Counting of the omer6/4/2023 ![]() ![]() The counting of the omer is the story of our lives also. There, at the foot of Mount Sinai, YHVH wanted them to become his ambassadors to this world of the truths of his heavenly kingdom. After that, YHVH gave Israel 49 days to overcome and to get rid of the impurities of Egypt, and to become the nation of Israel-a holy priesthood and the bride of YHVH. YHVH instructed them to leave it all behind as symbolized by deleavening their lives during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. They came out of slavery permeated with the leaven, that is, the sins, values, and pagan concepts of Egypt. This 49-day period represents Israel’s passage from slavery to freedom. It was there that YHVH gave the Israelites his instructions in righteousness-the Torah on Shavuot. During this 49-day count, Israel ascended out of the depths of slavery and suffering in Egypt, was baptized in the Red Sea, and then arrived at Mount Sinai-a place of a spiritual standing before YHVH to become a kingdom of priests (Exod 19:6). Pentecoste, Lev 23:15–16) to memorialize the Israelites’ journey from spiritual babyhood to adulthood. YHVH’s command us to countdown 49 days from First Fruits Day to the Feast of Weeks (Heb. Everyday, YHVH is uncovering the prophetic mysteries hidden in the Scriptures that are being revealed to those who diligently seek him by diligently studying to show themselves approved as a workman rightly dividing YHVH’s Word (2 Tim 2:15). All the examples of the past are for our learning upon whom the ends of the world are come (1 Cor 10:11 Rom 15:4). ![]() For the long answer, keep reading…įrom the Depths of Slavery to a Kingdom of PriestsĮvery detail in Scripture is for our learning and edification. ![]() Why does YHVH in the Torah command his pepole to count the seven weeks or 49 days between these two events, with Pentecost occurring on the fiftieth day? The short answer is that Yeshua doesn’t want to marry a spiritual baby. In the kabbalah each of the 49 days of the Omer represents one of the combinations of the seven lower Sefirot (divine emanations, i.e., in each one there are all seven) and in a kabbalistic prayer the worshipper entreats God to help him lead pure life and pardon him for the flaw he has produced in the Sefirah of the day.There are 49 days between First Fruits Day, which occurs during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost). Some observe it from the end of Passover to Lag Ba-Omer (the 33rd day), others from the end of Passover until Shavuot or until three days before Shavuot, and there are other variations. There are, however, different customs regarding the duration of the mourning period. Traditionally, Jews do not have a haircut during this period, and weddings do not take place. Various conjectures have been made about why what was presumably a joyous period in Temple times was transformed in this way. In the Middle Ages, the Omer period became one of sadness and mourning. The free man, as he reminds himself of the bondage in Egypt, counts each day towards the even greater freedom enjoyed by those who live by the Torah. In the Rabbinic tradition, all this was understood to mean that, even after the destruction of the Temple, each individual should actually count these days, by saying each day, “This is the X day of the Omer.” Among the many interpretations given to counting the Omer is that Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah while Passover celebrates the Exodus from Egypt. This festival was later called Shavuot, “the Feast of Weeks” because it falls on the day after the seven weeks have been counted. There is a further command that, from the day when the Omer was brought, seven weeks were to be counted, and on the 50th day a festival was to be celebrated (Leviticus 23: 15-21). The Omer (“sheaf”) was a harvest offering brought to the Temple on the second day of Passover (Leviticus 23:9-14). My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help Donate ![]()
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