“And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake.”
Leviticus 24:5 is part of the instructions given by God to Moses regarding the tabernacle and the various offerings to be presented before Him. In this particular verse, God instructs the Israelites to prepare twelve cakes made from fine flour.
Here’s a closer look at the context and significance of this verse:
- The Tabernacle: The tabernacle was a portable sanctuary where the Israelites worshiped and offered sacrifices to God during their time in the wilderness. It served as a central place for their spiritual activities until the construction of the permanent temple in Jerusalem.
- The Showbread: Leviticus 24:5 refers specifically to the preparation of the showbread or the “bread of the Presence.” The showbread was a significant part of the tabernacle worship. According to Exodus 25:30, it was to be set out before the Lord continually on a table in the Holy Place.
- The Twelve Cakes: The twelve cakes of showbread represented the twelve tribes of Israel. Each tribe was to be symbolically represented before God as a reminder of their covenant relationship with Him. The number twelve is often associated with completeness and the twelve tribes represent the entirety of God’s chosen people.
- Fine Flour: The use of fine flour in the preparation of the cakes symbolizes purity and perfection. It signifies the Israelites offering the best of their produce to God, acknowledging His worthiness of the finest and most valuable portion.
- Two Tenth Deals: The measurement mentioned in Leviticus 24:5, “two tenth deals,” refers to the quantity of fine flour used for each cake. A “tenth deal” is an ancient unit of measurement, indicating one-tenth of an ephah. Each cake was made with two-tenths or two-tenths of an ephah, emphasizing the need for an abundant offering.
Overall, Leviticus 24:5 emphasizes the Israelites’ responsibility to present offerings of showbread made from the finest flour as a perpetual act of worship and acknowledgement of their relationship with God. The twelve cakes symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel, and the use of fine flour signifies the giving of their best to God.
It is worth noting that the laws and rituals described in Leviticus served specific purposes within the Old Testament covenant, which was fulfilled and superseded by the coming of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. While we can learn about God’s character and principles from these passages, Christians are no longer bound by the ceremonial laws and regulations of the Old Covenant.
