Frequently, I hear the excuse from Christians that since our Messiah stated “The Sabbath is made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27), therefore, we should be able to observe the seventh day of the week any way we please.
The rationale is that since the Sabbath was made for the benefit of Adam (humanity, mankind), therefore, we should be allowed to keep it according to our own carnal desires. It is implied that we are not required to abstain from regular work or activities on the seventh day.
However, since it was Elohiym himself (as the pre-incarnate Messiah) who wrote the commandments in stone, our Messiah Yahuwshuwa would not have been contradicting his own commandments given to Yisra’el on Mount Sinai.
Shemoth (Exodus) 20:
8 Remember the Shabbat day, to keep it qodesh (holy).
9 Six days shall you labor, and do all your work:
10 But the seventh day is the Shabbat of YHWH your Elohiym: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates:
11 For in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Obviously, our Messiah wanted us to understand the benefits for humanity in keeping the Sabbath holy. But what are the benefits, and why did he choose the seventh day, specifically?
The first mention of “The seventh day,” is found in the second chapter of Bereshiyth (Genesis):
2 And on the seventh day Elohiym ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And Elohiym blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which Elohiym created and made.
If the creator of the universe rested from all his creative work on the seventh day of the week, are we greater than our master, that we should be exempt from resting like he did? I am reminded of our Messiah’s words, when he stated that the servant is not greater than his master (John 15:20).
That being the case, we are to be followers (imitators) of our creator, and not presume that we can make up our own rules, by overriding his. The nagging question that I had when I first began studying the Scriptures is “Why did our Elohiym rest on the seventh day? What is so special about the seventh day in particular?”
The number “seven” in Hebrew is the word “sheba,” which comes from a root word “shaba,” which means “To take an oath, by sprinkling blood seven times!”
#H7651 sheba` sheh'-bah or (masculine) shibrah {shib-aw'}; from 7650; a primitive cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number:--(+ by) seven(-fold),-s, (-teen, -teenth), -th, times).
#H7650 shaba` shaw-bah' a primitive root; propr. to be complete, but used only as a denominative from 7651; to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times):--adjure, charge (by an oath, with an oath), feed to the full, take an oath.
As a matter of fact, the Kohen ha’Gadowl (High Priest) would perform the atoning work on Yom Kippur, by sprinkling the blood of a bullock (symbolic of Leah), and the blood of a goat (symbolic of Rachel) seven times on the mercy seat:
Wayyiqra (Leviticus) 16:14 And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.
Wayyiqra (Leviticus) 16:15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
Sprinkling the Blood Seven Times to Cleanse the Bride
Wayyiqra (Leviticus) 16:19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Yisra’el.
Why does the bullock represent Leah, while the goat represents Rachel? For the simple fact that the name Leah means “cow,” and the name Rachel means “lamb or goat.” To learn more, see these two blogs:
Thus, the number SEVEN is all about COVENANT & SALVATION!
Since our Messiah commands us to “Save life on the Sabbath,” (Mark 3:4; Luke 6:9) it was prophetically necessary that his resurrection took place on the SEVENTH DAY OF THE WEEK!
Thus, we can see why the meaning of the word “seven” in Hebrew comes from a root word that directly pertains to Messiah’s salvation for his bride:
#H7650 shaba` shaw-bah' a primitive root; propr. to be complete, but used only as a denominative from 7651; to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times):--adjure, charge (by an oath, with an oath), feed to the full (by mistake for 7646), take an oath, straitly, (cause to, make to) swear.
As you can see, this word “shaba,” perfectly describes the role of Melchizedek, who was “sworn,” into his office as the eternal High Priest, (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:20-21).
Melchizedek (Malkiy-Tzedeq) is the only High Priest who qualified to redeem the Two Houses of Yisra’el (symbolized by Leah, the bullock, and Rachel the goat). This is because Melchizedek has an “endless life,” (Hebrews 7:16), and therefore, he could never die behind the veil, thus leaving the nation without blood atonement.
We can now see why all events pertaining to salvation and redemption for Yisra’el took place on the seventh day of the week:
1.) The Walls of Jericho fell on the seventh day of the week, (the weekly Shabbat).
2. The ordinance of the Red Heifer was done to cleanse those who had been defiled from the shedding of innocent blood. Thus, they would be made clean on the seventh day of the week at evening (see Numbers 19:19; 21-22).
3.) Our Messiah rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey on the seventh day of the week, (the weekly Shabbat) to act as the High Priest who would select the Passover Lamb (himself) for the sins of the people.
4.) One week later, the resurrection of our Messiah took place on the seventh day of the week, (the weekly Shabbat), as he performed the “Wave Sheaf Offering,” at the close of the weekly Sabbath.
Once per year, on what Christianity erroneously calls “Palm Sunday,” our Messiah rode into Jerusalem, (acting in the role of the High Priest, Melchizedek). This event is called “The Inclusion of the Lamb,” when the High Priest was charged with selecting the lamb that would be killed four days later for Passover (see Exodus 12:3-6).
Exodus 12:3 commands us to bring the Passover Lamb into our homes on the 10th day of Abib, and to love it and adore it, before we have to kill it on the 14th of Abib.
This is exactly what happened to our Messiah, when they loved him and adored him by waving Palm Branches, and then shouting “Crucify him” only four days later!
Showing Himself as the Redeemer on Shabbat
This took place, not on “Palm Sunday,” but on “Palm Shabbat!”
This is because he was “SAVING LIFE ON THE SABBATH!”
We are commanded to redeem the firstling of a donkey for Passover (Exodus 13:13), and since Yahuwshuwa was displaying himself as “The Lamb who would redeem the donkey,” (symbolic of Yisra’el), it is therefore prophetically fitting that the people were shouting “Hosheana” which means “SAVE US!”
By his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, he was displaying himself as the High Priest who annually rode into Jerusalem to select the Lamb that would be killed that year for Passover.
In this case, he was selecting himself, which is why he made this statement:
Yahuwchanon (John) 10:18 No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Seven days later, he resurrected on the Sabbath, thus “Saving life on the Sabbath!”
Ephesians 4:8-9 says that Yahuwshuwa “Went into the lowest parts of the earth...and GAVE GIFTS UNTO MEN!”
The High Priest Waved the First-Fruits at the Close of Shabbat
This means that Yahuwshuwa was acting as the High Priest, who would “WAVE THE FIRST-FRUITS OF BARLEY” before YaHuWaH in the Temple, but his “FIRST-FRUITS” where those righteous souls in Abraham’s Bosom (Paradise).
In 1st Century Jerusalem, the Sadducees controlled the Temple, and the “Wave Sheaf Offering” was presented in the Temple at the close of the Sabbath!
This means that while our Messiah resurrected, (and went into Abraham’s Bosom to redeem those souls), the High Priest in the Temple was simultaneously “WAVING THE BARLEY IN THE TEMPLE” just before sundown on the Sabbath!
See my other blogs:
Yahuwshuwa was also fulfilling the pattern of the “Red Heifer” (Numbers 19), whose ashes were to be buried in “a clean place” (the new tomb of Joseph of Arimathea), and thus he cleansed and “SAVED” his people “ON THE SEVENTH DAY,” according to the ordinance in Numbers 19:12.
Those that shouted, “Crucify him!” became guilty of innocent blood, which is what the ashes of the Red Heifer are to be used for.
Those that took his body down from the cross, became “unclean,” and therefore, Numbers 19:12 requires that they “PURIFY THEMSELVES ON THE THIRD DAY, AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY, THEY SHALL BE CLEAN!”
Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus (righteous Pharisees), understood the prophetic implications of our Messiah dying “outside the camp,” at the base of the Mount of Olives, where the Red Heifers were to be killed. They were priests in the Temple, who understood the Temple sacrifices, and that our Messiah as the Red Heifer was necessary to cleanse the nation from defilement, of having shed his innocent blood!
Thus, when they took down his body from the cross, they knew they were going to become unclean, and unfit to enter the Temple for Passover that year. This is why they had already eaten the Passover Lamb the previous night (when our Messiah ate it with his disciples on the 14th of Abib).
This means that those who went to the tomb on Shabbat ON THE SEVENTH DAY, WERE MADE CLEAN, because it was also the THIRD DAY FROM HIS SACRIFICE!
As for when the High Priests were to offer the Wave Sheaf Offering, it is historically proven that it was offered at the close of the Sabbath at sundown.
Though Scripture specifies the day the wave-sheaf was to be cut, it gives no specific time of day to cut it.
Jewish history from the Second Temple period gives an interesting insight.
The second-century Mishnah affirms that, when the Sadducees controlled the Temple, the sickle was put to the grain just as the sun was going down on the weekly Sabbath (Menahot 10:1-4, Jacob Neusner translation, pp. 753-754).
The book, Biblical Calendars, states, “The Boethusians [Temple priests] reaped [the firstfruits sheaf] at the going out of the Sabbath” (p. 218. Additional information can be found in the section titled “Temple Service,” p. 280, as well as in The Temple: Its Ministry and Services by Alfred Edersheim, 1994, pp. 203-205).
The New Testament’s silence on this Sadducean practice—along with its agreement with the ritual’s fulfillment in Messiah—must be construed as acceptance of its validity.
The priests began to make the first cutting right at the end of the Sabbath, continuing over into the first day of the week, when the bulk of the work would be done.
The ritual, however, was not complete until the sheaf was offered (waved) before Elohiym the following morning, or more precisely, between 9:00 a.m. and noon. Some might object to the reaping of the sheaf in the closing minutes of the Sabbath because it is a day of rest when no work is to be done.
After one understands the full reason for it, as well as Yahuwshuwa’s direct statement that a priest is blameless in the performance of his required duties (Matthew 12:5), any objections to the practice disappear.
The Conclusion: Yahuwshuwa ha’Mashiyach resurrected before sundown on the Sabbath.
Afterward, he went to the heavenly Temple as the High Priest to wave the “first-fruits offering.”
However, it was not the barley that he waved. Instead, Yahuwshuwa waved before YaHuWaH, the souls of men as his first-fruits offering!
His resurrection on the seventh day of the week, points us to the Seventh Millennium, when he will also resurrect his bride in the final wheat harvest “AT THE LAST DAY!” This is why it is often referred to as “The Sabbath Millennium!”
The Torah Requires That One Who Hangs on the Tree Must be Buried on the Same Day
The Torah requires that if a man is hanged on a tree, he must be buried ON THE SAME DAY that he was hung on the tree!
Yahuwshuwa was hanged on the tree on the 14th day of the 1st Hebrew Month of Abib (Nissan) as this is when the Passover Lamb was to be slain, according to Exodus 12:6.
The Torah requires that the Passover Lamb be slain BETWEEN THE EVENINGS on the 14th of Abib.
Deuteronomy 21:22 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and you hang him on a tree:
Deuteronomy 21:23 HIS BODY SHALL NOT REMAIN ALL NIGHT UPON THE TREE, but you shall in any wise BURY HIM THAT DAY; (for he that is hanged is accursed of Elohiym;) that your land be not defiled, which YHWH your Elohiym gives for an inheritance.
John’s gospel records that our Messiah’s body had to be taken down from the tree, BEFORE SUNDOWN because the Feast of Unleavened Bread was approaching, and his body could not remain on the tree, once the Feast of Unleavened Bread arrived.
The 15th day of the 1st month of Abib (Nissan) arrived after sundown, (after he was already buried in the tomb):
Yahuwchanon (John) 19:31 The Yahuwediym (Jews) therefore, because it was the preparation, that THE BODIES SHOULD NOT REMAIN ON THE CROSS ON THE SABBATH DAY, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
Now, even though our Messiah NEVER SINNED, he was TAKING THE PLACE OF SINNERS when he died for us on the tree:
Galatians 3:13 Messiah has redeemed us from THE CURSE OF [BREAKING] THE LAW, BEING MADE A CURSE FOR US: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:
2nd Corinthians 5:21 For HE HAS MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR US, WHO KNEW NO SIN; that we might be made the righteousness of Elohiym in him.
Our Messiah’s blood had to be SINLESS in order to be the SPOTLESS LAMB slain for us:
Keefa Aleph (1st Peter) 1:19 But with the precious blood of Messiah, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Shemoth (Exodus) 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
But even though he was sinless, his MORTAL BODY (NOT HIS BLOOD OR HIS SPIRIT) BECAME SIN FOR US:
Yeshayahuw (Isaiah) 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because HE HAS POURED OUT HIS SOUL UNTO DEATH: AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS; and HE BARE THE SIN OF MANY, and MADE INTERCESSION FOR THE TRANSGRESSORS.
Mark 15:28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS.
Now that our Messiah fulfilled the requirements of blood atonement and for the sins of humanity (on the seventh day of the week), why are will still required to keep the seventh day holy?
The answer can be found in Keefa Beyth (2nd Peter) 3:8, where we are told that “One day is like a thousand years with YHWH, and a thousand years is as one day.”
What this means, is that the weekly seventh day Shabbat, is a microcosm for the macrocosm of the seven thousand years from creation, leading up to the eighth millennium, which will commence eternity.
Revelation 21 describes when the eighth millennium will begin with a new heaven, and a new earth descending, thus taking over the entire earth. For the first heaven, and the first earth will “pass away,” thus eliminating the need for brick and mortar temple. Revelation 21:22 says that “The Lamb, and YaHuWaH Almighty shall be the temple.”
Chazown (Revelation) 21:
22 And I saw no temple therein: for YHWH Elohiym the Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of Elohiym did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
So you see, the seventh day of the week is a reminder that there will be seven thousand years “For the restoration of all things,” (Acts 3:21) back to the original created order in the Garden of Eden.
In Hebrews chapter 4:4-11, we are shown that the eternal rest we shall enter into is a macrocosm of the seventh day of the week. Therefore, “There remains a Sabbatismos (rest) for the people of Elohiym”
What is Sweeter than Honey & Stronger than a Lion?
The resurrection of our Messiah was also foreshadowed in the riddle told by Samson to the Philistines!
Judges 14:18 And the men of the city said unto him ON THE SEVENTH DAY BEFORE THE SUN WENT DOWN, What is sweeter than honey? and what is STRONGER THAN A LION? And he said unto them, If you had not plowed with my HEIFER, you had not found out my riddle.
Our Messiah is called “THE LION OF JUDAH” (Revelation 5:5), and his words are likened unto HONEY (Deuteronomy 27:3; Isaiah 7:15-22; Psalms 119:103; Proverbs 16:24).
As previously mentioned, the Hebrew word for “SEVEN” is “shaba,” which means “TO TAKE AN OATH!”
Psalm 110:4 YaHuWaH has SWORN [TAKEN AN OATH], and will not repent, YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER after the order of Malkiy-Tzedeq (Melchizedek).
Hebrews 7:28 For the Torah (law) makes men (mortals) High Priests, which have weaknesses (infirmity); but THE WORD OF THE OATH, which was since the Torah, makes the Son, who is consecrated FOREVERMORE.
The only High Priest who TOOK AN OATH to be the KINSMAN REDEEMER for Yisra’el, is the one who comes from the Tribe of Yahuwdah (Judah).
Hebrews 7:14 says that “Melchizedek sprang out of Judah!”
The Patriarch Ya’aqob (Jacob) took an OATH, that the scepter to rule, would not depart from Yahuwdah (Judah). See Genesis 49:10).
The Patriarch Yahuwdah (Judah) took an OATH to redeem Tamar, his daughter-in-law! (Genesis 38:17-18).
The Resurrection of Messiah Seen in Sampson’s Lion & Honey Riddle
The true resurrection of our Messiah is revealed in the SEVEN-DAY Riddle of Samson. In this account, Samson killed a young lion, and after some time had gone by, he returned to where the carcass of the lion was. Inside that dead lion, he found a honeycomb. Now, it is important to understand, that according to Leviticus 11, lions are considered unclean for food, but honey is not unclean (even though bees are unclean for food).
You will also notice in the following verse, the Aleph & Taw (symbolic of our Messiah) is seen in the Hebrew text, indicating that Samson was beholding a prophetic picture of our Messiah!
Judges 14:8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see [Aleph & Taw] the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.
*Explanation: We know that the lion is symbolic of our Messiah (Revelation 5:5). Even though the lion is unclean for food, the honey found inside the lion is symbolic of the prophecies our Messiah fulfilled at his resurrection. Honey is also symbolic of the word of Elohiym. See Deuteronomy 27:3; Psalm 119:103; Proverbs 16:24.
Judges 14:12 And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if you can certainly declare it me WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF THE FEAST, and find it out, then I will give you THIRTY sheets, and THIRTY changes of garments:
*Explanation: The disciple Yahuwdah (Judas) betrayed our Messiah for thirty pieces of silver. Samson challenged the Philistines to solve the riddle within the seven-days of his wedding feast, and if they could solve the riddle, he would give them thirty changes of linen clothing (wedding garments).
The name “Shimshone” (Samson) means “sunlight,” which is a prophetic picture of our Messiah, who is called “THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,” who would “ARISE WITH HEALING IN HIS WINGS!” (Malachi 4:2).
Psalms 19:5 also tells us that “THE SUN” is like “THE BRIDEGROOM” coming out of his wedding chuppah (chamber).
This is why our Messiah called himself “THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!” (John 8:12 & 9:5).
Our Messiah’s wife is Jerusalem, (who betrayed him during the seven-day Passover Feast), just like Samson’s wife betrayed him during their seven-day wedding feast, by telling the meaning of the riddle to the Philistines.
Judges 14:14 And he said unto them, Out of the eater [the lion] came forth meat [the meat of the word], and out of the strong came forth sweetness [honey]. And they could not IN THREE DAYS expound the riddle.
Judges 14:15 And it came to pass ON THE SEVENTH DAY, that they said unto Samson’s wife (symbolic of Jerusalem), Entice your husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn you and your FATHER’S HOUSE with fire: have you called us to take that we have? is it not so?
*Explanation: the disciple Yahuwdah (Judas) told the Chief Priests where to find our Messiah, so they could have him arrested. Our Messiah prophesied and wept over Jerusalem, telling them that their betrayal would cause their house to become desolate, and burned with fire.
Judges 14:17 And she (Samson’s bride represents Jerusalem) wept before him the SEVEN DAYS, WHILE THEIR FEAST LASTED: and it came to pass ON THE SEVENTH DAY, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.
Judges 14:18 And the men of the city said unto him ON THE SEVENTH DAY BEFORE THE SUN WENT DOWN, What is SWEETER THAN HONEY? and what is STRONGER THAN A LION? And he said unto them, If you had not plowed with my HEIFER, you had not found out my riddle.
*Explanation: Our Messiah portrayed the role of the Red Heifer, whose sacrifice cleanses the defiled altar in the Temple (see Numbers 19 & Deuteronomy 21).
This ordinance was done whenever the nation of Yisra’el had become guilty of shedding innocent blood. The entire nation became guilty of shedding innocent blood when they shouted “CRUCIFY HIM!”
The Red Heifer ordinance requires THREE DAYS of waiting until the SEVENTH DAY AT EVENING, when everything that was unclean is MADE CLEAN!
Samson’s wife is symbolic of Jerusalem, (our Messiah’s bride), for she betrayed him to the enemy.
But in the end, Samson was victorious over his enemies, as he conquered the Philistines, just as our Messiah conquered death, Sheol (Hell) and the grave, which is the ultimate enemy!
Our Messiah therefore, had to resurrect on the 7th day of the week before sundown, to fulfill Torah! This is why he declared himself to be “Master of the Sabbath!” (Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28 & Luke 6:5).
Our Messiah conquered DEATH & THE GRAVE, which is the LAST ENEMY:
1st Corinthians 15:26 The LAST ENEMY that shall be destroyed is DEATH.
Joshua Took Down Five Kings Hung on a Tree at Sundown
We see the same pattern of our Messiah being crucified on a tree, and remaining there UNTIL SUNDOWN (EVENING) when his body was taken down and buried in a cave!
Yahuwshuwa (Joshua) 10:25 And Yahuwshuwa (Joshua) said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall YHWH do to all your ENEMIES against whom you fight.
Yahuwshuwa (Joshua) 10:26 And afterward Yahuwshuwa (Joshua) smote them, and slew them, and HANGED THEM ON FIVE TREES: and THEY WERE HANGING UPON TREES UNTIL THE EVENING.
*Explanation: Why were FIVE TREES used to defeat their enemies? Since Jericho was the home of giants (Nephilim), the FIVE TREES reminds me of the FIVE SMOOTH STONES that David selected to slay the giant Goliath (1st Samuel 17:40).
However, David only needed one stone to slay Goliath, and that one stone is symbolic of our Messiah (Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1st Peter 2:7).
There Because there are FIVE BOOKS of the Torah of Mosheh (Moses), and there are FIVE WISE VIRGINS who obey, but FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS who do not obey (Matthew 25:1-13).
FIVE TREES were used to defeat disobedience, which is the enemy of our soul!
Yahuwshuwa (Joshua) 10:27 And it came to pass AT THE TIME OF THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN, that Yahuwshuwa (Joshua) commanded, and THEY TOOK THEM DOWN OFF THE TREES, AND CAST THEM INTO THE CAVE where they had been hid, and laid GREAT STONES in the cave’s mouth, which remain until this very day.
Our Messiah had to resurrect on the SEVENTH DAY OF THE WEEK BEFORE SUNDOWN, because he already told us that his body would be THREE DAYS & THREE NIGHTS in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40, Luke16:22, Ephesians 4:8-9).
Three Days & Three Nights = 72 hours.
He was laid in the tomb just BEFORE THE SUN WENT DOWN on the 14th day of the 1st Hebrew month of Abib/Nisan (Passover).
On the 14th day of the 1st Hebrew month (at evening) is when the Passover Lamb is to be slaughtered (Exodus 12:6).
This means that he resurrected exactly 72 hours later, BEFORE THE SUN WENT DOWN ON THE SEVENTH DAY SABBATH!
He could not have resurrected on Sunday morning, because, that would mean that he did not fulfill the oath!
Melchizedek is the only High Priest who was installed with “AN OATH” (Psalm 110:4 & Hebrews 7:20-21).
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