B'Midbar/Numbers
CHAPTER 5
Portion Naso
CHAPTER 5
1. Then YHWH spoke to Moshe, saying,
2. "Order the descendants of Israel to send out from the camp every tzarua [leper], everyone with a [bodily] discharge, and everyone whomever is defiled by a [dead] body.
The order and protection of the wilderness camp—the one in the “Place of the Word”--is still being established, because not everything flows smoothly or goes perfectly just because we are in the camp that has YHWH at its center. There are problems to be faced and dealt with. These are some of the most difficult ones. This section is not about who can come and be part of the camp, but who must be expelled from it. Very few teach on this, because very few are in a context where it matters. But if Israel is to be restored, we need to become people that others can live with in such close quarters. A large part of being set apart unto YHWH is defining what belongs in His camp, and what belongs outside of it—and in what season. YHWH loves Israel and desires to live at the core of her camp, but things there must then be up to a certain standard. If He were not there, none of this would matter. But the camp must be set in proper order if He is to stay there. To learn to fully recognize His presence, we need to go back to where it was first recognized, in Genesis 1. There the earth was tohu v’bohu—chaotic and laid to waste. But YHWH spoke light into the equation, then put His hand to it, and what does He do? He divides it! His main tool in overcoming chaos is division or separation. It is words—often ultimatums—that divide, and this is what fights the chaos and destruction today as well. After all, His Word is described as separating even bone from marrow. (Hebrews 4:12) When this camp was originally formed, He also spoke it into existence (Ex. 3:9), and when He told Moshe in turn to speak to Israel, a separation took place; the elders came forward and because they came with Moshe and Aharon to speak to Pharaoh, Israel could be separated out of Egypt. The plagues moved Israel back to Goshen, and soon YHWH made a distinction between Egypt and Goshen, where Israel gathered to learn to live with one another again so they would be in the right condition to form this camp. Again, YHWH is dividing His people from many things so that we can walk in Torah and form a people again. As ancient peoples rebuilt cities from the ruins by using the same stones, we can rebuild this camp even though it seems impossible since we are scattered so far and wide. But these people had had little time to think about the fact that they were Israel while toiling in Egypt, so further order needs to be brought to the camp. Certain elements must be purged out, with no exceptions. Some of these conditions can be incurred through no fault of one’s own, but they are still the wrong picture; they do not represent the owner of the house adequately. When outside, there is no covering from the cloud, no light by night—only “outer darkness”—and no protection from Israel’s enemies, who walk in darkness. And worse, there are others with the same conditions—all the other “deformed sheep”: Lepers--not having the infectious disease known as leprosy today, but a spiritual condition from deeper than the skin—in the figurative “flesh”--that manifests itself in scaly itchiness on the skin that seems much like psoriasis. It is a specific punishment meted out to persons who desire an honor or a position of authority that YHWH has not chosen to give them. (12:1ff; 2 Kings 5:20ff; 2 Chron. 26:16ff) If they really knew how difficult a job it is to be a leader, they would be glad they did not have it. While distrust for authority may be the quintessence of what it means to be an American, if you are an Israelite you will be under authority, so get used to it. Discharge: an oozing overflow that either overflows from beneath the flesh or stops it up (see Lev. 15:3), representative of a "free-flowing" tongue or any encounter with the things hiding deep within us that express themselves either in actions or attitudes. If they are not dealt with, they will affect those around us. They can dissolve the “glue” that holds us together in unity. Gossip is the most obvious, but loose lips are just as dangerous. Information empowers, and too much information can empower our enemies, so set a strong guard over your mouth: think before you speak. Weigh out the profit of your words. We must examine what is building up inside of us. If we are aware of it, we can avoid becoming its victims. We can catch the “terrorist” before he sets the “bomb”. We can prepare defenses against it by asking, “Where did that frustration or impatience come from? Why did I just say that? What sparked it? Will it eventually take me out of the camp?” And don’t just ask; find the answers! If left unattended, these things can gush to the surface and shut down our walk. We need to watch for the signs and deal with them when they first appear. By a body: a picture of any kind of death we “rub up against”. Yahshua says to “let the dead bury their own dead”, and concentrate on following him instead. (Mat. 8:22) Since the Torah is our life (Deut. 32:47), a dead body is a picture of one a Body without Torah—the very definition of the Church today! Proverbs 12:28 tells us that there is no death in the way of righteousness. Yeshayahu (Isa.) 52:11 clarifies that touching nothing unclean is directly associated with coming out of the place of our exile. Where are we held captive? Is it by the media, popular culture, peer pressure, time, a desire for security, or organized religion? But literally literally this person is defiled "for a soul" or a “life”—things that look vibrant and alive but are actually only animated corpses, such as lively religious experiences. Sadly, those whom we often seek when we have to be put outside the camp are those in the same condition, because they can see things our way, so we want to start a club, when instead we should be seeking wellness rather than other sick people. If we find someone to agree with our rebellion, we’ll probably never come back into the camp. Be careful of the company you keep, especially when under discipline; everyone in a leper’s colony is defiled. Seek out the wise and righteous, and those who are in other ways more elevated than you are, and you will be able to raise your own level rather than being sought out by those at the lowest levels.
3. "Whether male or female, you shall send them out; the outside of the camp [is where] you are to send them, so they will not defile their camps, in the midst of which I make My dwelling."
So they will not defile: Ritual impurity is “contagious”, for it is a picture of selfishness, and our natural reaction to selfish people is to be selfish in return. If we are thinking only of self, we can be right in the middle of the camp and yet not in it at all. If we are only focused on “poor me”, we are strangers to our neighbors. We cannot be a community that way. Wanting another’s position instead of being content with and fulfilling the role we are actually given makes us "dead" to the camp--useless to it. Putting one's ego above that of his neighbors already separates him from them in reality, so to put him outside the physical camp is just the logical way to complete the picture. One cannot be selfish (which is what ritual impurity symbolizes) and still be part of Israel and YHWH’s covenant. Such people are not to be allowed to infect others with their selfishness. The result is that we are put out of the place where YHWH’s presence is—the worst part of the punishment. When they are removed, the camp is clean again. To keep them in the camp would send the message that YHWH is permissive, and that is not true. He is long-suffering with those whose hearts are inclined toward Him, but He is not tolerant, because disease must be quarantined lest others be defiled as well and the camp be decimated as with anthrax. This casting out was not permanent (Lev. 13:46ff), and our exile is likewise meant to jar us into realizing how narrow our focus has been and make us eager to come back toward the community. Most of these sendings-out are not permanent. After a certain amount of time, one is again ritually clean and permitted back inside when a few conditions are met. Some people are only outside for less than a day. They are not permanently cut off from the camp unless they refuse to follow the right protocol or simply refuse to repent. They are not sent far away, because there will be multiple inspections by the priest, who cannot be required to walk many miles (by tradition, the camp at this time measured about twelve miles in each direction); they would probably be immediately outside the camp or just beyond where the latrines are. But still to hear the phrase “outside the camp” should send as many shudders up our spine as when someone says “mass murderer”. Those who are outside are not under any of the tribal banners anymore. They cannot fulfill the prophetic significance of any of their insignias. And still they are not part of what is going on within the camp, and if they are not in their place, the order is not complete. They are exposed and vulnerable. But this temporary symbolic isolation is a warning of what life could always be if they continue on this course of action. Even one day outside the camp is thus one day too many, so we must be sure to keep self at bay. The wise hear the wake-up call and realize they need to get back in line. The foolish are confirmed in their rebellion, and it soon becomes a repeated or permanent separation.
4. So the descendants of Israel did so, putting them outside the camp. Just as YHWH said to Moshe, so the descendants of Israel did.
So they did: This is rare, but it is the greatest thing that can be said of someone. It is a difficult responsibility to send anyone outside the camp. What if someone with a minimal “issue” comes under the influence of one of the worst offenders? It is easier to put ourselves in danger than others. But it is a risk we must learn to take, and keeping the Torah as we should prepares us for it. We live in very troubled times, and the chaos in the world is increasing. But this camp is the pattern for bringing order to the whole world. No matter what comes against us or stimulates our selfishness, bringing more chaos, the Place of the Word is the safest place in the world to be. It takes courage just to agree that the Torah is the right way, but we need to go further and actually put our hands to re-establishing this camp so that Israel can again go Home.
Commentary on
Parashat Naso
Keeping Order
in the Camp
