Bamidbar / Num. 8:1-12:16
Haftarah: Zac 2:10 (v. 14 heb.) – 4:7
Brit Hadashah: Matittiyahu / Mt. 14:14-21
BeHa’alotechah means “when you bring up“
Summary
Adonai told Moshe to entrust to Aharon the task of placing the lights of the candelabrum (Menorah), so that they would light forth.
BeHa’alotechah literally means “When you raise“, referring to the flames of fire of the candelabrum that must be “raised“, that is, to make them burn.
This text has also been interpreted so that Aharon had to climb a platform with steps to light the lamps.
HaShem ordered the Levites to prepare for their service in the Mishkan, Moshe having to purify them by sprinkling pure water on them, passing a razor over his whole body, and washing his clothes (Zachariah 2: 10-4: 7). They also had to present sacrifices.
Cleaning the High Priest
3:3 “Yehoshua / Joshua was before the angel, clothed in filthy garments.
3:4 Then the angel spoke and commanded those who stood before him, saying, Take away those filthy garments. And to Yehoshua he said, See that I have taken away your iniquity from you and clothed you with the best clothes.
3:5 He also said: Put a clean turban on your head. They put a clean turban on his head and dressed him in his garments.
Moshe was to approach the Levites in front of the Tabernacle, and also to gather the congregation of the Children of Yisrael, and then Aharon to present them before the People.
Thus, they would be the representatives of the Benei Yisrael before HaShem, and Aharon should consecrate them before HaShem.
Only the Levites from thirty (30) to fifty (50) years old would serve, while those from twenty-five (25) to thirty (30) years old, should prepare themselves for their future tasks in the religious service.
On the 14th of Nisan the following year after leaving Egypt, the first Passover was celebrated.
There were those who could not observe it on that date because they were impure, and therefore they requested that they be allowed to participate in the Passover offerings.
And Moshe consulted HaShem, who answered that the next month. that is, on the 14th day of Iyar (Pesach Sheni), those impure or those who had been away from the Tabernacle, had to present the Passover Korban and eat unleavened bread (matzah) and bitter herbs.
When the Mishkan was inaugurated, the divine cloud of day covered the place …
and at night it had the appearance of fire …
This cloud was a signal for the congregation to continue its journey.
When the cloud was rising, the B’nei Yisrael left and where they stopped, they camped.
HaShem ordered Moshe to make two silver trumpets, to announce with them the beginning of the march, as to summon the people to the Shrine, or to warn when they went to war, or to proclaim days of great joy, festivities, the new month (Rosh Chodesh).
The People began their journey through the desert, under the guidance of the divine cloud, being their first stop in the desert of Paran, where the cloud settled.
Moshe asked his father-in-law, Yitro, to join them on this journey, but he decided to return to Midian.
During the crossing, the people began to complain about the leadership of Moshe.
The wrath of HaShem did not wait and caused a fire in the camp raging until Moshe prayed to the Almighty and the fire was extinguished.
A group of non-Hebrews who came from the exodus from Egypt, complained again, about the lack of meat to eat.
They also claimed they did not have fish or fruits or vegetables, as in Egypt.
The people only received the manna.
Moshe felt the burden of directing the People on himself, which was very great for him alone.
The Almighty instructed him to gather seventy (70) elders of the People of Yisrael to help him in the conduct of the Congregation.
The prophetic spirit rested on these elders.
HaShem then sent large numbers of birds (quail) that fell on the camp, and so the people picked them up and many of them eager to eat them, died at the wrath of HaShem.
Finally, in this parashah, Miriam and Aharon spoke against Moshe, and she was punished with leprosy, which after a week was completely healed.
Comment
Bamidbar / Num. 8:14
וְהִבְדַּלְתָּ אֶת־הַלְוִיִּם מִתֹּוךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהָיוּ לִי הַלְוִיִּֽם׃
Vehivdalta et-haLevi’im mitoj beney Yisra’el vehayu li haLevi’im.
“In this way, you will separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine.”
What lies in Hashem’s heart?
HaShem created men in His image and likeness. That’s why when He sees men, He sees a reflection of Himself.
The commandment to love our neighbor as oneself came from His heart and therefore He loves man. HaShem loves man with all His heart. That’s why it hurt him so much when Adam hid from His presence in the garden after having sinned.
Sin separates man from HaShem, His Creator. That’s why He hates sin, though He loves man.
The only way of restoring the initial relationship in paradise is to remove sin from men. Through sacrifices, sin is covered and forgiven, but not removed. But through the death and resurrection of His son Yeshua, man’s sin is covered by His blood.
Now, HaShem wants to be close to men – better said, He wants men to be close to Him. That’s why He chose the people of Israel to have a nation that was close to Him.
But this wasn’t enough.
His love and yearning for being close to mankind made Him choose a group from among the chosen ones; He chose the Levites from among the sons of Israel, and He says that they are to be His.
This clearly shows what lies in the Eternal’s heart, a deep desire to be close to men because He loves men as Himself, as it is written in Malachi 1:2a:
“I have loved you,” says Adonai.”
And in Luke 2:14 it’s written:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
And in 1 John 4:16 it’s written:
“And so, we know and rely on the love Elohim has for us. Adonai is love. Whoever lives in love lives in Adonai, and Adonai in him.”
What lies in Hashem’s heart? Men!
Shabbat Shalom Mishpochah!