Focus on House of Houses
by YeriYah Wolf

An analytical focus on Exodus 38:21.

What might be learned from one verse, chosen at random.

Acting on the premise that it is better to fully understand a single verse than it is to ritually voice all the words of the TaNaKH by rote. So let’s examine Exodus 38:21. The King James Version translation renders it as follows:

          This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.

Here is another depiction of the same verse which, hopefully, is translated in a less convoluted and more complete form:

This is the official manifest of the House of Houses. (That is to be) the dwelling-place of the testimony which, his own mouth, Poured Forth (the one called Moshe) assigned for the service of The Ones Joined To (called Levites), given by the hand of one named Coast of Palms the fourth son of the Light Bringer (Aaron) the priest.

          This somewhat challenging translation may illustrate some of those hidden stepping stones which for the most part of three thousand years have been overlooked.

          To me such missed steps are an affliction. They become stumbling blocks on our road to clear understanding.

          First:

Sum is not a proper term for ‘Paqad’ # H6485 paqad (paw-kad') is a primitive root meaning to attend or to muster, to number. Its root is to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.

This word ought to carry an indication of command or law. An official document would be closer to its meaning.

          Second:

The side by side repetition of the Hebrew word ‘Mishkan’ is a method used in Hebrew to demand emphasis. The House of Houses seems to set this apart from a simple dwelling.

          Third:

The poetry of these words ‘pouring forth from the very mouth of one named Pouring Forth’ is hidden beneath words that have become all too familiar, nearly to the point of contempt.

          Fourth:

The holy priesthood is shown to be an adjunct to the tribes, a wonderful gift that was to teach and to officiate as consecrated servers of Yah and of the people of Israel . Given here was the holy manifest of their work, to be housed within this house of houses.

          Fifth:

By whose hand is this given? Why the fourth son? Is there any significance to the name of this fourth son? ‘Ithamar’ may as well be Dagmar as far as English hearers are concerned. The name ‘Coast of Palms’, contains a beautiful picture of sunshine, warm sand, balmy breezes and clear blue water. On the other hand, if his name had been Quaking Mountain , the warning would have colored the image of the House of Houses very differently.

          Words evoke ideas and moods, textures and hues.  Allow me to ask, if we allow others to color our understanding with their spin, aren’t we as guilty as they for our resultant lack of full understanding?

          Skillfully choreographed words, which we never question, evoke certain effectively conditioned responses. And so much worse, they fail to reveal those stepping stones YHWH has already included in the written word He, Himself, authorized.

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