B’midbar (In the Desert) Num./B’midbar 1:1-4:20
B’midbar (In the Desert) Numbers/B’midbar 1:1-4:20
Haftorah Reading: Hosea 1:10-2:20
Messianic Scripture Luke 2:1-7, I Cor. 12:12-31
Today we begin the fourth book of the Torah. In English it is named Numbers. This English name has no connection to the Hebrew name of this book, B’midbar, or “In the Desert.” Having said that it is easy to understand the English choice of Numbers. The book begins with G-d speaking to Moshe and telling him to take a census of the people.
T’rumah (Contribution) Exodus (Sh’mot) 25:1-27:19
Torah Portion: T’rumah (Contribution) Exodus (Sh’mot) 25:1-27:19
Haftorah Reading: I Kings 5:26-6:13
Tonight, we begin a series of four Torah portions that discuss the building of the Mishkan or Tabernacle and all of the items included in that construction. When Israel came into the Land their Tabernacle was set up in Shiloh and remained there for 369 years until Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem.
Our portion begins with G-d speaking to Moshe, instructing him to take a contribution from the people to provide all the materials needed in the construction project. Later in Sh’mot/Exodus 35:21-29 we read where both men and women were included in this contribution. This makes the point that this was shared by everyone, all the people of Israel, not just a few. Everyone had a part in the building of the Mishkan.
T’rumah(Offering) Exodus(Sh’mot) 25:1-27:19
Torah Portion: T’rumah(Offering) Exodus(Sh’mot) 25:1-27:19
Haftorah Reading: I Kings 5:26-6:13
This week we read the Torah section covering the accumulation of items to be used in the building of the Mishkan or Tabernacle. I would like to start with the Hebrew meaning of two words we will see in this Torah portion. I believe this will give us a more complete understanding of what is being said to us.
Naso(Lift) Numbers (B’Midbar) 4-7
Torah Portion Naso(Lift) Numbers (B’Midbar) 4-7
Torah Portion: B’Midbar(In the Desert) B’Midbar or Numbers 1-4
Torah Portion: B’Midbar(In the Desert) Numbers 1-4
Haftorah Reading: Hosea 1:10-2:20
Tonight we begin the fourth book of the Torah. This book will take us up to the entry into the Land 40 years later. Here in our portion we see G-d getting the people ready to begin their desert journey. Before I get to my question of the week I would like to lay out a few spiritual principles that I think will speak to us.
T’rumah (Donation) Sh’mot Exodus 25-27
Torah Portion: T’rumah (Donation) Sh’mot Exodus 25-27
HafTorah: I Kings 5:26-6:13
This week we read the Torah section named T’rumah or donations in English. This portion begins with the instructions for gathering the materials and building the Mishkan/Tabernacle in the wilderness. An interesting fact, in the book of Sh’mot/Exodus 40 % of the book is talking about this process and the end results. That gives us some idea of the importance of what we read when we study the Mishkan.
Beha’alotcha (He Lifted Up) (Numbers) B’Midbar 8-12
Torah Portion: Beha’alotcha(He Lifted Up) (Numbers) B’Midbar 8-12
Haftorah Reading: Zechariah 2:14-4:7
This Torah section begins with the lighting of the Menorah in the Mishkan/Tabernacle for the first time. In the first three verses we read where G-d tells Moshe to relate to Aaron the instructions on the process he was to follow. There are a couple of interesting things that stand out in these verses. In Numbers 8:2 we read in English, “When you light.” The actual Hebrew word means, “When you lift up.” Here we get an idea of what the real purpose of the candles was. The Menorah symbolizes among other things, the light of G-d, the way to the Father. So we could see these verses as saying, “Lift up the light of the Father that people can find their spiritual way, that we can find our way in this world.” Really, here the words have much more to say to us than just a physical act of lighting the candles, but of lighting our way by being lifted up. It might give us a deeper understanding of John 12:32 where we read the words of Yeshua being lifted up and drawing people to Him. The ultimate purpose of that lifting up is that we should be filled with a longing to satisfy our Father. We look for ways to please Him and our own desires pale in comparison. This gives us a deeper understanding of the verses in Numbers 9:6-12 which covers the request of the men who missed Pesach/Passover because they were unclean from being in contact with a dead body. They came to Moshe and asked why they could not have the opportunity to fulfill Passover. Moshe went to G-d and G-d issued an additional commandment that allowed these men to celebrate Passover in the second month since they missed the appointed time in the first month.