Parashat Bamidbar ("In the
desert") Numbers 1:1-4:20
Bamidbar translates to "in the
desert" and it begins with the census of the shevatim (tribes) and a
description of machaneh Yisrael (the Israelite camp). The Levites are not
included in the senses as they are responsible for the Mishkan, and have a
special status within the nation.
“The LORD spoke to Moses in the
wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second
month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
"Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans,
by fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by
head." (Numbers 1:1-2)
The LORD had Moses take a census in
order to raise funds for the construction of the Mishkan and to provide
atonement for shed blood during battle. This collected money was called kesef
hakippurim (atonement money), and was to be melted down to create the 100
adanim (sockets) used to hold the pillars of the Mishkan (tabernacle).
It is interesting that the “cost of atonement”
was used to hold up the pillars of the Mishkan; we read the prophet Amos 9:11
which states that “In that day will I raise up the
tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I
will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old” and we see
that in Acts 15 (the Council of Jerusalem) that Hashem is rebuilding a
spiritual Mishkan through the work of Yeshua in which His atonement is holding up
the pillars.
Moses (and the chiefs of each tribe)
counted a total of 603,550 men of draftable age (20 to 60 years) in Israel. Of
these, 22,273 were firstborn sons. The
tribes were then arranged symbolically.
The Mishkan occupied the central
location, with the Levites surrounding it.
Moses and the Kohanim camped at the entrance on the east.
The Tribe of Judah was prominent and
guarded the entrance to the inner camp of the Levites at the eastern (main)
gate. Each tribe's tents were to face the Mishkan. This camp formation (of over
2 million people) was maintained while traveling throughout the wilderness.
The Gershonites - Descendants of Levi's
firstborn son Gershon (Ger-shon). This clan was responsible for caring for the Mishkan's
woven articles (i.e., the coverings for the walls and roof of the tabernacle).
They dwelt on the West side of the Mishkan.
The Kohathites - Descendants of Levi's
middle son Kohath (Kehat). This clan carried the sacred objects of the Mishkan.
Note that the kohanim are a subset of this clan (see below). They dwelt on the
South side of the Mishkan.
The Merarites - Descendants of Levi's
youngest son Merari. This clan carried the wooden parts of the Mishkan as well
as the ropes and sockets used for the curtain of the courtyard. They dwelt on
the North side of the Mishkan.
The
Kohanim - Descendants of Levi's great grandson Aaron. This clan was responsible
for performing all of the korbonot (sacrifices) and other rituals on behalf of
all of Israel. Only the Kohanim were
allowed to perform avodah (priestly service) on behalf of Israel. They dwelt on
the East side of the Mishkan.
Some scholars have pointed out that the
arrangement of the tribes details a cross; a short top beam, two arms and a
long lower half – but it could be a square.
The
north and south arms of the cross represent nearly identical populations of 25%
and 26%, each almost exactly a quarter (1/4) of the whole (the
outstretched arms). Taken together they represent just over half (51%) of the
population. The other 49% is distributed on the east and west arms which are
divided into 18% (the head) and 31% (the legs) for a ratio of roughly 3 to 5,
the same as the proportions of the Ark of the Covenant (Exo 25:9) which was housed
in the heart of the Tabernacle at the center of the camp.
My favourite part of this parashah is
the rock phenomena.
According to midrash, a watergiving rock
accompanied the Israelites in the desert (the rock was later called the
"Well of Miriam"). Whenever the Israelites prepared to camp, the 12
nesi'im (leaders of the tribes) would sing praises to the LORD, and the rock
would gush forth four streams of water. One stream surrounded the Mishkan,
another surrounded the camp of the Levites, and another surrounded all the
Israelites. The fourth stream marked out the boundaries for each of the 12
tribes of Israel.
It is fascinating to note that the
Apostle Paul correlated the life-giving Rock that provided supernatural water
for the Israelites with the Mashiach Yeshua;
“..and
all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that
followed them, and that Rock was Christ”. (1 Corinthians 10:4) In other words, Yeshua Himself was the source
of life for the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness of Sinai. It is
still true to this day.
Shalom
Jon Eaton
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