Doctrine of Life # 59
59. What we have said about the law’s promulgation, holiness and power in no. 55 above, may be found in the Word in the following passages:
That Jehovah descended onto Mount Sinai in fire, and that the mountain smoked and quaked then, and that there were thunderings, lightnings, a thick cloud, and the sound of a trumpet, see Exodus 19:16, 18, and Deuteronomy 4:11, 5:19-23.
That before Jehovah descended, the people readied themselves and sanctified themselves for three days, see Exodus 19:10-11, 15.
That bounds were set around the mountain to keep anyone from drawing near and approaching its base, on pain of death, and that not even the priests were to approach, but only Moses, see Exodus 19:12-13, 20-23, 24:1-2.
For the law promulgated from Mount Sinai, see Exodus 20:2-14, Deuteronomy 5:6-21.
That the law was written on two tablets of stone with the finger of God, see Exodus 31:18, 32:15-16, Deuteronomy 9:10.
That when Moses brought those tablets down from the mountain a second time, his face shone, see Exodus 34:29-35.
That the tablets were placed in the Ark, see Exodus 25:16, 40:20, Deuteronomy 10:5 and 1 Kings 8:9.
That on the Ark was set a mercy seat, and placed on this were cherubim of gold, see Exodus 25:17-21.
[2] That the Ark, together with the mercy seat and cherubim, constituted the inmost constituents of the Tabernacle, and that the golden lampstand, the golden altar of incense, and the table overlaid with gold which held the showbread constituted its outer constituents, and the ten curtains of linen, purple and scarlet its outmost constituents, see Exodus 25,26, 40:17-28.
That the place where the Ark was, was called the holy of holies or most holy place, see Exodus 26:33.
That the Israelite people all camped in order by tribes about the place where it resided, and set out in order after it, see Numbers 2.
That a cloud then stood over its abode by day, and fire by night, see Exodus 40:38, Numbers 9:15-16, 14:14, and Deuteronomy 1:33.
That the Lord spoke with Moses from above the Ark between the cherubim, see Exodus 25:22 and Numbers 7:89.
That because of the law it contained, the Ark was called the abode of Jehovah, for whenever the Ark set out Moses said, “Rise up, O Jehovah!” and when it rested, “Return, O Jehovah!” see Numbers 10:35-36, and also 2 Samuel 6:2, Psalms 132:7-8.
That because of the holiness of that law, Aaron was permitted to enter within the veil only with sacrifices and incense, see Leviticus 16:2-14ff.
That David brought the Ark into Zion with sacrifices and jubilation, see 2 Samuel 6:1-19. That Uzzah later died because he touched it, see verses 6 and 7 in that same chapter.
That the Ark was placed in the midst of the Temple in Jerusalem, where it constituted its inner sanctuary, see 1 Kings 6:19ff., 8:3-9.
[3] That because of the Lord’s presence and power in the law contained in the Ark, the Jordan’s waters were parted, and as long as the Ark rested in the midst of it, the people crossed over on dry ground, see Joshua 3:1-17, 4:5-20.
That the Ark’s being carried around caused the walls of Jericho to fall, see Joshua 6:1-20.
That Dagon, the Philistine god, fell down before the Ark, and after that lay at the threshold of the shrine with its head broken off, see 1 Samuel 5:1-4.
That because of the Ark many thousands of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh were struck, see 1 Samuel 6:19.
Numbers 3
1
Now this is the history of the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Yahweh spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai.
2
These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
3
These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.
4
Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh, when they offered strange fire before Yahweh, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the presence of Aaron their father.
5
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
6
"Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.
7
They shall keep his requirements, and the requirements of the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle.
8
They shall keep all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, and the obligations of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.
9
You shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons. They are wholly given to him on the behalf of the children of Israel.
10
You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death."
11
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
12
"Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine:
13
for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They shall be mine. I am Yahweh."
14
Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
15
"Count the children of Levi by their fathers' houses, by their families. You shall count every male from a month old and upward."
16
Moses numbered them according to the word of Yahweh, as he was commanded.
17
These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
18
These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei.
19
The sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, and Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20
The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers' houses.
21
Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
22
Those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those who were numbered of them were seven thousand five hundred.
23
The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.
24
The prince of the fathers' house of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
25
The duty of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting shall be the tabernacle, and the Tent, its covering, and the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting,
26
and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and around the altar, and its cords for all of its service.
27
Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.
28
According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary.
29
The families of the sons of Kohath shall encamp on the south side of the tabernacle.
30
The prince of the fathers' house of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
31
Their duty shall be the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the screen, and all its service.
32
Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, with the oversight of those who keep the requirements of the sanctuary.
33
Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites. These are the families of Merari.
34
Those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand two hundred.
35
The prince of the fathers' house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They shall encamp on the north side of the tabernacle.
36
The appointed duty of the sons of Merari shall be the tabernacle's boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its instruments, all its service,
37
the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, and their cords.
38
Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary for the duty of the children of Israel. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.
39
All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of Yahweh, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.
40
Yahweh said to Moses, "Number all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
41
You shall take the Levites for me (I am Yahweh) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel."
42
Moses numbered, as Yahweh commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
43
All the firstborn males according to the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred seventy-three.
44
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
45
"Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine. I am Yahweh.
46
For the redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who exceed the number of the Levites,
47
you shall take five shekels apiece for each one; after the shekel of the sanctuary you shall take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs):
48
and you shall give the money, with which the remainder of them is redeemed, to Aaron and to his sons."
49
Moses took the redemption money from those who exceeded the number of those who were redeemed by the Levites;
50
from the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred sixty-five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
51
and Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
