Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa made the decision to treat the last few weeks of regular readings, which included a “double-portion,” separately – because there was so much in there that needed to be given more time. So, this week, we will catch up, at least a bit, with a different combination ‘double parsha,’ and see that the combination also fits.
Parsha “Bechukotai,” (Leviticus 26 through the end of the Book) from the opening verse, IF you WALK, “IN MY Statutes,” is perhaps the second most dramatic set of “blessings and curses” in Scripture, after Deuteronomy chapter 28. And it includes what Mark has called the set of “seven times seven times seven times seven” — and a litany of curses that any of us would be hard pressed to argue aren’t at least in their initial stages, or worse.
The Erev Shabbat reading then continues with parsha “Bemidbar,” (Numbers chapters 1 through 4) and the command to Moshe and Aaron to “lift up the head” or number – take a census – the men of ‘fighting age’ in the mixed multitude. And the details make certain elements of that effort stand out over the millenia:
The Sabbath Day midrash again begins with a suggestion. Since there is so much emphasis on DOING what YHVH says, ALL of it, and keeping his “statutes, judgments, and commandments, along with the dire promise of what happens if, as it turns out, they did not — the numbers that begin the Book called “Numbers” in English end up telling a stark tale. Because we’ve read ahead. of 603,550 men, all unique, all counted as individuals, it turns out that only TWO (2) – and we know their names – will make it “into the land.”
There is also a specific warning in verse 17, that precedes even the multiplied curses. It even has to do with things like data centers, today.
And a very specific failure, Mark contends, underlies ALL of those lessons.
“Bechukotai, then Bemidbar: Those Who HATE You WILL Rule Over You – and that’s for starters”
Worship Service information:
Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship worship services and teachings are broadcast live every Sabbath, via Paltalk. (www.paltalk.com has both the link, and the app.) The “room name” is “Walking Torah with Shabbat Shalom Mesa,” and can be found via the paltalk search, then bookmarked.
Erev Shabbat services begin at 7:00 PM Mountain Time Friday evenings (9 PM Eastern, 8 PM Central)
Live Sabbath teachings begin shortly after 11 AM Mountain time on Sabbath day (Saturday).
email: mark@markniwot.com
The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash, via Hebrew Nation Radio.
