The Tent Outside the Camp
These verses seem to belong to the early wilderness tradition and on a quick reading may be dismissed as having little of consequence for us, but when you scratch the surface two important issues raise their head and both are worth pursuing.
First, the Israelites’ understanding of holiness was fundamentally tactile. Yahweh was holy. Anything connected with Yahweh therefore became holy by contact. This included people coming into contact with Yahweh but also ‘holy things’, such as the Ark which contained the tablets of stone, and to touch the Ark, even accidentally, caused a ‘contamination’ which required purification as Uzzah discovered when the Ark was returned to Jerusalem (2 Sam 6: 6-7). Hence the need for the Tent to be well outside the camp and with restricted entry. This is a dualistic philosophy: God’s world, and our world (despite the fact that he created it), with few points of contact and available only to a limited section of society.
With rare exceptions (similar perhaps to the way some people view the Bible or the reserved sacrament) this is not what we understand by holiness. But then what do we understand by holiness and on what foundation? Surely more than simply a person of integrity with a good reputation, which is what it has tended to become in popular usage. And where do we locate it — outside the community or at the heart of life?
Second, communication with the Deity. Few will want to take v11 literally. Critics will ask how. Cynics will wonder what language Yahweh used. But how do we hear God’s voice? An inner urge in a time of prayer? An unexpected nudge in a certain direction? A life of outstanding courage or devotion in someone where you would least expect to find him, the thrill of nature or the joy of music? Writers such as Trevor Dennis, John Taylor and Gerd Theissen have a rare skill for hearing the voice of God (or sensing his presence) where many others would never notice and inadvertently can open our eyes and ears to similar experiences