This passage of Numbers was comforting to read for my need to have everything in it’s proper place, and was a refreshing change of pace compared to the Law of Leviticus. Moses is called by God to take a census of all the men aged 20 years and over of each tribe, the warriors and specifically placed around the tabernacle. The Levites were exempted from military service in exchange for taking on the responsibility of guarding and taking care of the tabernacle. Every part of their jobs was outlined by God. The rituals ensured that everything holy, belonging to the Lord was kept holy. I was intrigued by how the Nazirite vow could be taken by anyone as a way to separate themselves in service to the Lord. As a follower of God, we need to often review what the Lord is tellings us about our purpose and how we are fulfilling that purpose within our place in His kingdom.
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
So they shall put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.
Numbers 6:24-27 ESV
Passage:
Numbers 1-8
Discovered:
- God told Moses to take a census of all men 20 years & older: 603,550
- Reuben 46,500
- Simeon 59,300
- Gad 45,650
- Judah 74,600
- Issachar 54,400
- Zebulun 57,400
- Ephraim 40,500
- Manasseh 32,200
- Benjamin 35,400
- Dan 62,700
- Asher 41,500
- Naphtali 53,400
- Levites were not counted as they were responsible for the tabernacle.
- When Israelites traveled with the ark, they went in the following order: Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Reuben, Simeon, Gad, LEVITES, TABERNACLE & ARK, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Dan, Asher, Naphtali
- The Levites were taken instead fo the firstborn to guard the tabernacle.
- There was a tax for every firstborn not equal to Levites over the age of 30 (age of service) of 5 shekels.
- Unclean persons, male & female were to live outside the camp.
- Those who commit sins need to confess their sins and make restitution in full + 1/5
- For women accused of adultery, there was a test to detect unfaithfulness.
- Nazirite: a vow of service to God made by a person. During their vow they could not drink/consume fruit of the vine, cut their hair or go near a dead person during their service.
- On the day of the tabernacle was set up, each of the tribes gave: a silver plate & basin filled with flour mixed with oil, gold dish with incense, one bull, one ram, male lamb (1 year), male goat, 2 oxen 5 rams, 5 male goats, 5 male lambs.
- Levites were cleansed for service: sprinkled with water, shaved their bodies and brought burnt, grain and sin offerings. They served from 25 years to 50 years old.
Help me to remember:
that each tribe was set apart for a specific purpose in service to you regarding the tabernacles and you have given me a specific purpose to serve you as well.
Lord, I ask that
just as the blessing promises that when I am right with You, obeying Your commands, that I will have the peace of Your Presence.
Heavenly Father, I am thankful . . .
for Your forethought in giving everyone a place and a purpose.
