民數記18:12

 

凡油中、新酒中、五穀中至好的，就是以色列人所獻給耶和華初熟之物，我都賜給你。

I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the Lord as the firstfruits of their harvest.

 

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    上帝對利未人是多麼的看顧，凡人獻給上帝的，都是利未人可以享受的！

 

    雖然利未人沒有土地為財產，上帝卻是他們的分，他們永遠的供應者！正如經文所說：「凡油中、新酒中、五穀中至好的，就是以色列人所獻給耶和華初熟之物，我都賜給你。」

 

    大衛的詩篇也說：「耶和華的聖民哪，你們當敬畏他，因敬畏他的一無所缺。少壯獅子還缺食忍餓，但尋求耶和華的甚麼好處都不缺。」（34:9-10）

 

    讓我們存著敬畏的心來親近上帝，享受上帝在基督裡所預備的一切福分！祂必豐富供應我們，使我們得享美物，更享受祂的同在！

 

 

 

民數記36:1-13

36:1 約瑟的後裔，瑪拿西的孫子，瑪吉的兒子基列，他子孫中的諸族長來到摩西和作首領的以色列人族長面前，說：
36:2 「耶和華曾吩咐我主拈鬮分地給以色列人為業，我主也受了耶和華的吩咐將我們兄弟西羅非哈的產業分給他的眾女兒。
36:3 她們若嫁以色列別支派的人，就必將我們祖宗所遺留的產業加在她們丈夫支派的產業中。這樣，我們拈鬮所得的產業就要減少了。
36:4 到了以色列人的禧年，這女兒的產業就必加在她們丈夫支派的產業上。這樣，我們祖宗支派的產業就減少了。」
36:5 摩西照耶和華的話吩咐以色列人說：「約瑟支派的人說得有理。
36:6 論到西羅非哈的眾女兒，耶和華這樣吩咐說：她們可以隨意嫁人，只是要嫁同宗支派的人。
36:7 這樣，以色列人的產業就不從這支派歸到那支派，因為以色列人要各守各祖宗支派的產業。
36:8 凡在以色列支派中得了產業的女子必作同宗支派人的妻，好叫以色列人各自承受他祖宗的產業。
36:9 這樣，他們的產業就不從這支派歸到那支派，因為以色列支派的人要各守各的產業。」
36:10 耶和華怎樣吩咐摩西，西羅非哈的眾女兒就怎樣行。
36:11 西羅非哈的女兒瑪拉、得撒、曷拉、密迦、挪阿都嫁了他們伯叔的兒子。
36:12 她們嫁入約瑟兒子、瑪拿西子孫的族中；她們的產業仍留在同宗支派中。
36:13 這是耶和華在摩押平原─約旦河邊、耶利哥對面─藉著摩西所吩咐以色列人的命令典章。

The family heads of the clan of Gilead son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, who were from the clans of the descendants of Joseph, came and spoke before Moses and the leaders, the heads of the Israelite families. ² They said, “When the Lord commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance to the Israelites by lot, he ordered you to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. ³ Now suppose they marry men from other Israelite tribes; then their inheritance will be taken from our ancestral inheritance and added to that of the tribe they marry into. And so part of the inheritance allotted to us will be taken away. ⁴ When the Year of Jubilee for the Israelites comes, their inheritance will be added to that of the tribe into which they marry, and their property will be taken from the tribal inheritance of our ancestors.”

⁵ Then at the Lord’s command Moses gave this order to the Israelites: “What the tribe of the descendants of Joseph is saying is right. ⁶ This is what the Lord commands for Zelophehad’s daughters: They may marry anyone they please as long as they marry within their father’s tribal clan. ⁷ No inheritance in Israel is to pass from one tribe to another, for every Israelite shall keep the tribal inheritance of their ancestors. ⁸ Every daughter who inherits land in any Israelite tribe must marry someone in her father’s tribal clan, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of their ancestors. ⁹ No inheritance may pass from one tribe to another, for each Israelite tribe is to keep the land it inherits.”

¹⁰ So Zelophehad’s daughters did as the Lord commanded Moses. ¹¹ Zelophehad’s daughters—Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milkah and Noah—married their cousins on their father’s side. ¹² They married within the clans of the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in their father’s tribe and clan.

¹³ These are the commands and regulations the Lord gave through Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.

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    以色列人對於土地的分配是以支派為主要的因素，所以有繼承權的女子不可嫁給其他支派的人，以免土地流落到別的支派。

民數記35:1-34

35:1 耶和華在摩押平原─約旦河邊、耶利哥對面曉諭摩西說：
35:2 「你吩咐以色列人，要從所得為業的地中把些城給利未人居住，也要把這城四圍的郊野給利未人。
35:3 這城邑要歸他們居住，城邑的郊野可以牧養他們的牛羊和各樣的牲畜，又可以安置他們的財物。
35:4 你們給利未人的郊野，要從城根起，四圍往外量一千肘。
35:5 另外東量二千肘，南量二千肘，西量二千肘，北量二千肘，為邊界，城在當中；這要歸他們作城邑的郊野。
35:6 你們給利未人的城邑，其中當有六座逃城，使誤殺人的可以逃到那裡。此外還要給他們四十二座城。
35:7 你們要給利未人的城，共有四十八座，連城帶郊野都要給他們。
35:8 以色列人所得的地業從中要把些城邑給利未人；人多的就多給，人少的就少給；各支派要按所承受為業之地把城邑給利未人。」
35:9 耶和華曉諭摩西說：
35:10 「你吩咐以色列人說：你們過約旦河，進了迦南地，
35:11 就要分出幾座城，為你們作逃城，使誤殺人的可以逃到那裡。
35:12 這些城可以作逃避報仇人的城，使誤殺人的不至於死，等他站在會眾面前聽審判。
35:13 你們所分出來的城，要作六座逃城。
35:14 在約旦河東要分出三座城，在迦南地也要分出三座城，都作逃城。
35:15 這六座城要給以色列人和他們中間的外人，並寄居的，作為逃城，使誤殺人的都可以逃到那裡。
35:16 「倘若人用鐵器打人，以致打死，他就是故殺人的；故殺人的必被治死。
35:17 若用可以打死人的石頭打死了人，他就是故殺人的；故殺人的必被治死。
35:18 若用可以打死人的木器打死了人，他就是故殺人的；故殺人的必被治死。
35:19 報血仇的必親自殺那故殺人的，一遇見就殺他。
35:20 人若因怨恨把人推倒，或是埋伏往人身上扔物，以致於死，
35:21 或是因仇恨用手打人，以致於死，那打人的必被治死。他是故殺人的；報血仇的一遇見就殺他。
35:22 「倘若人沒有仇恨，忽然將人推倒，或是沒有埋伏把物扔在人身上，
35:23 或是沒有看見的時候用可以打死人的石頭扔在人身上，以致於死，本來與他無仇，也無意害他。
35:24 會眾就要照典章，在打死人的和報血仇的中間審判。
35:25 會眾要救這誤殺人的脫離報血仇人的手，也要使他歸入逃城。他要住在其中，直等到受聖膏的大祭司死了。
35:26 但誤殺人的，無論甚麼時候，若出了逃城的境外，
35:27 報血仇的在逃城境外遇見他，將他殺了，報血仇的就沒有流血之罪。
35:28 因為誤殺人的該住在逃城裡，等到大祭司死了。大祭司死了以後，誤殺人的才可以回到他所得為業之地。
35:29 這在你們一切的住處，要作你們世世代代的律例典章。
35:30 「無論誰故殺人，要憑幾個見證人的口把那故殺人的殺了，只是不可憑一個見證的口叫人死。
35:31 故殺人、犯死罪的，你們不可收贖價代替他的命；他必被治死。
35:32 那逃到逃城的人，你們不可為他收贖價，使他在大祭司未死以先再來住在本地。
35:33 這樣，你們就不污穢所住之地，因為血是污穢地的；若有在地上流人血的，非流那殺人者的血，那地就不得潔淨（原文是贖）。
35:34 你們不可玷污所住之地，就是我住在其中之地，因為我─耶和華住在以色列人中間。」

On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, the Lord said to Moses, ² “Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands around the towns. ³ Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for the cattle they own and all their other animals.

⁴ “The pasturelands around the towns that you give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits from the town wall. ⁵ Outside the town, measure two thousand cubits on the east side, two thousand on the south side, two thousand on the west and two thousand on the north, with the town in the center. They will have this area as pastureland for the towns.

⁶ “Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. In addition, give them forty-two other towns. ⁷ In all you must give the Levites forty-eight towns, together with their pasturelands. ⁸ The towns you give the Levites from the land the Israelites possess are to be given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: Take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few.”

⁹ Then the Lord said to Moses: ¹⁰ “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, ¹¹ select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee. ¹² They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly. ¹³ These six towns you give will be your cities of refuge. ¹⁴ Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge. ¹⁵ These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there.

¹⁶ “‘If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. ¹⁷ Or if anyone is holding a stone and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. ¹⁸ Or if anyone is holding a wooden object and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. ¹⁹ The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when the avenger comes upon the murderer, the avenger shall put the murderer to death. ²⁰ If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally so that they die ²¹ or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death; that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet.

²² “‘But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally ²³ or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, ²⁴ the assembly must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. ²⁵ The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.

²⁶ “‘But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which they fled ²⁷ and the avenger of blood finds them outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder. ²⁸ The accused must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may they return to their own property.

²⁹ “‘This is to have the force of law for you throughout the generations to come, wherever you live.

³⁰ “‘Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

³¹ “‘Do not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. They are to be put to death.

³² “‘Do not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge and so allow them to go back and live on their own land before the death of the high priest.

³³ “‘Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. ³⁴ Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the Lord, dwell among the Israelites.’”

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    上帝對利未人的照顧十分有加，讓他們可以安心服事上帝和以色列百姓，賜給他們48座城，其中還有六座是逃城，可以讓因某些因素過失殺人的人有地方可躲避。這是一個很好的制度，對於無辜的人有所保護作用。

    說到逃城，讓人覺得教會需要扮演逃城的角色，可以設立機構，讓一些社會無法接納的人，有一個生存的空間，這也是一種生命的保護，也是展現上帝的憐憫與恩典之處。畢竟人事百百種，總是有一些比較特殊的人。但是現實社會常常不能容許這些少數的人，甚至殘害他們。教會既然是基督在世上的代表，更是要發揮庇謢的功能。

    願上帝賜下智慧和各樣的專業知識，也呼召有能力可以照護的同工，讓人感受到上帝的奇妙大愛。

民數記34:1-29

34:1 耶和華曉諭摩西說：
34:2 「你吩咐以色列人說：你們到了迦南地，就是歸你們為業的迦南四境之地，
34:3 南角要從尋的曠野，貼著以東的邊界；南界要從鹽海東頭起，
34:4 繞到亞克拉濱坡的南邊，接連到尋，直通到加低斯‧巴尼亞的南邊，又通到哈薩‧亞達，接連到押們，
34:5 從押們轉到埃及小河，直通到海為止。
34:6 「西邊要以大海為界；這就是你們的西界。
34:7 「北界要從大海起，劃到何珥山，
34:8 從何珥山劃到哈馬口，通到西達達，
34:9 又通到西斐崙，直到哈薩‧以難。這要作你們的北界。
34:10 「你們要從哈薩‧以難劃到示番為東界。
34:11 這界要從示番下到亞延東邊的利比拉，又要達到基尼烈湖的東邊。
34:12 這界要下到約旦河，通到鹽海為止。這四圍的邊界以內，要作你們的地。」
34:13 摩西吩咐以色列人說：「這地就是耶和華吩咐拈鬮給九個半支派承受為業的；
34:14 因為流便支派和迦得支派按著宗族受了產業，瑪拿西半個支派也受了產業。
34:15 這兩個半支派已經在耶利哥對面、約旦河東、向日出之地受了產業。」
34:16 耶和華曉諭摩西說：
34:17 「要給你們分地為業之人的名字是祭司以利亞撒和嫩的兒子約書亞。
34:18 又要從每支派中選一個首領幫助他們。
34:19 這些人的名字：猶大支派有耶孚尼的兒子迦勒。
34:20 西緬支派有亞米忽的兒子示母利。
34:21 便雅憫支派有基斯倫的兒子以利達。
34:22 但支派有一個首領，約利的兒子布基。
34:23 約瑟的子孫瑪拿西支派有一個首領，以弗的兒子漢聶。
34:24 以法蓮支派有一個首領，拾弗但的兒子基母利。
34:25 西布倫支派有一個首領，帕納的兒子以利撒番。
34:26 以薩迦支派有一個首領，阿散的兒子帕鐵。
34:27 亞設支派有一個首領，示羅米的兒子亞希忽。
34:28 拿弗他利支派有一個首領，亞米忽的兒子比大黑。
34:29 這些人就是耶和華所吩咐、在迦南地把產業分給以色列人的。

The Lord said to Moses, ² “Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance is to have these boundaries:

³ “‘Your southern side will include some of the Desert of Zin along the border of Edom. Your southern boundary will start in the east from the southern end of the Dead Sea, ⁴ cross south of Scorpion Pass, continue on to Zin and go south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it will go to Hazar Addar and over to Azmon, ⁵ where it will turn, join the Wadi of Egypt and end at the Mediterranean Sea.

⁶ “‘Your western boundary will be the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This will be your boundary on the west.

⁷ “‘For your northern boundary, run a line from the Mediterranean Sea to Mount Hor ⁸ and from Mount Hor to Lebo Hamath. Then the boundary will go to Zedad, ⁹ continue to Ziphron and end at Hazar Enan. This will be your boundary on the north.

¹⁰ “‘For your eastern boundary, run a line from Hazar Enan to Shepham. ¹¹ The boundary will go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Galilee.^{[a] 12} Then the boundary will go down along the Jordan and end at the Dead Sea.

“‘This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side.’”

¹³ Moses commanded the Israelites: “Assign this land by lot as an inheritance. The Lord has ordered that it be given to the nine and a half tribes, ¹⁴ because the families of the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance. ¹⁵ These two and a half tribes have received their inheritance east of the Jordan across from Jericho, toward the sunrise.”

¹⁶ The Lord said to Moses, ¹⁷ “These are the names of the men who are to assign the land for you as an inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun. ¹⁸ And appoint one leader from each tribe to help assign the land. ¹⁹ These are their names:

Caleb son of Jephunneh,

from the tribe of Judah;

²⁰ Shemuel son of Ammihud,

from the tribe of Simeon;

²¹ Elidad son of Kislon,

from the tribe of Benjamin;

²² Bukki son of Jogli,

the leader from the tribe of Dan;

²³ Hanniel son of Ephod,

the leader from the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph;

²⁴ Kemuel son of Shiphtan,

the leader from the tribe of Ephraim son of Joseph;

²⁵ Elizaphan son of Parnak,

the leader from the tribe of Zebulun;

²⁶ Paltiel son of Azzan,

the leader from the tribe of Issachar;

²⁷ Ahihud son of Shelomi,

the leader from the tribe of Asher;

²⁸ Pedahel son of Ammihud,

the leader from the tribe of Naphtali.”

²⁹ These are the men the Lord commanded to assign the inheritance to the Israelites in the land of Canaan.

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    雖然尚未進入迦南地，但是上帝透過摩西的曉諭，讓以色列人肯定將來必得那裏為業，因為上帝的應許是不會落空的，是必定會實現的！也因為這樣，以色列人做好準備了，也選好各族的族長以及整個以色列的領袖和大祭司。

    而從以色列人的肯定，也讓我們肯定耶穌基督必定再來，而上帝國必定完全實現，絕對不會落空的！雖然這事還沒發生，也沒有人確切知道主耶穌哪時候會再來，但是主耶穌再來，上帝完全實現，必定會發生的，你有準備好迎接主的再來嗎？

    雖然有需多的戰爭與災禍發生，都提醒我們主耶穌快再來的，而主耶穌也必定會再來的，你有沒有忠心位主而活？有沒有確實彼此相愛呢？更重要你有沒有愛主耶穌，盼望與祂永遠同在嗎？