We rejoin Moses in the midst of speech #2 as he warns the Israelites not to be seduced by anyone suggesting they follow other gods - even if they perform miraculous signs of wonder. God is testing you to make sure your heart is truly His. The false prophet was to be put to death to purge the evil from among them. They were commanded not to listen to family or friends that would entice them to turn away from God, in fact, they were to show them no pity, or spare or shield them. They were to be stoned for attempting to turn the people away from God. If it was proven that men in a town were trying to convert the people to worship other gods, the town was to be destroyed completely and never inhabited again.
Chapter 14 begins with a review of clean and unclean food. (Leviticus 11 Feb 2&3) Also covered is the law of tithes. One tenth of all their produce was to be set aside to the Lord, and eaten in the presence of the Lord at the place He would show them. If they had to travel very far to make these offerings, they were to convert them to silver and buy whatever they liked at the place where the offerings were to be given to the Lord. There they were to eat and rejoice. They were to remember the Levites with part of their offerings. They were to take their tithings to be stored for the Levites every 3 years, to be used as a food bank for the poor and needy.
In ch 15 Moses tells of debts being cancelled every 7 years. They could require payment from foreigners but not Israelites. God wanted them to help their poor by sharing their rich blessings from Him, so they wouldn't be poor anymore. They were to give generously without a grudging heart, and the Lord would bless everything they did. This reminds me of the way my husband responds to this kind of request. He was asked for money from a stranger at a gas station. This person told a story about needing to get somewhere and having no money for gas. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a wad of bills and handed it over to the person. Just like that! I must admit that I struggle with being one of those tightfisted people. So I asked him about it. He gave me the best answer I've ever heard. He said "I'd rather give someone money on the chance that it will help them. That amount of money won't make or break me. If they're trying to trick me, that's on their conscience, but mine is clear." Well said!
Moses continues with details about freeing servants as discussed in Exodus 21:2-6 (Jan 18). The information about every firstborn belonging to God is also reviewed as in Leviticus 27:26 (Feb 9).
Chapter 16 begins with a review of observing Passover as in Numbers 28:16-25 (Feb 20). After 40 years of practice, I hope the Israelites knew how to do this as well as we know how to remember Easter!
Tomorrow read Deuteronomy 16:9-19:21
20100225
Feb 27, 2010 Deuteronomy 9:22-12
Moses reminded the Israelites how they made God angry at Taberah (Num 11:3), at Massah (Exodus 17:7), and at Kibroth Hattaavah (Num 11:34). He reviewed the way the Isrealites balked at the Lord's command to go and take the land as described in Numbers 14. Moses remembered the way he lay prostrate before the Lord hoping that they would not be destroyed for the way they disrespected God. How he fervently prayed for the people, that God would forgive them.
Moses told of the second set of stone tablets Moses chiseled out being written on by the finger of God to replace the first set he had smashed because of his anger at the disobedience of the children of Israel. He described how he made the chest out of acacia wood to place the stone tablets in and that they were in there as he spoke. He spoke of Aaron's death and Eleazar's succession. The Levites had been set apart to do the work of carrying the sacred objects of the tabernacle, which was why they had no share in the inheritance among their brothers. The Lord was their inheritance.
Moses asked them what the Lord required of them. To walk in all His ways, to love Him and to serve Him. It seems a small price for all that the Lord wants to give. (I'll give you a very nice life if you just do what I ask.) Circumcise your hearts. Cut off the stubborn parts. Allow Him inside. Let Him take the lead. They began with 70 members of Jacob's family that went to Egypt. (Genesis 46:27)
Chapter 11 begins with Moses reviewing all the mighty miracles wrought by God on behalf of the Israelites whom He had chosen. They were reminded that they saw these wonders with their own eyes. They were reminded of the awesome power of God to do the unimaginable, to open the earth and swallow men, tents and animals alive. (Num 16) Moses admonished them to follow God to have strength to take over the land of their inheritance, a land that "drinks rain from heaven".
They were cautioned that they would be tempted to worship other gods. Then the Lord would be angry and they would be sorry. Again they are urged to fix the words of God to their hearts and minds. To bind them on their hands and foreheads. Teach them to their children, talk about them and write them on their doorframes and gates. If they followed God's commandments, He would put the terror and fear of them on the whole land, wherever they went.
Moses blessed them and cursed them. They would be blessed if they followed God's commands, they would be cursed if they didn't.
Chapter 12 Moses told them what they were to do once they had settled into the land. Destroy completely all the places of worship of the other gods. The Lord would tell them where He wanted them to worship Him and bring their burnt offerings. They were allowed to eat as much meat as they wanted to eat, but they were not to eat the blood. They were not to eat the tithe offering in their own towns, but to eat them where the Lord told them and they were not to forget the Levites. Moses reminded them that once the nations had been destroyed, not to inquire how they worshiped their gods, because they did detestable things the Lord hates. Moses urged them to do all the Lord commanded and not to add to it or take away from it.
Tomorrow read Deuteronomy 13-16:8
Moses told of the second set of stone tablets Moses chiseled out being written on by the finger of God to replace the first set he had smashed because of his anger at the disobedience of the children of Israel. He described how he made the chest out of acacia wood to place the stone tablets in and that they were in there as he spoke. He spoke of Aaron's death and Eleazar's succession. The Levites had been set apart to do the work of carrying the sacred objects of the tabernacle, which was why they had no share in the inheritance among their brothers. The Lord was their inheritance.
Moses asked them what the Lord required of them. To walk in all His ways, to love Him and to serve Him. It seems a small price for all that the Lord wants to give. (I'll give you a very nice life if you just do what I ask.) Circumcise your hearts. Cut off the stubborn parts. Allow Him inside. Let Him take the lead. They began with 70 members of Jacob's family that went to Egypt. (Genesis 46:27)
Chapter 11 begins with Moses reviewing all the mighty miracles wrought by God on behalf of the Israelites whom He had chosen. They were reminded that they saw these wonders with their own eyes. They were reminded of the awesome power of God to do the unimaginable, to open the earth and swallow men, tents and animals alive. (Num 16) Moses admonished them to follow God to have strength to take over the land of their inheritance, a land that "drinks rain from heaven".
They were cautioned that they would be tempted to worship other gods. Then the Lord would be angry and they would be sorry. Again they are urged to fix the words of God to their hearts and minds. To bind them on their hands and foreheads. Teach them to their children, talk about them and write them on their doorframes and gates. If they followed God's commandments, He would put the terror and fear of them on the whole land, wherever they went.
Moses blessed them and cursed them. They would be blessed if they followed God's commands, they would be cursed if they didn't.
Chapter 12 Moses told them what they were to do once they had settled into the land. Destroy completely all the places of worship of the other gods. The Lord would tell them where He wanted them to worship Him and bring their burnt offerings. They were allowed to eat as much meat as they wanted to eat, but they were not to eat the blood. They were not to eat the tithe offering in their own towns, but to eat them where the Lord told them and they were not to forget the Levites. Moses reminded them that once the nations had been destroyed, not to inquire how they worshiped their gods, because they did detestable things the Lord hates. Moses urged them to do all the Lord commanded and not to add to it or take away from it.
Tomorrow read Deuteronomy 13-16:8
Feb 26, 2010 Deuteronomy 6:16-9:21
I didn't mention it, but the second speech began in chapter 4:44. So we will continue with Moses' speech #2.
Moses commanded them not to test the Lord as they did at Massah. (Exodus 17:1-7 Jan 22) When their children ask them what the laws mean, they were to tell them the story of how God saved them.
In Chapter 7 they are given detailed instructions for dealing with the seven nations they would destroy. They were not to intermarry with them, because they would turn their children away from God. All of the altars and idols made by these nations were to be destroyed.
They were told that they were favored by God because they were fewest in number, not the greatest. Also, God kept his promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by giving them the land He had promised to give them. "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God." (Deut 7:9) Moses told the Israelites how the Lord would bless them for living according to His commandments; and not to be afraid of the nations which seemed stronger than they were, that the Lord was with the Israelites and they would succeed.
Chapter 8 lists the ways God had blessed the Israelites. To remember that the Lord led them in order to humble them and test them to know what was in their hearts. To realize that in 40 years their clothes never wore out and their feet didn't swell. That as a man disciplines his son, so God had disciplined them. To remember God for all the blessings they have come from Him. And, if they were ever to make the mistake of worshiping other Gods they would be destroyed.
Chapter 9 begins with a reminder that it is God who is making victory against the Anakites possible. The Anakites are being driven out because of their wickedness, not because of the righteousness of the Israelites. Moses exhorts them to never forget they way they provoked the Lord while he was on Mount Sinai, by having Aaron make a golden calf for them to worship. (Exodus 32-Jan 27) When Moses returned from the talking with God he became so angry that he smashed the stone tablets, and fasted for 40 days and nights and begged the Lord not to destroy them. The Lord listened to Moses. Moses burned and ground the golden calf to powder and threw it into a stream which flowed down the mountain.
Tomorrow read Deuteronomy 9:22-12:32
Moses commanded them not to test the Lord as they did at Massah. (Exodus 17:1-7 Jan 22) When their children ask them what the laws mean, they were to tell them the story of how God saved them.
In Chapter 7 they are given detailed instructions for dealing with the seven nations they would destroy. They were not to intermarry with them, because they would turn their children away from God. All of the altars and idols made by these nations were to be destroyed.
They were told that they were favored by God because they were fewest in number, not the greatest. Also, God kept his promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob by giving them the land He had promised to give them. "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God." (Deut 7:9) Moses told the Israelites how the Lord would bless them for living according to His commandments; and not to be afraid of the nations which seemed stronger than they were, that the Lord was with the Israelites and they would succeed.
Chapter 8 lists the ways God had blessed the Israelites. To remember that the Lord led them in order to humble them and test them to know what was in their hearts. To realize that in 40 years their clothes never wore out and their feet didn't swell. That as a man disciplines his son, so God had disciplined them. To remember God for all the blessings they have come from Him. And, if they were ever to make the mistake of worshiping other Gods they would be destroyed.
Chapter 9 begins with a reminder that it is God who is making victory against the Anakites possible. The Anakites are being driven out because of their wickedness, not because of the righteousness of the Israelites. Moses exhorts them to never forget they way they provoked the Lord while he was on Mount Sinai, by having Aaron make a golden calf for them to worship. (Exodus 32-Jan 27) When Moses returned from the talking with God he became so angry that he smashed the stone tablets, and fasted for 40 days and nights and begged the Lord not to destroy them. The Lord listened to Moses. Moses burned and ground the golden calf to powder and threw it into a stream which flowed down the mountain.
Tomorrow read Deuteronomy 9:22-12:32
Feb 25, 2010 Deuteronomy 4-6:15
Moses told the people to obey God's laws. He told them not to add or subtract from what they had been commanded to do by God. He reminded them of God's awesome power which they witnessed during the destruction of the worshippers of Baal. (Num 25 Feb 19) Moses admonished them not to get cocky and proud because of their blessings from God. They were told to teach all the commandments to their children and grandchildren. Moses reminded them of the stone tablets written in God's own hand. (Exodus 20:1-17 Jan 23) He also reminded them not to commit the sin of creating idols as when Aaron made the golden calf in Exodus 20:22-23. (Jan 23) He told them tht the consequences of making idols would cause their destruction, but that if they looked for him with all their heart and souls they would find Him. If they remembered Him, He would remember them. A relationship. Chapter 4:31
Have any other people heard the voice of God? Has anyone ever defeated a nation by simply stretching out his arm? These are the works of God. The Israelites were shown these things to see His greatness for themselves. Moses told them to take God into their hearts and follow his commandments, so they could live and prosper.
Moses reviewed the Cities of Refuge and re-introduced the law and where they were when they received it.
The Ten Commandments are reviewed (Exodus 20:1-17 Jan 23) Moses told them that when their forefathers saw the cloud and fire and heard the voice of God they were afraid that they would be consumed. They said they would listen and obey.
Moses told them that for as long as they remembered God and obeyed his commandments they would prosper in the land. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Chapter 6:5 Moses told them to impress the commandments upon their hearts, and upon their children, to talk about them when they were at home, or walking on a road, when they lie down or rise up. They were to tie them as symbols on their hands and bind them on their foreheads. They were to write them on doorframes and gates. The Lord would give them cities they did not build, good things they did not provide, wells they did not dig, vineyards and olive groves they did not plant. An inheritance provided to them by God as long as they followed his commandments.
Tomorrow read Deuteronomy 6:16-9:21
Have any other people heard the voice of God? Has anyone ever defeated a nation by simply stretching out his arm? These are the works of God. The Israelites were shown these things to see His greatness for themselves. Moses told them to take God into their hearts and follow his commandments, so they could live and prosper.
Moses reviewed the Cities of Refuge and re-introduced the law and where they were when they received it.
The Ten Commandments are reviewed (Exodus 20:1-17 Jan 23) Moses told them that when their forefathers saw the cloud and fire and heard the voice of God they were afraid that they would be consumed. They said they would listen and obey.
Moses told them that for as long as they remembered God and obeyed his commandments they would prosper in the land. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Chapter 6:5 Moses told them to impress the commandments upon their hearts, and upon their children, to talk about them when they were at home, or walking on a road, when they lie down or rise up. They were to tie them as symbols on their hands and bind them on their foreheads. They were to write them on doorframes and gates. The Lord would give them cities they did not build, good things they did not provide, wells they did not dig, vineyards and olive groves they did not plant. An inheritance provided to them by God as long as they followed his commandments.
Tomorrow read Deuteronomy 6:16-9:21
20100224
Feb 24 2010 Deuteronomy 1:16-3
We continue as Moses is delivering the first of three speeches which comprise the book of Deuteronomy. What I like about this book is the familiar terms of you, me, we, I, and so on.
We left off as Moses was recalling how he got help to manage the Israelites. In Exodus 18:21-23 (Jan 6) Jethro, Moses father-in-law asks him what he is doing trying to manage the people all by himself, and suggests he get some help from respected men amongst the people. So Moses reviews the good advice of getting help when you need it to do God's work. We aren't meant to do it alone.
Moses reviews the story (by this time 38 years old) where a search expedition is sent out to scout the territory and see what's there. This is told in Numbers 13:1-25. (Feb 15) The explorers came back fearful of the people they saw there. The Anakites they saw were Nephilim (Genesis 6:4 Jan 2). Ahhh grasshopper! (Num 13:33 Feb 15) The Lord told them He would take care of it but they wouldn't trust Him. God was angry and swore not one of them would see the promised land except Caleb. And because Moses had angered God by not talking to the rock (Numbers 20:12 Feb 17) he was not to enter the promised land either, but his assistant, Joshua would. Then the Israelites tried to make up for their mistake which was a bad idea (Num 14:44-45)
Then they began their 38 year long 11 day trip. They passed by the descendants of Jacob's (Israel) twin brother Esau (Edomites as told in Genesis 36 Jan 12) Moses reminded them that they have been in the desert 40 years and lacked for nothing because God provided everything they needed. Then God told them not to bother the Moabites, because He gave them the land of Ar to possess. These people were the descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew. (Two sons were born of Lot and his two daughters -Genesis 19:37 Jan 6.) There were the giants from the Nephilim (Anakim, Emim and Rephaim (Num 13:33). So when all the fighting men who had balked at the notion of conquering giants had died it was time to go home. They passed by the land of the Ammonites - the other son of Lot. (Gen 19:38 Jan 6) God drove the people out of the land he wanted to give to the people he wanted to give it to.
Moses reviews the defeat of Sihon King of Heshbon as described in Numbers 12:21-32 (Feb 18) They also defeated the kingdom of Og of Bashan, who was a remnant of the Rephaites, and mentions his giant iron bed. After describing these military triumphs, Moses reviews the division of the land and the details of the 2 1/2 tribes who were on the east side of the Jordan river. (Num 32:33 Feb 22)
God told Moses to go to the top of Pisgah and look in all directions to see the land that the Israelites would inherit. Moses was to die and not enter the land. (Num 27:12) Moses reminded the Israelites that Joshua was to succeed him as leader. (Num 27:15-23)
Tomorrow read Deuteronomy 4-6:15
We left off as Moses was recalling how he got help to manage the Israelites. In Exodus 18:21-23 (Jan 6) Jethro, Moses father-in-law asks him what he is doing trying to manage the people all by himself, and suggests he get some help from respected men amongst the people. So Moses reviews the good advice of getting help when you need it to do God's work. We aren't meant to do it alone.
Moses reviews the story (by this time 38 years old) where a search expedition is sent out to scout the territory and see what's there. This is told in Numbers 13:1-25. (Feb 15) The explorers came back fearful of the people they saw there. The Anakites they saw were Nephilim (Genesis 6:4 Jan 2). Ahhh grasshopper! (Num 13:33 Feb 15) The Lord told them He would take care of it but they wouldn't trust Him. God was angry and swore not one of them would see the promised land except Caleb. And because Moses had angered God by not talking to the rock (Numbers 20:12 Feb 17) he was not to enter the promised land either, but his assistant, Joshua would. Then the Israelites tried to make up for their mistake which was a bad idea (Num 14:44-45)
Then they began their 38 year long 11 day trip. They passed by the descendants of Jacob's (Israel) twin brother Esau (Edomites as told in Genesis 36 Jan 12) Moses reminded them that they have been in the desert 40 years and lacked for nothing because God provided everything they needed. Then God told them not to bother the Moabites, because He gave them the land of Ar to possess. These people were the descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew. (Two sons were born of Lot and his two daughters -Genesis 19:37 Jan 6.) There were the giants from the Nephilim (Anakim, Emim and Rephaim (Num 13:33). So when all the fighting men who had balked at the notion of conquering giants had died it was time to go home. They passed by the land of the Ammonites - the other son of Lot. (Gen 19:38 Jan 6) God drove the people out of the land he wanted to give to the people he wanted to give it to.
Moses reviews the defeat of Sihon King of Heshbon as described in Numbers 12:21-32 (Feb 18) They also defeated the kingdom of Og of Bashan, who was a remnant of the Rephaites, and mentions his giant iron bed. After describing these military triumphs, Moses reviews the division of the land and the details of the 2 1/2 tribes who were on the east side of the Jordan river. (Num 32:33 Feb 22)
God told Moses to go to the top of Pisgah and look in all directions to see the land that the Israelites would inherit. Moses was to die and not enter the land. (Num 27:12) Moses reminded the Israelites that Joshua was to succeed him as leader. (Num 27:15-23)
Tomorrow read Deuteronomy 4-6:15
20100223
Feb 23, 2010 Numbers 34-36 Deut 1:1-15
The Lord gave Moses the boundaries of Canaan. I prefer pictures, so I found one to illustrate how the land was divided amongst the 12 tribes. This land was given to 9 1/2 tribes because the families of the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe Manasseh had all received their inheritance previously, according to their bargain. Eleazar, Joshua and one leader from each tribe were appointed to help Moses in the task of assigning the inheritances to the Israelites.
The Levites were given towns with pastureland surrounding them. There were to be six Safe Towns where a person could go if they killed someone and needed to be protected until their trial. If the death was intentional they were put to death to cleanse the land. Blood polluted the land until the murderer atoned with his own blood. In order to be found guilty at trial, there needed to be 2 witnesses to the crime. If you were innocent you had to stay in the Safe Town until the high priest died.
The leaders from the tribe of Manasseh went to Moses to speak about the inheritance of the 5 sisters (Num 27:1-11 Feb 20) and how to treat their inheritances should they marry outside of their tribe. God told them they could marry anyone they wanted - as long as they were from the tribe of their father. So it became a law that women of each tribe would only marry someone from the tribal clan of their father. That way no inheritance would pass from tribe to tribe.
Deuteronomy means second law. The fifth and final book of Moses contains three speeches that he made to the Israelites before they took their inheritances in Canaan. The 11 day journey took the children of Israel 40 years to make because of their lack of faith in God.
The First Speech reviews the past. Moses told them what the Lord told him at Mount Sinai 40 years earlier. God had told them to go into the land of the Amorites and their neighbors, the Canaanites, that this was the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses told them how he had asked God for help to manage so many people and God told him to choose respected members from every tribe to help Moses lead the poeple Some of the leaders were military officers and some were judges.
Tomorrow read Deuteronomy 1:16-ch3
20100222
Feb 22, 2010 Numbers 31:48-ch 33
The army commanders told Moses that they wanted to give all the gold they had recovered from the battle to God. Moses and Eleazar accepted it and placed it in the Tent of Meeting.
The Reubenites and the Gadites wanted to have their land right where they were and not cross the Jordan River. Moses negotiated with them and reminded them that this choice was exactly what had angered the Lord when the scouting expedition (Feb 15th entry Numbers 13) returned from their 40 day trip. So they decided it would be ok if they got their flocks, wives and children settled and then led the battle into Canaan. Once the land of Canaan was secure then they would return to their wives, children and flocks.
Chapter 33 gives an account of the locations the Israelites camped during their 40 years in the desert. They were finally going to arrive in the promised land. First they had to drive out all the people who lived there. The Lord promised them that He would show them how to divide the land according to the needs of each family. God warned them that if they did not force out all the people, they would be like a sharp stick in the eye or thorns in their sides. Worst of all, God would treat the Israelites as badly as he had planned to treat the Canaanites.
Tomorrow finish Numbers! Also read Deuteronomy 1:1-15
The Reubenites and the Gadites wanted to have their land right where they were and not cross the Jordan River. Moses negotiated with them and reminded them that this choice was exactly what had angered the Lord when the scouting expedition (Feb 15th entry Numbers 13) returned from their 40 day trip. So they decided it would be ok if they got their flocks, wives and children settled and then led the battle into Canaan. Once the land of Canaan was secure then they would return to their wives, children and flocks.
Chapter 33 gives an account of the locations the Israelites camped during their 40 years in the desert. They were finally going to arrive in the promised land. First they had to drive out all the people who lived there. The Lord promised them that He would show them how to divide the land according to the needs of each family. God warned them that if they did not force out all the people, they would be like a sharp stick in the eye or thorns in their sides. Worst of all, God would treat the Israelites as badly as he had planned to treat the Canaanites.
Tomorrow finish Numbers! Also read Deuteronomy 1:1-15
20100221
feb 21, 2010 Numbers 29-31:47
We continue with a review of the different sacrifices. Yesterday we reviewed regular daily sacrifices, Sabbath sacrifices, 1st day of the month (new moon) sacrifices, sacrifices during Passover and the Harvest Festival. These were all covered in our reading on Feb 7th from Leviticus 23. All I have to say about all these sacrifices is Thank You Jesus! That's my truth and I'm sticking to it!
The Feast of Trumpets was on the 1st day of the 7th month. This was a day to sound the trumpets. On this day no work was permitted, and a sacred assembly was held. The offerings were 1 young bull, 1 ram, and 7 male lambs. Again, all the animals sacrificed had to be perfect. Along with the animals, a grain offering was required. 1 male goat was offered as a sacrifice for sin. These were in addition to the monthly and daily offerings with their grain and drink offerings.
The Day of Atonement was held on the 10th day of the 7th month. A sacred assembly was held, no food was to be eaten as a sign to God of one's sorrow for one's sins and no work was to be done. The offerings were 1 young bull, 1 ram and 7 male lambs, all perfect, along with a grain offering. One male goat was offered as a sacrifice for sin. (Scapegoat)
The Feast of Tabernacles was on the 15th day of the 7th month and lasted for 7 days.
Day 1 - They were to rest from work and hold a sacred assembly.
The burnt offering was 13 young bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, all perfect animals, along with the grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat.
Day 2 - The burnt offering was 12 young bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, all perfect, along with their grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat.
Day 3 - The burnt offering was 11 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, all perfect, along with their grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat.
Day 4 - The burnt offering was 10 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, all perfect, along with their grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat.
Day 5 - The burnt offering was 9 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, all perfect, along with their grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat.
Day 6 - The burnt offering was 8 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, all perfect, along with their grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat.
Day 7 - The burnt offering was 7 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, all perfect, along with their grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat.
Day 8 - An assembly was to be held and no work was to be done. A burnt offering of 1 bull, 1 ram, and 7 male lambs, all perfect, and their grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat, in addition to the regular burnt, grain, drink and fellowship offerings.
Whew!
Chapter 30 is about vows or promises made to the Lord. All vows made by men were to be kept. If a female lived with her father or husband, and they heard her make a promise, they could forbid her from making the promise to the Lord. A promise made by a widow or divorced woman would remain binding on her. If a husband waited to object to the vow, he was responsible for her guilt.
Chapter 31 is about the war of the Israelites against the Midianites. 1000 men from each tribe comprised the army of 12,000. They killed every man, including the 5 kings of Midian and Balaam. (I wonder who kept the donkey?) The Israelties captured all the women and children, animals, and plunder. Moses was angry that they didn't kill the women since they were the ones responsible for luring the boys into the sin of idol worship. Moses told them to kill all the boys and the women who had slept with men. All the girls who had not had sex were allowed to live. The people who had come into contact with dead bodies had to stay outside the camp for a week and ceremonially cleanse themselves. Then they were allowed back in.
They inventoried the animals and divided them amongst the tribes as the Lord commanded. The Lord gave 1/50th of the people and animals to the Levites.
Tomorrow read Numbers 31:48- ch33
The Feast of Trumpets was on the 1st day of the 7th month. This was a day to sound the trumpets. On this day no work was permitted, and a sacred assembly was held. The offerings were 1 young bull, 1 ram, and 7 male lambs. Again, all the animals sacrificed had to be perfect. Along with the animals, a grain offering was required. 1 male goat was offered as a sacrifice for sin. These were in addition to the monthly and daily offerings with their grain and drink offerings.
The Day of Atonement was held on the 10th day of the 7th month. A sacred assembly was held, no food was to be eaten as a sign to God of one's sorrow for one's sins and no work was to be done. The offerings were 1 young bull, 1 ram and 7 male lambs, all perfect, along with a grain offering. One male goat was offered as a sacrifice for sin. (Scapegoat)
The Feast of Tabernacles was on the 15th day of the 7th month and lasted for 7 days.
Day 1 - They were to rest from work and hold a sacred assembly.
The burnt offering was 13 young bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, all perfect animals, along with the grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat.
Day 2 - The burnt offering was 12 young bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, all perfect, along with their grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat.
Day 3 - The burnt offering was 11 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, all perfect, along with their grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat.
Day 4 - The burnt offering was 10 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, all perfect, along with their grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat.
Day 5 - The burnt offering was 9 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, all perfect, along with their grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat.
Day 6 - The burnt offering was 8 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, all perfect, along with their grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat.
Day 7 - The burnt offering was 7 bulls, 2 rams, 14 male lambs, all perfect, along with their grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat.
Day 8 - An assembly was to be held and no work was to be done. A burnt offering of 1 bull, 1 ram, and 7 male lambs, all perfect, and their grain and drink offerings, and a scapegoat, in addition to the regular burnt, grain, drink and fellowship offerings.
Whew!
Chapter 30 is about vows or promises made to the Lord. All vows made by men were to be kept. If a female lived with her father or husband, and they heard her make a promise, they could forbid her from making the promise to the Lord. A promise made by a widow or divorced woman would remain binding on her. If a husband waited to object to the vow, he was responsible for her guilt.
Chapter 31 is about the war of the Israelites against the Midianites. 1000 men from each tribe comprised the army of 12,000. They killed every man, including the 5 kings of Midian and Balaam. (I wonder who kept the donkey?) The Israelties captured all the women and children, animals, and plunder. Moses was angry that they didn't kill the women since they were the ones responsible for luring the boys into the sin of idol worship. Moses told them to kill all the boys and the women who had slept with men. All the girls who had not had sex were allowed to live. The people who had come into contact with dead bodies had to stay outside the camp for a week and ceremonially cleanse themselves. Then they were allowed back in.
They inventoried the animals and divided them amongst the tribes as the Lord commanded. The Lord gave 1/50th of the people and animals to the Levites.
Tomorrow read Numbers 31:48- ch33
20100220
Feb 20, 2010 Numbers 26:35- ch28
Today we get to complete the tally of men of the remaining tribes of Israel.
Ephraim............32,500
Benjamin...........45,600
Dan................64,400
Asher..............53,400
Naphtali...........45,400
Total.....................601,730
God told them to divide the land according to size of the tribe. Larger space for a larger number of people, smaller space for smaller number of people.
The Levites numbered 23,000 and were not included in the regular census, because they didn't receive an inheritance, just as before. (The first census was in Numbers ch 1, Feb 9. Taken the first month of the second year after they left Egypt.)
A genealogy of Moses is given in ch 26:57-61 - Levi-Kohath-Amram-Moses
Just as God had said all the Israelites who left Egypt died and only Joshua and Caleb were still alive. (Num 14:29-35) All of the people left were their children.
Five sisters from the tribe of Manasseh came to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting to ask Moses whether they could inherit their father's land since there weren't any male heirs remaining in their family. Moses took it to God and God told him the sisters were right, that they were to inherit the land.
God told Moses to go up to the top of a mountain and see the land that God intended to give to the Israelites. After Moses had seen the land his life would be at its end. Moses asked God to appoint a new leader. God chose Joshua, so in front of the whole assembly, Moses put his hand on Joshua and conferred power upon him.
Chapter 28 reviews the requirements for offerings. (Similar to Leviticus 23 - Feb 7)
Daily Offerings were made by offering two lambs a year old, one in the morning and one at twilight. These were to be offered with a grain offering and wine as a drink offering.
Sabbath Offerings were made on the Sabbath day with two lambs with drink and grain offerings.
Monthly Offerings were made on the first of every month (at the new moon.) This required two young bulls, one ram and 7 male lambs. Along with each animal offered, a grain offering and drink offering was also required.
The Passover was on the 14th day of the 1st month. On the fifteenth day a festival began that lasted a week during which time they were to eat unleavened bread. They were to hold a sacred assembly and do no work. The offerings were to be 2 young bulls, one ram and 7 male lambs a year old. With each animal was to be a grain offering.
The Feast of Weeks began on the first day of harvest, they made a grain offering and held a sacred assembly and did no regular work. A burnt offering of 2 young bulls, 1 ram and 7 lambs a year old and their grain and drink offerings were required.
It makes sense that these things needed to be reviewed since new people were in charge.
Tomorrow read Numbers 29-31:47
Ephraim............32,500
Benjamin...........45,600
Dan................64,400
Asher..............53,400
Naphtali...........45,400
Total.....................601,730
God told them to divide the land according to size of the tribe. Larger space for a larger number of people, smaller space for smaller number of people.
The Levites numbered 23,000 and were not included in the regular census, because they didn't receive an inheritance, just as before. (The first census was in Numbers ch 1, Feb 9. Taken the first month of the second year after they left Egypt.)
A genealogy of Moses is given in ch 26:57-61 - Levi-Kohath-Amram-Moses
Just as God had said all the Israelites who left Egypt died and only Joshua and Caleb were still alive. (Num 14:29-35) All of the people left were their children.
Five sisters from the tribe of Manasseh came to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting to ask Moses whether they could inherit their father's land since there weren't any male heirs remaining in their family. Moses took it to God and God told him the sisters were right, that they were to inherit the land.
God told Moses to go up to the top of a mountain and see the land that God intended to give to the Israelites. After Moses had seen the land his life would be at its end. Moses asked God to appoint a new leader. God chose Joshua, so in front of the whole assembly, Moses put his hand on Joshua and conferred power upon him.
Chapter 28 reviews the requirements for offerings. (Similar to Leviticus 23 - Feb 7)
Daily Offerings were made by offering two lambs a year old, one in the morning and one at twilight. These were to be offered with a grain offering and wine as a drink offering.
Sabbath Offerings were made on the Sabbath day with two lambs with drink and grain offerings.
Monthly Offerings were made on the first of every month (at the new moon.) This required two young bulls, one ram and 7 male lambs. Along with each animal offered, a grain offering and drink offering was also required.
The Passover was on the 14th day of the 1st month. On the fifteenth day a festival began that lasted a week during which time they were to eat unleavened bread. They were to hold a sacred assembly and do no work. The offerings were to be 2 young bulls, one ram and 7 male lambs a year old. With each animal was to be a grain offering.
The Feast of Weeks began on the first day of harvest, they made a grain offering and held a sacred assembly and did no regular work. A burnt offering of 2 young bulls, 1 ram and 7 lambs a year old and their grain and drink offerings were required.
It makes sense that these things needed to be reviewed since new people were in charge.
Tomorrow read Numbers 29-31:47
20100219
Feb 19, 2010 Num 24 - 26:34
Balaam continued to bless Israel twice more, much to the chagrin of Balak. Things just don't seem to work out the way we think they should... Balak gave Balaam a piece of his mind, Balaam went home and so did Balak.
The ladies of Moab were interested in the Israelite lads and seduced them to join in frolic and commit to worship of Baal. God told Moses to have the leaders of the tribes kill those who joined in worshipping other Gods. They slaughtered the people who had betrayed God. They were all weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting when, right in front of them all Zimri, an Israelite brought Cozbi, a Midianite woman into their midst. Phinehas the son of Eleazar grabbed a spear and squewered them both right there in the tent. The bible refers to this slaughter as a plague. The plague stopped after 24,000 people were dead. The Lord told Moses that He would bless Phinehas for generations because he stood firm defending God. Then the Lord told them to attack the Midianites.
But first they were to count all the men age 20 and up, able to go to war.
The census was as follows:
Reuben.................43,730
Simeon.................22,200
Gad....................40,500
Judah..................76,500
Issachar...............64,300
Zebulun................60,500
Manassah...............52,700
Tomorrow read Numbers 26:35-ch 28
The ladies of Moab were interested in the Israelite lads and seduced them to join in frolic and commit to worship of Baal. God told Moses to have the leaders of the tribes kill those who joined in worshipping other Gods. They slaughtered the people who had betrayed God. They were all weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting when, right in front of them all Zimri, an Israelite brought Cozbi, a Midianite woman into their midst. Phinehas the son of Eleazar grabbed a spear and squewered them both right there in the tent. The bible refers to this slaughter as a plague. The plague stopped after 24,000 people were dead. The Lord told Moses that He would bless Phinehas for generations because he stood firm defending God. Then the Lord told them to attack the Midianites.
But first they were to count all the men age 20 and up, able to go to war.
The census was as follows:
Reuben.................43,730
Simeon.................22,200
Gad....................40,500
Judah..................76,500
Issachar...............64,300
Zebulun................60,500
Manassah...............52,700
Tomorrow read Numbers 26:35-ch 28
20100217
Feb 18, 2010 Num 21-23
I found this donkey on boyslife.org, they have a contest for the best caption. Why a donkey??? Well you'll soon know!
The Israelites had traveled far enough to begin bumping into other civilizations. After the Edomites they came upon the Canaanites. The Israelites promised God that if He would deliver their enemies to them they would completely destroy their cities. The Lord listened and the cities were destroyed.
The Israelites continued to skirt around Edom, which made them complain, again. They whined to Moses and God that they would rather have stayed in Egypt where they were comfortable and had good food to eat instead of that contemptible manna! The Lord sent firey serpents among them and many died. So they changed their tune and asked Moses to ask God to help them. So God told Moses to make a firey serpent out of bronze and put it on a pole, so that anyone who was bitten could look at it and live. Jesus teaches about this in John 3:14-15.
They traveled through many lands and came to the land of the Amorites and sent them a nice note just like the ones they sent to the Edomites. But the king would not let them pass and instead went out to attack them. They lost. Israel took all their cities and stayed there a while. The same thing happened to the kingdom of Bashan.
Here's the part with the donkey...
Balak, the king of Moab was terrified that the Israelites would do to his kingdom what they had done to the Amorites. Balak sent messengers to the holy man, Balaam to come over and put a curse on the Israelites for him. Sounds a bit like voodoo. After asking again and offering to pay Balaam more money God told him to go ahead and go with Balak, but to only say what God told him to and nothing else. On the way, Balaam's donkey sees an angel standing in her way and three times she ends up vexing or injuring Balaam and each time he beats her for it. God let the donkey talk to Balaam and asked him what she had done to deserve to be beaten? This part reminded me of Shrek with the talking donkey. Anyway, Balaam tells her that if he had a sword he'd kill her right then and there. Then she asks him whether she's ever done anything like that to him before? Nope. Then God let Balaam see the angel that had scared the donkey. The angel told him that if it weren't for the donkey stopping as she did he would have killed Balaam and saved her. Balaam apologized to the angel and said he would turn back, but then the angel told him to go ahead and go, but to only speak what he was told to. Naturally Balak was excited when he saw that Balaam was coming. Balak made burnt offerings and wanted Balaam to make the curse. Balaam only said he could only do what God told him to do. The only thing he could do was bless the Israelites, not curse them. This happened three times. It will happen twice more as we will read tomorrow.
Part of what I like about this passage is that it shows that God appeared to other people besides the Israelites. And that animals can see angels and talk!
Tomorrow read Numbers 24-26:34
20100216
Feb 17, 2010 Numbers 17-20
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. I am going to give up various and sundry possessions which I will pass on to others. I need a plan...
The power struggle continued among the Israelites. God gave them a sign of His will by having each leader from each tribe bring a staff with their name on it to the Tent of Meeting. Moses placed the twelve staffs inside the Tent of the Testimony overnight. Whoever had the staff which budded was the leader God had chosen. Aaron's staff not only budded, but it blossomed and produced almonds! Aaron's staff was to be kept in front of the Testimony (the ark holding the stone tablets) to remind the Israelites who is in charge and to stop complaining.
The priests were responsible for many things. From offenses against the sanctuary, and against the priesthood, to the care of the sanctuary. The Lord told them to bring other members of the Levites to help them in their duties. They were to obey what the priests asked of them. Along with responsibility comes privelege. One of the privileges was that God gave Aaron and his sons and their families who were ceremonially clean the offerings from the altar to eat. All they had the Lord gave them. They were to offer a tenth of what they received as a tithe to the Lord.
In ch 19 instructions are given for making the water of cleansing by slaughtering and burning a red heifer without defect. The ashes were collected and placed in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. It was to be used purify a person after touching a dead body. When someone needed the water of cleansing they were to take a jar, place some of the ashes into it and pour fresh water over them. The water was sprinkled over possessions and people using a bunch of hyssop (an herb with purple flowers.)
The Israelites arrived at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. Miriam died and they buried her. There was no water for the animals or the people to drink and the people started complaining. Moses and Aaron went to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown and the Lord appeared to them. God told Moses to take his staff and gather the assembly and talk to the rock and enough water would come from it to satisfy the thirst of all. Instead, Moses scolded the people and hit the rock with the stick twice and water poured out just as God had said it would. The problem was that Moses did not follow God's commandments exactly as he was told to. God told Moses that because he didn't trust Him, Moses wouldn't be the one to bring the Israelites into the promised land.
Remember Jacob's twin brother Esau? He was the father of the Edomites. They were back to where the Edomites were and needed to pass through their land. Moses sent messengers with a very nice request to allow them to pass and the Edomites denied them. They asked again and were denied again and this time they came out with their swords. The Israelites left Kadesh and went to Mount Hor.
God told Moses that Aaron's life was going to end. God wanted Eleazar to replace him. So that everyone would see the transfer of authority, God told Moses to take Aaron and Eleazar up on the mount and remove Aaron's priestly garments and place them on Eleazar. After this was done Aaron died on the mountain. The entire community mourned him for 30 days.
Tomorrow read Numbers 21-23
The power struggle continued among the Israelites. God gave them a sign of His will by having each leader from each tribe bring a staff with their name on it to the Tent of Meeting. Moses placed the twelve staffs inside the Tent of the Testimony overnight. Whoever had the staff which budded was the leader God had chosen. Aaron's staff not only budded, but it blossomed and produced almonds! Aaron's staff was to be kept in front of the Testimony (the ark holding the stone tablets) to remind the Israelites who is in charge and to stop complaining.
The priests were responsible for many things. From offenses against the sanctuary, and against the priesthood, to the care of the sanctuary. The Lord told them to bring other members of the Levites to help them in their duties. They were to obey what the priests asked of them. Along with responsibility comes privelege. One of the privileges was that God gave Aaron and his sons and their families who were ceremonially clean the offerings from the altar to eat. All they had the Lord gave them. They were to offer a tenth of what they received as a tithe to the Lord.
In ch 19 instructions are given for making the water of cleansing by slaughtering and burning a red heifer without defect. The ashes were collected and placed in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. It was to be used purify a person after touching a dead body. When someone needed the water of cleansing they were to take a jar, place some of the ashes into it and pour fresh water over them. The water was sprinkled over possessions and people using a bunch of hyssop (an herb with purple flowers.)
The Israelites arrived at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. Miriam died and they buried her. There was no water for the animals or the people to drink and the people started complaining. Moses and Aaron went to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown and the Lord appeared to them. God told Moses to take his staff and gather the assembly and talk to the rock and enough water would come from it to satisfy the thirst of all. Instead, Moses scolded the people and hit the rock with the stick twice and water poured out just as God had said it would. The problem was that Moses did not follow God's commandments exactly as he was told to. God told Moses that because he didn't trust Him, Moses wouldn't be the one to bring the Israelites into the promised land.
Remember Jacob's twin brother Esau? He was the father of the Edomites. They were back to where the Edomites were and needed to pass through their land. Moses sent messengers with a very nice request to allow them to pass and the Edomites denied them. They asked again and were denied again and this time they came out with their swords. The Israelites left Kadesh and went to Mount Hor.
God told Moses that Aaron's life was going to end. God wanted Eleazar to replace him. So that everyone would see the transfer of authority, God told Moses to take Aaron and Eleazar up on the mount and remove Aaron's priestly garments and place them on Eleazar. After this was done Aaron died on the mountain. The entire community mourned him for 30 days.
Tomorrow read Numbers 21-23
20100215
Feb 16, 2010 Numbers 15:22-16
Today is Fat Tuesday. This picture was taken by my daughter, Nicole Foran as we strolled through the French Quarter last month. Something about today being Mardi Gras and expressing high spirits before Lent seems oddly appropriate for this scripture passage...
Offerings for unintentional sins are reviewed. If the whole community sinned unintentionally they made a burnt offering of a young bull along with its grain offering and drink offering, as well as a male goat for a sin offering, they would be forgiven. If an individual sinned unintentionally, a sin offering of a year old female goat was required and he would be forgiven. This was required of anyone in the community whether Israelite or other people living among them. Then their sins would be forgiven. Anyone sinning intentionally blasphemes against the Lord and was to be cut off from among the people and they would remain guilty.
A man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath. Those who found him brought him to Moses and Aaron for judgement. God told Moses that the man must die, that everyone was to take him outside the camp and stone him to death. So they did.
Everyone was commanded to put tassels on the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. This was to help them think about God constantly and remember to keep His commandments.
Chapter 16 tells of a rebellion of 250 men. It seems that some of the younger Levites (Kohathites and Reubenites) named Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On, had gotten very proud of themselves, and staged a coup. Included in this group were highly respected leaders and members of the council of 70 elders. When Moses and Aaron heard their accusations they fell down on their faces. Moses told them that in the morning they would know whom God had chosen and to bring cencers with fire and incense to the Tent of Meeting and the Lord would choose the holy one. Moses asked them whether being set apart to do God's work was enough for them and why did they want the priesthood too? Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, but they would not come. Then Moses got angry because he hadn't done anything wrong to them. He didn't deserve their anger.
The next morning they all gathered with their censers at the Tent of Meeting. The glory of the Lord appeared to them. God told Moses and Aaron to move away from the crowd. They fell on their faces and begged God not to punish everyone because of a few. So God told them to have everyone move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Moses told them that they would know who was in charge by what would happen next. If they died a natural death then Moses had not been sent by God. If they died because of something unimaginable, like being swallowed alive by the earth, then they would know that they had treated God with contempt. Then the earth opened up and swallowed them and their families. They were buried alive. Then fire came out from the Lord and burned up the 250 men. Moses had Eleazar gather the censers from the smoldering ashes because they were holy. Then he had them hammered out flat to overlay the altar. This was to remind them that only descendants of Aaron were worthy to burn incense before the Lord.
The next day everyone was grumbling that Moses and Aaron had killed the Lord's people. They all rose up against Moses and Aaron at the Tent of Meeting. The Lord told Moses to get away from the people so he could put an end to them at once. Moses and Aaron fell on their faces. Moses told Aaron to fill a censer with fire and incense and take it out to where the people were to make atonement for their sin of disobedience. He did, and stopped the plague in its tracks. He stood between the living and the dead. The dead numbered 14,700 in addition to the 250 who followed Korah.
Tomorrow read Numbers 17-20
20100214
Feb 15, 2010 Numbers 13:17-15:21
Moses gave the expedition instructions to find out about the land and people. The explorers were gone 40 days. They reported to Moses, Aaron and the whole community that while the land was indeed bountiful, the people were many and strong. They went on about how mighty the people were and scared everyone by suggesting that they couldn't be defeated. Then Caleb stood up and shushed them all and told Moses that they should go and take possession of the promised land. The other men who had gone on the expedition said that the current inhabitants couldn't be defeated and that they'd lose. They said that they looked like grasshoppers to the Nephilim (Jan 2 entry) and that they looked like grasshoppers to themselves too. (I guess they forgot that they had God on their side!)
That night everyone was sad and depressed because they believed the lies these men told. Then they started talking about going back to Egypt. Moses and Aaron just fell down on their faces. Caleb and Joshua (his name was changed from Hoshea by Moses) tore their clothes and told the whole community that God was on their side and not to be afraid. Then the people wanted to stone them! Just then God came down to the Tent of Meeting and asked Moses when the people would believe in him after all the miracles they had witnessed. God was so mad he wanted to strike them down with a plague. Moses talked with God, saying that everyone who knew about the Israelites knew about Him and that it was by His power that the Israelites left Egypt and that they would believe the lie that God couldn't deliver His promise, so He slaughtered the people in the desert. Then Moses told God to punish the guilty and asked Him to forgive the sin of the people. God forgave them, but he said that all the people who had witnessed all the miracles in Egypt would not live long enough to see the promised land. That for 40 years their children would be shepherds and nomads and that the very things they had been afraid of would happen to them. God promised that Joshua and Caleb would be blessed and enter the land as promised. God caused a plague to kill all the explorers who had spread the bad report of the land except for Joshua and Caleb. Then the Israelites felt bad and decided to go and fight for the land after God had cursed them. It's like those people who don't like the consequences of their choices and try to get a do over. Moses told them not to go, but of course they didn't listen. They lost.
In ch 15 God instructs the Israelites to make a burnt offering to him in the land He will give them. Everyone native-born or alien was to make the offerings to God.
Tomorrow read Numbers 15:22-16
That night everyone was sad and depressed because they believed the lies these men told. Then they started talking about going back to Egypt. Moses and Aaron just fell down on their faces. Caleb and Joshua (his name was changed from Hoshea by Moses) tore their clothes and told the whole community that God was on their side and not to be afraid. Then the people wanted to stone them! Just then God came down to the Tent of Meeting and asked Moses when the people would believe in him after all the miracles they had witnessed. God was so mad he wanted to strike them down with a plague. Moses talked with God, saying that everyone who knew about the Israelites knew about Him and that it was by His power that the Israelites left Egypt and that they would believe the lie that God couldn't deliver His promise, so He slaughtered the people in the desert. Then Moses told God to punish the guilty and asked Him to forgive the sin of the people. God forgave them, but he said that all the people who had witnessed all the miracles in Egypt would not live long enough to see the promised land. That for 40 years their children would be shepherds and nomads and that the very things they had been afraid of would happen to them. God promised that Joshua and Caleb would be blessed and enter the land as promised. God caused a plague to kill all the explorers who had spread the bad report of the land except for Joshua and Caleb. Then the Israelites felt bad and decided to go and fight for the land after God had cursed them. It's like those people who don't like the consequences of their choices and try to get a do over. Moses told them not to go, but of course they didn't listen. They lost.
In ch 15 God instructs the Israelites to make a burnt offering to him in the land He will give them. Everyone native-born or alien was to make the offerings to God.
Tomorrow read Numbers 15:22-16
Feb 14, 2010 Numbers 10:11-13:16
Happy Valentine's Day! "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." 1 John 4:16b
In the 2nd year, 2nd month, 20th day the cloud lifted from the tabernacle, which meant it was time for the Israelites to "pull up stakes" and move. This was the first time they moved to a new location since the tabernacle was made. They moved out just as God had said. They followed the same order as when they presented their offerings to the altar. First Judah and Issachar went. Then the tabernacle was taken down and carried by the Gershonites and Merarites. After that came Reuben, Simeon and Gad followed by the Kohathites with the holy things from inside the tabernacle. (This way, the tabernacle would arrive and be set up so that the holy things could be placed inside immediately.) The Kohathites with the holy things were followed by Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin. Dan, Asher and Naphtali brought up the rear.
The son of Moses' father-in-law, Hobab wanted to return to his home. Moses begged him to stay and help them navigate in the desert since he knew the territory - sort of like a trail guide. It doesn't say so, but I guess Hobab did as Moses asked. Whenever the ark set out Moses asked God to protect them on their journey. Whenever it came to rest he asked God to come back and live with them. They traveled 3 days and the people started complaining. God was angry because He could hear them and He made His fire burn around the outskirts of the camp. They begged Moses to ask the Lord to make stop. And it did.
Chapter 11 also refers to "the rabble" which, in one version of the bible is defined as people who followed the Israelites out of Egypt. They began whining about the food. Manna from heaven just wasn't what they had a taste for, they wanted meat. They wanted the free fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic from back in Egypt. They remind me of the type of people who want a good solid get-rich-quick-scheme! Also, since they were not Israelites I wonder if they got mad about all the animals sacrificed? Apparently they were a bad influence, because soon everyone was wailing about the food. Moses asked the Lord why He had put him in charge since they weren't really his responsibility? He told the Lord that he couldn't carry them all and that the burden was too heavy. It's like he told God, just kill me now if this was how it is! So the Lord had Moses bring back the 70 elders of Israel (Jan 24) and He would put His Spirit on them so they could help Moses. Two of the 70 began prophesying in the camp and Joshua ran and told Moses to make them stop. But Moses told him that he wished everyone in the camp was a prophet.
God answered their meat demand with quail. He said they would have so much it would come out of their nostrils and they would soon hate it. Moses had doubts that the people would ever be satisfied no matter how much they were given. God told him to watch and see. The birds flew about 3 feet off the ground so the people could get all they wanted. As they were drying the meat God became angry and smote them with a plague.
Moses had married a Cushite woman (it doesn't say what happened to Zipporah) which angered Miriam and Aaron. They talked against Moses and God heard them. He summoned the three of them to the Tent of Meeting and spoke to them from the cloud and told them that He speaks to prophets in dreams and visions, but He speaks with Moses face to face, clearly, without riddles. When the cloud lifted from the tent Miriam had leprosy. She was white as a ghost. Then they were sorry! Moses being the humble guy that he was asked God to heal her and He did after 7 days. When she was healed they moved on to camp in the Wilderness of Paran.
God told Moses to send out a scouting expedition made up of members of each tribe to explore the land of Canaan, the land He had promised to Abraham. (Jan 4 entry)
Tomorrow read Numbers 13:17-15:21
20100213
Feb 13, 2010 Numbers 7:60-10:10
The ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni of the tribe of Benjamin brought his offering.
The tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai of the tribe of Dan brought his offering.
The eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran of the tribe of Asher brought his offering.
The twelfth day Ahira son of Enan of the tribe of Naphtali brought his offering.
Many people wonder why the bible lists the offerings for each tribe separately repeating the exact same list 12 times. I believe the reason is rather simple. By describing the events in this way favor was not given to any single tribe. Each tribe was accorded its own day for offering. There was no competition for "the best" gift for God. Knowing us completely as God does, he knew it was absolutely necessary that each gift be identical in as many ways as possible. He knows we tend to fight about nearly everything if it's possible, so He eliminated favoritism by listing each identical offering completely and separately.
I like the final tally at the end of Chapter 7:
-12 silver plates and 12 silver sprinkling bowls weighing 2,400 shekels.
-12 gold dishes filled with incense weighing 120 shekels.
Burnt offering animals - 12 young bulls, 12 rams, 12 male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering.
Sin offering animals - 12 male goats.
Fellowship offering animals - 24 oxen, 60 rams, 60 male goats and 60 male lambs a year old.
This tells me that the dedication of the altar was extremely important.
In chapter 8 the Lord told Moses that the lamp is supposed to be set up to illuminate the area in front of it.
Then the Lord told Moses to set apart the Levite men ages 25-50 who were to work in the Tent of Meeting and assist in the work of the tabernacle. All the people were gathered to witness the ceremonial cleansing ritual. Aaron was to present the Levites to the Lord as a wave offering from the Israelites. In this process God claimed them as his own in place of the firstborn of Israel.
The Passover was to be celebrated on the 14th day of the 1st month by everyone. If they were ceremonially unclean or on a journey they were to celebrate it on the 14th day of the 2nd month. They were to follow the regulations just as they had been commanded.
There was a cloud of fire over the tabernacle from the glory of God who lived there and sat on the mercy seat. That was the place on the cover of the ark between the cherubim wings. When the Israelites saw the cloud they stayed put, when it lifted, that was a sign for them to travel. They did what God commanded them to do.
Chapter 10 describes two silver trumpets made to call the community together and as a signal when each tribe was to travel. It would be a mess if they just all started out all at once. Different signals were used to mean different things. I imagine that the Israelites campground was HUGE! It must have been hard to communicate between tribes and from one end to the other.
Tomorrow read Numbers 10:11-13:16
The tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai of the tribe of Dan brought his offering.
The eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran of the tribe of Asher brought his offering.
The twelfth day Ahira son of Enan of the tribe of Naphtali brought his offering.
Many people wonder why the bible lists the offerings for each tribe separately repeating the exact same list 12 times. I believe the reason is rather simple. By describing the events in this way favor was not given to any single tribe. Each tribe was accorded its own day for offering. There was no competition for "the best" gift for God. Knowing us completely as God does, he knew it was absolutely necessary that each gift be identical in as many ways as possible. He knows we tend to fight about nearly everything if it's possible, so He eliminated favoritism by listing each identical offering completely and separately.
I like the final tally at the end of Chapter 7:
-12 silver plates and 12 silver sprinkling bowls weighing 2,400 shekels.
-12 gold dishes filled with incense weighing 120 shekels.
Burnt offering animals - 12 young bulls, 12 rams, 12 male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering.
Sin offering animals - 12 male goats.
Fellowship offering animals - 24 oxen, 60 rams, 60 male goats and 60 male lambs a year old.
This tells me that the dedication of the altar was extremely important.
In chapter 8 the Lord told Moses that the lamp is supposed to be set up to illuminate the area in front of it.
Then the Lord told Moses to set apart the Levite men ages 25-50 who were to work in the Tent of Meeting and assist in the work of the tabernacle. All the people were gathered to witness the ceremonial cleansing ritual. Aaron was to present the Levites to the Lord as a wave offering from the Israelites. In this process God claimed them as his own in place of the firstborn of Israel.
The Passover was to be celebrated on the 14th day of the 1st month by everyone. If they were ceremonially unclean or on a journey they were to celebrate it on the 14th day of the 2nd month. They were to follow the regulations just as they had been commanded.
There was a cloud of fire over the tabernacle from the glory of God who lived there and sat on the mercy seat. That was the place on the cover of the ark between the cherubim wings. When the Israelites saw the cloud they stayed put, when it lifted, that was a sign for them to travel. They did what God commanded them to do.
Chapter 10 describes two silver trumpets made to call the community together and as a signal when each tribe was to travel. It would be a mess if they just all started out all at once. Different signals were used to mean different things. I imagine that the Israelites campground was HUGE! It must have been hard to communicate between tribes and from one end to the other.
Tomorrow read Numbers 10:11-13:16
20100212
Feb 12, 2010 Numbers 5:23-7:59
Bitter water 2.0 We left our suspected adulteress as she stood before the Lord with her hair loosed holding a grain offering for jealousy, a reminder of guilt. The priest said the words of the curse and the woman agreed.
The priest wrote the curses on a scroll, (the part about her people cursing and denouncing her when her thigh shriveled and her abdomen swelled) then washed them off into the water (with the dust from the sanctuary floor), which she would drink. If she was guilty her thigh would shrivel and her abdomen swell. If nothing happened she was innocent and was cleared of guilt. The husband was innocent of any wrongdoing.
Chapter 6 tells about the Nazirite. This was a man or woman who wanted to make a special vow to be close to God for a specified period of time. They had to do three things. First they couldn't drink wine or other fermented drinks, wine vinegar or strong drinks. They could eat nothing from the grapevine - grape juice, grapes, raisins, seeds or skins. Second they were not to cut their hair or shave. Third they were not to go near a dead body - even if it was a close relative. If it happened that someone dropped dead in their presence, they could make an offering for it. After they were done with their time with God they would shave their heads, and burn the hair. Then an offering was made and they had completed their vow. Except for the head shaving part this reminds me of lent and how people give up stuff to show their devotion to God.
Chapter 7 describes offerings at the dedication of the Tabernacle. The leaders of the twelve tribes came forward to give their gifts and brought six carts and twelve oxen. One ox from each tribe and a cart from two tribes. These were divided among the Levites according to the task assigned to them in caring for the tabernacle. After the altar was anointed each leader came forward with the offering from his tribe, one each day of dedication of the altar. Each of the twelve leaders brought the same offering. Each offering consisted of the following:
-1 silver plate weighing 130 shekels
-1 silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70 shekels,
(each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering)
-1 gold dish weighing 10 shekels filled with incense
-A burnt offering of 1 young bull, 1 ram, 1 male lamb 1 year old
-A sin offering of 1 male goat
-A fellowship offering of 2 oxen, 5 rams, 5 male goats, 5 male lambs 1 year old
The first day Nahshon son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah brought his offering.
The second day Nethanel son of Zuar of the tribe of Issachar brought his offering.
The third day Eliab son of Helon of the tribe of Zebulun brought his offering.
The fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur of the tribe of Reuben brought his offering.
The fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai of the tribe of Simeon brought his offering.
The sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel of the tribe of Gad brought his offering.
The seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud of the tribe of Ephraim brought his offering.
The eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur of the tribe of Manasseh brought his offering.
I must confess I get very distracted by all these tongue tangling names!
Tomorrow we'll pick it up with the 9th day.
Read Numbers 7:60-10:10
The priest wrote the curses on a scroll, (the part about her people cursing and denouncing her when her thigh shriveled and her abdomen swelled) then washed them off into the water (with the dust from the sanctuary floor), which she would drink. If she was guilty her thigh would shrivel and her abdomen swell. If nothing happened she was innocent and was cleared of guilt. The husband was innocent of any wrongdoing.
Chapter 6 tells about the Nazirite. This was a man or woman who wanted to make a special vow to be close to God for a specified period of time. They had to do three things. First they couldn't drink wine or other fermented drinks, wine vinegar or strong drinks. They could eat nothing from the grapevine - grape juice, grapes, raisins, seeds or skins. Second they were not to cut their hair or shave. Third they were not to go near a dead body - even if it was a close relative. If it happened that someone dropped dead in their presence, they could make an offering for it. After they were done with their time with God they would shave their heads, and burn the hair. Then an offering was made and they had completed their vow. Except for the head shaving part this reminds me of lent and how people give up stuff to show their devotion to God.
Chapter 7 describes offerings at the dedication of the Tabernacle. The leaders of the twelve tribes came forward to give their gifts and brought six carts and twelve oxen. One ox from each tribe and a cart from two tribes. These were divided among the Levites according to the task assigned to them in caring for the tabernacle. After the altar was anointed each leader came forward with the offering from his tribe, one each day of dedication of the altar. Each of the twelve leaders brought the same offering. Each offering consisted of the following:
-1 silver plate weighing 130 shekels
-1 silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70 shekels,
(each filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering)
-1 gold dish weighing 10 shekels filled with incense
-A burnt offering of 1 young bull, 1 ram, 1 male lamb 1 year old
-A sin offering of 1 male goat
-A fellowship offering of 2 oxen, 5 rams, 5 male goats, 5 male lambs 1 year old
The first day Nahshon son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah brought his offering.
The second day Nethanel son of Zuar of the tribe of Issachar brought his offering.
The third day Eliab son of Helon of the tribe of Zebulun brought his offering.
The fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur of the tribe of Reuben brought his offering.
The fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai of the tribe of Simeon brought his offering.
The sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel of the tribe of Gad brought his offering.
The seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud of the tribe of Ephraim brought his offering.
The eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur of the tribe of Manasseh brought his offering.
I must confess I get very distracted by all these tongue tangling names!
Tomorrow we'll pick it up with the 9th day.
Read Numbers 7:60-10:10
20100211
Feb 11, 2010 Numbers 3:33-5:22
The Merarite clans were 6200 strong. They were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. They were appointed to care for the frames, crossbars, posts, and bases as well as posts of the surrounding courtyard, bases, pegs and ropes.
Moses, Aaron and his sons were to camp on the east of the tabernacle in front of the Tent of Meeting, toward the sunrise. They were to care for the sanctuary and anyone else who came near was to be put to death. God only allowed His priests to enter.
So, the total number of Levites was 22,000. Now, when I add 7500+8600+6200 I get a different answer by 300 extra people! I wondered if they took out all the boys 1 month old up to age 20 as in the other tribes? But I couldn't find anything about that. Then I looked back through my bible to see if I missed something. I noticed a footnote from Numbers 3:28 which says that some Hebrew manuscripts list this number as 8300, not 8600. Maybe that's the difference. Then the Lord has Moses count all the firstborn of the Israelites - firstborns are important whether human or animal because we belong to God. This time they counted just the humans 1 month old or more and came up with 22,273. God wanted the Levites to take the place of the firstborn of the Israelites, except there were 273 more than the Levites. To make up for that they each paid 5 shekels for their redemption. God gave the money to Aaron and his sons.
Aaron and his sons were to cover each object inside the sanctuary with special cloths and coverings made of marine animal hide (dugong or sea cow) and prepare them to be moved by the Kohathite men, their number was 2,750. The Gershonite men who moved all the curtains numbered 2,630. The Merarite men numbered 3200. All the men were aged 30-50. Each man was assigned a special task and told what to carry by God.
The command to send away from the camp anyone with an infectious skin disease was repeated. If a man or woman wronged another person they were to make full restitution by confessing the wrong, and returning the full value plus 20% to the person or family. This was in addition to the ram to atone for the sin against God.
Bitter water. The test for an unfaithful wife. If a man had "feelings of jealousy" but no proof that his wife wasn't faithful to him, (or if he did have proof) he could take her to the priest along with a grain offering for jealousy, and have her tested. The test involved drinking bitter water made by the priest from holy water and dust from the tabernacle floor. If she was innocent the bitter water would not bring a curse to her, but if she was guilty her thigh would shrivel and her abdomen would swell. She would be cursed and denounced by her own people. The woman's comment was "Amen. So be it." There's more... which we'll learn about tomorrow.
Next read Numbers 5:23-7:59
Moses, Aaron and his sons were to camp on the east of the tabernacle in front of the Tent of Meeting, toward the sunrise. They were to care for the sanctuary and anyone else who came near was to be put to death. God only allowed His priests to enter.
So, the total number of Levites was 22,000. Now, when I add 7500+8600+6200 I get a different answer by 300 extra people! I wondered if they took out all the boys 1 month old up to age 20 as in the other tribes? But I couldn't find anything about that. Then I looked back through my bible to see if I missed something. I noticed a footnote from Numbers 3:28 which says that some Hebrew manuscripts list this number as 8300, not 8600. Maybe that's the difference. Then the Lord has Moses count all the firstborn of the Israelites - firstborns are important whether human or animal because we belong to God. This time they counted just the humans 1 month old or more and came up with 22,273. God wanted the Levites to take the place of the firstborn of the Israelites, except there were 273 more than the Levites. To make up for that they each paid 5 shekels for their redemption. God gave the money to Aaron and his sons.
Aaron and his sons were to cover each object inside the sanctuary with special cloths and coverings made of marine animal hide (dugong or sea cow) and prepare them to be moved by the Kohathite men, their number was 2,750. The Gershonite men who moved all the curtains numbered 2,630. The Merarite men numbered 3200. All the men were aged 30-50. Each man was assigned a special task and told what to carry by God.
The command to send away from the camp anyone with an infectious skin disease was repeated. If a man or woman wronged another person they were to make full restitution by confessing the wrong, and returning the full value plus 20% to the person or family. This was in addition to the ram to atone for the sin against God.
Bitter water. The test for an unfaithful wife. If a man had "feelings of jealousy" but no proof that his wife wasn't faithful to him, (or if he did have proof) he could take her to the priest along with a grain offering for jealousy, and have her tested. The test involved drinking bitter water made by the priest from holy water and dust from the tabernacle floor. If she was innocent the bitter water would not bring a curse to her, but if she was guilty her thigh would shrivel and her abdomen would swell. She would be cursed and denounced by her own people. The woman's comment was "Amen. So be it." There's more... which we'll learn about tomorrow.
Next read Numbers 5:23-7:59
20100210
Feb 10, 2010 Numbers 1:42-3:32
This map is from ebibleteacher.com and it depicts the layout of the tribal camps of the twelve tribes. Yesterday we read about the census, but today we learn that the tribe of Levi was not included in the census because the Lord told them not to. The tribe of Levi was to be the only tribe given responsibility for the sanctuary and everything in it. They were to take it down, move it and set it up again whenever the Israelites moved to a new place. During travel, the Levites with the tabernacle and all its furnishings were to travel in the middle. Once they arrived wherever the Lord had taken them, the Levites were to camp all around the tabernacle so that wrath would not fall on the Israelite community. While they were camped, each tribe was identified by its own standard. I assume this is basically a banner or flag and I would love to know what they looked like.
Chapter 33 gives more detail about the Levites. Aaron the brother of Moses and his two remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar were the anointed priests, ordained to serve as priests. (Ordain-to invest with priestly authority or confer holy orders upon) There were only these two priests during Aaron's lifetime. That seems like a HUGE job for just two guys! So God gave them some help from their own tribe in doing the work of the tabernacle. Aaron and his sons were the only ones allowed inside without fear of death. This was the Lord's house on earth and He did exactly as He wanted to do. The Levites were commanded to count every male a month old or more. Well, there's a good reason why this book is called "Numbers" it is a very descriptive name!
Levi-3 sons and 8 grandsons
-Gershon (Gershonite clans)
----Libni & Shimei (Libnites and Shimeites 7500)
They were to camp on the west behind the tabernacle. They were responsible for the care of the tabernacle and tent, its coverings, curtains, and ropes.
-Kohath (Kohathite clans)
----Amram, Izhar, Hebron & Uzziel (Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites 8600)
They were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle. They were responsible for the care of the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used in ministering.
-Merari (Merarite clans)
----Mahli and Mushi
Tomorrow read about the Merarite clans in Numbers 3:33-5:22
20100209
Feb 9, 2010 Leviticus 26:14 to end Numbers 1:1-41
Yesterday's passage listed how the Lord would bless and reward obedience to His commandments. Today's passage talks about punishment for disobedience. People will be driven crazy by fear. Their enemies will defeat them. Their fruits would be dead. They would be consumed by disease, wild animals and the sword. The bread they would eat would not satisfy their hunger. Dead bodies would be piled on the lifeless forms of their idols. God would not destroy them completely and break His covenant.
The last chapter of Leviticus begins by giving value to people who were dedicated to the Lord. Below is a table of those values.
Age.......Sex.....Shekels....Weight......Equivalent of today's silver value $15.40/oz
20-60......M........50........20.oz........$308.00
20-60......F........30........12.oz........$184.80
05-20......M........20.........8.oz........$123.20
05-20......F........10.........4.oz.........$61.60
1M-5yr.....M.........5.........2.oz.........$30.80
1M-5yr.....F.........3........1.25.oz.......$19.25
60+yr......M........15.........6.oz.........$92.40
60+yr......F........10.........4.oz.........$61.60
Many possessions could be dedicated to the Lord and made holy, such as animals, houses, and land. No one could devote the firstborn animal since they all ready belonged to the Lord.
Numbers begins with a census. This is a census year here in the United States too. On the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, God commanded Moses to call a man from each Tribe to be in charge of counting his own tribe. They were the heads of the tribes of Israel. All men 20 years and older who were able to serve in the army were listed by name.
From the tribe of...
Reuben....46,500
Simeon....59,300
Gad.......45,650
Judah.....74,600
Issachar..54,400
Zebulun...57,400
Ephraim...40,500
Manasseh..32,200
Benjamin..35,400
Dan.......62,700
Asher.....41,500
Naphtali..53,400 (I know, it's two verses past the end of today's reading, but I just couldn't stop with one more name to go!)
The total of 603,550 was the same number mentioned in Exodus 38:26 (Jan 30 entry)
Tomorrow read Numbers 1:42-3:32
The last chapter of Leviticus begins by giving value to people who were dedicated to the Lord. Below is a table of those values.
Age.......Sex.....Shekels....Weight......Equivalent of today's silver value $15.40/oz
20-60......M........50........20.oz........$308.00
20-60......F........30........12.oz........$184.80
05-20......M........20.........8.oz........$123.20
05-20......F........10.........4.oz.........$61.60
1M-5yr.....M.........5.........2.oz.........$30.80
1M-5yr.....F.........3........1.25.oz.......$19.25
60+yr......M........15.........6.oz.........$92.40
60+yr......F........10.........4.oz.........$61.60
Many possessions could be dedicated to the Lord and made holy, such as animals, houses, and land. No one could devote the firstborn animal since they all ready belonged to the Lord.
Numbers begins with a census. This is a census year here in the United States too. On the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, God commanded Moses to call a man from each Tribe to be in charge of counting his own tribe. They were the heads of the tribes of Israel. All men 20 years and older who were able to serve in the army were listed by name.
From the tribe of...
Reuben....46,500
Simeon....59,300
Gad.......45,650
Judah.....74,600
Issachar..54,400
Zebulun...57,400
Ephraim...40,500
Manasseh..32,200
Benjamin..35,400
Dan.......62,700
Asher.....41,500
Naphtali..53,400 (I know, it's two verses past the end of today's reading, but I just couldn't stop with one more name to go!)
The total of 603,550 was the same number mentioned in Exodus 38:26 (Jan 30 entry)
Tomorrow read Numbers 1:42-3:32
20100208
Feb 8, 2010 Leviticus 24 - 26:13
The Lord commanded the Israelites to keep oil burning in the lamps continually night and day. Twelve loaves of bread were to be set out every Sabbath on the table in the sanctuary as a lasting covenant on behalf of the Israelites.
A fight broke out between two men in the camp. One of them blasphemed the Lord's name. He was put in custody until it was clear what the Lord wanted done with him. Then the Lord told Moses to take the man outside the camp along with everyone who heard him curse. They were to lay their hands upon his head and then stone him to death. Everyone present was to participate. So it was done.
Whatever a man does to man or animal must also be done to him. Life for life, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.
Chapter 25 teaches of the Sabbath Year and the Year of the Jubilee, the 50th year. Every seventh year was a Sabbath year in which the land was to rest. No crops were to be planted. Whatever grew on its own was to be eaten. Similarly, the Jubilee, a Sabbath year which, in addition to the land's rest, slaves were set free, and property lost was returned to the original owner. It's like everyone was reminded that nothing ever truly belonged to them, but to God.
The beginning of chapter 26 teaches the reward for obedience to God's commandments. God promised peace, prosperity and abundance for all the people in the land when all his commandments were followed.
Tomorrow finish Leviticus and begin Numbers to 1:41
A fight broke out between two men in the camp. One of them blasphemed the Lord's name. He was put in custody until it was clear what the Lord wanted done with him. Then the Lord told Moses to take the man outside the camp along with everyone who heard him curse. They were to lay their hands upon his head and then stone him to death. Everyone present was to participate. So it was done.
Whatever a man does to man or animal must also be done to him. Life for life, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.
Chapter 25 teaches of the Sabbath Year and the Year of the Jubilee, the 50th year. Every seventh year was a Sabbath year in which the land was to rest. No crops were to be planted. Whatever grew on its own was to be eaten. Similarly, the Jubilee, a Sabbath year which, in addition to the land's rest, slaves were set free, and property lost was returned to the original owner. It's like everyone was reminded that nothing ever truly belonged to them, but to God.
The beginning of chapter 26 teaches the reward for obedience to God's commandments. God promised peace, prosperity and abundance for all the people in the land when all his commandments were followed.
Tomorrow finish Leviticus and begin Numbers to 1:41
20100207
Feb 7, 2010 Leviticus 22 & 23
This is a picture of the back of my football board. I posted the front on the January 9th blog entry.
First of all please allow me to congratulate the New Orleans Saints on their Superbowl victory! I bought a shirt in New Orleans while I was there and wore it for the first time for the occasion of the big game. I also bought Who Dat sweatshirts for my husband and son which they have been wearing since I got back from Louisiana. Bourbon Street was nearly deserted during the cold snap while I was there, but this evening it looked quite packed with revelers! Very exciting!
In Chapter 22 the Lord tells Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to be respectful of the treatment of the sacred offerings. No one who was ceremonially unclean was to eat them. He reminded them that they must be free of infection or illness to partake of the sacred offerings. The only people allowed to partake of the sacred offerings were members of the priests family whom God had given permission. Nothing but perfect offerings would be acceptable. This reminds me of Cain and Abel. Cain's offering was not pleasing to God.
Chapter 23 is a record of Moses' declarations of the appointed feasts of the Lord or sacred assemblies.
Every seven days was a Sabbath day - a day of rest and sacred assembly.
The set feasts or appointed seasons were as follows:
The Passover and Unleavened Bread - On the 14th day of the 1st month at twilight was the Passover. The next day, the 15th day of the same month was the Feast of Unleavened Bread and for seven days they were to eat bread with no yeast. On the first day they were to hold a sacred assembly. Seven days they were to make offerings to the Lord and gather in a sacred assembly on the seventh day.
Firstfruits - The Israelites were to bring a sheaf of the first grain harvested to the priest the day after the harvest as a wave offering to the Lord. Also on that day they were to offer a lamb together with a grain offering and a drink offering. Only after they had made this offering could they eat bread or grain.
Feast of Weeks - Seven weeks after the Firstfruits they were to count off 50 days and bring two loaves of leavened bread as a wave offering together with seven male lambs, one young bull and two rams. They would be a burnt offering together with the grain offering and the drink offering. Then the Lord required a sin offering of a male goat. Also a fellowship offering of two lambs together with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering. On this day they were to do no work and hold a sacred assembly.
The Feast of Trumpets was to be held on the first day of the seventh month marked by a day of rest and a sacred assembly marked by blowing trumpets and an offering by fire.
The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was marked on the 10th day of the 7th month. They were to fast, do no work, hold a sacred assembly and make an offering by fire. They fasted from the evening of the 9th day to the evening of the 10th.
The Feast of Tabernacles began on the 15th day of the 7th month and lasted 7 days. On the first day no work was allowed and for 7 days they were to present offerings to the Lord by fire. On the 8th day they were to hold a sacred assembly, do no work and present an offering by fire as a closing assembly.
These were in addition to the regular Sabbaths and gifts and freewill offerings.
Also on the 15th day of the 7th month, all natural-born Israelites were to take palm and other green leafy branches and make booths or shelters from them and live in them for seven days so that their descendants would know that this is what the Lord had them do.
20100206
Feb 6, 2010 Leviticus 18:19-ch 21
We continue with forbidden sexual relations:
with a woman during her monthly period
with your neighbor's wife
Do not sacrifice your children to Molech the fire god (I do not know what this had to do with sexual relations. Frankly, I don't want to know.)
with a man as one lies with a woman; it is an abomination
with an animal; it is a perversion
"Whoever commits any of these abominations shall be cut off from among [his] people."
(verse 29)
Chapter 19 embellishes the ten commandments with more laws. God said, "Be holy because I, the Lord your God am holy." (v.1) That should be reason enough, but since humans are the way we are punishments were also listed in Chapter 20.
Below is a list of some additional laws from chapter 19:
When you harvest, don't harvest a second time - leave some behind.
Do not curse the deaf or trip the blind.
Don't spread slander.
Don't do anything that endangers your neighbor's life.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Do not mate different kinds of animals.
Do not plant your field with two kinds of seeds.
Do not wear clothing woven of two different kinds of material.
Do not eat the fruit of a tree until it is 5 years old.
Do not eat meat with blood still in it.
Do not practice divination or sorcery.
Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip the edges of your beard.
Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves.
Do not make your daughter a prostitute.
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them.
Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly.
Accept strangers as natives among you.
Use honest scales and weights.
Below is a list of some of the punishments from chapter 20:
Anyone who sacrifices a child to Molech will be stoned to death.
A person seeking mediums and spiritists will be cut off from his people.
Anyone cursing his father or mother he must be put to death.
Anyone who commits adultery will be put to death.
If a man sleeps with his daughter-in-law, they will both be put to death.
If a man lies with a man as with a woman, they will both be put to death.
If a man marries both a woman and her mother, all three will be burned to death.
If a man or woman has sexual relations with an animal they must be put to death.
If a man marries his sister and has sex with her they will be cut off.
If a man has sex with a woman during her period they must be cut off from the people.
If a man has sex with his aunt they will both be held responsible.
If a man marries his brother's wife he dishonors his brother, they will be childless.
God said "You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own."
I guess you could sum it up by simply realizing that God wants us to avoid ANYTHING that will take us away from Him.
Chapter 21 is rules for priests. Because they were ceremonially clean it was very important for them to be very careful to avoid any uncleanliness. They were to marry only virgins from among their own people - the tribe of Levi. Any physical deformity would preclude them from serving in the Holy of Holies. The descendants of Aaron were set apart as priests and had to be physically perfect just as the animals brought before God as a sacrifice had to be perfect.
Tomorrow read Leviticus 22-23
with a woman during her monthly period
with your neighbor's wife
Do not sacrifice your children to Molech the fire god (I do not know what this had to do with sexual relations. Frankly, I don't want to know.)
with a man as one lies with a woman; it is an abomination
with an animal; it is a perversion
"Whoever commits any of these abominations shall be cut off from among [his] people."
(verse 29)
Chapter 19 embellishes the ten commandments with more laws. God said, "Be holy because I, the Lord your God am holy." (v.1) That should be reason enough, but since humans are the way we are punishments were also listed in Chapter 20.
Below is a list of some additional laws from chapter 19:
When you harvest, don't harvest a second time - leave some behind.
Do not curse the deaf or trip the blind.
Don't spread slander.
Don't do anything that endangers your neighbor's life.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Do not mate different kinds of animals.
Do not plant your field with two kinds of seeds.
Do not wear clothing woven of two different kinds of material.
Do not eat the fruit of a tree until it is 5 years old.
Do not eat meat with blood still in it.
Do not practice divination or sorcery.
Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip the edges of your beard.
Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves.
Do not make your daughter a prostitute.
Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them.
Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly.
Accept strangers as natives among you.
Use honest scales and weights.
Below is a list of some of the punishments from chapter 20:
Anyone who sacrifices a child to Molech will be stoned to death.
A person seeking mediums and spiritists will be cut off from his people.
Anyone cursing his father or mother he must be put to death.
Anyone who commits adultery will be put to death.
If a man sleeps with his daughter-in-law, they will both be put to death.
If a man lies with a man as with a woman, they will both be put to death.
If a man marries both a woman and her mother, all three will be burned to death.
If a man or woman has sexual relations with an animal they must be put to death.
If a man marries his sister and has sex with her they will be cut off.
If a man has sex with a woman during her period they must be cut off from the people.
If a man has sex with his aunt they will both be held responsible.
If a man marries his brother's wife he dishonors his brother, they will be childless.
God said "You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own."
I guess you could sum it up by simply realizing that God wants us to avoid ANYTHING that will take us away from Him.
Chapter 21 is rules for priests. Because they were ceremonially clean it was very important for them to be very careful to avoid any uncleanliness. They were to marry only virgins from among their own people - the tribe of Levi. Any physical deformity would preclude them from serving in the Holy of Holies. The descendants of Aaron were set apart as priests and had to be physically perfect just as the animals brought before God as a sacrifice had to be perfect.
Tomorrow read Leviticus 22-23
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Feb 5, 2010 Leviticus 15-18:18
Chapter 15 is all about bodily discharges. I know, it isn't appealing, but it was necessary to educate the Israelites about the ways their behavior could have dire consequences physically. If they had a discharge they were commanded to wash themselves and the fabrics they touched. The basic idea was not to spread disease. After the discharge cleared up the person was to have a ceremonial cleansing performed after eight days, by bringing two birds to the Tent of Meeting. One bird was for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.
Other bodily emissions such as semen and a woman's monthly period are also covered. Eight days after a woman's period was over, she was to bring two doves to the Tent of Meeting and offer them as a sin offering and as a burnt offering to make atonement for her.
The Day of Atonement was considered as a day of reconciliation with God. It was only on this day that Aaron was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies where the ark and the mercy seat were. He was to bathe and dress in the holy garments. He was to bring a bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. The Israelites were to provide him with two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. Aaron would cast lots, sort of like flipping a coin, to see which goat would be sent out into the desert as a scapegoat. The other was sacrificed in the usual manner. On this day, Aaron made atonement for himself, his household and all the Israelites. They were to fast and rest as if it were the Sabbath. I believe it is healthy to take stock of my life from time to time and make sure I am living the way I believe God wants me to.
Chapter 17 is about not eating blood. You don't have to tell me twice. But I'm not the kid in Africa tending his cows who gets thirsty and because there is no clean drinking water, he has to take a sharp stick and pierce a vein in the neck of a cow and drink the blood to quench his thirst. I heard the story during a sermon in church years ago. The pastor was telling his experience of a mission trip. I thank God for those wonderful people who give their lives to Him and go build wells for these people so they don't have to drink blood because it's safer than their water.
Chapter 18 covers unlawful sexual relations. God said, "Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them." Sexual relations were forbidden between:
close relatives
your mother
your father's wife
your sister - full or half
your granddaughter
your aunt on your father's or mother's side
your uncle's wife
your daughter-in-law
your brother's wife
both a mother and daughter or mother and grand daughter
That is wickedness!
Tomorrow read Leviticus 18:19 - ch 21
Other bodily emissions such as semen and a woman's monthly period are also covered. Eight days after a woman's period was over, she was to bring two doves to the Tent of Meeting and offer them as a sin offering and as a burnt offering to make atonement for her.
The Day of Atonement was considered as a day of reconciliation with God. It was only on this day that Aaron was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies where the ark and the mercy seat were. He was to bathe and dress in the holy garments. He was to bring a bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. The Israelites were to provide him with two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. Aaron would cast lots, sort of like flipping a coin, to see which goat would be sent out into the desert as a scapegoat. The other was sacrificed in the usual manner. On this day, Aaron made atonement for himself, his household and all the Israelites. They were to fast and rest as if it were the Sabbath. I believe it is healthy to take stock of my life from time to time and make sure I am living the way I believe God wants me to.
Chapter 17 is about not eating blood. You don't have to tell me twice. But I'm not the kid in Africa tending his cows who gets thirsty and because there is no clean drinking water, he has to take a sharp stick and pierce a vein in the neck of a cow and drink the blood to quench his thirst. I heard the story during a sermon in church years ago. The pastor was telling his experience of a mission trip. I thank God for those wonderful people who give their lives to Him and go build wells for these people so they don't have to drink blood because it's safer than their water.
Chapter 18 covers unlawful sexual relations. God said, "Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them." Sexual relations were forbidden between:
close relatives
your mother
your father's wife
your sister - full or half
your granddaughter
your aunt on your father's or mother's side
your uncle's wife
your daughter-in-law
your brother's wife
both a mother and daughter or mother and grand daughter
That is wickedness!
Tomorrow read Leviticus 18:19 - ch 21
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Feb 4, 2010 Leviticus 13:40-14
Baldness. Today's passage begins with the good news that if a man was bald he was clean! The serious part was when there was a reddish-white sore up there. If the priest determined that it was an infectious disease, then the poor chap had to cover up, shout loudly that he was "Unclean! Unclean!" and move outside the camp. That would be tough, but probably necessary to prevent the spread.
Textiles (woven fabric, leather, woolen knits, linen) could become contaminated by mildew. If a greenish or reddish growth appeared on such an article, the priest would examine it and isolate it for seven days. Then he'd look at it again to see whether the growth had spread or not. If so, the article was burned. If not it would be washed, isolated for another week, and inspected again. If after all that the mildew was still there, the article was burned. If the mildew didn't reappear, the article was washed again and pronounced clean.
When a person was healed of their infectious disease a ceremonial cleansing needed to be done. I imagine this process would have made the formerly infected person more acceptable to his friends and family. He would be formally pronounced as "clean" by God. The ceremony required two live clean birds, some cedar wood, red yarn, and hyssop. One bird was killed over a clay pot filled with water. The priest took the live bird the cedar and the hyssop together and dipped them into the blood of the other bird and sprinkled the person to be cleansed seven times and pronounced him clean and released the bird. The person still had work to do. He was to wash his clothes, shave all his hair and bathe. Then he was allowed back into the camp but he had to stay outside his tent for a week. After that he had to shave all his hair - even his eyebrows - and bathe again. On the eighth day he was to bring 2 male lambs, 1 ewe lamb, fine flour and a log (about 2/3 of a pint) of oil to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting as a guilt offering, a sin offering, and a burnt offering. The animal for the guilt offering was slaughtered and some of the blood would be put on his right ear, right thumb, and right big toe. On top of the blood the priest would put some oil. Next the priest would sacrifice the sin offering and finally the burnt offering together with the grain offering and make atonement for him and he would be clean.
Those too poor to afford so many animals for the offerings could bring 1 lamb and a log of oil for the guilt offering, plus two birds, one for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering. The blood of the guilt offering was placed on the right ear, thumb and big toe as before, followed by the oil. Then the birds were sacrificed along with the grain offering and he would be clean.
The mildew inside the house sounds like toxic mold. The house was emptied and the priest inspected the inside. If he found the greenish or reddish growth he closed up the house for 7 days. After that, the priest returned and if the mildew had spread the infected parts were removed, the walls scraped, and all the contaminated bits were dumped in an unclean place outside of town. New stones and plaster replaced the old. If the mildew reappeared then the house would be torn down and dumped in the unclean place. If it was fine then the priest pronounced it clean and the house was purified in the same manner as the skin infection cleansing was done. Anonement was made for the house.
Tomorrow read Leviticus 15-18:18
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Feb 3, 2010 Leviticus 11:9-13:39
I didn't know it but January 31st is World Leprosy Day. There is no way I would know this except that I was curious about leprosy since today's scripture passage talks about infectious skin diseases, so I googled on it.
The priests were the health officials of the Israelites. When I stop and think about it, who else would I want to cure me when I am sick but an ordained priest of God? I must confess that my mind is rather unruly. As I was reading about the various types of infectious skin afflictions listed, for some reason I heard Rosanne Rosanadana bemoaning her experience with some sort of health related issue. But I digress...
Chapter 11 is filled with the wisdom of what not to eat. We begin by learning about the animals considered unclean for human consumption. I agree with most of them. When I stop and think about all the animals and plants I don't eat, I am a very picky eater! I know that John the Baptist ate locusts and wild honey, sure enough, locusts are on the "ok to eat" list - so are crickets and grasshoppers. Please don't eat lizards, bats, or eagles though.
You would be unclean if you touched an object that a dead lizard had fallen upon. If it was a clay pot, it would need to be broken. I wonder if the bad stuff could seep into the pores of the clay? It's probably something like that.
Chapter 12 provides details regarding a woman being unclean after childbirth. If the baby was a boy the woman was unclean for seven days, the boy was circumsised on the eighth day and then she was ceremonially unclean for 33 more days. She must not go to the sanctuary or touch anything sacred during that time. If it was a girl, the woman was unclean for two weeks and was ceremonially unclean for 66 days more. After her time of purification she was to bring an offering to the Tent of Meeting and a priest would make atonement for her.
In chapter 13 we learn all about infectious skin diseases. Many of the laws presented in the Old Testament are regarding cleanliness and health. These are no exception. If a person noticed a red spot or a place on their skin that didn't look right they would have it inspected by a priest. He would determine whether or not the person needed to be quarantined. Sometimes all a person needed to do was to wash their clothes. There is quite alot of detail about the color of the hair in the sore and so on. If you ever had thoughts about being a doctor, this chapter is for you!
Tomorrow read Leviticus 13:40-14:57
The priests were the health officials of the Israelites. When I stop and think about it, who else would I want to cure me when I am sick but an ordained priest of God? I must confess that my mind is rather unruly. As I was reading about the various types of infectious skin afflictions listed, for some reason I heard Rosanne Rosanadana bemoaning her experience with some sort of health related issue. But I digress...
Chapter 11 is filled with the wisdom of what not to eat. We begin by learning about the animals considered unclean for human consumption. I agree with most of them. When I stop and think about all the animals and plants I don't eat, I am a very picky eater! I know that John the Baptist ate locusts and wild honey, sure enough, locusts are on the "ok to eat" list - so are crickets and grasshoppers. Please don't eat lizards, bats, or eagles though.
You would be unclean if you touched an object that a dead lizard had fallen upon. If it was a clay pot, it would need to be broken. I wonder if the bad stuff could seep into the pores of the clay? It's probably something like that.
Chapter 12 provides details regarding a woman being unclean after childbirth. If the baby was a boy the woman was unclean for seven days, the boy was circumsised on the eighth day and then she was ceremonially unclean for 33 more days. She must not go to the sanctuary or touch anything sacred during that time. If it was a girl, the woman was unclean for two weeks and was ceremonially unclean for 66 days more. After her time of purification she was to bring an offering to the Tent of Meeting and a priest would make atonement for her.
In chapter 13 we learn all about infectious skin diseases. Many of the laws presented in the Old Testament are regarding cleanliness and health. These are no exception. If a person noticed a red spot or a place on their skin that didn't look right they would have it inspected by a priest. He would determine whether or not the person needed to be quarantined. Sometimes all a person needed to do was to wash their clothes. There is quite alot of detail about the color of the hair in the sore and so on. If you ever had thoughts about being a doctor, this chapter is for you!
Tomorrow read Leviticus 13:40-14:57
20100202
Feb 2, 2010 Leviticus 8-11:8
Wouldn't you know it? I was watching a the rose parade on my dvr and I saw this float by Lutheran Laymen's League! They even had the musical score from the movie "The Ten Commandments" playing in the background!
So the time came to ordain the priests, their garments, the oil, the sacrificial animals, and the unleavened bread. They gathered the people at the door of the Tent of Meeting and also everything and everyone to be ordained. Moses told the people that he would do what God had told him to do. He brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them and dressed them in the sacred garments. Then Moses anointed the tabernacle and everything in it by sprinkling oil on everything and everyone. The bull was slaughtered as directed and the sin offering was made. Then the ram for the burnt offering was offered. The next sacrifice was the other ram for the ordination, the blood of which was put on their right earlobes, thumbs and big toes. If this sounds familiar that's because it was covered in Exodus 29 (Jan 26) Moses told Aaron and his sons everything God commanded them to do and they did it.
After seven days, the priests began their ministry. Moses gathered all the people at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so they could witness the glory of God. Aaron and his sons made the sacrifices as they were commanded. After everything was done as the Lord had commanded, fire came down from the presence of the Lord and everything on the altar was consumed! When all the people saw it they shouted for joy and fell on their faces.
Next comes a lesson that I as a willful human being seem to need repeated frequently - although I must admit that I am grateful that I do not have to physically die to receive it. Thank you Jesus!
Aaron's two sons, Nadab and Abihu decided to do things their way and offer their own version of a sacrifice to God. They carried their firepans and put some of the fire in them and topped it off with a little sacred incense (false fire). Fire (a lightening bolt) came down from God and killed them. Moses told Aaron that the Lord said that His will would be done, and that nothing else was acceptable. Aaron remained silent. Moses had Aaron's two nephews come forward and take away the bodies of his two dead sons in their undertunics (they had been stripped of their priestly garments.) They were not to mourn for them, they were not to drink wine or strong drink when they were in the Tent of Meeting, or they too would die. The Lord made clear the difference between holy and unclean, if they were unclean then they would die. So Moses told Aaron's surviving sons, Eleazar and Ithamar to continue in their brothers' place. Moses instructed them to eat the grain offering by the altar, because it is most holy. The breast of the wave offering and the thigh was to be eaten in a clean place by Aaron's sons and daughters. These were given to them by God. When Moses found that the goat for the sin offering had been burned he got mad at Eleazar and Ithamar and asked them why they didn't eat it. Aaron asked Moses whether the Lord would have approved if they ate the sin offering today because of how they had been chastised even after being ordained (given holy authority) by God. Then Moses seemed to be OK with it.
Chapter 11 begins with a list of animals that are unclean and forbidden. The rule was only animals which chewed the cud and had a split hoof were to be eaten. So, no camel, rock badger, rabbit, or pig. The flesh was not to be eaten, or even touched.
Tomorrow read Leviticus 11:9-13:39
20100201
Feb 1, 2010 Leviticus 5-7
Happy February! Tomorrow is Groundhog Day!
Chapter 5 describes ways a person can sin whether one knows it or not. Like if you know something and those in charge ask people with knowledge to come forward and speak it and you don't, that's a sin. Thouching unclean things - whether animal or human - will make the person touching it unclean too. That's one of the reasons lepers are shunned. Making promises lightly is a sin once a person becomes aware of it. What is one to do? Confess the sin and bring a lamb or goat to the Lord as a sin offering. Can't afford a lamb? Bring two doves or two young pigeons to the Lord - one for a sin offering the other for a burnt offering. Can't afford two doves or two pigeons? Bring about two quarts of fine flour for a sin offering. It seems that the Lord is trying to make it possible for everyone to obtain forgiveness! I like how the priest burns a memorial portion of the grain offering and is given the rest for his own use. When you stop and think about it, if they are spending all day and night tending the fire, they won't have time to earn a living to be able to eat, so God provides! When anyone violates Gods law without intending to he is guilty. He must make a guilt offering of a flawless ram of a certain value in silver (2/5 oz) to the priest to make atonement for his guilt.
Chapter 6 describes more ways a person can sin such as:
deceiving one's neighbor over something entrusted to his care or stolen
or if he cheats him
or if he finds lost property and lies about it
or if he swears falsely
or if he commits any sin as people do
then he must give it back and make full restitution plus another 20% to make it right
and he must bring a ram to the priest as a guilt offering, and he would be forgiven.
The Lord told Moses that the fire on the altar was to burn through the night. To remove the ashes, the priest removed his robes and put on the linen clothes and took the ashes from the altar and placed them beside it. Then he was to put on other clothes (we might think of these as street clothes) and carry the ashes to a place outside the camp that is ceremonially clean.
The fire must not go out!
More is repeated about the grain offering, but the Lord goes into more detail about the offering being holy and needing to be eaten in a holy place by any male descendant of Aaron. The priests were to bring an offering themselves, on the day they were anointed, they were to bring about 2 quarts of fine flour as a regular grain offering. Half in the morning and half in the evening. Every grain offering of a priest was to be burned completely.
The sin offering was to be slaughtered as described in yesterday's post. The priest who offers it was to eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting (a holy place.) Whatever touched the flesh became holy. If blood splashed on a garment it was to be washed in a holy place. If the offering was boiled in a clay pot, the pot was broken. If the offering was boiled in a bronze pot the pot was scoured and rinsed.
Sin offerings of blood (animal) were to be burned, not eaten.
Chapter 7 starts with a review of the steps to make a guilt offering. The guilt and sin offerings both belonged to the priest making atonement with them. The priest could keep the hide for himself. Grain offerngs baked or cooked in a pan, or on a griddle belonged to the priest offering them. Grain offerings belonged equally to all the sons of Aaron.
Fellowship or peace offerings were made as an expression of gratitude to the Lord. The sacrifice was presented along with bread made with yeast. The peace offering was to be eaten on the day it was offered. No leftovers. If it was a freewill offering it was allowed to be eaten the next day too. Three day old leftovers were burned. If someone ate it they would bear the iniquity and have to answer for it.
You couldn't eat the flesh if you were not ceremonially clean.
If you touched something unclean and then ate the meat of the fellowship offering you would be cut off from your people. Or if you ate blood or fat you would be cut off for that too.
The priests share was from the fellowship offering. The priest who offered the blood and fat got the right thigh and breast after offering it to the Lord.
These were the regulations for the burnt offerings given to Moses on Mount Sinai.
Tomorrow read Leviticus 8-11:8
Chapter 5 describes ways a person can sin whether one knows it or not. Like if you know something and those in charge ask people with knowledge to come forward and speak it and you don't, that's a sin. Thouching unclean things - whether animal or human - will make the person touching it unclean too. That's one of the reasons lepers are shunned. Making promises lightly is a sin once a person becomes aware of it. What is one to do? Confess the sin and bring a lamb or goat to the Lord as a sin offering. Can't afford a lamb? Bring two doves or two young pigeons to the Lord - one for a sin offering the other for a burnt offering. Can't afford two doves or two pigeons? Bring about two quarts of fine flour for a sin offering. It seems that the Lord is trying to make it possible for everyone to obtain forgiveness! I like how the priest burns a memorial portion of the grain offering and is given the rest for his own use. When you stop and think about it, if they are spending all day and night tending the fire, they won't have time to earn a living to be able to eat, so God provides! When anyone violates Gods law without intending to he is guilty. He must make a guilt offering of a flawless ram of a certain value in silver (2/5 oz) to the priest to make atonement for his guilt.
Chapter 6 describes more ways a person can sin such as:
deceiving one's neighbor over something entrusted to his care or stolen
or if he cheats him
or if he finds lost property and lies about it
or if he swears falsely
or if he commits any sin as people do
then he must give it back and make full restitution plus another 20% to make it right
and he must bring a ram to the priest as a guilt offering, and he would be forgiven.
The Lord told Moses that the fire on the altar was to burn through the night. To remove the ashes, the priest removed his robes and put on the linen clothes and took the ashes from the altar and placed them beside it. Then he was to put on other clothes (we might think of these as street clothes) and carry the ashes to a place outside the camp that is ceremonially clean.
The fire must not go out!
More is repeated about the grain offering, but the Lord goes into more detail about the offering being holy and needing to be eaten in a holy place by any male descendant of Aaron. The priests were to bring an offering themselves, on the day they were anointed, they were to bring about 2 quarts of fine flour as a regular grain offering. Half in the morning and half in the evening. Every grain offering of a priest was to be burned completely.
The sin offering was to be slaughtered as described in yesterday's post. The priest who offers it was to eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting (a holy place.) Whatever touched the flesh became holy. If blood splashed on a garment it was to be washed in a holy place. If the offering was boiled in a clay pot, the pot was broken. If the offering was boiled in a bronze pot the pot was scoured and rinsed.
Sin offerings of blood (animal) were to be burned, not eaten.
Chapter 7 starts with a review of the steps to make a guilt offering. The guilt and sin offerings both belonged to the priest making atonement with them. The priest could keep the hide for himself. Grain offerngs baked or cooked in a pan, or on a griddle belonged to the priest offering them. Grain offerings belonged equally to all the sons of Aaron.
Fellowship or peace offerings were made as an expression of gratitude to the Lord. The sacrifice was presented along with bread made with yeast. The peace offering was to be eaten on the day it was offered. No leftovers. If it was a freewill offering it was allowed to be eaten the next day too. Three day old leftovers were burned. If someone ate it they would bear the iniquity and have to answer for it.
You couldn't eat the flesh if you were not ceremonially clean.
If you touched something unclean and then ate the meat of the fellowship offering you would be cut off from your people. Or if you ate blood or fat you would be cut off for that too.
The priests share was from the fellowship offering. The priest who offered the blood and fat got the right thigh and breast after offering it to the Lord.
These were the regulations for the burnt offerings given to Moses on Mount Sinai.
Tomorrow read Leviticus 8-11:8
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