From Sinai (Mt Choreb) to Moriah (Mt Zion): A Shavuot Teaching 5782 (2022)

Chronological thinking is temporal, but in Messiah there is a transcendent way of being that refuses to be bound by time and space. There is no time in eternity. Time is the prison of the death bound. But we serve the God of the living, the God of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov...

Let’s Begin at the beginning:
 
Most of us Jews don’t know what you mean when you say “Pentecost”? Nor does our understanding of Shavuot (Pentecost) begin in Acts chapter 2. To begin a race at the half way marker is to misunderstand the purpose, goal and reward of the race. What’s more, for the Messiah following, God honouring, Biblically observant Jew there is no finish line, there are only new beginnings.
 
Understanding the Goal from the Beginning:
 
How can we understand the goal if we don't understand the beginning? Furthermore, how can we understand the beginning if we don't understand that the All Existing Goal [YHVH] is the Creator of all beginning, and that Messiah Yeshua is both the Author and the Goal of the Torah (Rom.10:4)?
 
Chronological thinking is temporal, but in Messiah there is a transcendent way of being that refuses to be bound by time and space. There is no time in eternity. Time is the prison of the death bound. But we serve the God of the living, the God of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov (Mark 12:26-27; Luke 20:37-38).
 
Yeshua says:
 
“26Now, pay attention, concerning the rising of the dead—haven’t you read in the Book of Moshe (the drawn out, ressurected one), in the account of the burning bush, how YHVH said to him, ‘I am the Elohiym of Avraham (Father of a great people), the Elohiym of Yitzak (He laughs) and the Elohiym of Yaakov (Follower)’? [Ex. 3:6] 27 He is not the Elohiym of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”- Mark 12:26-27 (Author’s translation)
 
With these things in mind let’s take a closer look at the festival of Shavuot.
 
Shavuot is a Festival of Many Names:
 
Zeman Mattan Torateinu [Season of the giving of our Torah] (Exodus 19:1-2)
Chag Ha-Katzir [The Feast of Harvest] (Exodus 23:14-16)
Chag Ha-Shavuot [The Feast of weeks] (Leviticus 23:15-16, Deuteronomy 16:9-17)
Yom Ha-Bikkuriym [The Festival Day of First Fruits] (Numbers 28:26)
Atzeret shel Pesach [Conclusion of Passover] (Talmud ibid)
Pentecost [Pente = 50] (Acts 2:1-40)

Let’s take a look at each of the names for Shavuot, their origin and significance.
 
1.)Season of the Giving of the Torah
Zeman Mattan Torateinu 1300 BCE (approx.) *
 
Shemot (Exodus) 19:1-2
 
“In the third month (Sivan) after the Bnei-Yisrael (Children of Israel) had gone out of the land of Mitzrayim (Egypt: Double distress), that same day they arrived at the wilderness of Sinaiy (Thorny). They travelled from R'phiydiym (Resting places, places of support) came into to the wilderness of Sinaiy (Thorny), and set up camp in the wilderness. Yisrael (Overcomes in God) camped there, right in front of the mountain (Mt Sinai).”
 
*We note that when the festival of Shavuot was given (at Sinai), Israel had neither land nor harvest. Therefore, its significance both precedes and reaches beyond harvest alone, and finds its inception in the giving of the Torah.
 
At the Giving of the Torah there was Fire on the Mountain
 
Shemot (Exodus) 19:18
 
“Now the entire Mount Sinai was in smoke, because Adonai had descended upon it in fire. The smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace. The whole mountain quaked greatly.”
 
Shemot (Exodus) 20:18-19
 
“18 All the people witnessed the thundering and the lightning, and the sound of the shofar, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled and stood far off. 19 So they said to Moses, “You, speak to us, and we will listen, but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.””
 
At the Giving of the Torah Seventy Elders of Israel were Touched by Fire from the Heavens
 
Jewish tradition teaches that flames of fire descended upon the seventy elders of Israel at Sinai during the giving of the Torah.
 
Bamidbar (Numbers) 11:16-17 TLV
 
‘Adonai said to Moses, “Bring me 70* of the elders of Israel whom you know to be elders of the people and their leaders. Take them to the Tent of Meeting, so they may stand with you there. 17 Then I will come down and speak with you there, and, I will take some of the Ruach (Spirit) that is on you and will place it on them. They will carry with you the burden of the people, so you will not be carrying it alone”’
 
*In both Biblical and rabbinical Judaism the number 70 represents the nations (Gen. 10). Thus, the people of Israel, having received the Torah by fire, were tasked to be a light to the nations.
 
At the Giving of the Torah Fiery Light Beam Horns Appeared on the Head of Moses
 
Moses is sometimes depicted with horns, and at other times with light beams emanating from his head following his receipt of the ten commandments (Exodus 34:29-35). The Hebrew karan can be translated as either horns or beams of light. The best understanding of this is found by holding the meaning in the tension, embracing the seemingly divergent concept and accepting that both translations are a convergent whole.
 
Horns symbolize strength, and light the present manifestation of God’s glory. Therefore, Moses reflected God’s strength and glory according to the presence of God’s Spirit upon him. This glory manifest upon Moses’ head as a symbol of God’s authority over Moses, who had been given authority to guide the people of Israel.
 
The traditional Torah text itself is sometimes called the “Fire text” due to the threefold flicks of the pen above certain characters.
 
2.)Feast of Harvest
Chag Ha-Katzir
 
Shemot (Exodus) 23:14-16
 
“Three times in the year you are to celebrate a festival for Me. You are to observe the Feast of Matzot. For seven days you will eat matzot as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month Aviv, for that is when you came out from Egypt. No one is to appear before Me empty-handed. Also you are to observe the Feast of Harvest, the first fruits of your labours that you sow in the field, as well as the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather your crops from the field.
 
3.)Feast of weeks
Chag Ha-Shavuot
 
Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:15-16
 
“Then you are to count from the day after the Shabbat (Of Passover), from the day that you brought the omer (A measure of barley flour) of the wave offering, seven complete Shabbatot (Sabbaths). Until the day after the seventh Shabbat (7x7+1) you are to count fifty days, and then present a new grain offering to Adonai.”
 
4.)First Fruits
Yom Ha-Bikkuriym
 
Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:26
 
“On the Day of First-fruits, when you offer to Adonai a new grain offering during the Feast of Weeks, you are to have a sacred assembly. You are to do no laborious work.”
 
The day described here as taking place during Shavuot is to be understood as a unique occasion from the day of first fruits that occurs at the inception of the counting of the omer seven weeks prior to Shavuot. Both days are known by the title Yom Ha-bikkurim despite the fact that they occur seven weeks apart.
 
Two Leavened Loaves
 
Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:17 (TLV)
 
“You are to bring out of your houses two loaves of bread for a wave offering, made of two tenths of an ephah of fine flour. They are to be baked with chameitz (yeast) as first fruits to Adonai.”
 
The Wave Offering of Two Leavened Loaves
 
Vayikra (Leviticus ) 23:17
 
Yeast may not come into contact with the altar of HaShem because yeast is a physical symbol of the festering presence of sin in the present world.
 
This makes the Shavuot wave offering exceptional. Two loaves are made with yeast and waved before God in gratitude for the harvest and in petition for an abundant future harvest. However, they are not brought near nor are they offered on the altar.
Why two loaves, and why are they made with yeast?
 
This is connected to the 70 elders of Sinai. Shavuot celebrates God’s abundant blessing to an undeserving and sinful people, a people tasked with bringing the message of God’s goodness to the nations. Therefore, there are two loaves made with yeast (sin) representing two peoples, Ha-Y’hudiym (the Jews) and Ha-Goyim (the nations).
 
5.) Completion (Fullness) of Passover
Atzeret Shel Pesach
 
Our Rabbis base this on the fact that the day of Shavuot is decided by beginning to count from the conclusion of Passover.
 
Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:15-16
 
“Then you are to count from the day after the Shabbat (Of Passover), from the day that you brought the omer (A measure of barley flour) of the wave offering, seven complete Shabbatot (Sabbaths). Until the day after the seventh Shabbat (7x7+1) you are to count fifty days, and then present a new grain offering to Adonai.”
 
With respect to Messianic understanding this reflects the fact that the completed work of Yeshua means the filling of the believer with the promised Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). Therefore, the outpouring and infilling of the Holy Spirit is a type of completion of the work of Passover.
 
6.) Pentecost 50 (Jubilee)
 
Pentecost is the English transliteration borrowed from the Greek Pentecoste, which is formed from the root Pente meaning 50.
 
The number fifty is symbolic in Biblical Judaism of a season of Jubilee*. This is a season of freedom from all that causes bondage both spiritual and physical.
 
*Ha-Yovel (the Jubilee [50]) is the year that renews the cycle of the regular seventh year of shemitot (Sabbatical years) the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus) [Lev. 25:8-13] decrees of God that Hebrew (Jewish) slaves and prisoners are to be set free, debts are to be forgiven, and as a result of the obedience of the people of Israel to these instructions YHVH the God of Israel will manifest His mercy in a tangible and transcendent way.
 
Traditional Readings for Shavuot:
 
In addition to the Torah prescription for Shavuot:
(Ex. 23:16, 34:22; Dt. 16:9-12; Num. 28:26-31; Lev. 23:15-21)
Observant Jews also read:
Ezekiel 1:1-28; 3:12
Habakkuk 2:20-3:19
Megillat (Scroll) of Ruth
 
The Fullness of Scripture and its Connection to Shavuot:
 
Fire from the Heavens is an Intrinsic Element in the Events of Shavuot
 
Acts 2:1-4
 
“When the day of Shavuot had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each one of them. They were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh  (Holy Spirit) and began to speak in other tongues as the Ruach (Spirit) enabled them to speak out.”
 
Yechezkel (Ezekiel) 1:4
 
“I looked, and behold, a storm ruach wind (Spirit, breath) came from the north, a great cloud with flashing fire and brightness all around it, and something like a glowing alloy out of the fire.”
 
Chabakuk (Habakkuk) 3:3-5
 
“God comes from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah… His majesty covers the heavens, and His praise fills the earth. With brilliance like light, rays emanate from His hand. There His power was hidden. Pestilence goes before Him, a fiery bolt goes forth at His feet.”
 
Yechezkel (Ezekiel) 36:25-27
 
“Then I will sprinkle abundantly, clean water on you and you will be clean from all your uncleanness and from all your idols. Moreover I will give you a new heart. I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the stony heart from your body and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Ruach (Spirit) within you. Then I will cause you to walk in My laws, so you will keep My rulings and do them.”
 
Yermiyahu (Jeremiah) 31:30-33
 
“Behold, days are coming” —it is a declaration of Adonai— “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 31 not like the covenant I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they broke My covenant, though I was a husband to them.” it is a declaration of Adonai. 32 “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days” —it is a declaration of Adonai— “I will put My Torah within them. Yes, I will write it on their heart. I will be their God and they will be My people. 33 No longer will each teach his neighbour or each his brother, saying: ‘Know Adonai,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest.” it is a declaration of Adonai. “For I will forgive their iniquity, their sin I will remember no more.”
 
So, why so much fire?
 
Fire at Sinai, fire in Jerusalem, fire on the heads of God's chosen people:
l  Fire is the root אשׁ (Eish) of Man איש (Iysh), breathed into the earth to create humanity
l  Fire is a reminder of the everlasting nature of the human soul from conception
l  Fire consumes that which is dead and transforms it into light
l  Fire warms the righteous and burns the wicked
l  Fire is a living symbol of resurrection
l  Fire is intrinsically connected to both the Torah and the Ruach Ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit)
 
Traditions of Shavuot
 
l  Traditional date of the Giving of the Torah at Sinai
l  Traditional date of King David's burial
l  An aliyah (Going up) festival (The Second of three: Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot), called Regaliym (moments, waiting)
l  Observant Jews study Torah through the night (Liel Shavuot)
l  Observant Jews read the megillat (Scroll) of Ruth
l  Observant Jews eat dairy foods
l  Observant Jews pray the prayer Yitzkor (Remembrance), including Kaddish (mourner’s prayer) in memory of lost loved ones
 
Why eat dairy foods?
 
The Rabbis taught that it is because the Torah is likened to milk and honey (Imrei Noam re. SOS 4:11). The Hebrew word for milk Chalav has a numerical value of 40, the number of days Moses was on the mountain. Further, the gematria of gevina (cheese) is 70, corresponding to the "70 faces of Torah” and the 70 elders of Israel.
 
Why read Ruth?
 
Because the events of megillat the scroll of Ruth* take place at the time of the barley harvest and culminate in the wheat harvest.
 
*The scroll of Ruth speaks of the Kinsman Redeemer Boaz who is a figure for the King Messiah. His name meaning “Coming Strength.”
 
There was a Beginning at Sinai During the Giving of the Torah, and a New Beginning at Mt Zion During the Outpouring and Infilling of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit):
 
Acts 2:1-2 Shavuot [CE 33]
 
2:1 When the day of Shavuot had come, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing ruach wind, and it filled the whole house where they* were sitting.
 
*“They” were the 120 followers who had been part of Yeshua’s retinue including the twelve (-1) talmidim (disciples), His mother Miriyam, His brothers and other female talmidot (disciples). All these were Jews, ethnic, religious, chosen, empirical (Acts 1:13-15, 26).
 
As at Sinai, so too at Moriah (Mt Zion)
 
Shemot (Exodus) 20:18-19 Shavuot [1300 BCE]
 
“18 All the people witnessed the thundering and the lightning, and the sound of the shofar, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled and stood far off. 19 So they said to Moses, “You, speak to us, and we will listen, but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.””
 
Acts 2:3-4 Shavuot [33 CE]
 
2:3 And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and began to speak in other languages as the Ruach enabled them to speak out.
 
Numbers 11:16-17 TLV Shavuot [1300 BCE]
 
‘Adonai said to Moses, “Bring me 70 of the elders of Israel whom you know to be elders of the people and their leaders. Take them to the Tent of Meeting, so they may stand with you there. 17 Then I will come down and speak with you there, and, I will take some of the Ruach that is on you and will place it on them. They will carry with you the burden of the people, so you will not be carrying it alone”’  
 
At Sinai the Spirit is given so that the burden of the Torah might be mitigated. The Spirit is prophetically promised to Israel, who are to share the Good News of God’s redemptive purpose to all nations. Thus 70, Elders representing the nations. Now at Moriah (in Jerusalem), 120 Jews representing the fullness of God’s promise to Israel (Rom.11:25-29), receive the Ruach Ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit), that they might share the Good News of Yeshua to all those Jews gathered from throughout the known world. Jews who will believe (3000) and take the Good News back to the nations that they have travelled from to come up to Jerusalem for the aliyah Festival of Shavuot. Thus, the two loaves of challot (yeast bread) of the wave offering, the Jews and the Nations.
 
Acts 2:5-16 Shavuot [33 CE]
 
5 Now Jewish people were staying in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound came, the crowd gathered. They were bewildered, because each was hearing them speaking in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “All these who are speaking—aren’t they Galileans? 8 How is it that we each hear our own birth language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and those living in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of Libya toward Cyrene, and visitors from Rome 11 (both Jewish people and proselytes), Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring in our own tongues the mighty deeds of God!” 12 And they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other, “What does this mean?” 13 Others, poking fun, were saying, “They are full of sweet new wine!”14 But Peter, standing with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: “Fellow Judeans and all who are staying in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose—for it’s only the third hour of the day! (9am) 16 But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel:
 
Acts 2:17-21 (Yoel [Joel] 2:28-32)
 
17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ says God,
    ‘that I will pour out My Ruach on all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My slaves, male and female,
    I will pour out My Ruach in those days,
    and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will give wonders in the sky above
    and signs on the earth beneath--
    blood, and fire, and smoky vapor.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood
    before the great and glorious Day of Adonai comes.
21 And it shall be that everyone who calls
    on the name of Adonai shall be saved.’
 
Acts 2:22-25
 
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words! Yeshua ha-Notzri—a Man authenticated to you by God with mighty deeds and wonders and signs God performed through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Yeshua, given over by God’s predetermined plan and foreknowledge, nailed to the cross by the hand of lawless men, you killed. 24 But God raised Him up, releasing Him from the pains of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held by it. 25 For David says about Him,
 
Acts 2:25b-28 (Tehilim [Psalm] 16:8-11)
 
‘I saw Adonai always before me,
for He is at my right hand so that I might not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced;
    moreover, my body also will live in hope,
27 because You will not abandon my soul to Sheol
    or let Your Holy One see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
    You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’
 
Acts 2:29-31
 
29 “Brothers, I can confidently tell you that the patriarch David died and was buried—his tomb is with us to this day. 30 So because he was a prophet and knew God had sworn with an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne, [f] 31 David saw beforehand and spoke of Messiah’s resurrection—that He was not abandoned to Sheol, and His body did not see decay.
 
We note that one of the traditions of Shavuot which those listening were mindful of is the tradition concerning Shavuot being the date of King David's burial.
 
Acts 2:32-35 (Tehilim [Psalm] 110:1)
 
32 “This Yeshua God raised up—we all are witnesses! 33 Therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God and receiving from the Father the promise of the Ruach ha-Kodesh, He poured out this—what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens; yet he himself says,
‘Adonai said to my Lord,
    “Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make Your enemies a footstool
    for Your feet.”’
 
Acts 2:36-47
 
36 “Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him—this Yeshua whom you had crucified—both Lord and Messiah!” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the emissaries, “Fellow brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be immersed in the name of Messiah Yeshua for the removal of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach ha-Kodesh. 39 For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away—as many as Adonai our God calls to Himself.” 40 With many other words he warned them and kept urging them, saying, “Save yourselves from this twisted generation!” (Deut. 32:5) 41 So those who received his message were immersed, and that day about three thousand souls were added. 42 They were devoting themselves to the teaching of the emissaries and to fellowship, to breaking bread and to prayers. 43 Fear lay upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were happening through the emissaries. 44 And all who believed were together, having everything in common. 45 They began selling their property and possessions and sharing them with all, as any had need. 46 Day by day they continued with one mind, spending time at the Temple and breaking bread from house to house. They were sharing meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord was adding to their number those being saved.
 
From Sinai (Horeb) to Moriah (Jerusalem):
 
The Gospel in Shavuot
 
Sinai = Thorny
Horeb = Desert, dry place
Moriah = HaShem (YHVH: Mercy sees, YHVH: Mercy chooses)
Jerusalem = Outpouring of Peace
 
In a thorny desert place (In our sinful state) we heard the Word (Torah: Instruction of God) and those who chose to pursue the goal of the Torah (Romans 10:4), having been seen and chosen by God (Mercy), received the outpouring of His peace, the Comforter, the Spirit of the Father and the Son.
 
Copyright 2022 Yaakov Brown