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,
5/24/2012
Parashat 34- Bemidbar – “in the wilderness.”
Bemidbar (translated as Numbers) 1:1 – 4:20
“The Message” Version – this version is a paraphrased version which we normally don’t make use of, but I felt to make use of it for these specific verses:
Hos 2:14 "And now, here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to start all over again. I'm taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date, and I'll court her.
Hos 2:15 I'll give her bouquets of roses. I'll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope. She'll respond like she did as a young girl, those days when she was fresh out of Egypt.
Hos 2:16 "At that time"--this is the LORD's (YHVH’s) Message still-- "you'll address me, 'Dear husband!' Never again will you address me, 'My slave-master!'
Hos 2:17 I'll wash your mouth out with soap, get rid of all the dirty false-god names, not so much as a whisper of those names again. (Like the days of the week named after false mighty ones and some of the month names that are named after false mighty ones)
Hos 2:18 At the same time I'll make a peace treaty between you and wild animals and birds and reptiles, And get rid of all weapons of war. Think of it! Safe from beasts and bullies!
Hos 2:19 And then I'll marry you for good--forever! I'll marry you true and proper, in love and tenderness.
Hos 2:20 Yes, I'll marry you and neither leave you nor let you go. You'll know me, YHVH, for who I really am.
A Good Shepherd always counts His sheep, hear again the words of our Messiah in Yochanan/John:
Joh 10:4 “And when he has brought out his own sheep, he goes before them. And the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.
Joh 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
Joh 10:16 “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold – I have to bring them as well, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one flock, one shepherd.1 Footnote: 1Ezek. 34:23, Ezek. 37:24.
Joh 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.1 Footnote: 1Rev. 14:4-5.
Joh 10:28 “And I give them everlasting life, and they shall by no means ever perish, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.
Joh 10:29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. And no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
The book of Bemidbar/Numbers deals in great measure with the laws and history of the Tabernacle during Yisrael’s years in the wilderness (midbar). This serves to show us how these wilderness wanderings were the shadow of YHVH’s Torah of Messiah. Our very existence is defined by our closeness to His Torah, to His Messiah.
Yochanan/Joh 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
Joh 10:12 “But the hireling, and not being a shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees. And the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them.
The Good Shepherd teaches the True Torah, the hireling does not, because he has a different agenda to that of our Messiah. This is how we recognize the true Messiah’s voice and follow him.
Quote: “It is customary that on the Shabbat before a wedding, the bridegroom is called to the Torah. Shavuot, the festival which coincides with the anniversary of the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, represents the marriage of YHVH and Israel; this is why the Torah portion of Bamidbar ("in the desert") is usually read on the Shabbat before Shavuot.” (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch)
Rev 19:9 And he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true words of Elohim.” ( Jer 33:13)
“The Torah was given to the people of Israel in the ownerless desert. For if it were given in the Land of Israel, the residents of the Land of Israel would say, "It is ours"; and if it were given in some other place, the residents of that place would say, "It is ours." Therefore it was given in the wilderness, so that anyone who wishes to acquire it may acquire it”. (Mechilta D'Rashbi)
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,
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. 1:1-19
2. 1:20-54
3. 2:1-34
4. 3:1-13
5. 3:14-39
6. 3:40-51
7. 4:1-16
8. Maftir: 4:17-20
Haftarah: Hoshea 1:10 – 2:20 (2:1-22 Hebrew version)
Aliyah Rishon 1:1-19
Bemidbar/Num 1:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Mitsrayim, saying,
Num 1:2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head,
Num 1:3 from twenty years old and above, everyone going out to the army in Yisra’ĕl. Number them by their divisions, you and Aharon.
This book of the Torah – Bamidbar is about YHVH calling and counting His bride to be. This counting or taking of census is expressed in a rather strange Hebrew idiom viz “to count the skulls” see Num 1:2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head (gulguletam)
The Hebrew word for head here is “skulls” or “gulgoleth” Strongs 1538. This is where we get the word “Golgotha”
The message is unchanging forever “only in Messiah can we be counted”
Yoch/Joh 19:17 And bearing His stake, He went out to the so-called Place of a Skull, which is called in Heḇrew, Golgotha,
Joh 19:18 where they impaled Him, and two others with Him.
Num 1:4 “And a man from every tribe should be with you, each one the head of his father’s house.
Num 1:5 “And these are the names of the men who stand with you. From Re’uḇĕn: Elitsur, son of Sheḏĕy’ur.
Num 1:6 “From Shim’on: Shelumi’ĕl, son of Tsurishaddai.
Num 1:7 “From Yehuḏah: Naḥshon, son of Amminaḏaḇ.
Num 1:8 “From Yissasḵar: Nethanĕ’l, son of Tsu’ar.
Num 1:9 “From Zeḇulun: Eliyaḇ, son of Ḥĕlon.
Num 1:10 “From the sons of Yosĕph: From Ephrayim: Elishama, son of Ammihuḏ. From Menashsheh: Gamli’ĕl, son of Peḏahtsur.
Num 1:11 “From Binyamin: Aḇiḏan, son of Giḏ’oni.
Num 1:12 “From Dan: Aḥi’ezer, son of Ammishaddai.
Num 1:13 “From Ashĕr: Paḡ’i’ĕl, son of Oḵran.
Num 1:14 “From Gaḏ: Elyasaph, son of Deu’ĕl.
Num 1:15 “From Naphtali: Aḥira, son of Ěnan.”
Num 1:16 These are the ones called from the congregation, leaders of their fathers’ tribes, heads of the thousands of Yisra’ĕl.
Num 1:17 And Mosheh and Aharon took these men who were called by name,
Num 1:18 and they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month. And they declared their ancestry by clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, each one head by head.
Num 1:19 As יהוה commanded Mosheh, so he registered them in the Wilderness of Sinai.
Aliyah Sheni 1:20-54
And now the census results- After giving us the numbers for each tribe, the Torah gives us the grand total: 603,550. This number, however, does not include the Levites. Moshe was commanded by YHVH not to include the Levites in the general census. Instead, the Levites are assigned the following set apart tasks: dismantling, carrying, and re-erecting the Tabernacle whenever Yisrael travelled, and camping around the Set part place, keeping guard over it and its vessels.
Num 1:46 all those that were registered were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.
Num 1:52 “And the children of Yisra’ĕl shall pitch their tents, everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own banner, according to their divisions,
Num 1:53 but let the Lĕwites camp around the Dwelling Place of the Witness, so that there be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl. And the Lĕwites shall guard the duty of the Dwelling Place of the Witness.”
Num 1:54 And the children of Yisra’ĕl did according to all that יהוה commanded Mosheh, so they did.
Note that now the mixed multitude who had left Mitsrayim/Egypt with them have now been counted in with the tribes of Yisrael.
Note the profound prophecy of Ezekiel concerning those of us who are grafted into Yisrael.
Eze 47:21 “And you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Yisra’ĕl.
Eze 47:22 “And it shall be that you divide it by lot as an inheritance for yourselves, and for the strangers who sojourn in your midst and who bear children among you. And they shall be to you as native-born among the children of Yisra’ĕl – with you they have an inheritance in the midst of the tribes of Yisra’ĕl1. Footnote: 1Isa. 14:1, Isa. 56:6-8, Rom. 11:17-26, Eph. 2:19, Eph. 3:6, Rev. 21:12.
Eze 47:23 “And it shall be that in whatever tribe the stranger sojourns, there you give him his inheritance,” declares the Master יהוה.
Aliyah Shlishi 2:1-34
Yisrael is instructed regarding their camping formation. The Tabernacle was at the centre of the encampment, surrounded by the "Flag of Yehudah/Judah" -- which included the Tribes of Yehudah/Judah, Yissachar and Zebulun -- to the east; the "Flag of Reuben" -- Reuven, Shimon, Gad -- to the south; the "Flag of Ephraim" -- Ephrayim, Menashsheh , Benyamin -- to the west; and the "Flag of Dan" -- Dan, Asher, Naftali -- to the north.
Num 2:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon, saying,
Num 2:2 “The children of Yisra’ĕl are to camp, each one by his own banner, beside the sign of his father’s house. Let them camp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance.”
Each tribe had its own prince and its flag whose colour corresponded to the colour of its stone [in Aaron's breastplate--see Exodus 28:15-21]. It was from the tribes of Yisrael that kingdoms learned to provide themselves with flags of various colours.
Artistic impression of the 12 banners by Jenny Bredenkamp
Out of Midrash Rabbah- (italics added) we see that their opinion of what the banners looked like was like this (different opinions on what it looked like, like we can see in the picture above):
Reuben's stone was a ruby; the colour of his flag was red and embroidered thereon were mandrakes [cf. Genesis 30:14].”
“Reuven” means “see a son” - [we see from his life he was not recognized as the first born son as we see too in the life of Messiah that he was not recognized by many as YHVH’s first born.]
Simeon's stone was a topaz; his flag was of a green colour, and the town of Shechem was embroidered thereon [cf. Genesis 34:25].
“Shimeon” comes from the Hebrew word “shema” to hear. We know that our Messiah heard and obeyed every word that came from his Father.
Levi's stone was a smaragd; the colour of his flag was one-third white, one third black, and one third red, and embroidered thereon was [Aaron's breastplate with] the Urim and Tummim.
“Levi” in Hebrew means “my heart.” The urim and tummim were in Aaron’s breastplate close to his heart. Those who live close to the heart of the Father are able to “join” others who also desire to draw closer to the Fathers heart. Yahshua was the supreme example of a Levite who reconciled man to his Maker.
Yehudah’s/Judah's stone was a carbuncle; the colour of his flag was like the colour of the heavens and embroidered on it was a lion [cf. Genesis 49:9].
Like Yahudah our Messiah has a kingly role of rulership in the kingdom of YHVH.
Issachar's stone was a sapphire; the colour of his flag was black like stibnite, and embroidered thereon was the sun and moon, in allusion to the verse, "And of the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times" (I Chronicles 12:33).
Zebulun's stone was an emerald; the colour of his flag was white, with a ship embroidered thereon, in allusion to the verse, "Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea" (Gen. 49:13).
Dan's stone was a jacinth; the colour of his flag was similar to sapphire, and embroidered on it was a serpent, in allusion to the verse, "Dan shall be a serpent in the way" (ibid. v. 17).
Gad's stone was an agate; the colour of his flag was neither white nor black but a blend of black and white, and on it was embroidered a military camp, in allusion to the verse, "Gad, a troop shall troop upon him" (ibid. v. 19).
Naphtali's stone was an amethyst; the colour of his flag was like clarified wine of a light red, and on it was embroidered a deer, in allusion to the verse, "Naphtali is a deer let loose" (ibid. v. 21).
Asher's stone was a beryl; the colour of his flag was like the precious stone with which women adorn themselves, and embroidered thereon was an olive-tree, in allusion to the verse, "As for Asher, his bread shall be fat with oil" (ibid. v. 20).
Yoseph's stone was an onyx and the colour of his flags were jet black; the embroidered design thereon for the two tribes descending from Yoseph, Ephrayim and Menashsheh, was Mitsrayim/Egypt, because they were born in Mitsrayim/Egypt. On the flag of Ephrayim was embroidered a bullock, in allusion to the verse, "His firstling bullock" (Deuteronomy 33:17), which refers to Yehoshua who came from the tribe of Ephrayim. On the flag of the tribe of Menashsheh was embroidered a unicorn, in allusion to the verse, "And his horns are the horns of the re'em" (ibid.), which alludes to Gideon son of Yoash who came from the tribe of Menashsheh.
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