On the Last Great Day, Yeshua definitively gave all Israel reason to believe that He is indeed the Prophet Moses foretold would one day arise, the Prophet-Like-Moses himself…the people were interested and the powers were indignant. Therefore for the Eighth Day, Shemini Atzeret, they concocted a scheme for proving Him a fraud, a trap only one like Moses was wise enough to walk out of and close on His would-be captors instead.
This is the story of the woman caught in adulterand brought to Yeshua to be stoned to death, and this is the day that it took place.
Without knowing the Holy Days one would not understand what was really happening and why. Without knowing the Torah one can not know what all was unfolding here.
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Celebrate Erev Shabbath with
Sabbath Keepers Fellowship!
We've moved an hour earlier to stay with the season!
Every Sabbath Eve at 7:30pm Central Time we will host an informal get-together on our YouTube channel to bring-in and honor the seventh-day rest. We will have:
- A short Sabbath eve prayer service
- Highlights of the weekly Torah portion with some commentary
- Greetings to all present
- Followed by live music and discussion with whomever wishes to bring it.
His yoke is easy and the burden light! Join us for some simple celebration and fellowship to end your week. The entirety of the service should be about 1.5 hours long. If you play an instrument or sing, contact the service admin to join in. If you don’t, just listen as others do their best to honor our Creator on His holy day.
Discover the latest meeting at:
Shemini Atzereth
“I am the Aleph and the Tav, the Beginning and End,” says YHWH “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
“Yeshua said, ‘I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
“And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of Elohim and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And no longer shall there be any curse, and the throne of Elohim and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. And they shall see His face, and His Name shall be upon their foreheads. And night shall be no more, and they shall have no need of a lamp or the light of the sun, because YHWH Elohim shall give them light. And they shall rule forever and ever.”
Have a lovely closing Festival, and may you all be sealed in the Lamb’s Book of Life!
This evening begins the festival of Shemini Atzereth (Eigth Day of Assembly)! It is a separate holiday from the festival of Sukkoth and is a high-day when we are to leave our sukkah (tent, booth, tabernacle) behind to dwell in our permanent homes, yet still tarrying just a bit longer with YHWH. The word atzar means to stop, pause or tarry. The number seven, as applied to Sukkoth, connotes completion and fulfillment; whereas the number eight, as applied to Shemini Atzereth, is about going beyond completion and starting anew.
This day is also the celebration of Simchath Torah (Joy of Torah). It is the day when we pause to complete the yearly reading of the Torah, rejoice in the Word of YHWH, and begin it anew – all in the same breath!
D'varym (Deuteronomy) 33:1-34:12 and B'reishyth (Genesis) 1:1-2:3
Consider the spiritual meaning of these things, chaverim, how they apply to the Kingdom of YHWH and the marriage of Yeshua to his bride. Pause today to rejoice and give thanks to YHWH and His Word who dwelt among us. Then “turn it over, and turn it over again!”
Sukkot is over now 😢, and I'm getting a late start on posting related to the first chapters of the Bible.
Here are some Apostolic passages to study alongside Torah Parsha Bereishit ("In the beginning" Genesis 1:1-6:8), plus links to related reading and videos: https://www.americantorah.com/....2021/02/13/parsha-be
As we all know, burning of incense in the Catholic church are still a common practice as well as in many other religions serving different gods. So, I have a few questions:
1) Do you also burn incense when worshipping or praying to YHVH Elohiym?
2) What about the incense oil many people put on their door frames to "clean" the house or on the mezuzah at the front door?
3) What about fragrances inside the house to get rid of bad smells -- is that the same? Especially incense stick and candles?
4) What about the incense oil many believers put on their hands when going into prayer -- or -- being blessed with on their heads at the pulpits of their churches?
5) Lastly, but not least -- Is it wrong to honour YHVH with incense?
INCENSE
Made of sweet-smelling spices and oils, incense had immense importance for ancient religious worship, commerce, romance, and daily life. People of every age have loved fragrant odours. During sacrifices to tribal gods, primitive worshippers in many countries would pour out or burn incense to make their god happy -- in fact, it was often feared that their gods would reject the sacrifice if he or she did not like the smell. Spices and precious oils were as valuable to ancient peoples as silver and gold; the queen of Sheba brought spices to Solomon as a gift {1 Kings 10:2}, and incense was kept in the royal treasury {2 Kings 20:13}. Because of the difficult work of extracting the fragrant juices, as well as the cost of transporting them from faraway places, incense was highly expensive, and promised high profits to its producers. In the biblical Song of Songs, lovers compare each other to “myrrh,” a “mountain of myrrh” and a “hill of frankincense” {Song of Songs 1:13; Song of Songs 4:6}; the fragrance of incense sets the right mood for love {Song of Songs 1:12}. Every kind of spice burned at King Solomon’s bedside {Song of Songs 3:6}. A bridegroom delighted in the perfumes of his beloved, and described her as his own private garden of incense {Song of Songs 4:10-14}. Even a prostitute burned incense beside her bed {Ezekiel 23:41}. No wonder wise men said that “fragrant oil” makes the heart glad and the “sweetness of friendship” comforts the soul {see Proverbs 27:9}.
TYPES OF INCENSE
Frankincense is the type of incense mentioned most often in the Bible. It was imported from India, Somaliland, and Arabia Felix. Myrrh also came from Arabia Felix. Cinnamon was another important fragrance from Ceylon and China. Galbanum, tragacanth [gum], and laudanum were all grown in the mountains of Asia Minor. Galbanum was the most popular of these three, for it was also found in Turkestan, Persia, Syria, and Crete. Henna, saffron, and balsam came from aromatic plants native to Israel. Later in Israel’s history, other plants were introduced to Palestine and cultivated there: the rose, narcissus, and jasmine. Onycha seems to have been produced from the local fauna, and musk [muskin] may have been extracted from a gland of the musk deer. Incense itself came in many forms. One could purchase tiny grains of it that would then be placed in a bag hung around the neck {Song of Songs 1:13}. Usually however, perfumes were liquids, dissolved in olive oil. A good example of this is the “holy anointing oil” {Exodus 30:31}. The priests and kings of Israel were anointed with this oil; only priests were allowed to prepare and administer them. The incense contained raw spices, and the priest would beat these and then season them with salt to make them holy. Stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense were mixed in equal proportions, all according to the art of the perfumer {Exodus 30:34-37}. The spices and incense for the sanctuary were donated as gifts {Numbers 7:14-86; Jeremiah 17:26; Jeremiah 41:5} and kept in the temple {Nehemiah 13:5, 9} The Hebrew historian Josephus, who lived near the time of the Moshiach, described the incense of his day as a much more complicated compound; he listed thirteen ingredients in the best incense.
INCENSE OFFERING
Archaeologists have shown that people have offered incense to their gods as part of religious worship from ancient times. Egyptian paintings occasionally show a man holding a censer of burning incense. It appears that the rituals of Assyria, Babylonia, and Arabia also used incense. Canaanite altars found at Megiddo and Tell Beit Mirsim have horned limestone altars [tenth century BC] that may have been designed to hold a bowl of incense. Hence, we can assume that incense offerings played a part in Israel’s worship from the beginning. Incense offerings were made for a multitude of purposes. They may have been used to drive away evil spirits {Exodus 30:26-29}. Undoubtedly, the sweet smell of incense helped to cover up the putrid odour of the animal sacrifices. However, spices were never added to the flesh of the animals or birds. In some instances, incense was burned by itself as part of a sacrifice. During a plague, Aaron performed a ritual of burning incense {Numbers 16:46-47}. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest carried burning incense and hot coals on a pan [censer] into the Most Holy Place {Leviticus 16:12-13}. The burning incense, it was thought, would protect the life of the high priest, perhaps because the smoke kept him from seeing the full glory of YHVH. Frankincense was added to grain for offerings on the altar of burnt offering {Leviticus 2:1, 15-16; Leviticus 6:15}. It also accompanied the bread of the Presence {Leviticus 24:7} in two dishes. The bronze serpent destroyed by Hezekiah in his reform had become a profane object to which incense was burned {2 Kings 18:4}. Except on the Day of Atonement, the incense was offered on a special altar {Leviticus 4:7; see also Exodus 30:9}, where it burned morning and evening and came to be called “perpetual incense” {Exodus 30:7-8}. Probably the altar of gold in Solomon’s temple {1 Kings 6:20-22} was the incense altar. Offering incense was a holy ritual, and people who offered it carelessly or disrespectfully were condemned {Leviticus 10:1-2; Numbers 16:6-50}. Uzziah, the king of Judah, became a leper because he dared to offer incense {2 Chronicles 26:16-21}. The burning of incense at “high places” is often criticized {see 1 Kings 22:43}, either because this was an act of idolatry or because the priests were clumsy in the way they burned it. Prophets who criticized the offering of incense {Isaiah 1:13; Isaiah 66:3; Jeremiah 6:20} had nothing against incense per se; they were condemning empty ritual that lacked true devotion to Israel’s YHVH.
MEANING OF INCENSE
Since incense was so precious, it made a fitting offering to YHVH {Malachi 1:11}. Incense offerings also provided a tangible [or smell-able] sense of YHVH’s holiness in which the people could experience atonement for sin {Numbers 16:46-47}. The smoke rising to the sky symbolized the prayers of the people {Psalm 141:2; Luke 1:10; Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3-4}. At the same time, the smoke in the temple symbolized the presence of YHVH, just as it had once been portrayed by the cloud in the wilderness {Exodus 19:18; Exodus 33:9-10; Numbers 11:25}. Together with the rising sun, the smoke provided a powerful symbol for the glory of Adonai {Isaiah 6:1-7}. In the New Testament, the believer’s testimony about the Moshiach is compared to the offering of incense {2 Corinthians 2:14-15}. The sweet smell of the gospel is contrasted with the smell of death that leads to doom. Likewise, money from the Philippian believers came to Paul in the spirit of an incense sacrifice {Philippians 4:18}, an expensive expression of love and devotion. Finally, incense seems to sanctify and accompany the prayers of the believers into the presence of YHVH {Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3-4}. The New Testament does not ask believers to offer incense, but rather to learn the devotion and dedication symbolized by the burning of this precious substance.
What was the people’s reaction when the foundation of the new temple was laid?
#quiz #jerusalem #exile
PS: Discussions are very welcome, but please do not give the answer away in your discussions.
Hint: Ezra 3
BIBLE STUDY --- THE SAVIOUR
A MIRACLE AT CANA
From John 2:1-12
Not long after Adonai Yeshua returned to Galilee, His mother went to a wedding in the village of Cana. Adonai Yeshua and His disciples were also guests at the wedding. During the long wedding party, which probably lasted several days, the host discovered that all of the wine had been used. [Did You know that the wine is gone?] Mary asked Adonai Yeshua. [What are you trying to get Me to do?] Yeshua replied. [It isn’t the proper time to begin miracles.] But Mary talked to the servants. [Be sure to do what He tells you,] she said. In the home there were six big water pots used for Jewish purification ceremonies. They were large, holding about twenty to thirty gallons each. Adonai told the servants to fill these to the top with water. When they had finished, He told them what to do next. [Take some water from a jar and give it to the man in charge of the festivities,] Adonai said. The servants took the water, which Adonai Yeshua had now turned into wine, as they had been told to do. Of course, the man in charge did not know where the servants had found this wine. He was so excited that he talked to the bridegroom about it. [Most people use their best wine first,] he said. [Then when people are too full to care, they bring out the poorer quality. But you certainly surprised us by saving your best wine until the last.] Thus, Adonai began His miracles in Cana of Galilee, showing the power that YHVH had given Him. Because He showed His glory in this way His disciples believed that He was the Moshiach. When the wedding party was over, Adonai went with His mother and family and disciples to Capernaum. But they stayed in Capernaum no more than a few days.
CONCERN FOR YHVH’S HOUSE
From John 2:13-22
When the annual Passover time came, Adonai went to Jerusalem as usual. In the courtyard of the temple, He noticed the merchants selling cattle, sheep, and pigeons for the sacrifices. Adding to this confusion, there were also the moneychangers. Adonai made a whip by weaving some cords together. With it He drove these merchants from the temple, along with their animals. Then he upset the moneychangers’ tables, spilling the coins on the temple floor. Next, He went over to the merchants selling doves and ordered them out of the temple. [Take these out of here!] He demanded. [Stop making My Father’s house a marketplace.] When His disciples saw this, they remembered what the Scriptures had said, [I have a passionate concern for YHVH’s house.] [Who gave You the authority to do this?] the temple leaders demanded. [If YHVH did, then prove it with a miracle.] [I will give you a miracle later,] Adonai answered. [When you destroy this temple, I will bring it back again in three days.] [But it has taken forty-six years to build this temple,] they scoffed. [Do You think You can rebuild it in three days?] Of course, Adonai was talking about His Body, not the building they were in. After He arose from the dead, His disciples remembered what He had said here. Then they were certain that He had been talking about the temple of His body, so they believed the Scriptures as Adonai had quoted them.
A VISIT BY NIGHT
From John 2:23-3:21
While Adonai was in Jerusalem for the Passover, many saw His miracles and believed that He was the Moshiach. But Adonai knew how changeable these people could be, so He did not commit Himself to them. One night a Pharisee named Nicodemus went to see Adonai. He wanted to inquire about the things he had seen. [Your miracles show that YHVH has sent You to be our teacher,] Nicodemus told Him. Adonai knew what Nicodemus searched for and answered him this way, [If you want to enter into the Kingdom of YHVH, you must be born again.] [But how can I be born again?] Nicodemus asked. [Do you expect a grown man to go back into his mother and be born a second time?] [No,] said Adonai. [I want you to understand this. Unless a man is born spiritually, in addition to his physical birth, he cannot get into the Kingdom of YHVH, your physical birth comes about through human reproduction. But your second birth, the spiritual one, can only come through the Spirit of YHVH. Is it so surprising that you can be born a second time? When you hear the wind, you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. Must you know more about the movements of YHVH’s Spirit? We cannot know whose life He will touch next!] [But how can such things happen?] Nicodemus asked. [Aren’t you one of Israel’s teachers?] Adonai replied. [Then you should understand what I am saying. I want to assure you that these things are absolutely true because I have seen them, yet you find them hard to believe. [So far, I have told you only a few things that can happen to men here on earth. If you can’t believe that much, what would you do if I told you some of the dramatic happenings in heaven? There is no one on earth who has been in heaven except Me. That is because I am YHVH’s Son and My home is in heaven. [When Moses was in the wilderness, he lifted up a bronze snake on a pole to give new life to his dying people. In the same way, I will be lifted up on a cross to give new life to those dying in sin. Whoever believes in Me will never face unending death in hell, but will enjoy unending life in heaven. For YHVH so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not suffer everlasting death but will receive everlasting life. YHVH did not send His Son to condemn the world, but to save it from everlasting punishment. Whoever believes in YHVH’s Son will not be judged guilty for his sins. But whoever rejects YHVH’s Son willingly accepts a verdict of guilty and its full punishment, for he has refused the only One who can pardon him and set him free. This is the way that verdict reads:
‘The Light of YHVH has come into the world, but you have loved the world’s darkness more than YHVH’s Light because it hides your evil deeds. Sin has become a habit in your life, so you stay away from YHVH’s Light knowing that it will expose all your sins and make you open to punishment. But those who desire what is right and true come gladly to YHVH’s Light to make it perfectly clear that they live in peace with YHVH.’]
COMMENTARY
CANA
When Adonai lived in Galilee, Cana was a pleasant village located in that region. It was Nathanael’s home and also the place where Adonai turned water into wine at a wedding. Adonai returned to Cana another time, where he met a government official from Capernaum, and from a distance healed the man’s son. The exact location of Cana is not known today. There are three places which have been accepted as the site where this village once stood. Two are more accepted than the third. Kefr Kenna, located about three miles north of Nazareth, is on the main road and is shown most often to tourists as Cana. Churches have been built there to commemorate Adonai’ miracles at Cana. Khirbet Qana is farther north, about ten miles from Nazareth. It perches on the slope of a stony hillside west of the Sea of Galilee. The region is rich with oranges, olives, pomegranates, and grapes. It is known for certain that Cana was somewhere in this region, and it is also certain that Adonai walked there.
BIBLE STUDY --- THE SAVIOUR
LAMB OF YHVH
From John 1:19-28
The Jewish leaders were anxious to know more about John the Baptist, so they sent some priests and Levites to talk with him. [Who are you?] they asked. [Are you the Moshiach?] [Of course I am not the Moshiach,] he answered firmly. [Then are you Elijah?] they asked. [No] said John. [I am not.] [Are you the Prophet we expect?] they wanted to know. [No, I am not the Prophet,] John answered. [Well, then, who are you?] they asked. [We need to bring back an answer to the leaders who sent us.] John told them, [I am a voice calling out in the wilderness. I’m here to tell you what Isaiah also told you, to prepare yourselves for Adonai’s coming.] [If you are not the Moshiach, or the Prophet, or Elijah, then who gave you the authority to baptize?] they asked. [I baptize people with nothing more than water,] John answered. [But there is Someone standing here among you whom you won’t recognize. I am merely preparing the way for His work, even though I am not worthy to do the humblest job for Him, even to loosen His sandal strap.] When this happened, John was baptizing near the village of Bethany beyond Jordan.
THE LAMB OF YHVH
From John 1:29-34
On the following day, John saw Yeshua coming toward him. He called out to the people around him. [Look over there! That Man is the Lamb of YHVH, the One who will take away the sin of the world. Do you remember what I said about Him yesterday? I told you that Someone is coming soon, Someone Who lived long before I was born. I did not recognize Him as the Moshiach until He was baptized. I had been looking for the Moshiach and YHVH told me how to recognize Him. He would be the One on whom the Spirit of YHVH would descend like a dove, resting on Him. I recognized Him when I baptized Him, for the Spirit of YHVH came down and stayed upon Him. I have seen this happen with my own eyes and I want you to know that this Man is YHVH’s Son and that He will baptize with Ruach HaKodesh.]
THE FIRST DISCIPLES
From John 1:35-51
A day later, when John was standing with two of his disciples, he saw Yeshua walking by. [Do you see that Man over there?] John asked his disciples. [He is the Lamb of YHVH.] When they heard this, John’s disciples went to see Yeshua. Yeshua turned and saw them following Him. [What would you like?] Yeshua asked. [We would like to see where You live,] the two men said. [Come with Me,] Yeshua answered. [I will show you.] The two went with Yeshua to the place where He was staying. They were with Him from about four o’clock in the afternoon until evening. One of these two men was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. When he left Yeshua, he hurried off to find Simon. [We have just talked with the Moshiach,] Andrew told him. Then Andrew brought Simon to Yeshua. Yeshua looked earnestly into Simon’s face. [You have been called Simon, John’s son,] He said. [But from now on, your name will be Peter, for you will be like a rock.] On the following day, Yeshua planned to go to Galilee. [Come to Galilee with Me,] He told Philip. Philip’s home was in Bethsaida, in Galilee. This was also the home of Andrew and Peter. Before he left, Philip went to find Nathanael. [We have met the Moshiach,] he said. [The One whom Moses and the prophets talked about has come to be with us now! He is Yeshua of Nazareth, the son of Joseph,] [That town?] Nathanael asked scornfully. [Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?] [Don’t take my word for it,] Philip told him. [Come yourself and meet Him.] As Nathanael came toward Him, Yeshua spoke. [Here comes a good Israelite,] He said. [How could You know anything about me?] Nathanael asked. [I saw you sitting under the fig tree before Philip went to find you,] Yeshua answered. [Then You really are YHVH’s Son, the Moshiach,] said Nathanael. [Do you believe in Me for such a little thing?] Yeshua asked. [You will see far greater things than that! The time will come when you will see heaven open, and the angels of YHVH traveling between heaven and earth through Me.]
COMMENTARY
THE LAMB AND THE GOOD SHEPHERD
During the time of Yeshua, lambs were sacrificed in Israel for the sins of the people. The Israelites had done this for fourteen centuries, since Moses gave the Law at Mount Sinai. The lamb for the sacrifice must be perfect, without defect or blemish. Its death was a blood sacrifice -- the perfect, offering its life for the imperfect. Thus, sheep raised for these sacrifices were carefully guarded. Shepherds were appointed by the temple to guard them and give them special attention. It is thought that the shepherds to whom the angels appeared on the night of Yeshua’ birth were temple shepherds, guarding the lambs to be offered in the temple at Jerusalem. For many centuries, prophets such as Isaiah compared the coming Yeshua to a Lamb, Who would be sacrificed for the sins of the world -- Isaiah 53:7. Like these prophets, John the Baptist called Him the [Lamb of YHVH.] But after Yeshua was sacrificed as the [Lamb of YHVH,] He became the [Good Shepherd.] As sheep follow a shepherd, so Yeshua’ followers look to Him to lead them and care for them.
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