Scriptures

Numbers 16:1 to 18:32
1 Samuel 11:14 to 12:22
2 Timothy 2:8-4:5
2 John 1-13

In the Book of Bamidbar/Numbers we are taught about a series of rumblings throughout the camp. In some people’s hearts they just could not leave Egypt. They exposed an orphan’s heart, one that is disconnected. This Israelite behavior reflected a “slave” mentality. Their hearts were following the pattern of enslavement to worldly systems they had known in Egypt, and they thought nothing of blaming others – even leadership! – without looking at the cost. They did not recognize the freedom they had even though they had experienced it for two years in the wilderness. Their hearts were steadfast on declaring whatever their imaginations deemed to be the truth. This was mainly because they did not understand the realms they were in; the realm of life versus the realm of death. If they had, they would not have behaved like this.  The realms of life in the Spirit are seen in the offerings of the Mishkan/Tabernacle, understood in the priesthood, and acted out in the decisions we make between clean and unclean, holy and unholy ways. Obedience to God’s ways is a choice.

Numbers 16:1-35 Korach, Dathan and Abiram’s Rebellion

Korach must have been a very influential prince in the camp, for what he spoke seemed right to many people. As a result, he was able to sway them, as well as two hundred and fifty influential leaders of the community, into total rebellion. The speech used by Korach appeared as the truth. Lashon hara (gossip and slander) was the vehicle that controlled the people and proved a very appealing counterfeit to those who had not put the Word of God first and foremost in their hearts. This display of arrogance among the people was an act of rebellion to YHVH’s Word. The men with Korach were fighting for something on an earthly level and missed the spiritual level all together. Korach did not understand the principles of YHVH and separated himself from the holy realm of God.

Moses and Aaron were not merely serving in an earthly Tabernacle, but in a shadow of the heavenly dwelling of YHVH, a spiritual house (Hebrews 8:5; Exodus 25:40).  Moses knew he did not belong to himself but was a living sacrifice given totally – body, SOUL and spirit – over to YHVH. He did not separate himself from the holy realm of YHVH.  Wherever Moses went and whatever he did, he was always aware of serving YHVH and the Children of Israel in a holy, spiritual realm. Moses continually separated himself from unclean acts of his heart and mind, that which did not line up with YHVH and that which would have rendered him unclean and defiled. This was what the offerings were all about – to continually renew our hearts and minds before YHVH. (See reference section below for further teaching on offerings: Vayikra/Leviticus 1-7.)

We who are in Yeshua are redeemed in spirit, but our souls have also trespassed YHVH’s Word and needs cleansing. This is our job. Yeshua has given us the power to overcome sin and death. The bride is to make herself ready (Revelation 19:7). Yeshua spoke passionately about this on the Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5-7). As did the apostles, who wrote major portions of their letters on the salvation of the soul and how to renew our minds by taking off the old offensive natures, such as unforgiveness, that separate us from the holy realm in Yeshua.

For you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Yeshua in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Yeshua and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Yeshua Messiah is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:9-16, Peter quoted Leviticus 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:7.).

The above Scripture says that once something was given over to YHVH it then became holy and was not to be take it back unless it was redeemed monetarily (Leviticus 27:30; Acts 5:1-11). We do not belong to ourselves. This is not about us; it is about other people and glorifying our Heavenly Father.  We are not the high priests; Yeshua is our High Priest. We serve Him, and that act of obedience makes us holy unto Him, as we serve in His High Priesthood, not in a priesthood of our own. 

Messiah Yeshua’s priesthood is in the order of Melchizedek. By Korach not understanding that the Tabernacle and Aaronic priesthood were shadows to guide us, he impetuously attempted to set up a man-made counterfeit that misled the people and glorified man rather than YHVH. How many of us have touched this realm unknowingly and tasted its fruit?

Korach wanted his own priesthood serving in the earthly dwelling to obtain self-glorification. He also did not understand the difference between a servant of YHVH versus a slave. Those who do not understand the dissimilarity are not motivated to serve and glorify YHVH in a holy lifestyle, and thereby separate themselves from the courts of YHVH to serve in the outer court of man, where they seek worldly recognition.

And it shall be, in that day that you will call Me "My Husband," And no longer call Me "My Master" (Hosea 2:16).

Numbers 16:17-40 YHVH’s Response

In response to Korach’s rebellion, YHVH had Korach and the men with him meet at the entrance to the Tabernacle and there burn incense before Him. According to Torah, only descendants of Aaron were to handle the incense. Men who were holy and who honored YHVH’s Word would have recognized this. They would have also known that incense was to be burned inside the Tabernacle. The very act of disregarding these two things rendered the men unclean and brought about their deaths. This showed their level of arrogance.  Apparently they did not remember Aaron’s first two sons Nadab and Abihu who had previously offered strange fire and died (Leviticus 10:1). As a result, Korach and the main leaders with him and their families were swallowed alive into the ground, while the two hundred and fifty men holding the burning censers were consumed by fire.

You must have the fire of YHVH burning in you or you will otherwise be consumed.

For everyone will be seasoned with fire (Matthew 3:11).

Every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Mark 9:49).

Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them (Acts 2:3).

Each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire" (Hebrews 1:7).

For our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29).

As part of YHVH’s furnishings, the censers were holy and were to remain with YHVH. The ones used by Korach and his people were retrieved from the smoldering remains and hammered into plates which were then bound to the Altar to remind the people bringing their offerings that the censors reflected what was in a man’s heart and it was the Altar (Yeshua) that cleansed their souls. The presence of the mirrors was to remind them and us we are to be a continual living sacrifice, offering up our incense before YHVH.

You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to YHVH through Yeshua (1 Peter 2:5).

Numbers 16:41-50 Grumbling

Apparently, seeing the enormous supernatural judgement upon these leaders was not enough; the very next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron saying, “YOU have killed YHVH’s people.”  Moses knew the people were stirring YHVH’s anger when he saw the Glory of YHVH appear and a plague begin to spread among the people. Fearful of this, Moses instructed Aaron the high priest to run with incense into the midst of the congregation to atone for the people’s uprising. Aaron stood between the living and the dead. The plague stopped; but not before 14,700 people died.

Numbers 17:1-13 The Budding of Aaron’s Staff

To put an end to all this discussion about authority and YHVH’s choice in leadership, YHVH had Moses speak to the people and get them to bring twelve leaders, each representing one of the tribes of Israel, and have them bring a rod with their tribal name inscribed on it. YHVH said the one with the true living branch was YHVH’s true appointed leader – the shadow of the Messiah. The next morning Moses found that only one rod had changed. It was Aaron’s rod that had sprouted, budded, blossomed and produced ripened almonds, all from a seemingly separated, dead branch. This almond process on a normal tree would have taken at least seven months to produce but supernaturally exhibited fruit overnight by the hand of YHVH!

The cups on the Menorah were shaped like almond flowers, and Aaron’s rod was a blooming almond branch. This proved Aaron was chosen by YHVH to lead His people along with Moses. He was the one who correctly portrayed and stood for YHVH’s Word/Torah, the true light of the world, Yeshua the Messiah. The dormant rods of the eleven leaders, in contrast to the budding, fruitful rod of Aaron, also revealed the hearts of the people who had not cared for or cultivated the light of YHVH’s Word in their hearts.

Almond in Hebrew is shaqed from Strong’s # 8246/TWOT 2451 which means waker or watcher and refers to the early flowering of the tree. Jeremiah 1:11-12 uncovers an apparent play on words. YHVH speaks to the prophet and asks him, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” “I see the branch/rod of an almond (sheqed) tree.” YHVH responds, “You have seen well, for I am watching (shoqed) over my Word to perform it.” YHVH is attentive and watches over His Word to fulfill it without delay.

Numbers 18:1-7 Duties of Priests and Levites

YHVH reminds the people that of the tribe of Levi, only the Kohathite clans were the priests and had the responsibility over the Mishkan/Tabernacle. Their fellow Levites were to assist the Kohathites but they were not to go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar or both priests and Levites would die. YHVH had given the service of the priesthood to Aaron and his sons as a gift; no one else was to come near the Tabernacle to serve.

Numbers 18:8-32 Offerings for the Priests and Levites

YHVH put the Levites in charge of all the offerings presented to YHVH. Once the offerings were offered, they become holy and were to be handled like the holy furnishings in the Tabernacle. YHVH next expressed that the Levites could partake in the offerings and the tithes made to YHVH.

The word offerings is Strong’s #H8641 terumah meaning: 1) contribution, offering 1a) a heave offering 1b) any offering 1c) an offering to YHVH 1d) an offering (of grain, money, etc) 1e) a contribution (TWOT 2133i taruma). It has its origin is the Hebrew word romam (Strong’s #H7311/ TWOT 2133f) meaning praise, from the root word rum (TWOT 2133) meaning high, lofty, and raised up.

The word tithes is the Hebrew word ma’aser (Strong’s # 4643 / TWOT #1711) meaning tenth part or payment of a tenth part, from the root word ashar (TWOT #1714) meaning to be rich, or to enrich. “A faithful man [obeying YHVH’s Word] shall abound with blessings; but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent” (Proverbs 28:20).

YHVH commanded the Children of Israel to bring freely, from their hearts, the offerings (tithes) for the building of the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:1-9). Once the Tabernacle was built, YHVH commanded the freewill offerings to be used to maintain the Tabernacle (Leviticus 27:30-34). In Numbers 18:8-32 this same tithe was commanded for maintaining those who served in the courts of YHVH and for those who taught and maintained the Tabernacle. The earthly Tabernacle was always to be a shadow of the heavenly dwelling of YHVH. Both the Tabernacle and the Torah were to act like tutors to guide the Children of Israel and show them how to dwell and have intimacy with YHVH. Both portrayed the Messiah.

YHVH knew the physical Temple would be destroyed, as its purpose would be fulfilled at the coming of the Messiah. He also knew there would be a remnant with the pattern of the Tabernacle on their hearts who would choose to walk in that Temple pattern and conform to its laws for magnifying the Glory of YHVH in our day (Ezekiel 43:10-12). Whoever is maintaining the Temple and teaching about the Sabbath, the Feast days and the difference between clean and unclean – they are the true priests today (Ezekiel 44:23-24). This is where our tithe resides. YHVH called the tithe a lasting commandment throughout our generations. This tribute becomes our seed in our hearts. What we sow we will reap. This is the harvest from YHVH. The field is ripe for harvest because the people have been sowing, as the tithe is physical as well as spiritual. It is a principle that governs the earth and carries an anointing for those who obey. As a people of YHVH we are to plant the tithes to reap the fullness. Grain represents people – the harvest! The tithe we give is for our benefit; we are both the sowers and the harvesters.

Numbers 18:19 Covenant of Salt (also see reference below)

The offerings and the tithe are an everlasting covenant of salt for the priests and their offspring forever.

What is salt? The Hebrew word for salt is melach (Strong’s #H4417), which is very close to the Hebrew word for king, melek (Strong’s # H4428). Salt was obtained from large quarries located on the southwest side of the Dead Sea. Salt and oil were always to be part of the minchah/grain offering. Salt also accompanied the burnt/elevation offerings. Ezekiel 43:24 notes that the priests will cast salt on the elevation/burnt offerings in the millennial age. The incense offering, the symbol of public worship to YHVH, must also be seasoned with salt (Exodus 30:35; Leviticus 2:13).

The term covenant of salt was applied to the perpetual statute by which offerings and tithes were to be given to the priests (Numbers 18:19). The covenant established with David, whereby he was accorded an everlasting reign over Israel, was also a covenant of salt. Looking more closely we discover the qualities of salt are attributes and characteristics that closely resemble the characteristics of the priesthood.

Should you not know that YHVH God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David forever, to him and his sons, by a covenant of salt? (2 Chronicles 13:5 ref. 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Leviticus 2:13; Hebrews 7:1-28)

Salt, tithe and priesthood are all linked together in scripture by covenant. Together they represent a covenant of preservation and protection, a pledge of loyalty, a preserving substance, the prevention of disease and a cleansing agent.

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one (Colossians 4:6).

The contamination of the heart shows up in a physical form as mildew and bacteria in our bodies and blood stream. That is why the apostle Paul said “our speech should always be full of grace and seasoned with salt.”

According to Hebrews 13:15, we are to offer “slaughter offerings” to YHVH continually, no longer from our hands but from our lips. The “us” in Hebrews 13:15 is Renewed Covenant Israel, the House of Israel and the House of Judah and their companions (Hebrews 8:8-12; Jeremiah 31:31; Ezekiel 37:15-28).

We must season these sacrifices with salt. What kind of salt? The Name of YHVH according to Hebrews 13:15.  We are to continue these salt offerings as children of the salt covenant, salted with the preservation and guarding power of the only true eternal “salt” Name of YHVH.  All offerings must be salted and bound to the altar with the Name coming from our lips.  Yeshua said, “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that Name you gave me” (John 17:12).

According to 2 Chronicles 13:5, YHVH has given the kingdom to David and to David’s seed Israel FOREVER “by a covenant of salt.” Since we are heirs of David’s physical Kingdom, (Romans 8:17) we are the children of David, and the heirs of this eternal friendship covenant of and by salt. Messiah Yeshua came from David’s loins, and thus His throne in Israel as Messiah, and the Tabernacle in which He ministers in the heavens, are both established by David’s salt covenant with YHVH, that has been renewed by Messiah Himself, as the “Greater David” over both houses of Israel. His lineage and throne are both established by a covenant of salt. If Messiah Yeshua rules on David’s throne, then the people He rules over cannot, by definition, be a so called “gentile church” but must be the heirs of the salt covenant of all the children of Jacob both from the Jewish tribes and the non-Jewish ten tribes of Israel (Luke 1:33). YHVH’s covenant was, is and always will be with Judah and Ephraim, and their companions (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hebrews 8:8-10).  Yeshua’s blood, along with His friendship covenant of salt, guarantees Israel’s eternal security as Yeshua’s bride.”

This is what YHVH says: "If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, then my covenant with David my servant-- and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me – can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne" (Jeremiah 33:20-21).

That is how powerful the covenant of salt is. Reversing Israel’s position as YHVH’s only bride is as impossible as reversing YHVH’s bond with nature. When nature ceases then Israel and Israel’s Torah will cease. Salt covenants and ordinances cannot be altered, changed, done away with, repealed, broken or changed.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men (Matthew 5:13).

This is what happens when we take the Scriptures and discard the eternal ordinances of salt and the tithe. Some professing believers, who have taken the salt (scriptures), throw out the eternal parts of salt because either they do not like them or do not understand them. Since the throne of Israel was established by a salt covenant, and since we are the sons and daughters of that Davidic Kingdom, then Yeshua is saying to us today, “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13) or “YOU ARE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL!” and “I have come to regather the children of salt back into their own kingdom” – a kingdom that never was a Jewish kingdom, since the “Jews” did not leave Egypt nor receive the Torah; Israel did, all Twelve Tribes. Yeshua also declared, “I have come only for the lost sheep of the House of Israel” (all Twelve Tribes). He directly correlates them back to their physical ancestors who stood at Sinai’s base and received the living oracles of salt to be offered in worship back to YHVH for all eternity. As children of salt, we are to bring the salt of Torah and Messiah to all of Israel. This is our work, vision and mission today! (Isaiah 8:14-16; 8:20; 1 Peter 2:8)

Everyone will be [future imperative] salted with fire (Mark 9:49).

The above passage is a reference to Leviticus 2:13 "Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings." We are living sacrifices and offerings.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of YHVH's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to YHVH – this is your spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1).

Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other (Mark 9:50).

What the scripture above is speaking to is the importance of not leaving the eternal parts of the salt covenant behind, such as the tithe offerings.  Those who have salt in themselves, and walk out Torah principles in their own lives and with their brethren (Ezekiel 37:23-24), are no longer Jew or Gentile in the faith of Messiah. All are Israelites and all are being summoned to a state of blessed return from spiritual and physical exile.

Shabbat Shalom,
Carl and Julie Parker

References:
Restoring Israel’s Kingdom by Angus Wootten

Redeemed Israel by Batya Wootten

Call to Torah by Rabbi Elie Munk Mesorah Publications, Ltd

TWOT: Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament by Harris, Archer, Waltke. Moody Press

Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Plants by F. Nigel Hepper

Vayikra Leviticus 1:1 to 5:26 www.sheepfoldgleanings.com

Leviticus 2003-2005 series STBM

Further Salt Covenant teaching: Leviticus 2:13: viewed at: www.sheepfoldgleanings.com

The Stone Edition Chumash by Artscroll

Orphan’s Heart STBM

Past Parshot: www.messianicisrael.com/sheepfold-gleanings/
Sheepfold Gleanings written by Carl and Julie Parker: www.sheepfoldgleanings.com
Parsha Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
2008 © Sheepfold Gleanings