by Ptr. Art Calaguas<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shalom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Temporary ceasefire with hostage-prisoner exchange negotiations seem to be at a standstill in Gaza with Hamas (and Islamic Jihad). In Lebanon, intense international efforts and pressure is being exerted on Hezbollah and Israel to agree to a ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israel continues to attack from the air, land and sea the remaining Hamas terrorists in Gaza and against the continuing Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks from Lebanon. Israel has made it clear that they want the Hezbollah to retreat north of the Litani River as per UN Security Council Resolution 1701 enacted in 2006 but never implemented. This will enable the internally displaced 60,000-80,000 Israelis to go back to their abandoned homes in northern Israel, Galilee and Golan Heights since October 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The waiting for Iran\u2019s retaliation against Israel has apparently become longer as it appears to have been postponed. Over-all, Israel continues to fight a multi-front war against Hamas in Gaza, Judea and Samaria (West Bank), Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran-backed Shiite militias in Syria and Iraq and Houthis in Yemen while waiting for Iran\u2019s next move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let us continue to pray for the release of all the remaining 101 Israeli hostages (alive or dead) and for a just end to the wars against the Jewish nation. Let us continue to stand with Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 4th<\/sup> book in the Pentateuch\/Torah attributed to Moses is the Book of Numbers. It gets its name from the Septuagint (LXX) referring to the census of Israelites while they are in the wilderness in the shadow of Mount Sinai. The Hebraic name of this book, \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05de\u05b4\u05d3\u05b0\u05d1\u05b7\u05bc\u05a5\u05e8 \u201cbemidbar\u201d meaning \u201cin the wilderness\u201d is actually more fitting as it narrates what happened to the Israelites while they journeyed for 40 years in the desert towards Canaan, the land promised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Book of Numbers can be structured into 3 parts based on the Israelites\u2019 location (Mount Sinai, Kadesh and Moab) and their travels in between. The Israelites are in the vicinity of Mount Sinai in Chapter 1 \u2013 10. These chapters deal with the census of all able-bodied fighting men for the expected holy war the LORD has tasked them to engage in to possess the land promised as their inheritance. It also deals with the census of Levites and priests (descendants of Aaron, who like Moses, is of the tribe of Levi) who play non-military roles but are solely assigned to take care of the portable Tabernacle of God and the vessels and instruments inside this Tent of Meeting, including the Ark of the Covenant (see Exodus 36 \u2013 40) whenever and wherever the Israelites move or stay. The LORD has now organized the 12 tribes of Jacob\/Israel into fighting units surrounding the Tabernacle\/Tent of Meeting whether on the move or staying in a given location for some time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There has been wide discussion about the very large numbers of men and consequently, of the entire population who left Egypt as counted in the 1st<\/sup> census as narrated in chapters 1 \u2013 2. I find the concise analysis of conservative Anglican Biblical scholar and theologian John Wenham (1913-1996) written for Eerdmans Handbook of the Bible<\/em> (1992 ed.) particularly helpful. His methodologies, especially in the handling of the Hebrew word \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05b6\u05e3 \u201celeph\u201d ordinarily meaning thousand or a large quantity\/group, implying a military unit. When the more ancient Hebrew alphabet did not have vowel pointing, this word can be possibly be confused with \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc\u05e3 \u201calluwph\u201d meaning chieftain\/leader as they would both be written as \u05b7\u05d0\u05dc\u05e3. This combined with transmission errors and textual corruption can be helpful in resolving \u201ca very large proportion of the numerical difficulties.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another notable portion of chapters 1 \u2013 10 is the Nazarite vow and the Aaronic blessing found in Numbers 6. These 2 topics in chapter 6 seem to highlight the duties of the \u05db\u05b9\u05bc\u05d4\u05b5\u05df \u201ckohen\u201d or \u201ccohen\u201d meaning priest. Indeed, the priests, the sons of Aaron, are to bless the people of Israel and the LORD will bless them for doing so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The 1st<\/sup> mentions of the land promised to the Israelites by God is in Numbers 10. Numbers 10:9 assumes that in the foreseeable future the people of the LORD will be fighting for and in the land (Hebrew verse read right to left, top down):<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d5\u05b0\u05db\u05b4\u05bd\u05d9\u05be\u05ea\u05b8\u05d1\u05b9\u05a8\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc \u05de\u05b4\u05dc\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05de\u05b8\u059c\u05d4 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d0\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e6\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u0597\u05dd<\/mark> \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc\u05be\u05d4\u05b7\u05e6\u05b7\u05bc\u05e8\u0599 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e6\u05b9\u05bc\u05e8\u05b5\u05a3\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u0594\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05e8\u05b5\u05e2\u05b9\u05ea\u05b6\u0596\u05dd \u05d1\u05b7\u05bc\u05d7\u05b2\u05e6\u05b9\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b9\u0591\u05d5\u05ea \u05d5\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d6\u05b0\u05db\u05b7\u05bc\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u0597\u05dd \u05dc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9\u0599 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05a3\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05bd\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u0594\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b9\u05d5\u05e9\u05b7\u05c1\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u0596\u05dd \u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05b9\u05d9\u05b0\u05d1\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05bd\u05dd\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n The New English Translation (NET) Bible translation follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9<\/sup><\/strong>If you go to war in your land<\/mark> against an adversary who opposes you, then you must sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The very familiar Hebrew word \u05d0\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u201cerets\u201d for land that we have seen previously is used here (prefixed with a preposition and a possessive pronoun suffix). This is within the context of the discussion of 2 silver trumpets and different trumpet alarms specified by the LORD in Leviticus 10. It also looks forward to the coming holy war in the land promised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numbers 10:29 narrates the appeal of Moses for Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses\u2019 father-in-law to join them and help them get into Canaan. The Hebrew verse is given below (read right to left, top down):<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b9\u05bc\u05a3\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u0597\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b0\u05a0\u05d7\u05b9\u05d1\u05b8\u05d1 \u05d1\u05b6\u05bc\u05df\u05be\u05e8\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0\u05b5\u05a3\u05dc \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05b4\u05bc\u05d3\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05ae \u05d7\u05b9\u05ea\u05b5\u05a3\u05df \u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05d4\u0592 \u05e0\u05b9\u05e1\u05b0\u05e2\u05b4\u05a3\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b7\u0597\u05d7\u05b0\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05be\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05b8\u05bc\u05e7\u05b9\u05d5\u05dd\u0599<\/mark> \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05a3\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05a3\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u0594\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b9\u0596\u05d5 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b5\u05bc\u05a3\u05df \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u0591\u05dd<\/mark> \u05dc\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05a4\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b4\u05ea\u05b8\u05bc\u0599\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc\u0599 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b5\u05d8\u05b7\u05a3\u05d1\u05b0\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05dc\u05b8\u0594\u05da\u05b0 \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05bd\u05d9\u05be\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05a5\u05d4 \u05d3\u05b4\u05bc\u05d1\u05b6\u05bc\u05e8\u05be\u05d8\u05b9\u0596\u05d5\u05d1 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc\u05be\u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05c2\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05bd\u05dc<\/mark>\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n The NET Bible translation follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 29<\/sup><\/strong>Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel, the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are journeying to the place<\/mark> about which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you.’<\/mark> Come with us and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things for Israel<\/mark>.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Hebrew word \u05de\u05b8\u05e7\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd<\/mark> \u201cmaqom\u201d for place with the definite article is used here as a substitute for land they were headed for. This is coupled with the phrase specifying that the LORD will give it<\/mark> to the Israelites. The last phrase makes Moses\u2019 appeal more attractive as it says the LORD has spoken good things concerning Israel<\/mark>. Despite this, the text indicates that Hobab declined the invitation and may not have joined them. Nonetheless, on the 2nd<\/sup> year, in the 2nd<\/sup> month, on the 20th<\/sup> day of the month after the Israelites had come out of Egypt in the Exodus, they were moving out from the wilderness of Sinai toward the land promised.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will continue next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God bless us all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Ptr. Art Calaguas Shalom. Temporary ceasefire with hostage-prisoner exchange negotiations seem to be at a standstill in Gaza with Hamas (and Islamic Jihad). In Lebanon, intense international efforts and pressure is being exerted on Hezbollah and Israel to agree to a ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israel continues to attack from the air, land and sea the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[6,7,18,9,8,5],"class_list":["post-467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ptr-art-calaguas","tag-church-of-the-risen-lord","tag-crl","tag-jesus","tag-spiritual-refreshment-of-the-day","tag-upcemi","tag-upcrl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=467"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":468,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467\/revisions\/468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}