Bemidar - Numbers
Hebrew Title | Bemidbar |
English Meaning | In the wilderness |
Torah Reading | Numbers 1:1–4:20 |
Prophets Reading | Hosea 1:10-2:22 |
Gospel Reading | I Cor 12:12-20 |
The book of Numbers tells the story of Israel's trek through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, their failure at the edge of the land and the subsequent forty years of wandering. Bamidbar begins with a census of the tribes of Israel and the Levitical families just prior to the departure from Sinai. |
Hebrew Title | Beha’alotcha |
English Meaning | In Your Going Up |
Torah Reading | Numbers 8:1–12:16 |
Prophets Reading | Zechariah 2:10–4:7 |
Gospel Reading | I Corinthians 10:6–13 |
This portion tells the story of the consecration of the Levites, the first Passover in the wilderness, the silver trumpets, the cloud of glory, the departure from Sinai, the grumbling in the wilderness, the first Sanhedrin and the punishment of Miriam. |
Hebrew Title | Shelach L’cha |
English Meaning | Send For Yourself |
Torah Reading | Numbers 13:1–15:41 |
Prophets Reading | Joshua 2:1–24 |
Gospel Reading | Hebrews 3:7–19 |
This Torah reading tells the tragic story of how the spies returned with a bad report about the Land of Promise and influenced the congregation of Israel to rebel against the LORD. Thus God consigned the generation of Moses to wander in the wilderness for forty years. |
Hebrew Title | Korach |
English Meaning | Korah |
Torah Reading | Numbers 16:1–18:32 |
Prophets Reading | I Samuel 11:14–12:22 |
Gospel Reading | Romans 13:1–7 |
This week's Torah reading tells the story of how Korah led an unsuccessful rebellion against Moses and Aaron. After thwarting the insurrection, God confirms Aaron in the priesthood and provides additional legislation regarding priestly and Levitical privileges and responsibilities. |
Hebrew Title | Chukat |
English Meaning | Ordinance Of |
Torah Reading | Numbers 19:1–22:1 |
Prophets Reading | Judges 11:1–33 |
Gospel Reading | John 3:10–21 |
This reading also contains the story of Moses striking the rock, the stories of the deaths of Aaron and Miriam and the wars with the Amorites. The portion concludes with the host of Israel encamping on the edge of the Promised Land. |
Hebrew Title | Balak |
English Meaning | Balak |
Torah Reading | Numbers 22:2–25:9 |
Prophets Reading | Micah 5:6–6:8 |
Gospel Reading | Romans 11:25–32 I Corinthians 1:20–31 |
This week's Torah reading tells the story of how Balak hires the occult prophet Balaam to lay a curse on Israel. Balaam meets resistance from God, has a conversation with his donkey and ends up blessing Israel instead of cursing them. |
Hebrew Title | Pinchas |
English Meaning | Phinehas |
Torah Reading | Numbers 25:10–29:40 |
Prophets Reading | I Kings 18:46–19:21 |
Gospel Reading | John 2:13–25 |
In this Torah portion, the LORD makes a covenant of peace with Phinehas and his descendants, orders a second census, settles questions about inheritance, appoints Joshua to succeed Moses and lists the sacrifices for the appointed times. |
Hebrew Title | Matot |
English Meaning | Tribes |
Torah Reading | Numbers 30:1–32:42 |
Prophets Reading | Jeremiah 1:1–2:28 |
Gospel Reading | Matthew 5:33–37 |
Numbers 30 discusses the laws of vows and oaths. Numbers 31 tells the story of Israel's war with Midian. Numbers 32 relates the story of how the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Mannaseh came to inherit the land east of the Jordan River. |
Hebrew Title | Massei |
English Meaning | Stages - journeys |
Torah Reading | Numbers 33:1–36:13 |
Prophets Reading | Jeremiah 3:4, 4:1–2 |
Gospel Reading | Philippians 3:7–21 James 4:1–12 |
Massei is the end of the continuous narrative of Torah that began in Genesis with the creation of the universe. In it we find a list of the encampments from Egypt to the plains of Moab. Moses introduces the laws of the cities of refuge and more inheritance laws. The narrative does not resume until the end of Deuteronomy, when Moses dies. |