Chapter 12 is just about the shortest I've read so far, only a few paragraphs, but it gets right to the point about the regulations of purification after childbirth. Back in Genesis 17, it talks about circumcising the male after 8 days, but no reason was given as to why that was. Here in Leviticus 12, the picture becomes a little clearer. The mother will be considered ceremonially unclean for seven days in the same way she is unclean during her monthly period. This is the first time uncleanness during a visit from Aunt Flo is mentioned. Anyway, after that seven days, the boy can be circumcised, or brought into God's covenant. Following that eighth day, a woman must wait 33 days to be purified from her bleeding. In the case of a daughter, it's 66 days (following a two week period of being ceremonially unclean).
Why are times of uncleanness and purification twice as long with daughters as it is with sons? Is it more phallocentricity typical of the Bible? Is it a time of protection? To whom and from whom? Is it psychological, in that the girl needs longer to bond with the mother than the boy? I am left with only speculation at this point in my reading.
I would suggest that this time of "uncleanness" and "purification" is probably at the very least medical. With a great loss of blood comes a greater chance of infection (you'll recall that Eve, and by extension woman, was told, "with pain you will give birth to children"). I'm no gynecologist, despite popular accounts to the contrary, but mom probably, practically, just needs time to rest and recuperate. You know, avoid heavy lifting and above all, rest.
After all the time of purification is over, offerings had to be made. Both a burnt offering (via a lamb) and a sin offering (young dove or pigeon). It is after this offering and atonement is made by the priest that the woman is clean again. Is one of these offerings made for the baby? I would wonder that if this is so, then perhaps that is evidence for pre-natal sin? An unauthorized blood covering...Perhaps.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Lev. 11: Clean Animals, Detestable Animals
Continuing the theme from chapter 10 about the distinction between clean and unclean, the LORD reveals to Moses and Aaron a list of characteristics of ceremonially clean and unclean aminals. It has to do with various things...a split hoof, cud chewery, fins and scales, the amount of legs, how close it moves to the ground, etc.
On Land
They were allowed to eat animals with a completely divided split hoof and chews the cud. Later on in the chapter, it is revealed that the animals that walk on their paws are unclean, implying that the split hoof elevates the animal above the dirt.
Cud, yes. Split hoof, no: Camel, coney, and rabbit.
Split hoof, yes. Cud, no: Pig
In Seas and Streams
The Israelites could eat anything that had fins and scales. And its hard to think of things that swim that don't...Sea Turtles? Jellyfish? Clams? I don't know. In fact, all other creatures under the sea were detestable, meat and carcass.
Detestable Birds
Eagle, vulture, black vulture, red kite, black kite, any kind of raven, horned owl, screech owl, gull, any kind of hawk, little owl, cormorant, great owl, white owl, desert owl, osprey, stork, any kind of heron, hoopoe and the bat.
And, well...a bat isn't really a bird, in the taxonomic sense. But it was a creature of the air. And I find it interesting that verse 13 states, "These are the birds you are to detest and not eat because they are detestable." God doesn't give specific reasons here, and I think it's at least a little amusing that he sort of gives the reason, "Because I said so." Which would be enough for a deity. Why does God make this distinction between what is safe and what isn't? We can only speculate, as the Bible doesn't really say. What's listed above appear to be a combination of predatory birds and scavengers, so that may be part of the answer. But these birds were also created to be this way. And this (creating birds that would eventually be detestable to the Israelites) is sort of a microcosm of the question of why God would allow sin to take place...I'll have to ponder on that.
Icky Bugs
Every winged insect that crawled on the ground was to be detestable. There were of course a couple of exceptions. These were the ones with jointed legs for hopping: the locust, katydid, cricket and grasshopper. In my speculation, I would say that these were the ones with the best chance of escaping...?
Ground Animals
The weasel, rat, any kind of great lizard, gecko, monitor lizard, wall lizard, skink and chameleon
With the exception of the rodents, could these lizards be considered part of the family of the serpent, which was cursed to walk on it's belly? Or be like Dan?
Uncleanness came from:
Touching a carcass - And the toucher would have to wash his clothes, and be considered unclean until evening.
A carcass falling on something - wood, cloth, hide or sackcloth. It had to be put into water, and then it would be clean by evening.
A carcass falling into a clay pot or oven - anything in the pot became unclean (food or water), and the pot or oven had to be destroyed.
Exceptions:
A carcass falling into a spring or cistern
Unplanted, unwatered seeds - but if the seeds had been watered, then they become unclean. Yeesh. I know.
So people could be considered unclean, and they had to wash their clothes. By evening, they would be considered clean again. So what would be the big deal anyway? So I touched a carcass. Aside from the practicality in avoiding disease in mostly unscientific times, what would I really have to lose?
God commands the people not to be unclean. They were forbidden to touch or eat or handle these things or their carcasses. God says "consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy." There was this distinction, and cleanliness was what identified people as God's. As Nadab and Abihu offered an unauthorized, un-consecrated fire, there were consequences for actions that were contrary to God's commands.
On Land
They were allowed to eat animals with a completely divided split hoof and chews the cud. Later on in the chapter, it is revealed that the animals that walk on their paws are unclean, implying that the split hoof elevates the animal above the dirt.
Cud, yes. Split hoof, no: Camel, coney, and rabbit.
Split hoof, yes. Cud, no: Pig
In Seas and Streams
The Israelites could eat anything that had fins and scales. And its hard to think of things that swim that don't...Sea Turtles? Jellyfish? Clams? I don't know. In fact, all other creatures under the sea were detestable, meat and carcass.
Detestable Birds
Eagle, vulture, black vulture, red kite, black kite, any kind of raven, horned owl, screech owl, gull, any kind of hawk, little owl, cormorant, great owl, white owl, desert owl, osprey, stork, any kind of heron, hoopoe and the bat.
And, well...a bat isn't really a bird, in the taxonomic sense. But it was a creature of the air. And I find it interesting that verse 13 states, "These are the birds you are to detest and not eat because they are detestable." God doesn't give specific reasons here, and I think it's at least a little amusing that he sort of gives the reason, "Because I said so." Which would be enough for a deity. Why does God make this distinction between what is safe and what isn't? We can only speculate, as the Bible doesn't really say. What's listed above appear to be a combination of predatory birds and scavengers, so that may be part of the answer. But these birds were also created to be this way. And this (creating birds that would eventually be detestable to the Israelites) is sort of a microcosm of the question of why God would allow sin to take place...I'll have to ponder on that.
Icky Bugs
Every winged insect that crawled on the ground was to be detestable. There were of course a couple of exceptions. These were the ones with jointed legs for hopping: the locust, katydid, cricket and grasshopper. In my speculation, I would say that these were the ones with the best chance of escaping...?
Ground Animals
The weasel, rat, any kind of great lizard, gecko, monitor lizard, wall lizard, skink and chameleon
With the exception of the rodents, could these lizards be considered part of the family of the serpent, which was cursed to walk on it's belly? Or be like Dan?
Uncleanness came from:
Touching a carcass - And the toucher would have to wash his clothes, and be considered unclean until evening.
A carcass falling on something - wood, cloth, hide or sackcloth. It had to be put into water, and then it would be clean by evening.
A carcass falling into a clay pot or oven - anything in the pot became unclean (food or water), and the pot or oven had to be destroyed.
Exceptions:
A carcass falling into a spring or cistern
Unplanted, unwatered seeds - but if the seeds had been watered, then they become unclean. Yeesh. I know.
So people could be considered unclean, and they had to wash their clothes. By evening, they would be considered clean again. So what would be the big deal anyway? So I touched a carcass. Aside from the practicality in avoiding disease in mostly unscientific times, what would I really have to lose?
God commands the people not to be unclean. They were forbidden to touch or eat or handle these things or their carcasses. God says "consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy." There was this distinction, and cleanliness was what identified people as God's. As Nadab and Abihu offered an unauthorized, un-consecrated fire, there were consequences for actions that were contrary to God's commands.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Lev. 10: Nadab and Abihu: Out in a Blaze of Glory
So its a pretty shocking beginning to chapter 10.
Nadab and Abihu, the anointed ones and sons of Aaron, put some fire in their censers and added incense. However, the word says they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. As they were walking in, fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them. Engulfed them, and they died.
Moses, whose tongue was no longer as tied as before he went before Pharaoh, had something to say immediately. He quotes the things God said previously:
Aaron remained silent. Of course. What can you say when you see your sons burned to death by God himself. You can't help but feel a little rejected. After Moses has his cousins carry the bodies away, Moses tells the anointed ones not to mourn. The Israelites can mourn, but those who lost their close relatives could not. They still bore the LORD's anointing and had to focus on the task...the holy task at hand.
God, presumably feeling a need to sort of explain Himself...or teach, then tells Aaron that the priests were not to drink wine while on duty. Perhaps this is what Nadab and Abihu did. It would have lowered their guard, and made their work become sloppy and caused them to flout God's solemn commands. Moses then tells the priests there just how important it is to distinguish between the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean. And that they must teach the Israelites the commands of the LORD, as given by Moses.
Moses then tells Aaron and the remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar to go ahead and finish the job and eat the offering. But they don't. They burned it. When Moses calls them on this in his anger, Aaron brings up that point that whoever offers the sacrifice should eat it, and Nadab and Abihu offered it, albeit wrongly, so he felt it inappropriate for his fearful and upset other sons to eat it.
I think the most important section here is the idea that Moses emphasizes the distinction between the holy and unholy...the uncommon and the common. God has a history already of this. He set apart Abraham. He makes place for the consecration of certain days, certain people...in a way, the priesthood is a microcosm of the nation of Israel in the realm of the rest of the population of the earth. There is life and death. There is holiness and unholiness (sin). There is a priesthood and laity.
Nadab and Abihu, the anointed ones and sons of Aaron, put some fire in their censers and added incense. However, the word says they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. As they were walking in, fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them. Engulfed them, and they died.
Moses, whose tongue was no longer as tied as before he went before Pharaoh, had something to say immediately. He quotes the things God said previously:
"Among those who approach meSo interesting that this was his first reaction. Mine was not like that. My first reaction was, "Whoa, over-reaction. God killed these two guys for such a small reason." But then I re-read Moses' quote from God. A small unholiness is still unholiness. The key word there is "holy." We can not forget how holy God is, and apparently Nadab and Abihu did. They were priests in training, and had witnessed the power and display of God numerous times, as sons of Aaron and nephews of Moses. They took the commands of God lightly. Commands that were very serious. They died because they were bringing unholiness into an holy environment. The result of this is, and has previously been, death.
I will show myself holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored."
Aaron remained silent. Of course. What can you say when you see your sons burned to death by God himself. You can't help but feel a little rejected. After Moses has his cousins carry the bodies away, Moses tells the anointed ones not to mourn. The Israelites can mourn, but those who lost their close relatives could not. They still bore the LORD's anointing and had to focus on the task...the holy task at hand.
God, presumably feeling a need to sort of explain Himself...or teach, then tells Aaron that the priests were not to drink wine while on duty. Perhaps this is what Nadab and Abihu did. It would have lowered their guard, and made their work become sloppy and caused them to flout God's solemn commands. Moses then tells the priests there just how important it is to distinguish between the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean. And that they must teach the Israelites the commands of the LORD, as given by Moses.
Moses then tells Aaron and the remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar to go ahead and finish the job and eat the offering. But they don't. They burned it. When Moses calls them on this in his anger, Aaron brings up that point that whoever offers the sacrifice should eat it, and Nadab and Abihu offered it, albeit wrongly, so he felt it inappropriate for his fearful and upset other sons to eat it.
I think the most important section here is the idea that Moses emphasizes the distinction between the holy and unholy...the uncommon and the common. God has a history already of this. He set apart Abraham. He makes place for the consecration of certain days, certain people...in a way, the priesthood is a microcosm of the nation of Israel in the realm of the rest of the population of the earth. There is life and death. There is holiness and unholiness (sin). There is a priesthood and laity.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Lev. 9: The Bloodiest Chapter Yet
Chapter nine is essentially a description of the priests offering the first official sacrifices while on duty. They brought the whole town together for this. Moses relayed that Aaron had to take a bull calf for his sin offering, and a ram for the burnt offering. The Israelites had to take a male goat for the sin offering, a calf and a lamb for the burnt offering, an ox and ram for the fellowship offering, and a grain offering mixed with oil.
"Today," Moses said, "the LORD will appear to you." So they had to get it right and be on their best behavior.
Moses talks Aaron through the sin offering, the burnt offering, the offerings for the people.
And the blood flowed. This must have been quite a sight. The people were probably used to sacrificing, but now there were all these ceremonial rules that had to be followed. The blood had to be used in all these different ways. It was probably a silent crowd that stood and watched Aaron slaughter the animals, sprinkle this, and wave that as he made atonement for their sins.
Then Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. Not sure why, or what they did...the Bible doesn't say. They blessed the people when they came out.
Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Possibly in the pillar of fire, or the cloud, but everyone knew this was God. Fire then roared out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted for joy, and fell face down on the ground. That kind of seems like a weird juxtaposition of actions...shouting for joy, to me, implies jumping up and down and celebrating...like if the Detroit Lions somehow make it into the other team's end zone. With the ball. Not falling face first on the ground, which is what the Lions do when other teams have the ball. But anyway, that's what the Bible says. And I can't imagine the relief these people must have had. There wasn't much communication from God since He said He might kill them all. This consumption by fire was a sign of acceptance. That is what brought shouts of joy. Every one saw the presence of God.
If every one saw the presence of God today, I used to think it would eradicate atheism and usher in a monotheistic world government. The Bible makes it plain that this would not be the case. Kings of foreign lands saw God's mighty working and made nothing but token gestures of acknowledging His existence, while continuing to serve their own interests, and the gods they grew up with. Would probably happen today. If God showed up, I'm sure there would be some conversions, but how many would reject Him based on their own unwillingness to pursue Him intellectually, or in thinking God wasn't who He says He is?
"Today," Moses said, "the LORD will appear to you." So they had to get it right and be on their best behavior.
Moses talks Aaron through the sin offering, the burnt offering, the offerings for the people.
And the blood flowed. This must have been quite a sight. The people were probably used to sacrificing, but now there were all these ceremonial rules that had to be followed. The blood had to be used in all these different ways. It was probably a silent crowd that stood and watched Aaron slaughter the animals, sprinkle this, and wave that as he made atonement for their sins.
Then Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. Not sure why, or what they did...the Bible doesn't say. They blessed the people when they came out.
Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Possibly in the pillar of fire, or the cloud, but everyone knew this was God. Fire then roared out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted for joy, and fell face down on the ground. That kind of seems like a weird juxtaposition of actions...shouting for joy, to me, implies jumping up and down and celebrating...like if the Detroit Lions somehow make it into the other team's end zone. With the ball. Not falling face first on the ground, which is what the Lions do when other teams have the ball. But anyway, that's what the Bible says. And I can't imagine the relief these people must have had. There wasn't much communication from God since He said He might kill them all. This consumption by fire was a sign of acceptance. That is what brought shouts of joy. Every one saw the presence of God.
If every one saw the presence of God today, I used to think it would eradicate atheism and usher in a monotheistic world government. The Bible makes it plain that this would not be the case. Kings of foreign lands saw God's mighty working and made nothing but token gestures of acknowledging His existence, while continuing to serve their own interests, and the gods they grew up with. Would probably happen today. If God showed up, I'm sure there would be some conversions, but how many would reject Him based on their own unwillingness to pursue Him intellectually, or in thinking God wasn't who He says He is?
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Lev. 8: Moses Smears Blood on the Priests
In chapter 8, Moses essentially plays dress-up with Aaron, taking him through the entire robing and garmentifying process, and anointing him, as the LORD commanded Moses.
It is a fulfillment of what was commanded in Exodus 29.
Moses gathered up Aaron, his sons, the bull, two rams, the bread and the anointing oil and brought the who assembly together. So that the people could see who was going to offer their sacrifices.
Moses ritually washed Aaron and his sons, and clothed him in the priestly garments (Ex 39).
Then he anoints Aaron and clothes his sons (Ex 40).
A sin offering is made (Lev 4).
A burnt offering is made (Lev 1).
An ordination offering is made (Ex 29).
Starting in verse 28, it is Moses who makes the first offering in place of the priests. He wasn't dressed or anointed the way a priest should be, but consecration by God himself was probably all the ceremony he needed. It is Moses who slaughters the animals, sprinkled the blood, makes the offerings, and anoints the priests. He does all this, but I find it interesting that he doesn't eat of the sacrifice. That was for Aaron and his sons.
This ordination lasts seven days. In this week, Aaron and his sons are not to leave the Tent of Meeting, or else they would die. In this case Aaron and his sons did everything the LORD commanded through Moses.
It appears that the torch is beginning to pass.
It is a fulfillment of what was commanded in Exodus 29.
Moses gathered up Aaron, his sons, the bull, two rams, the bread and the anointing oil and brought the who assembly together. So that the people could see who was going to offer their sacrifices.
Moses ritually washed Aaron and his sons, and clothed him in the priestly garments (Ex 39).
Then he anoints Aaron and clothes his sons (Ex 40).
A sin offering is made (Lev 4).
A burnt offering is made (Lev 1).
An ordination offering is made (Ex 29).
Starting in verse 28, it is Moses who makes the first offering in place of the priests. He wasn't dressed or anointed the way a priest should be, but consecration by God himself was probably all the ceremony he needed. It is Moses who slaughters the animals, sprinkled the blood, makes the offerings, and anoints the priests. He does all this, but I find it interesting that he doesn't eat of the sacrifice. That was for Aaron and his sons.
This ordination lasts seven days. In this week, Aaron and his sons are not to leave the Tent of Meeting, or else they would die. In this case Aaron and his sons did everything the LORD commanded through Moses.
It appears that the torch is beginning to pass.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Lev. 7: Still More Priestly Duties
Leviticus 7 continues with the priestly regulations.
The Guilt Offering
First described in Lev. 5, it is kind of the same regulations as the sin offering. It can be eaten by any male in the priest's family, but it must be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy...consecrated, set apart. Additionally, the remains belong to the priest, including the hide. I wonder how many stacks of hides the priests collected. Who knows. There is a differentiation between grain offerings. A baked or fried one belongs to the priest who offers it, while those mixed with oil or dry belongs equally to the sons of Aaron. The Bible doesn't say why this differentiation is made, but lets look at the offerings. Those baked and fried require more preparation than just mixing the flour with oil, or just bringing unprepared flour. The priesthood requires more preparation, and thus, in my estimation, is worthy of the more prepared grain offerings.
The Fellowship Offering
Apparently people could present offerings to God out of thankfulness. This kind of breaks my opinion that God was kind of a punisher and referee over the Israelites. The latter half of Exodus and up to this point in Leviticus was a list of rules and laws that the Israelites must adhere to. It told what would happen if someone didn't follow these laws. So to see that a thank offering was allowed for, it shows that God was apparently working in the individual lives of the people, instead of just glowering at them from above and ruling over them.
These thank offerings, however, had their own regulations...how they should be carried out. And I think, "Why? People just want to come and show their appreciation to God, why do they have to follow these rules?" We cannot forget that God has established the fact that he is most holy, and even in their best efforts to salvage or maintain a relationship with God on their own end, the Israelites were still in sin, and their "communication" to God had to be purified.
As an expression of thanks, the person should bring all kinds of the grain offering: The cakes of bread without yeast but with oil, wafers (no yeast, plus oil), and cakes of fine flour (well-kneaded, with oil). Additionally, he is to bring cakes of bread with yeast. This is the first time yeast is required. In all the feasts, there was to be no yeast, so yeast was allowable, just not during festivals. In my opinion, perhaps bread with yeast was tastier...as in more pleasurable than bread without yeast, and sacrificing this pleasure was part of the fellowship offering?
As a result of a vow, the sacrifice should be eaten that day, with leftovers allowed to be eaten tomorrow. On the third day, the leftovers shall be burned. It is unacceptable, and unclean. It probably goes bad by then. Who here leaves meat out for three days? It is so impure that if it is eaten, it won't even be credited to the person who sacrificed it, and the person who eats it will be responsible.
Meat that touches anything ceremonially unclean must not be eaten, rather burned. Unclean people who eat clean meat will be cut off from his people. Those who were not cleansed could not reap the benefits of the sacrifice.
Then in Lev. 7:22-27, there is a reiteration of Lev. 3:17, in that the people must not eat the fat or blood. At first, I thought that the fat was important as the blood was...in life. But here in chapter seven, it talks about how it was a sacrifice to the LORD. The fat was His.
The priest's share of all these offerings were the breast, and the right thigh. That's where the good meat is. Tasty.
The Guilt Offering
First described in Lev. 5, it is kind of the same regulations as the sin offering. It can be eaten by any male in the priest's family, but it must be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy...consecrated, set apart. Additionally, the remains belong to the priest, including the hide. I wonder how many stacks of hides the priests collected. Who knows. There is a differentiation between grain offerings. A baked or fried one belongs to the priest who offers it, while those mixed with oil or dry belongs equally to the sons of Aaron. The Bible doesn't say why this differentiation is made, but lets look at the offerings. Those baked and fried require more preparation than just mixing the flour with oil, or just bringing unprepared flour. The priesthood requires more preparation, and thus, in my estimation, is worthy of the more prepared grain offerings.
The Fellowship Offering
Apparently people could present offerings to God out of thankfulness. This kind of breaks my opinion that God was kind of a punisher and referee over the Israelites. The latter half of Exodus and up to this point in Leviticus was a list of rules and laws that the Israelites must adhere to. It told what would happen if someone didn't follow these laws. So to see that a thank offering was allowed for, it shows that God was apparently working in the individual lives of the people, instead of just glowering at them from above and ruling over them.
These thank offerings, however, had their own regulations...how they should be carried out. And I think, "Why? People just want to come and show their appreciation to God, why do they have to follow these rules?" We cannot forget that God has established the fact that he is most holy, and even in their best efforts to salvage or maintain a relationship with God on their own end, the Israelites were still in sin, and their "communication" to God had to be purified.
As an expression of thanks, the person should bring all kinds of the grain offering: The cakes of bread without yeast but with oil, wafers (no yeast, plus oil), and cakes of fine flour (well-kneaded, with oil). Additionally, he is to bring cakes of bread with yeast. This is the first time yeast is required. In all the feasts, there was to be no yeast, so yeast was allowable, just not during festivals. In my opinion, perhaps bread with yeast was tastier...as in more pleasurable than bread without yeast, and sacrificing this pleasure was part of the fellowship offering?
As a result of a vow, the sacrifice should be eaten that day, with leftovers allowed to be eaten tomorrow. On the third day, the leftovers shall be burned. It is unacceptable, and unclean. It probably goes bad by then. Who here leaves meat out for three days? It is so impure that if it is eaten, it won't even be credited to the person who sacrificed it, and the person who eats it will be responsible.
Meat that touches anything ceremonially unclean must not be eaten, rather burned. Unclean people who eat clean meat will be cut off from his people. Those who were not cleansed could not reap the benefits of the sacrifice.
Then in Lev. 7:22-27, there is a reiteration of Lev. 3:17, in that the people must not eat the fat or blood. At first, I thought that the fat was important as the blood was...in life. But here in chapter seven, it talks about how it was a sacrifice to the LORD. The fat was His.
The priest's share of all these offerings were the breast, and the right thigh. That's where the good meat is. Tasty.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Lev. 6: What's a Priest to Do?
Well, the first seven verses of chapter 6 appear to be more of a continuation of chapter 5. But what do I know? It discusses what happens when one person wrongs another, whether by deceiving someone who entrusts property to him, concealing property, swearing falsely against someone, or by extortion, that person must pay back in full, plus 20%. It's not enough to just cover what was taken or stolen. 20% extra makes one square with the house. Well, in addition to his guilt offering (a ram without defect, and of the proper value) brought to the LORD, via a priest. Then he is forgiven. Why 20%? Was that merely a deterrent to people from committing that sin? That seems like a lot. I'd probably steer clear of screwing people over if I knew that penalty was coming at me.
We know from the beginning of Leviticus what the duty of the sacrificer was when he brought his various offerings. Starting with verse 8, Chapter 6 digs into what the priests responsibilities were and why in regard to these sacrifices.
The Burnt Offering
A burnt offering was actually required to keep burning through the night and into the morning on the altar. Not only is it to keep burning, it is not to go out. Then the priest has to put on his linens and remove the ashes from the altar and set them beside the altar. Then the priest has to change into a third set of clothes and take the ashes outside the camp to a ceremonially clean (presumably oil-anointed) place. Each morning it was the priest's responsibility to put more wood on the altar, and keep that fellowship offering burning. Once again, it was not to go out. Seems like a lot to go through. The ash removal seemed like it could be a swift and easy process, were it not for having to change clothes twice. God must have really wanted the priest to take his time, and do his duty with a lot of thought and reverence and purpose. Not with speed and economy.
The Grain Offering
We know the memorial portion was to be burned, and the rest of it belonged to the priest and his sons, but what did they do with it? Verses 16-23 tell us. The rest of it (not the memorial portion mixed with incense) is to be eaten without yeast in a holy place, the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. God actually says here that He is giving it to the priests as their share of the offerings made to Him by fire. God is giving back to the priests in this situation of the portion given to Him. So...keep sending those checks in to televangelists, because I'm pretty sure this is the same thing.
Additionally, on the day of anointing, the anointee should bring a tenth of an ephah of fine flour...half in the morning, half in the evening. It should be prepared by the next succeeding anointed son with oil in a griddle, well-mixed, and crumbled and broken in pieces...as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. It is the share that belongs to the LORD, and is to be burned, destroyed completely, not eaten.
The Sin Offering
You know, slaughtered before the LORD, where the burnt offerings are slaughtered. But the priest who offers it shall eat it, in a holy place, the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. Whatever touches the flesh of the sacrifice will become holy, and if any of the blood is spattered on a garment, it needs to be washed in a holy place. If the meat is cooked in a clay pot, the pot is to be destroyed, but if its in a bronze pot, it needs to be scoured and rinsed with water. Clay can never be cleansed, apparently, only destroyed. Bronze is associated with cleaning though...the bronze laver...It's allowed to be eaten by any male in the priest's family. No chicks.
Any sin offering making atonement in the Holy Place must not be eaten, it is to be burned. What kind of atonement is made in the Holy Place? Presumably sins made by the priests, as they are the only people mentioned in conjunction with having business in the Holy Place.
I should mention that in all these sins, there is always, evidently, a way out. A way to be forgiven. This whole system was set in place because Israelites were not meant to just live with their sins, to just sit in guilt. The System was designed to draw them out of this remorse. These sins don't have to fester, unless the Israelites allowed them. The Israelites were the ones who had to reach out to God and receive forgiveness from Him. Their forgiveness wasn't in their sacrifice, it was still God who forgave them.
We know from the beginning of Leviticus what the duty of the sacrificer was when he brought his various offerings. Starting with verse 8, Chapter 6 digs into what the priests responsibilities were and why in regard to these sacrifices.
The Burnt Offering
A burnt offering was actually required to keep burning through the night and into the morning on the altar. Not only is it to keep burning, it is not to go out. Then the priest has to put on his linens and remove the ashes from the altar and set them beside the altar. Then the priest has to change into a third set of clothes and take the ashes outside the camp to a ceremonially clean (presumably oil-anointed) place. Each morning it was the priest's responsibility to put more wood on the altar, and keep that fellowship offering burning. Once again, it was not to go out. Seems like a lot to go through. The ash removal seemed like it could be a swift and easy process, were it not for having to change clothes twice. God must have really wanted the priest to take his time, and do his duty with a lot of thought and reverence and purpose. Not with speed and economy.
The Grain Offering
We know the memorial portion was to be burned, and the rest of it belonged to the priest and his sons, but what did they do with it? Verses 16-23 tell us. The rest of it (not the memorial portion mixed with incense) is to be eaten without yeast in a holy place, the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. God actually says here that He is giving it to the priests as their share of the offerings made to Him by fire. God is giving back to the priests in this situation of the portion given to Him. So...keep sending those checks in to televangelists, because I'm pretty sure this is the same thing.
Additionally, on the day of anointing, the anointee should bring a tenth of an ephah of fine flour...half in the morning, half in the evening. It should be prepared by the next succeeding anointed son with oil in a griddle, well-mixed, and crumbled and broken in pieces...as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. It is the share that belongs to the LORD, and is to be burned, destroyed completely, not eaten.
The Sin Offering
You know, slaughtered before the LORD, where the burnt offerings are slaughtered. But the priest who offers it shall eat it, in a holy place, the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. Whatever touches the flesh of the sacrifice will become holy, and if any of the blood is spattered on a garment, it needs to be washed in a holy place. If the meat is cooked in a clay pot, the pot is to be destroyed, but if its in a bronze pot, it needs to be scoured and rinsed with water. Clay can never be cleansed, apparently, only destroyed. Bronze is associated with cleaning though...the bronze laver...It's allowed to be eaten by any male in the priest's family. No chicks.
Any sin offering making atonement in the Holy Place must not be eaten, it is to be burned. What kind of atonement is made in the Holy Place? Presumably sins made by the priests, as they are the only people mentioned in conjunction with having business in the Holy Place.
I should mention that in all these sins, there is always, evidently, a way out. A way to be forgiven. This whole system was set in place because Israelites were not meant to just live with their sins, to just sit in guilt. The System was designed to draw them out of this remorse. These sins don't have to fester, unless the Israelites allowed them. The Israelites were the ones who had to reach out to God and receive forgiveness from Him. Their forgiveness wasn't in their sacrifice, it was still God who forgave them.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Lev. 5: Good grief, more sins and offerings
I found out a few things that are sin in Leviticus 5. At the time of the writing, it was a sin to not speak up if you hear a public charge to testify regarding something you have witnessed. Makes sense. It's just doing the right thing. It goes hand in hand with Exodus 23:7 about the seriousness of false charges. God will not acquit the guilty of those who shed an innocent man's blood.
Also, uncleanness is transferable. Touching the carcass of an unclean wild or domestic animal, or one that moves along the ground (even if a person doesn't know about it) makes them unclean and therefore guilty. Death is a result of sin, and sin begets death. Sin/death are unclean. Both are inextricably linked together. Its clearly not an issue of "touching a dead thing." It also goes for touching human uncleanness. Maybe someone touches a dead animal and then touches another person. That second person is guilty. They have been infected. Is there anyway to know? These are unintentional unknowing sins.
Scary to think of what I may be guilty of right now. How would I know? Would God come down and say something? Could I depend on that? Would God influence another to let me know? If there is a way in, there must be a way out.
Another thing God won't tolerate is thoughtlessly taking an oath to do something. You know, "I swear to god I'll have this finished by Tuesday." "I swear to god I didn't know I was doing 90, officer." Good or evil, people who do this even unintentionally are guilty.
A guilty person here is told to "confess" in what way he has sinned. I may be wrong, but I believe this is the first instance in the Bible (Lev. 5:5) of having to confess one's sin. Did he have to confess to God or to the priest, who made atonement through the sacrifice? I'm not sure what (if any) direct contact with God's presence the people of Israel had. The priesthood was established for a reason, to mediate between God and man.
The sacrifice here is a lamb, or two doves or pigeons if the person cannot afford a lamb. In case the person can't afford the birds, they can bring a grain offering. The lamb is a sin offering. With the two birds, one is the sin offering (blood, sprinkling, etc) and the other is a burnt offering (sizzle). With the flour, there is the memorial offering (burned) and the rest belongs to the priest. This was how to attain forgiveness.
In previous chapters, we talked about the priesthood and the tabernacle and its effects as being holy and consecrated. Defiling them was a serious sin against God. The penalty for this was a ram without defect. Restitution must be made with the ram in equal value plus 1/5, or 20% for those of you who went to public school, like me. It doesn't say (at least by the end of Leviticus 5) that the ram will be slaughtered, gutted and burned. Good thing the priest was set in place to make atonement as a third party between God and man. He was able to set it right with the offerings.
Also, uncleanness is transferable. Touching the carcass of an unclean wild or domestic animal, or one that moves along the ground (even if a person doesn't know about it) makes them unclean and therefore guilty. Death is a result of sin, and sin begets death. Sin/death are unclean. Both are inextricably linked together. Its clearly not an issue of "touching a dead thing." It also goes for touching human uncleanness. Maybe someone touches a dead animal and then touches another person. That second person is guilty. They have been infected. Is there anyway to know? These are unintentional unknowing sins.
Scary to think of what I may be guilty of right now. How would I know? Would God come down and say something? Could I depend on that? Would God influence another to let me know? If there is a way in, there must be a way out.
Another thing God won't tolerate is thoughtlessly taking an oath to do something. You know, "I swear to god I'll have this finished by Tuesday." "I swear to god I didn't know I was doing 90, officer." Good or evil, people who do this even unintentionally are guilty.
A guilty person here is told to "confess" in what way he has sinned. I may be wrong, but I believe this is the first instance in the Bible (Lev. 5:5) of having to confess one's sin. Did he have to confess to God or to the priest, who made atonement through the sacrifice? I'm not sure what (if any) direct contact with God's presence the people of Israel had. The priesthood was established for a reason, to mediate between God and man.
The sacrifice here is a lamb, or two doves or pigeons if the person cannot afford a lamb. In case the person can't afford the birds, they can bring a grain offering. The lamb is a sin offering. With the two birds, one is the sin offering (blood, sprinkling, etc) and the other is a burnt offering (sizzle). With the flour, there is the memorial offering (burned) and the rest belongs to the priest. This was how to attain forgiveness.
In previous chapters, we talked about the priesthood and the tabernacle and its effects as being holy and consecrated. Defiling them was a serious sin against God. The penalty for this was a ram without defect. Restitution must be made with the ram in equal value plus 1/5, or 20% for those of you who went to public school, like me. It doesn't say (at least by the end of Leviticus 5) that the ram will be slaughtered, gutted and burned. Good thing the priest was set in place to make atonement as a third party between God and man. He was able to set it right with the offerings.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Lev. 4: Uh...I didn't know that was wrong!
Sometimes I do stuff that I don't know is wrong. Its unintentional. I didn't mean to do it. And that makes me think, "How can someone not know that what they are doing is wrong in the sight of God?" Southern comic Jerry Clower once said that "If you have to think about it, the chances are you should not do it." And for the most part I agree with him. I haven't ever done something that I found out later was wrong that I didn't have a little debate in my mind about it.
Chapter 4 goes through what is set up to be in place when a priest, the whole Israelite community, a leader, or an individual member of the community sins unintentionally.
With the priest, he's got to slaughter a male bull, dip his finger in some blood, go to the curtain to the sanctuary, and sprinkle it seven times. Then he's got to go into the Tent of Meeting, and smear some on the horns of the altar of incense. After that, he's got to pour out the blood at the altar of burnt offering. Then he's got to remove the fat and guts like the fellowship offering and burn it on the altar. The rest of it, he's got to take outside the camp, and burn it on the ash heap. So the priest gets the whole tour of the altars.
As for the whole Israelite community, its basically the same deal. The elders of the community are the ones who have to bring a young community bull, and lay their hands on its head. Then it is turned over to the priest, and its the same process as the priest offering.
The leader sin offering is slightly different. The leader has to bring a male goat without defect. He's got to slaughter it himself at the place of the burnt offering. The priest does the incense altar horn smear, but not the seven sprinkles. Then he pours out the blood at the base of the altar, burns the fat in the same way as the fellowship offering. This is how the priest makes atonement for the unintentionally sinning leader.
The member of the community whose sin is revealed to him has to bring a female goat or a lamb. Thats basically the only difference between the leader and the individual member unintentional sin.
The bull was sacrificed for the priest. Male, an expensive and important animal. A bull was also sacrificed for the community. For the leader, it was a goat...perhaps demonstrating that the community was more important than one leader. For a random guy, it was a female goat (I wonder if it was speckled or spotted) or lamb. Not as big, not as expensive of an animal.
Chapter 4 goes through what is set up to be in place when a priest, the whole Israelite community, a leader, or an individual member of the community sins unintentionally.
With the priest, he's got to slaughter a male bull, dip his finger in some blood, go to the curtain to the sanctuary, and sprinkle it seven times. Then he's got to go into the Tent of Meeting, and smear some on the horns of the altar of incense. After that, he's got to pour out the blood at the altar of burnt offering. Then he's got to remove the fat and guts like the fellowship offering and burn it on the altar. The rest of it, he's got to take outside the camp, and burn it on the ash heap. So the priest gets the whole tour of the altars.
As for the whole Israelite community, its basically the same deal. The elders of the community are the ones who have to bring a young community bull, and lay their hands on its head. Then it is turned over to the priest, and its the same process as the priest offering.
The leader sin offering is slightly different. The leader has to bring a male goat without defect. He's got to slaughter it himself at the place of the burnt offering. The priest does the incense altar horn smear, but not the seven sprinkles. Then he pours out the blood at the base of the altar, burns the fat in the same way as the fellowship offering. This is how the priest makes atonement for the unintentionally sinning leader.
The member of the community whose sin is revealed to him has to bring a female goat or a lamb. Thats basically the only difference between the leader and the individual member unintentional sin.
The bull was sacrificed for the priest. Male, an expensive and important animal. A bull was also sacrificed for the community. For the leader, it was a goat...perhaps demonstrating that the community was more important than one leader. For a random guy, it was a female goat (I wonder if it was speckled or spotted) or lamb. Not as big, not as expensive of an animal.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Lev. 3: The Fellowship Offering
At first glance, the fellowship offering in Leviticus 3 appears to be a lot like the burnt offering. However, there are subtle differences. I can't imagine how Aaron kept these various sacrifices and offerings straight. But then I realized that he has to do hundreds a day probably. All year, is my guess. This fellowship offering didn't have to male. It could be female as well. The similarities are that the sacrificer had to put his hands on the head, slaughter it outside the Tent of Meeting, have Aaron's sons, the priests sprinkle the blood on the altar, etc.
This offering was also burned. They had to remove all the fat from the inner parts, both kidneys, and the covering of the liver and burn that on the altar, and, you know...pleasing aroma and all that.
A lamb was "done" the same way, except it additionally had to have the the tail cut off close to the backbone.
As for a goat, same way as an animal from the herd.
So why the kidneys? They function as waste removal units. I don't have to tell you that this is similar to this sacrifice removing the waste of Israelite sin. Maybe it's not that simple. Maybe its that kidneys are a dirty organ, and if they are punctured, then nasty filth gets all over God's sacrifice. Maybe its something beyond what my feeble brain comprehends at this point in my reading. What about the covering of the liver, the peritoneum (I'm no doctor)? This protects the liver, the body's filter and producer of bile. Gross stuff. Not stuff you want to sacrifice to God.
Then at the end of verse 16, it says "All the fat is the LORD's." Um. The fat should be sacrificed. It probably had a lot uses. Its function in the body is for warmth...to help prevent disease...Not sure why that all had to belong to God. I'd like to know. I'm curious.
I get a clue from 3:17. God makes a lasting ordinance in that wherever people live, they are not to eat any fat or any blood. Both are critical life essences, and should not be eaten.
This offering was also burned. They had to remove all the fat from the inner parts, both kidneys, and the covering of the liver and burn that on the altar, and, you know...pleasing aroma and all that.
A lamb was "done" the same way, except it additionally had to have the the tail cut off close to the backbone.
As for a goat, same way as an animal from the herd.
So why the kidneys? They function as waste removal units. I don't have to tell you that this is similar to this sacrifice removing the waste of Israelite sin. Maybe it's not that simple. Maybe its that kidneys are a dirty organ, and if they are punctured, then nasty filth gets all over God's sacrifice. Maybe its something beyond what my feeble brain comprehends at this point in my reading. What about the covering of the liver, the peritoneum (I'm no doctor)? This protects the liver, the body's filter and producer of bile. Gross stuff. Not stuff you want to sacrifice to God.
Then at the end of verse 16, it says "All the fat is the LORD's." Um. The fat should be sacrificed. It probably had a lot uses. Its function in the body is for warmth...to help prevent disease...Not sure why that all had to belong to God. I'd like to know. I'm curious.
I get a clue from 3:17. God makes a lasting ordinance in that wherever people live, they are not to eat any fat or any blood. Both are critical life essences, and should not be eaten.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Lev. 2: The Grain Offering
The grain offering is the second of the voluntary offerings described in Leviticus 2. The concept of a grain offering dates back to the time of Passover when Israel was still in Egypt (Ex. 29:41).
There were several different ways a grain offering could be brought as a sacrifice, but there were stipulations for each. For example, the grain offering had to consist of fine flour, and it had to be made without yeast. I don't know what the diffy is between fine flour and unfine flour. I think it has to do with how well the flour is ground, and to what degree. It takes more work and effort and expertise to make fine flour.
Also, what is yeast? Its a fungus. It has been known to cause infections. Of course your bread shouldn't have it. Sin is another fungus. And cause of infection.
Acceptable Grain Offerings
Unprepared Fine Flour
Rules for the Sacrificer
Rules for the Sacrificer
Rules for the Sacrificer
Rules for the Sacrificer
All grain offerings were required to be seasoned with salt. Leviticus 2:13 says in three different ways that salt must be a part of the grain offering.
If a grain offering is going to be a firstfruits offering, it must be crushed heads (Gen. 3:15) of new grain roasted in fire, and the priest will burn the memorial portion with incense. This reminds me of the dream Pharoah had back in Genesis 41:7. The lean (crushed) heads ate up the fat heads. Would the crushed heads be more a reminder of the famine, or the plenty?
There were several different ways a grain offering could be brought as a sacrifice, but there were stipulations for each. For example, the grain offering had to consist of fine flour, and it had to be made without yeast. I don't know what the diffy is between fine flour and unfine flour. I think it has to do with how well the flour is ground, and to what degree. It takes more work and effort and expertise to make fine flour.
Also, what is yeast? Its a fungus. It has been known to cause infections. Of course your bread shouldn't have it. Sin is another fungus. And cause of infection.
Acceptable Grain Offerings
Unprepared Fine Flour
Rules for the Sacrificer
- Pour oil on it
- Put incense on it
- Bring it to Aaron's sons
Rules for the Sacrificer
- Cakes made without yeast and mixed with oil, or
- Wafers made without yeast and spread with oil
Rules for the Sacrificer
- Crumble it, and pour oil on it
Rules for the Sacrificer
- Made of fine flour and oil
- Take a handful (called the memorial portion) and burn it on the altar
- The rest of the grain belongs to Aaron and his sons
All grain offerings were required to be seasoned with salt. Leviticus 2:13 says in three different ways that salt must be a part of the grain offering.
If a grain offering is going to be a firstfruits offering, it must be crushed heads (Gen. 3:15) of new grain roasted in fire, and the priest will burn the memorial portion with incense. This reminds me of the dream Pharoah had back in Genesis 41:7. The lean (crushed) heads ate up the fat heads. Would the crushed heads be more a reminder of the famine, or the plenty?
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Lev. 1: The Burnt Offering
All right, so this is how life is going to be for the Israelites beginning in Leviticus 1. God tells Moses the stipulations for the burnt offering which will take place each year. The person bringing the offering has a role, and the priests have a role as well. There are also three different types of burnt offerings that are acceptable to God: From the herd, from the flock, and a bird.
The instructions here are as follows:
From the Herd
Stipulations for the sacrificed animal (young bull)
From the Flock
Stipulations for the sacrificed animal (sheep or goat)
From the Birds
Stipulations for the sacrificed animal (dove or young pigeon)
People had to do this constantly. Millions of people. Gross, basically.
Another thing is that sin is death, as described by God in Gen. 2:17. God was unable to identify with a person, unless the sin was completely out of his life. This was the purpose of the sacrifice. But it had to be done year after year, and each individual had to bring their own sacrifice. There was no "Once for all," by the priests, the animal, or the sacrificer. In a way, this was set up to fail. The intent was that this outward action of bringing an animal from one's own herd or flock would go hand in hand with an inner movement to regain fellowship with God on a personal level. I believe that the burnt offering was never really symbolically "complete," due to the fact that ashes were left over. There were still remnants of what was with the sin.
Burnt offerings were also made by Noah (Gen. 8:20), Abraham (Gen. 22:13), and Jethro (Gen. 18:12).
In a time when human sacrifices were the norm in some cultures, the Israelites practiced ritual animal sacrifice. So why not human sacrifice for Israel as well? Would the shedding of human blood be a little more motivation to keep the testimony? If you knew you had to give up a son every year? Probably not. God has spent time differentiating man from animal all through the Bible so far, with "no suitable helper" being found, with Adam naming the animals, with having dominion over the earth, with animals having to be aboard the ark built by man...etc. But still, the people knew they had to account for one from their herd or flock to be slaughtered each year. They had to make room for this sacrifice.
The instructions here are as follows:
From the Herd
Stipulations for the sacrificed animal (young bull)
- Male without defect
- Presented at the Tent of Meeting in order to ensure that is acceptable to God
- Lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering (This in effect transfers the sin from the person to the animal)
- Slaughter the animal
- Skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces
- Wash the inner parts and the legs with water
- Sprinkle the blood on all sides of the altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting
- Start the fire on the altar
- Arrange the pieces of the sacrifice
- Burn the sacrifice on the altar
From the Flock
Stipulations for the sacrificed animal (sheep or goat)
- Male without defect
- Slaughter the animal at the north side of the altar (Was this so things were orderly, or was there a significance to this placement?)
- Cut it into pieces
- Wash the inner parts and the legs with water
- Sprinkle the blood on all sides of the altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting
- Start the fire on the altar
- Arrange the pieces of the sacrifice
- Burn the sacrifice on the altar
From the Birds
Stipulations for the sacrificed animal (dove or young pigeon)
- That its a dove or a young pigeon, apparently
- None given here...presumably just to bring the offering to the altar
- Wring off the neck (Like what Mental did to Petey)
- Burn the sacrifice on the altar
- Drain the blood on the side of the altar
- Remove the crop and its contents, and toss 'em to the east of the altar (toward the entrance) where the ashes of previously burnt sacrifices are. The crop was where food was stored before it gets to the stomach. This was probably removed because it was not consecrated food. My guess.
- Tear it open by the wings, but not sever it completely. This is the same as what happened in Gen. 15:10, when Abraham didn't cut the birds in half as he sought confirmation of God's covenant with him.
People had to do this constantly. Millions of people. Gross, basically.
Another thing is that sin is death, as described by God in Gen. 2:17. God was unable to identify with a person, unless the sin was completely out of his life. This was the purpose of the sacrifice. But it had to be done year after year, and each individual had to bring their own sacrifice. There was no "Once for all," by the priests, the animal, or the sacrificer. In a way, this was set up to fail. The intent was that this outward action of bringing an animal from one's own herd or flock would go hand in hand with an inner movement to regain fellowship with God on a personal level. I believe that the burnt offering was never really symbolically "complete," due to the fact that ashes were left over. There were still remnants of what was with the sin.
Burnt offerings were also made by Noah (Gen. 8:20), Abraham (Gen. 22:13), and Jethro (Gen. 18:12).
In a time when human sacrifices were the norm in some cultures, the Israelites practiced ritual animal sacrifice. So why not human sacrifice for Israel as well? Would the shedding of human blood be a little more motivation to keep the testimony? If you knew you had to give up a son every year? Probably not. God has spent time differentiating man from animal all through the Bible so far, with "no suitable helper" being found, with Adam naming the animals, with having dominion over the earth, with animals having to be aboard the ark built by man...etc. But still, the people knew they had to account for one from their herd or flock to be slaughtered each year. They had to make room for this sacrifice.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Ex. 40: Let's Set It Up
Exodus draws to a close. A couple things happen here: firstly, the tabernacle is assembled. Secondly, God's presence comes down and fills it.
It was to be set up on the first day of the first month.
The ark was the first to be placed in it, and then shielded with the curtain.
The table was second, and everything was brought out that was supposed to be on it.
Then the lampstand and its lamps.
The gold altar of incense was to be set up in front of the ark, and then the entrance curtain to the tabernacle.
The altar of burnt offering was set up in front of the entrance to the tabernacle. The basin was to be set up between the altar and the entrance. Then the courtyard was to be set up around it, and then the curtain to the entrance of the courtyard was to be put in place. It was set up from the inside out, kind of like putting all your furniture in place on your property, and then putting a house around it.
The anointing oil was next, and it was used to consecrate all the furnishings in the tabernacle, to make them holy.
Then Aaron was brought in, and washed up. He was dress in the garments, and then anointed, as were his sons.
The Bible says Moses set it all up, but I bet he probably had some help. After all, some were made to be carried by four people, with the acacia poles and all that. Every single thing here was done as God commanded him. In fact, that phrase, "as the LORD commanded him" is repeated several times, after just about every action.
In verse 33, it says that Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and put up the curtain. And Moses finished the work. It was complete.
God's presence physically manifested itself by a cloud. It filled the tent of Meeting, so Moses could not enter it. This was how the Israelites knew when to stay put and when to move on. When the cloud does not lift off the Tent of Meeting, it was time to stay. When the cloud lifted off, it was time to go. By day, a cloud. By night, fire in the cloud. And every Israelite saw it. I always thought that it was a cloud of fire (which my Sunday School teacher said), not that there was fire in the cloud, which the Bible seems to indicate.
So, Exodus is done. I am looking forward to more great poetry and stories in Leviticus!
It was to be set up on the first day of the first month.
The ark was the first to be placed in it, and then shielded with the curtain.
The table was second, and everything was brought out that was supposed to be on it.
Then the lampstand and its lamps.
The gold altar of incense was to be set up in front of the ark, and then the entrance curtain to the tabernacle.
The altar of burnt offering was set up in front of the entrance to the tabernacle. The basin was to be set up between the altar and the entrance. Then the courtyard was to be set up around it, and then the curtain to the entrance of the courtyard was to be put in place. It was set up from the inside out, kind of like putting all your furniture in place on your property, and then putting a house around it.
The anointing oil was next, and it was used to consecrate all the furnishings in the tabernacle, to make them holy.
Then Aaron was brought in, and washed up. He was dress in the garments, and then anointed, as were his sons.
The Bible says Moses set it all up, but I bet he probably had some help. After all, some were made to be carried by four people, with the acacia poles and all that. Every single thing here was done as God commanded him. In fact, that phrase, "as the LORD commanded him" is repeated several times, after just about every action.
In verse 33, it says that Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and put up the curtain. And Moses finished the work. It was complete.
God's presence physically manifested itself by a cloud. It filled the tent of Meeting, so Moses could not enter it. This was how the Israelites knew when to stay put and when to move on. When the cloud does not lift off the Tent of Meeting, it was time to stay. When the cloud lifted off, it was time to go. By day, a cloud. By night, fire in the cloud. And every Israelite saw it. I always thought that it was a cloud of fire (which my Sunday School teacher said), not that there was fire in the cloud, which the Bible seems to indicate.
So, Exodus is done. I am looking forward to more great poetry and stories in Leviticus!
Ex. 39: The Priestal Haberdashery
I bet you've been wondering all along when the priestly garments were going to be discussed. Well friend, your wait is over. It is actually not as bad as before when I thought it was super boring. Taking a second look at things kind of gives you a fresh perspective, and may change your mind about something you've written off as pointless or boring.
The Ephod: Commanded Ex. 28:6-14, Completed Ex. 39:2-7
These people hammered gold into thin sheets and cut golden strands out of it to weave them into the yarn and linen. Not cavemen.
The Breastpiece: Commanded Ex. 28:15-30, Completed Ex. 39:8-21
Only note here is that the NLT reverses which row the topaz and chrysolite is in, when compared to the NIV and KJV.
Other Priestly Garments: Commanded Ex. 28:31-43, Completed Ex. 39:22-31
As commanded, except the order was reversed. I guess I bring up all these picky things to prove to myself that I have read it and know what it says, and that these picky things are no hill to die on for my faith.
One phrase appears pretty often throughout this completion section. "...as the LORD commanded." This wasn't just an arts and crafts display, this was a place for them to meet with God. This required exacting work, and the absolute best efforts of the absolute best people for the job. Everyone had their role, and focused solely on their role, because that was how best to serve God.
Moses Inspectigates the Tabernacle
So Moses went through and made sure that everything was done according to the way the LORD commanded it. They brought everything to him:
The Ephod: Commanded Ex. 28:6-14, Completed Ex. 39:2-7
These people hammered gold into thin sheets and cut golden strands out of it to weave them into the yarn and linen. Not cavemen.
The Breastpiece: Commanded Ex. 28:15-30, Completed Ex. 39:8-21
Only note here is that the NLT reverses which row the topaz and chrysolite is in, when compared to the NIV and KJV.
Other Priestly Garments: Commanded Ex. 28:31-43, Completed Ex. 39:22-31
As commanded, except the order was reversed. I guess I bring up all these picky things to prove to myself that I have read it and know what it says, and that these picky things are no hill to die on for my faith.
One phrase appears pretty often throughout this completion section. "...as the LORD commanded." This wasn't just an arts and crafts display, this was a place for them to meet with God. This required exacting work, and the absolute best efforts of the absolute best people for the job. Everyone had their role, and focused solely on their role, because that was how best to serve God.
Moses Inspectigates the Tabernacle
So Moses went through and made sure that everything was done according to the way the LORD commanded it. They brought everything to him:
- Tabernacle, tent and furnishings; clasps, frames, crossbars, posts, and bases
- The coverings; dyed ram skin, sea cow skin, the shielding curtain
- The ark, with its poles and atonement cover
- The table, with articles and bread
- The lampstand, with accessories and oil
- The altar, anointing oil, incense
- The entrance curtain
- The bronze altar; with grating, poles, and utensils
- The basin and stand
- Courtyard curtains, poles and bases, ropes and tent pegs
- The woven sacred garments
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Ex. 38: More tabernacle stuff completed
Chapter 38 continues in the same vein and order of chapter 37. Shall we proceed? We shall.
The Altar of Burnt Offering: Commanded Ex. 27:1-8, Completed Ex. 38:1-7
Basin for Washing: Commanded Ex. 30:17-21, Completed Ex. 38:8
Again, this was made as commanded, out of bronze. Interesting that in Exodus 38, it reveals where the bronze came from: The mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Beautiful. So, in this case, God said for something to be done, and he wasn't so terribly exacting that he had to mention where to get the bronze, just that it be made from bronze. I think this is a lot like wanting to know the will of God. You get commands generally, and the specifics, to some extent, are up to us. So I'll have to look into my own life, see what my bronze mirrors are, and donate them to the basin.
The Courtyard: Commanded Ex. 27:9-19, Completed Ex. 38:9-20
In the command passage, it states that the east end of the courtyard, the entrance through which the sun would enter, will be toward the sunrise.
The Materials Used
At the end of Exodus 38, there is an accounting of the people, and the materials used in making the tabernacle and it's furnishings.
Bezalel and Oholiab were the main foremen in the design and building
Gold: 29 talents and 730 shekels (a little over one ton, Current exchange value: about $28,009,635.41)
Silver: 100 talents (used for the curtain bases) and 1,775 shekels (used to make the post hooks, tops, and bands) (about 3.75 tons, Current exchange value: about $1,945,429.90.) This silver was collected from about 603,000 men, which makes the average contribution of silver about $3.22. Not too much by today's standards.
Bronze: 70 talents, 2400 shekels (used for the bases for the entrance, the altar and it's essentials, and the bases and pegs for the courtyard). This is about 2.5 tons
The Altar of Burnt Offering: Commanded Ex. 27:1-8, Completed Ex. 38:1-7
Basin for Washing: Commanded Ex. 30:17-21, Completed Ex. 38:8
Again, this was made as commanded, out of bronze. Interesting that in Exodus 38, it reveals where the bronze came from: The mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Beautiful. So, in this case, God said for something to be done, and he wasn't so terribly exacting that he had to mention where to get the bronze, just that it be made from bronze. I think this is a lot like wanting to know the will of God. You get commands generally, and the specifics, to some extent, are up to us. So I'll have to look into my own life, see what my bronze mirrors are, and donate them to the basin.
The Courtyard: Commanded Ex. 27:9-19, Completed Ex. 38:9-20
In the command passage, it states that the east end of the courtyard, the entrance through which the sun would enter, will be toward the sunrise.
The Materials Used
At the end of Exodus 38, there is an accounting of the people, and the materials used in making the tabernacle and it's furnishings.
Bezalel and Oholiab were the main foremen in the design and building
Gold: 29 talents and 730 shekels (a little over one ton, Current exchange value: about $28,009,635.41)
Silver: 100 talents (used for the curtain bases) and 1,775 shekels (used to make the post hooks, tops, and bands) (about 3.75 tons, Current exchange value: about $1,945,429.90.) This silver was collected from about 603,000 men, which makes the average contribution of silver about $3.22. Not too much by today's standards.
Bronze: 70 talents, 2400 shekels (used for the bases for the entrance, the altar and it's essentials, and the bases and pegs for the courtyard). This is about 2.5 tons
Ex. 37: Built: The Ark, Lampstand, Altar of Incense
So, basically, chapter 37 is a rehash of what God told Moses should be done in regards to building the tabernacle while hanging out on Mount Sinai.
For example, Ex. 37:1-9 is the carrying out of what was commanded in Exodus 25:10-22. And so on. Everything here is completed exactly as commanded earlier on in Genesis. Almost down to the verse. The ark is completed word-for-word as commanded.
The Ark: Commanded Ex. 25:10-22, Completed Ex. 37:1-9
The Table: Commanded Ex. 25:23-30, Completed Ex. 37:10-16
The Lampstand: Commanded Ex. 25:31-40, Completed Ex. 37:17-24
After the lampstand, this is where there is some deviation as far as order. Earlier in Genesis, the instructions for the tabernacle are given after the lampstand. Later in Genesis, it goes from the lampstand to the altar of incense. No big deal.
The Altar of Incense: Commanded Ex. 30:1-10, Completed Ex. 37:25-29
The Anointing Oil and Incense: Commanded Ex. 30:22-33 (Anointing Oil) and Ex. 30:34-38 (Incense), Completed Ex. 37:29 (Both).
In the completion passage for the oil and incense, it is written that it was made by a perfumer. It took one verse to say in completion what took 17 verses in command. In completion, there was no recipe given, no function explained, and no consecration message. Why is that? Also, probably no big deal.
I can only postulate as to why there is this almost word-for-word repeat. God says something, God wants it done exactly as He says. He wants his commands followed to the "T." There is no wiggle room. Also, this exacting list of instructions is kind of like reading the assembly instructions for whatever you may have to assemble. And in reading the assembly instructions, you may think, "Eh, I can skip that," or "this is unnecessary, I could do this instead," and then you get to the end, and you realize the whole thing fits together, because it is designed to do so.
For example, Ex. 37:1-9 is the carrying out of what was commanded in Exodus 25:10-22. And so on. Everything here is completed exactly as commanded earlier on in Genesis. Almost down to the verse. The ark is completed word-for-word as commanded.
The Ark: Commanded Ex. 25:10-22, Completed Ex. 37:1-9
The Table: Commanded Ex. 25:23-30, Completed Ex. 37:10-16
The Lampstand: Commanded Ex. 25:31-40, Completed Ex. 37:17-24
After the lampstand, this is where there is some deviation as far as order. Earlier in Genesis, the instructions for the tabernacle are given after the lampstand. Later in Genesis, it goes from the lampstand to the altar of incense. No big deal.
The Altar of Incense: Commanded Ex. 30:1-10, Completed Ex. 37:25-29
The Anointing Oil and Incense: Commanded Ex. 30:22-33 (Anointing Oil) and Ex. 30:34-38 (Incense), Completed Ex. 37:29 (Both).
In the completion passage for the oil and incense, it is written that it was made by a perfumer. It took one verse to say in completion what took 17 verses in command. In completion, there was no recipe given, no function explained, and no consecration message. Why is that? Also, probably no big deal.
I can only postulate as to why there is this almost word-for-word repeat. God says something, God wants it done exactly as He says. He wants his commands followed to the "T." There is no wiggle room. Also, this exacting list of instructions is kind of like reading the assembly instructions for whatever you may have to assemble. And in reading the assembly instructions, you may think, "Eh, I can skip that," or "this is unnecessary, I could do this instead," and then you get to the end, and you realize the whole thing fits together, because it is designed to do so.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Ex. 36: Construction Begins
Chapter 36 reveals a few things about talents. These things are gifts from God. He gives the skill and ability to know how to do things. Is it that God needs people to do things for Him? I hardly think that's the point. Then what is the point of these skills and abilities? To be able to function in society to accomplish things and create and contribute? Or to simply ... simply glorify God with it? Could that be the sole reason? I believe it.
God doesn't require more than the offering He requests in verse 6 through Moses that no one is to bring more than is necessary. Is He a God of excess? Not so far. He requires our adequacy. No less, but no more. Amazing here is that the giving of the people had to be restrained. Israel is a nation of overdoing it. Were they overcompensating for their behavior while Moses was on Mount Sinai the first 40 days? The cynic in me says yes, but the word says that this was all a free will offering. All that was required to do the work had been gathered. There was no reason to add. It would have been extraneous. And extra stuff serves no purpose.
Exodus 36:8-38 describes in slightly finer detail the construction of the tabernacle, first described to Moses on the mountain in Exodus 26. We get a little better detail when it comes how stuff fits together, and how it is assembled. There wasn't any deviation. It would have been easy to cut cubits, but everything was made according to specifications. There was no reason to deviate and do what the craftsmen themselves wanted. Everything had a purpose.
God doesn't require more than the offering He requests in verse 6 through Moses that no one is to bring more than is necessary. Is He a God of excess? Not so far. He requires our adequacy. No less, but no more. Amazing here is that the giving of the people had to be restrained. Israel is a nation of overdoing it. Were they overcompensating for their behavior while Moses was on Mount Sinai the first 40 days? The cynic in me says yes, but the word says that this was all a free will offering. All that was required to do the work had been gathered. There was no reason to add. It would have been extraneous. And extra stuff serves no purpose.
Exodus 36:8-38 describes in slightly finer detail the construction of the tabernacle, first described to Moses on the mountain in Exodus 26. We get a little better detail when it comes how stuff fits together, and how it is assembled. There wasn't any deviation. It would have been easy to cut cubits, but everything was made according to specifications. There was no reason to deviate and do what the craftsmen themselves wanted. Everything had a purpose.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Ex. 35: Let's Get Together and Build Us a Tabernacle
After the craziness died down surrounding Moses' glowing face, he called the Israelites together to have a little chat, and discuss what God told him on Mount Sinai the second time. The first thing out of Moses' mouth was keeping the sabbath day holy. For six days you should work (hmm...I'm scheduled to work five this week. You?) and then the seventh absolutely must be a day of rest. It went so far as to have someone put to death if he violates this commandment. You couldn't even light a fire in your dwelling.
The next thing Moses discussed was the labor and materials needed to put the tabernacle and the garments together. Gold, silver, bronze. Blue, purple and scarlet yarn. Fine linen. Goat hair. Ram skins dyed red and other durable leather. Acacia wood, olive oil, spices. Precious gems.
Everyone who was skilled in a certain area of craftsmanship was to come and make all these things that God commanded. The tabernacle with tent and covering, the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altar, the basin, the curtains, the tent pegs, the woven garments for the priest and his sons.
So everyone leaves, and those who were moved and were willing to give brought these materials as offerings to God to be used for His purpose in the temple. Basically everyone brought these things as a free will offering to God. There was no threat of death if they didn't comply. The nature of the house of God was such that God wanted the hearts of the people...it should be built willingly. The only ones actually named to do things were Bezalel and Oholiab; who were gifted in wisdom and understanding with skills for bronze and gold, stone cutting and setting, and woodwork, as well as the ability to teach others how to become skilled craftsmen.
All right. Let's get to work!
The next thing Moses discussed was the labor and materials needed to put the tabernacle and the garments together. Gold, silver, bronze. Blue, purple and scarlet yarn. Fine linen. Goat hair. Ram skins dyed red and other durable leather. Acacia wood, olive oil, spices. Precious gems.
Everyone who was skilled in a certain area of craftsmanship was to come and make all these things that God commanded. The tabernacle with tent and covering, the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altar, the basin, the curtains, the tent pegs, the woven garments for the priest and his sons.
So everyone leaves, and those who were moved and were willing to give brought these materials as offerings to God to be used for His purpose in the temple. Basically everyone brought these things as a free will offering to God. There was no threat of death if they didn't comply. The nature of the house of God was such that God wanted the hearts of the people...it should be built willingly. The only ones actually named to do things were Bezalel and Oholiab; who were gifted in wisdom and understanding with skills for bronze and gold, stone cutting and setting, and woodwork, as well as the ability to teach others how to become skilled craftsmen.
All right. Let's get to work!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Ex. 34: More of Who God Is; Mo-Glow
Well, since Moses smashed the tablets into tiny bits, the law was history. But it wasn't actually history. The law still was. But it was only a concept, and had to be physically re-created. So God calls Moses back up on the mountain for another forty days and forty nights. Moses chiseled out some new tablets to bring up Mount Sinai for God to write on, and the LORD came down in His cloud, and made quite a proclamation. Him or His hype man/angel.
And this is a pretty amazing thing to say about oneself (Ex. 34:6-7).
And you might say, "Why do the kids have to be punished for something dad and grandpa did?" I don't know. I suggest that Grandpa demonstrated his affinity for a certain son to junior. Junior picks up on it, and passes it along to his son. All three generations must face consequences for this sin. Junior and III and IV are not innocent.
God then repeats what He is going to do for Israel. As he said in Exodus 3:8, 3:17, 23:23, and 33:2. So why hasn't God done this yet? They haven't gotten there yet. So why would God do this? Why does God need these people back in this promised land, when it was God who dispersed the people at Babel in Gen. 11:8? I don't know. God wanted people to spread out to enjoy this earth, as I previously postulated. To go throughout the earth and subdue it. Lets not forget the attitude of the people at Babel. In their own power, they attempted to reach God...essentially to become like Him. God destroyed this vain attempt, and in doing so, scattered the people. God now undertook the task of bringing the people back to Him on His own terms. A lot fewer people, to be sure as those not speaking Israelese are not welcome in the promised land.
God's desire to give the Israelites this land is not without condition. A condition of common sense. Of protection. God tells Israel again not to make treaties with the current residents...rather to destroy their idols and Asheral poles, or else Israel will fall into idolatry. It only took forty days apart from Moses last time. If they marry daughters from other religions, they will be seduced into these other false religions.
God says his name is Jealous. Is that bad? What's jealousy? Is there such a thing as righteous jealousy? In jealousy, there is simply no room for any peers.
God is giving the law a second time to Moses, he makes the following commands:
Then Moses came down from the mountain, everyone was looking at him, and was afraid to come near him. Moses is like...what's the deal. He was unaware that his face was radiant. This was because he had just finished speaking with God. What was different this time than the times before where his face wasn't radiant? Was it because he didn't have to lose his mind over the Israelites being idolatrous? What was the new revelation from God? Was it because this was a second law? Maybe he wrote the original ten on the tablets. Not sure why this second set is completely different from the first set.
In order not to freak people out, Moses put a veil over his face when he wasn't in the tabernacle talking to God.
And this is a pretty amazing thing to say about oneself (Ex. 34:6-7).
"The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."Wow. That's a lot. This is definitely a power I want on my side, a personality I want to get to know, and doler out of punishments I would like to avoid. All of the above, God has already proven in just Genesis and Exodus. There's nothing in there that I would say is a contradiction of any character God's previously demonstrated. I believe that someone can be forgiving and punishing. You can forgive a wrong, but still deliver consequences for that wrongdoing.
And you might say, "Why do the kids have to be punished for something dad and grandpa did?" I don't know. I suggest that Grandpa demonstrated his affinity for a certain son to junior. Junior picks up on it, and passes it along to his son. All three generations must face consequences for this sin. Junior and III and IV are not innocent.
God then repeats what He is going to do for Israel. As he said in Exodus 3:8, 3:17, 23:23, and 33:2. So why hasn't God done this yet? They haven't gotten there yet. So why would God do this? Why does God need these people back in this promised land, when it was God who dispersed the people at Babel in Gen. 11:8? I don't know. God wanted people to spread out to enjoy this earth, as I previously postulated. To go throughout the earth and subdue it. Lets not forget the attitude of the people at Babel. In their own power, they attempted to reach God...essentially to become like Him. God destroyed this vain attempt, and in doing so, scattered the people. God now undertook the task of bringing the people back to Him on His own terms. A lot fewer people, to be sure as those not speaking Israelese are not welcome in the promised land.
God's desire to give the Israelites this land is not without condition. A condition of common sense. Of protection. God tells Israel again not to make treaties with the current residents...rather to destroy their idols and Asheral poles, or else Israel will fall into idolatry. It only took forty days apart from Moses last time. If they marry daughters from other religions, they will be seduced into these other false religions.
God says his name is Jealous. Is that bad? What's jealousy? Is there such a thing as righteous jealousy? In jealousy, there is simply no room for any peers.
God is giving the law a second time to Moses, he makes the following commands:
- Don't make any other gods
- Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread
- Consecrate the firstborn
- Redeem donkeys with lambs. No one should appear before God empty handed
- Work six days, rest the seventh
- Celebrate the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Ingathering
- No blood offerings with anything containing yeast
- Consume everything from the Passover Feast
- Bring the best firstfruits of the soil to the tabernacle
- Do not cook a young goat in it's mothers milk.
Then Moses came down from the mountain, everyone was looking at him, and was afraid to come near him. Moses is like...what's the deal. He was unaware that his face was radiant. This was because he had just finished speaking with God. What was different this time than the times before where his face wasn't radiant? Was it because he didn't have to lose his mind over the Israelites being idolatrous? What was the new revelation from God? Was it because this was a second law? Maybe he wrote the original ten on the tablets. Not sure why this second set is completely different from the first set.
In order not to freak people out, Moses put a veil over his face when he wasn't in the tabernacle talking to God.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Ex. 33: This is God
By this time, God is ready to lead the Israelites again from where they were, at Mount Sinai. In Ex. 33:3, God reiterates the promise he made in Exodus 3 and Exodus 13: To lead them into the promised land, drive out the Canaanites et al, and that it will be a land flowing with milk and honey. It actually goes back to a promise the LORD made to Abraham.
But, then again, God might destroy them on their way for being so stiff-necked (probably nothing to do with torticollis). Obviously, this stressed the Israelites out. If God were to go with them for a moment, he would destroy them. Not exactly the most encouraging thing they've heard from God lately. This speaks to God's complete and total intolerance for imperfection and sin. It was so great that people would die. They would not survive in a holy environment. I think it would be like planting a cactus in a rain forest.
Perhaps this threat from God was a message to Israel to get serious. To loosen up their necks. God instructs Israel to take off their ornaments (jewelry) while He decides what to do with them. And again, something tells me God didn't need a moment to think of what he wanted to do, to weigh any evidence or whatever. Perhaps He wanted to give Israel this time to swallow their pride and arrogance, and have a little dread of this God who has led them so far.
In time past, Moses would apparently go into the tent of meeting with Joshua, and all of Israel would watch him walk through the camp, watch as the pillar of cloud came down, and then they would worship God as He spoke with Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Wait a minute. How did Moses not die with God in there talking to him face to face? Is that not the rule? Does face-to-face mean something else? If not, what a relationship to be able to have with the Creator. God didn't give this treatment to everyone, Moses was separate. Moses was chosen at the burning bush to be God's mouthpiece. Did certain rules not apply to Moses because of this selection?
Verse 12 begins one of the most fascinating exchanges between God and man that I have read up to this point. Moses is unsure of what to think, and probably lacking in self-confidence, despite all of God's reassurance and promises. And promising to spare him if he destroyed Israel (Ex. 32:10).
Moses tells God the following:
Knowing God is finding favor with God. It makes God happy to know us! Amazing, energizing and so completely humbling at the same time. I love this passage. This is why I read.
God replies to Moses, not who He will send with him in regards to people (which I think was Moses' question), rather that God's very presence will go along with him, and God will give him rest. This was a very hard time for Moses, his people were idolatrous, his reputation muddied, his faith shaken...and God (who has repeatedly spoken of the importance of Sabbath) offers rest. Peace.
Moses continues, and says that he does not want to go anywhere if God's presence does not go with him. He is apparently still concerned with how he is viewed by other people. In a way, God's view of Moses colored how Moses perceived other people saw him. If God was pleased with Moses, that made Moses look better to other people. Is that how it is today? Other people's view of me trumps God's view of me. This is how it should not be.
And Moses offers a question I hear a lot about the nature of God..."What will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" Finally! I was wondering when that was going to be asked. Why did God choose Moses? Why did God choose Israel?
God says he will go with Moses, and will give Moses what he asks, because Moses' questioning and recommitting himself to God pleased him, and God knows Moses by name. Who else would we want knowing us by name?
Moses says, "Show me your glory." I don't think this is Moses bossing God around, or demanding something from him. I think Moses says this without cynicism, and out of sheer awe. I don't think Moses was asking God to prove anything to him. Moses wanted to see God's glory by seeing His face.
To answer Moses' question, God says "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." Basically saying, "Because I am." I will. He is God. Then God tells Moses that he cannot see God's face, because no one can see His face and live. God will show Moses his glory in that God will put Moses safely in a cleft of a rock, and cover him with His hand until He passes by. Then God will remove His hand, and will allow Moses to see his back.
I'm still thinking about 33:7 though, about them talking face to face, and then afterwards, God telling Moses that he can't see His face. Was this kind of like the burning bush, in which God didn't show his face, but was there right in front of him? God clearly manifests himself in different ways: The pillar and the cloud, the wrestler with Jacob, the bush and all that.
But, then again, God might destroy them on their way for being so stiff-necked (probably nothing to do with torticollis). Obviously, this stressed the Israelites out. If God were to go with them for a moment, he would destroy them. Not exactly the most encouraging thing they've heard from God lately. This speaks to God's complete and total intolerance for imperfection and sin. It was so great that people would die. They would not survive in a holy environment. I think it would be like planting a cactus in a rain forest.
Perhaps this threat from God was a message to Israel to get serious. To loosen up their necks. God instructs Israel to take off their ornaments (jewelry) while He decides what to do with them. And again, something tells me God didn't need a moment to think of what he wanted to do, to weigh any evidence or whatever. Perhaps He wanted to give Israel this time to swallow their pride and arrogance, and have a little dread of this God who has led them so far.
In time past, Moses would apparently go into the tent of meeting with Joshua, and all of Israel would watch him walk through the camp, watch as the pillar of cloud came down, and then they would worship God as He spoke with Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Wait a minute. How did Moses not die with God in there talking to him face to face? Is that not the rule? Does face-to-face mean something else? If not, what a relationship to be able to have with the Creator. God didn't give this treatment to everyone, Moses was separate. Moses was chosen at the burning bush to be God's mouthpiece. Did certain rules not apply to Moses because of this selection?
Verse 12 begins one of the most fascinating exchanges between God and man that I have read up to this point. Moses is unsure of what to think, and probably lacking in self-confidence, despite all of God's reassurance and promises. And promising to spare him if he destroyed Israel (Ex. 32:10).
Moses tells God the following:
"...You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people..."Can you imagine saying something like that to God? God, who just threatened to wipe out Israel. Maybe. Who among us could say these things to God? Moses is able to pour out his heart before God. There are things Moses wants to know, needs to know. And what an amazing thing to say..."Teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you." Isn't that amazing? Moses of all people, who had the closest relationship with God outside of Adam in my opinion, who breathed the very breath of God, wanted one thing: To be taught the ways of God. What kind of hunger do I have for this? Moses wanted to continue to find favor with God.
Knowing God is finding favor with God. It makes God happy to know us! Amazing, energizing and so completely humbling at the same time. I love this passage. This is why I read.
God replies to Moses, not who He will send with him in regards to people (which I think was Moses' question), rather that God's very presence will go along with him, and God will give him rest. This was a very hard time for Moses, his people were idolatrous, his reputation muddied, his faith shaken...and God (who has repeatedly spoken of the importance of Sabbath) offers rest. Peace.
Moses continues, and says that he does not want to go anywhere if God's presence does not go with him. He is apparently still concerned with how he is viewed by other people. In a way, God's view of Moses colored how Moses perceived other people saw him. If God was pleased with Moses, that made Moses look better to other people. Is that how it is today? Other people's view of me trumps God's view of me. This is how it should not be.
And Moses offers a question I hear a lot about the nature of God..."What will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" Finally! I was wondering when that was going to be asked. Why did God choose Moses? Why did God choose Israel?
God says he will go with Moses, and will give Moses what he asks, because Moses' questioning and recommitting himself to God pleased him, and God knows Moses by name. Who else would we want knowing us by name?
Moses says, "Show me your glory." I don't think this is Moses bossing God around, or demanding something from him. I think Moses says this without cynicism, and out of sheer awe. I don't think Moses was asking God to prove anything to him. Moses wanted to see God's glory by seeing His face.
To answer Moses' question, God says "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." Basically saying, "Because I am." I will. He is God. Then God tells Moses that he cannot see God's face, because no one can see His face and live. God will show Moses his glory in that God will put Moses safely in a cleft of a rock, and cover him with His hand until He passes by. Then God will remove His hand, and will allow Moses to see his back.
I'm still thinking about 33:7 though, about them talking face to face, and then afterwards, God telling Moses that he can't see His face. Was this kind of like the burning bush, in which God didn't show his face, but was there right in front of him? God clearly manifests himself in different ways: The pillar and the cloud, the wrestler with Jacob, the bush and all that.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Ex. 32: Israel Freaks Out...Thousands Dead
Moses is gone. 40 days and nights (give or take) go by, and the Israelites have no idea when he'll be back. 40 days is a long time actually, to wait for someone who says they will be be back, but don't really give a set time. Anyway, during this time, God must not have been communicating to the Israelites in the way to which they were accustomed. Even though there was that giant cloud on the mountain the whole time. They knew God was there.
Well, they had to worship something, and in chapter 32 they surround Aaron and tell him to make them some gods who will go before them. They were evidently tired of being in this one place for so long, and got the wanderlust. Aaron, the priest, who went up on the mountain, who ate and drank with God Himself, is like, "OK, bring me all your gold earrings." He makes a golden calf out of them.
Extremely unsettling what they say here next in verse 4. "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egpyt." Wow. So it wasn't just a need to follow a different god. A replacement god. They go even further, and misattribute the LORD's miraculous power in bringing them out of Egypt to a lump of gold carved out of their earrings. This was after Moses sprinkled them with the blood of the covenant, gave them the ten commandments (one of which being "have no other gods before me") and they themselves proclaimed they would do everything the LORD says.
Aaron sees this, and figures this god needs an altar and some sort of offering, as the real God did, so he built an altar in front of this calf, and declared that the next day would be a festival unto this god. Aaron even calls it LORD. And the next day, the people got up early, sacrificed to the calf and presented offerings, ate, drank, and generally just raved.
Well, God of course sees this, and tells Moses to
Is Israel's worshipping this calf their way of excusing themselves from God's covenant with them? They were told to destroy other idols back in chapter 23. Would this be a way of passing Israel from God's covenant to Moses?
God tells Moses to leave him alone so that his anger can burn and God can destroy them. Not unlike a teenage girl throwing a hissyfit, not wanting anyone to see her trash her room.
Or perhaps this was to call Moses out on their behavior? Was Moses not taking ownership of this priesthood? Perhaps he did not fully understand what it is his position meant to Israel ( and to himself). Was this God leading Moses to a response, testing him, and seeing where Moses was and to whom Moses was allied?
I find Moses' response very calming, and probably what God had hoped he would say. Moses brings up the Egyptians, asking why they should say that God brought them out to kill them in the mountains and wipe them out? Moses reminds God of the covenant He had made with Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. I don't think this was Moses trying to soothe God's fragile ego, or manipulate the mind of a deity. I think God wanted Moses to show some fortitude. And he did.
So God relents, and doesn't kill everyone. Whew. And Israel had no idea what almost was.
So Moses goes back down the mountain with Joshua...and I don't know if Joshua was actually in the cloud with Moses or what. Something tells me he wasn't witness to what happened between God and Moses, as he mistakes the sounds of Israel's pagan revelry for the sound of war. Moses hears the sounds, and says, "It is not the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat; it is the sound of singing I hear." They must be poor singers to make Joshua think they were at war. War sounds are not beautiful sounds. Moses sees the calf and the dancing, and completely loses it. He had just gone to bat for these people, and now he sees for himself how bad it really is. He smashes the tablets on the ground at the foot of the mountain, and creates some old fashioned Bible justice. He burned the calf in the fire, melted it down, ground it into powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it. I don't think he held each one by the throat and poured calf-inated water down his gullet. He probably scattered it on their only water source, so they had no choice but to drink it.
Moses confronts Aaron, and Aaron blames the people, essentially saying, "You know Israel...."
He saw the people running about wild, and knew this was ridiculous in the eyes of Israel's enemies. So he took a stand, and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." The Levites took the call and rallied to him. Moses forwards a command from God to go back and forth in the camp, killing his brother, friend and neighbor. And they did as they were commanded, and kilt off about 3,000 people. Which is just horrible. But they were warned. God blessed them for being more loyal to Him than to their own sons and brothers. Following God's commands was so important, they were to put their sons to death. Sons who were wicked.
The next day, Moses addresses a (probably) shocked and subdued camp, telling them that what they did was super naughty, and that he would talk to God and see about letting them off the hook. As indicated in the previous chapters regarding atonement and sin offerings, sin was going to be a given, which was why there was a need for these offerings to take place. God knew that.
Moses asks God to forgive the Israelites for their golden calf episode, recognizing how serious it actually was. If God refused, Moses offered to have his own name blotted out of something called God's book. Was this a list of names of righteous people who have found favor in God's eyes? Was it a book of every single person, and when they sin without atonement, the name is blotted out? God tells Moses whoever sins against him will be blotted out of his book, at any rate. God tells Moses to go on, and follow the angel, and God will punish Israel for their idolatry with a plague when the time is right.
Well, they had to worship something, and in chapter 32 they surround Aaron and tell him to make them some gods who will go before them. They were evidently tired of being in this one place for so long, and got the wanderlust. Aaron, the priest, who went up on the mountain, who ate and drank with God Himself, is like, "OK, bring me all your gold earrings." He makes a golden calf out of them.
Extremely unsettling what they say here next in verse 4. "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egpyt." Wow. So it wasn't just a need to follow a different god. A replacement god. They go even further, and misattribute the LORD's miraculous power in bringing them out of Egypt to a lump of gold carved out of their earrings. This was after Moses sprinkled them with the blood of the covenant, gave them the ten commandments (one of which being "have no other gods before me") and they themselves proclaimed they would do everything the LORD says.
Aaron sees this, and figures this god needs an altar and some sort of offering, as the real God did, so he built an altar in front of this calf, and declared that the next day would be a festival unto this god. Aaron even calls it LORD. And the next day, the people got up early, sacrificed to the calf and presented offerings, ate, drank, and generally just raved.
Well, God of course sees this, and tells Moses to
"Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'This is a seeming contradiction to what God has been saying all along. First off, He calls Israel Moses' people. All along, they have been God's chosen people. Then God says Moses brought them out of Egypt. Yet all these festivals and commemorations were designed to celebrate God's bringing the people out of Egypt. Why would God say this? Why would God throw Moses under the bus like this for Israel's behavior?"I have seen these people, and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."
Is Israel's worshipping this calf their way of excusing themselves from God's covenant with them? They were told to destroy other idols back in chapter 23. Would this be a way of passing Israel from God's covenant to Moses?
God tells Moses to leave him alone so that his anger can burn and God can destroy them. Not unlike a teenage girl throwing a hissyfit, not wanting anyone to see her trash her room.
Or perhaps this was to call Moses out on their behavior? Was Moses not taking ownership of this priesthood? Perhaps he did not fully understand what it is his position meant to Israel ( and to himself). Was this God leading Moses to a response, testing him, and seeing where Moses was and to whom Moses was allied?
I find Moses' response very calming, and probably what God had hoped he would say. Moses brings up the Egyptians, asking why they should say that God brought them out to kill them in the mountains and wipe them out? Moses reminds God of the covenant He had made with Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. I don't think this was Moses trying to soothe God's fragile ego, or manipulate the mind of a deity. I think God wanted Moses to show some fortitude. And he did.
So God relents, and doesn't kill everyone. Whew. And Israel had no idea what almost was.
So Moses goes back down the mountain with Joshua...and I don't know if Joshua was actually in the cloud with Moses or what. Something tells me he wasn't witness to what happened between God and Moses, as he mistakes the sounds of Israel's pagan revelry for the sound of war. Moses hears the sounds, and says, "It is not the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat; it is the sound of singing I hear." They must be poor singers to make Joshua think they were at war. War sounds are not beautiful sounds. Moses sees the calf and the dancing, and completely loses it. He had just gone to bat for these people, and now he sees for himself how bad it really is. He smashes the tablets on the ground at the foot of the mountain, and creates some old fashioned Bible justice. He burned the calf in the fire, melted it down, ground it into powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it. I don't think he held each one by the throat and poured calf-inated water down his gullet. He probably scattered it on their only water source, so they had no choice but to drink it.
Moses confronts Aaron, and Aaron blames the people, essentially saying, "You know Israel...."
He saw the people running about wild, and knew this was ridiculous in the eyes of Israel's enemies. So he took a stand, and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." The Levites took the call and rallied to him. Moses forwards a command from God to go back and forth in the camp, killing his brother, friend and neighbor. And they did as they were commanded, and kilt off about 3,000 people. Which is just horrible. But they were warned. God blessed them for being more loyal to Him than to their own sons and brothers. Following God's commands was so important, they were to put their sons to death. Sons who were wicked.
The next day, Moses addresses a (probably) shocked and subdued camp, telling them that what they did was super naughty, and that he would talk to God and see about letting them off the hook. As indicated in the previous chapters regarding atonement and sin offerings, sin was going to be a given, which was why there was a need for these offerings to take place. God knew that.
Moses asks God to forgive the Israelites for their golden calf episode, recognizing how serious it actually was. If God refused, Moses offered to have his own name blotted out of something called God's book. Was this a list of names of righteous people who have found favor in God's eyes? Was it a book of every single person, and when they sin without atonement, the name is blotted out? God tells Moses whoever sins against him will be blotted out of his book, at any rate. God tells Moses to go on, and follow the angel, and God will punish Israel for their idolatry with a plague when the time is right.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Ex. 31: Hire These Artisans; Testimony Tablets
As Moses is downloading all this information and instruction from God, I am sure that he began to feel pretty overwhelmed by what God was telling him. Who was going to actually build and forge these things? Who would embroider and design all this stuff? Moses was a shepherd, that's not exactly right-brain territory.
Also, all this stuff shows me that God is a God of creativity, and someone who gifts people with creativity and expects this creativity to be used to honor Him. This is the case with Bezalel from Judah. God gave him all kinds of skills with design in metal and stones. Craftsmanship. These weren't a bunch of cave-painting Neanderthals. They were clever and creative and skilled. Another man God pointed out to Moses was Oholiab from Dan. These two men were apparently indwelt with all the necessary skill and ability to do whatever God commanded to be done. Why would God ask for something from us that we simply are not able to do?
God then reiterates to Moses the importance of the Sabbath. He wants this to always be a sign to His people that He is the LORD, who makes them holy. Desecrating the Sabbath was punishable by death. This is how important this rest was to God. Its a celebration of deliverance and of completing the six days of work and resting on the seventh, as God did originally. Exodus 31:18 is in direct reference to Genesis 2:2.
When the LORD finished speaking to Moses, he gave him the two tablets of the testimony, which God carved in stone with his own finger. I bet the penmanship was impeccable. Now Moses can bring this testimony down to the people, and they will be all set to follow God.
Also, all this stuff shows me that God is a God of creativity, and someone who gifts people with creativity and expects this creativity to be used to honor Him. This is the case with Bezalel from Judah. God gave him all kinds of skills with design in metal and stones. Craftsmanship. These weren't a bunch of cave-painting Neanderthals. They were clever and creative and skilled. Another man God pointed out to Moses was Oholiab from Dan. These two men were apparently indwelt with all the necessary skill and ability to do whatever God commanded to be done. Why would God ask for something from us that we simply are not able to do?
God then reiterates to Moses the importance of the Sabbath. He wants this to always be a sign to His people that He is the LORD, who makes them holy. Desecrating the Sabbath was punishable by death. This is how important this rest was to God. Its a celebration of deliverance and of completing the six days of work and resting on the seventh, as God did originally. Exodus 31:18 is in direct reference to Genesis 2:2.
When the LORD finished speaking to Moses, he gave him the two tablets of the testimony, which God carved in stone with his own finger. I bet the penmanship was impeccable. Now Moses can bring this testimony down to the people, and they will be all set to follow God.
Ex. 30: Pour This On My Head
So chapter 30 is about the annual atonement that must be made for Israel, and there are 5 different elements to it. The elaborate ceremonies and convoluted processes continue. This is something completely separate from the offerings discussed in the previous chapter. This lays the groundwork for the once yearly day of atonement, also known as Yom Kippur. Another one of those Jewish holidays on the calendar I never knew much about. But know I know. And very soon you will. Hopefully you'll take a few minutes to read it yourself, but I'm basically going to break it down, even though the Bible makes it pretty clear.
The Altar of Incense
This was for Aaron to burn incense on every morning when he tends the lamps, and again at twilight when he lights them. This altar was not to be used for any other kind of offering, burnt, grain or drink. On the day of atonement, blood from the sin offering must be dabbed on the horns.
Evidently there was a yearly census, and at this time, each Israelite had to pay a ransom to the LORD for his life when he is counted. This payment will protect them from a plague. This ransom of a half shekel is also called an offering. It was to be given by those twenty years of age or older. And ransom sounds like a pretty horrific word, which may make God sound like an extortionist, but then we consider what ransom actually means: deliverance at a price. And it wasn't income proportional. It was a flat ransom. The rich gave no more, and the poor gave no less than their half shekel. This money was to be used much like offerings today: to run the service of the tent of meeting.
Basin for Washing (or Bronze Laver)
This basin and its stand were made from bronze. It was to be placed between the tent and the altar. Aaron and his sons were to wash their hands and feet in it with water so that they would not die. Anyone entering the tent of meeting with dirty feet and hands was committing a lethal sin. They were unclean in God's presence. I see this washing as a sort of focusing the heart for the task at hand, for meeting with God.
Anointing Oil
This oil was to be separate, and had a very singular use, when it came to being who it was used on, and what it was used for. Any abuse of this oil led to the offending party being cut off from his people. It was used to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, the table and its articles, the lampstand and its articles, the altars and their utensils, and the basin and stand. The reason for this is to signify them as holy, and that whatever touches them will be holy.
It was also used to anoint Aaron and his sons so that they will be priests.
Here's the secret formula. Don't go making your own, or you'll be cut off from your people.
Similar to the anointing oil, this incense had a singular purpose as well, and its abuse was a serious offense. It was to be most holy.
There was a formula for this as well
The Altar of Incense
This was for Aaron to burn incense on every morning when he tends the lamps, and again at twilight when he lights them. This altar was not to be used for any other kind of offering, burnt, grain or drink. On the day of atonement, blood from the sin offering must be dabbed on the horns.
- Square: One cubit by one cubit (18" x 18") and 2 cubits (3 feet) high.
- Overlaid with pure gold, and gold molding
- The gold rings to put the gold-overlaid acacia carrying poles through
- Put in front of the curtain before the ark of the testimony
Evidently there was a yearly census, and at this time, each Israelite had to pay a ransom to the LORD for his life when he is counted. This payment will protect them from a plague. This ransom of a half shekel is also called an offering. It was to be given by those twenty years of age or older. And ransom sounds like a pretty horrific word, which may make God sound like an extortionist, but then we consider what ransom actually means: deliverance at a price. And it wasn't income proportional. It was a flat ransom. The rich gave no more, and the poor gave no less than their half shekel. This money was to be used much like offerings today: to run the service of the tent of meeting.
Basin for Washing (or Bronze Laver)
This basin and its stand were made from bronze. It was to be placed between the tent and the altar. Aaron and his sons were to wash their hands and feet in it with water so that they would not die. Anyone entering the tent of meeting with dirty feet and hands was committing a lethal sin. They were unclean in God's presence. I see this washing as a sort of focusing the heart for the task at hand, for meeting with God.
Anointing Oil
This oil was to be separate, and had a very singular use, when it came to being who it was used on, and what it was used for. Any abuse of this oil led to the offending party being cut off from his people. It was used to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, the table and its articles, the lampstand and its articles, the altars and their utensils, and the basin and stand. The reason for this is to signify them as holy, and that whatever touches them will be holy.
It was also used to anoint Aaron and his sons so that they will be priests.
Here's the secret formula. Don't go making your own, or you'll be cut off from your people.
- 500 shekels of liquid myrrh
- 250 shekels of cinnamon
- 250 shekels of cane
- 500 shekels of cassia
- 1 hin of olive oil
Similar to the anointing oil, this incense had a singular purpose as well, and its abuse was a serious offense. It was to be most holy.
There was a formula for this as well
- gum resin
- onycha (the flap of a snail shell? weird)
- galbanum
- pure frankincense
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Ex. 29: Consecrate Me Some Priests, Mo.
Chapter 29 was absolutely fascinating. It described the atonement offerings and the purpose of the priesthood. It seemed like everything I read previously in regards to the tabernacle, the furnishings, the offerings and the priestly garments came together and was resolved in this chapter. I suggest you read it.
OK, so what made the priests so special? God chose them. And they were the conduit by which the Israelites atoned for their daily goofs. And by goofs, I mean soul-damning rejection of the LORD. This was a grave responsibility. And because of the importance of this responsibility, God made very clear the instructions. Convoluted, yeah.
The first step was to prepare the offering. This was comprised of the following:
The Ordination
This was a process as well. Aaron and his sons had to br brough to the Tent of Meeting and washed up. Aaron had to be dressed up in the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, the breastpiece, and the turban and diadem.
Then Aaron had to be anointed with oil poured on his head. Not sure why, God just said it.
Then Aaron's sons had to be brought in, dressed in tunics and headbands, and then the whole crew received sashes.
The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance.
The Sin Offering
This was the purpose of the bull. The priests would lay their hands on it's head and then slaughter it before the LORD at the tabernacle entrance. The bull's blood was to be dabbed onto the horns of the altar, and then the rest poured out at the base. On the altar, the bull's fat around the inner parts, the covering of the liver and the kidneys were burned. The rest of the flesh was burned outside the camp.
The Burnt Offering
This is described as a pleasing aroma, made to the LORD by fire. One of the previously described rams was purposed in this way. Same way as the bull - the priests would lay hands on its head and then slaughter it. The blood here was to be sprinkled on the sides of the altar. This lamb was cut into pieces and the pieces washed, and then the entire lamb was burned on the altar. Not sure why that was a pleasing aroma to the LORD. It probably didn't smell like a nice barbecue. It was probably the symbolic burning of sin that was pleasing. And I wonder if they washed the blood off the altar at all. Because I imagine it would get pretty rotten.
The Fellowship Offering
The Consecration
This was the second ram. This is the most deeply described offering. Again, the laying on of hands, and then the slaughter. Then blood was to be dabbed onto the lobes of the priests' right earlobes (hearing), right thumbs (doing), and right big toes (following?). The blood was also to be sprinkled against the sides of the altar. I'm guessing to signify that all sides were covered by the blood. Also, some of the blood, along with anointing oil, was to be sprinkled on the priests' and their garments.
The Ordination
From the second ram, the fat, the fat tail, the internal organ fat, the liver and the two fatty kidneys, and the right thigh (In Gen. 24, we learned that oaths were sworn with the thigh) were to be separated out. These parts, along with a loaf of bread, an oil cake, and a wafer were to be given to Aaron and his sons as a wave offering. Basically, they were to wave them at the LORD. Other translations have "lift up." Then they are to be burned on the altar before the LORD. Then Moses can wave the ram's breast at the LORD, and have it as his share.
The waved thigh and the presented breast are to be the regular share...meal ticket, I spose...for Aaron and his sons, and it is Israel's fellowship offering before the LORD.
Aaron's garments are to be passed down to his descendants, and whoever takes over has to wear the priestly garments for seven days.
The rest of the ram is to be cooked in a "sacred place." Then at the entrance to the tabernacle, Aaron and his sons can eat the offerings "by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration." That's a mouthful, but essentially means they were offered for that purpose. Any leftovers can't be munched by anyone else, because they were consecrated and ordained...and therefore sacred. It has to be burned up.
This ordination process is to take seven days. A bull is to be sacrified each day, and the altar is supposed to be purified each day.
Two lambs are also to be sacrificed each day as a part of this atonement. One in the morning, and one at twilight with a bit of flour, olive oil and wine. The Bible says this offering is to be made regularly. I don't know if that's yearly, but I'll probably find out. This tent of meeting is where God will meet Moses and speak to him and the Israelites, and will consecrate the place with His glory. His awesomeness. Probably the only Person who could make a place consecrated by His sheer awesomeness.
OK, so what made the priests so special? God chose them. And they were the conduit by which the Israelites atoned for their daily goofs. And by goofs, I mean soul-damning rejection of the LORD. This was a grave responsibility. And because of the importance of this responsibility, God made very clear the instructions. Convoluted, yeah.
The first step was to prepare the offering. This was comprised of the following:
- a young bull and two rams without defect.
- from fine wheat flour, 86 the yeast: bread, cakes mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil
The Ordination
This was a process as well. Aaron and his sons had to br brough to the Tent of Meeting and washed up. Aaron had to be dressed up in the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, the breastpiece, and the turban and diadem.
Then Aaron had to be anointed with oil poured on his head. Not sure why, God just said it.
Then Aaron's sons had to be brought in, dressed in tunics and headbands, and then the whole crew received sashes.
The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance.
The Sin Offering
This was the purpose of the bull. The priests would lay their hands on it's head and then slaughter it before the LORD at the tabernacle entrance. The bull's blood was to be dabbed onto the horns of the altar, and then the rest poured out at the base. On the altar, the bull's fat around the inner parts, the covering of the liver and the kidneys were burned. The rest of the flesh was burned outside the camp.
The Burnt Offering
This is described as a pleasing aroma, made to the LORD by fire. One of the previously described rams was purposed in this way. Same way as the bull - the priests would lay hands on its head and then slaughter it. The blood here was to be sprinkled on the sides of the altar. This lamb was cut into pieces and the pieces washed, and then the entire lamb was burned on the altar. Not sure why that was a pleasing aroma to the LORD. It probably didn't smell like a nice barbecue. It was probably the symbolic burning of sin that was pleasing. And I wonder if they washed the blood off the altar at all. Because I imagine it would get pretty rotten.
The Fellowship Offering
The Consecration
This was the second ram. This is the most deeply described offering. Again, the laying on of hands, and then the slaughter. Then blood was to be dabbed onto the lobes of the priests' right earlobes (hearing), right thumbs (doing), and right big toes (following?). The blood was also to be sprinkled against the sides of the altar. I'm guessing to signify that all sides were covered by the blood. Also, some of the blood, along with anointing oil, was to be sprinkled on the priests' and their garments.
The Ordination
From the second ram, the fat, the fat tail, the internal organ fat, the liver and the two fatty kidneys, and the right thigh (In Gen. 24, we learned that oaths were sworn with the thigh) were to be separated out. These parts, along with a loaf of bread, an oil cake, and a wafer were to be given to Aaron and his sons as a wave offering. Basically, they were to wave them at the LORD. Other translations have "lift up." Then they are to be burned on the altar before the LORD. Then Moses can wave the ram's breast at the LORD, and have it as his share.
The waved thigh and the presented breast are to be the regular share...meal ticket, I spose...for Aaron and his sons, and it is Israel's fellowship offering before the LORD.
Aaron's garments are to be passed down to his descendants, and whoever takes over has to wear the priestly garments for seven days.
The rest of the ram is to be cooked in a "sacred place." Then at the entrance to the tabernacle, Aaron and his sons can eat the offerings "by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration." That's a mouthful, but essentially means they were offered for that purpose. Any leftovers can't be munched by anyone else, because they were consecrated and ordained...and therefore sacred. It has to be burned up.
This ordination process is to take seven days. A bull is to be sacrified each day, and the altar is supposed to be purified each day.
Two lambs are also to be sacrificed each day as a part of this atonement. One in the morning, and one at twilight with a bit of flour, olive oil and wine. The Bible says this offering is to be made regularly. I don't know if that's yearly, but I'll probably find out. This tent of meeting is where God will meet Moses and speak to him and the Israelites, and will consecrate the place with His glory. His awesomeness. Probably the only Person who could make a place consecrated by His sheer awesomeness.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Ex. 28: Priestly Garments - All the Info
Well, chapter 28 is more description of stuff. Not a lot going on. But evidently, what is written here is important enough for me to know. Or read.
Along with the tabernacle, there had to be a certain group of people in charge of it, called priests. Aaron, his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar were these people. In order to give them dignity and honor, they needed to have sacred garments. I wonder why. Priests, servants of God required to wear something of honor. Was this to set them apart? Was this to signify something special?
The articles of clothing included a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash, and they were to be made of gold, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of fine linen.
The Ephod
I don't really know what an ephod is, from the description in the Bible, it probably looks like some sort of apron? It has two shoulder "pieces" attached.
What is special here is that there is to be two onyx stones, each engraved with six of the 12 tribes, in order of their birth, as a memorial. These onyx stones will be mounted to gold filigree settings and fastened to the shoulder pieces. There were to be two braided chains of pure gold attached to the settings. Pretty slick.
The Breastpiece
The breastpiece was for "making decisions," as verse 15 says. The significance of this was so that Aaron could bear the names of the sons of Israel as he entered the Holy Place. They would essentially be written across his heart, as a continuing memorial before the LORD. Something called Urim and Thummim were to be put in the breastpiece as well, so they may be over Aaron's heart, so that he will be able to make the proper decisions for the Israelites before the LORD. Without lots of external research, I gather from this that Urim and Thummim were some sort of divinely ordered chance pieces, like dice, but used for good.
The Robe
Along with the tabernacle, there had to be a certain group of people in charge of it, called priests. Aaron, his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar were these people. In order to give them dignity and honor, they needed to have sacred garments. I wonder why. Priests, servants of God required to wear something of honor. Was this to set them apart? Was this to signify something special?
The articles of clothing included a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash, and they were to be made of gold, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of fine linen.
The Ephod
I don't really know what an ephod is, from the description in the Bible, it probably looks like some sort of apron? It has two shoulder "pieces" attached.
What is special here is that there is to be two onyx stones, each engraved with six of the 12 tribes, in order of their birth, as a memorial. These onyx stones will be mounted to gold filigree settings and fastened to the shoulder pieces. There were to be two braided chains of pure gold attached to the settings. Pretty slick.
The Breastpiece
The breastpiece was for "making decisions," as verse 15 says. The significance of this was so that Aaron could bear the names of the sons of Israel as he entered the Holy Place. They would essentially be written across his heart, as a continuing memorial before the LORD. Something called Urim and Thummim were to be put in the breastpiece as well, so they may be over Aaron's heart, so that he will be able to make the proper decisions for the Israelites before the LORD. Without lots of external research, I gather from this that Urim and Thummim were some sort of divinely ordered chance pieces, like dice, but used for good.
- Made of gold, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of twisted linen
- A 9" x 9" square folded in half
- Four rows of precious stones, mounted in gold filigree settings. Each was to be engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes it represents:
- First Row: ruby, topaz and beryl
- Second Row: turquoise, sapphire and emerald
- Third row: jacinth, agate and amethyst
- Fourth row: chrysolite, onyx and jasper
- Attached via gold chains to the ephod, at the shoulders and waistband.
The Robe
- Entirely out of blue cloth
- Opening for a head...duh. With a woven edge to prevent tearing.
- Pomegranates and gold bells alternating around the hem of the robe. So Aaron won't die when he enters the Holy Place
- Pure Gold
- Engraved: "Holy To The Lord"
- Attached to the front of the turban, on the forehead. Signifies the guilt involved in the gifts consecrated to God by the Israelites. Their sacrifices and offerings, I'm guessing.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Ex. 27: More Tabernacle Stuff
The Altar of Burnt Offering
Lots of bronze.
Oil for the Lampstand
God wanted the Israelites to bring clear oil made from compressed olives to Aaron for the light in the tabernacle to keep the light burning from evening to morning. This is a lasting ordinance. Perhaps this signified God's willingness to meet with anyone at all hours of the night? Why else would the lamps be kept burning, if there wasn't some sort of an anticipated meeting with God at a moment's notice?
- Acacia Wood, overlaid with bronze (not gold like the lampstand and table)
- 3 cubits (4.5 feet) high, and 5 cubits (7.5 feet) square
- Horns on each corner
- All utensils (ash pots, shovels, bowls, meat forks and firepans) made of bronze
- Bronze grating
- Poles and Holes, just like the ark and the table
- 100 cubits (150 feet) long and 50 cubits (75 feet) wide
- 20 poles with curtains on the long sides, and 10 poles with curtains on the short sides, with a 20 cubit (30 foot) curtain on the west end.
Lots of bronze.
Oil for the Lampstand
God wanted the Israelites to bring clear oil made from compressed olives to Aaron for the light in the tabernacle to keep the light burning from evening to morning. This is a lasting ordinance. Perhaps this signified God's willingness to meet with anyone at all hours of the night? Why else would the lamps be kept burning, if there wasn't some sort of an anticipated meeting with God at a moment's notice?
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Ex. 26: The Tabernacle
Chapter 26 describes how the tabernacle will be made. As I read through this chapter, suddenly all the offerings make sense from chapter 25. The linen, the thread, the acacia, the metals. All of them are used for something.
There are a lot of loops and clasps and things like that.
All of this would be very confusing without a visual, which I don't have, but there are a lot of good online diagrams, and if anyone knows of an especially good one, I'd like to see it.
I am struck by how ornate and exacting the specifications are for the tabernacle. Obviously this was something of great symbolism. Great intrinsic value.
God didn't require something huge and palatial. This was something simple, and relatively small, in which God could meet with his people. Also, it appears as though it could be easily and quickly dismantled, suggesting that his people were not done travelling yet.
There appeared to be a place, a holy place, and a most holy place. The ark was to be placed in the most holy place. The table was to be on the north side, and across from it, the lampstand on the south side. The holy places were toward the east.
For now, all I have is this description of the tabernacle of God. I wonder why such specific instructions for something so seemingly simple?
There are a lot of loops and clasps and things like that.
All of this would be very confusing without a visual, which I don't have, but there are a lot of good online diagrams, and if anyone knows of an especially good one, I'd like to see it.
I am struck by how ornate and exacting the specifications are for the tabernacle. Obviously this was something of great symbolism. Great intrinsic value.
God didn't require something huge and palatial. This was something simple, and relatively small, in which God could meet with his people. Also, it appears as though it could be easily and quickly dismantled, suggesting that his people were not done travelling yet.
There appeared to be a place, a holy place, and a most holy place. The ark was to be placed in the most holy place. The table was to be on the north side, and across from it, the lampstand on the south side. The holy places were toward the east.
For now, all I have is this description of the tabernacle of God. I wonder why such specific instructions for something so seemingly simple?
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Ex. 25: Bring Me Neat Stuff!
God tells Moses to receive (not collect...hmm) the following offerings from the people of Israel.
Furnishings
The ark was the first furnishing described by the LORD for His tabernacle. What I find very interesting here is that God knows exactly what he wants here. He gives such specific instructions that they are essentially idiot-proof. Between the cherubim on the cover of the ark will be the place where God sits to meet with Moses and give his commands to the Israelites.
- Gold, silver and bronze
- Blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen
- Goat hair
- Ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows
- Acacia wood
- Olive oil for the light
- Spices for anointing oil and fragrant incense
- Gemstones (Onyx specifically) to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.
Furnishings
The ark was the first furnishing described by the LORD for His tabernacle. What I find very interesting here is that God knows exactly what he wants here. He gives such specific instructions that they are essentially idiot-proof. Between the cherubim on the cover of the ark will be the place where God sits to meet with Moses and give his commands to the Israelites.
- Made of acacia wood
- 2.5 cubits (3.75 feet) long, 1.5 cubits (2.25 feet) wide, and 1.5 cubits (2.25 feet) tall
- Overlaid with gold inside and out, with a gold molding around it (God is not without a sense of style)
- Cast four gold rings and fasten them to its four feet, 2 rings on one side, 2 on the other.
- Cut two acacia poles, overlay with gold, and pass them through the rings to carry the ark. The poles are not to be removed ever.
- An atonement cover of pure gold: 2.5 cubits (3.75 feet) long, 1.5 cubits (2.25 feet) wide
- Make two cherubim (angels) out of hammered gold, attached on either end, facing each other, with their wings spread up and out, shadowing the cover.
- the Testimony...God's covenant
- Made of acacia wood
- 2 cubits (3 feet) long, 1 cubit (18 inches) wide, 1.5 cubits (2.25 feet) tall. Not huge. About sofa table size.
- Overlaid with pure gold, with a gold molding around it.
- Around it, a rim a handbreadth (3 in.) wide, with a gold molding on that as well.
- Again, four gold rings, and gold overlaid acacia poles just like the ark...for carrying
- Dishes (plates, bowls, pitchers, etc) out of pure gold as well.
- One piece: Base, stand, branches and cups.
- Six branches off the center stand: 3 on the left, 3 on the right.
- A cup on each branch: Shaped like almond flowers, with buds and blossoms
- Seven lamps on it, with wick trimmers and trays of pure gold.
Ex. 24: God's Covenant Ceremony
With a vivid description of what the covenant was going to entail in Exodus 23, chapter 24 was the actual carrying out of the covenant ceremony.
God has Moses bring Aaron, Nadab, Abihu (Aaron's sons/Moses' nephews) and seventy elders up to Him. Everyone but Moses, who was summoned up the mountain, had to worship at a distance.
Moses wrote down and reported God's commands and conditions in His covenant with Israel. The Israelites in one voice said, "Everything the LORD has said, we will do."
Then Moses builds an altar and pillars for every one of the 12 tribes, and had young Israelite men offer burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD. I think young bulls are symbolic because they are young, in the prime of their life. Everything in life was ahead of them, and they were strong and virile, and had to give up a great deal, their life notwithstanding. Which I'm still not sure I can/will do. Ever. Fully. It's more than words, and thus far, I'm not satisfied personally with the lip service I've paid to God.
Anyway, half the blood is put into bowls for later, while the other half is sprinkled on the altar. Moses reads the covenant to the people...again. And they affirm it. Again, saying "We will obey."
Moses sprinkled the blood on the people, which is gross. And seemingly pagan, but it is God who has established using blood as a symbol...(sacrifices, circumcision, etc.). Blood was the seal at this point, that Israel was entering into a covenant with the LORD, according to His words.
So, the guys who we met earlier, Moses, Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders went up and...
What privelege to be able to look upon God. So significant is this, that the Bible records it, saying "God did not raise his hand against them."
Afterwards, God calls Moses up and gives him the tablets of stone, upon which were written God's commandments. The ten commandments? It doesn't say. I get the impression here it was all of the laws.
The Bible says in verse 16 that God was in a cloud on the mountain for six days. But to the Israelites, this cloud looked like a consuming fire. Maybe to be a warning to them not to approach the mountain? But to Moses it was the cloud, and Moses entered it, and stayed up there for forty days and forty nights. Sounds familiar...God's purification processes seem to last for forty days and forty nights.
God has Moses bring Aaron, Nadab, Abihu (Aaron's sons/Moses' nephews) and seventy elders up to Him. Everyone but Moses, who was summoned up the mountain, had to worship at a distance.
Moses wrote down and reported God's commands and conditions in His covenant with Israel. The Israelites in one voice said, "Everything the LORD has said, we will do."
Then Moses builds an altar and pillars for every one of the 12 tribes, and had young Israelite men offer burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD. I think young bulls are symbolic because they are young, in the prime of their life. Everything in life was ahead of them, and they were strong and virile, and had to give up a great deal, their life notwithstanding. Which I'm still not sure I can/will do. Ever. Fully. It's more than words, and thus far, I'm not satisfied personally with the lip service I've paid to God.
Anyway, half the blood is put into bowls for later, while the other half is sprinkled on the altar. Moses reads the covenant to the people...again. And they affirm it. Again, saying "We will obey."
Moses sprinkled the blood on the people, which is gross. And seemingly pagan, but it is God who has established using blood as a symbol...(sacrifices, circumcision, etc.). Blood was the seal at this point, that Israel was entering into a covenant with the LORD, according to His words.
So, the guys who we met earlier, Moses, Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders went up and...
"saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like sapphire, clear as the sky itself."Amazing! They were able to look upon God, and God did not strike them down. Instead, they ate and drank with God! Can you just imagine that? Eating and drinking with God Himself. I wonder what the main course was...and the dessert...and the wine...which I personally have never developed a taste for, but it must have been pretty amazing. And what was that pavement? It was something like sapphire. And sapphire is pretty sweet (my birthstone).
What privelege to be able to look upon God. So significant is this, that the Bible records it, saying "God did not raise his hand against them."
Afterwards, God calls Moses up and gives him the tablets of stone, upon which were written God's commandments. The ten commandments? It doesn't say. I get the impression here it was all of the laws.
The Bible says in verse 16 that God was in a cloud on the mountain for six days. But to the Israelites, this cloud looked like a consuming fire. Maybe to be a warning to them not to approach the mountain? But to Moses it was the cloud, and Moses entered it, and stayed up there for forty days and forty nights. Sounds familiar...God's purification processes seem to last for forty days and forty nights.
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