Month: March 2014

March 26, 2014

Monthly sacrifices (Num 28:11-28:15)

“At the beginning of your months you shall offer a burnt offering to Yahweh. This shall be two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old without blemish. You add three-tenths of an ephah of choice flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, for each bull. There shall be two-tenths of choice flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, for the one ram. There should be one-tenth of choice flour mixed with oil as a grain offering for every lamb. This shall be a burnt offering of pleasing odor, an offering by fire for Yahweh. Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, one-third of a hin for a ram, and one-fourth of a hin for a lamb. This is the burnt offering of each month throughout the months of the year. There shall be one male goat for a sin offering to Yahweh. It shall be offered in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.”

At the beginning of every month there had to be a special burnt offering. Once again, like a cook book, there is a list of what had to be in the burnt offerings. Ten animals are sacrificed each month at the festival time of the new moon, 2 bulls, 1 ram, and 7 male lambs. The bull had 3/10 of a bushel of flour, 2/10 of a bushel for the ram, and 1/10 of bushel for each lamb. The drink offerings were ½ of a hin of wine for a bull, 1/3 of a hin of wine for the ram, and ¼ of a hin of wine for each lamb. On top of that there had to be a sin offering of a goat. All of this was in addition to the regular daily offerings.

 

March 26, 2014

The Sabbath (Num 28:9-28:10)

“On the Sabbath day, there shall be two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two-tenths of an ephah of choice flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering.  This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.”

Something more is done on the Sabbath, another sacrifice of 2 lambs in addition to the regular offerings. However, this sacrifice is not mentioned any other place in the Torah.

March 26, 2014

The daily sacrifices (Num 28:1-28:8)

“Yahweh spoke to Moses. ‘Command the Israelites and say to them. ‘My offering, the food for my offerings by fire, my pleasing odor, you shall take care to offer to me at its appointed time.’ You shall say to them. ‘This is the offering by fire that you shall offer to Yahweh, two male lambs a year old without blemish, daily, as a regular offering. One lamb you shall offer in the morning. The other lamb you shall offer at twilight. They will be offered with one-tenth of an ephah of choice flour for a grain offering, mixed with one-fourth of a hin of beaten oil. It is a regular burnt offering, ordained at Mount Sinai for a pleasing odor, an offering by fire to Yahweh. Its drink offering shall be one-fourth of a hin for each lamb. In the sanctuary you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to Yahweh. The other lamb you shall offer at twilight with a grain offering like the one in the morning. You shall offer it as an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to Yahweh.”

Once again we go back to Exodus, chapter 46, and Leviticus, chapter 23, about how to worship Yahweh. There should be 2 male lambs a year old, without blemish, daily as a regular offering, one in the morning and the other at twilight. You also have to have 1/10th of a bushel of choice flour for a grain offering, mixed with a ¼ of a hin of oil. A hin is about 1 ½ gallons. This had to produce a pleasing odor from the fire. The drink offering ought to be ¼ of a hin for each lamb. The drink offering is a ‘strong drink,’ without being specific.

March 26, 2014

Joshua, the head of the community (Num 27:12-27:23)

“Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Go up this mountain of the Abarim range. See the land that I have given to the Israelites. When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin when the congregation quarreled with me. You did not show my holiness before their eyes at the waters.’  These were the waters of Meribah-Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. Moses spoke to Yahweh. ‘Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint someone over the congregation who shall go before them and come in before them. Let the congregation of Yahweh be not be like sheep without a shepherd.’ So Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit. Lay your hand upon him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation. Commission him in their sight. You shall give him some of your authority, so that all the congregation of the Israelites may obey. But he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the decision of the Urim before Yahweh. At his word they shall go out. At his word they shall come in, both he and all the Israelites with him, the whole congregation.’ So Moses did as Yahweh commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation. He laid his hands on him, and commissioned him, just as Yahweh had directed through Moses.”

Yahweh told Moses to go up to the mountain of Abarim. He could see the Promised Land. Then he would be gathered to his people like Aaron and die. He had rebelled against Yahweh at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. Moses wanted Yahweh to appoint another leader so that the sheep would not be without a shepherd. Yahweh told Moses to take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit. He laid his hand on him. Then he brought Joshua before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation. He then commissioned him in their sight. Everyone was to obey Joshua. So now we have a new leader. With the laying on hands, the power passed from Moses to Joshua just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

March 26, 2014

Female inheritance (Num 27:1-27:11)

“Then the daughters of Zelophehad came forward.   Zelophehad was the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, the son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole congregation, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying, ‘Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against Yahweh in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin. He had no sons. Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father’s brothers.’”

Here we have the case of the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the son of Joseph. These are the five daughters mentioned above, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They went to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the congregation, to say that their father died in the wilderness. Although he was not among the company that gathered against Yahweh with Korah, he died for his own sins. However, he had no sons. They wanted a possession among their father’s brothers.

“Moses brought their case before Yahweh. Yahweh spoke to Moses. ‘The daughters of Zelophehad are right in what they are saying. You shall indeed let them possess an inheritance among their father’s brothers and pass the inheritance of their father on to them. You shall say to the Israelites, `If a man dies, and has no son, then you shall pass his inheritance on to his daughter. If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers.   If his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the nearest kinsman of his clan, and he shall possess it. It shall be for the Israelites a statute and ordinance, as Yahweh commanded Moses.’”

Moses then brought their case before Yahweh and Yahweh responded. Yes, the daughters of Zelophehad are right. They should possess the inheritance of their father. Then there were a set of rules to follow. If a man dies, and has no son, then his inheritance goes to his daughter or daughters. If he has no daughter, then his inheritance goes to his brothers. If he has no brothers, then it goes to his father’s brothers. And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the nearest kinsman of his clan. The lines of inheritance are clearly drawn. Only the daughters as females have rights, while the wife does not. Beyond the daughters it goes to other males in the clan.

 

March 25, 2014

Census of the Levites (Num 26:57-26:65)

“This is the enrollment of the Levites by their clans: Gershon, the clan of the Gershonites; Kohath, the clan of the Kohathites; Merari, the clan of the Merarites. These are the clans of Levi: the clan of the Libnites, the clan of the Hebronites, the clan of the Mahlites, the clan of the Mushites, the clan of the Korahites. Kohath was the father of Amram. The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. She bore to Amram Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.  To Aaron were born Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unholy fire before Yahweh. The number of those enrolled was twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and upward. They were not enrolled among the Israelites because there was no allotment given to them among Israelites.”

The Levites had a special clan census as in chapter 3. However, this time they did not break the numbers down by clans, not is there any explicit mention of the Shimeites, the Amramites, the Izharites, and the Uzzielites.

1)      The two clans of Gershon, the clan of the Gershonites;

  1. the Libnites;
  2. the Shimeites;

2)      The four clans of Kohath, the clan of the Kohathites;

  1. Amram married Jochebed, daughter of Levi

i.      Aaron

  1. Nadab, died in unholy fire
  2. Abihu, died in unholy fire
  3. Eleazar, followed Aaron as chief priest
  4. Ithamar

ii.      Moses

iii.      Miriam

  1. the Izharites;
  2. the Hebronites;
  3. the Uzzielites.

3)      The two clans of Merari, the clan of the Merarites:

  1. the Mahlites;
  2. the Mushites.

There were 23,000 Levite males from a month old. They did not get any allotment like the rest of the Israelites. In chapter 3, there were 22,000 so that there was an increase of 1,000.

“These were those enrolled by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who enrolled the Israelites in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho.   Among these there was not one of those enrolled by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had enrolled the Israelites in the wilderness of Sinai. Yahweh had said of them, ‘They shall die in the wilderness.’ Not one of them was left, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”

Those enrolled here by Moses and Eleazar were not the same as those enrolled by Moses and Aaron in the wilderness of Sinai. Yahweh had said that they would die in the wilderness. Not one of them was left, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. The number was nearly the same but the people were different. It is hard to imagine that none of the Sinai Levites made it to Moab.

March 25, 2014

Another census (Num 26:1-26:56)

“After the plague, Yahweh said to Moses and to Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, ‘Take a census of the whole congregation of the Israelites, from twenty years old and upward, by their ancestral houses, everyone in Israel able to go forth to war.’ Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho. ‘Take a census of the people, from twenty years old and upward,’ as Yahweh commanded Moses.”

After all these deaths, why not take another census. After all, the name of the book is Numbers. I will compare this census with the one taken in chapter 1 to indicate the differences. At the 1st census each tribe had 1 person to help take the census, but that is not the case here. After the plague, Yahweh told Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, to take a census of everyone over 20 years old, able to go to war. Notice that now that Aaron is dead, Eleazar his son speaks with God. This is the first time anyone other than Aaron or Moses is mentioned. They took the census of all the men over 20 who would be able to fight, in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho. Men are not explicitly mentioned but able to fight seems to imply men.

“The Israelites, who came forth out of the land of Egypt, were:

Reuben was the first-born of Israel. The descendents of Reuben were: Hanoch, the clan of the Hanochites; Pallu, the clan of the Palluites; Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites; Carmi, the clan of the Carmites. These are the clans of the Reubenites. The number of those enrolled was forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty.  The descendant of Pallu was Eliab. The descendants of Eliab were: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the same Dathan and Abiram, chosen from the congregation, who rebelled against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they rebelled against Yahweh. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men. They became a warning. Notwithstanding, the descendants of Korah did not die.”

1)                  Reuben was the first-born of Israel. His 4 descendants are the same as those mentioned in Genesis, chapter 46 and Exodus, chapter 6.

  1. Hanoch, the clan of the Hanochites;

There was another Hanoch in Genesis, chapter 25, who was the grandson of Abraham, by way of Keturah. He was the son of Median, not through the line of Isaac, although they had the same father. Sometimes the Hanochites refers to this Median group. However, this Hanoch is the grandson of Israel through Reuben, or the great-great grandson of Abraham via Isaac and Jacob.

2. Pallu, the clan of the Palluites;

Eliab son of Pallu and his descendants were

i. Nemuel, Simeon also had a son named Nemuel.

ii. Dathan,

iii. Abiram.

There is the reminder of the disobedience of Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram along with         Korah, the Levite, led the revolution against Moses and Aaron in chapter 16. They were part of the 250 who died. The complete families of Dathan and Abiram were swallowed up by the earth, along with the Levite Korah, but Korah’s descendants lived. Perhaps part of this dispute may have been about the role of Levites.

3. Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites; There also was a son of Judah name Hezron, the son of Perez;

4. Carmi, the clan of the Carmites.

    This time their number was 43,730 as opposed to the original 46,500.

“The descendants of Simeon by their clans were: Nemuel, the clan of the Nemuelites; Jamin, the clan of the Jaminites; Jachin, the clan of the Jachinites; Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites; Shaul, the clan of the Shaulites. These are the clans of the Simeonites, twenty-two thousand two hundred.”

2)                  There are only 5 descendants of Simeon mentioned. There were 6 mentioned in Genesis, chapter 46, and Exodus, chapter 6. Ohad was listed as the 3rd son of Simeon in both those works, but there is no mention of him here. Nemuel was called Jemuel in the earlier works. Zerah was called Zohar. There are other instances of Zerah, especially as the son of Judah. Jamin, Jachin, and Shaul all have the same spelling as in the earlier works.

  1. Nemuel, the clan of the Nemuelites;
  2. Jamin, the clan of the Jaminites;
  3. Jachin, the clan of the Jachinites;
  4. Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites;
  5. Shaul, the clan of the Shaulites.

This time their number was 22, 200 down from 59,300, quite a big drop of over 37,000 individuals since this group was hit very hard and suffered the largest lost of population.

“The children of Gad by their clans were: Zephon, the clan of the Zephonites; Haggi, the clan of the Haggites; Shuni, the clan of the Shunites; Ozni, the clan of the Oznites; Eri, the clan of the Erites; Arod, the clan of the Arodites; Areli, the clan of the Arelites. These are the clans of the Gadites. The number of those enrolled was forty thousand five hundred.”

3) The 7 sons of Gad have 5 with the exact same spelling as in Genesis, chapter 46, Haggi, Shuni, Eri, Arod, and Areli. The name Zephon is usually associated as the son of Eliphaz, the son of Esau, Jacob’s brother. There is some indication that this might have been the name of a Canaanite god or angel, but in Genesis, chapter 46, he is called Ziphion. Ozni was called Ezbon in Genesis. Otherwise there is no mention of these people outside of these 2 passages.

1.  Zephon, the clan of the Zephonites;

2. Haggi, the clan of the Haggites;

3. Shuni, the clan of the Shunites;

4. Ozni, the clan of the Oznites;

5. Eri, the clan of the Erites;

6. Arod, the clan of the Arodites;

7. Areli, the clan of the Arelites.

The descendants of Gad were 40,500, reduced about 5,000 from 45,650 in the first census.

“The sons of Judah were Er and Onan. Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The descendants of Judah by their clans were: Shelah, the clan of the Shelanites; Perez, the clan of the Perezites; Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites. The descendants of Perez were: Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites; Hamul, the clan of the Hamulites. These are the clans of Judah. The number of those enrolled was seventy-six thousand five hundred.”

4) There was no confusion about the 5 descendants of Judah, either in the name or spelling. 2 died before the Exodus. The name Shelah was also associated with the genealogy of the patriarchs in Genesis, chapter 11, where he is the son of Arpachshad and father of Eber:

1. Er, who died in Canaan;

2. Onan, who also died in the land of Canaan;

3. Shelah, the clan of the Shelanites;

4. Perez, the clan of the Perezites;

1)  Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites;

2) Hamul, the clan of the Hamulites

.                  5. Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites.

These are the clans of Judah, 66,500, down by about 8,000 from 74,600.

“The descendants of Issachar according to their clans were: Tola, the clan of the Tolaites; Puvah, the clan of the Punites; Jashub, the clan of the Jashubites; Shimron, the clan of the Shimronites. These are the clans of Issachar: sixty-four thousand three hundred enrolled.”

5) There was no confusion about the four descendants of Issachar since their names and spellings are exactly the same:

1. Tola, the clan of the Tolaites;

2. Puvah, the clan of the Punites;

3. Jashub, the clan of the Jashubites;

4. Shimron, the clan of the Shimronites.

The clans of Issachar actually increased in size by nearly 10,000 from 54,400 to 64,300. It is not clear why this tribe increased.

“The descendants of Zebulun, by their clans were: Sered, the clan of the Seredites; Elon, the clan of the Elonites; Jahleel, the clan of the Jahleelites. These are the clans of the Zebulunites. The number of those enrolled was sixty thousand five hundred.”

6) The 3 descendants of Zebulun all have the same name and spelling as in Genesis. Esau married the daughter of a Hittite man named Elon. Otherwise there is no mention of these three guys anywhere else.

  1. Sered, the clan of the Seredites;
  2. Elon, the clan of the Elonites;
  3. Jahleel, the clan of the Jahleelites.

These clans increased by 3,000 from 57,400 to 60,500.

“The sons of Joseph by their clans were: Manasseh and Ephraim. The son of Manasseh was Machir, the clan of the Machirites. Machir was the father of Gilead, the clan of the Gileadites. These are the descendants of Gilead: Iezer, the clan of the Iezerites; Helek, the clan of the Helekites; Asriel, the clan of the Asrielites; Shechem, the clan of the Shechemites; Shemida, the clan of the Shemidaites; Hepher, the clan of the Hepherites. Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters. The names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. These are the families of Manasseh. The number of those enrolled was fifty-two thousand seven hundred.”

7) The 2 descendants of Joseph included Manasseh, the 1st son who was not favored over Ephraim. Apparently he had only 1 son, Machir, so that his grandson Gilead is listed with more descendants. Gilead is both a mountain and an area east of the Jordan. This is a name that appears quite often. The Gilead clan must have been important because all his children are specifically mentioned. Shechem is both a place in Canaan, and another person named Shechem that was a Hivite prince in Genesis, chapter 34. Hepher is interesting because his only son Zelophehad had 5 daughters and no sons so that there is a list of these 5 women, one of the few to appear in the genealogies. They seem to play a bigger role as the daughters of Zelophehad.   One of the daughters is named Noah, the same as one of the central figures in Genesis, chapters 6-9. Milcah was also the name of the wife of Nahor, the brother of Abraham, and the daughter of Haran and the sister of Lot. She had eight children with Nahor. There was a place called Tirzah.

Machir, the clan of the Machirites

Gilead, the clan of the Gileadites.

1. Iezer, the clan of the Iezerites

2. Helek, the clan of the Helekites;

3. Asriel, the clan of the Asrielites;

4. Shechem, the clan of the Shechemites;

5. Shemida, the clan of the Shemidaites;

6. Hepher, the clan of the Hepherites.

Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but 5 daughters:

1. Mahlah,

2. Noah,

3. Hoglah,

4. Milcah,

5. Tirzah.

The clans of Manasseh increased by 12,000, and went from 40,500 to 52,700. There is no reason for the increase in this tribe.

“These are the descendants of Ephraim according to their clans: Shuthelah, the clan of the Shuthelahites; Becher, the clan of the Becherites; Tahan, the clan of the Tahanites.  These are the descendants of Shuthelah: Eran, the clan of the Eranites. These are the clans of the Ephraimites. The number of those enrolled was thirty-two thousand five hundred. These are the descendants of Joseph by their clans.”

8)  The second son of Joseph was the favorite Ephraim, who had 3 sons. One of the descendants of Benjamin had the same name, Becher, in Genesis, chapter 46. Otherwise there is nothing much about these names, except that Eran is the only third generation mentioned, unlike with Manasseh:

  1. Shuthelah, the clan of the Shuthelahites;

i.      Eran, the clan of the Eranites;

2. Becher, the clan of the Becherites;

3. Tahan, the clan of the Tahanites.

The clans of Ephraim was almost the same as the first census, but decreased about 300 people, 32,500 from 32,200.

“The descendants of Benjamin by their clans were: Bela, the clan of the Belaites; Ashbel, the clan of the Ashbelites; Ahiram, the clan of the Ahiramites; Shephupham, the clan of the Shuphamites; Hupham, the clan of the Huphamites.  The descendants of Bela were Ard and Naaman: Ard, the clan of the Ardites; Naaman, the clan of the Naamites. These are the descendants of Benjamin by their clans. The number of those enrolled was forty-five thousand six hundred.

9)                 There is substantial difference between the list of the descendants of Benjamin in Genesis and here. Here there are only 5 descendants, while in Genesis, there were 10 descendants. Only 2 are the same Bela and Ashbel. Bela was another name for the place called Zoar in Genesis. In fact, today there are many places throughout the world named Bela. There will be other people named Bela in other biblical tales. Those missing from this list are Becher, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. Becher is listed as a son of Ephraim, so that may be why he is not here. In later books of the Bible, Gera is listed as a son of Benjamin, but not here. Naaman and Ard are listed as the descendants of Bela, not of Benjamin as in Genesis. The mention of Ehi and Muppim in Genesis are the only mentions of these two in the biblical works. Rosh is some sort of kingdom in later works. It is possible that Hupham is just another way of saying Huppim, since they are both listed only once here in Numbers and Genesis. Both Ahiram and Shephupham are only listed here and in no other works.

  1. Bela, the clan of the Belaites;

i.      Ard, the clan of the Ardites;

ii.      Naaman, the clan of the Naamites.

2. Ashbel, the clan of the Ashbelites;

3. Ahiram, the clan of the Ahiramites;

4. Shephupham, the clan of the Shuphamites;

5. Hupham, the clan of the Huphamites.

These are the clans of Benjamin that increased by 10,000, 45,600 from 35,400. Once again, this tribe increased.

“These are the descendants of Dan according by their clans: Shuham, the clan of the Shuhamites. These are the clans of Dan by their clans. All the clans of the Shuhamites were sixty-four thousand four hundred enrolled.”

10)          Dan had only 1 son, but he has 2 different names between here and Genesis, where he is called Hushim not Shuham. Since the names do not appear elsewhere, we may assume that they are different spellings of the same name. There is no mention of his children. Actually this was a very large clan.

  1. Shuham, the clan of the Shuhamites.

The Shuhamites increased by only 1,700, 64,400 from 62,700.

“The descendants of Asher by their clan are: Imnah, the clan of the Imnites; Ishvi, the clan of the Ishvites; Beriah, the clan of the Beriites. The descendants of Beriah are: Heber, the clan of the Heberites; Malchiel, the clan of the Malchielites. The name of the daughter of Asher was Serah. These are the clans of the Asherites. The number of those enrolled was fifty-three thousand four hundred.”

11)          The descendants of Asher seem to have lost one son, Ishvah, who was in Genesis and later in Chronicles, but is not here in Numbers. The other three descendants and daughter are exactly the same. Somehow Beriah is more important since they mention his two descendants, Heber and Malchiel. Heber is mentioned again in the later works as well as a Heber who is a Kenite. Once again, Serah is mentioned as a daughter, but there is no group name for her descendants, no Serahites.

  1. Imnah, the clan of the Imnites;
  2. Ishvi, the clan of the Ishvites;
  3. Beriah, the clan of the Beriites.

i.      Heber, the clan of the Heberites;

ii.      Malchiel, the clan of the Malchielites.

4. Serah, the daughter of Asher;

The clans of the descendants of Asher increased by 12,000, 53,400 from 41,500, with no reason given.

“The descendants of Naphtali by their clan were: Jahzeel, the clan of the Jahzeelites; Guni, the clan of the Gunites; Jezer, the clan of the Jezerites; Shillem, the clan of the Shillemites. These are the clans of Naphtalites by their clans. The number of those enrolled was forty-five thousand four hundred.”

12)         The four descendants of Naphtali are exactly the same as in Genesis.

  1. Jahzeel, the clan of the Jahzeelites;
  2. Guni, the clan of the Gunites;
  3. Jezer, the clan of the Jezerites;
  4. Shillem, the clan of the Shillemites.

The families of Naphtali decreased 9,000, from 53,400 to 45,400.

“This was the number of the Israelites enrolled: six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty.”

The number of Israelite people “enrolled” decreased from the first census to this census by merely 1,470, from 601,730 to 603,500. “

“Yahweh spoke to Moses. ‘To these the land shall be apportioned for inheritance according to the number of names. To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance. To a small tribe you shall give a small inheritance. Every tribe shall be given its inheritance according to its enrollment. But the land shall be apportioned by lot. According to the names of their ancestral tribes they shall inherit. Their inheritance shall be apportioned according to lot between the larger and the smaller.”

Yahweh told Moses that the large tribes should get a larger inheritance, than the smaller tribes. This shall be done by lot or chance, but the large would be in one category and the small ones in another category. Thus the census served a purpose as they prepared to enter the Promise Land.


March 25, 2014

Israel at Peor (Num 25:1-25:18)

“While Israel was staying at Shittim, the people began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab. These women invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods. The people ate and bowed down to their gods. Thus Israel yoked himself to the Baal of Peor. Yahweh’s anger was kindled against Israel. Yahweh said to Moses. ‘Take all the chiefs of the people. Impale them in the sun before Yahweh, in order that the fierce anger of Yahweh may turn away from Israel.’ Moses said to the judges of Israel, ‘Each of you shall kill any of your people who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.’”

Israel was staying at Shittim, which is about 6 miles south of the Jordan River near Mount Peor. Shittim is a kind of wood, and the name of a town on the northeast corner of the Dead Sea. From here the Israelites will cross the Jordan. The people began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab and sacrifice to the Midianite gods, especially Baal of Peor. They ate and bowed down to Baal. Thus Yahweh was not happy with Moses. He wanted to impale all the chiefs of the people in the sun before Yahweh. Moses then told the judges of Israel that anyone who bowed down to Baal of Peor should be killed.

“Just then one of the Israelites came. He brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the Israelites. This was while they were weeping at the entrance of the tent of meeting. When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he got up and left the congregation. Taking a spear in his hand, he went after the Israelite man into the tent. He pierced the two of them, the Israelite and the woman, through the belly. So the plague was stopped among the Israelites. Nevertheless those that died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.”

When an Israelite man brought a Midianite woman into his tent, in the sight of Moses and the whole congregation, Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it. The grandson of Aaron took a spear in his hand and pierced both of them in the belly. By killing those two, he stopped a quick moving plague that had already killed 24,000 Israelite people.

“Yahweh spoke to Moses. ‘Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the Israelites by manifesting such zeal among them on my behalf so that in my jealousy I did not consume the Israelites. Therefore say, `I hereby grant him my covenant of peace. It shall be for him, and for his descendants after him, a covenant of perpetual priesthood, because he was zealous for his God. He made atonement for the Israelites.’”

Yahweh was happy with Phinehas who was a priest and grandson of Aaron. He became a hero because he killed both the man and woman involved. So Yahweh told Moses to give him my covenant of peace, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood because he was zealous for his God. He made atonement for the Israelites. There will be other biblical people later with this same name of Phinehas.

“The name of the slain Israelite man, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri son of Salu, head of an ancestral house belonging to the Simeonites.  The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi daughter of Zur, who was the head of a clan of an ancestral house in Midian.”

Now we find out the name of the slain man Zimri the son of Salu, head of his ancestral house belonging to the Simeonites. The name of the Midianite woman was Cozbi the daughter of Zur, who was a leader in Midian.

“Yahweh said to Moses. ‘Harass the Midianites. Defeat them. They have harassed you by trickery with which they deceived you in the affair of Peor, and in the affair of Cozbi, the daughter of a leader of Midian, their sister. She was killed on the day of the plague that resulted from Peor.’”

This is quite a story, the love/sexual affair of Cozbi, the daughter of a leader of Midian and Zimri, the Simeonite, the Israelite. Obviously the Israelites were against intermarriage and of course worshiping anyone except Yahweh, who is a jealous God. The chiefs had to die as atonement for the sins of the people, a common theme. This led Yahweh to tell Moses, to harass the Midianites. Defeat them. This affair at Peor would be a rallying cry for the Israelites.

March 25, 2014

The four oracles of Balaam (Num 23:4-24:25)

“Then God met Balaam. Balaam said to him, ‘I have arranged the seven altars. I have presented a bull and a ram on each altar.’ Yahweh put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, ‘Return to Balak. This is what you must say.’ So he returned to Balak, who was standing beside his burnt offering with all the officials of Moab.”

The oracles are like divine sayings or predictions. God met Balaam. Balaam said that he had arranged the seven altars, and have presented a bull and a ram on each altar. Yahweh told him to return to Balak. Then Balaam returned to Balak with his burnt offering and all the officials of Moab.

“Then Balaam uttered his oracle.

‘Balak has brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains.

Come, curse Jacob for me.

Come, denounce Israel!

How can I curse whom God has not cursed?

How can I denounce those whom Yahweh has not denounced?

For from the top of the crags I see him,

From the hills I behold him.

Here is a people living alone,

And not reckoning itself among the nations!

Who can count the dust of Jacob?

Or number the dust clouds of Israel?

Let me die the death of the upright,

Let my end be like his!’”

Then Balaam uttered his 1st oracle, saying that Balak had brought him from Aram to curse Jacob and denounce Israel. How could he curse what God has not cursed? How can he denounce whom Yahweh has not denounced? From the top of the rugged cliffs he saw them. Who can count the dust of Jacob? Who can number the dust clouds of Israel? Balaam wanted to die upright.

“Then Balak said to Balaam, ‘What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies. But you have done nothing but bless them.’ He answered, ‘Must I not take care to say what Yahweh puts in my mouth?’

Balak was not happy with Balaam. He brought him to curse his enemies. Now Balaam has done nothing but bless them. Balaam answered that he could only say the words that Yahweh puts into his mouth.

“So Balak said to him, ‘Come with me to another place from which you may see them. You shall see only part of them. You shall not see them all. Then curse them for me from there.’ So he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah. He built seven altars. He offered a bull and a ram on each altar. Balaam said to Balak. ‘Stand here beside your burnt offerings, while I meet Yahweh over there.’ Yahweh met Balaam. He put a word in his mouth and said, ‘Return to Balak. This is what you shall say.’ When he came to him, he was standing beside his burnt offerings with the officials of Moab.”

Balak wanted Balaam to get a better view of the Israelites. He brought him to the top of the mountain ridge of Pisgah that over looked the plains of Zophim. Once again he built seven altars, and presented up seven bulls and rams, one on each altar. Then Balaam told Balak to stand beside his burnt offerings, while he went to meet Yahweh to find out what he would say. Then he returned to Balak who was standing beside his burnt offerings with the Moab officials.

“Then Balaam uttered his oracle, saying;

‘Rise, Balak, and hear;

Listen to me, O son of Zippor;

God is not a human being, that he should lie;

God is not a mortal, that he should change his mind;

Has he promised, and will he not do it?

Has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

See, I received a command to bless;

He has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.

He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob;

Nor has he seen trouble in Israel.

Yahweh, their God is with them,

Acclaimed as a king among them;

God, who brings them out of Egypt,

God is like the horns of a wild ox for them.

Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob;

No divination against Israel;

Now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel,

‘See what God has done!’

Look, a people rising up like a lioness,

Rousing itself like a lion!

It does not lie down until it has eaten the prey and drunk the blood of the slain.’”

Then Balaam uttered his 2nd oracle, saying that Balak should listen since God is not a human being. He doesn’t lie or change his mind. What he has promised, he will do. What he has spoken, he will fulfill. Balaam has a command to bless the Israelites that he cannot revoke. Yahweh, their God is with them as a king is among them. He brought them out of Egypt like the horns of a wild ox. There is no divination against Israel. The sons of Jacob and Israel are like a people rising up like a lioness, and rousing itself like a lion. They will not lie down until they have eaten the prey and drunk the blood of the slain.

“Then Balak said to Balaam, ‘Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all.’ But Balaam answered Balak, ‘Did I not tell you, whatever Yahweh says, that is what I must do?’ So Balak said to Balaam, ‘Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.’ So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the wasteland. Balaam said to Balak, ‘Build me seven altars here. Prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.’ So Balak did as Balaam had said. He offered a bull and a ram on each altar.”

Balak was not happy with Balaam and said, don’t curse or bless them. However, Balaam answered that he was only following what Yahweh asked him to do. Balak was still not convinced, so he brought then to another place where he thought things would be different so that there he could curse the Israelites. They went to the top of Mount Peor, which overlooks the desert, where they built seven altars with seven bulls and rams with an offering on each altar.

“Now Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. Balaam looked up and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him.”

This time Balaam did not go to seek omens, because he knew that Yahweh was happy with Israel. Instead he looked at the Israelite camp and the Spirit of God came upon him. Here is an explicit example of a non-Israelite receiving the Holy Spirit of God, much like Cornelius in the New Testament Acts of the Apostles.

“He uttered his oracle, saying:

‘The oracle of Balaam son of Beor;

The oracle of the man whose eye is clear;

The oracle of one who hears the words of God;

The oracle of one who sees the vision of the Almighty;

The oracle of one who falls down, but with eyes uncovered;

How fair are your tents, O Jacob;

How fair are your encampments, O Israel!

Like palm groves that stretch far away;

Like gardens beside a river;

Like aloes that Yahweh has planted;

Like cedar trees beside the waters.

Water shall flow from his buckets;

His seed shall have abundant water;

His king shall be higher than Agag;

His kingdom shall be exalted.

God, who brings him out of Egypt,

God is like the horns of a wild ox for him;

He shall devour the nations that are his foes

He shall break their bones.

He shall strike with his arrows.

He crouched;

He lay down like a lion, and like a lioness;

Who will rouse him up?

Blessed is everyone who blesses you,

Cursed is everyone who curses you.’”

Balaam uttered his 3rd oracle, saying that this was the oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of a man whose eye was clear. He hears the words of God and sees the vision of the Almighty (El Shaddai). This is all encompassing vision. He may fall down but his eyes are clear. He sees the tents and camps of the sons of Jacob and Israel. Yahweh has planted palm groves, gardens, aloes, and cedar trees beside the waters. They will have abundant water for their seeds. Their kingdom will be exalted. Their God brought them out of Egypt like the horns of a wild ox. They will devour nations and foes, breaking their bones. They are like crouched lions. Blessed is everyone who blesses them. Cursed is everyone who curses them.

“Then Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam. He struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, ‘I summoned you to curse my enemies. But instead you have blessed them these three times. Now be off with you! Go home! I said `I will reward you richly.’ But Yahweh has denied you any reward.’ Balaam said to Balak, ‘Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, `If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of Yahweh, to do either good or bad of my own will. What Yahweh says, that is what I will say? So now, behold, I am going to my people. Let me advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.’”

Then Balak was really angry with Balaam. He said that he summoned him to curse my enemies. Instead you blessed them three times. Now get out of here and go home! Balak was going to reward Balaam, but not now. However, Balaam said that he told the messengers that he could not go against the word of Yahweh. Finally he wants to give some advice to Balak about what was going to happen to him and his people in the days to come.

“So he uttered his oracle, saying:

‘The oracle of Balaam son of Beor;

The oracle of the man whose eye is clear;

The oracle of one who hears the words of God;

The oracle of one knows the knowledge of the Most High;

The oracle of one who sees the vision of the Almighty;

The oracle of own who falls down, but with his eyes uncovered;

I see him, but not now;

I behold him, but not near;

A star shall come out of Jacob;

A scepter shall rise out of Israel;

It shall crush the borderlands of Moab;

and the territory of all the sons of Shethites;

Edom will become a possession;

Seir, a possession of his enemies;

While Israel does valiantly;

One out of Jacob shall rule and destroy the survivors of Ir.’”

So Balaam uttered his 4th oracle. This is a lot like the 3rd one. He talks about himself, the son of Beor, whose eye is clear, and hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High. He sees the vision of the Almighty (Shaddai). He falls down but with his eyes uncovered. A star shall come out of Jacob. A scepter shall rise out of Israel. They will crush the borderlands of Moab, and the territory of all the sons of Shethites. Edom and Seir will become a possession. Jacob will rule and destroy Ir. It is not clear where Ir is.

“Then he looked on Amalek, and uttered his oracle, saying,

‘First among the nations was Amalek;

But its end is to perish forever.’

Then he looked on the Kenite, and uttered his oracle, saying,

‘Enduring is your dwelling place;

Your nest is set in the rock;

Yet Kain is destined for burning.

How long shall Asshur take you away captive?’

Again he uttered his oracle, saying:

Alas, who shall live when God does this?

But ships shall come from Kittim

And shall afflict Asshur and Eber;

He also shall perish forever.’

Then Balaam got up and went back to his place. Balak also went his way.”

Then Balaam talked about the destruction of Amalek, the Kenites, as well as Asshur and Eber. In the end Balaam and Balak separated. What do we have here? Here are four main oracles of Balaam, from Babylon, and then a few other short oracles about the various people in the area. Yahweh is speaking through Balaam, who is not an Israelite, in very poetic language. Balaam seems to justify the taking of all these lands. In fact there are allusions to Cain (Kain) and Seth (Shethites), the children of Adam and Eve, to show the connection between Israel and the other inhabitants of this land. Asshur is from the family of Shem, Noah’s son. Most of these people can be found in Genesis, chapter 10 that tried to explain how the sons of Noah populated the Near East. All of these people will be defeated. The message of Balaam was that Israel will be blessed. The others will be cursed.

March 25, 2014

The sacrifices of Balaam and Balak (Num 23:1-23:3)

“Then Balaam said to Balak, ‘Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.’ Balak did as Balaam had said. Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar. Then Balaam said to Balak, ‘Stay here beside your burnt offerings while I go aside. Perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me. Whatever he shows me I will tell you.’ He went to a flat bare hill.”  

Balaam asked Balak to build seven altars, with seven bulls and seven rams. Balak did exactly that and offered a bull and a ram on each altar, so that it was seven bulls and seven rams on seven altars. Balaam said to Balak that he was going to meet Yahweh to find out what will come next. Notice that the sacrifices are similar to the burnt holocausts of Israel. Either this was common in the area or an Israelite projection on the Moabites.