We are in Numbers chapter six with our word for today. סַל basket. It is used 15 times in the Old Testament, 3 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of basket, a container that was typically woven together and often used to transport food. Genesis 40:16-18 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake סַלֵּ֥י baskets on my head, and in the uppermost וּבַסַּ֣לbasket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of הַסַּ֖ל the basket on my head.” And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three הַסַּלִּ֔ים baskets are three days. Our word is used to describe how the unleavened bread was carried for service at the tabernacle worship. Exodus 29:2-3, 22-23 Unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil. You shall make them of fine wheat flour. You shall put them in one סַ֣ל basket and bring them בַּסָּ֑ל in the basket … You shall also take … one loaf of bread and one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer out of מִסַּל֙ the basket of unleavened bread that is before the Lord. This is how our word is used 3 times in our chapter. Numbers 6:13-15, 17, 19-20 And this is the law for the Nazirite, when the time of his separation has been completed: he shall be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and he shall bring his gift to the LORD … וְסַ֣ל a basket of unleavened bread, loaves of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and their grain offering and their drink offerings … and he shall offer the ram as a sacrifice of peace offering to the LORD, with the סַ֣ל basket of unleavened bread. The priest shall offer also its grain offering and its drink offering … And the priest shall take the shoulder of the ram, when it is boiled, and one unleavened loaf out of הַסַּ֔ל the basket and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them on the hands of the Nazirite, after he has shaved the hair of his consecration, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD. Our word is used to safely transport food for people to eat or to successfully offer sacrifices as part of the tabernacle worship. We find our word used in the New Testament to carry Paul to safety. Acts 9:23-25 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. We also see it used in Jesus’ miracles as a reminder that God provides over abundantly by the basketful. John 6:10-14 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” I’ll close with these words of Jesus when he is reminding them how He will provide for their needs referencing both miracles of feeding the 5,000 and 4,000. Mark 8:19-20 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
