Tag: Numbers 01

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Numbered but not just a number: The Good Shepherd Who seeks the lost sheep of humanity (Numbers 1; Luke 15)

Numbered but not a number: The Good Shepherd seeks the lost sheep of humanity (Numbers 1; Luke 15). A South American shepherd walks a sheep through a flock toward a sunset over mountains in the distance.

This study on Torah reading בְּמִדְבַּר Bemidbar (“in the wilderness,” Numbers 1:1–4:20) focuses on Heaven’s concern for each individual member of Israel’s tribes. Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) touched on that with His three lost-and-found parables in Luke 15, particularly how a shepherd seeks one lost sheep. Though part of an orderly whole as God’s people, each person is valued. As the tribes were transformed from a multitude to a cohesive unit centered on God’s dwelling — the solution to the world’s anguish — so too may each Israelite accept the role and be renewed to uplift God’s legacy through Messiah. When all work in unison and depend on the Eternal, the salvation promised to the world through Israel will be fulfilled.

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Torah readings

Torah reading Bemidbar (במדבר): Numbers 1:1–4:20

Studies in Torah

All of us will face trying times that will reveal who we really are, our character. The Torah reading בְּמִדְבַּר Bemidbar (“in the wilderness”) over Num. 1:1–4:20 takes us along with our ancient ancestors in faith on a journey toward true rest God provides. That’s a trek that’s as relevant now as it was then. Read and listen to studies and discussions on this passage.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Unclean skins covering the holy Tabernacle? Pagan name for the LORD? (Numbers 1:1–4:20)

Torah reading Bemidbar Q&A (Numbers 1:1-4:20; Hosea 1:9-2:23)

Why would the Tabernacle be covered with the skin of an unclean animal? Why would God call Himself by the name of a pagan god? Here are answers to such questions from the Torah reading בְּמִדְבַּר Bemidbar (“in the wilderness,” Num. 1:1–4:20).

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Prepare now to stand and be counted on the Day of the LORD (Numbers 1–4; Luke 12, 15)

Prepare now to stand and be counted on the Day of the LORD (Numbers 1-4; Luke 12, 15). A black chess pawn is shown standing against seven white pawns.

Genealogy is a very popular hobby in our time. Many want to learn their origins. Some use insights history to understand where they are going. A springboard for such insights is the seemingly dull genealogical census in Torah reading בְּמִדְבַּר Bemidbar (“in the wilderness,” Num. 1:1–4:20).

The stories of our ancestors — whether recent such as those who served in World War 2 or ancient Spiritual ancestors in the Bible — can teach us to stand for what is right, even if we have to stand alone, instead of staying silent when the world is careening into evil.

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Discussions Torah

Numbers 1:1–4:20: Counting the nations in Heaven’s inheritance

https://hallel.info/wp-content/uploads/190608-Parashat-Bamidbar-Numbers-1v1-4v20.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:18:25 — 31.4MB)Subscribe: RSSWhat are we going to eat? What are we going to wear? What’s going to protect us from the elements? Where do we belong? These four important questions are behind the census of ancient Israel described in Torah reading בְּמִדְבַּר Bamidbar (“in the wilderness,” […]

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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.

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Torah

Does ‏אלף ’elef mean ‘thousand’ or ‘clan’ in Exodus and Numbers?

Some have asserted that the huge numbers of people listed in various places in Exodus and Numbers are impossible or unlikely for a number of real-world reasons. Those include lack of mention of such big numbers in Egyptian and other secular accounts, archaeological estimates of populations at the time, food supply and other logistics for such huge numbers during the Exodus, number of years Israel was in Egypt, smaller numbers mentioned in the Bible hundreds of years later, trepidation of Israel to invade the Land despite having huge army, etc.

Rather than exegesis — a critical examination of a text from the text — this is eisegesis — a critical examination of a text from considerations outside the text.

What follows is a close study of the numbers listed in Numbers 1 (cf. Ex. 12:37 and 38:26), the pattern for which is used in following chapters and elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. The plain reading of the text is that the Hebrew word אלף ’elef (Strong’s lexicon No. 505) means “thousand,” rather than “clan,” “chief,” or “group.”