Blessing for the Torah:
Bar’chu
et YHVH ha-m’vorach, Baruch YHVH ha-m’vorach l’O’lam va-ed!
Baruch
ata YHVH Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher bachar banu m’kol ha-amim, v’na-tan lanu
eht Torah-to. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Bless YHVH the blessed One;
Blessed is YHVH, the blessed One for all eternity. 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.)
The spirit of Korach is alive and well on
planet earth
– one of the greatest
manifestations of this spirit is the almost
total ignorance
and rejection or even consideration of the eternal importance of the Levitical
priesthood. Today Rabbi’s and pastors have attempted to replace or even
obliterate the relevance of the Levitical priesthood.
Four times in this Torah portion when speaking of the
Levititcal priesthood and their responsibilities – it states that it is a law
forever… 18: vs 8,11,19,23. How dare we like Korach, exalt ourselves above the
law of YHVH.
We often hear these words “things have changed”-
however the truth is that Yahshua did
not come to change the truth – He came to establish the truth, the truth of
every word that ever came out of the mouth of YHVH – that also means every word
YHVH spoke to Moshe – Yahshua came to say – Amein to every word that YHVH spoke
and continues to speak.
The Law or Torah was forever throughout all
generations ….not a law until Yahshua came or even returns – as long as there
is a heaven and an earth – this word is still as true as it is now as it was then
– Mat5:17-19
The very essence of most theology today – Christian or
Jewish, is that things have changed. “We must adapt to the times.”
In the apostolic
scripture for this Torah portion every verb is written in the present tense.
Heb 5:1 For every priest(Cohen) taken from among men
is appointed on behalf of men in matters relating to Elohim, to offer both
gifts and offerings for sins,
Heb 5:2 being able to have a measure of feeling for
those not knowing and being led astray, since he himself is also surrounded by
weakness.
Heb 5:3 And on account of this he has to offer for
sins – as for the people, so also for himself.
This is why Yahshua could not be an Aaronic High Priest – Yahshua was
without sin.
Heb 5:4 And no one obtains this
esteem for himself, but he who is called by Elohim, even as Aharon also was.
Heb 5:5 So also the Messiah did not extol Himself to
become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him, “You are My Son, today I
have brought You forth.”1 Footnote: 1See 1:5, Ps. 2:7.
Heb 5:6 As He also says in another place, “You are a
priest forever according to the order of Malkitseḏeq,”1
Footnote: 1Ps. 110:4.
Melech Tzadic – king of righteousness. No Levite
could lay claim to such a title because YHVH appointed His sinless Son to have
all the authority in heaven and on earth(Mt 28:18). His son has power to give
and to withhold righteousness from men and woman. There was never another human
being who was worthy or able to have such a title and responsibility. There is
only one way to become righteous - Rom
10:1-4.
Rom 10:1 Truly brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer
to Elohim for Yisra’ĕl is for deliverance.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them witness that they have an
ardour for Elohim, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For not knowing the righteousness of Elohim,
and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not subject
themselves to1 the righteousness of Elohim. Footnote: 1Or
did not obey.
Rom 10:4 For Messiah is the goal1 of the
‘Torah unto righteousness to everyone who believes. Footnote: 1Or
end purpose; not termination.
So then why the
Levitical priesthood?
The very essence and
nature of the calling and duties of the priests reveals the very essence of the
establishing of the righteousness of YHVH in Yahshua in our lives.
Eze 44:23 “And they are to teach My people the difference
between the set-apart and the profane, and make them know what is unclean and
clean.
Eze 44:24 “And they are to stand as judges in a
dispute, and judge it according to My right-rulings. And they are to guard My
Torot and My laws in all My appointed festivals, and set apart My Sabbaths.
And so our times of
ignorance He has overlooked, but now in these days we are commanded to repent.
– Acts 17:30
Aliyah
Chamishi 17:1-9
Num 17:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num
17:2 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl,
and take from them a rod from each father’s house, all their leaders according
to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods. Write each one’s name on his rod,
Num
17:3 and write Aharon’s name on the rod
of Lĕwi, for there is one rod for the head of each father’s house.
Num
17:4 “You shall then place them in the
Tent of Meeting before the Witness, where I meet with you.
Num
17:5 “And it shall be that the rod of
the man whom I choose buds, and I shall rid Myself of the grumblings of the
children of Yisra’ĕl, which they grumble against you.”
Num
17:6 And Mosheh spoke to the children of
Yisra’ĕl, and all their leaders gave him a rod each, for each leader according
to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods. And the rod of Aharon was among their
rods.
Num
17:7 So Mosheh placed the rods before יהוה in the Tent of the Witness.
וַיַּנַּח
מֹשֶׁה אֶת-הַמַּטֹּת, לִפְנֵי יְהוָה, בְּאֹהֶל, הָעֵדֻת
Lit.
- Mosheh caused the rods to rest before the Face of YHVH in the tent of
witness.
Num
17:8 And it came to be on the next day
that Mosheh went into the Tent of the Witness and saw that the rod of Aharon,
of the house of Lĕwi, had budded, and brought forth buds, and blossomed and
bore ripe almonds.
Num
17:9 And Mosheh brought out all the rods
from before יהוה to all the children of Yisra’ĕl. And they
looked, and each man took his rod.
All
self- appointed spiritual leadership will be exposed. True anointed Levitical
leadership will awaken revelation of truth to those who submit to such
leadership. The Hebrew word for “almond”- “shaked’ is also the word used for
one who does not sleep so as to be on guard. The “rod” of set apart leadership
will always bring life in correction and true spiritual guidance.
Aliyah
Shishi 17:10-18:20
Num
17:10 And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Bring Aharon’s rod back
before the Witness, to be kept as a sign against the rebels, so that you put an
end to their grumblings against Me, lest they die.”
Num
17:11 And Mosheh did as יהוה had commanded him, so he did.
Num
17:12 And the children of Yisra’ĕl spoke
to Mosheh, saying, “See, we shall die, we shall perish, we shall all perish!
When
the revelation of the set apartness of the true priesthood of YHVH becomes
evident again in the last days – YHVH’s people will understand that rejection
of this Levitical priesthood will be physical and spiritual death.
Num
17:13 “Anyone who comes near the
Dwelling Place of יהוה dies. Shall we be consumed – to die?”
Num 18:1 And יהוה said to Aharon, “You and your sons and
your father’s house with you are to bear the crookedness against the set-apart
place, and you and your sons with you are to bear the crookedness against your
priesthood.
When
there are problems amongst YHVH’s people – He will first come knocking at the
door of the Levites. If the Levites are out of line with YHVH – the nation is
out of line with YHVH.
Mal 3:2 “And who is able to bear the day of His
coming, and who is able to stand when He appears? For He is like the fire of a
refiner, and like the soap of a launderer.
Mal 3:3 “And He shall sit as a refiner and a cleanser
of silver. And He shall cleanse the sons
of Lĕwi, and refine them as gold and silver, and they shall belong to יהוה, bringing near
an offering in righteousness.
Mal 3:4 “Then
shall the offering of Yehuḏah and Yerushalayim be pleasant to יהוה, as in the days of old, as in former
years.
Num
18:2 “But bring with you your brothers
of the tribe of Lĕwi too, the tribe of your father to join you and serve you
while you and your sons are with you before the Tent of the Witness.
Num
18:3 “And they shall guard your charge,
and the duty of all the Tent, but they do not come near the furnishings of the
set-apart place and the altar, lest they die, both they and you.
Num
18:4 “And they shall be joined with you
and guard the duty to the Tent of Meeting, for all the service of the Tent, but
a stranger does not come near you.
Num
18:5 “And you shall guard the duty of
the set-apart place and the duty of the altar, so that there be no more wrath
on the children of Yisra’ĕl.
Num
18:6 “And see, I Myself have taken your
brothers the Lĕwites from the midst of the children of Yisra’ĕl – a gift to
you, given by יהוה, to do the service of the Tent of Meeting.
Num
18:7 “But you and your sons with you are
to guard your priesthood for all matters at the altar and behind the veil, and
you shall serve. I have given you the priesthood as a gift for service, but the
stranger who comes near is put to death.”
Num
18:8 And יהוה spoke to Aharon, “And see, I Myself have
also given you the charge of My contributions, all the set-apart gifts of the
children of Yisra’ĕl. I have given them to you for the anointing, and to your
sons, as a law forever.
Num
18:9 “This is yours of the most
set-apart gifts, from the fire: all their offerings, all their grain
offerings and all their sin offerings and all their guilt offerings which they
render to Me, are most set-apart for you and your sons.
Num
18:10 “Eat it in the most set-apart
place – every male eats it. It is set-apart to you.
Num
18:11 “This also is yours: the
contribution of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of
Yisra’ĕl. I have given them to you, and your sons and daughters with you, as a law forever. Everyone who is
clean in your house eats it.
Num
18:12 “All the best of the oil, and all
the best of the new wine and the grain – their first-fruits which they give to יהוה – I have given them to you.
Num
18:13 “The first-fruits of all that is
in their land, which they bring to יהוה, are yours.
Everyone who is clean in your house eats it.
Num
18:14 “All that is dedicated in Yisra’ĕl
is yours.
Num
18:15 “Everyone opening a womb of all
flesh, which they bring to יהוה, whether man or beast, is yours. But the
first-born of man you shall certainly ransom, and the first-born of the unclean
beast you ransom.
Num
18:16 “And ransom their ransomed ones
when one month old, according to your valuation, five sheqels of silver,
according to the sheqel of the set-apart place, which is twenty gĕrahs.
Num
18:17 “But the first-born of a cow, or
the first-born of a sheep, or the first-born of a goat you do not ransom, they
are set-apart. Sprinkle their blood on the altar, and burn their fat as an
offering made by fire for a sweet fragrance to יהוה.
Num
18:18 “And their flesh is yours, as the
wave breast and as the right thigh, it is yours.
Num
18:19 “All the contributions of the
set-apart gifts, which the children of Yisra’ĕl present to יהוה, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as a
law forever. It is a covenant of salt forever before יהוה with you and
your seed with you.”
Num
18:20 And יהוה said to
Aharon, “You are not to have an inheritance in their land, nor have any portion
in their midst. I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of
Yisra’ĕl.
Aliyah
Sheviee 18:21-32
Num 18:21
“And see, I have given the children of Lĕwi all the tithes in Yisra’ĕl
as an inheritance in return for the service which they are serving, the service
of the Tent of Meeting.
Num 18:22
“And let the children of Yisra’ĕl no more come near the Tent of Meeting,
lest they bear sin and die,
Num
18:23 because the Lĕwites shall do the
service of the Tent of Meeting, so they themselves bear their crookedness. A
law forever, throughout your generations: that among the children of Yisra’ĕl
they are to have no inheritance,
Num
18:24 but the tithes of the children of
Yisra’ĕl, which they present as a contribution to יהוה, I have given to the Lĕwites as an
inheritance. That is why I have said to them, ‘Among the children of Yisra’ĕl
they have no inheritance.’ ”
Num
18:25 And יהוה spoke to
Mosheh, saying,
Num
18:26 “Speak to the Lĕwites and say to
them, ‘When you take from the children of Yisra’ĕl the tithes which I have
given you from them as your inheritance, then you shall present a contribution
of it to יהוה, a tenth of the tithe.
Num
18:27 ‘And your contribution shall be
reckoned to you as grain from the threshing-floor and as filling from the
winepress.
Num
18:28 ‘Thus you also present a
contribution unto יהוה from all your tithes which you receive
from the children of Yisra’ĕl. And you shall give from it the contribution to יהוה to Aharon the priest.
Num
18:29 ‘From all your gifts you present
every contribution due to יהוה, from all the best of them, the set-apart
part of them.’
Num
18:30 “And you shall say to them, ‘When
you have presented the best of it, then the rest shall be reckoned to the
Lĕwites as the yield of the threshing-floor and as the yield of the winepress.
Num
18:31 ‘And you shall eat it in any
place, you and your households, for it is your reward for your service in the
Tent of Meeting,
Num
18:32 and bear no sin because of it,
when you have presented the best of it, and do not profane the set-apart gifts
of the children of Yisra’ĕl, lest you die.’ ”
See
also – Jer 33:19-22 & Dan 9:3-19
Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu,
Melech ha-‘Olam, asher natan lanu Toraht-emet, v’chay-yeh o’lam nata-b’tochenu.
Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Blessed are you Yahweh, our Elohim, King of the
Universe, you have given us your Torah of truth, and have planted everlasting
life within our midst. Blessed are you, YHVH giver of the Torah – Ameyn
