Parsha Ki Tissa (Sh'mot (Exodus) 30:11-34:35)
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Weekly Stick of Joseph Torah Study (3/6/21)
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Torah Parsha Ki Tissa Ex. 30:11-34:35
Haftorah: 1Kings 18:1-39
Stick of Joseph Moshiyah 7:20 (13:5 LDS); 'Eter 1:11-16 (3 LDS)
In this weeks Parsha, YHWH writes the ten commandments upon two tablets "inscribed by the finger of God" (Ex. 31:18). Moshe has an incredible vision in which he sees part of YHWH (Ex. 33:17-23) and Moshe returns from the mount with his face shining out rays of light (Ex. 34:29-35).
This event had been foreshadowed over 500 years earlier. The Stick of Joseph recounts that the brother of Yered had a similar encounter with YHWH in which he was shown YHWH (Ether 3:9-20). Most interesting is the fact that on this occasion the finger of Elohim touched eight pairs of stones ('Eter 3:4-8) casting them to shine with light. Two of these stones were placed in each end of the eight barges, thus providing light to the Yeredites as they made their voyage ('Eter 6:1-3). An interesting statement appears:
And thus YHWH caused the stones to shine in darkness,
to give light onto men, women and children...
('Eter 6:3 (3:1 LDS))
The key to this typology is found in Proverbs:
For the commandment is a lamp;
and the Torah is a light...
(Prov. 6:23)
In both the events, our Torah reading and the account of the brother of Yered, YHWH appears in a very special way and touches pairs of stones, causing them to give light. The light which shined from the two stones in each barge, prefigured the light of Torah shining forth from the two stone tablets of the Torah. And just as Moshe returned with his face shining with light (Ex. 34:29-35) and why Avinadi's face also shined with light when he proclaimed the Torah (Moshiyah 7:20).
From this parallel, we learn from two witnesses, the Stick of Judah and the Stick of Joseph, that Torah is a light, from the finger of YHWH that allows us to see in the darkness.
