We are in a stretch of commands that are focused on the Temple. P20 was the command to build the Temple, P21 was the command to revere the Temple and now with the 22nd positive commandment, as enumerated by Maimonides, we have the instruction to keep watch or to guard (שמר, shamar) the House.
P22 – To keep watch over this house continuously, as Number 18:2, 4 states: “And you and- your descendants before the Tent of Testimony…. [And they shall keep the watch….]”
In the days of Yeshua, this command had a very literal exercise. There was an entire “Temple Guard” that performed this commanded duty. It’s often understood that some of them even took part in the arrest of Yeshua alongside the Roman guards. Those guards are the most literal example I can find in the New Testament regarding this command.
Yeshua and His disciples didn’t leave this topic completely void of attention, however. I managed to find two specific allusions to this command that are pretty straightforward without having to even dig into other Jewish writings. Given the themes present in the fuller context of the command, I’m sure there are additional allusions to this instruction that we could locate.
Consider the discussion taking place in Luke 11 where Yeshua says this:
Luke 11:21 (TLV)
21 “When a strong one, fully-armed, protects his own estate, his possessions are safe.
The previous two commands of P20 and P21 were demonstrated to go beyond the physical. Yeshua and the Apostles regularly expound and extend the understanding into the ethereal and intangible spiritual realm. This was a very Pharisaic practice. The Sadducees were overly literal to the exclusion of the spiritual and mystical side of God’s word. Literal isn’t a bad thing, as I myself often stand in the literalist category for Scripture. However, Yeshua and the writers of the New Testament didn’t stop at the literal (Peshat) level. For them, Torah is both literal and spiritual and they continually extend their interpretations into the domain of more spiritual Jewish understandings. For things regarding the Temple, they allude to God’s laws in a spiritual sense using the Body of Messiah and individual believers as the living stones. It’s not a replacement but rather it expounds on Moses and explains much of what the Prophets had to say.
In the previous commands and Apostolic illustrations, we are the Temple, in this one, we are the guards. The afore verse can be elaborated on with the next two verses:
Luke 11:22–23 (ESV)
22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
As long as we are “fully-armed” we’re safe, but the moment we give up our protection the enemy’s strength overcomes us and defeats the armor we are trusting in. As long as we are a faithful guard, we maintain that “full armor”, but when we begin depending on our own strength and wander into disobedience, we let our guard down and our own strength isn’t sufficient to keep the enemy at bay.
The proof text for this is the famous “full armor of God”:
Ephesians 6:10–16 (TLV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you are able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the worldly forces of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist when the times are evil, and after you have done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm then! Buckle the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 Strap up your feet in readiness with the Good News of shalom. 16 Above all, take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
If you are guarding the House, as the command is telling you to, you will be prepared for what may come during your watch. The armor of God is the only true protection against the evil one and it is the only true armor against your own evil inclination. We are commanded to guard, but without God on our side, any hope to repel an attack is a ruse. While you may be the one called to stand guard, only God can truly guard the city which brings more meaning to Luke 11:23 above.
Psalm 127:1 (NKJV)
1 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.
The Testimony
The second place I found a curious correlation was in the epistles to Timothy. To make the connection, one must consider the full context of the command, specifically, its wording.
Numbers 18:2–4 (ESV)
2 And with you bring your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and minister to you while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony. 3 They shall keep guard over you and over the whole tent, but shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary or to the altar lest they, and you, die. 4 They shall join you and keep guard over the tent of meeting for all the service of the tent, and no outsider shall come near you.
During my search for this command, I made an intriguing observation. Rather than using the term “Tabernacle” to describe the Sanctuary, God specifically referred to it as the “Tent of Testimony.” This distinction captured my attention, highlighting the importance of safeguarding the Testimony itself.
I’m no Greek scholar, but during my research, I discovered that there is a grammatical connection between the Numbers verses and a couple of references in 1st Timothy and 2nd Timothy.
First Paul tells Timothy:
1 Timothy 6:20 (TLV)
20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, turning away from pointless chatter and the contradictions of so-called knowledge—
What had been entrusted to Timothy? Was it not the testimony of the Kingdom? If I’m reading this correctly, we are to guard the testimony that has been entrusted to us. The true testimony and the whole testimony – not piecemeal according to our personal comforts.
2 Timothy 1:13–14 (TLV)
13 Keep the standard of sound words you have heard from me, in the faithfulness and love that are in Messiah Yeshua. 14 Guard the good that has been entrusted to you, through the [Holy Spirit] who dwells in us.
We are to guard what was entrusted to us. The testimony of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. The command to guard is focused on keeping the Ohel HaEdut or the Tent of the Testimony. We are guarding the tent of the testimony in that we are guarding the testimony of Yeshua and perpetuating the faith.
2 Timothy 1:8 (TLV)
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the Good News according to the power of God.
Proverbs 22:18 (TLV)
18 For it is delightful if you keep (שמר) them within you, ready on your lips.