SHIR HASHIRIM – THE VOICE OF THE BRIDEGROOM PART 3

“And now, children, listen to me (Torah); praiseworthy are those who heed my ways. Harken unto discipline and grow wise and do not reject wisdom (Torah). Praiseworthy is the person who listens to me (Torah), to hasten to my (Torah) doors every day, to guard the doorposts of my (Torah) entrances. For one who finds me (Torah) has found life and he has elicited favor from HaShem. But one who sins against me (Torah) despoils his soul; all who hate me (Torah) love death.” Proverbs 8:32-36

We are currently living in what many would agree would be the most tumultuous and trouble consumed times any of us have had to endure! I do not know anyone who is having a good time right now! It truly is a time of trouble and pain, so it is fitting we should examine the next part in the Shir HaShirim series of Op’s especially in light of this season of Pesach!

In my opinion, the most difficult challenge we each have to face today is keeping ourselves encouraged and holding onto HaShem! Trying not to become overwhelmed and overcome by the circumstances we each are dealing with, whether they are medical issues, financial issues or just living in this world issues!

Speaking just for myself, I find I can encourage myself just by a quick glance at something from HaShem’s Torah! Just a simple, single word, can suddenly whet my desire to want to search and learn more! I love the quote from the Perkei Avos (Sayings of our Fathers) 7.71 which says “Therefore, a person who seeks to explore the true depths of the Torah finds himself on road that has no end. It is thus written, ‘Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea'” quoting Job 11:9. The Perkei Avos goes on and in 4.16 says “The world is like a vestibule before the world-to-come; prepare yourself in the vestibule, that you may enter into the Banquet Hall.”

I firmly believe HaShem is saying today that He knows our current exile in the wilderness, while it is very tough and full of pain, misery and trouble, it is necessary, but that to understand, it isn’t for too much longer, that His rescuing and redemption of His people is at hand! And as such, know that the current state we each are in, is NOT forever, just hang on to HaShem a little bit longer! His Mighty Right Arm is coming!!! Baruch HaShem!!

This is another reason why the Book of Shir HaShirim (Song of Solomon) is one of my absolute favorite! The detail and the relationship which is annotated between HaShem and Israel is so applicable for us today! If you need to refresh your memory, I encourage you to read parts one and two of these Op’s! Chapter three is even more expressive, which you will soon find out!

As a review, the whole book of Shir HaShirim makes constant references to HaShem’s Temple in Jerusalem and to the Temple Services! The same with the Apostolic Writings, which constantly reference and use Temple language but unfortunately Christendom has tossed out the Torah and the Temple of HaShem and thus cannot see it and has by default ended up fashioning doctrine diametrically opposed to and replacing HaShem’s eternal, unchanging doctrine.

For example, what was the essential daily service in the Temple of HaShem? Per Babmidbar (Numbers) 28 it is the daily Tamid (Eternal) offerings, which consisted of two unblemished male lambs in their first year, as an Olah (Burnt) offerings, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. These korbonot (Offerings) in the Temple of HaShem are NOT sacrifices! Sacrifices denotes slaughtering the animals to appease a god! These are korbonot, which in Hebrew means ‘To draw near to HaShem!’ We are drawing near to HaShem via the korbonot!

These are communal korbonot on behalf of all Israel, who would give a half shekel once a year to pay for all the korbonot! Were these lambs for sin? Nope! They are Olah korbonot thus the whole lamb is consumed in the fire on the Mizbe’ach (Altar) to HaShem! What’s the purpose of these Tamid korbonot? Per the Book of the Mitzvot #401, “So that we should be awakened through the twice daily performance of this action and should direct the entirety of our hearts and all of our thoughts, to attach ourselves to HaShem, blessed is He!”

Check this out from the Kehati Mishnah in describing the steps to part of the morning services and see the eschatological theme in it!! Tamid 1.4 says “The one (Kohen/Priest) chosen to pick up from the altar, he would pick up the altar. And they (The other Kohanim waiting to be assigned their duties for that day) would say to him, ‘Beware, lest you touch the utensil before you wash your hands and feet from the basin!’ And behold the shovel is placed on the corner, between the ramp and the altar, on the west side of the ramp! No man entered with him, and there was no candle in his hand; rather, he would walk by the light of the pile (The ashes burning on the altar from the previous days korbonot). THEY DID NOT SEE HIM, NOR DID THEY HEAR HIS VOICE, UNTIL THEY HEARD THE SOUND OF THE WOOD, that Ben Katin made as a mukni (Machine to draw up water from the basin), and they would say – ‘THE TIME HAS COME!’ or ‘HE HAS ARRIVED!’ He washed his hands and feet from the basin, took the silver shovel, and went up to the top of the altar, and pushed aside the coals this way and that way. He shoveled out from the burnt up inner ones, and went down. He reached the floor, turned his face to the north, walked alongside the east of the ramp about ten amot (Cubits). He piled up the coals on the floor, three tefahim (A measure of length, about nine cm each) away from the ramp, in the place where they put the bird crops, and the ashes of the inner altar and of the menorah.” In my opinion, this can be applied to us, today, waiting for the arrival of Mashiach! They did not see him or did they hear his voice, UNTIL they heard the sound of the machine drawing up the water from the basin, then they knew the time had come and he had arrived! I could keep going but for the sake of time, move on.

There is SO much for us to learn about HaShem’s House, His Throne on earth! It truly feels like standing at the bottom of Niagara Falls and trying to drink a cup of water there is so much information! Baruch HaShem He understands this and is awakening His people who have been caught up in these systems of religion and realizing just about everything being or have been taught is in fact a very destructive lie with no truth in it! Learning about His Temple reveals the lies and the deceptions! Baruch HaShem!

Keep this in mind! But before we jump into chapter three, always remember the following eternal, unchanging characteristics of HaShem:

• HaShem never changes per Num 23:19/Mal 3:6/Hebrews 13:8/James 1:17
• His Word is firmly established per Psalm 119:89
• He reveals the end out of the beginning per Is 46:10
• He does nothing without first revealing it to His prophets per Amos 3:7
• He says there is nothing new under the sun per Ecclesiastes 1:9
• He says His Torah is the ONLY truth there is per Psalms 119:142
• He says His Torah is a tree of life and eternal per Proverbs 3:18-19 and Psalm 119:160
• He says His Torah is perfect and restores the soul per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah makes the simple one wise per Psalm 19:7
• He says His Torah Is freedom and liberty per Psalm 119:45 and James 1:25
• He says His Torah is the only good doctrine there is Proverbs 4:2
• He says His Torah will add length of days and years of life and peace per Proverbs 3:2
• He says all of the ways of His Torah are ways of pleasantness and peace per Proverbs 3:17
• He says His Torah is for our good and well-being per Deuteronomy 6:24
• He says His Torah is health for our lives per Proverbs 3:8
• He says His Torah is life to our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck per Prov 3:22
• He says His Torah is better than pearls and all desires cannot compare to it per Prov 8:11
• He says those who walk with His Torah are praiseworthy per Psalms 119:1
• He says observing His Torah is how we purify our path per Psalms 119:9
• He says His Torah is better than thousands in gold and silver per Psalms 119:72
• He says His Torah brings abundant peace to those who love Him and His Torah per Psalms 119:165
• He says there is one Torah for all per Exodus 12:49/Leviticus 24:22
• He says those who hate His Torah love death per Proverbs 8:36
• He says His Torah is the way of faith per Psalms 119:29-30
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His Torah is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path per Psalms 119:105
• He says one who finds His Torah has found life per Proverbs 8:35
• He says one who finds His Torah has found favor from HaShem per Proverbs 8:35
• He says Messiah Yeshua is the GOAL of His Torah, meaning without His Torah, Messiah cannot be known per Romans 10:4
• He says if we had believed Moshe/Torah, we would have believed Messiah per John 5:46
• He says His Torah makes us wiser than our enemies per Psalms 119:98
• He says His salvation is far from the wicked for they sought not His Torah per Psalms 119:155
• He says to hold fast to and guard His Torah, for it is our life per Proverbs 4:13

I must warn you right up front, this Op is likely going to be VERY long and VERY in-depth as there is so much to explore and learn! So, with this said, let’s jump right into Shir HaShirim, chapter three!!! Remember, Shir HaShirirm, is not just a book to be taken literally, it is also a very in-depth allegory which reveals not only the physical world but also the spiritual world, the realm in which HaShem dwells in!

Chapter three begins with Israel i.e. the Bride of HaShem, speaking out to HaShem! Keep this in mind as we proceed as it is very important to remember!

Shir HaShirim 3:1 says “As I lay on my bed in the night of my desert travail, I sought Him whom my soul loves. I sought Him but I found Him not, for He maintained His aloofness.“ There are many, many very important issues being addressed in this one verse which we need to explore. Very interesting commentary on this verse which says: “Rashi explains ‘night’ as referring to the torment of Israel’s thirty eight year sojourn in the desert in spiritual darkness when they were under the ‘Ban’ incurred because of the sin of the Spies and the evil report of the Land, who turned the people against the Land. During this period, the Midrash explains HaShem did not speak with Moshe per Deuteronomy 2:14-16, which says ‘The days that we traveled from Kadesh-barnea until we crossed Zered Brook were thirty eight years, until the end of the entire generation, the men of war, from the midst of the camp, as HaShem swore to them. Even the Hand of HaShem was on them to confound them from the midst of the camp, until their end. So it was that the men of war finished dying from amidst the people.’ This verse (Shir HaShirim 3:1) metaphorically describes Israel’s quest for HaShem, ‘Whom my soul loves’, during these years of silence.”

The following excerpt from the Midrash 2:11 is very interesting. It says “The Midrash cites a teaching supporting Rabbi Levi’s statement that the people of Israel had longed for banners at the Sea. Scripture states after the Song of the Sea, and they went out to the Wilderness of Shur, quoting Exodus 15:22. This teaches that the people of Israel prophesied regarding themselves that they were destined to be formed into multiple encampments, multiple banners, and multiple rows, like the bed of a vineyard.” What should be noted here is the reference to the ‘banners’. This word ‘banners’ in Hebrew is a reference to freedom! When a banner is lifted up in Scripture it denotes freedom has arrived!! Moving on.

Another opinion from the commentary says “According to Alshich, the verse (Shir HaShirim 3:1) refers to the dark ‘nights’ of the Egyptian and Babylonian exiles when Israel sought out their G-d to redeem them and resume His love for them. The imagery is poignant. It depicts the anguish of a tormented, insomniac Israel, bereft of its former open, uninhibited relationship with HaShem, figuratively twisting and turning sleeplessly during its period of most pronounced separation, longing after Him, and a resumption of His love.”

“The plural ‘nights’, suggests incessant prayers, night after night, each going unanswered. Thus, the Talmud Bavli, specifically Tractate Berachos 32b, comments that if one prays and is not answered he should pray again!”” It specifically states “A person who prayed and saw that he was not answered, should pray again, as it is stated ‘Hope in the Master, strengthen yourself, let your heart take courage, and hope in the Master, quoting Psalms 27:14. One should turn to HaShem with hope, and if necessary turn to HaShem again with hope.”

Doesn’t this verse sound like most of us today who are calling out and crying out to HaShem for His immediate help, healing and deliverance in a world going completely and utterly insane with corruption, wickedness, tyranny and debauchery? We know HaShem is with us, but He also has chosen to remain aloof i.e. hidden, but He has NOT forsaken, forgotten or tossed us aside!

The Midrash in 3.1 says “What is the meaning of upon my ‘mishkav’ (Bed) during the nights? It means ‘upon my illness’. It is like that which is stated in the verse, ‘and he does not die, but falls ill’ quoting Exodus 21:18. The speaker i.e. Israel, thus recalls the spiritual illness and pain of being separated from her Beloved One during the long ‘nights’ of exile, when her efforts to achieve reconciliation through prayer and repentance came to naught.”

It should be noted, there are four prophesied exiles in which Israel must endure, which the fourth one is the most brutal, the longest but the one which leads to the Final Redemption: Israel began in Egypt and then were later exiled to Babylon, Media/Persia, Greece and Rome. We are currently under the Roman exile, the final and most oppressive exile, which is dominated by Christendom and its Replacement Theology. As we know throughout history, Christendom has been one of the most destructive and dominating oppressors in Israel’s history. The history of Christendom and its treatment of Israel throughout the centuries is NOT good and has been utterly brutal, culminating with the Holocaust less than a hundred years ago. For those who may object, yes it is a historical fact the Holocaust was concocted and supported by Christendom. Hitler himself declared the actions of the German government i.e. the Holocaust, was a ‘Christian movement ‘and done so in the name of its Jesus Christ, with the full support of the Catholic Church and many other denominations. I could go on, but that would have to be addressed in its own Op as its not appropriate here. Moving on.

HaShem explains why the exiles have been so long and so difficult in Jeremiah 9:11-15 which says “Who is the wise man who will understand this? Who is he to whom the mouth of HaShem speaks, that he may explain this? For what reason did the land (Israel) perish and become parched like the desert, without a passerby? But HaShem has said: ‘Because of their forsaking My Torah that I put before them, moreover, they did not heed My voice nor follow it. They followed the vision of their heart and they followed the Baalim (Idols), as their fathers taught them.’ Therefore, thus said HaShem, Master of Legions, G-d of Israel: ‘Behold, I am feeding this people wormwood and giving them poisonous water to drink. I shall scatter them among the nations that neither they nor their fathers have known; I shall send the sword after them until I annihilate them.'”

The commentary of these verses from Jeremiah says the following: “The verse gives three reasons for the destruction – 1. They (Israel) did not study Torah with love and enthusiasm; 2. They did not heed HaShem’s voice i.e. not only did they lack enthusiasm, they failed to perform the commandments even out of fear of HaShem and His retribution; and 3. They did not even perform mitzvos (Commandments) out of rote and routine.”

Remember the Torah of HaShem contains the 613 commandments i.e. the terms of the Covenant He made with us at Mount Sinai on Shavuot, the day He married Israel as His bride! It has nothing to do with earning salvation, as HaShem has already redeemed and saved us i.e. from Egypt, THEN He brings us to Mt Sinai and presents us His Torah which contain all the ‘If you, then I’ statements! Torah is the Ketubah, the terms of the marriage, which Israel accepted. By forsaking the Torah, it is akin to committing adultery, which is why idolatry is the same as adultery and carries such a harsh penalty. Since HaShem cannot remarry an adulterous bride, He has to do something to make it possible, therefore He sends His Agent, His Right Arm, His Messiah, Yeshua, and what does Messiah do? He voluntarily offers Himself up and dies, thus releasing HaShem from the prohibition to re-marry His bride. On the third day, Yeshua is raised from the dead and comes out of the grave, the ketubah, terms of the marriage contract i.e. covenant are restored and as the Agent of HaShem, HaShem can now re-marry His prophesied clean, restored, renewed and totally faithful people of Israel as His bride, who will keep the Torah of HaShem faithfully and out of love, devotion and loyalty unto HaShem, the Elohim of Israel, Master of Legions and King over all Creation!

Just a quick question…if HaShem divorced His wife i.e. Israel for forsaking Him and embracing idolatry i.e. adultery and exiled her into the nations, then how can it be He then takes a new wife i.e. Christendom, whose entire doctrine is Replacement Theology i.e. taking the Torah, the terms of the marriage contract, and tossing it aside as being irrelevant, be a legitimate marriage? It only works if HaShem is declared dead, replaced and a liar!! WOW…very, very dangerous to embrace this wicked theology! I digress as I am not making this Op comparing Replacement Theology. Moving on.

Shir HaShirim 3:2 says “I resolved to arise then, and roam through the city, in the streets and squares; that I would seek through Moses, Him Whom my soul loved. I sought Him, but I found Him not.” The commentary on this verse is very revealing. Its says “The Jews did not remain apathetic. They did not slumber off in acquiescence, but instead were determined to arise and seek Him out by every possible avenue!” Interesting example here in that the Jews resolved it within themselves to seek after HaShem, they didn’t just give up and go about their own ways, they resolved it i.e. they were wholeheartedly determined to seek Him out!

The commentary continues and says “This is alluded to in the verses from Shemot (Exodus) 32:11 which says ‘Moshe pleaded before HaShem, his Elohim, and said, ‘Why, HaShem, should Your anger flare up against Your people, whom You have taken out of the land of Egypt, with great power and a strong hand?'” So, here we see Moshe pleaded before HaShem and he did so reverentially! You don’t just casually approach HaShem in prayer! We must be respectful and solemn when approaching our King! Tractate Berachos 30b from the Talmud Bavli says “David says ‘But as for me, by Your abundant loving kindness I will enter Your House, at Your Holy Temple I will bow in reverence for You (Quoting Psalms 5:8).’ Entering into prayer like entering the Holy Temple must be performed reverentially.”

Shemot (Exodus) 32:30 says “On the next day, Moshe said to the people, ‘You have committed a grievous sin! And now I shall ascend to HaShem, perhaps I can win atonement in the face of your sin.'” What was the in Moshe is talking about here? The sin of the Golden Calf i.e. idolatry! Idolatry is considered to be one of the greatest sins because it denies HaShem’s existence! It is the height of rebellion! All of us, myself included, has at some point in life, embraced idolatry, whether we have known it or not! Embracing feasts and appointed times of the year not of HaShem is idolatry! Embracing Replacement Theology is idolatry! I could go on and on. Our society today is wracked full of idolatry and what is the result of this idolatry? HaShem tells us in Psalms 115:4-8 which says “Their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of man. They have a mouth, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear; they have a nose, but cannot smell. Their hands, they cannot feel; their feet, they cannot walk, they cannot utter a sound from their throat. Those who make them should become like them, whoever trusts in them!” In other words, those who embrace idolatry, cannot see HaShem, cannot hear HaShem nor His Word, cannot feel HaShem, cannot walk according to the ways of HaShem and ultimately end up destroying themselves if they do not repent and seek after HaShem! No wonder the world and our country are collapsing faster and faster as they embrace this idolatrous insanity!

Shemot (Exodus) 32:33-35 says “HaShem said to Moshe, ‘Whoever has sinned against Me (Embraced the Golden Calf/Idolatry), I shall erase from My book (The Book of the Righteous). Now go and lead the people to where I have told you. Behold! My angel shall go before you, and on the day that I make My account, I shall bring their sin to account against them. Then HaShem struck the people with a plague, because they had made the calf that Aharon had made.'” The cost for idolatry against HaShem is severe!

Tractate Sanhedrin 102a from the Talmud Bavli says “Rabbi Hanina says, ‘After twenty four generations elapsed from the sin of the Golden Calf, the debt referred to in this verse was collected, as it is stated: ‘And he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying: ‘Those who have charge over the city (Jerusalem) draw near, every man with his deadly weapon in his hand’ quoting Ezekiel 9:1. This prophecy occurred twenty four generations after the sin of the Golden Calf.” The commentary from Ezekiel 9:1 says “The catastrophe about to overtake Jerusalem (The destruction of the First Temple) was tied to the sin of the Golden Calf.”

Ultimately the commentary from ‘The Illuminated Shir HaShirim’ book on verse two says “The plaintive cry of the woman/Israel, who is searching to find her Beloved; she looks in the streets and marketplaces, yet there is no trace of Him, the beloved of her soul. The refrain of the forlorn woman is the same as in verse one: ‘I have sought out the Beloved of my soul; I have searched, but I have not found Him.’ The longing continues, and amid the pain of the exile, she suddenly comes upon the watchman, those who have been appointed to lead and take charge of the Jewish people, Moshe and Aharon. According to Alshich, the watchmen would also include Ezra and Nechemiah, the leaders who helped them in the exile in Babylon. The message of the Jewish people is still tinged with despair, ‘I have searched for Him, but I could not find Him.’ Perhaps the watchmen can intercede on behalf of the Children of Israel, and have Him look favorably upon us once again?”

Shir HaShirim 3:3 says “”They found me, Moshe and Aharon, the watchmen patrolling the city. ‘You have seen Him, whom my soul loves, what has He said?’“ The commentary on this verse says “This is a reference to the leaders, Moshe and Aharon, who patrolled among them to instill the populace with the love of HaShem, guiding them, and inspiring them not to sin and to be patient, for Redemption was at hand.” It is interesting because the Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah commentary tells us “The watchmen who circle the city found me, this is an allusion to the Tribe of Levi. This is as it is stated elsewhere regarding the tribesmen of Levi, ‘Everyman…pass back and forth from gate to gate’ quoting Shemot/Exodus 32:27. Israel asked these Levite watchmen, ‘Him whom my soul loves’, this is Moshe.” Further note references says “Although the Exodus verse is written in the context of a later event, the Midrash cites it to prove that the Levites are called, ‘Those who circle.'”

Why is this significant concerning the Tribe of Levi? Because HaShem has charged the Levites with being the Kohanim (Priests) and Levites to not only serve HaShem and officiate the Temple Services in the Temple, but also to teach Israel the Torah and to know the differences between the holy and the profane, between clean and unclean, per Ezekiel 44:23.

Can you see how important the Torah is to the life of one following HaShem? Torah is central to our lives, not that it saves us, but is the way we have a relationship with HaShem and how to know His Messiah…without Torah, there is only idolatry, even with the best intentions.

Consider what Tractate Chagigah 1.7 says from the Talmud Yerushalmi (Jerusalem) says about Torah study…“We find that the Holy One, blessed is He, would have forgone the punishment of the people of Israel for the sins of idolatry, promiscuity, and bloodshed; but He did not forgo punishing them for their disdain of the Torah…And HaShem said: ‘Because of their forsaking My Torah.’ Evidently, HaShem would overlook the three cardinal sins, but not the sin of forsaking Torah study.” Remember what we discussed in verse one of this Op concerning Torah study and the book of Jeremiah!

So, in verse three, we see Israel asking the watchmen i.e. the Levites, if they have seen HaShem and what has He said. It makes sense Israel would ask the watchmen i.e. the Levites because they officiate the Temple services and teach the Torah to Israel! Keep this in mind as we progress in this Op!

Shir HaShirim 3:4 says “Scarcely had I departed from them when, in the days of Joshua, I found Him Whom my soul loves. I grasped Him, determined that my deeds would never again cause me to lose hold of Him, until I brought His Presence to the Tabernacle of my mother and to the chamber of her that conceived me.“ Wow…here Israel has found HaShem! The commentary from the Illuminated Shir HaShirim on this verse says “How does one who has been unfaithful to her beloved repent? How do the Children of Israel realize that indeed HaShem has acquiesced to their requests and will reunite with them once more? To achieve Divine forgiveness is no easy feat; there would have to be an action that would affirm a heavenly proclamation to indicate that HaShem had granted us forgiveness.”

“After the sin of the Golden Calf, Moshe was able to plead for the very existence of his people, and they were spared. After his entreaties, HaShem gave Moshe the command to bring offerings to build the Mishkan (Tabernacle), and allow the Divine Presence to rest among the Jewish people. Even after our lengthy sojourn in the Wilderness, for nearly 40 years, we were able to enter the land of Canaan under Joshua’s leadership, vanquish 31 kings, and settle the land. The Mishkan in Shiloh would be a resting place for the Shechinah (Divine Presence of HaShem). Ultimately, the first and second Holy Temples would allow us to hold on to our Beloved and never let go, having finally realized that the dwelling place in our midst affirms HaShem’s love for us.”

The Judaica Press book of Shir HaShirim commentary is very interesting. It interprets verse four as the following: “I had just passed them, shortly before their (The Watchmen i.e. Moshe/Aharon) separation from me, at the end of the forty years (Roaming the Wilderness). When I found that He was with me in the days of Joshua to vanquish the thirty one kings. I held Him and would not let Him go. I did not loosen my grasp from Him until I brought Him to the Tabernacle at Shiloh because of all that He had done for me.”

“It was but a short time after I passed them that I found Him Whom my soul loves, and when I found Him, I held Him with my hand, and did not loosen my grasp until I had brought Him to my mother’s house to dwell there with me. The maiden says this because she believes that her mother will help her preserve the love. The allegorical meaning is that as soon as those leaders separated from me i.e. when they died in the fortieth year, Joshua arose and took me across the Jordan to go and possess the Land, and he Omnipresent, blessed be He, waged war with the nations. I came to the Land of Israel which had been in my possession since the days of the Patriarchs, and it is a holy land, conducive to the worship of HaShem.” The midrash will define what is being said here!

The Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim 3.3 says “Verse four relates the successful conclusion and aftermath of the search – ‘Scarcely had I passed them, when I found Him Whom my soul loves’, this is an allusion to Moshe. ‘I grasped Him and I would not let Him go until I brought Him to my mother’s house.’ This is an allusion to Mount Sinai; ‘And to the chamber of the one who conceived me’ is an allusion to the Tent of Meeting, for it was from there that Israel became liable for the Torah through clear instruction in how they were to keep it.”

The Midrash continues: “Although God gave all the commandments to Israel at Mount Sinai, He did so only in general terms. He did not give the details of the commandments until He spoke to Moshe at the Tent of Meeting, and then Moshe taught them to the people. The Midrash is saying that although the Israelites had already been told the general principles of the commandments, they could not be punished for transgressing them until they were taught all their details.” In other words, this is showing us once more the absolute need for the Oral Torah! We cannot understand the Written Torah of HaShem without the Oral Torah which defines the commandments and teaches the halachah i.e. How to walk in the commandments of HaShem per the recorded right rulings of the Sanhedrin!

On a side note, remember from previous Ops, the Sanhedrin of HaShem IS commanded by HaShem in the Written Torah and to defy what the Sanhedrin ruled on, is to defy HaShem Himself! Yeshua Himself reiterated this when He commanded to obey the Seat of Moshe i.e. the Sanhedrin per Matthew 23:2! I digress.

So, where is the Tent of Meeting? In Hebrew the place is called the ‘Ohel Moed’ and per my teacher’s book ‘Measure the Pattern’ by Joseph Good of HaTikvah Ministries on page 146, it says “Originally the Ohel Moed was a tent set up outside the camp of Israel. When the Mishkan (Tabernacle) was built the Ohel Moed was transferred to the HaKodesh (The Holy Place). When the Temple was built the Ohel Moed was again the HaKodesh, also known as the Heichal (Temple).” We can see once again in order to understand the book of Shir HaShirim, we have to know the Torah and we must know the Temple of HaShem! Remember HaShem commanded each of us in Ezekiel 43:10-11 to learn every single aspect, tavnit, gate, ceremony, avodah, liturgy, etc of His House! Moving on.

Shir HaShirim 3:5 says “I adjure you, O nations who are destined to ascend to Jerusalem, lest you become as defenseless as gazelles or hinds of the field, if you dare cause hatred or disturb this love while it yet gratifies.” Here is Israel, she has found her Beloved and is holding onto Him tightly and she is adjuring the nations and warning them they had better not attempt to sway her away from Him again! Israel had sinned with the sin of the Golden Calf i.e. idolatry as well as when they believed the words of the spies who spied out the Land rather than believing what HaShem had said about the Land! HaShem had then decreed Israel would not only wander in the Wilderness for forty years but also that everyone twenty years old and older would not enter into the Land, but the younger generation would enter into the Land. When HaShem’s plan comes to fruition and redemption is imminent, NOTHING in existence can stand in His way! Baruch HaShem!!

Shir HaShirim 3:6 says “Who is this ascending from the desert, its way secured and smoothed by palm like pillars of smoke, burning fragrant myrrh and frankincense, of all the perfumer’s powders?“ Verse six here begins the next section i.e. verses six through 11, in which the nations of the world are speaking to or about Israel. The commentary from the Shir HaShirim Artscroll book says “The following verses follow Israel’s adjuration to the nations of the world, as if to say, ‘Do not attempt to disturb God’s love for us. It was we who followed Him into the desert; it was us whom He engulfed in His cloud; we accepted His Torah; we built the tabernacle as He commanded; we crowned Him as our God. He will, therefore, surely resume His love for us, and I adjure you not to attempt to interfere with our love.'”

The Illuminated Shir HaShirim commentary on this verse says “All the wonderful gifts that HaShem gave the Children of Israel were granted in the desert, as a result of the Torah that we received there. In addition to the Torah, the command to build the Mishkan, Tabernacle, was given there; the manna and the birds that fell miraculously were given in the desert; as was the Well of Miriam, the Divine Spirit and the Clouds of Glory. The spirit of prophecy rested upon Moshe when he was grazing the sheep in the desert, with his encounter at the Burning Bush. When the Jewish people came to the Sinai Desert, God said that they would be a kingdom of priests and a holy people per Exodus 19:6. This was an indication that the Kohanim (Priests) and Levites would be a critical component of the service of God, and was another of the gifts given in the desert.”

Now this is where things get very interesting! The commentary from the Shir HaShirim the Five Megillos Artscroll book says “Israel recalls that God sent pillars of fire and cloud to lead the way as the nation journeyed in the Wilderness. The pillars exterminated snakes and scorpions and burned thorns and thistles to clear the way. The nations that became aware of this exclaimed, ‘Who is this…'”

What is the significance of the Wilderness HaShem led Israel into? The Bamidbar (Numbers) Midrash Rabbah 1.7 expounds on this and says “The Sages derive that the Torah was given in three things: In fire, in water, and in the Wilderness. From where do we know that the Torah was given in fire? Because it states, ‘All of Mount Sinai was smoking because HaShem had descended upon it in the fire per Shemot (Exodus) 19:18).’ And from where do we know that the Torah was also given in water? Because it states, ‘Even the heavens trickled; even the clouds dripped water’ per Shoftim (Judges) 5:4.’ And finally, from where do we know that the Torah was given in the Wilderness? Because it states, HaShem spoke to Moshe in the Wilderness of Sinai. And why was the Torah given in these three things? But the explanation is that it is to teach us just as these three things are free for all who come to the world i.e. for all people, similarly the words of Torah are available for free, as it states, ‘Ho, everyone who is thirsty, go to the water, even one with no money, go, buy and eat; go and buy wine and milk without money and without price quoting Yeshayah (Isaiah) 55:1.”

The commentary on Yeshayah (Isaiah) 55:1 says “Water is a metaphor for Torah and wisdom, for just as the world cannot exist without water, it cannot exist without the Torah. Furthermore, just as one who is thirsty years for water, the wise soul yearns for Torah and wisdom. Torah is compared to water to teach that just as water leaves heights and flows to lower places, Torah wisdom can only remain in one who is humble. A humble person realizes that he has much to learn. He will not let pride prevent him from learning from others or from asking questions that will expose his lack of knowledge. The Midrash that compares Israel to fish. Fish love water so much that when it rains, they open their mouths to catch falling raindrops, as if they had never tasted water. Israel’s love of Torah is the same. When they hear a new Torah thought, they lap it up, as if they had never enjoyed the beauty of Torah.”

The Midrash Rabbah explains “Fire signifies the fact that the Torah illuminates the path of life and guides one in the direction HaShem wants him to follow. As King David said ‘Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path’ quoting Psalms 119:105. Water is a symbol of the humility one needs to succeed in Torah study. Just as water descends from a high place to a lower one, so the Torah abandons its haughty students in favor of its humble ones. From the very beginning, HaShem taught the same lesson by choosing the low, unassuming Mount Sinai for His Revelation instead of a higher, more impressive peak. Finally, the Torah was given in a wilderness, because the Torah reveals its secrets to those who lead a materially simple existence, the kind one would lead in a wilderness, where the struggle for survival crowds out any thought of unnecessary luxuries. ‘This is the way of the Torah – eat bread with salt, drink water in small measure, sleep on the ground, live a life of deprivation and toil in the Torah’ quoting Perkei Avos 6.4. but while the Torah deprives its students of luxuries, it supports them in ways that count, for HaShem looks after those immersed in Torah study and provides their sustenance even when they are stranded in the wilderness, that is, in a situation where He can do so only through miracles.“

“Here is where the wilderness spoke for Israel. Desolate and forbidding, the Wilderness teemed with snakes, scorpions, and all manner of wild beasts. It offered no source of water to drink and no land for raising crops to eat. Yet the Jewish people, men, women and children, ventured into this wasteland for what they knew would be an extended journey; and they did so only out of a loving devotion to HaShem, as HaShem Himself later confirmed ‘I recalled for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your nuptials (The giving of the Torah to Israel was the marriage between HaShem and Israel), your following Me into the Wilderness, into an unknown land’ quoting Yirmiyah/Jeremiah 2:2.”

So, what do we see thus far in this verse? We see, all of us, who are following HaShem, WILL lead us into the Wilderness, figuratively speaking, to teach us and prepare us for what He has in store in the World to Come! Yeshua Himself went into the Wilderness for forty days and forty nights so if HaShem didn’t spare Yeshua, will He spare us? It is here in the Wilderness where He presents to each of us the terms of the marriage contract i.e. the Torah, and we can either accept it or reject it, He leaves the decision up to each of us. On a side note, just as a reminder, Yeshua didn’t come to remove or render the Torah obsolete, but in fact renewed the marriage contract in which the Torah of HaShem is still just as valid for us today as it was in the Wilderness, nothing has changed! Hebrews 10:28 says “Anyone who has disregarded the Torah of Moshe dies without compassion on the witness of two or three witnesses.”

It is interesting, the Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah 3.4 when discussing verse six, says “Our verse means to say Israel’s ascent to greatness is from the Wilderness; and, conversely, her removal is from the Wilderness which is to say that her death is from the Wilderness, like that which is stated, ‘In this Wilderness they shall cease to be, and there they shall die’ quoting Bamidbar (Numbers) 14:35 (That is the generation of the Wilderness was decreed to die as a result of the sin of the Spies). The Midrash enumerates all the elements of greatness that accrued to Israel in the Wilderness of Sinai:

• The Torah is from the Wilderness – The Torah was given to Israel at Mount Sinai, which is in the Wilderness on Shavuot
• The Mishkan (Tabernacle) is from the Wilderness – The Mishkan was constructed in the Wilderness
• The Sanhedrin is from the Wilderness – The Sanhedrin comprising of seventy judges came into being in the Wilderness per Bamidbar (Numbers) 11:16
• The Priesthood is from the Wilderness – Per Bamidbar 30:30 HaShem establishes the Kohanim/Levites by appointing Aaron and his sons
• The Levite divisions are from the Wilderness – Per Bamidbar 3:5 and following which tells of the division of the Tribe of Levi into different groups
• Monarchy is from the Wilderness, as it is stated ‘You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests’ quoting Shemot (Exodus) 19:6 – Since a kingdom must have a king, it is evident that the concept of marchy also began in the Wilderness.“

With this said, what is the significance of the following from verse six mean which says: “Smoothed by palm like pillars of smoke, burning fragrant myrrh and frankincense, of all the perfumer’s powders?” The pillars of smoke like palm trees is describing the Ketoret (Incense) being offered up to HaShem in the Mishkan daily! The Shir HaShirim Artscroll commentary says “The metaphor alludes to the ‘Cloud of the incense’ which rose up from the Mizbe’ach (Altar) in the Inner Chamber; ‘Powders’ refers to the practice of crushing and grinding the spices fine as powder.”

As an overview, Mitzvah #103 in the Book of the Mitzvot, says ‘The obligation upon the Kohanim to offer the incense.’ The Torah reference is Shemot (Exodus) 30:7-8 which says “Aaron shall burn the spice incense upon it (The Golden Altar); every morning when he tends the lambs he shall burn it. And when Aaron kindles the lamps in the afternoon he shall burn it, continual incense before HaShem, for your generations.” So, we see the ketoret is to be offered up twice a day, just like the daily Tamid korbonot!

There are eleven spices which comprise the Ketoret. Tractate Karetot 6b from the Talmud Bavli lists them, referencing Shemot (Exodus) 30:34 which says “Take for you spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; spices with pure frankincense. The plural form of the phrase, ‘Take for you spices’ is referring to two ingredients; ‘Stacte, and onycha, and galbanum’ are three ingredients; this results in a total of five; and the other mention of ‘Spices’ indicates that there are another five, i.e. that one should double the previous total, and this results in a total of ten. And finally, ‘Pure frankincense’ is one, and this results in a total of eleven.”

Vayikra (Leviticus) 16:13 discusses what the Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) does with the ketoret on Yom Kippur: “He (Kohen HaGadol) shall place the ketoret upon the fire before HaShem, so that the cloud of the ketoret shall blanket the Aron cover (Ark of the Covenant) that is atop the Tablets of the Testimony so that he shall not die.” One of the eleven ingredients is discussed in Tractate Yoma 53a of the Talmud Bavli and Tractate Yoma 1.5 of the Yerushalmi Talmud.

Tractate Yoma 1.5 from the Yerushalmi Talmud says “The one (Kohen) who prepares the incense mixture puts Maaleh Ashan into the mixture. Maaleh Ashan literally means ‘Something that makes smoke rise’ is the name of a certain herb that, when added to the ketoret, causes its smoke to rise in a straight shaft like a stick. The identity of this herb was jealously guarded by the House of Avtinas, who were charged with producing the ketoret in the Temple.”

Now what is interesting is the number eleven is not spoken of well in Scripture! Per the book Jewish Wisdom in the Numbers, number eleven is associated with wickedness, the pursuit of unnecessary excess, to pursue more and more, it is associated with Eisav (Esau). But what is more amazing is just as this number is not associated with anything good, it is also the number of the Ketoret i.e. the number of spices to comprise the Ketoret offered to HaShem daily! This book says on page 159 “Of these (The spices comprising the Ketoret), ten were sweet smelling spices. However, the ketoret was incomplete without the inclusion of the eleventh spice. This spice had a foul, repugnant odor. But mixed together, the combination of all eleven emitted the most marvelous aroma for which the ketoret was renowned.”

Now understand, a Kohen could only perform the Incense Service ONCE in their entire lifetime! It was one of the most sought after duties! Why? Because it was the closest they would ever come to the Kadosh HaKedoshim (Holy of Holies i.e. the Throne of HaShem!).

Are you overwhelmed yet with all the details thus far? And just think, this is just barely scratching the surface in explaining these various specific topics thus far! There is SO much to learn and understand, it will literally take an eternity to learn it all, if that is indeed possible as His Torah is eternal and endless!! Moving on.

Shir HaShirim 3:7 says “Behold the resting place of Shlomo, with sixty myriads of Israel’s mighty encircling it.“ This verse is very interesting and has a lot of very important info to offer for us to examine! The commentary on this verse says a lot! It says “The Midrash perceives in this verse an additional allusion to the priestly blessing, per Bamidbar (Numbers) 6:24-26. Behold the Tribe of Shlomo, Elohim to Whom peace belongs. ‘Sixty mighty’ refers to the sixty letters of the priestly blessing; ‘Of the mighty’, because they fortify Israel; ‘They all handle the sword’ because each of the blessings contains HaShem’s Name and is thus fortified with strength, as the Sages proclaimed: ‘Every prayer containing HaShem’s Name is like a sword that tears through all obstacles.'”

Let’s quickly examine the Bircas Kohanim (Priestly Blessing) per Bamidbar (Numbers) 6:22-27 and see when and where this blessing is given and by whom! It says “HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying, ‘Speak to Aharon and his sons (Meaning only to the Kohanim): So shall you bless the Children of Israel, saying to them: May HaShem bless you and safeguard you. May HaShem illuminate His countenance for you and be gracious to you. May HaShem lift His countenance to you and establish peace for you. Let them place My Name upon the Children of Israel, and I shall bless them.” The Kohanim are commanded to confer the Bircas Kohanim on the people of Israel at a minimum of once per day!

So, we see only the Kohanim can utter this blessing and it can only be done in the Place where He has established His Name i.e. the Temple in Jerusalem! It is here at the Temple, by the Kohanim, who are reciting the Bircas Kohanim, the Kohanim actually recite HaShem’s Four Letter Name the way it is written!! Speaking His Four Letter Name can ONLY BE DONE WITHIN THE TEMPLE ITSELF AND ONLY BY THE KOHANIM, NO ONE ELSE OUTSIDE OF THE TEMPLE MAY UTTER HIS FOUR LETTER NAME because of the kedusha (Holiness) attached to His Name! This is commanded by HaShem Himself as He is the One Who gave the entire blueprint/tavnit of the Temple and the Temple Services to include the liturgy and prayers via His Ruach to both Moshe and David per Shemot (Exodus) 25 and I Chronicles 28! No one may add too or take away from what He said, therefore, the prohibition of reciting His Name outside of the Temple is a major issue concerning the authority of HaShem and is not something that was added by some Kohen a long time ago just because.

The Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim 3.12 says “The sixty mighty men round about it, these are the twenty four priesthood watches and the twenty-four Levite watches and the twelve monthly divisions for a total of sixty groups; of the mighty men of Israel, the sixty groups are called thus because they safeguard Israel.”

The tribes of Israel were divided up into districts. Each district would send a ‘Mishmar’ to serve one week in the Temple per year plus all the districts would serve simultaneously in the Temple on the three Pilgrimage Feasts of HaShem i.e. Pesach, Shavuot and Yom Kippur. The 24 Priestly watches are called ‘Mishmarot’. The 24 Mishmarot of the Kohanim (Priests) are identified by name. This is very important to understand as it pertains to the Apostolic Writings which you will see shortly. The names of the 24 Mishmarot are as follows:

• Johaiarib
• Jedaiah
• Harime
• Seorim
• Malchijah
• Mijamin
• Hakkoz
• Abijah
• Jeshua
• Shecaniah
• Eliashib
• Jakim
• Huppah
• Jeshebeab
• Bilgah
• Immer
• Hezir
• Happizzez
• Pethahiah
• Jehezkel
• Gamul
• Delaiah
• Maaziah

Now with this, let’s quickly examine Luke 1:5 which says “There was in the days of Herodes, the soverign of Yehudah, a certain Kohen (Priest) named Zekaryah (Zechariah), OF THE DIVISION OF ABIYAH. And his wife was of the daughters of Aharon (Meaning Elizabeth is a Kohen as well, although she cannot serve in the Temple). And they both were righteous before Elohim, blamelessly walking in all the commands and righteousness of HaShem (Meaning they kept both the Written and Oral Torah).” Why is this so crucial to know? Because per the list of the Mishmarot above, we can see when Zekaryah was serving in the Temple, when he had his encounter with the angel of HaShem while performing the incense service, when the angel of HaShem told him he would have a son, in the likeness of Elijah, to announce the way of Messiah!

So, we know Zekaryah’s Mishmar was ‘Abiyah’ which according to the list is the eighth Mishmarot which means this Mishmar would be serving in the Temple in the month of Iyar, the third month of the year if one were to count on the religious calendar which begins on Nissan 1. The civil calendar begins on Tishrei 1. Biblically there are four calendars which are listed in the Torah, but that is a separate Op in itself. The point I am attempting to reinforce is once more knowing the Temple of HaShem, His Torah, His Sanhedrin, His Kohanim, His Temple Services, etc, will make the Apostolic Writings come alive and exposes all the garbage doctrine Christendom has done in its twisting and erasing of HaShem’s Word over the centuries.

There is SO much more we could examine but for the sake of time, I will move on. r

Shir HaShirim 3:8 says “All of them gripping the sword of tradition, skilled in the battle of Torah, each with his sword ready at his side for fear lest he succumb in the nights of exile.“ The commentary on this verse says regarding the meaning of a person being skilled in the battle of Torah “Refers to one who knows how to dispute in the warfare of Torah i.e. knows how to deal with the argumentation essential to the study of the Torah; a keen minded debater. The verses also refer to priests who camped round about the Tabernacle and were skilled in the procedure of the Divine Service.”

“Sword refers to weapons i.e. the means to assure that the Torah is not forgotten and that it is transmitted intact from one generation to the next, for fear lest Torah be forgotten, and, if it is, that trouble will befall them. They are all equipped for the battles of life with the weapon of the Torah. The precepts of the Torah which apply to all the problems of life give them the means to emerge victorious from the battle. Therefore, each wears it always at his side, to protect him in the difficult hours of the night.”

These who are handling the swords are the Torah scholars! Psalms 149:6 says “The lofty praises of HaShem are in their throats, and a double edged sword in their hand.” This double edged sword is the Written and Oral Torah and per the commentary on this verse “The devout use their mouths in two ways to study Torah by reading from the text and by reciting by heart.”

So does this enhance what we read in Ephesians six about the Armor of HaShem and the ‘Sword of the Spirit, which is the Torah of HaShem’? Or how about Revelation 1:16 where it describes Yeshua having a ‘Two edged sword’ come out of His mouth? Again, more shining examples in the Apostolic Writings the Torah of HaShem was NOT done away with nor replaced! Moving forward!

The Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim 3.12 in the Insights Section says “At various locations in the Holy Temple, Kohanim and Leviim were required to stand guard. The purpose was not to protect against thieves. No such protection was needed in HaShem’s House. Rather, like ceremonial sentries posted about the palace of an earthly king, these guards were a display of honor for the King of Kings, Who made the Temple His earthly abode.”

Tractate Tamid 1.1 in the Mishnah gives a partial list of these sites. It says “At three sites, the Kohanim stand guard in the Temple – In Beit Avtinas, in Beit HaNitzotz, and in Beit HaMoked.” Tractate Middot 1.1 in the Mishnah lists the remaining locations: “At three sites the Kohanim stood guard in the Temple – In Beit Avtinas and in Beit HaNitzotz and in Beit HaMoked. And the Levites, in twenty one sites – Five for the five gates of Har HaBayit; four for its four corners, from inside it; five for the five gates of the Azarah; four for its four corners, from the outside; and one in Lishkat HaKorban, and one in Lishkat HaParokhet; and one for behind Beit HaKaporet.”

Now, for the sake of time, I am not going to list where all these locations are located in the Temple, suffice to say, you can see there are twenty four positions where these royal ceremonial guards would stand in order to enhance the royalty of HaShem’s House!

Shir HaShirim 3:9 says “A tabernacle of His Presence has the King Shlomo made of the wood of Lebanon.“ This is pretty clear and is referring to the Mishkan (Tabernacle) in the Wilderness and later the Mikdash (Temple) in Jerusalem! The Place where HaShem has set His Name forever and ever! May it be rebuilt in very soon in our days! And for the record, no, the Temple will NOT be rebuilt solely for the False Messiah to reside in, as Christendom teaches in its blasphemy and willful misunderstanding of HaShem’s Word. I see that argument so many times from pastors and others within Christendom, mocking, scoffing and outright spewing their vile hatred for HaShem and His Temple, all done of course in the service of their god out of love. Yes, I will admit, seeing and hearing these types of statements and comments, speaking out against HaShem and His Temple makes me see purple. HaShem is the One Who set all this up and who are we to come along and tell Him He got it all wrong and not only is He wrong but He has been replaced and tossed aside! Okay, moving forward.

Shir HaShirim 3:10 says “Its pillars He made of silver, His resting place was gold, its suspended curtain was purple wool, its midst was decked with implements bespeaking love by the daughters of Jerusalem.“ This is pretty self explanatory as He is describing His Temple in Jerusalem! The suspended paroket (Curtain) was purple wool, but again another mistake by Christendom in its erroneous doctrine is the tearing the curtain. Christendom teaches the curtain was torn and thus was proof HaShem had ended the Torah and the Temple Services. A very, very wrong teaching. How many paroket were in the Temple of HaShem? There were thirteen in total, with FOUR in the Temple Building itself and TWO that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place! So, which paroket was it that tore as recorded in Matthew 27:51? It was the paroket on the outside entrance to the Temple Building itself. This paroket had a specific name i.e. ‘The Heavens’ because it had the Milky Way galaxy embroidered upon it! In fact this paroket tore once before in biblical history, when King Uzziah committed the grave sin of encroachment and offered up the ketoret (Incense) in 2 Chronicles 26:19. There was a great earthquake when he did so, he was instantly struck with leprosy and The Heavens tore in two!

Shir HaShirim 3:11 says “Go forth and gaze, O daughters distinguished by loyalty to HaShem, upon the King Shlomo adorned with crown His nation made Him, on the day His Torah was given and He became one with Israel, and on the day His heart was gladdened by His Tabernacle’s consecration.” The name ‘Shlomo’ is another name for HaShem Himself meaning He cannot be perceived by man. The commentary on this says “The daughters of Zion are bid to gaze upon His crown i.e. perceive Him through His earthly manifestation. The crown is the outward symbol of majesty, indicating the King’s public grandeur. His essence, however, can never be known to those who see Him only in public. Thus it is a simile for HaShem’s earthly manifestation in His humanly perceived deeds.” Again, this explains the role of Yeshua as the Agent of HaShem i.e. HaShem’s Messenger, not that Yeshua is HaShem, because He is not, but Yeshua IS the Agent of HaShem, Who speaks only what HaShem has instructed Him to speak and only does what HaShem has commanded Him to do. Yeshua, The Agent of HaShem, is the visible manifestation of HaShem per Colossians 1:15.

HaShem offers Israel the Torah as the wedding contract i.e. the Ketubah. Israel accepts and at Mount Sinai on Shavuot, Israel becomes the Bride of HaShem. Israel breaks the Ketubah and HaShem sends her away. Per His Own Torah, He cannot remarry her, so how does He fix this problem? He sends His Agent, Yeshua, Who dies, thus releasing HaShem, and through the death and resurrection of Yeshua, the Ketubah is renewed and restored, and now Israel can once again be His Bride, which He promises to be eternal. This includes all the nations of the world who join and are grafted into Israel, but MUST live per the terms of the Ketubah i.e. the Torah!

I hope and pray you can see thus far in this vast, huge and gigantic study of this seemingly small and uninteresting book of the Tanach how amazing HaShem is and how we all MUST learn everything concerning His Temple, His Temple Services, His Torah, etc, per Ezekiel 43:10-11, to actually know and understand His entire Word, especially the Apostolic Writings!

Life today is very, very tough and getting tougher it seems. Now more than ever, with the truth being suppressed and in some cases being outright banned in favor of the lies, we MUST take hold of HaShem and His Torah, for it truly is a tree of life to those who take hold of it! Maybe not much longer!

May it be so very, very soon in our days!

Stay tuned for chapter four!!!

SOURCE MATERIALS:

• The Milstein Edition Chumash with the Teachings of the Talmud by Artscroll
• Artscroll Tanach series Shir HaShirim
• The Illuminated Shir HaShirim by Artscroll
• The Koren Tanach by Koren Publishers
• The Book of Song of Songs by Judaica Press
• The Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli
• The Talmud Yerushalmi
• The Kehati Mishnah