numbers 8:1-12:16 annual beha’alotecha, “when you step up” outline

Read Numbers 8:1-12:16 at Bible Gateway.
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Hebrew paragraph divisions

Num 8:1-4 {p} Arrangement of the seven lamps of the menorah
Num 8:5-22 {s} Cleansing + wave offering of the Levites for the work of the tabernacle
Num 8:23-26 {p} Levites work of the tabernacle from 25 to 50 years
Num 9:1-8 {p} Passover keeping prevented by defilement
Num 9:9-14 {s} Second month Passover + one Torah for the stranger and native
Num 9:15-23 {p} Israel encamped and journeyed at the command of YHVH
Num 10:1-10 {p} The law of the two silver trumpets
Num 10:11-28 {s} 2nd year, 2nd month, 20th day, Israel broke camp in order
Num 10:29-34 {s} Moses entreats his father- in- law to journey with them
Num 10:35-36 {p} Moses’ blessing when the ark set out and when it rested
Num 11:1-15 {p} Complaint against the LORD – intense craving for meat
Num 11:16-22 {p} The LORD will give them meat for 30 days until they are sick of it
Num 11:23-35 {p} The 70 elders commissioned + quail + graves of craving
Num 12:1-3 {s} Complaint of Miriam + Aaron against Moses
Num 12:4-13 {p} Miriam becomes leprous
Num 12:14-16 {p} Miriam shut out of the camp seven days, then received again

Strong themes of the parashah

Num 8:1-4 {p} Arrangement of the seven lamps of the menorah
Num 8:5-26 {s+p} Cleansing of Levites for the work of the tabernacle, from 25-50 years
Num 9:1-8 {p} Passover keeping prevented by defilement
Num 9:9-23 {s+p} 2nd month Passover/ Israel encamped + journeyed at the command of YHVH
Num 10:1-10 {p} The law of the two silver trumpets
Num 10:11-28 {s+s+p} 2nd year, 2nd month, 20th day, Israel broke camp
Num 11:1-35 {px3} Complaint against YHVH: intense craving for meat/ graves of craving
Num 12:1-13 {s+p} Complaint of Miriam + Aaron against Moses; Miriam becomes leprous
Num 12:14-16 {p} Miriam shut out of the camp 7 days, then received again

Num 8:1-12:16 triennial Torah portions

Num 8:1-9:21, triennial Beha’alotecha, “When you step up”
Num 9:22-10:36, triennial Avoyamaim, “Whether days”
Num 11:1-35, triennial Ha’am bemitun’nim, “The people sought complaints”
Num 12:1-16, triennial Vatdaber miryam vaharon, “Miriam and Aaron spoke”

Num 8:1-12:16 chiastic structure

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!