8/04/2023

Parashat 20-“Tetzaveh’’- Portion 71 Shemot/Ex 27:20- 28:43

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.

This week we look to the instruction regarding the priesthood that served in the Tabernacle.

The shocking truth about this priesthood is that they have been ‘’missing’’ for almost 2000 years and almost no one seems concerned about their absence – let us remind ourselves once again the instruction YHVH gave regarding this priesthood was a ‘’law forever’’ to all generations, while this current heaven and earth exist.

Jer 6:10  To whom shall I speak and give warning, so that they hear? See, their ear is uncircumcised, and they are unable to listen. See, the word of יהוה is a reproach to them, they do not delight in it. 

Jer 6:12  “And their houses shall be turned over to others, fields and wives together. For I shall stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land,” declares יהוה

Jer 6:13  “For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, they are all greedy for gain. And from the prophet even to the priest, all act falsely. 

Jer 6:14  “And they heal the breach of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. 

Jer 6:16  Thus said יהוה, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and find rest for yourselves. But they said, ‘We do not walk in it.’ 

Jer 6:17  “And I raised up watchmen over you, and said, ‘Listen to a voice of a shophar!’ But they said, ‘We do not listen.’ 

Jer 6:18  “Therefore hear, you nations, and know, O congregation, what is upon them! 

Jer 6:19  “Hear, O earth! See, I am bringing evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to My words, nor My Torah – and they rejected it.

Hos 4:6  “My people have perished for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being priest for Me. Since you have forgotten the Torah of your Elohim, I also forget your children. 

Jer 5:30  “An astounding and horrible matter has come to be in the land: 

Jer 5:31  The prophets have prophesied falsely,b and the priests rule by their own hand, and My people have loved it so. And what are you going to do at the end of it?

‘’Until when will we begin to listen and obey?’’ …. Isa 6:11  Then I said, “יהוה, until when?” And He answered, “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, and the houses are without a man, and the land is laid waste, a ruin, Isa 6:12  and יהוה has removed men far away, and the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land. (until there is almost nothing left standing on earth)

כ  וְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה- you shall command ….  (צִוִּיתָ  is the present tense form)

כ  וְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ שֶׁמֶן זַיִת זָךְ כָּתִית--לַמָּאוֹר:  לְהַעֲלֹת נֵר, תָּמִיד.

Exo 27:20  “And you, you are to command the children of Yisra’ĕl to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually.

Exo 27:21  “In the Tent of Meeting,( מועד) outside the veil which is before the Witness,( העדת) Aharon (Strongs 175 -‘’light bringer’’)and his sons are to tend it from evening until morning before יהוה – a law forever to their generations, from the children of Yisra’ĕl.

Exo 28:3  “And you, speak to all the wise of heart, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, and they shall make the garments of Aharon, to set him apart, for him to serve as priest to Me –

Exo 28:1  “And you, bring near Aharon (Heb ‘’light bringer) your brother and his sons with him, from among the children of Yisra’ĕl, for serving as priest to Me: Aharon, Naḏaḇ and Aḇihu, Elʽazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aharon.

Exo 28:2  “And you shall make set-apart garments for Aharon your brother, for esteem and for comeliness.

Exo 28:3  “And you, speak to all the wise of heart, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, and they shall make the garments of Aharon, to set him apart, for him to serve as priest to Me.

The priestly garments remind us of that YHVH intends to return man to his original state.  This priesthood commanded by YHVH were called to be light bearers for ‘’all generations’’  - Jer 33:18  And for the priests, the Lěwites, there is not to cease a man to offer ascending offerings before Me, to kindle grain offerings, and to slaughter continually.’ ” (for all days)

 וְלַכֹּהֲנִים, הַלְוִיִּם, לֹא-יִכָּרֵת אִישׁ, מִלְּפָנָי:

 ‘’There are traditions from both Jewish and Christian sources that teach that before the fall, the skin of Adam and Chavah was luminous. In other words, they were “covered” by divine light and would “glow,”

It is recorded in the scripture that both the skins of Moshe and Yahshua ‘’glowed’’:

Exo 34:29  And it came to be, when Mosheh came down from Mount Sinai, while the two tablets of the Witness were in Mosheh’s hand when he came down from the mountain, that Mosheh did not know that the skin of his face shone since he had spoken with Him. 

Exo 34:30  And Aharon and all the children of Yisra’ěl looked at Mosheh and saw the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 

Mat 17:2  and He(Yahshua) was transformed before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as the light. 

Mat 17:3  And see, Mosheh and Ěliyahu appeared to them, talking with Him. 

We know that man lost his esteemed covering (אוֹר light) when he sinned and became aware of his nakedness – skin. (עוֹר)

אוֹר Light (aleph, vav, resh)

עוֹר Skin (ahyin, vav, resh)

It is commonly taught that this priesthood has been ‘’done away with’’ and that ‘’Jesus’’ had replaced this ‘’outdated’’ Levitical priesthood. How does one answer such a position?

It is very clear from the teaching in scripture that YHVH requires all men to be accountable, not only to Him or His anointed Messiah, but also to one another- Eph 5:21  subjecting yourselves to each other in the fear of Elohim. And to those leaders whom He appoints over us - Heb 13:17  Obey those leading you, and be subject to them, for they watch for your lives, as having to give account. Let them do so with joy and not groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 

It is very clear that we as human beings and sadly even as believing human beings don’t like to submit to authority. This condition will become worse in the last days(2 Tim 3:1-5) - Rom 13:1  Let every being be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from Elohim, and the authorities that exist are appointed by Elohim. Rom 13:2  So he who opposes the authority withstands the institution of Elohim, and those who withstand shall bring judgment on themselves. 

Most believers would have difficulty in submitting to the authority of a Levitical priesthood, now, or even in the millennium. For this reason, before the return of Messiah YHVH is going to ‘’purge’’ His people from all ‘’rebels’’.

Eze 20:35  “And I shall bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and shall enter into judgment with you face to face there. 

Eze 20:36  “As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Mitsrayim, so I shall enter into judgment with you,” declares the Master יהוה

Eze 20:37  “And I shall make you pass under the rod, and shall bring you into the bond of the covenant, 

Eze 20:38  and purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me. From the land where they sojourn, I bring them out, but they shall not come into the land of Yisra’ěl. And you shall know that I am יהוה

Let us examine the priestly garments:

Exo 28:4  “And these are the garments which they make: a breastplate,( חשׁן) a shoulder garment, אפוד a robe, מעיל an embroidered long shirt, כּתנת a turban, מצנפת  and a girdle אבנט And they shall make set-apart garments for Aharon your brother and his sons, for him to serve as priest to Me.

Exo 28:6  and shall make the shoulder garment(ephod) of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine woven linen, the work of a skilled workman.

Exo 28:7  “It is to have two shoulder pieces joined at its two edges, and so it is joined together.

Exo 28:8  “And the embroidered band of the shoulder garment, which is on it, is of the same workmanship, made of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine woven linen.

Exo 28:9  “And you shall take two shoham stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Yisra’ĕl,

Exo 28:10  six of their names on one stone, and the remaining six names on the other stone, according to their birth.

Exo 28:11  “With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Yisra’ĕl. Set them in settings of gold.

Exo 28:12  “And you shall put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the shoulder garment as stones of remembrance for the sons of Yisra’ĕl. And Aharon shall bear their names before יהוה on his two shoulders, for a remembrance.

Exo 28:13  “And you shall make settings of gold,

Exo 28:14  and two chains of clean gold like braided cords, and fasten the braided chains to the settings.

Exo 28:15  “And you shall make a breastplate of right-ruling, a work of a skilled workman, like the work of the shoulder garment. Make it of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine woven linen.

Exo 28:16  “It is square, doubled, a span (זרת Strongs 2239 – half a cubit) its length, and a span its width.

Exo 28:17  “And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row is a ruby, a topaz, and an emerald; (see similar precious stones in the foundation of the New Jerusalem– Rev 21)

Exo 28:18  and the second row is a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond;

Exo 28:19  and the third row is a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;

Exo 28:20  and the fourth row is a beryl, and a shoham, and a jasper. They are set in gold settings.

Exo 28:21  “And the stones are according to the names of the sons of Yisra’ĕl, twelve according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, each one with its own name, for the twelve tribes.

Exo 28:22  “And you shall make braided chains of corded work for the breastplate(choshen) at the end, of clean gold.

Exo 28:23  “And you shall make two rings of gold for the breastplate, and shall put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.

Exo 28:24  “And you shall put the two cords of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate,

Exo 28:25  and the other two ends of the two cords you fasten to the two settings, and put them on the shoulder pieces of the shoulder garment in the front.

Exo 28:26  “And you shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on the edge of it, which is on the inner side of the shoulder garment.

Exo 28:27  “And you shall make two rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder pieces, underneath the shoulder garment, on the front of it, close to the seam above the embroidered band of the shoulder garment,

Exo 28:28  and they bind the breastplate by means of its rings to the rings of the shoulder garment, using a blue cord, so that it is above the embroidered band of the shoulder garment, so that the breastplate does not come loose from the shoulder garment.

Exo 28:29  “And Aharon shall bear the names of the sons of Yisra’ĕl on the breastplate of right-ruling over his heart, when he goes into the set-apart place, for a remembrance before יהוה, continually.

Exo 28:30  “And into the breastplate of right-ruling you shall put the Urim and the Tummim, and they shall be on the heart of Aharon when he goes in before יהוה. And Aharon shall bear the right-ruling of the children of Yisra’ĕl on his heart before יהוה, continually.

Exo 28:31  “And you shall make the robe of the shoulder garment all of blue.

Exo 28:32  “And the opening for his head shall be in the middle of it, a woven binding all around its opening, like the opening in a scaled armour, so that it does not tear.

Exo 28:33  “And on its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet material, all around its hem, and bells of gold between them all around:

Exo 28:34  a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, on the hem of the robe all around.

Exo 28:35  “And it shall be upon Aharon to attend in, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the set-apart place before יהוה and when he comes out, so that he does not die.

Exo 28:36  “And you shall make a plate of clean gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet: SET-APARTNESS TO יהוה.

Exo 28:37  “And you shall put it on a blue cord, and it shall be on the turban – it is to be on the front of the turban.

Exo 28:38  “And it shall be on the forehead of Aharon, and Aharon shall bear the guilt of the set-apart gifts which the children of Yisra’ĕl set apart in all their set-apart gifts. And it shall always be on his forehead, for acceptance for them before יהוה.

Exo 28:39  “And you shall weave the long shirt of fine linen, and shall make the turban of fine linen, and you shall make the girdle of woven work.

Exo 28:40  “And make long shirts for Aharon’s sons. And you shall make girdles for them, and you shall make turbans for them, for esteem and comeliness.

Exo 28:41  “And you shall put them on Aharon your brother and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them, and shall ordain them, and shall set them apart, and they shall serve as priests to Me.

Exo 28:42  “And make linen trousers for them, to cover their nakedness, reaching from the waist to the thighs.

Exo 28:43  “And they shall be on Aharon and on his sons when they come into the Tent of Meeting, or when they come near the altar to attend in the Set-apart Place, so that they do not bear crookedness and die – a law forever to him, and to his seed after him.

 

Midrash – For us to gain insight into these matters concerning the Tabernacle – the most taught subject in scripture- we need to go beyond what men have been teaching on this subject - we need the Set Apart Spirit to give to us a revelation of what was going on in the Mind of YHVH when He gave us these Tabernacle instructions.

It appears that this priesthood was a mirror for YHVH and for us of a restored mankind that would once again enter into the very Presence of YHVH.

2Co 3:5  Not that we are competent in ourselves to reckon any matter as from ourselves, but our competence is from Elohim, 

2Co 3:6  who also made us competent as servants of a renewed covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life. 

2Co 3:7  But if the administering of death in letters, engraved on stones, was esteemed, so that the children of Yisra’ěl were unable to look steadily at the face of Mosheh because of the esteem of his face, which was passing away, 

2Co 3:8  how much more esteemed shall the administering of the Spirit not be? 

2Co 3:9  For if the administering of condemnation had esteem, the administering of righteousness exceeds much more in esteem. 

2Co 3:10  For indeed what was made esteemed had no esteem in this respect, in view of the esteem that excels. 

2Co 3:11  For if that which is passing away was esteemed, much more that which remains in esteem. 

2Co 3:12  Having then such expectation, we use much boldness of speech, 

2Co 3:13  and not like Mosheh, who put a veil over his face[a] so that the children of Yisra’ěl should not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. Footnote: aSee Exo_34:33-35

2Co 3:14  But their minds were hardened, for to this day, when the old covenant is being read, that same veil remains, not lifted, because in Messiah it is taken away. 

2Co 3:15  But to this day, when Mosheh is being read, a veil lies on their heart. 

2Co 3:16  And when one turns to the Master, the veil is taken away. Exo_34:34, 2 Cor 11:3-4

2Co 3:17  Now יהוה is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of יהוה is, there is freedom. 

2Co 3:18  And we all, as with unveiled face we see as in a mirror the esteem of יהוה, are being transformed into the same likeness from esteem to esteem, as from יהוה, the Spirit.b Footnote: bSee also 2Co_3:17-18

However, these instructions are a shadow of a more superior priesthood as stated in the book of Hebrews:

Heb 7:11  Truly, then, if perfection were through the Lěwitical priesthood – for under it the people were given the Torah – why was there still need for another priest to arise according to the order of Malkitseḏeq, and not be called according to the order of Aharon? 

Heb 7:12  For the priesthood being changed,[b] of necessity there takes place a change of law also. Footnote: b Gk ‘’metathesis’’ Meta (from the Greek meta- μετά- meaning "after" or "beyond") is a prefix meaning more comprehensive or transcending.[1] and ‘’thesis’’ The word "thesis" comes from the Greek θέσις, meaning "position", and refers to an intellectual proposition. Therefore in regard to the Torah the the priesthood was elevated, not changed as to be done away with.

Heb 7:21  For they indeed became priests without an oath, but He became Priest with an oath by Him who said to Him, “יהוה has sworn and shall not regret, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Malkitseḏeq.’ ” Psa_110:4

Heb 7:22  By as much as this יהושע has become a guarantor of a better(Gk ‘’krite'-tohn’’) covenant.  Gk ‘’krite'-tohn’’ of a derivative of G2904; stronger,  meaning the covenant was made more sure.)

1Jn 3:1  See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of Elohim! For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 

1Jn 3:2  Beloved ones, now we are children of Elohim. And it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 

1Jn 3:3  And everyone having this expectation in Him cleanses himself, as He is clean. 

Blessed are you YHVH, 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 – Amein.