Teachinghearts	Israel and The Exodus "Explore the Word. Change the World"	Statistics: Time: 30 minutes Print: 6 pages

The Patriarchs	Ten Commandments	Other Laws	Bible Numbers	Mishkan	Moses Sins
Sanctuary Lessons	Feasts	Passover	Unleavened Bread	Wave Offering	Pentecost
Rosh Hashanah	Feast of Trumpets	Yom Kippur	Tabernacles	What color is God?	The Sabbath

Mishkan
The mishkan, is the portable tabernacle the Israelites were commanded to build in the desert on the first day of the first month of the second year of the exodus (Exodus 40: 17). It was built from a pattern of a sanctuary in heaven.

The Messiah and the King of the East
Significantly, two groups were on the eastern side of the sanctuary, Judah and the family of high priests from the Tribe of Levi. In the prophecy, the conquering King comes from the east. Jesus was from the tribe of Judah. He was also a High priest not of the line of Levi but of a new priesthood of unknown origin. The high priest also camped on the east side.

The Priests
The tribe of Levi were used in the sanctuary duties, but it was the Sons of Moses and Aaron (Eleazar and Ithamar) 1 Chronicles 24: 2, 7-19 who served as priests. One could only be a priest between 30 and 50 years of age. Significantly, Jesus was baptized at 30 when he officially started His ministry.

There were only two types of priests - the ordinary priest and the high priest. They differed in dress and in duties.
The priests assisted in the sacrifices, where the sinner (not the priest) killed the offering. Then they took the blood to be used in the services. This shows that ultimately, we caused the death of Christ for our sins.
The High Priest had special duties, only he alone could go in the Most Holy Place and only once per year on the Day of atonement. On that day he wore only the white garments of the ordinary priest. During the rest of the year he alone wore the colorful garments while the other priests wore white. This garment consisted of:

Month	Division	Priest
1	1	Jehoiarib
	2	Jedaiah
	All	(Passover)
	3	Harim
2	4	Seorim
	5	Malchijah
	6	Mijamin
	7	Hakkoz
3	8	Abijah
	All	(Pentecost)
	9	Jeshua
	10	Shecaniah
4	11	Eliashib
	12	Jakim
	13	Huppah
	14	Jeshebeab
	15	Bilgah
5	16	Immer
	17	Hezir
	18	Happizzez
	19	Pethahiah
6	20	Jehezkel
	21	Jachin
	22	Gamul
	23	Delaiah
7	24	Maaziah
	1	Jehoiarib
	All	(Tabernacles)
	2	Jedaiah
8	3	Harim
	4	Seorim
	5	Malchijah
	6	Mijamin
	7	Hakkoz
9	8	Abijah
	9	Jeshua
	10	Shecaniah
	11	Eliashib
10	12	Jakim
	13	Huppah
	14	Jeshebeab
	15	Bilgah
11	16	Immer
	17	Hezir
	18	Happizzez
	19	Pethahiah
12	20	Jehezkel
	21	Jachin
	22	Gamul
	23	Delaiah
	24	Maaziah

• Ephod. Linen of gold and blue and purple and scarlet. On the shoulder pieces were two stones with the names of Israel written on them.
• Breastplate. Linen of gold, blue, purple and scarlet material with the twelve stones mounted in four rows of three stones.
• Robe of the Ephod. Made in blue linen. On the bottom edge were alternating gold bells and pomegranates in blue, red and purple.
• Turban. The crown with the plate of gold tied with blue cord. On the plate was written Holy to the Lord.
• White Garments. These were worn by all priests
  • Tunics or robes. White linen
  • Pants. White linen that reached above the knee
  • Caps. White linen
  • Sash. Blue, purple and red linen

Two Types of Priests
There are two types of priests.
Levi. The tribe of Levi, served as the family of priests over the temporary sacrifices. These sacrifices and these priests could not abolish the problem of sin. Both the priest and sacrifices were imperfect. Jesus was not from the tribe of Levi, He was from Judah. He was not of the tribe of imperfect priests.

Melchizedek . This was a more perfect type of priest. These priests had no genealogy, they lived forever and were Kings of peace and righteousness. (Hebrews 7: 2)

The Divisions of Priests
The priests were divided into groups of 24, each serving on his regular tour for two separate weeks and at the three important feasts.

According to Deuteronomy 16: 16, for three feasts (Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and Tabernacles) all men were to go to Jerusalem. All priests reported for duty to handle the crowd during these feasts.

Each tour of duty lasted one week beginning and ending on a Sabbath (1 Chronicles 9: 25; 2 Chronicles 23: 8). The Hebrew Tradition states that the family of priests would be divided into six groups. Each would serve on one day of the week and they would all serve on the Sabbath.

Note - the addition of a fifth week in the division indicates that at least 6 or 7 extra days have accumulated. It is not meant to indicate that that particular month had five weeks. Nor is the table meant to imply that the duties of the priests began the first day of the month.

The Blue Cord
A tradition states that a blue cord was tied around the ankle of the High priest on the day of Atonement. This was so that he could be removed if he died in the presence of God. No one else could enter the Most Holy Place.
On that day the priest was supposed to approach God without sin.

The practice started during the days of Greek rule. The priesthood was corrupted and the office of high priest was usually bought and they took bribes. Normally, the high priest would live for many years, but, during that time about 300 high priest died when they entered the Most Holy Place on Yom Kippur.

The Gemara records only eighteen high priests who served during the 410 years of the first temple period (Mikdash).
The second temple period lasted about 420 years. At first, there were eight priests who served a normal length of time. Then over 300 Pharisee priests served and none of them completed their duties on Yom Kippur, they all died.

Types of Offering

Jewish Name	Type of Offering	Offering	God's Portion	Priest's Portion	People's Portion	Purpose or Meaning
Olah	Burnt	Cattle, sheep, goat, birds	Entire offering	None	None	Complete submission to the will of God
Chatat	Sin	Bullock, male goat	Fatty portions	Remainder	None	For unintentional sin. Meant for sorrow and reconciliation with God.
Asham	Guilt	Ram	Fatty portions	Remainder	None	For stealing from the altar or if you are unsure a sin was committed.
Minchah	Meal (food and drink)	Cattle, sheep, goat, birds	Some burnt, Fatty portion	Remainder	None	The fruit of man's labor given to God
Shelamin	Peace	Ox, sheep, male goat, 1 year old male lamb	Fatty portion	Breast - Wave offering Right foreleg - Heave offering	Remainder	Fellowship with God and the community
Towdah (Thank)		Ox, sheep, goat	Fatty portion	Breast, right foreleg	Remainder	For unexpected blessing or deliverance
Neder (Votive)		Ox, sheep, goat	Fatty portion	Breast, right foreleg	Remainder	For blessing or deliverance when a vow has been made
Nedabah (Freewill)		Ox, sheep, goat	Fatty portion	Breast, right foreleg	Remainder	To express thanks and love to God for no special reason
Parah Adumah	The Red Heifer	Red Heifer	Entire offering	None	None	Numbers 19. Purifies people from the defilement caused by contact with the dead. A red heifer was born in Israel in 1997.

The Sin of Moses
What did Moses do that was so terrible, that God had to punish him by making him die before he saw the "Promised Land".
This is actually a beautiful story which brings out the great importance of the symbolism in the Sanctuary services and the exact specifications that God personally gave to Moses.
If you think that any commandment or ritual that God personally came from heaven to give can be lightly put aside. Think again.
The significance is so astounding that it calls into question the seriousness of the doctrine of the Sacrifice of the Mass. According to this doctrine, Christ is continually being sacrificed during the communion and the bread is changed so that it is the actual body of Christ. So Christ dies over and over again.

But according to the lesson God taught Moses, the Messiah (the Rock) was to be broken (die) once for all. After that you must speak to the Rock. When Moses hit the Rock twice in his anger, he ruined the symbolism. It was such a grave error that God had to reprimand him publicly, in the most serious way.
The symbolism was meant to be this:

• The Messiah (the Rock) must die once for our sins. The rock must be struck once.
• Afterwards everyone must speak to the Rock (pray) for life from the one who gives living water.

In the doctrine of the Sacrifice of the Mass, the church claims to Daily put Christ to death over and over again in reality (not as a symbol).

But in the Communion Service that Christ instituted at the Last Supper, Christ says to do these things "In remembrance" of him. Just like the Israelites needed the sanctuary service to remind them of the coming works of God, we need to be reminded of what he has done for us. Of themselves these services do not have the ability to save us. Christ already did that - once for all, what they do is to help us to remember. It is an object lesson that everyone can understand. Including the blind, the deaf and those who cannot read about the sacrifice.

This experience of Moses teaches us that it is important to understand that He must only die once. It also points out the central role of prayer as the permanent way for us to communicate with God.

Interesting Facts

Temple Sacrifices
The Jews stopped offering sacrifices in the year 70 A.D. when the Roman army destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. Sacrifices were stopped because the Jews do not have a proper place to offer them. The Torah requires sacrifices to be offered only in places that God has chosen for that purpose (Deuteronomy 13: 13-14) not where the people felt like it. The last place appointed by God was at the temple in Jerusalem. So, until another Jewish temple is at that location, they cannot legally begin sacrifices again.

Interesting Dates of Significant Events
The timing of significant events seems to indicate that God has set a clock that centers around the Passover and the day of atonement. The Passover represents time of great rescue. The day of atonement represents the time when all who will reach the promised land are chosen. The feast of tabernacles represents the day we celebrate in our new home.

Date	Event	Comment
Month 1 Day 1	Water dried, Noah removes covering from the ark	Flood. Exodus 8: 13
Month 1 Day 1, Year 2	Portable Sanctuary erected	Exodus 40: 2
Month 1 Day 10	Passover lambs obtained	Exodus
Month 1 Day 10	Israel crosses the Jordan	Joshua enters the Promised Land. Joshua 4: 19
Month 1 Day 14-21	Passover	Official Feast
Month 1 Day 14	Crucifixion. Firstborn killed	Christ the lamb
Month 1 Day 15	Jesus in the grave	Christ the dead seed in the ground
Month 1 Day 15	Israel goes to Egypt	Exodus 12: 41
Month 1 Day 15	Exodus begins	Exodus begins 430 years after entering Egypt. Exodus 12: 41
Month 1 Day 15	Israel ate food in the promised land	Joshua enters the Promised Land. Joshua 5: 12
Month 1 Day 16	Manna stopped	Joshua enters the Promised Land. Joshua 5: 12
Month 1 Day 16	Resurrection	Christ (the first fruits)
Month 1 Day 21	Red sea parts	The way is opened for us to the Promised Land
Month 2 Day 1	Census	Exodus. Numbers 1: 1
Month 2 Day 1	Census	Flood - Animals entering the ark
Month 2 Day 10	Noah entered the Ark. Door closed	Flood. Exodus 7: 10
Month 2 Day 16	Manna fell	Exodus 16: 2, 6-7
Month 2 Day 17	Flood started	Flood. Exodus 7: 11
Month 2 Day 27	Earth dried, exited the ark	Flood. Exodus 8: 14
Month 3 Day 5	Pentecost	Official Feast
	God came in fire.	Holy Spirit at Pentecost
	The giving of the Torah on Sinai. God came in fire.	Jewish Tradition
Month 3 Day 15	Reached Sinai	Exodus
Month 3 Day 18	God came to Sinai	Exodus
Month 3 Day 26	Water stopped after 40 days	Flood
Month 7 Day 1	Rosh Hashanah (Feasts of Trumpets)	Official Feast
	The day the earth was created	Jewish Tradition
	Abraham offered up Isaac	Jewish Tradition
Month 7 Day 10	Yom Kippur	Official Feast
Month 7	-	Solomon's temple dedicated during the feast. 1 Kings 8: 1-2
Month 7 Day 15-22	Feast of Tabernacles	Official Feast
	God tabernacles with mankind	Birth of Christ (Day 15)
		Circumcision of Christ (Day 22)
Month 7 Day 17	Ark rested on Ararat	Flood
Month 10 Day 1	Mountain tops visible	Flood. Exodus 8: 5
Month 11 Day 11, 17, 24	Dove sent out	Flood

Calendars
A calendar is based on a naturally occurring cycle. Of these there are 2. The Solar and the Lunar calendar. Most Calendars are derived from two basic calendars that were essentially observation based.

• Lunar (cycles of the moon). The length is 12 months of 29.53 days is 354 days 8 hours 48 minutes.
• Solar (cycles of the sun). The length is 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes 46 seconds.

Since none of these periods (years or months) are exactly divisible by days, a problem arose not only in synchronizing the various calendars but with synchronization of the seasons within each calendar. Therefore, the practice arose of making arbitrary divisions and inserting extra (intercalary) days or months.

Jewish Calendar
The months alternate in cycles of 30 and 29 days.
To keep the lunar and solar calendar in sync leap days and months are added at certain times. A day may be added to Heshvan or taken from Chislev. This can occur in an ordinary year or an embolismic year.

Type of Year	Ordinary	Embolismic
Common	354	384
Imperfect	353	383
Perfect	355	385

These are the types of years:

• Embolismic Year. A year with an extra month. This year occurred in 19 year cycles at year 3, 6, 11, 14, 17 and 19.
• Ordinary Year. Any year that is not embolismic
• Perfect year. A year with an extra day
• Imperfect year. A year with a day deleted
• Common Year. All other years (not perfect or imperfect)

Jewish Calendar Rules
Hillel II introduced the current Jewish calendar in 358 A.D. The year of creation, 3761 BCE was established in 132 in the Seder Olam which is a chronology from creation to the Bar Kokba revolt. It is thought to be in error by over 200 years. In the Jewish calendar, the sun determined the days and the year and the moon determined the seasons and festivals. There are many rules concerning the establishment of the year. Among these rules are restrictions on which day of the week a feast day could occur. These rules are meant to avoid two consecutive Sabbaths (the weekly Sabbath and the feast day Sabbath).
These are the postponement rules for first day of the new year (Tishri 1) and feast days:

1. The new month starts with the first sign of the full moon. These additional rules apply to Tishri 1.
   • If the new moon occurs after 6:00 PM it is postponed one day.
   • If the postponed date falls on a Sunday, Wednesday, or Friday it is postponed two days.
   • If it occurs on Tuesday after 9: 11 AM and 20 seconds in an ordinary year, it is moved to the next Thursday.
   • If it occurs on Monday after 3: 30 PM and 52 seconds in a year after an embolismic year it is moved to Tuesday.
2. Passover (Nisan 15 - 22) must precede Tishri 1 by 163 days.
3. Yom Kippur must not fall on a Friday or Sunday. This would cause two consecutive Sabbaths.
4. Rosh Hashanah (Tishri 1) must not fall on a Sunday, Wednesday or Friday. If it falls on a Friday or Sunday, then there would be two consecutive Sabbaths. If it falls on a Wednesday, then the next Passover would begin on Friday and that would create two consecutive sabbaths.

Solar Jubilee Calendar
The Hillel II rules were not in force at the time of Christ. Other sources point to a calendar in which the dates start on specific days. This calendar with 12 months of 30 days may have been the original calendar. It uses these minimum bible rules where there is no basis for the postponement rules of Hillel II.

• The first month must be the spring equinox in Nisan (Exodus 12: 2). It is therefore the true Rosh Hashanan (the first month of the year). Rosh Hashanan was changed to the first day of the seventh month in the Hasmonean period by the high priest Hannan (Annias).
• Month must start on or close to the new moon.
• The whole feast of tabernacles must occur in the autumn.
• Barley must be available for the wave offering. So the year must start late enough for the crop to grow.

The Jubilee calendar had fifty two weeks in the year with four seasons of three months with thirteen weeks in each season. This was a 364 day year. That is twelve months of thirty days with four days added to each season. An extra week was added each sabbatical or jubilee year.

The first day of the first month always fell on a Wednesday and all the feast days would fall on the same day every year. Shavout is the 15th day of the third month. The first and last day of Pesach was always on the fourth day.

The Love of God - Sacrifice
Just like a will is not enforced until the death of the owner, so too was the covenant only enforced by the death of Christ. What we lost, Christ gave to us in a will. Our gift of life is an inheritance. He purchased our life with His own.

People often wonder if Christ ultimately sacrificed anything. He was God - all powerful. He could undo the effects of the punishment of sin. And He did. If there was no chance of dying forever - then He really did not risk death to save us. If he would regain His power after He was resurrected, then He did not lose anything. And, if He knows everything, then before he came to earth and took on human form and human limitations, then He knew before that He would not fail. So it doesn't matter if He didn't know these things as a human.
This is the reasoning. But is it the whole truth?
First of all, we cannot know what it costs Him until the end. Second, we evaluate risk and cost based on our viewpoint and our human limitations. We are looking at outcomes and final results. And we have the uncanny ability to forget the pain if it is replaced with joy. God deals with the memory of the entire process, not just the final result.

To beings with perfect knowledge of the past, present and future a 31 year gap in time could be the equivalent of having one of our eyes removed. To beings who love each other and have never caused each other hurt or pain, the memory of feeling abandoned and being forced to abandon your child is a moment in time that will always fill them with extreme anguish. Because, with perfect memories they will always remember the pain - perfectly.

And maybe Christ has surrendered some physical characteristics forever. We do not know. But in God's economy it is not the physical that matters, it is the spiritual. The realm we find hard to understand. This is the place where God remembers not just His pain, but all the children He lost, all the hurt they experienced. All the pain they caused.

This is the reality where God experiences His pain and His suffering and our pain and our suffering forever.

He sacrificed eternal joy.

Summary
For me this has been the most interesting study. The Sanctuary services and the feasts are all prophecies about the work of the Messiah. It is rich with symbolism and themes that are repeated in many ways. God uses the same pattern of repetition in announcing the prophecies. It demonstrates that all of God's great truths are not hidden in obscurity or in one line 'proof' texts that requires a higher education to understand. His methods are simple. He teaches through a combination of word and example.
I came to a similar conclusion in the most complex study of creation and evolution. Simple proof is there. It is not the complex or the one of a kind miracle that teaches. It is the simple everyday actions of ordinary people that God uses to demonstrate His truths.

And the truth is, that God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all deeply involved in our salvation. To accomplish this, we have a King who wants to adopt us as His children, we have a Priest who has suffered our punishment, we have a Judge who dispenses mercy and forgiveness instead of revenge and we have a Witness who is on our side. We face a judgment in which God is on our side and has already ruled in our favor. Salvation is stacked in your favor.

Please accept it.