News Letter 5849-015
14th day of the 3rd month
5849 years after the creation of Adam
The 3rd Month in the Fourth year of the third Sabbatical Cycle
The Third Sabbatical Cycle of the 119th Jubilee Cycle
The Sabbatical Cycle of Earthquakes Famines, and Pestilences

May 25, 2013

Shabbat Shalom Brethren,

We will not comment in this weeks News Letter about the F5 Tornado in Oklahoma.

Shavuot is now in our rear view mirror. And did you learn anything about it and the plan of Salvation it teaches you? We will expand on this in this weeks News letter to help you get to even higher levels of understanding Yehovah’s Plan.

But first I want to share with you some letters.

We have told you of the vineyard in Israel and the problems and challenges it has gone through. You go and see more about our project at http://www.shefaisrael.com and make sure you do look at the videos Boaz and Rinah have shared with us at http://www.shefaisrael.com/vineyard-update.html

One Lady wrote in this week to say;

Grandpa Joe,
Please put this towards the vineyard. We were sad to hear about the damage but feel the project is important and must go on.

Signed Canada Nana. From BC

Brethren yes this project is important. It is being watched by many the world over. Boaz believes as most Jews do that the next Sabbatical Year begins at Rosh Hashanah, or the Feast of Trumpets 2014. That is next fall.

All of the Jews today base this belief on the findings of Zucherman who based his research on that of Rabbi Jose who wrote the Seder Olam changing history and facts in order to make Simon Bar Kochba the Messiah. All the sages have since believed the information of the Seder Olam from that time down to today even though they know the facts to be false.

Others believe that it begins in the Rosh Hashanah in 2015 based on the finding of Wacholder who also based his work on that of Rabbi Jose and the Seder Olam.

We explain this in detail in our book on page 209, “Remembering the Sabbatical Years of 2016”, which you can order through our web site.

We believe the Sabbatical Year begins at Aviv and that the next Sabbatical year is to begin at Aviv in 2016. Again we lay out all of our proof’s for you to weigh and judge and prove whether this is true or not in the book.

I kept the Sabbatical year here in Ontario Canada on my small property in 2009-2010. I believe I have been blessed for doing this.

Now we have set out to show the world the blessings for keeping the Sabbatical year and letting the land rest in a Vineyard in Israel.

In the summer of 2013 we negotiated with Boaz and Rinah Dreyer to lease us a tenth part of the 10 Dunam that was planted with grape vines, from now until the Jubilee year in 2045. In return we would finance the planting of 3000 grape vines including trellising, and supplying of water. This also includes some herb plants as well. This was done and I was there at the beginning of it with a few others to pound in the posts needed for the electric fencing around the property.

We began this project in the fall of 2013 at Sukkot. They have suffered from blistering winds and sand storms over this winter. That was followed by flooding rains and most recently by Locust. Swarms of Locusts. And this is just the first 7 months since we started.

This desert area is the same area where Isaac lived and Isaacs well is just a few miles north of us as is Jacobs well. A few miles east of us is the well of Moses and right near by that well, is the well of Aaron. We are just ½ mile from the original well of Abraham’s mother-in-law, Milkah right along the Egyptian border on the Sinai Peninsula.

Of all the places in Israel to plant a Vineyard this could not have been the most harshest of areas to do so. And yet this is the area Yehovah has led us to last year. I would never have chosen this place. But Yehovah made this event come about and found us Jewish citizens who were willing to work with us and except our conditions.

Those conditions are, that during the Jewish Sabbatical year our 10% of the vines will be pruned and if ready, harvested in all years including the Jewish Sabbatical years. During the year of 2016, our 10% of the vines will not be pruned and will not be harvested which is the Sabbatical Years as proven from history. And then we will see how Yehovah blesses our actions.

Because the vines are classed as trees, nothing can be harvested until the 4th year in which all the fruit is Yehovahs. Here is the way Judah counts the years.

Rosh Hashanah 2012 to RH 2013 is one year.
RH 2013 to RH 2014 is two Years.
RH 2014 to RH 2015 is three Years This is also the Jewish Sabbatical Year
RH 2015 to RH 2016 is the fourth Year

And here is the way we count the years from Aviv.

Aviv 2012-Aviv 2013 Year one.
Aviv 2013-Aviv 2014 Year two
Aviv 2014-Aviv 2015 Year three
Aviv 2015-Aviv 2016 Year four All the fruit is Yehovah. But the Sabbatical Year begins in Aviv 2016 and goes to Aviv 2017.

Lev 19:23 And when you shall come into the land, and shall have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count the fruit of them as uncircumcised. It shall be uncircumcised three years to you. It shall not be eaten. 24 But in the fourth year all the fruit of them shall be holy to praise Jehovah. 25 And in the fifth year you shall eat of the fruit of it, so that it may yield to you its increase. I am Jehovah your God.

So according to Jewish understanding they will harvest the grapes in the fall of 2016, after Rosh Hashanah, which is still going to be our Sabbatical Year. Our section will not be harvested nor pruned that year.

In the year 2017 all of our grapes will then be harvested and given to Yehovah in order to fulfill Lev 19:24. After that we can reap the rewards of our efforts and then see.

So yes this is an important project to be maintained and supported by all of us in both prayers and financial aid. It is a witness to the world of when the Sabbatical Years are. SO please do not neglect this project in your support.

On another hand we also have been blessed this year of 2013 with two other opportunities to share with the world the teachings about the Sabbatical and Jubilee years.

We were looking for someone to video tape our teachings at Sukkot. We were then told of someone who said they could do it. This is the same person who has done Passion for Truth Ministries and 119 ministries.

The cost for his work and post production work as well as cameras was going to be about $15,000.

The very next day we were contacted by the another production company. The very same company that just produced the Time Will Tell Series with Keith Johnson. This is the same man who did Michael Rood and before that Pat Boone. And it also turns out to be the son of one of my friends from Israel. A small world.

I have written about these two to you before. And I have asked you to help raise the money needed to get started. And many of you have responded because you also know that the Sabbatical Years are a key part of the plan of Yehovah and everyone needs to know and learn about them. So your help has been encouraging.

But the we need to raise hundreds of thousands in order to crack the TV market with our message.

I have said I would wait until the end of May 2013 and see how the response has been from you the brethren to this cause. Once I saw the amount given then I could decide who I would have to use in order to get out this message.

With the destruction of the vines by the Locust the past few weeks we sent Boaz and Rinah the last $5000 we had for the vineyard so they could replant. But we also received from you $5000 towards the recording of this message.

With out my prompting or writing, both production groups wrote me on Thursday to advice me that we could renegotiate the cost and do some other things to bring down the price.

It showed me they were both interested still, in working with us and the price they said was almost the amount we already had. Still a little shy.

One needs me in Charlotte as soon as possible to do a Promo video. IN fact it would be almost ready to be used as our first TV video by the time he was done with it.

And both of these opportunities happened on the same day.

I want to share with you the second one. You are the ones who are going to make or break this effort and you have already invested in it.

Shalom Joseph!

I apologize that it has taken so long to get together a proposal for you. Thanks again for sending the information for me to look over…If you see on face book Keith’s latest face book post actually shows two of the books on our conference table in the creative house haha,

I think that the best thing to do is going to be to have you come out and shoot in Charlotte at the studio a couple of things. #1 to create a video that lets people know what you are working on and trying to get out. And #2 to build a web page online that would have that video, and also ways that people could support the project.

I have come up with a few ideas about how to actually film your project for less, and still have television quality. I think that we would release it online first, and on DVD, and then we could look at a few options for television times if we could find people to support the air time cost once we have started to release the programs.

I am excited to talk with you about moving forward soon!

I can only give an estimated cost at this point as we still need to talk about some of the details, but we should be able to shoot our first promotional video, create the web page to promote it, and actually help promote this video online and help you with your social media etc to get started for around $5,000.

And like I said, I have found a way to film the actual information that will be much more affordable then if we had to do it other ways… We have a studio sir!

Let me know when you have some time for a phone meeting so we can talk about your schedule, and when we can get you out to our studio to get this projecting going!

Time is ticking, lets get your project out to the world before this calendar year’s end!

Be blessed,

So now you know this is really taking shape and we still need your on going support.

Dear Joseph,

By now I have read your message. May be you are right and you have repented from your sin. Nevertheless the plaque did not stop. You have repented for your own sin as David did.
This is a good thing to do.

But you have not made atonement for the peoples sin having aborted the unborn children.. Their are millions! It is my strong belief that the plaque will not stop until you bring that sin into light and people start to get aware of it and stand in the gap like Aaron did for Israel. We all have to intercede for the killing of these unborn.
You got the voice. My voice is not heard and I don’t have a web site.
Don’t forget about the 10 commandments beside the Sabbatical Years. Please don’t look down to a widow like me who got also prophetic sight from the Father and try to consider …

Shabbat Shalom!
Thailand

Let your heart be comforted Joseph and know that you stand as an example to many may Yah bless you and have favour over you it takes a true man of Yah to be this humble it will not go unnoticed in the Heavenlies selah

Shalom to you and yours
South Africa

Thank you for your humble honesty in this most recent newsletter. Humility, unfortunately, is not a fruit that you see very often these days.
Have a wonderful Pentecost.
Jessica

Shalom Joe,

Now I know why you didn’t reply to my email about when we were supposed to ask Yehowah for the blessing! I thought it was odd, but figured you were just busy. Now I understand. Anyway, we ended up quoting Deut. on the 7th day of the month of Abib, along with praying for friends and family.

Thank you for your brutal honesty, which helps us all deal with our own shortcomings. We forgive you, brother. And I am sure Yehowah forgives you too after you make restitution. Just look at all your pay stubs from Sukkot to Abib and figure out what you owe. Then, personally, I would double it, based on the scriptural standard of restitution. Of course, I am not an expert and don’t know if withholding money is the same as stealing. Whatever you decide, I urge you to make the first payment asap; perhaps Yehowah will turn from his wrath. He has shown great mercy in this “spanking”; it could have been much, much worse. The good news is that he loves you so much that he wants to develop your character. 🙂 So we have to plant again? So be it. Let’s live and learn.

The good news is that your repentance could not come at a better time. I have learned from Set Apart People that we are to “Proclaim Repentance” on Sabbath! Check out the following 3 articles:

1. What are you proclaiming on Shavuot?
http://www.setapartpeople.com/sins-fathers-spiritual-warfare-part-3

2. Trip Report – Shavuot – Our Proclamation
http://www.setapartpeople.com/trip-report-shavout-proclamation

3. All that YHVH has spoken we will do!…a message for Shavuot
http://www.setapartpeople.com/all-that-yhvh-has-spoken-we-will-do-a-message-for-shavuot?

So, personally I will be proclaiming Daniel 1, Nehemiah 1, Isaiah 58, and the following (from the last link above) tomorrow on Shabuot:

Song of Three Youths 1–22
1 They walked around in the midst of the flames, singing hymns to Elohim and blessing YHVH. 2 Then Azariah stood still in the fire and prayed aloud: 3 “Blessed are you, O YHVH, Elohim of our ancestors, and worthy of praise; and glorious is your name forever! 4 For you are just in all you have done; all your works are true and your ways right, and all your judgments are true. 5 You have executed true judgments in all you have brought upon us and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our ancestors; by a true judgment you have brought all this upon us because of our sins. 6 For we have sinned and broken your law in turning away from you; in all matters we have sinned grievously. 7 We have not obeyed your commandments, we have not kept them or done what you have commanded us for our own good. 8 So all that you have brought upon us, and all that you have done to us, you have done by a true judgment. 9 You have handed us over to our enemies, lawless and hateful rebels, and to an unjust king, the most wicked in all the world. 10 And now we cannot open our mouths; we, your servants who worship you, have become a shame and a reproach. 11 For your name’s sake do not give us up forever, and do not annul your covenant. 12 Do not withdraw your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham your beloved and for the sake of your servant Isaac and Israel your holy one, 13 to whom you promised to multiply their descendants like the stars of heaven and like the sand on the shore of the sea. 14 For we, O YHVH, have become fewer than any other nation, and are brought low this day in all the world because of our sins. 15 In our day we have no ruler, or prophet, or leader, no burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, no place to make an offering before you and to find mercy. 16 Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted, 17 as though it were with burnt offerings of rams and bulls, or with tens of thousands of fat lambs; such may our sacrifice be in your sight today, and may we unreservedly follow you, for no shame will come to those who trust in you. 18 And now with all our heart we follow you; we fear you and seek your presence. 19 Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in your patience and in your abundant mercy. 20 Deliver us in accordance with your marvelous works, and bring glory to your name, O YHVH. 21 Let all who do harm to your servants be put to shame; let them be disgraced and deprived of all power, and let their strength be broken. 22 Let them know that you alone are YHVH Elohim, glorious over the whole world.”2

On another note, I want to share with you what I’ve been learning to avoid this predicament of not being able to pay the tithe in the future. I have been reading a book from “America’s Cheapest Family” and am learning incredible things to avoid financial stress and heartache. As for the repairs on your machinery, begin to start setting aside a set amount in your bank account each paycheck. This will bulk up your “repair fund” to be able to repair your equipment as needed. That way you are not stressed when that happens. If your machinery is getting old and you need something newer, figure out the number of months until they need replaced, divided by how much you want to spend on a replacement, which equals a monthly “payment” you will pay to yourself. So when the time comes for replacement, you will have already saved for it! No financial stress and no borrowing at interest. It sounds so simple, yet so very few of us have been taught to save in advance for major purchases and stop living paycheck-to-paycheck.

Likewise, we should all have an emergency medical fund (your maximum out-of-pocket expense for a single year; an emergency home repair fund (1% of the value of your home); emergency travel fund if you have family living across the country ($500 per person); unemployment fund (3-6 months living expenses); and a car replacement fund (# months until replacement ÷ how much you want to spend = monthly payment to yourself).

I am just learning these things, along with other budgeting tips. How many times do we hear of our brother losing his job and not being able to afford rent or food, or a car breaking and not being able to fix or replace it, or getting in an accident and not being able to pay medical bills, or a refrigerator going out, or the roof blowing off, or…just being stuck between a rock and a hard place? One thing I am learning is that “if we fail to plan, we will plan to fail.” So Joe, perhaps these tips can help you build up some emergency funds for the future so you will not be so financially stressed again. Here I am calling the kettle black. I need to start budgeting, too.

Chin up! Smile that Yehowah has his eye on you. 🙂

IN last weeks Torah annual Torah portion the answer to making this right was given. It is as if Yehovah is speaking directly to me and to all of us that have sinned.

Num 5:5 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 6 Speak to the sons of Israel: When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to commit a trespass against Jehovah, and that person is guilty, 7 then they shall confess their sin which they have done. And he shall make restitution for his guilt in full, and add to it one fifth of it, and give it to him against whom he has sinned.

So for every $100 dollars that was not given then $120 must be paid. That is adding in a fifth to it.

The Day after I posted this confession to you all, I received a note from Boaz.

Shalom my brother
Our fight with the locusts has abated for the while. There are however mature swarms again in Egypt ready to cross over with the winds. We need to pray that the prevailing winds are reversed and that the locusts get blown somewhere else! B”H!

Thank you so much for the funding. We have been pledged some more from friends in Switzerland and when this arrives we will be at our target for all the new plants. They have been ordered and as soon as we get a green light from the ministry of Agriculture we will start replanting. I expect this to be around the first or second week of June. Should you here of anyone wanting to come and give us a hand at planting – should take a week to ten days tops – we could do with the help.

You and Ray will be pleased to learn that our deck is fully enclosed and fly free! Really is a blessing to be able to sit out there now!

We are still reeling after all the many hours of spraying and will get a detailed summary out hopefully for your weekend news letter.

Once again many thanks to you and the brethren for the valued help
Much love from the Negev
Boaz and Rinah

P.S. We need to re-date the Sabbatical experiment as the vines will not yet be producing harvestable fruit and therefore do not qualify for the upcoming Sabbatical year.

I then sent out a quick note at the beginning of Shavuot that my friends from Holland sent out in their News Letter about how Shavuot is the time for national repentance.

I had forgotten this in all our troubles. And yet this was exactly what we were doing; Individually and as a group. When I wrote that news letter confessing my errors I knew I was not the only one.

Joseph, here it is 3 days after you sent this news letter… and three days of YHVH speaking to me before, during and after Shavuot…. repent! The Set Apart People teachings, the message by my own Pastor in a 3 part, two hour message on Shavuot, Repent! I know now I was reluctant to read this news letter because I would have to do something about “it” and I would have to face what “it” is.

Thank you for your example and this word, as I seek His face and His correction for myself.

USA

Brethren Yehovah is working with us. I know this for fact now. He is correcting us as we need it and He has used the one thing that everyone will see, the Vineyard.

Our obedience and our disobedience is going to be reflected in the success or the failure of the vineyard. We need to understand that The Land has vomited us out in history and it will do so again if we do not obey. And did you notice what Boaz said, there are more swarms of locust in Egypt that could arrive if the wind so direct them. I am pleased to know that it is Yehovah who directs the winds and can blow the swarms away from the vineyard should he so choose.

To all of those I have short changed in this I will be sending out something over the coming the weeks until I have completed my duty and responsibility to my brethren.

I have had to share all of this with you and some of it to my own shame. I am human and I will make mistakes in the future. I am still growing. But at the same time we have a job to get done and that is getting this message of the Sabbatical Years and the curses for not keeping them, out to the world. After 7 years of learning this and growing in the understanding of it, we have now come to our 8th year. Which in the bible is the time when something has been purified and made ready to be used by Yehovah.
It is now time.

This week I want to continue one with a few of the teachings we have shared with you about the Plan of Salvation. In my conversations with people and emails I am hearing just how little many of you actually understand here.

So many of you still have one foot firmly planted in the church you came out of or kicked out of and you have the other foot still testing the waters of this new walk you have begun with the Hebrew faith being put back into it.

Leave your stinken Christian thinken with all the other false and wrong baggage at the door and learn from your bible the truths and hold on to them with all you have. Stop eating at the tree of good and evil and begin to eat from Yehovah’s tree of life.

IN the past number of years we have explained many times about the Wave Offering of Passover and Pentecost. It is so profound and so exciting to understand this and the enormous ramifications it has for our won immediate future.

You can check each year during the counting of the Omer the articles I have provided in order to explain this great event. And yet I still hear how little people understand this. So you can go and review, here are just three of the ones I have shared. The last two in the pass few weeks.

• Newsletter 5842-018    Pentecost’s Hidden Meaning
• Newsletter 5849-007    Feast of Oaths
• Newsletter 5849-012    Born Again and Shavuot

In a nut shell we are saying that the Saints were first resurrected for the first time in history at the Wave offering ceremony during Passover when Yehshua came out of the grave and led a host of captives with Him to Heaven. Up until that time no man had ever gone to heaven.

Joh 3:13 And no one has ascended up to Heaven except He who came down from Heaven, the Son of Man who is in Heaven.

This means that Enoch and Moses and Elijah were not in heaven and never went to Heaven as many of you still believe they did. If you are right then Yehshua is a liar.

We learn by keeping the Feast of Shavuot, Pentecost that the next wave offering is with wheat which is what we are suppose to be. And we learn in Revelation that this takes place in the last year of the Great Tribulation at Shavuot when the 144,000 are raised up And those who are asleep as Paul says will also be raised from the grave and those of us who are alive in the twinkle of an eye will be changed.

All of this takes place at Shavuot and it is not until you understand the Sabbatical Years and how the Holy Days fit in with the Sabbatical Years that you then understand this last year of the great tribulation takes place in the year 2033.

If all of this is foreign to you then please go and read the articles I have suggested above. Your Christian stinken thinken has deceived you if your thinken when you die you then go to heaven at that same time. NOT TRUE!!

But we have explained this many times and I am not about to here. I want to talk about the Holy Day that many never keep. That many just ignore and do not consider. It is in fact what all the other Holy Days of Lev 23 are pointing to. The whole purpose of all the Holy Days are to get to this one.

Lev 23:33 And Jehovah spoke to Moses saying, 34 Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to Jehovah. 35 On the first day shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no work of labor. 36 Seven days you shall offer a fire offering to Jehovah. On the eighth day shall be a holy convocation to you. And you shall offer a fire offering to Jehovah. It is a solemn assembly. And you shall do no work of labor.

Lev 23:39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep a feast to Jehovah seven days. On the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.

That is it. That is all we are told about this 8th day. Just that it is a Holy Day.

When I was with the Churches of God this was the day to check out of the hotel. To pay the final bill and pack up the car and as soon as that last song was sung, as soon as that closing prayer was said and the amen uttered, the mad dash to get on the road and going home took place.

In fact people were so busy planning how to get out and on their way home that they rarely heard the message on this day. But most of them broke this SABBATH DAY by packing and paying bills and by not keeping it Holy. Some in fact never kept it at all especially when it prevented you from getting back to work having taken just 7 days off for the Feast.

You are commanded to keep Seven Days for Sukkot and then after the Last Great Day of the Feast, that is the 7th day then there is another Holy Day and it too is to be kept as Holy As Shavuot and the First high day of Sukkot or Passovers two holy days of Unleavened Bread or Atonement or Trumpets. But many never paid this 8th day the respect it deserves. And many still do not to this very day.

The Eighth Day: Eternal Life Offered to All

What does Yehovah have in mind for those who have never believed in the Messiah or understood any of Yehovah’s truth? How does the Creator provide for them in His plan?

The Bible makes abundantly clear in Acts 4.

Act 4:11 This is the Stone which you builders have counted worthless, and He has become the Head of the Corner. 12 And there is salvation in no other One; for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

This particular passage raises troubling questions for anyone who believes that Yehovah is desperately trying to save the whole world in this age. If this is the only time for salvation, we must conclude that Yehshua’s mission to save humanity has largely failed. After all, over the centuries billions of people have lived and died without once hearing the name of Yehshua. Even now thousands die every day never having heard of The Messiah.

In spite of the missionary zeal of so many over the centuries, far more human souls have been “lost” than “saved.” If Yehovah is truly all powerful, why have so many not even heard the gospel of salvation? The traditional portrayal of conflict between Yehovah and Satan over mankind leaves Yehovah on the losing side of the struggle.

What is the fate of these people? What does Yehovah have in mind for those who have never believed in the Messiah or understood any of Yehovah’s truth? How does the Creator provide for them in His plan? Are they lost forever without any hope of salvation?

We should not doubt Yehovah’s saving power! Let’s examine some common assumptions and come to an understanding of our Creator’s marvelous solution!

Resolving the dilemma

Paul tells us that Yehovah “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Peter adds that Yehovah is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

This is Yehovah’s overriding goal in dealing with mankind: He desires as many as possible to repent, come to the knowledge of the truth and receive His gift of salvation!

Yehshua explained how this will come to pass.

Joh 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee, for He did not desire to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2 And the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near. 3 Therefore His brothers said to Him, Move away from here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see the works that You do. 4 For no one does anything in secret, while he himself seeks to be in public. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world. 5 For His brothers did not believe in Him. 6 Then Jesus said to them, My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its works are evil. 8 You go up to this feast; I am not yet going up to this feast; for My time is not yet fulfilled. 9 And having said these things to them, He remained in Galilee. 10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as in secret. 11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast and said, Where is He? 12 And there was much murmuring among the crowd concerning Him, for some said, He is a good man; others said, No, but he deceives the crowd. 13 However, no one spoke openly of Him, because of the fear of the Jews. 14 Now about the middle of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught.

Here John 7 describes how Yehshua went to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. He appeared publicly and stood in the midst of the people.

Joh 7:37 And in the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” 39 (But He spoke this about the Spirit, which they who believed on Him should receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Yeshua’s message recorded here most likely was given on the seventh and last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Scholars vary on whether this was the seventh day or the day following. This is because Leviticus 23 says that the Feast of Tabernacles lasts for seven days yet is followed by an annual Holy Day immediately afterward on “the eighth day” (verses 33-36, 39). But the weight of evidence and the series of events indicate that John 7 describes incidents on the seventh day while the setting moves to the eighth day in John 8 and 9.

The Eighth Day, the only name the Bible gives this day, has, based on the wording of John 7, come to be known to some as the Last Great Day. Yet it is evidently not “the last day, that great day of the feast” on which Yehshua spoke.

The Eighth Day, we should realize, is a separate festival with its own distinct meaning. Nevertheless, its attachment to the end of the Feast of Tabernacles shows that themes of the weeklong celebration carry over into it. And the words Yehshua spoke at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles anticipated not only what will happen during His 1,000-year reign, but also what will happen on an even greater scale immediately afterward.

Symbolism of Yeshua’s teaching

What was the significance of Yeshua’s teaching about “living water”? In His day, according to tradition, during the Feast of Tabernacles the priests would bring golden vessels of water from the Pool of Siloam on the south side of Jerusalem and pour it over the altar. Joyous celebration along with the sounding of trumpets marked this ceremony as the people sang the words of Isaiah: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). They were looking to Yehovah to provide needed rains for their crops and, in an ultimate sense, for Him to pour out His Holy Spirit on them.

Isa 44:3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground. I will pour My spirit on your seed, and My blessing on your offspring;

Yehshua stood where all could hear Him and drew a lesson from the water, revealing that all who were thirsty could come to Him and be refreshed— forever. In Yehshua’s statement, too, the water represented the Holy Spirit, which those who believed in the Messiah would receive (John 7:39). He showed that the basic wants of spiritual thirst and hunger could be satisfied only by Him as “the bread of life” and the source of living water.

Joh 6:47 Truly, truly, I say to you, He who believes on Me has everlasting life. 48 I am the Bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and died. 50 This is the Bread which comes down from Heaven, so that a man may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread, he shall live forever. And truly the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

With all this in mind we should ask: When would Yehovah’s Spirit become available to all who are spiritually thirsty? Consider that even though thousands came to believe in The Messiah soon afterward, the vast majority of the ancient pagan world of His day still remained in darkness—as did most of the Jewish people. And not much has changed over the centuries, as even many of those who profess Christianity don’t really understand Messiah’s teachings.

Humanity still hungers and thirsts for the message Yehshua brought—and for the means to live as they ought to and find true happiness. Yehovah’s promise to “pour out My Spirit on all flesh” has not yet been fulfilled except in a small, preliminary way among the few He has called in this age. Only when Yehshua returns will this be fulfilled on a global scale. But billions have died with their deepest spiritual needs unrealized. When will they be refreshed by the life-giving power of Yehovah’s Spirit?

Joe 2:28 And it shall be afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams; your young men shall see visions.

A physical resurrection to an opportunity for salvation
Many prophecies in Scripture speak of a restored and reunited nation of Israel. On one level this will be fulfilled when Yehshua returns and rules over Israel and all nations.
But notice another prophecy in Ezekiel

Eze 37:3 And he said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord Jehovah, You know. 4 Again He said to me, Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the Word of Jehovah. 5 So says the Lord Jehovah to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live. And you shall know that I am Jehovah.

This passage describes Ezekiel’s vision of a valley full of bones. Yehovah asks, “Son of man, can these bones live?” To which the prophet replies: “O Lord God, You know.” Yehovah then says to the bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”

In this vision a physical resurrection takes place. The account acknowledges the hopeless situation in which these people had found themselves: “Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!” (verse 11).

Their Creator, however, offers them the hope of a resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit in the setting of a reunited nation. In this dramatic vision, ancient Israel serves as the model for all peoples, whom Yehovah will resurrect to physical life. He said: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves . . . I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live” (verses 12, 14). At this future time Yehovah will make freely available the life-giving spiritual water of His Holy Spirit.

Yehovah will “make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them . . . My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (verses 26-27).

The apostle Paul also referred to this yet-future event: “I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew” (Romans 11:1-2). As Paul wrote, “all Israel will be saved” (verse 26).

Yet not only Israel, but all who have never had a chance to drink from the living waters of God’s Word and His Holy Spirit will at last be able to do so (Romans 9:22-26). God will freely offer them the opportunity for eternal life.

Rom 9:22 What if God, willing to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction; 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy which He had before prepared to glory; 24 whom He also called, not only us, of Jews, but also of the nations? 25 As He also says in Hosea, “I will call those not My people, My people; and those not beloved, Beloved.” 26 And it shall be, in the place where it was said to them. “You are not My people; there they shall be called sons of the living God.”

The Great White Throne Judgment

In Revelation 20:5 we read of two resurections. The one that takes place at Shavuot with the Saints and the other at the end of the Millennium.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast nor his image, nor had received his mark on their foreheads, nor in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

John writes that “the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.” Here John makes a clear distinction between the first resurrection, which occurs at Christ’s second coming (verses 4, 6), and the second resurrection, which takes place at the end of Christ’s millennial reign. Remember that the first resurrection is to eternal life. By contrast, God raises those in the second resurrection to a physical, flesh-and-blood existence.

John discusses this same second resurrection to physical life that Ezekiel wrote about: “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works” (verses 11-13).

The dead who stand before their Creator are all those who died never knowing the true God. Like Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones coming back to life, these people emerge from their graves and begin to know Yehovah. The books (biblia in Greek, from which we get the word Bible ) apparently are the Scriptures, the only source of the knowledge of eternal life. Finally all will have an opportunity to fully understand Yehovah’s plan of salvation.

This physical resurrection is not a second chance for salvation. For these people it is a first opportunity to really know the Creator. The resurrected are “judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (verse 12). This judgment will involve a period during which they will enjoy the opportunity to hear, understand and grow in Yehvoah’s way of life, having their names inscribed in the Book of Life (verse 15). During this time billions of people will gain access to Yehovah’s gift of eternal life.

This final commanded festival of the year shows how deep and far reaching are the merciful judgments of Yehovah. Yehshua spoke of the wonderful truth depicted by this day when He compared three cities that failed to respond to His miraculous works with three cities of the ancient world:

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon [ancient pagan cities], they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you” (Matthew 11:21-24).

The inhabitants of ancient Tyre, Sidon and Sodom—cities that had incurred the anger of Yehvoah for their depravity—will receive mercy in the day of judgment. Unlike Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum of Yehshua’s day, these cities of old had little opportunity to know Yehovah. Yet He will ultimately resurrect these people just after the first 1,000 years of 7th millennium, including them in the time of judgment when even those who lived in bygone ages will be reconciled to Yehovah.

In similar examples, Yehshua refers to the people of the ancient pagan city of Nineveh, to the queen of the South (of Sheba) of Solomon’s time and again to ancient Sodom along with Gomorrah, these serving as the epitome of wickedness (Matthew 10:14-15; 12:41-42). Yehovah doesn’t tolerate perversion and sinfulness, but it is evident that He has not finished working in the lives of the people of these ancient generations. This requires that they be resurrected—brought to life again—and at last instructed in Yehovah’s ways.

Yehshua was describing a time during which people from all past ages—the long-dead people of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh and the biblical Queen of Sheba from Solomon’s time will rise with those from His generation and live at the same time.

Together they will all come to understand the truth about who The Messiah was and the purpose of life. It will be a time of universal knowledge of Yehovah. From the least to the greatest, all will know Him.

Hebrews 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Those whom Yehshua specifically mentioned, and countless more like them, will at last experience their opportunity for salvation.

This final period of judgment completes Yehovah’s plan of salvation for the world. It will be a time of love, deep mercy and the unsearchable judgment of Yehovah. The chance to drink of the life-giving waters of the Holy Spirit will indeed quench the deepest thirsts of men and women. This time of righteous judgment will bring back to life those long forgotten by humanity, but never forgotten by Yehovah.

What is the fate of those who die with no real knowledge of Torah and the Plan of Salvation? What hope is there for the billions who have lived and died without knowledge of Yehovah’s purpose? The Scriptures show that these are not cut off without hope. He will bring them back to life and give them their opportunity for eternal salvation!

Yehovah will see His plan through and bring many sons to glory.

Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

His promise to pour out His Spirit on all flesh will find its fullest manifestation. The thirst-quenching waters of the Holy Spirit will be available to all in the time depicted by the Eighth Day, the last of Yehovah’s annual festivals.

What a marvelous plan these biblical festivals portray. How great would be our lack of understanding without them!

Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Now let us step back and think a little. Ok for some of you that will be a lot.

We read about Aaron and his sins being consecrated for the Preisthood in Lev 8 and as they are getting ready Moses tells them to stay inside the Tabernacle for 7 days.

Lev 8:33 You shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation seven days, until the days of your consecration are at an end. For He shall consecrate you seven days. 34 As He has done this day, Jehovah has commanded you to do, to make an atonement for you. 35 And you shall remain at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of Jehovah, so that you do not die. For so I am commanded. 36 And Aaron and his sons did all the things which Jehovah commanded by the hand of Moses.

Lev 9:1 And it happened on the eighth day. Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel. 2 And he said to Aaron, Take a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram without blemish for a burnt offering, and offer before Jehovah. 3 And speak to the sons of Israel, saying, Take a kid of the goats for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb of the first year, all without blemish, for a burnt offering. 4 Also take a young bull and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before Jehovah, and a food offering mixed with oil. For today Jehovah will appear to you. 5 And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation. And all the congregation drew near and stood before Jehovah. 6 And Moses said, This is the thing which Jehovah commanded that you should do. And the glory of Jehovah shall appear to you. 7 And Moses said to Aaron, Go to the altar, and offer your sin offering and your burnt offerings, and make an atonement for yourself and for the people. And offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them, even as Jehovah commanded. 8 Aaron then went to the altar and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. 9 And the sons of Aaron brought the blood to him. And he dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar. 10 But he burned the fat and the kidneys and the lobe above the liver of the sin offering on the altar, even as Jehovah commanded Moses. 11 And he burned the flesh and the hide with fire outside the camp. 12 And he killed the burnt offering. And Aaron’s sons presented to him the blood, which he sprinkled all around on the altar. 13 And they presented the burnt offering to him, with the pieces of it, and the head. And he burned them on the altar. 14 And he washed the inward parts and the legs, and burned them on the burnt offering on the altar. 15 And he brought the people’s offering. And he took the he-goat, the sin offering for the people, and killed it and offered it for sin as the first. 16 And he brought the burnt offering and offered it according to the ordinance. 17 And he brought the food offering and took a handful of it, and burned it on the altar besides the burnt sacrifice of the morning. 18 He also killed the young bull and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings for the people. And Aaron’s sons presented to him the blood, which he sprinkled on the altar all around. 19 And they brought the fat of the young bull and of the ram, the fat tail, and that which covers the inward parts, and the kidneys, and the lobe above the liver. 20 And they put the fat on the breasts, and he burned the fat on the altar. 21 And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before Jehovah, as Moses commanded. 22 And Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and peace offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out and blessed the people. And the glory of Jehovah appeared to all the people. 24 And there came a fire out from before Jehovah, and burned up the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. And all the people saw and shouted and fell on their faces.

Do you see what has happened?

Aaron and his sons were purified for 7 days and then on the 8th day Yehovah appeared to them and consumed the burnt offering. I believe this was Atonement when this took place.

The first and most important relationship described in the Torah relating to the Eighth Day is covenant. For example, a male child is brought into covenant on the eighth day. It is on the eighth day that the naming ceremony and the Brit Milah (circumcision) are conducted. This is significant because without circumcision, the child is not considered fully Israel.

Lev 12:1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses saying, 2 Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, If a woman has conceived seed and has borne a male, then she shall be unclean seven days; as on the days of her menstrual impurity she shall be unclean. 3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

For this reason when David committed the adulterous sin with Bethsheba, the repercussions of his action caused him to lose the child before the Eighth Day. This loss resulted in David not being able to bring his child into covenant the way he and his forefathers had been brought into covenant as commanded by the Torah (Gen 17:10-15). With David unable to perform his duty because of his uncleanness of sin, his child never reached the age naming in Israel.

In fact, this practice of secluding themselves for purification is spoken of in Lev 8:33-35. There is also a similar passage relating to the future in Eze 43:26-27 where HaShem says: “Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish. Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves. And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.”

The final Torah relationship to the Eighth Day deals with acceptance for the purpose of fulfilling HaShem’s will. For example, when the Torah states: “When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD” (Leviticus 22:27). The passage makes it clear that sacrificial animals were to be left with the mother for a complete cycle of seven days. Then after the seventh day, and from that day forward they would be considered acceptable to be offered to HaShem. So literally on the Eighth Day they became acceptable.

Lev 14:8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water so that he may be clean. And after that he shall come into the camp, and shall stay outside his tent seven days. 9 But on the seventh day he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eye-brows; even all his hair shall he shave off. And he shall wash his clothes. He also shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean. 10 And on the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three-tenth parts of fine flour for a food offering, mixed with oil, and one log of oil.

We read of the importance of the 8th day and even the 8th year in many places.
The “eighth day” is mentioned thirteen times in the Pentateuch: Ex 22:29/30; Lev 9:1; 12:3; 14:10, 23; 15:14, 29; 22:27; 23:36, 39; Num 6:10; 7:54; and 29:35. The eighth year is mentioned in Lev 25:22. The number eight symbolized re-birth, restoration, and salvation.

Now consider that you have just counted 7 weeks of Sabbaths and that the 8th day after the seventh Sabbath was Shavuot.

At Sukkot you have 7 days and then you have the eighth day.

All of this is showing us the plan of salvation.

You have 7 Sabbatical cycles and then the 50th day is the Jubilee year.

All of this sevening and then the eighth is all tied in and related to each other.

And also consider this one more fact. I began to teach about the Sabbatical and Jubilee years in August of 2005 at Sukkot in Vermont for the first time publicly having just learned it at Passover that same year.

7 Years later, August 2012 began my 8th year. And not this message is being prepared to go on TV. I have to pause and think here. What is going on?

Another one to consider. We are at the end of the 6th millennial day. And then the seventh begins.

Many people believe they will see Yehshua at the beginning of the 7th Millennium. But that does not fit any of the patterns from Torah.

Knowing that Yehovah means Salvation and that Yehshua is Salvation then you all should be able to deduce that Yehovah is Yehshua. They are one in the same. So Yehshua is not coming back at the beginning of the Seventh to dwell on earth.

But the 8th Day Holy Day shows us that Yehovah will dwell with man in the 8th Millennium.

Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they might shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Rev 22:3 And every curse will no longer be; but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will serve Him. 4 And they will see His face, and His name will be in their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there. And they need no lamp, or light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light. And they will reign forever and ever.

It is in the 8th Millennium that Yehovah/ Yehshua will come and dwell on earth with man. It is at this time that the sun and the moon will not be seen because of the radiance of Yehovah/Yehshua from the throne in Jerusalem. For this reason there is not a ninth Millennium.

Now do you understand why this 8th Day Holy Day is so important? It is the time when Yehovah will come to dwell on this earth and will reign here forever. It takes the earth 7 Millennial days to get ready, to be purified so that Yehovah can come and dwell here. He will not dwell with sin so it must be cleansed.

This is shown in all the purification teachings. But mostly when Aaron and his sons first got ready. They stayed in the tabernacle for 7 days and then sacrificed on the 8th day and then they Saw Yehovah devour the burnt offering. The whole congregation saw it. Why does no one celebrate this event? No instead they corrupt themselves and keep a pagan day and call it Chanukah which has nothing to do with anything Yehovah is doing.

We will see Yehovah on the 8th Millennial day and this is what the Jubilee Years and Shavuot shows us. Are you getting ready?

Triennial Torah Cycle

Triennial Torah Reading Cycle

Deut 19        1 Chron 25-29        1 Tim 1-3

Cities of Refuge, Manslaughter and Deterrence (Deuteronomy 19)

Moses commands Israel to set aside three cities of refuge in the land west of the Jordan just as three cities had already been set aside in the land east of the Jordan for any manslayer—one who killed another person accidentally (see Numbers 35:9-29; Deuteronomy 4:41-43). Such a person could flee to any of these cities to escape a possible execution by an avenger of blood (a close relative of the victim), but he had to stay there until the high priest died (19:1-13; Numbers 35:25). Further, as Numbers 35:12 shows, the cities of refuge were established so that the manslayer could flee there in order to be tried fairly.

Several points should be considered here:

The perpetrator was only saved from death if he was a “manslayer,” that is, if the death of the victim was caused accidentally (compare Numbers 35:15). Several examples are given throughout scripture to illustrate accidental conduct (which might not be the same as man’s understanding of an “accident.”) This would include unintentional or ignorant or unknowing conduct (Deuteronomy 19:4; compare margin in King James Version)—for example, the perpetrator kills a person by throwing a stone without knowing that the victim is there (compare Numbers 35:23). It would also include unintentional conduct—the perpetrator kills a person without wanting to do it (compare Deuteronomy 19:5; Numbers 35:22). On the other hand, if the perpetrator hated the victim in the past, he had to be executed (Deuteronomy 19:4, 6, 11; Numbers 35:20-21). Also, if he struck the victim intentionally with a stone, an iron implement, or a wooden hand weapon, even though he might not have hated the victim (Numbers 35:16-18), he was still considered deserving of death.

In addition, the accidental manslayer was not considered innocent, as his conduct, albeit unintentional or unknowing, led to the death of a person. The real sin here appears to be negligence because, with proper precautions, it would seem that such a death could have been avoided. The manslayer still had to flee to a city of refuge and stay there until the high priest died. If he left the city before the death of the high priest, the avenger of blood was permitted to kill him. Thus, the awareness that careless actions could lead to an extended period of confinement within a city would tend to make people more careful.

A manslayer would undoubtedly have been given refuge in any of the cities of refuge. However, he would most likely flee to the respective city assigned to the territory in which he happened to be, since it would almost always be the closest one and the most accessible. This is because each city of refuge was located in the center of its respective territory—and, within that territory, roads (with bridges and signs) were built that led to that city (Deuteronomy 19:2-4).

Moses next cautions the people not to remove their neighbor’s landmarks (Deuteronomy 19:14). This was not a simple matter of moving a rock. Landmarks were stones that marked property boundaries. This law prohibited manipulating boundaries so as to rob someone of part of his property—his rightful inheritance. Moses next warned against testifying as a false witness (verses 16-17). If a witness was found to have brought up a false accusation, “then you shall do to him as he thought to have done to his brother…life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” (verses 18-21)—that is, punishment to fit the intended harm. Moreover, the purpose for severe penalties is also given here—to serve as a deterrent to others against committing similar crimes (verse 20). And when rightly administered, such laws do act as a deterrent.

David Organizes the Musicians (1 Chronicles 25)

David has a particular interest in the group of Levites assigned to be musicians. He is a musician himself (see 1 Samuel 16:16-23), a maker or perhaps even inventor of musical instruments (1 Chronicles 23:5), and a prolific composer.

Twenty-four sons of the three chief musicians are chosen to head up divisions to correspond with the courses of priests. These three were originally chosen by the tribal leader to be the musicians when the ark was moved to Jerusalem (see 1 Chronicles 15:16-24). The sons of Asaph, of the Levitical sub-tribe of Gershom (Gershom, Kohath and Merari being the three sons of Levi), had four of the divisions. Asaph had been the chief musician assigned to minister before the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem (see 1 Chronicles 16:4-7, 37). He, too, composed psalms, with 12 of them bearing his name (Psalms 50; 73-83). The sons of Jeduthun, of the sub-tribe of Merari, had six divisions. Jeduthun is known as Ethan in many scriptures and, along with Heman, served at the tabernacle in Gibeon while the ark was in Jerusalem (see 1 Chronicles 16:39-42). The sons of Heman, of the sub-tribe of Kohath, made up the remaining 14 divisions. Heman was the grandson of the prophet Samuel, and descendant of Korah. One psalm is attributed to Heman (Psalm 88), but 10 others (42; 44-49; 84-85; 87) are attributed to the sons of Korah, which would include Heman and his descendants. Additional information can be found in 1 Chronicles 6:31-48.

Note that each group of musicians is said to be “under the direction of their father” (25:2, 3, 6). The older King James Version says “under the hands of their father,” a literal translation of the original Hebrew. This seems to convey the picture of a choral director leading the singers under him. But unlike modern choirs who, since the invention of the printing press and the musical notation of our day, tend to use printed musical notation, it was common for ancient choir directors to use more elaborate hand and arm gestures in a practice known as chironomy. This allowed them to convey not only the timing and volume, but even the notes the group was to sing or play.

When David and Asaph gave the singers and instrumentalists a new song, they probably did not pass out written music for everybody. Certainly the group could learn a new song through hearing someone sing it several times. But history shows that more sophisticated techniques were employed to enable these professional musicians to know what notes they were to sing or play “instantly” through the hand gestures of their father, or other musical director. That one such director may have been David can be seen in the phrase “order of the king” in verse 2—actually, in the Hebrew, “hands of the king.” This at least shows David’s direct involvement in composing, but it perhaps also means that he occasionally led the musicians himself.

According to the research and theory of Suzanne Haïk-Vantoura (author of The Music of the Bible Revealed, 1991), notation of these hand signals may actually be recorded in the accent marks (the jots and tittles) of the Masoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible.

David Organizes the Security Force (1 Chronicles 26)

Among the gatekeepers, part of the temple security force, was the family of Obed-Edom, who had housed the ark for three months (see 13:13-14). He and his large family had served in this capacity after the ark had been moved (16:37-38), and David had them continue this work. There were also Levites assigned specifically to watch over the treasury—the descendants of Moses among them. And finally, there were Levitical officers and judges appointed to take care of business in the rest of the country, away from the temple.

Verse 10 of 1 Chronicles 26 contains some interesting information. Here a father sets one of his sons as first even though he is not the firstborn. That it was unusual may be ascertained from its mention here. Yet God had, as we have seen repeatedly, directed that this be done many times before. Such occurred with Seth, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Ephraim, Moses and even David—and now Solomon too.

David’s Military and Tribal Organization (1 Chronicles 27)

Many of the mighty men we previously read about in 1 Chronicles 11 and 2 Samuel 23 headed up groups of 24,000 men who served on national security one month out of each year. These 288,000 men taken together probably constituted the regular army. This organization apparently dates back to the beginning of David’s reign, since Asahel is mentioned as the leader in the fourth month. He was killed by Abner before David moved to Jerusalem (see 2 Samuel 2:18-23), and was succeeded by his son Zebadiah (1 Chronicles 27:7).

The tribal leaders at this time are also listed, but how they were chosen is not stated. The individual tribes may have done that. It is interesting to note that the tribal leader of Judah is David’s brother Elihu (1 Chronicles 27:18), apparently his oldest brother elsewhere called Eliab (1 Samuel 16:6). And the leader of Benjamin is the son of Abner, apparently the Abner who was Saul’s uncle and military commander, well respected in his tribe and by all of Israel before his murder at the hand of Joab (compare 2 Samuel 2-3). David’s economic or agricultural administrators are listed, along with several other officials over the course of his reign.

David Instructs Solomon Regarding the Temple (1 Chronicles 28)

David gathers the leaders together (the ones we have been reading about in the foregoing chapters) to explain the transfer of power and his goals for Solomon. In verse 2, we can imagine an old and frail king, perhaps sometime during the summer months after a cold winter of trying to keep warm (compare 1 Kings 1:1-4), gathering his strength to be able to stand on his feet. David starts by discussing his consuming passion—to build the temple of God—and says that God did not allow him to build it because he was a man of war, his reign being replete with bloodshed. He points out that God Himself chose Solomon as king and the one to build the temple (1 Chronicles 28:5-6). Later Solomon tells Hiram that David was surrounded by too many wars, and that a time of peace would now permit Solomon, a man of peace, to build the temple (1 Kings 5:3-5).

We have seen that David gathered materials for the temple and organized the priesthood. Now he turns those materials and organizational plans over to Solomon, as well as detailed building plans, and explains that God revealed the design to him (1 Chronicles 28:12, 19). Similarly, God had revealed the plans for the tabernacle to Moses (Exodus 25:8-9) to ensure that His earthly dwelling was patterned after the one in heaven (Hebrews 8:5).

Offerings for the Temple; David’s Prayer;

Solomon Replaces David as King (1 Chronicles 29:1-25)

David reiterates that God is the one who chose Solomon, and then describes the materials he has assembled for Solomon to use in building the temple. This time, he also mentions his personal contributions, and encourages others to contribute as well. As in the days of Moses (compare Exodus 35:20-29), those who were able donated generously and willingly. The words “with a loyal heart” (1 Chronicles 29:9) are translated from a Hebrew phrase literally meaning “with a fullness of heart” (Nelson Study Bible, note on verse 9). And David is moved to thank God for actually enabling them to give—indeed, to simply give back to God what He has Himself given in the first place.

David’s prayer here has served much more than just this occasion. Indeed, many even today use words from it without knowing it. When Christ gave an outline of how to pray in His famous Sermon on the Mount—”Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come…” (Matthew 6:9-13)—He concluded it with words of praise used in David’s prayer. Jesus told us to conclude our prayers along these lines: “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (verse 13). Compare this with David’s words in 1 Chronicles 29:10-12. Of course, the preincarnate Christ very likely inspired the words David prayed.

Finally, Solomon is once again anointed king, and Zadok is confirmed as the high priest with no mention here of the now out-of-favor line of Abiathar. Verse 23 states that Solomon sat on the “throne of the Lord.” And it really was God’s throne (compare 1 Samuel 8:7). Jesus Christ will once again occupy this throne when He returns to reign over Israel and all nations—that is, not the same physical chair but the office of responsibility.

The passage ends with the statement that God bestowed on Solomon “such majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel” (verse 25). The Nelson Study Bible notes, “Obviously this included only Saul and David, but it is still a remarkable statement in light of David’s widely recognized power and magnificence (11:9; 14:2; 18:1-13; 29:28)” (note on verse 25). Indeed, David was apparently the dominant ruler of the age—and yet Solomon’s rule is already greater in power and prestige, and will be greater yet, as we will soon see.

1 Timothy 1

The book of 1 Timothy is a letter from Shaul to Timothy. Timothy remained in Ephesos to help the assembly of believers there not to stumble, but to remain in the gift of faith and belief that has come through Messiah Yeshua. Previously, Shaul had written to Timothy to take heed and not let a vain teaching take hold within the assembly concerning lineages and genealogies. Yeshua Himself told us, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.” By this, He is speaking about bloodlines, families, lineages… places of people given to them by birth. He taught plainly, we must be “born from above” meaning of the Spirit to inherit the Kingdom.

Now, Shaul is advising Timothy to also teach concerning “love from a clean heart, from a good conscience, and a sincere belief.” Evidently, some are turning from faith and into knowledge. They are leaving off the Tree of Life and going to eat fruit from the Tree of Knowledge (of good and evil). They are forsaking love and turning to puff themselves up in “knowledge.” We can just see them now: “you must do this, you cannot do that, you have to do it this way, that is prohibited, you are unclean.” We hear this today with people returning to Torah and the Way of Life. They turn it into a weapon against one another. This is not the purpose of the Instructions for Life.

1 Timothy 2

In Chapter 2 we see Shaul giving Timothy advice on how to go forward in this type of climate. Prayer, prayer, prayer. Teach the assembly to become people of prayer, peace, calmness, and proper worshippers of a Set Apart Elohim. Teach them that He is to be approached a worshipped differently than what they are used to with their previous pagan gods and goddesses. Teach them meekness, kindness, modesty, and servanthood.

1 Timothy 3

In Chapter 3, Shaul lays down some guidelines on who should be given the position of an overseer. Basically should not be a new believer and someone who is proven trustworthy. The overseer should be someone who has their own house in order by all accounts and who reputation is unreproachable.