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THE ISRAELITES time in the wilderness is drawing to a close. Today, we discuss instructions from Yahweh to Moses about vows to the Lord, the military operation against the Midianites, and the death of the prophet-for-hire, Balaam son of Beor.Continue Reading

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JUST AS Israel seemed to be on a spiritual high, the people again found a way to squander the blessings of God. The Israelites began to worship Baal of Peor, which provoked the wrath of Yahweh. Then a prince from the tribe of Simeon brought a Midianite princess into the camp and had relations with her–possibly inside the Tent of Meeting itself.Continue Reading

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Balaam son of Beor was a prophet for profit. The frightened king of Moab hired him to curse Israel so that his tiny nation would not be overrun. Instead, Balaam blesses Israel three times. We also discuss the incident in the desert with the fiery serpents (saraph nachash) and the Israelites’ defeat of the giant kings Sihon and Og.Continue Reading

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ONE OF the great mysteries of the Bible is the sacrifice of the red heifer. According to Numbers 19, it is required to purify those who come into contact with corpses. In Jewish tradition, the sacrifice of an unblemished red heifer is required before the prophesied Third Temple can be built.Continue Reading

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THE ISRAELITES have traveled to the border of the Promised Land. We discuss the post-Flood incursion of giants in Canaan, yet more rebellion by the Israelites, and God’s decision to make His people wait a full generation to cross the Jordan River.Continue Reading

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IT IS easy for us, with 3,500 years of hindsight, to be surprised at how quickly the Israelites rebelled against God after their rescue from Egypt.  Yahweh was right there in the midst over the Tent of Meeting as a cloud by day and pillar of night by night–and yet the people complained.Continue Reading