Read Numbers 8:1-12:16 at Bible Gateway.
The teaching tools of scripture
Gen 1:1-2:3 and the teaching tools of scripture part one and part two
Gen 1:1-6:8 and finding the topic themes of scripture
Hebrew paragraph divisions
8:1-4 {p} Arrangement of the seven lamps of the menorah
8:5-22 {s} Cleansing + wave offering of the Levites for the work of the tabernacle
8:23-26 {p} Levites work of the tabernacle from 25 to 50 years
9:1-8 {p} Passover keeping prevented by defilement
9:9-14 {s} Second month Passover + one Torah for the stranger and native
9:15-23 {p} Israel encamped and journeyed at the command of YHVH
10:1-10 {p} The law of the two silver trumpets
10:11-28 {s} 2nd year, 2nd month, 20th day, Israel broke camp in order
10:29-34 {s} Moses entreats his father- in- law to journey with them
10:35-36 {p} Moses’ blessing when the ark set out and when it rested
11:1-15 {p} Complaint against YHVH – intense craving for meat
11:16-22 {p} YHVH will give them meat for 30 days until they are sick of it
11:23-35 {p} The 70 elders commissioned + quail + graves of craving
12:1-3 {s} Complaint of Miriam + Aaron against Moses
12:4-13 {p} Miriam becomes leprous
12:14-16 {p} Miriam shut out of the camp seven days, then received again
Strong themes of the parashah
8:1-4 {p} Arrangement of the seven lamps of the menorah
8:5-26 {s+p} Cleansing of Levites for the work of the tabernacle, from 25-50 years
9:1-8 {p} Passover keeping prevented by defilement
9:9-23 {s+p} 2nd month Passover/ Israel encamped + journeyed at the command of YHVH
10:1-10 {p} The law of the two silver trumpets
10:11-28 {s+s+p} 2nd year, 2nd month, 20th day, Israel broke camp
11:1-35 {px3} Complaint against YHVH: intense craving for meat/ graves of craving
12:1-13 {s+p} Complaint of Miriam + Aaron against Moses; Miriam becomes leprous
12:14-16 {p} Miriam shut out of the camp 7 days, then received again
Num 8:1-12:16 triennial Torah portions
8:1-9:21, triennial Beha’alotecha, “When you step up”
9:22-10:36, triennial Avoyamaim, “Whether days”
11:1-35, triennial Ha’am bemitun’nim, “The people sought complaints”
12:1-16, triennial Vatdaber Miryam v’Aharon, “Miriam and Aaron spoke”
Num 8:1-12:16 Chiastic structure
Download the fully expanded Num 8:1-12:16 Beha’alotecha chiasm pdf (Coming …)
Theme of the parashah
Instructions, preparations to set out toward the promised Land, but complaints hinder progress.
Finding Messiah in Beha’alotecha
So they departed from the mountain of the LORD on a journey of three days; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them for the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them. Num 10:33
Three is one of the signs of the Messiah. The ark of the covenant of the LORD contained the tablets of stone, the Law of God, and was covered by the mercy seat. It is Messiah who is the Word of God made flesh (Joh 1:1, 14). Yes, even the Law of God is Messiah, as His Law is also His Word. But His Law, His Word, is always covered by mercy – is that not the gospel?
Now the ark of the covenant – the Law covered over by Mercy – goes on a three days’ journey, to search out a place of rest for Israel. On the third day, Messiah was raised to life in triumph over sin, hell, death, and all the power of the devil, and in Him Israel finds her place of rest!
Additional readings for this parashah
Zec 2:14-4:7 | Luk 17:11-18:14
Studies in Beha’alotecha
Numbers 8:1-12:16, Paragraph divisions and Chiastic structure
Numbers 7 and 8, The menorah
Numbers 9 and 10, Two silver trumpets
Numbers 11 and 12, Three complaints
Further study off site
Beha’alotecha – Restoration of Torah
Beha’alotecha Torah Pearls – Nehemiah Gordon and Keith Johnson
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