"And thou shalt
write them [the commandments] upon the doorposts of thy house
and upon thy gates." (Deuteronomy 6:9)
The ancient sages believed that carrying out the commandment to attach the mezuzah to one's doorpost would assure the same protection from G-d that the blood of the Paschal lamb afforded the Israelites during the first Pesach (Passover). Jewish historian Flavius Josephus wrote concerning the mezuzah:
"The greatest benefits of G-d are to be written on the doors in order that His benevolent providence may be made known everywhere."
To fulfill this command, a parchment inscribed with specific Bible verses is rolled up, inserted into a case, and attached to the doorframe or doorpost (mezuzah) of one's home. Eventually, the case containing the parchment became known as the mezuzah because its permanent attachment made it literally a part of the doorpost. It is also called the shema meaning hear after the first word written on the parchment. Usually affixed at eye-level with the top tilted toward the inside of the house, it makes a statement to all who enter in, that the Word of G-d is in that house.
On the back of the parchment is the word Shaddai, a divine name meaning Almighty or All-sufficient One. Shaddai is spelled with three Hebrew letters (sheen, dalet, yod) which form an acronymShomer Daltot Yisraelmeaning Guardian of Israel's Gates or Protector of the Doors of Israel. The name Shaddai also appears on the outside of the container of some mezuzot (plural); but most only have the single letter sheen, representing Shaddai as is pictured on the mezuzah at the top of this article.
Because the mezuzah serves as a constant reminder of one's loyalty to G-d and a source of Divine protection, many people kiss their fingertips and touch the mezuzah upon entering or leaving their homes. Some even recite: May G-d protect my going out and coming in, now and forever. These are gestures of reverence toward G-d.
Two scripture passages totaling 15 verses are inscribed on the parchment that is inserted in the caseDeuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21. The 15 verses are arranged in 22 lines, the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet.
"Hear, O Israel: The L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is one! You shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 known as the Shema)
"And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today.....then I will give you...the early rain and the latter rain....lay up these words of Mine in your heart and in your soul.....You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates......" (excerpts from Deuteronomy 11:13-21)
The Mezuzah (doorpost) represents the transition between public and private, community and family, and the outer and inner realms. In the natural realm when one enters his home, he leaves the public and enters his private life with his family. The concept of one entering this inner realm through the mezuzah (doorpost) is notable when considering its connection with the Passover to which the ancient rabbis ascribed its significance as a sign of G-d's protection.
This idea may be found in the biblical story of Passover (Pesach), when the children of Israel were commanded to smear blood on their doorposts to protect them from the Angel of Death. The word Pesach comes from a Hebrew root meaning to protect, guard or defend. The most accurate understanding of Pesach, therefore, is not that G-d would pass over the doorways of the Israelites; but rather that He would protect, guard, or make a defense on their doorways, not allowing the destroyer to go in to afflict the plague.
The Israelites that put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts were those that obeyed the Word of G-d delivered to them by Moses. It signified that the sin of Egypt (worship of Aries the ram) was dead to them and that they honored only the G-d of Israel. This act of obedience brought them into the inner realm of G-d's personal protection and care as He guarded their homes from the plague of death that afflicted all Egypt.
The renowned philosopher, Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides) related this wisdom concerning the command to affix the mezuzah:
"By the commandment of the mezuzah, man is reminded of the unity of G-d, and is aroused to the love of Him..."
Both the Mezuzah and the blood of the Paschal lamb point to Yeshua. Yeshua is the Word of G-d (John 1:1, 14) that is written on the parchment of the Mezuzah (doorpost). Yeshua is the doorpost covered with His own blood through which one must pass in order to enter into the inner/spiritual realm of G-d. He protects all those who forsake their sins. When one walks through that door, he is covered or protected by Yeshua's blood and can enter into a personal relationship with Him:
"Then Jesus said to them again, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.'" (John 10:7)
True Christians honor only the G-d of Israel. They, like the Israelites in Egypt, enter into the inner realm of G-d's personal protection and care when they obey His commands by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. Then G-d guards their lives from the plague of eternal death that afflicts all the world. Yeshua, the living Word of G-d, arouses in us a deep love for the Almighty being the second person of the tri-unity of G-d