The Journey Begins

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The Journey Begins

• Numbers 1-4

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Time at Mt. Sinai

• Over a year at the foot of Mt. Sinai
• Israel had enjoyed Yahweh's presence

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Worship of Yahweh

• Been taught how to worship Yahweh
• Sacrifices Times of Celebrations (festivals)?
• Tabernacle
• Obeying Yahweh's instructions on how to live

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1. Taking a Count

• Num 1.2 "Take a census of the whole Israelite
  congregation. . . ."
• The "official" "congregation" 'edah
• Official leaders of the tribes are recruited
  delegated to count

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1. Taking a Count

• "twenty years old and upward, everyone able to go
  to war"
• But the Levites are to be numbered separately
  Num1.48-54 3.14-39

13th BCE Shasu Warriors
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1. Taking a Count

• The locations of campsites in relation to the
  Tabernacle (Num 2.1-34) and eventual decampment
  stations (See also Num 10.1-10)?
• Once again the Levites play a unique role.

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1. Taking a Count Why?

• The numbering of the official Israelite
  congregation emphasizes the fact that God values
  people collectively as well as individually.
• The importance of delegated leadership
• The importance of "orderliness"

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2. The Levites

• Levites are responsible to put-up, take-down and
  generally care for the Tabernacle because "the
  outsider who approaches shall be put to death."
  (Num 1.51b)?

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2. The Levites

• Levites are to serve Aaron and the Priesthood.
  (Num 3.9)?

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2. The Levites

• Num 3.11-13, 40-51
• All firstborn are Yahweh's since the killing of
  the firstborn in Egypt.
• The Levites were to be a substitution for all
  firstborn.
• "They are mine! I am Yahweh!"

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2. The Levites

• Census "thirty years up to fifty years old."
  (4.1 "from one month old and upward," 3.15)?,
  this is different from 8.24-25 where it is 25-50
  years old.
• "according to his service or carrying" (4.49)?

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2. The Levites - Why?

• Approaching Yahweh is not supposed to be
  something that is taken "light-heartedly"
• Levites were especially Aaron's especially
  Yahweh's
• God has special ministries designated for each
  individual.

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3. Yatta! - They Did It!

• Beginning in 1.19 the text of Num 1-4 is
  accentuated by the statements that Moses, Aaron
  and the people followed Yahweh's commands. (1.19,
  54 2.34 3.16, 39, 42, 51 4.37, 41, 45, 49)?

• Hiro Nakamura after manipulating the space-time
  continuum