Parsha Naso: Take a Census

​By Richard Sison | 2018

Introduction

The parsha addresses priestly duties, camp purification, restitution for wrongs committed, the wife accused of unfaithfulness (סוטה, sotah), the nazirite, the Priestly Blessing, and consecration of the Tabernacle.

Neglected Commandments
1. Adulterous generation - Matt 12:39; 16:4; Mark 8:38
The fourth reading covers Numbers 5:11–6:27, wherein G-d told Moses to instruct the children of Israel about the test where a husband, in a fit of jealousy, accused his wife of being unfaithful — the ritual of the sotah, also known as the “bitter water test.”  The husband was to bring his wife to the priest, along with barley flour as a meal offering of jealousy.

2. Nazarite vow is no longer practiced
Part of the fourth reading, the L-RD told Moses to instruct the Israelites about the vows of a nazirite (נָזִיר, nazir) or “nazarite vow”, should one wish to set himself or herself apart for G-d.  The Nazarite was to abstain from wine, intoxicants, vinegar, grapes, raisins, or anything obtained from the grapevine.  No razor was to touch the nazarite's head until the completion of the nazarite term.

3. No one blesses Israel
Towards the end of the fourth reading, the L-RD told Moses to instruct Aaron and his sons that they should bless the Israelites with this blessing: "The Lord bless you and keep you. The L-RD deal kindly and graciously with you.  The L-RD bestow His favour upon you and give you His shalom (peace).

We should not neglect the commandments no matter how “strange” or even if we disagree with it.  These physical signs speaks of spiritual truth.​

But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
​
Matthew 12:39-41

The Message