Ras Tafari Renaissance

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

This is another 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) if those who actually open up their Bibles to read in a Jewish/Hebrew cycle of readings, & thoroughly discern, have come to seek insight) 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, nonetheless studied the Torah portion of Naso – נָשֹׂא, for this week, in this mode of study, for those out in the diaspora or outside Jerusalem or Israel.  From the Jewish or Hebraic Calendar in the year 5779 this Sabbath day would probably fall on the, 11th – יא, & on the 12th – יב, of the month of ‎Sïw[v]án – סִיוָן. (The Hebrew Calendar corresponds to a Lunar cycle of the Moon) but,  from an Ethiopic-Christian perspective and calculation these readings from the Scriptures would align to what is known as W’säd – ውሰድ, on the 7th – ፯, & 8th – ፰, day of ወርኀ(month), ሰኔ – Sännæy. 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 4: 21- 7:89

Judges 13: 2-25

Acts 21: 17-26

Naso, the study portion of the Scriptures for this Sabbath, deals with the collecting of the numbers of the children of Israel.  Moses, was instructed by God, to number the children of Israel by Hebrew tribal lineage(family[-ies]).  And so, did he and his brother Aaron.

naso - parsha (Camp Israel)

All of the tribes, were assembled and numbered but, the Levite tribe, was to be not counted along with the Tribes of Israel, but to be numbered of their own families for the service of Tabernacle.  While in the wilderness, the tribe of Le(w)vi, were to be of Aaron’s line, and serve God and the children of Israel as the priesthood.

[Numb. 4: 21-28]

Levitical arrangement in the Encampment round about the Tabernacle in the Wildernerss
Levitical arrangement in the Encampment round about the Tabernacle in the Wildernerss

Now, in a sense, this “numbering” was more like completing a type of census.  The numbering of the priesthood, those able men who should serve in the office of the Tabernacle, from age thirty-to-fifty.  After the counting was complete, the duties of the priesthood were listed to the specific sections of the families of Levites(priesthood).  

the Levites(Lewawiyan-Amh/Lewi'yim-Hbr)
the Levites(Lewawiyan-Amh/Lewi’yim-Hbr) _ painting by James J. Tissot

The priestly duties were assigned to families of the Levites where; the Gershonites, were to keep the charge of the curtains and coverings of the Tabernacle, the hangings for the doors of the court, and for the gate of the court round about the altar, the cords and all the instruments of the service.

[Numb. 4: 24-28]

the Holy Place of Tabernacle (1st vail)
the Holy Place of Tabernacle (1st vail)

The Merari, were to keep the charge of the boards, all of the bars, all of the pillars of the court round about , the sockets, and the pins, and their cords, along with all the instruments of their service in the priesthood in the Tabernacle.

[Numb. 4: 29-33]

tabernacle coverings (from depiction in Believer’s Mag.)
Tabernacle Coverings (from depiction in Believer’s Mag.)

Now, the Kohathites, were to be numbered within the families of Levites(priesthood) but their responsibilities in service were laid out by God, from the previous portion of the Scripture study.

[Numb. 4: 1-20]

Sanctuary of the Tabernacle
Sanctuary of the Tabernacle

When Aaron and his sons, had made coverings for all of the sanctuary, and all the vessels, as the camp set forward {[to move]}; after that the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. 

[Numb. 4: 15-20;  Chpt. 4: 34-37]

Kohathites bearing the Ark of the Covenant.

Then, G-d instructed Moses and Aaron, along with the assistance of the priesthood to purify the camp of the children of Israel.  Helping the children of Israel to heal through keeping the statutes and commandments of God, and purging themselves, being a sanctified people to their God. The Hebrews also, learned the ways in which, they were to interact with each other; making amends if one was to offend another.

[Numb. 5: 1-10]

the Leper
the Leper

If a husband were to accuse his wife, in a fit of jealousy of being unfaithful, the Sotah סוטה ]was a means to bring clarity to the situation.

[Numb. 5: 1-31]

Also, the vow of the Nazirite (also seen as “Nazerite“), was a focus point of this study portion, as God spoke to Moses in instructing the children of Israel.  G-d said to Moses, if any of the children of Israel wish to separate themselves to God by a vow, then there were rules to follow in accordance to such.

[Numb. 6: 1-21]

Samson ben-Manoah
Samson ben-Manoah (Nazarite from the Womb)

The priestly blessing that was also told to Moses by G-d.  Moses, was to teach Aaron and his sons, the blessing so that they should perform service of blessing the children of Israel, to put G-d’s name upon them, so they could receive it.

[Numb. 6: 24-26]

Birakt Kohaniim - Priestly Blessing
Birkat Kohaniim – Priestly Blessing

All things going into their rightful places, ordered by God’s word; from there, the Tabernacle was consecrated as Moses completed setting up the Tabernacle, anointing it and all of the instruments for the services.  the Princes of Israel, or the twelve(12) heads of their fathers households, brought each of their own offerings from the tribes they came out of.

[Numb. 7]

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