Day 10 - Leviticus 26:27 - Numbers 8:14

In today’s section, we read about:

The conclusion of the punishments that would befall the Israelites if they did not follow God
Rules for the redemption of gifts offered to God
Census of the Israelite fighting men, and organisation of the camp
Census of the Levites and assignment of their duties
Purity in the camp and jealousy offering
Rule for Nazirites
Dedication offerings from all the tribes

Some thoughts that struck me today:

We pick up at v27 which is the final phase of the cycle of punishments which follow as a result of God’s people turning their back on him. I was stuck by v30 “… and I will despise you”, compared to v11. The choice is clear and there for all to make. The section 26:14-46 was played out in the history section of the Bible from the time of the Judges, through the Kings and then the exile. I shall try to recall this passage when we get to them.

The order of the tribes is different in Numbers 1 from ch 2. In Nu 1:5-15, the order is (a) birth order of leah’s sons; (b) Joseph’s sons in the order that Jacob blessed them (Gen 48:19) and Benjamin (his full brother); (c) the children of the two concubines (Bilhah and Zilpah). In ch 2, Judah has taken the first place (Gen 49:4, 10). The tribes descending from Rachel are grouped together on the west side of the camp. Judah has nearly 12,000 more fighting men than the next largest tribe, although Ephraim and Manasseh together are almost as numerous.

Nu 3:13 sets out that the reason why the Levites are set aside for God as redemption payment for the firstborn - “for all the firstborn males are mine. On the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both of people and of animals. They are mine; I am the Lord”

The duties of all the Levites are set out – each person knows exactly what they should do (4:19,32, 49)

Here as well, the holiness of God is spelt out as the Kohathites are told they mustn’t presume to enter the sanctuary or touch the sacred objects or they will die (4:15, 20)

Sin is always against God, not solely against another person – Nu 5:6 “If any of the people—men or women—betray the Lord by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty.”

Nazirites could be either men or women. There does not seem to be any indication of the type of vow undertaken to become a Nazirite or any set duration.

I like the way it is God himself who tells us how the priests are to bless the people with a “special blessing”. Then there is a great promise, “whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them” (6:27)

In ch 7, although the tribes made their offerings one after another, they each offered exactly the same things, each meticulously recorded for posterity.