God in the Bible set the Levites apart for Temple Service, declared Moses the Foremost Prophet, and set the spirit of Prophecy on Members of the Sanhedrin. Miracles took place, racial prejudice was condemned.
See Also: BeHe-aloteca: An Overview Levi and the Full-Time learning of Torah Equality of the Convert in Inheriting the Land ==== ==== 1. Lamps of the Menorah
Numbers 8:1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Speak to Aaron, and say to him, When you arrange the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand. 3 And Aaron did so; he arranged the lamps to face toward the front of the lampstand, as the Lord commanded Moses. 4 Now this workmanship of the lampstand was hammered gold; from its shaft to its flowers it was hammered work. According to the pattern which the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.
The Menorah has become one of the official symbols of the State of Israel. The famous statue of the Menora in the Knesset Gardens was a gift from the British Parliament.
The Knesset Menorah (Hebrew: Menorat HaKnesset) is a bronze monument about five meters high, that is located at the edge of Gan Havradim (Rose Garden) in front of the Knesset. Built by Benno Elkan, a British-Jewish sculptor who worked on it for 6 years, the Parliament of the United Kingdom gave it to Israel in 1956. Built in the shape of the Menorah which appears in Arch of Titus, it includes engravings of some 30 important events, idioms, characters and terms from the Jewish history. It is considered a visual "textbook".
The original menora had seven branchs. Most present-day menoras OFTEN have eight branches since the making of an exact copy is problematic. The eight-branch menora has become associated with the festival of Channukha (Hanuccha).
Channukha celebrtates the victory of the Maccabee Jews against the Syrian-Greek Seleucids (successors of Alexander the Great in 165 BCE). The Temple was liberated and rededicated but the Greeks had polluted most of the holy specially-prepared olive oil needed to light the menora. Some oil was found that would have been enough for to burn for one day. Eight days were needed to prepare the rest of oil that was needed. A miracle happened and the oil that had been found lasted for eight days. An eight-day festival was declared by the Jewish sages to commemorate this miracle. This type of miracle is one within the confines of nature. Nothing extraordinary really happens only the rules of the ordinary change for the better.
In Jewish Thought the festival of Chanucha is sometimes associated with Joseph and the Messiah son of Joseph. Perhaps the Return of the Ten Tribes shall be along these lines? ==== 2. Dedication of the Levites
Numbers 8:5-26 describes the Dedication of the Levites. Here we are told that the Levites began their service at age 25. Elsewhere it says 30. The explanation is that from ages 25 to 30 they were in training under a kind of apprenticeship.
Numbers 8: 24 This is what pertains to the Levites: From twenty-five years old and above one may enter to perform service in the work of the tabernacle of meeting; 25 and at the age of fifty years they must cease performing this work, and shall work no more. 26 They may minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of meeting, to attend to needs, but they themselves shall do no work. Thus you shall do to the Levites regarding their duties.
The Levites were dedicated to the Service of the Almighty.
Numbers 8: 13 And you shall stand the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and then offer them like a wave offering to the LORD. 14 Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine.
The Levites parallel the full-time Torah scholars of our days. See: Levi and the Full-Time learning of Torah (Commentary to Numbers 8:13) ==== 3. The Second Passover
Numbers 9:1-13 describes the Second Passover which was an opportunity for those who had missed the first one due to being ritually impure or too far away.
Numbers 9:14 mentions the equal rights of the non-Israelite who attaches themself to Israel.
Numbers 9: 14 And if a stranger dwells among you, and would keep the LORD's Passover, he must do so according to the rite of the Passover and according to its ceremony; you shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger and the native of the land.'
In the future non-Israelites who have identified with Israelites will inherit in the Land alongside them.
Ezekiel 47: 21 Thus you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the Tribes of Israel. 22 It shall be that you will divide it by lot as an inheritance for yourselves, and for the strangers who dwell among you and who bear children among you. They shall be to you as native-born among the children of Israel; they shall have an inheritance with you among the Tribes of Israel. 23 And it shall be that in whatever tribe the stranger dwells, there you shall give him his inheritance, says the LORD God.
==== 4. The Travelling Sacred Cloud and the Pillar of Fire
Numbers 9:15-23 describes how the Tabernacle was covered by a cloud by day and by the appearance of fire by night. During the day when the cloud would rise up in the air the Israelites would begin to march forwards. When the cloud came to rest they would stop.
Nunbers 9: 21 So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey; whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey. 22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. 23 At the command of the LORD they remained encamped, and at the command of the LORD they journeyed; they kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses. ==== 5. Two Silver Trumpets
Numbers 10:1-10 is a commandment to make two silver trumpets. These trumpets would be sued "for calling the congregation and for directing the movement of the camps" (10:2). The trumpets would be blown by the Priests. They would also be sounded at festivals when sacrifices were being offered, and as alarms in times of trouble calling the people to repentance and in warfare.
Numbers 10: 9 When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. 10 Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God. ==== 6. Moving out from Sinai: Marching Order
Numbers 10:5-33 describes the march forward. The order of the Tribes is repeated once again. The Tribes were arranged in groups of threes. Each Tribe had its own Prince.
It is worth mentioning that the Levites were divided into three sections, (1) Kohat over the Ark, the altars and utensils, etc; (2) Gershon over the curtains and coverings; (3) Merari over the beams, etc. Gershon and Merari travelled first following the Threesome of Judah, Issachar, Zebulon. They would prepare the setting-up of the Tabernacle. Then came Threesome of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. The Kohathites from Levi would follow them with the rest of the Tabernacle appurtenances.
Numbers 10:14-16 Judah "over their army was Nahshon the son of Amminadab". Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zua. Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon.
Numbers 10: 17 Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set out, carrying the tabernacle.
Numbers 10:18 Reuben Elizur the son of Shedeur. Simeon Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. Gad Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
21 Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. (The tabernacle would be prepared for their arrival.)
We are told (Numbers 10:22) that over Ephraim was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23 Manasseh was headed by Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24 Benjamin by Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Numbers 10: 25 Then the standard of the camp of the children of Dan (the rear guard of all the camps) set out according to their armies; over their army was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. 27 And over the army of the Tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.
28 Thus was the order of march of the children of Israel, according to their armies, when they began their journey. ==== 7. Invitation to Jethro (Hobab) to join the Israelites. Numbers 10:29-33 shows Moses asking Jethro (also known as Hobab) to join the Israelites. Jethro was the father-in-law of Moses. He had attached himself to the Hebrews in their journeyings. Moses invited him to stay with the Israelites and serve as a guide. he was to do so together with other members of his clan who came with him. The Rechabites were a branch of the descendants of Jethro. They later attached themselves to the Ten Tribes and were associated with them. Jewish legend from Second Temple times indicated that the Rechabites were believed to be in the Isle of the Blessed meaning Ireland or Ireland and Britain together.
Numbers 10: 35 So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said: Rise up, O LORD! Let Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You. 36 And when it rested, he said: Return, O LORD, To the many thousands of Israel.
These few verses (Numbers 10:35-36) are considered a separate Book or major section in their own right. ==== 9. Complaints, Manna,
Numbers 11:1-3 describes the People complaining (about what is not mentioned) and being punished by a fire from heaven.
Numbers 11:4-6 describes the People instigated by the Mixed Multitude craving for meat and for the food they had been used to in Egypt instead of the manna they were eating in the Wilderness. The Mixed Multitude were non-Israelites who had attached themselves to Israel. Some of them were only half-hearted believers and were insincere in their adherence. According to tradition, they and their descendants and people like them were to cause many problems for the Jewish and Israelites nations.
==== 10. Seventy Elders (Sanhedrin), Meat Need
Numbers 11: 10-15 Moses complains to God that the burden of leading the people is too much for him on his own, especially in light of their demand for meat which he does not have to give. Numbers 11: 16-17 The Almighty tells Moses to consecrate 70 elders to assist him in managing the nation.
Numbers 11: 16 So the LORD said to Moses: Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. ....
24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord, and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tabernacle. 25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again.
26 But two men had remained in the camp: the name of one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad. And the Spirit rested upon them. Now they were among those listed, but who had not gone out to the tabernacle; yet they prophesied in the camp. 27 And a young man ran and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.
28 So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, Moses my lord, forbid them!
29 Then Moses said to him, Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them! 30 And Moses returned to the camp, he and the elders of Israel. ==== 11. Quail, New Zealand, Ingratitude
Numbers 11: 31-34 The Almighty sent a wind that brought quail to the camp. The people began to eat the quail but were stricken with plague.
The Hebrew word translated as Quail in Hebrew is Slav. This word appears together with the Expression Land of Sinim and New Zealand on a few different points Biblical Codes tests. See: New Zealand in Brit-Am Bible Codes #7. New Zealand: The QUAIL AND THE KIWI The quail were an enormous flock of birds that miraculously descended onto the ground around the Encampment of the Children of Israel when they came out of Egypt and the Israelites were able to just gather them up without effort. The Hebrew word translated as "quail" is "slav". We do not know if this was the quail we are familiar with or another bird. It has happened in the Sinai Desert that vast flocks birds on their migratory path land to rest in large numbers and are temporarily too exhausted to move and so fall easy prey to whoever is interested in catching them. Other evidences identifies the Land of SINIM with Australia and New Zealand.
Prophecy tells us that one of the areas the Ten Tribes will return from is the Land of Sinim.
Isaiah 49: 12 Surely these shall come from afar; Look! Those from the north and the west, And these from the land of Sinim.
We have shown elsewhere that "SINIM" can refer Australia and New Zealand or either one or the other depending on the context.
The slav or quail that the Israelites encountered in the Wilderness were suddenly stricken with an inability to fly.
The islands of New Zealand when the white man first reached them was dominated by birds one-third of which could not fly. In New Zealand birds fulfilled roles in the ecological niche usually performed by mammals and other animals. This is what would connect New Zealand to the description of the "quail" and it is where we in the Bible Codes we find the word SINIM. This helps strengthen our identification of SINIM with Australia and New Zealand.
In the concept of SINIM must also be included the two islands of New Zealand that lie to the Southeast of Australia. New Zealand was also settled by settlers from Britain and also belongs to Joseph. The people of New Zealand included more people from Scotland and have been considered more gentlemanly and refined. New Zealanders are nicknamed KIWIS after a bird which does not fly but runs around on the ground and once existed in vast numbers as did numerous other specii of bird in New Zealand that were thus easier prey to the early settlers in a similar manner to the quail (Numbers 11:30-32). Another bird in New Zealand which did not fly and once was extremely numerous is the Moa which was like a turkey but is now extinct.
Birds in vast numbers that cannot fly or that fly very little and as such are easy prey to human or animal predators were in fact a UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC of New Zealand!
New Zealand Birds Extracts: "Perhaps more than any country in the world, New Zealand was a land of birds. With no snakes, no large reptiles and no land mammals apart from two small bats, birds filled all of the ecological niches occupied elsewhere by other animals. For this reason, New Zealand was home of the largest bird which ever lived, the moa, one species of which stood 11 feet tall and weighed up to 450 pounds, as well as the largest eagle to ever live, Haast's eagle. The moa occupied the same niche as grazing animals like deer and antelopes, and Haast's eagle was the apex predator, the equivalent of the big cats of Africa, Asia and the Americas.
"Because of the lack of predators, about a third of New Zealand birds were flightless. Naturally enough, all eleven species of moa were flightless, but so were many smaller forest birds like kiwis, wekas, takahes and dozens of others. The long isolation of New Zealand birds from other land masses resulted in many unique forms arising, like the kiwi, the only bird with nostrils at the end of its beak, and the world's largest egg compared to the size of the bird; the wrybill, the only bird whose beak bends sideways; the kea, the world's only alpine parrot, as happy in the snow and ice as in the forest; and the flightless kakapo, which looks like an owl but is actually the world's largest parrot, and has an unearthly deeply resonant booming song which can carry for five kilometers.
"Sadly, humans not only destroyed much of the native habitat, they also introduced mammalian predators into this paradise. The Polynesian voyagers called maori introduced Polynesian rats which preyed on the eggs and chicks of ground nesting birds, and the maori themselves exterminated the moa. Europeans caused even more devastation, bringing even larger rats and other rodents, grazing animals like deer which completely stripped the forest undergrowth, as well as predators such as cats, stoats and ferrets. Roughly half of the bird species became extinct, but thankfully there are still a number of common birds which New Zealanders all know and think of as part of their cultural inheritance.
Ingratitude
The Israelites were stricken while eating the SLAV birds. This was a punishment for their ingratitude. Today we find in New Zealand New Age elements that deny the Bible and Israelite Heritage. The Church in New Zealand was one of the first to eliminate references to Jerusalem, Zion, etc, from its liturgy. ==== 12. Aaron, Miriam, and the Black Woman: Moses the Supreme Prophet
Numbers 12: 1-5 Miriam and Aharon the sister and brother of Moses criticized Moses because he had taken a Cushit woman. We follow the explanation of Isaac Abarbanel who explained their problem as emanating from racial prejudice. The woman was black! The Almighty was angry with Miriam and Aharon. HE declared that Moses had reached the highest level of prophesy possible for mortal beings. Moses was on a level of his own that no other prophet could reach! God spoke to Moses to face. HE spoke to no other prophet in like manner. Miriam was stricken with leprosy that made her appear white as snow. This was to punish her for her racial prejudice. It was as if God was saying, You thought being white was so good, see how you like being made even more white than you were! Moses pleaded on behalf of Miriam and she was cured but had to stay in seclusion for seven days.
See: The Black Woman. Color Prejudice Forbidden Great Israelite leaders made the mistake of color prejudice. They were condemned by the Almighty. Numbers 12: 1. Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman [Hebrew "Cushit"] whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 So they said, Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also? And the LORD heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
4 Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting! So the three came out. 5 Then the LORD came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. 6 Then He said, Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. 7 Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. 8 I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?
9 So the anger of the LORD was aroused against them, and He departed. 10 And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper. 11 So Aaron said to Moses, Oh, my LORD! Please do not lay this sin on us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned. 12 Please do not let her be as one dead, whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother's womb!'
13 So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, Please heal her, O God, I pray!
14 Then the LORD said to Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, would she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp seven days, and afterward she may be received again. 15 So Miriam was shut out of the camp seven days, and the people did not journey till Miriam was brought in again. 16 And afterward the people moved from Hazeroth and camped in the Wilderness of Paran. ==== 13. The Prophet Zechariah: The Need for Divine Guidance.
The Portion from the Prophets attached to the Torah section is from Zechariah 2:10-4:7 Zechariah speaks of the future restoration of Judah and Jerusalem. Zechariah emphasizes the need for Repentance and the importance of Divine Guidance.
Zechariah 4: 6 So he answered and said to me: This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, Says the LORD of hosts.
