Lesson&#3& Preparing&for&the&March& (4:&1& &6:&27)& Preparing)for)the)March) 1)

Transcription

1 Lesson&#3& Preparing&for&the&March& (4:&1& &6:&27)& Preparing)for)the)March) 1)

2 The$Israelites$le,$Egypt$in$1446$B.C.$a$frightened,$undisciplined$mob$of$exA slaves.$$as$we$entered$numbers$we$organized$the$mob,$coungng$them$by$ tribe,$clan$and$family,$and$we$arranged$the$603,550$men$and$their$families$ around$the$tabernacle$in$an$orderly$fashion,$with$the$pillar$of$cloud$and$fire the$physical$manifestagon$of$god hovering$above$the$holy$of$holies.$ What$might$otherwise$have$seemed$like$a$tedious$exercise$in$census$taking$ produced$an$extraordinary$result:$$by$the$gme$the$coungng$and$organizing$ was$completed,$every$israelite$knew$who$he$was,$where$he$belonged,$and$ what$he$was$supposed$to$do all$relagve$to$god.$ In$addiGon,$we$learned$that$an$aerial$view$of$the$newlyAorganized$camp,$as$ seen$through$a$chrisgan$interpretagve$lens,$may$have$looked$like$this,$a$ remarkable$foreshadowing$of$things$to$come:$ Preparing)for)the)March) 2)

3 West$ 186,400$ 108,100$ South$ Tabernacle$ 151,450$ 157,600$ North$ East$ Preparing)for)the)March) 3)

4 Preparing)for)the)March) 4)

5 The$journey$to$the$Promised$Land$will$be$arduous,$and$proper$ preparagon$for$the$project$is$essengal.$$the$journey$covers$ roughly$245$miles,$about$2a3$months$of$travel$gme$on$foot$for$a$ large$group$of$men,$women,$children$and$the$elderly:$$it$takes$ the$israelites$39$years!$$clearly,$they$will$meet$trouble$and$ difficulges$along$the$way:$$fires,$earthquakes,$enemy$a\acks,$ internal$dissension,$rebellion,$just$to$name$some$of$the$most$ obvious.$$$ PreparaGon$and$a$strict$set$of$rules$are$essenGal$if$the$Israelites$ are$to$survive$their$wilderness$trek$through$treacherous$physical,$ spiritual$and$psychological$terrain.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 5)

6 This$preparatory$secGon$of$Numbers$ consists$of$five$parts,$ending$with$a$ priestly$blessing $coda:$ 1. The$Levites $duges$on$breaking$ camp$(4:$1a49);$ 2. Expelling$ unclean $people$(5:$ 1A4);$ 3. RighGng$wrongs$(5:$5A10);$ 4. Resolving$suspected$adultery$(5:$ 11A31);$ 5. The$Nazirite$vow$(6:$1A21);$and$ Coda:$$the$priestly$blessing.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 6)

7 As$we$have$seen$in$our$ previous$studies$of$the$hebrew$ Scriptures,$the$carefullyA executed$architecture$of$each$ book$congnues$down$to$the$ smallest$structural$level.$$ Not$me.$$ I$like$that:$ $a\engon$to$detail,$ like$perfect$ grooming.) Preparing)for)the)March) 7)

8 Let s$look$at$ Part$1 $first:$ 1. The$Levites $duges$on$breaking$ camp$(4:$1a49);$ 2. Expelling$ unclean $people$(5:$ 1A4);$ 3. RighGng$wrongs$(5:$5A10).$ 4. Resolving$suspected$adultery$(5:$ 11A31);$ 5. The$Nazirite$vow$(6:$1A21);$and$ Coda:$$the$priestly$blessing.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 8)

9 Preparing)for)the)March) 9)

10 We$learned$in$Lesson$#2$that$Levi,$the$3 rd $ son$of$jacob$by$his$wife$leah,$had$three$ sons:$$gershon,$kohath$and$merari.$$these$ are$the$clans$of$the$levites,$and$each$clan$ has$specific$duges$in$regard$to$transporgng$ the$tabernacle.$$ Levi$ $Gershon$ $ $Libni$ $ $Shimei $ $$ $Kohath $ $$ $ $Amram$ $ $Izhar$ $ $Hebron$ $ $Uzziel$ $Merari$ $ $Mahli$ $ $Mushi$ Preparing)for)the)March) 10)

11 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: Take a census among the Levites of the Kohathites, by clans and ancestral houses, all between thirty and fifty years of age, who will join the personnel for doing tasks in the tent of meeting. This is the task of the Kohathites in the tent of meeting; the most sacred objects... (1: 1-4) Preparing)for)the)March) 11)

12 Only$Aaron$and$his$sons,$Eleazar$ and$ithamar,$may$enter$the$tent$ itself$and$prepare$the$argcles$for$ transport;$no$one$else$may$enter,$ on$pain$of$death.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 12)

13 Screening$ curtain$ In&breaking&camp,&Aaron& and&his&sons&shall&go&in& and&take&down&the& screening&curtain&and& cover&the&ark&of&the& covenant&with&it.&&over& these&they&shall&put&a& cover&of&yellowlorange& skin,&and&on&top&of&this& spread&an&alllviolet&cloth& and&put&the&poles&in& place. &&&& & & & &(4:$5A6)$$ Preparing)for)the)March) 13)

14 On&the&table&of&Presence& [Table$of$Showbread]$they& shall&spread&a&violet&cloth&and& put&on&it&the&plates&and&cups,& as&well&as&the&bowls&and& pitchers&for&libanons;&the& established&bread&offering& shall&remain&on&the&table.&& Over&these&they&shall&spread&a& scarlet&cloth&and&cover&it&with& a&covering&of&yellowlorange& skin,&and&put&the&poles&in& place. & & & && & & &(4:&7L8)&& Preparing)for)the)March) 14)

15 They&shall&use&a&violet& cloth&to&cover&the& menorah&of&the&light&with& its&lamps,&tongs,&and& trays,&as&well&as&the& various&containers&of&oil& from&which&it&is&supplied.&& The&menorah&with&all&its& utensils&they&shall&then& put&in&a&covering&of& yellowlorange&skin,&and& place&on&a&liser. & & && & & &(4:&9L10)&& Preparing)for)the)March) 15)

16 Over&the&golden&altar& [altar$of$incense]$they& shall&spread&a&violet& cloth,&and&cover&this&also& $ $ with&a&covering&of& yellowlorange&skin,&and& put&the&poles&in&place. & & && & & &(4:&11)&& Preparing)for)the)March) 16)

17 Taking&the&utensils&of&the& sanctuary&service,&they&shall&put& them&all&in&violet&cloth&and&cover& them&with&a&covering&of&yellowl orange&skin.&&then&shall&they& place&them&on&a&liser.&&aver& $ $ cleansing&the&altar&of&its&ashes,& they&shall&spread&a&purple&cloth& over&it.&&on&this&they&shall&put&all& the&utensils&&with&which&it&is& served:&&the&fire&pans,&forks,& shovels,&basins,&and&all&the& utensils&of&the&altar.&&they&shall& then&spread&a&covering&of& yellowlorange&skin&over&this,& and&put&the&poles&in&place. & & &(4:&12L14)&& && Preparing)for)the)March) 17)

18 Once$Aaron$and$his$sons$prepare$ and$pack$the$argcles,$only$then$$ may$the$kohathites$prepare$them$ for$transport:$ Only&aVer&Aaron&and&his&sons&have& finished&covering&the&sacred&objects&and& all&their&utensils&on&breaking&camp,&can& the&kohathites&enter&to&carry&them.&&but& they&shall&not&touch&the&sacred&objects;&if& they&do&they&will&die.&&these,&then,&are& the&objects&in&the&tent&of&meenng&that& the&kohathites&shall&carry. & $ $ $ $ $(4:$15)$ Preparing)for)the)March) 18)

19 Aaron s$son,$eleazar,$shall$be$ in$charge$of$the$kohathites,$ assigning$them$their$duges$ and$supervising$their$work.$$ There$are$2,750$Kohathites$ Not$me.$$ 30A50$years$of$age$to$do$the$ work$(4:$36).$ Sounds$like$an$ efficient$way$to$go$ about$it!) Preparing)for)the)March) 19)

20 Next,$we$have$the$Gershonites.$$ They$are$responsible$for$packing$ and$transporgng:$.&.&.&the&curtains&of&the&tabernacle,&the&tent& of&meenng&with&its&covering&and&the&outer& wrapping&of&yellowlorange&skin,&the& curtain&at&the&entrance&of&the&tent&of& meenng,&the&hangings&of&the&court,&the& curtain&at&the&entrance&to&the&gate&of&the& court&that&encloses&both&the&tabernacle& and&the&altar,&together&with&their&ropes&and& all&other&objects&necessary&for&their&use.&& Whatever&is&to&be&done&to&maintain&these& things,&they&shall&do. & $ $ $ $ $(4:$25A26)$$ Preparing)for)the)March) 20)

21 Preparing)for)the)March) 21)

22 Aaron s$son,$ithamar,$shall$be$ in$charge$of$the$gershonites,$ assigning$them$their$duges$ and$supervising$their$work.$$ There$are$2,630$Gershonites$ Not$me.$$ 30A50$years$of$age$to$do$the$ work$(4:$40).$ Those$numbers$ sound$awfully$ precise!) Preparing)for)the)March) 22)

23 Finally,$we$have$the$Merarites.$$ They$are$responsible$for$packing$ and$transporgng:$.&.&.&the&boards&of&the&tabernacle&with&its& bars,&columns&and&pedestals,&and&the& columns&of&the&surrounding&court&with&their& pedestals,&pegs&and&ropes,&including&all& their&accessories&and&everything&for&their& maintenance. &&& $ $ $ $ $(4:$31A32)$$ Preparing)for)the)March) 23)

24 Ropes$and$tent$pegs$ Preparing)for)the)March) 24)

25 Aaron s$son,$ithamar,$shall$ also$be$in$charge$of$the$ Merarites,$assigning$them$ their$duges$and$supervising$ their$work.$$there$are$3,200$ Not$me.$$ Merarites$30A50$years$of$age$ to$do$the$work$(4:$44).$ That s$a$total$of$8,580$ Levites$needed$to$ transport$the$ tabernacle!) Preparing)for)the)March) 25)

26 Now$we$move$to$ Part$1 :$ 1. The$Levites $duges$on$breaking$ camp$(4:$1a49);$ 2. Expelling$ unclean $people$(5:$ 1A4);$ 3. RighGng$wrongs$(5:$5A10).$ 4. Resolving$suspected$adultery$(5:$ 11A31);$ 5. The$Nazirite$vow$(6:$1A21);$and$ Coda:$$the$priestly$blessing.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 26)

27 The Lord said to Moses: order the Israelites to expel from camp everyone with a scaly infection [traditionally, leprosy, sara at], and everyone suffering from a discharge, and everyone who has become unclean by contact with a corpse. Male and female alike, you shall expel them. You shall expel them from the camp so that they do not defile their camp, where I dwell in their midst. This the Israelites did, expelling them from the camp, just as the Lord had commanded Moses, so the Israelites did. (5: 1-4) Preparing)for)the)March) 27)

28 Remember$you$learned$in$Lesson$#9$of$ LeviGcus$that$sara at&has$nothing&in$ common$with$leprosy,$or$modernaday$ Hansen s$disease.$ The$confusion$began$when$the$ Septuagint$(the$Greek$translaGon$of$ the$hebrew$bible,$c.$250$b.c.)$rendered$ the$hebrew$sara'at&as$levpra (lepra),$a$ Greek$generic$term$for$a$variety$of$skin$ diseases,$also$used$in$the$new$ Testament$(in$Ma\hew$8:$1A4$Jesus$ cures$a$lepro;v, (lepros&=$leper).$$$$ Early$English$translaGons$simply$ englished $levpra as$ leprosy, $the$ modernaday$term$for$hanson s$disease.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 28)

29 Sara at$or$ scaly$infecgon $in$a$ person$manifests$itself$in:$ 1. a$mark,$lesion$or$blotch$on$the$skin;$ 2. the$hair$on$the$infecgon$turns$white;$ 3. the$infecgon$appears$to$be$deeper$than$ the$skin;$ 4. over$gme$the$color$of$the$infecgon$ deepens;$ 5. raw$flesh$may$form$in$the$infecgon;$$ 6. scabs$develop$and$spread,$and$$ 7. the$skin$takes$on$a$ scaly $look.$ If$these$symptoms$occur$the$person$ has$sara at,$a$ scaly$infecgon, $and$ the$priest$must$pronounce$him$or$ her$ unclean. $ Preparing)for)the)March) 29)

30 When$that$happens,$LeviGcus$ 13:$45A46$tells$us$that$.$.$.$ the&garments&of&one&afflicted&with&a& scaly&infecnon&shall&be&rent&and&the& hair&disheveled,&and&the&mustache& covered.&&the&individual&shall&cry&out,& Unclean,&unclean! &&As&long&as&the& infecnon&is&present,&the&person&shall&be& unclean.&&being&unclean,&that&individual& shall&dwell&apart,&taking&up&residence& outside&the&camp. & Preparing)for)the)March) 30)

31 Now,$on$to$ Part$3 $:$ 1. The$Levites $duges$on$breaking$ camp$(4:$1a49);$ 2. Expelling$ unclean $people$(5:$ 1A4);$ 3. RighGng$wrongs$(5:$5A10).$ 4. Resolving$suspected$adultery$(5:$ 11A31);$ 5. The$Nazirite$vow$(6:$1A21);$and$ Coda:$$the$priestly$blessing.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 31)

32 Dealing$with$the$ unclean $ person$addresses$physical& condigons,$and$reentering$the$ community$involves$ritual;$ cleaning$up$the$camp$morally& Not$me.$$ involves$resgtugon,$as$well$as$ ritual.$ As$well$it$ should!) Preparing)for)the)March) 32)

33 The Lord said to Moses: Tell the Israelites: If a man or a woman commits any offense against another person, thus breaking faith with the Lord, and thereby becomes guilty, that person shall confess the wrong that has been done, make restitution in full, and in addition give one fifth of its value to the one that has been wronged. However, if there is no next of kin, one to whom restitution can be made, the restitution shall be made to the Lord and shall fall to the priest: this is apart from the ram of atonement for the guilty individual. (5: 5-8) Preparing)for)the)March) 33)

34 It s$important$that$before$breaking$ camp,$that$the$community$is$right$ with$god$and$with$one$another;$ hence,$the$expulsion$of$the$ unclean $(who$will$be$made$ clean $again$through$the$sacrificial$ process$described$in$levigcus$13$&$ 14)$and$making$resGtuGon$to$those$ in$the$community$who$may$have$ been$wronged.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 34)

35 Now,$we$move$to$ Part$4 :$ 1. The$Levites $duges$on$breaking$ camp$(4:$1a49);$ 2. Expelling$ unclean $people$(5:$ 1A4);$ 3. RighGng$wrongs$(5:$5A10).$ 4. Resolving$suspected$adultery$(5:$ 11A31);$ 5. The$Nazirite$vow$(6:$1A21);$and$ Coda:$$the$priestly$blessing.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 35)

36 But$a$deadly$wrong$sGll$ lies$buried,$out$of$sight:$$ that$is,$jealousy$within$a$ marriage.$$and$wait$ungl$ Not$me.$$ you$see$how$this&is$ addressed!$$ I$don t$think$ women$today$will$ like$this!) I$don t$like$it$ one$bit!$ Preparing)for)the)March) 36)

37 The Lord said to Moses: Speak to the Israelites and tell them: If a man s wife goes astray and becomes unfaithful to him by virtue of a man having intercourse with her in secret from her husband and she is able to conceal the fact that she has defiled herself for lack of a witness who might have caught her in the act; or if a man is overcome by a feeling of jealousy that makes him suspect his wife, and she has defiled herself; or if a man is overcome by a feeling of jealousy that makes him suspect his wife and she has not defiled herself then the man shall bring his wife to the priest as well as an offering on her behalf, a tenth of an ephah of barley meal. However, he shall not pour oil on it nor put frankincense over it, since it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering of remembrance which recalls wrongdoing... Preparing)for)the)March) 37)

38 Guercino.$$The&Woman&Taken&in&Adultery&(oil$on$canvas),$c.$1621.$ Dulwich$Picture$Gallery,$Dulwich,$London.$$$ Preparing)for)the)March) 38)

39 The$ greenaey d$monster$which$doth$mock$the$meat$it$feeds$on $(3,$3,$166A167),$Laurence$ Fishberne$and$Kenneth$Branagh$as$Othello$and$Iago$in$the$1995$film$version$of$Shakespeare s$ Othello,$directed$by$Oliver$Parker.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 39)

40 The$ test$for$an$unfaithful$wife $is$the$only$ clearacut$instance$of$trial$by$ordeal$in$ Scripture.$$It$became$the$topic$of$an$enGre$ Tractate$of$the$Talmud,$Sotah&( the$straying$ woman ),$and$with$the$advent$of$feminist$ crigcism,$the$subject$of$voluminous$ discussion$and$debate$in$the$academic$ world.$ This$episode$in$Numbers$is$a$classic$example$ of$the$asymmetrical$relagonship$between$ men$and$women$in$the$tribal,$patriarchal$ world$of$the$hebrew$scriptures.$$a$woman$ must$submit$to$the$ordeal$on$the$mere$ suspicion$of$her$husband,$but$a$wife$ suspecgng$her$husband$of$adultery$is$never$ addressed$in$scripture,$nor$in$the$engre$ Hebrew$legal$system.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 40)

41 This$trial$by$ordeal$has$a$weak$parallel$in$ the$code&of&hammurabi,$which$demands$ that$a$woman$accused$of$adultery$take$an$ oath$and$then$jump$into$a$river to$sink$or$ swim!$ Although$many$have$tried$to$jusGfy,$ ragonalize$or$spiritualize$this$troubling$ ritual,$it$is$simply at$its$core a$glaring$ instance$of$a$primigve$belief$in$magic$and$ the$efficacy$of$ curses. $$$ In$fact,$there$is$no$evidence$whatsoever$ that$the$ritual$was$ever$actually$used,$ either$in$scripture$or$outside$of$it.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 41)

42 The priest shall first have the woman come forward and stand before the Lord. In an earthen vessel he shall take holy water, as well as some dust from the floor of the tabernacle and put it in the water. Making the woman stand before the Lord, the priest shall uncover her head and place in her hands the grain offering of jealousy, while he himself shall hold the water of bitterness that brings a curse. Then the priest shall adjure the woman, saying to her, If no other man has had intercourse with you, and you have not gone astray by defiling yourself while under the authority of your husband, be immune to this water of bitterness that brings a curse. But if you have gone astray while under the authority of your husband, and if you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has had intercourse... Preparing)for)the)March) 42)

43 ... with you so shall the priest adjure the woman with this imprecation-- may the Lord make you a curse and malediction among your people by causing your uterus to fall and your belly to swell! May this water, then, that beings a curse, enter your bowels to make your belly swell and your uterus fall! And the woman shall say, Amen, amen!.... Preparing)for)the)March) 43)

44 Yikes!!!!$ Preparing)for)the)March) 44)

45 I$think$we$be\er$have$a$closer$look$ at$this!$ The$husband$making$the$accusaGon$must$offer$a$ no$ frills $barley$offering.$ Water$from$the$tabernacle s$laver$and$dust$from$the$ tabernacle$floor$is$put$into$an$earthen$vessel,$making$a$ thin,$mudalike$mixture.$ The$priest$shall$ uncover$her$head, $literally$ let$her$hair$ down, $an$overt$public$humiliagon.$$ If$she$is$guilty$of$adultery,$when$she$drinks$the$poGon$ her$ uterus$will$fall $and$her$belly$will$ swell literally,$ her$womb$will$rot$and$ooze$out$of$her$body$and$her$belly$ will$swell$up.$ This$sounds$like$a$grotesque$male$revenge$fantasy$for$ feminine$betrayal!$ Preparing)for)the)March) 45)

46 The priest shall put these curses in writing and shall then wash them off into the water of bitterness, and he will have the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings a curse, so that the water that brings a curse may enter into her to her bitter hurt. But first the priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy from the woman s hand, and having elevated the grain offering before the Lord, shall bring it to the altar, where he shall take a handful of the grain offering as a token offering and burn it on the altar. Only then shall he have the woman drink the water. Once he has had her drink the water, if she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, the water that beings a curse will enter into her to her bitter hurt, and her belly will swell and her uterus will fall, so that she will become a curse among her people. If, however, the woman has not defiled herself, but is still pure, she will be immune and will still be fertile. (5: 11-28) Preparing)for)the)March) 46)

47 Yes,$a$male$revenge$fantasy,$indeed!$ But$here s$another$take:$$the$pogon$that$the$ accused$woman$drinks$is$simply$water$with$ dust$sprinkled$in$it:$$totally$harmless,$ although$the$ritual$itself$is$terribly$ frightening.$$$ If$a$woman$were$guilty facing$this$horrible$ trial$by$ordeal she$may$very$well$confess$ outright,$rather$than$undergo$it.$ If$she$is$innocent,$nothing$whatever$will$ happen$when$she$drinks$the$pogon it s$just$ water$and$dust.$$she$will$have$proven$her$ innocence$before$the$engre$community,$and$ her$husband$will$be$shamed,$not$her.$ Now,$there s$sweet$feminine$revenge!$ Preparing)for)the)March) 47)

48 We$conGnue$on$the$ Part$5 :$ 1. The$Levites $duges$on$breaking$ camp$(4:$1a49);$ 2. Expelling$ unclean $people$(5:$ 1A4);$ 3. RighGng$wrongs$(5:$5A10).$ 4. Resolving$suspected$adultery$(5:$ 11A31);$ 5. The$Nazirite$vow$(6:$1A21);$and$ Coda:$$the$priestly$blessing.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 48)

49 The Lord said to Moses: Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When men or women solemnly take the nazirite vow to dedicate themselves to the Lord, they shall abstain from wine and strong drink; they may neither drink wine vinegar, other vinegar, or any kind of grape juice, nor eat either fresh or dried grapes. As long as they are nazirites they shall not eat anything of the produce of the grapevine; not even the seeds or the skins. While they are under the nazirite vow, no razor shall touch their hair. Until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over they shall be holy, letting the hair of their heads grow freely. As long as they are dedicated to the Lord, they shall not come near a dead person. Not even for their father or mother, sister or brother, should they defile themselves.... As long as they are nazirites they are holy to the Lord. Preparing)for)the)March) 49)

50 Nazirite $comes$from$the$hebrew$ word$nazir,$which$means$ consecrated $or$ separated. $$Both$ Samson$(Judges$13)$and$Samuel$(1$ Samuel$1)$are$lifeLlong&Nazirites;$ John$the$BapGst$is$the$only$lifelong$ Not$me.$$ Nazirite$in$the$New$Testament.$ I$did$not$know$ that!) Preparing)for)the)March) 50)

51 Those$under$a$nazirite$vow$ are:$$1)$not$to$cut$their$hair$ during$the$period$of$the$vow;$ 2)$to$abstain$from$wine$and$ other$products$of$the$vine;$ and$3)$not$to$come$in$contact$ Not$me.$$ with$a$dead$body.$$ I m$good$on$ two$of$those!) Preparing)for)the)March) 51)

52 When$the$nazirite$vow$ends,$the$ nazirite:$ Cuts$the$hair$that$grew$during$the$period$ of$his/her$vow;$ Offers$at$the$tabernacle$(later,$the$ temple):$ one$unblemished$yearling$lamb$as$a$ burnt$offering;$ one$unblemished$yearling$ewe$lamb$ as$a$sin$offering;$ one$unblemished$ram$as$a$ fellowship$offering;$and$ unleavened$wafers$spread$with$oil$ as$a$grain$offering,$along$with$a$drink$ offering.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 52)

53 Recall$that$St.$Paul$took$a$ nazirite$vow$at$corinth$during$ his$2 nd $missionary$journey$ (A.D.$50A52),$and$he$had$his$ hair$cut$at$cenchrae$when$he$ Not$me.$$ sailed$for$home$(acts$18),$ thus$ending$the$vow.$$$ Yes,$I$ remember$ that!) Preparing)for)the)March) 53)

54 And$when$St.$Paul$arrived$in$ Jerusalem$in$A.D.$58,$to$ counter$claims$that$he$was$ speaking$against$the$mosaic$ law,$he$agreed$to$have$his$ Not$me.$$ hair$cut$again$and$to$offer$the$ proper$sacrifices$at$the$ temple.$ Triggered$a$riot,$ as$i$recall.) Preparing)for)the)March) 54)

55 And$remember$Samson$in$ Judges$13?$$He$was$a$lifelong$ nazirite;$that$was$the$source$ of$his$strength.$$when$delilah$ cut$his$hair,$he$effecgvely$ Not$me.$$ ended$his$nazirite$vow,$and$ with$it$his$strength.$ Silly$me.$$I$thought$ his$strength$was$in$ his$hair!) Preparing)for)the)March) 55)

56 And$we$close$with$the$coda,$ the$ priestly$blessing. $ 1. The$Levites $duges$on$breaking$ camp$(4:$1a49);$ 2. Expelling$ unclean $people$(5:$ 1A4);$ 3. RighGng$wrongs$(5:$5A10).$ 4. Resolving$suspected$adultery$(5:$ 11A31);$ 5. The$Nazirite$vow$(6:$1A21);$and$ Coda:$$the$priestly$blessing.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 56)

57 The$Lord$said$to$Moses:$$Speak$to$ Aaron$and$his$sons$and$tell$them:$$ This$is$how$you$shall$bless$the$ Israelites.$$Say$to$them:$ The&Lord&bless&you&and&keep&you!& The&Lord&let&his&face&shine&upon&you,& &and&be&gracious&to&you!& The&Lord&look&upon&you&kindly& &and&give&you&peace. & So$shall$they$invoke$my$name$upon$ the$israelites,$and$i$will$bless$them. $ A&blessing&in&Jerusalem.& Photography&by&Ana&Maria&Vargas& Preparing)for)the)March) 57)

58 Although$technically$not$poetry,$the$ Priestly$ Blessing $is$stately$and$profound,$with$three$clauses$ embodying$a$rising$crescendo$of$3,$5$and$7$words,$ respecgvely;$coordinated$with$the$number$of$ stressed$syllables$(3,$5$and$7);$and$the$total$number$ of$syllables$(12,$14$and$16).$ The$Kohanim$pronounce$the$blessing$with$both$ hands$extended,$the$fingers$spread$like$this:$ The$hand$forms$the$Hebrew$le\er$Shin,$$ an$emblem$for$shaddai,$ Almighty $or$ God. $ Preparing)for)the)March) 58)

59 Leonard$Nimoy$famously$used$the$oneA handed$version$$of$the$shefa&tal&for$mr.$ Spock s$vulcan$salute$in$the$1960s$star& Trek&series,$saying:$$ Live$long$and$ prosper. $ Preparing)for)the)March) 59)

60 Here$is$the$ Priestly$Blessing $in$ Hebrew:$ Preparing)for)the)March) 60)

61 1. Why$is$it$that$only$Aaron$and$his$sons$may$pack$ up$the$argcles$inside$the$tent$of$meegng$and$not$ members$of$the$other$levigcal$clans?$$ 2. When$the$ unclean $are$expelled$from$the$ community$before$breaking$camp,$what$happens$ to$them?$ 3. Why$must$resGtuGon$be$made$for$any$wrongs$ before$breaking$camp?$$$ 4. Why$do$you$think$the$ trial$by$ordeal $for$a$ suspected$unfaithful$wife$is$included$in$ Numbers?$ 5. Who$can$take$a$nazirite$vow,$and$what$does$it$ mean?$ Preparing)for)the)March) 61)

62 Copyright$ $2015$by$Logos$EducaGonal$CorporaGon$ All$rights$reserved.$No$part$of$this$course audio,$video,$photography,$ maps,$gmelines$or$other$media may$be$reproduced$or$transmi\ed$ in$ any$ form$ by$ any$ means,$ electronic$ or$ mechanical,$ including$ photocopying,$ recording$ or$ by$ any$ informagon$ storage$ or$ retrieval$ devices$without$permission$in$wrigng$or$a$licensing$agreement$from$ the$copyright$holder.$ Preparing)for)the)March) 62)