• Torah (T): Bemidbar (Numbers) 3:14 – 4:16
• Prophets (P): Isaiah 43:8-13
• Apostolic (A): Ephesians 4:1-16
• Additional (ADD): 2 Esdras 10:21-24

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Numbers 26:58-59 (T)
• Exodus 6:18-20 (T)
• Ezra 6:16-18 (T)
• Exodus 13:1-2, 11-16; Numbers 8:14-18, 18:6-19; Deuteronomy 15:19-23; Nehemiah 10:34-39; Ezekiel 44:28-31; Luke 2:21-24 (T)
• Exodus 25:23-40 (T)
• 1 Samuel 6:1-21 (T)
• 2 Samuel 6:1-23 (T)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• Numbers 3:14 – 4:16 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 3.12.5 (T)

Note: (T) means the verse relates to that week’s Torah portion. (P) means the verse relates to that week’s Prophets portion. (A) means the verse relates to that week’s Apostolic portion. (ADD) means the verse relates to that week’s Additional portion.

Torah Portion (T)

3:14 YHWH spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 “Register the sons of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families. You will register every male from a son of a new moon and upward.” 16 Moses registered them according to the word of YHWH, as he was commanded. 17 These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Qohath, and Merari. 18 These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei. 19 The sons of Qohath by their families: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses. 21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites. These are the families of the Gershonites. 22 Those who were registered of them, according to the number of all the males from a son of a new moon and upward, even those who were registered of them were seven thousand five hundred. 23 The families of the Gershonites will encamp behind the tabernacle westward. 24 Eliasaph the son of Lael will be the lifted up of the fathers’ house of the Gershonites. 25 The watch duty of the sons of Gershon in the Appointed Tent will be the tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the screen for the door of the Appointed Tent, 26 the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, and its cords for all of his service. 27 Of Qohath was the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites. These are the families of the Qohathites. 28 According to the number of all the males from a new moon and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred keeping the watch duty of the holy. 29 The families of the sons of Qohath will encamp on the south side of the tabernacle. 30 The lifted up of the fathers’ house of the families of the Qohathites will be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 Their watch duty will be the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the holy with which they minister, the screen, and all his service. 32 Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest will be lifted up of the lifted up ones of the Levites, with the oversight of those who guard the watch duty of the holy. 33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites. These are the families of Merari. 34 Those who were registered of them, according to the number of all the males from a son of a new moon and upward, were six thousand two hundred. 35 The lifted up of the fathers’ house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They will encamp on the north side of the tabernacle. 36 The oversight of the watch duty of the sons of Merari will be the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its instruments, all his service, 37 the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, and their cords. 38 Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Appointed Tent toward the sunrise, will be Moses, with Aaron and his sons, guarding the watch duty of the holy for the watch duty of the sons of Israel. The stranger inside will be put to death. 39 All who were registered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron registered at the commandment of YHWH, by their families, all the males from a son of a new moon and upward, were twenty-two thousand. 40 YHWH said to Moses, “Register all the firstborn males of the sons of Israel from a son of a new moon and upward, and take the number of their names. 41 You will take the Levites for me—I am YHWH—instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel; and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the sons of Israel.” 42 Moses registered, as YHWH commanded him, all the firstborn among the sons of Israel. 43 All the firstborn males according to the number of names from a son of a new moon and upward, of those who were registered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred seventy-three. 44 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock; and the Levites will be mine. I am YHWH. 46 For the redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the sons of Israel who exceed the number of the Levites, 47 you will take five shekels apiece for each one; according to the shekel of the holy you will take them, the shekel is twenty gerahs; 48 and you will give the silver to Aaron and to his sons, the redeemed ones exceeding them.” 49 Moses took the redemption silver from those who exceeded the number of those who were redeemed by the Levites; 50 from the firstborn of the sons of Israel he took the silver, one thousand three hundred sixty-five shekels, according to the shekel of the holy; 51 and Moses gave the redemption silver to Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of YHWH, as YHWH commanded Moses.

4:1 YHWH spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 “Lift up the head the sons of Qohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, 3 from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, each came for the army to do the work in the Appointed Tent. 4 This is the service of the sons of Qohath in the Appointed Tent, regarding the holy of holies. 5 When the camp moves forward, Aaron will go in with his sons; and they will take down the veil of the screen, cover the ark of the Witness with it, 6 put a covering of [deer]^(MTT) skin on it, spread a blue cloth over it, and put in [the poles].^(LXX) 7 On the table of the bread of the presence they will spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour out [with them];^(DSS) and the continual bread will be on it. 8 They will spread on them a scarlet cloth, and cover it with a covering of [deer] skin, and will put in [the poles].^(LXX) 9 “They will take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand of the light, its lamps, its snuffers, its snuff dishes, and all its oil vessels, with which they minister to it. 10 They will put it and all its vessels within a covering of [deer]^(MTT) skin, and will put it on the frame. 11 “On the golden altar they will spread [cloths of blue],^(LXX) and cover it with a covering of [deer]^(MTT) skin, and will put in its poles. 12 “They will take all the vessels of service with which they minister in the holy, and put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering of [deer]^(MTT) skin, and will put them on the frame. 13 “They will take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it. 14 They will put on it all its vessels with which they minister about it, the fire pans, the meat hooks, the shovels, and the basins—all the vessels of the altar; and they will spread on it a covering of [deer]^(MTT) skin, and put in its poles. 15 “When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy and all the furniture of the holy, as the camp moves forward; after that, the sons of Qohath will come to carry it; but they will not touch the holy, lest they die. The sons of Qohath will carry these things belonging to the Appointed Tent. 16 “The oversight of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest will be the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the continual grain offering, and the anointing oil, the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that is in it, the holy, and its furnishings.”

Prophets Portion (P)

43:8 Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears. 9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. Who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified, or let them hear, and say, “That is true.” 10 “You are my witnesses,” says YHWH [Elohim],^(LXX) “With my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no Elohim formed, neither will there be after me. 11 I, I am [Elohim].^(LXX) Apart from me, there is no savior. 12 I have declared, I have saved, and I have shown, and there was no stranger among you. [You are my witnesses, and I am YHWH Elohim],^(LXX) 13 [even from the beginning; and there is not one taking from my hands.]^(LXX) I will make, and who turns it back?”

Apostolic Portion (A)

4:1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 being eager to guard the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one immersion, 6 one Elohim and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us, the grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Messiah. 8 Therefore he says, “Having ascended into height, he captured captivity, and he gave gifts to people.” (cf. Psalms 68:18) 9 Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the land? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. 11 He gave some to be emissaries; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; 12 for the perfecting of the holy ones, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Messiah, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of Elohim, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Messiah, 14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; 15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Messiah, 16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

Additional Portion (ADD)

2 Esdras, consisting of chapters 3-14, (also called 4 Esdras, Latin Esdras, or Latin Ezra) is the name of a book in many English versions of the Bible. Its authorship is ascribed to Ezra, a scribe and priest of the 5th century B.C., although modern scholarship places its composition between 70 and 218 A.D.. It is reckoned among the apocrypha by Roman Catholics, Protestants, and most Eastern Orthodox Christians. The Ethiopian Church considers 4 Ezra to be canonical, written during the Babylonian captivity, and calls it “Izra Sutuel” (ዕዝራ ሱቱኤል). It was also often cited by the Fathers of the Church. In the Eastern Armenian tradition it is called 3 Ezra.

10:21 For you see that our sanctuary is laid waste, our altar broken down, our temple destroyed; 22 our lute is brought low, our song is put to silence, our rejoicing is at an end; the light of our candlestick is put out, the ark of our covenant is plundered, our holy are defiled, and the name that is called upon us is profaned; our freemen are despitefully treated, our priests are burned, our Levites are gone into captivity, our virgins are defiled, and our wives ravished; our righteous men carried away, our little ones betrayed, our young men are brought into bondage, and our strong men are become weak; 23 and, what is more than all, the seal of Zion—for she has now lost the seal of her honor, and is delivered into the hands of those who hate us. 24 You therefore shake off your great heaviness, and put away from you the multitude of sorrows, that the Mighty may be merciful to you again, and the Most High may give you rest, even ease from your travails.

Related Scriptures

26:58 These are the families of Levi: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, and the family of the Qorachites. Qohath became the father of Amram. 59 The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. She bore to Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.

6:18 The sons of Qohath: Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel; and the years of the life of Qohath were one hundred thirty-three years. 19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations. 20 Amram took Jochebed his aunt to himself as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. The years of the life of Amram were one hundred thirty-seven years.

6:16 The sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of Elohim with joy. 17 They offered at the dedication of this house of Elohim one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 They set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses, for the service of Elohim which is at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.

Exodus 13:1 YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Set apart to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine…11 “It will be, when YHWH brings you into the land of the Canaanite, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and will give it you, 12 that you will cross over to YHWH all that opens the womb, and every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have. The males will be YHWH’s. 13 Every firstborn of a donkey you will redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you will break its neck; and you will redeem all the firstborn of man among your sons. 14 It will be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you will tell him, ‘By strength of hand YHWH brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, YHWH killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of livestock. Therefore I slaughter to YHWH all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 16 It will be for a sign on your hand, and for symbols between your eyes; for by strength of hand YHWH brought us out of Egypt.”

Numbers 8:14 Thus you will separate the Levites from among the sons of Israel, and the Levites will be mine. 15 “After that, the Levites will go in to do the service of the Appointed Tent. You will cleanse them, and make them wave a wave offering. 16 For they are wholly given to me from among the sons of Israel; instead of all who open the womb, even the firstborn of all the sons of Israel, I have taken them to me. 17 For all the firstborn among the sons of Israel are mine, both man and animal. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified them for myself. 18 I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel.

Numbers 18:6 Behold, I myself have taken your brothers the Levites from among the sons of Israel. They are a gift to you, dedicated to YHWH, to do the service of the Appointed Tent. 7 You and your sons with you will guard your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil. You will serve. I give you the service of the priesthood as a gift. The stranger who comes near will be put to death.” 8 YHWH spoke to Aaron, “Behold, I myself have given you the command of my wave offerings, even all the holy of the sons of Israel. I have given them to you by reason of the anointing, and to your sons, as a portion forever. 9 This will be yours of the holy of holies from the fire: every offering of theirs, even every grain offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they will render to me, will be most holy for you and for your sons. 10 You will eat of it like the holy of holies. Every male will eat of it. It will be holy to you. 11 “This is yours, too: the wave offering of their gift, even all the wave offerings of the sons of Israel. I have given them to you, and to your sons and to your daughters with you, as a portion forever. Everyone who is clean in your house will eat of it. 12 “I have given to you all the best of the oil, all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first fruits of them which they give to YHWH. 13 The first-ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to YHWH, will be yours. Everyone who is clean in your house will eat of it. 14 “Everything devoted in Israel will be yours. 15 Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they bring to YHWH, both of man and animal, will be yours. Nevertheless, you will surely redeem the firstborn of man, and you will redeem the firstborn of unclean animals. 16 You will redeem those who are to be redeemed of them from a new moon, according to your estimation, for five shekels of money, according to the shekel of the holy, which weighs twenty gerahs. 17 “But do not redeem the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat. They are holy. You will sprinkle their blood on the altar, and will burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma to YHWH. 18 Their meat will be yours, as the wave offering breast and as the right thigh, it will be yours. 19 All the wave offerings of the holy which the sons of Israel raise to YHWH, I have given you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a portion forever. It is a covenant of salt forever before YHWH to you and to your seed with you.”

Deuteronomy 15:19 You will dedicate all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock to YHWH your Elohim. You will do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. 20 You will eat it before YHWH your Elohim year by year in the place which YHWH will choose, you and your household. 21 If it has any blemish—is lame or blind, or has any blemish whatever, do not slaughter it to YHWH your Elohim. 22 You will eat it within your gates. The unclean and the clean will eat it alike, as the gazelle and as the deer. 23 Only do not eat its blood. You will pour it out on the ground like water.

Nehemiah 10:34 We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our Elohim, according to our fathers’ houses, at times appointed year by year, to burn on YHWH our Elohim’s altar, as it is written in the Torah; 35 and to bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all fruit of all kinds of trees, year by year, to YHWH’s house; 36 also the firstborn of our sons and of our livestock, as it is written in the Torah, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our Elohim, to the priests who minister in the house of our Elohim; 37 and that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, our wave offerings, the fruit of all kinds of trees, and the new wine and the oil, to the priests, to the rooms of the house of our Elohim; and the tithes of our ground to the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all our farming villages. 38 The priest, the descendent of Aaron, will be with the Levites when the Levites take tithes. The Levites will bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our Elohim, to the rooms, into the treasure house. 39 For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi will bring the wave offering of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, to the rooms where the vessels of the sanctuary are, and the priests who minister, with the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not forsake the house of our Elohim.

Ezekiel 44:28 They will have an inheritance: I am their inheritance; and you will give them no possession in Israel. I am their possession. 29 They will eat the grain offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every devoted thing in Israel will be theirs. 30 The first of all the first fruits of every thing, and every offering of everything, of all your offerings, will be for the priest. You will also give to the priests the first of your dough, to cause a blessing to rest on your house. 31 The priests will not eat of anything that dies of itself or is torn, whether it is bird or animal.

Luke 2:21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Yeshua, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 When the days of their purification according to the Torah of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 as it is written in the Torah of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord”, 24 and to offer a slaughter according to that which is said in the Torah of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two sons of a dove.

25:23 “You will make a table of shittim wood. Its length will be two cubits, and its width a cubit, and its height one and a half cubits. 24 You will overlay it with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. 25 You will make a rim of a hand width around it. You will make a golden molding on its rim around it. 26 You will make four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that are on its four feet. 27 The rings will be close to the rim, for places for the poles to carry the table. 28 You will make the poles of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them. 29 You will make its dishes, its spoons, its ladles, and its bowls with which to pour out offerings. You will make them of pure gold. 30 You will set bread of the presence on the table before me always. 31 “You will make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand will be made of hammered work. Its base, its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its flowers will be of one piece with it. 32 There will be six branches going out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of its one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of its other side; 33 three cups made like almond blossoms in one branch, a bud and a flower; and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, a bud and a flower, so for the six branches going out of the lampstand; 34 and in the lampstand four cups made like almond blossoms, its buds and its flowers; 35 and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, and a bud under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of the lampstand. 36 Their buds and their branches will be of one piece with it, all of it one beaten work of pure gold. 37 You will make its lamps seven, and they will light its lamps to give light to the space in front of it. 38 Its snuffers and its snuff dishes will be of pure gold. 39 It will be made of a talent of pure gold, with all these accessories. 40 See that you make them after their pattern, which has been shown to you on the mountain.

6:1 the ark of YHWH was in the country of the Philistines seven new moons. 2 The Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What will we do with the ark of YHWH? Show us how we should send it to its place.” 3 They said, “If you send away the ark of the Elohim of Israel, don’t send it empty; but by all means return a trespass offering to him. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.” 4 Then they said, “What should the trespass offering be which we will return to him?” They said, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice, for the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords. 5 Therefore you will make images of your tumors and images of your mice that mar the land; and you will give glory to the Elohim of Israel. Perhaps he will release his hand from you, from your elohim, and from your land. 6 Why then do you make your hearts heavy as the Egyptians and Pharaoh made their hearts heavy? When he had worked wonderfully among them, didn’t they let the people go, and they departed? 7 “Now therefore take and prepare yourselves a new cart and two milk cows on which there has come no yoke; and tie the cows to the cart, and bring their calves home from them; 8 and take the ark of YHWH and lay it on the cart. Put the jewels of gold, which you return him for a trespass offering, in a box by its side; and send it away, that it may go. 9 Behold, if it goes up by the way of its own border to Beth Shemesh, then he has done us this great evil; but if not, then we will know that it is not his hand that struck us. It was a chance that happened to us.” 10 The men did so, and took two milk cows and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. 11 They put the ark of YHWH on the cart, and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors. 12 The cows took the straight way by the way to Beth Shemesh. They went along the highway, lowing as they went, and didn’t turn away to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh. 13 The people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. 14 The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there, where there was a great stone. Then they split the wood of the cart and offered up the cows for a burnt offering to YHWH. 15 The Levites took down the ark of YHWH and the box that was with it, in which the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone; and the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and slaughtered slaughters the same day to YHWH. 16 When the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day. 17 These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering to YHWH: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one; 18 and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, to the great stone on which they set down the ark of YHWH. That stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh. 19 He struck of the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of YHWH, he struck fifty thousand seventy of the men. Then the people mourned, because YHWH had struck the people with a great slaughter. 20 The men of Beth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before YHWH, this holy Elohim? To whom will he go up from us?” 21 They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of YHWH. Come down and bring it up to yourselves.”

6:1 David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah, to bring up from there Elohim’s ark, which is called by the Name, the name of YHWH of Armies who sits above the keruvim. 3 They set Elohim’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house that was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4 They brought it out of Abinadab’s house which was in the hill, with Elohim’s ark; and Ahio went before the ark. 5 David and all the house of Israel played before YHWH with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with castanets, and with cymbals. 6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached for Elohim’s ark and took hold of it, for the cattle stumbled. 7 the anger of YHWH burned against Uzzah, and Elohim struck him there for his error; and he died there by Elohim’s ark. 8 David was displeased because YHWH had broken out against Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah to this day. 9 David was afraid of YHWH that day; and he said, “How could the ark of YHWH come to me?” 10 So David would not move the ark of YHWH to be with him in David’s city; but David carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house. 11 the ark of YHWH remained in Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house three new moons; and YHWH blessed Obed-Edom and all his house. 12 King David was told, “YHWH has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that belongs to him, because of Elohim’s ark.” So David went and brought up Elohim’s ark from the house of Obed-Edom into David’s city with joy. 13 When those who bore the ark of YHWH had gone six paces, he slaughtered an ox and a fattened calf. 14 David danced before YHWH with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of YHWH with shouting and with the voice of the shofar. 16 As the ark of YHWH came into David’s city, Michal the daughter of Shaul looked out through the window and saw king David leaping and dancing before YHWH; and she despised him in her heart. 17 They brought in the ark of YHWH, and set it in its place in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before YHWH. 18 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of YHWH of Armies. 19 He gave to all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to everyone a portion of bread, dates, and raisins. So all the people departed, each to his own house. 20 Then David returned to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Shaul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious the king of Israel was today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21 David said to Michal, “It was before YHWH, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of YHWH, over Israel. Therefore I will celebrate before YHWH. 22 I will be yet more undignified than this, and will be worthless in my own sight. But the maids of whom you have spoken will honor me.” 23 Michal the daughter of Shaul had no child to the day of her death.

Related Additional Readings​

Numbers 3:14 – 4:16 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)

Composed in Talmudic Israel (c.150 – c.250 AD). Targum Pseudo-Jonathan is a western targum (translation) of the Torah (Pentateuch) from the land of Israel (as opposed to the eastern Babylonian Targum Onkelos). Its correct title was originally Targum Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Targum), which is how it was known in medieval times. But because of a printer’s mistake it was later labeled Targum Jonathan, in reference to Jonathan ben Uzziel. Some editions of the Pentateuch continue to call it Targum Jonathan to this day. Most scholars refer to the text as Targum Pseudo-Jonathan. This targum is more than a mere translation. It includes much Aggadic material collected from various sources as late as the Midrash Rabbah as well as earlier material from the Talmud. It is effectively a combination of a commentary and a translation. In the portions where it is pure translation, it often agrees with the Targum Onkelos. The date of its composition is disputed. It cannot have been completed before the Arabic conquest as it refers to Mohammad’s wife Fatimah, but might have been initially composed in the 4th Century AD. However, some scholars date it in the 14th Century.

Chapter 3 …And the Lord spake with Mosheh in the wilderness of Sinai, saying: Number the sons of Levi according to the house of their fathers and their families; every male from a new moon old and upward shalt thou number them. Moses therefore numbered them according to the mouth of the Word of the Lord, as he had been commanded. And these were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kehath, and Merari. And these are the names of the Beni Gershon, according to their families, Libni and Shemei. And the Beni Kehath by their families, Amram, Jizhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. And the Beni Merari by their families, Machli, and Mushi: these are the families of the Levites after the house of their fathers.

Of Gershon, the family of Libni, and the family of Shemei; these are the families of Gershon. The sum of them, by the numbers of all the males from a new moon old and upward, seven thousand five hundred. The two families who spring from Gershon will encamp after the tabernacle westward; and the Rab of the house of the fathers set over the two families will be Eljasaph bar Lael. And the charge of the Beni Gershon in the tabernacle of ordinance will be the tent, and the covering that overspreadeth, and the hanging of the door of the tabernacle of ordinance, and the curtains of the court, and the hanging which is at the gate of the court by the tabernacle, and the altar round about, and the cords of it, for all the service thereof.

Of Kehath was the family of Amram, and the family of Izbar, and of Hebron, and Uzziel: these are the families of Kehath, the numbers eight thousand six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary. The four families that spring from Kehath will encamp by the south side of the tabernacle; the Rab will be Elizaphan bar Uzziel, and their charge, the ark, the table, the candelabrum, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the veil, and that which pertaineth to its service. And the Amarkol set over the chiefs of the Levites will be Elazar bar Aharon the priest, who inquireth by Uraya and Thumaya; and under his hand will they be appointed who guard the charge of the sanctuary.

Of Merari, the families of Machli and Mushi, their number six thousand two hundred, and the Rab Zeruel bar Abichael: they will encamp by the tabernacle northward; and that delivered to their charge will be the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, pillars, and sockets, and all (that pertains to) the service thereof. The pillars of the court also round about, their sockets, pins, and cords.

But they who encamp before the tabernacle of ordinance eastward (will be) Mosheh and Aharon, and his sons; keeping charge of the sanctuary and of Israel; and the stranger who draweth near will be slain by flaming fire from before the Lord. The sum of the Levites whom Mosheh and Aharon numbered by the mouth of the Word of the Lord was twenty‑two thousand.

And the Lord said unto Mosheh, Number all the first‑born males among the sons of Israel, from a new moon old and upward, and take the number of their names. And bring near the Levites before me–I am the Lord–instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and all the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstling cattle of the sons of Israel. And Mosheh numbered, as the Lord commanded him, all the firstborn of the sons of Israel: the sum of their number was twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy‑three.

And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Bring near the Levites instead of every first‑born among Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle, that the Levites may minister before me: I am the Lord. And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy and three of the first‑born of the Beni Israel, who are more (than the number of) the Levites, thou shalt take of each five shekels by poll, in the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take, twenty mahin to the shekel. And thou shalt give the Shekel unto Aharon, and to his sons, as the redemption of them who are more than they. Arid Mosheh took the redemption (money) of them who were above those who were released by the Levites, one thousand three hundred and sixty‑five shekels; and Mosheh gave the redemption silver to Aharon, and to his sons, according to the mouth of the Word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Mosheh.

Chapter 4 And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Take the account of the sons of Kehath from among the Beni Levi, from thirty years and upwards to fifty years, every one who cometh by the band to do the work in the tabernacle of ordinance. This is the service of the Beni Kehath, in the tabernacle of ordinance (with) the holy of holies. But whenever the camp is to be removed, Aharon and his sons will enter, and unloose the veil that is spread, and cover up the Ark of the Testimony, and put over it the covering of hyacinthine skin, and overspread it with a wrapper of twined work, and inset its staves. And over the table of the presence bread they will spread a wrapper of purple, and set upon it the vials, and the spoons, and the vases, [JERUSALEM. Vials,] and the libation cups; but the bread will be upon it evermore. And they will spread upon it a wrapper of scarlet, and cover it with a covering of hyacinthine skin, and inset its staves. And they will take a purple wrapper, and cover the candelabrum that lighteth, and its lamps, its tongs, its snuff‑dishes, and all the vessels of service by which they attend it. [JERUSALEM. Snuffers.] And they will put it and all its vessels in a covering of hyacinthine skin, and place it upon a rest. [JERUSALEM. Upon a beam.] And upon the golden altar they will spread a purple vest, and cover it with a covering of hyacinthine skin, and inset its staves. And they will take all the vessels, of the service with which they minister in the sanctuary, and wrap them in a covering of hyacinthine skins, and place it upon a beam.

And they will remove the cinders from the altar, and overspread it with a covering of crimson. [JERUSALEM. And they will take away from the altar,] and put upon it all its vessels with which it is served, the cinder‑holders, flesh‑hooks, prongs, and basins, even all the vessels of the altar, and spread upon it a covering of hyacinthine skin, and inset its staves.

And after Aharon and his sons have completed to cover the sanctuary, and all the vessels thereof, when the camp is to go forward, then the sons of Kehath may enter in to carry: but they will not touch any holy, lest they die by the flaming fire. This is the burden of the sons of Kehath in the tabernacle of ordinance. And that delivered to Elazar bar Aharon the priest will be the oil for the light, the aromatic incense, the perpetual mincha, the oil of anointing, and the custody of all the tabernacle, and whatever is in it in the sanctuary and its vessels.

Josephus was born Joseph ben Mattathias in 37 AD in Jerusalem of a priestly and royal family. He excelled in his studies of Jewish law and studied with the Sadducees, Pharisees, and the Essenes, eventually aligning himself with the Pharisees. In 62 AD he went to Rome to free some imprisoned priests. After accomplishing this mission through the intercession of Nero’s wife, Poppaea, he returned to Jerusalem in 65 AD to find the country in revolt against Rome. Josephus shrewdly reinterpreted the Messianic prophecies. He predicted that Vespasian would become the ruler of the ‘entire world’. His prophecy became true in 68 AD when Nero committed suicide and Vespasian became Ceasar. As a result, Josephus was freed; he moved to Rome and became a Roman citizen, taking the Vespasian family name Flavius. Vespasian commissioned Josephus to write a history of the war, which he finished in 78 AD, the Jewish War. His second major work, the Antiquities of the Jews, was completed in 93 AD. The extant manuscripts of the book Antiquities of the Jews contain two references to Yeshua of Nazareth (18.3.3. and 20.9.1.) and one reference to the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist (18.5.2.).

3.12.5. When they set up the tabernacle, they received it into the midst of their camp, three of the tribes pitching their tents on each side of it; and roads were cut through the midst of these tents. It was like a well-appointed market; and every thing was there ready for sale in due order; and all sorts of artificers were in the shops; and it resembled nothing so much as a city that sometimes was movable, and sometimes fixed. The priests had the first places about the tabernacle; then the Levites, who, because their whole multitude was reckoned from thirty days old, were twenty-three thousand eight hundred and eighty males; and during the time that the cloud stood over the tabernacle, they thought proper to stay in the same place, as supposing that Elohim there inhabited among them; but when that removed, they journeyed also.