The king Moshiach will arise and restore the kingdom of David to its esteem of old, to its original sovereignty. He will build the Set Apart Temple and gather the dispersed of Israel. In his times, all the laws of the Torah will be reinstated as before; the offerings will be offered, the Sabbatical year and the Jubilee year instituted as outlined in the Torah. (Maimonides)Yeshayau/Isa 2:2 And it shall be in the latter days that the mountain of the House of יהוה is established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills. And all nations shall flow to it.
Yeshayahu/Isa 2:3 And many peoples shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of יהוה, to the House of the Elohim of Ya’aqov, and let Him teach1 us His ways1, and let us walk in His paths1, for out of Tsiyon comes forth the Torah1, and the Word1 of יהוה from Yerushalayim
The expression tzav ("command") implies an urging for now and for future generations. (Torat Kohanim; Rashi)
This Torah portion highlights once again that the commands of the Torah are not negotiable.
Blessing for the Torah:
Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-O’lam, asher bachar banu m’kol ha-amim,
v’natan lanu eht Torah-to. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe,
(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe,
you have selected us from among all the peoples, and have given us your Torah.
Blessed are you, YHVH, giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)
Torah Readings:
- 6:8-18 (6:1-11 Hebrew version)
- 6:19 – 7:10 (6:12 – 7:10 Heb.)
- 7:11-38
- 8:1-13
- 8:14-21
- 8:22-29
- 8:30-32
- Maftir: 8:33-36
Haftarah: Jeremiah 7:21 – 8:3; 9:22-23
Aliyah Rishon 6:8 – 18
Hebrew for the book of "Leviticus" is "Vayiqra"
Lev 6:8 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, Lev 6:9 “Command Aharon and his sons, saying, ‘This is the Torah of the burnt offering: This is the burnt offering, because it is burned on the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar is kept burning on it.
The title “command” carries a greater sense of urgency than using the words “vayomer or dibar” “he said or he spoke” The concept of a “mitzvah” carries it with it the sense of joining together. According to the sages the commandments join us to YHVH. This Torah portion “tzav” then has greater power to connect us to YHVH.
The Hebrew letters that make up the word “tzvah” or “command!” (tzaddic, vav, hey) present a picture of a “tzaddik” or a righteous man on his knees, joined (vav) to the revelation (hey) from heaven.
This teaches us that true unity or a joining together of the “kehelah” (called out ones/congregation) or body of Messiah can only take place amongst those who are joined by a strong common bond of embracing and obeying the Torah of YHVH.
Such a unity commands a blessing from YHVH – Ps 133.
This commandment “tzav” concerning the instruction of the “korban olah” or “burnt offering” empowers us in a very unique way to be joined to YHVH.
There is also a highlighted word in the above verse 9 – “This is the burnt offering, because it is burned on the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar is kept burning on it.”
Or this is the ascent offering on account of its glow (mokdah) on the altar all night until morning, the fire of the altar shall be kept glowing (tukad) upon it.
The words “mokdah” and “tukad” come from the root word “yakad” which means to kindle.
The sages say that there were three kinds of flames on the altar used to consume the offering. The “mokdah” was possibly the burning coals that came from the logs (much like our charcoal used when we barbeque) It was from this “mokdah” that coals were taken for the golden altar of incence (this is also possibly why Aarons two sons were killed because they did not take coals from the brazen altar but rather took fire from elsewhere - strange fire)
This word “mokdah” is written in the Torah scroll with a dimished “mem”
“Mem” is the Hebrew letter that speaks of water or life. We believe that it is the Ruach (Spirit) of YHVH that brings and gives us life.
Luk 3:16 Yoḥanan (John) answered, saying to them all, “I indeed immerse you in water, but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal straps I am not worthy to loosen. He shall immerse you in the Set-apart Spirit and fire.
The outpouring of the Ruach on the day of Shavuot (Feast of weeks – also called Pentecost as transliterated out of the Greek language) is compared to fire.
Act 2:3 And there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and settled on each one of them.
The messengers (angels) of YHVH are also compared with fire.
Ivrim/Heb 1:7 And of the messengers indeed He says, “... who is making His messengers spirits and His servants a flame of fire.”
The name and honour of YHVH was like a fire in the bones of Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah.
Yir/Jer 20:9 Whenever I said, “Let me not mention Him, nor speak in His Name again,” it was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones. And I became weary of holding it back, and was helpless.
The dimished “mem” could refer to the human vessels that YHVH chooses to fill with the burning treasure of His Ruach. This flame is continually kindled by the study and obedience of Torah.
The diminished “mem” could also refer to someone who allows these burning coals to continually purify them of all unclean things.
Yeshayahu/Isa 6:6 And one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.
Isa 6:7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your crookedness is taken away, and your sin is covered.”
Even though the temple has been destroyed Yahshua came to kindle this flame amongst those who would follow him. The Messiah will rebuild the temple and only those who have the same “mokdah” as Messiah will rule and reign with him.
Luk 12:49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
Luk 12:50 “But I have an immersion to be immersed with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
Luk 12:51 “Do you think that I came to give peace on earth? I say to you, no, but rather division.
Lev 6:10 ‘And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and put his linen trousers on his body, and shall take up the ashes of the burnt offering which the fire has consumed on the altar, and shall put them beside the altar.
Lev 6:11 ‘And he shall take off his garments, and put on other garments, and shall bring the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.
Lev 6:12 ‘And the fire on the altar is kept burning on it, it is not put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and arrange the burnt offering on it, and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings –
Lev 6:13 fire is continually kept burning on the altar, it is not put out.
The ashes of the burnt offering are the evidence of a total dedication and presentation of ourselves to YHVH. When we or the priest gather this evidence off the altar we are to do so in our “set apart garments” that we use when ministering to and before YHVH. When we transport these ashes to outside the camp we are to change our clothing to ordinary clothing. Perhaps this is so we don’t attract attention to ourselves or try and impress people with our set apartness. These ashes then become a witness to the nations of an interceding priesthood.
Shaul/Paul possibly is referring to this burnt offering when he said in Romans 12.
Rom 12:1 I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship.
Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the favour which has been given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he should think, but to think soberly, as Elohim has given to each a measure of belief.
When we offer ourselves in this way we will know the perfect will of the Father.
Lev 6:14 ‘And this is the Torah of the grain offering: The sons of Aharon shall bring it near before יהוה, in front of the altar,
Lev 6:15 and shall take from it with his hand from the fine flour of the grain offering, and from its oil, and all the frankincense which is on the grain offering, and shall burn it on the altar for a sweet fragrance, as its remembrance portion to יהוה.
Lev 6:16 ‘Then Aharon and his sons eat the rest of it. It is eaten with unleavened bread, in the set-apart place. They eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.
Lev 6:17 ‘It is not baked with leaven. I have given it to them as their portion of My offerings made by fire, it is most set-apart, like the sin offering and the guilt offering.
Lev 6:18 ‘All the males among the children of Aharon eat it – a law forever in your generations concerning the offerings made by fire to יהוה. All that touches them is to be set-apart.’ ”
Aliyah Sheni 6:19-7:10
Lev 6:19 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Lev 6:20 “This is the offering of Aharon and his sons, which they bring near to יהוה, beginning on the day when he is anointed: one-tenth of an ĕphah of fine flour as a daily grain offering, half of it in the morning and half of it at night.
This is referring to the “tamid” offering. Scholars believe this took place at nine o clock in the morning and three o clock in the afternoon – the same times our Messiah was placed on an execution stake and died.
This is a call to each one of us to take time out during our busy lives to bring an offering (prayer) to YHVH. Today we have a useful rabbinical tradition of the “shachariet, minchah and maariv” morning afternoon and evening prayers. These can be followed or adapted and will bring edification when offered with a pure heart.
Lev 6:21 “It is made on a griddle with oil. Bring it in mixed, bring the baked portions of the grain offering near, a sweet fragrance to יהוה.
Lev 6:22 “And the anointed priest from among his sons, who is in his place, prepares it – a law forever to יהוה. All of it has to be burned,
Lev 6:23 and every grain offering for the priest is completely burned, it is not eaten.”
Sin offering: (chatat)
Lev 6:24 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Lev 6:25 “Speak to Aharon and to his sons, saying, ‘This is the Torah of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, the sin offering is slaughtered before יהוה, it is most set-apart.
Lev 6:26 ‘The priest who is making atonement eats it, in the set-apart place it is eaten, in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting.
Lev 6:27 ‘All that touches its flesh is to be set-apart. And when its blood is sprinkled on any garment, you wash that on which it was sprinkled, in a set-apart place.
Lev 6:28 ‘But the earthen vessel in which it is cooked is to be broken. And if it is cooked in a bronze pot, then it is scoured and rinsed in water.
Lev 6:29 ‘Every male among the priests eats it, it is most set-apart.
Lev 6:30 ‘And no sin offering from which any of the blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting, to make atonement in the set-apart place, is eaten, it is burned with fire.
Guilt Offering: (asham)
Lev 7:1 ‘And this is the Torah of the guilt offering – it is most set-apart.
Lev 7:2 ‘The guilt offering is slaughtered in the place where they slaughter the burnt offering, and its blood is sprinkled on the altar all around.
Lev 7:3 ‘Then he brings from it all its fat: the fat tail and the fat that covers the entrails,
Lev 7:4 and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the loins, and the appendage on the liver, which he removes with the kidneys.
Lev 7:5 ‘And the priest shall burn them on the altar as an offering made by fire to יהוה. It is a guilt offering.
Lev 7:6 ‘Every male among the priests eats it. It is eaten in the set-apart place, it is most set-apart.
Lev 7:7 ‘The guilt offering is like the sin offering, there is one Torah for them both: the priest who makes atonement with it, it is his.
Lev 7:8 ‘And the priest who brings anyone’s burnt offering, the skin of the burnt offering which he has brought is the priest’s, it is his.
Lev 7:9 ‘And every grain offering that is baked in the oven and all that is prepared in the stewing-pot, or on a griddle, is the priest’s who brings it, it is his.
Lev 7:10 ‘And every grain offering mixed with oil, or dry, is for all the sons of Aharon, for all alike.
Why are the sin and guilt offering called most set apart of the fire offerings? (Lev 2:3 tells us that the grain offering is the most set apart of all the fire offerings)
The sin and guilt offering (also the burnt offering) were offered on the northern side of the altar (mizbeach). “North in Hebrew is “tzaphon” and speaks of that which is hidden or a mystery.
There is a great mystery about our redemption:
1Ti 3:16 “And, beyond all question, the secret of reverence(total dedication) is great – who was revealed in the flesh, declared right in Spirit, was seen by messengers, was proclaimed among nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in esteem.” (The Scriptures)
Most other translations have this verse like this: 1Ti 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (KJV)
(Please take note that the word “G-d” does not appear in the earlier manuscripts this was added by Trinitarian heretics)