Exodus 27:20-30:10
“You are to order the people of Isra’el to bring you pure oil of pounded olives for the light and to keep a lamp burning continually” (Exodus 27:20).
Excerpt:
The olive tree is one of the oldest cultivated trees in the world. It developed from the wild Mediterranean olive, Olea Europaea, which grows from Portugal throughout the Middle East into the Arabian Peninsula.
When the Israelites pounded the tree’s olives to produce oil, the olives lost their physical appearance leaving only the oil. Some suggest beating of the olives symbolizes Yeshua; however, the hammered gold of the Menorah already symbolizes Yeshua being beaten and bruised. To continue with honest exegesis, it takes thousands of olives to produce olive oil, not just one. The oil in the Menorah that gives it the ability to shine must be ‘someone’ different.
Yeshua talks about the value of oil in the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25). The wise virgins had oil for their lamps when the Bridegroom arrived, but the foolish ones had allowed their oil to run out. While they ran to purchase more oil, their Bridegroom arrives and they miss the reward of entering the wedding chamber. In the Parable, the lamps are not the Bridegroom or even the Bride, but the Word of Elohim (Psalm 119:105).
Sha’ul compares Isra’el to an Olive Tree (Romans11). This tree holds natural branches along with ingrafted wild ones. Both types of branches produce the same fruit –– olives. The root of the Olive Tree is the patriarchs of the covenants, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and from them came the nation or Olive Tree of Isra’el. The natural branches of the tree produced olives who have been relentlessly pounded by severe persecution. The beatings began with Pharaoh in Egypt, continued with Haman in Persia, Antiochus Epiphanes and the Syrian Empire, the Romans in the first century, the Spanish Inquisitions through the Holocaust in Europe, and even continues today. Wild olives grafted into the Olive Tree of Isra’el have also been pounded with persecutions and martyrdom. The greatest pounding of the olives has yet to occur, and when that time comes, some olives will proclaim the name of Yeshua to the world; others beheaded. With each pounding, the olives’ essence remains and the pure oil of faith continues to burn faithfully in this dark and evil world.
Garments for the High Priest
“This is to be a perpetual regulation both for Aaron and his descendants” (Exodus 28:43).
The Hebrew word for ‘priest’ is cohen (cohanim, plural) and comes from a root that means ‘base’ like the ‘base of a column.’ The cohanim are the structural support of the Israelite community. They have the responsibility to carry out the will of Adonai, intercede for the people, and keep the community in relationship with Adonai.
Adonai called Aaron and his sons, Nadav, Avihu, El’azar, and Itamar to be cohanim, high priests. They had holy garments, worn only by them, when they went into the Mishkan. These unique garments gave them dignity and splendor in front of the community eliciting respect as priests of Adonai. When they removed their consecrated garments, they became ordinary people. Serving Adonai in His Tabernacle, they walked on ‘holy ground.’ While they ministered to the people, served at the Altar of Sacrifice, and entered the Holy Place, they wore no shoes –– they remained barefooted.
Selah
Moshe took off his sandals when he stood before the burning bush –– ‘holy ground.’
Hebrew Word Pictures
Priest or cohen – כהן – kaf, hey, nun
– open the revealing of life
Priesthood or cohanim – כהנים – kaf, hey, nun, yod, mem
– open and reveal the finished work of the mighty life
“But this one, after he [Yeshua] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, sat down at the right hand of God, from then on to wait until his enemies be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has brought to the goal for all time those who are being set apart for God and made holy” (Hebrews 10:12-14).
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