Monday, July 16, 2018

The 12/70 Principle: 12 Tribes, 12 Apostles, 4 Mothers


12 Tribes 12 Apostles 4 Mothers

Laban did not think much of his daughters or their handmaids. Their names mean as follows:

·       Leah – Wild Cow
·       Zilpah – A Drop
·       Rachel – Ewe (Female Sheep)
·       Bilhah – Simple or Foolish

Seeing as these are the Mothers of Israel the Matriarchal names describe the nature of Israel by the Prophets. When in rebellion a Wild Cow in heat, a Drop in comparison to the nations. A precious Ewe Lamb when Israel was in obedience or needed rescued by God. When in rebellion and when viewed by pagan nations seen as Simple and Foolish.

Rachel and Leah, competing sisters and opposite in personality are separated by East and West with the Tabernacle in between them.

We will also pair once again the Tribe to the Apostle
EAST:  Sunrise, Children of Leah, Leah first to give birth
·       Judah – Peter
·       Issachar – Andrew
·       Zebulun – James Zebedee

WEST: Sunset, Children of Rachel, Rachel last to give birth
·       Ephraim – James Alpheus and Thomas
·       Manasseh – Matthew
·        Benjamin - James Alpheus and Thomas

The Handmaids are North to South seen as equals, like a balance. When paired with the Apostles each Apostle is juxtaposed to its corresponding Tribe on both North and South!
NORTH: Trouble, Children of the Handmaids; Zilpah and Bilhah
·       Dan – John Zebedee, Judah/Thaddeus/Lebbeaus
·       Asher – Phillip and Simeon
·       Naphtali – Matthias and Bartholomew

SOUTH: Comfort, Children of Leah and Zilpah
·       Reuben - John Zebedee, Judah/Thaddeus/Lebbeaus
·       Simeon - Phillip and Simeon
·       Gad - Matthias and Bartholomew

Please note that the Encampment of the Tribes around the Tabernacle corresponds to the location of the Gates named after the Tribes in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21).

We have already paired Apostle to Tribe. In Deuteronomy 27 we witness Israel being divided, half to pronounce the blessings of keeping Torah on Mt. Gerizim and the other half to pronounce the curses of disobedience to Torah on Mt. Ebal. Will the Apostles and tribes line up?

Mt. Gerizim: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, Benjamin – Peter, Andrew, Thomas, Matthew, James Alpheus, Phillip

Mt. Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Dan, Zebulun, Naphtali – James and John Zebedee, Matthias, Simon, Bartholomew, Judah/Thaddues/Lebbeaus

The diving of the tribes is symbolic of several things; the onyx stones of the priests (Ex. 28:9-12, 39:6-14) as well as united Israel divided after the death of Solomon.

The following is the Mother, Tribes and Apostles paired in regards to the meaning of their names and see if a relevant message for or about Israel emerges.

Direction of Encampment: East, North, West, South

·       Leah, Judah, Simon Peter:  The wild cow praises God and the rocks hear
·       Leah, Issachar, Andrew: The wild cow is a manly man for hire
·       Leah, Zebulun, James: The wild cow dwells catching by the heel
·       Bilhah, Dan, Reuben, John: The simple judge is a beloved son
·       Zilpah, Leah, Asher, Simeon, Phillip: The wild cow is but a drop, a happy listening warrior
·       Bilhah, Zilpah, Naphtali, Gad, Bartholomew/Nathaniel: Though but a  simple drop, the wrestling fortunate troop is a gift of the LORD
·       Rachel, Benjamin, Ephraim, Thomas: The Ewe lamb’s son of my right hand is a doubly fruitful twin/pair.
·       Rachel, Ephraim, Benjamin, James: The Ewe lamb’s doubly fruitful son of my right hand catches by the heel
·       Rachel, Manasseh, Matthew: The Ewe lambs gift of God causes me to forget my troubles.
·       Zilpah, Bilhah, Judah (Thaddeus/Lebbeaus): Even the simplest of drops gives hearty praise to God
·       Leah, Zilpah, Asher, Simeon: The wild cow is but a drop, happily hearing
·       Leah, Bilhah, Reuben, Naphtali, Matthias: The wild cows simple son wrestles for the gift of the LORD.

Direction of Juxtaposition: East, West, North, South

·       Leah, Judah, Simon Peter:  The wild cow praises God and the rocks hear
·       Leah, Issachar, Andrew: The wild cow is a manly man for hire
·       Leah, Zebulun, James: The wild cow dwells as a catching by the heel
·       Rachel, Ephraim, Benjamin, James: The Ewe lamb’s doubly fruitful son of my right hand catches by the heel
·       Rachel, Manasseh, Matthew: The Ewe lambs gift of God causes me to forget my troubles.
·       Rachel, Benjamin, Ephraim, Thomas: The Ewe lamb’s son of my right hand is a doubly fruitful twin/pair.
·       Bilhah, Dan, Reuben, John: The simple judge is a beloved son
·       Zilpah, Leah, Asher, Simeon, Phillip: The wild cow is but a drop, a happy listening warrior
·       Bilhah, Zilpah, Naphtali, Gad, Bartholomew/Nathaniel: Though but a  simple drop, the wrestling fortunate troop is a gift of YHWH
·       Leah, Bilhah, Reuben, Naphtali, Matthias: The wild cows simple son wrestles for the gift of YHWH.
·       Leah, Zilpah, Asher, Simeon: The wild cow is but a drop happily hearing
·       Bilhah, Zilpah, Naphtali, Gad, Bartholomew/Nathaniel: Though but a simple drop, the wrestling fortunate troop is a gift of the LORD

We are left with two dominate pictures; one of a Wild Cow and one of a Ewe Lamb, with a combination of attributes and messages. Both are symbolic of atonement of the Red Heifer and the Passover Lamb. A Third pictures ties these two together that it is a simple message of redemption which is seemingly Foolish to others but honed to a Singularity (a Drop). This double picture of redemption causes us to hear and obey, wrestle, obtain and rest. This is the message of the Apostles which were sent out to the Tribes to gather them back in the herd/flock.