Once again we see that scripture testifies of the Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Christ. Just as He taught in John 5:39 said between 24-30 A.D. when all they had was the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament. Starting in lesson 62 (see links to Lesson 62, 63, and 64 below) we saw that Yahvay, the LORD, came to dwell WITH His people. But, when He was here, the LORD, Jesus, came to dwell IN His people. In Exodus God had a temporary dwelling place, a tent. In Jesus’ day it was said our human body was a TENT and Jesus came to dwell in His human ...
Once again we see that scripture testifies of the Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Christ. Just as He taught in John 5:39 said between 24-30 A.D. when all they had was the Hebrew Scriptures or the Old Testament. Starting in lesson 62 (see links to Lesson 62, 63, and 64 below) we saw that Yahvay, the LORD, came to dwell WITH His people. But, when He was here, the LORD, Jesus, came to dwell IN His people. In Exodus God had a temporary dwelling place, a tent. In Jesus’ day it was said our human body was a TENT and Jesus came to dwell in His human body, His tent. There are more like the Menorah is looked upon as symbolizing the LIGHT OF THE WORLD shines in the darkness of the Holy Place. And Jesus. He is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD and He came to shine for men caught in the darkness of sin.
The lessons 62-65 must be treated as one unit. It is highly recommended that you listen and study with me in lesson 62 and 63 and 64 before you listen to this lesson 65. Here are the links for 62-64.
Link 62 – https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/exodus-62-exod-251-8-the-waypoint-on-the-hike-through-torah/
Link 63 – https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/exodus-63-exod-2510-16-the-ark-of-the-covenant/
Link 64 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/exodus-64-exod-2510-22-the-mercy-seat-and-the-blodd-of-the-lamb/
An important earlier lesson in this study of Exodus is the podcast Bible study that shows that the Hebrews likely assimilated into the Egyptian culture. Thus, it makes sense that Yahvay, the LORD, would use the things of Egypt, things the Hebrews, His beloved chosen people, were familiar with. He was trying to reach them in the Torah, His instruction, and NOT us. It was written to them THEN. So, here’s the link to that key podcast study - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-gospel-according-to-moses-lesson-4-part-2-exod-211-25/
Here’s a layout of the Mishkan HaKodesh Eloheem or the Holy Dwelling Tent of God commonly known from Latin as the Tabernacle (tent). It is public domain found at Wikimedia.
You can great a great tour (video) of the entire Holy Tent of Yahvay, the LORD, at the link below. The video link is in the upper right.
Link - https://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/bs-tabernacle-walkthrough/
In this Bible study podcast I mentioned two articles I found related to the rituals of the Egyptian priest each morning. They would prepare a large breakfast for the god of the Temple. The meal was fruit, veggies, beer, meats, bread, and wine. For the Hebrews coming out of Egypt when they see the Table of the Bread of the Presence it is likely that they thought of this connection to Egypt.
See the articles below.
In my research I did a search of the phrase “Egyptian priests work in secret.” The search resulted in this “AI” article below.
It's generally accepted that ancient Egyptian priests did work in secret, particularly in certain aspects of their duties and knowledge.
Here's why:
- Guardians of Sacred Knowledge: Priests were seen as guardians of secrets given by the gods, particularly in the realm of magic (Heka).
- Restricted Temple Access: Only priests were allowed into the innermost sanctuaries of the temples, where the cult statues of the deities resided. These inner rooms were considered sacred spaces, and the general public was barred from them.
- Initiation Rites: Initiation into the priesthood often involved sacred and secretive rituals, including trials and tests of knowledge. These rites aimed to transform the initiate, moving them from one state of being to another.
- Preservation of Knowledge: Temple libraries, known as "House of Life," were repositories of ancient religious, medical, and astronomical texts. These texts were preserved and transmitted through generations of priests, suggesting a guarded transmission of knowledge.
- Funerary Practices: Specific funerary texts, such as the Pyramid Texts and the Book of the Dead, contained spells and incantations meant to guide the deceased in the afterlife. These texts were used by priests, indicating a certain level of specialized knowledge required for navigating the afterlife.
However, it's important to note:
- Public Festivals: While daily temple rituals were restricted, priests did participate in public religious festivals where the image of the god was carried outside the temple, allowing the public to interact with the deity.
- Role of Pharaoh: The Pharaoh was considered the ultimate intermediary between the gods and the people, and priests acted under the Pharaoh's overarching control, though they had their own specialized roles.
In conclusion, ancient Egyptian priests maintained a degree of secrecy, especially in their access to sacred knowledge and the performance of certain rituals within the temples. This secrecy stemmed from their role as mediators between the divine and human realms, and their responsibility in preserving and transmitting the sacred traditions and beliefs of ancient Egypt. Please check out the links below to further your study on the Egyptian priests.
https://www.egypttoursportal.com/en-us/blog/ancient-egyptian-civilization/ancient-egyptian-priests/
https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-egyptian-magicians
https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/magic_01.shtml
https://www.albanyinstitute.org/ancient-egyptian-art-and-culture?file=tl_files/pages/education/lesson_plans/Ancient%20Egypt/PriestsinAncientEgypt.pdf&cid=3221
It is proven archaeologically and from the ancient literature that no one knows what the original Menorah looked like. Today orthodox rabbis debate as to the details of the Menorah. One verse that we emphasized was Exod. 25:40, “"See that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain.” (Exo 25:40) So many today say Moses was in Heaven when the LORD Yahvay showed Moses the various aspects of the Mishkan HaKodesh. But, that is not what the Bible says. Moses is on the mountain and was not taken from earth. Perhaps the LORD showed Moses a plant that is common throughout the Middle East and in the Sinai. It is called today “SALVIA PALAESTINA” and it is amazing that it looks like the Menorah. Could it be that God shows Moses this plant on the mountain in the Sinai (could be that one was growing close to the area where Moses and Yahvay, the LORD, met. See the picture below of THE MENORAH PLANT.
A scholarly article that shows this is possible can be found at the link below. It was written by Dr. Martin Gruber, professor emeritus at Ben Gurion University of the Negev.
LINK - https://janes.scholasticahq.com/article/55699-the-salvia-plant-and-the-menorah-revisited/attachment/120208.pdf
Finally, it was suggested in the Jerusalem Publication Society Exodus commentary by Dr. Nahum Sarna, that the art work of the Menorah in Exodus 25 is clearly associated with the artwork of the ancient Egyptians dated to the Late Bronze Age. See the picture below for a chart showing the Bronze Age and its divisions and dates for the early, middle and late bronze age. This picture is from Wikimedia and is public domain.
Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?
(Ferret in Wadi Elah - location of the fight between David and Goliath)
What's his background? Why should I listen to him? Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0
