New Year: Nm 7-9 for Feb 10

Numbers 7-9 runs the gamut from that which is precisely equal for each tribe (Nm 7) to what is unique for one tribe alone (Nm 8; Levi) to what is variable for all the tribes (the various lengths of time between marches, depending solely on God's leading through the cloud over the tabernacle (9:15ff.)

Those words in 9:14, which have been expressed earlier in the Law, seem very timely in contemporary news items, where various countries are saying the same thing about their laws as Nm 9:14 does about the Law of Moses.

Some of the pre-eminence of the Passover shows here, since it must be celebrated one month later if ceremonial uncleanness would otherwise prevent someone from doing so (9:5; 9:11).

Leviticus 8:7 was a shock to this reader. The Levites very probably stood out in appearance from the rest of the Israelites. This would give some visual picture to us as we read Lk 10:32.