Temple Themes

I have quoted from Deuteronomy in recent posts. The Book of Deuteronomy has many great teachings. We know of their validity since some of them were quoted by Jesus, such as the Shema, which was an ancient prayer recited twice daily and written on parchments fastened on the forehead or left arm. These were called […]

Today’s post will be from Numbers chapter 7 and various chapters from Joshua. It will be centered on covenant making, then I will circle back to Deuteronomy for the next post.   At the dedication of the Tabernacle, each tribe of Israel brought offerings of lambs, rams, bullocks, and goats for the various sacrifices. Each

There were three required annual feasts in ancient Israel when the people gathered to the “place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name in” (Deuteronomy 16:6). That sacred place where His name is, and was, is the tabernacle or temple. The three feasts were Feast of Unleavened Bread, beginning the day

I’m still stuck in Leviticus. This post, however, deals with the most holy day of the year on the Jewish calendar—Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement. The fall feasts were of the highest significance of the year, occurring in the seventh month of Tishri. I will deal with two other feasts, Feast of Trumpets (Rosh

The ritual for cleansing lepers was highly symbolic. The leper was brought to the priest. The entire book of Leviticus was the handbook for priests, similar to the bishop’s handbook today. Leviticus 14 reveals how the roles of modern-day bishops and ancient priests were similar. This chapter describes the entire ritual for cleansing lepers.  

There was a specific order for the consecration of priests, and particularly the high priest. I should emphasize that the high priest was of the Aaronic order of the priesthood and not the office of High Priest in the Church today.   The ordinance consisted of washing, anointing, and clothing. Leviticus 8:6 states, “And Moses

Animal sacrifices were a major component of the Law of Moses. There were basically two categories of offerings—the compulsory offerings, such as the sin offering and the voluntary offerings, such as the burnt offering and the meal, or grain, offering. The meal offering is called a “meat” offering in the scriptures, but it’s the only

Moses was commanded to make holy garments for Aaron and his sons, who would become the high priests. The garments were made for beauty and glory (Exodus 28:2). Job 40:10 states, “Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.” The garments consisted of a breastplate, an ephod, a robe,

Moses is commanded to build a tabernacle. The Lord called it a “sanctuary,” so He could “dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). The Hebrew word for dwell is shakan, and it’s the root of the word Shekinah.   The Shekhinah (שכינה) is the Hebrew term for the divine presence or “dwelling” of God on Earth, symbolizing

The Lord covenants to make Israel a “peculiar treasure.” Moses ascended Mount Sinai and received a revelation from God. He promised:   “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: “And ye