Naked

Adam & Eve Overdressed. Were Adam and Eve really naked? Was the tree of knowledge a plant? What were these two trees and are they still here? Is the story of Adam and Eve the story of every man and woman? If it is are we still committing that original sin and deniging our part in the same daily sin which keeps us sitting in darkness?

Were Adam and Eve really naked?

Artists of the past and present have loved to use this idea of people being naked in the sense of having no close in order to draw naked men and women in a garden eating from an apple tree. Movies and pictures have etched these images into our minds.

Have we read the text right?

There were no pictures in the original text.

The last verse of Chapter 2 in Genesis says they were naked. But did it?

Genesis 2:25 "And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed."

The word naked here is ‘arowm (עָרוֹם) which in its original sense meant nude, either partially or totally. The word is from ʻârôm (עָרֹם). Yet the word translated naked in the text is ‘ărūmmîm (ערומים) which we also see in Job 22:6 The word clothing in Job here is from 0899 (וּבִגְדֵ֖י) which means "treachery" although it can also mean garment or apparel. There are many other words translated garment and clothes.

It also says they were not ashamed and the word there is buwsh is also translated confounded and confusion. Before they ate of the tree of knowledge they were not confounded and confusion they were not clothed in "treachery".

The same letters in the above word ‘arowm (עָרוֹם) form the word aram (עָרֹם) a primitive root meaning "to be subtle, be shrewd, be crafty, beware, take crafty counsel, be prudent".

So were they subtle or naked, crafty or lacking clothes or even lacking "treachery"?

Almost all Hebrew words have at least two meanings. One is usually an object and the other is a more abstract meaning. The Hebrew letters of the words also have their own meanings.

The word arowm (עָרוֹם) seen as naked is similar to ‘arvah (עַרְוָה) translated "dishonour" which is corresponding to ‘ervah (עֶרְוָה‎) which can mean not just naked but "exposed, undefended".

The word ‘ervah (עֶרְוָה‎) is from ‘arah (עָרָה) is said to mean "to be bare", "empty", "to expose oneself".

Nahum3:5 "Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame."

It is clear that these letters together as a word do not just mean naked and it is only interpretation that gives us our modern perceptions which are private interpretations. If we assume a teacher or leader knows then are we believing in them or God? Christ builds his church by divine revelation not by men who can exercise authority over your understanding.

Naked is as naked does

So, are all these naked images of Adam and Eve just to subtly distract us from the real meaning of the text?

Probably nothing adds more to the Bible than artists who draw pictures that directs, if not binds, our thinking.

Revelation 22:19 "And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book."

Let us take a look at how easy it is to deceive when someone draws a picture of what they think the author was saying or meaning...

In the beginning, before the creation of the State by man, man and woman lived in a state of nature. The myth is that Adam and Eve were naked in the garden with only a few tasks and limitations.

Exodus 32:25

Exodus 32:25 "And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)"

The word naked here in this verse is also translated refused and is said to mean to lead, act as leader.

It is translated naked here and in 2 Chronicles 28:19 where it again suggests some one failed to restrain someone and led them into sin. That is what Aaron did.

In the verse of this Hebrew text Exodus 32:25 parah appears as p̄ārua‘ (פָרֻ֖עַ) and p̄ərā‘ōh (פְרָעֹ֣ה).

Were those men who were called out who would become known as Levites suppose to go in the camp and kill people?

For more details see The "Put to death" article's section "Levites smite".

What was the sin?

They were stripping themselves of the wealth Moses had delivered them in Egypt. They were led to do this because Aaron knew the arts of the temple which were banks. Moses wanted the people to "be the bank". Christ wanted you to be the treasury.

This would lead to setting up covetous practices, a common purse, the Corban of the Pharisees and the masses returning to the bondage of Egypt and the deeds of the Nicolaitans as all socialist systems and welfare states.

This will lead to a need to consecrate yourself by your consent to the true way of Moses and God.

Creating the Golden calf was the creation of a reserve fund that would take some choice from the people and bind them together, their loyalty was bound because their wealth was bound in the bank. The people needed to attend to the weightier matters and bind themselves with social bonds through the perfect law of liberty and pure Religion.

Genesis 3:7

Genesis 3:7 "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they [were] naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons."

And the eyes

• עַיִן AynYodVav ʻayin, ah'-yin; probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape):—affliction, outward appearance, before, think best, colour, conceit, be content, countenance, displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), × him, humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), × me, open(-ly), + (not) please, presence, regard, resemblance, sight, × thee, × them, + think, × us, well, × you(-rselves).

of them both

• שְׁנַיִם ShinNunYodMem shᵉnayim, shen-ah'-yim; dual of 08145; feminine שְׁתַּיִם ShinTavYodMem shᵉttayim; two; also (as ordinal) twofold:—both, couple, double, second, twain, twelfth, twelve, twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two.
  • 08145 שֵׁנִי ShinNunYod shênîy, shay-nee'; from 08138; properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again:—again, either (of them), (an-) other, second (time).
    • 08138 שָׁנָה ShinNunHey shânâh, shaw-naw'; a primitive root; to fold, i.e. duplicate (literally or figuratively); by implication, to transmute (transitive or intransitive):—do (speak, strike) again, alter, double, (be given to) change, disguise, (be) diverse, pervert, prefer, repeat, return, do the second time.

were opened

• פָּקַח PeiKufChet pâqach, paw-kakh'; a primitive root; to open (the senses, especially the eyes); figuratively, to be observant:—open.

and they

• הֵם HeyMem hêm, haym; or (prolonged) הֵמָּה hêmmâh; masculine plural from 01931; they (only used when emphatic):—it, like, × (how, so) many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, × so, × such, their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.
  • 01931 הוּא HeyYodAlef hûwʼ, hoo; of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is הִיא hîyʼ; he a primitive word, the third person pronoun singular; he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are:—he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who.

knew

• יָדַע YodDelatAyin yâdaʻ, yaw-dah'; a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.):—acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, × could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, be learned, lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, × prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), × will be, wist, wit, wot.

that they were naked

• עֵירֹם AyinYodReishMem ʻêyrôm, ay-rome'; or עֵרֹם ʻêrôm; from 06191; nudity:—naked(-ness).
  • 06191 עָרַם ʻâram, aw-ram'; a primitive root; properly, to be (or make) bare; but used only in the derivative sense (through the idea perhaps of smoothness) to be cunning (usually in a bad sense):—× very, beware, take crafty (counsel), be prudent, deal subtilly.

and they sewed

• תָּפַר tâphar, taw-far'; a primitive root; to sew:—(women that) sew (together).

fig

• תְּאֵן TavAlefNun tᵉʼên, teh-ane'; or (in the singular, feminine) תְּאֵנָה tᵉʼênâh; perhaps of foreign derivation the fig (tree or fruit):—fig (tree).
  • The same letters תְּאֻן H8383 are translated lies in Ezekiel 24:12, "She hath wearied [herself] with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum [shall be] in the fire."0
    • 08383 תְּאֻן TavAlefNun tᵉʼun, teh-oon'; from 0205; naughtiness, i.e. toil:—lie.
      • 0205 אָוֶן AlefVavNun ʼâven, aw-ven'; from an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant (hence, to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught); strictly nothingness; also trouble, vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol:—affliction, evil, false, idol, iniquity, mischief, mourners(-ing), naught, sorrow, unjust, unrighteous, vain, vanity, wicked(-ness).

leaves

• עָלֶה AlefLamedHey ʻâleh, aw-leh'; from 05927; a leaf (as coming up on a tree); collectively, foliage:—branch, leaf.
  • 05927 עָלָה AyinLamedHey ʻâlâh, aw-law'; a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative:—arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, × mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work.
    • The same letters עֲלָה ʻălâh, al-law'; (Aramaic) corresponding to 05930; a holocaust:—burnt offering.
      • 05930 AyinLamedHey עֹלָה ʻôlâh, o-law'; or עוֹלָה ʻôwlâh; feminine active participle of 05927; a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke):—ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to. See also 05766.
        • 05766 AyinVavLamed עֶוֶל ʻevel, eh'-vel; or עָוֶל ʻâvel; and (feminine) עַוְלָה ʻavlâh; or עוֹלָה ʻôwlâh; or עֹלָה ʻôlâh; from 05765; (moral) evil:—iniquity, perverseness, unjust(-ly), unrighteousness(-ly); wicked(-ness).

together

• Inserted from the word sew above.

and made themselves

• עָשָׂה Ayin ShinHey ʻâsâh, aw-saw'; a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application:—accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, × certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, feast, (fight-) ing man, finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, hinder, hold (a feast), × indeed, be industrious, journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, × sacrifice, serve, set, shew, × sin, spend, × surely, take, × thoroughly, trim, × very, vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.

aprons

• חֲגוֹר ChetGimelVavReish chăgôwr, khag-ore'; or חֲגֹר chăgôr; and (feminine) חֲגוֹרָה chăgôwrâh; or חֲגֹרָה chăgôrâh; from 02296; a belt (for the waist):—apron, armour, gird(-le).
  • 02296 חָגַר ChetGimelReish châgar, khaw-gar'; a primitive root; to gird on (as a belt, armor, etc.):—be able to put on, be afraid, appointed, gird, restrain, × on every side.

So did they cover their nakedness with fig leaves or did they cover their craftiness with lies making vain offerings and sacrifices?

Genesis 3:8

’'Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.‘'

And they heard

• שָׁמַע ShinMemAyin shâmaʻ, shaw-mah'; a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.):—× attentively, call (gather) together, × carefully, × certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, × diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), × indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, × surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.

the voice

• קוֹל KufVavLamed qôwl, kole; or קֹל qôl; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a voice or sound:—+ aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, + hold peace, (pro-) claim, proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder(-ing), voice, + yell.

of the LORD

• יְהֹוָה Yᵉhôvâh, yeh-ho-vaw'; from 01961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God:—Jehovah, the Lord.
  • 01961 הָיָה hâyâh, haw-yaw; a primitive root (compare 01933); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary):—beacon, × altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, follow, happen, × have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, × use.
    • 01933 הָוָא hâvâʼ, haw-vaw'; or הָוָה hâvâh; a primitive root (compare 0183, 01961) supposed to mean properly, to breathe; to be (in the sense of existence):—be, × have.

God

• אֱלֹהִים ʼĕlôhîym, el-o-heem'; plural of 0433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:—angels, × exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), × (very) great, judges, × mighty.

walking

• הָלַךְ hâlak, haw-lak'; akin to 03212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):—(all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, be eased, enter, exercise (self), follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, × more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), send, speedily, spread, still, surely, tale-bearer, travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-) faring man, × be weak, whirl.
  • 03212 יָלַךְ yâlak, yaw-lak'; a primitive root (compare 01980); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses):—× again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, × be weak.

in the garden

• גַּן gan, gan; from 01598; a garden (as fenced):—garden.
  • 01598 גָּנַן gânan, gaw-nan'; a primitive root; to hedge about, i.e. (generally) protect:—defend.

in the cool

• רוּחַ rûwach, roo'-akh; from 07306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions):—air, anger, blast, breath, × cool, courage, mind, × quarter, × side, spirit(-ual), tempest, × vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).
  • 07306 רוּחַ rûwach, roo'-akh; a primitive root; properly, to blow, i.e. breathe; only (literally) to smell or (by implication, perceive (figuratively, to anticipate, enjoy):—accept, smell, × touch, make of quick understanding.

of the day:

• יוֹם yôwm, yome; from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb):—age, always, chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), elder, × end, evening, (for) ever(-lasting, -more), × full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, old, outlived, perpetually, presently, remaineth, × required, season, × since, space, then, (process of) time, as at other times, in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), × whole ( age), (full) year(-ly), younger.

and Adam

• אָדַם ʼâdam, aw-dam'; from 0119; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.):—× another, hypocrite, common sort, × low, man (mean, of low degree), person.

and his wife

• אִשָּׁה ʼishshâh, ish-shaw'; feminine of 0376 or 0582; irregular plural, נָשִׁים nâshîym;(used in the same wide sense as 0582) a woman:—(adulter) ess, each, every, female, × many, none, one, together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.

hid themselves

• חָבָא châbâʼ, khaw-baw'; a primitive root (compare 02245); to secrete:—× held, hide (self), do secretly.

from the presence

• פָּנִים pânîym, paw-neem'; plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה pâneh; from 06437); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.):— accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, × as (long as), at, battle, because (of), beseech, countenance, edge, employ, endure, enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, × him(-self), honourable, impudent, in, it, look(-eth) (-s), × me, meet, × more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), × on, open, out of, over against, the partial, person, please, presence, prospect, was purposed, by reason of, regard, right forth, serve, × shewbread, sight, state, straight, street, × thee, × them(-selves), through ( -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), upon, upside ( down), with(-in, -stand), × ye, × you.
  • 06437 פָּנָה pânâh, paw-naw'; a primitive root; to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. appear, look, etc.:—appear, at (even-) tide, behold, cast out, come on, × corner, dawning, empty, go away, lie, look, mark, pass away, prepare, regard, (have) respect (to), (re-) turn (aside, away, back, face, self), × right (early).

of the LORD

• יְהֹוָה Yᵉhôvâh, yeh-ho-vaw'; from 01961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God:—Jehovah, the Lord.
  • 01961 הָיָה hâyâh, haw-yaw; a primitive root (compare 01933); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary):—beacon, × altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, follow, happen, × have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, × use.
    • 01933 הָוָא hâvâʼ, haw-vaw'; or הָוָה hâvâh; a primitive root (compare 0183, 01961) supposed to mean properly, to breathe; to be (in the sense of existence):—be, × have.

God

• אֱלֹהִים ʼĕlôhîym, el-o-heem'; plural of 0433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:—angels, × exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), × (very) great, judges, × mighty.

amongst

• תָּוֶךְ tâvek, taw'-vek; from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre:—among(-st), × between, half, × (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), × out (of), × through, × with(-in).

the trees

• עֵץ ʻêts, ates; from 06095; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks):— carpenter, gallows, helve, pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.
  • 06095 עָצָה ʻâtsâh, aw-tsaw'; [also spelled עצה, the same exact letters as variant spelling of 06098] a primitive root; properly, to fasten (or make firm), i.e. to close (the eyes):—shut.
    • 06098 עֵצָה ʻêtsâh, ay-tsaw'; [also spelled עצה, the same exact letters as variant spelling of 06095] from [03289]; advice; by implication, plan; also prudence:—advice, advisement, counsel(-lor), purpose.
      • 03289 יָעַץ yâʻats, yaw-ats'; a primitive root; to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or resolve:—advertise, take advise, advise (well), consult, (give, take) counsel(-lor), determine, devise, guide, purpose.

of the garden.

• גַּן gan, gan; from 01598; a garden (as fenced):—garden.
  • 01598 גָּנַן gânan, gaw-nan'; a primitive root; to hedge about, i.e. (generally) protect:—defend.

Naked Levites

Evidently there was a problem with the Levites being naked. Was it because they did not have underwear or was it because they had no exercising authority over the people?

Do you think God is really concerned with people making breeches or underwear for their ministers so we do not see their nakedness when they go up by steps or is the Torah speaking through allegory and metaphor about something simple and profound?
And what are altars of clay and stone and why not leaven?

Making Linen Breeches

• “And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:” Exodus 28:42

Do you really think that this command in Exodus 28:42 has anything to do with making underwear for your local priest or government official?

The clothing of the nakedness of the Levites with linen breeches was in regards to a covering, not actual underwear.

The word "breeches" is from the Hebrew word miknac (סנכמ) or (dual) (םיסנכמ) Strong's number 04370. It is from the word kamac kaw-mas’ סמכ a primitive root translated laid up in store, meaning to store up, save. What does to store have to do with breeches?

The word miknac is consistently translated breeches five times.

How Naked

Were the Levites really naked?

In the camp of the Golden calf the people had taken their gold and melded into a central city state bank to bind the loyalty of the people together by binding the estate of each individual together as One purse. Gold represented portable land. In truth gold is nothing more than highly refined dirt which you can carry with you.

The way to buy the true title of land is to exchange substance like Gold. Gold represented the estate of the people and when it was in the hands of the people they were free as families to own their own land and be kings of their own castles.

If the Israelite tribes continued in this path of a national purse when they got to the promised land it would have been this city state government who bought the land and owned the milk and honey, the beneficial interest of the land, and the people would have only held the legal title of the land. They would have been back in the bondage of Egypt.

It was illegal for people to own gold in many of the Greek city states. The Spartan made some of their money out of lead and others used clay coins issued by the government. This helped central power because the people could not accumulate real wealth that would make them independent. What they used as money did not belong to the people individually but to the State. By limiting the private estate of the people power was centralized.

We see the same process in Public religion verses private religion When the people are dependent upon the right hand of government to provide their welfare they become virtuously weak and unable to sustain a free society. This conflict with the two welfare types was a major part of the Christian conflict with Rome and other governments.

When Moses called the people out of the Walled camp of the Golden calf many people came out. Most of them were of the tribe of Levites and so the Levites, because of their faith, were given the option of becoming the priests of the Israelite nation.

Because they gave up their personal estate, which was still in the Golden calf, God saw that they were the ones who were best suited for the role of priest to the nation.

The Levites were not really entirely naked when they came out. They could come out with their other stuff, like tools and talents, cloths, tents and other personal possessions, but the gold, which represented their personal estate and hope of owning land as a legal or lawful title was given up.

The plan from the beginning was that every son of Adam formed the Altars of Adam within each Family from generation to generation. These families formed a living Network that provided for the welfare of society in Free assemblies. These are what we see called clay altars.

Exodus 20:24 "An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee."

Within each family, the eldest son was usually chosen as the high priest of that family to manage the estate for the family and the benefit of society. They were the priests of each families proverbial altar of clay.

But the Levites were not making up clay altars. They were to be the Altars of stone.

Exodus 20:25 "And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it."

The "unhewn" stones is a reference to the living stones of the institutional altars were unregulated. These living stones are the government and welfare of the appointed ministers of the Church in the wilderness. They were and are to manage the Sacrifices or the Corban of the people so as to make the word of God to effect. By providing these services through faith, hope, and charity motivated by love of neighbor rather than the club or sword of Cain, Nimrod, or Caesar society is strengthened.

Since the Levites were the public servants of a nation that operated as a free society they managed the daily ministration of the nation both for individuals like widows and orphans and whole sections of the nation in the time of catastrophe and calamities.

Because they had no power to exercise authority one over the other they had to provide this public or religious service with freewill offerings alone.

Their civic altars were built of living stone, which were actually men of charity rather than force or a ruling authority. They did have authority over that which was completely given up but not over the people themselves.

They only had authority over what the people chose to freely give or sacrifice to the minister of their choice. This was called Corban. It was the Corban of God that drew us near God and made His word to effect.

The Levite priest, just like the early ministers of the Church, had no personal estate. They owned all things in common. They were only naked in one sense. They still had families. They were not like the mendicant monks which evolved into the religious beggars like the ascetic sadhus of India.

The reason for no personal estate was to build in a natural governor to prevent the accumulation of wealth and privilege or even power. The people have many ways to relinquish personal power and therefor rights which God wants you to have to learn the virtues of His ways of righteousness.

The highest in the Church, as it was with the Church in the wilderness, were to be servants of servants. That lack of authority over the people was supposed to carry over in the living network of stone ministers.

The idea of the people weaving the breeches of the Levites simply meant they went up in this network by the gifts of the people who by their love supported the ministers.

Exodus 20:26 "Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon."

If the ministers continued to supply a covering for each other the power or authority would began to centralize in the hands of Bishops and Archbishops. The Church would become top down and soon be more concerned about its comfort as men sought the power of that office.

There are other dangers such as wealthy lords or kings may choose to support certain ministers giving them more power and control. With that power and control will come the temptation of Saul to exercise influence and therefore power over others.

The warp and weft

The warp and weft of the people weaves a cloth of righteousness if they will come together in love and charity.

Everyday was election day in this form of government which was truly a government of the people, by the people and for the people under God who led the people in their hearts and in their minds. This was the Kingdom of God centered in the hearts and minds of every man and women as they chose to come together in love for one another according to the perfect law of liberty.

As the ministers and benefactors of a nation of free souls under God they are not like the rulers of other nations. They cannot prove they are ministers of the people and servants of God without the testimony of the people they serve. That testimony of the people gives them covering; clothes their nakedness. They cannot prove their liberty in Christ without this chain of testimony.

This began with:

• Exodus 28:40 "And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office."

What was this priest's office?

We must understand that the purpose of sacrifice is to bind society together with honor and love, not contracts and the sword. This is Pure Religion.

Not by Steps

Also the ministers do not go up by steps like a pyramid with some going higher over the others because they have no authority to do so. They go up by service because the Levites and the ministers of Christ were to serve one over the other.

• “Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.” Exodus 20:26

Going up by steps had nothing to do with stairs. It has to do with a hierarchy of authority. In the kingdom of God and the way of Christ there is only a hierarchy of service.

The public offices of the world are offices of power but the public offices of Christ are ones of service. Those who do not want to serve with virtue need to find another line of work. For those who do want to serve they need to work at it, seek it, do it... Of course this is no easy lesson to learn and it may take some time, much patience and much love and forgiveness...

New Underwear

God is the same today and His ways have not changed. Christ did many of the same things as God had done with the Levites.

Unlike the authoritarian benefactors of the Gentile nations, the Church, as the government of God, was to provide their service only by the charity and Freewill offerings of the people. Love, humility and forgiveness are required to make such systems, operating under the perfect law of liberty, a true blessing for both rich and poor alike.

The Levites were also naked of any exercising authority. They could not go up by steps lest they reveal that nakedness and lack of authority. The people were told to make underwear, a covering, for them. Giving them a covering and being naked has nothing to do with the clothes they wear. It is about coverture and the power or authority to act and lead by serving. The Levites had no inheritance, no personal estate, nor any exercising authority.

Their success depended upon the good will of the people who freely gave them their covering by tithing to them according to their service.

Charity is marked by Paul as the greatest of gifts and that personal sacrifice not only saves those who fall on hard times but also frees and matures the grantors of charity in the practice of the virtues, sacrifices and ways of Christ. Those called out ministers of Christ’s were appointed a kingdom at hand. They were restricted by several of Christ’s proclaimed conditions.

They were not to exercise authority in the management and service to the people seeking the kingdom but they were to be benefactors of the people. They were to willingly become new members of His Family, a brotherhood belonging to God.

The ministers of Christ were to give up their personal estate and like the Levites before them they became the Poor Preachers of His Kingdom. Christ was specific in His requirements for the ministry of His Holy Church in Luke 14:33.

Modern ministers often object to the mention of Christ’s clear doctrine. But the word hath in Luke 14:33 is also translated hast in Matthew 19:21.

The word substance is the same in Luke 8:3 and also the word have in Luke 12:33 and goods in Luke 19:8

And Paul has done the same with his goods in 1 Corinthians 13:3

The multitude of the ministers at Pentecost gave up their personal estate and owned all things in common as we see in Acts 4:32.

Taking a position like this today might be called a Vow of poverty. The bonds of the Church is brotherhood under Christ in the service of His appointed kingdom. They cannot rule one over the other but learn to fit together as a functioning body without exercising authority one over the other.

To survive and function in the world but not of the world the people must provide the covering for the Ministers of the Church. That is the purpose of the Sacred Purpose Trust.

Meaning?

Could Genisis 3:7-8 be saying...

And considering themselves subtile and crafty, they covered their error with lies and deception, making vain offerings and sacrifices to hide their conceit. And even though they perceived One God moving in the coverture of the spirit in a continuous moment, the man and woman withdrew from seeing the countenance of the existing One God behind the trees of their own knowledge denying the coverture of God.

This would include hiding behind the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Adam hid from the truth about his desire to usurp God's wisdom about what is good and evil. Then he denied the truth of his guilt rather than confess that truth. He even tried to blame God and the woman He gave Adam.

Hiding from the truth which is seen in the presence of God as Cain would go out of the presence of God and the Israelites would reject God and elect a ruler.

God is equated with light and to reject God is to reject light so that we will "sit in darkness".

"The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee."

Man could breath in the spirit of God from moment to moment as he moved under the coverture or defended protection of God.

It is man through the pride of his own thinking that has hid himself from the face of God and for that reason he no longer breathes in that Separate Spirit of God nor sees by His light and therefore no longer has His divine and whole protection.

John 9:39-41 "And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth."

What happened in the Garden is the result of that denial. It is our reward.

Genisis 3:24 "So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."

Did God drive man out of the Garden or did man continue to hide themselves from the the presence of the LORD God? A "flaming sword which turned every way" sounds like a beacon attempting to cut through the darkness to guide us back. Much like a lighthouse. Mankind—like Adam & Eve—often hide from God & his light because they don't want to see themselves as they really are. In this hiding we bar ourselves from the Tree of Life.

Luke 15:17-18 "And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,"

The idea that the Giver of life would bar man from retuning to the Tree of Life is contradictory to God's nature. He is the Father that runs to meet his Prodigals if they turn back to him.

Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."

But if you jump off a moving train you are going to get hurt and have a long walk to the next station.

That is because you jumped off not because the Conductor is mad at you.

Resurrection is when you get back on board God's Coverture Express.

The Bible is full of truths but printed on paper made from trees and translated by men who may have crept in with craftiness and vanity to subtly hide that truth from you so that you do not know God in the very book that was given to aid us.

We must eat of the tree of life and be taught by revelation, and not taught by the [[tree of knowledge|tree of our own knowledge]. What is God telling you in your heart and mind?

Learn more about sacrifice:

Adventures of Artifice in Languageland
The sophistry of words has deceived man and led him from God.
Sacrifice was meant to bring us closer to Him again.
Where has the sophistry of our sacrifice led us?
http://www.hisholychurch.org/sermon/sacrifice.php

Other words you use?
That word | Sophistry | Relativism | Religion | Eucharist | Terms |
Worship | Deist | gods | Cult | Corban | Benefactors | Covet | Merchandise |
Baptism | Refugee | Sovereign | Temples | Levites | Breeches | Fringes |
Priests | Mammon Judge | Father | | Church | Network |

==Footnotes==