numbers 9 and 10

Read Numbers 9 and 10 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions for today’s chapters are:

Num 9:1-8 {p} Passover keeping prevented by defilement
Num 9:9-14 {s} Second month Passover + one Torah for the stranger and native
Num 9:15-23 {p} Israel encamped and journeyed at the command of YHVH
Num 10:1-10 {p} The law of the two silver trumpets
Num 10:11-28 {s} 2nd year, 2nd month, 20th day, Israel broke camp in order
Num 10:29-34 {s} Moses entreats his father- in- law to journey with them
Num 10:35-36 {p} Moses’ blessing when the ark set out and when it rested

The additions of today’s chapters completes the chiastic structure begun yesterday, back to the beginning of Numbers:

Num 1:1-10:36
1a) Num 1:1-47 {s+px13} The numbering of the thousands of Israel;

1b) Num 1:48-2:34 {p+sx4+p+p} The encampment of Israel at the command of YHVH;

1c) Num 3:1-4 {p} Nadab + Abihu prevented from serving as priests because of profane fire;

1d) Num 3:5-8, Levites to attend to the work of the tabernacle;

1e) Num 3:9-10 {p} Levites wholly given to Aaron and sons;

1f) Num 3:11-4:49 {p+s+s+px4+s+s+p} YHVH has taken the Levites instead of the firstborn of the children of Israel;

1g) Num 5:1-7:88 {px4+sx6+p+12} Separation and dedication of the children of Israel;

1) Num 5:1-10, Separate the unclean from the children of Israel + cleanse them of sins;
2) Num 5:11-31, She shall drink the bitter water that brings a curse;
3) Num 6:1-21, The Nazirite to shave his consecrated head;
4) Num 6:22-7:88, Aaron and sons shall put YHVH’s name on the children of Israel to bless them + Offerings for the altar to dedicate it to YHVH;

1h) Num 7:89 {p} Thus YHVH spoke to Moses;

central axis) Num 8:1-4 {p} The menorah to give light in front of the lampstand;

2h) Num 8:5, Thus YHVH spoke to Moses;

2g) Num 8:6-15, Separation and dedication of the Levites;

1) Num 8:6, Separate the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them;
2) Num 8:7a, He shall sprinkle the Levites with the water of purification;
3) Num 8:7b, Levites to shave their hair;
4) Num 8:8-15, Children of Israel shall put their hands on the Levites to dedicate them + Offerings for the Levites to dedicate them to YHVH;

2f) Num 8:16-18, YHVH has taken the Levites instead of the firstborn of Israel;

2e) Num 8:19, Levites wholly given to Aaron and sons;

2d) Num 8:20-26 {s+p} Levites prepared for the service of the work of the tabernacle;

2c) Num 9:1-14 {p+s} Certain men prevented from keeping Passover because of defilement;

2b) Num 9:15-10:34 {p+p+s+s} Encamped at the command of YHVH and set out at the command of YHVH;

1a) Num 9:15-16, The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire covered the tabernacle;
1b) Num 9:17-23 {p} Israel journeyed and encamped at the command of YHVH;
central axis) Num 10:1-10 {p} The two silver trumpets;
2b) Num 10:11-33, Israel set out on their journey by their encampments;
2a) Num 10:34 {s+s} The pillar of cloud was above them by day.

2a) Num 10:35-36 {p} The ark rests and returns to the thousands of Israel.

Yesterday’s central axis was about the seven lamps of a golden lampstand, and today, the central axis of the smaller chiastic structure in the 2B pair is about two silver trumpets! The golden lampstand sheds light to see, and silver trumpets produce sound to hear. These are not insignificant or accidental details!

So far in Scripture, trumpets:

1) Have announced the coming of the LORD, Exo 19-20;
2) Are blown as a memorial (pay attention to the repetition) on the Feast of Trumpets, Lev 23:23-25;
3) Are blown to announce the Jubilee year on the Day of Atonement, Lev 25:9.

To this list we add today’s reading, where the silver trumpets are blown:

1) To call together the congregation or the leaders;
2) To sound the advance of the journeying of Israel;
3) As an alarm when going out to war, for remembrance before God;
4) As a joyful sound in days of gladness, feast days, and new moons, for a memorial before God.

Might the two silver trumpets be a prophetic type of the two witnesses of Ephraim and Judah, when their sound (their witness) is in harmony and blown together? It might!