Ki Tavo - Day #2

Ki Tavo כִּי-תָבוֹא - When You Enter In  

Torah Portion:

Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8

Deuteronomy 26:12–15

26:12 When you have finished tithing all the tithe of your increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the foreigner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within your gates and be filled. 13 You shall say before Hashem your Elohim, “I have put away the holy things out of my house, and also have given them to the Levite, to the foreigner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all Your commandment which You have commanded me. I have not transgressed any of Your commandments, nor have I forgotten them. 14 I have not eaten of it in my mourning, neither have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor given of it for the dead. I have listened to Hashem, my Elohim’s voice. I have done according to all that You have commanded me. 15 Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel, and the ground which You have given us, as You swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

Today’s Meditation:

Today is about giving to the Levite, the fatherless, and the widow. This is so important to Hashem. Yes, we do not have a Temple, so we cannot bring our tithe to support it. But we can still help others. Look around you today and see who Hashem has put in your life that needs support. Is it someone in your family who has not been able to make ends meet? Is it someone at the grocery store? I love it when people “pay it forward” and treat someone to something nice or needed after they were recently helped. Take careful notice of what is going on around you with people, and take action when needed. This blesses Hashem and will ultimately bless you.

Today’s Challenge:

Verse 15 says, “Look down from your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless your people Israel.” I was thinking today that Hashem does have a “Holy habitation in heaven”. Many Bible verses describe the true Holy Temple being in heaven. It seems this would be the place where His emanation would go forth to the universes and eternity. Can you even imagine what this looks like? I challenge you today to pray and study about the Holy Temple in heaven. Some believe this Temple will descend to the earth in the Olam Haba, and this is where His glory will shine for all to see.

Ki Teitzei - Day #2

Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out  

Torah Portion:

Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Deuteronomy 21:22–22:7

21:22 If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him the same day; for he who is hanged is accursed of Elohim. Don’t defile your land which Hashem your Elohim gives you for an inheritance.

22:1 You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep go astray and hide yourself from them. You shall surely bring them again to your brother. 2 If your brother isn’t near to you, or if you don’t know him, then you shall bring it home to your house, and it shall be with you until your brother comes looking for it, and you shall restore it to him. 3 So you shall do with his donkey. So you shall do with his garment. So you shall do with every lost thing of your brother’s, which he has lost, and you have found. You may not hide yourself. 4 You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen down by the way, and hide yourself from them. You shall surely help him to lift them up again.

5 A woman shall not wear men’s clothing, neither shall a man put on women’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to Hashem your Elohim.

6 If you come across a bird’s nest on the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the hen sitting on the young, or on the eggs, you shall not take the hen with the young. 7 You shall surely let the hen go, but the young you may take for yourself, that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days.

Today’s Meditation:

So, here is a sensitive subject. Sexual identification is a huge issue in today’s world. A few years ago, our Miss USA was a transgender female. What does Hashem think about all of this? In verse 5, we read, “A woman shall not wear men’s clothing, neither shall a man put on women’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to Hashem your Elohim.” Some commands are very clear, and this is one of them. There is no debate or discussion. Hashem says not to cross-dress. It is an abomination to Him. If we want to please Hashem, then we obey Him. And this is in all areas of our lives. Some sins are outward, like this one. And some sins are hidden. But let us be clear. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is hidden from Hashem. He sees it all. The best part is that if we ask for forgiveness, He forgives.

Today’s Challenge:

Sometimes, when I pray, I worry that what I am asking Hashem for is too small. Then I read today’s verse 22:6, “If you come across a bird’s nest on the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the hen sitting on the young, or on the eggs, you shall not take the hen with the young.” This is compassion, even for the least. Not to take eggs or young when the mother bird is in sight. You spare her. Not only is this kind, but it also makes sense for future eggs. If you kill both the mother and eat her eggs, there will be no more eggs in the future. This is compassion and sensibility. Your challenge today is to notice when you can show compassion, even in the smallest things. Or if you can practice some sensibility instead of selfishness. What a better world we would have if we could love others more than ourselves.

Shoftim - Day #2

Shoftim שֹׁפְטִים - Judges  

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 16:18-21

Deuteronomy 17:14–20

17:14 When you have come to the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, “I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,” 15 you shall surely set him whom Hashem your Elohim chooses as king over yourselves. You shall set as king over you one from among your brothers. You may not put a foreigner over you who is not your brother. 16 Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he may multiply horses; because Hashem has said to you, “You shall not go back that way again.” 17 He shall not multiply wives to himself, that his heart not turn away. He shall not greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

18 It shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write himself a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the Levitical priests. 19 It shall be with him, and he shall read from it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear Hashem his Elohim to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them; 20 that his heart not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he not turn away from the commandment to the right hand, or to the left, to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children, in the middle of Israel.

Today’s Meditation:

Hashem knew Israel would want a human king over their land. So, Hashem gives them the instructions for doing so. Particularly, that the king would not be able to send them back to Egypt. That’s a promise. And that is the same Hashem we serve today. He has delivered us from a past of hurt and sin (our Egypt), and He does not want anyone taking us back there. There is only one requirement from Him that we acknowledge: to fear Him and follow His Torah. This message is repeated all throughout Torah. That is how important it is. 

Today’s Challenge: 

The king is required to read the Torah every day of his life. He is even challenged to copy it. Here is a different kind of challenge for you today. As we approach a new Torah cycle in a few weeks, buy yourself a little notebook. Then, every day, record something from the Torah portion reading. Pick out something that really strikes you as important. Copy the Torah. Maybe not the whole thing, but let’s start with a verse or two every day or even every week. It seems like this would really bless us beyond belief. Get ready to do this in the new Torah reading year. It will happen right after Sukkot. Let us choose to bless Hashem by writing down His Torah.

Re'eh - Day #2

Re'eh רְאֵה - See!  

Torah Portion: 

Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17

Deuteronomy 12:11–28

12:11 Then it shall happen that to the place which Hashem your Elohim shall choose, to cause His name to dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the wave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vow to Hashem. 12 You shall rejoice before Hashem your Elohim—you, and your sons, your daughters, your male servants, your female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you. 13 Be careful that you don’t offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; 14 but in the place which Hashem chooses in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.

15 Yet you may kill and eat meat within all your gates, after all the desire of your soul, according to Hashem your Elohim’s blessing which He has given you. The unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and the deer. 16 Only you shall not eat the blood. You shall pour it out on the earth like water. 17 You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your new wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, nor any of your vows which you vow, nor your free will offerings, nor the wave offering of your hand; 18 but you shall eat them before Hashem your Elohim in the place which Hashem your Elohim shall choose: you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates. You shall rejoice before Hashem your Elohim in all that you put your hand to. 19 Be careful that you don’t forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.

20 When Hashem your Elohim enlarges your border, as he has promised you, and you say, “I want to eat meat,” because your soul desires to eat meat, you may eat meat, after all the desire of your soul. 21 If the place which Hashem your Elohim shall choose to put His name is too far from you, then you shall kill of your herd and of your flock, which Hashem has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates, after all the desire of your soul. 22 Even as the gazelle and the deer are eaten, so you shall eat of it. The unclean and the clean may eat of it alike. 23 Only be sure that you don’t eat the blood, for the blood is the life. You shall not eat the life with the meat. 24 You shall not eat it. You shall pour it out on the earth like water. 25 You shall not eat it, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, when you do that which is right in Hashem’s eyes. 26 Only your holy things which you have, and your vows, you shall take and go to the place which Hashem shall choose. 27 You shall offer your burnt offerings, the meat and the blood, on Hashem your Elohim’s altar. The blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on Hashem your Elohim’s altar, and you shall eat the meat. 28 Observe and hear all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do that which is good and right in Hashem your Elohim’s eyes.

Today’s Meditation:

Verse 28 concerns our children, “Observe and hear all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do that which is good and right in Hashem your Elohim’s eyes.” What a wonderful promise. If we follow His Torah, He will take good care of our children and us. But we have to do what is good and right. I want my kids and grandkids to be blessed. Don’t you? So, not only do we learn from following Torah what is right and good, but we also get this super blessing for doing so. That is such a great thing. What a faithful Hashem we serve.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 18, we read, “You shall rejoice before Hashem your Elohim in all that you put your hand to.” Isn’t that so cool? So, in everything we do, we should praise Hashem while we do it. We are in the process of moving out of our home into an apartment, a temporary location until our new house is ready. I have seen His Hand in the selling of our home, the buying of a new one, and even in this apartment. I keep thanking Him. I  say Todah Hashem, thank you, L-rd. I feel like He is in it all. Little and big miracles have occurred, and I give Him all the glory. Your challenge today is to do the same.

Ekev - Day #2

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result  

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Deuteronomy 8:11–9:3

8:11 Beware lest you forget Hashem your Elohim, in not keeping His commandments, His ordinances, and His statutes, which I command you today; 12 lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built fine houses and lived in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 then your heart might be lifted up, and you forget Hashem your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; 15 who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with venomous snakes and scorpions, and thirsty ground where there was no water; who poured water for you out of the rock of flint; 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers didn’t know, that He might humble you, and that He might prove you, to do you good at your latter end; 17 and lest you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.” 18 But you shall remember Hashem your Elohim, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is today.

19 It shall be, if you shall forget Hashem your Elohim, and walk after other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you shall surely perish. 20 As the nations that Hashem makes to perish before you, so you shall perish, because you wouldn’t listen to Hashem your Elohim’s voice.

9:1 Hear, Israel! You are to pass over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to the sky, 2 a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard say, “Who can stand before the sons of Anak?” 3 Know therefore today that Hashem your Elohim is He who goes over before you as a devouring fire. He will destroy them, and He will bring them down before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as Hashem has spoken to you.

Today’s Meditation:

He goes before us. What need have we to worry about? Only there is a contingency in there. You have to keep His commandments, ordinances, and statutes. This theme is continuous throughout the book of Deuteronomy. It’s simple: obey and be blessed, disobey and suffer punishment. Look what 9:3 says, “Know therefore today that Hashem your Elohim is He who goes over before you as a devouring fire.” Not only will He protect you, but He will devour anything in His way. There is no greater protection in all the universe than this. Do you want Hashem to go before you in all you do? We all do, but it requires obedience.

Today’s Challenge:

This portion starts out with a pretty heavy-duty warning. In verse 11, we read, ”Beware lest you forget Hashem your Elohim.” And it goes on to say that when things are going really well, you have all the food, housing, jobs, everything you need, then you might forget Hashem. Is that possible? You know it is. I think of the times when things are going really well, and I might not spend so much time in prayer as I do when they are not. These are the times we are to praise Him, worship Him, and spend time praying for and helping those in need. That’s your challenge today. If you are in a good spot and have most of what you need, take some time to praise Hashem. Tell Him how much you love Him and adore Him. Try to find a way to help others who need it. 

Va'etchanan - Day #2

Va'etchanan וָאֶתְחַנַּן - Pleaded  

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

Deuteronomy 4:5–40

4:5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as Hashem our Elohim commanded me, that you should do so in the middle of the land where you go in to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who shall hear all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to them as Hashem our Elohim is whenever we call on him? 8 What great nation is there that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law which I set before you today?

9 Only be careful, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children’s children— 10 the day that you stood before Hashem your Elohim in Horeb, when Hashem said to me, “Assemble the people to me, and I will make them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.” 11 You came near and stood under the mountain. The mountain burned with fire to the heart of the sky, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. 12 Hashem spoke to you out of the middle of the fire: you heard the voice of words, but you saw no form; you only heard a voice. 13 He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even the Ten Commandments. He wrote them on two stone tablets. 14 Hashem commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances, that you might do them in the land where you go over to possess it. 15 Be very careful, for you saw no kind of form on the day that Hashem spoke to you in Horeb out of the middle of the fire, 16 lest you corrupt yourselves, and make yourself a carved image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, 17 the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky, 18 the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth; 19 and lest you lift up your eyes to the sky, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the army of the sky, you are drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which Hashem your Elohim has allotted to all the peoples under the whole sky. 20 But Hashem has taken you, and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be to him a people of inheritance, as it is today. 21 Furthermore Hashem was angry with me for your sakes, and swore that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not go in to that good land which Hashem your Elohim gives you for an inheritance; 22 but I must die in this land. I must not go over the Jordan, but you shall go over and possess that good land. 23 Be careful, lest you forget the covenant of Hashem your Elohim, which he made with you, and make yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which Hashem your Elohim has forbidden you. 24 For Hashem your Elohim is a devouring fire, a jealous G-d. 25 When you father children and children’s children, and you have been long in the land, and then corrupt yourselves, and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do that which is evil in Hashem your Elohim’s sight to provoke him to anger, 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will soon utterly perish from off the land which you go over the Jordan to possess it. You will not prolong your days on it, but will utterly be destroyed. 27 Hashem will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where Hashem will lead you away. 28 There you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. 29 But from there you shall seek Hashem your Elohim, and you will find Him when you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in oppression, and all these things have come on you, in the latter days you shall return to Hashem your Elohim and listen to His voice. 

31 For Hashem your Elohim is a merciful Elohim. He will not fail you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. 32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that Elohim created man on the earth, and from the one end of the sky to the other, whether there has been anything as great as this thing is, or has been heard like it? 33 Did a people ever hear the voice of Elohim speaking out of the middle of the fire, as you have heard, and live? 34 Or has Elohim tried to go and take a nation for himself from among another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand, by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that Hashem your Elohim did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 It was shown to you so that you might know that Hashem is Elohim. There is no one else besides Him. 36 Out of heaven He made you to hear His voice, that He might instruct you. On earth, He made you to see His great fire, and you heard His words out of the middle of the fire. 37 Because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their offspring after them, and brought you out with His presence, with His great power, out of Egypt; 38 to drive out nations from before you greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is today. 39 Know therefore today, and take it to heart, that Hashem Himself is Elohim in heaven above and on the earth beneath. There is no one else. 40 You shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you for all time.

Today's Meditation:

Verse 8 is very compelling: “What great nation is there that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law which I set before you today?” And it is so true. What group of people on this planet has such righteous laws as Israel? We should acknowledge and thank Hashem for our ability to connect and unite with the Torah. It makes us a people set apart who worship the one true Elohim. There is only one true Elohim. The Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And He has created unique and wonderful statutes and ordinances. We praise Adonai for this.

Today’s Challenge:

Who or what are we looking for? Verse 39 says it all, “Know therefore today, and take it to heart, that Hashem himself is Elohim in heaven above and on the earth beneath. There is no one else.” He is the One. And He is Elohim of heaven and earth. Think of that. He is the one and only Elohim of the planet Earth. He created and owns the earth. And if we really believe that, we need to take better care of what He has entrusted to us. That is my challenge to you today. Make sure your house is in order. And see if there is anything you can do for your community. Both your religious community and the physical community you live in. If you see a piece of paper or garbage on the ground, maybe pick it up. Let’s start with what Hashem has given us and take care of it. This will affect the rest of the world; it will make it better. 

Devarim - Day #2

Devarim דְּבָרִים - Words  

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22

Deuteronomy 1:11–21

1:11 Hashem, the Elohim of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, as He has promised you! 12 How can I myself alone bear your problems, your burdens, and your strife? 13 Take wise men of understanding who are respected among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.”

14 You answered me, and said, “The thing which you have spoken is good to do.” 15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and respected men, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, captains of hundreds, captains of fifties, captains of tens, and officers, according to your tribes. 16 I commanded your judges at that time, saying, “Hear cases between your brothers and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the foreigner who is living with him. 17 You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is Adonai’s. The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.” 18 I commanded you at that time all the things which you should do. 19 We traveled from Horeb and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which you saw, by the way to the hill country of the Amorites, as Hashem our Elohim commanded us; and we came to Kadesh Barnea. 20 I said to you, “You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which Hashem our Elohim gives to us. 21 Behold, Hashem our Elohim has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as Hashem our Elohim of your fathers has spoken to you. Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed.”

Today’s Meditation:

Moses delegated. He didn’t try to be a dictator; instead, I believe, he worked with a team. He picked leaders, who in turn picked leaders under them. They each worked with a portion of people so that it would never be overwhelming. The workload was shared. This was good for Moses, the leaders, and the people. And it is how we should do things now. If you are in a leadership role, I recommend you start delegating. Not to do so could burn you out. And not only that, but working as a team will help your business/project grow. Other people can bring new ideas and fresh insight. This is how Moses did it, and it might be good for you to do it this way, too.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 21, we read, “Behold, Hashem our Elohim has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as Hashem our Elohim of your fathers has spoken to you. Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed.” When Hashem calls you to do something or go somewhere, you must believe He will equip you properly and will accompany you. If you place your trust in Him, you do not have to fear or worry.  So, if you feel like Hashem is directing your path in a certain direction, have faith and go. Don’t be afraid or dismayed, He is right there with you. If you allow this to happen, you will be so amazed and happy. It is so much better to include and follow Hashem in all you do. Try to renew this commitment.

Matot-Massei - Day #2

Matot-Massei  

Torah Portion: Numbers 30:2-36:13

Numbers 31:13-54 

31:13 Moses and Eleazar the priest, with all the princes of the congregation, went out to meet them outside of the camp. 14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war. 15 Moses said to them, “Have you saved all the women alive? 16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Hashem in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Hashem. 17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him. 18 But all the girls, who have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

19 “Encamp outside of the camp for seven days. Whoever has killed any person, and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves on the third day and on the seventh day, you and your captives. 20 You shall purify every garment, and all that is made of skin, and all work of goats’ hair, and all things made of wood.”

21 Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who went to the battle, “This is the statute of the law which Hashem has commanded Moses. 22 However, the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead, 23 everything that may withstand the fire, you shall make to go through the fire, and it shall be clean; nevertheless, it shall be purified with the water for impurity. All that doesn’t withstand the fire you shall make to go through the water. 24 You shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you shall be clean. Afterward, you shall come into the camp.”

25 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 26 “Count the plunder that was taken, both of man and of animal, you, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the congregation; 27 and divide the plunder into two parts: between the men skilled in war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation. 28 Levy a tribute to Hashem of the men of war who went out to battle: one soul of five hundred; of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the flocks. 29 Take it from their half, and give it to Eleazar the priest, for Hashem’s wave offering. 30 Of the children of Israel’s half, you shall take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the flocks, of all the livestock, and give them to the Levites, who perform the duty of Hashem’s tabernacle.”

31 Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Hashem commanded Moses.

32 Now the plunder, over and above the booty which the men of war took, was six hundred seventy-five thousand sheep, 33 seventy-two thousand head of cattle, 34 sixty-one thousand donkeys, 35 and thirty-two thousand persons in all, of the women who had not known man by lying with him. 36 The half, which was the portion of those who went out to war, was in number three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep; 37 and Hashem’s tribute of the sheep was six hundred seventy-five. 38 The cattle were thirty-six thousand, of which Hashem’s tribute was seventy-two. 39 The donkeys were thirty thousand five hundred, of which Hashem’s tribute was sixty-one. 40 The persons were sixteen thousand, of whom Hashem’s tribute was thirty-two persons. 41 Moses gave the tribute, which was Hashem’s wave offering, to Eleazar the priest, as Hashem commanded Moses. 42 Of the children of Israel’s half, which Moses divided off from the men who fought 43 (now the congregation’s half was three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep, 44 thirty-six thousand head of cattle, 45 thirty thousand five hundred donkeys, 46 and sixteen thousand persons), 47 even of the children of Israel’s half, Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of animal, and gave them to the Levites, who performed the duty of Hashem’s tabernacle, as Hashem commanded Moses.

48 The officers who were over the thousands of the army, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near to Moses. 49 They said to Moses, “Your servants have taken the sum of the men of war who are under our command, and there lacks not one man of us. 50 We have brought Hashem’s offering, what every man found: gold ornaments, armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for our souls before Hashem.”

51 Moses and Eleazar the priest took their gold, even all worked jewels. 52 All the gold of the wave offering that they offered up to Hashem, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred fifty shekels. 53 The men of war had taken booty, every man for himself. 54 Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tent of Meeting for a memorial for the children of Israel before Hashem.

Today’s Meditation:

Today, we learn how to divide the plunder. What is so wonderful is that Hashem provides for the Levites, who did not go out to war. He takes care of everything for all His people. That is important to remember today. He provides for us every day. All we need is to trust in Him. 

Today’s Challenge:

It’s hard for us to understand war, as we have discussed before. This particular war is with the people who swayed the Israelites to sin with the prostitutes. This is the reason they go to war with the Midianites. We can only imagine how upset Hashem is with us when we sin in any area of our lives. He may not impose a plague on us, but He does allow us to suffer consequences. I can think of these times in my life, and they are not fun. My challenge today is to maybe review your life once again and fix your areas of sin. We want to be close to Hashem, not separated by sin.