The Design of Scripture
The Number One Hundred Forty Four
The number one hundred and forty four (144) is the square of twelve. The number twelve, as we have previously studied, is the number of governing. Not a government of chance or put together by popularity or wealth, but rather 12 disciples chosen by the Messiah and obviously patterned after the 12 tribes of Israel. Messiah said, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit." (Yochanan 15:16)
During the time of much tribulation 144,000 Israelites, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel, will be CHOSEN to follow the lamb and not to be defiled with women (Hitgalut 7:1-8, 14:3-5). These 144,000 are redeemed from the earth, they are virgins, and no guile was found in them, and they were without fault before the throne of God: i.e. they obeyed Torah, they were washed in the water of the word. It is important to note that these are all Israelites and not 'Jews'. There are only 12,000 from the tribe of Judah. The chosen ones will come from these 12 tribes. The word 'chosen' is used to describe Israel, Jerusalem, and the location of His house in the scriptures.
Divre-HaYamim Alef 16:13
"O ye seed of Israel, his servant, ye children of Ya‘aqov, his chosen ones"
Divre-HaYamim Bet 6:6
"But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people, Israel"
Divre-HaYamim Bet 7:16
"For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there forever; and mine eyes and mine heart shll be there perpetually"
Notice that he used the words 'mine eyes' and 'mine heart'. This I will elaborate on a little later.
Mizmor 105:6
"O ye seed of Avraham, his servant, ye children of Ya‘aqov (Israel), his chosen."
Mizmor 132:13-17
"For YHVH hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest forever; here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation; and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. There will I make the horn of David to bud; I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed."
Yesha'yahu 41:8
"But thou, Israel, are my servant, Ya‘aqov whom I have chosen, the seed of Avraham, my friend."
Of the four directions on a compass, the directions of east and west are used to express not only two opposite directions, but two opposing destinies or the divided house of Israel. This is coupled with the historical reality that the house of Israel (Ephraim) and the house of Judah also went two different directions doctrinally, as well. Judah, in spite of the fact that they would, as a house, reject the Messiah, did maintain Torah (B'reshith 49:10, Mizmor 108:8.) The house of Israel was prophesied to mix with the sea of gentiles and quickly reinstitute calf worship and pagan practices (M'lakhim Alef 12:16-33, M'lakhim Bet 17:21-41. Yirmeyahu 2:21-27, 7:15, 9:13-16.) These two houses are represented in the tabernacle camps as Judah from the east, and Ephraim (house of Israel) from the west. The word 'east' is in the Hebrew qedem. This word is also translated as 'ancient'. This is because the teaching of scripture is that the good and right ways are the ways of old, the ancient (east) paths, the way of the Creator which began with the tree of life and the sinless 'adam' planted 'eastward' in the garden.
Yirmeyahu 6:16
"Thus saith YHVH, Stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the OLD PATHS, where is the good way, and walk in it, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said (the nations, the west) We will NOT walk in it."
According to B'midbar 2:3,18, the camp of Judah was to set up on the east side toward the rising of the sun, and the camp of Ephraim was to set up on the west side, which by definition is looking away from the sun. It is the tribe of Judah that the Messiah will spring forth from. The Messiah is from the beginning, from old, from the east.
Mikhah 5:2
"But thou, Bethleham Ephrathath, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in ISRAEL, whose goings forth have been from OLD (qedem) from everlasting."
Well, as you have probably guessed by now, the numerical value of qedem is 144. It is also no coincidence that the Hebrew word for west is yam. This word is also the word for the 'sea' as in the sea of humanity or the masses, those who will unfortunately choose the wide gate. God's ways are from the east, from Israel, from Jerusalem and Zion. This is where He places His name. And though we are all scattered like sheep, as it is with true circumcision, it is where our heart, our desires, and our source of sustenance comes from that YHVH is truly looking for. This is where the eyes and heart of YHVH look upon. It is those with a heart, not just FOR Israel, but OF Israel that YHVH has chosen.
Hitalgut 2:23
"And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give unto every one of you according to your works."
Shalom Alecheim!