Monday, June 22, 2015

Aaron’s Staff: Numbers 16.1 - 18.32


Selections with Commentary on Numbers 16.1-18.32  Korach

Korach of (the tribe of) Levi with Dathan and Aviram of Reuben
Begin a rebellion with 230 (other) Israelites of rank. They confront Moses
Declaring: You have gone too far, all here are holy 
Why do you set yourself above God's congregation

Hearing this Moses throws himself on his face and says
O Levi, singers of joyous praises, isn't it enough that God
Separated you out as community leaders and chose you
To serve in God's tabernacle.

In your songs and dances of devotion
You draw very near, but now you demand to be the High Priest

Moses summons Dathan and Aviram who say
We won't come. What right do you have to set yourself above us

Moses says, God will show who is chosen to present offerings before God
To Korach, he says, you and your party come tomorrow
Along with Aaron take fire pans; each shall offer incense to God

Korach rallies his party. Along with Moses and Aaron
They stand at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting
With so much fire burning and incense rising
The glory of God is experienced by all present 

God tells Moses
Tell the community to withdraw from Korach, Dathan and Aviram
Moses tells the community, get away from them
Don't touch anything that is theirs

The people withdraw, but Dathan and Aviran stand defiantly
A hand moves the earth (Earthquake!) The ground under them splits open Swallowing them and their houses and all those who were with Korach
They fall into the depths. The earth covers them over

They are lost to the community. Fire then comes down from heaven
Consuming the 250 who were presenting incense

Moses and Aaron prostrate before God.  A plague of fear begins to spread
Moses to Aaron:  Quickly place some fire from the altar and offer incense
Go quickly into the community and make atonement for them all
Divine wrath is coming, the plague has already begun
(Plague of fear)

Aaron runs into the midst of the people
Where the plague is already beginning to kill people

He offers incense to atone for the people
He stands between the living and the dead, and the plague is stayed
  
The community protests to Moses: You have killed God's people
As they are thus demonstrating, they turn toward the Tent of Meeting Which suddenly is covered with cloud and God's glory appears

God says, take a staff from each paternal tribe, twelve staffs
Write Aaron’s name on Levi’s staff. Place the twelve staffs   
In the Tent of Meeting before the Ark of the Covenant

The next day Moses comes to the Tent of Meeting
Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, has blossomed
Giving forth leaves, producing blossoms and almonds ripening on it
Moses shows it to all

God says, put Aaron’ staff back before the Ark as a keepsake
Let it be a sign. (Our priestly services, Aaron’s staff within us, bring it forward)

Aaron, I am giving you and your offspring this gift of service
You are entrusted with the priesthood
All burnt offerings and wave offering will come to me through you
Such elevated gifts are sacred offerings

In us each is a Levite who takes care of the sanctuary and sings praises to God There’s also a kohan, a priest or priestess in us each who brings offerings to God And blesses in God’s name


Weekly Selections from Numbers
Drawn from the Travelers Torah Gita Calendar
yogakabbalah.blogspot.com


 

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