So They Started Out For the First Time According to the Command of the LORD By the Hand of Moses: Numbers 10:11-36

Numbers 10:11-36: "11 Now it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle of the Testimony. 12 And the children of Israel set out from the Wilderness of Sinai on their journeys; then the cloud settled down in the Wilderness of Paran. 13 So they started out for the first time according to the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 14 The standard of the camp of the children of Judah set out first according to their armies; over their army was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar. 16 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. 17 Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set out, carrying the tabernacle. 18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben set out according to their armies; over their army was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 21 Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. (The tabernacle would be prepared for their arrival.) 22 And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set out according to their armies; over their army was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. 25 Then the standard of the camp of the children of Dan (the rear guard of all the camps) set out according to their armies; over their army was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 Over the army of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. 27 And over the army of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 28 Thus was the order of march of the children of Israel, according to their armies, when they began their journey. 29 Now Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, 'We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said, "I will give it to you." Come with us, and we will treat you well; for the LORD has promised good things to Israel.' 30 And he said to him, 'I will not go, but I will depart to my own land and to my relatives.' 31 So Moses said, 'Please do not leave, inasmuch as you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. 32 And it shall be, if you go with us--indeed it shall be--that whatever good the LORD will do to us, the same we will do to you.' 33 So they departed from the mountain of the LORD on a journey of three days; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them for the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them. 34 And the cloud of the LORD was above them by day when they went out from the camp. 35 So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said: 'Rise up, O LORD! Let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You.' 36 And when it rested, he said: 'Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel.'"

In today's reading from the Old Testament we see the order and structure with which the Lord has arranged the marching of the tribes of Israel. Notice the time that they have sojourned in the wilderness so far, after leaving Egypt. A year, two months, and twenty days have passed since they left Egypt. It has taken them this long to make all the preparations necessary that our Lord God wanted accomplished in order for Him to be their God, and lead them into the promised land of Canaan. This lectionary doesn't go into all minutia of the Law, and all the details that were required by our Lord God in the building and preparation of the Tabernacle, and other holy things. But from the time line we can see that it took some time for these things to be ordered and completed. And now that all those preparations have been completed, the Israelites begin their march toward Canaan.

We are told that the Israelites left the Wilderness of Sinai and went to the Wilderness of Paran. This is just a summary of the entire journey, for we learn in a later chapter that they stopped at one other place along the way, i.e., Hazeroth. But the entire journey is summed up by Moses, because the Wilderness of Paran is where the twelve spies were sent out into the land of Canaan. So that where they made preparations, and the land where they were told that they would spend the remainder of forty years wandering in the wilderness because of their unbelief are mentioned by Moses.

Another interesting thing about this pericope is the order of the march of the Israelites. The sons of Judah, being the rightful heir, lead the procession. Being flanked by Zebulun and Issachar's children on the left and the right. Then the Gershonites and Merarites of the tribe of the Levites, charged with the task of carrying the Tabernacle of Meeting. These would go before the Israelites to find a suitable place to camp, and would be able to set up the Tabernacle of Meeting, before the Holy Things arrived.

Next came the tribe of Reuben, flanked by Gad and Simeon. Following them, would come the Kohathites of the tribe of Levi, who had been charged with the task of carrying the Holy Things, the instruments for use in the Tabernacle of Meeting. When they arrived at the camp, the Gershonites and Merarities having already set up the Tabernacle, the Kohathites could place these sacred items directly into the Tent of Meeting.

The next group was the tribe of Ephraim, flanked by Manasseh and Benjamin. All these were the sons born to Rachel. Ephraim and Manasseh being sons of Joseph. Finally, in the rear, was Dan, flanked by Asher and Naphtali. The tribe of Dan was in charge of keeping the entire host of Israel together. That is, so that none got left behind.

Therefore, twelve tribes marched in four groups of three, with the Levites, carrying the Tabernacle of Meeting, and the Sacred Things for the Tabernacle between Judah and Reuben, respectively.

In front of them all, was the Ark of the Covenant. And above the Ark was the pillar of cloud that first led them out of Egypt. When the Israelites had left Egypt, they were led by a pillar of cloud by day and by a pillar of fire at night. These pillars were the embodiment of our Lord God, now, He would lead them by the carrying of His throne, the Ark of the Covenant. And the pillar of cloud, being above the Ark, would lead and direct the Ark-bearers where to go. He would go before them, and find them a suitable place to rest and camp. Therefore, our Lord God leads His people, just as He leads us today by His holy Word and Sacraments, showing us the way of salvation, and giving us a place of rest and comfort from the wilderness of the sin-parched life.

God be with you!

Deacon Dulas

After These Things the Lord Appointed Seventy Others Also: St. Luke 10:1-22

St. Luke 10:1-22: "1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, 'The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace to this house." 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, "The kingdom of God has come near to you." 10 But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 "The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you." 12 But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. 13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. 16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.' 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.' 18 And He said to them, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.' 21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, 'I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 22 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.'"

After our Lord Jesus has firmly set His face to go to Jerusalem, He sends out seventy disciples to preach that the kingdom of God was at hand. It is interesting that the Evangelist records this narrative, for according to certain Early Fathers, St. Luke (and St. Mark), was one of these seventy chosen by our Lord to be sent out. This is interesting, because the same Early Fathers record for us that St. Luke (and St. Mark) was a part of the group of followers of our Lord Jesus Christ who after hearing the words of our Lord recorded in the Gospel of St. John, the sixth chapter, left our Lord Jesus. We are told that St. Luke (and St. Mark) returned later, repenting of his sin, and became a writer of the Gospel.

This is mentioned, because some manuscripts say the seventy, and others seventy-two. Well, why the difference? The explanation given by these Fathers is that certain manuscripts leave out the two who left our Lord after the events in St. John chapter 6. That is, St. Luke and St. Mark are not included in the numbering of some manuscripts, and in other manuscripts they are.

If the report of those certain Early Fathers is accurate (see Hippolytus and Eusebius), then we can assume that the Evangelist St. Luke had a first hand knowledge of the event recorded in this pericope, because he was there. Regardless, there are some differences to be noted between our Lord sending out the twelve Apostles, and the sending of these seventy (or seventy-two) disciples. There are also some similarities.

They, like the Apostles, were not to bring anything with them. They were also not to speak to anyone that they met along the way. This means that they were sent to certain places and individuals, not just to whomever they met. There is no standing on a street corner with a big sign, or a megaphone for the Apostles and theses seventy disciples. Our Lord tasks them with preaching to certain people, and at certain times.

Another similarity between the Apostles and the seventy were that those cities which did not receive them, were to be publicly admonished by the shaking of the dust from their feet, and the proclamation against the particular city.

However, unlike the Apostles, wherever they ended up, they were to stay there. And receive whatever wages those who welcomed them would give them. The Apostles were to go from town to town, the seventy disciples were to find a town that would welcome them to hear the Gospel, and stay there. From this difference we can see that the seventy disciples were not tasked by our Lord, in the same way that the Apostles were tasked.

St. Augustine states that these seventy (in his reading from a different variation on the text he states the seveny-two) represent the second order of clergy, namely, the presbyters, or priests. The Apostles represented the order of Bishops. Therefore, the seventy's calling and sending did not involve tasks that belonged to the Apostles. Just like the Apostles had tasks that were specific to them alone. St. Cyril also makes this distinction adding that Moses prefigured this calling of the seventy when he chose seventy Israelites, by the command of God, to pour out His Spirit. St. Cyril goes on to say that this was also prefigured in the Book of Moses, commonly called Numbers, when they reached Elim, and there were twelve fountains of water, and seventy palms. Hearing him in is own words is best:

"In the book of Numbers also it was written of the children of Israel, that they came to Elim, which is by interpretation 'ascent,' and there were there twelve fountains of water, and seventy palm trees. For when we fly to spiritual refreshment, we shall find twelve fountains, namely, the holy Apostles, from whom we imbibe the knowledge of salvation as from the well-springs of the Saviour; and seventy palms, that is, those who were now appointed by Christ. For the palm is a tree of sound core, striking deep root and fruitful, always growing by the water side, yet at the same time putting forth its leaves upwards."

Thus far St. Cyril. What a lovely comparison! The words of the Apostles, which became for us the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament are the words by which we learn of our Lord Jesus, and what He has done, and does for us. And our Lord plants palms, that is ministers of His Word, next to those holy streams of His salvation, to proclaim to all that the stream of salvation is nearby, for a palm tree always grows near the water.

Therefore we have water and palms to lead us to our Lord Jesus, and quench our sin-parched lips with the refreshing Gospel of forgiveness, life and salvation. And these ministers of God, who today, like the seventy of this account, are called to one place, and serve those who would receive them, and they gladly receive whatever wage is offered to them, all so that those might hear that the kingdom of God is at hand, that is, that our Lord Jesus has come, and He has fulfilled the Law perfectly for us, and suffered and died in our place, so that we might have forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation.

May God be with you!

Deacon Dulas