- 27:29 - no human devoted to destruction can be ransomed. This reminds me of religions who promote ways of getting people into heaven who have already died and their arrival there is doubtful.
- After a big year in the wilderness, which included an escape from Egypt, drinking gold-tainted water, receipt of commandments from God, reading and listening to instructions on sacrifices, festivals, and other rules, being provided instructions for the tabernacle and building the tabernacle, it is time to do some counting.
Leviticus is complete! 3 books down, 63 more to go. You know, that wasn't too bad. I kept looking for the odd clues in the passages.
- Numbers 1: A census of the men 20 years and above, able to fight and excluding Levi was 603,550. That cable tv show I was talking about a few days ago where the Jewish scholar scoffed at the number of 600,000 men coming out of Egypt - does he ignore this passage?
- Numbers 2: With the tabernacle as the center of their community, each tribe was assigned a camping spot, and a marching order for battle. Each tribe was assigned a leader. The tribes are assigned in a clockwise direction starting in the East. Supposedly, this map
- Assignment order: (east, first to march) Judah, Issachar, Zebulun; (south) Reuben, Simeon, Gad; (west) Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin; (north, breaking camp last) Dan, Asher, Naphtali
- Numbers 3: The Levites are assigned specific tasks in caring for the tabernacle according to clans. The census if Levi is a bit different - they count all males 1 month old and above, and 22,000 are counted. They are also assigned camping spots in a tighter rectangle around the four directions of the tabernacle.
- A census of the firstborn males 1 month and older is taken, resulting in 22,273. The Levites are a substitution for the firstborn of the other tribes, similar to the way Christ is a substitute for the sacrifice required for our sins. But there are 273 more first born in the entire nation than the Levites available for substitution, so those were redeemed with money.
- The tabernacle must have been the place where the value of money was established and controlled (3:49).
- Aaron and his sons are in charge of the most holy activities, especially preparing the most holy elements to be moved. But once they are covered appropriately, other family members take over. Further census are required among the Levites as specific task assignments are divied up in caring for and moving the tabernacle and all it's elements. Note that the age range is 30-50 year old males this time (4:3)
- Wonder what the significance of the blue cloth is? It is described numerous times as worthy of covering the most holy items.
- 5:11ff - the litmus test for unfaithful wives results in rotten thighs and swollen bellies. It would be hard to cover up a rotten thigh - you would be caught for sure. And tossed outside the camp for being unclean (5:1)
- Numbers 6: The introduction of a Nazarite - one dedicated to the Lord who does not drink or eat of grapes, and doesn't shave or cut the hair of their head. What is the vow? What is the significance of this devotion? How long does it last? We know that when it is over, sacrifices and shaved head is required, then consumption of wine can start.
- Numbers 6:22-26 - the beautiful blessing that is the context of a song that the choir has sung. Can you remember the tune?
- Numbers 7 shows how the Levites obtained the materials they need to fulfill their duty when they had to move the tabernacle, and discusses the inaugural consecrating sacrifices from each tribe, one tribe per day for 12 days. Note that they sacrifice in the order of their camping stations. It appears that all their sacrifices are the same. Although I was tempted to make a comparison chart, I did not.
- We close with the sacrificial offerings to the storehouses completed, and God speaking to Moses from the mercy seat in the tabernacle.
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