NOTE: All of the yous and yours underlined as "you" and "your" indicates that the you and the your are plural. Also any of the words that are in pink lettering as "you" refers to the feminine gender, but it is only applied when it does not commonly refer to a woman. This only is applied to this week's Torah portion text at this time.
CHAPTER 11
Deuteronomy 11:26-32
Deu 1:26 See, I have given to your face the day (today) a blessing and a despisement (kalal-curse); 27 את-the blessing which you will listen to the Commandments of יהוה, your Elohim which I am commanding you today: 28 and the despisement (kalal-curse) if you will not listen to the Commandments of יהוה, your Elohim, and you will turn away (turn aside) from the Way which I am commanding you the day (today), to go after other elohim which you have not known, 29 and shall be, when יהוה, your Elohim, shall have you come to the land which you will go there to possess (occupy) her, and you shall give את-the blessing upon Mount Gerizim, and את-the despisement (kalal-curse) upon Mount Ebal, 30 that are they not in over the Jordan, behind the way of the going of the sun, in the land of the Canaanites that dwell in the Arabah opposite (at the front of, against) the Gilgal, beside the Oaks of Moreh? 31 For you shall go over את-the Jordan to come to possess (occupy) את-the land which יהוה, your Elohim, is giving to you, and you shall possess (occupy) her, and you shall dwell in her. 32 And you shall guard (observe, take heed) to do את all of the Statutes and the Judgments (Ordinances) which I am givng to your faces the day (today).
(NOTE: Not all verses will have comments)
Verse twenty six
26 See, I have given to your face the day (today) a blessing and a despisement (kalal-curse);
Looking at the word SEE
The Hebrew word for see is "rah'ah"- Resh, Aleph, Heh (ראה). It is from Strong's Concordance number 7200, and its definition
A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitively, intransitively and causatively): - advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see (-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.
Abraham used this word when he and Isaac were going to Mount Moriah, which is noted in the Torah portion of Vay-Yeyra, in the book of Genesis
Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, Elohim will see for Himself the lamb for the Elevation Offering (Ascension Offering, Burnt Offering), my son: and the two of them, they went together.... 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Yehowah Yireh: which is said the day (today), shall be seen in the Mountain of יהוה.
The phrase Abraham said from the Hebrew was "'Elohim shall see' (in Hebrew "Elohim yireh") for Himself the lamb for the Elevation Offering my son". Which He did, by seeing for Himself a ram during Abraham's time and fulfilling Abraham's word 1500 years later by providing Yeshua as the Lamb for the sacrifice for Judah, the divorced Ten Northern Tribes scattered around the world, and the world, also known as the mixed multitude.
Looking at the word DESPISEMENT (KALAL-CURSE)
The Hebrew word for despisement (kalal-curse) is "k'lah-lah"- Kuph, Lamed, Lamed, Heh (קללה). It is from Strong's Concordance number 7045, and its definition
From H7043; vilification: - (ac-) curse (-d, -ing).
from 7043 "kah-lahl" (קלל), and its definition
A primitive root; to be (causatively make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.): - abate, make bright, bring into contempt, (ac-) curse, despise, (be) ease (-y, -ier), (be a, make, make somewhat, move, seem a, set) light (-en, -er, ly, -ly afflict, -ly esteem, thing), X slight [-ly], be swift (-er), (be, be more, make, re-) vile, whet.
Verse twenty nine
29 and shall be, when יהוה, your Elohim, shall have you come to the land which you will go there to possess (occupy) her, and you shall give את-the blessing upon Mount Gerizim, and את-the despisement (kalal-curse) upon Mount Ebal,
Looking at the word GERAZIM
The Hebrew word for Gerazim is "G'ree-zeem"- Gimel, Resh, Zayim, Yod, Mem Sophit (גרזים). It is from Strong's Concordance number 1630, and its definition
Plural of an unused noun from H1629 (compare H1511), cut up (that is, rocky); Gerizim, a mountain of Palestine: - Gerizim.
from 1629 "gah-rahz" (גרז), and its definition
A primitive root; to cut off: - cut off.
This is the mountain the Israelites would say the blessings. One can say that those who receive the blessings would "cut off" their enemies from the land. Also notice that this word sounds a lot like our modern English word "grazing". A domesticated animal, like a cow, "grazes" on grass. This also means that if the Israelites obey יהוה's Word, they would be blessed with the fruitness of the land, and they would be able to "graze" the land. This also applies to us as believers in the Messiah that if we obey our Heavenly Father, we would be blessed, and we can "spiritually graze" the benefits of His Blessings, whether by missions, congregations, ministries, etc.
!!!כבד לך יהוה
Joshua set the example of this when the Israelites went into the land, which is noted in the book of Joshua
Joshua 11:21 And at that time came Joshua, and cut off את-the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.
Looking at the word EBAL
The Hebrew word for Ebal is "Ey-vahl"- Ayin, Yod, Bet, Lamed (עיבל). It is from Strong's Concordance number 5858, and its definition
Perhaps from an unused root probably meaning to be bald; bare; Ebal, a mountain of Palestine: - Ebal.
This is the mountain they were to use for the cursings. This Hebrew word is where we most likely get our modern English word "bald", without the letter d. If the Israelites did not obey the Word of יהוה, their land would be "bald". This also applies to us as believers if we disobey the Heavenly Father's will, then we will not be blessed, and our spiritual fruition will we "bald".
I have commented more of the location of these two mountains in the Torah portion of Lekh L'kha. Click on the link below to get to the webpage.
TORAH PORTION LEKH L'KHA
Indirectly related, one can also say that those who receive the curses will be "bare", or in another way of saying it, "naked". The prophets prophesied against Israel at times, symbolizing them as a harlot who defiled herself, to be, in many words, cursed by being made naked or "bare". One example is noted by the prophet Ezekiel, in his book
Ezekiel 16:35 Wherefore, O harlot, hea the Word of יהוה:
36 Thus saith Adonai יהוה; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all of the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them; 37 Behold, therefore I will gather את-all of thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and את all of them that thou hast loved, with all of them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see את-all of thy nakedness. 38 And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy. 39 And I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall break down thy high places: they shall strip thee also of thy clothes, and shall take thy fair jewels, and leave thee naked and bare.
What was the reason that the blessings and the curses were not spoken together on the same mountain? One could say that it was an act to separate the clean from the unclean. In other words, they made sure the blessings stayed pure by speaking them on one mountain, and made sure the curses stayed pure by saying them on a different mountain, like keeping the clean inside the Israelite Camp, and keeping the unclean outside of the Israelite Camp. It was also saying, in a way, not to mix the Holy with the profane, but in this case, it was not mixing the blessings and the curses. Otherwise it is like saying we mix Sukkoth with Christmas, and Passover with Easter. Also, if they said the blessings and the curses on the same mountain, they will cause chaos.
Verse thirty
30 that are they not in over the Jordan, behind the way of the going of the sun, in the land of the Canaanites that dwell in the Arabah opposite (at the front of, against) the Gilgal, beside the Oaks of Moreh?
Looking at the word MOREH
The Hebrew word for Moreh is "Moh-reh"- Mem, Resh, Heh (מרה). It is from Strong's Concordance number 4176, and its definition
The same as H4175; Moreh, a Canaanite; also a hill (perhaps named from him): - Moreh.
from 4175 "moh-reh" (מורה), and its definition
From H3384; an archer; also teacher or teaching; also the early rain (see H3138): - (early) rain.
from 3384 "yah-rah", "yah-rah" (ירא ,ירה), and its definition
primitive root; properly to flow as water (that is, to rain); transitively to lay or throw (especially an arrow, that is, to shoot); figuratively to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to teach: - (+) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew, shoot, teach (-er, -ing), through.
This is same Hebrew root word "yarah" which our Hebrew word "Torah" (תורה) is derived.
Mark Biltz of El Shaddai Ministries noted that Abraham was at the oaks of Moreh, and made an altar there, which is noted in the Torah portion of Lekh L'kha, in the book of Genesis
Genesis 12:6 And Abram went over in the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the Oak of Moreh, and the Canaanite was then in the land. 7 And יהוה appeared to Abram, and said, I will give את-this land to your seed: And built there an altar to יהוה that appeared to him,
Indirectly related, Mark also connected this verse regarding the word Moreh, which is noted in the book of the prophet Isaiah
Isaiah 30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. 20 And though Adonai give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see את-thy teachers:
Mark revealed that the Hebrew word for teachers in verse twenty is "moh-rey-kha" (מוריך), from the Hebrew word "yarah" noted above. Also, he noted that the second teachers in this Isaiah passage has an Aleph-Tav before it, and he reveals that this is Yeshua, "the Aleph-Tav Teacher". Thank you Mark.
Moses also gave the Israelites these instructions when they arrive at Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, which is noted in the Torah portion of Ki Thavo, in the book of Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 27:11 And Moses commanded את-the People on that day, to say, 12 These, they shall stand to bless את-the People upon Mount Gerizim in your going over את-the Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin: 13 and these, they shall stand upon the despisement (kalal-curse) on Mount Ebal; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
14 And the Levites, they shall answer, and they shall say to all of the Men of Israel of a loud (high) voice,
15 Cursed is the man who makes a vessel image (carved image) and a casted image (molten image, poured image), an abomination (abhorrence) of יהוה, the doing (work) of the hands of a craftsman (engraver), and is put in the secrecy. And all of the People, they shall answer, and they shall say, Amen.
16 Cursed is a despiser (viler, kalal-curser) of his father and his mother. And all of the People shall say, Amen.
17 Cursed is a retreater (remover) of a border (landmark) of his neighbor. And all of the People shall say, Amen.
18 Cursed is a strayer (deceiver) of the blind in the way. And all of the People shall say, Amen.
19 Cursed is a wrestler (perverter, stretcher) of the judgment of a sojourner, an orphan (fatherless) and a widow. And all of the people shall say, Amen.
20 Cursed is a layer with the wife of his father; for has exposed (uncovered) the wing (skirt) of his father. And all of the People shall say, Amen.
21 Cursed is a layer with any animal. And all of the People shall say, Amen.
22 Cursed is a layer with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all of the People shall say, Amen.
23 Cursed is a layer with his mother-in-law. And all of the People shall say, Amen.
24 Cursed is a striker of his neighbor in the secrecy. And all of the People shall say, Amen.
25 Cursed is a taker of a bribe (reward) to strike a soul of innocent blood. And all of the People shall say, Amen.
26 Cursed which does not raise all of את-the Words of this Teaching (Torah) to do them. And all of the People shall say, Amen.
26 Cursed who does not lift up (rises up) all of את-the Words of this Teaching (Torah) to do them. And all of the People shall say, Amen.
When Joshua and the Israelites arrived at Shechem, after destroying the city of Ai, this is what Joshua did, which is noted in the book of Joshua
Joshua 8:30 Then Joshua built an altar unto hwhy, Elohim of Israel, on Mount Ebal, 31 As Moses, the servant of יהוה, commanded את-the Sons of Israel, as it is written in the Scroll of the Torah of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon Elevation Offerings unto hwhy, and sacrificed Peace Offerings. 32 And he wrote there upon the stones, את a copy of the Torah of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the Sons of Israel. 33 And all of Israel, and their Elders, and Officers, and their Judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the Priests, the Levites, which bare the Ark of the Covenant of יהוה, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against Mount Gerizim, and half of them over against Mount Ebal; as Moses, the servant of יהוה, had commanded before, that they should bless את-the People of Israel. 34 And afterward he read את-all of the Words of the Torah, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the Scroll of the Torah. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all of the Assembly of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.
This act of having six of each of the tribes to stand on each of the two mountains can be compared to the two Onyx Stones on the shoulders of the High Priest bearing six tribal names on each of the Onyx Stones, which is noted in the Torah portion of T'tsavveh, in the book of Exodus
Exodus 28:9 And you shall take את-two Onyx Stones, and you shall engrave (carve, sculpt) upon (over) them the names of the Sons of Israel: 10 Six with their names shall be upon the one Stone, and את-the remaining six names shall be upon the second Stone according to their births. 11 Of a doing (work) of an engraver (craftsman, artificer) of stone, like the engraving (carving, sculpting) of a signet (seal ring), you shall engrave (carve, sculpt) את-the two Stones upon the names of the Sons of Israel: you shall do (make) them Enclosings of Broaches (Brocades, Ouches) of gold. 12 And you shall set (put) את-the two Stones upon the Upper Arm Corners (Shoulders) of the Ephod for Stones of a Remembrance (Memorial) for the Sons of Israel: and Aaron shall bear (carry, lift up) את-their names to the Face of יהוה upon his two Upper Arm Corners (Shoulders) for a Remembrance (Memorial). 13 And you shall do (make) Enclosings of Broaches (Brocades, Ouches) of gold;
As I noted earlier, the place where these two mountains are located is in Shechem.
Looking at the word SHECHEM
The Hebrew word for Shechem is "Sh'khehm"- Shin, Kaph, Mem Sophit (שכם). It is from Strong's Concordance number 7928, and its definition
From H7926; Shekem, the name of a Hivite and two Israelites: - Shechem.
from 7926 "sh'khehm" (שכם), and its definition
From H7925; the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively the spur of a hill: - back, X consent, portion, shoulder.
from 1925 "shah-khahm" (שכם), and its definition
A primitive root; properly to incline (the shoulder to a burden); but used only as denominative from H7926; literally to load up (on the back of man or beast), that is, to start early in the morning: - (arise, be up, get [oneself] up, rise up) early (betimes), morning.
It is well established that this place, Shechem, means "shoulders". It is probable that Moses knew this would be a full human view demonstration of the two shoulder pieces on the High Priest. That must have been a sight to see. Bill Cloud of Shoreshim Ministries noted of the T'tsavveh passage that has been under our noses for a long time, but did not see it until he brought this verse out that gave me a "duh" moment, which is noted in the book of the prophet Isaiah
Isaiah 9:6 For a child is birthed to us, a son is given to us: and the government, she shall be upon His Shoulders: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty El, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
This verse was referring to the future event of Yeshua to become the future Eternal High Priest, which I detailed in another Torah portion, to bear the goverment upon His Shoulders. Thank you Bill.
!!!כבד לך יהוה
Shechem is the same location that Yeshua met the Samaritan woman at the well, which is noted in the Gospel of John
John 4:5 Then cometh He to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar [Shechem], near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son, Joseph. 6 Now Jacob's well was there. Yeshua therefore, being wearied with His Journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Yeshua saith unto her, Give Me to drink.
Mount Gerizim, facing east, likening it to the shoulder of the High Priest, would be located on the "right shoulder", the same direction which the Tent of Appointment would be facing, which is southward. The right side of the shoulder is the "strong side", and this is the side the blessings are located.
These are images of Mount Gerazim and Mount Ebal, located in Nablus, also known in Biblical times as Shechem
This is a Panorama view of the two Mountains
This is an image showing the mountains' relation to the High Priest's shoulder pieces
This is another image of Shechem
This is the back view from the image above
These are other images and sketches of the two mountains
Notice that Joseph's Tomb and Jacob's well, where Yeshua met the Samaritan woman, is also located at Shechem/Nablus.
These are more maps of Gerizim and Ebal below
These are images of Joshua's Altar located on Mount Ebal
This was the same location that Abraham stopped, and Jacob stopped nearby and settled there for a while. These accounts are noted in the Torah portions of Lekh L'kha and Vay-Yishlakh, in the book of Genesis
Genesis 12:1 And יהוה said to Abram, Go of yourself from your land, and from your birth place (kindred), and from the house of your father, to the land which I will show you: 2 and I will (do) make you for a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great [(engreaten your name)], and shall be a blessing: 3 And I will bless from your blessers [(those blessing you)], and from your despisers [(those despising (kalal-cursing) you)] I will erehr-curse: and in you, all families of the Ground, they will be blessed. 4 And Abram went as the which יהוה spoke to him; and Lot went out with him: and Abram was a son of five years and seventy years in his going out from Haran, 5 and Abram took את-Sarai, his woman (wife), and את-Lot, son of his brother, and את-all of their goods (substance, property) which they had collected, and את-the souls which they had done (acquired) in Haran; and they went out to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to the land of Canaan. 6 And Abram went over in the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the Oak of Moreh, and the Canaanite was then in the land.
Genesis 33:18 And Jacob came at Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan in his coming from Padan Aram; and camped at Aleph-Tav-the face of the city. 19 And purchased (bought) Aleph-Tav-a portion of the field which his tent was stretched out there from the hand of the sons of Hamor, father of Shechem, on a hundred ingots. 20 And erected there an altar, and called to him, El Elohei Israel.
CHAPTER 12
Deuteronomy 12:1-32
(12:1-31; 13:1 In the Hebrew)
Deu 12:1 These are the Statutes and the Judgments (Ordinances) which you shall guard (observe, heed) to do in the land, which יהוה, Elohim of your fathers, has given to you to possess (occupy) her all of the days which you live upon the Ground. 2 Perishing, you shall make perish את-all of the places which the nations, they are serving there which you are dispossessing them, את-their elohim upon the raised mountains, and upon the hills (hillocks), and under every flourishing (freshy green, prosperous) tree: 3 and you shall tear down (pull down, cast down) את-their altars, and you shall shever-break (shever-shatter, crush) את-their standing pillars (column idols), and you shall burn up their asherahs in the fire; and you shall hew down (cut down) their vessel images (carved images) of their elohim, and you shall have את-their names perish from that place. 4 You shall not do so to יהוה, your Elohim, 5 for but to the place which יהוה, your Elohim, shall choose from all of your tribes to put את-His Name there, for you shall seek (inquire) His Tabernacling, and you shall go (come) there: 6 and you shall bring (have come) there your Elevation Offerings (Ascension Offerings, Burnt Offerings), and your Sacrifices, and את your Tithes (Tithe Offerings), and את Heave Offerings (Raise Offerings) of your hand, and your Vow Offerings, and your Freewill Offerings (Voluntary Offerings), and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock: 7 and you shall eat there to the Face of יהוה, your Elohim, and you shall rejoice in all at your hand with sends out, you, and your households, which יהוה, your Elohim, has blessed you. 8 You shall not do according to [(as)] all which we are doing here today, of every man that is upright in his eyes. 9 for you have not come (arrived) until now to the resting area (nu'akh- rest) and to the inheritance which יהוה, your Elohim, is giving to you. 10 And you shall go over את-the Jordan, and you shall dwell in the land which יהוה, your Elohim, is having you with inherit, and shall give to you rest from all of your enemies from all around, and you shall dwell securely (safely); 11 and shall be the place which יהוה, your Elohim, shall choose on Him to tabernacle (abode, inhabit) His Name there; you shall bring there את all which I am commanding you; your Elevation Offerings (Ascension Offerings, Burnt Offerings), and your Sacrifices, your Tithes (Tithe Offerings), and the Heave Offerings (Raise Offerings) of your hand, and every choice of your Vow Offerings which you vow to יהוה:
12 And you shall rejoice to the Face of יהוה your Elohim, you, and your sons, and your daughters, and your male servants, and your female servants, and the Levite which is in your gates; for does not belong to him a portion and an inheritance with you.
13 Guard (Observe, Take Heed) to yourself, lest (facing) you elevate your Elevation Offerings (Ascension Offerings, Burnt Offerings) in every place which you see: 14 for but in the Place which יהוה shall choose in one of your tribes, there you shall elevate your Elevation Offerings (Ascension Offerings, Burnt Offerings), and there you shall do all which I am commanding you. 15 Only in all of your gates you shall sacrifice in all of the pleasure (desire, lust) of your soul, and you shall eat flesh according to [(as)] the Blessing of יהוה, your Elohim, which was given to you: the unclean and the clean shall eat him, as of the gazelle (roebuck), and as of the hart (stage, deer). 16 Only the blood you shall not eat; you shall shed (spill, gush out) him upon the Land as the water. 17 You are not able to eat from the tithe [(eat the Tithe Offerings)] of your grain in your gates, and your new wine (fresh grape juice), and your pressed oil (glistened oil), and the firstlings of your herd, and your flock, and any of your Vow Offerings which you vow, and your Freewill Offerings (Voluntary Offerings), and the Heave Offering (Raise Offering) of your hand: 18 for but you shall eat him to the Face of יהוה, your Elohim, in the Place which יהוה, your Elohim, shall choose on Him, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your male servant, and your female servant, and the Levite which is in your gates: and you shall rejoice to the Face of יהוה, your Elohim, in all your hand with sends forth.
19 Guard (Observe, Take Heed) to yourself facing (lest) you forsake את-the Levite all of your days upon your Ground, 20 when יהוה, your Elohim, shall broaden (enlarge) את-your border, as the which had spoken to you, and you shall say, I will eat flesh, for your soul, she pleases (desires, lusts) to eat flesh; in all of the pleasure (desire, lust) of your soul, you will eat flesh.
21 When the Place is far from you which יהוה, your Elohim, shall choose to put His Name there, and you shall sacrifice from your herd and from your flock, which יהוה has given to you as the which I have commanded you, and you shall eat in your gates according to [(as)] all of the pleasure (desire, lust) of your soul. 22 Surely as the which את-the gazelle (roebuck) and את-the hart (stag, deer) shall be eaten, so you shall eat him: the unclean and the clean shall he be alike, shall be eaten him. 23 Only be strong (sure) to fail at eating the blood: for the blood, he is the soul; and you shall not eat the soul with the flesh. 24 You shall not eat him; you shall shed (spill, gush out) him upon the Earth as the water. 25 You shall not eat him; by that, shall be good (well) to you and to your sons after you when you shall do that is upright [(the uprightness)] in the Eyes of יהוה.
26 Only your Sacred Things (Holy Things) which they shall belong to you, and you shall bear (carry, lift up) your Vow Offering, and you shall go to the Place which יהוה shall choose: 27 And you shall do (offer) your Elevation Offerings (Ascension Offerings, Burnt Offerings), the flesh, and the blood, upon the Altar of יהוה, your Elohim: and the blood of your Sacrifices shall be shedded (spilled, gushed out) upon the Altar of יהוה, your Elohim, and you shall eat the flesh. 28 Guard (Observe, Take heed) and you shall listen at את-all of these Words which I am commanding you, by that, shall be good (well) to you and to your sons after you unto ages, when you do the goodness [(that is good)] and the uprightness [(that is upright)] in the Eyes of יהוה, your Elohim. 29 When יהוה, your Elohim, shall cut off את-the nations, which you are going there to possess (occupy) them from your face, and you shall dispossess them, and you shall dwell in their land; 30 Guard (Observe, Take heed) to yourself facing (lest) you will be snared at following them, after destroying (desolating, annihilating) them from your face; and facing (lest) you inquire to their elohim, to say, How did these nations, they served את-their elohim? And I, also I shall do so. 31 You shall not do so to יהוה, your Elohim: for every abomination (abhorrence) at יהוה, which is hateful, they have done to their elohim; for they have burned up also את-their sons and את-their daughters in the fire to their elohim. 32 את All of the Word which I am commanding you, you shall guard (observe, take heed) to do, you shall not add upon him, and you shall not scrape (shave, restrain, diminish, withold) from him.
(NOTE: Not all verses will have comments)
Verses one through three
1 These are the Statutes and the Judgments (Ordinances) which you shall guard (observe, heed) to do in the land, which יהוה, Elohim of your fathers, has given to you to possess (occupy) her all of the days which you live upon the Ground. 2 Perishing, you shall make perish את-all of the places which the nations, they are serving there which you are dispossessing them, את-their elohim upon the raised mountains, and upon the hills (hillocks), and under every flourishing (freshy green, prosperous) tree: 3 and you shall tear down (pull down, cast down) את-their altars, and you shall shever-break (shever-shatter, crush) את-their standing pillars (column idols), and you shall burn up their asherahs in the fire; and you shall hew down (cut down) their vessel images (carved images) of their elohim, and you shall have את-their names perish from that place.
I have no problem with national figures that founded our nation like Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, etc, because they are our founders of the United States with good causes. History is important, because without it, as Monte Judah of Lion and Lamb Ministries noted that we are doomed to repeat it. The problem is that this nation had started receiving major pagan images starting with the German influence with the Christmas trees in the early 1840's. Then it migrated so much into the fabric of this nation throughout time, that it became an official acceptance and a part of the Christmas tradition.
Also the biggest perverse pagan elohim that was accepted in the United States was the Statue of Liberty in 1886. According to Jim Staley formerly of Passion For Truth Ministries, on his teaching series "End of the Age" titled "Islam, The Antichrist and Mystery Babylon", he taught that the Statue of Liberty derived from a castrated, trans-dressed male named Attis, who was the pagan priest, or the main servant to Ishtar, the wife of the sun deity, Baal. That statue off of New York City is a "pagan elohim", and if I had the capability, I would destroy it. There are also other statues of pagan elohim around this nation, including mermaids, neptunes, and now recently, a satanic deity erected in Detroit, Michigan in late July, 2015. These are part of the reasons hwhy has slowly taken away this nation's blessings, and brought the harbingers that Jonathan Cahn noted in his books and videos.
Click on the image below to watch this teaching by Jim Staley. That part of the teaching starts around the thirty second minute.
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DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed in this teaching are solely those of the personel and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Aleph-Tav Project.
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JIM STALEY
End of the Age: Islam, The Antichrist And Mystery Babylon
Or you can see Jim Staley's segment on the Statue of Liberty on this video by itself
JIM STALEY
True Origin of The Statue of Liberty: (hint: she's not really a lady)
Verse eight
8 You shall not do according to [(as)] all which we are doing here today, of every man that is upright in his eyes.
The means of doing right in one's own eyes is an act of anarchism. An example of this is noted in the book of Judges
Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
King Solomon noted those who do things in their own eyes means, which are noted in the book of Proverbs
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but hwhy pondereth the hearts.
There are those in this nation today who are doing what is right in their own eyes. They have formed their own anarchy against the Constitution of the United States, as well as the Torah, the rest of the Tanakh, and the Brith Khadasah (the New Covenant).
Verses thirteen and fourteen
13 Guard (Observe, Take Heed) to yourself, lest (facing) you elevate your Elevation Offerings (Ascension Offerings, Burnt Offerings) in every place which you see: 14 for but in the Place which יהוה shall choose in one of your tribes, there you shall elevate your Elevation Offerings (Ascension Offerings, Burnt Offerings), and there you shall do all which I am commanding you.
The first time that the Temple of יהוה was noted after Moses and Joshua was in 1st Samuel 1:9, and it was located it in Shiloh, in the tribe of Ephraim, somewhere near Samuel's parents' residence in Ramathaim-Zophim in Mount Ephraim. In 1st Samuel chapter four, the Philistines captured the Ark of יהוה after they defeated the Israelites at Shiloh, and they took it to Ashdod where it stayed for seven months. The Philistines later returned it, and it was located in Kiriath-Jearim for twenty years. During King Saul's time, the Ark was in Gibeah in Migron in Mount Ephraim. When David became king, he brought the Ark from Gibeah on a new cart until Uzziah touched it, and it was left to the house of Obed Edom for three months. After three months, David brought it to the City of David in Jerusalem until Solomon built the Temple. The place where the Temple was built and where the Ark of hwhy was established is noted in the book of Kings
1 Kings 6:1 And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the Sons of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the House of יהוה...
37 In the fourth year was the Foundation of the House of יהוה laid, in the month Zif: 38 And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the House finished throughout all of the Parts thereof, and according to all of the Fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.... 8:1 Then Solomon assembled את-the Elders of Israel, and את-all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the Sons of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up את-the Ark of the Covenant of יהוה out of the City of David, which is Zion. 2 And all of the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 3 And all the Elders of Israel came, and the Priests took up את-the Ark. 4 And they brought up את-the Ark of יהוה, and the Tent of Appointment, and all the Holy Vessels that were in the Tent, even those did the Priests and the Levites bring up. 5 And King Solomon, and all of the Congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the Ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude. 6 And the Priests brought in את-the Ark of the Covenant of יהוה unto his place, into the Oracle of the House, to the Holy of the Holies, even under the wings of the cherubims. 7 For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the Ark, and the cherubims covered the Ark and the Staves thereof above. 8 And they drew out the Staves, that the ends of the Staves were seen out in the Sanctuary before the Oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day. 9 There was nothing in the Ark save the Two Tablets of Stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when יהוה made a Covenant with the Sons of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 10 And it came to pass, when the Priests were come out of the Sanctuary, that the cloud filled את-the House of יהוה,
The place יהוה said that He would put His Name there, took over 400 years since the Israelite Exodus by King Solomon building the Temple for יהוה to reside for the sacrifices to commence. This was also the manifested time when the Israelites rejoiced at the newly built Temple by rejoicing during the Fall High Holy Day of the Feast of Sukkoth. Why did it take so long to put the Temple there in Jerusalem? The key was that the Israelite nation had to be in peace for יהוה to reside, hence it was during King Solomon (in Hebrew, "Shloh-moh", from shalom or peace- hint, hint), and it was during the happiest High Holy Days of the Biblical feast of Sukkoth ("Tabernacles") that it occured, hence the fulfillment of this week's Torah portion passage in verse twelve. This was a key that Yeshua would follow that similar pattern to be born during the "Pax Romana", Latin for "the Peace of Rome", during the Roman empire, and Yeshua was born during the Fall High Holy Day on the first day of the Biblical Feast of Sukkoth. It is emphasized in the Gospel of John
John 1:14 And the Word was made Flesh, and dwelt [tabernacled] among us, (and we beheld His Glory, the Glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
And now, we as believers in the Messiah have become His symbolic "living tabernacles" where He chose to reside when we accepted Him as our Savior and Lord.
!!!כבד לך יהוה
Verses twenty-one and twenty two
21 When the Place is far from you which יהוה, your Elohim, shall choose to put His Name there, and you shall sacrifice from your herd and from your flock, which יהוה has given to you as the which I have commanded you, and you shall eat in your gates according to [(as)] all of the pleasure (desire, lust) of your soul.
Moses gave information to the Israelites regarding sacrificing in their gates for those who are have a long distance away from Jersualem. I have struggled off and on for a long time to understand what Moses meant when he said that "the clean and the unclean" one can eat. One cannot eat an unclean animal. After a while meditating on this phrase and its context, glory to יהוה, He revealed to me what Moses was saying. I was reading it with the wrong perception of clean and unclean. I was looking at it, as if it was saying, that one was clean and one was not clean and which of gazelle and the hart was clean. That is not what it was saying. It did not mean one or the other, but it meant that the gazelle and the hart are BOTH clean AND unclean. They are BOTH "clean" by chewing the cud and having a split hoof, as noted in the Torah portion of Sh'mini, in the book of Leviticus
Leviticus 11:1 And יהוה spoke to Moses and to Aaron to say to them, 2 Speak to the Sons of Israel, to say, This is the living beast which you shall eat from all of the animals which are upon the Earth. 3 All with the dividing of the hoof, and cloven, is cloven the hoofs, with ascending the cud among the animals, you shall eat her.
This is what is says in chapter fourteen in this week's Torah portion
Deuteronomy 14:4 This is the animal which you shall eat: the ox, the lamb (rushing member) of sheep, and the lamb (rushing member) of kids, 5 the hart (stag, deer), and the gazelle (roebuck), and the fallow deer, and the wild goat (chamois), and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois. 6 And every animal with diving the hoof, and cleaves the cleft of two hoofs, ascending the cud, among the animals, her you shall eat.
They are BOTH also "unclean", because they are not eligible for the Tent sacrifices as well as the Temple sacrifices, because they are "wild animals" and NOT domesticated animals, like oxens, heifers, lambs, and goats.
!!!כבד לך יהוה
Verses twenty three through twenty five
23 Only be strong (sure) to fail at eating the blood: for the blood, he is the soul; and you shall not eat the soul with the flesh. 24 You shall not eat him; you shall shed (spill, gush out) him upon the Earth as the water. 25 You shall not eat him; by that, shall be good (well) to you and to your sons after you when you shall do that is upright [(the uprightness)] in the Eyes of יהוה.
Looking at the word SOUL
The Hebrew word for soul "neh-phesh"- Nun, Peh, Shin (נפש). It is from Strong's Concordance number 5315, and its definition
From H5314; properly a breathing creature, that is, animal or (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental): - any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead (-ly), desire, X [dis-] contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart (-y), (hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortality, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they, thing, (X she) will, X would have it.
from 5314 "nah-phash" (נפש), and its definition
A primitive root; to breathe; passively, to be breathed upon, that is, (figuratively) refreshed (as if by a current of air): - (be) refresh selves (-ed).
We are not to eat the blood, because the blood is the place for the soul to reside, and we are not to eat the soul with the flesh. Today, people are allowed to donate blood. The blood of a human being is also the place for their soul to dwell. Those that donate their blood donate part of their souls as well.
Indirectly related, if someone donates their organs, the individuals who receive them are receiving a part of that person's soul as well. The soul consists of the mind, the emotions and the will. Years ago Jim Nabors who played Gomer Pyle on the The Andy Williams Show and Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. was interviewed on "The Hour of Power" televised service in California hosted by Robert Schuller. Gomer Pyle talked about his liver transplant that was donated by a Mexican, and he mentioned to Dr Schuller that since then, that he was interested more in Mexican food. Another example was a woman receiving a heart transplant from a person that had a violent past, and after the transplant, she started to have nightmares of someone attacking her. This would be similar to one receiving a transfusion of blood. When one recives another person's blood or organ, which consists of the donor's soul, one will receive the issues in that donor's life, or soul.
In this week's Torah portion chapter, there are things that Moses noted twice. These are the duplicate verses:
5 for but to the place which יהוה, your Elohim, shall choose from all of your tribes to put את-His Name there, for you shall seek (inquire) His Tabernacling, and you shall go (come) there:
14 for but in the Place which יהוה shall choose in one of your tribes, there you shall elevate your Elevation Offerings (Ascension Offerings, Burnt Offerings), and there you shall do all which I am commanding you.
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6 and you shall bring (have come) there your Elevation Offerings (Ascension Offerings, Burnt Offerings), and your Sacrifices, and את your Tithes (Tithe Offerings), and את Heave Offerings (Raise Offerings) of your hand, and your Vow Offerings, and your Freewill Offerings (Voluntary Offerings), and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock:
27 And you shall do (offer) your Elevation Offerings (Ascension Offerings, Burnt Offerings), the flesh, and the blood, upon the Altar of יהוה, your Elohim: and the blood of your Sacrifices shall be shedded (spilled, gushed out) upon the Altar of יהוה, your Elohim, and you shall eat the flesh.
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8 You shall not do according to [(as)] all which we are doing here today, of every man that is upright in his eyes.
13 Guard (Observe, Take Heed) to yourself, lest (facing) you elevate your Elevation Offerings (Ascension Offerings, Burnt Offerings) in every place which you see:
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15 Only in all of your gates you shall sacrifice in all of the pleasure (desire, lust) of your soul, and you shall eat flesh according to [(as)] the Blessing of יהוה, your Elohim, which was given to you: the unclean and the clean shall eat him, as of the gazelle (roebuck), and as of the hart (stage, deer).
22 Surely as the which את-the gazelle (roebuck) and את-the hart (stag, deer) shall be eaten, so you shall eat him: the unclean and the clean shall he be alike, shall be eaten him.
Verse thirty two
32 את All of the Word which I am commanding you, you shall guard (observe, take heed) to do, you shall not add upon him, and you shall not scrape (shave, restrain, diminish, withold) from him.
The first part of this week's Torah portion passage is usually translated as "All of these things", but in the Hebrew text it is "singular", and it should be actually "word". Also notice that it says to add or diminish "him". This him relates to the word, singular, and it refers to "Him", who is Yeshua, "the Living Word" manifested in the Flesh, which is noted in the Gospel of John
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. 2 The Same was in the beginning with Elohim.... 14 And the Word was made Flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His Glory, the Glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father,) full of Grace and Truth.
The reason they were not to add or diminish those words, because the Word was, and is, and is to be "perfect" which is the same yesterday, today and forever. The reason is that Yeshua was "the Word" manifested in the flesh, who was, and is and is to come, as Yeshua noted in the book of Revelation
Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha [in Hebrew, Aleph] and Omega [in Hebrew, Tav], the Beginning and the Ending, saith the Lord, Who Is, and Who Was, and Who Is to Come, the Almighty.
Yeshua, the Living Word, is the same "Word" yesterday, today and forever, as based in apostle Paul's letter in the book of the Hebrews
Hebrews 13:8 Yeshua the Messiah the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
If they, or even us as believers in the Messiah, added or deleted any of the Word, they, or we, would be adding and deleting "Yeshua" the Living Word made Flesh. It would be like adding and taking away body parts and organs of Yeshua's body that are not supposed to be, like Frankenstein, and doing this would be nothing more than creating a "GMO/GEI/GM (in general "Genetically Modified") human being". Those who have done this will be judged for this, We are not immuned to this, because if we in the Messiah did the same thing, we would also be judged for it. This would also be an indirect attack against hwhy and Yeshua by adding and deleting His Words.
CHAPTER 13
Deuteronomy 13:1-18
(13:2-19 In the Hebrew)
Deu 13:1 When a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams shall arise in your drawing nearness, and gives to you a sign or a wonder (miracle), 2 And the sign and the wonder (miracle) comes which was spoken to to you, to say, We will go after other elohim, which you have not known, and we will serve them; 3 You shall not listen to words of that prophet or to that dreamer of dreams: for יהוה, your Elohim, is testing (trying, proving) you, to know that exists of you ones loving יהוה-את, your Elohim, in all of your heart, and in all of your soul. 4 You shall walk after יהוה, your Elohim, and you shall revere (give awe, fear) Him, and you shall guard (observe, heed) את-His Commandments, and and you shall hear His Voice, and you shall serve Him, and you shall cling on Him. 5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall die; for has spoken apostasy (turning away, a plucking away) upon יהוה, your Elohim, that brought you out from the land of Egypt, and that redeemed you from the house of slavery (bondage), to push you away [(thrust you away)] from the way which יהוה, your Elohim, commanded you to walk in her. And you shall kindle away (fuel away) the evil from your drawing nearness.
6 When your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the woman (wife) of your bosom, or your neighbor, which is as your soul, persuades (entices, seduces) you in the secrecy, to say, We will go and we will serve other elohim which you have not known, you, and your fathers; 7 from the elohim of the peoples which are all around you that are drawing near to you, or that are far from you, from the end of the Earth and unto the end of the Earth; 8 you shall not consent (will) to him, and you shall not listen to him; and you shall not pity your eye upon him, and you shall not spare, and you shall not conceal (cover) upon him: 9 for killing, you shall kill him; your hand, she shall be against (on) him among the first to his death, and on the hand of all of the People among (in) the afterward. 10 And you shall skullstone (skullcast, stone) him on the stones, and shall die; for has sought to push you away [(thrust you away)] from upon יהוה, your Elohim, that brought you out from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery (bondage). 11 And all Israel, they shall hear, and they shall revere (give awe, fear), and they shall not add to do as this evil word in your drawing nearness.
12 When you shall hear in one of your cities which יהוה, your Elohim, is giving to you to dwell there, to say, 13 The sons of Belial, they have gone out from your drawing nearness, and they have pushed away (thrust away) את-the dwellers of their city, to say, We will go and we will serve other elohim which you have not known; 14 And you shall investigate (question, make inquisition, inquire), and you shall examine, and shall ask goodly (well); and behold, the truth of the word was established, this abomination (abhorrence) was done of her in your drawing nearness; 15 that striking, you shall strike את-the dwellers of that city by the mouth of the sword, flattening (blunting) her, and את-all which belongs in her, and את-her animals, by the mouth of the sword. 16 And you shall collect את-all of her spoil to the midst of her broad area, and you shall burn up את-the city in the fire, and את-all of her spoil wholly [(?shall be a Whole Burnt Offering?)] to יהוה, your Elohim: and she shall be a Heap of Ages; she shall not be built anymore (still). 17 And on your hand shall not cling from anything from the flattened (blunted) thing: by that, יהוה may turn back from the glowness of His Anger, and shall give mercies to you, and shall be compassionate (mercifiul) at you, and shall multiply you, as the which was sworn to your fathers; 18 when you listen in the Voice of יהוה, your Elohim, to guard (observe, heed) את-all of His Commandments which I am commanding you today, to do that is upright in the Eyes of יהוה, your Elohim.
(NOTE: Not all verses will have comments)
Verses one through five
1 When a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams shall arise in your drawing nearness, and gives to you a sign or a wonder (miracle), 2 And the sign and the wonder (miracle) comes which was spoken to to you, to say, We will go after other elohim, which you have not known, and we will serve them; 3 You shall not listen to words of that prophet or to that dreamer of dreams: for יהוה, your Elohim, is testing (trying, proving) you, to know that exists of you ones loving יהוה-את, your Elohim, in all of your heart, and in all of your soul. 4 You shall walk after יהוה, your Elohim, and you shall revere (give awe, fear) Him, and you shall guard (observe, heed) את-His Commandments, and and you shall hear His Voice, and you shall serve Him, and you shall cling on Him. 5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall die; for has spoken apostasy (turning away, a plucking away) upon יהוה, your Elohim, that brought you out from the land of Egypt, and that redeemed you from the house of slavery (bondage), to push you away [(thrust you away)] from the way which יהוה, your Elohim, commanded you to walk in her. And you shall kindle away (fuel away) the evil from your drawing nearness.
The Israelites were told to not to listen to false prophets and dreamer of dreams, and to kill them if they say to follow after other elohim.
In the Brith Khadashah (the New Covenant), Yeshua was in a generation that was seeking a sign, because of their wickedness and their perverseness, which is noted in the Gospel of Matthew
Matthew 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a Sign from Thee. 39 But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a Sign; and there shall no Sign be given to it, but the Sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Matthew 16:1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired Him that He would shew them a Sign from the heavens. 2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a Sign; and there shall no Sign be given unto it, but the Sign of the prophet Jonas. And He left them, and departed.
In our generation today, we have been seeing natural signs, like the tetrad four blood moons, all of them occuring around the Biblical feasts of Passover and Sukkoth (Tabernacles) in 2014 and 2015, thanks to Mark Biltz of El Shaddai Ministries who discovered them in 2008. In this case in our generation, יהוה is giving the signs to the world, but the world is brushing them off saying it is nothing. Mark Biltz in 2017 noted the solar eclipse that occurred on August 21st, crossing the United States for the first time since World War I in 1918, and on September 23rd, there will be a constellation formation called "the Revelation 12 Constellation" which consists of the constellation of Virgo, the virgin, and Leo the Lion's nine stars, along with three planets, Mercury, Mars and Venus, forming the twelve stars. This latter constellation sign occurred around the time of Yom Teruah in 2017.
We need to note that during Biblical times, there wasn't any magnification ability to differentiate between planets and stars.
Mark Biltz spoke at a conference in Alabama in August of 2017 regarding the signs. They took off the video, but this is a similar teaching at that year by Mark Biltz. Click on the image to get to the webpage.
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DISCLAIMER
The views and opinions expressed in this teaching are solely those of the personel and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Aleph-Tav Project.
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MARK BILTZ
USA Solar Eclipse 2017 - SIGN OF JONAH! Mark Biltz Decodes
This is my understanding of the end times. This worldly generation is a wicked and an adulterous generation, becuase, in my opinion, since the "GI Bill" which was signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, it changed the society from being a dominant agricultural society to a dominant technological society today. Brad Scott of Wildbranch Ministry said that the Torah is a Bible based on the Agricultural structure. So how can a "Techno Cultural Society" today understand an "Agricultural Bible" if we don't have a dominant agricultural society? This is one of the "signs" of the times that we "are" the last generation.
יהוה tells the prophet Jeremiah regarding the false prophets in Judah who were not sent by יהוה making false prophecies, which is noted in the book of the prophet Jeremiah
Jeremiah 14:11 Then said יהוה unto me, Pray not for this People for their good. 12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they elevate an Elevation Offering and a Food Offering, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. 13 Then said I, Ah, Adonai יהוה! Behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place. 14 Then יהוה said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in My Name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. 15 Therefore thus saith יהוה concerning the prophets that prophesy in My Name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed. 16 And the People to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour את-their evil upon them.
Indirectly related, a false prophet prophecied positive results wheras Jeremiah gave warnings to them, and also gave judgment to the false prophet, which is noted in the book of the prophet Jeremiah
Jeremiah 28:1 And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah, son of Azur, the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the House of יהוה, in the presence of the Priests and of all of the People, saying, 2 Thus speaketh יהוה of Armies, the Elohim of Israel, saying, I have broken את-the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two full years will I bring again into this place את-all the Vessels of יהוה's House, that Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon: 4 And I will bring again to this place את-Jeconiah, son of Jehoiakim, King of Judah, with את-all of the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith יהוה: for I will break את-the yoke of the king of Babylon. 5 Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the Priests, and in the presence of all of the People that stood in the House of יהוה, 6 Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: יהוה do so: יהוה perform את-thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the Vessels of יהוה's House, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place. 7 Nevertheless hear thou now this Word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all of the People; 8 The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many lands, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence. 9 The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that יהוה hath truly sent him. 10 Then Hananiah, the prophet, את-took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it. 11 And Hananiah spake in the presence of all of the People, saying, Thus saith יהוה; Even so will I break את-the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way. 12 Then the Word of יהוה came unto Jeremiah, the prophet, after that Hananiah, the prophet, had broken את-the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 13 Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith יהוה; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron. 14 For thus saith יהוה of Armies, the Elohim of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all of these nations, that they may serve את-Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him את-the beasts of the field also. 15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; יהוה hath not sent thee; but thou makest את-this People to trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus saith יהוה; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against יהוה.
17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
Hananiah the prophet made a proper first prophecy, because Jeremiah agreed with him. But it was Hananiah's second prophecy and his act of breaking off the yoke of Jeremiah, which יהוה commanded Jeremiah to wear, that caused the prophet Hananiah's death.
In the Brith Khadashah (the New Covenant), Yeshua warned in the end times that there will be false Messiahs and false prophets, which are noted in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark
Matthew 24:4 And Yeshua answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in My Name, saying, I am Messiah; and shall deceive many.
Mark 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Messiah; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false messiahs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
This also applies to us as believers in the Messiah in our generation today.
On a positive note, Yeshua and the disciples/apostles were doing miracles and wonders, and they were following the Torah. Yeshua is the "Only One" we are to follow.
Looking at the word DREAM
The Hebrew word for dream is "khah-lohm"- Khet, Lamed, Vav, Mem Sophit (חלום). It is from Strong's Concordance number 2472, and its definition
From H2492; a dream: - dream (-er).
from 2492 "khah-lahm" (חלם), and its definition
A primitive root; properly to bind firmly, that is, (by implication) to be (causatively to make) plump; also (through the figurative sense of dumbness) to dream: - (cause to) dream (-er), be in good liking, recover.
This is where we get our modern English word "calm", as in a calm dream.
Looking at verse three of this week's Torah portion passage again
3 You shall not listen to words of that prophet or to that dreamer of dreams: for יהוה, your Elohim, is testing (trying, proving) you, to know that exists of you ones loving יהוה-את, your Elohim, in all of your heart, and in all of your soul.
The question is, does יהוה still do this to us as believers in Yeshua today? The answer is yes, He still does. Everyone has their own story.
This is how the King James Version translates verse three:
(KJV) Deuteronomy 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
A word the King James translators tranlated is "whether". Other translators use the same definition, but looking at the phrase "the existence by you", looking in the Hebrew text, the Hebrew word is "hai-yeesh-khehm" (הישכם). Researching this Hebrew word, this is what is says:
Looking at the word WHETHER
The Hebrew word for whether is "yeysh"- Yod, Shin (יש). It is from Strong's Concordance number 3426, and its definition
Perhaps from an unused root meaning to stand out, or exist; entity; used adverbially or as a copula for the substantive verb (H1961); there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection): - (there) are, (he, it, shall, there, there may, there shall, there should) be, thou do, had, hast, (which) hath, (I, shalt, that) have, (he, it, there) is, substance, it (there) was, (there) were, ye will, thou wilt, wouldest.
a copula for 1961 "hah-yah"- Heh, Yod, Heh (היה), and its definiton
A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary): - beacon, X altogether, be (-come, accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), continue, do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, X use.
To me, this is pretty cool, because if we take the actual Hebrew word and Anglicized it, and substitute the English word, this is what the verse says applied to my translation:
3 You shall not listen to words of that prophet or to that dreamer of dreams: for יהוה, your Elohim, is testing (trying, proving) you, to know that "Yeysh" of you ones loving יהוה-את, your Elohim, in all of your heart, and in all of your soul.
This is a saying that those who love יהוה have "Yeysh" in them. And if one notices this, Yeysh can be applied as the Abbreviated Name, or Nicname, for "Yeshua", like Moshe, or Moses, is a shortened name, or nicname, for "Mashiakah", or "Messiah". What יהוה was doing was to test them to see if "Yeshua "the Living Word" was existing in them, and if they did, it would prove that they were loving יהוה their Elohim in al of thier hearts and souls.
!!!כבד לך יהוה
Indirectly related, in the Brith Khadashah (the New Covenant), the apostle Paul had concern that an assembly will be led astray with a different gospel because of the assembly's ability to see things by sight or presence, because Paul cannot be present with them all the time, which is noted in his letter to the assembly in Corinth
2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to One Husband, that I may present you as a Chaste Virgin to the Messiah. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Messiah. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Yeshua, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Like Moses' concerns with Israel being led away from a physical being presently acting as a prophet or a dreamer of dreams from following יהוה, the Apostle Paul had his concerns as well from someone physically present talking of another gospel the Paul did not teach.
Verses six through eleven
6 When your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the woman (wife) of your bosom, or your neighbor, which is as your soul, persuades (entices, seduces) you in the secrecy, to say, We will go and we will serve other elohim which you have not known, you, and your fathers; 7 from the elohim of the peoples which are all around you that are drawing near to you, or that are far from you, from the end of the Earth and unto the end of the Earth; 8 you shall not consent (will) to him, and you shall not listen to him; and you shall not pity your eye upon him, and you shall not spare, and you shall not conceal (cover) upon him: 9 for killing, you shall kill him; your hand, she shall be against (on) him among the first to his death, and on the hand of all of the People among (in) the afterward. 10 And you shall skullstone (skullcast, stone) him on the stones, and shall die; for has sought to push you away [(thrust you away)] from upon יהוה, your Elohim, that brought you out from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery (bondage). 11 And all Israel, they shall hear, and they shall revere (give awe, fear), and they shall not add to do as this evil word in your drawing nearness.
In this week's Torah portion passage, hwhy noted to do the same thing with one's family member who tries to lead another family member to serve other elohim, by killing them and not to have one's eye have pity on them. This could be the basis that the Jews used during the time of Yeshua and His followers, in their day by not following Yeshua forty years before the destruction of the second Temple around 70 AD.
Indirectly related to this week's Torah passage, any Israelite family member that does not do the Will of יהוה they are not their brethren. Yeshua noted an account of this, which is noted in the Gospel of Matthew
Matthew 12:46 While He yet talked to the People, behold, His mother and His brethren stood without, desiring to speak with Him. 47 Then one said unto Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with Thee. 48 But He answered and said unto him that told him, Who is My mother? and who are My brethren? 49 And He stretched forth His Hand toward His disciples, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the Will of My Father who is in the heavens, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.
This could also connect to the reason the real brothers, sisters, and mothers who do the Father's Will, which is noted in the Gospel of Matthew
Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in the heavens. 33 But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in the heavens. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My Sake shall find it.
Because one's love for them above Yeshua could also lead one astray by following a false Messiah and another gospel.
Verses twelve through eighteen
12 When you shall hear in one of your cities which יהוה, your Elohim, is giving to you to dwell there, to say, 13 The sons of Belial, they have gone out from your drawing nearness, and they have pushed away (thrust away) את-the dwellers of their city, to say, We will go and we will serve other elohim which you have not known; 14 And you shall investigate (question, make inquisition, inquire), and you shall examine, and shall ask goodly (well); and behold, the truth of the word was established, this abomination (abhorrence) was done of her in your drawing nearness; 15 that striking, you shall strike את-the dwellers of that city by the mouth of the sword, flattening (blunting) her, and את-all which belongs in her, and את-her animals, by the mouth of the sword. 16 And you shall collect את-all of her spoil to the midst of her broad area, and you shall burn up את-the city in the fire, and את-all of her spoil wholly [(?shall be a Whole Burnt Offering?)] to יהוה, your Elohim: and she shall be a Heap of Ages; she shall not be built anymore (still). 17 And on your hand shall not cling from anything from the flattened (blunted) thing: by that, יהוה may turn back from the glowness of His Anger, and shall give mercies to you, and shall be compassionate (mercifiul) at you, and shall multiply you, as the which was sworn to your fathers; 18 when you listen in the Voice of יהוה, your Elohim, to guard (observe, heed) את-all of His Commandments which I am commanding you today, to do that is upright in the Eyes of יהוה, your Elohim.
Men of Belial, or men of worthlessness, make the people of a city go out to serve other elohim.
Looking at the word BELIAL
The Hebrew word for Belial is B'lee-ah-ahl"- Bet, Lamed, Yod, Ayin, Lamed (בליעל). It is from Strong's Concordance number 1100, and its definition
From H1097 and H3276; without profit, worthlessness; by extension destruction, wickedness (often in connection with H376, H802, H1121, etc.): - Belial, evil, naughty, ungodly (men), wicked.
Beli
from 1097 "b'lee" (בלי), and its definition
From H1086; properly failure, that is, nothing or destruction; usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as long as, etc.: - corruption, ig[norantly], for lack of, where no . . . is, so that no, none, not, un[awares], without.
from 1086 "bah-lah" (בלה), and its definition
A primitive root; to fail; by implication to wear out, decay (causatively consume, spend): - consume, enjoy long, become (make, wax) old, spend, waste.
Al
from 3276 "yah-ahl" (יעל), and its definition
A primitive root; properly to ascend; figuratively to be valuable (objective useful, subjective benefited): - X at all, set forward, can do good, (be, have) profit (-able).
These two part words together would define this word as "Worthless Value", but it can also be interpretly defined as "A Worthless Ascender". This worthless ascender would be no other than HaSatan, the ultimate false prophet, and the ultimate deceiver, who will ascend from the abyss in the latter days and will deceive many, which is noted in the apostle John's book of Revelation
Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
HaSatan tried to ascend himself above יהוה one time, which is noted in the book of the prophet Isaiah
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of El: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Looking at the word LUCIFER
The Hebrew word for Lucifer is "Hey-leyl"- Heh, Yod, Lamed, Lamed (הילל). It is from Strong's Concordance number 1966, and its definition
From H1984 (in the sense of brightness); the morning star: - lucifer.
from 1984 "hah-lahl" (הלל), and its defintion
A primitive root; to be clear (originally of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence to make a show; to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively to celebrate; also to stultify: - (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, [sing, be worthy of] praise, rage, renowned, shine.
This is where we get our modern English word "hell". Hell was named after the name of HaSatan himself. Resaying the first Isaiah verse with the correct name it says:
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Heyleyl, son of the morning!
According to this week's Torah portion passage, the Israelites were to search out to see if the word that was mentioned of that city was true, and were told to do it carefully, and if it was so, the Israelties were commanded to destroy everything in the city, from the People, to their animals, to their possessions, and the city itself. The Israelites were to curse the city by not having it rebuilt. This can be compared to what Joshua commanded regarding Jericho, and probably was the basis for Joshua to make this commandment, which is noted in the book of Joshua
Joshua 6:26 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man to the Face of יהוה, that riseth up and buildeth את-this city את-Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.
This curse was fulfilled to one person, which is noted in the book of the Kings
1 Kings 16:34 In his days did Hiel, the Bethelite, build את-Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the Word of יהוה, which he spake by Joshua, son of Nun.
Looking at the word GOOD (WELL)
The Hebrew word for good (well) is "yah-tahv"- Yod, Tet, Bet (יטב). It is from Strong's Concordance number 3190, and its defintion
A primitive root; to be (causatively) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right): - be accepted, amend, use aright, benefit, be (make) better, seem best, make cheerful, be comely, + be content, diligent (-ly), dress, earnestly, find favour, give, be glad, do (be, make) good ([-ness]), be (make) merry, please (+ well), shew more [kindness], skilfully, X very small, surely, make sweet, thoroughly, tire, trim, very, be (can, deal, entreat, go, have) well [said, seen ].
The Israelites were to search out the matter with good intentions, and not with ulterior motives, so that their research would be just and sound, without error, like detectives who search for clues in a case to get to the truth of what happened at the scene of a crime.
Also, regarding verse fourteen of this week's Torah portion passage, it was probably the basis that Yeshua noted this, which is noted in the Gospel of Matthew
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
This is what we are to do as believers by searching out a matter, which is noted in the book of Proverbs
Proverbs 25:2 It is the Glory of Elohim to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
Ending this chapter I will say ask, seek, knock to יהוה, and get the truth.
CHAPTER 14
Numbers 14:1-29
Deu 14:1 You are sons to יהוה, your Elohim: you shall not gash yourself, and you shall not put (set) a baldness between your eyes for the dead, 2 for you are a Sacred (Holy) People to יהוה, your Elohim, and יהוה has chosen on you to be for a Special (Special Treasured) People to Him, from all of the peoples which are upon the face of the Ground.
3 You shall not eat any abomination (abhorrence). 4 This is the animal which you shall eat: the ox, the lamb (rushing member) of sheep, and the lamb (rushing member) of kids, 5 the hart (stag, deer), and the gazelle (roebuck), and the fallow deer, and the wild goat (chamois), and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois. 6 And every animal with diving the hoof, and cleaves the cleft of two hoofs, ascending the cud, among the animals, her you shall eat.
7 Surely את-this you shall not eat from ascending the cud, and from dividing the cloven hoof; את-the camel, and את-the hare, and את-the coney: for they ascend the cud, and the hoof, they are not divided; they are unclean to you. 8 And את-the swine, for he with divides the hoof, and not the cud, he is unclean to you: you shall not eat from their flesh, and you shall not touch on their flabby carcass (flabby corpse, wilted carcass).
9 את-This you shall eat from all which are in the waters: all which have to him fins and scales you shall eat him: 10 And all which have not to him fins and scales you shall not eat; he is unclean to you.
11 All clean birds you shall eat. 12 And this which you shall not eat from them: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, 13 and the glede, and את-the kite (hawk), and the vulture (falcon) to her kind, 14 and את every raven to his kind, 15 and את-the daughter (branch) of the owl (ostrich), and את-the night hawk, and את-the cuckoo (gull), and את-the hawk to his kind, 16 את-the little owl, and את-the great owl (night heron), and the swan, 17 and the pelican, and את-the gier-eagle, and את-the cormorant, 18 and the stork, and the heron (parrot) by her kind, and the lapwing (hoopoe, grouse), and the bat. 19 And every swarmer that flies, he is unclean to you: they shall not be eaten. 20 All clean birds you shall eat.
21 You shall not eat any flabby carcass (flabby corpse, wilted carcass): you shall give her to the sojourner (stranger) which is in your gates and shall eat of her; or sell to an alien (foreigner): for you are a Sacred (Holy) People to יהוה, your Elohim.
You shall not boil a kid in the milk of his mother.
22 Tithing, you shall tithe את all of the produce of your seed that goes out of [(that yields)] the field year at year.
23 And you shall eat to the Face of יהוה, your Elohim, in the Place which shall choose to tabernacle His Name there, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine (fresh grape juice), and your pressed oil (glistened oil), and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock; by that, you may learn to revere (give awe, fear) יהוה-את, your Elohim, all of the days. 24 And for the way is multiple from you, for you are not able to carry (bear, lift up) him; for shall be the Place far from you which יהוה, your Elohim, shall choose to put His Name there, for (when) יהוה, your Elohim, shall bless you: 25 And you shall give her on the silver, and you shall bind (shut up) the silver in your hand, and you shall go to the Place which יהוה, your Elohim, shall choose on him: 26 And you shall give her the silver in all which your soul, she pleases (desires, lusts), on the herd, and on the flock, and on the wine, and on the strong drink, and on anything which your soul, she inquires (asks, requests) of you: and you shall eat there to the Face of יהוה, your Elohim, and you shall rejoice, you, and your household. 27 And the Levite which is in your gates; you shall not forsake him; for does not belong to him a portion and an inheritance with you.
28 Of the end of three years, you shall bring out את-all of the tithe of your produce in that year, and you shall deposit (make rest) in your gates: 29 and the Levite shall come, for does not belong to him a portion and an inheritance with you, and the sojourner, and the orphan, and the widow, which are in your gates, and they shall eat, and they shall be satisfied; by that, יהוה, your Elohim, shall bless you in all of the doing (work) of your hand which you do.
(NOTE: Not all verses will be commented)
Verses three through eight
3 You shall not eat any abomination (abhorrence). 4 This is the animal which you shall eat: the ox, the lamb (rushing member) of sheep, and the lamb (rushing member) of kids, 5 the hart (stag, deer), and the gazelle (roebuck), and the fallow deer, and the wild goat (chamois), and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois. 6 And every animal with diving the hoof, and cleaves the cleft of two hoofs, ascending the cud, among the animals, her you shall eat. 7 Surely את-this you shall not eat from ascending the cud, and from dividing the cloven hoof; את-the camel, and את-the hare, and את-the coney: for they ascend the cud, and the hoof, they are not divided; they are unclean to you. 8 And את-the swine, for he with divides the hoof, and not the cud, he is unclean to you: you shall not eat from their flesh, and you shall not touch on their flabby carcass (flabby corpse, wilted carcass).
This also comes from the Torah portion Sh'mini, in the book of Leviticus
Leviticus 11:1 And יהוה spoke to Moses and to Aaron to say to them, 2 Speak to the Sons of Israel, to say, This is the living beast which you shall eat from all of the animals which are upon the Earth. 3 All with the dividing of the hoof, and cloven, is cloven the hoofs, with ascending the cud among the animals, you shall eat her. 4 Only את-this you shall not eat from ascenders of the cud, and from dividers of the hoof: את-the camel, for he is with ascending the cud, and the hoof is not divided; he is unclean to you. 5 And את-the coney, for he is with ascending of the cud, and the hoof is not divided; he is unclean to you. 6 And את-the hare, for she is with ascending the cud, and the hoof is not divided; she is unclean to you. 7 And את-the swine, for he is with dividing the hoof, and cloven, is a cloven hoof, and does not chew (sojourn) the cud; he is unclean to you. 8 You shall not eat from their flesh, and on their flabby carcases (flabby corpses) you shall not touch; They are unclean to you.
These have symbolic meanings:
THE SYMBOLIC MEANINGS OF THE CUD AND DIVIDED HOOF:
THE CUD
The cud symbolizes the Word. Chewing the cud is symbolic to chewing the Word, meaning that we "meditate" on the Word, and it goes into our stomachs and it gets digested. We get the nutrients from the Word. Then it comes back up and we rechew, or "remeditate" on the Word again, and we get a better understanding of the Word.
Looking at the word CUD
The Hebrew word for cud is "gey-rah"- Gimel, Resh, Heh (גרה). It is from Strong's Concordance number 1625, and its definition
From H1641; the cud (as scraping the throat): - cud.
from 1641 "gah-rahr" (גרר), and its definition
A primitive root; to drag off roughly; by implication to bring up the cud (that is, ruminate); by analogy to saw: - catch, chew, X continuing, destroy, saw.
The Word could also "scrape" our throats to get our attentions. One of the things that the apostle Paul noted was to meditate upon his commands, which is noted in his letter to Timothy
1 Timothy 4:11 These things command and teach. 12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Even Paul told Timothy to tell them to meditate on his words, which is symbolically "chewing the cud".
THE DIVIDED HOOF
The divided foot is symbolic of the feet that walks by "dividing" the Word of truth, which the apostle Paul noted in his letter to Timothy
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto יהוה, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
When one walks in יהוה, each step one takes is the result of dividing the Word of Truth and that step imprints that act of dividing the Word on the ground.
The apostle Paul also used the feet from the Armor of יהוה, symbolicaly, for the Gospel of Peace, which he noted in his letter to the assembly in Ephesus
Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace;
This is also applicable to us believers in Messiah today regarding a "person's" feet, which is noted in the book of the prophet Isaiah
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy Elohim reigneth!
This Person's "Feet" is Yeshua. This is applied to us in Yeshua, which the apostle Paul noted in his letter to the assembly in Rome
Romans 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of Peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Looking at the words:
DIVIDED
The Hebrew word for divided is "pah-rahs"- Peh, Resh, Samek (פרס). It is from Strong's Concordance number 6536, and its definition
A primitive root; to break in pieces, that is, (usually without violence) to split, distribute: - deal, divide, have hoofs, part, tear.
This is where we get our modern English word "press", as in pressed out.
HOOF
The Hebrew word for hoof is "pahr-sah"- Peh, Resh, Samek, Heh (פרסה). It is from Strong's Concordance number 6541, and its definition
Feminine of H6538; a claw or split hoof: - claw, [cloven-] footed, hoof.
from 6538 "peh-rehs" (פרס), and its definition
From H6536; a claw; also a kind of eagle: - claw, ossifrage.
Same Hebrew letters, but different voweling.
HOW THE TWO ARE APPLIED TOGETHER
It is necessary to eat animals that both chew the cud and have the divided hoof, in other words, we believers in Yeshua must meditate on the Word (chewing and rechewing the cud) and also walk in the Word (dividing the Word of Truth in the Gospel of Peace). If one eats an animal with just one of the requirements it will be like us, as believers, eating without walking, or walking without eating. It takes meditating by chewing on the Word and swallowing it and letting the Word ascending back up to meditate on it again to provide the energy to walk. If one doesn't walk, one could potentially get fat in vanity. On the act of walking- dividing the Word of Truth- one cannot walk a long term distance without having energy to digest and meditate again. That is why one needs to eat an animal of a split hoof and chewing the cud.
As it says in Frank Sinatra's song Love and Marriage, "You can't have one without the other".
Verses nine and ten
9 את-This you shall eat from all which are in the waters: all which have to him fins and scales you shall eat him: 10 And all which have not to him fins and scales you shall not eat; he is unclean to you.
This also comes from the Torah portion Sh'mini, in the book of Leviticus
Leviticus 11:9 You shall eat את-this from all which is in the waters: any which has to him fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the torrents (brooks, streams), you shall eat them. 10 And any which does not to him fins and scales in the seas and in the torrents (brooks, streams) from any swarmer of the waters and from any soul that lives which are in the waters, they are an abomination (an abhorrence, detestable, filth) to you: 11 And they shall be a filth (loathing) to you; you shall not eat from their flesh, and you shall filthify (loathe) את-their flabby carcases (flabby corpses). 12 Any which does not have to him fins and scales in the waters, he is detestable (filthy) to you.
LOOKING AT THE SYMBOLIC MEANINGS OF THE FINS AND SCALES:
THE FINS
The fins are the fishes rudders, to help steer them in the direction they want to go. They also help give them a forward or turning motion and to stabilize their path. The fins are symbolic of the Word which is like a rudder to steer and guide us believers in Yeshua in the direction of the Word He wants us to go, and to make us move forward, and to stabilize us in His Word. As David said in the book of Psalms
Psalms 25:5 Lead me in Thy Truth, and teach me: for Thou art the Elohim of my Salvation;...
hwhy in leading us in truth and teaching us is an act to "steer" us in the right direction, and we in Yeshua are led in the truth by the Ruakh HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit), which the apostle Paul noted in his letter to the assembly in Rome
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of יהוה, they are the Sons of hwhy.
Looking at the word FINS
The Hebrew word for fins is "s'nah-peer"- Samek, Nun, Peh, Yod, Resh (סנפיר). It is from the Strong's Concordance number 5579, and its definition
Of uncertain derivation; a fin (collectively): - fins.
This is where we get our modern English word "snapper", as in the type of fish called "red snapper".
THE SCALES
The scales of a fish are like "mini shields", like body armor, to protect the fish from parasites and foreign elements in the waters from getting into their bodies. These scales are symbolic of the shield of faith, which the apostle Paul noted in his letter to the assembly in Ephesus
Ephesians 6:14 ...and having on the breastplate of righteousness;... 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
The parasites and foreign elements are symbolic of foreign, worldly and heathen elements as well as the worldly "Anti-Messiah" culture of the sins from the world which are contrary to the Word, trying to get into one's body and become part of one's soul and physical being, effecting ones' own character. Also they are spiritually symbolic of the enemy, who is HaSatan and his demons.
The scales are also symbolic of prayer. An example of this is noted by the apostle Paul noting in his letter to the assembly in Corinth
1 Corinthians 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
Another symbol for the scales is the Word of יהוה, including the Torah, as Yeshua noted in the Gospel of John, by the apostle Paul in his letter to the assembly in Rome
John 17:17 Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is Truth.
Romans 10:4 For the Messiah is the Goal of the Torah for righteousness to every one that believeth.
As Yeshua also noted to the Pharisees, which is noted in the Gospel of John
John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me.
Looking at the word SCALES
The Hebrew word for scales is "kahs-keh-seth"- Kuph, Shin, Kuph, Shin, Tav (קשקשת). It is from Strong's Concordance number 7193, and its definition
By reduplication from an unused root meaning to shale off as bark; a scale (of a fish); hence a coat of mail (as composed of or covered with jointed plates of metal): - mail, scale.
HOW THE TWO ARE APPLIED TOGETHER
These two together would be praying in righteousness and faith (the scales), and be led by the Spirit of hwhy in walking in truth (the fins). If a fish has scales, but no fins, that fish would be "a sitting duck", having no direction to go, and would result in going in the wrong direction, or lose direction, and the Word would be meaningless. The apostle Paul noted in his letter to the assembly in Ephesus
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
And if a fish has fins, but no scales, that fish would be going in the direction that it should go, but it still would be attacked with foreign elements, because it does not have the scales to protect it, symbolic of the Word, fasting and prayer, and the Armor of יהוה.
The apostle Paul applied both of these applications, which he noted in his letter to Timothy
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which יהוה hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of יהוה is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the Word of יהוה and prayer. 6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Yeshua, the Messiah, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the Living Elohim, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Prayer is also like scales, because it give יהוה the means to steer our fins in the right direction. Also, if one doesn't have the "spiritual scales" one would be led astray. That is why we need to eat fish that have both scales and fins.
We as believers in Yeshua are to be "Fishers of men and women" who will bring men and women to be like fish, and who will use their "spiritual fins" to steer in the path of righteousness, and will put on the "spiritual shield" of faith, which is noted in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark
Matthew 4:19 And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mark 1:17 And Yeshua said unto them, Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
Looking at the word ABOMINATION (ABHORRENCE)
The Hebrew word for abomination (abhorrence) in the Levitical passage is "sheh-kehts"- Shin, Kuph, Tsade Sophit (שקץ). It is from Strong's Concordance number 8263, and its definition
From H8262; filth, that is, (figuratively and specifically) an idolatrous object: - abominable (-tion).
from 8262 "shah-kats" (שקץ), and its definition
A primitive root; to be filthy, that is, (intensively) to loathe, pollute: - abhor, make abominable, have in abomination, detest, X utterly.
Lastly, this is what the apostle James noted in his epistle
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one Elohim; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed יהוה, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of יהוה.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab, the harlot, justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
The fins and scales together is an act of faith and works together.
As it says in Frank Sinatra's song Love and Marriage, "You can't have one without the other".
Verses eleven through twenty
11 All clean birds you shall eat. 12 And this which you shall not eat from them: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, 13 and the glede, and את-the kite (hawk), and the vulture (falcon) to her kind, 14 and את every raven to his kind, 15 and את-the daughter (branch) of the owl (ostrich), and את-the night hawk, and את-the cuckoo (gull), and את-the hawk to his kind, 16 את-the little owl, and את-the great owl (night heron), and the swan, 17 and the pelican, and את-the gier-eagle, and את-the cormorant, 18 and the stork, and the heron (parrot) by her kind, and the lapwing (hoopoe, grouse), and the bat. 19 And every swarmer that flies, he is unclean to you: they shall not be eaten. 20 All clean birds you shall eat.
LOOKING AT THE SYMBOLIC MEANINGS OF THE UNCLEAN BIRDS:
THE CLEAN BIRDS
Clean birds do not prey on flesh but mostly on grains and fruits and berries, like the branches of the pheasants, including the quail. Also, the chicken, the turkey, and the Cornish game hen. How about a Sukkoth Turkey Dinner this year? :)
THE UNCLEAN BIRDS
These "flesh eating" birds have practically one thing in common: they all prey on animals, whether alive or dead. These are symbolic acts of the world, and HaSatan and his demons attacking and preying on us as believers in Messiah, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Verses nineteen and twenty
19 And every swarmer that flies, he is unclean to you: they shall not be eaten. 20 All clean birds you shall eat.
This is more detailed in the Torah portion of Sh'mini, in the book of Leviticus
Leviticus 11:20 Every swarmer that flies that go upon four, he is an abomination (an abhorrence, detestable, filth) to you. 21 You shall eat only את-this from every swarmer that flies that goes upon four which has to him legs from above by his feet to jump (leap) on them upon the Earth; 22 from את-these, you may eat; את-the locust by his kind, and את-the bald locust by his kind, and את-the long horned grasshopper by his kind, and את-the short grasshopper by his kind. 23 And every swarmer that flies which is to him four feet, he is detestable (filthy) to you.
LOOKING AT THE SYMBOLIC MEANINGS OF THE LEGS ABOVE:
This is what Answers.com under the article "What is the Spiritual Meaning of Grasshoppers?" says regarding its symbolic meaning:
"Grasshopper Symbology -- The grasshopper is associated with astral travel. They have the ability to leap through time and into space where the true mysteries of life exist. People with this medicine have the wisdom necessary to overcome obstacles efficiently and are able to jump into successful ventures without preparation or planning. When the grasshopper appears to us we are being asked to take a leap of faith and jump forward into a specific area of life without fear. Usually that specific area is one that we have avoided and is often connected to change on a larger scale. This can represent a change in location, relationships, career or just in the way we perceive ourselves.
Grasshoppers can only jump forward....not backward, or sideways. So, when grasshopper shows up he could be reaffirming to you that you are taking the right steps to move forward in your current situation. Or it could be that he is telling you to go ahead and move forward, getting past what is hindering you. This is why grasshopper is the symbol of good luck all over the world. Grasshopper's ability to connect and understand sound vibrations is why he is also a symbol of your inner voice. He could be telling you to trust yours".
John the Baptist ate wild locusts, which is noted in the Gospel of Matthew
Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of יהוה, make his paths straight. 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
The locusts are also grasshoppers. These are the same locusts that were part of the ten plagues in the Exodus story, which is noted in the Torah portion of Bo, in the book of Exodus
Exodus 10:12 And יהוה said to Moses, Stretch out (Stretch forth) your hand upon (over) the land of Egypt on the locusts, and will ascend upon (over) the land of Egypt and will eat את-every plant (herb) of the land of את all which the hail sha'ahr-left (remained, reserved). 13 And Moses stretched out (stretched forth) את-his staff (rod, branch) upon (over) the land of Egypt, and יהוה drove forth an east wind on the land all that day, and all of the night; Became the breaking period (morning), and the east wind carried (lifted up, brought up) את-the locusts. 14 And the locusts ascended upon (over) all of the land of Egypt, and rested much heavy in all of the border of Egypt: Not were such locusts like him to his face, and none shall be thus after them. 15 And was the covering (concealing) [(And was covered (concealed))] את-the eye of all of the Earth, and the land, she became dark; And ate את-every plant (herb) of the land, and את all of the fruit of the trees which the hail had yether-remained (were remnant, had left): and not yether-remained (were remnant, left) any green on the trees, and on the plants (herbs) of the field, in all of the land of Egypt.
Interestingly, Answers.com on the same article above, indirectly related to this Exodus passage, said this regarding having dreams of locusts:
"Dream Dictionary: To dream of seeing grasshoppers on green vegetables, denotes that enemies threaten your best interests. If on withered grasses, ill health. Disappointing business will be experienced. If you see grasshoppers between you and the sun, it denotes that you will have a vexatious problem in your immediate business life to settle, but using caution it will adjust itself in your favor. To call peoples' attention to the grasshoppers, shows that you are not discreet in dispatching your private business.
Ancient Egypt: The particular grasshopper species used as a motif by the ancient egyptians was probably the locust, either the desert locust or the migratory locust , both of which were probably common sights in the rich agricultural land bordering the Nile. Sudden plagues of these insects in ancient times no doubt caused much destruction of grain and other food crops, just as they do today.
Most of the grasshopper amulets and seals so far discovered are similar to those depicting scarab beetles, with a flat base usually inscribed and pierced through for threading on string or wire so that they could be worn. Possibly these amulets were thought to ward-off locust plagues. Locusts (or grasshoppers) were also depicted in tomb reliefs and paintings, as elements of wildlife along the Nile.
The locust or grasshopper hieroglyph quite simply refers to the insect itself, although in certain contexts it appears to mean 'great numbers of individuals', for example on a wall in the temple at Medinet Habu near modern-day Luxor there is an inscription which reads: 'battalions will come like the locusts'. The locust (or grasshopper) appears in hieroglyphic texts, for example, as a determinative to the word snehem - meaning 'locust' or 'grasshopper' - as illustrated below (a determinative symbol in hieroglyphic text, the locust or grasshopper symbol in this case, is not transliterated and merely indicates the meaning or context of the word represented by the preceding hieroglyphs)".
In verse twenty-one of Sh'mini's passage noted above, the phrase "on them", is the Hebrew text "bah-hehn"- Bet, Heh, Nun Sophit (בהן). It is the feminine form of "bah-hehm" with Mem Sophit (בהם) meaning that the "leaping leg" which is symbolized by us in having "a leap of faith" in Yeshua when we first accept Yeshua as our Savior and Lord and start to walk, or "leap", in faith.
GENERALNESS OF CLEAN AND UNCLEAN
Regarding uncleanness and clean, this is the chapter who many believers who don't know or don't follow the Torah, misinterpret and take out of context, which is noted in the book of the Acts
Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2 A devout man, and one that feared hwhy with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to hwhy always. 3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of hwhy coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And He said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before hwhy. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; 8 And when he had declared all of these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw Heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a Voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the Voice spake unto him again the second time, What hwhy hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into Heaven. 17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, 18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 22 And they said, Cornelius, the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth hwhy, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from יהוה by an Holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but the Lord hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? 30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the Eyes of יהוה.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. 33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before the Lord, to hear all things that are commanded thee of the Lord. 34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that the Lord is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him. 36 The word which יהוה sent unto the Sons of Israel, preaching peace by Yeshua, the Messiah: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How יהוה anointed Yeshua of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for יהוה was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him יהוה raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all of the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of the Lord, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of יהוה to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His Name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify the Lord. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of יהוה. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
The "unkosher, common foods" were symbols of the "gentiles", specifically Cornelius and the three other "men", and not food. The sheet that came down on the four corners of the earth with the unclean animals were types and shadows of the "peoples", or "nations", who exist throughout the four corners of the earth, including the Lost Ten Northern Tribes of Israel that were exiled to Assyira around 722 BC and were scattered around the world since, especially in Western Europe and North America.
Verse twenty-one
21 You shall not eat any flabby carcass (flabby corpse, wilted carcass): you shall give her to the sojourner (stranger) which is in your gates and shall eat of her; or sell to an alien (foreigner): for you are a Sacred (Holy) People to יהוה, your Elohim....
You shall not boil a kid in the milk of his mother.
22 Tithing, you shall tithe את all of the produce of your seed that goes out of [(that yields)] the field year at year.
23 And you shall eat to the Face of יהוה, your Elohim, in the Place which shall choose to tabernacle His Name there, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine (fresh grape juice), and your pressed oil (glistened oil), and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock; by that, you may learn to revere (give awe, fear) יהוה-את, your Elohim, all of the days. 24 And for the way is multiple from you, for you are not able to carry (bear, lift up) him; for shall be the Place far from you which יהוה, your Elohim, shall choose to put His Name there, for (when) יהוה, your Elohim, shall bless you: 25 And you shall give her on the silver, and you shall bind (shut up) the silver in your hand, and you shall go to the Place which יהוה, your Elohim, shall choose on him: 26 And you shall give her the silver in all which your soul, she pleases (desires, lusts), on the herd, and on the flock, and on the wine, and on the strong drink, and on anything which your soul, she inquires (asks, requests) of you: and you shall eat there to the Face of יהוה, your Elohim, and you shall rejoice, you, and your household. 27 And the Levite which is in your gates; you shall not forsake him; for does not belong to him a portion and an inheritance with you.
28 Of the end of three years, you shall bring out את-all of the tithe of your produce in that year, and you shall deposit (make rest) in your gates: 29 and the Levite shall come, for does not belong to him a portion and an inheritance with you, and the sojourner, and the orphan, and the widow, which are in your gates, and they shall eat, and they shall be satisfied; by that, יהוה, your Elohim, shall bless you in all of the doing (work) of your hand which you do.
21 You shall not eat any flabby carcass (wilted carcass): you shall give her to the sojourner (stranger) which is in your gates and shall eat of her; or sell to an alien (foreigner): for you are a Sacred (Holy) People to hwhy, your Elohim....
This was simply saying that any of their clean animals that died on their own account shall be sold or given to the stranger within their gates. Notice it did not say that they were to be given or sold "outside" of their gates. Why? It is probable that they were to be given or sold "immediately" to their stranger within their gates, becuase if they went out to find someone to give it to, more time will tick away, causing the animal to decay more. Thus, it would make the carcass more unfit to eat. It is also possible that יהוה wanted to keep it within the gates for sanctity puposes, because the location which the animal died was Holy, and יהוה did not want it to leave outside of the owner's sanctified borders. Another reason יהוה said this, because "He said so".
Verse twenty-one
21 ...You shall not boil a kid in the milk of his mother.
This is so, because it is an act of mockery of the parent to its young. It is the same thing regarding a mother bird nesting in the tree and on the ground, which is noted in the Torah portion of Ki Theytsey, in the book of Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 22:6 When shall encounter (befallen) to your face a nest of a bird in the way, in any tree, or upon the Earth, of nestlings or eggs, and the mother is crouching upon the nestlings, or upon the eggs, you shall not take the mother upon the sons: 7 Sending away, you shall send away את-the mother, and you shall take את-the sons for yourself; by that, shall be good (well) to you, and you shall be lengthened (prolonged) of days.
Monte Judah of Lion and Lamb Ministries noted that letting the mother bird go is an act of mercy. I would also say that the act of mercy also implies toword the kid of the goats to be not cooked in his mother's milk as well, and if one did, it would be an act of a hardened heart. The same way for letting the mother go and not kill her.
This week's Torah portion passage is based on The Fifth Word (Commandment) to honor your mother and father, which is noted in the Torah portion of Yithro, in the book of Exodus
Exodus 20:12 Honor (Give weight at) את-your father and את-your mother, by that, your days may be lengthened (long) upon the ground which יהוה, your Elohim, is giving to you.
The key that gives it away by tying these Torah passages to the Fifth Word (Commandment) is that one's days will be long. If one kills a mother with the young, it would be no different than one rebelling against one's own mother and father. Therefore, the person's days will be short. Boiling a kid in his mother's milk is an act of mockery against the mother that bore the kid, and would be no different in comparison if that person rebelled against one's own mother and father.
Verse twenty two
22 Tithing, you shall tithe את all of the produce of your seed that goes out of [(that yields)] the field year at year.
This is based from the Commandment for the Israelite men to bring their tithes to the place where hwhy will place His Name, which is Jerusalem three times in the year, which will be commented later, in chapter sixteen of this week's Torah portion. This would take an act of humility by doing this annualy, but at the same time, this would prevent them from taking pride in their accomplishments, and would give the glory to יהוה. Even worse, if they continued in their pride, they would fall away from יהוה by making elohim for themselves and for their own homes, and they would use excuses to not to go to Jerusalem. If they did these, they would have broken the First and Second Words (Commandments). That is why the purpose of this Commandment is to humble them to know that it was hwhy that propsered them, and not them, which is noted in the Torah portion of Eykev, in the book of Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 8:11 Guard (Beware, Take heed, Observe, Beware) to yourself, lest (facing) you forget יהוה-את, your Elohim, by failing at guarding (keeping, observing, heeding) His Commandments, and His Judgments (Ordinances), and His Statutes, which I am commanding you the day (today): 12 facing (lest) you eat and you are satisfied, and you build goodly houses, and you dwell; 13 and your herds and your flocks multiply, and silver and gold was multiplied to you, and all which belongs to you has multiplied; 14 and your heart shall arise, and you shall forget יהוה-את, your Elohim, that brought you out from the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves (bondage); 15 that made you walk in the great and fearful wilderness of fiery (burning up) serpents, and scorpions, and thirst (drought), which was no water; that brought out water for you from the flinty rock; 16 that fed you mahn (manna) in the wilderness, which your fathers had not known, by that at humbling (afflicting) you, and by that at tempting (testing, trying, proving) you, to do you good in the latter end; 17 and you say in your heart, My power and the boniness of my hand have done (made) [(my hand did)] for me את-this wealth (valiance). 18 And you shall remember יהוה-את, your Elohim: for He is the One giving to you power to do (make) wealth (valiance), by that, the establishing of את-His Covenant which had swore to your fathers as this day. 19 And shall be, if forgetting, you shall forget יהוה-את, your Elohim, and that you walk after other elohim, and you serve them, and you bow down to them, I will testify (witness) against you the day (today), for perishing, you will perish. 20 As the nations which יהוה perished from your face, so you shall perish; resulting (because) you did not listen in the Voice of יהוה, your Elohim.
This would be considered an "Annual Tithe". The question is, "How would this be applied to us today as believers in the Messiah"? One way would be through tithing and giving to ministries and congegrations. Also one could contribute to brethren in Israel who need help, as well as brethren in one's own nation. Go to יהוה, our Heavenly Father, and ask Him what is the best decision.
Verses twenty three through twenty seven
23 And you shall eat to the Face of יהוה, your Elohim, in the Place which shall choose to tabernacle His Name there, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine (fresh grape juice), and your pressed oil (glistened oil), and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock; by that, you may learn to revere (give awe, fear) יהוה-את, your Elohim, all of the days. 24 And for the way is multiple from you, for you are not able to carry (bear, lift up) him; for shall be the Place far from you which יהוה, your Elohim, shall choose to put His Name there, for (when) יהוה, your Elohim, shall bless you: 25 And you shall give her on the silver, and you shall bind (shut up) the silver in your hand, and you shall go to the Place which יהוה, your Elohim, shall choose on him: 26 And you shall give her the silver in all which your soul, she pleases (desires, lusts), on the herd, and on the flock, and on the wine, and on the strong drink, and on anything which your soul, she inquires (asks, requests) of you: and you shall eat there to the Face of יהוה, your Elohim, and you shall rejoice, you, and your household. 27 And the Levite which is in your gates; you shall not forsake him; for does not belong to him a portion and an inheritance with you.
WAIT A MINUTE!!! This is what יהוה said in chapter twelve of this week's Torah portion
Deuteronomy 12:21 When the Place is far from you which יהוה, your Elohim, shall choose to put His Name there, and you shall sacrifice from your herd and from your flock, which יהוה has given to you as the which I have commanded you, and you shall eat in your gates according to [(as)] all of the pleasure (desire, lust) of your soul. 22 Surely as the which את-the gazelle (roebuck) and את-the hart (stag, deer) shall be eaten, so you shall eat him: the unclean and the clean shall he be alike, shall be eaten him. 23 Only be strong (sure) to fail at eating the blood: for the blood, he is the soul; and you shall not eat the soul with the flesh. 24 You shall not eat him; you shall shed (spill, gush out) him upon the Earth as the water. 25 You shall not eat him; by that, shall be good (well) to you and to your sons after you when you shall do that is upright [(the uprightness)] in the Eyes of יהוה.
Moses first tells the Israelite men in the chapter twelve's passage that if they are too far away they can stay at home and sacrifice their herd, or flock, or a gazelle, or a hart in their own estate. Now Moses is saying in this week's Torah portion passage that they can take silver with them to go to the future location in Jerusalem and buy the items there. Is there is a conflict here? If they can walk to Jerusalem from a far distance, why can't they go with their sacrifices to Jerusalem instead? If they have a problem with getting the animal there, why couldn't they put them on wagons and ride them there? Isn't Moses speaking one way on one side of the mouth and another way on the other? Is יהוה allowing these contradictions and contradicting Himself? Doesn't this go against the Commandment that the men are to bring their tithes and gifts of their animals to hwhy three times in the year to not approach to Him empty in Jerusalem by presenting their own increase they have raised in their own estates? Or, is this not the premise at all, and if not, did יהוה allow the Israelites these animal options for the purpose if they stayed home, and the option to go to Jerusalem to bring silver with them to buy the sacrificial animals and other offering requirements as well as buying their own food there to eat at Jerusalem? But what what about the Commandment to not to kill any herd or flock in gates, which is noted in chapter twelve of this week's Torah portion
Deuteronomy 12:17 You are not able to eat from the tithe [(eat the Tithe Offerings)] of your grain in your gates, and your new wine (fresh grape juice), and your pressed oil (glistened oil), and the firstlings of your herd, and your flock, and any of your Vow Offerings which you vow, and your Freewill Offerings (Voluntary Offerings), and the Heave Offering (Raise Offering) of your hand: 18 for but you shall eat him to the Face of יהוה, your Elohim, in the Place which יהוה, your Elohim, shall choose on Him, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your male servant, and your female servant, and the Levite which is in your gates: and you shall rejoice to the Face of יהוה, your Elohim, in all your hand with sends forth.
In this week's Torah portion passage, it is acceptional for the men if it is too far for them that they cannot bring their domesticated animals to Jerusalem, they can travel to Jerusalem with just the silver, so that the men can buy their tithes and gifts, emphasizing the domesticated animals, for hwhy. This is a sensible alternative for the men to travel to Jerusalem three times in the year, which will be noted later in chapter sixteen of this week's Torah portion.
Verses twenty eight and twenty nine
28 Of the end of three years, you shall bring out את-all of the tithe of your produce in that year, and you shall deposit (make rest) in your gates: 29 and the Levite shall come, for does not belong to him a portion and an inheritance with you, and the sojourner, and the orphan, and the widow, which are in your gates, and they shall eat, and they shall be satisfied; by that, יהוה, your Elohim, shall bless you in all of the doing (work) of your hand which you do.
This is British theologian Charles John Ellicott's commentary regarding this Torah passage:
"This is called by the Jews Ma’aser ‘Ani, “the poor’s tithe.” They regard it as identical with the second tithe, which was ordinarily eaten by the owners at Jerusalem; but in every third and sixth year was bestowed upon the poor."
"The Poor's Tithe" is a good term. Today in our society, in the United States, we have food distribution centers. Though they do not follow this end of third year format, they do it every month. Some distribute as often as daily, some at least once a week, etc.
Ending this week's Torah portion chapter, looking again at these two verses of this chapter
27 And the Levite which is in your gates; you shall not forsake him; for does not belong to him a portion and an inheritance with you.... 29 and the Levite shall come, for does not belong to him a portion and an inheritance with you, and the sojourner, and the orphan, and the widow, which are in your gates, and they shall eat, and they shall be satisfied; by that, יהוה, your Elohim, shall bless you in all of the doing (work) of your hand which you do.
In verses twenty seven and twenty nine, the "you" is boldened in pink. In the Hebrew text, the you pronoun is in the feminine singlular gender. This tells us that hwhy was speaking to the People's "soul", because one's soul is feminine in both men and women. In other words, יהוה was telling their soul that the Levite doesn't have a portion and an inheritance, and that it is their "soul's" responsibility to provide to the Levite, as well as to the orphan and the widow during the Third Year Tithe.
!!!כבד לך יהוה
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