Parasha Shemini

V’Yikra (Leviticus) 9:1 – 11:47
Haftarah: Sh’mu’el Bet (2 Samuel) 6:1 – 7:17
Brit Chadasha: Mk. 7:1 – 23; Acts 5: 1 – 11;
10:1 – 35; 2 Corin. 6:14 – 7:1;
Gal. 2:11 – 16 and 1 Pt. 1:14 – 16

Revisiting the Appointed Time of First Fruit

When Terry and I began our Messianic walk seventeen years ago, we were taught that the appointed time of first fruit fell on the sixteenth day of the first month, however this is not the case. In fact, the number sixteen is not used in context with this festival.

As our walk continued we discovered that the rabbis of old had merged the spring festivals together, i.e. Pesach, Unleavened Bread and First Fruit. They simply refer to this grouping as Unleavened Bread. I admit I was always curious as to why I could not find this date in Scripture. In fact, the appointed time of first fruit has no exact date.
In order to sort through this issue we will examine more closely the pertinent Scriptures.
Lev. 23:5 – 8: “YaHaVahs Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to YaHaVah; seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall have a holy convocation (מִקְרָא – sacred assembly); you shall do no customary work on it. But you shall offer an offering made by fire to YaHaVah for seven days. The seventh day shall be a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it.’”
Notice the word for Sabbath is not used with regard to the first and seventh days. During the week of Unleavened Bread offerings are being made by fire. If the first and seventh days of Unleavened Bread were truly Sabbath days then these offerings would be violating Torah itself. Ex. 35:3: “You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”
Consider that the first and seventh days are bookends to the appointed time of Unleavened Bread. In any given seven day period of time there will be a weekly Shabbat rest.
Lev. 23:9 – 12: “And YaHaVah spoke to Moses, saying, ‘speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: when you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits (רֵאשִׁית) of your harvest to the priest.
He shall wave the sheaf before YaHaVah, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath (the first fruit offering will always fall on Sunday, the first day of the week ergo it will not have an exact date ) the priest shall wave it. And you shall offer on that day, when you wave the sheaf, a male lamb of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering to YaHaVah.”
Lev. 23:15 – 16: “And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to YaHaVah.” **The 50 day omer count brings us to the fourth appointed time of Shavuot.

The spring appointed times for 2026 fell as follows:

Pesach/Passover occurred on Friday, April 3^rd.
The first day of Unleavened Bread occurred on the weekly Sabbath of April 4^th. The seventh day of Unleavened Bread occurred on Friday, April 10^th.
The next weekly Sabbath occurred on April 11^th.
The festival of Firstfruit then, occurred on Sunday, April 12^th. This was the first day of our Omer count.
FYI: The term “high Sabbath” is rabbinical and is not used with regard to the first and last days of Unleavened Bread or the first and last days of Sukkot.
As I said, the Rabbis of old merged Pesach, Unleavened Bread and Firstfruit into one day. In my opinion this view is contrary to Scripture. It is the Rabbis that refer to the “miqra” (holy convocations) as High Sabbaths. You can see clearly that the word for Sabbath is only used with regard to His set apart weekly Sabbath.
Terry and I are convinced that adhering to Scripture is only for our own benefit. No one wants to observe The Fathers appointed times on the incorrect day.

Counting the Omer

ברוך אתה יי אלהינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו

במצותיו וצונו על ספירת העומר

Baruch ata YaHaVah, Elohenu melech haolam, Asher

Kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sefirat ha Omer.

Blessed are You, YaHaVah our Elohim, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is the 7^th day of the counting of the Omer.

שְׁמִינִי meaning eight

Parasha Highlights:

The Priestly service begins
The death of Nadav and Avihu
Laws of Kashrut (clean and unclean foods )
The command to sanctify (separating) ourselves

Lev. 9:1 – 4: “It came to pass on the eighth day that Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. And he said to Aaron, ‘take for yourself a young bull as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before YaHaVah.’ And to the children of Israel you shall speak, saying, ‘take a kid of the goats as a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering, also a bull and a ram as peace offerings, to sacrifice before YaHaVah, and a grain offering mixed with oil; for today YaHaVah will appear to you.’”

Aaron and his sons were consecrated for seven days and began their priestly service on the eighth day.
We are going to connect the title and action of this sidra, Shemini (eight) with the Hebrew Aleph Bet. The eighth letter of the Hebrew Aleph Bet is the Chet. The ancient picture of the Chet is a fence or wall and means to divide, separate or to be private.
A fence is usually erected to keep something in, or, something out of a specific area, a boundary marker i.e. Gan Eden. Gan Eden was a walled garden designed to keep Adam and Chava inside, as long as they remained ritually clean and the male and female from day six of creation outside the wall as they rejected The Fathers covenant invitation.
This Hebrew letter is spelled חית. In its ancient form Chet would read: “Separation begins by the maker of the covenant.” It’s the Spirit of Holiness that brings each of us to the point of separation from the world system.
Eph. 1:3 – 5: “Blessed be the Elohay and Father of our Lord Yeshua HaMashiach, who has blessed us in Messiah with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless (separated-eight) in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Yeshua HaMashiach, according to the good pleasure of His will.”

The pattern of eight

The number 8 represents “new beginnings.”
The man formed on the 8^th day, Ge. 2:7.
The 8 souls on the ark, Ge. 6:18.
The number of covenant is 8, Ge. 15:9.
The sign of covenant was the circumcision on the 8^th day, Ge. 17:11.
There are 8 priestly garments, Ex. 28:1 – 42.
King David, the 8^th son of Jesse, 1^st Sam. 17:12.
Shemini Atzeret, the 8^th day of Sukkot, Lev. 23:36.
The eighth priestly order of Abijah, 1 Chron. 24:10.
The Great Eighth day after the millennial kingdom, Rev. 20.7.
The pattern of eight was established at creation. A “new beginning” for humanity is recorded in Ge. 2:1 – 8: “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day Yah ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then Yah blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which Yah had created and made. This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that YaHaVah Elohay made the earth and the heavens, before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For YaHaVah Elohay had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.
And YaHaVah Elohay formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. YaHaVah Elohay planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.”
The Hebrew word for “garden” is גַּן which is defined as a garden, enclosure, enclosed garden or (fig. of a bride). The numerical value of Gan is 53; 5 + 3 = 8. A “new beginning” for mankind, i.e. Adam, who was formed from the earth (adamah), represents the bride of Yeshua. He was placed inside a walled garden, a place of divine protection where he enjoyed the presence of the Et Kol. Adam was given a helpmate, Chava. They remained in the garden until they became ritually unclean at which time they were expelled.
Ge. 6:11 – 13: “The earth also was corrupt before Yah, and the earth was filled with violence. So Yah looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And Yah said to Noah, ‘the end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”
YaHaVah judged the earth and all flesh, except the eight souls, by unleashing the fountains of the deep and opening the heavens. This event is known as the great flood. This monumental event would create a “new beginning” for all mankind. A new opportunity to walk in obedience to the Fathers “rules of the kingdom.”
Twenty generations from Adam, YaHaVah would call Abraham. YaHaVah considered Abraham another righteous man (Ge. 15:6). A man whom he considered ritually clean. This call from Yah on his life would create a “new beginning” as he came from a family of idol worshippers. This “new beginning” would require him to leave his family and relocate to the land of Canaan. In our day and hour all believers are invited to be partakers of the promises given to him by The Father.
With Abraham He made a covenant, the Covenant of Pieces (Ge. 15:9) of which there are eight parts.
In Ge. 17:11 – 12 Abraham is commanded to circumcise himself and all males in his camp. “And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant.”
This circumcision meant that Abrahams seed would be pure, i.e. covenant seed. It was only after the circumcision that the son promised to Abraham and Sarah would be conceived.
The offspring of Abraham would dwell in a land not their own for four hundred years at which time The Father would call another man, Moses, to lead them out of Egyptian bondage.
In Ex. 19:3 – 6 YaHaVah invited the nation of Israel into another “new beginning.” “And Moses went up to Yah, and YaHaVah called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: you have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
Instead of entering into their “new beginning” Israel chose to worship the golden calf. This choice caused the entire nation to become ritually unclean. This choice created a need to have a way for Am Israel to enter back into His covenant.
The “way” was to erect the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, the Mishkan. This required a priesthood to act as a mediator between Yah and Am Israel. This was the Aaronic priesthood. This brings us to the priestly garments of which there are eight total. There are eight garments because the point of the priesthood was to help the people with their covenant relationship thereby becoming ritually pure (Ex. 28:1 – 42).
The fourth son of Jacob was Judah. The Tribe of Judah was given the prophecy of perpetual kingship. The first of Israels kings from the tribe of Judah was David. David was the eighth son of Jesse. YaHaVah made a covenant with David called the Davidic Covenant. David had been a shepherd for his fathers flock so it was a “new beginning” for him to be chosen as Israels king by YaHaVah.
The Davidic Covenant is recorded for us in 2^nd Sam. 7:12 – 16: “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.’”
Messiah Yeshua will be the ultimate kingly seed fulfilling this covenant. In the seventh millennia, Yeshua will rule and reign for the entire thousand years.
Shemini represents both His beginning and His ending or conclusion. A picture of the “eighth” day began at creation and will reach its conclusion in Rev. 20:7 – 8: “Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.”
Timing is everything! The six thousand years of man are finished as well as the millennial kingdom, the seven thousandth year when Yeshua rules and reigns from Jerusalem are finished. There is even more to come!
Luke 1:5 – 9: “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah (1^st Chron. 24:10 speaks to Abijah being the 8^th order). His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of YaHaVah blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. So it was, that while he was serving as priest before Yah in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.”
Suffice to say they are the parents of John the Immerser.
Rev. 20:9- 10: “They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from Yah out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
The accuser had his beginning on the 8^th day and met his demise also on the 8^th day.
The final judgment will occur on the 8^thday. Rev. 20:11 – 15: “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. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
*This translation is in error. The Septuagint reads “before the throne”
The great 8^th day also includes the new heaven and earth as well as the New Jerusalem.
The world to come, the Olam Haba!

Haftarah

Sh’mu’el Bet (2 Samuel) 6:1 – 7:17. Our sidra speaks to the priestly service beginning on the 8^th day.

The connection to our sidra can be found in 7:12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” **This is the prophecy for the Davidic Covenant we discussed earlier.

Brit Chadasha

Mk. 7:1 – 23 V 15 “There is nothing outside a person which, by going into him, can make him unclean. Rather, it is the things that come out of a person which make a person unclean.”
Acts 10:1 – 35 speaks to the dietary laws.
2^nd Corin. 6:14 – 7:1 v 6:17 “Go out from their midst; separate yourselves; don’t even touch what is unclean…”
1^st Peter 1:16 “You are to be holy because I am Holy.”
In conclusion, it is fair to say that the appointed time of Unleavened Bread, which lasts for seven days, represents the week of creation and the seven thousand years of mankind. It would likewise be fair to say that Sukkot, which lasts for eight days, represents the week of creation, the seven thousand years of mankind and the world to come.
The Aaronic priestly service began on the 8^th day as part of the pattern of eight while the Melchizedek priesthood will serve King Messiah during the millennial kingdom.
Adam was formed on the 8^th day while his descendant, King Yeshua, will preside over the Great White Throne judgment during the 8^th millennia.