Thirty-Nine Years

November 1, 2023

A Brief Overview “The cloud of Jehovah was upon the tabernacle by day, and there was fire therein bynight, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys” (Exodus 40:38). — David Stein Lack of faith has consequences. For ancient Israelites, the consequences were tragic. After being delivered in a miraculous and historically unprecedented way, the Israelites had every reason to confidently enter into the Promised Land. There was likely great excitement following the fear and uncertainty of […]

The Life and Death of Miriam

November 1, 2023

Final Experiences “And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there” (Numbers 20:1, texts from ASV). In the 40th year of Israel’s wandering, the first event described was the death of Miriam, the sister of Aaron and Moses. Her earlier experiences have become part of Jewish history. It was Miriam, though not specifically named, who watched what would […]

Judgment at Meribah

November 1, 2023

A Need for Water “There was no water for the congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron” (Numbers 20:2, ASV unless otherwise noted). The 40th year of wandering in Sinai began with behavior by the ancient Israelites that we might have thought had been excised by Jehovah earlier in their wilderness trek of the newly freed Israelites. Yet, astonishingly, many in this new generation did not heed the lessons of history. The immediate and recurring problem, one seen […]

Passing Through Edom and the Death of Aaron

November 1, 2023

Succession in the Priesthood “And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom” (Numbers 20:14, ASV). Israel was at Kadesh, where Moses just made a terrible mistake at Meribah. This Kadesh should be distinguished from Kadesh Barnea which is in the Wilderness of Paran. Kadesh is in the Wilderness of Zin and probably near the location of the modern city of Petra in Jordan.1 (1) http://www.thetorah.com/article/solving‑the‑problemof‑kadesh‑in‑the‑wilderness‑of‑paran Israel was now ready to move. Since it was the 40th year of their […]

News and Views

November 1, 2023

Religious Russian authorities continue their campaign of religious persecution in occupied Ukraine. Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets reported that Russian security services searched the homes of an unspecified number of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Armyansk, Simferopol, Saky, and Dzhankoi (cities north and northeast of Sevastopol) in occupied Crimea. Lubinets reported that Russian forces have initiated more than 100 criminal cases based on religious discrimination and persecution against citizens in occupied Crimea. — ISW, 8/22/23 When several hundred Lutherans in […]