Torah
Trivia for Parashah 34. B’midbar (Questions
Only)
1.) Can you describe the
date when the census, described within Parashah Bamidbar, is taken?
2.) Can you match the
tribal leader with the patriarch of the tribe:
Leader of the Tribe:
1.) Elizur, Son of Shedeur
2.) Shelumiel, Son of Zurishaddai
3.) Nahshon, Son of Amminadab
4.) Nethanel, Son of Zuar
5.) Eliab, Son of Helon
6.) Elishama, Son of Ammihud
7.) Gamaliel, Son of Pedahzur
8.) Abidan, Son of Gideoni
9.) Ahiezer, Son of Ammishaddai
10.) Pagiel, Son of Ochran
11.) Eliasaph, Son of Deuel
12.) Ahira, Son of Enan
Patriach of the Tribe
a.) Naphtali
b.) Gad
c.) Asher
d.) Dan
e.) Benyamin
f.) Manasseh
g.) Ephraim
h.) Zebulun
i.) Issachar
j.) Yudah
k.) Shimon
l.) Reuven?
3.) Can you describe, from
the census taken within Parashah B’midbar, which tribe has the largest number
of males over age 20?
4.) Can you describe which
tribal banner has the largest number of troops:
a.) the 3 tribes camped within
Yudah’s banner; b.) the 3 tribes camped within Reuven’s
banner; c.) the 3 tribes camped within Ephraim’s banner; and/or, d.)
the 3 tribes camped within Dan’s banner?
5.) Can you describe
marching order of tribal banners and the encampment location of each tribal
banner around the משכן?
6.) Can you describe which
of the following men are grandsons of Levi:
a.) Gershon;
b.) Kohath;
c.) Merari;
d.) Libni;
e.) Shimei;
f.) Amram;
g.) Izhar;
h.) Hebron;
i.) Uzziel;
j.) Mahli; and/or,
k.) Mushi?
7.) Can you describe which
of the “tribal houses” of Levi has the largest number of males over 1 month in
age: a.)
Gershon; b.) Kohath;
and/or, c.) Merari?
8.) In the style of “Clue,”
can you match 1.) the Levi “tribal
house” leader; with, 2.) the Levi “tribal house;” and, 3.)
the items of the משכן for which that “tribal house” is responsible; as well as, 4.) the encampment location of that “tribal
house” amidst the משכן:
House Leader:
1.) Eliasaph,
Son of Lael;
2.) Elizaphan,
Son of Uzziel;
3.) Zuriel,
Son of Abihail;
4.) Eleazar,
Son of Aaron;
Levi Tribal House:
A.) Merari;
B.) Levi;
C.) Kohath;
D.) Gershon;
משכן Items:
משכן Items:
i.) Preparing Items of משכן for Transport;
ii.) Tent, Covering, and
Entrance Screen for משכן; and Hangings and
Entrance Screen for Enclosure;
iii.) Ark, Table, Lampstand,
Altars, Utensils, and the Screen;
iv.) The Planks, Bars,
Posts, Sockets, and Furnishings of משכן; Posts, Sockets, Pegs, and Cords of Enclosure;
Encampment Location:
Encampment Location:
a.) South;
b.) North;
c.) East;
d.) West?
9.) Can you describe what
the number, “273,” signifies within this Parashah?
10.) Can you describe which
of these items are covered with either:
a.) dolphin skin; b.) blue
garments and/or cloth; c.) purple garments and/or cloth; d.)
crimson garments and/or cloth;
and/or, e.) reddish purple
garments and/or cloth:
1.) Ark;
2.) Table of Display;
3.) Utensils of the Table of Display;
4.) Menorah and Utensils;
5.) Incense Altar;
6.) Service Vessels of Sanctuary;
7.) Sacrificial Altar;
8.) Utensils of Sacrificial Altar?
11.) Can you describe who
is specifically designated with the responsibility of tending to the anointing
oil, lighting oil, incense, and grain offering?
12.) Can you describe the packing
and marching sequence of the entire tribe of Israelis when moving further
within במדבר?
Torah
Trivia for Parashah 34. B’midbar (with
Answers)
1.) Can you describe the
date when the census, described within Parashah B’midbar, is taken?
Answer: The census is taken on the first day of the
second month (Iyyar), after Pesach:
“On the first
day of the second month, in the second year following the exodus from the land
of Egypt, the LORD spoke to (Moshe) in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of
Meeting, saying:
“Take a census
of the whole Israelite community by the clans of its ancestral houses, listing
the names, every male, head by head.”
(B’midbar 1:1 – 2).
2.) Can you match the
tribal leader with the patriarch of the tribe:
Leader of the Tribe:
1.) Elizur, Son of Shedeur
2.) Shelumiel, Son of Zurishaddai
3.) Nahshon, Son of Amminadab
4.) Nethanel, Son of Zuar
5.) Eliab, Son of Helon
6.) Elishama, Son of Ammihud
7.) Gamaliel, Son of Pedahzur
8.) Abidan, Son of Gideoni
9.) Ahiezer, Son of Ammishaddai
10.) Pagiel, Son of Ochran
11.) Eliasaph, Son of Deuel
12.) Ahira, Son of Enan
Patriach of the Tribe
a.) Naphtali
b.) Gad
c.) Asher
d.) Dan
e.) Benyamin
f.) Manasseh
g.) Ephraim
h.) Zebulun
i.) Issachar
j.) Yudah
k.) Shimon
l.) Reuven?
Answer: The matches are as
follows:
1.) l.) Elizur, Son of Shedeur, is from the tribe of
Reuven;
2.) k.) Shelumiel, Son of Zurishaddai, is from the
tribe of Shimon;
3.) j.) Nahshon, Son of Amminadab, is from the tribe
of Yudah;
4.) i.) Nethanel, Son of Zuar, is from the tribe of
Issachar;
5.) h.) Eliab, Son of Helon, is from the tribe of
Zebulun;
6.) g.) Elishama, Son of Ammihud, is from the tribe
of Ephraim;
7.) f.) Gamaliel, Son of Pedahzur, is from the tribe
of Manasseh;
8.) e.) Abidan, Son of Gideoni, is from the tribe of
Benyamin;
9.) d.) Ahiezer, Son of Ammishaddai, is from the
tribe of Dan;
10.) c.) Pagiel, Son of Ochran, is from the tribe of
Asher;
11.) b.) Eliasaph, Son of Deuel, is from the tribe of
Gad;
12.) a.) Ahira, Son of Enan, is from the tribe of
Naphtali;
3.) Can you describe, from
the census taken within Parashah B’midbar, which tribe has the largest number
of males over age 20?
Answer: Even with the 2 tribes of Ephraim and
Manasseh added together, the tribe of Yudah has the most men over 20 years of
age listed within the census:
Yudah: 74,600;
Dan: 62,700;
Shimon: 59,300;
Zebulun: 57,400;
Issachar: 54,400;
Naphtali: 53,400;
Reuven: 46,500;
Gad: 45,650;
Asher: 41,500;
Ephraim: 40,500;
Benyamin: 35,400;
Manasseh: 32,000;
Total: 603,550;
(B’midbar 1:17 – 49);
Also, there is
an absence of a census of the men, 20 years and older, taken for the tribe of
Levi; however, there is a census of all
the Levi men, age 1 month and older, and that is described at 22,000 males,
which is also less than the number of Yudahi men, age 20 years and older,
(B’midbar 3:39).
4.) Can you describe which
tribal banner has the largest number of troops:
a.) the 3 tribes camped within
Yudah’s banner; b.) the 3 tribes camped within Reuven’s
banner; c.) the 3 tribes camped within Ephraim’s banner; and/or, d.)
the 3 tribes camped within Dan’s banner?
Answer: The 3 tribes camped within: a.)
Yudah’s banner, have the largest number of
a.) Yudah’s banner:
Yudah: 74,600;
Issachar: 54,400;
Zebulun: 57,400;
Total
within Yudah’s banner: 186,400;
b.) Reuven’s banner:
Reuven: 46,500;
Shimon: 59,300;
Gad: 45,650;
Total
within Reuven’s banner: 151,450;
c.) Ephraim’s banner:
Ephraim: 40,500;
Manasseh: 32,200;
Benyamin: 35,400;
Total
within Ephraim’s banner: 108,100;
d.) Dan’s banner:
Dan: 62,700;
Asher: 41,500;
Napthali: 53,400;
Total
within Dan’s banner: 157,600;
(B’midbar 2:1 –
34).
5.) Can you describe
marching order of tribal banners and the encampment location of each tribal
banner around the משכן?
Answer: The tribal banner of Yudah (with the tribes
of Yudah, Issachar, and Zebulun) marches first, and encamps on the East
(B’midbar 2:3 – 9); the tribal banner of
Reuven (with the tribes of Reuven, Shimon, and Gad) marches second, and encamps
on the South (B’midbar 2:10 – 16); the
tribal banner of Levi marches in between the banners, and the distinct houses
within the tribe of Levi encamp on all 4 sides of the משכן (B’midbar 2:17; 3:23, 29,
35, 38); the tribal banner of Ephraim
(with the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benyamin) marches 3rd,
and encamps on the West (B’midbar 2:18 – 24);
and the tribal banner of Dan (with the tribes of Dan, Asher, and
Naphtali) marches 4th, and encamps on the North (B’midbar 2:25 –
31).
6.) Can you describe which
of the following men are grandsons of Levi:
a.) Gershon;
b.) Kohath;
c.) Merari;
d.) Libni;
e.) Shimei;
f.) Amram;
g.) Izhar;
h.) Hebron;
i.) Uzziel;
j.) Mahli; and/or,
k.) Mushi?
Answer: The answer is: d.)
Libni, e.) Shimei, f.) Amram, g.)
Izhar, h.) Hebron, i.) Uzziel, j.)
Mahli, and k.) Mushi, are all
grandsons of Levi; a.) Gershon, b.)
Kohath, and c.) Merari, are each
sons of Levi:
“These were
the sons of Levi by name: Gershon,
Kohath, and Merari. These were the names
of the sons of Gershon by clan: Libni
and Shimei. The sons of Kohath by
caln: Amram and Izhar, Hebron and
Uzziel. The sons of Merari by clan: Mahli and Mushi.” (B’midbar 3:17 – 20).
7.) Can you describe which
of the “tribal houses” of Levi has the largest number of males over 1 month in
age: a.)
Gershon; b.) Kohath;
and/or, c.) Merari?
Answer: b.)
The house of Kohath has the largest number of males, age 1 month and
older:
Kohath: 8,600 (B’midbar 3:27 – 28);
Gershon: 7,500 (B’midbar 3:21 – 22);
Merari: 6,200 (B’midbar 3:33 – 34).
8.) In the style of “Clue,”
can you match 1.) the Levi “tribal
house” leader; with, 2.) the Levi “tribal house;” and, 3.)
the items of the משכן for which that “tribal house” is responsible; as well as, 4.) the encampment location of that “tribal
house” amidst the משכן:
House Leader:
1.) Eliasaph,
Son of Lael;
2.) Elizaphan,
Son of Uzziel;
3.) Zuriel,
Son of Abihail;
4.) Eleazar,
Son of Aaron;
Levi Tribal House:
A.) Merari;
B.) Levi;
C.) Kohath;
D.) Gershon;
משכן Items:
משכן Items:
i.) Preparing Items of משכן for Transport;
ii.) Tent, Covering, and
Entrance Screen for משכן; and Hangings and
Entrance Screen for Enclosure;
iii.) Ark, Table, Lampstand,
Altars, Utensils, and the Screen;
iv.) The Planks, Bars,
Posts, Sockets, and Furnishings of משכן; Posts, Sockets, Pegs, and Cords of Enclosure;
Encampment Location:
Encampment Location:
a.) South;
b.) North;
c.) East;
d.) West?
Answer:
1.) D.) ii.) d.):
Eliasaph, Son of Lael, is from the house of Gershon; the house of Gershon is responsible for
carrying the tent, covering, and entrance screen for the משכן, as well as the
hangings and entrance screen for the enclosure;
and the house of Gershon camps on the West of the משכן (B’midbar 3:21 – 26);
2.) C.)
iii.) a.): Elizaphan, Son of Uzziel, is from the house
of Kohath; the house of Kohath is
responsible for carrying the ark, table, lampstand, altars, utensils and the
screen; and the house of Kohath camps on
the South of the משכן (B’midbar 3:27 – 32);
3.) A.)
iv.) b.): Zuriel, Son of Abihail, is from the house of
Merari; the house of Merari is
responsible for the planks, bars, posts, sockets, and furnishing of the משכן, as well as the posts,
sockets, pegs, and cords of the enclosure;
and the house of Merari camps on the North of the משכן (B’midbar 3:33 – 37);
4.) B.)
i.) c.): Eleazar, Son of Aaron, is from the tribe of
Levi; the כהנים are responsible for
preparing all the items of the Mishkan for transport; and the כהנים camp on the East of the
משכן (Bamidbar 3:32; 4:5 – 15;
3:38).
9.) Can you describe what
the number, “273,” signifies within this Parashah?
Answer: The total number of Levi males is 22,000, and
the total number of first-born males amongst the rest of tribes of Israel is
22,273; the Levi males are designated in
place of the first-born Israeli males, and this leaves an additional 273
Israeli males; thus, 5 silver shekels
are to be provided for each of the additional 273 Israeli males, (B’midbar 3:39
– 48).
10.) Can you describe which
of these items are covered with either:
a.) dolphin skin; b.) blue
garments and/or cloth; c.) purple garments and/or cloth; d.)
crimson garments and/or cloth;
and/or, e.) reddish purple
garments and/or cloth:
1.) Ark;
2.) Table of Display;
3.) Utensils of the Table of Display;
4.) Menorah and Utensils;
5.) Incense Altar;
6.) Service Vessels of Sanctuary;
7.) Sacrificial Altar;
8.) Utensils of Sacrificial Altar?
Answer:
1.) The Ark is actually covered first by the inner
screen of the משכן, and that
includes: b.) blue, c.) purple, and d.) crimson cloth (Shmot 26:31); the Ark is then covered with: a.)
dolphin skin, and b.) a blue
garment (B’midbar 4:5 – 6);
2.) The Table of Display is covered by: b.) a
blue garment, d.) a crimson garment, and: a.)
dolphins skin (B’midbar 4:7 – 8);
3.) The Utensils of the Table of Display are
covered with: d.) a crimson garment, and: a.)
dolphin skin (B’midbar 4:7 – 8);
4.) The Menorah and Utensils are covered
with: b.) a blue garment, and: a.)
dolphin skin (B’midbar 4:9 – 10);
5.) The Incense Altar is covered with: b.) a
blue garment, and: a.) dolphin skin (B’midbar 4:11);
6.) The Service Vessels of the Sanctuary are
covered with b.) a blue garment,
and: dolphin skin (B’midbar 4:12);
7.) The Sacrificial Altar is covered with: e.) a
reddish purple garment, and: a.) dolphin skin (B’midbar 4:13)
8.) The Utensils of the Sacrificial Altar are covered
with: a.) dolphin skin (B’midbar 4:14).
“At the
breaking of the camp, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the
screening curtain and cover the Ark of the Pact with it. They shall lay a covering of dolphin skin
over it and spread a cloth of pure blue on top;
and they shall put its poles in place.
“Over the
table of display they shall spread a blue cloth; they shall place upon it the bowls, the
ladles, the jars, and the libation jugs;
and the regular bread shall rest upon it. They shall spread over these a crimson cloth
which they shall cover with a covering of dolphin skin; and they shall put the poles in place.
“Then they
shall take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand for lighting, with its lamps,
its tongs, and its fire pans, as well as all the oil vessels that are used in
its service. They shall put it and all
its furnishings into a covering of dolphin skin, which they shall then place on
a carrying frame.
“Next they
shall spread a blue cloth over the altar of gold and cover it with a covering
of dolphin skin; and they shall put its
poles in place. They shall take all the
service vessels with which the service in the sanctuary is performed, put them
into a blue cloth and cover them with a covering of dolphin skin, which they
shall then place on a carrying frame.
They shall remove the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth
over it. Upon it they shall place all
the vessels that are used in its service:
the fire pans, the flesh hooks, the scrapers, and the basins—all the
vessels of the altar—and over it they shall spread a covering of dolphin
skin; and they shall put its poles in
place.” (B’midbar 4:5 – 14).
11.) Can you describe who
is specifically designated with the responsibility of tending to the anointing
oil, lighting oil, incense, and grain offering?
Answer: Eleazar, son of Aaron, is made responsible
for the anointing oil, lighting oil, incense, and grain offering?
“Responsibility
shall rest with Eleazar son of Aaron the priest for the lighting oil, the
aromatic incense, the regular grain offering, and the anointing
oil—responsibility for the whole Tabernacle and for everything consecrated that
is in it or in its vessels.” (B’midbar
4:16).
12.) Can you describe the packing
and marching sequence of the entire tribe of Israelis when moving further
within במדבר?
Answer:
The marching
order begins with Yudah, Issachar, and Zebulun (within the 1st
division); followed by the Gershonites
and Merarites (carrying the framework of the משכן); next, is Reuven, Shimon, and Gad (within the
2nd division); followed by
the Kohathites (carrying the items of the משכן); followed by Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benyamin (within
the 3rd division); and
concluding with Dan, Asher, and Naphtali (within the 4th
division); (B’midbar 2:1 – 34; with further explanation in: B’midbar 10:13 – 28);
Aaron and his
sons initiate the packing of the משכן, and all its items, in the proceeding manner: 1.) Ark,
2.) Table of Display, 3.) Utensils of the Table of Display, 4.) Menorah and Utensils, 5.) Incense Altar, 6.) Service Vessels of Sanctuary, 7.) Sacrificial Altar, 8.) Utensils of Sacrificial Altar; (B’midbar 4:5 – 15).
--
Discussion Questions:
Does the designation of the Levis in such a manner establish a Divinely ordained social order that intrinsically includes Divinely mandated elitism? How is this to be appropriately understood amidst the affinity towards egalitarianism and equality? Amidst the respective individual experiences within humanity, is there any legitimacy within the notion that each individual effectively establishes/perceives/manifests a social order whereby each individual’s own respective characteristics/caste/station within life exist as the “elite” designations within humanity? If so, what is the nature of the confluence and interaction of these distinct factors? Is there a potential for harmony and prosperity to exist amidst these distinctions; and is there a set “Universal” elite factors that are applicable for each individual? Is the identification of such a set of “Universal” elite factors necessary to establish such harmony and prosperity, or is such harmony and prosperity possible without such “Universality”?
Discussion Questions:
Does the designation of the Levis in such a manner establish a Divinely ordained social order that intrinsically includes Divinely mandated elitism? How is this to be appropriately understood amidst the affinity towards egalitarianism and equality? Amidst the respective individual experiences within humanity, is there any legitimacy within the notion that each individual effectively establishes/perceives/manifests a social order whereby each individual’s own respective characteristics/caste/station within life exist as the “elite” designations within humanity? If so, what is the nature of the confluence and interaction of these distinct factors? Is there a potential for harmony and prosperity to exist amidst these distinctions; and is there a set “Universal” elite factors that are applicable for each individual? Is the identification of such a set of “Universal” elite factors necessary to establish such harmony and prosperity, or is such harmony and prosperity possible without such “Universality”?
What is the nature of Moshe’s leadership of
the tribes of Israel amidst Aaron being appointed as the leader of the tribe
from which Moshe is derived, the Levis?
Is there any intentionality and/or irony in that the
counting of the “double tribes” of Yosef (Ephraim and Manasseh) essentially
establishes the number of Israeli tribes at 12, amidst the “uncounting” of the
tribe of Levi: that whilst the 2 tribes
of Ephraim and Manasseh initially seem to be favoured and unique amongst the
tribes, the dual tribes are subsequently counted as the other tribes, with the
Levis being designated as distinct?
What is the nature of the relationship between Yudah,
the lion, and Levi, the Priest?
What are the implications regarding how the tribes are
listed, the order in which the tribes march, the banner groupings, where the
groups camp; as well as the specific,
respective responsibilities that are conferred upon the different tribes of
Levi?
How is the principle of the first-born undermined by
the notion of Yitzak surpassing Yishmael, Yaakov surpassing Esau, and many of
the sons of Israel surpassing Reuven (Seth surpassing Cain; Noach’s son surpassing Ham)? What implications do these examples have upon
the malleability of the “first-born” principle?
Amidst the designation of the כהנים as the
designated Priests of Israel, what is the history, propensity, liability, and
appropriateness of Israelis venturing to become Priests within another tradition,
and/or within a distinct religious sect of Israel? Amidst the apparently fluctuating “favour” of
Adonai from the first born (including Cain, Ishmael, Esau, and Reuven), as well
as amongst Yosef, Ephraim, Levi, Moshe, Aaron, and Yudah, is there any guidance
that may change the “favoured” status of the כהנים and/or the
reliance upon “Yudah,” and/or that may establish substantial egalitarianism
within Israel? And if so, what may that
guidance be?
Is it possible to actually practise a religion, and
the intricacies thereof, without specificity and the elitist tendencies that
exist therein, or is it possible for everyone to be a proficient expert? Is everyone within a religious community, in
some manner, a “vital specialised expert”?
And if so, how can this be better recognised, appreciated, and
intentionally maintained within a context of egalitarianism and equality?
No comments:
Post a Comment