Tag
Numbers
18 articles
Balaam and the Talking Donkey
The story of Balaam and his talking donkey is one of the Torah's most unusual narratives — a pagan prophet, a miraculous animal, and blessings that could not be curses.
The Twelve Spies in Canaan: Faith and Fear
The story of the twelve spies sent to scout the Promised Land is a dramatic tale of fear overcoming faith, with consequences that shaped forty years of Israelite history.
What Is the Torah About? A Summary for Beginners
The Torah — the five books of Moses — tells the story of creation, the patriarchs, slavery in Egypt, liberation, God's laws at Sinai, and the journey to the Promised Land. Here is the whole thing, book by book.
Numbers (Bamidbar): Forty Years in the Wilderness
The Book of Numbers follows the Israelites through forty years of wilderness wandering — census counts, rebellions, miracles, and the long journey toward the Promised Land.
Parashat Shelach: The Spies, the Bad Report, and Forty Years in the Wilderness
Parashat Shelach tells how twelve spies scouted the Promised Land, ten returned with a terrifying report, and an entire generation was condemned to wander forty years — ending with the commandment of tzitzit.
Parashat Korach: The Rebellion, the Earth Opens, and Aaron's Blossoming Rod
Parashat Korach tells the dramatic story of Korach's rebellion against Moses and Aaron — a challenge that ends with the earth swallowing the rebels and Aaron's rod miraculously blooming to confirm his priesthood.
Parashat Chukat: The Red Heifer, Miriam's Death, and Moses Strikes the Rock
Parashat Chukat contains the mysterious red heifer ritual, the deaths of Miriam and Aaron, and the fateful moment when Moses strikes the rock — costing him entry to the Promised Land.
Parashat Balak: Balaam's Donkey, Blessings Instead of Curses, and Ma Tovu
Parashat Balak tells how the Moabite king hired the prophet Balaam to curse Israel — but a talking donkey, divine intervention, and irrepressible blessings turned the plan upside down, giving us the beloved prayer Ma Tovu.
Parashat Pinchas: Zealotry, the Census, Daughters of Zelophechad, and Joshua's Appointment
Parashat Pinchas covers Pinchas's act of zealotry, a new census, the landmark legal petition of Zelophechad's daughters for inheritance rights, the holiday sacrifice calendar, and Joshua's appointment as Moses's successor.
Parashat Matot: Vows, the War with Midian, and the Tribes Settling East
Parashat Matot covers the laws of vows and oaths, Israel's war of vengeance against Midian, and the controversial request of the tribes of Reuben and Gad to settle east of the Jordan River.
Parashat Masei: The Forty-Two Journeys, Borders of the Land, and Cities of Refuge
Parashat Masei catalogs all forty-two wilderness journeys, defines the borders of the Promised Land, establishes cities of refuge for accidental killers, and resolves the inheritance of Zelophechad's daughters.
Parashat Bamidbar: The Census and the Camp in the Wilderness
Parashat Bamidbar opens the book of Numbers with a census of the Israelite tribes, the arrangement of the camp around the Mishkan, and the special duties of the Levites — transforming a mass of former slaves into an organized nation ready to march.
Parashat Naso: The Priestly Blessing, the Nazirite, and the Sotah
Parashat Naso — the longest portion in the Torah — contains the Sotah ordeal, the Nazirite vow, and the Birkat Kohanim (Priestly Blessing): 'May the Lord bless you and keep you' — words recited over Jewish children every Friday night.
Parashat Behaalotecha: The Menorah, Complaints, and Miriam's Punishment
Parashat Behaalotecha covers the lighting of the Menorah, the second Passover for those who missed the first, the people's relentless complaints in the wilderness, the quail plague, and Miriam's punishment for speaking against Moses.
Birkat Kohanim: The Priestly Blessing
May God bless you and keep you. Three ancient verses from the Book of Numbers, chanted by descendants of Aaron with raised hands and covered eyes — the Priestly Blessing is one of the most powerful and mysterious moments in Jewish worship.
Sacred Numbers in Judaism: Why 7, 18, and 40 Keep Showing Up
Numbers in Judaism are never just numbers. Seven means creation and rest. Eighteen means life. Forty means transformation. From gematria to the 613 commandments, discover why certain numbers echo through every corner of Jewish tradition.
Hebrew Numbers and Counting: A Complete Guide
Learn to count in Hebrew from 1 to 1000, understand ordinal numbers, discover gematria basics, and know how to say your age, prices, and dates in Hebrew.
Echad Mi Yodea: Who Knows One? — The Seder's Counting Song
Echad Mi Yodea — 'Who Knows One?' — is the cumulative counting song sung near the end of the Passover Seder, connecting the numbers one through thirteen to foundational Jewish concepts. Explore its origins, hidden meanings, and enduring appeal.