(Book of Numbers 10:1 - 10:10)
Jehovah instructed Moses, "Make two trumpets of beaten silver that can be used to summon the people to assembly and to signal the breaking of camp. When both trumpets are blown that means the entire community should gather before you at the entrance to the Tabernacle. If only one trumpet is blown that means only the leaders, the heads of Israel's clans, should convene.
"When a short blast of the trumpet is sounded, the tribes camped to the east of the Tabernacle are to set out. At a second blast, the tribes encamped to the south are then to set out. Such alarm blasts will be the signal to break camp; however, when the trumpet is sounded for assembly, it should be with a blast of different tone and duration, not the alarm blast.
"Only Aaron' descendants, the priests, are authorized to blow the trumpets. This will be a permanent rule to be observed by you down through the generations.
"When have settled in your own land and march into battle against an enemy who is attacking you, sound the trumpets in alarm. Then Jehovah your god will remember you and come to your aid. You should also blow the trumpets on occasions of jubilation, during festivities, at the beginning of each month, and when you make burnt offerings and peace offerings so that it will remind you of your contract with your god. Thus says Jehovah your god."
Note
1. The trumpets referred to are not the familiar valved horn, a modern innovation, only 200 years old. This trumpet is the hasoserah, a straight, somewhat narrow tube about a foot and a half long and flared at the end, similar to other ancient trumpets that were developed about 1500 BC. The two manners in which it could be sounded were, in Hebrew, the taqa' and the more strident teruw'ah used for alarms. Most horns can be blown in these two styles. It should be mentioned the hasoserah is different from the shofar, the ram's horn previously referred to in Leviticus.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Cloud Above the Tabernacle
(Book of Numbers 9:15 - 9:23)
From the day that the Tabernacle was erected, there settled over it a cloud, that, from dusk till dawn, would emit a fiery glow. The Tabernacle continued to present this appearance, covered by cloud during the day and luminous at night. Whenever the cloud arose from the tent, then the Israelites would set out on their migration and wherever it settled, it was there that the Israelites made their camp. It was thus at the command of Jehovah that they set out and at his command that they made camp. As long as the cloud remained over the Tabernacle, the Israelites would stay encamped. Even if the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a considerable period of time, the Israelites would conform with the command of Jehovah and keep their camp. Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days. The people would, at Jehovah's behest, tarry but a few days and then, at his behest, break camp and move on. Sometimes the cloud would stay only a night, so that in the morning, when it had lifted, the people would then set out on their journey. Or, it might remain a day and a night, but whenever the cloud lifted, the people would set out. Whether it was for two days, a month, or longer that the cloud would settle over the Tabernacle and cover it, during that time the Israelites would stay put and not travel. Only when it lifted would they then resume their migration. At Jehovah's command they made camp and at Jehovah's command they broke camp. The people followed the dictates of Jehovah as communicated to them through Moses.
Notes
1. The migrations, or is it peregrinations, of the people are Israel are entirely controlled by Jehovah; they are utter slaves to his will. Instead of communicating with Moses and telling him when he wants the people to break camp and move on or halt their journey, or giving him a map or something, Jehovah chooses to guide his wandering people through the movements of a "cloud." The course of migratory journey thus seems whimsically fitful; the people move or stop according to however Jehovah may feel at the time. At least whatever rhyme or reason there is to the itinerary it is not vouchsafed to the Israelites, even to Moses. They all must unquestioningly obey. The inconvenience of the people not knowing if they are to remain in a certain camp for a day or a month does not seem to be a factor, but then the wishes or comfort of his people have not thus far been a consideration of Jehovah.
2. What this cloud is that settles over the Tabernacle and guides the migrations of the Israelites with its movements is a mystery. Is it merely like a cloud, insubstantial, gaseous, vaporous, or does it have solidity? Could it have been some sort of airship? It has the appearance of fire at night, but this likely means that it glowed. It may have been luminous at all times, but that its light would only be noticeable in darkness. It seems to be suggested either that Jehovah dwelt in the cloud or that the cloud was his tangible form. (It is generally accepted that spirits manifest themselves as balls of light and that vaporous, cloud-like spectres are merely incomplete physical materializations.) He apparently spends all his time above the Tabernacle, which makes sense if he is the god solely of the Israelites, but not if he were really a universal god.
From the day that the Tabernacle was erected, there settled over it a cloud, that, from dusk till dawn, would emit a fiery glow. The Tabernacle continued to present this appearance, covered by cloud during the day and luminous at night. Whenever the cloud arose from the tent, then the Israelites would set out on their migration and wherever it settled, it was there that the Israelites made their camp. It was thus at the command of Jehovah that they set out and at his command that they made camp. As long as the cloud remained over the Tabernacle, the Israelites would stay encamped. Even if the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a considerable period of time, the Israelites would conform with the command of Jehovah and keep their camp. Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days. The people would, at Jehovah's behest, tarry but a few days and then, at his behest, break camp and move on. Sometimes the cloud would stay only a night, so that in the morning, when it had lifted, the people would then set out on their journey. Or, it might remain a day and a night, but whenever the cloud lifted, the people would set out. Whether it was for two days, a month, or longer that the cloud would settle over the Tabernacle and cover it, during that time the Israelites would stay put and not travel. Only when it lifted would they then resume their migration. At Jehovah's command they made camp and at Jehovah's command they broke camp. The people followed the dictates of Jehovah as communicated to them through Moses.
Notes
1. The migrations, or is it peregrinations, of the people are Israel are entirely controlled by Jehovah; they are utter slaves to his will. Instead of communicating with Moses and telling him when he wants the people to break camp and move on or halt their journey, or giving him a map or something, Jehovah chooses to guide his wandering people through the movements of a "cloud." The course of migratory journey thus seems whimsically fitful; the people move or stop according to however Jehovah may feel at the time. At least whatever rhyme or reason there is to the itinerary it is not vouchsafed to the Israelites, even to Moses. They all must unquestioningly obey. The inconvenience of the people not knowing if they are to remain in a certain camp for a day or a month does not seem to be a factor, but then the wishes or comfort of his people have not thus far been a consideration of Jehovah.
2. What this cloud is that settles over the Tabernacle and guides the migrations of the Israelites with its movements is a mystery. Is it merely like a cloud, insubstantial, gaseous, vaporous, or does it have solidity? Could it have been some sort of airship? It has the appearance of fire at night, but this likely means that it glowed. It may have been luminous at all times, but that its light would only be noticeable in darkness. It seems to be suggested either that Jehovah dwelt in the cloud or that the cloud was his tangible form. (It is generally accepted that spirits manifest themselves as balls of light and that vaporous, cloud-like spectres are merely incomplete physical materializations.) He apparently spends all his time above the Tabernacle, which makes sense if he is the god solely of the Israelites, but not if he were really a universal god.
Observance of the Passover
(Book of Numbers 9:1 - 9:14)
Jehovah spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai in the first month of the second year after their exodus from Egypt. "Let the Israelites," he told him, "celebrate the Passover at the prescribed time, at dusk on the 14th day of this month, Nisan. --- And be sure to follow all the rules and regulations I have given you concerning the holiday."
Moses thus told the Israelites that they should celebrate Passover; they did so in the desert of Sinai at dusk on 14th day of Nisan, in accordance with all that Jehovah had commanded Moses. However, there were a certain number of people who were ritually impure due to their handling of corpses. They, therefore, did not celebrate Passover on that day, but came to see Aaron and Moses. They complained to Moses, "We are ritually impure because we have touched dead bodies, but why should that keep us from making offerings to Jehovah at the proper time with the rest of the people of Israel?"
Moses told them, "Wait until I can find out what Jehovah will decree concerning you."
Jehovah answered Moses: "Tell the Israelites that any of them, or their descendants, may still celebrate Passover even if they are ritually unclean due to exposure to a corpse, or if they are away on a journey. Such persons should observe it at dusk on the 15th day of the second month, Iyar. They should then eat the Passover lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They should break no bone of the lamb nor leave any of its meat by morning. They must follow all the customs of Passover. But those who are ritually pure and not away on a journey must observe Passover on the regular day, or else suffer expulsion from the community of Israel, punishment for the sin of failing to present offerings to Jehovah at the proper time. Any alien residing among you may celebrate Jehovah's Passover, if he chooses to do so, but only according to the established procedures governing its observance. --- There will be a single set of rules and regulations that apply to both natives and foreign-born residents."
Notes
1. All the rules put out by Jehovah makes everything complicated, even the celebration of holidays. Moses is not able to figure out how ritually impure folks, those who have handled or been exposed to corpses, can observe Passover. The decision is above his pay grade, so he must, as he is wont, consult Jehovah, who apparently has the time and inclination to micro-manage every aspect of Israelite society. One wonders why Jehovah didn't address the ritually impure when he established Passover customs. Did he not foresee the potential problem? Or does he enjoy Moses having to run to him with every little thing?
2. Passover was and still is celebrated on 15th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, in March or April. It extends for seven days. (The holiday was celebrated for eight days during the Diaspora, the long period of Jewish exile, and is still so observed by many Jews living outside of modern Israel.) The holiday would begin at dusk on the 14th, as the new day, in Hebrew interpretation, commences at nightfall, not at day break. It is, therefore, not strictly accurate to refer to the beginning of the holiday as occurring at twilight, as many translations do. (While dusk begins after the sun has set, twilight generally refers to a period before as well as after the setting of the sun.)
Jehovah spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai in the first month of the second year after their exodus from Egypt. "Let the Israelites," he told him, "celebrate the Passover at the prescribed time, at dusk on the 14th day of this month, Nisan. --- And be sure to follow all the rules and regulations I have given you concerning the holiday."
Moses thus told the Israelites that they should celebrate Passover; they did so in the desert of Sinai at dusk on 14th day of Nisan, in accordance with all that Jehovah had commanded Moses. However, there were a certain number of people who were ritually impure due to their handling of corpses. They, therefore, did not celebrate Passover on that day, but came to see Aaron and Moses. They complained to Moses, "We are ritually impure because we have touched dead bodies, but why should that keep us from making offerings to Jehovah at the proper time with the rest of the people of Israel?"
Moses told them, "Wait until I can find out what Jehovah will decree concerning you."
Jehovah answered Moses: "Tell the Israelites that any of them, or their descendants, may still celebrate Passover even if they are ritually unclean due to exposure to a corpse, or if they are away on a journey. Such persons should observe it at dusk on the 15th day of the second month, Iyar. They should then eat the Passover lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They should break no bone of the lamb nor leave any of its meat by morning. They must follow all the customs of Passover. But those who are ritually pure and not away on a journey must observe Passover on the regular day, or else suffer expulsion from the community of Israel, punishment for the sin of failing to present offerings to Jehovah at the proper time. Any alien residing among you may celebrate Jehovah's Passover, if he chooses to do so, but only according to the established procedures governing its observance. --- There will be a single set of rules and regulations that apply to both natives and foreign-born residents."
Notes
1. All the rules put out by Jehovah makes everything complicated, even the celebration of holidays. Moses is not able to figure out how ritually impure folks, those who have handled or been exposed to corpses, can observe Passover. The decision is above his pay grade, so he must, as he is wont, consult Jehovah, who apparently has the time and inclination to micro-manage every aspect of Israelite society. One wonders why Jehovah didn't address the ritually impure when he established Passover customs. Did he not foresee the potential problem? Or does he enjoy Moses having to run to him with every little thing?
2. Passover was and still is celebrated on 15th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, in March or April. It extends for seven days. (The holiday was celebrated for eight days during the Diaspora, the long period of Jewish exile, and is still so observed by many Jews living outside of modern Israel.) The holiday would begin at dusk on the 14th, as the new day, in Hebrew interpretation, commences at nightfall, not at day break. It is, therefore, not strictly accurate to refer to the beginning of the holiday as occurring at twilight, as many translations do. (While dusk begins after the sun has set, twilight generally refers to a period before as well as after the setting of the sun.)
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