Portion 36 of 54 · Numbers
בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ
Beha'alotcha
The journey starts, and almost at once the complaining does too — including from Moses.
Start by reading it
Numbers 8:1–12:16
5 chapters. About 20 minutes at an unhurried pace.
Paired reading from the prophets: Zechariah 2:14–4:7
What happens
- 01
The lamps are lit, the Levites are set apart, and a second Passover is allowed for anyone who missed the first.
- 02
Silver trumpets, and a cloud that tells them when to move and when to stay.
- 03
The people weep for the food of Egypt. Moses tells God he cannot carry them alone.
- 04
Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses, and Miriam is struck. The whole camp waits for her.
The thing most people walk past
A second chance is written into the law
People who were ritually unable to keep Passover come and ask why they should lose out. Moses takes the question to God, and a second date is created. The law changes because someone asked.
One verse to carry
Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men that were upon the face of the earth.—
Said of a man who confronted an emperor and shattered the tablets. Meekness here is clearly not weakness.
A question to sit with
Moses says 'I am not able to bear all this people alone'. Is that failure, or the beginning of wisdom?
There is no answer key. This is the part you take with you.