Gideon

Chapter 15

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TYPES AND SHADOWS: WE ARE THE CITY OF JERUSALEM,

AND WE ARE THE BENJAMIN COMPANY

06-24-12

(Luke 21:20-22) And when ye shall see Jerusalem [Heb: dual; peaceful] compassed [Gk: encircled, surrounded] with armies, then know that the desolation [Gk: to lay waste] thereof is nigh [Gk: near: approaching, at hand]. Then let them which are in Judaea [the land around Jerusalem belonging to the tribe of Judah] flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries [such as the USA] enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

1.      Commentary: “Jerusalem” = The city of Jeru-salem was formerly called Jebus (Judg 19:10) (Heb: threshing place) and Salem (Gen 14:18) (Heb: peaceful), two names that are essentially opposites, opposites in the same manner as soul and spirit. The capital of Judea, Jerusalem was geographically located partly in the land of the tribe of Benjamin [Joseph’s only full brother], and partly in the land of the tribe of Judah [the tribe of our Lord Jesus Christ]. Or in other words, the city of Jerusalem was shared in extremely close association by the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The city was not completely conquered by the Israelites until the time of David (2 Sam 5:6-9). After David’s victory over the Jebusites, who occupied and defended the upper environs of the city, Jerusalem was unified into one and then called “the city of David” (2 Sam 5:7), which is, not coincidentally, the same name that the city of Bethlehem (Heb: house of bread) is called (Luke 2:4,11) and where our Lord was born,  “I am that bread of life.” (John 6:48). The circumstance of these two cities being both named “the city of David” is perhaps meant to indicate by extended metaphor that Bethlehem is a picture of the child believer and Jerusalem a picture of the adult believer. The latter conclusion results in some rather interesting applications regarding stages of our character and development as born-again Christians.

2.      Commentary: A name change indicates a change in character, both for cities and for people. The name of Jacob (Heb: heel-catcher, supplanter) (a type of the natural man) was converted by God (a type and picture of salvation) into Israel (Heb: he will rule as God, prince with God) (a type of the spiritual man) (Gen 32:28; 35:10). Benjamin’s (Heb: son of the right hand) (a type of us) older, full, and chronologically closest brother Joseph (Heb: let him add, adding) (a virtually perfect type of Jesus Christ) was the only and the first son of the marriage of Jacob (a type of the natural man) and Rachel (Heb: a ewe, a sheep). Thereafter, Benjamin was the only and the last son of the marriage of the converted (saved) Israel (a type of the spiritual man) and Rachel (Heb: a ewe, a sheep). In effect, Benjamin, who symbolizes and is a type of us, had two fathers, Jacob and Israel, as do we. We who are born-again have both our natural father (Jacob) and our spiritual father (Israel, i.e., by extension, God). Thus we arrive at an explanation for Jerusalem having the meaning of “dual” in the original Hebrew, which represents all righteous born-again men and women.

3.      (Gen 43:29-34)  And he [Joseph, a type of Jesus Christ] lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin [a type of us], his mother's son [an unusual unconventional reference, perhaps inferring his different father characters], and said [to the ten brothers, excluding himself and Benjamin], Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said [to Benjamin], God be gracious unto thee, my son. And Joseph made haste [Heb: to be liquid or flow easily] [a type of the Holy Spirit; ref. “Abigail made haste” 1 Sam 25:18]; for his bowels [Heb: the womb: matrix /// love, compassion] [in this context, may also indicate a female aspect of the Holy Spirit] did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there [“Jesus wept.” John 11:35] [similarly, Jesus wept in the NT for the Jews’ ignorance in not knowing who he was, for their lack of understanding]. And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained [Heb: contained, restrained] himself, and said, Set on bread [“life” John 6:48 literally and spiritually]. And they [the servants] set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians [Heb: dual], which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination  [Heb: disgusting, abhorrent /// loathable, detestable] unto the Egyptians. And they sat before him [Joseph], the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another [that Joseph knew their proper chronology without being told]. And he [Joseph (Jesus Christ)] took and sent messes [food (bread - life)] unto them from before him [food that came from him (Joseph), i.e., the Word of God (John 1:14)]: but Benjamin's [a type of us] mess [food (bread)] was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

4.      (Gen 45:17-22)  And Pharaoh [a type of God] said unto Joseph [a type of Jesus Christ], Say unto thy brethren [a type of saved born-again people], This do ye; lade [Heb: load] your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan [Palestine]; And take [Heb: seize, take up] [a type of “rapture”] your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons [Heb: something revolving, i.e. a wheeled vehicle] [empowerment] out of the land of Egypt [a type of heaven] for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come [the second mention type of “rapture”]. Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours [ref: the young rich ruler “If thou wilt be perfect (Gk: complete), go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me” Mat 19:21]. And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons [types of wooden arks of the covenant, with wheels (i.e. mobilized, empowered, by the Holy Spirit)], according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision [Heb: food] for the way. To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment [Heb: mantles] [authorative coverings, cloaks, clothing, or empowerments]; but to Benjamin [a type of us] he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.

5.      Commentary: “but to Benjamin [a type of us] he gave three hundred pieces of silver” = symbolizing Gideon’s redeemed and “retained” (Heb: to fasten upon, seized) (Judg 7:8), i.e., raptured, 300 active combat warriors, and five changes of raiment that are five authorative coverings or empowerments, in addition to the previous five messes (Gen 43:34) which are the godly bread (fuel) necessary to conduct each of the five godly activities (actions, offices). The five messes and the five changes of raiment and the three hundred pieces of silver were all types and shadows, they were provisions for, i.e., they provided for, the five offices of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher, they were provisions for you and I, “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

a.      (Eph 4:11,12)  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Amen