The Menorah and the Tallit
The Menorah
We can see the menorah’s design laid out in Exodus 25:31-40. Verse 40 shows that this is a shadow because it was part of what was “shown to Moses on the mountain.” Hebrews 8:5 talks about the shadows from Exodus and Hebrews 9:2 specifically mentions the lampstand (the menorah) as one piece of that shadow.
G-d lays out in detail the placement of the menorah in the Tabernacle in Exodus 40:4 and Ex. 40:24-25 (Ex. 40 is setting up the Tabernacle). In Leviticus 24:1-4 G-d instructs that the menorah is to burn continually before the L-RD.
The lampstands, or the menorah (not the shadow but the one in the real eternal Tabernacle which Moses used as a pattern for the earthly version) are shown to be symbols of the seven churches in Revelation 1:20. This is taken a step further as the One Who walks among them (Yeshua) says to repent or He will remove the church’s lamp (Rev. 2:1-5). Their will no longer be continually before the L-RD. So this light is to be a symbol of our presence before the L-RD and it could be snuffed out. It brings even greater meaning to Deuteronomy 6:4-9 where it tells us basically to love G-d with everything that we are. This is why. I want to be in His presence forever. I don’t want to be snuffed out.
Now as to modern use of the menorah in synagogues:
Many synagogues display either a menorah or an artistic representation of a menorah. In addition, synagogues feature a continually-lit lamp in front of the Ark, where the Torah scroll is kept. Called the ner tamid, this lamp represents the continually-lit menorah used in Temple times. (Wikipedia)
So there is still a remembrance of the Tabernacle menorah, though vastly changed from the original idea. Israel also uses a representation of the original menorah on its coat of arms. This design on the coat of arms is derived from the menorah on the arch of Titus which depicts the plundering of Jerusalem and the Temple after Yeshua.
Now in the notes about this study I stated that the middle candle was the servant candle or the shamash. In preparing for this study I discovered that only the middle candle of the Hanukkah menorah is set apart and called the shamash. Now Hanukkah is called the Feast of Dedication and is only mentioned in the Bible in the New Testament book of John when Jesus was in Jerusalem for it (John 10:22-23). It is also called the Festival of Lights partly because of the history behind the Hanukka menorah. Here is a continuation of the above quote from Wikipedia which explains a bit more about the Hanukka menorah:
The Menorah is also a symbol closely associated with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. According to the Talmud, after the desecration of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, there was only enough sealed (and therefore not desecrated by idolatry) consecrated olive oil left to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days which was enough time to make new pure oil. The Hanukkah menorah therefore has eight main branches, plus a ninth branch set apart for the Shamash (servant) light which is used to start the other lights. This type of menorah is called a hanukiah in Modern Hebrew.
I think it is significant that Hanukkah is only mentioned in the book of John. I think it is significant that it is called the Festival of Lights since it allowed the Temple to be purified so that Yeshua, the Light of the world could come and live among us and have a Temple to worship in. I also think it is significant that it is the Shamash (the Servant) candle that takes the light to all the other candles. We will discuss Hanukkah more when we get closer to that time this year, but it is a very significant holiday to us as believers in Messiah.
The Tallit
The tallit is the Jewish prayer shawl. It is the rectangular fringed garment that you see Jews wearing to pray. They often wear it on the Holy days. Many wear it in synagogue. You will see it a lot in pictures of the Jews praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
The command to wear the tallit can be found in Numbers 15:38 and Deuteronomy 22:12. We see that the entire purpose of the tallit, that is the garment, is to carry these fringes. The fringes are called tzitzit and they are specifically there to help us remember G-d’s commands.
There is also to be one blue thread that is to run through the fringes. This thread is called the tekhelet. The tekhelet Scripturally is just a blue thread, but Jewish custom says that the blue is to be made very specifically from a dye found in a very rare sea snail. That said, the snail had been lost for many generations. That is why many tallitot (plural of tallit) have white fringes. The stripes on the tallit itself (sometimes black, sometimes blue, sometimes purple) was in remembrance of the blue thread that was supposed to run through the fringes. Now some groups think they have found the snail so we are beginning to see blue again. Other groups are arguing that it isn’t the right snail or that it doesn’t make the right color dye. G-d’s command simply requires a blue thread. I’m not getting into the argument. He said blue, I wear blue. I remember G-d whenever I touch my tzitzit.
You’ll notice tzitzit have a number of knots and wraps of the thread which is significant, though not Scriptural. In Hebrew every letter is a number so these series of knots and wraps can be used to spell out words. The words to be spelled out are traditional, not commanded, but typically you will see Adonai or Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh (YHVH) which is G-d’s Name. The way the words are made, you can think of the knots like spaces (they are double-knots) then the blue thread is wrapped around the entire group of threads to indicate the numeric value of the Hebrew letter you are using. In the case of YHVH the Yod is the tenth letter, the Heh is the fifth letter and the Vav is the sixth letter. So if you were making tzitzit to spell out YHVH you start with a double-knot followed by ten wraps of the blue thread, double-knot, five wraps, double-knot, six wraps, double-knot, five wraps again, double knot to tie off the word then cut the white fringes shorter and leave the blue fringes longer and you’re done. (They look really complex, don’t they?)
Then fringes are worn on the four corners of your garment. This makes them surround you. North, South, East and West, G-d is all around us. Now we don’t have cornered garments so I wear mine on my belt-loops. I made the loop by wrapping the entire group of fringes around a bottle top when I tied the first double-knot. I’ll try to get some pictures of the process if any of you are interested in seeing how it’s done.
Continuing on with the study we’re going to look at places where the tallit is mentioned to see that this was a command that has been kept throughout the generations of G-d’s people. To begin this section I found an excellent article on Wikipedia that gives us a bit of further history on the tallit:
[Wearing fringes] predates [the Biblical commands], and was not limited to Israel; images of the custom have been found on several ancient Near East inscriptions in contexts suggesting that it was practiced across the Near East[4]. Some scholars believe that the practice among ancients originated due to the wearing of animal skins, which have legs at each corner, and that later fabrics symbolized the presence of such legs, first by the use of amulets, and later by tzitzit[5]. This explanation does not negate the Biblical commandment’s use of such social elements to emphasize its own agenda. Indeed, Prof. Milgrom writes that tassels were used in the ancient world as an insignia signifying the status of its wearer, often his rank within the court of the ruler. The tzitzit thus indicated that its bearer was a Jew.
A status symbol that we might be more familiar with that seems to be similar might be a kilt. It is something associated with your family or group. This could be significant when we look now at stories like the one of Joseph where Potiphar’s wife takes his garment in Genesis 39:10-16. She is taking a piece of clothing that could have been very obviously Hebraic and could have identified Joseph specifically.
We move on to David and King Saul. If you’ll remember the story from 1 Samuel 24:1-13 Saul cut off the corner of Saul’s garment. This was probably the decorative portion of the tallit that held the tzitzit.
The mantle of Elijah fell to Elisha in 2 Kings 2:8-14. This mantle was very likely Elijah’s tallit. We see just before Elijah is taken up that Elisha asks for a double-portion of his master’s spirit. We will see many times as we look deeper where power is carried in Yeshua’s tallit, so it is very likely that this is a transfer of Elijah’s power to Elisha as he requested. In 1 Kings 19:9-19 we also see Elijah on the mountain as wraps himself in his mantle. We will mention this again, so keep it in mind.
Scripture says that Yohanan the Immerser (or John the Baptist or John the Baptiser — you know who I mean) came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). My dad has a theory about John’s father taking Elijah’s tallit from the Temple and giving it to John. This is just a theory. There is no evidence other than John’s father was serving in the Temple when the angel appeared to him (Luke 1:5-9). 2 Kings 1:8 says Elijah was a hairy man with a leather belt and Matthew 3:4 says that Yohanan wore a camel’s hair garment with a leather belt. I don’t think we even really know that Elijah’s tallit was still around, but it is an interesting thought.
Moving on now to the New Testament Scriptures and we’ll see Yeshua and His tallit. It was stated in Malachi 4:2 that the Sun of Righteousness will come to those who fear HaShem (The Name = a Name of G-d in Hebrew) with healing in His wings. We will look at the Hebrew prayers over the tallit in a minute and we will see that Jews call the edges the wings. So it is not a great stretch to see that this verse could have been taken by those who were looking at Yeshua as Messiah and they could have believed and been healed. In fact this Scripture is fulfilled as the woman with the issue of blood believed in Matthew 9:20-22 (NASB) and Mark 5:25-34 (NASB) and Luke 8:43-48 (NASB). Also the men at Gennesaret believed in Mat. 14:34-36 (NASB).
Further when Yeshua tells us to go to our inner room to pray, many consider it the tallit that He is talking about. The reference is in Matthew 6:6.
Now we will read the blessings over the tallit:
On inspection of the tzitzit
Psalms 104:1–2 is traditionally read: “Bless, (O) my soul, the LORD. LORD my God, You are very great; glory and majesty have You worn – Who dons light as a garment, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain.”
Before putting on the tallit
“Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to wrap ourselves with fringes.”
After wrapping the tallit around the body
Psalms 36:8–11 is traditionally recited: “How precious is your kindness, [O] God! People take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They are sated from the abundance of Your house, and from the stream of Your delights You give them to drink. For with You is the source of life; by Your light shall we see light. Extend Your kindness to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright of heart.”
As you go in your closet you take refuge in the shadow of His wings. Do you remember what I said about Elijah on the mountain? When he heard the voice of G-d what did he do? He wrapped himself in his mantle. I love this picture. I love the feeling that it can be just you and G-d here.
And now finally, we brought the shadow of the Tabernacle menorah into the future kingdom to see its significance. What about the tallit? If you will read Revelation 19:16. Here we see writing on Yeshua’s thigh at His return which reads “KING OF KINGS AND L-RD OF LORDS.” Could it be that it is written in the fringes of His tallit?
We have seen these things. We see them now and we will see them again.
Shabbat Shalom!
Original Notes and References:
Menorah: design: Exodus 25:31-40; lighting and placement: Ex. 40:4 and Ex. 40:24-25 (Ex. 40 is setting up the Tabernacle); to burn continually before the L-RD: Leviticus 24:1-4; as a shadow of things shown to Moses on the mountain (Hebrews 8:5 referring to Ex. 25:40): Heb. 9:2; lampstands as the churches and the One Who walks among them: Revelation 1:20 and Rev. 2:1-5. See notes below about modern menorah use in synagogues. Compare and contrast Hanukkah Menorah and Temple Menorah (notes below). Hanukkah is the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22-23) or the Festival of Lights and uses a Shamash (servant candle) to light the other 8 candles. The servant spreads the light. Without Hanukkah Yeshua (the light of the world) would not have had a Temple to come to.
Tallit: The origin Scriptures: Numbers 15:38 and Deuteronomy 22:12. Tallit as status symbol — like a kilt associated with your family (see quote below). Also an identifying mark: Genesis 39:10-16. Tsit-tsit serve to remind us of G-d and His commands. The corner of Saul’s garment which David cut off was probably the decorative portion of the tallit where the fringes are tied: 1 Samuel 24:1-13. The mantle of Elijah (his tallit) fell to Elisha 2 Kings 2:8-14. John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah. My dad has a theory about John’s father taking Elijah’s tallit from the Temple and giving it to John. Just a theory. No evidence, but John’s father was serving in the Temple when the angel appeared to him (Luke 1:5-9). Yeshua and His healings “healing in His wings” from Malachi 4:2 fulfilled: Mat. 9:20-22 (NASB) and Mat. 14:35-36 (NASB) and Mark 5:25-34 (NASB) and Luke 8:43-48 (NASB). The prayer closet: Matthew 6:6; Elijah on the mountain wraps himself in his mantle 1 Kings 19:9-19. Mention the Tallit blessings — especially the one for wrapping oneself in it (below).
Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tekhelet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzitzit
Some archaeologists and non-traditional secular Biblical scholars speculate as to the source of the tradition. According to the modern documentary hypothesis, the reference to tzitzit in Numbers comes from the Priestly Code, while that from Deuteronomy comes from the Deuteronomic Code and hence they date to around the late 8th century BCE and late 7th century BCE respectively, some time after the practice began to be in use[3]. The custom however, clearly predates these codes, and was not limited to Israel; images of the custom have been found on several ancient Near East inscriptions in contexts suggesting that it was practiced across the Near East[4]. Some scholars believe that the practice among ancients originated due to the wearing of animal skins, which have legs at each corner, and that later fabrics symbolized the presence of such legs, first by the use of amulets, and later by tzitzit[5]. This explanation does not negate the Biblical commandment’s use of such social elements to emphasize its own agenda. Indeed, Prof. Milgrom writes that tassels were used in the ancient world as an insignia signifying the status of its wearer, often his rank within the court of the ruler. The tzitzit thus indicated that its bearer was a Jew.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_and_fringed_garments http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menorah_%28Temple%29
Many synagogues display either a menorah or an artistic representation of a menorah. In addition, synagogues feature a continually-lit lamp in front of the Ark, where the Torah scroll is kept. Called the ner tamid, this lamp represents the continually-lit menorah used in Temple times. The Menorah is also a symbol closely associated with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. According to the Talmud, after the desecration of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, there was only enough sealed (and therefore not desecrated by idolatry) consecrated olive oil left to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days which was enough time to make new pure oil. The Hanukkah menorah therefore has eight main branches, plus a ninth branch set apart for the Shamash (servant) light which is used to start the other lights. This type of menorah is called a hanukiah in Modern Hebrew.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emblem_of_Israel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menorah_%28Hanukkah%29
Another possible reason for the eight branches of the Chanukah menorah, as opposed to the seven in the traditional menorah in the temple, may be because according to halakha, it is forbidden to make a menorah similar to the one in the temple because of its sanctity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_law_in_Christianity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Torah-submission http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jewish_prayers_and_blessings#tzitzit
On inspection of the tzitzit
Psalms 104:1–2 is traditionally read: “Bless, (O) my soul, the LORD. LORD my God, You are very great; glory and majesty have You worn – Who dons light as a garment, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain.”
Before putting on the tallit
“Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to wrap ourselves with fringes.”
After wrapping the tallit around the body
Psalms 36:8–11 is traditionally recited: “How precious is your kindness, [O] God! People take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They are sated from the abundance of Your house, and from the stream of Your delights You give them to drink. For with You is the source of life; by Your light shall we see light. Extend Your kindness to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright of heart.”
Other sites:
http://www.shofarsblast.com/…/Shofars_Blast_tallit_teachings.htm
Catholic Encyclopedia - Fringes in Scripture
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/…Jesus#999
Tags: Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah), fringes, Menorah, prayer shawl, Sabbath (Shabbat), servant candle, servant thread, shadows, Tallit, Torah, Traditions