Vayak’hel “and he assembled”
It is customary for religiously practicing Jews to read from an annual cycle of weekly Old Testament readings called Torah Portions. This is said to be the same reading schedule that was taught every Sabbath in the Synagogues during the times of Jesus in the first century.
As Christians exploring the Torah portion cycle we must maintain a balance of including the Old Testament, the prophets, and the gospels in our weekly bible study.
Torah Portion Name and Readings-
Vayak’hel is the Hebrew word for “and he assembled”, this is the name for the weekly Torah Portion reading for the Exodus starting in chapter 35 verse 1 and going through chapter 38 and verse 20.
Prophets and New Testament-
It is also important to point out that along with the Torah portion readings and teachings, there are what are called Haftarah portions which are readings from the Bible in the books of the prophets. This week’s haftarah readings come from the book of Ezekiel in chapter 36 verse 16 through verse 38.
The gospel readings incorporated with the weekly Torah portion readings come from the book of John in chapter 11 with verses 47 through verse 56.
Torah Portion Overview-
In this torah portion, we get the majority of the work and construction of the Tabernacleand its elements. We receive a reminder of the Sabbath commandments. This is the perfect time to emphasize the Sabbath, since we are going to get the building of the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was the place where Israel could come to meet with Yahweh, the place where heaven met earth. Joining the Sabbath to the Tabernacle is natural, since it was on the Sabbath that they would often come to worship. Moses then instructs that they take up an offering for the materials to build the Tabernacle and the articles of worship, as well as ask for skilled laborers. Indeed, the children of Israel gave and gave until the leaders had to request that they stop giving! What a beautiful time of worship to Yahweh, giving of your resources and skills to see the building of the Tabernacle. The Lord then appointed Bezalel and Oholiab as the lead skilled workers who had been anointed by the Holy Spirit to construct, craft and build the Tabernacle and it’s elements of worship. What a great honor! They started by building the Tabernacle, then the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of the Bread of Presence. Then Bezalel constructed and crafted the Lampstand, the Alter of Incense, he made the anointing oil and the incense. He built the Alter of Burnt offerings, the Bronze Basin, and the Court of the Tabernacle.
Bezalel, who’s name means “under the shadow (protection) of El” (BDB) was filled with the Holy Spirit (Exodus 35:31) and anointed to construct many of the objects of the Tabernacle and it’s furnishings. Included in this was the Ark of the Covenant, also called the Ark of God and the Ark of Yahweh.
“Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; it was two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside and made a molding of gold around it. He cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side. He made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark. He made a cover of pure gold; two cubits and a half was its length and a cubit and a half its width. He made two cherubim of hammered gold; at the two ends of the cover he made them, one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; of one piece with the cover he made the cherubim at its two ends. The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the cover with their wings. They faced one another; the faces of the cherubim were turned toward the cover.”
Exodus 37:1-9 (NRSVue)
It is important to notice that the Ark of the Covenant had the Cherubim above it because this helps explains its function. Many people mistakenly believe that the Ark of the Covenant was the throne of Yahweh. However, this is not entirely correct. The throne of Yahweh had Cherubim, but they were not above it, they were below it.
“Then I looked, and there above the expanse over the heads of the cherubim was something like a throne with the appearance of lapis lazuli.”
Ezekiel 10:1 (CSB)
“O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.”
Isaiah 37:16 (ESV)
We can see that His throne had cherubim below the thrown and this makes sense because no being should be above the throne of the Most High. Yahweh, and Yahweh alone is high and lifted up! He is the God of gods, King of kings, and Lord of lords! No creature can compare!
Seeing this we immediately see the position of the Ark of the Covenant in relation to the Throne. The Bible describes it this way:
Throne
Cherubim (below the throne)
Cherubim (above the ark)
Ark of the Covenant
Thus, the Ark of the Covenant would have been situated below the throne, as a footstool. It was the place where He placed His feet, and would have functioned as a part of the throne. Isaiah relates to this when He sees heaven and earth as a cosmic temple, with heaven as the place of his throne and the earth as the place of his footstool.
“This is what the LORD says: Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. Where could you possibly build a house for me? And where would my resting place be?”
Isaiah 66:1 (CSB)
This is not just a theory though. The Ark of the Covenant is described in the Bible as His footstool.
“Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for the footstool of our God, and I made preparations for building.”
1 Chronicles 28:2 (ESV)
“The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! … Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!”
Psalm 99:1, 5 (ESV)
“Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!”
Psalm 132:7 (ESV)
The ark is also called the Ark of the Testimony because it contained the tablets of stone, the 10 commandments (or 10 words). The tablets of stone were not the covenant, but were the evidence of the covenant. These tablets of stone were the most basic element of the law (Torah). Thus the Torah, although not the covenant itself, was directly related to the covenant. You could say that the Torah was the evidence of the covenant. Wherever the ark went the presence of God went, along with the reminder of the covenant. The ark was a container for the tablets of stone and a place for Yahweh to rest His feet.
Sadly, the Ark of the Covenant was lost to history, we do not know where it is today. There are many theories and ideas, but none of them have proven to be true. Jeremiah says that the ark will not be remembered but will be forgotten.
“And it shall be in those days when you become numerous and are fruitful in the land,” declares the LORD, “they will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the LORD.’ And it will not come to mind, nor will they remember it, nor miss it, nor will it be made again.”
Jeremiah 3:16 (NASB 2020)
Just as Jeremiah prophesied, we do not have the Ark of the Covenant in the New Covenant (on Earth, there is one in heaven). However, we do have a connection to the Ark of the Covenant, or should I say, we have a connection to the Ark of the Testimony! In the New Covenant we do not have tablets of stone, however, we do have the Torah written on our heart.
“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Jeremiah 31:33 (NRSVue)
When we were saved He wrote His law on our heart, or to put it another way, we have the law of Christ within us. This law was written by the Holy Spirit. But how could God’s law be written on our heart? In the New Testament, the “heart” is often connected to the “mind”. Paul tells us that the carnal mind cannot submit to the law because it is in rebellion to it.
“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”
Romans 8:7 (ESV)
Thus, in order for our heart/mind to receive the law, we had to receive a new heart. This occurred at salvation, and is a work of the Holy Spirit! He takes out our sinful heart and gives us a heart that desires to obey God. All Christians have this (not just those who keep the law of Moses).
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”
Ezekiel 36:25-27 (ESV)
“Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.”
Ezekiel 11:19-20 (NKJV)
Thus we have a new heart, one that desires to obey, and on this heart is written the law of Christ. We have the law within us! We then, are like the ark, for just as the Ark of the Covenant had the tablets of stone within it, so too we have tablets of flesh within us.
“You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God—not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
2 Corinthians 3:3 (CSB)
Thus, wherever we go we carry the presence of God with us. We are the reminder of the New Covenant and we have His law within us. We should walk and act as those who carry around the presence of God and represent His name. Let us walk in righteousness and love, being a light to those around us. Let us bring the light and love of Christ so that His glory will fill the earth and shine for the world to see!
Torah Portion Scriptural Highlights-
Exodus 35:1 The Sabbath commandment.
Exodus 35:4 Moses instructed for an offering to be given for the Tabernacle of materials and skilled labor.
Exodus 35:20 The children of Israel gave a great offering.
Exodus 35:30 Bezalel and Oholiab and the skilled workers come and give of their labor, the people give so much that they are instructed to stop.
Exodus 36:8 Skilled laborers crafted and built the Tabernacle of Yahweh.
Exodus 37:1 Bezalel constructed the Ark of the Covenant.
Exodus 37:10 Bezalel constructed the Table of the Bread of Presence.
Exodus 37:17 Bezalel constructed and crafted the Lampstand.
Exodus 37:25 Bezalel built the Alter of Incense.
Exodus 37:29 Bezalel made the anointing oil and incense.
Exodus 38:1 Bezalel built the Alter of Burnt Offerings.
Exodus 38:8 Bezalel made the Bronze Basin.
Exodus 38:9 Bezalel made the Court of the Tabernacle.
Haftarah (Prophets) Scriptural Highlights-
Ezekiel 36:16 Israel was judged and sent into exile and they profaned the name of Yahweh.
Ezekiel 36:22 Yahweh will act for His name sake and bring Israel back to their own land, clean them, and give them a new spirit and a new heart.
Brit (Gospel) Scriptural Highlights-
John 11:47 The Chief Priests, Pharisees, and Sanhedrin council plotted to put Jesus to death.
Bibliography
C. L. Seow, “Ark of the Covenant,” in The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, ed. David Noel Freedman (New York: Doubleday, 1992) 388-389, 392-393.
Irene Jacob and Walter Jacob, “Flora,” in The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, ed. David Noel Freedman (New York: Doubleday, 1992) 804.
Francis Brown, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs, in Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1977), 130.
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