39Parsha
Chukat – Statute
Badmidbar
19 :1 – 22 :1
Shoftim
(Judges) 11 :1 – 33, 1st Corint.1:20-31, Yochanan 3:10-21
Daniel ben Ya’acov Israel
Portion Summary
Chukat is the thirty-ninth reading from the Torah. The word chukat (חוקת) means "statute." The name is derived from the second verse of the reading: "This is the statute of the law which Yehovah has commanded" (Numbers 19:2). Chukat presents the mysterious laws of the red-heifer ceremony for purification after contact with human death. This reading also contains the story of Moses striking the rock, the stories of the deaths of Aaron and Miriam and the wars with the Amorites. The portion concludes with the host of Israel encamping on the edge of the Promised Land.
Portion Outline
- TORAH
- Numbers 19:1 | Ceremony of the Red Heifer
- Numbers 20:1 | The Waters of Meribah
- Numbers 20:14 | Passage through Edom Refused
- Numbers 20:22 | The Death of Aaron
- Numbers 21:1 | The Bronze Serpent
- Numbers 21:10 | The Journey to Moab
- Numbers 21:21 | King Sihon Defeated
- Numbers 21:33 | King Og Defeated
- PROPHETS
- Jdg 11:1 | Jephthah
- Jdg 11:29 | Jephthah's Vow
- Parasha “Chukat”, statute is again a beautiful portion from Yehowah’s mouth, how he reveals in hidden form was is to come centuries later.
“Chukat”
or “chuqqah”: Strong’s #H2708 חקּה
Feminine of H2706, and meaning
substantially the same: - appointed, custom, manner, ordinance, site, statute....Feminine form
from #H2706 “choq”, from #H2710 “chaqah”: to hack, i.e. engrave, to enact (laws being in stone
or metal tablets in primitive time) ...........
Many people have read the scriptures, from b’reshit to revelation and never saw
what יהוה has embedded in his word. I have read from so many
so called ‘teachers’ or ‘doctors’ of the Torah, and I am amazed about their
understanding. Many prefer to debate on the divinity of יהושע
Yehoshua,
based on human understanding, or other topic, like I read concerning the
“godhead”! Divinity which words never appear in the scripture and the
misinterpreted “Godhead”!
Godhead: Strong’s #G2304 theios From G2316;
godlike (neuter as noun, divinity): - divine, godhead.------- It
appears only three time in the Brit HaChadsha
(Acts 17:29, Rom. 1:20, Col: 2:9) and is to describe “godlike” or same nature
of Elohim.
Col 2:9 ForG3754 inG1722
himG846 dwellethG2730 allG3956
theG3588 fulnessG4138 of theG3588
GodheadG2320 ( same nature or
godlike nature) bodily.G4985
We could read: For in him (Yehoshua) dwells all the fullness of the nature of Elohim). For those who have already learn with me from
“Eretz Chayim”, the tree of life, the
three sefirot from the top are Ketter (will), Chochmah (wisdom), and Binah
(understanding) which represent the “triad”
Elohim perfect nature (Godhead). The other seven sefirot down to Malchut, the Kingdom which are יהוה
“divine” attributes, all be one, “Echad”
because they are all inseparably connected with one another.
Once again as we have seen many times, we will
look at the natural pointing to the spiritual and discover why it is so
important to study the Torah. For the world it is only a book with the account
of people who follow a man to deliver them from Egypt, but for those who are in
Messiah Yehoshua, it is the power of
Elohim to build our faith not in man’s wisdom, but in the Ruach (Spirit) of
Elohim:
Jud 1:20 But
you, beloved ones, building yourselves up on your most set-apart belief,
praying in the Set-apart Spirit (Ruach HaQodesh).
What is the meaning of “praying in the Set
Apart Spirit”? In the past I have often thought about this verse and I must
admit, it was not clear to me, many times because of the doctrine I receive
from many false teachers, saying that the “Holy Spirit” is one entity separated
from the Father. You may have heard this: “God
the father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit”, making three to be one! This was always amazing to me until I began
to study the Torah and got a better understanding. When I say “he was out of mind” does this
mean that the mind was separate from the person? Of course not, it is the same
and single person, mind and body acting in a way which seems to be out of
control. And this you should always have
in mind when talking with somebody who want you to believe that the “Holy
Spirit” is a person”, Ruach in Hebrew is from the feminine gender so how could
the “Ruach” conceive? There is one verse in B’reshit 1:26 which has brought a lot of ink, people writing in
their own understanding, but I was never convinced, as for example when
Christians says that it was the Father speaking to “Jesus” to make man like
they are!
Gen 1:26 And
Elohim said, “Let Us make man in Our
image, according to Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea,
and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, and over all the
earth and over all the creeping creatures that creep on the earth.”
This “let
us” has caused many headache and trouble among believers….Some have said
that Elohim (G-d) was speaking with the “malak”,
the messengers (Angels). To oppose this some say that man is not like an angel
because they have not the same nature, and this is true, so we have a problem
if this us is “US” is not “Jesus” or the “malak”,
how can we understand why Elohim say “US”. Let see at this concept, and I don’t
say that I am right but to me it seems to be the interpretation, because I
don’t believe that Yehoshua was
physically with the Father at the creation, the reason been very simple. If Yehoshua was physically with the Father
then he should also have to be slain at the creation!
Rev 13:8 andG2532
allG3956 that dwellG2730 uponG1909
theG3588 earthG1093 shall worshipG4352 him,G846
whoseG3739 namesG3686 are notG3756
writtenG1125 inG1722 theG3588
bookG976 of lifeG2222 of theG3588 LambG721
slainG4969 fromG575 the foundationG2602 of the world.G2889 ----- Now you will ask why then
this “US”.
We all know that the word “Elohim” is the plural from “Eloah”.
Sometime throughout the TaNaK we find the word “Elohim” or the word “Eloah”,
unfortunately it disappear in translation, English or French or other
translations.
Here some few examples:
Elohim: (b’reshit 1:1, 1:5, 1:7, and so on
throughout the Torah). Ezra calls Him for the first time אלהּ “Eloah” from Ezra 4:26 -7:26, the
Chaldean form of “El” the Mighty. The first time we find the singular form of
“Elohim” is in the book of Job:
Job 3:4 Let
that day be darkness. Let not Eloah
from above seek for it, nor let light shine upon it. Job 3:4 Let thatH1931
dayH3117 beH1961 darkness;H2822
let notH408 GodH433 regardH1875
it from above,H4480 H4605 neitherH408 let the lightH5105 shineH3313
uponH5921 it. Job 3:4
Let thatH1931
dayH3117 beH1961 darkness;H2822
let notH408 GodH433 regardH1875 it from above,H4480 H4605 neitherH408 let the lightH5105 shineH3313
uponH5921 it.
Strong’s #H433: אלוהּ Eloah singular
form from “Elohim”.
Yob (Job) didn’t make any error, because he
also called “Elohim (Yob 1:1, 5, 6,
8, 9,16, 22, 2:1, 3, 9, 10), and many other times after he called him “Eloah”.
Yob used “Eloah” more than 40 times, while using also “El” and “Elohim”..We find
also the singular “Eloha” in proverbs
one time, in Yehshayahu (Isaiah), and
in the book of Daniel...
It seems that the majority of time “Elohim was commonly used. We could go
deeper to try to understand why Yob called him “Eloah”, but suffices to say that the majority of time יהוה
is called “Elohim” in plural.
This plural is as concerning my understanding,
the reason we read B’reshit 1:26,
“Let US” make man in our likeness. Because man should also represents in
essence, the plurality of Elohim. This may be a bit complicate to understand
but Elohim is “Echad” and the word is “Echad” (One) is also a head-breaker for
many because it is a compound unity.
Another aspect is that Elohim according to his own word is “male and female”!
Gen 1:27 and Elohim
created the man in His image, in the
image of Elohim He created him – male
and female He created them.
Now following this explanation we see that the
woman is taken out of the rib of Adam (B’reshit
2:21-22), thus he separated the “oneness”, “the
image of Elohim” and both, man and woman must come together in order to be
AGAIN ONE:
Gen 2:24 for this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to
his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
The
deeper explanation has been given us by Sha’ul:
Eph 5:31 “For this cause a man shall leave his father
and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
Eph 5:32 this secret is great, but I speak concerning Messiah and the assembly.
The secret of B’reshit 2:24 is Mashiach and
the Assembly! Humm!
Joh 10:30 “I and My Father are one.”1 Footnote: 1See
17:11, 17:21-23…….Although they are “two” in nature!
Joh 10:16 “And
other sheep I have which are not of this fold – I have to bring them as well,
and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one
flock, one shepherd.1 Footnote: 1Ezek. 34:23, Ezek. 37:24.
Although there are many sheep!....Can you see the compound unity of
“Echad”, “One”....This “Echad”, “One” cannot be separated, it is unity and so
we can better understand why Elohim say: “Let US” make man in our own image, instead of :”Let me”
(Eloha) make man in My image....The
other point concerning the “Let US” is as I said before the masculine and
feminine nature of Elohim:
Gen 1:27 And
Elohim created the man in His image, in the image of Elohim He created him – male and female He created them. -----
This cannot mean man and woman, because Chawah (Eve) was created out of Adam!
When we know that the Ruach is feminine gender,
we can understand and we get the confirmation in:
Gen 6:3 And
יהוה
said, “My Spirit shall not strive with
man forever in his going astray. He is flesh, and his days shall be one
hundred and twenty years.”
We know that after the flood, יהוה
was no more dwelling in man and we will have to wait until Shavuot 30C.E, when Yehoshua went back to the Father, to see
the “Ruach HaQodesh” come to live in
the heart of those following Messiah. A bit more concerning the feminine aspect of the “godhead”:
Pro 3:13 HappyH835 is the manH120 that findethH4672 wisdom
(chochmah),H2451 and the manH120 that gettethH6329 understanding (tawboon).H8394
Pro 3:14 forH3588 the merchandiseH5504 of it is betterH2896
than the merchandiseH4480 H5505 of
silver,H3701 and the gainH8393 thereof than fine gold.H4480 H2742 .
Pro 3:15 She (wisdom)H1931 is more
preciousH3368 than rubies:H4480 H6443 and allH3605 the things thou canst desireH2656 are notH3808
to be comparedH7737 unto her.
Pro 3:16 LengthH753 of daysH3117 is in her right hand;H3225
and in her left handH8040 richesH6239
and honour.H3519 ………..
Pro 3:18 She (wisdom)H1931 is a treeH6086 of life (Eretz Chayim)H2416 to them that lay holdH2388 upon
her: and happyH833 is every one that
retainethH8551 her. ..
Pro 3:19 יהוה H3068 by wisdom (chochma)H2451 hath foundedH3245 the earth;H776
by understandingH8394 hath he
establishedH3559 the heavens.H8064....;
Pro 8:1 Doth notH3808
wisdom (chochmah)H2451 cry?H7121
and understandingH8394 put forthH5414 her voice?H6963
Pro 8:2 She (wisdom) standethH5324 in the topH7218
of high places,H4791 byH5921 the wayH1870
in the placesH1004 of the paths.H5410
Wisdom
equal Torah, and Torah is feminine gender.
H8451 תּוֹרָה תּוֹרָה towrah (to-raw') (or torah {to-raw'}) n-f.
1. a precept or statute,
especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch
Because
man, cannot fully understand the creator:
Job 38:1 Then יהוה
answered Iyoḇ out of the whirlwind, and said, …
Job
38:2 “Who is this who darkens
counsel by words without knowledge?
Job
38:3 Now gird up your loins
like a man, and I ask you, and you answer Me.
Job
38:4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if
you have understanding (binah).
Job 38:5 Who set its measurements,
if you know? Or who stretched the line upon it?
יהוה
goes on to challenge Iyob till
chapter 42 to conclude:
Job 42:1 and
Iyoḇ answered יהוה and said,: Job 42:2 “You know that You are able to do all, and that no purpose is withheld
from You.
Job 42:3 Who is this that hides
counsel without knowledge? Therefore I declared but I did not understand matters too marvelous for me, which I
did not know.
Job 42:4 Listen, please, and let
me speak. I ask You then would You make it known to me?’ Job 42:5 I have
heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.
Job 42:6 Therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”
Iyob realized that what he knew from
Elohim was nothing compared with His majesty. Do not be blind-fooled by those
who want to make you believe that they have great knowledge (da’at) because knowledge puffs up (1Co.8:1)
but the greatest is LOVE (1st Corint.13:13). It is good to know and to understand, but
don’t forget that it is Messiah who
give some to be teachers, some to be prophets, some to be shepherd and some to
be evangelist with only ONE reason:
Eph 4:12 for
the perfecting of the set-apart ones, to the work of service to a building up
of the body of the Messiah, .Eph 4:13
until we all come to the unity of the belief and of the knowledge of the Son of
Elohim, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the completeness of
Messiah,
So
a gift doesn’t belong to man but to Him who give it, and you will recognize one who has
a gift in his nature, not boasting but teaching with fear and trembling! Torah is not always easy to understand, and
we will see now that even today many, especially our brethren from Yehuḏah call this “law”, (mitzvoth of
the Red Heifer) the “law that man cannot understand”. We will see that when one
is in Messiah and give himself to
study, we can see what is behind the “p’shat”,
and the literal meaning become more clear .
We are now close to the end of the forty years in the wilderness, just
before the “remnant” of the Children of Israel enters the promise land.
Remember that all those from twenty and above died in the wilderness, save Caleb and Yehoshua! This “midrash” on the “Red heifer” is so deep
that we must concentrate ourselves to see what Elohim has done.
It
is called the “water for uncleanness”,
it is for the cleansing of sin!....
Forty
years long, the Children of Israel have seen against Elohim, in spite that they
swore to do whatever He told them, when standing at Mount Sinai three month
after having left Mitzrayim (Egypt):
Exo 19:8 and all
the people answered together and said, “All that יהוה has spoken we shall do.”……………………….
We
know through the Torah that they didn’t, but rebel against יהוה
The sacrifice of the “Red Heifer” is a
sacrifice for the dead that defile those who have touched him or have come in
the tent where the dead lies.
Keil and Delitzsch didn’t make the connection
to the “sod”, the “Mystery” but explain the reason why the law of the “red
heifer” was given, which of course is right in the p’shat, the literal meaning.
Do not forget that in the interpretation, the “sod” meaning cannot nullify
the literal meaning!
“In order that a consciousness of the continuance
of the covenant relation might be kept alive during the dying out of the race
that had fallen under the judgment of God, after the severe stroke with which
the YHWH had visited the whole nation in consequence of the rebellion of the
company of Korah, He gave the law
concerning purification from the uncleanness of death, in which first of all
the preparation of a sprinkling water is commanded for the removal of this
uncleanness (Num_19:1-10);
and then, secondly, the use of this purifying water enjoined as an eternal
statute (Num_19:10-22). The thought that death, and the
putrefaction of death(decease), as being the embodiment of sin, defiled and
excluded from fellowship with the holy God, was a view of the fall and its
consequences which had been handed down from the primeval age, and which was
not only shared by the Israelites with many of the nations of antiquity,...(Note:
Vid., Bähr, Symbolik, ii. pp.
466ff.; Sommer, bibl. Abhdll.
pp. 271ff.; Knobel on this
chapter, and Leyrer in Herzog's
Cyclopaedia.)
but presupposed by the
laws given on Sinai as a truth well known in Israel; and at the same time
confirmed, both in the prohibition of the priests from defiling themselves with
the dead, except in the case of their nearest blood-relations (Lev_21:1-6, Lev_21:10-12),
and in the command, that everyone who was defiled by a corpse should be removed
out of the camp (Num_5:2-4)”......
Keil and Delitzsch argue also concerning the colour of the “Red heifer”. Red
been the colour of Judgment, they say also rightly that red is the colour of
the blood which is the life of the nefesh
(soul) Adam coming from Adama redish.
Keil and Delitzsch have pertinent reflection without making the connection
with the “sod” which I will make later, they keep going:
The slaying of this
heifer is called חַטָּאת (chatat)
a sin-offering, in Num_19:9 and Num_19:17. To remind the congregation that death was the wages of sin:
Rom 6:23 For the
wages of sin is death………………………
The
antidote to the defilement of death was to be taken from a sin-offering. But as
the object was not to remove and wipe
away sin as such, but simply to cleanse the congregation from the
uncleanness which proceeded from death,
the curse of sin, it was necessary that the sin-offering should be modified in
a peculiar manner to accord with this special design. The sacrificial animal
was not to be a bullock, as in the case of the ordinary sin-offerings of the
congregation (Lev_4:14), but a female, because the female sex is the
bearer of life (Gen_3:20), a פָּרָה, i.e., lit., the
fruit-bringing; and of a red colour, not
because the blood-red colour points to sin (as Hengstenberg follows the
Rabbins and earlier theologians in supposing), but as the colour of the most “intensive life,” which has its seat in
the blood, and shows itself in the red colour of the face (the cheeks and
lips); and one “upon which no yoke had ever come,” i.e., whose vital energy had
not yet been crippled by labour under the yoke. Lastly, like all the
sacrificial animals, it was to be uninjured, and free from faults, inasmuch as
the idea of representation, which lay at the foundation of all the sacrifices,
but more especially of the sin-offerings, demanded natural sinlessness and
original purity, quite as much as imputed sin and transferred uncleanness.
Whilst the last-mentioned prerequisite showed that the victim was well fitted
for bearing sin, the other attributes indicated the fullness of life and power
in their highest forms, and qualified it to form a powerful antidote to death.
As thus appointed to furnish a reagent against death and mortal corruption, the
sacrificial animal was to possess throughout, viz., in colour, in sex, and in
the character of its body, the fullness of life in its greatest freshness and
vigour.....
I believe that both are right, the red colour
demonstrate sin according to Yeshayahu:
---- Isa 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” says
יהוה.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though
they are red like crimson, they shall be
as wool.
The Hebrew word for “red” is:
Strong’s
#H119 אדם
'âdam aw-dam'..... To show blood (in the face), that is, flush
or turn rosy: - be (dyed, made) red
(ruddy)
“Preparation of the Purifying Water. - As water is the
ordinary means by which all kinds of uncleanness are removed, it was also to be
employed in the removal of the uncleanness of death. But as this uncleanness
was the strongest of all religious defilements, fresh water alone was not sufficient to remove it; and consequently
a certain kind of sprinkling-water was appointed, which was strengthened by the
ashes of a sin-offering, and thus formed into a holy alkali. The main point in
the law which follows, therefore, was the preparation of the ashes, and these
had to be obtained by the sacrifice of
a red heifer”.
It is true that if you go in any place of the
world you will see people, even washing themselves with “water”, without
knowing that this ritual is kept from the beginning of Adam creation. For
example if you go to India, many people go to the Ganges river for water
purification.
At this
point we should remember Sha’ul’s
words:
2Co 3:14 But
their minds were hardened, for to this day, when the old covenant is being read, that same veil remains, not lifted, because in Messiah it is taken
away. ... 2Co
3:15 But to this day, when Mosheh is being read, a veil lies on
their heart. ...2Co 3:16
And when one turns to the Master, the
veil is taken away.
The
“veil” is the blindness of the heart, which is taken away when one is in
Messiah! The question should be asked, why
does יהוה ask for a “heifer”? Keil
and Delitzsch point to the fact that it is a female, as she brings life, yes we
can agree with it, but there is much more in this animal pointing to Yehoshua. In the ordinance of the red
heifer, the priest were charged to examine the heifer if they found any fault
in the colour, may be some white stain or a cut, or anything which would
disqualify the heifer to be taken for the sacrifice. The animal had to be perfect....
……… a red heifer, a perfect
one, in which there is no blemish and on which a yoke has never come……
Perfect: Strong’s
#H8549 תּמים tâmîym taw-meem'.......From H8552;
entire (literally,
figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity,
truth: - without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright (-ly),
whole......H8552
tâmam taw-mam'.....A primitive root; to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literally or
figuratively, transitively or intransitively: - accomplish, cease, be clean [pass-] ed, consume, have
done, (come to an, make an) end, fail, come to the full, be all gone, X be all
here, be (make) perfect, be spent, sum, be (shew self) upright, be wasted,
whole......Blemish: Strong’s #H3971 מאוּם moom
As if passive participle from an
unused root probably meaning to stain;
a blemish (physical or moral):
- blemish, blot, spot. .....
The Heifer must be without blemish: Yehoshua was
without blemish:
Joh 19:4 PilateG4091 thereforeG3767
wentG1831 forthG1854 again,G3825
andG2532 saithG3004 unto them,G846
Behold,G2396 I bringG71 himG846
forthG1854 to you,G5213 thatG2443
ye may knowG1097 thatG3754 I
findG2147 noG3762 faultG156
(blemish) inG1722 him.G846
Luk 23:14 SaidG2036 untoG4314
them,G846 Ye have broughtG4374 thisG5126
manG444 unto me,G3427 asG5613
one that pervertethG654 theG3588 people:G2992
and,G2532 behold,G2400 I,G1473
having examinedG350 him beforeG1799 you,G5216 have foundG2147
noG3762 faultG158 ( blemish) inG1722
thisG5129 manG444 touching those things whereofG3739
ye accuseG2723 him:G846
Isa 53:9 and He was appointed a grave with the wrong,
and with the rich at His death, because He
had done no violence, nor was deceit in His mouth1.
Footnote: 1See
1 Peter 2:22.
The cow is a clean (without sin) animal, Yehoshua was undefiled: 2Co 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become
the righteousness of Elohim. The cow was innocent as was Yehoshua: Mat 27:4 saying,
“I (Yehuda) have sinned in delivering up innocent
blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” The cow
never had a yoke, Yehoshua never
had a yoke because he didn’t took part
in the world affairs:
Joh 8:23 And
He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world,
I am not of this world.
Was Yehoshua saying that he is an “alien”? Of course not, he was
saying: “I don’t belong to this world system, the one from the rabies and the
Romans, the Pharisee and the Sanhedrin. Yehoshua
never adhered to any form of worldly governance. During his life on earth he
abided by the rules of the Torah. This should be known to those congregations
who accept worldly system like to be
registered under the form of “religious association” ruled by government’s law
in order to avoid to pay taxes and for Christianity to be recognised as
“church” or “assembly”, they don’t even
see that they have yoked themselves not to the Torah but to the government,
think about that.
The cow feed on grass, which is a picture of feeding on
the word of the Torah: Rev 9:4 And it
was said to them that they shall not harm the grass of the earth, or any green matter,
or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of Elohim upon their
foreheads. The cow chews the grass and produce milk: Yehoshua
is the Torah of life and produced righteousness for those who followed him. Milk
is white and is the colour of righteousness:
Rev 19:8 And
to her it was given to be dressed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine line is the righteousnesses of the set-apart
ones. Rev 7:14 And I said to him, “Master, you know.” And
he said to me, “These are those coming out of the great distress, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Yehoshua feed his disciples with the “grass” the Torah:
Joh 15:10 “If you guard (shamar in Hebrew: to hedge
around in order to keep and protect from predators like the shepherd) My commands, you shall stay in My love,1 even as I have guarded My
Father’s commands and stay in His love. Footnote: 1See 14:15.
The cow was killed outside the camp: Yehoshua
suffered outside the camp: Heb 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts whose blood
is brought into the Set-apart Place by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.
Heb 13:12 and so יהושע also suffered outside
the gate, to set apart the people
with His own blood.
And El’azar
the priest shall take of the blood with his finger and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the
congregation seven times. Seven is the number for divine completion on earth.
Heb 9:11 But
Messiah, having become a High Priest
of the coming good matters,
through the greater and more perfect Tent (tabernacle) not made with hands,
that is, not of this creation, ...Heb 9:12 entered into the Most Set-apart Place once
for all, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, having obtained everlasting redemption. ....Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the defiled, sets apart for the cleansing of the flesh, ....Heb 9:14 how much more shall the blood
of the Messiah, who through the everlasting Spirit offered Himself
unblemished to Elohim, cleanse
your conscience (soul) from dead
works to serve the living Elohim?
………
.Heb 9:22
and, according
to the Torah, almost all is cleansed with blood, and without shedding
of blood there is no forgiveness. Heb 9:23 It
was necessary, then, that the copies of the heavenly ones should be cleansed
with these, but the heavenly ones
themselves with better slaughter offerings than these.
Heb 9:24 For Messiah has not entered into
a Set-apart Place made by hand – figures of the true – but into the heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of Elohim on
our behalf, ...Heb 9:25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters into
the Set-apart Place year by year with blood not his own.
Heb 9:26 for if so, He would have had to suffer often, since the foundation of
the world. But now He has appeared once
for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the offering of Himself. ....
Numb.19:5 and
shall burn the heifer in his sight, her skin, and her flesh, and her blood,
with her dung, shall he burn.....We read what Sha’ul write:
1Co 15:50 NowG1161 thisG5124
I say,G5346 brethren,G80 thatG3754
fleshG4561
andG2532 bloodG129 cannotG1410
G3756 inheritG2816 the
kingdomG932 of Elohim;G2316 neitherG3761
doth corruptionG5356 inheritG2816 incorruption.G861
Num 19:6 ‘and the
priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet,
and …Num 19:7 ‘The priest shall then
wash his garments, and shall throw them into
the midst of the fire burning the heifer….
Now this is the understanding of
these verses.
-The burning of the red heifer is
the totally annihilation of the body (flesh) for the preparation of what will
be part of the “water of cleansing”.
-The cedar wood is a picture of the most precious trees, the righteous is represented
by the cedar of Lebanon. Cedar was used to build the Temple....Wood or tree is
a picture of man. (Psa 1:3 for he shall be as a tree Planted by the rivers of water………………)
Psa 92:12 The
righteous one flourishes like a palm
tree, He grows like a cedar in
Leḇanon...
2Sa 7:7 “Wherever
I have walked with all the children of Yisra’ĕl, have I ever spoken a word to
anyone from the tribes of Yisra’ĕl, whom I commanded to shepherd My people
Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘Why have you not
built Me a house of cedar?’
1Ki 6:9 So
he built the House and completed it, and he panelled the House with beams and boards of cedar.
The temple had become the centre of
life for the Yehudin! You will say,
brother Daniel what is the connection with Yehoshua:
Mat 12:6
“But I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the Set-apart
Place (Temple).
Hyssop is a small bush, used for
cleansing a sign of humility, it is also to figure the littleness of man
stature:
Lev 14:52 “He
shall thus cleanse the house with
the blood of the bird and the running water and the live bird, and with the
cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and
with the scarlet,
David
after having sin with Bethsheba wrote
Psalm 51:
Psa 51:7 Cleanse me with
hyssop, and I am clean; Wash me, and I am whiter than
snow.....
Joh 19:29 A
bowl of sour wine stood there, and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and held it to His mouth. ...............
-Scarlet the colour of sin:
Isa 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” says יהוה.
“Though your
sins are like scarlet, they shall be
as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool….
Rev 17:3 And
he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast (the beast is full of sins) covered with names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4 And the woman was dressed in purple( kingship) and scarlet (sin), and adorned with gold and precious stones and
pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup filled with
abominations and the filthiness of her whoring,1 Footnote: 1Jer. 51:7.
Yehoshua was loaded with the sins of the people as
“King of the Yehudin”
Mat 27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took יהושע into
the court and gathered the entire company of soldiers around Him. Mat 27:28 and having stripped Him,
they put a
scarlet robe on Him. …Mat 27:29 and plaiting a crown of thorns, they put it on His
head, and a reed in His right hand. And they kneeled down before Him and mocked
Him, saying, “Greetings, Sovereign (king) of the Yehuḏim!”
Have you ever wonder why Yehoshua was called “King of
the Yehudin”, is he not also King of all Israel? Yes he is, but at the time
he was crucified, as it is today, The House of Yehuda and the House of Israel, Ephraim were separated, therefore
“King of the Yehudin”. Remember After Shlomo
we had King Reoboam for Yehuḏah and King Yeroboam for The House of Israel!
Now we will go in a deeper step in the mystery
of the Torah….The priest who proceeded to the sacrifices was made unclean by
the sacrifice and had needs to wash himself because he was unclean until the
evening.
Those touching the dead were declared unclean
for seven day!
Scarlet is also a sign of the final redemption
which is demonstrated in the book of Yehoshua: --- Jos 2:12 “And now, please swear to me (Rahab) by יהוה,
since I have shown you kindness, that you also show kindness to my father’s
house, and shall give me a true token, … Jos
2:13 and shall spare my
father, and my mother, and my brothers, and my sisters, and all that they have,
and shall deliver our lives from death.” ..Jos 2:14 And the men said to her,
“Our lives for yours, if you do not expose this matter of ours, then it shall
be, when יהוה has
given us the land, that we shall treat you in kindness and truth.” Jos 2:15 So she (Rahab) let them down by a rope through the
window, for her house was on the city wall and she dwelt on the wall. Jos 2:16 and she said to them, “Go to the mountain, lest
the pursuers come upon you. And you shall hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned, and afterwards
go on your way.” …Jos
2:17 and the men said to her,
“We are released from this oath of yours which you have made us swear, ..Jos 2:18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you
bring your father, and your mother, and your brothers, and all your father’s
household to your own home.
This is a picture of the final redemption of
Ephraim in the last days when Yehoshua
will come with his angels on the third day.
Num 19:17-18.To
approach the red heifer during the sacrifice made the people who approached it
unclean. The ashes mixed with running water and the ashes of the red heifer
sprinkled on people made them clean.
Consider this:
Husbands love your wives, even as Messiah also loved the “kahal” (assembly), and gave himself for it. That he might sanctify
and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word (Torah),
(Eph.5:25-26).
Heb 10:22 let
us draw near with a true heart in completeness of belief, having
our hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience and our bodies washed with
clean water.
Unlike the priest when we come to Yehoshua Messiah, he cleanses us and make acceptable to יהוה
through his own sacrifice.
Sinners are called “dead”
Col 2:13 and
you, being dead in your trespasses1
and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him,
having forgiven you all trespasses,
Eph 2:1 And you were dead in trespasses and sins,1 Footnote: 1v.5
and 5:14, Mt. 8:22,
Rom 8:10 And
if Messiah is in you, the body is truly dead on account of sin, but the Spirit is life on account of
righteousness. ---- The body that is the flesh, the carnal man, the one we
see in the Torah rebelling against יהוה and Moshe his anointed.....
Num 19:12................
From
Keil and Deliztsch a beautiful explanation:
He
shall purify himself ... the third day — The necessity of applying the water on the
third day is inexplicable on any natural or moral ground; and, therefore, the regulation has been
generally supposed to have had a typical reference
to the resurrection, on that day, of Messiah, by whom His people are
sanctified; while the process of ceremonial purification being extended over
seven days, was intended to show
that sanctification is progressive and incomplete till the arrival of the eternal Sabbath. Every one knowingly and presumptuously neglecting to have himself
sprinkled with this water was guilty of an offense which was punished by
excommunication.
Let see if we can find confirmation in the Tanak:
Hoshea 6: 1 Come, and let us return unto
YHWH: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind
us up. 2 After
two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we
shall live in his sight. 3 Then shall we know, if we follow
on to know YHWH: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come
unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
We have
seen that the “water” is the word, the Torah we receive through and in Messiah Yehoshua, who cleanse us................................
Before
concluding I want to show another beautiful point concerning the building of
the Temple, the Tabernacle and the Spiritual House build by Yehoshua HaMashiach, as we have read:
2Sa 7:7 “Wherever I have walked with all the
children of Yisra’ĕl, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of
Yisra’ĕl, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’1Ki 6:9 So
he built the House and completed it, and he panelled the House with beams and boards of cedar.
We also
read concerning the Tabernacle:
Exo 26:15 “And for the Tabernacle you shall make the
boards of acacia wood, standing up.
Exo 26:16
“Ten cubits is the length of a
board, and a cubit and a half the width of each board,
Exo 26:17 two tenons in each board for binding one
to another. Do the same for all the boards of the Dwelling Place.
Exo 26:18
“And you shall make the boards for
the Dwelling Place, twenty boards for the south side,
Exo 26:19 and
make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards, two sockets under each of
the boards for its two tenons.
Now the
connection with the work of Mashiach building
the Assembly:
Eph 2:20 having been built upon the foundation of the
emissaries and prophets, יהושע Messiah Himself being chief
corner-stone,
Eph 2:21 in whom all the building, being joined together,
grows into a set-apart Dwelling Place(Temple) in יהוה
Can
you see the connection between:
-The Tabernacle
-The Temple
-And who we are in Mashiach Yeshua!
There is more to learn in the parasha T’rumah
Last point: What is the difference between the Red Heifer and other sins?
Num 19:9 ‘And a clean
man shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and shall place them outside
the camp in a clean place. And they
shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl for the water
for uncleanness, it is for
cleansing from sin.
What was the purpose of “cleansing of sin” through the Red Heifer?
Exo 30:10 “And Aharon shall make atonement upon its
horns once a year with the blood of
the sin offering of atonement – once
a year he makes atonement upon it throughout your generations. It is most
set-apart to יהוה.”
Exo 32:30 and it came to be on the next day that
Mosheh said to the people, “You, you have sinned a great sin. And now I am
going up to יהוה – if I might atone for your sin.”
Moshe went to Yehowah
to atone for their sin, but many were plagued and died!
Lev 4:13 ‘and
if the entire congregation of
Yisra’ĕl strays by mistake, and
the matter has been hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done against any of the commands of יהוה, which are not to be done, and
shall be guilty,
Lev 4:14 when the sin
which they have sinned becomes known, then the assembly shall bring a young
bull for the sin, and bring it before the Tent of Meeting.
Lev 4:20 ‘and he shall do with the bull as he did
with the bull as a sin offering – so shall he do it. And the priest
shall make atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.
Lev 4:21 ‘And he shall bring the bull outside the
camp, and burn it as he burned the first bull. It is a sin offering for the assembly.
Now let us compare with Sha’ul:
Heb 9:13 for if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer (red heifer), sprinkling the defiled, sets apart for the cleansing of the flesh,
Heb 9:14
how much more shall the blood of
the Messiah, who through the everlasting Spirit offered Himself unblemished to Elohim, cleanse your conscience from
dead works to serve the living
Elohim?
Heb 9:15 and because of this He is the Mediator of a
renewed covenant, so that, death
having taken place for redemption of the transgressions under the first
covenant, those who are called might receive the promise of the everlasting
inheritance.
Can you see now what the Red Heifer was heralding?
The water of the red Heifer was only for the
cleansing of the flesh, while the work of Yehoshua is for the removing of sin
from our soul!
Num 19:1-20 and יהוה
spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon, saying, … Num 19:2
“This is a law of the Torah which יהוה has
commanded, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, that they bring you a red heifer, a perfect one, in which
there is no blemish and on which a yoke has never come. Num 19:3 ‘And you shall give it to Elʽazar the priest, and he shall bring it outside the camp, and
shall slaughter it before him. Num 19:4 ‘And Elʽazar the priest shall take some of
its blood with his finger, and sprinkle some of its blood seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting. Num 19:5 ‘And the
heifer shall be burned before his eyes – he burns its hide, and its flesh,
and its blood, and its dung. Num
19:6 ‘And the priest shall take
cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and Num
19:7 ‘The priest shall then wash his garments, and shall throw them into the midst of the fire
burning the heifer. bathe his body in water, and afterward come into the
camp, but the priest is unclean until evening. Num
19:8 ‘And he who is burning it washes his garments in water, and shall
bathe his body in water, and is unclean
until evening. Num 19:9 ‘And a clean man shall gather up the ashes of the
heifer, and shall place them outside the camp in a clean place. And they shall be kept for the congregation
of the children of Yisra’ĕl for the water for uncleanness, it is for cleansing from sin. Num 19:10
‘And he who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his garments, and is
unclean until evening. And it shall be a law forever to the children of Yisra’ĕl and
to the stranger who sojourns in their midst. Num
19:11 ‘He who touches the dead
of any human being is unclean for seven days. Num
19:12 ‘He is to cleanse himself with the water on the third day, and on
the seventh day he is clean. But if he
does not cleanse himself on the third day, then on the seventh day he is
not clean. Num 19:13 ‘Anyone who touches the
dead of a human being, and does not cleanse himself, defiles the Dwelling Place
of יהוה.
and that being shall be cut off from Yisra’ĕl. He is unclean, for the water for uncleanness was not sprinkled
on him, his uncleanness is still upon him. Num
19:14 ‘this is the Torah when a
man dies in a tent: All who come into the tent and all who are in the tent
are unclean for seven days, Num 19:16 ‘Anyone in the open field who touches someone
slain by a sword or who has died, or a bone of a man, or a grave, is unclean
for seven days. Num 19:17 ‘And for the unclean being they shall take some
of the ashes of the heifer burnt for cleansing from sin, and running water
shall be put on them in a vessel. ..Num 19:18
‘And a clean man shall take hyssop
and dip it in the water, and shall sprinkle it on the tent, and on all the
vessels, and on the beings who were there, or on the one who touched a bone, or
the slain, or the dead, or a grave. Num 19:19
‘And the clean one shall sprinkle the unclean on the third day and on the
seventh day. And on the seventh day he
shall cleanse himself, and shall wash his garments and bathe in water, and
shall be clean in the evening. Num 19:20 ‘But the man who is unclean and does not
cleanse himself, that being shall be cut off from among the assembly,
because he has defiled the set-apart place of יהוה –
water for uncleanness has not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean.
Num
19:21 ‘And it shall be a law for them forever. And the one who sprinkles the
water for uncleanness washes his garments. And the one who touches the water
for uncleanness is unclean until evening. Num 19:22
‘And whatever the unclean being touches is unclean. And the being who touches
it is unclean until evening.’ ”
Chapter 20.
---- ….and Myriam died…..
She died four month before Aharon in the
fortieth year in the first month....
Num 33:38 Then
Aharon the priest went up to Mount
Hor at the command of יהוה, and
died
there in the fortieth year after the
children of Yisra’ĕl had come out of the land of Mitsrayim, on the first day of the
fifth month……..
Num 20:2 Now
there was no water…………………………..and the people contend with Mosh….
Remember it was in rephidim that the Children of Israel (carnal man) complained
because there was no water to drink (Sh’mot
17). Moshe reply; “why do you tempt Elohim”.........Elohim commanded Moshe to take his rod and to smite the rock and
the water would come out of it. The place was called “Massah” (temptation) and “Meribah”
(strife, chiding) (Sh’mot 17:6-7)
This time Elohim tell Moshe to speak to the rock and the
water will come out. Moshe was angry with the Children of Israel (carnal man)
and instead to speak to the rock, he takes his rod and smite it twice.....Sha’ul tells us that the Rock” was a euphemism for Messiah: ---- 1Co 10:4 and
all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock
that followed, and the Rock was
Messiah......
Once again, this is another place where
unlearned Christian will give you a proof that “Jesus” was really in the
wilderness with Moshe!.... Many years I struggled with this two passages from
Sh’mot and Badmidbar, the two times Moshe was confronted with the Rock and the second time instead of
speaking he smote again the rock and was told by יהוה
that he and Aharon didn’t believe Him and didn’t sanctified Him before the
Children of Israel, and therefore will not enter the promise land......
I was amazed, because I didn’t saw the spiritual
aspect of the Torah and couldn’t imagine that Moshe couldn’t enter the promise
land. Is יהוה a tyrant or is He unjust? For sure He is not. One
day I read from a brother, I unfortunately forgot the name, but nevertheless
from him I got the understanding of this beautiful hidden truth, which I give
with my own words.
Sha’ul explain in 1st
Corinthians 10 that the “Rock was
Messiah”. Twice the Children of Israel complained having no water to drink....Messiah
(the first rock from Sh’mot) came the first time and died (Moshe smite the first Rock) for us to give us the water of life,
the Ruach HaQodesh bringing us to the
Torah, the living water:
Joh 16:13 “But
when He comes, the Spirit of the Truth, He
shall guide you into all the truth. For He shall not speak from Himself,
but whatever He hears He shall speak, and He shall announce to you what is to
come.
The second time Moshe was commanded to speak to
the “Rock”, but he smote it and the
water came out. The punishment was because he and Aharon didn’t sanctify Elohim before the Children of Israel (carnal
man).
Question: Can Messiah die a second time? For
sure not, because he lives forever:
Rev 1:18 ……….And
I became dead, and see, I am living
forever and ever.......
Messiah cannot die a second time. He gives us
living water by faith. Moshe by speaking to the Rock would have demonstrated
faith in Elohim, but because he also was in the flesh, and followed after the
flesh he smote the “Rock” thus
spiritually “killed” Messiah (the Rock) a second time!
Num 20:4 Why have you brought up the assembly of יהוה into
this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here?
Verses 14-22......The Children of Israel walked
through the land of Edom (Esau the
brother of Ya’acov was called Edom) who refused to let them pass
through the land. It is say by scholars that today Edom represent Rome, we may think about that. Once again remember
water has to do spiritually with “Torah”.
Edom shall become desolation:
Jer 49:7 Concerning Eḏom: Thus said יהוה of
hosts, “Is there no more wisdom in Tĕman (descendant from Esau)? Has counsel
been lost to those with understanding? Has their wisdom vanished?
Jer
49:8 “Flee, turn back, dwell
in the depths, O inhabitants of Deḏan! For I shall bring the calamity of Ěsaw (Edom) upon him, the time that I
shall punish him. Jer 49:9 “If grape-gatherers came to you, would they not
leave some gleaning grapes? Even thieves by night would destroy only until they had enough!
Jer
49:10 “But as for Me, I shall make Ěsaw (Edom) bare. I shall
uncover his hiding places, so that he is unable to conceal himself. His seeds
is ravaged, his brothers and his neighbours, and he is no more. …Jer 49:11 “Leave your fatherless children, let Me keep them
alive. And let your widows trust in Me.” ..Jer 49:12 For thus said יהוה,
“See, those whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have certainly drunk.
And are you the one to go unpunished? You
shall not go unpunished, but certainly drink of it. Jer 49:13 “For I have sworn by Myself,” declares יהוה,
“that Botsrah is to become a ruin, a reproach, a waste, and a curse, and all
its cities become everlasting wastes.” Jer 49:14 I have heard a report from יהוה, and
an envoy has been sent to the
nations, “Gather together, come
against her, and rise up to battle! …Jer 49:15 “For look, I shall make
you small among nations, despised among men. Jer 49:16 “The dread for you, the pride of your heart, has deceived you, O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock,
holding the height of the hill! Though you make your nest as high as the eagle,
from there I bring you down,” declares the Master. .. Jer 49:17 “And Eḏom shall be a
ruin, everyone who passes by it
is astonished and whistles at all its plagues. ..Jer 49:18 “As in the overthrow of Seḏom and Amorah and their neighbouring
cities,” declares יהוה, “No one shall dwell there,
nor would a son of man sojourn in it. Jer 49:19 “See, he comes up like a
lion from the Yardĕn jungle against the home of the strong. But in an instant I shall make him run away from her. And who is the Chosen One, to appoint
over her? For who is like Me? And who summons Me? And who is that Shepherd who
stands before Me?”
Jer
49:20 Therefore hear the
counsel of יהוה which He has
counselled concerning Eḏom, and the purposes He has purposed concerning
the inhabitants of Tĕman: the least of the flock shall drag them away! He shall
make their pasture a waste before them! Jer 49:21 The earth shall be shaken
at the noise of their fall. There is an outcry! Its noise is heard at the Sea
of Reeds. Jer 49:22 See, like an eagle he flies up, and spreads his
wings over Botsrah. And the heart of
the mighty men of Eḏom in that day shall be like the heart of a woman
in her pain……….Edom will suffer the vengeance of יהוה
Eze 25:12 ‘Thus said the Master יהוה, “Because of what Eḏom has done against the house of
Yehuḏah by taking
vengeance, so that they became very guilty, and they have taken vengeance on
them,” .. Eze 25:13 therefore thus said the Master יהוה, “I shall
stretch out My hand against Eḏom, and I shall cut off man and beast from
it and lay it waste – from Tĕman even to Deḏan they shall fall by the sword. …Eze 25:14 “And I
shall lay My vengeance on Eḏom by the hand of My people Yisra’ĕl. And they
shall do in Eḏom according to My displeasure and according to My wrath. So
they shall know My vengeance,” declares the Master יהוה.
יהוה will bring down Edom…
Oba 1:1 The vision of Oḇaḏyah: This is
what the Master יהוה
said concerning Eḏom. We have heard
a report from יהוה, and a messenger has been
sent among the nations, saying, “Arise, and let us rise up against her for
battle!” .Oba 1:2 “See, I have made you small among the nations, you
are greatly despised. ..Oba
1:3 “The pride of your heart has deceived
you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose dwelling is high, who say
in your heart, ‘Who shall bring me down to the ground (read again what Yrmeyahu
write chapter 49:16)?’………..Oba 1:6 “How Ěsaw shall be searched out!
His hidden treasures shall be sought out! ... Oba 1:7 “All your allies read
"brith" confederacy Psalm83) shall send you forth to the border, your friends shall deceive you
and overpower you. They make
your bread a snare under you, without you discerning it! ... Oba 1:8
“In that day,” declares יהוה,
“I shall destroy the wise men from
Eḏom, and discernment from the
mountains of Ěsaw! …….
Who is Edom
today, or the Edomites? Remember
Esau, that is Edom, was the brother of Ya’acov, so that Edom today is the
brother of the Children of Israel! Esau knew about יהוה
but went his own way, marrying Canaanites women, Esau knew from his father how
he should behave before Elohim, but chose to follow his own way. He also
married the daughter of Ishmael trying to please his father….Who “married”
Ishmael today? Is not Ishmael the Arabs, descendants from Ishmael, blessed
by יהוה but outside the promise?
Then let me know if Edom today is not “married”
in a kind of carnal “agreement” with Ishmael
to get favor from them (Crude Oil and riches)! We can easily see the US and
other countries like Europe where the Children of Israel have been scattered
“flirting” with the Arabs, France, UK, in particular beside US. Who are those
at the head of our countries, are they not from Edom, Esau? And try to make
Israel fall into the hands of the Palestinians?
For some יהוה
seem not to come, but it is an error to think that יהוה
will forget, unless
people repent, judgment will come:
2Pe 3:9 יהוה
is
not slow in regard to the promise,
as some count slowness, but is patient toward us, not
wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.1 Footnote: 11 Tim. 2:4. ….. יהוה is waiting for repentance, but when the time comes, Judgment will take
place and no man will escape from those who have not repented……..
Num 20:1-29 And the children of Yisra’ĕl, all the congregation, came into the
Wilderness of Tsin in the first month, and the people stayed in Qaḏĕsh. And Miryam died there and was buried there.
Num 20:3 and the people contended with Mosheh and spoke, saying, “If only we had
died when our brothers died before יהוה! ..Num 20:6 Then Mosheh and Aharon went from the
presence of the assembly to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the
esteem of יהוה appeared to them. Num 20:7 and יהוה
spoke to Mosheh, saying, --- Num 20:8 “Take the
rod and assemble the congregation, you and your brother Aharon. And you shall speak to the rock before their
eyes, and it shall give its water. And you shall bring water for them out
of the rock and give drink to the congregation and their livestock.” .. Num 20:10 And Mosheh and Aharon assembled the
assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this
rock?” ..Num 20:11 Then Mosheh lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod. And much water came out, and the
congregation and their livestock drank. ..Num 20:12
but יהוה
spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon, “Because
you did not believe Me, to set Me apart in the eyes of the children of
Yisra’ĕl, therefore you do not bring this assembly into the land which I
have given them.” …Num 20:14 And Mosheh sent messengers from Qaḏĕsh to the
sovereign of Eḏom. “This is what your brother Yisra’ĕl said, ‘You know all
the hardship that has befallen us, ..Num 20:18
But Eḏom said to him, “You do not
pass over through me, lest I come out against you with the sword.” … Num 20:19 And the children of Yisra’ĕl said to him,
“We shall go by the highway, and if I or my livestock drink any of your water,
then I shall pay for it. Let me only
pass over on foot, without a word.” Num 20:20
But he said, “You do not pass over.” And Eḏom came out against them with many
men and with a strong hand. ..Num 20:21 So when
Eḏom refused to let Yisra’ĕl pass over
through his border, Yisra’ĕl turned away from him. Num
20:24 “Aharon is to be gathered to his people, for he is not to enter
the land which I have given to the children of Yisra’ĕl, because you rebelled against My mouth at the water of Meriḇah. Num 20:29 and when all the congregation saw that
Aharon was dead, all the house of
Yisra’ĕl wept for Aharon, thirty days.
Chapter 21.
Verses 4-9.The people
became impatient and spoke against Elohim and against Moshe:
How is it today with us, walking in our own
spiritual wilderness, looking at Messiah Yehoshua,
are we murmuring and complaining? יהוה
sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit them and many from the
Children of Israel died. יהוה commanded
Moshe to make a serpent of bronze and to put it on a pole in order that those
who will look at it when bitten, they should live.
First of all we have learned in the
construction of the Tabernacle that bronze is a metal representing “imperfection a mix of different material”, the serpent is an amazing picture
as it is an image of HaSatan. ……
Rev 12:9 And
the great dragon was thrown out, that
serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan,
who leads all the world astray. He was thrown to the earth, and his messengers
were thrown out with him. .......
The image is used by Yehoshua when speaking to the Yehudin:
Joh 3:14 “And
as Mosheh lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, even so the Son of Aḏam has to be lifted up,.. Joh 3:15 so that whoever believe in Him should not perish but possess everlasting life.
Yehoshua taking it as an euphemism to his
death, doesn’t compare himself to the serpent, but uses the fact to look at the
serpent as the act of faith
(trust/emunah) which will be asked of the believers when Yehoshua will be glorified.
Eternal life comes by looking at Yehoshua the goal of our faith
(Rom.10:4) and putting our trust in him...
The Children of Israel (carnal man) who were
bitten and looked at the brass serpent were kept alive. This demonstrated their
faith:trust in the word of יהוה... We should
be aware, every time we read the Torah that the Torah point to Messiah and His
deliverance from the influence of the carnal man (Children of Israel). We pray
asking aba יהוה
to help us to see behind the letter. The commandments are a lamp and the Torah
is light, and reproof of instruction are the way of life (Prov.6:23).
Please take time to read the beautiful
explanation from Jamiesson, Fausset
and Brown in the Haftorah concerning
the Brass Serpent...........
Num 21:1 And the sovereign of Araḏ, the Kenaʽanite, who dwelt in the South,
heard that Yisra’ĕl was coming on the way to Atharim, and he fought against
Yisra’ĕl and took some of them captive.
Num 21:2 Then Yisra’ĕl made a vow to יהוה, and said, “If You deliver this people into my hand
indeed, then I shall put their cities under the ban.” Num
21:5 and the people spoke against
Elohim and against Mosheh, “Why have you brought us up out of Mitsrayim to
die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our being loathes
this light bread.”
Num
21:6 and יהוה sent fiery
serpents among the people, and they bit
the people. And many of the people of Yisra’ĕl died.
Num
21:7 Then the people came to
Mosheh, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against יהוה
and against you. Pray to יהוה
to take away the serpents from us.”
So Mosheh prayed on behalf of the people. Num 21:8
And יהוה
said to Mosheh, “Make a fiery serpent,
and set it on a pole. And it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” Num 21:9 So Mosheh
made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole. And it came to be, if a
serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. Num 22:1 and
the children of Yisra’ĕl set out and camped in the desert plains of Mo’aḇ
beyond the Yardĕn of Yeriḥo.
Haftorah
The Haftorah
gives us inside on Yiphtah the Gil’adite a descendant from Gilad and Israelite the son of an adulterous
woman, which was the reason why the other sons throw him out of the house. The
life bring sometime strange situation across our way. Instead to have let
everything in יהוה’s hand they
took the matter in their own way and years later were facing problems. The only
way they found was to go for Yiphtah to deliver them! Yiphtah was very
confident and make a vow to יהוה with consequence, if we read further
we see that the first person he met at the entrance of his house was his own
daughter! What can we learn? Discuss the consequences of making vow lightly,
should we not be wise and keep our tongue?.. On the other side, the elder from
Israel didn’t sought יהוה but went directly look for Yiptah who saw the possibility to
recover his past position! What is interesting is that Yiptah do not recal in
his own abilty before Israel's enemies rather remind them of what they did to
Moshe and the Children of Israel, and that it was Yehowah who gave them into
their hands.
I would like to point at an actual situation
when reading following verses:
Jdg 11:26 ‘While Yisra’ĕl dwelt in
Ḥeshbon and its villages, and in Aroʽĕr and its villages, and in all the
cities along the banks of Arnon, for three hundred years, why did you not recover
them within that time? Jdg 11:27 ‘So I have not sinned
against you, but you are doing me evil by fighting against me. Let יהוה
the
Judge, judge today between the children of Yisra’ĕl and the children of Ammon.’ ” Jdg
11:28 But the sovereign of the
children of Ammon did not listen to the words which Yiphtaḥ sent him. ………
Today if we observe Israel, we will see that
the Palestinians claim a land and try
to get this land with the help of the world. The land of Israel was desolate
for many centuries and nobody claimed
it; neither Arabs nor Palestinians. All of the sudden, the Palestinians
claim this land as their position?
Yiphtah say: יהוה
will be judge between
the Children of Israel and the children of Ammon,
and so will be also between Israel and the Palestinians!...
Now look at that, are
we not from the House of Israel, like Yiphtah
children of adulteress and what does Sha’ul
says: --- 1Co 1:26 For look at your calling,
brothers, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble. ..1Co 1:27 But Elohim has chosen the foolish matters of the world to put to shame
the wise, and Elohim has chosen the weak of the world to put to shame the
strong. ..1Co 1:28 And Elohim has chosen the low-born of the
world (you and me) and the despised, and the ones that are not, that He might
bring to naught the ones that are, ---- Halleluyah!
Are we not like Yiptach offspring from an adulterous woman, the House of Ysrael? But Yehowah called us!
Yiptach the Gileadite was a descendant from Mannashe,
the son from Yoseph, son of Ya’acov!
This is יהוה
answer to the wise of this world!
Joh 3:10 יהושע answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Yisra’ĕl, and do not
know this?
Nicodemus was a teacher, a Torah Master and was
not able to understand what Yehoshua
was saying:
We read from Jamesson, Fausset and Brown
commentary:
Joh 3:10
master — “teacher.” The question clearly implies that the doctrine of regeneration
is so far disclosed in the Old Testament that Nicodemus was culpable in being
ignorant of it. Nor
is it merely as something that should be experienced under the Gospel that the Old Testament holds it forth - as many
distinguished critics allege, denying that there was any such thing as
regeneration before Messiah. For our Master’s proposition is universal, that no fallen man is or can be spiritual
without a regenerating operation of the (Holy Ghost) Ruach HaQodesh, Set apart
Spirit, and the necessity of a spiritual
obedience under whatever name, in opposition to mere mechanical
services, is proclaimed throughout all the Old Testament....Joh 3:12
earthly things — such as regeneration,
the gate of entrance to the kingdom of God on earth, and which Nicodemus should have understood better, as
a truth even of that more earthly
economy to which he belonged.
heavenly things — the things of the new and more heavenly evangelical economy, only to
be fully understood after the effusion of the Spirit from heaven through the
exalted Savior.
From Jamiesson, Fausset and Brown:
Joh 3:14-16 “And as Mosheh lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, even so the Son of Aḏam has to be lifted up,…………………………………..
And as Moses, etc. — Here now we have the “heavenly
things,” as before the “earthly,” but under a veil, for the reason
mentioned in Joh_3:12. The crucifixion
of Messiah is twice after this veiled under the same lively term - “uplifting,” Joh_8:28; Joh_12:32,
Joh_12:33. Here it is still further
veiled - though to us who know what it means, rendered vastly more instructive
- by reference to the brazen serpent. The venom of the fiery serpents, shooting through the veins of the
rebellious Israelites, was spreading death through the camp - lively emblem of the perishing condition of men by
reason of sin. In both cases the remedy was divinely provided. In both the way of cure strikingly resembled that
of the disease. Stung by serpents, by a serpent they are healed. By “fiery
serpents” bitten - serpents, probably, with skin spotted fiery red [Kurtz] -
the instrument of cure is a serpent of brass or copper, having at a distance the same
appearance. So in redemption, as by man came death, by Man also comes
life - Man, too, “in the likeness
of sinful flesh” (Rom_8:3), differing in nothing outward and apparent from those who, pervaded by
the poison of the serpent, were ready to perish. But as the uplifted serpent
had none of the venom of which the serpent-bitten people were dying, so while the whole human family were perishing
of the deadly wound inflicted on it by the old serpent, “the Second Man,” who arose over humanity with healing in His wings,
was without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. In both cases the remedy is conspicuously displayed; in the one
case on a pole, in the other on the (cross) stake, to “draw all men unto Him” (Joh_12:32). In both cases it is by directing the eye to the uplifted Remedy
that the cure is effected; in the one case the bodily eye, in the other the gaze of the soul by “believing in Him,” as in that
glorious ancient proclamation - “Look
unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth,” etc. (Isa_45:22). Both
methods are stumbling to human reason. What, to any thinking Israelite,
could seem more unlikely than that a deadly poison should be dried up in his
body by simply looking on a reptile of brass? Such a stumbling-block to the Jews and to the Greeks foolishness was faith
in the crucified Nazarene as a way of deliverance from eternal perdition.
Yet was the warrant in both cases to expect a cure equally rational and well
grounded. As the serpent was God’s
ordinance for the cure of every bitten Israelite, so is Messiah for the salvation of every perishing sinner - the one
however a purely arbitrary
ordinance, the other divinely adapted
to man’s complicated maladies. In both
cases the efficacy is the same. As one simple look at the serpent, however
distant and however weak, brought an instantaneous cure, even so, real faith in
the Master Yehoshua, however tremulous, however distant - be it but real
faith - brings certain and instant healing to the perishing soul. In a
word, the consequences of disobedience are the same in both. Doubtless many bitten Israelites, galling as their
case was, would reason rather
than obey, would speculate on the absurdity of
expecting the bite of a living serpent to be cured by looking at a piece of
dead metal in the shape of one - speculate
thus till they died.
Alas! is not salvation by a crucified
Redeemer subjected to like treatment? Has the offense of the cross” yet ceased?
(Compare 2Ki_5:12).....Jdg 11:1 and Yiphtaḥ the Gilʽaḏite was a
mighty brave one, but he was the son of a whore. And Gilʽaḏ brought forth
Yiphtaḥ. ...Jdg 11:2 and the wife of Gilʽaḏ
bore sons. And when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Yiphtaḥ out, and said to him, “You shall not have an
inheritance in the house of our father, for you are the son of another woman.”..Jdg 11:3 And Yiphtaḥ fled from his brothers and
dwelt in the land of Toḇ. And worthless men banded together with Yiphtaḥ and
went out with him. ...Jdg 11:4 and it came to
be, some time later, that the children
of Ammon fought against Yisra’ĕl. .... Jdg 11:5
And it came to be, when the children of Ammon fought against Yisra’ĕl, that the
elders of Gilʽaḏ went to bring Yiphtaḥ
out of the land of Toḇ.
Jdg 11:6 And they said to Yiphtaḥ, “Come, and you shall be our commander, and
let us fight against the children of Ammon.” .... Jdg
11:7 But Yiphtaḥ said to the elders of Gilʽaḏ, “Did you not hate me, and drive me from my father’s house? Why have
you come to me now when you are in trouble?” Jdg 11:8
And the elders of Gilʽaḏ said to Yiphtaḥ, “That is the reason we have turned
to you, that you shall go with us and fight against the children of Ammon, and
be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilʽaḏ.” Jdg
11:9 and Yiphtaḥ said to the elders of Gilʽaḏ, “If you take me back
home to fight against the children of Ammon, and יהוה
gives them to me, am I to be your head?”
Jdg 11:10 and the elders of Gilʽaḏ said to
Yiphtaḥ, “יהוה is witness between us, if we
do not do according to your words.” Jdg 11:11
Then Yiphtaḥ went with the elders of Gilʽaḏ, and the people set him over
them, as head and commander. And Yiphtaḥ spoke all his words before יהוה in
Mitspah. Jdg 11:12 and Yiphtaḥ sent messengers
to the sovereign of the children of Ammon, saying, “What is between you and me,
that you have come to fight against me in my land?”Jdg
11:13 and the sovereign of the children of Ammon said to the messengers
of Yiphtaḥ, “Because Yisra’ĕl took my land when they came up out of Mitsrayim,
from the Arnon as far as the Yabboq, and to the Yardĕn. And now, give back
those lands in peace.” Jdg 11:14 but Yiphtaḥ
again sent messengers to the sovereign of the children of Ammon,
Jdg
11:15 and said to him, “This is
what Yiphtaḥ said, ‘Yisra’ĕl did not
take the land of Mo’aḇ, nor the land of the children of Ammon. Jdg 11:16 ‘For when they came up from Mitsrayim, and
Yisra’ĕl walked through the wilderness as far as the Sea of Reeds and came to
Qaḏĕsh, Jdg 11:17 then Yisra’ĕl sent
messengers to the sovereign of Eḏom, saying, “Please let me pass over, through
your land.” But the sovereign of Eḏom would not listen. And they also sent to
the sovereign of Mo’aḇ, but he refused, so Yisra’ĕl stayed at Qaḏĕsh.
Jdg
11:18 ‘Then they went through the
wilderness and around the land of Eḏom and the land of Mo’aḇ, and came to the
east side of the land of Mo’aḇ, and encamped beyond Arnon. But they did not
enter the border of Mo’aḇ, for Arnon was the border of Mo’aḇ. Jdg 11:19 ‘And Yisra’ĕl sent messengers to Siḥon
sovereign of the Amorites, sovereign of Ḥeshbon, and Yisra’ĕl said to him,
“Please let us pass over, through your land into our place.” Jdg 11:20 ‘But Siḥon did not trust Yisra’ĕl to pass
over through his border, and Siḥon gathered all his people together, and they
encamped in Yahats, and fought against Yisra’ĕl. Jdg
11:21 ‘And יהוה Elohim of
Yisra’ĕl gave Siḥon and all his people into the hand of Yisra’ĕl, and they
smote them. So Yisra’ĕl
took possession of all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that land. Jdg 11:22 ‘Thus they took possession of all the
border of the Amorites, from Arnon to the Yabboq and from the wilderness to the
Yardĕn. Jdg 11:23 ‘And now, יהוה
Elohim of Yisra’ĕl has driven out the Amorites from before His people Yisra’ĕl,
should you then possess it? Jdg 11:24 ‘Whatever
Kemosh your mighty one gives you to possess, do you not possess it? And all that which יהוה our Elohim takes possession of before us, we
possess.
Jdg
11:25 ‘and now are you any
better than Balaq son of Tsippor, sovereign of Mo’aḇ? Did he ever strive
against Yisra’ĕl? Did he ever fight against them? Jdg
11:26 ‘While Yisra’ĕl dwelt in Ḥeshbon and its villages, and in Aroʽĕr
and its villages, and in all the cities along the banks of Arnon, for three
hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time? Jdg 11:27 ‘So I have not sinned against you, but you
are doing me evil by fighting against me. Let
יהוה the Judge,
judge today between the children of Yisra’ĕl and the children of Ammon.’ ” Jdg 11:28 But
the sovereign of the children of Ammon did not listen to the words which
Yiphtaḥ sent him. Jdg 11:29 And the Spirit of יהוה came upon
Yiphtaḥ, and he passed through Gilʽaḏ and Menashsheh, and passed through
Mitspeh of Gilʽaḏ. And from Mitspeh of Gilʽaḏ he passed on toward the
children of Ammon. Jdg 11:30 And Yiphtaḥ made a vow to יהוה,
and said, “If You give the children of Ammon into my hands, Jdg 11:31 then it shall be that whatever comes out of
the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of
Ammon, shall belong to יהוה, and I shall offer it up as a burnt offering.” Jdg
11:32 Yiphtaḥ then passed on toward the children of Ammon to fight
against them, and יהוה gave them into his hands. Jdg 11:33 and he smote them from Aroʽĕr as far as
Minnith, twenty cities, and to Aḇĕl Keramim, with a very great slaughter. Thus
the children of Ammon were humbled before the children of Yisra’ĕl. ---- 1Co 1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this
age? Has not Elohim made foolish the wisdom of this world? ..1Co 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of Elohim, the
world through wisdom did not know Elohim, it pleased Elohim through the
foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. ..1Co
1:22 And since Yehuḏim ask a sign, and Greeks seek wisdom,
1Co 1:23 yet we proclaim Messiah impaled, to the Yehuḏim a stumbling-block and
to the Greeks foolishness,
1Co 1:24 but to those who are called – both Yehuḏim and Greeks – Messiah the
power of Elohim and the wisdom of Elohim. ..1Co 1:25
For the foolishness of Elohim is wiser than men, and the weakness of Elohim is
stronger than men. .. 1Co 1:26 For look at your
calling, brothers, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not
many mighty, not many noble. ...1Co 1:27 But
Elohim has chosen the foolish matters
of the world to put to shame the wise, and Elohim has chosen the weak of the
world to put to shame the strong.
1Co 1:28 And Elohim has chosen the low-born of the world and
the despised, and the ones that are not, that He might bring to naught the ones
that are, 1Co 1:29 so
that no flesh should boast in His presence.
1Co 1:30 and of Him you are in Messiah יהושע, who
became for us wisdom from Elohim, righteousness also, and set-apartness and
redemption, 1Co 1:31 that, as it has been
written, “He who boasts, let him boast in יהוה.”
Joh 3:10 יהושע
answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Yisra’ĕl, and do not know
this?
Joh
3:11 “Truly, truly, I say to
you, We speak what We know and witness what We have seen, and you do not
receive Our witness. Joh 3:12 “If you do not believe when I spoke to you
about earthly matters, how are you going to believe when I speak to you
about the heavenly matters? Joh 3:13 “And no
one has gone up into the heaven except He who came down from the heaven – the Son of Aḏam.
Joh 3:14 “And as Mosheh lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness, even so the Son of Aḏam has to be lifted up, Joh 3:15 so that whoever is believing in Him should
not perish but possess everlasting life. Joh 3:16
“For Elohim so loved the world that He gave His only brought-forth Son, so that
everyone who believes in Him should not perish but possess everlasting life. Joh 3:17 “For Elohim did not send His Son into the
world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Joh 3:18 “He who believes in Him is not judged, but
he who does not believe is judged already, because he has not believed in the
Name of the only brought-forth Son of Elohim. Joh 3:19
“And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men
loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were wicked. Joh 3:20 “For everyone who is practicing evil matters hates the light and does not
come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
Joh 3:21 “But the one doing the
truth comes to the light, so that his works are clearly seen, that they have
been wrought in Elohim.”
May Yehowah Elohim bless you as you keep the way, following Yehoshua HaMashiach in the Torah!
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