Weekly Torah Lesson 1
Parasha Va yakhel – and he assembled
Torah: Shemot 35:1 – 38:20
** While Aharon was alive, he was commanded to enter The Holy Place in the late afternoon and early in the morning. The Holy Place was the first ‘space’ in the Tent of Meeting. Aharon’s duties were to dress and light The Golden Candlestick and to burn incense on The Golden Altar. At this time, Aharon was The High Priest. However, in later mentions of The priest who offered The Incense, it was not The High Priest who did the offering. The Golden Altar was placed between The Golden Candlestick and The Table of Unleavened Bread. However, The Golden Altar was situated closer to The Embroidered Veil than the other two items. As the incense was burning, the smoke would rise up and over The Veil and envelop The Ark of the Covenant which had The Mercy Seat as it’s lid. We are later shown that this ‘offering’ represented ‘The Prayers of Israel’. Here is how Avinu told Moshe about building this very special Altar.
Shemot 37:25 And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same. 26 And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made to it a crown of gold round about. 27 And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown thereof, by the two corners of it, on the two sides thereof, to be places for the staves to bear it. 28 And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
** We ‘encounter’ this Altar approximately thirteen hundred years later where a different altar was being used in what was known as ‘Herod’s Temple’.
“Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before Avinu, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of Avinu blameless. 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before Avinu in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of Avinu. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of Avinu standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell on him. 13 But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zechariah: for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elisabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yochanon. 14 And you shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of Avinu, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to Avinu Elohekem. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Eliyahoo, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for Avinu. 18 And Zechariah said to the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19 And the angel answering said to him, I am Gabriel, that stands in the presence of Avinu; and am sent to speak to you, and to show you these glad tidings. 20 And, behold, you shall be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because you believe not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. 21 And the people waited for Zechariah, and marveled that he tarried so long in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned to them, and remained speechless. 23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.” (Lu 1:5-23 )
** There are some who believe that the pattern for the burning of incense should be applied in our daily prayer life. Luke 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. David HaMalek raised the bar when he wrote, “Seven times a day do I praise you because of your righteous judgments.” (Ps 119:164) Regardless of the varying opinions of when and how long we should be praying, here is the most important fact about our prayers: “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.” (Re 5:8 )
“3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” (Re 8:3-4 )
“But the end of all things is at hand: be you therefore sober, and diligent in prayer.” (1Pe 4:7 )
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