Teachinghearts	The Twelve Tribes of Israel (Exodus and Siege of Jesus in the Final Week) "Explore the Word. Change the World"	Lesson 6b: Time: 300 minutes Print: 42 pages

Pray First Navigation Feasts Sanctuary Resources Lessons Symbols Glossary Maps Daniel Revelation Build a Model Study Help The Curses Christ Colors Israel Seder Psalms Texts Genesis 29-30 Genesis 35 Genesis 48-49 Numbers 2, 4, 7 Numbers 10 Deuteronomy 33 Ezekiel 40-48 Isaiah 49, 53 Jonah 1-4 Psalm 68 Eagle North Dan Asher Naphtali Wild Ox   Merari     Lion West East Benjamin Manasseh Ephraim (Joseph) Ark of the Covenant Table of Shewbread Incense Menorah Laver Altar of Sacrifice Most Holy Holy Place Outer Court Judah Issachar Zebulun Gershon Levi Moses and Aaron Sanctuary Complex and Tribe Camp Sites     Kohath   Gad Simeon Reuben Son of Man South Blessing (Mount Gerizim in the North): Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. Curse (Mount Ebal in the South): Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. Leader: These are the leading tribes who went ahead when they moved. (Numbers 2)

History: The Family of Jacob (Israel)
Jacob was the second of fraternal twin sons. God changed his name to Israel many years later. His brother Esau gave him the birthright of the firstborn for a pot of bean stew. With the help of his mother, they tricked his blind father into giving him the blessing of the first born. Fearing his brother's anger he ran away from home after getting the birthright and blessing to live with his uncle Laban in Babylon.
There he met and fell in love with his cousin Rachel and agreed to work seven years for her. But Laban switched the older daughter, Leah for her sister and Jacob discovered this after the marriage. His uncle said that He could marry Rachel in a week if he agreed to work another seven years and keep Leah as his wife. So Jacob hated Leah and loved Rachel and the sisters competed for his affection. Leah kept having children, including a daughter named Dinah, but Rachel was barren. Then Rachel gave Jacob her maid as a wife and Leah did the same. These four women became the mothers of the twelve tribes of Israel.

The Twelve Tribes
Ezekiel's Temple The City of God The Exodus Ends Wrath on Two Witnesses Breastplate Colors The Seven Churches

1. Leah. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah. Issachar, Zebulun and Dinah.
   Her children became the monarchy and the priesthood (Judah and Levi).
2. Rachel. Joseph and Benjamin.
3. Bilhah ("Rachel's Maid"). Dan and Naphtali.
4. Zilpah ("Leah's Maid"). Gad and Asher.

The Source of the Symbols
Several characteristics about the tribes, their camp locations and their duties are a symbol of the final week of the life of Christ. As we examine each feature we will see how Christ used their lives and personalities to prophesy about His humiliation, death and victory. God writes the details of His humiliation in several layers of symbols that became the story of their lives.

The Four Directions » North. Judgment is in the north. e.g. The king of the north. » South. Trial and affliction. e.g. Slavery in Egypt. » East. The coming of Hope. » West. The final destination.

The Camp Sites. Outside the sanctuary complex was the campsite of the tribes. The fours sons of Levi were camped closest to the sanctuary and three tribes were camped beyond each of them in all four directions. Their location around the temple represents the siege of the sanctuary.

• East. Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. They symbolically represent Jesus' final entrance into Jerusalem to offer Himself as the sacrifice that would make Him our permanent High Priest.
• South. Reuben, Simeon and Gad. They represent Jesus' suffering and humiliation.
• North. Dan, Asher, Naphtali. They represent the darkest hours of Jesus' suffering and His death.
• West. Joseph (Ephraim, Manasseh) and Benjamin. The children of Rachel, the beloved wife, represent the glory of Christ after the resurrection.
• Between the Sanctuary and the Camp. Different groups of the tribes of Levi camped next to the sanctuary in different directions. They represent what happened to the body of Christ in the final week.
  • East. The tribe of Moses and Aaron who served as priests.
  • South. The tribe of Kohath who carried the furniture and holy objects on their shoulders.
  • North. The tribe of Merari who carried the sanctuary structure on four carts driven by eight oxen.
  • West. The tribe of Gershon who carried the fabric coverings on two carts driven by four oxen.
  The sons of Levi stood between the sanctuary and the other tribes to represent the fact that Jesus stands between God and us so that His wrath falls on them before it falls on us.
  But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there will be no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the testimony. (Numbers 1: 53)

The Characteristics, Duties and Experiences of The Tribes.
Besides their location around the sanctuary, several personal attributes are used to demonstrate the events in the life of Christ during His final week.
... Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day. (Luke 24: 46)
The characteristic of each son represents an important phase of His suffering as He was besieged by various groups.

• Their Names. Their names showed what was in His mind and how they treated Him.
  » The Message in the Names. A praised son, who paid wages and gave gifts. But He was afflicted and hated. However, He was fortunate that God judged Him, so He became attached to God and He was happy because He prevailed. His reproach was removed and God made Him forget His terrible treatment at the hands of His brothers by taking away His sorrows and making Him the Son of the Right Hand.
• The Camps of Levi. The duties and position of the sons of Levi represent what the priests did to His body.
• Blessings of Jacob (Beginning of the Exodus). The blessings are prophecies that tell the story of the events in each phase of the end of days for Christ as He began His exodus from earth (Genesis 48-49).
  Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, "Assemble yourselves that I may tell you what will befall you in the end of days". All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when He blessed them. He blessed them, every one with the blessing appropriate to him. (Numbers 49: 1, 28)
  » The Message in the Blessings. Initially praised, but later treated as a donkey bearing burdens, a haven for turbulent waters, scattered, attacked by raiders, He falls down dead after being bitten by a snake. Then, treated as a king, He is set free to be a fruitful nation with lots of plunder that He shares.
• Offering Cut Up. The blessings of Jacob also assign a different part of the body of the sacrifice to each son. They were responsible for tearing Him to pieces.
• Blessings of Moses (End of the Exodus). The blessings of Moses before they crossed over the Jordan into the Promised Land are also prophecies of the events of the final week of Christ at the end of His exodus.
  » The Message in the Blessings. He was brought to His people, and He walked out living in tents, the firstborn son coming with the leaders of the people. Attacked by a lion's whelp, His family was not with Him on the journey. He walked in iron and bronze shoes until He took possession of the sea and south, a good land which He fills with people who dwell in security with Him.
• The Law and Prophets. The law and prophets also predicted the major events, His behavior and emotional state during that week. We will only mention a few of these in this lesson.
  » Moses. The laws concerning the handling of the offerings.
  » Psalms. David wrote about His feelings and triumphs.
  • Christ Praised and Betrayed. Psalm 21, 41
  • Christ on the Cross. Psalm 22, 69
  • Christ in the Grave. Psalm 16, 23.
  • Christ Victorious. Psalm 24, 68, 100
  » Isaiah 53. He mentions many of the attributes of Christ that Jacob assigned to his sons in his blessings.
  » Jonah. His experience was a sign of the three worst days of that week.
  » Ezekiel 40-48. This is a prophecy of the time from Christ's last week to the church in the last days who will also have the experience of the twelve tribes.
• Covenant Blessings and Curses ("The Siege of Jesus"). Before they crossed over the Jordan river to the Promised Land, each tribe was assigned a role in repeating the covenant blessings and curses. This also followed the pattern of the north containing all the curses and the blessings in the south.
  Blessings: Southern Mountain. "When you cross the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. (Deuteronomy 27: 12)
  Curses: Northern Mountain. "For the curse, these shall stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. (Deuteronomy 27: 13)
  The tribes were not arranged around the sanctuary by age or mothers or number of people or marching order. There was also no logic or pattern in who was assigned to say the blessings and curses. The reasons and patterns by which these roles were assigned were not clear. However, there is a pattern of more curses applied in going east, south, north and then west. So that the number of tribes who said the blessings and curses correspond to the progressive worsening of His situation and that establishes the order of the events for that week.
  1. East ("1 Curse and 2 Blessings"). Jesus enters Jereusalem as the potential beloved King.
  2. South ("2 Curses and 1 Blessing"). Jesus is mocked and ridiculed at His arrest and trials.
  3. North ("All Curses"). Jesus is rejected, crucified and killed.
  4. West ("All Blessings"). Jesus is resurrected and taken to Heaven to be crowned as King and High Priest.
  In the lesson on Christ we showed the same pattern of progressively worse treatment that followed the pattern of a cursed sanctuary until honor was restored after the resurrection.
  "The Siege of Jesus". Jesus was the sanctuary surrounded by His people and besieged by His enemies.
  As we go through each side we will see How He was progressively besieged and surrounded by His enemies who were symbolized in the blessings or curses assigned to each tribe.
• The Exodus Journey to the Promised Land. The events of the final week also followed the order of this journey. They went east, south, north and west under the banner of a particular leading tribe.
  1. East ("Judah"). They left Egypt and traveled east across the turbulent waters of the Red Sea.
  2. South ("Reuben"). They traveled south to meet God at Mount Horeb and received the laws.
  3. North ("Dan"). They traveled north towards the Promised Land and they rebelled on the borders. So the first generation was rejected in favor of the second generation and they wandered around in circles for forty years until the rebellious generation died. Then they continued their journey north.
  4. West ("Ephraim"). The second generation went west across the Jordan river to reach their destination.
• Childhood. The journeys and events of His life as a young child also copied the exodus journey.
• The Birth Order of the Sons. This is a history of the major phases of the church.

  Birth Order of the 12 Sons of Israel
  Sons		Church	March		Mother
  1	Reuben	Jews	4		Leah
  2	Simeon	Christians	5	-
  3	Levi		-	-
  4	Judah	Remnant	1
  5	Dan	Judgment	7		Bilhah
  6	Naphtali	Out of Babylon	9	-
  7	Gad	Persecuted	6	-	Zilpah
  8	Asher	Martyrs	8	-
  9	Issachar	Flee to God	2	-	Leah
  10	Zebulun	Tabernacles	3	-
  -	Dinah	The bride is ready
  11	Joseph	Fruitful	-	-	Rachel
  -	Manasseh	(1)	11	-
  -	Ephraim	(2)	10
  12	Benjamin	Heaven	12	-
  The lead tribe on their march

• The Wives and Concubines.
  1. Leah. The hated wife. She is hated by her husband then she is hated by the world. But the beloved bride of Christ comes out of her.
  2. Bilhah. The concubine who committed adultery with Reuben. In this phase the church is judged and flees from Babylon the great harlot
  3. Zilpah.The concubine of the hated wife whose children represents the phase when the church is hated.
  4. Rachel. The beloved wife whose children represent the state of the church and their reward in the end.
  The experience of Jesus progressed from the children of the hated wife, to the two concubines to the children of the beloved wife.
  • East: The Hated Wife (Leah). Praise then rejection. Jacob worked hard for seven years and was disappointed by a fraud. He did not get the wife for whom he bargained. Jesus and the disciples worked hard for the Jewish nation for seven years. Like Jacob, Jesus rejected this wife but both had to keep her. Israel was rejected but not divorced.
  • South and North: The Concubines (Bilhah and Zilpah). Imprisonment and death. These children represented the fruit of the consequence of the actions of the two wives. The wives brought adultery into the home by giving these women to the man. Sarah also brought Hagar to Abraham. Eve brought the fruit to Adam. In all these cases the man could have rejected the offer and did not. However, Jesus had to accept what the woman (the church) brought to Him and suffer the consequences for it.
  • West: The Beloved Wife (Rachel). Victory. Jacob waited one week after discovering the fraud, then married his beloved wife at the end of the seven years but he had to work hard for her for another seven years. This is symbolized in the final week that He fulfilled with Israel and the marriage to the Gentile church. This is fulfilled in the fact that the Gentile church seems to have been given the same amount of time as Israel, 2000 years. Their time may also end with a pattern of seven years, and seven days.

    2000 Years					2000 Years
    Jews Called	3½ Years		7 Days	3½ Years	Gentiles Called	7 Years	7 Days

• The Marching Order of Israel. Israel moved their camp in a particular order. They went from east, south, west and north. This is not the order of the events of the final week. This represents the order of the history of the world as we journey from the first coming of Christ earth to the third coming. The final two destinations are switched. Christ suffered the wrath symbolized in the north for us before He goes west to the Promised Land. Only the wicked have to experience the wrath.
• The Cherubim. The four faces of the cherubim correspond to the major role of Christ as the divine one in each direction. They also correspond to the tribe who leads out in each direction. (Ezekiel 1: 10; Ezekiel 10: 14; Revelation 4: 7)
  1. East ("Lion"). He is the Lion from Judah who is King of Kings.
  2. South ("Man"). He is the Son of Man who will gain preeminence after suffering afflictions.
  3. North ("Eagle"). He is the great judge who judges the wicked and devours them and frees the righteous.
  4. West ("Ox"). He is the wild ox of Joseph who fills up the whole earth.
• The Creation. Each direction represents one of the first four days of creation. God created the containers on those days and filled them in the last three days. In our redemption or recreation, He made the containers at the First Coming and He will fill them at the Second Coming. He fills the earth with the righteous at the end of time.
  1. East ("Light"). Jesus is the light of the glory of God who came to the temple from the east Ezekiel 42: 1-3.
  2. South ("Sea and Sky"). God scattered the turbulent waters and separated them from the sky.
  3. North ("Earth and Trees"). Jesus is the seed that fell in the earth and died, impaled on a dead tree. He was buried in the earth and sprouted like a tree in the resurrection.
  4. West ("Sun, Moon and Stars"). These are symbols used to describe the people of God. (Revelation 12)
• The Commandments. He kept the covenant that week. The first four commandments are the basis of that covenant. During that week He honored God by loving Him with all His heart. Yet He received every method of the death penalty.
  1. East ("One God"). Jesus came as Emmanuel ("God with us") to introduce the world to the Father declaring that He and the Father are One. At the beginning of the week He was teaching in the temple.
  2. South ("No Idols"). Jesus submitted to the will of God instead of His own desires and accepted death.
  3. North ("Name of God"). Jesus did not respond to save His good name and reputation. He trusted that God gives His name to His people. Jesus received this new name at the resurrection. (Philippians 2: 9)
  4. West ("Sabbath"). Jesus rested in the grave on the Sabbath. The people of God finally have a Sabbath rest in heaven for 1000 years. The wicked are also at rest in their graves in the millennium.
  Death by Stoning. The people hurled abuses at Him, like stones. Stoning is the death penalty for blasphemers, idolators, Sabbath breakers and seducers of a city. Jesus kept the Sabbath even when He was dead. He tried to turn the city back to God with truth. He was a faithful witness for God, honoring His name. He did not worship Satan. He did not even act to grasp what was His own, but turned the other cheek.
  Did not Covet. who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
  » New Name. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name. (Philippians 2: 6-9)
  5. Honor Parents. He arranged for a new home for His mother and submitted to His Father's will.
     Death by Hanging or Strangulation. People were often hanged after they were stoned to death. He received the penalty for dishonoring parents. After He was stoned with abuses, He was hung on a cross where His head was symbolically torn off at Golgotha, "the place of the skull".
  6. Do not Kill. He submitted to death to give eternal life to the whole world.
  7. Do not Commit Adultery. He remained faithful to God even when it seemed that God had divorced and abandoned Him.
     Death by Burning. This is the death penalty for adultery by the daughter of a priest or an unfaithful priest. He was punished as if He were an unfaithful priest.
  8. Do not Steal. He did not grasp equality with God, but humbled Himself and gave Himself for others.
  9. Do not be a False Witness. He was the faithful and true witness. (Revelation 3: 14)
  10. Do not Covet. He did not even covet the throne of God which was His own. (Philippians 2: 6-9)
  
  Death by the Sword, Spear or Arrow. This is the death penalty for those who are seduced, their property was also destroyed. He had a spear pushed into His side. He did not submit to temptation by Satan or temptation by harsh persecution. He was beaten and insulted, slapped and kicked, spit on and mocked. This emotional suffering was His burning. He was destroyed. His disciples were scattered and He was abandoned by everyone. When He died He had no property. He was utterly desolated!

There are at least twelve separate patterns occurring at the same time. Just remember that different symbols may be describing the same event or person from another point of view or at another point in time.
There also seems to be a law that says that the church must go through the experience of Christ. So we find that the same symbols and sequences can be applied to the church. However, this rich depth of symbols is always consistent in the fact that each son always represents the same experience and the same pattern.

The Final Week
This is a calendar of the events during the final week.

Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Night Day Night Day Night Day Night Day Night Day - Night 1 Day 1 Night 2 Day 2 Night 3 Day 3 - Nisan 9 Nisan 10 Nisan 11 Nisan 12 Nisan 13 Nisan 14 Nisan 15 Nisan 16 17 Curses : Enemies Rule 2. No Fruit 3. No Children 4. Sword 5. Wrath of God Blessings Mary's oil and tears. Anoints, washes feet Donkey Fig tree cursed Cleansed Temple Priests Plot Arrest Trial Death Sabbath Wavesheaf Passover Lamb Jerusalem Teaches in Jerusalem Suffering Dead, Buried Resurrected - Lamb salted, washed Lamb selected Lamb examined Kiss Bread Roast, Boil, Eat Swallow Vomit The Seed comes to die Jesus in the Bowels 3 Days and Nights - Priest washed, Anointed Ministry to Jerusalem in the Temple Final sacrifice in the middle of the week Priest is ordained through 7 days. Stays at the temple door Lord Appears Feast of Booths -

Jesus came to Jerusalem at Passover to celebrate the feast of Booths. On the first day, He rode in Jerusalem through palm branches and on the eighth day He was in Heaven at an assembly (Leviticus 23: 39-43).
Wrath for Seven Times. He also suffered the five series of curses during the seven days.

1. Enemies Rule. His enemies would rule over Him from the day He entered Jerusalem.
2. No Fruit. He cursed the fig tree to represent the fact that Israel bore no fruit.
3. Wild Beasts Attack Leaving No Children. Satan, the beast, caused Judas to betray Him and the rest of the disciples would desert Him. They would attack Him like wild beasts and scatter His supporters.
4. Sword. A hostile, armed mob came with the Gentile Roman army to arrest Him. Peter used a sword.
5. Wrath of God. Jesus suffered the wrath during His trial, crucifixion and death.

This is a symbolic representation of the same events that we will attempt to explain below.

Siege			Disemboweled and Dismantled and Disassembled						Exodus Completed
Nisan 10-13		Nisan 14					15	Nisan 16		Nisan 17 to Future
King	Donkey	Upper Room	Gethsemane	Disciples Flee	Arrest, Trial	Crucified	Dead	Raised	Fruitful	Made me forget	Right hand son
Praise	Wages, burdens	Gift, haven	Afflicted Waters	Hated, scattered	Raiders Justice	Judged Serpent	Bread Oil	Loose doe	Greater nation	Great nation	Wolf, secure
Wine	Shoulder	Flank	Testicles	Skinned	Eat	Horn	Bread	SHEMA	Breasts, Womb		Tamid
Judah	Issachar	Zebulun	Reuben	Simeon	Gad	Dan	Asher	Naphtali	Ephraim	Manasseh	Benjamin
Light from God's Glory			Waters scattered			Dead Tree	Seed buried	Seed Sprouts	Sun, moon, stars
Leaving Old Jerusalem			Trial and Suffering			Wrath			Entering New Jerusalem
Exodus Begins			Wandering in the Wilderness			Healed After a Snake Bite			Enters Promised Land
Moses and Aaron (Priests)			Kohath (Holy Objects)			Merari (Building)			Gershon (Ceiling, Fence)
East			South			North			West
Behold we are going up to Jerusalem			delivered to the chief priests and the scribes		given to Gentiles	Mocked, spit on, scourged, killed		and three days later He will rise again

The journey through the desert was His time on earth as the portable sanctuary on an exodus to guide Israel to the Promised Land. In His final week Jesus was beseiged by all twelve tribes. Then in the final three days He was disassembled and disemboweled. After His resurrection, He completed His exodus to heaven.

• Siege. The twelve tribes surrounded Jesus as the dinner guests sitting around the table at the Passover feast.
• Dismantled. They tore Him apart and carried Him to His execution while they devoured Him as the meal.
• Exodus. He completed His journey by going to Heaven. He was regurgitated and sent back to God.
  The regurgitation became a sign of their rejection because they were supposed to swallow Him again so that they could assimilate Him and be unified with Him.
  That they may all be one, even as you, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they may also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them even as You have loved Me. (John 17: 21, 23)

The Positions of the Camps and The Dismantling of the Sanctuary
Now we will examine the three tribes on each side and the duties of the sons of Levi assigned to their side as they were fulfilled during the final week of His life. Each son represents an event or phase of His experience. We will see how Jesus learned the sequence of events of His last days.
Behold we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again. (Mark 10: 33-34)

The Exodus of Jesus from Jerusalem. At the tranfigutation, he told His disciples that He would be going on an exodus.
And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his clothes was white and glistening. And, look, there two men talked with him, which were Moses and Elias:
Who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9: 28-31)
The word "departure" is the same word as "exodus". The two prophets who went on an exodus appeared with Him.

The Tribes in the East ("Prince of the Covenant: Entering and Leaving Jerusalem")
The exodus journey begins. As they begin their journey, the ark of the covenant which is covered by the inner veil goes before them. It represents Christ who was hiding His divinity under a human body. The journey starts with Christ, the King coming in the form of a Man to begin an important phase in the Plan of Salvation. He enters Jerusalem one more time before He goes home.
who goes before you on your way, to seek out a place for you to encamp, in fire by night and cloud by day, to show you the way in which you should go. (Deuteronomy 1: 33)
Their names mean, "praise the Lord", "God has given me my wages" and "God has endowed me with a good gift".
These are three sons of the wife who was not loved. They represent the roles of Christ when He entered Jerusalem on a donkey through crowds of adoring fans. Jesus entered Jerusalem to be praised and betrayed as a child who was not loved. Our quarantined world would also stand before heaven on that day as a wife who was not loved.

• Moses and Aaron ("The High Priest"). They were the division of Levi that served as priests. Jesus would be our indestructible High Priest who stood between us and the wrath of God by receiving the wrath of God for us.
  ("The Unfaithful Priests"). The high priests and rulers were plotting to murder Him and cause the wrath!
  Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas. and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him. (Matthew 26: 3-4)
  Then Judas gave them an opportunity to have Him falsely arrested and they tried to trap Him into statements that would bring legal charges so that the state could murder Him.
  And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King." (Luke 23: 2)
  The Cherubim ("Lion of Judah"). On the east side the cherubim is a lion who represents the King of Kings from the tribe of Judah. In Revelation He is seen at the inauguration and the coronation opening the books of the law to proceed with the judgment. Jesus is the conquering lion from the tribe of Judah.
  and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals." (Revelation 5: 5)
• Judah ("Praise the Lord"). His name means "praise the Lord" (Genesis 29: 35). When He entered Jerusalem He was greeted as their next king with shouts of praise, Hosanna!
  The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21: 9)
  Five days later they would shout, "crucify Him" and join themselves to Caesar as their chosen king.
  So they cried out, " Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." (John 19: 15)
  
  Why did they turn against Him so quickly? Isaiah gives us a clue. He was not good enough.

  The Siege of Jesus (The Adoration of Admirers)
  Surrounded by Friends

  
  Who has believed our message? And to whom was the arm of the Lord revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground. He had no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. (Isaiah 53: 1-3)
  During the final week He was their High Priest. He was teaching in the temple every day and the people seemed to be impressed with His miracles until He prophesied about their temple. The priests despised Him, even though He had raised Lazarus from the dead the previous week. But He also drove away the money changers and cleansed the temple and probably earned their resentment.
  Blessings of Jacob ("The Lion King"). The Messiah would descend from the tribe of Judah so that He could inherit the throne of David.
  Judah, your brothers shall praise you; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father's sons shall bow down to you. Judah is a lion's whelp. From the prey my son you have gone up. He couches, he lies down like a lion. And as a lion who dares rouse him up? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a ruler's staff from between his feet until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. (Genesis 49: 9-10)
  
  » King on a Colt. The blessings include the prophecy of a king with a colt whose garments are stained in blood.
  He ties his foal to the vine, and his donkey's colt to the choice vine; He washes his garments in wine, and his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes are darker than wine and his teeth whiter than milk. (Genesis 49: 11, 12)
  He came to Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey to give His blood. In the future, Jesus also comes on a white horse with His robes dipped in blood. He is the choicest vine that is attached to the colt.
  King. And I saw heaven opened, and saw, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords." (Revelation 19: 11-16)
  » Garments in Wine. The hem of His robes are stained with blood because He takes revenge for His people.
  Blood of Grapes. Who is this that comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Therefore you are red in your apparel, and your garments like him that treads in the wine vat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in my anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my clothes. For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. (Isaiah 63: 1-4)
  Drink Offering. The wine.
  Blessings of Moses. And this regarding Judah; so he said, 'Hear, O LORD, the voice of Judah, And bring him to his people. With his hands he contended for them, and may You be a help against his adversaries'. (Deuteronomy 33: 7)
  » Bring Him to His People. He came to the people on a donkey amidst shouts of praise.
  » With His Hands. Jesus stretched out His arms so that His hands could be nailed. Therefore He redeemed them and fought for them with outstretched arms and later holds a sword to defend them.
  And one will say to Him, what are these wounds between Your hands? Then He will say "those with which I was wounded in the house of those who love Me". (Zechariah 13: 6)
  » His Adversaries. These are the people, Jews, Romans, Gentiles, priests and leaders who plotted to kill Him.
  ("Blessing: Adoring Fans"). Jesus was surrounded by cheering crowds who wanted Him to be king.
• Issachar ("Wages"). His name means "God has given me my wages because I gave my maid to my husband" (Genesis 30: 18). He was located directly in front of the east gate.
  » Wages. Jesus rode through the east gates on a donkey to receive and pay "the wages of sin".
  For the wages of sin is death ... (Romans 6: 23)
  » I gave my maid to my husband. We are called the bond servants of God (maids). Christ gave us to God in exchange for His wages. The wages He received was to exchange us for our death sentence. Leah's maid had two sons. These were prophetically her wages, a bride and children with eternal life.
  • Gad. He represents Christ raiding the earth to take His bride (Revelation 19).
  • Naphtali. He represents the resurrected, which Christ receives at His coming.
  Blessings of Jacob ("The Donkey Who Bears Burdens"). He was described as a donkey in his father's blessings. The Messiah, the good Shepherd, would go through the east gate on a donkey (through Issachar).
  Donkey among Sheep. Issachar is a strong donkey, lying between the sheepfolds.
  Bears Burden on His Shoulders. When he saw that a resting place was good and that the land was pleasant, he bowed his shoulder to bear burdens and became a slave at forced labor. (Genesis 49: 14-15)
  » Jesus Bears the Burden of the Cross. This is clearly a description of Jesus who was sold for the price of a slave and forced to carry the cross on his shoulders in the land of Palestine, the "Pleasant Land".
  They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. (John 19: 17)
  » The Donkey. Say to the daughter of Zion, "Behold, your king is coming to you, gentle, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey". (Matthew 21: 5; Zechariah 9: 9)
  » Among The Sheep. On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written "Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, your King comes, sitting on an ass's colt". (John 12: 12-15)
  » Jesus Removes the Burden of Israel. Jews attribute this prophecy to the Messiah. He will remove the burdens of our enemies.
  So it will be in that day, that his burden will be removed from your shoulders and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be broken because of fatness. (Isaiah 10: 27)
  » The Pleasant Land. Israel is the Pleasant Land where He carried the burden.
  Shoulder Offering. The heave offering is lifted up on the shoulders as Christ carries the cross.
  Blessings of Moses. The blessings for Issachar are combined with Zebulun. It is discussed below.
  ("Blessing: Attentive Students"). Jesus was surrounded by those who wanted to hear Him as He spoke in the temple every day.
• Zebulun ("A Good Gift"). His name means "God has endowed me with a good gift; now my husband will dwell with me" (Genesis 30: 20). At the crucifixion, Jesus paid the wages of sin and then God gave us the gift of eternal life and also sent us the gift of the Holy Spirit to live with us as our constant companion. He also gave us the disciples who are the foundation of the church. Their meeting in the upper room and the calling of these fishermen by Christ is represented by Zebulun.
  Zebulun was the only one in the east who said the curse because the Messiah would also bear our curse as well as our death and exchange them for good gifts with the wages He has earned.
  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6: 23)
  Blessings of Jacob ("A Haven for Ships and Those who live by the sea"). Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border [flank] will extend toward Sidon. (Genesis 49: 13)
  Jesus was a shelter to the disciples who were mostly a group of fishermen from Galilee, a region in the north at the border of Sidon between the sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean or Great sea. See map.
  As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him. (Mark 1:16-20)
  » In the Upper Room. On this day, the haven was the upper room where they went for the Passover meal. This safe place was arranged by God. It was here that He washed their feet and Judas left to betray Him.
  » The Disciples. In the cryptic prophecy, when we combine the curse said by Zebulun with the fact that he represents the disciples who were guarded by Jesus, we find a picture of the loss of one because of a curse.
  Offering. These are the priests who offer the sacrifices from the flank.
  Blessings of Moses. Of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going forth, And, Issachar, in your tents. They will call peoples to the mountain; There they will offer righteous sacrifices; For they will draw out the abundance of the seas, and the hidden treasures of the sand. (Deuteronomy 33: 18-19)
  » Zebulun Goes Forth. This is the ride through the gates on the donkey. He can rejoice among the praises.
  » Issachar's Tents. Issachar is the people through whom the donkey rode. So Zebulun rides through the sheep folds of Issachar. The image of palm branches and tents are the picture of the feast of Tabernacles when they lived in booths or temporary shelters and havens with green leaves as their roofs. They greeted Jesus as if this was the feast.
  » The Mountain. The disciples and people came to the Mount of Olives and Mount Moriah to greet Jesus with righteous praise as He rode through the east gates.
  » Abundant Treasures of the Sea. The disciples who were mostly fishermen, are the "abundance of the seas and the hidden treasure in the sand". They would bring the Gospel to Israel after the resurrection.
  » Righteous Sacrifices. These are the praises and hosannahs. Christ also offers all His sacrifices after this.
  Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. (Hebrews 13: 15)
  ("Curse: A Traitor at The Last Supper"). Jesus was surrounded by His disciples for the Passover meal, but one would betray Him and set off a chain of events that would kill Him. So this was a curse.
  Jesus answered them, "Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?" (John 6: 70)
  » Judas the Traitor. Jesus said that the scripture would be fulfilled when Judas betrayed Him. Which scripture?
  "While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. (John 17: 12)
  This prophecy and Nahum may be the scriptures.
  Evil Plot. From you has gone forth one who plotted evil against the Lord, a wicked counselor.
  The Mob Arrests Him. Thus says the Lord, though they are at full strength and likewise many, even so they will be cut off and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no longer.
  They Bind Him on a Cross. So now I will break his yoke bar from upon you, and I will tear off your shackles.
  The Wicked One Perished. The Lord has issued a command concerning you; your name will no longer be perpetuated. I will cut off idol and image from the house of your gods. I will prepare your grave for you are contemptible. (Nahum 1: 11-14)

("The Exodus Journey East"). They left Egypt and traveled east to cross the turbulent waters of the Red Sea. After celebrating the first Passover on the night of Nisan 14, they carried all their possessions and left Egypt to live in tents. The blessings of Moses mentioned "the going forth" of Issachar and "the tents" of Zebulun on their journey to mountain where God called them. They were the treasures that came out of the Red sea. God fulfilled the blessing of Judah when He helped them against their enemies as the hordes of Pharaoh chased after them. With his raised hands, Moses helped them by closing the sea.
("Childhood"). A star in the east guided the wise men to the baby. At His birth He was greeted as a king by the choir of angels and shepherds and wise men came from "the east" to bring Him gifts. In His manger as a baby were two animals that would represent Him, a lamb and a donkey.
The First Day of Creation (East). Light was introduced on the first day of creation. Jesus came as the light of God and taught in the temples and He introduced Israel to their God.

The Covenant ("The Prince of the Covenant Comes"). He established His credentials as the Prince of the Covenant. He was greeted as King, entering the east gate to bring the offering. He taught them in the temple and accepted the burden of their sins, then He had the covenant meal at the Passover before He went out to be the Lamb of God.
He fulfilled the law of Ezekiel by entering and leaving at the east gate. Although He was killed at the north gate, He finally left the earth on the Mount of Olives, outside the east gate. (Ezekiel 43: 1-2,3; Ezekiel 46: 8-9)

The Tribes in the South ("Suffering, Arrest and Trials")
The gruelling journey in the wilderness continues as the nations around them attack. Their names mean, "God has seen my afflictions", "God has heard that I am unloved" and "How fortunate".
As we transition to the south we see that Zebulun is a ship of disciples upon the turbulent seas of Reuben. The disciples would enter a phase of trial and testing when they will all abandon the ship and desert Jesus. Now Jesus was suffering through His trial and afflictions. As the people expressed their hatred and humiliated Him, His disciples abandoned Him. But He found hope that God would love Him because He was afflicted and hated.

Praise the King	In Jerusalem	Upper Room		Gethsemane	Disciples Flee	Arrest	Trial	Crucified
Praise the LORD	Donkey	Disciples' haven		Afflicted	Unloved, scattered	Raiders		Serpent
Judah	Issachar	Zebulun		Reuben	Simeon	Gad		Dan
East			South					North

The Transition. Zebulun is the ship of disciples that is about to ride the turbulent seas of Reuben.

• Kohath ("The Furniture and the Inner Veil").

  Ark of the Covenant (Blue) Table of Shewbread (Red on Blue) Incense (Blue) Menorah (Blue) Laver Altar of Sacrifice (Purple) Most Holy Holy Place Outer Court

  They transported the furniture and other holy objects. It is a picture of having no access to the holy objects during the time they were being transported. Each piece was covered with a particular color cloth (Numbers 4). The color of each covered piece represents the portion of the Plan of Salvation that was completed. All the pieces were finally covered in porpoise skin, except the ark which had a third covering of blue. See the Colors of God lesson.
  • The Purple Cover. The indestructable high priest makes atonement with His own body.
    » Altar of Sacrifice. It means that the purple altar would make atonement with the death of the offering by combining the blue and the red. Jesus made atonement for the blue law with the His red blood.
    » Laver. No information is given, because the laver represents the Holy Spirit whose work continues.
  • The Red Cover. This blood of the perfect sacrifice is continually available for all time.
    » Table of Shewbread. This was first covered by a blue cloth. The continual bread and the utensils were placed on the blue cloth, then they were covered in red.
    Now, the Continual Bread was broken and chewed up. Atonement had been made for the law, but since people continue to sin, the blood of His atonement is continually being made available for all.
  • The Blue Cover. The rest of the furniture was covered in blue. This means that the Plan of Salvation will eventually bring us back to obedience to the law to meet the God with the blue stone. Until then, we have assurance in the purple and the red. Atonement has been made through the purple, and forgiveness is available through the red.
    » Menorah. The lights of the menorah were put out.
    » Altar of Incense. The incense altar was closed. No prayers were heard.
    » Inner Veil. The inner veil represented the body of Christ. This was His body that was torn when He was beaten and nailed. This is the veil on four hooks that represented His crucified body before His death.
    » Ark of the Covenant. The ark was covered by the inner veil, then porpoise skin, then a blue cloth. This was His divinity cloaked by the veil of His human body as He fulfilled all the laws.
    Because of the ark He still had the bread of life, the dead stick that budded and the words of life and the shekinah glory of God. He would spring to life like a seed buried in the earth at His resurrection.
    Aaron's rod proved that Aaron deserved to be the High Priest when it sprang to life.
    It will come about that the rod of the man whom I choose will sprout ...
    Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. (Numbers 17: 5, 8)
    Jesus proved that He deserved to be the High Priest because He was indestructible. He sprang back to life and bore fruit when others were also resurrected.
  ("The Perverted Judges and Their Trial by Fire"). Jesus was on trial by the priests and the council from about midnight until 6:00 AM at cockcrow. Then they sent Him to be tried by the state from 6:00 to 9:00 AM. Then He was crucified. The priests delivered corrupt justice in the name of God and they grilled and roasted the Lamb of God at the temple all night for about six hours. They tried Him in the temple and broke all the rules for administering justice, arranged for false witnesses, colluded with the state to get Him arrested and plotted with Judas to betray Him. Their justification was to let one person die to save Israel by preserving the status quo.
  Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people. (John 18: 14)
  » Burning the Offering. The trials were the equivalent of burning the insides of the offering all night until the ashes remained in the morning. They ruined His reputation and His mental and emotional state, then they handed over His carcass to the Romans to be crucified outside the city in the morning.
  » The Third Watch: Examining the Offering. The temple gates opened at midnight and all sacrifices and offerings to be used that day were examined until the time for the morning sacrifice. Jesus was examined by the priests all night until He was carried away to be sacrificed.
  The Cherubim ("Son of Man"). The cherubim in the south is the firstborn Son of Man who will suffer afflictions to save all humans. But He will gain preeminence for His actions. It is in this role that God will suffer and triumph because it is the Son of Man who will rise from the grave.
  Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death. and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up. (Matthew 20: 18-19)
  
  The Offerings in the South. All the food sacrifices used for many offerings were made or prepared at this point.

  The Food Offerings		Incense	He made the incense offering in Gethsemane
  		Drink	He was poured out on the ground as the drink offering in Gethsemane
  		Grain	He was the bread and grain offering that was being cooked to be eaten
  		Meat	He was the meat offering who was being disemboweled

• Reuben ("God has seen my afflictions"). His name means "Because the Lord has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me" (Genesis 29: 32). This was when Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was here, in deep, earnest prayer that He was afflicted with such anguish that He sweat blood. It was here that He gained the victory before God. Surely God loved Him because He was willing to die. But God did not grant His request to escape the coming ordeal, because symbolically the altar of incense was closed.
  And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. (Luke 22: 44)
  Gethsemane (The Oil press). Gethsemane is derived from the Hebrew word 'gath' meaning 'press' and 'shemen' which means 'oil'. This was the place where they squeezed out the blood of olives to make oil. This is where the image of the pressed olive and the pressed grape merges. He did the work of the Messiah at this point. As the Spirit of God was beginning to withdraw from Him to leave Him alone, He shed the oil which anointed Him as the Messiah by shedding the blood that made Him the Messiah. The blood of Jesus squeezed through His pores as the weight of the sins of the world pressed down on Him. As He was becoming sin the Spirit of God was leaving, until He was totally abandoned on the cross.
  
  Wine Press. He became the altar covered in blood as His blood covered His body and poured out on the ground at the base of the altar.
  
  Reuben was the first born who appeared to receive none of the rewards of the first born son. Reuben should have received this reward as the firstborn.
  • Spiritual Birthright. The Messiah should have come through him but the honor went to Judah.
  • Physical Birthright. The property rights went to Joseph who received a double portion for an inheritance.
  The Only Begotten Son. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3: 16)
  Every other son is a son by adoption. But Christ was born out of Him, becoming His firstborn and only son. By all accounts Reuben seemed like a failure and a disappointment. That is the way Christ appeared to those around Him on earth and in heaven. This was how Christ was viewed on the cross by all His enemies. By being in the winepress, He appeared to have lost the anointing as the first born, the high priest and the king because the anointing oil appeared to be pressed out in Gethsemane.
  He must tread the winepress alone so the Holy Spirit (represented by the Oil) could not be with Him. The Spirit could only be with Him as the breath of life, but no longer as His constant companion.
  Satan rejoiced because He had struck down the beloved, the only Son of God and disgraced Him.
  Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried. Yet we ourselves esteemed Him striken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities. The chastising for our well being fell on Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way. But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. (Isaiah 53: 4-7)
  He was arrested without resisting and He was silent at His trial.
  » The Afflictions of Israel. The nation of Israel is the first born son of God. They have been afflicted ever since the crucifixion. Their temple was destroyed and they were exiled and scattered throughout the world. 2000 years later their afflictions have continued not because it is still the will of God, but because of the evil in our hearts. The afflictions allowed by God should have ended centuries ago because the covenant only allows it for a fixed period of time. So let the name of Reuben be a warning to those who think Israel is still being afflicted by God. "God has seen my afflictions". In fact, God warns that even when He afflicts His children it is no excuse for mistreatment. He is satisfied with loss of dignity, not inhumane treatment.
  » The Law of Jealousy: ("The Raging Waters of Bitterness"). This symbol also supports another strange law. When Israel sinned, the curses applied and God divorced her for unfaithfulness.
  the man shall then bring his wife to the priest, and shall bring as an offering for her one tenth of an ephah of barley meal; he shall not pour oil on it nor put frankincense on it, for it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering of memorial, a reminder of iniquity. 'Then the priest shall bring her near and have her stand before the LORD, and the priest shall take holy water in an earthenware vessel; and he shall take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water. 'When he has made her drink the water, then it shall come about, if she has defiled herself and has been unfaithful to her husband, that the water which brings a curse will go into her and cause bitterness, and her abdomen will swell and her thigh will waste away, and the woman will become a curse among her people. (Numbers 5: 15-17, 27)
  • Water of Bitterness. The raging sea of Reuben is the water of bitterness against the unfaithful Israel.
  • Barley Meal. Barley is a symbol of the fruits from the dead earth. Only a sample of the barley harvest was resurrected, before the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost. Since it had no oil or incense (Holy Spirit or prayer) Israel is represented as the rest of the barley harvest that is dead in sin without any intercession or remedy.
  • Dust of the Sanctuary. Dead because of the actions of the priests who walked barefoot in the sanctuary. The dead shall return to dust after being judged as unclean by the waters.
  • Drink the Dusty Water. This is similar to what happened when Moses made them eat the golden calf which he had ground to powder. The serpent is also condemned to eat dust. They must eat the object that they worshipped. Israel must be filled with the Holy Spirit when He comes to the earth.
  • Swollen Abdomen (Pregnancy). The stomach of the disemboweled is bursting out with an empty pregnancy. There is no fruit of the marriage.
    We were pregnant, we writhed in labor, we gave birth, as it seems, only to wind we could not accomplish deliverance for the earth, nor were inhabitants of the world born. (Isaiah 26: 18)
    But even as she was a curse and gave birth to wind, Israel still gave birth to the Messiah and the Holy Spirit who is symbolized as wind.
  • Wasted Thighs (Broken Marriage Vow). The thigh is a symbol of a vow (Genesis 47: 29) and a name (Revelation 19: 16). A wasted thigh means a broken covenant.
  • A Curse (Divorce). Israel became disgraced and a curse among the nations.
  
  Blessings of Jacob ("No Preeminence or Dignity"). "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father's bed, onto my couch and defiled it. (Genesis 49: 3-4)
  Reuben was the first born son who betrayed His father and lost the priviledges of the inheritance reserved for the first born. He represents Israel who was the first born son chosen out of the nations. Israel lost their preeminence and dignity because they betrayed their Lord and went into an illicit union with Rome to have Him murdered. Jesus becomes the firstborn Son of God who appears to have lost preeminence.
  » Israel Loses Preeminence. So a curse fell on Israel, just as it fell on Reuben. Christ had worked for over three years and they had not responded. He had planted the seed of the fruit and was expected to have a harvest to present to the Lord in the fourth year as the law required. But the tree had no fruit in its fourth year, or after three and a half years of ministry. So Israel was rejected in favor of the Christian church. The rejection is symbolized in the language of the curse by events of that week.
  No Fruit. Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. (Matthew 21: 43)
  No Fruit for Three Years. "And he said to the vineyard keeper, 'Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?' (Luke 13: 7)
  Tree Cut Down. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3: 10)
  Dead Tree. As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Mark 11: 20
  Desolation. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold your house is being left to you desolate. (Matthew 23: 37-38)
  At the last supper, all the disciples sought preeminence, arguing over the positions they would have in the new kingdom. They would spend the next day hiding in terror and all would be martyred or tortured for the faith, dying as men of no esteem.
  » Uncontrolled as Water. The turbulent sea is one classic symbol of the wicked. This is used to describe the actions of Reuben and it could also describe Judas.
  • Judas. His greed and jealousy made him lose control and betray Christ like an adulterer. He made an illicit deal with the priests who are the inhabitants of God's house who were joined to Him. Judas also sought preeminence until He betrayed his friend in a plot to force Him to show His power. But he ended up without his dignity hanging from a tree in a field in the garbage dump that would be used to bury the poor.
    Jesus also died on a tree in a clean place, but He would be buried with the rich.
    ... He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. (Matthew 26: 23)
  • Israel. The priests made an illicit union with Rome to kill Christ.
  
  Daniel prophesied that Jesus would be swept away by a flood. Judas, the Jews and the Romans were the flood.
  The overflowing forces will be flooded away before him and shattered, and also the prince of the covenant. (Daniel 11: 22)
  Save me, O God for the waters have threatened my life. I have sunk in deep mire and there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters and the flood overflows me. Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick. And I looked for sympathy and there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. They also gave me gall for my food and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (Psalm 69: 1-2, 20-21)
  This Psalm describes the heartbreak and loneliness He felt as He was deserted by His friends and assaulted by His enemies. He was being torn out on the insides. He was being swallowed up in the deep like Jonah.
  
  Offering. Jacob called Reuben "the beginning of my strength", referring to his first born seed. The testicles are represented by this part of the offering. The first born Son of God made the offering in Gethsemane when He poured out His blood into the ground.
  Blessings of Moses. May Reuben live and not die, Nor his men be few. (Deuteronomy 33: 6)
  Reuben is the nation of Israel, smaller than the Christian branch. Moses expresses the hope that at the end they will still exist and that they will not be few in number.
  ("Curse: Sleepy Disciples"). Jesus was treated as an evil man. He was surrounded by sleeping disciples as He prayed in the garden. At the moment of His greatest affliction He barely had any emotional support. God sent one angel to comfort Him but He denied His request to save Him from the coming events.
  Your shepherds are sleeping, O king of Assyria; Your nobles are lying down. Your people are scattered on the mountains and there is no one to regather them. (Nahum 3: 18)
• Simeon ("God has heard that I am unloved"). His name means "because the Lord has heard that I am hated, He has therefore given me this son also" (Genesis 29: 33). The people expressed their disdain for Him in loud voices from the time of His arrest and trial until His death. Heaven heard those loud voices on that day.
  Blessings of Jacob ("Will be Scattered because they are Violent"). "Simeon and Levi are brothers- their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel. (Genesis 49: 5-7)
  
  » Scattered. Simeon and Levi were the second and third son. The preeminence lost by the first son was not given to them either. Their scattering represents the fact that the disciples were scattered and ran away.
  Then Jesus said to them, You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, "I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED". (Matthew 26: 31)
  But all this has taken place to fulfill the scriptures of the prophets. Then all the disciples left Him and fled. (Matthew 26: 56)
  » The Second Son. Simeon is the second son, so he represents the Gentile church which is the second son who was given to Christ because the first son hated Him. As the Gentiles who were hated, the name of Simeon also represents them, "God has heard that I am unloved".
  The disciples are a symbol of the Christian church because they are the foundation of that church under the new covenant that was being ratified during these events. The church would be scattered around many nations instead of one location, like Israel. But they were the recipients of a great blessing.
  » The Priesthood of Believers. Simeon and Levi together are brothers and the blessing was said to both. Their combination represents the Christian church which would be a combination of the second son chosen and the priesthood.
  you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1 Peter 2: 5, 9)
  In the eternal plan of Salvation, the Jews were also supposed to be a nation of priests who represented God to the world. God invited them to meet Him on Mount Sinai; but, in their fear, they asked Moses to intercede for them. So God chose Moses and the Levites to stand between Him and them. As we see, this plan that they asked for was eventually rejected by Christ. Now we are back to a nation of priests and the priesthood will be patterned after the peaceful Melchizadek not the violent Levi.
  And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Exodus 19: 6)
  Then they said to Moses, speak to us yourself and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die. (Exodus 20: 19)
  
  » Peter and His Sword. Their violence is also a prophecy of the violence of the disciples with their swords.
  And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. (Matthew 26: 51)
  No Violence. You also turn back the edge of his sword and have not made him stand in battle. (Psalm 89: 43)
  » Jesus Brings a Sword. This statement of Jesus now has more meaning. His death split the church in two.
  Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10: 34)
  The sword of the covenant was the Christian church. This sword is based on this curse.
  'I will also bring upon you a sword which will execute vengeance for the covenant ... (Leviticus 26: 25)
  This is not a license for Christians to mistreat Jews. Their rejection and loss of dignity was their punishment.
  » The Violence of the Priests. The priests brought the Lamb of God to be unjustly slaughtered. They are guilty.
  ... you and your sons ... shall bear the guilt in connection with the sanctuary and ... in connection with your priesthood. (Numbers 18: 1)
  » The Violent Christian Church. Although a blessing has occurred with the selection of the church, yet the blessings on them also prophesied that they will be a violent church. We will be cursed because of this senseless violence. God also prophesied that Jacob, through the nation of Israel, "would not enter their council or join their assembly". The church and Israel will be separated by the will of God until the violence ends.
  • Violent and Cruel. They were the architects of the crusades, inquisitions and the centuries of documented cruelty to Jews, Christians and Pagans in the Middle Ages and the years after.
  • Cursed. After one final burst of cruel persecution, the Christian church will suffer the final curse and wrath of God in the seven last plagues.
  » The Council and Assembly of Simeon and Levi. "Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly". Jesus abandoned the Levitical priesthood and chose to become a priest according to the line of Melchizadek. Jesus also was not born out of physical or spiritual Simeon and Levi. He was born to the Jews out of the tribe of Judah, the fourth son. He was not born from the Christian church. He gave birth to it.
  Jesus did not come out of Reuben, Simeon, Levi or the Christians. He could not be tainted with violence like David because He was needed to build the next sanctuary of God as a Man of peace.
  David said to Solomon: "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. But this word of the LORD came to me: 'You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. (1 Chronicles 22: 7-9)
  Blessings of Moses. Simeon was the only tribe that was not mentioned in his blessings. The blessings of Jacob represent the events at the beginning of the exodus. The blessings of Moses represent the events at the end of the exodus. Jesus experienced both of these during this week. Because He was faithful, He only had a short forty hour period of delay between His crucifixion and resurrection.
  However, the Christian church began its exodus at the crucifixion when Simeon was called and Reuben rejected. Then we experienced a 2000 year delay because of apostasy. At the end of time, Simeon will receive no blessing just as the church of Laodicea received no praise.
  » The Mystery of God. It is strange that God modeled these two branches of His holy nation after two violent, treacherous brothers.
  For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery - so that you will not be wise in your own estimation - that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "The deliverer will come from Zion He will remove ungodliness from Jacob". "This is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins"
  For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. (Romans 11: 25-27, 32)
  This is part of the mystery of His plan. Symbolically, both were disobedient sons and He will save both.
  ("Fleeing Disciples"). Jesus was left alone to face His enemies as His disciples ran away. This was a blessing because the disciples were spared His suffering and they were the nucleus of a new church.
• Gad ("How fortunate"). His name means "how fortunate" (Genesis 30: 11). In the midst of His sorrows He lived out the advice of the Beatitudes. We are blessed or fortunate when we are innocent and suffer for the sake of righteousness. He suffered for the sake of His Father who sent Him to die for us.
  Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. (Matthew 5: 11)
  Blessings of Jacob ("Attacked by Raiders").
  Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels. (Genesis 49: 19)

  The Siege of Jesus (Raiders Attack)
  Surrounded by Enemies

  
  This is a prophecy of the arrest of Jesus by a gang of men sent by the priests. When Judas betrayed Him, Jesus was attacked by a band of 480 Roman soldiers and other people with clubs, torches and swords who took Him away. Jesus also said that this fulfilled scripture, which scripture? It is the scripture of this blessing given to the Gad which predicted that he would be raided.
  While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him." Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. And Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. (Matthew 26: 47-50)
  480+ Soldiers. Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. (John 18: 3)
  Micah also had the same prediction of bring raided like Gad and "going forth" like Zebulun.
  Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; they have laid siege against us; with a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek. But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity. (Micah 5: 1-2)
  » Jesus Raids their Heel. This is a prophecy of the future revenge of Jesus. When He returns with His raiding party yielding a sword and a rod of iron, the wicked will turn their heels to Him and run away, calling for the rocks to hide them. Both raiding parties had swords and clubs. Jesus did not run away, but they will.
  And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; And He treads the winepress of the fierce wrath of God the Almighty. (Revelation 19: 14-15)
  » Swords, Clubs and a Kiss. While the men came with weapons, Judas came with a kiss. A kiss is a sign of affection used between family and friends and it was done after anointing a chosen one.
  Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, kissed him [Saul] and said, "Has not the LORD anointed you a ruler over His inheritance? (1 Samuel 10: 1)
  » The Passover Kiss of Judas. This kiss was also memorialized in the Passover seder. In fact, the kiss of betrayal was the prearranged sign to arrest Him. The custom was to kiss the matzah before eating it as a sign of affection. Judas kissed Jesus just before He was handed over to be eaten and swallowed into the bowels.
  Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away under guard." (Mark 14: 44)
  But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" (Luke 22: 48)
  » The Yom Kippur Kiss of Judas. The people also kissed the high priest as he left the sanctuary during the Yom Kippur service. He entered the Most Holy Place four times on that day. The first time was to offer the incense offering. Judas kissed Jesus immediately after He made the incense offering in the Garden of Gethsemane.
  
  » The Kiss of Mary. This is a great contrast. It was the kiss of affection given with a great gift of expensive oil.
  "You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. (Luke 7: 45)
  Blessings of Moses. Of Gad he said, "Blessed is the one who enlarges Gad; He lies down as a lion, And tears the arm, also the crown of the head. Then he provided the first part for himself, For there the ruler's portion was reserved; And he came with the leaders of the people; He executed the justice of the LORD, And His ordinances with Israel." (Deuteronomy 33: 20-21)
  » He came with the heads of the people. The priests sent the raiders to capture Jesus and they tried Him first. Then they sent Him to be tried by several groups. The original locations might be four positions around the altar or sanctuary, representing the four corners of the altar and the four boiling places of the temple of Ezekiel.
  1. The Priests. They held the Lamb for His death.
     • Annas. Former high priest and father-in-law of Caiaphas.
     • Caiaphas. The high priest who used false witnesses against Him. They accused Him of blasphemy, spit on Him, slapped His face, beat Him, blind folded Him and bound Him.
     • Sanhedrin. The chief priests, elders and scribes. (Luke 22: 62-71)
  2. Roman Government: Pontius Pilate. This was Roman governor of Judea in charge of Galilee who knew that He was innocent, but allowed Him to be exchanged for a criminal because he was afraid of the political backlash. He flogged Him and gave Him over to be crucified.
  3. Jewish Government: King Herod Antipas. The Jewish ruler who was Tetrarch of Galilee. His soldiers beat Him, dressed Him in a purple robe, a reed and a crown of thorns and sent Him back to Pilate.
  4. The People. After he was brought back to Pilate for the second time, Pilate made the people choose and then washed his hands. They chose Barabbas.
  
  » Justice and Judgments. The trials occurred during this time.
  » Tears the Crown of the Head. They placed the crown of thorns that pierced His head.
  » Tears the Arm ("Scourging and Nailing"). The Roman whip or flagrum that beat Him and tore His skin. Then the nails split His hands and feet.
  » Executing the Justice and Ordinances of the Lord ("Dismantling the Offering"). He became the continual burnt offering at this stage. The animal was taken apart in the same manner that the sanctuary was taken apart.
  I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. (Isaiah 50: 6)
  » The Rulers Portion. The Roman soldiers removed His clothes, dressed Him up as a king, with a crown of thorns, a reed and a purple robe. Several other laws and prophecies were fulfilled with this action.
  Offering Cut Up. Gad is the offering that is attacked and cut up by a band of priests. They grabbed and pierced the heel and strung up the offering, skinned and dismembered it. They cut off the head and arm and kept a part of the offering to be eaten by them. The head was the first part that was cut off and it was given to the first priest with the testicles, fat and right leg. Since these are the place of the crown, the seeds of life and the place of the vow, it must be the ruler's portion.
  ("Curse: A Hateful Mob"). Jesus was surrounded by a group of violent men who arrested Him by force.

("The Exodus Journey South"). After travelling east they turned south at the turbulent waters of the Red Sea. They traveled south to meet God at Mount Horeb and received the laws. Unfortunately, the priests used the law to pervert justice in the case of Christ and ironically fulfilled every law that prophesied about Him, including the fact that the priests must participate in the sacrifice of the offering and bear the guilt (Numbers 18: 1).
("Childhood"). When He became a human He gave up His preeminence in heaven.
Volunteered to be a Lower Life Form. But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2: 9)
Slave. but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:7)
Volunteered to be Poor. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8: 9)
» Fled South from Herod. Soon after His birth, Jesus moved south to Egypt to escape the wrath of king Herod who hated the Child. During that time Herod raided the towns near Bethlehem and killed the boys under two.
Egypt. So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. (Matthew 2: 14)
The Second Day of Creation (South). The water and sky were separated on this day. The turbulent waters that was Israel was separated from God. They were rejected for another nation because they separated themselves from Christ.
The Covenant ("The High Priest and Shepherd of the Covenant"). He prayed for them. He healed their wounds when Peter cut off the ears of the servant of the high priest.

The Tribes in the North ("Judgment, Wrath, Death and Resurrection")
In this phase, Israel is dying in the wilderness from the snake bite received at Eden. The only way they can be healed is to gaze at the snake impaled on a cross. As we transition to the north we see that Gad is the raider whose angry mob delivers Christ to the serpent to be judged by Dan.Their names mean, "God has judged me", "Happy am I", "I have prevailed".
All three tribes said the curse. They represent the final judgment by the people who decided that He was worse than a murderer. It is also the three hour ordeal of Christ on the cross when He became the serpent on the cross and died.
This also fulfills the law which says that the sacrifice must be made towards the north of the altar.
He shall lay it on the side of the altar northward before the Lord, and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle His blood around the altar. (Leviticus 1: 11)
In this representation, the tribes that symbolized His death and burial are in the north. Golgotha, the place of the crucifixion, was outside the city in the north. See map of old Jerusalem.

Gethsemane	Scattered	Arrest	Trial		Barabbas		Mocked		Death		Alive	Resurrected
Afflicted	Unloved	Raiders			Exchanged	Serpent		Rider Falls Back		Fat Bread		Loose Doe
The Passover Seder							Motzi Matzo		Charoset	Afikoman
Incense	Bull			Lord's Goat