#31 — Parshat Nasso
Numbers 4:21-7:89
Overview
The first part of the book of Numbers is about counting and organizing Israel around the L-RD who dwells in the sanctuary in their midst. Parshat Nasso continues this with the description of the tasks and numbering of the Levites (Numbers 4:1-49). Further, unclean persons have to be put outside the camp (Numbers 5:1-4).
But Parshat Nasso is not only concerned with literal or ritualistic “ordering” of the people; it also tackles deeper disorder. G-d impresses on Israel that confession, restitution, and atonement are needed when someone commits sin by breaking faith or acting treacherously with the L-rd. In context, wronging or defrauding your neighbor seems especially to be in view (Numbers 5:5-10).
Our Parsha next highlights a special case of breaking faith; one which cannot be tolerated among the people in whose midst the L-RD resides: marital unfaithfulness (Numbers 5:11-29).
A problem arises with this special case though. Adultery has been committed sneakily and there is no hard evidence from witnesses. The wronged husband, however, burns with a spirit of jealousy and knows he has been cheated. Now what is he to do?
The suspected adulteress is to be brought before the priest. The priest then writes a curse for the woman on a book or scroll and washes the ink off into the water of bitterness, which the suspected adulteress must then drink (Numbers 5:21-22). [This seems to be in particular a curse of infertility.] The woman literally has to drink the curse (Numbers 5:23).
If however, in this sad situation, the husband was wrong, nothing would happen to the woman. Instead, she is promised the blessing of conceiving children (Numbers 5:28 – literally, be “seeded with offspring”).
Then our parsha gives laws concerning a special vow of consecration, the Nazarite vow (Numbers 6:1-21).
The L-RD gives the priests the words of the blessing with which they should put His gracious Name on Israel (Numbers 6:22-27).
And at last our parsha records the contributions and sacrifices of the chiefs of the twelve tribes at the tabernacle’s consecration (Numbers 7:1-88). There the L-RD spoke with Moses from above the atonement cover (Numbers 7:89).
Who drinks the bitter water of the curse?
A Picture of More
At first glance this seems to be a peculiar case law. But when we give it a bit more thought and think about how it is connected with the rest of the bible, we could say: the law concerning the wife who goes astray (the sotah), gives us almost a picture of the entire story of the scriptures. It almost gives us that, because to complete the picture we only have to add one crucially important thing. Because when we read the scriptures, we see the L-RD provides an amazingly gracious twist to this story.
We should read this special case law in the context of “ordering the camp of G-d’s people” as an example. It gives us a broader message and warning beyond mere instructions for a special case. We see this when we take into account that in the scriptures marriage is seen as a covenant (e.g., Malachi 2:14). G-d’s covenant relationship with Israel is often compared with marriage (e.g., Isaiah 54:5).
The burning jealousy of the L-RD
In our passage a spirit of jealousy comes over the betrayed husband. We shouldn’t just interpret that negatively because in the Torah jealousy is also an attribute of G-d (Exodus 20:5). He rightly wants an exclusive covenant relationship with His people.
The law of drinking the bitter curse water takes into account the reality that human jealousy can result from an overly-possessive and mistaken paranoia. G-d’s jealousy, however, is always pure and holy. As the true Lover of Song of Songs He has set His people as a “seal upon his heart.” That makes His jealousy “fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the L-rd” (Songs of Songs 8:6).
In contrast to the possibly mistaken husband, the L-rd also always knows what is truly going on. In this context this special case law serves as a reminder that G-d also sees our seemingly hidden unfaithfulness to Him. We are called to faithfulness in the relationship of faithful love He wants to have with us.
In the Torah and the prophets, breaking of G-d’s covenant – and especially idolatry – is also called “acting unfaithfully” or “committing treachery” (Leviticus 26:40). Scripture compares idolatry to adultery (e.g., Hosea 1). It is even described as “whoring” after other G-ds (Deuteronomy 31:16-22). G-d’s great love and devotion to His people causes His jealousy to burn because of this.
The Curses of the Book of the Torah
There is still more in our passage that resonates with the deeper structure of G-d’s revelation in the scriptures. The curse for the adulteress is written in a book or on a scroll. This seems to be a miniature replica of the Torah as a whole. The Torah itself is also a book or scroll with terrible curses for the spiritual unfaithfulness of breaking G-d’s covenant written within it (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:15-68).
This analogy leaves us in the extremely dire predicament of the adulteress of Parshat Nasso. Because the scriptures make it clear that Israel – and indeed all humanity – have been unfaithful to the L-RD. We are doomed to “drink” the bitter water of the Torah’s curses.
The Gracious Twist of the Story of the Scriptures
Although this is the sad story recorded in the scriptures, the L-RD also gives a gracious twist to the story. He does not want to leave Israel in their predicament. He actually promises to “remarry” his people in spite of their unfaithfulness (Hosea 2:19-20).
Yes, the scriptures even call Jerusalem a whore (Isaiah 1:21), and speak of a divine divorce (Isaiah 50:1), as well as mentioning the cup of G-d’s wrath which Jerusalem has to drink (Isaiah 51:17). But then the L-RD calls Himself Jerusalem’s husband again (Isaiah 54:5).
How is this gracious twist possible?
The secret is found in Isaiah 53. The Messiah, also called the L-RD’s servant, is actually also called “a covenant for the people” (Isaiah 42:6, 49:8). He drinks the bitter water of the curse in our place.
“All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned – everyone- to his own way;
But the L-RD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6)
In spite of everything, the love of G-d is so fierce and faithful that, in the person of the Messiah, He Himself was willing to absorb the curse we deserved. Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah absorbed the curse for us so we can be blessed. (See also Galatians 3:13.)
By sacrificing Himself for them, the Messiah makes His people an innocent, pure blessed bride once again. (See also Ephesians 5:25-27.)
Just like an innocent woman according to Parshat Nasso would be blessed, so the redeemed city of Jerusalem will be blessed with many children. Here is how the prophet Isaiah describes this:
Sing O barren one who did not bear;
Break forth into singing and cry aloud.
You who have not been in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than the children of her who is married says the L-rd.
…
For the L-rd has called you
like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit
like a wife of youth when she is cast off,
says your G-d.
For a brief moment I deserted you,
But with great compassion I will gather you.
In overflowing anger for a moment
I hid my face from you but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,
says the L-RD Your redeemer.
(Isaiah 54:1,6-7)
Has Messiah also drunk the bitter water of the curse for you, so you can relish in G-d’s eternal compassion?
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