5/31/2012
Parashat 35 - Nasso - to lift up or Make an Accounting
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,
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