The Haftarah for Shabbat Parashat Hachodesh 5762

The Torah reading is Vayakhel-Pekudai

Ezekiel describes the Dedication Offerings to be Brought in the 3rd Bait Hamikdash. (Holy Temple)

We read the Haftarah from the book of Ezekiel chapters 45:18-46:15.

The Story Line of This Week's Haftorah: Prior to the beginning of our Haftorah, Ezekiel discusses the 12 tribes' division in the land of Israel. There will be a levite portion and a portion for the Mosheach. The Haftarah starts with the Nassi or Kohen Gadol (High Priest) will be responsible for the dedication sacrifices. The Nassi will officiate the sacrificial service. Ezekiel speaks of the future atonement sacrifices and offerings at the dedication of the 3rd Bait Hamikdash. During the dedication sacrifices the Kohen will take from the blood of the sin offering. An identical sacrifice is done on the 7th of the month for accidental contamination of the sanctuary. In the future there will be sacrifices on Sukkot and Pesach. The opening of the gate to the 3rd Bait Hamikdash. The Minchah offering will include an efah of flour and vessel that holds a hin of oil. Identical sacrifices were brought on sukkot. The future dedication offerings for Shabbat and the New Moon. The Nassi or Kohen Gadol will enter via the hall of the gate outward and stand by the doorpost while the Kohanim bring his offerings. The people shall worship Hashem on Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh. The Prince's or Mashiach's` offerings. The Shabbat sacrifice. Rosh Chodesh sacrifices info. How the Nassi and the people enter and leave the Holy Temple. The Quantities of the dedication mincha offerings. How the Nassi is to enter and leave the Bait Hamikdash on weekdays. The daily offerings during the future dedication. Laws concerning the Nassi's property. The Kohen's Chambers and . other enclosures. In the future the land of Israel will be divided into 13 parts. 1 part for each of the 12 tribes and the 13th part will be the Temple area for the Mosheach. The land will be divided equally by tribe vs. by population. All the land of Israel will be to the west of the Jordan River. Beforehand ½ of the temple was located in the tribe of Judah and ½ of the land in Benjamin. In the future the Temple area will be in the Mosheach's state. The tribe of Levi will have their own state.

The Haftorah's Connection between the Parasha and Haftorah: The Maftir of this week is Parashat Hachodesh (Shmot 12:1-20) where Hashem told Moshe that the Month of Nissan will be the month of the redemption of the Jewish Nation from Egypt. Each Jewish person has to prepare a lamb or goat for the Pesach sacrifice. Then Moshe was taught all the laws concerning the holiday of Pesach. The Haftarah speaks of a time that is yet to come. It speaks of the dedication ceremony for the third and final Holy Temple that will begin on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. When the Jews were about to leave Egypt the Month of Nissan symbolized the beginning of a new era. When the Moshiach comes Nissan too will be the beginning of a new era.

Information on the Book Ezekiel: Because of the many discrepancies found in the Book of Ezekiel, the Men of Great Assembly were going to leave it out of the Tanach. However, Chananiah ben Chizkiyahu locked himself in his attic (Hebrew for old) and using up 300 barrels of oil to maintain his lamp, he reconciled all the contradictions in the book. The dedication ceremonies for the Mishkan were 1 week long, for King Solomon's temple 1 week long and in the future the dedication ceremonies in the third and final Temple will last 6 months.

Timeline: Ezekiel prophecies took place about 2585 years ago.

Map: Ezekiel prophecies took place In the city of Babylon.

Written by: The Haftorahman - Reuven Gavriel ben Nissim Ebrahimoff 5762-2002

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