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pt. 13 Warfare and Tribute – Church Government

ReNEWed COVENANT Ministry

SABBATH BIBLE STUDY

3-8

(2020)

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Compiled by JS LOWTHER
renewedcovenantministry.com
servant@renewedcovenantministry.com


Church Government

(continuation from: A Community of Election and Order)

Part 13 

Warfare and Tribute 

Exo_20:12

Honor (value) thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which YHWH thy God giveth thee.

 

Lev_19:32

Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head,

and honor the face of the old man/ Presbyter (πρεσβυτερων),

and fear thy God: I am YHWH.

(G4245 Presbyter: (elderly); older, old one)

 

Last Sabbath before First fruits we had discussed how the family units, the kindred units and the tribal units in their respective 10, 50, 100 and 1000’s would in times of attack have the capability of swiftly responding in defense of the home land immediate most likely by a predetermined ordination of particular individuals who held offices beside the Judge and the Levitical officer that aided the unite in the understanding and application of the Law of God in matters of judgment and justice.
However in the case of offensive measures, that is when the Church is going to make an attack upon the enemies of the LORD YHWH, we see specific commands going through the host as we read in

Deu_20:1-9  when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, to not fear and to trust in the LORD
And then the officers shall speak unto the people, saying… What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren’s heart faint as well as his heart.
Deu 20:9  And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.

 

It is undoubted that within the National ethnic people of covenant Israel, their exists the called out church at every level, from the national judge such as Moses and Joshua and the Judges among the tribes- the princes and head judges of all of he units, as well as those common folk within the headship of those units. The lame men not able to go forth to war and fight, the women the servants, all who are able to hear the call of God’s word are part of that church, but it is up to the men to offend and defend when necessary, it is the able bodied man who can go forth to war that the LORD charges with the duty and privilege to protect his family and unit in times of Conflict. and it is the place of the family bound to that warrior to support and encourage him to be all God has called him to be, and by this example.
It is upon this patriarchal headship and maintenance the Law speaks :
Deu_22:5  The woman shall not wear that which pertained unto a man, H1397, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
The Hebrew word gebar is very descriptive, in it’s wording gebar in this sense is a direct relative of H1396 gabar meaning to prevail or over take as in combat. This is not just an admonition for a man to look like a man and a woman to look like a woman in dress, but it is a direct forbiddance of reversing the roles of combat, by men appearing effeminately and women appearing as warriors, this is an encouragement to keep it real.
This is a culture will be constructed that proclaims men as men and women as women, a standard wherein their is no room for gender confusion, rather this environment is the breeding ground for Godly patriotism (the love of ones own fathers house and name) , this is the breeding ground for wives that reverence and respect the men of their houses and units with Godly reverence ( not a sarcastic submissiveness now left for the pondering of Godly ladies having no knowledge or understanding of pure bred patriarchal familial love , this church knows it’s place in the world, and nation it is genetically and lovingly bound to by ties of flesh and bone willing to fertilize the crop lands of it’s home with the blood of defense to the glory of God and in the name the Christ who called them.
Given, even with all of that, we know not ever individual will be part of the called out, and inevitably this time of greatness is always the time when the uncalled , the non-elect act the part for want of acceptance, and it is also for that reason the Judges, the Overseers and Officers of war and of Levitical justice must, must, must be of the Elect and thus tested to be such, or else the actors the hypocrites will get in power, and when enough of the play actors are in power righteousness becomes a play and not a fact established in faith – and their is the place of the destruction of a Covenant Nation (Pharisees)

I just want this point of gender roles to be thoroughly engrafted into your mind as we establish a place for offensive measures as ordained by God for his people.
We have many examples in scripture to look at to see these officers of war
in Joshua , as you will find in other places commanding the people as the chief man over Israel as the head judge and captain.

Jos_1:10  Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
Jos 1:11  Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.
&
Jos 3:2  And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;
Jos 3:3  And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

And very much we see the place of the officers of war in the host, the army, but a case example of how this structure worked in relationship to the ordained episcopate is able to be found in Numbers 31.

This arrangement of different offices is also seen in the life of King David,
2Sa_8:15  And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
2Sa 8:16  And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
2Sa 8:17  And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
2Sa 8:18  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief rulers.

If you pay attention you can start to see this system deeply interwoven into the Government of Israel when they were in a Godly state or reforming thereto.

Today:
We are going to look at scripture for our learning and instruction on another aspect of offensive warfare, the first example is of the offensive type, as it directly relates to the conquest of Canaan after the time of the 40 year punishment, this is the final battle Moses will fight in, and this is probably the foremost case example for understanding the structure of the Episcopate in a time of war as it interacts with the sanctuary and the Appointed judges and officers of Israel in it’s tribal arraignment.
I want to remind you of the silver trumpets of Num 10, the Silver of the so called poll tax or atonement silver used to make these items and fund the sanctuaries worship on the Sabbaths and new moons and set feasts, we had read also last sabbath study from Nehemiah.
I want you to consider all of this coming together in this chapter and then we will also consider a secondary issue as it pertains to warfare, that is tribute from the plunder of the enemy.

Num 31:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 31:2  Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.
Num 31:3  And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.
Num 31:4  Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.
Num 31:5  So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
Num 31:6  And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.
Num 31:7  And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.
Num 31:8  And they slew the kings of Midian …also Balaam the son of Beor they slew with the sword.
Num 31:9  And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods.
Num 31:10  And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire.
Num 31:11  And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts.
Num 31:12  And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho.

Num 31:13  And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.

Num_31:14  And Moses was wroth with the Numberers, the Overseers (KJV: officers) /EpiscopeG1985 of the host, with the captains (the Heads ) over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.
(notice the tribes wartime divisions are in 1000’s and 100’s)

Num 31:15  And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?

Num 31:18  But only the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

(Hear are 2 things to notice, aside from awkward situation of speaking about captives female captives aloud to live in our 21st century context, that we see Moses directing his anger on the Oversight and not on the soldiers, but specifically the captains of thousands , not the princes seemingly who are the tribal captains of 1000’s, all the 1000’s but of the man who lead 1000 troops from every one of the 12 tribes of Israel as well as he focuses his anger on the Overseer’s of 100 troops who are under the head of 1000’s also. Moses is teaching us about military headship and responsibility)

….

Num 31:21  And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses;
Num 31:22  Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,
Num 31:23  Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water.


Num 31:25  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num_31:26  Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation / (LXX) rulersG758 of theG3588 patrimonyG3965 of the congregation! )

Num 31:27  And divide the prey into two parts; between (1)them that took the war upon them, who went out to battle, and (2) between all the congregation:

Num 31:28  And levy a tribute / tax ( Rom_13:7 ) unto the LORD of (1)the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred (1/500th), both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep:
Num 31:29  Take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for an heave offering of the LORD.
Num_31:30  And of the children of Israel’s half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty (1/50th), of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.

So we have the sum of the spoil of war , of every thing taken of the 2 types of spoil in war, split into two parts these 2 parts are:

1. of prey or captives, the KJV says souls or all that breathes of man and beast:
and
2. of The oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten of valuables, jewls, gold silver weapons and the like which we will deal with later.

Focusing upon the Souls of man and beast, a division is made of half of these lives:

1. half to the men of war, the actual warriors that fight in the battle
2. half to the congregation, or the nation, this would be divided by number according to the system of Oversight, by the Episcopate of the Presbytery for every man’s house by a particular system according to the houses of fathers.

Of the Men of wars half, 1/500th of all captives and animals are wholey given to the Sanctuary directly, to Eliezar the high priest, the inheritor of Aaron’s priesthood and estate (remember Aaron died in Num 20:29) This is the Sanctuaries part of the warriors spoil or prey.

And then we have the law concerning what is called “the half that pertained unto the congregation” or “the children of Israel’s half ”

Of this half which is the right of the congregation distributed by the Overseers, all of the people, 1/50th of all is given to the Levites, which keep the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.
And so the Priests and Ministers the Levites are the first tribe to be played for there services out of the living things taken in war, and this only pertains to living things, this would mean of the maidens saved alive of the war and of all the beasts, called prey or souls. The Monies and valuables are not part of this tribute or tax and not part of this spoil, this is a separate part.
This could be used for the support of the tabernacle and the place of worship, animals that are without blemish would be used for particular daily sacrifice and thus also for the food of the priests that minister at the time of that sacrifice according to the law, these animals and slaves could sold by the sanctuary according to their value and the money used for a future date to purchase the needs of the sanctuary I’d suppose.

And so it concludes:

Num_31:36  And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war…


Num 31:41  And Moses gave the tribute / taxG5056, which was the LORD’S heave offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Num 31:42  And of the children of Israel’s half, which Moses divided from the men that warred,

***Num 31:43  (Now the half that pertained unto the congregation ….

Num 31:47  Even of the children of Israel’s half, Moses took one portion of fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, which kept the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.

So now let us look at the part of the non-living things, that which does not live, that which is called:
“The oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten” of the valuables, voluntarily give by the commandment of God’s Law:

Num_31:48  And the officers which were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses: (it is interesting that in this text, speaks of the ‘officers’ are “the ones placed over thousands”, so this would seem to be the war time name of the Princes on the heads of the fathers. This would make sense in the context because in Numbers 7, when the princes brought the covered wagon they too brought Qorban or offerings of silver and gold and such, but in this case we are seeing these men wear the war time hat showing the war time distinction. )

Num 31:49  And they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us.
Num_31:50  We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD.
Num 31:51  And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels.
Num 31:52  And all the gold of the offering that they offered up to the LORD, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels.
Num 31:53  (For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)
Num_31:54  And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD.

And so in simple terms:
The offering or Qorban H7133 given at this time was specificly of Gold, what we read prior was that the men of war had got great wealth in Num 31:20-23  as they were told to purify all your raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of goats’ hair, and all things made of wood.
and that ” the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses” was to purify the “gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead and lla metals by fire, and all that abideth not the fire to wash with the water of separation.

And so this Oblation is called a Qorban, this is the word used in Num 7 for offerings given by the 12 princes also, this gold was a memorial, thus it would seem to indicate that this gold was set aside as holy for holy uses of holy golden items used in the Sanctuary and on the altar.

And so this was what some might consider to be a little bit too far out of the way from the subject of what we normally consider to be a study of Church Government, but when we look at the Law as a whole and see the government of the Ethnic People of Israel as a Holy Nation as a Royal or kingdom priesthood we see a place for the military activation in both defense and offensive measures working with and as the Arm of the LORD via the directives and aid of the sanctuary, as lead by the Word of God, un the righteous leadership of Churchmen, people who are Ekklasion / “Called out” to lead the people in these times according to the Godly rule of Law.

What needs to be noticed and immediately tied into these thoughts before ending is the way this part of God Law can change ones perspective on Romans 13 which I intend to cover a bit more in the next study, but I feel it is important to leave with this lawful perspective:.

Rom_13:1  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom 13:3  For rulersG758 are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Rom 13:4  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Rom 13:5  Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Rom 13:6  For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Rom 13:7  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Rom 13:8  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Rom 13:9  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Rom 13:10  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Rom 13:11  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep…

 

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About JS Lowther

Foremost I know that I am a chief sinner saved by Grace. I am a servant of YHWH Almighty the one true God Who is Father, Son and Spirit. I believe in God's only begotten and perfect Son Jesu(s) Christ whose redemption power of my soul I have Faith in and testify of. Having been redeemed by the blood of Christ, I wish to no longer spend my time in the lusts of the flesh and of this world, but to promote the Gospel of the Kingdom by means of the knowledge of the New Covenant, a reNewal of the Covenant God made with his people Israel in the blood of Christ (Jer 31:31 and Heb 8:8) whereby He writes His Law upon the Heart and Mind beside the forgiveness of sin and transgressions. I believe Christ Jesus is the incarnate Son of God as the WORD made flesh, and the son of man born of the virgin Mary conceived of the Holy Spirit: I believe Christ Jesus Lived a perfect life for us as a living sacrifice as well as a pattern of the Sanctified newness of life a believer has in Him, I believe Christ Jesus died a cursed death on the Cross for His people of Covenant who are sinners, and I believe in Christ Jesus who Resurrected with power from Death from the grave to Justify the offenders. This is the same Jesus who is indeed the Son of David and king of Israel, who is both LORD and Christ over all the kings and dominions of the earth! In the fullness of time YHWH will regather his people under the Head of the Church, Jesu(s) Christ to affect his will according to the Lord's prayer, Psalm 2, 8 and 110 as well as Genesis 1:26. The focus of my administration of the Gospel is like unto my Lord's who said "I have come not but for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.."(Mathew 15:24), and so I have come to my European kinsman according to the flesh. It is my mission to show the Israel of God the Salvation which is taught by Scripture Alone and offered in all ages by Grace Alone through Faith Alone in the work of Christ Alone to the Glory of GOD Alone. As a modern day Puritan separatist it is my goal to purify the church of Christ with Faith heretofore stated. I am studying to show my self approved, if you have any questions just ask!

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