The Mystery of Solomon’s Chok!

As with all posts this subject cannot be taken as a separate focus, as everything is connected.

Other facts and information have to be included in order to make sense of it all as we fit all the seemingly unrelated pieces of this puzzle together. Having said that, before we look at the reason behind Solomon’s Chok, included is a brief pictorial recap. on the fact that Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, is typified as the Alef.

See the last post for reference to the Hebrew Alef Bet (Alphabet). Click links below.

NAIL I AM

https://www.minimannamoments.com/alef-bet-alphabet/

Each area we look at is like the Word itself, it cannot be contained within finite parameters and it is a huge challenge to condense all the relevant material for one area of focus, into a single meal! If anything is left out it’s due to lack of space and not to the lack of its importance.

This is part 1 of 2, to allow us to take time to absorb the pictures and text, which will enhance our understanding of both the seriousness and the joy, with which our Messiah fulfilled His destiny; and gave us the perfect WAY back to Himself.

Jesus/Yeshua is the Aleph-Bet (Alphabet).The beginningand the end

The Alef/Aleph and the Tav  Alpha and Omegathe First and the Last.He IS the first from Genesis to the last in Revelation.The alef or first letter is an OX head in the pictograph and as mentioned that Jesus/Yeshua is not only symbolized in scripture by a Lamb and a Nail and a Lion and Fire but also as the Red Heifer.There is also the reference in Ezekiel to the Red Heifer/Ox/Bull with the Four Faced Man. 

Ezekiel 10:14 Describing the cherubim each had 4 faces. 

“… And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.” (Ezekiel1:5). “Four” is the number of creation and signifies the world.

Also each of the 12 tribes of Israel positions in the wilderness. (Again, everything is connected).

The Four Faces of A Spiritual Man exemplified in Jesus/Yeshua

 Ezekiel: He is the “Wonderful Four-Faced Man” (Ezekiel 1:5-6)

In Daniel: He is the “Fourth Man in the Burning, Fiery Furnace” (Daniel 3:25)Ezekiel 1:10″As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle”. Both the bull and the ox are ‘cattle’, (heifer and cow).

Having established Yeshua is typified as Alef/Ox/Red Heifer.. (it was also referenced in the last post;)

..here is the unusual ritual law of the parah adumah (red heifer) and it is identified as the subject of Solomon’s Chok.

In fact, the Talmud states that of all the taryag mitzvot (613 commandments), this is the only one that wise King Solomon could not figure out.

This ritual is considered “chok” within the Jewish tradition, meaning that it defies rational sense. It is a Hebrew word meaning beyond the range of human reason, though some of the sages speculate that although the priest obediently offered the sacrifice as demanded by God, Solomon apparently did not understand why Numbers 19 declared that the priest would be “unclean until evening.”

Chok from Chukkim (חֻקִּים) are statutes divine decrees given without a reason.

These laws can seem irrational to human reason!

Mishpatim (מִשְׁפָּטִים) are laws given for a clearly specified reason (i.e., logical laws, for the prohibitions against theft and murder.)

Note: eidot (עֵדוֹת) are testimonials (from the root ‘ed, “witness”) that commemorate or represent something, they commemorate or symbolically represent something, (e.g. to wear tzitzit, eat matzah on Passover) the eidot occupy a sort of “middle ground” between the rationally understandable mishpatim and the supra-rational chukkim.

The Scriptures are filled with various imperatives of one kind or another. The Hebrew word mitzvah (מִצְוָה) generally means “divine commandment” (mitzvot is the plural form). The various mitzvot found in the Torah may be further divided into the subcategories of chukkim u’mishpatim (Deut. 4:5):

Why was this sacrifice so puzzling to King Solomon and the Jewish sages? Well, the sacrifice of the red cow just doesn’t fit the pattern of any of the other sacrifices given in the Torah.It’s a paradox, a puzzle, a question…

Here is the hidden mystery in the symbolism of the red heifer for its meaning is a clear foreshadowing of the sacrifice of the Jesus the Messiah /Mashiach Yeshua to deliver us from death and here are 8 reasons why:1 It was the most unique sacrifice in the Torah. Unlike other animals that could be offered to the Lord, a completely red cow was extremely rare and one of a kind.

2 The red heifer (Parah Adumah) had to be a perfect specimen that was completely red, without blemish in which there is no defect. (Possibly alluding to uncorrupted DNA; Yeshua the Last Adam = to First Adam, whose DNA was also perfect and uncorrupted.) The rabbis interpreted ‘without blemish’, as referring to the color, that is not having so much is a single white or black hair.This is the only sacrifice in the Torah where the color of the animal is explicitly required. Furthermore the parah adumah was never to have had a yoke upon it, meaning that it must never have been used for any profane purposes. Yoke also alludes being in captivity and in bondage to a master who placed the yoke upon the subject as slavery.  3 It was the only sacrifice where all the rituals were carried out outside of the camp (and later, outside the Temple precincts).

Unlike all of the sacrifices that were offered at the brazen altar, the parah adumah was taken outside the camp to be slaughtered before the priest, took some of its blood and sprinkled it seven times before the Mishkan, that by designating it as a purification offering.

That is, the “blood applications” of this sacrifice occurred in a location apart from the Levitical altar.

Then the red heifer would be burned in its entirety unlike other Levitical sacrifices including the fact that all the blood of the sacrifice was to be burnt in the fire as well.

4 It is the only sacrifice of blood in the Torah of Moses. In other words, the blood of the red cow was not drained out but rather was burned in the fire.(All the items that God required them to use were significant and heavy with meaning that would only be fulfilled and make sense when Messiah, Jesus fulfilled them in every detail.)

5 It was the only sacrifice in Torah that ritually contaminated the priest who offered it, but made the one who was sprinkled by it clean and that explicitly cleansed from the contact with sin and death. Anyone or anything that came into contact with a corpse, (the embodiment of sin and death) was required to be purified using the water of separation.The purification procedure took seven days, using stalks of hyssop dipped into the water and shaken over the ritually defiled person on the 3rd day and then again on the 7th day. After the second sprinkling the person undergoing the purification process would be immersed in a mikveh (water) and then be unclean until the following evening.

Purification on Third and Seventh Days Required In order to be fully purified from contact with a dead body, a person had to be sprinkled with the ashes of the Red Heifer (mixed with water) on the third and seventh days: Numbers 19:11-13

 

Based upon the understanding that the Biblical Holy Days, (the Appointed Times of the Lord, Leviticus 23), provide the prophetic pattern and timetable of God’s Master Plan of Redemption pointing to the true Messiah; we can see that Yeshua’s death and resurrection follow this detailed prophetic timetable. 

There may also be a prophetic connection between the 3rd and 7th days for purification with the ashes of the Red Heifer and the 3rd and 7th days of the 7-day Feast of Unleavened Bread prophetic cycle.

In the Spring: 

Passover – (Death of the Lamb) (Deliverance of Israel)

Feast of Unleavened Bread – (Yeshua, the Bread of Heaven was without sin.) 

         Firstfruits – (The Risen Christ was presented in Heaven before His Father.)

Pentecost – (The Spirit was poured out. 

            Messiah began to write His Law on the hearts of Israel.)

     In the Fall: 

Feast of Trumpets – (Warnings of Judgment Day approaching) 

Day of Atonement – (Judgment Day) 

Feast of Tabernacles – (We will tabernacle with Him.) 

In preparation for Passover, purification from sin was necessary.

For those who had been in contact with the dead, purification by the sprinkling of the ashes of the Red Heifer was the only way purity could be restored.

According to this prophetic picture, Yeshua, as God’s Red Heifer, provides the purification necessary to partake of Messiah Yeshua as God’s Passover Lamb.

According to this prophetic timeline, Yeshua was crucified on the day that the Passover Lambs were sacrificed (14th of Nisan) and He resurrected on the third day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (17th of Nisan). The Feast of Unleavened Bread covered a period of seven days from the 15th through the 21st of Nisan, the first and seventh days being days of holy convocation, annual Sabbath days when no work was to be done. 6 The items used to cleanse tzaraat (“leprosy”) were burned along with the sacrifice. In other words, the sacrifice would incorporate the means of cleansing from defilement and uncleanness.

It was the only sacrifice that paradoxically contaminated the priest who offered it, that made the one who was sprinkled by it clean.

7 It was the only sacrifice with the ashes were preserved and used (all of the sacrifices required at the ashes be disposed of outside the camp).

8 It was the only sacrifice in Torah that explicitly cleansed from the contact with sin and death. Anyone (or anything) that came into contact with a corpse (the embodiment of sin and death) was required to be purified using the mei niddah/‘water of separation’.

Hyssop (ezov, in Hebrew,) (symbol of humility); a Scarlet thread, (symbol of blood that ties everything together); (the scarlet thread dye color came from the crimson worm!)

a cedar stick,(that pierced Messiah side would then be thrown upon the burning parah adumah (these were the same items used to cleanse tzara’at). In other words the blood was assimilated into the ashes of the sacrifice, which were then gathered and mixed with water to create the, ‘water of separation’ mei niddah, for the Israelite community.

The life is in the blood to deliver from death and why Jesus/Yeshua had to die and shed His Blood to give us life.The word separation harkens to Zechariah 13:1 ‘on that day there shall be a fountain open for the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and from niddah.’ It means moved, (i.e. separated), and generally refers to separation due to ritual impurity. Medieval Biblical commentator Abraham ibn Ezra writes that, the word niddah, is related to the term menadechem (מנדיכם), meaning those that cast you out.

According to Jewish tradition this sacrifice was to atone for the sin of the Golden calf, though the Torah it self does not make this Association.

The Lord Jesus/ Messiah Yeshua is the perfect fulfillment of the parah adumah, since He was completely without sin or defect. 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 8:46.

He was sacrificed outside the camp. Hebrews 13:13.

He made Himself sin for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21;

The sprinkling of His blood makes us clean, (1 Peter 1:2; Hebrews 12:24; Revelation 1:5;) and the water of separation that His sacrifice created, is the means by which we are made clean from the impurity of sin. Ephesians 5: 25– 26; Hebrews 10:22In learning that the sacrifice of the red heifer was meant to create the “waters of separation” (i.e., mei niddah: מֵי נִדָּה) for the community.

The sages state in this regard: “God created the cure before the plague,” meaning that His love is the foundation of all things: עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה / Olam chesed yibaneh: “steadfast love built the world” (Psalm 89:2).Just as God created mankind only after He created the pathway of repentance (i.e., the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”: Eph. 1:4, Heb. 4:4, Rev 13:8), so the purification from death was likewise foreseen and provided. 

The “waters of separation” ultimately refer to our purification (i.e., identification) with the death of Yeshua (Rom. 6:3, 1 Cor. 10:13; Gal. 3:27).

There were four types of sin offerings. Three of these were killed or slaughtered at the slaughtering arenas within the temple proper, “before the presence of the Lord. (Lev 4:4) All three had their blood sprinkled seven times before the Inner Curtain which veiled the Holy of Holiest. All three sin offerings had their bodies carried out of the camp to be burned to ashes on the altar outside the camp.By understanding the crucifixion of Jesus with all the shadow-pictures of the Hebrews, we seeJesus as the fulfillment of the sacrifice of the Red Heifer.  

The Holiest of all the sin offerings was the sin offering of the Red Heifer.

The red heifer, offered as a sin offering for purification of the collective congregation of Israel was slaughtered according to the dictates of the Lord of Hosts to Moses outside the camp of Israel. (Numbers 19:3)The blood of the red heifer was sprinkled outside the camp, the body burned to ashes, and then the ashes through some mystical process, (chokthat transcended even the wisdom of Solomon, when it was mixed with pure spring water, it bestowed holiness and purification as it was sprinkled over not only people, but over the land.  They purified the temple with it. They could purify the entire city of Jerusalem if needed or the entire Land of Israel.  

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, our way to holiness would come only through the sacrifice and blood of Jesus/Yeshua, the Son of God.  It was Jesus/Yeshua, who was sacrificed as a ‘sin offering’ not only to bring holiness for His brethren the Jews and the “Lost Sheep of the House of Israel” but to all people.  It was they, who by belief in the sacrifice of the blood of Yeshua are “adopted” and “grafted” into the literal and spiritual House of Israel.    

SYMBOLISM:

Yeshua (Jesus) IS the red heifer. His blood (the scarlet) is cleansing when applied by Yeshua Himself (the “clean man”) using the water (Holy Spirit) and Hyssop (a symbol of cleansing).

During the 3rd millennium, from the first sin, the LORD made a promise covenant with with Abraham concerning his “seed”. All of the faithful ARE children of Abraham (Gal. 3:29)

It is interesting that the LORD commanded Abram to bring a heifer, as one of the animals to be sacrificed for the covenant ceremony (Gen. 15:9). The ashes of the red heifer, would one day be used for cleansing.  Four hundred thirty years later (to the day) the Children of Israel left Egypt, at midnight on the 15th of Nissan – after a meal of unleavened bread (Exo. 12:41).  This means the LORD entered into covenant with Abraham on the night which would later see the Passover Meal – The Feast of Unleavened Bread. 

During the 7th millennium, Yeshua will “sprinkle” us (cleanse us) while we spend a thousand years with Him. At the end of this 7th day – we (redeemed Israel) will be “clean” of the harmful effects of our life on this earth, where we have all “touched death.” 

NOTE: Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus were not able to keep the Passover after touching the body of Jesus. They would have kept the “Passover” 30 days later, as prescribed by the Law (Num. 9:10-12). Today is the 30th day of the Omer and Pesach Sheni—a Second Passover! Pesach Sheni 2018 is observed on April 29 (14 Iyar).

The holiest of all the sin offerings, was the fourth sin offering, the Red Heifer.

Unlike the other sin offerings, the Red Heifer was walked over to the Altar on the Mount of Olives (outside the camp of Israel/Jerusalem) and there burnt in its entirety.

The difference of the red heifer and the other sin offerings was that the other three were absolving sin, giving the recipient freedom from sin or in a sense, salvation.  On the other hand, the ash of the red heifer was to bring purification and holiness. 

Just as the Red Heifer was sacrificed “outside the camp” in contrast to all other sacrifices that took place in the Tabernacle or Temple, Jesus was sacrificed outside the city of Jerusalem. In contrast to the normal male animals sacrificed, the Red Heifer was the only female animal the Law commanded to be sacrificed. Significantly, our Lord was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a female slave.”

Alfred Edersheim gives this explanation of the deep meaning of the Red Heifer.

“As the first manifestation of sin which separates man from God, defilement by the dead required a Sin-offering, and the ashes of the red heifer are expressly so designated in the words: “It is a sin-offering.” (Num. 9:17) But it differs from all other sin-offerings. The sacrifice was to be a pure red color; one “upon which never came yoke; and a female, all other sin-offerings for the congregation being males….

But what distinguished it even more from all the others was, that it was a sacrifice once for all, (at least so long as its ashes lasted); that its blood was sprinkled, not on the altar, but outside the camp towards (westward) the sanctuary; and that it was wholly burnt, along with cedar wood, as the symbol of imperishable existence, hyssop, as the of purification from corruptions, and “scarlet” which from its colour as the emblem of life.

Thus the sacrifice of Highest Life, brought as a sin-offering, and, so as far as possible, once for all, was in its turn accompanied by the symbols of Imperishable existence, freedom from corruption, and fullness of life, so as yet more to intensity its significance. But even this is not all. The gathered ashes with running water were sprinkled on the third and seventh days on that which was to be purified. Assuredly, if death meant “the wages of sin,” this purification pointed in all its details, to “to the gift of God,” which is “eternal life” through the sacrifice of Him in whom is the fullness of life.” (The Temple, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Michigan. 1987, pages 348-349)

View towards Temple Mt from Mt of Olives.

Jerusalem showing location of Red Heifer Bridge.

THE MOUNT OF OLIVES ALTAR FROM THE TIME OF ADAM

Most Jewish scholars believe that from Adam to Abraham (Genesis 22:2) this particular altar was located on Mount Moriah (Temple Mount). According to The Torah Anthology, Adam constructed the first sacrificial altar vs.16 and it was successively rebuilt by Abel, Noah (or his son Shem), and Abraham. But it is essential to understand that there were TWO altar sites in Jerusalem of central importance to God’s Master Plan of Redemption: the altar on Mount Moriah which is profoundly significant in God’s plan of redemption.

The Lord told Abraham to take his “only son, whom you love” and offer him as a burnt offering: Since Isaac was no longer a child, as is generally depicted, but rather a young man in his thirties, it is clear that he voluntarily allowed his father to bind him for the sacrifice. v21This picture foreshadows the willing sacrifice of Yeshua in accordance with His Father’s will. And like Abraham laid the wood for the sacrifice on his son Isaac, the crossbar for His crucifixion was laid on Jesus/Yeshua’s shoulders to carry to the place of sacrifice:

They took Jesus [Yeshua] therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross[bar], to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha (John 19:17).

“YOU HAVE NOT WITHHELD YOUR SON, YOUR ONLY SON, FROM ME” (Genesis 22:11-12), The translation that can be made from the original Hebrew of Genesis 22:8, regarding Abraham’s reply to Isaac concerning the lamb for the sacrifice.The conventional translation is: And Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (Genesis 22:8a).

The alternative translation is:
“God will provide Himself AS the Lamb for the burnt offering…” vs.23. Wow!

What a profound prophecy regarding the promised Lamb of God, Messiah Yeshua, who offered Himself in our place as the atonement sacrifice for our sins!

The lamb is described as a burnt offering, meaning that the entire lamb was to be burned as an offering to God.

A burnt offering also represents complete submission to God’s will.In prophetic fulfillment, Yeshua totally submitted Himself to the will of Father God, offering Himself entirely as the sacrifice required to pay the price for all humanity’s sins.

As YHVH-Yeshua (pre-incarnate) provided a ram in place of Isaac, YHVH-Yeshua (incarnate) provided Himself, the Lamb of God, as the sin atonement sacrifice for each and every human being. Note that a ram was provided in place of Isaac, not a lamb (Genesis 22:13). This seems to confirm the true meaning of Abraham’s words as a prophecy about the Lamb of God, Messiah Yeshua.

As the ram’s horns were caught in a thicket (interwoven branches of a bush), vs.24. Yeshua’s head was caught in a crown woven out of thorn branches:

24 The Hebrew word sobek (Strong’s #5441) refers to “branches interwoven, a thicket” (William Wilson, New Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies, p. 443; Spiros Zodhiates, The Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, p. 81).

Here, the Temple was built, where the Shekinah (Divine Presence) manifested inside the Holy of Holies above the Ark of the Covenant. And here, the Messiah will seat Himself on His throne in His Temple during the Millennial Kingdom; AND equally important is the altar on the Mount of Olives.

The site for the sacrifice and burning of the Red Heifer, and the burning of the Day of Atonement bull and goat sin offerings. It is believed that it was here that the first altar for, sin sacrifice, was established at the place where Adam and Eve first sinned; and it was here, Messiah Yeshua offered Himself as the ultimate sin sacrifice for the atonement of the sins of all humanity.David went to the summit of the Mount of Olives, the place “where God was worshipped”. Not until David’s son, Solomon, was the Temple and its altar built on Mount Moriah. This clearly shows the summit of the Mount of Olives as a place of worship prior to the Temple and such a place of worship would have included an altar for sacrifice. 2 Samuel 15:30, 32

As previously explained, it is highly probable that the altar on the Mount of Olives goes back to the time of Adam, when the first animal sacrifice for sin was made. David was shown a vision of the crucifixion (which he recorded in Psalm 22) at the very place where his descendant, Messiah Yeshua, would be crucified, on the summit of the Mount of Olives.

The Mount of Olives is frequently mentioned in the New Testament. Yeshua spent much time with His disciples on the Mount of Olives (Luke 21:37; 22:39; John 8:1).It was on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the Temple Mount, that Yeshua wept over the city of Jerusalem and prophesied concerning the destruction of the Temple, the end of the Age, and His Second Coming (Matthew 24:3; Mark 13:3-4).

It was over the Mount of Olives that Yeshua rode on the donkey foal during His entry into Jerusalem, crossing over the Kidron Valley to the Temple Mount (Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29, 37).

Yeshua spent His last night on the Mount of Olives prior to His arrest (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39).

And Yeshua was crucified, buried, and resurrected on the Mount of Olives (Hebrews 13:11-13).

The Word of God shows that the Gate of Heaven is located above the Mount of Olives. This is place of Jacob’s Beth-el; where the angels ascended and descended from the Heavens.

Here the prophet Ezekiel had a vision of the Shekinah (Glory Cloud) leaving the Temple and moving to a position above the Mount of Olives before it disappeared into Heaven (Ezekiel 10; 11:23).

Messiah Yeshua ascended into Heaven from the Mount of Olives (Luke 24:50-52 Acts 1:9-12).

Therefore, logically as there is no co-incidence with God; it would follow, that the altar on the Mount of Olives was located directly under the Gate of Heaven.

Somewhere on the top of the Mount of Olives was once located the Red Heifer altar. No ruins of the altar remain, unless buried deep under cement or buildings.

This is probably the best EXAMPLE of what the Red Heifer Altar might have looked like on the Mount of Olives.

In 1980 by Adam Zertal uncovered an altar at Ebal Israel believed to be the altar of Joshua, with a later altar built over it.This altar had been purposely covered with stones to either hide it, or preserve it. It is 10 feet high and  around 25 x 30 feet in width and length.  The walls are 5 ft thick with a fill to make it flat on top. There is a 23 x 3 foot wide ramp leading up to it with the same ledge and smaller ramp along side the larger one. Beneath this altar is another smaller, 6.5 ft round, altar built on the bedrock. The smaller altar is thought by many to be the altar of Joshua that we read about in the scripture. It was built around 1250 BC. The larger, rectangle, altar above it is dated to around 1400 BC.The front portion of this altar had two large stalls where the animals were kept. Also different compartments were found within the stalls was used to contain the items needed for the sacrificing of the animals.When the Temple was built in Jerusalem the altar on Mt Ebal was abandoned.  

The Red Heifer sacrifice was performed on the summit of the Mount of Olives in a direct line of sight to the entrance of the Temple on its eastern side. The animal was placed on its left side, head toward the south, and face turned westward toward the entrance to the Temple.

According to the Mishnah, the High Priest who sacrificed and burned the Red Heifer was able to look directly into the entrance of the Temple when the blood was sprinkled (Middot 2.4):

All the walls that were there [on the Temple Mount] were high, with the exception of the eastern wall, so that the [High] Priest who burned the [red] heifer stood on top of the Mount of Olives and was able to see directly into the entrance of the Sanctuary [Temple] when the blood was tossed. vs.3 God gave the commandment regarding the Red Heifer sacrifice:

Based upon God’s instructions, the Red Heifer (Hebrew parah adumah):… refers to a red-brown, unblemished, and unworked cow that was sacrificed and burned (Num. 19:1-8); its ashes were then kept “for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin” (v. 9). The cleansing in view had to do with corpse contamination (vv.11-22). This ritual included several unusual features, such as the requirement that the slaughtering take place OUTSIDE THE CAMP (instead of on the altar [of the Temple])… (emphasis added). The Red Heifer had to be entirely red (reddish-brown); at least three years old, although an older animal was acceptable; perfectly free of any physical blemish or defect; and never previously yoked or used for physical labor (Numbers 19:2).

The Red Heifer Bridge

Several references are quoted confirming the same details.

(Significantly, during the second Temple. The high priest performed the ceremony facing the temple while on top of the Mount of olives). (the Talmud recounts that the high priest performed the blood applications of the red heifer while gazing out the temple and at the holy of holies from a mountain opposite the temple mount.)Yeshua was led like the holiest sacrifice, the Red Heifer, from the Temple Mount through the Eastern Gate along the ritually clean, arch-over-arch causeway/ramp that connected the Temple Mount to the summit of the Mount of Olives.

This was the only path from the Temple to the summit that afforded ritual purity necessary for an acceptable sacrifice.

From the summit of the Mount of Olives, there was a clear view into the Temple. Just as the Red Heifer’s head was turned to face the Temple as it was sacrificed, so too Messiah Yeshua faced the Temple as He was crucified – the ultimate and holiest of all sacrifices for the atonement of humanity’s sins.

This heifer must be brought to the “Mount of Anointment”, A PRECISE LOCATION ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, OPPOSITE THE EASTERN GATE OF THE TEMPLE MOUNT. There the heifer must be slaughtered and burned. Afterwards, its ashes are mixed together with natural spring water. It is this solution, called by the Bible “the waters of sanctification,” which is used to sprinkle on those who are impure (emphasis added).5

During the Second Temple period, the Red Heifer was led out of the Temple area through the Eastern Gate, over the Kidron Valley and up to the summit of the Mount of Olives via a ritually clean, stone arch-over-arch causeway/ramp. The Eastern Gate: There was no need to change this system during the Herodian period [the time of Messiah Yeshua], so it can safely be assumed that it would have been through this gate that the Red Heifer was led out to the Mount of Olives during that time period as well.As previously explained, the Red Heifer was sacrificed “outside the camp”, “outside the gate”, meaning outside the Eastern Gate of the Temple Mount. Certain other sacrificial animals were also burned at the same site, but the Red Heifer was the only animal actually sacrificed at this location.

Certain instructions were given to Moses concerning the sacrificial altar of the Red Heifer. It was to be built “outside” the city. Outside the city was given as 2000 cubits (2,916 ft @ 17.5 cu) to the east from the tent tabernacle. It was to be made of un-hewn natural stone from the immediate area and have four walls, filled in with layers of stone until it had a flat surface on top. It must have a ramp, not steps, and a ledge around the altar on three sides and along the ramp down one side.  From the altar the priest was to sprinkle the blood seven times towards the tabernacle.The place “outside the camp” was 2000 cubits (3000 feet) east of the city, according to God’s commandment for marking city limits:

“You shall also MEASURE OUTSIDE THE CITY ON THE EAST SIDE TWO THOUSAND CUBITS, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits, with the city in the center. This shall become theirs as pasture lands for the cities” (Numbers 35:5, emphasis added).

What does “outside the camp” mean?

Conclusion coming in part 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miracles On a Z String

As this subject has so many wonderful facets to it, pondering on the details of 2 familiar stories will help us to gain deeper insights and enlarge our understanding of things we thought we knew and really didn’t fully appreciate.

(Continued from last post Life On The Fringe.)

Mark 5 tells the story of the woman with the issue of blood. Here we find the scripture about touching the hem of His garment, which was the tzizit/tsitsit of His tallit. The Scriptures refer to tzizit / tsitsit because, the Jewish translators who translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, use the Greek word kraspedon for tzizit / tsitsit and kraspedon is used in the Gospels where tzizit / tsitsit would be appropriate.

The action in this story was not an isolated incident just for the woman with the issue of blood and is only part of the picture.Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid their sick in the marketplaces and begged Him that they might just touch the border of His garment.

And as many as touched Him were made whole. (Mark 6:56)..and why so many sought to touch the tzizit/tsitsit of His tallit and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well. Matthew 14:26

In Numbers (Bamidbar) 15:37-41; The children of Israel were instructed by God to wear fringes (tzi-tzit) which were put on the hem of their garments to remind the people of the Torah/God’s Word.

When the woman with the issue of blood, (by the law, she was unclean), came to Yeshua, (the High Priest of God), to touch the hem (tzi-tzit) of His garment and be healed (Matt. [Mattityahu] 9:20-22);it was a picture given to us by God, to communicate to us, that she believed Yeshua’s word by faith, (emunah) and was made well because of that faith.The concept of the blue tassel on the fringe, spoke directly to Israel of Messiah’s power and authority.

That is why the woman touched the fringe of Messiahs garment, she wanted to touch the symbol of His authority.

“Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.  She said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.’”  (Matthew 9:20–21) and … came from behind and touched the border of His garment and immediately her flow of blood stopped. Luke 8:44 

The Jewish New Testament Commentary explains about this passage:

“A woman who had . . . a hemorrhage approached him from behind and . . . touched his tzitzit. (Fringe of His prayer shawl) She was in a state of ritual impurity because of her hemorrhage. She touched the holiest part of Yeshua’s garment. No wonder she approached from behind, she was afraid; this is also why she hesitated to answer Yeshua’s question, “Who touched my clothes?” (Mark 5:29-33) For normally the impure defiles the pure (see Haggai 2:11-13; also the Talmud, Toharot.)

But in this case, the opposite happened:

the purity of Yeshua the Messiah and of His tzitziyot (“tassels,” or “fringes, of Yeshua’s prayer shawl.”) remained uncompromised, while instead the cause of the woman’s impurity was instantly removed. In the following incident, the raising of Jairus daughter, this principle is exemplified even more strongly, since Yeshua himself initiates contact with what is regarded in Judaism as the primary source of all impurity, a body (v.25) . . .” (comment on Matthew 9:20).

The New Testament contains the teachings and life and times of the Messiah, but we should remember that the Old Testament law was still in effect until His atoning death, resurrection and ascension.

When the veil of the temple was rent in two, it symbolized that the sacrifice of His life gave us access to enter into the presence of God. Messiah Himself, was born under the Law. The scriptures tell us it was His custom to go to the synagogue. Many times Messiah Jesus/Yeshua haMashiach would quote from the Law, but He would also expound upon the spirit of the Law and here Leviticus 15:19-28, applied.

The law on this matter meant that she was unclean and this created a huge problem.

“And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. And everything that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean. everything also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water; and be unclean until even. And if it be on her bed, or on anything whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even … And if a woman have an issue other blood many days out of the time other separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean …. But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the Lord for the issue of her uncleanness. “

According to the Old Testament law, the woman with the issue of was ceremonially “unclean.” If she touched anyone, they would be unclean. It would have been perfectly natural for the Jewish people to view Messiah as “unclean” if she reached out and touched Him.

They would not have expected that such a man would be performing miracles by the power of God.

Unless this woman reached out by revelation to touch Messiah, she would not have wanted to touch Him.

But she did…

She pressed through the crowd to receive her healing because in spite of consulting many doctors and spending all she had trying to find a cure, she grew worse not better and she was desperate.

This was more than just a woman making a decision to be healed.

As her condition rendered her ceremonially unclean and according to the Law, she was to stay separated from people and if anyone touched her, or if she touched anyone, she made them unclean as well. If she made someone unclean due to her touch, she was committing a very serious sin.

Once she touched someone and made them unclean, that person would have to bathe, wash their clothes, and wait until the evening before being declared clean. Furthermore, if that person was unclean due to her touch, it limited what they were allowed by law to do, or in turn, who they could touch.

When the woman with the issue touched Jesus, He immediately felt strength go out of Him. Jesus asked the question, “Who touched me?”

At the very moment, Jesus knew that something had happened. He perceived that virtue had gone out of Him.

This was the bigger MIRACLE…for in this case, the opposite happened. Instead of Him becoming unclean from her touch, the purity of Yeshua the Messiah and of His tzitziyot (“tassels,” or “fringes, of Yeshua’s prayer shawl.”) remained uncompromised, while instead the cause of the woman’s impurity was instantly removed.

CLEANLINESS left Him.

In Greek the word for virtue (dunimis) and it is defined as power. We get our word dynamite from this Greek word.

In Hebrew, the word for virtue brings us a clearer definition or idea. Virtue in Hebrew is “gevorah” and it is from the root “gabar” and it means “strength, due to binding, twisting, hence a rope.

The twisted cords are the tsitsit of the prayer shawl.

The passage further states that He looked around about to see her that had done this thing. “But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth.”

This was a very serious act that this woman deliberately chose to do and even though she received her healing, she tried to disappear back into the crowd.

Why was she so fearful that she was trembling? Probably it was that she knew that what she had done had broken the law of God knowing that she had made Him unclean.

To our thinking, this does not seem like such a serious act because we touch other people all the time BUT for the children of Israel it was an extremely serious sin. Because of our lack of understanding of the context, we miss the deeper meaning and see only the miracle of healing. Which in itself is remarkable but is only part of the picture.In spite of all those in the crowd pressing around Him, Messiah perceived the instant that she reached forth her hand. He also perceived her faith and in saying, who touched me, it taught a lesson to the observers.

It took great faith for this woman who had just been healed, to step out and say in front of this crowd:

It was me.. I did!

For by the custom of the law, she had knowingly and deliberately committed sin.

 Jesus knew power had gone from Him and why at once she was healed!

Yeshua said she was healed because of her faith and rather than condemn or rebuke her for defiling His garment said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” (Matt. 9:22) Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole, go in (shalom) peace, and be whole of thy plague. “

In Greek:  πίστις pē’-stēs, meaning faithfulness, not a passive belief, but

a deep, abiding, steadfast conviction that is evidenced by fidelity, character, and action. 

In Zechariah 8:23 the phrase “skirt of him that is a Jew,” speaks of the “wing” of the tallit. This phrase “God is with you,” is similar to the concept of Immanuel, meaning “God with us.”

She would have also surely known the old Testament reference to healing in His wings from Isaiah and that it was referring to His tzizit.

Also in the book of Malachi, one of the most prophetically messianic books in the Bible, the following can be found:

“But to you who fear My Name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.” Malachi 3:20

Ve•zar•cha la•chem yir•ey sh`mi she•mesh tze•da•ka oo•mar•pe bich•na•fe•ha viy•tza•tem oo•fish•tem ke•eg•lei mar•bek.

Many Christians accurately see a reference to the Messiah in this verse. Judaism also recognizes this as a messianic prophecy:
“Moses asked: ‘shall they remain in pledge forever?’ G-d replied: ‘No, only Until the sun appears’, that is, till the coming of the Messiah; for it says, But unto you that fear My name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings.” Exodus Rabbah 31:10, Soncino Press Edition

 The phrase, “Sun of righteousness,” is a picture of Messiah, who is the “Bright and Morning Star.” The fact that Messiah wore a tallit with tzitzit or fringes, like other Jewish men, is clearly understood from such scriptures as Matthew 9:20, and Matthew 14:36.

When you wrap the tallit about you, holding two of the corners out, it forms “wings.”

 Many times, the Lord speaks in scripture, of His dependence upon His Father, and as our Redeeming Lamb, were He not the obedient Servant, He would not be the “Light of the World.” (John 8:12) He came in the glory of His Father. His prayer life was so profound, that His disciples observing Him, said: “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1)Because Yeshua wore his tallit, the border or hem of Yeshua’s garment had a particular appearance to it, due to the way in which the tallit was folded. This caused the corner tassels of the fringe to hang down. Taking hold of the “skirt” of him that is a Jew, speaks of taking hold of this outer or extended “wing” of the garment, which holds such deep significance. Why? Because it speaks of prayer.

Because of the understanding of the visual meaning of the Tallit, the scribes and Pharisees were known for extending the zit zit tassels on their garments, to make themselves look more holy and this is what Jesus was referring to in Matthew 23:5.“But they do their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries, and lengthen the tassels of their garments”. Everything was done to attract the approval and attention of others. The approval of God took a back seat.The Pharisees would dress distinctively in garb that would symbolize their righteousness. It was more important that they appeared righteous to others than whether they were really righteous or not. 

In addition to their distinctive dress, the Pharisees loved places of honor at banquets, chief seats in synagogues, respectful greetings such as “Rabbi”, “Father” and “Leader”. Anything that would tend to exalt them in the eyes of men.

The account of the woman who touched His tzitzit must be combined with that of Jairus (Yair).

Jairus was one of the synagogue rulers, his daughter was dying. Jairus saw Jesus and falling at His feet, he begged Him to come and lay hands on his daughter believing she could be healed. Jesus agreed to go with him, and a great crowd followed them.

Within that same crowd was the woman just referred to.

Jairus has convinced Jesus to go with him to heal his daughter who is sick to the point of death. As a synagogue ruler he certainly knew the law. He knows that at the moment that this woman touched Jesus, He is rendered unclean and the moment he realized what had happened his heart must have sank because now Jesus would be unable to go to his daughter for these people would not have ignored this law.

The Jewish New Testament Commentary explains about this passage:

In the following incident, the raising of Jairus daughter, this principle is exemplified even more strongly, since Yeshua himself initiates contact with what is regarded in Judaism as the primary source of all impurity, a body (v.25) . . .” (comment on Matthew 9:20).

After Jesus declaration to the woman, certain people from the home of Jairus/Yair came to tell him to not trouble the master any longer because his daughter had just died. To these statements, Jesus responds by telling Jairus/Yair to not be afraid, only believe.

This is important to the rest of the story. It was forbidden for a rabbi or priest to touch a dead body and remove his state of cleanliness.

Through no fault of His own, but in the sight of all, He became unclean.

When Jesus reached Jairus house, He was told that the girl was dead. Jesus states the she is only asleep and they laugh Him to scorn, Mark 5:40. Why did He make this statement? Because He wanted them to know she was dead and He was going in. 

Jesus did not allow anyone to follow beyond that point except for Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

“But when He had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with Him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.”Why was He able to go into the room with a dead girl? The dead are considered to be unclean, and going into the same room with a dead girl and touching her would have made Jesus unclean. However, Jesus was already unclean due to the touch of the woman with the issue of blood. Then the passage tells us that, “He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

The Greek says talita coum!   Then included is a statement saying: which is translated, girl I say to you rise, or maid arise (kjv) or, my child get up (niv). The Greek word translated maid, or child, is talitha, the Greek spelling of tallit. Coum is the Hebrew word for rise, or get up.

The translators tell us it means “damsel, arise” but If the statement “talitha cumi” really meant, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise, why was it left untranslated? Something was said in that room that caused Jesus/Yeshua to instruct them to tell no man what was said or done!

Verse 41 in Hebrew (transliterated English):

Hu achaz eth yadah shel hayahda veamar eleyha talitha qumi shetargunno maarah qumi ani omer lach

The interpretation of this verse is: “He grasp hand belonging to the girl and said, elyha, talitha arise, is interpreted, young girl get up, I say to you.”

Notice that two words have been left un translated in this verse.

This is because it is difficult to translate the proper understanding of the two words (eleyah tallitah) into English. Without an understanding of these two words, it is impossible to clearly see what was happening here. It is because of the presence of these two words that Jesus/Yeshua told them not to tell anyone what had happened.

“He grasp hand belonging to the girl and said..

This is a strange interpretation of this word. The normal way to express “to her” in Hebrew would be, (shelah) and not (eleyah). Even if one chooses not to use the Hebrew word “(shelah) to indicate “to her” (othah) could be used. (Eleyah) could in very rare situations be used to mean “to her.”

However, it was considered to be a Holy word.

(Eleyah) is a compound word. (El) is a name for God.

We see this is such compound words as El-Shaddai (God the source, porvider, breast) or Bethel (house of God). Therefore, (eleyah) is the abbrevidated form of “yodh, hey, vav, hey ” the proper name of God (Yaweh). Therefore, (eleyah) is a combination of two of the names of God. In fact, these same four letters with different vowel markings means God is Jehovah. Considering the belief that the Jews held concerning the use of the name of God (eleyah) would hardly be used to indicate “to her.”

(Please keep reading, a conclusion will be made shortly.)The next word to be considered is (tallita). We know by the interpretation that tallita cannot mean girl, young girl, or maiden (see Hebrew above).

So what is being said here?

It cannot be as simple as Damsel, l say unto thee arise.

So to put these two words in the proper context we will restate the verse with the direct translation. “He grasp hand belonging to the girl and said “God speaking to (female under) tallit, get up.”

Jesus was speaking as God.

He was not speaking to the tallit but to the girl under the tallit.

This is understood by the feminine ending on the word tallit.

Could it be possible that Jesus was proclaiming Himself to be God?

That is precisely the point.

Jesus was also making the statement that He had perfectly performed the Law of the Fringe and was the person spoken of in Zechariah 8: 23,

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. “

This was a messianic passage of Scripture.

Jesus was in fact, declaring Himself to be the Messiah.

What Jesus/Yeshua actually said was more like –

Girl in the Tallit, God says arise!

This is why He said not to tell what had happened.

The people knew she was dead and would just as surely know she was now alive. What He did not want them to know as yet was the fact that He walked, lived and functioned on earth as God and in fact was God! He knew it and those in the room knew it, but He did not want anyone else to know it at that point in time.It is clear that Jesus/Yeshua was wearing a talitt at the time because of the reference to it regarding the woman with the issue of blood and it would seem that Jesus/ Yeshua used His prayer shawl in the raising of Jairus daughter.

We have another indication of this very idea in Deuteronomy 8:2-3 when He told them to give the little girl something to eat.

 ” And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. “

Was Jesus making reference to this verse when He gave the instruction for the little girl to be fed? She had already been provided with spiritual food, (raised from the dead), and now it was time to give her physical food.

Tallit a Kum

Some Greek texts say coumi, the feminine form, which is the correct word for this verse, since talitha it’s a feminine noun. There is an Aramaic word similar to talitha that was taken for talitha. That is talyetha instead of talitha in all the manuscripts.

We know that His use of the tallit in this miracle would have been appropriate and would have been understood by those with Him.Jesus would have been speaking Hebrew, so the word talit is the closest word to the Greek transliteration.

This purports to be a translation of talita coum (in Hebrew is ‘prayer shawl rise’) and must have been added by a well intentioned translator or copier who did not understand. They mistook talitha, which is the Greek spelling of the word tallit for the Aramaic talyiata, meaning young woman.

Some scholars say in that case He would have placed his prayer shawl over the girl, then spoken to the prayer shawl. There is another Aramaic word that some say is the correct word for this verse. It is taly’tah, meaning lamb. This would have had Jesus address her as lambkin, which is not an unreasonable assumption.

Coumi would also be the correct verb because it is the same in Aramaic and Hebrew.

There is also a reference to people bringing ‘handkerchiefs’ and ‘prayer cloths’ for Him to pray over and they were a point of contact to take to those too sick to travel. Lost in translation, these were no doubt the traditional prayer shawls/tallits.

Rabbinic training is required to make prayer shawls. Paul, Priscilla and Aquilla had this kind of training. Acts 18:2, 3 Making prayer shawls is an occupation that Paul could have pursued in any area without having to take with him various tools and supplies as he travelled. So this is very likely prospect.

The Greek word skenopoioi translated prayer shawl makers or tent makers, is not found anywhere else in Scripture or in secular Greek writing. Perhaps Luke coined the word or possibly skenopoioi was used by Greek speaking Jewish people when speaking of making prayer shawls. Jewish men referred to the prayer shawl as a tent or prayer closet because it was placed over their head to shield the eyes while praying.Another reference to the prayer shawl, often overlooked, is in Matthew 25:35, 36. The verse says and I was poorly clothed and you clothed me. The Greek word for you clothed is periebalete, referring to putting on the outer garment, which would have been the prayer shawl of a Jewish man.

Ancient and modern

The fact that it was just the outer garment to be put on, shows that the person had not been naked, as some translations say, but the stranger was poorly clothed. The fact that it was a prayer shawl indicates that the person who gave the garment ministered to the spiritual needs of the stranger while also meeting their material needs.

1 Corinthians 11:15 is another reference to the prayer shawl. This Greek word is peribolaiou, which means wrapper or covering, something thrown around; in reference to a garment.   Deuteronomy 22:12 says, you will make for yourself fringes upon the four corners of your covering, prayer shawl, with which you cover yourself.

Though the word translated covering, is k’sootkha, and means simply, ‘ your covering’. There are no alternative meanings for k’soo(t) ( the kha suffix is the pronoun your). In the Septuagint peribalou is the word used to translate k’soo(t) in Deuteronomy 22:12.

In light of this, Paul was probably saying that women were given long hair instead of a prayer shawl.

But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 1 Cor. 11:15

The word k’soot-ho, meaning ‘ his covering’ is used in Exodus 22:26 where it shows the use of this large garment as a blanket.

These are just some ofInterestingly, in the English language the only difference between tough and touch is a g or a c. When you are having a tough time, remember that as many as touch the hem were made well. Many say they trust God but have never pressed in to know Jesus nor understand what He did for us the cross. Press in to touch the hem of His garment to both get through and to transform your tough time.

Shalom!