Tentstake Ministries

May not be what you believe it is! Perhaps it’s time to put aside preconceived ideas built on this present world and seek Biblical understanding for what it means to God for you to be a woman protected and provided for by Him.

In the Beginning

In Genesis 2:21-24, a woman was created from the rib portion of man. The man’s name was Adam, meaning from the ‘red earth,’ and the woman’ name was Chavah, meaning to ‘give life.  When the man saw the woman, he knew she was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. 

This is why a man leaves his mother and a woman her home.  They are to ‘leave and cleave’ and become ‘one flesh.’   They were ‘one’ person; one flesh. In the Garden of Eden, they were spiritually ‘equal’ in the eyes of God. The were physically equal because Chavah was made as a helpmeet or partner for Adam.

Matthew Henry, a nonconformist minister and author, was born in Wales but spent much of his life in England. He is known for his volumes of biblical commentary of the Old and New Testaments. He wrote this now-famous poem about man and woman in their perfect created state:

“Women were created from the rib of man to be beside him, not from his head to top him, nor from his feet to be trampled by him, but from under his arm to be protected by him, near to his heart to be loved by him.”

God put high value on women because they bring forth life. It is also promised that through the Seed of Woman redemption for all mankind would come.

After the Fall

Once sin entered the world, the relationship between man and woman flip-flopped.  Because the woman did not heed the command of God, but enticed her husband to sin, she would now have authority over her – to protect her from being deceived again. Though the woman would desire equality with her husband, he would rule over her.  In Genesis 3:16 God explains this consequences of sin to the woman:

“To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pain in childbirth. You will bring forth children in pain. Your desire will be toward your husband, but he will rule over you.”

Inequality between man and woman came about because of sin.  It is the consequence of disobedience to God.  This inequality is manifested in the world today through the broken male/female relationships and marriages.

 From a more deeply-rooted sin came the idea of ownership of women.  This is not a Biblical view, but a godless view.  Nations other than Israel bought and sold women especially when they were collateral damage from war. Kings  made alliances with other kings through intermarriage of their daughters without considering the value of their own flesh and blood. This is how King David accumulated so many foreign wives and, these intermarriages caused great dysfunction within his family. When he finally married Bat-Sheva, he achieved what God ultimately wanted from him – a kingly lineage.

Abuse of Women

As part of the Torah governing the community of Israel, everyone was to be treated with respect and kindness. The Ten Commandments mandate good treatment—from the intimate relationship of marriage to relationships in the marketplace (Exodus 20:1-17). For example, if a man took a second wife, he was not to deprive the first of “her food, clothing, and marital rights” (Exodus 21:10). 

In Exodus 21:22 “If two men are fighting with each other and happen to hurt a pregnant woman so that her unborn child dies, then, even if no other harm occurs, the man must be fined. He must pay the amount set by the woman’s husband and confirmed by judges.”

In Deuteronomy 22:13-29 a woman’s purity and propriety was protected by her father, brother or husband. In our day, women have lost all sense of propriety – moral behavior.   Virginity is frowned upon if not blatantly mocked in western civilization.   Sexual activity outside of marriage whether it is fornication or adultery has become normative rather than remaining a sin. What was once sacred between a husband and wife has become less and less valued.

God put in place consequences for men who rape virgins or married women.   It is the man who must to take responsibility for their actions against women.  It may seem a little absurd that marriage would be required for raping a virgin, but if we still lived by such a simple rule of law, perhaps fewer men would rape women and fewer women would flaunt themselves before men.

Unfortunately in this ‘modern era,’ women no longer want to be under the protection of their father or brothers or even husbands.   Instead, they act and speak like men or as my mom would have said, ‘sailors.’ When they are treated rudely or roughly by men, they refuse to look within themselves and how they lowered their own standards of womanhood. These regulations were given by God in order to restore the relationship between man and woman after sin destroyed that partnership. What is wrong with being protected by a brother?  a husband?  Should God protect women if they choose to live contrary to His commands for purity and morality?

The Lie of Abraham

Why did Abraham tell Sarah to lie to the Pharaoh about being his wife?  He didn’t want her taken from him and raped. This is what foreign kings did to women. They took whomever they wanted. They raped and pillaged. Sarah had a better chance of being safe from such barbarianism if she were his sister because men knew they had to ask for a daughter or sister’s hand.

Israel was never to do such things as kings or in war.   In fact, many times the Israelite warriors were to destroy everyone, including women, so immoral practices wouldn’t happen.  If by chance an Israelite man ‘took’ a foreign captive woman for his own, there were ‘rules.’ The woman had to be allowed a month long time of mourning the loss of her family so she could faithfully enter the community of Israel.

What About Hagar?

Hagar was Egyptian and most likely served Sarah when she lived in Pharaoh’s palace in Egypt. She returned with Abraham and Sarah to Canaan when they left Egypt and became Sarah’s maid.   There are some scholars who suggest that Hagar was actually Pharaoh’s daughter and given to Abraham, as a wife, as an appeasement for the debacle with Sarah. Again, a foreign king gives his daughter to make a peace alliance.

Hagar does become a wife of Abraham and births Ishmael. Eventually she is sent away because her son ‘played’ with Isaac.  The Hebrew word for Ishmael’s actions is the same word as ‘rape’ found in the account of Dinah.  Ishmael was not a good influence on Isaac and Abraham had to make a difficult decision regarding his son. Ishmael means “God Hears” so even though Hagar is sent away, she is not left alone. Ishmael’s descendants have become numerous because of the promise to Abraham and his offspring.

The Rape of Dinah

The account of Dinah is found in Genesis 34. Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob mentioned in Scripture was raped by Shechem, a Hittite, who became the enemies of God’s people.  Though Shechem loved Dinah and wanted to marry her, Jacob couldn’t think of an acceptable bride price.  Her brothers came up with the ‘price’ that all the men in the city of Shechem should become circumcised.  Shechem, the man, agreed because he wanted to marry Dinah.  While all the men in the city were in pain from circumcision, the brothers of Dinah, the sons of Israel, killed all of the men and removed their sister from the city.   This is how Dinah’s brothers avenged their sister after a rape.

Paying for a Bride

A bride price is something of value the future husband gives to the father of the bride.  This is not about buying and selling a woman, but giving to the father an agreed amount for the loss of his daughter.  It also shows how much the man desires to marry the woman. Shechem, a gentile, was willing to be circumcised to have Dinah as his wife. Jacob worked seven years to marry Rachel and then seven more when he was deceived into marrying Leah.

“You should be aware that the ransom paid to free you from the worthless way of life which your fathers passed on to you did not consist of anything perishable like silver or gold; on the contrary, it was the costly bloody sacrificial death of the Messiah, as of a lamb without defect or spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

The Bible says that we are not bought with gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Messiah.   This means that Yeshua paid a bride price for us so we could become his Bride. He paid the bride price to our ‘father the devil’ with his body, blood and his life. Does this make us less valuable or more valuable to him? 

Queen Esther

As a captive in the land of Persia (Iran), Esther was taken to the palace to be prepared to become the next Queen of Persia.   King Xerxes was from a pagan culture and used women for his pleasure. When he was done with them, he removed them just as he did with his wife Vashti.

After years of preparation and the possibility of ending up a concubine never to marry or have children, Esther became Queen. This position in the kingdom gave her the power to sway Xerxes to have favor on her Jewish people and to stand against the treachery of Haman.   God’s Hand of protection was over Esther, and because of her courage, the Jewish lineage of Messiah was not exterminated. Though Esther could have been abused by this king, God used her to save a nation.

Deborah, the Judge

In Judges chapter 4 and 5 is the account of Deborah who was a Judge in Israel because there were no men who were courageous enough to fight the Canaanites.  The Canaanites used temple prostitution to appease their gods.  This was not done in Israel nor could it be done in the Promised Land.  Deborah’s ‘song’ is recorded in Judges 5.  There are not many songs recorded the Bible– The Song of Moses, The Song of the Lamb, The Song of Miriam and Song of Deborah

The Moabitess

Ruth was from Moab, one of the descendants of Lot and his oldest daughter. The Moabites (and the Ammonites) worshipped Chemosh who required child sacrifices.  The King of Moab offered his child, the crown prince, as a sacrifice (2 Kings 3:27).   This was not to be done in Israel though two kings from Judah fell into this abominable practice.

Growing up Ruth lived with child sacrifice as well as temple prostitution.  She would have seen and known families who offered their children on the altar of fire.  Maybe she even watched as brother or sister was put on the burning altar to appease Chemosh. When she had the opportunity to leave Moab with her mother-in-law Naomi, she didn’t just leave, she embraced Naomi’s God, people and country. In this ‘foreign’ land, she would no longer have to appease a god who required murdering children. She would have the opportunity to find protection and ultimately marriage with a kinsman-redeemer in Boaz. Her baby would not be sacrificed on a burning altar, but grow up to be the grandfather of King David.

Obscure Strong, Courageous Women

There are many other strong, courageous women in Scripture. Asher’s (one of the sons of Israel) daughter, Serach, is believed to have sung for Jacob when he was told that Joseph was alive in Egypt. Her singing revived his spirit.

Miriam was first a little girl who watched her brother Moses float in the Nile River.  She followed him and asked the Egyptian princess if she should find a nurse. After crossing the Red Sea, Miriam took out the tambourine and danced. She was called a prophetess.

Ya’el, in the book of Judges,  killed Sisera by slamming a stake through his head delivering Israel from the troops of King Jabin.

Hannah, after waiting many years,  gave her son Samuel to the priest to be raised in the Temple.  He became a powerful prophet in Israel and anointed David to be King.

The widow of Zaraphath experienced a never-ending supply of oil from the prophet Elijah.

Anna was a widow and prophetess who saw Yeshua at the redemption of the firstborn in the Temple. She told people that the liberation of Jerusalem was at hand.

Miriam became filled by the Spirit of God and became pregnant out of wedlock. She remained faithful to the call on her life and gave birth to the Messiah. 

Women found the empty tomb and shared the message of his resurrection.   A woman washed Yeshua’s feet because of his forgiveness.  Martha had faith to believe that Yeshua could raise her brother from the dead.

Who was Tamar (Genesis 38)?  What made her an honorable woman?Who is Asenath (Genesis 41:45)?  What did she have to overcome?
Who was Rahab (Joshua 2:1-24)?  What did she do for Israel?Who is Huldah?  (2 Kings 22:14-20).  What is named after her?
Who is Jemimah (Job 42:14)?  How is she honored by her father? 
Who is Phoebe (Romans 16:1)? What was her role in the early Messianic community?   
Who was Lydia of Thyatira (Acts 16:14-15)?  What made her unique in the Body of Messiah? Who was Jezebel? (1 Kings 16, 18, 19).  How has her ‘spirit’ influenced women throughout history?

 The world in which we live has a view of women that is skewed and the church, which doesn’t truly study the Torah, has embraced this view. Young girls are taught that their God-given role as wives, mothers, grandmothers, women who teach the next generation about faith in God has become obsolete. Yet, this is how Timothy learned – on his grandmother’s knee.Women crave equality through ‘the women’s movement’ while God and His ways actually give women equality and dignity.

Women have been sold a lie called ‘careerism.’ They fight for ‘equal rights’ and claw their way up the corporate ladder among men and fail.  They fail because they were not created to compete with men contrary to the rhetoric spouted by truly unredeemed women.

God never commanded women to have careers outside of the home.
Titus 2:3-5 outlines the roles of older and younger women. The word ‘keeper’ in Greek is ouros and means ‘guardian’ of the home.  Seeking to rule over men, contrary to the consequence of their sin, women have relinquished their guardianship over their home. Instead of guarding their homes from the evil ways of the world, they open the door and walk out. They leave their children with others to ‘guard’ them while rationalizing their need for ‘freedom.’

Women and Authority

Because of woman being deceived in Genesis, she needs rulership. First Corinthians 11 explains that line of authority: God, Messiah, Man and Woman.  This is how God’s Kingdom works in this realm to restore order from chaos. This doesn’t mean woman has no authority and is a ‘doormat,’ just that she is under authority just like a man is under the authority of Messiah.   Remember the Centurion, who told Yeshua that he didn’t need to come to his home to heal his servant?  He said that he was a man under authority and understood that when a command is given, it is followed (Matthew 8:9). 

How does it make you feel as a woman to know you are ‘under authority?’ Does it make you feel safer? What is rebellion?  How does rebellion against God’s authority affect the world, the individual, the family?

To understand how God views women, we have to transform our thoughts from this world’s upheaval and dysfunction to His Kingdom.

“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]” (Romans 12:2 Amplified Version). 

Even though women are considered weaker than men, that does not make them less valuable, less courageous or even weak. It means they are different and in their difference, they bring forth a uniqueness to life in this world.

When Messiah returns, everything will be restored as it was in Eden only better. Until then, there is a restoration that comes through faith in Messiah Yeshua. Women are not unequal, but co-heirs. In Messiah Yeshua there is no male or female, Jew or Greek, slave or free. We are all One (Galatians 3:28).

©2020 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved.  No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing.

Our final week of camp hosting at Cooper Creek during the crazy covid summer of 2020 has arrived. Fire pits are shoveled, bear boxes/food lockers are cleaned out, all of our firewood is sold, flags are folded, and mostly everything that needs to be put into hibernation until next year is ready to be inventoried. One more paid camping weekend and then we pack our trailer and move it to storage.

We will once again rent the suite where we lived last winter. Our fulltime RV life has become 6 months rather than 12 and it makes us sad that we cannot live in our trailer through the winter. Not only does it get cold (which I think we could survive), but no one offers water or sewer because of the frigid temps. So, we will pack up everything that could freeze and make the suite our new warm and cozy home.

We are also in process of making a residential transition from South Dakota to Alaska. We bought an older Subaru for commuting in winter weather conditions rather than using our Ford Truck. We will register it this week with our Alaska IDs taking another step forward to make this last frontier our residence. We don’t know for how long we will remain here, but for now it seems the right thing to do. We have been here long enough to take advantage of some of the perks of being Alaskan. I only wish this state wasn’t so far away from Colorado and Nevada, but it is. And, I wish that CCV hadn’t made traveling so impossible (with masks) and difficult (not knowing if sudden changes will not allow us back). I wonder if I will ever see my other adult children again. Make it so, Yeshua.

I will continue to work a couple of days per week cleaning the post office as I have this summer and did last winter. My husband will hopefully be re-hired as a ski instructor at Alyeska Ski Resort. We both know that working conditions will be bizarre with all the nonsense surrounding the virus that daily becomes more obvious stupidity. I will continue to attend the women’s Bible study that has been such an incredible blessing and encouragement to my spiritual life. I am ever so grateful for God’s Hand in me living in this incredibly beautiful place. I could never imagined His plan when I felt ‘stuck’ in Nebraska. Oh, ‘stuck’ is a ‘world’s view,’ ‘waiting’ is His view.

I hope to snowshoe this year and maybe get to know some of our campers better outside of a weekend hello. There are a few who are very special and it would be fun to spend personal time with them. And, of course, I will spend time with my growing grandchildren since they will live only a 100 yards or so away. We will have to find interesting activities to fill the short daylight hours because some of our favorites now require masks and none of us believe wearing them is actually about health – especially for children.

As for the rest of the autumn season, we are making plans to go above the Arctic Circle to see the Aurora Borealis over our heads. Though we won’t be going quite as far north as Utqiagvik (aka Barrow), we will be heading to Coldfoot Camp. Stay tuned for that adventure!

©2020 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved.  No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing.

I have celebrated the Feast of Trumpets in so many places over the years from Denver to Philadelphia to Chappell, Nebraska to Whitecourt, Alberta in campgrounds, backyards, churches at different lakes, rivers, and even large rain puddles, but I never expected to celebrate along the Kenai River in Alaska, never. But God.

Answered Prayer

The day before Yom Teruah the weather was horrendous in Cooper Landing with high winds and torrential rains. Kenai Lake looked like a churning ocean and I waited to see a whale breech out of the whitecaps. The Bible study women prayed for good weather for our celebration with hope and faith. We all rejoiced and praised Yeshua for what he gave us on Tishri 1 in Alaska, a phenomenal sunset.

In His faithfulness, God brought together a group of people to listen to and learn the sounds of the shofar as each of us prepare for the coming of Messiah Yeshua. In these days, it seems as though the signs of his return in clouds of glory is closer than ever and to know those shofar blasts is not only necessary, but have prophetic importance and vision. The tekiah calls his people together, the teruah convicts his people of their sins, the shevarim prepares them for war, and the tekiah gadolah, the final one, is a reminder of the one who is Immortal is returning with the shofar blast and will transform the saints from mortal to immortality.

““I will gather those of yours who grieve over the appointed feasts and bear the burden of reproach [because they cannot keep them]” (Zephaniah 3:18).

As Yeshua’s shadow looms over us we can see evidence of prophecies coming to pass – the separation of the sheep and goats – especially with the growing lawlessness around the world. Even in Isra’el the holy days were halted causing grief to everyone worldwide who understands the severity of such a decision even IF there is a pandemic. In these end times, we each have to choose whether to obey God’s commandments or man’s deceptions. We each have to choose whether to remain in the world or ‘come out from among them and be separate’ (2 Corinthians 6:17). We each have to choose to purify ourselves from all the burdens of sin that stain our wedding gowns and become a pure, spotless Bride for Messiah Yeshua.

Our day of remembering and blowing the shofar was filled with autumn leaves, young children, and a group of faithful believers who desire to understand the ‘appointed times’ of our God. The Ruach blew through a conche shell toward the north, south, east, and west to remind sleeping virgins to put oil in their lamps before the Bridegroom comes and closes the door.

Tashlich – Casting Away

No Feast of Trumpets would be complete without Tashlich or the ‘casting away’ of our sins. Everyone collected and threw stones into the turquoise river as a reminder that our sins through the blood of Messiah have been ‘cast’ into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19) and are as far away as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). The children, too, threw stones that had sins written on them: disobedience, jealousy, anger, envy, and idolatry. All the same sins that we adults should have been throwing into the depths of the sea along with guilt, lashon hara, and so much more with thanksgiving to Yeshua for taking on these burdens that can weigh on us like stones or heavy rocks.

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L’Shana Tova 5781

Every ‘appointed time’ of Yahweh, except Yom Kippur, has food and fellowship. With Yom Teruah also being Rosh Hashana, the beginning of the civil new year for crowning kings, we had a lot of sweet food for a sweet new year. And, of course everyone learned some Hebrew by shouting ‘LaShana Tova!’

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Chag Sameach, L’Shana Tova and Bo Mashiach Yeshua. Happy Holiday, Happy New Year and Come Messiah Yeshua!

©2020 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved.  No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing.

Within the apostolic books, Matthew, Mark and Luke each write from their unique perspective about the woman and the issue of bleeding. Each one adds details to the event creating a full picture of what happened to the woman.

“A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years approached him from behind and touched the tzitzit on his robe. For she said to herself, “If I can only touch his robe, I will be healed.” Yeshua turned, saw her and said, “Courage, daughter! Your trust has healed you.” And she was instantly healed” (Matthew 9:20-22).

“As he went, with the crowds on every side virtually choking him, a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind him and touched the tzitzit on his robe; instantly her hemorrhaging stopped. Yeshua asked, “Who touched me?” When they all denied doing it, Kefa said, “Rabbi! The crowds are hemming you in and jostling you!” But Yeshua said, “Someone did touch me, because I felt power go out of me.” Seeing she could not escape notice, the woman, quaking with fear, threw herself down before him and confessed in front of everyone why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. He said to her, “My daughter, your trust has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 8:43-48).

“Among them was a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years and had suffered a great deal under many physicians. She had spent her life savings; yet instead of improving, she had grown worse. She had heard about Yeshua, so she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his robe; for she said, “If I touch even his clothes, I will be healed.” Instantly the hemorrhaging stopped, and she felt in her body that she had been healed from the disease. At the same time, Yeshua, aware that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”  His talmidim responded, “You see the people pressing in on you; and still you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” But he kept looking around to see who had done it. The woman, frightened and trembling, because she knew what had happened to her, came and fell down in front of him and told him the whole truth. “Daughter,” he said to her, “your trust has healed you. Go in peace, and be healed of your disease” (Mark 5:25-34).

None of the accounts describe the woman: her name, her age, her marital status, or whether she had children because those details were of no consequence to the event. Matthew writes that she had a hemorrhage for 12 years and touched Yeshua’s tzizit in order to be healed. Mark adds that she had seen many physicians and spent all of her money, but never got any better. Luke, a doctor, says that she could not be healed by anyone.

Her only hope was touching the Messiah’s tzizit, his garment. According to Luke, the woman felt her body healed the moment she touched him. Yeshua called her out from among the crowd because he felt power leave him. In front of everyone, he called her a ‘courageous daughter’ and told her that her faith healed her.

Touching the Unclean

According to Leviticus 15:19-25, every woman was unclean during her time of niddah (menstruating) or other flow of blood. Unclean meant ‘ceremonially impure’ and the normal state of niddah lasted seven days. Whoever, especially a man, touched the woman would be ritually impure until evening or the beginning of the next day. Everything she laid or sat on also became ritually impure. Anyone touching these things would be ritually impure until evening after ‘he’ washed his clothes and bathed in water. If a man had sexual relations with a woman during her time of niddah, he would also become ritually impure for seven days. If a woman had a discharge of blood for many days (weeks or years) that is not considered her monthly niddah, she would be ritually impure throughout the entire time of the blood flow.

It is not clear from Scripture whether this woman had female friends who touched her, but according to Leviticus, no man could touch her. For her to push herself into a crowd of men (and women) to touch Yeshua would have been contrary to Levitical law and she could receive severe reprocussions.

When Yeshua called her out, she had already been healed, but still trembled with fear. She had no idea the consequences that Yeshua would put on her even though she knew she was immediately healed. She fell down at Yeshua’s feet and told him the entire truth of what had happened. Mark writes that Yeshua called her ‘Daughter,’ and that she should go in shalom and be healed of her disease. This suggests there was more to her illness than just a hemorrhage. From living a life of isolation for 12 years, she also needed emotional and even psychological healing. By bringing her into public view, he could make her healing complete. No one would doubt her healing and she could re-enter society as a healthy restored woman.

Talit and Tzizit

“Adonai said to Moshe,“Speak to the people of Isra’el, instructing them to make, through all their generations, tzitziyot on the corners of their garments, and to put with the tzitzit on each corner a blue thread. It is to be a tzitzit for you to look at and thereby remember all of Adonai’s mitzvot and obey them, so that you won’t go around wherever your own heart and eyes lead you to prostitute yourselves;but it will help you remember and obey all my mitzvot and be holy for your God.I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt in order to be your God. I am Adonai your God” (Numbers 15:37-41, Deuteronomy 22:12).

The tzitzit, commanded by Elohim, were meant to remind Isra’el to faithfully follow Elohim by obeying His commandments.  In the tzizit, there was to be a blue or techelet thread. The blue thread was made from the secretion of a small snail that has either become extinct or is unknown today. Because of this, having a blue thread is considered by some Orthodox Jews as wrong while others say that Elohim commanded a blue thread and therefore must include a blue thread.

In Ashkenazi (Russian/Ukranian Jewish) tzizit custom, there are four sections of winding the threads with knots which comes to a total of 39. This number relates to the numerical equivalent of the words: “The LORD is One (Echad)” which comes from the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4.  In the Sephardic custom (Jews from the the Iberian Peninsula which includes Spain and Portugal and those who eventually settled in South America, a combination of 26 windings and knots is used to spell the numerical value of the Tetragrammaton yod-hey-vav-hey or the “I Am that I Am,” Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh.  

Orthodox and some Conservative Jews wear a talit katan or a type of under garment with the tzizit hanging from the four corners in order to fulfill the command.  Most other Jews today use a talit or prayer shawl with the tzizit on the four corners.

The Greek word for ‘hem’ in the gospel verses with the woman with the issue of bleeding is kraspedon meaning ‘a tassel of twisted wool.’  In Numbers 15:38, the word translated ‘border’ or ‘corner’ is the Hebrew word kanaph. This word means ‘wings’ and is used 76 times in the Biblical text.  Kanaph is used in Malachi 3:20 (4:2) that describes the ‘sun of righteousness’ that rises with ‘healing in its wings.’ For this reason, the corners of the garment with the tzizit are often called ‘wings.’

“But to you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will break out leaping, like calves released from the stall” (Malachi 3:20, 4:2).

This verse in Malachi was also understood as representing the Messiah who would ‘come with healing in his wings.’  When raising his arms with the tzizit on the four corners of his garment, it would appear as if he had ‘wings.’ As a Jewish woman, the woman with the hemorrhage would have known about this verse from the prophet Malachi. Through faith as one who ‘feared the name of the LORD’ and believed Yeshua was the promised Messiah, she reached out and touched his tzizit.

Daughter of Tziyon

Yeshua called the woman ‘Daughter,’ however, in reality, this woman was his ‘sister’ as she was Jewish. Calling her ‘Daughter’ refers to ‘Daughter of Tziyon’ which is an endearing term used for Isra’el and Jerusalem. Jeremiah 6:2 says that the ‘daughter of Tziyon is beautiful and delicate.’ Yeshua is perhaps using this term to allude to the the physical nature of this woman: beautiful and delicate. Yeshua speaks a prophetic word over this woman as Mount Tziyon is where the faithful ‘daughters’ will gather when Yeshua rules as King in Jerusalem over all the earth. Publicly, he not only declares this woman healed and acceptable to the community, but she is commended as one of the faithful who will have a place in his coming Kingdom.

“Rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Tziyon! Shout out loud, daughter of Yerushalayim! Look! Your king is coming to you. He is righteous, and he is victorious. Yet he is humble — he’s riding on a donkey, yes, on a lowly donkey’s colt” (Zechariah 9:9).

“Adonai has proclaimed to the end of the earth, “Say to the daughter of Tziyon, ‘Here, your Salvation [Yeshua]  is coming! Here, his reward is with him, and his recompense is before him‘” (Isaiah 62:11).

“Sing, daughter of Tziyon! Shout, Isra’el! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Yerushalayim!” (Zephaniah 3:14)

Though this woman waited 12 years to be healed from her issue of blood, as a woman in Isra’el, she had waited millennia to see and ‘touch’ the One who would bring the restoration of Isra’el and the liberation of Jerusalem.  Through her healing, Yeshua confirmed to the crowd that healing was also coming to Jerusalem, Isra’el and the nations.  

The Nations

Zechariah prophesies that in the last days many from the nations will come to Jerusalem to ask the favor of Elohim.   Ten men speaking the languages of the nations will grab hold of the tzizit of one Jew because they will suddenly understand that Elohim is with His chosen people. It will be an awakening to the reality that ‘salvation does come from the Jews’ and those of the nations who wish to know that ‘salvation’ will to cling to the Jewish people. This is a significant event because over the centuries church doctrines have taught that Jews must convert to a religion called Christianity while Scripture teaches that non-Jews will embrace the Jewish people to understand their own faith.

“Yes, many peoples and powerful nations will come to consult Adonai-Tzva’ot in Yerushalayim and to ask Adonai’s favor.’ Adonai-Tzva’ot says, ‘When that time comes, ten men will take hold — speaking all the languages of the nations — will grab hold of the cloak of a Jew and say, “We want to go with you, because we have heard that God is with you” (Zechariah 8:22-23).

The Number 12

Hebrew Word Picture

Hebrew numbers are written with Hebrew letters. The number 12 is written with the yod and the bet.

Yod is a closed hand and means ‘finished work’

Bet is a house and means ‘house,

The number 12 means in Hebrew word pictures: ‘finished work of the house.

The number 12 in Scripture symbolizes Elohim’s power and authority. This power is evident in Yeshua healing the woman and publicly declaring his divinity through his power to heal; he is the Rafa’el, the Healer.

The number 12 also symbolizes completeness. There are 12 Tribes of Israel, 12 stones in the High Priest’s breastplate representing those tribes, 12 loaves of the Bread of Presence in the Temple for the priests. Twelve spies searched out the Promised Land. Yeshua was 12 years old when he taught at the temple, he had 12 disciples, and collected 12 baskets of bread and fish after feeding five thousand. The New Jerusalem has 12 gates, 12 foundations, and one tree of life bearing 12 different fruits. The woman with the issue of blood was completely healed and Yeshua raised a little girl 12 years of age from the dead.

The Raising of the Little Girl

Again each of the writers of the gospels give a different perspective of the raising of the little girl. Jairus was a leader in the synagogue. His daughter was 12 years old and dying. He comes to Yeshua and asks that he ‘lay hands on her.’ This word in Hebrew is shmikah and references a sacrifice in the Temple. When an animal was sacrificed the offerer laid hands on the offering in order to transfer the sins from the person to the animal. It would seem that Jairus had an understanding that by laying hands on his daughter the ‘Giver of Life’ could impart the ‘breath of life’ through shmikah. He had great faith.

“When Yeshua arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute-players, and the crowd in an uproar,  he said, “Everybody out! The girl isn’t dead, she’s only sleeping!” And they jeered at him. But after the people had been put outside, he entered and took hold of the girl’s hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region” (Matthew 9:23-26).

Matthew’s account has Yeshua demanding everyone leave. Once they are gone, he goes into the girl, takes her hand and she gets up. News of this event spread through all that region.

“While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house came, saying, “Your daughter has died. Why bother the rabbi any longer?” Ignoring what they had said, Yeshua told the synagogue official, “Don’t be afraid, just keep trusting.” He let no one follow him except Kefa, Ya‘akov and Yochanan, Ya‘akov’s brother. When they came to the synagogue official’s house, he found a great commotion, with people weeping and wailing loudly. On entering, he said to them, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead, she’s just asleep!” And they jeered at him. But he put them all outside, took the child’s father and mother and those with him, and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talita, kumi!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). At once the girl got up and began walking around; she was twelve years old. Everybody was utterly amazed. He gave them strict orders to say nothing about this to anyone, and told them to give her something to eat” (Mark 5:35-43).

Mark’s account goes into greater detail. The little girl is no longer dying, she is dead. Only Kefa (Peter) and Yochanan (John) are allowed to go with Yeshua. While the crowd is in an uproar outside the house in Matthew’s account, the people are wailing and mourning loudly in Mark’s. As with all three accounts, Yeshua tells everyone she is not dead, only sleeping.

He takes Kefa, Yochanan, the girl’s mother and father and goes into the room. He says, Talitha kumi. Though most Bibles translate this ‘little girl rise,’ in the Hebrew it may have two other meanings. Talia means ‘little lamb.’ After healing the woman who is a ‘Daughter of Tziyon,’ this ‘daughter’ could be a reference to the little lambs of Isra’el or the ‘children of Isra’el.’

“Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs, And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.” 

The other meaning for Talitha kumi is ‘rise to my talit.’ Once again Yeshua uses his talit, his tzizit for a miraculous restoration to life. This concept of the tzizit is found even to Mark 6:36 when “They begged him to let them touch even the tzizit on his robe, and all who touched it were healed.” 

“While Yeshua was still speaking, a man came from the synagogue president’s house. “Your daughter has died,” he said. “Don’t bother the rabbi any more.” But on hearing this, Yeshua answered him, “Don’t be afraid! Just go on trusting, and she will be made well.” When he arrived at the house, he didn’t allow anyone to go in with him except Kefa, Yochanan, Ya‘akov and the child’s father and mother All the people were wailing and mourning for her; but he said, “Don’t weep; she hasn’t died, she’s sleeping.” They jeered at him, since they knew she had died. But he took her by the hand, called out, “Little girl, get up!” and her spirit returned. She stood up at once, and he directed that something be given her to eat. Her parents were astounded, but he instructed them to tell no one what had happened” (Luke 8:49-56).

Luke is a doctor. In neither account of the woman with the issue of blood or the little girl is Dr. Luke consulted. I personally believe this is because Yeshua wants us to come to him first and foremost. Before going to every doctor and spending every cent for medical advice and treatment, it is important to go to the Healer. Many diseases have spiritual roots and can only truly be healed by the Rafa’el. I personally believe the woman with the issue of bleeding had deeper rooted spiritual issues that needed more than touching Yeshua’s tzizit. She needed to be told she was healed and called a ‘Daughter’ for complete healing body, soul and spirit.

In Luke’s account, Yeshua reminds Jairus not to be afraid when he hears his daughter has died. Part of the process of restoration will be the father’s faith overcoming his fears. Ya’akov (James) is also present for the event along with Kefa, Yochanan, and the girl’s parents. In each account, the group of people at the house ‘jeer’ at Yeshua. This word hitah means to scoff, sneer, and ridicule. The people at Jairus’ home were scoffing and ridiculing Yeshua. This is another reason why Yeshua told Jairus to have faith!

In Luke’s account Yeshua takes the girl’s hand and tells her to ‘get up.’ Her ‘spirit’ returned to her. This word is ruach and is the ‘spirit’ that Elohim placed in Adam at creation. It is the ‘breath of life.’ Her parents were astonished, though Jairus had asked for this very thing! They were told not to tell anyone what had happened, however, according to Matthew, word spread around the region.

Consolation of Isra’el

With the events surrounding the woman with the issue of bleeding and the little girl rising to Messiah’s tzizit, the Jewish people were seeing the beginning of the redemption of Isra’el. They were being shown great signs from from the Messiah that their time of cleansing from evil deeds and blood-covered hands was nearing (Isaiah 1:15-16, Isaiah 59:3).

While the woman with the issue of bleeding was a prophetic picture of the Daughter of Tzyion because of her great faith; the little girl pre-shadowed the lamb who would die and be resurrected from the dead. The healing of the land of Isra’el, their nation, and the Jewish people was upon them in the Lamb of God who would restore the “Daughter of Tzyion.”

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