Tag Archive | bible-study

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 55

Feb24

    Day 55 —  We are still in the second month, but we’ve begun a new book! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue.

   Day 55 – Numbers 3 – 4 (Counting Levites for service, delegating duties)

Yesterday, only the other twelve tribes of Israel were counted (20 years and up) for military service. Today the Levites will be counted in two ways.

Numbers 3. First, every male Levite from 1 month up was to be counted and dedicated to God in place of all of Israel’s first born sons. The slight overage in number of first born sons from the other tribes would each pay the “redemption money” of five sanctuary shekels to Aaron and his sons. In this way the whole of Israel would have a part in the religious activities and service to God.

Chapter 4.  Secondly, the Levites were to be counted according to their clans (the three sons of Levi), all of the men from 30 years old to 50 years old, and be given specific duties in the care and service and transport of the Tabernacle.

The Kohathites were to be in charge of the Most Holy things – all the “furniture” in the Tabernacle itself and the courtyard.  When the camp set out, Aaron and his two sons would go into the Tabernacle and cover the holy pieces with different colored cloths and goat skins. When this all was done. The Kohathites would carry these things by their poles (taking extreme care not to touch them themselves).

       Aaron’s son, Eleazar the priest, would be in charge of the holy oil for light and for anointing, and the holy incense, as well as have oversight of the packing of all that is in the Sanctuary and its vessels.

The Gershonites would be in charge of packing up and carrying all the curtains and coverings and cords of the Tabernacle as well as all the hangings of the outer court.

The Merarites (largest of the three clans) would be in charge of packing and carrying the frames, bars, pillars, bases, and pegs of the Tabernacle and outer courtyard.

       Aaron’s son, Ithamar, the priest would oversee the Gershonites and Merarites in packing up & carrying of the curtains, linens & skin coverings, as well as the frames, pillars, bases, etc.

All would be done “decently and in order” according to the exact instructions of the LORD to Moses.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 54

Feb23

    Day 54 —  We are still in the second month, but we’ve begun a new book! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue.

   Day 54 – Numbers 1 – 2 (Counting men fit for service, arranging the camp)

I’m more of a “words” person than a “numbers” person, so I’ll give you that name of this book in the Hebrew Torah.  It is called “In The Wilderness” and that pretty much describes it, except for the census here and at the end.

In chapter 1, God TELLS Moses to count the men of Israel who are 20 years and up and able to go to war. They will serve as Israel’s army when they enter the Promised Land. God assigns a man from each of the 12 tribes to assist him in the registration. Right away, Moses and Aaron gathered the whole congregation together, and with the help of the twelve heads of tribes, held the first national draft.

Numbers then lists the amount of able soldiers from each tribe, naming them in birth order, and giving two tribes for Joseph (as Jacob adopted Ephraim & Manasseh back at the end of Genesis). The tribe of Levi is not counted because they were to serve the LORD in the Tabernacle, not in the army. Judah’s tribe (a Prince among his brothers”) is the largest.  The total number of eligible men from all twelve was 603,550. (In a whole congregation of about 2 million people.)

Chapter 2 explains how the entire group of people would be divided and arranged. The Tabernacle, with the visible symbol of God as fire and cloud, would be in the CENTER of the camp.  Around that would be  Moses, Aaron, & the priests on the East, and the three clans of priests on the other sides.

After that, on the EAST side, facing the entrance to the Tabernacle court and tent, were to be the leading Tribe, Judah, along with Issachar and Zebulun. Judah and these two would lead out any march, just behind the Ark of the Covenant.

On the SOUTH, Ruben and his two brothers Simeon and Gad would camp.  On the WEST (backside of the Tabernacle) would camp Ephraim with Manasseh and Benjamin. (These were the three smallest tribes.)  And finally on the NORTH, were Dan with Asher and Naphtali.

When the pillar of fire/cloud (symbol of God’s presence) would rise, the Levites would disassemble the Tabernacle (by specific directions). The Ark would lead the march, followed by Judah and his brothers. Next would come the Levites carrying the Tabernacle, it’s furniture, and courtyard items. Then, like a circle uncoiling, Rueben’s group on the south, Ephraim’s on the West, and finally Dan’s on the North would follow, Dan’s group (the second largest) bringing up the rear guard.

When it came time to set up camp, they would circle, setting up the Tabernacle – it becoming God’s presence in the center – with the tribes extending out to the four directions again…. much like a cross.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 37

Feb6

 Day 37—  We are in the second month! We’ve been reading for a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue.

   Day 37 – Exodus 22-24  (Laws for right living, conquest promised, people’s response)

In these chapters, God is giving Moses basic laws for living together justly and happily. Remember there are 2 million or so people now all clustered together with all their animals, living in tents in the desert. “Be nice and fair!” are basically what these laws are saying. “And here are the penalties if you don’t.” (Chapter 22)

Chapter 23 continues with a few more rules, and then clarifies more on what the Sabbath Rest means for them, particularly when they get to the Promised Land. Three obligatory festivals are mentioned; Unleavened Bread (which they alredy know), Feast of Harvest (Pentacost, 50 days later) and finally in the fall, Feast of Ingathering.

God then reafirms His presence with them when they enter the Promised Land and in the conquering of Canaan. He also warns them to HAVE NO COVENANT WITH THE PAGAN PEOPLE TO WORSHIP THEIR GODS.

In Chapter 24 Moses tells all the words and rules of the LORD to the people and “with one voice” they affirm, “All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do.”  Moses writes down all the words of the LORD, then builds an alter of 12 stones (one for each tribe of Israel), sacrifices and again reads the words of God. The people (now the THIRD time) affirm, “We will be obedient.”

Then God calls Moses up to Mt Sinai to give him the “Tablets of Stone” (Israel’s constitution, so to speak). His assistant, Joshua goes part way up with him. And a cloud covers them and the firey glory of the Lord shines out.

This will be Israel’s first test of obedience. No one knows at this point that Moses will be gone for 40 days.