Hope of Israel Ministries (Ecclesia of YEHOVAH):

Mystery of Mysteries -- What Is the Showbread?

by HOIM Staff

Mystery of mysteries -- what was the purpose of the enigmatic "shewbread" that YEHOVAH God commanded was to be baked every week, and put in the Temple of YEHOVAH God every Sabbath day, as a perpetual covenant -- an everlasting covenant?

The mystery of the showbread has never been adequately explained, or revealed. Adam Clarke says, "It is more difficult to ascertain the use of these, or what they represented, than almost any other emblem in the whole Jewish economy. Many have conjectured their meaning, and I have no disposition to increase their number by any addition of my own."

Even the great Jewish sage of the Middle Ages, Maimonides, confessed of the shewbread, "I do not know the object of the table with the bread upon it continually, and up to this day I have not been able to assign any reason to this commandment."

What commandment was he referring to?

In Leviticus 24:5 we read: "And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth parts shall be in one cake. And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD. And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the BREAD ["lechem"] for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD. Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. And it shall be Aaron's and his sons; and they shall eat it in the holy place; for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute" (Leviticus 24:5-9).

This showbread was, literally, "bread of the Presence." It consisted of twelve loaves of wheat bread, corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel. It was placed on the table of the showbread, on the north side of the Temple, in front of the Holy of Holies, opposite the lamp stand containing the seven lamps. It was placed on the table every Sabbath, arranged in two rows of six loaves each, with each loaf piled on top of another. When the new loaves were placed on the table, the week-old loaves were taken off the table, and eaten by the priests in the Holy Place, or Sanctuary.

Says the Hertz edition of the Soncino Pentateuch and Halftorahs,

"Most commentators understand the Presence-bread as an expression of thankfulness and standing acknowledgment on the part of the children of Israel that God was the Giver of man's daily necessities" (p. 329).

Says the Critical-Experimental Commentary by Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, the twelve loaves or "cakes" of the showbread were baked by the Levites, the flour being furnished by the people (I Chronicles 9:32; 23:29). Oil, wine and salt were the other ingredients (Leviticus 2:13). Each loaf was to be "two tenth deals" -- that is, of an ephah. In other words, each loaf weighed about 13.5 pounds. Every Sabbath day hot new loaves were placed on the table and the old loaves were removed and eaten by the priests, except in cases of dire emergency (I Samuel 21:30-6i; Luke 6:3-4).

Declares The Odyssey of the Third Temple, by Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, the twelve loaves were baked in specific pans, in a specific fashion, and rested one on top of another with golden shelves separating one loaf from another to prevent their breaking. The table itself was of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, and weighed several "talents" -- each talent being about fifty kilograms, or one hundred twenty pounds. Thus the table itself weighed several hundred pounds, perhaps about four-five hundred pounds!

The breads were baked in specially designed golden pans. Says Rabbi Ariel:

"On the festivals, the table would be raised aloft...and displayed to the pilgrims. The priests would call out: 'Behold how precious you are to God! The bread was removed as required, but though seven days have passed they are still hot as if freshly baked' (BT Menachot 29:A).

"This was one of the miracles experienced in the Holy Temple, revealing to all that the Divine Presence indeed rested there. The rabbis further relate that when the breads were distributed to the priests, each received a measure the size of a bean seed...and yet they ate it and were completely satiated!" (p. 54-55).

This same source states that the baking of the loaves themselves was a complicated process, for it was necessary to preserve the wholeness of each loaf for the duration of a week, and to avoid its being crushed by the weight of the loaves above it. The method also had to insure that the bread would not become moldy or spoiled. The Garmo family was in charge of this process, and held a carefully guarded family secret, passed down from generation to generation, to keep the knowledge of the process alive and hidden from prying eyes of those who might seek to use the secret process to bake loaves for pagan idols.

Literally, the "showbread" is lechem ha'panim, that is, "bread of the face" -- or, "bread of the Presence (of YEHOVAH God)." It is also called the "continual bread" (Numbers 4:7), "continual shewbread" (I Chronicles 2:4), or "bread of the row" [or "arrangement"] (I Chronicles 9:32, translated "shewbread" in the KJV). Each loaf was the volume of 86.4 eggs. The loaves were mixed and kneaded outside of the Courtyard.

Literally, the term "showbread" refers to lechem panim, "bread of faces" -- the plural form of "faces" is used, panim. Since this is the bread of YEHOVAH God's "Presence," the term panim -- plural for "faces" -- refers to the faces of YEHOVAH God. It is also a reference to the "faces" of the twelve tribes of Israel, as they appear before YEHOVAH God, represented by the loaves of bread. The showbread, being placed in the Temple, to the right of the entrance, in front of the Holy Holies, is continually "in God's Presence," from week to week. This pictures Israel as having constant communion and fellowship with YEHOVAH God, and being accepted by Him.

Says the New Westminster Dictionary of the Bible, "Each loaf contained 2/10 of an ephah of fine flour, such as was used for honored guests and for the king's table (Genesis 18:6; I Kings 4;22); and was employed in various offerings (Leviticus 2:1; 5:11, etc.). The 12 loaves represented the 12 tribes of Israel (cf. Leviticus 24:7 with Exodus 28:10-12; also Exodus 24:4; 28:21). In the Old Testament period these 12 loaves, set in the presence of the LORD, probably signified the constant communion of his people with him in those things which his bounty provided and they enjoyed in his presence and used in his service" (p. 876).

The Table and the Showbread

The table of showbread, on which the loaves were presented before YEHOVAH God, was of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold (Exodus 25:23-24). The loaves were placed on the golden surface of the table itself, with nothing under the bottom loaf (see The Chumash, Leviticus 24:4-7, p. 691). The gold represents the Divine (golden) nature of YEHOVAH God. In the metals used in the Tabernacle, gold represents YEHOVAH God the Father, silver represents Yeshua the Messiah, and brass (or bronze) represents Israel). Interestingly, these three metals have healing properties, and are known to be useful and health-restoring as "medicine," to effect cures of diseases. The loaves themselves were covered with a covering cloth of blue -- or turquoise wool (Numbers 4:7). The sky-blue wool symbolizes the color of the sky, the highest degree of holiness -- the color which represents YEHOVAH God the Father.

Says Alfred Edersheim in The Temple: Its Ministry and Services, the showbread was baked and prepared with painstaking care, so that in appearance and color the lower should be exactly the same as the upper part of it. The loaves of the showbread were kneaded separately and baked in pairs. They were made ready in a mould; and when they were taken from the oven, they were once again put in a mould, lest they should suffer any hurt (p. 140).

Edersheim adds that this showbread was

"made of the finest wheaten flour, that had been passed through eleven sieves. There were twelve of these cakes, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, ranged in two piles, each of six cakes. Each cake was made of two omers of wheat (the omer = about five pints). Between the two rows...two bowls with pure incense were placed, and, according to Egyptian tradition, also salt. The cakes were anointed in the middle with oil, in the form of a cross. As described by Jewish tradition, they were each five handbreadths broad and ten handbreadths long, but turned up at either end, two handbreadths on each side, to resemble in outline the Ark of the Covenant" (p. 142-143).

When the showbread was changed, according to the Mishnah, four priests entered the Holy Place, two carrying each a pile of six showbread, and the other two priests carrying the two dishes of incense. Four priests had preceded them, two to take off the old loaves of showbread (six each), and two to pick up the two bowls of incense from the previous week. Those who brought in the new loaves and incense, stood at the north side of the table, facing southward, and the others priests stood on the south side of the table, facing northward. As the priests on the south side picked up the old showbread and incense bowls, the priests on the north side replaced those with the new showbread and dishes of incense, with perfect timing, at the very same moment, so that showbread was always upon the table, continually.

Leavened? or Not Leavened?

Notice! This is the "showbread." In this definitive passage, there is NO MENTION of its being "unleavened." The Scriptures merely state that it was LECHEM -- THAT IS, "BREAD." Could this have been leavened bread? Why not? It most likely was, since the word for "unleavened," matzah, is NOWHERE USED in regard to the "showbread"! Certainly, if YEHOVAH God had commanded that the showbread be made of UNleavened bread, His Word would have stated such! But there is no such commandment in all the Scriptures pertaining to the "showbread." Interesting, isn't it?

Similarly, on the Day of Pentecost, YEHOVAH God commanded: "Ye shall bring out of your habitations TWO WAVE LOAVES of two tenth parts; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with LEAVEN; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD" (Leviticus 23:17). "And ye shall offer with the BREAD ["lechem"] seven lambs without blemish of the first year . . ." (v. 18). Here YEHOVAH God commands that this bread offering of two LOAVES OF FINE FLOUR be offered to Him. "And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD" (v. 20). These two wave loaves represent the two houses of Israel -- see our article, Pentecost and the Two Loaves.

Since there is NO Biblical command that this was to be UNLEAVENED bread, it was originally most likely LEAVENED bread -- simply "lechem," the word used for regular, raised bread, throughout the Old Testament! Whenever the Old Testament refers to "unleavened" bread, it uses the word for "unleavened," or matzah. It is nothing but unsupported "tradition" that the showbread was to be "unleavened."

The Scriptures in no place indicates that the "showbread" had to be "unleavened." The very fact that leavened loaves were presented, by commandment, to YEHOVAH God on Pentecost, as the "firstfruits," is an indication that these twelve loaves -- representing the twelve tribes of Israel -- were also most likely leavened bread -- the finest leavened bread. Why?

Contrary to what many may assume, leavened bread is the MOST DESIRABLE of all bread. Its "nature" has been changed, by the yeast, into a product totally unlike the original grain from which it was made. The yeast changes the nature of the ground flour into a wonderful delicious product, appealing to YEHOVAH God and to man! This is a "type" of how YEHOVAH's holy spirit changes our human nature into his divine and holy GOD nature (II Peter 1:4). Furthermore, the showbread was a picture of the prosperity that YEHOVAH would bless His people Israel with -- and delicious leavened loaves of bread picture prosperity, whereas unleavened bread pictures adversity and affliction.

Flavius Josephus the Jewish historian in Antiquities of the Jews states that the showbread was "unleavened" (Antiquities, III, 6, 6). However, history reveals that the Jews during the course of their history at times used leavened bread for the showbread, and at other times unleavened bread. Obviously, this was due to the fact that the Scriptures nowhere indicate which was to be used.

Further Evidence -- That of Comparison

The "showbread" and the two loaves of bread presented to YEHOVAH God on Pentecost, are similar in that both of them are extra large loaves of bread. The normal meal offering was only half as large (Numbers 15:4; Leviticus 24:5). The two loaves of leavened bread presented on Pentecost were the same size as the showbread loaves -- "two tenths deals" (Leviticus 23:17). The showbread are also called "cakes" or "loaves" -- the Hebrew word being challah or challot -- the same word used for the two loaves of "challah" used today in Jewish homes every Saturday, delicious loaves of leavened bread. Says The Jewish Book of Why:

"The Hebrew word challa, usually translated as 'a cake' or 'a loaf,' is mentioned in the Bible in the Book of Numbers (15:20). The Children of Israel were commanded to set aside, from the bread they bake, a small portion of dough...for the sustenance of the Priests...The word challa was first used in the Bible (Leviticus 24:5) to describe the twelve showbreads (lechem hapanim) that were arranged on the altar in the Tabernacle. The twelve loaves or cakes (challot) were laid out in two rows of six each. According to most authorities, this is the origin of the use of challa on the Sabbath and holy days....

"[T]he two challot serve as a reminder of the loaves of bread (lechem hapanim) permanently displayed first on the Tabernacle table (Exodus 25:30) and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. In each case, twelve breads were laid out in two rows; they were displayed all week long. These showbreads were required to be continually displayed in the presence of God. Each Sabbath fresh breads were prepared to replace the old ones, which became the property of the Priests. The Priests were required to eat them in a holy place, since the bread was holy. The two shallot used today represent the two rows of showbreads displayed in the Tabernacle and Temple" (p. 172-173).

In other words, the "challah" eaten on the Sabbath and holy days, today, is a reminder of the "showbread." Interestingly, the "challah" eaten today is leavened bread -- not unleavened! Could this be an indication that originally the showbread itself was also leavened?

Also, since the loaves of showbread were identical in size to the two leavened loaves presented before YEHOVAH God on Pentecost, is this not further indication that originally these loaves were of leavened bread -- as the word lechem itself implies? Remember, nowhere in Scripture are the loaves of showbread ever commanded to be made "unleavened" or to be made of matzot! Although the regular "meal" offerings were definitely commanded to be made with unleavened bread (Leviticus 2:4), such is not the case with the "showbread"! What does this tell us? What does the "showbread" really picture?

The Meaning of the Showbread

Flavius Josephus and the first-century Jewish philosopher Philo both believed that the twelve breads symbolized the twelve months of the year. However, no scriptural basis exists for this belief. In the law given to Moses, YEHOVAH God repeatedly directed him to use the number twelve in the Tabernacle to represent the twelve tribes of Israel.

Albert M. Shulman in his Gateway to Judaism states the reason for twelve breads: “for the twelve tribes of Israel.”

The McClintock and Strong Cyclopedia concurs with this understanding of the Showbread:

"The twelve loaves plainly answer to the twelve tribes (comp. Revelation 22:2). But, taking this for granted, we have still to ascertain the meaning of the rite, and there is none which is left in Scripture so wholly unexplained."

Since we always want to prove our understanding using the Scriptures, let’s see what they show. Notice below in all of these scriptures given to Moses, and in many concerning the Tabernacle, the number twelve keeps appearing in reference to the twelve tribes:

Exodus 24:4: "And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Then he arose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel."

Exodus 28:9: “And you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,"

Exodus 28:10: "six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, according to their birth."

The names of these twelve tribes of Israel were also engraved like seals on the twelve stones on the high priest’s garment:

Exodus 28:15: “And you shall make a breastpiece of judgment, the work of a skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it: of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen you shall make it."

Exodus 28:17: “And you shall mount on it four rows of stones; the first row shall be a row of ruby, topaz and emerald;"

Exodus 28:21: “And the stones shall be according to the names of the sons of Israel: twelve, according to their names; they shall be like the engravings of a seal, each according to his name for the twelve tribes."

This description of the high priest with twelve stones on his garment points forward to the Messiah in type as the true High Priest, keeping the sons of Israel (the twelve stones) close to his heart as he yields to YEHOVAH God in the ministry that he was called to:

Exodus 28:29: “And Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he enters the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually."

Exodus 28:38: “And it shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall take away the iniquity of the holy things which the sons of Israel consecrate, with regard to all their holy gifts; and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD."

Time and time again we see this number twelve pointing back to the Israelite people -- the nation descended from Abraham that was walking in the covenant:

Numbers 1:44: "These are the ones who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, with the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each of whom was of his father’s household."

Numbers 7:84: "This was the dedication offering for the altar from the leaders of Israel when it was anointed: twelve silver dishes, twelve silver bowls, twelve gold pans,"

Deuteronomy 1:23: “And the thing pleased me and I took twelve of your men, one man for each tribe."

Joshua 4:8: "And thus the sons of Israel did, as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, just as the LORD spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the lodging place, and put them down there."

From this, it’s abundantly clear that these twelve showbreads point to the twelve tribes of Israel.

Although the Israelites often fell short of YEHOVAH’s will, such as in the wilderness, they were the only nation that sought to truly walk with YEHOVAH God, and His mercy was with them. A necessary part of YEHOVAH God’s plan was to have a separated people out of which to bring the Messiah. His plan was to use Israel and the Messiah as a light to the nations (Isaiah 42:6, 49:6, 60:3). Keeping Israel separate from the ungodly nations was crucial so that it would not become corrupted before the Messiah could fulfill YEHOVAH’s plan of redemption for all of His people Israel.

Returning, now, to the number twelve, the Messiah also chose twelve sons of Israel, probably as a spiritual fulfillment of what the twelve tribes were called to:

Matthew 10:1: "And having summoned his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness."

Matthew 10:2: "Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;"

And concerning New Jerusalem and the New Testament description of it, we see the twelve tribes represented there as well:

Revelation 21:12: "It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel."

When Judas died, Peter considered it important to keep the number of apostles at twelve, so one more apostle -- Matthias -- was chosen (Acts 1:15–26).

Twelve Breads Show YEHOVAH God’s Plan for His People Israel

Let’s now consider this picture through a symbolic interpretation -- in other words, how certain elements in the Old Covenant prefigure those in the New Covenant. We’ll start with the fact that the twelve breads were leavened and what this would symbolically portray for the twelve tribes.

In this scenario we see that the twelve tribes of Israel are still leavened in the figurative sense since they fell short of YEHOVAH God’s will at times. Yet YEHOVAH God still accepted them in His presence because they performed the legally commanded blood sacrifices, and their heart was to walk in YEHOVAH’s covenant and in the light He had shown. Thus, the showbread that symbolized the twelve tribes was placed face-to-face before Him, in His presence:

Exodus 25:30: “And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times."

These two rows of six breads sat side by side in the first room (Leviticus 24:6) facing the second room, which contained the Ark of the Covenant, where YEHOVAH God was considered to reside; thus they were symbolically situated toward His face in the place where He said He would dwell (Exodus 25:22). However, a veil hung between these two rooms, separating the innermost sacred room from the room containing the showbread portion. This was true in the movable Tabernacle and later in the fixed Temple. The priests would enter into the larger room called the Holy Place (where the showbread dwelt). And when the High Priest passed beyond the veil on the Day of Atonement into the Most Holy Place (also called the Holy of Holies), he would see the Ark of the Covenant, considered the dwelling place of YEHOVAH God:

Hebrews 9:7:  "But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance."

Hebrews 9:8: "the holy spirit shewing this, that the way of the Holy of Holies has not yet been made manifest while as yet the first tabernacle has its standing;"

So Paul is saying here that under the law and the first covenant, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and never without blood. This kept the other priests (and symbolically the twelve breads) away from the direct presence of YEHOVAH God in this holiest place. Paul then explains that the holy spirit was showing that the way directly into YEHOVAH’s presence was not yet available while the first covenant law still had its legal standing. When the holy spirit tore this veil in half at the time of the Messiah’s death, it showed that the way into YEHOVAH God’s direct presence was now fully available because the full price had just been paid:

Matthew 27:50: "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit."

Matthew 27:51: "And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split,"

With the veil torn in two, the twelve breads were now face-to-face with YEHOVAH God, showing that all of Israel who believed in the Messiah’s sacrifice had direct access to YEHOVAH’s presence. In fact, not only could Israelite believers enter directly into the holiest place where His full presence dwells, but His spirit could actually infill them.

After the 50-day counting following the seven Sabbaths complete (Leviticus 23:15) and the coming of the Day of Pentecost, the holy spirit was poured out for all believers of Israel to receive, and anyone -- male, female (Acts 1:14, 15; 2:10) -- could now be filled with YEHOVAH’s spirit:

Acts 2:1: "When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together."

Acts 2:4: "And they were all filled with the holy spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the spirit enabled them to proclaim."

Then an event occurred that was quite shocking to these Israelite New Testament believers in Jerusalem: YEHOVAH God actually filled uncircumcised believers from the northern 10 tribes (so-called Gentiles)  (Acts 10 and 11) with the holy spirit:

Acts 10:45: "And all the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the holy spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles [Israelites of the northern 10 tribes] also."

They were all filled with the spirit of YEHOVAH God (with the evidence of speaking in different languages). Peter says that this fulfilled what Joel had prophesied (see also Isaiah 28:9–12): that a time was coming when YEHOVAH God would pour out His spirit on all the people of Israel -- not just the high priest, but on everyone from fishermen to tax collectors to the uncircumcised from the House of Israel -- anyone of Israel who would receive His forgiveness and His gift. Thus YEHOVAH’s spirit would be poured out on all Israel:

Joel 2:28: “And it will come about after this that I will pour out My spirit on all mankind [read, Israel]; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions."

Acts 2:16-18: "But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My spirit on all flesh; your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy..."

In a reference to the summer wheat harvest, YEHOVAH says:

"And it shall come to pass in that day that the LORD will thresh, from the channel of the River to the Brook of Egypt; and you will be gathered one by one, O you children of Israel. So it shall be in that day that the great [Jubilee] trumpet will be blown; they will come, who are about to perish in the land of Assyria, and they who are outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem" (Isaiah 27:12-13).

In the New Covenant, whosoever of Israel desires to enter YEHOVAH’s house through the door may come in (the Messiah said he is the door, John 10:9). Thus the prophecy was fulfilled that YEHOVAH’s house would be a house of prayer for all nations of Israel:

Isaiah 56:7: "these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations [of Israel].”

When the Messiah refers to himself as the living “bread” in John 6, he obviously does not mean anything negative by using the Greek word for regular leavened “bread.” He is only pointing to bread as daily sustenance, and in this context comparing himself to the true manna (the spiritual provision sent from YEHOVAH God) called the “bread of heaven.” The same is true when John refers to the Messiah as the “lamb of God.” Lambs often have white curly hair and are easily led astray. However, you could not apply those traits to the Messiah, because that is not what John meant in the type or symbolic language that he used. John was using “lamb” typologically in the positive sense, that the Messiah was perfectly led by YEHOVAH God, never resisting (Isaiah 53:7), and also pointing to the Messiah as the true Passover lamb.

The Messiah warned the disciples about the “leaven” of the Pharisees (Matthew 16:6–12), and eventually they understood that he was not referring to the leaven of bread but to the Pharisees’ teachings. Paul uses leaven figuratively in a much harsher sense in referring to the man who commits gross sin (1 Corinthians 5). Paul figuratively equates this sin to having leaven at Passover, saying malice and wickedness should not be a part of this spiritual feast that they, and we of Israel, have entered into.

None of this necessarily presents the twelve tribes symbolized by the showbread as bad Israelites -- full to the brim with leaven. It only acknowledges that all of Israel have sinned, and no one is righteous by himself or able to perfectly keep the law. Because of Adam the Israelite man at his best is not perfectly subject to YEHOVAH God and the law, neither can he be (Romans 8:7, as seen in the Greek text). However, YEHOVAH God loves and accepts those of us of Israel into His presence when we follow His commandments and are covered by the blood of the Messiah. This was true in the Old Covenant, and it remains so in the New Covenant, yet with a different blood.

The Summer Wheat Harvest

The twelve loaves of the showbread also represent the harvest of Israelites, represented by the wheat that the showbread is baked with, and is a thousand years after the harvest of Israelites represented by the barley. The barley harvest is at the beginning of the Millennium which is at the coming of YEHOVAH God, and the wheat harvest is at the end of the Millennium, 1,000 years after YEHOVAH God's coming.

Who are all these people who will stand before YEHOVAH God at the END of the Millennial reign of YEHOVAH God, the Messiah and the saints? They will be the uncountable number of Israelites who lived and died in this life, who did not qualify to be in the FIRST RESURRECTION, at the return of YEHOVAH God and the Messiah -- to be a part of the "firstfruits" of YEHOVAH God! The vast majority of them never even had a chance for salvation -- they grew up, lived and died in a foreign society which didn't have the knowledge of YEHOVAH, or His truth.

They are those who lived and died in ignorance, those who never even heard the true Gospel of the Messiah during their lives! At that future time they will be "judged" according to their works, and most will be given a period of time to repent of their misdeeds in this life, to be re-educated, and to qualify for eventual salvation and eternal life! In that future resurrection, YEHOVAH God will open their eyes, show them His truth, and give them their first and only chance for salvation!

The Real Meaning of the Showbread Revealed!

Bread, then, is a symbol of the people of YEHOVAH God, the "Israel of God." We of Israel are all "one bread." Therefore, we are pictured by the LOAVES OF SHOWBREAD which stand before YEHOVAH's Presence continually!

They were twelve in number -- six in a row. So on the shoulders of the high priest there were the names of six tribes on the one, and the names of six tribes on the other. The loaves equally point to the twelve tribes of Israel. The number twelve signifies administrative perfection of government in man, and hence there were twelve tribes, twelve apostles, twelve gates, and twelve foundations in the holy city, new Jerusalem. (See for an illustration of this meaning Matthew 19:28.) The twelve loaves may then be taken to represent Israel in its twelve tribes.

The priests ate the Bread of the Presence on each Sabbath day and replaced the loaves with freshly baked loaves. The showbread evidently remained fresh for the whole week. This typifies the fact that the Word of YEHOVAH God never becomes stale or outdated -- on the contrary, it is the source of life itself and sustains all things: All things are sustained by the powerful word of the Messiah (Hebrews 1:3). It is as “fresh” and relevant to us today as it was to the holy men and women of past generations. Yeshua the Messiah is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Additionally, the frankincense was a part of the Table of Showbread. Frankincense was a symbol of the prayers of our Intercessor, and it was also a symbol of the prayers of YEHOVAH’s people Israel covered with the righteousness of the Messiah (Revelation 8:3-4). This frankincense was burnt as a memorial before YEHOVAH God when the Showbread loaves were changed each Sabbath.

When the showbread was changed, it was to be eaten by the priests (Leviticus 24:9). It was holy bread and it was to be eaten by holy men of YEHOVAH God in a holy place. This symbolized that YEHOVAH would feed His servants with His bread, both temporal and spiritual, while they did His service. YEHOVAH wants us to have the assurance that He was consistent in the past, the present, and the future, and that He is fully able to care for His people Israel under all circumstances, especially as they were doing service for Him.

Hope of Israel Ministries P.O. Box 853 Azusa, CA 91702, U.S.A. www.hope-of-israel.org

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