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Monday, January 25, 2016

Prophet School; Miracle Power; the Called Out Zadok Priests; Melchizedek Order

Sometimes history can be distorted when certain parties have a stake in promoting their own agenda. It is possible that our religious institutions have misled us into believing that the Levitical priesthood has a preeminent position over any other priesthood, when in fact Ezekiel tells us of a more pure priesthood. The priesthood established by Shem, which historically came from Enoch, is a priesthood that existed prior to the Levites and remained active through the first century. The Priests of Righteousness have been a called out group of men and women who specialized in the prophetic. These people had developed a school for anyone who wanted to be pure and make a vow to the Lord. This group is clearly visible throughout the Bible and yet they have remained hidden from our understanding. This knowledge of history has enormous implications for all people today; the Church as well as anyone desiring a spiritual walk with the Creator, El Elyon. What we find is a rich history of the Priests of Zedek who flourished even throughout the years the temple was being defiled with male and female prostitution, and idolatrous practices because they didn’t worship in the temple. Instead they developed the priesthood in several locations, and because of their purity the Holy Spirit remained on them. Their stories are marvelous and it may be time for them to be recognized as the separate entity that they were. These prophets are not like the people we see today who use the PT Barnum tactics on others. The false prophets of today use such vague “prophecies” that their message can apply to just about anyone. Yet the true prophets are specific, direct, powerful, and their results are many times immediate. There is hardly any comparison between the true prophets of Zedek to today’s prophets as we shall see. The power of the Zedek priests is so intense we even see non prophetic people, with evil intent, coming under the power of the Holy Spirit in the presence of the true prophets. This group of men and women are not born into this club, but instead work to become pure and stay pure so that they wield the miraculous into our world. These men and women are an example for us today, and this priesthood has not ended. We certainly have muddied the waters of the prophetic so it is time to go back to school to see what has been hiding in plain sight.   

Just to review the Book of Jasher a bit, Shem is called “Adoni-Zedek, Lord of Righteousness”. He is also called Melchizedek and was a priest king who started the first school for people to learn about El Elyon. Remember that Adoni-Zedek/Shem/Melchizedek died before Jacob went to Laban’s house; he is not the same Adonizedek of Joshua 10.

Jasher 16:11 And Adonizedek king of Jerusalem, the same was Shem, went out with his men to meet Abram and his people, with bread and wine, and they remained together in the valley of Melech. 12 And Adonizedek blessed Abram, and Abram gave him a tenth from all that he had brought from the spoil of his enemies, for Adonizedek was a priest before God.

Abraham and his people met with Shem and his men. Abraham grew up in Noah’s house and knew Shem so this was not a first time meeting. Shem was not a mystery priest, Abraham knew him well. Abraham funded Shem’s school with the spoils of war. Years later Abraham told Sarah that he was going to bring Isaac to Shem and Eber’s house to learn the ways of the Lord but in fact Abraham was bringing Isaac near the school, up to Mt Moriah. Apparently Sarah was a clingy mother and had a hard time releasing Isaac even though he was thirty seven years old. Shem and his grandson Eber were teaching others the ways of the Lord near Mt Moriah which is why it is interesting that Yahweh picked that place to test Abraham’s faithfulness.  

Jasher 23:5 My son Isaac is grown up and he has not for some time studied the service of his God, now tomorrow I will go and bring him to Shem, and Eber his son, and there he will learn the ways of the Lord, for they will teach him to know the Lord as well as to know that when he prayeth continually before the Lord, he will answer him, therefore there he will know the way of serving the Lord his God.

Isaac actually went to Shem and Eber’s school for three years after he came down from Mt Moriah. Mt Moriah is very near to where Shem and Eber had their school in Jebus/Jerusalem, in the land of Canaan. When Rebekah was having an unusual symptom with her pregnancy she consulted Shem and Eber as to what was happening. There were no ultrasounds back then.

Jasher 26:9 And in about seven months after the children struggled together within her, and it pained her greatly that she was wearied on account of them, and she said to all the women who were then in the land, Did such a thing happen to you as it has to me? and they said unto her, No. 10 And she said unto them, Why am I alone in this amongst all the women that were upon earth? and she went to the land of Moriah to seek the Lord on account of this; and she went to Shem and Eber his son to make inquiries of them in this matter, and that they should seek the Lord in this thing respecting her.

This area of Jebus/Jerusalem stayed isolated unto itself even after the sons of Jacob entered the Promised Land. The Zedek School continued until David took over the city and then put the tabernacle on the Jebusite threshing floor over the Gihon Spring. This is where Jacob spent many years in service to the Lord. As we know, Jacob and Esau were very different boys.

Jasher 26:17 And the boys grew up to their fifteenth year, and they came amongst the society of men. Esau was a designing and deceitful man, and an expert hunter in the field, and Jacob was a man perfect and wise, dwelling in tents, feeding flocks and learning the instructions of the Lord and the commands of his father and mother.

Jacob was wise, dwelling in tents, feeding flocks, and learning the instructions of the Lord. This means that Jacob was in service with Shem and Eber dwelling in tents. Esau was not inclined to serve the Lord. Jacob was not the kniving trickster we make him out to be. We have to learn to read the details of his story. In any event he spent thirty two years of additional study and service in the community of the Zedek’s with Shem and Eber.

Jasher 28: 18 At that time Isaac sent his younger son Jacob to the house of Shem and Eber, and he learned the instructions of the Lord, and Jacob remained in the house of Shem and Eber for thirty-two years, and Esau his brother did not go, for he was not willing to go, and he remained in his father's house in the land of Canaan.

That is a short history of the Zedek priesthood and its foundation. The Zedek priests were prophetic and lived in community with their families and worked to support themselves. As we see with Jacob, he tended flocks. Abraham donated spoils to Shem and Eber, and as we will see the Zedek priests and prophets continued well into the first century. This is the relationship that Abraham observed with Yahweh before there was a written law, or a temple, or any other code. The pure religion of Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were established and growing in Jebus. Abraham was called a prophet when he went into Egypt and that idea of one being a prophet carried a lot of weight.  

Gen 20:7 But now return the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live; but if thou restore her not, know that thou shalt die and all thine. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/

Jacob raised twelve sons and he prayed and prophesied over all of them. Joseph was prayed over by Jacob as a Nazarite, separate. Joseph’s blessings are greater than Abraham’s, Isaac’s and Jacob’s.

Gen 49:26 The blessings of your father [on you] are greater than the blessings of my forefathers [Abraham and Isaac on me] and are as lasting as the bounties of the eternal hills; they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him who was the consecrated one and the one separated from his brethren and [the one who] is prince among them.  AMP

OT:5139 naziyr (naw-zeer'); or nazir (naw-zeer'); from OT:5144; separate, i.e. consecrated (as prince, a Nazirite); hence (figuratively from the latter) an unpruned vine (like an unshorn Nazirite):KJV - Nazarite [by a false alliteration with Nazareth], separate (-d), vine undressed.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

It is interesting that Joseph was physically separated from his brothers for many years in Egypt, but also spiritually as a Nazarite. The Greek implies Joseph was ahead of his brothers, like in Joseph’s dream, he was before them. Joseph did not know Shem and Eber, and he did not attend their school, but Jacob prophesies that Joseph is separate, like the Zedek priests. There was a related group of people in Egypt who were part of the Zedek priests. In later years they were known as the Theapeutaes. We will focus on this idea next week, but for now it would not have been unusual for Zedek priests to have influenced Joesph, and he may have lived a covenant consecrated life for the Lord. We do know he somehow had a tremendous faith in the Lord even in his darkest hours, yet having been sold at a young age, he probably would have needed further schooling to be considered separated for the Lord.

Moving further into time in Egypt, Moses was a god and Aaron a prophet to Pharoh. Remember Moses’ relationship with Yahweh started before there was a law to follow. Moses, just like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as Jacob’s twelve sons didn’t have a written procedure to follow. Moses lived in Midian and his father-in-law was a priest, who just happens to be a grandson of Abraham. Moses met with Yahweh on Sinai, aka Mt Horeb for the first time. Moses received the commands after the exodus. The laws came later after the tabernacle was built. 

Exodus 7:1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Behold, I have made thee a god to Pharao, and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

Jacob spent thirty two years with Shem and Eber, and he prayed over Joseph, that he would be separate, or a “Nazarite”. Now Moses gets some directions for any man or women who wants to be separate, or a Nazarite. Notice both men and women are included in the opportunity here.

Num 6:1-8 AND THE Lord said to Moses,  2 Say to the Israelites, When either a man or a woman shall make a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, that is, one separated and consecrated to the Lord,  3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar of wine or of strong drink, and shall drink no grape juice, or eat grapes, fresh or dried. [Luke 1:15.]  4 All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing produced from the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins.  5 All the days of the vow of his separation and abstinence there shall no razor come upon his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow long.  6 All the days that he separates himself to the Lord he shall not go near a dead body.  7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father, mother, brother, or sister, when they die, because his separation and abstinence to his God is upon his head.  8 All the days of his separation and abstinence he is holy to the Lord. AMP

Numbers 6:2 G2980Speak G3588to the G5207sons G*of Israel! G2532And G2046you shall say G4314to G1473them,G435A man G2228or G1135woman, G3739who G302ever G3171should greatly G2172vow G2171a vow G850.3to purify oneself G47in purity G2962to the lord

Vow a vow to purify in purity. This is opened to both men and women, to whoever wants to vow a vow to purify themselves in purity. There is no bloodline involved. This is the order of Melchizedek. This order is not determined by heredity. It is not determined by location. It is also not determined by sacrifice in the temple. 

Mariam, being Moses’ older sister, got a little prideful. She may have believed that prophets were common in some families, but Yahweh set her straight. He says that he, Yahweh, will make himself known to prophets in visions, but Moses was extra special as Yahweh would speak to Moses mouth to mouth.

Numbers 12:1 And Mariam and Aaron spoke against Moses, because of the Ethiopian woman whom Moses took; for he had taken an Ethiopian woman. 2 And they said, Has the Lord spoken to Moses only? has he not also spoken to us? and the Lord heard it. 3 And the man Moses was very meek beyond all the men that were upon the earth. 4 And the Lord said immediately to Moses and Aaron and Mariam, Come forth all three of you to the tabernacle of witness. 5 And the three came forth to the tabernacle of witness; and the Lord descended in a pillar of a cloud, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of witness; and Aaron and Mariam were called; and both came forth. 6 And he said to them, Hear my words: If there should be of you a prophet to the Lord, I will be made known to him in a vision, and in sleep will I speak to him. 7 My servant Moses is not so; he is faithful in all my house. 8 I will speak to him mouth to mouth apparently, and not in dark speeches; and he has seen the glory of the Lord; and why were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 9 And the great anger of the Lord was upon them, and he departed. 10 And the cloud departed from the tabernacle; and, behold, Mariam was leprous, white as snow; and Aaron looked upon Mariam, and, behold, she was leprous. 11 And Aaron said to Moses, I beseech thee, my lord, do not lay sin upon us, for we were ignorant wherein we sinned. 12 Let her not be as it were like death, as an abortion coming out of his mother’s womb, when the disease devours the half of the flesh. 13 And Moses cried to the Lord, saying, O God, I beseech thee, heal her. 14 And the Lord said to Moses, If her father had only spit in her face, would she not be ashamed seven days? let her be set apart seven days without the camp, and afterwards she shall come in.15 And Mariam was separated without the camp seven days; and the people moved not forward till Mariam was cleansed. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/

Here we see that Moses encouraged prophecy. He wasn’t interested in being “the” prophet. But Abraham and Moses have quite a special relationship with Yahweh that seems to be mirrored in the Zedek priesthood. The key to the Zedek priesthood is the Spirit of the Lord. That has a very important understanding for us today. Consider this, selah.

Numbers 11:27 And a young man ran and told Moses, and spoke, saying, Eldad and Modad prophesy in the camp. 28 And Joshua the son of Naue, who attended on Moses, the chosen one, said, My lord Moses, forbid them. 29 And Moses said to him, Art thou jealous on my account? and would that all the Lord’s people were prophets; whenever the Lord shall put his spirit upon them. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/

By the time we get to the period of Judges, we can see that the region of Jebus, Jerusalem, the City of David, was not an Israelite habitation. It was a small circular area that was surrounded by the twelve tribes. This neutral city remained independent until David became king. This was the place where Shem and Eber taught people to worship the Lord. This was the first school establishing the priests of Zedek, Zadok, Zadik (remember that vowels vary in Hebrew). Shem was Adoni, Lord of Zadok, “righteousness”. This priesthood continued right on through to the first century. This is the order of Melchizedek, the same order that is not of lineage or heredity, but of people who choose this way of life. The very same order that Jesus is the High Priest of. Again, consider the Spirit of the Lord on this priesthood.

In this terrible account of rape and murder, a Levite passing through the region of Jebus decided not to stay there, but to go into the country of Benjamin.

Judg 19:10-12 But the man would not stay that night; so he rose up and departed and came opposite to Jebus, which is Jerusalem. With him were two saddled donkeys [and his servant] and his concubine. 11 When they were near Jebus, it was late, and the servant said to his master, Come I pray, and let us turn into this Jebusite city and lodge in it. 12 His master said to him, We will not turn aside into the city of foreigners where there are no Israelites. We will go on to Gibeah. AMP

This is the story of the Benjamites raping and murdering a Levite’s wife. The Benjamites wanted to rape the Levite but negotiated to throw the Levite’s wife out to them. The Levite was a coward, he was not a prophet, and he wielded no spiritual power. He would have been better off staying in Jebus. It is interesting that they considered those of the Jebusite region as “foreigners”. By the time the descendants of Jacob returned into the Canaanite land, the general population didn’t even know who the people of Jebus were. They didn’t know the stories of Abraham and Shem, or that Isaac and Jacob learned from Shem and Eber. They didn’t understand that Joseph was consecrated and a Nazarite to Yahweh. This particular Levite didn’t even know about the Zedek priests. Others did, such as Samuel, but it is interesting that this Levite didn’t consider them relatives but foreigners. At this same time, Samuel grows up and becomes a prophet.

1 Sam 3:20-21 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.21 And the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh through the word of the Lord. AMP

Saul goes looking for Samuel before Saul becomes king. He calls him the seer. Seer means someone who has discernment or perception.

1 Sam 9:18-19 Then Saul came near to Samuel in the gate and said, Tell me where is the seer's house? 19 Samuel answered Saul, I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today, and tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. AMP

Later, when David flees and goes to Samuel, we see Saul trying to apprehend David. But when they came to the school of the prophets where people were prophesying, the people Saul sent started prophesying too. This happened three times.  Now notice what happens to Saul.

1 Sam 19:18-24 So David fled and escaped and came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. 19 And it was told Saul, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. 20 And Saul sent messengers to take David; and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul and they also prophesied. 21 When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. 22 Then Saul himself went to Ramah and came to a great well that is in Secu; and he asked, Where are Samuel and David? And he was told, They are at Naioth in Ramah. 23 So he went on to Naioth in Ramah; and the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went on he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 He took off his royal robes and prophesied before Samuel and lay down stripped thus all that day and night. So they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? [1 Sam 10:10.] AMP

1 Sam 19:24G2532And G1562he took off G3588 G2440his clothes, G1473 G2532and G4395he prophesied G1799before G*Samuel. G2532And G4098he fell G1131naked G3650[2entire G3588 G22503day G15651that], G2532and G3650[2entire G3588 G35713night G15651that]. G1223Because of G3778this G3004they said, G1487Is G2532also G*Saul G1722among G4396the prophets?

In verse 20 we have the phrase “the company of the prophets”, the word company is ekklesia “the called out, the assembly”. This is the same word we use for church, which is not a building but people. This is a called out group of people prophesying. Someone told Saul that David was at the house of the called out prophets. Saul was obviously overcome due to the power of the Holy Spirit in the prophet school. Saul’s messengers were overcome and spontaneously prophesied, but Saul was so “under the power” he took off all his clothes and prophesied naked the entire night. What? We don’t hear about this type of power in Sunday school. The Spirit of the Lord was very strong and powerful in this school. They were doing something right at this school, so much so that people with evil intent end up naked and spontaneously prophesying. They probably didn’t mistake Saul for a prophet for long. If we only had enough pure separated Zedek type priests today, church television would be so much better. Naioth means ahabitation”, it is the dwelling place of the prophets of Samuel. Ramah is north of Jerusalem, northwest from the Dead Sea, not far from Jericho. Notice that this was not in Jerusalem, but is north of Jerusalem. We see Saul’s kingdom slipping from his hands, and after Samuel’s death he enquires of a necromancer to bring up Samuel because Yahweh would not speak to Saul himself or through the prophets.   

1 Sam 28:6 When Saul inquired of the Lord, He refused to answer him, either by dreams or by Urim [a symbol worn by the priest when seeking the will of God for Israel] or by the prophets. [Prov 1:24-30.] AMP

1 Sam 28:13G2532And G2036[3said G14734to her G35881the G9352king], G3361Do not G5399fear! G5100Whom G3708do you see? G2532And G2036[3said G35881the G11352woman] G4314to G*Saul, G2316I see magistrates G3708 G305ascending G1537from out of G3588the G1093earth.
14G2532And G2036he said G1473to her, G5100What did G1097you perceive? G2532And G2036she said G1473to him, G1088An aged man G305ascending G306being cloaked G1361.4in a double-garment. G2532And G1097Saul knew G* G3754that G3778this G*was Samuel. G2532And G2955he bowed G1909upon G4383the face G1909upon G3588the G1093ground, G2532an G4352he did obeisance to G1473him.

1 Sam 28:13 The king said to her, Be not afraid; what do you see? The woman said to Saul, I see a god [terrifying superhuman being] coming up out of the earth!  AMP

Magistrates is the word “Theos/Elohim”, “gods”, both of which are plural. She brings Samuel up and Saul mourns over Samuel’s words. David becomes king and then goes to Jebus to take it over.

1 Chron 11:4-8 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is Jebus, where the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were. 5 Then the Jebusites said to David, You shall not come in here! But David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the City of David. 6 And David said, Whoever smites the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander. Joab son of Zeruiah [David's half sister] went up first, and so he was made chief. 7 David dwelt in the stronghold; so it was called the City of David. 8 He built the city from the Millo [a fortification] on around; and Joab repaired and revived the rest of the [old Jebusite] city. AMP

This is the site of the true temple, not the temple mount, but is over the Gihon Springs, southwest of the present temple mount. After David establishes the City, he brings the tabernacle into the city. Priests of Zadok merge with the Levites to bring in the Ark of the Covenant. David institutes Zadok priests in service within the tabernacle. Solomon also had Zadok priests in the Temple. We have to remember that when David was on the run from Saul he went to Engedi. Engedi is a desert oasis along the Dead Sea. This is interesting because the prophets, the schools of prophets, the Zedek priests and the people of Shem and Eber’s school lived in this region. It is possible that along with Samuel’s school in Ramah, there were plenty of other prophets and groups of people who lived in the desert region that David came to know. David would not have merged idolatrous priests with the Levites, however we know that the Levites were not very clean or pure. It was probably a benefit for the Levites that the Zedek/Zadok priests brought a level of purity that they did not have. In fact, as we will see later, the Lord says he took some of the sons of Israel for priests and prophets, but they became defiled. Yet there were other regions in Israel that were significant for the prophetic. Nazareth is one place and Mt Carmel is another. Mt Carmel became a very holy place to the Israelites, probably due to Elijah’s time there. 

1 Kings 17:2-4 And the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 3 Go from here and turn east and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there. AMP

Elijah went east of the Jordon for a while and was fed by ravens. The Aramaic says ravens is a mistranslation and should be “Arabians”. That is possible, as Elijah was on a trade route. Elijah then had the miracle challenge with the prophets of Baal.

1 Kings 18:38-40 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and also licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and they said, The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God! 40 And Elijah said, Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one escape. They seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and [as God's law required] slew them there. [Deut 13:5; 18:20.] AMP

Elijah killed the prophets of Baal, and just like Samson killed the Philistines; prophets don’t seem to have a rule about not killing enemies. Elijah goes from Carmel by the Sea to Beersheba, eighty miles south to escape Jezebel. Then onto Mt Horeb (Mt Sinai). This is why the angels fed him, as the journey was too long to travel without food. This was not ordinary food, but “superfood” that gave him strength as if it were for forty days and nights.

1 Kings 19:15-18 And the Lord said to him, Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And anoint Jehu son of Nimshi to be king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah to be prophet in your place. 17 And him who escapes from the sword of Hazael Jehu shall slay, and him who escapes the sword of Jehu Elisha shall slay. 18 Yet I will leave Myself 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.  AMP

Look at this, he just got to the Sinai Peninsula, to the mountain of God, now he has to head back north all the way to Syria. Elijah probably stayed east of the Dead Sea and the Jordan, through his home town of Tishbe, and continued north to Damascus. Elisha is to be anointed as a prophet who will slay people if needed and there are seven thousand prophets that the Lord hid. Meanwhile, another prophet had to disguise himself to prophesy something to Ahab.  

1 Kings 20:35-38 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor, At the command of the Lord, strike me, I pray you. And the man refused to strike him. 36 Then said he to him, Because you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, behold, as soon as you have left me a lion will slay you. And as soon as he departed from him, a lion found him and killed him. 37 Then [the prophet] found another man and said, Strike me, I pray you. And the man struck him, so that in striking, he wounded him. 38 So the prophet departed and waited for King Ahab by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face. AMP

When we read “sons of the prophets” it means the “prophets in prophet school”; not a day care for children of the prophets. Elijah is almost ready to be taken up in the whirlwind and Elisha is with him. First they go to Bethel, then on to Jericho. Both places had people who were in prophet schools prophesying to Elisha about Elijah. Both men then went down to the Jordan River along with fifty men from the prophet schools.

2 Kings 2:1-7 WHEN THE Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were going from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, Tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to Bethel. But Elisha replied, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they went down to Bethel. 3 The prophets' sons who were at Bethel came to Elisha and said, Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today? He said, Yes, I know it; hold your peace. 4 Elijah said to him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho. But he said, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. So they came to Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said, Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today? And he answered, Yes, I know it; hold your peace. 6 Elijah said to him, Tarry here, I pray you, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan. But he said, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood [to watch] afar off; and the two of them stood by the Jordan. AMP

Elisha saw Elijah go up and received a double portion of Elijah’s miracle working power.

2 Kings 2:12-17 And Elisha saw it and he cried, My father, my father! The chariot of Israel and its horsemen! And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 And he took the mantle that fell from Elijah and struck the waters and said, Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? And when he had struck the waters, they parted this way and that, and Elisha went over. 15 When the sons of the prophets who were [watching] at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha. And they came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 16 And they said to him, Behold now, there are among your servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray you, and seek your master. It may be that the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley. And he said, You shall not send. 17 But when they urged him till he was embarrassed, he said, Send. So they sent fifty men, who sought for three days but did not find him. AMP

The fifty prophets went to look for Elijah for three days, meanwhile the whole region probably heard about Elijah going up in a chariot. Elisha cursed a few young mockers of Elijah.

2 Kings 2:23-25 He went up from Jericho to Bethel. On the way, young [maturing and accountable] boys came out of the city and mocked him and said to him, Go up [in a whirlwind], you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead! 24 And he turned around and looked at them and called a curse down on them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and ripped up forty-two of the boys. 25 Elisha went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria. AMP

One of the widowed wives of the prophets came to Elisha and he helped her with the increase of her supply of oil. This helps us to understand that the prophets at the prophet school were not necessarily celibate. They had spouses and children, and apparently debts.

2 Kings 4:1 NOW THE wife of a son of the prophets cried to Elisha, Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. But the creditor has come to take my two sons to be his slaves. AMP

Elisha hung around the prophet schools quite a bit.

2 Kings 4:38-41 Elisha came back to Gilgal during a famine in the land. The sons of the prophets were sitting before him, and he said to his servant, Set on the big pot and cook pottage for the sons of the prophets. 39 Then one went into the field to gather herbs and gathered from a wild vine his lap full of wild gourds, and returned and cut them up into the pot of pottage, for they were unknown to them. 40 So they poured it out for the men to eat. But as they ate of the pottage, they cried out, O man of God, there is death in the pot! And they could not eat it. 41 But he said, Bring meal [as a symbol of God's healing power]. And he cast it into the pot and said, Pour it out for the people that they may eat. Then there was no harm in the pot. AMP

After Elisha instructed Naaman to dip seven times in the Jordan, Naaman was healed. Elisha didn’t want any recompense, but Elisha’s servant Gehazi tried to scam Naaman for his own profit.

2 Kings 5:21-27 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him and said, Is all well? 22 And he said, All is well. My master has sent me to say, There have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. I pray you, give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments. 23 And Naaman said, Be pleased to take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of garments and laid them upon two of his servants, and they bore them before Gehazi. 24 When he came to the hill, he took them from their hands and put them in the house; and he sent the men away, and they left. 25 He went in and stood before his master. Elisha said, Where have you been, Gehazi? He said, Your servant went nowhere. 26 Elisha said to him, Did not my spirit go with you when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money, garments, olive orchards, vineyards, sheep, oxen, menservants, and maidservants?27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cleave to you and to your offspring forever. And Gehazi went from his presence a leper as white as snow. AMP

Gehazi used the excuse of the prophet school to get money from Naaman. Elisha said his spirit went with Gehazi. Elisha was a seer in real time. Gehazi’s purity was now corrupted. Gehazi and his family were forever cursed. Elisha and the prophets built another place to live near the Jordan. The Jordan river feeds into the Dead Sea.

2 Kings 6:1-4 THE SONS of the prophets said to Elisha, Look now, the place where we live before you is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan, and each man get there a [house] beam; and let us make us a place there where we may dwell. And he answered, Go. 3 One said, Be pleased to go with your servants. He answered, I will go. 4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. AMP

Elisha did many miracles and his stories are truly amazing. Unfortunately, Israel did not stay pure and as we know there were terrible things happening in the temple at Jerusalem including male and female prostitution, the worship of stars and cherubim, and passing children through the fire. If we notice, since David took over the threshing floor and Solomon built the temple, the prophet school and the prophets did not reside in Jerusalem. None of them performed services in the temple, they lived outside of Jerusalem, the old city of Jebus, in and around the Dead Sea and north in Carmel.  At the time of Josiah, Josiah was inspired to clean up the temple so he sent the priest Hilkiah to a prophetess to hear from the Lord.

2 Kings 22:14 So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. KJV

We have to wonder why the high priest and his fellow priests didn’t hear from the Lord. It is interesting that the prophets, men and women, were the ones that guided the nations, but the Levites and priests in the temple had gone very far off course. The word college here is “Mishnah” in Hebrew, in Greek it is “Masena”. This is an area of the lower city enclosed by a second wall, Acra/Akra, at the foot of Mt Zion. It was a “second quarter”, but was also known as a place of learning and studying of the Torah. Another usage of Mishnah occurs a little further along in this story. Clearly, we see here that there was a high priest, Hilkiah, who didn’t hear from the Lord, and he had to enquire with a women whose husband kept the robes. This is communal living. The schools and colleges of the prophets were communal societies, having everything in common and Huldah’s husband was the laundry service. Huldah is the important one in this story, although the writer mentions her husband, she is the one that hears from the Lord. This place, the second order, the second quarter, the college of the Mishnah, is a place where the High Priest and his fellow priests went and spoke to Huldah. She was a prophetess and she was living among priests of the “Mishnah”.  

2 Kings 23:4 And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, [Mishnah] and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel. KJV

This seems strange as there is a high priest and a priesthood in Jerusalem where the temple is and Josiah wants to clean up the town, but the high priest and his priesthood have to talk to a prophetess and priests of the Mishnah. This clearly tells us of two orders of priesthoods. And here, the priests from the Mishnah help clean up the temple. Just as David merged the Zadok priests into tabernacle service, there is obviously a group that stayed “separate”. We saw that Jacob noted Joseph as a Nazarite, or separate. Then we saw how prophets and prophet schools did not occupy the temple, but instead the areas surrounding the Dead Sea and Carmel. Now we see that at this time of terrible defilement in the temple there are prophets and priests that continue to hear from God; they were on the outskirts of town. Undoubtedly, even though the temple was not in use there were still Levitical priests, and there were some Zadok/Zedek priests in the outer parts of the city.

Yahweh is recounting the sins of Judah, mentioning the abominations in the temple and reminds them that He brought them out of Egypt. He says he even took some of the children for prophets and Nazarites.

Amos 2:11-12 And I raised up some of your sons for prophets and some of your young men for dedicated ones [Nazirites]. Is this not true, O you children of Israel? says the Lord. [Num 6:1-8.] 12 But you gave the dedicated ones [the Nazirites] wine to drink and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not. AMP

It seems interesting that there was already a prophetic order and a Nazarite order in Jerusalem/Jebus, and Yahweh says he raised up some of the children of the Exodus into prophets and Nazarites. But the people enticed them with wine and told them not to prophesy. We have previously studied how the Israelites came to the place where they didn’t want to hear any bad prophecies, even if they were true; and false prophets were able to rise up and lead everyone astray. But some moved away from the cities and lived away from the temple. As we have studied, there were very few Passovers actually observed. The people who stayed pure to the ways of Adoni-Zedek were the ones who maintained a pure adherence to Theos/Elohim. Shem instituted a school that lasted through the first century. The school grew and moved to various locations, as far north as Damascus and as far south as Egypt, including Carmel and the areas around the Dead Sea. There may have been some as far east as India. Ezekiel prophesied of the future of the Zadok priests. 

Ezek 48:10-12 And for these, even for the priests, shall be this holy offering of land: toward the north 25,000 [measures] in length, and toward the west 10,000 in breadth, and toward the east 10,000 in breadth, and toward the south 25,000 in length, and the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the midst of it. 11 The set-apart and sacred portion shall be for the consecrated priests of the sons of Zadok, who have kept My charge and who did not go astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the other Levites did. 12 And this land offering shall be for the priests as a thing most holy beside the border of the [other] Levites. AMP

The Zadok priests will receive the set-apart and sacred portion of the sanctuary. The Zedek priests are the priests of the future temple. While the priesthood of the Levites is acceptable, it is not pure nor exclusive to the temple. We know in the future that there will be a temple for perpetual sacrifices before the son of perdition is exposed, this has to be done by Levites as the Zedek priests will not be on earth at that time. Samuel’s group was the “Called Out Prophets”, the ekklesia.


This understanding has tremendous implications for the Christian Church and the Body of Christ. The Christians have been told that their faith started at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus, when Jesus died, resurrected, and ascended. We are told the birth of the church was on the day of Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit infilled disciples to now reside within the believer. What we more clearly see is the roots of the beliefs of Enoch, Shem, Eber, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha and the like, were rooted in the knowledge of Enoch and Shem’s way of living in purity. From that incomplete list, Enoch and Elijah were pure enough to be taken before their physical death and will return to witness during the first half of the tribulation before they are physically killed. The Zedek priests and prophets are very powerful miracle workers. Furthermore, we know that the Levites did not have the power the Zedek’s did. The Holy Spirit resided on a large number of men and women who were separated in the order of Melchi-zedek. The power of the Zedek’s is not lost, it is available today. The Zedek’s did not worship in the temple exclusively, they mostly worshipped in homes and lived communally, traveling and building wherever they were. They were not bound to the laws and ritual services that the Levites and Israelites were. We also know that the called out, the ekklesia, are called up and are found singing about being redeemed before the first seal is opened. The separate ones are the redeemed, but not all redeemed are priests in the order of Zedek. To have the power of the Zedek priests one has to be schooled, pure, and have the Holy Spirit’s indwelling. How does one become pure is a question we will explore next week. If we remember from last week, God wants to walk with humans, it is up to us to decide if we want to. We will examine this further and determine the roots of our faith. 

Monday, January 18, 2016

The God Who Walks with Man; Melchizedek, Jebusites, Essenes; Jesus’ Priestly Order

Who is the God that walks with man? This seems like a backward question and one might think the question should be asked ‘who is the man who walks with God?’ But throughout history, there is only one God who walks with man. Every ancient culture has stories of gods and demi-gods who war amongst themselves and enslave men and women to their own wills, but the God of the Bible is very different from those gods. While cultures and names for gods vary, we can trace a few common points in history that will help unfold the age old questions of gods, demi-gods, and the God of the Bible. Theological scholars usually take a dismissive approach when it comes to the idea that the God of the Hebrews was not the same God as the god(s) of the Chaldeans, Canaanites, Hittites, etc. They seem to believe that all ancient cultures’ gods were derived from similar stories, therefore they were the same. However, most theologians study the Bible from the Masoretic text. They make observations, and theories, and grammatical models from text that was written and altered by several individuals dating from 300 CE to 1000 CE, yet the oldest text of the scriptures we have available is the Greek Septuagint dated 300 BCE. The next oldest text we have is the Samarian Pentateuch, dated 200 BCE. We find the Septuagint and the Samarian Pentateuch typically agree with very few differences, while the Masoretic text differs from both. We have identified many Masoretic alterations and we will keep that in mind as we search out the text.   

When we read of ancient creation stories of how the world was formed we see a few similarities, including the idea of chaos and water. Interestingly, the Hebrew, Christian, and Muslim creation stories are almost the same, and very different from other cultures’ mythology. We know from the historical record of Jasher, that Nimrod is the one who changed and distorted creation history. In fact, the earliest recorded stories come out of Babylon. The Enuma Enlish is an interesting read but it bears no resemblance to Genesis. Genesis is the only account that shows man was cared for by Theos/Elohim, and Theos/Elohim visited man in paradise. Food was provided for man as part of the creation, and man was given a position of authority over the creation. In all other accounts of creation, man was not a cared for being, and man did not have a position of authority over the earth. Adam was in charge of the garden and the animals, and God had Adam name the animals. In other creation stories man was used and abused by the gods, and demi-gods at their will. It is an opposite view compared to the Genesis account. Yet we have recorded accounts of Yahweh walking and talking with humans. This is a very different God who likes humans and wants to be connected to them as compared to all the other creation stories out there.

One of the first things to consider here is that Adam was with Eve at the time of their disobedience. It may be that Adam was being tempted by the serpent just like Eve, but Adam was the one who received the directive not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. After Eve ate, she gave the fruit to Adam who was with her. Now that both ate they both recognized they were naked. Whatever their covering was before they ate, they lost it, whether spiritual or physical, their disobedience left them uncovered, so they attempted to cover themselves.

Gen 3:6And G2983having taken G3588the G2590fruit G1473of it,G2068she ate, G2532and G1325she gave G2532also G3588toG435her husband G1473 G3326with G1473her, G2532and G2068they ate.
 7G2532And G1272[5were opened wide G35881the G37882eyes G35883of the G14174two], G2532and G1097they knew G3754that G1131they were naked. G1510.7.6 G2532AndG4475.2they sewed G5444leaves G4808of a fig-tree, G2532and G4160made G1473to themselves G4023.1loincloths.
 8G2532And G191they heard G3588the G5456voice G2962of the lord G3588 G2316God G4043walking G1722in G3588the G3857paradise G3588 G1168.1at dusk

They heard the voice of Aleph Tav Yahweh Elohim. They heard the voice of Alpha Omega Kurios Theos. Both texts identify Yahweh/Kurios Elohim/Theos as Aleph Tav/Alpha Omega, #H853, #G3588. It is interesting that Elohim Aleph Tav/Theos Alpha Omega is used through Genesis 1-2:4, but once man is created and mentioned, the addition of Yahweh/Kurios is added. This tells us that lord is used in relation to man/Anthropos and not just in relation to the creation of the earth. Kurios/Yahweh is Lord over humans. Now consider this, this God is called Alpha Omega Kurios Theos, or Aleph Tav Yahweh Elohim, and is walking and speaking in paradise at dusk, meeting with Adam and Eve. This is a face to face meeting. This is not God calling from the clouds or sending a lightning bolt, this is a very personal meeting. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-choice-aleph-and-tav-part-1-of.html

Gen 3:8G2532And G2928[5hid G3739 G50371both G*2AdamG25323and G3588 G11354his wife] G1473 G575from G4383the face G2962of the lord G3588 G2316God G1722in G3319the midst G3588of the G3586tree G3588of the G3857paradise.
 9G2532And G2564God called G3588 G2316 G3588 G*Adam, G2532andG2036said G1473to him, G*Adam, G4226Where G1510.2.2are you?
 10G2532And G2036he said G1473to him, G3588 G5456[2your voice G1473 G1911I heard] G4043while walking G1722in G3588the G3857paradise, G2532and G5399I feared, G3754for G1131I am naked, G1510.2.1 G2532and G2928I hid.
 11G2532And G2036[2said G14733to him G3588 G23161God], G5100Who G312announced G1473to you G3754that G1131you are naked, G1510.2.2 G1508unless G575from G3588the G3586tree G3739of which G1781I gave charge G1473to you, saying, G3778This G3441alone G3361you are not G2068to eat G575from G1473it --G2068you ate

Anthropos was given the ability to choose, and as we know Adam’s choice changed everything. It is hard to imagine what it would be like to live in a luxurious garden paradise with no knowledge of anything else. What we do know is that that choice made everything change, not just the ground which became thorns and thistles, but it changed dynamics in the animal kingdom as well. Have you ever been tempted to do something different than what you usually do because you believe the hype that the new thing will be better, only to find out that it was not better at all? Imagine living in paradise where all you know is paradise, and you make a choice to leave paradise for what is different (remember The Truman Show?). Ever since that time when paradise had to be closed, humankind has longed to get back to the garden. And really who doesn’t want to run around naked in a luxurious garden? As we have studied, the first part of Jesus’ plan was to open paradise for the dead redeemed. Now there is a way back to the paradise of the delicacy. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/09/eden-garden-of-god-jesus-plan-for-lower.html

Even though paradise was lost, AO Theos/AT Elohim, who is now Kurios/Yahweh over mankind still came to meet with, walk with, and talk with humans. One of the great differences between the Genesis stories and other creation stories is that the people who Theos/Elohim meet with are not trying to win a war or conquer a land when they attempt to invoke help from the gods; instead they are simply reverent to the Creator. The Creator is also not changing and rearranging the dynamics of man’s everyday life, but instead is guiding man as to what to do. The dynamics of interacting with Theos/Elohim changed with Adam’s decision. No longer could humans and God walk together unless the human had faith that He Is.

One of the reasons we have mythologies of gods and demi-gods is because some angels decided to leave their angelic bodies and become human-like and procreate with earthly women. We looked at the race that was created through that union last week, the Nephil. This was a race of demi-gods, part angelic and part human. They were tyrants, and became overlords to mankind, and were large in stature. The flood was necessary to keep humankind from extinction.

Gen 5:22-24 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. KJV

Gen 5:24G2532AndG2100Enoch was well-pleasingG* G3588toG2316God.G2532AndG3756he was notG2147found,G3754forG3346[2transposedG14733himG3588 G23161God]

Notice the word transposed, #G3346 as well as #G3331 following in Hebrews. Transposed and transposition mean changing places. Enoch was found well-pleasing to the AO Theos/AT Elohim.  Enoch did not experience death due to his living witness of being well pleasing to Theos. Some would say that this is a contradiction to the idea that it is appointed once for every man to die, Hebrews 9:27, however Enoch will die. Enoch and Elijah both were taken off the earth and both return as the two witnesses who will be killed by Apollyon. In order to be killed and risen up in three days the two witnesses have to have physical bodies, and both Enoch and Elijah still have their physical bodies. So there is no contradiction as every man is appointed to die, the question simply becomes when. Then, after death there is judgment; which is interesting because right after the two witnesses die they join with others at Jesus’ coronation and rewards ceremony. For typical man, the judgment is paradise or hades at the time of death. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2013/03/benchmarks-for-end-two-witnesses.html

Hebrews 11:5G4102By belief G*Enoch G3346was transposed G3588 G3361to not G1492know G2288death, G2532and G3756was not G2147found, G1360because G3346[2transposed G14733him G3588 G23161God]; G4253for before G1063 G3588 G3331his transposition G1473 G3140he bore witness G2100to have been well-pleasing G3588to G2316God.

This gives us a great insight as to what it takes for humans to now walk personally with Theos/Elohim. Pistis is moral conviction #G4102. This is necessary (#G1163) and is a binding conviction. That is what makes approaching Theos possible and Theos rewards/pays those who behold this conviction.

Hebrews11:6G5565But apart from G1161 G4102belief G102it is impossible G2100to well-please; G4100[6to believe G10631for G11632it is necessary G35883for the one G43344coming forward G3588 G23165to God] G3754that G1510.2.3he is; G2532and G3588to the ones G1567seeking after G1473him G3406[2a paymaster G10961he becomes].

This is the commonality of those people we see who walked with Theos/Elohim. They had moral conviction that He exists. This again is quite different from the gods of other ancient cultures. There is no ritual preformed here. There is no sacrifices being made by Enoch to invoke a response from the emotionally unbalanced gods above. No pentagrams, blood, or batwings; just being convinced of his existence is all. This is the simplicity of relationship with Theos/Elohim and again faith is a rare procedure compared to the other ancient stories of men connecting with gods. One will now consider the contradiction of the Deuteronomical and Levitical laws that seem to require sacrifices and purification rituals. We will look at this idea and why it came to be shortly. But first let’s look at Abraham. There are many people who communicated directly with Theos/Elohim, but we will look at Abram/Abraham as he has a lifestyle we should take note of.

Gen 12:1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: KJV

Gen 12:7 And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.KJV

The Lord over man, Kurios/Yahweh directs Abram and appears to him. The word appears #G3708 means “to see, or to look upon”. Abram had a personal relationship with Kurios/Yahweh and he then built an altar. He did not build the altar first to invoke a response from a god, he communed with Kurios/Yahweh, then built an altar, then left. Abram didn’t stay near the altar, he used it once and then left, then built another altar somewhere else. There were no perpetual or repeated sacrifices, in fact we don’t even know if this altar was an altar for blood sacrifice, all we know is he made an altar, worshipped, and then left.

We come to a time in Abram’s life where he meets up with Melchizedek/Shem. This is an important understanding, Shem, Noah’s son, lived in the land of Canaan, in a place eventually known as a Jebusite city, Jerusalem. He had a school there where Isaac spent three years, and Jacob spent over thirty years. The Book of Jasher gives us the historical insights we need for understanding.  

Jasher 16:11 And Adonizedek king of Jerusalem, the same was Shem, went out with his men to meet Abram and his people, with bread and wine, and they remained together in the valley of Melech. 12 And Adonizedek blessed Abram, and Abram gave him a tenth from all that he had brought from the spoil of his enemies, for Adonizedek was a priest before God. http://www.ccel.org/a/anonymous/jasher/16.htm

At Sarah’s death:

Jasher 24:14 And at her bier was Shem, his sons Eber and Abimelech, together with Anar, Ashcol and Mamre, and all the grandees of the land followed her bier.
Jasher 24:17 And when the days of their mourning passed by Abraham sent away his son Isaac, and he went to the house of Shem and Eber, to learn the ways of the Lord and his instructions, and Abraham remained there three years.

Jasher 28:18 At that time Isaac sent his younger son Jacob to the house of Shem and Eber, and he learned the instructions of the Lord, and Jacob remained in the house of Shem and Eber for thirty-two years, and Esau his brother did not go, for he was not willing to go, and he remained in his father's house in the land of Canaan.
Jasher 28:24 And it came to pass in those days, in the hundred and tenth year of the life of Isaac, that is in the fiftieth year of the life of Jacob, in that year died Shem the son of Noah; Shem was six hundred years old at his death. 25 And when Shem died Jacob returned to his father to Hebron which is in the land of Canaan.

Let’s get the picture, Shem was a human lord (Adoni) living in the valley of Melech (king) of Salem (peace) or Jebu (Jebus/Jerusalem Judge 19:10) salem. In other words, Shem was a lord and king in a valley called “peace or peaceful”. Now let’s make our timeline as we did in elementary school so as not to confuse the first Adonizedek with the second Adonizedek from Joshua 10. The first Adonizedek, lord and king of salem died before Jacob went to Laban’s house. The second lord and king of salem died at the time of Joshua. Later, in David’s time, David overtook the Jebusite land and spared the Jebusites. David bought the threshing floor of a Jebusite and put the tabernacle on it, also having Solomon build the temple there. David had numbered the people and the people were dying until David set up an altar and Kurios/Yahweh accepted his offering. Zedek is tsedeq and means “the right, natural moral or legal, or righteous”. Zadok, tsadak, means “morally right, clean and righteous”, and it is the priesthood of Zadok that carried the Ark of the Covenant along with the Levites. So we see the emergence of a pure priesthood, the priesthood of Zadok/Zedek come out of the Jebusite land, where Shem and Eber had a school for learning to worship Theos/Elohim. Adoni-Zedek was lord of righteousness and the priests of Zedek/Zadok were priests of righteousness. Originally Zadok/Zedek was not the name of a person but a priesthood in Shem’s time. Later people took Zadok as a name which is a point of confusion if we think it is only a human name not a title.  http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/12/chastening-when-yahweh-chastens.html

During the second temple period contentions arose between the lineage of Zadok and the Levites. The Levites had gone astray and led the Israelites astray. The Zadok priesthood became known as the Essenes of which, John the Baptist was an Essene, a Qumran Essene. Jesus was also an Essene, a Nazarene Essene. The Qumran Essenes were desert dwellers who adhered to celibacy, while the Nazarene Essenes lived near Mount Carmel and were family oriented Essenes. We start to gain some insight here as to why Jesus primarily ministered in the north and why there are many contradictions regarding sacrifices between the Levites and the Essenes affecting certain books of the Bible. Incidentally, Elijah was an Essene from Mt Carmel where the school of the prophets was established. The Essenes had a particular set of religious practices that both John and Jesus adhered to. The Essenes were a third faction of religious people, in the time of the first century along with the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Essenes believed in Jesus’ Messiahship which caused later Jews, the Masorete’s, to attempt to erase the Essene history along with Jesus. This is why we see books like Jeremiah and Daniel chopped up by the Masorete’s, because they joined to Levitical ideologies and practices rather than Zadok and Essene ideologies and practices, even though they knew the Levites practiced idolatry and legalism. Notice all the other books the Masorete’s discarded as well. This is why Jesus was not accepted by the Pharisees, Sadducees, the Priests, and later the Masorete’s. Again, to be clear, on one side of the fence we have Levites, Pharisees, Sadducees, and later Masorete’s leading to the practice of Judaism. On the other side of the fence we have Zadok-ites, Essenes, John the Baptist, Jesus, leading to the practice of Christianity. 

Notice this, vein one came from Enoch, Noah, and Shem then Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, learned from Shem and Eber. Next Jacob’s heirs (as told to Abraham) spent over 400 years in captivity, eventually moving back to the land where Shem, Eber, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived. In vein two we have Enoch, Noah, Shem, Eber, Jebusites, Zadok, and Essenes. These people had populated the land since Shem moved there and started a school of worship. They did not go into captivity in Egypt, they were not disposed, and in fact, David merged the Israelites into the Jebusite territory and culture, using the Jebusite threshing floor as a place for an altar and the eventual temple. This is the city of David. David, a man after God’s own heart, recognized who the Jebusites were and merged the people. Solomon also installed Zadok priests in the temple.     

This Jebusite land was in the land of Canaan. Who was Canaan? He was the fourth son of Ham, brother of Cush who was the father of Nimrod. Canaan decided to reside in Shem’s portion of land and as Noah had divided the land and pronounced a curse on anyone who would take someone else’s land. Canaan was prophesied to be Shem’s servant, Gen 9:26-27. The Canaanites lived among Shem and Eber and worshipped a God named El Elyon, just like the Israelites. They had some further mixing with angelic beings, but we are not sure if they were descendants of the Nephil or if there were another group of angelic beings that mixed with humans. Either way, they did worship in their early years the same God, Theos/Elohim, as the line of Shem did. Remember that Abraham married Keturah, a Canaanite, and had six sons with her. Abraham sent his sons south, knowing that the Canaanite’s were to lose their land in the future. One of those Canaanite heirs, Jethro, was Moses’ father-in-law, from the land of Midian. They called Theos Elohim, El, which means “highest”. Let’s look at Genesis 14 and notice the word El, #H410, Highest or Supreme #H5945, Highest or Supreme #G5310.

Gen 14:18-22 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, KJV

OT:410 'el (ale); shortened from OT:352; strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity): KJV - God (god),  goodly,  great, idol, might (-y one), power, strong. Compare names in "-el."(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
OT:5945 'elyown (el-yone'); from OT:5927; an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.); as title, the Supreme: KJV - (Most, on) high (-er, -est), upper (-most). (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

As the Hebrew notes, Shem was a priest of the Most High, El Elyon, and Abram was also of the Most High El Elyon, the possessor of heaven and earth. The Greek says Shem was a priest of Theos Alpha Omega Highest who is the Creator of heaven and earth. The Hebrew suggest ownership of the heavens and earth, and the Greek suggests creatorship of the heavens and earth.

Gen 14:18G2532And G*Melchizedek G935king G*of Salem G1627brought forth G740bread loaves G2532and G3631wine. G1510.7.3And he was G1161 G2409priest G3588 G2316of God G3588the G5310highest.
 19G2532And G2127he blessed G1473him. G2532And G2036he said, G2127Abram, a blessing G* G3588 G2316to God G3588the G5310highest, G3739who G2936created G3588the G3772heaven G2532and G3588the G1093earth.
 20G2532And G2128blessed be G3588 G2316God G3588the G5310highest G3739who G3860delivered up G3588 G2190your enemies G1473 G5297.2under your hands G1473to you. G2532And G1325[2gave G14733to him G*1Abram] G1181a tenth G575from G3956all.
 21G2036And said G1161 G935the king G*of Sodom G4314to G*Abram, G1325Give G1473to me G3588the G435men, G3588but the G1161 G2462cavalry G2983you take G4572to yourself!
 22G2036[3said G11611And G*2Abram ]G4314to G3588theG935king G*of Sodom, G1614I will stretch out G3588 G5495my hand G1473 G4314to G2962the lord G3588 G2316God G3588the G5310highest, G3739who G2936created G3588the G3772heaven G2532and G3588the G1093earth

#G5310 hupsistos  hoop'-sis-tos Superlative from the base of G5311highest, that is, (masculine singular) the Supreme (God), or (neuter plural) the heavens

El Elyon is the same Theos/Elohim worshiped by Shem, the Jebusites, the Canaanites, Abraham, and eventually the Israelites. But just as all cultures decayed spiritually from the precepts of Enoch, Noah, Shem, and Abraham, the Canaanites eventually fell into idolatry. But let’s not forget, even after the Israelites entered the Promised Land at the time of the Judges, the Israelites worshipped many gods as we studied previously. So the idea of the Israelites exclusively worshipping one God is inaccurate. I would imagine that Babylon corrupted all the nations and all the lands just like a virus spreads between humans, or in computers, the idolatry of Babylon infiltrated all societies. But even so, there is a Theos/Elohim who comes into our dimensional realm and walks with humans. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2015/11/sex-cults-sacred-groves-ephods-teraphim.html

Gen 18:1-5 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. KJV

Gen 18:20-22 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord. KJV

Gen 18:33 And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place. KJV

What we see here is Theos/Elohim communing with Abraham, and Abraham speaking and negotiating just as he might with a business deal. This is why Kurios/Yahweh Theos/Elohim stayed faithful to Abraham’s lineage, because, like Enoch, Abraham had the moral conviction that He exists. And if we keep in mind, Jacob studied under Shem and Eber for thirty two years, El Elyon stayed faithful to Jacob’s heirs because of Jacob’s commitment. What we then notice is God’s attempt to bring all of Jacob’s heirs into relationship with Him. Remember, some of Shem’s heirs remained in the land they were called to inherit and they worshipped there until the Israelites came into the land in the time of David. The Zadokites never left their promised portion. Moses came from the Levitical tribe and he had a face to face relationship with Yahweh/Kurios, even being so bold as to ask Kurios/Yahweh to go with them and to show him His glory.   

Ex 33:11 And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. KJV

Ex 33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. KJV

In keeping with his faithfulness, El Elyon, the Creator, kept his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but His promises were not exclusive to the Israelites only. The heirs of Shem had been following proper worship practices, and teaching their surrounding neighbors, as well as Abraham’s six sons from Keturah. Jethro was the one who taught Moses about Yahweh/Kurios. So we may have to put off the Masoretic religious ideas and see through some of the contentions the Jews have had with other people groups. And in addition we have to understand the spiritual class of beings, which the nation’s thought of as gods because the nations were scattered according to the number of angels of Theos, noting that the nations have angelic beings, hosts, armies, assigned to them.  

Deut 32:8G3753When G1266[3divided 5into parts G35881theG53102highest G14844nations], G5613as G1289he disseminated G5207the sonsG*of Adam, G2476he set G3725the borders G1484of nations G2596according to G706the number G32of the angels G2316of God;

From this point let’s ponder a different perspective than the typically told story of the laws. The Israelites were in a land where they and the inhabitants worshipped many gods, they even made a calf on the way to the Promised Land; and once they entered the Promised Land they still had houses of gods, and worshiped Ephods and the like. But the laws seem to have come out of the idea of how to approach a Holy God. Purity is helpful, and belief that He exists brings a personal relationship, but how does one direct an entire nation that has just come from a land of idolatry into a worship practice to connect to El Elyon? While there may have been several writers of the Torah, and there may have been a progression of practices over time, the jumping off point may have come from the idea that the Creator is “a-sexual” and eternal. Therefore purification rites were established to cleanse humans from bodily discharges both life-giving fluids and fluids due to death. It may be that they figured the Eternal Creator could not connect with mortality so humans had to be cleansed from death. And since the Creator was both male and female the practice of procreation or spilling one’s life seed would make one unclean in that it showed a male (or female) was only partially like the Creator. Therefore the laws were an attempt to make humans “like” Theos/Elohim. Once purified from life and death, man can approach Theos/Elohim. This has huge implications for our understanding if we think about this. Selah.

This seems like a rational approach in keeping the nation of Israel clean, but it was not the practice of Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob, nor the practice of the Zadok priests. Yet if one has to strip idolatry from the nation, a set of rules seems like the way to do it. But again it was not the practice of the patriarchs. So all the books of the laws and the prophets are an attempt to bring Jacob’s heirs into a personal relationship with Kurios/Yahweh, the Lord of humans. This is the opposite of the other nations’ creation practices, where sexual rites and rituals were a way to appease gods and appropriate good fortune. And as we have studied, there was a whole host of crazy practices in the temple from the time of the kingdom split (remember our time line) until the glory left the temple at the time of Ezekiel including male and female prostitution. Remember that the Passover was hardly ever practiced in Israel, even though it seems to be something the nation was to do every year. They hardly ever observed Passover. The Israelites never really put off the practices of idolatry, but by the time of the second temple Ezra attempted to purify the nation by putting off spouses from other lands, which just having come out of captivity was no small task. This is probably one of the places where the doctrines of exclusivity of the Jews comes from. http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2014/03/passover-male-prostitution-in-temple.html

At the time of Jesus’ birth, the angels made an announcement to shepherds for the whole world.

Luke 2:10-14 But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. 11 For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord! [Mic 5:2.] 12 And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find [after searching] a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. [1 Sam 2:34; 2 Kings 19:29; Isa 7:14.] 13 Then suddenly there appeared with the angel an army of the troops of heaven (a heavenly knighthood), praising God and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased [men of goodwill, of His favor]. AMP

A deliverer who is the Anointed Messiah Kurios was born in the former Jebusite city of David. And there was a large number of the military of heaven praising Theos saying glory to the highest, or supreme, Theos. Near the end of Jesus’ time on earth we see the people crying out hosanna, meaning “save!” It’s a call for help, just as in Sodom and Gomorrah, Kurios/Yahweh came because he heard their cry. But this cry for help is not in desperation as much as it is said in joy because they recognize Jesus as Messiah. Again, the idea of the highest or supreme is culturally known. And keep in mind the Magi knew El Elyon and found the Messiah and they were from Babylon.

Matt 21:9 And the crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed Him kept shouting, Hosanna (O be propitious, graciously inclined) to the Son of David, [the Messiah]! Blessed (praised, glorified) is He Who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna (O be favorably disposed) in the highest [heaven]! [Ps 118:26.] AMP

Jesus told us how to become sons of the Most High and it does not include following laws or religious practices. Instead it involves a compassionate approach to humans.

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies and be kind and do good [doing favors so that someone derives benefit from them] and lend, expecting and hoping for nothing in return but considering nothing as lost and despairing of no one; and then your recompense (your reward) will be great (rich, strong, intense, and abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and the selfish and wicked. AMP

We see once again Jesus changed everything. We have Kurios/Yahweh, Lord over man who wants to spend time with man. From the time of the garden, Kurios/Yahweh provided for humans. Some faithful humans communed with Kurios/Yahweh and the Lord over humans kept faithful to the heirs of the faithful. It was not just the sons of Jacob who were “special”, but many of the sons of Shem who occupied the land and never went into Egypt. The laws and rules became more important to the leaders than their personal relationship with the Lord Most High and the Israelites continued in the same idolatrous practices eventually bringing defiled practices into the temple. After the captivity, the religious leaders split into two groups, the Levites and the Zadokites. Further divisions occurred after Jesus came and the Jews who rejected Jesus associated with the Levites while the Jews who received Jesus scribed and preserved some text, hiding them in clay pots in caves. But if we want to contend as to Jesus’ Messiahship we can look at what spirits seem to think of Jesus.  http://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2015/09/addicted-to-delusion-craft-of-delusion.html

Luke 8:28 And when he saw Jesus, he raised a deep (terrible) cry [from the depths of his throat] and fell down before Him [in terror] and shouted loudly, What have You [to do] with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? [What have we in common?] I beg You, do not torment me!  AMP

Acts 16:17She kept following Paul and [the rest of] us, shouting loudly, These men are the servants of the Most High God! They announce to you the way of salvation! AMP

We see a spiritual authority ascribed to Jesus, as Jesus has the power to torment other spiritual beings. And we see Paul called a servant of the Most High who announces the way of salvation. There is no temple, so if one is assuming there is a law that will help man’s corruptible condition, and a sacrifice that will purify humans, one will die in his/her sins. Also, as reiterated by Stephen, it does not seem as if El Elyon, AO Kurios Theos/AT Yahweh Elohim resides in physical buildings.

Acts 7:48-50 However, the Most High does not dwell in houses and temples made with hands; as the prophet says, [Isa 66:1,2.] 49 Heaven [is] My throne, and earth the footstool for My feet. What [kind of] house can you build for Me, says the Lord, or what is the place in which I can rest? 50 Was it not My hand that made all these things? [Isa 66:1,2.] AMP

Considering this idea, isn’t it understandable how Paul explains that we are the temple of Theos, 1Corinthians 3:16? Kurious Theos/Yahweh Elohim wants to walk with you. As Israel believed they were exclusive and central to the whole world, we understand that they were not the only ones Yahweh wanted to walk with. We also see a more pure priesthood in the tribe of Zadok, who were priests in Jebu before the Israelites came out of Egypt. Now we have a priest from that order who is our high priest. 

Ps 110:4 The Lord has sworn and will not revoke or change it: You are a priest forever, after the manner and order of Melchizedek. [Heb 5:10; 7:11,15,21.] AMP

Heb 5:6As He says also in another place, You are a Priest [appointed] forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek. [Ps 110:4.] AMP

Heb 5:9-10 And, [His completed experience] making Him perfectly [equipped], He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him, [Isa 45:17.] 10 Being designated and recognized and saluted by God as High Priest after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek. [Ps 110:4.] AMP

Heb 6:20 Where Jesus has entered in for us [in advance], a Forerunner having become a High Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek. [Ps 110:4.] AMP

Heb 7:8-11 Furthermore, here [in the Levitical priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; while there [in the case of Melchizedek], they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives [perpetually]. 9 A person might even say that Levi [the father of the priestly tribe] himself, who received tithes (the tenth), paid tithes through Abraham, 10 For he was still in the loins of his forefather [Abraham] when Melchizedek met him [Abraham]. 11 Now if perfection (a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper) had been attainable by the Levitical priesthood — for under it the people were given the Law — why was it further necessary that there should arise another and different kind of Priest, one after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed after the order and rank of Aaron? AMP

Heb 7:15-19 And this becomes more plainly evident when another Priest arises Who bears the likeness of Melchizedek, [Ps 110:4.] 16 Who has been constituted a Priest, not on the basis of a bodily legal requirement [an externally imposed command concerning His physical ancestry], but on the basis of the power of an endless and indestructible Life. 17 For it is witnessed of Him, You are a Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek. [Ps 110:4.] 18 So a previous physical regulation and command is cancelled because of its weakness and ineffectiveness and uselessness —  19 For the Law never made anything perfect — but instead a better hope is introduced through which we [now] come close to God. AMP

Heb 7:21 For those who formerly became priests received their office without its being confirmed by the taking of an oath by God, but this One was designated and addressed and saluted with an oath, The Lord has sworn and will not regret it or change His mind, You are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.  [Ps 110:4.]  AMP


Melchizedek is Shem, and the first Jebusite king Adonizedek, Lord of Righteousness. The Jebusite priests were of Shem and Eber’s school. The Zedek/Zadok priests always lived in the land of Jerusalem. Jesus is of the order of the Melchizedek priesthood. Salvation was not attainable through the Levitical Laws or through the order and rank of Aaron. We see why the Masorete’s attempted to erase Melchizedek because the law made their religion dead, just as Jesus’ way of salvation made the Masorete’s religion dead. The law never made anything perfect. And because the Essenes were descendants of the tribe of Zadok the Essenes were dismissed and erased as well. Yet AO Kurious Theos/AT Yahweh Elohim wants to walk with humans. The lord of humanity wants a relationship with you. He seeks you out and all you need is the moral conviction that he exists.