Parsha: Bemidbar
Numbers 1:1-Numbers 4:20
HAFTARA: 1 Samuel 20: 18-42
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Jewish Learning by Kimberly Davis
Numbers 1:1-Numbers 4:20
Daily Reading Schedule:
Sunday May 10, 2026: Numbers 1:1-19
Monday May 11, 2026: Numbers 1:20-54
Tuesday May 12, 2026: Numbers 2:1-34
Wednesday May 13, 2026: Numbers 3:1-13
Thursday May 14, 2026: Numbers 3:14-39
Friday May 15, 2026: Numbers 3:40-51
Saturday May 16, 2026: All of the above readings Plus Numbers 4:1-20 AND
maf: Numbers 4:17-20.
Haftarah: I Samuel 20:18-42
Talmudic References:
Explore key discussions and cross-references from the Talmud that provide profound depth to the themes of this week's parsha study.
1
"it is the father’s family that is called one’s family, while one’s mother’s family is not called one’s family. Proof for this is found in another verse, as it is written: “By their families, by their fathers’ houses” (Numbers 1:2)."
Bava Batra
daf: 109b:5
2
"Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani says that Rabbi Yonatan says: Anyone who teaches another person’s son Torah, the verse ascribes him credit as if he sired him, as it is stated: “Now these are the generations of Aaron and Moses” (Numbers 3:1), and it is written immediately afterward: “And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadav the firstborn and Avihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar” (Numbers 3:2), but it does not mention the names of Moses’ children. This serves to say to you that Aaron sired his children, but Moses taught them Torah. Therefore, the children were also called by his name."
Sanhedrin
daf: 19b:17
3
"The one who says the shewbread was not disqualified during the journeys derives his opinion from a verse, as it is written with regard to the journeys: “And upon the Table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue…and the continual bread shall remain upon it” (Numbers 4:7). The verse refers to the shewbread as “the continual bread” even during the journeys, indicating that as long as the loaves are on the Table they retain their sacred status."
Menachot
daf: 95a:5
Midrashic References:
01
Bamidbar Rabbah 1:1
"“The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year of their exodus from the land of Egypt, saying” (Numbers 1:1).
“The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai” – that is what the verse said: “[Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains]; Your justice is like the great depths” (Psalms 36:7). Rabbi Meir said: It is analogized to the righteous in their abode, and it is analogized to the wicked in their abode. It is analogized to the righteous in their abode: “In a good pasture I will herd them, and on the mountains of the height of Israel will be their grazing place” (Ezekiel 34:14). It is analogized to the wicked in their abode: “So said the Lord God: On the day that it descended to the grave I caused mourning; I covered the depths for it” (Ezekiel 31:15)."
02
Bamidbar Rabbah 2:9
"“At a distance, around the Tent of Meeting, they shall encamp” (Numbers 2:2). We learned there: One who begins Shabbat on the road creates for himself circles up to four cubits, this is the statement of Rabbi Ḥanina. He may carry within four cubits and say: ‘My residence is in my place,’ and his place acquires for him two thousand cubits in each and every direction (Mishna Eiruvin 4:7–8). How much is four cubits? Rabbi Yehuda says: So that one may take an object from his feet and place it at his head (Yerushalmi Eiruvin 4:1). When one begins Shabbat in a province, even if it is as large as Antioch, he may walk it in its entirety, and outside of it two thousand cubits in any direction that he wishes. When one begins Shabbat in a cave, even if it is like Zedekiah’s cave that was eighteen mil, he walks it in its entirety and outside it two thousand cubits in any direction that he wishes (Tosefta Eiruvin 3:13). From where did they find a basis for Shabbat boundaries? From the Torah, as it is stated: “You shall measure outside the city: The eastern side two thousand cubits, and the southern side two thousand cubits, and the western side two thousand cubits, and the northern side two thousand cubits…” (Numbers 35:5)."
03
Bamidbar Rabbah 3:2
"Another matter: “Bring the tribe of Levi near…” (Numbers 3:6) – that is what is written: “Happy is one You choose and bring near” (Psalms 65:5). Happy is the man whom the Holy One blessed be He has chosen even if He did not bring him near, and happy is the man whom the Holy One blessed be He brought near, even if He did not choose him. Who is the one whom He chose? It is Abraham, as it is stated: “You are the Lord God, who chose Abram” (Nehemiah 9:7); but you did not bring him near, but rather, he brought himself near. Jacob, the Holy One blessed be He chose him, as it is stated: “For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself” (Psalms 135:4), and likewise it says: “Jacob whom I have chosen” (Isaiah 41:8); but you did not bring him near, but rather, he brought himself near, as it is stated: “Jacob was a wholesome man who resided in tents.” (Genesis 25:27). Moses, He chose him, as it is stated: “Were it not for Moses, His chosen” (Psalms 106:23), but He did not bring him near. Happy are those whom the Holy One blessed be He chose even though He did not bring them near.
Come and see Yitro; the Holy One blessed be He brought him near but did not choose him. Raḥav the prostitute, He brought her near but did not choose her. Happy are those whom He brought near even though He did not choose them."
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