“Nachshon the son of ‘Amminadav, from the tribe of Y’hudah, presented his offering on the first day.”-Numbers 7:12
The last time we met, we were studying about the true origin of HANUKKAH and how each of the 12 Tribes were to bring their dedication or “Hanukkah” offerings to the Levitical priesthood.
This was the ribbon-cutting ceremony so-to-speak that would kick start the operations of the priesthood.
We also learned that regardless of status or wealth level, each tribe’s offering was comprised of exactly the same things.
They were as follows:
-One golden spoon filled with incense
-one bull
-one mature ram
-one yearling lamb (OLAH Offering)
-one male goat (HATA-AT Offering)
-2 Oxen, , 5 male goats, & 5 Yearling Rams
(ZEVAH SHELAMIM Offering)
If you forget what the different Levitical offerings are all about and need a refresher course, please go back to the studies on Leviticus.
Each tribal leader at the rate of one tribe per day over a 12-day period brought the offerings specified above.
Again, I find it significant that even though the tribes were not equal in terms of authority, ranking, population or wealth etcetera, it didn’t matter.
The offerings to the Sanctuary were to be the same for all the 12 tribes.
Next, I want to share a something pretty significant the ancient Rabbis have pointed out.
Notice how the first tribe to give their offering came from the Tribe of Judah.
Every tribe at the rate of one tribe per day gave their Hanukkah offerings over a 12-day period, right?
Now notice who the 7th tribe was.
The 7th Tribe was Ephraim, right?
Here’s the thing.
The Rabbis say that the 1st offering was given on Sunday, the first day of the week.
This means that Ephraim’s offering which was given on the 7th day of the week would have been on the HOLY Shabbat.
This is significant!
Think about it.
Judah was given the honor of being the first donor!
Ephraim was given the honor of being the seventh (on the Shabbat) donor!
Why is this so significant you ask?
Because moving forward we’re going to find that the two tribes of Judah and Ephraim will end up becoming the most dominant of the 12 Tribes!
“‘Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it,
‘Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.‘
Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, ‘
Belonging to Joseph (that is, to Ephraim)
and all the Israelites associated with him.'”
-Ezekiel 37:16
It is these two tribes who eventually will go onto to become Kingdoms in their own right after the death of King Solomon and go on to form what Ezekiel calls the “The Two Houses of Israel“!
It is not coincidental that Judah and Ephraim were the 1st and 7th donors of their Hanukkah offerings.
This is prophetic!
We’re going to see that Judah and Ephraim will gradually become stronger and increasingly more influential and prominent than all the other 10 Tribes.
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