Tetzaveh

This week¶s Torah Portion, Tetzaveh/´You shall command´, comes from Exodus 27:20-30:10. It is
the second parshah that deals with the instructions for the building of the Tabernacle. Once again it
gives us insight into patterns and rehearsals as the Tabernacle becomes a model of our relationship
with YHVH! This parshah starts with instructions concerning the oil used to light the Menorah, then
gives the intricate details concerning the priestly garments, and finally closes out with the instructions
for the Altar of Incense. Before we truly delve in, it is interesting to take a look at the significance of
this being the 2nd Tabernacle parshah.

2 = Bet ʡ ± the house or dwelling, this letter is constructed of 3 vav¶s with a window or opening on the
left side of the letter (all other directions are closed off ± above, below, and behind). This is the first
letter of the Torah or our Ketubah (wedding covenant) and as a prefix this letter means ³in´.

°It is interesting to note that the Menorah

(this parshah starts off concerning the oil
used for the menorah) is located at the left
side of the Holy Place from the view of one
entering into the Tabernacle. Tying these
together it begins to form this picture of one
gaining access or being allowed ³in´ to the
House/Dwelling Place/Tabernacle and into
the Ketubah through the opening/window
symbolized in this Menorah and oil used to
light it! All other access points are closed
off.

This is also the 20th Torah Portion of the year (once again emphasis on the 2 = Bet). The number 20 is
equivalent to the letter Kaf ʫ. The letter kaf is a pictograph of the palm of the hand or sole of the foot
and when used as a prefix it means ³like´ or ³as´, as a suffix it indicates possession.

°The Menorah being fashioned after an almond tree had 7 branches each
one having a bowl made like almonds with a knop and a flower. Knop:
Strong¶s #3730 kaphtor ʸʥʺʴʫ bulb, knob, capital, capital of a pillar; from
an unused root meaning to circle, the first half of the word spells out the
letter kaf! The second half tor made of the Tav prefix = she will, you will
and the word µor = light ° She will/you will be light! It also forms the 3
letter root of the word Torah!

Within this Torah portion we will learn of the hidden meaning of the
Menorah that becomes the window allowing us access into the Dwelling
Place of Yah. Gaining access to it requires one to take Torah as your
possession, which then makes one as light! The very message of the
Menorah (and Tetzaveh) becomes ³she will/you will be light´!
Exodus 27:20

Command: Strong¶s #6680 tsavah ʤʥʶ to command, to charge, give orders

°Tracing the etymological roots this word also carries with it the connotation of he
bound/united, he enjoined/bequeathed, he showed/declared, he inspired/revealed

Through the fulfilling of this command of YHVH it will reveal something that is going to be
bound/united and enjoined together!

Tav = Covenant, last letter of the alphabet, with Hebrew thought being cyclical viewing the alphabet as
a circle the Tav leads us right back to the letter Aleph (Head of the House, Strong One).
Tsadde = righteousness, considered the mate of the Aleph representing the reflection of the Aleph¶s
image, becomes an allusion to the Kallat Mashiach/Bride of the Messiah
Vav = the connector, hook, man
Hey = revelation, breath, behold, reveal, as a suffix carries the idea of to be made fruitful

³The Strong One (Messiah) by way of the Covenant will be connected/hooked with His righteous
Bride and she will be made fruitful´! This is what YHVH is revealing through the construction of the
Tabernacle ± the uniting together of these two individuals!

Pure: Strong¶s #2134 zak ʪʦ clean, pure, the pure one

°From #2141 zakak ʪʫʦ to be pure, be bright, be clean
*This term is only used concerning the oil and the frankincense when dealing with the Tabernacle and
its implements! The frankincense was placed upon each row of bread upon the Table of Shewbread.

Leviticus 24:7 ± ³And thou shalt put pure (zak) frankincense upon each row that it may be on the bread
for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto Yahweh.´
Frankincense: Strong¶s #3828 lebownah ʤʰʥʡʬ frankincense
°From #3836 laban ʯʡʬwhite
*A cognate word is #3842 lebanah ʤʰʡʬ moon, full moon (Remember this!)

Table: Strong¶s #7979 shulchan ʯʧʬʹ table

°From #7971 shalach ʧʬʹ to send away, let go, stretch out, to be put away, or be divorced
Forms a compound word: ʬʹ (#7944 shal) error, fault, has strong connotations of a great sin or error
deserving of death ± deals with mishandling the Ark (representing YHVH Himself) & ʯʧ (#2580 chen)
favor, grace

The Table of Shewbread represents the Bride of Messiah who was

sent away and divorced because of a great sin (she mishandled the
Ark) but now finds favor and grace in His eyes as she is transformed
into His spotless bride (frankincense)! This transformation and return
is made possible by the light of the Menorah, which shines upon her!
*Describing this table in Exodus 37:11 ± ³And he overlaid it with
pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about´.
 Overlaid: Strong¶s #6823 tsaphah ʤʴʶ to lay out, lay over, overlay, cover
°From #6822 tsaphah ʤʴʶ to look out or about, spy, keep watch, observe, to foresee (He
foresaw/expected)
*It is spelled the same as #6824 tsaphah ʤʴʶ outflow, overflow, discharge
Gold: Strong¶s #2091 zahab ʡʤʦ gold
°Zeh ʤʦ (#2089) lamb & ʡʤ (hab) give, he gave

Further enhancing this picture we see that He (YHVH) foresaw and expected the niddah condition of
the Bride (her discharge) and so He gave the lamb!

Now a deeper understanding can be gleaned concerning the gifts brought to Yahshua by the wise men!
In Matthew 2:11 we read that gold, frankincense, and myrrh are brought.
Myrrh: Strong¶s #4753 more ʸʮ myrrh, from #4843 marar ʸʸʮ to be bitter
*Gold ± what served as the covering for the Table of Shewbread and declared the lamb that would be
given; Frankincense ± the white substance that ³clothed´ the table and made it sweet smelling; myrrh ±
bitter, representing the bitter waters ° Declared that this was the lamb spoken of to be given on behalf
of the Bride as her covering in order to clothe her in garments of white and He would be the one to
partake of the bitter waters on her behalf!

This connection is also seen dealing with the oil that is brought! Exodus 27:20 ± ³that they bring thee
pure oil olive beaten for the light´
Beaten: Strong¶s #3795 kathiyth ʺʩʺʫ beaten out, pure, pounded fine, costly; from #3807 kathath
ʺʺʫ to beat, crush by beating, crush to pieces, to crush fine
*It¶s the same term used to describe how the Golden Calf was ³stamped´ into dust in Deuteronomy
9:21. The very one who this Menorah and the oil represents, the Messiah, would be the one to be
crushed/stamped in order to take on the punishment of his adulterous bride!

Purpose for the Oil

Exodus 27:20 ± ³beaten for the light to cause the lamp to burn always´
Light: Strong¶s #3974 ma¶owr ʸʥʠʮ light, luminary

*More than once the statement is made concerning this oil being ³for the light´ (Exodus 25:6). We
understand the purpose of the oil is for the ma¶owr, we are also told the purpose of the ma¶owr as well
though in Genesis 1!
Genesis 1:14-16
Signs: Strong¶s #226 µowth ʺʥʠ sign, signal, token, standard, proof
°From #225 µuwth ʺʥʠ to consent, agree

Seasons: Strong¶s #4150 mow¶ed ʣʲʥʮ appointed place, appointed time, meeting
°From #3259 ya¶ad ʣʲʩ to fix, appoint, assemble, meet, set, betroth

Years: Strong¶s #8141 shaneh ʤʰʹ year

°From #8138 shanah ʤʰʹ to repeat, do again, change, alter, disguise oneself
The same analogy formed by the Menorah and its light representing Messiah and the table of
shewbread representing the Bride is seen as well in the Heavenly lights and ma¶owr! The ma¶owr in
the Tabenacle carries out the same purpose expounded upon here ± it acts as proof that we
agreed/consented (µowth) to this betrothal (ya¶ad) which causes us to be changed and altered from our
niddah condition by the one who is disguised within this ma¶owr of the Menorah (shaneh)!

The moon then corresponds to the table of shewbread with the frankincense upon each row.
Remember that the term frankincense (lebownah) is a cognate for the word for moon (lebanah)! In
Genesis 1 it is referred to as the ³lesser light´. Lesser: Strong¶s #6996 qatan ʯʨʷ young, small,
insignificant, unimportant; from #6962 quwt ʨʥʷ to loathe, be grieved, to feel a loathing, this term is
used to describe the state of Israel after they have went ³a whoring after their idols´. Another term
describing the moon is #2320 chodesh ʹʣʧ new moon, month; from #2318 chadash ʹʣʧ to be new,
renew, repair, to restore. Just as the table of shewbread showed the Bride in her fallen condition but
the atonement made for, so the moon does as well! We see the one who feels a loathing towards
herself because of her harlotries but she is renewed, repaired, and restored!

Tying this pattern all together (of the sun & moon in the firmament, Menorah & Table of Shewbread in
the Tabernacle, and finally the Groom & Bride) in Isaiah 30:26 ± ³Moreover the light of the moon
shall be as the light of the sun (full restoration from the one who is loathed to the one who is clothed
with the light of her Groom), and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days (The
Menorah as well has 7 branches, connecting the pattern together), in the day that YHVH bindeth up the
breach of His people, and healeth the stroke of their wound´.

The Placement of the Table & Menorah

Exodus 26:35 ± ³And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table
on the side of the Tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.´

Over against: Strong¶s #5227 nokach ʧʫʰ be in front of, in the sight of, before, on behalf of
*1st reference of this word is Genesis 25:21 ± ³And Isaac entreated YHVH for (nokach) his wife,
because she was barren´. Entreated: Strong¶s #6279 µathar ʸʺʲ to pray, entreat, supplicate; cognate
of #6282 µathar ʸʺʲ worshipper, incense
 ° Remember that the altar of incense is also located within this
room and the lighting of the Menorah went hand in hand with the
offering of incense! As this ritual was carried out, it became a
rehearsal of the Messiah who would entreat YHVH on behalf of the
barren bride!

The latter part of this word nokach forms the word koach (#3581)
ʧʫ strength, power, might ° 1st used in Genesis 4:12 ± ³When thou
tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength
(koach)´ speaking to Cain. Remember that Cain dwells in Nod
(cognate term of niddah ± unclean) by choice.
*The word for lamp is #5216 niyr ʸʩʰ lamp; related to #5214 niyr
ʸʩʰ to break up, freshly plow, or to till

Ground: Strong¶s #127 µadamah ʤʮʣʠ ground, land; within this

word is dam ʭʣ blood (represents the covering that atones); the ground/¶adamah also represents a
womb itself
*In a niddah condition and without access to the niyr (lamp) one¶s womb becomes barren and the
blood covering that offers atonement does not yield itself because Cain (and all those that choose
similar paths) finds himself outside of the presence of YHVH.

Genesis 3:17-19 ° This same pattern is seen with Adam as well, sin affecting their tilling of the
ground (affecting their covering). While in the Garden there is a mist that waters the ground (Gen.
2:6). Mist: Strong¶s #108 µed ʣʠ mist; from #181 µuwd ʣʥʠ brand, firebrand, something that would
stir the fire! The fire was present and once again acted as the connection to the Father and provided
the covering for the Bride!

It¶s the same pattern of the

Menorah being positioned in
such a way to intercede for the
Bride and acquire her
atonement! It is the position of
the Menorah/fire that plays such
an important role in this
relationship. In one aspect it
atones for the Bride and causes
her to be made fruitful. On the
other hand it has the potential to
cause the consequences of
Leviticus 21:9 ± ³And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she
profaneth her father, she shall be burnt with fire.´

With this understanding, the true importance of keeping the Menorah lit is seen! It represents the
intercession on behalf of the adulterous bride, without it we become barren and without a covering!
Proverbs 31:18 ± ³She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle (niyr) goeth not out by
night.´
Goeth Out: Strong¶s #3518 kabah ʤʡʫ to quench, put out, be put out, be extinguished
*This term is also used concerning the fire upon the altar in Leviticus 6:13 ± ³The fire shall ever be
burning upon the altar; it shall never go out (kabah)´.

During the days of the Temple, a priest was assigned to watch the fire and keep it burning throughout
the out night. The High Priest would arrive each morning (before sunrise) and would first check to see
if the fire was still lit. If the fire had gone out, he would find the priest who had fallen asleep and set
his garments on fire by placing the coals on the hem. The priest would then awake to find his
garments on fire and have the option of staying in them or traveling home nude!

°It adds to the elaborate shadow picture of the lamp that is to be kept burning representing our
atonement and connection, but if we allow it to become extinguished (in effect play the harlot)
the same fire then brings judgment upon us. But a good wife keeps her lamp burning!

Tetzaveh truly becomes the foundation for the statement in Matthew 5:14 ± ³Ye are the light of the
world´