Parasha Shemini - The Light of Torah Messianic Congregation

Lev. 9:1 – 11:47

Haftarah: 1 Ki. 8:66

Brit Chadasha: Mk. 7:1 – 23; Acts 5: 1 – 11;

10:1 – 35; 2 Corin. 6:14 – 7:1;

1 Pt. 1:14 – 16

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 12^th day of the counting of the Omer.

Is. 46:10: “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’”

Parasha Shemini
שְׁמִינִי meaning eight

Parasha Highlights:

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

The Great Eighth Day

Rev. 20:8 – 10: “Now when the thousand years have expired, (the eighth day begins) 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. 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 Pattern of Eight

The covenant man is formed on the eighth day.
There were eight souls saved, Y’sha, on the ark.
The number of covenant is eight, speaking to the eight pieces in the covenant YaHaVah made with Abraham.
There are eight priestly garments worn by the High Priest.
King David, was the eighth son of Jesse.
The sign of covenant was the circumcision on the eighth day.
Shemini Atzeret, the eighth day, is the final holy convocation of Sukkot, the seventh festival.
In some cases, the glory of YaHaVah, descended on the eighth day.
The significance of the “eighth” day begins after the very first Sabbath day. There is much for us to learn regarding the number eight.
The eighth letter of the Hebrew Aleph Bet is the Chet. The letter Chet is a picture of a fence or wall and means to divide, separate or to be private. Those of us who have chosen to be a “set apart people” are associated with the number eight.
We will begin this teaching with the eighth day of creation. Ge. 2:1 – 3: “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.
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…”
Lk. 12:51: The words of Messiah Yeshua: “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.”
Every covenant believer is called to come out of her “my people and be separate.”
Then Yah blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which Yah had created and made.”
The day following the 7^th day is the 8^th day.
Ge. 2:5 – 9: “And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew; for YaHaVah Elohay had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till 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 ( a walled garden =גַּן ) eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground YaHaVah Elohay made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
It’s important to note that the man formed in Ge 2:7 is the ancestor of Yeshua. It seems to me that his mandate, i.e. to guard and keep the garden, would transfer to all covenant believers as well.
The Tree of Life was positioned in the center of the garden. The Et Kol taught Adam the Words of YaHaVah. I believe these were the same Words he spoke to his children after he was exiled from the garden. The Et Kol, the Aleph Tav voice, is a picture of Yahs glory in the garden.
The Mishkan, i.e. the tabernacle in the wilderness was also positioned in the center of Israels camp. This tells us that the Mishkan, the place where Yahs glory resided was the very same place His Word was imparted to Am Israel, the people of Israel.

…no man to till the ground

What does it mean for the reader when the narrative reads “no man to till the ground? I believe there is more to look at than simply gardening duties. For example; The Hebrew word for “till” is עָבַד which can mean servant and even worshippers or to labor.

Essentially, The Father is telling us that He had no one, not the male, female or their descendants from day six, to serve or worship Him so He formed another man. This formed man would be set apart for Him alone. The formed mans mandate would be to guard and keep His set apart garden which includes the Etz Chaim, the Tree of Life.
In its ancient form, the Hebrew word “avad” would read; “the chosen will see, know and watch for His family who entered the masters door, just as the bond servant chose.”
The numerical value of “avad” is 76; 7 + 6 = 13, reducing to a single digit, 1 + 3 = 4. The number four speaks to the first Aleph Tav of Scripture as well as the fourth letter of the Aleph Bet, the Dalet.
Yet another aspect is found within the boundaries of the “garden.” The Tree of Life, the Word of YaHaVah and the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the tree of mixing. The mixing of tainted service and worship.
As I said, the Tree of Life is the Word of YaHaVah. Recall Jn. 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Yah, and the Word was Yah.”
Now we come to the soil or ground part of this Scripture. Recall the parable of the sower. Mt. 13:23: “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
The Tree of Life bears seed which is His Word. The good soil is someone who hears, i.e. shema His Word, who is willing to guard and keep it. No one to till the ground tells us the heart of the male and female from day six were unwilling to heed His voice. Their hearts were made of rocky soil.
Ge. 17:10 -12: “This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; 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 is the same pattern we witnessed during the week of creation. YaHaVah created the heavens, the spirit realm, and the earth, the physical realm. The male child would be born into the physical realm. The child must be circumcised on the eighth day in order for him to enter into Yahs covenant, the spirit realm.
Our Parasha speaks to another eighth day. V’yikra 8:33: “And you shall not go outside the door of the tabernacle of meeting for seven days, until the days of your consecration are ended. For seven days he shall consecrate you.” **Like the week of creation, the set apart priesthood of Aaron and his sons are being consecrated for a seven day period at the entrance of the Mishkan, the Tent of Meeting.
Lev. 9:1 – 7: “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. So they brought what Moses commanded before the tabernacle of meeting. And all the congregation drew near and stood before YaHaVah. Then Moses said, ‘this is the thing which YaHaVah commanded you to do, and the glory of YaHaVah will appear to you.’ And Moses said to Aaron, ‘go to the altar, offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people. Offer the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as YaHaVah commanded.’”
The Aaronic priesthood was consecrated in the physical realm for seven days while preparing them to enter the spirit realm of the eighth day.
This block of Scripture is a foreshadow to Yom Kippurim, the Day of Atonements. Atonement for the children of Israel began on the eighth day beginning with the man formed on the first eighth day.
1^st Ki. 8:1 records the dedication of the great temple erected by King Solomon and the children of Israel. They “gathered” in the seventh month for the eight day festival of Sukkot. They celebrated for fourteen days then King Solomon sent the people home on the eighth day.

The Priestly Garments

At this point in our teaching, I would like to point out that Aaron, the High Priest of the Aaronic Priesthood, wore eight garments. It’s the responsibility of this priesthood to teach all people how to become “set apart” in their service and worship of YaHaVah. They are the “Torah” teachers. They must be well grounded in the teachings of Our Creator.

The High Priest of Israel wore eight sacred garments: the ephod, breastplate, robe, tunic, turban, belt, crown, and pants. These garments were made of specific materials and had symbolic meanings, reflecting the high priest’s role as a representative of God and the people.

The Book of Holiness, in V’Yikra 23:34 – 36 this theme is continued: “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to YaHaVah. ‘On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to YaHaVah. On the eighth day (Shemini Atzeret ) you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to YaHaVah. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.”

Shemini Atzeret is often referred to as the “Last Great Day.”

In fact, Jn. 7:37-38 reads thus: “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
Recall our opening Scripture found in Rev. 20:8 – 10: “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. 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.”
This event will begin on the “eighth day.” Our adversary will finally be defeated. What then, will be the future of mankind.
The seventh millennia belongs to king Messiah. Our goal is to serve with Him during His reign. Sadly, not everyone will choose to enter into Royal Covenant Torah. The adversary will be given another opportunity to sway men’s hearts away from YaHaVah. The great judgment begins on the eighth day.
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 Yah, 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.”
Rev. 21:8: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from Yah, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘behold, the tabernacle of Yah is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. Yah Himself will be with them and be their Elohay.’
And Yah will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘it is done! I am the Aleph and the Tav, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things and I will be his Yah and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Rev. 22:14: “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.”
In the eighth millennia, those who have chosen to enter into His covenant will partake of life within the New Jerusalem.
Truly, a great eighth day!

Haftarah

1 Ki. 8:66: “On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that YaHaVah had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.”

1 Ki. 8:1 – 66 records the dedication of the house of YaHaVah during the appointed time of Sukkot which is well worth the read. This event is another pattern of seven days followed by the the eighth day.

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, the eighth day precedes the seven days of consecration. Humanity will have had seven millennia to make their choice. Some will choose Royal Covenant Torah and some will not.
If our choice is covenant fidelity, then we must also consider honoring the Rules of the Kingdom; observing the Sabbath, His appointed times and eating cleanly. We must be ritually clean, being holy because He is holy.
Our perseverance will be rewarded in the “Great Eighth Day” as our final abode will be in the New Jerusalem drinking from the “River of Life.”