Unerstaning the Parsha Exous 21:1 20:18 Parashat HaShavuah hmwrt Shemot (Exous) 25:1-27:19 Terumah (Offering) We will Learn how to 1) interpret the main theme (subject) of a Parsha (weekly reaing from the Torah), 2) make thematic connections to that Parsha (stuy the Scriptures relate by a common theme [subject], line upon line an precept upon precept) 3) learn how to gain greater unerstaning of the Parsha we are looking at through its thematic connections to other portions of Scripture. The Ultimate Back to the Future I. Many of the things that happene in the lives of the Fathers were prophetic pictures of things that are going to happen in the future. The stories of the Torah were not one-time events of the past with no usefulness to future generations. The sages of Israel put it this way things that happene in the lives of the forefathers will also happen in the lives of their escenants. This is one of the most important, yet least unerstoo features of Hebraic thinking. Everything that happene in the Torah has many ifferent levels of unerstaning an fulfillment. Stories of the Torah can be ivie into three levels of importance. H = Things that have happene alreay in the past. P = Things that will happen in the present an again in the future, sometimes over an over. Historical Prophetic 1
M = Things that teach us about our Messiah Yeshua Messianic Historical A story in the Torah is history. It is simply an account of an actual event that occurre in the past. These are real events that occurre to real people. Prophetic By stuying the Torah, we actually stuy the blueprint for Aonai's ealings with man for all of eternity. This is why Isaiah coul say that Aonai is the one who tells the en from the beginning. Through the stories foun in just the first five books of the Scriptures we are informe concerning 1) the estruction of both Temples, 2) most of the themes foun in the book of Revelation, 3) the triune nature of Aonai, 4) the Assyrian an Babylonian captivities an 5) the separation of Israel into two houses? That's right. Through very simple investigation, an using Hebraic thinking, you will clearly be able to see these things. When you see them you will be amaze at the wisom of our Elohim (Go). In a nutshell, the lives of the Fathers are prophecies! Messianic A story in the Torah has Messianic importance. The events that happene in the lives of the Fathers actually tell the story of the person an work of Yeshua the Messiah an the nature of Go. Di you know that the stories of the Torah escribe 1) the virgin birth, 2) the resurrection of the Messiah on the thir ay, 3) His secon coming an much more? In this stuy, we will thematically connect the Torah portion with things that happen in Genesis an to things to happen yet in the future! The themes are amazingly right on target. II. Fining the main theme in the Parashat HaShavuah Rea the Torah portion 25:1-27:19 an pay close attention to any statements that are repeate. You can write own your notes below: A. In Exous 25:8, what are these instructions going to be use for? They will be use to construct a. 1. The Hebrew wor for Sanctuary is Mikash vdqm. It is taken from the root, vq, which means holy or set-apart. The nature of the Sanctuary is that it is the set apart place where man comes to meet with a holy Go. Remember that the Sanctuary refers to the whole structure. B. What statement is repeate three times in the reaing? p S Sanctuary Make it accoring to the shown to you on the mountain (Exous 25:8-9, 40; 26:30). pattern EVERY WORD in the Torah means something important. If the Torah repeats a wor or phrase, it s for a reason. Aonai wants us to unerstan that the instructions in this section of Scripture are a pattern. 2
There are many patterns in the Scripture. This is one of the ways Aonai uses to share wisom an unerstaning with us. This is why thematic analysis is so important. Thematic analysis will help you see the patterns so that you can gain more of the wisom Aonai has for you. Remember, this is a pattern for construction of the Sanctuary. C. What other phrase or theme concerning the purpose of the Sanctuary is mentione twice in the Parashat? In Exous 25:8, 22 it says that the Sanctuary was built so that Aonai coul among Israel. An, it says that Aonai will speak to Moses from the Sanctuary an give Israel. Now we know that Aonai wants to well with Israel an speak to them from the Sanctuary. What o you think is the thematic meaning of the fact that Aonai will well in an speak from the Sanctuary? Thematically, the Sanctuary will not only be Aonai s welling place, it will be a place of Divine revelation (heavenly things reveale to men!) D. So let s examine the Parshiot: Draw a line to the right answer c well commanments 1. Shemot 25:10 25:22 p What is the topic of this Parsha? 2. Shemot 25:23 25:30 p What is the topic of this Parsha? 3. Shemot 25:31 25:40 s What is the topic of this Parsha? 4. Shemot 26:1 26:14 p an Shemot 26:15 26:30 s What is the topic of these Parshiot? Construction of the ark. Construction of the Menorah. Construction of the table of show-brea. Construction of the Tabernacle. What is the meaning of the wor Tabernacle? Let s learn a little Hebrew! It is the Hebrew wor, M sh k n!kvm. The Hebrew root for this wor is in the letters,!kv. From this root we Mishkan also get the Hebrew wor for well. In Exous 25:8, Aonai says an I will well among them. In Hebrew the phrase, an I will well, is taken from the wor, ytnkvw. Do you see the root!kv within that wor? The wor for Tabernacle an the wor to well have the same root. As you continue through the Tanakh you will notice that the wor Mishkan is usually use when talking about the portable welling place for Aonai, an the wor Mikash is usually use when talking about the permanent Temple (to be built later by King Solomon). 5. Shemot 26:31 26:37 s What is the topic of this Parsha 6. Shemot 27:1-27:8 s What is the topic of this Parsha? 7. Shemot 27:9 27:19 s What is the topic of this Parsha? 8. Do you notice any progression in the orering of the parts of the Sanctuary? 5 Construction of the partition, placement of the Tabernacle furnishings, 6 Alter, 7 Courtyar 8. Describe from the insie out 1 Construction of the ark, 2 Construction of table of show-brea, 3 Construction of menorah, 4 Construction oftabernacle Construction of the partition (veil) an placement of the Tabernacle furnishings. Construction of the courtyar. the Sanctuary is being escribe from the insie (Holy of Holies) out (courtyar)! Construction of the altar. E. If you rea further, you see that the Sanctuary was built to be a portable welling place for Aonai. In the book of Deuteronomy later you will learn that Aonai will eventually establish His welling place in one 3
certain location calle, the place where I cause my to well Deut 12:5, 11, 14; 14:23, 24; 16:2, 6, 11; 26:2. Later on we will learn that the portable Sanctuary will be replace by a permanent structure. 1. What are some of the themes associate with that place? It is a place for Aonai. It is a place where His YHVH is locate. It is a place where Israel will sacrifices. This will be the Temple of Solomon! In fact, we will see later in this stuy that the Temple was calle a House for Go! In The books of Exous through Deuteronomy we will learn this concerning the Sanctuary: The Sanctuary will be a place where Aonai will with Israel. The Sanctuary will be a place where Aonai will reveal or appear before. After entering the courtyar of the Sanctuary, the first object is the. The Sanctuary is a welling place. Eventually, Aonai will have Israel buil a Temple (in Jerusalem). The permanent structure in Jerusalem will become known as the place where I cause My to well. This permanent structure will be calle a. The portable Sanctuary an the permanent Temple have altars for. III. Back to Genesis Now let s go back to the book of Genesis an iscover how Aonai use the lives of the Fathers (Avot) to teach the same themes about a place of rest an revelation from Aonai. A. Aonai appeare many times to the Fathers an mae himself known. Let s stuy some of those appearances thematically. Browse over Genesis 8:20-21. What two things i Noah o? a He built an an mae on it. B. Rea Genesis 12:7-8. What i Aonai o once Abram reache the lan of Canaan (verse 7A)? a welling well p N alter o He mae an - to Abram. offer appearance portable What two things i Abram o in response to Aonai s appearance? H p s A permanent o House of Go s I G sacrifice sacrifices Altar Israel N 4
He built an an calle upon N a the of Aonai. alter You can also rea Genesis 13:4, 18; 22:9; 26:25; 33:20; 35:1, 3, 7. Hint: Di you notice how the altar an the appearance of Aonai are linke?! C. Does Abram buil an altar in one place an then return to that place, or oes he buil altars in ifferent places? As he travele he built altars in places. D. Although Abram built altars as he travele, is there one place that seems to be more important than the others? Yes, there appears to be an emphasis on the altar at. What is the meaning of the name, the place where Abram built his most significant altar? It is a contraction of the wor for an Go. means of Go. The altars that Jacob built, how are they thematically connecte to the altar Abram built? He seeme to give preference to the altar built at. What i Jacob, Isaac s chosen son, vow to o in Genesis 28:10-22? H He vowe to buil a () on the stone monument he erecte. House Circle the right wor to finish the thematically relate topics. h ifferent o house of B G B Go h house A portable altar temple, yet preference given to one place. Altar The altar is thematically connecte to the city Israel (House of Go). Sacrifice of clean unclean animals. clean Calling out in Aonai s Face, YHVH. Appearances an/or revelations stories from Aonai. revelations Putting it all together Concerning a Portable Altar Genesis The Fathers built as they travele. They sacrifice on the altar. altars Exous Israel will buil the Mikash, a Sanctuary. They sacrifice on the altar. portable 5
Concerning the Appearances/Revelations From Aonai Genesis Aonai mae many appearances an gave at the site of the altars. Exous Aonai will an give revelation from the Tabernacle (Mishkan) above the mercy seat. appear Concerning a Permanent Altar Genesis The altar at seeme to be a very special altar. Deuteronomy Israel will buil the Beit HaMikash (Solomon's Temple), a Temple uring the ays of Solomon. Concerning the, YHVH Genesis The Fathers call out in the of YHVH at the altars they built. Exous Aonai cause His to well in the Mishkan an the Beit HaMikash. Concerning, a House for Aonai revelations Genesis Jacob, the son of Isaac (a type of Messiah), vows to buil a of Go. Exous Although Davi wante to a house for Aonai (2 Samuel 7), Solomon, the buil son of Davi (a type of Messiah), actually buils the House of Go. permanent From these thematic connections you shoul be able to see that the lives of the Fathers were prophetic acts of things to happen in the lives of their escenants. The builing of altars by the Fathers were prophetic acts laying a founation for things that will happen in the future, like, construction of the Mishkan an Beit HaMikash. As you can see, the instruction that Israel is now receiving concerning the Sanctuary was alreay taught through the lives of the Fathers! That's why it's important to watch the actions of the Fathers, because they speak of things to come! House 6