Numbers 10:11-36

In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the covenant. Then the Israelites set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran. They set out for the first time¹ at the command of the Lord by Moses.² The standard of the camp of Judah set out first, company by company, and over the whole company was Nahshon son of Amminadab. Over the company of the tribe of Issachar was Nethanel son of Zuar; and over the company of the tribe of Zebulun was Eliab son of Helon.

Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites, who carried the tabernacle, set out. Next the standard of the camp of Reuben set out, company by company; and over the whole company was Elizur son of Shedeur. Over the company of the tribe of Simeon was Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, and over the company of the tribe of Gad was Eliasaph son of Deuel.

Then the Kohathites, who carried the holy things, set out; and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival. Next the standard of the Ephraimite camp set out, company by company, and over the whole company was Elishama son of Ammihud. Over the company of the tribe of Manasseh was Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, and over the company of the tribe of Benjamin was Abidan son of Gideoni.

Then the standard of the camp of Dan, acting as the rearguard of all the camps, set out, company by company, and over the whole company was Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. Over the company of the tribe of Asher was Pagiel son of Ochran, and over the company of the tribe of Naphtali was Ahira son of Enan. This was the order of march of the Israelites, company by company, when they set out.³

Moses said to Hobab⁴ son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, ‘We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, “I will give it to you”; come with us, and we will treat you well; for the Lord has promised good to Israel.’

But he said to him, ‘I will not go, but I will go back to my own land and to my kindred.’ ⁵

He said, ‘Do not leave us, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness,⁶ and you will serve as eyes for us. Moreover, if you go with us, whatever good the Lord does for us, the same we will do for you.’⁷

So they set out from the mount of the Lord on three days’ journey with the ark of the covenant of the Lord going before them for three days’ journey, to seek out a resting-place for them, the cloud of the Lordbeing over them by day when they set out from the camp.⁸

Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Arise, O Lord, let your enemies be scattered, and your foes flee before you.”⁹

And whenever it came to rest, he would say, “Return, O Lord of the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”¹⁰

1 Movement is detailed for the first time, a new development.

2 Obedience is still being emphasized.

3 All is done as had been detailed, in perfect order.

4 Yet again, different authors are using different names for Moses's father-in-law.

5 Interesting that his initial response is negative.

6 Strange – isn't God already telling them where to camp?

7 Was the point of that story just to emphasize that the Lord would do good for Israel? Or to show that others would be blessed through them?

8 Again emphasizes the presence of the Lord.

9 The expected manifestation of the movement of God is the defeat of enemies.

10 Moses is always cognizant of calling God to be with them.

Take-home: The Israelites move in obedience to God, as God had directed them. The change of setting closes 10 chapters of perfect obedience by the Israelites in Numbers.

Numbers 10:1-10

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Make two silver trumpets; you shall make them of hammered work; and you shall use them for summoning the congregation, and for breaking camp.¹ When both are blown, the whole congregation shall assemble before you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if only one is blown, then the leaders, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall assemble before you. When you blow an alarm, the camps on the east side shall set out; when you blow a second alarm, the camps on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. But when the assembly is to be gathered, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm.² The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; this shall be a perpetual institution for you throughout your generations.³ When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you,⁴ you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, so that you may be remembered before the Lord your God⁵ and be saved from your enemies. Also on your days of rejoicing, at your appointed festivals, and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt-offerings and over your sacrifices of well-being; they shall serve as a reminder on your behalf before the Lord your God: I am the Lord your God.

1 This is an outside-the-temple role, not something really emphasized before.

2 Quite a detailed system.

3 The fact that it will go on forever is emphasized.

4 Quite a future-focused command.

5 Obviously God doesn't need a trumpet to remember the Israelites, but it's another reminder they must keep two-way communication.


Take-home: The use of trumpets is dictated both to signal the congregation and as a form of plea to God.

Numbers 9:15-23

On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant; and from evening until morning it was over the tabernacle, having the appearance of fire.¹ It was always so: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night.² Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, then the Israelites would set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the Israelites would camp. At the command of the Lord the Israelites would set out, and at the command of the Lord they would camp.³ As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they would remain in camp. Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle for many days, the Israelites would keep the charge of the Lord, and would not set out.⁴ Sometimes the cloud would remain for a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they would remain in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they would set out. Sometimes the cloud would remain from evening until morning; and when the cloud lifted in the morning, they would set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they would set out. Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, resting upon it, the Israelites would remain in camp and would not set out; but when it lifted they would set out. At the command of the Lord they would camp, and at the command of the Lord they would set out. They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses.⁵

1 A strong affirmation of what had just been done.

2 Repeated from Exodus.

3 They are very obedient to direction from God.

4 Again, they are following God's command well.

5 By my count, there are 15 consecutive statements of the Israelite's obedience.


Take-home: The visible presence of God confirms the covenant and the validity of the temple. The Israelites' perfect obedience to God is strongly emphasized.

Numbers 9:1-14

The Lord 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: “Let the Israelites keep the passover at its appointed time. On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you shall keep it at its appointed time; according to all its statutes and all its regulations you shall keep it.”

So Moses told the Israelites that they should keep the passover. They kept the passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, in the wilderness of Sinai. Just as the Lord had commanded Moses, so the Israelites did.¹ Now there were certain people who were unclean through touching a corpse, so that they could not keep the passover on that day.

They came before Moses and Aaron on that day, and said to him, “Although we are unclean through touching a corpse, why must we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering at its appointed time among the Israelites?”²

Moses spoke to them, “Wait, so that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you.”³

The Lord spoke to Moses,⁴ saying: “Speak to the Israelites, saying: 'Anyone of you or your descendants who is unclean through touching a corpse, or is away on a journey, shall still keep the passover to the Lord. In the second month on the fourteenth day, at twilight, they shall keep it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break a bone of it; according to all the statute for the passover they shall keep it. But anyone who is clean and is not on a journey, and yet refrains from keeping the passover, shall be cut off from the people for not presenting the Lord’s offering at its appointed time;⁵ such a one shall bear the consequences for the sin. Any alien residing among you who wishes to keep the passover⁶ to the Lord shall do so according to the statute of the passover and according to its regulation; you shall have one statute for both the resident alien and the native.

1 Continued obedience is still being emphasized.

2 Israelites bring up the arbitrary nature of connecting “uncleanliness” with the keeping of festivals.

3 Moses is in a place where he expects direct commands of God to address all questions.

4 And indeed, the Lord speaks directly to him.

5 Again, very strong punishment. Is this “cutting off” to be carried out by God or by man?

6 Apparently aliens get the choice – they only have to keep Passover if they want.

Take-home: The obedience of the Israelites in following the ordinances of the Lord is emphasized yet again. But participation in Passover is declared more important than at least one cleanliness ordinance.

Numbers 8:5-26

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Take the Levites from among the Israelites and cleanse them. Thus you shall do to them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification on them, have them shave their whole body with a razor and wash their clothes, and so cleanse themselves. Then let them take a young bull and its grain-offering of choice flour mixed with oil, and you shall take another young bull for a sin-offering.¹ You shall bring the Levites before the tent of meeting, and assemble the whole congregation of the Israelites. When you bring the Levites before the Lord, the Israelites shall lay their hands on the Levites,² and Aaron shall present the Levites before the Lord as an elevation-offering from the Israelites, that they may perform the service of the Lord. The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and he shall offer one for a sin-offering and the other for a burnt-offering to the Lord, to make atonement for³ the Levites. Then you shall have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons, and you shall present them as an elevation-offering to the Lord.

Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the other Israelites,⁴ and the Levites shall be mine. Thereafter the Levites may go in to perform service at the tent of meeting, once you have cleansed them and presented them as an elevation-offering.⁵ For they are unreservedly given to me from among the Israelites; I have taken them for myself, in place of all that open the womb, the firstborn of all the Israelites.⁶ For all the firstborn among the Israelites are mine, both human and animal. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I consecrated them for myself, but I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn among the Israelites. Moreover, I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites, to do the service for the Israelites at the tent of meeting, and to make atonement for the Israelites, in order that there may be no plague among the Israelites for coming too close to the sanctuary.⁷

Moses and Aaron and the whole congregation of the Israelites did with the Levites accordingly; the Israelites did with the Levites just as the Lord had commanded Moses concerning them.⁸ The Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes; then Aaron presented them as an elevation-offering before the Lord, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them. Thereafter the Levites went in to perform their service in the tent of meeting in attendance on Aaron and his sons. As the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they dealt with them.⁹

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upwards they shall begin to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting; and from the age of fifty years they shall retire from the duty of the service and serve no more.¹⁰ They may assist their brothers in the tent of meeting in carrying out their duties, but they shall perform no service. Thus you shall deal with the Levites in assigning their duties.

1 Washing, shaving, and sacrifice have all been part of cleansing rituals before.

2 Though Aaron officiates, it's interesting that the Israelite people themselves lay hands on the Levites

3 Another use of the term “make atonement for” in an unusual setting.

4 The separateness of the Levites is emphasized, just as the Israelites themselves are separate from the surrounding people.

5 Cleansing and sacrifice are prerequisites for temple service.

6 Once again the Levites are tied to the firstborn.

7 The plague sounds almost unavoidable, as if God wouldn't be able to help it.

8 Obedience emphasized again.

9 Yet more emphasis of obedience.

10 I wonder why 25 to 50 is the age range of service?


Take-home: The Levites are cleansed for and dedicated to service. God is so holy that they must form a protective barrier between the people and the place of God.

Numbers 8:1-4

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron and say to him: 'When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.'”

Aaron did so;¹ he set up its lamps to give light in front of the lampstand, as the Lord had commanded Moses. Now this was how the lampstand was made, out of hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern that the Lord had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.²

1 Obedience

2 Obedience again.


Take-home: Moses and Aaron are obedient to God in how they set up the Golden Lampstand.

Numbers 7:1-89

On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle,¹ and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings, and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, the leaders of Israel, heads of their ancestral houses, the leaders of the tribes, who were over those who were enrolled, made offerings. They brought their offerings before the Lord, six covered wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the leaders, and for each one an ox; they presented them before the tabernacle.²

Then the Lord said to Moses: “Accept these from them,³ that they may be used in performing the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each according to his service.” So Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the Gershonites, according to their service; and four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the Merarites, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. But to the Kohathites he gave none, because they were charged with the care of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulders.

The leaders also presented offerings for the dedication of the altar at the time when it was anointed; the leaders presented their offering before the altar. The Lord said to Moses:⁴ “They shall present their offerings, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.”

The one who presented his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab,⁵ of the tribe of Judah; his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain-offering; one golden dish weighing ten shekels,⁶ full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering; one male goat for a sin-offering; and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, presented an offering; he presented for his offering one silver plate weighing one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain-offering; one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, as a burnt-offering; one male goat as a sin-offering; and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

On the third day Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the Zebulunites: his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain-offering; one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense;one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;one male goat for a sin-offering; and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the Reubenites:his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain-offering; one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering; one male goat for a sin-offering; and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the Simeonites: his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain-offering; one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering; one male goat for a sin-offering; and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the Gadites: his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain-offering; one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense;one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;one male goat for a sin-offering; and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the Ephraimites: his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain-offering; one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering; one male goat for a sin-offering; and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.

On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the Manassites: his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain-offering; one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering; one male goat for a sin-offering; and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the Benjaminites:his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain-offering; one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering; one male goat for a sin-offering; and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the Danites: his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain-offering; one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering; one male goat for a sin-offering; and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ochran, the leader of the Asherites:his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain-offering; one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense; one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering; one male goat for a sin-offering; and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ochran.

On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the Naphtalites: his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain-offering; one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense;one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;one male goat for a sin-offering; and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

This was the dedication-offering for the altar, at the time when it was anointed, from the leaders of Israel: twelve silver plates, twelve silver basins, twelve golden dishes, each silver plate weighing one hundred and thirty shekels and each basin seventy, all the silver of the vessels two thousand four hundred shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary, the twelve golden dishes, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece according to the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the dishes being one hundred and twenty shekels; all the livestock for the burnt-offering twelve bulls, twelve rams, twelve male lambs a year old, with their grain-offering; and twelve male goats for a sin-offering;and all the livestock for the sacrifice of well-being twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the male lambs a year old sixty. This was the dedication-offering for the altar, after it was anointed.⁷

When Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he would hear the voice speaking to him from above the mercy-seat that was on the ark of the covenant from between the two cherubim; thus it spoke to him.⁸

1 According to the dating in Exodus, this has to be a flashback to one month before the book of Numbers started.

2 Interesting how the goods for practical work are also an offering

3 Even the tools for practical work should be seen as having been approved by God for such important tasks.

4 Again, everything is being directed very specifically by God.

5 He and all the other leaders are the exact same as the ones who were chosen to do the census. So, if we're right on timing, they were already the leaders of the tribes before being chosen for the census.

6 What will the priest of the temple do with all this silver and gold?

7 Quite impressive dedication numbers.

8 Affirms that with the consecration of the temple, God will speak from here.


Take-home: God directs the dedication of the alter, which is dedicated with a perfectly equal and grand sacrifice from every tribe.

Numbers 6:22-27

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'Thus you shall bless the Israelites:¹ You shall say to them,

The Lord bless you and keep you;²
the Lord make his face to shine upon you,³ and be gracious to you;⁴
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.⁵

So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.'”⁶

1 This blessing action seems quite different than most of what has been connected to the priests to this point.

2 God takes care of them in all things.

3 God especially has favor on you in particular.

4 Have grace, even undeserved favor.

5 Fifth blessing directed towards “you” particularly, growing more and more specific and intimate

6 God affirming that he will do just as the priests say.


Take-home: God gives the priests a touching benediction of blessing, protection, grace, and shalom to pronounce upon the people, and promises he will act in that way. My Study Bible states that this prayer was found on two silver cylinder dated 600 B.C., making it the oldest Biblical text ever discovered.

Numbers 6:1-21

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When either men or women make a special vow, the vow of a nazirite,¹ to separate themselves to the Lord, they shall separate themselves from wine and strong drink;² they shall drink no wine vinegar or other vinegar, and shall not drink any grape juice or eat grapes, fresh or dried. All their days as nazirites they shall eat nothing that is produced by the grape-vine, not even the seeds or the skins.³”

All the days of their nazirite vow no razor shall come upon the head; until the time is completed for which they separate themselves to the Lord, they shall be holy;⁴ they shall let the locks of the head grow long.⁵

All the days that they separate themselves to the Lord they shall not go near a corpse. Even if their father or mother, brother or sister, should die, they may not defile themselves; because their consecration to God is upon the head.⁶ All their days as nazirites they are holy to the Lord.⁷

If someone dies very suddenly nearby, defiling the consecrated head, then they shall shave the head on the day of their cleansing; on the seventh day they shall shave it. On the eighth day they shall bring two turtle-doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and the priest shall offer one as a sin-offering and the other as a burnt-offering, and make atonement for them, because they incurred guilt⁸ by reason of the corpse. They shall sanctify the head that same day, and separate themselves to the Lord for their days as nazirites, and bring a male lamb a year old as a guilt-offering. The former time shall be void, because the consecrated head was defiled.⁹

This is the law for the nazirites when the time of their consecration has been completed:¹⁰ they shall be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and they shall offer their gift to the Lord, one male lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt-offering, one ewe lamb a year old without blemish as a sin-offering, one ram without blemish as an offering of well-being, and a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of choice flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil, with their grain-offering and their drink-offerings.¹¹ The priest shall present them before the Lord and offer their sin-offering and burnt-offering, and shall offer the ram as a sacrifice of well-being to the Lord, with the basket of unleavened bread; the priest also shall make the accompanying grain-offering and drink-offering. Then the nazirites shall shave the consecrated head at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and shall take the hair from the consecrated head and put it on the fire under the sacrifice of well-being. The priest shall take the shoulder of the ram, when it is boiled, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them in the palms of the nazirites, after they have shaved the consecrated head.¹² Then the priest shall elevate them as an elevation-offering before the Lord; they are a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast that is elevated and the thigh that is offered. After that the nazirites may drink wine.¹³

1 The existence and purpose of the Nazarite vow seems to already be understood.

2 Alcohol is such an important part of this society that separated themselves in this way is significant.

3 Apparently, grapes are so symbolic of wince that they abstain from anything containing them at all. Definitely removes some wiggle-room.

4 Long hair is holy?

5 Long hair seems to be the outward sign of their vows.

6 It is quite strict that they may not defile themselves in this way during their vows.

7 Like a sacrifice, they are specially devoted to God. What this really means for them is unclear.

8 Even accidentally being near a corpse incurs “guilt”, and leads tehm to need to make many actions to repent.

9 Even though it was an accident, all the previous time is voided and the clock on their vow has to restart.

10 We still don't know what they did during that time other than avoid alcohol and dead bodies and haircuts.

11 A great number of sacrifices accompany the ending of vows.

12 What vivid symbolism.

13 Wine is not universally bad, but only abstained from for this period.


Take-home: The Nazarite vow is a serious commitment, with strict rules, extensive sacrifice  and clear ceremony dictated. It is the first example given of ordinary non-Levites being allowed a special holy undertaking.

Numbers 5:11-31

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: If any man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him,¹ if a man has had intercourse with her but it is hidden from her husband, so that she is undetected² though she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her since she was not caught in the act; if a spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife who has defiled herself; or if a spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife, though she has not defiled herself;³ then the man shall bring his wife to the priest. And he shall bring the offering required for her, one-tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He shall pour no oil on it and put no frankincense on it, for it is a grain-offering of jealousy, a grain-offering of remembrance, bringing iniquity to remembrance.

Then the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the Lord; the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel, and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water. The priest shall set the woman before the Lord, dishevel the woman’s hair,⁴ and place in her hands the grain-offering of remembrance, which is the grain-offering of jealousy. In his own hand the priest shall have the water of bitterness that brings the curse. Then the priest shall make her take an oath, saying, ‘If no man has lain with you, if you have not turned aside to uncleanness while under your husband’s authority,⁵ be immune to this water of bitterness that brings the curse. But if you have gone astray while under your husband’s authority, if you have defiled yourself and some man other than your husband has had intercourse with you’—let the priest make the woman take the oath of the curse and say to the woman—‘the Lord make you an execration and an oath among your people, when the Lord makes your uterus drop, your womb discharge; now may this water that brings the curse enter your bowels and make your womb discharge, your uterus drop!’⁶ And the woman shall say, ‘Amen. Amen.’

Then the priest shall put these curses in writing, and wash them off into the water of bitterness.⁷ He shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter her and cause bitter pain.⁸ The priest shall take the grain-offering of jealousy out of the woman’s hand, and shall elevate the grain-offering before the Lord and bring it to the altar; and the priest shall take a handful of the grain-offering, as its memorial portion, and turn it into smoke on the altar, and afterwards shall make the woman drink the water.⁹ When he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and has been unfaithful to her husband, the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain, and her womb shall discharge, her uterus drop, and the woman shall become an execration among her people.¹⁰ But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she shall be immune and be able to conceive children.

This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, while under her husband’s authority, goes astray and defiles herself, or when a spirit of jealousy comes on a man and he is jealous of his wife; then he shall set the woman before the Lord, and the priest shall apply this entire law to her. The man shall be free from iniquity, but the woman shall bear her iniquity.¹¹

1 This sin is specified only for the wife – there is no parallel process for the husband.

2 If she was undetected, how can the husband bring a charge?

3 At least it is acknowledged that the wife may be innocent of these suspicions.

4 For some reason the woman must be humiliated before a man in this process.

5 “under your husband's authority” is an interesting phrase.

6 Violent punishment, to be chosen by God, for a woman who has sinned.

7 The potential for the priest to abuse the process and introduce something else into the water is clear.

8 Only if the woman has sinned, right?

9 Didn't she already drink the water?

10 The assumption is made that God will act miraculously, or that a magical event will occur, in every case.

11 What a strange ending. Why should it be that “the man shall be free from iniquity”???


Take-home: A spiritual ritual is given to determine whether a woman has committed adultery undetected. No reciprocal command is suggested for men.

Numbers 5:5-10

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the Israelites: When a man or a woman wrongs another, breaking faith with the Lord, that person incurs guilt and shall confess the sin that has been committed.¹ The person shall make full restitution for the wrong, adding one-fifth to it, and giving it to the one who was wronged.² If the injured party has no next-of-kin to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for wrong shall go to the Lord for the priest,³ in addition to the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for the guilty party. Among all the sacred donations of the Israelites, every gift that they bring to the priest shall be his. The sacred donations of all are their own; whatever anyone gives to the priest shall be his.”⁴

1 No means of discovering the wrong is detailed other than confession.

2 The wrong is assumed to be financial.

3 Strangely, the priest gets benefit. It does not say why the aggrieved party does not – perhaps it was they who were killed? But if so, wouldn't execution be the next step?

4 Three times in a row it is emphasized that gifts go to the priest.

Take-home: Restitution is commanded for instances of some unspecified “wronging” of another.

Numbers 5:1-4

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Command the Israelites to put out of the camp everyone who is leprous, or has a discharge, and everyone who is unclean through contact with a corpse;¹ you shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp; they must not defile² their camp, where I dwell³ among them.”

The Israelites did so, putting them outside the camp; as the Lord had spoken to Moses, so the Israelites did.⁴

1 Various kinds of people are ostracized for being unclean. These three issues may also communicate disease.

2 To touch someone with these diseases or who has touched a corpse is to be defiled.

3 Something about God's holiness clashes with their presence.

4 Obedience is shown.


Take-home: An example is made of God's holiness extending to the camp, by stating that certain unclean persons cannot coexist with God's presence. The demonstration of holiness comes at their expense.

Numbers 4:1-49

The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: “Take a census of the Kohathites separate from the other Levites, by their clans and their ancestral houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who qualify to do work relating to the tent of meeting. The service of the Kohathites relating to the tent of meeting concerns the most holy things.”¹

When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the screening curtain,² and cover the ark of the covenant with it;then they shall put on it a covering of fine leather, and spread over that a cloth all of blue, and shall put its poles in place. Over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink-offering; the regular bread also shall be on it; then they shall spread over them a crimson cloth, and cover it with a covering of fine leather,and shall put its poles in place. They shall take a blue cloth, and cover the lampstand for the light, with its lamps, its snuffers, its trays, and all the vessels for oil with which it is supplied; and they shall put it with all its utensils in a covering of fine leather, and put it on the carrying-frame. Over the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of fine leather, and shall put its poles in place;and they shall take all the utensils of the service that are used in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, and cover them with a covering of fine leather, and put them on the carrying-frame. They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it; and they shall put on it all the utensils of the altar, which are used for the service there, the firepans, the forks, the shovels, and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of fine leather, and shall put its poles in place. When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the Kohathites shall come to carry these,³ but they must not touch the holy things, or they will die.⁴ These are the things of the tent of meeting that the Kohathites are to carry.

Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain-offering, and the anointing-oil, the oversight of all the tabernacle and all that is in it, in the sanctuary and in its utensils.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: “You must not let the tribe of the clans of the Kohathites be destroyed from among the Levites. This is how you must deal with them in order that they may live and not die when they come near to the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign each to a particular task or burden. But the Kohathites must not go in to look on the holy things even for a moment; otherwise they will die.”⁵

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Take a census⁶ of the Gershonites also, by their ancestral houses and by their clans; from thirty years old up to fifty years old you shall enroll them, all who qualify to do work in the tent of meeting. This is the service of the clans of the Gershonites, in serving and bearing burdens: They shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tent of meeting with its covering, and the outer covering of fine leather that is on top of it, and the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting, and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the entrance of the gate of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords, and all the equipment for their service; and they shall do all that needs to be done with regard to them. All the service of the Gershonites shall be at the command of Aaron and his sons,⁷ in all that they are to carry, and in all that they have to do; and you shall assign to their charge all that they are to carry. This is the service of the clans of the Gershonites relating to the tent of meeting, and their responsibilities are to be under the oversight of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.⁸

As for the Merarites, you shall enrol them by their clans and their ancestral houses; from thirty years old up to fifty years old you shall enroll them, everyone who qualifies to do the work of the tent of meeting. This is what they are charged to carry, as the whole of their service in the tent of meeting: the frames of the tabernacle, with its bars, pillars, and bases, and the pillars of the court all around with their bases, pegs, and cords, with all their equipment and all their related service; and you shall assign by name the objects that they are required to carry. This is the service of the clans of the Merarites, the whole of their service relating to the tent of meeting, under the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the congregation enrolled the Kohathites, by their clans and their ancestral houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who qualified for work relating to the tent of meeting; and their enrollment by clans was two thousand seven hundred and fifty. This was the enrollment of the clans of the Kohathites, all who served at the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron enrolled according to the commandment of the Lord by Moses.

The enrollment of the Gershonites, by their clans and their ancestral houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who qualified for work relating to the tent of meeting—their enrolment by their clans and their ancestral houses was two thousand six hundred and thirty. This was the enrollment of the clans of the Gershonites, all who served at the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron enrolled according to the commandment of the Lord.

The enrollment of the clans of the Merarites, by their clans and their ancestral houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who qualified for work relating to the tent of meeting—their enrollment by their clans was three thousand two hundred. This is the enrollment of the clans of the Merarites, whom Moses and Aaron enrolled according to the commandment of the Lord by Moses.

All those who were enrolled of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel enrolled, by their clans and their ancestral houses,from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who qualified to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens relating to the tent of meeting, their enrollment was eight thousand five hundred and eighty. According to the commandment of the Lord through Moses they were appointed to their several tasks of serving or carrying; thus they were enrolled by him, as the Lord commanded Moses.⁹

1 Kohathites are singled out for some reason for a special service.

2 Aaron and his sons do the most intimate work in the tabernacle alone.

3 Kohathites cannot come in until the most intimate items are covered.

4 And they can't touch anything, otherwise an extreme penalty befalls them.

5 Again and again the need for the Kohathites not to be intimate with the holy things is emphasized.

6 Censuses are still framing the narrative.

7 Aaron and sons lead all important tasks.

8 Again a son of Aaron leads.

9 The fourth time in quick succession that obedience is again emphasized.


Take-home: More tasks are divided up among the Levites. Once again a great focus is made on the holiness and thus danger of the tabernacle, thus the need for Aaron and his sons to see and touch the holiest things.

Numbers 3:5-51

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, so that they may assist him.¹ They shall perform duties for him and for the whole congregation in front of the tent of meeting, doing service at the tabernacle; they shall be in charge of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and attend to the duties for the Israelites as they do service at the tabernacle. You shall give the Levites to Aaron and his descendants; they are unreservedly given to him from among the Israelites.² But you shall make a register of Aaron and his descendants; it is they who shall attend to the priesthood,³ and any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”⁴

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “I hereby accept the Levites from among the Israelites as substitutes for all the firstborn that open the womb among the Israelites.⁵ The Levites shall be mine, for all the firstborn are mine; when I killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt,⁶ I consecrated for my own all the firstborn in Israel, both human and animal; they shall be mine. I am the Lord.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying: “Enrol the Levites by ancestral houses and by clans. You shall enrol every male from a month old⁷ and upwards. So Moses enrolled them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded.⁸ The following were the sons of Levi, by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei. The sons of Kohath by their clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. The sons of Merari by their clans: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites, by their ancestral houses.”

To Gershon belonged the clan of the Libnites and the clan of the Shimeites; these were the clans of the Gershonites. Their enrolment, counting all the males from a month old and upwards, was seven thousand five hundred. The clans of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle on the west, with Eliasaph son of Lael as head of the ancestral house of the Gershonites. The responsibility of the sons of Gershon⁹ in the tent of meeting was to be the tabernacle, the tent with its covering, the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting,the hangings of the court, the screen for the entrance of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and its cords—all the service pertaining to these.

To Kohath belonged the clan of the Amramites, the clan of the Izharites, the clan of the Hebronites, and the clan of the Uzzielites; these are the clans of the Kohathites. Counting all the males, from a month old and upwards, there were eight thousand six hundred, attending to the duties of the sanctuary. The clans of the Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle, with Elizaphan son of Uzziel as head of the ancestral house of the clans of the Kohathites. Their responsibility was to be the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, and the screen—all the service pertaining to these. Eleazar son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the leaders of the Levites, and to have oversight of those who had charge of the sanctuary.¹⁰

To Merari belonged the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of the Mushites: these are the clans of Merari. Their enrolment, counting all the males from a month old and upwards, was six thousand two hundred. The head of the ancestral house of the clans of Merari was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. The responsibility assigned to the sons of Merari was to be the frames of the tabernacle, the bars, the pillars, the bases, and all their accessories—all the service pertaining to these; also the pillars of the court all around, with their bases and pegs and cords.

Those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle on the east—in front of the tent of meeting towards the east—were Moses and Aaron and Aaron’s sons,¹¹ having charge of the rites within the sanctuary, whatever had to be done for the Israelites; and any outsider who came near was to be put to death.¹² The total enrolment of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron enrolled at the commandment of the Lord, by their clans, all the males from a month old and upwards, was twenty-two thousand.¹³

Then the Lord said to Moses: “Enrol all the firstborn males of the Israelites, from a month old and upwards, and count their names. But you shall accept the Levites for me—I am the Lord—as substitutes for all the firstborn among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for all the firstborn among the livestock of the Israelites.So Moses enrolled all the firstborn among the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him.¹⁴ The total enrolment, all the firstborn males from a month old and upwards, counting the number of names, was twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three.¹⁵

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Accept the Levites as substitutes for all the firstborn among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine.¹⁶ I am the Lord. As the price of redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the Israelites, over and above the number of the Levites,¹⁷ you shall accept five shekels apiece, reckoning by the shekel of the sanctuary, a shekel of twenty gerahs.¹⁸ Give to Aaron and his sons¹⁹ the money by which the excess number of them is redeemed.²⁰ So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites; from the firstborn of the Israelites he took the money, one thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, reckoned by the shekel of the sanctuary; and Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses.²¹

1 Tribe of Levi, as it has since at least Leviticus 25 and perhaps earlier, is different, but now most clearly set apart.

2 It is made very, very clear that the Levites are different from everyone else. An interesting tension is here between them having an exulted status, and being “unreservedly” virtual slaves for God.

3 While the Levites serve, Aaron and his descendants have special status.

4 Extreme punishment for an outsider coming near is mentioned once again.

5 Levites are connected to the firstborn in an interesting substitution – commands for firstborn serving in Exodus 13, 22, and 34 are apparently thus circumvented.

6 The consecration of the firstborn is connected with the Exodus event, not earlier.

7 Enrolled at one month, not at military age like the other tribes.

8 Obedience is emphasized.

9 Duties are divided by ancestry.

10 Headed by a son of Aaron, though they are not sons of Aaron themselves.

11 Aaron, Moses, and Aaron's sons are alone here.

12 Extreme punishment for outsiders mentioned yet again!

13 Is 22,000 apparently rounded off? 7500+8600+6200 = 22,300, not counting Moses and Aaron and Aaron's sons. Even counting all males from a month and up, this tribe is far smaller than the others.

14 Obedience is emphasized again.

15 This number doesn't work. How can a society with over 600,000 men of military age have only 22,273 first-born males?

16 Levites as a first-born substitution is made explicit again.

17 Considering the numerical problems with “22,000” and “22,273”, subtracting the numbers is really strange. This appears to be a convenience to make a point, but I can't guess the point.

18 Who pays this? Who decides who the extra 273 are?

19 Aaron and his sons get the money, though what they do with it is unclear.

20 This seems to be a one-off event. Why isn't there a constant reckoning whereas new first-born sons continue to be substituted for with new Levites?

21 Obedience emphasized yet again.


Take-home: The Levites are officially consecrated for service and their tasks are divided. The special status of service to God is made implicit in many ways. A strong focus on males is continued.