The Hag ha’Matzah Offering
28: 17-25

The Hag ha’Matzah offering DIG: What do you make of the sevens in this festival? How is the festival of Hag ha’Matzah linked with the festival of Pesach? What was so special about the inclusion of a male goat in the festival offerings?

REFLECT: What “pleasing aroma” things do you do simply to please ADONAI? Are you giving Him your “firsts” or your “lasts?” The best or the worst? Cite an example of each. What are you doing to sweep all the leaven out of your life?

Hag ha’Matzah was fulfilled by the sinlessness of Yeshua’s sacrifice.

This passage instructs the priests how to properly prepare for the feast of Hag ha’Matzah. Following the Passover on the fifteenth day of the month, God commanded that the [sixteenth] day (see the commentary on The Life of Christ, to see link click Ix – The Examination of the Lamb) to be the feast of Hag ha’Matzah. It was one of the pilgrimage feasts (see the commentary on Exodus Eh – Three Times a Year Celebrate a Festival to Me). He said that Matzah is to be eaten for seven days, the first and seventh days are Sabbaths. So after Pesach, the festival would last a total of eight days. Today, many Jews will talk about the eight days of Passover, but in reality, Passover is just one day, followed by seven days of Unleavened Bread. On each of the seven days of Unleavened Bread, the same number of additional (mussaf) sacrifices on the New Moon are brought (see Ez – The New Moon Offerings). This amounts to seven times the number of additional sacrifices brought on the New Moon.

Over the course of the festival, not including the obligatory Chatta’th Offering (see Leviticus Aq – The Chatta’th Offering: Communicating God’s Forgiveness), the number of mussaf sacrifices would be as follows: 14 bulls (2X7), 7 rams (7), 49 sheep (7X7), for a total of 70 (10X7) animals. Once again we see God’s fingerprints all over the Bible with the number 7 (see the commentary on Genesis Ae – The Number Seven). The Commandment to bring the mussaf sacrifices during Unleavened Bread cannot be observed today, but the traditional liturgy does provide additional (mussaf) holiday prayers, which can be prayed in remembrance of the additional sacrifices brought during Unleavened Bread. These consist of a repetition of the Shemoneh Esrei, an abundance of additional liturgical poetry, songs, and a special version of the priestly benediction performed by the priests. One famous portion of the mussaf service is a liturgical poem called the prayer for dew. The resurrection symbolism associated with dew is particularly touching for believers who are, at the same time this prayer is recited in the synagogue, anticipating the anniversary of Messiah’s resurrection with the Feast of Firstfruits (see Leviticus Ea – Resheet) the next day!

The depths of the earth long for a single drop, and all the green meadows desire it. Dew – its mention is a remembrance of His strength. It is inscribed in the mussaf prayer. Dew – to resurrect the dead with, to resurrect those buried in the clefts of the rocks (Prayer for Dew, from the Chag ha’Matzwh Mussaf of Shemoneh Esrei). In addition, the psalms of the Hallel (Psalm 113-118) are read during the services of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

The first day is to be a holy assembly and treat it as a Sabbath day. In the original context, the holy assembly was a reference to the Temple service prearranged for the festival day. In actual practice, however, the “holy assembly” has come to mean the coming together for prayer, worship, and the public reading of Scripture. And let us continue to consider how to motivate one another to love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day of the Lord approaching (10:24-25).⁶⁵⁶

Do not do any kind of ordinary work; but present an offering made by fire, a ‘Olah Offering (see the commentary on Leviticus Ao – The ‘Olah Offering: Providing Access to God), to ADONAI, consisting of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs in their first year with their Grain Offerings (see Leviticus Ap – The Minhah Offering: Assuring People of God’s Acceptance), fine flour mixed with olive oil. Offer six quarts for a bull, four quarts for the ram, and two quarts for each of the seven lambs; also a male goat as a purification offering, to make atonement for you. The concluding remark that those sacrifices were to be without defect reminds us how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Holy Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). The purpose of the Chatta’th Offering goat of the festivals and the New Moons is explained in the tractate Shavu’ot of the Mishnah (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Ei – The Oral Law). The goat was a fail safe measure. It was meant to provide atonement for those who inadvertently desecrated the Tabernacle by coming near to God in a condition of ritual impurity.⁶⁵⁷

Identical sacrifices were repeated each day for the seven-day festival. You are to offer these in addition to the regular morning ‘Olah Offering. In this fashion you are to offer daily, for seven days, the food of the offering made by fire, making a pleasing aroma for ADONAI; it is to be offered in addition to the regular ‘Olah Offering and its drink offering. On the seventh day you are to have a holy assembly; do not do any kind of ordinary work.

For believers, the appointed time of Unleavened Bread carries great significance. Not only is it God’s appointed time (see Leviticus Dw – God’s Appointed Times) and a remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt, but it is also the anniversary of the sinlessness of Messiah’s sacrifice on the cross. We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Leaven is a picture of sin, and because Yeshua bore the punishment for our sin, we can be a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, and declare the praises of Him who called us out of the darkness into His wonderful light (First Peter 2:9).⁶⁵⁸

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for Your great love and wisdom that called us out of the darkness of this world into Your glorious Kingdom! Sometimes when times are hard and there are many problems we long to be done with; but our focus needs to be on preparing to enter Your Kingdom. When coming to a celebration for someone, bringing a gift is very important. Showing up at a big party for someone, without a gift for them is unthinkable. We desire to give You our lives as gifts of love to Your honor.

We seek to turn our eyes off our problems and onto how You are using the trial to purify our faith. These trials are so that the true metal of your faith (far more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire) may come to light in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Messiah Yeshua (First Peter 1:7). Though trials may seem to last a long time, when compared with the joy we will have in living with you in Your holy heaven for all eternity-our trials are but a blink and we can endure something for a blink. For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18).

No trial or storm is bigger than God’s great power. There is no situation we can find ourself in where God is unable to deliver. Our Father God is always almighty and anxious to help His children. Thank You that as Your children turn to You in faith, seeking Your wisdom and help, You are always there and You care. You might deliver us out of the storm (Mark 4:35-41), or You may help us in the storm, but we can always trust Your wisdom and care to do what is best. Praising You in the midst of the storm is a great way to calm our hearts and to give You the glory that You are so worthy of! Offer God a sacrifice of thank offerings, then fulfill your vows to Elyon. Call upon Me in the day of trouble. When I rescue you, you will honor Me . . . a sacrifice of praise honors Me, and to the one who orders his way, I will show the salvation of God (Ps 50:14-15, 23). In Messiah holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Pesach Offering
28: 16

The Pesach offering DIG: Is the Passover a Sabbath? When was the Passover lamb slain? When was the Passover meal eaten? How was the Passover fulfilled? Why do you think God wanted the Jews to celebrate the Passover after entering the Promised Land?

REFLECT: What special once a year religious celebration do you appreciate most? Why? What benefit do you get from that celebration? What benefits does ADONAI receive? What does the Passover bring to mind for you? Who can you pray for this week?

The Feast of Passover was fulfilled by the death of Messiah.

Pesach is an appointed time (see the commentary on Leviticus, to see link click Dw – God’s Appointed Times). The Torah reminds us that on the first of Nisan, the first day of the Jewish religious calendar, ADONAI’s Pesach shall be celebrated on the fourteenth day of the month at sundown. No sacrificial details are given here because they are given elsewhere (see the commentary on Leviticus Dy – Pesach and the commentary on Deuteronomy Dc – Keep the Passover). Generally speaking, the term Passover has been broadened to mean the entire Feast of Unleavened Bread (see Leviticus Dz – Hag ha’Matzot). Today, even in the Gospels, the entire eight days of the festival are called Pesach. Strictly speaking, however, Passover refers only to the day of the offering of the Passover lamb. It is not a Sabbath, and there are no additional musaf offerings on that day. As the sun went down and a new day began, the Passover meal was eaten on the evening of the fifteenth of Nisan .

Pesach, celebrated in March-April of the year, starts the annual cycle of religious festivals, commencing on the fourteenth day of the month. On that day, the head of each household brought home a lamb to be slain and roasted at sundown (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Ke – Go and Make Preparations for the Passover). Therefore, on the fifteenth of Nisan, Messiah ate the Passover meal with His apostles, prayed at the Garden of Gethsemane, was betrayed and arrested, formally condemned by the Great Sanhedrin, tried by Pontius Pilot, scourged, mocked, was nailed to a wooden cross for six hours, died, and placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea before sundown and the start of the Sabbath.

In anticipation of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the next day, Pesach is also the day on which the Israelites swept all leaven (yeast) out of their houses. For seven days, from the fifteenth to the twenty-first, you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day, remove the leaven from your houses, for whoever eats anything with leaven in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from the people of Isra’el (Exodus 12:15). The sunset that ends the day of the Passover marks the beginning of the next appointed time, the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

For believers, the appointed time of Pesach carries great significance. Not only is it the anniversary of the slaying of the Passover lambs, it is the anniversary of the crucifixion and burial of our Passover Lamb, our Davidic King and Savior (John 1:29; First Corinthians 5:7-8; First Peter 1:18-21; and Revelation 5:5-6).⁶⁵⁵ Today, far removed from the death of Messiah, it is difficult for us to comprehend how horrific His crucifixion actually was (see the commentary on The Life of Messiah Lt – The Crucifixion). How great His sacrifice.

Dear Heavenly Father, We praise You and bend the knee before You in worship of You. How great was Your pain and shame in offering Messiah Yeshua as our Lamb to take the punishment for our 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). Your children love You and desire to live their lives thanking You for Your great love sacrifice. It is a joy and a privilege to give You: our time by meditating on Your awesome qualities, our money, our thoughts, and our actions. We desire to give back to You our whole lives! In Your holy Name and power of resurrection. Amen

The Festival Offerings
28:16 to 29:40

Numbers 28 and 29 function as an ancient priestly calendar, a detailed list of the given Tabernacle/Temple sacrifices for each festival day. Those festivals are referred to as moedim, or appointed times. They are God’s appointed times when He meets with His holy ones. They are also appointed times for sacrifice. We encountered the biblical calendar in Leviticus 23 (see Leviticus, to see link click Dw – God’s Appointed Times), but the book of Numbers also contains a version of the biblical calendar. It, however, is far more detailed regarding the sacrificial offerings for the festival days. Whereas the calendar in Leviticus would say: You shall present an offering ADONAI for each of the festivals, the calendar in Numbers offers the specific details on the number of lambs, rams, goats, and bulls. It spells out exactly what that offering by fire is supposed to be for each festival. It was a calendar intended for the priesthood to study, memorize and implement.⁶⁵¹

Seven weeks after the Feast of Firstfruits (within the eight-day celebration of Passover), the Israelites celebrated the Feast of Weeks. What is interesting about the three major “pilgrimage feasts” (see the commentary on Exodus Eh – Three Times a Year Celebrate a Festival to Me) is that each required the firstfruits of the various harvests to be offered at the Temple/Tabernacle, but for different crops. Passover required the firstfruits of the barley harvest (see the commentary on Leviticus Ea – Rasheet); the Feast of Weeks required the firstfruits of the wheat harvest (see Leviticus Ec – Hag Shavu’ot); and the Feast of Booths required the firstfruits of the olive and grape harvest (see Leviticus Eg – Hag Sukkot). As a result of the firstfruits being embedded in these three major pilgrimage festivals, the Feast of Firstfruits itself is not included in the restatement of the feasts in Numbers 28 and 29.⁶⁵²

An important feature in each of the festival offerings in Numbers is the mitzvah of a male goat (if you count Pesach and Hag ha’Matzah as one eight-day festival). Also a male goat is to be offered as a purification offering to ADONAI (see Leviticus Aq – The Chatta’th Offering: Communicating God’s Forgiveness), in addition to the regular Olah Offering and its drink offering. The goat was required for every festival other than the Shabbat. What is the meaning of this single goat? The purpose of the Chatta’th Offering goat of the festivals and the New Moons is explained in the tractate Shavu’ot of the Mishnah (see The Life of Christ Ei – The Oral Law). The goats were a fail safe measure. They were meant to provide atonement for those who inadvertently desecrated the Tabernacle by coming near to God in a condition of ritual impurity.⁶⁵³

The restatement of each of these festivals in Numbers was a necessary part of the transfer of power from Moses to Joshua. The wilderness generation would soon be in the Land of Promise, where these festivals would take on their full meaning in the life of the people. It would be in the Good Land that they would be able to bring all these sacrifices to the LORD because of His bountiful provision. The listing of these specific offerings is a mark of faith and trust in ADONAI that He, at last, would complete His promise to bring His people into the Land that was, and continues to be, His gift to them.⁶⁵⁴

The New Moon Offerings
28: 11-15

The New Moon offerings DIG: How does the Lunar calendar differ from the Gregorian calendar? What were New Moon festivals like? Why was the New Moon important for women? Why was there a purification offering in all the feasts except Shabbat? How were the goats used to provide atonement?

REFLECT: When do you reset your devotion for God? Daily, once a week, once a month, yearly? Can this become merely routine rather than real? How does Yeshua provide atonement for those sins that you inadvertently commit? How did He split time in two, and how will He reset time again when He returns?

ADONAI is a God of multiple new beginnings, new seasons, and fresh starts.

The New Moon is an appointed time. Because the biblical calendar is a lunar calendar, most of the appointed times (see the commentary on Leviticus, to see link click Dw – God’s Appointed Times) are reckoned according to the New Moon. The first day of the biblical month is called Rosh-Chodesh, which literally means “a new head” and is understood to mean “the first of the New Month,” and celebrated as a minor holiday. A Rosh-Chodesh occurs when the first crescent of the New Moon appears in the sky. Note that the biblical Rosh-Chodesh is not the same as the English “new moon.” Rather, the Rosh-Chodesh moon is ordinarily the first visible crescent of the new lunar moon cycle as seen below. The Jewish calendar is different from the Gregorian calendar in that it is regulated more by the moon than the sun. The middle of the biblical month is a full moon. The end of the biblical month is when the moon disappears completely from the sky.⁶⁴⁵

The New Moon (28:11-14): The festival begins with this statement: At the beginning of each of your months (Rosh-Chodesh), you shall present . . . (28:11a). The Moon’s unilluminated side is facing the Earth during a New Moon. The Moon itself is not visible (except during a solar eclipse). From any location on the Earth, the Moon appears to be a circular disk which, at any specific time, is illuminated to some degree by direct sunlight. Like the Earth, the Moon is a sphere which is always half illuminated by the Sun, but as the Moon orbits the Earth we get to see more or less of the illuminated half. During each lunar orbit (a lunar month), we see the Moon’s appearance change from not visibly illuminated through partially illuminated to fully illuminated, then back through partially illuminated to not illuminated again. Although this cycle is a continuous process, there are eight distinct, traditionally recognized stages, called phases. The phases designate both the degree to which the Moon is illuminated and the geometric appearance of the illuminated part.⁶⁴⁶

Although the New Moon is an appointed time, it is not a Sabbath (see Ey – The Sabbath Offerings), nor is there a specific commandment to gather for a sacred assembly. However, we know from First Samuel that King Sha’ul used to hold a two-day banquet on the New Moon (First Samuel 20:18 and 24), that the prophets taught on the Sabbath and New Moons (Second Kings 4:23). New Moon festivals were marked by sacrifices, the blowing of shofars over the sacrifices (Numbers 10:10), the suspension of all labor and trade (Nehemiah 10:31), and social or family feasts (Firsts Samuel 20:5). And in the Messianic Kingdom to come: it shall be from New Moon to New Moon and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all mankind will come to bow down before Me, says YHVH (Isaiah 66:23).

According to some Jewish traditions, the New Moon is a holiday for women. The Jerusalem Talmud reports that women were given the extra holiday on which they were to be free from their usual duties as a reward for not contributing their jewelry to the golden calf project (j.Tannit64c). Fathers and husbands may be wise to take on an extra load of duties on the New Moon to give their wives and daughters a break.⁶⁴⁷

Each month is a marker of His blessing, a time for special rejoicing. In the Temple, the New Moon festival was to be celebrated with the additional (Hebrew: mussaf) sacrifice of a Olah Offering (see the commentary on Leviticus Ao – The Olah Offering: Providing Access to God) to ADONAI consisting of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs in their first year and without defect; with six quarts of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for the one ram; and two quarts of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering (see Leviticus Aj – The Grain Offerings: Dedicated to God) for each lamb. This will be the Olah Offering giving a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire for ADONAI. Their drink offerings will be two quarts of wine for a bull, one-and-one-third quarts for the ram, and one quart for each lamb. This is the Olah Offering for every Rosh-Chodesh throughout the months of the year.

In the past, the arrival of the Rosh-Chodesh was announced in the synagogue on the Shabbat before it occurred. This tradition arose in ancient times as a means of keeping the community informed about the biblical calendar. Today, the Jewish calendar is fixed and tracks the New Moon without the need for announcements. A special congregational prayer, petitioning God for a good month, accompanies the announcement of the day on which the New Moon will occur. The prayer is thus given, “May it be Your will, our God and the God of our fathers that You make new this month upon us for goodness and for blessing. May You give us long life – a life of peace; a life of goodness; a life of blessing a life of sustenance; a life of physical health; a life in which there is fear of heaven and fear of sin; a life of wealth and honor; a life in which we will have love of Torah, fear of God; a life in which the LORD fulfills our heartfelt requests for the good.” Amen, Selah.

As mentioned at the beginning of this file, Rosh-Chodesh does not literally mean “New Moon,” but the new moon is supposed to be the first day of the month. But this is not always the case anymore. Discrepancies between the lunar cycle and the fixed version of the biblical calendar sometimes offset the new moon by as much as a day. Some Messianic communities have opted to discard the traditional Gregorian calendar and return to a lunar calendar determined by observation. To some, this would seem to be a more biblical approach, but to do so one sacrifices continuity with all those who love the God of Abraham, Isaa, and Jacob. Whether or not individual people and individual communities have the authority to determine their own calendars is a matter of debate. The traditional answer is that they do not. If they did, everyone would be on a different calendar.

As with any religious ritual, there was a danger of observing the New Moon festivals without a true heart to follow God. Later in their history, the Israelites continued to observe the New Moon festivals outwardly, even after their hearts had turned cold toward ADONAI. They readily sacrificed their bulls and lambs and goats, but they would not give up their sins. They relied on the outward observations to cleanse them, even though there was still evil in their hearts. The LORD had severe words for such hypocrisy: Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations – I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them (Isaiah 1:13-14). Sin is hateful to God, and no amount of ritual or ceremony or sacrament can make up for a sinful heart. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being (Psalm 51:6; Hosea 6:6).⁶⁴⁸

Our God is a God of multiple new beginnings, new seasons, and fresh starts. Instead of celebrating once a year, God asks that the beginning of each of your months, each New Moon, be celebrated – that’s twelve new beginnings instead of one! On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the LORD your God (Numbers 10:10). The Jewish year is supposed to reflect the number of years since creation, although this is obviously difficult to prove. The standard Gregorian calendar used across the world is uncomfortable for those who do not believe in Yeshua. It’s a constant reminder of His coming. Instead of saying “BC” (Before Christ) or “AD” (Anno Domini – the year of our Lord), secular Jews say “before the counting” and “after the counting,” and it is now common for unbelievers worldwide who do not want to acknowledge Him to write “BCE” (Before the Current Era) and “CE” (Current Era). The awkward truth of Yeshua’s central importance that all this counting and era-dividing points toward, is thus avoided for those who would rather deny the One who split time in two. But the truth is that time was dramatically reset by His First Coming (see Ew – God’s Ordering of Space and Time), whom we proclaim every time we write the date. Then time will be reset once again by His Second Coming (see the commentary on Isaiah Kg – The Second Coming of Jesus Christ to Bozrah). Thus, there will be a day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Yeshua Messiah is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). But for now, we will continue to dedicate our lives to Him as living sacrifices, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year.⁶⁴⁹

The obligatory purification offering (28:15): Also a male goat is to be offered as a purification offering to ADONAI (see Leviticus Aq – The Chatta’th Offering: Communicating God’s Forgiveness), in addition to the regular Olah Offering and its drink offering. The goat was required for every festival other than the Shabbat. What is the meaning of this single goat? The purpose of the Chatta’th Offering goat of the festivals and the New Moons is explained in the tractate Shavu’ot of the Mishnah (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Ei – The Oral Law). The goats were a fail safe measure. They were meant to provide atonement for those who inadvertently desecrated the Tabernacle by coming near to God in a condition of ritual impurity.

Inevitably, some among the mass of worshippers, either celebrating a New Moon in the wilderness, or later entering the holy courts of the Temple, would inadvertently be ritually unclean (see the commentary on Leviticus Bk – Ritually Clean and Unclean Animals). For example, a person might have unknowingly been in the same building with a corpse before a festival, or they might have unwittingly walked over a grave on their way up to the Temple. Assuming that they were still in a state of ritual impurity, they entered the Temple courts and thereby unclean (Numbers 19:13 and 20). That same person might eat the sacrifices while still unclean, a thing expressly forbidden. The single goat offered on the New Moons and festivals to atoned for all those inadvertent ritual sins. His mercy endures forever (Psalm 136).

The sacrifice of the Master works in a similar manner. We understand that His death and resurrection atone for our sin which brings us near to the Father. But we probably don’t even suspect the scope of our sin and separation, which His sacrifice has overcome. We are barely aware of our inadequacies. We can’t even begin to guess the distance between us and the Divine. Yet, the single Chatta’th Offering of Yeshua is adequate to atone even for the things of which we are ignorant.⁶⁵⁰

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for Your love and omniscience. You don’t look at people’s outward deeds, but You see their heart attitude. For man looks at the outward appearance, but Adonai looks into the heart (First Samuel 16:7c). What You desire is a heart that truly loves You and wants to follow You. It is such a comfort to know that you do not count up who has the most good deeds or whose good deed is the biggest. You so wisely discern the heart attitude and allow entrance into heaven on the basis of their heart loving and seeking to follow you. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, and drive out demons in Your name, and perform many miracles in Your name?’  Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness (Matthew 7:21-23)!

You will give rewards to Your children when they are serving You with loving hearts seeking to honor You, and not when they do good deeds out of their own selfish pride. For no one can lay any other foundation than what is already laid – which is Yeshua the Messiah.  Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear. For the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed by fire; and the fire itself will test each one’s work – what sort it is.  If anyone’s work built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.  If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss – he himself will be saved, but as through fire (First Corinthians 3:11-15).

It is a privilege to offer You the sacrifice of my loving heart that delights in serving You and in praising You. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name (Hebrews 13:5 ESV). In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Sabbath Offerings
28: 9-10

The Sabbath Offerings DIG: Why were the lambs doubled on the Sabbath? How is this related to the doubling of the sacrifices on the festival of Sukkot? Is there a connection between Sabbath and Sukkot? Why do you think there is additional teaching on the offerings at this point in Numbers? 

REFLECT: What is the significance of the extra two lambs to you? What have you done that is extra in your worship of the Lord? What special things do you do to remind you of what God has done for you? How do these things help to strengthen your relationship with God? Why is Sunday not the same as the Sabbath?

Shabbat grants us a measure of peace and tranquility, a foretaste of the Kingdom.

The Shabbat is an appointed time (see the commentary on Leviticus, to see link click Dw – God’s Appointed Times). Sunday is not “the Christian Sabbath.” Sunday is the first day of the week (Luke 24:1), while the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week (see the commentary on Genesis Aq – By the Seventh Day God Had Finished His Work). Although the Sabbath itself had been set apart (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Bo – Observe Yom Shabbat), this is the first instruction given concerning Shabbat ritual. It was a day of rest, except for the priests, who had additional service to perform before ADONAI. The Israelites were to offer two male lambs in their first year and without defect, with one gallon of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with olive oil, and its drink offering. This is the burnt offering (see Leviticus Ai – The Burnt Offering: Accepted by God) for every Shabbat, in addition to the tamid offerings (see Ex – The Tamid Offering), the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. The Sages teach that the additional Sabbath lambs were offered just after the priesthood ate the bread of the Presence and offered up the frankincense that accompanied it.

The additional (Hebrew: mussaf) offerings of the Sabbath are remembered in the traditional synagogue liturgy with the mussaf prayers: a repetition of the Shemoneh Esrei and some liturgical songs such as the well-known Ein Keiloheinu (There is None Like Our God) and the Adon Olam (Master of the World). In some Messianic congregations, instead of repeating the entire Shemoneh Esrei, they simply pray the Lord’s Prayer (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Gy – Lord, Teach Us to Pray) together as a substitute.

The significance of the extra two male lambs on the Sabbath day is that the lambs were a double portion. It is the sign of the Sabbath. On the sixth day, in preparation for the Sabbath, the children of Isra’el were commanded to gather a double portion of manna (Exodus 16:22-23). The double portion was to last throughout the Sabbath, a day on which food preparation and gathering is forbidden. The two loaves of traditional challah bread (see Ci – The Challah), which adorn Sabbath tables even to this day, are a remembrance of the double portion of Shabbat. Ordinarily, a family would have only one loaf. On the Sabbath, which is the Sabbath, the amount is doubled. The same principle holds true at God’s table (see the commentary on Exodus Fa – Build Altar of Acacia Wood Overlaid with Bronze). Therefore, on Shabbat, the regular weekday portion is doubled. Instead of two lambs for burnt offerings, there were four.

In Jewish observance, it is common for a family to spend sparingly on their meals all week long in order that they might be able to better honor the Sabbath with a sumptuous spread of foods and delicacies. One should spend below his means on all his weekday meals that he might spend beyond his means in preparation for the Shabbat.

For believers, the appointed time of the Sabbath carries great significance. Not only is it the Bible’s most often repeated commandment, but it is also a foretaste of the Messianic Kingdom for which we long. The celebration of the Shabbat grants us a measure of the peace and tranquility, which will characterize the Kingdom on Earth. We cease from work and enter into the rest of Messiah who said: Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11;28).⁶⁴⁴

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise and thank You so much for Your wisdom in providing a Shabbat, a day each week to rest and recharge. Rest and peace flow into my mind and heart when I praise You. Meditating on how wonderful You are brings joy. I find comfort when I come to You with my problems and lift up Your name in seeking Your help, knowing that You are always right there beside me to help and to guide me.  For God Himself has said: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5c).

You are such a gracious Shepherd (Psalms 23)! You are always watching out to protect and guide me to green pastures. Your love and compassion are so wonderful! 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 103:11-14). Thank You for the joy of resting on Shabbat and being refreshed by praising You. In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Tamid Offering
28: 1-8

The tamid offering DIG: Describe the daily continual offerings? What feelings do you think the tamid offerings were meant to evoke from the Israelites? How did their twice-a-day regularity help to maintain fellowship with God? What picture do the tamid offerings paint? Who were the Standing Men? How is the continual burnt offering related to the traditional Jewish prayers? How is it related to the times of prayer?

REFLECT: How is the life of a believer a continual tamid offering (except we are living sacrifices, not dead ones)? What serves as a daily reminder of what ADONAI has done for you? How does this strengthen your relationship with God? What are you thankful for today? Take a moment and consider the goodness of God in your life. What can you do to express your gratitude to Him for His goodness? Who can you pray for?

Obedient people bring pleasure to ADONAI.

Numbers 28 and 29 is an ancient priestly calendar, a detailed list of the prescribed Tabernacle/Temple sacrifices for each festival day. Those festivals are referred to as moedim, or appointed times. They are God’s appointed times for meeting with His holy ones. They are also appointed times for sacrifice. We encountered the biblical calendar in Leviticus 23 (see the commentary on Leviticus, to see link click Dw – God’s Appointed Times), but the book of Numbers also contains a version of the biblical calendar. It, however, is far more detailed regarding the sacrificial offerings for the festival days. Whereas the calendar in Leviticus would say: you shall present an offering ADONAI for each of the festivals, the calendar in Numbers offers the specific details. It spells out exactly what that offering by fire is supposed to be for each festival. It was a calendar intended for the priesthood to study, memorize and implement.

Since there is no Temple today, the mitzvot of Numbers 28 and 29 are not actually applicable today. They are a list of sacrifices and it was, and is, forbidden to make a sacrifice outside of God’s Temple (see Leviticus Da – The Life is in the Blood). Since many Messianic Jews and Gentiles still keep the Lord’s appointed times, no sacrifice can be made without the Temple. Yet, there is always merit in studying the Torah. We must view the appointed times as a shadow of things to come and the substance of the Messiah. So don’t let anyone pass judgment on you in connection with eating and drinking, or in regard to a Jewish festival or a New Moon festival. These are a shadow of things that are coming, but the body is of the Messiah (Col 2:16-17).⁶³³

The Tamid (Hebrew: continual) offering was a regular daily feature in the Tabernacle or Temple service. It was, in fact, an offering of two halves. A prominent feature is how this korban was both the first and the last offering in the daily sacrificial schedule. Everything in life has its parameters of two points: a beginning and an end. God is the start of everything, and history will come full circle at last days when He reveals Himself and His glory to the universe.⁶³⁴

ADONAI instructed Moshe, saying: Give an order to the people of Isra’el. Tell them, “You shall be careful to present My offering, My food for My offerings by fire, of a fragrant aroma to Me at their appointed time” (28:1-3a). Here, the LORD refers to the sacrifices with three different terms: First, He calls them My offering (Hebrew: korban, meaning something brought near). These were offerings brought by the priesthood on behalf of the entire nation. They were meant to symbolize all Isra’el drawing near to the Presence of God.

The second term the Ruach Ha’Kodesh uses to refer to the sacrifices is My food (Hebrew: lechem, meaning bread) for My offerings by fire. The altar is sometimes described as a table, and the sacrifices placed upon it are described as food. The priesthood is said to present offerings by fire to ADONAI, the food of their God (Leviticus 21:6). When this kind of metaphoric language is used, we should be careful lest we imagine that God actually eats the sacrifices or requires them. In the Psalms, He declares: If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all it contains. Shall I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of male goats (Psalm 50:12-13). The sacrifices are the food of God only on a metaphoric level. They symbolize the table of fellowship between YHVH and Isra’el. The LORD’s portion of the meal, as it were, was consumed in the flames of the bronze altar. In a similar manner, the Master refers to bread as His body and wine to His blood. He bids His disciples to eat of Him. But these are metaphors, meant to be understood symbolically.

The third term He uses to refer to the sacrifices is a fragrant aroma. The fragrant aroma was the smell of the fire upon the bronze altar. It represents the final stage of the worship experience, where the sacrifice was converted into heat and smoke rising up to God. The sacrifices offered something for each of our five senses. The Israelites smelled them and the incense, they tasted the sacrificial meats and breads, they saw the splendor of the Tabernacle/Temple courtyard and priestly clothing, they heard the songs of the Levitical choir, and they laid their hands of the head of the sacrifice, transferring their sin to the sacrifice itself.⁶³⁵

The concept of the appointed time (28:2c and 8): Surprisingly, the first appointed time mentioned is not a festival or a Sabbath day. Rather it is the daily appointed times for offering the tamid. Offerings were part of the rhythm of worship. Each morning a one-year-old male lamb without defect was sacrificed as a regular burnt offering (see the commentary on Leviticus Ai – The Burnt Offering: Accepted by God). One lamb was offered at sunrise to make atonement for the sins of the night and the other lamb was offered at sunset (Hebrew: ha’arbayim, traditionally understood to mean mid-afternoon) to make atonement for the sins of the day. In Temple times, the “sunset” sacrifice was made during the ninth hour of the day (2 to 3pm). This second sacrifice was referred to as the minchah.⁶³⁶ The tamid parallels the Shema which is itself recited twice daily – in the beginning of the day and once again in the evening – with its affirmation of God’s heavenly kingship (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Bw – Shemah Isra’el). Similarly, it is how the we pledge to serve ADONAI our God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37).⁶³⁷

During the sacrifice of those two lambs, prayers were offered. During the Second Temple era, the daily prayer of the Amadah was offered by the priesthood and the attending worshippers in conjunction with those two sacrifices. From biblical times, the morning and afternoon sacrifices came to be regarded as the established times of prayer. Acts 3:1 and 10:3 make reference to the times of the daily tamid sacrifices, explicitly identifying it as the time of prayer.⁶³⁸

However, the sunrise offering and the sunset offering are not the only revelations of godliness. But also all during the day, the presence of God must be felt so that the middle, as well as the beginning and the end, are united as one. The tamid is characterized as a continual, constant, or always sacrifice. For us, this means being conformed to the likeness of Messiah (Romans 8:29b), our constant spiritual growth, throughout life. We should focus on ADONAI at the beginning of the day, at the end of the day, and at all during the day. In other words, we faithfully serve Him “from start to finish.”

Dear Heavenly Father, It is such a joy and a privilege to be able to continually walk and to pray to You! Praise You for having Messiah Yeshua open the way for access to You as LORD all during the day and night, every day of the year. Thank you that when Messiah died, You tore the curtain in the Most Holy Place that had previously blocked access to Your Presence. And Yeshua cried out again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. And behold, the curtain of the Temple was split in two, from top to bottom. And the earth quaked and rocks were split apart (Matthew 27:50-51).

What a privilege that Your Presence is no longer blocked. Now, thanks to Messiah Yeshua’s paying the full price for sin (John 1:29, Second Corinthians 5:21), continual access has been opened to You! Continual access to the King of kings, our Father, is such a prized gift! What joy it is to spend time meditating on how wonderful You are. It is a great comfort to know that in any trial or problem, You are always available for me to cry out to You for Your help (Hebrews 13:6) and wisdom (James 1:5).

Because Messiah lives forever (Isaiah 53:10) continual access to You is always open. Formerly the high priest could only go behind the curtain one day of the year and was prevented from continuing in that office because of death; but now Messiah Yeshua, the perfect High Priest always lives and is continually making intercession, so the door of salvation and prayer always remains open! But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.  Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:24-25). Thank you so much for the very special privilege of having continual access to You from the time that I get up to the time I go to sleep. In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name. Amen

Both lambs were sacrificed along with two quarts of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with one quart of oil from pressed olives. It was a regular burnt offering, the same as was offered on Mount Sinai (Exodus 29:38-42) to give a fragrant aroma. In addition, both were sacrificed with a strong drink offering made of beer or whisky (Hebrew: shechar, meaning any kind of intoxicating drink not made from grapes, but made from dates or other fruits) to be poured out by the priests at the base of the bronze altar, one-quarter hin for each lamb. In summary, they were both offerings made by fire, with a fragrant aroma for ADONAI. The ordering of the sacrifices was a fixed element in the ritual of the people. Each day began and ended with a sacrifice; each Sabbath had its special sacrifices (see Ey – The Sabbath Offerings), as did each new month (see Ez – The New Moon Offerings). All time was marked by sacrifice.

The concept of the acceptable offering (28:3 and 5, 8): Just as there was an appointed time, there was also an acceptable offering that was to be presented (Leviticus 22:17-33). Not just any animal, any amount of flour, oil, or drink offering could be used. All was according to pattern. The flour was as important as the sacrifice; the drink offering was as significant as the oil. The sacrifices would not be appropriate if any element was not acceptable or if any element was not in the correct proportion. Again, we miss the point if we try to determine the spiritual significance of each item. The issue is one of obedience to ADONAI.⁶³⁹

The tamid was a national offering. It was paid for from the proceeds of the half-shekel tax (see the commentary on Exodus Eu – The Atonement Money for the Tabernacle). In Temple times, the community nature of the daily tamid sacrifice was taken very seriously. In order that all Isra’el would have some participation in the mitzvah, a system of representation was worked out during the Second Temple era. The sages felt that, since the commandment to offer the daily sacrifice was addressed to all Isra’el, representatives of all Isra’el should be present. This was accomplished through the institution of the “Standing Men.” Those Standing Men were elders selected as representatives from among the twenty-four divisions of Israelites (see the commentary on the Life of David Ev – The Divisions of Priests). They served in the Temple as witnesses to the sacrifices and participants in the prayer services on one-week rotations.⁶⁴⁰

The concept of a pleasing aroma to ADONAI (28:2b and 6-8b): There is a sense in which these offerings are brought to please God. This was to make sure that there was always a continual pleasing aroma in God’s House. Yet when we reflect on them, we realize that it was not the sacrifice itself that brought Him pleasure. He did not take some sort of heavenly perverse pleasure in the blood of animals and the bleating of lambs (see the commentary on Hebrews Bx – The Insufficiency of the Blood of Bulls and Goats). Then why did God delight in the pleasing aroma? He delighted in it because it was offered as a token of obedience, a symbol of the devotion of the worshippers themselves. Those who brought a sacrifice were those who offered themselves to God. The prophet Micah asked: Does ADONAI take delight in thousands or rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil (Micah 6:7)? No! YHVH says: I delight in chesed (see Ruth Af – The Concept of Chesed) rather than sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6).⁶⁴¹

The concept of a living Sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2): This concept is not necessarily a distinct teaching in the B’rit Chadashah. It is, however, a clearer statement of that which had always been the major issue in sacrifice from the time of Abel until the atonement of Yeshua (Psalm 40:6-8; Hebrews 10:5-7). Ha’Shem looked first at the one who brought the sacrifice (notice the word order in Genesis 4:4-5), then He looked at the sacrifice that the person brought. But when all was as it should be – the person and the sacrifice – then there was a pleasing aroma that ascended up to the LORD.

The enormity of it all. It is estimated that the yearly offerings at a minimum would include 113 bulls, 32 rams, 1,086 lambs, more than a ton of flour, and a thousand bottles of oil and wine. These numbers suggest that Isra’el would have to become an exceedingly prosperous nation in which agriculture would be especially blessed by the LORD. Therefore, in those required sacrifices, there was considerable promise: God would bless His people in such a manner as to allow them to do all that He demanded.⁶⁴² And it should not be overlooked that the animals were all males, including lambs, rams, bulls, and goats. And at least as far as the lambs were concerned, for the most part, the number seven is predominant. Seven is, of course, considered the perfect number, symbolic of God’s completion of His creation (see Genesis Ae – The Number Seven).

Messiah, Our Tamid Offering: The tamid offerings were rendered unnecessary by the offering of Yeshua Messiah. The B’rit Chadashah supports this interpretation by describing the sacrifice of our Lord as a pleasing aroma and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:2). In Him we have close fellowship with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In Him we smell the pleasing aroma of atonement and praise. The word tamid means continual. We are told in the B’rit Chadashah that Yeshua’s sacrifice was a once-for-all-time sacrifice, or a tamid offering before YHVH (see the commentary on Hebrews Cd – Messiah’s Sacrifice Was Once for All Time). The difference between the tamid sacrifices and Messiah’s sacrifice is that instead of being offered all the time, it is effective all the time.⁶⁴³

God’s Ordering of Space and Time
28:1 to 29:40

A central issue at the beginning of the book of Numbers was the arrangement of Isra’el’s camp structure (to see link click Am – The Camp of the Twelve Tribes of Isra’el), which allowed God’s people to have the holy Presence dwell in their midst. The design of the camp with the central Tabernacle and its surrounding concentric circles of priests and Levites functioned as a buffer zone between a holy God and a sinful people. The order of the camp was an attempt to create a safety space, or zone, to protect the people from coming too close and being killed. One of the main responsibilities of the Levites was to protect the Tabernacle from anyone, either unwittingly or intentionally, invading it.

Thus, the introductory chapters of Numbers focused on God creating spatial order within the camp of Isra’el. Such order helped to restrain the forces of sin, chaos, and collapse that threatened the fragile nation. The wilderness remained a potent metaphor for the threatening forces of evil and death even after the Israelites arrived in Canaan (Judges 2:1-5). For the wilderness generation, who stood poised to enter the Promised Land, the focus moved from creating order in space to creating order in time. To see an excellent website on science and the Bible called “Reasons to Believe, Revealing God in Science,” click here.

The Jewish festival system is based on the number seven (see the commentary on Genesis Ae – The Number Seven). On the seventh day (the Sabbath) the people rest. Following the seventh week (after Pesach) the harvester’s rest. During the seventh month of Sukkot, the nation rests. Every seventh year (the Sabbatical Year) the land rests. Finally, following seven times seven years (the Year of Jubilee) everything rests. The symbolic significance of the number seven is that it is the number of earthly perfection and rest. There are seven days in the completion of a perfect week, and ADONAI rested on the seventh day after creating the world in six. Therefore, mankind was also commanded to rest on the seventh day, week, month, year and seven times seven years. In these chapters we can also see assigned dates for morning and evening sacrifices (28:3-6), the Sabbath offerings (28:9-10), the offerings on the first of the month (28:11-15), and offerings for various festivals (28:16 to 29:40).

In the context of the book of Numbers, the list of sacrifices and offerings in Chapters 28 and 29 as the means of maintaining order in time, is analogous to the structure of the Israelite camp in Chapters 2 through 4. The camp and its spatial structure, which was centered on God’s holy Presence in its midst, enabled the Exodus generation to move from Egypt through the death march in the desert. The wilderness generation, poised on the doorstep of Canaan, was about to enter the Promised Land, a land of fertility and agricultural seasons and a settled existence of rhythms and order. The festivals and sacrifices described in Chapters 28 and 29 would remind the Israeites of their status as God’s holy people and help them sustain the order of their social and religious life against the forces that would continue to threaten it. Moreover, the large quantities of animals, gain, and wine in the offerings presume a prosperous agricultural life in a fertile land. Thus, the appointed times, sacrifices and offerings offered hope and confidence to the people that they were about to enter a Land of abundance, peace, order, and stability. God’s holy Presence would be in Isra’el’s midst, and God’s holy rhythms of time would order their life.⁶³² This ordering of ADONAI’s time starts with the weekly offering (see Ey – The Sabbath Offerings), then progresses to the monthly offerings (see Ez – The New Moon Offerings), and ends with the yearly offerings (see Fa – The Festival Offerings).

The Successor to Moshe
27: 12-23

The successor to Moshe DIG: Why was Moses not permitted to enter the Promised Land? Why were Moshe’s sons not considered as his successors? What characteristics was the LORD looking for? What experiences and qualities in Joshua made him a great choice to succeed Moshe? Why do you think Joshua was chosen instead of Caleb? Why were the two additional ceremonies needed?

REFLECT: Faith and obedience were crucial for Isra’el’s success. What is a current circumstance in your life that calls for both of these? Who was your “Moses?” What problems arose when your “Joshua” succeeded you? How could those problems have been avoided by using this passage? Are you indispensable to the ministry you are a part of? Who are you training to take your place? If not, why not?

A new generation of leadership.

Moshe’s death (27:12-14): The contrast of the story regarding the daughters of Zelophehad with their request for an inheritance in the Land (to see link click Eu – The Five Daughters of Zelophehad), and ADONAI’s denial of Moshe’s entrance in the Land is touching indeed! Exceptions were made for the daughters of Zelophehad, but there was no exception made for Moses, the (usually) faithful servant of the LORD. His sin at the waters of Meribah was always before him (see Dd – The Sin of Moses and Aaron). Aaron had already died (see Df – The Death of Aaron), and Moshe was soon to follow. Both had to die before the people could enter the Promised Land. Moses would be allowed a panoramic view of the Promised Land (see Deuteronomy Gj – The Death of Moses), but would not be allowed to step foot on the Land itself.⁶²³

ADONAI said to Moshe, “Climb Mount Nebo in the ‘Avarim Range, and look out at the land which I have given the people of Isra’el. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother was gathered; because in the Desert of Tzin, when the community was disputing with me, you rebelled against My order to uphold my holiness by means of the water, with them looking on.” This was Meribah in Kadesh Spring, in the Desert Tzin. But YHVH is merciful. Centuries later, Moses and Elijah would stand in glory on a mountain when they talked with Yeshua about His impending death on the cross (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Gb – Jesus went up a High Mountain and was Transfigured), so Moshe did finally make it to the Promised Land!⁶²⁴

Moshe’s request (27:15-17): Moshe then requested, in light of his own impending death, that God appointed a successor to him, just like He clearly indicated a successor for his brother Aaron (20:22-29). Rather than lapsing into self-pity as a lesser man might have done, Moshe expressed his concern that Isra’el have a competent leader to take his place.⁶²⁵ Without such a designated leader, the people would be like sheep without a shepherd. He said to ADONAI, “Let ADONAI, God of the spirits of all mankind (His ultimate sovereignty over all), appoint a man to be over the community, to go out and come in ahead of them, to lead them out and bring them in.” The successor to Moses was not chosen because of a blood relationship to Moshe; he was not a king. Nor was he chosen by popular election, for Moses had not been elected by the people. The successor was to be appointed by God. ADONAI was (and is) King; Moses was only an agent. The successor was not to be a figurehead or a symbol, but a leader who would stand before his people and lead them in the direction they should go. He is pictured as a shepherd, one needed by the flock. So, Moses’ concern was that his flock not be left without a shepherd.⁶²⁶ But God had a certain person in mind even before Moses made the request. Interestingly enough, he would also be called a “Yeshua” for the people; it was Yehoshua, or Joshua! The list of Joshua’s qualifications for this enormous task is seemingly endless.

The first thing the Ruach Ha’Kodesh does is list God’s qualifications for who would replace Moses. One of the most outstanding qualifications that was essential for a successor for Moshe was that he be a military man. This is indicated by the phrase, to go out and come in. This idiom was used to speak of army commanders. Isra’el’s officers were not like others who send out their troops first and they come last. Rather, they were to lead their troops into the battle. In fact, even to this day, the officers of the IDF are noted for their battle cry aharai, or follow me.⁶²⁷ Almost from the very beginning of our familiarity with Joshua, he was the leader of Isra’el’s army. Now, in this passage, Joshua has had intensive military experience for about forty years.

The next most important qualification for the one who was to walk in Moshe’s sandals was that he had to be a shepherd. It is hard to picture a man who would have the strength and boldness of a general yet possess the kindness and gentleness of a shepherd. Yet, the leader of ADONAI’s holy nation was to be just such a person. One of the best-known examples of these characteristics was King David, the shepherd king who made Isra’el into a formidable military power. However, by far the best example of such a person was Yeshua Messiah. He Himself said that He is the Good Shepherd (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Gu – The Good Shepherd and His Sheep). As such, He provides food, protection, community, and the comfort of His presence to guide His sheep. On the other hand, we know from Revelation that this kind and tender Shepherd is also ADONAI Elohei-Tzva’ot, the LORD God of heaven’s angelic armies (see Joshua 5:13-15; Second Kings 19:31; Psalm 24:10; Second Corinthians 6:18), coming to wage victorious war over the enemies of Ha’Shem (see the commentary on Revelation Ex – The Eight Stage Campaign of Armageddon).

Ever since we first met Joshua, he was always at Moshe’s side, especially in Sinai. One cannot be that close to such a great Torah teacher as Moses and not be a diligent student of God’s Word himself. I am sure that Joshua studied every move Moshe made as a shepherd of the flock of ADONAI and learned his calling well. YHVH knew this man, he was a tender warrior like God Himself. Based on these two factors alone, no one among all of Isra’el had more qualifications for following Moses in the leadership of the nation. But the Holy One also sought to give him even more essential qualifications for the job. Therefore, the LORD instructed that two additional ceremonies be performed.⁶²⁸

Joshua anointed (27:18-21): First, ADONAI told Moses to lay his hands on him, symbolizing the fact that Moshe’s authority was to rest upon Joshua. This was done in front of all Isra’el so that there would never be any question that Joshua was the man whom Moses designated to succeed him. God spoke to Moshe, saying: Take Joshua, who is filled with the Spirit (Deuteronomy 34:9), and lay your hand on him.  Put him in front of Eleazar the high priest and the whole community, and anoint him in their sight. Place your authority on him, so that he will be obeyed by the entire community of Isra’el.

Second, He is to present himself to Eleazar the high priest, who is to find out by means of the Urim and Thummim (see the commentary on Exodus Gb – The Urim and Thummim: The Means of Making Decisions) what ADONAI’s will is for Joshua’s decisions. The political and military leader needed to work closely with the religious leader. Then, at Joshua’s word they will go out, and at his word they will come in, both he and all the people of Isra’el with him, the whole community. This was most likely done to confirm to all Isra’el that not only was Joshua Moshe’s choice, but he was also God’s choice.⁶²⁹

Just as David had been anointed three times to lead the nation (First Samuel 16:1-3, Second Samuel 2:1-7 and 5:1-5), and his son Solomon was anointed three times to lead the Israelites after his father’s death (First Kings 1:28-53; First Chronicles 17:1-15 and 29:21-25), Joshua was also anointed three times. We have just seen above how Joshua was anointed by Moses and then presented to Eleazar the high priest to find out by means of the Urim and Thummim what God’s will was for his decisions. Finally, YHVH would anoint Joshua privately in the Tent of Meeting (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Fu – The Tent of Meeting). It would still be a little while before the final anointing of Joshua would take place there. What I mean is that Moses still had much more teaching of the Torah to give to the people. Not only that, he also needed to give his blessing to the tribes on his deathbed (see Deuteronomy Fy – This is the Blessing).⁶³⁰

Moshe’s obedience (27:22-23): Moshe did as ADONAI had commanded him. He took Joshua, put him before Eleazar and the whole community, laid his hands on him, and commissioned him, as ADONAI had said through Moshe. Moses followed God’s command to the letter. But each time we read of Moshe’s complete obedience to the LORD in Numbers, we wistfully glance back to the waters of Meribah and wish that he had done so there as well.⁶³¹

Dear heavenly Father, praise You for being such a wonderful Father! Being a leader requires many important skills and qualifications. Yeshua models how to be the perfect leader. The skill of being a military leader is important, and it must be balanced by being also a loving and wise Shepherd. Some people excel in just being good at fighting or just being good at being a kind Shepherd, but Yeshua scores 100% on both. He is the perfect military leader and also the best loving and kind Shepherd.

It is such a comfort to know that when problems come, Yeshua is right there living within me. 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 14:23). No matter what time of the day or night when the trouble comes, you God are always right there. For God Himself has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you,” (Hebrews 13:5c). You are never too busy nor do you ever fall asleep and have to be awakened. My help comes from ADONAI, Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip. Your Keeper will not slumber (Psalm 121:2-3).

Even when all the powers of the world come against You, You win a complete victory without even fighting. It is not a battle, it’s a slaughter. You totally defeat the enemy by the sword of Your mouth. From His mouth comes a sharp sword – so that with it He may strike down the nations – and He shall rule them with an iron rod, and He treads the winepress of the furious wrath of Elohei-Tzva’ot (Revelation 19:15). In a battle that seems so big for me, You have already won it.

I love to praise and to worship You, my almighty King of kings. On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “King of kings, and Lord of lords.” (Revelation 19:16). You are also our tender Shepherd. ADONAI is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake (Psalm 23:1-3). I look forward to praising You forever in heaven. In Messiah Yeshua’s Name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Five Daughters of Zelophehad
27: 1-11

The five daughters of Zelophehad DIG: How did Moses respond when approached by the five daughters of Zelophehad for an unprecedented inheritance question. What does this change of mitzvah tell us about God’s view of women? How did those five women demonstrate their faith in the LORD?

REFLECT: Why is equity among believers important? In what areas is equity most important to you? Is there an area of your life where you yearn for equity? What does equity imply today? Is it biblical? What attitude toward women do you discern from the Torah, especially in light of this teaching?

The request of Zelophehad’s daughters demonstrated their faith in the divine promises of YHVH.

Since the Promised Land belonged to God (see the commentary on Leviticus, to see link click Eq – The Division of the Land), the Jews couldn’t divide it or dispose of it as they pleased. Maintaining the inheritance for generation to generation was important to each family and to the tribes to which the families belonged. As with other nations of that day, Isra’el was a strongly masculine society, and fathers left their property to their sons. The eldest son received two-thirds of the inheritance and the other sons divided the remaining third (Deuteronomy 21:15-17). If a man didn’t have a son, he left his entire estate to his nearest male relative, but not to a daughter. When the daughter was married, she received a dowry from her father and would no longer live in the family home. The dowry was her inheritance.⁶¹⁷

The daughters request (27:1-4): The five daughters of Zelophehad, son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. Believing this mitzvah of inheritance to be unfair, they came forward and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance to the Tabernacle, beginning their proposal with a statement of facts: Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against ADONAI. In other words, he didn’t die from divine judgement because he participated in a rebellion (see Cn – Korah’s Rebellion). But he died for his own sin because he was part of the Exodus generation (see Bv – The Sin of Kadesh-barnea). Then they stated the background for their request, their father left no sons. This march to the Tabernacle by those women must have been incredible to those who were watching. In ancient Isra’el, that act was similar to the refusal of Rosa Parks, a black woman, to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama, decades ago.⁶¹⁸

Their question was this: Why should our father’s name be cut off from his clan, and his family penalized because he had no son? To the Jews, possessing land was the foundation for building a family, earning an income, and having security and the necessities of life. Give us property among our father’s relatives. Matters of land and inheritance were sacred in Semitic culture. The potential disappearance of one’s family name was a matter of grave concern, often associated with divine judgment and possible social rejection.⁶¹⁹

The request of Zelophehad’s daughters demonstrated their faith in the divine promises of YHVH. Moshe commanded a Second Census (see Ec – The Second Census: The New Generation of Hope) to make sure that the yet-unconquered land would be divided up equitably among the tribes. The five daughters responded by requesting a portion of that land, thus demonstrating their faith that damned their father’s generation.⁶²⁰

ADONAI’s answer (27:5-11): Moses acknowledged God’s ownership of the Land. This is why he brought their case before the LORD instead of using his own wisdom (Numbers 9:8, 15:24; Exodus 18:19; Leviticus 24:12-13). And the LORD replied: What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them (27:5-7). The decision to allow daughters to inherit solved one problem but created another one, and the leaders of the tribe of Manasseh called it to the attention of Moses (see Gn – A Review of the Inheritance of Women). If a daughter who had inherited her father’s land married to another tribe, this would take the land away from the original tribe and make it part of her husband’s estate. At the Year of Jubilee (see Leviticus Em – The Year of Jubilee), it would not return to the original family, and this would rob a tribe of its property.

The solution was to require daughters who had an inheritance to marry men who belonged to their own tribe. This simple procedure would permit the daughters to marry but would at the same time keep the family property within the original tribe. So they obeyed the mitzvah and each one married a cousin (36:11).⁶²¹

The commandment of Ha’Shem gave the answer to the petition of the five daughters and laid down a succession of inheritance mitzvot in four stages. Moreover, say to the people of Isra’el, “First, if a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. Secondly, if he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. Third, if he has no brothers, give his inheritance to the next closest kinsmen, his father’s brothers. Fourthly, if his father had no brothers, ADONAI showed His mercy once again when He allowed the man’s inheritance to be given to the nearest relative in his clan, so that he may possess it. This will be the standard for judgment to be used by the people of Isra’el, as ADONAI ordered Moshe (27:8-11). The point seems to be that not only would those women receive their property, but they would also be able to transfer it to their heirs as well. It is as though their father had had sons!⁶²²

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for always being loving and fair. Just as Zelophehad’s daughters trusted in Your fairness so they could inherit land like sons did, so also I can always trust Your fairness and faithfulness. Your love, ADONAI, is in the heavens,Your faithfulness up to the skies. (Psalms 36:5). To receive an inheritance of heaven, trusting You as Lord and Savior is necessary (Romans 10:9-11). Yeshua so graciously calls out to all in the crowd: Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and ‘you will find rest for your souls’ (Matthew 11:28-29).

Thank You so much for graciously sealing all who put their trust in you by the Ruach Ha’Kodesh which guarantees their inheritance. After you heard the message of truth – the Good News of your salvation – and when you put your trust in Him, you were sealed with the promised Ruach ha-Kodesh. He is the guarantee of our inheritance, until the redemption of His possession – to His glorious praise! (Ephesians 1:13-14 ). What a fantastic heavenly Father You are! It is a joy to love and serve You. And Yeshua]said to him: You shall love ADONAI your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37). In holy Yeshua’s Name and power of His resurrection Amen.

Change in Isra’el
27: 1-23

Change is seldom easy, whether on a personal or national level. In Chapter 27 we witness two such changes. The first was a change in how the Israelites divided the family inheritance. They were counted for the purpose of conquest and for dividing the Promised Land (to see link click Ec – The Second Census: The New Generation of Hope). The story of Zelophehad’s daughters is directly related to the census. Only fighting men twenty years old and older were counted. After their father had died, the five daughters knew that they would be passed over because they did not have a brother. Therefore, they courageously petitioned Moses for a share in the parceling out of the Promised Land (see Eu – The Daughters of Zelophehad).

The second change was a change in national leadership. God’s reminder of his fast-approaching death prompts Moses to ask ADONAI to appoint a new leader for the wilderness generation. The new high priest is already in place, with Aaron’s appointment of his son, Eleazar, just prior to Aaron’s death on Mount Hor (20:22-29). Numbers recounts only the transfer of leadership from Moses to Joshua (see Ev – The Successor to Moshe), not the actual death of Moshe, since that will come later at the end of the book of Deuteronomy (see the commentary Deuteronomy Gj – The Death of Moses). Joshua had joined Caleb as one of the two faithful spies who brought back a favorable report of the land (see By – The Report of the Spies). Joshua had been a close assistant and advisor to Moses for some time (Exodus 17:8-13, 32:17 and Numbers 11:28).

Joshua, however, does not simply step into the shoes of leadership as a new Moses. Moshe gives only some or a portion of his authority to Joshua (27:20). ADONAI spoke to Moses’ face to face in a direct and unmediated way (12:6-8). Joshua, on the other hand, will rely on more indirect divine guidance through the priest and his casting of lots using the Urim and Thummim (see the commentary on Exodus Gb – The Urim and Thummim: The Means of Making Decisions). The era of Moshe and his revelation of God’s words to Isra’el were drawing to a close and would never again be repeated in Isra’el’s history. For a brief interim period, Joshua and Moses would share in the leadership of Isra’el until Moshe’s death. Joshua would then take over the full responsibility of leading Isra’el as they moved into the Promised Land of Canaan, but his leadership would be guided by the written Torah of Moshe.⁶¹⁶

The Wilderness Generation
26: 63-65

These verses are an editorial comment that differentiates the Second Census (to see link click Ec – The Second Census: The New Generation of Hope) from the First One (see Ai – The First Census: The Old Generation of Rebellion), and reminds the reader that the curse of 14:29-30 had become a reality (see Cb – God’s Response). These are the ones numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Mo’ab by the Jordan across from Jericho. Not one of the Exodus generation was among those counted in the First Census by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. For YHVH had told those Israelites they would surely die in the wilderness, and not one of them was left except Caleb, and Joshua. It was now the wilderness generation that would enter the Promised Land.

The Second Numbering of the Levites
26: 57-62

The Levites were not counted along with the other Israelites
because they received no land inheritance.

These were the Levites who were counted by their clans: through Gershon, the Gershonite clan (to see link click Au – The Clan of Gershom); through Kohath, the Kohathite clan (see At – The Clan of Kohath); through Merari, the Merarite clan (see Av – The Clan of Merari). These were also five Levite sub-clans: the Libnite clan of Gershon, the Hebronite clan of Kohath, the Mahlite clan of Merari, the Mushite clan of Merari, the Korahite clan of Kohath. However, three sub-clans are missing from the first numbering of the Levites (see Aq – The First Numbering of the Levites). The Shimites and the Uzzielites became extinct because they were probably much too small to receive their own inheritance and were absorbed by the others. In addition, the Korahites might be a name for the Itzharites, and the Korahites, not mentioned in the first counting, Korah was a descendent of Itzhar in 16:1, explaining why Itzhar’s name is missing here.⁶¹⁵

The parenthetical passage on Kohath, Amram, and Jochebed is a reminder of earlier sections of the Torah (Numbers 3:1-10 and Exodus 6:20), likely inserted here to assert once more the lineage of Aaron, and to remind the priests of the debacle of Nadab and Abihu. The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, a daughter of Levi, was born in Egypt. She bore Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam. Aaron was the father of Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died when they made an offering before the Lord with unauthorized fire (see the commentary on Leviticus Bh – The Death of Nadab and Abihu). All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000, an increase of 1,000 from the first numbering, or about five percent (see As – The Census and the Redemption of the Firstborn). They were not counted along with the other Israelites because they received no land inheritance among them; however, they lived in their own Levitical cities (see Gj – Levitical Cities).

The Division of the Land
26: 52-56

The division of the Land DIG: What were the two principles involved in the division of the Promised Land? Who was responsible to supervise the location of the different tribes by lot? How were the sizes of the different tribal lands decided? Do you think this process is fair? Why, why not? How was this like the distribution of crowns?

REFLECT: How important is the physical inheritance of the Land compared to the spiritual inheritance believers possess? Explain. If, as some would say, the physical inheritance is not important, then why does the Torah put so much emphasis on it? Why do the prophets, like Ezeki’el 40-48 and John 14, tell us about a future physical inheritance?

The tribes were given their inheritance of land by lot and by size.

ADONAI told Moshe that there were two principles that would determine the location of each tribe and the size of their land. Until the end, Moses was still in charge of such matters – more bittersweet experiences that marked his last days. The land is to be parceled out among these as a possession to be inherited, according to the number of names. The Second Census (to see link click Ec – The Second Census: The New Generation of Hope) had a military purpose, but it also had another purpose, the division of the Promised Land. First, those tribes with more persons were given a greater inheritance, and to those with fewer were given a smaller inheritance – each family’s inheritance is to be given according to the number counted in it. Secondly, however, the location of each tribe was to be determined by lot (Judges 14:1-2, 15:1, 16:1, 17:1, 18:1-11, 19:1, 10, 17, 24, 32 and 40). They will inherit according to the names of the tribes of their ancestors (Reuben, Judah, Manasseh, etc). These two principles, by size and by lot, come together when we learn that the location of each tribe was to be parceled out by lot, but the size of their land was determined by the number of each tribe as determined in the Second Census. The Land was God’s gift to His people; hence, their shares in it were their inheritance from Him.⁶¹⁴

This is like the distribution of crowns (see the commentary on Second Corinthians Bc – For We Must All Appear Before the Bema of Messiah), the larger the tribe, the larger the inheritance. This mirrors believers today. All believers are going to heaven (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Ms – The Eternal Security of the Believer), like the tribes, they all made it to the Promised Land. But some were rewarded with more land than others based upon their walk with ADONAI. This will be true for us. Our walk with the Lord will determine the size of our inheritance for eternity. Paul tells us: But each one’s work will be shown for what it is; the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire – the fire will test the quality of each one’s work (First Cor 3:13). And have seen in these tribes, that some lost so much because of their disobedience.

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for Your Awesome steadfast love! Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you (Psalms 63:3). Your wonderful grace and Messiah’s death and resurrection, paved the way for You to redeem those who put their trust in You (Ephesians 1:13). In Him we have redemption through His blood – the removal of trespasses – in keeping with the richness of His grace (Ephesians 1:7). You see all that happens and You are totally fair always. There was a reason why different tribes received different land. In the same way there will be reasons behind which rewards You give out and to whom You give them in heaven. You not only judge by outward actions, but You also judge by the attitude of the heart (First Samuel 16:7). I love You and desire to serve you with all my heart. Receiving a reward is not the issue. I love You and want to praise and please You! My desire is to praise You for all eternity! In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Numbering of the Eleven Tribes
26: 51

One day Isra’el will be as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as countless as the grains of sand of the seashore.

Despite all people who had died during the years of wilderness experience, the total number of fighting Israelite men over the age of twenty (and not including the Levites) in the Second Census (to see link click Ec – The Second Census: The New Generation of Hope) numbered 601,730, nearly the same as the 603,550 people in the First Census (see Ai – The First Census: The Old Generation of Rebellion). This remarkable fact is to be regarded as the historic blessing of ADONAI, in fulfillment of His many promises to give numerical strength to the people descended from Abraham through Jacob (Gen 12:2). The loss of 1,820 people from the First Census is a drop of only three percent. A negligible sum.

This grand total is in accord with the general pattern of the numbers of the book. The numbers show a wonderful consistency, despite the shifting totals among the various tribes. It is utterly remarkable that the total number has remained nearly unchanged even though the people have lived under the most trying conditions for a period of thirty-eight years. There had been the deaths of all those who were over the age of twenty after the time of the rebellion at Kadesh-barnea (see Bz – Faith and Obedience), and there had been numerous judgments of Ha’Shem that came on the people because of their rebelliousness. Then, there was the harsh reality of living out life in the Desert of Sinai. Given all these factors, the birth rate was not just about equal . . . but prolific. The number points to a time when the Israelites, the apple of His eye (Deuteronomy 32:10), will be as numerous as the stars of the sky and as countless as the grains of sand of the seashore (Genesis 22:17).⁶¹³

The Tribe of Naphtali
26: 48-50

The tribe of Naphtali DIG: What does the Second Census tell us about Naphtali’s historical roots? Why did the tribe of Naphtali decline so greatly from the First Census? Why would the wilderness generation want to know they had common historical roots from their parents, but a completely separate identity.

REFLECT: What meaningful tribe are you a member of? How does being a part of that group help to support you and make you grow spiritually? How does being a part of that group enable you to help others? What can you do to make sure that the positive parts of your past are accentuated in your relationship with God?

The just, the upright, the joyful, the contented and the victorious live by their faith.

1. The First Census in the past found the tribe of Naphtali being numbered at 53,400 (to see link click Ak – Numbering the Tribes). The banner of the tribe of Naphtali is the image of a female deer. This is in reference to the blessing of Naphtali by Jacob. Naphtali was Ya’akov’s sixth son borne to him by Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah (see Genesis Hj – Rachel’s Servant Bilhah Bore Jacob a So and Rachel named Him Dan). Naphtali was her second and last son with Ya’akov. When Naphtali was born, Rachael said: I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won. So she named him Naphtali (30:8), which means I have been entangled in a desperate struggle. Ya’akov blessed him, saying: Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful words (Genesis 49:21). Short but profound. Only six words in Hebrew. The image presented is of one who springs forth with great speed and provides good news.

Jacob used a metaphor to describe Naphtali and said that in the near historical future he would be productive, full of blessings, and produce many descendants. Like a doe, Naphtali pictures strength, surefootedness, beauty and speed. His descendants would be like warriors, fleet afoot, with swift hands, and his was one of the few areas of the Promise Land that showed no signs of Canaanite occupation. The rabbis teach that this verse is an allusion to the battle against Jabin and Sisera of the Canaanites, when the men of Naphtali were swift to answer the call of Deborah the judge (Judges 4:1-24). The rabbis also teach that the phrase bears beautiful words, alludes to the song of triumph sung by Deborah and [General] Barak after the victory against the Canaanites. When they returned from the battle, they brought with them beautiful words (Judges 5:1-31). But as believers, these beautiful words, or imrei shefer, are the good news of the Gospel. Naphtali would somehow not only bring a beautiful message to those around him, but ultimately, to all the nations of the world.

2. The Second Census in the present: The descendants of Naphtali, by their four clans were: of Jahzeel, the Jahtze’clan; through Guni, the Gunite clan; through Jezer, the Jezerite clan; and through Shillem, the Shillemite clan. These are the clans of Naphtali; those numbered were 45,400 (26:48-50), suffering a moderate loss of 8,000 from the First Census (see Ai – The First Census: The Old Generation of Rebellion), or fifteen percent. For Naphtali Moses said: O Naphtali, satisfied with favor and full of the blessing of ADONAI, possesses the sea and the south. This tribe was promised expansion to the south, where the Sea of Galilee is located, and to the west, toward the Mediterranean Sea. In Joshua 19:32-39, we learn that Napthali’s land was in northern Isra’el, bordering Asher’s territory, and the Sea of Galilee touched the southern portion of its territory. Barak came from this tribe, and soldiers from Naphtali assisted him, Deborah (Judges 5:18) and Gideon (Judges 7:23).⁶⁰⁹ Later, Moses blessed the tribe saying: Naphtali is abounding with the favor of ADONAI and is full of His blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake (Deuteronomy 33:23).

One of the blessings enjoyed by this tribe was that the Master spent much of His ministry in their territory and in neighboring Zebulun (Isaiah 9:1-2; Matthew 4:12-17). Yet, it was viewed by the Jews in Judea as a place of dishonor, full of Gentile pagans (John 1:46 and 7:52). But much earlier Isaiah had prophesied that Naphtali would be honored: In the past He humbled . . . the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan (see my commentary on Isaiah Cj – He Will Honor Galilee of the Gentiles). This honor came with the coming of Yeshua Messiah. All Yeshua’s talmidim but Judas, who betrayed Him, came from Galilee, and much of the Lord’s ministry took place there. Therefore, on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned (Isaiah 9:2).

When Yeshua heard that John [the Baptist] had been put in prison, He withdrew to Galilee Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali – to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. From that time on Jesus began to preach: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near (Matthew 4:12-17). You can only imagine how the first century Jewish readers would have felt after reading this. The rabbis had taught them that when the Messiah came, He would come from the north. They thought He would come from Galilee of the Gentiles. From a people who had historically lived in darkness, would come the great light. From Naphtali, the very place where the prophets said the Good News must come from, Galilee, not Salt Lake or Vatican City⁶¹⁰

Paul tells us that it was through the Meshiach that the veil was lifted. What is more, their minds were stonelike; for to this day the same veil remains over them when they read the TaNaKh; it has not been unveiled, because by the Messiah is the veil taken away. Yes, till today, whenever Moshe is read, a veil lies over their heart. “But,” says the Torah, “whenever someone turns to ADONAI, the veil is taken away.” Now, “ADONAI” in this text means the Spirit. And where the Spirit of ADONAI is, there is freedom. So all of us, with faces unveiled, see as in a mirror the glory of the Lord; and we are being changed into His very image, from one degree of glory to the next, by ADONAI the Spirit (see the commentary on Second Corinthians Aw – Veiling and Unveiling).

Then Paul mixed in a second metaphor: hardness of minds and hearts, with the first of impaired vision and understanding in Second Corinthians 4:3-6. Their minds, or the minds of the unsaved Jewish people, were made hard and unreceptive to the word of God (see Romans 11:7), for to this day, Paul’s day, but still true today, the same veil remains over them, so that when they read the TaNaKh they do not see that it points toward the Meshiach. And the veil lies over their heart, singular, referring to the community as a whole, which resists being open. His truth exerts social pressure against examining the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true (Acts 17:11). Even though throughout history individual Jews have been open to the Good News and received it.

This is spiritual warfare pure and simple that enslaves Jewish people from seeing that the goal at which the Torah aims is the Messiah (Romans 10:4). Yeshua Himself made the same point to the religious leaders of His day when He said: You keep on examining the TaNaKh because you think that in it you have eternal life, and it keeps bearing witness to Me! Yet you don’t want to come to Me in order to have life . . . But don’t think that I will be your accuser before the Father. Do you know who will accuse you? Moshe, the very one you have counted on! For it you really believed Moshe [that is, the Torah] you would believe Me, because it was about Me that he wrote But if you don’t believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say (John 5:39-40 and 45-47).⁶¹¹ So, Yeshua lifted the veil for them to make things clear, but because of their pride and arrogance – they would have none of it. The question that everyone eventually has to answer is this: When the veil is lifted – who’s under there? Is it Joseph Smith? Is it the pope? Is it Buddha? Is it Mary Baker Eddy? Is it Muhammad? For those who love the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, it is Meshiach ben-David.

ELOHIM Adonai gives triumph over circumstances to those who trust Him. As Job said: Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him (Job 13:15). God is bigger than all of our problems. The way to get out from under the load is to get right under ADONAI. To be under the LORD is to be over the circumstances. This is a lesson worth learning, especially when the world seems like a cesspool of quicksand. The prophet Habakkuk, for example, was about to go under when he started his book. Destruction, violence, strife, conflict, injustice, and wickedness were all he could see. But he cried out to God and his cry did not go unnoticed. The LORD not only answered his complaint but also provided the confidence needed to lift him from the quagmire. Habakkuk started in the pits, but ended on the mountaintop. His journey was not an easy one, but it was certainly worth it.

The prophet’s complaints were swallowed up by confidence. At the end, he would say: ELOHIM Adonai is my strength. He makes me swift and sure-footed as a dear and enables me to stride over my high places (Habakkuk 3:19 CJB). His fear turned to faith and he was transformed from a sour, jittery prophet weighed down with burdens to a secure, joyous preacher buoyed up with blessing. We should take note of that. The just, the upright, the joyful, the contented and the victorious live by their faith.⁶¹²

3. The Messianic Kingdom in the future: 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). In the far eschatological future Naphtali will be included in the 144,000 during the Great Tribulation (see Revelation Cr – Then I Heard the Number of Those Who Were Sealed, 144,000 from all the Tribes of Isra’el). They will have one portion of land during the Messianic Kingdom which will border the territory of Asher from east to west (Ezeki’el 48:3), and Naphtali is mentioned in the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 9:1 and Matthew 4:13-16. During the Eternal State (see Revelation Fq – The Eternal State), Naphtali’s name will also be etched into one of the great pearls that will serve as gates to the New Jerusalem (see Revelation Fu – A Great High Wall with Twelve Gates).

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise you for your wonderful Good News of salvation. Naphtali had the wonderful privilege of being where much of Yeshua’s ministry took place so they had the privilege of seeing first hand many of His astounding miracles and of hearing His wonderful words of wisdom. Yet, while seeing and hearing the truth is very important, hearing alone is not enough to make someone Your child. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. (James 1:22).

Praise you so much that whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away (Second Corinthians 3:16). How very wonderful You are, for in Your great graciousness You bestow Your love and Messiah’s righteousness on all who look to You for salvation. 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 have heard and seen Your mighty miracles and love from reading in Your Word. We delight to move beyond mere head knowledge, and into a heart love that surrenders are all to You. It is a joy to follow and serve You with all we have, our Wonderful Savior and Lord. In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and in the power of His resurrection. Amen

The Tribe of Asher
26: 44-47

The tribe of Asher DIG: What does the Second Census tell us about Asher’s historical roots? Why did Asher increase so dramatically from the First Census? Why would the wilderness generation want to know they had common historical roots from their parents, but a wholly separate identity.

REFLECT: What meaningful tribe are you a member of? How does being a part of that group help to support you and make you grow spiritually? How does being a part of that group enable you to help others? What can you do to make sure that the positive parts of your past are accentuated in your relationship with God?

We need to remember that blessedness is intended for service and not for luxury.

1. The First Census in the past found the tribe of Asher being numbered at 41,500 (to see link click Ak – Numbering the Tribes). The banner of the tribe of Asher is a flourishing tree because their promised portion of land was promised to be fruitful and prolific. Asher was Jacob’s eighth son. His mother was Leah’s maidservant, Zilpah, and he was her second and last child with Ya’akov. When Asher was born, Leah said: “How happy am I?” The women will call me blessed (Genesis 30:13). Therefore, Asher’s name means happy or blessed and Jacob’s prophecy for the tribe of Asher certainly came true when they settled along the rich slopes of the Galilean coastland north of Mount Carmel (Joshua 19:24-31). Asher’s territory was known as one of the most fertile parts of Canaan, abounding in wheat and olive oil.

Ya’akov prophesied that Asher’s bread would be rich; saying: he will provide delicacies fit for a king (49:20). The Hebrew word for rich, or oil here is shmeinah, which literally means fat or oily. Moses also used this same word when he said: Most blessed of sons of Asher; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in shmeinah, or in oil (Deuteronomy 33:24a). This particular word is found one hundred and ninety times in the TaNaKh and it is always, without exception, used of olive oil. This points out that the territory he had was suitable to grow olive trees, and in Joshua 19:24-31, we learn that Asher received land along the Mediterranean coast. His land was north of Manasseh, northwest of Zebulun, and west of Naphtali. To this day the territory along the coastline is rich with olive trees.

So even though Asher would be blessed, he would share his blessing with his brothers, and as you read his story you will find out that he lived up to Jacob’s prophecy pretty well. Not perfect – but pretty well. He is an example of someone who is blessed and wants to share those blessings. There are three important words in 49:20 the prophecy of Ya’akov that illustrate this.

Asher’s bread (49:20a): The first important word is lechem or bread – meaning the basic sustenance of life. That is why Jews say ha-motzi at the beginning of a meal. Because no matter what it is you are eating there is probably some form of bread on the table. So it is a general blessing for thanking ADONAI for all that He provides: Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the universe, Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, Melekh ha-olam – who brings forth bread from the earth, Ha-motzi lechem min ha’aretz (Amein).

It is also interesting to note that beth-lechem means house of bread, and Bethlehem was the place where Jesus was born (see the prophecy in Micah 5:2). Yeshua said: I AM the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty (John 6:35); therefore, the place where He was born is known as the house of bread.

Will be with oil (49:20b): The second important word used is shmeinah, or his bread will be with shmeinah, which should be translated olive oil because of the context. Asher settled in the area known as Haifa in northern Isra’el. It is still a beautiful coastline with fertile grounds and olive trees all around. Olive oil from the heart of olive country (It also has great surfing see promisedlandthemovie.com and view the trailer). In biblical times, the abundant olive oil was used for cooking, but it also had several other uses like for light and medicine. Thus, of all the tribes, Asher will be the one with a lot of shmeinah, and he shared it with all the other tribes. Moses would later prophesy: May Asher be most blessed of sons, may he bathe his feet in shmeinah (Deuteronomy 33:24). Meaning, that olive oil would be so plentiful that the Asherites could bathe their feet in it.

He will provide delicacies fit for a king (49:20c): The third important word is ma’adan translated here as delicacies, as in First Samuel 15:32; Lamentations 4:5, or delight in Proverbs 29:17. Gan ‘Edhen is translated the garden of Eden. But it was also called gan adan . . . the garden of paradise . . . the garden of feasting (Genesis 2-3). All that is captured in this Hebrew word ma’adan. So Asher will have bread, made with olive oil, yet he will share these royal delicacies of paradise with his brothers.

2. The Second Census in the present: The descendants of Asher by their three clans: through Imnah, the Imnaite clan; through Ishvi, the Ishvite clan; through Beriah, the Beriite clan; and through two sub-clans ofBeriah: through Heber, the Heberite clan; and through Malkiel, the Malkielite clan. The name of Asher’s daughter was Serah. The fact that she was named shows us that she was prominent, for other sons of Jacob had daughters, but they are not named. These were the clans of Asher those numbered were 53,400 (26:44-47), an increase of 11,900 from the First Census (see Ai – The First Census: The Old Generation of Rebellion), or 29 percent, the same as Benjamin, only trailing Manasseh’s 63 percent. Before entering the Promised Land, Moses had prophesied: Most blessed of sons is Asher – may he be the favorite of his brothers, and may he dip his foot in oil (33:24). The exaggerated metaphor of bathing one’s foot in oil suggests abundant prosperity. Even though olive groves were abundant in their territory of Asher, it seems that here the oil, which often symbolizes blessing in the TaNaKh (Deuteronomy 32:13; Job 29:5-6 and 11), provides a metaphor of prosperity in general. The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze. As your days, so will your strength be (33:25). The iron and bronze bolts refer to bolts that held a city gate in place as an essential means of defending themselves. The basic idea here is, “May your land be as secure as if it were locked up with bolts of iron and bronze.⁶⁰⁴ This tribe would enjoy many children, brotherly love, prosperity and security, and ADONAI would give them daily strength to accomplish their work. What more could anyone want?⁶⁰⁵

However, their prosperity seemed to be their undoing. They failed to drive out the Canaanites in the region of Tyre and Sidon, and because of this the people of Asher lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land (Judges 1:31-32). In the time of Deborah and Barak, Asher remained on the coast and stayed in its coves rather than join the fight against Jabin, a Canaanite king (Judges 5:17). The reason for their decline is unclear, although it could have been for their love of, and proximity to, the luxury of the Phoenicians.⁶⁰⁶ So, although Asher was richly blessed, they did not act admirably for a time in their history; when the time for action came, they failed to trust in God and honor His plan. By the time of King David, they had faded into insignificance. We lose our witness in the world when we become one with the world (First John 2:15-16). Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4).

Later in Judges, Asher did respond to Gideon’s call to repel the Midianites, Amalekites, and others from the East (Judges 6:35). In another important gesture, Asher accepted Hezekiah’s invitation to the tribes from the northern kingdom of Isra’el to join the Passover celebration in Jerusalem (Second Chronicles 30:11). This was considered an act of humility, proof of a contrite heart before God.

After the Babylonian captivity and even the dispersion after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD, the tribe of Asher did not lose its identity. There are no “lost tribes,” and there will always be a believing remnant. As an example, the prophetess Anna was from the tribe of Asher and she gave thanks to God for the birth of Jesus (see my commentary on The Life of Christ Au – Jesus Presented in the Temple).

Have you had some blessings lately? Family, friends, job, or your health? But it is one thing to be blessed, and it is quite another to be willing to share those blessings (see my commentary on The Life of Chris Il – The Rich Young Ruler). Yeshua said: Freely you have received – freely give (Matthew 10:8). We need to have a light touch on the things of this world. The richness of the Lord means sharing our blessings with others around us – especially if those blessings have nothing to do with money.

3. The Messianic Kingdom in the future: 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). In the far eschatological future during the Messianic Kingdom, Asher will have one portion; it will border the territory of Dan from east to west (Ezekiel 48:2). Thus, descendants of Asher will live up to their forbearer’s name of blessed.⁶⁰⁷ How blessed are those who reject the advice of the wicked, don’t stand in the way of sinners or sit where scoffers sit. Their delight is in ADONAI’s Torah; in His Torah they meditate day and night (Psalm 1:1-2 CJB). We need to remember that blessedness is intended for service and not for luxury. The most fundamental meaning of Scripture is this: Blessed is the one who blesses because God is a God of blessing.⁶⁰⁸

Dear heavenly Father, How wonderful You are! The tribe of Asher received some excellent blessings, to be fruitful and prolific (Genesis 30:13) and Moses added having prosperity and security (Deuteronomy 33:24). Those are very good blessings, but they are only temporary, for this lifetime. Being prosperous and blessed in this life has some advantages; but those advantages last for such a short time. When Your children turn their gaze to focus on how Awesome You are, it gives us an eternal joy and peace that is far more valuable than any short-lived earthly prosperity. It is a blessing to share this blessing with others. Blessings that are eternal are so much more valuable! How wonderful God’s gracious gift of every spiritual blessing thru our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Messiah (Ephesians 1:3b-c).

Blessing that lasts for all eternity is when someone hears the message of your gospel, puts their trust in You and then you seal him with your promised Ruach ha-Kodesh, which opens the door for them to be “in Christ” and guarantees their redemption! After you heard the message of truth – the Good News of your salvation – and when you put your trust in Him, you were sealed with the promised Ruach Ha’Kodesh.  He is the guarantee of our inheritance, until the redemption of His possession – to His glorious praise! (Ephesians 1:13-14). In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection Amen

The Tribe of Dan
26: 42-43

The tribe of Dan DIG: What does the Second Census tell us about Dan’s historical roots? Why did the tribe of Dan increase slightly from the First Census? Why did it move their territory from beside Ephraim and the Mediterranean Sea to the north? Why was Dan omitted from the 144,000 during the Great Tribulation?

REFLECT: What meaningful group are you a member of? How does being a part of it help to support you and make you grow spiritually? How does being a part of that group enable you to help others? What can you do to make sure that the positive parts of your past are accentuated in your relationship with God?

The steadfast love of ADONAI never ceases (Lamentations 3:22-23).

The First Census in the past found the tribe of Dan being numbered at 62,700 (to see link click Ak – Numbering the Tribes). Genesis 46:23 lists one son for Dan, namely, Hushim. It is unexpected that such a large tribe would be descended from only one son. The name Dan means to judge, and Jacob prophesied that Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Isra’el (49:16). This is a play on words in Hebrew because here we learn that Dan will judge his people. The name Dan comes from the Hebrew verb din. So yadin here means he will judge his people. Interestingly enough, he will not only be judged, but the tribe of Dan itself would be judged. Jacob resorts to a metaphor to make his point. Dan will be a judge in a surprising way. He will be a snake by the roadside of the enemies of Isra’el, a viper along the path that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward. (see the commentary on Genesis Lj – Dan Will be a Serpent by the Roadside, A Viper Along the Path). The imagery here seems to suggest that Dan, although small, will be quite capable of holding his own. In other words, his strength will be greater than his size. As small as he is, he will be able to strike panic into an animal as large as a horse.⁵⁹⁷ We see much of this fulfilled in the exploits of Samson. After an impressive opening by Dan, however, we see the same gulf between the calling and the results that was seen in Reuben’s disgrace.⁵⁹⁸ 

Just because his birth-mother was a maidservant did not mean he was some sort of second-class son. He was very important to the nation and history of Isra’el. The fact that he would provide justice was fulfilled by Samson, but the prophecy associated with Dan had nothing to do with territory (Judges Chapters 13-16).⁵⁹⁹ The tribe of Dan would provide many of the key judges in the book of Judges, with Samson being the most famous of that era. He had his ups and downs for sure, but in his grand finale he did the right thing and brought down the house. Samson was not always walking with ADONAI, but that’s probably why he is in the TaNaKh. Like us, he was not sinless, but gave his life for the redemption of Isra’el. He is like that snake of Dan, biting at the heels of the enemy.

Then Jacob finished his prophecy by saying: YHVH, I wait, I expect, I long for Your salvation (Hebrew: yeshuah, meaning salvation) for the children of Dan (Genesis 49:18). Jacob sensed the evils he foresaw that would rise up in the descendants of Dan; therefore, he expressed his confidence that they would receive the help of his God. The Oral Law (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Ei – The Oral Law) interprets these words as being Messianic, and do not apply these words for the salvation of Gideon, the son of Joash, which is a temporal salvation; nor for the salvation of Samson the son of Manoah, which is a transitory salvation; but for the salvation that will come in Messiah the son of David, (which is eternal,) who shall bring the children of Isra’el to Himself.⁶⁰⁰

2. The Second Census in the present: The descendants of Dan came from only one clan: through Shuham, the Shuhamite clan. These were the clans of Dan. All of them were Shulamite clans, and those numbered were 64,400 (26:42-43), an increase of 1,700 from the First Census (see Ai – The First Census: The Old Generation of Rebellion), or three percent. The tribe of Dan is not mentioned, only the Shulamite clans. Up to now Moshe had been dealing with the tribal names, but here Moshe goes away from the norm, because the Shuhamite clan was, in turn, the Danite clan. It was all the same.⁶⁰¹ The briefest description of all the tribes is given for Dan, and only the clan of Shuham is listed. Yet surprisingly, the total population is quite large, 64,000, only Judah, with 76,500, is larger. Genesis 46:23 lists one son of Dan, namely, Hushim. The relationship of the words Shuham and Hushim is unknown (but these different names may have resulted from a transposition of some of the Hebrew letters).⁶⁰² Although only one clan is mentioned here, it no doubt branched out into several smaller sub-clans, which are not mentioned here, simply because this list contains only the leading clans into which the tribes were divided. Moshe’s prophecy about Dan was also the shortest of all the clans, “Dan is a lion’s cub, springing out of Bashan (Deuteronomy 33:22). Comparing Dan to a lion’s cub suggests the timidity and youthfulness of the tribe, but it showed great promise and great strength in the far eschatological future. A lion’s cub grows up to be a lion!

During the period of the judges, when Isra’el had no king (17:6, 19:2, 21:25), that lack of a central authority to muster an Israelite army no doubt aggravated the problem faced by the tribe of Dan, namely Dan’s inability (or lack of faith) to come into their inheritance (see the commentary on Judges Cb – The Migration of Dan to the North). The Danites were being pushed by the Amorites (Judges 1:34-35 and Joshua 19:47), and later the Philistines (with the rest of Isra’el in Judges 13:1, 14:4 and 15:11) and forced to move further and further eastward into the territories of Ephraim and Benjamin (see the first map above). Because of Dan’s cramped living conditions, its people decided to seek a new territory. The Danites, armed with 600 men for battle, went north and destroyed the peaceful and unsuspecting people of Laish, burning their city down. More significantly (and sadly), they established a tribal center of idolatrous worship under the priesthood of Jontahan son of Gershom (see Au – The Clan of Gershom). And when Jeroboam set up his two golden calves (see the commentary on the Life of Solomon Dd – Golden Calves at Dan and Bethel), one of them was in Dan. This descent into idolatry continued until the time of the Assyrian invasion and captivity of Isra’el in 722 BC (Second Kings 17:6).⁶⁰³

3. The Messianic Kingdom in the future: 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). However, because the tribe of Dan introduced idolatry into the nation of Isra’el, that tribe is omitted from the 144,000 during the Great Tribulation (see the commentary on Revelation Cr – Then I Heard the Number of Those Who Were Sealed, 144,000 from all the Tribes of Isra’el). However, by the grace of ADONAI, Dan will be included in the twelve tribes of the Messianic Kingdom. At the northern frontier, Dan will have one portion (Ezeki’el 48:1-2 and 32). So, despite leading the nation of Isra’el into idol worship, the LORD will not cast them out. Moreover, during the Eternal State (see Revelation Fq – The Eternal State), Dan’s name will be etched into one of the great pearls that will serve as gates to the New Jerusalem (see Revelation Fu – A Great High Wall with Twelve Gates). We will remember him for all eternity. However, like Reuben, Simeon, and Ephraim, our sins can have a long range, tragic consequences. Sin takes you further than we want to go, and costs us more than we want to pay. However, like Dan, all of our sins will be forgotten when we enter the future Messianic Kingdom and Eternal State. The steadfast love of ADONAI never ceases (Lamentations 3:22-23).

On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Isra’el (21:12). Those who believe in “Replacement Theology,” (who believe that all of ADONAI’s promises to Isra’el have been forfeited by her and given to the Church) have a tough time with this verse. For all eternity the twelve tribes of Isra’el will be remembered. The LORD has not replaced Isra’el with the Church. These gates will be an eternal reminder that it was through the faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with the twelve sons of Isra’el that the Gentiles first entered into the great family and City of God.

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for Your great love and holiness! Having a loving relationship with You as our Heavenly Father is so Awesome! There are many small joys in life, a good meal, a good friendship, a wonderful marriage, a great child, but all those very good things have only a very short earthly timespan. A wonderful relationship of love with You will last for all eternity! Being strong in fighting for protection is a good characteristic to have, as Moses said of the tribe of Dan in his blessing (Genesis 49:17). There is a way of defense that is so much better and more effective than any skill of fighting that a man or tribe may have. The most important skill to have in fighting any battle, is a relationship of love and listening to You. You have never lost any battle that You wanted to win. You are Almighty!

Having a relationship with you is of much greater value than being a good fighter. Though Dan could fight well and win earthly battles, he lost the fight against sin when he established a tribal center for idolatrous worship. Earthly battles are nice to win, but they fade into the past so soon. Winning the battle against sin, by Messiah’s righteousness, has value for all eternity! Therefore He is also able to completely save those who draw near to God through Him, always living to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25). Your children need to follow David’s example of seeking Your wisdom before we try to decide on any action to solve a battle or problem. Thank you so much that when I am confused and don’t know what to do, You have made several wonderful promises to me. You have promised to graciously give me wisdom when I ask for it. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all without hesitation and without reproach; and it will be given to him (James 1:5). You have also promised that You will never leave me.  For God Himself has said: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5c). Praise You always! In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Tribe of Benjamin
26: 38-41

The tribe of Benjamin DIG: What does the Second Census tell us about Benjamin’s historical roots? Why did the tribe of Benjamin increase so greatly from the First Census? Why would the wilderness generation want to know they had common historical roots from their parents, but a completely separate identity.

REFLECT: What meaningful group are you a member of? How does being a part of that group help to support you and make you grow spiritually? How does being a part of it enable you to help others? What can you do to make sure that the positive parts of your past are accentuated in your relationship with God?

Benjamin is a ravenous wolf.

1. The First Census in the past found the tribe of Benjamin being numbered at 35,400 (to see link click Ak – Numbering the Tribes). The banner of the tribe of Benjamin has a wolf on it, to indicate the warlike nature of the tribe. On his deathbed, Jacob prophesied: Benjamin is a ravenous wolf (Genesis 49:27a). The word ravenous comes from the Hebrew tref or trefah, meaning a wolf that tears apart his prey. Sometimes tref is used in a generic sense. For example, there is kosher food, and anything else is treff. But the word trefah actually comes from the Hebrew word meaning to tear. In the Torah, if an animal, even a kosher animal, is torn apart and killed, it is trefah. In other words, there is no such thing as kosher road-kill even if it’s a nice prime rib. It would not be prepared in a way that the Torah commands (Leviticus 11:1-46; 17:1-16), with the core thought being: Be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat (Deuteronomy 12:23). That’s why hunting is not normally a Jewish thing. When someone shoots their prey, it is torn apart and automatically becomes unkosher. In the TaNaKh, Jews would set a snare for a kosher animal and capture it. Then they could kill in the ritual way, by draining the blood.

Therefore, Benjamin is a wolf who tears apart, and there are some very interesting people from the tribe of Benjamin who fulfilled Jacob’s prophecy. One is Ehud, a famous warrior and one of the judges (Judges 3:15-30). Sha’ul the first king of Isra’el was also a Benjamite (First Samuel 9:1-2), and for better or worse, fulfilled this prophecy of Jacob. Saul’s son Jonathan, a great warrior, became one spirit with David (First Samuel 18:1). In addition, both Mordecai and Esther were from the tribe of Benjamin (Esther 2:5-7). They were warriors of that generation whom ADONAI used to deliver Isra’el from her enemies like a ravenous wolf (see Esther Bm – The Jews Struck Down All Their Enemies with the Sword, Killing and Destroying Them).

The warlike nature of the small tribe of Binyamin became well known, as exhibited in their swordsmen. This tribe was so aggressive and successful that they would be able to share their plunder with the other tribes. This seems like a strange prophecy for a son whom Jacob especially loved, but it was both a promise and a warning. The tribe of Benjamin would be courageous and strong, successful in warfare, but at the same time it might become cruel and ravenous.

So, it seems that Benjamin’s tribe had its dark side. The warlike nature came out not only in defense of his country, but also in depravity within his country. In Judges 19–21 Benjamin took up an offense against the other eleven tribes of Isra’el, and civil war ensued. This period had the reputation of everyone doing what was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25). What led to this was the horrific abuse and death of an unnamed Levite’s concubine (Judges 19:10-28). The eleven tribes turned against the tribe of Benjamin and nearly annihilated them because of their refusal to give up the perpetrators (Judges 20:1 to 21:25).⁵⁹³ Thank God they were not destroyed, otherwise we would not have had Mordecai (see the commentary on Esther Bh – The King Gave His Signet Ring to Mordecai), or Paul. Eventually they all restored Benjamin’s tribe, greatly diminished due to the war, and the country reunited.

In the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder (49:27b). Both attributes, devouring the prey and dividing the plunder, were later evident in the tribe. Although the smallest of the tribes, in the near historical future, they would become famous for their courage, fierceness and power. After the conquest of Canaan, they received the territory between the tribes of Ephraim and Judah. It has been a war-zone throughout Israel’s history. The tribe of Benjamin themselves became known as a warrior tribe (Judges 5:14, 20:14-21; 2 Samuel 2; First Chronicles 8:40 and 12; 2 Chronicles 14:8, 17:7; Psalm 68:27).

2. The Second Census in the present: The descendants of Benjamin by their five clans were: of Bela, the Belaite clan; through Ashbel, the Ashbelite clan; through Ahiram, the Ahiramite clan; through Shupham, the Shuphamite clan; and through Hupham, the Huphamite clan. Moses goes back to the first son, Bela, and describes the two sub-clans of Ard and Na‘aman; through Ard, the Ardite clan; and through Na‘aman, the Na‘amanite clan. These were the clans of Benjamin, by their families; those numbered were 45,600 (26:38-41), a considerable increase of 10,200 from the First Census (see Ai – The First Census: The Old Generation of Rebellion), or 29 percent, the second largest increase of all the tribes. Although the Benjamites were very courageous, that was not where their safety lay. The prophecy of Moses shed some light on this. He prophesied: Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one ADONAI loves rests between His shoulders (Deut 33:12). This last phrase literally means he rests on the Lord’s back. This pictures a Father carrying His beloved on His back, and therefore a beautiful metaphor for God’s protective, fatherly care of Benjamin.⁵⁹⁴ The little tribe of Benjamin was situated next to Judah’s northern boundary, and the city of Jerusalem was on the northern border of Judah and the southern border of Benjamin. Since the Sanctuary would be in Jerusalem, Benjamin would be close to the LORD, who dwelt there with His people.⁵⁹⁵

Unlike the blessing in Genesis 49, which depicts Benjamin as a ravenous wolf, in Deuteronomy Moses pronounces a tender blessing on Benjamin – Jacob’s youngest son – one reminiscent of Benjamin’s close relationship with his father (Genesis 42:4 and 38, 44:18-34). For Benjamin, Moshe said: The beloved of ADONAI rests securely beside Him. He shields him all day long. Between His shoulders he rests. Benjamin can rest securely on the shoulders of YHVH who shields him from all threats. The anthropomorphism of resting between the shoulders of ADONAI brings to mind the figure of a father carrying his young son on his shoulders. Here, Moses rejoices that the tribe of Benjamin will dwell safely in peace among the people of God, no longer in conflict during the Messianic Kingdom (see the commentary on Isaiah Ge – Your Eyes Will See the King in His Beauty).⁵⁹⁶

3. The Messianic Kingdom in the future: 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). In the far eschatological future, the tribe of Benjamin will have one portion of land in the Messianic Kingdom, extending from the east side to the west side (Ezekiel 48:23). When you look at Jacob’s family I think it would be fair to say that it was very dysfunctional, but even with all their problems, the sons of Isra’el believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all fourteen sons are found in the Messianic Kingdom (Ezeki’el 47:13, 48:1-29). Not one was lost. Yeshua talked about eternal security for those who believe, trust and have faith in Him. He said: My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand; I and the Father are one (John 10:27-30).

Dear Heavenly Father, how fantastic you are, our always-loving, always-caring Holy Heavenly Father! What a beautiful picture of tender care that the Spirit of God painted of You when He inspired Moses to write the blessing for Benjamin, the one ADONAI loves rests between His shoulders (Deuteronomy 33:12), literally meaning he rests on the Lord’s back. It is a picture of great security when a young child is carried on their dad’s shoulders, resting on his back. The father is not only close by, but is right there holding on. The child does not even need to call out for help, for her dad is closer than even nearby, her dad is right there, holding onto her and protecting her.

What a wonderful comfort to be held close to You by Your mighty arms and to rest securely on Your shoulders! When problems and trials come, one thing that makes them harder is facing the problem all alone; but when daddy is near it brings such comfort. Problems seem so much easier to handle and much smaller when your children realize that an All-loving, Almighty Daddy is right there. When the focus is on the problem, then the problem seems big; but instead when Your child wisely focuses on your Almighty power, love and strength, then the problem becomes small. O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You. My flesh longs for You in a dry and weary land, where there is no water (Psalms 63:1-2).

David focused on your great lovingkindness and that kept him from falling into the trap of pity. How very wise of David that even when his life was in danger, instead of focusing on the problem, David looked up to You and praised You! He focused his mind off of the hard and dangerous situation that he was in and lifted his heart to concentrate on how very Awesome and Wonderful You always are! Since Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live. In Your name I lift up my hands (Psalms 63:3-4). Making time to praise You and to meditate on Your Word is like feasting on a rich meal. My soul is satisfied as with fat and oil, so my mouth praises You with joyful lips (Psalms 63:6). Thank You for carrying me (Isaiah 41:13, 46:4, 63:9). Praise You so very much for Your everlasting love that holds me tight in Your hands (John 10:27-30). I love to worship and to praise You! In Messiah Yeshua’s almighty Name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Tribe of Joseph
26: 28-37

The tribe of Joseph DIG: What does the Second Census tell us about Manasseh’s and Ephraim’s historical roots? Why did the tribe of Manasseh increase so greatly from the First Census? Why did Ephraim decrease so much their forefather was blessed? Why would the wilderness generation want to know they had common historical roots from their parents, but a completely separate identity from them?

REFLECT: What meaningful group (tribe) are you a member of? How does being a part of that group help to support you and make you grow spiritually? How does being a part of that group enable you to help others? What can you do to make sure that the positive parts of your past are accentuated in your relationship with God? How can you make sure you will receive the blessing from ADONAI and not squander it?

Joseph is a fruitful vine near a spring, whose shoots climb over a wall.

1. The First Census in the past found the tribe of Manasseh being numbered at 32,200 and the tribe of Ephraim being numbered at 40,500 (to see link click Ak – Numbering the Tribes). The banner of the tribe of Joseph has wheat stalks on it, a reference to Joseph’s dream and the rescue of the Egyptians, and the people of the world, from famine. On his deathbed, Jacob prophesied: Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose shoots climb over a wall (Genesis 49:22). The well-watered, far spreading, fruitful vine is often used in the Bible to signify great productivity and fruitfulness (Psalm 128:3; Ezekiel 19:10).⁵⁸⁹ The word fruitful has the same root as the name Ephraim, which means double fruit. In the history of Joseph’s sons are accounts of victorious leaders. Joshua, Deborah and Samuel all came from the tribe of Ephraim; while Gideon and Jephthah came from the tribe of Manasseh.⁵⁹⁰ So Joseph’s descendants would be strong and numerous. From the metaphor of a fruitful vine, Jacob changed the metaphor to a warlike figure beset by enemy archers who had tried to destroy him as a hated foe. With bitterness, archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility (Genesis 49:23). This refers to the mistreatment that Joseph suffered first at the hands of his brothers (see Genesis Ix – Joseph Sold into Slavery by His Brothers), and then from Potiphar’s wife (see Genesis Ji – Potiphar’s Wife said: Come to Bed with Me! But Joseph Ran Out of the House). Their lying tongues seemed to be as sharp as arrows.

Joseph knew that his bedridden father was old and ready to die when he was compelled to agree to bury him in the Promised Land (47:28-31); when news came that his father was ill and close to death, this came as no surprise. So Yosef responded by taking his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him as Jacob’s life drew to a close (48:1). Jacob then adopted his two grandsons, intentionally blessing Ephraim over the firstborn Manasseh (see Genesis Kx – Jacob Adopted Joseph’s Two Sons Ephraim and Manasseh).

2. The Second Census in the present: These were the descendants of Joseph, by their clans. The tribe of Joseph was one tribe, which was composed of two half-tribes, so Moses dealt with them separately. First, the descendants of Manasseh were: of Makhir, the Makhirite clan (Makhir was the father of Gilead); through Gilead, the Gileadite clan. These are the six sub-clans of Gilead: through Iezer, the Iezrite clan; of Helek, the Helkite clan; through Asriel, the Asrielite clan; through Shechem, the Shechemite clan; through Shemida, the Shemidaite clan; and through Hepher, the Hepherite clan. Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons but five daughters; whose names were Machlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. These were the clans of Manasseh; those numbered were 52,700 (26:28a-34), a tremendous increase of 20,500 from the First Census (see Ai – The First Census: The Old Generation of Rebellion), or sixty-three percent! The largest increase of any of the tribes.

To find the answer to this great increase, we must look to the daughters of Zelophehad. Because Zelophehad had no sons, his inheritance was supposed to be given to a male relative, a brother, uncle, or cousin. This was not written in the Torah, but was merely a Jewish tradition. However, his five courageous daughters stood up for their father’s name. They came forward and stood before Moses, Eleazar the high priest, the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance to the Tabernacle and said: Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the LORD, but he died for his own sin and left no sons. Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? They did not ask for personal gain, but for what was right and fair for their family name. So they asked: Give us property among our father’s relatives (27:1-4). Moses waited. The ground under the girls did not split apart and swallow them like the households of Dathan and Abiram. Nothing happened. No blasphemy was spoken. Being a wise man, Moses brought the case before the LORD, just as he had done with the problem of the blasphemer (Lev 24:10-16) and the man who had violated the Sabbath (15:32-36). And ADONAI said to him, “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them” (27:5-7). God changed the custom because it was abusive to women. It was as if God was waiting for them to come forward.

YHVH continued: Say to the people of Isra’el, “If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father’s brothers. If his father had no brothers, the man’s inheritance would be given to the nearest relative in his clan, so that he may possess it. This will be the standard for judgment to be used by the people of Isra’el, as ADONAI ordered Moshe” (27:8-11). Regulations like this are unnecessary in today’s society, but they were very important to God’s ancient people. The LORD owned the Land and allowed His people to use it as long as they obeyed Him. When the Jews turned to idols and polluted it, God allowed other nations to invade and steal their produce (see my commentary on the book of Judges). When Isra’el’s sins became so wicked that YHVH could endure it no longer, He took the Israelites off the Land and exiled them to Babylon (see the commentary on Jeremiah Gu – Seventy Years of Imperial Babylonian Rule). There, they learned to appreciate what ADONAI had given them.

The daughters of Zelophehad changed things for the better, but in essence they were a reflection of the tribe of Manasseh that was behind them. Proverbs 31:26 says that the virtuous woman opens her mouth with wisdom, just like the daughters of Zelophehad. ADONAI not only did what was right and fair; He gave them far more than what they had asked for. Manasseh’s share of the Promised Land was increased by ten tracts of land, in addition to Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance along with the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh (Joshua 17:5-6). Zelophehad’s name means first born, and thus, he would have been entitled to a double portion of inheritance; but instead, his five daughters each received a double portion resulting in the whole tribe of Manasseh being blessed with an additional ten tracts of land west of the Jordan (see map).⁵⁹¹

Secondly, these were the descendants of Ephraim, by their clans: of Shuthelah, the Shuthelahite clan; through Beker, the Bakerite clan; through Tahan, the Tahanite clan. This was one sub-clan of Shuthelah: through ‘Eran, the ‘Eranite clan. These were the clans of Ephraim; those numbered were 32,500 (26:28b and 35-37), a net decrease of 8,000 from the First Census, or twenty percent, the second largest decline after Simeon’s whopping sixty-three percent. The question then becomes, if Jacob chose to bless Ephraim, the younger brother, over Manasseh, the firstborn by the time Joshua was ready to assign the land for each tribe after Canaan was conquered, why was Manasseh’s portion of land much larger the that of Ephraim? Even though Ephraim had been blessed by his grandfather Jacob, and given the right of the first born and a double portion, the size of the land to be inherited was proportional to each tribes’ spiritual condition. In this sense, Ephraim was so much like the believer today, if we walk with God we are blessed; however, if we walk in the flesh, our blessing decreases.

The huge size of the Promised Land is given in Genesis 15:18 and Deuteronomy 11:24. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said: To your descendants I give this land, from the River of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates – the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites (Genesis 15:18-21). And God repeated this promise to the wilderness generation ready to enter the Promised Land. Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea if you obey My commands (Deuteronomy 11:24). But sin got in the way of Ephraim and worked against their blessings.

But during the conquest, Ephraim sinned by failing to drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer. Joshua recorded that the Canaanites lived among the people of Ephraim, but became their slaves doing the heavy work (Joshua 16:10). Like King Sha’ul later in Isra’el’s history, who did not completely destroy the Amalekites, the Ephraimites did not completely destroy the Canaanites. This was against God’s explicit command. And like king Sha’ul, who suffered the loss of his reign, the tribe of Ephraim suffered the reduction of the size of their land that might have been theirs if they had not sinned. As Samuel said to king Sha’ul, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (First Samuel 15:22). Therefore, Manasseh’s obedience resulted in a 63 percent increase of their tribe, while Ephraim’s disobedience resulted in a 20 percent decrease, which was reflected in the size of both their territories (see map).

The disobedience of Ephraim eventually resulted in the end of the monarchy. At the end of king Solomon’s life, Jeroboam, from the tribe of Ephraim, led a revolt against Solomon’s son Rehoboam, which resulted in the Kingdom being divided into the northern kingdom of Isra’el and the southern kingdom of Judah (see the commentary on the Life of Solomon Cz – The Divided Kingdom). Jeroboam immediately led the ten northern tribes astray when he established a new religion (see the Life of Solomon Dd – Golden Calves at Dan and Bethel). The sin of Jeroboam would infect nineteen kings of Isra’el, and produce only one godly king (see the Life of Solomon Dn – The Kings of Isra’el). Their downward spiral would continue until 722 BC when the Assyrians conquered them, intermarrying with many and taking others captive back to Assyria (Second Kings 7:5-6). During the life of the Master, the ten northern tribes were called Samaritans and shunned by the Jews because they were half Assyrian and half Jewish. But Yeshua viewed them differently (see the commentary of The Life of Christ Ca – Jesus Talks with a Samaritan Woman).

3. The Messianic Kingdom in the future: 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). In the far eschatological future, during the Messianic Kingdom, Joseph will continue to inherit a double portion of the land (Ezeki’el 47:13), one being for the tribe of Manasseh, bordering the territory of Naphtali from east to west (Ezeki’el 48:4), and the other being for the tribe of Ephraim bordering the territory of Manasseh from east to west (Ezeki’el 48:5).

Jacob began his prophecy with fruitfulness when he said: Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall (Genesis 49:22). That is, Joseph is like a fruitful tree planted by streams of living water in Psalm 1:3, and of which the shoots, spring overtop the wall built round the spring for its protection. This fruitfulness of Joseph was shown by the vast number of his descendants. Therefore, the blessing of Joseph can be summed up in the word fruitful. There is nothing more glorious in life than fruitfulness. Fruit is the natural and necessary expression of the spiritual life, and the way in which our Lord emphasized it (John 15:1-17), shows the importance of fruitfulness in the Gospel. The people who, like Joseph, are faithful to ADONAI will bring forth much good fruit, and their lives will be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Yeshua Messiah – to the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:11).⁵⁹²

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise Your Awesome love, omnipotence and Almighty power! It is such a joy to bear fruit for You. Your love is so great and is always with me, guiding, caring and protecting me. What a comfort that Messiah dwells in me with the power of Your Ruach Ha’Kodesh. I pray that from His glorious riches He would grant you to be strengthened in your inner being with power through His Ruach, so that Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to grasp with all the holy ones what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled up with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 1:17-19).

Thanks so much for the wonderful blessing of being adopted as Your child (Ephesians 1:5). But whoever did receive Him, those trusting in His name, to these He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12). So that we, who were first to put our hope in Messiah, might be for His glorious praise (Ephesians 1:12). It is fantastic that You sealed me with the promised Spirit of God, a guarantee of my future home in heaven (John 14:1-3). After you heard the message of truth – the Good News of your salvation – and when you put your trust in Him, you were sealed with the promised Ruach Ha’Kodesh . He is the guarantee of our inheritance, until the redemption of His possession – to His glorious praise (Ephesians 1:13-14)!

Being connected to You, my vine, is such a life changer. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for apart from Me, you can do nothing (John 15:5). It is only by being connected to You, living with You as my Lord and Savior, that fruit can be produced. It is a joy to live my life bearing fruit for You, my gracious and holy Heavenly Father! But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – against such things there is no law. In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen

The Tribe of Zebulun
26: 26-27

The tribe of Zebulun DIG: What does the Second Census tell us about Zebulan’s historical roots? Why did the tribe of Zebulan increase from the First Census? Why would the wilderness generation want to know they had common historical roots from their parents, but a separate identity from the Exodus generation?

REFLECT: What meaningful group (tribe) are you a member of? How does being a part of that group help to support you and make you grow spiritually? How does being a part of it enable you to help others? What can you do to make sure that the positive parts of your past are accentuated in your relationship with God?

The people and territory of Zebulun will become a haven for ships,
just as Galilee was a haven for Yeshua before the cross.

1. The First Census in the past found the tribe of Zebulon being numbered at 57,400 (to see link click Ak – Numbering the Tribes). Ya’akov prophesied to the sixth son of Leah first and said: Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon (49:13). The shortest of all the bedside blessings, this is not a curse leveled at Zebulun because of his vain flirtation with the Phoenicians, but a word or praise and promise addressed to this tribe.⁵⁸⁶ The need for a near historical and a far eschatological view of this prophecy is vital because initially Zebulun had no border by the seashore (see the commentary on Genesis Lh – Zebulun Will Live by the Seashore and Become a Haven for Ships).

In the near historical future we know that Zebulun’s borders did not extend to the seashore (Joshua 19:10-16). Zebulun was separated from the Mediterranean Sea by the tribe of Asher on the west, and from the Sea of Galilee (Kinnereth) by the tribe of Naphtali on the east (Joshua 19:24-31). But Asher never fully settled the northern peninsula. They failed to possess the land . . . and did not drive out those living in Akko or Sidon or Ahlab or Akzib or Helbah or Aphek or Rehob. The Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land because they did not drive them out (Judges 1:31-32). Therefore, the tribe of Zebulun ended up having an expanded influence in northern Isra’el. The word seashore is plural, and it became a double fulfillment because Zebulun then had access to both the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee.

The influence of Zebulun’s trading also extended northward toward the Phoenicians and the city of Sidon (Isaiah 23:4 and Ezeki’el 28:22). They would do business with the Phoenicians, and therefore, would be enriched with trade from the sea. In fact, one of the key highways of the ancient world, the way of the sea, or the via maris, passed right through the territory of Zebulun. As a result, the rich crops Zebulun and members of his tribe were exported by the Phoenicians.

2. The Second Census in the present: The descendants of Zebulan by their three clans, were: through Sered, the Saredite clan; through Elon, the Elonite clan; and through Jahleel, the Jahleelite clan. These were the clans of the Zebulan, those numbered were 60,500 (26:26-27), an increase of 3,100 from the First Census (see Ai – The First Census: The Old Generation of Rebellion), or five percent. Zebulun and Issachar are described as two tribes who will receive rich blessings from land and sea (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Ge – Rejoice Zebulun, in Your Going Out, Issachar, in Your Tents). Moses prophesied: Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents (Deut 33:18). The two phrases going out, and in your tents, cover all of daily life, a merism (polar elements that signify a totality): going to work, coming home to rest. Moshe was blessing every aspect of their lives, what we might call the routine tasks of life.⁵⁸⁷ Peoples they call to the mountain – there they offer righteous sacrifices. For they suckle the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand (Deuteronomy 33:19). This is a picture of worship followed by a communal feast, but the Jews had to bring their sacrifices to Mount Tabor (Joshua 19:12 and 22; Judges 4:6-12), and later the Temple, where they could enjoy family feasts. Zebulun is seen as an obedient, contented, secure tribe, and the increase of their population revealed how much the LORD had blessed them.

Isaiah also gives us a prophetic promise through Zebulun. How unexpected! Why not through Judah? God will reach Isra’el and all the Gentile nations. Speaking of the darkness of his day, the prophet writes: Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past God humbled the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan. Jacob’s prophecy would be fulfilled by a tribe living on the edge of the nations – Zebulun. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy (Isaiah 9:1-3a). But how?

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of ADONAI, the LORD of heaven’s angelic armies, will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7).

We also know that the tribe of Zebulun was a haven for Yeshua. When Joseph and Mary returned from Egypt when Yeshua was an infant, Galilee was their haven of safety (Matthew 2:13-23). Although Yeshua was of the tribe of Judah, He grew up in Nazareth, in Zebulun, and lived there about thirty years before He started His ministry, much of which took place in the territory of Zebulun (Matthew 4:12-17). Eleven of the twelve apostles were from Galilee (Judas was not). Also, when the Jewish religious leaders were plotting to kill Him, He took refuge in Galilee (John 7:1 and 9).

3. The Messianic Kingdom in the future: 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). When Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, Zebulun and Issachar had no outlet to the Mediterranean Sea. But during the Messianic Kingdom, they will have plenty of access to the sea (see the commentary on Genesis Lh – Zebulun Will Live by the Seashore and Become a Haven for Ships) because the topography of Isra’el will change at that time. The massive Millennial River will begin at the Temple then flow down to the city of Jerusalem, where it splits, half heading east to the Dead Sea, and the other half heading west to the Mediterranean Sea. Rivers will characterize the Millennial Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:8; Ezeki’el 47:1-12). Therefore, ships will sail on the Millennial River in the Kingdom. But while there may be ships on the Mediterranean, there will be no ships of war. No galley with oars will ride them, no mighty ship will sail them (see the commentary on Isaiah Ge – Your Eyes Will See the King in His Beauty).

So, a key part of Jacob’s blessing referred to the Messianic Kingdom. Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships during that time (Ezeki’el 48:26). So, because of this, it appears that in some way Zebulun will have a special ministry to the unbelieving Gentiles, and many will be saved. The people and territory of Zebulun will become a haven for ships, just as Galilee was a haven for Yeshua before the cross.

The Psalmist describes how God came to Israel’s rescue and ours as well. He paints four pictures taken from life, yet intended to represent Israel’s and our experience. The fourth of these parables speaks about Israel’s and our smallness when compared to ADONAI. Some went out to the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the LORD, His wonderful deeds in the deep; For He spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits end, literally, all their wisdom was swallowed up (Psalm 107:23-27). The hurricane shakes us into seeing that in a world of frightening forces, we live by permission and not by good management.⁵⁸⁸ We come to the end of ourselves, or our wits end. All of our supposed skills to manage our lives become useless. We need to believe that it is God who has His hands on the helm of our ship.

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper and the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven (Ps 107:28-30). This will be the message of the tribe of Zebulun during the thousand-year reign of Messiah. Their message will point unbelieving Gentiles to Messiah, and He will become a haven for those who have come to their wits end, who are weary of trying to steer their own ship.

Let them give thanks to ADONAI of His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind. He calmed the storm and delivered them from their danger, guiding them safely to their destination. Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the council of the elders (Psalm 107:31-32). The tribe of Zebulun will finally live by the seashore, but they will become fishers of men (Matthew 4:18-20).

Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for being such an awesome and loving Heavenly Father! It is such a joy to serve You! Your holiness means that You never do anything wrong, so when Your Word tells me to do something, it is absolutely the wisest and best action to follow. Just as Your being a rest for Zebulun is promised (Psalms 107:28-32); so those who put their trust in You, letting You steer their lives, will find great joy and a peaceful rest in You.

It is a wonderful privilege to serve You and to experience the joy of sharing how wonderful and loving you are. We lift up before You right now those in our family and friends who have only head knowledge of You, for they have not yet decided to make You their Lord. Please open their eyes to see You in your Awesome holiness that they may fall in love with You and desire to serve You with all their hearts as their 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. For the Scripture says: Whoever trusts in Him will not be put to shame (Romans 10:9-11).

You opened the eyes of Hagar (Genesis 21:19), Balaam (Numbers 22:31), and Elisha’s servant (Second Kings 6:17). Please open the thinking of these family members and friends to recognize how short life on earth is and how much more important it is to live with eternity in view. May they be willing to live for You on earth that they may gain an eternity of peace and joy with you in heaven. Whatever suffering occurs on earth because my love for You, is well worth the joy for all eternity of living with You in heaven where there will never be any crying nor pain (Revelation 21:4). For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen