4/22/2017

Parashat 25 Portion 80 Tzav – Vayikra/Lev 6:8-7:38 Mal 3:4-12 Luke 6:39-49

Please note we have skipped Portion 79 as we discussed these issues in last week’s Torah Midrash.

Hebrew: Barukh attah Yahweh eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher kideshanu b'mitzvotav, v'tzivanu la'asok b'divrei Torah. V'ha'arev na Yahweh eloheinu et divrei toratekha befinu uvfi amekha beit Yisrael. V'niyeh anachnu v'tze'etze'einu v'tze'etza'ei amekha beit Yisrael kullanu yodei sh'mekha v'lomdei toratekha lishmah. Barukh attah Yahweh hamelamed Torah le'amo Yisrael. Barukh attah Yahweh Eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher bachar banu mikol ha'amim venatan lanu et torato. Barukh attah Yahweh, noten haTorah.

English translation: Blessed art Thou, YHVH our Elohim, King of the universe, who has made us set apart through His commandments and commanded us to actively study Torah. Please YHVH, our Elohim, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May we and our offspring, and the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for the sake of fulfilling Your desire. Blessed are You, Yahweh, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Blessed are You, Yahweh our Elohim, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, YHVH, Giver of the Torah.

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.

ב  צַו אֶת-אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת-בָּנָיו לֵאמֹר, זֹאת תּוֹרַת הָעֹלָה:  הִוא הָעֹלָה עַל מוֹקְדָה עַל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ כָּל-הַלַּיְלָה, עַד-הַבֹּקֶר, וְאֵשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, תּוּקַד בּוֹ.
2 Command Aaron and his sons, saying: This is the law of the burnt-offering: it is that which goeth up on its firewood upon the altar all night unto the morning; and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning thereby.


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 flame 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 incense (this is also possibly why Aharons 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 diminished “mem”

“Mem” is the Hebrew letter that speaks of water or life. We believe that it is the Ruach of YHVH that brings and gives us life.

Luk 3:16  Yoḥanan 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 (Hebrew)/Pentecost (translation from Greek) 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 of YHVH are also compared with fire.


The diminished “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 – because only when we are cleansed can we live in relationships that bring life.  One of the most important issues of offerings was to restore fractured relationships.

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.