Exodus 27:20, Pure oil of pressed [or beaten] olives. 

The Making of Pure Olive Oil , the Menorah and the Believer’s Life

Let’s now discover how olives are processed to produce pure, golden oil. This involved process is instructive to the disciple of Yeshua and is curiously analogous to the spiritual refinement to which YHVH Elohim requires his begotten children to go through during their lifetime in order to become his glorified and immortalized, adopted children into his heavenly family. 

The production of olive oil by crushing and pressing ripe olives. Whole olive fruit consists of 10 to 40 percent oil, and the fruit pulp is 60 to 80 percent oil. Producers use hydraulic presses to squeeze the oil out of the fruit under low pressure. This technique, called cold pressing, generates little heat, and so the oil retains its flavor, color, and nutritional value.

Cold-pressing commonly is carried out in several stages with only some of the oil being extracted at each stage. The process remains basically the same throughout, but the quality of the oil declines with each pressing. In most cases, olives are cold-pressed at 40 °F (4 °C).

The first pressing gives the highest quality oil, which is usually called virgin olive oil. Virgin olive oil is more expensive than other vegetable oils, so it often is considered a gourmet food item. The lower-quality oils from later pressings are often blended in small amounts with other refined oils such as soybean or cottonseed oil. Olive oil that comes from the final pressing is inedible. This oil, called olive residue or olive foots, is used in cosmetics, detergents, soap, medicines and textiles.

The olive fruit may be oval or oblong. As it matures, it turns from green to yellow to red to a purple-blackish color. It has a smooth skin, and its flesh surrounds a hard pit. Both the flesh and the seed in the pit contain oil, which makes up 10 to 40 percent of the mature fresh fruit’s weight. Fresh olives contain oleuropein, a bitter substance that makes them unpleasant to eat before processing. During processing, this substance is largely or entirely removed.

The olive tree’s bark and leaves are a soft gray-green, and its trunk becomes gnarled as it ages. Olive trees live longer than most other fruit trees. Olive trees are common in the land of Israel with some being more than 2,000 years old.

A mature olive tree may have as many as 500,000 small flowers. Most of the flowers are imperfect, and fruit cannot grow from them. They give off pollen, which is usually carried from flower to flower by the wind. Most varieties of olive trees bear a large crop one season and a small crop the next as they renew their energy in the off-years.

Cultivation of new olive trees occurs through taking cuttings off from an olive tree and rooting them. The trees will grow in many types of soil but need good drainage. To produce large fruit, the grower must irrigate and prune the trees, and thin the fruit. Fertilizers that add nitrogen to the soil can increase yields. The olive tree will grow where the climate is hot and dry. But for bearing good fruit, the tree needs a moderate supply of water. The fruit matures from October to January, and is injured if the temperature falls below 26 °F (-3 °C).

Harvesting olives requires careful handling. Olives grown for their oil may be mechanically harvested. Olives grown for eating must be picked by hand. Workers place the fruit in small boxes and haul it to the processing plant.

Most green olives are prepared by the Spanish process. This involvers placing unripe, yellowish-green olives are placed in lye solution, which removes most of the bitter taste of the oleuropein. The olives are washed and then fermented in brine.

Adam Clarke, in his biblical commentary, says regarding Exodus 27:20 that the very ripe and oil-filled olives, after having been picked, when slightly bruised or pressed (before being crushed by mortar stones in a mill) will express the purest, most flavorful and highest quality oil. This oil that flows spontaneously with little or no application of force is called the mother drop. 

According to The Stone Edition Chumash, only the purest of the pure oil could be used for the menorah in the Tabernacle of Moses. This was obtained by slightly pressing the very ripe olives, but without crushing them. A minute quantity of oil would be squeezed out—only a drop or so—from each olive. This oil was more pure than any of the other oil subsequently obtained via crushing.

The process of producing oil from olives bears amazing parallels to that which YHVH Elohim requires his human children to go through to become his spiritual children.

The olive in its natural state is useless and bitter, but when that bitterness is destroyed, or when the olive is crushed to extract the oil it becomes a source of life (becomes edible) and light. Is this not the case with men? To become useful to him, Elohim needs to crush or refine each of us so to squeeze out of us the bitter residue of our sinful nature, so that the spiritually regenerated person, which is the image of Messiah—the Living Torah, may radiate and flow from each of us to the glory of Elohim and the advancement of his kingdom on earth.

Here are some other parallels between an olive tree and its oil and a child of YHVH:

In their unrefined state both the olive fruit and man are initially bitter. Olives are bitter because of a substance called oleuropein; man is bitter because of his indigenous sin nature. Olives need to be washed with lye (the main cleansing ingredient in soap) to be palatable to the eater; man needs to repent of his sin and be washed in Yeshua’s blood to be acceptable to Elohim.

Both the olive tree and man are difficult to grow and temperamental when it comes to producing fruit, and great care must be exercised on the part of the cultivator to ensure a good crop yield. Similarly, as if we were his personal garden, YHVH carefully cultivates each of us over our lifetime, nurturing his garden and removing the weeds of sin therein, so that we will bear the fruit of his Spirit and be formed into the image of his dear Son.

The olive fruit and man needs to be crushed to bring out the precious oil. A stone mortar or mill was used in times past to crush olives to produce oil. Similarly, Scripture likens Messiah to a stone who has to crush all who come to him (Luke 20:18; Matt 21:44), so that they will become useful to YHVH.

Our time on earth is but a proving ground where Elohim is trying, testing, crushing, refining and purifying his chosen vessels in preparation for them to be his kings and priests to rule with him during his earthly, millennial kingdom, and then to live with him for eternity as his glorified adopted, god-like children (1 John 3:1–3 cp. Rom 8:15, 23; Gal 4:5). This process involves the crucifixion of the flesh, dying to self with its lust, pride, covetousness, fear, hatred, envying, bitterness, strife, selfishness and everything else that is of the world, flesh and the devil and that is contrary to the character, nature and Spirit of YHVH.

Matthew Henry says in his biblical commentary on Exodus 27:20 that the pure oil signifies the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, which all believers receive from the Messiah (Heb. Mashiach meaning “one smeared with [olive] oil or the anointed one”), who is literally the oil Anointed One. The Messiah is the vine to which the saints are attached, for we are the arms and branches (John 15:1–2), which are attached to the sustenance-carrying vascular system of the main trunk (as pictured by the hollow-tubed seven-branched gold menorah in the Tabernacle of Moses). Only when this occurs will one be Messiah’s spiritual lights shining into the darkness of men’s lives as Yeshua commanded. He likened his followers to menorahs on a hill shining in the surrounding darkness (Matt 5:14).

The ArtScroll Stone Edition Chumash goes on to say about Exodus 27:20 and the following verses that the instructions regarding the oil is followed by YHVH choosing Aaron’s sons to minister as priests in the mishkan of Tabernacle of Moeses. This underscores the fact that the priests were to be absolutely pure and without admixture of any foreign substance, and were to remain pure and separate from the rest of the nation; they were reserved for YHVH’s very special and holy service.

With regard to the pressing of the olives to produce the purest oil, our Heavenly Father prefers to use a light touch or hand on us rather than a heavy one, to motivate us to do his will and to achieve our highest potential and fruitfulness in his kingdom. For example, a loving parent doesn’t spank their children the moment they do something wrong when a quiet word of correction will suffice. However, if they fail to obey the parent’s gentle correction, then it may be necessary use a stronger form of discipline. Our Father in heaven uses the same approach (Ps 32:8–9; Isa 30:21). If, for example, a slight pressing or crushing of the olive fails to express pure, fine olive oil for which our the farmer is looking, then he will be forced to begin crushing the olives more vigorously including the pits, skins and all. This is analogous to YHVH be forced “to crush” us more vigorously (our whole spirit, soul and body) to bring out the pure oil of his divine nature in us (1 Cor 5:5; Heb 12:23 cp. 2 Pet 1:4; Rom 8:28–29). The oil from this full crushing will contain some sediments, which will later have to be filtered out (through the trials, adversities and refining fires of life). Though still olive oil, it will be of a lesser quality. (Pray and meditate on 2 Cor 4:6–18; Col 3:1–10; 1 Cor 3:9–15.)

Exodus 27:20–21, They shall bring pure oil.

Olives, olive oil and the olive tree are very significant ancient biblical symbols. Most notably, olive oil was used for anointing and for burning in the seven-branched menorah, and is a symbolic metaphor of redeemed Israelite saints comprising of many different congregations down through the ages (Rev 1:12–13). Olive oil as used in the Tabernacle of Moses was pure and the olives were beaten or pressed to produce oil for light (Exod 27:20). This is a graphic symbolic picture the sanctification process that saint will be  going through during the physical life to qualify to be a child of Elohim for eternity. 

More specifically, pure olive oil a symbol of the believer’s life, so that one can be the light of the world that Yeshua commanded them to be.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt 5:14–16)

But before olive becomes ready for use as pure oil, must endure a refining process involving extreme crushing and pressing to squeeze out the oil. Then the acid must be removed from the oil must. This is not unlike the spiritual refining process that each saint is required to go through in this life to develop the pure, undefiled and sin-free, holy and righteous character of the Holy Spirit-led inner person that will then shine as a light to the world. This process of refinement is neither an easy one nor is it a popular, comfortable subject for Christians who have been lulled to sleep by a ear tickling, user-friendly, easy-believism Sunday sermons. On the contrary, persecution and suffering for their faith was typically the norm for the early disciples of Yeshua.

Remember the word that I said to you, “A servant is not greater than his master.” If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. (John 15:20)

And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of Elohim. (Acts 14:21–22)

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Messiah Yeshua will suffer persecution. (2 Tim 3:12)

Why does YHVH allow his children to go through the rigors of hardships? Like the olive having to endure the hardships of the press, their is a higher goal in view with the end results worth the refining process.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matt 5:10–11)

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (Jas 1:2–3)

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of Elohim, and if children, then heirs—heirs of Elohim and joint heirs with Messiah, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Rom 8:17)

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Messiah’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Messiah, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of Elohim rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. (1 Pet 4:12–14)

Once the pure olive oil was placed in the tabernacle’s menorah, the priests attended to the golden lamp. They had to keep it burning continually from evening until morning. This reminds us of Yeshua’s Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt 25:1–13), where Yeshua’s exhorted his disciples to be like the wise virgins who kept their lamps trimmed and full of oil as they were watching and waiting for their bridegroom to come, whereas as the foolish virgins were lacking sufficient oil to keep their lamps burning through the night.

In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, the level of oil in each virgin’s lamp was the factor that determined whether they would be allowed entrance into the bridegroom’s wedding or not. Therefore, what is the significance of olive oil (i.e., the fuel for the lamps) scripturally? There are several. 

• Olive oil was used in consecrating kings and priests for YHVH’s service (see 1 Sam 16:13; 1 Kgs 1:39; Lev 8:12). 
• Olive oil symbolizes YHVH’s rich blessings on one’s life, and was used for consecrating the tabernacle and its contents (Lev 8:10).
• Olive oil was a medicinal agent for healing (Isa 1:6; Luke 10:34). 
• Olive oil is also a scriptural metaphor for YHVH’s anointing on one’s life (see Ps 23:5; 133:2; Zech 4:12–14).
• Olive oil is a biblical metaphor for gladness or joy (note Ps 45:7; Prov 27:9; Isa 61:3; Heb 1:9).
• Olive oil speaks of healing by the laying on of hands (read Mark 6:13; Jas 5:14).
• Olive oil is a symbol of prosperity (see Deut 32:24). 
• In Jewish thought, olive oil is also a metaphor for Torah, since it is a comfort to the head and body even as are the words of the Torah (Everyman’s Talmud, by Abraham Cohen, p. 134). 
• Oil in Yeshua’s Parable of the Ten Virgins oil is generally recognized to be a symbol of the blessing and anointing of YHVH’s Holy Spirit functioning in one’s life. Let’s not forget that the anointing or influence of YHVH’s Spirit is the spiritual force that leads one into YHVH’s Torah-truth (John 15:26; 16:13). The five foolish virgins’ lack of oil speaks of their lacking YHVH’s anointing and blessing, that their lives were not fully consecrated to him, that they were deficient in YHVH’s Spirit, and were not walking in the fullness of his Torah-truth. Torah teacher, Dean Wheelock characterizes the foolish virgins’ lack of oil in this way:

The foolish squander their oil, their precious oil of Torah instruction, which tells them how to live their lives in a righteous manner. Meanwhile the wise hang on to their Torah learning, and thereby save their oil for that time when it is needed. And the time when it will be most needed is when Messiah arrives to take us to the wedding. Then we will need all of the Torah oil we can muster. That is what the “foolish virgins” were missing. They did not have an adequate supply of understanding of the Torah, they were not living a Torah-centered life, they had not prepared themselves adequately to be the wife of the Messiah Yeshua, the one who as the “Living Torah” when he walked the earth some two thousand years ago. (Hebrew Roots Magazine, Sept./Oct. 1997, article entitled “Oil For Our Lamps,” by Dean Wheelock, p. 10)

In the Scriptures, the menorah lamp is viewed metaphorically as YHVH’s lamp that enlightens the darkness of the saint (2 Sam 22:29), as a light that guides one’s path (Ps 119:105) and instructs us in the way of life (Prov 6:23). When one allows the light of YHVH’s Spirit to light the lamp of one’s inner personal spirit (Ps 18:28), then one acts as a reflector of YHVH’s light (Ps 36:9; Prov 2:27), and becomes a light shining in the darkness of this world (note Matt 5:14; Luke 12:35; Phil 2:15), even as the moon (the lesser light) reflects the light of the sun (the greater light) into the night sky. 

The ceramic lamps used in biblical times are an apt symbol of our physical lives, which the Scriptures describe as vessels of clay, which contain the Spirit of YHVH, for the spirit of man is the candle or lamp of YHVH burning inside of man (Prov 20:27) and, our lives are earthen vessels that contain YHVH’s spiritual light (2 Cor 4:6–7). At the same time, the pure gold menorah in the tabernacle shows us that although we may now be mere vessels of clay as we walk this earth, it is our spiritual destiny, upon receiving our glorified bodies at the resurrection to be spiritually like gold in that we will be like Yeshua—pure, transparent and incorruptible (1 John 3:2).

Exodus 28

Exodus 28:1, Now take Aaron.This and the next chapter lay out the seven steps for consecrating the high priest and his sons. It is interesting to note that Moses (a spiritual antetype of Yeshua) ordained the priests, (Exod 29:21), while the people of Israel ordained the Levites who were to serve as the priests’ assistants (Num 8:10). This seems to be a pattern that Yeshua’s apostles followed when establishing leaders in local church congregation. Yeshua chooses or ordains those who will serve as apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers (Eph 4:8–11), while those leaders Yeshua has appointed along with the help of those in the local congregation jointly appoint qualified leaders to be their assistants. We see this occurring in Acts chapter six with the choosing of the seven deacons.

As a priest. Here, YHVH establishes the Aaronic priesthood.

Exodus 28:2, Glory…beauty. Everything concerning YHVH is glorious and beautiful and he desired his priestly servants who represent him to his people not only to act in such a manner, but also to be attired thusly. Perhaps this helped to inspire a sense of respect and awe not only for the ministry but for YHVH himself in the minds and hearts of the people. Such attire may have challenged YHVH’s people by positive example to raise their own standards in how they acted and dressed. After all, the Israelites were YHVH chosen and treasured people, whom he had commissioned at Mount Sinai to be a kingdom of priests representing him as a spiritual beacon of light and truth to the surrounding heathen nations.

Exodus 28:15, 29 Breastplate of judgment. Somehow the breastplate with its 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel along with its pocket containing the Urim and Thummim (v. 30) was used to make judicial decisions, hence the name breastplate of judgment. The means and methods how this was accomplished has been lost to history countless speculations not withstanding.

Exodus 28:17–21, 29–30. Stones. The sons of Israel where symbolized as precious stones, worn over the heart of the high priest to be remembered by him when interceding continually for them before YHVH. A saintly father is now the high priest over his home (see notes at Heb 7:12), and he has the responsibility of interceding in love for his family before the throne of YHVH.

Exodus 28:30, Urim…thummim. In Hebrew, urim means “lights,” while thummim means “perfection, integrity, complete or innocent.” The priest used these stones to determine the will of Elohim by their answering yes-no questions. How this was accomplished, no one knows. Some commentators think they were cast like lots (or dice), while other theories exist attempting to solve this mystery.Regardless, the meaning of these words teach us as that the judgments or decisions of YHVH are based on light—a symbolic metaphor for divinely revealed Torah-truth and that Truth is perfect and complete.

Judgment…heart. The priest wore the breastplate of judgement over his heart. This teach us that the judgments of Elohim are based not only on Truth but also on mercy (Ps 85:10; 89:14; Jer 9:24; Ezek 33:11; Mic 7:18; John 1:17; Jas 2:13). One thing we can learn from this is that each husband and father as the spiritual head priest of his home is to act as a praying intercessor before the throne of Elohim on behalf of his family, and do so with perfection, integrity, impartiality and innocence, while operating in the complete light or truth of Elohim with a heart of love, mercy and compassion.

Exodus 28:33, Pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet. This fruit can symbolize the sweetness of the gospel of the Messiah who is signified by the three colors of their composition: blue for divinity, purple for kingship, and scarlet for his humanity and atoning blood.

Bells of gold. These bells my well symbolize the proclamation of the gospel of Messiah going forth to the ends of the earth like a joyful sound (Ps 89:15). They also gave notice to the people on the outside that the priest was entering the tabernacle to offer praise and worship before the altar of incense, so that the people could apply themselves in their own devotions in like manner and at the same time (Luke 1:10). According to Jewish traditions, there were 72 bells. If so, this lends further credence to the idea that these bells symbolized the proclamation of the gospel to the 70 nations by Yeshua’s 70 disciples who were envoys or ambassadors for the kingdom of heaven. It is true that there were 72 bells and not 70. This is because there were two extra in case one of the two gospel carriers or ambassadors died or abandoned their mission.

Exodus 28:36, Holiness to YHVH. Holiness and not love (as the church incorrectly teaches) is the primary attribute of Elohim, for it is his holiness that is constantly being proclaimed in his presence (Isa 6:3; Rev 4:8). Humans are to be holy or set-apart, as opposed to profane, impure, polluted and like the world, even as YHVH is set-apart. YHVH’s cry and command to his saints is to be set-apart or holy even as he is holy (e.g., Lev 11:44, 45, Heb 12:14; 1 Pet 1:15–16).

Exodus 29

Exodus 29:1, Hallow. Heb. qadash meaning “to dedicate, consecrate, set-apart, observe as holy, to be treated as sacred or majestic.”

Exodus 29:4, Wash them with water. Moses’ washing the priests with water is a presidential and symbolic precursor to the New Testament ritual of baptism by immersion in water for the remission of sins. Since Moses performed this cleansing ritual at the door of the tabernacle (as opposed to the door of the tabernacle’s outer courtyard), this obviously involved the bronze laver which was at this same location (cp. Exod 30:17–21).

Exodus 29:12, Horns of the altar. The four horns of the altar of sacrifice was the place where the blood of atonement was sprinkled (also Lev 4:4, 17, 18, 25, 30, 34; 8:15; 9:9; 16:18). 

But there is more. Horn is the Hebrew word qeren meaning “horn, hill or ray.” This word is used to describe the rays of light emanating from the face of Moses after his encounter with YHVH (Exod 34:29) and the horns of an animal (Ps 69:31). In ancient cultures, the horn was a metaphor for physical strength or spiritual power (Deut 33:17; 2 Sam 22:3; Ps 18:2). Elsewhere, YHVH is referred to as man’s “horn of salvation” (e.g., 2 Sam 22:3; Ps 18:2) meaning he is the strength of man’s salvation. The Hebrew word for salvation is yesha meaning “deliverance, rescue, safety, welfare, victory or prosperity.” The root of yesha is the verb yasha meaning “to save, to deliver or to give victory.” Not only is YHVH called man’s “horn of salvation” in the Tanakh (e.g., 2 Sam 22:3; Ps 18:2), but this designation is applied to Yeshua as well in the Testimony of Yeshua (Luke 1:69). Interestingly, Yeshua is a derivative of the Hebrew name Yehoshua (or Joshua), which also derives from the verbal root yasha. 

The the horn of an animal in ancient times was a symbol of strength and power. 

Thus if we combine the biblical linguistic and metaphorical imagery of the word horn, we discover that the horns of the altar are a picture of Yeshua, who is the horn or strength of our salvation, and who shed his blood as a powerful and victorious atonement for our sins on the altar of the cross. 

This being the case, why then are there four horns on the altar? This is likely symbolic of the four powerful attributes of Yeshua, even as the four colors of cloth used throughout the tabernacle prophetically symbolize the same thing. Crimson speaks to Yeshua’s humanity, purple to his kingship, blue to his divinity, and white to his sinlessness or righteousness. 

Additionally, the Jewish sages view the four horns as symbolizing the four corners of the earth, for, in Hebraic thought, the earth is nothing more than a large altar dedicated to Elohim. (See The ArtScroll Tehilim/Psalms commentary on this verse and notes at Ps 118:27.) 

More importantly, the horns on the four corners of the altar prophetically and symbolically point to the power of Yeshua’s spilled blood at the cross to save all humans everywhere from the lethal consequences of sin who put their trusting faith in him.

Exodus 29:13, 17, (also Lev 1:9 cp. Matt 23:26; 2 Cor 7:1) Entrails/inwards…legs. In the ritualistic process of cleansing the animal to be sacrificed, we learn two things. First, Yeshua was perfect, totally clean and spotless or sin-free Lamb of Elohim sacrificed for the sins of man. Second, the saints are to become living sacrifices (Rom 12:1–2). This means we are to be like Yeshua—totally clean on both the inside and outside. Yeshua rebuked the religious hypocrites of his day for being like whited sepulchres and for being like cups that were clean on the outside but dirty on the inside (Matt 23:26–27). As the sacrifice was laid on the alter (Exod 29:18), and as Yeshua went to the altar of the cross, so Yeshua calls each of his disciples to lay their lives down as a living sacrifice as well.

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)

Then Yeshua said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matt 16:24–25)

He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:25)

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Rom 8:13)

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. (Col 3:5)

Exodus 29:13, 22, Liver…kidneys…burn them. (Also see Lev 3:4, 10, 15.) Why did YHVH command the priests to burn the fatty lobe of the liver and the two kidneys? This is due to the local heathen practice of extispicy, which was a form of divination by attempting to foretell the future through the patterns found on the entrails of animals (like palm reading, the use of tarot cards or astrology). YHVH was making it clear that he did not want his people engaging in any such practice (The Great Inception, p. 106, by Derek Gilbert).

Exodus 29:14, On the alter…outside the camp. Part of the bull was burnt on the altar and part of it was burnt outside the camp as a sin offering. This is another two-part prophetic portrayal of Yeshua’s sin-atoning death. He shed his blood inside the city of Jerusalem at the hands of the Romans by scourging (John 19:1), as well as outside the city walls where he was actually crucified (Heb 13:13–12).

Exodus 29:27, Heave or raised offering. This is the Hebrew terumah meaning “offering, contribution” and is from the root word rum meaning “to raise high or lift up.” The terumah offering included those things donated to construct the tabernacle (Exod 25:2–3), the half-shekel atonement money (Exod 30:13), the tithe of the tithes that the Levites gave to the priests (Num 18:25–32), the offering of war booty (Num 31:29), and the offering of a cake that was made from the first fruits of the grain harvested in land of Israel (Num 15:20). The officiating priest was to give the choice part of the sacrificed animal (the thigh or shoulder) as a terumah to YHVH (Lev 10:14–15) along with a portion of the accompanying grain offering (Lev 7:14).

Exodus 29:38–42, In the morning…at twilight. (Also see Lev 1:1–17 and Num 28:1–15.) Evening is the Hebrew word erev meaning “twilight or between the evenings.” According to Alfred Edersheim, the morning sacrifice was offered at 9 AM and the evening sacrifice was offered at approximately 6 PM, and since Israel is closer to the equator this makes the day and night portions on average closer to twelve hours each (The Temple–Its Ministry and Service, p. 108, by Alfred Edersheim). He then goes on the show that by the time of Yeshua, the Jews had changed the time of the evening sacrifice, so that it commenced earlier. By this time, the lamb was killed at about 2:30 PM with the pieces being laid on the altar about 3:30 PM. The whole evening sacrifice service would last until about 4:00 PM (ibid., pp 108–109).

Please stay tuned…there is much more to follow!