It’s been a long summer but I’m back in town and wanted to let you all know that I have updated the Yahoo Calendar page to show the Rabbinic and Biblical holidays (as determined by the moon sighting of this past Friday evening in Jerusalem). Please go to the link at the top right of this page to see the calendar- click on Month view if it isn’t there already to get an overview of how the appointed times are going to play out over the next few weeks. For those of you like me who are part of a Rabbinic community but also want to observe the real Biblical moedim, it’s going to be a bit tricky, but not impossible. Only one day will stand out, the Biblical Yom Kippur which falls out on a Monday. Everything else is disguised via Shabbat, so it won’t look strange to be observing them, Baruch Hashem. If you will be observing Yom Kippur with a Rabbinic community, talk to Elohim about the situation and see if you feel any strong impression from the Spirit about what to do. That’s the best advice I can give you if you live and work in a place where observing it on Monday would be obvious and cause you difficulty. If you do not live in such a community, then you must arrange this week to take off work Monday in order to observe the Biblical date properly. While Elohim does appreciate intentions, observing the letter of the commandments is always a good plan.
Karaite Korner Newsletter #466
New Moon Report
May 2010
Third Biblical Month
On May 15, 2010 the new moon was sighted from Israel. The moon was first sighted:
*from Jerusalem by Terry Telligman, Willie Ondricek, Rick Busenbark, and David Cachicas at 19:25;
*from Kfar Tavor by Chad and Barbara Peterson and Len and Davonne Olivier at 19:34;
*from Mevaseret Tzion by Avi and Dina Marcus at 19:37;
*from Jerusalem by Devorah Gordon at 19:44;
*from Ariel by Amanda Boyd, Brent Boll, and Abigail Boll at 19:45;
*from El David by Hen-El Brill, Oren Brill, and Bruce Brill at 19:47;
*from Jerusalem by Miri Burgin at 20:00;
*from Mevaseret Tzion by Nathalie Blackham at 20:14.
Rosh Chodesh Sameach!
Happy New Moon!
Nehemia Gordon
Tool, Texas
Karaite Korner Newsletter #461
New Moon Report
April 2010
Second Biblical Month
On Thursday April 15, 2010 the new moon was sighted from Israel. The moon was sighted:
*from Tel Aviv by David, Gabriel, and Daniela Cachicas at19:25;
*from near Yavniel by Yotam Marcus at 19:27;
*from Kfar Tavor by Chad and Barbara Peterson at 19:28;
*from Korazim by Joshua and Alex Saralvarez and Avi and Dina Marcus at 19:30;
*from Ariel by Amanda Boyd at 19:30 and Abby Boll at 19:35;
*from Jerusalem (Old City walls) by Rick Busenbark, Joanna Celewicz, Terry Telligman, Matthias Mousa, Willie Ondricek, and Tina Ondricek at 19:39;
*from Jerusalem (city center) by Miri Burgin at 19:40;
*from Jerusalem (Talpiot) by Devorah Gordon at 19:45;
*from Kefar Eldad by Bruce Brill at 19:46.
Rosh Chodesh Sameach!
Happy New Moon!
Nehemia Gordon
Reporting from Westville, South Africa
Pesach is the only holiday so important to Elohim that a make-up test is given – the “Little Passover” or Pesach Katan takes place on Iyar the 14th. Like the original Passover in Nisan, Pesach Katan itself is not a shabbat, but nonetheless must be observed according to all the regular rules of Passover. No uncircumcized person may participate. You must be circumcized by Iyar on or by Iyar the 13th to observe Pesach Katan. Participants should practice the footwashing ceremony as recorded in the Gospel of John prior to beginning the seder. Bitter herbs and matzah must be eaten. In other words, those who wish to or need to observe Pesach Katan must treat it as if it were the actual Passover of Nisan in every respect – being circumcized, ritually clean, and having a full seder and reading the liturgy in its entirety. Pesach Katan was originally intended for people who for whatever reason could not make it to the Temple Mount in time for Passover in Nisan, or were ritually unclean due to disease or contact with a corpse during that time in Nisan.
However, there is no requirement to make up the 7 days of unleavened bread that follow. The reason for this is quite simple – the Passover sacrifice itself must be offered by circumcized, clean persons at the Temple Mount on Nisan 14th. Unleavened Bread, however (Nisan 15-21) is observed by everyone, everywhere, regardless of their ritual status and it is done “in all your dwellings” – not at the Temple.
This fact and the very commandment to observe Pesach Katan but not a “matzah katan” proves that Passover and Unleavened Bread are entirely separate observances held on different days. Even the commentary and footnotes of the Hagaddah mention this – there is certainly no dispute about it among the sages. Only “modern” (that is, post Temple) Judaism conflates the two observances, and that likely for the express purpose of not having their Passover on the same day the Nazarenes and Ebionites (early Jewish followers of Yeshua) were observing theirs. [Also, of course, for this reason they changed the day they observe Firstfruits from the First Day of the Week following Passover (as scripture describes it) to a fixed date of Nisan 16th - which not only ignores scriptural instructions but also completely negates the point of the Counting of the Omer in the first place, since a fixed date Firstfruits necessarily ends in a fixed date for Shavu'ot, which is clearly not the intent of the commandment to count!]
This year, Iyar 14th – Pesach Katan – should begin at sundown on Wednesday, April 28th and end at sundown on Thursday, April 29th. If you were not circumcized by Nisan 13th or were ritually unclean beginning on any day from Nisan 7th to Nisan the 14th due to menstruation, various contagious diseases, eating or touching unclean carcasses (pork, shellfish, etc), or attended any funerals during the week prior to Nisan’s Passover, you should observe Pesach Katan. You should immerse in a miqvah prior to your seder to make sure you are ritually clean. At the end of the Seder, you should take the Elijah cup and the half-matzah left in the center pouch of the Pesach matzah cover and re-enact the establishment of the Renewed Covenant that Yeshua made with this bread and wine, body and blood with Yeshua’s words as recorded in the Gospels – Do This In Remembrance of Me!
Chag Sameach!
Karaite Korner Newsletter #453
More Aviv Barley Found, Moon Not Sighted
We looked for the moon from Israel tonight (Mar 16) but did not sight it. With only 0.77% of the illuminated portion of the moon facing earth, visibility was not expected from Israel and our attempted observations confirmed this. Tomorrow evening (Mar 17) will be New Moon Day by default, although we will still carry out observations to confirm its visibility from Israel.
Earlier today we found more Aviv barley, this time in the Northern Negev at three locations in the vicinities of Tel Gama, Nachal Oz, and Kibbutz Erez. Samples of the barley were 80-100% Aviv at the various locations. I have posted two videos taken of the field near Kibbutz Erez on Youtube:
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=M-tYfbTBHvs
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=JIAkgJJDMZU
I have also posted photos of Aviv at the three locations on the Karaite Korner website at:
http://www.karaite- korner.org/ kknmr.shtml
Nehemia Gordon
Jerusalem, Israel
I looked at my calendar wrong the other day, I think. Today, March 16, is Adar 29th. Since the moon was not sighted in Jerusalem this evening (their time) then tomorrow, March 17th, will be Adar 30th and Rosh Chodesh Nisan will begin at sundown Wednesday evening.
Shalom!
Karaite Korner Newsletter #452
Aviv Found in Jordan Valley!
This morning (March 12, 2010) we found Aviv barley in the Jordan Valley in two fields just north of the Israeli army checkpoint. We took three samplings from these fields and they were 90-100% Aviv. I posted two videos of these fields on Youtube, taken with my new Flip MinoHD video camera:
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=MQFFrPPymS4
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=9lBSl2aEoHk
We also found Aviv barley further south in the Jordan Valley and smaller quantities near Ein Mabua.
Thanks to Devorah Gordon and Shoshanah Waterman for participating in this preliminary Aviv excursion. The main Aviv Search will still go ahead on March 16-17 but what we found so far is already enough to call it for this year. This means the new biblical year will begin on March 17, 2010 at sunset. For more details of the Gregorian dates see:
http://www.karaite- korner.org/ holiday_dates. shtml
Nehemia Gordon
Jerusalem, Israel
Of course, we cannot know for certain that the new moon will be observed on March 16th – if it is cloudy and the moon cannot be observed then March 17th will be Adar 30th and Rosh Chodesh, Nisan 1st, will begin at sundown Wednesday, March 17th and continue through Thursday, March 18th during the daylight hours.
Elohim has commanded Nisan 1st to be New Year’s Day – the beginning of the Year for Redemption on the prophetic calendar. The beginning of the Year for Judgement, of course, is still Tishri 1st, Yom Teruah, aka Rosh Hashanah. They have different purposes and different prophetic applications, obviously.
Nonetheless, it is appropriate to recite those portions of the daily prayers in your siddur that concern the “new year” because this, also, is a time of review when Elohim makes decisions for the upcoming time of Redemption. Each and every one of us are commanded to consider as if we ourselves have come out of Egypt – out of the House of Bondage.
The Exodus represents a glorified conversion process – taking the people out of pagan culture and teaching them Torah, until at least, after a period of learning, they come to the Jordan River, are circumcised, and pass into the covenant with Elohim in full. This is a typeology for us today.
Shalom!
Below is a recent email from the Temple Mount Faithful Movement (contact information below), in Jerusalem. This organization’s mission is to physically prepare all of the implements and components of the 3rd Temple, so everything is ready to go just as soon as Israel stops cringing before the rest of the world and decides to assert their historic right to rebuild the Temple on the Temple Mount. We know that in order for the midpoint of the Tribulation to arrive, the Temple Mount will have to be cleansed ritually and an altar erected at the very least – they can offer sacrifices during the construction process, as Ezra and Nehemia did. So although they are not Messianic Believers, their work is important to Elohim’s prophetic calendar.
Be’esrat HaShem
With the help of G-d
An Urgent Call From Gershon Salomon,
Chairman of the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement:
To All the Nations and to Everyone in the World:
The pressures on Israel at this time that are coming from the East and the West indicate that the end-time war of the nations against the G-d and people of Israel, which was prophesied by the prophets of Israel to be the ultimate judgment upon the nations, is behind the door.
The complete redemption of Israel, the rebuilding of the Temple, and the coming of Messiah Ben David are the next stages in G-d’s end-time plans with Israel and the entire world.
Sixty-two years after the re-establishment of the State of Israel by the G-d of Israel to be His end-time eternal kingdom, and after seven wars with Arab-Islamic nations who were backed by many nations worldwide that came to destroy Israel again and again, Israel is again facing pressure from every side with step-by-step preparations of the enemies of the G-d and people of Israel to destroy the State of Israel through an apocalyptic war with nuclear weapons that were never used in the past. These nations refused to learn through their own previous experiences when the G-d of Israel defeated them again and again and showed them that He is determined to rebuild His Holy Kingdom Israel in the Promised Land that He gave only to His people Israel.
Now, when the dark clouds of the end-time war are beginning to surround Israel from every side, G-d is going to judge the nations exactly as He promised in His prophetic Word. G-d will prove to them that He is determined to complete during these critical end-times what He started with Abraham and his seed Israel more than 4,000 years ago and that the re-established nation of Israel today in the Land of its biblical heritage is by far His greatest handiwork ever in the history of the world, and that a moral and G-dly redemption will come to the entire world only through the redemption of His people Israel. G-d is busy together with His people Israel rebuilding His kingdom to be an example and a light to all the nations. The climax of this G-dly handiwork that is called Israel today is going to be the rebuilding of the Temple of G-d by the people of Israel in Jerusalem and this will open the door for the coming of Messiah Ben David during our lifetimes.
Jerusalem is again going to be the city where G-d dwells among His people Israel and from where He will lead them and the entire world according to His holy and moral laws and principles. It behooves all of the nations that are coming again to remove Israel from the map of the world to realize that G-d is going to judge them terribly and show them that no weapon in the world can stop His end-time plans with Israel or destroy His chosen people and that Israel, the most major and G-dly phenomenon ever in the history of mankind, is eternal and irrevocable.
Israel and even the entire world are now experiencing the most critical time in history. Who are the black clouds that are coming against Israel, the people of G-d, in terrible rebellion against G-d? The president of Iran, Ahmadinejad, has stated again and again that his main goal is “to remove Israel from the map of the world” and for this he is preparing nuclear weapons. The so-called “Palestinians”, people that invaded the Land of Israel from all of the Arab countries and never existed as a nation inside Israel or any other place in the world, are fighting against Israel and since 1948 have been the instrument of the Arab-Muslim world to destroy Israel from the midst of the Land. Islamic-terror organizations are surrounding Israel from every side and shooting missiles and rockets into Israel. Syria is armed with biological and chemical missiles aimed at Israel. All of the Arab countries have armed themselves with modern weapons to be used against Israel in the near future.
The president of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama, is putting strong pressure on Israel to divide the Land of Israel and to establish a ‘Palestinian State’ with its capital in Jerusalem and he is promoting a pro-Arab-Islamic policy. The United Nations and the European Union are backing Arab-Islamic nations and are again and again making anti-Israel resolutions. So many countries and powers all over the world are putting pressure on tiny Israel instead of dealing with their own immoral problems.
My call is to all the world and especially to those nations acting against the G-d of Israel, be aware of the major judgment of G-d that is soon to come upon all of you exactly as it was prophesied. Maybe it is not too late for you to stop your hatred and eager preparations to destroy Israel. Open the Holy Book, the Bible that Israel presented as a gift to the entire world and immediately pay attention to the Word of G-d:
“For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will enter into judgment with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and have divided up my land. And the L-rd roars out of Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shake; but the L-rd will be a shelter for his people and a stronghold for the children of Israel. So shall you know that I am the L-rd your G-d dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and no strangers shall pass through her any more.” Joel 4:1-2, 16-17
To all those nations who want to rob Jerusalem from Israel and to eliminate the people of G-d:
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the peoples round about, and it shall also be for Judah during the siege against Jerusalem. And on that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples: all that burden themselves with it shall be grievously hurt: and all the peoples of the earth shall be gathered together against it. On that day shall the L-rd defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem?.And it shall come to pass on that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Then shall the L-rd go out, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.” Zechariah 12:2, 3, 8, 9; 14:3
The entire world is now being tested by G-d more than any other time in the past. At this critical hour G-d is warning all the nations:
“If you will stand against Israel, the apple of My eye and the messenger who brings My light to all of the world, to pressure and destroy My chosen people, then you will be against Me and I will judge you with all of My Might.”
My heart is telling me that all of the disasters, whether natural or as a result of immoral human behavior, and the cruel terror that is today spreading all over the world are warning signs of G-d’s impending judgment. At the last moment and before the terrible judgment day of G-d, I am calling the entire world to declare to the enemies of Israel ‘NO! STAND NOW WITH ISRAEL! Help her to build the Kingdom of G-d throughout the Holy Land that He gave ONLY to Israel in an eternal covenant, for the fate and future of the entire world.’
The rebuilding of the Temple of G-d is going to come to pass soon during our lifetimes where G-d will dwell in the midst of His people Israel exactly as He said/declared: “And let them build Me a temple; that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8. And during these end-times He will also dwell in the midst of the entire world as it was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah:
“The word of Isaiah the son of Amos saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the L-rd’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all the nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the L-rd, to the house of the G-d of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth Torah, and the word of the L-rd from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall decide among many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-4
The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement is calling everyone in the world to help us bring to pass this most major event ever, now and with no delay. Help us in every way to again make Israel the biblical nation of the Almighty G-d of Israel that will carry His light from Jerusalem to all the nations as G-d called us to do.
In G-d we trust!!
The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement
P.O. Box 18325, 4 Aliash Street, Jerusalem, Israel
Telephone: 02.625.1112 / FAX: 02.625.1113
gershon@templemountfaithful.org
http://www.templemountfaithful.org
Note: The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement
is not associated or affiliated with the Temple Institute.
_______________________________________________
Tmflist mailing list
Tmflist@temple-mount-faithful.org
http://lists.temple-mount-faithful.org/mailman/listinfo/tmflist
Karaite Korner Newsletter #447
New Moon Report
February 2010
Twelfth Biblical Month
On February 15, 2010 the new moon was sighted from Israel. The moon was first sighted:
from Jerusalem by Willie Ondricek at 17:56;
from elsewhere in Jerusalem by Devorah Gordon at 17:57;
from Alon Shvut by Bruce Brill at 18:02.
Rosh Chodesh Sameach!
Happy New Moon!
Nehemia Gordon
Reporting from Niagara Falls, Canada
The Fast of Adar the 13th will therefore be on Sunday, February 28th and Purim will begin at sundown that evening and continue through the daylight hours of Monday, March 1st. For those who live in “walled cities,” that is, cities with ancient battlements that surround the old city center, Purim will begin at sundown on Monday, March 1st.
On Elohim’s prophetic calendar, Purim’s “timing” has a couple of significant possibilities. One, it is widely thought to be the possible timing of the first Battle of Gog and Magog. Having dispatched them with a triumphant flourish, it would be possible for the False Messiah to claim to have fulfilled a major part of the Messianic prophecies by defeating Israel’s enemies and providing “peace and safety.” This means that prophetically significant events related to Purim could either occur immediately prior to the Tribulation (either before the Parousia or in the time between the Parousia and the Trib itself), or they could occur right before the midpoint.
Either works, but I am inclined to lean toward the midpoint. Such a victory would enable the False Messiah to have a “victory” celebration in Jerusalem, possibly just in time of the “Grand Opening” of the 3rd Temple (of course, the sacrifices would have been going on since early in the Trib or before the Trib started, when the altar will first be set up). Having such a victory under his belt would make it very easy for him to be accepted as Messiah on Nisan 10th, and be invited as a guest of honor to the Passover celebration at the midpoint which marks his “coming out” to the world as a nut who thinks he’s a deity and proclaims himself to be the new object of worship, unveiling a large animated image of himself.
Or, as others have noted, if the prophetically significant Purim events occur prior to the Trib, it would put the False Messiah in a position to be accepted by most nations as a world leader, and to implement the signing of the 7-year protection treaty during the Fall feasts (this treaty officially kicks off the Trib, of course, probably on Tishri 10th). World leaders could be in “negotiations” over the previous summer, making the political climate filled with drama and angst which work in his favor, making people inclined to accept whatever obviously intrusive and controlling government infrastructure he proposes. Recall, during the first 3 1/2 years he is a darling of the press, is smoothe talking and charming, is loved by many and those opposed to him are considered lunatic fringe” elements.
It could be that Purim fulfills both of these scenarios, for that matter, having one prophetic application prior to the Trib and one at the midpoint. It would certainly not be the first Moedim to be played out more than twice in history (or future history, in this case). The midpoint itself has already been enacted twice – once when Antiochus Ephinanes defiled the Temple Mount with his image and once during the real Passion of Yeshua, and it will be enacted again as the Beast acts out the part of Messiah, coming triumphantly into Jerusalem, being accepted as Messiah by the crowds on Nisan 10th, being assassinated on Passover (Nisan 14th) by someone outraged at his image and the defilement of the Temple, and then will be “raised from the dead,” as it appears, on Nisan 17th, the Feast of Firstfruits. (It’s not a real resurrection because hasatan has no such power – he simply possesses the dead body to make it appear the False Messiah has been raised from the dead). And then the real terror, of which the Shoah (holocaust) was only a dress rehersal, will begin – the Great Tribulation.
But for now, as always, keep your eye on world events during the Appointed Times of Elohim. There are no coincidences on His calendar.
Happy Purim!
New Moon Report
January 2010
Eleventh Biblical Month
On Saturday January 16, 2010, the new moon was sighted from Jerusalem, Israel at 17:20 by Willie Ondricek, Nehemia Gordon, Devorah Gordon, and Tina Ondricek.
Hodesh Sameach!
Happy New Moon!
Nehemia Gordon
Jerusalem, Israel
This means that Tu B’Shevat will occur at Sundown on Saturday, January 30th. Tu B’Shevat celebrates the New Year of Trees. On Elohim’s prophetic calendar, it represents the time when, after the River of Life begins to flow from the Temple Mount, the Trees that grow along it that will produce fruit every month and provide medicinal leaves for the healing of the nations will be grown enough to bear fruit. Their first crop will be celebrated at this time.
Rev 22:1 He [the angel] showed me [John] a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of Elohim and of the Lamb, Rev 22:2 in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Eze 47:6 He [the angel] said to me [Ezekiel}, Son of man, have you seen [this]? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the bank of the river. Eze 47:7 Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
Eze 47:8 Then said he to me, These waters issue forth toward the eastern region, and shall go down into the `Aravah; and they shall go toward the sea; into the sea [shall the waters go] which were made to issue forth; and the waters shall be healed. Eze 47:9 It shall happen, that every living creature which swarms, in every place where the rivers come, shall live; and there shall be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters are come there, and [the waters of the sea] shall be healed, and everything shall live wherever the river comes. Eze 47:10 It shall happen, that fishermen shall stand by it: from `En-Gedi even to `En-`Eglayim shall be a place for the spreading of nets; their fish shall be after their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. Eze 47:11 But the miry places of it, and the marshes of it, shall not be healed; they shall be given up to salt.
Eze 47:12 By the river on the bank of it, on this side and on that side, shall grow every tree for food, whose leaf shall not wither, neither shall the fruit of it fail: it shall bring forth new fruit every month, because the waters of it issue out of the sanctuary; and the fruit of it shall be for food, and the leaf of it for healing.
There are other halachic considerations regarding growing ordinary produce in our ordinary gardens and yards that are affected by this date. I post here for your consideration a shiur written by an orthodox Rav explaining.
Why do Trees Need a New Year?
Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff
We all know that Tu Bi’Shvat is the “Rosh Hashanah” for trees, but what does that mean? Do the trees ignite fireworks on their New Year? Does Hashem judge their deeds and misdeeds and grant them a fruitful year or otherwise, chas v’shalom? As an aside, the judgment of trees is on Shavuos, not Tu Bi’Shvat (Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 16a.) Do the trees coronate Hashem as their King on their Rosh Hashanah? Is the only halacha ramification to eat all kinds of fruit on Tu Bi’Shvat?
Obviously, since trees have no free choice, the Heavenly Tribunal does not judge them on their Rosh Hashanah, yet the arboreal New Year does have major halachic ramifications other than the popular custom of eating fruit.
Here are some halachic inquiries, whose answers are influenced by Tu Bi’Shvat:
Question #1: Arlah
Introduction: The Torah (VaYikra 19:23) prohibits eating or benefiting from fruit grown on a tree during its first three years, and this prohibition is as severe as that against eating pork. This mitzvah applies whether the tree grew in Eretz Yisroel or in Chutz La’Aretz, although the halachos relating to arlah are more lenient for trees growing in Chutz La’Aretz (Mishnah Arlah 3:9). I am required to burn the forbidden fruit to guarantee that no one benefits from it (Mishnah Temurah 33b), and I should remove it from the tree as soon as it begins to grow to prevent someone from mistakenly eating it (heard from Rav Shlomoh Zalman Auerbach, zt”l).
The Shaylah.
Dateline: New York
During Av, 5764 (August 2004), Miriam purchased a pear tree from a nursery, which was neatly wrapped with a ball of earth surrounding its roots. While the gardener was planting the tree in her yard, much of the attached earth fell off. Although the tree is already several years old, since it could not survive without any additional soil, we consider it halachically as a new tree. Therefore, its arlah count begins anew and all fruit that grows during the next three years of this tree’s life are not kosher. Miriam would like to know when to begin enjoying the fruits of her labors, that is, when the three years end so that fruit that sets after this date is permitted.
If the earth ball remained intact while the tree was transplanted, then whether the arlah count begins anew is the subject of a halachic dispute. One factor is how much earth must remain with the tree [based on Pischei Teshuvah, Yoreh Deah 294:13].
Question #2: Revai’i
Introduction: The Torah (VaYikra 19:24) teaches that the fruit a tree produces during its fourth year (the year following its arlah years) has a unique halachic status called revai’i. One may eat this fruit only within the original city walls of Yerushalayim and only if one is tahor, a status that is unattainable today as we have no ashes of parah adumah. However, the Torah permitted us to redeem revai’i in a special procedure, after which one may eat it anywhere and even if one is tamei. (Note that the current city walls, built by the Turks, probably have little relationship to the halachic kedusha of the city. Much of the Holy City probably lies outside these walls, particularly its southeastern section, and the western part within the current walls is probably not part of halachic Yerushalayim.)
There are two interesting disputes regarding the mitzvah of revai’i. The first, mentioned in the Gemara (Brachos 35a), is whether the mitzvah of revai’i applies only to grapes or to all fruits. A second dispute is whether the mitzvah of revai’i applies outside the land of Israel, like the mitzvah of arlah, or whether it follows the general rule of most other agricultural mitzvos and it applies only in Eretz Yisroel (Tosafos, Kiddushin 2b s.v. esrog and Brachos 35a s.v. ulimaan; Gra, Yoreh Deah 294:28).
The Shaylah.
Dateline: Baltimore
Rachamim, who was born in Iran and follows Sefardic practice, knows that Beryl, his Ashkenazi neighbor, celebrated his move into the neighborhood four years ago by planting grapes and an apple tree in his yard. Do the halachos of revai’i apply to the fruits these trees produce this year? If they do, what determines which fruits are included in this mitzvah and which are not.
ANALYZING THE HALACHIC ISSUES: ARLAH
Now that we have some background to the halachic issues, we can discuss what Tu Bi’Shvat has to do with these questions.
Miriam, who planted her tree in Av 5764 (August, ’04) wanted to know when the pears produced by her tree are no longer arlah. According to the calendar, her tree is not yet three years old, and therefore she assumed that its fruit is arlah. However, this is not accurate, because the three-year count for arlah sometimes includes partial years as I will explain. How does one determine this?
There is a dispute in the Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 10b) how to calculate this. The accepted halacha is that any tree planted before the 16th of Av is considered to have begun its first year of growth that year until Rosh Hashana (Rambam, Hil. Maaser Sheni 9:10; Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 294:4; cf., however, Chazon Ish [Shvi’is 17:29] who calculates everything a day later). Chazal teach us that this partial year is enough to be counted as the first year for arlah purposes. Thus, if Miriam planted her tree on the 15th of Av or earlier, the year 5764 counts as the first year of the tree’s life, 5765 as the second, and 5766 as the third. However, the third year does not end at Rosh Hashanah of 5767. Since Tu Bi’Shvat is the “New Year” for trees, fruits that begin to appear before Tu Bi’Shvat of 5767 are prohibited as arlah. Thus, we see how Tu Bi’Shvat has major halachic ramifications. Fruits that appear before Tu Bi’Shvat of 5767 are arlah and prohibited; those that appear afterwards are permitted.
BUT TREES DON’T APPEAR IN THE WINTER
Indeed, in most colder parts of the northern hemisphere, the difference between Rosh Hashanah and Tu Bi’Shvat does not really make much difference, since most fruit trees do not appear in the fall or winter. However, this does affect trees growing in the southern hemisphere, where summer begins in late December, and also affects certain early fruit producers in warmer climates such as some citrus trees, shesek [loquat], peach, and almond.
JERUSALEM VERSUS JOHANNESBURG
Thus, someone who planted a tree in Santiago, Melbourne, or Johannesburg (all of which have thriving Jewish communities) should pay attention to whether the tree began producing fruit before Tu Bi’Shvat or after. Some fruits growing on the same tree may be prohibited as arlah, and others are permitted.
WHY THE SIXTEENTH OF AV?
Previously I wrote that one counts 5764 as the first year for a tree that was planted before the 16th of Av of that year, but not if the tree was planted afterwards. What is special about the 16th of Av?
The year 5764 can only count as the first year of this tree’s life if thirty days passed before Rosh Hashanah after the tree took root. Chazal assume that this usually happens if the tree was planted before the 15th of Av; however, if one could somehow determine that the tree had already formed new roots prior to the 30 days before Rosh Hashanah, the year 5764 would still count as its first year (Chazon Ish, Dinei Arlah #6).
What if Miriam planted her tree later?
If Miriam did not plant her tree until after Tu Bi’Shvat of the year 5765, then 5765 is its first year, 5766 its second year, and 5767 is its third year, and all produce of these years is prohibited as arlah. In addition, fruits appearing before Tu Bi’Shvat of 5768 will also be prohibited.
What if she planted her tree between the 16th of Av and the 15th of Shvat?
The poskim dispute what are the halachos concerning the fruit of this tree.
(1) According to the Rambam and Raavad (Hilchos Maaser Sheni 9:11), a tree planted between the 16th of Av and Rosh Hashanah ends its third year on Rosh Hashanah beginning the fourth year, not the Tu Bi’Shvat following. Thus a tree planted in Elul 5764 becomes permitted on Rosh Hashanah of 5768; fruit that appears on this tree after Rosh Hashanah is not prohibited as arlah.
According to Rambam, if the tree was planted between Rosh Hashanah and Tu Bi’Shvat one counts exactly three years from its planting (Gra, Yoreh Deah 294:13; cf. Kesef Mishneh, Hilchos Maaser Sheni 9:12). He contends that arlah for these trees will never apply for longer than three full years.
(2) Raavad contends that a tree planted between the 16th of Av and Rosh Hashanah ends its third year on Rosh Hashanah beginning the fourth year; if it is planted after Rosh Hashanah, it becomes permitted on the Tu Bi’Shvat following. In his opinion, there are two potential cutoff dates for arlah, Tu Bi’Shvat and Rosh Hashanah, and they will permit the tree if it is already three years old. Thus a tree planted in Elul 5764 becomes permitted on Rosh Hashanah of 5768 and a tree planted during the beginning of 5765 becomes permitted on Tu Bi’Shvat of 5768.
(3) Other Rishonim contend that the cutoff date for all arlah is Tu Bi’Shvat. In their opinion any tree planted after the 15th of Av and before Tu Bi’Shvat does not become permitted until three Tu Bi’Shvat’s have passed. (Baal HaMaor and Ran to Rosh Hashanah 10a). According to this opinion, a tree planted after 15th of Av 5764 and before Tu Bi’Shvat 5765 produces forbidden fruits until Tu Bi’Shvat of 5768.
Shaylah #2:
Rachamim knows that his neighbor Beryl planted grapes and an apple tree in his yard when he moved in four years ago, and now the tree is producing fruit. Do the halachos of revai’i applied to this fruit?
When the mitzvah of revai’i applies, it always applies to the crop year produced in the first year when the tree is no longer producing arlah fruits (Rambam, Maaser Sheni 9:11). Therefore, on a tree planted during the summer of 5764 before the 15th of Av, the arlah period ends on Tu Bi’Shvat of 5767; the fruit produced between Tu Bi’Shvat of 5767 and Tu Bi’Shvat of 5768 are growing in the revai’i year. (According to Rambam’s opinion that the arlah year may end on different dates depending on when the tree was planted, revai’i ends exactly a year later.)
DOES REVAI’I APPLY TO FRUITS GROWN OUTSIDE OF ERETZ YISROEL?
There are three opinions among the poskim:
(1) Revai’i applies to the fruit of all trees growing outside Eretz Yisroel.
(2) Revai’i applies only to grapes, but not to other fruit trees of Chutz La’Aretz.
(3) Revai’i does not apply in Chutz La’Aretz.
How do we paskin?
Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 294:7) quotes the 1st and 3rd opinions, but rules primarily like the 1st opinion that the mitzvah of revai’i does apply outside of Eretz Yisroel. Rama and Gra both rule like the 2nd opinion that it applies for grapes even outside of Eretz Yisroel, but not for other fruits. Therefore, Ashkenazim may be lenient not to redeem fourth year fruits grown outside of Eretz Yisroel other than grapes, but Sefardim are required to redeem them. Thus Beryl must redeem the grapes that grow in the fourth year but not his apples; however, Rachamim may not eat the apples without first redeeming them. For advice on redeeming these fruits, please consult your Rav.
Two more Tu BiShvat rules: Maasros
Introduction:
Among the wonderful mitzvos that Hashem granted us concerning Eretz Yisroel are the separating of terumos and maasros. This requires separating terumah, maaser rishon (usually called simply “maaser”), and then a second maaser, which, depending on the year, is either maaser sheni or maaser ani.
Each of these items, terumah, maaser rishon, maaser sheni and maaser ani, has its own unique halachos. Terumah has a tremendous level of sanctity which permits it to be eaten only by a kohen or his family members, and only when they are tahor. Since we cannot become tahor today, no one may eat terumah. Unlike revai’i, one cannot redeem terumah. If the terumah becomes tamei one should burn it; if it is tahor, one must be careful to put it where no one will use it until it decomposes, either by burying it (Tur, Yoreh Deah 331), by wrapping it carefully and disposing of it in a place where no one will use it (Kuntros Terumos, published in Derech Emunah, Vol. 3 pg. 754) or by allowing it to rot in a place where no one will get to it (Shu’t Igros Moshe, Yoreh Deah 3:129).
The owner of the crops gives the maaser rishon to a levi, who then separates one tenth of the maaser rishon, which is called terumas maaser, and gives the terumas maaser to a kohen. Whereas the terumas maaser has the same sanctity as terumah, the rest of the maaser rishon (after the terumas maaser has been separated from it) has no sanctity and is the property of the levi. Anyone, even a non-levi, may eat it whether or not the person or the fruit is tamei.
During the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th years of the seven year shmittah cycle, the second maaser that is separated is maaser sheni, which has halachos very similar to revai’i and therefore must be redeemed. Immediately prior to redeeming these fruits, recite a bracha, asher kidishanu bimitzvosav vitzivanu al pidyon maaser sheni (Rambam, Hilchos Maaser Sheni 4:3).
During the other years, that is the 3rd and 6th years of the shmittah cycle, we give this second maaser to poor people and it has no sanctity. Thus, the poor person may give it away or sell it to anyone and may eat it when tamei.
Note that since the New Year for trees is — Tu Bi’Shvat, that fruits that appear before Tu Bi’Shvat are considered to be from the previous year’s calculation, and those appearing afterwards are from the next year.
There is also another maasros question that is germane to Tu Bi’Shvat. Tu Bi’Shvat functions as the cutoff point between two crop years, and the halacha is that one cannot separate terumah or maasros from one crop year on the next. This can have interesting ramifications for fruits that appear just about Tu Bi’Shvat time, such as peach, loquat or almond. One could easily have a tree containing some fruit that appeared before Tu Bi’Shvat and some afterwards. This creates a shaylah and dispute whether one can separate terumah and maasros from the earlier fruit on the same tree for the late bloomers on the same tree.
Thus, we have now learned four different halachos where Tu Bi’Shvat makes a difference:
(1) The last date for determining whether a tree is producing forbidden arlah fruit or not is usually the day before Tu Bi’Shvat. Once Tu Bi’Shvat of the fourth year arrives, the fruits appearing after this point are permitted.
(2) Fruits of the fifth year of a tree’s life do not have the sanctity of revai’i; those of the fourth year do. The determining date whether these fruits are considered 4th year or 5th year fruits is usually Tu Bi’Shvat.
(3) Dependent on which year a fruit grows is whether one must separate maaser sheni from it or maaser ani. Tu Bi’Shvat determines whether the fruit is obligated in maaser sheni or maaser ani.
(4) Tu Bi’Shvat determines which crop year a fruit belongs to, and this affects how one separates terumah and maasros.
While nibbling on the fruit on Tu Bi’Shvat this Shabbos, we should think through the different halachic ramifications that affect us, and include this education as part of our Shabbos table conversation.
* Written by the rabbi
The New Moon was sighted in Jerusalem at sundown on Friday, December 18th as most of you already know. (source: Karaite Korner) That puts the Fast of 10th Tevet to occur tomorrow, Monday December 28th during daylight hours.
The Karaites do not take the minor fasts seriously, though they are mentioned specifically in the Tanakh by the prophets. In particular the Karaites point to this verse to claim these dates are not to be observed as fasts:
Zec 8:18 The word of YHWH Tzeva’ot came to me. Zec 8:19 Thus says YHWH Tzeva’ot: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months shall be for the house of Yehudah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and shalom.”
This is referring to the Messianic age, when people will realize that though these events that we commemorate on the 17th of Tammuz, 9th of Av, 3rd of Tishri, and 10th of Tevet appear bad to us now, they were necessary steps on the road to redemption.
At this time, however, they are still Fasts of Mourning, and should be taken seriously. The Sages have also decided to make these fasts more relevant to modern people by including in them more modern events, such as various pogroms, events during WWII, and other atrocities against Jewish people. Here is a teaching concerning the 10th of Tevet which is interesting to read.
May your fast be an easy one. Shalom.
The Tenth Day Of Tevet
Rabbi Dov Berl Wein
This week the Jewish world commemorated the tenth day of Tevet, one of the many sad dates that form the Jewish calendar. The date commemorates the beginning of the siege and eventual destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. It is one of the four biblical fast days that were ordered by the rabbis and prophets of Israel and accepted by all of the Jewish people and observed for many centuries. After the terrible tragedy of the Holocaust the Jewish people and the State of Israel searched for a proper date and method to give expression to their grief and just memory to the innocent victims of that terrible unprecedented slaughter. The State of Israel set a date at the end of Nissan as Yom Hashoah. This observance includes the sounding of a siren, a moment of silence, special memorial programs and somber music and serious programming on the radio and television. The Holocaust has been memorialized in films, museums, books, lectures and almost all other means. However, the rabbinate of Israel sought to commemorate the tragedy in a different, more traditional manner. They set aside the tenth day of Tevet as the day of memorial and of universal recitation of Kadish in memory of the six million victims of the Holocaust. In Jewish history all tragedies were marked and remembered by fasting. Since the tenth of Tevet is a fast day in any event the rabbinate attached the universal Kadish day for the Holocaust to it. Aside from the four usual fast days – tenth of Tevet, third of Tishrei, seventeenth of Tamuz and the ninth of Av – there were additional fast days such as the twentieth of Sivan that Eastern European Jews observed. These fast days commemorated the pogroms and expulsions that Ashkenazic Jewry experienced over the centuries from the Crusades through Chmielinicki and later. Whenever possible the commemorations such as that for the expulsion of the Jews from Spain were attached to the ninth of Av or other fast days. That was always the pattern in Jewish life.
One of the great difficulties of modern Jewry is how to commemorate the enormous events that have occurred to us in the last century. How is the establishment of the State of Israel to be commemorated? How is the memory of the victims of the Holocaust to be sanctified? In Jewish tradition all great events were commemorated within a religious context. However, in our time, when a great section of the Jewish people and its substantial leadership no longer saw themselves bound by traditional religious norms, the questions of commemoration mentioned above have produced very controversial results. Religious Jewry has attempted to install a religious tone into these otherwise secular commemorations. The success of doing so has been only partial and therefore a great deal of ambivalence regarding these commemorations remains. The universal Kadish recital of the tenth of Tevet is the religious attempt to have a unified memorial service in a manner that is dignified, traditional and acceptable to all Jews. My personal impression is that this commemoration has gained some momentum over the past few years. Whether it will ever be able to gain the universal acceptance that the rabbinate hoped that it would achieve remains yet to be seen. As the generation of the Holocaust falls to the attrition of time the difficulty of commemorating the Holocaust in a meaningful fashion to new generations of Jews increases. A universal Kadish day, such as on the tenth day of Tevet, is dependent on some sort of Jewish feeling and emotion. To create such a feeling or emotion without recourse to Jewish tradition, faith and ritual becomes a very difficult task. And thus the tenth of Tevet and its universal Kadish day message reveals the deep problem of Jewish identity and the place of tradition and some sort of religious ritual in our society and lives.
The Jewish world in its historical memory forgets little if anything. Thus the commemoration of events, both tragic and triumphant, in Jewish history remains somehow embedded in Jewish life. The form that remembrance of the events of Jewish history takes may vary from time to time and generation to generation. But we can be certain that Jewish memory and eternity will prevail. Therefore the universal Kadish day on the tenth of Tevet takes on greater importance than just being a day of fasting and commemoration. It is a day of national rededication to the values, history and mission of the Jewish people.
* Written by the rabbi
I’m in the process of adding quick links at the right to all of the commentaries. I will be working on it off and on this week, so it will not be until next week that all of the posts will appear. This year I will concentrate on updating the existing commentaries and will not necessarily post them again as new. The Quick Links will always go to the most recent version, so no worries there.
I wish you all a joyous Chanukkah. May Elohim’s light shine brightly for you and yours! Amen.
Karaite Korner Newsletter #425
New Moon Report
November 2009
Ninth Biblical Month
On November 18, 2009 the new moon was sighted from Israel. The moon was first sighted from Jerusalem by Adam Kinghorn at 16:53 and by Devorah Gordon at 16:58.
Rosh Chodesh Sameach!
Happy New Moon!
Nehemia Gordon
reporting from Lexington, Kentucky
Chanukkah, then, will properly begin after sundown on Saturday, December 12th when the first light should be lit. Many Karaites ignore Chanukkah because it was instituted to commemorate events that took place after the building of the second temple and was not mentioned in the Torah. However, Chanukkah has an important place on Elohim’s prophetic calendar – it will be the date that the Shekinah returns to the Holy of Holies in the 3rd Temple, 75 days after Yom Kippur the year that Yeshua returns as the King of Kings.
We know this from the book of Daniel, which counts out the length of time between various events during the end times. Specifically, we are told:
Dan 12:11 From the time that the continual [burnt offering] shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days.
Dan 12:12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days.
Dan 12:13 But go you your way until the end be; for you shall rest, and shall stand in your lot, at the end of the days.
On Nisan the 10th of some future year, the world will choose the wrong messiah – the False Messiah, aka the Beast of Revelation. He will triumphantly enter Jerusalem and the crowds will adore him. Some 30 days prior to this triumphal entry into Jerusalem, he will arrange to have his image set up, secretly, in the Holy of Holies (which is never entered, even by the High Priest, except on Yom Kippur). Whether it is made public immediately at that time is not clear, but one thing is clear – from that moment on, the sacrifices are all defiled. Exactly 3 1/2 Biblical years later from Nisan 10th (1260 days + 30 days = 1290 days total of defilement), on Tishri 10th, Yom Kippur, the King of Kings will come and put and end to the Beast’s reign of terror.
Then, 75 days later, on Kislev the 25th, the Temple will have been cleansed and refurbished – made ready for the Shekinah’s return, foretold by Ezekiel. This is 1335 days from that fateful Nisan 10th when the world chooses the wrong messiah. This is what Daniel’s verses tell us, and it fits perfectly with the prophetic timeline. As the altar is rededicated and the Shekinah returns, the River of Life w ill begin flowing from the Temple Mount, and on Tu B’Shevat, we will celebrate the first fruits of the Trees that will grow along its banks – trees that will bear fruit every month and provide healing leaves for the nations.
So it is proper for us to observe Chanukkah. Whether or not you believe in the miracle of oil lasting 8 days, there is no doubt that a future day is coming when the Light of Elohim will shine forth and be undimmable for as long as heaven and earth lasts. That is surely worth celebrating.
Kollel Beresheit
Romans Chapter 1 & 2
Updated October 2009
We must always remember the warning of Peter when we start a new Pauline epistle – that false teachers distort Shaul’s words to make it appear he was teaching Torahlessness.
2Pe 3:15 Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Sha’ul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you; 2Pe 3:16 as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 2Pe 3:17 You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the Torahless , you fall from your own steadfastness. 2Pe 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Adonai and Savior Yeshua the Messiah. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amein.
“Athesmos,” of course, is a greek word that means “lawless,” – to us, “Torahlessness.”
If Shaul had been teaching Torahlessness, that would make him a false prophet, according to Yeshua, as YHWH Incarnate, made quite clear – so we can be sure he did not.
Deu 13:1 If there arise in the midst of you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give you a sign or a wonder, Deu 13:2 and the sign or the wonder come to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them; Deu 13:3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams: for YHWH your Elohim proves you, to know whether you love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul. Deu 13:4 You shall walk after YHWH your Elohim, and fear him, and keep his mitzvot, and obey his voice, and you shall serve him, and cleave to him. Deu 13:5 That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against YHWH your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to draw you aside out of the way which YHWH your Elohim commanded you to walk in. So shall you put away the evil from the midst of you.
That means there is an interpretation of every one of Shaul’s teachings that is consistent with Torah, if we look at the texts from a Hebraic point of view and using clues from Hebrew language. The early church father Jerome stated that all of Shaul’s authentic epistles had originally been written in Hebrew, and that must be our guide for proper understanding of Shaul’s teachings. He was not a false prophet, he taught the Written Torah – much to the chagrin of the Pharisees and their Oral Law, and much to the chagrin of modern pastors and preachers who teach Torahlessness.
Romans, continued:
Rom 1:1 Sha’ul, a servant of Yeshua the Messiah, called to be an emissary, set apart for the Good News of Elohim,
Rom 1:2 which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
Rom 1:3 concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
Rom 1:4 who was declared to be the Son of Elohim with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Yeshua the Messiah Adonai,
Rom 1:5 through whom we received grace and the office of emissary, for obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake;
Rom 1:6 among whom you are also called to belong to Yeshua the Messiah;
Rom 1:7 to all who are in Rome, beloved of Elohim, called to be holy ones: Grace to you and shalom from Elohim our Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
A fairly standard greeting.
Romans, continued:
Rom 1:8 First, I thank my Elohim through Yeshua the Messiah for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.
Rom 1:9 For Elohim is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers,
Rom 1:10 requesting, if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of Elohim to come to you.
There is an interesting difference between the Greek and the Peshitta translation, in that the Greek says he served in “my spirit.” It is probable that “I serve in my Spirit” means serving by praying, and the following context supports this idea nicely.
Romans, continued:
Rom 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established;
Rom 1:12 that is, that I with you may be encouraged in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.
Rom 1:13 Now I don’t desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you, and was hindered so far, that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.
Rom 1:14 I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish.
Rom 1:15 So, as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Messiah, for it is the power of Elohim for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For in it is revealed Elohim’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”
It is unclear why Paul would want to preach the evangelion to people who are presumed to already be acquainted with it, as the greeting indicates. It does not appear from the grammar of language of the text that he is referring to other people in Rome who are not part of the congregation. It is also interesting that the Peshitta lists Arameans rather than Greeks as the intended audience after native Jews. The context of the quote Paul mentions is in Habakkuk.
Hab 2:1-4 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look out to see what He will speak by me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the LORD answered me, and said: ‘Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that a man may read it swiftly.
For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it declareth of the end, and doth not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay.’ Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith.
Paul, of course, appears to have believed that Yeshua was going to return at any moment, and believed the prophecies of the end times applied to his generation. In hindsight, though, we can see that they are far more likely to apply to our generation, and the sins Paul goes on to enumerate can be seen all around us every day.
Romans, continued:
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of Elohim is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
Rom 1:19 because that which is known of Elohim is revealed in them, for Elohim revealed it to them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.
The word translated “divinity” here is actually Elohuta in the Aramaic. The “Book of Wisdom” also appears in the apocryphal writings, and Paul may have studied that book in his youth.
Wisdom 13:1-9 Yes, naturally stupid are all who are unaware of Elohim, and so, from good things seen, have not been able to discover Him-who-is, or by studying the works, have not recognized the Artificer. Fire, however, or wind, or the swift air, the sphere of the stars, impetuout water, heaven’s lamps, are what they have held to be gods who govern the world. If, charmed by their beauty, they have taken these for gods, let them know how much the Master of these excells them. And if they have been impressed by their power and energy, let them deduce from these how much mightier is He that has formed them, since through the grandeur and beauty of the creatures we may, by analogy, contemplate their Author. Some little bit of blame, however, attaches to the, for perhaps they go astray only in their search for Elohim and their eagerness to find Him, familiar with His works, they investigate them and fall victim to appearances, seeing so much beauty. But even so, they have no excuse! If they are capable of acquiring enough knowledge to be able to investigate the world, how have they been so slow to find its Master?
Romans, continued:
Rom 1:21 Because, knowing Elohim, they didn’t glorify him as Elohim, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 and traded the glory of the incorruptible Elohim for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things.
While it is easy to dismiss this passage as a simple reference to worshipping idols made into the forms of men and animals, I suggest a deeper look may reveal that the topic here is the theory of Evolution, which exchanges an eternal creator God for a non-eternal “Creator” – a lineage starting with creeping things and branching out into all other animals and finally man. All other creations understand they are created – only man denies this.
Romans, continued:
Rom 1:24 Therefore Elohim also released them to the unclean lusts of their hearts, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves,
Wisdom 14:12, 22-27 The idea of making idols was the origin of fornication. Their discovery corrupted life…It is not enough, however, for them to have such misconceptions about Elohim, for living in the fierce warfare of ignorance, they call these terrible evils peace. With their child murdering rituals [abortion], their occult mysteries, or their furious orgies with outlandish customs, they no longer retain any purity in their lives or in their marriages…Everywhere a welter of blood and murder, theft and fraud, corruption, treachery, riot, perjury, disturbance of decent people, forgetfulness of favors, pollution of souls, sins against nature [literally “inversion of generation,” that is, homosexuality], disorder in marriage, adultery and debauchery. For the worship of idols with no name is the beginning, cause, and end of every evil.
Romans, continued:
Rom 1:25 who exchanged the truth of Elohim for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amein.
Widsom 14:29-30 Since they put their trust in lifeless idols, they do not reckon their false oaths can harm them. But they will be justly punished for this double crime, for degrading the concept of Elohim by adhering to idols, and for wickedly purjuring themselves in contempt for what is holy.
Of course, the bizarre response of the reprobates is to try and claim that the behavior that Elohim calls an abomination is in fact natural! This embracing of evil as natural leads to men giving up any idea of normality or standards or obligation to society – they give themselves up entirely to the false god of survival of the fittest and every person for themselves:
Romans, continued:
Rom 1:26 For this reason, Elohim gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature.
Rom 1:27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error.
Rom 1:28 Even as they refused to have Elohim in their knowledge, Elohim gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
Rom 1:29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers,
Rom 1:30 backbiters, hateful to Elohim, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 without understanding, with no respect for a covenant, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful;
Rom 1:32 who, knowing the ordinance of Elohim, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.
In the end, they don’t just do evil in secret, they’re proud of it and flaunt it, just as society does today. They know the punishment, but don’t care. The Peshitta’s mention of a covenant they won’t respect is no doubt closer to the original Hebrew than the Greek is, and the covenant they refuse to obey is surely the Torah.
Romans, continued:
Rom 2:1 Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.
Rom 2:2 We know that the judgment of Elohim is according to truth against those who practice such things.
Rom 2:3 Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of Elohim?
Rom 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of Elohim leads you to repentance?
This cannot mean that we can never correct our fellow believers unless we are perfect, for that would mean no one ever was corrected – and we are given a specific procedure elsewhere for how and with whom we should go to correct someone. The message here is that we recognize a sin in our fellows, we must search ourselves to make sure we are not doing the same things, and repent if we are. It is a noticeable quirk of human nature that we tend to hate in others what we despise in ourselves. Elohim is telling us that teaching others, even when it is a correct teaching, cannot erase the sins that we ourselves are committing. Elohim isn’t going to cut us any slack because we helped someone else to repent if we don’t repent ourselves. So when we notice someone else has a problem, that is a cue to root out any such problem in ourselves as well.
Romans, continued:
Rom 2:5 But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of Elohim;
Rom 2:6 who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:”
Rom 2:7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruptibility, eternal life;
Alternately, “the life of the world [to come]” that is, the Olam Haba.
Romans, continued:
Rom 2:8 but to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation,
Rom 2:9 oppression and anguish, on every soul of man who works evil, on the Jew first, and also on the Greek.
Rom 2:10 But glory and honor and shalom to every man who works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 2:11 For there is no partiality with Elohim.
The audience here is still the congregation at Rome – not anyone outside that congregation. The idea of “once saved, always saved” is not in the Torah. There are a few references here from the Tanakh or the other apostles that Paul may be quoting:
Isa 59:18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, wrath to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense.
Eze 18:20-24 The soul who sins, he shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him. But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is Torahful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live.
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says Adonai YHWH; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live? But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.
Hos 12:1-2 Ephrayim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Ashur, and oil is carried into Egypt. YHWH also has a controversy with Yehudah, and will punish Ya`akov according to his ways; according to his deeds he will repay him.
Mat 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds.
Rev 20:13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and She’ol gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works.
Paul repeats this admonition in his own writings seven other times, so it should be clear that just having faith is not sufficient. As James tells us, faith without works is dead.
Romans, continued:
Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without Torah will also perish without the Torah. As many as have sinned under the Torah will be judged by the Torah.
Rom 2:13 For it isn’t the hearers of the Torah who are righteous before Elohim, but the doers of the Torah will be justified
This is entirely self-explanatory. If you obey Torah, you’re in good shape. If you disobey, you’re in trouble. Those who never knew the written Torah but sinned according to the standards of their people and time are also in trouble.
Romans, continued:
Rom 2:14 (for when Gentiles who don’t have the Torah do by nature the things of the Torah, these, not having the Torah, are a Torah to themselves,
Rom 2:15a in that they show the work of the Torah written in their hearts…
Deu 11:18 Therefore shall you lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul; and you shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for symbols between your eyes.
And, of course, we saw previously in Jeremiah 31 that the very definition of having the “new covenant” was having the Torah written on your heart and mind, to obey it.
Romans, continued:
Romans 2:15b …their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)
Rom 2:16 in the day when Elohim will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Yeshua the Messiah.
In Hebraic thought this concept refers to “righteous gentiles” – those people who don’t know Torah but are nonetheless good people according to their society and religion. Many people think those who never heard of Torah or Messiah are automatically damned, but this is not a Biblical teaching. Elohim doesn’t judge people by what they don’t know, He judges them by their consciences – by what they do know, in other words. Righteous gentiles have a place in the world to come.
Romans, continued:
Rom 2:17 Indeed you bear the name of a Jew, and rest on the Torah, and glory in Elohim,
Rom 2:18 and know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the Torah,
Rom 2:19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
Rom 2:20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babies, having in the Torah the form of knowledge and of the truth.
This is hardly a condemnation of Jews or Judaism – quite the contrary. Paul is telling people who have been educated in the Torah and Judaism that they should be an example for those who need instruction.
Romans, continued:
Rom 2:21 You therefore who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn’t steal, do you steal?
Rom 2:22 You who say a man shouldn’t commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
From the Greek: He then teaching another, yourself not do you teach? He proclaiming not to steal, do you steal? He saying not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? He detesting the idols, do you rob temples?
From the Aramaic: Now, then, you teach another but fail to teach yourself. You preach that men should not steal, yet you steal. You say, “Men must not commit adultery,” yet you commit adultery. You despise idols, yet you rob the sanctuary.
There is a considerable discrepancy between the Greek and the Aramaic Peshitta here – one appears to use the form of rhetorical questions, the other appears to be making statements. There is no 100% sure way to know which is correct, but it seems strange that Paul would be saying that not a single person in the congregation at Rome wasn’t a hypocrite. I find that unlikely. This is simply an admonition to Jews to carefully examine their behavior when teaching gentiles how to obey Torah that they’re not giving themselves and Elohim and Judaism a bad name by not practicing what they preach.
Romans, continued:
Rom 2:23 You who glory in the Torah, through your disobedience of the Torah do you dishonor Elohim?
Rom 2:24 For “the name of Elohim is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.
Isa 52:5 Now therefore, what do I here, says YHWH, seeing that my people is taken away for nothing? those who rule over them do howl, says YHWH, and my name continually all the day is blasphemed. Isa 52:6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore [they shall know] in that day that I am he who does speak; behold, it is I. Isa 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes shalom, who brings good news of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Tziyon, Your Elohim reigns! Isa 52:8 The voice of your watchmen! they lift up the voice, together do they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when YHWH returns to Tziyon. Isa 52:9 Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Yerushalayim; for YHWH has comforted his people, he has redeemed Yerushalayim. Isa 52:10 YHWH has made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth have seen the Yeshuah of our Elohim. Isa 52:11 Depart you, depart you, go you out from there, touch no unclean thing; go you out of the midst of her; cleanse yourselves, you who bear the vessels of YHWH.
Eze 36:20 When they came to the nations, where they went, they profaned my holy name; in that men said of them, These are the people of YHWH, and are gone forth out of his land. Eze 36:21 But I had regard for my holy name, which the house of Yisra’el had profaned among the nations, where they went. Eze 36:22 Therefore tell the house of Yisra’el, Thus says Adonai YHWH: I don’t do [this] for your sake, house of Yisra’el, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations, where you went. Eze 36:23 I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I am YHWH, says Adonai YHWH, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. Eze 36:24 For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. Eze 36:25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. Eze 36:27 I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my ordinances, and do them.
Romans, continued:
Rom 2:25 For circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the Torah, but if you are a transgressor of the Torah, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
Rom 2:26 If therefore the uncircumcised keep the ordinances of the Torah, won’t his uncircumcision be accounted as circumcision?
Here is a passage that is difficult for Gentiles to understand, and is twisted by those who don’t wish to be circumcised to say that they don’t have to be. But the Torah is clear that infants need to be circumcised on the 8th day of their lives, and any other person who wishes to come into the household of Avraham as a servant or adopted heir must also be circumcised:
Gen 17:9-14 God said to Avraham, “As for you, you will keep my covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old will be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your seed. He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant will be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”
Those gentiles who are adopted into the house of Avraham as co-heirs are bought with something far more precious than money – but they are still bought and paid for, are Elohim’s bond servants, and therefore must be circumcised. Failing to do so means you are not part of Elohim’s covenant, and shall be cut off from His people. Those who are uncircumcized do not enter the New Jerusalem nor the Temple of the Millennial Kingdom. We will discuss this at greater length in subsequent Torah Portions, but there is a study listed on the sidebar regarding circumcision that you should read now if you are in doubt.
Romans, continued:
Rom 2:27 Won’t the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfills the Torah, judge you, who with the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the Torah?
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh;
Rom 2:29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from Elohim.
The subject of this chapter is still the judgment of Elohim. The message here is that the righteous gentiles (those who never heard of the Torah or Yeshua yet were obedient to their conscience and the norms of their society and culture) will gain entrance to the world to come regardless of their physical status, whereas those who have turned to paganism from Judaism /Torah-ism (or were born Jews but continue to sin) will not. The outer act of circumcision is supposed to reflect the inner condition of your heart. If your heart is not circumcised, getting your body circumcised won’t automatically insure you achieve life in the world to come. If you were circumcised as an infant, you must act willfully to circumcise your heart, too. Just relying on your physical circumcision is not enough. Alternately, refusing to be circumcised is a blatant disobedience of God’s commandments, and no one who refuses to be circumcised should expect to be in the world to come, either. If your heart is right with Elohim, you have no legitimate reason to disobey.
Circumcision of the heart is linked directly with Torah obedience in Deuteronomy:
Deu 10:12 Now, Yisra’el, what does YHWH your Elohim require of you, but to fear YHWH your Elohim, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, Deu 10:13 to keep the mitzvot of YHWH, and his statutes, which I command you this day for your good? Deu 10:14 Behold, to YHWH your Elohim belongs heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that is therein. Deu 10:15 Only YHWH had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as at this day. Deu 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.
If you believe that Yeshua HaMashiach is Elohim incarnate, then you must understand that it is Yeshua who spoke these words, Yeshua who came down on Sinai and gave these laws to all Israel, and Yeshua who said that they are eternal, unchangeable, for everywhere you live and all your generations.
It should be noted, for the record, that there was a serious dispute among the early congregations as to exactly when a convert should be circumcised. At the time there were two schools of thought. The Pharisees believed that one had to be circumcised right away, and immersed in a mikvah, and then learn the laws of the Torah. The Sadducees believed that one should be immersed, go through at least one complete Torah cycle to learn the mitzvot, and only then decide whether or not to commit and be circumcised. It is clear that a lot of this debate is missing from Acts chapter 15, but obvious from the apostles ruling that they should hear “Moshe in the synagogue every week,” that in spite of the strenuous objection of Pharisee believers, the Sadducees method of conversion was chosen. The Pharisees apparently then went around doing their best to subvert the Jerusalem Council’s ruling, causing a lot of trouble. But the issue was NEVER whether or not converts would BE circumcised. The issue was WHEN they would be.
It is an undeniable fact, however, that no uncircumcized person may participate in the passover seder:
Exo 12:43-50 And YHWH said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the Pasover to YHWH, let all his males be circumcized, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. Thus did all the children of Israel; as YHWH commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
So when Yeshua had His passover seder with his talmidim, no uncircumcised person would have been admitted, because Yeshua would absolutely never sin. Sin is the transgression of the law – the Torah, as we know. It was at the passover seder that Yeshua established the kiddush/communion that we are commanded to observe at the appointed time until this day:
Luk 22:13-20 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of Elohim. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide itit, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you – this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the renewed covenant in my blood, which is shed for you among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of Elohim shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake .
To put it plainly, no man who is uncircumcised is qualified to take this cup and eat this bread, since they cannot even attend the passover seder. Therefore Paul absolutely could not have been teaching anyone that circumcision was unnecessary for gentiles whishing to attach themselves to the Elohim of Abraham.
Isa 56:3-8 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to YHWH, speak, saying, YHWH hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith YHWH unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to YHWH, to serve him, and to love the name of YHWH, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. Adonai YHWH which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.
Let us not then refuse to observe Shabbat and observe all parts of Elohim’s covenant.
Next week: Parashat Noach.
Epistle Beresheit
James Chapter 1
Updated October 2009
James, in his epistle, borrows extensively from the themes in the writings of Ben Sirach. That book appears in the apocrypha which many protestants do not have in their Bibles. For serious Bible study, it is recommended that everyone have several different translations and versions of the Bible in order to compare and contrast the interpretation of various sects and groups (every translation of the Bible invariable incorporates the biases and beliefs of the group translating it, and these biases should be kept in mind). Even if you learn aramaic and hebrew, you will be reading your own beliefs into the passages as you see them – we all do. It’s the way our brain works – we have our pre-set definitions of words and concepts and we have to make a conscious effort to change them if we come to understand they are incorrect.
If you don’t have a Bible with the apocrypha in it, you should obtain one for reference, if nothing else. It is not necessary to accept Ben Sirach as scripture. James uses a lot of material from that book. We may infer that he at least considered it to be somewhat inspired, if not actual scripture. As we saw from the Talmidim Portion of Matthew, there are books that are missing from our present canon, since “He shall be called a Nazarite” does not appear in any known texts. There are other examples in the NT. Yeshua and his talmidim apparently considered these prophets and writings to be scripture and used them. Hopefully, they will be restored to us in the Millennial Kingdom.
James, continued:
Jam 1:1 Ya`akov, a servant of Elohim and of Adonai Yeshua the Messiah, to the twelve tribes which are in the Diaspora: Greetings.
Jam 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,
Jam 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Endurance is defined for us in Revelation:
Rev 14:12 Here is the endurance of the holy ones, those who keep the mitzvot of Elohim, and the faith of Yeshua.
James, continued:
Jam 1:4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Ben Sirach 2:1-5 My child, if you aspire to serve Adonai, prepare yourself for an ordeal. Be sincere of heart, be steadfast, and do not be alarmed when disaster comes. Cling to Him and do not leave Him, so that you may be honoured at the end of your days. Whatever happens to you, accept it, and in the uncertainties of your humble state, be patient, since gold is tested in the fire and the chosen in the furnace of humiliation. (New Jerusalem Bible throughout)
James, continued:
Jam 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of Elohim, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
Ben Sirach 1:26 If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and YHWH will bestow it upon you. (51:13) When I was still a youth, before I went travelling, in my prayers I asked outright for wisdom.
Wisdom is not secular knowledge or knowledge that man has produced. Wisdom is knowledge and discernment that comes from Elohim – and the motivation to act upon His Words.
Pro 2:6 For YHWH gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
Pro 4:5 Get wisdom! Get understanding! Don’t forget, neither swerve from the Words of My mouth.
Pro 9:10 The fear of YHWH is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
James, continued:
Jam 1:6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.
Jam 1:7 For let that man not think that he will receive anything from Adonai.
Jam 1:8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Ben Sirach 1:28 Do not stand out against fear of YHWH – do not practice it with a double heart.
James, continued:
Jam 1:9 But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position;
Jam 1:10 and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.
Jam 1:11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits.
Jam 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which Adonai promised to those who love him.
We learn about the crown of life in Revelation – it is our reward for endurance, which is still keeping the Commandments of YHWH and maintaining our faith in Yeshua HaMashiach:
Rev. 12:10 Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. Look! Hasatan is about to cast you in prison, to try you, and you will have tribulation 10 days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
James, continued:
Jam 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by Elohim,” for Elohim can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.
Ben Sirach 15:11-12 Do not say, “Adonai was responsible for my sinning,” for He does not do what He hates. Do not say, “It was He who led me astray,” for He has no use for a sinner.
James, continued:
Jam 1:14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
Jam 1:15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.
The wages of sin is death – and sin is the transgression of the Torah, if you recall:
1 John 3:4-6 Everyone doing sin also does Torah-lessness, for sin is Torahlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Everyone staying in Him does not sin! Everyone sinning has neither seen Him nor known Him!
Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the Torah sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I wouldn’t have known sin, except through the Torah.
Jam 4:17 To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.
Rom 7:12 Therefore the Torah indeed is holy, and the mitzvot holy, and righteous, and good.
James chapter one, continued:
Jam 1:16 Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Jam 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.
Jam 1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
Yeshua was raised from the dead on the first day of the week following Passover – which is identified clearly as the Feast of Firstfruits in the Torah and is NOT, actually, a sabbath and has nothing to do with the regular weekly sabbath and certainly doesn’t change the sabbath, which was established at creation and applies to all mankind. Firstfruits is one of the appointed Festivals of YHWH which we are commanded to observe every year.
Lev 23:4 “‘These are the set feasts of YHWH, even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their appointed season. Lev 23:5 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, is YHWH’s Pesach. Lev 23:6 On the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of matzah to YHWH. Seven days you shall eat matzah. Lev 23:7 In the first day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. Lev 23:8 But you shall offer an offering made by fire to YHWH seven days. In the seventh day is a holy convocation: you shall do no regular work.’”
Lev 23:9 YHWH spoke to Moshe, saying, Lev 23:10 “Speak to the children of Yisra’el, and tell them, ‘When you have come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap its the harvest, then you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the Kohen: Lev 23:11 and he shall wave the sheaf before YHWH, to be accepted for you. On the next day after the Shabbat the Kohen shall wave it. Lev 23:12 On the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb without blemish a year old for a burnt offering to YHWH. Lev 23:13 The meal offering with it shall be two tenth parts of an efah of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire to YHWH for a sweet savor; and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin. Lev 23:14 You shall eat neither bread, nor roasted grain, nor fresh grain, until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your Elohim. This is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. Lev 23:15 “‘You shall count from the next day after the Shabbat, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Shabbatot shall be completed: Lev 23:16 even to the next day after the seventh Shabbat you shall number fifty days; and you shall offer a new meal offering to YHWH. Lev 23:17 You shall bring out of your habitations two loaves of bread for a wave offering made of two tenth parts of an efah of fine flour. They shall be baked with yeast, for first fruits to YHWH.
As you can see, there is no set date for the Feast of Firstfruits nor for Shavuot, the 50th day following. Each must occur on the first day of the week – Sunday, to us – and the countdown starts the first day of the week following passover. We know from Joshua that the first convocation of Unleavened Bread can also be the Feast of Firstfruits, but it cannot be on Passover itself. Neither Passover nor Firstfruits is a sabbath, only the first and seventh days of Unleavened Bread and Shavu’ot are sabbaths in this passage. (There are other passages about Shavu’ot, of course, which we don’t need to go into here.) The point of all this is that Yeshua is the Firstfruits of the Dead – the first to be raised to immortality. The rest of us obedient believers will follow at a later date.
1Co 15:20 But now Messiah has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.
James, continued:
Jam 1:19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
Ben Sirach 5:11 Be quick to listen, and deliberate in giving an answer.
James, continued:
Jam 1:20 for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of Elohim.
Jam 1:21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
The Torah implanted in us is the new covenant which we were promised by the prophets – instead of handing down the Torah by word of mouth, which can be distorted over time, or through paper or stone, which can be altered, added to, or subtracted from (i.e. the “oral law”), we will have the Torah written in our hearts and minds, where it cannot be changed.
Jer 31:33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Yisra’el after those days, says YHWH: I will put my Torah in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it…
James, continued:
Jam 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.
Jam 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror;
Jam 1:24 for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
Jam 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect Torah of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.
This is a promise Elohim made to us in Deuteronomy:
Deut. 30:15-16, 19 Look, I have set before you today life and good, or death and evil, in that I am commanding you today to love God, to walk in His ways, and to guard His commands and His laws, and His right rulings. So you shall live and increase, God shall bless you…(v19b) therefore you shall choose life, so that you live, both you and your offspring!
Let’s be clear here – this is not the false “name it and claim it” teachings – there are some serious strings attached to this promise, namely, being obedient to every single commandment of the Torah. I don’t see very many believers doing that to the best of their ability.
James, continued:
Jam 1:26 If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
Jam 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before our Elohim and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Keeping oneself unstained by the world is extremely difficult in this day and age, but we must do our best. It does not mean cutting ourselves completely off from society, for we must interact with the unsaved and unclean to influence them to become clean and saved – but we must use extreme discernment about many worldly activities, such as movies or video games that have themes which are ungodly, to say the least.
Next up: Kollel Beresheit
Talmidim Beresheit
Matthew chapters 1-4
Updated October 2009
Mat 1:1 The book of the geneology of Yeshua the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Avraham.
Mat 1:2 Avraham became the father of Yitzchak. Yitzchak became the father of Ya`akov. Ya`akov became the father of Yehudah and his brothers.
Mat 1:3 Yehudah became the father of Peretz and Zerach by Tamar. Peretz became the father of Chetzron. Chetzron became the father of Ram.
Mat 1:4 Ram became the father of `Amminadav. `Amminadav became the father of Nachshon. Nachshon became the father of Salmon.
Mat 1:5 Salmon became the father of Bo`az by Rachav. Bo`az became the father of `Oved by Rut. `Oved became the father of Yishai.
Mat 1:6 Yishai became the father of David the king. David became the father of Shlomo by her who had been the wife of Uriyah.
Mat 1:7 Shlomo became the father of Rechav`am. Rechav`am became the father of Aviyah. Aviyah became the father of Asa.
Mat 1:8 Asa became the father of Yehoshafat. Yehoshafat became the father of Yoram. Yoram became the father of `Uzziyah.
The Old Syriac version C inserts the names of the three missing Kings here: Ahazia, Yoash and Amozia (but retains the count of 14 generations mentioned in verse 17). However, the S version does not contain them.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 1:9 `Uzziyah became the father of Yotam. Yotam became the father of Achaz. Achaz became the father of Chizkiyahu.
Mat 1:10 Chizkiyahu became the father of Menasheh. Menasheh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Yoshiyahu.
Mat 1:11 Yoshiyahu became the father of Yekhonyah and his brothers, at the time of the exile to Bavel.
Mat 1:12 After the exile to Bavel, Yekhonyah became the father of She’alti’el. She’alti’el became the father of Zerubbavel.
Mat 1:13 Zerubbavel became the father of Avichud. Avichud became the father of [Avner, Avner became the father of] Elyakim. Elyakim became the father of Azur.
The name Avner appears only in the Hebrew of DuTillet and not the Greek, but obviously belongs in the geneology.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 1:14 Azur became the father of Tzadok. Tzadok became the father of Yakhin. Yakhin became the father of Eliud.
Mat 1:15 Eliud became the father of El`azar. El`azar became the father of Mattan. Mattan became the father of Ya`akov.
Mat 1:16 Ya`akov became the father of Yosef, the father of Miriam, from whom was born Yeshua, who is called Messiah.
The Shem Tov Hebrew Matthew and other sources (including several greek versions) corrects verse 16 to read “father of Miriam” instead of husband. Yosef was a common name and there is no reason why both her father and husband could not have carried that name.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 1:17 So all the generations from Avraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Bavel fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Bavel to the Messiah, fourteen generations.
Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Yeshua the Messiah was like this; for after his mother, Miriam, was engaged to Yosef, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Ruach HaKodesh.
Other texts have “before he knew her,” or “before ever they drew near one to the other,” and one even has “before he partook [of her].” The implication is clearlly that he had not had marital relations with her at this time, but did later. She was not a “perpetual virgin.” She was Yosef’s wife and bore Yeshua’s siblings.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 1:19 Yosef, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
The Hebrew reads “…not willing to deliver her up do death…” According to the Torah, the punishment for premarital sex is stoning for ordinary girls, burning at the stake for girls of the priestly line.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 1:20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of YHWH appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Yosef, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Miriam, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Ruach HaKodesh.
Mat 1:21 She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name Yeshua, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
This is, of course, a common Hebrew play on words, since the name Yeshua uses the same consonents as the word verb “save” and it’s noun form, “salvation.” These types of word plays are common through the NT texts we have available that can be shown using linguistic techniques to have originally been written in Hebrew or Aramaic. I myself am in favor of Hebrew primacy.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 1:22 Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
Mat 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son. They shall call his name Immanu’el;” which is, being interpreted, “Elohim with us.”
In Hebrew, the word here translated as “virgin” is “almah,” and is used to describe any young (teenage) woman regardless of whether she is married, betrothed, or a virgin throughout the Torah – the essence of the word is her age, not her marital state. In both Leviticus and Deuteronomy the word used for virgin is “bethulah.” The Aramaic “b’tulta” meaning “vigin” is also used both here and in Isaiah 7:14. In Hebrew, Isaiah has “almah,” meaning “young (teenage) woman, not necessarily a virgin.
The quote above comes from Isaiah, chapter nine:
Isa 7:10 YHWH spoke again to Achaz, saying, Isa 7:11 “Ask a sign of YHWH your Elohim; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.” Isa 7:12 But Achaz said, “I will not ask, neither will I tempt YHWH.” Isa 7:13 He said, “Listen now, house of David: Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my Elohim also? Isa 7:14 Therefore Adonai himself will give you a sign. Behold, the young woman [almah] will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanu’el. Isa 7:15 He shall eat butter and honey when he knows to refuse the evil, and choose the good. Isa 7:16 For before the child knows to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings you abhor shall be forsaken.
As you can see, the context does not appear at first glance to be a Messianic prophecy, and indeed Jews today deny it is so.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 1:24 Yosef arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of Adonai commanded him, and took his wife to himself;
Mat 1:25 and didn’t know her [sexually] until she had brought forth her firstborn son. He named him Yeshua.
Mat 2:1 Now when Yeshua was born in Beit-Lechem of Yehudah in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Yerushalayim, saying,
Mat 2:2 “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to pay homage to him.”
Some texts add “…with important gifts.”
Often translated as “wise men,” “magicians” or “magi” from the later greek texts, this doesn’t exactly jibe with prophecy, which predicts foreign vassals and sovereigns would bring their wealth and offer it to the King of Kings (hence the popular misconception [see below] that “three kings” attended him in the Sukkah when he was born and brought their gifts).
Isaiah’s prophecy reads:
Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of YHWH is risen on you. Isa 60:2 For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but YHWH will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you. Isa 60:3 Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isa 60:4 Lift up your eyes round about, and see: they all gather themselves together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be carried in the arms. Isa 60:5 Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. Isa 60:6 The multitude of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Midyan and `Efah; all they from Sheva shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praises of YHWH. Isa 60:7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you, the rams of Nevayot shall minister to you; they shall come up with acceptance on my altar; and I will glorify the house of my glory. Isa 60:8 Who are these who fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? Isa 60:9 Surely the islands shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of YHWH your Elohim, and for the Holy One of Yisra’el, because he has glorified you. Isa 60:10 Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you: for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor have I had mercy on you.
However, some aramaic texts instead read “men of repentence” in Matthew 2:1 – that is, those who have done teshuvah, i.e. “obedient believers.” Such men would have been carefully studying the Hebraic Calendar and could have discerned through the “star” – a sign in the heaven to show us “appointed times,” as Beresheit tells us – on which Sukkot the child would have been born. They could then travel from their distant homelands to Israel, where they expected to find him.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 2:3 When Herod the king heard it, he was filled with anger, and all Yerushalayim with him.
Some texts read “dismayed” instead of anger, but Herod, as we know from Josephus and other contemporary historical sources, Herod was a power-mad paranoid maniac who flew into a rage and killed two of his own sons when he was told they were plotting to remove him from power.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 2:4 Gathering together all the chief Kohanim and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Messiah would be born.
Mat 2:5 They said to him, “In Beit-Lechem of Yehudah, for thus it is written through the prophet,
Mat 2:6 ‘You Beit-Lechem, land of Yehudah, are in no way least among the princes of Yehudah: for out of you shall come forth a governor, who shall shepherd [my people], Yisra’el.’”
Not all texts contain the words “my people,” which reflects known versions of Micah. This passage comes from Micah, though there is no known version of the text that matches the above exactly word-for-word:
Mic 5:1 Now you shall gather yourself in troops, daughter of troops. He has laid siege against us. They will strike the judge of Yisra’el with a rod on the cheek. Mic 5:2 But you, Beit-Lechem Efratah, being small among the clans of Yehudah, out of you one will come forth to me that is to be ruler in Yisra’el; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. Mic 5:3 Therefore he will abandon them until the time that she who is in labor gives birth. Then the rest of his brothers will return to the children of Yisra’el. Mic 5:4 He shall stand, and shall shepherd in the strength of YHWH, in the majesty of the name of YHWH his Elohim: and they will live, for then he will be great to the ends of the earth.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 2:7 Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.
Other texts say that Harod called “the sorcerers,” or “the star-gazers,” giving rise to the popular idea that the “wise men” were astrologers or diviners as well as (or instead of) being kings.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 2:8 He sent them to Beit-Lechem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”
Mat 2:9 They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.
Mat 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
Mat 2:11 They came into the house and saw the young child with Miriam, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Yeshua was born on the first day of Sukkot – as it is described clearly in the Hebrew book of Luke. They arrived right at the start of the festival at nightfall and laid him in a Sukkah. A quick study of the word that comes to us in English as “manger” in the Greek LXX shows that “manger” was used to translate “Sukkah” everywhere it appeard in the Tanach, and the person translating Luke from Hebrew to Greek naturally used the LXX as their guide.
However, by the time the Magi arrive Yeshua is no longer an infant (the word for “young child” is not the same as the word for “infant” used to refer to him at his birth) and the family is now living in a house, not a temporary structure of any kind. Just like the shephards who visited Yeshua at Sukkot are reflected in our liturgy as the “7 Shephards of Israel” who visit us in the Sukkah each night, the Kings bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Light of the World is symbolically indicative of Chanukkah. The date the “Magi” arrived at Yosef and Miryam’s house was most likely Kislev the 25th and the symbolism would not have been lost on the neighbors nor on Miryam and Yosef.
The star or astronomical conjugation which tipped off the Magi has not been identified to anyone’s satisfaction. Since the boy was now a toddler and no longer an infant, the family had stayed in Beit Lechem over a year – Yeshua would have been about 14 months old (14 months, 10 days to be exact).
Matthew, continued:
Mat 2:12 Being warned in a dream that they shouldn’t return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
Mat 2:13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of Adonai appeared to Yosef in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
Mat 2:14 He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt,
Mat 2:15 and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
This is found in Hosea:
Hos 11:1 “When Yisra’el was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Beit-Lechem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.
As we saw above, Yeshua would have been over a year old and less then two when the Magi arrived. Herod, paranoid madman, took no chances. Likely any child who was obviously not weaned (which usually occurred by a child’s third year) were ordered killed. It may sound harsh that Elohim allowed this to happen, but Elohim never does anything without purpose – sometimes multiple purposes.
Wisdom 11:5 For by what things their enemies were punished, by the same they in their need were benefited. Wis 11:6 For instead of of a perpetual running river troubled with foul blood, Wis 11:7 For a manifest reproof of that commandment, whereby the infants were slain, thou gavest unto them abundance of water by a means which they hoped not for: Wis 11:8 Declaring by that thirst then how thou hadst punished their adversaries. Wis 11:9 For when they were tried albeit but in mercy chastised, they knew how the ungodly were judged in wrath and tormented, thirsting in another manner than the just. Wis 11:10 For these thou didst admonish and try, as a father: but the other, as a severe king, thou didst condemn and punish.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 2:17 Then that which was spoken by Yirmeyahu the prophet (peace be upon him) was fulfilled, saying,
Mat 2:18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.”
This is found in Jeremiah:
Jer 31:15 Thus says YHWH: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more. Jer 31:16 Thus says YHWH: Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says YHWH; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. Jer 31:17 There is hope for your latter end, says YHWH; and [your] children shall come again to their own border.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of Adonai appeared in a dream to Yosef in Egypt, saying,
Mat 2:20 “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into Eretz-Yisra’el, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”
Mat 2:21 He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into Eretz-Yisra’el.
Mat 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Yehudah in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of the Galil,
Mat 2:23 and came and lived in a city called Natzeret; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Natzri.”
This prophecy is not found in any existing text. It is clear from the context of some Biblical passages that there are books that should have been in the Tanakh that Yeshua and his talmidim accepted and quoted as scripture that are absent from our present version of the Bible. We can presume those texts will be restored to us in the Messianic era.
It is also possible that a more correct Hebrew text will be found showing this sentence contained a play on words, because Natzeret (Nazareth) is the adjective form of Netzer (Branch) and the Messiah is referred to as “Branch” several places in prophecy (Isaiah 4:2, 9:14, 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5, 33:15, Zechariah 3:8 and 6:12). If that is the case, then the most likely reference would be to Isaiah chapter 11.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 3:1 In those days, Yochanan the immerser came, preaching in the wilderness of Yehudah, saying,
Mat 3:2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is offered!”
First off, the Hebrew and Aramaic literally reads “an offered thing” or less often, “a near thing” – the key concept being “thing” not “near.” This is an offer to join the covenant relationship of YHWH Elohim and be part of the Messianic Kingdom. It is not an announcement that the kingdom is about to arrive immediately or even soon.
Extant Hebrew versions read: “make/do teshuvah in your lives!” Teshuvah means “turning” (sometimes “return” is used as a parallelism, as in “return to me and I will return to you,” says Adonai in Zechariah 1:3) and is a Hebraic theological concept usually tranlated as “repentance,” but is much richer and deeper in meaning. Repentence is not some vague concept in Hebrew thought. It refers specifically to returning to Torah and only to returning to Torah. Neither Yeshua, John, nor their audience had any other understanding of the word. The correct idea of repentence is given to us in the Torah:
Deu 30:1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither YHVH thy Elohim hath driven thee, Deu 30:2 And shalt return unto YHVH thy Elohim, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul…If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of YHVH thy Elohim , to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto YHVH thy Elohim with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. Deu 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. Deu 30:12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Deu 30:13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Deu 30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. Deu 30:15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; Deu 30:16 In that I command thee this day to love YHVH thy Elohim , to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and YHVH thy Elohim shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. Deu 30:8 And thou shalt return and obey the voice of YHVH, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day. Deu 30:9 And YHVH thy Elohim will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for YHVH will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: Deu 30:10
Matthew, continued:
Mat 3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by Yeshaiyahu the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of Adonai. Make his paths straight.”
This passage appears in Isaiah:
Isa 40:1 “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your Elohim. Isa 40:2 “Speak comfortably to Yerushalayim; and call out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of YHWH’s hand double for all her sins.” Isa 40:3 The voice of one who calls out, “Prepare the way of YHWH in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our Elohim. Isa 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain. Isa 40:5 The glory of YHWH shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of YHWH has spoken it.” Isa 40:6 The voice of one saying, “Cry!” One said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the field. Isa 40:7 The grass withers, the flower fades, because YHWH’s breath blows on it. Surely the people are like grass. Isa 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our Elohim stands forever.” Isa 40:9 You who tell good news to Tziyon, go up on a high mountain. You who tell good news to Yerushalayim, lift up your voice with strength. Lift it up. Don’t be afraid. Say to the cities of Yehudah, “Behold, your Elohim!” Isa 40:10 Behold, Adonai YHWH will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him. Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. Isa 40:11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 3:4 Now Yochanan himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Mat 3:5 Then people from Yerushalayim, all of Yehudah, and all the region around the Yarden went out to him.
Mat 3:6 They were immersed by him in the Yarden, confessing their sins.
Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Perushim and Tzedukim coming for his immersion, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Mat 3:8 Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance!
The theme of bearing fruit and a harvest based on what type of fruit you have produced is a common one in the Tanakh.
Pro 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of YHVH: Pro 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Pro 1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Pro 12:14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.
Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Isa 3:10 Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
Jer 6:19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
Jer 17:10 I YHVH search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Jer 21:14 But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith YHVH…
Hos 10:13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
Mic 7:13 Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.
Also in the NT the theme reappears:
Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to Elohim , ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Matthew, continued:
Mat 3:9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Avraham for our father,’ for I tell you that Elohim is able to raise up sons to Avraham from these stones.
In the Hebrew there is a word play here, between “sons” and “stones.”
Matthew, continued:
Mat 3:10 “Behold! The axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 3:11 I indeed immerse you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will immerse you in fire and the Ruach HaKodesh.
Mat 3:12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
John may have had this passage in mind from Hoshea:
Hos 13:2 Now they sin more and more, and have made themselves molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen. They say of them, ‘They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves.’ Hos 13:3 Therefore they will be like the morning mist, and like the dew that passes away early, like the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor, and like the smoke out of the chimney.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 3:13 Then Yeshua came from the Galil to the Yarden to Yochanan, to be immersed by him.
Mat 3:14 But Yochanan would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be immersed by you, and you come to me?”
Mat 3:15 But Yeshua, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.
Righteousness is also defined for us by Elohim in the Torah, and repeated in numerous places in the Tanakh:
Deu 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before YHVH our Elohim , as he hath commanded us.
Psa 119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 3:16 Yeshua, when he was immersed, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of Elohim descending in the likeness of a dove, and rested upon him.
We find the correct version of this verse quoted by the early church father Epiphanius in his treatise “Panarion” section 30, verse 13:7 (which is the oldest record available of it). It also appears as such in the Old Syriac.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 3:17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom my being is pleased.”
Mat 4:1 Then Yeshua was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Mat 4:2 When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.
Mat 4:3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of Elohim, command that these stones become bread.”
Mat 4:4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Elohim.’”
This reply is from Deuteronomy:
Deu 8:1 All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which YHVH sware unto your fathers. Deu 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which YHVH thy Elohim led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. Deu 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of YHVH doth man live.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 4:5 Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
Mat 4:6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of Elohim, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will give his angels charge concerning you.’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”
Psalm 91:9-12 reads: (9) Because you have made YHWH your dwelling place – my refuge, Elyon! – (10) No evil befalls you. No plague is near your tent, (11) for He commands his messengers concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. (12) They bear you up in your hands, in case you dash your foot against a stone.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 4:7 Yeshua said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test Adonai, your Elohim.’”
This reply is also from Deuteronomy:
Deu 6:16 Ye shall not tempt YHVH your Elohim , as ye tempted him in Massah. Deu 6:17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of YHVH your Elohim , and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee. Deu 6:18 And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of YHVH: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which YHVH sware unto thy fathers…
Matthew, continued:
Mat 4:8 Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.
Mat 4:9 He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.”
Mat 4:10 Then Yeshua said to him, “Get behind me, Hasatan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship YHWH your Elohim, and him only shall you serve.’”
This exact wording does not seem to apper in the Tanakh, but we see the general principle throughout the text – for example, again, Deuteronomy:
Deut 6:13-14 reads: (13) Fear YHWH your Elohim, serve Him, and swear by His Name. (14) Do not follow other gods, the gods of the people around you.
Deu 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth YHVH thy Elohim require of thee, but to fear YHVH thy Elohim , to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve YHVH thy Elohim with all thy heart and with all thy soul, Deu 10:13 To keep the commandments of YHVH, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
Matthew, continued:
Mat 4:11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.
Mat 4:12 Now when Yeshua heard that Yochanan was imprisoned, he withdrew into the Galil.
Mat 4:13 Leaving Natzeret, he came and lived in Kefar-Nachum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zevulun and Naftali,
Mat 4:14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Yeshaiyahu the prophet, saying,
Mat 4:15 “The land of Zevulun and the land of Naftali, toward the sea, beyond the Yarden, Galil of the Gentiles,
Mat 4:16 the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.”
This passage comes from Isaiah:
Isa 9:1 But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zevulun and the land of Naftali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Yarden, Galil of the nations. Isa 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in the land of the shadow of death, on them the light has shined. Isa 9:3 You have multiplied the nation. You have increased their joy. They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. Isa 9:4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midyan. Isa 9:5 For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. Isa 9:6 For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty El, Everlasting Father, Prince of Shalom. Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and of shalom there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of YHWH Tzava’ot will perform this.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 4:17 From that time, Yeshua began to preach, and to say, “Turn! Turn in repentence – for the Kingdom of Heaven is offered.”
To forsake sin and to return to Torah is the message that Elohim has always given to us, either as YHWH or as Yeshua or in any other form. There is no other definition of repentance and never was. As John explains it to us plainly:
1Jo 3:1 Behold, how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of Elohim! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him. 1Jo 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of Elohim, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. 1Jo 3:3 Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure. 1Jo 3:4 Everyone who sins also commits Torahlessness. Sin is transgression of the Torah.
This is something we need to stop and learn clearly. The word in Greek “anomia” means without or against law. In Hebrew, that means without or against Torah. Anomia means Torahlessness, and those without or against the Torah are living in SIN.
1Jo 3:5 You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. 1Jo 3:6 Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him, neither knows him. 1Jo 3:7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 1Jo 3:8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of Elohim was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1Jo 3:9 Whoever is born of Elohim doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can’t sin, because he is born of Elohim. 1Jo 3:10 In this the children of Elohim are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of Elohim, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother. 1Jo 3:11 For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 4:18 Walking by the sea of the Galil, he saw two brothers: Shim`on, who is called Kefa, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
Mat 4:19 He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.”
Mat 4:20 They immediately left their nets and followed him.
Mat 4:21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, Ya`akov Ben-Zavdai, and Yochanan his brother, in the boat with Zavdai their father, mending their nets. He called them.
Mat 4:22 They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Mat 4:23 Yeshua went about in all Galil, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
Mat 4:24a The report about him went out unto all the people.
Hebrew sources show the original version of this verse read “ha’am” the people and not “aram” generaly considered to be “Syria.” It makes much more sense that the am ha’aretz (“common people” that is, “people of the land,” i.e. the poor and uneducated) heard about Yeshua and brought him their sick and injured than to say foreigners did so.
Matthew, continued:
Mat 4:24b They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them.
Mat 4:25 Great multitudes from the Galil, Decapolis, Yerushalayim, Yehudah and from beyond the Yarden followed him.
Next up: Epistle Beresheit.
Haftarah Beresheit
Isaiah 42:5-21 Sephard
Isaiah 42:5-43:11 Ashkenaz
Updated October 2009
All readers begin here.
Isaiah 42:5a Thus says the Elohim, and Elohim who created the heavens and stretched them out…
This very interesting literal rendering comes to us from 1QIsa(a) and resists the later “correcting” of the Tanakh by the Masorites who wanted to eliminate instances where the Deity seems to be talking to Himself or acting as more than one manifestation simultaneously.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 42:5b … He who spread out the earth and that which comes out of it, he who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it.
A jibe at those, here in the modern world, who reject creationism and don’t believe Elohim breathed life into Adam.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 42:6 “I [YHWH] have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and make you a covenant to the people, as a light for the nations…
The tetragrammaton is here most likely notational since according to 1QIsa(a) it does not appear in the original text. Note also it says “to” the people, not “for” them per that text.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 42:7 …to open the blind eyes, to lead those bound out of the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison.
Yeshua may have been alluding to this passage or other similar ones when he said to John’s talmidim:
Mat 11:2 Now when Yochanan heard in the prison the works of Messiah, he sent two of his talmidim Mat 11:3 and said to him, “Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?” Mat 11:4 Yeshua answered them, “Go and tell Yochanan the things which you hear and see: Mat 11:5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. Mat 11:6 Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 42:8a “I YHWH am the one…
So says 1QIsa(a).
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 42:8b …and I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to engraved images.
Isa 42:9 Behold, the former things have happened, and I declare the new things. Before they unfold I make you aware of them.”
Here scriptural prophecy is held up as proof of Elohim’s sovereignty and power. Prophecy is something we should all study diligently and be able to discuss with confidence.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 42:10 Sing to YHWH a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the islands and their inhabitants.
Isa 42:11 Let the wilderness cry out, its cities and the villages that Kedar inhabits, and let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy. Let them shout aloud from the top of the mountains!
Isa 42:12 Let them give glory to YHWH, and declare his praise in the islands.
Isa 42:13 YHWH will go out like a mighty man. He will stir up zeal like a man of war. Showing His anger, He shouts aloud! He will triumph over his enemies.
Isa 42:14 “Certainly I have been silent a long time. I have been quiet and restrained myself. Now I will cry out like a travailing woman. I will both gasp and pant.
Isa 42:15 I will destroy mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs. I will make the rivers islands, and will dry up the pools.
Isa 42:16 I will bring the blind by a way that they don’t know. I will lead them in paths that they don’t know. I will make the dark places light before them, and rough places level. I will do these things, and I will not forsake them.
Isa 42:17 “Those who trust in engraved images will be turned back and utterly shamed, those who say to images, ‘You are our Elohim.’
Isa 42:18 “Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see.
Isa 42:19 Who is blind, but my servant? Or who is as deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is as blind as he who is devout, and blind as YHWH’s servant?
The word here translated “devout” is Meshelam (m-sh-l-m), which is literally “to be whole” or “from a place of peace”. It appears elsewhere only in the DuTillet Hebrew text of Matthew 5:9, where it is usually rendered “peacemakers” in most other texts. The Aramaic of Matthew renders this word as (ayin-b-d-y sh-l-m-aleph) “doers of peace.” Back in Isaiah, the Peshitta Aramaic text here has “ruler” (sh-l-y-tet-aleph) which admittedly could be a scribal error. However, the word “servant” (ayin-b-d) is here used as a parallelism. The LXX reads “…yes, the servants of YHWH have been made blind.”
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 42:20 You see many things, but don’t observe. His ears are open, but he doesn’t listen.
Isa 42:21 It pleased YHWH, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the Torah, and make it honorable.
This theme of eyes that don’t see and ears that don’t hear and hearts that don’t perceive is repeated several times both in the prophets and in the NT. It refers to people who are willfully refusing to acknowledge Elohim as Creator and the Torah as binding.
Sephardi readers end here. Ashkenaz readers continue.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 42:22 But this is a robbed and plundered people. All of them are trapped in holes, and they are hidden in prisons. They have become a prey, and no one delivers; and a spoil, and no one says, ‘Restore them!’
Isa 42:23 Who is there among you who will give ear to this? Indeed, let him pay attention and listen for the time to come!
Isa 42:24 Who gave Ya`akov as plunder, and Yisra’el to the robbers? Didn’t YHWH, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in his ways, and they disobeyed his Torah.
Isa 42:25 Therefore he poured the heat of his anger on him, and the fierceness of battle; and it set him on fire all around, but he didn’t know; and it burned him, but he didn’t take it to heart.”
We must not presume that we are perfect and that all mishaps that occur in our lives are “bad luck” or “demon activity,” as one willfully blind person recently asserted while at the same time declaring his intention to ignore YHWH’s appointed festival days and spend those days driving instead. Elohim punishes people w ho know better but refuse to obey. Elohim judges the heart – the willfully disobedient can expect to be rebuked.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 43:1 But now thus says YHWH who created you, Ya`akov, and he who formed you, Yisra’el: “Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine.
Isa 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you.
Isa 43:3 For I am YHWH your Elohim, the Holy One of Yisra’el, your Redeemer. I have given Egypt for your ransom, Kush and the people of Seva in exchange for you.
Isa 43:4 Since you have been precious and honored in my sight, and I have loved you; therefore I will give people in your place, and nations instead of your life.
Isa 43:5 Don’t be afraid; for I am with you. I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west.
Isa 43:6 I will tell the north, ‘Give them up!’ and tell the south, ‘Don’t hold them back! Bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the ends of the earth–
Isa 43:7 everyone who is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.’”
The Ingathering (Sukkot on the prophetic calendar).
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 43:8 Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears.
Isa 43:9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. Who is among them that can declare this, or announce the former things? Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, “That is true.”
Again referring to prophecy – Elohim challenges other nation’s “gods” to produce accurate and detailed prophetic pronouncements and explain correctly why things had to happen the way they did in the past.
Isaiah, continued:
Isa 43:10 “You are my witnesses,” says YHWH, “With my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no Elohim formed, neither will there be after me.
Isa 43:11 I myself am YHWH; and besides me there is no savior.
Next up: Talmidim Beresheit
Torah Portion Beresheit
Genesis 1:1-6:8
Updated October 2009
This is a long Parashat and covers a lot of esoteric theological ground.
Gen 1:1 בראשׁית ברא אלהים את השׁמים ואת הארץ׃
The word “beresheit” has given people fits for a long time. It is the preposition “B” linked with the root “R-SH” (as in “Rosh,” meaning a literal “head,” a positional “chief,” or a figurative “head of a matter/issue.”) “B” means “in” or “when.” The noun is transformed from a “concrete” to an “abstract” with the addition of the “-it” suffix. So the noun “head” then becomes an abstract concept like “principal” from the idea of “chief,” or “total,” possibly “summation,” as well as “beginning,” or even “foundation” as in the head of the matter. All of these concepts are used elsewhere in scripture to translate R-SH-T.
So, literally translated, this reads something like:
“In summation , He created Elohim, et the heavens and et the earth.”
This follows the Hebraic literary practice of making broad, sweeping outlines of stories and then going back to fill in the details, which follow in the subsequent verses.
This sentence has a lot of issues with “the.” We find no “ha” or “et” in the “phrase most often translated as “in the beginning,” and both “ha” and “et” in front of both heavens and earth. The “et” is not something we have in English, it is a sort of directional pointer, almost like an inner-sentence exclamation point. We could write it as “THE” instead of “the.”
The standard grammatical structure for ancient Hebrew, as is recorded in the Bible, is predominantly V-S-O (that is, verb-subject-object). There are some new, “edgy” translations of this sentence floating around. One is “When God began to create the heavens and the earth…” which doesn’t work for the following reasons. [hat tip: Frank Luke]
Genesis 1:1 has been the topic of much controversy in the last few decades. A recent retranslation has the above sentence. The justification is that this is one possibility that an ancient Jew or Hebrew would understand. This essay will attempt to explore that possibility from a grammatical standpoint.
There are at least four reasons that the above translation will not work under Biblical Hebrew’s rules of grammar.
1. Changes the state of the verb. The Hebrew verb bara’ is in a finite form. Specifically, the Hebrew verb used here is in the Qal perfect state (more specifically the Qal perfect 3rd masculine singular). The perfect state is always a finite verb. The translation in question requires a Qal infinitive construct (‘to create’) and would read bero’ (as in Genesis 5:1). There is no way to confuse a Qal perfect 3ms with a Qal infinitive construct.
2. Turns a noun into a verb. “When God began to create” not only requires confusing an infinitive construct and perfect but also requires that one confuse a noun and a verb. Though several Hebrew words are translated “begin, began” none can be confused with re’shith (used 51 times in the Old Testament). The most common word for “began” as a verb in Genesis is chalal. The two words look nothing alike in Hebrew. Similarly, the Bible never uses a verb form for re’shith or its root re’sh.
3. Puts the prepositional phrase in the wrong place. As many languages (Hebrew included) do not allow splitting an infinitive, Hebrew also forbids splitting the prepositional phrase. In fact, the most common Hebrew prepositions are prefixed onto the noun they modify (hence the grammars refer to them as “inseparable prepositions”). Genesis 1:1 uses one of the inseparable prepositions on “beginning” but not “God.” The text reads bere’shith not beElohim. Therefore, God is not the object of the preposition and we cannot justify “When God” instead of “in beginning.”
4. The new verse becomes a dependent clause. Hebrew grammar and syntax forbid a dependent clause (rare enough in Hebrew anyway) from being joined to the independent clause by a waw conjunction. Genesis 1:2 begins with this waw conjunction meaning “and” or “but.” The traditional (and correct) translation of these two verses renders, “In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth, and the earth was”
The next two observations do not deal with the translation offered above but with similar arguments that could be made.
1. There is no other way of saying “when” in Hebrew besides the simple preposition be. Actually, there is. One way is beyom. This is the normal word for “day” prefixed by the preposition for “in.” It reads literally as “in day” (no article). However, the Hebrews use this construction idiomatic for “when” (for example Gen 2:4, 17).
2. What about “When beginning?” This translation fares little better. Though the preposition be can mean “when” in the proper context, doing so makes this occurrence an adverb. As mentioned above, re’shith is not a verb, cannot be confused with a verb, and is never used as a verb.
In conclusion, Genesis 1:1 should not be translated as proposed [i.e. "When God began to create the heavens and the earth..."]. The translation breaks no less than four rules of Hebrew grammar.
The fact that the prepositional phrase occurs at the beginning of the sentence is also a rather extraordinary departure from the regular V-S-O format, which leads us to the esoteric issues of this verse, namely, just what was created, and how was it done?
Prior to any of creation, there was only the Ain Sof [literally “without end”]. This being is pure spirit, pure power, and exists entirely outside of space and time. This being was everything and everywhere, there was nothing else at all. This Being, according to the Kabbalah, had to withdraw itself from an “area” or “void” in order to make a separate creation from itself. That area is the place that contains the space/time continuum – the universe as we know it. Outside of this area, all around our expanding universe, is still the Ain Sof. The Ain Sof is not a creature of matter and time – it is THE Deity and is completely outside of space and time.
But creation hasn’t been made just yet. At first, there is only the Ain Sof and the void which the Ain Sof vacated to make a space for creation. The void became a sort of womb, if you will, in which creation was formed. This is often illustrated like this:
There are, as string theory assures us, ten or eleven dimensions of creation. The reason both ten and eleven are postulated involves the indeterminate properties of the “11th” aspect. In Hebrew Mysticism these are called “sefirot,” and they each have a name and a function. There are 10 fully emanated Sefirot, and the half-sefirot “da’at” which translates as “knowledge.” Knowledge is a special category, not a full emanation of the Deity here on Earth, because not everything we “know” comes from God. We can get knowledge from creation, from hasatan, or we can make it up and teach it to ourselves. So Da’at is not always a fixed, fully emanated Sefirot because some of what you “know” can be dead wrong. Elohim only emanates truth.
In the physical aspect of the universe, the first four sephirot, the lowest levels, combined are the x-y-z-c (length, width, height, and time) that comprise what we perceive of the space/time continuum, the universe that we can see and experience all around us, and in which we exist. The next seven levels “upward” from us are the seven Heavens. However, these emanations represent not only the spiritual and physical structure of the universe, but also comprise the “body” of Elohim – the image from which we were created.
Elohim was the first emanation of the Ain Sof within the void, and it is, as you can see from its plural form, the totality or summation of all the manifested forms. Elohim is, if you will, the “virtual self” of the Ain Sof – a projection into the void that does not overwhelm it. There are several known separate manifestations of Elohim which we can learn about directly from scripture. [For more information there is a sidebar article covering this topic.]
Elohim then proceeded to create everything as we know it.
Genesis, continued.
Gen 1:2 Now the earth was unformed and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of Elohim hovered over the face of the waters.
“Waters” here probably refers to the “waves” of light, the streams of matter and energy that poured forth from that first instant of creation. It is important to understand here what Einstein taught us:
E (energy/spirit) =M (matter/body) x C (distance at which light travels in one year, a measure of time and space) (squared)
Energy and Matter are the same thing and at the right time are 100% interchangeable. Right now, you exist in a form of matter that is confined to the lowest four levels of the space/time continuum – ordinary existence. At a later time, either the Parousia or a Resurrection, you will be converted to a different type of matter – IF you qualify to do so by entering the covenant relationship with Elohim.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 1:3 And Elohim said: ‘Let there be light.’ And there was light.
Gen 1:4 And Elohim saw the light, that it was good; and Elohim divided the light from the darkness.
Gen 1:5 And Elohim called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
Obviously, “day” and “night” here cannot mean a 24 hour day, because the sun has not yet been created, neither has the earth, so the rotation of the earth is not in any way relevant to the designation of a “day” here. The word “day” has never meant just a 24-hour day. We say, “In my day…” to indicate our own past. We say, “In Edison’s day…” to indicate the lifetime of some famous person who is now dead. We say, “In the day of trebuchets…” to indicate a past time when some particular technology or machinery was widely used or was the “latest” invention. And so on and so forth. A “day” of creation was the time it took for various aspects of creation to occur, however long we may consider that to be – not a 24-hour day.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 1:6 And Elohim said: ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.’
Gen 1:7 And Elohim made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.
Gen 1:8 And Elohim called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.
This is where Elohim made the 10 dimensions of space/time into the earth and into heaven – into visible physical and not visible “spiritual” reality, and divided them from each other. It is a mistake to think of the seven heavens as being “somewhere out there.” They in fact inhabit the same area that we inhabit – the same void made by the Ain Sof – but they are separated from us by dimensional barriers that we, in our present form, cannot physically cross and can barely reach mentally. Angels, however, are made of a type of matter that can cross dimensional barriers. That type of matter has actually been detected as anomalies by scientists, as we learn in this article from the April 2007 and August 2007 issues of Scientific American (with a follow-up in September 2008). I won’t quote all three articles, just a blurb from one of them:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=dimensional-shortcuts
…To explain why we do not perceive the extra dimensions, string theorists have posited that all the ordinary particles in our universe many be confined to the four-dimensional “brane” floating…But certain special particles can travel in and out of the brane, notably the graviton and the sterile neutrino…
Angels can pass from the heavenly dimensions to the visible ones because they are made of different types of particles, not because they are “only spirit.” Inside the visible space/time continuum and the seven levels of Heaven, which are ALL created places, E-MC(2) is a law. There is no such thing as just “Spirit.” All matter IS energy.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 1:9 And Elohim said: ‘Let the waters underneath the heavens be gathered together unto one gathering, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so. And the waters under the heavens gathered to their gatherings, and the dry land appeared.
“Gathering” is literally “miqvah” as seen in 4QGen(h1) and the LXX. “Place” (maqom) which is the more common translation, represents a later corruption. The last sentence was omitted from the Masorite text, but appears intact in 4Qgen(k) and the LXX.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 1:10 And Elohim called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters called He Seas; and Elohim saw that it was good.
Gen 1:11 And Elohim said: ‘Let the earth put forth grass, herb yielding seed, and fruit-tree bearing fruit after its kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth.’ And it was so.
Gen 1:12 And the earth brought forth grass, herb yielding seed after its kind, and tree bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after its kind; and Elohim saw that it was good.
Gen 1:13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.
Here our planet was created, and plants were brought forth. This is not impossible, as some people insist who claim that since the sun was not yet created and therefore this cannot be. If the earth was at that time much closer to the center of the universe, or was part of a cluster of young suns (as recent scientific evidence seems to indicate), then the light from these other sources could certainly be enough for photosynthesis to occur. According to an article in the November 2009 issue of Scientific American, there was sufficient light on the surface of the earth to read by before our own sun had reached hydrogen flash. Obviously, if there’s enough to read by, there’s enough for plants to develop photosynthesis. This article also confirms that our present position in the milky way was not our original position in this galaxy. We have in fact moved to our present location – it’s not where the earth formed.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 1:14 And Elohim said: ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;
The word here translated as “seasons” is the Hebrew “Moedim,” more properly understood to be “appointed times,” referring to the Feasts and Fasts of the Hebrew Calendar. We are to use the visual sighting of the New Moon and the Aviv Search in the spring to determine the proper times for observing Elohim’s appointed times. We are not to move them or change them to more “convenient” times, we are to observe them on the exact days they are commanded to be observed. This is because they are not just memorials of past events, they are markers of future prophetic events, too.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 1:15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.’ And it was so.
Gen 1:16 And Elohim made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; and the stars.
Gen 1:17 And Elohim set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
Gen 1:18 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.
Gen 1:19 And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
The rest of the Universe and/or Milky way is created, the sun reaches hydrogen flash, and the planet positioned in the place we are now located. We can presume rotation and the 24-hour day begins at this time. Prior to this, we have no idea what a “day” might have been. It is also entirely possible that the original non-24 hour definition of “day” prevails throughout chapter one and two of Genesis. “Scientific Adam,” as the recent History/Discovery Channel documentary called him – the man whose DNA is the forebear of all men now living – existed 60,000 years ago. It’s awfully interesting that if you lose a zero, you get 6000, isn’t it? Paleo Hebrew may have had no means of indicating tens of thousands. It was beyond early man’s comprehension.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 1:20 And Elohim said: ‘Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let fowl fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.’
Gen 1:21 And Elohim created the great sea-monsters, and every living creature that creepeth, wherewith the waters swarmed, after its kind, and every winged fowl after its kind; and Elohim saw that it was good.
Gen 1:22 And Elohim blessed them, saying: ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and the birds shall multiply in the earth.’
Gen 1:23 And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
Even the most die-hard evolutionists don’t argue with the fact that after plant life, sea life and birds were the next to appear, in that order, followed by land animals. So far everything described in Genesis fits very well with the most recently available scientific knowledge.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 1:24 And Elohim said: ‘Let the earth bring forth the living creature after its kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after its kind.’ And it was so.
Gen 1:25 And Elohim made the beast of the earth after its kind, and the cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the ground after its kind; and Elohim saw that it was good.
Gen 1:26 And Elohim said: ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.’
Gen 1:27 And Elohim created man in His own image, in the image of Elohim created He him; male and female created He them.
Targum Onkelos has “And the Word of YHWH created man…”
Genesis, continued:
Gen 1:28 And Elohim blessed them; and Elohim said unto them: ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that creepeth upon the earth.’
The “image” of Elohim is the image of the Sephirot, as we saw above – the ten aspects of creation that are unique to compassionate, thinking creatures. These are described by the Rabbis as Keter, Chochman, Binah, Chesed, (Da’at), Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod, Malchut/Shekinah. Shaul of Tarsus describes them as Love, Joy, Peace, (Knowledge of God), Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Temperance and Righteousness. Animals cannot have these qualities, only homo sapiens sapiens can. We choose either to live like animals or to elevate ourselves to a covenant relationship with Elohim and commit to being like Elohim. Animals have no such choice.
Much is made of this phrase “replenish the earth.” Some speculate that pre-Adamite races existed, or, more likely, homo sapiens sapiens, the first truly intelligent species of man, was simply commanded to replace the earlier strains of “homo-” who lacked the intelligence to relate to Elohim. Adam’s descendants were commanded to become the sole branch of humanity.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 1:29 And Elohim said: ‘Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed – to you it shall be for food;
Gen 1:30 and to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is a living soul, I have given every green herb for food.’ And it was so.
Gen 1:31 And Elohim saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Man at this time did not eat bread – he simply existed on seasonal fruits and vegetables. These are natural foods that reproduce after their kind. Modern genetically modified seeds with “suicide genes” that prevent them from reproducing after their kind are therefore not fit to be called “food.” They are unnatural abominations that sicken people.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 2:1 And the heaven and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
Gen 2:2a And on the sixth day Elohim finished His work which He had made…
The Masorite text is here very likely incorrect. We can be reasonably sure of this, since the Masorite text dates from the early middle ages, whereas the LXX, the Aramaic, and the Samaritan versions which are earlier all say “sixth day” instead of “seventh day.” However, the “seventh day” does appear in one of the Dead Sea Scroll texts: 4QGen(k).
Gen 2:2b …and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.
Gen 2:3 And Elohim blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested from all His work which Elohim in creating had made.
The Sabbath was established at creation, and applies to all mankind, and is the 7th day of the week and no other day. According to tradition, Creation began on Elul the 26th, and the sixth day, the creation of mankind, was on Tishri 1st, followed by the very first Shabbat on Tishri 2nd. This is why the two days are celebrated together as “one long day” as Rosh HaShanah, though the Torah itself only commands that Tishri 1st be observed as Yom Teruah. The sages wanted to draw attention to the fact that the Sabbath was established at creation and is not changeable, even though Tishri 2nd does not always fall on a sabbath each year. It is part of creation and therefore is permanently established by Elohim and since “I change not,” neither does the Sabbath.
At this point we drop back from the Grand Narrative of the formation of the Universe as we know it, and fill in some details. This is a standard literary practice of ancient storytelling.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 2:4 These are the generations of the heaven and of the earth when they were created, in the day that YHWH Elohim made earth and heaven.
Gen 2:5 No shrub of the field was yet in the land, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for YHWH Elohim had not caused it to rain upon the land, and there was not a man to till the ground;
Gen 2:6 but there went up a mist from the land, and watered the whole face of the ground.
“The land” here is the word ha’eretz, which is often a euphemism for “Eretz Israel.” It would appear that Elohim created the rest of the earth, and left the land that would later be known as “Israel” for last. The Rock on the Temple Mount is presumed by the sages to be the place where Adam was created.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 2:7 Then YHWH Elohim formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Gen 2:8 And YHWH Elohim planted a garden eastward, in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed.
Gen 2:9 And out of the ground made YHWH Elohim to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Gen 2:10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became four heads.
Gen 2:11 The name of the first is Pishon; that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
Gen 2:12 and the gold of that land is good; there is bdellium and the onyx stone.
Gen 2:13 And the name of the second river is Gihon; the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Cush.
Gen 2:14 And the name of the third river is Tigris; that is it which goeth toward the east of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
No one is certain where the Garden of Eden was located. “Scientific Adam” most certainly lived in Africa – but since Adam and Chawwah didn’t have children until after the expulsion from the Garden, that doesn’t help us locate it. The locations of the Tigris and the Euphrates are known to us, of course, but the current rivers of those names may have simply been named for their pre-deluge counterparts, whose true locations are lost to us. Based on the current rivers of those names, the Garden of Eden is presumed to have been located somewhere in what is now Turkey. It is true that some of the earliest know cities are located in that general area, but again, cities didn’t get built until after the expulsion. They could have traveled a long way before deciding to settle down, fearing the Cherubim and Elohim’s wrath.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 2:15 And YHWH Elohim took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
Gen 2:16 And YHWH Elohim commanded the man, saying: ‘Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat;
Gen 2:17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.’
Clearly the definitions of “day” and “die” are not what we think of them in our modern scientific point of view. “Die” may mean be transformed into our typical common particles of matter that are trapped here on the lowest level of creation. A “Day” has been speculated to be 1000 years, since Adam lived to be 930, and elsewhere in scripture a “day” is described as being like 1000 years to Elohim. Once again, at least, we see the term “day” is used primarily metaphorically in the first two chapters of Genesis, and not literally.
2Pe 3:8 But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with Adonai as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 2:18 YHWH Elohim said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”
Gen 2:19 Out of the ground YHWH Elohim formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.
Gen 2:20 The man gave names to all livestock, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field; but for man there was not found a helper suitable for him.
Gen 2:21 YHWH Elohim caused a deep sleep to fall on the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.
Gen 2:22 He made the rib, which YHWH Elohim had taken from the man, into a woman, and brought her to the man.
Gen 2:23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
Gen 2:24 Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.
Gen 2:25 They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Contrary to the popular argument, this first passage does not “prove” that man was created prior to animals in the second chapter as opposed to afterward in the first. All it “proves” is that Elohim choose not to have every animal on the planet travel from its natural habitat so Adam could name them, rather he chose to “form” each one on the spot. The word “form” in Hebrew means to create out of existing materials, as opposed to the word “create” which we understand to be creation “ex nihilo,” from nothing.
This demonstration of Elohim’s ability to form the creatures had the primary purpose of “proving” to Adam that the Being there with him was in fact the author and maker of all Creation. Notice later that hasatan does not try and claim Elohim is not the Creator and Owner of all – he could not do this since Adam had seen Elohim form the creatures with his own eyes. Hasatan could not challenge the fact of creation with Adam – he can only do that with us, because we no longer believe in it.
Before we get to chapter three, there are several people who have lamented that Elohim should have made people so that they cannot sin. But He did not. Free will is encoded in the very atoms of this universe, as the Heisenburg Uncertainty Principle and as quantum physics. Elohim could have made a bunch of little robots that would never disobey and would always say and think that they love Him – but is that real love? Is it real obedience? Elohim wants a real relationship with us, by our own free will and choice. He does not want a bunch a automatons who are programmed to act as if they love Him. Who would want that?
Free will does, however, give hasatan an “in.” And not only that, the Heisenburg Uncertainty Principle which gives us free will also gives hasatan the idea that he can win this battle and enthrone himself in the 7th Heaven as ruler of this universe. All of creation including the manifestations of Elohim that project into here are bound by the laws of time/space/physics as much as they are bound to the equivalent spiritual laws which govern creation – indeed, they are reflections of each other, interchangeable, one and the same. But the Ain Sof exists outside of space and time, undetectable to us here – and undetectable to hasatan as well, as a created being trapped in the space/time continuum here with us in creation. And since the Deity is outside of space and time, he is NOT bound by it at all, and can “correct” any mishaps that hasatan causes. This is complicated theory and we won’t get into it deeply here, so suffice it to say that the uncertainty principle which gives us free will is an inherent part of this universe, and it means that things don’t always turn out the way we want. Sin is possible, evil is possible, and we can and do choose not to do the right things.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which YHWH Elohim had made. He said to the woman, “Has Elohim really said, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?’”
Gen 3:2 The woman said to the serpent, “Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat,
Gen 3:3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, Elohim has said, ‘You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
Hasatan possessed the serpent, as he will later possess the dead body of the False Messiah after he is assassinated at the midpoint of the Tribulation. The real problem with this passage is not a possessed snake, it’s the “fence” around Elohim’s commandment which apparently Adam had made up and taught Chawwah (Eve). Hasatan was able to use the fact that breaking the “fence” rule about not touching had no bad effect to lure Chawah into breaking the real commandment. This is one fallacy of the “oral law” which the Rabbis have constructed – it doesn’t keep people from sinning, it actually causes people to sin. Here Adam had apparently done what the Rabbis do every day, adding to or subtracting from the revealed Word of Elohim and claiming those additions are actually what Elohim said to us. He meant well, I’m sure. But the end was a disaster.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 3:4 The serpent said to the woman, “You won’t surely die,
Gen 3:5 for Elohim knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like Elohim, knowing good and evil.”
Gen 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit of it, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate.
Gen 3:7 The eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Since Elohim made Adam and Chawah naked, and they lived naked under Elohim’s care all the time prior to the Fall (which was probably 7 years, a subject we’ll get into during later Torah Portions when we talk about prophecy), being naked itself was not and could not be a “sin.” You’re not sinning when you’re naked with your spouse, to be blunt. So what did they learn that made them understand they should not be naked in public, in front of others?
Scripture!
Torah tells us everything that is good and what is evil – the laws of the Torah including the Wisdom of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, etc, and the teachings of the Prophets is literally all the Knowledge we need for discerning good and evil. Adam and Chawah learned the Torah when they ate from the Tree of Knowledge – after all, it was Knowledge from Elohim, from a Tree which Elohim made. It was 100% true knowledge and still is. In that instant, all the laws of the Torah were impressed on their minds and conscious awareness, and they knew they were required to “dress modestly.” They did the best they could with what they had to work with right there at hand – leaves.
We, too, must obey in a like manner – with whatever we have available, whether we think it’s adequate or not. Contrary to what the Rabbis will tell you, there is no black/white dividing line for obedience – no “right way” to obey and nothing else counts. All obedience to the Torah, done to the BEST of our ability, counts, even if it seems to us barely adequate. Leaves are better than nothing – this is the true meaning of “the spirit, not the letter.” It doesn’t mean you ignore the letter, it means your mental and emotional motives to obey the Torah as BEST you can and not disobey, even if it means hardship for you. That is the substance of our commitment to the Covenant relationship with Elohim. We obey, whatever it takes.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 3:8 They heard the voice of YHWH Elohim walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of YHWH Elohim among the trees of the garden.
Gen 3:9 YHWH Elohim called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”
Gen 3:10 The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
Gen 3:11 Elohim said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
Gen 3:12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
Gen 3:13 YHWH Elohim said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
As Moshe wrote this, he used the name “YHWH” even though he had already been told that El Shaddai (feminine) was the manifestation of Elohim known to the patriarchs. Moshe wrote this way because he never knew Elohim by any name other than YHWH, he was born too late to ever meet with Elohim when manifested as El Shaddai. Elohim stopped manifesting as El Shaddai because worship of the womb and nurturer of creation was perverted into female idol worship from the earliest days of mankind. It offended Elohim greatly.
Obviously, in whatever form Elohim appeared, Elohim did not need to ask them what they had done. Elohim already knew, and could have just appeared and started accusing them. But that is not how repentance works – we must CONFESS our sins, and acknowledge them, in order to truly repent. Elohim wants us to repent freely, just as our love and obedience is better if it is given freely. A real relationship has to be based on free will, or it has no meaning. That does not mean, of course, that there will not be consequences if we choose sin.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 3:14 YHWH Elohim said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock, and above every animal of the field. On your belly shall you go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.
Gen 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.”
It has long been understood that hasatan or any demon cannot possess you unless you give them an opening or actually invite or allow them to do so. Apparently, the serpent in some way did so.
The prophecy of 3:15, of course, has long been understood to refer to Messiah.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 3:16 To the woman he said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth. In pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
Sex and childbirth are not sins – indeed all animals and Adam and Eve themselves were given their first commandment to “go forth and multiply.” It has often been asked what childbirth has to do with her sin – and some wild speculations have resulted. But the most basic issue is that now her sinful nature will be passed on to her offspring – and Adam’s too. The Pain is a reminder.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 3:17 To Adam he said, “Because you have listened to your wife’s voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
Gen 3:18 Thorns also and thistles will it bring forth to you; and you will eat the herb of the field.
Gen 3:19 By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Gen 3:20 The man called his wife Chawah, because she was the mother of all living.
Here, Adam and Chawah are both punished, one in giving life to future men, and the other in giving death to them. The yin-yang of this punishment, and they whys and wherefores, have been the subject of intense speculation over the years, and we will not go into that here. Suffice it to say the punishments are as much spiritual as they are physical, since E=MC(2).
What does food have to do with it? The garden represents the Tabernacle and the Temple, and was set up in a similar fashion, with the Trees of Knowledge and Life at the innermost location. In the Messianic Kingdom, we read that the Trees along the river of life will give crops every month, and the leaves will be for the healing of the nations. In Eden, food was not a concern, either. It just appeared, and they ate. They ignored Elohim’s one commandment for lust of forbidden food, and therefore it is fitting that their punishment involve acquisition of food.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 3:21 YHWH Elohim made coats of skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them.
The coverings they had made for themselves were inadequate, so Elohim made them effective ones. This was the first sacrifice for sin – a bull, we may presume, a sin offering. Adam, as the first High Priest under the order of the Firstborns, would have acquired the leather as part of his allotment for carrying out his duty to offer the sacrifices.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 3:22 YHWH Ehohim said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he put forth his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever…”
Gen 3:23 Therefore YHWH Elohim sent him forth from the garden of `Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken.
Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed Keruvs at the east of the garden of `Eden, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
It should be entirely clear from this passage that man does NOT at this time have immortality. Man was banished from the Garden of Eden specifically to PREVENT him from having immortality. Man only obtains immortality through the Parousia or through one of the Resurrections, being transformed into a different state of matter that is eternal rather than temporal, and can only do so by entering the Covenant Relationship with Elohim. (This will be discussed more in relation to judgment in later Torah Portions. It does not mean that people who never heard of Torah or Messiah cannot enter into the kingdom at all, for example. Righteous gentiles do enter the kingdom – as subjects. But rulership of the Kingdom is reserved for Obedient Believers alone.)
Genesis, continued:
Gen 4:1 The man knew Chawah his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Kayin, and said, “I have gotten a man with YHWH’s help.”
Gen 4:2 And continuing to give birth, she brought forth Kayin’s brother Hevel. Hevel was a keeper of sheep, but Kayin was a tiller of the ground.
The pattern of giving birth to twins, and the younger being more favorable to Elohim than the older, is established immediately in the human family. This meme has great prophetic and spiritual significance, and is repeated numerous times in scripture.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 4:3 As time passed, it happened that Kayin brought an offering to YHWH from the fruit of the ground.
Gen 4:4 Hevel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat of it. YHWH respected Hevel and his offering,
Gen 4:5 but he didn’t respect Kayin and his offering. Kayin was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.
Gen 4:6 YHWH said to Kayin, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?
Gen 4:7 If you do well, will it not be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”
Let’s be clear here – they knew about proper offerings and sin already, because Adam would have taught them the Torah he learned from the Tree. During the time of the patriarchs, the Knowledge of Torah was passed down from father to son and from mother to daughter. Over the succeeding generations, of course, this allowed distortions and mistakes to creep in – which is why many ancient cultures had similar laws and stories as the Hebrew Torah. Like the game of post-office, over time such transmissions became flawed, though many laws and customs retained similarities to the original Torah.
We can only speculate what was wrong with Kayin’s offering – perhaps it wasn’t really the BEST or perhaps his attitude was the problem. As the oldest son, he should have been next in line as High Priest of the family after his father Adam, but it’s clear he wasn’t taking his responsibility seriously.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 4:8 Kayin said to Hevel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” It happened when they were in the field, that Kayin rose up against Hevel, his brother, and killed him.
The Masorite Text and the Dead Sea scroll text omit the phrase “Let us go to the field.” However, the text appears in Samaritan Pentateuch, the Aramaic Peshitta, and the LXX. Without it, the passage is obviously missing some important information.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 4:9 YHWH said to Kayin, “Where is Hevel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Again, Elohim didn’t’ need to ask. Again, Kayin was given an opportunity to confess.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 4:10 YHWH said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s bloods cries to me from the ground.
In the Hebrew, the word is literally the plural “bloods” because not just Hevel was killed, but all of his descendants were simultaneously killed. His family line was ended.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 4:11 Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
Gen 4:12 From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth.”
Gen 4:13 Kayin said to YHWH, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Gen 4:14 Behold, you have driven me out this day from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. It will happen that whoever finds me will kill me.”
Gen 4:15 YHWH said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Kayin, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” YHWH appointed a sign for Kayin, lest any finding him should strike him.
It is clear that the idea of “kinsman redeemer” was already known, since it was in the Torah as the “avenger of blood” and Adam learned the Torah when he ate from the Tree, and taught all his children. Kayin knew his life was forfeit, but he appealed to Elohim to not allow any more of the family line of Adam to be exterminated from the face of the Earth, and Elohim agreed to let his family line live on. We can presume some repentance must be involved for Elohim to agree to this, since Adam and Eve already had daughters and could easily have other sons. To that end, some mark was made on his forehead to indicate to the others that he had been pardoned by Elohim. What that mark may have been is the subject of speculation.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 4:16 Kayin went out from YHWH’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of `Eden.
“Nod” may be a proper name, or it could just mean “wandering.”
Genesis, continued:
Gen 4:17 Kayin knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Chanokh. He built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Chanokh.
Gen 4:18 To Chanokh was born `Irad. `Irad became the father of Mechuya’el. Mechuya’el became the father of Metusha’el. Metusha’el became the father of Lamekh.
Gen 4:19 Lamekh took two wives: the name of the one was `Adah, and the name of the other Tzillah.
Gen 4:20 `Adah gave birth to Yaval, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.
Gen 4:21 His brother’s name was Yuval, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe.
Gen 4:22 Tzillah also gave birth to Tuval-Kayin, the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron. Tuval-Kayin’s sister was Na`amah.
Gen 4:23 Lamekh said to his wives, “`Adah and Tzillah, hear my voice. You wives of Lamekh, listen to my speech, for I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for bruising me.
Gen 4:24 If Kayin will be avenged seven times, truly Lamekh seventy-seven times.”
Kayin and his sister left the area where Adam and Chawah lived, but repentance didn’t completely remove the “bad blood” from his line, since it was his offspring that committed the second recorded murder as well – this time with no earthly pardon from Elohim.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 4:25 Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, “for Elohim has appointed me another child instead of Hevel, for Kayin killed him.”
Gen 4:26 There was also born a son to Seth, and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on YHWH’s name.
Sometimes transliterated “Shet,” the third son of Adam and Chawah took Torah to heart, and like his older brother Hevel before him, worshipped Elohim properly and with a good mind. With Kayin disqualified and Hevel dead, Seth was now next in line to be High Priest of the Family under the order of the Firstborns. His family line is now the Priestly line. His line leads directly to Shem, Noah’s firstborn, and also directly to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They are all of the original priestly line under the Order of the Firstborns.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that Elohim created man, he made him in Elohim’s likeness.
Gen 5:2 He created them male and female, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.
Gen 5:3 Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
Gen 5:4 The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he became the father of sons and daughters.
Gen 5:5 All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.
Gen 5:6 Seth lived one hundred five years, and became the father of Enosh.
Gen 5:7 Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
Gen 5:8 All the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years, then he died.
Gen 5:9 Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan.
Gen 5:10 Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan, eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
Gen 5:11 All the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.
Gen 5:12 Kenan lived seventy years, and became the father of Mahalal’el.
Gen 5:13 Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalal’el eight hundred forty years, and became the father of sons and daughters
Gen 5:14 and all the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died.
Gen 5:15 Mahalal’el lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Yered.
Gen 5:16 Mahalal’el lived after he became the father of Yered eight hundred thirty years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
Gen 5:17 All the days of Mahalal’el were eight hundred ninety-five years, then he died.
Gen 5:18 Yered lived one hundred sixty-two years, and became the father of Chanokh.
Gen 5:19 Yered lived after he became the father of Chanokh eight hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
Gen 5:20 All the days of Yered were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.
Gen 5:21 Chanokh lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Metushelach.
Gen 5:22 Chanokh walked with Elohim after he became the father of Metushelach three hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
Gen 5:23 All the days of Chanokh were three hundred sixty-five years.
Gen 5:24 Chanokh walked with Elohim, and he was not, for Elohim took him.
Usually translated as “Enoch” in English, this is the first of the Two Witnesses who will die their physical death at a later time, at the midpoint of the Tribulation. Elijah is the other of the Two Witnesses. Their job, so to speak, is to be “witnesses for the prosecution” at the time of Judgment. Enoch represents the pre-deluge generations, Elijah the post-deluge era.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 5:25 Metushelach lived one hundred eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamekh.
Gen 5:26 Metushelach lived after he became the father of Lamekh seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
Gen 5:27 All the days of Metushelach were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.
Gen 5:28 Lamekh lived one hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of a son,
Gen 5:29 and he named him Noach, saying, “This same will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, because of the ground which YHWH has cursed.”
Gen 5:30 Lamekh lived after he became the father of Noach five hundred ninety-five years, and became the father of sons and daughters.
Gen 5:31 All the days of Lamekh were seven hundred seventy-seven years, then he died.
Gen 5:32 Noach was five hundred years old, and Noach became the father of Shem, Cham, and Yefet.
As you can see from this chart, Adam was alive for most of the lifetimes of his descendants up until right before Noah. They could have, if so inclined, learned Torah directly from him, and there is no reason to believe he did not teach the Torah to the Patriarchs directly himself up until he died.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 6:1 It happened, when men began to multiply on the surface of the ground, and daughters were born to them,
Gen 6:2 that Elohim’s sons saw that men’s daughters were beautiful, and they took for themselves wives of all that they chose.
Gen 6:3 YHWH said, “My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; yet will his days be one hundred twenty years.”
Gen 6:4 The Nefilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when Elohim’s sons came in to men’s daughters. They bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
It is possible that the Nephilim were the offspring of a cross between Adam’s line, homo sapiens sapiens, and other pre-adamite races. It has been shown scientifically that early modern man did in fact cross breed somewhat with neandertals and other sub-human species. Since Elohim had commanded Adam’s line to breed “after their own kind,” this would have been a sin in and of itself. But this is not the most accepted interpretation, obviously. Religious traditions have other interpretations, especially from the Hellenistic era apocryphal text “The Book of Enoch,” and these are more widely discussed.
To modern thinkers, the Nephilim, apparently the offspring of fallen angels and human women, have inspired both denial and curiosity over the years. We can infer a few things about the Nephilim and their purpose on earth from theology in general and from scripture. First and foremost, it seems that hasatan’s plan at this point might have been to prevent the birth of Messiah by contaminating the human bloodline completely. We see a hint of that in the story of Noach, who was “perfect in his generations,” – that is, had no Nephilim DNA. Secondly, the Nephilim probably had greatly extended lifespans and various occult powers, and their “names” may have come down to us as the pagan “gods” of ancient times. Zeus, etc., could all have been Nephilim. Interestingly, what we know from pagan mythology is that not all Nephilim were “evil.” Some did their apparent best to help people and were as benevolent as they knew how to be in the rule over their subjects. This would have demonstrated to hasatan that this strategy was ultimately a failure – if the Nephilim would not all be willing to subjugate people, force the worship of hasatan and rule in hasatan’s name, then they were not useful to him. When Elohim made it clear He would, in fact, destroy people rather than let the whole human race be contaminated, hasatan had to for the most part abandon this plan.
Genesis, continued:
Gen 6:5 YHWH saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Gen 6:6 YHWH was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart.
Gen 6:7 YHWH said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground; man, along with animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.”
Gen 6:8 But Noach found favor in YHWH’s eyes.
There are still many people who believe that Elohim micro-manages the universe, and that everything is set in stone. It is much more likely that this would violate free will, and therefore would not be something Elohim would be interested in doing. It is more probable, then, that while the broad range of prophecy is true and will come to pass, that our individual parts, the decisions we make in our lives, are in fact the result of free will and are not usually manipulated by Elohim.
That doesn’t mean that Elohim won’t act if we pray about certain things – but it does mean that there is a wide variation in “paths” we can take that will all necessarily end up at the same “big picture” prophetically – the battle of Armageddon and the return of Yeshua to earth as YHWH Tzeva’ot, the King of Kings. The “big picture” can’t be changed, but the tiny details of the picture can be – based on our individual everyday choices. We do have free will, and that means things can and do go wrong, evil can and does exist, and Elohim does not micromanage – he manages at the macro level unless we specifically pray for him to intervene in some situation. However, we call it a miracle when he does intervene because he does it so infrequently. When Elohim says that punishments come down to the third and fourth generations from a sinner, what he is really saying is that he is not ordinary going to interfere in plain old cause and effect. If we sin, we mess up our kids and our grandkids lives – just as Adam and Eve did. We set the circumstances in motion with our words, our behavior, our attitudes, and our teachings – and our descendants have to live with the cards we dealt them.
Sobering thought, parents.
Next: Haftara Beresheit.
Kollel Hazinu
Hebrews chapter 12
Heb 12:1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 looking to Yeshua, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim.
Heb 12:3 For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls.
Heb 12:4 You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin;
Heb 12:5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, “My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of Adonai, nor faint when you are reproved by him;
Heb 12:6 For whom Adonai loves, he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.”
This is a quote from Proverbs:
Pro 3:9 Honor YHWH with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase: Pro 3:10 so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. Pro 3:11 My son, don’t despise YHWH’s discipline, neither be weary of his reproof: Pro 3:12 for whom YHWH loves, he reproves; even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
Hebrews, continued:
Heb 12:7 It is for discipline that you endure. Elohim deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn’t discipline?
Heb 12:8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not children.
Heb 12:9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10 For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11 All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby.
As we are told, whether we live or die:
Rom 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered. Rom 8:27 He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the holy ones according to Elohim. Rom 8:28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love Elohim, to those who are called according to his purpose. Rom 8:29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Hebrews, continued:
Heb 12:12 Therefore, lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees,
Heb 12:13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that which is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
Heb 12:14 Follow after shalom with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see Adonai,
Heb 12:15 looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of Elohim; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it;
Heb 12:16 lest there be any sexually immoral person, or profane person, as Esav, who sold his birthright for one meal.
Whatever good we have done in the past can be undone by our present sinful life. We dare not rely on past good works, we must purge sin from our lives now, while there is yet time to do so.
Eze 18:20 The soul who sins, he shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.
Eze 18:21 But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Eze 18:22 None of his transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live. Eze 18:23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says Adonai YHWH; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?
Eze 18:24 But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.
Eze 18:25 Yet you say, The way of Adonai is not equitable. Hear now, house of Yisra’el: Is my way not equitable? Aren’t your ways unequitable? Eze 18:26 When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies therein; in his iniquity that he has done shall he die. Eze 18:27 Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Eze 18:28 Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Eze 18:29 Yet says the house of Yisra’el, The way of the Lord is not equal. house of Yisra’el, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
Eze 18:30 Therefore I will judge you, house of Yisra’el, everyone according to his ways, says Adonai YHWH. Return you, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Eze 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, in which you have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, house of Yisra’el? Eze 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies, says Adonai YHWH: therefore turn yourselves, and live.
Hebrews, continued:
Heb 12:17 For you know that even when he [Esau] afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.
Heb 12:18 For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm,
Heb 12:19 the sound of a shofar, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them,
Heb 12:20 for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned;”
Exo 19:10 YHWH said to Moshe, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, Exo 19:11 and be ready against the third day; for on the third day YHWH will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai. Exo 19:12 You shall set bounds to the people round about, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death. Exo 19:13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.’ When the shofar sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain.” Exo 19:14 Moshe went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. Exo 19:15 He said to the people, “Be ready by the third day. Don’t have sexual relations with a woman.” Exo 19:16 It happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud shofar; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. Exo 19:17 Moshe led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain.
Hebrews, continued:
Heb 12:21 and so fearful was the appearance, that Moshe said, “I am terrified and trembling.”
This is apparently a reference to Rabbinic tradition.
Hebrews, continued:
Heb 12:22 But you have come to Mount Tziyon, and to the city of the living Elohim, the heavenly Yerushalayim, and to innumerable multitudes of angels,
Heb 12:23 to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to Elohim the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 to Yeshua, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Hevel.
The “new covenant,” of course, is described by the prophet Jeremiah, and consists of the Ruach HaKodesh writing the Torah in your heart and in your mind so you can obey it.
Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband unto them, says YHWH: Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, says YHWH, I will put my Torah in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people…
Hebrews, continued:
Heb 12:25 See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the Earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven,
Heb 12:26 whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”
This is a quote from the prophet Haggai:
Hag 2:5 This is the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit lived among you. ‘Don’t be afraid.’ Hag 2:6 For this is what YHWH Tzeva’ot says: ‘Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land; Hag 2:7 and I will shake all nations. The precious things of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says YHWH Tzeva’ot. Hag 2:8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine,’ says YHWH Tzeva’ot. Hag 2:9 ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says YHWH Tzeva’ot; ‘and in this place will I give shalom,’ says YHWH Tzeva’ot.”
Hebrews, continued:
Heb 12:27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28 Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve Elohim acceptably, with reverence and awe,
Heb 12:29 for our Elohim is a consuming fire.
Chaff (sin) is burnt up – only obedience results in an assay with no impurities.
Next week: Parashat V’Zot HaBrachah.
Epistle Hazinu
John chapter 20
Joh 20:1 Now on the first day of the week, Miriam from Magdala went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb.
It is Sunday, the Feast of Firstfruits, which is NOT a sabbath. Yeshua is the “firstfruits of the dead,” and rose on this day, and the date was Nisan 17th the year of his death. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the weekly sabbath and certainly does not change the sabbath in any way. Firstfruits is not even a sabbath itself. It is simply the prophetic fulfillment of this minor festival, in which the firstfruits of the spring barley harvest are offered to Elohim.
1Co 15:20 But now Messiah has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep. 1Co 15:21 For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. 1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Messiah all will be made alive. 1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Messiah the first fruits, then those who are Messiah’s, at his coming.
The “spring” harvest would be the martyrs of the first centuries after his death. The “fall” martyrs will be those at the end of the age, during the birth pangs and the Tribulation.
John, continued:
Joh 20:2 Therefore she ran and came to Shim`on Kefa, and to the other talmid whom Yeshua loved, and said to them, “They have taken away Adonai out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!”
Joh 20:3 Therefore Kefa and the other talmid went out, and they went toward the tomb.
Joh 20:4 They both ran together. The other talmid outran Kefa, and came to the tomb first.
Joh 20:5 Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying, yet he didn’t enter in.
Joh 20:6 Then Shim`on Kefa came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying,
Joh 20:7 and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.
Joh 20:8 So then the other talmid who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed.
Joh 20:9 For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
Joh 20:10 So the talmidim went away again to their own homes.
There is no specific book in the existing Tanakh which states that Messiah will be raised from the dead prior to the general end-time resurrection. However, there are many books that are lost, or were destroyed purposefully by either the Rabbinate or the Catholic Church, which said things they considered to be “heretical,” one or the other. These books will most likely be restored to us in the Messianic age.
John, continued:
Joh 20:11 But Miriam was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,
Joh 20:12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Yeshua had lain.
Joh 20:13 They told her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away Adonai, and I don’t know where they have laid him.”
Elsewhere these are described as “men” (Luke 24:4) but what they are, in fact, is the Two Witnesses, Enoch and Elijah, who had been dispatched by the heavenly court to confirm before dawn that the Firstfruits offering was without blemish or defect. Like Moshe, they would have “glowed” from their time spent in the presence of Elohim, therefore it was easy for the women (who admittedly might not have been schooled entirely on them and their mission) to confuse them with angels. The Witnesses earthly counterparts, the farmers of the fields, would have been doing the same thing at the same time as they were – their sheaves had been bundled on Thursday afternoon on Passover (which is also not itself a sabbath), as Yeshua was being bundled in his graveclothes. That was their last opportunity to do field work, because Friday was the First day of Unleavened Bread, which is a sabbath, and Saturday was the regular weekly sabbath. So they would have needed to inspect the sheaves before dawn to make sure nothing had happened to them that would render them unfit for the Firstfruits offering.
John, continued:
Joh 20:14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Yeshua standing, and didn’t know that it was Yeshua.
Joh 20:15 Yeshua said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
Joh 20:16 Yeshua said to her, “Miriam.” She turned and said to him, “Rhabbouni!” which is to say, “Rabbi!”
Joh 20:17 Yeshua said to her, “Don’t touch me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers, and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my Elohim and your Elohim.’”
Yeshua still needed to present himself at the heavenly temple and be accepted as the Firstfruits offering. This doesn’t take place until after sunrise, which gave him time to speak with her in the pre-dawn light.
John, continued:
Joh 20:18 Miriam from Magdala came and told the talmidim that she had seen Adonai, and that he had said these things to her.
Joh 20:19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the talmidim were assembled, for fear of the Judeans, Yeshua came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Shalom be to you.”
As we learn elsewhere (Luke 24), after he presented himself at the heavenly court, he appeared to two men walking on the road to Emmaus, and traveled and conversed with them regarding the prophecies and their fulfillment until evening was approaching. He broke bread with them, and vanished – to appear here at the upper room.
John, continued:
Joh 20:20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The talmidim therefore were glad when they saw Adonai.
Joh 20:21 Yeshua therefore said to them again, “Shalom be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”
Joh 20:22 When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit!
Joh 20:23 Whoever’s sins you forgive, they are forgiven them. Whoever’s sins you retain, they have been retained.”
The authority of the Sanhedrin, which had been usurped by political appointees, collaborators who were loyal to Rome and not to Judaism or Judea, and “priests” whose positions were bought with money rather than following the required hereditary lines – their authority was now transferred to the apostles.
John, continued:
Joh 20:24 But T’oma, one of the Twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Yeshua came.
Joh 20:25 The other talmidim therefore said to him, “We have seen Adonai!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Joh 20:26 After eight days again his talmidim were inside, and T’oma was with them. Yeshua came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, “Shalom be to you.”
Joh 20:27 Then he said to T’oma, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”
Joh 20:28 T’oma answered him, “Adonai and Elohei!”
Joh 20:29 Yeshua said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”
Joh 20:30 Therefore Yeshua did many other signs in the presence of his talmidim, which are not written in this book;
Joh 20:31 but these are written, that you may believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of Elohim, and that believing you may have life in his name.
Thoma is a typeology of the remnant of Torah True Jews who flee Jerusalem at the midpoint of the Tribulation. They are the “twin,” the co-heir, with gentile believers. Yeshua will meet with them after the Second Advent in Southern Jordan, probably Petra, and present his credentials to them, and the judgement of sheep and goats will commence.
Eze 20:33 As I live, says Adonai YHWH, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, will I be king over you: Eze 20:34 and I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out; Eze 20:35 and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face. Eze 20:36 Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, says Adonai YHWH. Eze 20:37 I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; Eze 20:38 and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and those who disobey against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into Eretz-Yisra’el: and you shall know that I am YHWH.
Amen, even so, come Adonai Yeshua!
Next: Kollel Hazinu
Talmidim Hazinu
Revelation chapters 18 & 19
Chapter 17, recall, was a vignette concerning the “whore of babylon,” the false religious system that had ensnared all the kingdoms of the earth. The 10 kings who will have power with the False Messiah, however, collude to convince him to discard the “whore,” and instead embark on a direct military campaign to control the rebellious nations of the earth.
Revelation, continued:
Rev 18:1 After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory.
Rev 18:2 He cried with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Bavel the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird!
Rev 18:3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury.”
If this sounds suspicously like New York and Wall Street or America in general, you would not be the first person to notice. However, all we can be sure of is that the “capital” city of the False Messiah is also the financial and economic center of the world government, and when it falls the economic control that was made possible by the “mark of the beast” system falls with it.
Revelation, continued:
Rev 18:4 I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don’t receive of her plagues,
Rev 18:5 for her sins have reached to the sky, and Elohim has remembered her iniquities.
Rev 18:6 Return to her just as she returned, and repay her double as she did, and according to her works. In the cup which she mixed, mix to her double.
Rev 18:7 However much she glorified herself, and grew wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning. For she says in her heart, ‘I sit a queen, and am no widow, and will in no way see mourning.’
Rev 18:8 Therefore in one day her plagues will come: death, mourning, and famine; and she will be utterly burned with fire; for Adonai Elohim who has judged her is strong.
She receives her destruction in “one day,” most likely from a nuclear attack, since we read below that the destruction took place in only “one hour” – although conventional weapons cannot be ruled out as participating.
Revelation, continued:
Rev 18:9 The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her, will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning,
Rev 18:10 standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Bavel, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.’
Rev 18:11 The merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more;
Rev 18:12 merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all expensive wood, every vessel of ivory, every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;
Rev 18:13 and cinnamon, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, sheep, horses, chariots, and people’s bodies and souls.
Apparently slavery will make a big comeback during the Tribulation – not that it has ever disappeared, but it will no longer be underground. Many believers will likely be sold into slavery for refusing to cooperate with the False Messiah’s government – or their children, perhaps, if they themselves are executed.
Revelation, continued:
Rev 18:14 The fruits which your soul lusted after have been lost to you, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous have perished from you, and you will find them no more at all.
Rev 18:15 The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, will stand far away for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning;
Rev 18:16 saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls!
Just as the CEOs of the credit card companies have become obscenely wealthy by skimming a percentage off of every credit card transation now, those who control the “mark of the beast” economy will have a cut of every transaction, not just credit card purchases. They will be rolling in money while the lower classes, including obedient believers who refuse the mark, will be starving and languishing.
Revelation, continued:
Rev 18:17 For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.’ Every shipmaster, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away,
Rev 18:18 and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like the great city?’
Rev 18:19 They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth!’ For in one hour is she made desolate.
Without the electronic system to keep the commerce running smoothely, trade in the “mark of the beast” economy cannot function. With no physical means of making payments to those who manufacture the goods, shipping grinds to a halt.
Revelation, continued:
Rev 18:20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, you holy ones, emissaries, and prophets; for Elohim has judged your judgment on her.”
Rev 18:21 A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence will Bavel, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all.
Rev 18:22 The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman, of whatever craft, will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you.
Rev 18:23 The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived.
Rev 18:24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of holy ones, and of all who have been slain on the earth.”
The “mark of the beast” economic system will be responsible for the deaths of millions of believers – contrary to what many survivalists imagine, there will be no hoarding, no safety, and no supernatural protection for believers during the Tribulation. The Beast prevails against them.
But we should not be afraid to give up our physical lives, because we will have our lives back for eternity.
Revelation, continued:
Rev 19:1 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Halleluyah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our Elohim:
Rev 19:2 for true and righteous are his judgments. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.”
Rev 19:3 A second said, “Halleluyah! Her smoke goes up forever and ever.”
The place of the False Messiah’s capital city will never again be inhabitable. It is possible that the “smoke” rises perpetually due to the city being located on top of petroleum reserves of some type, as is likely in physical Babylon.
Revelation, continued:
Rev 19:4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped Elohim who sits on the throne, saying, “Amein! Halleluyah!”
Rev 19:5 A voice came forth from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our Elohim, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!”
Rev 19:6 I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, “Halleluyah! For Adonai our Elohim, the Almighty, reigns!
The False Messiah’s kingdom is on it’s last legs – he has lost control completely, but will keep fighting until the last possible second.
Revelation, continued:
Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let us give the glory to him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.”
Rev 19:8 It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the holy ones.
Rev 19:9 He said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” He said to me, “These are true words of Elohim.”
Jacob is a typeology of the Messiah here. First, he married the bride “chosen for him,” Leah, who represents those obedient believers included in the parousia – the “saved” who were chosen from the foundation of the earth. He then spent his “week,” in our case 7 years, with her in the bridal chambers of his father’s house, and then had his wedding with the bride he was first contracted to marry, Rachel, who represents the mortal nation of Israel – those on earth. The seven “days” are the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble,” and they represent the 7 year tribulation between the Parousia and the inaguration of the Messianic Age after the Second Advent.
Revelation, continued:
Rev 19:10 I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, “Look! Don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of Yeshua. Worship Elohim, for the testimony of Yeshua is the Spirit of Prophecy.”
Rev 19:11 I saw the heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True. In righteousness he judges and makes war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has names written and a name written which no one knows but he himself.
Rev 19:13 He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood. His name is called “The Word of Elohim.”
Rev 19:14 The armies which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in white, pure, fine linen.
His armies are not just angels, but those of the Parousia, now immortal, who will reign as kings and priests over the nations of the earth.
Revelation, continued:
Rev 19:15 Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of Elohim, the Almighty.
Rev 19:16 He has on his garment and on his thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
The prophets describe this Being in several places. For example:
Deu 10:17 For YHWH your Elohim, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great Elohim, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t regard persons, nor takes reward.
Psa 136:1 Give thanks to YHWH, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever. Psa 136:2 Give thanks to the God of gods; for his loving kindness endures forever. Psa 136:3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords; for his loving kindness endures forever:
1Ti 6:13 I charge you before Elohim, who gives life to all things, and before Messiah Yeshua, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, 1Ti 6:14 that you keep the mitzvah without spot, blameless, until the appearing of Adonai Yeshua the Messiah; 1Ti 6:15 which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 1Ti 6:16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amein.
And recall from chapter 17:
Rev 17:14 These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings. They also will overcome who are with him, called and chosen and faithful.”
Revelation, continued:
Rev 19:17 I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the sky, “Come! Be gathered together to the great supper of Elohim,
Rev 19:18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, and small and great.”
This is an invitation for the birds to partake in the aftermath of the Battle of Armageddon, which is about to be waged.
Isaiah 18:3 All you inhabitants of the world, and you dwellers on the earth, when a banner is lifted up on the mountains, look! When the shofar is blown, listen! Isa 18:4 For YHWH said to me, “I will be still, and I will see in my dwelling place, like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.” Isa 18:5 For before the harvest, when the blossom is over, and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he will cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and he will cut down and take away the spreading branches.
Isa 18:6 They will be left together for the ravenous birds of the mountains, and for the animals of the earth. The ravenous birds will summer on them, and all the animals of the earth will winter on them. Isa 18:7 In that time, a present will be brought to YHWH Tzeva’ot from a people tall and smooth, even from a people awesome from their beginning onward, a nation that measures out and treads down, whose land the rivers divide, to the place of the name of YHWH Tzeva’ot, Mount Tziyon.
Ezekiel 39:17 You, son of man, thus says Adonai YHWH: Speak to the birds of every sort, and to every animal of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice on the mountains of Yisra’el, that you may eat flesh and drink blood. Eze 39:18 You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bulls, all of them fatlings of Bashan. Eze 39:19 You shall eat fat until you be full, and drink blood until you be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. Eze 39:20 You shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, says Adonai YHWH.
Eze 39:21 I will set my glory among the nations; and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them. Eze 39:22 So the house of Yisra’el shall know that I am YHWH their Elohim, from that day and forward. Eze 39:23 The nations shall know that the house of Yisra’el went into captivity for their iniquity; because they trespassed against me, and I hid my face from them: so I gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and they fell all of them by the sword. Eze 39:24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions did I to them; and I hid my face from them.
Eze 39:25 Therefore thus says Adonai YHWH: Now will I rescind the captivity of Ya`akov, and have mercy on the whole house of Yisra’el; and I will be jealous for my holy name. Eze 39:26 They shall bear their shame, and all their trespasses by which they have trespassed against me, when they shall dwell securely in their land, and none shall make them afraid; Eze 39:27 when I have brought them back from the peoples, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations. Eze 39:28 They shall know that I am YHWH their Elohim, in that I caused them to go into captivity among the nations, and have gathered them to their own land; and I will leave none of them any more there; Eze 39:29 neither will I hide my face any more from them; for I have poured out my Spirit on the house of Yisra’el, says Adonai YHWH.
Revelation, continued:
Rev 19:19 I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20 The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
Rev 19:21 The rest were killed with the sword of him who sat on the horse, the sword which came forth out of his mouth. All the birds were filled with their flesh.
The False Messiah and the False Prophet are the first to be thrown into the Lake of Fire, but others will follow. It is presumed, since they are said to be tormented forever, that instead of being destroyed (as the goats will be) they will be cast into the Lake “alive” because they will have the “honor” of being transformed into immortality before being cast into the Lake. This is NOT the fate of most sinners. Most sinners are told:
Mat 10:28 Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehinnom.
Only a special select few humans are tormented forever – and hasatan and fallen angels who follow him. The rest of the “goats” simply are destroyed, as Yeshua warns them again:
Mat 25:32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Mat 25:33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left… Mat 25:41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels…
It was not prepared for people, but for fallen angels. The False Messiah and the False Prophet will be tormented forever, changed into immortality before being cast into the Lake. Other sinners will simply perish. Measure for Measure, there are few things a human can do that would merit eternal torment. Elohim’s punishments always fit the crimes. Elohim is just. For most people, “the wages of sin is death,” but the gift of Elohim is eternal life, just as scripture says. The righteous live, the willful sinners die. Choose Life!
Next: Epistle Hazinu
Haftarah Hazinu
II Samuel 22:1-51
II Sam 22:1 David spoke to YHWH the words of this song in the day that YHWH delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Sha’ul:
II Sam 22:2 and he said, YHWH is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine;
II Sam 22:3 Elohim, my rock, in him I will take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, you save me from violence.
II Sam 22:4 I will call on YHWH, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from my enemies.
This does not necessarily mean that you will not be martyred – it means you will have salvation in the Messianic Age and the Olam Haba, no matter what happens here at this time.
Samuel, continued:
II Sam 22:5 For the waves of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
II Sam 22:6 The cords of She’ol were around me. The snares of death caught me.
II Sam 22:7 In my distress I called on YHWH. Yes, I called to my Elohim. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry [came] into his ears.
II Sam 22:8 Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.
II Sam 22:9 Smoke went up out of his nostrils. Fire out of his mouth devoured. Coals were kindled by it.
II Sam 22:10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet.
II Sam 22:11 He rode on a Keruv, and flew. Yes, he was seen on the wings of the wind.
II Sam 22:12 He made darkness pavilions around himself: gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
II Sam 22:13 At the brightness before him, coals of fire were kindled.
II Sam 22:14 YHWH thundered from heaven. The Elyon uttered his voice.
II Sam 22:15 He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and confused them.
II Sam 22:16 Then the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare by the rebuke of YHWH, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
Obviously, this never happened to David during his lifetime. It is a prophetic description of the events of the Second Advent.
Samuel, continued:
II Sam 22:17 He sent from on high and he took me. He drew me out of many waters.
II Sam 22:18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
II Sam 22:19 They came on me in the day of my calamity, but YHWH was my support.
II Sam 22:20 He also brought me out into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
Even though David sinned, he repented of his sins and believed in the future Messiah and in Elohim’s written Torah. Recall that “righteousness” is defined in Deuteronomy 6:24-25 as obedience to the commandments.
Samuel, continued:
II Sam 22:21 YHWH rewarded me according to my righteousness. He rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands.
II Sam 22:22 For I have kept the ways of YHWH, and have not wickedly departed from my Elohim.
II Sam 22:23 For all his ordinances were before me. As for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
II Sam 22:24 I was also perfect toward him. I kept myself from my iniquity.
II Sam 22:25 Therefore YHWH has rewarded me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight.
David repented from his sins – and did not continue in those sins. We cannot continue to disobey Elohim’s commandments and still claim we are “saved.” Yeshua’s command to us is to “repent and be saved,” not “be saved and then repent if you feel like it.” We cannot willfully continue living in sin and expect to be counted as part of the House of Israel. It is nothing but pure arrogance to claim that Yeshua was a liar when he, as YHWH Incarnate, gave the house of Israel the Torah and told us it was eternal and binding.
Samuel, continued:
II Sam 22:26 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man you will show yourself perfect.
II Sam 22:27 With the pure you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
II Sam 22:28 You will save the afflicted people, But your eyes are on the haughty, that you may bring them down.
II Sam 22:29 For you are my lamp, YHWH. YHWH will light up my darkness.
Measure for measure, Elohim treats everyone according to their works.
Samuel, continued:
II Sam 22:30 For by you, I run against a troop. By my Elohim, I leap over a wall.
II Sam 22:31 As for Elohim, his way is perfect. The word of YHWH is tested. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
II Sam 22:32 For who is Elohim, besides YHWH? Who is a rock, besides our Elohim?
II Sam 22:33 Elohim is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect.
II Sam 22:34 He makes his feet like hinds’ [feet], and sets me on my high places.
II Sam 22:35 He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of brass.
II Sam 22:36 You have also given me the shield of your Yeshuah. Your gentleness has made me great.
II Sam 22:37 You have enlarged my steps under me. My feet have not slipped.
The Ruach HaKodesh within us enables us to remember and obey the Torah – that is its purpose (according to the New Covenant as described by Jeremiah 31:31+) and if you claim you cannot obey it, then you are as much as admitting that we do not have the Ruach HaKodesh within you and are not saved.
Samuel, continued:
II Sam 22:38 I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them. I didn’t turn again until they were consumed.
II Sam 22:39 I have consumed them, and struck them through, so that they can’t arise. Yes, they have fallen under my feet.
II Sam 22:40 For you have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
II Sam 22:41 You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.
II Sam 22:42 They looked, but there was none to save; even to YHWH, but he didn’t answer them.
II Sam 22:43 Then I beat them as small as the dust of the earth. I crushed them as the mire of the streets, and spread them abroad.
We have the strength to resist any temptation, resist any urge to sin and do evil – this is the victory given to us by Elohim with His Ruach HaKodesh.
Samuel, continued:
II Sam 22:44 You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people. You have kept me to be the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known will serve me.
II Sam 22:45 The foreigners will submit themselves to me. As soon as they hear of me, they will obey me.
II Sam 22:46 The foreigners will fade away, and will come trembling out of their close places.
II Sam 22:47 YHWH lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be Elohim, the rock of my salvation,
II Sam 22:48 even the Elohim who executes vengeance for me, who brings down peoples under me,
II Sam 22:49 who brings me away from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man.
II Sam 22:50 Therefore I will give thanks to you, YHWH, among the nations. Will sing praises to your name.
II Sam 22:51 He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his seed, forevermore.
This is not just a description of David’s reign, but is a prophetic reference to the Messiah and his victory over the rebellious nations of the earth at the Second Advent.
Next: Talmidim Hazinu.
