Sigh. I wish I knew more about Hebrew culture, language, and speech. I get so frustrated as I read. I know I don’t understand so much of it! For example, I’m reading Numbers 17. It’s after the rebellion and destruction of Korah. They’ve been swallowed up, the plague has killed thousands of Israelites in minutes. Here’s the question that started it: Numbers 16:3 They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord ?” To resolve the questions about Moses’ authority, God had Moses collect the staff of every tribal leader and place them in front of the altar. One staff, Aaron’s, sprouted into an almond tree. This was a sign that God had chosen Aaron’s house, the Levites, to serve Him and to carry the iniquity of the people. Here’s where I get lost. The staff was a sign to remember the rebellion. It was also a warning for the people to stay away from the “testimony” (which I’m not certain about). Then the people freak out and start crying that they’re all going to die! How do they figure that? God simply said it was a reminder and that they should stay back from the testimony (perhaps this is the ark?). If they break His boundary they would die because they are unholy treading on holy ground. And then He goes on to say that Aaron’s house has been chosen: Numbers 18:1 So the Lord said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house with you shall bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood. Iniquity is absence of moral value, wickedness. How is iniquity or an absence of moral value connected with the sanctuary? And how is it connected to the priesthood? And why are the Levites carrying it? Yet, somehow this bearing of iniquity is a positive thing because the Levites are responsible for caring for the Sanctuary and the Holy Place behind the veil. It’s a “covenant of salt” between them. Sigh… so much I don’t know or understand. Need more study!