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Naso (Numbers 4:21 - 7:89)

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Meaning of the Torah portion name

Naso, "lift" but in this context "take a census", is thus named because it continues the census of the Levites the beginning of which is described in the previous portion, BeMidbar, with a census of the Gershonite family.

The portion begins with a continuation of the census of the Levites from the previous portion. It then goes on to describe the tasks of each of the Levite families in the Tabernacle.

The portion then continues to bring different laws regarding different possible occurrences:
The command to send away from the camp anyone who is impure.
Instructions as to how any sinner must be treated, confessing his sin and making restitution for the wrong.
The laws of what shall happen if a man suspects his wife of adultery with no proof - there is a special test performed by the priest which helps determine whether or not she has sinned.
What the laws are for a man or woman who chooses to become a hermit of God.
The portion ends with a long description of the dedication of the Desert Tabernacle, the identical offering brought by each of the leaders of the tribes of Israel, and a description of how God spoke to Moses from between the Cherubim.

Commentary

OU Torah Insights
Torah.org
American Jewish University
Academy for Jewish Religion

List of dates

30 May 2009
22 May 2010
04 June 2011

Related phrases

portion, Naso, census, Tabernacle, dedication, desert, sota, laws, Levite