We now begin the interpretation of the Book of Numbers, the forth book of Moses, using allegory, symbols and metaphor to uncover underlying meanings.
The first five books of Moses were written around the ninth and tenth centuries B.C. The events occurred several centuries earlier.
The fourth book of Moses, the Book of Numbers, Minyana in Aramaic, refers to the numbering of the people. It deals chiefly with the wanderings of the Israelites in the second year of their journey, up to the time that they came within view of the Promised Land.
Chapter 1. The Numbering of the
Tribes of Israel.
This book begins with the Lord telling Moses to take a poll of every man, twenty and over, that is able to go to war. He tells Moses that each tribe is to have a leader, "every one head of the house of his fathers," which he named.
To number something means to take stock of it, to analyze it and know what it is about.
The members of the Tribes were the Children or descendants of the twelve children of Jacob. As we have found before, children in the Bible, are a symbol for ideas. Since we know that our consciousness is in the wilderness, we know that we are at a consciousness level of confusion. When n this place, one of the things we should do, is take stock of our ideas.
The war that we are preparing for is against our own lower nature, as are all spiritual battles, In this story, we are given a ‘blue-print' for how to progress. We must begin by understanding our ideas and beliefs, (counting them).
There are twelve tribes, because the number twelve represents man. The twelve signs of the zodiac include a total of 360°: that is, everything.
Jacob had twelve children through four different women. Leah had Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. Rachel had Joseph and Benjamin. Bihah had Dan and Nephtali. And Zilpah had Gad and Asher. Later, the tribe of Levi (a child of Leah) became the tribe of the priests and was replaced by the split of the tribe of Joseph, (a child of Rachel) into two - see below. Four hundred years later, in the wilderness, the descendants of the children became the twelve tribes.
The five tribes from Leah, (ignoring Levi for the moment) which translates as weary and which symbolizes the human soul, asleep, are the following:
Reuben means behold a son; it symbolizes faith in reason, and is associated with Aquarius. Its leader is Elizur, which means God is a rock or refuge.
Simeon means hearing and obedient. It symbolizes one who listens and obeys and is associated with Gemini. Its leader is Shelumiel, which means God is wholeness.
Judah means praise Jehovah. It symbolizes the mental acceptance of the need to connect with God; and is associated with Leo, the lion. Its leader is Nahshon, which means oracle or prophet. (In our present times, this is the tribe which has retained it identity. It is known as the Jews.)
Issachar means who brings reward, or compensation and symbolizes the willingness to work, zeal. It is associated with Taurus. Its Leader, Nethaneel, means God gives.
Zebulun means habitation and dwelling. It symbolizes order. It is associated with Pisces. Its leader, Eliab, means God is father or strength.
The three tribes from Rachel, which means ewe or lamb and symbolizes the feminine or receptive soul are the following:
*Ephraim means very fruitful; productive and symbolizes the will. It is associated with Sagittarius. Its leader is Elishama, which means God understands.
*Manasseh means who makes to forget and represents denial and forgetfulness. It is associated with Scorpio. But, its leader Gamaliel, means God rewards.
Benjamin means son of good fortune and symbolizes an active faith. It is associated with Cancer. Its leader is named Abidan, which means Father of judgement (righteous).
The children of Bilhah, which means timid and tenderness, are the following:
Dan means rule of righteous judgement and symbolizes the earliest expression of judgement. It is associated with Virgo. Its leader, Ahiezer means Helpful brother.
Naphtali means my wrestling with Jah or Jehovah. It symbolizes the struggle between the mortal and the divine. It is associated with Capricorn. Its leader, Ahira, means Brother, nourisher, or shepherd.
Finally, the children of Zilpah, which means extracting an essence; or trickling; symbolizing the slow unfolding of the soul of man, are the following:
Gad means abundance and good fortune. It symbolizes power and the material rewards which accompany it. It is associated with Aries. Its leader, Eliasaph, means God gathers and increases.
Asher means prosperous, blessedness. It is symbolic of the rewards of uprightness. It is associated with Libra. Its leader, Pagiel, means Peace or visitation of God.
* The Twelve tribes originally included the tribe of Levi. But the Lord designated the tribe of Levi as the priests and indicated that they were not to be counted, they also were not allocated any geographic area. So the Bible listed the two sons of Joseph, (Ephraim and Manasseh) as two separate tribes, where originally they were one, (Joseph). The result was that there were twelve tribes again. (Regardless of the history, the symbols must be maintained.)
If we held these ideas (the meaning of the names of the leaders) in our mind and truly believed in them, we would indeed have an army with which to fight the negativity, fears, selfish passions and emotions of our lower nature.
Next, the tribes were counted:
| Tribe Poll | Reduced number |
| Reuben 46,500 | 6 |
| Simeon 59,300 | 8 |
| Judah 74,600 | 8 |
| Issachar 54,400 | 4 |
| Zebulun 57,400 | 7 |
| Ephraim 40,500 | 9 |
| Manasseh 32,200 | 7 |
| Benjamin 35,400 | 12 |
| Dan 62,700 | 6 |
| Asher 41,500 | 10 |
| Gad 45,650 | 2 |
| Naphtali 53,400 | 3 |
Pythagoras said "All the world is made by number." Numbers are very powerful symbols and we have talked about them on many occasions since we started with Genesis. Here, each tribe is counted. I have simplified each number by combining the digits and reducing each to a single number. (This has its origination in the teachings of Pythagoras.)
Simply add each digit in the original number, ignoring the zero's. If the result is more than a single digit, repeat.
Example: 46,500=4+6+5=15
1+5=6
There were no Hebrew or Aramaic numerals, so that numbers were represented in the original writings of the Bible by letters. This leads to an interpretation of numbers as cross references back to ideas as well as names.
Notice that all possible integers 1 through 9 are represented at least once in the poll of the tribes, but they are not all represented in reduced numbers. The Bible uses specific numbers for specific meanings. Included in the symbolism of the numbers are many basic concepts related to the creation of our world and our relationship to divinity. But before we begin to interpret them. Let's look at the meaning of the numbers: as used throughout the Bible
1. One represents Unity, God the First Cause, the Source of all Creation. It is the Alpha and Omega, for all begins with one and eventually is completed again in one or Unity. It is the symbol of the snake with its tail in its mouth.
2. Two represents the descent of spirit into matter. It is the number of manifestation. It is the spirit over the waters which created the world of matter; the world of duality; the male and the female; the two columns of Masonry.
Sources:
Metaphysical Bible Dictionary: Unity
New Age bible Interpretation: Old Testament Vol. I. by Corine
Heline
The Science of the Soul: by R. Swinburne. Clymer
Who Wrote the Bible: by Richard Elliott Friedman
We continue the interpretation of the Book of Numbers, the fourth book of the Old Testament, using allegory, symbols and metaphor to help to understand its inner meaning.
We started to give a brief summary of the meanings of the numbers used here and throughout the Bible. We will start at the beginning:
1. One represents Unity, God the First Cause, the Source of all Creation. It is the Alpha and Omega, for all begins with one and eventually is completed again in one or Unity. It is the symbol of the snake with its tail in its mouth.
2. Two represents the descent of spirit into matter. It is the number of manifestation. It is the spirit over the waters which created the world of matter; the world of duality; the male and the female; the two columns of Masonry.
3. Three represents the Holy Trinity, it is the birth of the Christ Child within, which is the product of the marriage of the uplifted male (intellect or spirit) and the uplifted male (intellect or spirit) and the uplifted female (heart or water); the proper balance of body, mind and soul. It may also represent the process by which all are spiritualized; as in the three degrees, the three days in the grave.
4. Pythagoras called the number four the "Sacred Quaternary." It is the number of the four elements; that from which all the manifested universe was made. It can be symbolized by the cross, which is also a symbol for man. It may also represent completion or total; the four directions; the four corners of the earth; the four-square man.
5. Five is the number of the ego rising up our of the material or manifest world. It represents the first baptism or awakening of the mind to spiritual things. It is the resurrection from the tomb of matter. It may also represent an expression of grace, as in the five loaves fed to the people by the Nazarene.
6. The number six is the beginning of communication between man and God, it denotes the progress of man Godward. It is the number of the builder, another number of completion, this on the material level as in the six days of creation.
7. Seven is the number of perfection on the material plane. It has the power to lift to a higher and more perfect order. It is a completed cycle, it denotes self mastery and control. It is the most common number in the Bible.
8. Eight is the number of the elevated feminine, the double feminine. It represents the resurrection of the heart; the exaltation of the emotions and passions. It may also indicate a new, spiritual beginning.
9. Nine is the number of blessing, the fruit of the spirit. It also represents the elevated intellect which, combined with the elevated heart ( the chemical Marriage), becomes the Key to the Kingdom of Heaven.
The following numbers are not reduced to a single digit. They have special meanings as used in the Bible.
10. The number ten represents the Law as in the Ten Commandments. It has to do with the number one connected to the zero. It has to do with god, the ideal in manifestation or Divine Law, Which has to do with the relationship of God in the material world.
12. The number twelve has to do with the divine purpose of God; the twelve tribes, the twelve disciples, the twelve angels, twelve gates and twelve foundations of the Holy City in Revelation. It also represents spiritual perfection.
30. The number thirty is used to indicate sorrow; a time of mourning.
40. The number forty represents trials and test ans their completion and is used many times in the Bible. It indicates an experience of spiritual growth, which though difficult, has been completed successfully.
50. The Number fifty is a symbol for celebration. It is found where there is to be a jubilee or some other celebration of success. It is seven times seven plus one or perfection times perfection plus God.
70. The number seventy represents judgment. It is used as a symbol for our conscience, that part of us which tells us if we have been acting in harmony with that which we know to be right, or Divine Law. It is seven times ten or perfection times law.
Chapter 2. The
Encampment of the Tribes.
Each tribe was to pitch their tent around the tabernacle of testimony. They were to assemble to the standard of each tribe. Judah was to assemble first on the East side, in the direction of the rising sun. The tribe of Reuben was to assemble on the South side. On the West side was the tribe of Ephraim. Dan was to assemble on the North side. And in the center, the midst of the camp, was the tabernacle and the attending Levites.
The tribes are organized first by their leaders and then four of them are placed in the four directions, which represent the four elements of which man is made, (fire, water, air and earth.) All of which means to "Know thyself."
Chapter 3. Numbering
the Levites.
Now the lord tells Moses that He has taken the Levites for his own instead of the firstborn of all the Israelites, and that Moses should count every male Levite from a month old and upward. The total was 22,000.
The name Levi, in Aramaic, means uniting, loving. So the children or tribe of Levites represent the thoughts that come from the consciousness of love. Obviously these are the thoughts that will be associated with and ultimately will serve God.
After numbering all the other tribes as warriors, the Lord went on to say that those that encamp at the door to the tabernacle toward the east, are to be Moses and Aaron and that if a stranger attempts to come high to his place, he shall be put to death.
With the other tribes in the four directions surrounding
the tabernacle, it is only the Levites leaders, Moses and Aaron
who can be at the door and eventually enter the Holy of Holies.
This is because only Love can know God, or Love. Anything other
that Love would not survive the experience of coming face to face
with God.
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We continue the interpretation of the Book of Numbers, the fourth book of the Old Testament, using allegory, symbols and Metaphor to find additional meaning.
Chapter 4. The Caretakers of the
Tabernacle.
The Lord told Moses to take the sons of Kohath ( the second son of Levi) from the ages of thirty to fifty and count them. They were to be servants of the tabernacle. It was to be the job of Aaron and his sons to set up and take down the tabernacle as the people journeyed from place to place. This meant that they would be handling the holy things of the tabernacle. The sons of Kohath were to carry the materials between campsites. They were admonished not to touch the holy things. They were numbered at 2,750.
Kohath means assembly or convocation in ancient Hebrew (Aramaic). It indicates the attracting, unifying aspect of love. Levi represents love and so his children represent different aspects of love. Allegorically, we are being told that it is a unifying love which enables us to build and rebuild the temple.
And it is this love which will be the protection of the holy things. They are not to touch the holy things, because in truth these things are no of the material world and so cannot be experienced by the physical senses.
Then the Lord told Moses that the sons of Gershon (the eldest son of Levi) were to carry the curtains, coverings and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle. Again, a sum was to be taken of those between thirty and fifty. They were to be under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest. The sons of Gershon numbered 2,630.
Gershon in Aramaic means thrusting out or expulsion. It is the feeling of isolation which follows the student as he first turns to the spiritual, full of zeal. He has not yet found harmony. This is the first son or first level of consciousness of Aaron or love, and it is the result of the awakening of the heart to spiritual things.
The number 2,630 when reduced yields 11. We do not reduce 11, 22 or 33 as they are considered master numbers. The number eleven indicates an emotional level which, though powerful, is somewhat unstable. This is consistent and gives some additional insight into the level of consciousness being indicated. This level of consciousness is involved with the curtains, the coverings and the door. It is the level which is beginning to uncover the realities of the spiritual world which heretofore have been veiled.
Next, the Lord told Moses that the sons of Merari were to be in charge of the boards, the bars, the pillars, sockets, pins and cords of the Tabernacle. And Moses was to number each man between thirty and fifty years old. They came to 3,200.
The name Merari translates from the Aramaic as bitter, unhappy or rebellious. This level of love is that which comes from ignorance and selfishness. This is the common love consciousness of the natural man. Because it is still in the material, it is bitter, unhappy and sometimes rebellious.
The number 3,200 reduces again to 5. Five is also the number of the first baptism or awakening. So it is from this first level of love consciousness that our baptism must come. For true love, even on this level, will eventually lift us up to a spiritual awakening. This level of consciousness is responsible for the main physical supports of the tabernacle. And so it is with our inner temple, it must be founded on the material level. It is the house build upon a rock.
Chapter 5. More Rules.
The Lord told Moses that when a man or woman commits a sin then they shall confess their sin and make an atonement to the person wronged, if possible, in not, then to the priest of the temple.
This is pretty explicit and echoes Christ's words "as ye sow, so shall ye reap."
If a man jealously accuses his wife of adultery, she shall be tested by the priest in the following manner: the priest shall take holy water and add to it dust from the floor. Then he shall question the woman before the Lord, and she shall be made to drink the water. If she is innocent, the water will hot harm her and she shall be absolved and shall bear a male child. But if guilty, it will cause her belly to swell and her thigh to rot and she shall be a curse among her people.
Hidden in this explanation of the law is the idea that we will all drink the waters of sorrow for our misdeeds. But, if we succeed in goodness and purity we will attain the second birth, indicated here by the birth of the male child. The priest is our conscious or spiritual wisdom and it will always be with us to judge our actions.
Chapter 6. The /law of a Nazarite.
This chapter lays down the rules for those who become Nazarites, a group of religious people who withdrew from general society to serve God. Before a man or woman takes the vow of a Nazarite, he must avoid strong drink as well as grapes themselves. They were also not to cut their hair and were to stay away from dead bodies.
Nazarite means separated, or consecrated by vow. A Nazarite signifies those of us who have started on the Path to spiritual attainment. As such, we are set apart by our decision. We are dedicated to a life of truth, free from worldliness, and error. The admonition to avoid dead bodies indicates that we are to abandon the race belief in materiality and death.
There are few references to the Nazarites in history. They were similar to the Essenes of a later time, to whom they were related philosophically. Both groups were mysterious and worked primarily on an esoteric level. They did their work privately and apart from the world. This is almost always the case with spiritual work, for the masses do not approve of what they do not understand.
This is a description of the ceremony which establishes a person's separation from the masses and his cow to become a Nazarite. The petitioner, after he goes through a period of preparation and abstinence from wine which represents worldly appetites; and refrains from cutting his hair, which represents dissipating his creative energies, he goes to the door of the tabernacle and makes offerings. These acts indicate both the period of preparation which is required and the letting go of material things represented by the offerings.
Finally, "the Nazarite shall shave his head as a sign of his separation at the door of the tabernacle...and put it in the fire...." Once he approaches the spiritual consciousness at the "door of the temple," he uses his creative forces (hair) for positive, loving and spiritual purposes and gladly uses it to fuel the fires of his spiritual development.
Then follows the Lord's benediction which He spoke to Moses to give to Aaron for use as a blessing for the children of Israel.
"The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon
thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon
thee, and give thee peace.
We continue the interpretation of the Book of Numbers, the fourth book of the Old Testament, using allegory, symbols and metaphor to discover veiled meanings.
Moses finally completed the building of the Tabernacle. The time came to dedicate it for the use of the people. Twelve princes from the twelve tribes of Israel brought offerings to commemorate the occasion. They presented their offerings before the altar.
They brought six covered wagons and twelve oxen before the tabernacle. These gifts were given to the Levites, according to instructions from the Lord. Two wagons and four oxen were given to the sons of Gershon. Four wagons and eight oxen were given to the sons of Merari. But, nothing was given to the sons of Kohath, because their service to the sanctuary was to bear it upon their shoulders.
Gershon, translated from the Aramaic, means thrusting out or exile. He was the oldest son of Levi, the head of the tribe of Levi or the Levites (those designated as priests by the Lord). His name tells us that this is the consciousness of separation, when we first start on the spiritual path and we are full of zeal and may at first find ourselves isolated. Still a sojourner in a strange land, we are finding our way and have not yet found inner harmony.
Merari, in Aramaic, means bitter and unhappy. Another son of Levi, Merari, represents the love nature when it is undeveloped and controlled by selfishness and ignorance. It is the result of love without wisdom.
Kohath, translated is assembly, convocation or one who obeys a call. Kohath was the second son of Levi. He represents the unifying, attracting power of love.
Gershon and Merari are of the Outer Court. Kohath was the Inner court. The wagons and oxen were given to those without, for their responsibility was to transport the tabernacle. This is the "Outer" work, or preparation, having to do with the passions and emotions, represented by the oxen. But Kohath, of the Inner court, was to bear the sanctuary itself, a sacred burden which must be carried within and alone. This is the spiritual, inner work which must take place within and is often referred to as the "building of the temple," the temple of the soul.
Then the Lord told Moses that each of the princes of the twelve tribes of Israel should offer an offering, each on a separate day, for the dedicating of the altar.
The two offerings of each of the twelve princes were exactly the same. The first, a sin offering, consisted of one silver charger, weighing 130 shekels; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, containing flour mixed with oil; one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; one young bullock, one ram, one lamb, and one kid.
The second, a peace offering, consisted of two oxen, five rams, five goats, and five lambs.
These offerings of the altar, represent the sacrifices which must be made by the Seeker, in order to build the altar within. The animals, i.e., the oxen, rams and goats, for the burnt offering relate to the sacrifices of or the denial of the lustful nature and negative emotions. This is the sacrifice of the heart.
The offerings of flour mixed with oil relate to the sacrifices and the cleansing of the intellect or consciousness. This is the sacrifice of the mind.
The incense in the golden spoons represents the sweet fragrance of the soul. This is the offering of the soul. Body, mind and soul: these are the offerings which all neophytes on the Path must make in order to seek and find the Truth.
The silver chargers and golden spoons represent the balancing of the masculine and feminine, the mind and heart, the same meaning as the holy grail and the sacred spear. This balance or harmony is also required for success on the Path.
The Bible story identifies each prince and then repeats the listing of his offerings in detail, (as if we had never heard them before), twelve times.
The first day, the offering prince was Nahshon, the son of Amminadab of the tribe if Judah. Nahshon means prophet or seer in Aramaic. Amminadab means people of willing generosity.
The second day, it was Nathaneel, the son of Zuar, of the tribe of Issachar. Nathaneel means given of God or instructed of God. Zuar means reduced or littleness.
The third day, the prince was Eliab the son of Helon of the tribe of Zebulun. Eliab means God is Father. Helon means strong, and firm.
On the fourth day, it was Elizur the sone of Shedeur, of the tribe of Reuben. Elizur means God is a refuge. Shedeur means sender of light.
The fifth day was Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai, from the tribe of Simeon. Shelumiel means the peace of God or friend of God. Zurishaddai means the Almighty is a rock.
The sixth day it was Eliasaph, son of Reuel, the prince of Gad. Eliasaph means God increases. Reuel means led of God or companion of God.
The seventh day the offering was made by Elishama, the son of Ammihud, the prince of the tribe of Ephraim. Elishama means whom God hears. Ammihud means people of excellence.
On the eighth day it was made by Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, of the tribe of Manasseh. Gamaliel means led of God. Pedahzur means the rock of redemption.
The ninth day it was Abidan, son of Gideoni and prince of the tribe of Benjamin. Abidan means a judge. Gideoni means destroyer of evil.
The tenth day it was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, the prince of Dan. Ahiezer means helpful. Amminishaddai means people of the Almighty.
On the eleventh day it was offered by Pagiel the son of Ocran and prince of Asher. Pagiel means peace of God. Ocran means confused
Finally, on the twelfth day, the offering was made by Ahira, the son of Enan and the prince of the tribe of Naphtali. Ahira means brother shepherd. Enan means having eyes.
Each of the twelve represents an aspect of development that, interpreted on an internal level, is part of the process which leads us from the building of the temple within, to the altar itself. Each one, or each aspect has its sacrifice or offering to make.
When all had made their offering, the altar was anointed and Moses went into the tabernacle to speak with the Lord: "...then he (Moses) heard the voice of one speaking unto him from of the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him."
This is the point of all this preparation and sacrifice.
Once accomplished, we may then go "into the tabernacle to
speak with the Lord." In reality, this is the one and only
place where we can speak with the Lord.
We are interpreting the Book of Numbers, the forth book of the Old Testament, using allegory, symbols and metaphor to try to understand it deeper meaning.
Chapter 9. The Cloud by Day and
the Fire by Night.
The Lord told Moses that the children of Israel were to keep the Passover. Even if they were defiled by coming into contact with a dead body or journeying in a far place. If a stranger staying with them, kept the Passover, he was to be treated equally with the Israelites.
As you may recall, the Passover symbolized our mentally leaving the material world behind and beginning a search for spiritual realities. To keep the Passover then, means to stick to that decision, to continue in our search for Truth. The stranger represents new ideas that come into our heads. If they are consistent with our new goals, if they "keep the Passover" then we should welcome them. The implication is that if they do not, we should ask them to leave.
Now the tabernacle, or tent of the testimony, was covered by cloud by day and by fire by night. When the cloud lifted, the people traveled, when it descended, they stopped and pitched their tents. No matter how long it rested, nor how long it was taken up, they traveled only when it was lifted up and waited and rested when it tarried. They journeyed and they rested at the commandment of the Lord.
The cloud represents the feminine side of us. The fire represents the masculine. To be led in the direction of spiritual growth, we must follow a balance of the feminine or heart and the masculine or intellect. The two must work together. We must give each its due time. So we wait sometimes for the heart to grow and be ready for a further stip and sometimes for the intellect. We must be patient with each, no matter how long it takes.
Chapter 10. The Silver Trumpets.
They were told to construct two silver trumpets, each of a single piece of metal. They had several purposes. They were to call the people to assembly and to announce the beginning of a journey. When both were blown, all the people were to assemble. When only one was blown, the princes only were to gather. The trumpets were to be blown by the sons of Aaron. In time of tribulation, they were to blow an alarm with the trumpets and they would by remembered and aided by God. Finally, in all celebrations and solemn rituals, they were to blow the trumpets as a memorial before God.
The two trumpets represent the same two forces as the cloud and the fire. The neophyte must direct the spiritual forces he is developing in order to progress. This direction is symbolized by the blowing of the trumpets. It is these forces which are used to accomplish the continuing work or building of the temple within.
In the second month of the second year after their release from egypt, the Israelites were led out of the wilderness of Sinai and into Paran. Moses' brother-in-law, Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, determined not to accompany them into the wilderness of Peran. Moses asks him to go with them for Hobab knew how to make camp in the wilderness. Moses also said to him, "Thou shalt be to us instead of eyes.
The number two symbolizes the descent of spirit into matter. It refers again to the idea of male and female, the duality of the material world. Sinai in Aramaic means precipitous. It represents a state of consciousness wherein we are searching for God and He is there to be found. Paran means a region of searching. It represents an even more earnest searching after Truth.
Hobab translated from the Aramaic means beloved or cherished. He represents understanding and discrimination. Both of these are required and cherished by the awakening mind seeking after things spiritual.
Chapter 11. The Lord Sent Quail
for Meat.
The people began to complain that they missed the fish which they had eaten in Egypt. Moses went to God and asked of Him, "Have I conceived all this people? Have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, ‘Carry thim in thy bosom...?' I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me." Moses asked the Lord, "Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people?"
And the Lord told Moses to bring seventy of the elders of Israel into the tabernacle to meet with Him. "And I will come down and talk with thee there and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone." And He did so, and the elders began to prophesy.
The intellect is not able to carry on all the spiritual development which is required. It alone is not enough. There must be support and parallel development of the heart as well. Seven is the number of spiritual perfection on this, the material plane. Multiplying a number by ten is often done in the Bible in order to emphasize the point. So seventy elders indicate the development of a spiritual perfection which helps the neophyte to accomplish his goals. He is not alone.
This prophesying was reported to Moses and he was advised by one of his men to forbid them. He answered, "Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!"
The Lord was displeased by the complaining. And he caused a very great wind from the sea to bring a large quantity of quail to the camp site. And the people gathered the quail for meat all day and all that night. But while they were eating it, the Lord caused a "very great plague" to descend upon them, and "there thy buried the people that lusted."
The lusting after the things of the flesh is a common theme in the Bible because it is a common problem for all neophytes on the Path. We find again that the way of the flesh is the way of death. We know that Moses, a neophyte, was successful in overcoming his lusts, for the people or ideas that were related to lust were buried.
The people journeyed from Kibroth-hattavah to Hazeroth. Kibroth-hattavah means graves of lust. Hazeroth means encampment or enclosure. Our thoughts assemble or come together as we leave our lust behind.
Chapter 12. The Complaint of
Miriam and Aaron.
Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because he had married an Ethiopian or Cashite woman. They also complained that they also had had communication with the Lord. The lord heard their complaints and called unto Moses, Aaron and Miriam to come to the tabernacle. And they did.
"And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle...." He told Aaron and Miriam that he would speak to prophets in a vision or a dream but unto Moses mouth to mouth; not in "dark speeches." When He left, Mirian had become leprous. Aaron repented and begged Moses to heal her. Moses asked the Lord for her healing. And He responded that she was to be exiled from camp for seven days and then return, healed.
Aaron here represents the emotional nature. Miriam represents the imagination. Moses, the neophyte, is married to an Ethiopian woman. Ethiopian means burned faces or country of the burning. His wife was also called a Cushite which means burned or blackened. She indicates the material, sensual consciousness; given over to ignorance and darkness. As his wife, she represents the lower feminine or expression of emotions; his base passions, undisciplined and undeveloped. His emotions and imagination will be distorted and out of harmony.
Mouth to mouth here means face to face or plainly. Aaron, the emotional nature, was spared a punishment because he immediately repented. He asked for Miriam's healing. But Miriam, the imagination or creative power of mind, required a seven day period to return to constructive purposes. Seven represents perfection on the material plane. So what is required is whatever time it takes to bring the creative function back to the spiritually correct path.
Until Miriam was returned and whole, the people journeyed not. Without the imagination, we make no progress on the Path. It is one of our most important faculties.
After she returned and was healed, the people moved from Hazeroth into the wilderness of Paran.
The consciousness of the neophyte, Moses returned again
to the wilderness of Paran; the place of earnestly searching for
the Truth. After overcoming some difficulties, our neophyte is
back on the Path.
Chapter 13.
Moses Sent Twelve Spies to Canaan.
The Lord told Moses to send the ruler of each of the twelve tribes, that they may search the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, which was their goal. So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran to Canaan.
The names of these leaders are the consciousness levels to which the people (or person) had attained. When we understand them, we will begin to understand the meaning of this story. As we have indicated in earlier issues, geographic references in the Bible symbolize states of consciousness. The Promised Land is a symbol for cosmic consciousness or Illumination. But let us first tell the story.
"Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan." He told them to go up into the mountain, and see the land and the people who dwelled there; and get information about their numbers, the quality of the land, and their cities.
And they went and searched the land, from the wilderness of Zen unto Rehob. They came to the brook of Eshcol and cut down a branch with on cluster of grapes, and carried it between two of them on a staff.
Zin means thorn, lowland and covering. It indicates a consciousness which is as yet at too low a level to achieve the ultimate spiritual goal of the Promised land. Rehob means spacious, great understnding. It is the level of consciousness which is open and receptive. But this openness may lead to controversial ideas and not to spiritual Truth. The brook of Eshcol which meas a cluster or bunch of grapes represents the life forces and is an indication of fruitfulness in consciousness.
And after forty days of searching, they returned to Moses. They reported to him that the land "floweth with milk and honey." They also told them that the children of Anak lived there; the Amalekites live in the south, the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the mountains and the Canaanites live by the sea, near Jordan.
Anak means giant. It represents the idea that the material intellect is the seat of power. The word for Amalekites, the descendants of Amalek translates as warlike and valley dweller. It indicates a low level consciousness, such as lust and base desires. These animal passions are warlike and destructive. The word Hittites means terror and sundered. They represent opposition and resistance.
Jebsites translates as contemptuous and subjected. Jebus was the original name of Jerusalem. It is the inner consciousness when it is still ruled by the carnal passions. These must be thrown out in order to build the temple of Jerusalem, of the Temple of the Soul and thus change the name of the "city" to Jerusalem.
Amorites translates as dwellers of the summits or highlanders. Descended from Noah, this level of consciousness is operated by the generative function instead of the spiritual. It must be overcome by purification of the body, mind and soul.
When they returned, Caleb and Joshua recommended that the Israelites go, overcome the enemies and possess the land, but the other returning spies said that the people were too powerful and the land inferior. They gave what the Bible calls "an evil report of the land." They said that the people were giants and by comparison, they (the leaders) felt like grasshoppers.
Chapter
14. The Israelites Rebelled.
The frightened Israelites became angry with Moses and threatened to stone him. They wailed that they would be better off to return to Egypt than to die in battle in this foreign land. Moses and Aaron pleaded with them to trust in the Lord, but they would no listen. Only an intercession by the Lord, appearing in all His glory "in the tabernacle before all the children of Israel," saved them from being stoned.
Now these are the meanings of the names of the leaders of each tribe and their fathers; which indicate levels of thinking or consciousness.
Shammua means rumor in Aramaic. His father Zaccur means penetrating and mindful. So this level of knowledge is based on hearsay and common knowledge. It produces thoughtfulness and consideration but, based on rumor lacks the power of truth.
Shaphat means judgement, discernment. His father Hori means cave dweller and black. Though he has attained a level of judgement it is still underdeveloped and has not yet reached the Light.
Shaphat means judgement, discernment. His father Hori means cave dweller and black. Though he has attained a level of judgement it is still underdeveloped and has not yet reached the Light.
Caleb means bold and fearless. His father Jephummeh means before his face and which holds attention. This consciousness is steadfast, loyal and uncompromising. He was not discouraged by the Caananites in the land.
Igal means God will redeem or avenge. His father Joseph means Jehovah shall increase. Although this level of consciousness acknowledged God as the redeemer, he also believed in the wrath and vengeance of God. This belief gives power to fear and he did not believe in the success of a battle against the Caananites.
Joshua (Oshea) means Jehovah is savior. It is actually the Hebrew name for Jesus, which is its Greek form. It is derived from the word Jehovah, meaning "I am that I am." His father Nun means becoming extended and prolific. This is the consciousness that spreads the word of salvation. He also brought positive reports from the spy mission, and was rewarded by the Lord.
Palti means Jehovah delivers. His father Raphy means repaired or made whole. This level of consciousness believes in deliverance through faith. But it must not be strong enough yet, or it would not have recoiled from the battle to take Canaan.
Gaddiel means God is my fortune or organized of God. This is an understanding that all supply, goodand order come from God. But, it is not yet spiritually elevated enough to reach fearlessly for the Promised Land.
Gaddi means fortunate or belonging to furtune. His father, Susi means leaping or bounding. It is the consciousness that enables one to understand the benefits of the Promised Land but not sufficiently spiritual enough to understand the errors to be overcome in order to cross over to it.
Ammiel means people of God. His father, Gemalli means camel owner or camel rider. This is the level of consciousness which, though in control of the physical passions, represented by the camel, and being of the people of God, still it is not yet developed enough to risk the crossing of the threshold.
Sethur means hidden or veiled. His father, Michael means who is like unto God? This is the consciousness which, though it contains a degree of Truth, it still remains hidden or veiled and cannot be acted upon to achieve the final goal.
Nahbi means covered, hidden or concealed. His father, Vophsi means my increase or added unto me. Again this consciousness understands where its benefits come from, but not clearly, the real Truth remains hidden.
Geurl means glory of God. Machi, his father, means afflicting or decreasing. Though this consciousness is awakening to a perception of the power of God, it is not yet to the stage where it is unafraid when confronted with "enemies".
All of these thoughts and levels of consciousness must be experienced and overcome if we are to enter into the promised land. But, as yet, none of them had been elevated to the point where they could accomplish this except Caleb and Joshua. They ere willing and ready to face what ever trials were presented, knowing that with the hilp of God, and persistence they could not fail.
As a result, Caleb and Jushua were allowed by the Lord to enter into the Promised Land at once. He determined to destroy the others. But, Moses interceded and asked the Lord what would the Egyptians think? He pleaded to the Lord to have mercy and to remember that He was "longsuffering, and of great mercy." The Lord relented but condemned the others to wander in the wilderness for forty years. They were never to step foot in the Promised Land. But, He promised that their children would achieve this goal.
We look into the unconscious, see the demons and dragons
waiting for us there, and we hesitate or hold back. We are not
yet prepared. Until we are ready, we must go through another period
of preparation; indicated by the forty years. And these ideas
must change, or develop further, for they are not yet elevated
sufficiently to enter the Promised Land. It will be their children,
the next higher stage of consciousness which will enter, after
the preparation is completed.
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We are interpreting the Book of Numbers, the fourth book of the Old Testament, using allegory, symbols and metaphor to try to understand its deeper meaning.
Chapter 15. Offerings Required
of Israel.
The Lord tod Moses that when the Israelites arrived in "the land of your habitations, which I gave unto you," they must make offerings. He gave detail as to the kind of offerings and their preparation. Then He said that there shall be one ordinance or law for both the Israelites and for the stranger that was among them.
This is another reference to the idea of the sacrifice required for advancement on the Spiritual Path. The "land of your habitations" usually referred to as "the land of milk and honey," symbolizes paradise or Spiritual Illumination. We are being told that we must sacrifice or make offerings of our materiality in order to be able to attain this level of consciousness. The Israelites represent the spiritually advanced thoughts or level of consciousness. The strangers in their midst are new ideas and new levels of consciousness. Both the higher level and the new thoughts must make this sacrifice.
The Lord then differentiated between the sinner who sins in ignorance and the one who sins "presumptuously." He indicated that the sinner out of ignorance would be forgiven, after he brought an offering to the priest. But the presumptive sinner would be "cut off from among his people," and his iniquity shall be upon him. This law also is for all people, whether they ar Israelites or strangers.
There is one level of responsibility for the wise and another for the ignorant. The person who understands evil and chooses to do it anyway, is judged more harshly. And again, it applies to all ideas nut just the higher spiritual one.
The lord then told Moses that the people should put fringes on the borders of their garments with a ribbon of blue to help them to remember the Lord's commandments and follow them.
The fringes placed on their garments were to remind the Israelites of the Divine Law and the Commandments of the Lord. It was then, as it is now, very easy to forget our true relationship with God and the Divine Law as we go through our daily lives ingaged in material pursuits. It might be well if we were to adopt some kind of symbol or decoration to act as a reminder to us of our true purpose and Spiritual Path.
Three of the descendants of Levi, who were therefore priests: Korah, Dathan and Abiram, began to speak against Moses. They felt that moses had elevated himself to be Prince of all the Israelites; in spite of the fact that he had not yet led them to the land of milk and honey, and that God had indicated that each of them was a chosen child of god. Therefore, who was Moses to place himself above the others.
Korah is an Aramaic word meaning bald, cold and without horns. It denotes the coldness of materialistic ideas. Being without horns is another way of saying that he had no spiritual force within him. Dathan means cistern or spring. I denotes a leading thought which is bound with the letter of the law. This blinds the thought to the spiritual truths behind the outer ceremonies. Abiram means father of elevation, high or proud and represents the arrogance of pride. The three thoughts, combined together, led to rebellion.
Two hundred and fifty other princes of the assembly supported and joined Korah, Dathan and Abiram in this rebellion. Moses told them that his selection as leader was not his doing, but the Lord's. He instructed them to come to the Temple with their censors lit with incense, and the Lord would Himself indicate who the chosen leader was.
Our material consciousness, symbolized by these material thoughts or levels of consciousness, will continually try to maintain control of our being. Even though we have reached the level of spiritual development indicated by the exodus from Egypt, (materiality) under the leadership of Moses, (our enlightened consciousness), we must continue our vigilance and maintain control by the higher, developing spiritual consciousness.
The rebels did not relent. They brought their censors to the temple, and their followers came with them to see what would happen. The glory of the Lord appeared to the entire congregation, and He spoke to Moses and Aaron saying, "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment."
No matter how insistent the material consciousness, once the Soul has begun to be enveloped with the Glory of the Lord, the Christ Consciousness, or Illumination, it will quickly transmute or consume the egotistical thoughts.
The people fell on their faces and prayed to the Lord that he would not punish them for the sins of their leaders. So the Lord told Moses to tell them to separate themselves from Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Many of the people heeded this advise.
Part of the spiritualizing process is the separation of the "wheat from the chaff." It represents the process that each of us must go through in our own inner thought life, that of testing our beliefs and ideas and accepting only those which are worthy of our spiritual goals.
"And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works...if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth and swallow them up, with all that appertain to them...then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord."
And it came to pass just as he had indicated. The earth swallowed them up. And then there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed those who had come with them to the temple offering incense. And afterward, their brass censors which remained after the fire, were gathered up and made into plates which were used to cover the altar in remembrance of the day's events, and to be a sign to the people that no stranger was to offer incense except he be of the seed of Aaron.
The earth's swallowing them up is a way of saying that they were returned to the element from which they came, dust to dust. These negative thoughts must be transmuted or reborn as positive, loving and helpful thoughts before they can be of benefit to our spiritual growth. As dust again they can be reformed to fulfill this purpose.
The use of their censors to decorate the altar is another indication that these negative ideas may be reformed, here by fire, and used in a positive way.
But, on the very next day, all of Israel rose up against Moses for the deaths of so many people. The Lord told Moses to move away from them so that he might consume them. They fell upon their faces. Then, Moses told Aaron to take a censor with lighted incense among the people to make an atonement for them. Aaron did so and found that many of the people were already dead from plague. But his efforts succeeded in saving many and he stopped the plague.
The entire people, or all of the thoughts, may now be reviewed from the standpoint of the new understanding of the spiritual consciousness. Those ideas which are not of benefit to the emerging spiritual being, are eliminated or transformed. But there are many which are positive and will live on to support the new spiritual consciousness which is developing. The lighted incense represents the light of the spiritual understanding. It alone is capable of both making the judgement required and saving the beneficial thoughts.
Numbers Part 8 Chapters 17-20 Chapter 17. The Budding of Aaron's Rod
In order to prove to the people which of them the Lord had chosen to be the Priest of the people, the Lord told Moses to have each man's name on it. The rods were then taken into the tabernacle and left overnight. The Lord indicated that He would make the rod of the chosen one to bloom. The next morning, Moses went into the tabernacle and found that the rod of Aaron was budded, brought forth buds, bloomed blossoms and yielded almonds.
The rods represent the creative forces of man. Names in the Bible refer to natures. The nature in this case refers to the level of enlightenment or purity of the desire nature connected with each of the levels of consciousness represented by the different princes of the Israelites. Only the highest level, represented by Aaron, can truly serve the Lord. And the results of its action will bring forth fruit; represented here by the almonds. The almond tree symbolizes the spiritual powers which come from the inner unfoldment of the spiritual self, represented by the opening of the flower petals.
Chapter 18. The Priests Receive Ten Percent.
The Lord told Moses that the priests were to receive the tithes of the children of Israel. Their portion was to be the animals, grains and goods which were brought to the Temple ass offerings. This one tenth was in return for their service to the Temple and was to be for all the generations.
Herein is an important spiritual principle. The priests, who represent our spiritual life, require support and nurturing. We must be willing to give time and attention to them if we are to develop spiritually. It is not necessary to give all of our time and material goods; but here we are told that 10% is required.
Chapter 19. The Separation of the Unclean.
The Lord instructed Moses and Aaron that all who touch dead bodies or the bones of the dead are to be considered unclean for seven days. Included are vessels of food which are not covered. Those who are unclean must wash themselves and their clothing and wait seven days before they are allowed to interact with the others.
There is an obvious practical teaching here. We know today that dead bodies of plants and animals may contain harmful elements if they are not properly stored. In the hot country in which the Israelites traveled there was no refrigeration and little water. These precautions were important. Symbolically, dead bodies refer to old ideas and beliefs. To touch the old ideas would be to regress to an earlier, less spiritual idea or belief. Until we have cleared our mind of the old incorrect idea, we are ‘unclean.' The seven days reaffirms a spiritual interpretation, for it is the number of spiritual completion.
Chapter 20. The Death of Miriam.
The children of Israel moved into the desert of Zin in Kadesh. While they were there, Miriam died and was buried.
Miriam, which means protest, rebellion and contradiction in Hebrew, was Moses' and Aaron's sister and symbolized the heart and emotions. Her death indicates that the ideas or rebellious thoughts which she represents have died or ceased. Ths death allows for the birth of a more advanced level of the feminine quality of love.
Water from the Rock.
There was no water for the people. Again the people complained. "Why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness? Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle and prayed to the Lord. The lord told Moses to take his rod, speak to the rock, and it would bring forth water. So Moses smote the rock with his rad, and an abundant amount of water came out of the rock. The Lord told Moses that this congregation would not be taken into the promised land, because they did not believe. The water was called the water of Meribah.
It is our carnal self that complains of the lack of water and loses faith whenever things don't seem to be going right. It is a temptation that we must overcome. Rocks in the Bible symbolize spiritual truths. To smote the truth with his rod is to bring forth the spiritual water which alone satisfies spiritual thirst by the uplifting of the creative fire within man's body. Meribah means contention and strife. It is a state of consciousness to be avoided.
Edom Refuses Them Passage
Moses sent messengers to the King of Edom to request safe passage through the land of Edom. He promised that they would take nothing, "neither turn to the right hand nor to the left." But it was no use, the King would not give passage. So the Israelites turned away.
Edom means red or ruddy. It refers to the outer or carnal man. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau. These carnal thoughts or ideas kept the Israelites from passing through their territory. The path to spiritual enlightenment is straight and narrow. We must not let our ideas stray either to the right or to the left. It is proper that we turn away from these carnal thoughts, for they will not help us to reach ‘the promised land.'
The Death of Aaron
The congregation journeyed from Kadesh to Hor near the coast of Edom. There, the Lord told Moses that Aaron would not enter into the ‘promised land' because the people had rebelled against Him at the water of Meribah. Moses took Aaron and his son Eleazar, up the mountain of Hor. His priestly garments were removed and placed on his son Eleazar. Aaron died there, on the top of the mountain. Moses and Eleazar went back down. The people mourned for thirty days.
Kadesh means pure, holy and sacred. This is the pure, sinless, perfect state which exists within each of us. Hor means to be high or a mountain. It indicates an elevated spiritual state. Eleazar means God is helper and help of God. From the holy and sacred consciousness we are able to attain the heightened spiritual consciousness and our highest self dies and is replaced with an even mor elevated spiritual consciousness. This cycle will be repeated many times as we progress step by step toward Illumination.
Israel vowed to the Lord that they would utterly destroy the cities of the Canaanites if He would deliver the people of Canaan into their hands. And the Lord did so. And the place was named Hormah.
The word Hormah, in Aramaic means devoted, destroyed or devoted to destruction. It symbolizes the destruction of erroneous beliefs and thoughts (people). Canaan means materiality, low and inferior, these are the thoughts which must be let go of if we are to progress spiritually.
Next the Israelites journeyed from mount Hor across the land of Edom. The people rose up against Moses again because of the long journey. Again they complained about a lack of bread and water.
Hor means to think, a height or mountain. This is symbolic of spirituality or an exalted level of thought. Whereas Edom means reddish or ruddy. It symbolizes the carnal man. Spiritual growth is not a steady upward path. Often times we vacillate between the two extremes of elevated thinking and then carnal or material thoughts. When we have slipped back into the carnal we are no longer in contact with our spiritual selves and so we yearn for bread and water - or spiritual truths.
This time the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, which bit them and many died. The people repented and asked Moses for help. Moses prayed for the people. The Lord told Moses to make a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole; and those who were bitten and looked upon it, lived.
The serpent relates to desire, sensuousness, and most importantly the generative or creative powers. It is appropriate there fore to call them ‘fiery' serpents, so that we will not mistake their meaning. These forces, when raised up, lift up the whole man to a higher, spiritual level.
When the people were bitten by the serpents, it means that they were caught up in the sense consciousness. To look up to the raised serpent means that they have lifted these forces up, transmuted this life force to a spiritual level. Jesus said, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up."
From here, the Israelites moved on to Oboth and then to Ije-abarim, toward the sunrising. From there they went on to the valley of Zared, then beyond Arnon; then on to Beer, (Bera) where they dug a well, then to Mattanah, Nahaliel, Bamoth and Pisgah which looks toward Jeshimon (Ashimon).
Oboth translated from the Aramaic means waterskins or leather bottles but it also may mean ventriloquists or diving spirits. The waterskins symbolize the body, and here indicate the understanding that the water to cleanse the consciousness comes from within - within the body. However, there is a sense that this may be deceptive rather than truly spiritual.
Ije-abarim, means heaps of Abarim. Abarim means passages or crossings and it is also the name of a range of Mountains in Moab. It is from these mountains that Moses was shown the land of Canaan. He could see the promised land but he could not enter it. It is from this level of consciousness (elevated mountains) that we are able to see the possibility of spiritual consciousness.
The valley of Zared, means the power to spread exuberant growth. This then is a time of growth which we may assume is spiritual growth. It is the beginning of spiritual understanding.
Arnon; means swift, roaring, rushing stream. When dominated by the carnal mind it symbolizes the tumultuousness of the level of consciousness. When guided by Israel, the enlightened mind, it represents the tumultuous joy of coming to increased spiritual understanding of spiritual truths, here represented by the water or stream.
Beer, or Bera means a well or a dug well. Here it is indication a well of water. This relates to Spiritual Truth which when drunk deeply, will help the developing Soul to progress.
Mattanah means gift or present. It is the understanding of the gift of blessings from God - the great potential which he has given us.
Nahaliel, means God leads on or God flows forth. This reflects the hope which comes from the inner realization that we are being guided by divine providence.
Bamoth means high places or sepulchral mound. In this case Bamoth is a city of the Moabites which indicates that it is related to the exaltation of carnality. It is the worship of the carnal mind.
Pisgah means cut up or divided. This is the mountain from which Moses saw the Promised Land. It is an elevated level of consciousness which allows us to see our spiritual goal but we are cut off from it.
Jeshimon or Ashimon means transgression. Here it signifies condifence in material conditions.
We are told that the cleansing of the temple must be done within ourselves. We become aware of the possibility of spiritual consciousness, and this begins our spiritual growth. But, in the beginning, the path is tumultuous as we still have doubts as well as ties to our past carnal and materialistic habits. All ten of these places represent levels of consciousness which we as spiritual travelers must experience, overcome and pass through as we begin the Path to higher levels of spiritual attainment.
The Israelites sent messengers to Sihon, the king of the Amorites, asking him to allow the Israelites to safely pass through their land, and just as in Edom, they promised that they would not turn into the fields or vineyards. Not drink of the wells, but stay on the road until they had past the borders.
As with the King of Edom, Sihon refused them passage. Not only did he refuse, but he gathered up all his people and attacked the children of Israel at Jahaz. "Israel smote him with the edge of the sword" and took his land from Arnon to Jabbok.
Sihon, in Aramaic, means extreme boldness, eradication. Amorites means mountaineers and highlanders, but throughout the Bible, it is used to represent ideas or levels of consciousness coming from or controlled by the generative function. It symbolizes the uncontrollable passion of sexual desire, which, unbridled, will overpower the spiritual consciousness. These thoughts do not easily make way for the newly awakened spiritual consciousness. Even though the Spiritual consciousness extends a promise not to harm them, the carnal thoughts and desires, sensing their own demise, fight for their very existence.
They attack the Spiritual in an effort ot maintain their control of the consciousness. But to no avail, the Israelites, or Spiritual thoughts succeed in overcoming them and removing them from the consciousness.
And the Israelites moved into their cities and especially the city of Heshbon which was the city of Sihon the king. "Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites" and drove the Amorites out of the land. They went to the neighboring King Og of Bashan for help. He came out against the children of Israel and they smote him also "and all of his people until there were none left alive," and possessed his land also.
Heshbon means intelligence, reason. This indicates that the overpowering carnal desires were ruling over the intellect. Ths is the carnal, material mind. Og means giant. It indicates the apparent power of this consciousness. Once these thoughts have been overcome, the Israelites, or spiritual thoughts take their place in the mind, or in Heshbon. They destroyed Og and all his people or ideas.
Balak, the king of the Moabites was fearful of the Israelites, for his country bordered on that of the Amorites, He sent messengers to his neighbor Balaam, a priest of Baal, from Pethor, to seek his help, "for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou curest is cursed." The emissaries arrived bearing appropriate payment to reward Balaam for his divinations. Balaam bid them stay the night while he consulted with God. God told him not to go with them, for "the Israelites are blessed."
Balak means spoiler, destroyer. Moabites mean of the seed of Moab. They represent the consciousness of the body and materiality. Here, they signify the carnal mind, and are often associated with negligence. These ideas when ruled by the spoiler and destroyer must be replaced before we may progress spiritually.
Balaam is said to be a heathen sorcerer, as well as a true prophet, though no an Israelite, just as were Melchizedek, Job and Jethro. He was a famed priest-magician; a Wise Man from the East.
Balaam means lord and a gift of prophecy and has to do with the sun. This level of consciousness is at a spiritual level, for the son symbolizes divine attributes, and ultimately Illumination. This level of consciousness seeks guidance from the awakened conscience, the Lord. He is told that he should not yield to the consciousness of Balak, the carnal self; for that which it seeks to destroy is the newly developing spiritual consciousness.
When the messengers returned to Balak, he sent more princes of Moab to Balaam to ask for help. When they arrived, Balaam again asked them to wait for his answer until morning for he said he would do no more or less than what God told him to do. Again he asked God for direction. This tim, God told him to "go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do."
At first, Balaam resisted temptation to yeald. But this time, the carnal self offered even greater rewards and he was tempted. He returned to his conscience again, apparently hoping for a different dicision. This time the answer was that he could go with them but only if he fllowed the instructions of the conscience. This apparent contradiction is difficult to explain if we interpret this as God, the external, omniscient God. But, realizing that this is the spiritual consciousness within him, we know that it is capable of temptation and doubt until its final Illumination." - "When ye stand, hake heed lest ye fall."
So, Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his ass and went with them. "And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Mow, Balaam's ass turned aside three times from confrontation with the angel which Balaam could not see. Each time Balaam smote the ass for turning aside.
This is a description of the conflict that arises within us at one or more times as we journey on the spiritual path. His conscience is again resisting the choice that he has made. The Hebrew commentators suggest that it is because God knows that he has changed his mind and does not intend to follow the guidance of the Lord.
After the third time, the Lord made the ass to speak. The ass asked why his master had smote him and why he did not have faith in him. At his point, the Lord opened Balaam's eyes so that he too could se the angle. Balaam repented and offered to go back in order to please the Lord. The Lord told him to go ahead, but repeated that he speak the words that He would give him.
The angel represents Balaam's conscience. Three times it barred his way. Three times he insisted on continuing his journey in the wrong direction. Finally, after the third time, he is at last able to see the angel and repents of his mistake. This is the threefold test of body, mind and soul which must be passed by every neophyte on his journey to Spiritual Initiation.
Balaam, according to some, a priest after the order of Melchizedek, according to others "Balaam the wicked," had been summoned by Balak, the king of the Moabites, to help him in his resistance to the Israelites. On his was, he was instructed by an angel of the Lord (here indicating his conscience) to go to the king, but to speak only as he, (the andel) directed.
There is apparently a great contradiction in the story of Balaam as told in the bible. He was one of the few persons in the Bible to speak directly to God and to whom God spoke directly. Yet, later, in chapter 31, he was killed by the Israelites along with the kings of Midian. In the Book of Revelation 2:14, he is condemned for having taught Balak to "cast a stumbling block before the children if Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication," We will refer to more of this later.
Balak greeted Balaam, who immediately told him that he would say only that which "God putteth in my mouth." And they journeyed together to Kireath-huzoth. There, Balak offered oxen and sheep. The next day, Balak took Balaam to the high places of Baal.
Again, Balak means spoiler or destroyer. Ballam means lord or gift of prophecy. Kiriath-huzoth means City of divisions. When a negative level of consciousness, Balak, travels together with a gift of prophecy which is trying to follow the directions of his consciousness or Balaam, it indicates a struggle between two differing levels of consciousness. This is emphasized by their journey ending at a city or place of divisions.
The high places of Baal, which means lord or master was also the generic nave for God in many eastern parts of the world at that time. It was used to refer to God worshiped through the material or world of forms rather than the spiritual or formless. It is a limited concept of God. This is the highest concept of God that the Balak level of consciousness can conceive.
Balaam told Balak to build seven altars and bring seven oxen and seven rams. And Balak offered the seven oxen and seven rams on the seven altars. He instructed Balak to stand by the burning offerings while he (Balaam) went to a high place to speak to the Lord.
The number seven indicates a completed spiritual cycle. The oxen and the ram represent the transition from the age of Taurus (the ox) to the age of Aries, (the ram). Spiritually, they represent the sacrifice of the lusts or carnal passions which these beasts also symbolize. Naturally, Balaam must seek a high place to speak to the Lord, for the Lord can only be reached from a high spiritual consciousness. Notice that Balak, the lower level of consciousness does not even attempt to contact the Lord.
God met with him and told Balaam what to say to Balak. Balaam returned to Balak and all the princes of Moab. He told them how he had been brought from Aram by Balak to
"Curse Jacob, and come, defy Israel. How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?"
Though Balak, the lower level of consciousness wants to curse the Israelites, who represent the developing, higher spiritual level of consciousness. Balaam, who is in contact with the Lord, his indwelling spirit, blesses the Israelites instead.
Balak was surprised and questioned Balaam, "What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold thou hast blessed them altogether." Balaam replied that he must speak the words which the Lord put in his mouth.
Balak then took Balaam through the field of Zophim to the top of Pisgah. Again they built seven altars and offered a bullock and a ram on each. While Balak waited by burning offering, Balaam went to speak with the Lord. Again, the Lord told balaam what to say:
"God is not a man, that he should lie, neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall be not make it good?
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed: and I cannot reverse it...
God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn."
The field of Zophim, which means watchers, symbolizes a more attentive, vigilant attitude. The top of Pisgah which means divided and peak or point indicates a higher level of consciousness but it is still divided between supporting the new spiritual unfoldment (the Israelites) or cursing it.
Again, the Balaam consciousness hears and accepts the counsel of the Lord. He again resists the temptation for the material things which the Balak consciousness has offered him.
And again Balak, complained, if you won't curse them at least don't bless them. To which Balaam responded, "Told not I thee, saying, All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do?"
Balak tried again. He brought him to the top of Peor, which overlooked the desert, that it might please God to have Balaam curse the Israelites from there.
Again they constructed seven altars and made seven burnt sacrifices of one oxen and one ram each. This time, Balaam set his face toward the wilderness. He lifted up his eyes and the spirit of God came upon him. And he said,
"the man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open...."
Again, Balaam issued a blessing upon Israel concluding with "Blessed is he that blesseth thee (Israel), and cursed is he that curseth thee."
Peor means yawning chasm or insatiable longings. The desert is the mind or world of intellectual thought, separate from the heart and love. Balak, the lower consciousness did not give up easily. His temptation now had to do with insatiable appetites. But, as before, Balaam resisted the temptation and followed the guidance of the Lord.
Now Balak was really angry. He told Balaam that he had called upon him to curse his enemies and Balaam had blessed them three times. He said that he had planned to honor Balaam for his help, but now he should flee to his own country.
Balaam answered that he told Balak that he could say nothing which the lord did not tell him to say, no matter if Balak had offered him a house full of gold or silver. But before he left he needed to tell the people what would happen in the "latter days."
"Balaam...hath said, and the man whose eyes are open, ...which heard the words of God and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth."
Jewish scholars feel that his reference was probably to King David who later defeated Moab. Christians see a reference to the Messiah or Christ. Moab means seed of the father and represents the body and external conditions. Sheth or Seth means settled. Here, they have to do with the relinquishment of the material conditions which are struck in the past of the lower consciousness and unable to change to accompany the newly emerging spiritual consciousness.
Balaam went on to prophesy that Edom and Seir would be taken by their enemies, that Amalet would perish for ever, that the Kenites would be carried away, and Ashur and Eber would perish for ever. Then he returned to his own land.
These lands and peoples translated from the Aramaic mean carnal and physical, emotional sense consciousness, warlike, material possessions, blackness and the region beyond, respectively. All of these levels of consciousness must be overcome if we are to progress spiritually.
Israel lived in Shittim and the people began to commit whoredom with the local Women, here referred to as the Daughters of Moab. The Moabites invited them to join in their religious sacrifices and the Israelites ate with them and bowed down to their gods. "And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Isreal."
Shittim in Aramaic means acacia or thorny. Moab means seed of the father. Baal-peor means lord of the chasm. It represents sensuality, especially having to do with sex. The neophyte is again distracted from the path to the promised land by the seduction of the sensual. And once more, it yields to the lower and carnal appetites.
The Lord, which here is the conscience of the Soul, is angered with the people, or thoughts who have yielded to this temptation.
The Lord told Moses to take all the heads of the people and hang them against the sun. So Moses told the judges to slay every man who ws joined unto Ball-peor.
Once again, the conscience must eliminate the negative thoughts. Each thought must be rooted out at its source, or it will simply rear its head at another time, to cause trouble again. Implied here are the heads of the "people" (ideas) which are in error.
One of the Israelites, Zimri the son of Salu, brought a Midianite woman, Cozbi, into his tent. Then Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, took a javelin and thrust it through both of them and slayed them. "So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
Zimri means music and dancing. Salu means lifted up; exalted. The ideas born of exalted consciousness are still in danger of being seduced by passion. Cozbi means devious and deceptive. This passion promises joy and satisfaction, but the rewards are very short lived.
Phinehas which means oracle or mouth of prophecy, put an end to these thoughts by running them through with a spear. The spear represents spiritual truth.
Yet the very next verse says that twenty four thousand died in the plague.
Even though we are saved to continue on our spiritual journey, there is still a high price to pay every time we wander from the path. This 24,000 is to impress us of this cost. It reduces to the number which suggests love in its lower forms.
The Lord said that since Phinehas had been zealous "for my sake" that He would give Phinehas His covenant of peace and an everlasting priesthood for him and his descendants.
The Lord or Soul always has a covenant with the part of
our consciousness which is virtuous and zealous for spiritual
truth. It is only this consciousness which can be the priests,
or those worthy to make contact with the Soul.
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After the plague, the Lord told Moses to count the children of Israel again. The count of the children of Rueben which included Hanock, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi was 43,730.
Hanock means founded or initiated in Aramaic. Pallu means separated or distinguished. Hezron means inclosed or shut-in. And Carmi means generous and fruitful. The number 43,730 reduces down to the number 8.
Rueben, which translates as behold a son, or vision of the son, means understanding or the bringing forth of vision. Now the children of Reuben are the ideas which are a result of this new vision. They are initiated or founded on wisdom gained by this vision, and are contained or enclosed in it. This wisdom is generous and fruitful and the number eight emphasizes this whole idea as it symbolizes wisdom.
The sons of Simeon; Jamin, Jachin, Zerah, and Shaul, numbered 22,200.
Simeon is translated as hearing and obedient. Nemuel means God is spreading. Jamin means right place, productiveness and happiness. Jachin means whom God makes firm. Zerah means beginning of light and breaking forth of the sun. Lastly, Shaul means asked for and desired, it has to do with the Will. The number 22,200 reduces to 6 and symbolizes creation and sex.
These ideas or descendants of Simeon, which are the result of hearing the word and obeying Divine Law; result in being in the right place, being productive, happy, stable, and, through the power of the Will bringing forth the Light of Illumination. Here, the number six represents the creative aspect of the consciousness when it is in this enlightened place.
The children of Gad, which included Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ozni, Eri, Arod and Areli, numbered 40,500.
Gad means fortunate and has to do with power. Gad was the horseman, the enforcer. The ideas which emanate from this aspect of Consciousness are Zephon, which means watchman; Haggi, which means joyous; Shumi, which means tranquility; Ozni, which means giving ear or worshiping God; Arod, which means a wild ass; and Areli, which means heroic. The number 40,500 reduces to 9 and symbolizes the serpentine force expressed through the highest powers of the mind.
Taken together, these ideas are those of the force or power of the consciousness which has overcome complacency, in order that it may find tranquility. It has considered the promptings of the mind and heart; it has learned to respect and take direction from God; it has the attributes of the wild ass, but obviously has them under control and is thus heroic. Finally, this level of consciousness is identified with the number nine which represents the spiritualized use of the power represented by Gad.
The sons of Judah, Shelah, Pharez, Zerah; and the grandsons of Judah, Hezron, and Hamul were 76,500.
Judah translates as praise Jehovah. The ideas which generate from this level of consciousness are Shelah, which means peace; Pharez, which means victory; Zerah which means beginning of light and breaking forth of the sun; Hezron, which means enclosed; and Hamul which means compassion. The number 76,500 reduces to 9.
Together, we may conclude that being in a consciousness of praising God and being grateful for our blessings results in peace, victory, the opening of Illumination, the protection of the enclosure and compassion and forgiveness. And again, the number nine represents the spiritualized use of the thought of praise represented by Judah.
The children of Issachar, who were Tola, Pua, Jashub and Shimron, totaled 64,300.
Issachar is translated as he will bring reward or compensation. Tola means a worm. Pua means blast or utterance. Jashub means turning back and Shimron means extreme vigilance. The number 64,300 reduces to 4.
The level of consciousness being described here is that which will be rewarded by raising onself from the dust of the ordinary, the worm; uttering truth aloud; turning back to truth each time we are led astray; and always being extremely vigilant. The number four symbolizes the four point of the compass and the four forces of nature. It has to do with overcoming the cross of matter.
The children of Zebulun, who were Sered, Elon and Jahleel were 60,500.
Zebulun is translated as habitation or dwelling. Sered means fear and trembling. Elon means a strong man. And Jahleel means waiting on God or hope of God. The number 60,500 reduces to 2.
This is the consciousness of order and stability. It may be fearful in this insecure world, but order eventually results in strength and brings one closer to God. The number two symbolizes the world of duality and the challenge of balancing the opposites.
The Bible states that none of the original Israelites remained
to be counted in this second census. The original Israelites,
who represent the original thinking, have been regenerated to
prepare for the journey to the Promised Land.
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We discussed the symbolism of the count of the first six tribes of Israel. We now continue with tht second six tribes. This count represent an assessment of the ideas in the consciousness. After the sojourn in the wilderness, all the ideas (the children of Israel) who had fled Egypt were passed away (except Moses) or replaced with more enlightened ideas. It is this second generation of ideas which well be found worthy to cross over to the promised land.
This echoes the idea repeated many times in the Old Testament, that the second born shall inherit the kingdom. Our first level of consciousness is material. It is not until we come into a second, more spiritual consciousness that we begin to seek for spiritual truths. And only then do we have the capability to find the kingdom of Heaven.
The count of the children of Manasseh (a son of Joseph) which included Machir, Gilead, Jeezer, Helek, Asriel, Schechem, Shemida, Hepher, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tizah was 52,700.
Manasseh in Aramaic means understanding. Machir means enslaved. Gilead means discerning. Jeezer means imagination. Helek means a portion. Asriel means joining of God. Shechem means burdened. Shemida means righteous perception. Hepher means a search. The last five are Zilophehad's daughters and Hepher's grand-daughters. Zelophehad means first-born. He died earlier of unstated causes. The daughters names mean sweetness and mildness, balance, hopping bird, counsel or queen and delight, respectively. The number 52,700 reduces to the number five.
These descendants of Manasseh are the fuits of the understanding of the consciousness. At this level of consciousness the understanding is still caught up in or enslaved with problems of discernment or judgment. Through the use of the imagination, the consciousness expands to realize that it deserves a portion or share in its divine inheritance. But until more fully developed, it is still burdened by the material. Yet, with righteous perception, the ability to see truth, one is able to search out the correct path.
Zelophehad, the first-born consciousness, is dead or no longer in evidence since we have now raised our consciousness above the material level of the first-born consciousness. This consciousness has been replaced by the feminine or spiritual aspects of sweetness and mildness; equilibrium; unsteady but forward progress, here signified by the hopping bird; royalty (the queen) and delight.
The number five symbolizes man. It indicates the emancipation of man from the material. It represents the ego as it begins to emerge from its tomb of matter.
The count of the children of Ephraim ( the second son of Joseph) included Shuthelah, Becher, Tahan and Eran totaled 32,500.
Ephraim means fruitfulness in Aramaic. His oldest son, Shuthelah means tumult. Becher, Ephraim's second born means first-born. Tahan means prayer or supplication. Eran, the son of Shuthelah means vigilant. The total of this tribe reduces to one.
Ephraim symbolizes the Will. It is through the efforts of the Will that the fruits of a more spiritual consciousness are realized. In the beginning, the efforts of the Will may prove tumultuous or confusing, but this is the first-born consciousness and will be replaced by the second. The second son, Becher is indicated as the first-born, to tell us that this second level of consciousness is the one which can aspire to inherit the Kingdom of God. The son of the confusing consciousness, Eran, is watchful and vigilant. Finally, the consciousness becomes prayerful and gracious.
Ephraim or the Will, when combined with Manasseh which symbolizes understanding, will gradually achieve spiritual enlightenment. The number one symbolizes the Will and individuality. It reinforces the concepts given by the names.
The sons of Benjamin included Bela, Ashbel, Ahiram, Shupham, Hupham, ard and Naaman and number 45,600.
Benjamin symbolizes faith. Bela means destruction. Ashbel means reproof of God. Ahiram means lofty. Shupham means serpent. Hupham means coast man. Ard means to flee. And Naaman means pleasant and good. The number 45,600 reduces to six.
The growth of faith begins in the materiality which is destructive of the spiritual self. We are admonished by God or our conscience to turn away from materiality. We begin to follow lofty ideals. And as a dweller of the coast, we fish in the seas for ideas which will support our goal. And yet, there is still a part of our consciousness which is fearful and wants to flee from the unknown. If we persist, we finally come to the pleasant and good level of consciousness, which Jesus called the ‘peace which passeth all understanding.' The number six symbolizes a work. The earth was made in six days. In this instance it is the Great Work of the spiritualization of the human consciousness.
The child of Dan was Shuham, and his family numbered 64,400.
Dan means judgment. Shuham means bowing down and humility. The number 64,400 reduces to five.
Judgement, a necessary attribute of each of us must be bowed down. We must become humble and reluctant to judge others if we are to progress spiritually. We have already discussed the number five above.
The sons of Asher were Jimna, Jesui, Beriah, Heber, Malchiel, Sarah and their total was 53,400.
Asher means straightforward. Jimma means prosperity. Jesui means level or balanced. Beriah means misfortune. Eber means going beyond. Malchiel means God's dominion. And Sarah means princess.
This level of consciousness is straightforward and gradually results in prosperity, balance and though it must continue to guard against misfortune, it is growing beyond the limits of materiality, entering God's domain and gradually developing the Princess, the Soul. The number three symbolizes the balance of the Trinity of body, mind and Soul.
And finally, the sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem and they numbered 45,400.
Naphtali means my wrestling. Jahzeel means whom God allots. Guni means colored. Jezer means imagination. And Shillem means restoration or peace. The number 45,400 reduces to four.
The wrestling of the consciousness is an ongoing part of the developing spiritual consciousness. We come to understand that we will be allotted that which we require as we progress. Our thoughts may yet be colored by materiality, but by use of the imagination we are able to restore our consciousness to a level of peace. The number four was called the "Sacred Quaternary" and "the universal number of perfection" by Pythagoras. It encompasses the four directions, the four elements, and the four sided Man: body, mind, spirit and soul. It is often represented by the cross.
The total of all the children of Israel was 601,730. And the Lord told Moses that the land should be divided by lot to the names of the tribes of their fathers, according to their members.
The number 601,730 reduces to eight. Eight symbolizes the Female and represents the Perfect Cube with its eight points. It is indicative of the forces of the soul and used here, it tells us that the consciousness has improved to the point of being in touch with this feminine power of the Soul and is therefore ready to pass over to the Promised Land.
This "Promised Land" is symbolic for the Kingdom
of God which is attainable only by Soul Illumination. It is to
be divided among the tribes according to their numbers. Since
we understand the meaning of their we can begin to understand
that this "Promised Land" will be attained only to the
extent of the individual's Illumination.
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We have now completed the count of the tribes of Israel. These children of Israel that are being counted represent the ideas of the consciousness. Last time I indicated that all the ideas (the children of Israel) who had fled Egypt were passed away (except Moses) but at the end of Chapter 26 we are told that Caleb, the son of Jephunneh and Joshua, the son of Nun also remained from the original group.
Jephunneh, translated from the original Aramaic, means appearing or which will be before his face. Metaphysically it means thought of the true, higher consciousness. Caleb, a descendant of this thought, means bold and fearless. You may remember him from the earlier story when he and others were sent to spy on giants and he was one of the two who was not discouraged by them. Metaphysically, this is the fearlessness which each of us must develop if we are to succeed in our spiritual quest.
Nun means prolific and prosperity. It signifies the increase of spiritual Truth. Joshua means God is deliver, savior and whom Jehovah makes triumphant. It is the same as the name Jesus in Hebrew. Clearly it denotes a highly evolved spiritual level of consciousness. Joshua was the other spy who was not discouraged by the giants and urged the Israelites to push forward. But frightened by the reports, they did not.
After the census was completed, the Lord told Moses to divide the land according to the number of names. "To many shall be the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance...." and this was to be done according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.
Zelophehad, who died without leaving a son, had five daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. They came before Moses, Ileazar the priest and all the congregation. They argued that since they had no brother to inherit, they should be allowed to inherit their father's portion.
Moses took their case to the Lord. And the Lord told Moses that the Daughters spoke right and instructed Moses to tell the people that, "If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter."
To repeat from last month's issue, the daughters names mean sweetness and mildness, balance, hopping bird, counsel or queen and delight, respectively. This consciousness is that of the feminine or spiritual attributes of sweetness and mildness; equilibrium; unsteady but forward progress, here signified by the hopping bird; royalty (the queen) and delight. It is appropriate that this consciousness, the feminine or heart side of us, can inherit the Kingdom of Heaven or the Promised Land.
The Lord told Moses to go up into the mount Abarim from where he could see The Promised Land. And when he had seen it, he was to be gathered up to his people.
Abarim means to cross over or regions beyond. It is from Abarim that the word Hebrew was derived. They had "crossed over" the Euphrates River. It represents the level of consciousness while, though situated in Moab, (the physical, carnal consciousness), is elevated enough that it can see the Promised Land; the possibility of Spiritual Illumination.
Then Moses asked the Lord to replaced him as leader of the people that they "be not as sheep which have no shepherd." And the Lord told Moses to take Joshua "a man in whom is the spirit," and lay his hand upon him as the man to succeed him.
Joshua is a derivation of the "I am that I am" of the Tetragrammaton, just as Jesus is identified later. It represents a higher level of consciousness. The significance of this is that the consciousness which knows that it is part of the Divine, the great I AM, is that which can take us to ur goal of Illumination.
Joshua was the son of Ehraim which typifies the Will. It is the elevated or spiritualized Will which must take command of the other faculties, ideas and emotions if we are to succeed.
Notice that we are told by the lord that Joshua is a man "in whom is the spirit." This is the same spirit which in the New Testament is called the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit. This is the consciousness of the Divine that comes from within. It is guidance from within (above, because from a high spiritual level of consciousness).
The Lord tells Moses to command the children of Israel to make offerings and sacrifices unto Him daily. These offerings and sacrifices include lambs, bullocks, rams, goats, flour, oil, and strong wine. They are to be made by fire.
Offerings represent transmutations. The animals relate to
the animal passions and desires which must be transmuted; burned
up; changed into elevated, spiritual emotions of the heart. Sacrifice,
which we think of as the giving up of something, actually means
to make sacred. Again, it is the idea of taking the carnal emotions
and changing them into the spiritual attributes which we desire.
As always, it is the fire of Love which does the work.
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The Lord tells Moses that the Israelites are to hold an holy convocation on the first day of the seventh month. The are to blow their trumpets and do no work. They are also to make burnt offerings of specific animals.
Called The Feast of the Trumpets, the holy convocation is a bringing together of all aspects of our being; body, mind and soul. Of course this would be possible at the seventh month because seven is the number of completion on the physical plane. And so, at this time of completion, we celebrate by blowing trumpets. The trumpets symbolize rejoicing and thanksgiving.
To do no work means that this activity is of the mind and soul, not of the physical. It is a time of entering into the stillness. Again, the animals represent our carnal and negative passions which must be sacrificed if we are to reach this level of spiritual development. And naturally, this sacrifice must be made through fire, which represents love.
On the tenth day of the seventh month, they are to hold another holy convocation, another day of no work, accompanied by offerings and this time, "ye shall afflict your souls..."
This day of the affliction of souls is what the Jews celebrate as the Day of Atonement. It is a reiteration of the same admonition which was mentioned in Leviticus 16:29. The number ten represents the second level of unity. If you add its digits, one and zero, the number reduces to one. One symbolizes the Creator; the oneness of the ALL in ALL. The numbers from two to nine represent our sojourn here; the divine incarnation into the physical and our journey back to the Divine. The number ten represents the at-one-ment of the created as it again connects with the Creator. "I and my Father are One."
Lastly, a third holy convocation, is to be held on the fifteenth day of this seventh month. It is to be another day of rest, and commences a seven day long feast, again accompanied by burnt offerings. On the eighth day there is a day od solemn assembly, no work is to be done.
This is called The Feast of the Tabernacles. The tabernacle represents the temporal body of man. While in the wilderness (still trying to find our way) we worship God in a temporary state of mind, or Tabernacle, Later, we will build the Temple of Solomon which is the permanent, spiritual body. This Tabernacle represents the place in the consciousness where we begin our inner journey Godward.
The number fifteen reduces to six. Six is the number of home, in six days the Lord created the world and all that it contains. It also represents the totality of and completion of the physical plane. This is an appropriate place for us to celebrate. We have completed the physical part of our journey and now begin the spiritual part. And the place to start is at home, within us.
There are seven days of celebration, seven days of burnt offerings, and an eighth day of rest and solemn assembly. Seven is the number of the completed journey. So after the physical, material part of our journey, we begin the spiritual journey. Each step of the way we must make sacrifices and give up something. Clearly, this is the way to progress. When this process is completed signified by the eighth day, we may rest, and commemorate the occasion in solemnity; for this is the most important business in which we can engage.
The Lord told Moses that if a man swear a vow unto the Lord or an oath on his soul, he shall not break his word. He went on to say that is a woman vow a vow unto the Lord or swear an oath on her soul, it shall stand the same, unless she is young and still living in her father's house or if she is married. In either case, her vow may be disallowed by either her hather or her husband. If so disallowed and then broken, she will be forgiven by the lord because of the disallowance. If she is widowed, divorced or a single adult, then her vows have the same validity as a man's.
Oaths and vows taken before God or sworn on one's soul are
significant. For they impress upon our souls, which have eternal
memory. We must take them seriously. However, if we make such
an oath under emotional conditions, here represented by the women,
the Mind (man) may disavow such oaths. If the mind is not in control,
or does not disavow them, then they stand.
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The Midianites in its original
Aramaic, means strife and contention. For the searcher of
enlightenment, they must be defeated and eliminated. Each of the twelve
tribes were called to do battle for they represent all twelve aspects
of an individual. And all aspects of an individual must join in this
struggle if we are to be successful. Phinehas means spiritual revelation and Eleazar
means help of God. Both of
these men are associated with the Temple, or spiritual part of us.
These are the spiritual forces which aid the student or seeker to
succeed in his battle with the Midianites.
Men or the masculine refers to the intellect or mind. A king would be a
ruling or controlling idea. Bing of Midian, these represent the ideas
of contentiousness and strife. Killing is the Bible’s way of saying
that they were eliminated or overcome.
Evi, translated from the Aramaic, means desire, when desire is a Midianite
king, it represents desires which are contentious and unjust. Rekem
means artistic coloring or decorating. But this cultivation of
beauty would be carnal and related to the sensual desires rather than
the higher spiritual because of its association with Midian.
Zur means rock, precipitous
and besieged. In this context
it represents an aggressive, warring thought. Hur means white and pure and also black hole and filthy prison. As a king of
Midianite, it refers to limitation and darkness resulting from strife
and contention. Reba means one
quarter, encouch or bestiality. This thought is only a small
part (1/4) of the Truth, so that it becomes contentious, unbalanced and
bestial.
The last to be mentioned is Balaam whom we have discussed before.
Balaam means lord of the people or destruction of the people; a
foreigner. Here, he represents the idea that strife and contentious
ideas will be our destruction. They are foreign to the spiritual being.
For those who interpret this as history and fact, this is a difficult
passage. But from an allegorical interpretation, it is much more
acceptable. Women represent the emotions. Children are simply the
offspring or consequences of the ideas from which they come. These are
the contentious thoughts represented by the Midiantites. Those women
and girls who are not virgins, are the emotions which are sensual and
carnal in nature. They must be rooted out and eliminated. Those who are
virgins, represent the pure emotions.
In the Bible, seven days always represents a completed spiritual
process. And the process of eliminating or overcoming all of these
thoughts is surely that. The purification of fire and water is a
recurring theme in the Old and New Testament. Water is of the Mind or
Mental consciousness and Fire is of the Heart or Spiritual
consciousness. Both are necessary for the completion of this process.
The rewards of the battle won are awarded to those who participated. It
is a way of saying that our rewards for eliminating these negative
thoughts affect us on many different levels. We are improved
physically, mentally emotionally and spiritually. By bringing these
rewards to the priests, we are using these gifts in the service of the
Temple, or in other words, the service of the Spiritual.
Reuben is translated as behold a son.
Metaphysically it means faith and understanding, but it is rooted in
the physical. It is a faith in the world. Gad means good fortune. Known as a horseman,
he represents physical power. Gilead means enduring rock. It is the place in
consciousness that understands what is true. It is a foundation for the
higher spiritual consciousness to come. It is the limit for the
physical and so it is a good place for cattle. They will go no further.
The remainder of the Work is of the Heart, Mind and Soul.
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