What made the night exceptional for me was the execution of so many of the traditions weaved into the complex order of the night’s rituals. Beginning with fellowship and food (staples of our faith, to be sure), Greg and Gabby masterfully entwined the weekly Havdalah ceremony into the candle lighting for Shavuot, all the while lifting up, praising, and glorifying Messiah Yeshua. This was followed by an awesome Ma’ariv prayer time led by Jonathan Upham, as he chanted much of the machzor for us. Wonderful!

This year’s focus on our walk through Sefer Rut was the “weird leverite marriages” in the line of Mashiach, and the tikkun work of both Boaz and Ruth over and against Judah, Lot, Tamar and Lot’s older daughter (named Paltith, according to the Book of Jasher). Greg finished this Biblical history by referring to one of our previous Tzadik classes regarding the leverite marriage involved with Joseph of Galilee. Outstanding review, Greg! Thank you!!

We were also blessed to see the four newest members of the Bella Torah community, Oriyah, Shoshanna, Sophia and Moriah.

We will pray Shacharit at 11am this morning of Shavuot. All are welcome. Men will be laying tefillin. Bring your machzor.

Yom tov! Chag sameach!!

Yosef ben Yosef

“Only the tribe of Levi you shall not list, and you shall not take a census of them among the people of Israel.” Numbers 1:49

Here in chapter 3 Levi is counted but done so apart from “the people of Israel.”

“List the sons of Levi, by fathers’ houses and by clans; every male from a month old and upward you shall list.” Numbers 3:15

This is yet another example of the distinction between Levi and the rest of the tribes. Not only did G-d declare they were different (Num. 3:12) but He demonstrated the difference through His commandments. As a brief aside, are G-d’s commandments not what demonstrate our difference from the world?

“So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your G-d.” Numbers 15:40

To be holy is to heed G-d’s instruction which naturally extracts us from the wickedness of the world. In regard to the tribal enumeration the people of Israel were counted only if the following qualifications applied.

“So all those listed of the people of Israel, by their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war in Israel –“ Numbers 1:45

Compare the stipulations to that of Levi.

“List the sons of Levi, by fathers’ houses and by clans; every male from a month old and upward you shall list.” Numbers 3:15

Twenty years old is the age when the highest monetary value applies as described in Leviticus 27. The additional qualification for one who was twenty years old and upward was the ability to go to war, which clearly exhibited a physical requirement. However, a month old, which was Levi’s minimum age, is the very first age at which a person has a monetary value. The distinction demonstrates that from as early as possible the Levites were designated for the work of HaShem and were recognized as bearing that responsibility. In other words their vocation and service to G-d was based more on birth than ability.

The encampment instructions are vivid and full of parallels. One item that differentiated the first tribe from the rest was a subtle piece of additional information.

“Those to camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah by their companies, the chief of the people of Judah being Nahshon the son of Amminadab,” Numbers 2:3

“Toward the sunrise” seems redundant following “the east side.” The Hebrew word for “sunrise” in this case is mitzrach and the Hebrew word for “east side” is kedem so redundancy is no longer an issue. Although the phrase “toward the sunrise” and it’s relation to the tribe of Judah demands further investigation. Our blessed Messiah Yeshua is of the tribe of Judah. (Matt. 2:1-6) Therefore Numbers 2:3 should relate in some way to Messiah.  The following are a couple of passages that use the Hebrew word mitzrach.

“For I am the L-RD your G-d, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east (mitzrach), and from the west I will gather you.” Isaiah 43:3-5

“So they shall fear the name of the L-RD from the west, and his glory from the rising (mitzrach) of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the L-RD drives. ‘And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,’ declares the L-RD.” Isaiah 59:19-20

Both passages are clearly Messianic and reveal additional truth about the east where the sun rises and the affiliation with Messiah Yeshua. Why is this important? The correlation between the encampment of Judah and Messiah Yeshua help answer questions and increase understanding. From where will Messiah come? From what tribe will He descend? What signs will surround His coming? For which characteristics should we look? Just as Philip saw Yeshua and recognized that He was “him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote” (Jn.1:45) we too should be prepared in order to recognize the Son of Man as He returns to Zion.

“For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:27

The first hour was a formal review of G-d’s calendar. We subtitle this complex and wonderful arrangement of appointments and expectations as regular rhythms of righteousness. When G-d’s biblical calendar is compared with the calendar we have adopted from Christendom down through the centuries, mostly from the pagan Roman world and the Roman Catholic Church, the result is startling. I had long wondered how a new believer could go so far adrift between the times we met together. Of course, our churches only meet (with G-d or others) once or twice a week, depending on the sect. G-d’s people are thrust before the Holy One, blessed is He, very frequently. We tried to render the robustness of the model in the pictures below.

<< The world’s timing mechanism

G-d’s calendar >>

As you can see, there is a different basis between the two models. The world’s calendar of events is based on the sun. In fact, this is how the church calculates Easter. Have you ever looked in your Bible to determine when Easter Sunday is? Easter is always the first sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. So in the Spring, after the date when day and night are equal, wait for the first full moon. The following Sunday is Easter. Not very biblical, is it?

Passover, on the other hand, is always 14 Nissan, regardless of what day of the week it happens to fall.

I first taught this comparison in late 2007 when the references to the next blood moon tetrad were in the distant future. Now, we are but two years from what could be a very dramatic time in Israel’s history. Regardless, HaShem expects His people to meet with Him when He commanded we do so. Let’s not miss the party…

The second hour we examined the walk of faith from a different perspective. As we begin the self-examination our focus seems to be doing the DOs and not doing the DON’Ts. But as many have experienced, this godly lifestyle is not a burden, nor is it difficult. In fact, the above rendering of our life’s timings becomes a solace and heart-warming routine. I’m so looking forward to meeting with the community this weekend, first for Shacharit prayers in the morning and Oneg, then again just before Havdalah to celebrate Shavuot. It is a blessing.

The tzadik must move beyond the routine and look not at the time when he is doing the works of righteousness, nor when he is doing the works of unrighteousness (which by His grace become fewer and farther between), but rather to the times when he is doing nothing. These are the times which separate the Sages of which we read and the average believer. The men on whom G-d will rest His mighty Spirit and change the world are the men who choose to server their Master at all times. Convenience, fatigue or ones score on the daily mitzvah meter are irrelevant to the true tzadik. I pray we shall all develop this deep and abiding faith, and may our Messiah Yeshua return soon and in our days!

In light of the topic, let me reiterate…

• Yesterday’s class was on Rosh Chodesh Sivan.
• Today is 46 days to the Omer, which is 6 weeks and 4 days.
• Today is the fourth day of the week, and we begin to look forward to this Shabbat.
• Motzi Shabbat this week begins Shavuot, as we celebrate the giving of the Torah.

Rosh Chodesh Sameach!

Shalom,

Yosef ben Yosef

Here are the questions we chose regarding the Law:

1. How many laws are there?
2. Can a non-believer keep the law?
3. What’s the purpose of grace?
4. How would your life be different if Christ had abolished the law?

The reasoning behind each question is discussed in full on the audio of the class. I encourage you to visit the Resource page and listen along with us. For those of you who may not see the value of listening, here’s a teaser…

We know that Paul says we are not under law but under grace. He often speaks disparagingly about “the law.” The truth be told, there are actually 13 types of law mentioned in the Apostolic Scriptures. I wonder which one(s) Paul was referring to with the soundbites we often hear from our brothers and sisters in Christendom?

This is neat… there are actually 13 types of law mentioned in the Tanach as well. G-d’s a genius!

Here are the questions we chose regarding eating kosher:

1. Who defines what food is?
2. Does G-d care what we eat?
3. What does G-d think of homosexuality?

Here are the questions we chose regarding the Shabbat:

1. What does G-d do on the Sabbath?
2. Are the 10 commandments applicable today?
3. What was Yeshua’s habit on the Sabbath?
4. Did Yeshua break the Sabbath?

Here are the questions we chose regarding righteousness:

1. How many different types of righteousness are there?
2. Is righteousness the means to or the fruit of salvation?
3. Who is righteous?
4. Is righteousness the same as justification?

I want to thank all the men for such excellent discussion and understanding when it comes to gently reviewing the matters of our faith walk with others in the body of Messiah.

Tonight is Rosh Chodesh Sivan, the traditional time for parents to bless their children with a special blessing, praying that their children should be good and upright, and that they have everything they need for a fruitful, joyous life. Thanks to ArtScroll, you can download the traditional prayer at no cost.

At the close of this Shabbat is Shavuot (Pentecost), the celebration of the giving of the Written Torah by G-d. How much more our joy and gratefulness should be considering G-d has also given us the Living Torah, our Savior Yeshua, the Messiah!

Here’s a quick quiz to prepare you for tomorrow’s class:  What do the following have in common?

• Methuselah
• Jeroboam
• Balthazar
• Nebuchadnezzar

Tonight we canout 45 days of the Omer, which is 6 weeks and 3 days.

Shalom,

Yosef ben Yosef

“Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land. And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan.” Leviticus 25:9-10

This beseeches the question “why?”, because a day to begin a year of liberty, elation, and agrarian rest seems unrelated to a day on which we afflict our souls. (Lev. 23:32) An important commonality between both days is the requirement for selfless reliance on G-d.  During the jubilee year sowing, reaping, and gathering are forbidden. One must place his trust in G-d for provision and sustenance. The same helpless dependency is our only response to obtain atonement as well. We are unable to provide atonement for ourselves whether temporal or eternal. In addition, G-d demands our obedience in both cases. Adherence to the commandments is an expected response to the abundant endowment of sustenance during the jubilee year (among the other cyclical Sabbath rests for the land) as well as our rebirth as new creatures in Messiah Yeshua. Upon receiving G-d’s loving and gracious largesse we are obligated to obey Him. Not because our obedience induces salvation or provision but because it confirms submission to His perfect will and demonstrates our love for Him.

To conclude, the “valuation of persons” in Leviticus 27 was intriguing and puzzling.

“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, If anyone makes a special vow to the L-RD involving the valuation of persons,” Leviticus 27:2

It is intriguing because the passage lacks further explanation and puzzling because I do not understand when we would value a person in regard to a vow. Is it a vow to protect them and if they should die we would pay the appropriate price? Is this the price to make a vow to dedicate someone or to dedicate one’s self? If one were to make a vow and break it would this be a list of the prices they must pay? Oddly enough there is a passage in Acts that describes a group of new believers by their value.

“And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.” Act 19:19

If the redeemed sorcerers were all men between twenty and sixty year’s old then 1000 men were reckoned. Perhaps instead of recording the number of people the passage in Acts deliberately states the value to evince a connection with the explanation of Leviticus 27 and what occurred to the new believers. However I did discover, possibly an unrelated, correlation between the redemption price of a male firstborn who is one month old and the valuation price for a one month old male.

“Everything that opens the womb of all flesh, whether man or beast, which they offer to the L-rd, shall be yours. Nevertheless, the firstborn of man you shall redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.  And their redemption price (at a month old you shall redeem them) you shall fix at five shekels in silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.” Numbers 18:15-16

“If the person is from a month old up to five years old, the valuation shall be for a male five shekels of silver, and for a female the valuation shall be three shekels of silver.”  Leviticus 27:6

Nevertheless it is likely the valuation of persons is listed so that we may know the standard redemption price for a general person (possibly even one’s self). Although it does not seem as if Leviticus 27 is referring to redeeming a brother because that price “shall vary with the number of years” (Lev. 25:50) Otherwise I intend to study this further and I welcome your comments.

For fear of over-spiritualization I leave this verse without explanation and personally use this as an opportunity to reflect on our Blessed Messiah who paid the ultimate price.

“You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23

“For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or one who has a mutilated face or a limb too long, or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand, or a hunchback or a dwarf or a man with a defect in his sight or an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles.” Leviticus 21:18-20

“Animals blind or disabled or mutilated or having a discharge or an itch or scabs you shall not offer to the L-RD or give them to the L-RD as a food offering on the altar. You may present a bull or a lamb that has a part too long or too short for a freewill offering, but for a vow offering it cannot be accepted.  Any animal that has its testicles bruised or crushed or torn or cut you shall not offer to the L-RD; you shall not do it within your land,” Leviticus 22:22-24

The similarity should come as no surprise because both the Kohen and the offering were presented before HaShem Himself. Therefore both would have equal holiness standards so as not to profane the sanctuary. (Lev. 21:23) Additionally, the Kohen’s service was, in a sense, a sacrifice. The priests had stricter standards and more limiting commandments bestowed upon them. The chief priest could not even go out of the sanctuary. (Lev. 21:12) This was indeed a selfless and sacrificial life in service to HaShem. Just as the priest selected the offering to be presented, so too did HaShem select the Levites to serve before Him.

“For the L-rd your G-d has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the L-rd, him and his sons for all time.” Deuteronomy 18:5

It is important to note as well that our Messiah was a perfect and acceptable sacrifice before the Father. As Peter so elegantly describes Him, He was and is “like that of a lamb without spot or blemish.” (1 Pet. 1:19)

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1 Peter 1:14-19

Is it not convenient that the Torah generously contains the arrangement of the festivals and set times in exclusive sections? (Leviticus 23 and Numbers 28-29) Focusing this week on Leviticus 23 it is subtle yet characteristic that Yom Kippur is the only festival without “Speak to the Children of Israel.” The description of Pesach does not include this phrase right before the entry but it is amalgamated together with the Sabbath details, which does carry the phrase. The omission demonstrates, not that the information was inapplicable to the Children of Israel, but that Yom Kippur constitutes personal reflection and an individual affliction of the soul. There is no celebration, no festival, and no mention of congregating with others. This is a “Sabbath of solemn rest.” (Lev. 23:32) Yet another illustration of G-d’s grace is placing such a pensive time between two “holy convocations”, Rosh HaShanah and Sukkot. Both set times are jovial, celebratory, and communal. Reading through the spectacular festivals that are soon approaching augments my anticipation and excitement! The next set time is Shavu’ot! The counting is coming to an end and the opportunity to lovingly keep several of G-d’s commandments is close at hand.

“And you shall make proclamation on the same day. You shall hold a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a statute forever in all your dwelling places throughout your generations.” Leviticus 23:21

¹“Ibn Ezra and Naḥmanides both interpret Azazel as the name of the goat and this view is also found in the Talmud: “The school of Rabbi Ishmael explained it is called Azazel because it atones for the acts of the fallen *angels *Uzza and Azael” (Yoma 67b, cf. Targ. Jon., Gen. 6:1; Deut. R. 11:10).”

²“According to the sages and Rashi it meant “a steep, rocky or hard place,” in other words a description of its destination. According to Ibn Ezra (cryptically) and Nahmanides (explicitly), Azazel was the name of a spirit or demon, one of the fallen angels referred to in Genesis 6:2, similar to the goat-spirit called Pan in Greek mythology, Faunus in Latin. The third interpretation is that the word simply means “the goat [ez] that was sent away [azal].” Hence the English word “(e)scapegoat” coined by William Tyndale in his 1530 English translation of the Bible.”

Regardless of which interpretation suits your preference the Bible deliberately provides no explanation. During the service in which the goat for azazel is used an additional verse incited my curiosity.

“And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.” Leviticus 16:21

The last phrase is particularly puzzling. “By the hand of a man who is in readiness.” Further more the word for “readiness” in Hebrew is itti (עִתִּי) and this is the only time it is used in the whole Tanach. Here, I believe is a parallel to Yeshua. All of the people’s sins were affixed to the goat which meant there was need to expel the goat and thereby remove the sin. One of the most significant responsibilities rested on the man willing to contaminate himself to send the goat away into the wilderness. This action was the final step in removal of sin. Our Messiah Yeshua was also willing to bear the sin of the world, contaminate himself, and become the final step in removal of sin. He was a man who was in readiness. Gesenius’s lexicon suggests “opportune, at hand” as a suitable translation for itti. The following verse occurred right before Yeshua’s capture and contains Yeshua’s declaration that His time was at hand.

He said, ‘Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, “The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’ Matthew 26:18

To follow the previous rumination and conclude with an additional parallel to Yeshua the following verse demonstrates why Yeshua had to suffer and die for our sins.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.” Leviticus 17:11

Ultimately it is the life that substantiates the blood to be sufficient for atonement. The animals that were sacrificed to atone for ritual impurity must die for the blood to function. Messiah Yeshua died for us so that by His life His blood would provide atonement. He taught His disciples this truth:

“for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.’” Mark 9:31

For such incredible grace and such humble sacrifice we should have His salvation on our lips daily. (1 Chr. 16:23) Praise the L-RD that this was His will that we might be saved!

“Yet it was the will of the L-RD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the L-RD shall prosper in his hand.” Isaiah 53:10

¹ http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0002_0_01741.html

² http://www.chiefrabbi.org/author/ben/#.T6MsSo7GU3g

The Book of Mitzvot

The ArtScroll Edition of Sefer HaChinuch

This magnificent work provides tremendous insight to each of the 613 commandments by portion. You can see where each mitzvoth came from, the obligation for each, the underlying purpose, the laws governing the commandment, and the applicability or value to your life. Outstanding. Did you know that 35 of the 613 mitzvot are found in Parasha Tzav? That 18 are found in last week’s, Tazria?

I missed a review post last week. We talked about the theological concepts normally associated with Christianity and reviewed the historical context and tumult in the years leading up to and following the birth, death and resurrection of our Mashiach Yeshua. We discovered that many, if not all, the traditional beliefs were a part of and recognized as “Jewish” in that day, and left with a better understanding of why and how the first believers in the risen Yeshua were considered a sect of Judaism. Fascinating discussion!

Last night we discussed the pending Marriage Amendment to the North Carolina Constitution:

“Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State. This section does not prohibit a private party from entering into contracts with another private party; nor does this section prohibit courts from adjudicating the rights of private parties pursuant to such contracts.”

I tried my best to goad you with church history and you did not disappoint. The facts of the matter are revealing:

Martin Luther viewed marriage as a social “estate of the earthly kingdom…subject to the prince, not the Pope.” While John Calvin taught that marriage was a “covenant of grace that required the coercive power of the state to preserve its integrity.” This led to Calvin and friends enacting the Marriage Ordinance of Geneva, which imposed “the dual requirements of state registration and church consecration to constitute marriage” for recognition. Thanks, John. The common good is promoted by establishing and supporting government beyond the local community and its elders, but I don’t believe marriage should ever have been pushed to the national level.

The laws… which must effect a people’s happiness must flow from their own habits, their own feelings, and the resources of their own minds. No stranger to these could possibly propose regulations adapted to them. Every people have their own particular habits, ways of thinking, manners, etc., which have grown up with them from their infancy, are become a part of their nature, and to which the regulations which are to make them happy must be accommodated.

Thomas Jefferson to William Lee, 1817. ME 15:101

While our country remains untainted with the principles and manners which are now producing desolation in so many parts of the world; while she continues sincere, and incapable of insidious and impious policy, we shall have the strongest reason to rejoice in the local destination assigned us by Providence. But should the people of America once become capable of that deep simulation towards one another, and towards foreign nations, which assumes the language of justice and moderation while it is practising iniquity and extravagance, and displays in the most captivating manner the charming pictures of candor, frankness, and sincerity, while it is rioting in rapine and insolence, this country will be the most miserable habitation in the world; because we have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

John Adams to the officers of the Massachusetts Militia, 1798

Should we lay back, living in the shadows of the diaspora and allow life to proceed without the influence of our faith? G-d forbid! Does this mean we need to all run for political office and forsake all responsibility as husbands and fathers? Certainly not. We should stand and be heard in every corner of society in which Our Father places us. We must demonstrate compassion to all, and honor Our True King by vocalizing His and our disdain for sin of any kind. Let us be strong and courageous in the face of great opposition because the generations after us rely upon our actions today.

Whoops! Where did that soap box come from?

There will be no class next Tuesday as I care for my wife. Thanks for your understanding and prayers.

Today is Day 25 of the Omer, which is 3 weeks and 4 days. Pesach Sheni is the first day of next week and Lag B’Omer is the fifth day of next week.

Shalom,

Yosef ben Yosef

]]> http://menoftorah.wordpress.com/2012/05/02/tzadik-classes-24-25-follow-up/feed/ 0 circumcisedgentile Book of Mitzvot http://menoftorah.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/parashot-tazriametzora/ http://menoftorah.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/parashot-tazriametzora/#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:48:45 +0000 Greg http://menoftorah.wordpress.com/?p=1078 ]]> Yeshua is the mediator of the New Covenant and it is by His blood alone that we are saved. (Hb 9:15) This week’s portions contain hints to this truth, which should come as no surprise to us. Let’s begin with an interesting excerpt from Leviticus 14.

“He shall take the live bird with the cedarwood and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, and dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird go into the open field.”  Leviticus 14:6-7

Now read Hebrews 9.

“18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, ‘This is the blood of the covenant that G-d commanded for you.’ 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. 23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of G-d on our behalf.” Hebrews 9:18-24

Here are the symbolic parallels I found:

Parallels and comparisons are not meant to distract us from the plain reading and understanding of the Torah portion, but serve the purpose to display revelation and enrich our study. Yeshua and the disciples would draw attention during their expositions to whole sections of Scripture by mentioning key words and phrases. Further your study this week and discover the many other parallels throughout these portions. The verses I listed above describe the ritual to cleanse a person or a house from tzarat. Also, the same items were thrown into the fire with the red heifer whose ashes were used to cleanse one who touched a dead body. (Num. 19:6) As the Book of Hebrews so eloquently elucidates the lengthy descriptions of priestly rituals foreshadow our blessed Savior and His gracious sacrifice. Therefore we read the Book of Leviticus with earnest to learn more of G-d, to understand the Levitical system, to keep the non-temple related commandments contained within, and to discover Messiah Yeshua on every page. Be encouraged and speak of His salvation daily! (1 Chr 16:23)

Let’s dive deeper into this week’s portion. There are statements that appear close to one another that are identical in Hebrew and reflect two opposite outcomes. Notice Leviticus 9:24 and Leviticus 10:2. The phrase, “And fire came out from before the L-RD and consumed” is identical in the Hebrew and the ESV. Below I have listed each verse and an additional reference to describe the outcome.

“And fire came out from before the L-RD and consumed them, and they died before the L-RD.” Leviticus 10:2

“Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you. You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear. The L-rd will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them. You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man.” Psalm 21:8-10

Leviticus 10:6 follows the destruction of Nadab and Abihu after they brought zur (strange, unauthorized) fire before the L-RD. Both men were destroyed by fire because of their disobedience. Psalm 21 describes a similar destruction by the Just Judge from Whom nothing is hidden. He discerns the heart (1 Kn 8:39) and gives according to our deeds. (Jer. 17:10)

But praise be to G-d for there is Good News! Note the outcome of Leviticus 9:24.

“And fire came out from before the L-RD and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.” Leviticus 9:24

“Her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy.”  Psalm 132:16

Those who are saved will not be consumed by the fire. Those who are saved will shout for joy at His mighty salvation and His awesome power! The following verse beautifully describes the abundance of G-d’s grace and the source of our salvation, Messiah Yeshua.

“Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of G-d. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to G-d by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” Romans 5:9-10

Right here in this week’s portion are the two outcomes of life. We will either be saved by G-d or destroyed. For those that are saved I imagine we will have a similar reaction. We will shout songs of praise and fall on our faces in reverence of the Holy One, Blessed is He. Though we were deserving of G-d’s wrath He saved us by the blood of His Son Yeshua.

To conclude, I have been puzzling over the follow passage:

“And Aaron said to Moses, “Behold, today they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the L-RD, and yet such things as these have happened to me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would the L-RD have approved?” And when Moses heard that, he approved.” Levitcus 10:19-20

Before this verse Moses seems to be upset at the disobedience of Eleazar and Ithamar. Although, after a somewhat vague explanation from Aaron he seems content and “approves.” It seems that because of what happened to his children Aaron did not think it was proper to have eaten the sin offering. Is this the case? Do you know of a verse or commandment that exempts eating the sin offering due to a tragedy or loss?

I only found this verse:

“But no sin offering shall be eaten from which any blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place; it shall be burned up with fire.” Leviticus 6:30

Many questions arise. Why did Aaron respond when Moses was apparently angry at Eleazar and Ithamar? Did Aaron do anything wrong? Or was it Eleazar and Ithamar? If Aaron couldn’t eat the sin offering for whatever reason then why didn’t Eleazar and Ithamar?

In Leviticus 10:8 G-d spoke to Aaron and gave several commandments. I wonder if one of the things G-d mentioned revealed a sin in Aaron life for which he wanted to bring an additional sin offering or guilt offering as described in Leviticus 4. Aaron was only reluctant to eat the sin offering on that day. Maybe he wanted to wait until after atoning for his own sin before partaking in a more general sin offering? If you have any thoughts please leave a comment on this post. Thank you!