The Israelites pounded olives from the olive tree to produce oil. When pounded, the olive loses its physical appearance and only its essence is extracted. Yeshua was beaten, lost his physical appearance, and his life essence was poured out; however, he was only one olive and it takes thousands of olives to produce olive oil. The Menorah, made of hammered gold, already symbolizes Messiah being beaten and bruised. To continue with honest exegesis, the olives beaten into the oil that give the Menorah the ability to shine in the darkness must be ‘someone’ different.
Parashah 19: T’rumah (Contribution)
Moshe meets with Adonai and receives the instructions for making the Tabernacle. In order to make the Tabernacle and the holy objects, Adonai tells Moshe to take up a free-will offering from those who ‘wholeheartedly’ desire to give. The people contribute gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen, goat’s hair, tanned ram skins and fine leather; acacia wood; oil for the lamp, spices for the incense; onyx stones and other precious stones to be used for the ritual vest and breastplate.
Parashah 18: Mishpatim (Rulings)
The Ten Commandments did not complete the instructions of Adonai. He continued to reveal His Torah with His mishpatim or rulings. Mishpat is a Hebrew noun which means ‘judgment or rights.’ Mishpat deals with the act of sitting as a judge and rendering a verdict so that judicial issues are properly executed.
Parashah 17: Yitro (Jethro)
Family terminology designating male in-laws are not specific in Middle Eastern culture. Terms for a woman’s male relatives are the same for her father, brother or even grandfather. The ending ‘-el’ in Reu-el is Hebrew for ‘God’ suggesting he has a relationship with Elohim while Yitro is called a priest. In a patriarchal society, the men were the spiritual leaders of the family and it appears both Reu’el and Yitro have that position either with the title of el or the name Yitro.