Month: November 2020

Whited Sepulchres and A Withered Fig Tree

More Strange Sayings in the Scriptures…

Like Whited Sepulchres.

In Matthew 23: 27

Yeshua/Jesus said

woe unto you scribes and Pharisees

hypocrites for you are

like

whited sepulchres.

Hebrew word for

tomb

Strong’s Hebrew: 6913.

קָ֫בֶר

(qeber) –

– a grave, sepulcher

tomb. noun קֶבֶר. 

grave, sepulchre, 

sepulcher, gravestone, tombstone.

noun קְבוּרָה.

qeber: a grave, sepulcher

Original Word: קֶבֶר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: qeber
Phonetic Spelling: (keh’-ber)
Definition: a grave, sepulcher

Definition. a grave, sepulcher.

NASB Translation. burial (6), burial place (1), grave (28), graves (16), tomb (8), tombs (8)

 Like many words borrowed into English from French, sepulchre has roots buried in Latin.

The word arose from Latin sepulcrum, a noun derived from the verb sepelire, meaning “to bury.”

Sepultus, the past participle of sepelire, gave us—also by way of Anglo-French—the related noun sepulture, which is a synonym of burial and sepulchre.

White washed tombs mark the place of the dead today just as they did in Yeshua/Jesus’s day.

Hundreds of rock-cut tombs were constructed in Israel in ancient times. They were cut into the rock, sometimes with elaborate facades and multiple burial chambers. Some are free-standing, but most are caves. Each tomb typically belonged to a single, wealthy family. Bodies were laid out on stone benches.

After a generation, the bones were moved to a bone chamber or, later, into ossuaries and the benches used for new burials. Rock tombs were the province of the wealthy; the common people were buried.

An ossuary is a chest, box, building, well, or site made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains. They are frequently used where burial space is scarce. A body is first buried in a temporary grave, then after some years the skeletal remains are removed and placed in an ossuary.

So, is it possible that He may have also been referring to these burial boxes/ossuaries where bones are moved and placed after the body decays?

This sheds a little more light on the man who said:

let me first bury my father before I follow you!

Luke 9:59–60 

One of the earliest and most important discoveries relating to the historical facts of Yeshua/Jesus and members of His family is the limestone bone-box/ossuary, made known to the public in October 2002. Ossuaries were used by Israel from about the second-century B.C. until the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Over 10,000 such ossuaries have been discovered but only about 100 contain inscriptions.

Of these, only 2 have an identification similar to the one etched in the now famous and somewhat controversial “James Ossuary.”

The entire Aramaic inscription reads,

“Jacob (James), son of Joseph, brother of Jesus”

Ya’akov bar Yosef akhui di Yeshua.

Dating from AD 63 it bears this inscription below:

If, in fact, the inscription in its entirety is recognized as authentic, which it is believed to be the case, this is a clear 1st-century A.D. testimony of Jesus/Yeshua, His father Joseph, and brother James.

James (Ya’akov), is given in the Gospel accounts as a brother of Jesus (Matt. 13:55), but he is also one of the most important figures in the New Testament. The book of Acts reveals he was the pastor/leader of the Jerusalem church, moderator of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, and wrote the book of James.

James is also spoken of a number of times in the writings of Josephus. He was put to death by certain Jewish leaders in A.D. 62, so if the James Ossuary is the one in which his bones were placed; then the dating of the bone-box would be approximately A.D. 62-63, allowing time for the reburial of the bones after the decomposition of the flesh, according to Jewish practices.

Two other Ossuraries with inscriptions:

first one with the name:

Simon builder

and second the Ossuary of the

High Priest Joseph Caiaphas.

Luke 9:59; Matt 8:21

Elaborate Ossurary of Joseph, son of Caiaphas high priest, who was the Jewish high priest from 18-36AD.

The Caiaphas family burial cave was discovered in S.E. Jerusalem. This was one of 12 ossuraries found inside. On this one the full name of the deceased – Joseph of Caiaphas – appears twice.

Part of middle eastern culture is that these tombs will receive a new whitening before days or seasons of the feasts appointed times of worship and remembering the Lord.

The people believed that to touch or to come into contact with a tomb caused them to become unclean, this reasoning being that because death was the result of sin it therefore caused personal contamination.

Because of this cultural observation all of the tombs were always painted and white washed simply because it made them easy to be seen and thus avoided.

White washing a tombstone did not change the nature of the grave itself because it still contained the dead person’s bones. Although the exterior was made to look attractive inside there was no change and it was full of decay and death.

Sometimes something like this apple can look ok on the exterior but is rotten inside.

Yeshua/Jesus made reference to this practice of white washing when speaking to the Pharisees and the Scribes. He was pointing out that belief systems and lifestyle was not to be focused on the outward decoration or just for special occasions but it was to be giving reality to all we do as a life principle.

Yeshua/Jesus focused so many times on the things He called hypocrisy

and it was more often than not in connection with the religious leaders of the day.

The Hebrew word here rendered

hypocrite

means the

godless or profane,

as in Jeremiah 23:11,

This godless person was totally opposed to God or forgetful of God.

The Hebrew word often translated hypocrite often referred to pollution or corruption.

Although the Hebrews were concerned about pretense or insincerity (Isaiah 29:13; Jeremiah 12:2), there is no one Hebrew word exactly equivalent to hypocrisy.

The word is based on the Greek hypokrisis, originally meaning to give an answer. A hypocrite in classical Greek could be an interpreter of dreams, an orator, a reciter of poetry, or an actor!

Originally a neutral term, hypocrite gained the negative connotation of pretense, duplicity, or insincerity.

צָבוּעַ

Yeshua/Jesus may have also been referring to the burial boxes/ossuaries where bones are moved and placed after the body decays.

Cursing The Fig Tree.

Mark 11:12-14, 20-23

Hebrew word for

fig tree 

teenah 

teh-ay-naw

hey   nun   alef   tet

(read R to L)

תְּאֵן

Aramaic תֵּינְתָא, 

תְּאֵנָה  noun feminine fig-tree,

{teh-ay- naw’}

teenah: fig tree

strongs 8384

Original Word: תְּאֵן
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: teenah
Phonetic Spelling: (teh-ane’)
Definition: fig tree

The fig-tree (Ficus Carica) and its fruit

are designated in Hebrew by the same word,

te’enah

Deut.8:8; Judges 9:10; Num.13:23; II Kings 10:7;

the plural,

te’enim,

(note the IM ending)

indicating the fruit as distinct from the tree.

the fourth of the Seven Species:

The Seven Species – Shvat HaMinim – seven types of fruits and grains named in the Torah (Deuteronomy 8:8)

The seven species are:

Wheat chitah חִטִּ֑ים

Barley se’orah שְׂעֹרָה

Grapes gefen/gephen גֶּפֶן usually consumed as wine

Figs te’enah תְּאֵן

Pomegranates rimon רִמּ֛וֹן

Olives zayit זַיִת usually consumed in oil form

Dates tamar תמר

or

Bee honey d’vash וּדְבָֽשׁ from Judges 14:8

The biblical verse from Deuteronomy does not actually mention palm dates but instead uses the word d’vash as the seventh species, which literally translates to honey.

In ancient times the palm date was often made into a form of honey by mashing the dates and cooking them with water until they thickened into a syrup. This mesh is also called ‘Silan’ ‘Dabas,’ or ‘Rub.’

It is generally thought that when the Torah mentions honey it is usually referring to palm date honey and not the honey produced by bees. This is why dates were included in the seven species instead of bee honey.

This date honey is what John the Baptist ate along with beans called locust beans.

‘te•ena,’ fig.

תְּאֵן

The ‘te•e•na,’ the common fig

the plural, “te’enim,”  תְּאֵנִים

indicating the fruit as distinct from the tree.

Strong’s Hebrew: 8384. תְּאֵנִים (teenah) — fig tree

In Hebrew literature the word fig tree

is synonymous with prosperity.

It was not in Babylonia nor in Assyria

that man dwelt under and

ate every one of his fig tree, but in Syria

Mic. 4: 4; Is. 36: 16.

There are many interpretations of this event … several of them included in this post for prayerful consideration…

Scripture interprets itself ..it is the living WORD.

In Mark 11:12 14 20-23

he uses the cursing of the barren fig tree to both encompass and comment on his story of the Jewish temple: Jesus/Yeshua and His disciples are on their way to Jerusalem when Jesus/Yeshua curses a fig tree because it bears no fruit;

In Jerusalem he drives the money-changers from the temple; and the next morning the disciples find that the fig tree has withered and died, with the implied message that the temple is cursed and will wither because, like the fig tree, it failed to produce the fruit of righteousness.

Matthew 21:18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

(Mark 11:12-25) 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”

According to research strange thing about certain fig trees in Israel is that the fruit appears before the leaves. This made for an interesting observation that if the first fruit did not appear then there would be no other figs on that tree.

When Yeshua/ Jesus and His disciples were passing by looking for some of the sweet first fruit because they were hungry. At first glance the tree looked healthy and useful because it had many leaves

however it was a useless tree…

Why?

Because it had no fruit on it – it was barren.

but to any person passing by the tree it it gave a false image that was a good tree

when it was actually of no value because it had no fruit.

Here we are reminded of the words of Jesus/Yeshua

Here the tree was a type of profession

but

without productiveness

so, in a way it was a very

hypocritical tree.

צָבוּעַ

As we saw earlier in the post,

Jesus/Yeshua condemned hypocrisy

in both people and things

and it is mentioned more than any other sin.

With this tree Jesus/Yeshua gave His disciples

a very real illustration they would not quickly forget.

A critical viewer may comment that because the fig tree did not belong to Jesus/Yeshua or the disciples, they had no right to take the fruit, had there been any.

In Ex.22:29

Moses covered such cases

you are not to prohibit those that pass by when your fruits are ripe, to touch them, but to give them leave to fill themselves full of what you have.

The custom of picking ripe figs when passing orchards is still considered o.k. in the middle eastern countries, especially from trees that are not enclosed in someone’s property.

In September after the autumn/fall feasts; the figs still remaining on the trees are considered common property and the poor can go into the orchards and take what they need.

The fig tree is typified as the nation of Israel, where its

first ‘fruit’ is the first stage of growth, or re-establishment,

and the growth of ‘leaves’ is its coming of age.

He says also that

the generation that sees this

growth of leaves on the ‘tender branch’

will not pass.

  Israel

and

The Fig Tree.

In the natural world, the fig tree should bear fruit before the leaves. If the tree has leaves but no fruit, the tree is barren. This fig tree as a symbol of Israel, represents the barren and empty spiritual state of Israel. Here was a fig tree, resplendent in its abundance of rich, green foliage.

A leafy fig tree must have offered big fruits although they might not be ripe. On the other hand, the other trees in the garden that had no leaves did not give false expectations. It was clear that they had no fruits so they couldn’t disappoint anyone. Mark 11:13.

The fig tree was symbolic of the priests who had made the ministry in the Temple unfruitful preventing people from entering in

But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Matt 23:13

Jesus/Yeshua wanted to awaken the consciences of the leaders with this and other parables; only some of them answered that call. Acts 6:7

The fig-tree not only bears fruit without visible blossoms, but begins to form its first crop of figs before the leaves appear.

The fruit is sweet and nourishing, very full of seeds, and possessing soothing, healing powers. 2 Kings 20:7; Isa. 38:21;

The fig-tree evidently corresponds to a knowledge of good, sweet works of kindness.

The Bible suggests for some commentators that the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil may have been a Fig Tree. The clue for them is the Bible’s statement that after eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Adam and Eve realize that they are naked and thereupon sew together aprons or loincloths made of fig leaves to cover their nakedness:

Genesis 3:6-7

When the woman saw that the tree was good for eating and a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable as a source of wisdom, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave some to her husband, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they perceived that they were naked; and they sewed together fig leaves and made themselves loincloths.

Praise God! We are now in receipt of the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:10 and do not need to try and cover our pwn nakedness before Him..we are washed and covered by Messiahs Blood and 

  One thought is that the curse on the fig tree was for the leaves. Adam received the sentence.

Cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground—because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”… Gen 3 :16-18

Was it for this reason that

Yeshua/Jesus allowed the crown of thorns

to be placed on His head,

that He may cancel the sentence,

breaking the curse??

and also the reason that His body was buried and He descended into (Eph. 4:9-10) the earth so that the earth might receive the blessing instead – reversing the curse? After the fall, and the glory left them, they clothed themselves with the leaves of the fig tree.. so is it indeed possible it was the fruit of the fig tree, not an apple tree?

The fig tree was the last of the signs as He was on His way to the cross; and He curses the one fig tree not every fig tree.

Was this because it was symbolic of the tree of the fall the reason He came to redeem us from the curse of sin and death?

Was this also for the sake of the example:

And he answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Let no fruit grow on thee (let there be no fruit from thee) henceforward forever. Mark 11:14

The barren tree represented the fruitlessness of Israel in showing the One True God to all the nations; which was and is their calling, and why they are called the chosen people. They had instead turned the things of God into empty rituals and legalism.

This incident was a visual parable to signify Yeshua/Jesus’ search for true fruit in the form of worship, prayer and righteousness in Israel.

Such is the sentence passed on this tree. Yeshua/Jesus addresses the tree as if replying to the false profession made by its show of leaves. It had the sap of life, it had power to produce luxuriant leaves; therefore it might and ought to have borne fruit. They had leaves/ rituals but no fruit/righteousness.

Even now the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees!

Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Matt 3:10

Referring to Israel the fig tree is a metaphor for Israel and their standing before God; as in

Hosea 9:10. I found Israel Like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers As the firstfruits on the fig tree in its first season.

and Jer.24:5

Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.

and

Matt. 21:19

Christ said: As the branch cannot of itself bear fruit, except it. abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. No fruit of itself —the words reveal the reason there is so little fruit. Was this in reference to those in Israel who had rejected Him and were not connected to Him?

No fruit of itself —

the words reveal the reason there is so little fruit. And because we are not connected to Him this is what happens to it afterwards

Messiah was once again addressing the hypocrisy as in Luke 12:1

Hypocrites: actions different than words, the reason is self interest.

Sinners = people see them sin and they admit to it.

All hypocrites are sinners but

not all sinners are hypocrites.

Genesis 3:6-7

When the woman saw that the tree was good for eating and a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable as a source of wisdom, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave some to her husband, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they perceived that they were naked; and they sewed together fig leaves and made themselves loincloths.

Below, a close-up of fig fruits, fig leaves, and a fig tree.

 

Fruit inspection is surely something we are to be doing in all seasons…

Shalom Shalom Mishpachah/Family!

Please don’t leave this page until you make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven.

I believe that

Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

Strange Scriptures?

Strange sayings in the scriptures

What does that really mean?

In the process of reading the Scriptures there are moments when the clarity of the sentences is somewhat blurred and the meaning is unclear and often does not seem to make any sense at all.

For doubters and scoffers these are the hooks they hang on, to bring doubt and confusion to the minds of believers.

Although in our heart of hearts we don’t waver in faith; we still desire some answers to help our understanding so as to fully comprehend what has been written for our benefit. If it doesn’t make sense it’s of little value and our education is hampered.

Again we see how the language and its translation, the mind sets, cultures, and lifestyles can cause a misunderstanding and mistranslation and in this process, totally change the context of a parable bringing a partial picture and an incorrect image to that which God is telling us.

We looked at the Greek and Hebrew mind sets and some of the idioms click the link below for more…

https://www.minimannamoments.com/idioms/

https://www.minimannamoments.com/its-raining-cats-and-dogswhat/

As Daniel 12:4: Tells us that knowledge shall increase in the end days.

Choose Life

NOT

human knowledge and intellect.

 

The tree of knowledge of good and evil seems to have blossomed in the form of a world wide web better known as the Internet. Notice that every address has www before it, the meaning of which includes the word web.

And the Word Internet has the word net in it.

It’s interesting to note that both a web and a net are designed to catch something, like a snare or trap. We quickly assimilate new names of things and they become mundane and normal and we don’t pay attention to their roots and meanings.

The letters WWW in the Hebrew language are:

VAV VAV VAV

and the numerical value of the letter VAV (W) is 6…is this indicating that the world wide web www (666) is part of the beast system/kingdom?

The letter Waw/Vav is the sixth letter of the Aleph-Bet/ alef-beis, having the numeric value of six.

The pictograph for Vav looks like a tent peg, whereas the classical Hebrew script (ketav Ashurit) is constructed of a vertical line and conjoined Yod.

The meaning of the word vav is “hook,” as a connecting hook used when the mishkan (tabernacle) was assembled.

In the Bible, the number 6 symbolizes man and human weakness, the evils of Satan and the manifestation of sin. As such, it represents “Adamic man,” who was created in Genesis 2.

 Man was created on the sixth day. Men are appointed 6 days to labor. A Hebrew slave was to serve six years and be released in the 7th year.

If you are new to mmm link below for the pictographs:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/ancient-pictographic-hebrew-language/

Is this in fact a type of manifestation of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?

Everything is literally at our fingertips with keyboards and touch screens.

Knowledge is unlimited and it encompasses the whole Earth. The prince of the power of the air (waves) which includes all manner of long distance communication, it has produced the web (www); a  virtual net that sends the knowledge across the earth by means of sounds and signals transmitted through the air, (his domain).

Like all knowledge it can be used for good or evil; like all power whether as fuel, (electricity) or control (governments). The choice is ours, what we will do with what we have been given; and we have now no excuse not to be able to glean the fields of life and it’s knowledge, and put into practice the very words of life – imparted to us by His Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh.

We have access to original texts of the Scriptures in the original language; plus copious aids to translate from the Greek, Latin, Hebrew and Aramaic. So we can now understand for ourselves the words He spoke and not just rely on and read a man’s best attempt to translate and interpret what He meant, by aligning it to cultures other than that in which it was written.

Not that it was done on purpose, simply interpreted from what they understood and knew from their own experience. Many versions of the text simply fit a certain culture; and understanding it from a cultural mindset other than the one from which was written.

We do not have to be Jewish to have a Hebrew mindset because the Hebrew mindset is the biblical mindset.

This is probably why so many sayings/ Scriptures and parables seems so strange and make no sense to us.

Here are some sayings in the parables explained from the middle eastern cultural aspect; taking into consideration their mindset and understanding.

Here their way of life was obvious to all who were listening to Jesus/Yeshuas’ teaching at the time. He had no need to explain or interpret in most instances and if He did need to, He took the time to break down the meaning to His disciples when they asked Him.

Through A Glass Darkly

The meaning of these words written by Paul can be understood after seeing the mirrors of the Bible days.

They were briefly mentioned in a previous post concerning the furniture of the mishkan

The word

glass

in this verse was not in the original text

however the word

mirror

was…

HEBREW WORD for mirror

מראה    mar’ah   (noun)

mem reysh hey

Strong’s #4759 – מַרְאָה

Transliteration

mar’âh

Phonetics

mar-aw’

Root:  ר – א – ה

מַרְאָה

Original Word: רְאִי

Transliteration: rei
Phonetic Spelling: reh-ee’
Definition: a mirror

Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Definition

1) vision

1a) mode of revelation

2) mirror

Greek Equivalent Words:

Strong #: 545 ‑ ἀπειθής (ap‑i‑thace’);  

3701 ‑ ὀπτασία (op‑tas‑ee’‑ah);  

4088 ‑ πικρία (pik‑ree’‑ah)

When the Hebrews left Egypt they brought with them their mirrors. These mirrors were made of bronze. Copper alloyed with tin, this was the brass of the Bible.

They were so well made that they had a wonderful luster.

Some examples in the picture below.

Archaeologists digging around the tombs at Thebes found a great many mirrors which were always round in shape and had a metal handle.

Some ancient Israelite mirrors were made of polished rock

 

מראה עגולה
mar’a agulah
round mirror

and although they had been buried in the earth for many centuries once cleaned and polished they again gave a very clear reflection.

The account given to us in the Scriptures of the Israelites sacrificially donating their mirrors Is quite revealing, for then the women would have had no way to see what they looked like.

So they were willing to relinquish an aid to beautifying self, which focused on the carnal flesh life and showed that they were choosing to put the things of the Lord before their natural desires.

The Hebrew Bible contains just two references to mirrors:

And he made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the mirrors (מַרְאֹת) of the ministering women who ministered at the door of the tent of meeting. (Exodus 38:8)

Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a molten mirror (רְאִי)? (Job 37:18)

Although two different Hebrew words

mar’eh and re’i

are used in these verses, both use words that are based off the same root

RAH (ראה),

meaning

to see.

It would be appropriate to translate these words literally as

vision or spectacle,

just as the word

mirror

derives from the Latin verb

mirare – to look at

in the description of items to be constructed by the chief artisan, Bezalel,

Exodus 30 describes the laver (or basin):

שמות ל:יח וְעָשִׂיתָ כִּיּוֹר נְחֹשֶׁת וְכַנּוֹ נְחֹשֶׁת לְרָחְצָה וְנָתַתָּ אֹתוֹ בֵּין אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּבֵין הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְנָתַתָּ שָׁמָּה מָיִם.

Exod 30:18 And you shall make the laver of copper and its base of copper, for washing, and place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water there.

The text continues with the importance of

priests using the laver and washing their hands and feet before doing any service at the altar,

however, no further details are offered about how the laver should be constructed. .

Then, in the following description of the sanctuary furnishings, we find something very interesting:

שמות לח:ח וַיַּעַשׂ אֵת הַכִּיּוֹר נְחשֶׁת וְאֵת כַּנּוֹ נְחשֶׁת בְּמַרְאֹת הַצֹּבְאֹת אֲשֶׁר צָבְאוּ פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד.

Exod 38:8 And he made the laver of copper and its base of copper, from the mirrors of the ministering women

ha-marʾot ha-tzovʾot ’asher tzav’u 

at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

From where did these

mirrors – marʾot

come?

They were not mentioned in Ex. 35, with the list of all the raw material that was donated towards the making of the Tabernacle, or in Ex. 30:18 with the original instructions to make the basin?

 

Another question is,
who are these women crowding around the Mishkan/Tabernacle?
ha-tzovʾot ’asher tzav’u ?

Or is it simply the

mirrors – marʾot

that are the subject here?

The word

marʾot

(מַרְאֹת, sg. מראה),

is found nowhere else in the Hebrew Bible.

Nevertheless, it is easy to explain because

it comes from the root

to see

ר  א   ה

and means

mirrors.

Next, who are these women crowding around the Tent of Meeting/Mishkan/Tabernacle?

ha-tzovʾot ’asher tzav’u ?

the

women who performed tasks.

va-YA-as AYT ha-kee-YOR n’-KHO-shet v’-AYT ka-NO n’-KHO-shet b’-mar-OT ha-TZO-v’-OT a-SHER tza-v’-U PE-takh O-hel mo-AYD

ח  וַיַּעַשׂ אֵת הַכִּיּוֹר נְחֹשֶׁת וְאֵת כַּנּוֹ נְחֹשֶׁת בְּמַרְאֹת הַצֹּבְאֹת אֲשֶׁר צָבְאוּ פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד׃

Who were they

and

what tasks were they performing?

Many scholars and commentators have said that the women at the Tent of Meeting only performed menial tasks, that they were just cleaning servants.

Interestingly the technical Hebrew word used for

tasks

has a military implication

in a startling contrast to the more usual terms for

work and serving

and also the same word is used

concerning the Levite priests when discussing the tasks they performed.

In Hebrew these women are called

hatzov’oth asher tzave’u.

Elsewhere the root of 

tzave’u

is used, its’ primary definition is

to wage war.

This term seems to indicate there were women warriors who were stationed at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. In the context of the time when Yahweh’s title was the Lord of Hosts (of heavenly warriors), the military role these women played would have also been a religious duty.

But,why would these military women have mirrors?

History suggests that in Ancient Israel, the sanctuary guardians used the

mirrors

mar’ot

מַרְאֹת

as signaling devices in combat.

A primary meaning of

mar’ot is vision.

Another way of translating mirrors could be calling them vision plaques,

Which was in this instance a way to communicate.

Research indicates that although the mirrors were remade into vessels; (bronze laver, etc.,) for the Mishkan/Tent of Meeting; there is no indication that afterwards this order of women ceased to exist; and 1 Sam. 2:22 suggests that this professional class of sanctuary guardians continued for some time in Israel’s history.

Final interesting thought on this issue is a quote

“The fact that these serving women are said to be at the entrance to the ‘tent of meeting’ rather than the tabernacle (or temple) may reflect a separate and old sacred tradition, in which the tent was not a ritual space but rather the site of oracular contact between God and a prophetic figure. It is thus possible that the old tradition of the tent of meeting was more gender-inclusive than the tabernacle-temple tradition into which it was absorbed.”

from (Carol Meyers, Women in Scripture, p. 202.)

A similar linguistic construction for mirror is the Akkadian term 

namaru,

which comes from the root 

amāru, to see.

Based on archaeological findings dating from the mid-2nd millennium until the 7th c. BCE, we know that ancient mirrors were traditionally slightly convex and made of copper, bronze, or brass (both alloys of copper)—highly polished to allow for the reflection of a face.

Images from Ancient Egyptian painting and carvings suggest that they were used by both men and women who spent a great deal of time working on their appearance, especially in the application of makeup.

in some Ancient middle Eastern sources, the mirror became

a symbol both for woman and femininity.

The Egyptian word for

mirror was ankh,

which also means

life,

and the term has strong female associations,

The ankh was originally a female symbol associated with images of goddesses in the ancient Near East. Many hand-held mirrors from the ancient Near East were shaped remarkably like the ankh, and the symbol is widely used in contemporary culture to designate woman or female.

Ancient Silver and copper alloy Egyptian Mirror, Reportedly From: Aswan Egypt ca. 1478-1390 B.C.E

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood.

What sort of mirror is Paul referring to? 

Likely he is talking about a small disk made of polished metal such as brass, silver, or gold.

These mirrors were very beautiful luxury items used by the wealthy, but they did not provide a very sharp reflection when compared to modern glass mirrors. This is why Paul used them as an example of a not very sharp/clear image.

Here are two examples of ancient Roman mirrors:

Instead these mirrors were melted and used as the metal for the construction of the bronze laver in the court of the Tabernacle in which the priests washed themselves would have no doubt seen their reflection in the deep water.

The huge lavers in the pictures above are the ones Solomon had built for use in the Temple in Jerusalem.

At the time of the translators, it would have been natural to translate the word mirror as glass, however, the archaeological finds from the Bible times prove otherwise.

As they were all made of metal.

Now we see through

or

by means of a

Mirror darkly

but then

face-to-face.

Glass-making started thousands of years ago in Mesopotamia and eventually spread to the land of Israel. At the time of the Bible, it was a very highly prized material. This is clear from the single reference found in the Bible to glass, found in Job 29:17 where wisdom is praised as so valuable that:

Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.

לֹא-יַעַרְכֶנָּה זָהָב, וּזְכוֹכִית וּתְמוּרָתָהּ כְּלִי-פָז

The fact that glass is equated with gold indicates its preciousness to the ancient Israelites.

For modern people glass is something we take for granted, but for ancient people glass was a source of wonder. It was as clear as water and yet as hard as rock. It resembled ice but could be heated. Its unique properties are what gave it its special name in Hebrew: zekhukhit (זכוכית).

This comes from the root

ZCC (זכך)

meaning

clean or pure,

which is also the root of the name of

Zacchaeus the tax-collector (Luke 19).

 

Why The Lost Coin of Luke 15:8 Was So Important…

HEBREW WORD

כֶּסֶף

keseph: silver, money

Original Word: כֶּסֶף
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: keseph
Phonetic Spelling: (keh’-sef)
Definition: silver, money

8 “Or what woman, having TEN SILVER COINS, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

When a woman from Bethlehem gets married her husband gives her a wedding gift of

10 pieces of silver

which she west on a chain hanging from her head covering, which has a central pendant.

A lawful Jewish marriage requires

an act of

kinyan

(that the bride be given – and that she accept – something of nominal value from the groom).

In ancient times, coins were typically given and they are still used by many Sephardic and Oriental Jews.

Since the 7th century C.E., rings replaced coins in most of Europe as the gift of choice.

Some commentators suggest that the preference for rings is attributable to their circular form, which symbolizes endless love between a husband and wife. Others see the circle as representing a link to the past and a commitment to the future.

This gift is very much prized

and she guards it very carefully

and due to the fact that if she displays any carelessness concerning this gift it would be regarded as a lack of respect and affection for her husband.

If it was lost or missing he may be inclined to divorce her think that she had paid for a lover with the lost money.

In the Jewish culture these coins were held very sacred and they could not be offered to pay for a debt. The only time that the wife could use the money for herself was if she had become a widow and had needs that had to be met.

There was a portion or property which a wife brings to her husband in marriage. In patriarchal times the dowry was known, and as among all other nations of antiquity, in Israel the bridegroom named a price or ransom

mohar

to the father of the bride

Gen. 24:12; Ex. 22:17; also Hos. 3:2.

נְדֻנְיָה

Dowry or nedunyah,

נְדוּנִיָה

apparently from the word

neden, nedeh

i.e., gift –

Ezek. 16:33

means all property of whatever kind brought by the wife to the husband upon their marriage.

These 10 silver coins were bound together as a dowry and headdress for a woman to wear on her forehead for her wedding day and thereafter.

She would wear this piece of jewelry daily even while she slept. This dowry then became the bride’s personal property.

The coins on the headdress of the Bride of Christ are a symbol of the dowry given to her by Messiah at the Last Supper and later as He stood with His disciples on the hill of ascension and promised to return for His Bride and will take her to the marriage supper.

Before rising into the sky He said that the Holy Spirit would come to them, but that He must go away to send the Holy Spirit.

The dowry sealed the betrothal.

It took several forms.

The bridegroom presented gifts to the bride.

There was the

mohar, dowry

as distinguished from

matttan,

gifts to the members of the family

compare Genesis 24:22,53; Genesis 34:12

When Jesus/Yeshua was using this cultural image in the parable of the lost coin, it was probably in reference to one of the chain of 10 pieces of silver. We can now better understand the deep and anxious concern of the woman when she lost the silver coin and her expending so much energy trying to find it and

furthermore why she rejoiced and called in all her neighbors to rejoice with her when she did. There is another analogy here if we recognize ourselves as the bride of Yeshua/Jesus, and He is our heavenly bridegroom/husband. He has given us a greater treasure, His Holy Spirit, in these earthen vessels. And He has clothed us with garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness.

We may not have silver coins dangling from our head coverings but we have the pearl of great price.

Messiah Himself

Who is worth many many times more

than 10 pieces of silver.

It’s time for us His betrothed to rejoice…

 

Shalom Mishpachah/Family!

Please don’t leave this page until you make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him and are ready for His return.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

 

Whats In Your Naos? Part 3

We left the last post seeing how..

Our Heavenly Father uses objects and pictures to make His lessons clear to us.

According to scripture in the ark of the covenant were the items shown in the picture below:

One of the three items placed inside the Ark of the Covenant, was the Manna stored in a golden pot. 

Manna was the miracle food that sustained the children of Israel during their journey through the wilderness;

it fell from heaven every night and they collected their daily needs every morning.

Ps 78:34; John 6:31.

Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written,

‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 

This is significant as we recall Messiah’s words:   

I AM the bread of life recorded in John 6:31, 35 and 51

This pot of manna was kept as a memorial

and it did not rot, decay, or perish

as in Messiah

there is no death, decay or corruption;

we shall not see corruption. 

That whoever believes in Him

should not perish,

but have eternal life. John 3:15

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;

neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One

to see corruption. Ps. 16:10

“I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”

English Standard Version

“This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Telling us to pray these words…in Matthew 6:9

 Give us this day our daily Manna /Bread

The Word of God feeds us spiritually..

He brought the Word of God to the earth – Himself-

He was the Word made flesh and

His words and His Ruach/Spirit, are those which sustain us.

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matt. 4:4.

This idiom means humans need more than just sustenance to have a fulfilled life; people have both spiritual needs and physical needs. Deuteronomy 8:2-3.

The Hebrew word for Sanctuary/Tabernacle is

Mishkan

and is made up of pictures of:

Water, Teeth, Palm/hand, and Fish/seedling.

If we remove the 2 middle picture letters;

Sheen and Kaf,

 (teeth and a Palm/hand);

from the word Mishkan;

a noteworthy word is formed with the remaining 2 letters

Mem and Noon which are the

Beginning and End/First and Last of the WORD..

 

It’s the Hebrew word Manna. 

MN

Manna

  Noon

Mem

Tabernacle

מִשְׁכָּן

Noon        Kaf         Sheen     Mem

God uses the letters MEM and NOON,

  Noon

Mem

the picture of Waters and a Fish/Seedling,

for His miracle provision of life sustaining food

which are the same 2 letters we find as

the first and last letters

of the Hebrew word Mishkan or Tabernacle. 

מִשְׁכָּן

Possible Pictographic Translation of Manna: 

  Rain 

that

brings

Life.

We have been used to hearing that the Hebrew word


Manna/Mem Nun,

literally means

What is it?

 

Here the Pictograph language gives us another unexpected meaning.

Instead of a reference to bread it says something else, which can be found in Exodus which relates the children of Israel’s first experience with Manna.

Exodus 16: 13b -14

And in the morning the dew lay round about the host. And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.

 They were correct that it had

rained down from Heaven

and Jesus/Yeshua references this fact when He declared that

He came down from Heaven.

And that He is the true LIFE that comes from above.

SO MANNA

is connected with Bread and also connected with Water or Rain.

Interesting to note that Water and Bread were 2 of the most familiar metaphors used by Jesus/Yeshua; even using them together in

John 6:35

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

The water that we drink, in the letter MEM,

is from heaven to the earth;

again just as Messiah came from heaven to earth

and He is also the LIVING WATER.

Here’s an answer to a secret and

is the message to us within the letters:

The Manna – Mem Noon –

that first descended from Heaven to earth was given a name

MN

that would one day be a key

to open the door of understanding

and reveal an answer to a mystery of the

MishkaN/Tabernacle.

Recall, the 1st letter in any Hebrew word is usually the most important, since it gives the 1st clue as to what the word is all about.

So the first letter in Mishkan, the Mem, is the 1st clue that whatever is going on in the Mishkan/Tabernacle is something that has come down from Heaven.

The last letter in Mishkan, the Noon, is the clue that whatever has come down from Heaven has to do with LIFE.

Receiving Jesus/Yeshua as personal Savior and Lord

is just the beginning of a long road –

His WAY to His truth and His life.

It is so much more,

we need a deeper understanding

of that which we are entering into;

of what we are committing to;

what we are agreeing to!

It’s more than salvation of the cross,

and forgiveness of sins that have

been repented of and forsaken…

it’s a lifestyle change,

a mindset altered,

our future final destination reoriented…

and the beginning of understanding the enormity what Jesus/Yeshua did for us

and how God implemented His plan to redeem us

because He loves us so much

and precisely orchestrated our rescue.

Here the pertinence of the Old Testament is crucial

to our understanding of Gods Plan of the Ages.

Jesus/Yeshua came to show us the WAY

and He desires us to follow Him…so why are we still choosing to go our own way?

… maybe because we have not comprehended the enormity and seriousness of His actions …

our attitude of gratitude should be ablaze as the light shining in the darkness.

Is our zeal obvious to others?

Are we truly on fire for Him or are we shrinking violets?

Is our desire to do what He has planned for us, every moment of every day?

Do we even bother to ask Him what He wants us to be doing?

Or do we merely decide our own path and ask Him to bless it and then talk with Him when we remember, or when things get tough?

The Word tells us clearly that we are created for

His pleasure – not our own –

somewhere along the road we have got some crossed wires!

Are we choosing a spiritual temperature to suit our lifestyle, the one we prefer to live? and it may shock us to realize that this is simply not what Jesus/Yeshua calls us to.

Following Him is not doing our own thing/career, etc., etc., and it’s not as many tell themselves just for a few. We have to let go of how the world shapes us and tells us how to live; we have to shake off the ways of the worlds’ education and goals. Reject the opportunities for our prideful achievements. Shun the cultural trappings and mindsets of carnality and ethnic traditions of humanity.

Our true history is HIS STORY; not that of men’s successes and failures or the rise and fall of empires. We are citizens of the heavenlies, natives of a future city not built with human hands.

And we are the NAOS/miqdash of His Ruach.

While we inhabit these physical bodies we are supposed to be keeping them sin free, by walking in repentance and continually applying His blood to our lives; so we too can receive His spirit without measure; to do the works He has called us to do.

Jesus/Yeshua is the Ark we enter into…

He was the Ark of Gods’ Presence and,

as born-from-above-disciples,

we have become carriers, containers of that same Ruach –

Holy, set apart; coming out from among them and being separated unto Him, unto good works. 

If a man therefore

PURGE HIMSELF

from these,

he shall be a vessel unto honour,

sanctified, and meet for the master’s use,

and prepared unto every good work.

2Tim.2:12

NOTE We are to PURGE OURSELVES!!

We are now to become the light of the world,

we are a sanctuary, a Naos, of His Ruach…

we are not contained within the physical Temples’ Holy of Holies Sanctuary, but free walking Arks of His Re-Newed Covenant….

Not confined to a building, but equipped to go out into all the world carrying the gospel, the good news of His redemptive plan of grace and mercy.

He tabernacled among us in the Mishkan,

then in the two Temples,

then in the Body of Yeshua/Jesus

and now in each of us.

Soon He will Tabernacle with us forever..

but meanwhile..

The question however remains true today.

What is in the internal Holy place of

worship, sacrifice and atonement –

what is in that sanctuary of the heart?

What’s in our Naos our

Sanctuary?

What spirit is residing in our miqdash?

Consider this:

He was referring to the

pattern of the Mishkan

and Temple layout.

The sinner entered the outer court of the Mishkan/Temple complex through the

East Gate.

This was the WAY in to the Outer Court where the Brazen Altar was.

Here the repentant sinner offered the penalty of this sin

in the form of an animal or bird as an innocent sacrifice..

The priest performed the sacrifice and

the blood shed was a covering for that sin.

The sacrifice was then consumed by the fire on the altar.

Signifying the Holy fire of God consuming all sin.

The High Priest was the only one allowed into the Holy of Holies with the blood to be placed on the Mercy Seat of the Ark.

Sinners could not go any further than the outer court and sin was tolerated only because the repentant sinner had to bring their sacrifice to this point where the altar was.

Jesus/Yeshua was the sacrifice laid on the altar/cross for us.

Once for all time.

The Bronze Laver was where the priests washed before entering the Holy Place or Inner Court.

Sin had been dealt with so entry was acceptable.

This was all a pattern

of how to approach a Holy God a /forgiving father.

The washing signifies water baptism – priests were purified; we are too washed and immersed in the living waters – then, to rise from them cleansed and in newness of life.

This is completing the born-from-above experience; as Jesus/Yeshua Himself was immersed in the Jordans living water and God spoke over the situation. He was overshadowed by Gods’ Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh and this was indicative of being born-from-above/coming from above/heaven.

This process for us, cleanses us;

and as He is our High Priest

and according to scripture we are also priests,

(ministering to the Lord);

we can now enter the Inner court

where our souls can worship Him

at the Golden Altar of Incense;

which is also indicative of prayer.

As our High Priest, He alone is worthy to stand in the Holy of Holies before the Presence of the Lord God and intercede for us at the heavenly Mercy Seat. 

Hebrews 8:1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: 

we have such a high priest,  uone who is seated at the right hand 

of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

Romans 8:34. It is Christ who died, yea rather, who is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

We are ordinary priests and while still in the flesh cannot enter that Holy of Holies and so Messiah does that for us in the same pattern as the High Priest and Levite Priests. 

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit/enter the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 1Cor.15:50

Yet because of the Blood we can enter spiritually…

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Here Jesus/Yeshua is also signified as the Menorah;

He is the light showing us the WAY..

When the Ark was placed in the Holy of Holies of the Temple in Jerusalem it is said that the only items inside were the 2 stones inscribed with the 10 commandments.

2Chron.5:10

The pot of Manna and the budding rod of Aaron had been removed.

Could this be because, symbolically as the manna was a wilderness food…

and when the children of Israel reached the promised land with its fruits they no longer needed the wilderness manna?

According to Rev.22:1-4 when we reach the Promised Land of Heaven we will feast on the fruits of the Tree of Life.

The budding rod was the confirming witness that Aaron was the High Priest before God in the wilderness Mishkan.

When they arrived in the Promised Land, Eleazer was confirmed as the next High Priest.

Today Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is our eternal High Priest

I am the light of the world….

He is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

The Menorah was the only source of light for the priests to offer the incense and to see to eat.

Here we can also eat of Him.

He who eats and drink of me shall have eternal life

It was called the

Shulchan lechem panim – Bread of His presence

because it was where Aaron and his sons, the priests,

ate in His presence.

They were replaced every Shabbat with 12 new loaves.

His light illuminates our lives and we can see to do those things He has commanded us to do.

Sin cannot be present in the Inner Court/ Holy Place.

The one time a year, Yom Kippur, the HIGH PRIEST entered into the Holy of Holies / The SANCTUARY / Naos / miqdash

where the ark of the covenant was

There was no light –

only the shekinah glory of Gods Holy presence illuminated the small room when the High Priest entered

with the blood, to place

on the mercy seat.

Here is the place of intimate communion spirit to spirit –

face to face –

into the manifested presence of a Holy God.

The High Priest had to go

through the veil,

the curtain

separating the Inner Court/Holy Place

from the Holy of Holies.

On the curtain were the cherubim

guarding

the WAY

to the presence of God –

just as in Eden and also Revelation tells us they do in Heaven.

The pattern of the Mishkan is the pattern of Heaven first,

then on earth

and now

Yeshua/Jesus has become the WAY…

through Him.

He is the access to the Father – through Him.

The veil is torn

He has made

and become

the WAY

He is also our mediator of the renewed covenant in His blood.

His blood is on the mercy seat of the ark in Heaven

Heb.9:5; Rom.9:25.

John 14:6

I AM the Way the TRUTH and The LIFE

no man cometh to the Father but by Me.

He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

And is no doubt why the Psalmist said that

as far as the EAST is from the WEST

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Ps.103:12

The ONLY WAY in to the Tabernacle/Mishkan

was through the narrow gate on

West side

and the far end on the

East side

was where the kapporet Mercy Seat stood.

This is where the High Priest

placed the blood

that covered the sin/and

now

Messiahs blood removes our sins

not just covers them.

The east is from the west

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Ps.103:12

this is in reference to the pattern of the Mishkan!!!

WOW!

A Worthy Of Worship moment!

Destroy this temple and I will rebuild it.

It is also a pattern of ourselves

1Cor.6:19 and 1Cor 3:16
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

The Glory of the Lord will fill our Naos-

Sanctuary/Mishkan/Tabernacle.

More on the tabernacle at link below

https://www.minimannamoments.com/what-is-the-connection-between-two-mountains-the-ark-of-the-covenant-and-messiah-being-thirsty-part-3/

From today let’s be certain what’s in our Naos! by being a properly prepared vessel fit for the Masters use…

Shalom Mishpachah/Family!

Please don’t leave this page until you make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

Whats In Your Naos? Part 2


Before part 2, here is a brief summary of the Tabernacle, included for the benefit of any readers who may not have seen previous posts…

Exodus 25 through 40.

The Tabernacle was the Place

Ha Makem’- ‘The Place’-המקום

where God would meet with His people, Israel.

However, before the Tabernacle was constructed God met with Moses in a temporary tent of meeting:

Moses would pitch a tent outside and some distance away from the camp of Israel.

Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting – OUTSIDE the camp.

As Moses went into the tent of meeting,

the pillar of cloud would come down

and stay at the entrance,

while the Lord spoke with Moses face-to-face.

The face to face meeting; פָנִים

Strongs 6440: panim or paneh

Phonetic Spelling: (paw-neem’)

 (Moses met with Him in the Mishkan),

in the Throne of His Presence –

the Womb of Grace and Mercies – rachamIM.

for more on Rechem and IM click links below:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/mystery-of-rechem-the-secret-of-living-like-royalty/
https://www.minimannamoments.com/the-mysteries-of-im/

This is recorded in Exodus 33:7, 9.

Moses set up the tent of meeting as instructed by the LORD OUTSIDE of the camp of Israel..

because the Israelites had betrayed, and broken fellowship with Him at Mt. Sinai with the making and worship of the golden calf.

This was disobedience and faithlessness that God could not ignore. Understanding the rift between God and Israel is the shadow arch-type of God’s rift with all mankind.

This separation between God and Man if left un-mended will result in a permanent separation from our Creator called the eternal, (spiritual) death.

It is worse than physical death because it is a conscious death with no remedy, it’s permanent and unalterable.

This was why Jesus/Yeshua came –

He was and is the repairer of the breach.

God provided Moses with specific instructions to build a Tabernacle, a place of sacrifice and worship.

The tent of meeting was transformed into the Tabernacle according to the precise plans given to Moses by God. This is recorded in Exodus 25-27.

This new tent of meeting came to be called the 

Mishkan or Tabernacle.

It could be taken up and moved each time the children of Israel changed locations as they wandered through the wilderness.

A literal meaning of the word

tabernacle or mishkan, is:

dwelling place.

God Himself designed all the furnishing and items that He instructed Moses to build.

The pattern or plans given to Moses were to be followed to the letter. There was nothing haphazard about the Mishkan/Tabernacle that God Himself designed.

It was so important that God specifically chose 2 men Bezalel and Oholiab and filled them with His own Spirit in order for them to be able to do the precise workmanship that He required.

For more on Bezalel click link below

https://www.minimannamoments.com/whats-the-connection-between-almonds-and-olive-oil-with-messiah-and-2-lampstands/

But more important than all the furnishings was the fact that the Tabernacle was the place where God came down to dwell among His people. 

The Glory of the Tabernacle was not found in the architecture or ornate furnishings of the Tabernacle

but in the Glory of the LORD who made

His temporary dwelling place

in the Tabernacle among His people.

The Tabernacle was to be the center of Israel’s life.

Just as Jesus/Yeshua is to be the center of our lives today.

What makes the Tabernacle itself so very important and of great interest is the fact that the precise instructions that God gave Moses to build the Tabernacle were based on the pattern of a Heavenly Tabernacle. 

Exodus 25:9
According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.


Who serve unto the example and shadow of

HEAVENLY THINGS

as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the TABERNACLE:

for, See, saith he, that thou

make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Hebrews 8:5

The Outer Courtyard of the tent of meeting

was 150 feet long and 75 feet wide

and included the Tabernacle within it.

The centerpiece of this area was an

Brazen/Copper Altar for Burnt Offerings

and a

large Bronze/Copper Wash Basin/Laver 

for the priests.

The Bronze/Copper items were made from the womens’ melted down mirrors that were made of burnished bronze/copper that were so shiny they could see their reflection in them, not mirrors of glass that we know today. This is why it was referred to as sea of glass and is a type of the

in Revelation 4:6 says, “Before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.”

Revelation 15:2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

The actual Tabernacle itself was 45 feet long and 15 feet wide. 

It was divided into two sections. 

The first section or Most Holy Place contained the Altar of Incense

a Golden Lampstand/Menorah,

and a Table with 12 loaves of bread/Shewbread. 

The second section was called the Holy of Holies

it was home for the Ark of the Covenant.

The Ark of the Covenant, among other consecrated items, contained the tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written. 

For 40 years the Israelites relocated the Tabernacle, moving it with them as they travelled through the wilderness from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land.

After the children of Israel entered and conquered the land of Israel, Solomon, the son of King David, built the first permanent Temple in Jerusalem. 

This magnificent Temple was also patterned after the Tabernacle.  

In other words, the Temple replaced the Tabernacle, but the purpose of the Tabernacle and the precise way it was to be built did not change.

The Temple became a permanent structure built in Jerusalem as God had instructed; and it was the center of worship for the Children of Israel.

The Tabernacle is full of mysteries, some of which have yet to be solved; and its probably not an understatement that we could spend many years discovering the secrets hidden in just one of the items God designed to be inside His Tabernacle.

Amazingly, the overall purpose and the entire reason for the Tabernacle, can be seen by looking at the pictographic and numeric meaning of the four letters in the Hebrew word

Mishkan,

the word we translate into English as

Tabernacle.

Noon         Kaf         Sheen         Mem

is spelled

Alef

The first, the leader, the strength to carry out to completion. The Infinite Eternal Supreme Authority. The commander Represented in His Instruction. His Governing Spoken Established, Written, Certain, Established, Surety, Guarantor.

Tav TUh

The promise of DaBaR YaHUaH/ the word of ALaHYM. To be joined together with His restored creation forever and ever.

Consummated, achieved, completeness, restored.

 

HA Hey Hei

To reveal make evident

HA HEI. He reveals, makes known or evident, His identity His power.

Overt, undisguised, understandable.

Mem,

Hidden and concealed in the reign of darkness where the seed is planted gestation until the time of birthing The due date or Appointed Time

Brooding over Nurturing the comforter

 

Sheen, Shin ShYN

His Ruach His essence His being The fervent Ardency The intense fiery consuming passionate POWER of His Being evident in the work of His hand like a blazing fire a consuming passion Ruach HaQodesh or Kodesh.

 

Kaf, KaPh

Step by step. Pattern, Order, Method.

His lines to follow. His flawless pattern communicated; given in a diagram or panorama/picture/plan and made manifest.

Flourish, Thrive, Increasing.

A guide a map a diagram.

and

Noon. NUN

Birthing, birthed one, new.

The Brought Forth One

The Achiever and Finisher

The Begotten

So it could read…

To reveal, manifest what was unseen, the place of brooding over, (like in Genesis); nurturing by His Ruach, His Presence, to lead step by step in His pattern, a guide to follow a diagram given.

 

More Meaning of the

מִשְׁכָּן

found in the pictographs.

Mem is the picture of Water

Sheen is the Picture of Teeth

Kaf is the Picture of an open Palm

Noon is a Picture of a Fish/Seed.

The first letter in any Hebrew word is usually the most important, since it gives us the first clue as to what the word is all about.

Is there a connection between the Tabernacle and the waters of the pictograph for the letter MEM?

God is revealing something with the Picture of Water.

Recall that the LORD uses MEM to depict waters, like those that fill up seas and oceans, those that flow down streams and also that which falls as rain from the heavens.

We simply need to understand the context in which the picture is being used.

Understanding that the revelation regarding the Tabernacle/Mishkan is not only about what it is…as an object but

It’s about where it came from and its the key to unlocking this mystery because the precise plans for building this dwelling place with earthly Outer and Inner Courts came from above, the pattern came from His presence in the Heavenly court room.

Hebrews 8:5

Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the TABERNACLE: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

The LORD of Heaven is going to come down from heavens courts and inhabit the Mishkan, or Tabernacle court and He wants us to keep in our minds focused on that fact.

When we see how water is connected, then the picture of Mem as Rain is fitting, as the rain comes down from above.

Although the letter Mem in the word Mishkan is not about actual rainwater, it’s about something that come down from above just like the rain/water comes down from above the precise plans for building the Tabernacle come from Heaven above.

and the ONE who is going to make the Tabernacle His DWELLING PLACE comes down from Heaven above. And will abide with His people inside the Tabernacle within the Holy of Holies.

The piece of furniture in the Holy of Holies was constructed of 2 parts:

The 1st part was called the Ark of the Covenant. It was a wooden chest/box made of Acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold.

The 2nd part was an ornate lid with 2 golden cherubim with their wings outstretched.

This ornate lid (pictured below), was placed on top of the Ark of the Covenant.

It was called the Mercy Seat.

The Kapporet.

God commanded Moses to put 3 things inside the Ark of the Covenant.

These were

a golden pot of Manna,

Aaron’s staff that had budded,

and the

2 stone tablets on which the 10 Commandments were written.

These 3 items were symbolic of the complaints that God had against His people.

The Manna was a reminder of how the Israelites complained about and were dismissive of God’s amazing provision

The budding rod of Aaron was a reminder of how the Israelites rejected God’s leadership.

The stone tablets on which were written the Ten Commandments was a reminder of how the Israelites had broken all of God’s laws.

Any one of these complaints would have been legal grounds for banishment and punishment. 

However we must pay attention and look where these 3 illustrations of Israels’ sins of unworthiness and unfaithfulness are kept.

They are hidden inside the Ark of the Covenant, secreted away, kept out of mans view and

covered

by the

Mercy Seat.

God uses objects and pictures to make His lessons clear to man. 

Yeshua/Jesus is our Ark 

and our

sins are not only

covered

by His Blood which is now on the

Mercy Seat/Kapporet

but wiped away for ever…

and our lives are now

hidden

with Christ in God.

 Col. 3:3

 

Conclusion coming in in Part 3 …meanwhile there is

more on the tabernacle at link below

https://www.minimannamoments.com/what-is-the-connection-between-two-mountains-the-ark-of-the-covenant-and-messiah-being-thirsty-part-3/

 

Shalom Mishpachah/Family!

Please don’t leave this page until you make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE? YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.