The Real Yeshua

Festivals were very much a part of ancient life, and people were prepared to endure crowded conditions and long journeys in order to participate. People travelled in groups to Jerusalem for the Passover and the other two major festivals -- Shavuot and Sukkot . The large caravans in which many travelled also protected the temple tax which they brought from lands outside of Israel. [1] They came by land all the way from Babylon . [2] Caravans and ships also brought groups of pilgrims from Syria , Asia Minor and North Africa . [3] Galileans and Idumaeans also travelled in companies to Jerusalem. [4] There is no reason to exclude secular ditties, jokes, and more wine than usual at night. The Jewish festivals were like Christmas: a blend of piety, good cheer, hearty eating, making music, chatting with friends, drinking and dancing. [5] As the travelers walked toward the Temple they sang Psalms. Singing the Psalms below is something Yeshua would have experienced many times in

All of the people of Israel are descended from the twelve sons of Jacob. Jacob's third son was Levi, and Aaron was a fourth generation descendant of Levi. The first kohen , the founder of the priestly clan, was Aaron, brother of Moses, of the tribe of Levi. Aaron and his four sons were designated as the first priests ; Aaron served as the first High Priest. All of his male descendants were chosen by God to be priests forever; it is an eternal covenant . [1] The daily Temple ritual was performed mainly by the priests, who had sole access to the altar and the sanctuary. They offered both communal and individual sacrifices, burned incense and kindled the candelabrum in the sanctuary, and bestowed the priestly benediction on the people. [2] The Levites officiated alongside the priests. But, in the first century the Levites were removed from all contact with the altar and sacrifices. They are mentioned in sources as singers and gatekeepers. As gatekeepers they were responsible

Yesterday, in the BHC Bible Study Blog , I wrote Comparing Parallel Accounts in the Hebrew Scriptures . Anytime parallel accounts, or things that look like parallel accounts appear in your Bible, they always present great opportunities to discover some very interesting, and sometimes, unexpected things. This will be true in the subject of this blog – The Greatest Commandment & Eternal Life . If you want to have some fun – and exercise your powers of observation – get some paper and a pen (the old fashion way of studying). Below you will find three accounts that are often considered to be about the same event. In addition, the fourth column contains the verses that are quoted in the Gospels from the Torah ( Old Testament ). The parallel sections are numbered 1 – 9, and shaded areas indicate that there is no parallel. Compare the sections and note any differences. # Matthew 22:34-40 Mark 12:28-34 Luke 10:25-27 Torah 1