1 RECOGNITION THE MESSIANIC PROPHECY BIBLE PROJECT http

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RECOGNITION THE MESSIANIC PROPHECY BIBLE PROJECT http: //www. messianicbible. com www. hearoisrael. org HEAR O ISRAEL SHEEPFOLD GLEANINGS WRITTEN BY JULIE PARKER www. sheepfoldgleanings. com MESSIANIC ISRAEL ALLIANCE http: //www. messianicisrael. com AZAMRA TORAH FOR OUR TIME – RABBI AVRAHAM GREENBAUM http: //www. azamra. org 2

NASO -“Take & Elevate. ” TORAH: Numbers: 4: 21 – 7: 89 HAFTARAH: Judges 13: 2 -25 B’RIT HADASHAH: Acts 21: 17 to 22: 29, 23: 20 -24, John 7: 53 to 8: 11 All references: The Scripture 1998+ unless otherwise noted

PRASHAH FACTS: With 176 verses, it is the longest portion in all the Torah. Seven different messages IN ONE WORD - NASO 1. Finishes the census of the Levites; 2. Mishkan dedication gifts from the princes of the 12 tribes; 3. The cleaning of the camp 4. The Sotah, or wife suspected of adultery; 5. The Nazarite Vow; and 6. The Priestly Blessing. 7. Offerings by the 12 Tribes Last weeks teaching B’midbar actually occurs well after the events took place in this teaching as documented in Parsha Be’Ha. Alotecha next weeks teaching.

NASO “Naso” means to “elevate”, to “lift up” and to “bear”. It also means “to forgive”. “Naso” is a verb; and depending on how it is used (past, present, future tense or personal, etc. ) in Scripture, it can mean the “lifting”, “bearing” the “taking” or “forgiving” of a large variety of things. Example: • “And now, please forgive my sin only this once, and pray to יהוה your Elohim, that He would only turn away this death from me. ” (Exodus 10: 17) • ‘You have seen what I did to the Mitsrites, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. (Exodus 19: 4) • “You do not bring 1 the Name of יהוה your Elohim to naught, for יהוה does not leave the one unpunished who brings His Name to naught. Footnote: 1 Or lift up, or take. (Exodus 20: 7)

LIFT UP HIS FACE “Aharonic Blessing” And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Speak to Aharon and his sons, saying, ‘This is how you bless the children of Yisra’ĕl. Say to them: “ יהוה bless you and guard you; יהוה make His face shine upon you, and show favour to you; יהוה lift up His face upon you, and give you peace. ” ’ Footnote: Verses 24 to 26 is the Priestly Blessing. “Thus they shall put My Name on the children of Yisra’ĕl, and I Myself shall bless them. ” (Numbers 6: 22 -27) Now, we use the words “Yesah ”יהוה , as the personal verb form (future tense), which means “You lift-up ”יהוה Your Face. To “lift one‟s face” is a Hebrew idiom meaning to “give special consideration” (as with leniency). • The Torah admonishes a judge not to “lift up his face” • But יהוה lifts up His Face upon us (gives us special consideration); He will give us His Shalom and as the Priests put His Name ( )יהוה upon us, He will bless us

FORGIVENESS The letters in “naso”, “nun-sin-aleph”, gives you “the Heir to the Throne is El Shaddai‟s Strength”. Who is ’יהוה s “mighty” or “strong” Right Hand? יהושע. And who is the One through Whom we have “forgiveness”? By Who’s “forbearance”? Who “lifts us up”? Humble yourselves in the sight of the Master, and He shall lift you up. (James 4: 10) The numeric value of the letters in “Naso” is 351, which equals “ma‟ish” or “out of man” and “b‟Ephraim” or “as Ephraim” and “ye‟asham” or “shall be guilty”. This is a further confirmation about ’יהושע s mission on earth 2, 000 years ago; as the letters tell us, “Out of man, as Ephraim, He shall be guilty”. And, He indeed paid, with His life, to redeem us back, as His Bride. Now, it’s up to us to act like a faithful wife. That is why we find the story of the “Sotah” (or wife suspected of adultery by her husband) this week.

TAKE (NASO) A CENSUS And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Take a census also of the sons of Gĕreshon, by their fathers’ house, by their clans. “Register them, from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who enter to perform the service, to do the service in the Tent of Meeting. (Numbers 4: 21 -23) The phrase, as well, implies that the Gershonite census is related to the Kohathite census described earlier [in B'midbar]. The Kohathites carried the most sacred parts of the Tabernacle, while the Gershonites carried the less sacred. By saying "as well", the Torah makes the point that both tasks are necessary for the Tabernacle and both should be done with equal joy. This is the implied message. . . the Torah responds that whether one can bear the exalted Ark or only hooks and curtains, every role is significant because each is a unique participant in the sacred service (R. Moshe Feinstein) [Chumash, Stone Edition, page 749. ]

ROLE AND FUNCTION The Merarite clan was responsible for the framework and foundation of the Tabernacle. Today there are those whose main focus is laying a good foundation in the hearts of believers. For a day in Your courts Is better than a thousand days. I have chosen rather to be a doorkeeper In the House of my Elohim, Than to dwell in the tents of the wrong. (Psalms 84: 10) 1. The Tabernacle furniture was never seen by the Israelite community, as it was covered before being moved. (Numbers 4: 514). By faith the Twelve Tribes of Israel believed. Only in travel could they see the shadow of that which was in the Tabernacle. יהושע said to him, “T’oma, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. ” (John 20: 29) 2. Second census only for the people 30 to 50. Indicating only mature, stable, strong people to carry the load of the tabernacle.

CLEANING OF THE CAMP And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, . . , “Command the children of Yisra’ĕl to send out of the camp every leper, and everyone who has a discharge and whoever becomes defiled for a being. (Numbers 5: 1 -2) Chapter 5 begins with three categories of ritual impurities. We see them described on a physical and spiritual level. The affected person is contagious… physically and spiritually. It was first and foremost for the heart and attitude of the Israelites. If the heart was unclean, meaning not faithful to יהוה , diseases of the flesh would show up. 1. יהוה is holy. Sin is abominable in His sight, intentional or unavoidable, and must be removed (Jer. 44: 4; Hab. 1: 13). 2. Sin separates. Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says יהוה , and do not touch what is unclean, and I shall receive you. (2 Corinthians 6: 17) However this places them in personal danger. And it came to be, when the people were as complainers, it was evil in the ears of יהוה. And יהוה heard it, and His displeasure burned. And the fire of יהוה burned among them, and consumed those in the outskirts of the camp. (Numbers 11: 1)

PRICE OF FORGIVENESS If we confess our sins, He is trustworthy and righteous to forgive us the sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1: 9) A vague, general confession is no better than an incomplete, remorseless, bored apology, such as: "Aaah. . . like, well, if I did something, or whatever it was, like, you know. . . well. . . I, like, aahh, apologize? " Confession must be sincere, particular, and heartfelt. When it is, we have (1) forgiveness of our sins--pardon, and (2) cleansing from our sins--purification. Thus, what is unclean in us is taken "outside the camp" and left there. Then, personal restoration and renewal can resume. . . ‘When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit in trespass against יהוה , and that being is guilty, then they shall confess their sin which they have done. And he shall restore his guilt in its principal, plus one-fifth of it, and give it to whom he has been guilty. . . (Numbers 5: 5 -10)

SINS THAT REMOVE Three sins rendered a person unclean and put them outside the camp: Touching a dead body, sexual immorality and a tzarat infection. This law applied to the one who spoke it, who heard or listened to it; both were found guilty because out of the mouth of two or three witnesses it was established. And this they said. . so that they might accuse Him. But יהושע , bending down, wrote on the ground with the finger. . . “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. ” And bending down again, He wrote on the ground. (John 8: 6 -8) As the son of GOD he showed the authority of יהוה. In this act He portrayed Himself to be the hand, the finger and the arm of יהוה. And there shall by no means enter into it whatever is unclean, neither anyone doing abomination and falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 21: 27)

TEST OF BITTER WATERS And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying. . ‘ When any man’s wife turns aside and has committed a trespass against him. . and a spirit of jealousy comes upon him. . . ‘And the priest shall bring her near, and shall make her stand before יהוה. ‘And the priest shall take set-apart water in an earthen vessel, and take some of the dust that is on the floor. . , and afterward make the woman drink the water. . if she has defiled herself. . . her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall waste away, and the woman shall become a curse. . . if the woman has not defiled herself, and is clean, . . she shall be clear and shall conceive children. ‘This is the Torah of jealousy, . . . (Numbers 5: 11 -29) Who is the adulterous wife today? Could יהוה be talking about us? If we are in a betrothal relationship with יהושע , what cup will we drink at our wedding? Will it be the cup of redemption or the cup of trembling from the Law of Jealousy? Will we be shown to be a faithful wife, obedient to our Bridegroom’s loving teaching and instructions or one who has been adulterous?

INSANITY He who commits adultery with a woman lacks heart; He who does it destroys his own life. (Proverbs 6: 32) Rabbis teach: Adulterers do not commit adultery unless they are imbued with a spirit of insanity. Insanity can attributed to any sin and not just adultery; including idolatry. Adultery is compared to idolatry in many instances within the Tanach eg. The book of Hosea is a story of such a comparison. Ezekiel is also explicit also when he states: “For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. And they have committed adultery with their idols, and even offered their sons whom they bore to Me, passing them through the fire, to devour. (Ezekiel 23: 37) יהושע when ask about marriages sanctity’ said this: and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? “So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what Elohim has joined together, let man not separate. ” (Matthew 19: 5 -6) 14

ADULTERY Numbers 5: 11 -31 As Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum states; “At the very centre of the true Torah home is the love between husband wife, which is the very foundation of the BINYAN -- the "building" or structure of the family. True love between husband wife is very jealous: true love brooks no outsiders and third parties. The unity of husband wife must be complete, face to face, without a trace of a shadow in between. It is hard even to speak of the purity of love between husband wife in a world in which third parties are accepted as a normal part of life. It is this rampant immorality that breeds broken homes, broken hearts, children who grow up between one home and another, knowing little or nothing of family, roots and kinship. ” Committing a trespass against our spouse is like committing a trespass against our יהוה. This is how David can say, “Against you alone have I sinned. ”

THE FUTURE Simple definition of the Scriptures: “in the Father’s house, the Son takes a bride”. So, in the end, we see this future reality: And I saw a renewed heaven and a renewed earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. And I, Yoh anan, saw the set-apart city, renewed Yerushalayim, coming down out of the heaven from Elohim, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the heaven saying, “See, the Booth of Elohim is with men, and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and Elohim Himself shall be with them and be their Elohim. (Revelation 21: 1 -3) יהוה is a jealous Elohim. Adultery is the spiritual picture of idolatry. And idolatry is putting ANYTHING in the place of your service to the Almighty. “You do not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of that which is in the heavens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth, you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, יהוה your Elohim am a jealous Ěl, visiting the crookedness of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, (Exodus 16 20: 4 -5)

RECEIVING SEED. . ‘When any man’s wife turns aside and has committed a trespass against him, and a man has intercourse with her, . . . she has defiled herself, and there was no witness against her, nor was she caught, (Numbers 5: 12 -13) The Hebrew text sets it out as follows: 'and a man lies with her with seed … the KJV says “lie with her carnally. ” The word carnal is either H 7902 “sheka ba h” a lying down (for the sexual act): carnally, copulation, lay, seed and H 2233 “Zera” seed; figuratively fruit, plant, sowing time, posterity. What is not clear is that this unfaithful wife received from the man that she laid with was his “seed”. Seed is an important concept throughout the Bible. The good seed is the Word of the Almighty, the “other” seed is clearly seen in Genesis 3: 15: I will put animosity between you and the woman, and between your descendant and her descendant; he will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel. “ We also see the connection of bearing the seed: ‘But if the woman has not defiled herself, and is clean, then she shall be clear and shall conceive children. (Numbers 5: 28) 17

NOTHING IS HIDDEN. . it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and it is concealed. . (Numbers 5: 12 -13) • “The secret matters belong to יהוה our Elohim, but what is revealed belongs to us and to our children forever, to do all the Words of this Torah. (Deuteronomy 29: 29) • “Therefore do not fear them. For whatever is covered shall be revealed, and whatever is hidden shall be made known. (Matthew 10: 26) • The wicked say, “Yah does not see, And the Elohim of Yaʽaqob pays no heed. ” (Psalms 94: 7) • . . for יהוה searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you do seek Him, He is found by you; but if you forsake Him, He rejects you forever. (1 Chronicles 28: 9) The wicked are the ones who say “ יהוה will not see. ”, however, they know there is a יהוה. Many places we see it is the wicked who are defined as knowing of יהוה and His ways. If we turn our back on יהוה even though we know Him, we are considered 18 wicked.

SPIRIT OF JEALOUSY a spirit of jealousy comes upon him. . . (Numbers 5: 14) Whether she’s guilty or innocent, this ritual is to take place. The word “spirit” is “ruach”, which is also “breath”. This means the breath of God has come upon him. Now, the word translated as “come upon” is the Hebrew “abar”, “ayin-beit-reish”, which literally means “to pass through” or “to pass over” (as waves pass over the shore). So, this “breath” or “spirit” of jealousy has “passed through” and/or “over” him, it is literally like “waves” of jealousy, something spiritual. If the wife is innocent it could be that the adversary is trying to place a stumbling block in the marriage and needs to be dealt with on a spiritual level. The numeric value of the letters in “abar” is 272, which equals “va‟a sarah” or “in her bonds”, meaning the wife being “bound up” in her husband’s jealousy.

OMER then the man shall bring his wife to the priest. And he shall bring the offering for her, one-tenth of an ĕphah of barley flour. . . (Numbers 5: 15) The Hebrew word for sheaf is “omer” which is a Biblical measure of dry things and also known as 1/10 th of an ephah: Exodus 16: 36 Now an omer is one-tenth of an ephah. An omer is about 2 quarts and is just the amount required to make daily bread. It was also the measure used for the gathering of manna: “This is the word which יהוה has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, an omer for each being, according to the number of beings. Let every man take for those who are in his tent. ’ ” (Exodus 16: 16) This omer of manna became the “Bread of Life” for the Israelites while they travelled through the desert and we know that to be יהושע : “For the bread of Elohim is He who comes down out of the heaven and gives life to the world. ” (John 6: 33) An omer of barley is what was waved near the altar on the day of ’יהושע s resurrection. This is also the redemption price of a bride who has gone astray. 20

THE OFFERING he is to bring. . two quarts of barley flour on which he has not poured olive oil or put frankincense, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, a grain offering for remembering, for recalling guilt to mind. (Numbers 5: 15 CJB) • Since she is accused of being an unrepentant sinner, she is not qualified to bring her own sacrifice (Bemidbar 15: 30). In verse 15 the husband, in a display of grace, brings the acceptable offering. • The offering is not made with oil, because oil represents light and what she did was done in the darkness. It also does not include frankincense, the incense of purity. • The point of the offering – to bring her iniquity to remembrance. The question is…whose remembrance? This entire ritual is actually about reconciliation. But reconciliation cannot occur until the adulterous woman comes to grips with and confesses her sin. • We’ll each have our own time of judgment before our High 21 Priest.

JEALOUSY יהוה is a jealous and revenging Ěl, (Nahum 1: 2) Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament defines jealous to mean “zeal for one’s own property”. In a marriage the “two become one flesh”, therefore adultery is a picture of the severing of the body…. this is a form of murder. The seriousness of adultery in a relationship could not be overlooked since the marriage covenant is a picture of the Almighty and His bride. Jealousy, when it is suspicious, overbearing, possessive and demanding, is ugly and sinful. When it is virtuous it is appropriate for example: the desire for undivided loyalty, devotion and faithfulness. No moral spouse wants to share a partner with someone else. Therefore, provision was made for a husband to discover and accuse suspected adultery. If the woman really did sin, her husband would become jealous, the emotion being stirred by a divine nudge. Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, a flame of Yah! (Song of Solomon 8: 6) 22

OFFERING ‘And the priest shall bring her near, and shall make her stand before יהוה. (Numbers 5: 16) Note: The offering for our atonement was given before we drink the cup of judgement symbolising the bitter water of adultery. The priest stands next to her (intercedes) before יהוה. Who is he who is condemning? It is Messiah who died, and furthermore is also raised up, who is also at the right hand of Elohim, who also makes intercession for us. (Romans 8: 34) And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear, knowing that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your fathers, not with what is corruptible, silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Messiah, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, foreknown, indeed, before the foundation of the world, but manifested in these last times for your sakes, who through Him believe in Elohim who raised Him from the dead and gave Him esteem, so that your belief and expectation are in Elohim. (1 Peter 1: 17 -21)

HOLY WATER ‘And the priest shall take set-apart water in an earthen vessel, . . . (Numbers 5: 17) Holy Water “Mayim Kodeshim”, the “set-apart water” or running water. On the earth, water is what sustains all life. In the Scriptures, water also represents that which sustains life, the Word of Elohim and the knowledge of יהוה. Isaiah 11: 9 speaks of a day when this knowledge of יהוה will cover the earth; They will not hurt or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain, for the earth will be as full of the knowledge of Adonai as water covering the sea. “Mayim” is spelled “mem-yud-mem” which are “two waters separated by the yud or hand”. “Mayim” is represented by the letter “mem” which has a numeric value of 40, which equals “trials”, “testing” and “learning”. The word “mayim” has a numeric value of 90, which in addition to “water” equals “ba‟nachal” or “in the valley” and “aph‟dah” or “I redeem”. Meaning “in the valley I will redeem through trail an testing”

WATER AND THE WORD This Holy Water came from the laver in the tabernacle. The laver sat between the altar and the Holy Place and was used for the washing of the hands and feet of the priests, it must have contained some of the blood of the Holy Sacrifices. In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the renewed covenant in My blood. As often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of Me. ” (1 Corinthians 11: 25) Water is also a picture of ’יהוה s Word. This water was contained in an earthen vessel: For Elohim, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness, ” is the One who has shone in our hearts for the enlightening of the knowledge of the esteem of Elohim in the face of יהושע Messiah. And we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of the power might be of Elohim, and not of us – (2 Corinthians 4: 6 -7) The Word Judges: For the Word of Elohim is living, and working, and sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through even to the dividing of being and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and able to judge thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4: 12)

DUST ‘And the priest shall take. . . some of the dust that is on the floor of the Dwelling Place and put it into the water. (Numbers 5: 17) This “dust” from the floor of ’יהוה s Dwelling Place is symbolic, throughout history, as representing a place of separating the “wheat from the chaff”. According to history (Judges, 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles), you see numerous times that kings met at “threshing floors” to make decisions and treaties. Twice, King David sought יהוה at threshing floors and purchased them to set up altars and make offerings (drawings near) to Elohim. The second time, on what is now the Temple Mount, David purchased the threshing floor of Araunah (Ornan in English) as the site for Hekal, the Great Temple, of יהוה , that his son Shelomoh would build, 1 Chronicles 21 & 22. The word ‘dirt’ in the Scriptures can represent people. In writing on the Temple floor יהושע revealed that every person is inscribed with His Torah upon them.

SHAKING OF THE DUST The dust is an identification of the descendants of Abraham: “And I shall make your seed as the dust of the earth, so that, if a man could count the dust of the earth, then your seed also could be counted. (Genesis 13: 16) But some dust is not worthy to be part: “And into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat whatever is placed before you, and heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The reign of Elohim has come near to you. ’ “And into whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your city which clings to us, we wipe off against you, but know this, that the reign of Elohim has come near to you. ’ (Luke 10: 8 -11) By shaking of the dust (people), they declared to the people of the city that the dust on there shoes is not worthy to be in the presence of God. Only those that accept יהושע can be in his presence.

BITTERNESS ‘And the priest shall make the woman stand before יהוה , and shall uncover the woman’s head, and put the offering for remembering in her hands, which is the grain offering of jealousy, while the priest holds in his hand the bitter water that brings a curse. (Numbers 5: 18) 1. Removing her covering says that her heart is open to be inspected. 2. Also the removal of her husband’s covering so she would be judged by her own merits. This is truly to be “under the law”, and not to be under the grace of the Messiah. 3. The Priest places the omer of barley offering into her hands, “palms” is a better translation. Palms indicate that her hands were open, thus showing an acceptance of the offering. 4. The Hebrew word here for “bitter” is “marah”. When Israel stopped at the oasis “Marah” for water and it was bitter. There complained to יהוה over this water. Note: The water, which is still there and still bitter, kills parasites in the body and is actually sold in Egypt for medicinal purposes.

THE CURSE ‘And the priest shall make her swear, and say to the woman, “If no man has lain with you, and if you have not turned aside to uncleanness under your husband’s authority, be free from this bitter water that brings a curse. “But if you have turned aside under your husband’s authority, and if you have defiled yourself and some man other than your husband has lain with you” – then the priest shall make the woman swear with the oath of the curse, and he shall say to the woman – “ יהוה make you a curse and an oath among your people, when יהוה makes your thigh waste away and your belly swell, and this water that causes the curse shall go into your inward parts, and make your belly swell and your thigh waste away. ” And the woman shall say, “Amĕn, amĕn. ” (Numbers 5: 19 -22) This is the first time in the bible AMEN is used “so be it, truth. ” Deuteronomy tells us that by confirming these words she will not be cursed. ‘Cursed is he who does not establish the Words of this Torah. ’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amĕn!’ (Deuteronomy 27: 26)

WRITING THE CURSE ‘And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and shall wipe them off into the bitter water, and shall make the woman drink the bitter water that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter her to become bitter. (Numbers 5: 23 -24) The priest writes this curse, which includes the Name of יהוה on a scroll and “machah” or “scrapes off” the dried ink into the water. This word “machah” means to “blot out” or “remove”. יהוה is willing to have His Name blotted out or removed in order to bring peace to the home and according to Gesenius’ Hebrew. Chaldee Lexicon, this word “machah” also means “to separate out the marrow”. For the Word of Elohim is living, and working, and sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through even to the dividing of being and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and able to judge thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4: 12) God also made us alive be blotting out the charges against us on the cross. (Colossians 2: 13 -14 )

SYMBOLISM ● ● Just as the priest wrote down the curses in a book, Moshe (acting as priest) wrote down the curses of disobedience in Torah. The children of יהוה are all going to stand before Him one day to give an account. Will we have blessed people with our knowledge and application of Torah or will we have ‘beaten them’ with our teaching, and cause them to turn away because of the teacher, in essence cursed them for embracing Torah? יהושע fulfilled the Law of Jealousy. A Priest wrote the curses on a scroll, then sponged the ink off with a small amount of vinegar and added this to the earthen vessel filled with water. יהושע is The Living Torah scroll and the Living Water. He drank the cup and is the living clay vessel of יהוה. The Priest then took the grain offering from the suspected adulterous bride as a memorial and burned it. יהושע took our sin upon Himself, becoming the grain offering of remembrance. He took our guilt and died our death.

BELLY AND THIGH • The word for “belly” here is “beten”, “beit-tet-nun” and, which when applied to women, is the “womb” or “abdomen”. This “womb” is the “house that surrounds the kingdom”. The word for “swell” is “tsabah”, “tzadee-beit-hey” and means to be “prominent”. Here, the letters tell us “the righteous house revealed”. For the unfaithful woman she will look as if she’s always pregnant, but never deliver a permanent curse • The word for “thigh” is “yarekah”, “yud-reish-khaf-hey”, meaning also “side” or “loins” (seat of reproduction). The word used here for “waste away” is “naphalah”, “nun-fey-lamed-hey”, which means to “fall” or “be lost” as well as to “prostrate oneself”. While she always appears pregnant, her “thigh”, “loins” or “seat of reproduction” wastes away, rendering her incapable of ever conceiving. Ephraim is like the adulterous woman found “guilty”, a “swelled” womb and “prominent” that bears no fruit. Only in righteousness, when he is declared clean by the blood of Mashiach, can he bear the “fruit of the Spirit” and thereby multiply believers, have children.

2 nd DRINK ‘And the priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy from the woman’s hand, and shall wave the offering before יהוה , and bring it to the altar. ‘And the priest shall take a hand filled with the offering, as its remembrance offering, and burn it on the altar, and afterward make the woman drink the water. (Numbers 5: 25 -26) Why is the woman made to drink a second time? Perhaps the answer is in the Hebrew word for afterward – (achar). It can imply the end times. A sign or symbol for all that she is pure and spotless. Afterward the children of Yisra’ĕl shall return, and seek יהוה their Elohim, and Dawid their sovereign, and fear יהוה and His goodness, in the latter days. (Hosea 3: 5) “And also on the male servants and on the female servants I shall pour out My Spirit in those days. (Joel 2: 29) 33

THE CUP With the women at the well Yeshua shared His identity as the Living Water and told her that the cup He would drink would produce life in her not death. Matthew 10: 6; 15: 24 As for me, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself. “ (John 12: 32). . After this, יהושע , knowing that all had been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be accomplished, said, “I thirst!” A bowl of sour wine stood there, and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and held it to His mouth. So when יהושע took the sour wine He said, “It has been accomplished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (John 19: 28 -30) יהושע took our curse and died the death of the “adulterous wife”. Our atonement is made, even before we come to stand before יהוה. The curse was “scraped off” of the parchment on which judgment was written and placed in the “bitter water”, the “bitter wine” that יהושע was given at His death. “For Yisra’ĕl is stubborn, . . “Their drink is sour, they have whored continually. Her rulers wildly loved shame. (Hosea 4: 16 -18)

THE GOLDEN CALF Exodus 32: 11 -22 Moses carried Yahweh’s Marriage Covenant - written on two stone tablets - between Himself and His people down Mount Sinai and presented it to the assembly of Israel, who just days earlier had betrothed themselves to Yahweh. He found them committing adultery by bowing down to the Golden calf thus they changed to an adulterous, sotah bride. Note: It was at Shavuot, that Moses smashed the two tablets, they were supposed to wait on God Moses ground the golden calf to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it. Then יהוה said, “Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbour. ” How did Moses know who participated in the worship of the golden calf? Their bellies had swelled and their thighs rotted 3000 died by the sword that day. 1600 years later on Pentecost 3000 were redeemed in Jerusalem

NAZARITE VOW Numbers 6: 1 -21 - The English word “Nazarite” used here, in the Hebrew is “Nazir” (Nun-zayin-yud-reish), which means “consecrated” or “devoted one”. From the root word “nazar”, which means to “separate oneself”, to “set apart” or “abstain”. A vow of abstinence made by a man OR a woman for a specific period of time, consecrating themselves to Yahweh. • They were not to have any food from the grape: wine, vinegar, grape juice, grapes, raisins, seeds or skins. • Not to cut their hair but to let it grow long • No contact with a dead body, even a close relative. After the specified time the person was to appear before the Priest and offer an elevation offering and a sin offering together with their meal offerings and drink offerings and a basket of unleavened bread with oil. The person was to shave their hair that was dedicated to Yahweh and put it in the fire as the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.

NAZARISM Nazirism separates and elevates one to a state of holiness with יהוה. The person’s holiness is directly linked to the growth of his hair. The Hebrew root word of hair isnezer (TWOT # 1340 a) meaning crown, separation, consecration and hair. Two types: 1. From birth, dedicated by parents - Samson, Samuel, John the Baptist; 2. Perpetual Nasserite – Apostle Paul (Acts 18: 18; 21: 17 to 22: 29 ) Alarmed by the attack coming against Paul’s ministry by those saying that he spoke against the Law of Moses and the Temple, the council advised Paul to fulfill his Nazarite vow at the Temple for all to witness that he did uphold the Law of Moses and the Temple. He also agreed to pay for 4 others. (One years wages) Period of vow: One Sabbath year, the year separated for the land, no pruning to take place

THE AARONIC BLESSING Numbers 6: 22 -27 ‘This is how you bless the children of Yisra’ĕl. Say to them: Hebrew: ‘Yevarech’cha Yahweh v’yishmerecha. Ya’er Yahweh panav eleycha viyechuneka. Yissah Yahweh panav eleychha veyasem lecha shalom. Greek/English: ‘The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace/shalom. ’ Hebrew/English: יהוה will kneel before you presenting gifts and He will guard you with a hedge of protection. יהוה will illuminate the wholeness of His being towards you bringing order and He will provide you with love, sustenance and friendship. יהוה will lift up the wholeness of His being and look upon you and He will set in place all you need to be whole and complete.

HIDDEN IMAGES LORD (Strong's #3068) - The word LORD (all uppercase letters) is, in the Hebrew text, the name of God - יהוה and commonly called the Tetragramaton. In Hebrews culture each name was a word, or phrase, that has a meaning. In the case of יהוה it is the verb הוה (hawah) meaning to "exist" and the prefixed pronoun י (y) meaning "he. " The name יהוה means "he exists. “ Bless (Strong's #1288) - The Hebrew language was related to an image of action, something that could be sensed (seen, heard, smelled, touched or felt) and in motion. The word bless however, is a purely abstract word which cannot be sensed or in motion. In order to interpret this word correctly we must find its original concrete meaning. In Genesis 24: 11 we read, "And he made the camels kneel down outside the city. " The phrase "kneel down" is the Hebrew verb “barak”. This same word is used to mean to kneel down to present a gift as one would do to show respect to another.

HIDDEN IMAGES Keep (Strong's #8104) - The Hebrews were a nomadic people raising livestock. It would not be uncommon for a shepherd to be out with his flock, away from the camp, over the night. In order to protect the flock the shepherd would construct a corral of thorn bushes. The shepherd would then guard over the flock and the corral would be a hedge of protection around them. The image behind the Hebrew verb שמר (shamar) is this guarding and protecting of the shepherd and the corral over the flock. Face (Strong's #6440) - The Hebrew word פנים (paniym) is a plural word and reflects the Hebraic sense of motion as the face reflects many different moods, emotions and thoughts. This Hebrew word can mean the face but also the "presence" or the "wholeness of being" of an individual.

HIDDEN IMAGES Shine (Strong's #215) - The word אור (or), as a noun means "light" and as a verb, as it is used here, means to "give light" or "shine. " It is also related to the idea of giving order as light, being the opposite of darkness, brings about order. Gracious (Strong's #2603) - A nomads camp consisted of many family tents, arranged in a circle, and was viewed as a place of beauty. Not just the appearance of beauty but the action, a place of warmth, love, friendship, community and sustenance. The verb חנן (hhanan) is this concept of beauty. Countenance (Strong's #6440) - This is the Hebrew word פנים (paniym) again meaning "face. “ Give (Strong's #7760) - The Hebrew verb שים (siym) literally means to "set down in place. “

HIDDEN IMAGES Peace (Strong's #7965) - The noun used here is שלום (shalom) from the verb שלם (shalam). The verb shalam means to "restore" in the sense of replacing or providing what is needed in order to make someone or something whole and complete. The noun שלום (shalom) is one who has, or has been provided, what is needed to be whole and complete. יהוה (he who exists) will kneel before you presenting gifts and will guard you with a hedge of protection, Yahweh (he who exists) will illuminate the wholeness of his being toward you bringing order and he will provide you with love, sustenance and friendship, יהוה (he who exists) will lift up his wholeness of being and look upon you and he will set in place all you need to be whole and complete.

ANCIENT SCROLLS In Jerusalem, the Israel museum contains a remarkable tiny fragment of parchment containing these 15 Hebrew words. What is so extraordinary about this parchment is that it is the oldest surviving fragment of biblical literature. It comes from the era of the First Temple, built by King Solomon. It is so old that it is not written in the Hebrew alphabet as we know it today, which dates from the Babylonian exile, but rather it is in the ancient Semitic script – the oldest alphabet known to mankind. 43

LITERARY STRUCTURE The literary structure of the Aharonic blessing is precise, reading as if it builds up with ’יהוה s overflowing love. Notice the various patterns and significant numbers: • First line: 3 words, 15 (3 x 5) letters • Second line: 5 words, 20 (4 x 5) letters • Third line: 7 words, 25 (5 x 5) letters There actually three blessings within the blessing: 44

FIRST BLESSING The first blessing ( יהוה bless you and keep you) is a general blessing for earthly prosperity. The explanation for this is because first there is the blessing, and then there is a protection (keep) after receiving the blessing. An earthly blessing can be threatened by anything from storms to thieves. יהוה can also “keep” us by protecting us from pride in our own success. Wealth can become a stumbling block and dull our gratefulness towards the Almighty. This is why we must remember to be thankful and in turn bless יהוה : “And you shall eat and be satisfied, and shall bless יהוה your Elohim for the good land which He has given you. “Be on guard, lest you forget יהוה your Elohim by not guarding His commands, and His right-rulings, and His laws which I command you today, lest you eat and shall be satisfied, and build lovely houses and shall dwell in them, and your herds and your flocks increase, and your silver and your gold are increased, and all that you have is increased, that your heart then becomes lifted up, and you forget יהוה your Elohim who brought you out of the land of 45 Mitsrayim, from the house of bondage, (Deuteronomy 8: 10 -14)

SECOND BLESSING The second blessing ( יהוה make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you), points to a spiritual blessing. The most intimate contact (face to face) between the children of Israel and יהוה occurred on Mount Sinai: “ יהוה spoke with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire. (Deuteronomy 5: 4) This experience was never to be forgotten: “Only, guard yourself, and guard your life diligently, lest you forget the Words your eyes have seen, and lest they turn aside from your heart all the days of your life. . . (Deuteronomy 4: 9) The opposite of being “face to face” with יהוה is to have His “face hidden”: Do not hide Your face from me In the day of my distress; Incline Your ear to me; In the day I call, answer me speedily. (Psalms 102: 2) 46

SECOND BLESSING con’t The root of the word for “make shine” is r. Aa (or), which means “light. ” We could say the request is for the Holy One to “set us on fire”, a sure sign of spiritual growth: For this reason I remind you to stir up the gift of Elohim which is in you . . (2 Timothy 1: 6) When ’יהוה s face shines on us, it causes us to shine, thereby glorifying Him and making His ways known on the earth: “You are the light (r. Aa - or ) of the world. . . “Let your light so shine before men, so that they see your good works and praise your Father who is in the heavens. (Matthew 5: 14 -16) 47

SECOND BLESSING con’t The parent root of the word for חנן (gracious) is חן (chane), which means “grace”. In his book Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible, Jeff Benner gives the following pictographic definition of chane: “ The pictograph for ח is a picture of a wall. The ן is a picture of a seed meaning “to continue. ” Combined these mean “wall continues. ” A nomad’s camp consisted of many family tents, which make up the clan camp. The camp can have as many as fifty tents or more in it. The tents are placed in a circular configuration, forming one continuous wall surrounding the camp. ” The definition of “gracious”: “Within this wall is the family clan, a place of freedom, compassion and beauty. An encampment of tents. To give or show beauty, grace or mercy to another. ” It is as if the blessing is to bestow upon Israel the Almighty’s Presence, that He might dwell among them. This is true grace! 48

THIRD BLESSING The third blessing ( יהוה lift up His face upon you and give you peace), according to Rashi, is a prayer to the Almighty for Him to suppress His anger and allow His mercy to triumph over judgment, thereby bringing us into a relationship of “peace” with Him: . . And compassion boasts over judgment. (James 2: 13) Who is an Ěl like You – taking away crookedness and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? He shall not retain His wrath forever, for He Himself delights in kindness. (Micah 7: 18) יהושע is the Prince of Peace and it is through Him that we have been given “peace”: and through Him to completely restore to favour all unto Himself, whether on earth or in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of His stake. (Colossians 1: 20) 49

HIS NAME “Thus they shall put My Name on the children of Yisra’ĕl, and I Myself shall bless them. ” (Numbers 6: 27) His Name, יהוה , representing His character and all of His attributes was to be placed upon His set apart people, Israel. Revelation also tells us of a coming day when His servants will see His face and His Name will be imprinted on them: And they shall see His face, and His Name shall be upon their foreheads. (Revelation 22: 4) 50

LIFTING OF HANDS Aharon then lifted up his hand toward the people and blessed them, . . . (Leviticus 9: 22) Here we read that on the first Tabernacle worship service Aharon lifts up his hands and blesses the people. In Temple times, Talmud tells us that the priests would lift up their hands over the people while pronouncing the Aharonic blessing. When they did this, they spread their fingers apart in such a way as to make the shape of the ancient letter, shin ( ) ש. Traditionally, this is the abbreviation for “Almighty El” (El Shaddai). By making the sign of this letter while lifting their hands and pronouncing the blessing, they were in a way “putting His Name on the children of Israel”. Question: Did יהושע ever say the Aharonic blessing? And He led them out as far as Bĕyth Anyah, and lifting up His hands He blessed them. (Luke 24: 50) 51

יהושע BLESSING In his article on the Priestly Blessing in Messiah Magazine (Issue 91), D. Thomas Lancaster speaks of the tradition of the congregation looking down when the priest lifted his hands to do the Aharonic blessing. Lancaster goes on to tell what it may have been like when יהושע lifted His hands to bless the disciples with the priestly benediction: “The disciples were probably very familiar with the custom of lowering one’s eyes when the priests lifted their hands. Upon seeing the Master raise His nail-scarred hands and hearing Him begin to chant the priestly blessing over them, the disciples would have been quick to avert their eyes and look down at the ground. As their eyes fell upon ’יהושע s nail-scarred feet, they would have been amazed to realize that those feet were no longer touching the ground. As יהושע blessed them, He ascended up into the sky, rising to take His place as priest in the Heavenly sanctuary. The Gospel of Luke says, And it came to be, while He was blessing them, that He was parted from them and was taken up into the heaven. (Luke 24: 51). 52

GOD PROVIDES And it came to be, when Mosheh finished setting up the Dwelling Place, that he anointed it and set it apart and all its furnishings, . . the leaders of Yisra’ĕl, heads of their fathers’ houses. . brought their offering before יהוה : six covered wagons and twelve cattle, a wagon for every two of the leaders, and for each one a bull. . . And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Accept these from them, and they shall be used in doing the service of the Tent of Meeting. And you shall give them to the Lĕwites, each one according to his service. ” And Mosheh took the wagons and the cattle, and gave them to the Lĕwites. He gave two wagons and four cattle to the sons of Gĕreshon, according to their service. And he gave four wagons and eight cattle to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the hand of Ithamar, son of Aharon the priest. But to the sons of Qehath he gave none, because theirs was the service of the set-apart objects, which they bore on their shoulders. (Numbers 7: 1 -9) The Tabernacle was raised up on the first day of Nissan

12 OFFERINGS Numbers 7: 10 -88 CJB – 12 offerings from 12 tribes over 12 days Each offering from the tribes was accepted. (1)The offerings were connected to the consecration of the Tabernacle though actually given/presented later (verses 84, when; 88, after). (2)The common offerings facilitated the movement of the Tabernacle, just as our gifts and labours contribute to the restoration and progress of the Kingdom of God in the earth. (3)All the offerings were equal materially and were received with equal favour. Nevertheless, the true value of one's offering is in its relation to the giver's resources, advantages, and opportunities. "For if the readiness [will, desire] is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have" (2 Cor. 8: 12). (4)The offerings were carefully recorded, no detail escapes God.

THE POOR WIDOW The Messiah does not measure gifts by its monetary value/size, but by the self-denial the gift represented. 1. Our King sees all things, He observed the poor widow and what she gave. 2. The Master acknowledged the true standard of liberality. (a) Motive (reason). Our offering should be for the glory of יהושע and the welfare of men. (b) Manner (temperament, demeanour). Our giving must not be by constraint, or from arm-twisting, but of a willing mind and cheerful heart (2 Cor. 8: 12; 9: 7). (c) Measure

SYMBOLISM One silver basin, Value of 520 – 500 Noah's age when his first child was born, and 20 is the age the child was born that God told Noah that there would be a flood. 70 shekels - corresponds to the 70 nations that descended from Noah. 1 ladle (Soup Spoon), which is similar to a hand, symbolizes the Torah that was given from the hand of God, and its weight of 10 shekels corresponds to the 10 Commandments. Incense - an allusion to the 613 commandments of the Torah. One young bull - Abraham, who used such an animal as an offering (Genesis 18: 7). Ram - Isaac, who was replaced on the altar by a ram (ibid. 22: 13).

SYMBOLISM The sheep - Jacob, who tended the sheep during his years with Laban (ibid. 30: 40). The he-goat - a sin-offering atoned for Joseph's brothers who sold him into slavery and slaughtered a goat after doing so (ibid. 37: 31). 2 cattle for peace-offerings - Moses and Aaron, who brought peace between Israel and their Father in Heaven. 3 groups of five animals - three components of the nation - Kohanim, Levites, and Israelites; and to the three parts of Scripture - Torah, Prophets, and Writings. 5 - the five books of Moses, and five commandments that were on each of the Tablets of the Law. [Chumash, Nasso, pg. 767. ]