Naso 5771

Studying this year, I learned that the Hebrew word for marriage is nisuin. This has the same root as naso, lift up. Marriage is the plural of lifting (each other) up.

Interestingly, Nasso contains the commandment for the 'sotah', where a wife suspected by her husband of adultery is ritually tested for guilt.

In a way each tribe as it brings gifts is fulfilling the marriage requirements. In a sense they are marring G*d.

This theme I see tied together in the Kohen's blessing which is also in the parshah.

May the Lord lift His face upon you and grant you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

Census.

Some other notes:

When the period of the vow was over, the former Nazir had to bring special offerings. In particular, he or she had to bring a sin offering. What was the sin? The Talmud teaches, The Nazir is a sinner because he afflicted himself through the abstention from wine. If one who afflicted himself only in respect of wine is called a sinner, how much more so one who ascetically refrains from all pleasures. (Nedarim 10a)

The curses that were dissolved in the water included God's name