Lesson date: 10/24/5856AA

Verses 1-2 – Once again we see the same structure that we saw in Bemidbar 1 where we saw “Lift up, bear up, rise up – the Aleph Tav (H853)– the head, leader, ruler, prince.

Verse 3 – We see that instead of counting from age 20 like the rest of Yisra’el the count for the priest to serve is from age thirty: Luk 3:23 And when יהושע Himself began, He was about thirty years of age, being, as reckoned by law, son of Yosěph, of Ěli,

Gen 41:46 Now Yosěph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh sovereign of Mitsrayim. And Yosěph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Mitsrayim.

2Sa_5:4 Dawiḏ was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

The Hebrew letter that expresses 30 is the Lamed (l paleo) which comes from Lamad = H3925 – למד – lâmad – BDB Definition: 1) to learn. teach, exercise in. To be taught, trained or learned.

The shepherd’s staff possesses many of the characteristics that are implied with the age of thirty in the life of a priest. The priest has authority to teach, train, to direct the congregation like a good shepherd. Our Messiah is the Good Shepherd and he directs, trains and teaches us about the Reign of Heaven: Mat 4:17 From that time יהושע began to proclaim and to say, “Repent, for the reign of the heavens has drawn near.”

Joh_10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Joh_10:14 “I am the good shepherd. And I know Mine, and Mine know Me,

Verses 5-6 – At the breaking of the camp Aharon and his sons would take down the covering veil (H853) and cover the Ark of the Witness with it. This veil had two purposes one when the camp was established and one, when the camp was broken down it covered (H853) the Ark. This protected others by keeping the Ark hidden from other priests so they would not die. Then this covering was covered ovre by the covering of fine leather, some versions say badger skin, and then on top of that was an all blue covering or wrapper. This protected the other priests and ordinary people from accidentally seeing the Ark and dying.member, the fine leather was red and then on top of that was a blue covering. The red fine leather is our covering of Yeshua’s blood and then we have the blue covering which represents Torah. Yeshua’s blood is symbolized by the covering of blood over the doorway and then we are covered (protected) by Torah. Num 15:38 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ěl, and you shall say to them to make tzitzit on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue cord in the tzitzit of the corners.

Num 15:39 “And it shall be to you for a tzitzit, and you shall see it, and shall remember all the commands of יהוה and shall do them, and not search after your own heart and your own eyes after which you went whoring,

Num 15:40 so that you remember, and shall do all My commands, and be set-apart unto your Elohim.

Deu 22:12 “Make tassels on the four corners of the garment with which you cover yourself.

All of this is very powerful when applied. First you are trained for 30 years in order to begin your service. Then you are covered with the veil that had the gold kerubim on it, then with the fine leather painted red, representing the blood of the Passover Lamb and then covered by an all blue wrapper of Torah. Then and only then can the poles be inserted so that we can move. Now, look how it is done today, you are saved by faith through grace go to Bible college 4 years and you can become a minister (priest) and you won’t even know what Torah is much less be covered by it.

Verses 7-8 The Table of Showbread is first covered with a blue wrapper (Torah) and then place on it (H853) the utensils, the whole Body of Messiah needed to do the work, and then cover it with scarlet. It is the word scarlet that shows us the life of Yeshua. H8438 – תּולע / תּלעת / תּולעת / תּולעה – tôlâ‛ / tôlê‛âh / tôla‛ath – BDB Definition: 1) worm, scarlet stuff, crimson 1a) worm – the female ‘coccus ilicis’ 1b) scarlet stuff, crimson, scarlet

The female crimson worm (coccus ilicis) lays eggs on the bark of a tree and literally pours out its insides on top of the eggs as a covering and it is this covering that is crimson. Yeshua poured out His very being upon us so that we are covered in crimson. Looking at this lowly worm we can see how we have cheapened the sacrifice Yeshua made for us. Underneath the red covering we have to have a blue covering. They go together and cannot be separated or else we are nt truly protected. After this is a covering of fine leather which is our protection from the elements as we move through the world but are not part of it> Rom 12:1 I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship.

Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.

Verses 9-10 – The lampstand and the utensils are covered(H853) with blue and then fine leather. We cannot be a light unto the world if we do not have a covering of righteousness (Torah) first. Even this speaks of Yeshua Messiah. Why? Because the fine leather is believed to be badger skin, porpoise skin, or We elephant. When you looked upon the outer covering there was no beauty in this covering that would catch your eye: Isa 53:1 Who has believed our report? And to whom was the arm of יהוה revealed?

Isa 53:2 For He grew up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or splendour that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should desire Him –

Isa 53:3 despised and rejected by men, a man of pains and knowing sickness. And as one from whom the face is hidden, being despised, and we did not consider Him.

Yeshua was just a man and had no outward appearance that would cause us to follow Him> 1Ti 2:5 For there is one Elohim,a and one Mediator between Elohim and men, the Man Messiah יהושע,

Like the Lampstand Yeshua was a man, He was not a movie star or rock star or sports legend. He was a 30 year old man, covered with the Ruach Hakodesh. He was a man who knew sickness and pain for our sakes. Only when we are covered by the same Ruach can we see the beauty of this Man who poured out Himself for us.

Verse 11 – The golden altar of incense was covered over with a blue wrapper. We are warned about this in Proverbs> Pro 28:9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the Torah, Even his prayer is an abomination.

If we are not keeping Torah our prayers (incense) if offensive to YHVH. Our prayers must be rooted in obedience to Him, then and only then will he hear us> Rev 5:8 And when He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the set-apart ones.

Rev 8:3 And another messenger came and stood at the slaughter-place, holding a golden censer, and much incense was given to him, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the set-apart ones upon the golden slaughter-place which was before the throne.

Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the set-apart ones, went up before Elohim from the hand of the messenger.

What are the utensils? 1Co_12:18 But now Elohim has set the members, each one of them, in the body, even as He pleased.

1Co_12:19 And if they all had been one member, where would the body be?

1Co_12:20 And now, there are indeed many members, but one body.

We are the individual utensils that should be wrapped in blue (Torah) and then covered over with fine leather (humanity) as we move (insert the poles in order to move) through this world but are not conformed to it.

Verse 13-14 – Remove the ashes(H853) from the bronze slaughter place. What were the ashes? The bodies of the animals that were used in the sacrifice. We have to remove our humanity, our humans wants and desires that get in the way of our relationship with YHVH made possible by our Messiah> 1Co 15:31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Messiah יהושע our Master, I die day by day.

And then we are wrapped in purple, the color of kings, royalty> 1Pe_2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Rom_8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Next, all the utensils are laid(H853+3) on the bronze slaughter-place we are covered over in fine leather, humanity, as we travel through (insert the poles) this life.

Verse 15 – It was Aharon and his sons responsibility to cover everything and insert the poles so that the set-apart items could be moved by the sons of Qehath. They had the responsibility to move the items but the could not touch or look upon them without the coverings.We cannot touch or even look upon the Kingdom without being covered by the Blood of the Lamb and Torah> 1Ch 13:9 And when they came to the threshing-floor of Kiḏon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.

1Ch 13:10 Then the wrath of יהוה burned against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark. And he died there before Elohim.

1Co 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1Co 15:53 For this corruptible has to put on incorruption, and this mortal to put on immortality.

What we see and touch are types and shadows of things to come> Col 2:16 Let no one therefore judge you in eating or in drinking, or in respect of a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths –

Col 2:17 which are a shadow of what is to come – but the Body of the Messiah.

Did you get that? Eating and drinking according to Torah, keeping the festivals and Sabbaths and watching for the new moon, all of these things that we do are a semblance of what is to come, the Body of Messiah. Now, do you see why we must practice these things, so that we get them right.

Verses 16-20 – El’azar was responsible for the Tabernacle and everything in it, the oil for the Light, incense (prayers), grain offering(sacrifice) anointing oil (so that we can Hear the Word, Do the Word and walk in the Way). El’azar means “El has helped”. El’azar was the faithful servant of Abraham who was destined to inherit all that Abraham had until his son was born. (See a type and shadow here?) El’azar was the beggar who sat outside the gate of the rich man hoping to get a scrap of food from the rich man’s table (See a typer or shadow here?) and El’azar was responsible for making sure that there was always enough oil for the Lamp (Remember the 10 virgins?) And, responsible for hearing the Word, doing the Word and walking in the Way. (Type or shadow here?) He was responsible for the incense (Prayers). We can blame whoever we want but ultimately, it is our responsibility for doing these things.

Verse 20 – This verse reaffirms the fact that, even though the responsibility of moving the objects was that of the Qehathites they were not allowed to go and watch while the process of coving took place> Joh 13:36 Shim‛on Kěpha said to Him, “Master, where are You going?” יהושע answered him, “Where I am going you are unable to follow Me now, but afterwards you shall follow Me.”

Even those who were closest to Yeshua could not “go in and follow” Him. This was something only He could do and then later we could go in and do the work because He had covered(H853) everything for us.

Verse 21-22 – נָשאֹׂ אֶת־ראֹׂשׁ – I highlighted the aleph tav here so you can see how the verse starts. Once again we see the lifting up of the aleph tav, the Head – naso et roshe – lift up the Head and once again it is translated “Take a census” but do you see the type and shadow of our Messiah being lifted up? > Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Master, and He shall lift you up.

“Take a census also of the sons of Gěrshon,

In this statement we can see something beautiful. Gershon means exile. Who is in exile? Eph 2:11 Therefore remember that you, once nations in the flesh, who are called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called ‘the circumcision’ made in the flesh by hands,

Eph 2:12 that at that time you were without Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Yisra’ěl and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no expectation and without Elohim in the world.

Eph 2:13 But now in Messiah יהושע you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.

We are in exile. We are not of this world but of the world to come and until that time we are exile in this life. Look back at Ya’aqob 4:10 once again. If we humble ourselves to our Messiah He will lift up our heads while we are in exile in this world> 1Pe 2:11 Beloved ones, I appeal to you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts which battle against the being,

1Pe 2:12 having your behaviour among the nations good so that when they speak against you as evil-doers, let them, by observing your good works, esteem Elohim in a day of visitation.

Verses 24-28 – Here is a “neat” word covering = H4372 – מכסה – mikseh – BDB Definition: 1) a covering. Mikseh comes from the root word “kasa” to cover, to clad, to plumb and is used here> Pro 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.

1Pe 4:8 And above all have fervent love for one another, because love covers a great number of sins.

 “in serving and in bearing burdens(H853):”

See? We don’t our burdens alone. There is the Aleph and the Tav right there to help us bear our burdens.

Mat_11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Gal 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so complete the Torah of Messiah.

Gal 6:5 For each one shall bear his own burden.

Verses 29-33 – The sons of Merari were in charge of the “burden” of the boards, bars, columns and sockets. They were “to do (H853) the work”. A lot can be said about the Sons of Merari (Bitter). They had the greatest burden by weight of all the others. When it came time to move they were the last to complete their chores but upon arriving at the camp they were the first to set up. As we would say in transporation “First in Last out”.

Also, the “Bitter Ones” having the heaviest responsibility were like stage hands in a play or movie. They did all the heavy lifting and more mundane tasks but it was the “stars” that got all the attention. The Bitter Ones worked behind the scenes so to speak. Are we “bitter” because we don’t get all the attention? Are we bitter we have to do all the heavy lifting?

Lets crunch some numbers:

Qehath – 8,600, (30-50 yrs. old) 2,750 or another way of saying it is that 32% of them were serving.

Gershon – 7,500, (30-50 yrs. old) 2,630 or 35% were serving.

Merari – 6,200, (30-50 yrs. old) 3,200 or 51% were serving.

Merari was the smallest clan but had the most, or highest percentage, of those who served from their clan doing the heaviest lifting. Is it any wonder they were “bitter”? People a lot smarter than I am have calculated the weight that Merari had to carry was @1,750 pounds. They had the heaviest burden, the smallest clan and had to move ahead of the others so they could set up and the other two clans could come in an finish the furnishings of the Tabernacle.

Look at verse 32: And assign to each by name the equipment of the duty of their burden.

There was no confusion, chaos or strife because everyone knew what his piece was and how it fit into the “whole”. Imagine Mosheh or Aharon saying, “There’s Paul and he has boards 28-32. Get him over here, now.” Just like every soldier in the army knows his job and the job of everyone around him, once he deploys he knows his duty and does it. Paul could them turn to Bill and John and say, “Okay, they are calling for me that means you guys are next.” Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some as emissaries, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as shepherds and teachers

Eph 4:12 for the perfecting of the set-apart ones, to the work of service to a building up of the body of the Messiah,

1Co 12:7 And to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for profiting,

1Co 12:8 for to one is given a word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

1Co 12:9 and to another belief by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit,

1Co 12:10 and to another operations of powers, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits, and to another kinds of tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues.

1Co 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these, distributing to each one individually as He intends.

Verse 49 – We are a “counting” people. Luk_20:35 but those who are counted worthy of attaining that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are they given in marriage,

Luk_21:36 “Watch then at all times, and pray that you be counted worthy to escape all this about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Aḏam.”

Act_5:41 Then indeed they went rejoicing from the presence of the council, because they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name.

2Th_1:5 clear evidence of the righteous judgment of Elohim, in order for you to be counted worthy of the reign of Elohim, for which you also suffer,

Ahavah,