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
No comments:
Post a Comment