As a reminder, New Oil is on September 8th which is equivalent to the 22nd day of the 6th month on the Zadok Priestly Calendar and after that is the Wood-offering.
The Temple Scroll (The Dead Sea Scrolls) translated by Charlesworth page 307
Column 23
“And AFTER the appointed time of the fresh oil (New oil), they shall present at the altar THE WOOD, the twelve clans of the sons of Yisra’el. And they shall be presenting (it) on the first day, the clans of Levi and Judah; and on the second day, Benjamin and the sons of Joseph together, Ephraim and Manasseh; and on the third day, Reuben and Simeon; and on the fourth day, Issachar and Zebulon, and on the fifth day, Gad and Asher; and on the sixth day, Dan and Naphtali…and they shall present upon the wood a burnt-offering for YAHWEH…”
So, we have a perfect match of what Nehemiah said was written in the Torah:
Nehemiah 10:35
“And we cast lots for the office of WOOD BEARING, we the priests and the Levites and the people, TO BRING WOOD into the house of ELOHIM, according the HOUSE OF OUR FAMILIES AT CERTAIN SET TIMES, YEAR BY YEAR, to burn on the altar of YAHWEH our ELOHIM as it is WRITTEN IN THE LAW…”
We see that WOOD was brought during a festival at a SET TIME and by FAMILIES as we saw that 12 tribes presented wood (2 tribes a day) for 6 days as it is WRITTEN IN THE LAW and that law is according to the TEMPLE SCROLL.”
Nehemiah 13:31 (Septuagint)
“And the OFFERING OF THE WOOD BEARERS was at CERTAIN SET TIMES and the in the times of the first fruits. Remember me my ELOHIM for good.”
Another witness if found in the Dead Sea Scrolls:
The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls (Vermes translation) page 477 (Fragment 23)
“When you enter the land which I am giving to you as an inheritance, and you dwell upon it securely you shall BRING WOOD for a burnt offering and for all the service of the House of which you shall build for Me in the land, to lay it on the altar of burnt-offering, and the calves…for Passover sacrifices and peace-offerings and thank-offerings and free-will offerings and burnt-offerings daily…and for the doors and for all the service of the House you shall offer…THE FESTIVAL OF OIL, the twelve tribes THEY SHALL OFFER WOOD…Those who offer on the first day shall be Levi and…on the third day, Rueben and Simeon, and on the fourth day…”
So, we see that the 12 tribes would bring a donation of wood so that the fire on the altar would not go out and for burnt offerings.
How can we celebrate wood-offering today?
Leviticus 6:1-6
“YAHWEH said to Moshe, 2 (9) “Give this order to Aharon and his sons: ‘This is the law for the burnt offering [a]: it is what goes up [b] on its firewood upon the altar all night long, until morning; in this way the FIRE OF THE ALTAR WILL BE KEPT BURNING. 3 (10) When the fire has consumed the burnt offering on the altar, the priest, having put on his linen garment and covered himself with his linen shorts, is to remove the ashes and put them beside the altar. 4 (11) Then he is to remove those garments and put on others, before carrying the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. 5 (12) In this way, the FIRE ON THE ALTAR WILL BE KEPT BURNING AND NOT BE ALLOWED TO GO OUT. Each morning, the priest is to KINDLE WOOD ON IT, arrange the burnt offering and make the fat of the peace offerings go up in smoke. 6 (13) FIRE IS TO BE KEPT BURNING ON THE ALTAR CONTINUALLY; IT IS NOT TO GO OUT.”
The same way that the fire on the altar shall not be put out is the same way that we as the Temples of YAHWEH filled with the RUACH HA’KODESH (1 Corinthains 3:16, 1 Corinthains 6:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16) should not let the RUACH HA’KODESH be quenched (fire put out) within us!
1 Thessalonians 5:19 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
19 “Don’t QUENCH the SPIRIT”
Oxford languages defines quench as “EXTINGUISH A FIRE”
The etymology for the word quench is G4570 “sbennumi” sben’-noo-mee and defined by Mounce as to extinguish, quench, Strongs defines it as a prolonged form of an apparently primary verb; to extinguish (literally or figuratively) and Thayer defines it as to extinguish, quench, of fire or things on fire, to be quenched, to go out.
Leviticus 6:12 (Septuagint)
“And the FIRE ON THE ALTAR shall be kept burning on it and shall NOT BE EXTINGUISHED…”
We are not to put out the fire of the Spirit, rather we are to let Him continue to burn within us because the RUACH HA’KODESH is likened to FIRE:
Acts 2:1-4 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“The festival of Shavu‘ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. 2 Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then they saw what looked like TONGUES OF FIRE, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the RUACH HA’KODESH and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.”
Moses Apocryphon 4Q376, 1Q29) The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls
“they shall shed light on you. And he shall go out with it with TONGUES OF FIRE. The left-hand stone of his left side will show itself to the eyes of all the assembly until the priest has completed his speech. And afterwards the…has gone up…and you shall keep and do all that he shall speak to you.”
2 Esdras 14:22,33-42
“If, then, I have found favor before thee, send the RUACH HA’KODESH (THE SET-APART SPIRIT) into me, and I will write everything that has happened in the world from the beginning, the things which were written in Your law, that men may be able to find the path, and that those who wish to live in the last days may live. Verse 38-42 “And it came to pass, on the next day, behold, a voice called me saying, “Ezra, open your mouth and drink what I give you to drink. Then I opened my mouth, and behold, a full cup was offered to me; it was full of something like WATER (John 7:37-38), but its color WAS LIKE FIRE. And I took it and drank; and when I had drunk it, my heart poured forth UNDERSTANDING, AND WISDOM INCREASED in my breast, and my spirit retained its memory; and my mouth was opened, and was no longer closed. And the Most High gave me understanding to those five men, and by turns they wrote what was dictated, in characters which they did not know.”
Notice that Ezra asked YAHWEH to send the RUACH HA’KODESH to have him write down everything and what he was given to drink was like water? The RUACH HA’KODESH is described as Living Water and FIRE as we saw from the scriptures above:
John 7:37-39 (Hebrewgospels.com)
“And in the great day of the Feast, YESHUA stood, calling out and saying, “If any one does come unto Me, He will drink; whosoever believes in Me, as the Scripture says, ‘a stream of LIVING WATER will run from his belly.” And He said this concerning RUACH HA’KODESH—which those who believe in Him would receive; for He had not yet given the RUACH because YESHUA had not yet come into the light (esteem) of the Most High.”
Matthew 3:11 (Hebrewgospels.com)
“I am immersing you with water at the place of repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not worthy to draw off His shoe. And He will immerse you with RUACH HA’KODESH, AND HE WILL HEAL YOU WITH FIRE.”
Community Rule Dead Sea Scrolls (Ken Johnson translation) pg.67 Fruits of the SPIRIT
“These are the foundation FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT for the Sons of Truth in this world. The reward for those who walk in these will be HEALING and peace with long life. They are spiritual sons with all the eternal blessings. They will receive joy with eternal life, and a crown of esteem clothed in light.”
Fire also purifies, just as the fire of the RUACH HA’KODESH purifies us and makes us acceptable to serve ELOHIM in preparation for The Day of YAHWEH!
Malachi 3:2 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“But who can endure the day when He comes? Who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a REFINER’S FIRE, like the soap maker’s lye. He will sit, testing AND PURIFYING THE SILVER; HE WILL PURIFY THE SONS OF LEVI, refining them like gold and silver so that they can bring offerings to YAHWEH uprightly.”
Thanksgiving Hymns (Hymn 8) The Complete Dead Scrolls pg. 258
“And therefore I implore You BY THE SPIRIT which You have given me to perfect Your favors to your servant forever, PURIFYING ME BY THE SET-APART SPIRIT.”
Community Rule, The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls pg. 101:
“For it is through the spirit of true counsel concerning the ways of man that all is transgressions shall be expiated, that he may contemplate the light of life. He shall be CLEANSED from all his iniquities by the SET-APART SPIRIT (SPIRIT OF HOLINESS) UNITING HIM TO HIS TRUTH.”
Again, we see a cleansing by the RUACH HA’KODESH and that He will unite us to YAHWEH’s TRUTH! And truth is the Torah (Psalm 119:142)!
John 16:13 (Hebrewgospels.com)
“But when the RUACH (SPIRIT) OF TRUTH will come, He will TEACH YOU ALL TRUTH. For He will not speak of His own heart, only the words which He hears He will speak, and make known to you those words.”
By not quenching the fire of the RUACH HA’KODESH Who is dwelling within us, He will keep the devotion to serve YAHWEH burning within our hearts!
2 Timothy 1:6-7 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“For this reason, I am reminding you to FAN THE FLAME OF ELOHIM’s GIFT, which you received through ordination from me. For ELOHIM GAVE US A SPIRIT who produces not timidity, BUT POWER, love and self-discipline.”
Paul says fan the flame (keep the fire going) of ELOHIM’s gift that he has given! And it’s a beautiful thing knowing that the gifts are given by the RUACH HA’KODESH!
1 Cornithans 12:4-13 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“Now there are different KINDS OF GIFTS, BUT THE SAME SPIRIT GIVES THEM. 5 Also there are different ways of serving, but it is the same Master being served. 6 And there are different modes of working, but it is the same ELOHIM working them all in everyone. 7 Moreover, to each person is given the particular manifestation of the Spirit that will be for the common good. 8 To one, through the Spirit, is given a word of wisdom; to another, a word of knowledge, in accordance with the same Spirit; 9 to another, faith, by the same Spirit; and to another, gifts of healing, by the one Spirit; 10 to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, the ability to judge between spirits; to another, the ability to speak in different kinds of tongues; and to yet another, the ability to interpret tongues. 11 ONE AND THE SAME SPIRIT IS AT WORK IN ALL THESE THINGS, distributing to each person as HE CHOOSES. 12 For just as the body is one but has many parts; and all the parts of the body, though many, constitute one body; so it is with the Messiah. 13 For it was by one Spirit that we were all immersed into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free; and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
By not quenching the Spirit and operating within the gifts by the leading of the RUACH HA’KODESH burning within us we can continue being lights of the world.
Matthew 5:13-16 (Hebrewgospels.com)
“And it happened furthermore, that YESHUA MASHIACH said unto His talmidim (disciples), “You are the instruction of the world, but the instruction is cut off by them who are not saved, and nothing else is fit, except to cast them to the street and to trample them. THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD is not able to hide the city that rests on the mountain. No man LIGHTS THE LAMP in order to set it under a covering, but to set it upon the menorah, in order to give LIGHT to all those who are in the house. SO LET YOUR LAMP SHINE BEFORE ALL, that they may see your good deeds, and praise your Father who is in the heavens.”
We also see that the twelve tribes offered wood for the altar, so what kind of offering can we bring today? I know for sure that we can bring a spiritual offering:
1 Peter 2:5 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“As you come to him, the living stone, rejected by people but chosen by ELOHIM and precious to Him, 5 you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be priests set apart for ELOHIM to offer SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES acceptable to him through YESHUA the Messiah.”
Sirach 35:1-2
“He that KEEPS THE TORAH BRINGS SUFFICIENT OFFERINGS: he that takes HEED TO THE COMMANDMENT OFFERS A PEACE OFFERING, he that repays a kindness offers fine flour; and he that shows mercy (charity) SACRIFICES PRAISE.”
And again, just as the wood kept the fire burning on the altar, we likewise have to keep the fire of the RUACH HA’KODESH burning within us by not grieving Him! By turning away from the things of the world, denying our flesh, and walking in the fruits of the Spirit so that He doesn’t leave us which in return will put the fire within us out!
Ephesians 4:30
30 “Don’t cause GRIEF to ELOHIM’s RUACH HA’KODESH, for he has stamped you as his property until the day of final redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, ANGER, violent assertiveness and slander, along with all spitefulness.” 3
The deeds above are acts of the flesh, but one of the fruits of the Spirit is JOY!
Galatians 5:22 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, self control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things.”
The opposite of the joy which the RUACH HA’KODESH brings is grief and anger which are related to each other. and this will extinguish His fire within you!
Shepherd of Hermas Chapter 2, Commandment #10 (Parenthesis mine)
“Hear, then,” says he, “foolish man, HOW GRIEF CRUSHES OUT THE RUACH HA’KDOESH/SET-APART SPIRIT (Extinguishes the fire), and on the other hand saves. When the doubting man attempts any deed, and fails in it on account of his doubt, this grief enters into the man, and GRIEVES THE SET-APART SPIRIT, AND CRUSHES HIM OUT. Then, on the other hand, when ANGER attaches itself to a man in regard to any matter, and he is embittered, then grief enters into the heart of the man who was irritated, and he is grieved at the deed which he did, and repents that he has wrought a wicked deed. This grief, then, appears to be accompanied by salvation, because the man, after having done a wicked deed, repented. BOTH ACTIONS GRIEVE THE SPIRIT: doubt, because it did not accomplish its object; and anger grieves the Spirit, because it did what was wicked. Both these are grievous to the SET-APART SPIRIT — doubt and anger. Wherefore remove grief from you, AND CRUSH NOT THE SET-APART WHICH DWELLS WITHIN YOU, lest he entreat ELOHIM against you, AND WITHDRAW FROM YOU. For the Spirit of ELOHIM which has been granted to us to dwell in this body does not endure grief nor straitness. Wherefore PUT ON CHEERFULNESS, which always is agreeable and acceptable to ELOHIM, and REJOICE in it. For every cheerful man does what is good, and minds what is good, and despises grief; but the sorrowful man always acts wickedly. First, he acts wickedly because HE GRIEVES THE SET-APART SPIRT, which was given to man a cheerful Spirit. Secondly, Grieving the SET-APART SPIRIT, he works iniquity, neither entreating YAHWEH nor confessing to Him. For the entreaty of the sorrowful man has no power to ascend to the altar of ELOHIM.” “Why,” say I, “does not the entreaty of the grieved man ascend to the altar?” “Because,” says he, “grief sits in his heart. Grief, then, mingled with his entreaty, does not permit the entreaty to ascend pure to the altar of ELOHIM. For as vinegar and wine, when mixed in the same vessel, do not give the same pleasure [as wine alone gives], so grief mixed with the SET-APART SPIRIT does not produce the same entreaty [as would be produced by the SET-APART SPIRIT alone]. Cleanse yourself from this wicked grief, and you will live to ELOHIM; and all will live to ELOHIM who drive away grief from them, and put on all cheerfulness.”
Let us not put the fire of the RUACH HA’KODESH, THE SET-APART SPIRIT out so that we can continue being lights to the world and being cheerful as we do His will! As always may YAHWEH bless you in YESHUA’s Name!