{"id":46958,"date":"2019-01-06T22:56:47","date_gmt":"2019-01-06T20:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=46958"},"modified":"2022-07-31T15:55:56","modified_gmt":"2022-07-31T12:55:56","slug":"israelites-on-the-march","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/israelites-on-the-march\/","title":{"rendered":"Israelites On The March"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Parashat Be-ha\u2019alotkha <\/span><\/i>takes us back to the Israelites\u2019 journey in the wilderness: \u201cIn the second year, on the twentieth day of the second month, the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle of the Pact and the Israelites set out on their journeys\u201d (10:11\u201312). This text, which marks the onset of the Israelites\u2019 wanderings, also describes their order of march. We then come to two verses that are enclosed by the letter <\/span>nun<\/span><\/i>, large and inverted, on either side, seemingly like parentheses. \u201cWhen the Ark was to set out, Moses would say: \u2018Advance O Lord. May your enemies be scattered! And may Your foes flee before You.\u2019 And when it halted, he would say: \u2018Return O Lord, You who are Israel\u2019s myriads of thousands\u2019\u201d (10: 35\u201336).<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is this particular passage uniquely marked and inserted at this point in the Israelites\u2019 travel log?<\/span><\/p>\n

The painting represents a model of the Israelites\u2019 march, which reflects the passage: \u201cWhen the Ark was to set out.\u201d The picture is divided into two registers to be followed from right to left, top to bottom. We see the marching tribes advancing on a very narrow brown band, alluding to the transitory nature of their wanderings. They have left the safety of their encampment and are now moving on \u201ceach in position\u201d much more exposed to all the dangers of travel in the hostile lands of the wilderness. Moreover, they are out of sight of the Tabernacle and the other tribes. The bearded figures are seen in profile, figured in a minimalistic fashion, wearing sleeveless striped gowns, holding their tribal flags in a procession reminiscent of Assyrian- and Babylonian-style parades.<\/span><\/p>\n

The portrayal on the top far right is the Tabernacle with the cloud of God rising above it. The tribe of Judah is leading the march; then we see four priests dressed in red-striped gowns, which distinguish the Levites from the other tribes, followed by the tribe of Reuven. The priests are carrying the Ark on their shoulders by means of the permanently attached staves (<\/span>badim<\/span><\/i>). The winged cherubim on the Ark cover are facing each other. The lower register continues the procession showing the tribes of Ephraim and Dan ahead and behind two wagons with the other Tabernacle furnishings being pulled by oxen..<\/span><\/p>\n

This scene of the procession hints at Moses\u2019 prayer as the journey begins and the need for God\u2019s protection for the people marching with the Ark. Moses approaches the holy Ark and entreats God to \u201crise up\u201d \u2013 <\/span>kuma<\/span><\/i> \u2013 along with the cloud and scatter the Israelites\u2019 enemies, who are also the Lord\u2019s enemies. The passage\u2019s concluding verse implores God again to \u201creturn\u201d (<\/span>shuva<\/span><\/i>), that is, to rest and reside among the nation of the many thousands of Israelites, who, with His help, will swell in numbers. <\/span><\/p>\n

In today\u2019s synagogue services, the first verse is recited when a Torah scroll is taken out of the Ark and the second verse is said when the scroll is returned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Artwork by: Avner Moriah, by courtesy of the artist<\/p>\n

Text by: Dr. Shulamit Laderman, who holds a\u00a0<\/span>PhD in Art History and has published extensively on Jewish and Christian influences on biblical interpretive illustration.<\/p>\n

For the entire weekly portion series, please visit: <\/span>https:\/\/avnermoriahprints.com\/collections\/parasha<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":47021,"id":47021,"title":"Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha","filename":"Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/israelites-on-the-march\/num10-be-haalotkha\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"num10-be-haalotkha","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":46958,"date":"2019-01-06 20:56:30","modified":"2019-01-06 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