Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Numbers Chapter 10
Metaphysically Interpreting Numbers 10:1-10
10:1And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 10:2Make thee two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shalt thou make them: and thou shalt use them for the calling of the congregation, and for the journeying of the camps. 10:3And when they shall blow them, all the congregation shall gather themselves unto thee at the door of the tent of meeting. 10:4And if they blow but one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. 10:5And when ye blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall take their journey. 10:6And when ye blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 10:7But when the assembly is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. 10:8And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and they shall be to you for a statute for ever throughout your generations. 10:9And when ye go to war in your land against the adversary that oppresseth you, then ye shall sound an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before Jehovah your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. 10:10Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow the trumpets over your burnt-offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace-offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your God: I am Jehovah your God.
Metaphysically Interpreting Numbers 10:11-36
10:11And it came to pass in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, that the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony. 10:12And the children of Israel set forward according to their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud abode in the wilderness of Paran. 10:13And they first took their journey according to the commandment of Jehovah by Moses.10:14And in the first place the standard of the camp of the children of Judah set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 10:15And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar. 10:16And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.
10:17And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who bare the tabernacle, set forward. 10:18And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 10:19And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 10:20And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
10:21And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the others did set up the tabernacle against their coming. 10:22And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 10:23And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 10:24And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.
10:25And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan, which was the rearward of all the camps, set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 10:26And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ochran. 10:27And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 10:28Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their hosts; and they set forward.
10:29And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, We are journeying unto the place of which Jehovah said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good; for Jehovah hath spoken good concerning Israel.10:30And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. 10:31And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou shalt be to us instead of eyes. 10:32And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what good soever Jehovah shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.
10:33And they set forward from the mount of Jehovah three days' journey; and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah went before them three days' journey, to seek out a resting-place for them. 10:34And the cloud of Jehovah was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp.
10:35And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said,
Rise up, O Jehovah, and let thine enemies be scattered;
and let them that hate thee flee before thee.
10:36And when it rested, he said,
Return, O Jehovah, unto the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.
August 17, 1902: Numbers 10:11-13,29-36
The law of soul evolution under the Mosaic dispensation is progressive. There is a constant going forward, not only in aspiration (“the cloud by day”) but also in the body of formed thoughts that are seeking God, “And the children of Israel set forward.” Sinai is representative of the intellectual realm. One of its Hebrew meanings is Moon God. The sun is symbolical of spiritual understanding, and the moon of intellectual. Paul had this in mind when he wrote to the Galatians (Gal. 4:24), “Which things contain an allegory: for these two women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.” In the soul's progress Sinai is [used?] for denial. Its dominant tone is, “Thou shalt not,” and its whole Decalogue is on the negative side.
Yet in this stage of our progress denial is necessary. Our minds are cumbered with thoughts of sense; the flesh-pots of Egypt linger in our memories as savory food. These must be put out before the new thoughts of the Spirit can find entrance. So do not be afraid to use denials. Deny the error thought, and thus dissolve it, for right denial is dissolution. We should never deny in anger nor with great vehemence; this tends to opposition and resistance on the part of the thing denied. You are by such denial recognizing its power, and thereby giving it importance. Realize that there is in reality no power in any error thought, or formed state, the result of such thought. Then quietly, but firmly, mentally withdraw all belief in power from such formations, and they will lose their cohesion. Never fight an error, but firmly assert your mastery, and its nothingness.
When through right mental processes we have departed from the wilderness of intellectual concepts (Sinai) we will come into a higher state of consciousness, “the wilderness of Paran,” which means “beauty,” “glory,” “ornament.” We are not yet out of the wilderness, however, and need a guide. We find one in this new estate in the person of Hobab (“favored, beloved”). This guide of the wilderness whom Moses said should “be to us instead of eyes,” is spiritual intuition. When intellectual reasoning has been denied and erased as a source of guidance, we come into a consciousness of this inner knowing faculty. But it is not yet a part of the outer consciousness. It prefers to go to its own people, the realm of the natural man in Being (It corresponds to instinct in the animal). It has to be “opportuned” by Moses before it will become part of the band moving to the Promised Land.
So we find that intuition has to be cultivated. It is so shy and indefinite in our first acquaintance with it that we are not sure whether we are guided by the Spirit within, or whether it is our own imagination. By trusting this inner prompter it comes more and more into consciousness, and each time we catch aright and act upon its flashlight thought we strengthen both it and the outer self in the Lord. It is proven, as Moses said, “It shall be, that what goodness the Lord shall do unto us the same will we do unto thee.”
– UNITY magazine.
August 25, 1907: Numbers 10:11-13,29-36
This lesson teaches that Divine Wisdom provides ways to guide those who have chosen its leadership, and that night and day they may behold the symbol by looking in the direction of the tabernacle. The tabernacle is the place of meeting the Lord, where the priests congregate to chant the sacred words and build the fires upon the altars of sacrifice. This is symbolical of the center in consciousness, where the individual touches the Universal.
Thoughts are alive; they think and feel and commune with one another like people. All through the body are congregations of thoughts drawn together at different places through sympathy and kindred ideas. All the thoughts of love we have, or have ever had, are congregating and expressing themselves through that brain and nerve center back of the heart, the brain of Love. Physicians are accepting this truth. The Associated Press in its reports from Boston, July 25th, says:
“Dr. Joseph Simms, of New York City, who arrived here yesterday from Europe, contends that the heart has more to do with the function of thinking than the brain. Dr. Simms points out that the brains of many idiots are large, yet their hearts are very small, whereas the brains of many geniuses have been below the normal, while their hearts have been abnormal. ‘We think literally all over our bodies,’ says the doctor. ‘Thought is in the soul which permeates the entire physical being. The brain is a great heat producer, but it has little to do with the function of thinking. We think with our fingers, or with our toes, whenever we use them.’ Dr. Simms declares that such world renowned scientists as Sir William Hamilton of Edinburgh university, and Prof. von Hartmann of Berlin, agree with him in his theory.”
We are not always conscious of the great flood of thought that is being sent forth from our various body brains, because we do not strive to get out of the wilderness of sense through Divine Guidance. When we accept the Divine Law given to Moses, and make the covenant to do the will of God, we become the children of Israel, and these mysterious ways of Divine Guidance are opened up to us.
When we start the fires of the Spirit within the soul, there is always a reflection on the clouds of conscious thoughts without. These we see and the messages are given to us. They may be symbols in the visions of the day or the dreams of the night. The light within will interpret them, if we patiently ask and listen. The pillar of fire by night is the witness of the Spirit on the altar of Love as a glow of light that opens the understanding. “Was not our heart burning within us ... while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32).
The Power of the Word is emphasized in the affirmations by Moses, the Law Giver. We can use these words today with like results and dissipate opposition by proclaiming, “ Rise up, O Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered.” The power of the priesthood is maintained through the use of Divine Words. Although we cannot tell why, spiritual words sway and hold us, and we reverence those who use them with authority. This beautiful benediction of the Jewish high priest always left a lasting impression upon the congregation:
“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
St. Patrick, when he entered on the conversion of Ireland, is said to have made this affirmation and prayer:
“May the strength of God pilot me.
May the power of God preserve me,
May the wisdom of God instruct me,
May the eye of God view me,
May the ear of God hear me;
Christ be with me,
Christ in the hearts of all to whom I speak.”
– UNITY magazine.
April 14, 1918: Numbers 10:11-13
What in consciousness does Light symbolize? Light symbolizes the wisdom and intelligence of Spirit inherent in man.
How may man receive the Light of Spirit? Man may receive the Light of Spirit through inspiration, symbols, visions or dreams.
What, in consciousness, is the “tabernacle” referred to in this lesson? The “tabernacle” is the inner meeting place with God, the center in consciousness where the individual touches the Universal.
April 14, 1918: Numbers 10:29-56
What in consciousness does the “cloud of Jehovah” symbolize? As man comes into a consciousness of God with him, he does not always clearly discern the Light; a cloud appears to obscure Jehovah. This is because man has not yet attained the light of the perfect day (illumination).
What in consciousness does Moses typify? Moses typifies the consciousness of Truth as Law. Through obedience to the Law of Spirit man comes into a fuller realization of the Truth, and enters more directly under Divine guidance.
October 3, 1926: Numbers 10:11-13
What is meant by the removal of the cloud from over the tabernacle (verse 11)? The removal of the cloud from over the tabernacle represents a general clarification of body and soul consciousness. In the development of man there are periods when the mentality seems clouded. At such periods the children of Israel rested, which means that the illumination was less, but the vitalizing power of Spirit continued. We should never be discouraged because our illumination seems to grow less at certain periods. At such times we should quietly rest and realize that divine life is laying hold of divine substance and that the construction of the Christ body is going forward.
What is the major source of thought and conduct in one who is developing spiritually? The great guiding light of every soul is an inspiration of Spirit, in the Old Testament called Jehovah. This is given to man through Moses (the law), as explained in verse 13: “And they first took their journey according to the commandment of Jehovah by Moses.”
October 3, 1926: Numbers 10:29-36
What is the minor guide on the way to the Promised Land? The minor guide is experience, represented by Hobab (live), to whom Moses said, “Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou shalt be to us instead of eyes.”
Do we reap lasting benefits from our experiences? If an experience is rightly related to Truth, it can be carried over into the promised land, or into the reality of substance. “And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what good soever Jehovah shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.”
The ark of the covenant went before them three days to seek out a resting place for them. What is the metaphysical meaning of that occurrence? Metaphysically interpreted, the three days represent mind, idea, and expression. When man is going forward in spiritual development, his mind sends out its idea and rests in the consciousness that that which has been idealized (the covenant) is fulfilled in Spirit.
What is the meaning of verse 35: “And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, O Jehovah, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee”? This word of command spoken by Moses represents man's power under divine law to call into expression Jehovah God, and through that power to scatter all the errors that may seem to stand in the way.
Explain verse 36: “And when it rested, he said. Return, O Jehovah, unto the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.” The Spirit of the Lord works with those who work with it. We should realize that even when we rest and seem to be inactive the Spirit of the Lord abides us and “infolds” us.
September 12, 1943: Numbers 10:11-12
What in us does “the tabernacle of the testimony” represent? It represents the original spark of divinity in the depths of our being. When this is released into activity (when the cloud is taken up from over the tabernacle) we go forward to new heights of faith and understanding.
What differing forms does guidance take? It takes many forms, from the intuitive grasp of Truth, that we seek in prayer, to the help that we gain from those whose experience in situations similar to ours is greater than our own. The lessons of history also afford guidance to those who give them careful study. Dreams prove reliable guides in some cases. In fact whatever throws new light where it is needed may be considered guidance by those who await clearer understanding, before moving forward.
What symbolism is traceable in the statement that the Children of Israel “see forward ... out of the wilderness of Sinai and the cloud abode in the wilderness of Paran”? Mount Sinai (precipitous, jagged) symbolizes in us a high place in consciousness, where we come into conscious communion with the divine. After such an attainment we are ready to master more difficult problems, express a higher measure of faith and fortitude. Paran (“place of much digging”) represents a place or period of earnest searching after Truth among the multitude of confused and undisciplined thoughts of the subconscious mind.
September 12, 1943: Numbers 10:29-36
Why is Moses represented as urging Hobab to accompany them for the good it would do Hobab? Understanding is of little practical use to us, unless we apply it to our everyday affairs. Used there, it makes life luminous with meaning and itself victorious. The scholar who is content to delve into learning for its own sake contributes less to the well-being of mankind, than the practical worker, who uses his understanding to the limit in an effort to quicken the common life, his own included.
What form of guidance is universally available? The inner guidance of intuition that enlarges as we enter more deeply into a consciousness of the indwelling Christ, the Spirit of truth, until it becomes conviction and sure confidence. Everyone who enters into conscious communion with the Father has this guidance.
What does the “three days' journey” signify? It refers to our threefold nature body, soul, and spirit, all of which should advance together in the progress that we make under divine law.
How can we identify ourselves completely with All-Good? By affirming that it is active in us as we go forward and that its presence and power dissipates negation in every form. “Rise up, O Jehovah, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.”
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 02-02-2014
