(出40)读经进度的时间“巧合” (Exodus 40) The “Coincidence” of the Torah Reading Schedule and the Seasons

(出40)读经进度的时间“巧合” (Exodus 40) The “Coincidence” of the Torah Reading Schedule and the Seasons

(ChatGPT translation from Chinese, edited by Mijiale, 中文在后面)

Exodus 40:17

And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was erected.

I thank the Lord that I have followed this Jewish traditional Torah reading schedule for more than ten years. I have noticed a phenomenon: the seasons in which we read often “coincide” with the content of the readings. Since the biblical calendar follows the lunar cycle, some years have thirteen months, so I am unsure if this happens every year. However, I recall that this kind of coincidence happens frequently.

Let’s examine these seasonal patterns according to the four seasons:

Spring:

The first month of the biblical calendar occurs in spring (see: Exodus 12 – How Was the Biblical Calendar Established?).

In spring, we read the final Torah portion of Exodus, Pekudei (Exodus 38:21–40:38), which records that on the first day of the first month, the Tabernacle was erected (Exodus 40:17).

This website was also launched during this season. On the first day of the biblical first month, I uploaded my first Torah reflection on Leviticus, and the purpose of establishing this website is the same as the purpose of the Tabernacle built over three thousand years ago—to glorify the Creator.

Summer:

The fifth month of the biblical calendar occurs in summer.

In summer, we read the final Torah portion of Numbers, Masei (Numbers 33–36), which records that on the first day of the fifth month, Aaron the priest ascended Mount Hor and died (Numbers 33:38).

Following this, around the ninth day of the fifth biblical month, we read the first Torah portion of Deuteronomy, Devarim (Deuteronomy 1:1–3:22), which recalls that the ten spies spoke ill of the Promised Land, bringing judgment upon the Israelites. This event can be deduced to have occurred on the ninth of the fifth month (Tisha B’Av).

Biblical Chronology Deduction:

  • The Israelites departed from Mount Sinai in the second year, second month, twentieth day (Numbers 10:11).
  • After traveling three days (Numbers 10:33), they ate quail for thirty days (Numbers 11:20).
  • After waiting seven days for Miriam’s leprosy purification (Numbers 12:15), they sent spies to scout the land for forty days (Numbers 13:25).
  • Thus, the negative report of the spies was likely received around the ninth of Av (Tisha B’Av).

This date later became a Jewish fast day, marking the destruction of both the First and Second Temples (see: Tisha B’Av – Hebrew4Christians).

Thus, the Torah reading during this time directly relates to the tragic events that historically occurred during the same season.

Autumn:

The seventh month of the biblical calendar occurs in autumn. Autumn is a time of harvest and also marks the end and restart of the Torah cycle.

In autumn, we read the first Torah portion of Genesis, Bereisheet (Genesis 1:1–6:8). This portion describes the creation of plants, trees, and fruits, aligning with the harvest season:
“And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after its kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after its kind.” (Genesis 1:12)

Additionally, the Hebrew name for the seventh month, Teeshrei, can be rearranged to spell “Bereisheet” (בְּרֵאשִׁית), which is the first word of the this Torah portion. Some scholars suggest this hints that the world was created in the month of Teeshrei(see: Creation and Tishrei – Hebrew4Christians).

Before beginning Genesis, we complete Deuteronomy on Shemini Atzeret, the eighth day Assembly. Since seven represents completion, the eighth day signifies a new beginning, making it the perfect time to start the Torah reading cycle anew.
(See: The Meaning of the Number Eight in Biblical Festivals)

Winter:

The New Testament records that the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) is in winter:
“Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.” (John 10:22)

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, falls in the darkest season—yet it celebrates the beginning of increasing daylight.

During this time, we read the story of Joseph, who:

  • Was sold into slavery.
  • Was falsely accused and imprisoned.
  • But at his lowest point, he was raised to power, becoming the savior of Egypt and his family.

Hanukkah traditions include spinning a dreidel, inscribed with four Hebrew letters that represent: “A Great Miracle Happened There.” These same letters can be rearranged to spell: “to Goshen” (גשנה), a phrase found in Genesis 46:28, where Jacob is instructed to settle in Goshen—a place of protection and provision.

Even more striking, the numerical value of “to Goshen(גשנה)” equals the numerical value of “Messiah” (Mashiach, מָשִׁיחַ)! This is remarkable because this is the season when many celebrate the birth of Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah, the Light of the World.
(See: Genesis 46 – Goshen and Messianic Meaning)

Coincidence only?

Are these seasonal alignments merely coincidences?

Some may argue that the Jewish sages deliberately arranged the Torah readings to match the seasons. However, the coincidence of winter readings aligning with the themes of Christmas and Messiah could not have been planned by Jewish tradition, as Jews generally do not celebrate Christmas.

Perhaps these are just random occurrences. But if we believe in a Creator who orchestrates history and time, then these “coincidences” should be under His control. Following this reading schedule then is helpful to us in not merely reading the Torah—but also better experiencing it.

(出40)读经进度的时间“巧合”

出埃及记 – 第 40 章 第 17 节

第二年正月初一日,帐幕就立起来。

感谢主,我按照这个犹太传统读经进度学习摩西五经已经十几年了,我注意到一个现象,就是读经进度的季节经常与读经内容巧合。虽然因为圣经历是按月亮周期订的月份,所以有的年份有十三个月,所以不知道是否每年如此,但我印象中这种巧合经常发生。按照春夏秋冬四季:

春天:

圣经历的正月在春天(参见http://mijiale.mypressonline.com/2024/01/14/出12)圣经的历法是怎么制订的?-exodus-12-how-was-the-biblical-calendar-established/

)。在春天,我们读到出埃及记的最后一个读经进度“总数pekudei(出埃及记38:21-40:38)”,我们看到(出埃及记40:17), 第一个敬拜造物主的会幕就是在春天的正月初一立起来的。这个网站也是在这个季节开始使用的, 在春天圣经历的正月初一上传了利未记的第一个读经进度的读经感想,而建立这个网站的目的也是与三千多年前建立圣所的目的相同,都是为了彰显造物主的荣光。

夏天:

圣经历的五月在夏天。在夏天,我们读到民数记的最后一个读经进度“行程masei(民数记33-36)”,我们看到,这个读经进度里正好记载了在同一季节的五月初一日,祭司亚伦遵着造物主的吩咐上何珥山,就死在那里(民数记33:38)。

接着,在圣经历夏天五月上旬左右,我们读申命记的第一个读经进度devarim“话” 申命记1:1-3:22,我们看到圣经在回忆同一季节发生过的事:以色列人十个探子说应许之地的坏话,带来惩罚,而这事情可以被推导出发生在圣经历夏天的五月初九左右。 【因为这是在以色列人出埃及后第二年,在圣经历二月二十日离开西奈山(民数记10:11)以后走了三天(民数记10:33),吃了三十天鹌鹑肉(民数记11:20),等了得大麻风的女先知七天后洁净(民数记12:15),又等了探子侦察四十天(民数记13:25)之后,所以十个探子是在圣经历五月初九左右带回了坏消息。在希伯来文这天叫tisha bav,也是两次圣殿被毁的日子,是个传统的禁食日,参见 https://hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Summer_Holidays/Tishah_B_Av/tishah_b_av.html

秋天:

圣经历的七月在秋天。秋天是收获的季节,也是每年读经进度结束后重新开始的季节。在秋天,我们读到创世记的第一个读经进度“起初Bereisheet(创世记1:1-6:8)”,那里我们正好看到创世时秋季丰收的景象,(创世记1:12)“于是地发生了青草,和结种子的菜蔬,各从其类,并结果子的树木,各从其类,果子都包着核。”另外,圣经的七月,希伯来语叫teeshrei,有人发现这个月份的字母重组后,正好隐藏在这一读经进度的开场白“起初”bereisheet”里。参见https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Fall_Holidays/Elul/Creation/creation.html

新的一轮创世记读经开始之前,先结束每年的申命记读经,这一天是在圣经节日第八日严肃会,也是利未记23章按圣经历排列的每年最后一个节日。如果七是一个周期,那么数字八也是一,是新的开始,在这一天开始新一轮的读经进度很合适。参见http://mijiale.mypressonline.com/2021/09/26/好数字八与圣经节日/

冬天:

新约圣经约翰福音10:22提到, “在耶路撒冷有修殿节。是冬天的时候。”

修殿节又叫光明节,这是一年黑夜最长的季节,但也是光明的开始:白天开始变长了。我们阅读到圣经里约瑟的故事,在他被卖为奴后,又被诬陷入狱,但也正是在他命运的最低谷,他被解释放出来,管理埃及全地,存粮预防饥荒。在光明节,犹太人除了点灯,还玩转陀螺的游戏,陀螺上刻的四个字母,记念造物主在这个季节在耶路撒冷那里为他们行过的一个大奇迹。这四个字母,可以重组为““往 歌 珊 去” ,而这个短语出现在创世记46:28,会在冬季的读经进度vayigash“挨近” (创世记44:18-47:27)里读到。更奇妙的是,此季节读到的短语“往 歌 珊 去”,它希伯来语四个字母的数字与“弥赛亚”数字相等,而这也是圣诞节的季节,是大多数人遵守的庆祝弥赛亚出生的季节。参见

http://mijiale.mypressonline.com/2024/12/29/(创46)歌珊地-goshen-genesis-46/

这些都是巧合吗?还是犹太人制订读经进度时故意安排的?我不确定,关于冬天圣诞节的巧合肯定不是犹太人故意安排的,因为犹太人一般不过圣诞节。还有一些巧合,是与我个人有关的,比如这个网站建立的时间,还有我没有说的一些巧合。我想这些都可以说是巧合,但如果说都仅仅只是巧合,那就未免过于简单。我想所有的巧合都是造物主决定的,只是我们被造者还不能完全理解罢了。至少这样的巧合会带来这样的积极效果,就是学圣经的人有一种身临其境的感觉,不仅是在阅读,也是在经历。