Mysterious Secret of the Hilazon

The Mysterious Secret of the Hilazon – Dyeing to be Holy.

This is part of the mystery of the Tzitzit (fringe), and not the Tallit (Prayer Shawl) itself. Scriputre shows that our Hebrew Savior, Lord Jesus/Yeshua did wear Tzitziot, (the plural of Tzitzit), on His Prayer Shawl. This was a matter of keeping Torah, the Law, the Instruction of God; and Messiah kept Torah perfectly!Numbers 15:37-41 verse 38, ‘And the Lord/YHVH/Adonai spake unto Moses, saying, “Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them throughout their generations fringes in the corners of their garments, and that they put with the fringe of each corner a thread of blue.”Each of the four corners of the garment, ‘Tallit’ (prayer shawl), had to have Tzitzit (fringe) on it. This was made very clear to the children of Israel. They were to look on fringes and ‘Remember (Zikkaron) the ‘Words’ of Torah.’ 

 For God to place this instruction in scripture, commanding His people to make the fringes with the blue thread, He was in effect saying: ‘You are a kingdom of priests to Me.’ This is echoed in Rev. 1:6: “He has made us kings and priests (lit. ‘a kingdom of priests’) unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.” 

The scriptures also teach that it was a violation ordinarily for one to mix two fibers such as wool and linen.

The fringes were to be made of wool, but this blue thread was to be made of linen.

So only in this instance, did God allow this to be done. It goes without saying that wool comes from sheep and of course the significance that Jesus/Yeshua being not only the Shepherd but also the Lamb of God is not without deep meaning.

A talit gadol (or a talit katan) must be primarily white with black stripes and made from at least 51% natural fibers. ‘Who is this that comes from Edom, with DYED garments from Bozrah? This glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength? I that speak in righteousness mighty to save’. (Isaiah 63:1) The word tallit תַטִלּי is pronounced TAH-LISS by those who use the East European Hebrew dialect. The plural, “tallesim,” is pronounced as TAH-LAY-SIM.” The more modern Israeli pronounciation you will hear most often, is “TAH-LEET.” The plural is “tallitot.” Pronounced as TAHLEE-TOHT.” The fringes on the talit are “tzitzit.” Pronounced zeet zeet  “TSI-TSIT.”The term Tallit, or talith is two Hebrew words, “TAL, meaning “tent” and ITH, meaning “little.” The tallit, when wrapped around the shoulders and pulled over the head, forms for the owner a “little tent” or “prayer closet where he may meet privately with God. The Psalmist writes:

I will dwell in your tent for all ages; I will take refuge in the shelter of the corners of your Tallit.” Tassels added to the hem were not worn by commoners, but by the nobility or royalty. The second significance of the tzitzit, then, is that they showed the wearer to be more than a commoner. He was a noble, or a royal personage.Not just the presence of the tzitzit but their colors also carried meaning. The color was white, but among the white cords on each tassel there was to be one blue strand. This color combination was part of the trappings of royalty, as were the colors blue and purple:The third significance of the tzitzit, therefore, was in their colors. They spoke of royalty and kingship. Even today we talk of “royal blue” and “royal purple” from the custom of Roman emperors who wore purple mantles.

The Tzitzit had to have a cord of blue (techlet) in it, according to the command of God. Why Blue and where did the blue color come from?

Tekhelet or techlet is a blue dye mentioned 49 times in the Hebrew Bible/Tenakh.It was used in the clothing of the High Priest,the tapestriesof the Tabernacleand the Tassels.Blue stripes were to be used: as with techelet, the sages explain why tekhelet blue is so significant.

The symbolism of tekhelet is manifold;the rich blue colors recall the oceans and the sea. The sea is like the sky of the infinite Heavens, reminding us of God’s presence in the world and of the bond between the wearer and God;
 and the Heavens are like God’s Throne of Glory, (kisei ha’kavod), the foundations of which are said to be sapphire. It is also to remind us of God Himself and where the Divine Presence dwells.

In the old testament The tallith of a prophet or master teacher would have dark purple-blue threads in the corner tassel. People believed that the purple thread contained miracle power.This is why the woman with the issue of blood wanted to touch the hem of Jesus’ tallith or garment. When she was healed, Jesus said, “Who touched Me?…I felt virtue leave Me.” Then He told her, “Your faith has made you whole,” clarifying it was not a purple thread but her faith in Him as Messiah (see Matthew 9:20-22 and Luke 8:43-48). 

According to the Talmud, the color was obtained and dye produced from a marine creature. A species of snail called Murex trunculus,known as the Hilazon or Chilazon.

It took some 12,000 of these to fill a thimble with blue dye.

This small animal’s body contains a special gland.

The liquid from this gland was dried and became a powered dye.In Acts 16, Lydia, a resident of Thyatira;being a seller of purple, would have been a wealthy and influencial woman. The clients who purchased garments or fabric from her, were the very rich. (Acts 16:14-16:40)This color was so expensive, that all but royalty were to wear it. When Messiah Jesus/Yeshua haMashiach returns riding in the heavens on His majestic white war horse, He will be clothed in glorious royal, garments of a King.

The zitzit with one thread of blue.

Why Blue and where did the blue color come from?

Some three thousand five hundred years ago, Moses gave instructions for the making of “tekhelet” (blue dye) that was to be used in the veil that covered the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and in the ribbons along the edges of the tallit – the Jewish prayer shawl.

One of the contributions Adonai requested in the wilderness was blue which is tekhelet תכלת in Hebrew. Tekhelet blue, known as Divine Blue, identifying Israel and her God.Numbers 15:38, established the cord of blue as a necessity for all generations of Israel: “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue.”

 Much of the Wilderness Tabernacle utilized tekhelet blue:

Exodus 26:1 “ten curtains of fine twisted linen and tekhelet blueExodus 26:4 “loops of tekhelet blue on the edge of the outermost curtain … likewise on the edge of the curtain in the second set.”

  • Exodus 26:31 “You shall make a veil of tekhelet blue…”Exodus 26:36 “a screen for the doorway of the tent of tekhelet blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen…”

  • Exodus 27:16 “a screen of twenty cubits, of tekhelet blue…” 

This fact alone is very curious, as the Israelites must have had access to a significant amount of this dye and they were in the wilderness! The interesting question is, did they bring it with them from Egypt? Was it part of the wealth of Egypt that they left with?This is probably the case as the coast of Egypt which included Goshen where they were enslaved was part of the Mediterranean Sea; and also as expensive as this color was to own, no doubt the Egyptians had it and it was something to be desired.Location of wilderness tabernacle and where they were in the wilderness at Mount Sinai.Here they received Torah and instructions for building the Mishkan.The distance from Goshen to Mediterranean Sea was about 40 kilometers, approx. 25miles.

Lost and Found — The Tale of a Snail

Tekhelet blue, known as Divine Blue, has come to symbolize the hope of redemption; with its loss and amazing rediscovery after nearly 2,000 years.

 Extracting blue and purple dyes from a snail that grew in the Mediterranean became an important industry for centuries. However, with the Islamic invasion of the Holy Land in the seventh century, the industry disappeared. For the past 14 centuries the formula has evaded Jewish scholars.

Thus, until recently, Jewish prayer shawls have had only black ribbons.

When the Romans conquered Israel in 63 BC they seized control of the production of tekhelet blue.  By the third century AD, under the Emperor Constantine, only Romans, and primarily royalty, were allowed to use and wear the tekhelet blue. Jews were prohibited from its use—especially after the Council of Nicaea which established harsh laws restricting Jews (and Christians) from observing biblical commandments from the Old Testament.

Jewish dyers went underground. By around 600 AD, as the Jews were scattered, persecuted, and confined to ghettos, the identity of the creature from which the dye was extracted and the process of producing tekhelet blue was lost all together.From that time until very recently, tallits, the traditional prayer shawl that held the tzitzit, or tassels, as commanded in Numbers 15:38, on its corners, could not contain the cord of blue

The sages believed the loss of the tekhelet blue was attributed to the disobedience of Israel, suggesting that its rediscovery would be a sign of restoration and signal the coming of Messiah in His glory to Israel.

The miraculous rebirth of Israel in 1948, and the reunification of Jerusalem following the Six Day War in 1967 inspired zeal and renewed hope among the Jewish People. They thought redemption may truly be at hand. The Temple Institute in Jerusalem has painstakingly recreated the Holy Vessels and Garments in anticipation of the rebuilding of the Holy Temple according to biblical descriptions. Missing were the tekhelet blue and the ashes of the Red Heifer.

Tekhelet Restored! 

Tekhelet, (Strong’s 8504) the color (violet). Strong’s feels this sapphire blue comes from the Cerulean mussel in which the dye was obtained.  This was the color, blue, representing the firmament of the heavens that was used as fabric and curtains to drape the ceiling of the Wilderness Tabernacle.  It was the Zohar, when it refered to tekeleth, that stated, “This color had to appear in the Tabernacle for this reason:”Genesis 1:6 – “And God said, ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.’” 

It was this dye, the color sapphire blue that became one of the rarest and most costly of dyes to be obtained in the ancient world.  It was always known to come from the gland of a snail in the Mediterranean, which disappeared soon after the destruction of the temple in 70 CE, and the process of how to extract it was lost. One source reports that in 1984, Irving Ziderman, a biochemist at the Israel Fiber Institute in Jerusalem, was able to identify the source of the ancient dye. After years of research, trial and error, he perfected the process, using the mucus of the “banded dye murex,” a spiny shellfish once thought to be extinct.Not until 1985, one Sabbatical week of years, was this snail rediscovered in the Mediterranean. Out of it came the royal purple and the royal blue.  It was also this blue dye that was used to dye the blue cord on each tzitzit, which was the hem or fringe of the prayer shawls of the Hebrews as commanded by HaShem.

Murex branfaris and Murex trunculus Snails 

 Numbers 15:37 – “HaShem said to Moses saying, Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tzit-tzit on the corners of your garments, and with a blue cord on each tzit-tzit, You will have these tzit-tzit to look at and you will remember ALL the commands of the Lord, and you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lust of your own hearts and eyes.  Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.’”

 The secret to reviving this ancient formula to fulfill the commandment in Exodus 25:4 and produce tekhelet blue was a riddle waiting until the 1980s to be solved. 

The Biblical True Blue from the Murex Trunculus The Murex Trunculus snail had been identified in the early 20th century by the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel. Ezekiel 27:7 speaks of Tekhelet blue from Tyre and the coastlands of Elishah. Archaeologists uncovered mounds of Murex shells in Tyre and the surrounding area that dated to the biblical period. Blue stains on large pots and vats from 1200 BC were tested, and found to be consistent with the modern day Murex trunculus. However, until the 1980’s all experiments on the Murex extract only yielded purple dye …

until one sunny day.

Otto Elsner, a professor at Shenker College of Engineering and Design near Tel Aviv, took the process outside in the sunlight, and found that the dye specimen turned a beautiful, perfect tekhelet blue.

As soon as the gland is exposed to oxygen, the liquid in that gland undergoes a fascinating chemical transformation from a clear liquid to a yellow, to a green, a greenish blue, aquamarine, then blue and ultimately ends up a dark purple the purple liquid is dried and then ground into a powder.  By exposing this new compound to sunlight, the blue described in the ancient Jewish sources is achieved.Dr. Baruch Sterman describes one of the most dramatic aspects of the tekhelet:

“The molecules of any specific color can be measured in exact wavelengths.  This measurement is read in increments called nanometers.  When the molecules of the blue color called Tekhelet, extracted from the murex trunculus snail are measured, the reading peaks at exactly 613 nanometers. What a marvelous coincidence that this number matches the total number of commandments in the Torah, written by the finger of God in sky-blue sapphire.”Because eventually the tekhelet was lost, until recently, an observant Jew could not fulfill the directive of gazing upon the blue cord or meditate on the “twist of blue” and recall the eternal Torah, hewn from sapphire under the Throne of Glory. However once again he can and very soon the non-Jew, who loves God, Torah and Israel, can look forward to the days when;

Zechariah 8:23 – “Ten men of all languages and nations will take hold of one Jew by the corner Tzit-tzit of his garment and say, ‘Let us go with you because we have heard that God is with you.’”

 

Once again—for the first time in almost 2,000 years, the Jewish People are able to fulfill this commandment in the Land of Israel. And once more, they wear a cord of blue in their tzitzit as commanded.

The Talmud (Menahot 44a) says that once every 70 years the shores of the land of Israel are visited by the segulit snail from which the tekhelet, used to mark certain religious items, was made.

On November 10, 1990, The Jerusalem Post reported that these snails had begun to surface by the thousands along the Mediterranean coast!!

Some Orthodox Jews believe the reappearance of the snails are a sign of the approaching of the Messianic Age. 

Today, in Israel those praying at the Western Wall are wearing prayer shawls with beautiful blue ribbons.

Below is a 2,000-year old textile that contains the mysterious blue dye described in the Bible.Isaiah writes: and come let us reason together that our sins though they be as scarlet, κόκκινον, can become as white as snow. 

This color of “sins like scarlet or κόκκινον, red as crimson” of Isaiah 1:18, is Tyrian or Phoenician purple, crimson of murex shellfish from φοινός phoinós “blood red” Mycenaean…

The miracle of this techlet is now being made once again in Israel. They have found the snail, (murex trunculus), that is needed to make the blue dye.

Today as we are literally seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled before our eyes; in so many ways and in such precise detail helps us to realize we are in close proximity to His appearance. Are we truly living by the fringe of a wing and a prayer?

Let’s continue praying with intent, ‘within tent’!

Remembering, taleh means lamb, and also comes from the word that means covering!

God provided Himself a lamb.

The Taleh Elohim the Lamb of God.

The Lamb is our covering –  The Taleh is our Taletha !

 

This small snail has returned to the waters of Israel, and is seen as a “Sign that Messiah is coming soon.”

Even so.. come Lord Jesus!Make sure we are ready when He does..

 

Please don’t leave this site without knowing you are saved and assured that you belong to Him; with a deep conviction that you know where you will go, when your body can no longer sustain you in this realm. 

Make certain Jesus is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him. 

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

Its all about Life and Relationship not Religion.

NOT SURE?

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

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

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus 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 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. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’ name. Amen.

https://www.minimannamoments.com/welcome-come-taste-some-bread-of-life-bread-from-heaven/life-changing-information-guaranteed/

Miracles On a Z String

As this subject has so many wonderful facets to it, pondering on the details of 2 familiar stories will help us to gain deeper insights and enlarge our understanding of things we thought we knew and really didn’t fully appreciate.

(Continued from last post Life On The Fringe.)

Mark 5 tells the story of the woman with the issue of blood. Here we find the scripture about touching the hem of His garment, which was the tzizit/tsitsit of His tallit. The Scriptures refer to tzizit / tsitsit because, the Jewish translators who translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, use the Greek word kraspedon for tzizit / tsitsit and kraspedon is used in the Gospels where tzizit / tsitsit would be appropriate.

The action in this story was not an isolated incident just for the woman with the issue of blood and is only part of the picture.Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid their sick in the marketplaces and begged Him that they might just touch the border of His garment.

And as many as touched Him were made whole. (Mark 6:56)..and why so many sought to touch the tzizit/tsitsit of His tallit and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well. Matthew 14:26

In Numbers (Bamidbar) 15:37-41; The children of Israel were instructed by God to wear fringes (tzi-tzit) which were put on the hem of their garments to remind the people of the Torah/God’s Word.

When the woman with the issue of blood, (by the law, she was unclean), came to Yeshua, (the High Priest of God), to touch the hem (tzi-tzit) of His garment and be healed (Matt. [Mattityahu] 9:20-22);it was a picture given to us by God, to communicate to us, that she believed Yeshua’s word by faith, (emunah) and was made well because of that faith.The concept of the blue tassel on the fringe, spoke directly to Israel of Messiah’s power and authority.

That is why the woman touched the fringe of Messiahs garment, she wanted to touch the symbol of His authority.

“Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.  She said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.’”  (Matthew 9:20–21) and … came from behind and touched the border of His garment and immediately her flow of blood stopped. Luke 8:44 

The Jewish New Testament Commentary explains about this passage:

“A woman who had . . . a hemorrhage approached him from behind and . . . touched his tzitzit. (Fringe of His prayer shawl) She was in a state of ritual impurity because of her hemorrhage. She touched the holiest part of Yeshua’s garment. No wonder she approached from behind, she was afraid; this is also why she hesitated to answer Yeshua’s question, “Who touched my clothes?” (Mark 5:29-33) For normally the impure defiles the pure (see Haggai 2:11-13; also the Talmud, Toharot.)

But in this case, the opposite happened:

the purity of Yeshua the Messiah and of His tzitziyot (“tassels,” or “fringes, of Yeshua’s prayer shawl.”) remained uncompromised, while instead the cause of the woman’s impurity was instantly removed. In the following incident, the raising of Jairus daughter, this principle is exemplified even more strongly, since Yeshua himself initiates contact with what is regarded in Judaism as the primary source of all impurity, a body (v.25) . . .” (comment on Matthew 9:20).

The New Testament contains the teachings and life and times of the Messiah, but we should remember that the Old Testament law was still in effect until His atoning death, resurrection and ascension.

When the veil of the temple was rent in two, it symbolized that the sacrifice of His life gave us access to enter into the presence of God. Messiah Himself, was born under the Law. The scriptures tell us it was His custom to go to the synagogue. Many times Messiah Jesus/Yeshua haMashiach would quote from the Law, but He would also expound upon the spirit of the Law and here Leviticus 15:19-28, applied.

The law on this matter meant that she was unclean and this created a huge problem.

“And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. And everything that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean. everything also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water; and be unclean until even. And if it be on her bed, or on anything whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even … And if a woman have an issue other blood many days out of the time other separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean …. But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the Lord for the issue of her uncleanness. “

According to the Old Testament law, the woman with the issue of was ceremonially “unclean.” If she touched anyone, they would be unclean. It would have been perfectly natural for the Jewish people to view Messiah as “unclean” if she reached out and touched Him.

They would not have expected that such a man would be performing miracles by the power of God.

Unless this woman reached out by revelation to touch Messiah, she would not have wanted to touch Him.

But she did…

She pressed through the crowd to receive her healing because in spite of consulting many doctors and spending all she had trying to find a cure, she grew worse not better and she was desperate.

This was more than just a woman making a decision to be healed.

As her condition rendered her ceremonially unclean and according to the Law, she was to stay separated from people and if anyone touched her, or if she touched anyone, she made them unclean as well. If she made someone unclean due to her touch, she was committing a very serious sin.

Once she touched someone and made them unclean, that person would have to bathe, wash their clothes, and wait until the evening before being declared clean. Furthermore, if that person was unclean due to her touch, it limited what they were allowed by law to do, or in turn, who they could touch.

When the woman with the issue touched Jesus, He immediately felt strength go out of Him. Jesus asked the question, “Who touched me?”

At the very moment, Jesus knew that something had happened. He perceived that virtue had gone out of Him.

This was the bigger MIRACLE…for in this case, the opposite happened. Instead of Him becoming unclean from her touch, the purity of Yeshua the Messiah and of His tzitziyot (“tassels,” or “fringes, of Yeshua’s prayer shawl.”) remained uncompromised, while instead the cause of the woman’s impurity was instantly removed.

CLEANLINESS left Him.

In Greek the word for virtue (dunimis) and it is defined as power. We get our word dynamite from this Greek word.

In Hebrew, the word for virtue brings us a clearer definition or idea. Virtue in Hebrew is “gevorah” and it is from the root “gabar” and it means “strength, due to binding, twisting, hence a rope.

The twisted cords are the tsitsit of the prayer shawl.

The passage further states that He looked around about to see her that had done this thing. “But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth.”

This was a very serious act that this woman deliberately chose to do and even though she received her healing, she tried to disappear back into the crowd.

Why was she so fearful that she was trembling? Probably it was that she knew that what she had done had broken the law of God knowing that she had made Him unclean.

To our thinking, this does not seem like such a serious act because we touch other people all the time BUT for the children of Israel it was an extremely serious sin. Because of our lack of understanding of the context, we miss the deeper meaning and see only the miracle of healing. Which in itself is remarkable but is only part of the picture.In spite of all those in the crowd pressing around Him, Messiah perceived the instant that she reached forth her hand. He also perceived her faith and in saying, who touched me, it taught a lesson to the observers.

It took great faith for this woman who had just been healed, to step out and say in front of this crowd:

It was me.. I did!

For by the custom of the law, she had knowingly and deliberately committed sin.

 Jesus knew power had gone from Him and why at once she was healed!

Yeshua said she was healed because of her faith and rather than condemn or rebuke her for defiling His garment said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” (Matt. 9:22) Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole, go in (shalom) peace, and be whole of thy plague. “

In Greek:  πίστις pē’-stēs, meaning faithfulness, not a passive belief, but

a deep, abiding, steadfast conviction that is evidenced by fidelity, character, and action. 

In Zechariah 8:23 the phrase “skirt of him that is a Jew,” speaks of the “wing” of the tallit. This phrase “God is with you,” is similar to the concept of Immanuel, meaning “God with us.”

She would have also surely known the old Testament reference to healing in His wings from Isaiah and that it was referring to His tzizit.

Also in the book of Malachi, one of the most prophetically messianic books in the Bible, the following can be found:

“But to you who fear My Name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.” Malachi 3:20

Ve•zar•cha la•chem yir•ey sh`mi she•mesh tze•da•ka oo•mar•pe bich•na•fe•ha viy•tza•tem oo•fish•tem ke•eg•lei mar•bek.

Many Christians accurately see a reference to the Messiah in this verse. Judaism also recognizes this as a messianic prophecy:
“Moses asked: ‘shall they remain in pledge forever?’ G-d replied: ‘No, only Until the sun appears’, that is, till the coming of the Messiah; for it says, But unto you that fear My name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings.” Exodus Rabbah 31:10, Soncino Press Edition

 The phrase, “Sun of righteousness,” is a picture of Messiah, who is the “Bright and Morning Star.” The fact that Messiah wore a tallit with tzitzit or fringes, like other Jewish men, is clearly understood from such scriptures as Matthew 9:20, and Matthew 14:36.

When you wrap the tallit about you, holding two of the corners out, it forms “wings.”

 Many times, the Lord speaks in scripture, of His dependence upon His Father, and as our Redeeming Lamb, were He not the obedient Servant, He would not be the “Light of the World.” (John 8:12) He came in the glory of His Father. His prayer life was so profound, that His disciples observing Him, said: “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1)Because Yeshua wore his tallit, the border or hem of Yeshua’s garment had a particular appearance to it, due to the way in which the tallit was folded. This caused the corner tassels of the fringe to hang down. Taking hold of the “skirt” of him that is a Jew, speaks of taking hold of this outer or extended “wing” of the garment, which holds such deep significance. Why? Because it speaks of prayer.

Because of the understanding of the visual meaning of the Tallit, the scribes and Pharisees were known for extending the zit zit tassels on their garments, to make themselves look more holy and this is what Jesus was referring to in Matthew 23:5.“But they do their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries, and lengthen the tassels of their garments”. Everything was done to attract the approval and attention of others. The approval of God took a back seat.The Pharisees would dress distinctively in garb that would symbolize their righteousness. It was more important that they appeared righteous to others than whether they were really righteous or not. 

In addition to their distinctive dress, the Pharisees loved places of honor at banquets, chief seats in synagogues, respectful greetings such as “Rabbi”, “Father” and “Leader”. Anything that would tend to exalt them in the eyes of men.

The account of the woman who touched His tzitzit must be combined with that of Jairus (Yair).

Jairus was one of the synagogue rulers, his daughter was dying. Jairus saw Jesus and falling at His feet, he begged Him to come and lay hands on his daughter believing she could be healed. Jesus agreed to go with him, and a great crowd followed them.

Within that same crowd was the woman just referred to.

Jairus has convinced Jesus to go with him to heal his daughter who is sick to the point of death. As a synagogue ruler he certainly knew the law. He knows that at the moment that this woman touched Jesus, He is rendered unclean and the moment he realized what had happened his heart must have sank because now Jesus would be unable to go to his daughter for these people would not have ignored this law.

The Jewish New Testament Commentary explains about this passage:

In the following incident, the raising of Jairus daughter, this principle is exemplified even more strongly, since Yeshua himself initiates contact with what is regarded in Judaism as the primary source of all impurity, a body (v.25) . . .” (comment on Matthew 9:20).

After Jesus declaration to the woman, certain people from the home of Jairus/Yair came to tell him to not trouble the master any longer because his daughter had just died. To these statements, Jesus responds by telling Jairus/Yair to not be afraid, only believe.

This is important to the rest of the story. It was forbidden for a rabbi or priest to touch a dead body and remove his state of cleanliness.

Through no fault of His own, but in the sight of all, He became unclean.

When Jesus reached Jairus house, He was told that the girl was dead. Jesus states the she is only asleep and they laugh Him to scorn, Mark 5:40. Why did He make this statement? Because He wanted them to know she was dead and He was going in. 

Jesus did not allow anyone to follow beyond that point except for Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

“But when He had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with Him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.”Why was He able to go into the room with a dead girl? The dead are considered to be unclean, and going into the same room with a dead girl and touching her would have made Jesus unclean. However, Jesus was already unclean due to the touch of the woman with the issue of blood. Then the passage tells us that, “He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

The Greek says talita coum!   Then included is a statement saying: which is translated, girl I say to you rise, or maid arise (kjv) or, my child get up (niv). The Greek word translated maid, or child, is talitha, the Greek spelling of tallit. Coum is the Hebrew word for rise, or get up.

The translators tell us it means “damsel, arise” but If the statement “talitha cumi” really meant, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise, why was it left untranslated? Something was said in that room that caused Jesus/Yeshua to instruct them to tell no man what was said or done!

Verse 41 in Hebrew (transliterated English):

Hu achaz eth yadah shel hayahda veamar eleyha talitha qumi shetargunno maarah qumi ani omer lach

The interpretation of this verse is: “He grasp hand belonging to the girl and said, elyha, talitha arise, is interpreted, young girl get up, I say to you.”

Notice that two words have been left un translated in this verse.

This is because it is difficult to translate the proper understanding of the two words (eleyah tallitah) into English. Without an understanding of these two words, it is impossible to clearly see what was happening here. It is because of the presence of these two words that Jesus/Yeshua told them not to tell anyone what had happened.

“He grasp hand belonging to the girl and said..

This is a strange interpretation of this word. The normal way to express “to her” in Hebrew would be, (shelah) and not (eleyah). Even if one chooses not to use the Hebrew word “(shelah) to indicate “to her” (othah) could be used. (Eleyah) could in very rare situations be used to mean “to her.”

However, it was considered to be a Holy word.

(Eleyah) is a compound word. (El) is a name for God.

We see this is such compound words as El-Shaddai (God the source, porvider, breast) or Bethel (house of God). Therefore, (eleyah) is the abbrevidated form of “yodh, hey, vav, hey ” the proper name of God (Yaweh). Therefore, (eleyah) is a combination of two of the names of God. In fact, these same four letters with different vowel markings means God is Jehovah. Considering the belief that the Jews held concerning the use of the name of God (eleyah) would hardly be used to indicate “to her.”

(Please keep reading, a conclusion will be made shortly.)The next word to be considered is (tallita). We know by the interpretation that tallita cannot mean girl, young girl, or maiden (see Hebrew above).

So what is being said here?

It cannot be as simple as Damsel, l say unto thee arise.

So to put these two words in the proper context we will restate the verse with the direct translation. “He grasp hand belonging to the girl and said “God speaking to (female under) tallit, get up.”

Jesus was speaking as God.

He was not speaking to the tallit but to the girl under the tallit.

This is understood by the feminine ending on the word tallit.

Could it be possible that Jesus was proclaiming Himself to be God?

That is precisely the point.

Jesus was also making the statement that He had perfectly performed the Law of the Fringe and was the person spoken of in Zechariah 8: 23,

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. “

This was a messianic passage of Scripture.

Jesus was in fact, declaring Himself to be the Messiah.

What Jesus/Yeshua actually said was more like –

Girl in the Tallit, God says arise!

This is why He said not to tell what had happened.

The people knew she was dead and would just as surely know she was now alive. What He did not want them to know as yet was the fact that He walked, lived and functioned on earth as God and in fact was God! He knew it and those in the room knew it, but He did not want anyone else to know it at that point in time.It is clear that Jesus/Yeshua was wearing a talitt at the time because of the reference to it regarding the woman with the issue of blood and it would seem that Jesus/ Yeshua used His prayer shawl in the raising of Jairus daughter.

We have another indication of this very idea in Deuteronomy 8:2-3 when He told them to give the little girl something to eat.

 ” And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. “

Was Jesus making reference to this verse when He gave the instruction for the little girl to be fed? She had already been provided with spiritual food, (raised from the dead), and now it was time to give her physical food.

Tallit a Kum

Some Greek texts say coumi, the feminine form, which is the correct word for this verse, since talitha it’s a feminine noun. There is an Aramaic word similar to talitha that was taken for talitha. That is talyetha instead of talitha in all the manuscripts.

We know that His use of the tallit in this miracle would have been appropriate and would have been understood by those with Him.Jesus would have been speaking Hebrew, so the word talit is the closest word to the Greek transliteration.

This purports to be a translation of talita coum (in Hebrew is ‘prayer shawl rise’) and must have been added by a well intentioned translator or copier who did not understand. They mistook talitha, which is the Greek spelling of the word tallit for the Aramaic talyiata, meaning young woman.

Some scholars say in that case He would have placed his prayer shawl over the girl, then spoken to the prayer shawl. There is another Aramaic word that some say is the correct word for this verse. It is taly’tah, meaning lamb. This would have had Jesus address her as lambkin, which is not an unreasonable assumption.

Coumi would also be the correct verb because it is the same in Aramaic and Hebrew.

There is also a reference to people bringing ‘handkerchiefs’ and ‘prayer cloths’ for Him to pray over and they were a point of contact to take to those too sick to travel. Lost in translation, these were no doubt the traditional prayer shawls/tallits.

Rabbinic training is required to make prayer shawls. Paul, Priscilla and Aquilla had this kind of training. Acts 18:2, 3 Making prayer shawls is an occupation that Paul could have pursued in any area without having to take with him various tools and supplies as he travelled. So this is very likely prospect.

The Greek word skenopoioi translated prayer shawl makers or tent makers, is not found anywhere else in Scripture or in secular Greek writing. Perhaps Luke coined the word or possibly skenopoioi was used by Greek speaking Jewish people when speaking of making prayer shawls. Jewish men referred to the prayer shawl as a tent or prayer closet because it was placed over their head to shield the eyes while praying.Another reference to the prayer shawl, often overlooked, is in Matthew 25:35, 36. The verse says and I was poorly clothed and you clothed me. The Greek word for you clothed is periebalete, referring to putting on the outer garment, which would have been the prayer shawl of a Jewish man.

Ancient and modern

The fact that it was just the outer garment to be put on, shows that the person had not been naked, as some translations say, but the stranger was poorly clothed. The fact that it was a prayer shawl indicates that the person who gave the garment ministered to the spiritual needs of the stranger while also meeting their material needs.

1 Corinthians 11:15 is another reference to the prayer shawl. This Greek word is peribolaiou, which means wrapper or covering, something thrown around; in reference to a garment.   Deuteronomy 22:12 says, you will make for yourself fringes upon the four corners of your covering, prayer shawl, with which you cover yourself.

Though the word translated covering, is k’sootkha, and means simply, ‘ your covering’. There are no alternative meanings for k’soo(t) ( the kha suffix is the pronoun your). In the Septuagint peribalou is the word used to translate k’soo(t) in Deuteronomy 22:12.

In light of this, Paul was probably saying that women were given long hair instead of a prayer shawl.

But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 1 Cor. 11:15

The word k’soot-ho, meaning ‘ his covering’ is used in Exodus 22:26 where it shows the use of this large garment as a blanket.

These are just some ofInterestingly, in the English language the only difference between tough and touch is a g or a c. When you are having a tough time, remember that as many as touch the hem were made well. Many say they trust God but have never pressed in to know Jesus nor understand what He did for us the cross. Press in to touch the hem of His garment to both get through and to transform your tough time.

Shalom!

Life On The Fringe

Due to winter storms the internet connections were interrupted. To make up for a lost week here is a special post on this beautiful topic. Obviously there is always more to be discussed on every subject and time often prohibits in depth research, however some of the hidden mysteries and meanings are presented here.

God commanded His people to wear sacred fringes on the corners of their clothing throughout the generations. This was in reference to what we now call Prayer Shawl or Tallit.

What is a tallit?

A tallit (tal-LEET, literally “little covering”) is a rectangular prayer shawl with four fringes – tzitzit – one attached at each corner.

Most tallits have a neckband, called an atarah, that often has a blessing written across it which is spoken when putting on the tallit.

The Tallit actually inspired the design of the Israeli flag:

In Biblical times, in obedience to the book of Bamidbar/Numbers 15:38 – 41, men would attach the tassels to the four-cornered tallit, (cloak or gown), that was customarily worn.

ציצית

zitzit (tzee-tzeet)

(Hebrew plural is ziziyyot: fringes, or decoration).

“Speak to the children of Israel and say to them:  They shall make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments…  And this shall be tzitzit for you, and when you see it, you will remember all the commandments of God, and perform them.”  (Numbers 15:38–39)

The Hebrew words Yevovah Echad, meaning “God is one;” are numerically formed by the number of knots and wrappings in the tzitzit or fringe, which God said to “look at,” and remember His laws and not to sin against Him.

The knots and windings are also considered symbolic of the Shema (shem-ah): Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohenu Adonai Echad — Hear Oh Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One [Deuteronomy 6:4]

In prayers, “Israel” refers to the Jewish people. It is shorthand for “Children of Israel.” “Eretz Yisrael” or the “Land of Israel” refers to the country.] The Shema is commonly referred to as the watchword of the Jewish faith. The recitation of this line is a important part of the morning and evening prayers.

Messiah Yeshua, God manifest in the flesh, is the garment or tallit of our souls. In Romans 13:14 we read: “…Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

When we receive His forgiveness, and obey His commands we are wrapped in the shekinah glory of God. We are sons of light, filled with God’s “light.” Yeshua said: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father…” John 14:9

“Make tassels for yourselves on the four corners of the garment with which you cover yourself.”  (Deut. 22:12)

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and 11:13–21 as a daily reminder of His plan for us and what He requires of our lives.When the SHEMA was said, the fringe was grasped in the hand. The SHEMA was a declaration of the nature of God. God is one. He is not like the heathen concept of a plurality of deities in the Godhead. This focus upon God’s nature and obedience to His commandments, kept the heart “fixed.”

The numerical value of the knots and wrappings literally spelled out SHEMA. This was an additional reminder that God is one, and He will never change.

The five knots can be viewed as representing the first five (Hebrew) words of the Shema. The last word, Echad, is represented by the windings between the knots. Echad means “one.” The windings bind the knots into a single unit.

Each Tzitzit is made from 8 strings, 7 white and one blue. ‘Seven’ is the number representing perfection in the physical realm. ‘Eight’, therefore, transcends the physical realm and symbolizes a direct link to the spiritual realm.

Each group of 8 strings is knotted 5 times to form a Tzitzit. There are five books in the Torah.

Each of the 4 tzitzit have 8 strings, making a total of 32 strings. Thirty-two is the numeric value of the Hebrew word for “HEART”. The tzitzit’s loose strings represent God’s ‘heart strings’.

The tzitzit with it’s blue thread represents first of all that God is one!

Messiah is not separate, God clothed/robed Himself in the flesh of Messiah.

Through the atoning of Messiah Jesus, God’s precious Lamb, the sins of the world were taken away, (Romans 3:23-26, Romans 6:23, Acts 2:38, 2 Cor. 10:3-7, I John 2:2, I John 2:1, 4:10, ) and now through right relationship with Him, we can walk in His power and authority. 

The garment now made to these specifications is the tallit, also spelled taleth, talet, tallis, talleisim, tallism or tallithim in Hebrew and Yiddish; and called a prayer shawl in English. The purpose for it is for everyone, including the wearer, to look at it and remember all the commandments of the Lord from Torah, the Five Books of Moses,

This list of 613 commandments picture includes the promises of God, so in Jesus day people would see all the power of God in that Fringe, called tzizit / tsitsit in Hebrew, when the prayer shawl was worn by an anointed man of God.

613 mitzvot (or 613 Commandments. Hebrew: תווצמ ג”ירת transliterated as Taryag mitzvot; TaRYaG is the acronym for the numeric value of “613”.) In Judaism there is a tradition that the Torah (i.e. the “Pentateuch”) contains 613 mitzvot (mitzvot in Hebrew means “commandments”, from mitzvah – הוצמ — “precept”, plural: mitzvot; from הוצ, tzavah- “command”).

According to the main source, of these 613 commandments, 248 are mitzvot aseh (“positive commandments”) and 365 are mitzvot lo taaseh (“negative commandments”). 365 corresponded to the number of days in a solar year and 248 was at that time believed to be the number of bones or significant organs in the human body.

We may think 613 Instructions for living a life before the Lord was too many, however although we are under grace there areand Jesus said

The laws concerning sacrifices are null and void because Jesus was the sacrifice.

And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. Hebrews 10:18.

The Corner Knots

Notice that the four corners are decorated with longer threads and with more knots than the remainder of the fringe. These longer fringes of this garment are identical and unique.

The names of God are recalled by the wearer utilizing the prayer shawl in the proper way.

Some of the names rendered by these knots are said to be:

The Names of God

Yahweh Jireh – Yahweh will see, or provide.

Yahweh Ropheka – Yahweh will heal thee.

Yahweh Nissi – Yahweh is my banner.

Yahweh Mekaddishkem – Yahweh Who shall sanctify you.

Yahweh Shalom – Yahweh (send) peace.

Yahweh Tz’vaoth – Yahweh of hosts.

Yahweh Shammah – Yahweh is there.

The symbolism of all this has been variously interpreted. On one view, the Hebrew word tzitzit has the numerical value of 600 (tzaddi = 90; yod = 10; tzaddi = 90; yod = 10; tav = 400; = 600 in total).

Also of interest is the fact that the hem of the high priest had bells and pomegranates hanging from it.The pomegranate is said to contain 613 seeds which was a reminder of the Torah.

Jesus our Messiah, Yeshua haMashiach, wore a prayer shawl, (tallit). Prayer shawls were worn at all times and not just when in prayer. Jesus /Yeshua demonstrated to us the pattern for us to follow, dependence upon His Heavenly Father,  Messiah’s nature was two-fold, as the God-Man.

For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham.” Hebrews 2:14-16.

As a humble man, dependent upon His Father, He established a pattern for us to walk in. It is us who must be dependent upon the Lord. God often speaks using human “terms” which are familiar to us, such as “the right hand,” which is a phrase speaking of the position of power and authority.

The term tzitzit is related to the word “hatzatzah,” or “Looking at.” For God said:

“You will make these garments, and put fringe on the borders, and you will look at this, and remember that you must not do what your own heart and desires dictate, but remember that I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and I am the Lord your God.”

Like the 9 branched Chanukkah Menorah,

(see https://www.minimannamoments.com/who-lights-up-your-life/ for more details on Chanukkah.)

the Tallit also has a Shamesh/Shamash

The blue thread of the fringe, is called the SHAMESH / SHAMASH meaning servant. This is similar to the tallest servant candle that stands in the midst of the other candles, and is used to light the menorah.

In this “SHAMESH thread,” we see Messiah, our King; as the “Suffering Servant.” It was necessary that He suffer as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

It was as He humbled Himself, becoming obedient, even to on the cross, that God highly exalted Him, giving Him a name above every name.” (Phil. 2:9)

Meditate on the picture of Messiah Jesus praying at Gethsemane, see Him praying earnestly there, wrapped in His tallit as He prayed long into in the night.

He sweated great drops of blood, agonizing in prayer, the blood mixing with those tears that fell, rolling onto the rock at which He prayed, saying: “Father: If you be willing, remove this cup from Me…nevertheless, not My will but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

As He grasped the fringe of His tallit, He knew within Himself: I am not alone in this. The father stands with Me. I and My Father are one. 

When you make His soul an offering for sin, He will see His seed, He will prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.” (Isaiah 53:10)

Wrapping His tallit around Him, He asked His disciples to stay awake watch with Him and pray.

Everything about the tallit commands us to be “watchers,” who stand by day and by night….

Watchmen, whom God has set on the walls of Jerusalem; which shall never hold their peace, day nor night. Those that make mention of the Lord shall not keep silent! We will give Him no rest, till He establishes, and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in all the earth. (Isaiah 62:6) “Son of Man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them a warning from me, says the Lord.”

Not once since the Rock of Israel was born, had He experienced separation from His Heavenly Father. From the beginning that night in Bethlehem, when that same star filled sky that Abrahamlooked into and was shown descendants as the sands of the sea…was suddenly filled with angels, crying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and good will toward men. He had known constant and uninterrupted connection to His Father.

Returning to the tassels or tsitsit that the Israelites were commanded to wear, they can be understood as extensions of the hem. The tassels, as shown in the illustrations, are part of the hem; they are simply extended threads of the embroidery of the hem. A tassel may hang free or it may be decorated with a flower head or bell at the end.

Understanding the significance in ancient cultures to the hem of the garment and the status of the wearer, we can understand its association with the glory, or rank of the individual. There are accounts in the New Testament of people being healed as they merely touched the hem of Yahshua’a garment. Symbolically, they touched His glory. When the woman with the issue of blood touched Christ’s hem and was instantly healed.Yahshua did not immediately know who had touched Him, but He sensed that “dunamis” or “miraculous power” had gone out from Him at her touch. Such marvels were prophesied of the coming Savior in the Old Testament, though the fullness of the message is obscured due to some poor translations.

Malachi 4:2
But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings (kanaph – literally borders)…

Malachi prophesied that the Son of God would have healing in His “borders,” which is to say, the hem of His garment. Strong’s Concordance defines this word in the following manner. 

Kanaph (kaw-nawf’); from OT:3670; an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bed-clothing) a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinnacle.

Although this word is appropriately understood as a reference to a bird’s wings in some passages, this is not always the case.

Exodus 19:4-5
“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings (kanaph) and brought you to Myself.”

Malachi 4, believed by the Jewish People to be about the coming of the Messiah, also contains a promise of healing: “…to you who fear My name, The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings.” (Malachi 4:2) 

 “It shall be a tassel (Hebrew, tzitzit  ציצת) for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes…” (Numbers 15:39)

The aspect of the tallit, with it’s wings or extensions representing “prayer covering,” is crucial, as the one praying extends this “prayer covering” over individuals, and nations.

In speaking of the tallit, or four-cornered garment with fringe, the outer edge is called in Hebrew, “kanaf” or kanaph,” which is usually translated as “hem,” this term carries the more accurate meaning of “corner or wing.”

The fringes or tassels of a man’s robe, were symbolic of his authority. There is a lovely illustration of this in Ezekiel 16:6, in which God speaks of entering into covenant with Israel:

I spread my skirt over you and covered your nakedness: Yes I sware to you and entered into covenant with you; says the Lord God and you became mine.”

With His arms He will cover you, and under the corners of His tallit you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart.” (Psalm 91:4)

Jesus prayed for His beloved Jerusalem, even as He rode into Jerusalem on the city on the little donkey’s foal. As the people strewed their garments in His way, and they cried: Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord! Peace, in heaven, and glory in the highest!

Wrapped in His talit, He rode, wiping tears from his eyes. With one hand on the donkey’s mane, and one holding those fringes in His hand. And he said:

If you had known, even in this your day; the things which belong to your peace! Now they are hid from your eyes! (Luke 19:38f)

Again, this phrase skirt of him that is a Jew,” speaks of the “wing” of the tallit. This phrase “God is with you,” is similar to the concept of Immanuel, meaning “God with us.” It shows us that God will work powerfully through Yeshua haMashiach’s and the redeemed sons and daughters of Israel in the last days. The days will come when so great shall be the spiritual understanding concerning Messiah, that the very shadow of these passing by will produce healings, as we see in the days of the early Jewish apostles. (Acts 19:12)

Originally, the tallit may have appeared as an outer garment bearing the fringes commanded by God.  It probably resembled the abayah, the blanket worn by Bedouin to protect them from the elements, which has black stripes at the ends.

It was finer, however, and similar also to the pallium (rectangular cloak worn by Greek and Roman men).

The Hebrew word for corners of a garment or the bottom hem is kanaph, it is the same word used in the book of Job for the ends of the earth.

The requirement of fringes was and is to wear sacred fringes called tzizit / tsitsit which are tassles that hang down from the corners of their outer garments. This outer garment which was larger than the current prayer shawls and looked like a poncho with tzizit / tsitsit.

A poncho was similar to a sheet with a hole in the middle for the head. The front piece was tied behind the back, then the back was lapped over and tied in the front. This is the seamless garment in John 19:23.

Recent archaeological digs have found a number of these from biblical times. This garment served as a blanket as stated in Exodus 22:26 

After the Jewish People were exiled from Israel, their style of dress was influenced by their Gentile neighbors, and the tallit became a garment worn for prayer instead of a garment worn daily.

Under garment or robe was called a HALUK it was lighter weight.

Outer garment was the Tallit (prayer shawl) it was heavier weight.
 

Psalms 61:4  Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah

The Tallit (prayer shawl) as a ‘closet’ 

The tallit is prayer shawl which when used to cover the head also creates a personal isolated space for prayer shutting out the world around you. The name Tallit comes from the two Hebrew word TAL meaning tent and ITH meaning little.

So we have talith as a LITTLE TENT and it is this that Jesus was referring to when He said:

Matt 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

The Greek term PERIBOLAION, meaning “a covering,” carried with it the connotation of “Something thrown about one, such as a mantle or veil.”

By wrapping yourself in it, or by covering your head with it, you can create an individual tent for yourself to converse with God.

Greek word for closet is (tameion), which means “an inner chamber, or a secret room.”
 The closeting of oneself in the covering of the Tallit (prayer shawl) was a symbolic separation from the world around the Jewish man.

The tzitzit of the tallit katans of two Jewish men are worn outside, while the third man has tucked in his tzitzit.

Although you perhaps cannot see it, underneath their clothes is a poncho called the tallit katan which takes the form of a small poncho and is worn under the shirt, often over an undergarment so as not to actually touch the skin; and with the tzitzit coming out from beneath the shirt, Other ultra-Orthodox Jews also wear the tallit katan, and sometimes the tassels visibly dangle from under a regular button down shirt, sweater, and even a Tshirt.

Because Yeshua wore his tallit, the border or hem of Yeshua’s garment had a particular appearance to it, due to the way in which the tallit was folded. This caused the corner tassels of the fringe to hang down. Taking hold of the “skirt” of him that is a Jew, speaks of taking hold of this outer or extended “wing” of the garment, which holds such deep significance. This is because it speaks of prayer.

Yeshua haMashiach as our Messiah, was a man of prayer. He prayed with “all manner of prayer.” He spent entire nights in prayer. His life was characterized by what many today call “prophetic prayer.”

As He prayed He saw things prophetically before they actually happened. He did the things which God commanded Him to, as they were seen through the eyes of His spirit.

Messiah praying prior to ministry to the crowds of people.

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place and there prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

 Yeshua always prayed prior to praying for the sick. 
“And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12)

He prayed after healing the sick. “And when he had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when evening was come, He was alone.” (Matthew 14:23)

And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. Mark 6:46 Luke 22:45

These times of prayer refreshed Him. in the outstretched wings or extended talit, we see the concept of the extending of God’s authority, enfolding the believer, and the ministering of healing.

Those who understood it’s significance, and touched Him were made whole. The power of Messiah’s tallit, was in the authority of His divine person.

For us today, it’s in the shed blood of Yeshua, as the Lamb of God.

The word “salvation” speaks of healing for the whole man, body, soul and spirit. In Isaiah 53:4-5, we learn that Messiah took our sicknesses in His own body AND He bore our sins.

Lets continue living by the fringe of a wing and a prayer.

To Be Continued……..

 

Who Lights Up OUR Life?

Its that season again everywhere we look there are lights!Even in the nations in the southern hemisphere, where Christmas is in the summer season, there are still lights to celebrate the ONE,

 WHO WAS and IS and always will be, the light of the world. Jesus, whose Hebrew Name is Yeshua.

The birth of the Messiah over 2000 years ago is what we remember at this time of the year.

It is the celebration that heralded salvation for mankind, which was prophesied 700 years before inand fulfilled in 

Matthew 4:12-17; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:14-15)

There is another ‘Festival of Lights’, at this time in Israel’s Calendar; called by a Hebrew word, phonetically transliterated as both, Chanukah or Hanukkah.

The Hebrew word means ‘dedication’ and is therefore also called the Feast of Dedication.

Although Chanukah/Hanukkah is thought of by most as an exclusively Jewish holiday found in the Old Testament, in reality the only place it is mentioned is in the Gospel of John 10:22,23

‘At that time it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, it was winter, and Yeshua/Jesus was walking in the temple, on Solomon’s porch.’So it would seem the most famous person ever to celebrate the festival of Chanukkah was Jesus, the one who is the light of our lives.We all called to be the light of the world and not hide it under bushes or anything else for that matter!

so lets take a look at what Chanukkah is and how it involves a menorah!
In a nutshell, Hanukkah is historical and documents record that the first Chanukah/Hanukkah Was performed on the 25th of Kislev in 164 BC.

This feast commemorates the Jewish peoples freedom from Greek rule and the purification and rededication of God’s house, the Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BC.

This victory climaxed with the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 164BC Not surprisingly Israel’s national symbol on their parliament building the knesset and their National Seal is the seven branched menorah.

It was described in Exodus and stood in the Holy place and it’s not the star of David symbol, that is usually associated with the nation.Israel is called to be a light to the nations. Are we living a life full of light?Are we constantly filled and refilled with Holy oil, so we can stand in the Holy place in worship and then take the light to those around us?It’s our heritage and our national calling to live life as a holy menorah of the Lord.Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world’; and we are to let the light of His indwelling presence shine forth and then, He can draw all people to Himself Hebrews 1:9.

We must be filled up with the oil of His Holy Spirit and the fire of His will must burn brightly in every one of us.Olive oil symbolizes knowledge of Torah which provides spiritual illumination. We are to be the heavenly light in the world’s darkness.Whether you are Jewish or not, if you are born again you are grafted into the Olive tree of Israel you are a citizen and a part of Israel.   Ephesians 2:14, 15Whether you know it,

or believe it,

or not;

that’s what the Scriptures say.Jesus was Jewish, descended from the children of Israel. You cannot separate Him from His roots, any more than we can deny our own families heritage, or the Judaeo-Christian/Hebrew roots of our faith.Hanukkah is a time to appreciate all we have to be thankful for.We express our thanksgiving to God for protecting us and providing for our needs.Chanukah begins on the twenty-fifth day of the Jewish month of Kislev. The Jewish calendar is primarily based on the lunar cycle, and its dates fluctuate with respect to other calendar systems.Thus the first day of Chanukah can fall anywhere between November 28th and December 26th. this year it , begins at sundown on Tuesday, 12 December 2017. The Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights and the feast of dedication and It is referred to one time in Scripture in the Gospel of John 10:22,23Both Christmas and Chanukah are actually known as the “Festival of Lights.”  The focus of each holiday is about God showing His salvation and supernatural miracles that lasted eight days and continues to illuminate our lives even now.For believers, Christmas celebrates the miraculous virgin birth of Jesus/Yeshua, the Light of the World, who was born to save the world from their sins.

Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem to register during a Roman census, and the shepherds still had their flocks out by night (Lk.2:1-8). Shepherds would likely not have had their flocks out at night in December because it is too cold, which is an interesting point.

(food for thought!)It’s also unlikely that any ruler would compel people to travel many miles mostly on foot or riding animals, to register for a census when the likelihood of bad weather would have made such an effort self-defeating. Some scholars say it is possible that Jesus was born on one the appointed festival dates, likely in the fall around the time of Sukkot, and not in the winter, as His coming then and in the future are in fulfillment of the promises foreshadowed in the annual cycle of feasts of the Lord. (All 7 Feasts are discussed in earlier posts.)

 However, the history of Chanukah is very interesting because it celebrates two miracles:

Chanukah celebrates the miraculous salvation of Israel as a tiny group of Israelites liberated the Temple from the mighty army of a vast Greek empire 164 years before Messiah Jesus/Yeshua’s birth. The second miracle was God’s provision of Holy oil for the Temple Menorah.

If the Jews had been wiped out during the warfare, the Messiah would not have been born, which in itself is a great reason to celebrate.

This 2nd century BCE victory of a small, greatly outnumbered and out-armed army of Jews, known as the “Maccabees,” over the mighty Greek army that occupied the Holy Land. The rebellion was in response to the Greek attempt to force a Hellenistic Godless lifestyle on the Jewish inhabitants of Israel.

The Maccabean Revolt was a Jewish rebellion, lasting from 167 to 160 BC, led by the Maccabees against the Seleucid Empire and the Hellenistic influence on Jewish life.The name Maccabee may come from the Hebrew word for hammer, or for hitting. It is also an acrostic for Mi Kamocha Ba-Elim Hashem! (Who is like You among the mighty, O God!) In the Hebrew, Chanukah is pronounced with the letter chet. The chet’s “ch” sound is not enunciated like the “ch” in child; rather it’s a guttural, throaty sound—like the “ch” in Johann Bach—which does not have an English equivalent. The letter “H” is the closest, but it’s not really it. So while some people spell and pronounce it “Chanukah” and others settle for “Hanukkah,” they really are one and the same.Chanukah means “dedication” or “induction.” Following their victory over the Greeks, the Maccabees rededicated the Holy Temple and its altar, which had been desecrated and defiled by the pagan invaders.

The word Chanukah can also be divided into two: Chanu—they rested, and Kah—which has the numerical value of 25. On the twenty-fifth day of the Hebrew month of Kislev the Maccabees rested from their battle, and triumphantly marched into the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, ready to rededicate it.

The chanukkah menorah has 9 branches for lights the weekly Shabbat Sabbath menorah has 7 branches for lights. In addition to the eight main lights, the menorah has an extra helper candle called the “Shamash.” Since the Shamash does not count as one of the eight regular lights, your menorah should have the Shamash set apart in some way ― either placed higher than the other candles, or off to the side.On each of the eight days of Chanukah, the menorah is lit, a nine-branched candelabra, after nightfall (aside for Friday afternoon, when the candles are lit shortly before sunset). On the first night kindle one light plus the shamash (attendant or servant candle), on the second night kindle two lights plus the shamash, and so continue until the eighth night when all eight lights are kindled, plus the shamash. The menorah lights can be either candles, or oil and wicks.

The ninth candle is called the ‘shamash’, ‘servant’ or ‘attendant’ candle. It is used to light the other ones.This is significant as representing Jesus who as Servant and the Light of the world lights every other light.

Around 170 BC the Greeks under Antiochus the 4th Epiphanies, desecrated the temple

by sacrificing a pig at the altar. Idols were set up in its courts and it became in effect a pagan temple filled with degradation.Antiochus tried to eliminate Judaism, not so much by killing the Jews as by forbidding the practice of Judaism.. Reading Torah was forbidden, along with circumcision, honouring the Sabbath, and celebrating the seasons of the Lord. In 167 BC a priest by the name of Mattityahu Hasmonea started guerrilla warfare along with his sons and a few followers.As previously noted, his motto was from Exodus 15:11; Who is like you Lord among the gods? Mi camokha ba’elim Adona’y.

The initials of those words spell Maccabee which is the name that was later applied to Judas and his followers. Although spelt differently in Hebrew, their Hebrew word for hammer sounds like Maccabee. Therefore he was called the hammer, so the books of Maccabees history written in the apocrypha were about their successful wars. In 164 BC they took over the Temple.This was the first war fought over a principal, religious freedom, and was the first successful guerrilla war. And they drove out the invaders.

The Temple had been defiled and desecrated during the Greek rule but once the Maccabees recaptured it, they needed to repair cleanse and re-dedicate the Temple right away that is why it is called the Feast of Dedication.They removed the idols, cleansed its courts, repaired its chambers, restored its vessels, and went to rekindled its holy lampstand in preparation to rededicate it to God. The kindling of a seven-branched Menorah (candelabra) was an important component of the daily service in the Holy Temple.But a problem arose on that joyous day!

When the Maccabees liberated the Temple from the hands of the Greek invaders, they found only a small cruse of pure and undefiled olive oil fit for fueling the Menorah.

Dedication is an eight-day process that requires the use of sanctified oil for the menorah in the holy place, first room of the sanctuary. Tradition says that they could only find one day supply of oil, and it would take eight days to produce new pure oil. Rather than wait eight days to sanctify more, they began the temple sanctification process with a one-day supply. The Lord through a creative miracle made that one day supply last for eight days. For this reason and it is also called the Festival of lights.   

That gave the priests enough time to make more oil.
Historical documents record that the first Chanukah/Hanukkah Was performed on the 25th of Kislev in 164 BC.

This feast commemorates the Jewish peoples freedom from Greek rule and the purification and rededication of God’s house, the Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BC.This victory climaxed with the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 164BC.God has another sanctuary another Holy dwelling place He has created for His Presence. Each of us was created to be the dwelling place of God’s presence, the Holy sanctuary /Temple of his glory.

Man was created to be God’s temple but now the world is filled with the sanctuary /temples of desecration. Every life is made to be a sanctuary /temple filled with God’s presence but without God’s presence we become a sanctuary /temple desecrated, defiled, darkened, filled with idols, a sanctuary /temple created to be Holy but fallen from its true purpose.

We are to open the doors of our life and let God come in. We are to let him take out our idols, cleanse our impurities, restore our purpose, right at the heart, and fill our life with His presence. And when we rededicate and re-consecrate the sanctuary /temple to God, He will fill it with His Glory. Then, when we become the sanctuary /temple of God, life, our life becomes Chanukah/Hanukkah.

Ezek. 36:25–27; Jn. 10:22,23; 1Cor.3:16; 2 Cor. 6:16–7:1

The festival of lights commemorates the victory of God’s people over evil. There’s more to it, as it contains mystery. It’s not only a commemoration but a prophetic shadow.

It begins when an evil king set up an idol in the Holy place, causing the desecration of the temple, the abomination desolation.Messiah Jesus, speaks of an abomination desolation yet to come in the last days. So Chanukah contains a prophetic blueprint of that which will take place at the end of the age.

The account begins with the apostasy of God’s people. The people who know God and who were to keep His ways, even His ministers, turned away from God, and embraced the weight of the Godless and so it is now, the current spirit of the age.

And so it will be in the last days. There will be a great falling away, a great apostasy. The account goes on to document the rise of a world culture that seeks to merge all cultures into one and to compel everyone to abandon their faith. Any culture, Faith, people, or person, that stands in its way, it seeks to stamp out.

So it will be at the end of the age, a global culture, and the persecution of God’s people, a civilization that criminalizes the ways of God, abolishes the word of God, overturns the order of God, blasphemes the name of God, desecrated the sacred things of God and wars against the people of God, so it will be at the end days.Back then, even though most went along with the apostasy and the darkness; there was a remnant, who would not go along with it, who held strong and they became the resistance, the Maccabees. God anointed them and empowered them to overcome the darkness and to let in the light, so it is the Festival of lights.

We need to learn the Maccabee blueprint and follow its keys!

When we light the lights of the Menorah, during this weeks festival, this is how we overcome.

We fight the darkness by shining into it, the light of God; we stand with Him and will not be moved. We fight the fight by lighting up the darkness.

Dan. 11:32; Zech. 9:1314; Eph. 6:10–20; Rev. 12:11.
Jesus

Yeshua

is the Light that cannot be hidden.The Scriptures attest that Yeshua is the true Light (אוֹר אֱמֶת) that comes from eternity to give light and revelation for all mankind:

הָאוֹר הָאֲמִתִּי הַמֵּאִיר לְכָל־אָדָם
בָּא אֶל־הָעוֹלָם

ha’ohr · ha’amiti · ha’me’ir · lekhol · adam
ba · el · ha’olam

“[This is] the true light that shines to all men
who come into the world”
(John 1:9)

῏Ην τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον
ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον 

In the Gospel of John it is recorded that Yeshua said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (i.e., ᾽Εγώ εἰμι ἡ ὁδὸς καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια καὶ ἡ ζωή). The Greek word translated “truth” in this verse is aletheia (ἀλήθεια), a compound word formed from an alpha prefix (α-) meaning “not,” and lethei (λήθη), meaning “forgetfulness.” (In Greek mythology, the “waters of Lethe” induced a state of oblivion or forgetfulness.)

Truth is therefore a kind of “remembering” something forgotten, or a recollecting of what is essentially real.  Etymologically, the word aletheia suggests that truth is also “unforgettable” (i.e., not lethei), that is, it has its own inherent and irresistible “witness” to reality. People may lie to themselves, but ultimately the truth has the final word… “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). Greek scholars note that the word lethei itself is derived from the verb lanthano (λανθάνω), which means “to be hidden,” so the general idea is that a-letheia (i.e., truth) is non-concealment, non-hiddenness, or (put positively) revelation or disclosure.  Thus the word of Yeshua – His message, logos (λόγος), revelation, and presence – is both “unforgettable” and irrepressible.

Jesus/Yeshua is the Unforgettable One that has been manifest as the express Word of God (דְּבַר הָאֱלהִים).

Jesus/Yeshua is the Light of the world (אוֹר הָעוֹלָם) and the one who gives us the “light of life” (John 8:12). Though God’s message can be suppressed by evil and darkened thinking, the truth is regarded as self-evident and full of intuitive validation. (see Rom. 1:18-21).The Hebrew word for truth (i.e., emet: אֱמֶת) comes from a verb (aman) that means to “support” or “make firm.”  There are a number of derived nouns that connote the sense of reliability or assurance (e.g., pillars of support). The noun emunah (i.e, אֱמוּנָה, “faithfulness” or “trustworthiness”) comes from this root, as does the word for the “faithful ones” (אֱמוּנִים) who are “established” in God’s way (Psalm 12:1).

A play on words regarding truth occurs in the prophet Isaiah: אִם לא תַאֲמִינוּ כִּי לא תֵאָמֵנוּ / im lo ta’aminu, ki lo tei’amenu: “If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all” (Isa. 7:9; so Faith Establishes the Sign). Without trust in the LORD, there is no stability… Truth is something trustworthy, reliable, firm, certain or sure.  In colloquial English, for example, this idea is conveyed when we say, “He’s a true friend…”, indicating that the loyalty and love of the person is certain. The familiar word “amen” likewise comes from this root. Speaking the truth (dibbur emet) is considered foundational to moral life: “Speak the truth (דַּבְּרוּ אֱמֶת) to one another; render true and perfect justice in your gates” (Zech. 8:16).

Jesus/Yeshua repeatedly said, “Amen, Amen I say to you….” throughout His teaching ministry, to stress the reliability and certainty of God’s truth (Matt. 5:18, 26, etc.). Indeed,

Jesus/Yeshua is called “the Amen, the faithful and true witness” (Rev. 3:14).

The relationship between the Hebrew and the Greek ideas seems to be that the revelation of God – the aletheia – is reliable and strong. The source for all truth in the universe is found in the Person and character of the LORD God of Israel. The self-disclosure of the LORD is unforgettable – both in the factual and moral sense – as well as entirely trustworthy. Aletheia implies that truth is something that should never be forgotten. Hence we are regularly commanded and encouraged not to “forget” the LORD (Deut. 8:11, Psalm 103:2, etc.), to “remember” His covenants, to “keep” His ways, to “guard” His precepts, and so on.During this Chanukah Season, and always, may the LORD God of Israel help us walk in the unforgettable and irrepressible radiance of His glory.

May God help us shine with good works that glorify God’s Name (Matt. 5:16). “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’ (יְהִי אוֹר וַיְהִי־אוֹר), has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus/Yeshua the Messiah” (2 Cor. 4:6).
כִּי־עִמְּךָ מְקוֹר חַיִּים
בְּאוֹרְךָ נִרְאֶה־אוֹר

ki · im·me·kha · me·kor · cha·yim
be·or·kha · nir·eh · ohr

“For with You is the fountain of life;
in Your light do we see Light”
(Psalm 36:9)There seems to be some confusion surrounding the actual spelling of Chanukah. Part of the reason for this confusion may be due to the fact there is no exact English translation of the Hebrew word for Chanukah.

mmm received numerous emails requesting whether these different spellings might also be different holidays. To help clear up some of the confusion here are a number of the different spellings one might encounter Chanuka; Chanukah; Chanukkah; Channukah;  Hanukah; Hannukah; Hanukkah; Hanuka; Hanukka;  Hanaka; Haneka; Hanika; Khanukkah

While in the West, the most common spellings are “CHANUKAH” or “HANUKAH“, rest assured that they are all the same celebration.

Whether lighting the lights or not, Happy Hanukkah to every reader!More details can be found on last years posts at

https://www.minimannamoments.com/chanukah-or-hanukkah/

Hanukkah/Chanukah and Believers Today

Hanukkah/Chanukah and Believers Today