Haftara for Pekudei, 1 Kings 7:51-8:21

[alon]

Excerpted from last year's par’sha Pekudei:

Exodus 39:32a (ESV) Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished,

The phraseology alludes to the creation account in Genesis 2:1a (ESV) Thus the heavens and the earth were finished.

“The sevenfold repetition of the phrase 'as the Lord had commanded Moses' echoes the sevenfold repetition of 'and there/ it was so' in Gen ch. 1” Creation and the Tabernacle were both completed just as God had planned them, with attention to the minutest detail.

Exodus 40:33b (ESV) So Moses finished the work.
Genesis 2:2a (ESV) And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done,

The cloud hovering over Mt. Sinai could be equated to the Ruach HaChodesh hovering over the waters in Genesis. Genesis 1:2 (ESV) The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

All these allusions reflect the view that the sanctuary and the world mirror each other and that the actions of the priests officiating in the sanctuary mirror God’s actions in creating the world.

Haftara for Pekudei, 1 Kings 7:51-8:21

As the par’sha parallels the construction of the Mishkan to the act of creation, we see in this haftarah the same structure subsuming all eternity under the act of constructing the Temple in Yerushalayim.

1 Kings 8:2 (NKJV) Therefore all the men of Israel assembled with King Solomon at the feast in the month of Ethanim, which is the seventh month.

All Israel was gathered for the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles), which is one of the shalosh regalim. This was not only a time at which the people had to travel to Jerusalem anyhow (thus making it easier to assemble the nation), but Sukkot had a much deeper significance as regards the Temple of The Lord. To understand this fully, we must note that the story unfolds as though the palace was built, then the dedication of the Temple a year later. However if this were the case, the Temple apparently would have lain unused for a further 13-14 years!

1 Kings 7:1 (NKJV) But Solomon took thirteen years to build his own house; so he finished all his house.

This being the case, there must be some reason for the unusual duality within the scripture here.

The completion of the Temple looked back to the time when HaShem dwelt with Yisro’el in tents- they in their encampments and He in the Mishkan. The Sukkot symbolism here is evident. It also looked at the present, wherein their Elohim would be with them in one fixed place. The close relationship of HaShem and His people is seen in the picture of both Sukkot and the Temple; and also in the palace and the king. The palace was essentially the same floorplan as the Temple, only bigger. However the king who occupied this palace was not like any other king in history. He was neither a vice-regent nor representative of God, but rather a servant of YHVH El Elyon (The Lord, the Most High God). Intertwined in this story, and with all the foregoing in mind, this passage and Sukkot itself also looks forward to the promised messiah. Conceived on a delayed Sukkot (Chanukkah) and born on Sukkot, Yeshua HaMoshiach was to be the fulfillment of all this symbolism and imagery.

The palace was to house the Davidic line and the Temple was to be used to worship the fruit of that line, Yeshua HaMoshiach- Emanu’el, God With Us; the very essence of the meaning of Sukkot. This was the linchpin binding God’s plan of history together as His purposes unfold. The Temple, the palace and the king all bear witness to YHVH Nissi = The LORD Our Banner.

1 Kings 8:20 (NKJV) So the Lord has fulfilled His word which He spoke; and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised; and I have built a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

Sh’lomo makes it clear that Elohim took into account the desire of his father Melech Dovid to build the Temple himself.

1 Kings 8:17-18 (NKJV) Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.

However circumstances had prevented him from undertaking this task:

1 Kings 5:3 (NKJV) You know how my father David could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars which were fought against him on every side, until the Lord put his foes under the soles of his feet.

1 Chronicles 22:8 (NKJV) but the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight.

We may at times be prevented from serving God as our heart desires. Many Meshiachim today living in a pagan world face this problem. Holidays are based on other religions, and far too many of us must work Saturdays or lose our jobs. Many living in divided households cannot keep the mitzvoth as we’d like because a spouse disagrees, and it is always easier for them to destroy than for us to build up. However God does take note when we try, and even when we just desire to be obedient but truly cannot. He also will ensure that eventually the work is done.

1 Kings 8:15-16, 19 (NKJV) And he said: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it, saying, ‘Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that My name might be there; but I chose David to be over My people Israel.’ … Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’

We know from previous haftaroth that the Temple itself was a magnificent edifice. However it was still only a building until YHVH El Elohim consecrated it with His presence.

1 Kings 8:4-6 (NKJV) Then they brought up the ark of the Lord, the tabernacle of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that were in the tabernacle. The priests and the Levites brought them up. Also King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude. Then the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim.

1 Kings 8:10-13 (NKJV) And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. Then Solomon spoke: “The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud. I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell in forever.”

Exodus 40:34 (NKJV) Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

At the end of the dedication Sh’lomo says a prayer which binds all Yisro’el and indeed all eretzim and all goyim and all history to Yerushalayim.

1 Kings 8:38-43 (NKJV) whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple: then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men), that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers. “Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name’s sake (for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple, hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.

This is why we pray towards Yerushalayim. Symbolically it is important that our hearts and minds, and indeed our very souls should be pointed in the right way. The difference in our spiritual health or a deadened spirit is largely the result of how we direct our thoughts and desires. It is all a matter of the heart.

Each of us knows his own heart: 1 Kings 8:38 (NKJV) whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple:

God knows the heart of each: 1 Kings 8:39 (NKJV) then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men),

We must turn to God with all our heart: 1 Kings 8:48 (NKJV) and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name:

We ask and allow God to turn our hearts to obedience of His : 1 Kings 8:57-58 (NKJV) May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us nor forsake us, that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers.

This in turn produces a loyal heart: 1 Kings 8:61 (NKJV) Let your heart therefore be loyal to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day.”

This is why the closer you are to , the less likely you are to fall away.

While we do look forward in Yeshua,

Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the , and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We also must look back to the teachings of this same Yeshua in the beginning:

2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NKJV) But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

All scripture; and the only scripture there was at the time this was said was the TNK, the “Old Testament.” And the basis for all scripture, including the B’rith Chadasha (“New Testament”) is !

Dan C

Sources: Wiersby, Meyer, Edersheim, my father and others.

[garrett]

Dan, very good commentary.

Thanks - garrett

[Elizabeth]

Yes indeed, thanks!

[lou]

As I read those beautiful scriptures my heart soared in praise n burned within. Ty Dan for taking the time to bless us with His words inspired. May Yah bless you alway. I may reread.

[alon]

I appreciate the kind words. It is always good to hear your efforts are doing some good. However I should point out whay you all probably already know:

Pastor Ed Cole (a Christian pastor who in many of his works comes dangerously close to Messianism) said "It is a Biblical principle to grab the gold, but leave the glory." His point is we may benefit from events, but the glory always belongs to God. I get a lot out of doing these, however before I put them up I always pray that I won't be posting any errors. I also pray for insight and wisdom. Sometimes He gives me insights which undeniably come from Him; other times I believe He just helps me organize what I glean from others. Which brings me to the next group who deserve mention before me:

I always post my sources at the bottom. It is not really scholarly credits, since I don't say where I got what from. I just give credit to the major sources of my information. I go through the writings of these Godly men (usually Jews and Christians, because there is very little from reliable Messianic sources) and then, using a bucketful of discernment, I rewrite and reorganize all the info into the posts you see. Very often insights come just from reading all their work and putting it together. I always list my father as well, both to honor him and because I learned to do all this watching and listening to him over the years. He was a died in the wool Southern Baptist preacher of the old school. However by the time of his death he had disavowed several of their close held tenets such as the "rapture." He also was always vocal about the pagan sources of Christmas and Easter, and it was from him that I, a country boy who never met a Jew before entering the service learned unquestionably that they were and are the chosen people of God Himself. This of course flies in the face of Dispensationalism and Replacement Theology so rampant in contemporary church theology. We fought over many things, but in retrospect the important things he did well. I sometimes get angry at pastors with advanced degrees who should be seeing the things we do in scripture and telling their congregations. But my father did this to an extent with a Bachelors degree and a limited library. I can't but think I learned from him to question, by osmoses if nothing else.

Then there is me- I put in the effort to do this and am open to correction from any source; and you all who are not just sponges but who read, reason, and are not shy about telling me I am wrong. I hope I am always open to reasonable arguments that say I am wrong; and I appreciate additional information as well. There is so much more to the Word, and no way I have all the info even though one of my toughest tasks is to sort out the things I will NOT be saying from what I do have! Otherwise these posts would be way to long and difficult to follow. I suspect at times this is the case even after sifting through and discarding most of what I have.

So again thanks, and thank you also for being a good sounding board. I am in this for truth, and no way one man has all truth or is always true in his thinking. This is another reason for "community." You keep me "honest" in more ways than you know.

Dan C