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Today’s passage is titled, B’Midbar (in the wilderness), and covers Numbers 1:1–4:20.  Numbers 1 starts off with Adonai commanding that a census be taken among the people of Israel.  The purpose of this census, as given in verse 3, is to determine the number of fighting men, ages 20 and above, who can go to battle against Israel’s enemies.  Thus, the name of this book of the Bible is Numbers, which refers to this census.  The Levites are exempted from this census because they are set aside to serve the Lord at the tabernacle.

This is the first of two censuses that are taken in the book of Numbers, the other being in Numbers 26.  The census in Numbers 26 was taken to determine the size of land that each tribe would inherit when they entered the promised land according to their population.  While the total number of fighting men remained roughly the same, 603,550 in Numbers 1 vs. 601,730 in Numbers 26, we find only 2 men whose names are in both censuses: Joshua and Caleb.  This was because Joshua and Caleb did not rebel at Kadesh Barnea, Numbers 14, when the rest of the tribes trusted the report of the majority of spies and refused to move forward into the Promised Land, thus bringing on the 40-year wandering in the wilderness.

Chapter 2 lays out the placement of the tribes when they encamp as well as how many fighting men there were in each tribe.  The tabernacle was positioned in the center.  The Levites camped around the tabernacle, and then the rest of the tribes were placed as commanded by the Lord in verse 2 at some distance beyond that in a layout as follows:  East with the tribe of Judah taking the lead position, south, west and north.  When the tribes left the encampment, they would move out in the same order.

Chapter 3 focuses on the Levites.  As I mentioned earlier, they were not part of the census in chapter 1 for fighting men.  Here in chapter 3, we are given the lineage of the priests, starting with Aaron, then listing his sons, including Nadab and Abihu, who were put to death for offering strange fire.  Then, we read that the priests were set aside for the Lord.  Previously, all firstborns were set aside for service to the Lord, but here, the tribe of Levites is specifically assigned for that role.  Finally, we have a listing of the duties of the Levites, including an overview of duties to be performed by each Levitic family, the Kohathites, Gershonites and the Merarites.

Chapter 4 continues where chapter 3 left off.  In this chapter, we have a much more detailed breakdown of the duties of each of these Levitic families.  Our parasha takes us through the description of the duties performed by the Kohathites when the camp moves.

This family was responsible for transporting all the sacred objects of the tabernacle, including the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, the Lampstand and other utensils.  However, the Kohathites could not touch these items directly.  The priests, referring to Aaron and his sons, needed to cover and secure these items before they could be lifted by the Kohathites.  If any member of this family touched or even looked at one of these items when it was uncovered, they could die.

So, what can we learn from parasha B’Midbar?

I think from of the census and the placement of the tribes in the camp, we see that God is placed at the center, and beyond that central placement are located the Levites and the rest of the tribes.  I think that we can look at our own lives in this way.  God must be at the center of our lives, leading us, directing us and guiding us each and every day.  Not just for ourselves, but how we interact with those around us, starting with the relationships we have that are the closest:  Our spouses, children, extended family, congregation, work and beyond.

Regarding the tribe of the Levites, who were entrusted to work at the tabernacle, in chapter 4 we read that service at the tabernacle was to begin at age 30, not 20, which was the age that a man could fight for the nation of Israel.  I think that this tells us that service to the Lord requires growing in maturity.  And we should look at this in our own lives.  Are we growing in our maturity in living for the Lord?  How is our interaction with others on a daily basis.  Are we one way when we are at services at Shema, or at a church on Sunday, and another way throughout the week?  Would people recognize consistency that we are at our work, or in interactions with others throughout the week, or would they be shocked by our language, our attitudes and our treatment of others.  Living a life consistent with values taught by Yeshua should be a priority for us.

Finally, I think this leads us to consider that just as the Levites served the Lord at the tabernacle between the ages of 30 and 50, we have an even greater One who, even today, serves, not only interceding for us at the Right Hand of God, but doing the Will of the Father.  Yeshua came to earth, where He served us with His teaching, His Healing and His Mercy during His first coming.  He will come again.  What would He say to each one of us if He came tomorrow?  Would it be, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”?  Or something else?  I pray that we might consider this question on a daily basis, and through that, grow in our maturity in the Lord and demonstrate His Love, to, and with others.