Parashat 20 Portion 66 Shem/Ex 29:1-49 Yesh 61:7- 62:5 Heb 2:10-18

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.)

This weeks portion has to do with the ordination of Aharon and his sons. The Hebrew words for ordination are ‘’le maleh yadahim’’ or ‘’filling of the hands’’. The offerings described as the ‘’ordination offerings’’ are referred to as the ‘’miluim’’ or filling offering’’ What does it mean ‘’to fill the hands’’?

Eph 2:10  For we are His workmanship, created in Messiah יהושע unto good works, which Elohim prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 

In the Book of Hebrews (most probably written by a Levite – Barnabas) we have a pattern on how YHVH establishes His priesthood:

Heb 5:8  though being a Son, He learned obedience by what He suffered. 

Exo 4:22  “And you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus said יהוה, “Yisra’ěl is My son, My first-born, 

We are a nation of priests - 1Pe 2:9  But you are a chosen race,b Deu_10:15 a royal priesthood,c Isa_61:6 a set-apart nation,d Exo_19:6 a people for a possession,e Isa_43:2 that you should proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light, Footnotes: bAlso see Isa_43:20. cAlso see Isa_66:21. dAlso see Deu_7:6. eAlso see Exo_19:5, Tit_2:14. 

The church created a false dichotomy between the ‘’clergy and the laity’’ The scriptures teach us that there are nations (goyim) and then there is Yisrael.

It remains the duty of a called out set apart priesthood to teach the nations the difference between set apart and secular and clean and unclean – Lev 10:10.

Heb 5:9  And having been perfected, He became the Causer of everlasting deliverance to all those obeying Him,b Footnote: b Joh_3:36, Joh_14:15, Joh_14:23, Joh_15:10, Act_3:22-23. 

Heb 5:10  having been designated by Elohim a High Priest “according to the order of Malkitseḏeq,” 

Warning Against Apostasy

Heb 5:11  concerning whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 

Heb 5:12  For indeed, although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first elements of the Words of Elohim. And you have become such as need milk and not solid food. 

Heb 5:13  For everyone partaking of milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 

Heb 5:14  But solid food is for the mature whose senses have been trained by practice to discern both good and evil. 

Heb 6:1  Therefore, having left the word of the beginning of the Messiah, let us go on to perfection,a not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of belief toward Elohim, Footnote: a Mat_5:48. 

Heb 6:2  of the teaching of immersions, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of everlasting judgment. 

Heb 6:3  And this we shall do, if Elohim indeed permits. 

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Set-apart Spirit, 

Heb 6:5  and have tasted the good Word of Elohim and the powers of the age to come, 

Heb 6:6  and fall away, to renew them again to repentance – having impaled for themselves the Son of Elohim again, and put Him to open shame.b Footnote: bSee Heb_10:26-31. 

Note the priestly call in what has been incorrectly called the foundations of the Christian faith – Repentance from dead works – faith towards YHVH – the teaching of immersions – the laying on of hands – the resurrection of the dead – everlasting judgment.

We see this pattern in this Torah portion.

Exo 29:1  “And this is the task you shall do to them to set them apart to serve Me as priests: Take one young bull and two rams, perfect ones,

Exo 29:2  and unleavened bread, and unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil – make these of wheat flour.

Exo 29:3  “And you shall put them in one basket and bring them in the basket, along with the bull and the two rams.

Exo 29:4  “Then you shall bring Aharon and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and wash them with water.

Exo 29:5  “And you shall take the garments, and shall put on Aharon the long shirt, and the robe of the shoulder garment, and the shoulder garment, and the breastplate, and shall gird him with the embroidered band of the shoulder garment,

Exo 29:6  and shall put the turban on his head, and shall put the set-apart sign of dedication on the turban,

Exo 29:7  and shall take the anointing oil, and pour it on his head and anoint him.

Exo 29:8  “Then you shall bring his sons and put long shirts on them,

Exo 29:9  and shall gird them with girdles – Aharon and his sons – and put the turbans on them. And the priesthood shall be theirs for an everlasting law. So you shall ordain (fill the hand) Aharon and his sons.

Olive oil and the priestly garments have a connection - The Hebrew word for "oil" is shemen, which is the root of the Hebrew for "eight," shmoneh. The High Priest had 8 different garments.

 Those vestments which were common to all priests, were:

•      Michnasayim (breeches)—linen pants reaching from the waist to the knees "to cover their nakedness" (Exodus 28:42)

•      Ketonet (tunic)—made of pure linen, covering the entire body from the neck to the feet, with sleeves reaching to the wrists. That of the High Priest was embroidered (Exodus 28:39); those of the priests were plain (Exodus 28:40).

•      Avnet (sash)—that of the High Priest was of fine linen with "embroidered work" in blue and purple and scarlet (Exodus 28:39, 39:29); those worn by the priests were of white, twined linen.

•      Mitznefet (turban)—that of the High Priest was much larger than that of the priests and wound so that it formed a broad, flat-topped turban; that for priests was wound so that it formed a cone-shaped turban, called a migbahat. The tzitz, a golden plate inscribed with the words: "Holiness unto JHWH" was attached to the mitznefet.

The vestments that were unique to the High Priest were:

•      Me'il ("Robe of the Ephod")—a sleeveless, purple robe, the lower hem of which was fringed with small golden bells alternating with pomegranate-shaped tassels in blue, purple, and scarlet - tekhelet[10], argaman, tolaat shani.

•      Ephod—a richly embroidered vest or apron with two onyx-stones on the shoulders, on which were engraved the names of the tribes of Israel – see BDB robe of approach- bondservant.

•      Choshen (Breastplate)—with twelve gems, each engraved with the name of one of the tribes; a pouch in which he probably carried the Urim and Thummim. It was fastened to the Ephod  (gematria 358)

•      Tzitz (crown)—a gold plate inscribed with the words "Set Apart unto YHWH" which was attached to the front of the Mitznefet, so that it rested on his forehead

Exo 29:10  “And you shall bring near the bull before the Tent of Meeting, and Aharon and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull. (bull for sins of priests, rams for sins of people)

Exo 29:11  “And you shall slaughter the bull before יהוה, by the door of the Tent of Meeting,

Exo 29:12  and take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour all the blood beside the base of the altar.

Exo 29:13  “And you shall take all the fat that covers the entrails, and the appendage on the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar.

Exo 29:14  “But the flesh of the bull, and its skin and its dung, you shall burn with fire outside the camp. It is a sin offering.

Heb 13:10  We have a slaughter-place from which those serving the Tent have no authority to eat. 

Heb 13:11  For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the Set-apart Place by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 

Heb 13:12  And so יהושע also suffered outside the gate, to set apart the people with His own blood. 

Heb 13:13  Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 

You have got to come outside the ‘’camp of man made organized religion’’ if you want to know  and serve Messiah and be part of a set apart priesthood.

Exo 29:15  “And take one ram, and Aharon and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram,

Exo 29:16  and you shall slaughter the ram, and you shall take its blood and sprinkle it all around on the altar.

Exo 29:17  “And cut the ram in pieces, and wash its entrails and its legs, and place them upon its pieces and on its head.

Exo 29:18  “And you shall burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to יהוה, it is a sweet fragrance, an offering made by fire to יהוה.

Exo 29:19  “And you shall take the second ram, and Aharon and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram,

Exo 29:20  and you shall slaughter the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aharon and on the tip of the right ear of his sons, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar.

Exo 29:21  “And you shall take some of the blood that is on the altar, and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aharon and on his garments, on his sons and on the garments of his sons with him. And he and his garments shall be set-apart, and his sons and the garments of his sons with him.

Exo 29:22  “And you shall take the fat of the ram, and the fat tail, and the fat that covers the entrails, and the appendage on the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat on them, and the right thigh – it is for a ram of ordination –

Exo 29:23  and one loaf of bread, and one cake made with oil, and one thin cake from the basket of the unleavened bread that is before יהוה.

Exo 29:24  “And you shall put all these in the hands of Aharon and in the hands of his sons, and you shall wave them – a wave offering before יהוה.

Exo 29:25  “Then you shall take them from their hands and burn them on the altar as a burnt offering, as a sweet fragrance before יהוה. It is an offering made by fire to יהוה.

Exo 29:26  “And you shall take the breast of the ram of Aharon’s ordination (ha miluim) and wave it – a wave offering before יהוה, and it shall be your portion.

Exo 29:27  “And from the ram of ordination you shall set apart the breast of the wave offering which is waved, and the thigh of the contribution which is raised, of that which is for Aharon and of that which is for his sons.

Exo 29:28  “And it shall be from the children of Yisra’ĕl for Aharon and his sons by a law forever, for it is a contribution. And it is a contribution from the children of Yisra’ĕl from their peace offerings – their contribution to יהוה.

Exo 29:29  “And the set-apart garments of Aharon are for his sons after him, to be anointed in them and to be ordained in them.

Parashat 20 Portion 65 Shemot/Ex 27:20- 28:43 Hoshea 14:4-9 Heb 4:14-16

Bar’chu et YHVH ha-m’vorach, Baruch YHVH ha-m’vorach l’O’lam va-ed!

Baruch ata YHVHEloheinu 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.)

“Our Torah portion this week deals almost exclusively with the garments and by implication the ministry of the High Priest. About these instructions amongst all the instructions of Torah, Yahshua had the following to say:

Joh 16:12  “I still have many words to say to you, but you are not able to bear them now. 

Joh 16:13  “But when He comes, the Spirit of the Truth, He shall guide you into all the truth. For He shall not speak from Himself, but whatever He hears He shall speak, and He shall announce to you what is to come. 

Joh 16:14  “He shall esteem Me, for He shall take of what is Mine and announce it to you. 

These and all other instructions of Torah are eternally established. Yermiyahu - 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.’ ” Jer 33:19  And the word of יהוה came to Yirmeyahu, saying, Jer 33:20  “Thus said יהוה, ‘If you could break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that there be not day and night in their season, Jer 33:21  then My covenant could also be broken with Dawiḏ My servant – so that he shall not have a son to reign upon his throne – and with the Lěwites, the priests, My attendants. Jer 33:22  As the host of the heavens is not counted, nor the sand of the sea measured, so I increase the descendants of Dawiḏ My servant and the Lěwites who attend upon Me.’ ” 

However these instruction 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 7:13  For He of whom this is said belongs to another tribe, from which no one had attended at the slaughter-place.c Footnote: cSee “Altar” in the Explanatory Notes. 

Heb 7:14  For it is perfectly clear that our Master arose from Yehuḏah, a tribe about which Mosheh never spoke of concerning priesthood, 

Heb 7:15  and this is clearer still, if another priest arises in the likeness of Malkitseḏeq, 

Heb 7:16  who has become, not according to the torah of fleshly command, but according to the power of an endless life, 

Heb 7:17  for He does witness, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Malkitseḏeq.” Psa_110:4. 

Heb 7:18  For there is indeed a setting aside of the former command because of its weakness and unprofitableness, Footnote: dOr former Lěwitical command. 

Heb 7:19  for the Torah  perfected naught, but the bringing in of a better expectation, through which we draw near to Elohim.

Heb 7:20  And it was not without an oath! 

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 covenant. (Torah in our hearts Gk ‘’krite'-tohn’’ of a derivative of G2904; stronger,  meaning the covenant was made more sure.)

Heb 7:23  And indeed, those that became priests were many, because they were prevented by death from continuing, 

Heb 7:24  but He, because He remains forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 

Heb 7:25  Therefore He is also able to save completely those who draw near to Elohim through Him, ever living to make intercession for them. 

Heb 7:26  For it was fitting that we should have such a High Priest – kind, innocent, undefiled, having been separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens, 

Heb 7:27  who does not need, as those high priests, to offer up slaughter offerings day by day, first for His own sins and then for those of the people, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 

Heb 7:28  For the Torah appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the Torah, appoints the Son having been perfected forever. 

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

20 And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure olive oil beaten(crushed) for the light, to cause a lamp to bring light continually.

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, outside the veil which is before the Witness, Aharon 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.

Why would this be a law forever? Because the ministry of “Ruach Ha Kodesh” – the set apart Spirit, would be with us forever and enable a set apart priesthood to intercede between man and YHVH – forever.

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 – (“to me” three times)

The priestly garments remind us of the covering we lost in the garden and the restored covering that YHVH is in the process of restoring to a set apart priesthood again

 The Hebrew word for "Light" is "OR"  spelled "aleph  vav  resh" - The Hebrew word for "Skin" is also "OR"  but is spelled "ayin  vav  resh" –

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

Exo 28:1  “And you, bring near Aharon 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.

Today the ministry of the Ruach is to bring about a perfect interecessory bride- through the gifts, manifestations, fruit and motivation of the Ruach Ha Kodesh.

See 1 Cor 12:1-13; Eph 4:1-25; Gal 5:22-23; Rom 12:1-8

Exo 28:4  “And these are the garments which they make: a breastplate, a shoulder garment, a robe, an embroidered long shirt, a turban, and a girdle. And they shall make set-apart garments for Aharon your brother and his sons, for him to serve as priest to Me. (see Eph 6:10-20 – not Roman armour, but priestly garments)

Exo 28:5  “And they shall take the gold, and the blue and the purple and the scarlet material, and the fine linen,

Exo 28:6  and shall make the shoulder garment 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 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;

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 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.

לח  וְהָיָה, עַל-מֵצַח אַהֲרֹן, וְנָשָׂא אַהֲרֹן אֶת-עֲו‍ֹן הַקֳּדָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר יַקְדִּישׁוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְכָל-מַתְּנֹת קָדְשֵׁיהֶם; וְהָיָה עַל-מִצְחוֹ תָּמִיד, לְרָצוֹן לָהֶם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה.

38 And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity committed in the Set apart things,(or ones) which sets apart the children of Israel, for  all their set apart gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before YHVH.

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 on Priestly Garments:

A powerful intercessory (priestly) movement will arise in these last days built on the understanding and revelation of this Levitical Priesthood. It may only consist of a small remnant – Luke 12:32.

These High Priestly garments may very well refer to an end time Bride without spot or wrinkle – Eph 5:27; Rev 19:8; 21:2

It may take another outpouring of the Ruach Ha Kodesh to accomplish this.

Joe 2:27  “And you shall know that I am in the midst of Yisra’ĕl¹, and that I am יהוה your Elohim and there is no one else. And My people shall never be put to shame. Footnote: ¹See Isa. 24:23.

Joe 2:28  “And after this it shall be that I pour out My Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men dream dreams, your young men see visions.

Joe 2:29  “And also on the male servants and on the female servants I shall pour out My Spirit in those days.

Joe 2:30  “And I shall give signs in the heavens and upon the earth: blood and fire and columns of smoke,

Joe 2:31  the sun is turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of יהוה.

Aaron the High Priest points us to the perfection and superiority of Yahshua’s priesthood. It calls a small remnant to yield themselves fully to YHVH’s counsel – His Torah and His Ruach to be conformed into the image of Yahshua, to become a set apart people and priesthood, to be a light to the gentiles.

The Aaronic priesthood embraces the desire to want to be like Yahshua – perfect pleasing and acceptable to YHVH in every way.

Isa 66:19  “And I shall set a sign among them, and shall send some of those who escape to the nations – Tarshish and Pul and Luḏ, who draw the bow, and Tuḇal and Yawan, the coastlands afar off who have not heard My report nor seen My esteem. And they shall declare My esteem among the nations. 

Isa 66:20  “And they shall bring all your brothers as an offering to יהוה out of all the nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters(covered wagons), on mules and on camels, to My set-apart mountain Yerushalayim,” declares יהוה, “as the children of Yisra’ěl bring an offering in a clean vessel into the House of יהוה. 

Isa 66:21  “And from them too I shall take for priests – for Lěwites,” declares יהוה. 

Isa 66:22  “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make stand before Me,” declares יהוה, “so your seed and your name shall stand. 

Isa 66:23  “And it shall be that from New moon to New moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath,b all flesh shall come to worship before Me,” declares יהוה. Footnote: bPossible meaning: Every week on the Sabbath. 

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)

Parashat 18 Portion 62 Shemot 24:1-18 Yesh 60:17-61:9 Matt 26:27-28

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 events of our parashah clearly portray Mount Sinai as the model after which the Mishkan and then the Beit Ha Mikdash (tabernacle and temple) would be constructed. There are three distinct zones in our parashah; the foot of the mountain; an intermediate ascent upon the mountain and the top of the mountain where the presence of YHVH resided, covered by a thick cloud. The people remain at the foot of the mountain while representatives of the people ascend to the intermediate area or zone. Moshe alone continues to ascend to the top of the mountain where he alone speaks to YHVH. These three zones compare to the courtyard of the tabernacle where the people came; the Set Apart place of the tabernacle where only the priests served and finally the most set apart place where only the High Priest entered into once a year. It was now on this most set apart place on top of the mount Sinai where the initial enactment of YHVH’s covenant would become a pattern for His redemptive plan throughout the ages for mankind.

What is particularly amazing about this parasha is the epiphany (a moment of sudden and great revelation or realization) found in Exo 24:10  and they saw the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, and under His feet like a paved work of sapphire stone, and like the heavens for brightness. Exo 24:11  Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the chiefs of the children of Yisra’ĕl! And they saw Elohim, and they ate and drank

Was this perhaps the esteem of YHVH that would come upon a people(or Person) who was faithful to His covenant?

What is the meaning of this? There has been much speculation concerning this epiphany.

Exo 24:1  And to Mosheh He said, “Come up to יהוה, you and Aharon, Naḏaḇ and Aḇihu, and seventy of the elders of Yisra’ĕl, and you shall bow yourselves from a distance.

Exo 24:2  “But Mosheh shall draw near to יהוה by himself, and let them not draw near, nor let the people go up with him.”

Exo 24:3  And Mosheh came and related to the people all the Words of יהוה and all the right-rulings. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the Words which יהוה has spoken we shall do.”

These words refer to the words given in the previous two parashiot – the ten words – aseret divrot -  and the right rulings – mishpatim.

Exo 24:4  And Mosheh wrote down all the Words of יהוה, and rose up early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve standing columns for the twelve tribes of Yisra’ĕl.

Note the words are given to Yisrael – the renewed covenant is once again only made with the 12 tribes of Yisrael and with the ‘’mixed multitude’’ or ‘’grafted in ones’’ – (Yer 31:33 and Rom 11:16-22)

Let us remind ourselves that YHVH did not make these covenants with the church. He made them with Yisrael and all those who are called to be grafted into Yisrael.

Eph 2:11  Therefore remember that you, once gentiles¹ in the flesh, who are called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called ‘the circumcision’ made in the flesh by hands, Footnote: ¹1 Cor. 12:2.

Eph 2:12  that at that time you were without Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Yisra’ĕl and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no expectation and without Elohim in the world.

Eph 2:13  But now in Messiah יהושע you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.

Eph 2:19  So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the set-apart ones and members of the household of Elohim,¹ Footnote: ¹Rom. 11:17-24, Isa. 14:1.

The church was never meant to be a new innovation separated from its Hebraic roots.