LESHEM לשם

Exodus 28:19

Among the twelve precious stones on the breast plate of the high priest, LESHEM לשם is the seventh. No scholar has been able to find any stone or mineral by that name. According to best tradition it appears to be (reddish) amber (see note!). Amber is no mineral, so this precious stone is the only organic gem in the breast plate.

Amber is the fossilized resin from coniferous trees. Resin dripped from or oozed down the sides of trees, as well as filling internal fissures. Resin is exuded by a tree to heal a wound, such as a broken branch, and to protect the tree from disease and injury inflicted by insects and fungi. It possesses odors and tastes which both attract and repel insects, and insects are trapped in the sticky resin. After having come under water for a long time it is washed up as transparent golden amber on the shores of the Baltic Sea, or of Lebanon or Sicily or Spain or Romania, or other coasts of the world. The Greeks called amber elektron — and indeed, amber becomes electrically charged when rubbed with a cloth and can attract small particles.

What is the secret message of this jewel?

What is the name written on LESHEM לשם ?

To me it is very clear that Judah must be first among the tribes of Israel. Not because of Ruben’s scandal, for Judah was by no means an example; then rather Joseph ought to take the lead. But because of the election by GOD, for out of Judah comes the Mashiach of YHWH, the Scepter of Israel, the Desire of all nations, the Hope of all creation. Therefore, Judah must be First.

In the Holy Bible there are many lists of the tribes of Israel, with many variations. But only in four lists of the tribes Judah is mentioned first. In Numbers 7 they are listed according to the day each tribe brought its dedication-gift and offerings for the altar; and in Numbers 10 after their march order in the desert. That is very vital, for we must all follow Mashiach the Lamb of GOD to enter into His Promised Land, yea, into heaven! There is NO OTHER WAY. Mashiach Himself said: “I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father unless by me” (John 14:6). And He said to all: “If any one will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me; for whosoever shall desire to save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, he shall save it” (Luke 9:23-24). Indeed, Mashiach has become to all them that obey him, the Author of eternal salvation; addressed by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek” (Hebr. 5:9-10). He is our Forerunner and Originator and Completer of Faith (Hebr. 6:20; 12:2).

According to these two lists of the tribes of Israel the seventh is Ephraim. So we suppose that the name of Ephraim was engraved on the seventh precious stone, the LESHEM לשם.

Ephraim was the second son of Joseph, and before his death Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph. Joseph placed his first born son Manasseh to the right of his father, and Ephraim to the left. But Israel crossed his hands placing his right hand on the head of the younger, Ephraim, and his left on the head of Manasseh. And then he prophesied about Ephraim: “His seed will become the fullness of the nations [הגוים מלא]” (Gen. 48:19).

Now, this prophecy is quoted by the apostle Paul in Romans 11:25-27: “For I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, of this mystery, that you may not be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the nations be come in; and so all Israel shall be saved. According as it is written, The Deliverer shall come out of Zion; He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And this is the covenant from Me to them, when I shall have taken away their sins.”

This reveals the secret plan of GOD, first to take out of the nations a people for His Name! And after that He will return to Israel to save it. It is written!

This very truth is also stated by the Bondman of Yeshua Mashiach James (Jacob), who was a brother of Yeshua according to the flesh. He reveals the marvelous plan of GOD before the council of apostles and elders in Jerusalem, saying: “Brethren, listen to me: Simon has related how GOD first visited to take out of the nations a people for His Name. And with this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written: After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which is fallen, and will rebuild its ruins, and will set it up, so that the residue of men may seek out the LORD, and all the nations on whom My name is invoked, says the LORD, who does these things known from eternity“ (Acts 15:13-18).

Here you have LESHEM, לשם “a people for His Name.” On the stone “for His Name” we expect that the name Ephraim was engraved. This prophecy belongs to him.

The seed of Ephraim — to whom Hosea prophesied, “Not My people” shall become “My people, עמי,” and “Not having obtained mercy” shall become “Having obtained mercy, רחמה” — is the first fruits of all the nations. This first fruits is the body of Yeshua Mashiach; He is our only Head, and we members of His body, ONE in HIM. In this one body “there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Mashiach is everything, and in all” (Col. 3:11).°

Isn’t it wonderful that Ephraim, which means “double fruitful,” is placed as the seventh among the tribes of Israel! For this GOD has revealed: “that they who are of the nations should be joint heirs, and a joint body, and joint partakers of His promise in Mashiach Yeshua by the Glad Tidings” (Eph. 3:6).

Because of the affair with the golden calf, GOD chose all who gathered to Moshe in the gate instead of the first born of all the tribes to do priestly ministry to Him, even the tribe of Levi. And Moshe in the gate is a type of Mashiach on the Cross. Everyone, Jew or not Jew according to the flesh, who stands with Yeshua Mashiach our crucified LORD belongs with Melchizedek to His priesthood.

The apostle Peter writes to the fellowship of Christians: “But you are a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that you might set forth the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness to His wonderful light; who once were not a people, but now GOD’S people; who were not enjoying mercy, but now have found mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10 quoting Hosea).

But GOD has NEVER broken His covenant with the twelve tribes of Israel, as He so clearly speaks in Jeremiah 33:19-26: “And the word of YHWH came to Jeremiah, saying, Thus says YHWH: If you can break My covenant in respect of the day, and My covenant in respect of the night, so that there should not be day and night in their season, then shall also My covenant be broken with David My servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites, the priests, My ministers. As the host of the heavens cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured, so will I multiply the seed of David My servant, and the Levites that minister unto Me.

“And the word of YHWH came to Jeremiah, saying, Have you not seen what this people have spoken, saying, The two families that YHWH had chosen, He has even cast them off? And they despise My people, that they should be no more a nation before them. Thus says YHWH: If My covenant of day and night stand not, if I have not appointed the ordinances of the heavens and the earth, then will I also cast away the seed of Jacob, and of David My servant, so as not to take of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will turn their captivity, and will have mercy on them.”

The church is not the successor of Israel as GOD’S chosen people, as the papal church declares, which has persecuted the Apple of GOD’S Eye. NO, NO, NEVER! But GOD has given His little Ruth (a Moabitess) a place in His heart among the tribes of Israel. Tell the story of Ruth! — and of Tamar and of Rahab (Canaanites). They were grafted into the true Olive Tree of GOD’S Israel (Romans 11:17-24), into the tribe of Judah, into the House of David, by the infinite grace of GOD; they are a type of the bride of the Lamb.

Glory, glory to the Holy One! She is His crown. And first our Mashiach-King must have His crown, then He must have His throne, and Jerusalem is the Throne of YHWH (Jer. 3:17; 14:21). So, GOD first takes out from the nations “a people for His Name” LE SHEM, and then He returns and restores the kingdom to Israel, when Yeshua Mashiach is accepted as their King. This is GOD’S wonderful plan of grace! And when Yeshua Mashiach has ascended His throne in Jerusalem, where He was crucified, then He will be the Prince of Peace to all the nations left, and they will all make pilgrimage to Jerusalem to worship the LORD of Glory in Jerusalem, and highly esteem the Jews as His chosen people.

The characteristic of a true Christian is that he loves Israel with Mashiach’s love, blessing Israel in His Name. We say this, because there are so many who call themselves “Christians” or “Christ’s chosen church,” and ARE NOT! Yeshua Mashiach said: “By their fruits you shall know them” (Math. 7:16, 20). “If any one has not the Spirit of Mashiach he is not of Him” (Rom. 8:9). For His love is flaming! (Zech. 1:14-16; 8:2; Is. 49:15-16; 63:9; Jer. 31:3).

Now let us look at the seventh precious stone LESHEM לשם. The (reddish) amber originating from drops of resin from coniferous trees speaks about the drops of Blood from the Tree of Life, Yeshua on the Cross. As amber comes out of water, so we have been buried with Yeshua Mashiach and are raised up with Him as an entirely new creation, like amber, like the transparent gold of the New Jerusalem (2 Cor. 5:17; Rev. 21:18, 21). We are in Him, in His Sabbatical Rest, He is our Aleph and Tau, our One and All. Transparent because you see Him alone — so it should be: “No longer live I, but Mashiach lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).

We are formed out of Mashiach just like Eve was made out of Adam. “And YHWH GOD caused a deep sleep to fall upon Man; and he slept. And He took one of his ribs and closed up flesh in its stead. And YHWH GOD built the rib that He had taken from Man into a woman; and brought her to Man. And Man said, This time it is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh: this shall be called Woman, because this was taken out of a man” (Gen. 2:21-23).

Also the side of Yeshua was opened: “The Jews therefore, that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, for it was the preparation, (for the day of that Sabbath was a great day,) demanded of Pilate that their legs might be broken and they taken away. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first and of the other that had been crucified with Him; but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead they did not break His legs, but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water. And he who saw it bears witness, and his witness is true, and he knows that he says true that you also may believe. For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, Not a bone of Him shall be broken. And again another scripture says, They shall look on Him whom they pierced” (John 19:32-37; Zech. 12:10).

Mashiach Himself said: “Even as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish three days and three nights, thus shall the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights” (Matth. 12:40). When Jonah praised GOD, the fish spewed him out, and so the grave could not keep the body of Yeshua Mashiach, praising His Father (Acts 2:24). And we have been buried and raised up with Him, as Romans 6: 3-6 says: “Are you ignorant that we, as many as have been baptized unto Mashiach Yeshua, have been baptized unto His death? We have been buried therefore with Him by baptism unto death, in order that, even as Mashiach has been raised up from among the dead by the Glory of the Father, so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we are become identified with Him in the likeness of His death, so also we shall be of His resurrection; knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be annulled, that we should no longer serve sin.” See also Colossians 2:12; 3:1-4, 9-11. It is just like amber coming out of the water.

As amber is attractive so the love of Mashiach draws all to Himself, as He said: “If I be lifted up out of the earth, will draw all to me” (John 12:32). And we draw all to Him by His declaration of love, the message of Reconciliation with GOD by His Blood, which we as His ambassadors declare to all men 2 Cor. 5:18-20). When we love our enemies and bless those who curse us, people see Yeshua Mashiach in us. That is “double fruitfulness.”

Let us listen to the message of the numerical values of LESHEM לשם :

The place value P 46 = 2 * 23 is the same as the numerical value of Levi “united to” YHWH. When Levi was born, his mother Leah exclaimed: “Now this time my husband will be united to me” (Gen. 29:34).

LE SHEM לשם = ליהוה קדש “Holiness to YHWH” N 460, begotten by His holy Seed (1 John 3:9; 5:18; John 1:12-13).° Let us be only for HIM, to follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Just to be for Him, to love Him with all our heart, to be a seal on His heart, and a seal on His arm to do His will, to serve Him like Rivka, Rebecca (Gen. 24:14, 17-21). That is the sign of the true bride. And she bears His Name.

“Holiness to YHWH” was engraved on the golden plate on the forehead of the high priest (Ex. 28:36-38). In the Revelation of Yeshua Mashiach 14:1-5 we see such a first fruits out from all the nations bearing Name of the Lamb ישוע and the Name of His Father יהוה on their foreheads. They are standing with the Lamb before the throne of GOD praising Him with a new song which no one can sing but only the Blood-redeemed ones. They are infinitely happy in Him. They have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins — the bride of the Lamb, chaste like Joseph. “These are they who follow the Lamb wherever He goes” — even into cruel martyrdom, to be burned alive at the stake. They have been purchased from men with His precious Blood as first fruits to GOD and to the Lamb — לשם — and in their mouth no lie was found; for they are blameless. A beautiful bride to the immaculate Lamb.

What is that new song which they sing? Here you hear its sound: “You, O Lamb of GOD, are worthy to take the scroll [the deed of the kingdom], and to break its seals; because You have been slain, and have purchased for GOD with Your Blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and You have made them to our GOD kings and priests; and they shall reign over the earth” (Rev. 5:9-10). Exulting in His love she sings: “I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine: He feeds [His flock] among the lilies” (Song of Songs 6:3; 2:16; 7:10).

The numerical value N of לשם is 370. 37 is the Passover Lamb (פסח N 4 * 37) on the Cross who prayed: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34), full of mercy and forgiveness.° The high priests who caused this Lamb to be slaughtered shouted at Him: “He saved others, Himself He cannot save. He is King of Israel: let Him descend now from the cross, and we will believe on Him. He trusted in GOD; let Him save him now if He will have Him. For he said, I am Son of God.” But He stayed on the Cross, gave His Life, His Blood for them. What a love!

37 * 10 we are His generation, born of Him, and He is in us, and we in Him — just like the priests in the tabernacle were covered by rams’ skins dyed red (= the slaughtered Lamb). Under the curtain of goats’ hair (= He bore our sins), and under the fine linen interwoven with threads of blue (→ He is our High Priest) and purple (→ our King) and blood-red scarlet — so we are in Mashiach, the slaughtered Lamb of GOD. Over the whole tabernacle there was a covering of dolphins’ skins illustrating His resurrection from the dead, like a dolphin jumping out of the water, like amber out of the ocean.

The sum S 416 = 16 * 26 describes the Righteousness of YHWH, the Righteousness by the Cross. For it pleased YHWH to make Him who knew not sin a Sin Offering for us, that we might become GOD’S righteousness in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). His Fruit!

Isaiah prophesied about the fruit of the sacrifice of Yeshua Mashiach: “Yet it pleased YHWH to bruise Him; He hath subjected Him to suffering. When You shall make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see a seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of YHWH shall prosper in His hand. He shall see of the fruit of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous Servant instruct many in righteousness; and He shall bear their iniquities” (Is. 53:10-11). Piercing words, piercing His heart.

For His Name is YHWH our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16).

The difference R 324 = 18² HE IS RISEN! — and we in Him, as the amber washed ashore from the great ocean, like Jonah spewed out of the fish, the dolphin jumping out of the water, as you see on the sky (Delphinus).° So many types of this wonderful truth: we are RISEN WITH MASHIACH — a new creation in Him, HE alone ALL in us. “If any one be in Mashiach, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).

He arose from the dead and ascended up to heaven, and like the Northern Fish flies up to heaven,° so we shall be caught up with Him to heaven, as it is written: “For the Lord Himself, with an assembling shout, with archangel's voice and with the trumpet of GOD, shall descend from heaven; and the dead in Mashiach shall rise first; then we, the living who remain, shall be caught up together with them in clouds, to meet the LORD in the air; and thus we shall be always with the LORD” (1 Thess. 4:16-18). And again: “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed, in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51-52). From the fig-tree we see that day is very near!!

Then He will lead us to the throne of His Father, and we shall stand with Him on Mount Zion; and there she stands:

“And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing upon mount Zion, and with Him a hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Name and the Name of His Father written upon their foreheads. And I heard a voice out of the heaven as a voice of many waters, and as a voice of great thunder. And the voice which I heard was as of harp-singers harping with their harps; and they sing a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one could learn that song save the hundred and forty-four thousand who were bought from the earth. These are they who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins: these are they who follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. These have been bought from men as first-fruits to God and to the Lamb: and in their mouths was no lie found; for they are blameless” (Rev. 14:1-5).

Because she chose to be לשם, For Him alone!