Moses by the Numbers July 2001 1 | 2 | 3 | NEXT The Torah readings for this month (July) complete the Book of Numbers, from chapter 22 through 36. The month's Torah selections conclude with the first three chapters of Deuteronomy. But, I would like to focus on the Numbers, and illustrations of its stories through postage stamps. Numbers 20 tells the story of Moses striking a rock to bring water to the Israelites still wandering in the desert 40 years after they left Egypt. This scene, as painted by Tintoretto, was pictured on a souvenir sheet issued by Uganda in 1995 (#1297). A detail from another version by Bloemaert was pictured on St. Vincent #2261a issued in 1996. The incident in Numbers 20, in some aspects, repeats an incident near the beginning of the exodus, as told in Exodus 17. The scene of Israelites drinking the water released from a rock appears on Saar #B69 issued in 1949, Switzerland #B383 issued in 1969 and Vatican City #549 issued in 1974. Which of the two incidents is depicted on these latter stamps is not clear. The incident related in Numbers 20 results in Moses (and Aaron) being punished by God; they were not allowed to bring the Israelites into the Promised Land. Why was Moses's act in Numbers 20 such a major sin? What's the Sin? 1 | 2 | 3 | NEXT © 2001, J-Stamps/Murray Frost. All Rights Reserved. froststamps@yahoo.com