“Thus said HaShem, Master of Legions: ‘In those days (The End of Days) it WILL happen that ten men (Non-Jews), of all the different languages of the nations, WILL take hold, they will take hold of the corner of the garment of a Jewish man, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that HaShem is with you!'” Zechariah 8:23
The following two videos are produced by Joseph Good of HaTikvah Ministries during his weekly Chavurah teaching series. For the last two weeks he is addressing the topic of Non-Jews entering the covenant and therefore what is their relation to the Torah of HaShem? Joe bases his answers to this question upon historical and Scriptural facts as recorded in the Apostolic Writings.
These are extremely important videos especially right now, in light of the collapsing world we are currently living in as well as the constant doctrine being promoted and taught in certain Messianic and Hebrew Roots congregations to separate from learning anything from the Orthodox Jews. By rejecting what HaShem has given as resources and tools to learn and improve our walks with Him we are in fact not walking with Him. Further, by forsaking Moses, as is defined in Acts 21, we are in fact going our own way! It boils down to, Know Torah = Know Yeshua; No Torah = No Yeshua!
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
He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5
“He who loves purity of heart, and whose lips are gracious, the King is his friend.” Proverbs 22:11
As I began to put this Op together it is 22 September 2022. There is much going on in the world! Everything from weather storms, earthquakes and not just physical earthquakes but also political earthquakes per se! Wars are erupting and or escalating! But, one of the most amazing and encouraging news reports in the last few days are the reports of the five red heifers which were shipped from Texas to Israel, for the Parah Adumah ceremony per Bamidbar (Numbers 19), which is required for a rebuilt Temple!
Now the biblical requirements for the Red Heifer is extremely strenuous and so stringent people will know it only came from HaShem! Mankind could not in any way, shape or form manipulate the Red Heifer! Unfortunately, while encouraging as it is, the reports of these red heifers has provoked and brought out those who are extremely threatened and enraged by the thought of a red heifer because of its connection to the Temple of HaShem!
The common objection to these red heifers and to the Temple primarily emerges from Replacement Theology Christendom who see these red heifers, the korbonot (Offerings) and the Temple itself as being the domain of HaSatan and the epitome of wickedness and the absolute abomination against the one Christendom serves. I say this not to bash anyone, but to point this out as being another giant indicator of where I believe, in my opinion, where we are on the timeline of HaShem!
Because the Temple of HaShem is SO important and central in His entire Word, I thought it would be a good reminder as we begin chapter five i.e. the middle of Shir HaShirim and the beginning of the second half of Shir HaShirim, to remember just how important the Temple of HaShem is.
The following is an excerpt from the book ‘The Temple: Its symbolism and meaning then and now’ by Joshua Berman. Pages 40-41 says “Virtually every law and commandment listed from Exodus chapter 25, until the consecration of the Tabernacle in Leviticus, chapter 10, pertain DIRECTLY to the Sanctuary (Temple). Significantly, Moses is told to construct the Tabernacle vessels in accordance with the prototype he had seen of each while convening with HaShem on Mount Sinai. The sustained and focused attention to the Tabernacle laws immediately following the theophany narrative is a sign of a connection between the Revelation at Sinai and HaShem’s continued presence among the people in the Sanctuary. The meaning of this connection is explained by Cassuto:
‘In order to understand the significance and purpose of the Tabernacle, we must realize that the children of Israel, after they had been privileged to witness the Revelation of HaShem on Mount Sinai, were about to journey from there and thus draw away from the site of the theophany. So long as they were encamped in the place, they were conscious of HaShem’s nearness; but once they set out on their journey, it would seem to them as though the link had been broken, unless there were in the midst a tangible symbol of HaShem’s presence among them. It was the function of the Tabernacle (literally meaning Dwelling), to serve as such a symbol. Not without reason, therefore, does this section come immediately after the section that describes the making of the Covenant at Mount Sinai. The nexus between Israel and the Tabernacle is a perpetual extension of the bond that was forged at Sinai between the people and their Elohim.”
So, we can see the Temple is akin to Mount Sinai but also to the Garden of Eden! Consider the following link to a previous Op I did earlier this year discussing the need for a Temple in Jerusalem:
Continuing from the book ‘The Temple: Its symbolism and meaning then and now’ by Joshua Berman, page 28-29 discussing how the Torah of HaShem is akin to the Tree of Life which was in the center of the Garden of Eden. “In place of eternal physical life offered by the Tree of Life, in the post-Eden era, HaShem offers spiritual life in the form of the Torah per Deuteronomy 30:15-18 which says ‘See, I set before you this day life and good, death and evil. For I command you this day, to love the Lord your Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His laws, and His norms, that you may live and increase…but if your heart turns away…you shall certainly perish.’ The Torah is portrayed here as a source of life. Its depiction as the difference between good and evil and between life and death may be a deliberate reference to the Tree of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life in the Eden narrative and an indication that the Torah supplants them in the aftermath of man’s sin. The Book of Proverbs refers to the wisdom of HaShem’s ways as a tree of life: ‘She is a tree of life for those who grasp her’ per Proverbs 3:18.”
“The Midrash employs this verse (Proverbs 3:18) to demonstrate that the Torah is a substitute for the Tree of Life of Eden: HaShem hid the tree that granted eternal life to all who ate from it and in its place He gave us His Torah. ‘This is the tree of life, for it says, she is a tree of life for those who grasp her, Proverbs 3:18. When a man beholds it, and sees in it HaShem’s wisdom, and His righteous and just laws and statutes, he is immediately induced to adopt a new mind, and observe them. In so doing he acquires for himself reward in this world and in the world to come, as it says, ‘The Lord commanded us to observe all these laws for our lasting good and to grant us life’ per Deuteronomy 6:24.”
The Temple of HaShem is also known as the House of Kedushah i.e. Holiness. What is the definition of the word ‘Kedushah/kadosh/holy?’ The best answer is the following from my very good friend and teacher Joe Good of HaTikvah Ministries which says: “The time, space and objects that are limited to us through the agency of kedusha (Holiness) are signs that as HaShem’s covenantal partners, we must relinquish some control in every sphere of our existence and reserve those elements for His service!”
Keep all this in mind as we explore chapter five of Shir HaShirim. Understand, there is SO much to explore, it would literally take enormous amounts of space on this blog to cover, so I must do this in sections, thus, this first part of Part 5 will only cover verses one and two. But as always, never forget the following eternal 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
He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5
There are sixteen verses in chapter five of Shir HaShirim and we will explore each one, however, verses one and two alone will take an enormous amount of time to explore because there is so much in the verses!
Shir HaShirim 5:1 says “To your Tabernacle Dedication, My sister, O bride, I came as if to My garden. I gathered My myrrh with My spice from your princely incense; I accepted your unbidden as well as your bidden offerings to Me; I drank your libations pure as milk. Eat, My beloved priests! Drink and become G-d intoxicated, O friends!“
What needs to be understood is even though this chapter begins here with verse one, which implies a new trend of thought, it is not a new trend of thought, but a continuation of chapter four! The commentary on this verse from the Artscroll Shir HaShirim book says “According to the Mesorah, therefore, this verse does not begin a new chapter and a new trend of thought. Hence, the commentators view this verse contextually as HaShem’s response to Israel’s request that His Shechinah (Presence) descend upon them and eat of their precious fruit. ‘I have already done as you requested!’ HaShem replies.”
The commentary goes on and says “As it is written in Shemot (Exodus) 40:33-34, ‘And Moshe finished the work, and a cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of HaShem filled the Tabernacle.'” Remember HaShem likens His Temple to His Garden of Eden!
The dedication of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness is explained in Bamidbar (Numbers) chapter seven. After Moshe erected the Tabernacle the dedication of the Tabernacle took eight days. Per the Torah, Moshe began on the 23rd day of the month of Adar and finished on the 1st day of the month of Nissan for a total of eight days! The completion of the dedication of the Tabernacle was also Rosh Chodesh Nissan i.e. the new moon for the beginning of the month of Nissan!
The dedication of the Mizbe’ach (The Altar) however, took twelve days! HaShem commands in Bamidbar 7:11 “HaShem said to Moshe, ‘One leader each day, one leader each day shall they bring their offering for the dedication of the Mizbe’ach.'” There are twelve tribes which comprise Israel which correspond to the twelve stones on the Breastplate worn by the Kohen HaGadol (High Priest)! See the image below for example.
Now remember HaShem is unchanging and He reveals the end from the beginning as there is nothing new under the sun! The dedication and the twelve tribes during this ceremony, which is comprised of Minchah (Bread) offerings, incense, Olah (Burnt), Chatat (Sin) and Shelamim (Peace) offerings. Now remember, as it pertains to the korbonot (Offerings): “The truest offering is when the owner brings himself as the offering. The owner of the animal or grain offering, sets himself apart to HaShem, subservient to the teachings of the Torah. The animal or grain offering is secondary in that it is an indication of what the owner feels and what the owner is striving for!” The meaning of the word ‘Korbonot’ means ‘To draw near to HaShem’. The purpose of the korbonot is not simply to obtain forgiveness from sin, but for the purpose of communing with HaShem, drawing near to Him. To give thanks, gratitude, cleansing from ritual impurity and atonement.
There are THREE species of animals which may be brought as korbonot which, per Vayikra Midrash Rabbah 8.3 states these three species of animals correspond to one of the Patriarchs who exemplify a characteristic of each species of animal:
Oxen – Corresponds to Abraham who exemplified the characteristic of kindness
Rams – Corresponds to Isaac who exemplified the characteristic of strength
Sheep – Corresponds to Jacob who exemplified the characteristic of glory
Per Vayikra (Leviticus) 22:27, an animal selected as a korbonot MUST be at a minimum EIGHT days old and from that point on, it is acceptable to HaShem. Keep this in mind.
There are EIGHT categories of korbonot (Offerings) which may be brought. Not all are for atonement from sin:
Chatat (Sin)
Olah (Burnt)
Asham (Guilt)
Shelamim (Peace)
Todah (Thanksgiving)
Bechor (Firstborn)
Maaser (Tithing)
Pesach (Passover)
***Birds may be brought as Olah and Chatat.
What is astounding is when we examine why HaShem decided on eight categories of korbonot. Why did He choose the number eight? Per the book ‘Jewish Wisdom in the Numbers’ when reading about the number eight, it says “The number 8 denotes transcendence. It symbolizes that a Jew is not subject to the natural realm. They have the ability to break free from this world and its limitations.” Further the number 8 relates to the Torah of HaShem in that the Torah is not of this natural world. The number 8 relates to the House of HaShem i.e. His Temple. But most astoundingly the number 8 relates to King Messiah!“Messiah, refers to the anointing of the Davidic Dynasty with oil. The oil used in the Menorah is related to the Messianic King who will illuminate the world with His light.” Okay, moving on.
It is the application of the blood onto the Mizbe’ach (Altar) which atones, not the burning of the meat or the fat. This is just an extremely quick review of what we have discussed in previous Op’s concerning the Korbonot. Now, we can continue with the dedication ceremony which is as follows as stated in Bamidbar (Numbers) seven beginning with the first day. Each head of the tribes brought the same korbonot on each day:
Nachson of the tribe of Yehuda. He brought one silver bowl filled with 130 shekels worth of fine flour mixed with oil. One silver basin filled with 70 shekels worth of fine flour mixed with oil for a Minchah (Bread) offering. One gold ladle of 10 shekels worth if incense. One young bull, one ram, one sheep in its first year for an Olah (Burnt) offering. One he-goat for a Chatat (Sin) offering. Two cattle, five rams, five he-goats, five sheep in their first year for a Shelamim (Peace) offering.
Nesanel of the tribe of Issachar.
Eliav of the tribe of Zevulun
Elitzur of the tribe of Reuven
Shelumiel of the tribe of Shimon
Eliasaph of the tribe of Gad
Elishama of the tribe of Ephraim
Gamaliel of the tribe of Menasheh
Avidan of the tribe of Benyamim
Achiezar of the tribe of Dan
Pagiel of the tribe of Asher
Achira of the tribe of Naphtali
Per Bamidbar (Numbers) 7:84 the twelve heads of the tribes brought a total of:
12 silver bowls – Each containing 130 shekels worth of fine flour mixed with oil
12 silver basins – Each containing 70 shekels worth of fine flour mixed with oil
12 gold ladles – Each containing 10 shekels worth of incense
12 bulls, rams, sheep in their first year for the Olah
12 he-goats for the Chatat
24 bulls
60 rams, he-goats, sheep in their first year for the Shelamim
I hope you can thus far see the immense detail involved in this ceremony? And this is just a very quick glance as I am leaving out so much! Continuing on.
His reference to the Incense is a giant topic worthy of its own Op in itself! I will have to summarize as much of it as possible here.
Shemot 30:34 lists four of eleven ingredients which comprise the Temple Incense:
Stacte
Onycha
Galbanum
Pure Frankincense
Keritot 6A from the Talmud Bavli lists seven more ingredients:
Myrrh
Cassia
Spikenard
Saffron
Costus
Aromatic Bark
Cinnamon
Per Keritot 6A, Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli, the incense is prepared according to the following manner:
“The Sages taught in a baraita: How is the blending of the incense performed? Balm, and onycha, and galbanum, and frankincense, each of these by a weight of seventy maneh, i.e., seventy units of one hundred dinars. Myrrh, and cassia, and spikenard, and saffron, each of these by a weight of sixteen maneh. Costus by a weight of twelve maneh; three maneh of aromatic bark; and nine maneh of cinnamon. Kersannah lye of the volume of nine kav; Cyprus winen of the volume of three se’a and three more kav, a half-se’a. If one does not have Cyprus wine he brings old white wine. Sodomite salt is brought by the volume of a quarter-kav. Lastly, a minimal amount of the smoke raiser, a plant that causes the smoke of the incense to rise properly. Rabbi Natan says: Also a minimal amount of Jordan amber.”
“The Sages taught in a baraita (Teaching outside of the Mishnah): The incense was prepared from ingredients amounting to the weight of 368 maneh, i.e., 368 units of one hundred dinars. Of these, 365 of them correspond to the days of the solar year. The additional three maneh are those from which the High Priest would bring in to the Sanctuary his handful required on Yom Kippur (see Leviticus 16:12), and the rest, i.e., the incense that was not used over the course of the year, was given to the artisans as their wages.”
Shemot 30:37 says “The incense that you shall make, in its measure you shall not make for yourselves; it shall remain holy to you, for HaShem.”
Mitzvah #110 – The Prohibition to Replicate the Incense – Regarding one who transgressed the prohibition and made a replica of the ketores in accordance with its proportions, in order to smell it, if he did so deliberately, he is liable to kares (excision), and if he did so inadvertently, he is liable to a fixed chatat (Sin) offering.
HaShem says here in Shir HaShirim 5:1 “…Eat, My beloved priests! Drink and become G-d intoxicated, O friends!” His Kohanim (Priests) are the ones who officiate the Temple Avodah (Services) each day and will do so once again hopefully very shortly, HaShem willing!!
The commentary from the Illuminated Shir HaShirim, page 62-63, says “The word for ‘Garden’ is used in the possessive form, meaning ‘My wedding canopy’. HaShem states that He came to His Garden. HaShem placed man on this earth after creating the luminaries, vegetation and plant life, animals, birds, and fish. The entirety of creation was placed at man’s service. HaShem is omnipresent, ‘The whole world is filled with His glory.’ Even before the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Godliness was found on the earth below. As long as mankind lived up to its Divine mission, fulfilling the directives of their Creator, the earth could be the footstool of the Almighty.”
“Man, if he comports himself in accordance with the will of Elohim, can be a vehicle to bring Godliness to himself and to share it with the world. In the time of Moses, who perfected his character and was a prophet with no equal, Elohim rested His Shechinah once more on earth with the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). On that day, the first of Nissan, the verse says, ‘The cloud covered the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meeting), and the glory of HaShem filled the Tabernacle’ quoting Shemot (Exodus) 40:34. The verses describing the construction of the Mishkan in many instances parallel the terms used in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the Mishkan is a miniature form of Creation itself. With the construction of the Mishkan and its dedication on the first of Nissan, HaShem once more had a place where the Divine Presence could dwell on earth.”
The more man tells HaShem to get out and spits on His Torah, the more the world collapses into insanity and chaos! And then we wonder why the world is in the abominable mess it is in today?
Now consider an excerpt from the Vayikra (Leviticus) Midrash Rabbah 8.3 Insights section which says “Our Midrash teaches that David yearned for the dedicatory offerings of the tribal princes, and that those offerings were as precious as the Song of the Sea, the two Tablets of the Covenant, and the daily offering of Aaron, the Kohen Gadol (High Priest), which in turn was as precious before HaShem as the twelve tribes themselves.”
Consider the following from the Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah 5.1 when explaining verse 5.1: “Another interpretation of ‘Eat, friends…’ Why did HaShem say this to them? It may be compared to a King who made a feast and invited guests to come join Him, and at the feast the King was going around to all the guests and saying to them, ‘May the food be enjoyable for you! May it be pleasing to you!'” The king here in this parable is HaShem Himself! Again, can you see the compassion, kindness, mercy, in that He as the King is going around to His guests making sure the food is enjoyable? This again captures the heart of Shir HaShirim! HaShem reaching out and seeking out His bride i.e. Israel, who responds to His calls!
The Midrash enhances this further and says “HaShem was like a King Who made a feast and invited guests, and then went around them saying, ‘Eat friend….I hope you like it, I hope you enjoy it!'” Can you imagine having HaShem Himself coming around to His guests i.e. you and I, and encouraging us to enjoy ourselves and to eat from His bounty? There isn’t a king or a president in human history who would do this! THIS is what HaShem does everyday and His Torah is the bounty to eat from and enjoy! Keep this in mind!
Shir HaShirim 5:2 says “I am asleep but my heart is awake. The sound of my Beloved, knocking ‘Open up for Me, My sister, My love, My dove, My perfect one! For My head is filled with dew, My locks with the droplets of the night.'”
The Artscroll Shir HaShirim commentary on this verse says “These verses beautifully and tragically allegorize the period of the First Temple and its destruction; Israel’s evil ways; HaShem’s many compassionate warnings to repent; their recalcitrance followed by His display of wrathful vengeance. They repented, but it was too late, His prophetically foretold Decree of imminent Destruction was not to be annulled.”
The Illuminated Shir HaShirim says from page #63 “For any relationship to flourish, particularly between the people of Israel and HaShem, there has to be a constant vigilance to maintain the level of connectedness. in the time of the First Holy Temple, the Jewish nation did not fulfill its obligation to its Beloved. In a state of spiritual slumber, she drifted from the lofty level that kept her connected to HaShem. Elohim sent His prophets to rebuke and encourage the nation to return, to repent of her ways and return to her Beloved.”
“The verses describe Elohim’s Divine disappointment in His children. If no relationship ever existed, there is little expectation; when there was a strong connection, when the People of Israel were favored as HaShem’s beloved people and then strayed, the relationship is fraught with frustration. The endearing terms that HaShem uses in calling out to His beloved i.e. My sister, My beloved, My dove, My perfect one, display the attempts He has made to bring His people close to Him. Yet a relationship must have reciprocity to continue, and surely to flourish.”
The Judaica Press Shir HaShirim commentary on this verse breaks it down and says “I sleep…When I was confident and tranquil in the First Temple. I despaired of worshipping the Holy One, blessed be He, as one who sleeps and slumbers. But my heart is awake…This is the Holy One blessed be He. But my heart is awake…The Holy One, blessed be He, Who is per Psalms 73:26 ‘The Rock of my (Israel’s) heart and my portion,’ is awake to guard me and to benefit me. Hark! My beloved is knocking…He causes His Shechinah to rest upon the prophets and He admonishes through them by sending them. Open for me…Do not cause Me to withdraw from you. For my head is full of dew…A term referring to a man who comes at night, knocking on the door of his beloved. He says thus, ‘Because of love for you, I have come at night at the time of dew or rain’, and the allegory is that, ‘My head is full of dew because I am full of good will and satisfaction with Abraham your father, whose deeds pleased Me like dew, and behold, I come to you, loaded with blessings and the payment of reward for good deeds if you return to Me!'”
So, again we see HaShem reaches out to His bride, Israel, and knocks on the door hoping Israel responds and opens up for Him! My point is, again we see the astounding kindness, compassion, mercy and forgiveness of HaShem! How much more disgraceful, disrespectful and offensive is it when people not only reject HaShem but to actually refer to what He has given i.e. His Torah, His Feasts, His Shabbat, etc, as something akin to trash, the source of death, destruction, deception, bondage, sin, and the power of Satan himself as Christendom in its doctrine has and continues to teach today! Moving on.
The Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah expounds on this verse even more…be ready to be astounded again at the lengths HaShem goes to redeem His people!!
Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah 5.2 says “I am asleep from anticipating the Messianic End, but my heart is awake for anticipating the Redemption.” The notes associated with this says “The Messianic End, the set time by which the Messianic Redemption will take place no matter what. Since I have been in exile for so long, I have sometimes despaired of the End ever arriving. For under certain circumstances, Elohim will redeem Israel even before the set time for the End.”
Here is the good stuff!!
“What does it mean when He tells Israel to ‘Open up’ for Him? The Holy One, blessed is He, is saying to the people of Israel, ‘Open up for Me an opening of repentance, LIKE THE SIZE OF A POINT OF A NEEDLE, and I, in return, will open for you openings that are so wide that wagons and carriages can enter them!‘” WOW…consider that! If we decide to make teshuvah i.e. repent, just a tiny bit, like the size of a needle, HaShem will then open that point of a needle to the size, figuratively speaking, that wagons and carriage can enter them! Meaning, if we just have a needle point of teshuvah, HaShem is that ready to move to help us!
Its important to know, this concept is NOT confined to the time of the Exodus, but “to a general, timeless message from HaShem to Israel!”
From the ‘Insights Section’ in the Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah titled ‘The Prick of Needle’ it says “Where does one make this needle size opening? In the heart. Any contemplation of repentance, and good deed, any moment of triumph over one’s evil inclination forms an opening in the iron partition that separates one’s heart from his Father in Heaven. And then a wave of Divine assistance will come down through that hole, sweeping a person out of his lowly, materialistic state, and raising him up to a far higher spiritual level. There is, however, one condition. The opening one forms must truly be like that bored by a needle i.e. a penetrating hole that passes entirely through the pierced material. In other words, the breakthrough must be durable, reflecting a resolve that is hardy and sincere. If it is not, if one’s resolve is marked by hesitancy and indecision, then, it is more like a hole formed by a finger in a pool of water, which closes up on its own as soon as the finger is removed.”
“Once a person fulfills this condition, he is eligible for the grand dividends spoken of in the Midrash. And marvelous they are, compared to the principle invested i.e. a gateway spacious enough for wagons and chariots, formed from a hole as minute as a needle’s point, an exponential increase not only in size but in quality as well.”
“The Talmud derives this idea from a verse in Leviticus 11:44 which says ‘You (Israel) are to sanctify yourselves and you shall become holy.’ What seems like a redundancy actually teaches us that when a person sanctifies himself even a little, from below in this world, he will be sanctified to a much greater degree from Above, here and in the World to Come.”
“How wonderful is HaShem’s kindness! Not only does He infuse us with a generous dose of spiritual energy in response to each puny step we take in His direction, but He even gives us credit for all the progress that we subsequently make, as if we had accomplished it all on our own.”
The point I want to highlight again, is HaShem is longsuffering, wishing NONE would perish, but that ALL would repent! Just a tiny speck of sincere repentance the size of a needlepoint and He will do the rest!! This also tells us when we begin to answer His call to shrug off the religious systems of the world i.e. Christendom, and to embrace His Torah, we won’t know hardly anything and thus it can look incredibly overwhelming; but we start out small, just like a needlepoint, and He will help us progress and move forward learning more and more as time passes by. You will be surprised at how much you can learn once you begin to sincerely ask Him to help you do so! Again, the great kindness and compassion of our Great King!
So, why does HaShem refer to Israel as His ‘Sister’ or His ‘Bride’? Per the Shir HaShirirm Midrash Rabbah it tells us HaShem refers to Israel as His sister because Israel clung unto HaShem during the exile. He refers to Israel as His bride because Israel was decimated for Him while in exile and quotes Psalms 44:23 which says “Because for Your sake we are killed all day long, we are considered as sheep for slaughter.” In the Messianic future HaShem will refer to Israel as His sister because Israel will be fully attached to Him. He will refer to Israel as His bride because of Lamentations 2:15 which says “All who pass along the way clap hands at you; they whistle and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, ‘Could this be the city that was called Perfect in Beauty, Joy of All the Earth?'” The nations here realize how incredibly destructive for the world it was for them to destroy the Temple and Jerusalem and had they known just how destructive it was going to be, they wouldn’t have done so.
Further, why does He refer to Israel as His dove? Again the Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah says “All doves have markings that distinguish them from each other. Similarly, the Israelites became distinguishable from others through the mitzvos (Commandments/Torah) that are unique to them.” Uh oh, Replacement Theology Christendom once again has a real problem on its hands, because once more we see it is HaShem’s Torah which distinguishes His people from the world!! If you toss out His Torah, what sets and distinguishes you from the world? Nothing!
The Midrash goes on and says “Those who received commandments at Marah, for it was there that the Israelites were given commandments and became DISTINGUISHABLE through the mitzvos and righteous acts and good deeds that they were commanded to do.” Marah was a station in the Wilderness HaShem led Israel through when He delivered them from Egypt. The name ‘Marah’ in Hebrew means ‘Bitter‘.
What commandments were given to Israel at Marah which sets Israel apart from the nations of the world? Shemot (Exodus) 15:25-26 says “He (Moshe) cried out to HaShem, and HaShem showed him a tree; he (Moshe) threw it into the water (Bitter waters/Marah) and the water became sweet. There He established for the nation a decree and an ordinance, and there He tested it. He said, ‘If you hearken diligently to the voice of HaShem, your Elohim, and do what is just in His eyes, give ear to His commandments and observe all His decrees, then any of the diseases that I placed on Egypt, I will not bring upon you, for I am HaShem, your Healer.”
The Chumash commentary on these two verses says “At Marah, HaShem commanded Israel to observe ten mitzvos even before the Torah was given. These include the seven mitzvos given to the sons of Noah, the mitzvah to establish courts i.e. judgment, the mitzvah to observe Shabbat, and the mitzvah to honor one’s parents!” So, again we see at the very least it is Shabbat, His Shabbat, which distinguishes His people from the world!
Tractate Sanhedrin 56b from the Talmud Bavli says “The Jewish people were commanded to observe ten mitzvot when they were in Marah: Seven that the descendants of Noah accepted upon themselves, and HaShem added to them the following mitzvos: Judgment, and Shabbat, and honoring one’s father and mother.” This was all BEFORE He gave the complete Torah at Sinai! Again this has gigantic implications for Replacement Theology because it shows once more His Shabbat IS for everyone and is very much a means to be distinguished unto Him!
What does HaShem mean when He says “My Head is filled with dew, My locks with the droplets of the night?” Per the Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah it says “This verse refers to the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, the words for my head is filled with dew reflecting what is written concerning that event, even the heavens trickled quoting Judges 5:4, which says ‘HaShem, as You left Seir, as You strode from the field of Edom, the earth quaked and even the heavens trickled; even the clouds dripped water.'” This is the event when before HaShem offered the Torah to Israel, He first offered it to the offspring of Esau i.e. Edom, on Mount Seir. They refused it and then He went to Israel who accepted it. The commentary for Judges 5:4 expounds on this and says “Poetically, Deborah depicts the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, according to the tradition of the Sages, that before giving the Torah to Israel, HaShem offered it to the offspring of Esau, who dwelt on Mount Seir and the field of Edom. Only after they refused it out of hand did HaShem advance in splendor to Mount Sinai for His rendezvous with Israel. Since the Torah is so awesome that heaven and earth quaked when it was given, as it were, it is understandable that Israel should suffer for forsaking it, and be helped when it repented.” HaShem is describing the sky and clouds at Mount Sinai using the metaphor of His head and His hair.
Judaica Press Shir HaShirim commentary further says “For My head is full of dew, is a term referring to a man who comes at night, knocking on the door of his beloved. He says thus, ‘Because of love for you, I have come at night at the time of dew or rain,’ and the allegory is that, ‘My head is full of dew because I am full of good will and satisfaction with Abraham your father, whose deeds pleased Me like dew, and behold, I come to you, loaded with blessings and the payment of reward for good deeds if you return to Me.'”
Can you see how much HaShem loves His bride Israel and to what extent He goes to bring her back to Him? And remember this Op is covering just pieces of what is recorded in all the source materials for verses one and two of chapter five of Shir HaShirim!! The next Op will continue chapter five!
Much to consider!
Shalom!
SOURCE MATERIALS:
Shir HaShirim Midrash Rabbah by Artscroll
Shir HaShirirm by Judaica Press
The Chumash with the Teachings of the Talmud by Artscroll
The Illuminated Shir HaShririm by Artscroll
Shir HaShirim by Artscroll
Tractate Sanhedrin Talmud Bavli Steinsaltz
The Temple its Symbolism and Meaning Then and Now by Joshua Berman
Measure the Pattern Volume 1 by Joseph Good of HaTikvah Ministries
“For HaShem alone my soul waits silently, because from Him is my hope!” Psalms 62:6
Its becoming more difficult by the day to ignore the plight of this old, wicked and corrupt world. I see constantly people and television personalities who are working harder and harder each day to try and ignore the giant elephant in the room i.e. the world as we have known it is finished and rapidly collapsing!
Foundations built upon economics, religion, entertainment, medical, etc, they ALL are failing now. Nothing is withstanding the pressures coming to bear upon the world. We all see and we all are experiencing it first hand! Whether it be economic difficulties to medical difficulties, everyone is experiencing the collapse around us 24/7!
People attempt to ignore and distract themselves from the glaring fact of the state of the world with entertainment, sports, etc, and from the look on their faces, its absolutely obvious its not working anymore! People are having to accept the state of the world and many do not know how to handle it. Many, unfortunately, are turning to idolatry and false religious systems, which may distract for a moment, but even in that, the idolatry will eventually fail them and they will be left with the same glaring questions they had at the beginning i.e. “What do I do now?Who can I turn too for help?”
As such, nothing is a coincidence with HaShem! Everything, even down to the most miniscule, insignificant element in existence has a specific purpose for which He placed in its specific spot, for a specific reason. Absolutely nothing is just because or an accident with HaShem! Keep this in mind as we proceed.
As I put this Op together, it is 8 October 2022, the final Shabbat before Sukkot begins. The Torah portion for today is the last Torah portion before Sukkot and it is ‘Ha’azinu’ which is found in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 32:1-52. The Haftarah is found in 2 Samuel 22:1-52. The Psalm for Shabbat today is Psalms 71. Let’s examine these for a bit and see what HaShem is telling us today amidst this collapsing world around us. But, before we do so, never forget the following 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
He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5
The Song of Moshe, which is found here in today’s Torah portion says beginning in Devarim 32:1-6 “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and may the earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teaching drop like the rain, may my utterance flow like the dew; like storm winds upon vegetation and like raindrops upon blades of grass. When I call out the Name of HaShem, ascribe greatness to our Elohim. THE ROCK! Perfect is His work, for ALL His paths are justice; a Elohim of faith without iniquity, righteous and fair is He. Corruption is NOT His, the blemish is His children’s, a perverse and twisted generation. Is it to HaShem that you do this, O vile and unwise people? Is He not your Father, your Master? Has He not created you and firmed you?”
It is interesting, the commentary on describing HaShem as our Rock from the Chumash says “HaShem’s justice applies so broadly that nothing escapes His system of reward and punishment. Someone who claims that HaShem will overlook sins is dangerously mistaken. By making such a claim, he influences others to sin, since they will think that there is no punishment for their actions. Therefore, anyone who claims that HaShem disregards our sins will have his own life disregarded.”
What is the one thing the world is collapsing over? In my opinion, it is injustice! There are multiple levels of justice being executed on people depending on their level of wealth, status in the community, entertainment status, social status, etc. Instead of having an unbiased level of justice applied equally to all persons, now its corrupted and what is the end result? Societies and nations collapse! Moving on.
Devarim 32:7-10 says “Remember the days of yore, understand the years of generation after generation. Ask your father and he will relate it to you, your elders and they will tell you. When the Supreme One gave the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children of man, He set the borders of the peoples according to the number of the Children of Israel. For HaShem’s portion is His people; Yaakov is the measure of His inheritance. He discovered him in a desert land, in desolation, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He granted him discernment, He preserved him like the pupil of His eye.”
So, here we see it is HaShem Who sets the borders of the nations based upon the number of the Children of Israel! This indicates it is the twelve tribes of Israel which help hold up the world! We further see it is from HaShem Who encircled His people, granted discernment and preserved Yaakov i.e. Israel! Keep this in mind!
Devarim 32:11-14 says “He (HaShem) was like an eagle arousing its nest, hovering over its young, spreading its wings and taking them, carrying them on its pinions. HaShem alone guided them, and no other power was with them. He would make him ride on the heights of the land and have him eat the ripe fruits of my fields; He would suckle him with honey from a stone, and oil from a flinty rock; butter of cattle and milk of sheep with fat of lambs, rams born in Bashan and he-goats, with wheat as fat as kidneys; and you would drink blood of a grape like delicious wine.”
The analogy of HaShem like an eagle is amazing. Read the following from a commentary from Ohr HaChaim: “An eagle approaches its nest gently, so as not to overwhelm its young by appearing in the nest too suddenly; in addition, it does not rest its weight upon its young but hovers over them. Likewise, when HaShem appeared to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai, He appeared in a manner that they could bear, designed so as not to overwhelm them.”
Unfortunately, too much of a good thing tends to make us get lazy, complacent, take for granted and as a whole end up rebelling against HaShem.
Devarim 32:15-27 says “Yeshurun (Another name for Israel) became fat and kicked. You became fat, you became thick, you became corpulent, and it deserted HaShem its Maker; and was contemptuous of the Rock of its salvation. They would provoke His jealousy with strangers; they would anger Him with abominations. They would slaughter to demons without power; gods whom they knew not, newcomers recently arrived, whom your ancestors did not dread. You ignored the Rock Who gave birth to you, and forgot Elohim Who brought you forth. HaShem will see and be provoked by the anger of His sons and daughters, and He will say, ‘I shall hide My face from them and see what their end will be, for they are a generation of reversals, children in whom there is no loyalty. They provoked Me with a non god, they angered Me with their vanities; so shall I provoke them with a non people, with a vile nation shall I anger them. For fire will have been kindled in My nostrils and blazed to the lowest depths. It shall consume the earth and its produce, and set ablaze what is founded on mountains. I shall accumulate evils against them, My arrows shall I use up against them; bloating of famine, battles of flaming demons, cutting down by the noontime demon, and the teeth of beasts shall I dispatch against them. On the outside, the sword will bereave, while indoors there will be dread, even a young man, even a virgin, a suckling with the gray haired man. I had said, ‘I will scatter them, I will cause their memory to cease from man’ were it not that the anger of the enemy was pent up, lest his tormenters misinterpret; lest they say, ‘Our hand was raised in triumph, and it was NOT HaShem Who accomplished all this!'”
All of this sounds extremely harsh by HaShem towards His people who rebelled against Him, but consider if He will do this to His own people, how much more will He act against the nations who have never known Him and embrace all sorts of debauchery, filth, idolatry and sins! Further, the nations He brings down upon Israel, often think it was by their own hands, skills, superiority, etc, that allowed them to prevail over HaShem’s people, when in fact, they are just a tool in HaShem’s Hand! Again, showing the mastery of HaShem over His creation and how all things work to His purposes! Finally, remember HaShem brings about these harsh judgments, not only just for purposes of justice and righteousness but also to motivate teshuvah (Repentance) i.e. returning to HaShem and His Torah! It is HaShem’s desire that none perish, but that all come to repentance!
Consider what HaShem says in Ezekiel 33:11 which says “Say to them, ‘As I live, the words of my Master, HaShem/Elohim, I do not desire the death of the wicked one, but the wicked one’s return from his way that he will live. Repent, repent from your evil ways; why should you die, O family of Israel?'” This is reiterated in 2 Peter 3:9!
Devarim 32:28-31 says “For they are a nation bereft of counsel, and there is no discernment in them. Were they wise they would comprehend this, for they would discern it from their end. For how could one pursue a thousand, and two cause a myriad to flee, if not that their Rock had sold them out, and HaShem had delivered them? For not like our Rock is their rock, yet our enemies judge us!”
The commentary from Ohr HaChaim on these verses says “For they are nation bereft of counsel. It means that these idolatrous nations do not have the nature to make such an observation; they are bereft of such counsel, and will not assume that the Jewish people were destroyed on account of their sins. Moreover, the verse continues, and there is no discernment in them, meaning that even if these nations would recognize that what happened to the Jewish people was a result of their sins, they lack the ability to discern one thing from another and to infer that if the Jews were punished so severely, then surely the idol worshiping nations will be destroyed on account of their greater sins!” Again, the perfect explanation for why Replacement Theology Christendom is so extremely dangerous and destructive, because its doctrine is exactly as is explained here i.e. “G-d hates Israel, ‘Jesus’ destroyed the Torah, and everything has either been changed or replaced while sin is just a concept from the past with no fear of punishment or judgment!” Moving on.
Devarim 32:32-35 says “For their (Israel’s) vineyard is from the vineyard of Sedom (Sodom) and from the fields of Amorah (Gemorah); serpents venom is their wine, the poison of cruel vipers. Is it not hidden with Me, sealed in My treasuries? Mine is vengeance and retribution at the time their foot will falter; for the day of their catastrophe is near, and future events are rushing at them.“
HaShem is referring here to the Day of Judgment which is the era we are currently fast approaching!
Devarim 32:36-41 here Israel is comforted by HaShem despite the judgments decreed: “When HaShem will have judged His people, He shall relent regarding His servants, when He sees that enemy power progresses, and none is saved or assisted. He will say, ‘Where is their god, the rock in whom they sought refuge?’ The fat of whose offerings they would eat, they would drink the wine of their libations? Let them stand help you! Let them be a shelter for you! See, now, that I, I am He, and no god is with Me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and there is no rescuer from My hand. For I shall raise My hand to heaven and say, ‘As I live forever; if I sharpen My flashing sword and My hand grasps judgment, I shall return vengeance upon My enemies and upon those that hate Me shall I bring retribution.“
Ohr HaChaim expounds and says “It will thus gird itself in judgment to return vengeance upon the enemies of HaShem, who are in fact none other than the enemies of the Jewish people, for they hate us for no reason other than our attachment to HaShem. When the verse concludes and says, and upon those who hate Me I shall bring retribution, it is referring to those who are in the class of people that incite the Jewish people to transgress the Torah.”
Devarim 32:42-43 says “I shall intoxicate My arrows with blood and My sword shall devour flesh, because of the blood of corpse and captive, because of the earliest depredations of the enemy. O nations, sing the praises of His people, for He will avenge the blood of His servants; He will bring retribution upon His foes, and His earth will atone for His people.”
There is a prophetic verse found in Psalms 144:15 which says “Praiseworthy is the people for whose Elohim is HaShem.” The point is, HaShem will punish and judge His people, but the judgment which will fall upon the nations who never knew Him will be far more severe and in the falling of this judgment, in the end of days, the nations will realize who Israel is in relation to HaShem!
Devarim 32:44-47 says “Moshe came and spoke all the words of this Song in the ears of the people, he and Hoshea (Joshua) son of Nun. Moshe concluded speaking all these words to all Israel. He said to them, ‘Apply your hearts to all the words that I testify against you today, with which you are to instruct your children, to be careful to perform all the words of this Torah, for it is not an empty thing for you, FOR IT IS YOUR LIFE, and through this matter shall you prolong your days on the Land to which you cross the Jordan to possess it.”
Again, HaShem reiterates the Torah is our life! It is a tree of life to those who take hold of it! Even if we read His Torah and have zero idea or understanding what exactly we are reading, it still is having an effect in that His Word is getting into our hearts and minds! If we ask Him, He WILL give us discernment and help us to understand and how to apply this to our daily lives!
Devarim 32:48-52 says “HaShem spoke to Moshe on that very day, syaing, ‘Ascend to this mount of Abarim, Mount Nevo, which is in the land of Moav, which is before Yericho, and see the land of Canaan that I give to the Children of Israel as an inheritance, and die on the mountain you will ascend, and be gathered to your people, as Aharon your brother died on Mount Hor; and was gathered to his people, because you trespassed against Me among the Children of Israel at the waters of strife at Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Tzin; because you did not sanctify Me among the Children of Israel. For from a distance shall you see the Land, but you shall not enter there, into the Land that I give to the Children of Israel.'”
There is a giant prophetic element to these verses in that even though Moshe was not allowed to enter the Land then, in the future redemption, Moshe WILL be resurrected and WILL enter the Land then!! May it be so very soon in our days! So, I hope you can see HaShem IS our Rock and our place of refuge, safety, protection, provision, etc from this Torah portion? Now consider what David says in the Haftarah from 2 Samuel 22!
The Haftarah is pretty self explanatory so I won’t comment on it. Just pay attention to how HaShem is described by David!!! 2 Samuel 22:1-51 says “Then David spoke to HaShem the words of this song, on the day when HaShem had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. And he said: “HaShem is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer; The Elohim of my strength, in whom I will trust; My Shield and the Horn of my Salvation, My Stronghold and my Refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon HaShem, Who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.”
“When the waves of death surrounded me, the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon HaShem, and cried out to my Elohim; He heard my voice from His Temple, And my cry entered His ears. ‘Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because He was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, And devouring fire from His mouth; coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down with darkness under His feet. He rode upon a cherub, and flew; and He was seen upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness canopies around Him, dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. From the brightness before Him Coals of fire were kindled.”
“HaShem thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His Voice. He sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning bolts, and He vanquished them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, the foundations of the world were uncovered, at the rebuke of HaShem, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils. ‘He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but HaShem was my Support.”
“He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. ‘HaShem rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of HaShem, and have not wickedly departed from my Elohim. For all His judgments were before me; and as for His statutes, I did not depart from them. I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity. Therefore HaShem has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His eyes. ‘With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; with a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; with the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. You will save the humble people; but Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down.”
“For You are my lamp, HaShem; The Master shall enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop; by my Elohim I can leap over a wall. As for Elohim, His way is perfect; the word of HaShem is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. ‘For who is Elohim, except HaShem? And who is a Rock, except our Elohim? Elohim is my Strength and Power, and He makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”
“You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me; so my feet did not slip. ‘I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them; neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed. And I have destroyed them and wounded them, so that they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet. For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose against me. You have also given me the necks of my enemies, so that I destroyed those who hated me. They looked, but there was none to save; even to HaShem, but He did not answer them. Then I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I trod them like dirt in the streets, and I spread them out.”
“You have also delivered me from the strivings of my people; You have kept me as the head of the nations. A people I have not known shall serve me. The foreigners submit to me; as soon as they hear, they obey me. The foreigners fade away, and come frightened from their hideouts. “HaShem lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let Elohim be exalted, The Rock of my Salvation! It is HaShem Who avenges me, and subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. Therefore I will give thanks to You, O HaShem, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your Name. ‘He is the tower of salvation to His king, and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and his descendants forevermore.’”
Now consider what He says in Psalms 71 i.e. the Psalms for this Torah portion!
Psalms 71:1-22 says “In You HaShem, I have taken refuge, let me not be shamed, ever. In Your righteousness rescue me and deliver me; incline Your ear to me and save me. Be for me a sheltering Rock to which to come always; in the past You commanded my salvation, for my Rock and my Fortress are You. My Elohim, deliver me from the wicked one’s hand, from the palm of the schemer and the violent one. For You are my hope, O Master HaShem/Elohim, my security since my youth.”
“I relied on You from my birth, You with drew me from the innards of my mother; of You is my praise always. When I became an example to the multitude, You were my mighty refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise, all day long with Your splendor. Do not cast me off in time of old age; when my strength fails, forsake me not. For my foes speak of me, and those who watch for life consult together, saying, ‘Elohim has forsaken him, pursue and catch him, for there is no rescuer.’ O Elohim, be not far from me; O my Elohim, hasten to my assistance.”
“Let the adversaries of my soul be shamed and consumed; let those who seek my harm be enwrapped in disgrace and humiliation. As for me, I shall always hope, and I will yet add to all Your praise. My mouth shall recount Your righteousness, all day long Your salvation, though I know not their numbers. I shall come with the mighty deeds of the Master, HaShem/Elohim, I will mention Your righteousness, Yours alone. O Elohim, You have taught me from my youth, and until this moment I declare Your wonders. And even until old age and hoariness, O Elohim, forsake me not; until I proclaim Your strength to the generation, Your might to all who will yet come.”
“And Your righteousness, O Elohim, is unto the high heavens; You, Who have done great things, O Elohim, who is like You? You, Who have shown me many and grievous troubles; revive me again, and from the depths of the earth raise me again. Increase my greatness, and turn back to comfort me. I shall also thank You on the stringed instrument for Your faithfulness, my Elohim; I shall sing to You on the harp, O Holy One of Israel. My lips shall rejoice when I sing to You, as well as my soul that You have redeemed. My tongue, too, shall utter Your righteousness all day long; for they are shamed, for they are humiliated, those who seek my harm.”
Can you see the theme of this weeks Torah portion? HaShem IS the ONLY Rock we have and there is no other….Baruch HaShem!! He is ALL we need and to walk in His Ways i.e. His Torah is what facilitates our relationship with Him! In HaShem we take our refuge, especially now in the midst of this vile, cruel, wicked and debaucherously corrupt world!
One final thought and then I will close this Op. The following is from a book published by Artscroll by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin titled ‘My Father My King’ discussing the topic of fear which says “When you experience fear, hear your Father, your King, the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe, saying to you: ‘My child, let Me help you over come your fears. Any experience of fear provides you with an opportunity to become closer to Me. When you feel a strong need for Me, your words to Me will be more intense and will come from a deep place within you. When your fear brings you closer to Me, you benefit spiritually, even as your fear diminishes.”
“How would you feel if you knew I was always with you? Permit yourself a greater awareness that I am always with you. Feel yourself becoming calmer. A total awareness that your loving Father and powerful King is with you will give you feelings of serenity and courage. Along with King David, you will be able to say, ‘Even when I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, because You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.'”
“When you feel courage and inner strength, you will be free from fear. Imagine hearing Me saying to you, ‘I am giving you courage.’ Feel this courage permeating your entire being. Feel this courage entering every cell and every muscle. Feel this courage filling every part of your brain. Think of what it would be like to have this courage now. And this courage is a gift to you whenever you need it.”
“Think of various people who have courage. I have sent those people to you as role models to increase your own level of courage. Whenever you need more courage, imaging that you are one of the most courageous people you have ever encountered. The power of imagination I have given you enables you to do this.”
“Breathe slowly and deeply, My child. This will diminish your fear and begin to make you calmer. Appreciate each breath. Feel Me helping you become calmer with each breath you take. Every time you exhale, exhale fear. Every time you inhale, inhale courage. Never do anything to needlessly cause any of My other children fear. Do everything you can to help My children overcome their fears. Let your own experiences of fear give you more compassion for the fears of others. When you learn to overcome your own fears, you will be able to do chesed (Kindness) by helping others do the same.”
Its an interesting concept Rabbi Pliskin discusses here about fear and I thought it might be helpful especially in light of today’s world!
So, in closing this Op, today’s Torah portion reinforces HaShem is our Rock and our Shield in every way possible, but also our Provider for all of our needs. We have to live one day at a time, one step at a time, literally one breath at a time and pray to our compassionate, kind, forgiving Great King that may today be the day of our great final redemption and until we get to that point, may He grant us the strength and stamina to hold onto Him tightly one more day!
Much to consider!
Shabbat Shalom!
SOURCE MATERIALS
The Milstein Chumash with the Teachings of the Talmud by Artscroll
“The Elohim! His Way is perfect; the promise of HaShem is pure. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him!” 2 Samuel 22:31
Can we all agree that the year 2023 has been a year unlike any other in recent history? This year has been an extremely difficult year for many, many people: The sudden deaths of loved ones, receiving devastating health news, economic difficulties, watching a country literally rip itself apart, crime running amok akin to Hollywood movie levels, a literal invasion of the country via the border and being facilitated from the very top, catastrophic weather events, etc. Plus, being literally on the cusp of World War 3 to include using nuclear weapons at any moments notice! This year has been one hit after another hit in rapid succession it seems and there appears to be no reprieve anytime soon!
HaShem knows and has known all along this is how it will be in the End just before the Birth Pains commence because, remember, He reveals the End from the Beginning (Isaiah 46:10)! He is in so much control over all of His creation, He is able to to reveal the End from the Beginning and turn catastrophic events into something good and to our benefit because nothing is impossible for Him!
With this said, it is no wonder then that HaShem, in my opinion, wants us to, now more than ever, better understand the significance of not just His Feasts, but specifically Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) and just what it all truly represents especially in light of 2023! In my opinion, what we are witnessing take place in the year 2023 brings us to the very cusp, before the real prophesied events of the Birth Pains commence; which means we are going to have to draw closer to HaShem unlike anytime in our lives before if we are going to not only survive what is coming but also to be a witness for others that HaShem, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Elohim of Israel, is the One and Only true living Elohim, Who shares His glory with no one and the focus of servitude and worship of Israel and all those who wish to serve HaShem!
It is my intent that this Op not focus on the horrible events that have occurred to people, but to be a reminder that HaShem has NOT abandoned us! But that He Himself, in His abundant mercy, compassion, kindness and forgiveness, is wholly able to not only shelter us, but to provide for us and yes, even weep and grieve with us when these catastrophic events do take place. This is best exemplified in His commanded Feast of Sukkot! Keep this in mind as we progress and never forget the following eternal and 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
He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5
What is the main theme of Sukkot? Is it to dwell in a sukkah? Is it to commemorate the Wilderness experience when HaShem miraculously delivered our forefathers out of Egyptian bondage by His Great Power and mercy? Yes, Sukkot commemorates these events, but would you be surprised the main theme of Sukkot is the command to REJOICE in HaShem and to celebrate our most greatest possession He has granted to us i.e. His Torah! Seven days of rejoicing in HaShem and acknowledging all we have is from Him and Him alone! Seven days of rejoicing in HaShem and acknowledging only He is our literal place of refuge, shelter, protection, provision, redemption and salvation! Imagine, seven days of celebrating the goodness of HaShem, especially in light of the events of 2023! Baruch HaShem!!
Sukkot is the climax of the three Pilgrimage Feasts of HaShem i.e. Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot, in which all are to present themselves before HaShem, the Great King, in the Temple in Jerusalem as well as bring korbonot (Offerings) and gifts to the Great King!
On Pesach HaShem redeemed His people and on Shavuot He informed His founding nation Israel the purpose of our freedom, to make the entire nation a ‘Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation’ per Exodus 19:6! On Sukkot, per the Sukkot Machzor, it states the message of Sukkot is as follows: “In the wilderness HaShem enveloped and sheltered Israel in His Clouds of Glory. The clouds were a sign that Israel had risen to the spiritual level that made it worthy of HaShem’s all enveloping protection.” This is where the importance of the Sukkah is derived from in that in the Wilderness, HaShem Himself, sheltered Israel and shielded the people from every form of danger in existence. This is why when we build our Sukkah’s each year, at least in my experience, there is a very real, tangible, Presence in the Sukkah which does give you the sense of protection and shelter! I cannot explain or describe it other than I would recommend people who have not erected a Sukkah before, do so at this time and you will see for yourself and be instantly hooked and will from this point on look forward to Sukkot each year! HaShem wants us to literally experience Him and we certainly can do so on His Feasts along with all the outstanding food He commands we prepare and enjoy, but it is here on Sukkot where we are literally in His Presence in the Sukkah, shielded from the world outside…what could be more important to each of us today especially in light of 2023? The Sukkah is the embodiment of our fullest faith and trust in HaShem that only He provides greater protection than “Battlements and armies. We have experienced the days of joy that stem from awareness that only HaShem cares for us and provides us our sustenance. Such feelings and experiences produce love for HaShem. And in the long run, love and joy accomplish far more than fear. So we move immediately to channel this love and joy into a celebration of the Torah, a celebration which is simultaneously a covenant between ourselves and HaShem to remain loyal to Him and His teachings.”
It is here at Sukkot we are commanded by HaShem in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:33-34 says “HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying: ‘Speak to the Children of Israel, saying: ‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month (Month of Tishrei) is the Festival of Sukkot, a seven day period for HaShem. On the first day is a holy convocation, you shall not do any laborious work. For a seven day period you shall offer a fire offering (Olah/Burnt Offering) to HaShem; on the eighth (Eighth day of the Feast) there shall be a holy convocation as an assembly, you shall not do any laborious work.'” So the first day of Sukkot is a Shabbat as is the eighth day of the Feast is a Shabbat. In the days in between, we are to rejoice, celebrate and experience HaShem and His Presence! What King do you know of in history that actually commands His people to rejoice, experience and celebrate His mercy, kindness and goodness?
This is why when we read in His Word where various scriptures discuss ‘The Feast’ or ‘The Festival’ it is a Hebrew idiom pointing to Sukkot, THE Great Feast of celebration and rejoicing which has very strong prophetic implications connected to the return of Yeshua to Jerusalem at the end of the seven year Birth Pains. It will be on that Yom Kippur, Yeshua will march into Jerusalem and defeat the False Messiah and all of his followers once and for all. Then He will gather all of Israel to Jerusalem and we will embark on the greatest celebration in human history five days later on that Sukkot!
On a side note, this is precisely why the doctrine of Replacement Theology and its Torah hating theology is so infuriating to me because it accuses HaShem of being a liar and a cruel despotic monster Who has deceived Israel into accepting His Torah and then in turn creates a brand new group of people completely devoid of the Torah and then claims this new group is exactly what He wanted from the very beginning…..its not only very confusing but it is the height of blasphemy and idolatry. I digress.
Per Bamidbar (Numbers) 29:12-34, seventy bulls were offered as Olah (Burnt) Korbonot on Sukkot in the Temple. These korbonot were to protect the seventy nations of the world from suffering, to seek atonement for them and to seek peace for all peoples. These seventy bulls were offered in a diminishing fashion i.e. thirteen bulls offered on the first day, twelve the second day, and so on until there were only seven bulls offered on Hoshana Rabbah i.e. the last day of Sukkot.
On the Eighth Day of the Feast of Sukkot is ‘Simchat Torah’, it is the completion of the Torah reading cycle for that year. In other words a day of celebration and rejoicing over the Torah of HaShem! Why is His Torah something to rejoice and celebrate when we have Replacement Theology constantly going on about how the Torah is the epitome of bondage, death, destruction and enslavement? The following excerpt from the Book ‘Simchat Torah – Its Significance, Laws and Prayers’ it says “The deeper significance of Rabbi Hillel’s famous teaching that the primary commandment of the Torah is ‘Love your fellow as yourself, the rest is commentary; now go and study!’ per Tractate Shabbat 32a from the Talmud Bavli. Hillel meant to say that the Torah and its commandments are the means to bring Jews together as one, and when there is the proper kind of unity among Jews, then the Torah can achieve its purpose of bringing about unity between Israel and HaShem. So it was that the Torah could be given at Sinai only when Israel had banished strife from itself and gathered at Sinai which is based upon the verse ‘Like one person with one heart’ in Shemot (Exodus) 19:2.”
This is another reason why Yeshua MUST come in the likeness of Moshe because it was Moshe, who was HaShem’s Agent i.e His Sheliach/Sent One, who brought the Torah to Israel. Remember as we have discussed in previous Op’s, an agent is likened to the one who sent him in the first place, therefore when read the words of Yeshua where He says “When you see Me, you have seen the Father” per John 14:9, now it makes much more sense in that Yeshua is re-affirming He is the AGENT of HaShem i.e. the Sheliach of HaShem and NOT literally HaShem in the flesh as that is just not possible for so many, many reasons.
The following is from the article ‘The Law of Agency’ from the Jewish Encylopedia and it states: “The Law of Agency deals with the status of a person (known as the agent) acting by direction of another (the principal), and thereby legally binding the principal in his connection with a third person. The person who binds a principal in this manner is his agent, known in Jewish law as sheluaḥ or sheliaḥ (one that is sent): the relation of the former to the latter is known as agency (sheliḥut). The general principle is enunciated thus: A man’s agent is like himself (Ḳid. 41b).”
How does this fit into our discussion here in this Op? It fits because it is a reminder of Who is and who the Messiah cannot be in light of the Word of HaShem! Yeshua is the embodiment of the Word of HaShem and as such can only teach the Torah of HaShem! Any message devoid of the Torah and Yeshua has been disqualified as being the Messiah! Very, very serious topic but I digress.
I could keep going on and on with this Op, but for the sake of time, I will sum it up here in that Sukkot is the time we are to rejoice and celebrate HaShem and His Torah! Especially in light of all the terrible news and experiences people are enduring this very troubled year, now more than ever we need to be reminded and encouraged to draw near to HaShem for He is good, He is kind, He is compassionate and His mercies endure forever. Further, when we are suffering, I truly believe HaShem is right there right next to us suffering with each of us! And think about it, right now our Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) is preparing to officiate the Sukkot Temple Services in the Heavenly Domain i.e. Yeshua, so while we are unable to fully experience Sukkot via the Temple in Jerusalem, our Messiah and Kohen HaGadol in the order of Melchizedek Yeshua, will be officiating on our behalf before HaShem! Baruch HaShem!
With this said, let me quickly input that during the morning daily Tamid services, i.e. the (Burnt) korbonot offerings, it is during the days of the Sukkot Feast in the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem is the Water Libation Ceremony where the Kohanim go down to the Shiloach Pools, a fresh water spring in the City of David and draw water to bring up to the Altar and offer the water before HaShem. They sounded a ‘Tekiah, Teruah and Tekiah’ Shofar blasts as the Kohanim reached the Water Gate. Isaiah 12:3 says “And with joy, shall you draw water!” which is in reference to this ceremony. There is a very well known saying in the Mishnah Tractate Sukkah 5.1 discussing the Water Libation Ceremony in which it says “Whoever had not seen the rejoicing of the Bet Ha-Sho’eva (Rejoicing of the House of Drawing) had never seen rejoicing in his life.”
Why is this important? Because there is a famous event recorded in the Book of John chapter 7 verses 37-39 in which Yeshua is in the Temple and He suddenly and loudly calls out to the people “And on the last day, the great day of the Festival, Yeshua stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me, and let him who believes in Me drink. As the Scripture said, ‘Out of His innermost shall flow rivers of living water. And this He said concerning the Ruach (Spirit), which those believing in Him were about to receive, for the Set-apart Spirit was not yet given, because Yeshua was not yet esteemed.” Can you see the significance of what Yeshua is saying here? He is likening Himself to the water of HaShem i.e. another famous idiom describing His Torah! Another reason why we need to know everything about HaShem’s Feasts because those same idioms are used in the Apostolic Writings!!
Consider the prophecy in Zechariah 14:16 about Sukkot which says “It shall be that all who are left over from all the nations (At the end of the seven year Birth Pains and destruction wrought by the False Messiah), who had invaded Jerusalem will come up every year to worship the King HaShem, Master of Legions, and to celebrate the Festival of Sukkot. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the land does not go up to Jerusalem to bow down before the King, HaShem, Master of Legions, there will be no rain upon them.” Very interesting, so after Yeshua returns, destroys the False Messiah, then all those nations which remain who invaded Jerusalem, as part of their formal surrender agreement, MUST agree to come up to Jerusalem each Sukkot to bow before HaShem the Great King. Those who refuse, He will withhold the rain and they will go into drought until they do surrender. Interesting connection between the rain and the water ceremony on Sukkot, not a coincidence!
So again in summary, now more than ever before, we need to understand, study and learn all there is about Sukkot because these principles He is teaching us are what will strengthen, encourage and fill us with the fortitude, courage and drive to press forward in this very difficult year. Remember He says His Torah is a tree of life to those who take hold of it!! He either really means it or was just making a statement for effect. Each of us will have to decide how to apply this to our own lives.
Be encouraged and enjoy HaShem this Sukkot and dwell in His Presence in His ‘Shelter of Faith!’ Even if you have crushing health, financial or other problems and or received crushing health news recently, HaShem is not defeated by any of this! We have much to fear from this vile, wicked, cruel world, but Baruch HaShem, He is far above this world and nothing is impossible with Him! May our Final Redemption be so VERY soon in our days!
I will close with this reminder from Psalms 9:10 “HaShem will be a tower of strength for the oppressed, a tower of strength in times of distress.” Draw near to Him today!
Shalom
SOURCE MATERIALS:
The Scriptures by the Institute for Scriptures Research
The Stone Edition Chumash by Artscroll
The Rubin Edition The Prophets by Artscroll
Tehillim by Artscroll
The Schottenstein Edition Sukkot Machzor by Artscroll
“How precious is Your kindness, O Elohim! The sons of man, in the shadow of Your wings take refuge. They will be sated from the abundance of Your House; and from the stream of Your delights give them to drink. For with You is the source of life, by Your light shall we see light.” Psalms 36:8-10
As I begin to put this Op together it is Preparation Day, the Sixth Day of the Week, preparing for Shabbat, 15 July 2022! How many would agree now more than ever we each need encouragement from HaShem, to strengthen ourselves so we do not become overcome or overwhelmed by the madness, cruelty and depravity engulfing the world around us?
I firmly believe HaShem is revealing Himself to us, for those who will take the time to notice, that is. Just this week, NASA revealed images from the newly deployed James Webb Space Telescope which is in orbit around the sun. These images, which I will be using in this Op, are beyond stunning!! They reveal a universe, beyond wonder, utterly proving, in my opinion, a Master and Creator Who fashioned them all, and placed them all in their locations, to reveal His glory and wonder! Is it a coincidence HaShem allowed these pictures to be revealed this week? Nothing is a coincidence with HaShem!
I know for myself, when looking at these pictures, it does help me get grounded again in the promises of HaShem, that He truly is in absolute control despite the utter insanity going on around me in the world! The same One Who fashioned the entire universe, Who reveals Himself in His creation, Who places every rain drop, every grain of sand, every lightning bolt, every wind gust, every blade of grass, etc, is the same One Who is governing His creation to include the insanity and depravity going on all around us today!
Further than this, this is the same One Who is captivated with His Bride, Israel, and has promised to gather her home into the Land and to spend eternity with her as He reveals in His Word, specifically the first three chapters of Shir HaShirim! Chapter Four is a continuation of this promise!
Another reason why studying and learning about His Temple, as He commands in Ezekiel 43:10-11, will utterly enhance our understanding of Who He is and what He desires and how He interacts with His Bride! His Temple is THE Garden of Eden! Everything is significant as it pertains to His Temple! Nothing is just a coincidence! Everything has a purpose which reveals His glory!
Remember, Yeshua is NOT Jewish per se….Yeshua IS a Torah observant, Orthodox Jew, as revealed in the Apostolic Writings and the prophecies of the Messiah in the Tanakh, and if the tools HaShem gave i.e. what the Sages taught as is recorded in the Written and Oral Torah’s, and were good enough for Him to use, then these same tools should be good enough for us today! My point is, knowing Yeshua will require us to strip off the garbage we all picked up in Christendom, as well as the Hebrew Roots/Messianic movements, which are, whether they know it or not, are all highly anti-Jewish organizations via their doctrine, which by default means they are highly anti-Yeshua. I know this is a very hard statement, but its a fact! To know Yeshua requires us to learn what HaShem has taught the Torah observant Jews! HaShem is sifting everyone right now, to know who is and who isn’t with Him! Keep this in mind.
In this Op, we are going to explore specific area’s of His Temple as He references them in His relationship with His Bride, Israel! This means, the likelihood this is going to be an extremely long Op is very high so be prepared and take lots of notes as I will be citing and referencing Scripture, Mishnah, Midrash, Written and Oral Torah sources! We will be studying each verse individually. There are a total of sixteen verses in Shir HaShirim chapter four.
It is my hope and prayer, these Op’s will enhance what we read in the Apostolic Writings and see there truly is nothing new and nothing has been tossed out or replaced as Christendom erroneously teaches! But also see just how much HaShem is true to His Word and His Promises! For the sake of His Great Name may He act very, very soon in our days!!
As always, it is critical to remember when reading these op’s the eternal 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
He says His Torah is the bread of life per Proverbs 9:5
Shir HaShirim 4:1 says“(HaShem speaking to Israel) Behold, you (Israel) are comely, My beloved, behold, you are indeed fair. Your eyes, the elders who possess a spiritual vision, to safeguard their people, demonstrate their fidelity and modesty from behind your kerchief. Your righteous ones, whose hair is radiant, are like that of a flock of white goats descending from Har Gilead.”
Chapter four begins with HaShem i.e. the Bridegroom, speaking to His beloved i.e. Israel and talks about her beauty and virtues. His description of her is not in a physical manner, but is an allegory. Again, if we understand His Temple, His Torah and how everything functions and operates, it will make much more sense and I will explain, with HaShem’s help.
The ‘Eyes’ of Israel, is the Sanhedrin (Court), comprised of 70 members plus one i.e. the Nasi, The Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) who is the head of the court, which sits in The Chamber of Hewn Stone in the Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem and renders rulings for how Israel is to walk in the Torah of HaShem!
We have discussed this many times before, but for review, Bamidbar (Numbers) 11:16-17 is where establishes the Sanhedrin: “HaShem said to Moshe, ‘Gather to Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and its officers; take them to the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meeting) and have them stand there with you. I will descend and speak with you there, and I will increase some of the Ruach (Spirit) that is upon you and place it upon them and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, and you shall not bear alone.'”
So, we see the Sanhedrin is NOT something man just up and decided one day, it is a commandment from HaShem in His Torah! HaShem follows up in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 17:10-11 and says “You shall do according to the matter that they (The Sanhedrin) will tell you, from that place that HaShem will choose (The Temple), and you shall be careful to do according to everything they will teach you. According to the Torah that they will teach you and according to the judgment that they will say to you, shall you do; you shall not deviate from the word that they will tell you, right or left.”
Again, we see, HaShem has established the authority of the Sanhedrin and their rulings on how to walk in the Torah i.e. the Halakah, which is the basis for the Oral Torah i.e. the Mishnah (Contains the rulings of the Sanhedrin) and expounded upon in the Talmud Bavli and Talmud Yerushalmi (Commentary on the Mishnah), Midrash, etc. To disregard the Oral Torah as being something man made and to toss it aside, is to break HaShem’s command to learn and do from what the Sanhedrin teaches since He has not only anointed them, but has given them the authority. If they render a wrong ruling, then they will answer to HaShem and they bear their guilt! Matthew 16:19 discusses ‘whatever one binds on earth will be bound in heaven’, is a reference to the Sanhedrin and their function/authority!! Once more, showing the Apostolic Writings support and endorse the authority of the Sanhedrin and nothing has changed or been tossed out!
An excerpt from Tractate Sanhedrin 86a from the Talmud Bavli states “…These judges and those judges come to the High Court of the Sanhedrin of seventy-one judges that is in the Chamber of Hewn Stone, FROM WHICH TORAH EMERGES TO THE ENTIRE JEWISH PEOPLE…” This is the function of the Sanhedrin i.e. the Eyes of Israel!
Book of the Mitzvos command #496 says “The prohibition to defy the directives of the Great Sanhedrin.” It cites Devarim 17:11-12 as the authority. “It is prohibited for us to dispute the masters of the Oral Tradition, may peace be upon them, and it is prohibited to deviate from their words or to depart from their instructions in any Torah matter.”
The underlying purpose of the mitzvah is that “since people’s thinking differs one from the other, when numerous people have opinions about something they will never all be in agreement. Thus, HaShem, the Master of all, blessed is He, knows that if the authority to interpret the Torah’s verses would be handed over to every individual, for each man to interpret according to his intelligence, every one of them would explain the words of the Torah according to his own personal understanding, and there would be much conflict among the Jewish people regarding the interpretation of the mitzvos. As a result, the Torah would become as if it were comprised of many different individual Torahs, since every person would practice his own set of laws. Therefore, our G-d, Who is the Master of all wisdom, gave wholeness to our Torah, the Torah of Truth, by including in it this mitzvah, in which He commanded us to conduct ourselves in matters of Torah law in accordance with the true explanation that was transmitted from Sinai to our earlier Sages, may peace be upon them; and in each and every generation as well, we are to heed the sages of that time, who received the words of the previous sages and absorbed knowledge from their writings, and who toiled diligently by day and by night, to understand the depth of their words and the profundity of their thoughts. Through this commitment to follow the rulings of the Sages, we will discover the true path in our knowledge of Torah.”
In other words, the rulings of the Sanhedrin on how to walk in the Torah of HaShem, is meant to keep all of Israel unified and on one page, per se, and not each man deciding for themselves how to walk in the Torah based upon their own intelligence and experiences, which is nothing but absolute chaos.
Per Tractate Sanhedrin 1.1 from the Kehati Mishnah commentary describes the court system: “There were three types of Courts – 1: The Court of three judges, which judged monetary lawsuits and lawsuits involving fines. 2: The Court of twenty-three judges i.e. the Small Sanhedrin, which judged capital lawsuits. 3: The Great Court of seventy-one i.e. the Great Sanhedrin or merely the Sanhedrin, which sat in the Chamber of Hewn Stone in the Temple. The Great Court judged the tribe that engaged in idolatry, the false prophet, and the High Priest. It also appointed the Small Sanhedrins, and ruled on points of Torah. The word ‘Sanhedrin’ is of Greek origin and means ‘The council of the elders of the people.'”
The following entries are derived from the book ‘The Handbook of Jewish Thought’ by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan:
11:8 – “The Sanhedrin was the FINAL authority in all questions of the Torah. Whoever believes in the authority of the Torah MUST accept the decisions of the Sanhedrin as binding.”
11:24 – “Any legislation enacted by the Sanhedrin is called a ‘Rabbinical Commandment’ as distinguished from a commandment from the Torah. Even legislation enacted by the Sanhedrin of Moses is considered a Rabbinical Commandment.”
11:33 – “The Sanhedrin is commanded to enact safeguards to prevent people from violating actual commandments from the Torah. It is thus written ‘You shall safeguard My charge’ per Leviticus 18:30. It is likewise taught ‘Make a fence for the Torah’ per Avot 1.1.”
11:34 – “Such safeguards were enacted at various periods according to the needs of the time. Once they were passed by the Sanhedrin and accepted by the majority of Israel, they could never be repealed by a later Sanhedrin.”
I hope you can see just how vital and important the Sanhedrin is to enabling Israel to function as HaShem’s people? The Sanhedrin truly are the ‘eyes’ of Israel! No wonder the adversary has worked so hard to destroy and erase the Sanhedrin especially today!
HaShem’s reference to a flock of white goats from the highlands of Gilad, per the commentary from the Five Megillot Shir HaShirim book by Koren Publishers says “The region known as Gilad extends from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea on the eastern side of the Jordan River. It is a hilly region, rich in water sources and vegetation, and suitable for pasture. However, it is relatively unsuitable for farming. The woman’s hair is compared to the sight of black goats streaming down a hill, black lines against the bright background of the highlands of Gilad.”
Shir HaShirim 4:2 says“Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes that have come up from being washed, when they are extremely white and clean. As the ewes emerge simultaneously from the water, the entire herd is lined up like white teeth, that are all paired, and there is none missing among them.”
The commentary from the Artscroll Shir HaShirim book says “Here, again, the allegory is couched in terms of physical beauty. The simile stresses the whiteness, regularity, and completeness of well cared for teeth, which are like carefully counted sheep whose wool is tended and washed by wise shepherds from the moment of birth. The verse allegorizes the mighty warriors of Israel who figuratively tear apart and consume their enemies round about them with their teeth but refrain from stealing and lewdness so they do not become tainted by sin.”
Additionally, the reference to the ‘Teeth’ is understood, per the Hebrew word used, to be pointing to the prayers of Israel to HaShem. It is interesting, one of the sources listed for this verse is Tractate Berakhot 30a from the Talmud Bavli, which says regarding our prayers to HaShem:
“One who was standing in prayer in the Diaspora (Global exile), should focus his heart towards Eretz Israel (Land of Israel), as it is stated, ‘And they shall pray to You by way of their land which You have given to their fathers’ per I Kings 8:48.”
“One who was standing in Eretz Israel, should focus his heart toward Jerusalem, as it is stated ‘And they shall pray to the Lord by way of the city You have chosen’ per I Kings 8:44″
“One who was standing in Jerusalem, should focus his heart toward the Temple, as it is stated, ‘And they shall pray toward this House’ per II Chronicles 6:32.”
“One who was standing in the Temple, should focus his heart toward the Holy of Holies, as it is stated, ‘And they shall pray toward this place’ per I Kings 8:35.”
“One who was standing in the Holy of Holies, should focus his heart toward the seat of the ark cover, atop the ark, the dwelling place of HaShem’s Glory.”
“One who was standing behind the seat of the ark cover, should visualize himself as if standing before the ark cover and turn toward it.”
“Consequently, one standing in prayer in the East turns to face west, and one standing in the West turns to face east. One standing in the South, turns to face north, and one standing in the North, turns to face south; all of the people of Israel find themselves focusing their hearts toward one place, the Holy of Holies of the Temple.”
So, no matter where one is in the world, the focus in our hearts when praying to HaShem is the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem in the Land of Israel i.e. the Throne of HaShem on earth!
Shir HaShirim 4:3 says“Like the scarlet thread, guarantor of Rachov’s safety, is the sincerity of your lips, and your word is unfeigned; your temple is like a split pomegranate from within your kerchief.”
The commentary from the Artscroll Shir HaShirim book says “As reflected in the translation this refers to the sincerity and earnestness of the pledge which the spies made to Rachov who sheltered them in Jericho. In gratitude, they pledged to guarantee her safety and that of her family when Israel occupied the city if she would display a scarlet thread as a signal to the conquering Jews per Joshua chapter two.”
What is very interesting is this reference to the scarlet thread is also very much associated with Yom Kippur! Again, this is where we need to be familiar with the Yom Kippur Temple Service to understand the gravity of what HaShem is saying here!
The commentary from the Shir HaShirim Judaica Press book on this verse says the following concerning the scarlet thread: “Your lips were as thin and red as a scarlet thread, which is a feature of beauty in a woman. This symbolizes the prophets who foresaw events in the distant future, and whose prophecies were realized, like red color, which is visible from afar and can be removed only with great difficulty. Also, the scarlet thread is referring to the Sanhedrin, which promulgates oral decisions, even to the extent of pronouncing the death sentence, symbolized by the scarlet thread. Another explanation is that the scarlet thread represents the scarlet thread tied to the head of the scapegoat on Yom Kippur. This would miraculously turn white, indicating the sins of the people were forgiven.”
Tractate Yoma 4.2 from the Mishnah says “He (Kohen HaGadol/High Priest) tied a strip of crimson/scarlet on the head of the Scapegoat (On Yom Kippur) and he stood it in the direction it was to be sent out (To Azazel), and to the one slaughtered at the place of the slaughtering. He came to his bullock a second time, and he placed his two hands on it and he made confession. And thus he would say: ‘O, HaShem (Except on Yom Kippur the Kohen HaGadol would utter the Four Letter Name of HaShem, which only the Kohen HaGadol can utter during the Yom Kippur Temple Service because of the kedusha attached to HaShem’s Name), I have done wrong, I have transgressed, I have sinned before You, I and my house and the children of Aaron, Your holy people. O, HaShem (Again the Kohen HaGadol would utter the Four Letter Name of HaShem), forgive the wrongs, and the transgressions, and the sins, that I have done wrong, and that I have transgressed, and that I have sinned before You, I and my house and the children of Aaron, Your holy people, as it is written in the Torah of Moses your servant, ‘For on this day (Yom Kippur) shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins shall you be clean before the Lord’ per Vayikra (Leviticus) 16:30. And they answer after him, ‘Baruch Shem kevod, malchotu laolam vayed’ Blessed be the Name of the glory of His kingdom for ever and ever.”
This is the basis for where we read in our English translations of the Bible of the word ‘Selah’. Christendom teaches this word just means a pause, but that is woefully incorrect and incomplete. The word ‘Selah’ is part of the Temple Services and when the Kohen HaGadol would utter the Four Letter Name of HaShem, all the people everywhere in the Temple would immediately prostrate facing the Holy of Holies and in unison utter the phrase ‘Baruch Shem kevod, malchotu la’olam vayed’ meaning ‘Blessed be the Name of the glory of His kingdom for ever and ever!’ When we read this word ‘Selah’ it is meant to be an indicator for us to know this is the part of the Temple Service where the Four Letter Name of HaShem was uttered and the people would prostrate! Nowhere outside of specific locations within the Temple can the Four Letter Name of HaShem be uttered and only the Kohen HaGadol may utter His Four Letter Name!!!! No, it isn’t some man made rule suddenly made up one day, but it is part of the tavnit (Blueprints) of the Temple Services HaShem gave to Moshe and David via His Ruach (Spirit) per Exodus 25 and I Chronicles 28!!
Tractate Yoma 6.8 says “They said to the High Priest, ‘The goat has reached the wilderness.’ And whence did they know that the goat had reached the wilderness? They would set up relay stations, and they waved with scarves, and they knew that the goat had reached the wilderness. Rabbi Yehuda said, ‘But did they not have a great sign?’ From Jerusalem to Bet Hiddudo (At the beginning of the wilderness, where the Scapegoat was led to the peak), three mils (One mil is a distance of 2,000 cubits); they could walk a mil, return a mil, and wait the time it takes to walk a mil, and thus know that the goat had reached the wilderness. Rabbi Yishmael says, ‘But did they not have another sign?’ A threat of crimson/scarlet was tied to the door of the Sanctuary, and when the goat reached the wilderness the thread would turn white. As it is written, ‘Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow’ per Isaiah 1:18.” All of this connected to Yom Kippur! Another reason why we MUST learn and know His Torah, His Temple, His Shabbat and His Feasts! Moving on.
HaShem’s reference to “is the sincerity of your lips, and your word is unfeigned“, is a reference to His bride’s speech. Per the commentary from the Judaica Press Shir HaShirim book it says “The words of your mouth are beautiful with the most fitting poetic language and the clearest enunciation. Allegorically, this refers to the Levites, who stood on the Duchan (Platform in the Temple) and sang the Psalms with their beautiful voices.”
His reference to “your temple is like a split pomegranate from within your kerchief” is very important to understand! The commentary says “The temple, this is the highest part of the face, called pomels or pomials, cheek bones, next to the eyes. And in the language of the Talmud, it is called ‘The pomegranate of the face’, and it resembles the split half of a pomegranate from the outside, which is red and round. This is a praise in terms of a woman’s beauty, and our Sages explained the allegory to mean, ‘Even your worthless ones i.e. empty ones, are full of mitzvot as a pomegranate.'”
Now what is the significance of a pomegranate? The pomegranate was tied to the Torah in that there are 613 commandments which comprise the Torah of HaShem, and it is said there are 613 seeds within a pomegranate! The pomegranate was used as a decoration commanded by HaShem to be sewn onto the garments of the Kohen HaGadol while serving in the Temple! Exodus 28:33-35 says “You shall make on its (Robe of the Ephod) hem pomegranates of turquoise, purple, and scarlet wool, on its hem all around, and gold bells between them, all around; a gold bell and a pomegranate, a gold bell and a pomegranate on the hem of the robe, all around. It must be on Aharon in order to minister. Its sound shall be heard when he enters the Sanctuary before HaShem and when he leaves, so that he not die.”
Now consider what the following in Tractate Yoma 7:3 from the Talmud Yerushalmi says with regards to the bells and the pomegranate and their function on the Robe of the Kohen HaGadol: “The garments worn by the Kohanim when they perform the service in the Beis HaMikdash (Temple) help bring atonement for specific sins. The Robe of the Kohen HaGadol had a row of gold bells and fabric pomegranates attached to its hem, and the bells tinkled when the Kohen HaGadol walked. There is no offering to atone for the sin of lashon hara (Gossip/slanderous speech), so the Torah gave us the bells of the Robe as an atonement as it says in the Talmud Yerushalmi Tractate Yoma ‘Let the sound of the ringing of the bells come and atone for the sound of lashon hara.'”
Per the book Perek Shirah The Song of the Universe discussing the pomegranate says “The pomegranate sings that one dare not underestimate even the apparently lowliest people. The fruit’s hundreds of hidden, tasty seeds symbolize the 613 commandments in the Torah. Like the veil hiding the person behind it, one never knows the abundant merits of people who are seemingly ordinary or worse. As the Sages put it, even the comparatively few merits of the lowest among you are numerous as pomegranate’s seeds. History is replete with unexpected courage and self sacrifice from the least likely people.”
The significance of the ‘kerchief’ per the commentary is that “Allegorically, this refers to the Sanhedrin, the judges of the community, who were the face of the generation, and they were as full of wisdom as a pomegranate is full of seeds, and they would conceal their wisdom in their hearts and not boast about it.”
Can you see just how detailed HaShem and His Word is? And this is truly nothing…I am doing everything I can to condense this down for the sake of the length of the Op as there is SO much!
Shir HaShirim 4:4 says“As stately as the Tower of David is, the site of your Sanhedrin built as a model to emulate with a thousand shields of Torah armor hung upon it, all the disciple filled quivers of the mighty.”
This single verse here in this chapter is an astounding verse which is packed full of meaning and significance which I hope to capture!
The reference to the ‘Tower of David’ is a reference to the Temple of HaShem! It is referred to the Temple as the Temple of HaShem is where all the mouths of Israel’s prayers are directed too and why? Because, again, the Temple of HaShem on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, is THE Place He has chosen and therefore is the place of His throne for the rest of eternity!
Consider the following powerful prayer offered up by Solomon in I Kings 8:27-30 when the First Temple was completed and Solomon dedicated it to HaShem: “Would Elohim truly dwell on earth? Behold, the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain You, and surely not this Temple that I have built! But, may You turn to the prayer that Your servant prays before You today, that Your eyes be open toward this Temple night and day, to the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ to hear the prayer that Your servant shall pray toward this place. And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, which they shall pray toward this place; may You hear from the place of Your habitation in Heaven, may You hear and forgive.”
We can see again the connection between the Temple of HaShem and the Sanhedrin which was located in the Temple of HaShem i.e. the Chamber of Hewn Stone! “The Sanhedrin is the spiritual stronghold of Israel from where the Torah emanated to the world!”
Now what is very significant to catch here is when HaShem says the following: “As stately as the Tower of David is, the site of your Sanhedrin built as a model to emulate.” What is He saying? The Temple and Sanhedrin of HaShem are what we are to learn, study and apply to our lives and live out in service to HaShem just as Yeshua Himself did! Remember HaShem commands each of us in Ezekiel 43:10-11 to learn EVERYTHING about His Temple and then we will be ashamed of our sin and truly repent! This is, in my opinion, the basis for what Paul was saying in I Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are a Dwelling Place (Temple) of Elohim and that the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you?” In other words, Paul was taking a very well known and understood concept to reinforce we are to learn and model our lives as well as our behavior after the Temple and Sanhedrin of HaShem!! To reject this, is once more the insidious trap of Replacement Theology and the fulfillment of the verse in Judges 17:6 which says “In those days (Meaning in the End of Days) there was no king in Israel; a man would do whatever seemed proper in his eyes!”
Additionally, to study and understand HaShem’s Temple and everything associated with it, we end up understanding ourselves and what HaShem created us for…to know what His task He has created us to accomplish in this life! Further, in studying and understanding His Temple, we will KNOW exactly who is Messiah and who is the false Messiah!!
Unfortunately, Christendom and its Replacement Theology doctrine took this and shredded this concept and built an entire teaching that the Temple and Sanhedrin have been replaced and done away with and now the believer is the Temple, literally, and therefore what stood in Jerusalem on the Temple Mount is now relegated to the garbage heap and the domain of Satan, no joke, many in Christendom teach this now.
Now here is where it gets really interesting! “With a thousand shields of Torah armor hung upon it”. Per the commentary it says “Allegorically, this refers to the Chamber of Hewn Stone, the seat of the Sanhedrin, from whence teaching went forth, Torah being Israel’s shield. Additionally, a cross reference to Psalms 105:8, ‘He remembered His covenant forever, the Word He commanded for a thousand generations.'” HaShem’s Word being His Torah! Deuteronomy 7:9 teaches “You must know that HaShem, your Elohim, He is the Elohim, the faithful Elohim, Who safeguards the covenant and the kindness for those who love Him and for those who observe His commandments, for a thousand generations.” So, once again, we see His Torah is at the center of our relationship with HaShem and further, it is eternal and has NOT been replaced, done away with or rendered obsolete…just the opposite! Moving on.
The final part of this verse says “All the disciple filled quivers of the mighty.” The commentary says “All quivers of the mighty that students or children are referred to in the context of arrows and quivers.” We see this concept in Psalms 127:4-5 which says “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of youth. Praiseworthy is the man who fills his quiver with them, they shall not be shamed, when they speak with enemies in the gate.” In Jewish life, children are extremely important! The commentary on this verse in Psalms says it best “Children of one’s youth grow to maturity while their father is still active and vigorous. They become their father’s trusted assistants in all of his affairs. Indeed, although David’s older sons were not his favorites, they were a great help to him.”
“When a father is still young, he possesses the patience and energy to give painstaking attention to developing his child’s personality. The son becomes a sharpened arrow, i.e. a weapon in the legions of the Lord to wage IDEOLOGICAL BATTLES against the enemies of our faith.”
“Rashi identifies these as the students a teacher educates while he is still young. Since they are educated and trained with spirit and enthusiasm they will eagerly battle and debate the enemies of Torah.”
“Having compared sons to arrows, the Psalmist now compares the home to each quiver which holds the arrows. Each son represents additional ammunition in the battle against the enemies of HaShem. Rashi understands the quiver full of arrows as a reference to a House of Study which is full of sharp and perceptive students. R. Hirsch adds that when the youthful father or teacher has taught his children properly, he can proudly and confidently display them in the gate i.e. in public, for they will valiantly voice their support of what is right.”
“The Talmud observes that people who are immersed in Torah study become intensely and passionately involved. Even a father and his son, or a rabbi and his close disciple may confront each other in furious debate in Torah matters, and they appear to be implacable enemies, as they argue their points. However, since they both seek truth rather than glory, they will not budge from the House of Study until the problem is resolved and they resume their affection.”
In light of this, consider what Proverbs 9:5 says “Come, partake of My bread and drink of the wine that I have mixed.” This verse is very powerful because the bread is the Written Torah of HaShem and the wine is the Oral Torah of HaShem! The commentary on this verse says “The Torah is likened to bread, for just as the world cannot exist without bread, it cannot exist without Torah.” And then we contrast this verse with what Yeshua said in John 6:32-35 says “Therefore Yeshua said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, Moshe did not give you the bread out of the heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread out of the heaven. For the bread of Elohim is He who comes down out of the heaven and gives life to the world.’ So they said to Him, ‘Master, give us this bread always.’ And Yeshua said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall not get hungry at all, and he who believes in Me shall not get thirsty at all.'”
In other words, the Torah of HaShem is THE Bread of Life which makes Yeshua the walking, talking Torah of HaShem, figuratively speaking. Which by default means if we want to know who the real Messiah is, Torah is the only way to know and not fall into the greatest deception the world has ever known and embrace ‘The Man of Lawlessness’ i.e. the man without the Torah of HaShem i.e. who teaches lawlessness or otherwise known as Replacement Theology!
Shir HaShirim 4:5 says“Moses and Aharon, your two sustainers, are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, who graze their sheep in rose like bounty.”
The commentary from the Shir HaShirim book by Artscroll on this verse likens Moshe and Aharon to being the ones who nursed Israel. “They are likened to the twins of a gazelle because they were equal one to the other. For this reason, sometimes Aharon’s is mentioned first per Exodus 6:26, and sometimes Moshe per Exodus 6:27 to demonstrate that Moshe was not greater than Aharon, nor was Aharon greater than Moshe.”
Rashi believes the reference to the twins of a gazelle to the Tablets of the Torah i.e. the Ten Commandments, with five commandments written on each stone. Further, he believes the five commandments on the first stone correspond to the five commandments written on the second stone. For example:
‘I am HaShem your Elohim’ corresponds to ‘You shall not murder’ for a murderer diminishes the divine image because he murdered someone who was created in the image of HaShem per Genesis 9:6.
‘You shall have no other gods’ corresponds to ‘You shall not commit adultery’, for one who engages in idolatry is comparable to a wife that commits adultery, taking strangers instead of her husband per Ezekiel 16:32 because he (The one committing idolatry) has thereby broken his covenant with HaShem.
‘You shall not take the Name of HaShem your Elohim in vain’ corresponds to ‘You shall not steal’, because one who steals will eventually swear falsely.
‘Remember the Shabbat Day to sanctify it’ corresponds to ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor’, because he who profanes the Shabbat, symbol of HaShem’s having created the world and having rested on the seventh day thereby testifies falsely against the Creator, denying that in the beginning He rested on the Shabbat.
‘Honor your father and your mother’ corresponds to ‘You shall not covet’, for he who covets will ultimately beget a son who may curse his real father while giving filial honor to one who is not his father.
Additionally, the reference in this verse to the twins of a gazelle, can apply to the King and Kohen HaGadol in that a King cared for the people’s physical needs while the Kohen HaGadol cared for the people’s spiritual needs, but they jointly ruled the people. Further, this reference to the twins of the gazelle, refers to the “Written and Oral Torah which like twins, complement and equal one another, and together lead us to graze in proper pastures” in our service to HaShem.
The reference to grazing their sheep in rose like bounty is very interesting. What is the significance of a rose as it pertains to HaShem and His Word? The Hebrew word ‘Shoshanim’ is the word for ‘Rose’. Psalms 69:1 and its commentary explains it best. It says in verse 1 “For the Conductor, upon Shoshanim, by David.” The commentary explains “Here David sings of the exile of Israel, which began with the exile of the members of the Sanhedrin, WHO ARE LIKENED TO ROSES. In exile, the seventy nations attack Israel, just as the thorns which surround the rose prick its delicate petals.”
“The chief characteristics of the rose are its bright red color and its remarkable fragrance. These symbolize the main features of exile. Israel’s wanderings have been stained by the blood of martyrdom, but the soul of our people has become permeated with the sublime fragrance of purity.”
So, once again we see HaShem discussing the Sanhedrin here in this chapter of Shir HaShirim! Clearly the Sanhedrin is extremely important to HaShem and we are expected to do our diligence and study, learn and apply what they have ruled on in our lives as we strive to serve HaShem and walk in His Torah!
Shir HaShirim 4:6-7 says“Until My sunny benevolence was withdrawn from Shiloh and the protective shadows were dispersed by your sin. I will go to Mount Moriah and the hill of frankincense where you will be completely fair My beloved, and no blemish will be in you.”
These two verses are connected which is why they are in one single entry. The commentary highlights this and says regarding these verses “HaShem’s recounting to Israel how He had always been their shade in the heat of the days, protecting them, until they forfeited His protection by sinning. Later, when His anger was abated, He relocated His glory at Mount Moriah (Temple Mount) where once again they were entirely pleasing to Him, and their mutual love resumes.”
“HaShem says ‘While the day was hot I protected you and you were acceptable to Me. But when, in the days of Hofni and Phinchas they sinned by profaning My holy things and despising My offerings I departed from you and abandoned your Tabernacle…’ allowing it to be destroyed by the Philistines.”
What happened in the days of Hofni and Phinchas? The account of Hofni and Phinchas is recorded in 1 Samuel 2:12-17: “The sons of Eli (The Kohen HaGadol) were lawless men; they did NOT recognize HaShem. This was the practice of the Kohanim (Priests) with the people: When any person would slaughter a korbonot (In this case a Shelamim/Peace korbonot) the Kohen’s attendant would come while the meat was cooking, with a three pronged fork in his hand. He would thrust it into the pot or the cauldron or the pan or the kettle, and everything the fork would bring up the Kohen would take with it. This is what they would do with all the Israelites who would come there, to Shiloh (Where the Tabernacle stood before the Temple was built in Jerusalem). Even before they would burn the fat on the Altar the Kohen’s attendant would come and say to the man who was bringing the offering, ‘Give some meat for roasting for the Kohen; he will not take cooked meat from you, but only raw meat.’ The man would say, ‘Let them first burn the fat upon the Altar and then take for yourself whatever your soul desires.’ But the attendant would say, ‘No; give it now, or else I will take it by force.’ The sin of the attendants was very great before HaShem, for the men had disgraced HaShem’s offering.”
Here is what HaShem says in His Torah about who gets what portion regarding a Shelamim/Peace korbonot which is found in Leviticus 7:28-34 “HaShem spoke to Moshe, saying: ‘Speak to the Sons of Israel, saying, the one who offers his Shelamim korbonot to HaShem, he shall deliver his korbonot to HaShem from his feast peace-offering. With his own hands shall he bring the fire offerings of HaShem, the fat atop the breast shall he bring, the breast, in order to wave it as a waver service before HaShem. The Kohen shall cause the fat to go up in smoke on the Altar; and the breast shall be for Aharon and his sons. And the right thigh you shall give as a raised up gift to the Kohen, from your Shelamim korbonot. Anyone from among the sons of Aharon who shall offer the blood of the Shelamim and the fat, the right thigh shall be his as a portion. For the breast of the waving and the thigh of the raising up I have taken from the Children of Israel, from their feast peace-offering, and I have given them to Aharon the Kohen and his sons as an eternal stipend from the Children of Israel.”
So, we can see HaShem is VERY clear and serious as to what parts of the Shelamim Korbonot goes to the Kohanim and these two guys are taking larger portions for themselves and in doing so they are bringing shame and dishonor not only to the Kohanim, to the Temple but most importantly to the Name of HaShem!!
Verse 22 from I Samuel 2 says further about Hofni and Phinchas “Eli became very old. He heard about all that his sons were doing to all of Israel, and that they would lie with the women who congregated at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting (Tabernacle of HaShem).”
These guys were not only corrupt, arrogant, prideful and selfish/self-serving men but they were perverted as well. Just because their father was a righteous Kohen HaGadol had no effect on these men who were trained how to serve in the Temple of HaShem! The problem was their hearts were not in it and THAT is what HaShem searches for in each of us!!! We can go through the motions all we want and look like we believe in HaShem, but if our hearts are not in it, then to HaShem all our service, all our actions, all our words means nothing and is in fact an abomination to Him if our intentions are wrong!
HaShem then says “I will go to Mount Moriah and the hill of frankincense…” Once again we see the significance of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem i.e. Mount Moriah, the place where HaShem has placed His Name, the place of His Temple, His Throne on earth!!
The commentary from the Illuminated Shir HaShirim expounds on this further and says “Even Shetiyah (Foundational Stone) from which both worlds were created. This world was created with the Hebrew letter ‘Hey’ and the World to Come with the Hebrew letter ‘Yod’. The Beit HaMikdash (Temple) is the gate to the heavens, the entranceway through which prayer ascends, and the place where the relationship between HaShem and Israel is consummated. This relationship parallels the union of a husband and wife, which, our Sages teach, is symbolized by the Yod and Hey; the Hebrew word ‘Aish’ i.e. ‘Man’, contains the Hebrew letter ‘Yod’ and the Hebrew word ‘Aishah’ ‘Woman’ contains the Hebrew letter ‘Hey’. Our relationship with the Creator is solidified , as we reach out to HaShem in prayer, and He answers. An allusion to this connection in this specific place is that there are 15 steps, the numerical value of ‘Hey’ ‘Yod’, 15, that connect the lower chamber i.e. Ezrat Nashim (Court of the Women), with the Ezrat Yisrael (Court of Israel), the men’s court.”
Again, we see the concept of marriage and the Temple! Consider what HaShem says here in Jeremiah 23:6 concerning prophecy “In his days, Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. This is the name people will call HIM: ‘HaShem is our righteousness.'” Now read, Jeremiah 33:16 which says the exact same thing but one subtle difference: ““In his days, Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. This is the name people will call HER: ‘HaShem is our righteousness.'” The difference is in verse 23:6 it says HIM and verse 33:16 it says HER and they are both called the same i.e. HaShem is our righteousness….point is there was a wedding that took place!!! Ponder that for a bit!!
Shir HaShirim 4:8 says“With Me will you be exiled from the Temple, O bride, with Me from the Temple until you return; then contemplate the fruits of your faith from its earliest beginnings from your first arrival at the summit of Snir and the mountain of Hermon, the lands of mighty Sichon and Og, as impregnable dens of lions, and mountains of leopards.”
This verse is VERY important and indicative of Who HaShem is in relation to His bride i.e. Israel! Notice how HaShem declares Israel will, because of her sin, be exiled from the Temple but more importantly how HaShem says He will go into exile with His bride! Then promises His bride WILL return to the Temple with Him!
In Hebrew, the beginning of this verse uses the word ‘Lebanon’ i.e. ‘With Me from Lebanon, O bride…’ Another name for the Temple of HaShem is ‘Lebanon’ and it is called ‘Lebanon’ because the Hebrew word means ‘To whiten’. In other words, the Temple is the place where the sins of Israel are whitened!
The Illuminaed Shir HaShirim commentary elaborates on this and says “The Jewish nation is not sent into exile alone, totally cut off from HaShem. They were promised that when they would be sent into exile, HaShem, as it were, was in exile with them.”
Consider what Isaiah 63:7-9 says “I will proclaim HaShem’s kindness as the praises of HaShem, in accordance with all that HaShem has bestowed upon us and the abundant goodness to the House of Israel that He has bestowed upon them in His compassion and in His abundant kindness. For He said, ‘Indeed they are My people, children who will not be false’, and He became their Savior. IN ALL THEIR TROUBLES (EXILES) HE IS TROUBLED, so an angel before Him saved them. With His love and with His compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them and bore them all the days of the world.” The commentary on these verses says: “He was troubled when they were troubled. The Sages teach HaShem is compared to Israel’s twin. When one twin encounters pain it is felt by the other. Close relatives feel each other’s distress; HaShem reacts to Israel the same way. He does not merely feel for Israel the way one feels for a friend. Rather, He is equally hurt, so to speak, by our pain.” In other words, HaShem feels the pain, anguish, suffering and fear we all have to endure! WE ARE NOT ALONE!!
The following from Tractate Megillah 29a from the Talmud Bavli says “It is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Shimon ben Yoĥai says: Come and see how beloved the Jewish people are before the Holy One, Blessed be He. As every place they were exiled, the Divine Presence went with them. They were exiled to Egypt, and the Divine Presence went with them, as it is stated: “Did I reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt?” (I Samuel 2:27). They were exiled to Babylonia, and the Divine Presence went with them, as it is stated: “For your sake I have sent to Babylonia” (Isaiah 43:14). So too, when, in the future, they will be redeemed, the Divine Presence will be with them, as it is stated: “Then the Lord your God will return with your captivity” (Deuteronomy 30:3). It does not state: He will bring back, i.e., He will cause the Jewish people to return, but rather it says: “He will return,” which teaches that the Holy One, Blessed be He, will return together with them from among the various exiles.”
The references at the end of this verse to “as impregnable dens of lions, and mountains of leopards“, refers to two kingdoms Israel was subjected too in the exiles. Lions den refers to the exile in Babylon as their emblem was a lion. The leopards refers to Edom i.e. Esau/Rome/Christianity, the most brutal exiles of all of them, the one we are currently under!
Shir HaShirim 4:9 says“You have given Me your heart, My sister, O bride; you have given Me your heart with one of your eyes, with one bead of your necklace.”
The Shir HaShirim Midrash says “The ‘two hearts’ that the Israelites gave to HaShem are the hearts that fulfill the Psalmist’s two exhortations in the verse, Psalms 34:15, to turn from evil and do good. These are two distinct areas of Divine service. The first is avoiding evil i.e. keeping our distance from evil deeds and evil associations. The second is doing good i.e. the active performance of HaShem’s commandments and good deeds.”
“The crushing burden of the Egyptian slavery left the Israelites without the time or opportunity to actively perform commandments and good deeds. But that burden could not crush the heart of avoiding evil. The enslaved Israelites knew who they were, and they turned from evil, refusing to assimilate and adopt Egyptian names, language, or dress, as our Sages teach. Throughout the darkness of the Egyptian servitude, the Israelites preserved that one heart for their Father in Heaven.”
“Freed from their servitude, however, the Israelites were able to bring forth as well their other heart, the one that had lain dormant because of the oppression beyond their control i.e. the heart that does good. It was with that freed heart that they declared resoundingly not only their avoidance of evil but their fierce embrace of do good when they fulfilled the commands of milah (Circumcision) and Pesach (Passover), and when they later proclaimed at Sinai, ‘We will do and we will listen’ per Exodus 24:7, to accept upon themselves forever the liberating yoke of the Torah and its commandments.”
We each have two hearts per se, i.e. two natures: Yetzer Hara, Yetzer Hatov i.e. Evil Inclination and Good Inclination. We each must struggle between the two constantly in this life as we strive to walk and serve HaShem.
The commentary from the Artscroll Shir HaShirim book says “The connotation of ‘sister’ as referring to ancestral merit, by virtue of which HaShem showers His love upon us. Even a brother’s daughter is sometimes called ‘sister’ implying that this love is due to the filial relationship as Abraham said of Sarah, daughter of his brother Haran per Genesis 20:12. Thus, in a deeply philosophical manner, HaShem loves Israel, by virtue of their being the descendants of His beloved Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), and thus this term ‘sister’ is expressive of this affinity. The very use of ‘sister’ in these verses implies this special relationship which Israel enjoys by virtue of their ancestral merit. ‘Bride’ refers to HaShem’s love which Israel enjoys by virtue of its own merits.”
This verse cross references to Proverbs 1:8-9 which says “Hear, my child, the discipline of your father, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. For they are an adornment of grace for your head and chains for your neck.” These verses are referring to the teaching of our Father i.e. HaShem and His Written Torah, while the reference to the teaching of your mother is talking about the Oral Torah which is recorded by the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem!
Shir HaShirim 4:10 says“How beautiful was your love, My sister, O bride! How much better your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than all spices.”
There is so much associated with this one verse alone, it will be difficult to fit it all in! There are a total of TEN times Israel is called ‘Bride of HaShem’, six times in Shir HaShirim and four in the Prophets in the Tanakh. To reiterate, the so called ‘Church’ of Christendom is NOT and cannot be the ‘Bride’ of HaShem, it is utterly impossible. That is again, just another example of Replacement Theology! There is ONE bride and her name is Israel!
We need to look at the significance of the number ten as it pertains to HaShem and His Word! Per the book ‘Jewish Wisdom in the Numbers’ concerning the number ten, it sums it up: “Ten relates to an integrated system. Here a full set of individual parts combines to make up a communal whole. This number typifies holiness and the resting place of the Shechinah.”
“There are ten Utterances in the creation of the universe. The cosmos was built using these Divine ten Utterances. The first generations of mankind were themselves grouped into two sets of ten. There were ten generations from Adam to Noach and ten generations from Noach to Avraham.”
“The ten tests of Avraham. In his lifetime, Avraham withstood ten great trials that tested every aspect of his character and his devotion to HaShem. He faced every sort of test humanely possible; from hiding from Nimrod who threw him into the fiery furnace, to being ready to sacrifice his beloved son to attest to the degree of his love of HaShem. It was these tests that molded him into the first forefather of the Jewish people, who set out to teach the world how to live in the service of its Creator. He became the ancestor of the Children of Israel who would be enslaved in Egypt yet would depart as the newly formed Chosen Nation ready to accept the Torah.”
There were the ten plagues which struck Egypt when HaShem delivered them out of enslavement. There are the Ten Commandments, which summarize the whole 613 Commandments of the Torah! The number ten is the gateway to holiness as Yom Kippur falls on the 10th of Tishrei, which is the final day of the Ten Days of Teshuvah (Repentance) between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. On Yom Kippur the Kohen HaGadol, in performing the Yom Kippur Temple Service, would pronounce the Four Letter Name of HaShem a total of ten times!
There are ten levels of kedusha (Holiness) as listed in Tractate Kelim 1:6-9 which are listed as it pertains to – Eretz Israel (Land of Israel), which is more sanctified than any of the other lands in the world followed by the ten levels. Remember, the closer one draws to HaShem, the higher level of Kedusha (Holiness) is required:
Cities surrounded by a wall (In Eretz Israel) are more sanctified than this.
Within the walls is more sanctified than these
Har HaBayit (Temple Mount) is more sanctified than this
The Cheil (Is a TEN amot/cubits wide area surrounding the Temple of HaShem) is more sanctified than this, for here Gentiles and one rendered impure by a corpse, may not enter here.
Ezrat Nashim (Court of the Women) is more sanctified than this.
Ezrat Israel (Court of Israel) is more sanctified than this
Ezrat Kohanim (Court of the Priests) is more sanctified than this
Between the Ulam (Porch) and the Altar is more sanctified than this
The Hekhal (The Sanctuary/Holy Place where the Menorah, Showbread and Altar of Incense is located) is more sanctified than this for one may not enter there without washing hands and feet
The Holy of Holies is more sanctified than these, for only the Kohen HaGadol may enter there, on Yom Kippur at the time of the service.
The number ten is hugely important as it pertains to a Jewish wedding!! There are ten obligations a husband is required, biblically, to his wife. There are ten verses which show us this:
Sustenance – Shir HaShirim 4:11: Honey drops from your lips, O bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; milk and honey are the Torah’s metaphor for bountiful sustenance.
Clothing – Isaiah 61:10: I will rejoice intensely with HaShem, for He has dressed me in the raiment of salvation, in a robe of righteousness He has cloaked me, like a bride who adorns herself with jewelry.
Marital Relations – Isaiah 62:5: As a young man comes in marriage to a virgin and like a bridegroom’s rejoicing over his bride.
Medical Care – Shir HaShirim 4:9: You captured My heart, My sister, O bride; therefore, I cannot bear to see you suffer, and will surely provide you with relief.
Ransom, should she be taken captive – Shir HaShirim 4:12: A garden locked up is My sister, the bride; I will provide you with safety and security, and surely prevent your captivity.
Burial, should she predecease him – Jeremiah 33:10-11: Thus said HaShem ‘There will again be heard in this place about which you say, ‘It is destroyed, without man and without animal,’ in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without animal, the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the sound of groom and the sound of bride.'”
Support from his estate after his death – Shir HaShirim 4:10: How beautiful was your love, My sister, O bride! How much better your love than wine; wine is often used in Scripture as a metaphor for feasting.
Residence in his home until she remarries – Shir HaShirim 4:8: With Me from Lebanon, O bride! you will be with Me in My Temple and city.
Her daughters from him have the right to dwell in his house and receive support from the estate until they marry – Shir HaShirim 5:1: I have come into My garden, My sister, O bride, eat, friends; drink and become intoxicated, O beloved ones, this open and generous invitation surely encompasses one’s own daughters.
Her sons from him inherit her ketubah (Marriage contract) after her death – Isaiah 49:17-18: Your children will hasten to return…Raise your eyes all around and see. They have all gathered, they have come to you…you will clothe yourself with them all like jewelry and adorn yourself like a bride; they will not be left bereft of possessions.
“The point of these ten obligations is that HaShem, as it were, desires Israel to be His bride, on whom He bestows all the benefits to which a Jewish bride is entitled.” So then with all this said thus far, can then HaShem, according to Replacement Theology, up and decide to dump Israel, and now marry a new bride, who is lawless, rebellious, full of idolatry and completely rejects HaShem, His Torah i.e. the Marriage Contract, known as the Church? Again, per Scripture, it is utterly impossible!
When HaShem said in this verse: “The fragrance of your oils than all spices.” The commentary from the Midrash says “Our verse is to be understood as a metaphor, the oils represent Scripture, and the fragrance represents the Oral Torah’s explanations and expositions of Scripture. Our verse teaches that although Scripture may seem bland and lacking in fragrance, the expositions of the Sages impart supremely edifying and fragrant meanings to a verse, just as assorted substances impart supremely fragrant scents oil.”
Shir HaShirim 4:11 says“The sweetness of Torah drops from your lips, like honey and milk it lies under your tongue; your very garments are scented with precepts like the scent of Lebanon.” This is HaShem speaking to His bride Israel! His bride will exude Torah, not only speaking Torah, but living Torah in our lives every second of every day in service to HaShem!
Psalms 19:11 says the following concerning the Torah of HaShem: “They are more desirable than gold, than even much fine gold; sweeter than honey, than dripping from the combs.” Point is, Torah is the most valuable treasure HaShem could have given to mankind! All the treasures of the earth, all the money in the world cannot compare to the value of the Torah of HaShem! It is the custom on Shavuot, the holiday commemorating the giving of the Torah, which is symbolized by honey and milk.
The commentary from the Illuminated Shir HaShirim says “The sweetness of Torah i.e. recognizing how delectable words of Torah can be, is the essence of the sustenance. It is the honey in Torah that nourishes us. In our daily prayers we ask HaShem to please make the words of Torah sweet to us. We recognize that by learning Torah, by reviewing what we have learned and making it part of whom we are, we can be satiated and sustained by its beautiful words.”
“Your very garments are scented with precepts like the scent of Lebanon.” Here HaShem is alluding to clothing, fringes, purple thread i.e. Priestly Garments worn by the Kohanim in conducting the daily Temple Services in the Temple of HaShem! Lebanon is a reference to the Temple of HaShem as well as the Garden of Eden per Ezekiel 31:16!
Shir HaShirim 4:12-13 says“As chaste as a garden locked, My sister, O bride; a spring locked up, a fountain sealed. Your least gifted ones are a pomegranate orchard with luscious fruit, henna with nard.” The commentary says “This verse refers to the modesty of the daughters of Israel who shun immorality. The imagery is poignant. Her rare beauty and pervasive charm are controlled by innate modesty and purity. She is like a beautiful garden which is locked to all but its rightful owner. Having compared her to a garden, HaShem embellishes the imagery and compares her to a spring and fountain of scare, precious good water which were sealed by their owners to prevent intrusion by strangers.”
Refer to verse three above for the explanation of the significance of a Pomegranate.
Shir HaShirim 4:14-15 says“Nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes with all the chief spices. Purified in a garden spring of well of waters alive, and flowing from Lebanon.” The ingredients HaShem lists here are a portion of the ingredients used for the ketoret (Incense) which is burned on the Golden Altar in the Holy Place just before the Veils each day. It represents the prayers of Israel going up to HaShem. Additionally, cinnamon is used as part of the ingredients for the anointing oil. Here is some important info concerning the Ketoret and the Anointing Oil:
Per Hilchot K’lei HaMikdash Vihaovdim Bo 2.1 it says “The incense offering was prepared every year. Preparing it fulfills a positive commandment, as Exodus 30:34 states: ‘And you take spices….’ Four of the spcies are explicitely mentioned in the Torah. They are balsam, onycha, storax, and frankincense. The others were conveyed as a halachah communicated to Moses at Sinai.”
The following is per tractate Yoma 4.5 Yerushalmi Talmud: “Every day a Kohen offers a peras (Half) of incense in the morning and a peras in the afternoon, but today the Kohen Gadol adds another offering consisting of his two handfuls of incense.. Every day the incense would be ground fine, but today it is the finest of the fine.”
Stacte
Onycha
Galbanum
Pure Frankincense
**** The four above ingredients are required to weigh no less than 70 Maneh each. A Maneh represents the weight of 100 silver Dinars. This is approximately one pound in modern equivalents.
Myrrh
Cassia
Spikenard
Saffron
**** The four above ingredients are required to weigh no less than 16 Maneh each.
Costus **** Must weigh no less than 12 Maneh
Aromatic Bark **** Must weigh no less than three Maneh
Cinnamon **** Must weigh no less than nine Maneh
Tractate Yoma 4.5 Yerushalmi Talmud – “When the individual weights of the spices enumerated in the Baraisa are added together, they are found to total 368 Maneh. 365 Maneh corresponding to the days of the solar year, and three additional maneh for the special Ketoret offered that day i.e. Yom Kippur.”
Additional substances used in the preparation of the ketoret mixture are as follows per Tractate Yoma 4.5 Yerushalmi Talmud:
Karshinah Soap which is a kind of cleansing agent dubbed ‘Karshinah’ after its place of origin. The quantity is nine kav which in modern equivalents would be a half gallon.
Kafrisin Wine which originated from Cyprus. A strong cider produced from the husks that cover caperberries. The quantity is three seah and three kav. If he has no Kafrisin Wine, he brings old white wine.
Sodomite Salt which originated from the Dead Sea region. The quantity is a quarter kav. To fulfill the Torah’s directive in Leviticus 2:13 ‘On your every offering shall you offer salt.’
A minute amount of Maaleh Ashan which literally means ‘Smoke Riser’ and is the name of a certain type of herb; its presence in the ketores causes the smoke of the ketores to rise in a straight column like a stick. The identity of this herb was jealously guarde by the House of Avtinas, who were charged with producing the ketores in the Temple.
A minute amount of Jordan Amber. This is a type of plant that grows on the banks of the Jordan River.
****If He left out any of its spices, he is liable to death at the hands of Heaven.
The ingredients of the Anointment Oil i.e. ‘Shemen HaMishchah’ per Exodus 30:22-33 says:
Pure Myrrh: 500 Shekel weight amount – one Shekel = .4 oz
Fragrant Cinnamon: 250 Shekel weight amount
Fragrant Cane: 250 Shekel weight amount
Cassia: 500 Shekel weight amount
Olive Oil: One Hin or almost one gallon
Shir HaShirim 4:16 says“Awake from the north and come from the south! Like the winds let My exiles return to My garden, let their fragrant goodness flow in Jerusalem. Let but my Beloved come to His garden and enjoy His precious people.” This final verse of this chapter is extremely prophetic in nature!
The commentary says “Having found delight in your fragrances, says Elohim, and in the beauty of your dwellings, I hereby command the winds, north and south, to blow upon your garden to waft your fragrance afar. Allegorically this refers to the return of the dispersed exiles with the coming of Messiah. The nations among whom they live will be so overwhelmed by the miracles preceding Redemption that they personally will deliver the Jews to Eretz Yisrael, per Isaiah 66:20 as their gift to HaShem. When the Temple is built, the Jews will go there for the festivals and they will say to Elohim, ‘Come to Your garden, O Beloved. If You are there, all is there.'”
Isaiah 66:20 says “They (The nations of the world) will bring all your brethren from all the nations as an offering to HaShem, with horses and with chariots and with covered wagons and with mules, and with, joyous dances, to My Holy Mountain (The Temple of HaShem in Jerusalem), says HaShem; just as the Children of Israel bring the offering in a pure vessel to the House of HaShem (The Temple).”
This was an extremely long Op! I hope you made it to the very end and were not overwhelmed by all the info? And to think the amount of info in this Op is just a tiny percentage of what HaShem has revealed in this single chapter alone! There is SO much more!
I hope you can see once more how utterly abysmal Replacement Theology Christian doctrine is in comparison to what HaShem reveals in His Word and how He is truly unchanging and His Torah is THE marriage contract between Him and His Bride i.e. Israel!! Something to consider!
We will continue this series of exploring Shir HaShirim – The Voice of the Bridegroom in chapter five!!
SOURCE MATERIALS:
The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research
“Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise; set your heart to My knowledge (Torah).” Proverbs 22:17
It seems every day the world spins that much faster into chaos and insanity as world and local leaders continue to make utterly insane and deprave decisions, which are destined to fail even before they are to go into effect!
This weeks Torah Portion i.e. ‘Balak’ which is found in Bamidbar (Numbers) 22:2-25:9 is a Torah Portion which once again is very appropriate for this weeks world events! The attempts by various world leaders, enemies of Israel, seeking to find ways to diminish and or destroy Israel’s influence, power and existence in the world!
In this Torah Portion, Balak, the king of Moab, saw all that Israel had become and had done to the Amorites and thus became very frightened of Israel. Balak then seeks out the prophet Bilam and attempts to get Bilam to curse Israel. In every attempt to curse Israel, Bilam instead blesses Israel by the direction of HaShem!
Balak becomes so enraged, at one point the Torah says in Bamidbar 24:1 “….But he (Balak) set his face toward the Wilderness.” What is significant about this? In the Torah, to turn one’s face towards the Wilderness in manner Balak did, is to attempt to arouse the forces of Satan, because the Wilderness is where Satan and his forces i.e. the haters of Israel dwell!
When Israel keeps herself clean and strives to walk in the Torah of HaShem, out of love, devotion and loyalty to Him, she is protected and nothing can touch her. When she keeps herself ready, observant, alert and not become lazy, complacent and distracted, the blessings are incalculable! A concept I hope to quickly cover in this short Op on this Shabbat, 16 July 2022, which also happens to be the 17th of Tammuz on the biblical calendar, a very solemn day which we will acknowledge the following day, the five catastrophes which occurred on this date in biblical history.
As always, it is critical to remember when reading these op’s the eternal 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
In this world we live in today, it is now more important, more than ever, that we all, myself included, constantly examine ourselves and make sure we are ready for when the Master knocks for we do not know when exactly that will be! We know it is VERY, VERY close, but as to knowing the day or the hour, only HaShem knows that!
In this weeks Torah Portion, ‘Balak’, there is a very interesting blessing Bilam, directed by HaShem, utters over Israel. He says in Bamidbar 24:5-7 which says “How goodly are your tents, O Yaakov (Jacob), your dwelling places, O Yisrael; like creeks stretching out, like gardens by a river, like tents pitched by HaShem, like cedars by water. Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be by abundant waters. His king shall attain eminence from Agag.”
Notice in these verses the various references to water i.e. creeks, river, water flowing, abundant waters, etc? Water in the Tanach (Erroneously called the Old Testament) and the Apostolic Writings, is a metaphor for the Torah of HaShem! In other words, it is from Israel, the Torah will go out to the entire world!
The commentary from Ohr HaChaim discussing these verses above says “The intent of this metaphor is understood in light of the words of the Sages, that every Jewish man received from Sinai a personal share in the Torah. This is the allusion contained in the verse from Devarim (Deuteronomy) 33:4 that calls the Torah a ‘morashah’ or a ‘heritage’, which the Sages expound. Do not read this as a heritage, but rather as ‘me’orasah’ meaning ‘betrothed.’ Just as each man has an exclusive relationship with his betrothed, so too, each Jewish man has his own exclusive share in the Torah. Bilam, in this verse, refers to each Jew’s share in the Torah. He thus says here, waters shall flow, meaning that the Jews of future generations will develop new insights in the Torah, and every true idea that they innovate in the Torah is from his buckets, meaning, from the water of Torah that Moshe drew from the Wellspring of Sinai, because everything is hinted at in the Written Torah that was given to Moshe.”
Point for me including this, is in my opinion, the only way we will be able to examine ourselves, make ourselves ready is to constantly strive to study and walk out the Torah of HaShem. Now, I am not saying keeping Torah is what secures eternal salvation!! First HaShem saves and secures salvation, THEN He says, now that I have saved you, here is My Torah, so you will know how to live as My servant. We see this time and time again all throughout His Tanach and Apostolic Writings!
Now, consider what Yeshua Himself taught in Matthew 25 discussing the Parable of the Ten Virgins! I think you will be amazed!
Matthew 25:1-13 which says “Then the reign of the heavens shall be compared to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five foolish. Those who were foolish, having taken their lamps, took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their containers with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom took time, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard, ‘See, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins rose up and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, indeed, there would not be enough for us and you. Instead, go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. And later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Master, Master, open up for us!’ But he answering, said, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, because you do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Adam is coming.”
Now, what is amazing, Yeshua is basing this parable upon a very well known understanding the function of the Temple in Jerusalem and I will quickly explain.
Each morning, the Kohanim (Priests) on duty that week, would have to prepare themselves for serving in the Temple that day. In order to determine who would perform what service, HaShem set up a system of lots which would be drawn. But in order to participate in the drawing of the lots, the Kohanim would have to get up very early in the morning, go to the mikveh (Immerse), put on their garments, and wait for the arrival of the head official for they did not know exactly when the official would come and knock on the door! If the official arrived, knocked on the door, and the kohanim were not ready, they were prohibited from serving in the Temple that day, i.e. ‘Depart from Me….’ Sound familiar?
Consider what is recorded in Tractate Tamid 1.2 from the Mishnah, which says “Whoever (Of the Kohanim) wanted to pick up from the altar got up early and immersed himself BEFORE THE OFFICIAL ARRIVED. And at what time did the official come? NOT ALL OCCASIONS WERE THE SAME; sometimes he came at cock’s crow (The Temple Crier who called out just before dawn), or thereabouts, earlier or later. The official came and KNOCKED FOR THEM, AND THEY (The Kohanim) OPENED FOR HIM. He said to them: ‘WHOEVER HAS IMMERSED (PREPARED THEMSELVES) SHOULD COME AND DRAW LOTS. They drew lots; whoever won, won.”
Can you see the very close similarity to what Yeshua taught in His parable? Again, we see, studying and learning the Temple of HaShem, will open up the Apostolic Writings unlike anything Christendom in its Replacement Theology doctrine teaches! Such as the cock crowing. This was NOT a literal chicken/rooster, it is a metaphor for a specific job a Kohen would do in the morning just before dawn and announce the beginning of that day’s Temple Services and worship of HaShem! There are countless examples I could cite, but will do so some other time.
Remember, Yeshua is the Kohen HaGadol (High Priest) in the order of Melchizedek, serving in the Heavenly Temple, therefore, He would absolutely use the Temple and the Temple Services as means to teach the Torah of HaShem to Israel and the world!
So, in summary, for us to be ready for when the Master knocks, we must be striving to study and learn His Torah and His Temple, keeping His Feasts, His Shabbat, eating what He says is clean to eat, etc, because they go hand in hand.
Know Torah = Know Yeshua
No Torah = No Yeshua
Something to consider on this Shabbat. May it be so very, very soon in our days.
Shabbat Shalom!
SOURCE MATERIALS:
The Scriptures by the Institute for Scripture Research
The Chumash with the Teachings of the Talmud by Artscroll
“Salvation is far from the wicked (Those who do not even care to learn about HaShem’s Torah), for they sought not Your statutes (Torah).” Psalms 119:155
As I begin to put this Op together, it is 27 May 2022, the Erev Shabbat i.e. Friday and going into day #42 of fifty days of the Counting of the Omer from Pesach towards Shavuot! It is also just a few days after the horrific elementary school shooting having taken place in Uvaldi, Texas in which 19 young children and two school teachers were brutally murdered. This event is in conjunction with the escalating economic problems which are more and more consuming the American public. Expected food, water, supply and medicinal shortages along with famine are actually now being considered as becoming a very real reality in the coming months! Law and order are breaking down, debauchery, evilness, corruption, wickedness and perversion are now the norm.
Our society is embracing vile idolatry more and more it seems, especially the idolatry of abortion i.e. embracing the god of Moloch i.e. slaughtering babies in the womb in the name of convenience and/or profit!
If children survive not being slaughtered and not being offered up to Moloch, children in America are being taught they can, upon a whim, up and decide their genders can literally be anything they want it to be, despite what they were naturally born with. Homosexuality is openly celebrated and encouraged. Rebellion against HaShem and the order He established from the beginning is being taught as the normal and evidence of a person being ‘enlightened!’
Military tensions between America and China, Russia, North Korea, Venezuela, Iran, etc, are rapidly escalating by the day it seems! Our enemies are becoming emboldened especially in light of weak, chaotic and confused American leadership!
With all this said, there is one common question I have been hearing being asked from people of all faiths and status, ‘Why is G-d allowing all these problems to happen?’ The answer to this question, is found in this weeks Torah portion i.e. ‘Bechukosai’ which is found in Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:3-27:34! Is it a coincidence the answer is in this week’s Torah portion? Remember, NOTHING is a coincidence with HaShem!
My intent is to make this Op as short as possible but still convey a message…we shall see if its possible or not…:)
Before we can examine this further, always remember the following eternal characteristics of HaShem and His Torah:
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
Consider what HaShem when He begins Parashas ‘Bechukosai’ which is found in Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:3-27:34. Vayikra 26:3-5 says “IF you will follow My decrees and observe My commandments and perform them, THENI will provide your rains in their time, and the land will give its produce and the tree of the field will give its fruit. Your threshing will last until the vintage, and the vintage will last until the sowing; you will eat your bread to satiety and YOU WILL DWELL SECURELY IN YOUR LAND.”
The commentary on these verses is very clear, “Our pasuk (Verse) talks about the blessings that come to the nation when it observes the Torah properly. Had the Torah told us only these blessings, we may have thought that the blessings come when we observe the Torah and they do not come when we fail to do so, but we would not know that there are punishments associated with NOT keeping the Torah. This is why the Torah later describes the curses that come if the Torah is not properly observed. Our pasuk begins the list of blessings that we will receive if we keep HaShem’s mitzvos (Commandments). The word ‘IF’ should be understood as a plea. HaShem begs us to keep His mitzvos so that He can reward us.”
What we need to understand, is HaShem issues this same plea to His people repeatedly from Genesis to Revelation! His plea is always the same plea and one example is found in Yeshayah (Isaiah) 1:18-20 which says “Come now, let us reason together, says HaShem. If your sins are like scarlet they will become white as snow; if they have become red as crimson, they will become white as wool. If you are willing and obey (Torah), you will eat the goodness of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword (War, conflict, violence, etc), for the mouth of HaShem has spoken.” What is the significance of our sins being like scarlet or red as crimson? The commentary on these verses explains this further and says “Sin is likened metaphorically to a red stain on a garment, which is visible from afar and is hard to wash out. Repentance ‘bleaches’ it clean and white. Crimson is a deeper, darker shade of red i.e. if the sins were very serious, repentance will still help, but it will only change the crimson to the off white color of unprocessed wool.”
Tractate Kiddushin 61b from the Talmud Bavli says “If you walk in My statutes, quoting Vayikra 26:3, you will receive blessings; conversely; ‘And if you reject My statutes, quoting Vayikra 26:15, you will receive curses. However, according to the opinion of Rabbi Hanina ben Gamliel, why do I need both of these clauses? The Gemara (Commentary) answers: ‘They are both necessary, as it might enter your mind to say ‘If you follow My statutes you will receive a blessing, whereas if you reject My statutes you will receive neither a blessing or a curse.’ The verse therefore teaches us that the rejection of HaShem’s statutes warrants a curse.'”
HaShem gave Israel His Torah after His deliverance from Egypt at Mount Sinai. His spokesman was Moshe, whom HaShem had selected as His agent. Moshe, at one point, would sit and spend his time answering questions the people had concerning the Torah. His father in law, Yethro, quickly discerned this was not good as it would wear out Moshe and render him completely ineffective as a leader. Therefore, we read in Shemot (Exodus) 18:21-23 where HaShem commands the establishment of a court system: “And you shall discern from among the entire people, men of accomplishment, G-d fearing people, men of truth, people who despise money, and you shall appoint them leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, and leaders of tens. They shall JUDGE the people at all times, and they shall bring every great matter to you, and every minor matter they shall judge, and it will be eased for you, and they shall bear with you.”
Bamidbar (Numbers) 11:16-17 says “HaShem said to Moshe, ‘Gather to Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and its officers; take them to the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meeting) and have them stand there with you. I will descend and speak with you there, and I will increase some of the spirit that is upon and place it upon them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, and you shall not bear alone.’”
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:18-20 says “Judges and officers shall you appoint in all your cities, which HaShem, your G-d, gives you for your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not pervert judgment, you shall not respect someone’s presence, and you shall not accept a bribe, for the bribe will blind the eyes of the wise and make the words of the righteous crooked. Righteousness, righteousness shall you pursue so that you will live and possess the Land that HaShem, your G-d, gives you.”
Devarim 17:8-13 says “If a matter of judgment is hidden from you, between blood and blood, between verdict and verdict, between affliction and affliction, matters of disputes in your cities, you shall rise up and ascend to the place that HaShem, your G-d shall choose. You shall come to the Kohanim, the Leviim, and to the judge who will be in those days; you shall inquire and they will tell you the word of judgment. You shall do according to the matter they will tell you, from that place that HaShem will choose, and you shall be careful to do according to everything they will teach you. According to the Torah that they will teach you and according to the judgment that they will say to you, shall you do; you shall not deviate from the word that they will tell you, right or left. And the man who will act with willfulness, not listening to the Kohen who stands there to serve HaShem, your G-d, or to the judge, that man shall die, and you shall destroy the evil from among Israel. The entire nation shall listen and fear, and they shall not act willfully any more.”
In other words, the ‘Halakah’ or ‘The way to walk in the Torah of HaShem’ is determined by the anointed Sanhedrin and their recorded right rulings for how to walk in the Torah. Where are these recorded rulings of the Sanhedrin? They are contained in the Mishnah and expounded upon in the Jerusalem and Babylonian versions of the Talmud which form the initial basis for the Oral Torah. Point is, once again, we see the Oral Torah IS derived from HaShem Himself and IS required for us to know how to walk in service to HaShem. To reject the Oral Torah is in fact sin and is in fact the rejection of HaShem and His Torah Himself! Keep this in mind as we proceed.
The following entries are derived from the book ‘The Handbook of Jewish Thought’ by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan:
11:5 – “Therefore, only the Sanhedrin had the authority to appoint a king or High Priest over Israel. Only the Sanhedrin could appoint minor Sanhedrin’s, declare voluntary war, or add to the area of the Temple or Jerusalem. Similarly, only the Sanhedrin had the jurisdiction to judge an entire tribe, and apostate city, a false prophet, or a rebellious elder. If a High Priest was guilty of a capital offense, he could be judged only by the Sanhedrin.”
11:7 – “As representatives of all Israel, the Sanhedrin also administered the Temple. The Sanhedrin would judge the fitness of the Kohen-Priests for service and prepare the Red Heifer. They would also provide corrected copies of the Torah.”
11:8 – “The Sanhedrin was the FINAL authority in all questions of the Torah. Whoever believes in the authority of the Torah MUST accept the decisions of the Sanhedrin as binding.”
11:9 – “It is a positive commandment to obey the Sanhedrin in all questions of Torah law. It is thus written, ‘You must follow all that they declare to you, from the place G-d shall choose, and you must observe all that they teach you’ quoting Deuteronomy 17:10. This includes all questions of tradition and Torah interpretation, as well as legislation passed by the Sanhedrin.”
11:10 – “It is forbidden to dispute the authority of the Sanhedrin. It is thus written, ‘You must follow the law that they teach you and the judgment that they declare to you; you must not turn aside…to the right or to the left’ quoting Deuteronomy 17:11.”
11:11 – “Decisions of the Sanhedrin must be accepted even if they appear to be mistakes or illogical.”
11:24 – “Any legislation enacted by the Sanhedrin is called a ‘Rabbinical Commandment’ as distinguished from a commandment from the Torah. Even legislation enacted by the Sanhedrin of Moses is considered a Rabbinical Commandment.”
Tractate Avodah Zarah 5a from the Talmud Bavli says “The Sages taught with regard to the verse: ‘If you walk in My statutes (Leviticus) 26:3, in this context, ‘IF” is a term that means nothing other than supplication i.e. HaShem is hoping that the Jewish people will observe the Torah. And similarly, it is stated ‘Oh that My people would hearken to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways, I would soon subdue their enemies’ (Psalms 81:14-15). And it states: ‘Oh that you would hearken to My commandments! Then your peace would be as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea. Your seed also would be as the sand, and the offspring of your body like its grains (Isaiah 48:18-19).'”
Continuing on with this Torah portion, ‘Bechukosai’!
Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:6-9 says “I will provide peace in the Land, and you will lie down with none to frighten you. I will cause wild beasts to withdraw from the Land, and a sword will not cross your Land. You will pursue your enemies; and they will fall before you by the sword. Five of you will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand; and your enemies will fall before you by the sword. I will turn My attention to you, I will make you fruitful and increase you; and I will establish My covenant with you.”
Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:10-13 says “You will eat very old grain and remove the old to make way for the new. I will place My Sanctuary (Temple) among you; and My Spirit will NOT reject you. I will walk among you, I will be Elohim unto you and you will be a people unto Me. I am HaShem your Elohim, Who took you out of the land of Egypt from being their slaves; I broke the staves of your yoke and I will lead you very high.”
The commentary says “The term ‘Mishkan’ literally, ‘Dwelling Place’, generally refers to the Mishkan (Tabernacle) that was built in the Wilderness after the Jews left Egypt. But in our Pasuk (Verse) HaShem says that ‘He will’ in the future tense, place His Sanctuary among the Jews. This cannot mean only the Mishkan, because the Mishkan was already built when this promise was given. We learn from this that the term ‘Mishkan’ also includes the ‘Beis HaMikdash’ i.e. the Temple in Jerusalem, which is where HaShem would dwell in the future.”
So, we can clearly see there are enormous benefits to walking in the Torah of HaShem as opposed to what most of Christendom in its Replacement Theology spews out in its anti-Torah doctrine of ‘change’! And then our society today constantly asks the questions as to why HaShem would allow all these terrible events to take place and the stability of our country to crumble while our enemies are emboldened? To teach the Torah is the problem and the source of all bondage and destruction as Replacement Theology teaches, is the height of rebellion and rejection of HaShem! Keep this in mind!
Now HaShem addresses what will happen if we as a people reject His Torah and by default embrace idolatry and determine to go our own ways according to our own desires. You read what He says Himself and then see if you can see any similarities to today!
Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:14-17 says “But IF you will NOT listen to Me and will NOT perform all of these commandments; if you consider My decrees loathsome (As Christendom and its Replacement Theology absolutely decrees His Torah to be loathsome), and if your being rejects My ordinances, so as not to perform all My commandments, so that you annul My covenant, THEN I will do the same to you; I will assign upon you panic (Terror), swelling lesions (Pandemics), and burning fever, which causes eyes to long and souls to suffer; you will sow your seeds in vain, for your enemies will eat it (Economic destruction and theft – consider the millions of illegals pouring into the country and stealing our economic benefits reserved for US citizens?) I will turn My attention AGAINST you, you will be struck down before enemies and those who hate you will subjugate you, you will flee with no one pursuing you.”
This sounds just like America today being consumed with the effects of terrorism, pandemics, inflation, the illegals pouring across our border stealing our resources. Meanwhile our enemies are emboldened and becoming more and more threatening. Our military power and effectiveness will be quickly eroded and we will be humiliated before our enemies and we are seeing this happen now, with the focus no longer being about training to defeat our mortal enemies, but rather focusing on embracing homosexuals and transgenders!
Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:18-20 says “If despite this you do not heed Me, then I shall punish you further, seven ways for your sins. I will break the pride of your might; I will make your heaven like iron and your land like copper. Your strength will be spent in vain; your land will not give its produce and the tree of the land will not give its fruit.” The commentary on these verses also includes the desecration of HaShem’s Name as well as desecrating HaShem’s Shabbat’s! Why is this significant? What greater form of desecration exists than for Replacement Theology to teach the Shabbat of HaShem is now done away with and replaced by either Sunday or any day of the week we choose, just cannot be the Seventh Day of the Week?
Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:21-22 says “If you behave casually with Me and refuse to heed Me, then I shall lay a further blow upon you, seven ways, like your sins. I will incite the wildlife of the field against you and it will leave you bereft of your children (Could this be a metaphor for the insane, violent people such as school shooters who attack schools and slaughter the children?) Decimate your livestock, and diminish you; and your roads will become desolate (Look at the inflation along with the gas prices destroying businesses and transportation across the country, truckers are not able to transport because its too expensive i.e. the roads are becoming desolate!)” Again, what is a more casual attitude towards HaShem than to embrace Replacement Theology thinking everything He has established from the beginning is now tossed away with and replaced?
Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:23-26 says “If through these you will not be chastised toward Me, and you behave casually with Me, then I, too, will behave casually toward you with casualness; and I will strike you, even I, seven ways for your sins. I will bring upon you a sword, avenging the vengeance of a covenant, you will be gathered into your cities, then I will send a pestilence among you and you will be delivered into the hand of your enemy. When I break for you the staff of bread, ten women will bake your bread in one oven, and they will bring back your bread by weight; you will eat and not be sated.” Sounds very much like the lockdowns of COVID and now the new pandemic beginning to emerge i.e. Monkeypox, which is spread by the ultimate form of rebellion against HaShem i.e. homosexual sex!
Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:27-32 says “If despite this you will not heed Me, and you behave toward Me with casualness, I will behave toward you with a fury of casualness; I will chastise you, even I, seven ways for your sins. You will eat the flesh of your sons; and the flesh of your daughters you will eat (How many abortions result in the harvesting of human organs and flesh for use in our food, cosmetic and medicinal products? Point is, how literal is this today?) I will destroy your altars and decimate your sun idols, I will cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols, and My Spirit will reject you. I will lay your cities in ruin and I will make your sanctuaries desolate; I will not savor your satisfying aromas. I will make the land desolate, and your foes who dwell upon it will be desolate. And you, I will scatter among the nations, I will unsheathe the sword after you; your land will be desolate and your cities will be in ruin.” How many of America’s cities today are on the verge of collapse because of the violent crimes, corruption, debauchery, perversions, idolatry, etc?
Remember, HaShem also gives very strong prophetic decrees concerning the destruction of the End of Days Babylon i.e. the United States of America, in Jeremiah 50-51! I would encourage you to read those chapters yourselves and see how close to the final destruction of the US by the Hand of HaShem, we truly are!
This Op isn’t intended to condemn anyone, it is intended to answer the questions people are asking as of late as to why all terrible these things are happening in the US today! The answer is plain as day, walk in the Torah of HaShem, and He will bless everyone, reject Him and His Torah, and then all these terrible things will come as the result! Neither I nor you make the rules…HaShem, He is Master of the Legions of Heaven!
The Haftarah for this Torah portion is from Yirmiah (Jeremiah) 16:19-17:14 and it begins with “HaShem, my Strength, my Stronghold and my Refuge in the day of travail, to You nations will come from the ends of the earth, and say ‘Our ancestors inherited only falsehood, futility that has no purpose….” In other words, the gentiles will awaken and come to HaShem and say ‘Our ancestors inherited nothing but lies i.e. Christendom and its Replacement Theology, and now we recognize only You, HaShem, Master of Legions, are the One and Only true Elohim and there is no other….its all futile outside of HaShem!’ How often is this happening today with people being awoken out of their slumber by HaShem and realizing everything they were taught in the systems of religion are nothing but futile, worthless lies? Believe me, it is happening more and more each day! My point is, its a gigantic indicator we are truly at the end! May it be so very, very soon in our days!
Shabbat Shalom!
SOURCE MATERIALS:
The Milstein Edition Chumash with the Teachings of the Talmud by Artscroll
“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 3:1says“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 3:4says“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 3:5says“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 3:6says“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
“Then I would invoke the Name of HaShem: ‘Please HaShem save my soul!’ Gracious is HaShem and righteous, our Elohim is merciful. HaShem protects the simple; I was brought low, but He saved me!” Tehillim (Psalms) 116:4-6
There are no words to express how difficult the last few months have been not just for myself but for everyone I know whether friend or family member! Everyone I talk too has the same report…“Life is so very, very tough, scary and so very difficult right now, more so than I ever imagined it would be!” We are facing trials and difficulties unimaginable just a few years ago…truly, in my opinion, we are right on the last remaining precipice of the ‘Chevlei Mashiach’ i.e. the Birth Pains of Messiah!
While these hardships are striking everyone in unprecedented ways, we also have to know HaShem Himself is likewise moving in unprecedented ways, ways we may not even be aware of! We must, each day make the choice as to whom am I going to trust today myself, the world or The Sovereign of the Universe, Creator of ALL things, HaShem, Master of Legions, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Elohim of Israel? When faced with emergency situations, making that decision can be very difficult!
This is why I find it very interesting HaShem has made the days preceding this years Pesach (Passover), which begins at sunset this coming Friday i.e. 15 April 2022, filled with opportunities to really learn and study the 15 elements of the Pesach Seder and what it all truly represents and what HaShem is trying to communicate to us, which I believe is infinitely significant this year especially, in light of what each of us are facing! Now more than ever we need to understand what all is going on in the Pesach Seder!
On a side note before continuing on, let me just say it up front to get it out of the way, I do observe Pesach and the Seder according to the Orthodox way as I personally believe this is the most accurate way. Do I believe Yeshua should be added into the Seder? Wholeheartedly, vehemently, one hundred percent NO! Yeshua is ALREADY in the Seder, we just need to learn the elements of the Seder and learn to see Yeshua in it because He is all over it!
A thought to ponder…if Yeshua were here for this Pesach, where would He hold His Seder, in a Messianic congregation or an Orthodox synagogue? In my opinion, He would absolutely hold it in an Orthodox synagogue! Why? Because the Orthodox Seder already discusses Him! Further, the Haggadah (The Seder Service) is absolutely Divinely inspired and directed and HaShem commands we are to obey the rulings of the Sanhedrin! Okay, now that this is covered, moving on.
My intention is to make this a short Op discussing various elements of Pesach as it relates to the madness of the world around us and in light of what each of us is currently facing, whether it be health issues, financial issues, employment issues, or a combination of everything. But as always, before we begin, always remember the following eternal characteristics of HaShem and hold onto them:
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
What is Pesach truly all about? Is it a Feast of HaShem where a bunch of lambs are slaughtered and then we sit down to a meal, or is there much more significance which HaShem is attempting to teach all of us? Clearly there is so much more HaShem wants us to learn and apply to our lives and walk with Him!
The Haggadah I use for the Seder service is ‘The Family Haggadah’ from Artscroll, which is a very good Haggadah. To accompany this, I have the book ‘The Haggadah A New and Greatly Expanded Edition of the Acknowledged Classic’ by Rabbi Joseph Elias, which is a very good commentary explaining every little intricate detail of the Haggadah!
This commentary from Rabbi Elias is very good at explaining the significance of Pesach. It begins by discussing bondage to freedom: “Do not read that the Tablets were engraved, but that they were freedom – a man is only free if he occupies himself with Torah’ quoting Perkei Avos 6:2. In conveying the message of Pesach to his children, the father is given yet another directive ‘Begin with the shameful part of our history and conclude with the glorious’ quoting Pesachim 116a (Talmud Bavli). This too, helps us experience the liberation from Egypt, we MUST feel bondage and slavery in all their starkness, so that we should be able to truly appreciate our deliverance and take to heart its lessons. The commandments of the Seder symbolize both slavery and freedom; they force upon our consciousness both extremes of this night, and indeed of all our history. The perceptive child is aroused by this twin symbolism to ask ‘Why is this night different from all other nights? Why does it require us to demonstrate both bondage (Maror and Matzah, the bread of affliction) and freedom (Repeated dipping of our food, and reclining)?’ It is this very question of the child which the father answers by stressing that in this night we experienced both extremes i.e. bondage and freedom.
But what was the meaning of this bondage and freedom – was it simply slavery and emancipation, or was there some deeper significance? Two opinions are expressed by our Sages (Members of the Sanhedrin). One holds that we begin with the physical slavery of Egypt based upon the passage in Devarim (Deut) 6:21; the other goes back to the pagan beginnings of our history, when our earliest ancestors were enslaved to idolatry based on the passage in Yehoshua (Joshua) 24:2. We follow both opinions, we first answer our children, we were slaves in Egypt; then we go back and tell them that our forefathers were idol worshippers at the dawn of our history.
Very obviously, the Sages emphasize two aspects of our historical experience. From a purely socio-politicalperspective, we will recall the physical enslavement and emancipation, but then will wonder why we should be grateful for HaShem’s liberating hand when it was He Who thrust us into slavery. But this question disappears when we look at our Egyptian bondage from a wider SPIRITUAL perspective. From our earliest origins in a pagan society we carried a burden of spiritual imperfection, the most profound and destructive form of bondage, one which would not have permitted us to become HaShem’s people and to carry His message. Only by being cast into the iron melting pot of Egypt, and then being miraculously withdrawn from it, were we able to achieve insights and to scale spiritual heights that freed us once and for all from our ancient bondage of the spirit. The intense suffering made the Jews turn to HaShem and this gained their liberation, physical and spiritual, at HaShem’s Hand.
Thus we can speak of a dual slavery and a dual deliverance, clearly described by Rambam – ‘He should start by telling that, at first, in the times of Terach (Abraham’s father) and before him, our forefathers were unbelievers who pursued vanities and strayed after idols; and he should end with the true faith, that HaShem brought us close to Him, separated us from the nations, and brought us to acknowledge His oneness. Likewise he should start by explaining that were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, and all the evil he did us, and end with the miracles and marvels that were done for us, and our liberation.'”
So, what is being said here? We need to look at Pesach and the Seder service from the perspective of HaShem’s deliverance and freedom from both a physical bondage but from a more destructive bondage i.e. a spiritual bondage to idolatry and sin! Remember, what is the biblical definition of sin? The breaking of the commandments of HaShem as recorded in His Torah.
This again begs the question, did Yeshua come to free us from the bondage of Torah which Christendom teaches or from the bondage of sin and idolatry? Again, Yeshua came to restore and renew the broken covenant in order to allow mankind to have that fellowship with HaShem. Did He change the terms of that covenant i.e. the Torah? An utter impossibility! Had He done so, He would have immediately been disqualified as being Messiah!
Consider this video from my teacher, Joseph Good of HaTikvah Ministries, in which he discusses why we should NOT add Yeshua into the Pesach Seder:
Now I want to quickly examine the six elements on the Seder Plate as well as the fifteen steps to the Seder Service:
The Seder Plate has six items placed on it. They are the following:
Maror – Bitter Herbs which are eaten twice during the Seder Service, Horseradish is used as the Maror
Chazeres – Bitter Herbs, which most people use Romaine Lettuce
Charoses – The Bitter Herbs are dipped into Charoses, which is a mixture of grated apples, nuts, other fruit, cinnamon and other spices, mixed with red wine. The Charoses has the appearance of mortar to symbolize the lot of the Hebrew slaves, whose livers were embittered by hard labor with brick and mortar.
Z’roa – A roasted bone with some meat on it, to commemorate one of two korbonot (Offerings) brought to HaShem in the Temple on the eve of Pesach
Beitzah – Roasted hard boiled egg – The egg is the symbol of mourning, is used in place of the second korbonot and is the symbol of our mourning over the destruction of the Second Temple
Karpas – A vegetable (Celery or parsley) other than bitter herbs completes the Seder Plate. It will be dipped in salt water and eaten.
What is interesting is the number six has a very specific meaning as it relates to HaShem and His Torah. Per the book ‘Jewish Wisdom in the Numbers’ it says “Six represents full physical expression in the natural world.”
Six days of creation
Six days in the work week
Six compass directions
Six words comprise the opening phrase of the Shema Prayer
Six orders/sections comprise the Mishnah (The recorded rulings of the Sanhedrin as commanded by HaShem to teach us how to walk in His Torah)
The sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the letter ‘Vav’ which means ‘The symbol of completion, redemption and transformation.’
We should never take for granted or just glance over a number which HaShem is listed in His Word, because He is communicating and teaching us something very important!
The Seder Table ready for the fifteen steps of the Seder Service:
What is interesting is the number fifteen has a very specific meaning as it relates to HaShem and His Torah. Per the book ‘Jewish Wisdom in the Numbers’ it says “15 are the steps that man takes to rise or to fall. Climbing these steps represents an upward ascent toward HaShem.”
There are 15 steps to the Pesach Seder Service
There are 15 steps leading from the Court of the Women into the Court of the Israelites in the Temple of HaShem
There are 15 songs in the Songs of Ascent found in Psalms 120-134 which correspond to the 15 steps going up from the Court of the Women into the Court of the Israelites in the Temple of HaShem
The moon is at its brightest on the 15th day of each month!
Pesach begins on the 15th of the month of Nissan
Tu B’Shevat (The new year for the trees) is on the 15th of the month of Shevat
Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) begins on the 15th of the month of Tishrei
Purim is on the 15th of the month of Adar
Abraham died when Jacob was 15
HaShem appeared to the forefathers on a total of 15 occasions
The 15th letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the letter ‘Samech’ which means ‘The symbol of support, protection and memory. It represents the active sense that HaShem provides support to man and in the passive sense that man relies on HaShem.’
So we can see there is a lot just in understanding the significance of the number 15 which HaShem is teaching us! The following are the fifteen steps in the Pesach Seder Service:
Kaddish – Recite the Kiddush over the festival and then the first of four cups of wine is drunk at this point
U’rechatz – Wash hands in preparation
Karpas – After washing hands, eating of Karpas (Vegetable dipped in salt water) to arouse children’s curiosity
Yachatz – Break the middle Matzah (Total of three pieces of Matzah are used in the Seder), the smaller half serving as being the ‘Bread of Affliction’
Maggid – The Haggadah is recited and draws attention to the ‘Bread of Affliction’ over which the Haggadah is recited. Here the youngest asks the questions as contained in the Haggadah in which the father replies to teach his children how we were enslaved, and HaShem freed us, and therefore we should recount the story at length; shows that our greatest Sages did so; shows the duty to do so at all times; shows how every type of child is to be instructed at the Seder; explains when the special duty applies; shows the deeper roots of the exile, and the Exodus as the way to spiritual redemption; the Midrash presents the details of the Pesach story to its triumphant end; explains the concrete Mitzvos ordained for the Seder i.e. Pesach, Matzah, Maror (Bitter herbs); emphasizes that in celebrating the Seder, we must see ourselves as having gone out from Egypt, and therefore we praise HaShem for His kindness, ending with a Brachah (Blessing) over the Haggadah. At this point the second cup of wine is drunk.
Rachtzah – Wash hands, in preparation
Motzi – Customary Brachah (Blessing) over bread in this case the Matzah
Matzah – And a special Brachah over Matzos, from which we then eat
Maror – And a special Brachah is said over the Maror (Bitter Herbs) and it is eaten after we dip it into Charoses (Sweet mixture of walnuts, grated apples, cinnamon, other spices and red wine)
Korech – Combination of Matzah and Maror is eaten in what is commonly known as ‘The Hillel Sandwich’
Shulchan Orech – The table is prepared for the festive meal, ending with…
Tzafun – Eating the Afikoman (Piece of Matzos which had been hidden for the children to go and find as a hide and seek type of game)
Barech – The Birchas HaMazon i.e. the Blessing after the meal is recited and then the third cup of wine is drunk
Hallel – The Psalms of Praise (Psalms 113-118) and declaration of our faith in HaShem are recited and then the fourth and final cup of wine is drunk
Nirtzah – The Seder is completed with our prayers that our service be accepted by HaShem, and Mashiach come speedily!
Consider the following video by my teacher, Joseph Good of HaTikvah Ministries, as he teaches his weekly online teaching, with this topic being ‘The Passover Seder’:
So, I will end this Op here and just say, this Pesach is far more important to each of us then I believe we really understand! We all must suffer trials and tribulations, bondage and enslavement before we can be miraculously released by the Hand of HaShem! We cry for freedom and deliverance from our oppressors and from those crushing us, but this freedom is not so we can do whatever we want, focusing on ourselves, no, this freedom is freedom to study, learn and walk out His Torah in service unto our Great King and in doing so we will experience unimaginable blessings and paradise!
There is a reason why HaShem refers to the final seven years of this current era as being the ‘Chevlei Mashiach’ i.e. the Birth PAINS of Messiah! It is through these extreme days of HaShem’s judgement which will bring in Messiah Yeshua once and for all and defeat the False Messiah, ushering in 993 years of world shalom before going into the Olam HaBa (The World to Come i.e. Eternity)! May it be so very, very soon in our days!!
“Behold the storm of HaShem: A rage shall go forth, a tempest shall seek rest; it will rest upon the head of the wicked. HaShem’s burning wrath will not recede until He has accomplished it, and until He has upheld the plans of His heart. In the End of Days you will be able to understand it. At that time, the Word of HaShem, I will be a Elohim for all the families of Israel, and they will be a people for Me.” Jeremiah 30:23-25
Trouble is certainly the word which best describes the days and times we currently live in! The powers of darkness are no doubt working double time against the people of HaShem! While we struggle to hold onto life, the world around us seems to run that much faster, defiantly towards destruction and death! Some may be asking why HaShem would be allowing this to happen?
As I put this Op together, it is 14 March 2022, just a few days before the biblical celebration of Purim begins in which we celebrate HaShem rescuing Israel from the evil plans of Haman! A very prophetic picture of HaShem rescuing Israel once more at the end! May it be so very soon in our days!
HaShem, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Elohim of Israel, is in absolute control over all things, and over all things, nothing is beyond His gaze, His ears nor His grasp. So, how do we effectively hold onto Him in this time of trouble? I hope to examine this question further in this Op.
As always, before we get into the nuts and bolts of this Op, always remember the following eternal 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
Arizona monsoon storm
There are some astounding verses HaShem gave in Mishlei (Proverbs) 4:20-27 which I want to examine as it relates to the theme of this Op, i.e. words of life in a world embracing death!
Mishlei 4:20 says “My child, be attentive to my speech; incline your ear to my words. Let them not depart from your eyes; safeguard them in your heart.” King Solomon may have spoken these words, but we know they are from HaShem, therefore, we must ask, what are the words of HaShem as referenced here? Mishlei 4:4 says “He taught me, and said to me, ‘Let my words sustain your heart; observe my commandments and live.'” We know then the words of HaShem are His Torah!
This verse absolutely shows us, studying and applying His Torah in each of our lives is vital to our survival in this world, but the words He uses in this verse also show it is NOT easy! To be attentive, to incline our ears to His words and to safeguard them, denotes, there is great opposition we will have to choose and commit ourselves to overcome! While it definitely requires effort and discipline, there is great reward!
Mishlei 4:21 says “Let them not depart from your eyes; safeguard them in your heart.” We have to constantly be on guard to not let His words be drowned out or smothered by the trials and troubles of this world! Point is, yes it takes effort, but the reward is beyond our imagination!! For the record, I am NOT talking about earning salvation or anything like that…I am referring to our walk with HaShem in this evil, vile, wicked, violent and war torn world we currently live in!
****This is the key verse: Mishlei 4:22 says “For they (The Words of HaShem i.e. Torah) are life to him who finds them, and healing for all his flesh.” How profound is this verse especially in light of the world we live in today? The commentary on this verse is very interesting. It says: “Just as there are two aspects to Torah i.e. its outer and inner facets, so, too, there are two aspects of the person i.e. his body and his soul. Study of the secrets of Torah, its inner essence, provides vitality to one’s inner self i.e. the soul; while the study of the outer words of Torah in its revealed state provides physical healing to the external encasement of the soul i.e. the body. Thus, the 248 words of the Shema prayer (Derived from the Torah) correspond to and provide a healing for each of man’s 248 bodily organs.”
The commentary on this verse continues which says “This verse specifies that the words of Torah will be a source of life to one who finds them i.e. to one who toils and labors until he succeeds in attaining them. One cannot expect to attain something without investing time and effort. This verse implies that a person must avoid the trait of laziness, if he is to succeed.” Nothing of value comes easy! There is always a great price to be paid!
The commentary continues “The Talmud suggests another interpretation which can be read ‘Those who enunciate them’ meaning to take out, express, verbalize. One who studies Torah audibly is far more likely to retain what he learns than one who studies silently, and he will also merit long life.”
The following excerpt is from Tractate Eiruvin 54a from the Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli which says “One who feels pain in his head should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: ‘For they shall be a graceful wreath for your head.’ One who feels pain in his throat should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: ‘And chains (Necklace) about your neck.’ One who feels pain in his intestines should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: ‘Shall be health to your navel’ per Proverbs 3:8. One who feels pain in his bones should engage in Torah study as it is stated: ‘And marrow to your bones’ per Proverbs 3:8. One who feels pain in his entire body should engage in Torah study, as it is stated: ‘And health to all their flesh’ per Proverbs 4:22.”
This Tractate says further “What is the meaning of that which is written: ‘For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, let them be firmly attached together to your lips’ quoting Proverbs 22:18? When are words of Torah pleasant? When you keep them within you and know them. And when will you keep them within you? When they will be attached together to your lips i.e. when you articulate them audibly and expound them. It is proper to study Torah out loud, as in this way one’s studies will endure and will not be quickly forgotten.”
“But the matter is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it per Deuteronomy 30:14. When is it very near to you? When it is in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it i.e. when you articulate your Torah study.”
“You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips, Selah per Psalms 24:3. When have You given him his heart’s desire? When You have not withheld the request of his heart’s desire? When have You not withheld the request of his lips, Selah, i.e., when he converses in words of Torah.”
The commentary finishes with “The Talmud cites this verse in recommending Torah study to one suffering from a bodily ailment. Indeed, the Talmud notes that the tonic of Torah study remedies the entire body, unlike conventional medicines, which cure only one malady but may also cause side effects.”
The Book of Mishlei from Judaica Press concerning this verse says “The one who finds the wisdom of the Torah will find that it is life for him and healing for all his flesh.”
Arizona Sunset!
Mishlei 4:23 says “More than you guard anything, safeguard your heart, for from it are the sources of life.” This is a very important verse to quickly explore. The commentary on this verse is very revealing as it says “More than anything he protects, a person must be careful to guard his heart (Thought life) from improper thoughts, for one cannot contemplate using the heart, the very vortex of life, to harbor thoughts that are inimical to life. The physiological centrality of the heart as ‘King of the body’ that distributes man’s lifeblood, symbolizes its preeminent role as the source of spiritual life in the Hereafter, for it inculcates Torah thought and commitment to the service of HaShem. This leads each of the person’s limbs to perform its specific commandment. Realizing its importance, one must be careful to guard his heart as well.”
Again, I need to stress, this is not talking about earning one’s salvation per se. Even Tractate Sanhedrin 106b from the Talmud Bavli says “The Holy One, Blessed be He, seeks the heart, and the barometer of greatness is devotion of the heart and not the amount of Torah that one studies, as it is written ‘But the Lord looks on the heart’ quoting I Samuel 16:7.”
I Samuel 16:7 says in its fullness “But HaShem said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his tall stature, for I have rejected him. For it is not as man sees, man sees what his eyes behold, but HaShem sees into the heart.'”
Mishlei 4:24 says “Remove from yourself distortion of the mouth and distance perversity of lips from yourself.” The commentary on this verse says “Beware of acting in a manner that will cause others to twist their mouth or widen their mouths concerning you, i.e., to speak badly of you. The previous verse’s noble intentions of the heart cannot suffice when others perceive your behavior as ignoble, for that results in a desecration of HaShem’s Name. Therefore, even when your intentions are pure, avoid acting in a manner which may arouse suspicion of wrongdoing on your part. According to the Midrash, distortion of the mouth refers to gossip, which can cause such harm that it is comparable to murder. Perversity of lips refers to duplicitous speech, treating one’s fellow in an outwardly friendly manner while inwardly harboring animosity towards him.”
Mishlei 4:25 says “Let your eyes look ahead, and your eyelids will straighten your path before you.” The commentary is very interesting and important. It says “Your eyes should look for truth and for uprightness in order to find the proper path. That to which a person exposes his vision can be an extremely potent factor in his spiritual ascent or, HaShem forbid, his decline. In spiritual matters, a person’s eyes should be open to observe HaShem’s deeds and the manifestations of His greatness, and to enable one to walk in His ways.”
Now, again let me reiterate, this has nothing to do with securing salvation! We live in this world, and as such when we sin i.e. break His Torah as this is the definition of sin, there are punishments and chastisements we must endure in this life, just as there are rewards He bestows upon us when we walk in His Torah in this life. Okay, moving forward.
Arizona night sky!
Mishlei 4:26 says “Weigh the course of your foot, and all your ways will be established.” From the Perkei Avos (Ethics of Our Fathers) 2.1 it says “Which is the right course that a man should choose for himself? One which is a credit to the person who chooses it and which also earns him respect from his fellow man. Be careful to perform a minor mitzvah (Commandment) in the same manner as a major one for you do not know the reward for each mitzvah. Consider the loss incurred in the performance of a mitzvah against the reward secured by its observance, and the gain received from a sin against the loss which will be suffered. Reflect upon three things and you will not come into the clutches of sin: Know what is above you i.e. An Eye that sees, an Ear that hears, and a book in which all your deeds are recorded.”
The Mishnah Perkei Avos 2.1 expounds this further and says “Know what is above you, and be constantly aware that high in heaven there is: 1. A seeing Eye from which nothing is hidden, as it is written in Job 34:21 ‘For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He sees all his steps,’ and from Proverbs 5:21 ‘For the ways of a man are in the sight of the Lord, and He ponders all his goings;’ 2. A listening Ear which hears all you say, even the murmurs within your heart, as it is written in Psalms 94:9 ‘He who planted/created the ear, shall He not hear?’ 3. And all your deeds are written in a book.'”
I am adding the following verse concerning the books which is recorded in Revelation 20:12 which says “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before the throne, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged from what was written in the books, according to their works.” This verse in Revelation is from Daniel 7:10 which says “A stream of fire flowing forth from before Him, a thousand thousands serving Him and myriad myriads standing before Him, the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” On a side note, again we see there is NOTHING new in the Apostolic Writings and again whatever is written in the Apostolic Writings MUST be found in the Tanakh, for there is nothing new under the sun! I digress.
Mishlei 4:27 says “Do not deviate right or left; remove your foot from evil.” The commentary on this verse says “Though the previous verse teaches the methods to correct one’s course and regain the medium road, ideally a person should have been careful not to veer right or left off this road. In this way he will have removed his foot from evil.” In other words, no matter how difficult it gets or how frustrating or scary it becomes, we, myself included, must grab hold of HaShem and His Torah, study, learn and apply these principles to our own lives if we are to survive this awful, wicked, world we live in!
Yeshua Himself said we are to imitate Him as He lived in this world and how did He live? He was a Torah Sage, He walked, talked, ate, worked and slept the Torah of HaShem. So, if we are to imitate Him, we must learn HaShem’s ways i.e. His Torah.
Know Torah, know Yeshua!
No Torah, No Yeshua!
May it be so very soon in our days!
SOURCE MATERIALS
Artscroll Tanach Series Mishlei (Proverbs)
The Book of Proverbs by Judaica Press
The Scriptures by Institute for Scripture Research
The Illuminated Perkei Avos by Artscroll
Kehati Mishnah
Tractate Eiruvin from the Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli
Tractate Sanhedrin from the Steinsaltz Talmud Bavli
