Numbers 15:37 41 The Tzitzit

Target year level: Year Five

Scripture text

World behind the text

The book of Numbers is the fourth book of the Jewish Torah and the fourth book of the Christian Bible. Most modern biblical scholars believe that it reached its current form after the 6th century BCE and that it's author was from the 'Priestly' tradition editing other earlier material.

The book is a combination of law and stories.

World of the text

This text needs to be understood in the context of the Shema.

The Shema (or Sh’ma) is Israel’s basic creed, it is not a prayer, but rather a declaration of faith. The Jews call this section “Kiriathshema” – the last letter of the first word in this verse is “Shema” meaning hear, and the last letter of the last word is ‘Echad” meaning “one’. English translation became “Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.” Israel is first called to ‘hear’, second, they must learn that Yahweh is the only God, and third, that their response to Yahweh is to be one of love.

There are 3 parts to the Shema; Deuteronomy 6:4-9 – accepting God’s absolute sovereignty and God’s love; Deuteronomy 11:13-21 - accepting all the commandments and the concept of reward and punishment; and finally Numbers 15:37-41 – (the tzitzit) serves as a constant reminder of their obligations to God.

The Gospel of Mark 12:29-31 mentions that Jesus considered the beginning call of the Shema to be the first of his two greatest commandments. In addition, the apostle Paul reworked the Shema in 1 Corinthians 8:6.

World in front of the text

In the Jewish faith the Shema is a pledge of allegiance to one God. The Israelites interpreted it literally. It is said upon arising in the morning and upon going to sleep at night. It is said when praising God and when beseeching him (v. 7). It was commanded that it should be carried about with them wherever they went (v. 8) and written on the entry to their homes (v. 9). The Shema is written on parchment that is contained in the mezuzahthat Jewish people affix to the doorpost of their home, and in the tefillinthat they bind to their arm and head. The Shema is the first thing that a Jewish child is taught to say (v. 7).

The Shema is a call to be completely faithful to the covenant, its focus is on daily life rather than in liturgy. When the Shema says to “love God with all your heart,” it means to use not only your “good traits” like kindness and compassion to do god’s will, but also to use your more challenging traits to serve him. How you respond to God’s love is to be demonstrated by actions (“a sign on your hands”) and to keep the covenant in your forethoughts (“fix them as an emblem on your forehead”). The living, active expression of doing is the ultimate "evidence" or sign of our faith.

The Shema was and is Judaism's Creed. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and all Jews recited it morning and evening and because of Jesus, Christians are familiar with its beginning.