LIGHT OF MENORAH

Welcome to the new podcast series from Light of Menorah.  These podcasts entitled, "Truth Nuggets," are short Bible studies focusing on the archaeology, history, geography, customs, culture, and the ancient languages of the ancient Near East.  Our attempt is to put the Bible into its historical context and "walk on those ancient streets and roadways" with those ancient believers. We want to try and understand what they heard and saw and understood in God's word.  We want to try and reconnect to the original meaning that God intended.

In this first "Truth Nugget" we look at one particular verse that is a clear example of us,  21st century Christians, taking a verse out of context and misapplying it to our circumstances.  We have been so cutoff from the Bible in context that we have no other choice it seems, but to try and grasp the meaning of God's word from our own circumstances.  But, once we do reconnect to Psalm 118:24 in context and consider the verses that come before and after, and consider the historical context, the verse explodes with meaning as it relates to the entire redemption plan of El Elyon, the Most High God.

A proven credible Bible scholar and historian is Dr. Craig Keener.  I reference him in this porcast.  He has written a short article I highly recommend you read as you continue to live to stand and hold fast to God's Word.  Here is the link to the article - https://www.craigkeener.com/why-it-is-important-to-study-the-bible-in-context/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret at Timnah Park 15 miles or so north of Eilat Israel)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

In part 2 of lesson 4 we deal with the questions who is Reuel?  And, who is Jethro?  On top of that who is Hobab?  The Bible implies Reuel and Jethro and Hobab are the father-in-law of Moses (See Exod. 2:18, 3:1, Num. 10:29 and Jud. 4:11).  They must be all the same guy, right?  I mean that is what we are taught - same guy but had different names since they all had multiple names in those days but no one backs it up. But, Bible is clear; Hobab is the son of Reuel (Num. 10:29)  and Hobab is the father-in-law of Moses (Jud. 4:11) but Reuel is the father of Zipporah Exod. 2:18), Moses' wife.  This is crazy.  Must mean the Bible can't be trusted right?  Wrong.  It is wrong since you are dealing with this in English and not Hebrew.  

We end off this lesson reading that Hebrews cried out in Exod. 2:23.  But, it is more than cried out.  The Hebrew word is za'aka זעק H2199 which is shriek or scream in deep anguish or terror.  On top of that the Hebrews cried out to no one!  In Exod. 2:23 they cried out - to who?  God heard them but they did not cry out, shriek in deep pain, to the Lord.  Later, at the sea before they crossed over, one they were reintroduced to the God of Abraham, we read in Exod. 14:10 that Israel cried out TO THE LORD.  We miss that.  We think they cried out to the Lord in Exod. 2:23.  That is putting words in the Bible that aren't there.  They didn't know the God of their fathers anymore. 

What happened?  What's going on?  The answer - they had assimilated into the Egyptian culture.  The Bible proves it yet we missed it.  All they knew were the gods of Egypt.  It is easy to get Israel out of Egypt but it is nigh impossible to get Egypt out of Israel.  

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret - leading a Bible stdy tour in Egypt)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

This vidcast (video podcast) is a Part 2 of Genesis 5.  In this video we will see how God taught His people, the Hebrews, in ways that would make sense only to them in their day. We would not recognize it as we read the Bible. God is writing to a people thousands of years ago using concepts only they understood and not us.

Dr. John Currid, a highly credible Egyptologist, archaeologist, and theologian, wrote a book entitled, "Against the Gods." His thesis in the book is to show us how we in the 21st century miss how God taught His people in their time using things they were familiar with. Here's an example Dr. Currid uses his paper, "The Nature of Polemical Thought and Writing." He writes

 ... A STRONG HAND - some common expressions found in ancient Egyptian texts to describe the power of Pharaoh over his foes are that the monarch had “a strong hand,” or “he possessed a strong arm,” or he was “the one who destroyed his enemies with his arm.” It is ironic that the author of the book of Exodus assigns the same features to the Lord as he humiliates and destroys Pharaoh and Egypt (Ex. 3:19–20; 6:1; 7:4; 15:6, etc.).

James Hoffmeier, a famous Egyptologist, comments on this parallel, asking, “what better way for the Exodus traditions to describe God’s victory over Pharaoh, and as a result his superiority, than to use Hebrew derivations or counterparts to Egyptian expressions that symbolized Egyptian royal power?” For most of us this would have escaped us completely. We are not familiar with ancient Egyptian writings nor are we into the ancient culture and customs on Egypt in the days of Moses. But, God is clearly inspiring Moses to use an Egyptian idiom that the Hebrews would have been familiar with. God uses this to come against Pharaoh and show His power over Pharaoh and all Egypt. In this way God uses something Egyptian to teach His people about Himself and His character.

However, we will also see that these amazing lessons that made sense to those first believers also make sense to us today in the 21st century. Ready? Let's begin. Let's see how God uses Genesis 1:1 to teach His people coming out of Egypt that He is God and not Amun Ra. Let's also see how this relates to us today, us being His people, and knowing that God never changes (Mal. 3:6). He was the same 3400 years ago and today.

Link to John Currid's article referenced above - https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/polemic.html

Use this link to study the idea that the Hebrews had assimilated into the pagan culture of Egypt.  Here's the link - https://youtu.be/9tY5N0mAJ2I?si=7SzXFQWg0ZP4Hj3F

Here’s an article on the ancient Egyptian creation accounts - https://www.glencairnmuseum.org/newsletter/2021/7/13/ancient-egyptian-creation-myths-from-watery-chaos-to-cosmic-egg

Short cool video on the ancient Egyptian creation myth - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTy49JlgJZE

 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret - leading a tour Egypt)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

ROSH HASHANA EPISODE 4

(ROYALTY FREE IMAGE AT WWW.KINGPNG.COM)

In lesson 4 we seem to get at the primary connection between this feast of the Lord, this "appointed time" commanded by Him, His מוֹעֲדִ mo'ed and Yeshua HaMaschiach, Jesus the Messiah, the Christ.  Jesus said (John 5:39) that SCRIPTURE testifies of Him.  So, this feast in Torah likely testifies of Him.

We will focus on those coming out of Egypt and the one shofar blast that was beyond loud, strong.  It was awesome, amazing, and unbelievable.  As we study the events of this shofar blast it seems to create a definite connection to an event in the future - an event that mirrors the event experienced by the Hebrews at Sinai.  It takes us to a certain mountain, a specific location that we are all looking forward to.

I mentioned in this lesson about Rabbi Saadia Gaon living in the early 10th century A.D.  He suggested there were ten events related to the Shofar we should relate to Rosh HaShana.  (NOTE: the actual name used by God is Yom Teruah, the Day of the Blast.  Rabbis made up the name Rosh HaShana.  Their views of the Lord's feast and its meaning is unbiblical and not close to the Lord's purpose).  If you wanted to read the actual words of Rabbi Gaon check the link below.  Also, check the link below that shows that Rosh HaShana is not what God wanted or intended.  God named this this "appointed time," this מוֹעֲדִ mo'ed, one of His feasts as in Leviticus 23,  יום תרועה, Yom Teruah - the day of the blast (shofar blast is assumed).  The rabbis changed it and took out of the Bible, took out of the context of God's word.

LINK 1 - ten shofars of Rabbi Gaon

https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/128856?lang=bi

LINK 2 - Rosh HaShana is not biblical and of God but Yom Teruah is

https://booksnthoughts.com/rosh-hashanah-is-not-a-biblical-holiday/

 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

I have heard the excuse of many in the "church" of why we do not do the Biblical feasts.  One will say they are the Jewish feasts.  And we are not Jewish.  Right, you are not Jewish, but you are also wrong.  Lev. 23:1-2 tells us that these feasts - actually in Hebrew they are the מועדים mow-ed-deem (H4140) or the appointed times) - belong to the Lord, belong to  יהוה Yahvay.  They are not only for Jews but for all God's people. On top of that Jesus also seems to imply that the feasts, the appointed times, are His.  Consider ...

And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples."'" (Mat 26:18)  

The Passover is one of the feasts, one of the מועדים mow-ed-deem and Jesus seems to say this is His.  Thus, Jesus is saying He is the Lord!  He is saying that the feasts are His.  

Besides that Jesus says in John 5:39 ...

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me"  (Joh 5:39)

He said this to the Scribes, the Chief Priests, the Temple Elders, and probably some Pharisees in 24-30 A.D.  All they had was the Hebrew Scriptures (a.k.a. the Old Testament) and the first five books of the Bible, the Books of Moses, a.k.a. the Torah, were the key foundational books of the Bible.  Jesus is saying the Torah testifies of Him, the Messiah.  So, the feasts, the מועדים mow-ed-deem, testify of Jesus.  Thus, some say in the church that the Biblical feasts are Jewish and only about Jewish stuff.  There's nothing in the feasts about Jesus.  Wrong.  What did our Lord just teach us?  Why won't we listen to Yeshua?  We don't listen to Him and and wonder why over 80% of so called people who call themselves Christians in the USA do NOT have a Biblical worldview.  We Bible teachers have a lot to answer for and it will be a fearsome thing to be face to face with Jesus when we are judged.

In part three we will look at four possible ways יוֹם תְּרוּעָה Yom Teruah or the Day of the Blast (rabbis changed it to Rosh HaShana, the head of the year) connect to Jesus.  We will not make up stuff.  We will not invent non-biblical connections.  We will stick like glue to the very words of God and the real facts of Biblical history. We will only consider four.  I think there are more and you may find others.  But, the four I chose convinced me to say that once you know this then the "church" has NO excuse for not doing the מועדים mow-ed-deem of the Lord.  Once Jesus is manifested in the feasts it is incumbent upon the "church" - all of us as disciples of Adonai Yeshua - to do then as an expression of our love and thankfulness.  We do Christmas - nice holiday but not commanded by God.  Easter - nice holiday but not commanded by God.  Lent - awesome time before Easter but not commanded by God.  Advent - preparing for the birth of Christ but again, man made, and not commanded by the Lord.  The only one we do is Pentecost and in many churches today you attend Pentecost Sunday and it is not even brought up.  But now there is no excuse.  Come.  Blow the shofar on the evening of יוֹם תְּרוּעָה Yom Teruah (a.k.a. Rosh HaShana) and rejoice and celebrate our new life in Jesus.

גמר חתימה בספר החיים טלה

G'mar Chatima Beh Sefer HaChaim Tahlah

May you be inscribed in the Lamb's Book of Life

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

 

 

SPECIAL PODCAST SERIES

The Fall Feasts of the Lord

Once again we return to Jesus' words in John 5:39 ...

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me." (Joh 5:39)

How do we "see" Jesus in Rosh HaShana?  This feast of the Lord is in the Torah, the main books of the Bible in Jesus' day when He said the words found John 5:39.  It is not how the Jewish people celebrate this feast.  NO!! It is how the word testifies of the Messiah, Jesus the Christ.  How does the Shofar sound of this feast show us Yeshua?

The word of God is clear, crystal.  These are not the Jewish feasts.  God says they are not but He says ...

The LORD spoke again to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'The LORD'S appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations--My appointed times are these: 
(Lev 23:1-2)

Today the church does not celebrate one of God's "feasts." One can see why.  Our pastors and leaders are not trained in Hebrew, Greek, or the Bible in its historical context.  The "church" has always looked upon the feasts as Jewish and that Jesus did away with the law.  So, we do not see a reason to do Jewish feasts.  But they are not Jewish feasts.  They are the Lord's.  Perhaps, if we "see" how they relate to Jesus, a church may consider a service on the evening or day of Rosh HaShana.  The service might entail songs of praise and thanksgiving and perhaps a community meal or pizza party.  Once you see the Christian meaning of all this then a church could once again say to our Father, "Abba, we come today to join with you on YOUR 'appointed time' and seek Your face and Your love on Your Feast that we have turned from in our lack of understanding.

In parts one and two and three of this series we will focus on Rosh HaShana.  We will find that the rabbis made up the name, Rosh HaShana, and said the feasts was a celebration of the New Year.  No way - not in its historical context.  Once we get the rabbinic midrash out of the way the meaning of this feast, called the Day of the Blast in Torah, becomes clear and powerful and then we can see Jesus, we can see the Messiah.  It then is a challenge for the "church" to understand Yom Teruah, Rosh HaShana, and to consider a praise service to honor the Lord and meet with Him on His "appointed time," and time and day He wants us to get together.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

 

SPECIAL PODCAST SERIES

The Fall Feasts of the Lord

Once again we return to Jesus' words in John 5:39 ...

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me." (Joh 5:39)

He said this sometime between 24-30 A.D. and scripture then was the Hebrew Scriptures (a.k.a. the Old Testament).  The primary books of the Hebrew scriptures is the Torah, the first five books of the Bible.  Thus, then, how do these scriptures testify of Jesus?  How do we see Jesus in the Torah?  This relates to the Rosh HaShana since this "feast" is mentioned several times in the Torah.  So, how do we "see" Jesus in Rosh HaShana?

The word of God is clear, crystal.  These are not the Jewish feasts.  God says they are not but He says ...

The LORD spoke again to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'The LORD'S appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations--My appointed times are these: 
(Lev 23:1-2)

Today the church does not celebrate one of God's "feasts."  Not one except Pentecost, or in Hebrew, Shavuot, the feast of weeks.  And, even then, they do not even understand the deeper and more expanded meaning of Pentecost.  Why not?  Simple, the church is so cutoff from its Jewish roots.  It has been emphasized that the old is done away with and the new has come so we are not under the rules and commands of the Old Testament.  The "church" has taught for centuries that what is Jewish is wrong, obsolete, and Jesus came against it.  This is totally wrong and misguided.  Jesus never did away with the Torah and the commands in Torah.  He came to complete the Torah, to do what the Torah could never do.  Just like we read when Paul taught in the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia in southern Turkey ...

"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses (another way of naming the fist five books of the Bible, the Torah). (Act 13:38-39)

 

Jesus is God, Jesus is Lord, and Paul reiterates that there is only ONE God. Thus, these "feasts" are His, they are the feasts of Jesus.  I suggest that once you see Jesus in these commanded times the church can then consider to do these feasts in a Christian way as we see Jesus.  

In parts one and two and three of this series we will focus on Rosh HaShana.  We will find that the rabbis made up the name, Rosh HaShana, and said the feasts was a celebration of the New Year.  No way - not in its historical context.  Once we get the rabbinic midrash out of the way the meaning of this feast, called the Day of the Blast in Torah, becomes clear and powerful and then we can see Jesus, we can see the Messiah.  It then is a challenge then to the "church" to understand Yom Teruah, Rosh HaShana, and to consider a praise service to honor the Lord and meet with Him on His "appointed time," and time and day He wants us to get together.

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background

 

 

Links for the Bible study podcasts on Rosh HaShana (Yom Teruah)

     Lesson 1 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-fall-feasts-of-adonai-rosh-hashana-part-1-the-day-of-the-blast/

     Lesson 2 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-fall-feasts-of-adonai-rosh-hashana-part-2-the-shadow-of-messiah/

     Lesson 3 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/fall-feasts-of-the-lord-rosh-hashana-part-3-remember-the-day-of-the-shofar-blast-the-day-of-the-lord/

     Lesson 4 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/rosh-hashana-yom-teruah-4-1st-last-shofar/

Links for the Bible Study podcasts on Yom Kuppim - 

     Lesson 1 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/fall-feasts-of-the-lord-yom-kippureem-episode-1-it-is-finished/

     Lesson 2 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/fall-feasts-of-the-lord-yom-kippureem-episode-2-the-time-of-jacob-s-trouble/

     Lesson 3 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/fall-feasts-of-the-lord-yom-kippureem-episode-3-the-shadow-of-messiah/

     Lesson 4 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/yom-kippureem-episode-4-the-goat-and-the-lamb-john-539/

Links to the podcasts Bible studies on the feast of Sukkot (Tents) -

     Lesson 1 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-fall-feasts-of-adonai-episode-7-the-appointed-time-of-sukkot-lesson-1-emannoo-el/

    Lesson 2 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-fall-feasts-of-adonai-episode-8-god-dwells-with-us-lesson-2/

    Lesson 3 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-appointed-time-of-sukkot-lesson-3-the-bread-from-heaven/

    Lesson 4 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-appointed-time-of-sukkot-lesson-4-the-bread-from-heaven/

    Lesson 5 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/the-appointed-time-of-sukkot-lesson-the-8th-day-the-beginning-and-the-end/

Link to the article at GotQuestions.org "How Did Jesus FULFILL the Fall Feasts - 

     Article - httpswww.gotquestions.orgJewish-feasts.html

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

(Ferret - teaching somewhere in the Galilee)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

LEVITICUS LESSON 2 PART 2

If you haven' listened to Lesson 2 Part 1 here's the link - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/leviticus-2-lesson-1-lev-1-2-burin-it-all-up/?token=4e58b98c5da23e559726199bf8d9c9b0

 

Why the bull then the goat/sheep and then a turtledove or pigeon?  As we study further into Leviticus we’ll see that God is clearly doing something awesome.  He is making it easy for anyone, rich or poor, to participate in a Burnt Offering to “come close” to the Lord.  One can do a search on the internet and find the following.

• The Bull (Most Expensive): for the rich or more powerful people of the community.
• The Lamb / Sheep (Moderate Cost): The standard offering for an average household or individual guilt/sin offering.
• The Pigeon or Turtledove (Least Expensive): Designated specifically as a gracious provision for the poor. If a person could not afford a lamb, God permitted them to bring pigeons or doves.  Pigeons could be freely caught in the wild. For example, Mary and Joseph offered pigeons (or turtledoves) at the temple during Jesus' dedication because they lacked the funds for a lamb.

Historical Estimates

Modern historians and biblical economists have estimated relative values in ancient Near Eastern currency to modern equivalents:

• Bull / Ox: Highly valuable capital asset; modern equivalent estimates up to $1,200.
• Lamb / Sheep: Worth a fraction of a large bovine; modern equivalent estimates range from $150 to $300.
• Pigeon / Dove: Plentiful and cheap (or able to be caught wild); modern equivalent estimates range from $5 to $10.

[1] https://biblehub.com/topical/o/offering_of_birds.htm

[2] https://heartstounderstand.com/2022/09/27/animal-sacrifices-by-value/

[3] https://www.gotquestions.org/Old-Testament-sacrifices.html

[4] https://weirdanimalworld.com/animals-sacrificed-in-the-bible/

 

The Role of Pigeons and Bread and Honey

Bread and honey were sacred, daily offerings laid out on temple altars to sustain the gods and nourish the souls of the dead in ancient Egypt.

See https://www.agricultureforlife.ca/post/food-offerings-in-ancient-times-honouring-gods-and-ancestors

• The Foundation of Life: Bread (called aish, meaning "life") and beer formed the literal and symbolic core of the Egyptian diet and offering rituals, representing the very first items presented to deities.
• The Sweetness of the Gods: Honey was highly prized and associated with nefer—the concept of goodness, beauty, and perfection—making it a fit luxury for temple ceremonies.
• Divine and Funerary Offerings: Pharoahs and priests daily placed fine loaves, beer, and honey-sweetened cakes (sometimes made with tiger nuts or dates) before gods like Amun-Ra. Similar provisions and honey-baked bread were placed inside tombs to feed and preserve the ka (soul) in the afterlife.

In ancient Egypt, thousands of pigeons and doves were used as temple offerings and ritual sacrifices to feed the gods, symbolize fertility, and serve as pure provisions for the afterlife.   The sheer volume of pigeon sacrifices is documented in historical texts. According to the Great Harris Papyrus—the longest surviving papyrus from Egypt—Pharaoh Ramses III donated 6,510 doves and 57,810 pigeons to the Temple of Amun alone. Ironically, while tens of thousands of pigeons were funneled into temples every year to appease the gods, Egyptian priests were strictly forbidden by religious decree from eating pigeon meat. Because pigeons were viewed as sacred symbols of fertility and love, the living clergy had to maintain purity by abstaining from eating them, keeping the birds strictly reserved as a "food of the gods".

Finally, here’s some final thoughts on Jesus and the Hebrew word, Qorban קָרְבָּן which is a Hebrew word that means “something brought near.”  It comes from the Hebrew verb karav (קָרַב), which means "to draw near" or "come close".  So, a Qorban קָרְבָּן is something we bring near as a "closeness gift" meant to bring a person into closer fellowship with God.

Jesus was our true Qorban.  He was the final sacrifice.  Instead of temporary animal offerings, Jesus offered Himself on the cross.  In Him we are brought near just as Paul wrote in Eph. 2:13.  Paul wrote that we believers who were once far away are brought near through Christ's blood. 

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korban

[2] https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7133.htm

[3] https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Parashah/Summaries/Vayikra/Korban/korban.html

[4] https://eitan.bar/articles/hebrew-word-study-sacrifice-qorban/

[5] https://readingacts.com/2014/10/25/jesus-and-purity-part-2-qorban/

[6] https://biblehub.com/topical/k/korban.htm

[7] https://www.gotquestions.org/corban.html

[8] https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Mark%207%3A11

[10] https://www.biblicalunitarian.com/articles/jesus-christ-our-approach-offering

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?

(John - on the Nile at Luxor Egypt)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

LEVITICUS LESSON 2 PART 1

It is strongly suggested you listen to lesson 1 parts 1 & 2 first.  Lesson 1 is an introduction to Leviticus and will give you perspectives on this book since Leviticus can be very irrelevant to us in the 21^st century.  I mean all this about sacrifices and blood and entrails and bulls and sheep seems like the book of Leviticus was only for them then with no connection for us.  However, Jesus said in John 5:39, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.” We will see that these sacrifices and offerings do testify of the coming Messiah, the Christ, our Jesus.  Just like He taught.  Makes sense right?  He is God, the only God.

Here's the links to lesson 1 part 1 and part 2.

Lesson 1 part 1 – https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/leviticus-lesson-1-part-1-introduction/

Lesson 1 part 2 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/leviticus-lesson-1-part-2-introduction-holiness-repentance-revival/

Doing searches on the internet one finds that the Hebrews just out of Egypt were very comfortable with animal sacrifices as it was a widespread religious practice across ancient near east in their days.  The pagans used them for various reasons. 

• Gifts or food of their gods.
• Communal Meals: sacrificial meat was shared between worshippers and their community. Very similar to the Peace or Fellowship offerings in Lev. 3. 
• Atonement and Appeasement: Rituals served to appease divine anger, secure favor for individuals, tribes, or entire nations.

The ritual practices were common among the nations of the ancient near east.  One would find …

• Complete Burning vs. Sharing: Near Eastern traditions sometimes placed the entire animal on the fire or buried it, though sharing portions was also common.
• Selection of Animals: Archaeological faunal evidence shows a strong preference for young or juvenile livestock, such as sheep and goats.
• Divination: priests examined internal organs—especially sheep livers (hepatoscopy)—to read omens and discern the will of the gods.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_sacrifice

[2] https://www.bibleodyssey.org/articles/sacrifice-in-ancient-israel/

[3] https://reknew.org/2019/09/why-did-god-require-animal-sacrifice-in-the-old-testament/

[4] https://www.jtsa.edu/torah/the-origins-of-sacrifice/

I mentioned the important books I use as a foundation set of resources in my studies.  They become critical to develop the Bible study podcasts since, as I have said, I do not teach my own opinion, but teach what recognized real scholars teach and have discovered.  So here are the key books in my Torah study resources.  I have many others that round out my extensive library, but the ones below and my foundation.

 

We will be delving into the Bible concept of sin and atonement and forgiveness.  It has to do with the Sin Offering in Leviticus 4 and the appointed time (moed – not feast) of the Lord of Yom Kippureem, the Day of Atonements.  In Lev. 1:4 it says the Burnt Offering or the Korban (something brought near) Olah (rising) קָרְבַּן עוֹלָה is for atonement.  This has nothing to do with sin.  But it was at this point in the study I brought up UNintentional and INtentional sin.  This is God’s word and He teaches that there are these two types of sin.  Suffice it to say for us in the church of the 21^st century who are not taught the Old Testament or have teachers who know the Hebrew or Greek, that INtentional sin is what we understand sin to be.  We don’t recognize mistakes or sinful things done unknowingly as sin.  But God does.  We will be getting into this more as we study Leviticus 4 and 16.  But for now. Check out these two podcasts that will help you understand this concept given to us by Yahvay, the Lord, the God of the Bible.

Five minute video/it is finished - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/five-small-stones-episode-9-rom-104-it-is-finished/

YOM KIPPUREEM – It is Finished - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/fall-feasts-of-the-lord-yom-kippureem-episode-1-it-is-finished/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?

(John - teaching at the Great Pyramids Giza, Egypt)

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0