Numbers 1 “In the wilderness of” 1
THE CENSUS OF THE TROOPS:
1 Now the LORD(Jesus) spoke to Moses in the Sinai Desert, in the Tabernacle of Covenant, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying:
April 20th. Would correspond on our calendar..
2 Take a census of all the church of Israel, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names. Record the names of all the men
3 twenty years old or older who are able to go to war. You and Aaron must register the troops,
4 and you will be assisted by one family leader from each tribe.
5 These are the tribes and the names of the leaders who will assist you:
Reuben — Elizur son of Shedeur
6 Simeon — Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai
7 Judah — Nahshon son of Amminadab
8 Issachar — Nethanel son of Zuar
9 Zebulun — Eliab son of Helon
10 Ephraim son of Joseph — Elishama son of Ammihud and from Manasseh son of Joseph — Gamaliel son of Pedahzur
11 Benjamin — Abidan son of Gideoni
12 Dan — Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai
13 Asher — Pagiel son of Ocran
14 Gad — Eliasaph son of Deuel
15 Naphtali — Ahira son of Enan
16 These are the chosen leaders of the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes, the heads of the clans of Israel.
17 So Moses and Aaron called these men who had been designated by name;
18 and, on the first day of the second month[april 20], they gathered the whole assembly to state their genealogies by families and clans and recorded the names of all those twenty years old and over, as well as their total numbers.
19 As the LORD(Jesus) commanded Moses, so he recorded their names in the wilderness of Sinai.
20 This is the number of men twenty years old or older who were able to go to war, as their names were listed in the records of their clans and families
21 Reuben 46,500
22 From the tribe of Simeon;
23 their number: 59,300
24 From the children of Gad;
25 45,650
26 From the children of Judah
27 were 74,600
28 From the children of Issachar, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers' house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
29 54,400
30 From the children of Zebulun, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers' house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
31 57,400
32 From the sons of Joseph, the children of Ephraim, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers' house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:
33 Ephraim son of Joseph: 40,500
34 Manasseh son of Joseph:
35 32,200
36 From the children of Benjamin
37 35,400
38 From the children of Dan:
39 62,700
40 From Asher:
41 41,500
42 From Naphtali:
43 53,400
44 These were the ones registered by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his father's house.
45 They were registered by families—all the men of Israel who were twenty years old or older and able to go to war.
46 The total number was 603,550.
This population number is only the fighting men, which probably makes the real total population of 3 million people...
47 But the total did not include the Levites.
48 For the LORD(Jesus) had said to Moses:
49 Do not include the tribe of Levi when you take the census of the people of Israel.
50 Put the Levites in charge of the Tabernacle of the Covenant, along with all its furnishings and equipment. They must carry the Tabernacle and all its furnishings as you travel, and they must take care of it and camp around it.
51 Whenever it is time for the Tabernacle to move, the Levites will take it down. And when it is time to stop, they will set it up again. Any other person who goes too near the Tabernacle must be put to death.
52 Each tribe of Israel will camp in a designated area with its own family flag[coat of arms].
53 The Levites will camp around the Tabernacle of the Covenant to protect the community of Israel from the LORD(Jesus)’s anger. The Levites are responsible to stand guard around the Tabernacle of the Covenant.”
54 Thus the Israelites did everything just as the LORD(Jesus) commanded Moses for them to do.
Numbers 2 “in the wilderness of” 2
THE ORDER OF THE TRIBES IN THEIR TENTS:
1 And the LORD(Jesus) spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
2 The people of Israel are to set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions will camp beneath their family banners[coat of arms] on all four sides of the Tabernacle, but at a distance from it.
3 On the east side, toward the rising of the sun, those of Judah shall camp according to their armies; and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be the leader of the children of Judah.
4 And his army was numbered 74,600
5 Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar, and Nethanel the son of Zuar shall be the leader of the children of Issachar.
6 and their army numbered 54,400
7 Then comes the tribe of Zebulun, and Eliab the son of Helon shall be the leader of the children of Zebulun.
8 The number of their army: 57,400
9 So the total of all the troops on Judah’s side of the camp is 186,400. These three tribes are to lead the way whenever the Israelites travel to a new campsite.
10 On the south side shall be the banner of the forces with Reuben according to their armies, and the leader of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.
11 And his army was numbered at 46,500
12 Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon, and the leader of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
13 And their army was numbered at 59,300
14 Then comes the tribe of Gad, and the leader of the children of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.
15 And their army was numbered at 45,650
16 So the total of all the troops on Reuben’s side of the camp is 151,450. These three tribes will be second in line whenever the Israelites travel.
17 Then the Tabernacle, carried by the Levites, will set out from the middle of the camp. All the tribes are to travel in the same order that they camp, each in position under the appropriate family banner.
18 On the west side shall be the standard of the forces with Ephraim according to their armies, and the leader of the children of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud
19 And his army was numbered at 40,500
20 Next to him comes the tribe of Manasseh, and the leader of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
21 And his army was numbered at 32,200
22 Then comes the tribe of Benjamin, and the leader of the children of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.
23 And their number: 35,400
24 So the total of all the troops on Ephraim’s side of the camp is 108,100. These three tribes will be third in line whenever the Israelites travel.
25 The position for the forces with Dan shall be on the north side according to their armies, and the leader of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
26 62,700
27 Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher, and the leader of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.
28 41,500
29 Then comes the tribe of Naphtali, and the leader of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.
30 53,400
31 So the total of all the troops on Dan’s side of the camp is 157,600. These three tribes will be last, marching under their banners whenever the Israelites travel.”
32 In summary, the troops of Israel listed by their families totaled 603,550.
33 But the LORD(Jesus) commanded that the Levites were not to be included in this census.
34 So the people of Israel did everything as the LORD(Jesus) commanded Moses for them to do. Each tribe's family set up camp and marched under their banners exactly as the LORD(Jesus) had instructed them.
Numbers 3 “in the wilderness of” 3
1 This is the family accounting of Aaron and Moses as it was recorded when the LORD(Jesus) spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai:
2 The names of Aaron’s sons were Nadab,the oldest, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
3 These sons of Aaron were anointed and ordained to minister as priests.
4 But Nadab and Abihu died in the LORD(Jesus)’s presence in the wilderness of Sinai when they burned before the LORD(Jesus) the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. Since they had no sons, this left only Eleazar and Ithamar to serve as priests with their father, Aaron.
5 Then the LORD(Jesus) spoke to Moses:
6 Summon the tribe of Levi, and present them to Aaron the priest so they can help him.
7 They will help Aaron and the whole church, performing their sacred duties in and around the Tabernacle.
8 They will be in charge all the furnishings of the Tabernacle's tent, and to the needs of the children of Israel, to do the work of the Tabernacle.
9 Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; their one responsibility in regard to the people of Isra'el is to serve him.
10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood. But any other person who goes too near the sanctuary must be put to death.”
11 The LORD(Jesus) spoke to Moses:
12 See, I have chosen the Levites from all of Israel to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to Me,
13 for all the firstborn males are mine. On the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both of people and of animals. They are mine; I am the LORD(Jesus).
14 The LORD(Jesus) spoke again to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. He said:
15 Take a numbering of the tribe of Levi by their families and families. List every male who is one month old or older.
16 So Moses listed them, just as the LORD(Jesus) had commanded.
17 Levi had three sons, whose names were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
18 The family that descended from Gershon were named after two of his descendants, Libni and Shimei.
19 The family that descended from Kohath were named after four of his descendants, Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20 The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their fathers' houses.
21 The descendants of Gershon were composed of the families descended from Libni and Shimei.
22 There were 7,500 males one month old or older among these Gershonite family.
23 They were assigned the area to the west of the Tabernacle for their camp.
24 The leader of the Gershonite family was Eliasaph son of Lael.
25 These two families were responsible to care for the Tabernacle, including the Holy tent with its layers of coverings, the curtain at its entrance,
26 the curtains of the courtyard that surrounded the Tabernacle and altar, the curtain at the courtyard entrance, the ropes, and all the equipment related to their use.
27 The descendants of Kohath were composed of the families descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
28 There were 8,600 males one month old or older among these Kohathite families. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary,
29 and they were assigned the area south of the Tabernacle for their camp.
30 The leader of the Kohathite families was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.
31 These four families were responsible for the care of the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the various articles used in the sanctuary, the inner curtain, and all the equipment related to their use.
32 Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, was the chief over all the Levites, with special responsibility for the oversight of the Holy Place.
33 The descendants of Merari were composed of the families descended from Mahli and Mushi.
34 There were 6,200 males one month old or older among these Merarite families.
35 They were assigned the area north of the Tabernacle for their camp. The leader of the Merarite families was Zuriel son of Abihail.
36 These two families were responsible for the care of the frames supporting the Tabernacle, the crossbars, the pillars, the bases, and all the equipment related to their use.
37 They were also responsible for the posts of the courtyard and all their bases, pegs, and ropes.
38 Moreover those who were to camp before the Tabernacle on the east, before the tabernacle of meeting, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons, keeping charge of the the most Holy Place to meet the needs of the children of Israel; but an outsider who came near was to be put to death.
39 When Moses and Aaron counted the Levite families at the LORD(Jesus)’s command, the total number was 22,000 males one month old or older.
40 Then the LORD(Jesus) said to Moses: Now count all the firstborn sons in Israel who are one month old or older, and make a list of their names.
41 The Levites must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn sons of Israel; I am the LORD(Jesus). And the Levites’ livestock must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the whole nation of Israel.
42 So Moses counted the firstborn sons of the people of Israel, just as the LORD(Jesus) had commanded.
43 The number of firstborn sons who were one month old or older was 22,273.
44 Then the LORD(Jesus) spoke to Moses, saying:
45 Take the Levites in place of the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. Take the livestock of the Levites instead of the firstborn livestock of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me; I am the LORD(Jesus).
46 Since there are 273 more firstborn sons of Israel than there are Levites, in order to redeem them,
47 you are to take five pieces of silver[two ounces] for each of them (each piece weighing the same as the sanctuary shekel, which equals two ounces).
48 Give the silver to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the extra firstborn sons.
49 So Moses collected the redemption money from those who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites.
50 He collected 1,365 pieces of silver[34 pounds] on behalf of these firstborn sons of Israel (each piece weighing the same as the sanctuary (Holy Place's) shekel).
51 And Moses gave the silver for the redemption to Aaron and his sons, just as the LORD(Jesus) had commanded.
Numbers 4 “in the wilderness of” 4
1 Then the LORD(Jesus) spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
2 Record the names and the numbers of the members of the families and families of the Kohathite division of the tribe of Levi.
3 List all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle.
4 The duties of the Kohathites at the Tabernacle will relate to the most Holy objects.
5 When the camp moves, Aaron and his sons must enter the Tabernacle first to take down the inner curtain and cover the Ark of the Covenant with it.
6 Then they must cover the inner curtain with fine leather and spread over that a single piece of blue cloth. Finally, they must put the carrying poles of the Ark in place.
7 On the table of showbread they are to spread a blue cloth and place on it the dishes, incense pans, offering bowls and pitchers. The continual bread (shewbread) is to remain on the table.
8 They must spread a scarlet cloth over all of this, and finally a covering of fine leather on top of the scarlet cloth. Then they must insert the carrying poles into the table.
9 Then they must cover the menorah with a blue cloth, along with its lamps, lamp snuffers, trays, and special jars of olive oil.
10 They are to wrap it and all its accessories in fine leather and place them on a carrying-frame.
11 On the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with a covering of fine leather and insert its carrying-poles.
12 They must take all the remaining furnishings of the sanctuary and wrap them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and place them on the carrying frame.
13 They must remove the ashes from the altar for sacrifices and cover the altar with a purple cloth.
14 All the altar utensils—the firepans, meat forks, shovels, basins, and all the containers—must be placed on the cloth, and a covering of fine leather must be spread over them. Finally, they must put the carrying poles in place.
15 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is set to go, then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; but they shall not touch any holy thing, or they will die! These are the things in the Tabernacle which the sons of Kohath are to carry.
16 Eleazar son of Aaron the priest will be responsible for the oil of the menorah, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. In fact, Eleazar will be responsible for the entire Tabernacle and everything in it, including the sanctuary and its furnishings.
17 Then the LORD(Jesus) said to Moses and Aaron:
18 Do not cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites!
19 This is what you must do so they will live and not die when they approach the most sacred objects. Aaron and his sons must always go in with them and assign a specific duty or load to each person.
20 The Kohathites must never enter the Holy Place to look at the sacred objects for even a moment, or they will die.”
21 And the LORD(Jesus) said to Moses:
22 Record the numbers of the members of the families of the Gershonite division of the tribe of Levi.
23 List all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle.
24 These Gershonite families will be responsible for general service and carrying loads.
25 They must carry the curtains of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle itself with its coverings, the outer covering of fine leather, and the curtain for the Tabernacle entrance.
26 They are also to carry the curtains for the courtyard walls that surround the Tabernacle and altar, the curtain across the courtyard entrance, the ropes, and all the equipment related to their use. The Gershonites are responsible for all these items.
27 Aaron and his sons will direct the Gershonites regarding all their duties, whether it involves moving the equipment or doing other work. They must assign the Gershonites responsibility for the loads they are to carry.
28 So these are the duties assigned to the Gershonite families at the Tabernacle. They will be directly under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
29 Now record the numbers by names of the members families of the Merarite division of the tribe of Levi.
30 List all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle.
31 Their service for the tent of meeting will be to carry the frames, crossbars, posts and sockets of the Tabernacle;
32 also the posts for the courtyard walls with their bases, pegs, and ropes; and all the accessories and everything else related to their use. Assign the various loads to each man by name.
33 So these are the duties of the Merarite families at the Tabernacle. They are under the authority of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
34 So Moses, Aaron, and the other leaders of the community listed the members of the Kohathite division by their families.
35 The list included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle,
36 and the total number came to 2,750.
37 So this was the total of all those from the Kohathite families who were eligible to serve at the Tabernacle. Moses and Aaron listed them, just as the LORD(Jesus) had commanded through Moses.
38 The Gershonite division was also listed by its families and families.
39 The list included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle,
40 and the total number came to 2,630.
41 So this was the total of all those from the Gershonite families who were eligible to serve at the Tabernacle. Moses and Aaron listed them, just as the LORD(Jesus) had commanded.
42 Those of the families of the sons of Merari who were numbered, by their families, by their fathers' families.
43 The list included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle,
44 and the total number came to 3,200.
45 So this was the total of all those from the Merarite families who were eligible for service. Moses and Aaron listed them, just as the LORD(Jesus) had commanded through Moses.
46 So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel listed all the Levites by their families.
47 All the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle and for its transportation
48 numbered 8,580.
49 When their names and numbers were recorded, as the LORD(Jesus) had commanded through Moses, each man was assigned his task and told what to carry. So the numbering was completed, just as the LORD(Jesus) had commanded Moses.
Numbers 5 “in the wilderness of” 5
THE UNCLEAN TO BE REMOVED
1 The LORD(Jesus) spoke to Moses, saying:
2 Command the children of Israel to remove from the camp anyone who has a skin disease{leprosy) or a discharge, or who has become unclean by touching a dead person.
3 This command applies to both men and women. Remove them from the camp so they will not defile the camp in which I live among them.”
4 So the Israelites did as the LORD(Jesus) had commanded Moses and removed such people from the camp.
5 Then the LORD(Jesus) spoke to Moses, saying:
6 Speak to the people of Israel, 'If any of the people—men or women—and breaks faith with the LORD(Jesus) by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty.
7 They must confess the sin which he has committed; and he must make full restitution for his guilt, add twenty percent and give it to the victim of his sin.
8 But if the man has no relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for the wrong must go to the LORD(Jesus) and must be given to the priest. Those who are guilty must also bring a ram as a sacrifice, by which atonement is made for him.
This is a wrong or injury done by one man to the property of another, and as it is called "a trespass against the LORD(Jesus)," it is implied, in the case supposed, that the offense has been aggravated by prevaricating--by a false oath, or a fraudulent lie in denying it, which is a "trespass" committed against God, who is the sole judge of what is falsely sworn or spoken (Acts 5:3,4). (Jamieson)
9 All the offerings that the Israelites bring to a priest shall be his.
10 Each priest may keep all the donations that he receives.'
11 And the LORD(Jesus) also said to Moses:
12 Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. 'Suppose a man’s wife goes astray, and she is unfaithful to her husband
13 and has sexual intercourse with another man, but neither her husband nor anyone else knows about it. She has defiled herself, even though there was no witness and she was not caught in the act.
14 If her husband becomes jealous and is suspicious of his wife and needs to know whether or not she has defiled herself,
15 the husband must bring his wife to the priest. He must also bring an offering of two quarts of barley flour to be presented on her behalf. Do not mix it with olive oil or frankincense, for it is a grain offering for jealousy, an offering to prove whether or not she is guilty.
16 The priest will bring her forward and place her before the LORD(Jesus).
17 The priest shall take holy water in an earthen pot, and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the Tabernacle and put it into the pot filled with water.
18 When the priest has stands the woman in front of the LORD(Jesus), he must unbind her hair and place in her hands the offering of proof; the jealousy offering to determine whether her husband’s suspicions are justified. The priest will stand before her, holding the jar of bitter water that brings a curse to those who are guilty.
Water from the laver, which was to be mixed with dust--an emblem of vileness and misery (Genesis 3:14, Psalms 22:15).
19 The priest will then put the woman under oath and say to her, ‘If no other man has had sex with you, and you have not gone astray and defiled yourself while under your husband’s authority, may you be immune from the effects of this bitter water that brings on the curse.
This fragile ware was chosen because, after being used, it was broken in pieces (Leviticus 6:28, 11:33). All the circumstances of this awful ceremony--her being placed with her face toward the ark-- her uncovered head, a sign of her being deprived of the protection of her husband (1 Corinthians 11:7)--the bitter potion being put into her hands preparatory to an appeal to God(Elohim/Theos)--the solemn adjuration of the priest (Numbers 5:19-22), all were calculated in no common degree to excite and appall the imagination of a person conscious of guilt. (jamieson)
20 But if you have gone astray by being unfaithful to your husband, and have defiled yourself by having sexual relations with another man,’
21 then the priest is to make the woman swear with an oath that includes a curse; the priest will say to the woman, ‘May the people know that the LORD(Jesus)’s curse is upon you when he makes you infertile, causing your womb to shrivel[d] and your abdomen to swell.
(Isaiah 65:15, Jeremiah 29:22).
22 and may this water that causes the curse go into your stomach, and make your belly swell and your thigh rot." Then the woman shall say, "Amen, so be it."
23 And the priest will write these curses on a piece of leather and wash them off into the bitter water.
24 He will make the woman drink the bitter water that brings on the curse. When the water enters her body, it will cause bitter suffering if she is guilty.
25 Then the priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy from the woman's hand, shall wave the offering before the LORD(Jesus), and carry it to the altar.
26 The priest will take a handful of the flour as a token portion and burn it on the altar, and he will require the woman to drink the water.
27 When he has made her drink the water, then, if she is unclean and has been unfaithful to her husband, the water that causes the curse will enter her and become bitter, so that her abdomen swells and her private parts shrivel up; and the woman will become an object of cursing among her people.
28 But if the woman is not unclean but clean, then she will be innocent and will have children.
29 This is the ritual law for dealing with suspicion. If a woman goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband’s authority,
30 or if a man becomes jealous and is suspicious that his wife has been unfaithful, the husband must present his wife before the LORD(Jesus), and the priest will apply this entire ritual law to her.
31 The husband will be innocent of any guilt in this matter, but his wife will be held accountable for her sin.”
Obviously, God, when He was with the people, knew the truth of the matter and always rendered the correct decision in these cases.
The purity of the church must be kept as carefully as the peace and order of it. Every polluted member must be separated. The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable. The greater profession of religion any house or family makes, the more they are obliged to put away iniquity far from them. If a man overreach or defraud his brother in any matter, it is a trespass against the Lord, who strictly charges and commands us to do justly. What is to be done when a man's awakened conscience charges him with guilt of this kind, though done long ago? He must confess his sin, confess it to God, confess it to his neighbour, and take shame to himself; though it go against him to own himself in a lie, yet he must do it. Satisfaction must be made for the offence done to God, as well as for the loss sustained by the neighbour; restitution in that case is not enough without faith and repentance. While that which is wrongly gotten is knowingly kept, the guilt remains on the conscience, and is not done away by sacrifice or offering, prayers or tears; for it is the same act of sin persisted in. This is the doctrine of right reason, and of the word of God. It detects hypocrites, and directs the tender conscience to proper conduct, which, springing from faith in Christ, will make way for inward peace. This law would make the women of Israel watch against giving cause for suspicion. On the other hand, it would hinder the cruel treatment such suspicions might occasion. It would also hinder the guilty from escaping, and the innocent from coming under just suspicion. When no proof could be brought, the wife was called on to make this solemn appeal to a heart-searching God. No woman, if she were guilty, could say Amen to the adjuration, and drink the water after it, unless she disbelieved the truth of God, or defied his justice. The water is called the bitter water, because it caused the curse. Thus sin is called an evil and a bitter thing. Let all that meddle with forbidden pleasures, know that they will be bitterness in the latter end. From the whole learn, 1. Secret sins are known to God, and sometimes are strangely brought to light in this life; and that there is a day coming when God will, by Christ, judge the secrets of men according to the gospel, Ro 2:16. 2 In particular, Whoremongers and adulterers God will surely judge. Though we have not now the waters of jealousy, yet we have God's word, which ought to be as great a terror. Sensual lusts will end in bitterness. 3. God will manifest the innocency of the innocent. The same providence is for good to some, and for hurt to others. And it will answer the purposes which God intends. (Matthew Henry)
Numbers 6 “in the wilderness” 6
Nazarite Laws:
Nazarite Laws:
1 Then the LORD(Jesus) spoke to Moses, saying:
2 Tell the people of Israel, 'When either a man or a woman makes a special kind of vow, the vow of a nazarite, consecrating himself to the LORD(Jesus),
3 they must give up wine and other alcoholic drinks. They must not use vinegar made from wine or from other alcoholic drinks, they must not drink fresh grape juice, and they must not eat grapes or raisins.
4 As long as they are bound by their Nazarite vow, they are not allowed to eat or drink anything that comes from a grapevine—not even the grape seeds or skins.
5 They must never cut their hair throughout the time of their vow, for they are holy and set apart to the LORD(Jesus). Until the time of their vow has been fulfilled, they must let their hair grow long.
6 And they must not go near a dead body during the entire period of their vow to the LORD(Jesus).
7 He[She] is not to make himself unclean for his father, mother, brother or sister when they die, because of his[her] separation to God(Elohim/Theos) is on his[her] head.
8 This requirement applies as long as they are set apart to the LORD(Jesus).
9 If anyone dies suddenly beside them, the hair they have dedicated will be defiled. They must wait for seven days and then shave their heads. Then they will be cleansed from their defilement.
10 On the eighth day they must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
11 The priest will offer one of the birds for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way, he will make atonement from the guilt they incurred through contact with the dead body. Then they must reaffirm their commitment and let their hair begin to grow again.
12 The days of their vow that were completed before their defilement no longer count. They must rededicate themselves to the LORD(Jesus) as a Nazarite for the full term of their vow, and each must bring a one-year-old male lamb for a guilt offering.
13 This is the ritual law for Nazirites. At the conclusion of their time of separation as Nazirites, they must each go to the entrance of the Tabernacle
14 and offer their sacrifices to the LORD(Jesus): a one-year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a one-year-old female lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a peace offering,
15 a basket of matzoh, loaves made of fine flour mixed with olive oil, unleavened wafers spread with olive oil, their grain offering and their drink offerings.
16 The priest will present these offerings before the LORD(Jesus): first the sin offering and the burnt offering;
17 then the ram for a peace offering, along with the basket matzoh. The priest must also present the prescribed grain offering and liquid offering to the LORD(Jesus).
18 Then the Nazirites will shave their consecrated heads at the entrance of the Tabernacle. They will take the hair that had been dedicated and place it on the fire beneath the peace-offering sacrifice.
19 After the Nazarite's head has been shaved, the priest will take for each of them the boiled shoulder of the ram, and he will take from the basket a cake and a wafer made without yeast. He will put them all into the Nazarite's hands.
20 Then the priest will lift them up as a special offering before the LORD(Jesus). These are holy portions for the priest, along with the breast of the special offering and the thigh of the sacred offering that are lifted up before the LORD(Jesus). After this ceremony the Nazirites may again drink wine.'
On the accomplishment of a limited vow of Nazaritism, Nazarites might cut their hair wherever they happened to be (Acts 18:18); but the hair was to be carefully kept and brought to the door of the sanctuary. Then after the presentation of sin offerings and burnt offerings, it was put under the vessel in which the peace offerings were boiled; and the priest, taking the shoulder (Leviticus 7:32), when boiled, and a cake and wafer of the meat offering, put them on the hands of the Nazarites to wave before the Lord, as a token of thanksgiving, and thus released them from their vow. (Jamieson)
21 This is the ritual law of the Nazirites, who vow to bring these offerings to the LORD(Jesus). They may also bring additional offerings if they can afford it. And they must be careful to do whatever they vowed when they set themselves apart as Nazirites.
22 Then the LORD(Jesus) said to Moses:
23 Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:
24 ‘May the LORD(Jesus) bless you and protect you.
25 May the LORD(Jesus) smile on you and be gracious to you.
26 May the LORD(Jesus) show you his favor and give you his peace.’
27 Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.
The Nazarite: from the Hebrew nazar, dedicate or separate. This vow may be taken by either sex that sets them apart from others for the service to God. The vow may be for life or a fixed period of time. Samson, for example was for life. It appears John the Baptist's Nazarite vow was also for life.
The term "nazarite" comes from the verb nazar meaning to separate, or with persons, to separate them from others, so they are distinguishable, and consecrated to God (Genesis 49:26; Deuteronomy 33:16). Many wrongfully believe that Jesus was a Nazarite, thus having long hair. Jesus was not a Nazarite, didn't have long hair, and drank wine! Jesus was a Nazarene, a totally different term which simply means that he lived in Nazareth, a town.
The word Nazarite signifies separation. Some were appointed of God, before their birth, to be Nazarites all their days, as Samson and John the Baptist. But, in general, it was a vow of separation from the world and devotedness to the services of religion, for a limited time, and under certain rules, which any person might make if they pleased. A Nazarite is spoken of as well known; but his obligation is brought to a greater certainty than before. That the fancies of superstitious men might not multiply the restraints endlessly, God gives them rules. They must not drink wine or strong drink, nor eat grapes. Those who separate themselves to God, must not gratify the desires of the body, but keep it under. Let all Christians be very moderate in the use of wine and strong drink; for if the love of these once gets the mastery of a man, he becomes an easy prey to Satan. The Nazarites were to eat nothing that came of the vine; this may teach the utmost care to avoid sin, and all that borders upon it, and leads to it, or may be a temptation to us. They must not cut their hair. They must neither poll their heads, nor shave their beards; this was the mark of Samson being a Nazarite. This signified neglect of the body, and of the ease and ornament of it. Those who separate themselves to God, must keep their consciences pure from dead works, and not touch unclean things. All the days of their separation they must be holy to the Lord. (Matthew Henry)
Numbers 7 “in the wilderness” 7
1 Now when Moses finished setting up the Tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart as holy. He also anointed and set apart all its furnishings and the altar with its utensils.
2 Then the leaders of Israel—the tribal leaders who had registered the troops—came and brought their offerings.
3 Together they brought their offerings of six large wagons and twelve oxen. There was a wagon for every two leaders and an ox for each leader. They presented these to the LORD(Jesus) in front of the Tabernacle.
4 Then the LORD(Jesus) said to Moses:
5 Accept their gifts, and use these oxen and wagons for transporting the Tabernacle. Distribute them among the Levites according to the work they have to do.
6 So Moses took the wagons and oxen and presented them to the Levites.
7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonite division for their work,
8 and he gave four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarite division for their work. All their work was done under the leadership of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was the service of the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders.
10 The leaders also presented dedication gifts for the altar at the time it was anointed. They each placed their gifts before the altar.
11 The LORD(Jesus) said to Moses: They shall offer their offering, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.
12 On the first day Nahshon son of Amminadab, leader of the tribe of Judah, presented his offering.
13 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3¼ pounds and a silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil;
14 one gold container weighing four ounces, filled with incense;
15 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering,
16 and a male goat for a sin offering.
17 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Nahshon son of Amminadab.
18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, leader of the tribe of Issachar, presented his offering.
19 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3¼ pounds and a silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
20 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
21 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
22 one male goat for a sin offering,
23 and, for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.
24 On the third day Eliab son of Helon, leader of the tribe of Zebulun, presented his offering.
25 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3¼ pounds and a silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.;
26 a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
27 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
28 and a male goat for a sin offering.
29 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Eliab son of Helon.
30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, leader of the tribe of Reuben, presented his offering.
31 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3¼ pounds and a silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
32 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense;
33 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
34 and a male goat for a sin offering.
35 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Elizur son of Shedeur.
36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, leader of the tribe of Simeon, presented his offering.
37 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3¼ pounds and a silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
38 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense,
39 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
40 and a male goat for a sin offering.
41 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, leader of the tribe of Gad, presented his offering.
43 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3¼ pounds and a silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
44 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
45 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
46 and a male goat for a sin offering.
47 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Eliasaph son of Deuel.
48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of the tribe of Ephraim, presented his offering.
49 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3¼ pounds and a silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
50 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense,
51 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
52 and a male goat for a sin offering.
53 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Elishama son of Ammihud.
54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, leader of the tribe of Manasseh, presented his offering.
55 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3¼ pounds and a silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
56 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
57 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
58 and a male goat for a sin offering.
59 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, leader of the tribe of Benjamin, presented his offering.
61 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3¼ pounds and a silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
62 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense,
63 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
64 and a male goat for a sin offering.
65 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Abidan son of Gideoni.
66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, leader of the tribe of Dan, presented his offering.
67 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3¼ pounds and a silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
68 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense,
69 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
70 and a male goat for a sin offering.
71 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, leader of the tribe of Asher, presented his offering.
73 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3¼ pounds and a silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
74 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
75 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
76 and a male goat for a sin offering.
77 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Pagiel son of Ocran.
78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, leader of the tribe of Naphtali, presented his offering.
79 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3¼ pounds and a silver basin weighing 1¾ pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
80 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
81 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
82 and a male goat for a sin offering.
83 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Ahira son of Enan.
84 So this was the dedication offering brought by the leaders of Israel at the time the altar was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver basins, and twelve gold incense containers.
85 Each silver platter weighed 3¼ pounds, and each silver basin weighed 1¾ pounds. The total weight of the silver was 60 pounds(as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel).
86 Each of the twelve gold containers that was filled with incense weighed four ounces (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). The total weight of the gold was three pounds.
87 Twelve young bulls, twelve rams, and twelve one-year-old male lambs were donated for the burnt offerings, along with their prescribed grain offerings. Twelve male goats were brought for the sin offerings.
88 The livestock for the sacrifice of peace offerings consisted of twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs in their first year. This was the offering for dedicating the altar after it had been anointed.
89 Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with the LORD(Jesus), he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover(mercy seat)—the place of atonement—that rests on the Ark of the Covenant. The LORD(Jesus) spoke to him from there.
Numbers 8 “in the wilderness” 8
1 The LORD(Jesus) spoke to Moses, saying:
2 Give Aaron the following instructions: 'When you set up the seven lamps in the lampstand, place them so their light shines forward in front of the lampstand.'
3 Aaron did this. He set up the seven lamps so they reflected their light forward, just as the LORD(Jesus) had commanded Moses.
4 The entire menorah, from its base to its decorative blossoms, was made of beaten gold. It was built according to the exact design the LORD(Jesus) had shown Moses.
The Levites Dedicated:
5 Then the LORD(Jesus) said to Moses:
6 Now set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel and cleanse them.
7 Do this by sprinkling them with the water of purification, and have them shave their entire body and wash their clothing. Then they will be cleansed.
8 Have them bring a young bull and a grain offering of choice flour moistened with olive oil, along with a second young bull for a sin offering.
9 Then assemble the whole church of Israel, and present the Levites at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
10 When you present the Levites before the LORD(Jesus), the people of Israel must lay their hands on them.
11 Raising his hands, Aaron must then present the Levites to the LORD(Jesus) as a special offering from the people of Israel, thus dedicating them to the LORD(Jesus)’s service.
12 Then the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls, and you shall offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the LORD(Jesus), to make atonement for the Levites.
13 Then have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons, and raise your hands and present them as a special offering to the LORD(Jesus).
14 In this way, you will set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel, and the Levites will be mine.
15 After this, they may go into the Tabernacle to do their work, because you have cleansed them and presented them as a wave offering.
16 Of all the people of Israel, the Levites are reserved for me. I have claimed them for myself in place of all the firstborn sons of the Israelites; I have taken the Levites as their substitutes.
17 For all the firstborn males among the people of Israel are mine, both of people and of animals. I set them apart for myself on the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians.
18 I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the children of Israel.
19 And of all the Israelites, I have assigned the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They will serve in the Tabernacle on behalf of the Israelites and make sacrifices to atone for the people so no plague will strike them when they approach the sanctuary.
20 So Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel dedicated the Levites, carefully following all the LORD(Jesus)’s instructions to Moses.
21 And the Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes; then Aaron presented them, like a wave offering before the LORD(Jesus), and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.
22 And then the Levites went into the Tabernacle to perform their duties, assisting Aaron and his sons. So they carried out all the commands that the LORD(Jesus) gave Moses concerning the Levites.
23 The LORD(Jesus) also spoke to Moses, saying:
24 This is the rule the Levites must follow: They must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five,
25 and they must retire at the age of fifty.
26 After retirement they may assist their fellow Levites by serving as guards at the Tabernacle, but they may not officiate in the service. This is how you must assign duties to the Levites.
Numbers 9 “in the wilderness” 9
PASSOVER:
PASSOVER:
1 Now the LORD(Yahwh) spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying:
2 Tell the Israelites to celebrate the Passover at the prescribed time,
3 On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you shall keep it at its appointed time. According to all its rites and ceremonies you shall keep it.
Notice the wording here carefully. On the 14th day, at twilight, or in the evening portion of the 14th day. Again, it is clear that God's days are from morning to morning, and not evening to evening.
4 So Moses told the people to celebrate the Passover
5 And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, that same night(at twilight), in the Wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did.
6 But some of the men had been ceremonially defiled by touching a dead body, so they could not celebrate the Passover that day. They came to Moses and Aaron that day
7 and said, “We have become ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body. But why should we be prevented from presenting the LORD(Jesus)’s offering at the proper time with the rest of the Israelites?”
8 Moses answered, “Wait here until I have received instructions for you from the LORD(Jesus).”
9 This was the LORD(Jesus)’s reply to Moses:
10 Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people now or in future generations are unclean at Passover time because of touching a dead body, or if they are on a journey and cannot be present at the ceremony, they may still celebrate the LORD(Jesus)’s Passover.
11 They must offer the Passover sacrifice one month later, at sundown on the fourteenth day of the second month.They must eat the Passover lamb at that time with bitter salad greens and matzohs.
12 They must not leave any of the lamb until the next morning, and they must not break any of its bones. They must follow all the normal regulations concerning the Passover.
Not to break the bones, as a foreshadow to Christ
13 But those who neglect to celebrate the Passover at the regular time, even though they are clean and not away on a trip, will be cut off from the community of Israel. If they fail to present the LORD(Jesus)’s offering at the proper time, they will suffer the consequences of their guilt.
14 And if foreigners living among you want to celebrate the Passover to the LORD(Jesus), they must follow these same decrees and regulations. The same laws apply both to the native-born of the land and to the foreigners living among you.
The Glory of God in a pillar of FIRE:
15 On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it. But from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle looked like a pillar of fire.
16 This was the regular pattern—at night the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire.
17 Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp.
18 In this way, they traveled and camped at the LORD(Jesus)’s command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle.
19 If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the LORD(Jesus).
20 Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the LORD(Jesus) commanded. Then at the LORD(Jesus)’s command they would break camp and move on.
21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on.
22 Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on.
23 So they camped or traveled at the LORD(Jesus)’s command, and they did whatever the LORD(Jesus) told them through Moses.
Numbers 14 “in the wilderness” 14
More Rebellion:
1 So all the church lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night.
2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they said.
3 “Why is the LORD(Jesus) bringing us to this land, where we will die by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be taken as booty! Wouldn't it be better for us to return to Egypt?"
4 Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!”
They were punished by their wishes being granted to die in that wilderness [Hebrews 3:17, Jude 1:5].
A leader to reconduct them to Egypt is spoken of (Nehemiah 9:17) as actually nominated.
5 Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel.
6 Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing.
The two honest spies testified their grief and horror, in the strongest manner, at the mutiny against Moses and the blasphemy against God; while at the same time they endeavored, by a truthful statement, to persuade the people of the ease with which they might obtain possession of so desirable a country, provided they did not, by their rebellion and ingratitude, provoke God to abandon them.(Jamieson)
7 They said to all the people of Israel, "The land we passed through in order to spy it out is an outstandingly good land!
8 And if the LORD(Jesus) is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.
a land flowing with milk and honey--a general expression, descriptive of a rich and fertile country. The two articles specified were among the principal products of the Holy Land.
9 Do not rebel against the LORD(Jesus), and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the LORD(Jesus) is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”
10 But just as the whole community were saying they should be stoned to death, the glory of the LORD(Jesus) appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle.
11 And the LORD(Jesus) said to Moses:
How long will these people refuse to obey Me? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them?
These words drive shivers down my spine and tears to my eyes. “How long” will we refuse to obey God, love Him and Obey Them!
12 I will disown them and destroy them with a plague. Then I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are!
For a second time, now God offers Moses heirs the reward to replace Israel
Moses offers his life for the People:
In one of the most moving scenes in the entire Bible, an angry God is confronted with a righteous man, offering, like Christ, to give up his eternal life for these sinners. The love is overwhelming, and Moses, a true friend of God, gets God to actually repent and turn from this. He argues with God and wins! Moses is a form of Christ here. Read on......
13 But Moses objected. “What will the Egyptians think when they hear about it?” he asked the LORD(Jesus). “They know full well the power you displayed in rescuing your people from Egypt.
14 Now if you destroy them, they will tell the people living in this land. They have heard that you, the LORD(Jesus), are with this people; that you, the LORD(Jesus), are seen face to face; that your cloud stands over them; that you go ahead of them in a column of cloud by day and a column of fire by night.
15 Now if you kill all these people with a single blow, the nations that have heard of your fame will say,
16 ‘The LORD(Jesus) was not able to bring them into the land he swore to give them, so he killed them in the wilderness.’
17 “Please, LORD(Jesus), prove that your power is as great as you have claimed. For you said,
18 ‘The LORD(Jesus) is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.’
19 In keeping with your magnificent, unfailing love, please pardon the sins of this people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.”
20 Then the LORD(Jesus) said: I have forgiven them as you have requested.
21 But as surely as I live, and as surely as the earth is filled with the LORD(Jesus)’s glory,
22 none of the people who saw My glory and the signs I did in Egypt and in the desert, yet tested Me these ten times and did not listen to My Jesus ( אֵת ('eth))* voice,
23 will see the land I swore to their ancestors! None of those who treated me with contempt will see it.
24 But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will possess their full share of that land.
Joshua was also excepted, but he is not named because he was no longer in the ranks of the people, being a constant attendant on Moses.
25 Now turn around, and don’t go on toward the land where the Amalekites and Canaanites live. Tomorrow you must set out for the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.[could be Reed Sea, as some manuscripts read]
26 Then the LORD(Jesus) said to Moses and Aaron:
27 How long must I put up with this wicked church, and its complaints about me? Yes, I have heard the complaints the Israelites are making against me.
28 Now tell them this: ‘As surely as I live, declares the LORD(Jesus), I will do to you the very things I heard you say.
29 You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die.
30 You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
31 You said your children would be carried off as plunder. Well, I will bring them safely into the land, and they will enjoy what you have despised.
32 But as for you, you will drop dead in this wilderness.
33 And your children will be like shepherds, wandering in the wilderness for forty years. In this way, they will pay for your faithlessness, until the last of you lies dead in the wilderness.
34 Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years—a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.
FORTY YEARS OF WANDERING ORDERED!
35 I, the LORD(Jesus), have spoken! I will certainly do these things to every member of the community who has conspired against me. They will be destroyed here in this wilderness, and here they will die!'
36 The ten men Moses had sent to explore the land—the ones who incited rebellion against the LORD(Jesus) with their bad report—37 were struck dead with a plague before the LORD(Jesus).
38 Of the twelve who had explored the land, only Joshua and Caleb remained alive.
39 When Moses reported the LORD(Jesus)’s words to all the Israelites, the people were filled with grief.
Probably regret and fear is more like it!
40 Then they got up early the next morning and went to the top of the range of hills. “Let’s go,” they said. “We realize that we have sinned, but now we are ready to enter the land the LORD(Jesus) has promised us.”
Looks like they still don't get it. God has overlooked so much of their sin, they are just assuming He will continue to do so.
41 But Moses said, “Why are you now disobeying the LORD(Jesus)’s orders to return to the wilderness? It won’t work.
42 Do not go up into the land now. You will only be crushed by your enemies because the LORD(Jesus) is not with you.
43 When you face the Amalekites and Canaanites in battle, you will be slaughtered. The LORD(Jesus) will abandon you because you have abandoned the LORD(Jesus).”
44 But the people defiantly went ahead anyway toward the hill country, even though neither Moses nor the Ark of the LORD(Jesus)’s Covenant left the camp.
45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in those hills came down and attacked them and chased them back as far as Hormah.
Numbers 15 “in the wilderness of” 15
1 The LORD(Jesus) spoke to Moses:
2 Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'After you enter the place I am giving you as a homeland
3 and you present to the LORD(Jesus) food offerings from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the LORD(Jesus), whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings;
4 then the person who brings an offering shall present to the LORD(Jesus) a grain offering of 3 1/2 pounds of the finest flour mixed with a quart of olive oil.
5 With each lamb for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quart of wine as a drink offering.
6 With a ram prepare a grain offering of 7 pounds of the finest flour mixed withone-and-one-third quarts of olive oil;
7 while for the drink offering, you are to present one-and-one-third quarts of wine as a fragrant aroma for the LORD(Jesus).
8 When you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering or sacrifice, for a special vow or a fellowship offering to the LORD(Jesus),
9 bring with the bull a grain offering of eleven pounds of the finest flour mixed with two quarts of olive oil,
10 and also; for the drink offering, present two quarts of wine for an offering made by fire, a fragant aroma for LORD(Jesus).
11 Each bull or ram, each lamb or young goat, is to be prepared in this manner.
12 Do this for each one, for as many as you prepare.
13 Everyone who is native-born must do these things in this way when they present a food offering as an aroma pleasing to the LORD(Jesus).
14 For the generations to come, whenever a foreigner or anyone else living among you presents a food offering as an aroma pleasing to the LORD(Jesus), they must do exactly as you do.
15 The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the LORD(Jesus):
16 The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing among you.'
One LAW for all!
17 The LORD(Jesus) spoke to Moses:
18 Speak to the people of Israel; tell them, 'When you enter the land where I am bringing you
19 and you eat the food of the land, present a portion as an offering to the LORD(Jesus).
20 Set aside a loaf from the first of your ground meal and present it as an offering from the threshing floor.
21 Throughout the generations to come you are to give this offering to the LORD(Jesus) from the first of your ground meal.
OFFERINGS FOR UNINTENTIONAL SINS:
22 If you sin unintentionally, and do not observe all these commandments which the LORD(Jesus) gave Moses;
23 everything that the LORD(Jesus) has ordered you to do through Moses, from the day the LORD(Jesus) gave the order and onward through all your generations,
24 then, if it was done by mistake by the church and was not known to them, the whole community is to offer one young bull for a burnt offering as a fragrant aroma to the LORD(Jesus), with its grain and drink offerings, in keeping with the rule, and one male goat as a sin offering.
25 The priest is to make atonement for the whole Israelite community, and they will be forgiven, for it was not intentional and they have presented to the LORD(Jesus) for their wrong a food offering and a sin offering.
26 The whole community of Israel will be forgiven, including the foreigners living among you, for the entire population was involved in the sin.
27 But if just one person sins unintentionally, that person must bring a year-old female goat for a sin offering.
28 The priest is to make atonement before the LORD(Jesus) for the person who makes a mistake by sinning inadvertently;, and when atonement has been made for them, they will be forgiven.
29 This same law applies both to native Israelites and the foreigners living among you.
The concept here again is ONE LAW for all peoples, aliens or not. King or peasant
30 But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or foreigner, blasphemes the LORD(Jesus) and must be cut off from their people.
31 Because they have despised the LORD(Jesus)'s word and broken his commands, they must surely be cut off; their guilt remains on them.'
THE SABBATH-BREAKER PUT TO DEATH:
32 One day while the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they caught a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day.
33 He was apprehended and taken before Moses, Aaron, and the rest of the community,
34 and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him.
35 Then the LORD(Jesus) said to Moses: The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.
36 So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the LORD(Jesus) commanded Moses.
It is important to remember that the LORD is Jesus Christ who has just ordered the man stoned!
37 The LORD(Jesus) said to Moses:
38 Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.
39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD(Jesus), that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes.
These were narrow strips, in a wing-like form, wrapped over the shoulders and on various parts of the attire. "Fringe," however, is the English rendering of two distinct Hebrew words--the one meaning a narrow lappet or edging, called the "hem" or "border" (Matthew 23:5, Luke 8:44), which, in order to make it more attractive to the eye and consequently more serviceable to the purpose described, was covered with a riband of blue or rather purple color; the other term signifies strings with tassels at the end, fastened to the corners of the garment. Both of these are seen on the Egyptian and Assyrian frocks; and as the Jewish people were commanded by express and repeated ordinances to have them, the fashion was rendered subservient, in their case, to awaken high and religious associations--to keep them in habitual remembrance of the divine commandments.(Jamieson)
40 Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God(Elohim/Theos).
41 I am the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos), who brought you out of Egypt to be your God(Elohim/Theos). I am the LORD(Jesus) your God(Elohim/Theos).'
Numbers 16 “in the wilderness of” 16
1 Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, took men
2 and rebelled against Moses. With them were 250 men of Israel, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.
These malcontents had been incited by the artful representations of Korah (Jude 1:11)
3 They assembled themselves against Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD(Jesus) is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD(Jesus)'s church?"
4 When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.
5 Then he said to Korah and all his followers: "In the morning the LORD(Jesus) will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The one he chooses he will cause to come near him.
6 You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take incense burners,
7 and burn incense in them tomorrow before the LORD(Jesus). Then we will see whom the LORD(Jesus) chooses as his holy one. You Levites are the ones who have gone too far!"
8 Moses also said to Korah, "Now listen, you Levites!
9 Isn't it enough for you that the God(Elohim/Theos) of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the LORD(Jesus)'s Tabernacle and to stand before the church and minister to them?
10 He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too.
11 It is against the LORD(Jesus) that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?"
12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, "We won't come!
13 Isn't it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? And now you also want to LORD(Jesus) it over us!
14 What's more, you haven't brought us into the land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Are you trying to fool us? We will not come.!”
15 Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD(Jesus), "Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them."
16 Moses said to Korah, "Come here tomorrow and present yourself before the LORD(Jesus) with all your followers. Aaron will also be here.
17 Be sure that each of your 250 followers brings an incense burner with incense on it, so you can present them before the LORD(Jesus). You and Aaron will also bring incense burners.
18 So each one took his censer, put burning coals and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tabernacle Holy Place.
19 When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the LORD(Jesus) appeared to the entire assembly.
20 The LORD(Jesus) said to Moses and Aaron:
21 Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.
22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, "O God(Elohim/Theos), God(Elohim/Theos) of every human spirit, will you be angry with the entire church when only one man sins?"
23 Then the LORD(Jesus) said to Moses:
24 Say to the church, 'Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.'
25 Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.
26 He warned the assembly, "Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins."
27 So all the people stood back from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Then Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrances of their tents with their wives and children and little ones.
28 Then Moses said, "This is how you will know that the LORD(Jesus) has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea:
29 If these men die a natural death and suffer the common fate of all human beings, then the LORD(Jesus) has not sent me.
30 But if the LORD(Jesus) brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave(sheol), then you will know that these men have treated the LORD(Jesus) with contempt."
THE GRAVE: The realm of the dead, translated “hell” is from the hebrew word “sheol” which is simply “the grave,” the place where all people go when they die and rest (sleep) until the resurrection of the dead (1 Cor: 15)
31 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart
32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions.
33 So they and everything they owned went down alive into the grave (Sheol), the earth closed over them and their existence in the church community ceased.
34 All of the people of Israel fled as they heard their screams, fearing that the earth would swallow them, too.
35 And fire came out from the LORD(Jesus) and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
****36 The LORD(Jesus) said to Moses:
37 Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to pull all the incense burners from the fire, for they are holy. Also tell him to scatter the burning incense
38 from the burners of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives. He must then hammer the metal of the incense burners into a sheet as a covering for the altar, for these burners have become holy because they were used in the LORD's(Yahweh) presence. The altar covering will then serve as a warning to the people of Israel.
39 So Eleazar the priest collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned to death, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar,
40 as the LORD(Jesus) directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the LORD(Jesus), or he would become like Korah and his followers.
41 The next day the whole Israelite church community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. "You have killed the LORD(Jesus)'s people," they said.
42 As the people gathered to protest to Moses and Aaron, they turned toward the Tabernacle and saw that the cloud had covered it, and the glorious presence of the LORD(Jesus) appeared.
43 Moses and Aaron came and stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle,
44 and the LORD(Jesus) spoke to Moses:
45 Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once. And they fell facedown.
46 Then Moses said to Aaron, "Quick, take an incense burner and place burning coals on it from the altar. Lay incense on it and carry it quickly among the people to make atonement for them. The LORD's(Yahweh) anger is blazing among them – the plague has already begun."
47 So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them.
48 He stood between the living and the dead until the plague was stopped.
49 But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah.
50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, for the plague had stopped.
****. Numbers 16:36 16:36-50 is numbered 17:1-15 in Hebrew texts.
Numbers 17 “in the wilderness of” 17
The Budding of Aaron's Staff:
****1 The LORD(Jesus) said to Moses:
2 Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff.
3 Inscribe Aaron's name on the staff of the tribe of Levi, for there must be one staff for the leader of each ancestral tribe.
4 Put these staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark of the Covenant, where I meet with you.
5 The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.
6 So Moses gave the instructions to the people of Israel, and each of the twelve tribal leaders, including Aaron, brought Moses a staff.
7 Moses put the staffs in the LORD's(Yahweh) presence in the Tabernacle of the Covenant.
8 The next day Moses entered the tent of the Tabernacle and saw that Aaron's staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.
Moses went into the tabernacle--being privileged to do so on this occasion by the special command of God. And he there beheld the remarkable spectacle of Aaron's rod--which, according to JOSEPHUS, was a stick of an almond tree, bearing fruit in three different stages at once--buds, blossoms, and fruit.
9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD(Jesus)'s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.
10 The LORD(Jesus) said to Moses: Return Aaron's staff to its place in front of the Ark of the Covenant. It is to be kept there as a sign to the rebels, so that they will stop grumbling against me and thus not die.
11 Moses did just as the LORD(Jesus) commanded him.
12 The Israelites said to Moses, "Oh no! We're dead men! Lost! We're all lost!
13 Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the LORD(Jesus) will die. Are we all going to die?"
Notice this question isn't answered!!!!
These rods were to be laid in the tabernacle close to the ark (compare Numbers 17:10 and Hebrews 9:4), where a divine token was promised that would for all time terminate the dispute.
Footnotes:
**** Numbers 17:1 17:1-13 is numbered 17:16-28 in Hebrew texts.
Aaron's staff:
A little history is required to begin with: the account is in Numbers chapter 16. A short while after the Tabernacle had been functioning, one of the priests (Korah) and some others mounted a challenge to the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Couched in language that was very spiritual, Korah reasoned 'aren't all the Lord's people holy? isn't He among all of them? why are Moses and Aaron the only leaders? - it's too much for them to cope with'. Korah's partners were not priests. Their line of reasoning was totally anti- God's word: 'Moses, you've brought us away from a land flowing with milk and honey (Egypt) into this desert. Where is this land flowing with milk and honey that you promised us? D'you think we're all blind?' This was an outright lie; Egypt had meant toil and miserable hardship, bitter tears and hopelessness, but after a few months of building a beautiful Tabernacle, the memory of that slavery was fading, hence the challenge.
Moses instructed everyone to appear before the Lord the next day. They were to fill bronze incense burners and place them before the Lord. God was furious and judged Korah and his cronies. Their censors became used in the covering for the Burnt Offering Altar, as a reminder of God's wrath from heaven against the ones who had spoken so vehemently against Him and those He had chosen (Numbers 16:29).
But the incident did not finish there. The whole congregation then started to murmur against Moses and Aaron because they had 'killed the Lord's people'. Again God reacted furiously and plague broke out, quenched only when Aaron obeyed Moses and placed his (the authorised) incense burner before the Lord in the Tabernacle. The plague had exacted a devastating toll on the people and God had proved negatively that Moses and Aaron were indeed his choice.
However, God wanted to prove positively that Aaron was his choice for the priesthood (Numbers 17:5). A rod from the head of each of the twelve tribes was marked with the name of the tribe and placed before the Lord, at Ark of the Testimony (Numbers 17:4). When Moses returned the next day, Aaron's rod had budded with sprouts, yielding blossoms and ripe almonds. God instructed Moses to place Aaron's rod back before the Testimony, "to be kept as a sign against the rebels" to prevent further murmurings and death (Numbers 17:10).
That is the history. The application comes in John chapter 11. Jesus' friend Lazarus is quite seriously ill. Jesus loved the family: Lazarus, Martha and Mary. But Jesus did not go to see them straightaway, He waited two days. This caused a lot of murmuring and reasoning. The first bunch of murmurers and reasoners were the disciples, especially when Jesus (without being told) announces that Lazarus has fallen asleep (John 11:11,14). The next bunch of murmurers and reasoners were Martha and Mary and the mourners. Martha can't wait to tell Jesus what she thinks, meeting Him on the road. Mary was less vociferous, but still made the same observation as Martha: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:21,32).
It looks really bad. Jesus has let everybody down, just what the 'press' wanted to 'publish'. It is in this very environment of death, despair and hopelessness that Jesus announces "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." (John 11:25) Jesus asks Martha if she believes. She gives a reply that is doctrinally superb: she believes Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God who is come into the world (John 11:27). She avoids answering Jesus' actual question because her theology is already 'at the back of her mind' due to her grief. Some of the others begin to question even whether He is the Messiah. After all, if Jesus can make the blind to see (a strong proof He is the Messiah, Isaiah 42:1,7), why couldn't he have prevented Lazarus from dying?
Jesus had no intention of preventing Lazarus from dying. He appears to have had every intention of waiting until he had died, so that people would see the glory of God appear in the Tabernacle, Jesus Christ, and that many would believe in(to) Him ('into' is the literal Greek)(John 11:40,15,45). Lazarus was not just a piece of wood, lopped from an almond tree somewhere, like Aaron's rod had been. Lazarus was a full scale human being, a dear friend, now (after being dead for four days in Israel) undoubtedly decomposing rapidly, damaged beyond hope.
"Take away the stone"
"Father I thank You that You have heard Me"
(He had already been at the Golden Incense Altar praying)
"Lazarus, come forth"
"Loose him! Let him go!
What a sign of the Messiah! Who could doubt now that Jesus is who He says He is - the Resurrection and the Life? Only those who were masterminding the plan to kill Him (John 11:47-54). But even they were under God's sovereign masterful arrangement.
So much of the Tabernacle's history and the Temple's history is upsetting and disappointing. But today, thousands of years later, people are still very eager to learn about the Tabernacle and the Temple. This has much to do with the Ark of the Covenant, which (for at least part of its history) contained the budding rod that is fulfilled in Jesus, who is the Resurrection and the Life! So much of church history, and even my own history is deeply disappointing, but again and again the Lord Jesus Christ becomes the Resurrection and the Life to the members of His Body, which is the true Church.
I myself am living, walking proof that Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and the Life. Tonight I am writing this article on the Tabernacle for the Internet and a CD-ROM. If Internet/CD-ROM technology had been available seven years ago, when I was a deeply backslidden christian, I am sure that I would have been looking out for totally different (even dirty) kinds of material. How I thank the Lord for His love towards me, for saving me, for bringing me back to take another look at Jesus in the gospels (the Door to the Outer Court), for dying for me at the Burnt Offering Altar (the cross) to forgive all my wrongdoings, for washing and cleansing me at the Laver of His word, for feeding me with the Bread of Life, for shining on me as the Light of the world, causing a reaction of the light of life inside me. Thank you, Lord, for praying for me at every stage of my life and for shepherding me back to Yourself. Thank you, Lord Jesus, You are the Resurrection and the Life, and You're real in my life. Praise Your Holy Name!
Aaron's rod that budded was a sign of God's continued choice of Aaron as a priest (Numbers 17:5). But Aaron's priesthood was interrupted by his death. The Lord Jesus Christ, though, has a priesthood that is constituted with an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:16). He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him (Hebrews 7:25). Do you need to come back to God, now, through Him?
http://www.domini.org/tabern/arkcovnt.htm#aaronrod
Numbers 18 “in the wilderness of”
Duties of Priests and Levites:
1 The LORD(Jesus) said to Aaron: You, your sons, and your relatives from the tribe of Levi will be held responsible for any offenses related to the sanctuary. But you and your sons alone will be held liable for violations connected with the priesthood.
2 But you are to bring your kinsmen, the tribe of Levi, along with yourselves, to work together with you and help you - you and your sons with you - when you are there in front of the Tabernacle of the Covenant.
3 They are to be responsible to you and are to perform all the duties of the tent, but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. Otherwise both they and you will die.
4 They are to join you and be responsible for the care of the Holy Tent of the Tabernacle—all the work at the Tent—and no one else may come near where you are.
5 You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar, so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again.
6 I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the LORD(Jesus) to do the work at the tent of meeting.
7 But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.
8 Then the LORD(Jesus) spoke to Aaron: I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion, your perpetual share.
9 Here is what is to be yours of the especially holy things taken from the fire: every offering they make - that is, every grain offering, sin offering and guilt offering of theirs that they turn over to me - will be especially holy for you and your sons.
10 Eat it as something most holy; every male shall eat it. You must regard it as holy.
11 This also is yours: whatever is set aside from the gifts of all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I give this to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it.
12 I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the LORD(Jesus) as the firstfruits of their harvest.
13 All the land's firstfruits that they bring to the LORD(Jesus) will be yours. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it.
14 Everything that is specially set apart for the LORD(Jesus) is yours.
15 The first offspring of every womb, both human and animal, that is offered to the LORD(Jesus) is yours. But you must redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals.
16 Redeem them when they are one month old. The redemption price is five pieces of silver[2 ounces], each piece weighing the same as the standard sanctuary shekel
17 But you must not redeem the firstborn of a cow, a sheep or a goat; they are holy. Splash their blood against the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD(Jesus).
18 Their meat is to be yours, just as the breast of the wave offering and the right thigh are yours.
19 Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the LORD(Jesus) I give to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the LORD(Jesus) for both you and your offspring.
covenant of salt--that is, a perpetual ordinance. This figurative form of expression was evidently founded on the conservative property of salt, which keeps meat from corruption; and hence it became an emblem of inviolability and permanence. It is a common phrase among Oriental people, who consider the eating of salt a pledge of fidelity, binding them in a covenant of friendship. Hence the partaking of the altar meats, which were appropriated to the priests on condition of their services and of which salt formed a necessary accompaniment, was naturally called "a covenant of salt" (Leviticus 2:13).
20 The LORD(Jesus) said to Aaron: You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites.
21 As for the tribe of Levi, your relatives, I will pay them for their service in the Tabernacle with the tithes from the entire land of Israel.
22 From now on, Israelites other than the priests and Levites are to stay away from the Tabernacle. If they come too near, they will be judged guilty and die.
23 The Levites must serve at the Tabernacle, and they will be held responsible for any offenses against it. This is a permanent law among you. But the Levites will receive no inheritance of land among the Israelites,
24 because I have given them the Israelites' tithes, which have been set apart as offerings to the LORD(Jesus). That is why I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.'
A TITHE is a TENTH, or ten percent.......
25 The LORD(Jesus) said to Moses:
26 Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD(Jesus)'s offering.
27 Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress.
28 In this way you also will present an offering to the LORD(Jesus) from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the LORD(Jesus)'s portion to Aaron the priest.
29 From everything given to you, you are to set aside all that is due to the LORD(Jesus) the best part of it, its holy portion.'
30 Therefore you are to tell them, 'When you set aside from it its best part, it will be accounted as if it were grain from the threshing-floor and grape juice from the wine vat.
31 You Levites and your households may eat this food anywhere you wish, for it is your compensation for serving in the Tabernacle.
32 By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die.'
Numbers 19 “in the wilderness” 19
THE RED HEIFER:
1 The LORD(Jesus) said to Moses and Aaron:
2 This is a requirement of the Law(Torah) that the LORD(Jesus) has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke.
This is the only case in which the color of the victim is specified. Both David and Christ had a “ruddy” or red complextion. I think this is another symbol of both David and Christ.
3 Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.
4 Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting.
5 While he watches, the heifer is to be burned—its hide, flesh, blood and intestines.
6 The priest is to take cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer.
7 After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water. He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening.
The ceremonies prescribed show the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood, while they typify the condition of Christ when expiating our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21).
8 The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening.
9 A man who is clean is to collect the ashes of the heifer and store them outside the camp in a clean place. They are to be kept for the community of the people of Isra'el to prepare water for purification from sin.
10 The man who gathers up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he too will be unclean till evening. This will be a lasting ordinance both for the Israelites and for the foreigners residing among them.
11 Anyone who touches a corpse, no matter whose dead body it is, will be unclean for seven days.
12 They must purify himself with water on the third and seventh days; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself the third and seventh days, he will not be clean.
The necessity of applying the water on the third day is inexplicable on any natural or moral ground; and, therefore, the regulation has been generally supposed to have had a typical reference to the resurrection, on that day, of Christ, by whom His people are sanctified; while the process of ceremonial purification being extended over seven days, was intended to show that sanctification is progressive and incomplete till the arrival of the eternal Sabbath. Every one knowingly and presumptuously neglecting to have himself sprinkled with this water was guilty of an offense which was punished by excommunication.(Jamieson)
13 If they fail to purify themselves after touching a corpse, they defile the Tabernacle of the LORD(Jesus). They must be cut off from Israel. Because the water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, they are unclean; their uncleanness remains on them.
14 This is the law that applies when a person dies in a tent: Anyone who enters the tent and anyone who is in it will be unclean for seven days,
The instances adduced appear very minute and trivial; but important ends, both of a religious and of a sanitary nature, were promoted by carrying the idea of pollution from contact with dead bodies to so great an extent. While it would effectually prevent that Egyptianized race of Israelites imitating the superstitious custom of the Egyptians, who kept in their houses the mummied remains of their ancestors, it ensured a speedy interment to all, thus not only keeping burial places at a distance, but removing from the habitations of the living the corpses of persons who died from infectious disorders, and from the open field the unburied remains of strangers and foreigners who fell in battle. (Jamieson)
15 and every open container without a lid fastened on it will be unclean.
16 Also whoever is in an open field and touches a corpse, whether of someone killed by a weapon or of someone who died naturally, or the bone of a person, or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.
17 For the unclean person they are to take some of the ashes of the animal burned up as a purification from sin and add them to fresh water in a container.
18 A clean person is to take a bunch of hyssop leaves, dip it in the water and sprinkle it on the tent, on all the containers, on the people who were there, and on the person who touched the bone or the person killed or the one who died naturally or the grave(sheol).
19 The clean person will sprinkle the unclean person on the third and seventh days. On the seventh day he will purify him; then he will wash his clothes and himself in water; and he will be clean at evening.
The 3rd day and the 7th day. Clear references to Christ's resurrection and ascention. The seventh day at evening is the end of Passover, and on the 8th day, everyone is clean!
20 But if those who are unclean do not purify themselves, they must be cut off from the church community, because they have defiled the sanctuary of the LORD(Jesus). The water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, and they are unclean.
21 This is a lasting ordinance for them. The man who sprinkles the water of cleansing must also wash his clothes, and anyone who touches the water of cleansing will be unclean till evening.
22 Anything that an unclean person touches becomes unclean, and anyone who touches it becomes unclean till evening.
Numbers 20 “in the wilderness” 20
Water From the Rock:
1 In the first month[early springtime] the people of Israel, the entire community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
2 Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron.
3 They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD(Jesus)!
4 Why did you bring the LORD(Jesus)'s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here?
5 Why did you make us leave Egypt? To bring us to this terrible place without seed, figs, grapevines, pomegranates or even water to drink?"
6 Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle and fell face down, and the glory of the LORD(Jesus) appeared to them.
7 The LORD(Jesus) said to Moses:
8 Take the staff (walking stick), and you and Aaron, your brother are to gather the church together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.
9 So Moses took the staff from the presence of the LORD(Jesus), just as He commanded him.
10 Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. "Listen, you rebels!" he shouted. "Must we bring you water from this rock?"
MUST WE! Herein lies the reason God is so angry with Moses. Up until know, God has told Moses what to do, and Moses followed and asked God to do the miracle. Here, Moses is leaving God out of the equation. He is grieving for Miriam, he is old, under great stress and broke down. He takes the credit, not God. This is Moses' sin. It wasn't striking the rock twice, it was denying the power of God. The Rock here may me Jacob's pillar stone; as many believe, but there is no clear proof. One thing always to remember, GOD is very hard on those He (They) love! Moses is dealt harshly hear, but this only adds to his reward!
FROM JAMIESON: [Moses] said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?--The conduct of the great leader on this occasion was hasty and passionate (Psalms 106:33). He had been directed to speak to the rock [Numbers 20:8], but he smote it twice [Numbers 20:11] in his impetuosity, thus endangering the blossoms of the rod, and, instead of speaking to the rock, he spoke to the people in a fury.
11 Then Moses raised his hand and hit the rock twice with his staff. Water flowed out in abundance, and the community and their livestock drank.
Physically the water afforded the same kind of needful refreshment to both. But from a religious point of view, this, which was only a common element to the cattle, was a sacrament to the people (1 Corinthians 10:3,4)--It possessed a relative sanctity imparted to it by its divine origin and use.
12 But the LORD(Jesus) said to Moses and Aaron:
Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.
13 These were the waters of Meribah, (argued) where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD(Jesus) and where he was proved holy among them.
14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: "This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come on us. 15 Our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors,
16 but when we cried out to the LORD(Jesus), he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. "Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.
17 Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King's Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory."
probably Wady-el-Ghuweir [ROBERTS], through which ran one of the great lines of road, constructed for commercial caravans, as well as for the progress of armies. The engineering necessary for carrying them over marshes or mountains, and the care requisite for protecting them from the shifting sands, led to their being under the special care of the state. Hence the expression, "the king's highway," which is of great antiquity.
18 But Edom answered: "You are not to pass through my land; if you do, I will come out against you with the sword."
19 The people of Israel replied: "We will keep to the King's highway; if we do drink the water, either we or our livestock, we will pay for it. Just let us pass through on foot - if nothing else."
20 Again they answered: "You may not pass through." Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army.
21 Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them.
-A churlish refusal obliged them to take another route. see also 1 Samuel 14:47, 2 Samuel 8:14, which describe the retribution that was taken.) Jamieson...
The Death of Aaron:
22 They traveled on from Kadesh; and the people of Israel, the whole church, arrived at Mount Hor.
23 At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom, the LORD(Jesus) said to Moses and Aaron:
24 The time has come for Aaron to join his ancestors in death. He will not enter the land I am giving the people of Israel, because the two of you rebelled against my instructions concerning the waters of Meribah.
25 Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor.
26 Remove Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will die there.
(See Isaiah 22:20-25).
27 Moses did as the LORD(Jesus) commanded: They went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole church.
28 Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain,
29 and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.
When all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead--Moses and Eleazar were the sole witnesses of his departure (Numbers 20:28). According to the established law, the new high priest could not have been present at the funeral of his father without contracting ceremonial defilement (Leviticus 21:11). But that law was dispensed with in the extraordinary circumstances. The people learned the event not only from the recital of the two witnesses, but from their visible signs of grief and change; and this event betokened the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 7:12).They mourned for Aaron thirty days--the usual period of public and solemn mourning.
God bids Aaron prepare to die. There is something of displeasure in these orders. Aaron must not enter Canaan, because he had failed in his duty at the waters of strife. There is much of mercy in them. Aaron, though he dies for his transgression, dies with ease, and in honour. He is gathered to his people, as one who dies in the arms of Divine grace. There is much significancy in these orders. Aaron must not enter Canaan, to show that the Levitical priesthood could make nothing perfect; that must be done by bringing in a better hope. Aaron submits, and dies in the method and manner appointed; and, for aught that appears, with as much cheerfulness as if he had been going to bed. It was a great satisfaction to Aaron to see his son, who was dear to him, preferred; and his office preserved and secured: especially, to see in this a figure of Christ's everlasting priesthood. A good man would desire, if it were the will of God, not to outlive his usefulness. Why should we covet to continue any longer in this world, than while we may do some service in it for God and our generation? (Matthew Henry)
