Scroll to Scroll: Todays Parsha #35: Naso (you take)

PART 1: THE LAST AND CURRENT TORAH PORTIONS ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS STUDY QUESTIONS (Bamidbar): 1) Hidden in one line of this Torah portion we see details that will relate both to Yshuas birth and death. Where are these details? LMISHPECHOTAM LEVEY AVOTAM BEMISPAR SHEMOT KOL ZACHAR LEGULGELOTAM (also 1:2) = do it by families following the paternal line according to the names of each male, taken individually. The term here is BETH AVOTAM, literally houses of the fathers, which clearly indicates that tribal/royal inheritance is passed from father to son. However, there are exceptions to the rule such as Levirate marriages (Deuteronomy 25) and other situations where women can inherit (Numbers 27, 36). The details in this one line clearly relate both to Yshuas birth and death. They relate to his birth because it happened in connection with a census (Luke 2) and to his death because that same census is called GOLGOTHA, literally skull count as opposed to head count which is the descriptor in the early part of 1:2. GOLGOTHA is of course the place Yshua was crucified. 2) If you know the answer to #1 then tell me: One of these details that is embedded in this line of Torah is also repeated elsewhere in the Tanakh in terms of overall theme. Where is that incident? When David takes a census it literally ends up being a SKULL COUNT Satan took his stand against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. 2 David said to Joab and the people's princes, 'Go, and take a census of Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, then bring it back to me and let me know the total.' 3 Joab replied, 'May Yahweh multiply his people to a hundred times what they are today! But my lord king, are they not all my lord's servants in any case? Why should my lord insist on this? Why should he involve Israel in guilt?' 4 But the king enforced his order on Joab, and Joab set out, travelled throughout all Israel, and then returned to Jerusalem. 5 Joab gave David the census results for the people: all Israel had eleven hundred thousand men who could wield a sword; Judah had four hundred and seventy

thousand men who could wield a sword. 6 Joab had found the king's command so distasteful that he did not include Levi and Benjamin. 7 God looked with displeasure on this and punished Israel in consequence. 8 David then said to God, 'I have committed a grave sin by doing this. But now I beg you to forgive your servant for this fault, for I have acted very foolishly.' 9 Yahweh then spoke to Gad, David's seer, 10 'Go and say to David, "Yahweh says this: I offer you three things; choose which one of them I am to inflict on you." ' 11 So Gad went to David and said, 'Yahweh says this, 12 "Take your choice between three years of famine; or three months of disaster at the hands of your enemies, with your enemies' sword overtaking you; or three days of Yahweh's sword, an epidemic in the country, while the angel of Yahweh wreaks havoc throughout the territory of Israel." Now decide how I am to answer him who sends me.' 13 David said to Gad, 'I am very apprehensive. Better for me to fall into Yahweh's hand, since his mercies are very great, than for me to fall into the hands of human enemies.' 14 So Yahweh unleashed an epidemic on Israel, and seventy thousand Israelites succumbed. ( 1 Chronicles 21:1-14 NJB) 3) What is one of the most ironic twists in Hosea regarding the names of the people involved? Please note, I am not referencing the names of the children, which we will discuss in the Torah Thought for the Week. The name GOMER comes from a root that means to complete, assemble, or bring to an end. It is also the root for the word GEMARA, which will become a name for part of the Talmud, i.e. the bringing together, completion of the Oral Law. In a sense GOMER then is a kind of word picture of assembling evil and adulterous deeds together, but the same root implies the COMPLETION of Abba YHWHs purpose in demonstrating what that sin looks and feels like! 4) If you know the answer to #3, tell me what is the connection between that answer and Jewish mysticism? (This question is harder than usual!) GOMER is called the daughter of DIBLAIM and that word in turn means cakes. What do cakes have to do with Jewish mysticism? Well according to Philo one is used as an expression of the other:
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XV. For Abraham also, having come with all haste and speech and eagerness, exhorts virtue, that is to say, Sarah, "to hasten and knead three measures of fine meal, and to make cakes upon the hearth." [Genesis 18:6.] When God, being attended by two of the heavenly powers as guards, to wit, by authority and goodness, he himself, the one God being between them, presented an appearance of the figures to the visual soul; each of which figures was not measured in any

respect; for God cannot be circumscribed, nor are his powers capable of being defined by lines, but he himself measures everything. His goodness therefore is the measure of all good things, and his authority is the measures of things in subjection, and the Governor of the universe himself, is the measure of all things to the corporeal and incorporeal. On which account, his powers also having been looked upon in the light of rules and models, have weighed and measured other things with reference to them. Now it is very good that these three measures should, as it were, be kneaded together in the soul, and mixed up together, in order that so the soul, being persuaded that the supreme being is God, who has raised his head above all his powers, and who is beheld independently of them, and who makes himself visible in them, may receive the characters of his power and beneficence, and becoming initiated into the perfect mysteries, may not be too ready to divulge the divine secrets to an one, but may treasure them up in herself, and keeping a check over her speech, may conceal them in silence; for the words of the scripture are, "To make secret cakes;" because the sacred and mystic statements about the one uncreated Being, and about his powers, ought to be kept secret; since it does not belong to everyone to keep the deposit of divine mysteries properly. (Sacrifices of Abel and Cain, 1:59-60) 5) Which one of the original tribes of Israel is missing from the list of Revelation 7 and why is it no longer there? Please be specific and show the Scripture cite in your answer. The tribe of DAN is not mentioned here because it lost its inheritance when it descended into paganism and separated from Israel. The sons of Dan said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard among us, or else fierce men will fall upon you and you will lose your life, with the lives of your household." So the sons of Dan went on their way; and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house. Then they took what Micah had made and the priest who had belonged to him, and came to Laish, to a people quiet and secure, and struck them with the edge of the sword; and they burned the city with fire. And there was no one to deliver them, because it was far from Sidon and they had no dealings with anyone, and it was in the valley which is near Beth-rehob. And they rebuilt the city and lived in it. They called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father who was born in Israel; however, the name of the city formerly was Laish. The sons of Dan set up for themselves the graven image; and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land. So they set up for
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themselves Micah's graven image which he had made, all the time that the house of God was at Shiloh. (Judges 18:25-31 NAU) AND NOW FOR THIS WEEKS PORTION 1) Meaning of this weeks Torah portion and summary of contents: Naso means take as in you will take an accounting of Israel or a census. This portion begins with the census on the Gershonites and details all their prescribed duties in ministering to the Tabernacle. This is followed by the bitter waters test for an adulterous woman in Numbers 5 and other instructions for the sons of Aaron, culminating with the Blessing of the Priests in chapter 6. The 7th and last chapter in the portion details the contributions for the Tabernacle made by each tribal leader Read Parsha (English-Numbers 4:21-7:89). This week, we will read from the start and conclude at the end of the 6th chapter, summarizing the 7th. 1) Play by Play commentary where appropriate. 2) Point out key Hebrew words/terms. Color Commentary: MIBEN SHLOSHIM SHANAH VAMALAH VEAD BEN CHAMISHIM SHANAH (4:30) = Take a tally of those from 30 to 50 years old. Because the work involved is more precise but also more arduous than that of the priests, the Levites here need to be trained especially carefully on how to handle all the sacred equipment. They still retire at 50 like the priests, but have a shorter service period. VAYEDABAR YAHWEH EL-MOSHE LEMOR (5:1) = And spoke Yahweh to Moshe saying to him. This is one of the times that according to the Rabbis the timing attaches to an earlier book. In this case, it would appear to be synched to Exodus 40, when the Tabernacle was erected on 1 Abib a year after the Exodus. However, I should explain another aspect of this. In 40:17 the phrase second year is used, however this is not two years from the Exodus but only the following year. SHENI is an ordinal number, and refers to the START of the second year. Compare this to Numbers 1:2 where it clearly says, two years FROM (meaning AFTER) the Exodus. TZARA (5:2) = leprous mark. There is another term in Hebrew which is NEGA, a more general term plague mark that can indicate leprosy or other sicknesses. It is used to great effect in Isaiah 53:8 to whom the NEGA (stroke) was due. Here however TZARA, which only refers to leprosy, is used.

VEHITVADU ET-CHATATAM (5:7) = he must confess his sin. The Rabbis believe the confession first happens between the offender and YHWH and then to the elders, priests and the victim of the crime that he has admitted to doing. DABER EL-BNEY YISRAEL VEAMARTA ALEHEM-ISH ISH KI-TISTEH ISHTO UMAALAH VO MAAL (5:12) = This the word (literally, or ruling, law) if any mans wife is suspected of committing adultery and being false to her husband. The rabbis point out there is very ancient tradition that says this rule is null and void if the husband has committed sexual sin first. VEHEEMIDAH LIFNEY YAHWEH (5:16) = and have her stand before Yahweh. This is referring to the Tent of Meeting, where YHWH would come down and dwell with Israel. MAYIM KEDOSHIM (5:17) = Set-Apart waters, because these waters came from the washstand that was made from the mirrors of righteous women (Exodus 38:8). UFARA ET-ROSH HA-ISHAH (5:18) = and let loose her hair. This proves women did have their hair tied up in some manner while worshipping. YERECHECH (5:20) = your thigh. Some authorities take this phrase literally that the womans thigh will waste away if she lies. Others however look at thigh as a euphemism for sexual organs and reproduction. It is true that thigh covenant is associated with a vow that passes through generations of a family, however it seems predominantly associated with male, not female, reproduction. As a visual metaphor, thigh seems more easily symbolic with the men. VENIZREAH ZARA (5:28) = and will become pregnant. And when this happens the entire nation will know the husband falsely accused his wife, because the pregnancy itself is a sign of YHWHs personal vindication of the woman. ISH O ISHAH (6:2) = Man or woman. This was a very special vow open to both sexes, which is remarkable because according to Philo and other authorities, a Nazirite during his or her vow takes on some of the status of being a priest. NEZER ELOHAV AL ROSHO (6:7) = Elohims Nazirite crown is upon his head. The uncut hair is thought of as a crown of righteousness to the one under the oath. VEKIDASH ET-ROSHO BAYOM HAHU (6:11) = and re-sanctify his head on that day. So the Nazirite, though defiled by a dead body, can resume his oath of separation after a week if he/she chooses to. BIRCHAT HA KOHENIM (6:24-26) YEVARCHECHA YAHWEH VEYISHMARECHA (and may Yahweh bless you and keep you)

YAER YAHWEH PANAV ELEYCHA VICHUNECHA (may Yahweh lift up His face to shine upon you and grant you grace) YISA YAHWEH PANAV ELEYCHA VEYASEM LECHA SHALOM (may Yahweh lift up His countenance on you and give you peace) VAYEHI BAYOM KALOT MOSHE LEHAKIM ET-HA-MISHKAN (7:1) = and it also came about on the day that Moshe finished erecting the Tabernacle. This is confirming what we saw at 5:1. This part of Numbers is about the day mentioned in Exodus 40:1-17. This is yet another example of the chronology skipping forwards and backwards, as once again the order of the events is secondary to the thematic teaching of both the history and the regulations associated with given events. (7:12) NAHSHON AMMINADAB JUDAH. NAHSHON (perhaps from NAHSHOL) = stormy sea/waters. AMMINADAB = my kinsman is noble. JUDAH = praise. Message: [Through] stormy waters my noble kinsmen/family [received] praise. This is a reference to the deliverance at the Sea of Reeds under Moshe, and in later times the rabbis will tell a story or Midrash based on this meaning: [From Wikipedia] Owing to his direct descent from Judah and to his being the progenitor of so many kings, Nahshon is extolled by the rabbis as a most noble man. Nahshon's sister Elisheba married Aaron,[4] and this is especially mentioned as a hint that one should take care to select a wife whose brothers are noble.[5] The Midrash relates that during the Exodus, when the Israelites reached the Red Sea, it did not automatically part. The Israelites stood at the banks of the sea and wailed with despair, but Nahshon entered the waters. Once he was up to his nose in the water, the sea parted. This is the origin of his name "Nahshol" = "stormy sea-waves". It is in virtue of action that he was chosen to be the first to bring the dedicatory offering.[6] Nahshon was a model prince,[7] and was called "king".[8] When the princes of the different tribes were required to bring their offerings, each on a separate day, Moses was embarrassed, not knowing who should be the first; but all Israel pointed at Nahshon, saying, "He sanctified the name of God by springing first into the Red Sea; he is worthy to bring down the Shekhinah; therefore he shall be the first to bring the offering."[9] The offering brought by Nahshon is pointed out as having been his own and not that of his tribe.[10] In the account of the offering the words Va'korbano ("and his sacrifice") and Etodim each have a , while the same words in the accounts of the other princes' offerings have no . This letter, the numerical value of which is six, indicates that Nahshon was the ancestor of six men David, the Messiah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah each of whom was distinguished for six praiseworthy qualities.[11]

Another possible meaning to NAHSHON is initiator.

(7:18) NETHANAEL ZUAR ISACCHAR. NETHANAEL = Given of El. ZUAR = little one. ISACCHAR = there is recompense. If recompense is meant in a bad sense here, i.e. in the sense of taking vengeance, the sentence possibly means: There is little revenge given from El [for our sins]. (7:24) ELIAB HELON ZEBULON. ELIAB = El is my Father. HELON = brave. ZEBULON = dwelling of honor. Message: El is my Father [Who is] brave and dwells with honor. (7:30) ELIZUR SHEDEUR REUBEN. ELIZUR = El of the rock or El is my rock. SHEDUER = Shaddai is light. REUBEN = behold a son. Message: El is my rock, Shaddai is light [that] beholds [His] Son. (7:36) SHELEUMIEL ZURISHADDAI SHIMEON. SHELEUMIEL = peace of El. ZURISHADDAI = My Rock is Shaddai [a title for YHWH]. SHIMEON = they hear. So the sentence is The peace of El, the Rock of Shaddai [is for] they who hear [him]. (7:42) ELIASAPH DEUEL GAD. ELIASAPH = El has added. DEUEL = El has known. GAD = fortunate. Because this is the sixth day, what El has added may relate to the Shabbat and therefore mean, El has added and El has known the sons of the fortunate [who keep the added seventh day]. (7:48) ELISHAMA AMMIHUD EPHRAIM. ELISHAMA= El has heard. AMMIHUD = my people are majestic. EPHRAIM = fruitful. Pretty straight forward: El has heard that my people are majestic and fruitful! (7:54) GAMALIEL PEDAHZUR MANASSEH. GAMALIEL = El has recompensed. PEDAHZUR = the rock has ransomed. MANASSEH = causing forgetfulness. Message: El has recompensed [through] the rock of ransoming causing forgetting [of our sins]. NOTE: This may be a reference to a rock that was used to sacrifice unto YHWH per our Haftorah portion this week (Judges 13:19). (7:60) ABIDAN GIDEONI BEN-YAMIN. Each of these names may spell out a message. Abidan = My Father is judge. Gideoni = my cutter (hewer with an axe). Ben-Yamin= Benjamin, literally son of my right hand but idiomatically son of my strength/power. So perhaps this means: My Father [YHWH] is a Judge that cuts down the sons of power! (7:66) AHIEZAR AMMISHADDAI DAN. AHIEZAR = my brother is help. AMMISHADDAI = my kinsman/family is Shaddai. DAN = judge. Message: My brother is help, my family is Shaddai [and my] judge.

Last two combine (7:72-78) PAGIEL OCHRAN ASHER AHIRA ENAN NAPHTALI. PAGIEL = occurrence/intervention of El. OCHRAN = trouble. ASHER = who/whom (to those). AHIRA (the brother of evil). ENAN (fountain). NAPHTALI (wrestle with/for El). Message: Els intervention [is] trouble [for those] who are brothers of evil [but] a fountain [of life] to those who strive with El!

Torah Question of the Week: Is there such a thing as a Torah code and if so, what is it?

END PART 1

PART 2: THE HAFTORAH Torah Question of the Week: Is there such a thing as a Torah code and if so, what is it? Yes, there is most definitely a Torah code and you have just seen it in action. While much of this research focuses on things like Equidistant Letter Sequences (ELS) the main code is linguistic, and manifests in part thorough the names of people and places in Scripture. (See Secret of the 50 Names video for more information).

1) Haftorah portion (English- Judges 13:2-25) and discuss common themes with the Torah portion. 2) Our linguistic commentary ZORAH = wasp nest. MANOACH = what peace/rest? which is a very good question during the time of the Judges! Note: the man of El is actually a Messenger-angel, meaning that you can sometimes call an angel a man. This explains why in the Gospels the resurrection scenes alternately mention men and angels and they are one and the same beings. SAMSON (Shimshon) = Little sun, derived from SHEMESH (sun) and hometown is Beth-Shemesh (place of the sun). 3) Renewed Covenant portion: (English) Acts 21:17-32 (all the way through with applicable footnotes.) 4) Highlight common themes in Aramaic (terms in footnotes which I will read) Acts 21:20 221) Greek murias (myriads) refers to a minimum of 10,000 souls. 222) See Josephus the Netzari in Appendix. 223) Most translations read "zealous for the law"; it is a self-evident truth that myriads of Netzarim followers of Y'shua were also zealous for Torah! The work of the Ruach haKodesh (Set-Apart Spirit) is to write Torah (instructions in righteousness) upon the hearts of YHWH's people, both Jew and Elohim Fearers. Acts 21:21

224) Attacks against Rav Shaul by factions of rabbinical zealots were manifold. Shaul taught that faith and intent of the heart determines whether a person is ready to be circumcised and walk in Torah. At no time did Shaul teach against either circumcision or Torah; however, he opposed the "traditions of the Pharisees" who demanded blind observance to their religious traditions. Shaul required that Gentile converts be taught about covenant and have clear understanding of what they were doing, in relationship to YHWH and His Mashiyach. To be expected to know and observe complex halakha at early stages of belief is unacceptable. Both the Pharisees and Netzarim taught that a person must study to develop their understanding and establish the intent in their heart before circumcision, rather than blindly follow the wishes of others. Only a small group of zealots demanded immediate circumcision, which is something Rav Shaul clearly opposes. It is very evident that Awraham received instruction before his circumcision, and he is the father of Faith for both Jews and Gentiles alike. Acts 21:27 227) Rav Shaul has been seen in the Temple for some time; here he is found celebrating Shabbat in the Temple. Rav Shaul is not posturing; his relationship with YHWH and Mashiyach requires observance of Shabbat. Paul is not mixing Pagan ideas with Y'shua, as most Christians suggest; rather, he interprets the observance of Torah through Mashiyach, rather than through Pharisaical tradition. This in no way diminishes but, rather, establishes Torah. See Rav Shaul (Apostle Paul) in Appendix. 5) Apply these themes/issues to modern issues in the Netzari faith. (We see here clearly the lengths that the apostle Paul goes through to maintain Torah and set a good example for those who are being initiated into Torah. May this also be true for all of us! But notice also how his detractors would immediately criticize him for doing so and in fact say the opposite! So while appearing to be righteous, Pauls enemies are actually going against his Torah observance and accusing him of being anti-nomian! Unfortunately, this also goes on today.) 6) Relate to all or part of an Appendix portion of AENT or footnotes from a portion (Torah in Renewed Covenant, p. 986-994, relating squarely to Rav Shaul and each of the Ten Commandments). STUDY QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED NEXT WEEK FOR THIS PORTION: 1) There is a hidden message in the NT portion contrasting the power of good versus the power of an evil that happens in the Gospels, what is that message? Hint: Its all in the math. 2) How many people in the NT kept a Nazirite vow?

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3) Both men and women are allowed to take the Nazirite vow, but for women there is an extra requirement. What is that requirement? 4) What does the chronological arrangement of the Torah teach us about how YHWH thinks about time and how that might be different from how we view time? 5) What does that difference of YHWHs time versus our time mean in terms of our ability to understand His Word?

Torah Thought for the Week: Mapping Out the Torah: A Beautiful Message Over the past few weeks, we have been exploring several places together where the Torah narrative clearly trumps chronological order in favor of spiritual themes. But frankly, a lot of the skipping around is simply a bit jarring for most of us who are used to a more linear format. It may not manifest confusion of course right away, while folks are getting their literary feet wet in parsha, but over time, the more detailed one gets into it, the more the asynchronous story telling becomes. Speaking for myself, I found that very challenging because of the way my mind works, which prompted me to do my best to put the events all in the right order. By now also, many of you may have already seen my Shavuot Special, where I meticulously map out the Exodus year with a massive calendar and commentary. That having been done and available for anyone who wants to see it, the next logical step was to put the rest of the Torah events into their original order. When you do that, I believe it also opens up a window on to those times and challenges that otherwise would have been closed. You see, the Torah books are not really separate stories in time, but one story told from different viewpoints. It is roughly analogous to how the Gospels work Matthew, Mark, Luke and John tell the same story about the same 3 year period with different details and phases. Similarly, Moshes agenda in Leviticus is different than the one in Numbers even as the same writer details the same period of time with different details. As the book of Exodus opens, the first 11 chapters detail the 144 years that pass from Josephs death, the last event in Genesis, until the start of the Exodus drama with Moshe confronting Pharaoh and Egypt reeling from devastating plagues. In the middle of that series of disasters, Abba YHWH tells Moshe and Aaron that their calendar has changed, and they are now counting spring to spring. Instructions for the Passover feast follow, because that is at the next full moon, and the next thing we know the Israelites are freed from bondage. From Exodus 12-39 then we have that

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narrative squarely focused on 1447 BCE, or what I also call Year 0 because YHWH has reset His clock. Then in Exodus 40 the first day of the first month of Year 1 (1446 BCE) and then winds its way through separate details in Leviticus and Numbers. Even so, it is the same day with a fixed date: Friday, March 28th, 1446 BCE, also known as 1 Abib. What also makes this day very, very special is what lead up to it. Up until now, there has been no Tabernacle and therefore no priesthood. Therefore, Abba YHWH has in effect been acting as High Priest for the Israelites, according to a very specific time framefrom vernal equinox in 1447 or Exodus year until the next vernal equinox in the following year. I know that because, as we have seen, the Israelites were freed from Egypt on Friday, March 22nd, the time when the VE had happened, adjusted for the Hebrew day beginning at sunset. So from that Friday to the Friday at the start of spring in 1446 (March 21st) Abba YHWH is High Priest. That very next Friday (the 28th) is in Hebrew terms that particular year also 1 Abib, so the transition in solar and Hebrew terms is seamless, but only if we get the right historical years to work with for that astronomy to align! So lets look at this day. After Moshe himself spent much of his time erecting the Tabernacleprobably with significant help from others though the text emphasizes Moshes involvementthe main objective of that activity is revealed:
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He then put the screen at the entrance to the Dwelling. 29 He put the altar of burnt offerings at the entrance to the Dwelling, to the Tent of Meeting, and on it offered the burnt offering and cereal offering, as Yahweh had ordered Moses. 30 He put the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it for the ablutions, 31 where Moses, Aaron and his sons washed their hands and feet, 32 whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar they washed, as Yahweh had ordered Moses. 33 He then set up the court round the Dwelling and the altar and set up the screen at the gate-way to the court. Thus Moses completed the work. 34 The cloud then covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of Yahweh filled the Dwelling. 35 Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting, since the cloud stayed over it and the glory of Yahweh filled the Dwelling. (Exodus 40:28-35 NJB) So now the 8 day ordination process begins, and this shifts us into Numbers 7 which tells us exactly what else happened on this critical first day of Abib. On the day Moses finished erecting the Dwelling (per Exodus 40-AGR), he anointed and consecrated it and all its furniture, as well as the altar and all its equipment. When he had anointed and consecrated it all, 2 the leaders of Israel made an offering; they were the heads of their families, the tribal leaders who had presided over the census. 3 They brought their offering before Yahweh: six covered wagons and twelve oxen, one wagon for every two leaders and one ox each. They brought them in front of the Dwelling. 4 Yahweh spoke to Moses and

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said, 5 'Accept these from them, and let them be set apart for the service of the Tent of Meeting. You will give them to the Levites, to each as his duties require.' 6 Moses took the wagons and oxen, and gave them to the Levites. 7 To the Gershonites he gave two wagons and four oxen for the duties they had to perform. 8 To the Merarites he gave four wagons and eight oxen for the duties they had to perform under the direction of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest. 9 But to the Kohathites he gave none at all, because the sacred charge entrusted to them had to be carried on their shoulders. 10 The leaders then made an offering for the dedication of the altar, on the day it was anointed. They brought their offering before the altar, 11 and Yahweh said to Moses, 'Each day one of the leaders must bring his offering for the dedication of the altar.' 12 On the first day an offering was brought by Nahshon son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah. 13 His offering consisted of: one silver bowl weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels (sanctuary shekels), both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a cereal offering, 14 one golden bowl weighing ten shekels, full of incense, 15 one young bull, one ram and one male yearling lamb as a burnt offering, 16 one he-goat as a sacrifice for sin, 17 and two bulls, five rams, five he-goats and five male yearling lambs as a communion sacrifice. Such was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab. (Numbers 7:1-17 NJB) The next 6 days, or March 29-April 4 are dealt with in similar levels of details as 6 more tribes (Issaccar, Zebulon, Reuben, Simeon, Gad and EphraimNumbers 7:18-53) each present an offering. And this exact same period also has many regulations given that we now call Leviticus, chapters 1-8. At this point though it might be helpful to break out the first of two charts showing where all the Torah chapters relate in terms of chronology. I have mostly excluded Deuteronomy because the entire book is only about 1 actual day, 1 Shevat in 1406 BCE. Also, I will not read these lengthy charts either but merely summarize the data at the end of each one. Chart #1 (Gregorian dates show DAYLIGHT portions of the Hebrew day) Absolute BCE Year Exodus Leviticus NumbersEvent(s) Chronology Joshua Exodus Year 0 1447 BCE 12-39 Exodus Priestly Numbers Moshe sets up Year 1 1446 BCE 1 Abib 40 ordination 7:1-17 Tabernacle Friday, March begins for and begins 28th 8 days ordaining total. priests. Judah (Leviticus presents his resumes dedication narrative offering to on the 8th Tabernacle. day in

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chapters 910.) 2-13 Abib March 29th April 9th Numbers 7:18-83 Over the next 11 days, each of the 11 tribes presents offerings for the Tabernacle. Days 2-7 of priestly ordination. Ordination of priests ends. Manasseh presents offerings. Nadav and Abihu die offering strange fire 7 menorahs presented. Final consecration of the Levites performed. First census for Israel taken. Marching orders for the tribes given. Firstborn of the Levites then rest of Israel counted. Levite clans of Kohath, Merari and Gershon counted; responsibilities given. Purity and Nazirite

2-7 Abib March 29thApril 3rd 8 Abib Friday, April 4th

Leviticus 8

Leviticus 9-10

Numbers 3:4;7:54-59

13 Abib Wednesday, April 9th

Numbers 8:1-26

Month of Iyar, starting Sunday, April 27th

Numbers 1:1-6:25

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Year 2

1445 BCE 1 Abib Monday, March 15th 2 Abib Tuesday, March 16th 20 Iyar Wednesday, May 4th Leviticus 11:1-27:34 All commands given in the rest of Leviticus are while the Israelites are at Mount Sinai. Therefore, when they depart, Leviticus has ended by this same day!

Numbers 9:1-23

regulations given; blessing of the priests given. Rules for 2nd Passover given. Commands to build silver trumpets given. Cloud of glory departs Sinai and settles on Paran. Moshe and the tribes begin a 3 day journey there, arriving before sunset on Friday, 22 Iyar/May 6th, the start of Shabbat.

Numbers 10:1-10

Numbers 10:11-36

Other events in Iyar

Numbers 11:1-12:16

Israelites complain they dont have enough meat and fish. YHWH answers by sending them quail but also striking them down with plague. Miriam and Aaron

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Summer events

Numbers 13:1-19:22

Year 40

Year 40/41

1407 BCE Month of Abib, beginning sunset on Sunday, March 16th 1 Ab Thursday, June 12th 1407-1406 BCE All events from 2 Ab,(Friday, June 13th) to 30 Tevet (Monday, January 5th)

Numbers 20:1-22

Numbers 20:23-29; 33:38 Numbers 21:1-36:13

complain reMoshes Cushite wife. Miriam stricken with leprosy for 7 days. Lowlights include the bad report of the spies, the command for the Israelites to wander 40 more years in the wilderness and the Korach rebellion and aftermath. Bad times. But also the manna is given. Miriam dies. Moshe sins with getting water out of the rock prematurely at Meribah. Aaron dies on Mount Hor. Since Deuteronomy 1:3 starts in 40th year after Exodus on the 1st day of the 11th month, the rest of Numbers events must take place between 2 Ab and 30 Tevet.

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Year 41

1406 BCE 1 Shevat Tuesday, January 6th 30 days of mourning ends Thursday, 1 Adar/February 5th

Deuteronomy 1:1-34:6 covers 1 Shevat. 30 days of mourning are recorded in Deuteronomy 34:7-12.

Moshe dies at the end of 1 Shevat and Israel mourns him 30 days, thus completing the 39th year of wandering in the wilderness.

Joshua 1-3

Year 42

1405 BCE 10 Abib Shabbat (by direct command from YHWH, Israelites set up stones and

Joshua 4-6 Jericho campaign Joshua 7-8 Defeat at Ai Joshua 9-10

In order to complete the 40th year of wandering in the wilderness, Joshua must wait a whole year after Moshes mourning is over to enter into Canaan. We call this 40th year Jubilee Zero. It is when the land is taken from the Canaanites and given back to YHWH, Who holds it in trust for a year before transferring it to Israel.. The year turns to spring with Joshua crossing the Jordan and then having Passover in Gilgal. Later

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cross Jordan) April 2nd (Joshua 4:19) Other events for this year are recorded elsewhere in the book of Joshua.

Victory helping Gibeon (sun stands still)

that month he will attack Jericho.

So the highlights for the chart we have just seen are as follows: 1) As we just explained, Year 0 (1447 BCE) is exclusively dealt with by Exodus chapters 12 through 39. 2) Year 1 (1446 BCE) is recounted in Exodus 40, Leviticus chapters 1 through 10 and Numbers chapters 1 through 8. 3) Year 2 (1445 BCE) is recorded in Leviticus chapters 11 through 27, since those commands are all given while Israel is still at Sinai, which they leave after the first 7 weeks of the year (on the 20th day of the 2nd month). Also covering this year, at least well into the summer, are Numbers chapters 11-19. 4) Year 40 (1407 BCE) and therefore 38 years are skipped over except for the travel stops given in Numbers 33, begins with Miriams death in the first month in Numbers 20 and continues to the end of the book covering events until the end of the 10th month. All of Deuteronomy takes place on 1 Shevat, the first day of the 11th month, except for the 30 days Israel mourns for Moshe after his death, which brings this year to a close. 5) Year 41 (1406 BCE) has no events associated with it directly but is inferred from other Scripture evidence. In the 2nd year after the Exodus (Numbers 9:1-2) the Israelites send out spies into the land of Canaan (Numbers 13). When those spies come back with a bad report (except Joshua and Caleb), Abba YHWH punishes Israel with wandering a year in the wilderness for each of the 40 days they spent spying out the land. Since it is already 2 years past the Exodus, that means it takes 42 years from Exodus to the Jericho campaign. But by the time Moshe dies and is mourned for 30 days, only 39 years of wandering in the wilderness had been completed. This means Joshua has to wait another full year before attacking Jericho. This waiting year I call Jubilee Zero. In the Jubilee, land reverts to its original Owner, YHWH. In one place He warns Israel that the Canaanites are being expelled for their wickedness and He will do the same to Israel if they also sin. So YHWH hold the land in trust for a year after taking it from the Canaanites and at the end of that year he will give it to Israel. Joshua 1-3 covers this broad time frame. 6) Year 42 (1405 BCE) is dealt with in the first 10 chapters of the book of Joshua, covering the Jericho, Ai and Gibeon campaigns.

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But a wider and very beautiful pattern is revealed when we take the same data and arrange it slightly differently. Here is that chart for your review, and I will comment on its significance at the end. Chart #2: (Gregorian dates show DAYLIGHT portions of the Hebrew day) Hebrew Gregorian Day of the 12 tribes 8 day Scripture Topic Date Date Week dedicating ordination (Leviticus Tabernacle of the regulations) (Numbers priests 7) (Exodus 40; Leviticus 1-10) 1 Abib March 28th Friday Levite clans Moshe sets Priestly offering followed by up instructions Judah Tabernacle (Leviticus 1) (Numbers begins 7:1-17) ordination of Aarons sons (all of Exodus 40) 2 Abib March 29th Shabbat Isaacar Day 2 of Cereal offering (YHWH presents priestly instructions ordered offerings ordination (Leviticus 2) continuous (Numbers process. offerings 7:18-23) and ordinations. th 3 Abib March 30 Sunday Zebulon Day 3 of Peace offering presents priestly instructions offerings ordination (Leviticus 3) (Numbers process. 7:24-29) 4 Abib March 31st Monday Reuben Day 4 of Rules on presents priestly unintentional offerings ordination sins (Leviticus (Numbers process 4) 7:30-35) st 5 Abib April 1 Tuesday Shimeon Day 5 of Rules on guilt presents priestly offerings offerings ordination (Leviticus 5) (Numbers process 7:36-41) 6 Abib April 2nd Wednesday Gad Day 6 of Rules on burnt presents priestly offerings

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7 Abib

April 3rd

Thursday

8 Abib

April 4th

Friday

offerings (Numbers 7:42-47) Ephraim presents offerings (Numbers 7:48-53) Manasseh presents offerings (Numbers 7:54-59)

ordination process Day 7 of priestly ordination process Day 8 of priestly ordination process. Nadav and Abihu die later this day (Leviticus 9-10) Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar serve their first Shabbat.

(Leviticus 6)

More rules on sacrifices (Leviticus 7)

Rules for the final ordination of the priests (Leviticus 8)

9 Abib

April 5th

Shabbat (Continuous offerings through Shabbat)

Benjamin presents offerings (Numbers 7:60-65)

Instructions on kosher food given (Leviticus 11)

10 Abib

April 6th

Sunday

11 Abib

April 7th

Monday

12 Abib

April 8th

Tuesday

13 Abib

April 9th

Wednesday

Dan presents offerings (Numbers 7:66-71) Asher presents offerings (Numbers 7:72-77) Naphtali presents offerings (Numbers 7:78-83) 7 menorahs presented. Final consecration of the Levites

Instructions on purity/separation given (Leviticus 12) Instructions on detecting leprosy given (Leviticus 13) Instructions on cleansing leprosy given (Leviticus 14) Instructions on other bodily discharges given (Leviticus 15)

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1 Iyar (daylight period)

April 27th

Sunday

2 Iyar

April 28th

Monday

performed (Numbers 8:1-26) First census taken (Numbers 1). This is in the first month IN the second year as opposed to AFTER two years (Numbers 9:1). Orders on encampment of troops/ tribes given (Numbers 2) Census results for and duties of the Levites given (Numbers 3) Census results and duties given for Kohathites, Gershonites and Merarites (Numbers 4)

Instructions on and after this day for Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16)

More instructions on animal sacrifices given (Leviticus 17) Instructions on proper and improper sexual relations given (Leviticus 18)

3 Iyar

April 29th

Tuesday

4 Iyar

April 30th

Wednesday

Instructions on moral and ritual purity given (Leviticus 19)

5 Iyar

May 1st

Thursday

Rules for unclean people given along with

Penalties for violating purity regulations given (Leviticus 20)

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6 Iyar

May 2nd

Friday

resolving charges of adultery (Numbers 5) Rules for Nazirite vow given (Numbers 6). Please note Numbers 7 and 8 have been accounted for. 1445 BCE

Rules regarding the SetApartness of priests given (Leviticus 20)

1 Abib

March 15th Monday

Rules for 2nd Passover given (Numbers 9)

More rules for the priests given (Leviticus 21)

2 Abib

March 16th Tuesday

Commands to build silver trumpets given (Numbers 10:1-10)

Instructions for Set-Apart offerings for priests given (Leviticus 22)

3 Abib-19 Iyar

March 17th-May 3rd

The final weeks before departing Sinai.

Next 6 weeks will have the last part of Leviticus reviewed with Israel, starting on Shabbat days for this period: March 20: Rules for

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Moedim given (Leviticus 23) March 27: Regulations for the lamp are given and a blasphemer is stoned (Leviticus 24) April 3: Jubilee rules given while Israelites are still at Sinai (Leviticus 25) April 10: Rewards for obedience and punishments for disobedience given (Leviticus 26) April 17: Rules on vows given explicitly while Israel is still at Sinai (Leviticus 27)

20 Iyar

May 4th

Wednesday

Cloud of glory departs Sinai and settles on Paran. Moshe and the tribes begin a 3 day journey there,

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24 Iyar

May 8th

Sunday

24-27 Iyar May 9-12

MondayThursday

28 Iyar

May 13th

Friday

6 Sivan

May 20th

Friday

arriving before sunset on Friday, 22 Iyar/May 6th, the start of Shabbat. (Numbers 10:11-36) Israelites complain about not having enough fish and meat. (Numbers 11) YHWH promises relief; Israel prepares for quail. They fall and gather them for a few days and the complainers die from plague. Miriam and Aaron grumble against Moshe for taking a Cushite wife. Miriam begins 7 days isolation as a leper. Miriam returns to the camp in time for

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Early summer (end of Sivan)

Late June

Mid summer (perhaps 9th of Ab)

July 20th?

Tuesday (if it was the 9th of Ab)

Shabbat and Shavuot. (Numbers 12) Spies are sent out just at the beginning of grape season (Numbers 13:23) Spies give bad report; Israel condemned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, one for each day they spied out the land.

All other events from Numbers 15-19 are of uncertain timing before the text skips 38 years to Miriams death. The gorgeous dual-pattern begins again with the 8 day ordination of the priests and the 12 day dedication ceremony for the Tabernacle both starting on 1 Abib. And it is here that the different emphases of Numbers and Leviticus are most apparent. Numbers is clearly focused on the civilian leadership of the main 12 tribes of Israel. Leviticus on the other hand is more focused on the requirements of priests and Levites, hence its name in Greek which means pertaining to the Levites. This represents also what I call a Double

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Witness pattern, where two sources are both talking about the same moment in time, but from different perspectives. But the real show stopper happens when we start matching the rules chapters of Leviticus with each day for either the priestly ordination or the Tabernacle dedication, because it is only at that point that we see the full design where theology trumps chronology. For example, while in historical time we have the Tabernacle being set up and the priestly ordinations beginning (Exodus 40, Numbers 1), the matching regulations for that first day, from Leviticus chapter 1, are all about rules for priestly offerings. This is a perfect thematic fit to the historical events that are taking place! The same thing happens throughout the next 6 days, where each day of priestly ordination (mirrored by the offerings of the tribes for the Tabernacle) has a relevant series of instructions for those same priests, a perfect match from day 2 to Leviticus 2, day 3 to Leviticus 3 and so on, until the end of Leviticus 7. At that point, Leviticus 8 details the rules for the end of ordination, and the next two chapters after that seamlessly also relate events on that same 8th day. In the parallel account in Numbers though, again that account being more focused on the other tribes, Manasseh does his offering and this gives us a beautiful remez or hint. Manasseh means causing to forget and when Manasseh does that offering, Nadav and Abihu die because they have forgotten how to offer their fire appropriately unto YHWH. Now the 8 days of ordination being concluded, the rest of Numbers 7 kicks in with the remaining 4 days of dedicating the Tabernacle, during which time the tribes of Benjamin, Dan, Asher and Naphtali dedicate their offerings. From that point on forwards, I simply continued applying one chapter of Leviticus at a time and matched it up to the historical events recorded in Numbers. What I found was that the number of Leviticus topics/chapters very closely matched the number of historical events, to the degree that topics of Leviticus ends just prior to the time that the Israelites leave Sinai, which is recorded in Numbers 10. In other words, each regulation in a chapter of Leviticus goes very well with each day of chronological time given in Numbers. Then when Leviticus finishes all its regulations which are tied to Sinai, the text of Numbers basically agrees with it and says Okay, discussion at Sinai is over, time to move out! So this is the true core of Moshes design in writing the Torah under the inspiration of the Ruach haKodesh. Teach the history (Numbers) and then teach the regulations behind that history (Leviticus), so that each side of the equation is reinforced by the other. And this happens repeatedly throughout this process as it makes perfect sense that the bulk of priestly instructions also end at the moment the 8 days of ordination do!

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Therefore we have two witnesses to the time period, but each witness speaks to different yet complementary details. First we are told the WHAT and then we are told the WHY, and if telling the WHY takes 5 or 6 chapters to do while the narrative is on hold or the narrative slightly cycles back to the beginning, so be it. It is far more important to see the interconnected purpose of the text than to always think of it in terms of pure chronological order, so that by the mouths of two witnesses HIS word might be established (Deuteronomy 19:15)! Im Andrew Gabriel Roth and thats your Torah Thought for the Week! Next week we will be exploring BHallotcha, or Numbers 8:1-12:16. Our Haftorah portion will be Zechariah 2:14-4:7 and our Renewed Covenant portion will be Hebrews 4:1-16! Stay tuned!

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