Parashat
Shelach L'cha

(Numbers 13:1 - 15:41)

2. "Send [shelach] men for yourselves, and they shall explore the land of Kanaan, which I am giving to the descendants of Israel. You shall send one man for each tribe of their ancestors, each one [being] a leader among them."

Explore: or search out, spy out, but as used in 15:39, it means to “follow after” with one’s heart. I.e., they were meant to "fall in love with" the Land, let it capture their hearts and motivate them to take all the risks that they'd need to take on its behalf. "For yourselves": or, "if it pleases you". Deuteronomy's recounting suggests that it was the people's idea to send the "spies". (1:20ff) But the wording here could allow it to read as if YHWH was giving them the option of doing so if they felt they needed to. In a way they were "taking a census" of the Land, to see how good it was. But contrast those modern Zionists who went back to the Land with a whole heart even when it was still nothing but desert and malarial swamp. Because they brought out its potential, it is easier for the rest of us to see how beneficent the Land really is. On a deeper level, Avraham’s descendants are likened to the “dust of the earth” (Gen. 13:16), and enough dust when swept together into one pile becomes “a land”. So the Land of Israel is really representative of the corporate people who inherit it.

4. and these are their names:

From the branch [tribe] of Reuven, Shammua [renowned] the son of Zakkur [mindful];

6. From the branch of Y'hudah, Kalev [forcible, attack dog] the son of Y'funeh [he will turn and face];

7. From the branch of Issachar, Yig'al [he redeems] the son of Yoseyf [YHWH has added];

8. From the branch of Efrayim, Hoshea [salvation] the son of Nun [fish];

Nun: means fish, but the root word means "re-sprout", "increase", "posterity" or "progeny". Sea creatures were the first commanded to "be fruitful and multiply." (Gen. 1:20ff) Yaaqov prophesied that the tribe of Efrayim would literally "proliferate like fish". (Gen. 48:16) This links with the Messiah's multiplication of the loaves and fishes. He said he had come for the "lost sheep of the House of Israel", which were led astray by the tribe of Efrayim.

10. From the branch of Z'vulun, Gaddiel [Elohim is my attack troop/good fortune] the son of Sodi [my intimate acquaintance];

11. From the branch of Yoseyf, that is the tribe of Menashe, Gaddi [my attack troop] the son of Susi [my horse];

In Revelation 7:6-8, Efrayim is counted as the tribe of Yoseyf, because Menashe is mentioned in addition to Yoseyf. One gives us Yoseyf’s viewpoint (Gen. 48:18), and the other Yaaqov’s, for Yaaqov counted Efrayim as his firstborn. (48:19-20)

13. From the branch of Asher, S'thur [concealed] the son of Michael [Who is like Elohim?];

14. From the branch of Nafthali, Nachbi [withdrawn, hidden] the son of Wafsi [rich];

15. From the branch of Gad, Ge'uEl [majesty/exaltation of Elohim] the son of Makhi [decrease].

Note that no one was chosen from Levi; that tribe was distinct from all the others.

He changed his name from “the one who delivers" to the more specific "YHWH is the one who delivers", since the first, though true on the human level, stopped short of the full truth. He added the numerical value of 10 (for the letter "yod") to his name. 10 is the number of a complete congregation, so we can say that to salvation he added a "people" for YHWHas well. The Messiah’s name is a shortened version of Y’hoshua. Like his namesake, he first lived in the Sanctuary, then told the truth about YHWH’s power to deliver, then went on to become a conqueror of the Promised Land. There is a significance for our own day in this change of names. Y’hoshua’s father’s name meant “fish”, and the fish has been the symbol of Christianity since the time the Romans were oppressing Y’shua’s followers. The “fish” gave Y’shua a reputation that obscured the father’s role. Some versions of the story even made it sound like the Son was the Father, collapsing them into one entity. That was influenced by the ancient story of Nimrod being reborn as his own son, Tammuz, and YHWH wanted His people to have nothing to do with that story. (Y’hezq’el/Ezek. 8:14) Y’shua emphasized His subordination and inferiority to the Father (Yochanan 14:28) It is the Father that raised Him from the dead. (Acts 13:30) As the time to retake His Land approaches, again Moshe (who represents the Torah) is restoring the right perspective to who Y’shua is. Only in the context of the Torah can the mystery of who Y’shua is be properly comprehended. He made a way for us to return to His Father, and thus made YHWH the real focus, whereas the Church put all the focus on “Jesus”. While our agenda is very definitely to enthrone Y’shua as Messiah and King, He cannot replace the Father. (Compare 1 Cor. 15:24) Salvation is not a personal matter; it is ultimately about all the lost sheep of the House of Israel being gathered to form a Kingdom for Him to rule over. Redemption is not the goal but the means to it; YHWH, after all, has the right to even burn up what He purchases. It is those who view their salvation as for YHWH’s sake rather than chiefly for their own sake who will make up the Kingdom He wants to rule over.

Hill country: They followed the ridge that runs the length of most of Israel like a backbone. One of their stops was at Hevron (v. 22), the highest city in the Land. From such vantage points they could see the breadth of the Land quite well on a clear day, so this was the most strategic and efficient way to see it all.

Inspect: as Gide'on's 300 men inspected the water before they drank it to see what was really there instead of just swallowing whatever came with it. Living in it: temporarily, for it is a living Land that spits out inhabitants that defile it. By the time Y’hoshua would reach the Land, its inhabitants did indeed lack courage. (Y’hoshua 5:1)

20. "And [see] how the land is--whether it is robust or lean, and whether or not there are trees in it. And you shall strengthen yourselves and take [some] of the fruit of the Land." (Now [at] the time [it] was the season of the first-ripening grapes.)

Strengthen: needed because of what we see in v. 23. The firstfruits of grapes and every kind of produce except barley and wheat were not taken to the Levites or the Temple until the end of the harvest (at Sukkoth); it is likely that their equivalent in monetary value was taken since the produce itself might not last that long. But Y'hoshua and Kalev correspond to these first-ripening grapes, since no one else of their generation was of the right spirit to enter the Land, but the next generation was ready. They were eating the food of the Land that belonged to YHWH, not the inhabitants of the Land. This is like "tasting the powers of the world to come", from which some shrunk back (Hebrews 10). These men were already leaders (v. 2), and they all "ascended" (v. 21, 22, 30, 31), and thus were held responsible for what they knew. If they are to take on this challenge, they know they will have to draw closer to YHWH, or they will fail. But some apparently did not wish to do that, since the threats overcame them. First-ripening grapes: late summer.

Went up: entering the Land today is still always considered an ascent from wherever one is. Hamath: Very close to Damascus. Its “entrance” is the pass that begins just north of the city of Dan and leads through the otherwise difficult to traverse mountains of Levanon. Thus they went all the way to the northernmost border of the Land YHWH was giving to Israel. The Negev (v. 22) was its southernmost limit except under King Shlomo, when it extended all the way to the tip of the Red Sea as it does today.

Sons of Anak: Deut. 9:2 tells us they were very tall and no one had been able to defeat them. “Seven years before ... Tzoan": They had just come out of Egypt and thus were more familiar with it. But in Scripture and tradition, Hevron is a picture of Heaven, being the city of the highest elevation in Israel. David began his reign there seven years before entering Jerusalem, as Y'shua also will. Thus Tzoan was built in the eighth year, when the Kingdom on earth begins, hence it represents earthly things. All the references to Tzoan (Ezk. 30:14; Isa. 19:11; 13:34) have to do with judgment and destruction for separating the wisdom of YHWH from the folly of man. Tzoan means "wandering".

Grapes: In the context of harvest, it is significant that the vineyard is mentioned first. It is a picture of the holy community. Some grapes are cast off; some branches are grafted into the vine. The word "Nazir" means "untrimmed vine". Grapes are tied to the winepress of YHWH's wrath. They are also necessary for the Temple, since there is a wine libation brought with every sacrifice (ch. 15). The Song of Solomon speaks often of wine. It is tied to everything Hebraic. Along with pomegranates and figs, they tell the whole story of the Land: the vine and fig tree speak of the Kingdom (Micha 4:4), the pomegranate of royalty, fruitful posterity, and priesthood, since pomegranates (which are full of seeds) decorated both the Temple and the hem of the priests' garments. The only piece of archaeology that is undeniably from Solomon's Temple is a model of a pomegranate from a priest's scepter. The two who were enthusiastic about the Land used these things as a pep rally; the other ten only saw them as something to eat in order to stay alive, for their focus was mere survival. Carried it on a pole between them: reminiscent of Aharon and Chuwr upholding Moshe's hands while Y'hoshua fought Amaleq. The only mentions of this type of pole are in reference to carrying the menorah and the bronze altar, so these grapes bear some relation to them. Alt., "carried it on a double bar", perhaps indicating an even larger cluster than a single pole could bear. But a double pole links us with the two sticks of Efrayim and Yehudah (the tribes from which the two spies who gave a good report came), and Y'shua dying between two other"trees". Thus the "yoke of Y'hudah and Efrayim" is to "bear the fruit of Israel".

"Gave...the name": The obedient were allowed to name it. All of these are sweet things, whereas the things they complained about having had in Egypt were all savory or salty: leeks, onions, etc. But the others saw the food as having to be big to feed those giants! They all came out of Egypt, but not all came out of bondage. They were liberated--given the freedom to choose. But as Paul describes in Romans 6-8, many chose to remain in slavery to the "elemental principles of this world" (Colossians 2) rather than being excited about the limitless possibilities of what they had seen YHWH could do. Like Adam and Chavvah, they chose predictable knowledge rather than an ongoing relationship that could surprise them with joy at every turn. Where they went wrong was that the first territory they passed through was that of Amaleq--and the spirit of doubt, chance, and mere coincidence took hold of them,so that, after all the miracles they had seen, they still thought, "How do we know what YHWH did for us wasn't just a fluke? How do we know He will deliver us again?" They could have dealt with anyone else had they not encountered him first. Because they did not have faith, they could not enter His rest.

Forty days: always a time of testing and transition in Scripture. Something is about to change. Now they have seen the Land; now they must make their choice of whether they are on YHWH’s side or not.

To all the congregation: when Y'hoshua sent out spies later, he told them to come directly back to him first, and we will see why.

28. "However, the people who live in the Land are fierce and its cities are fortified with walls and [they're] huge! And we also saw the children of Anak [the giant] there!

"However": the sense is much like, "It is no use; we should forget it", being rooted in a word meaning "end" or "brought to nought". These men acted like the institutional church, which uses the same Scriptures and cannot deny what is there, but changes the focus. They took their eyes off the best news about the Land and the fruit which was supposed to be their focus, and usurped Moshe's position by changing the decision that he had already made. Fierce: or firm. They were hoping for reassurance before they got there that everything would be easy when they arrived. But YHWH hates those who go to fortune-tellers to learn about the future, because this seems to remove the need to trust Him. And they were not willing to take their children where it was not safe. (14:31) What is too easy is not taken seriously and treated as of little value.

Thus far they had said nothing untrue, but they should have stopped with verse 27. Giving all the information is not always helpful. Moshe was the only one who needed to hear this part of the report, because YHWH had already promised to go with them and that they would overcome their enemies. There was no profit in telling it to anyone else, for the smallest seed of fear can grow into a great tree, so YHWH hates pessimism, since it dampens the inclination toward faith. They had promised to listen to YHWH’s words and obey, and He held them to this. As men disappoint us, it looks less possible for the lost sheep of the House of Israel to be unified than when we first realized this was the agenda of the day, but YHWH has promised it will take place, so if we are faithful and full of faith no matter how things appear, we will see His arm bring the victory again.

Quieted the people: or told them to hold their tongue. He and Y’hoshua (who would support his position) correspond to the two witnesses, who go against the flow; but they were outvoted by ten men--a symbol of the entire congregation, and indeed the whole body did go their way (ch. 14). But later the two kingdoms of Israel; were named after their two tribes (Yehudah and Ephraim). Kalev’s name appears to be rooted in the word for “dog” (literally “one that yelps”), which is also used as an epithet for a pagan male temple prostitute. But an alternate reading is "like the heart", because he indeed proved to be "a man after YHWH's heart"--and even Moshe's. Within each of us is an inclination to be like a whining dog, and within each of us is the potential to be “like-hearted” with YHWH. At every crossroads, we have to decide which we will turn out to be. (Titus 3) Which side will we magnify until it reaches a critical mass? YHWH said He would put the spirit of Moshe on Y’hoshua, but the way He did it was by reminding him to “be strong and courageous”. (Y’hoshua 1:6-9) That is what will bring us back to the Land this time either. But no one had to tell Kalev to be bold. He took the view that “the bigger they are, the harder they fall”, and saw it as an adventure, bearing YHWH’s recent miraculous deliverances in mind. YHWH had only told them it flowed with milk and honey, and he now knew that was an understatement that did not do the Land justice. He was rewarded in that His ambition did not wane for the next 40 years. (Y’hoshua 14:10)

This was the same as the first "sieve" Gide'on used to narrow down his army to the few whom YHWH could use: FEAR. Yes, they are stronger than we are, but they are not stronger than YHWH! And He said He would be with us, so if they overpower us, it is only because we allow them to. It was bad enough that they themselves were fearful, but they went on to instill the same fear in the whole congregation. Doubt is like a corrosive acid in the spirit world, rendering us unusable.

Evil report: literally, they slandered the Land. They gave it a bad name. Though Kalev had tried to nip it in the bud, they now let it out where no one could control it any longer. Though it was a sweet, loving mother that nourishes its children, they spoke against it as Miryam had spoken against Moshe. Now they were stretching the truth with a political agenda, which is only a form of lying. All the people? Actually, only a few were giants. Y'shua's disciples made reparation for this sin when they did obey YHWH rather than men. (Acts 5:17ff).

Nefilim: apparently the unnatural offspring of the unions of "sons of the elohim and the daughters of men" in Gen. 6:2ff, which multiple ancient cultures seem to refer to in their stories of the “demi-gods”. Their proliferation was a major catalyst for the Great Deluge of Noach. But they saw through the grid of how they saw themselves, assuming everyone else saw them the same way. In actual fact, the people of the Land were terrified of Israel, as we see in ch. 24 and in the account of Rahav and the spies in Y'hoshua. Despite all the people’s complaints, YHWH had been ready to let the people into the Promised Land if they would just buckle down this once, but they “blew it” by actually becoming the cowering “grasshoppers” they at first had only let themselves think they were. Soon He will again give us the occasion to be what Israel is meant to be, but we must stop being both slack and stiff-necked, or the outcome could again be the same.

CHAPTER 14

They let someone’s mere words take the wind out of the sails when YHWH had already told them they were almost home. Removing someone’s courage is a grievous sin in Israel. Little has changed. There are those who say keeping the Torah is too heavy an obligation to take on, but Y’shua said the mountain (Sinai that hung over the nation while the covenant was being ratified) can be removed simply by faith. (Mat. 21:21)

If they had died in Egypt, they would have been among the firstborn who died there. Indeed, YHWH called Israel His firstborn, yet now they wanted to be counted with the Egyptians. Those who had died in the wilderness were the rebellious, so those who are left are those who had been obedient up to this point. Now they are saying, “We’re the righteous ones! Why do we now have to face this threat! The others had it easier; at least they are dead! It seems we just can’t please this YHWH.” Yet when the wicked flourish, it means YHWH is letting their cup fill up with the evil they find easier to perpetrate when prosperous, so that it is obvious to all that He is justified in destroying them. (Gen. 15:16) He is patient until the equation balances, and they believe they are getting away with their deeds. But this just means He has given up on them; those whom He loves, He corrects; the obstacles are His way of training us. If He leaves us to our own devices, it means He considers us illegitimate sons, who have no inheritance. (Heb. 12:5ff) We should rejoice when He is putting us back on the right track. On the other hand, when the cup of righteousness is full, the Kingdom will come. For that to take place, we need to get our worthless things out of His vessel so He can fill it with what He wants in it.

YHWH had never said any of them would die if they followed His directions. He promised to clear the way for them. After all they had seen Him do thus far, they should have known this was another test and another occasion to demonstrate His power. It should have seemed like an adventure, not a threat. They simply did not believe Him. The same spirit that had affected Miryam shortly before now reared its head again: "Your leader doesn't know what's best; you do!" But who had elected Moshe? No one but YHWH. Who had chosen the other leaders? Moshe (who represented the Torah; those who lead in Israel are not those who are elected by men’s preferences, but by how mature they are in their understandinhg of YHWH’s Torah, or instruction.) But once we experience YHWH’s blessing and then turn back to whatever He brought us out of, it would have been better for us to never have known the truth. (1 Kefa/Peter 2:20ff) It’s easy in retrospect to ask why they didn’t simply trust YHWH, but do we trust Him in equivalent situations? Or are there ways we think it was better in our “Egypt”? In the world, did we feel freer to indulge ourselves? In the Church, were there fewer strictures on us? Could we just come and go as we pleased? Yet as seen with Egypt, what YHWH brings Israel out of, He is preparing to judge heavily. Egypt is no place for an Israelite. They had already been out of Egypt for nearly two years; it should never even have come to mind anymore. What we’ve left behind we need to put out of our minds. Don’t look back; remember Lot’s wife. YHWH could not just S’dom until Lot was disengaged from it. It had his covering over it, and this prevented YHWH from bringing the deserved justice. Do we need to make YHWH drag us away as He did with Lot? (Gen. 19)

They were not satisfied with the one YHWH had chosen. The institutional church did the very same thing--appointed a "vicar" in place of the Messiah, the "Head" who was "like Moshe" (Deut. 18:18)--and so did Rabbinic Judaism in a different way, by proclaiming a different Messiah.

It is as if they ducked to avoid the judgment they by now knew would follow! Or they were doing their utmost to plead with the people to repent of such foolishness, or simply begging YHWH to deal with them.

They remained standing, yet carried out a ritual that signified mourning. For whom? Moshe and Aharon, whom the congregation had as much as “killed” with their complaining words and lack of trust. Moshe symbolizes the Torah, and Aharon symbolizes YHWH’s proper order, both of which Israel tends to do. Y’shua chided the P’rushim for “killing Moshe and Aharon” by putting their traditions ahead of Torah and doing things their own way. How much more when the Church said both were done away with? Yet it is Y’hoshua (a prototype of Y’shua) and Kalev (the one with a “heart like His”) who are the ones to stand up and defend Moshe and Aharon. There is no way to have a heart like Y’shua’s if we do not support the Torah.

They are begging the people to stick with YHWH’s original plan, not an alternative. Likewise, Y’shua came to renew YHWH’s original covenant, not start another religion.

If: Modern Christianity tries to remove all the “ifs” from our relationship with YHWH, but though we cannot leave Egypt without His hand, it is up to us to make ourselves pleasing to Him. He is under no obligation to take us into His Home if we do not act according to what is appropriate there. Psalm 51 says that what pleases Him is truth in our innermost being, and a broken and contrite spirit—giving up our own ways so He can give us His. Their children would now have 38 years to be trained to be pleasing to YHWH, under the tutelage of Y’hoshua, who was stricter with them than Moshe. The exile would bring them to maturity, as it has been intended to do for us.

Don't be afraid: literally, neither be inspired to awe nor respect for them. Bread: a play on words, for the root word in Hebrew means to make war. These people had been put there to give Israel something to fight against, for if there is no opposition, we cannot become strong. We should run toward it once it begins to attack, looking forward to the end result. Will our enemies—depression, fear, feeling sorry for ourselves, discouragement—be our food, or will they devour us? Their protection: contrasted with YHWH now being with Israel. Thus we deduce that it was YHWH Himself that covered them previously, since the cup of the Emorites’ perversion was not yet filled up. (Gen. 15:13) Even the wicked Amaleqites were kept from judgment until the Emorites’ covering was removed. But now, though they appeared intimidating, they had no true advantage in their favor except the fear of the Israelites.

People still try to silence those who stand up for the Torah. But at that crucial moment, YHWH made His presence visible to strike terror in the hearts of those who would destroy His chosen.

Spurn: He is a scorned lover, for His wife wants to go back to her former lover, though he used to beat her.

This was a true offer to Moshe. Since the whole nation had failed the test, He now tested its leader, saying, “This could all be yours”, much as Y’shua was tested, but, like Y’shua, He gave it all back to YHWH instead:

14. "and they will inform the inhabitants of this Land, who have heard that You are in the very midst of this nation--that You are seen eye to eye! You are YHWH, and Your cloud remains over them, and You go ahead of them in a pillar of cloud in the daytime, and a pillar of fire by night.

Moshe is no longer concerned for the rebellious Israelites as much as he is for YHWH's reputation to be upheld. The King's will may be to execute the rebels, but Moshe appeals to His "Father heart", as Y'shua does for us when we sin. (Rom. 8:34) Because one man did show concern for His Name, He relented.

One man: a symbol of unity, but it can be for right or wrong. The whole congregation was as one man at Mt. Sinai and when the Temple service was restored after the exile, but the world's Ecumenical Movement is also building "one man" but will nominate the Counterfeit Messiah as its leader.

17. "So now, I beg You, let my Master's power be enlarged, as You mentioned [when You] said,

18. "'YHWH is slow to anger and abounding in mercy, lifting away crookedness and trespassing, though certainly not acquitting [the guilty], bringing punishment for the ancestors' sins upon their descendants to the third and fourth [generation].'

19. "I beg You, forgive the depravity of this people with the magnitude of Your mercy, just as You have borne with this people since Egypt thus far!"

20. So YHWH said, "I have pardoned, as you have said. 21. "However, as I live, the whole world will be filled with the weightiness of YHWH,

22. "because all the people who are witnesses to My authority and the signs which I have exhibited in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the proof-test--this is ten times--and have not listened to My voice,

Ten times: when the people complained or would not believe what YHWH said. Ten righteous people is enough to prevent a city from being destroyed, so ten times is enough to seal the fact that this people's heart was unchanging. He had kept count, and they could not be left unpunished even if He did not kill them all at once or rescind His covenant. But there were also ten spies, and when one gave a bad report, if the others did not openly disagree, it was as if they were in support, and thus each giving a separate evil report.

24. "But My servant Kalev--since there has been a different spirit with him, and he is following Me to the fullest--him I will bring into the Land into which he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it

Since: "as a consequence [or reward] of the fact that..." Spirit: an attitude, but motivated by the "breath" or "wind" of YHWH. The account of the exciting fulfillment of this promise can be found in Y’hoshua 14:6-14.

Or, "Since the Amaleqite and Kanaanite are living in the valley, tomorrow [you must] turn…”-- i.e., off the intended path and into the period of wanderings which is their punishment.

27. "How long [is there] for this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? I have heard the complaints which the descendants of Israel are lodging against Me.

He reiterates His displeasure, for He is still plagued by His people’s penchant for complaining.

29. "'"Your corpses will fall in this uncultivated land. As many of you as were mustered, up to the full count, from twenty years and up, who have grumbled against Me.

They had asked to die in the wilderness. (v. 2) We must be careful what we ask for. Twenty years and up: those YHWH considered accountable for their lack of faith. Only the innocent would be allowed to enter His set-apart territory. Though the children were not punished for their parents’ sins, though, they would bear the consequences of having to wait until their parents died off. We, too, inherited the exile our ancestors got us into, though we were not the perpetrators as such, and like them, we are being called to renounce our ancestors’ lack of faith. (Compare Yirmeyahu 16:19.)

31. "'"As for your toddlers, about which you have said, 'They will be a plundered spoil!', they [are the ones] I will bring in, and they shall [intimately] know the Land which you have refused.

Refused: despised or rejected, loathed, or let flow right by you (forfeited). He took seriously their initial revulsion at His costly gift, which merely needed some cleaning up in order to show its full worth.

33. "'"And your children will be shepherded through this wilderness for forty years and bear [the weight of] your harlotries until your corpses are [totally] spent in the wilderness--

Harlotries: strayings or defections from their Husband by virtue of fearing other things. Spent: wasted away, wholly used up, come to an end. Shepherded: under His watchful protection, for they were meant to be raised in the Land, and would be preserved until they arrived.

My restraining you: or "my opposition", "my alienation", or "enmity", but from a root meaning "frustrating" or "hindering" (keeping them deliberately back from entering the Land).

The Epistle to the Hebrews details how we each face this crossroads daily and have to be careful not to repeat their error. But in our own time, when the Land is being offered to us again in a very real way it has not been offered since the return from the first exile, we must be especially alert to this danger.

Caused a bad report to go forth: or gave the Land a bad name. He promised not to destroy them all at once, but would destroy the whole rebellious generation gradually, and the perpetrators at once.

Though He forgave the congregation as a whole, part of His mercy on the rest of Israel was to stop the debilitating influence of these men from going any further—or affecting the next generation, whose faith had to be nurtured and preserved at all costs.

39. So Moshe relayed all these sayings to the descendants of Israel, and the nation lamented deeply.

40. They even got up early in the morning and came up to the top of the mountain, saying, "Here we are! We will go [ahead] up to the place which YHWH told [us about], because we have gotten off track!"

Top of the mountain: or ridge. It appears that they were at the last ridge before the entrance to the Land and it lay openly before them.

Though YHWH had spoken with a grave finality (v. 35), they still tried to get around it. They were willing to admit their sin (after the punishment was revealed), but did not accept the rebuke. They were sorry, but not repentant. They thought it was enough to try again. Or perhaps they though that if they left the wilderness, they couldn't die there after all. They are now acting on their own behalf. Perhaps due to seeing fresh evidence of YHWH's power in the plague, they have a burst of energy early in the morning before doubt has been able to settle in. Now they are optimistic: "We can do it!" But it was too late. They should have thought about this possibility before opening their mouths. They had missed their one open window. Now their cup was full (v. 22), and nothing could turn back the effects of their ill-chosen words.

43. "and the Amaleqite and the Kanaanite are there in front of you, and you will fall by the sword, because you have turned away from following YHWH, and YHWH will not be with you."

The spies’ prophecy proved self-fulfilling, for without YHWH’s presence, their enemies were indeed more powerful than they. Moving out of YHWH's time includes acting too early as well as too late—and they were doing both. They thus had no protection, just like the people of the Land in verse 9. There was no miraculous power to ride on. Now it was natural strength against natural strength, and the Israelites were no match for giants. They had minimized the weight of this one critical factor, and so do we every time we worry about what looks threatening.

Proceeded: went defiantly, asserting their own might. The cloud did not move ahead of them this time. The Torah did not accompany them, but like modern Christians, they believe they do not need it; this “new arrangement” is, contrary to YHWH’s words, based on mere confession and forgiveness, and, after all, they had said they were sorry!

Hormah: between Arad and Be'ersheva in the southern desert several miles into the Land from the mountains that rim what constituted the southeastern border at that time. The punishment declared in v. 34 is already coming into play, for it was YHWH who was keeping them from success.

CHAPTER 15

2. "Speak to the descendants of Israel, and tell them, 'When you come into the Land where you will settle, which I am giving to you,

When you come: Thus those who had disobeyed and received the sentence of not being able to enter the Land were no longer counted as Israel, though they still had the protection of the camp while they lived out their days.But the instructions He was now giving were not for them. In fact, they could not be carried out for 38 years, but during that interval the children had to be trained to become fit to inhabit His Land.

Again, the Hebrew word for fire offering can, when unpointed, also read “wife”, for the purpose of all of these procedures is indeed to prepare a bride to ascend to YHWH. Our evil inclination must be killed off in order to do so, and indeed our daily choice is to ascend or be slaughtered, for no one else may have His wife.

Tenth [of an ephah]: one omer, the quantity that symbolically represents one person. Hin: approximately one gallon, so this would be approximately one quart or one liter. No matter how expensive the offering, it is not acceptable without the tenth of the ephah, which is used by the priests to make bread. Bread represents community, and when drawing near, we must come as one part of the congregation, not as a lone individual. Only in the whole can He again fellowship with Avraham, His friend. We must approach in His way to be accepted. Remember how even Queen Hadassah (Esther) could not approach the king on her own terms.

Drink offering: or libation to be poured out. Wine is a picture of joy, and YHWH wants us to be cheerful givers. He does not accept what is given grudgingly, but we also do not have the choice not to bring it. We simply must bring it with joy. The government would not allow us to put our taxes in a savings account and pay them only after we have reaped some interest from them. How much less can we change the rules when approaching the Creator of the universe? (Compare Mal’akhi 1:8) But if we are in fact drawing near to YHWH, no matter what we leave behind, we have lost nothing.

Two tenths: thus a ram counts for twice what a lamb does. The more it costs us to draw near, the more of ourselves we still need to give as well, for the more we draw near, the more we are required to be part of the “bread” to be served up to Him.

8. "'Now when you prepare a bull as an ascending offering or as a slaughter to render a vow distinct, or peace offerings to YHWH,

9. "'then he shall bring near to [go with] son of the herd, three tenths mixed with half a hin of oil,

Son of the herd: a young bull. Three tenths: three times the value of a lamb.

11. "'The same shall be done for each bull, for each ram, for each young flock animal from the sheep or goats.

12. "'However many you prepare, you shall do the same for each one, according to their count.

We must come in the prescribed way each time. Once is not enough. We cannot remain where we are and still get closer to YHWH.

14. "'Also, if a sojourner staying among you, or whomever may be among you in [any of] your generations, prepares a fire offering as a soothing fragrance to YHWH, whatever you do, he shall do in the same way.

15. "'The assembly [has] one prescribed custom for [both] for you and for the sojourner staying among you [as] an eternal enactment throughout your generations. As you are, so shall the sojourner be, before YHWH.

No one gets to do it his own way if he wants to truly enter YHWH’s presence. There are no second-class citizens, but they are also all held to the same standard of responsibility.

Instruction: Hebrew "Torah"; there is not a different "law" for those who "hang around the edges as spectators". If you are in the camp of Israel, you will abide by these rules, or be punished as any Israelite would be. It may not seem fair, but it actually could not be more fair. In fact, at some point one is no longer a sojourner among Israel, but must decide to either be a part of Israel or not be a part. Paul told the Ephesians that they were no longer estranged [those among them who were descendants of Israel] or sojourners [those who were not of Israelite blood, but who joined the community]. Now they were part of Israel. Once one decides to make an offering to YHWH, as Cornelius did through his alms to the Jews, he is Israel because he is acting as Israel. This equality goes the other way as well, for those who join the community after others have done the hardest work are still rewarded if they work. (Mat. 20)

18. "Speak to the descendants of Israel and tell them, 'When you enter the Land which I am giving you,

19. "'this is how it shall be when you eat of the bread of the Land: you shall lift off [and present] a contribution to YHWH:

Since bread represents community and the Land is made up of the “dust” (descendants of Avraham), this is saying that as we benefit from the community life of Israel, we must also make our contribution by offering ourselves as raw material for further community.

Dough: or "kneading-trough". First: can also mean "best". Lift off: or "set aside" as the firstfruits at the beginning of the harvest; linguistically related to the word for "contribution". Until the grain is on the threshing floor (where it is also winnowed and threshed, we have nothing to eat. The tithe of the threshing-floor is given before one takes the grain home, so it can never be considered our own. The same applies for the firstfruits of every part of ourselves that we offer to YHWH. Since we do not have the Temple intact at present, the only way we can bring things to YHWH is by bringing them to our local congregation, being faithful now in what is least so He will give us more when the time comes. We cannot say we are putting YHWH first if we do not put His people first. We owe our time, energy, talents, knowledge, finances, and submission to those who serve us for YHWH’s sake, for Yaaqov already offered YHWH a tithe of all he had, which especially included his descendants.

22. "'Now if , by mistake, you do not perform all of these commands that YHWH has declared to Moshe--

23. "'that is, all that YHWH has commanded you under the direction of Moshe, from the day when YHWH gave the command onward throughout your generations--

24. "'then, if it has been done inadvertently, away from the eyes of the community, then the whole congregation shall prepare one son of the herd as an ascending [offering] as a soothing aroma for YHWH, along with its grain offering and its drink offering, according to the legal ordinance, as well as one kid of the goats as an offering for the guilt incurred.

The whole congregation...one [bull]: not one for each person, but one for the whole congregation. Away from the eyes: The whole nation is looking at the wrong thing. (See note on v. 39.) The church later made a similar error by shifting its focus from gathering the lost sheep of the House of Israel to reaching the lost in general, feeding the poor, etc. However worthy the motive, these are not our job description per se, and it is merely a natural inclination. We may be feeding those who will only survive to oppose Israel.

26. "'Then the whole congregation of the descendants of Israel shall be forgiven, as well as the sojourner who is staying among them, because the whole population was in error.

This is a corporate mistake. "A little leaven leavens the whole lump." If one part of the community is not right, it affects the whole. We have inherited errors from our ancestors, and we must confess this as well, but it cannot stop there. We must also repent, and the price must be paid for what was broken to be repaired.

28. "'and the priest shall atone over the soul that goes astray, when he sins inadvertantly before YHWH, in order to effect a covering over him, and it shall be forgiven him,

29. "'whether [he is] native-born among the descendants of Israel or a sojourner staying among them; you shall have one instruction for the one who acts in ignorance.

This is the rule for when one has done something he did not know was a sin, and later finds out it was. He is still responsible to make amends for it.

High hand: in intentional defiance, i.e., when he knows better, having been taught, and still does what is wrong. Being a reproach: literally, "cutting into", so he will be "cut off". The same holds true in the Renewed Covenant. (Hebrews 10:26) Nothing has changed just because we who were in exile already were granted initial amnesty due to where we had to start out. Remember Hananyah and Sapphirah. (Acts 5) Being cut off from Israel can take several forms: it may mean being killed, as it did in their case, or being put outside the protection of the camp. The rabbinic writings say that in this case it meant one’s children, if they survived, would not live as Israelites.

31. "'Since he has been in contempt of YHWH's word, and broke His commandment, that soul shall be completely cut off, and [the consequence for] his perversity is upon him.'"

32. Now while the descendants of Israel were in the wilderness, they discovered a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.

They were not even in the Land yet, but the very first test YHWH gave in the wilderness before the Torah was given was also about the Sabbath. It is often the litmus test for who gets to remain in YHWH’s congregation. Day: If it were at night, he might have the excuse that he was cold or could not find his way, but in the daytime, clearly no excuse held up. This might seem extreme since he never even got to the point of disobeying the command to not kindle a fire on the Sabbath (Ex. 35:3), but that had to be his intention. Even if he was not planning to light the fire until sunset, we are not promised tomorrow; his mind was on what came after the Sabbath rather than giving YHWH the day that is His due.

34. and they made him wait under guard, because it had not been clearly stated what should be done to him.

It was wise that they did not simply jump to a conclusion, but brought him to those whom YHWH had constituted as authorities for a ruling. They were not sure which way YHWH would want him cut off. However, YHWH confirmed their initial impression:

Stones: from the word for "building materials ", which represent the components of the House YHWH is building (1 Kefa/Peter 2:5). Those who are building up His house had to destroy the one who was tearing it down through his disobedience. This was not just a matter of working on the Sabbath. In Psalm 1:3; 92:12; Yirmiyahu (Jer.) 17:8; Daniel 4; Matt. 3:10; 7:17, and many other scriptures, men are compared to trees. (Wood generally represents the usefulness yet corruptibility of men, especially in the Temple furniture.) And sticks are particularly used as a picture of the two kingdoms of Israel (Y’hezq’el/Ezek. 37:16-19), which Y’shua was sent to gather. (Yeshayahu 49:6; 56:8; Mat. 15:24). So gathering sticks is the right thing to do—in the right season. But the Sabbath is a picture of the seventh millennium, when the Messiah will establish his Kingdom. Going out to gather men into the Kingdom after it has already begun might seem easier, but we have had six "days" to do that; everyone's position in the Kingdom will be sealed before it begins. (Rev. 22:11) Not until we become the people of Israel will the King be sent, this time. Once it begins, it is too late; the opening to be rulers rather than subjects will not be offered again. The Torah will go forth as an edict; the nations will have no choice but to obey His rod of iron: they must come up to Yerushalayim or not receive rain (Zecharyah 14). The day of willing obedience is now, while it is still a true test of our loyalty. Only the Counterfeit Messiah--and, at its end, haSatan (Rev. 20:8)--will be gathering men "in that day". So this man was a picture of them, not of Y'shua, the King of that age.

No one knew which stone killed him. Everyone participated, especially the wrongdoer’s family, so no one could come back later and say, “You all killed my brother!” Whether they liked it or not, the whole community had to be part of the punishment, for we are all responsible for each other’s obedience to Torah. But as if this huge "witness heap" that looked like a ruined house was not enough, YHWH institutes another form of reminder while the memory of having to kill someone for apparently forgetting the commandments was fresh in mind.

38. "Speak to the descendants of Israel, and tell them that they are to make for themselves braided tassels on the extremities of their garments throughout their generations, and place in the tassel at [each] corner a twisted thread of [wool dyed] sky-blue.

Make for themselves: or use. Braided tassels: or "fringes". The Hebrew word is tzitzith. Extremities: or "corners"; literally "wings", because the garment spoken of here is a square outer garment that fits over the other clothing so that the tassels hang conspicuously below the outer garment. Twisted thread: tied in with the others, which are white. Sky blue: to remind one of heaven, and by association, YHWH's throne, and identify one as someone belonging to Him. Yet this very command was set aside. Though it only tells what color the thread must be, the Rabbinic rulers decided that if the ancient source of the dye was not know, it was better to wear only white tzitziyoth. Now, though two sources have been found, the excuse is that they are not sure which one is correct--but any blue is closer than white, which does not catch attention as well.

Reminder: the same word as "braided tassel" in v. 38, but is the doubled form of the word tzitz, which means "to shine brightly or blossom", hence to be an eye-catching ornament that would remind him of who he was every time he looked down, and especially in times of temptation. We cannot be reminded of what we never learned; we need to hide His Word in our heart to give the Holy Spirit raw materials to bring it back to mind. Explore: the same word used in 13:2 for exploring the Land, and it carries the connotation of being drawn in by what one sees--which was what YHWH intended by showing them how good the Land was, despite its dangers and difficulties. Explore after: with the sense of following what one sees or feels. Here, linked with one's own heart or eyes, it connotes learning or finding out how to do something, and our heart is not the correct source for that (since it is deceitful, Yirmiyahu 17:9) or our eyes, which can find new objects of lust (Mat. 5:28); YHWH's commandments are. Eyes: They too will lie to you; what seems obvious may not actually be in line with Torah. Compromise merely puts off the inevitable; Torah must win. Following one’s own heart is why Christianity is in the lawless state it is in today. Go astray: the word usually has the connotation of committing harlotry, i.e., cheating on YHWH. They were "hooked" by the wrong thing. Our own ambitions do not count unless it is for the sake of the Kingdom; the "way that seems right to a man" ends in death. (Prov. 16:25)

41. "I am YHWH your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be an Elohim for you. I am YHWH your Elohim."

He repeats the last phrase because it is by obeying His Torah that we come to know who He is.