Studying the Historical Books

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After completing our 3 1/2-year cycle of readings in the Torah, we decided to continue with the historical books that follow, beginning with Joshua.

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October 1, 2023 – Preparing for the Feast of Tabernacles

Since next week we will be feasting and partying on Tabernacles, we will study about it this week to get ready.

The Feast of Tabernacles is a festival of light and joy. The spiritual meaning of the feast is expressed in a number of types – the booth, the ethrog and lulav, the lighting of the lamps, the water-and-wine-pouring ceremony, wearing of white garments, the 7-day Jewish wedding and the final eighth-day meal. Jesus fulfilled all these pictures.

Notes on the Feast of Tabernacles

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September 24, 2023 – Observe Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is the climax of the ten days of awe and is
considered to be the most important day for the Jews in the liturgical year. The fast, which we will observe Sept. 23-24, coincided with the sin offering offered for all Israel and the Kol Nidrei, the absolution of vows. Twin goats were chosen by lot, one for sacrifice and the other for release, bearing away the people’s guilt. It was the one time of the year that the high priest entered into the Temple’s Holy of Holies.

Jesus fulfilled this feast:
Hebrews 9:12 – “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

Notes on Yom Kippur

Notes on the Kol Nidre

See Also Notes on Leviticus 16

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September 17, 2023 – Celebrate Rosh Hashanah!

The Jewish feast of Rosh Hashanah begins the “Days of Awe” that end at Yom Kippur. It’s a time of reflection and repentance, and for believers in Jesus it’s a time of thanksgiving for fulfilling these feasts and granting us forgiveness through the cross. It also is the Jewish New Year and probably marks the season when Jesus was born.

Memo about Rosh Hashanah:

Rosh Hashanah as a ‘Memorial’

… and some additional notes here:

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September 10, 2023 – 1 Kings 7 – Hiram the Artisan

King Hiram of Tyre appoints another Hiram – a master builder and artisan – to go to Jerusalem and help Solomon in the construction of the furniture and utensils of the Temple, as well as the two pillars of Boaz and Jachin. Like the Tabernacle, the Temple was laid out in a plan that points us toward the Messiah.

Notes on 1 Kings 7:1-51

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August 27, 2023 – 1 Kings 6 – The Building of the Temple

Hewing stones without tools, a curious Jewish fable and the missing silver in the building’s construction all illuminate hidden spiritual pictures in Solomon’s Temple.

Notes on 1 Kings 6:1-38

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August 20, 2023 – 1 Kings 5 – The Alliance of Hiram and Solomon

The friendship and alliance with the Phoenician King Hiram  not only helped Solomon build the Temple, but showed a deeper scriptural principle of Gentiles joining with  Jews to further God’s kingdom, fulfilled by  Gentile followers of Jesus among the first Christians.

Notes on 1 Kings 5:1-18

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August 13, 2023 – Numbers 19 – The Red Heifer

Tradition says there was one thing King Solomon could not understand in all his wisdom – the sacrifice of the Red Heifer, which is described in Numbers 19:1-22. Why were those who prepared and carried out the sacrifice rendered unclean, when the Red Heifer’s ashes mixed with water rendered everything clean?

Notes on the Red Heifer

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