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RECOGNITION. THE MESSIANIC PROPHECY BIBLE PROJECT http://www.messianicbible.com HEAR O ISRAEL www.hearoisrael.org SHEEPFOLD GLEANINGS WRITTEN BY JULIE PARKER www.sheepfoldgleanings.com MESSIANIC ISRAEL ALLIANCE http://www.messianicisrael.com
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RECOGNITION THE MESSIANIC PROPHECY BIBLE PROJECT http://www.messianicbible.com HEAR O ISRAEL www.hearoisrael.org SHEEPFOLD GLEANINGS WRITTEN BY JULIE PARKER www.sheepfoldgleanings.com MESSIANIC ISRAEL ALLIANCE http://www.messianicisrael.com AZAMRA TORAH FOR OUR TIME – RABBI AVRAHAM GREENBAUM http://www.azamra.org
VAYAK’HEL ‘And he assembled” Torah: Exodus 35:1-38:20 Haftorah: Ezekiel 45:16-46:18, 1 Kings 7:13-26 B’ritChadashah: Hebrew 9:1-14 All references: The Scripture 1998+ unless otherwise noted
GATHERING And Mosheh assembled all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl, and said to them, “These are the Words which יהוה has commanded you to do: “Work is done for six days, but on the seventh day it shall be set-apart to you, a Sabbath of rest to יהוה. Anyone doing work on it is put to death. (Exodus 35:1-2) Rabbi AvrahamGreenbaum: According to our sages, Moses' gathering of all of the Community took place on the day following Yom Kippur, when he had secured atonement for the sin of the golden calf. It is significant that all of the laws of what constitutes forbidden MELACHAH, labor, on Shabbos are learned from the 39 archetypal forms of labor that were involved in the making of the Sanctuary on the six days of the week. It is only when we abstain from performing forbidden labor on Shabbos BECAUSE IT IS SHABBOS that performing those labors "for G-d" on the six weekdays can be said to be truly intentional and meritorious. The labors that are forbidden on Shabbos are called MELECHET MACHSHEVET, a labor that involves MACHSHAVAH -- i.e. it is intentional.
ONE PEOPLE The Hebrew reads; “Va‟yaqel Moshe et eydahB‟neiYisra‟el…” Literally, “And assembled Moshe the congregation of the Children of Yisra‟el…” The word “assembled”, is pronounced “yaqel” (yud-kuf-hey-lamed), a form of the word “qahal”, without the “yud” (kuf-hey-lamed). “Qahal” is commonly used for “community”. Another variant, “Qahelath”, or “Kehillah” or “Kehilat” is used when referring to a “religious assembly” or “congregation”. Another variation, “Qoheleth”, having the same meaning; is the name of a book of the Hebrew Bible, also known as Ecclesiastes. What the word “yaqel” is saying is that Moshe assembled all of the Children of Yisra’el and they became “one Qahal”, one community of people. In Hebrew, it’s not just that a group of people came together for some reason. It points to the fact that people came together, united in a common belief and bonded in such a way as to become “one people”. This collective group, who would bring their offerings for the Tabernacle and then build it together, would truly become “Am Echad” (One People) through this work. This is so important in that the very “Shechinah” (or the Divine Presence of יהוה) is revealed in His Sanctuary.
EKKLESIA The "assembly of Israel" is a common Bible phrase denoting all Israel. In its noun form, the word qahaltypically passes into the Greek LXX version of the Bible as the Greek word ekklesia. Ekklesiais a common term throughout the Greek Old Testament Scriptures. It is generally used to speak of the assembled worshippers in the Temple or the whole assembly of Israel. In the New Testament, English translators translate it with the theologically charged term "church." The "church" translation of ekklesiahas misled us. Because of the double standard in translation, it appears to most readers that "the church" is an exclusive New Testament term, a phenomena disconnected with the Old Testament as the word never appears before the book of Matthew. But in reality, the word church does not appear in the Bible at all. By translating ekklesiaas "church," our English Bibles have made us think that "the church" is a completely new and different institution.
SYNAGOGUE The word translated in Exodus 35:1 as "congregation" is the Hebrew word eidah(עדה). The same word is typically translated into the Greek LXX as the word sunagogay, from which we derive the word synagogue. In the Gospels and epistles, ekklesiaseems to refer to an assembly of people, while sunagogayrefers to the place of Sabbath assembly. For example, we know that the believers refer to themselves as the ekklesia, but in 1 Corinthians 11:16, Paul refers to all the synagogues of Jewery (which includes believers and nonbelievers) with the same word. The early meeting places of the believers were synagogues. In James 2:2, the text says, "If a man comes into your assembly (sunagogay)..." The English translators of the New American Standard chose to translate sunogogayin this instance as "assembly" rather than "synagogue." Translators did not want to infer that believers were meeting in synagogues. In reality, they were, and they early believers called their places of assembly synagogues.
SABBATH …“Work is done for six days, but on the seventh day it shall be set-apart to you, a Sabbath of rest to יהוה. Anyone doing work on it is put to death. (Exodus 35:2) The Sabbath is affectionately called the “wedding ring” and is a test to see if the bride will be a faithful bride, to rest during this appointed time with her Bridegroom. Thus the Sabbath begins the teaching of the mishkan, the Bridal chamber. Without the Sabbath, there is no Bridal Chamber. The Sabbath is a prophetic day ushering the bride to her wedding (Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur). The Sabbath also represents the last feast day after the seven day Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot (the wedding reception) called the Eighth Day/SheminiAtzeret. SheminiAtzeret is likened to the Bridegroom asking the Bride to linger one extra day with Him after all the wedding guests have returned home. That extra day is as a thousand years representing eternity, beyond the 7000th year – back to The Garden(Hebrews 3:1-4:16).
KINDLE STRIFE “Do not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.” (Exodus 35:3) The Hebrew reads “La t‟ba‟arooeshb‟chalmoshav „techembe‟ayom ha Shabbat”. Most read this as, “Do not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day”. The word for “kindle” is “ba‟ar”. Here, it is preceded by “lamed-aleph” or “La” which means “do not” or “NO!” By adding the “vav” or “oo” on the end, referring to “you”, we read “Do not kindle you…” The root word here “ba‟ar” also translates as “to burn”, as in fire or wrath or to “be stupid” or “be barbaric”. “Aleph-shin”, spelling “esh” or “ish” also has a number of meanings and connotations, such as; “fire”, “anger”, “wrath”, “strife” and “destruction” as well as “man”. The DHV, reads Exodus 35:1-3, …Do not kindle strife in any of your colonies on the Sabbath day.” Instead of “kindle”, use “be stupid” and for “strife”, you can use“anger”, “wrath” or “destruction”. Example: “Don‟t be stupid with anger in your colonies on Shabbat.” Remember, “Love יהוה” and “Love your Neighbour” as yourself; or at least, love your neighbour enough to let him have Shabbat Shalom and set the day apart to Elohim as He commanded.
“INSTEAD OF” TRANSLATION This is not meant to be an “instead of” translation. When studying Torah, we are to consider the Hebrew words in all of their aspects. So we don’t kindle a real fire on Shabbat either. But, what does that mean? What if I’m cold? Is my family to freeze? Or, be without light? No. If you follow that line of reasoning, how can Shabbat be a delight? All of the words and meanings associated with “kindle” or “ba‟ar” are associated with “removing” or “consuming” or “destruction” by fire. The word means to “start” or “create” a fire for those purposes. We must prepare in advance by heating our homes and give light throughout your dwelling, by having certain things already kindled. We light the Shabbat candles, you can light others from these. If you heat or cook by a literal fire, have it already started and fuel to continue the fire at the ready. What about light switches and thermostats? The phrase “in any of your dwellings”, is “b‟chalmoshav „techem” literally translates as “in your colonies” or “in your cities”. This is not about one’s tent but the whole community.
KINDLE: Fire, Wrath, Compassion The Scriptural phrase “kindle a fire” is used 5 times speaking of יהוה specifically bringing destruction; as in Jeremiah 17:27 “But if you do not obey Me to set apart the Sabbath day, and not to bear a burden when entering the gates of Yerushalayim on the Sabbath day, then I shall kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall consume the palaces of Yerushalayim, and not be quenched.” You can also look at Jeremiah 21:14, 49:27, 50:32 and Amos 1:14. 18 times יהוה speaks of kindling His wrath against His enemies, as well as the House of Jacob. For lack of wood, the fire goes out. And without a slanderer, strife ceases. As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. (Proverbs 26:20-21) יהוה also speaks of “kindling compassion” in “How could I give you up, Ephrayim? How could I hand you over, Yisra’ĕl? How could I make you like Aḏmah? How could I set you like Tseḇoyim? My heart turns within Me, all My compassion is kindled. “I shall not let the heat of My wrath burn, I shall not turn to destroy Ephrayim. For I am Ěl, and not man, the Set-apart One in your midst, and I shall not come in enmity. (Hosea 11:8-9)
KINDLED This term, “kindling” and the phrase “kindling a fire” most often applies to the welling up of emotions and letting those emotions out in a very public way. יהושע said, in“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! “But I have an immersion to be immersed with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! “Do you think that I came to give peace on earth? I say to you, no, but rather division. “For from now on five in one house shall be divided, three against two, and two against three – father shall be divided against son, and son against father, mother against daughter, and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:49-53) Just doing a word search of “kindled” in the Strong’s concordance; we find it appears in Scripture 65 times. And, only two of these are about “kindling a real fire”. The rest, save one, are about “kindled anger” or “destruction in wrath”.
THE OFFERINGS ‘Take from among you a contribution to יהוה. Everyone whose heart so moves him, let him bring it as a contribution to יהוה: …” And all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl withdrew from the presence of Mosheh. And everyone whose heart lifted him up and everyone whose spirit moved him came, and they brought the contribution to יהוה for the work of the Tent of Meeting, and for all its service, and for the set-apart garments. (Exodus 35:5-21) The Israelites in Exodus 35 gave from the abundance of what יהוה had already given them;it was never theirs to begin with; it was a gift. The offerings freely given from the heart showed up what type of heart the people had; that is why יהוה asked that only “free will” offerings be accepted; they were offerings that had no conditions attached. Note: The phrase “Everyone whose heart so moves him…” in verse 5, appears five times in our parsha.
HEART LIFTED Verse 21: The beginning of this verse reads in Hebrew, “V‟bochal‟ eshasherna‟sahlevahv‟chalashernadabahruachaatahha‟beyah et terumah YHVH…” Or, in English, And everyone whose heart lifted him up and everyone whose spirit moved him came, and they brought the contribution to יהוה … (Exodus 35:21) “levah” for “heart”. “Lev” is the root word meaning “heart”. It’s where the name “Levi” comes from. The heart is the seat of emotions and conscience in Hebrew thought. The word “levah” literally means the “inner man”. “lifted up” is “na‟sah” which has many wonderful variations on this thought of “lifting up”, such as; “to take hold of”, “to raise one‟s spirit”, “to be exalted” and most notably “to lift up one‟s countenance” or “face”. As we declare the Aharonic blessing on our congregation each week, we pray that “יהוה lift up His Countenance upon you, and give you Shalom.” So, this giving of the contribution is to be as the “inner man lifts up his face to יהוה”.
LEADERS REBUKED And the rulers brought shoham stones, and the stones to be set in the shoulder garment and in the breastplate, (Exodus 35:27) Rashi cites R'Nassan (BamidbarRabbah 12:16), who notes [in the verse above] that the word "leaders" [rulers] is spelled in Hebrew without the two yuds that it would normally have. This defective spelling of their title is an implied rebuke of the leaders for not bringing their gifts until everything else had been contributed. Their motive was good. They assumed that the general contributions would not be enough, so they waited to see what would be lacking, with the intention of giving everything that would still be needed, but the national response was so generous that there was almost nothing left for the leaders to give. Because they were "lazy" in not coming immediately, the Torah spells their title defectively. Seeing that they had been remiss in this instance, the leaders did not repeat their mistake when the dedication of the Tabernacle was celebrated. Then they brought their own generous offerings immediately (Numbers ch. 7) [The Chumash pg. 519]. (Exodus 16:22) נשׂיאיvsוהנשׂאם
WHOSE SPIRIT MOVED HIM “And whose spirit moved him” or “v‟chalashernadabahruachaatah”. The key here is “nadabah” which is from the root “nadab” which means to “impel oneself to freely give” or literally “to spontaneously give oneself freely”. The spirit within us impels us to give ourselves to יהוה freely, without hesitation and without limits. It’s no coincidence that one of the sons of Aharon who offered “strange fire” and was consumed was named Nadab. His spontaneity was actually of himself and against the conditions of worship set forth by יהוה. As our heart, our inner man is “lifted up” and we give freely of ourselves to יהוה, so is the “contribution”, the “terumah” “elevated” or “lifted up”. And, that giving of ourselves is simply giving the very talents and gifting’s that יהוה has given us to help build His Dwelling Place. All of the Children of Israel played a part in the building of the Dwelling Place of יהוה and He did dwell in their midst because of it.
PEOPLE RESTRAINED The children of Yisra’ĕl brought a voluntary offering to יהוה, all the men and women whose hearts moved them to bring all kinds of work which יהוה, by the hand of Mosheh, had commanded to be done. (Exodus 35:29) Sadly, only a set apart people came that acknowledged their redemption and the provisions of Yahweh. The true bride of Yeshua will bring forth her offerings to the Bridegroom and she will come from within the body of believers. ...But they still brought to him voluntary offerings every morning, so all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the set-apart place came, each from the work he was doing, and they spoke to Mosheh, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which יהוה commanded us to do.” Then Mosheh commanded and they sent this word throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the contribution of the set-apart place.” And the people were withheld from bringing, (Exodus 36:3-6) A giving heart is infectious.
BEZALEL And Moses said to the children of Israel, "See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship. (Exodus 35:30-33) • Bezalel – In the shadow of El (Elohim) • Uri – My light • Hur – Whiten (Etymological Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew) • Judah – praise Bezalel’s name which means “in the shadow of El”, is a description of one who is covered by the shadow of the Almighty. Throughout the Scriptures, living in the shadow of Elohim is the best place to be.
HIS SHADOW IS HIS SPIRIT. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, (Psalms 17:8) ..a Michtam of David When He Fled from Saul into the Cave. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. (Psalms 57:1) Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. (Psalms 63:7) He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. (Psalms 91:1-4)
BIRD IMAGERY Our safety is under the shadow of His wings….covered by His feathers. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2) As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings, (Deuteronomy 32:11) The hovering is done by the Spirit. In one of the most well known stories of the Scriptures, Miriam/Mary is overshadowed by the Spirit of the Almighty: And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35) Just as Bezalel, Miriam was building a tabernacle for יהושע to dwell for the next nine months.
PICTURE OF THE MESSIAH That fact alone should alert us to the possibility that he is a shadow of the Messiah. The Messiah came to build his assembly…His body. Bezalel built the tabernacle, which we have learned is a picture of the body of the Messiah. In prior commentaries we have seen that the completed body/bride appears in Revelation 21 as the New Jerusalem. יהושע alludes to that body in the book of John: Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said. (John 2:19-22) If one of the things he is alluding to is the body of believers, then He is saying that within three days….within three thousand years He will repair that sanctuary…His body made up of His people, His bride. Verse 21 verifies that He is speaking of His body.
SPIRIT OF יהוה Exodus 35:31 tells us that יהוה filled Bezalel with the Spirit of Elohim, and in Isaiah we see a similar filling of the Spirit upon Messiah: There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 11:1-2) Both Messiah and Bezalel brought together the spiritual and physical worlds. The presence of the Spirit is what endowed Bezalel with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and all manner of workmanship
WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE Without the one you cannot function in the fullness, example: Knowledge was pictured as water. The water was poured into a glass, which was understanding. First a little was poured in, then a little more. We are that glass and we take in the knowledge as we can. Then the water-filled glass was handed off to a needy person. That is wisdom….using what’s in the glass for its intended use. Now part of the demonstration included more water (knowledge) being poured into the glass than what it could handle. The water spilled over the sides and made a big mess. That’s what happens when all we do is take in knowledge. Taking in knowledge should be more than filling your brain. It needs to be acted on, or we won’t be able to handle it. Torah knowledge is like building materials. If it’s only kept up in our brains, it’s only an imaginary structure. Understanding is the ability to see the purpose and meaning beyond the Torah knowledge that we have. Wisdom puts knowledge and understanding to work with the proper heart attitude and exactly according to the Master’s Plan.
KNOWLEDGE Hosea 4:6 - My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Malachi 2:7 - "For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. - We are the priesthood and it is our job to have knowledge and to teach Torah. Habakkuk 2:14 - For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea. - A prophetic view of the Messianic age and the abundance of knowledge 2 Peter 3:18 - but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
UNDERSTANDING Proverbs 15:21 - Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly. Proverbs 8:1- Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? - Understanding seen as the teaching voice 1 Kings 3:9 - Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?“ - Understanding is what Solomon asked for (he too built a dwelling for Elohim) 1 Chronicles 12:32 - of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command; Psalms 111:10 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.
WISDOM Deuteronomy 4:5-6 - "Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' Psalms 37:30 - The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice. Proverbs 4:11 - I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. Proverbs 9:10 - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. - The fear of יהוה leads to wisdom and knowing Yeshua is understanding. Knowing about Yeshua is only empty knowledge. It’s water that will spill out of the glass.
WISDOM con’t 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 - For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. - Messiah crucified is the wisdom of יהוה. Bezalel, being filled with wisdom, had an understanding of this when he built the tabernacle. James 3:13 - Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. - Wisdom expresses itself in action. Many years later, יהוה would give to Hiram these same gifts that would enable him to build the temple during the reign of Solomon: Now King Solomon sent and brought Huram from Tyre. He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a bronze worker; he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill in working with all kinds of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and did all his work. (1 Kings 7:13-14)
THE TABERNACLE It took wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to build the tabernacle and the temple…the earthly dwellings for the Almighty. Why? Because we know that the tabernacle was a picture of יהושע – both the head and the body of Messiah…and He is the personification of those characteristics. but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15) For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:1-3)
WORKMANSHIP Bezalel was also filled with all manner of workmanship. Let’s take another look at those verses: .. He has filled him with the Spirit of God, .. and all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of artistic workmanship. (Exodus 35:31-33) The word “workmanship” may have triggered familiar verses in Ephesians: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10) What Bezalel was building was a tabernacle symbolic of the head and the body of Messiah which would house the Spirit of יהוה.
INDIVIDUAL TABERNACLES We too, are individual tabernacles, building on our foundation: Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. (1 Corinthians 3:12-13) Not only are we individual tabernacles, but we are also being built into one united spiritual household (picture of the Tabernacle) and this is pictured in the following verses: you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHIEF CORNERSTONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS, AND HE WHO BELIEVES ON HIM WILL BY NO MEANS BE PUT TO SHAME." Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,“ (1 Peter 2:5-7)
PROPHETIC PICTURE Bezalel is a prophetic picture of the Messiah who, in the end, is going to build the heavenly tabernacle as pictured in Revelation: Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (Revelation 21:2-3) Of course this is the ultimate desire of the Almighty…that He might once again dwell among His people….that Messiah may live with His purified bride.
BUILD Taking a deeper look with Brad Scott on related Hebrew words we start tying together the concepts of house, tabernacle, and the bride/body of Messiah. These are all related Hebrew words with the common root of build (בּנה): Son – One who continues the family line. (The idea of building a house with sons can be seen in Genesis 30.3). Rebuild/Restore/Builder Plan/Pattern - A model or pattern for building something. Intelligence : The skill of the mind and hands to build. Structure/building - The building of a family or a structure for housing the family. Our Creator uses things that are familiar to us to help us understand spiritual concepts. In Hebrew, to build is literally to take a pattern/plan and make something of it. The pattern/plan became physical and “dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Elohim is the builder and His Son becomes the building. Elohim’s pattern/plan is His Word and the Son becomes the manifestation of the plan…the building.
JUDGEMENT AND PRAISE “And He has put in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Oholiaḇ son of Aḥisamaḵ, of the tribe of Dan. “He has filled them with skill to do all work of the engraver and the designer and embroiderer, in blue and in purple, in scarlet material, and in fine linen, and a weaver, doing any work, and makers of designs. (Exodus 35:34-35) Bezalel (in the shadow of El) and Aholiav (the Father’s Tent) were the builders set up to do the work of the tabernacle. We know that Bezalel is from the tribe of Judah (praise) and Aholiav is from Dan (judgment). Therefore it is both judgment and praise that would build the tabernacle. Verse 34 says יהוה had put it in their hearts to “teach”. Not only would they see the spiritual implications (through the understanding given to them) of each item to be made, but they would teach this knowledge to those who had hearts to help. One more thing on verse 35. The Hebrew translated as “engraver” is more often translated as “carpenter”. יהושע was the son of a carpenter, plus a carpenter is one who “builds a house.”
153 ShimʽonKĕpha went up and dragged the net to land, filled with one hundred and fifty-three big fishes. And though there were so many, the net was not broken.(John 21:11) The study of gematria gives us the following answers to why 153 fish: Bezaleel = 153 The sons of Elohim (John 1:12) = 153 What does it all mean? Bezaleel (153) is the builder of the house. The house is a picture of the body or the “sons of Elohim” (153). יהושע tells His disciples that they will be “fishers of men” (153).
CALEB Bezalel is a pretty significant person in the Bible, even though he doesn’t attract a lot of attention. From 1 Chronicles we can get the family tree of Bezalel. And Azuḇah died, and Kalĕḇ took Ephrath as his wife, who bore him Ḥur. And Ḥur brought forth Uri, and Uri brought forth Betsal’ĕl. (1 Chronicles 2:19-20) Bezalel’s great grandfather was Caleb, one of the spies who came back with a positive report concerning the Land of Israel. Because of his faithfulness, he was allowed to go into the Promised Land without dying in the wilderness. He and his entire household would be included in this blessing: except Kalĕḇ son of Yephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and his children I give the land on which he walked, because he followed יהוה completely.’ (Deuteronomy 1:36) That means Bezalel survived the 40 years in the wilderness! He and his family were later given Hebron in the Promised Land!
THE ARK And Betsal’ĕl made the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, and a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. And he overlaid it with clean gold inside and outside, and made a moulding of gold all around it. (Exodus 37:1-2) The first be made is the Ark. It was made of shittah-tree wood, which was known to the Egyptians as the Tree of Life. It was an important plant in their traditional medicine cabinet. The Ark was the most renown item in the Tabernacle, its heart. Some midrashimsuggest there were two arks. “At that time יהוה said to me, ‘Hew for yourself two tablets of stone .. And .. make yourself an ark of wood, .. I write on the tablets .. And you shall put them in the ark.’ “So I made an ark ..“And He wrote on the tablets .. and I turned and came down from the mountain, and put the tablets in the ark which I had made. .. (Deuteronomy 10:1-5) The first may have been temporary. The Ark became "lost" after the destruction of Solomon's Temple by Babylonian invaders. It is rumoured to be hidden in a number of places including: under the Temple Mount (most likely), Mt. Nebo, Africa, and Europe.
TABLE And he made the table of acacia wood, ..And he overlaid it with clean gold, and made a moulding of gold all around it. (Exodus 37:10-11) The Table for the Showbread represents יהושע in that the wood component is a figure of His humanity and the gold speaks of His deity. The Table reminds us of our fellowship with our High Priest around the New Covenant Communion table (1 Cor. 10:21). Around the top of the Table of Showbread was a border one handbreadth high (Ex. 25:25). It enclosed the twelve loaves set before יהוה on the Table. The twelve loaves represent the twelve tribes of Israel, and the high border ["something enclosing" (Strongs #4526)] points to יהוה being a shield and protection for His people (Isaiah 49:15-16). The Showbread (Lev. 24:5-9), was holy bread and were available only to the priests once they were replaced by fresh loaves. יהושע is the Bread from heaven that all believers, the "royal priesthood" of the New Covenant, may draw life and strength from today. Hence, both Manna [heaven sent] and Showbread [refined and without lumps or impurity] are types of Messiah.
MENORAH And he made the lampstand of clean gold. He made the lampstand of beaten work, its base, and its shaft, its cups, its ornamental knobs, and its blossoms were from it. (Exodus 37:17) We are aware that the Lampstand (Menorah) is not really a candle stick hoder, as the KJV states. It was fashioned from pure gold, which typifies Yeshua in His complete and holy deity, the "...true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:10).The Lampstand provided the light for the Holy Place. We are not given the dimensions of the Lampstand but we do know its weight was one talent, or about ninety pounds of gold and it was somehow hammered out of one large ingot. The Lampstand is also seen to represent Yeshua, the Stem, and His followers, the six [number of imperfect man] branches, which are entirely dependent upon Him for life and fruit. "I am the vine, ye are the branches" (John 15:5).
KNOPS FLOWERS AND BOWLS Each branch had three sets of knops, flowers, and bowls. The central stem had four sets. These knops (buds), flowers (blossoms), and bowls (almonds) represent continual fruitfulness, and the three stages of spiritual growth also seen in the three parts of Tabernacle itself: (1) the Courtyard--salvation through יהושע /regeneration and kingdom; (2) Holy Place--sanctification through the Spirit/fruit and power; (3) Most Holy Place--revelation of Abba's love/intimacy and glory.
THE ALTAR OF INCENSE And he made the incense altar of acacia wood, .. And he overlaid it with clean gold, .. And he made a moulding for it of gold all around it. (Exodus 37:25-26) The Brazen Altar foreshadowed Messiah at Calvary as the Lamb of God. The Altar of Incense was positioned directly to the front of the Mercy Seat, but was just outside the thick veil. The Altar of Incense was where the priest offered sweet incense, representing prayers of love and devotion coming from sincere hearts (Rev. 8:3-5), on burning coals. This altar typifies יהושע as our High Priest interceding before the Throne of Grace for all believers today: "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25). Wood speaks of the Messiah's humanity and gold of His divinity. He is Elohim incarnate, cloaked in human flesh! The Altar of Incense had four horns, upward extensions of the top corners. Horns represent power (2 Chron. 18:10; Hab. 3:4). Hence, horns on the Altar of Incense symbolized the power of praise and intercession. His intercession before the Throne of Grace sustains us yet today.
ANOINTING OIL And he made the set-apart anointing oil and the clean incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the perfumer. (Exodus 37:29) Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. The Tabernacle's holy anointing (olive) oil was combined with four principles spices (Ex. 30:22-25). The spices were symbolic. myrrh, an aroma Esther bathed in for six months. It symbolizes purification (Esth. 2:12; Song of Solomon 1:13). Another example is cassia. It represents humility and dying to self (Ps. 45:8). Frankincense symbolizes intercession (Isa. 53:5; Heb. 3:24). Henna, which comes from a shrub with small, but very fragrant flowers, speaks of repentance (Ps. 51:17). Spices are also very aromatic. We can safely assume the Almighty loves sweet-smelling fragrances since words like perfume and fragrance appear 76 times in Scripture.
BRAZEN ALTAR And he made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, ..And he made its horns on its four corners, the horns were of it. And he overlaid it with bronze. (Exodus 38:1-2) All five of the Levitical sacrifices were made at this altar. This altar foreshadowed the cross of Calvary. It was a place of death, the way of salvation, sanctification, and peace with יהוה. The person coming with the sacrificial animal to the Brazen Altar and the priest, would lay his hands upon the animals head, thereby transferring his guilt and sin to the beast. Then the priest would slaughter the sacrifice, sprinkle its blood about the altar, and burn the carcass. The blood of an innocent sacrifice was/is the only effectual agent of atonement and spiritual cleansing.
BASIN OF BRONZE And he made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who did service at the door of the Tent of Meeting. (Exodus 38:8) The truly pious holy women voluntarily gave the most valued possessions they owned. The mirrors were polished brass oval plates, common in Egypt from an early date. They assembled, or literally "came by troops," at the entrance to the "tent of meeting" once it had been functioning according to the law of Moses (Ex. 38:7). We read of Hannah doing the same thing in 1 Samuel 1:9-12. These sincere women, true seekers, made the most of their limited opportunities, and their faith and godliness has been rewarded with the special mention of them in יהוה 's eternal Torah! These women are an example of personal sacrifice for us, and a reminder for those who have been given many opportunities and much enablement. Believers today, remain strong, and under His covering by .. the washing of rebirth, and renewal by the Set-apart Spirit, which He poured out on us richly through יהושע Messiah our Saviour, (Titus 3:5-6) and then daily renewing our minds in the Word of Elohim.
COURTYARD And he made the courtyard: for the south side the screens of the courtyard were of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long, (Exodus 38:9) The courtyard hangings comprised a spotless white wall surrounding the Tabernacle, and represented the line between faith and unbelief, righteousness and unrighteousness. The barrier was not made of stone or wood, but of white, fine twined linen, which spoke of righteousness, and was a witness to the holiness of the One Whose presence abode within. The hangings formed a barrier to everyone who would attempt to enter except those who יהוה had ordered and sanctified. At the same time, the white wall was a shield and defence for all within, who served and came to Him by sacrifice.