Greetings in the name of His & Her Imperial Majesties Qedamawi Haile Sellassie I & Itege Menen Asfaw,

I welcome you all to one of the many interpretations of the Scriptures from the light of Ras Tafari by, I, Lidj Yefdi (pronounced Lij, Yef-dee).

I assure you that if you are patient with me, come with a willing mind and heart(ready to learn), you will receive more than what you might have asked for, in seeking the perspective of a Ras Tafarian’s I-sight (eyesight) into the study of the Scriptures.

So,with this Hebrew Shabbot(or Sabbath day) if those who actually open up their Bibles to read in a Jewish/Hebrew cycle of readings, & thoroughly discern, more than likely have come to the Torah portion of PinKH’as-פִּינְחָס , From the Jewish or Hebraic Calendar in the year 5773, this Sabbath day would probably fall on the 28th & 29th, of the month of Tammuz-תמוז, for this week, in this mode of study; for those out in the diaspora or outside of Jerusalem or Israel.  (The Hebrew Calendar corresponds to a Lunar cycle of the Moon) &, from an Ethiopic-Christian perspective and calculation these readings from the Scriptures would align to what is also known as Feenhas-ፊንሐስ for the 21st(፳፩) & 22nd(፳፪) days of the ወርኀ(month), ሰኔ(Seney).  The Ethiopic calendar, which is solar (with its correspondence to the Sun) aligns to this Sabbath (or Senbet-ሰንበት) in the Ethiopian language of Amharic which is currently one of the languages of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church(the other language being Ge’ez-ግእዝ).

Readings:

Numbers 25:10- 30:1

I Kings 18:46- 19:21

Romans 11:2-32

Now, in the parsha(study), we continue in the accordance to the last portion.  After what had become the Heresy of Baal-Peor, led to the zealous acts of Phineas, the son of Eleazar, and the grandson of Aaron(Moses’ brother).  Phineas, in which this parsha study is named, from the Hebrew and the Ethiopic Amharic, had slain a Midianitish woman, who’s name was Cozbi, and a Simeonite prince of Israel; who’s name was Zimri, who partook in the turning away from God, in the sin of Baal-Peor.  Phineas, had stood up for Israel, turning God’s wrath away from them because of his zealousy and understanding of the covenant that was to be kept, between Israel & YHWH.

So, in a sense, because Phineas was willing to give his all to his God & for his people; seeing as how the Moabites and Midianites had conspired against Israel to bring them out of the favor of God, Phineas even to the extent of going to war for God and them, as well, God gave a Covenant of Peace.  He and his those of his lineage would partake in it, continuing the Priesthood, among the lineage of Aaron(Moses’ brother).

[Numb. 25: 10-18]

Moses, was then instructed by God to take an account(census), for the second time, of the children of Israel, by family(or tribal lineage). [other census was taken in Numbers Chpt. 1: 1-16]

Because, of the waywardness of Israel’s faithfulness to God, their numbers dwindled and grew in spurts, while in the wilderness.  (ie. the Golden Calf, the Rebellion of Korah, and at this point; post- the Heresy of Baal-Peor…not forgetting the other instances withing Israel while in the wilderness)  So, Moses was instructed to take Eleazar, the High Priest(son of Aaron; father of Phineas), and number the children of Israel, once again, for God had said the because of the disobedience of this people, they should not enter into my rest.  But the children that would come after them would partake in the covenant, made the Abraham, Isaac & Jacob; albeit that those children of the generation of the Exodus from Egypt, would uphold the covenant and abide by the laws, commandments and statutes of God.

[Numb. 26: 1-51]

The children of Israel, were numbered by their tribal lineages, for the second time, by Moses and Eleazar; for God was preparing to bring the children of the Israelites, who made the Exodus from Egypt to the wilderness; into the Land that was Promised.

[Numb. 26: 52-65]

At this point, when the children of Israel, were receiving their plots and inheritances of the land, the Daughters of Zelophehad, came to Moses and the congregation in attempt to procure, the inheritance due to their father, who had passed & had no son pass his lineage to; for he(Zelophehad) had five daughters.  Usually, the children of Israel made it customary for the son to inherit the lot of his father’s.

Moses, in sincerity, took the Daughters of Zelophehad’s case to God, & God explained to Moses that though the children of Israel kept customary morals, the Daughters of Zelophehad had a very probable case.  God instructed to grant the daughters the plot that was to be allotted to their father, had he bear a son, whom would carry on his lineage among Israel.  From then on, it would not be a question whether or not a man bear a son to inherit his plot; because, the laws for possessing an inheritance from one parents among Israel, would not only come as a responsibility to the male children among Israel, but the responsibility would also come to the daughters, as well.

(Zelophehad; inheritance led to Manessah, son of Joseph)

[Numb. 27: 1-11 ]

God then spoke to Moses, saying, go up to Mount Abarim, and see the land which will give to the children of Israel, to dwell.  Moses, could view the land from afar, but he couldn’t enter in, because of his disobedience at the waters of Meribah, in Kadesh(when Moses struck the ROCK); so Moses would be gathered to his people, along with the generation that wandered in the wilderness.

[Numb. 27: 12-14]

Moses, spoke to God, atop Mount Abarim, requesting that he appoint the children of Israel, another who would succeed him in leading the Israel into the Promised Land.  There God said to Moses, that Joshua, the son of Nun, should succeed him, in leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land.  Moses was to take Joshua, in front of Eleazar, the High Priest, and before the congregation of all the Hebrews to give him the charge & honour in the place of himself.(Moses)

[Numb. 27: 15-23]

Coming to the conclusion of this parsha study, God re-instituted the feasts, along with their offerings that were to be kept by the Israelites, annually and regularly.

[Numb. 28: 1-9]

Sabbath [Numb. 28: 10-15]

Fourteenth/Fifteenth of the First Month(Passover) & the (feast of Unleavened Bread) [Numb. 28: 16-25]

Day of the Firstfruits(Festival of Weeks) [Numb. 28: 26-31]

First Day of the Seventh Month(Rosh HaShannah) [Numb. 29: 1-6]

Tenth Day of the Seventh Month(Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement) [Numb. 29: 9-11]

& the

Fifteenth Day of the Seventh Month(Sukkot/Tabernacles/Booths) [Numb. 29: 12-39]