Torah Portion Nasso in a Nutshell
- Name: Nasso
- Reading: Numbers 4:21 – 7:89
- Haftarah: Judges 13:2 – 13:25
Parashat Nasso Summary
Roles for the Levites
God assigns special roles for the Levites. The Gershonites will carry the curtains and hangings. The Merarites will carry the pillars and boards. (The other roles were allocated in Bamidbar.) The number of males in each group of Levites is listed.
New Laws: Lepers, Sinning, Adultery, Nazir
God tells Moses to command the Israelites:
Remove male and female lepers from the camp so that they don’t defile it.
Anyone who sins must make restitution: they must acknowledge that a sin has been committed, and it must be repaid in full with one fifth added.
If a woman commits adultery with another man, and he is jealous, he must bring a jealousy offering and a memorial offering of meal for her that brings all wrongdoing to mind. The priest will loosen the woman’s hair and place the offering in her hand, and give her bitter water to drink. If she is guilty, the water will make her flesh sag and make her a curse among her people. If she is innocent, she will become pregnant.
A person who takes the vow of a Nazirite will abstain from wine, alcohol, and vinegar, and will not eat grapes or raisins. No razor shall come upon their head or beard, and they must remain pure even if a family member dies. If someone suddenly dies next to him, he must wait seven days to regain his purity, then shave his head and bring sacrifices.
God pronounces the Priestly Blessing which Aaron and his sons are to give the people: May God bless you and keep you. May God shine His face on you and show you favour. May God lift His face towards you and establish peace for you.
Establishing the Tabernacle
Moses establishes the Sanctuary as God commanded him. A large number of sacrifices are listed and made to consecrate the altar within it. The sacrifices include money, animals, flour, oils, incense, gold, and silver. When Moses enters the Sanctuary to speak to God, he hears His voice from between the two cherubim on the Ark.
