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Torah readings

Readings: Jan 17, 2026

In Exodus 26:31–27:19 the detailed design of the Tabernacle and its veils points to God’s intent to dwell with His people. That foreshadows Messiah (Christ) as God’s presence among us. The sanctuary pattern reveals what Heaven is doing to reunite with humanity. Parallel passage Ezekiel 16:10-19 uses the imagery of adornment to show how God lavishly blesses Israel, yet calls her to repentance from idolatry and unfaithfulness. In another parallel Hebrews 8:1-6, Yeshua (Jesus) is presented as the superior High Priest of a better covenant, fulfilling the Tabernacle system by granting direct, continual access to God’s presence.

Studies in Torah

Starting after Sukkot 2024, Hallel Fellowship switched to a three-year cycle of Torah and parallel Bible readings (2024–2027), outlined by TorahResource. While there’s ancient evidence for a triennial cycle, a major benefit is to provide more time to mine more of Scripture for lessons.

Tools for study
  1. Readings
  2. Corresponding reading in the 1-year Torah cycle
  3. Insights from this week's readings
  4. Covenant: Old and New
  5. Messianic Trajectory
  6. Studies

Readings

  • Exodus 26:31–27:19
  • Ezekiel 16:10–19
  • Hebrew 8:1–6

Corresponding reading in the 1-year Torah cycle

Torah reading Terumah (תרומה): Exodus 25:1–27:19

Insights from this week’s readings

Exodus 26:31–27:19, Ezekiel 16:10–19, and Hebrews 8:1–6 are united by three interlocking themes:

  1. God dwelling among His people
  2. Priestly mediation and sacred space
  3. Faithful covenant versus corrupted imitation

Together they trace a movement from pattern → betrayal → fulfillment.

Exodus: The Patterned Dwelling

In Exodus, the פָּרֹכֶת parokhet (veil) separates the Holy of Holies, guarding God’s presence. The Tabernacle is not merely functional; it is a divinely revealed pattern.

  • Hebrew: תַּבְנִית tavnît (“pattern/model”) – Exod 25:9
  • LXX: τύπος typos (“pattern, model”)
  • NT: Hebrews 8:5 — Moses was warned to build “according to the τύπος shown on the mountain.”

Messianic insight: The earthly sanctuary is intentionally provisional. Hebrews argues it is a shadow pointing to Messiah’s priestly work in the true heavenly sanctuary.

Ezekiel: Adornment Turned to Idolatry

Ezekiel 16 portrays Israel as a bride lavishly clothed by God—fine linen, embroidery, gold—yet who repurposes those gifts for idolatry.

Key vocabulary:

  • Hebrew: בֶּגֶד beged (garment)
  • LXX: ἱμάτιον himation
    • NT: Used for garments associated with dignity or identity (e.g., Matthew 9:20; Revelation 19:8)

Revelation 19:8 explicitly links ἱμάτια to righteous deeds, reversing Ezekiel’s tragedy: what was corrupted is restored.

Messianic insight: Messiah reclaims the adorned bride imagery. Where Israel failed, Messiah purifies, restoring garments not for idolatry but for covenant faithfulness.

Hebrews: The True High Priest

Hebrews 8 centers on Messiah as High Priest (ἀρχιερεύς archiereus), ministering in the heavenly sanctuary.

  • Hebrew: כֹּהֵן kohen (priest)
  • LXX: ἱερεύς hiereus
    • Hebrews 8:1; used extensively for Yeshua’s priestly role

Crucially, Hebrews contrasts:

  • Earthly priests: λειτουργοὶ leitourgoi (ministers)
  • Messiah: λειτουργός leitourgos (minister) of the true tent (σκηνή skēnē)
  • Hebrew: מִשְׁכָּן mishkan (dwelling)
  • LXX: σκηνή skēnē
    • John 1:14 — “The Word tabernacled among us.”

Messianic insight: Yeshua brings the Mishkan to life. God’s presence had to be veiled, but the goal was to bring near those who desire to approach the Presence.

Covenant: Old and New

Hebrews 8 introduces the “better covenant.”

  • Hebrew: בְּרִית berit (covenant)
  • LXX: διαθήκη diathēkē
    • Hebrews 8:6; Luke 22:20

This same Greek term διαθήκη consistently translates berit in the LXX, grounding the “new covenant” firmly within Hebrew covenant theology, not replacement making the covenant at Sinai effective by a new way: Spirit transformation from the inside out.

Messianic Trajectory

  • Exodus establishes the holy pattern and guarded access.
  • Ezekiel exposes covenant betrayal—holy gifts misused.
  • Hebrews reveals Messiah as the faithful High Priest who fulfills the pattern, heals the betrayal, and restores access.

These texts together proclaim that Yeshua does not abolish the Tabernacle’s meaning — He makes it full, opening the way from shadow to substance, from veil to presence.

Studies

You're invited to God's big tent (Exodus 25-27). A large tent with open sides holds a dining party at night.

You’re invited to God’s big tent (Exodus 25:1–27:19)

The exacting details of Israel’s Tabernacle, God’s embassy on earth, are not recorded in Torah reading תְּרוּמָה Terumah (“contribution,” Exodus 25:1–27:19) just as a feature for Architectural Digest. Rather, they are part of a testimony that God wants to live in the middle of His people. This is the “big tent” testimony about the Creator through Israel’s history. In the Bible, His house grows from an easily portable tent to Solomon’s “wonder of the world” temple to the final temple that will be so large it covers most of the Middle East. God wants to accommodate all who want to meet Him. But only those…
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Covered by mercy: Meeting Messiah via the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25)

Covered by mercy: Meeting Messiah via the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25)

The tablets in the Ark of the Covenant represents the heart of God, with His law (the Ten Commandments) written on them. In the Torah reading תְּרוּמָה Terumah (“contribution,” Exodus 25:1–27:19), we explore the detailed instructions from Heaven on how to build that precious container. The high priest, the Ark of the Covenant and the Messiah are synonymous. They have God’s law written on their hearts, and God’s words are at the core of who and what they are.
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Why we must guard the Tabernacle of our hearts (Exodus 25)

Why we must guard Heaven’s tabernacle in our hearts (Exodus 25)

The focus of the Tabernacle/Temple of Israel is the Ark of the Testimony, aka the Ark of the Covenant. That’s a key lesson of the Torah reading תְּרוּמָה Terumah (“contribution,” Exodus 25:1-27:19). The Ark protected the founding documents, the constitution of the People of God. This document binds all the people of God together, just as the people of the United States are bound by the U.S. Constitution, honor that document and work to put it into practice. Heaven put the Word of God into action in the midst of the people of God with the birth, ministry, death and resurrection…
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No box large enough to contain HaShem (Exodus 25:1–27:19)

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution.” (Exodus 25:1–2 NASB) Are we offering the Creator of Heaven and Earth — and by extension, those around us — the best of our time and resources? After Heaven gave the best to Earth to remove from memory sin, transgression and iniquity, in the birth, death and resurrection of the Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ).
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Exodus 25:1–27:19: How thankful are we for our Savior?

How thankful are we our Savior freed us from our old way of life far off from the Kingdom of Heaven? After generations of bondage in Egypt, ancient Israel was sent into freedom with all kinds of material wealth. In the Torah reading תרומה Terumah (“heave offering,” Exodus 25:1-27:19), the Holy One Who freed the people asks for contributions to build the Tabernacle, a special embassy between Heaven and Earth. Through these lessons of returning some of the blessings we receive, we get clued into the great gift we’ve been given through Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ). In this reading, we…
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