When one thinks about the Tabernacle, the world where God can dwell with us, it is a world where the people would bring their sacrifices. We think not only of the elements making up the Tabernacle , but of the livestock that were sacrificed.
🤔 livestock מקנה, shown as “מ from” + קנה p.229 “acquire by legal means.”
But also look at מק + נה – as in the previous blog, מק lowering and decay.
+
p.150 נהה pain;; CM impact physically/emotionally (D76)
Having livestock was a sign of wealth in Biblical times.
The thing about sacrifice is that it’s not really sacrifice if there is not pain involved, giving up something we desire. See “the widow’s mite.” (Mark 12:41-44) Sacrifice = זבח – being “ב in” + זח.
זח ➔ p.66 זחח move from a particular place;; CM continue/curtail (E8)
➔ p.65 זוח restrain;; CM control movement/action (E5)
If we are in a “particular place” in life, true sacrifice causes us to move from that spot in which we are dwelling. If we are self-focused and depressed or anxious, sacrificing to serve another moves us from the self-focused depression and lifts us up. If we are riding high, a sacrifice to one in need (done face-to-face) may well help us to see how truly blessed we are. Our current state, our “particular place” does tend to restrain us from fully experiencing the joy of life God wants us to have. Sacrifice in spite of that restraint helps us to move forward. The widow is uplifted knowing there are others in greater need than herself that may benefit by way of her sacrifice.
Back to from Blog 107:
- Exodus 20:24-26
- 24 An altar of earth you shall make for me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place (h4725. מָקוֹם mâqôm) where I record my name I will come to you, and I will bless you. 25 And if you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it. 26 Nor shall you go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness (h6172. עֶרְוָה ‘erwâ) may not be exposed on it.’
Nakedness h6172. עֶרְוָה ‘erwâ
Pay particular attention to ⑥ lowering esteem
Genesis 9:20-23
20 And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. 21 Then he drank of the wine and was drunk (h7937. שָׁכַר šâḵar), and became uncovered (h1540. גָּלָה g̱âlâ) in his tent (h0168. אֹהֶל ’ôhel). 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness (h6172. עֶרְוָה ‘erwâ) of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment (h8071. שִׂמְלָה śimlâ), laid it on both their shoulders, and walked (h1980. הָלַךְ hâlaḵ) backward and covered (h3680. כָּסָה ḵâsâ) the nakedness (h6172. עֶרְוָה ‘erwâ) of their father. Their faces backward, and the nakedness (h6172. עֶרְוָה ‘erwâ) of their father they did not see.
Uncovered h1540. גָּלָה g̱âlâ
Note גלה is cognate permutation with הלך p.59 walk; progress step by step toward a goal;; CM move piecemeal (A61) and also cognate with כלה p.118 strive to attain;; contain/expose (C25).
Garment h8071. שִׂמְלָה śimlâ
Note שׂמל is cognate permutation with שלם p.264 harmonize; complete;; CM complete cover (E54) – this is Shalom, often translated as “peace.”
Covered h3680. כָּסָה ḵâsâ
Note כסה is cognate with ישע p.112 save; grant essence of existence;; separate (C18), which is the root for salvation ישועה.
Many of the incidents seen in the lives of the forefathers appear to be precursors to the formation of what we know as the Ten Commandments. This, I believe, is one of the precursors to the commandment about honoring your father and mother (another being Reuben going up to his father’s couch). Something about Noah’s behavior while drunk became apparent to Ham, and Ham did not honor his father and mother by keeping silent about what happened in the home with mother and father. Ham’s brothers, however, did make an attempt to save the situation, progressing slowly backwards, providing salvation to the reputation of their father, Noah.
Shem and Japheth honor their father and mother. Ham does not, and as a result, a “curse,” negative consequences, fall upon the descendant(s) of Ham. Ham’s action disrupts the peace and harmony of the home, with negative consequences. The brothers bring salvation to the home, honoring father and mother. Surely I was taught as a child, as I anticipate most children are, that what takes place in the home is “family business,” not public business.
Exodus 20:12
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
Ephesians 6:2-3
2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise (g1860. ἐπαγγελία epaggelia): 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
g1860. ἐπαγγελία epaggelia in LXX ➔ h0092. אֲגֻדָּה ’ăg̱uḏâ (Am9:6)
from:
⇅
This is the Aqedah, “The binding of Isaac.”
This “promise” mentioned by Paul in Ephesians is a covenant. It is a binding agreement between parties that has consequences if not kept. The positive is “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” But if not, it will be the opposite, “it may not be well with you, and/or you may not live long on the earth.” This is the “curse” that falls on Canaan, the son of Ham, the consequences of Ham’s not honoring father and mother.
Also h0092. אֲגֻדָּה ’ăg̱uḏâ is seen in Exodus 12:22 “Take a bunch (h0092. אֲגֻדָּה ’ăg̱uḏâ) of hyssop (h0231. אֵזוֹב ’êzôḇ) and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts•••” at Pesach/Passover.
Hyssop/h0231. אֵזוֹב ’êzôḇ is from:
Binding one’s weaknesses. The beginning of the Wilderness journey. The knowing that one has many trials one will have to overcome, that blood/silence דם is involved.
Matthew 16:19
19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind (g1210. δέω deō) on earth will be bound (g1210. δέω deō) in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 18:18
18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind (g1210. δέω deō) on earth will be bound (g1210. δέω deō) in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
g1210. δέω deō – Gn38:28 – “••• and the midwife took scarlet and bound (h7194. קָשַׁרqâšar) it on his hand •••”
LXX ↓
The journey is about binding our weaknesses. The Israelites had developed many weaknesses in Egypt, which are illuminated in the different complaints they have in the Exodus.
In Gn38:28 shown above, read the context and see the names of Zerah זרח the one bound, and Perez פרץ the one who “broke through.” Binding and loosing; restraint vs. impetuosity. Peter was the impetuous one. He was bound (John21) “Feed my sheep,” as we are bound. When we focus on others, we focus less on ourselves. This is the nature of life lived for the LORD (יהוה), “🎶think a little more of others, and a little less of me🎵.” (Glen Campbell)
When we are inwardly focused, all our troubles are magnified. When we are outwardly focused, to “feed the sheep,” the lesser ones, our own troubles are lessened. Humbling and exalting. It is the Way of God’s world.
There will always be others less well-off than we are. As we lower ourselves, in God’s eyes we are exalted. Have a blessed Thanksgiving and give thanks for the blessings in our abundance.
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