Transcript RECOGNITION - Qodesh Ministries

1
THE MESSIANIC PROPHECY BIBLE PROJECT
http://www.messianicbible.com
HEAR O ISRAEL
www.hearoisrael.org
SHEEPFOLD GLEANINGS WRITTEN BY JULIE PARKER
www.sheepfoldgleanings.com
MESSIANIC ISRAEL ALLIANCE
http://www.messianicisrael.com
AZAMRA TORAH FOR OUR TIME – RABBI AVRAHAM
GREENBAUM
http://www.azamra.org
2
TORAH: Numbers 8:1-12:16
HAFTORAH: Zechariah 2:10 [14]–4:7
B’RIT HADASHAH: On the consecration of the apostles: Rom 1:1; Gal 1:15
On Yeshua our Great High Priest: Heb 4:14–5:10; 7:1–28; 9:23–25
On following Yeshua, spiritual pillar of fire: 1 Cor 11:1; Rev 14:4; Phil 2:14
On murmuring: 1 Cor 10:10
All references: The Scripture 1998+ unless otherwise noted
For the next few weeks, much of what we read about in
Numbers will not be about how the Israelites are adjusting to
wilderness life, but rather how they are yearning for the life they
had in Egypt where civilization was highly advanced and much
more predictable. As we consider the possibility of the
prophesied 2nd Exodus occurring in our lifetime, the words of
the prophet Isaiah come to mind:
declaring the end from the beginning, and from of old that which
has not yet been done, saying, ‘My counsel does stand, and all
My delight I do,’ (Isaiah 46:10)
What are the promises that we can cling to? Will the Almighty
tell us ahead of time what we need to know? Will we repeat the
mistakes of the past? Isaiah again comes through with answers:
“See, the former predictions have come, and new ones I am
declaring; before they spring forth I let you hear them.” (Isaiah
42:9)
4
The Word of ‫ יהוה‬is our assurance. As we follow His commandments
‫ יהוה‬continues to open our eyes to understand them. We must do this
without complaining or questioning His authority.
In this week’s Parsha, we will see many of the last minute instructions
given to the Israelites before they leave Mt. Sinai and head for the
Promised Land. Sadly, they were not able to uncompromisingly follow
the One who had redeemed them from Egypt and betrothed them at
Mt. Sinai. Will we study their experiences and learn from their
mistakes?
And all these came upon them as examples, and they were written as a
warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come, so that he
who thinks he stands, let him take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians
10:11-12)
5
And ‫ יהוה‬spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Speak to Aharon, and say to him,
‘When you set up the lamps, let the seven lamps give light in front of the
lampstand.’ ” And Aharon did so. He set up the lamps to face toward the
front of the lampstand, as ‫ יהוה‬commanded Mosheh. And this is the work
of the lampstand: beaten work of gold, from its base to its blossoms it is
beaten work. According to the pattern which ‫ יהוה‬had shown Mosheh, so
he made the lampstand. (Numbers 8:1-4)
The name of our Torah reading….Be’HaAlotecha verse 2 translates as
“in the lifting up”.
To consider what it really means when you look at its root – alah –
which has the meaning of “to go up” or “to ascend”. This is the same
word that is used when speaking of “going up to Jerusalem” and also
the root of the phrase “to make aliyah” for those who immigrate to
Israel. Another related word is olah, which you can see contains the
same Hebrew consonants . The olah was the burnt offering which the
Apostle Paul also connected to us:
I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim,
to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to
Elohim – your reasonable worship. And do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you
prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.
(Romans 12:1-2)
7
Now Moses had already received some of these instructions for the
menorah back in Exodus 25. In Numbers ‫ יהוה‬reiterates two
commands:
1. That the menorah’s lamps should all be turned in the direction of
the main trunk of the menorah (the central stem from which the
menorah’s arms extend).
2. That the entire menorah should be hammered out of a single block
of gold.
The menorahs that we are familiar with today may not be accurate
according to these instructions. It is possible that the branches
containing the six lamps extended forward and upward in what would
look like a “V” if viewed from up above. The highest central lamp is
called the “servant”, and it is plain to see that this symbolizes ‫יהושע‬. As
our lights are turned in His direction, it represents our keeping our
eyes on the Messiah. It is the entire duty of the lamps to point to the
central lamp, i.e. ‫יהושע‬.
8
• Beaten gold from its base to its blossoms, from its foundation
to its fruit; in every way it has been beaten, tested by the love
(gold) ‫ יהוה‬has for His creation.
• The Hebrew word “menorah” # 4501 comes from the root
word “manowr” meaning “beam” or “yoke”, as used in
ploughing and supporting. So this lamp stand is not the light in
and of itself but supports the light or lamps. The numeric value
of the letters in “menorah” is 301, which equals “ha Tsuwr” or
“the Rock”, “rafacha” or “that heals you”.
• The “lamps” or “niyr‟ot” in the Hebrew means “lamp”, “bearer
of light”. The numeric value of the letters, as they appear in
Torah (niyr‟ot or nun-yud-reish-tav) is 660, which also equals
“v‟tehartam” or “and you shall be clean”.
• Scripture shows us that the Menorah, and not the cross, is the
symbol of ‫’יהושע‬s spiritual body of believers. Revelation 1:12,
20 and 2:1 the seven congregations are symbolized as a sevenbranched Menorah!
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who stays in Me, and I
in him, he bears much fruit. Because without Me you are able to
do naught! (John 15:5)
This is a perfect picture of the Menorah, which has a central
trunk with six (the number representing man) branches growing
out of the trunk. “You are the light of the world. It is impossible
for a city to be hidden on a mountain. “Nor do they light a lamp
and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines to all
those in the house. (Matthew 5:14-15)
Apostle Paul makes reference in Romans 11, as representing the
Tree of Life (which ultimately represents ‫ )יהושע‬into which all
must be grafted if they are to be part the spiritual body of ‫יהושע‬
and have his eternal life.
SYMBOL OF WORSHIP: When we lift our hands it is a sign of
surrender and worship. By doing this we are acting out what we
are—a lamp stand to the world radiating forth the good news of
the truth and love of ‫יהושע‬.
‘Now listen, Yehoshua the high priest, you and your companions
who sit before you, for they are men of symbol. For look, I am
bringing forth My Servant – the Branch. ‘See the stone which I
have put before Yehoshua: on one stone are seven eyes. See, I
am engraving its inscription,’ declares ‫ יהוה‬of hosts, ‘…. ‘In that
day,’ declares ‫ יהוה‬of hosts, ‘you shall invite one another, under
the vine and under the fig tree.’ ”….“What do you see?” So I said,
“I have looked, and see: a lampstand all of gold with a bowl on
top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven spouts to the
seven lamps. “And two olive trees are by it, one at the right of
the bowl and the other at its left.” …“What are these, my
master?” …‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ said
‫ יהוה‬of hosts. These seven are the eyes of ‫יהוה‬, which diligently
search throughout all the earth.” “What are these two olive
trees, ..?” ….“These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside
the Master1 of all the earth.” (Zechariah 3:8-4:14)
Only two returned with a good report of the promised land:
Caleb, from the tribe of Judah; and Joshua, from the tribe of
Ephraim (Num 13:2, 6, 8). Thus, the first example of two
witnesses were a Judahite and an Ephraimite.
Lampstands are said to be congregations (ekklesias), thus they
are two congregations of called out ones (Rev 11:3, 4; 1:20).
Metaphorically, the two witnesses are two anointed olive trees
who speak for the God [or Elohim] of Israel. Judaism and
Christianity are the only two religions on earth that give
testimony about Him. Although the people of Islam claim to
follow Abraham’s God, ‫ יהוה‬calls Himself “The [Elohim] of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Exod 3:16; Acts 3:13). Islam denies
that Isaac and Jacob are Abraham’s heirs, and instead claims that
Ishmael is Abraham’s true heir.
Our Father is now calling forth two congregations. They are the
“two sticks” that are presently being made “one in His hand”
(Ezek 37:15–28). They are Judah and Ephraim.
It was the duty of the High Priest to light the lamp. ‫ הושע‬is our
High Priest. It is His life that lights our lamps:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim,
and the Word was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim.
All came to be through Him, and without Him not even one came
to be that came to be. In Him was life, and the life was the light
of men. (John 1:1-4)
And here are our instructions once our lamp is lit:
“You are the light of the world. It is impossible for a city to be
hidden on a mountain. “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under
a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines to all those in the
house. “Let your light so shine before men, so that they see your
good works and praise your Father who is in the heavens.
(Matthew 5:14-16)
The light should remain on the lampstand. We must listen lest
our High Priest follows through with His warning to remove our
lampstand: For the command is a lamp, And the Torah a light,
13
And reproofs of discipline a way of life, (Proverbs 6:23)
Numbers 8:5-26…. and the children of Yisra’ĕl shall lay their hands on
the Lĕwites, …
The Levites were separated and ordained in the wilderness to:
1. Stand in for the first-born of Israel;
2. To help the priests with the burden of Tabernacle service;
3. To be distinctly assigned to the official ministry of keeping
charge of the Sanctuary, and solemnly charged and set apart
to a life of ministry within the congregation of Israel.
And He Himself gave some as emissaries, and some as prophets, and
some as evangelists, and some as shepherds and teachers for the
perfecting of the set-apart ones, to the work of service to a building up
of the body of the Messiah, (Ephesians 4:11-12)
The laying on of hands entails the assumption of mutual
responsibilities on behalf of the participating parties.
Warning:"Lay hands suddenly on no man..." (1 Tim.5:22).
“This applies to the Lĕwites: From twenty-five years old and
above let him come into active service in the service of the Tent
of Meeting, and at the age of fifty years they retire from active
service of the service, and serve no more, but they shall attend
with their brothers in the Tent of Meeting, to guard the duty, but
shall do no service. Thus you shall do to the Lĕwites regarding
their duties.” (Numbers 8:24-26)
from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who
enter the service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.
(Numbers 4:3)
First five years is for training, watch and learn, after fifty in their
retirement, they remained to “guard the duty”. And, they
remained to teach the next generation how to lead worship
according to the instructions for true worship and not the oral
equivalent of “strange fire” as offered by many in the mixing of
musical worship today.
Rav Greenbaum writes, “Singing in prayer is a unique human
ability that even the angels wait to hear. It is the crowning
moment of the Service. We may want to hurry the prayers so we
can get away from the Synagogue, but instead we ‘slaughter the
animal’, ‘sacrifice ourselves’ and stand there singing instead. The
song is made up of air, RU'ACH, spirit. The song is GEVURAH,
sifting the animal RU'ACH, the side that wants to run away and
occupy ourselves with the secular world, from the uniquely
human RU'ACH -- the air of our songs. This air or RU'ACH is the
vessel through which the even higher faculty of Knowledge is
able to enter and dwell, and then everything is complete: the
Meat is on the Table (the sacrifice), the Lights are kindled (the
Menorah) and the Choir is singing.
And ‫ יהוה‬spoke to Mosheh in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the first
month of the second year after they had come out of the land of
Mitsrayim, saying, “Now, let the children of Yisra’ĕl perform the
Passover at its appointed time. “On the fourteenth day of this
month, between the evenings, perform it at its appointed time.
According to all its laws and right-rulings you perform it.”
(Numbers 9:1-3)
Keeping the Passover in the second year of freedom
demonstrated to the Children of Israel that in the future HaShem
was going to lead them to the Promised Land. They kept the
Passover at the appointed time before going on the wilderness
trek and not again until they were in Canaan and the new
generation had been circumcised and dedicated (Josh. 5:5-10).
Why we must keep the pesach? that at that time you were
without Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Yisra’ĕl and
strangers from the covenants of promise, having no expectation
and without Elohim in the world. But now in Messiah ‫ יהושע‬you
who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of
the Messiah. (Ephesians 2:12-13)
“Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘When any male of you or
your generations is unclean for a being, or is far away on a journey, he
shall still perform the Passover of ‫יהוה‬. ‘On the fourteenth day of the
second month, between the evenings, they perform it – with
unleavened bread and bitter herbs they eat it. ‘They do not leave of it
until morning, and they do not break a bone of it. According to all the
laws of the Passover they perform it. ‘But the man who is clean and is
not on a journey, and has failed to perform the Passover, that same
being shall be cut off from among his people, because he did not bring
the offering of ‫ יהוה‬at its appointed time – that man bears his sin.
(Numbers 9:10-13)
A "Second Passover" is instituted in response to the petition
"Why should we be deprived?" by a group of Jews who were
unable to bring the Passover offering in its appointed time
because they were ritually impure.
Failure to observe Pesach: If you do not accept ‫ יהושע‬you will be cut
off : "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission.“
For the wages of sin is death, but the favourable gift of Elohim is
everlasting life in Messiah ‫ יהושע‬our Master. (Romans 6:23)
"Survival of the fittest is a cruel remedy for the world's miseries.
Messiah's doctrine is elevation of the lowest. Atonement for your souls
is the beginning of all true life." [J., Book of Leviticus, pg. 269]
Everything mentioned in the first Pesach had to be done to the finest
detail in the second Pesach. The feast of unleavened bread and the
counting of the Omer can be kept as no sacrifice needed to me made
thus even the ritually unclean can participate.
And on the day that the Dwelling Place was raised up, the cloud
covered the Dwelling Place, the Tent of the Witness. From
evening until morning it was above the Dwelling Place like the
appearance of fire. Thus it was continually: the cloud covered it
by day, and the appearance of fire by night. And whenever the
cloud was taken up from above the Tent, after that the children
of Yisra’ĕl would depart. And in the place where the cloud dwelt,
there the children of Yisra’ĕl would camp. At the command of
‫ יהוה‬the children of Yisra’ĕl departed, and at the command of
‫ יהוה‬they camped. They remained camped as long as the cloud
dwelt above the Dwelling Place. (Numbers 9:15-18)
“I indeed immerse you in water unto repentance, but He who is
coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not
worthy to bear. He shall immerse you in the Set-apart Spirit and
fire. (Matthew 3:11)
For as many as are led by the Spirit of Elohim, these are sons of
Elohim. (Romans 8:14)
Light in Scripture is a metaphor for the Torah while the term the
way (Hebrew, derek) means “the way of Torah righteousness.”
Scripture uses the term way(s)/derek as a reference to the Torah
in the following passages (and many more, as well):
• therefore you shall guard the commands of ‫ יהוה‬your Elohim,
to walk in His ways and to fear Him. (Deuteronomy 8:6)
• ‘For if you diligently guard all these commands which I
command you, to do it, to love ‫ יהוה‬your Elohim, to walk in all
His ways, and to cling to Him, (Deuteronomy 11:22)
• I run the way of Your commands, For You enlarge my heart.
(Psalms 119:32)
• Teach me, O ‫יהוה‬, the way of Your laws, And I observe it to the
end. (Psalms 119:33)
“I was looking in the night visions and saw One like the Son of Enosh,
coming with the clouds of the heavens! And He came to the Ancient of
Days, and they brought Him near before Him. (Daniel 7:13)
And after six days ‫ יהושע‬took Kĕpha, and Yaʽaqoḇ, and Yoḥanan his
brother, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves, and
He was transformed before them, and His face shone like the sun, and
His garments became as white as the light. And see, Mosheh and
Ěliyahu appeared to them, talking with Him. And Kĕpha answering,
said to ‫יהושע‬, “Master, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, let us
make here three booths: one for You, one for Mosheh, and one for
Ěliyahu.”1 Footnote:1Mark 9:4. While he was still speaking, see, a bright
cloud overshadowed them. And see, a voice came out of the cloud,
saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I did delight. Hear Him!”
(Matthew 17:1-5)
This was the same cloud that was over Mount Sinai.
And having said this, while they were looking on, He was taken up, and
a cloud hid Him from their sight.
(Acts 1:9)
For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we made known to
you the power and coming of our Master ‫ יהושע‬Messiah, but were eyewitnesses of His superbness. For when He received respect and esteem
from Elohim the Father, such a voice came to Him from the Excellent
Esteem, “This is My Son, the Beloved in whom I did delight.”
(2 Peter 1:16-17)
And I looked and saw a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was One
like the Son of Aḏam, having on His head a golden crown, and in His
hand a sharp sickle.
(Revelation 14:14)
And ‫ יהוה‬spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Make two silver trumpets for
yourself, make them of beaten work. And you shall use them for calling
the congregation and for breaking camp. “And when they blow both of
them, all the congregation shall meet before you at the door of the
Tent of Meeting. “And if they blow one, then the leaders, the heads of
the thousands of Yisra’ĕl, shall gather to you...“And the sons of Aharon,
the priests, blow with the trumpets. And it shall be to you for a law
forever throughout your generations. (Numbers 10:1-8)
They were to be used to:
• Summon the Israelites
• Order them to assemble in their ranks and march toward
Canaan.
• When they went to war
• Celebration and feasts
• First days of months
The ram’s horn is ‫’יהוה‬s instrument: ‘Not a hand is to touch it, but he
shall certainly be stoned or shot with an arrow, whether man or beast,
he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, let them come near
the mountain.” (Exodus 19:13)
The silver trumpet is the people’s instrument. “Make two silver
trumpets from hammered silver.” The trumpets were long,
straight, narrow with a wide mouth, and "of beaten [hammered]
work.“
Thus we see, that when the trumpets would be blown, the
Elohim of Israel would remember His people, cover them, and
deliver them from their enemies. This suggests to us that the
blowing of the silver trumpets is a type, or figure, of the prayers
of the saints. ...“Your prayers and your kind deeds have come up for a
remembrance before Elohim. (Acts 10:4)
1. That while we do not need to shout our prayers, they should
have our full heart, strength, and clarity behind them. And
Yehuḏah turned and saw the battle was both in front and behind
them. Then they cried out to ‫יהוה‬, and the priests sounded the
trumpets. (2 Chronicles 13:14)
2. The trumpets sent forth a ringing, upbeat sound that stirred
gladness and hope among the people. Our prayers should
also be pervaded with faith, hope, and a sense of joy?
3. The silver trumpets and the Cloud were to be for the
Israelites memorials of Sinai. ‫ יהוה‬appeals to both the eye
and the ear of man to convey to man what he needs to know.
Not everyone watched the cloud, but everyone would hear
the sound of the trumpet give the command to assemble
and march.
Note: The trumpets were not blown on a daily basis
W
Manasseh
Benjamin
Ephraim
(Rachel)
Gershonites
108100
S
Reuben
Dan
Simeon
Asher
Gad Kohathites
MeraritesNaphtali
(Leah - Zilpah)
(Zilpah – Bilhah)
Tabernacle
151450
157600
Moses, Aaron & Priests
Judah
Issachar
Zebulun
(Leah)
186400
E
N
And it came to be on the twentieth day of the second month, in the
second year, that the cloud was taken up from above the Dwelling
Place of the Witness. And the children of Yisra’ĕl departed, setting out
from the Wilderness of Sinai. And the cloud dwelt on it in the
Wilderness of Paran. Thus they departed the first time, according to the
command of ‫ יהוה‬by the hand of Mosheh....(Numbers 10:11-28)
Judah
Issachar
Zebulun
Gershonites
Merarites
186400
Priests
Reuben
Simeon
Gad
151450
Kohathites
Manasseh
Benjamin
Ephraim
Dan
Asher
Naphtali
108100
157600
And Mosheh said to Ḥoḇaḇ, the son of Reʽuw’ĕl the Miḏyanite, Mosheh’s
father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which ‫ יהוה‬said, ‘I give it
to you.’ Come with us, and we shall do good to you, for ‫ יהוה‬has spoken
good concerning Yisra’ĕl.” And he replied to him, “I am not going, but I am
going to my own land and to my relatives.” Then he said, “Please do not
leave us, ..“And it shall be, when you go with us, then it shall be that
whatever good ‫ יהוה‬does to us, the same we shall do to you.” (Numbers
10:29-32)
Hobab, son of Reuel, the name occurs here and in Judges 4:11, and
identifies Hobab with Jethro, and Jethro with Reuel, the "priest of
Midian." Hobab was a Kenite, a son of the desert who worshipped
Elohim.
"Come with us.“ We are on our way to Glory." Hobab was invited to
be a partner in their pilgrimage to Canaan, a partaker in their
discomforts and trials ["light afflictions"], but also a shareholder in
their many rich blessings ["eternal weight of glory"], of which Israel
would partake (Rom. 9:3; 10:2).
And it came to be, whenever the ark set out, that Mosheh said,
“Rise up, O ‫ !יהוה‬And let Your enemies be scattered, and let those
who hate You flee before You.” And when it rested, he said,
“Return, O ‫יהוה‬, to the countless thousands of Yisra’ĕl.”
(Numbers 10:35-36)
The sages of Israel say that Moses was trying to draw our
attention to the wisdom in those two verses. They go further.
They say that the wisdom in verses 35 and 36 are equivalent to
the wisdom of Genesis or any other books of the Torah. They
said with Numbers divided into three parts by the Inverted Nuns,
that the Torah is seven pillars of wisdom.
In the Talmud (Shabbat 115b, 116a) it is stated that any part of
the Torah with 85 or more letters is itself considered a “book,”
and therefore this passage of Scripture actually demarcates a
separate book of the Torah
Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out its seven columns,
(Proverbs 9:1)
The letter nun means life (the quickening of life). The letter
pictures a fish swimming away quickly. But a letter drawn
backwards, what does that mean? It is the quickening of life
from the dead. That which was dead has come alive.
It is sign for resurrection.
• Verse 35 describes the resurrection of the Messiah. This is
when ‫ יהושע‬gained victory over his enemies. As a result, they
have been scattered and must flee from His presence. He has
gained victory over death.
• Verse 36 describes our resurrection which happens at the
Lord’s return to Israel. The myriads of Israel’s family is the flock
of Jacob, the redeemed of Jacob.
This portion of Scripture is so profound that Jews use these
words to open and close the Ark with the Torah scroll. Whenever
the Torah is brought out of the ark, they say, "Arise O Lord,..."
and whenever, it is put back, we say, "Return O Lord, ...“
The letter “nun” is the 14TH letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet. 14 is
the numeric value of “David” (Dalet-vav-dalet), who, as the King
with a heart for ‫יהוה‬.
The numeric value of the letter “nun” is 50; which, in addition to
“Malchut” or “the kingdom”, represents also “divine revelation”
and the “fullness of life”. Example: 50 days from the Exodus to
the giving of Torah (Counting the Omer to Shavu’ot) other
examples: 50th year or “Jubilee Year”, all land returned to its
original owner, 50 years of age before a man is considered wise.
In “Hebraic thought” the “Nun” represents Mashiach, as “Heir to
the Kingdom, or Throne”. As David praises “Mashiach ‫ ”יהוה‬in:
Let His Name be forever, His Name continue before the sun; And let
them bless themselves in Him; Let all nations call Him blessed. Blessed
be ‫ יהוה‬Elohim, Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, He alone is doing wonders! And
blessed be His esteemed Name forever! And let all the earth Be filled
with His esteem. Amĕn and Amĕn.
(Psalms 72:17-19)
Translated: “while the sun lasts, let His Name Nun”
TORAH
GENESIS
REVELATION –
7 CHURCHES
REV 2:1-7
KEY THOUGHT
FIRST LOVE
EXODUS
REV 2:8-11
PERSERVERE
LEVITICUS
REV 2:12-17
THE LAW / TRUST
NUMBERS 1-10:34
REV 2:18-29
SERVICE
NUMBERS 10:35-36
REV 3:1-6
REPENT / RISE UP
NUM 11-36:13
REV 3:7-13
FAITHFUL
DEUTERONOMY
REV 3: 14-22
ZEALOUS
And it came to be, when the people were as complainers, it was
evil in the ears of ‫יהוה‬. And ‫ יהוה‬heard it, and His displeasure
burned. And the fire of ‫ יהוה‬burned among them, and consumed
those in the outskirts of the camp. (Numbers 11:1)
This is not the first time we read of the Israelites complaining in
the wilderness. In exodus we read: And the children of Yisra’ĕl
said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of ‫ יהוה‬in the land
of Mitsrayim, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate
bread to satisfaction! For you have brought us out into this
wilderness to put all this assembly to death with hunger.”
(Exodus 16:3) ‫ יהוה‬responded not with fire but with manna from
heaven. And ‫ יהוה‬said to Mosheh, “See, I am raining bread from
the heavens for you. And the people shall go out and gather a
day’s portion every day, in order to try them, whether they walk
in My Torah or not. (Exodus 16:4)
Other instances are Exodus 17:2 (Water) and 15:23 (Bitter
Water). ‫ יהוה‬responded with such understanding and generosity
in the above instances in Exodus, why did He react so differently
in now?
1. Timing – The stories in Exodus took place only days after they left
Egypt. They were still not accustomed to their new freedom and
every difficulty was a challenge. The story in Numbers took place
“in the second year in the second month” (Numbers 10:11). This is
after they received the Torah from Mt. Sinai and after the
Tabernacle was raised. They should have reached a much higher
level of trust by this time. Instead of “complaining”, they were “like
complainers”. This is more obvious in Young’s Literal Translation of
11:1: And the people is evil, as those sighing habitually in the ears
of YHVH , and YHVH heareth, and His anger burneth,
2. Circumstances – Before the manna rained down from heaven, they
were truly fearful of dying of hunger. The incidents in Exodus also
reflect a legitimate thirst. The difference here is not a shortage of
food or a fear of starvation, but a “lust” for “meat”. And the mixed
multitude who were in their midst lusted greatly, so the children of
Yisra’ĕl also wept again and said, “Who is giving us meat to eat?
(Numbers 11:4)
36
‫ יהוה‬reacted differently when the Israelites had some rationale behind
their complaints, ‫ יהוה‬reacted with kindness and long-suffering. But
when they became chronic complainers, He became angry. The Yiddish
for this type of complaining is “kevetching”! Not only did they lust for
meat, but they verbally attacked the “manna”:
“We remember the fish which we ate without cost in Mitsrayim, the
cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the
garlic, but now our throat is dried up. There is naught to look at but
this manna!” (Numbers 11:5-6)
In the wilderness of Sinai ‫ יהוה‬taught two of the most important
aspects of faith.
1. He taught the Children of Israel to remember His deeds and;
2. be content with what He provided.
1. THE BACKBITER: One who speaks against an absent
individual. (Ps 15:2–3; Rom 1:30; Prov 25:23; 2 Cor 12:20)
2. THE BUSYBODY: One who seeks out information on a false
report and spreads it by means of gossip, slander, backbiting,
etc. ‫ יהוה‬takes this very seriously. In fact, he equates being a
busybody with being an evildoer or even a murderer. (1 Pet
4:15; 1 Tim 5:13; 2 Thess 3:11)
3. THE COMPLAINER: One who finds fault. This type of person
often uses a personal situation as a platform for his or her
complaint. “I was treated unfairly.” “Do you know what this
person did?” You think that’s bad, let me tell you what
happened to me.” (Num 11:1; Jude 16)
4. THE MURMURER: One who grumbles. We find that this
person is usually complaining but only loudly enough for
those in close proximity to hear. (Phil 2:14; Num 16:2; Jude
16)
5. THE SLANDERER: This is an individual who tries to injure
someone’s reputation or character by false and defamatory
statements. (Num 14:36; Jer 6:28; 9:4; 1 Tim 3:11; Prov
10:18; Ps 101:5)
6. THE TALEBEARER (OR GOSSIP): This is a person who
elaborates and exaggerates so as to make a story more
dramatic or “juicy”). (Prov 11:13; Lev 19:16; Rom 1:28–30;
see also Prov 18:8; 20:19; 26:20,22; 1 Tim 5:13)
7. THE WHISPERER: This is an individual who talks about other
people privately, secretly and covertly in order to hurt them.
(Prov 16:28; Ps 41:7)
“We remember the fish which we ate without cost in Mitsrayim,
..(Numbers 11:5)
Why fish? What exactly is the fish that we used to eat in Egypt that the
Israelites craved?
• According to ibn Ezra, fish was so abundant in the Nile that it was
virtually free.
• The Jewish Publication Society Commentary states (p. 83) that “…the
‘meat’ requested by the Israelites meant fish…a plentiful and cheap
commodity in Egypt.” Well, if fish was plentiful then, it wasn’t exactly
a luxury.
• Other commentators claim that the Israelite slaves got the fish the
Egyptians rejected.
40
The ancient sages tell us that “free” meant that the food was
“free from mitzvot” (free from commandments). In other words,
now the Israelites were obligated to observe the
commandments, as their sustenance was dependent upon
keeping the Torah:
‘And it shall be that if you diligently obey My commands which I
command you today, to love ‫ יהוה‬your Elohim and to serve Him
with all your heart and with all your being, then I shall give you
the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter
rain, and you shall gather in your grain, and your new wine, and
your oil. (Deuteronomy 11:13-14)
The people began to rebel against the Torah system of mitzvot!
So why attack the manna? Because this was the Father’s
provision, and manna represented the Word. This is likely the
reason why the Torah inserts here the verses on the goodness of
the manna: Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its
appearance like the appearance of bdellium. The people ..
ground it ... and made cakes of it. And its taste was as the taste
41
of cakes baked with oil. (Numbers 11:7-8)
Then ‫ יהוה‬said to Mosheh, “Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of
Yisra’ĕl, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers
over them. And bring them to the Tent of Meeting, and let them stand
there with you. “And I shall come down and speak with you there, and
shall take of the Spirit that is on you, and put on them. And they shall
bear the burden of the people with you, so that you do not bear it
yourself alone. (Numbers 11:16-17)
And what is the connection in chapter 11 between the 70 appointed
elders and the flesh/meat?
‫ יהוה‬response to the craving of “flesh” is to take some of Moshe’s
“spirit” and place it on the 70 elders. This will distribute a broader
Mosaic leadership amongst the people. These elders are authentic
representatives of the nation (11:16 – “elders of the people”). Thus, in
the midst of the people, they will be able to lead the nation to follow
Moses (i.e. Torah) instead of yielding to the temptation of following
the “rabble” (asaf). Numbers 11:24 says that ‫ יהוה‬caused them to
“stand around the Tabernacle (represents the unity of ‫ יהוה‬people)”.
42
“And say to the people, ‘Set yourselves apart for tomorrow, you shall
eat meat, because you have wept in the hearing of ‫יהוה‬, saying, “Who
is giving us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Mitsrayim.” And ‫יהוה‬
shall give you meat, and you shall eat. ‘You are going to eat, not one
day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, but for
a month of days, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes an
abomination to you, because you have rejected ‫ יהוה‬who is among you,
and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we come up out of
Mitsrayim?”.. And a wind went forth from ‫יהוה‬, and it brought quail
from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey ..
all around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the
ground. And the people were up all that day, and all that night, and all
the next day, and gathered the quail. ... The meat was still between
their teeth, before it was chewed, and the wrath of ‫ יהוה‬burned against
the people, and ‫ יהוה‬smote the people with an exceeding great plague.
Then he called the name of that place Qiḇroth Hatta’awah, because
there they buried the people who had lusted. ..(Numbers 11:18-35)
43
But greedily lusted in the wilderness, And tried Ěl in the desert. And He
gave them their request, But sent leanness within their being. (Psalms
106:14-15)
They ask for meat, and the Almighty decides to comply with their
unreasonable request as their problem really wasn’t about food.
The Hebrew word for “meat”, (basar), is also the word for “flesh”. The
“flesh” is often used as the opposite of “spirit”, so what was it exactly
that they were asking for? Did they prefer the “world” (flesh) over the
“spirit”? ‫ יהוה‬gave them more “basar” (meat/flesh) than they needed,
He handed them over to their greed.
The first memorials of Israel in her march to Canaan were the sad
graves of the greedy. Greed for physical pleasures impoverishes the
soul.
Question: What did living in the world cost you?
Now Miryam and Aharon spoke against Mosheh because of the Kushite
woman whom he had taken, for he had taken a Kushite woman. And
they said, “Has ‫ יהוה‬spoken only through Mosheh? Has He not also
spoken through us?” And ‫ יהוה‬heard it. (Numbers 12:1-2)
• Miriam and Aaron were not speaking solely to Moses but to ‫יהוה‬, as
Moses was ‫’יהוה‬s appointed representative.
• Moses had compassion on his sister; he forgave her and reminded
‫ יהוה‬of the great thing she did for him when he was a baby hidden in
the bulrushes. As a result, Miriam lived out her seven-day
contamination separation outside the camp before her cleansing
and return.
• Even though she repented, she still had to live out the consequences
of her sin outside the camp.
This is still ‫’יהוה‬s order today. If we speak slander to one another or
have slanderous thoughts – even small ones – we contaminate
ourselves and forego blessings for seven days, outside the camp.
As Richard Elliot Friedman points out in his book Commentary on the
Torah, Chapters 11 and 12 of Bemidbar repeat a form of the verb
“asaf” nine times. Its basic meaning is “to gather”, and following the
word takes us through a range of contexts, from the self absorbed
concerns of complaining troublemakers to the embracing generosity of
a loving community.
NEGATIVE: Chapter 11:4 The Rabble (gathering) to complain, Three
other instances in chapter 11 have negative connotations. In context,
we see people “gathering” (large numbers of quail which they were
ravenously eager to eat immediately.
POSITIVE: The last five instances of “asaf” used in chapters 11 and 12
are all used positively. Two relate to the “gathering” of the 70 elders.
The third is an unusual Hebrew phrasing as Moshe re-enters the camp
Numbers 11:30 And Moshe is gathered to the camp after his
conversation with ‫יהוה‬. The last two instances of its use as it refers to
Miriam being “gathered” back into the camp following her
46
punishment.
Then the banner of the camp of the children of Dan, which
formed the rear guard of all the camps, departed according to
their divisions. And over their army was Aḥiʽezer, son of
Ammishaddai. (Numbers 10:25)
The tribe of Dan is referred to as “m’asaf”, the “rear guard”.
Rashi explains that Dan’s task was to “gather” (asaf) up lost
objects, returning them to their owners. They also “gathered”
(asaf) individuals who had become lost or had fallen behind. Put
this first usage of “asaf” in Numbers 10:25 together with its final
usage in 12:15, where it refers to Miriam. Both refer to acts of
“gathering” (asaf) that are generous, compassionate, and
inclusive.
The tribe of Dan ensures that no one is left behind. At the other
end, a community reintegrates an outcast (Miriam – her name
means “rebellion”). Between these two, we read of the
“gatherings” of people who are self-centered and ungrateful.
But the result of kindness (Dan) and forgiveness (of
47
Miriam/rebellion) “gathers” (asaf) all of Israel back together.
However, two men had remained in the camp. The name of one
was Eldaḏ, and the name of the other Mĕyḏaḏ. And the Spirit
rested upon them. Now they were among those listed, but did
not go out to the Tent. And they prophesied in the camp. And a
young man ran and informed Mosheh, and said, “Eldaḏ and
Mĕyḏaḏ are prophesying in the camp.” And Yehoshua son of
Nun, Mosheh’s assistant from his youth, answered and said,
“Mosheh my master, forbid them!” (Numbers 11:26-28)
‫’יהוה‬s goal in placing the “spirit” onto the 70 was to strengthen
the “spirit” of the nation by forming a group of spiritual people
who would prophecy and thereby influence those lusting after
the “flesh”. Therefore He answers Joshua, Then Mosheh said to
him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Oh, that all the people of ‫יהוה‬
were prophets, that ‫ יהוה‬would put His Spirit upon them!”
(Numbers 11:29) ‫יהוה‬wants ALL to have the right heart that
they might receive the “spirit”. Pursue love, and earnestly seek
the spiritual gifts, but rather that you prophesy. (1 Corinthians
48
14:1)
All are “gathered” back to the camp for the same purpose – to
influence, educate and serve those who are of a “fleshly” attitude by
bringing the “spirit of prophecy” to them. ..Worship Elohim! For the
witness of ‫ יהושע‬is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10)
The “harvest of souls”, pointed to by the concepts of “gathering” (asaf)
and “spirit” is seen in the Feast of Sukkot, called …the Feast of
“Ingathering”:
..and the Festival of the Ingathering at the outgoing of the year, when
you have gathered in the fruit of your labours from the field. (Exodus
23:16)
It is ‫’יהוה‬s intention to “gather” (asaf) His people, despite their longing
for “flesh”. He will even give them what they want…more “flesh”. He
will position His representatives in the midst of His people to spread
more of the “spirit” of Moshe/Torah/‫ יהושע‬. Others, like Eldad and
Medad, whose names mean “El has loved” and “loving”, will also catch
the “spirit”. This is all part of the “gathering” (asaf) process which
culminates at the Feast of “Ingathering” (asaf).
49
“That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has
been born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6)
“It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh does not profit at all. The words
that I speak to you are Spirit and are life. (John 6:63)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the matters
of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the matters of
the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit
is life and peace. Because the mind of the flesh is enmity towards
Elohim, for it does not subject itself to the Torah of Elohim, neither
indeed is it able, and those who are in the flesh are unable to please
Elohim.
50
(Romans 8:5-8)
If we look at a different interpretation of “free”, (“not to have
any moral obligations”. We see that for the Israelites nothing
was free, even straw could be obtained only by hard labour!
They were free only of mitzvoth, for in those days they did not
worry about the laws of the Torah.
As it was with Israel, so it is with the Body of Messiah today.
Whenever there is a revival, or a restoration movement of Spirit
and Truth, that has been "trumpeted" forward, there will be
a mixed multitude involved. The wheat and the tares are going to
grow together until the end of the age.
The “Spirit” will prevail over the “flesh” and we will see this in
the final “gathering” (asaf) when the desire will not be for the
“flesh”/meat, but for the “water of life”!
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And he who hears, let
him say, “Come!” And he who thirsts, come! And he who desires
it, take the water of life without paying! (Revelation 22:17)