Alrighty, following on the heels of yesterday’s post, we’ve got ourselves a timing issue.
Why in the world was there an 11-month delay from the official day of completion of the Temple to the official day of its dedication?
Some academic homies like to surmise that the dedication didn’t happen for several years until after Solomon finished building his own palace.
They say that’s because the construction of Solomon’s palace is mentioned before we’re given the details of the Temple dedication.
Honestly, I ain’t so sure that dog is gonna hunt.
As I’ve explained before on numerous occasions, Scripture doesn’t always list events in strict chronological sequences.
Do you really think Solomon would go out of his way to construct a magnificent Temple, fully furnish it, and then just let it sit there like a discarded piece of fried chicken with a bunch of mosquitoes swarming around it for 13 years?
I highly doubt it, homie.
So how can we explain this?
Simple, man.
Anyone who possesses even a rudimentary understanding of Torah would get what’s going on here.
First of all, the 7th month is a very significant month in the Hebrew religious calendar.
Why?
Because that’s when the 3 God-ordained fall feasts occur.
The first feast is Yom Teruah (otherwise known as Rosh Hashanah), which takes place on the 1st day of the month.
That’s followed by Yom Kippur, which takes place on the 10th day of the month.
Finally, we have Sukkot, which kicks off on the 15th day of the month and lasts for 8 days.
So, here’s a quiz question for ya.
Out of these 3 Biblical feasts, which one is particularly relevant to the question of why the dedication was delayed 11 months until the 7th month?
Any ideas?
The answer is Yom Kippur.
Why?
Well, think about it, man.
The Ark of the Covenant had to be placed inside the newly created Holy of Holies for the Temple to become functional.
However, what do we know about the Holy of Holies?
What we know is that only the High Priest is allowed to enter inside there.
And what do we know in terms of when the High Priest can go inside the Holy of Holies?
We know he can only enter on one day of the year, right?
What day is that?
It’s Yom Kippur.
So tadah!
That explains everything.
The Temple can’t be dedicated unless the Ark was inside the Holy of Holies.
But that could only take place on the 10th day of the 7th month of the year, which is Yom Kippur.
Ya feeling me here?
That’s why they waited 11 months after the Temple was finished before dedicating it.
Because they had to wait for the next Yom Kippur.
Only on that day could the High Priest enter the Holy of Holies and place the Ark of the Covenant inside.
So the takeaway for today is know your Torah, man.
The Torah is the rock-solid foundation for everything that comes after it, including the New Testament.
I’m reminded of something I heard from one Messianic Rabbi that I’ve never forgotten.
He said…
“If you get your theology on the Old Testament wrong…
Your theology on the New Testament will be doubly wrong.”
If the Torah was given its proper place in a believer’s spiritual education…
Mountains of false doctrine and theology could be done away with overnight…
Especially in gentile church land.
Done.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Do not think that I have come
to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them
but to fulfill them.
For truly I tell you,
until heaven and earth disappear,
not the smallest letter,
not the least stroke of a pen,
will by any means disappear
from the Law until everything
is accomplished.”
-Matthew 5:17-18
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