Photo Courtesy -http://thisurbansurvivalist.blogspot.com
The Hebrew title of the Sabbath Torah portions comes from a word or words in the beginning of the portion. Since this is the first third of the first portion of the book of Numbers, Bemidbar is the Hebrew name for this entire book of the Bible meaning, “In the desert.” The English name comes from the Greek version of the Old Testament called The Septuagint. Much of the book deals with census-taking and other numberings.
Names and dates give orientation to the plans that God has for the people, such as the entry into the Promised Land and the preparation of the armies to bring this about.
Take a census—an inventory, of all that you have with you that the Lord can use as you enter into the spiritual battle for God’s people, bringing them into the Promised Land of the resurrection.
What are these?
Counted among Your people v. 2ff
Inventory of the soul
Watching o’er my inner house v. 50
Knowing my place in Your plan v. 52
Saturdays are dedicated to the Sabbath Torah portions
read in synagogues throughout the world.
This plan follows those traditions that take a third of the portion
over a three year cycle, this year, the third part.
For more about the Torah portions and thoughtful commentaries, visit
The Jewish Theological Seminary.
The Firestarters and readings are posted in the timezone UTC+12,
so that they are available in New Zealand and other regions
near the International Date Line.