Vayikra: And he called — ויקרא

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Exodus 38-40
This Torah portion describes the holy garments to be worn by the High Priest. An integral fitment of the High Priest garments is the breastplate. On the breastplate was fastened twelve jewels representing the twelve tribes of Israel.  The High Priest would wear this breastplate as he approached the throne of God on the Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur.    

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​“He made the breastpiece, in skilled work, in the style of the ephod, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. 9 It was square. They made the breastpiece doubled, a span its length and a span its breadth when doubled. 10 And they set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle was the first row; 11 and the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; 12 and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 13 and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in settings of gold filigree. 14 There were twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They were like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes”. Exodus 39:8-14  So graphically, this is what we have:

Jewels as a Metaphor
Jewels are precious stones meaning that they are rare and are not commonly available.  Jewels are crystals or lustrous or translucent minerals that are cut into brilliant pieces of jewelry .  If we use jewels as a metaphor for people, God is referring to the twelve tribes as precious, rare and valuable, which are different than the masses of humanity.  In Exodus, God calls Israel His treasured possession Exodus 19:6.  We also seeing God using minerals as metaphors for nations in Nebuchadnezzar dream in the second chapter of Daniel. 

Scattered Jewels
The history of Israel includes the apostasy and scattering of God's treasured possession or His Jewels – the twelve tribes of Israel, which included Israel dividing into to two kingdoms, the loss of their lands, God  “divorcing” the kingdom of Israel and Israel becomes a scattered people. Because the covenant God made with Abraham is everlasting,  God executes an Endtime restoration of the House of Israel through and by Israel’s twelve tribes – His twelve Jewels, which also endures into eternity.  

Endtime Gathering of God’s Jewels
The key scripture that sets out the Endtime restoration of the twelve tribes is found in the 7th chapter of the Book of Revelations where God’s servant seals a 144,000 Savior-Kings commissioned to gather the twelve tribes of Israel.  This is how Isaiah identifies the gathering of God’s twelve jewels.
 
"Lift up your eyes and look around you; with one accord they gather and come to you. As surely as I live, says Jehovah, you shall adorn yourself with them all as with jewels, bind them on you as does a bride."  Isaiah 49:18

And in the Millennium this is how Isaiah identifies the twelve tribes:
 
"I rejoice exceedingly in Jehovah; my soul delights in my God. For he clothes me in garments of salvation, he arrays me in a robe of righteousness—like a bridegroom dressed in priestly attire, or bride adorned with her jewels."  Isaiah 61:18.

Jewels in God’s Heavenly City
Finally, we see the use of Jewels referencing the twelve tribes in John vision of God's heavenly city.  This is how John describes the twelve tribes with God’s city in the 21st chapter of Revelations:

"And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst."
 
Moreover, because entry into God’s Heavenly city is only possible through one of the twelve gates or tribes, righteous gentiles will have to come through one of Israel’s twelve tribes.

Event Summary of the Twelve Tribes of Israel

Hebrew Study

Exodus 39:14

English	Hebrew	Transliteration
And the stones	וְ֠הָאֲבָנִים	v-hah-ah-vah-neem
according to	עַל־	all
the names	שְׁמֹ֨ת	shmot
of the sons	​בְּנֵי־	bnay
of Israel	​יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל	Is=ra-el
were	הֵ֛נָּה	heh-nah
two	​שְׁתֵּ֥ים	shteem
ten	עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה	ehs-reh
according to	​עַל־	all
their names	​שְׁמֹתָ֑ם	shmo-tahm
engraved	​פִּתּוּחֵ֤י	pee-tu-kay
a signet	חֹתָם֙	koh-tahm
each man	​אִ֣ישׁ	eesh
with	​עַל־	all
his name	שְׁמ֔וֹ	shmo
according to two	​לִשְׁנֵ֥ים	leesh-naym
ten	עָשָׂ֖ר	au-sahr
tribes	​שָֽׁבֶט׃	shah-veht

Side Bar

Faith and Works in Galatians

The battle between Faith and Works seems to never end.  So lets put it to bed with this final analysis.

Since the idea of God in the Hebrew mindset is an undisputed fact, Faith is to believe that God will keep His promises if we live His law.  So then faith is required to cause an action.  If we desire to do something - we first believe (faith) that our actions (obedience) ​will produce a desired outcome (blessings)  Faith > Obedience > Blessings This appears to be the disconnect between Paul and Peter. Peter is arguing from the standpoint of obedience to the law, Paul is arguing from the standpoint of faith that God will keep His promises. So then to obtain the Spirit, our model looks like this: Faith > Obedience > Spirit, which is a blessing.

Isaiah Chapter 22
Sports and amusement addicts suffer enemy invasion; Jehovah appoints his servant in place of another.

Resource Links for this Week's Portion

TORAH: Leviticus 1:1-5:26
GOSPELS: Matthew 5:23-30

Listen and Read the Portion
First Fruits of Zion

​​Commentary with Nehemia Gordon
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HAFTARAH: Isaiah Chapter 23

Commentary with Avraham Gileadi, PhD

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