Some intriguing facts about people and places connected with this season of His appointed times:
The very first time Almah – עַלְמָה – almāh, is seen is in the Torah
Hebrew: תּוֹרָה, Direction, Instruction, Teaching or Law. (Pronounced:to-raw‘).
Strongs 8451: Acquired knowledge or skills that mark the direction one is to take in life.
A straight direction.
Knowledge passed from one person to another.
It is found in The Book of Exodus
(i.e., Sefer Shemot [סֵפֶר שְׁמוֹת])
שְׁמוֹת Shemot, Shemoth, or Shemos (שְׁמוֹת — Hebrew for Names, in the Old Testament in the Tenakh.
The Tanakh (Hebrew: תַּנַ”ךְ, pronounced [taˈnaχ] or [təˈnax]; TaNaKh also Tenakh, Tenak, Tanach) ) is the canonical collection of Jewish texts, it is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible, which is also the textual source for the Christian Old Testament.
The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra.
The Greek translation of the Hebrew (the Septuagint) (Kitvei HaKodesh)
Some Jews refer to the entire Hebrew Bible (Kitvei HaKodesh) simply as the Torah without making the distinction of the divisions shown above.
Though the Christian Old Testament is the result of the canonization of the Jewish scriptures, the order of the books in the Tanakh is not identical to the Christian Old Testament (though the content is the same, the chapter and verse references are not).
כתבי הקדשׁ – Kitvei HaKadosh – The Hebrew Scriptures
Almah is a Hebrew word – עַלְמָה – for virgin.
Almah (עַלְמָה ‘almāh, plural: עֲלָמוֹת ‘ălāmōṯ), from a root implying the vigour of adolescence and puberty.
It is a Hebrew word for a young woman of childbearing age. … Etymologically, the meaning of the word almah is derived from the verb almah, to hide, or to conceal which helps to support the virgin interpretation. Being careful here in connecting the concept of being hidden with that of being a virgin, especially since some of the almah’s in the bible went about freely in public and were anything but hidden (Gen 24:43 and Psalm 68:25 -26).
Almah definition, (in Egypt) a woman or girl who dances or sings professionally.
In the second book of Torah in Exodus. Shemot – שְׁמוֹת ….
is the story of a young maiden, Miriam/Mary who was the one who watched over the baby Moses in his box/ark as he floated down the Nile River towards his destiny as a Redeemer of Israel; their mother having set him afloat so he would not be killed by Pharaoh’s servants and soldiers.
This occurred not long after Pharaoh decreed that all newborn Hebrew boys were to be drowned in the Nile river. Previous to this, Miriam’s mother, Yocheved, had hidden Miriam’s infant brother, Moses, for three months.
Miryam watches as Pharaoh’s daughter finds the basket.
Ex. 2:5 And the girl went and got the baby Moses’ birth mother, Jochebed, Pharaoh’s daughter Batya said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took and the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter who adopted him and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
Almah is also found in Isaiah 7 where the prophetic word states that an Almah will conceive and bring forth a child.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin (almah) will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
This Messianic prophecy is further complemented by a description of this same child found in Isaiah 9:6 which reconfirms the name Immanuel. The Septuagint (Greek copy of the Old Testament) chose the specific Greek word for virgin in this same Isaiah 7:14 prophecy many years before Yeshua/Jesus was born. In the New Testament, Matthew 1:18-23 confirms that Yeshua/Jesus, The Messiah, was the one foretold about in Isaiah 7:14.
Gen 24:43, here “almah” refers to Rebekah, a virgin.
Exodus 2:8, here almah is used to describe Moses’ s young sister, a young girl who is likely a virgin.
Song of Solomon 6:8, classifies Solomon’s women into three categories: wives, concubines and virgins. If they were not virgins, they would be concubines, suggesting almah means virgin.(4)
Scriptures of interest include:
Psalm 68:25, Song of Solomon 1:3, Proverbs 30:19 and Isaiah 9:6.
The Hebrew word almah is not used to describe a virgin 100 percent of the time however, it may have been the best choice in Hebrew and Greek wording.
All believers understand that this prophecy tells of the virgin (almah) birth of our Messiah Jesus Christ/Yeshua HaMashiach. Complemented with Isaiah 9:6 which is a further description of this child, including His divine attributes, it fits perfectly with the child’s name/title here, Immanuel (God is with us).
True biblical prophecy works together with other areas of scripture, meaning words in scripture support scripture.
This child’s birthplace can be found in Micah 5:2
A ruler out of Bethlehem, this child’s name/title can be found here in Isaiah 7:14 (Immanuel).
His divine attributes are found in Isaiah 9:6 and Isaiah 43:11.
The time of his death is found in Daniel 9:24 – 27.
His resurrection is found in psalm 16.
His return to earth (second coming) is found in 12:10 where Israel will look upon the one that is pierced which is further supported in Zechariah 14: 1-7 which brings Daniel’s 70th week (see Daniel 9:24-27) prophecy to an end.
All of these prophecies work together and no one prophecy needs to stand alone.
Some other Marys Almahs and Miryams
John tells us that early on the first day of the week, (Feast of Firstfruits) while it was still dark,
Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
” Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.”
John: 20:1
The first people to the tomb were women and 2 out of the 3 of them were called Mary. However all 3 may have been called Mary according to Mark 16:1 Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and {Mary} Salome went to the tomb.
Mary, (Hebrew Miryam), was one of the most common women’s names in New Testament times, and so it is not surprising that the crucifixion and resurrection narratives seem to speak of as many as five separate Marys.
As we all know the mother of Jesus/Yeshua was also called Mary (Hebrew Miryam); who, John tells us in 19:25, was at the cross with Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. ‘standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.’
Mary is pronounced MARE-ee. It is of Latin origin, and the meaning of Mary is “star of the sea”.
Other possible meanings from the Hebrew are:
wished-for child;
rebellion;
sea of bitterness.
Another meaning of Miriam is “Mistress of the Sea”. Keeping in mind that many names may have different meanings in other countries and languages.
Transliteration: Miryam
Original Word: מִרְיָם
The name Maria (or Mary) is the Greek transliteration of an older version of the name Mary from the Hebrew name Miriam, the name Mareike means: Bitter or Sea, the same as Maria in Dutch.
The young woman in the exodus story was Mary/Miriam. רְיָםמִ strongs 4813 Miryam a sister of Aaron and Moses pronounced MEER-ee-em.
Most scholars derive the name Miriam from the verb מרה (mara) meaning to be bitter, rebellious or disobedient.
Strongs 4755 Mara מָרָא (pronounced MAHR-ah – maw-raw’) Mara: “bitter,” symbolic name of Naomi MARA. ma’-ra, mar’-a (marah, “bitter”): The term which Naomi applies to herself on her return from Moab to her native country.
Phonetic Spelling: (meer-yawm’)
Word Origin rom the same as Merayah
Original Word: מְרָיָה
Transliteration: Merayah
Phonetic Spelling: (mer-aw-yaw’)
Waters of bitterness or sorrow
Exodus 15:20. Miriam the prophetess — ΄αριαμ in the Greek, in the Latin Maria, from the Hebrew word מרה marah, bitterness. She was so called, say some, from the times of affliction and bitterness, (Exodus 1:14.) in which she was born.
There are several meanings behind the name Miriam, spelled ‘mem’, ‘reish/resh’, ‘yud/yod’, ‘mem’ in Hebrew (מִרְיָם),
Various Jewish sources relate to either bitter, water, rebellion or elevation.
One meaning is based on the letters ‘mem’, ‘reish’ of her name spelling “mar” (מר) which means “bitter”. This connotes the fact that Miriam was born during the beginning of Pharaoh’s bitter decrees as in the verse, “And the [Egyptians] embittered [the Jews’] lives with hard labor.
However, another meaning of mar (מר) is water as in the verse, “The nations are as a drop of water (c’mar) from a bucket”.
Miriam’s strong association with water includes her involvement in saving Moses at the Nile, singing praise to God after crossing the Sea of Reeds or Red Sea and the special well or spring of water called the “Well of Miriam”. In her merit, this well miraculously provided water for the Jews by accompanying them throughout their wanderings in the wilderness.
There is a Hebrew teaching that says, “Three great leaders led Israel: Moses, Aaron and Miriam.
In their merit they received three great gifts: the Well [Miriam],
the Clouds of Glory [Aaron]
and the Manna [Moses].”
When Miriam died, the well was removed as is evidenced by the fact that immediately after the verse And Miriam died, the Torah states, The People had no water.
After Miriam’s death, this is the significance of the verses where Moses is searching for and eventually strikes the rock, in order to restore its’ waters, which had dried up with Miriam’s death.
Concerning the death of Miriam, the Torah (First 5 books of Old Testament) states:
“The entire congregation of the children of Israel arrived at the desert of Tzin in the first month, and the people settled in Kadesh. Miriam died there and was buried there”.
By identifying Miriam’s death as occurring in the 1st month the Torah reveals that she died in the Hebrew month of Nisan and indicate that the day of her passing, (yahrtzeit), was the 10th of Nisan.
The Sages taught that the Torah’s account of Miriam’s death follows immediately after the laws of purification through the red heifer. This may have been to in order to emphasize and teach that, just as sacrifices bring atonement, so the death of the righteous secures atonement.
Miriam’s great level of purity and righteousness is indicated by the fact that God chose her as the holy (set-apart) person through which to express this teaching. Also noted is that as did Aaron and Moses, Miriam also died through the painless kiss of death, whereby the Divine Presence is revealed to the departing soul as God lovingly draws it back within Himself.
The Sages also explains that this well was the same rock from which Moses brought forth water after Miriam’s death, but adds that it was round as a sieve; such that it would miraculously roll along with the Israelites on their journeys through the desert.
It further states that when they encamped, the leader of each Tribe took his staff to the well and drew a line in the sand toward his Tribe’s encampment. The waters of the well were drawn after the mark and thus supplied water for each of the Tribes. In this way, Miriam was a source of sustenance for all of Israel.
According to one opinion of the Sages, Miriam’s Well is now in the Sea of Galilee (the Kinneret). Based on verses which suggest the travelling and coming to rest of the well, they note: “One who ascends to the top of Mount Yeshimon on the Golan Heights, which overlooks wastelands (yeshimon) to the east one can see [looking west] a kind of small sieve in the Sea of Tiberius [the Sea of Galilee]. This is the Well of Miriam.”
According to another opinion of the Sages, the Well of Miriam came to rest in the Mediterranean Sea and can be seen from the heights of Mount Carmel on the coast of Haifa.
In addition, since water is associated with chesed – compassion – kindliness – this meaning behind Miriam indicates her special acts of kindness in serving as a midwife,
devoting herself to the needs of her suffering people and sparing Israelite infants from Pharaoh’s evil decree.
Another meaning behind Miriam is related to the letters ‘mem’, ‘reish’, ‘yud’ of her name spelling: meri, (מרי) which means “rebellion”.
This makes reference to the way she rebelled against Pharaoh’s orders that the Jewish midwives kill all male infants. She even rebelled against her father who, in the name of sparing Hebrew infants from death, caused couples to separate so they wouldn’t have children. Once she convinced her father of his mistake, Amram remarried Yocheved, followed by the other Israelite men, after which time Moses was born.
A last meaning is based on all of the letters of the name Miriam, ‘mem’, ‘reish’, ‘yud’, ‘mem’ spelling the word: merim – (מרים) which means elevate. In the merit of saving the new-born Israelites, thereby building the House of Israel, God blessed Yocheved that He would make from her houses of cohanim and leviim and from Miriam, houses of kingship. Merim here indicates the fact that Miriam, from whom King David came (through her husband Calev of Judah), was elevated to house the Davidic Dynasty which is destined to elevate the Hebrew nation and the perfected community of humanity to Redemption and the World to Come. This might be consistent with an idea which, although not found in Jewish sources, is based on the suggestion that mri in ancient Egyptian means beloved.
The song of Miriam, Exodus 15:20-21 Miriam became the leader of the Hebrew women when they and their families escaped from Egypt. On one occasion she and the women sang the Song of Miriam; it is one of the few poems that survive from the ancient world.
Exodus 15:20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing.
Then over 1000 years later another baby was born. She was named after this Almah. Moses sister Miriam.
In our translations we know her as Mary.
Meaning of Mary: Usual English form of Maria, which was the Latin form of the New Testament Greek names Μαριαμ (Mariam) and Μαρια (Maria) – the spellings are interchangeable – which were from the Hebrew name מִרְיָם (Miryam).
Usual English form of Maria, which was the Latin form of the New Testament Greek names Μαριαμ (Mariam) and Μαρια (Maria) Like other typical Levite names, the name Miriam is probably Egyptian of origin, and mentioned earlier, derived from a word that means Beloved.
To a Hebrew audience, particularly one that didn’t speak ancient Egyptian, the name Miriam/Mary would have seemed obviously akin the verb מרה (mara) meaning to be rebellious or disobedient, or the related verb מרר (marar), meaning to be bitter or strong.
The meaning is not known for certain, but there are several theories including, (as previously mentioned): sea of bitterness, rebelliousness, and wished for child. However it was most likely originally an Egyptian name, perhaps derived in part from mry – beloved, or mr – love.
This is the name of several New Testament characters, most importantly Mary the mother of Messiah.
Matthew 1:18. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”
There is the general belief that the name Mary in the Hebrew is Miriam. The problem with this is that Miriam as we have seen, means rebellious or bitter.
However she was always called Miriam and she was the true Almah, the one chosen as the vessel (womb/racham) to bring the Messiah, the Redeemer, into our world as a baby. Isaiah 9:6
This word Almah, also means, One who is hidden; as in Hidden from the world, (the place of hiding in the womb/racham) separate, pure and untouched.
The Hebrew verb: רָחַם – râcham (Strong’s #7355, x47) – to have mercy, and its corresponding noun: רַחַם – racham (Strong’s #7356, x44) mercy, compassion, womb, bowels.
רחמ
This word can also be applied to those who desire and then choose to become pure, untouched, separate from sin cleansed and holy/set apart. These will be the ones who will bear God’s presence and be a channel, a vessel for bearing God’s blessings into the world.
It is there, for whosoever will, to become a spiritual Almah.
To separate ourselves from whatever is pulling us in another direction and to join ourselves all the more securely to the Father.
There is no better time than right now at this season of new beginnings, of new life; to renew our covenant with the Lord, to rededicate our lives.
As we follow the days of Omer to Pentecost, we can prepare our hearts with some spiritual spring cleaning in readiness for the outpouring of His spirit, 50 days from Resurrection Day.
It was no coincidence that on Nisan 17 daytime – That among the women bringing spices to the tomb early in the morning were two called Mary/Miriam. Who had separated themselves (the ecclesia) to the service of their Lord and had been made clean, holy, set apart, in His sight.
Mark 16:1 – Three women visit Jesus’ tomb: Mary Magdalene, a second Mary the mother of James, and (Mary) Salome.
Having been given new life for old, they sought Him out from where He was Hidden from the world,
(the place of hiding in the womb/racham) in the tomb and resurrected raised as the seed,
Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah of new beginnings – Yeshua the Resheet on Reishit Katzir, the beginning of the Harvest; Chag Ha-Bikkurim –the first fruits festival.
(Weymouth New Testament):
In most solemn truth I tell you that unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains what it was–a single grain; but that if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.
“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies”
All food has to die first.
The grain is plucked from the ground, dies, is crushed, mixed and baked to make bread. The fresh fruit and vegetables we eat, were all cut off and removed from their life support and are in the process of dying when we eat them.
Then after Mary saw Jesus; the disciples encounter the risen Messiah and on Nisan 17 evening – Yeshua/Jesus raised from the dead at/after Havdalah, (at least before sunrise).
Interesting notes to questions that we have misinterpreted because of mis-translation, Hebraic meaning and culture.
What was the seating arrangement at the last supper, (Passover) and how did Judas get to sit at the place designated for the gathering’s most honored guest? Who prompted the Lord to reveal the name of His betrayer?
The upper room as it is today.
Most of us think of the Last Supper in terms that are familiar to us. In our imagination Jesus/Yeshua and His disciples sit around a square table on chairs. Jesus/Yeshua is at the center and His disciples are around him.
The famous painting of Leonardo Da Vinci may also be uppermost in our thinking.
The seating of guests in chairs, implied in Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper painting, were not used for this most solemn occasion.
Some scholars say the layout of tables may have taken a horseshoe shape.
At the Pesach/Passover supper, everyone reclined on one elbow and yet still faced the table. (As in the diagram above.)
This meant that they lay head towards table and feet away from it.
The person who reclined in front of another was referred to as reclining or leaning on the bosom or chest; or more commonly spoken of as the lap of that individual. Not literally leaning on the persons chest.
This was the meaning in John 13:23, 25; at the last Seder, Pesach supper meal. To be in Abraham’s bosom meant to have the place of honor at a banquet, in Luke 16:23 where it refers to Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom. This was in reference to him being a partaker of the same state of peace and joy as Abraham had in paradise awaiting Messiah. Here may be where we have misinterpreted that reference in John 13:25: Now there was leaning on Jesus‘ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
In the seating diagram above, Judas is sitting to the left of Jesus/Yeshua, in the place designated for the most honored guest. Although the host would normally select who sat next to him, (see Luke 14:7 – 11), no record exists of Yeshua/Jesus asking Judas to sit next to Him. Judas likely felt he deserved to be the honored guest at the supper and quickly claimed the choice position as his right.
Apparently at a Jewish meal, the top place was at the head end of the table or the middle of the middle couch, however the guests, were not really free to sit where they desired. The host could seat and reseat guests as needs arose. Jesus gives an example of the host asking a presumptuous guest to give up his place of honor to another guest.
Luke 14:1 – 14 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. [9] If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’
Based on Jewish law and tradition, Passover (and most meals) was partaken of while people reclined around a low, long oval table.
Each person would be lying on their left side and leaning on their left arm, with their feet behind them and their heads facing the table. This means those seated on the left side would have their bodies somewhat facing the end of the table. This position, during a meal like the last supper, frees up the right arm for eating.
Jesus/Yeshua was the host of this seder meal – (the leader). Although the Bible does not directly state the seating for this last meeting, we can postulate where Judas, Jesus, Peter, and John would have had to sit.
It should also be noted that Peter, in the seating diagram below, is located across from John at the end of the table. This was, (especially during this most solemn seder,) the lowest and most humble place at the table.
Is there evidence from the Scripture to show that the above seating arrangement for Yeshua/Jesus’s last gathering with His disciples is correct?
In the gospels it tells us that Peter had to get John’s attention in order for him to ask Yeshua/Jesus who was going to betray Him. (John 13:21, 24).
This would have been unnecessary if Peter was seated next to John. Peter, however, had to be close enough to John so that his request wouldn’t be heard by the others. John then leans backwards against Yeshua/Jesus’ chest to ask Him. (John 13:23-25).
Given how people sat to eat a meal, John had to be immediately to Yeshua/Jesus’ right while at the table. This position enabled him to slightly lean back and be against the Lord’s chest. Additionally, the interaction that involved Peter, John, Yeshua/Jesus and Judas, was quiet and close enough so that the other disciples didn’t know what was said (see John 13:28). This meant they didn’t know that, during the meal, the betrayer would be the one given a piece of bread, the sop.
The host of a formal meal or supper would give, the honored guest, at the table the first sop. The sop was a piece of bread or other small amount of choice food that is dipped in a sauce. The host, once he had the sop, would place it into the mouth of the honored guest. This guest always sat to the left of the host, in John 13:21, 25-26, the Bible clearly states was Judas Iscariot.
After receiving the sop, Judas asked if he was the betrayer, which Messiah confirmed that he was in Matthew 26:23-25. Satan then immediately enters Judas and he leaves the room.
The 9 disciples who didn’t hear what was discussed, were unaware of what was happening (John 13:28-29). After Judas left and the seder was finished, Yeshua/Jesus did something that caught the disciples off guard. He took off some of His clothes, wrapped a towel around his waist, and then began at Peter to wash the disciples’ feet (John 13:3-8)! Peter was the first to receive this ceremony since he sat at the end of the table. His seating also explains his initial impulsive rejection of having his feet washed (John 13:6)
Reclining to eat in first Century Israel was symbolic of their freedom from Egyptian bondage, no longer slaves. At Passover as at every seder meal, They reclined as described in the four Gospels. It was understood that when it was written that they reclined it was because they were eating a meal. So as to not take up much space at the table the couches or pillows they reclined on were angled toward the table. They were not full the length of a couch alongside the table.
In Hebraic thinking, the Seder plate holds the place of honor at the Passover table!
https://www.minimannamoments.com/midweek-mannabite-secrets-of-the-seder-plate/
Please – Don’t leave this page without making certain of your place at His Banqueting table.
He IS RISEN and He is calling you…inviting you to Come and Dine…
Shalom to all!
Make sure Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
NOT CERTAIN?
YOU CAN BE..
Its all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are greatly loved and very precious in His sight.
He longs to give you the Shalom He paid the ultimate price for..
Simply and honestly say the following, MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.
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