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From Behind the Veil: The Epistles of John
Deep Exegesis:The Mystery of Reading Scripture
1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary
The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter
A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons
Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature
Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen
The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism
A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel
From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution
Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy
Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper
A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament
Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature
Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life
The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
When you enter the land, Yahweh says, you will offer ascension offers with tributes of grain and with wine. The wine is the new thing, the addition to Yahweh’s diet as Israel enters the land.
Yahweh is the model Nazirite, refraining from wine and strong drink until He has driven out the Canaanites and brought His people into the land.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 5:19 am
Jordan’s reflections on “leprosy” help to explain why Miriam, and not Aaron, becomes leprous in Numbers 12.
Jordan notes that the term for “plague” used in Leviticus 13 is actually “touch,” and suggests that the leper is “touched” by Yahweh, sometimes in response to sacrilege, a violation of God’s holiness. Touch Yahweh’s stuff; Yahweh touches you.
This touch communicates holiness, in part or in whole. When the “leper” becomes completely covered with white skin, he is pronounced clean; he is wholly holy, and is able to function in the sanctuary without fear. In other words, the complete “leper” is analogous to the high priest, clothed in skin of glorious white.
Now apply this to Numbers 12: Aaron is already holy, already touched by Yahweh. He and Miriam both lay a finger on Yahweh’s designated leader. But Aaron is already “white” with priestly garments; so only Miriam is touched with leprosy.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 5:01 pm
In Numbers 12, Miriam and Aaron object to Moses’ Cushite wife. Miriam becomes leprous, is excluded from the camp, and restored on the eighth day.
That is to say: The Messiah’s Jewish sister objects to the Gentile bride, and is cast out of the camp, but then she is cleansed and restored.
And so all Israel will be saved.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Thursday, November 8, 2007 at 4:29 pm
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