Weekly Bible Reading
Parashat Naso | Num. 4:21-7:89
21Again Adonai spoke to Moses saying,
22“Take a census also of the sons of Gershon, by their ancestral households and by their families.
23Count all the males from 30 to 50 years of age, everyone coming to work in the service of the Tent of Meeting.
24This is the task of the Gershonite families in working and carrying burdens.
25They are to carry the curtains of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, its covering, the outer covering of porpoise hide, the curtains for the entrance for the Tent of Meeting,
26the curtains surrounding the courtyard and the altar, the curtain for the entrance, the ropes and all the equipment used in its operations. They are to do all that needs to be done with these things.
27The sons of the Gershonites are to do all their tasks, whether carrying or doing other work, according to the word of Aaron and his sons. You are to assign to them all that is their responsibility to carry.
28This is the duty of the families of the sons of the Gershonites regarding the Tent of Meeting. Their duty will be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the kohen.
29Next, count the sons of Merari, according to their families and their ancestral houses,
30sons 30 years old and upward to 50, everyone coming to work in the service of the Tent of Meeting.
31This is their task in the service of the Tent of Meeting: the frames of the Tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,
32as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard, plus their bases, tent pegs, ropes, and all their paraphernalia with everything related to their operation. Assign to them by name their duties and tasks.
33This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari as they work under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the kohen.”
34So Moses, Aaron and the princes of the community counted the sons of the Kohathites according to their families and their ancestral households.
35All the men who came to do the service of the Tent of Meeting, from 30 to 50 years of age,
36were counted by families—2,750.
37This was the total of those in the families of the Kohathites, every one serving in the Tent of Meeting—Moses and Aaron counted them according to the mouth of Adonai by Moses’s hand.
38The sons of Gershon were counted according to their families and their ancestral households.
39Males from 30 years old and upward to 50, all those coming into the work of the service of the Tent of Meeting,
40numbered according to their families and ancestral households 2,630.
41These were those counted from the families of the sons of Gershon, each serving in the Tent of Meeting—Moses and Aaron counted according to the mouth of Adonai.
42Those were counted from the families and ancestral households of the sons of Merari,
43from 30 years of age upward to 50, who came to the work of the service of the Tent of Meeting.
44Numbered by their families, they were 3,200.
45These were those numbered from the families of the sons of Merari by Moses and Aaron in accordance with the mouth of Adonai by Moses’s hand.
46Thus Moses, Aaron and the princes of Israel counted all the Levites by their families and by their ancestral houses.
47All the men from 30 to 50 years old who came to do the work of the service and of carrying the Tent of Meeting
48numbered 8,580.
49From the mouth of Adonai by Moses’s hand, each man was assigned his work and his burden to carry. So they were counted, as Adonai commanded Moses.
Chapter 5
Purity in the Camp
1Adonai spoke to Moses saying,
2“Command Bnei-Yisrael to send out from the camp everyone with tza’arat, who has some kind of discharge, or any contaminated by a dead body.
3Whether male or female, you are to send them outside the camp so as not to defile the camp where I am dwelling among them.”
4This Bnei-Yisrael did, sending them outside the camp. Just as Adonai spoke to Moses, so Bnei-Yisrael did.
5Adonai spoke to Moses saying,
6“Say to Bnei-Yisrael: Whenever a man or woman commits any sins against any person, thus breaking faith with Adonai, that soul bears guilt.
7That person is to confess the sin he has committed, make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it to the one he wronged.
8But if that person has no close relative to whom to pay the restitution, the restitution belongs to Adonai. It is to be given to the kohen along with the ram of atonement with which he is to make atonement for him.
9“Every contribution from all the sacred things that Bnei-Yisraelbrings to the kohen will belong to him.
10Each one’s sacred holy gifts are his own, but whatever each man gives to the kohen belongs to that kohen.”
Jealousy Ritual
11Adonai spoke to Moses saying,
12“Speak to Bnei-Yisrael and say to them: Suppose some man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him,
13and another man has sexual relations with her, but it is hidden from her husband’s eyes and her impurity is not detected. Yet there was no witness against her and she was not caught in the act.
14Then a spirit of jealousy overcomes him and he is suspicious of his wife, when she is impure. Or a spirit of jealousy overcomes him and he suspects his wife, yet she is not impure.
15“Then he should take his wife to the kohen. He must also bring a tenth of an ephah of barley flour as an offering for her. He is not to pour oil or put incense on it, because it is an offering for jealousy, a reminder offering drawing attention to guiltiness.
16“The kohen is to bring her near and have her stand before Adonai.
17Then the kohen is to take some holy water in a clay jar and take some dust from the floor of the Tabernacle and put it into the water.
18Then the kohen will have the woman stand before Adonai, loosen the woman’s hair, put into her hands the reminder offering, the offering for jealousy, while in the kohen’s own hands are the bitter waters that bring a curse.
19Then the kohen will have her swear under oath, then say to the woman, ‘If no man other than your husband has slept with you, and if you have not gone astray into impurity from your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse not harm you.
20If, however, you have gone astray from your husband and if you became impure and had sexual relations with a man other than your husband’—
21Then the kohen is to have the woman swear under this oath of a curse, and say to the woman—‘then let Adonai cause you to be cursed and denounced among your people when Adonai causes your thigh to rot and your belly to swell.
22“May this water which brings a curse enter your body and cause your belly to swell and your thigh to rot.’ “The woman is to say, ‘Amen, amen!’
23“Then the kohen is to write these curses on a scroll and wash them into the waters of bitterness.
24The kohen will then have the woman drink the bitter water bearing curses, so that the water of the curses of bitterness enters her.
25The kohen is to take the jealousy offering from the woman’s hand, wave the offering before Adonai and bring it to the altar.
26The kohen is to take a handful of the grain offering and burn it up in smoke on the altar as a memorial offering. The kohen will then have the woman drink the water.
27“When she is made to drink the water that carries the curse, if she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, it will enter her and cause bitterness—her abdomen will swell and her thigh will waste away. She will be accursed among her people.
28If, however, the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, she will be free from guilt and be able to have children.
29“This is the Torah regarding jealousy, when a woman goes astray from her husband and defiles herself,
30or when a spirit of jealousy comes over a man and he jealously suspects his wife. The kohen is to have her stand before Adonai and apply this entire Torah to her.
31The husband will be free of guilt, but that woman will bear her guilt.”
Chapter 6
Nazirite Vows
1Again Adonai spoke to Moses saying,
2“Speak to Bnei-Yisrael and say to them: Any man or woman who desires to vow a Nazirite vow to be separate for Adonai,
3is to abstain from wine and any other fermented drink. He is not to drink any vinegar made from wine or any fermented drink, or any grape juice, or eat grapes or raisins.
4“All during his days as a Nazirite he is not to eat anything from the grapevine—even the seeds or skins.
5All the duration of his Nazirite vow, no razor is to come on his head until the time of his consecration to Adonai is over. He is to be holy, and the hair of his head is to grow long.
6All the days of his separation to Adonai, he is not to go near a dead body.
7Even if his father, mother, brother or sister should die, he is not to make himself unclean, because his consecration to God is on his head.
8All the days of his separation, he is to be consecrated to Adonai.
9“Now if someone should die suddenly in his presence, thereby defiling his dedicated head, he is to shave his head on the day of his purification—the seventh day.
10Then on the eighth day, he is to bring two doves or two young pigeons to the kohen at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.
11The kohen is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. He is to make atonement for him because he sinned through the corpse. He must consecrate his head on the same day.
12He will be dedicated to Adonai for the days of his Nazirite separation. He is to bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days will not count because he was contaminated during his Nazirite separation.
13“Then this is the Torah of the Nazirite when his period of separation is over. He must be brought to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.
14He is to present his offering to Adonai: a year-old male lamb without flaw as a burnt offering, a year-old female lamb without flaw as a sin offering, a flawless ram as a fellowship offering,
15along with a basket of matzah cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil and matzah wafers spread with oil, along with their grain and drink offerings.
16“The kohen will offer these before Adonai, and present his sin offering and burnt offering.
17Then he is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to Adonai, along with the basket of matzot . The kohen will also present the grain and drink offerings.
18The Nazirite is then to shave the hair of his dedication at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and he is to take the hair of his dedication and put it into the fire of the fellowship offering sacrifice.
19The kohen is to take the boiled shoulder of the ram and one matzah cake and one matzah wafer from the basket, and he is to place them into the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved the hair of his dedication.
20The kohen will wave them before Adonai as a wave offering. They are holy, and belong to the kohen along with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. Afterward, the Nazirite may drink wine.
21This is the Torah regarding the Nazirite who vows his offering to Adonai with regard to his consecration, besides whatever else he can afford. He must fulfill the vow he has made, in accordance with the Torah of his consecration.’”
Aaronic Benediction
22Again Adonai spoke to Moses saying,
23“Speak to Aaron and to his sons saying: Thus you are to bless Bnei-Yisrael, by saying to them:
24‘Adonai bless you and keep you!
25Adonai make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you!
26Adonai turn His face toward you and grant you shalom!’
27In this way they are to place My Name over Bnei-Yisrael, and so I will bless them.”
Chapter 7
Offerings of Tribal Princes
1When Moses finished setting up the Tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its implements, the altar and all its utensils, and he anointed and consecrated them.
2Then the princes of Israel, heads of their ancestral houses—they were tribal princes in charge over those who were numbered—gave offerings.
3They brought as their gift before Adonai six covered carts and twelve oxen. A cart came from every two princes and an ox from each one of them. They presented them before the Tabernacle.
4Adonai spoke to Moses saying,
5“Accept these from them to use in the service of the Tent of Meeting. Give them to the Levites to use as each man’s work requires.”
6So Moses took the carts and the oxen and he gave them to the Levites.
7He gave two carts and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, as their work required,
8and four carts and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, as their work required, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the kohen.
9But to the sons of Kohath he did not give any because their responsibility was carrying the holy items on their shoulders.
10When the altar was anointed, the princes brought their dedication offerings and presented them before the altar.
11For Adonai had said to Moses, “Each day one of the princes is to bring his offering for the altar’s dedication.”
12Bringing his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah.
13His offering was one silver plate weighing 130 shekels, one silver basin weighing 70 shekels by the shekel of the Sanctuary, both of them filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering,
14one ladle of 10 shekels of gold filled with incense,
15one young bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old as a burnt offering,
16one male goat as a sin offering,
17and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs one year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.
18On the second day, Nethanel son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, brought his offering.
19The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing 130 shekels, one silver basin weighing 70 shekels according to the shekel of the Sanctuary, both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering,
20one gold ladle of 10 shekels filled with incense,
21one young bull, one ram and one male lamb one year old for a burnt offering,
22one male goat for a sin offering,
23and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs one year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.
24On the third day was the prince of the sons of Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon.
25His offering was one silver plate weighing 130 shekels, one silver basin weighing 70 shekels, both according to the shekel of the Sanctuary, both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering,
26one ladle of 10 shekels of gold filled with incense,
27one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering,
28one male goat for a sin offering,
29two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.
30On the fourth day was the prince of the sons of Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur.
31His offering was one silver plate weighing 130 shekels, one silver basin weighing 70 shekels according to the shekel of the Sanctuary, both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering,
32one ladle of 10 shekels of gold filled with incense,
33one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering,
34one male goat for a sin offering,
35and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.
36On the fifth day was the prince of the sons of Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
37His offering was one silver plate weighing 130 shekels, one silver basin weighing 70 shekels according to the shekel of the Sanctuary, both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering,
38one ladle of 10 shekels of gold filled with incense,
39one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering,
40one male goat for a sin offering,
41and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
42On the sixth day was the prince of the sons of Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel.
43His offering was one silver plate weighing 130 shekels, one silver basin weighing 70 shekels according to the shekel of the Sanctuary, both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering,
44one ladle of 10 shekels of gold filled with incense,
45one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering,
46one male goat for a sin offering,
47and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.
48On the seventh day was the prince of the sons of Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud.
49His offering was one silver plate weighing 130 shekels, one silver basin weighing 70 shekels according to the shekel of the Sanctuary, both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering,
50one ladle of 10 shekels of gold filled with incense,
51one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering,
52one male goat for a sin offering,
53and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.
54On the eighth day was the prince of the sons of Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
55His offering was one silver plate weighing 130 shekels, one silver basin weighing 70 shekels according to the shekel of the Sanctuary, both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering,
56one ladle of 10 shekels of gold filled with incense,
57one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering,
58one male goat for a sin offering,
59and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
60On the ninth day was the prince of the sons of Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni.
61His offering was one silver plate weighing 130 shekels, one silver basin weighing 70 shekels according to the shekel of the Sanctuary, both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering,
62one ladle of 10 shekels of gold filled with incense,
63one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering,
64one male goat for a sin offering,
65and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.
66On the tenth day came the prince of the sons of Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
67His offering was one silver plate weighing 130 shekels, one silver basin weighing 70 shekels according to the shekel of the Sanctuary, both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering,
68one ladle of 10 shekels of gold filled with incense,
69one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old as a burnt offering,
70one male goat for a sin offering,
71and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
72On the eleventh day came the prince of the sons of Asher, Pagiel son of Ochran.
73His offering was one silver plate weighing 130 shekels, one silver basin weighing 70 shekels according to the shekel of the Sanctuary, both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering,
74one ladle of 10 shekels of gold filled with incense,
75one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old as a burnt offering,
76one male goat for a sin offering,
77and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ochran.
78On the twelfth day came the prince of the sons of Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.
79His offering was one silver plate weighing 130 shekels, one silver basin weighing 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the Sanctuary, both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering,
80one ladle of 10 shekels of gold, filled with incense,
81one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering,
82one male goat for a sin offering,
83and two young bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.
84This was the dedication offering from the princes of Israel for the day when the altar was to be anointed: twelve silver plates, twelve silver basins, twelve gold ladles.
85Each silver plate was of 130 shekels, and each silver basin was of 70 shekels. Altogether, the silver utensils weighed 2,400 shekels according to the shekel of the Sanctuary.
86The twelve gold ladles filled with incense each weighed 10 shekels, by the shekel of the Sanctuary. Altogether, the gold ladles totaled 120 shekels.
87The total of the livestock for the burnt offering was twelve young bulls, twelve rams, and twelve male lambs a year old, along with their grain offering. Twelve male goats were sin offerings.
88The total number of livestock used for sacrifice of fellowship offerings was 24 oxen, 60 rams, 60 male goats and 60 male lambs a year old. These were the dedicatory offerings for the altar after it was anointed.
89When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with Adonai, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the atonement cover atop the Ark of Testimony between the cheruvim. So he spoke with Him.
