Bamidbar בְּמִדְבַּר - In the Wilderness
Numbers 1:1-4:20
Reading #5 - Numbers 3:14–39
My Thoughts:
We read today how the Levites and their families camped all around the Tabernacle. They “surrounded” the Tabernacle. It is so interesting how Hashem would determine this. Don’t you like to be “surrounded” by friends? Or have you ever physically gotten in the “space” of someone you love to protect them? It’s not like Hashem needed protection, but what He did want was serious, committed, holy people encompassing His dwelling place. The rest of His people were neatly situated around the Levites. Hashem has order and meaning to everything He does. And so should we.
Challenge:
How neatly ordered are the tribes situated in relation to the Tabernacle. Hashem has order and distinction to keep things going right. And in our lives it should be the same. Is your life well ordered, and organized? Or is it chaotic? Do you live off the “seat of your pants” or do you make deliberate plans? I know in my life, I like things to be in order. It feels safer and more peaceful. When my life is disorderly it feels very stressful. It’s like when you bring a new baby home and you don’t know what to expect. Your whole life may be turned upside down for a while until you set a schedule. It may feel pretty tiring and stressful until this happens. As it is in our everyday life. We need order, purpose and a schedule. Of course we can be flexible, but always having a plan is important. If you feel stressed, look at your life and see if you can organize it better. It will bring peace. And of course ask the Father for His help.
Reading #5 - Numbers 3:14–39
3:4 Hashem spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 “Count the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families. You shall count every male from a month old and upward.”
16 Moses counted them according to Hashem’s word, as he was commanded.
17 These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
18 These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei.
19 The sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20 The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi.
These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses.
21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites. These are the families of the Gershonites.
22 Those who were counted of them, according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, even those who were counted of them were seven thousand five hundred.
23 The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.
24 Eliasaph the son of Lael shall be the prince of the fathers’ house of the Gershonites. 25 The duty of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting shall be the tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting, 26 the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, and its cords for all of its service.
27 Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites. These are the families of the Kohathites. 28 According to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred keeping the requirements of the sanctuary.
29 The families of the sons of Kohath shall encamp on the south side of the tabernacle. 30 The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 Their duty shall be the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, the screen, and all its service. 32 Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, with the oversight of those who keep the requirements of the sanctuary.
33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites. These are the families of Merari. 34 Those who were counted of them, according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, were six thousand two hundred.
35 The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They shall encamp on the north side of the tabernacle. 36 The appointed duty of the sons of Merari shall be the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its instruments, all its service, 37 the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, and their cords.
38 Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moses, with Aaron and his sons, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary for the duty of the children of Israel. The outsider who comes near shall be put to death. 39 All who were counted of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the commandment of Hashem, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.
