NASSO “Elevate”
4 JUNE 2011
Numbers 4:21-7:89
Judges 13:2-25
Acts 21:17-26
Our Portion includes further job instructions to the Levites. Moshe was
instructed to purify the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary. Four laws
relating to the Cohanim are given. The restitution for stolen property,
where the owner is deceased and has no next of kin, goes to the Cohanim.
If a man suspects his wife of being unfaithful, he brings her to the
Cohanim for the Sotah, clarification ceremony.
If a person chooses to withdraw from the material world and consecrate
himself exclusively to the service of the Lord by becoming a Nazir,
he vows to not drink wine or eat grape products, may not come in contact
with dead bodies and may not cut his hair. He must come to the Cohen at
the completion of the vow.
The Cohanim were instructed to bless the people with this blessing, “May
the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon
you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift His countenance upon you
and give you peace.”
The Mishkan is erected and dedicated on the first of Nissan in the
second year after the Exodus. The leaders of each tribe jointly gave
wagons and oxen to transport the Mishkan. During each of the twelve
days of dedication, successively, each tribal prince (leader) gives
gifts of gold and silver vessels, sacrificial animals and meal
offerings. Every prince gives exactly the same gifts as every other
prince.
The main theme of this portion is Peace, Shalom. First we see Peace
within the family (the adulteress). Second we see Peace within the
nation (Tribal leadership). Then we see Peace among all peoples (the
Priestly blessing).
Today we see that the world lacks peace in that there are wars, rumors
of wars, great climate upheavals in which many people are sufferings
from famines, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, the like that has not been
seen by this generation. Indeed the world groans for the peace that only
Messiah will bring. Ephesians 2:14-16 tells us that Yeshua is our peace
who destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, thus forming
from many nations, One New Man. Let us all pray that the peace He
preached; that is the peace to those who were far away and to those who
were near, would be near!
Shavua Tov
Rabbi Z.
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