June 7, 2025: Torah Portion Parashat Naso - "Lift up!"

In this study, we will explore the Torah Portion Naso - "Lift up!"

• Torah Portion: Numbers 4:21-7:89

• Haftarah: Judges 13:2-25

• Brit Chadashah (New Testament): Acts 21:17-26

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Naso - "Lift up!"

📖 Torah Portion: Numbers 4:21-7:89

 In Parashat Bamidbar, a census was taken of all Levite males from the age of one month and up (totaling 23,000).

In parashat Naso, an additional census is taken of the three Levite clans that were responsible for transporting the Tabernacle in the wilderness.

The parashah begins:

 As we studied in Parashat Bamidbar, the firstborn son of each Jewish family was originally intended to perform avodah (service to the LORD) by offering sacrifices on behalf of their family (Exod. 13:2). However, when the firstborn sons of Israel later took part in the Sin of the Golden Calf, they sadly forfeited this right.

The LORD commanded Moses to exchange the roles of the firstborn son to the Levites, who would then serve Him in the Mishkan (Tabernacle).

The descendants of Levi were themselves were set up according to their lineage, so that there are four divisions of Levites: 

1. The Gershonites - Descendants of Levi's firstborn son Gershon (Ger-shon). This clan was responsible for caring for the mishkan's woven articles (i.e., the coverings for the walls and roof of the tabernacle). They dwelt on the West side of the mishkan. Aaron's son Isamar was the overseer of the Gershonites.

 2. The Kohathites - Descendants of Levi's middle son Kohath (Kehat). This clan carried the sacred objects of the mishkan (midrash states that the holy ark actually carried those who carried it). Note that the kohanim are a subset of this clan (see below). They dwelt on the South side of the mishkan.

3. The Merarites - Descendants of Levi's youngest son Merari. This clan carried the wooden parts of the mishkan as well as the ropes and sockets used for the curtain of the courtyard. They dwelt on the North side of the mishkan. Aaron's son Isamar was the overseer of the Merarites.

4. The Kohanim - Descendants of Levi's great grandson Aaron. This clan was responsible for performing all of the korbonot (sacrifices) and other rituals on behalf of all of Israel. As the priestly class of Israel, only the Kohanim were allowed to perform avodah (priestly service). They dwelt on the East side of the mishkan.

Earlier the LORD commanded that a separate census of all the clans of Levi be taken, but now He wanted a separate count of the Kohathites, the Gershonites, and the Merarites, (but this time from the ages of 30-50 years old).

The results of this additional census were:

Kehat = 2,750; Gershon = 2,630; Merari = 3,200, indicating a total work force of 8,580 between the ages of 30 and 50.

Making the Camp Holy 

After taking the census and setting up the clans around the Mishkan, the LORD commanded that all the ritually unclean were to be sent out of all three camps (the camp of the  Shechinah (i.e., the mishkan), the camp of the Levites, and the camp of the Israelites in general).

All those afflicted by tzara'at (a skin affliction resulting from lashon hara (gossiping), or had a discharge were to be excluded from the sacred assembly in the wilderness (those who were made unclean by contact with the dead were only forbidden to enter the camp of the mishkan but could remain in the other camps).

Next the LORD commanded Moses to tell the Israelites that if anyone commits a sin, he or she must confess it and make full restitution (teshuvah) for the wrong, adding 20% to the damages done to the offended party.

Although this seems to concern the sin of theft, upon reflection it is understood that all sin is a sort of theft, since life was given to us to do God's will, and transgression of that will robs God of the glory due His Name!

In addition, terumot (contributions) to the priests are mandatory, and those who withhold back the percentage, are subject to judgment from the LORD.

The Law of the Nazir 

Next is given the law of the "Nazir" (Nazirite), or one takes a vow of consecration for a specific period of time in dedication to the LORD.

The word nazir means "consecrated" or "separated." To become a Nazirite (no relation to Nazarene), a person (male or female) must take a vow of nezirut (Nazirite vow).

This involved refraining from three things: 

1. Wine or any kind products of the grape vine (e.g., grapes, raisins, wine vinegar). Apparently there is no prohibition for the nazirite to drink alcoholic beverages not derived from grapes, for example, fermented apple cider, though the prohibition against "strong drink" (shekhar) is clearly stated.

2. Cutting the hair (for a specific period of time)

3. Contact with a corpse (including one's own family members)

Note that if any of these conditions are not kept while under the vow, the nazir must begin his or her time of consecration all over again.

For example, if a nazir accidentally becomes unclean during a 30 day nezirut, he must wait the seven required days to become tahor (pure) again, offer a sacrifice on the eighth day, and begin the 30 day vow all over again, from the beginning.

After the period of the vow ends, the Nazirite would shave his head and burn his or her hair on the fire of one of the korbonot (sacrifice). A special room in the Temple (called lishkat nezirim) was devoted to the shaving of nazir.

A number of additional offerings, including a sin offering, was then given to the LORD (Numbers 6:10-21).

While most Nazirite vows were temporary (usually 30 to 100 days), some were Nazirites from  birth to death (e.g., Samson (Judges 13:7) and John the Baptist (Luke 1:15-17).

Interestingly, the Apostle Paul himself also took a Nazirite vow (Acts 18:18, 21:22-26), thus demonstrating his allegiance to Torah observance as a follower of YESHUA!

Birkat Kohanim (Priestly Blessing): 

In the midst of this reading, the LORD gives a commandment for Aaron and his clan to bless the people of Israel, called the priestly blessing (birkat kohanim). This blessing was intended to "put the Name of the LORD upon the people of Israel":

23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

24 “The Lord bless you and keep you;25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’

27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” 

Numbers 6:23-27

Traditionally, the priests blessed the people every morning after the sacrifice at the mishkan (and later at the Temple).

Today, Sephardic synagogues end their service with this blessing as a benediction (Ashkenaz only recite it on Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot).

When recited, the kohen (priest) raises his hands with the palms facing outward and the thumbs of his outspread hands touching. The four fingers on each hand are split into two sets of two fingers each (thus forming the letter Shin, an emblem for Shaddai):

Note that the LORD does not command the kohanim (priests) to bless the people using their own words, but rather provides the exact formulation for the blessing, prefacing the instruction with the words: "This is how you are to bless." 

This reveals that the blessing comes from the LORD Himself, and the priests are but the means for transmitting His gracious will. This is further indicated by the verse that immediately follows the blessing:

"So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them"

Numbers 6:27

Notice that the phrase, "May the LORD lift up His face toward you..." provides a picture of ADONAI holding you up in His arms, as a delighted father might hold up his young child in joy.... ADONAI "lifts up His face" as He holds you up in divine joy!

The phrase "with love" is integral and is intended to represent the love of the LORD for His people. Just as God blesses us as an expression of His kindness towards us!

The verse that immediately precedes the commandment to bless the people says, "Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them..." The word "say" here is amor, and is written with an "extra Vav" (Hebrew letter). This "full spelling" of the verb is said to indicate that the act of blessing others should not be done in a halfhearted or  impatient manner, but rather with fullness of heart and sincerity.

The desire of the blesser to see others blessed is considered vital -- just as the desire of the hearer should be to sincerely receive the blessing itself!

When the priest lifts his hands during the recitation ("May the LORD bless you and keep you..."), it is a virtual "semikhah" (ordination).

The descendants of Aaron were chosen to convey the blessing of God to the people of God, but under the terms of the greater New Covenant (Brit Hadashah) all followers of YESHUA are made part of "a chosen people, a priesthood of King Messiah, a holy nation, a people for his own possession," so that we may proclaim the glory of Him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:5-6)!

"Through Yeshua, then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his Name." Hebrews 13:15

It must be remembered that the subject of the priestly blessing is ADONAI! He alone is the One who does the blessing, and even under the older covenant the sons of Aaron merely transmitted or conveyed God's blessing to the people.

Since the LORD God Almighty is the only true Blesser, undoubtedly YESHUA recited the "priestly blessing" over his disciples when He ascended back to heaven, though of course He would have spoken it in the first person:

"I bless you and keep you; I shine upon you and am gracious to you; I lift up my countenance upon you, and give you my peace." Luke 24:50-51

As Yeshua said to his followers, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you" (John 14:27; 20:19). After all, who but the Prince of Peace (Sar Shalom) could speak these words in the truth?

This Prince was promised by the prophet to be God's Son, the anointed King of Israel Himself:

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6