Illustration credit: Rivka Tsinman
Haftarah הַפְטָרָה
Parashat Bemidbar focuses on counting Benei Yisrael. The theme of counting also comes up in our haftarah, where the נָבִיא (navi, prophet) Hoshea suggests that this kind of counting will eventually become impossible!
וְהָיָה מִסְפַּר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּחוֹל הַיָּם
אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִמַּד וְלֹא יִסָּפֵר
וְהָיָה בִּמְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יֵאָמֵר לָהֶם לֹא עַמִּי אַתֶּם
יֵאָמֵר לָהֶם בְּנֵי אֵ-ל חָי׃
The number of Benei Yisrael will be like the sands of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted.
Instead of being told, “you are not My people,” they will be called children of the living God.
Another parashah-haftarah connection has to do with the מִדְבָּר (midbar, wilderness). Hoshea talks about how, even after Benei Yisrael betray God by worshiping idols, nevertheless God and Benei Yisrael will come back together with love. And what will be the location where they make up?
לָכֵן הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי מְפַתֶּיהָ
וְהֹלַכְתִּיהָ הַמִּדְבָּר
וְדִבַּרְתִּי עַל לִבָּהּ׃
Therefore, I (God) will speak kindly to her (Benei Yisrael).
I will lead her through the midbar,
And speak to her heart.
- As you read Parashat Bemidbar, can you see evidence that the midbar is a place for God and Benei Yisrael to grow close?
- In the coming months, as we read the rest of Sefer Bemidbar, see if you can find more examples of the midbar being a place of connection for God and Benei Yisrael!
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