Bemidbar/Numbers
4:21-7:89
“ Nasso” –to lift up or Make
an Accounting– is a very interesting Hebrew verb, it is
called an infinitive of emphasis or an infinitive absolute verb. This conveys
the idea of a command as well as an incomplete action, in other words this
action has a present ongoing and future dimension.
I believe YHVH is showing us in this portion how significant and central
priesthood is to our spiritual well-being. We are reminded that YHVH Himself
chooses (naso) those who are to represent Him and we have an enormous
responsibility of sharing their burden and remaining accountable to YHVH
through them.
I believe this
Levitical priesthood today is represented, but not replaced by the five- fold
ministry mentioned in the book of Ephesians.
Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some as emissaries, and
some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as shepherds and teachers
Eph 4:12 for the perfecting of the set-apart ones, to
the work of service to a building up of the body of the Messiah,
Eph 4:13 until we all come to the unity of the belief
and of the knowledge of the Son of Elohim, to a perfect man, to the measure of
the stature of the completeness of Messiah,
The ministry of these
early appointed leaders of YHVH was effective in establishing His “Kehelah”
congregation (not church) BECAUSE THEY WERE FIERCLY TORAH OBSERVANT.
In our day the so
called five- fold ministries have little or no regard for the Torah.
The Ruach of YHVH is
still calling and preparing a priesthood to carry the burden of the Word and
ministry of YHVH into the world. This Torah portion teaches us once again how
to yield to His mighty leading and allow Him to place us in that set apart
space where we find true and everlasting meaning and purpose for our lives and
so fulfil the calling He has upon each one of our lives.
1Pe 2:5
you also, as living stones, are being built up, a spiritual house, a
set-apart priesthood, to offer up spiritual slaughter offerings
acceptable to Elohim through יהושע Messiah.
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a set-apart nation, a people for a possession, that you should
proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous
light,
1Pe 2:10 who once were not a
people, but now the people of Elohim; who had not obtained compassion, but now
obtained compassion.
Guarding doing and hearing
the Torah of YHVH
establishes this calling upon our lives.
This priestly calling is
directed to those YHVH has called to lead the people of YHVH back to the land
and back to their promised inheritance, yet this is often not the case, listen
to the stern warning of the prophet:
Eze 34:2b:“Woe to the
shepherds1 of Yisra’ĕl who have been feeding themselves! Should not
the shepherds feed the flock? Footnote: 1See Jer. 10:21.
Eze 34:3 “You eat the fat and you put on the wool. You
slaughter the fatlings – you do not feed the flock.
Eze 34:4 “You have not strengthened the weak, nor have
you healed the sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back the straying,
nor sought what was lost; but you have ruled them with might and harshness.
Eze 34:7 ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of יהוה:
Eze 34:11 ‘For thus said the
Master יהוה, “See, I
Myself shall search for My sheep and seek them out.
Eze 34:12 “As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day
he is among his scattered sheep, so I shall seek out My sheep and deliver them
from all the places where they were scattered in a day of cloud and thick darkness (the Hebrew word for “darkness” or
“murkiness” implies a future time when there is a great deal of uncertainty and
turmoil)
The shepherds have lead YHVH’s sheep astray because they have not taught
and shown them the way of Torah.
Eze 34:17 ‘And as for you, O My flock, thus said the
Master יהוה, “See, I am
judging between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats.
Mat 25:31 “And when the Son of Aḏam (Messiah) comes in
His esteem, and all the set-apart messengers with Him, then He shall sit on the
throne of His esteem.
Mat 25:32
“And all the nations shall be gathered before Him, and He shall separate
them one from another, as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats.
Mat 25:33
“And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the
left.
Mat 25:34
“Then the Sovereign shall say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you
blessed of My Father, inherit the reign prepared for you from the foundation of
the world –
Mat 25:35
for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me
drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in,
Mat 25:36
was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in
prison and you came to Me.’
Mat 25:37
“Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, ‘Master, when did we see
You hungry and we fed You, or thirsty and gave You to drink?
Yahshua is not just talking about physical needs
but the spiritual hunger and captivity that comes about when we are not guided
by the Torah of YHVH.
A great multitude of YHVH’s sheep who have strayed
from the Torah have become the prey of a host of self- seeking shepherds.
General Overview: This week's
Torah portion, Naso, is the longest single portion in the Torah,
containing 176 verses, the same number of verses found in Psalm 119, reminding
us of the importance of the priestly responsibility and burden to carry the
Word of the Torah. The reading starts with a continuation of the Levite census
and a discussion regarding their Tabernacle duties, and the preserving of
purity in the camp. The laws of the “sotah” woman and the Nazirite
follow. The portion concludes with the Priestly Blessing and the offerings
which the Tribal leaders brought in honour of the Tabernacle inauguration.
The Levitical ministry will be restored when
Messiah returns and the Temple is rebuilt in Yerushalayim/Jerusalem.
What about Messiah’s Melchizedek ministry? It is
most definitely superior but does not replace the Levitical ministry. Both
these ministries work in harmony with each other and are required to bring us
into purity and perfection. We know and believe that Messiah accomplished a
finished work in terms of our salvation on the execution stake but we are still
called to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12)
The future ministry of the Levites when Messiah
returns is found in chapters 40 to 48 in the book of Ezekiel.
This Torah portion also points us to the temporary
restricting and removing from the camp those who bring defilement into the
camp. The purpose is for protection and restoration. (sotah)
Finally this Torah portion brings to our attention
to the responsibility of the on- going material support required by the
Levitical ministry.
Blessing
for the Torah:
Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-O’lam, asher
bachar banu m’kol ha-amim,
v’natan lanu eht Torah-to. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn
ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe,
(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe,
you have selected us from among all the peoples, and
have given us your Torah.
Blessed are you, YHVH, giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)
Torah Readings:
1.
4:21-37
2.
4:38-49
3.
5:1-10
4.
5:11
– 6:27
5.
7:1-41
6.
7:42-71
7.
7:72-89
Haftarah: Judges 13:2-25
Aliyah Rishon 4:21-37
is when we are accounted for (naso) by YHVH’s delegated and
appointed Torah seeking leaders. The duties of the Levites was not self - assumed
but delegated.
Num 4:21 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 4:22 “Take a
census(naso) also of the sons of Gĕreshon, by their fathers’ house, by their
clans.
Num 4:23 “Register
them, from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who enter
to perform the service, to do the service in the Tent of Meeting.
Num 4:24 “This is
the service of the clans of the Gĕreshonites, in serving and in bearing
burdens:
The word “burden” relates to the Hebrew word “naso” and
can also mean “to wear or yield.”
Num 4:25 “And they
shall bear the curtains of the
Dwelling Place and the Tent of Meeting with its covering, the covering of fine
leather that is on it, the covering for the door of the Tent of Meeting,
Num 4:26 and the
screens of the courtyard and the covering for the door of the gate of the
courtyard, which is around the Dwelling Place and altar, and their cords, all
the equipment for their service and all that is made for them – so shall they
serve.
Num 4:27 “Aharon
and his sons are to command all the service of the sons of the Gĕreshonites, all their burden and all their service. And
you shall appoint to them all the duty of all their burden.
Num 4:28 “This is
the service of the clans of the sons of Gĕreshon in the Tent of Meeting. And
let their duties be under the hand of Ithamar, son of Aharon the priest.
Num 4:29 “As for
the sons of Merari, register them by
their clans and by their fathers’ house.
Num 4:30 “Register
them, from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who enter
the service to do the work of the Tent of Meeting.
Num 4:31 “And this is the duty of their burden,
according to all their service for the Tent of Meeting: the boards of the
Dwelling Place, and its bars, and its columns, and its sockets,
Num 4:32 and the
columns around the courtyard with their sockets, and their pegs, and their
cords, with all their equipment and all their service. And assign to each by name the equipment of the duty of their
burden.
Num 4:33 “This is
the service of the clans of the sons of Merari, as all their service for the
Tent of Meeting, under the hand of Ithamar, son of Aharon the priest.”
Num 4:34 So Mosheh
and Aharon and the leaders of the congregation registered the sons of the
Qehathites by their clans and by their fathers’ house,
Num 4:35 from
thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who entered the
service for work in the Tent of Meeting.
Num 4:36 And their
registered ones, by their clans, were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.
Num
4:37 These were the registered ones of
the clans of the Qehathites, all those serving in the Tent of Meeting, whom
Mosheh and Aharon registered according to the command of יהוה by the hand of Mosheh.
Today the evidence of the true priesthood remains amongst
those who are willing and faithful to carry the burden of the ministry of the
word of the Torah. When Yahshua spoke about the taking upon ourselves his yoke,
it was an Hebrew expression of taking on the study and obedience of the Torah.
Mat 11:29
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in
heart, and you shall find rest for your beings.1 Footnote: 1Jer.
6:16.
Aliyah Sheni 4:38-49
The total for the Gershon family: 2,630.
The Merari family: 3,200.
Thus the grand total of Levites eligible to
transport the Tabernacle and its vessels: 8,580.
In Hebrew the word
“avodah” can mean both “work” and “worship.” This reveals the set apart nature
of our daily activity. If we have
surrendered our lives to Him, He will ordain the activity of our lives to bring
about His will for our lives.
Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in
Messiah יהושע unto good
works, which Elohim prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Num 4:38 And those registered ones of the sons of
Gĕreshon, by their clans and by their fathers’ house,
Num 4:39 from thirty years old and above, even to
fifty years old, all who entered the service for work in the Tent of Meeting,
Num 4:40 the registered ones, by their clans, by their
fathers’ house, were two thousand six hundred and thirty.
Num 4:41 These were the registered ones of the clans
of the sons of Gĕreshon, of all who serve in the Tent of Meeting, whom Mosheh
and Aharon registered according to the command of יהוה. Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in
Messiah יהושע unto good
works, which Elohim prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Num 4:42 And those
of the clans of the sons of Merari who were registered, by their clans, by
their fathers’ house,
Num 4:43 from
thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who entered the
service for work in the Tent of Meeting,
Num 4:44 the
registered ones, by their clans were three thousand two hundred.
Num 4:45 These
were the registered ones of the clans of the sons of Merari, whom Mosheh and
Aharon registered according to the command of יהוה by the hand of
Mosheh.
Num 4:46 All the
registered ones of the Lĕwites, whom Mosheh and Aharon and the leaders of
Yisra’ĕl registered, by their clans and by their fathers’ houses,
Num 4:47 from
thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who came to do the
work of service and the work of bearing burdens in the Tent of Meeting,
Num 4:48 their
registered ones were eight thousand five hundred and eighty.
Num 4:49 According
to the command of יהוה they were registered by the hand of Mosheh,
each according to his service and according
to his burden, thus were they registered by him, as יהוה commanded
Mosheh.
The Role of Levites -
Moshe Yoseph Koniuchowsky
We see Levi’s role as a restorer of true worship,
not just as overseers of the animal sacrificial system. In Numbers/Bamidbar
1:53, we see this same protective role over all Israel in the positioning of
the Levites around the Dwelling Place, as opposed to joining a particular tribe
or camp. The Levites GUARDED the purity of Israelite worship, by leading
worship and by refusing to partake in any affairs in any camp, or outside pagan
worship. Levites are characterized by a hate for pagan mixture into
Israelite worship. Their dedication was and still is to the preservation and
often the restoration and healing of the true worship that Yahweh expected from
all Israel.
LEVI’S RESTORATION MAKES BOTH HOUSES NERVOUS!
Yet
there remain those in both Judah and Ephraim that are threatened by the reality
of Levi’s ongoing presence. Both houses at times tend to see themselves leading
the way back to Tzion. And then along comes Levi, with his eternal stake in
Israel, claiming to have a prophetic mantle in direct relation to the affairs
of Israel’s two-house restoration. What makes those in Ephraim and Judah most
anxious and nervous about Levi's mix in the two-house equation, is that Levi is
attached to neither house by inheritance, since Yahweh is said to be their
inheritance. Thus Levi is least likely to take sides in petty disputes between
the two-houses that have and do continue to plague our people. So if those from
Judah and Ephraim resist the reality of the Levites being as perpetual as
Yahshua's very throne, (David’s throne) you can understand why. Here is the
scary part! Levi may not have an agenda, as do some in both houses and Levi
does not view the two-house message as "their message" or their only
calling! They see Israel’s reunion rather as an inheritance through revelation
by Yahweh Tzevaot!! Everything Levi gets is through inheritance, and thus they
view two-house restoration truth the same way. Yahweh’s revelation, on loan
from Him, awaiting Levi’s faithful discharge!
End quote.
Even King David recognized the eternal
priesthood of the Levites:
1Ch 15:2 Then Dawiḏ said, “No one is to lift the ark of Elohim but
the Lĕwites, for יהוה has chosen them to lift the ark of Elohim and to serve Him
forever.”
Aliyah Shlishi 5:1-10
Now
that YHVH's presence visits the Tabernacle, YHVH instructs Israel to banish
certain ritually impure individuals from their encampments. Most of them were
only barred from entering the Tabernacle area and its immediate environs. Only
one who suffered from tzara'at ("leprosy") was sent out of the
general encampment. This section then discusses the restitution and Temple
offerings required of one who robs his fellowman and then falsely swears to
maintain his innocence. If one robs a convert who then dies without leaving any
heirs, the restitution is made to a priest. Also included in this section is
the mitzvah to verbally confess one's sins, and a person's right to select a
priest of his liking to whom to give the various required priestly gifts.
Num 5:1 And יהוה spoke to
Mosheh, saying,
Num 5:2 “Command
the children of Yisra’ĕl to send out of the camp every leper, and everyone who
has a discharge, and whoever becomes defiled1 for a being. Footnote:
1Defilement can be imparted from one to another.
Num 5:3 “Send out
both male and female, send them outside the camp, so that they do not defile
their camps in the midst of which I dwell.”
Num 5:4 And the
children of Yisra’ĕl did so, to send them outside the camp. As יהוה had spoken to Mosheh, so the children of Yisra’ĕl did.
It is possible to ascribe all sickness to some form of
Torah disobedience (Deut 28) knowingly and unknowingly.
Num 5:5 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 5:6 “Speak to
the children of Yisra’ĕl, ‘When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit
in trespass against יהוה, and that being is guilty,
Num 5:7 then they
shall confess their sin which they have done. And he shall restore his guilt in
its principal, plus one-fifth of it, and give it to whom he has been guilty.
Num 5:8 ‘But if
the man has no relative to restore the guilt to, the guilt which is restored
goes to יהוה, for the priest, in addition to the ram of the atonement with
which atonement is made for him.
Num 5:9 ‘And every
contribution of all the set-apart gifts of the children of Yisra’ĕl,
which they bring to the priest, becomes his.
Num 5:10 ‘And
every man’s set-apart gifts becomes his, whatever any man gives the
priest becomes his.’ ”
Num 5:10 ‘And
every man’s set-apart gifts becomes his, whatever any man gives the
priest becomes his.’ ”
Aliyah Reviee 5:11-6:27
This rather lengthy section contains three
concepts:
1) The ceremony for the sotah, a
suspected adulteress who was witnessed going into seclusion with another
man--despite being warned not to associate with that individual. The woman is
brought to the Temple. This section of the Torah is written on parchment and
then soaked in water until the ink dissolves. The woman drinks the water. If
she indeed willingly committed adultery, her belly miraculously swells and she
dies a gruesome death. If she is unharmed by the waters, she is cleared of any
suspicion.
2) The laws of the individual who vows to be a Nazirite.
Such a person must abstain from wine and grape products, allow his/her hair to
grow, and may not come in contact with a human corpse. At the conclusion of the
term of the vow, the Nazirite brings certain offerings in the Temple.
3) The priestly blessings.
Num 5:11 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 5:12 “Speak to
the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘When any man’s wife turns aside and
has committed a trespass against him,
Num 5:13 and a man
has intercourse with her, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and it
is concealed that she has defiled herself, and there was no witness against
her, nor was she caught,
Num 5:14 and a
spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife who has defiled
herself, or a spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his
wife although she has not defiled herself,
Num 5:15 then the
man shall bring his wife to the priest. And he shall bring the offering for
her, one-tenth of an ĕphah of barley flour. He is not to pour oil on it or put
frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering of jealousy, an offering for
remembering, for bringing crookedness to remembrance.
Num 5:16 ‘And the
priest shall bring her near, and shall make her stand before יהוה.
Num 5:17 ‘And the
priest shall take set-apart water in an earthen vessel, and take some of the
dust that is on the floor of the Dwelling Place and put it into the water.
Num 5:18 ‘And the
priest shall make the woman stand before יהוה, and shall
uncover the woman’s head, and put the offering for remembering in her hands,
which is the grain offering of jealousy, while the priest holds in his hand the
bitter water that brings a curse.
Num 5:19 ‘And the
priest shall make her swear, and say to the woman, “If no man has lain with
you, and if you have not turned aside to uncleanness under your husband’s authority,
be free from this bitter water that brings a curse.
Num 5:20 “But if
you have turned aside under your husband’s authority, and if you have
defiled yourself and some man other than your husband has lain with you” –
Num 5:21 then the
priest shall make the woman swear with the oath of the curse, and he shall say
to the woman – “יהוה make you a curse and an oath among your
people, when יהוה makes your thigh waste away and your belly
swell,
Num 5:22 and this
water that causes the curse shall go into your inward parts, and make your
belly swell and your thigh waste away.” And the woman shall say, “Amĕn, amĕn.”
Num 5:23 ‘And the
priest shall write these curses in a book, and shall wipe them off into the
bitter water,
Num 5:24 and shall
make the woman drink the bitter water that brings the curse, and the water that
brings the curse shall enter her to become bitter.
Num 5:25 ‘And the
priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy from the woman’s hand, and
shall wave the offering before יהוה, and bring it to the altar.
Num 5:26 ‘And the
priest shall take a hand filled with the offering, as its remembrance offering,
and burn it on the altar, and afterward make the woman drink the water.
Num 5:27 ‘And when
he has made her drink the water, then it shall be, if she has defiled herself
and has committed a trespass against her husband, that the water that brings
the curse shall enter her and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her
thigh shall waste away, and the woman shall become a curse among her people.
Num 5:28 ‘But if
the woman has not defiled herself, and is clean, then she shall be clear and
shall conceive children.
Num 5:29 ‘This is
the Torah of jealousy, when a wife turns aside under her husband’s authority
and defiles herself,
Num 5:30 or when a
spirit of jealousy comes upon a man, and he becomes jealous of his wife. Then
he shall make the woman stand before יהוה, and the
priest shall do to her all this Torah.
Num 5:31 ‘And the
man shall be clear from crookedness, but the woman bear her crookedness.’ ”
Commentary of the law of “Sotah”
This
faithfulness is not only a product of our discipline and decision, it is
something that happens to us when we closely follow and obey the instructions
of Torah of YHVH. This Word empowers and enables us to do His will. (Torah is
not just about laws but it is a prophetic empowerment – Bullock)
Sotah comes from a word which means to go astray.
The Mishnah has an entire tractate called the “sotah” and
contains many additional “halachic” directives for this Torah instruction.
The rabbis could not
fully understand this instruction so they encouraged a woman charged of going
astray to repent and confess. However the Torah doesn’t seem to suggest this
possibility. Why?
It is possible that the
unfaithfulness to YHVH’s Torah (marriage covenant) that prevails will have to
be deeply atoned for and purified by severe chastisement. As a possible end
time generation we will all have to face the reality of the consequences of our
disobedience.
We may all soon be
presented with the cup of bitter tribulation that is coming upon the world. It
is compared to the writing on a scroll with the curses of unfaithfulness and
its consequences written on it, that will be washed off and we will be required
to drink all of it – see Deut 28.
The great tribulation
will bring a massive loss of life which would seem like the curse spoken of
upon the womb of a woman. It would be like she never produced any offspring. I
believe the pre tribulation rapture is a doctrine from hell. We will be lifted
up when YHVH is ready and we will all be purified before His coming.
Yeshayahu/Isa 53:6 We all, like sheep, went astray, each one of
us has turned to his own way. And יהוה has laid on Him the crookedness of us all.
PS – ladies! the men who
were involved with the adultery do not get away with it – Lev 20:10 ‘And
a man who commits adultery with the wife of another man, who commits adultery
with the wife of his neighbour: the adulterer and the adulteress shall
certainly be put to death.
Nazarite Vow.
The Nazarite vow is not a cure for our unfaithfulness but
a prevention of it.
Num 6:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 6:2 “Speak to
the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘When a man or woman does separate,
by making a vow of a Nazirite, to be separate to יהוה,
Num 6:3 he
separates himself from wine and strong drink – he drinks neither vinegar
of wine nor vinegar of strong drink, neither does he drink any grape juice, nor
eat grapes or raisins.
Num 6:4 ‘All the
days of his separation he does not eat whatever is made of the grapevine, from
seed to skin.
Num 6:5 ‘All the
days of the vow of his separation a razor does not come upon his head. Until
the days are completed for which he does separate himself to יהוה, he is set-apart. He shall let the locks of the hair of his
head grow long.
Num 6:6 ‘All the
days of his separation to יהוה he does not go near a dead body.
Num 6:7 ‘He does
not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother or
his sister, when they die, because his separation to Elohim is on his head.
(maybe this explains Mat 8:22)
Num 6:8 ‘All the
days of his separation he is set-apart to יהוה.
Num 6:9 ‘And when
anyone dies beside him in an instant, suddenly, and he has defiled the head of
his separation, then he shall shave his head on the day of his cleansing – on
the seventh day he shaves it.
Num 6:10 ‘And on
the eighth day he brings two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, to
the door of the Tent of Meeting,
Num 6:11 and the
priest shall prepare one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering,
and shall make atonement for him, because he sinned by reason of the dead body.
And he shall set apart his head on that day,
Num 6:12 and shall
separate to יהוה the days of his separation, and shall
bring a male lamb a year old, as a guilt offering. But the former days are not
counted, because his separation was defiled.
Num 6:13 ‘And this
is the Torah of the Nazirite: When the days of his separation are completed, he
is brought to the door of the Tent of Meeting,
Num 6:14 and he
shall bring his offering to יהוה: one male lamb a year old, a perfect one,
as a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb a year old, a perfect one, as a sin
offering, and one ram, a perfect one, as a peace offering,
Num 6:15 and a
basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened
thin cakes anointed with oil, and their grain offering with their drink
offerings.
Num 6:16 ‘And the
priest shall bring them before יהוה and prepare his sin offering and his burnt
offering.
Num 6:17 ‘And he
shall prepare the ram as a peace offering to יהוה, together with
the basket of unleavened bread. And the priest shall prepare its grain offering
and its drink offering.
Num 6:18 ‘And the
Nazirite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the Tent of
Meeting, and shall take the hair from the head of his separation and shall put
it on the fire which is under the slaughtering of the peace offering.
Num 6:19 ‘And the
priest shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake from
the basket, and one unleavened thin cake, and put them upon the hands of the
Nazirite after he has shaved his hair of separation.
Num 6:20 ‘Then the
priest shall wave them, a wave offering before יהוה. It is
set-apart for the priest, besides the breast of the wave offering and besides
the thigh of the contribution. And afterwards the Nazirite shall drink wine.’
Num 6:21 “This is
the Torah of the Nazirite who vows to יהוה the offering
for his separation, and besides that, whatever else his hand is able to
provide. According to the vow which he takes, so he shall do according to the
Torah of his separation.”
Num 6:22 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 6:23 “Speak to
Aharon and his sons, saying, ‘This is how you bless the children of Yisra’ĕl.
Say to them:
Num 6:24 “יהוה bless you and guard you;
Num 6:25 יהוה make His face shine upon you, and show favour to you;
Num 6:26 יהוה lift up His face upon you, and give you peace.” ’ Footnote:
Verses 24 to 26 is the Priestly Blessing.
Num 6:27 “Thus
they shall put My Name on the children of Yisra’ĕl, and I Myself shall bless
them.”
The
Nazir
“The Hebrew word for Nazarite is “Nazir”. It is
from the verb “nazar”, “Nazir” means a "separated one." The Nazarites
were under a peculiar vow of separation.
The three most famous Nazarites of the scriptures
are Samson, Samuel and Yochanan the Immerser/John the Baptist. Yet these three
are exceptional because they were all set aside as Nazarites prior to birth.
The normal Nazarite vow was for a short term, from only a month to several
years. Samson, Samuel and Yochanan the Immerser all were conceived in otherwise
barren wombs and were dedicated by their grateful mothers into lives of separation
under the Nazarite vow. But according to Torah, the life of Nazarite was open
to any and all who desired it.
In the days of the Temple, if a man or woman
desired to take a special vow of separation to YHVH, he or she could take a
Nazarite vow. The specifications of the vow are found in Bemidbar/Numbers 6.
The vow could be taken for any term of length, but the Mishnah (Hebrew
for a major ancient compilation of Jewish oral law; the foundational component
of the Talmud) specifies a minimum duration of 30 days. While under the term of
the vow, the Nazir was prohibited from consuming any of the fruit of the vine,
whether raisins or grapes, new wine or old wine. In addition, the Nazir was
forbidden to drink any intoxicating drink. Aside from these consumption
restrictions, the Nazir was also to avoid corpse contamination. In Torah law,
contact with a dead body transmits ritual uncleanness. Because the Nazir was to
avoid uncleanness from death, he was to avoid corpse contamination while under
his vow, even in the death of close family members. Finally, while under the
vow, the Nazir could not cut his hair.
In the Apostolic scriptures, Paul takes a
Nazarite vow in Acts 18:18. It has
not always been recognized as a Nazarite vow because rather than say, "He
let his hair grow long," the text says, "He had his hair cut off
because of a vow he had taken." We would assume that if he were taking a
Nazarite vow, he certainly would not have his hair cut off. This mistake may
stem from a misunderstanding of the meaning of the Nazarite's hair. The hair of
the Nazarite both symbolically and literally represented the amount of time
that the Nazarite spent under the vow. When the term of the Nazarite's vow was
completed, he cut his hair and burned it in the Temple. Burning the hair was a
gesture symbolizing that the Nazarite was offering up to YHVH the amount of time he had dedicated to YHVH
as a Nazarite. If he had been a Nazarite for only a few months, it would only
be a few months' growth. If he had been a Nazarite for several years, it would
have been several feet of hair. But in order for the length of hair to
accurately represent the term of the vow, the vow must be begun with a
shaved head!
Regardless of which situation it is that Paul was
in, the terms of the Nazarite vow necessitated that he return to Jerusalem and
the Temple to make the necessary sacrifices and to have his hair shaved in the
Temple. Once he arrived in Jerusalem in Acts 21, he joined with four more
believers who had also taken Nazarite vows and they went to the Temple together
for haircuts and sacrifices. We must remember that Paul did this to prove that
he had not departed from the strict observance of the Torah.
The Torah wants us to make a connection between
the high priest and Nazarite. Both High Priest and Nazarite enjoy a status of
separation called "nezer" which is theirs by virtue of a ritual
marking on their heads. For the High Priest it is the anointing oil poured out
on his head that grants him the nezer status. For the Nazarite it is the hair
on his head that grants him the nezer status.
Concerning Yaakov (Hebrew)
the Hebrew equivalent of Jacob, James HaTzaddik, James the righteous, the
Brother of the Yahshua. Eusebius quotes Hegesippus in his Ecclesiastical
History regarding the martyrdom of Yaakov/James. He writes, "James drank
no wine or intoxicating liquor and ate no animal food; no razor came near his
head; he did not smear himself with oil, and took no baths. He alone was
permitted to enter the Set apart Place, for his garments were not of wool but
of linen. He used to enter the Set apart place alone, and was often found on
his knees beseeching forgiveness for the people..." This text raises an
intriguing problem. We find here a very strong and early tradition about Yaakov/James
that places him inside the Temple Sanctuary (Set apart Place). The Set apart
Place is forbidden to all except for the priesthood. How is it that Yaakov/James,
a man descended from the House of David and the tribe of Judah has access to
the Set apart Place/Sanctuary where only priests are allowed? How is it that we
find Yaakov/James clothed in linen garments? That is, priestly garments? Praying
inside the Temple proper? Is it because Yaakov/James was a Nazarite, and as a
Nazarite, he obtained some kind of quasi-priestly status? We must either accept
it as so or reject the tradition of Hegesippus all- together.
The astute reader of the Apostolic scriptures
will notice an unavoidable parallel between this Joseph midrash and the words
of the Master when he says to his disciples, "I tell you, I will not drink
from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew
with you in My Father's kingdom" (Matt 26:27, NIV)
The Master states the term of his vow at the
outset. He will not drink of the fruit of the vine again "until that day
when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
Thus according to halachah (Hebrew)
literally, "walk"; traditional Jewish law concerning specific application
of the commandments., Yahshua binds himself to a Nazarite vow at his last seder (Hebrew)
literally, "order"; an ordered event, especially the meal eaten on Pesach/Passover.
The Letters of the Good News tell us that during
the execution, Yahshua was twice offered vinegar (literally sour wine). The
first time he refuses it. However, at the point of death and ultimate ritual
defilement through uncleanness, he accepted it. How is it possible that he
would break his vow to not drink of the fruit of the vine? If the vow was a
Nazarite vow this can be explained. His vow would be defunct at the point of
death because it would be temporarily terminated by his contact with death.
Hence he refuses the vinegar earlier, but receives it at the very moment of
death. The vinegar and the death are significantly linked. Both sever the vow.
Thus the vinegar is symbolic of death and corpse contamination. When the Master
accepts the vinegar, it symbolizes his accepting death. A vow severed by corpse
contact must be re-entered only after purification. The Master's resurrection
is his purification from death. Now our Master ever lives to make intercession
for us, while he is seated at the right hand of YHVH. (Ivrim/Heb 7:25)
So, what does this mean to us who are called
to lead worship in the assembly of set apart ones? Well, it was the
Levites who were tasked with the role of functioning as the singers, musicians
and the leaders of the singing in the Tabernacle of David. And, according to Acts
15:16, that revelation of divine order of worship that YHVH gave to King
David, is our pattern. So, in the context of YHVH’s historical dealings
with them, we can see what the tribe of Levi has been called to and destined
to, from Moses, to David to the present. It is a high and noble calling to be a
helps-minister to the priest. And to be successful in our calling and in our
destiny, we must understand our role and how it relates to the rest of the body
of Messiah. End quote.
Aliyah Chamishi 7:1-47
On
the day when the Tabernacle was inaugurated, the tribal leaders wished to bring
inauguration gifts. Collectively they brought six covered wagons and twelve
oxen to assist in transporting the Tabernacle when the Jews travelled. In
addition, as representative of their respective tribes, they wished to offer
individual gifts and offering. YHVH instructed Moses to accept these gifts, and
that on each the following twelve days one of the leaders should bring his
individual gifts. Although each leader brought identical gifts, the Torah
describes each one individually.
Aliyha Shishi 7:42-71
This
section continues the descriptions of the tribal leaders' gifts.
Aliyah Sheviee 7:72-89
The
gifts of all the leaders are added up and the totals given. The last verse
describes how YHVH would talk to Moshe, His voice emanating from between the
two Cherubs atop the Set apart Ark.
Num 7:89 And
when Mosheh went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice
of One speaking to him from above the lid of atonement that was on the ark of
the Witness, from between the two keruḇim. Thus He spoke to him.
“Baruch atah YHVH,
Eloheynu, Melech ha-‘Olam,
asher natan lanu
Toraht-emet,
v’chay-yeh o’lam
nata-b’tochenu.
Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn
ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Blessed are you Yahweh,
our Elohim, King of the Universe,
You have given us your
Torah of truth,
and have planted
everlasting life within our midst.
Blessed are you, Yahweh
giver of the Torah.
Ameyn.)
[Please note these notes
are under construction and are subject to correction
and are in no way a final
authority on any subject.]
DONATION:
From time to time I will
make an appeal to those outside of Beit El Messianic
Congregation who have been blessed through our sending out emails with the Torah portion notes or other articles, or via this Blog to make a financial offering to assist my wife and I in our
ministry of this Word.
Our personal bank
details are as follows:
Name of account: R J
Crowther.
Bank: Absa.
Account Number: 2180
144 814
Branch: Plumstead.
Code: 632005
If you deposit money from outside of South Africa
you will need a
“SWIFT” reference: ABSA ZA JJ
No comments:
Post a Comment