S’mikah (Transference)

S’mikah (Transference)

by Messianic Rabbi Eric Carlson

S’mikhah is Hebrew for ordination but has many more meanings and functions in the Kingdom! S’mikhah can mean anointing, ordination, transfer, or even authority. Exodus 28:41 “So you shall put them on Aaron your brother and on his sons with him. You shall anoint them, consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to Me as priests.”

The term “anoint” used in Exodus 28:41 means physically pouring oil over their heads to sanctify them for their duties. By this act they are ordained or “smikhah”, which literally in the Hebrew is to “fill their hand”. Something is passed from one to the other in a spiritual sense as if I had a handful of blueberries and passed them to you; I would fill your hands.

The Mishnah and Torah record that S’mikhah’s originated with the sacrifices at the Temple which incorporated the dedication by the owner of the animal sacrificed on the altar. This was a mandatory physical act whenever sacrifices were offered by individuals. To perform this act of S’mikhah the owner placed both of his hands with all his might on the horns of the animal to be sacrificed just before it was killed (Leviticus 1:4. He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.).

The ceremony took place in the courtyard of the Temple, where the animal was slain (Men. 93a, b). It had to be performed with bare hands, so that nothing might come between the person and the head of the beast. There was a spiritual and physical transference of the sin from the person to the animal.

All Biblical leaders were ordained before they assumed their leadership roles. Moses ordained (S’mikhah) Joshua by physically placing his hands on him, transferring a portion of his spirit to Joshua (Numbers. 27:22, 23). Moses also ordained the 70 elders who assisted him in governing the people (Numbers. 11:1617, 2425). The elders ordained by Moses ordained their successors, who in turn ordained others, so that there existed an unbroken chain of ordination from Moses down to the time of the Second Temple (Maim. Yad, Sanh. 4:2)

The Talmud also records the sages teaching concerning olive oil. Oil symbolizes Knowledge of Torah which provides spiritual illumination. This anointing process fills us with the knowledge of the Word that also transfers spiritual gifts. There is a spiritual transference and more. There is also a warning not to do this lightly. Both good things and bad can be transferred by S’mikhah! I Timothy 5:22 “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure.”

S’mikhah is the term used for the authority on which Yeshua (Jesus) taught under. Matthew 21:23 “Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?’” Yeshua’s anointing did not come from men rather it came from the Father Himself!

Yeshua shared that we have this same anointing and more. He has given us S’mikhah to bless our children, to ordain clergy, to pass along or receive a fresh anointing. Yeshua gave us a S’mikhah to share Yeshua with Jewish people and the world! But most important of all, Yeshua performed S’mikhah with us by allowing our sins to be passed onto Himself, thereby allowing us to be cleansed, redeemed, and freed from all death, disease, and curses!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright ©1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Messianic Rabbi Eric Carlson and his wife Rabbitzin Barbara of Newport News Va., have been called to spread the Good News of Messiah Yeshua’s Grace and Glory in the United States and in the countries of the Former Soviet Union (having performed Gods work in Hungary, Russia, and the Ukraine).

Active in Aliyah, the world wide exodus of the Children of Israel back to Israel as prophesied in the Bible, Zion’s Sake has sponsored the return home of over 2,269 Jewish people from Russian and the Ukraine. Through a prophetic vision from God, they were called to spread the “Good News’ of the Jewish Messiah according to the Law of Evangelism; To the Jew First. To provoke the Jewish people to jealousy. To reach the lost and hurting through the Love of Messiah and to feed the starving and clothe the naked in Newport News, Virginia, America, and the Nations.

Rabbitzin Barb Carlson Leads the Zion’s Sake dancers, a “One New Man” (Ephesians 2:15) Messianic Jewish Dance Team. They are dedicated to restoring Jewish and Davidic Dance. Many of their dances consist of the “circle dance” which represents unity. It is also traditional Judaic beliefs that demonic forces cannot penetrate a circle. They dance before the Lord, sowing praise and worship unto the God of Israel!