Ki Tissa – Exodus 30:11-34:35
LA JOLLA, California — This busy parasha covers a potpourri of topics: a census; protocol for cleansing the priests; formulas for making anointing oil and incense; designation of Bezalel as chief craftsman of the Tabernacle and priestly garments; mandates for keeping the Sabbath and annual festivals; the episode of the Golden Calf and the soothing of God’s and Moses’ outrage during which Moses shattered the original Ten Commandments tablets; Moses’ extended conversations with God and God’s refusal to show Moses His face; creation of a repeat inscribed set of tablets, followed with the famous words about God’s sustained compassion on one hand, and alternatively his prolonged capacity for punishment of iniquity; and finally Moses’ satisfaction over his dealings with God which resulted in his face aglow.
There’s a lot to choose from. For today, I have selected only the following three passages, from which I have sought Internet sources for comparison with our Hebrew texts.
I. Exodus 30:11-13 “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: When you take a census of the Israelite people…each shall pay the Lord a ransom…that no plague may come upon them…a half shekel…as an offering to the Lord.”
The Babylonians as early as 4000 BCE used a census as a guide to determine how much food was needed for their population. The figures also gave an idea of how many men were available for military service, and how much citizens should be taxed. They recorded the records on clay tiles, an extant example of which is held by the British Museum. In practice, census takers visited households to take the count in person. [1]
From around 2500 BCE, Egyptians used censuses to calculate the labor force needed to build pyramids. They also used the information to plan how to share out the land after annual flooding of the Nile. [2]
A Scythian king (5th century BCE, in today’s Iran) tried a novel approach. He simply commanded his people, under penalty of death, to each bring him a bronze arrowhead. Once counted, he had them melted down and made into a cauldron as a memorial to his census.
Also the mythical first king and founder of Athens allegedly held a census in 1582 BCE. His method: each person was to drop a stone onto a heap, which stones were counted. It came to the nice round number of 20,000!
The Romans, under King Servius Tullius, in the 6th Century BCE, created the post of Censor,* responsible for overseeing Roman morality and collecting population statistics. His method: Each citizen (which excluded slaves) had to turn up at the Field of Mars military parade ground and register his name with the head of the Roman tribe to which he belonged. The tribal head also recorded the citizen’s wealth, where his family arose, and his property holdings. The citizen could thus be taxed or later called up for military service. [1]
Incidentally the New Testament recorded that Jesus was born in Bethlehem because Joseph (from the Galilee) had to travel there to register for a Roman census.
China too began taking censuses around 2500 BCE. The most well known, taken by the Han Dynasty in the year 2 CE, and considered by experts to be relatively accurate, recorded 57.67 million people living in 12.36 million households. [2]
II. Exodus 30:17-21 “…Lord spoke…Make a laver of copper…for washing…Put water in it…Aaron and his sons wash their hands and feet in it…that they may not die. (performing rituals)..a law for all time…”
Israelites, like all Middle East ancient peoples, wore sandals, and with defecating animals all around, one’s feet became filthy and frequent washing of the feet was a necessity. It was the duty of a host to give guests water for such washing. To omit this was an act of unfriendliness. It was also customary to wash the feet before meals and before going to bed. ‘Deep mourners’ were excepted.
Since one did not approach a king without such due cleansing, Israelites applied the same rule for priests approaching God. Jesus also applied foot washing, a custom remaining to this day during Holy Week. For some denominations it is part of a wedding ritual exchange between groom and bride.
As for Jews in modern times, Kohanim wash their hands before reciting the priestly blessing. Though historically they also washed their feet, today they often simply remove their shoes. [3] [4] [5]
III. Exodus 30:22-29 “…Lord spoke…take choice spices:..myrh…cinnamon …aromatic cane…cassia..olive oil…to serve as sacred anointing oil (for the Tabernacle and all its contents…be most holy: whatever touches them…also anoint Aaron and his sons…as priests.”
Jewish kings subsequently were anointed with olive oil.
Historical records show human beings engaged in anointing since Ancient Egypt. Messiah in Hebrew means ‘covered in oil, i.e. anointed. Many cultures around the world used anointing oil in both religious and secular settings.
Indigenous Australians believed the virtue of a dead person could be transferred to survivors if they rubbed themselves with the deceased’s intestinal fat. Similarly Arabs of East Africa anointed themselves with lion’s fat in order to gain courage. In Greek mythology, the sea nymph Thetis anointed her mortal child Achilles with ambrosia in order to make him immortal.
Buddhism incorporates anointing rites in ritual practices.
Butter, ghee and yak fat, along with perfumed waters are often used for anointing among Hindus. Anointing is also part of Hindu monarchies’ enthronement rituals. Blood can also be used.
Ancient Egyptian papyri contain formulas for hundreds of spiritual and physical uses of oils. Temple walls depict Pharaohs being anointed with oils by the gods, and husbands being anointed with oils by wives.
A unique golden shrine was discovered in the tomb to Tutankhamen in Thebes. It is richly adorned with intimate scenes of the young king and his wife, performing divination rituals. After Egypt came under Roman rule, such rites evolved into the Christian anointing practices.
History confirms ongoing anointing to this day as both a masculine and feminine practice to make individuals Divine. [6]
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* from which the English word census is derived
[1] https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/today-in-history/babylons-a…-than-todays-computers/news-story3f76510db70c6bfd1185192a2e90badc
[2] https;//www.ons.gov.ukcensus//howourcensusworks/aboutcensuses/censushistory/censustakinginthe ancientworld
[3] http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6051-feet-washing-of
[4] https://www.patheos.com/blogs/godandthemachilne/2015/04/washing-of-the-feet/
[5] https://tessaafshar.com/foot-washing/
[6] https://blog.floracopeia.com/the-history-of-anointing-with-oil/
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Irv Jacobs is a retired medical doctor who enjoys writing about a variety of interests, including both religion and science. He may be contacted via irv.jacobs@sdjewishworld.com