Parasha Bemidbar (Numbers 1:1–4:20) 5-21-17

http://lukeford.net/blog/?p=114513 Judaism is the opposite of, “Every man does what he thinks is right in his own eyes.” For example, according to Num. 3:10, “any outsider who encroaches [on the altar and behind it] shall be put to death.” Imagine how effective this would be for a nation’s immigration policy.

* “A royal palace that is not safeguarded is unlike one that is safeguarded.” (Sifre Zuta, Korach 8:14)

* God commands Moses and Aaron “to take a tribe-by-tribe census of all males above the age of twenty.” What about the women? Don’t they count? Well, when it comes to the military and politics and public policy, no they don’t. We see from the story of Eve that when you give women any say in public policy, it ends in disaster. With the exception of Zelophad’s daughters, only men are apportioned land in Israel.

* The priests are the sole custodians of sacred objects, and you can’t convert to being a priest. You are either born one or you are not. The priesthood is an aristocracy.