I received this in an e-mail:
Did Jesus wear a Jewish Prayer shawl (tallit) ??
Did Jesus wear a tallit? According to John Hagee, Benny Hinn, and many of the Hebrew roots/Messianic teachers, they have stated publicly that He did, without supplying any Biblical proof for their assertions. The modern day conception of the what is known today as a tallit or "prayer shawl," came about from a rabbinic interpretation of a passage from the book of Numbers, of a statute given to the children of Israel by God to put fringes on the borders of their garments and to “use blue thread.” The command was given to Israel so that they would remember the statutes in the future, after a man broke the Sabbath by doing work when he gathered sticks to build a fire, and was then stoned to death because of his transgression of the fourth commandment.
Numbers 15
37 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
38 Speak to the sons of Israel and you shall say to them that they shall make
Themselves fringes on the corners of their garments, for their generations. And
thread of blue with the fringe of each corner.
39 And it shall be to you for a fringe, that you may look on it and remember all
the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that you do not go about
after your own heart and your own eyes after which you fornicate;
40 that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy to your
God.
Let’s review the details about the fringes, or tzit tzit. The fringes were to be attached to the corners of their garments. This was a garment already being worn, and was clothes that they were already in possession of. The passage does not state that it was to be a separate special piece of Holy clothing. Researching the Hebrew text and the meaning of kanaph (H3671) and tzittzit (H6734), one will find that the fringe or tassel is attached to the wing or edge of the garment. It has also been debated by some whether tzit tzit indicates the fringe around the edges of a garment, or a tassel at each corner.
The mention in the English Bibles of "blue" (techelet H8504) is more accurately defined as violet or purple. The people of the land of Canaan were historically known for wearing garments purple in color. This same "blue" was the color of the cloth that was used repeatedly to cover almost all Holy items found in the Tabernacle of God. Purple or scarlet was also recognized as the color of royalty, and with a purple robe they clothed Jesus before His crucifixion as the Roman guards mockingly hailed Him as “King of the Jews”.
Historically the violet color was made from a cerulean mussel (Heb. Chilazon). These produced a purple like dye used to make blue, scarlet, and various other shades of purple. This species of mussel eventually became scarce and increasingly difficult and expensive to obtain, so the Rabbis changed the Scriptural requirement given by God that the fringe, or tzit tzit, be dyed with the purple color. The Mishnah permitted the use of tzit tzit with all white threads.Today it is mostly the custom to have undyed fringes. Below is how the Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon defines techelet.
H8504
[FONT="]תּכלת[/FONT]
[FONT="]tekêleth[/FONT]
BDB Definition:
1) violet, violet stuff
1a) violet thread
1b) violet stuff or fabric
2) (TWOT) blue (covering spectrum from brilliant red through deep purple)
The Jewish prayer shawl used today, came about by a rabbinical decision at some point in the latter Middle Ages. The construction of this garment was related to a misinterpretation of the Biblical command found in the book of Numbers, and even more likely from the man made teachings/traditions found in the Talmud (Mishnah 3rd Century). The color, and the two blue lines, representing a modern prayer shawl that is found on the flag of the state of Israel, and most modern four cornered tallits, is very likely the wrong color according to historical sources.
Today there many Messianics who are unknowingly following the rules established by Talmudic Judaism as they use the prayer shawls during services and to cover their heads while praying. They are not aware that the fringes are tied numerically by using gematria in order to form the knots.There are four threads which go through the corner and are doubled back. 4 x 2 = 8. There are five knots on each tassel. 8+5=13. When you add in the numerical equivalent of the word (tsitsit) which is 600. 600+13 = 613. The 613 is a rabbinic interpretation of the ten commandments. (603 interpretations +10 commandments = 613) A Jewish person cannot be buried with a tallit, unless the fringes are first cut off, which symbolizes that the deceased is no longer under the rabbinic interpretation of the Law. Conversely it stands to reason then, that by wearing one, it symbolizes that one is under the rabbinic interpretation of the law (613). Since the 613 is a late rabbinic interpretation, it would also stand to reason that the fringes that were originally commanded by God to be worn in Numbers, would be the ten commandments, and not the 613. If one studies what is written in the Torah, you will find the the tablets with the ten commandments inscribed on them were to be kept inside of the Ark of the Covenant, while the five books of Moses, or the Torah were commanded to be kept outside. Since the man was stoned for breaking the fourth of the ten commandments in the passage found in the book of Numbers, it would be logical that this is what they were to admonished by God to remember.
Did Jesus wear a Jewish Prayer shawl (tallit) ??
Did Jesus wear a tallit? According to John Hagee, Benny Hinn, and many of the Hebrew roots/Messianic teachers, they have stated publicly that He did, without supplying any Biblical proof for their assertions. The modern day conception of the what is known today as a tallit or "prayer shawl," came about from a rabbinic interpretation of a passage from the book of Numbers, of a statute given to the children of Israel by God to put fringes on the borders of their garments and to “use blue thread.” The command was given to Israel so that they would remember the statutes in the future, after a man broke the Sabbath by doing work when he gathered sticks to build a fire, and was then stoned to death because of his transgression of the fourth commandment.
Numbers 15
37 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
38 Speak to the sons of Israel and you shall say to them that they shall make
Themselves fringes on the corners of their garments, for their generations. And
thread of blue with the fringe of each corner.
39 And it shall be to you for a fringe, that you may look on it and remember all
the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that you do not go about
after your own heart and your own eyes after which you fornicate;
40 that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy to your
God.
Let’s review the details about the fringes, or tzit tzit. The fringes were to be attached to the corners of their garments. This was a garment already being worn, and was clothes that they were already in possession of. The passage does not state that it was to be a separate special piece of Holy clothing. Researching the Hebrew text and the meaning of kanaph (H3671) and tzittzit (H6734), one will find that the fringe or tassel is attached to the wing or edge of the garment. It has also been debated by some whether tzit tzit indicates the fringe around the edges of a garment, or a tassel at each corner.
The mention in the English Bibles of "blue" (techelet H8504) is more accurately defined as violet or purple. The people of the land of Canaan were historically known for wearing garments purple in color. This same "blue" was the color of the cloth that was used repeatedly to cover almost all Holy items found in the Tabernacle of God. Purple or scarlet was also recognized as the color of royalty, and with a purple robe they clothed Jesus before His crucifixion as the Roman guards mockingly hailed Him as “King of the Jews”.
Historically the violet color was made from a cerulean mussel (Heb. Chilazon). These produced a purple like dye used to make blue, scarlet, and various other shades of purple. This species of mussel eventually became scarce and increasingly difficult and expensive to obtain, so the Rabbis changed the Scriptural requirement given by God that the fringe, or tzit tzit, be dyed with the purple color. The Mishnah permitted the use of tzit tzit with all white threads.Today it is mostly the custom to have undyed fringes. Below is how the Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon defines techelet.
H8504
[FONT="]תּכלת[/FONT]
[FONT="]tekêleth[/FONT]
BDB Definition:
1) violet, violet stuff
1a) violet thread
1b) violet stuff or fabric
2) (TWOT) blue (covering spectrum from brilliant red through deep purple)
The Jewish prayer shawl used today, came about by a rabbinical decision at some point in the latter Middle Ages. The construction of this garment was related to a misinterpretation of the Biblical command found in the book of Numbers, and even more likely from the man made teachings/traditions found in the Talmud (Mishnah 3rd Century). The color, and the two blue lines, representing a modern prayer shawl that is found on the flag of the state of Israel, and most modern four cornered tallits, is very likely the wrong color according to historical sources.
Today there many Messianics who are unknowingly following the rules established by Talmudic Judaism as they use the prayer shawls during services and to cover their heads while praying. They are not aware that the fringes are tied numerically by using gematria in order to form the knots.There are four threads which go through the corner and are doubled back. 4 x 2 = 8. There are five knots on each tassel. 8+5=13. When you add in the numerical equivalent of the word (tsitsit) which is 600. 600+13 = 613. The 613 is a rabbinic interpretation of the ten commandments. (603 interpretations +10 commandments = 613) A Jewish person cannot be buried with a tallit, unless the fringes are first cut off, which symbolizes that the deceased is no longer under the rabbinic interpretation of the Law. Conversely it stands to reason then, that by wearing one, it symbolizes that one is under the rabbinic interpretation of the law (613). Since the 613 is a late rabbinic interpretation, it would also stand to reason that the fringes that were originally commanded by God to be worn in Numbers, would be the ten commandments, and not the 613. If one studies what is written in the Torah, you will find the the tablets with the ten commandments inscribed on them were to be kept inside of the Ark of the Covenant, while the five books of Moses, or the Torah were commanded to be kept outside. Since the man was stoned for breaking the fourth of the ten commandments in the passage found in the book of Numbers, it would be logical that this is what they were to admonished by God to remember.