(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.)
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Consecration of the Levites
(Book of Numbers 8:5 - 8:26)
Jehovah commanded Moses, "Separate the Levites from the rest of the people of Israel and make them ritually pure. To do so, sprinkle purifying water on them, then have them shave all the hair from their bodies, and wash their clothes, thus cleansing themselves. Have them bring a young bull and a grain offering of choice flour mixed with olive oil, as well as a second bull for a sin offering. Assemble the entire community of Israel and bring the Levites to the entrance to the Tabernacle. When the Levites are brought before the altar, it is the Israelite people who will sacrifice them: Aaron will present the Levites as an elevated offering from the Israelites at the altar of Jehovah, that they may be prepared to serve him. The Levites will then seize the bulls, designating one as the sin offering and the other as a burnt offering of atonement to Jehovah. The Levites will stand before Aaron and his sons and be presented by them as an elevated offering to Jehovah. In this way the Levites will be set apart from the other people of Israel. They will be mine!
"After the Levites have been purified and presented as an elevated offering, they will then minister in the Tabernacle. They have thus been given totally to me, for I have claimed the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn sons of Israel. All the firstborn of the Israelites, whether human or animal, belong to me. I have laid claim to them ever since I struck down all the firstborn of the Egyptians. But I accept the Levites in place of the firstborn sons of Israel. From among the people of Israel, I have assigned the Levites to be the assistants to Aaron and his sons, to serve in the Tabernacle on behalf of the Israelite people and to make the requisite sacrifices of atonement so that no affliction may befall the Israelites when they approach the Sanctum."
And so Moses, Aaron, and the entire community of Israel dealt in this way with the Levites, following meticulously the instructions concerning them Jehovah gave to Moses. The Levites cleaned themselves and washed their clothes. Aaron presented them as an elevated offering before the altar and made sacrifices of atonement to purify them. Afterwards, the Levites entered service in the Tabernacle and assisted Aaron and his sons. What Jehovah had instructed Moses concerning the Levites was indeed accomplished.
Jehovah also instructed Moses, "This shall apply to the Levites: when they have reached the age of 25, they will enter into service at the Tabernacle, but when they are 50, they must retire from active duty and minister no more. After retirement, they may continue to help their fellow Levites with their work in the Tabernacle, but they may no longer officiate themselves. This restriction must be observed when assigning duties to the Levites."
Notes
1. Remembering from the census that Levite males numbered 22,000, it beggars belief that the described ceremony could have taken place. It seems logistically impossible. For instance, the Levites are instructed to stand before Aaron. Are 22,000 men to stand before Aaron? Possibly a few dozen Levites could have been consecrated in a day, but, at that rate, it would have taken a year to consecrate them all. A larger batch could have been handled, maybe, but how many people can squeeze into the Tabernacle compound? And how would the Israelites have had sufficient livestock to accommodate all those sacrifices? Over and over, we see that the numbers in Numbers are preposterously inflated.
2. Bathing, shaving the body, and washing the clothes symbolize the act of spiritual purification. Linking physical cleanliness and spiritual purity, a natural connection, was not unique to the Hebrews: for instance, the custom of priests regularly shaving all the hair from their bodies was practiced by the Egyptians. There are, however, just as many cases in which holiness is connected with a rejection of physical needs and hygiene and a contempt for appearances, not washing, not wearing clean clothes, not shaving or cutting the hair. We have just seen that the Nazirites were forbidden to cut their hair.
3. We are reminded that Jehovah will strike down or afflict with a plague anyone who approaches his Inner Sanctum, where the Chest of Sacred Records is housed and where his voice speaks to Moses. But making certain sacrifices will apparently protect the people from this fate. Is Jehovah ever vigilant and zaps any intruder who appears, or is some automatic mechanism at work here? Is the Chest of Sacred Records, which, for what we know of it, is only a wood box covered with gold, somehow dangerous? If so, how would a priest be shielded from its lethal power merely by making a sacrifice? Why, if Jehovah were God and he wanted to protect his space, would he not simply throw a little force field or something around the Inner Sanctum and let it go at that? Or is this all an empty threat, like a "Violators Will Be Prosecuted" sign?
4. A Levite would begin officiating at the age of 25, apparently after he had acquired sufficient experience and maturity. A retirement age of 50 is very reasonable, one of the most credible numbers in Numbers. By 50, most Levites would be dead. People really didn't live to be a hundred-and-something years old in those days; the average life span was probably about 25 years, and, for those who had reached adulthood, life expectancy would only have been around 45 years. The duties involving slaughtering livestock may have been too demanding for an older man, and a senior might have a senior moment and forget some of the finer points of a ceremony and end up being struck down dead by Jehovah. Apparently though, this mandatory retirement age did not apply to Aaron, who was supposedly already in his 80’s. Was he grandfathered in? (In the movies the biblical high priest is invariably a white-bearded ancient -- not correct, it seems.)
Jehovah commanded Moses, "Separate the Levites from the rest of the people of Israel and make them ritually pure. To do so, sprinkle purifying water on them, then have them shave all the hair from their bodies, and wash their clothes, thus cleansing themselves. Have them bring a young bull and a grain offering of choice flour mixed with olive oil, as well as a second bull for a sin offering. Assemble the entire community of Israel and bring the Levites to the entrance to the Tabernacle. When the Levites are brought before the altar, it is the Israelite people who will sacrifice them: Aaron will present the Levites as an elevated offering from the Israelites at the altar of Jehovah, that they may be prepared to serve him. The Levites will then seize the bulls, designating one as the sin offering and the other as a burnt offering of atonement to Jehovah. The Levites will stand before Aaron and his sons and be presented by them as an elevated offering to Jehovah. In this way the Levites will be set apart from the other people of Israel. They will be mine!
"After the Levites have been purified and presented as an elevated offering, they will then minister in the Tabernacle. They have thus been given totally to me, for I have claimed the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn sons of Israel. All the firstborn of the Israelites, whether human or animal, belong to me. I have laid claim to them ever since I struck down all the firstborn of the Egyptians. But I accept the Levites in place of the firstborn sons of Israel. From among the people of Israel, I have assigned the Levites to be the assistants to Aaron and his sons, to serve in the Tabernacle on behalf of the Israelite people and to make the requisite sacrifices of atonement so that no affliction may befall the Israelites when they approach the Sanctum."
And so Moses, Aaron, and the entire community of Israel dealt in this way with the Levites, following meticulously the instructions concerning them Jehovah gave to Moses. The Levites cleaned themselves and washed their clothes. Aaron presented them as an elevated offering before the altar and made sacrifices of atonement to purify them. Afterwards, the Levites entered service in the Tabernacle and assisted Aaron and his sons. What Jehovah had instructed Moses concerning the Levites was indeed accomplished.
Jehovah also instructed Moses, "This shall apply to the Levites: when they have reached the age of 25, they will enter into service at the Tabernacle, but when they are 50, they must retire from active duty and minister no more. After retirement, they may continue to help their fellow Levites with their work in the Tabernacle, but they may no longer officiate themselves. This restriction must be observed when assigning duties to the Levites."
Notes
1. Remembering from the census that Levite males numbered 22,000, it beggars belief that the described ceremony could have taken place. It seems logistically impossible. For instance, the Levites are instructed to stand before Aaron. Are 22,000 men to stand before Aaron? Possibly a few dozen Levites could have been consecrated in a day, but, at that rate, it would have taken a year to consecrate them all. A larger batch could have been handled, maybe, but how many people can squeeze into the Tabernacle compound? And how would the Israelites have had sufficient livestock to accommodate all those sacrifices? Over and over, we see that the numbers in Numbers are preposterously inflated.
2. Bathing, shaving the body, and washing the clothes symbolize the act of spiritual purification. Linking physical cleanliness and spiritual purity, a natural connection, was not unique to the Hebrews: for instance, the custom of priests regularly shaving all the hair from their bodies was practiced by the Egyptians. There are, however, just as many cases in which holiness is connected with a rejection of physical needs and hygiene and a contempt for appearances, not washing, not wearing clean clothes, not shaving or cutting the hair. We have just seen that the Nazirites were forbidden to cut their hair.
3. We are reminded that Jehovah will strike down or afflict with a plague anyone who approaches his Inner Sanctum, where the Chest of Sacred Records is housed and where his voice speaks to Moses. But making certain sacrifices will apparently protect the people from this fate. Is Jehovah ever vigilant and zaps any intruder who appears, or is some automatic mechanism at work here? Is the Chest of Sacred Records, which, for what we know of it, is only a wood box covered with gold, somehow dangerous? If so, how would a priest be shielded from its lethal power merely by making a sacrifice? Why, if Jehovah were God and he wanted to protect his space, would he not simply throw a little force field or something around the Inner Sanctum and let it go at that? Or is this all an empty threat, like a "Violators Will Be Prosecuted" sign?
4. A Levite would begin officiating at the age of 25, apparently after he had acquired sufficient experience and maturity. A retirement age of 50 is very reasonable, one of the most credible numbers in Numbers. By 50, most Levites would be dead. People really didn't live to be a hundred-and-something years old in those days; the average life span was probably about 25 years, and, for those who had reached adulthood, life expectancy would only have been around 45 years. The duties involving slaughtering livestock may have been too demanding for an older man, and a senior might have a senior moment and forget some of the finer points of a ceremony and end up being struck down dead by Jehovah. Apparently though, this mandatory retirement age did not apply to Aaron, who was supposedly already in his 80’s. Was he grandfathered in? (In the movies the biblical high priest is invariably a white-bearded ancient -- not correct, it seems.)
Installation of the Menorah
(Book of Numbers 8:1 - 8:4)
Jehovah told Moses to instruct Aaron, "When you set up the lamps, make sure they illuminate the area in front of the Menorah."
Aaron complied with what Jehovah had told Moses; he installed the lamps so that they would cast their light in front of the Menorah. The Menorah had been crafted entirely of beaten gold, from its base to its decorative elements shaped like blossoms. It had been made in strict accordance to a design shown to Moses by Jehovah.
Notes
1. It must be remembered that the Menorah, a part of the sacred furnishings of the Sanctum, was a stand for oil lamps, for candles would not be invented for many centuries. With its 7 stems, it was different from the familiar Chanukah Menorah, which has 9. The lamps must have had shades or reflectors that could be tilted or adjusted to direct the light of the flames.
2. Jehovah, the ultimate micro-manager, has not only designed the Menorah and its decorative motifs, but has to tell Aaron exactly how to set it up, as if the high priest couldn’t figure that out for himself. What's important is that the people be assured that everything the priests do, down to the smallest detail, the most insignificant act, is in exact conformity to the expressed orders of Jehovah.
Jehovah told Moses to instruct Aaron, "When you set up the lamps, make sure they illuminate the area in front of the Menorah."
Aaron complied with what Jehovah had told Moses; he installed the lamps so that they would cast their light in front of the Menorah. The Menorah had been crafted entirely of beaten gold, from its base to its decorative elements shaped like blossoms. It had been made in strict accordance to a design shown to Moses by Jehovah.
Notes
1. It must be remembered that the Menorah, a part of the sacred furnishings of the Sanctum, was a stand for oil lamps, for candles would not be invented for many centuries. With its 7 stems, it was different from the familiar Chanukah Menorah, which has 9. The lamps must have had shades or reflectors that could be tilted or adjusted to direct the light of the flames.
2. Jehovah, the ultimate micro-manager, has not only designed the Menorah and its decorative motifs, but has to tell Aaron exactly how to set it up, as if the high priest couldn’t figure that out for himself. What's important is that the people be assured that everything the priests do, down to the smallest detail, the most insignificant act, is in exact conformity to the expressed orders of Jehovah.
Dedication Offerings
(Book of Numbers 7:1- 7:89)
Moses had completed the erection of the Tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings, as well as the altar and all its utensils. At that time, the leaders of Israel, the clan heads and tribal chiefs, who were in charge of those who had been enrolled in the census, came with donations. These consisted of 6 large wagons pulled by 12 oxen. (There was a wagon for every two tribal chiefs and an ox for each.) These they presented at the Tabernacle.
Jehovah told Moses, "Accept the wagons and oxen from them so that they can be used in the transportation of the Tabernacle. Distribute them among the Levites for their required work."
And so Moses accepted the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. Two of the wagons and four of the oxen were given to the Gershonites for their use, while the other four wagons and eight oxen were given to the Merarites who were under the supervision of Ithamar, the son the Aaron, the high priest. The Kohathites, however, were not given any, since the sacred objects they were in charge of transporting could be carried by hand.
When the altar was anointed, the leaders brought offerings to celebrate its dedication. These they presented before the altar. Jehovah instructed Moses, "Each day let one tribal chief present his offerings for the dedication of the altar."
The one who brought his offerings on the first day was Nahshon, the son of Amminabab, representing the Tribe of Judah. These offerings consisted of a silver plate weighing 130 shekels, a silver basin weighing 70 shekels, (according to the weights employed by the priests), both of them filled with choice flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, one golden dish full of incense weighing 10 shekels, one young bull, one ram, and one yearling male lamb for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, 2 oxen, 5 rams, 5 male goats, and 5 yearling male lambs for a peace offering. Such were the offerings of Nahshon, the son of Amminabab.
[Identical offerings were made by:]
Nethanel, the son of Zuar, chief of the Tribe of Issachar on the 2nd day
Eliab, the son of Helon, chief of the Tribe of Zebulun, on the 3rd day
Elizur, the son of Shedeur, chief of the Tribe of Reuben, on the 4th day
Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai, chief of the Tribe of Simeon, on the 5th day
Eliasaph, the son of Deuel, chief of the Tribe of Gad, on the 6th day
Elishama, the son Ammihud, chief of the Tribe of Ephraim, on the 7th day
Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur, chief of the Tribe of Manasseh, on the 8th day
Abidan, the son of Gideoni, chief of the Tribe of Benjamin, on the 9th day
Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai, chief of the Tribe of Dan, on the 10th day
Pagiel, the son of Okran, chief of the Tribe of Asher, on the 11th day
Ahira, the son of Enan, chief of the Tribe of Naphtali, on the 12th day
In total, the offerings made by the Israelite tribal chiefs for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed were as follows: 12 silver plates, 12 silver basins, and 12 gold dishes. Each silver plate weighed 130 shekels, each silver basin, 70 shekels. Together, the silver weighed 2400 shekels (according to the weights used by the priests). The 12 gold dishes containing incense weighed 10 shekels each (according to the weights used by the priests). Together the gold weighed 120 shekels. The total number of sacrificial animals for the burnt offering was 12 young bulls, 12 rams, 12 yearling male lambs, with the accompanying grain offerings. For the sin offering, 12 goats were sacrificed. For the peace offering the total number of animals sacrificed were 24 oxen, 60 rams, 60 male goats, and 60 yearling male lambs. These were the offerings made for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.
When Moses entered the Sanctum to commune with Jehovah, he would hear his voice speaking from between the images of the Cherubim situated on the lid of the Chest of Sacred Records. It was in this way that Jehovah communicated with him.
Notes
1. The text is here condensed to eliminate redundancies. One feels it is not necessary to bore the reader by listing the identical offerings made by each tribal chief.
2. Judah's place of privilege among the sons of Israel allows his tribe to make the first offering. Each tribe, regardless of its population and wealth, are required to make the same contribution and bear an equal burden. It is similar to the United States in that each state is given equal power in the Senate with two Senators each.
3. With more than 20 animals being slaughtered on the altar every day for 12 days, the Tabernacle dedication would have been a ceremony of butchery and overwhelming blood and stench. But, to the ancient Israelites, such things would have been evocative of holiness. Also, this prodigal animal slaughter illustrates how rich in livestock were the Israelites, who were previously depicted as wandering, starving in the desert.
4. The biblical shekel, a measure of weight, is thought to be about .4 ounces. Therefore, 10 shekels = 1/4 pound, 30 shekels = 3/4 pounds, 70 shekels = 1 3/4 pounds, 120 shekels = 3 pounds, 130 shekels = 3 1/4 pounds, 1300 shekels = 32 1/3 pounds, 2400 shekels = 60 1/3 pounds. Silver (not actually in coinage) was used as a barter commodity in this part of the world, but probably beginning at a date later than the time of the Exodus. The weights used by the Hebrew priests would have been somewhat different than those used by merchants, thus the repeated stipulations in the texts that the Tabernacle weights are to be employed. In Egypt, silver, owing to its scarcity, once had a value greater than gold, but, by the 2nd millennium B.C., it was considered worth about half as much as gold.
5. Jehovah communicates to Moses from the Inner Sanctum, his voice coming from the space between the golden images of the winged Cherubim on the lid (Judgment Seat) of the Chest of Sacred Records (often called the Ark of the Covenant). There was, then, no telepathic rapport between Moses and Jehovah. Moses could not call upon Jehovah wherever he happened to be, but had to visit him in the Inner Sanctum of the Tabernacle. One assumes that Moses spoke with a disembodied, spirit voice. Some, though, have intriguingly suggested that the Chest of Sacred Records contained a communication device, a receiver and a speaker by which a voice could have been transmitted and generated electronically. If this is true, the memory of such a device was lost, or conveniently forgotten. If it was a disembodied voice, why does it speak only at a certain location? For those who have had commerce with spirits have found that being in a specific place is not necessary for communication with them. Joan of Arc, for instance, heard her voices even in prison. Others have had their prayers answered regardless of where they happened to be. Spirit is not bound in the material world. There is much similarity between the voice of the Judgment Seat and the voices that reportedly emanated from the statues of the pagan gods and goddesses in their temples. There was always the idea that to speak to a god, you had to visit his temple and evoke him in spoken prayer and perhaps be responded to, audibly. This was the original rational for building temples and statues of divinities. But since the divinities were not always responsive to the lay individual, the concept of the priest as intermediary was born.
Moses had completed the erection of the Tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings, as well as the altar and all its utensils. At that time, the leaders of Israel, the clan heads and tribal chiefs, who were in charge of those who had been enrolled in the census, came with donations. These consisted of 6 large wagons pulled by 12 oxen. (There was a wagon for every two tribal chiefs and an ox for each.) These they presented at the Tabernacle.
Jehovah told Moses, "Accept the wagons and oxen from them so that they can be used in the transportation of the Tabernacle. Distribute them among the Levites for their required work."
And so Moses accepted the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. Two of the wagons and four of the oxen were given to the Gershonites for their use, while the other four wagons and eight oxen were given to the Merarites who were under the supervision of Ithamar, the son the Aaron, the high priest. The Kohathites, however, were not given any, since the sacred objects they were in charge of transporting could be carried by hand.
When the altar was anointed, the leaders brought offerings to celebrate its dedication. These they presented before the altar. Jehovah instructed Moses, "Each day let one tribal chief present his offerings for the dedication of the altar."
The one who brought his offerings on the first day was Nahshon, the son of Amminabab, representing the Tribe of Judah. These offerings consisted of a silver plate weighing 130 shekels, a silver basin weighing 70 shekels, (according to the weights employed by the priests), both of them filled with choice flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, one golden dish full of incense weighing 10 shekels, one young bull, one ram, and one yearling male lamb for a burnt offering, one male goat for a sin offering, 2 oxen, 5 rams, 5 male goats, and 5 yearling male lambs for a peace offering. Such were the offerings of Nahshon, the son of Amminabab.
[Identical offerings were made by:]
Nethanel, the son of Zuar, chief of the Tribe of Issachar on the 2nd day
Eliab, the son of Helon, chief of the Tribe of Zebulun, on the 3rd day
Elizur, the son of Shedeur, chief of the Tribe of Reuben, on the 4th day
Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai, chief of the Tribe of Simeon, on the 5th day
Eliasaph, the son of Deuel, chief of the Tribe of Gad, on the 6th day
Elishama, the son Ammihud, chief of the Tribe of Ephraim, on the 7th day
Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur, chief of the Tribe of Manasseh, on the 8th day
Abidan, the son of Gideoni, chief of the Tribe of Benjamin, on the 9th day
Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai, chief of the Tribe of Dan, on the 10th day
Pagiel, the son of Okran, chief of the Tribe of Asher, on the 11th day
Ahira, the son of Enan, chief of the Tribe of Naphtali, on the 12th day
In total, the offerings made by the Israelite tribal chiefs for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed were as follows: 12 silver plates, 12 silver basins, and 12 gold dishes. Each silver plate weighed 130 shekels, each silver basin, 70 shekels. Together, the silver weighed 2400 shekels (according to the weights used by the priests). The 12 gold dishes containing incense weighed 10 shekels each (according to the weights used by the priests). Together the gold weighed 120 shekels. The total number of sacrificial animals for the burnt offering was 12 young bulls, 12 rams, 12 yearling male lambs, with the accompanying grain offerings. For the sin offering, 12 goats were sacrificed. For the peace offering the total number of animals sacrificed were 24 oxen, 60 rams, 60 male goats, and 60 yearling male lambs. These were the offerings made for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.
When Moses entered the Sanctum to commune with Jehovah, he would hear his voice speaking from between the images of the Cherubim situated on the lid of the Chest of Sacred Records. It was in this way that Jehovah communicated with him.
Notes
1. The text is here condensed to eliminate redundancies. One feels it is not necessary to bore the reader by listing the identical offerings made by each tribal chief.
2. Judah's place of privilege among the sons of Israel allows his tribe to make the first offering. Each tribe, regardless of its population and wealth, are required to make the same contribution and bear an equal burden. It is similar to the United States in that each state is given equal power in the Senate with two Senators each.
3. With more than 20 animals being slaughtered on the altar every day for 12 days, the Tabernacle dedication would have been a ceremony of butchery and overwhelming blood and stench. But, to the ancient Israelites, such things would have been evocative of holiness. Also, this prodigal animal slaughter illustrates how rich in livestock were the Israelites, who were previously depicted as wandering, starving in the desert.
4. The biblical shekel, a measure of weight, is thought to be about .4 ounces. Therefore, 10 shekels = 1/4 pound, 30 shekels = 3/4 pounds, 70 shekels = 1 3/4 pounds, 120 shekels = 3 pounds, 130 shekels = 3 1/4 pounds, 1300 shekels = 32 1/3 pounds, 2400 shekels = 60 1/3 pounds. Silver (not actually in coinage) was used as a barter commodity in this part of the world, but probably beginning at a date later than the time of the Exodus. The weights used by the Hebrew priests would have been somewhat different than those used by merchants, thus the repeated stipulations in the texts that the Tabernacle weights are to be employed. In Egypt, silver, owing to its scarcity, once had a value greater than gold, but, by the 2nd millennium B.C., it was considered worth about half as much as gold.
5. Jehovah communicates to Moses from the Inner Sanctum, his voice coming from the space between the golden images of the winged Cherubim on the lid (Judgment Seat) of the Chest of Sacred Records (often called the Ark of the Covenant). There was, then, no telepathic rapport between Moses and Jehovah. Moses could not call upon Jehovah wherever he happened to be, but had to visit him in the Inner Sanctum of the Tabernacle. One assumes that Moses spoke with a disembodied, spirit voice. Some, though, have intriguingly suggested that the Chest of Sacred Records contained a communication device, a receiver and a speaker by which a voice could have been transmitted and generated electronically. If this is true, the memory of such a device was lost, or conveniently forgotten. If it was a disembodied voice, why does it speak only at a certain location? For those who have had commerce with spirits have found that being in a specific place is not necessary for communication with them. Joan of Arc, for instance, heard her voices even in prison. Others have had their prayers answered regardless of where they happened to be. Spirit is not bound in the material world. There is much similarity between the voice of the Judgment Seat and the voices that reportedly emanated from the statues of the pagan gods and goddesses in their temples. There was always the idea that to speak to a god, you had to visit his temple and evoke him in spoken prayer and perhaps be responded to, audibly. This was the original rational for building temples and statues of divinities. But since the divinities were not always responsive to the lay individual, the concept of the priest as intermediary was born.
Benediction
(Book of Numbers 6:22 - 6:27)
Jehovah instructed Moses, "When Aaron and his descendants confer a blessing upon the Israelites, they should do so in the following manner, saying these words:
'May Jehovah bless you and protect you,
May Jehovah smile upon you and be gracious to you,
May Jehovah show you his favor and give you peace.'
“Whenever Aaron and his descendants bless the people in my name, I myself will bless them."
Notes
1. Benediction, conveying the blessing of the god has always been a function of the priesthood in most religions. The priest is an ordained intermediary, standing between man and god. Therefore, he is charged with conferring the blessings of the deity upon his worshipers. Religious people today still seek the affirmation of the blessing and prefer it to the preaching they probably need more.
2. This particularly blessing expresses what is desired most by Jehovah's worshipers, the favor of their god, security, and peace. Not included is prosperity or happiness, or the wish that the recipient of the blessing become good, loving, and wise, and worthy of Jehovah’s blessing, only that he may please Jehovah.
Jehovah instructed Moses, "When Aaron and his descendants confer a blessing upon the Israelites, they should do so in the following manner, saying these words:
'May Jehovah bless you and protect you,
May Jehovah smile upon you and be gracious to you,
May Jehovah show you his favor and give you peace.'
“Whenever Aaron and his descendants bless the people in my name, I myself will bless them."
Notes
1. Benediction, conveying the blessing of the god has always been a function of the priesthood in most religions. The priest is an ordained intermediary, standing between man and god. Therefore, he is charged with conferring the blessings of the deity upon his worshipers. Religious people today still seek the affirmation of the blessing and prefer it to the preaching they probably need more.
2. This particularly blessing expresses what is desired most by Jehovah's worshipers, the favor of their god, security, and peace. Not included is prosperity or happiness, or the wish that the recipient of the blessing become good, loving, and wise, and worthy of Jehovah’s blessing, only that he may please Jehovah.
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