The Great Mystery
Deuteronomy 4:32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man on the earth, and from one end of the heavens to the other end of the heavens, whether there hath been anything as this great thing is, or if anything hath been heard like it? (Darby)
Presentation
In this chapter, it might initially seem that the topic at hand is being dropped while another subject is taken up without finishing the original topic. This is unavoidable due to the complexity of the subject because it is necessary to consider the individual elements of this puzzle in a form of logical finite element analysis before assimilating the elements into a sum of the parts. While many of the parts have received a large amount of study, it is the sum of those parts that embody the essence of the Great Mystery. The Great Mystery is one of the key elements that will serve to reconcile the Old Testament and the New Testament into clear cohesiveness. Therefore, after considering individual elements individually, the sum of the parts will be merged into a clear understanding of the Great Mystery, something that is really quite abstract.
It is conceivable that the material in this chapter will seem quite ridiculous to some; in all reality, few people are ready for this portion of the message. Nevertheless, it is a part of this message that is to be delivered at the End of Days. The whole thing might initially seem quite bizarre in many respects and it is probable that it will take some time for this material to sink in. There really is nothing new in this entire book, but it is without any doubt that few are ready for the material despite the fact that they should have been ready long ago. Nevertheless, the times are such that this message is poised to overtake and indeed will overtake regardless of whether one is ready or not.
Isaiah 40:3 Hark! one calleth: 'Clear ye in the wilderness the way of the Lord, make plain in the desert a highway for our God. (JPS)
(Emphasis added)
1 Corinthians 3:1 And *I*, brethren, have not been able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly; as to babes in Christ. 2 I have given you milk to drink, not meat, for ye have not yet been able, nor indeed are ye yet able; (Darby) (Emphasis added)
Why a Mystery?
While in some ways this information might appear to be new, in all reality, it is not. The mystery is the mystery of Y'shua that has been reserved until the End of Days. The mystery revealed is the connection between God in ancient days before Y'shua appeared and God after Y'shua. There has always seemed to be a lacking or unclear connection as to how Y'shua and God before Y'shua are related. This is the essence of the Great Mystery. It would be good to consider the following passages from Corinthians and Isaiah because these explain exactly why the mystery is a mystery as well as why most of the other things revealed in this book have been concealed up until now.
While some might construe the material in this chapter to consist of a different Y'shua than the one presented in the New Covenant Gospels, this is not the case. In fact, all of this material is directly supported by the Gospels and serves to clarify a great deal of extremely muddled thinking. Since most of the ideas that this serves to correct are those of theologians, the whole process is apt to be quite messy. Everything recorded in this book has been in plain view of everyone with a Bible for thousands of years. It is conceivable that many theologians will initially reject the message and the work of the Holy Spirit because acceptance would require difficult critical thinking. Frankly, scripture clearly states that they will reject this message initially. Since scripture states that their teaching has been foolishness, this will prove to be a thorn in the flesh to many. This is actually by God's design, however, so that no flesh may boast. Since this message is indeed the word of the it will not go away. Evidently, rank-and-file believers will keep brining it up until it is inescapable, even to the "wise men" - just as God planned all along.
Isaiah 28:19 As often as it passeth through, it shall take you; for morning by morning shall it pass through, by day and by night; and it shall be sheer terror to understand the message. (JPS)
(Emphasis Added)
Isaiah 29:14 Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the prudence of their prudent men shall be hid. (JPS) (Emphasis Added)
1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and set aside the understanding of the understanding ones. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
1 Corinthians 1:20 Where [is the] wise? where scribe? where disputer of this world? has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom has not known God, God has been pleased by the foolishness of the preaching to save those that believe. 22 Since Jews indeed ask for signs, and Greeks seek wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews an offence, and to nations foolishness; 24 but to those that [are] called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ God's power and God's wisdom. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (Darby) (Emphasis Added)
Isaiah 29:18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of a book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. (JPS)
The Great Mystery
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a costly corner-stone of sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste. 17 And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
The Great Mystery is a puzzle of similar proportion to the lost ark; however, it is actually a much deeper enigma because few people are even aware that this mystery exists. In some respects, the mystery is really no mystery at all because the Bible clearly tells the answer to the mystery. Despite the fact that the answer to the Great Mystery is included in many passages of scripture where it is mentioned, its true significance and essence have escaped undetected. Several New Testament passages such as Ephesians 3 mention this mystery and the answer is included in that passage, nevertheless the mystery remains.
Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast the understanding. 5 Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof, 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (JPS) (Emphasis added)
The Foundation Stone
In Isaiah 28:16 below, one will notice that mention of a foundation stone and the clear connection that this stone is also a corner stone. Through that, one will have uncovered the exact substance of the Great Mystery. This substance is stone or rock.
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a costly corner-stone of sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste. 17 And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
The Stone of Stumbling
It is highly notable that in some other passages of scripture this particular stone, the foundation stone laid in Zion, is also deemed a stumbling block. This creates the connection between the foundation stone, the corner stone and the stumbling block. Also, one might observe from Isaiah 8 that this stone is also "Him."
Jeremiah 6:21 Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall stumble against them, the neighbour and his friend, and they shall perish. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Romans 9:30 What then shall we say? That [they of the] nations, who did not follow after righteousness, have attained righteousness, but [the] righteousness that is on the principle of faith. 31 But Israel, pursuing after a law of righteousness, has not attained to [that] law. 32 Wherefore? Because [it was] not on the principle of faith, but as of works. They have stumbled at the stumblingstone, 33 according as it is written, Behold, I place in Zion a stone of stumbling and rock of offence: and he that believes on him shall not be ashamed. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
Isaiah 8:13 the Lord of hosts, Him shall ye sanctify; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread 14 And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.' 16 'Bind up the testimony, seal the instruction among My disciples.' (JPS) (Emphasis added)
The stone of stumbling is exactly the same stone as the foundation stone. Therefore, this stone is also the same stone as the corner stone. It is also important to make note of the fact that this stone is also referred to by Isaiah as "Him." There are ancillary mentions of stumbling blocks in scripture, but one will notice that in this case God placed at least one particular stone of stumbling and this is the one of interest here.
From these passages alone one can deduce that the substance or very essence of the Great Mystery is stone. That is to say that the foundation stone is the corner stone which is the stone of stumbling which is the Rock which is also called Him. Thus, this stone or Rock is God. This is to say that God is literally a Rock.
2 Samuel 22:32 For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a Rock, save our God? (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Psalm 78:35 And they remembered that God was their Rock, and the Most High God their redeemer. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
2 Samuel 22:1 And David spoke unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul; 2 and he said: the Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3 The God who is my rock, in Him I take refuge; my shield, and my horn of salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; my saviour, Thou savest me from violence. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
1 Samuel 2:2 There is none holy as the Lord, for there is none beside Thee; neither is there any rock like our God. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
2 Samuel 22:46 The sons of the stranger fade away, and come halting out of their close places. 47 the Lord liveth, and blessed be my Rock; and exalted be the God, my Rock of salvation; (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked--thou didst wax fat, thou didst grow thick, thou didst become gross--and he forsook God who made him, and contemned the Rock of his salvation. 16 They roused Him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations did they provoke Him. 17 They sacrificed unto demons, no-gods, gods that they knew not, new gods that came up of late, which your fathers dreaded not. 18 Of the Rock that begot thee thou wast unmindful, and didst forget God that bore thee. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Rock of Salvation
The Water from the Rock.
Tintoretto.
In the last two passages quoted above, notice that there is a clear connection between the Rock and salvation. This Rock provided salvation and this Rock was clearly God. One should recall that the only clear mention of any Rock or Stone in the Tanakh that could be closely connected with God Himself would be the two tables of stone housed inside the Ark of the Covenant. For those that had close contact with the Ark such as Moses or King David, they almost invariably refer to God as The Rock. It is also significant that the Rock is the Savior. Obviously, the Ark of the Covenant was critical to Israel's salvation because the mercy-seat was the cover of the Ark. The Ark contained the two stone tables of the Decalogue.
1 Corinthians 10:1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. (NIV) (Emphasis added)
Deuteronomy 32:1 Give ear, ye heavens, and I will speak; and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. 2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew; as the small rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb. 3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 4 The Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice; a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is He. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Moses
There is no doubt that Moses had the most intimate contact with the Ark of the Covenant and the tables of the Decalogue of any man that lived. He touched the first stone tables and chiseled out the second set. He broke the first set of tables and eventually placed the tables into the Ark. Moses met with God face-to-face on many occasions and was allowed to enter into the most holy place as God's friend anytime he wished. Moses' face would become radiant when he was in God's presence, and therefore, he would have to wear a veil to protect the Israelites from the brilliance of it. It was God that appeared above the Ark and this was obviously several thousand years before Y'shua was born. This leaves an obvious problem in that the Apostle Paul wrote that Moses dealt with the Christ in reference to Y'shua.
Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, being born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw the child beautiful; and they did not fear the injunction of the king. 24 By faith Moses, when he had become great, refused to be called son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction along with the people of God than to have [the] temporary pleasure of sin; 26 esteeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he had respect to the recompense. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he celebrated the passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as through dry land; of which the Egyptians having made trial were swallowed up. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
Obviously, the only possible explanation for this is that the Christ dwelt in the Ark of the Covenant despite the fact that He seemingly did not appear until much later. Therefore, the Rock that was Christ was the Rock in the Ark, the fragments of the first stone tables.
Rejected Rock
If one connects the information so far, recall that Moses mentions in Deuteronomy 32:15 et seq. that they forsook the God that made them and spurned the Rock of their salvation. One should also direct attention to the fact that they forgot God that bore them and recall from chapter 2 that "The Ark bore its bearers and passed." It has been established that the Rock of salvation and Y'shua are one and the same. In Corinthians, it is clear that Paul is speaking of a Rock that was Christ and also referring to the time that Israel was wandering in the wilderness. This leaves an obvious problem, however, because it would seem to refer to a time before Y'shua the man existed. Either Paul was confused or there is something more to his statement than is readily apparent.
In further study, one will also notice certain references to a stone that the builders rejected becoming the corner stone. While this stone has received a great deal of study and consideration over time with varied success, practically no one has given much attention to the subject of exactly what builders are being referred to.
1 Peter 2:4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture: "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER STONE," 8 and, "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE;" for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. (NASB) (Emphasis added)
Notice also in 1 Peter 2:4 that this stone is a living stone.
Psalm 118:21 I will give thanks unto Thee, for Thou hast answered me, and art become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders rejected is become the chief corner-stone. 23 This is the Lord'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
A Stone Not Cut by Hand
Moses Destroyeth the Tables of the Decalogue
J. James Tissot.
This same Stone has another characteristic of being a stone not cut by hand. In the first instance of such a Stone being mentioned in scripture it is not specifically dubbed a stone not cut by hand. Nevertheless, its creation results in its being a stone not cut by hand. The first account of this special stone that was not cut by hand appears in Exodus 19 and the material aspect of that narrative skips a few chapters and resumes in Exodus 32. That narrative is concerned with God's giving of the stone tables to the Israelites at Mount Horeb.
Tablets containing the Ten Commandments
Biblical Data:
Moses, bidden to go up to God on the mountain to receive "tables of stone, and a law ["Torah"], and commandments ["mizwot"]" (Ex. xxiv. 12, R. V.), is given "two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God" (ib. xxxi. 18) "on both their sides" (ib. xxxii. 15), "the work of God" (ib. xxxii. 16). Descending from the mount with these two tables, Moses, beholding the iniquity of the golden calf (See Calf, Golden), cast them "out of his hands and brake them" (ib. xxxii. 19). Later he was ordered by God to hew two tables of stone like unto the first; and on these God wrote the words that had been written on the original tablets (ib. xxxiv. 1-4), that is to say, the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments (ib. xxxiv. 28). These new tables also are designated "the two tables of the testimony" (ib. xxxiv. 29). According to I Kings viii. 9, these tables of stone were put by Moses into the Ark at Horeb (ib. xxv. 10 et seq.), and were still in it when the Solomonic Temple was dedicated.
(Jewish Encyclopedia; Tables of the Law; by Emil G. Hirsch, Wilhelm Bacher)
The Adoration of the Golden Calf.
Nicolas Poussin.
One can look up the whole story if desired, but here the supporting Bible text from the Torah will begin at Exodus 32. As one might recall, in Exodus 32 Moses descends from the mountain carrying two stone tables that were cut and inscribed entirely by the hand of God. Unfortunately, the Lord told Moses that the Israelites were gleefully worshiping their golden calf-idol. After descending from the mount, an incensed Moses threw the freshly cut stones to the ground thus smashing them to smithereens.
Exodus 32:15 And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, with the two tables of the testimony in his hand; tables that were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. 16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. 17 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses: 'There is a noise of war in the camp.' 18 And he said: 'It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome, but the noise of them that sing do I hear.' 19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mount. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Moses and the Ten Commandments.
J. James Tissot.
Later in the narrative about the events at Horeb the account of which appears in Exodus 34, Moses returned to the top of Mount Horeb vicariously known as Mount Sinai with stone tables that he had chiseled out that were inscribed by the hand of God atop the mountain. Note that these stone tables, the actual stones, were not the work of God as were the first slabs, but were chiseled out by Moses and then inscribed by God. There is seemingly no accounting in scripture of what happened to the original stone tables that Moses broke in anger at the base of Mount Horeb. This missing information is quite important as we shall soon see.
Deuteronomy 9:9 When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights; I did neither eat bread nor drink water. 10 And the Lord delivered unto me the two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the Lord spoke with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. 11 And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the Lord gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant. (JPS)
After Moses broke the first stone tables, he then chiseled out two more slabs like the originals and took them back up the mount.
Deuteronomy 10:1 At that time the Lord said unto me: 'Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto Me into the mount; and make thee an ark of wood. 2 And I will write on the tables the words that were on the first tables which thou didst break, and thou shalt put them in the ark.' 3 So I made an ark of acacia-wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in my hand. 4 And He wrote on the tables according to the first writing, the ten words, which the Lord spoke unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly; and the Lord gave them unto me. 5 And I turned and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they are, as the Lord commanded me. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
While there does not seem to be any accounting of what happened to the first stone tables in the Tanakh, the ancient Levites recorded a couple of legends about what happened to the original stone tables that Moses broke. One of those accounts maintains that Moses placed the broken stones into the Ark with the new ones and the other purports that the original stone tables were taken back to heaven after they were broken.
The Breaking of the Tables
As to the arrangement of the words, rabbinical opinions differ: according to some, five commandments were inscribed on one table and five on the other; according to others, each table contained the complete Decalogue (Cant. R. v. 14). Moses was able to carry the heavy tables because God helped him; but when God saw that the people were worshiping the Golden Calf, He withdrew His support; and this compelled Moses to cast the tables away. According to another version, the letters supported themselves as well as the stone in which they were encased; but, learning of Israel's lapse from grace, they flew back to heaven, and thus Moses was left, too feeble to carry the heavy burden. Again, the account is varied to introduce a struggle between God and Moses, or between Moses and the letters, Moses doing his utmost to save the tables from falling (Yer. Ta'an. iv.).
(Emphasis added) (Jewish Encyclopedia; Tables of the Law; by Emil G. Hirsch, Wilhelm Bacher)
After all, it was well that the first tables were not delivered to Israel; for, having been written by the finger of God, they would have brought about the annihilation of every creature on account of their intense brightness (Tan., l.c.). As the first set had been given after loud proclamation and amid great pomp, the Evil Eye had control over the tables; therefore the second set was given quietly to teach the lesson of humility (ib.). The seventy elders, indeed, endeavored to prevent Moses from breaking the tables; but in the struggle Moses prevailed. He, knowing their contents, would not deliver them to the faithless Israelites lest he should entail punishment on them; but when the letters flew away Moses was forced to drop the tables. When Moses broke the tables God was wroth with him: "Hadst thou worried and labored to produce them, thou wouldest have been more careful"; therefore Moses was commanded to hew the second set, which was given on the Day of Atonement, in the afternoon (Yalk., Ex. 392). According to some, Moses did not cast away the first set until God had encouraged him, saying, "May thy strength increase because thou brakest the tables" (Ab. R. N. ii. 3; Yalk., Ex. 363, 740). The instrument by which the inscription was traced was God's third finger (Pirke R. El. xlviii.). Moses broke the first set on the 17th of Tammuz (ib. xlvi.).
(Jewish Encyclopedia; Tables of the Law; by Emil G. Hirsch, Wilhelm Bacher)
Torah
Preexistence of the Torah
The Torah is older than the world, for it existed either 947 generations (Zeb. 116a, and parallels) or 2,000 years (Gen. R. viii., and parallels; Weber, "Jüdische Theologie," p. 15) before the Creation. The original Pentateuch, therefore, like everything celestial, consisted of fire, being written in black letters of flame upon a white ground of fire (Yer. Shek. 49a, and parallels; Blau, "Althebräisches Buchwesen," p. 156). God held counsel with it at the creation of the world, since it was wisdom itself (Tan., Bereshit, passim), and it was God's first revelation, in which He Himself took part. It was given in completeness for all time and for all mankind, so that no further revelation can be expected. It was given in the languages of all peoples; for the voice of the divine revelation was seventyfold (Weber, l.c. pp. 16-20; Blau, "Zur Einleitung in die Heilige Schrift," pp. 84-100). It shines forever, and was transcribed by the scribes of the seventy peoples (Bacher, "Ag. Tan." ii. 203, 416), while everything found in the Prophets and the Hagiographa was already contained in the Torah (Ta'an. 9a), so that, if the Israelites had not sinned, only the five books of Moses would have been given them (Ned. 22b). As a matter of fact, the Prophets and the Hagiographa will be abrogated; but the Torah will remain forever (Yer. Meg. 70d). Every letter of it is a living creature. When Solomon took many wives, Deuteronomy threw himself before God and complained that Solomon wished to remove from the Pentateuch the yod of the word (Deut. xvii. 17), with which the prohibition of polygamy was spoken; and God replied: "Solomon and a thousand like him shall perish, but not one letter of the Torah shall be destroyed" (Lev. R. xix.; Yer. Sanh. 20c; Cant. R. 5, 11; comp. Bacher, l.c. ii. 123, note 5). The single letters were hypostatized, and were active even at the creation of the world (Bacher, l.c. i. 347), an idea which is probably derived from Gnostic speculation. The whole world is said to be only 1/3200 of the Torah ('Er. 21a).
Israel received this treasure only through suffering (Ber. 5a, and parallels), for the book and the sword came together from heaven, and Israel was obliged to choose between them (Sifre, Deut. 40, end; Bacher, l.c. ii. 402, note 5); and whosoever denies the heavenly origin of the Torah will lose the future life (Sanh. x. 1). This high esteem finds its expression in the rule that a copy of the Pentateuch is unlimited in value, and in the ordinance that the inhabitants of a city might oblige one another to procure scrolls of the Law (Tosef., B. M. iii. 24, xi. 23). The pious bequeathed a copy of the Torah to the synagogue (ib. B. K. ii. 3); and it was the duty of each one to make one for himself, while the honor paid the Bible greatly influenced the distribution of copies and led to the foundation of libraries (Blau, "Althebräisches Buchwesen," pp. 84-97).
(Jewish Encyclopedia; Torah; by Joseph Jacobs and Ludwig Blau)
Note that hypostatized means to ascribe material existence to.
It is possible to sort this out to some extent from scripture through logic. While it is possible that the first stone tables were taken back to heaven at one point as one legend maintains, it is certain that they were also placed into the Ark for a considerable period of time. However, it is certain that they did not remain there for all posterity although the slabs chiseled out by Moses are still in the Ark today. Nevertheless, the originals did stay in the Ark for a long time.
Why Two Tables
In Rabbinical Literature:
The two tables furnish copious suggestions for amplifications and analogies. According to R. Berechiah, the tables were six handbreadths in length. In their delivery to Moses two handbreadths were held in the grasp of the Almighty, two constituted the distance between God and Moses, and two were seized by Moses (Ex. R. xxviii.). (Jewish Encyclopedia; Tables of the Law; by Emil G. Hirsch, Wilhelm Bacher)
In the Cabala
Both the second set and the fragments of the first were deposited in the Ark (Ber. 14b); and in connection with this the expression "fragments of the tables" came to be used to designate a learned man who in consequence of old age or infirmity had forgotten his learning, but to whom respect was nevertheless due. Similarly the phrase "the tables of the covenant" was employed to paraphrase "the heart of Rabbi" (Yer. Kil. ix. 32b, above). (Emphasis added) (Jewish Encyclopedia; Tables of the Law; by Emil G. Hirsch, Wilhelm Bacher)
The exact evidence that the first tables were placed in the Ark directly from the Tanakh is lacking. Nevertheless, through logic the entire matter can be conclusively established with great clarity because by assimilating all of the details contained in this chapter it will become clear that there is no other possibility.
Decalogue
Contents
The Decalogue opens with the solemn affirmation, put in the first person, that the speaker is Yhwh, Israel's ("thy") God, who hath led Israel ("thee") out of Egypt. Therefore there shall be for Israel ("thee") no other gods before Yhwh's ("my") face. Prohibition of idolatry follows as a logical amplification of this impressive announcement, and then a caution against taking Yhwh's name in vain. The duty of remembering the Sabbath and that of honoring father and mother are emphasized. Murder, adultery, theft, and false testimony are forbidden, and the Decalogue concludes with an expanded declaration against, covetousness. (Emphasis added)
(Jewish Encyclopedia; Decalogue; by Emil G. Hirsch, Eduard König)
Original Form
The tradition, according to which earlier tables were replaced by others, shows that for a long time the knowledge was current of changes in the text, and not, as Holzinger contends (l.c. p. 77), that a Mosaic law had never existed.
The original Ten Words probably opened with:
(1) "I am Yhwh, thy God," etc.
Then followed:
(2) Thou shalt have no other gods before Me [beside Me].
(3) Thou shalt not take the name of Yhwh thy God in vain.
(4) Remember the Sabbath-day.
(5) Honor thy father and thy mother.
(6) Thou shalt not murder.
(7) Thou shalt not commit adultery.
(8) Thou shalt not steal.
(9) Thou shalt not bear false witness.
(10) Thou shalt not covet (Wildeboer, l.c. p. 19). (Emphasis added)
(Jewish Encyclopedia; Decalogue; by Emil G. Hirsch, Eduard König)
Exodus 20:1 And God spoke all these words, saying:
2 I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
The Word, or Logos, and the Decalogue
Jews know the stone tables of the Ten Commandments as the Law or Decalogue. It is extremely enlightening to rip the word Decalogue to its roots. The roots of the word are traced from Greek and the prefix deca, means ten. The suffix logue is from the Greek root word logos, meaning word. Therefore, Decalogue means the ten words. The word "word" in Greek is "logos" and this Word or Logos was and is actually God.
Since the study just established with certainty that God was a Rock, this obviously leaves a certain dichotomy in reasoning unless perhaps the Word was written on a Rock where both conditions could be true.
Deuteronomy 32:3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 4 The Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice; a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is He. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
While it is understandable that sometimes the Biblical mentions of a rock are oft perceived to be symbolic - thereby representing stability and strength, etceteras - this is not always the case. This rock is actually God and is very literally a Rock, that is to say, a Rock as in a mineral mass. Literally, God is, or was, a Rock or stone. While this whole line of thought might initially appear to be somewhat preposterous, it is actually a material fact, so to speak. It is evident in the Bible that those that came more directly in contact with God when His presence was more observable - in the days when the Ark was conspicuously present - clearly held the view that God was literally a Rock. This indeed was the case.
Psalm 78:35 And they remembered that God was their Rock, and the Most High God their redeemer. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Therefore, one can make some clear observations and conclusions. If God was a Rock in the days where the Ark of the Covenant was present among the people that made these observations, then obviously the stone tables inside the ark that were made and inscribed entirely by God were God. Obviously this only refers to those stone tables that were made entirely by God and not those made partially by Moses.
Going over the story of their creation, it is apparent that that the stone tables were with God before He inscribed them while Moses was atop the mountain at Horeb. It is also useful to consider exactly what God inscribed upon the tables, that being, the word, that should probably be written the Word, the ten words of the Decalogue.
Deuteronomy 10:4 And He wrote on the tables according to the first writing, the ten words, which the Lord spoke unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly; and the Lord gave them unto me (JPS)
It is important to contemplate this point carefully as it has the greatest significance. What was inscribed upon the stones was the Word.
John 1:1 In [the] beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. (Darby)
In the previous passage one will notice that the Word was God. Furthermore, notice that the Word is referenced as He, although according to Darby the "He" did not appear in the original text. Therefore, the Word is He and He is God. However, one is left with the problem of determining just exactly what the Word or He or God is. It so happens that the Word was the Decalogue - the ten words inscribed on the original stone tables that were entirely the work of God.
While this may seem bizarre, it is nonetheless completely based on logic. But wait, John was not speaking of the stone tables, he was referring to Y'shua. But how could this be a reference to Y'shua unless Y'shua and the Decalogue are one and the same?
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God; 3 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. 9 The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. 11 He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. 15 (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, `He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'") 16 And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. (RSV) (Emphasis added)
It is important to pay special attention to John 1:15 above where John is making reference to John the Baptist's statement, "This was he of whom I said, `He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'" This statement at first seems to leave several problems with validity on the literal level because it is obvious that he is speaking of Y'shua or Christ. However, it is blatantly apparent that John the Baptist came before Christ. This is historical fact and the only thing supported by any scripture. By the way, the mention in verse six in this passage of a man named John is not a reference to the author of the passage the Apostle John, but to John the Baptist.
Became Flesh
Since scripture must be true or else it is not the word of God, then the problem of how John the Baptist's statement could possibly be true is a real problem. Since John came before Y'shua, it immediately appears to be false. The explanation of how this could be possible seems to be lacking, and apparently, few have delved into this problem producing satisfactory explanations. In the preceding verse, John 1:14, John the Apostle mentions, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." This is the real key to whole mystery, the Great Mystery, and the crux of the problem is this: exactly what was He before He became flesh? The answer is stone. "Our God is a Rock." The Word was the Decalogue.
Psalm 78:35 And they remembered that God was their Rock, and the Most High God their redeemer. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
There is an added level of complexity, however, in that at Horeb He had no form whatsoever which is to say that He was not in the form of a man before that either. It should be a simple matter of common sense that He did not come in the flesh before He came in the flesh and He came in the flesh as Y'shua.
Deuteronomy 4:12 And the Lord spoke unto you out of the midst of the fire; ye heard the voice of words, but ye saw no form; only a voice. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
After Horeb, while God was a rock He was still not ordinarily visible in any form since the fragments were housed in the Ark. However, He could apparently travel about in spirit without being encumbered by the Ark or form since He mentioned to Moses that He walked about the camp from time to time.
It was the Rock manifestation of God that accompanied the Israelites on their journey from Egypt, and literally, the original tables of stone comprising the Decalogue - the first stones given to Moses at Horeb that were summarily broken were the Rock.
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus, looking on [them], said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Darby)
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to make void the law or the prophets; I am not come to make void, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Until the heaven and the earth pass away, one iota or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all come to pass. (Darby)
In Ephesians, one will notice in the following passage that He abolished "in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man." On the surface of it, this would seem to be a ridiculous statement unless perhaps it is extremely literal. In that event, it obviously would have to mean that the Rock, those stone tables, became flesh. Hence, the statement that He "might make the two into one new man." Two what? Two stone tables.
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. (NASB) (Emphasis added)
It has oft been observed that the Law was nailed to the cross, but yet, there is a certain problem with reasoning in that premise unless the flesh of the Christ was in fact the Law. If the flesh of the Christ was the Law, then Y'shua necessarily was the Law.
Savior
Notice that in Psalm 78:35 the Rock, that it to say, the original tables of the Decalogue were credited as being Israel's redeemer, salvation or savior. Ample Tanakh passages have been included that note that God provided salvation under the Covenant of Moses and there have also been plenty of passages included from the New Testament supporting that Y'shua is actually the savior. In fact, the New Covenant goes to great length to establish that there is no salvation apart from Y'shua, The key is that there never was any salvation apart from Y'shua because Y'shua was the Rock.
Isaiah 43:10 Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He; before Me there was no God formed, neither shall any be after Me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no saviour. 12 I have declared, and I have saved, and I have announced, and there was no strange god among you; therefore ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, and I am God. 13 Yea, since the day was I am He, and there is none that can deliver out of My hand; I will work, and who can reverse it? (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Isaiah 63:7 I will make mention of the mercies of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us; and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He hath bestowed on them according to His compassions, and according to the multitude of His mercies. 8 For He said: 'Surely, they are My people, children that will not deal falsely'; so He was their Saviour. 9 In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them, and carried them all the days of old. 10 But they rebelled, and grieved His holy spirit; therefore He was turned to be their enemy, Himself fought against them. 11 Then His people remembered the days of old, the days of Moses: 'Where is He that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is He that put His holy spirit in the midst of them? (JPS)
(Emphasis added)
Isaiah 46:8 Remember this, and stand fast; bring it to mind, O ye transgressors. 9 Remember the former things of old: that I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me; 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying: 'My counsel shall stand, and all My pleasure will I do'; 11 Calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass, I have purposed, I will also do it. 12 Hearken unto Me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness: 13 I bring near My righteousness, it shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not tarry; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel My glory. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with [the] Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders [of Israel], 9 if we this day are called upon to answer as to the good deed [done] to the infirm man, how he has been healed, 10 be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazaraean, whom ye have crucified, whom God has raised from among [the] dead, by him this [man] stands here before you sound [in body]. 11 He is the stone which has been set at nought by you the builders, which is become the corner stone. 12 And salvation is in none other, for neither is there another name under heaven which is given among men by which we must be saved. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
John 14:6 Jesus says to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father unless by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye would have known also my Father, and henceforth ye know him and have seen him. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
1 Timothy 2:5 For God is one, and [the] mediator of God and men one, [the] man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all, the testimony [to be rendered] in its own times; (Darby) (Emphasis added)
Isaiah 29:18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of a book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. (JPS)
Deuteronomy 6:4 HEAR, O ISRAEL: THE the Lord OUR GOD, THE the Lord IS ONE. (JPS)
The Builders
In many of the scripture quotes included here, one will notice this recurring mention of a stone that the builders rejected becoming the corner stone or capstone. There has been some question as to exactly what this is referring to and it has frequently been considered to be symbolic in meaning. However this is not the case by any means. Some have construed this to be a reference to Y'shua (Jesus Christ) in about the first century, but this is not the case either. One point that heavily dissuades that interpretation is simply that about the only builder known of in scripture in the first century was Y'shua (Jesus Christ) Himself. He was a carpenter and there were no notable building projects from that time. Therefore, it is certain that a stone that the builders rejected can have no application to that period.
Luke 20:17 But he looking at them said, What then is this that is written, The stone which they that builded rejected, this has become the corner-stone? 18 Every one falling on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it shall grind him to powder. (Darby)
With that established, it is then necessary to figure out what exactly this could be referring to. There are several builders and building projects of considerable interest in scripture. Solomon is credited for having built a temple and fallen into disfavor with God, so this would obviously be a good place to search for possible instances where someone noted for being a builder might have rejected a stone.
In chapter three it was discovered that Solomon gave the Ark of the Covenant to the Queen of Sheba. Since the Ark was the repository for the original stone tables, that is to say God, this then could well be the exact reference of these notations of a stone that is God and was rejected. Since Solomon was noted for having been such a prolific builder, it is obvious that he must have been the culprit builder.
2 Chronicles 9:12 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
1 Kings 10:13 And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Jeremiah 2:11 Has a nation ever changed its gods?
(Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols. (NIV)
This is the Great Mystery, that God was the Rock, that Rock was the Word, and that Word was Y'shua.
Broken
The Book of Isaiah contains a particular passage that is difficult to reconcile with traditional theological understanding. The problem lies in the fact that Isaiah states in verse 53:5 that "he was crushed because of our iniquities."
Isaiah 53:1 'Who would have believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he shot up right forth as a sapling, and as a root out of a dry ground; he had no form nor comeliness, that we should look upon him, nor beauty that we should delight in him. 3 He was despised, and forsaken of men, a man of pains, and acquainted with disease, and as one from whom men hide their face: he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely our diseases he did bear, and our pains he carried; whereas we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded because of our transgressions, he was crushed because of our iniquities: the chastisement of our welfare was upon him, and with his stripes we were healed. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Peter.
"Overseer Artayou Carrier whipped me. I was two months in bed sore from the whipping. My master come after I was whipped; he discharged the overseer. The very words of poor Peter, taken as he sat for his picture. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 04/02/1863."
Photo: War Department
National Archives and Records Administration.
Still Picture Branch.
College Park, Maryland.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep did go astray, we turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath made to light on him the iniquity of us all. (JPS)
If this verse refers to the Messiah and the Messiah was Y'shua, then we know that he was not crushed - at least not during his life as the Christ. The word crushed means reduced to particles, broken to pieces or reduced to fragments. In fact, the point is made exceedingly conspicuous that Y'shua was not broken in that sense. This should raise the question of why this conspicuous point is made since He obviously endured every other conceivable form of damage except breaking as to make this form of injury completely insignificant in any practical sense - unless this detail imparts a great deal of additional information.
John 19:31 The Jews therefore, that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath, for it was [the] preparation, (for the day of that sabbath was a great [day],) demanded of Pilate that their legs might be broken and they taken away. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first and of the other that had been crucified with him; 33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead they did not break his legs, 34 but one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water. 35 And he who saw it bears witness, and his witness is true, and he knows that he says true that ye also may believe. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
John 19:36 For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, Not a bone of him shall be broken. 37 And again another scripture says, They shall look on him whom they pierced. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
Psalm 34:20 Many are the ills of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. 21 He keepeth all his bones; not one of them is broken. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
There is an additional point along these lines in that as part of the Holy Communion or Eucharist outlined in scripture the bread representing the body of Y'shua is broken. Since the body of Y'shua was not broken, why would the bread be broken to represent a body that was not in fact broken? The key lies in understanding that He was indeed broken, just not during that Parousia of the life of the Christ. Parousia means presence. In the Greco-Roman world, the term denoted official visits by royalty; it is similar in concept to the English word visitation. In theological thought, the term is used for the conspicuous Divine Presence, God's periods of dwelling on earth.
1 Corinthians 10:15 I speak as to intelligent [persons]: do *ye* judge what I say. (Darby)
1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not [the] communion of the blood of the Christ? The bread which we break, is it not [the] communion of the body of the Christ? 17 Because we, [being] many, are one loaf, one body; for we all partake of that one loaf. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
1 Corinthians 11:23 For *I* received from the Lord, that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, in the night in which he was delivered up, took bread, 24 and having given thanks broke [it], and said, This is my body, which [is] for you: this do in remembrance of me. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
1 Corinthians 11:25 In like manner also the cup, after having supped, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye shall drink [it], in remembrance of me. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
If the symbolism of the bread representing the body being broken cannot refer to the body of the Christ since it was conspicuously not broken, then it must necessarily refer to something that was broken. That something was broken by Moses a very long time before, it was heretofore widely believed, the Christ appeared.
Exodus 32:15 And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, with the two tables of the testimony in his hand; tables that were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. 16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. 17 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses: 'There is a noise of war in the camp.' 18 And he said: 'It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome, but the noise of them that sing do I hear.' 19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mount. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
1 Corinthians 10:1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. (NIV) (Emphasis added)
Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,-- 2 if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward; 3 how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, 4 whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; 5 which in other generation was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 [to wit], that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow- members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; (ASV) (Emphasis Added)
Pesach or Passover
The commemoration of the initiating event leading to the Exodus is called Pesach or Passover. It has additional names of Chag Hamazot meaning the festival of Matzot and Zeman Cherusaynu meaning the Season of Freedom addressing the miraculous freeing by God of the Israelite slaves. In English Passover means, "to pass over" and this observance more particularly addresses the Plague of the Firstborn in Egypt when the Angel of Death passed over the houses of the Israelites where the blood of the lamb was smeared on the doorposts.
In most Jewish traditions the last day of the Pesach festival is thought to commemorate the day that God parted the Red Sea. The first two days and the last day are called Yom Tov and the middle four days are called Choel Hamoed.
Yachatz
As part of the observance of Pesach many conduct the Yachatz tradition. Yachatz means "the breaking of the middle matzah." In this tradition three matzah are set apart and the middle matzah is broken into pieces. In some Sephardi traditions the Sedar leader attempts to break the middle matzah into the shapes of letters. Syrians break the middle matzah into the shapes of the Hebrew letters dalet "
" and vav "
." Maghreban attempt to break the middle matzah to form the two components of the Hebrew letter heh "
."
The larger remaining portion of the middle matzah after it is broken is known as the Afikoman and is used later in the Seder. The smaller portion is returned to the middle of the three matzot. In Ashkenazi tradition the Seder leader may hide the Afikoman and have the children in attendance try to find this piece of matzah. In Yemenite tradition the children carry the Afikoman in bags on their backs and when their father asks them where they are going they reply, " to Eretz Yisael" meaning the Land of Israel. In some instances the Afikoman is wrapped in linen - symbolic of a funerary covering - and later brought back In this ritual some pay a ransom to bring back the Afikoman. It would be most appropriate to pay thirty pieces of silver for the matzah.
Torah
Preexistence of the Torah
The Torah is older than the world, for it existed either 947 generations (Zeb. 116a, and parallels) or 2,000 years (Gen. R. viii., and parallels; Weber, "Jüdische Theologie," p. 15) before the Creation. The original Pentateuch, therefore, like everything celestial, consisted of fire, being written in black letters of flame upon a white ground of fire (Yer. Shek. 49a, and parallels; Blau, "Althebräisches Buchwesen," p. 156). God held counsel with it at the creation of the world, since it was wisdom itself (Tan., Bereshit, passim), and it was God's first revelation, in which He Himself took part. It was given in completeness for all time and for all mankind, so that no further revelation can be expected. It was given in the languages of all peoples; for the voice of the divine revelation was seventyfold (Weber, l.c. pp. 16-20; Blau, "Zur Einleitung in die Heilige Schrift," pp. 84-100). It shines forever, and was transcribed by the scribes of the seventy peoples (Bacher, "Ag. Tan." ii. 203, 416), while everything found in the Prophets and the Hagiographa was already contained in the Torah (Ta'an. 9a), so that, if the Israelites had not sinned, only the five books of Moses would have been given them (Ned. 22b). As a matter of fact, the Prophets and the Hagiographa will be abrogated; but the Torah will remain forever (Yer. Meg. 70d). Every letter of it is a living creature. When Solomon took many wives, Deuteronomy threw himself before God and complained that Solomon wished to remove from the Pentateuch the yod of the word (Deut. xvii. 17), with which the prohibition of polygamy was spoken; and God replied: "Solomon and a thousand like him shall perish, but not one letter of the Torah shall be destroyed" (Lev. R. xix.; Yer. Sanh. 20c; Cant. R. 5, 11; comp. Bacher, l.c. ii. 123, note 5). The single letters were hypostatized, and were active even at the creation of the world (Bacher, l.c. i. 347), an idea which is probably derived from Gnostic speculation. The whole world is said to be only 1/3200 of the Torah ('Er. 21a).
Israel received this treasure only through suffering (Ber. 5a, and parallels), for the book and the sword came together from heaven, and Israel was obliged to choose between them (Sifre, Deut. 40, end; Bacher, l.c. ii. 402, note 5); and whosoever denies the heavenly origin of the Torah will lose the future life (Sanh. x. 1). This high esteem finds its expression in the rule that a copy of the Pentateuch is unlimited in value, and in the ordinance that the inhabitants of a city might oblige one another to procure scrolls of the Law (Tosef., B. M. iii. 24, xi. 23). The pious bequeathed a copy of the Torah to the synagogue (ib. B. K. ii. 3); and it was the duty of each one to make one for himself, while the honor paid the Bible greatly influenced the distribution of copies and led to the foundation of libraries (Blau, "Althebräisches Buchwesen," pp. 84-97).
(Jewish Encyclopedia; Torah; by Joseph Jacobs and Ludwig Blau)
Note that hypostatized means to attribute real identity to such as entify or reify meaning to regard something abstract as a material or concrete thing or something embodied.
The words of Y'shua follow:
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to make void the law or the prophets; I am not come to make void, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Until the heaven and the earth pass away, one iota or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all come to pass. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
Three Matzot and Three Parousias
In view of the previous study about the Pesach Matzah and the Afikoman and the symbolism concerning those items and ceremonies, there does appear to be a problem in certain symbolic areas such as the fact that if these Matzahs represent Y'shua then it is obvious that there are one too many since the proximate Parousia would be regarded as the Second Coming. Parousia means presence, present with us, or something like Emmanuel which means God with us. This is partially true, but the next Parousia is actually His Third Coming, but the Second Coming as Messiah. Messiah means king and during the Second Coming, his life in the form of a man named Y'shua, He was rejected and never actually reigned as king or Messiah. They rejected the middle Parousia, so for all practical purposes the actual Third Coming is the Second Coming for Israel. There exists a fundamental mistake in most theological understanding about the Christ. Many are anxiously awaiting the Second Coming, however, those individuals need not look forward to the Second Coming, but backward. The Second Coming actually occurred long ago when Y'shua traveled the land of Israel with His disciples. It is important to be cognizant of the fact that Messiah actually means king or literally, anointed. Anointed can infer Divine election.
1 Samuel 8:7 And the Lord said unto Samuel: 'Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but >they have rejected Me, that I should not be king over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice; howbeit thou shalt earnestly forewarn them, and shalt declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.' 10 And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king. 11 And he said: 'This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them unto him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint them unto him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 16 And he will take your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks; and ye shall be his servants. 18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not answer you in that day.' 19 But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said: 'Nay; but there shall be a king over us; 20 that we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.' (JPS) (Emphasis added)
At the point mentioned by Samuel, God had not forsaken them despite the fact that they had rejected Him as king - that is to say - as Messiah. However, at a later time they completely rejected Him, broke the covenant and He went packing. At that point God forsook them until the End of Days. That point was during the reign of King Solomon.
1 Kings 6:11 And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying: 12 'As for this house which thou art building, if thou wilt walk in My statutes, and execute Mine ordinances, and keep all My commandments to walk in them; then will I establish My word with thee, which I spoke unto David thy father; 13 in that I will dwell therein among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.' (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Psalms 132:12 If thy children keep My covenant and My testimony that I shall teach them, their children also for ever shall sit upon thy throne.' (JPS) (Emphasis added)
1 Kings 11:9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice, 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he kept not that which the Lord commanded. 11 Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon: 'Forasmuch as this hath been in thy mind, and thou hast not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. 12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it, for David thy father's sake; but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. 13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to thy son; for David My servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.' (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Jeremiah 8:9 The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken; lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them? (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Jeremiah 6:19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, the fruit of their thoughts; for they have not hearkened unto my words, and as to my law, they have rejected it. 20 To what purpose should there come to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt- offerings are not acceptable, nor are your sacrifices pleasing unto me. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
Jeremiah 2:11 Has a nation ever changed its gods?
(Yet they are not gods at all.)
But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols. (NIV)
Jeremiah 17:12 Thou throne of glory, on high from the beginning, thou place of our sanctuary, 13 Thou hope of Israel, the Lord! All that forsake Thee shall be ashamed; they that depart from Thee shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Ezekiel 44:7 "In addition to all your detestable practices, you brought foreigners uncircumcised in heart and flesh into my sanctuary, desecrating my temple while you offered me food, fat and blood, and you broke my covenant. 8 Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuar. 9 This is what the Lord says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh is to enter my sanctuary, not even the foreigners who live among the Israelites." (NIV) (Emphasis added)
2 Chronicles 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt-offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. 2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord's house. 3 And all the children of Israel looked on, when the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord was upon the house; and they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and prostrated themselves, and gave thanks unto the Lord; 'for He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever.' 4 And the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the Lord. 5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 And the priests stood, according to their offices; the Levites also with instruments of music of the Lord, which David the king had made, to give thanks unto the Lord, for His mercy endureth for ever, with the praises of David by their hand; and the priests sounded trumpets over against them; and all Israel stood. 7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord; for there he offered the burnt-offerings, and the fat of the peace-offerings; because the brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt-offering, and the meal-offering, and the fat. 8 So Solomon held the feast at that time seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entrance of Hamath unto the Brook of Egypt. 9 And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly; for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. 10 And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away unto their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the goodness that the Lord had shown unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel His people. 11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord, and the king's house; and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the Lord, and in his own house, he prosperously effected. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Numbers 18:22 And henceforth the children of Israel shall not come nigh the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin, and die. 23 But the Levites alone shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity; it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, and among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Isaiah 42:23 Who among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come? 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Did not the Lord? He against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they would not walk, neither were they obedient unto His law. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Hosea 5:6 With their flocks and with their herds they shall go to seek the Lord, but they shall not find Him; He hath withdrawn Himself from them. 7 They have dealt treacherously against the Lord, for they have begotten strange children; now shall the new moon devour them with their portions. (JPS)
Isaiah 45:15 Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. 16 They shall be ashamed, yea, confounded, all of them; they shall go in confusion together that are makers of idols. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Deuteronomy 31:16 And the Lord said to Moses: "You are going to rest with your fathers, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them. 17 On that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them and they will be destroyed. Many disasters and difficulties will come upon them, and on that day they will ask, 'have not these disasters come upon us because our God is not with us?'" (NIV) (Emphasis added)
The proximate and long-anticipated Parousia of the Christ will for Jews actually be the Third Coming. It is only the Second Coming as the substantive Messiah.
The Second Coming
There exists a fundamental blunder in most theological understanding about the Second Coming. Many are anxiously awaiting the Second Coming, but those individuals need not look forward to the Second Coming, but backward. The Second Coming actually occurred long ago when Y'shua walked the land of Israel with His disciples. However, he did not act as Messiah at that time, so the next Parousia will be the Second Coming as Messiah, but actually the Third Coming.
Mark 8:27 And Jesus went forth and his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea-Philippi. And by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Who do men say that I am? 28 And they answered him, saying, John the baptist; and others, Elias; but others, One of the prophets. 29 And he asked them, But *ye*, who do ye say that I am? And Peter answering says to him, *Thou* art the Christ. 30 And he charged them straitly, in order that they should tell no man about him. 31 And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and of the chief priests and of the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise [again]. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
The proximate and long-anticipated Parousia of the Christ will for Jews actually be the Third Coming or Parousia. It is only the Second Coming as the substantive Messiah.
1 Corinthians 10:1 For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 and all were baptised unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank of a spiritual rock which followed [them]: (now the rock was the Christ;) (Darby) (Emphasis added)
Philippians 2:5 For let this mind be in you which [was] also in Christ Jesus; 6 who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God; 7 but emptied himself, taking a bondman's form, taking his place in [the] likeness of men; 8 and having been found in figure as a man, humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and [that the] death of [the] cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and granted him a name, that which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly and earthly and infernal [beings], 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord to God [the] Father's glory. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
Mark 15:17 And they clothe him with purple, and bind round on him a crown of thorns which they had plaited. 18 And they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19 And they struck his head with a reed, and spat on him, and, bending the knee, did him homage. (Darby)
(Emphasis added)
Tent-Dweller
There is a further line of reasoning that produces the same result. This is the symbolic use of the word tent representing the human body of flesh. This word tent is also rendered as tabernacle thus alluding to the tent-tabernacle constructed by the Israelites at Horeb.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NIV) (Emphasis added)
John 1:14 And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.(E) (AMP) (Emphasis added)
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth. (YLT) (Emphasis added)
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father), full of grace and truth; (Darby) (Emphasis added)
Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked--thou didst wax fat, thou didst grow thick, thou didst become gross--and he forsook God who made him, and contemned the Rock of his salvation. 16 They roused Him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations did they provoke Him. 17 They sacrificed unto demons, no-gods, gods that they knew not, new gods that came up of late, which your fathers dreaded not. 18 Of the Rock that begot thee thou wast unmindful, and didst forget God that bore thee. (JPS) (Emphasis Added)
Deuteronomy 4:32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man on the earth, and from one end of the heavens to the other end of the heavens, whether there hath been anything as this great thing is, or if anything hath been heard like it? (Darby) (Emphasis Added)
Transfiguration
Raphael Sanzio.
The Transfiguration.
1518-20. Oil on wood. 405 x 278 cm.
Pinacoteca, Vatican.
Matthew, Mark and Luke contain accounts of the transfiguration of Christ. The word transfiguration means a change in form or appearance, a metamorphosis or transformation. Therefore, it should be evident that there was a significant material or physical change from His form as a man. For example, caterpillars, the worm-like larvae of butterflies undergo metamorphosis to become butterflies. This is an example of substantial metamorphosis, transformation or transfiguration. It is evident that this would be a good thing that Y'shua was able to affect such a substantial transformation since His form as a man would later be so distorted as to make Him nearly unrecognizable. It should be evident that Y'shua only existed specifically as a man during the time of His life as the Christ. Scripture clearly tells us that the Word became flesh thereby clearly indicating a change in both form and material at the beginning of His life as a man. Therefore, it is evident that there must have been a substantial Transfiguration for Him to become a man. In fact, His existence exclusively in the form of a man of flesh was limited to 33 years and if this is not the case, He cannot be God. He could only be rotting flesh probably reduced to particles by this point. There is another reference to his appearing in another form, but this occurred after the resurrection.
Mark 16:12 And after these things he was manifested in another form to two of them as they walked, going into the country; 13 and *they* went and brought word to the rest; neither did they believe them. (Darby)
(Emphasis added)
One should keep in mind that God is a supernatural being and probably exists in a different dimension entirely than that which we experience. A short mental visualization into some of the fantastic elements of alien life forms as presented in science fiction might lend some insight into this. For example, it is evident throughout scripture that time is a dimension that God exists apart from or outside of. It is also apparent from scripture and the material presented here that the material substance of existence or form of visage is a dimensional phenomenon that God is not constrained by. Furthermore, God exists in several entities simultaneously some of which apparently have no material substance at all.
1 Corinthians 15:39 Every flesh [is] not the same flesh, but one [is] of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another [flesh] of birds, and another of fishes. 40 And [there are] heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies: but different is the glory of the heavenly, different that of the earthly: 41 one [the] sun's glory, and another [the] moon's glory, and another [the] stars' glory; for star differs from star in glory. 42 Thus also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruptibility. 43 It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body: if there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual [one]. 45 Thus also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul; the last Adam a quickening spirit. 46 But that which is spiritual [was] not first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual: 47 the first man out of [the] earth, made of dust; the second man, out of heaven. 48 Such as he made of dust, such also those made of dust; and such as the heavenly [one], such also the heavenly [ones]. 49 And as we have borne the image of the [one] made of dust, we shall bear also the image of the heavenly [one]. 50 But this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit God's kingdom, nor does corruption inherit incorruptibility. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in an instant, in [the] twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and *we* shall be changed. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must needs put on incorruptibility, and this mortal put on immortality. 54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptibility, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the word written: Death has been swallowed up in victory. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
Therefore, the transfiguration, transformation or metamorphosis into incorruptibility consists of receiving a new body made of stone. One should consider that the human skeleton is more nearly stone than anything else. This is a living stone. Coral also is a living organism whose composition is mostly stone. Coral exists in both soft and pliable as well as rigid forms. These are, or were, living stones. The chemical compositions of all of these examples are based on calcium carbonate, a nearly white mineral that forms chalk, limestone, marble and many other minerals. Stone based on calcium carbonate forms a family called the limestone family of rocks. Marble is metamorphic limestone. The white cliffs of Dover are made of chalk. It is interesting to note that no matter how long a person lives no portion of their bones will be more than 20 years old. A stone need not be exactly in the state of a plain rock as one normally considers a rock to be. If a skeleton composed of stone can have biomorphic form then it could also have other characteristics apart from those of the typical skeleton. So, while it does seem that the new body will have chemical and living characteristics of a skeleton, this is not to say that heaven will look like a Halloween party, but the bodies will have the incorruptible aspects of stone, living stone.
Ezekiel 37:1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and the Lord carried me out in a spirit, and set me down in the midst of the valley, and it was full of bones; 2 and He caused me to pass by them round about, and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 3 And He said unto me: 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered: 'O Lord GOD, Thou knowest.' 4 Then He said unto me: 'Prophesy over these bones, and say unto them: O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord: 5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.' 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a commotion, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I beheld, and, lo, there were sinews upon them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then said He unto me: 'Prophesy unto the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.' 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great host. 11 Then He said unto me: 'Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say: Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off. 12 Therefore prophesy, and say unto them: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, O My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, O My people. 14 And I will put My spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I will place you in your own land; and ye shall know that I the Lord have spoken, and performed it, saith the Lord.' (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Current bodies are made of clay and clay is the primary constituent of many soils. Clay is decomposed stone in many respects and various clays appear throughout the world. The composition of clays are dependant upon the stones from which they originated. Clays can be formulated into pottery known as earthen vessels.
2 Corinthians 4:6 Because [it is] the God who spoke that out of darkness light should shine who has shone in our hearts for the shining forth of the knowledge of the glory of God in [the] face of [Jesus] Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassingness of the power may be of God, and not from us: (Darby) (Emphasis added)
Transfiguration Reprise
It has oft been observed that there are symbolic elements of the transfiguration of Christ. Those elements are not embodied in the actual transformation; but rather, the symbolical elements are embodied in the appearance of Moses and Elijah during the transfiguration. Many scholars observe that Moses represents the Law while Elijah represents the prophets.
It is true that Moses appeared as the representative of the giving of the Law, but the full significance of this is considerably underappreciated. It is important to consider this in light of the full development here of the concept that the Law, that is to say the Word became flesh and dwelt among them.
Torah
Preexistence of the Torah
The Torah is older than the world, for it existed either 947 generations (Zeb. 116a, and parallels) or 2,000 years (Gen. R. viii., and parallels; Weber, "Jüdische Theologie," p. 15) before the Creation. The original Pentateuch, therefore, like everything celestial, consisted of fire, being written in black letters of flame upon a white ground of fire (Yer. Shek. 49a, and parallels; Blau, "Althebräisches Buchwesen," p. 156). God held counsel with it at the creation of the world, since it was wisdom itself (Tan., Bereshit, passim), and it was God's first revelation, in which He Himself took part. It was given in completeness for all time and for all mankind, so that no further revelation can be expected. It was given in the languages of all peoples; for the voice of the divine revelation was seventyfold (Weber, l.c. pp. 16-20; Blau, "Zur Einleitung in die Heilige Schrift," pp. 84-100). It shines forever, and was transcribed by the scribes of the seventy peoples (Bacher, "Ag. Tan." ii. 203, 416), while everything found in the Prophets and the Hagiographa was already contained in the Torah (Ta'an. 9a), so that, if the Israelites had not sinned, only the five books of Moses would have been given them (Ned. 22b). As a matter of fact, the Prophets and the Hagiographa will be abrogated; but the Torah will remain forever (Yer. Meg. 70d). Every letter of it is a living creature. When Solomon took many wives, Deuteronomy threw himself before God and complained that Solomon wished to remove from the Pentateuch the yod of the word (Deut. xvii. 17), with which the prohibition of polygamy was spoken; and God replied: "Solomon and a thousand like him shall perish, but not one letter of the Torah shall be destroyed" (Lev. R. xix.; Yer. Sanh. 20c; Cant. R. 5, 11; comp. Bacher, l.c. ii. 123, note 5). The single letters were hypostatized, and were active even at the creation of the world (Bacher, l.c. i. 347), an idea which is probably derived from Gnostic speculation. The whole world is said to be only 1/3200 of the Torah ('Er. 21a).
(Jewish Encyclopedia; Torah; by Joseph Jacobs and Ludwig Blau)
(Emphasis added)
Note that hypostatized means to ascribe material existence to.
Isaiah 54:7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great compassion will I gather thee. 8 In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have compassion on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Keep in mind that our God is a Rock, so there are some aspects of geologic time involved, about 3000 years.
Another person that appeared at the transfiguration was Elijah the Prophet and some scholars have observed that Elijah is a symbolic representation of the prophets as a whole as the first and last of the prophets per se. This notion actually ignores that Enoch, Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15, Acts 7:37), Joshua and King Saul and a plethora of others are listed among the prophets. Therefore, this theory suffers from certain conceptual construction flaws. In all reality Elijah is representative of the broken covenant and the withdrawal of the Law - that is to say - the Word. Elijah's ministry began after the Mosaic Covenant was broken beyond repair and God withdrew completely from Israel. Therefore, Moses represents the Mosaic Covenant, Elijah the broken covenant, and the Christ the New Covenant.
Hosea 5:6 With their flocks and with their herds they shall go to seek the Lord, but they shall not find Him; He hath withdrawn Himself from them. 7 They have dealt treacherously against the Lord, for they have begotten strange children; now shall the new moon devour them with their portions. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Isaiah 42:23 Who among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come? 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Did not the Lord? He against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they would not walk, neither were they obedient unto His law. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Isaiah 45:15 Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. 16 They shall be ashamed, yea, confounded, all of them; they shall go in confusion together that are makers of idols. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Hosea 5:15 I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their guilt, and seek My face; in their trouble they will seek Me earnestly: (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Micah 5:1 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from ancient days. 2 Therefore will He give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth; then the residue of his brethren shall return with the children of Israel. 3 And he shall stand, and shall feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide, for then shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Deuteronomy 31:16 And the Lord said to Moses: "You are going to rest with your fathers, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them. 17 On that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them and they will be destroyed. Many disasters and difficulties will come upon them, and on that day they will ask, 'have not these disasters come upon us because our God is not with us?'" (NIV) (Emphasis added)
Moses represents the Law and the Mosaic Covenant with Israel that was instituted at Horeb. Elijah represents the loss of the Law or Word and the breaking of the Mosaic Covenant. Y'shua represents the New Covenant.
It is also relevant to note that in the following passage He is our peace, the English word for shalom, shlomo or solomon.
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. (NASB) (Emphasis added)
Isaiah 53:1 'Who would have believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he shot up right forth as a sapling, and as a root out of a dry ground; he had no form nor comeliness, that we should look upon him, nor beauty that we should delight in him. 3 He was despised, and forsaken of men, a man of pains, and acquainted with disease, and as one from whom men hide their face: he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely our diseases he did bear, and our pains he carried; whereas we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded because of our transgressions, he was crushed because of our iniquities: the chastisement of our welfare was upon him, and with his stripes we were healed. 6 All we like sheep did go astray, we turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath made to light on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, though he humbled himself and opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before her shearers is dumb; yea, he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away, and with his generation who did reason? for he was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due. 9 And they made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich his tomb; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.' 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to crush him by disease; to see if his soul would offer itself in restitution, that he might see his seed, prolong his days, and that the purpose of the Lord might prosper by his hand: 11 Of the travail of his soul he shall see to the full, even My servant, who by his knowledge did justify the Righteous One to the many, and their iniquities he did bear. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the mighty; because he bared his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Hear Him
In order to tie all elements together one can examine additional aspects of the transfiguration. One will notice that during the transfiguration a cloud appeared with a voice stating, "*This* is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight: hear him."
Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus takes with [him] Peter, and James, and John his brother, and brings them up into a high mountain apart. 2 And he was transfigured before them. And his face shone as the sun, and his garments became white as the light; 3 and lo, Moses and Elias appeared to them talking with him. 4 And Peter answering said to Jesus, Lord, it is good we should be here. If thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles: for thee one, and for Moses one, and one for Elias. 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying, *This* is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight: hear him. 6 And the disciples hearing [it] fell upon their faces, and were greatly terrified. 7 And Jesus coming to [them] touched them, and said, Rise up, and be not terrified. 8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus alone. 9 And as they descended from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no one, until the Son of man be risen up from among [the] dead. 10 And [his] disciples demanded of him saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first have come? 11 And he answering said to them, Elias indeed comes first and will restore all things. 12 But I say unto you that Elias has already come, and they have not known him, but have done unto him whatever they would. Thus also the Son of man is about to suffer from them. (Darby) (Emphasis added)
It is important to realize that this statement "*This* is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight: hear him." actually ties the whole beginning to the whole end. "Hear him."
Deuteronomy 4:32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man on the earth, and from one end of the heavens to the other end of the heavens, whether there hath been anything as this great thing is, or if anything hath been heard like it? (Darby) (Emphasis Added)
* * *
Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,-- 2 if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward; 3 how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, 4 whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; 5 which in other generation was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 [to wit], that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow- members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things; (ASV) (Emphasis Added)
Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked--thou didst wax fat, thou didst grow thick, thou didst become gross--and he forsook God who made him, and contemned the Rock of his salvation. 16 They roused Him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations did they provoke Him. 17 They sacrificed unto demons, no-gods, gods that they knew not, new gods that came up of late, which your fathers dreaded not. 18 Of the Rock that begot thee thou wast unmindful, and didst forget God that bore thee. (JPS) (Emphasis Added)
Deuteronomy 4:32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man on the earth, and from one end of the heavens to the other end of the heavens, whether there hath been anything as this great thing is, or if anything hath been heard like it? (Darby) (Emphasis Added)