Bamidbar (Hebrew name of the Book of Numbers) 19:1-22:2
Haftarah (Conclusion) Judges 11:1-33
Torah & Haftarah Connection
The Connection is the struggle that the Israelites had with various people’s in the Land of Israel. In the Torah portion, it is with the Amorite peoples. In the Haftarah, it is the Israelites’ struggle with the Ammonites. The Ammonites came about as a result of Lot’s daughters each in turn over 2 nights, sleeping with him because after the destruction of S’dom and Ammorah, they thought there were no men to continue the human race.
The younger of Lot’s two daughters gave birth to a son called in Hebrew Ben-Ammi ‘son of the people of me’. Cf. Gen. 19:31-38. The Ammonites were enemies of Israel.
The various peoples in the land that would go from being Canaan to Yisrael, were not just idol worshipers. Most of these people groups – with the notable exception of the Kenites, descendants of Moshe’s father-in-law Yisro (‘Jethro’) Israel – cf. 1 Saml. 15 esp. – were totally morally bankrupt and degenerate.
These various people groups were a constant thorn in the side of my ancestors (meaning the Jewish people) because the Jewish People kept getting involved with them – and especially with their idols (!) and thus being dragged down. Rather than, raising up these people to recognize the LORD, and to conduct themselves accordingly.
Part of the great genius of the statutes that the LORD gives Israel is that a Torah statute (from the Hebrew ‘engrave’) sets parameters within which certain physical activities are permitted. This avoids the two extremes of complete Indulgence or complete abstinence – neither of which work. Cf. Paul writing to the Colossians about total abstinence not being effective. Cf. Col. 2:18-23. Cf. esp. Col. 2:8-9 when it comes to the tradition and philosophy, i.e., the love of wisdom, of men – rather focusing on the Mashiach Yeshua!
RCS (Renewed Covenant Scriptures) Connections with This Week’s Torah portion
According to Greek text sources of the RCS, there are 11 direct citations in the RCS. In particular, it should be noted that Hebrews draws from it five times; four of those are in Hebrews 9, twice in Hebrews 9:13. Cf. Heb. 9:19 and Heb. 3:8 from Num. 20:2-5.
The author of Hebrews 9 is emphasizing the superiority of the atonement of Yeshua as opposed to the ashes of the red heifer. (As we’ve pointed out previously; my guess is the author based on the highly sophisticated Greek and style of his argument, is probably Apollos rather than Paul).
As we’ve also previously pointed out; It is extremely important to keep the context and historical and cultural setting of Hebrews In mind. This is not ‘Jew Judaism inferior /Christian Christianity superior’. Rather, it is a letter addressed by a Jewish follower to other Jewish followers, whose steadfastness in Yeshua seemed to be weakening under increasing pressure.
Extremely extremely significant – Yeshua’s draws directly on Num. 21:9 in Yochanon (‘God is gracious’, ‘ John’s original Hebrew name) 3:14 . Here, Yeshua speaks with Nikdoman (‘Nicodemus’). Yeshua draws directly from the bronze serpent on a pole that was lifted up and when looked upon deeply and scrutinized closely by the Israelites, saved the lives of those dying from the plague of being bitten by fiery snakes. (The plague was sent by the LORD after another bout of complaints by the Israelites).
You also should very much note: Yochanon 3:14 is just two verses before Yochanon 3:16! Yeshua sees his atonement along the lines of what we see in the Torah; not, those of the pre- and post-Biblical pagan mystery religion cults!
Outline and Summary of the Chapters – Chapter 19
The Red Heifer
NOTE: a very key Torah concept is brought up, something originally found in and very much used in Vayikra (‘And Called’, the Hebrew name of Leviticus). As we point out much more in depth we hope in the audio, in Hebrew what is translated ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’ have much deeper and richer meanings!
These would be separate teachings in and of themselves. What is translated ‘clean’ more deeply means ‘absolutely pure and spiritually balanced, free, free to ascend the highest spiritual heights’. This is because there is no pollution or contamination that has one entangled.
‘Unclean’ in Hebrew means ‘pollution and contamination; loss of freedom, like an animal entangled in a net’.
In the RCS, the closest Greek word to the Hebrew ’clean’ is kathariso, found 68 times. For ‘unclean’ in Greek it is akathariso, ‘a’ meaning without kathariso is found 45 times. We should please note that these are significantly more uses than ‘lalein glossai‘, ‘speaking tongues’ (in Greek it is not ‘speaking in tongues’). Lalein glossai is only found about 16 times – and never taught by Yeshua! (Technical note: there is one reference to speaking tongues, it’s in the longer ending of Mark. However, due to the questionable authenticity of those verses, we don’t hold to the longer ending of Mark. If you do, so be it, we don’t judge you. We however as teachers are held to a higher standard Jacob, not James, 3:1).
A tremendous lesson for my very dear Christian brethren speaking the truth in love, would be this. Rather than pursuing things like the Festivals and Judaica – which Yeshua does absolutely no teaching about whatsoever for these things and Gentiles (!) – would be to understand and apply the Torah’s ethical & moral principles. Key concepts and principles and conduct and life lived accordingly, are what the Torah more deeply is really about! Cf. Mt .7:12.
The LORD reveals specific teaching on dealing with one who is polluted and contaminated and how they can become absolutely pure and spiritually balanced.
Please remember: as we hope we emphasize in the audio teaching, statutes are given by the LORD. Statutes do not need to be intellectually comprehensible.
Chapter 20
Miryam ‘Bitter’ dies. Miryam is the actual name of Yeshua’s mother. In Greek, it is Mariam to transliterate the Hebrew. Post-Biblically, the Early Gentile fathers recast her as ‘Mary’, in order to hide and obfuscate her Jewish identity, Gentile leadership, very very unfortunately, did things like this in order to break away from the Hebrew and Jewish basis of things!
The Israelites protest again about the lack of water.
The LORD tells Moshe as an imperative, to take his staff and gather together the assembly and Moshe and Aaron. Moshe is told to speak to the Rock and it would bring forth water.
This is one of the very very few times Moshe’s humanity gets the better of him. Rather than speaking to the Rock Moshe strikes it, in Hebrew, literally ‘times’, meaning not only did Moshe not speak to the Rock as instructed. Moshe not only struck it, he struck the Rock ‘times’, i.e., more than once!
Moshe will not now lead the congregation of Israel to the Land that the LORD has given over to Israel.
RCS Connection
In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul speaks about the Rock that followed the Israelites. Paul’s Greek specifically identifies the subject he’s referring to as the Rock is the Mashiach. It seems as though then if it was Mashiach that was struck by Moshe, that would also very much be a reason why Moshe was not allowed to see the Promised Land!
Again, Paul’s Greek is specific and it specifically identifies the subject that he’s talking about, i.e., the Rock was the Mashiach. This idea is obviously another discussion. In context Paul draws on this to warn the Corinthians – just as the Israelites who were displeasing to the LORD would be punished, the Corinthians should not think they have a license to do whatever they want with no consequences! Cf. esp. the second half of 1 Corinthians 11.
The Edomites do not allow the Israelites to pass through their territory even though the Israelites say they will take absolutely nothing from the land.
The LORD says Aharon will be gathered to his people, an Hebraic way of saying Aharon will die. Moshe is told in Hebrew in a form that it is something he is to actively do as an imperative, to strip off Aaron’s vestments and put them on Aaron’s son Elazar.
A Deeper Taste of Hebrew
God does not need someone in fancy or expensive clothes to serve Him. The special clothing is an outer symbol of the godly and very high spiritual character traits that are supposed to be inside the great high priest. These vestments being stripped off represent then that after the incident of the striking of the Rock, Aaron did not possess inwardly the qualities he should have. Aharon‘s ministry was symbolically now being transferred to Aharon‘s son. For followers, it’s not how big or fancy a building that they worship in that counts. What are the inner, godly and Mashiach-like character traits of leadership?
Are there words in their teaching and encouragement of real Biblical substance? Or, are they too simple and designed to appeal to the Self?
Aharon dies on top of Mount Hor. We should remember that any number of key events in the Bible take place on a mountaintop. Aharon dies and in Hebrew, the whole of the House of Israel mourns for him. This is another example of many many many (!) instances iIn the Bible, especially the Hebrew Bible, of ‘whole’. As we’ve pointed out a thousand and one times in our teaching – Greek is separation and compartmentalization rooted – Hebrew is wholeness, totality, connectedness, oneness rooted!
Cf. 1 Cor. 12:12-27. Paul speaks of one Body many members. It is the Body of Mashiach; not the bodies plural!
Chapter 21
A Canaanite king wars against Israel and takes a captive from it. Israel collectively speaks in the singular showing us once again the wholeness totality and oneness of Israel. Israel vows that if the LORD will deliver this people into. in Hebrew, literally ‘the hand of me’, i.e., Israel then ‘I’ – not ‘we’,- will devote these enemy’s cities for a consecration by destruction for the LORD.
A Deeper Taste of the Hebrew
The misconstruing of ‘devoted to a ban or destruction for the LORD’ , was one of the things that led me into Bible teaching ministry. An old-time Country radio preacher who is much beloved said that the Old Testament ends in a ‘curse’. Virtually every word this very dear brother said was incorrect! For one thing – the Greek translation of the Bible ends with Malachi. The order of the Hebrew Bible, however, which is the order Yeshua refers to himself about cf. Lk. 24:44, ends on a very positive note at the end of 2 Chronicles. The word typically taken by Christians to mean ‘curse’ in Hebrew does not mean ‘curse’. It means something devoted to a ban or consecrated for destruction for the LORD.
This idea is found earlier in the Torah in Vayikra, ‘And Called’, the Hebrew name of Leviticus, and is also found in Joshua 7.
The people murmur once again against Moshe. The LORD sends fiery serpents to bite the people and many die. The People admit they have sinned against the LORD and Moshe. Paro (‘Open’) Pharaoh at one point said the same thing; but he didn’t mean it – but the Israelites did!and
In Hebrew, Moshe acts upon himself with intensity to pray, in this instance meaning to intercede, for the People. Please be sure to see our audio and written teaching on Biblically-based prayer, in the 5th of our 8 windows. (You are currently in our second window. You can reach our window on Prayer by scrolling down until you reach it. Or you can return to the Teaching page and scroll down to it. Then simply click or tap the window title or picture to open it).
Please see above on the RCS connections regarding the significance of what the LORD tells Moshe to do to remedy the plague of the biting of the fiery serpents, from which the Israelites are dying.
A Deeper Taste of the Hebrew
In Num. 21:9, the Hebrew is not merely to ‘look’ at the fiery serpent on the pole; but rather, to ‘look deeply upon, scrutinize closely’. This exact same idea is used by Yeshua when he teaches that no one who puts their hand to the plow and looks back, is fit for the Kingdom! Our wonderful Mashiach Yeshua is not speaking about someone who merely glances over their shoulder let’s say; but rather, closely or deeply looks back and scrutinizes closely what is behind.
With the coming of the Kingdom by Yeshua, there can be not only no going back, one who closely scrutinizes what they left behind is not fit then for the Kingdom! There is only one direction – our focus must be on what lies ahead – not, what was behind us!
There’s a reference to the Book of the Wars of the LORD, but that book has not been preserved for us. Paul makes reference to something else he wrote to the Corinthians and apparently that was not under Ruach Hakodesh (original Hebrew name of the Holy Spirit) inspiration, as that letter is not preserved for us.
Israel continues to battle against the various peoples that oppose them. Og the king of Bashan and his entire people go out to battle Israel. The LORD tells Moshe not to fear him and that he and his entire people and his land, the LORD has given into the hand of Israel!
Mussar – Moral & Ethical Teaching and Discipline
As it says, to whom much is given much is expected. Even Moshe and Aharon could not let what they had to put up with with my ancestors (meaning the Jewish People), get to them. They did something – in front of the People – that did not sanctify the LORD. As a result, they were not allowed to lead the People and enter into the Land of Israel.
Followers, speaking the truth in love, unfortunately seem to take ‘everything is under the blood’ as though everything Is forgiven, meaning there are no consequences for our actions, nor do we have to give an account for them. What we learned this week should remind us otherwise. In the second half of 1 Corinthians 11, we see the consequences for followers who treated something of extreme holiness – the calling to mind with affection leading to action, more deeply in Hebrew what Christians called Communion, for those who took the Calling To Mind – as an ordinary meal.
Inadvertent sin is covered if we confess it. ’Confess’ in Greek literally means to say the same thing. In Hebrew, it means to acknowledge ownership of something. If we acknowledge ownership of our sin then forgiveness by God is quick! Cf. 1 Yochanon 1:8-10, v.9, taken from Mishle, the Hebrew name of Proverbs 28:13. Being ‘under the blood’ does not mean that now what we do has no consequences or that we never have to give an answer for it, cf. 2 Cor. 5:10. Especially for those who more directly serve the LORD and who are called to a higher standard cf. Jacob (not ‘James’) 3:1, Heb. 13:7, v.17.
A Little Strengthening & Encouragement
In Bamidbar 21, we see that the Israelites murmured against the LORD and against Moshe. The LORD sent fiery snakes to bite the Israelites, and as a result, many were dying. They asked Moshe to intercede in prayer for them. Though they had demonstrated a lack of steadfastness when it came to their physical conditions, the Israelites demonstrated steadfastness that Moshe could intervene between them and the LORD. The LORD told Moshe what to do to remedy the situation and what to tell the Israelites to do.
The Israelites did not murmur about the remedy, but rather, they had steadfast trustworthiness that they would stop dying – and they did!
No matter how difficult the situation let us be strengthened in our steadfastness that through Yeshua, our Wonderful LORD has provided a way to save us. We just need to be strengthened and encouraged to scrutinize and look closely at the work that was done through and by Yeshua, when he was lifted up on our behalf! Cf. Yochanon 3:14.