death and wrath (1:51-53): The Levites were charged with assembling and disassembling the Tabernacle. They alone were sanctioned to handle the holy articles. When the Tabernacle is to be moved onward, it is the Levites who are to take it down and set it up in the new location. They created a buffer zone around the Tabernacle, protecting it from the people and protecting the people from the Tabernacle. With the living God in their midst, a wrong step might prove to be fatal (see the commentary on Leviticus Bh – The Death of Nadab and Abihu). A non-Levite who trespassed in the sacred grounds of the Tabernacle was to be put to death (1:51). Therefore, their encampment protected the Tabernacle from defilement and sacrilege. Joshua 3:4 tells us that the tribes were to keep a distance of about a thousand yards away from the Tabernacle. How much distance do we need to keep from YHVH today? Zero! Because Yeshua tabernacled among us (John 1:14) and the inner veil has been torn from top to bottom. Therefore, there is no longer any separation between the believer and the throne of ADONAI (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Lw – The Accompanying Signs of Jesus’ Death).²⁹

The three camps (1:52-53): The encampment of Isra’el was composed of ascending spheres of holiness. The Sages teach that there were three camps: first, within the curtains of the courtyard of the Tabernacle (see the commentary on Exodus Ex – The Courtyard and Gate of the Tabernacle), that is, the camp of the Sh’khinah; secondly, the camp of the Levites around the Tabernacle; and thirdly, the camp of the tribes of Isra’el. The rest of Isra’el are to set up camp, company by company, each man with his own banner. But the Levites are to camp around the Tabernacle of the testimony to prevent unauthorized Israelites from interfering with the services, so that no anger will come upon the assembly of the people of Isra’el. They were also to be in charge of the Tabernacle of the testimony. The most important thing about the Israelite encampment was that the Sh’khinah was in the middle of it.³⁰

But please note that the word Sh’kinah is not found in the Bible. It is a word used by the rabbis to describe the Glory of the LORD as it was manifested in the Most Holy Place (see the commentary on Isaiah Ju – The Glory of the LORD Rises Upon You). To say that it’s not a word found in the Bible however, does not mean it’s a bad or wrong word to use. On the contrary, it’s a convenient word which describes in short-hand that manifested itself in the Most Holy Place. So the image being formed is that this was not really Isra’el’s camp. It was really God’s camp! The other two camps surrounding it were merely guarding His Presence. And just as the Sh’khinah was the physical manifestation of God as seen in the Tabernacle, so was Yeshua the physical manifestation of the unseen God made visible on planet earth. Moreover, just as the Sh’khinah was in the center of Isra’el’s camp, so is Messiah at the center of everything in God’s spiritual camp – the called-out ones who believe in Yeshua. In fact, the B’rit Chadashah refers to His Body of believers as the temple of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh (First Corinthians 6:19). Yeshua is in the center of the Temple, glorifying Himself through us, just as ADONAI was in the center of the camp of Isra’el, glorifying Himself in the Sh’khinah.³¹ The distinction between the different uses of the term “camp” becomes important to remember when we read about people being sent out of “the camp” for various reasons. One must consider the context to determine if it means they were sent out of the camp of the Sh’khinah, the camp of the Levites, or the camp of Isra’el.³²

Summary (1:54): This is what the people of Isra’el did – they did everything that ADONAI had ordered Moshe and did not touch the Tabernacle. In view of Isra’el’s great disobedience (see By – The Report of the Spies), these words of initial compliance to God’s Word have a special sadness. Isra’el began so well, then failed so horribly; her experience remains a potent lesson to all people of faith who follow them. Ending well is the point. To run the race well (see the commentary on Hebrews Cy – We Are Surrounded by a Great Cloud of Witnesses), means to finish well.

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You that as I run the race of life with my eyes focused on You, I am assured of victory and eternal life in heaven with You! You keep in perfect peace one whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You (Isaiah 26:3). Praise You that You, my Almighty, the All-Powerful Sovereign of the universe, are unstoppable unbeatable and nothing can hinder You from redeeming those who love You (Ephesians 1:7). You are all-wise and know even the future (Daniel 2, 7, Revelation 19). It is a comfort to know that You not only have all-power, but You are also always loving and perfectly holy. Your Almighty power is wrapped in Your love. When I run to you for protection and advice, whatever You say to do is always the best and wisest action to take for me at that time.

Thank you that even problems and trials are all under Your control. In Your infinite wisdom You have allowed problems as an opportunity for me to trust in You and seek Your care and advice. You have allowed the trials in my life to refine me and to bring You glory and honor. So that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Yeshua Messiah (Second Peter 1:7). You are always walking with me, even in trials, to bring me comfort and help. Thank You for being such a wise and wonderful Heavenly Father. In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen

Numbering the Tribes
1: 20-46

Numbering the tribes DIG: How might Isra’el’s staggering numerical growth in the previous 400 years be related to ADONAI’s promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:2, 15:5, 17:4-6, and 22:17)? How do the numbers of the tribes point to God’s faithfulness? How are worship and warfare related?

REFLECT: The phrase “able to go to war” is used fourteen times in Chapter 1. What makes us “able to go to war” (see the commentary on Ephesians Ca – The Spiritual Battle)? What is the Hebrew Roots Movement? Why is their doctrine false? How can you thank the Lord that He desires to give us wisdom and guidance for our lives and ministries.

The lists of names and numbers are the material and tangible signs of God’s blessing, God’s faithfulness to past promises, and the surety of God’s future promise keeping.

The tribal names are important. They are etched into the breastplate of the High Priest (see the commentary on Exodus, to see link click Ga – Fashion a Breastplate for Making Decisions), carved onto the gates of the New Jerusalem (see the commentary on Revelation Fu – The New Jerusalem had a Great High Wall with Twelve Gates), and represent the totality of Isra’el.

For modern readers, the first chapters of Numbers are almost mind-numbing, with all its roll call of tribal leaders and the repetitive listing of the twelve tribes and their census numbers. We may find it hard to get enamored with the story that seems to have such a mechanical and numerical beginning. But for the ancient readers of the book, such lists and numbers bore crucial insights into the very soul of their identity, their unity, their relationship with YHVH, and their place within the community of God’s people.

Many today are fascinated with their own brand of numbers, censuses, polls, market indicators, interest rates, stock market averages, statistics, and number-crunching machines called computers. Many define their identity and value and future by computing numbers that measure our human accomplishments, whether political strength, or material possessions, or military hardware, or number of square feet. But the census list in Numbers reminds us that the identity, value, and future hope lie in the tangible and concrete way in which ADONAI is working and stirring among us in this world. What is YHVH accomplishing in and through us? What are the beginnings of the real fulfillment of God’s intentions for us and our community in this time and place? In what ways might we gain confidence in where we are right now? In what ways might we gain confidence to pursue our vocations as God’s people by taking a realistic look at God’s real fulfillments of promises already partially fulfilled?

The promise first given to Abraham (see the commentary on Genesis Dt – I Will Bless Those Who Bless You and Whoever Curses You I Will Curse) involved both the promise of the Land and the promise that God would make Abraham a great nation. In the near historical sense, both promises come to partial and tangible fulfillment in the census list shown here. The vast number of Israelites in the census totals suggest that Isra’el was indeed moving toward becoming a great nation. And the purpose of the first census (see Ai – The First Census: The Old Generation of Rebellion), counting warriors to take part in the conquest of the Land, points toward progress if fulfilling the promise of the Land. These are signs that God’s promise is in the process of coming true.

Even Abraham himself, in Genesis 15, sought tangible signs that ADONAI would be true to the promise of descendants. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6). But in Genesis 15:8, Abraham asked for a more visible sign: O ADONAI, how am I to know that I shall possess it? In response, God’s presence moved as a flaming torch between the split carcasses of animals in a ceremony whereby Ha’Shem pledged to fulfill the promise to Abraham or else be split in half like those animals (see the commentary on Genesis Eg – I Am the LORD, Who Brought You Out of Ur of the Chaldeans). The census lists are not nearly as dramatic a sign, but they are nonetheless real and concrete indications that YHVY intends to make good on the promises given to Isra’el long ago.²⁰

The men twenty years old and over who were subject to military service were recorded by name, family and clan, starting with the descendants of Reuben, Isra’el’s firstborn. Reuben’s title is given to account for the fact that he heads the list even though Judah is to lead the march (10:14). These lists follow the birth order and mothers’ status to some extent. The sons of Leah came first, then Rachel’s offspring came next, and the handmaid’s children came last. The exception comes when Gad, a larger military power, replaced third-born Levi, whose priestly tribe did not serve in the military.²¹ Since the handmaid’s children were placed last, and Gad was placed with Reuben, there was nowhere else for Asher to be placed other than with Dan. The census was used to facilitate the division of the Israelites into four camps of three tribes each: Reuben was camped to the south, Judah was camped to the east, Ephraim was camped to the west, and Dan was camped to the north (see Am – The Camp of the Twelve Tribes of Isra’el). Notice that all the numbers below (and in fact all the figures in the book of Numbers) are even numbers with the exception in 3:43 where there were 22,273 first born Israelite men over twenty (see As – The Census and the Redemption of the Firstborn). Because the census was taken primarily for military purposes, it would naturally be arranged by hundreds, fifties, etc. Here are the totals (1:20):

Census summary and total (1:44-46): Moshe, Aaron and the twelve leaders of Isra’el, each from a clan, counted the people of Isra’el by their clans, those twenty years old and over and were able to go to war; and the grand total came to 603,550. The lists of names and numbers are the material and tangible signs of God’s blessing, God’s faithfulness to past promises, and the surety of God’s future promise keeping (see Ae – Stars of Heaven, Grains of Sand, and the Promises of God).

The names of the twelve tribes have always allured Gentiles. Historically, innumerable sects have arisen, associating themselves with the tribes. In the Hebrew Roots movement today (see the commentary on Galatians Ak – The Hebrew Roots Movement: A Different Gospel), there are some Gentiles who believe they descended from the tribes of Isra’el, though they can provide no substantive evidence to prove it. Of course, it is possible that any person might have Israelite blood coursing through their veins. It is equally possible that they do not. When Messiah returns, He will certainly restore all twelve tribes, whoever or wherever they might be. In the meantime, we should avoid foolish controversies and genealogies (Titus 3:9). It does a person no good to assert that he “might” be something! Instead, we should focus on what we certainly are: new creatures in Messiah (see the commentary on Second Corinthians Bd – A New Creation). We are fellow heirs, citizens in the Kingdom of Messiah. We have all been brought near by the same atonement and given the same Torah.²²

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You that You deeply desire a loving relationship with all who will humbly come to You as their Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10). Heaven’s door is open to Jew and Gentile (Galatians 3:26-28, Ephesians 2:13-18) who choose to come to You in repentance and find rest for their souls. You called out to the crowds: Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Though all are offered the opportunity to choose You, it is so sad that many people are full of pride and choose to put themselves on the throne of their lives, rather than to exalt You as their Lord.

Peace is greatly sought after and will be found by following You, the Prince of Peace. I will have peace that lasts for all eternity! For to us a child is born, a son will be given to us, and the government will be upon His shoulder. His Name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, My Father of Eternity, and Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and shalom there will be no end – on the throne of David and over His kingdom – to establish it and uphold it through justice and righteousness from now until forevermore. The zeal of ADONAI-Tzva’ot (Isaiah 9:6-7). Peace will come when Messiah Yeshua reigns. Yeshua will be great and will be called Ben-Elyon. ADONAI Elohim will give Him the throne of David, His father.  He shall reign over the house of Jacob for all eternity, and His kingdom will be without end (Luke 1:31d-33).

It is so wise and wonderful to love You and follow You in complete faith, for You have promised Your children an eternal heavenly home of peace and rest.  For we who have trusted are entering into that rest (Hebrews 4:3a). In Messiah Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Command to Number
1: 1-19

The command to number DIG: Why did God have Moshe take the census? Why so many names? Why do we need all of this? What is significant to you about the results of the census: (a) the large numbers? (b) The manpower it took to complete such a census? (c) The explosive increase of numbers from the time 400 years earlier when Isra’el entered Egypt with only 70 people? Other than the military, what other purpose did the census serve?

REFLECT: God chose men to help Moshe in taking the census. Who are those who stand with you in your service to the Lord? We see in this passage how Moses spent time with the Lord, seeking His wisdom and guidance to lead the people. How important is your time with the Lord? Do you find direction and guidance in the Lord for your life and ministry in that time? Take a moment to thank the Lord for the people He has put in your path.

Parashah 34: B’Midbar (In the wilderness) 1:1 to 4:20
(See my commentary on Deuteronomy, to see link click Af – Parashah)

The Key People are Moshe, Aaron, the heads of the tribes (1:5-15), Aaron’s sons Nadab and Ithamar, Levi’s sons Gershon, Korah and Merari, and all their sons, the firstborn males.

The Scene is B’Midbar Sinai, in the wilderness of Sinai.

The Main Events include a census for the army, tent arrangement in the camp, Levites replacing firstborns as God’s own, then set apart for Tabernacle service, Kohahites counted, and instructions for Aaron and his sons to cover the holy items, so Kohathites carrying them wouldn’t see them and die.¹⁴

Many are the words of the Torah, and there are many places in which they have been given. When ADONAI first spoke to the children of Isra’el, He spoke through Moshe while they were still slaves in Egypt. He next spoke to them after the Exodus at Mount Sinai. This is where the teachings of the second half of Exodus and all of Leviticus originated. Now, in Numbers, or Bamidbar (“in the wilderness”), YHVH once again spoke to the second generation of Israelites. Only this time, it was from within the Tabernacle, from between the two cherubim that flanked the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:22). From here, as Isra’el would travel, Ha’Shem would periodically give them more instruction.

The book of Numbers is the record of the revelation from God in the wilderness of Sinai, up to the border of the Promised Land, on the plains of Mo’ab. Numbers is a combination of history and legislation. Its legislation pertains to the Sanctuary, the camp, purification of life, and includes many well-known teachings such as the Nazarite vow, the wearing of fringes, the Aaronic Blessing, the ashes of the red heifer, and more. Its history tells the story of how the new nation of freed slaves found themselves wandering in the desert for forty years before they were permitted to enter Canaan. But, Numbers is no mere chronicle of the outstanding events during their journey. It interprets those events, and shows the faithful watchfulness of ADONAI in every difficulty and danger, as well as the stern severity of divine judgments against rebellion and apostasy.¹⁵

As the book of Numbers begins, Isra’el had been encamped at Sinai for ten months. Most of the time had been spent working on the Tabernacle. It took 40 days for Moses to receive the full instructions for the Tabernacle. Six months were spent on building the Tabernacle. One month was spent on learning the mitzvot of the Tabernacle and instituting its worship. Finally, nine months after their arrival at Mount Sinai, the Tabernacle was completed. The outer camp was called the camp of the Israelites, the middle one was the camp of the Levites, and the innermost one was called the camp of the Presence, or the Sh’khinah.

The Tabernacle was to function as a portable Mount Sinai. God’s presence had come to rest on Mount Sinai. The children of Isra’el were unwilling to leave Mount Sinai unless the LORD would go with them. Moshe had said: If Your Presence doesn’t go with us, don’t make us go from here (Exodus 33:15). Therefore, until the Tabernacle was completed, they were unable to leave Mount Sinai, for God’s Presence was to accompany them in the midst of the Tabernacle. Having completed the Tabernacle, the children of Isra’el were ready to begin their preparations for departure. The trip through the wilderness was to be a short one. After leaving Mount Sinai, it would be a matter of only a few weeks until they arrived on the borders of the Promised Land. Then they were to begin a military invasion, ousting the Canaanites and settling in their lands. As part of the preparations for departure and war, Ha’Shem ordered that a census was to be taken of the children of Isra’el.

The names of all the men twenty years old and older were recorded.
The census (1:1-4): Then ADONAI spoke to Moshe in the wilderness from the Tabernacle. One of the most numerous emphases in the book of Numbers is that YHVH spoke to Moses, and through him, to Isra’el. From the opening words of the book (1:1) to its closing words (36:13), this concept is stated over a hundred-and-fifty times and in more than twenty ways. One Hebrew name for the book of Numbers is “And ADONAI spoke,” the first word in the Hebrew text. This name is highly appropriate, given the strong emphasis on God’s revelation to Moshe in Numbers.

ADONAI spoke to Moshe on the first day of the second month of the second year, one month after setting up the Tabernacle (see the commentary on Exodus, to see link click Hg – So the Tabernacle was Set Up on the First Day of the First Month), and the appearance of the Divine Presence (see Exodus Hh – The Glory of the LORD Filled the Tabernacle), after they had left the land of Egypt (1:1). The book begins with the word “then.” In Hebrew, the word then is a sequential conjunction, and relates to what happened before. The Israelites had been given the Torah in Exodus and Leviticus. Now, what were they going to do with it?¹⁶

God said: Take a census of the entire assembly of the people of Isra’el, by clans and families. Record the names of all the men twenty years old and older who are subject to military service in Isra’el, with only a few exceptions (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Dp – Regulations for a Holy War). You and Aaron are to count those who are able to bear arms. Take with you from each tribe someone who is head of a clan (1:2-4). Moses and Aaron were to complete this task together, but the primary responsibility lay with Moshe. There is a remarkable specificity in the numbering process, moving from the broadest grouping to the individual. The census was counted in decreasing size: tribe, clan, household, individual. This stylistic device, common in Hebrew prose, moves from the most general to the specific, thus giving a sense of the totality and the enormity of the task.¹⁷

From 10:11, it is clear that the census was completed in fewer than twenty days. By contrast, David’s census, which likewise encompassed some 600,000 names, took nine months and twenty days to complete (Second Samuel 24:8)! The difference can be explained by the different methods of counting. David’s census was conducted with much effort from tribe by tribe, clan by clan, family by family, person by person. Moses, on the other hand, made each clan responsible for its own count; he and the chiefs of their fathers’ clans (see below) merely supervised. In this way, all the clans were mustered simultaneously, and their individual totals had only to be counted.

However, our knowledge of the end of the story makes this a sad record to read. Ha’Shem would later declare to the Exodus generation: Your carcasses will fall in the desert! Every single one of you (over the age of twenty) who are included in the first census (see Ai – The First Census: The Old Generation of Rebellion) over the age of twenty, you who complained against Me (see By – The Report of the Spies), will certainly not enter the Land about which I raised My hand to swear that I would have you live in it – except for Caleb and Joshua (14:29-30). All died in the dry, barren wilderness, though God had intended for them to enjoy the good life in the Good Land under His generous hand.

The tribal heads (1:5-16): Why so many names? Why so many details? Since we know that the Word of God is inspired, how do we read these names? There are thirty-seven names listed here. If the names are translated into their meaning, then reading them would be edifying. Even refreshing. It gives us a sense of the yearning the people had in Egypt for their God to name their sons in this manner. Every name has a message, a story about the struggle and triumph of their family. ADONAI cares deeply about each and every name here. We don’t know who these men are, but the Ruach Ha’Kodesh knows them and counted them worthy enough to be included in the Scriptures. We see the same thing in Romans 16 where people are mentioned that we do not even know. But the point is that God knows them.

These are the men to take with you:
From Reuben, Elitzur the son of Sh’de’ur translated: Behold the son, my God is a rock, son of Sh’de’ur who gives light (1:5);
From Simeon, Shlumi’el the son of Tzurishaddai translated: The One who heard me, the friend of God, son of the Rock, my Almighty (1:6);
From Judah, Nachshon the son of ‘Amminadan, grandfather of Boaz (1:7) is mentioned in the book Ruth (see the commentary on Ruth Bd – Coda: The Genealogy of David);
From Issachar, N’tan’el the son of Tzu‘ar (1:8);
From Zebulun, Eli’av the son of Helon translated: From the One who lifted me up, God is my Father, son of the power of God (1:9).
Of the children of Joseph:
From Ephraim, Elishama the son of ‘Ammihud translated: From the One who shall make me doubly fruitful, My God has heard, son of my kinsmen, His majesty;
From Manasseh, Gamli’el the son of P’dahtzur translated: From the One who will cause me to remember the reward of God, son of the Rock who has redeemed me (1:10).
From Benjamin, Avidan the son of Gid‘oni translated: From the Son of My right hand, My Father is Judge, son of the man of war (1:11);
From Dan, Achi‘ezer the son of ‘Ammishaddai translated: My brother is a Helper, my people are from Shaddai (1:12);
From Asher, Pag‘i’el the son of ‘Okhran translated: Encountered by God (1:13);
From Gad, Elyasaf the son of De‘u’el (1:14), but if you go to 2:14, his name is Re’u’el translated: One who walks with God. Why the change? He was called De’u’el because he merely knew God, but then he was changed to Re’u’el because his relationship with God grew into a personal relationship, and like Enoch (see the commentary on Genesis Bv – Enoch Walked with God for 300 years), he walked with God.
From Naftali, Achira the son of ‘Enan” translated: The One who sees (1:15).¹⁸ These were the ones called from the assembly, the chiefs of their fathers’ clans and heads of thousands in Isra’el (1:16). 

The summary of the census (1:17-19): Moshe was anxious to carry out the order he had received, so, he and Aaron took these men who had been designated by name, and on the first day of the second month since the Exodus, they gathered the whole assembly to state their genealogies by clans and families and recorded the names of all those twenty years old and over, as well as their total numbers. Moshe counted them in the Sinai Desert, just as ADONAI had ordered him. Hebrew prose often gives a summary statement and follows with details that explain the summary. This verse is that summary, and the next file (see Ak – Numbering the Tribes) presents the details. Besides its primary military purpose, taking the census also served to demonstrate the miracle that YHVH had performed to fulfill His promises to Isra’el (see Ae – Stars of Heaven, Grains of Sand, and the Promises of God).

Numbers is a very important book for us today. In First Corinthians 10:1-5, 8-9, Rabbi Sha’ul says: I don’t want you to miss the significance of what happened to your fathers. All of them were guided by the pillar of cloud, and they all passed through the sea; they all immersed themselves into Moshe, (in reference to Numbers 33). Also they all ate the same food from the Spirit (in reference to Numbers 11). And they all drank the same drink from the Spirit – for they all drank from the Spirit-sent Rock which followed them, and that Rock was the Messiah (in reference to Numbers 20). Yet with the majority of them God was not pleased, so their bodies were strewn across the desert (in reference to Numbers 14). These are warnings for us. And let us not engage in sexual immorality, as some of them did, with the consequence that 23,000 died in a single day (in reference to Numbers 25). And let us not put the Messiah to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes (in reference to Numbers 21). So, the book of Numbers is really Moshe’s letter to the congregations of God today. And the book spares us much sorrow because it describes only the first three years of the wilderness wanderings, and the last, the fortieth, year. Only four of the forty years, enough to get the point.¹⁹

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You that You are all-knowing and can even number the hairs on our heads (Matthew 10:30). You love all and want to have a relationship with everyone, but You force Yourself on no one, so it is important to seek after You and follow You. You so graciously offer eternal love to all who love and fear You. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His mercy for those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so Adonai has compassion on those who fear Him (Psalm 103:11-13)

The point of living on earth is not to move to some place or land for a better earthly life, nor to store up money for an earthly retirement, but rather to joyfully love and serve You for an eternal life in heaven. May we live our life on earth with our eyes fixed on You and how we can please You. This life will be over soon, and for those who have chosen to love You as their Lord and Savior – Heaven’s eternal joys await (Romans 10:9-10)! How Awesome Your wondrous love that so mercifully paid the price for our sin, the awful penalty of death! You are forever to be praised. Bless ADONAI my God, from everlasting to everlasting! May Your glorious Name be blessed; may it be exalted above all blessing and praise (Nehemiah 9:5c). In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The First Census:
The Old Generation of Rebellion
1: 1-54

After making the covenant (see the commentary on Exodus, to see link click Dd – The Mosaic Covenant) and giving the Torah at Mount Sinai (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Bi – The Stipulations of the Covenant), ADONAI instructed Moshe to take a census of all the tribes of Isra’el by clans and families. Their encampment and order of march was likened to a military formation and operation. Up to this point in the Torah the metaphor of a husband and wife has been used to describe that relationship between YHVH and His people. But now, the picture changes to an army. Isra’el is the army of Ha’Shem! He is the Commander-in-Chief who speaks from the midst of His “command post,” the Tabernacle. To take the Promised Land, there needed to be a war a holy war (see Deuteronomy Ag – The Problem of Holy War in the TaNaKh). But Isra’el was not able to fight this war on her own. The Divine Presence dwelled in their midst to give command, direction, and encouragement to the people of Isra’el.¹¹

As such, they would only count the men deemed fit for military service, those who were twenty years old or older on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Exodus. One man from each tribe was to assist Moses. After careful research of clan and family records, the qualified males were listed by their respective tribes. However, the Levites were not counted, for they were exempt from military service in the sense of bearing arms. This is implied in the fact that they were set apart for the service of the Tabernacle and all its furnishings. Only they could erect and dismantle it; any others who touched it would die. Moreover, the Levites pitched their tents adjacent to the Tabernacle, and the other tribes in the outer perimeter.¹² Thus, by using these numbers, the Holy One was demonstrating the miracle of Isra’el’s survival that He had accomplished.

One more critical point needs to be made here. The war that Isra’el was to fight was not just a physical war where people would die and blood would be shed. On the contrary, it was primarily a spiritual battle. Isra’el was commissioned by God to make His name known throughout the earth. He gave them a piece of property in which to carry our these “operations.” There were strong spiritual forces set in opposition against Isra’el – the gods of the Canaanites. Therefore, the God of this universe, the Commander of ADONAI’s army (Joshua 5:14) decided to pitch His tent in the midst of Isra’el and direct the battle Himself. Isra’el needed Him to war against the powers and principalities, which were demons and idols of the Canaanites.

Things have changed very little since the Israelites went against the gods of the Canaanites. Believers everywhere are commanded to put on the full armor of God, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the power of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:10-12). Moreover, just as ancient Isra’el needed to have the camp of the Sh’khinah among them, so do we. But how can the Divine Presence rest in our midst today? We find the answer to this in the rest of Ephesians 6 (see the commentary on Ephesians Ca – The Spiritual Battle). When we, as individuals, and as a community of believers, continually wear the armor which God gave us, we are allowing Him to dwell through us. Having this kind of uniform, we can rest assured that His Presence will be with us in each and every battle into which He leads us.¹³

Isra’el at Sinai: Preparation for the Departure
1:1 to 10:10

This first section of Numbers in Chapters 1 through 10 is dominated by a positive tone. The people of Isra’el obediently followed God’s instructions to prepare for the march from Sinai to the Promised Land. The twelve tribes of Isra’el undergo a census in which all warriors are counted and then organized into a four-sided military camp with three tribes on each of the four sides. Mitzvot are given that preserve the holiness of the camp. The people dutifully prepare for a holy war against the pagan Canaanite inhabitants of the Promised Land. These preparations for the journey through the wilderness dominate this section.¹⁰

The Rebellion of the Exodus Generation
1:1 to 25:18

The first half of Numbers recounts the fate of the old generation of Israelites who have been eyewitnesses to the exodus out of Egypt and the covenant with God made on Mount Sinai. The birth of this first wilderness generation had been marked by a census list already back in the book of Exodus. The members of Jacob’s family who had come down from Egypt were recorded (see the commentary on Exodus, to see link click Ae – The Descendants of Jacob Numbered Seventy in All). The new census lists of the twelve tribes of Isra’el that appears in Numbers marks a major transition in the people’s wandering (see Ai – The First Census: The Old Generation of Rebellion). They had been liberated from the bondage of slavery; they had received the mitzvot of YHVH and entered into a covenant with Him at Sinai (see Exodus Dd – The Mosaic Covenant). Now, the exodus generation was ready to organize and begin its march in earnest toward the promised land of Canaan.⁹

Why Read Numbers?

The later traditions of both Jewish and Gentile communities have taken up the book of Numbers in important ways. Rabbi Sha’ul in the B’rit Chadashah letter to First Corinthians recalls the story of the wilderness generation in Numbers as an example for his contemporary readers: These things happened to them as an example, and were written down for our instruction (1 Cor 10:11). The Aaronic blessing (to see link click Bb – The Aaronic Blessing) has formed an important part of both Jewish and Gentile worship practices throughout the centuries.

The book wrestles with the transition from the old Exodus generation of rebellion (see Ag – The Rebellion of the Exodus Generation) to the new wilderness generation of hope (see Ec – The Second Census: The New Generation of Hope). How is faith transferred from one generation to another? How does the story of the past become fresh and alive for a new generation?

The book of Numbers helps us to understand boundaries, in a wide variety of ways: boundaries between old and new generations; boundaries between Isra’el and the Gentile nations; boundaries between God’s holy presence and a sinful Isra’el; boundaries of authority between leaders and followers; boundaries that divide tribal territories; boundaries between wilderness and the Promised Land; boundaries between being ritually clean and unclean; boundaries between blessings and curses; boundaries between intentional sin and accidental transgression; boundaries between Ha’Shem’s judgment and ADONAI’s forgiveness.

The conflicts and struggles over these boundaries create a dialogue of varied voices. The dominant voice of Numbers Chapters 1 through 10 is obedience and order, but the underlying voice of danger and death lurks just under the surface. In Numbers 11 through 25, death, disorder, and rebellion suddenly overwhelm us with the dead bodies of the Exodus generation strewn all over the desert floor of Isra’el’s forty-year wilderness wanderings. But the same chapters are also mixed with the whispers of hope for a new generation and its eventual arrival in the Promised Land of Canaan.

Chapters 26 through 36 focus on the story of the people of this new generation of hope as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, much as their parents had done a generation earlier. The overall voice in these concluding chapters is positive and hopeful. But the reader also hears lingering threats, warnings, and conflicts over boundaries that are negotiated and temporarily resolved. By the end of Numbers, the holy camp of God’s people is set to continue its march toward the Promised Land with the warnings of the past and the promises of the future in a dynamic dialogue of warning and promise.

The experience of the Church today has many notable parallels that were faced by the Israelites in the book of Numbers. As has often been true throughout history, the Church struggles to move forward in a cultural wilderness filled with competing temptations, conflicts over authority, and both the potential promise and problems involved in facing people from other cultures, other faiths and other concerns. Scripture provides an important resource for a time such as today. Numbers may be especially appropriate to help guide us through the contemporary wilderness of pluralism, the downgrade into worldliness, transgenderism, homosexuality and the shifting foundation of God’s people in this century.⁸