(51) When the Mishkan is to set out, the Leviim shall take it down, and when the Mishkan is to be pitched, the Leviim shall set it up; any outsider who comes close shall be put to death.
(13) no hand shall touch it (Har Sinai), but he shall be either stoned or shot; beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they may go up on the mountain.”
(20) But let not [the Kohanim] go inside and witness the dismantling of the Kodesh, lest they die.
(21) The LORD said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people not to break through to the LORD to gaze, lest many of them perish.
(5) as you discharge the duties connected with the Kodesh and the altar, that wrath may not again strike the Jewish people.
(22) The Kohanim also, who come near the LORD, must stay pure, lest the LORD break out against them.”
(24) So the LORD said to him, “Go down, and come back together with Aaron; but let not the priests or the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest He break out against them.”
| and while carrying | ובשאת | it explained | ביאר |
| greatness | מעלה | the laws of | תורת |
| can't compare | אינו דומה | began | התחיל |
| palace | פלטרין | to organize | לסדר |
| there is | יש | that were commanded | שנצטוו |
| there is not | אין | already | כבר |
| temporary commandments | במצוות שעה | warned | הזהיר |
| that were commanded | שמצטוו | its holy objects | קדשיו |
| while they were | בעמדם | for future generations | לדורות |
| to show wonders | להפליא | set boundaries | יגביל |
| began | החל | while it was | בהיותו |
| their enemies | אויביהם | just like | כאשר |
| in war | לחרב | the guarding of | משמרת |
| practiced | נוהגות | and its vessels | וכליו |
| besides for | זולתי | they camped | יחנו |
| a small amount | קצת | that came close | הנגשים |
| completed | נשלם | they should behave | יתנהגו |
| while it was resting | בחנותו |
1. What is the main topic of ספר במדבר?
2. What parallel does the רמב״ן make between the משכן and הר סיני?
3. What is unique about ספר במדבר, in contrast the other חומשים in תורה?
Chavrusa Checklist:
- Read through the רמב״ן using the hard words list and guiding questions to help you. Answer the questions as you go along.
- Look up each of the quoted פסוקים in its source. Write next to each פסוק what the רמב״ן brought that פסוק in to prove.