The Kosher Bookworm Numbers that count: A review of new commentaries on Bamidbar

This year we are witnessing the publication of several new English language commentaries on the Book of Numbers, Bamidbar that will definitely warrant your attention. This essay will be the first in a series on this topic.

The first such work is entitled, “Journey of Faith” by Rabbi Yonasan David Arenias. Unlike most other works, the background of the author is absent from this work. Nevertheless, we have to reply on the approbations of three distinguished scholars who vouch for Rabbi Arenias’ credentials.

First, let us consider what Rabbi Berel Wein has to say:

“I found your work to be authoritative, insightful and extremely well presented. Anyone seeking to understand Torah will benefit from reading and studying it. It is a clear and cogent presentation of the words and ideas of the Written Torah as interpreted by the sages of Israel over the ages.”

Other similar sentiments are expressed by Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz and Rabbi Zev Leff.

It is the very organization of this work that gives it its quality in both content and scholarship .Let me list to you this as presented in the order from the author himself.

“This work was written with the goal of helping the reader see the entire picture and gain a comprehensive understanding of Sefer Bamidbar. To this end, nine guidelines were followed:

1.An anthology of classic commentaries.

2.Peshat.

3.Major ideas and concepts.

4.Structure.

5.The big picture.

6.The order of the passages.

7.Chronology of events.

8.Themes.

9.Sources.”

The translation of the original Hebrew text is based on the interpretation of Rashi, and whenever he does not explain the text other classic commentators are used.

Each parsha is introduced with a detailed introduction. I will use this coming week’s parsha, Nasso, as an example. The following is the outline of a five page detailed introduction.

Part 1. The Count of the Levi’im

Part 2. The Sanctity of the Camp

Part 3. The Leaders’ Offerings

Each part is explained as part of a detailed introduction to the entire parsha. The language is clear, crisp and most understandable, absent the technical jargon that has cluttered other cognate works on the Chumash.

A guide to this work points to the fact that each parsha is presented in four sections: an outline, and overview, summaries for the theme and the chronology of events, and a running commentary together with extensive footnotes.

This work also contains two appendices, one presenting the parsha summaries, and the second detailing the events of this sefer in chronological order.

As to why this series begins with Bamidbar, I do not know. However, this work is a blessing in that this sefer usually begins its yearly reading cycle on the cusp of the summer when Chumash shiurim are at a premium thus enabling such a work as this to serve as a surrogate for same.

Another work on Bamidbar recently revised in a second printing from the Torah series produced by Kehot Publication Society, employs similar methodology in both content and presentation method. While similar to the previous cited work, this Chumash includes the full Rashi and Onkelos commentaries, a section devoted to the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe’s and his predecessors’ teachings under the heading, “Chasidic Insights.”

When needed, a separate section under the heading, “A Closer Look” is added to further elucidate a topic for needed clarification.

Each parsha begins with a detailed overview, as well, as needed, charts, diagrams and illustrations. Also, this work contains a detailed chronology of events relevant to the Haftarot, a listing of orthographic, grammatical, and other irregularities in Bamidbar, and a twelve page detailed bibliography.

It should be noted that the translations to both these two works are elucidated, not literal, and serve as a narrative commentary to the Bible text.

Lastly,on a totally different track, a new all English commentary was just recently published by Maggid Books on Bamidbar that includes commentary from world literature, philosophy, travelogues and even corporate manuals, all blended together into a tradition friendly mode that seeks to explain the text with a contemporary relevance. Entitled, “Leadership in the Wilderness: Authority and Anarchy in the Book of Numbers” by Erica Brown, this work will surprise many with its unique presentment of the author’s take on the ongoing upheavals experienced by Moshe and the Jewish people in the desert and on how the role of leadership plays out in the Biblical narrative all the way through.

Chag Sameach to all.