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Nisan 17, 5763 /
April 19, 2003
Nisan 17, 5766 / April 15, 2006
Nisan 17, 5769 / April 11, 2009
Nisan 15, 5772 / April 7, 2012
Nisan 15, 5775 / April 4, 2015
Nisan 15, 5778 / March 31, 2018
Nisan 14, 5781 / March 27, 2021
Avo-yamaim vo-chodesh /
Whether days or a month
SCRIPTURES should
be read first
Moses was instructed to
make two trumpets by hammering out silver into the proper shape. Tekiah
(long -smooth) blasts from both trumpets were a signal for all the people to
gather at the Tabernacle.
Breaking Camp
Consider: the camp was
supposed to be going mostly northward, from Egypt to Eretz Israel. When the camp
was to move, the pillar of fire/cloud would move, from over the Tabernacle,
eastward to over Judah. Then Moses would blow a Tekiah (long blast) on
one hammered-silver trumpet – a call for the leaders to gather to him. Upon a
second sounding of Teruah (staccato blasts), the Ark would be followed by the three-tribe-group behind
the banner of Judah – by design, going northward. So, the Praisers of
Yahweh (Judah) went first. The Tabernacle followed,
with the sons of Gershon and Merari
carrying it.
Next, the tribes behind the banner
of Reuben left from the south, to follow Judah's path northward. Then the
Sacred Objects would follow, carried by the Kohathites. That
cleared the way for the tribes with Ephraim from the west, and the tribes with
Dan, from the north, made up the rear guard.
For layout, see commentary
Y2-48.
The Ark always went
before. (V. 35-36) “So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said:
‘Rise up, O Yahweh! Let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You
flee before You.’ And when it rested, he said: ‘Return, O Yahweh, to the many
thousands of Israel.’ ” So we say each Sabbath as we remove and replace the
Torah scroll. May the presence of Yahweh always scatter His enemies, and may His
presence always return to us!
Resurrection
Now, as we have seen the
picture of the encampment in the wilderness – and how the Hebrews broke camp, we
can picture Yeshua’s cross – and how He “broke camp”: leaving the grave. Today
is resurrection Sabbath! This afternoon marks three days and three nights1
since the time of burial. Yeshua is going to take up His Tabernacle2
and leave a sealed tomb!3 And he will go toward Galilee4:
can you guess which direction that is? It’s north!
1
“As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish, so shall
the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” –
Matthew 12:40.
2
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” – John 1:14; “For this
reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have
authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This
commandment I received from My Father” – John 10:17-18.
3
“And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord
descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And
his appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as snow; and the
guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. And the angel answered
and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for
Jesus who has been crucified. "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He
said. Come, see the place where He was lying’ ” – Matthew 28:2-6.
4
“The angel answered ‘. . . go quickly and tell His disciples that He has
risen from the dead; and behold, He is going before you into Galilee, there you
will see Him; behold, I have told you’ ” – Matthew 28:7.
So, on this
Sabbath when we read of the first travel of the Tabernacle, we celebrate the
first, of any man, to be resurrected to a glorified body. “But now Christ has
been raised from the dead, the
first fruits of those who are asleep” – 1 Corinthians 15:20.
Today’s Psalm
(v.10) says: “You have lifted me up and
cast me away”, as in crucifixion; and
(v.18-20) “This will be written for the
generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise Yahweh. For He
looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven Yahweh viewed the
earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoner, to release those appointed to death”.
Trumpet
sounds
(Numbers 10 &
1 Corinthians 14) Going back to the subject of trumpets: the silver trumpets
were to be used to make several distinctly different blasts, for distinctly
different purposes. Likewise, Paul instructs us to use words distinctly, so that
the hearers will understand what we are saying. Translating the commonly quoted
Old English into the modern language takes the extra-Biblical mystique out of
“speaking in tongues” and “prophesying”. We are taught herein to speak in
languages foreign to the hearers only if there is someone to translate. And, we
are taught that the highest gift to seek is teaching.
There is
nothing here to justify getting “super-spiritual” about, to put oneself above
others: that is a sin commonly rationalized by mysterious-sounding translations
of this passage. There is a great need for study and understanding of the
Scriptures. There is too much attributing of intuition to the Holy Spirit,
claiming words to be direct from God, by people who don’t bother to study what
God says.
We
celebrate the Holy Sabbath weekly, in honor of the resurrection of
Yeshua. We also need to honor Him at all times, as our living High
Priest – our great teacher, who has left us His Word.
Readings:
"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King
of the Universe,
Who chose us from among all peoples by
giving us Your Torah.
Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the
Torah."
Reader 1*
Amen. 22 Whether it
was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle,
staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but
when it was lifted, they did set out. 23 At the command of Yahweh
they camped, and at the command of Yahweh they set out; they kept Yahweh's
charge, according to the command of Yahweh through Moses.
10:1 Yahweh spoke further to
Moses, saying, 2 "Make yourself two trumpets of silver, of hammered
work you shall make them; and you shall use them for summoning the congregation
and for having the camps set out.
Reader 2*
Amen. 3 "When both
are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the doorway of
the tent of meeting. 4 "Yet if only one is blown, then the leaders,
the heads of the divisions of Israel, shall assemble before you. 5
"But when you blow an alarm, the camps that are pitched on the east side shall
set out. 6 "When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that
are pitched on the south side shall set out; an alarm is to be blown for them to
set out. 7 "When convening the assembly, however, you shall blow
without sounding an alarm. 8 "The priestly sons of Aaron, moreover,
shall blow the trumpets; and this shall be for you a perpetual statute
throughout your generations.
Reader 3*
Amen. 9 "When you go
to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound
an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before Yahweh your God,
and be saved from your enemies. 10 "Also in the day of your gladness
and in your appointed feasts, and on the first days of your months, you shall
blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your
peace offerings; and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I am
Yahweh your God." 11 Now in the second year, in the second month, on
the twentieth of the month, the cloud was lifted from over the tabernacle of the
testimony; 12 and the sons of Israel set out on their journeys from
the wilderness of Sinai. Then the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran.
13 So they moved out for the first time according to the commandment
of Yahweh through Moses.
Reader 4*
Amen. 14 The standard
of the camp of the sons of Judah, according to their armies, set out first, with
Nahshon the son of Amminadab, over its army, 15 and Nethanel the son
of Zuar, over the tribal army of the sons of Issachar; 16 and Eliab
the son of Helon over the tribal army of the sons of Zebulun. 17 Then
the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari,
who were carrying the tabernacle, set out. 18 Next the standard of
the camp of Reuben, according to their armies, set out with Elizur the son of
Shedeur, over its army, 19 and Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai over
the tribal army of the sons of Simeon, 20 and Eliasaph the son of
Deuel was over the tribal army of the sons of Gad. 21 Then the
Kohathites set out, carrying the holy objects; and the tabernacle was set up
before their arrival.
Reader 5* Amen. 22
Next the standard of the camp of the sons of Ephraim, according to their armies,
was set out, with Elishama the son of Ammihud over its army, 23 and
Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur over the tribal army of the sons of Manasseh;
24 and Abidan the son of Gideoni over the tribal army of the sons of
Benjamin. 25 Then the standard of the camp of the sons of Dan,
according to their armies, which formed the rear guard for all the camps, set
out, with Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai over its army, 26 and Pagiel
the son of Ochran over the tribal army of the sons of Asher; 27 and
Ahira the son of Enan over the tribal army of the sons of Naphtali. 28
This was the order of march of the sons of Israel by their armies as they set
out.
Reader 6*
Amen. 29 Then Moses
said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, "We are
setting out to the place of which Yahweh said, 'I will give it to you'; come
with us and we will do you good, for Yahweh has promised good concerning
Israel." 30 But he said to him, "I will not come, but rather will go
to my own land and relatives." 31 Then he said, "Please do not leave
us, inasmuch as you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will be
as eyes for us. 32 "So it will be, if you go with us, that whatever
good Yahweh does for us, we will do for you." 33 Thus they set out
from the mount of Yahweh three days' journey, with the ark of the covenant of
Yahweh journeying in front of them for the three days, to seek out a resting
place for them.
Reader 7*
Amen. 34 The cloud of
Yahweh was over them by day when they set out from the camp. 35 Then
it came about when the ark set out that Moses said, "Rise up, O Yahweh! And let
Your enemies be scattered, And let those who hate You flee before You." 36
When it came to rest, he said, "Return, O Yahweh, to the myriad thousands of
Israel."
"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King
of the Universe,
Who in giving us Yeshua, the Living
Torah, has planted everlasting life in our midst.
Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the
Torah."
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"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King
of the Universe,
Who selected good prophets, delighting
in their words which were spoken truthfully.
Blessed are You, Yahweh, Who chose the
Torah, Your servant Moses, Your people Israel,
and the prophets of truth and
righteousness."
[No Prophet]
Psalm 102 (To be sung.)
A Prayer of the afflicted when he is overwhelmed and pours out
his complaint before Yahweh.
1 Hear my prayer, O Yahweh! And let
my cry for help come to You. 2 Do not hide Your face from me in the
day of my distress; incline Your ear to me; in the day when I call answer me
quickly. 3 For my days have been consumed in smoke, and my bones have
been scorched like a hearth. 4 My heart has been smitten like grass
and has withered away, indeed, I forget to eat my bread. 5 Because of
the loudness of my groaning my bones cling to my flesh. 6 I resemble
a pelican of the wilderness; I have become like an owl of the waste places.
7 I lie awake, I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop. 8
My enemies have reproached me all day long; those who deride me have used my
name as a curse. 9 For I have eaten ashes like bread and mingled my
drink with weeping 10 because of Your indignation and Your wrath, for
You have lifted me up and cast me away. 11
My days are like a lengthened shadow, and I wither away like grass. 12
But You, O Yahweh, abide forever, and Your name to all generations. 13
You will arise and have compassion on Zion; for it is time to be gracious to
her, for the appointed time has come. 14 Surely Your servants find
pleasure in her stones and feel pity for her dust. 15 So the nations
will fear the name of Yahweh and all the kings of the earth Your glory. 16
For Yahweh has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory. 17 He has
regarded the prayer of the destitute and has not despised their prayer. 18
This will be written for the generation to come, that a
people yet to be created may praise Yahweh. 19 For He looked down
from His holy height; from heaven Yahweh gazed upon the earth, 20 to
hear the groaning of the prisoner, to set free those who were doomed to death,
21 that men may tell of the name of Yahweh in Zion and His praise in
Jerusalem, 22 When the peoples are gathered together, and the
kingdoms, to serve Yahweh. 23 He has weakened my strength in the way;
He has shortened my days. 24 I say, "O my God, do not take me away in
the midst of my days, Your years are throughout all generations. 25
"Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 "Even they will perish, but You endure; and all of them will wear out
like a garment; like clothing You will change them and they will be changed.
27 "But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end.
28 "The children of Your servants will continue, and their
descendants will be established before You."
1 Corinthians 14:1-19
Reader 8*
Amen. 1 Pursue love,
yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For one who speaks in a foreign language does not speak to men but to
God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3
But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and
consolation. 4 One who speaks in a foreign language edifies himself;
but one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 Now I wish that you all
spoke in foreign languages, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater
is one who prophesies than one who speaks in foreign languages, unless he
interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
Reader 9*
Amen. 6 But now,
brethren, if I come to you speaking in foreign languages, what will I profit you
unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy
or of teaching? 7 Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in
producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will
it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? 8 For if the
bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9
So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be
known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There
are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is
without meaning. 11 If then I do not know the meaning of the
language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks
will be a barbarian to me.
Reader 10*
Amen. 12 So also
you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the
edification of the church. 13 Therefore let one who speaks in a
foreign language pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a
foreign language, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What
is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind
also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16
Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place
of the ungifted say the "Amen " at your giving of thanks, since he does not know
what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but
the other person is not edified. 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues
more than you all; 19 however, in the church I desire to speak five
words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand
words in a foreign language.
"Blessed are You, Yahweh
our God, King of the Universe,
Rock of Ages, righteous
throughout all generations.
You are the faithful God,
promising and then performing, speaking and then fulfilling,
for all Your words are true
and righteous.
Faithful are You, Yahweh
our God, and faithful are Your words,
for no word of Yours shall
remain unfulfilled;
You are a faithful and
merciful God and King.
Blessed are You, Yahweh our
God, Who are faithful in fulfilling all Your words."
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