Palm Sunday; Lamb Selection Day and The Great Hosanna (part 2)
- overcomer41
- Apr 12
- 17 min read
Updated: Apr 14
(See part 1 of this study to be familiar with where I am starting at this point.)
The Spiritual Connection Between “The Great Hosanna” and Jericho
The circling of the altar once a day for six days, and then seven days on the seventh day, which is Hoshana Rabbah (The Great Hosanna or The Numerous Hosannas), is similar to the battle plan of the Lord given to the children of Israel when they defeated their first enemy of the Promised Land in Jericho;
“Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in. The Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors. You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days. Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead.”
(Joshua 6:1-5/NASU; see the Bible studies The first Trump, The Last Trump, and The Great Trump, and Elul; The Season Of Preparation and 40 Days Of Favor)
Could Jericho possibly represent “the city which is yet to come,” and the way for us to bring down the walls of the devil’s stronghold over mankind (i.e. the destruction of strongholds in 2 Corinthians 10:1-6)? It appears the devil’s deception over mankind is what allowed him to set up his temporary throne within/over Jerusalem, made manifest to mankind by the establishing of the Dome of the Rock where God’s throne is to be established.
Hebrews 13:11-14
11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.
12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach [3680- “a reproach, defamation, contumely (“rudeness or reproach compounded of haughtiness and contempt”)”; the reproach and shame of bearing the cross of Christ, without which we will never gain the power of Pentecost necessary to overcome the last enemy of death; see the Bible study Simon of Cyrene and Cross Bearing].
14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. [the “new” Jerusalem]
NASU
(Information from the internet about Jericho.)
“In the Bible, the name Jericho is believed to have multiple meanings and interpretations. It is most commonly understood as “city of the moon” or “place of fragrance.” Some scholars also associate it with the concept of a “sacred city.”
Elaboration:
“City of the Moon”:
This interpretation stems from the Hebrew word “yareach,” which means “moon.” Jericho was known as “the City of the Moon” (Ir HaYareach) because it was the first place where the new moon would be visible each month.
“Place of Fragrance”:
This meaning is linked to the Hebrew word “reyach,” which means “smell” or “fragrance.” Jericho was known for its abundant palm trees, rose gardens, and other fragrant plants, leading to its association with fragrance.
“Sacred City”:
The name Jericho, when written in Old Greek, is composed of the words Ieros (sacred) and Polis (city), further suggesting a connection to sacredness and the divine.
Other interpretations:
Some scholars also connect the name to the concept of “wandering” or “journey” as it relates to the moon's movement in the night sky.
What I’m seeing in this is that the last enemy for the body of Christ, our last stronghold which is death (1 Corinthians 15:26), will be similar, spiritually speaking to this first enemy that Israel had to face, right at the beginning of their entering into Canaan. This is the appointed time of the end when we will be “preserved complete [spirit, soul and body], without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24) The principle of Scripture for this is found within Isaiah 46:10, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” (NIV) It will be through the defeat of our final enemy of this age, through the shouting of “The Great Hosanna” at the “appointed time” of the Lord (i.e. the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles), that we will victoriously enter into the Promised Land of our ternal inheritance in Christ.
The Significance of Jericho and The New Moon
From the article “The New Moon in the Bible; Why It’s Significant for Christians Today,” by Karen Engle, ICEJ Managing Editor;
“Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.” —Genesis 1:14–18
“Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the Lord your God.” —Numbers 10:10
Most months, as the moon begins to change from its proud, full circle in the night sky to a waning crescent, I start looking for the New Moon on the western horizon, which appears at sunset just a few days later. Sometimes I forget to watch and happen upon it while driving or sitting in my backyard. Many months, I miss it altogether. But when I do see it, it always makes me pause.
Yes, it’s just the moon—but its cycles are more than an astronomical phenomenon. The One who created the moon, sun, and stars did so for a special purpose beyond providing us something beautiful to look at. As I have come to a fuller understanding of God’s feasts—His “appointments” He set with the children of Israel to meet with Him throughout the year—I’ve also come to understand the significance of the moon in Scripture and how profound God’s establishment of its phases are. Each New Moon indicated the start of a new month, but it was also a holy day set apart to mark God’s feasts or “appointed times” and worship Him. Scripture even indicates they have something to do with what’s to come.
The New Moon in the Bible
Our modern calendaring system depends on mathematical calculations and arrangements based on a solar-lunar system. But the biblical system God laid out in the Old Testament was different—and this impacted the timing of the entire Jewish calendar and holiday cycle. It was set from month to month according to the physical appearance of the first sliver of the New Moon. After the children of Israel had entered the promised land, the New Moon was affirmed by two witnesses who began watching for it at the end of each month. Once sighted, the new month was announced in Jerusalem with a long trumpet blast (Psalm 81:1–3) and an official message sent out by signal fires. Villages far from Jerusalem would see the fires and light their own, until all the Jewish communities in the region knew a new month had begun. [The fire of the Holy Spirit will be lit in places of the Lord’s choosing, His “Jericho” locations. Through them, other areas that are “looking” will see the “signal fire” of the Spirit, causing a chain reaction in their midst as well. Fire begets fire. See the section below called The Lighting Of Fires.]
The entire Hebrew calendar depended on these declarations, for without them (considering there was no internet or television), no one would know when a new month had begun. It impacted the start of every month and, thus, the start of a new biblical year, which, according to God’s calendar, begins in the spring: “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you” (Exodus 12:1). Later in that same chapter of Exodus, we learn this “first month” would be the month of Passover.
A Holy, Set-Apart Day
The New Moon celebrations were special days called Rosh Chodesh. The Hebrew word rosh means “head” or “beginning.” Chodesh derives from the root Hebrew word chadesh, which means “new,” “to make new,” or “to renew.” Thus, Rosh Chodesh in Hebrew means “head of the month”—or the first day of a new month on the Hebrew calendar.
Once the New Moon was confirmed, celebration followed with singing and dancing, for the first day of every new month was a holy day set apart for sacrifice, worship, and offerings to God:
Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months (rosh chodesh) you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the Lord your God. (Numbers 10:10)
On every Rosh Chodesh prior to Israel’s exile to Babylon, labor also ceased as an act of trusting God for provision. Back then, New Moon celebrations were superior even to Sabbath days: they were meant to refocus God’s people on Him and His desire for relationship with them and remind them of His faithful character and authority.
Sadly, over time, man’s rules, regulations, and traditions for keeping God’s New Moon celebrations (as well as His feasts and Sabbaths) overshadowed their true meaning. Outwardly the children of Israel honored the first day of each new month and gave their animals for sacrifice, but their hearts had turned cold toward God. Notice the pronoun shift in Isaiah 1:13–14:
Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. (See also Psalm 51:6, 16–17; Hosea 6:6)
Instead of God referring to these special days as His New Moons, Sabbaths, and feasts, He referred to them as your New Moons, Sabbaths, and feasts. For this reason, God said His soul hated what they had become. Indeed, with the destruction of the temple in AD 70, and in alignment with Hosea’s prophecy in 2:11, God stopped not only Israel’s appointed feasts and Sabbaths but “her New Moons” too.
Evidence of the true condition of the children of Israel’s hearts shows in Amos 8:5, where Israel found the New Moon requirements an inconvenience and could not wait for the celebration of the new month to be over so they could return to being their own masters—working to make money and pursuing selfish gain.
Signs and Seasons
The heart condition of the children of Israel toward New Moon celebrations is saddening considering why God created the moon and its cycles to begin with.
Within the story of creation in Genesis 1:14–16 is God’s establishment of the sun, moon, and stars in the sky. And though we enjoy the beauty of that creation as day turns to night, stars begin to poke through the vast, dark sky, and the moon appears, God created these astronomical miracles for more than astronomy or simply giving us light. He created them for timekeeping.
Genesis 1:14 tells us they were to serve as “signs and for seasons, and for days and years” (ESV). At first read, these reasons seem simple enough, but there’s something profound about two words in that verse that reveals a deeper purpose. So let’s unpack them.
The word “seasons” in English is the Hebrew word mo’ed, which means “appointment”—the very word God chose to describe His feasts or special times throughout the year He required His people to meet with Him. The English Standard Version says God set the sun, moon, and stars apart to “mark the seasons” or to “mark” God’s appointed times. His requirements for how to keep His feasts are orderly and precise (see Leviticus 23). However, the exact date they were to be celebrated wasn’t always predictable because each feast date depended on the start of a new month—and thus, when the New Moon was sighted.
The New Moon and God’s establishment of its cycles cannot be underestimated; consider that after Babylonian exile, without knowing the start of a month according to God’s calculations, Israelites still living outside of Jerusalem would not have known when to journey to the temple to appropriately keep the feasts.
A Shadow of What Is to Come
Paul tells us in Colossians 1:16–17 that God’s New Moon celebrations are a shadow of what is to come—they were a practice for future things.
Consider that through the prophet Isaiah, God says: “It shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me” (66:23). Here Isaiah connects the New Moon with future worship.
Ezekiel in his vision about the millennial kingdom connects the East Gate—which Christians know to be the gate Jesus entered at his first coming on Palm Sunday and will enter again at His return—with the New Moon:
Thus says the Lord God: “The gateway of the inner court that faces toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened. … Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the entrance to this gateway before the Lord on the Sabbaths and the New Moons.” (Ezekiel 36:1, 3) [The east gate is where the glory of the Lord will return back through; see Genesis 3:22-24, and Ezekiel 43:1-5.]
According to Ezekiel, the New Moon festival will be observed during the millennial kingdom, and the inner eastern gate of the temple will play a role in worship on this set-apart day, opening every Sabbath day and every day of the New Moon. On those days, Jews and gentiles alike will gather to worship God.
Finally, Leviticus 23 and Numbers 29 discuss a special New Moon day connected with the only feast that falls on the first day of the month: Yom Teruah (the Day of Trumpet Blowing). This feast carries a bit of mystery with it: in biblical times, since no one knew exactly when the New Moon would be visible, it was impossible to know the exact date Yom Teruah would start. Thus, many associate this feast with two things: the trumpet of God that will accompany Jesus at His return and Jesus’ reminder that “of that day and hour no one knows” (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 24:36). [For clarity on this, which I believe the Lord revealed to me, see the Bible study Elul; The Season Of Preparation and 40 Days Of Favor.]
Conclusion
What does all this mean? Some things that God established we won’t completely understand this side of heaven, and God’s full intention for the New Moon celebrations are among them. However, knowing the New Moon is connected with the sound of the trumpet, praise, temple offerings, rest, and worship of the King of kings in Jerusalem lets us know that timekeeping associated with the New Moon in the Bible is somehow connected with God’s kingdom in Israel to come. [Remember that earlier I mentioned that Israel’s “timing” was off in their heralding of Jesus with their hosanna’s.]
For now, enjoy looking for the first visible crescent of the moon each month when it appears in the night sky, and be reminded that God is faithful—and He knows exactly what time it is.”
The Lighting Of Fires
According to this article, the lighting of fires passed on the knowledge to other towns that the “new thing” (i.e. new moon celebration) had begun. If Jericho was the first to behold the new moon, this would mean that they would be the first place that would see it (i.e. they were “watchful/looking”), and then be used to signal to others that what they were looking for had been manifested. They were the first witnesses. I believe that God has His “Jericho” towns within which His fire will be lit first by the outpouring of His Holy Spirit in the “new thing” that will signal for others that are “looking” to see that the “appointed time” of the Lord’s coming for the final ingathering of His people has begun (i.e. the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles which is known as the “feast of ingathering”).
From the article “What was the significance of the new moon in Bible times?”
“The significance of the new moon in Bible times is that it marked the beginning of a new month (the Hebrew calendar is lunar-based), and it was a time when the Israelites were to bring an offering to God. The beginning of the month was known not by astronomical calculations but by the testimony of messengers appointed to watch for the first visible appearance of the new moon. As soon as the first sliver was seen, the fact was announced throughout the whole country by signal fires on the mountaintops and the blowing of trumpets. The Hebrew word for “month” (hodesh) literally means “new moon.”
“Paul reminds us of this fact: “Do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Colossians 2:16–17).
(The following insights from Daniel are from the Bible study Elul; The season Of Preparation and 40 Days Of Favor.)
“This Psalm of the sons of Korah [Psalm 47] celebrates the Kingship of God over “all the earth.” He is the One who “reigns over the nations.” It mentions a “shout,” taken from the Hebrew word teruah (as in Yom Teruah; the Feast of Trumpets), and “the sound of the trumpet.” These are the exact words used by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 when he speaks of those in the church who are “alive and remain” and will be “caught up” together with the “dead in Christ who will rise first,” in order to “meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” The major difference, though, is that Paul refers to the Lord descending from heaven, while David speaks of His ascension. Along with other passages of Scripture that we will discuss, this is why I believe the “snatching away” of the Bride of Christ is pictured, in type, through the symbolism of the Feast of Trumpets (as well as the return of Christ in judgment on the Day of Atonement).
Will it occur on one of the two days that this feast is held? We’ll see, but personally I don’t see why not knowing the timeliness of God that occurred in the fulfillment of the Spring feasts (i.e. Passover and Pentecost) through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
As I just mentioned, the Feast of Trumpets is actually a two-day event. The reason for this is because of the difficulty of determining the date of the new moon. The following excerpt is from the article “Why Rosh Hashanah Is Two Days,” by Eliyahu Kitov;
“Rosh Hashanah is observed as a two-day holiday, on the first and second of Tishrei, even though the Torah ordains only one day, as the verse (Vayikra 23:24) states: And in the seventh month, on the first of the month, you shall observe a cessation of work - a day of remembrance, of the sounding of the shofar. The first day of Rosh Hashanah can fall only on the following days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Shabbat. This regulation is an ordinance of the Sages.
The Talmud Yerushalmi (Eruvin 3:9) notes that our two-day celebration of Rosh Hashanah is an enactment of the early Prophets, who established it for the following reason. During the period of the Prophets, the sanctification of the months was dependent upon hearing the testimony of witnesses who had seen the new moon… The two-day celebration of Rosh Hashanah is referred to as yoma arichta - a long day; i.e., the forty-eight hour observance of Rosh Hashanah is considered one extended day.”
(The following insights from Daniel are also from the Bible study Elul; The season Of Preparation and 40 Days Of Favor.)
The Appointed Time/(Festival) Season Of Favor
Daniel 7:21-22 – War with the saints; see the note below. (See the Bible study The Weapons Of Our Warfare.)
21 "I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering [3202- “to be able (can, could), to prevail”] them [see the definition for “overpower” in Judges 16:5 in the Bible study Samson And The Binding Of God’s Anointed for the reason why the saints were overpowered]
22 until the Ancient of Days came and judgment [1780- “judgment, justice, a legal suit”] was passed [3052- “to give, provide”] in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time [2166- “a set time, appointed time, (festival) seasons”] arrived when the saints took possession [2631- “be strong, overcome, take possession of”] of the kingdom [4437- “royalty, reign, kingship, dominion”; see the Bible study The Dominion Mandate].
NASU
Daniel 7:21-22
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
KJV
Daniel 7:21-22
21 "I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,
22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
NKJV
Within these two verses I see confirmation of what I have seen in my spirit. In this chapter Daniel describes his vision of four great beasts. The fourth one was “dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large teeth” with ten horns (Daniel 7:7). While contemplating what he was seeing, another horn, “a little one,” came up among the others followed by three of the first ones being “pulled out by the roots.” The little horn had the eyes of a man and was uttering great boasts (Daniel 7:8).
As Daniel kept looking at the scene before him, he saw one “like a Son of Man” (i.e. Jesus) coming before the “Ancient of Days” (i.e. the Father). He was given dominion, glory and a kingdom which will not be destroyed (Daniel 7:13-14). In Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples, He let them know that He was, with all authority, King of all kings and Lord of all lords;
“All authority [“power” in KJV; interpreted “right” in John 1:12] has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:18-20/NASU)
Daniel saw a time when the little horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them (seen in type in the ten Days of Awe. The Hebrew word for “overpowering” means “to be able (can, could), to prevail.” So according to the Hebrew, overpowering Christians is associated with being able to prevail over them. We can, or could be, then, overpowered for some reason. I believe it is the result of rebellion against the Lord.
Daniel also spoke of the appointed time of the Lord when His judgment was passed in favor of the saints. The word “favor” is not in the original language, just that judgment was given to/provided for the saints at “a set time, appointed time, (festival) seasons” and we took possession of the kingdom which means “royalty, reign, kingship, dominion.” It is the appointed time of the judgment of God (represented by the Day of Atonement) when we will take full dominion of the earth back from our enemy, the devil.
Daniel 7:25-27
25 'He will speak out [the little horn] against the Most High and wear down [1080] the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they [“the saints”; v.21] will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time [see Rev. 12:6, 14; 13:5].
26 'But the court will sit for judgment [i.e. the Day of Atonement], and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.
27 'Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.' [the “appointed time” (festival seasons) of the Lord in Daniel 7:22 above]
NASU
OT:1080 bela' (Aramaic) (bel-aw')
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
corresponding to OT:1086 (but used only in a mental sense); to afflict:
KJV - wear out.
(Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
(Pael) to wear away, to wear out; to harass constantly (figurative) [See Mark 6:48, and the Bible study Contrary Winds.]
Comments