“This is the gate [ha-sha’ar] of HaShem, through which the righteous shall enter. I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation. The stone [even] which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was HaShem’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day HaShem has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalms 118:20-24

From the Hallel Psalms (113-118) – recited at Moedim, notably Passover.

Introduction

• Last week we saw how the Akeidah provides the clearest typology of Y’shua’s death, burial, and resurrection. In the progressive revelation of Messiah, it teaches how One can be offered for another. We saw how Abraham saw ‘after’ when he saw the ram. We know that the symbology does not replace the reality, but it makes the reality of Y’shua’s eternal atoning work evident to Abraham as well.

Words and Phrases

• 28:10: hamakom [the Place]: Gen 22:14; 28:11, 16 – the same place? Many of the ancients thought so.

• 28:12: culam [ladder], from the root calal, to lift up or exalt. The single usage in Scripture. The ancients likened this to Sinai where G-d “descended” upon the mountain. They saw the picture as relating also to the altar of the Tabernacle (with the olam rising).

• 28:11; 28:18; 28:22: even: [stones, stone]. In vs 11 it is plural, in vs. 18 it is singular and with the definite article: ha-even [i.e. THE Stone]. Gen 35:13-14; 49:22-26; Ps 118:19-22; Zech 4:6-7

• 28:11; 31:11-13: matzebah [pillar, a standing] from the root natzav. Ironically, this is the same word used in the phrase in vs 13: “HaShem stood above” [HaShem nitzav alaiv].

• 28:18 shemen [oil]: other usages for shemen: Ex 27:20; 30:25-27; Lev 2:1; Lev 8:1-12; 1Sam 16:10-13.

• 31:13: mashachta: [anointed] from the root mashach. Where the word Meshiach [Messiah] comes from. First usage as a verb. First usage as a title is Lev 4:3 (hakohen hamashiach) – the priest, the messiah.

Typology

• Culam. The Ladder. In Gen 28:12, it could be rendered, “ascending and descending on him”. John 1:51. Just as the olam [rising offering] pictures the consecration and dedication of Messiah Y’shua, the Culam here does as well. He is the Culam.

• Even: The Stone. Ps 118:22. Who does this refer to? Up until the time of the Apostolic Scriptures, it had always been understood to refer to David (ref. Stone p.1540). Quoted 6 times in the Apostolic Scriptures, what is the point being made? (Mt 21:42; Mr 12:10; Lu 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1Pet 2:4).

• Even: The Stone. 1Cor 9:14. The Even of the Wilderness that gave water.

• Maschiach [Anointed, Messiah]. Reserved for things related to G-d’s dwelling or His Kingship on earth.

The Dance Parable

• How does what we learned relate to our Parable of the ‘Dance’ with Messiah?

• 1Pet 2:1-12. He is the Living Stone. He is the Anointed One – the Messiah High Priest. He has chosen us to be priests and stones – reflections of Him – bringing glory to Him in obedient deeds.

Summary

• Y’shua is pictured in Jacob’s dream by the imagery of the Ladder and the anointed Stone. He is the Place. He is the means of descending and ascending. He descended, and has ascended. He will descend again that we might ascend into the Presence of HaShem.

• Do you look and act like one of His “stones”?.