Tag: census

Categories
Discussions Torah

Numbers 1:1–4:20: Adopted into God’s family

The Numbering of the Israelites by Henri Félix Emmanuel Philippoteaux (1815–1884). Public Domain artwork.

The lesson of the Torah reading בְּמִדְבַּר Bamidbar (“in the wilderness,” Num. 1:1–4:20) is the family of God started with Abraham, then his son Yitskhak (Isaac), his grandson Ya’akob (Jacob) and Jacob’s 12 sons. From that small family, the knowledge of God has spread all over the world.

It is the job of the Messiah — Yeshua (Jesus) — to find and gather all those who want to be adopted as God’s sons and daughters until He returns again. There will be no Gentiles in the Kingdom of God. All those who come in become part of Israel.

Categories
Discussions Torah

Exodus 30:11–34:35: You are not ‘just a number’ to God

How are we made holy or “set apart”? Our good deeds or the good deeds of an illustrious ancestor? It isn’t by genealogy — Yokhanan (John the Baptist) made that clear. He counts us among His people when we answer God’s call upon our heart and actions through Mashiakh Yeshua (Christ Jesus). The foundation for that holiness through the Messiah is put down in Torah reading כי תשא Ki Tisa (“when you take,” Exodus 30:11–34:35).

Categories
Discussions Torah

From freedom to war (Numbers 1:17-54)

Created by ChatGPT, this intricate paper-relief illustration shows the tribes of Israel organized for battle around the Tabernacle in the wilderness, with spear-bearing men and tribal banners surrounding distinct Levites serving near the sanctuary. Layered kirigami and origami textures create depth and a solemn, sacred atmosphere. Text overlay: “From freedom to war (Numbers 1:17-54).”

The lists of numbers in the book of Numbers can be somewhat overwhelming. The first chapters are talking about how they are to count and assemble an army, not the entire community. We don’t pay attention to Numbers 1 because it is “just a bunch of names and a bunch of numbers,” but these were real men who had to be ready to fight in a real war (Num. 1:17-54).

Categories
Discussions Torah

The Hidden Message in Numbers 1:1-16: How the Names of Israel Point to Yeshua

Numbers 1 foretells Yeshua’s burden, the burden He tried to give up three times in the garden before His crucifixion (Matt. 26:39–44). That message is embedded in the meanings of the names of the tribes and clans, and that message becomes clear when the meanings are read together.

Categories
Discussions Prophets and Writings

2nd Samuel 24 part 1: David’s census mistake leads to purchase of Temple Mount

Daniel Agee

The Torah says that a census can not count people, only the coins they give. David knew this, and Yoab (Joab) did too. Why did David proceed after Yoab calls him out on this? What does it have to do with the strange land purchase in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem)?

Categories
Discussions Torah

Numbers 1 continued — controversy over translation of the Hebrew word ’elef as ‘thousand’

Some Jewish and Messianic scholars are feverishly debating whether the word “elef” (Strongs 504 and 505) in Numbers 1 and the counting of the fighting men of the 12 tribes means “clans” or “thousands.” There’s more controversy in Judaism over this one Hebrew word than any other Hebrew word in the Tanak. Richard explains the controversy and gives us some tools on how to wade through all the scholarly debates on this issue. Judges 6 and the book of Chronicles gives us some insight into this controversy as well.

Categories
Discussions Torah

How Many Israelites Actually Left Egypt? A Fresh Look at the Census in Numbers 1

The book of Numbers immediately starts out with a census, with lots of numbers. The book is named very well. If you just think of numbers for the sake of numbers, this chapter is very easy to skip. However, there are some important lessons we can glean from this chapter. First, notice the names of the heads of these families. Many of them have the name of “El” or “Shaddai” in their own names. This shows us that they know.