Valuing Life

 Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I attempt to read the Bible with fresh eyes, as if I don't know anything about it, and without consulting experts on what it "really" means.. Let's see where this takes us! 

Today we close out the Book of Numbers. I'm reading Young's Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Numbers 34

Of note here is that the YLT speaks of "princes" from the various tribes, whereas the NRSV says "leaders." I wonder what kind of authority these leaders had, and if the role was inherited. 

Numbers 35

My understanding is that the Levites are given towns throughout all the tribal lands so that no one is far from a priest to whom he can make sacrifices.

The "city of refuge" concept is interesting and suggests a kind of prison in which the "inmates" are protected more than society is protected from them. The killer must still pay a price even when the killing was unintentional. If he leaves his city of refuge, that's a sign that he has no remorse, and vengeance can then be visited on him.

Numbers 35 places value on life, including the life of the accused. The death penalty can't be used unless there are two or more witnesses, but those who don't value life will see their own lives put to an end.

The chapter closes with "for I the LORD dwell among the Israelites." I'm still not sure if the LORD is still up in that pillar of cloud/fire. In any case, the LORD still has contact with Moses, or so Moses says.

Numbers 36 - the last chapter of Numbers

Women who inherit land must marry someone within their own tribe to keep the borders intact. 

The tradition of giving preference to the male in land, titles, names, etc. is unfortunate and unjustified. But as I've noted before, symbolically there is meaning in the feminine or passive aspects of our being to be in service to the masculine, active, and imaginative aspects. 

The woman shouldn't be subordinate to the man, but the feminine serves the masculine within each of us.

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL Cells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support!

(Photo credit: TyshkunVictor)