Naso
Numbers 4:21 – 7:89
Naso is the longest parasha in the Torah. It completes the Levitical assignments, prescribes the removal of ritually impure persons from the camp, and introduces the laws of the sotah (suspected adulteress) and the nazir (one who takes a vow of abstinence). The parasha reaches its spiritual climax with the Priestly Blessing — the three-fold benediction that Aaron and his sons are commanded to bestow upon Israel. It concludes with the identical offerings brought by each of the twelve tribal chieftains over twelve days for the dedication of the altar.
Key figures
- Aaron and his sons — Commanded to bless the children of Israel with the Priestly Blessing
- Moses — Receives the laws, hears God's voice from between the cherubim
- The twelve tribal chieftains — Each brings an identical offering for the altar dedication on successive days
Famous verses
- 6:24-26 Hashem bless you, and keep you;
- 6:27 So shall they put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them."
- 7:89 And when Moses went into the tent of meeting that He might speak with him, then he heard the Voice speaking to him from above the ark-cover that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and He spoke to him.
Haftarah: {'ref': 'Judges 13:2-25', 'connection': "The angel's announcement of Samson's birth as a nazir from the womb directly parallels the laws of the nazirite vow in Naso."}
Total gematria 630,910 is divisible by 7, the number of completion.