Bamidbar

The Hebrew Word

בְּמִדְבַּר [bamidbar] comes from the Hebrew word מִדְבָּר [midbar- Strong's #4057], which means "a pasture" or by implication "a desert".  It is used 291 times in 267 verses in the Tanakh.

As I noted in Parashah Behar, the Hebrew prefix "be" [behar] is a generic prefix that serves as a preposition. In this case, the preposition is translated as "in".

First use in Scripture

The first time midbar is used in Scripture is in Genesis 14.

And the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness. (Genesis 14:6)

Last use in Scripture

The last time midbar is used in Scripture is in Malachi 1.

"I have loved you," says the LORD. But you say, "How have You loved us?" "Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" declares the LORD. "Yet I have loved Jacob; but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness." (Malachi 1:2-3)

Parashah Outline

• The Census of Israel's Warriors - Numbers 1:1
• Levites Exempted - Numbers 1:47
• Arrangement of the Camps - Numbers 2:1
• Levites to Be Kohanim [Priests] - Numbers 3:1
• Duties of the Kohanim - Numbers 3:25
• Firstborn Redeemed - Numbers 3:40
• Duties of the Kohanim - Numbers 4:1

Portraits of Messiah

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Other Observations

Commandments In the Parashah

None of the traditional 613 commandments are found in this parashah.

Related Verses In the Torah

Pending

Related Verses In the Prophets

Pending

Related Verses In the Writings

Pending

Related Verses In the Apostolic Writings

Pending

Appendix

256 verses that include midbar (Strong's #4057) 

View the list of verses on BlueLetterBible.org

• Numbers