Numbers-Chap-5-1-16
-hebraicstudies.net-
Please
do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!
Re Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I may use any of the
following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org”
(MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org”
(SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!
Colour coded
details of our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah =
History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books -
Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or
Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of
Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history
of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations or
(additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
YYYYYYY
Remember
the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
YYYYYYY
Part One..
With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Foreword:
Numbers Chapter 5 marks a shift from the external organisation of the tribes to the internal sanctity of the community. Using the excellent JPS-1917 translation as our guide, let us examine the first 16 verses.
Introduction: The Sanctity of the Camp.
In the preceding chapters, we saw
YYYYYYY
Le us now read Be’midbar - Numbers Chapter 5: 1-16: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah).
1. “And if any one sin, in
that he heareth the voice of adjuration, he being a
witness, whether he hath seen or known, if he do not utter it, then he shall
bear his iniquty; 2. or if any one touch any
unclean thing, whether it be the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of
unclean cattle, or the carcass of unclean swarming things, and be guilty, it
being hidden from him that he is unclean; 3. or
if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever his uncleanness be wherewith he
is unclean, and it be hid from him; and, when he knoweth of it, be guilty; 4. or
if any one swear clearly with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it
be that a man shall utter clearly with an oath, and it be hid from him; and,
when he knoweth of it, be guilty in one of these things; 5. and
it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall
confess that wherein he hath sinned; 6. and
he shall bring his forfeit unto יְהוָה - the LORD for his sin
which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a
sin-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him as concerning his
sin. 7. And
if his means suffice not for a lamb, then he shall bring his forfeit for that
wherein he hath sinned, two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, unto יְהוָה - the LORD: one for a sin-offering,
and the other for a burnt-offering. 8. And he shall bring them
unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin-offering first, and
pinch off its head close by its neck, but shall not divide it asunder. 9. And
he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin-offering upon the side of the altar;
and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar; it is
a sin-offering. 10. And he shall prepare the second for a
burnt-offering, according to the ordinance; and the priest shall make atonement
for him as concerning his sin which he hath sinned, and he shall be forgiven. 11. But
if his means suffice not for two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he
shall bring his offering for that wherein he hath sinned, the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin-offering; he shall put no oil
upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon; for it is a
sin-offering. 12. And
he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it as
the memorial-part thereof, and make it smoke on the altar, upon the offerings
of יְהוָה - the LORD made by fire; it is a
sin-offering. 13. And
the priest shall make atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned
in any of these things, and he shall be forgiven; and the remnant shall be the
priest’s, as the meal-offering. 14. And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto
Moses, saying: 15. If
any one commit a trespass, and sin through error, in the holy things of יְהוָה - the LORD, then he shall bring his
forfeit unto יְהוָה - the LORD, a ram without blemish out
of the flock, according to thy valuation in silver by shekels, after the shekel
of the sanctuary, for a guilt-offering. 16. And he shall make
restitution for that which he hath done amiss in the holy thing, and shall add
the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest; and the priest shall make
atonement for him with the ram of the guilt-offering, and he shall be forgiven”.
YYYYYYY
Next is our commentary on Numbers
5:1-16:
1. Ritual Purity and Separation (Verses
1-4):
The Command: יְהוָה - the LORD instructs
Moses to “put out of the camp every
leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is unclean by the
dead”.
The Reason: This was not a punishment for being ill, but a recognition of the
Tabernacle’s holiness. Because אֱלֹהִים - Elohim “dwells
in their midst”, the camp must reflect
His life-giving nature, which is the opposite of death and bodily
“leaks” or “issues” that symbolise a
loss of vitality.
Equality in Law: Verse 3 notes that “both male and
female shall ye put out”, showing that
the standards of sanctity applied to the entire community without exception.
2. Restitution and Confession (Verses 5-10):
The Trespass: This section deals with “any sin
that men commit, to commit a trespass against יְהוָה - the LORD”. Crucially, a sin against another human
being is treated as unfaithfulness to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim Himself.
The Process: Forgiveness requires more than just a sacrifice.
The guilty party must: Confess the sin openly.
Make Restitution in full plus a
“fifth part” (20% penalty) to the
victim.
Unclaimed Restitution: If the victim
has died and has no “kinsman” (Goel), the payment goes to the priest. This ensures
that “ill-gotten gains” never remain with the offender,
maintaining the camp’s moral purity.
3. The Law of Jealousy: Part 1
(Verses 11-16):
The Hidden Sin: This law addresses the “spirit of jealousy”. It concerns a wife suspected of unfaithfulness where there is no
witness and she was not “taken in the act”.
The Sacrifice of Memorial: The husband brings his wife to the priest with an offering of “barley meal”. Notably, this offering has no oil or frankincense, the usual
symbols of joy, because it is an offering of “memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance”.
Standing Before אֱלֹהִים - Elohim: Verse 16 concludes this first part: “And the priest
shall bring her near, and set her before יְהוָה - the LORD”. The ritual shifts the burden of proof from
human accusation to Divine judgment, taking a potentially violent domestic
situation and placing it in the hands of the Almighty!
YYYYYYY
My Closing Message:
The Presence in Our Midst..
The common thread through these 16
verses is the weight of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Presence. Whether it is a
physical ailment, a financial dishonesty, or a fractured marriage, these issues
could not simply be ignored. They had to be brought “before יְהוָה - the LORD”. The lesson for us today is that our private actions and our treatment of
others directly impact our spiritual environment. Integrity whether in how we
handle our bodies, our business, or our most intimate relationships is what
allows the Divine to truly dwell among us!
YYYYYYY
Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the
page!
This site was originally
created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith.
Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day
(if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him,
blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with
hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...
For our Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!”
May
the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom =
Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD
of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat,
as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before
food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Enter ...