נשא

In the wilderness, God spoke to Moses about “Naso,” which means “take a census.” Moses was to count Levite men from age thirty to fifty who could serve at the Tent of Meeting.

Each clan had its own work. The Gershonites carried the cloth parts: the Tabernacle curtains, the Tent’s covering, the dolphin-skin covering on top, the entrance screen, the hangings around the courtyard, the gate screen, and the cords. They also carried the altar’s related equipment and accessories. They did their tasks by the orders of Aaron and his sons, and Ithamar, Aaron’s son, directed them.

The Merarites were assigned the heavy framework: planks, bars, posts, sockets, pegs, and cords, each item listed for them by name. Moses, Aaron, and the leaders also counted the Kohathites, who served with the most sacred objects. Altogether, 8,580 Levites were enrolled, each given a clear responsibility at God’s command.

God then gave rules to protect the camp where He dwelled among the people. Anyone made unclean by an eruption, a discharge, or contact with a dead body was sent outside the camp for a time. The Israelites followed these instructions.

God also spoke about making things right when someone wronged another person. If a man or woman realized they were guilty, they had to confess and repay what was taken, adding one-fifth more. If the person harmed had died and had no relative to receive the payment, the repayment went to God for the priest, along with a ram for expiation.

There was also a careful ritual for a husband’s jealousy when there were no witnesses. He brought his wife to the priest with an offering of barley flour, without oil or frankincense. The priest used sacred water in an earthen vessel, added dust from the Tabernacle floor, uncovered the woman’s head, and placed the grain offering in her hands. The woman answered, “Amen, amen,” and drank the water. If she was guilty, harm would come; if she was innocent, she would be unharmed.

God described a special vow for anyone who chose to set themselves apart for Him, called a nazirite vow, a promise to live with extra separation for a time. During that time they avoided wine and anything from grapes, did not cut their hair, and stayed away from dead bodies, even close family. If someone died suddenly near them, they shaved on the seventh day, and on the eighth brought two turtledoves or two pigeons; they also brought a first-year lamb, and the earlier days of the vow did not count.

When the vow was completed, the person came to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting with offerings: a male lamb, a ewe lamb, a ram, and a basket of unleavened cakes and wafers, with grain offerings and libations. After shaving, the hair was placed on the fire under the sacrifice.

God taught Aaron and his sons to bless Israel: “God bless you and protect you… and grant you peace.”

When Moses finished setting up and anointing the Tabernacle, the tribal leaders brought gifts, six carts and twelve oxen. Moses gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites, four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, and none to the Kohathites, who carried sacred items on their shoulders. Then, for twelve days, one leader each day brought offerings to dedicate the altar, beginning with Nahshon of Judah. When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting, he heard God’s voice speaking from above the Ark’s cover, between the cherubim.