August 4, 2010 Lesson 3 of Numbers 5:1-6:21

Many of the civil and religious laws of Israel and the rites connected with them are hard for us to understand. They may seem strangely abhorrent, sometimes inhumane or quasimagical in character. It is important to bear in mind: a) the authority of the priest is every sphere of Israel’s life, including that of cleanliness and hygiene, which were as much a part of ‘religious’ ceremony as the worship in the tabernacle; b) the background of religious rites common to the whole of the ancient Near East and used by Israel, though transformed both by her faith in the one true God, and in order to make them usable in his worship; and c) the need that this new, God chosen nation should be constantly reminded of the holiness and moral demands of her God.


What sort of people were to be ‘put out’ of the camp, and why? Cf. Lev 13:46; 15:31. What interests of humanitarian justice are satisfied in the commands of 5:11-31? These seem like purely magical rites, but note verse 16, 18, 21, and 30. Answer: Those ceremonially unclean; i.e. those who have come in contact with the dead or discharge or have a discharge. The tabernacle, the dwelling place of God, is to remain clean and for this reason uncleanness is to be kept out and away. The interest of humanitarian justice covered in the later part of this chapter is faithfulness to one’s spouse. If nothing else this will prevent the spread of those things causing a discharge, making one unclean. However, it it really more than that superficial reason. God intends for use to be married and happy to one person all our life, just as we are the bride of Christ.


How did the Nazirite’s separation to God find expression? What was the point of it all, since it was apparently not an act of service that could be offered to God as acceptable in and of itself apart for the regular offerings of the tabernacle? See 6:14-15; and Cf. Lev 1-7 for details. How far is there a similar challenge to consecration confronting the believer in Christ? Cf. Heb 9:10-14; Rom 12:1-2. Answer: