Midrash for Shabbat April 8, 2006
©2006 Mark Pitrone and Fulfilling Torah Ministries
B'Midbar 8.1-9.21, ZecharYah 14, Tehellim 101, Gilyahna 11

 

BMidbar 8.1-9.21

In v.2 and 3, the KJV says 'over against', which to our ears makes no sense. The MT has the word P'nay, which is the root from which we get panayim. P'nay = before or in front of. And it is 'over against', or opposite, the table of the bread of the Presence, or Lechem l'Panayim. So the physical purpose of the menorah is to illuminate the Bread of the Presence and the altar of incense, as well as the little light that bled around the veil to the ark. (To view an artist's rendering of the Tabernacle and it's furnishings go to http://www.geocities.com/charlesboone/tabernac2.htm. After the page loads you will see a map with 8 flashing 'hotspots'. Click a hotspot and view the corresponding rendering of the ark, table, incense altar, menorah, etc. You might want to bookmark this page for future use.) The spiritual purposes are endless, so I'm not going to try to exhaust them. It represents the light of the world, Yeshua. Our other readings will concentrate on the lampstand, where I hope to go into some detail. Suffice it to say that it was entirely of beaten work and one piece of pure gold (the craftsmanship is WAY beyond me). The gold represents the purity and unequalled value of Messiah and the one beaten piece (without a break) represents his suffering, as well as his malleability in the hands of the Ruach. We are to walk as he walked.

Moshe was ordered to set apart the levites to Yah's service and exactly HOW to set them apart. The 'water of purifying' is the water with the ashes of the red heifer.
Numbers 19:9 (KJV)
And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.
After they were sprinkled w/ the water they were to shave their bodies and wash their clothes to make themselves clean (ceremonially) and then AS A GROUP they were to offer a young bull for a meat offering and another for a sin offering. THEN? They were presented to the congregation for the people to set them apart to Yah's service instead of the firstborn of kol Yisrael by the laying on of hands of the elders of the people.

In v24-25, YHWH sets the Levites service at 25 years. Remember that the people were to be on call for military service from age 20-60, the Kohanim were to serve in the Kadosh Place and the Kadosh Kadashim (as it applied) from 30-50, and now the Levites were to serve from 25-50, after which they were to be instructors in the service of the tabernacle. Q&C on ch.8

In v.1, the MT has chodesh hareeshon, the first New Moon of the 2nd year. YHWH was giving the order that the people were to 'keep the Pesach' in HIS appointed season. This was not referring to a day as much as to the Pesach lamb, I think . It would be done in the 14th day, per instructions, but the use of the masculine pronoun leads me to think it refers to a being, not a day. The root for 'keep' is H6213 asah, meaning to do or make. So I think it refers to the lamb sacrificed.
The Passover (lamb) is to be slain and roasted on the fourteenth day of the month, between noon and sunset. It is then to be eaten between sunset and midnight, which is the first six hours of the fifteenth day of the month. It is to be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, at the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
I wonder why Yeshua kept the Pesach on the night previous. The argument that it was NOT the Pesach is belied by his own words, 'With desire I have desired to eat this Pesach with you.'(Lk.22.15) So how could it be the Pesach if it was celebrated the night before? It was/is a common practice for rabbis to host a Seder for his talmidim before the national Pesach. He was/is nothing, if not a Rebbe. Besides, if there could be provision for faithful men to do Pesach a month late, what's to say that Messiah could not do it a day early.

Vv.6-14 - If a man was defiled by a dead body, or was on a journey afar off on the day of the Feast, he could keep it the following month. Gee, since we are afar off, do we have permission to keep Pesach next month? Only if we keep it in Jerusalem next month. If you DON'T keep Pesach, you will be cut off from Israel. If a stranger wants to keep Pesach with you according to YHWH's Word, he is allowed. There is one Torah for Yisrael and for the Gerim.

When the cloud picked up and went, so did the people, day or night. The camp, as recorded, moved 42 times (there's that pesky tribulation number # again). I think by the 3rd of 4th time they had it down pat. Tear down would be done in a matter of an hour or so, set up maybe 2. And they could do it without light and immediately after waking from sleep. Everyone had a job to do, and did it well.

We need to be as instant to pick up and go with him as Yisrael was. Q&C

ZecharYah 14

ZecharYah was not asleep. He was awakened 'as a man is wakened from sleep.' The most important words in prophecy are 'like' and 'as'. 'As' means, 'in the same manner' as something else - not the same thing, but the same manner. 'Like' means, 'having the resemblance or appearance of an event' or thing. Being wakened 'as out of sleep' means he was awake, but unaware of his surroundings - in a trance or having a vision. The action never stopped from his vision of ch.3, but the subject and location of the visions did. He has left the Kodesh Kadashim and is now in the 'plain old' Kodesh Place.

The YHWH Yeshua who appeared in ch.3 as the angel of YHWH and YHWH of hosts now appears as the 7 lamp candlestick. The 7 lamps of the menorah correspond to the 7 eyes in the Stone of 3.9. Moshe Koniuchowski, in the footnotes of the Restoration Bible says this about the Stone in 3.9:
The Stone is Moshiach, and the seven eyes are symbolic of perfection, and perfect spiritual vision.(1)
Where else do we see 7 eyes?
Rev. 5:6 (KJV)
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of Elohim sent forth into all the earth.
Where else do we see the 7 spirits of Elohim?
Rev. 1:4 (KJV)
John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Rev. 3:1 (KJV)
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of Elohim, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Rev. 4:5 (KJV)
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of Elohim.
Are these 7 spirits enumerated any where? To whom are they given?
Isaiah 11:1-5 (KJV)
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: [2] And the spirit of YHWH shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of YHWH; [3] And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the YHWH: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: [4] But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. [5] And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
There is a reference to the BRANCH in 3.8, just before the Stone with the 7 eyes. I think we can safely equate the 7 lamps to the 7 eyes and the 7 Spirits of Elohim, and the recipient of this 7-fold Spirit of YHWH is none other than Yeshua haMoshiach.

The 2 olive trees represent the 2 houses of Ya'acov, Yisrael/Ephraim and Yehuda. Again, from the notes on Zech.4 in Moshe Koniuchowski's Restoration Scriptures:
He saw two olive trees, both being congregations of Yisrael, both representing the Father, both sending forth an anointed witness, both producing an individual witness to prophecy and together both representing the whole people of Yisrael.
These two olive trees are the Two Houses (Isaiah 8:14, Jeremiah 31:31, Jeremiah 11:16-17), Two Nations (Ezekiel35:10), Two Chosen Families (Jeremiah 33:24), Two Backslidden Sisters (Ezekiel 23:2-4), Two Olive Branches (Zechariah 4:11-14, Jeremiah 11:16-17), Two Sticks (Ezekiel 37:15-28), Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:3-4), Two Lamp Stands (Revelation 11:3), Two Silver Trumpets for the whole Assembly (Numbers 10:2-3), Two Advents (Hebrews 9:28), Two Cherubim (Exodus 25:18-20), Two Spies from Efrayim and Judah (Numbers 13: 6, 8), Two Congregations (Rev. 1:20), based on the principle that one lampstand equals one assembly.(2)
That's a lot of 2s! I never before considered that the 2 witnesses of Revelation could be the 2 houses of Ya'acov, and not two prophets of Tanakh. It's an interesting scenario. And it fits this interpretation of the identity of the two olive trees, as we'll see in Rev.11.

When the Angel asked Zach if he knew what the olive trees were, Zach answered in the negative. When he asked, he got what seemed an answer to a different question. He'd asked 'What are these?' and got the answer 'This is the Word of YHWH to Zerubabel…' The angel had told Zach that the people would see Zerubabel keeping the building of the Temple after the will of YHWH (and of the people back into faithful sons of YHWH) with the plumb line of the Word and the eyes of YHWH keeping watch over their building efforts. Yah had their backs. Every little thing that got done brought them closer to the goal of a new Mikdash. YHWH would see them through it.

Zach had to wade through that and after asking again (twice!) what the olive trees were, he got another question from the Angel (You STILL don't know?), as if the answer he'd given should have opened Zach's mind to the knowledge. The final answer was about the 2 anointed ones. In context, I think it refers to Zerubabel (ch.4) and Yehoshua (ch.3). Zerubabel was of the tribe of Yehuda and family of David, in the lineage of Yeshua (Mat.1.12-13). Yehoshua was the Kohen haGadol, a picture of the righteousness of YHWH. Kings and priests are both anointed, so they could very well be the 2 anointed ones Zach is being told about. I do subscribe to the 2 house doctrine, but this seems a plausible interpretation, as well. The kingdom, given to Yehuda, and the righteousness, given to Ephraim's sons (represented here by the Kohen), was reunited in Yeshua haMoshiach. Yeshua is our MelechZedek, King and Righteousness. The lampstand being fed by the two olive trees is a very good picture of this. The 2 olive trees of Royalty and righteousness give themselves completely to, and lose their separate identities to Yeshua. Seems it's all about redemption from exile, eh? Q&C

Tehillim 101 (sounds like a college course)

The mercy and judgment of YHWH ties this Psalm to our passages about the menorah. As discussed earlier, the menorah was of one piece of gold beaten into shape - as YHWH Yeshua was beaten for our transgressions. It also burns with the righteous judgment of Elohim, fed by the oil of the Ruach haKodesh of YHWH.

V.2 makes this a psalm that points to the first advent of Yeshua haMoshiach, who behaved himself wisely (Lk.2.52), and walked among his own house (Yehuda) with a heart that was perfect (tamiym).

We need to beware of his saying in vv.4-5, 7-8, that we not have a forward - a perverted, false heart; a heart that says one thing in your face, but another when you're not looking. When he says he doesn't know them, he means that he doesn't become intimately familiar with them. They will not be his family or friends. We also need to be careful to walk in a tamiym way before him so we can benefit from our service with and to him. Q&C

Gilyahna 11

In light of the temple, see who the builder is in Zech.6.12-13. There's that BRANCH again. He not only builds the Temple, but then he sits on his throne and rules from there. Hmm!? Do you suppose this might be YHWH? But it is a man! How can that be? And how can a King also be a priest? Aren't those separate offices that belong to separate tribes of Yisrael? Of course, we've already discussed this in our look at ZecharYah, but I just had to bring it up again, since there is confusion in Messianic circles about the person and nature of YHWH Yeshua haMoshiach.

John was ordered to measure the temple and given a reed to do it with, but then doesn't do the measurement. I have no doubt that he did the measurement, but the results are not recorded. The next measurement is of the New Yerushalayim in ch.21. I think we already have the measurements of the Temple John saw in Yechezkel 40ff. I COULD be wrong. But I doubt it.

42 months/1260 days is used twice in this chapter, once to discuss the time that the Gentiles will control the outer court and once to discuss the 'ministry' of the 2 witnesses. The amount of time is the same, so I believe these are contemporary to each other. There is also a reference to 3½ days that the witnesses lie dead in the streets of Yerushalayim. 42 months and 1260 days each = 3½ years. Is there a connection? Could be, but I don't know what it is. Any help from the peanut gallery would be appreciated.

The 2 olive trees are not a problem to understand, as we've discussed earlier. But the 2 candlesticks are. There was only one candlestick in the tabernacle, there were ten in Solomon's Temple and there is no record of how many were in the 2nd temple. Why 2 here? We have a possible answer in
Rev. 21:22 (KJV)
And I saw no temple therein: for (1) YHWH El Shaddai and (2) the Lamb are the temple of it.
That's just a thought. It really COULD be wrong. Moshe's Restoration Scripture notes say this:
The two witnesses are Judah and Efrayim, as both houses are ordained to rise up and teach truth during the Day of YHWH, during Yisrael's 70th week. We know that these two witnesses are the two houses, because they are called two lampstands, or two menorahs. The seven congregations in Asia are called seven lampstands in Revelation 1:20. So each congregation of believers is one menorah. Therefore two lampstands are two congregations, or groups of believers. This confirms the entire revelation to Zachariah in chapter 4 of the two anointed olive trees who stand before YHWH. From each of these two houses comes one witness, or two individuals who represent the two houses. Moses from Judah(?), since Lewi was part of Judah(?), and Elijah from Efrayim. They do their ministry for 3 1/2 years before being killed and then rising in Jerusalem. YHWH will never allow any true biblical witness in the earth without both Judah and Efrayim being the two chosen and faithful representatives of His truth.(3)
That seems a plausible interpretation as well, except for 2 things, 1) that Moshe was not from Yehuda. I think it's a bit of a stretch to include Moshe among Yehuda just because Levi sojourned more in Yehuda's inheritance than Ephraim's, especially after the division of the Kingdom 500-600 years after Moshe's death. I guess I'm just a stickler for context. Also, 2) if the lampstands are two congregations and we are using Rev.2-3 as the basis for that interpretation, which 2 congregations are they? Thyatira and Laodicea? Smyrna and Philadelphia? It's a stretch to use this scripture as the basis of your interpretation and then change the identities of the congregations to Yehuda and Ephraim, names that show up nowhere in the text. I am not saying it CAN'T be right, only that I see it as a stretch. I have no problem with the trees being Ephraim and Yehuda. Neither do I have a problem with the candlesticks being Ephraim and Yehuda. I have a problem with them being ID'd as Moshe/Eliyahu AND Ephraim/Yehuda. Especially since neither Ephraim nor Yehuda spouted fire.I know that they perform the same miracles that Moshe and Eliyahu did, but does that mean they are Moshe and Eliyahu? Is there anywhere in scripture that SAYS the two are M&E? Not that I recall. That has been an interpretation of the church for a lot of years - centuries, even; and it may even be right (blind squirrel?). But it ain't certain. Let's not make our interpretations into certainties. We may be disappointed and lose faith, as WILL happen when the pre-trib rapture turns into a bust for those expecting it.

The 2 witnesses are killed by the beast that ascends from the pit - Abaddon.
Rev. 9:11 (KJV)
And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
The beast and false prophet have no such power, and are foiled throughout the Great Tribulation until this destroying angel kills them. It could well be that, if the two witnesses are Ephraim and Yehuda, all of us (IF we are the 144K) will be killed and lie in the streets of Yerushalayim 3½ days, only to be resurrected and called up to meet YHWH in the air. This date will be Yom T'Ruah, the day of trumpets, some year soon.

While we are lying around the city awaiting our awakening, everybody who has had to endure the judgments are throwing parties, sending gifts all over the world in celebration, gleefully watching us lie there on worldwide HDTV, and taunting us (as if we could hear - or CARE). FEDEX, DHL and UPS will be making a 'killing', pun intended, on our deaths. The party will end abruptly when we all are called audibly, stand up and are taken up into heaven and disappear from their sight - all in vibrant, living color HD for everyone to see. Everyone will say in unison, "Ooo! THAT can't be good!"

At that exact moment there will be an earthquake like there never was before in Yerushalayim. 7000 die in it. That number is unthinkable in a modern, first-world, western city. It prompts the remnant to give glory to YHWH. This remnant cannot be unbelievers who lived through the quake, they MUST be the believers who are left after the 2 witnesses were killed. Imagine the depression that might come over believers when their champions are killed and left in the streets for 3½ days. Then, suddenly they are resurrected and at that exact moment a 10.0 quake strikes to punctuate the event! If you were one of those believers, I think you would sing praises to YHWH just to let the pagans know who is REALLY in charge.

And just to make the point that much clearer to us, v.14 tells us the last woe is coming quickly. And what does the angel say? He ALSO gives glory to YHWH, telling the inhabitants of the earth that all the kingdoms of the earth are in HIS control, not theirs. The believers were elated. The pagans must go into a funk. Even their champion can't kill the witnesses and make them stay dead. Despair must abound.

Meanwhile, in heaven, the 4 and 20 are worshipping and announcing the glory of YHWH, which is about to be revealed in his wrath - the 10 days of awe before Yeshua's final return to the Mount of Olives to defeat the world's armies at Har Megiddo. Reward and punishment are on the horizon.

Why is the ark exposed in heaven? I think it's because all the judgment that's about to come down on the inhabitants of the earth, all the wrath that Elohim has been storing up for all these millennia, will be tempered by the compassion shown at YHWH's mercy seat. Even as wicked as the earth has become, and as much worse it will become in the Great Trib, YHWH's mercy is going to temper his wrathful judgment, and the pagans will not receive even a small fraction of the wrath they'll deserve - even as we haven't received a miniscule fraction of the wrath we deserve. Q&C

Footnotes 1-3 are all from the Restoration Scriptures by Moshe Koniuchowski of Your Arms To Israel Ministries. You can find it on the web.