RR Torah Portion Bamidbar (Numbers) 1:1-4:20 By Jeffery Freeman
Shabbat Shalom,
This week’s Torah Portion is Bamidbar, which translates to “in the wilderness. This portion includes a census of fighting men, naming leaders, organizing the camp, Levites replacing the first born, and designating Levite tribes for transporting the Tabernacle.
The camp is set up like an army. They march in military fashion, leaders are named, soldiers are numbered, and duties assigned.
Numbers 1:3 You and Aaron are to muster by their divisions every son from 20 years and upward available to serve in the army of Israel.
Males 20 years and older and able to serve in the army are counted. Those too young, too old, or with physical limitations were not counted.
Readiness to defend the people didn’t start with this census. At the start of the Exodus, the people were ready for a fight.
Exodus 14:8 …the Israelites went out with a high hand. This is ancient speak for they were ready to fight.
Many of the historical books in the Hebrew Scriptures report on consequential battles. What is in this for us, other than a good history lesson?
The Prophets:
Isaiah 13:4 A sound of tumult in the mountains like that of many people! A sound of uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathered! ADONAI-Tzva’ot is mustering the army for battle.
Joel 4:9 …Prepare for war, Stir up the mighty men. Let the warriors advance and attack, Beat your plowshare into swords, and your pruning knives into swords…
This is the Messiah expected by most First Century Jews. A conquering King. They were unprepared for the suffering servant.
Isaiah 53:3-5 – He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, one from whom people hid their faces. He was despised, and we did not esteem him. Surely he has born our griefs and carried our pains. Yet we esteemed him stricken, struck by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities. The chastisement for our shalom was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.
Even though the Suffering Messiah was prophesied, Jews in Yeshua’s day were not ready to accept the notion of one like Yeshua. They wanted one who was going to take on the Romans and send them packing. They were looking for a strong military leader.
Today, many Christians are in danger of the opposite. They are focused on only the suffering spiritual redeemer Yeshua, completely ignoring that he is also a warrior king. Numerous psalms and prophesies speak of how Messiah will defeat God’s enemies.
Jeremiah 51:20 You are my club, a war weapon – with you I will shatter nations, with you I will destroy kingdoms.
Revelation 19:11 The I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse! The one riding on it is called faithful and true, and he judges and makes war in righteousness.
Revelation 19:14 The armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following him on white horses.
Isaiah 11:10-14 It will also come about in that day that the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples…that my Lord will again redeem a second time with his hand the remnant of his people…he will lift up a banner for the nations and assemble the disbursed of Israel…they will swoop down on the Philistine slope to the west. Together they will plunder the children of the east.
War is coming. Tough times are ahead. Matthew 24:7-13 Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…They will hand you over to persecution and will kill you…many will fall away…lawlessness will multiply…but the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord!” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say…didn’t we prophesy…drive out demons…perform miracles in your name?...I will declare to them “I never knew you. Get away from me you workers of lawlessness.”
Fortunately, we know the ending. Revelation 22:20 Yes! I am coming soon! Amen, Come Lord Yeshua! Stand firm to the end! Don’t be the one Yeshua never knew. Shabbat Shalom
Day 42 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat16-May-2026 29th of Iyar, 5786 Parashat Bamidbar Shabbat Machar Chodesh
Nu 4:1-201 Sa 20:18-42Lk 1:26-33
This week’s Torah Portion is Bamidbar, which translates to “in the wilderness. This portion includes a census of fighting men, naming leaders, organizing the camp, Levites replacing the first born, and designating Levite tribes for transporting the Tabernacle.
The camp is set up like an army. They march in military fashion, leaders are named, soldiers are numbered, and duties assigned.
Numbers 1:3 You and Aaron are to muster by their divisions every son from 20 years and upward available to serve in the army of Israel.
Males 20 years and older and able to serve in the army are counted. Those too young, too old, or with physical limitations were not counted.
Readiness to defend the people didn’t start with this census. At the start of the Exodus, the people were ready for a fight.
Exodus 14:8 …the Israelites went out with a high hand. This is ancient speak for they were ready to fight.
Many of the historical books in the Hebrew Scriptures report on consequential battles. What is in this for us, other than a good history lesson?
The Prophets:
Isaiah 13:4 A sound of tumult in the mountains like that of many people! A sound of uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathered! ADONAI-Tzva’ot is mustering the army for battle.
Joel 4:9 …Prepare for war, Stir up the mighty men. Let the warriors advance and attack, Beat your plowshare into swords, and your pruning knives into swords…
This is the Messiah expected by most First Century Jews. A conquering King. They were unprepared for the suffering servant.
Isaiah 53:3-5 – He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, one from whom people hid their faces. He was despised, and we did not esteem him. Surely he has born our griefs and carried our pains. Yet we esteemed him stricken, struck by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities. The chastisement for our shalom was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.
Even though the Suffering Messiah was prophesied, Jews in Yeshua’s day were not ready to accept the notion of one like Yeshua. They wanted one who was going to take on the Romans and send them packing. They were looking for a strong military leader.
Today, many Christians are in danger of the opposite. They are focused on only the suffering spiritual redeemer Yeshua, completely ignoring that he is also a warrior king. Numerous psalms and prophesies speak of how Messiah will defeat God’s enemies.
Jeremiah 51:20 You are my club, a war weapon – with you I will shatter nations, with you I will destroy kingdoms.
Revelation 19:11 The I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse! The one riding on it is called faithful and true, and he judges and makes war in righteousness.
Revelation 19:14 The armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following him on white horses.
Isaiah 11:10-14 It will also come about in that day that the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples…that my Lord will again redeem a second time with his hand the remnant of his people…he will lift up a banner for the nations and assemble the disbursed of Israel…they will swoop down on the Philistine slope to the west. Together they will plunder the children of the east.
War is coming. Tough times are ahead. Matthew 24:7-13 Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…They will hand you over to persecution and will kill you…many will fall away…lawlessness will multiply…but the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord!” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say…didn’t we prophesy…drive out demons…perform miracles in your name?...I will declare to them “I never knew you. Get away from me you workers of lawlessness.”
Fortunately, we know the ending. Revelation 22:20 Yes! I am coming soon! Amen, Come Lord Yeshua! Stand firm to the end! Don’t be the one Yeshua never knew. Shabbat Shalom
Day 42 of the Omer
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat16-May-2026 29th of Iyar, 5786 Parashat Bamidbar Shabbat Machar Chodesh
Nu 4:1-201 Sa 20:18-42Lk 1:26-33
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