Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parashah #36: B’ha’alotkha (When you set up) B’midbar (Numbers) 8:1-12:16
Haftara: Z’kharyah (Zechariah) 2:14-4:7
B’rit Chadashah: Yochanan (John) 19:31-37; Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 3:1-6
Although there is little discussion on the menorah in this parashah, there is profound significance in the fact that numbers 8:1-4 contains instructions to Aharon for keeping the menorah lit with the lights always shining forward. A point was made that the menorah was hammered out of one piece of gold (Ex. 37:17), which is also prophetically significant. I want to explain the connection between the placement of this command concerning the menorah, and the theme of servanthood described in the instructions for the L’vi’im.
First, a menorah is formed through the first seven books of the Torah which include Genesis through Judges. These books correspond to 7,000 years of the history of man. The book of Numbers is the fourth book which corresponds to the fourth word in Genesis 1:1 which covertly identifies Yahshua as part of the complex unity of the G-dhead. The first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, alef-tav correspond to Yahshua’s description of himself in Revelation 22:13. The fourth candle in the menorah is also known as the Servant Lamp. Now we will look at another “menorah” using the days of creation and that which was created on each day.
We may wonder why G-d created the sun on the fourth day instead of the first day. Perhaps because the sun is the Servant Lamp of the physical universe. It provides light for the planets now and those that were visible to early man. The sun was positioned in the center of our solar system and with that, G-d created the first menorah. Philo of Alexandria who wrote during the first third of the first century C.E. related the shape of the rounded branches of the menorah to the trajectory of the planets around the sun. Philo was the first author to describe context for the rounded branches, associating them with the planets. This is reminiscent of an association of the lamps of the lampstand with the planets that is found in Zechariah during the sixth century B.C.E, who described the visible planets, plus the sun and the moon as “the eyes of YHVH” (Zech.4:10).
A century later, Josephus described the menorah in terms of cosmic order, similar to that of Philo. Now let us explore the fall of HaSatan in this cosmic context.
HaSatan wanted to take over the throne of G-d, essentially assuming the role of Servant Lamp and asserting the authority that belongs to YHVH/Yahshua alone. He was thrown out of heaven and the earth, which is the fourth celestial body from the sun, became the battlefield between good and evil. Mercury, known as Mercurius in Roman mythology was the god of shopkeepers and merchants, travelers, thieves and tricksters. He was also believed to be the guide of souls to the underworld. Since mercury is the closest planet to the sun, it has no air pressure and an extremely high temperature. Coincidence? The tribe of Dan adopted the same symbols attributed to Mercury which are the eagle and the serpent. When the tabernacle was built, Ahiezer, who was the prince of the Danites changed the tribal insignia from the eagle to a serpent. About 150 years before Yahshua’s birth, rabbis wrote that the Danite prince was HaSatan and suggested that Dan would produce the Antimessiah (Kee, 1983, p.809 in Church & Stearman, 1993, p.33).
As we move ahead to a discussion on the specific roles of the Levites, we can now begin to understand the relationship between the menorah, Yahshua’s “position” as the fourth candle which is also the Servant candle, and servanthood.
Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah is extremely significant as we study G-d’s Torah, especially in the context of obedience. The tribe of Levi served as priests and caretakers of the Tabernacle and subsequently the Temple. It was the tribe of Levi that stood alone at the sin of the golden calf, demonstrating its loyalty and obedience to G-d to the point of killing the idolaters including some of their own tribe and family. The blessing they received from Moshe reads “Today you have been ordained for the service of the L-rd, for you have stood against your own sons and brothers, and He has blessed you this day “(Ex. 32:29). We can correlate the obedience of the Levites to G-d with Yahshua’s obedience to the Father unto death. Indeed, the “Servant Candle” Yahshua put forth his light shining forward as the Light of the World. Yahshua stated: “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12). Additional relevant scripture that assists us in making the connection between the first paragraph in our parashah to servanthood of the Levites and ultimately Yahshua: includes 1 Peter 2:9:” But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, G-d’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light,” and one of the most revealing relationships between the Menorah, the obedience of the Levites to G-d’s commands, Yahshua who was the quintessential servant of G-d and Light of the World, and those who choose to follow G-d’s light: “ You are the light of the world. A town on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:14-16).
Haftara: Z’kharyah (Zechariah) 2:14-4:7
This haftarah contains a vision of the golden Temple Menorah, the lamps of which were to burn in perpetuity (Lev. 24:1-4). This prophecy was committed to Zechariah shortly before the building of the Second Temple. G-d outlined the rewards that awaited Joshua and his descendants if they followed G-d’s ways. The greatest reward of which is the Messiah, the Shoot of David.
Zechariah then described a vision of a golden seven-branched Menorah. An angel interpreted the meaning of this vision. “This is the word of the L-rd to Zerubbabel, (descendant of King David, one of the protagonists in the building of the Second Temple.) “Not by military force and not by physical strength, but by My Spirit, says the L-rd of Hosts.” Zerubbabel’s descendant, Messiah, will have no difficulty in accomplishing His task. It will be as simple as lighting a menorah!
B’rit Chadashah: Hebrews 3:1-6
The information in this passage explains the parallels between Moshe and Yahshua. Yahshua, like Moshe at Sinai, was G-d emissary, conveying G-d’s truth and instructions (G-d’s Torah) to the people of Israel. In the Old Testament, the 12 tribes represented Israel. In the B’rit Chadashah Israel represents all true believers according to the seven-fold witness found in the book of Revelation, John 14, and Romans 1-3. In this first comparison between Moshe and Yahshua, Yahshua fills the role of being a prophet like Moshe, as predicted in Deuteronomy 18:15-19. Also, like Moshe, Yahshua intercedes for the people (7:25), and as such He is fulfilling the role of a cohen, a priest, just as Moshe did when the people worshipped the golden calf (Ex. 32:32, and in many other instances. Let’s now look at some of the differences.
Yahshua is not merely on the same level as Moshe, the paragon of virtue within Judaism (faithful in all G-d’s house), but better than Moshe; just as He is better than angels and all human beings. Thus, Yahshua deserves more honor than Moshe. Moshe was a servant; Yahshua was the ultimate servant of G-d in the role as Father. Yahshua is G-d verifiable by scripture and in the correct transliteration of the Tetragrammaton of G-d’s Name. He is also the only begotten Son of G-d, which has a meaning and significance far beyond what most people think of as “an only child.” For a more detailed explanation of the differences between a servant and a son see Gal. 4:1-7; Yochanan (John) 15:15. In Heb.3:3 the difference is made between Moshe who managed the house of Israel and the Tabernacle, and Yahshua who built the house and will build the Temple of the L-rd( Zech. 6:12-13), “ And speak unto him, saying, This speaketh the L-rd of hosts saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the L-rd: Even he shall build the temple of the L-rd; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” Finally, Heb.3:6 speaks of the oneness of Yahshua with and as G-d, “But Yahshua as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast to the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis -Hart
Additional Reference:
H.C Kee, “Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs,” in The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, Vol1, ed. James H. Charlesworth (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1983,) p. 809 in J.R. Church & Gary Stearman, “The Mystery of the Menorah,” (Oklahoma City: Prophecy Publications,1993, p.33.