Parashat Behaalot’ha (When You Kindle)

Bamidbar (Numbers) 8:1–12:6
As I was reading the Parasha for this week, one verse jumped out at me:

They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break a bone of it; according to all the statute of the Passover they shall observe it.
Numbers 9:12

In Hebrew, this verse is:

לֹֽא־יַשְׁאִ֤ירוּ מִמֶּנּוּ֙ עַד־בֹּקֶר וְעֶ֖צֶם לֹ֣א יִשְׁבְּרוּ־ב֑וֹ כְּכָל־חֻקַּת הַפֶּסַח יַעֲשׂ֥וּ אֹתֽוֹ׃

I would like to translate the verse slightly differently than most translations do: “They shall leave none of him until morning, and a bone they shall not break in him, according to all of the statutes of the Passover, they shall make it….” While this verse specifically refers to the Passover Lamb that the Children of Israel were commanded to eat in observation of the Passover, does this not sound like an account that is recorded in the book of John 19:31–37? Let’s take a look at that passage:

The Jews therefore, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and they might be taken away.  The soldiers therefore came, and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other man who was crucified with Him; but coming to Yeshua, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs; but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water. And he who has seen has borne witness, and his witness is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. For these things came to pass, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.” And again another Scripture says, “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.

My dear brothers and sisters, this is yet one more proof of the amazing work of our Messiah. HE is the fulfillment of the Passover Lamb that was foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures. HE alone completes the work of redemption in His death and resurrection from the grave!

Shabbat Shalom,
Moran

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2 Comments on “Parashat Behaalot’ha (When You Kindle)”

  1. The Holy Scriptural faith is taking shape, coming to life to all desiring to understand more of it. Amen.
    Thank you Brother Moran for the parahat.

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