והיתה להם כהנה לחקת עולם ומלאת יד־אהרן ויד־בניו׃
The office of cohen is to be theirs by a permanent regulation.
Thus you will consecrate Aharon and his sons.
(Exo 29:9)
THE PRIEST.
In this parasha we are given many details concerning the levitical priesthood of Aaron. An important detail to remember is that Aaron’s priesthood is permanent. Permanent means that it never stops.That it never stops means that it continues forever. Why then did the the writer of the Letter to the Messianic Jews of the 1st century C.E refer to Yeshua a descendant of Judah, as a high-priest in these terms?
This is why he had to become like his brothers in every respect -- so that he might become a merciful and faithful cohen gadol in the service of God, making a kapparah for the sins of the people.
(Heb 2:17)
TWO PRIESTHOODS.
Has Yeshua, a descendant of the tribe of Judah, replaced the Aaronic levitical priesthood which descends from Levi? How can it be since the office of priest is to remain with the levitical House of Aaron forever (Exo 29:9). The answer to that question is in that pivotal letter to the Messianic Jews of the day (Heb 4:14-5:10 (Yeshua is a priest in the Order of Melchizedek, not of the Order of Aaron).) Jeremiah’s prophecies talk of a future day, perhaps at the fulfillment of the Messianic Age, when the two houses, the House of Judah and the House of Levi will serve together each one in their own function. He says,
When those days come, at that time, I will cause to spring up for David a Branch of Righteousness. He will do what is just and right in the land. When those days come, Y'hudah will be saved, Yerushalayim will live in safety, and the name given to her will be Adonai Tzidkenu [Adonai our Righteousness]." For this is what Adonai says: "There will never be cut off from David a man to occupy the throne of the house of Isra'el. Nor will there ever be cut off from the cohanim who are L'vi'im a man before me to offer burnt offerings, burn grain offerings and offer sacrifices every day."
(Jer 33:15-18)
Let’s now define the role of “priest.”
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A PRIEST?
Since a deity exists in a different realm than the people it governs, a priest is meant to be the contact, a link between a laity and its deity. The priest is the agent, he represents the deity he acts on behalf of. It is a very important role. Aaron and the levitical priesthood therefore represented HaShem to the people of Israel; and they were His agents of contact.
Aaron was the first levitical priest and he set the standard, the bar for all future priests. Aaron was known to be a man of peace. Psalm 133 about the beauty of united brothers together was written about him. He was known to invent stratagems in order to get people to get along. As such, the aaronic priesthood acted as a sort of ‘peacemaker between haShem and Israel.
The levitical priesthood serves to present Israel’s atonement to HaShem. One striking picture of that is after the Korah rebellion, when HaShem was destroying the people, the plague stopped immediately as Aaron stood between the people and the plague (Num 16:46-48). The priest stood between the people and an angry God to atone, to cover for them.
While conscious of the sins of the people, the priest covers for their sins. The sages of Israel pictured Moshe as often sternly rebuking the the Children of Israel, expecting them to toe the line, but when he would speak with HaShem, he would praise them to Him. The priest is a little like the mother who pleads for the angry father to have mercy on the children. The priest is an intercessor. He brings the sins of the people to HaShem. He atonnes for the peopl. In this same manner Yeshua,
… is totally able to deliver those who approach God through him;
since he is alive forever and thus forever able to intercede on their behalf.
(Heb 7:25)
THE TABERNACLE: A MICROCOSM.
When HaShem gave Moshe the instruction about building the Tabernacle, its furnishings and surroundings He told him,
See that you make them according to the design being shown you on the mountain. (Exo 25:40)
Reading the texts in Exodus, the sages of Israel have often concluded that HaShem had come down on the mountain with His throne and entourage. If He asked therefore for Moshe to do everything as he was shown on the mountain, then what we have in the form of the Tabernacle setting and its priesthood is a microcosm, an illustration of the real thing which was shown Moshe. It’s as close as we can get to Heaven, so to speak.
If we have on earth a Tabernacle with two chambers, a Holy Ark, a candelabrum, an altar of incense, a table for showbread, an altar for sacrifices, and a levitical priesthood officiating the whole thing, it stands to reason that they are the replica of a greater reality in the heavenlies. It seems that some of the prophets such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Yochanan the Immerser saw it all as they were raptured for a temporary visit in the throne room (Is 6:1-7; Ez 1:4-28; Rev 4).
Taking this understanding in consideration, we can see that the earthly levitical priesthood is a shadow-picture illustrating the heavenly Judaic priesthood in the heavenlies.
A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS.
In our parasha this week HaShem establishes the priesthood for Israel but a couple of weeks ago, in par’shat Yitro, even before HaShem even gave His commandments, Israel is challenged with,
Now if you will pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you will be a kingdom of cohanim for me, a nation set apart.' These are the words you are to speak to the people of Isra'el."
(Exo 19:5-6)
If the Aaronic levitical order was the priesthood for Israel, Israel in turn was the priesthood for the world. What did that mean for Israel? As the Aaronic priests had special lifestyles and were held to a higher standard than the rest of Israel, so would Israel be when compared to the nations of the world.
Later, when Peter addresses the mix (Jews and Gentiles) congregation of Rome, he tells them,
You are a chosen people, the King's cohanim, a holy nation, a people for God to possess! Why? In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1Pe 2:9)
As the congregation of Messiah we inherit the mantle of priesthood and as such, we are also held to higher standards than the rest of the world.
What are those higher standards? We discover them as we read the Divine Instructions given to to Aaron. Here are some of them. This is far from exhaustive, but I am sure you can find more as you yourself exegate from the Text.
A PRIESTLY LIFESTYLE.
The Menorah
"You are to order the people of Isra'el to bring you pure oil of pounded olives for the light, and to keep a lamp burning continually. Aharon and his sons are to put it in the tent of meeting, outside the curtain in front of the testimony, and keep it burning from evening until morning before Adonai. This is to be a permanent regulation through all the generations of the people of Isra'el. (Exo 27:20-21)
Much has been written about the meaning of the seven branched candelabrum but its main purpose is to give light. Light signifies enlightenment, knowledge, and understanding. In this case, the enlightenment of knowing HaShem, the knowledge of His commandments, and the understanding of His plan for humanity.
In the vision Yochanan received on the Isle of Patmos, each congregation in Asia Minor was represented by a candelabrum (Rev 1:20). In the same manner, the candelabrum in the Tabernacle represents Israel as a congregation, and its role in being a light for the world.
The priests tended to that light of knowledge of understanding. They were to constantly trim the wicks and make sure that it burned clean and clear not giving smoke. In the same manner, as HaShem’s representatives, we are to make sure to be always ready to give a reasoned answer to anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you -- yet with humility and fear, (1Pe 3:15)
As ‘priests’, we must be faithful arduous students of the Text of the Torah so that we can give a reasoned answer. A reasoned answer is not, “It is so because it is so; don’t try to figure out!” A reasoned answer is just that: an answer deduced by reason coming from intelligent study. Also, this “answer” must not be polluted by the smoke of man’s doctrine, but be clear and bright.
The Priestly Garments.
You are to make for your brother Aharon garments set apart for serving God, expressing dignity and splendor. Speak to all the craftsmen to whom I have given the spirit of wisdom, and have them make Aharon's garments to set him apart for me, so that he can serve me in the office of cohen. (Exo 28:2-3)
Aaron and his priests were not to officiate in their everyday clothes. They had to wear special clothing when they represented HaShem in front of the people. The priestly garments were not only special, but they were beautiful, even expensive.
Any officiator who stands in as HaShem agent for the people should wear his “Saturday best.” Not only is it respectful for HaShem, but it is a sign of love for the people they stand in front of. It doesn’t have of course to be something expensive or a tuxedo, but something at least semi-formal.
As a priest in the Order of Melchizedek, Yeshua also appeared Yochanan in beautiful special priestly royal garments (Rev 1:12).
The Ephod (ritual vest)
"They are to make the ritual vest of gold, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely woven linen, crafted by a skilled artisan. Attached to its front and back edges are to be two shoulder-pieces that can be fastened together. Its decorated belt is to be of the same workmanship and materials -- gold; blue, purple and scarlet yarn; and finely woven linen. Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Isra'el --six of their names on one stone and the six remaining names on the other, in the order of their birth. An engraver should engrave the names of the sons of Isra'el on the two stones as he would engrave a seal. Mount the stones in gold settings, and put the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the vest as stones calling to mind the sons of Isra'el. Aharon is to carry their names before Adonai on his two shoulders as a reminder. (Exo 28:6-12)
This vest must have been heavy to wear, yet aaron was to carry it before HaShem. It is a sign that he carries the burden of presenting the people to HaShem, a heavy burden indeed, a burden not unlike that of any shepherd, leader, and teacher e who feels the weight and responsibility of leadership. Yet it was his job, as it is ours to bear.
Not only do congregation leaders bear the burden of their congregations, but any true disciple of the Master needs to feel the burden of representing their ‘neck of the wood’, their circle of acquaintances to HaShem. A heavy burden indeed but a labour of love as is said, “Aharon will carry the names of the sons of Isra'el on the breastplate for judging, over his heart, when he enters the Holy Place, as a continual reminder before Adonai.”(Exo 28:29). We are also to carry our burden for the people as a labour of love, not of reluctant obligation.
Love in Judgment.
You are to put the urim and the tumim in the breastplate for judging; they will be over Aharon's heart when he goes into the presence of Adonai. Thus Aharon will always have the means for making decisions for the people of Isra'el over his heart when he is in the presence of Adonai.(Exo 28:30)
Urim and Tummim means “Light and Perfection (For more details: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-urim-and-thummim
These were instruments of judgment. Again I want to draw the reader's’ attention to the fact that these instruments of judgment were to be placed over Aaron’s heart so that his judgment would be based, or at least balanced by love, not pure cold justice.
So should we as we assess people, something congregation servants often have to do, do it in a spirit of love remembering that without His mercy we ourselves would be lost in the darkness.
The Robe.
"You are to make the robe for the ritual vest entirely of blue. (Exo 28:31)
The word used for ‘blue’ in Hebrew is actually תכלת, which refers to a particular expensive dye originating from a sea snail. (For more details:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/what-color-was-tekhelet/
The whole robe was to be made in that expensive dye. Later, after a man found breaking the Shabbat had to be stoned, in order to help the Children of Israel to remember His Commands he said to Moshe,
"Speak to the people of Isra'el, instructing them to make, through all their generations, tzitziyot on the corners of their garments, and to put with the tzitzit on each corner a blue [ תכלת] thread. It is to be a tzitzit for you to look at and thereby remember all of Adonai's mitzvot and obey them, so that you won't go around wherever your own heart and eyes lead you to prostitute yourselves; (Num 15:38-39)
As we wear these tzitziot with a string dyed with the same dye as the robe of the high-priest, we in fact show that we are joined to the priesthood; that we are in fact ‘mini-priests’, just as Peter said,
You are a chosen people, the King's cohanim, a holy nation, a people for God to possess! Why? In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1Pe 2:9)
MAY WE BE WORTHY AND REPRESENT HASHEM TO THE WORLD IN THE SPIRIT OF YESHUA OUR MASTER AND HIGH-PRIEST OF THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.
R' Gavriel
The office of cohen is to be theirs by a permanent regulation.
Thus you will consecrate Aharon and his sons.
(Exo 29:9)
THE PRIEST.
In this parasha we are given many details concerning the levitical priesthood of Aaron. An important detail to remember is that Aaron’s priesthood is permanent. Permanent means that it never stops.That it never stops means that it continues forever. Why then did the the writer of the Letter to the Messianic Jews of the 1st century C.E refer to Yeshua a descendant of Judah, as a high-priest in these terms?
This is why he had to become like his brothers in every respect -- so that he might become a merciful and faithful cohen gadol in the service of God, making a kapparah for the sins of the people.
(Heb 2:17)
TWO PRIESTHOODS.
Has Yeshua, a descendant of the tribe of Judah, replaced the Aaronic levitical priesthood which descends from Levi? How can it be since the office of priest is to remain with the levitical House of Aaron forever (Exo 29:9). The answer to that question is in that pivotal letter to the Messianic Jews of the day (Heb 4:14-5:10 (Yeshua is a priest in the Order of Melchizedek, not of the Order of Aaron).) Jeremiah’s prophecies talk of a future day, perhaps at the fulfillment of the Messianic Age, when the two houses, the House of Judah and the House of Levi will serve together each one in their own function. He says,
When those days come, at that time, I will cause to spring up for David a Branch of Righteousness. He will do what is just and right in the land. When those days come, Y'hudah will be saved, Yerushalayim will live in safety, and the name given to her will be Adonai Tzidkenu [Adonai our Righteousness]." For this is what Adonai says: "There will never be cut off from David a man to occupy the throne of the house of Isra'el. Nor will there ever be cut off from the cohanim who are L'vi'im a man before me to offer burnt offerings, burn grain offerings and offer sacrifices every day."
(Jer 33:15-18)
Let’s now define the role of “priest.”
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A PRIEST?
Since a deity exists in a different realm than the people it governs, a priest is meant to be the contact, a link between a laity and its deity. The priest is the agent, he represents the deity he acts on behalf of. It is a very important role. Aaron and the levitical priesthood therefore represented HaShem to the people of Israel; and they were His agents of contact.
Aaron was the first levitical priest and he set the standard, the bar for all future priests. Aaron was known to be a man of peace. Psalm 133 about the beauty of united brothers together was written about him. He was known to invent stratagems in order to get people to get along. As such, the aaronic priesthood acted as a sort of ‘peacemaker between haShem and Israel.
The levitical priesthood serves to present Israel’s atonement to HaShem. One striking picture of that is after the Korah rebellion, when HaShem was destroying the people, the plague stopped immediately as Aaron stood between the people and the plague (Num 16:46-48). The priest stood between the people and an angry God to atone, to cover for them.
While conscious of the sins of the people, the priest covers for their sins. The sages of Israel pictured Moshe as often sternly rebuking the the Children of Israel, expecting them to toe the line, but when he would speak with HaShem, he would praise them to Him. The priest is a little like the mother who pleads for the angry father to have mercy on the children. The priest is an intercessor. He brings the sins of the people to HaShem. He atonnes for the peopl. In this same manner Yeshua,
… is totally able to deliver those who approach God through him;
since he is alive forever and thus forever able to intercede on their behalf.
(Heb 7:25)
THE TABERNACLE: A MICROCOSM.
When HaShem gave Moshe the instruction about building the Tabernacle, its furnishings and surroundings He told him,
See that you make them according to the design being shown you on the mountain. (Exo 25:40)
Reading the texts in Exodus, the sages of Israel have often concluded that HaShem had come down on the mountain with His throne and entourage. If He asked therefore for Moshe to do everything as he was shown on the mountain, then what we have in the form of the Tabernacle setting and its priesthood is a microcosm, an illustration of the real thing which was shown Moshe. It’s as close as we can get to Heaven, so to speak.
If we have on earth a Tabernacle with two chambers, a Holy Ark, a candelabrum, an altar of incense, a table for showbread, an altar for sacrifices, and a levitical priesthood officiating the whole thing, it stands to reason that they are the replica of a greater reality in the heavenlies. It seems that some of the prophets such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Yochanan the Immerser saw it all as they were raptured for a temporary visit in the throne room (Is 6:1-7; Ez 1:4-28; Rev 4).
Taking this understanding in consideration, we can see that the earthly levitical priesthood is a shadow-picture illustrating the heavenly Judaic priesthood in the heavenlies.
A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS.
In our parasha this week HaShem establishes the priesthood for Israel but a couple of weeks ago, in par’shat Yitro, even before HaShem even gave His commandments, Israel is challenged with,
Now if you will pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you will be a kingdom of cohanim for me, a nation set apart.' These are the words you are to speak to the people of Isra'el."
(Exo 19:5-6)
If the Aaronic levitical order was the priesthood for Israel, Israel in turn was the priesthood for the world. What did that mean for Israel? As the Aaronic priests had special lifestyles and were held to a higher standard than the rest of Israel, so would Israel be when compared to the nations of the world.
Later, when Peter addresses the mix (Jews and Gentiles) congregation of Rome, he tells them,
You are a chosen people, the King's cohanim, a holy nation, a people for God to possess! Why? In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1Pe 2:9)
As the congregation of Messiah we inherit the mantle of priesthood and as such, we are also held to higher standards than the rest of the world.
What are those higher standards? We discover them as we read the Divine Instructions given to to Aaron. Here are some of them. This is far from exhaustive, but I am sure you can find more as you yourself exegate from the Text.
A PRIESTLY LIFESTYLE.
The Menorah
"You are to order the people of Isra'el to bring you pure oil of pounded olives for the light, and to keep a lamp burning continually. Aharon and his sons are to put it in the tent of meeting, outside the curtain in front of the testimony, and keep it burning from evening until morning before Adonai. This is to be a permanent regulation through all the generations of the people of Isra'el. (Exo 27:20-21)
Much has been written about the meaning of the seven branched candelabrum but its main purpose is to give light. Light signifies enlightenment, knowledge, and understanding. In this case, the enlightenment of knowing HaShem, the knowledge of His commandments, and the understanding of His plan for humanity.
In the vision Yochanan received on the Isle of Patmos, each congregation in Asia Minor was represented by a candelabrum (Rev 1:20). In the same manner, the candelabrum in the Tabernacle represents Israel as a congregation, and its role in being a light for the world.
The priests tended to that light of knowledge of understanding. They were to constantly trim the wicks and make sure that it burned clean and clear not giving smoke. In the same manner, as HaShem’s representatives, we are to make sure to be always ready to give a reasoned answer to anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you -- yet with humility and fear, (1Pe 3:15)
As ‘priests’, we must be faithful arduous students of the Text of the Torah so that we can give a reasoned answer. A reasoned answer is not, “It is so because it is so; don’t try to figure out!” A reasoned answer is just that: an answer deduced by reason coming from intelligent study. Also, this “answer” must not be polluted by the smoke of man’s doctrine, but be clear and bright.
The Priestly Garments.
You are to make for your brother Aharon garments set apart for serving God, expressing dignity and splendor. Speak to all the craftsmen to whom I have given the spirit of wisdom, and have them make Aharon's garments to set him apart for me, so that he can serve me in the office of cohen. (Exo 28:2-3)
Aaron and his priests were not to officiate in their everyday clothes. They had to wear special clothing when they represented HaShem in front of the people. The priestly garments were not only special, but they were beautiful, even expensive.
Any officiator who stands in as HaShem agent for the people should wear his “Saturday best.” Not only is it respectful for HaShem, but it is a sign of love for the people they stand in front of. It doesn’t have of course to be something expensive or a tuxedo, but something at least semi-formal.
As a priest in the Order of Melchizedek, Yeshua also appeared Yochanan in beautiful special priestly royal garments (Rev 1:12).
The Ephod (ritual vest)
"They are to make the ritual vest of gold, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely woven linen, crafted by a skilled artisan. Attached to its front and back edges are to be two shoulder-pieces that can be fastened together. Its decorated belt is to be of the same workmanship and materials -- gold; blue, purple and scarlet yarn; and finely woven linen. Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Isra'el --six of their names on one stone and the six remaining names on the other, in the order of their birth. An engraver should engrave the names of the sons of Isra'el on the two stones as he would engrave a seal. Mount the stones in gold settings, and put the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the vest as stones calling to mind the sons of Isra'el. Aharon is to carry their names before Adonai on his two shoulders as a reminder. (Exo 28:6-12)
This vest must have been heavy to wear, yet aaron was to carry it before HaShem. It is a sign that he carries the burden of presenting the people to HaShem, a heavy burden indeed, a burden not unlike that of any shepherd, leader, and teacher e who feels the weight and responsibility of leadership. Yet it was his job, as it is ours to bear.
Not only do congregation leaders bear the burden of their congregations, but any true disciple of the Master needs to feel the burden of representing their ‘neck of the wood’, their circle of acquaintances to HaShem. A heavy burden indeed but a labour of love as is said, “Aharon will carry the names of the sons of Isra'el on the breastplate for judging, over his heart, when he enters the Holy Place, as a continual reminder before Adonai.”(Exo 28:29). We are also to carry our burden for the people as a labour of love, not of reluctant obligation.
Love in Judgment.
You are to put the urim and the tumim in the breastplate for judging; they will be over Aharon's heart when he goes into the presence of Adonai. Thus Aharon will always have the means for making decisions for the people of Isra'el over his heart when he is in the presence of Adonai.(Exo 28:30)
Urim and Tummim means “Light and Perfection (For more details: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-urim-and-thummim
These were instruments of judgment. Again I want to draw the reader's’ attention to the fact that these instruments of judgment were to be placed over Aaron’s heart so that his judgment would be based, or at least balanced by love, not pure cold justice.
So should we as we assess people, something congregation servants often have to do, do it in a spirit of love remembering that without His mercy we ourselves would be lost in the darkness.
The Robe.
"You are to make the robe for the ritual vest entirely of blue. (Exo 28:31)
The word used for ‘blue’ in Hebrew is actually תכלת, which refers to a particular expensive dye originating from a sea snail. (For more details:
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/what-color-was-tekhelet/
The whole robe was to be made in that expensive dye. Later, after a man found breaking the Shabbat had to be stoned, in order to help the Children of Israel to remember His Commands he said to Moshe,
"Speak to the people of Isra'el, instructing them to make, through all their generations, tzitziyot on the corners of their garments, and to put with the tzitzit on each corner a blue [ תכלת] thread. It is to be a tzitzit for you to look at and thereby remember all of Adonai's mitzvot and obey them, so that you won't go around wherever your own heart and eyes lead you to prostitute yourselves; (Num 15:38-39)
As we wear these tzitziot with a string dyed with the same dye as the robe of the high-priest, we in fact show that we are joined to the priesthood; that we are in fact ‘mini-priests’, just as Peter said,
You are a chosen people, the King's cohanim, a holy nation, a people for God to possess! Why? In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1Pe 2:9)
MAY WE BE WORTHY AND REPRESENT HASHEM TO THE WORLD IN THE SPIRIT OF YESHUA OUR MASTER AND HIGH-PRIEST OF THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.
R' Gavriel
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