What’s in a number and a name?
In this week’s Parasha (weekly Torah Portion), which is found in Numbers 1:1-4:20, God instructs Moses to take a census of the sons of Israel. God also gives Moses specific instructions regarding how the twelve tribes and the Levites should camp around the Tabernacle and how they should set out in an orderly fashion.
Both in size and status one tribe stood out above the rest, the tribe of Judah. Judah was the largest amongst the tribes having a total number of 74,600 males from twenty years old and upward (2:26-27). God choose Judah to be the lead tribe when they were to set out (2:9). In battle Judah was also the tribe to go up first (Judges 1:2).
Why was Judah set apart above the other tribes?
It all started at Judah’s birth. Judah was not the firstborn of his mother Leah, in fact, he was the fourth born. Leah named her first three sons in direct relation to a competition with her sister for the love of their husband, Jacob. However, when Judah was born she did not name him out of rivalry but rather out of praise or thanks to God, which is what “Judah” means. Judah was set apart from his brothers at birth.
Later on, when Jacob blessed his twelve sons, Judah received a blessing, which again set him apart from his brothers and raised him up above the others (Gen. 49:8). Judah also received the blessing of the kingdom, from which we know the Messiah was to inherit (Gen. 49:10).
The significance of Judah is not to be missed. Judah means “praise or thanks to God.” In the name “Judah” God is magnified. The children of Israel were to continually remember that it is God Himself that gives them the victory and not their own strength. This is why the tribe of Judah was always to set out first. The Messiah also came through the tribe of Judah to remind us that God Himself receives the praise and thanks for our salvation and deliverance.
May praise to God always be at the center of all that we do!
Shabbat Shalom!
Torah portion: Numbers 1:1-4:20
Haftarah portion: Hosea 2:1-22
How beautifully simple! Make praise to God the center of what I do!