Torah Portion Beha’alotch by Jeffery Freeman
Shabbat Shalom,
Beha’alotcha comes from Numbers 8:2, “When you erect the lamps” or “When you set-up the lamps.” The shoresh of beha’alotcha is aleph-lamed-hey, alah, which is “to go up” or “ascend.” Because of how Hebrew works, beha’alotcha is a combination of a preposition, direct object marker, root word, and a pronoun. A direct translation would be “when the go up you.” Good Hebrew, terrible English.
This Torah Portion also includes consecrating the Levites, setting up a make-up Passover date for those unable to observe the regular Passover, the LORD’s cloud/pillar of fire movement, some complaining, appointing seventy elders, quail followed by a plague, Miriam struck with then healed from tzara’at (biblical leprosy).
Numbers 8:2 continues with…the seven lamps are to illuminate the area in front of the menorah.
When the lamps of the menorah were set in place, they were to be set in such a way as to light up the area in front of the menorah. The menorah was the only source of light in the Holy Place which is in front of the Holy of Holies. The menorah lit the path to the Ark. Contained within the Ark were the tablets upon which were written the Ten Words or Commandments.
From the beginning of time, light was a fundamental part of God’s creation. Genesis 1:3-4 Then God said, “Let there be light!” and there was light. God saw that the light was good. The first thing God spoke into existence was light, and light is also the first thing God called “good.”
God views light as such a good thing that he directed Moses to make the menorah in a specific fashion, to place it in a particularly strategic location, and to position its lamps so that they would provide the optimum lighting for the Holy Place.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
When God sent Messiah to the earth, he sent him as a light to illumine our path to redemption.
John 8:12 …I am the light of the world, the one who follows me will no longer walk in darkness.
Matthew 4:16-17 Give us some measure of insight …the people sitting in darkness have seen a great light, and those sitting in the region and shadow of death, on them the light has dawned. From then on, Yeshua began to proclaim, “Turn away from your sins, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Yeshua is the light of the world and came to give us the path to God’s forgiveness through accepting him, confessing our sins and repenting. But in Matthew 13:35, quoting Psalm 72:2 he says: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
Far from enlightening, this seems difficult to grasp. Even his disciples had to ask in verse 36 to explain what he meant.
Being the good Rabbi that Yeshua was, I believe that he may have been using the traditional rabbinic method of “bookmarking” the section of Scripture he wanted his listeners to study.
Psalm 72:2-7 I will open my mouth with a parable. I will utter perplexing sayings from of old…We will not hide them from their children…For he established a testimony in Jacob and ordained Torah in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach their children…they will put their trust in God, not forgetting the works of God, but keeping his mitzvot.
Once we have turned our lives over to Yeshua and confessed our sins, we are to learn Torah, teach our children, and keep his commandments. This is true repentance. Following Yeshua’s light, trusting in God, and keeping His mitzvot. Shabbat Shalom
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed3-June-2026 18th of Sivan, 5786
Nu 9:15-10:10Jer 27-28Dan 41 Co 10 (Mk 11)
Thu4-June-2026 19th of Sivan, 5786
Nu 10:11-34Jer 29Dan 51 Co 11 (Mk 12)
Fri5-June-2026 20th of Sivan, 5786
Nu 10:35-11:29 Jer 30Dan 61 Co 12 (Mk 13)
Sat6-June-2026 21st of Sivan, 5786 Parashat Beha’alotcha
Nu 11:30-12:16Zec 2:10[14]-4:7Eph 5:8-21
Beha’alotcha comes from Numbers 8:2, “When you erect the lamps” or “When you set-up the lamps.” The shoresh of beha’alotcha is aleph-lamed-hey, alah, which is “to go up” or “ascend.” Because of how Hebrew works, beha’alotcha is a combination of a preposition, direct object marker, root word, and a pronoun. A direct translation would be “when the go up you.” Good Hebrew, terrible English.
This Torah Portion also includes consecrating the Levites, setting up a make-up Passover date for those unable to observe the regular Passover, the LORD’s cloud/pillar of fire movement, some complaining, appointing seventy elders, quail followed by a plague, Miriam struck with then healed from tzara’at (biblical leprosy).
Numbers 8:2 continues with…the seven lamps are to illuminate the area in front of the menorah.
When the lamps of the menorah were set in place, they were to be set in such a way as to light up the area in front of the menorah. The menorah was the only source of light in the Holy Place which is in front of the Holy of Holies. The menorah lit the path to the Ark. Contained within the Ark were the tablets upon which were written the Ten Words or Commandments.
From the beginning of time, light was a fundamental part of God’s creation. Genesis 1:3-4 Then God said, “Let there be light!” and there was light. God saw that the light was good. The first thing God spoke into existence was light, and light is also the first thing God called “good.”
God views light as such a good thing that he directed Moses to make the menorah in a specific fashion, to place it in a particularly strategic location, and to position its lamps so that they would provide the optimum lighting for the Holy Place.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
When God sent Messiah to the earth, he sent him as a light to illumine our path to redemption.
John 8:12 …I am the light of the world, the one who follows me will no longer walk in darkness.
Matthew 4:16-17 Give us some measure of insight …the people sitting in darkness have seen a great light, and those sitting in the region and shadow of death, on them the light has dawned. From then on, Yeshua began to proclaim, “Turn away from your sins, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Yeshua is the light of the world and came to give us the path to God’s forgiveness through accepting him, confessing our sins and repenting. But in Matthew 13:35, quoting Psalm 72:2 he says: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
Far from enlightening, this seems difficult to grasp. Even his disciples had to ask in verse 36 to explain what he meant.
Being the good Rabbi that Yeshua was, I believe that he may have been using the traditional rabbinic method of “bookmarking” the section of Scripture he wanted his listeners to study.
Psalm 72:2-7 I will open my mouth with a parable. I will utter perplexing sayings from of old…We will not hide them from their children…For he established a testimony in Jacob and ordained Torah in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach their children…they will put their trust in God, not forgetting the works of God, but keeping his mitzvot.
Once we have turned our lives over to Yeshua and confessed our sins, we are to learn Torah, teach our children, and keep his commandments. This is true repentance. Following Yeshua’s light, trusting in God, and keeping His mitzvot. Shabbat Shalom
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Wed3-June-2026 18th of Sivan, 5786
Nu 9:15-10:10Jer 27-28Dan 41 Co 10 (Mk 11)
Thu4-June-2026 19th of Sivan, 5786
Nu 10:11-34Jer 29Dan 51 Co 11 (Mk 12)
Fri5-June-2026 20th of Sivan, 5786
Nu 10:35-11:29 Jer 30Dan 61 Co 12 (Mk 13)
Sat6-June-2026 21st of Sivan, 5786 Parashat Beha’alotcha
Nu 11:30-12:16Zec 2:10[14]-4:7Eph 5:8-21
Posted in Rabbis Reflections
Recent
Archive
2026
January
RR Psalm 42:12(11) Part 8RR Psalm 43:1 Part 1RR In Praise of Milk By David HarwoodRR Psalm 43:2 Part 2RR Psalm 43:3 Part 3RR Psalm 43:4 Part 4RR Psalm 43:5 Part 5RR Psalm 44:1-5(1-4) Part 1RR “The Priority & Power of Relationship” by Jerry MillerRR Favor on top of Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 44:6-9(5-8) Part 2RR Psalm 44:10-13(9-12) Part 3RR Psalm 44:14-17(13-16) Part 4RR Psalm 44:18-22(17-21) Part 5RR The Throne By David HarwoodRR Psalm 44:23-27(22-26) Part 6RR Psalm 45:1-3(1,2) Part 1RR PPsalm 45:4(3) Part 2RR Psalm 45:5(4) Part 3RR Psalm 45:6(5) Part 4RR Psalm 45:7(6) Part 5RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord” by Jerry MillerRR Doubting Favor by David HarwoodRR Psalm 45:8(7) Part 6RR Psalm 45:9(8) Part 7RR Psalm 45:10(9) Part 8RR Psalm 45:11-13(10-12) Part 9RR Favor and Calling By David HarwoodRR YESHUA BEYOND THE BIBLE By Dr. Raymond Finney RR Psalm 45:11-13(10-12) Part 10
February
RR Psalm 45:14-16(13-15) Part 11RR Psalm 45:17,18(16,17) Part 12RR Psalm 46:1,2(1) Part 1RR Psalm 46:3,4(2,3) Part 2RR Charismata - Signs of Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 3RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord” by Jerry MillerRR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 5RR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) – Part 4RR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 6RR Psalm 46:9-12(8-11) Part 7RR THE ONE AND ONLY YOU (Part 1) The Amazing Mystery of Light and You By Dr. Raymond FinneyRR Favor and Sanctity by David HarwoodRR Psalm 46:9-12 (8-11) Part 8RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 1RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 2RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 3RR Psalm 47:1-4(1-3) Part 4RR Gratitude for Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 47:6(5) Part 5RR Psalm 47:7(6) Part 6RR Psalm 47:9(8) Part 8RR Psalm 47:10(9) Part 9RR Psalm 48:1-3 Part 1RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord, Part 3” by Jerry MillerRR Some Favorite Verses (1) By David HarwoodRR Psalm 1:1 Part 1 (rerun)
March
RR Psalm 48:4(3) Part 2RR Psalm 48:8,9 Part 5RR Psalm 48:8,9 Part 4RR Psalm 48:5-7 Part 3RR Psalm 48:10-12 Part 6RR Psalm 48:10-12 Part 7RR Some Favorite Verses (2) Generosity and Enabling Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 48:13-15 Part 8RR Psalm 49:1-5 Part 1RR Psalm 49:1-5 Part 2RR Psalm 49:6(5) – Part 3RR Some Favorite Verses (3) Favor in Speaking and Knowledge By David HarwoodRR Psalm 49:7-9(6-8) Part 4RR Psalm 49:10,11(9,10) Part 5RR Psalm 49:12(11), 13(12) – Part 6RR Psalm 49:14(13) Part 7RR Manifestations of Favor in Speaking and Knowledge By David HarwoodRR Psalm 49:15,16(14,15) Part 9RR Psalm 49:15,16(14,15) Part 8RR Psalm 49:19-21(18-20) Part 11RR Psalm 49:17,18(16,17) Part 10RR Psalm 50:1,2 Part 1RR Psalm 50:3 Part 2RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord, Part 5” by Jerry MillerRR Yeshua’s Enriched Speech and Knowledge By David HarwoodRR Psalm 50:5 Part 4RR Psalm 50:4 Part 3RR Psalm 50:6 Part 5RR Psalm 50:6 Part 6RR Psalm 50:7-15 Part 7
April
RR Psalm 50:7-15 Part 8RR Psalm 50:7-15 Part 9RR Yeshua Provides a Pattern By David HarwoodRR Pasach 3 Torah Lesson – Exodus 33-12-34:26 By Jeffrey FreemanRR Let's Celebrate Yom HaBikurimRR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 10RR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 11RR Sh’mini Torah lesson – Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47 By Jeffrey FreemanRR Psalm 50:22,23 Part 13RR Psalm 50:16-21 Part 12RR Yeshua Grew By David HarwoodRR Psalm 51:1,2 Part 1RR Psalm 51:3 Part 2