Transcript RECOGNITION - Qodesh Ministries

1
THE MESSIANIC PROPHECY BIBLE PROJECT
http://www.messianicbible.com
HEAR O ISRAEL
www.hearoisrael.org
SHEEPFOLD GLEANINGS WRITTEN BY JULIE PARKER
www.sheepfoldgleanings.com
MESSIANIC ISRAEL ALLIANCE
http://www.messianicisrael.com
AZAMRA TORAH FOR OUR TIME – RABBI AVRAHAM
GREENBAUM
http://www.azamra.org
2
TORAH: Numbers: 4:21 – 7:89
HAFTARAH: Judges 13:2-25
B’RIT HADASHAH: Acts 21:17 to 22:29, 23:20-24, John 7:53 to 8:11
All references: The Scripture 1998+ unless otherwise noted
FACTS: With 176 verses, it is the longest portion in all the Torah.
Seven different messages IN ONE WORD - NASO
1. Finishes the census of the Levites;
2. Mishkan dedication gifts from the princes of the 12 tribes;
3. The cleaning of the camp
4. The Sotah, or wife suspected of adultery;
5. The Nazarite Vow; and
6. The Priestly Blessing.
7. Offerings by the 12 Tribes
Last weeks teaching B’midbar actually occurs well after the events
took place in this teaching as documented in Parsha Be’HaAlotecha
next weeks teaching.
“Naso” means to “elevate”, to “lift up” and to “bear”. It also
means “to forgive”. “Naso” is a verb; and depending on how it is
used (past, present, future tense or personal, etc.) in Scripture, it
can mean the “lifting”, “bearing” the “taking” or “forgiving” of a
large variety of things.
Example:
• “And now, please forgive my sin only this once, and pray to ‫ יהוה‬your
Elohim, that He would only turn away this death from me.” (Exodus
10:17)
• ‘You have seen what I did to the Mitsrites, and how I bore you on
eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. (Exodus 19:4)
• “You do not bring1 the Name of ‫ יהוה‬your Elohim to naught, for ‫יהוה‬
does not leave the one unpunished who brings His Name to naught.
Footnote: 1Or lift up, or take. (Exodus 20:7)
“Aharonic Blessing” And ‫ יהוה‬spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Speak to
Aharon and his sons, saying, ‘This is how you bless the children of
Yisra’ĕl. Say to them: “‫ יהוה‬bless you and guard you; ‫ יהוה‬make His face
shine upon you, and show favour to you; ‫ יהוה‬lift up His face upon you,
and give you peace.” ’ Footnote: Verses 24 to 26 is the Priestly Blessing.
“Thus they shall put My Name on the children of Yisra’ĕl, and I Myself
shall bless them.” (Numbers 6:22-27)
Now, we use the words “Yesah ‫”יהוה‬, as the personal verb form
(future tense), which means “You lift-up ‫ ”יהוה‬Your Face. To “lift
one‟s face” is a Hebrew idiom meaning to “give special
consideration” (as with leniency).
•The Torah admonishes a judge not to “lift up his face”
•But ‫ יהוה‬lifts up His Face upon us (gives us special
consideration); He will give us His Shalom and as the Priests put
His Name (‫ )יהוה‬upon us, He will bless us
The letters in “naso”, “nun-sin-aleph”, gives you “the Heir to the
Throne is El Shaddai‟s Strength”. Who is ‫’יהוה‬s “mighty” or
“strong” Right Hand? ‫יהושע‬. And who is the One through Whom
we have “forgiveness”? By Who’s “forbearance”? Who “lifts us
up”?
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Master, and He shall lift you up.
(James 4:10)
The numeric value of the letters in “Naso” is 351, which equals
“ma‟ish” or “out of man” and “b‟Ephraim” or “as Ephraim” and
“ye‟asham” or “shall be guilty”. This is a further confirmation
about ‫’יהושע‬s mission on earth 2,000 years ago; as the letters tell
us, “Out of man, as Ephraim, He shall be guilty”. And, He indeed
paid, with His life, to redeem us back, as His Bride.
Now, it’s up to us to act like a faithful wife. That is why we find
the story of the “Sotah” (or wife suspected of adultery by her
husband) this week.
And ‫ יהוה‬spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Take a census also of the sons of
Gĕreshon, by their fathers’ house, by their clans. “Register them, from
thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who enter to
perform the service, to do the service in the Tent of Meeting. (Numbers
4:21-23)
The phrase, as well,implies that the Gershonite census is related
to the Kohathite census described earlier [in B'midbar]. The
Kohathites carried the most sacred parts of the Tabernacle, while
the Gershonites carried the less sacred. By saying "as well", the
Torah makes the point that both tasks are necessary for the
Tabernacle and both should be done with equal joy. This is the
implied message...the Torah responds that whether one can bear
the exalted Ark or only hooks and curtains, every role is
significant because each is a unique participant in the sacred
service (R. Moshe Feinstein) [Chumash, Stone Edition, page 749.]
The Merarite clan was responsible for the framework and foundation
of the Tabernacle. Today there are those whose main focus is laying a
good foundation in the hearts of believers. For a day in Your courts Is
better than a thousand days. I have chosen rather to be a doorkeeper
In the House of my Elohim, Than to dwell in the tents of the wrong.
(Psalms 84:10)
1. The Tabernacle furniture was never seen by the Israelite
community, as it was covered before being moved. (Numbers 4:514). By faith the Twelve Tribes of Israel believed. Only in travel
could they see the shadow of that which was in the Tabernacle.
‫ יהושע‬said to him, “T’oma, because you have seen Me, you have
believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
(John 20:29)
2. Second census only for the people 30 to 50. Indicating only
mature, stable, strong people to carry the load of the tabernacle.
And ‫ יהוה‬spoke to Mosheh, .., “Command the children of Yisra’ĕl to send
out of the camp every leper, and everyone who has a discharge and
whoever becomes defiled for a being. (Numbers 5:1-2)
Chapter 5 begins with three categories of ritual impurities. We see them
described on a physical and spiritual level. The affected person is
contagious… physically and spiritually. It was first and foremost for
the heart and attitude of the Israelites. If the heart was unclean,
meaning not faithful to ‫יהוה‬, diseases of the flesh would show up.
1. ‫ יהוה‬is holy. Sin is abominable in His sight, intentional or
unavoidable, and must be removed (Jer.44:4; Hab. 1:13).
2. Sin separates. Therefore, “Come out from among them and be
separate, says ‫יהוה‬, and do not touch what is unclean, and I shall
receive you. (2 Corinthians 6:17)
However this places them in personal danger. And it came to be, when the
people were as complainers, it was evil in the ears of ‫יהוה‬. And ‫ יהוה‬heard
it, and His displeasure burned. And the fire of ‫ יהוה‬burned among them,
and consumed those in the outskirts of the camp. (Numbers 11:1)
If we confess our sins, He is trustworthy and righteous to forgive
us the sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
A vague, general confession is no better than an incomplete,
remorseless, bored apology, such as: "Aaah...like, well, if I did
something, or whatever it was, like, you know...well... I, like,
aahh, apologize?" Confession must be sincere, particular, and
heartfelt. When it is, we have
(1) forgiveness of our sins--pardon, and
(2) cleansing from our sins--purification. Thus, what is unclean
in us is taken "outside the camp" and left there. Then,
personal restoration and renewal can resume.
..‘When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit in
trespass against ‫יהוה‬, and that being is guilty, then they shall
confess their sin which they have done. And he shall restore his
guilt in its principal, plus one-fifth of it, and give it to whom he
has been guilty. ..(Numbers 5:5-10)
Three sins rendered a person unclean and put them outside the
camp: Touching a dead body, sexual immorality and a
tzarat infection. This law applied to the one who spoke it, who
heard or listened to it; both were found guilty because out of the
mouth of two or three witnesses it was established.
And this they said .. so that they might accuse Him. But ‫יהושע‬, bending
down, wrote on the ground with the finger ... “He who is without sin
among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” And bending
down again, He wrote on the ground. (John 8:6-8)
As the son of GOD he showed the authority of ‫יהוה‬. In this act He
portrayed Himself to be the hand, the finger and the arm of ‫ יהוה‬.
And there shall by no means enter into it whatever is unclean, neither
anyone doing abomination and falsehood, but only those who are written
in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 21:27)
And ‫ יהוה‬spoke to Mosheh, saying ..‘ When any man’s wife turns aside
and has committed a trespass against him .. and a spirit of jealousy
comes upon him ... ‘And the priest shall bring her near, and shall make
her stand before ‫יהוה‬. ‘And the priest shall take set-apart water in an
earthen vessel, and take some of the dust that is on the floor .. , and
afterward make the woman drink the water. ... if she has defiled herself
... her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall waste away, and the woman
shall become a curse ...if the woman has not defiled herself, and is
clean, .. she shall be clear and shall conceive children. ‘This is the Torah
of jealousy, ...
(Numbers 5:11-29)
Who is the adulterous wife today? Could ‫ יהוה‬be talking about
us? If we are in a betrothal relationship with ‫יהושע‬, what cup will
we drink at our wedding? Will it be the cup of redemption or the
cup of trembling from the Law of Jealousy? Will we be shown to
be a faithful wife, obedient to our Bridegroom’s loving teaching
and instructions or one who has been adulterous?
He who commits adultery with a woman lacks heart; He who does it
destroys his own life. (Proverbs 6:32)
Rabbis teach: Adulterers do not commit adultery unless they are
imbued with a spirit of insanity. Insanity can attributed to any sin and
not just adultery; including idolatry. Adultery is compared to idolatry
in many instances within the Tanach eg. The book of Hosea is a story
of such a comparison. Ezekiel is also explicit also when he states:
“For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. And
they have committed adultery with their idols, and even offered their
sons whom they bore to Me, passing them through the fire, to devour.
(Ezekiel 23:37)
‫ יהושע‬when ask about marriages sanctity’ said this:
and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and
cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? “So that they
are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what Elohim has joined
together, let man not separate.” (Matthew 19:5-6)
14
Numbers 5:11-31 As Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum states; “At the very
centre of the true Torah home is the love between husband and wife,
which is the very foundation of the BINYAN -- the "building" or
structure of the family. True love between husband and wife is very
jealous: true love brooks no outsiders and third parties. The unity of
husband and wife must be complete, face to face, without a trace of a
shadow in between. It is hard even to speak of the purity of love
between husband and wife in a world in which third parties are
accepted as a normal part of life. It is this rampant immorality that
breeds broken homes, broken hearts, children who grow up between
one home and another, knowing little or nothing of family, roots and
kinship.”
Committing a trespass against our spouse is like committing a trespass
against our ‫יהוה‬. This is how David can say, “Against you alone have I
sinned.”
Simple definition of the Scriptures: “in the Father’s house, the Son
takes a bride”. So, in the end, we see this future reality:
And I saw a renewed heaven and a renewed earth, for the former
heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no
more. And I, Yoḥanan, saw the set-apart city, renewed
Yerushalayim, coming down out of the heaven from Elohim,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud
voice from the heaven saying, “See, the Booth of Elohim is with
men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people,
and Elohim Himself shall be with them and be their Elohim.
(Revelation 21:1-3)
‫ יהוה‬is a jealous Elohim. Adultery is the spiritual picture of idolatry.
And idolatry is putting ANYTHING in the place of your service to
the Almighty. “You do not make for yourself a carved image, or any
likeness of that which is in the heavens above, or which is in the
earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth, you do
not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, ‫ יהוה‬your Elohim am a
jealous Ěl, visiting the crookedness of the fathers on the children to
the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, (Exodus
16
20:4-5)
.. ‘When any man’s wife turns aside and has committed a trespass
against him, and a man has intercourse with her, ... she has defiled
herself, and there was no witness against her, nor was she caught,
(Numbers 5:12-13)
The Hebrew text sets it out as follows: 'and a man lies with her with
seed … the KJV says “lie with her carnally.” The word carnal is either
H7902 “shekâbâh” a lying down (for the sexual act): carnally,
copulation, lay, seed and H2233 “Zera” seed; figuratively fruit, plant,
sowing time, posterity.
What is not clear is that this unfaithful wife received from the man
that she laid with was his “seed”. Seed is an important concept
throughout the Bible. The good seed is the Word of the Almighty, the
“other” seed is clearly seen in Genesis 3:15: I will put animosity
between you and the woman, and between your descendant and her
descendant; he will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.“ We
also see the connection of bearing the seed: ‘But if the woman has not
defiled herself, and is clean, then she shall be clear and shall conceive
children. (Numbers 5:28)
17
..it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and it is concealed ..
(Numbers 5:12-13)
• “The secret matters belong to ‫ יהוה‬our Elohim, but what is
revealed belongs to us and to our children forever, to do all the
Words of this Torah. (Deuteronomy 29:29)
• “Therefore do not fear them. For whatever is covered shall be
revealed, and whatever is hidden shall be made known.
(Matthew 10:26)
• The wicked say, “Yah does not see, And the Elohim of Yaʽaqoḇ
pays no heed.” (Psalms 94:7)
• .. for ‫ יהוה‬searches all hearts and understands all the intent of
the thoughts. If you do seek Him, He is found by you; but if you
forsake Him, He rejects you forever. (1 Chronicles 28:9)
The wicked are the ones who say “‫ יהוה‬will not see.”, however,
they know there is a ‫יהוה‬. Many places we see it is the wicked
who are defined as knowing of ‫ יהוה‬and His ways. If we turn our
back on ‫ יהוה‬even though we know Him, we are considered
18
wicked.
a spirit of jealousy comes upon him ... (Numbers 5:14)
Whether she’s guilty or innocent, this ritual is to take place. The
word “spirit” is “ruach”, which is also “breath”. This means the
breath of God has come upon him. Now, the word translated as
“come upon” is the Hebrew “abar”, “ayin-beit-reish”, which
literally means “to pass through” or “to pass over” (as waves
pass over the shore). So, this “breath” or “spirit” of jealousy has
“passed through” and/or “over” him, it is literally like “waves” of
jealousy, something spiritual.
If the wife is innocent it could be that the adversary is trying to
place a stumbling block in the marriage and needs to be dealt
with on a spiritual level.
The numeric value of the letters in “abar” is 272, which equals
“va‟a sarah” or “in her bonds”, meaning the wife being “bound
up” in her husband’s jealousy.
then the man shall bring his wife to the priest. And he shall bring the
offering for her, one-tenth of an ĕphah of barley flour. .. (Numbers
5:15)
The Hebrew word for sheaf is “omer” which is a Biblical measure of dry
things and also known as 1/10th of an ephah: Exodus 16:36 Now an
omer is one-tenth of an ephah. An omer is about 2 quarts and is just
the amount required to make daily bread. It was also the measure
used for the gathering of manna: “This is the word which ‫ יהוה‬has
commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, an
omer for each being, according to the number of beings. Let every man
take for those who are in his tent.’ ” (Exodus 16:16)
This omer of manna became the “Bread of Life” for the Israelites while
they travelled through the desert and we know that to be ‫יהושע‬: “For
the bread of Elohim is He who comes down out of the heaven and gives
life to the world.” (John 6:33)
An omer of barley is what was waved near the altar on the day of
‫’יהושע‬s resurrection. This is also the redemption price of a bride who
has gone astray.
20
he is to bring .. two quarts of barley flour on which he has not
poured olive oil or put frankincense, because it is a grain offering
for jealousy, a grain offering for remembering, for recalling guilt
to mind. (Numbers 5:15 CJB)
• Since she is accused of being an unrepentant sinner, she is not
qualified to bring her own sacrifice (Bemidbar 15:30). In verse
15 the husband, in a display of grace, brings the acceptable
offering.
• The offering is not made with oil, because oil represents light
and what she did was done in the darkness. It also does not
include frankincense, the incense of purity.
• The point of the offering – to bring her iniquity to
remembrance. The question is…whose remembrance? This
entire ritual is actually about reconciliation. But reconciliation
cannot occur until the adulterous woman comes to grips with
and confesses her sin.
• We’ll each have our own time of judgment before our High
21
Priest.
‫ יהוה‬is a jealous and revenging Ěl, (Nahum 1:2)
Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament defines jealous to mean
“zeal for one’s own property”. In a marriage the “two become one
flesh”, therefore adultery is a picture of the severing of the body….this
is a form of murder. The seriousness of adultery in a relationship could
not be overlooked since the marriage covenant is a picture of the
Almighty and His bride.
Jealousy, when it is suspicious, overbearing, possessive and
demanding, is ugly and sinful. When it is virtuous it is appropriate for
example: the desire for undivided loyalty, devotion and faithfulness.
No moral spouse wants to share a partner with someone else.
Therefore, provision was made for a husband to discover and accuse
suspected adultery. If the woman really did sin, her husband would
become jealous, the emotion being stirred by a divine nudge.
Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is
as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames
of fire, a flame of Yah! (Song of Solomon 8:6)
22
‘And the priest shall bring her near, and shall make her stand before ‫יהוה‬.
(Numbers 5:16)
Note: The offering for our atonement was given before we drink the
cup of judgement symbolising the bitter water of adultery. The
priest stands next to her (intercedes) before ‫יהוה‬.
Who is he who is condemning? It is Messiah who died, and furthermore is
also raised up, who is also at the right hand of Elohim, who also makes
intercession for us. (Romans 8:34)
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to
each one’s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear, knowing that
you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your
fathers, not with what is corruptible, silver or gold, but with the precious
blood of Messiah, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, foreknown,
indeed, before the foundation of the world, but manifested in these last
times for your sakes, who through Him believe in Elohim who raised Him
from the dead and gave Him esteem, so that your belief and expectation
are in Elohim. (1 Peter 1:17-21)
‘And the priest shall take set-apart water in an earthen vessel, ...
(Numbers 5:17)
Holy Water “Mayim Kodeshim”, the “set-apart water” or running water.
On the earth, water is what sustains all life. In the Scriptures, water also
represents that which sustains life, the Word of Elohim and the knowledge
of ‫יהוה‬. Isaiah 11:9 speaks of a day when this knowledge of ‫ יהוה‬will cover
the earth; They will not hurt or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain, for
the earth will be as full of the knowledge of Adonai as water covering the
sea.
“Mayim” is spelled “mem-yud-mem” which are “two waters separated by
the yud or hand”. “Mayim” is represented by the letter “mem” which has a
numeric value of 40, which equals “trials”, “testing” and “learning”. The
word “mayim” has a numeric value of 90, which in addition to “water”
equals “ba‟nachal” or “in the valley” and “aph‟dah” or “I redeem”.
Meaning “in the valley I will redeem through trail an testing”
This Holy Water came from the laver in the tabernacle. The laver
sat between the altar and the Holy Place and was used for the
washing of the hands and feet of the priests, it must have
contained some of the blood of the Holy Sacrifices. In the same
way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the renewed
covenant in My blood. As often as you drink it, do this in
remembrance of Me.” (1 Corinthians 11:25)
Water is also a picture of ‫’יהוה‬s Word. This water was contained
in an earthen vessel: For Elohim, who said, “Let light shine out of
darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts for the
enlightening of the knowledge of the esteem of Elohim in the
face of ‫ יהושע‬Messiah. And we have this treasure in earthen
vessels, so that the excellence of the power might be of Elohim,
and not of us – (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)
The Word Judges: For the Word of Elohim is living, and working,
and sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through even to
the dividing of being and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and
able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.(Hebrews
4:12)
‘And the priest shall take ... some of the dust that is on the floor of the
Dwelling Place and put it into the water. (Numbers 5:17)
This “dust” from the floor of ‫’יהוה‬s Dwelling Place is symbolic,
throughout history, as representing a place of separating the
“wheat from the chaff”. According to history (Judges, 1 & 2 Kings
and 1 & 2 Chronicles), you see numerous times that kings met at
“threshing floors” to make decisions and treaties. Twice, King
David sought ‫ יהוה‬at threshing floors and purchased them to set
up altars and make offerings (drawings near) to Elohim. The
second time, on what is now the Temple Mount, David
purchased the threshing floor of Araunah (Ornan in English) as
the site for Hekal, the Great Temple, of ‫יהוה‬, that his son
Shelomoh would build, 1 Chronicles 21 & 22.
The word ‘dirt’ in the Scriptures can represent people. In writing
on the Temple floor ‫ יהושע‬revealed that every person is inscribed
with His Torah upon them.
The dust is an identification of the descendants of Abraham:
“And I shall make your seed as the dust of the earth, so that, if a
man could count the dust of the earth, then your seed also could
be counted. (Genesis 13:16)
But some dust is not worthy to be part:
“And into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat
whatever is placed before you, and heal the sick there, and say to
them, ‘The reign of Elohim has come near to you.’ “And into
whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into
its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your city which clings to us,
we wipe off against you, but know this, that the reign of Elohim
has come near to you.’ (Luke 10:8-11)
By shaking of the dust (people), they declared to the people of
the city that the dust on there shoes is not worthy to be in the
presence of God. Only those that accept ‫ יהושע‬can be in his
presence.
‘And the priest shall make the woman stand before ‫יהוה‬, and shall
uncover the woman’s head, and put the offering for remembering in her
hands, which is the grain offering of jealousy, while the priest holds in
his hand the bitter water that brings a curse. (Numbers 5:18)
1. Removing her covering says that her heart is open to be
inspected.
2. Also the removal of her husband’s covering so she would be judged
by her own merits. This is truly to be “under the law”, and not to be
under the grace of the Messiah.
3. The Priest places the omer of barley offering into her hands, “palms”
is a better translation. Palms indicate that her hands were open, thus
showing an acceptance of the offering.
4. The Hebrew word here for “bitter” is “marah”. When Israel
stopped at the oasis “Marah” for water and it was bitter. There
complained to ‫ יהוה‬over this water.
Note: The water, which is still there and still bitter, kills parasites
in the body and is actually sold in Egypt for medicinal purposes.
‘And the priest shall make her swear, and say to the woman, “If no
man has lain with you, and if you have not turned aside to
uncleanness under your husband’s authority, be free from this
bitter water that brings a curse. “But if you have turned aside
under your husband’s authority, and if you have defiled yourself
and some man other than your husband has lain with you” – then
the priest shall make the woman swear with the oath of the curse,
and he shall say to the woman – “‫ יהוה‬make you a curse and an
oath among your people, when ‫ יהוה‬makes your thigh waste away
and your belly swell, and this water that causes the curse shall go
into your inward parts, and make your belly swell and your thigh
waste away.” And the woman shall say, “Amĕn, amĕn.”
(Numbers 5:19-22)
This is the first time in the bible AMEN is used “so be it, truth.”
Deuteronomy tells us that by confirming these words she will not
be cursed. ‘Cursed is he who does not establish the Words of this
Torah.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amĕn!’ (Deuteronomy 27:26)
‘And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and shall wipe
them off into the bitter water, and shall make the woman drink
the bitter water that brings the curse, and the water that brings
the curse shall enter her to become bitter. (Numbers 5:23-24)
The priest writes this curse, which includes the Name of ‫יהוה‬on
a scroll and “machah” or “scrapes off” the dried ink into the
water. This word “machah” means to “blot out” or “remove”.
‫ יהוה‬is willing to have His Name blotted out or removed in order
to bring peace to the home and according to Gesenius’ HebrewChaldee Lexicon, this word “machah” also means “to separate
out the marrow”.
For the Word of Elohim is living, and working, and sharper than
any two-edged sword, cutting through even to the dividing of
being and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and able to judge the
thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
God also made us alive be blotting out the charges against us on
the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14 )
• Just as the priest wrote down the curses in a book, Moshe
(acting as priest) wrote down the curses of disobedience in
Torah. The children of ‫ יהוה‬are all going to stand before Him
one day to give an account. Will we have blessed people with
our knowledge and application of Torah or will we have
‘beaten them’ with our teaching, and cause them to turn away
because of the teacher, in essence cursed them for embracing
Torah?
• ‫ יהושע‬fulfilled the Law of Jealousy. A Priest wrote the curses
on a scroll, then sponged the ink off with a small amount of
vinegar and added this to the earthen vessel filled with water.
‫ יהושע‬is The Living Torah scroll and the Living Water. He drank
the cup and is the living clay vessel of ‫יהוה‬. The Priest then
took the grain offering from the suspected adulterous bride as
a memorial and burned it. ‫ יהושע‬took our sin upon Himself,
becoming the grain offering of remembrance. He took our
guilt and died our death.
• The word for “belly” here is “beten”, “beit-tet-nun” and, which
when applied to women, is the “womb” or “abdomen”. This
“womb” is the “house that surrounds the kingdom”. The word for
“swell” is “tsabah”, “tzadee-beit-hey” and means to be
“prominent”. Here, the letters tell us “the righteous house
revealed”. For the unfaithful woman she will look as if she’s always
pregnant, but never deliver a permanent curse
• The word for “thigh” is “yarekah”, “yud-reish-khaf-hey”, meaning
also “side” or “loins” (seat of reproduction). The word used here
for “waste away” is “naphalah”, “nun-fey-lamed-hey”, which
means to “fall” or “be lost” as well as to “prostrate oneself”. While
she always appears pregnant, her “thigh”, “loins” or “seat of
reproduction” wastes away, rendering her incapable of ever
conceiving. Ephraim is like the adulterous woman found “guilty”, a
“swelled” womb and “prominent” that bears no fruit. Only in
righteousness, when he is declared clean by the blood of
Mashiach, can he bear the “fruit of the Spirit” and thereby multiply
believers, have children.
‘And the priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy from the
woman’s hand, and shall wave the offering before ‫יהוה‬, and bring it to
the altar. ‘And the priest shall take a hand filled with the offering, as its
remembrance offering, and burn it on the altar, and afterward make
the woman drink the water. (Numbers 5:25-26)
Why is the woman made to drink a second time? Perhaps the answer
is in the Hebrew word for afterward – (achar). It can imply the end
times. A sign or symbol for all that she is pure and spotless.
Afterward the children of Yisra’ĕl shall return, and seek ‫ יהוה‬their
Elohim, and Dawiḏ their sovereign, and fear ‫ יהוה‬and His goodness, in
the latter days. (Hosea 3:5)
“And also on the male servants and on the female servants I shall pour
out My Spirit in those days. (Joel 2:29)
33
With the women at the well Yeshua shared His identity as the
Living Water and told her that the cup He would drink would
produce life in her not death. Matthew 10:6; 15:24
As for me, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to
myself.“ (John 12:32) .. After this, ‫יהושע‬, knowing that all had been
accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be accomplished, said,
“I thirst!” A bowl of sour wine stood there, and they filled a sponge with
sour wine, put it on hyssop, and held it to His mouth. So when ‫יהושע‬
took the sour wine He said, “It has been accomplished!” And bowing His
head, He gave up His spirit. (John 19:28-30)
‫ יהושע‬took our curse and died the death of the “adulterous wife”.
Our atonement is made, even before we come to stand before
‫יהוה‬. The curse was “scraped off” of the parchment on which
judgment was written and placed in the “bitter water”, the
“bitter wine” that ‫ יהושע‬was given at His death. “For Yisra’ĕl is
stubborn, ..“Their drink is sour, they have whored continually. Her rulers
wildly loved shame. (Hosea 4:16-18)
Exodus 32:11-22 Moses carried Yahweh’s Marriage Covenant written on two stone tablets - between Himself and His people
down Mount Sinai and presented it to the assembly of Israel,
who just days earlier had betrothed themselves to Yahweh. He
found them committing adultery by bowing down to the Golden
calf thus they changed to an adulterous, sotah bride.
Note: It was at Shavuot, that Moses smashed the two tablets,
they were supposed to wait on God
Moses ground the golden calf to powder, scattered it on the
water and made the Israelites drink it. Then ‫ יהוה‬said, “Go back
and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each
killing his brother and friend and neighbour.” How did Moses
know who participated in the worship of the golden calf? Their
bellies had swelled and their thighs rotted 3000 died by the
sword that day.
1600 years later on Pentecost 3000 were redeemed in Jerusalem
Numbers 6:1-21 - The English word “Nazarite” used here, in the
Hebrew is “Nazir” (Nun-zayin-yud-reish), which means
“consecrated” or “devoted one”. From the root word “nazar”,
which means to “separate oneself”, to “set apart” or “abstain”.
A vow of abstinence made by a man OR a woman for a specific
period of time, consecrating themselves to Yahweh.
• They were not to have any food from the grape: wine, vinegar,
grape juice, grapes, raisins, seeds or skins.
•Not to cut their hair but to let it grow long
•No contact with a dead body, even a close relative.
After the specified time the person was to appear before the
Priest and offer an elevation offering and a sin offering together
with their meal offerings and drink offerings and a basket of
unleavened bread with oil. The person was to shave their hair
that was dedicated to Yahweh and put it in the fire as the
sacrifice of the fellowship offering.
Nazirism separates and elevates one to a state of holiness with
‫יהוה‬. The person’s holiness is directly linked to the growth of his
hair. The Hebrew root word of hair isnezer (TWOT # 1340a)
meaning crown, separation, consecration and hair.
Two types:
1. From birth, dedicated by parents - Samson, Samuel, John the
Baptist;
2. Perpetual Nasserite – Apostle Paul (Acts 18:18; 21:17 to 22:29
) Alarmed by the attack coming against Paul’s ministry by
those saying that he spoke against the Law of Moses and the
Temple,the council advised Paul to fulfill his Nazarite vow at
the Temple for all to witness that he did uphold the Law of
Moses and the Temple. He also agreed to pay for 4 others.
(One years wages)
Period of vow:
One Sabbath year, the year separated for the land, no pruning to
take place
Numbers 6:22-27 ‘This is how you bless the children of Yisra’ĕl. Say to
them:
Hebrew: ‘Yevarech’cha Yahweh v’yishmerecha. Ya’er Yahweh panav
eleycha viyechuneka. Yissah Yahweh panav eleychha veyasem lecha
shalom.
Greek/English: ‘The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His
face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His
countenance upon you and give you peace/shalom.’
Hebrew/English: ‫ יהוה‬will kneel before you presenting gifts and He will
guard you with a hedge of protection. ‫ יהוה‬will illuminate the
wholeness of His being towards you bringing order and He will provide
you with love, sustenance and friendship. ‫ יהוה‬will lift up the
wholeness of His being and look upon you and He will set in place all
you need to be whole and complete.
LORD (Strong's #3068) - The word LORD (all uppercase letters) is, in
the Hebrew text, the name of God - ‫ יהוה‬and commonly called the
Tetragramaton. In Hebrews culture each name was a word, or
phrase, that has a meaning. In the case of ‫ יהוה‬it is the verb ‫הוה‬
(hawah) meaning to "exist" and the prefixed pronoun ‫(י‬y) meaning
"he." The name ‫ יהוה‬means "he exists.“
Bless (Strong's #1288) - The Hebrew language was related to an
image of action, something that could be sensed (seen, heard,
smelled, touched or felt) and in motion. The word bless however, is
a purely abstract word which cannot be sensed or in motion. In
order to interpret this word correctly we must find its original
concrete meaning. In Genesis 24:11 we read, "And he made the
camels kneel down outside the city." The phrase "kneel down" is the
Hebrew verb “barak”. This same word is used to mean to kneel
down to present a gift as one would do to show respect to another.
Keep (Strong's #8104) - The Hebrews were a nomadic people raising
livestock. It would not be uncommon for a shepherd to be out with
his flock, away from the camp, over the night. In order to protect
the flock the shepherd would construct a corral of thorn bushes.
The shepherd would then guard over the flock and the corral would
be a hedge of protection around them. The image behind the
Hebrew verb ‫(שמר‬shamar) is this guarding and protecting of the
shepherd and the corral over the flock.
Face (Strong's #6440) - The Hebrew word ‫(פנים‬paniym) is a plural
word and reflects the Hebraic sense of motion as the face reflects
many different moods, emotions and thoughts. This Hebrew word
can mean the face but also the "presence" or the "wholeness of
being" of an individual.
Shine (Strong's #215) - The word ‫(אור‬or), as a noun means "light"
and as a verb, as it is used here, means to "give light" or "shine." It
is also related to the idea of giving order as light, being the opposite
of darkness, brings about order.
Gracious (Strong's #2603) - A nomads camp consisted of many
family tents, arranged in a circle, and was viewed as a place of
beauty. Not just the appearance of beauty but the action, a place of
warmth, love, friendship, community and sustenance. The verb ‫חנן‬
(hhanan) is this concept of beauty.
Countenance (Strong's #6440) - This is the Hebrew word ‫פנים‬
(paniym) again meaning "face.“
Give (Strong's #7760) - The Hebrew verb ‫(שים‬siym) literally means
to "set down in place.“
Peace (Strong's #7965) - The noun used here is ‫(שלום‬shalom) from
the verb ‫(שלם‬shalam). The verb shalam means to "restore" in the
sense of replacing or providing what is needed in order to make
someone or something whole and complete. The noun ‫שלום‬
(shalom) is one who has, or has been provided, what is needed to
be whole and complete.
‫( יהוה‬he who exists) will kneel before you presenting gifts and will
guard you with a hedge of protection, Yahweh (he who exists) will
illuminate the wholeness of his being toward you bringing order
and he will provide you with love, sustenance and friendship, ‫יהוה‬
(he who exists) will lift up his wholeness of being and look upon you
and he will set in place all you need to be whole and complete.
In Jerusalem, the Israel museum contains a
remarkable tiny fragment of parchment
containing these 15 Hebrew words. What is
so extraordinary about this parchment is
that it is the oldest surviving fragment of
biblical literature. It comes from the era of
the First Temple, built by King Solomon. It is
so old that it is not written in the Hebrew
alphabet as we know it today, which dates
from the Babylonian exile, but rather it is in
the ancient Semitic script – the oldest
alphabet known to mankind.
43
The literary structure of the Aharonic blessing is precise, reading as if it
builds up with ‫’יהוה‬s overflowing love. Notice the various patterns and
significant numbers:
• First line: 3 words, 15 (3 x 5) letters
• Second line: 5 words, 20 (4 x 5) letters
• Third line: 7 words, 25 (5 x 5) letters
There are actually three blessings within the blessing:
44
The first blessing (‫ יהוה‬bless you and keep you) is a general
blessing for earthly prosperity. The explanation for this is
because first there is the blessing, and then there is a protection
(keep) after receiving the blessing. An earthly blessing can be
threatened by anything from storms to thieves. ‫ יהוה‬can also
“keep” us by protecting us from pride in our own success.
Wealth can become a stumbling block and dull our gratefulness
towards the Almighty. This is why we must remember to be
thankful and in turn bless ‫יהוה‬:
“And you shall eat and be satisfied, and shall bless ‫ יהוה‬your
Elohim for the good land which He has given you. “Be on guard,
lest you forget ‫ יהוה‬your Elohim by not guarding His commands,
and His right-rulings, and His laws which I command you today,
lest you eat and shall be satisfied, and build lovely houses and
shall dwell in them, and your herds and your flocks increase, and
your silver and your gold are increased, and all that you have is
increased, that your heart then becomes lifted up, and you
forget ‫ יהוה‬your Elohim who brought you out of the land of 45
Mitsrayim, from the house of bondage, (Deuteronomy 8:10-14)
The second blessing (‫ יהוה‬make His face shine upon you and be
gracious to you), points to a spiritual blessing. The most intimate
contact (face to face) between the children of Israel and ‫ יהוה‬occurred
on Mount Sinai:
“‫ יהוה‬spoke with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of
the fire. (Deuteronomy 5:4)
This experience was never to be forgotten:
“Only, guard yourself, and guard your life diligently, lest you forget the
Words your eyes have seen, and lest they turn aside from your heart all
the days of your life. ..(Deuteronomy 4:9)
The opposite of being “face to face” with ‫ יהוה‬is to have His “face
hidden”:
Do not hide Your face from me In the day of my distress; Incline Your
ear to me; In the day I call, answer me speedily. (Psalms 102:2)
46
The root of the word for “make shine” is rAa (or), which means “light.”
We could say the request is for the Holy One to “set us on fire”, a sure
sign of spiritual growth:
For this reason I remind you to stir up the gift of Elohim which is in you
.. (2 Timothy 1:6)
When ‫’יהוה‬s face shines on us, it causes us to shine, thereby glorifying
Him and making His ways known on the earth:
“You are the light (rAa - or ) of the world... “Let your light so shine
before men, so that they see your good works and praise your Father
who is in the heavens. (Matthew 5:14-16)
47
The parent root of the word for ‫( חנן‬gracious) is ‫( חן‬chane), which
means “grace”. In his book Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible, Jeff
Benner gives the following pictographic definition of chane: “
The pictograph for ‫ ח‬is a picture of a wall. The ‫ ן‬is a picture of a seed
meaning “to continue.” Combined these mean “wall continues.” A
nomad’s camp consisted of many family tents, which make up the clan
camp. The camp can have as many as fifty tents or more in it. The tents
are placed in a circular configuration, forming one continuous wall
surrounding the camp.”
The definition of “gracious”: “Within this wall is the family clan, a
place of freedom, compassion and beauty. An encampment of tents.
To give or show beauty, grace or mercy to another.” It is as if the
blessing is to bestow upon Israel the Almighty’s Presence, that He
might dwell among them. This is true grace!
48
The third blessing (‫ יהוה‬lift up His face upon you and give you peace),
according to Rashi, is a prayer to the Almighty for Him to suppress His
anger and allow His mercy to triumph over judgment, thereby bringing
us into a relationship of “peace” with Him:
..And compassion boasts over judgment. (James 2:13)
Who is an Ěl like You – taking away crookedness and passing over the
transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? He shall not retain His
wrath forever, for He Himself delights in kindness. (Micah 7:18)
‫ יהושע‬is the Prince of Peace and it is through Him that we have been
given “peace”:
and through Him to completely restore to favour all unto Himself,
whether on earth or in the heavens, having made peace through the
blood of His stake. (Colossians 1:20)
49
“Thus they shall put My Name on the children of Yisra’ĕl, and I Myself
shall bless them.” (Numbers 6:27)
His Name, ‫יהוה‬, representing His character and all of His attributes was
to be placed upon His set apart people, Israel. Revelation also tells us
of a coming day when His servants will see His face and His Name will
be imprinted on them:
And they shall see His face, and His Name shall be upon their
foreheads. (Revelation 22:4)
50
Aharon then lifted up his hand toward the people and blessed them, ...
(Leviticus 9:22)
Here we read that on the first Tabernacle worship service Aharon lifts
up his hands and blesses the people.
In Temple times, Talmud tells us that the priests would lift up their
hands over the people while pronouncing the Aharonic blessing. When
they did this, they spread their fingers apart in such a way as to make
the shape of the ancient letter, shin (‫)ׂש‬. Traditionally, this is the
abbreviation for “Almighty El” (El Shaddai). By making the sign of this
letter while lifting their hands and pronouncing the blessing, they were
in a way “putting His Name on the children of Israel”.
Question: Did ‫ יהושע‬ever say the Aharonic blessing?
And He led them out as far as Bĕyth Anyah, and lifting up His hands He
blessed them. (Luke 24:50)
51
In his article on the Priestly Blessing in Messiah Magazine (Issue 91), D.
Thomas Lancaster speaks of the tradition of the congregation looking
down when the priest lifted his hands to do the Aharonic blessing.
Lancaster goes on to tell what it may have been like when ‫ יהושע‬lifted
His hands to bless the disciples with the priestly benediction:
“The disciples were probably very familiar with the custom of lowering
one’s eyes when the priests lifted their hands. Upon seeing the Master
raise His nail-scarred hands and hearing Him begin to chant the
priestly blessing over them, the disciples would have been quick to
avert their eyes and look down at the ground. As their eyes fell upon
‫’יהושע‬s nail-scarred feet, they would have been amazed to realize that
those feet were no longer touching the ground. As ‫ יהושע‬blessed
them, He ascended up into the sky, rising to take His place as priest in
the Heavenly sanctuary. The Gospel of Luke says, And it came to be,
while He was blessing them, that He was parted from them and was
taken up into the heaven. (Luke 24:51).
52
And it came to be, when Mosheh finished setting up the Dwelling
Place, that he anointed it and set it apart and all its furnishings, ..
the leaders of Yisra’ĕl, heads of their fathers’ houses .. brought
their offering before ‫יהוה‬: six covered wagons and twelve cattle,
a wagon for every two of the leaders, and for each one a bull. ..
And ‫ יהוה‬spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Accept these from them, and
they shall be used in doing the service of the Tent of Meeting.
And you shall give them to the Lĕwites, each one according to his
service.” And Mosheh took the wagons and the cattle, and gave
them to the Lĕwites. He gave two wagons and four cattle to the
sons of Gĕreshon, according to their service. And he gave four
wagons and eight cattle to the sons of Merari, according to their
service, under the hand of Ithamar, son of Aharon the priest. But
to the sons of Qehath he gave none, because theirs was the
service of the set-apart objects, which they bore on their
shoulders. (Numbers 7:1-9)
The Tabernacle was raised up on the first day of Nissan
Numbers 7:10-88 CJB – 12 offerings from 12 tribes over 12 days
Each offering from the tribes was accepted.
(1)The offerings were connected to the consecration of the
Tabernacle though actually given/presented later (verses
84, when; 88, after).
(2)The common offerings facilitated the movement of the
Tabernacle, just as our gifts and labours contribute to the
restoration and progress of the Kingdom of God in the earth.
(3)All the offerings were equal materially and were received with
equal favour. Nevertheless, the true value of one's offering is
in its relation to the giver's resources, advantages, and
opportunities. "For if the readiness [will, desire] is present, it
is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to
what he does not have" (2 Cor. 8:12).
(4)The offerings were carefully recorded, no detail escapes God.
The Messiah does not measure gifts by its monetary value/size,
but by the self-denial the gift represented.
1. Our King sees all things, He observed the poor widow and
what she gave.
2. The Master acknowledged the true standard of liberality.
(a) Motive (reason). Our offering should be for the glory of ‫יהושע‬
and the welfare of men.
(b) Manner (temperament, demeanour). Our giving must not be
by constraint, or from arm-twisting, but of a willing mind and
cheerful heart (2 Cor. 8:12; 9:7).
(c) Measure
One silver basin, Value of 520 – 500 Noah's age when his first
child was born, and 20 is the age the child was born that God
told Noah that there would be a flood.
70 shekels - corresponds to the 70 nations that descended from
Noah.
1 ladle (Soup Spoon), which is similar to a hand, symbolizes the
Torah that was given from the hand of God, and its weight of 10
shekels corresponds to the 10 Commandments.
Incense - an allusion to the 613 commandments of the Torah.
One young bull - Abraham, who used such an animal as an
offering (Genesis 18:7).
Ram - Isaac, who was replaced on the altar by a ram (ibid.22:13).
The sheep - Jacob, who tended the sheep during his years with
Laban (ibid. 30:40).
The he-goat - a sin-offering atoned for Joseph's brothers who
sold him into slavery and slaughtered a goat after doing so (ibid.
37:31).
2 cattle for peace-offerings - Moses and Aaron, who brought
peace between Israel and their Father in Heaven.
3 groups of five animals - three components of the nation Kohanim, Levites, and Israelites; and to the three parts of
Scripture - Torah, Prophets, and Writings.
5 - the five books of Moses, and five commandments that were
on each of the Tablets of the Law.
[Chumash, Nasso, pg. 767.]