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Parasha
Behaalotecha
•
Numbers 8:1-12:16
• Zechariah 2:10-4:7
• Revelation 11:1-19
The
Torah Portion at a Glance
Aaron is commanded to raise light in the lamps of the menorah, and the
tribe of Levi is initiated into the service in the Sanctuary.
A "Second Passover" is instituted in response to the petition
"Why should we be deprived?" by a group of Jews who were unable
to bring the Passover offering in its appointed time because they were
ritually impure. YHWH instructs Moses on the procedures for Israel's journeys
and encampments in the desert, and the people journey in formation from
Mount Sinai, where they had been camped for nearly a year.
The people are dissatisfied with their "bread from heaven" (the
manna) and demand that Moses supply them with meat. Moses appoints 70
elders, to whom he emanates of his spirit, to assist him in the burden
of governing the people. Miriam speaks negatively of Moses and is punished
with leprosy; Moses prays for her healing and the entire community waits
seven days for her recovery.
(adapted from chabad.org)
The
Messiah in the Torah Portion
A believer can mature to great spiritual levels by grasping this simple
message. What happened to the people of Israel in Biblical times is a
picture of what happens to people today. History repeats itself. The times
may have changed but the scenarios are still the same. Everything –
everything – that occurs in your life is a message from the supernatural
side. YHWH is speaking behind the details of the day. In every way the
Creator is calling us closer.
Yisrael had forty years to work out their personal issues before they
inherited the Promised Land. Can you imagine waiting through 40 years
of tests and trials? Does it sometimes feel like you are in the middle
of 40 years worth of wandering? It took one night, the night of Passover,
for YHWH to bring Israel out of Egypt . Yet, it took 40 years for YHWH
to bring Egypt out of Israel . Let's not repeat the sins of the wilderness.
Rather, let's learn from them and run towards the Promised Land. On the
way, we'll no doubt see our fair share of trials and miracles.
One such miracle is the manna that fell from Heaven. This miracle type
signifies the crux of the wilderness journey. YHWH was teaching His young
nation to trust him for anything and everything. Call it "heavenly
meals on wheels." Each day the people would rise from their sleep
and find the ground wet with dew and covered with food.
"And when the dew that lay was gone up, see, upon the face of the
wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the frost on the
ground. And when the children of Yisrael saw it, they said to one another,
It is manna: for they did not know what it was. And Moshe said, "This
is the lechem (bread) that YHWH has given you to eat," Exodus / Shemoth
16:14,15.
As the sun rose, the Hebrews would gather their daily bread. A person
could only get enough to last one day. If one was greedy and gathered
too much, the manna would spoil. Yet on Friday the manna miraculously
lasted for two days. The Israelites would not have to pick up manna on
the Sabbath. YHWH blessed the Sabbath keepers by allowing them to rest.
They did not have to worry about preparing food on this day. This was
another test.
In Hebrew the word "mawn" is translated "manna." This
word literally means "what is it?" Upon first seeing this flaky
bread the people wondered "mawn?" or "what is it?"
The Rabbis teach that they soon found the bread to taste like anything
they imagined. Whatever they needed the manna was.
We see in Exodus 16:33 that a portion of manna was also to be stored as
a memorial. This jar of heavenly bread was to be kept in the Tabernacle
as a testimony and witness of YHWH's faithfulness. 1 Corinthians 3:9 says,
"you are YHWH's tabernacle." In the same chapter, in verse 15,
the Scriptures state "know you not that you are the beit hamikdash
(temple) of YHWH and that the Ruach (Spirit) dwells in you." Today,
the believer is the dwelling place of YHWH. You are the temple of YHWH
and like the tabernacle, the manna from heaven should dwell inside you.
In John 6:51 Y'shua the Messiah said "I am the bread from Heaven."
He wasn't comparing Himself to communion wafers or saltine crackers. He
was equating Himself to the manna from Heaven that sustained the nation
of Yisrael for forty long years. Manna means "what is it?" Y'shua
said "I am it." Whatever we need He is. He is the bread from
heaven. He is whatever we need. We are the children of Israel who should
seek Him daily.
YHWH has promised to meet all of our needs. He took care of the nation
of Yisrael in the dessert. Even though they caravanned in tents they were
ok. He gave them food, water, protection, and military victories. Their
shoes did not even wear out. These miracles are types for us today. Whatever
we need, Y'shua is. Remember that he is the "lechem ha chayim"
- the 'bread of life." YHWH will provide for His people. Will His
people trust Him? Or will we focus on the wilderness journey and problems
we face along the way to the Promised Land? Remember that man does not
live by bread alone (the physical manifestation of our needs) but by the
word of YHWH (the Son of YHWH Y'shua) who has come to supply all of our
needs.
Applying the Portion to Life Today
Flick on the television or cut up the radio and you’ll hear about
wars. The newspaper columns, the TV talking heads, and the radio news
broadcasts are all obsessed with the battles of the nations. Wars are
raging around the world. Good fights with evil, and patriots clash with
terrorists.
WAR – it is an ugly word. Just the mention of this term brings to
mind scenes of battlefields, weapons, and flaYHWHraped coffins. The worst
of human behavior and sometimes the most heroic of human behavior exhibit
themselves during times of combat. To win a conflict there must be a strategy
or a plan for success. Victory does not happen by accident. Victory in
a war zone occurs when one group overtakes another through struggle. “We
struggle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,” says Ephesians
6:12.
As Bible believers our primary battle is not against terrorists in the
flesh but against terrorist in the spirit. We battle against agents of
darkness that oppress and intimidate the soul. Though we struggle, we
are victorious through YHWH the mighty Man of War, when we follow His
plans of action. One part of this plan is found in the Torah portion entitled
“Be’ha’alotekha.” This weekly reading segment
takes up chapters 8-12 in the book of Bamidbar (Numbers). Chapter 10 is
key if you are looking for a breakthrough in your spiritual life. Victory
is yours…just keep reading!
Chapter 10 of Bamidbar begins with the mitzvot of the trumpets. Yisra’el
is called to manufacture silver trumpets to “serve you to summon
the community and to set the divisions in motion,” 10:2. These metal
musical instruments, used interchangeably with shofars or ram’s
horns, produce loud vibrating noises when blown. The sound of these instruments
call Yisra’el to worship and to war. Furthermore, the wail of the
shofar and the shrill of a shout are powerful tools when battling spiritual
foes. Notice the order of chapter ten:
First, Yisra’el is commanded to make trumpets
Second, Yisra’el is told that victory is theirs when they blow the
shofars
Third, the camp of Yisra’el sets out with the tribe of Judah/Yah’huda
leading the way
Fourth, when Yisra’el would move so would the Shekinah of YHWH
Fifth, as YHWH would rise up the enemy would be scattered
Let’s look a little closer on how the experiences of Yisra’el
parallel your walk today.
Yisra’el is commanded to make trumpets
These musical instruments are more than just horns; they are visible signs
of obedience. Yisra’el is told to make silver trumpets and so they
obey. This is the only section of Torah where trumps are made of silver.
“And YHWH spoke unto Moshe, saying, make thee two trumpets of silver;
of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the
calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. And when
they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves
to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,” 10:1-3.
In Biblical times the “horn” was a symbol of power and majesty.
So through a simple act of obedience, like fashioning these instruments
or shouting out loud, the power of YHWH moves in majesty.
Yisra’el is told that victory is theirs when they blow the shofars
This could be one of the most important phrases spoken to the nation –
“And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth
you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered
before YHWH your Elohim, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. Also
in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings
of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings,
and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you
for a memorial before your Elohim: I am YHWH your Elohim,” 10:9-1.
Not only is the sound of the shofar a wake-up call to mankind, it is also
a reminder to the Creator of the Universe. YHWH takes note when His people
toot their own horns. Victory is promised when reliance is solely upon
Elohim.
The sound of the trumpet does not itself defeat the enemy, but it calls
to action the defeator of the enemy – YHWH Himself. The purpose
of the horns is for Yisra’el told to blow an alarm or “ruwa.”
This word “ruwa” means “to split the ears (with sound),
i.e. shout (for alarm or joy):--blow an alarm, cry (alarm, aloud, out),
destroy, make a joyful noise, smart, shout (for joy), sound an alarm,
triumph.” According to its definition a ruwa can be an alarm of
the shofar or the vocal chords. It is a high-pitched shrill that shakes
the heavenlies and brings victory. It is the sound of a shout of faith
that calls out to YHWH. A ruwa transcends the situation, penetrates the
darkness, and enters the heavenlies to summon the attention of YHWH. No
matter how dark the situation, no matter how dim the battle looms, victory
is certain when Yisra’el praises. “Elohim has ascended amid
shouts of joy, YHWH amid the sounding of trumpets,” Psalm / Tehillim
47.
The camp of Yisra’el sets out with Yah’huda leading the
way
When Yisra’el is to travel, the tribe of Judah/Yah’huda is
to go first. This is important because Yah’huda is not just the
preeminent family group of the nation; Yah’huda is also the name
of praise. The Hebrew term “Yah’huda” means literally
“praise YHWH.” If Yisra’el wants victory then they are
to first sound a ruwa of shofars or voices. Then praise of YHWH, or Yah’huda,
should lead their procession into battle. Praise precedes victory when
it comes to spiritual battles.
When Yisra’el would move so would the Shekinah of YHWH
“So they set out from the mountain of YHWH and traveled for three
days. The ark of the covenant of YHWH went before them during those three
days to find them a place to rest. The cloud of YHWH was over them by
day when they set out from the camp,” Bamidbar 10:33-34. When Yisra’el
shouts, YHWH hears the high shrill and moves on their behalf. It is the
cry of the ruwa that brings the Ruach! “But thou art holy, O thou
that inhabitest the praises of Yisra’el. Our: fathers trusted in
thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee,
and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded,”
Psalm 22:3-5. Notice here that deliverance comes after they “cried
unto thee.” YHWH is moved when His people move in faith.
Surely you remember the march around Jericho and how the walls of that
city fell through shouting and shofars. YHWH arises at the shout and His
enemies are scattered! “Your dead will live; their bodies will rise.
You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like
the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead…see,
YHWH is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for
their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will
conceal her slain no longer,” Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 26:19-22.
As YHWH would rise up the enemy would be scattered
Just like mother bear that is shaken by the cry of baby bear, YHWH moves
when His children praise. “Whenever the ark set out, Moshe said,
"Rise up, YHWH! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee
before you." Whenever it came to rest, he said, "Return, O YHWH,
to the countless thousands of Yisra’el," Bamidbar / Numbers
10:35-36.
The praise of YHWH enthrones Him in the midst of Yisra’el. Isaiah
chapter twelve verse six says, that we should “Shout aloud and sing
for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Yisra’el among
you.” At the shout, YHWH arises and splatters His enemies.
For your spiritual breakthrough notice this pattern found in Tehillim
/ Psalm 47: “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to YHWH with
cries of joy. How awesome is YHWH Most High, the great King over all the
earth! He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. He chose our
inheritance for us, the pride of Ya’acov, whom he loved. Selah.
Elohim has ascended amid shouts of joy, YHWH amid the sounding of trumpets.
Sing praises to Elohim, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For Elohim is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.
Elohim reigns over the nations; Elohim is seated on his holy throne.”
The shout of the believer grabs the Almighty’s attention. It reminds
Him of His covenant with Yisra’el. “Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of YHWH is right and
true; he is faithful in all he does,” Tehillim (Psalm) 33:3-4. As
YHWH rises from His resting place the enemies scatter in fear.
There is a war being raged. The battleground is your life and your weapon
of mass destruction is your ruwa – your shout and your shofar. Death
has no more victory. Oppression must end. Confusion and disorder will
disappear. Sicknesses can be healed. “He began to shout, ‘Y’shua
Ben-David, have mercy on me!’ Many rebuked him and told him to be
quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Moshiach Ben-David, have mercy
on me!’ And Y’shua stopped and said, ‘Call him.’
So they called to the blind man, ‘Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling
you.’ Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to
Y’shua. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ Y’shua
asked him. The blind man said, ‘Rabbi, I want to see.’ The
Messiah Y’shua said, ‘Go, your faith has healed you.’
Immediately he received his sight and followed Y’shua along the
road,” Mark 10:47-50.
Portion Points to Ponder
from various sources
1. The Hebrew name for this portion is Behaalotecha. What does this mean?
2. Read Zechariah 2:10-4:7. How does these relate to the story of Numbers
this week?
3. Consider the words found in Revelation 11:1-19. What did you learn
from studying this passage?
4. How does this Torah portion speak of the Messiah Y’shua?
5. “And Aaron did so; toward the face of the menorah he kindled
its lamps, as YHWH had commanded Moses,” Numbers 8:3. Would anyone
suspect that Aaron would deviate from YHWH's command?
6. “According to the word of YHWH the Children of Israel would journey,
and according to the word of the YHWH they would encamp,” Numbers
9:18. Why are the words "according to the word of YHWH" repeated
six times over a span of five verses which discuss the journeying and
encampment of the Hebrew people?
7. “He said, "Please do not forsake us... and you will be to
us for eyes,” Numbers 10:31. How would Yitro become "eyes"
to all the Israelites?
8. “But now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all; we
have nothing but the manna to look to,” Numbers 11:6. It is said
that the manna tasted like cake fried in honey, and one could experience
any taste his palate desired. If that is true then why did they complain?
9. Numbers 8:2, "Speak to Aaron and say to him, 'When you set up
the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand.'"
The phrase toward the face of the Menorah is an interesting one. The rabbis
teach that the three wicks on the right and the three on the left were
all directed toward the Menorah’s central stem, thus concentrating
light toward the center. The Menorah symbolized that YHVH is the Source
of all light (ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash, p. 775). What are the connotations
of this for a believer in Yeshua? How did Yeshua describe himself? (See
John 8:12; 9:5.) What did he mean when he said that “I am the vine
and you are the branches?” (John 15:5) What does this mean and how
is this pointing to a type of human menorah? Relate this to the seven
Messianic assemblies of Revelation 2 and 3 being likened to menorahs (Rev
1:13,?20). Is Yeshua the center of all that we do? Do we place all of
our focus on him? Can we say, as the Apostle Paul did, that “in
him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28)? Does the
power of his resurrected life and anointing flow through you even as oil
was in the Menorah and sap flows through a tree to its branches?
10. Numbers 9:2, “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover at
the appointed time.” In its appointed time [season]/moed. The word
moed (Strong’s H4150; TWOT 878b) primarily means “an appointment,
a fixed time or season, a festival, an assembly, the congregation, the
place of meeting.” The question that is begged in these definitions
is this: Who is making the appointment? Who is calling the assembly together?
Is there any man (or group of men) that has the authority and power to
call all believers together at a fixed and seasonal time for an appointment,
assembly or festival? Torah is clear that YHVH is the one who determines
these times. In this passage, the subject is Passover, which is but one
of seven annual appointed times or moedim that he commanded Israel to
keep. Who is the Author of these days—the one who made the appointment
for all Israel to meet with him at certain times and seasons? Now who
is the author of Christmas, Easter, and the myriad other man-made church
festivals? Who are you going to obey? Whose appointments are you going
to keep?
11. Numbers 9:13, “But if a man who is ceremonially clean and not
on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, that person must be cut
off from his people because he did not present the LORD's offering at
the appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.”
The term cut off (also meaning “expelled or killed”) is used
in the Torah about 34 times and is usually referring to Israelites being
cut off(expelled)from the camp of Israel for rebellion and disobedience
against YHVH’s commands. Is this a spiritual principle that applies
to us today with regard to the congregation of the believers? Should leaders
expel someone from the congregation for disobedience and rebellion against
YHVH’s commandments? (See Rom 16:17; Tit 3:10; 2?Thess 3:6; 2?Tim
3:5; 1?Cor 5:5.)
12. Why did YHWH lead The Children of Yisrael to mount Sinai before leading
them to the promised land?
13. What are two of the most important aspects of faith YHWH the Children
of Yisrael in the wilderness of Sinai?
14. How does remembering YHWH’s past miracles help build our faith?
15. What is the first feast of the second year after leaving Egypt, that
YHWH commands The Children of Yisrael to keep?
16. How does contentment strengthen our faith?
17. What does Rav Shaul say about contentment in Philippians 4:11?
18. How do we learn to remain faithful despite our circumstances?
19. Toward which direction did the wicks of the menorah burn, and why?
20. From what material and in what manner was the menorah made?
21. Moshe was commanded to cleanse the levi'im by sprinkling on them "mei
chatat." What is "mei chatat"?
22. Which three "t'nufot" (wavings) are in the parsha?
23. Why did YHWH claim the first-born of the Hebrew People as His possession?
24. Why are the words "Bnei Yisrael" repeated five times in
verse 8:19?
25. When a levi reaches age 50, which functions may he still perform?
26. Why was the mitzvah of the second Passover / Pesach Sheini not commanded
directly to Moshe?
27. What similarity is there between the menorah and the trumpets?
28. What three purposes did trumpet signals serve?
29. How many tribes marched between the Gershon-Merari detachment and
that of Kehat? How was the time differential used?
30. The tribe of Dan, who traveled last, was called "the gatherer
of all the camps." What did they gather?
31. When the Hebrew People entered the Land, who took temporary possession
of Jericho?
32. Which aron is referred to in verse 10:33?
33. Which two topics are out of chronological order in the parsha?
34. Moshe was commanded to choose 70 elders to help him lead the Hebrew
People. What happened to the elders who led the Hebrew People in Egypt?
35. Who did Moshe choose as elders?
36. What was the prophecy of Eldad and Medad?
37. Why did Miriam merit to have the people wait for her?
38. In the Parsha, we find this command given: Speak to Aaron, and say
to him, When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in
front of the lampstand. (Numbers 8:2) The phrase "when you light
the lamps,"(Behaalos’cha es haneiros), literally means, "When
you raise up the lamps." How are we "raised up" in service
to YHWH?
39. The Menorah was a light to the world, and thus also represent YHWH’s
Torah. Note that even a person who was not a priest could light the lamps.
What does this tell us about whose job it is to spread the light of Torah?
(Compare to Matthew 5:13-16)
40. The lamps of the Menorah can also be seen to reflect seven levels
of Divine service among the people. How does this diversity add to the
unity of the people, rather than detracting from it?
41. Numbers 9:6-11 tells of a "second Passover" being added
(a month later) for those who were defiled by a dead body and could not
keep the usual Feast. What does this allowance for these men teach us
about it being "never too late" with YHWH and being able to
rectify your past?
42. In Numbers 9:14, YHWH states that those gentiles who associate themselves
with Israel were to follow the same Torah ordinances as Israel did: "…you
shall have one ordinance, for the stranger, and for him who was born in
the land." Compare this to Ephesians 2:11-13, where Paul tells gentiles
who come to Yeshua that they were no longer to be strangers to the Torah
ordinances of Israel as they were now one with them. What implications
does this have for those who say they follow Yeshua, but need not be concerned
with the Torah? (Compare Yeshua's comments at the beginning of his midrash
on Torah observance in Matthew 5:17-21 to his concluding ones in Matthew
7:21-23.)
43. The Manna in the desert had to be gathered every day and would last
only until the next day. How can such a day to day situation be seen as
true "freedom?" Compare this to Yeshua’s words: "Therefore
do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:34) How did
the complaining of the Israelites indicate a confused view of what a true
freedom is? How is the reflective of a lack of faith? (See Hebrews 4:2.)
44. Miriam, the sister of Moses, was afflicted with Tzarrat, the punishment
for speaking evil against someone (lashon hara.) How does Miriam’s
quick and stern punishment indicate the seriousness of lashon hara, as
well the principle of teachers being held to a higher standard by YHWH?
45. What did you learn from this Open Bible study?
The Open Bible is a teaching series written by Daniel Rendelman of Emet Ministries. Find more teachings, audio messages, videos, and music at www.emetministries.com.
Daniel Rendelman is the founder and leader of Emet Ministries and the author of the book “Finding the Truth.” He, his wife, and five children live in Newberry, South Carolina. He can be reached at emetministries@gmail.com.
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