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Names are prophetic as well as symbolic in scripture. The meaning of the name Aholiab is: "Tent of the father." He was the son of "Ahisamach," which means: Brother of strength, or My brother has supported." It's a wonderful thing when our family or those friends who are to us as brothers are supportive of our work, strengthening and encouraging us. Aholiab was an artist of the tribe of Dan, appointed to the work of preparing materials such as fiber arts for the tabernacle. He was a skilled weaver and embroiderer. In speaking of Dan, the tribe Aholiab came from, Judah was Israel's "leader," Dan was Israel's rearguard.
AHOLIAB OF THE TRIBE OF DAN
The Personal Name Meaning: "Judges 1:1. First son born to Jacob by Rachel's maid Bilhah (Genesis 30:6). He was the original ancestor of the tribe of Dan. When the Israelites entered Canaan, the tribe of Dan received land on the western coast. They could not fully gain control of the territory, especially after the Philistines settled in the area. The last chapters of Judges show Samson of the tribe of Dan fighting the Philistines. Eventually, Dan migrated to the north and was able to take a city called Laish. They renamed the city Dan and settled in the area around it. Dan was always a small tribe, and it never exercised significant influence in Israel. The most prominent Danites mentioned in the Bible are Oholiab and Samson. See Tribes of Israel; Patriarchs."
THE UNIQUE GIFTINGS OF AHOLIAB
1.) He was spiritually sensitive to God and responded heartily to the Lord's call.
2.) Aholiah was called of God to be a "master builder." He was a designer or "inventer of designs" able to perform every kind of work.
3.) Even as the Lord called or chose Moses and Aaron for the work that they did. God selects men and women to be artisans, or craftsmen or craftswomen for His specific purpose. 4.) Aholiab was both a faber, a master in metal, stone, and woodwork. Because God does not use the general term for "mason," here, it appears that the reference to stone carving is more to the specialized work, such as that of the breastplate of the High Priest. The Tabernacle, Hebrew "ohel, tent; 'ohel mo'ed, tent of meeting; 'ohel ha-'eduth, tent of the testimony; mishkan, dwelling; mishkan ha- 'eduth, dwelling of the testimony; mishkan 'ohel, dwelling of the tent," was made in such a way that it was a portable sanctuary, which could be moved as the Israelites traveled, with the entrances being made of linen.
The "court of the tabernacle" (Exodus 27:9) was a rectangular space, measuring 100 by 50 cubits (probably the Egyptian cubit, 203/4 ins.), screened off by curtains of "fine twisted linen" (xxvii, 9), 5 cubits high, 100 cubits long on the north and south sides, 50 on the east and 15 on the west, and 20 cubits on either side of the entrance. The entrance was closed by a hanging of fine twisted linen , embroidered in violet, purple, and scarlet and "twice dyed" on a white ground (probable meaning of Exodus 27:16).All these curtains were suspended from sixty pillars, but not in a "loose and flowing manner", as Josephus wrongly states, since the total length of the curtains is exactly the same as the perimeter of the court, one pillar being assigned to every five cubits of curtain. These pillars of setimwood, five cubits high, stood on bases ("sockets", Exodus 39:39) of brass and were held in position by means of cords (ibid., ix, 40) fastened to brass pegs ("pins", ibid., v, 18) which were stuck in the ground; the pillars ended in a capital ("head", Exodus 39:17, etc.; we must believe that the height given above includes both the base and capital of the pillar) with a band or necking (to hang the curtain) overlaid with silver. East of the entrance were found successively: the altar of holocausts (Exodus 27:1-8, etc.), the brazen layer (xxx, 18-21; viii, 8, etc.),and the tabernacle proper.
The latter was conceived to be the dwelling-tent of God; hence it consisted essentially of curtains, the wooden framework, though indispensable, being only of secondary importance. The whole structure measured 30 by 10 cubits, and was divided into two sections; the one to the west, the "Holy Place", containing the altar of incense, the golden candlestick, and the table of shewbreads; and the other, the "Holy of Holies", containing the Ark of the Covenant with the propitiatory and the cherubim. These sections were respectively 20 and 10 cubits long.
a) Heb. hatsabh. Job 19:24, rendered "graven," but generally means hewn stone or wood, in quarry or forest. The "cutting of stones," is haroset, and speaks of cutting or carving stone, working wood. (b.) Heb. harush. Jer. 17:1, rendered "graven," and indicates generally artistic work in metal, wood, and stone, effected by fine instruments. 3) Heb. pasal points rather to the sculptor's or the carver's art (Isa. 30:22; 40:19; 41:7; 44:12-15). 4. Pathah refers to intaglio work, the cutting and engraving of precious stones (Ex. 28:9-11, 21; Zech. 3:9; Cant. 1:10, 11). 5. Heret. In Ex. 32:4 rendered "graving tool;" and in Isa. 8:1, "a pen."
The Hebrew word "curious" is mahasaba, meaning thought, plan, scheme, plot, design, device, imagination, purpose, cunning works, curious works, invented or means.
The term "workmanship" in Hebrew is melaka and this is a reference to "work, deeds, duty, or service."
The phrase which speaks of carving wood, is haroset, from hares, "to plow or engrave, plan, or devise, be silent, become deaf, say nothing, hold peace, hold tongue, leave off speaking, secretly practice. Here it speaks of the cutting or woodworking of wood. Of carving or cutting stone. In type, where God sheds insight on His Heavenly Tabernacle, and of it's being made up of individuals, our minds go back to the words of Yeshua, such as "And He answered them not a word. Yes, we can be shaped by silence, when God divinely appoints it for this purpose.
With regard to Aholiab being given "understanding by God, for his work, the Hebrew word signifies understanding, skill, insight, discretion, skilfulness. While "embroidery" is raqam, "to embroider, weave coloured thread, curiously wrought needlework, and it's related to the word riqma, embroidered work, divers colours, raiment of needlework. The tabernacle boards, 20-30. The bars, 31-34. The veil and its pillars, 35, 36. The hangings and their pillars, 37, 38. Engraving is the act and art of cutting letters, figures, and the like, on stone, wood, or metal. The account of the equipment of the high priest (Ex. xxviii., ix.) evidences that this art had been developed to a high degree among the Hebrews at an early period. To designate the skill of the worker the word and its derivative are employed, while and and denote the process and the finished result (Ex. xxviii. 11, 21,36; i. 5; v. 33; ix. 14, 30; Zech. iii. 9; I Kings vi. 18, 19, 32, 35; vii. 31; (, Ex. xxviii. 11, 21) In Isaiah 49:16, God states: Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. Again in 2 Corinthians 3:7 But if the ministration of he law, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away... He was an artistic weaver of colours, and we read of him: Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and fine linen. (Ex. 38: 23) From the definition "to serve in the sanctuary," (39:41) it's obvious that the Hebrew term bigye serad speaks of clothing used in worship. In fact the rich robes constituted the official garments of the high priest. The holy garments for Aaron were holy clothing worn by him in common with the priests.
Over the ephod the High Priest wore a breastplate resembling a pocket or pouch made of beautifully woven fabric. On the front of the breastplate were fastened twelve precious stones in four rows of three. On each of these stones were engraved the name of one of the tribes of Israel.
Exod 28:15-29 "You shall make the breastplate of judgment. Artistically woven according to the workmanship of the ephod you shall make it: of gold blue purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, you shall make it. It shall be doubled into a square: a span shall be its length, and a span shall be its width. And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row; the second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold settings. And the stones shall have the names of the sons of Israel, twelve according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, each one with its own name; they shall be according to the twelve tribes. You shall make chains for the breastplate at the end, like braided cords of pure gold.And you shall make two rings of gold for the breastplate, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
Then you shall put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate; and the other two ends of the two braided chains you shall fasten to the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in the front. You shall make two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on the edge of it, which is on the inner side of the ephod. And two other rings of gold you shall make, and put them on the two shoulder straps, underneath the ephod toward its front, right at the seam above the intricately woven band of the ephod.
They shall bind the breastplate by means of its rings to the rings of the ephod, using a blue cord, so that it is above the intricately woven band of the ephod, and so that the breastplate does not come loose from the ephod. So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before the LORD continually."
5.) The embroidered work of the hangings was
AHOLIAB'S CO-WORKERS
1.) He was accompanied by Bezaleel and other men who were skilled in art. "Every one whom his heart lifted up to come near to the work to do it." i.e. Whose heart was stirred to take part in this work. Some of his assistants were women. "And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. 26: And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair." (Exodus 35:25)
THE LORD'S CALLING OF AHOLIAB'S
(Aholiab was a man known of God)
1.) The Lord knows the heart of every man, woman and child. God called him Aholiab by name. He knows where you live and work, just as Yeshua appeared in Acts 9, to instruct Saul of Tarsus to go to Strait Street to the house of a tanner. Aholiab was a sanctified man, consecrated to the work of the Lord, and the Spirit of God came upon them. Consecrated men are not to be left to themselves, to labor in the ability that they have within themselves or to act out of their own ideas and personal dictates. The Spirit of God came upon him. Why? There was a God given pattern to be carried out. Even the most devoted people, devoted to the cause of Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ cannot do the Lord's work out of themselves, without the moment by moment anointing of the Spirit of the Lord. Each facet of our lives in the Lord are just that strategic.
Romans 8 WEB Romans 8:30 Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
The scriptures teach in Acts 2:38-39 that God calls every man and woman to salvation in this same scriptural way spoken of in Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:46-48, Acts 19:5. There is no alternative method. We all have giftings, and especially spiritual giftings, from God. The way through the heavenly tabernacle door is through salvation in Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ.
And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." (Acts 2:38)
AHOLIAB'S ANOINTING BY GOD
c) Aholiab was empowered by the Lord with wisdom and knowledge in his art.
1. God filled Aholiab with the Spirit of God, because he needed it. It was important for him to be supernaturally equipped to perform the work assigned to him in the building the Tabernacle. Though it was the work of an artisan, it was a spiritual work, requiring the empowerment of God's Holy Spirit, as the work Moses and Aaron were involved in.
THE MASTER CRAFTSMAN AT WORK
1.) Aholiab was a master artisan with a teaching gift. (Ex. 31: 6) From where did this artist derive the desire to impart his wisdom and knowledge come from? It was the will of the Lord placed in this man's heart, and he was responding to it.
"He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and embroiderers, in blue, purple and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver-those who do every work and those who design artistic works." The Hebrew word hasab is used to describe the employment skill in chapter 35:35.
What he possessed in the way of skill or prophetic ability to use his hands to fabricate what God wanted, God valued this, and wanted to see it perpetuated in Israel, or the nations, as Israel fulfilled the purpose of God to be a light to the Gentiles.
6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee.Ex. 35: 34
34 And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
There are artists today whom God raises up as teachers, and they transmit the various techniques of their art work to others. Some work in spheres of great influence, because God grants this position to them. This frequently happens in those with a passion for Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ and for gospel ministry.
4) God did not call Aholiab simply to earn a living at his art or craft. This was "the Lord's work, through him in his generation, just God calls and selects artists today. God said: Do as I have commanded you.
Three main loom designs were used in the ancient world. One appears in the story of Sampson. 14So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web,* and made them tight with the pin. Then she said to him, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ But he awoke from his sleep, and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web. (Judges 16:13-14)
A second type of loom is observed in Isaiah 38:12. Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.
In yet another type of vertical loom, weaving was done from the bottom, and the weft beaten upwards.
Ex. 36: 1-2
1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work dfor the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded. 2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose aheart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:
Ex. 38: 23
23 And with him was Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and fine linen.
THE EXQUISITE ANOINTED FIBER ARTS OF THE TABERNACLE
THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE
Exodus 26, verses 36-37 36: And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework. 37: And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars tim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.
Exodus 36, verses 37 , 38 37: And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework; 38: And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.
THE FIRST 10 INNER CURTAINS
Exodus 26, verses 1 - 6 1: Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them. 2: The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure. 3: The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another. 4: And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second. 5: Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another. 6: And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.
Exodus 36, verses 8 - 13 8: And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them. 9: The length of one curtain was twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: the curtains were all of one size. 10: And he coupled the five curtains one unto another: and the other five curtains he coupled one unto another. 11: And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the uttermost side of another curtain, in the coupling of the second. 12: Fifty loops made he in one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second: the loops held one curtain to another. 13: And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle.
11 GOAT'S HAIR CURTAINS
Exodus 26, verses 7 - 13 7: And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make. 8: The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure. 9: And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle. 10: And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second. 11: And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one. 12: And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle. 13: And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.
Exodus 36, verses 14 - 18 14: And he made curtains of goats' hair for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them. 15: The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size. 16: And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves. 17: And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second. 18: And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.
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