The first pair of brothers found in Scripture are Cain and Abel (perhaps more correctly Qayin and Hevel). Their story has many lessons for us, but as we consider the time of Yom Kippur, the brothers connection to the two goats of this appointed time are of particular interest.
more “Yom Kippur Brothers”
I have previously written concerning the command of the tzitzit. If you haven’t read that, you may want to begin there, as it speaks more of the foundational issues and how it all relates to us (here’s the link). But now, I’d like to share some additional things I’ve learnt on the subject.
more “Blossoms of the Tzitzit”
My brother passed away this month …
It makes life look different somehow. There’s a hollowness to it that is hard to ignore. Of course, I realise that I’m not the first one to experience this and I certainly won’t be the last.
In Isaiah 6:3 we read that seraphim in the heavenly temple cried out “Holy, holy, holy is YHWH of hosts – the whole earth is full of His glory”. Then, in Revelation 4:8, we find four strange beasts declaring day and night, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord GOD Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come”. These two passages are the only places in Scripture where we see YHWH called holy with a triple exclamation. In fact, no other attribute is declared in triple form like this. Clearly He is the Holy one! But that begs the question – what is meant by “holy”?
more “Holy Holy Holy”
Although I’ve left it until last, the very first of the Moedim is mentioned in verse three of Leviticus 23:
“Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of YHWH in all your dwellings.”
more “The Sabbath שבת Shabbat”
Moedim (pronounced: mow-ed-eem) is a Hebrew word that is usually translated as “feasts” in our Bibles. However, the word actually means “appointments” or “appointed times”. Other words associated with these Moedim also indicate that they are “rehearsals”. The Appointed Times are listed in Leviticus 23.
more “The Moedim מועדים – An Introduction”