Israel’s historical responsibility is to face “giants.”
After their exodus from Egypt and experiences at Mount Sinai, the people of Israel arrived at Kadesh (located southwest of today’s kibbutz Sedeh Boqer in the Negev desert). Chapters 13 and 14 of the Book of Bamidbar (Numbers) tell us that there God gave the command: ‘Send men to scout the land of Canaan, which […]
Cry or Complaint?
“… you have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, ‘Who will feed us meat? For it was good with us in Egypt; therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. Ye shall eat not one day, not two, not even five days or ten or twenty, but a whole month, […]
Cry or Complaint?
“… you have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, ‘Who will feed us meat? For it was good with us in Egypt; therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat. Ye shall eat not one day, not two, not even five days or ten or twenty, but a whole month, […]
Peace as War
The famous priestly blessing in Numbers chapter 6, verses 22-27, which forms an integral part of Jewish prayer to this day and is part of Christian liturgy as well, reads: “May the Lord bless you and watch over you, May the Lord look kindly upon you and deal graciously with you May the Lord look […]
Who is Israel?
On the surface the book of Bamidbar (Numbers) seems rather dull and incapable of telling much that is of value to contemporary lives. Chapters 1 to 4—this week’s reading—for instance, are, at first glance, a classification of Israel’s tribes and the cultic duties of the Levites with regard to the external care of the sanctuary. These […]