Torah 101-BaMidbar Portion

I.

ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS STUDY QUESTIONS (from

BeChukkotai)

Only one question this week:

What can we learn about the chronological details of Joshuas life that lead to a
surprising conclusion about Israels spiritual state and the Jubilee?
The answer is the Torah Thought for the Week from last weeks Scroll to Scroll program!
Torah Thought for the Week:
The Secret Life of Joshua
Last weeks parsha was massive of course because it dealt with the Jubilee, a topic that
has about a dozen different but related aspects and characteristics to it, in math, in
astronomy, in history and so on.
But although those notes were very detailed, that doesnt mean I dealt with every
significant aspect of this topic. In concert with other studies attempting to recover the
entire Biblical chronology in certain years from Genesis to Revelation, I found out
something about Joshua, Israel and the Jubilee that was equal parts poignant and tragic at
the same time.
I was investigating the incredibly complex and elusive problem of the Judges chronology
and making the individual years that were recorded from Exodus 7 to 1 Kings 6 match
the required 480 year period given in two places. All goes well until you get to Judges,
where it becomes clear that we are dealing with multiple and separate groups of Israelites
facing different enemies in the same period of time.
You see, I had long followed the Rabbinic assumption that Joshuas youth was given in
relative terms to Mosheprevailing opinion that he was about 42 years old at Exodus
but stronger evidence has led me into a more shocking directionJoshua is only 19 years
old at Exodus! Heres why
When it comes to Joshua, the Scripture has a surprising lack of biographical information
about him given his critical historical importance as the successor to Moses. We are
basically told directly three things: 1) He was born a slave in Egypt, 2) He was a young
man and 3) He died at age 110.
But we cant really know the start of the Judges period if we dont know when Joshua
actually died in historical time. However, the task is far from impossible to do as other
smaller details help build us a certain picture to lead us to this time.
To begin with, lets first observe a significant overlap in time between the latter part of
Joshua and the starting part of Judges

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Caleb then said, 'To the man who attacks and takes Kiriath-Sepher, I shall give
my daughter Achsah as wife. The man who captured it was Othniel son of
Kenaz, brother of Caleb, who gave him his daughter Achsah as wife. (Joshua
15:16-17 NJB)
Now look at the parallel passage of the same event given in Judges
Caleb said, 'To the man who conquers and captures Kiriath-Sepher, I shall give
my daughter Achsah as wife. The man who captured it was Othniel son of
Kenaz, younger brother of Caleb, who gave him his daughter Achsah as wife.
(Judges 1:12-13 NJB)
Its clearly the same event, and even better, we have a certain date for its occurrence
Some sons of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the
Kenizzite said to him, 'You know what Yahweh said to Moses, man of God, at
Kadesh-Barnea concerning you and me. I was 40 years old when Moses, servant of
Yahweh, sent me from Kadesh-Barnea to reconnoitre this country, and I made him a
completely honest report. The brothers, however, who had gone up with me
discouraged the people, whereas I myself scrupulously obeyed Yahweh my God. That
day Moses swore this oath, "Be sure of this, that the country your foot has trodden
will be a heritage for you and your children for ever, since you have scrupulously
obeyed Yahweh my God." From then till now, Yahweh has kept me alive in
observance of his promise. It is forty-five years since Yahweh said this to Moses -Israel was then going through the desert -- and now I am 85 years old. Today I am
still as strong as the day when Moses sent me out on that errand; for fighting, for
going and coming, I am as strong now as then. (Joshua 14:6-11 NJB)
This is 47 years after Exodus, and 45 years after the spies were sent out. Therefore, 47 of
our 480 total years from Exodus to Solomons 4th year are accounted for, as it is clear that
the events in Joshua 14-24 are happening at the same time as the events in Judges 1:12:7, which is why both sources conclude the same way about the most important event of
their time
Joshua then said to all the people, 'Look, this stone will be a witness to us, since it has
heard all the words that Yahweh has spoken to us: it will be a witness against you, in
case you should deny your God.' Joshua then dismissed the people, every one to his
own heritage. After this, Joshua son of Nun, servant of Yahweh, died; he was 110
years old. He was buried on the estate which he had received as his heritage, at
Timnath-Serah which lies in the highlands of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. Israel
served Yahweh throughout the lifetime of Joshua and throughout the lifetime of those
elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the deeds which Yahweh had done for
the sake of Israel. (Joshua 24:27-31 NJB)
And again, in Judges

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Joshua having dismissed the people, the Israelites then went away, each one to his
own heritage, to occupy the country. The people served Yahweh throughout the
lifetime of Joshua and throughout the lifetime of those elders who outlived Joshua
and had known all the great deeds which Yahweh had done for the sake of Israel.
Joshua son of Nun, servant of Yahweh, was 110 years old when he died.He was
buried on the estate which he had received as his heritage at Timnath-Heres in the
highlands of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. And when that whole generation had
been gathered to its ancestors, another generation followed it which knew neither
Yahweh nor the deeds which he had done for the sake of Israel. (Judges 2:6-10 NJB)
The two accounts of the same eventJoshuas deathare nearly identical. The only real
difference is that while the writer of Joshua emphasizes Israels loyalty to Yahweh in
Joshuas lifetime, the writer of Judges goes out of his way to explain the near-immediate
descent into paganism before his body had even gone cold in his grave.
For an undetermined period of time (at the moment that is)also covering the events in
chapters 17-21the Israelites had neither loyalty to Yahweh nor a strong ruler to judge
them. As a result, Yahweh gave the Israelites over to pagan rulers for 8 years, until the
Israelites cried out to Him for help (Judges 3:1-8). His answer was to raise up Joshuas
aide Othniel as a deliverer, for he was loyal to Yahweh (Judges 3:9)
But, in order to find the actual years of Joshuas career and ultimate demise, we need to
look towards a linguistic solution, since direct chronological data is challenging to
interpret. The key rests in two statements about Joshua that have left many scholars
puzzled over the centuries, simply because the simplest answer went against their own
assumptions. These background statements set the foundation for the Joshua quotes
Now Pharaoh's daughter went down to bathe in the river, while her maids walked
along the riverside. Among the reeds she noticed the basket, and she sent her maid to
fetch it. She opened it and saw the child: the baby (naar ) was crying. Feeling
sorry for it, she said, 'This is one of the little Hebrews.' (Exodus 2:5-6 NJB)
This Hebrew word naar is being applied to Moses when he is only 3 months old (Exodus
2:1). 1 Samuel 1:22 and 4:21 apply this same word to newborn males.
However, this is far from the only usage of this word. Ishmael is called a naar about 5
years after his circumcision at age 13 (Genesis 17:25; 21:12), so he is about 18 when he
is sent away.
Joseph is also directly called a naar when he is 17 years old (Genesis 37:2). Similar but
more general statements are given about David and Solomon (1 Samuel 16:11; 1 Kings
3:7). In other cases, some authorities believe this word can mean servant, retainer but
even there we never have any implication that these retainers arent also young men,
specifically 19 years and younger.

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The reason why I say a naar must be 19 years or younger is because once a male turns 20
he is always called by another Hebrew word
"No man (ish)
of 20 years and over, who left Egypt, shall set eyes on the
country which I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, for they have not
followed me absolutely. (Numbers 32:11-12 NJB)
The word ish, along with its synonym anash (e.g. Genesis 12:20; Exodus 17:9), denotes a
man ready to go to war or is a general reference to a male ready to marriage. Other times
words that can mean a male at any agelike zakarare applied to this age of man as
well. Only Adam, who is created as a fully formed adult, is also called ish when he
marries Eve (Genesis 3:16). Now lets apply this understanding to Joshua
Yahweh would talk to Moses face to face, as a man talks to his friend, and afterwards
he would come back to the camp, but the young man (naar ) who was his
servant, Joshua son of Nun, never left the inside of the Tent. (Exodus 33:11 NJB)
Notice that naar does not mean retainer because its synonym servant is there!
Therefore, since the retainer meaning is already taken care of with the word sharath
(minister, aide), naar must be intended with its only other meaningyoung man, 19 years
old and younger.
We should also bear in mind that the rules for a person being aged 20 and over to go to
war were not given until Leviticus1 to 2 years laterso Joshua could be a warrior too
at age 19. Heres another
Then Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant (sharath ) of Moses from his youth
(behorim
),
said, "Moses, my lord, restrain them." (Numbers 11:28 NAU)
Same situationonce again the retainer/attendant meaning is taken up by sharath and his
youth is expressed by a separate word. Behorim is related to bikurrim, first-fruits and
therefore also means a boy coming into manhood.
And so I believe the evidence is overwhelming here. Joshua must be 19 years old at
Exodus. Furthermore, the text even gives us an idea when Joshua was born. Since he is
19 years old in Exodus 17, it means he had to be born sometime between Passover and
the Feast of Weeks (Exodus 20), because the 10 Commandments were given then!
Therefore, if Joshuas career begins at age 19 and ends when he dies at age 110, this
means he was in Yahs service for a total of 91 years! Joshua would then be 59 years old
when Moses died in 1406 BCE and just turned 60 when he attacked Jericho the following
year. From there the numbers point to a very surprising date for his death
A 60 year old Joshua at Jericho means that, the very year Israel entered Canaan was
exactly 50 years away from the first Jubilee, the precise time Joshua dies! In other words,
Joshua is born in the springtime and by the time he dies, it is the same moment as the first
Jubilee (1356 BCE) for Israel. But apparently Israel doesnt honor their obligation as this
passage shows
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Joshua son of Nun, servant of Yahweh, was 110 years old when he died. He was
buried on the estate which he had received as his heritage at Timnath-Heres in the
highlands of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. And when that whole generation had
been gathered to its ancestors, another generation followed it which knew neither
Yahweh nor the deeds which he had done for the sake of Israel. The Israelites then
did what is evil in Yahweh's eyes and served the Baals. They deserted Yahweh, God
of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt, and they followed other gods.
(Judges 2:8-12 NJB)
So instead of celebrating their 1st Jubilee and keeping the Feasts, they prostituted
themselves to idolsno wonder Abba YHWH judged them! We also see in the text the
clue that another generation followed after Joshua began his ruleindicating that his
reign was at least 40 years long!
From all this data, it is clear that Judges starts immediately after Joshuas death, since all
during his life the people were loyal to Abba YHWH. Therefore the start of the Judges is
fixed to the 1st Jubilee1356 BCEso count from there.
But lets stop for just a moment and reflect on this finding. Abba YHWH was gracious
enough to allow Israel to benefit from Joshuas strength and wisdom for the entirety of
the time they were counting to the first Jubilee.
If Israel was righteous, then Joshuas death could have been a comforting event showing
their relationship with Abba YHWH, leading into their first year long celebration and
marveling at how Abba YHWH provides for them over a year they do not work the land
with their own strength. It would have further set the standard for the Jubilees that
followed, each in their time, every 50 years.
But instead the Israelites harvested rebellion and shame. They didnt even try to follow
the instruction even though, at the time, there was no doubt in their minds what was
expected of them and when they were supposed to perform those instructions.
Moshe had foreseen this of course, and in Deuteronomy 31 warned Israel in front of
Joshua that they would rebel shortly after his death just as they had done while he was
alive.
Then Joshua, knowing this problem intimately, makes sure Israel waits their 40th and last
year of exile and stay put, while he avails himself of this same extra year in order to
consolidate his power and make plans to attack Jericho.
In the end though, it must have been at least partially disappointing to Joshua that, as he
lay on his deathbed after serving Yah for 91 years, that paganism and rebellion were
about to dominate their lives and bring great hardship.
But on the other hand, a mighty man like Joshua also couldnt help but have some hope
for their future as well, which he makes clear on his deathbed

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14

'So now, fear Yahweh and serve him truly and sincerely; banish the elohims whom
your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve Yahweh. 15 But if
serving Yahweh seems a bad thing to you, today you must make up your minds whom
you do mean to serve, whether the elohims whom your ancestors served beyond the
River, or the elohims of the Amorites in whose country you are now living. As regards
my family and me, we shall serve Yahweh.'
16

The people replied, 'Far be it from us to desert Yahweh and to serve other elohims!
Yahweh our Elohim was the one who brought us and our ancestors here from Egypt,
from the place of slave-labor, who worked those great wonders before our eyes and who
kept us safe all along the way we travelled and among all the peoples through whom we
passed. 18 And Yahweh has driven all the nations out for us, including the Amorites who
used to live in the country. We too shall serve Yahweh, for he is our Elohim.'
17

19

Joshua then said to the people, 'You will not be able to serve Yahweh, since he is a
holy Elohim, he is a jealous Elohim who will not tolerate either your misdeeds or your
sins. 20 If you desert Yahweh and serve the foreigners' elohims, he will turn and maltreat
you anew and, in spite of having been good to you in the past, will destroy you.'
21

The people replied to Joshua, 'No! Yahweh is the one we mean to serve.'
Joshua then said to the people, 'You are witnesses to yourselves that you have chosen
Yahweh, to serve him.'
22

They replied, 'Witnesses we are!'

23

'Then banish the foreign elohims which you have with you and give your allegiance to
Yahweh, Elohim of Israel!'
24

The people replied to Joshua, 'Yahweh our Elohim is the one whom we shall serve; his
voice we shall obey!'
25

That day Joshua made a covenant for the people; he laid down a statute and ordinance
for them at Shechem. 26 Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Torah of Elohim.
He then took a large stone and set it up there, under the oak tree in Yahweh's sanctuary.
27
Joshua then said to all the people, 'Look, this stone will be a witness to us, since it has
heard all the words that Yahweh has spoken to us: it will be a witness against you, in case
you should deny your Elohim.' 28 Joshua then dismissed the people, everyone to his own
heritage. (Joshua 24:14-28 NJB)

At the very end of all things for him, Joshua knew that Abba YHWH would punish Israel
severely for the disobedience they were showing or were about to show as he lay dying.
But Joshua also knew Israel would one day rise up and throw off their shackles of
idolatry, when Abba YHWH would come and rescue them, or as Rav Shaul put it
For if Yehoshua, the son of Nun, had given them rest, he would not have spoken
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afterwards of another day. For there remains a Shabbat for the people of Elohim.
For he who had entered into his rest has also rested from his works as Elohim did
from his. Let us, therefore, strive to enter into that rest; or else we fall short, after
the way of those who did not believe. (Hebrews 4:8-11-AENT)
Rest in peace Joshuaand know that all your sacrifices have not been in vain after all.
Im Andrew Gabriel Roth and thats your Torah Thought for the Week!

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II.

QUESTIONS FOR THIS TORAH PORTION (Bamidbar)

Please NOTE:
For clarity and time constraints, if I elect to not read the whole parsha (which
is the case this week) I may still ask questions relating to the portions I did not
read!

1) Question for Numbers 1:

How does one name for the Tabernacle help reveal its most important
function?
2) Question for Numbers 2:
What is special about the numbers for Yehudah in relationship to the whole
603,550 total for all Israel that isnt true about the numbers for any other
tribe? (Sorry this one is a harder question than I normally do for Torah 101
but I have to do it!)
3) Question for Numbers 3:
What does the metaphor on the face of Aaron really mean here?
4) Question for Numbers 4:1-20:
Kohath is mentioned here in this chapter, but what is the significance of the
first time his name appears, in Genesis 46:11?
5) Haftorah Question of the Week: Hosea 2:1-22
What is one of the most ironic twists in Hosea regarding the names of the
people involved? Please note, I am not referencing the names of the children.
6) Renewed Covenant Commentary: Revelation 7:1-17
Revelation 7:8
29) There is all manner of speculation as to why these particular names are
revealed while others were not, and why they appear in this particular order.
The answer to the mystery lies in the reality that Revelation is a book of
spiritual symbols, revealing the nature of YHWH, Mashiyach, the Kingdom of
Heaven and the spiritual man in a sod or hidden way. Hidden or mystery
does not mean we cannot know, it means our spirits must discern rather than
our intellectual logic and reason. The number 144,000 alludes to a type of
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people, rather than the numerical sum (see footnote on Rev_14:1) of a people.
Many levels of revelation are embedded within these names, starting with the
peshat (plain) meanings of these names:
1) Yehudah: Praise YHWH
2) Reuben: see a Son
3) Gad: a troop is coming
4) Ashur: happy am I
5) Naphtali: wrestling
6) Manasseh: causing to forget
7) Simeon: hearing
8) Levi: joined to
9) Issachar: there is reward
10) Zebulon: exalted
11) Yosip: YHWH has added
12) Benjamin: Son of the right hand
A fatal mistake many theologians make is seeking religious, cultural or
theological identity in Scripture rather than hearing in our spirits and
discerning the Word of YHWH through spiritual eyes. Another reckless
mistake is to overlay a dualistic Greco-Roman mindest over a Hebraic text
(see dualism in footnote Jud_1:9) that completely alters the message.
A full message might be something like:
Praise YHWH (and) see (His) Son (because) a troop is coming and I am
happy.
(But they are) wrestling and (it is) causing (them) to forget.
(But now they are) hearing (truth?) and are joined (together because) there is a
reward (that is) exalted and YHWH has added the Son of (His) right hand.

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